The Indian Panorama

Month: February 2022

  • Lawsuit Regarding SARS-CoV2 – Covid-19

    Batra v Daszak, EcoHealth, et al – Lawsuit Complaint Amended

    New York State Supreme Court – Index #157709-2021

     Batra v Daszak, EcoHealth et al was filed on Aug 19, 2021. New Documentary evidence – Gain of Function (GoF) and US Grant Applications – became public thereafter. So, a new First Amended Complaint (FAC) – with 59 Exhibits – was filed on February 3, 2022. Defendants have elected to withdraw their Motion to Dismiss (MTD), and re-file new MTD or Answer. FAC is NYSCEF Doc. ## 66-131 at link: https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/DocumentList?docketId=nriXB2jLIixu9kt4YVbKUg==&display=all&courtType=New%20York%20County%20Supreme%20Court&resultsPageNum=1

    Overview of Added Causes of Action, and Withdrawal of Bioweapon Allegation

              The FAC adds to original allegations concerning gross negligence and negligence, and adds two new causes of action: abnormally dangerous activity (strict liability); and, private cause of action for public nuisance with special damages. Key additions are a table of contents and Exhibits 44-59 (inclusive of 44-A) which have been added to the original Exhibits 1-43 (inclusive of 25 and 25(a)-( c) that were in the initial verified complaint. A key change in the FAC is Batra has withdrawn that SARS-CoV-2 was created with the intention of making a bioweapon.

              Timeliness updates include reference to the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, full approval by the FDA of the Moderna vaccine as “Spikevax” on January 31, 2022, and more recent figures as to COVID-19 infections in the USA [as of 1/11/2022]. (FAC ¶¶ 129,230-231,234).

    Overview of Added Exhibits

              Exhibit 44 includes EcoHealth’s applications for the “Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence” grant, renewals, approvals, and reports submitted by EcoHealth for initial project period June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2019, and as revised extending until June 30, 2025. Exhibit 44-A is a late report yearly filed by EcoHealth or about August 3, 2021, for the period June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019. Exhibit 45 is the October 17, 2014 White House Announcement concerning the moratorium on gain-of-function research. Exhibit 46 is the associated NIH guide concerning the gain-of-function moratorium.   Exhibit 47 is October 27, 2021 correspondence from Ranking Members James Comer and Jim Jordan to AG Garland seeking an investigation by DOJ into “whether EcoHealth violated federal law by misrepresenting the status of its project to NIAID or NIH.”  Exhibit 48 includes a series of emails concerning efforts by Daszak to block publication of virus sequences secured with federal grant funds.           Exhibit 49 is the publicized grant proposal that Ecohealth submitted to DARPA entitled “Project DEFUSE: Defusing the Threat of Bat-borne Coronaviruses.” Exhibit 50 is DARPA’s rejection of that proposal. As amended, the complaint alleges that the defendants’ disregarded the rejection and did the experimentation anyway – further leading to the genesis of SARS-CoV-2. Exhibit 51 is an article published online on January 10, 2022 by “Project Veritas” entitled “Military Documents About Gain of Function Contradict Fauci Testimony Under Oath.” The article discusses a report to the DOD IG by a Marine Corp Major, Joseph Murphy, dated August 13, 2021, concerning EcoHealth, the rejected DARPA proposal, and the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The report, as published by Project Veritas (and watermarked by that organization with its logo), is appended to the FAC as Exhibit 52. … Exhibit 57 includes emails from and to Dr. Fauci evidencing, amongst other things, efforts to thwart the view that SARS-CoV-2 originated in or otherwise escaped from a laboratory, including the Wuhan Lab.  Exhibit 58 includes January 11, 2022 correspondence from Ranking Members James Comer and Jim Jordan to the HHS Secretary with emails that were only produced with redactions that had the redacted sections transcribed by GOP Committee staff – which showed that numerous researchers that Drs. Fauci and Collins were conferring with in late January to early February 2020 initially believed there was a possibility of a lab leak (one as high as 60/40 in favor), and shortly later they all changed their view. By the FAC it is alleged that the scientists got in line to ensure continued funding for their projects from Fauci. Exhibit 59 is the screenshot of the EcoHealth “FLIRT” tool – showing projected air traffic out of Wuhan after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. This image is also reproduced in the body of the FAC, with a quote from Daszak, in substance, that once the virus got into a big city like Wuhan it was “game over.”

    (Per Press Release by The Law Firm of Ravi Batra, P.C., February 25, 2022)

  • After Omicron pandemic, it is Russia-Ukraine war afflicting world of sports now

    After Omicron pandemic, it is Russia-Ukraine war afflicting world of sports now

    By Prabhjot Singh

    Gallant attempts by the world of sports to wriggle out of the devastating impact of the Omicron pandemic may be severely hit by the Russia-Ukraine military conflict that threatens to divide the world again. Unfortunately, the timing of the Russian invasion of Ukraine coincides with the holding of a major International Olympic Committee event, the Paralympic Games, scheduled to start in Beijing on March 4. Twice before the Olympic movement had been hit hard by World War II. The  1940 and 1944 editions of the Olympic Games had to be cancelled during the global hostilities at that time.

    Led by the United States, the NATO nations, in expression of their complete solidarity with Ukraine, have already heaped a series of sanctions on Russia in their valiant attempt to force cessation of hostilities.

    It was for almost similar reasons that the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games were boycotted by a group led by the NATO leader, the United States. The boycotters had objected to the presence of the then Soviet Union forces in Afghanistan.

    Interestingly, the Beijing Winter Olympic Games 2022, that witnessed a diplomatic boycott by most of the NATO nations, including the US and Canada,  had the Russian President, V. Putin, as a guest of honor

    Other than NATO, it is the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that has come hard on both Russia and its aide Byelorussia by  urging all International Sports Federations (ISFs)  to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus. The ISFs should take the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments into account and give the safety and security of the athletes absolute priority. The IOC itself has no events planned in Russia or Belarus.

    The IOC Executive Board also wants that no Russian or Byelorussian national flag be displayed and no Russian or Byelorussian anthem be played in international sports events that are not already part of the respective World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sanctions for Russia. In the just concluded Beijing Winter Olympic Games, it was the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and not Russia that was allowed to send its contingent. Neither any Russian flag was flown, nor the Russian national anthem was played during the Games though the ROC athletes were placed at number two in the overall medals (32) tally with six gold. 12 silver and 14 bronze medals. Norway topped the tally with 37 medals, including 16 gold. Eight silver and 13 bronze medals while Germany took the third spot with 27 medals and Canada finished fourth with a tally of 24. Incidentally, Norway, Germany and Canada are now on the other side opposing the Russian action in Ukraine.

    Though the IOC Executive Board  has expressed its full support to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing from March 4, the shadow of the Russian action may impact the games in a big way.

    Immediately after Russia launched its military operations, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)  came out with a strong condemnation of the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government by referring to the December 2, 2021 resolution of the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus of all 193 UN Member States. The Olympic Truce began seven days before the start of the Olympic Games, on February 4, 2022, and ends seven days after the closing of the Paralympic Games.

    Earlier in a similar resolution passed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on  9 December 9, 2019, it was decided to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-sixth session the sub-item entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal” and also recalling its prior decision to consider the sub-item every two years, in advance of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The Olympic Truce was first taken up by the UN General Assembly  on October 25, 1993, which, inter alia, revived the ancient Greek tradition of ekecheiria (“Olympic Truce”) calling for a truce during the Olympic Games to encourage a peaceful environment and ensure safe passage, access and participation for athletes and relevant persons at the Games, thereby mobilizing the youth of the world to the cause of peace.

    The core concept of ekecheiria, historically, has been the cessation of hostilities from seven days before until seven days after the Olympic Games, which, according to the legendary oracle of Delphi, was to replace the cycle of conflict with a friendly athletic competition every four years. Other than the Paralympic Olympic Games  starting in Beijing on March 4, where winter para athletes of both Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to participate, the first test for any International Sports Federation under the new IOC directive is for field hockey (International Hockey Federation – FIH).

    An elite FIH event – Junior Women World Cup – will be organized at Potchefstroom in South Africa from April 1 where both Russia and Ukraine are among 16 nations confirmed to participate. Going by the hostilities back home, participation of both Russia and Ukraine in the Potchefstroom event looks doubtful, both the South African Hockey Federation and the FIH have a problem on hand.

    The tournament had already been postponed once. The list of participants, too, has witnessed changes. For example, Japan had withdrawn at the last minute. It was replaced by Malaysia. Now the  sword of uncertainty is hanging over the Potchefstroom event again following the Russia-Ukraine war.

    (Prabhjot Singh is a veteran journalist with over three decades of experience covering a wide spectrum of subjects and stories. He has covered  Punjab and Sikh affairs for more than three decades besides covering seven Olympics and several major sporting events and hosting TV shows. For more in-depth analysis please visit probingeye.com  or follow him on Twitter.com/probingeye. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)

     

  • How Ukraine imbroglio can impact India

    How Ukraine imbroglio can impact India

    By Gurjit Singh

    The standoff between Russia and US-Europe over Ukraine has come at an inopportune time for India. As a UN Security Council (UNSC) member, India is contributing to ensuring peace, security and stability in the world. This role has opportunities for enhancement due to the inability of the permanent five (P5) to act in unison. In the case of Ukraine, the P5 are threatening to go to war with each other, with the UK, US, France on one side, and Russia supported by China on the other. This takes matters totally out of the hands of the UNSC, making it redundant. The Ukraine crisis is curtailing Indian role in the UNSC. New Delhi is doing its best to remain relevant. India is developing relations with the EU and other European countries. This initiative leads India to support the Normandy process and the Minsk agreement, which are European efforts to engage Russia on Ukraine. India would prefer the European way of dealing with Russia than the tough posture which the US wants NATO to adopt. European countries will toe the US line if war erupts. That reduces the efficacy of India’s European initiative presently. India is calling for diplomacy as that will defuse the tension and also give India more leeway.The Russian posture on Ukraine and the reaction to it, strengthened the Sino-Russian partnership. The Xi-Putin summit at the Beijing Winter Olympics lent firmness and robustness to that relationship. China is challenging India, has overthrown extant agreements and increased its military threat. This does not augur well. For long, India depended on Russia for strategic partnership. It still largely depends on Russia for military hardware. While the defense relationship is mutually beneficial, the Sino-Russian axis curtails the Russian ability and intent to support India as in the past.

    Russia’s confrontation with NATO will lead to rigorously imposed sanctions. India has delicately negotiated to stay out of CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) with the purchase of S-400 Triumf missile systems which may not work when a war-like situation prevails. Countries like Germany have stark choices on economic issues, and India will be faced with similar choices on defense supplies from Russia with tougher sanctions that the US is ready to impose. India-Russia trade of about $9 billion annually is about 1% of India’s global trade. The significance is the impact on defense, energy, grain delivery and prices.

    Curtailing of defense supplies will impact India’s ability to respond to China. The diversification of defense purchases that India achieved would come into play but without the competitive pricing and transfer of technology of Russian equipment.

    Strategically, Russia will not attempt to restrain China. In exchange for Chinese support for Russian intent in Ukraine, they would concur with Chinese initiatives in the Indo-Pacific. Russia’s nuanced divergence on India could melt away if the Ukraine crises blows up as both NATO and Russia seek clear Indian support which India hesitates to provide.

    The Ukraine crisis brings Russia and China closer and diverts the attention of Western powers towards Ukraine. The Europeans would have a lesser appetite for the Indo-Pacific once they are embroiled in European matters. France held its Indo-Pacific conference right after the Munich Security Conference this month. They wish to continue to deal with the region while engaged with Russia as well. However, the EU member countries do not have diverse abilities and their Indo-Pacific polices are likely to be on hold till the Russian challenge is settled. At present, US naval forces are at strength in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific as Taiwan is at stake. They will need allies Japan and AUKUS to play a role. They could well call upon India to act in the Indo-Pacific even if India is not directly involved in an operation around Taiwan.

    This is not different from what India is doing in the Indo-Pacific at present, but India expects support for its position with China on the border issue, as was discussed at the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Australia recently. Indian activity, in the midst of the Ukraine crisis, may not be ignored by China and Russia.

    India’s energy security is a matter of worry as there is already a $20 per barrel increase in the price of oil over the estimates used by the Economic Survey 2022. This impacts India’s growth story. Russia is a significant oil producer and the Ukraine crisis and sanctions on Russia would destabilize the oil market. This would gravely impact India’s development plans.

    In 2021, India imported merely 1% of its oil and 0.2% of its gas from Russia. GAIL has a 20-year contract to import 2.5 million tons of LNG from Russia annually. It’s not the direct supply but the prices that will be impacted negatively. Thus, India’s repeated calls for peaceful resolution. The diversification of Indian energy supplies over time will perhaps protect supplies but not control prices.

    Similarly, if the Ukraine crisis leads to Europe, particularly Germany, curtailing gas imports from Russia, it will bring other gas providers to strategically shift supplies to Europe impacting Asian economies. The gas prices nevertheless will rise. The pandemic has slowed down India’s investment in Mozambique in gas offtake and this needs to be hastened to diversify gas imports and stabilize gas pricing in India. There are nearly 25,000 Indians in Ukraine, mostly students. They have been advised to leave Ukraine as flights are still available. Indian mission families too are leaving. This is the correct advisory planned well ahead of a full-scale crisis. Students remain averse to depart when it is feasible, to avoid spending on high-priced tickets. They believe that the government will always step in to rescue them once a crisis unfolds. This attitude needs to change.

    This is an inflection point for India as the Ukraine crisis challenges its ability to influence events in its favor, avoid an impact on its economy, without taking sides in a crisis of indirect interest to it. Such impacts of globalization need careful handling.

    (The author is a former ambassador)

  • Ukraine crisis: Treading cautiously serves India’s long-term interests

    Giving  paramount importance to its national interests, India has been sensibly walking a tightrope on the Ukraine crisis. Enjoying good relations with the US, Russia and the European Union (EU), New Delhi has done well to adopt a pragmatic approach that can stand it in good stead no matter how the situation develops from here on. India has been holding its ground despite relentless pressure to take sides. Rather than toeing the US line to hit out at Russia, India has been advocating ‘constructive diplomacy’ to resolve the imbroglio. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has rightly observed that the crisis has its roots in post-Soviet politics, the expansion of NATO and the dynamics between Russia and Europe.

    Ukraine is banking on NATO membership and stronger ties with EU to stand up to its neighbor. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Kyiv to recognize Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed after seizing it from Ukraine in 2014, drop its bid to join NATO and partially demilitarize. However, these terms are not acceptable to Ukraine and the West, which considers the annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law.

    Since 2014, around 14,000 people have been killed in fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Russia’s fears that it will be hemmed in by the US and its allies once Ukraine enters the NATO club, leading to greater instability in the region, are not unfounded. Though there is no dispute that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity ought to be respected by one and all, Russia’s genuine apprehensions also must be allayed. Both nations, along with the international community, should go back to the Minsk Agreements of 2014-15 and give peace a chance by working out a mutually acceptable framework to end the hostilities. An immediate de-escalation of tensions, factoring in the security concerns of all countries concerned, is the need of the hour to prevent a war that can have far-reaching, disastrous consequences in geopolitical and geoeconomic terms.

    (Tribune, India)

  • Russia’s NATO problem: On the Ukraine war

    Putin seems unwilling to engage diplomatically to address Russian security concerns

    Russia’s unjustifiable incursion into Ukraine following weeks of military troop build-up on their shared border has drastically raised tensions in the region with broader ripple effects across the world, particularly for NATO countries and others with strategic connections to the two nations. Reports said that several Ukrainian cities, including capital Kyiv came under attack on Thursday morning, even as the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to stop the invasion. U.S. President Joe Biden and the NATO and European Commission leadership vowed to impose “severe sanctions” on Russia. This round of sanctions will overlay prior economic penalties imposed on Russian entities and individuals close to the political leadership, and they are expected to include cutting off top Russian banks from the financial system, halting technology exports, and directly targeting the Russian President. Moscow can hardly be surprised at this backlash, for it has shown little sympathy toward the idea of engaging diplomatically on the Ukraine question to address Russian security concerns. Ever since Russia began amassing troops on the Ukrainian border, the U.S., NATO, and Europe have sought to press for diplomatic solutions. This includes direct U.S.-Russia negotiations, and French President Macron’s meeting with Mr. Putin.

    While the sense of frustration in western capitals over Mr. Putin’s intractability and aggression are palpable, and the use of severe sanctions stemming from that is a strategic inevitability, it is unlikely that the prospect of escalating violence and a devastating toll on human life and property in Ukraine can be ruled out until Mr. Putin’s broader questions on NATO are answered. At the heart of his fears is the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO and NATO troops potentially stationed at the border with Russia. NATO’s historical record, of its penchant for expansionism, has likely fueled such insecurities. After the dissolution of the former Soviet Union, the Eastern European military alliance, NATO, and Russia in 1997 signed the “Founding Act” on mutual relations, cooperation, and security. Disregarding the spirit of this agreement, NATO quietly underwent five rounds of enlargement during the 1990s, pulling former Soviet Union countries into its orbit. Cooperative exchanges, communications hotlines, and Cold War fail-safes such as arms control verification have fallen by the wayside, even more since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. It may be the case that owing to Mr. Putin’s failure to develop Russia into an economic powerhouse that naturally attracted neighboring countries and international capital to itself partly explains Moscow’s deflection of attention to strategic questions relating to NATO and Russia’s territorial integrity. But unless western nations give assurances to Mr. Putin that NATO will not seek to relentlessly expand its footprint eastwards, Moscow will have little incentive to return to the negotiating table. But Russia and Mr. Putin must realize that war is not the means to peace and security.

    (The Hindu)

  • We will take all possible steps to bring back Indians from Ukraine, says  Foreign Secretary Shringla

    We will take all possible steps to bring back Indians from Ukraine, says  Foreign Secretary Shringla

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India on Thursday, February 24,  assured its citizens stranded in Ukraine that it will take all possible steps to bring them back safe and sound. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said at a media briefing that the Indian embassy in Ukraine is extending all possible assistance to the Indians notwithstanding the complicated situation.

    He said a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, was underway on the Ukraine crisis.

    Shringla said Modi conveyed at the CCS meeting that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indians and their evacuation from Ukraine.

    The foreign secretary said around 4,000 Indian nationals out of 20,000 have already left Ukraine in the past few days.

    “The situation on the ground is difficult and rapidly evolving,” he said. “I want to assure all Indian citizens including students in Ukraine that we will take all possible steps to bring you back safe and sound,” he said. Shringla said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will speak to foreign ministers of Romania, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary on the Ukraine crisis.

    (Source: PTI)

  • Ready to hold ‘high-level negotiations’ with Ukraine, Putin tells Xi

    Ready to hold ‘high-level negotiations’ with Ukraine, Putin tells Xi

    BEIJING/NEW YORK (TIP): Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, February 25,  that he was ready to hold “high-level negotiations” with Ukraine as he spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping who stressed that both Moscow and Kyiv should resolve the raging crisis through talks.

    Xi and Putin, regarded as allies and friends as China and Russia enlarged their strategic ties amid the strident US and EU push against them on a host of issues, held their talks on the phone around the same time as the Russian troops closed in on Kyiv, home to over three million people, with heavy bombardment raising fears of bloodshed.

    The Russian side is ready to hold “high-level negotiations” with the Ukrainian side, the official Chinese media here quoted Putin as telling Xi. Around the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, February 25,  reiterated his call for Russian President Putin to hold talks and stop the conflict.

    “Fighting is going on all over Ukraine. Let’s sit down at the negotiating table,” Zelensky said, the Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report from Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

    Xi, whose government stonewalled criticism in the last few days for not condemning the Russian “invasion” of Ukraine, sought to play the role of a peacemaker by saying that China supports Russia and Ukraine to solve the issue through negotiation, the state-run CGTN reported. Noting that the recent situation in eastern Ukraine has changed dramatically, causing great concern in the international community, Xi told Putin that China’s position on the Ukraine issue was based on the merits of the matter concerned.

    In an apparent criticism directed against the United States and the European Union, Xi urged all parties to completely abandon the Cold War mindset, respect and attach importance to each other’s legitimate security concerns and strive for a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through dialogue and negotiation.

    Xi reiterated that China’s position of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states and abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter has been consistent. China is ready to work with all parties in the international community to promote common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and firmly uphold the UN-cantered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, he said.

    Putin, for his part, introduced the historical context on the Ukraine issue as well as Russia’s position on launching the special military operation in eastern Ukraine.

    The Russian President stressed that the United States and NATO have long ignored Moscow’s legitimate security concerns, repeatedly reneged on their commitments and kept pushing military deployments eastward, which challenged Russia’s strategic bottom line.

    He also told Xi that the Russian side was ready to conduct “high-level negotiations” with the Ukrainian side.

    During their phone conversation, Xi once again expressed his gratitude to Putin for coming to China to attend the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which was boycotted by the leaders and diplomats of the US, the EU and their allies to highlight the allegations of human rights violations against Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang.

    As Xi-Putin held talks, a Xinhua report said the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its airborne forces successfully conducted a landing operation at the Gostomel airfield outside Kiev, blocking the Ukrainian capital city from the west.

    Ever since Putin announced the military operations in Ukraine on Thursday, China has walked a fine line, declining to condemn the military action while remaining silent over Moscow’s move to accord two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk as independent entities.

    In his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a complex and special historical context of the Ukraine issue and the Chinese side understands Russia’s legitimate security concerns.

    Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing here on Friday that Beijing will make its own effort to push for political settlement of the Ukrainian issue. He said there was a sharp contrast between China’s approach and some other countries’ moves of creating and shifting the crisis, and trying to benefit from it, while responding to questions on White House spokesperson Jan Psaki’s assertion that it’s time for China to pick a side.

    Wang Wenbin said China believed that the Ukraine issue has a complicated history and that the legitimate security concerns of all parties should be respected and the Cold War mentality should be completely abandoned.

    Psaki said at a news briefing on Thursday that “this is really a moment for China, for any country, about what side of history they want to stand on here.”

    The comprehensive settlement of the issue should be sought through dialogue and negotiations so as to form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism, Wang said, noting that China’s approach formed a sharp contrast with what some countries have been doing in trying to benefit from the crisis.

    Wang said that the door to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine issue has not been completely closed.

    China hopes that relevant parties remain calm and rational and commit to peacefully resolving relevant issues through negotiations in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, he said, noting that Beijing will continue to promote peace talks in its own way and welcomes and encourages all efforts for a diplomatic settlement.

    He also played down the impact of the US and EU sanctions against Russia. Europe has imposed financial sanctions against Russia for its military operation against Ukraine.On the question of whether China is worried that not condemning Russia might undermine its relations with the EU, Wang said that he believed everyone was familiar with the results of the sanctions. Unilateral sanctions are never the fundamental and effective approach in solving problems and that they only result in severe difficulties to local economies and livelihoods, he said.

    (Source: PTI)

  • India abstains from UNSC resolution against Russian aggression

    India abstains from UNSC resolution against Russian aggression

    Draft resolution fails as Russia exercises veto

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): With Russia exercising its veto, a draft resolution sponsored by the U.S. and Albania, condemning Russian aggression and calling for the country’s withdrawal from Ukraine, has failed to pass the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

    India, along with China and the UAE, abstained, while 11 members voted in favor of it. The U.S. vowed to take the issue to the General Assembly, where Russia does not have a veto. Government officials said India has been speaking to all parties including Russia and Ukraine to return to the negotiating table  “By abstaining, India retained the option of reaching out to relevant sides in an effort to bridge the gap and find the middle ground with an aim to foster dialogue and diplomacy,” a source said.

    The vote at the UNSC had to be postponed twice, for an hour at a time, as U.S. and Albanian diplomats, the “penholders” of the resolution, negotiated with other countries, trying to build a consensus for the draft.

    However, according to officials who saw the draft, the original version was too strong, as it invoked UN Chapter VII, which authorizes the use of force against Russian troops in Ukraine. After several rounds of heated negotiations, the U.S. agreed to soften the resolution and drop the Chapter VII reference, which is believed to have ensured that China also abstained along with India and the UAE, while Russia was alone in voting against the resolution.

    “Let us never forget that this is a war of choice. Russia’s choice,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S.’s permanent representative (PR) to the United Nations told the Council. “To those who say all parties are culpable, I say that is a clear cop out. One country… one country is invading another,” she said, adding that countries who based their position on Russia having a historical relationship with Ukraine should think about whom that label would apply to next.  “Vote ‘no’ or abstain if you do not uphold the charter and align yourselves with the aggressive and unprovoked actions of Russia,” she said.

    Delivering India’s explanation of vote, PR T.S. Tirumurti said India was “deeply disturbed” by the developments and called for the “immediate cessation “of violence. Mr. Tirumurti said that the global order had been built on the UN Charter and the respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. He called on states to respect these principles and for dialogue to settle their differences.

    During his speech, as with his other UNSC speeches relating to the Ukraine crisis, Mr. Tirumurti said India was “deeply concerned” about the welfare of Indians in the country. Ukraine’s PR Sergiy Kyslytsya took a shot at India on this count, when it was his turn to speak. “And I may say to some: It is exactly the safety of your nationals right now in Ukraine that you should be the first to vote to stop the war – to save your nationals in Ukraine. And not to think about whether you should or should not vote because of the safety for your nationals,” he said.

    Mr. Kyslytsya said he was “saddened” that a “small handful of members” seemed to be “tolerating” the war.

    China’s PR Zhang Jun backed diplomatic negotiations between the parties, saying, “Ukraine should become a bridge between the East and the West, not an outpost for confrontation between major powers.”

    Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the resolution not just anti-Russian but also anti-Ukrainian, saying the document (draft resolution) ran counter to the interests of Ukraine’s people as it sought to keep the existing government in power.

    With reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking the Ukrainian army to depose its government, Mr. Kyslytsya, addressing his Russian counterpart in the Security Council Chamber, asked, “Are you crazy?”

    In post-meeting remarks to the press, U.N. Secretary-General Atonio Guterres said the meeting’s objective had not been achieved.

    “Today, that objective was not achieved. But we must never give up,” he said. “We must give peace another chance.”

  • February 25 New York & Dallas E – Edition

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  • Biden nominates first Black woman to U.S. Supreme Court

    Biden nominates first Black woman to U.S. Supreme Court

    The nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson comes in the Black History Month

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): President Joe Biden on Friday, February 25, 2022, nominated federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, making her the first Black woman selected to serve on a court that once declared her race unworthy of citizenship and endorsed segregation. The nomination comes during the Black History Celebration Month

    Introducing Ms. Jackson, Mr. Biden called her a “proven consensus builder” who has “a pragmatic understanding that the law must work for the American people.” “She strives to be fair, to get it right, to do justice,” the president added.

    In Ms. Jackson, Mr. Biden delivered on a campaign promise to make the historic appointment and to further diversify a court that was made up entirely of white men for almost two centuries. He chose an attorney who would be the high court’s first former public defender, though she also possesses the elite legal background of other justices.

    Ms. Jackson would be the current court’s second Black justice — Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative, is the other — and just the third in history. She would replace liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who is retiring at the end of the term this summer, so she won’t change the court’s 6-3 conservative majority. Ms. Jackson would join the court as it weighs cutbacks to abortion rights and will be considering ending affirmative action in college admissions and restricting voting rights efforts to increase minority representation.

    She would be only the sixth woman to serve on the court, but she would join three others already there, including the first Latina, Justice Sonia Sotomayor. In brief remarks, Ms. Jackson thanked Mr. Biden, saying she was “humbled by the extraordinary honor of this nomination.” She highlighted her family’s first-hand experience with the entirety of the legal system, as judges and lawyers, an incarcerated member and police officers.

    Standing alongside Mr. Biden at the White House, she spoke of the historic nature of her nomination, noting she shared a birthday with Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to be confirmed to the federal bench.

    “If I’m fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next associate justice of the Supreme Court United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution, and my commitment to upholding the rule of law and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded, will inspire future generations of Americans,” Ms. Jackson said. Ms. Jackson, 51, once worked as one of Breyer’s law clerks early in her legal career. She attended Harvard as an undergraduate and for law school, and served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the agency that develops federal sentencing policy, before becoming a federal judge in 2013. Her nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority by a razor-thin 50-50 margin with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tiebreaker. Party leaders have promised swift but deliberate consideration of the president’s nominee. The news comes two years to the day after Mr. Biden, then struggling to capture the Democratic presidential nomination, pledged in a South Carolina debate to nominate a Black woman if presented with a vacancy. “Everyone should be represented,” Mr. Biden said then.

  • SGPC says suppression of religious freedom will not be tolerated

    SGPC says suppression of religious freedom will not be tolerated

    AMRITSAR / NEW YORK (TIP): Head of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee writes to Karnataka CM opposing objection to Sikh girl wearing turban to Bengaluru college. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the body responsible for the management of gurdwaras, on Thursday , February 24, objected to the action of a college in Bengaluru, which has reportedly asked an ‘ amritdhari’ (initiated) Sikh girl to remove her turban to attend the college.

    SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has written a letter in this regard to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, asking him to ensure the preservation of the religious freedom of Sikhs in the State and also reminding him of the contribution of Sikhs to India.

    “It cannot be tolerated to force Sikhs to remove their turban in their own country. It is an unconstitutional decision that will never be accepted. Turban is very important in Sikh faith, and it is an integral part of Sikh dress. Forcing anybody to remove the dastar (turban) is in violation of Sikh traditions and principles,” Mr. Dhami wrote.

    “The questions are being raised on the turban of Sikhs in India, where turban-wearing Sikhs have served as the President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice and Army Chief. Sikhs all over the world wear a turban and are working on various top positions, whereas, in their own country India, turbans are being challenged,” the letter adds. Mr. Dhami said that the suppression of Sikhs’ religious freedom can never be in the interest of the country. The SGPC president has also demanded the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the matter, and the issuance of instructions to every State to uphold the religious freedom of the people. Mr. Dhami said that the Sikh community would never tolerate any act of suppression of their religious freedom and they would strongly oppose it.

    (Source: PTI)

  • Bitcoin tumbles as Putin orders military into eastern Ukraine

    Bitcoin tumbles as Putin orders military into eastern Ukraine

    Cryptocurrencies dropped as Vladimir Putin decided to conduct military operations in eastern Ukraine, with Bitcoin slumping to a one-month low. The largest token fell as much as 7.4% to $34,783 after an initial Tass report on Russia’s decision. Second-ranked Ether declined as much as 8.7% to $2,390.61. Other coins like XRP, Cardano and Solana were down as well.

    Bitcoin’s swings during the past weeks of escalating geopolitical tensions have served to undermine the argument that cryptocurrencies offer a hedge in times of trouble. The traditional safe haven gold, meanwhile, surged to the highest level since early 2021 on Thursday, February 24. “Risk assets continue to be weighed down by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and tensions. This includes Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies which are currently still very much viewed as a high-risk asset class,” said Vijay Ayyar, vice president of corporate development at Luno, a crypto platform. The next key level to watch for Bitcoin will be $28,000 to $29,000, he said. If that treshold gets breached, “we could be looking at much lower levels in the low $20,000s and below.”

  • Markets dive as Putin attacks Ukraine

    Markets dive as Putin attacks Ukraine

    New Delhi (TIP)-Investors bailed out of risky assets, sending stocks crashing after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s troops invaded Ukraine. On Thursday, the exodus from stocks wiped out Rs1.3 lakh crore in investor wealth on Indian stock markets. But the bad news for stocks was a boon for safer assets such as gold and government bonds. Crude oil surged past the $100 mark amid expectations of tighter supply. India’s benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled, ending 4.72% and 4.78% lower respectively, one of the sharpest daily declines in nearly two years. The declines put the indices in correction territory—defined as a drop of at least 10% from a recent peak. The Sensex hit a record high of 62,245.43 on October 19. A near-6% decline was recorded on 4 May 2020 after the government extended the nationwide lockdown and a flare-up in US-China tensions. The Russian invasion has triggered the worst security crisis in Europe since World War II. The attack on Ukraine heightens the pressure on the global economy already reeling from Covid and galloping inflation. Investors fear the unfolding crisis will further increase raw material and energy costs. Sanctions against Russia by Western powers are likely to isolate the erstwhile superpower, a major producer of oil and commodities.

    Global markets, too, saw deep corrections. Among Asian markets, the Hang Seng, Taiwan, Nikkei, Shanghai Composite, Jakarta Composite ended the day 1.48-3.21% lower. “The world can ill-afford further disruption in trade and commodities when Covid has already weakened sovereign balance sheets,” said Amar Ambani, head of institutional equities, Yes Securities.

    Brent crude hit $105 a barrel, a level not seen since August 2014, adding to the worries.

    S&P Global Platts Analytics said $100 oil aggravates pain as Asia’s top oil importers are dependent on imports for 70-100% of their needs. “High oil prices will dampen demand and undermine the fragile economic recovery,” said Lim Jit Yang, adviser for oil markets at S&P Global Platts Analytics.

    The concerns are likely to remain elevated. “Crude could stay over $100 a barrel in the medium term unless Opec hikes output,” said Hetal Gandhi, director, Crisil Research. Opec members have failed to meet targets over the past three months.

    Gold hit highest level in over a year. As Russia invaded Ukraine, gold prices skyrocketed to their highest level in more than a year.

    In India, the gold price  surged by Rs 1,400 , hitting the peak of Rs 51,750 per 10 gms in the early morning trade. This comes amid steep fall in the stock market with Sensex down by 1432.50 points and Nifty reporting a slump of 410.70 points at the time of opening. Several Asian stock markets also plunged in the aftermath of the Russian invasion.

    The bullion has witnessed a spike amid the increasing standoff between Russia and the West. Economic experts say gold is now being historically seen as a hedge against major economic and geopolitical ructions.

    Spot gold jumped as much as 2.1% to $1,949.03 an ounce, the highest level since January 2021, and traded at $1,939.55 at 1:08 p.m. in Singapore, news website Bloomberg reported.         Source: HT

  • Anand Subramanian, NSE’s ex top official, arrested by CBI

    New Delhi (TIP)-Anand Subramanian, former group operating officer at the NSE, was arrested by the CBI late on Thursday, Feb 24,  night days after he was questioned about his role at the country’s largest stock exchange. The central probe agency had also put out notices against Subramanian amid probe over irregularities at the  NSE (National Stock Exchange).

    The emails exchanged between the NSE’s former CEO Chitra Ramkrishna with a ‘yogi’ living in the Himalayas have gained wide attention in the midst of the investigation. Ramakrishna was questioned for 12 hours by the CBI last week in the ‘tick-by-tick’ manipulation case – that pertains to the unfair dissemination of information from the servers of the exchange to those of the stock brokers.

    Earlier this month, Market regulator Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India) had slapped a fine of ?3 crore on  Ramkrishna for exchanging confidential information over emails with this ‘yogi’, an unknown individual. Several key decisions that she took as the NSE head between 2014 and 2016, a February 11 SEBI order revealed, were influenced by her interactions with this unknown individual. A probe by the NSE later revealed that the email id in question was operated by Subramanian. He too was slapped with a fine of Rs 2 crore. Ramakrishna’s predecessor Ravi Narayan, the NSE’s former MD and CEO, was also asked to pay a Rs 2 crore fine.

  • ‘LIC IPO to go ahead; worried if market situation conducive’

    New Delhi (TIP)-Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the government will go ahead with the initial public offering (IPO) of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) amid concerns being raised over the possible impact of the escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine. She, however, said the government is “equally worried if the market situation is conducive”.

    “The LIC draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) is out and we are seeing quite a buzz in the market about it. We are moving ahead with it,” said Sitharaman.On February 13, LIC had filed its DRHP with the market regulator. The government plans to sell nearly 5 per cent stake in the life insurance giant for around Rs 65,000 crore, which could make it the most valuable company in the country.Sitharaman said that the government is watching the Russia-Ukraine crisis closely. On being asked about its impact on trade, the Finance Minister said the Russia-Ukraine impact was yet to be felt on trade and added that the government is careful that exports do not suffer.

  • BharatPe sacks co-founder Grover’s wife for irregularities

    BharatPe sacks co-founder Grover’s wife for irregularities

    New Dlhi (TIP)-BharatPe has sacked its head of controls Madhuri Jain Grover – wife of embattled co-founder Ashneer Grover – for alleged financial irregularities ranging from producing fake invoices to billing the company for personal beauty treatment and trips abroad. While a company spokesperson confirmed the termination, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said BharatPe has cancelled all 244 unvested and 56 vested employee stock options (ESOPs). Madhuri Grover did not respond to an email sent seeking her comments. She was last month sent on leave within days of her husband announcing a three-month leave of absence following allegations of using abusive language against Kotak Mahindra Bank staff and fraudulent practices.

  • Mahashivratri, ‘The Great Night of Shiva’

    Mahashivratri, ‘The Great Night of Shiva’

    Mahashivratri, “The Great Night of Shiva” is a night of special spiritual significance. The fourteenth day of every lunar month or the day before the new moon is known as Shivratri. Among all the twelve Shivratris that occur in a calendar year, Mahashivratri, the one that occurs in February-March is of the most spiritual significance. On this night, the northern hemisphere of the planet is positioned in such a way that there is a natural upsurge of energy in a human being. This is a day when nature is pushing one towards one’s spiritual peak. It is to make use of this, that in this tradition, we established a certain festival which is nightlong. To allow this natural upsurge of energies to find their way,one of the fundamentals of this nightlong festival is to ensure that you remain awake with your spine vertical throughout the night. According to the legend, this day is a very dear day to Lord Shiva because on this day Lord Shiva was married to Mother Parvati. Hence this day is celebrated as Mahashivratri. It is said that on this auspicious day, a person who observes a fast and worships Lord Shiva will never have to endure the torture of hell.

    Mahashivratri is very significant for people who are on the spiritual path. It is also very significant for people who are in family situations, and also for the ambitious in the world. People who live in family situations observe Mahashivratri as Shiva’s wedding anniversary. Those with worldly ambitions see that day as the day Shiva conquered all his enemies.

    But, for the ascetics, it is the day he became one with Mount Kailash. He became like a mountain – absolutely still. In the yogic tradition, Shiva is not worshipped as a God, but considered as the Adi Guru, the first Guru from whom the science of Yoga originated. After many millennia in meditation, one day he became absolutely still. That day is Mahashivratri. All movement in him stopped and he became utterly still, so ascetics see Mahashivratri as the night of stillness.

    Spiritual Significance of Mahashivratri

    Legends apart, why this day and night are held with such importance in the yogic traditions is because of the possibilities it presents to a spiritual seeker. Modern science has gone through many phases and arrived at a point today where they are out to prove to you that everything that you know as life, everything that you know as matter and existence, everything that you know as the cosmos and galaxies, is just one energy which manifests itself in millions of ways.

    This scientific fact is an experiential reality in every yogi. The word “yogi” means one who has realized the oneness of the existence. When I say “yoga,” I am not referring to any one particular practice or system. All longing to know the unbounded, all longing to know the oneness in the existence is yoga. The night of Mahashivratri offers a person an opportunity to experience this.

    Shivratri – The Darkest Night of the Month

    Shivratri, is the darkest day of the month. Celebrating Shivratri on a monthly basis, and the particular day, Mahashivratri, almost seems like celebration of darkness. Any logical mind would resist darkness and naturally opt for light. But the word “Shiva” literally means “that which is not.” “That which is,” is existence and creation. “That which is not” is Shiva. “That which is not” means, if you open your eyes and look around, if your vision is for small things, you will see lots of creation. If your vision is really looking for big things, you will see the biggest presence in the existence is a vast emptiness.

    A few spots which we call galaxies are generally much noticed, but the vast emptiness that holds them does not come into everybody’s notice. This vastness, this unbounded emptiness, is what is referred to as Shiva. Today, modern science also proves that everything comes from nothing and goes back to nothing. It is in this context that Shiva, the vast emptiness or nothingness, is referred to as the great lord, or Mahadeva.

    Every religion, every culture on this planet has always been talking about the omnipresent, all-pervading nature of the divine. If we look at it, the only thing that can be truly all-pervading, the only thing that can be everywhere is darkness, nothingness, or emptiness.

    Generally, when people are seeking well-being, we talk of the divine as light. When people are no longer seeking well-being, when they are looking beyond their life in terms of dissolving, if the object of their worship and their sadhana is dissolution, then we always refer to the divine as darkness. Light is a brief happening in your mind. Light is not eternal, it is always a limited possibility because it happens and it ends. The greatest source of light that we know on this planet is the sun. Even the sun’s light, you could stop it with your hand and leave a shadow of darkness behind. But darkness is all-enveloping, everywhere. The immature minds in the world have always described darkness as the devil. But when you describe the divine as all-pervading, you are obviously referring to the divine as darkness, because only darkness is all-pervading. It is everywhere. It does not need any support from anything.

    Light always comes from a source that is burning itself out. It has a beginning and an end. It is always from a limited source. Darkness has no source. It is a source unto itself. It is all-pervading, everywhere, omnipresent. So when we say Shiva, it is this vast emptiness of existence. It is in the lap of this vast emptiness that all creation has happened. It is that lap of emptiness that we refer to as the Shiva.

    In Indian culture, all the ancient prayers were not about saving yourself, protecting yourself or doing better in life. All the ancient prayers have always been “Oh lord, destroy me so that I can become like yourself.” So when we say Shivratri, which is the darkest night of the month, it is an opportunity for one to dissolve their limitedness, to experience the unboundedness of the source of creation which is the seed in every human being.

    Date and time of Mahashivratri 2022

    –              Date : Tuesday , 01 March 2022

    –              Chaturdashi date starts – March 01, 2021 at 03:15              pm

    –              Chaturdashi date ends – March 02, 2021 at 01:02                                am

    Auspicious time

    –              Nishita time – March 01, 12:06 am to March 02,                   12.55 am

    –              First Prahar – 01 March, 06:21 pm to 09:27 pm

    –              Second Prahar – March 2, 09:27 pm to 12:33 am,

    –              Third Prahar – March 02, 12:33 am to 03:39 am

    –              Fourth Prahar- March 02, 03:39 am to 06:45 am

    –              Shivaratri Paran Time – March 02, 06:45 am to                     03:02 pm

  • Gokarna: ‘Land of palm trees, blue seas and golden sands

    Gokarna: ‘Land of palm trees, blue seas and golden sands

    With its pristine beaches and breathtaking landscapes, Gokarna is a Hindu pilgrimage town in Karnataka and a newly found hub for beach lovers and hippies. Situated on the coast of Karwar, every year Gokarna welcomes hordes of tourists from around the world in search of sanctity and relaxation. The out-of-town beaches like Kudle beach and Om Beach are a different contrast to life inside the town.

    Palm clad beaches are dotted with foreign tourists in a majority and very few Indians are seen across. Gokarna is not very conventionally touristy. The beaches are meant for a slow, relaxed holiday and everything on the beach goes at the same relaxed pace. Full of coconut and palm trees, the ocean and clean sands, Gokarna is a ‘one of a kind’ place in the country.

    Places To Visit In Gokarna Om Beach

    Om beach is a wonderful beach located in the town of Gokarna. Shaped like the symbol ‘Om’, this beach offers plenty of adventure sports to the thrill-seekers. The view of this beach during sunset is one to be cherished forever. It is usually lined with shacks on the sides offering cheap accommodation and restaurants with global menus. There is also a bunch of fun water sports activities available on Om Beach, including speedboats, surfing etc. Visitors can even enjoy boating here.

    Om beach derives its name from its shape, which is formed by two semi crescents joined together. The unique black rock formations here attract a lot of travellers. One can spot fishermen boats, small cafes and eateries and crows swirling up in the sky at this beautiful beach. The beauty of this beach compels many visitors even to cross the danger area (marked by red) and play in the splashing waves.  This place is a heaven for all the shutterbugs, with some mind-blowing sceneries amidst the rocky terrain.

    Mahabaleshwara Temple

    A 6 feet tall Shiva Linga here at the temple is known as the Atmalinga is worshipped here. Built using white granite, it is a classic example of the beauty of Dravidian architecture. A 1500 years old carved stone Lord Shiva idol in the standing position represents the main deity. The temple has been mentioned in the Hindu Mythics of Mahabharata and Ramayana and it is said to be as significant as Kashi, hence it earning the title, Dakshin (South) Kashi.

    The top of the Atmalinga is the only part of the Linga that is visible to devotees. But during the Ashta Bandana Kumbhahishekam, a festival that happens once every 40 years, is when the entire Atmalinga is shown to the devotees. As per custom, devotees must first take a dip in the Karwar Beach, where the temple faces, visit the Maha Ganapathi Temple that is opposite the temple, then only visit the Mahabaleshwar Temple.

    Paradise Beach

    The fourth beach lying across the coast of Gokarna Town, Paradise Beach is also well-known by the name of ‘Full Moon Beach’. Located in the state of Karnataka, the Paradise Beach is about 150 meters in length and out of this almost seventy percent of the beach is entirely covered in rocks. The rest of the beach is adorned with clean white sand all over. Not much water sports are available here but swimming in the calm waters here is a great way to refresh your mind and body. The serene environment of the beach offers a great opportunity to spend some time in nature’s lap and find solace.

    Paradise Beach is not accessible by road and can only be reached via other beaches, namely the Half Moon Beach and Om Beach. Visitors need to hire a motor boat from either of the above-stated beaches to reach the Paradise Beach. This beach can also be reached after a small hike from the Half Moon Beach. Via this route, it will not take you more than 20 minutes to reach. Paradise Beach was earlier known as the hot spot for all the hippies, due to the trade of weed going on here. As soon as this caught the eye of the Government authorities, all these antisocial activities were curbed, shacks were broken, and all kinds of commercial activities were prohibited here.

    Gokarna Beach

    Gokarna Beach is several kilometres long and is situated at the edge of the temple town. It has recently gained popularity as a go-to beach destination owing to its beautiful stretches of sand and pristine locations. Gokarna beaches were rarely frequented by the locals until foreign tourists started thronging the seaside. Soon, many locals opened stores selling souvenirs, unique cafes and beach shacks. Walking along the coastline here is unique as you will come across many cafes and shacks and this is a place where the hippie culture of Gokarna is at. It is quite popular with pilgrims who come to the town to seek the blessings of Shiva, Indian groups and with foreign tourists as well. The muddy uphill roads with forest cover on both sides provide for more than a reason to go for a hike or a family picnic. The steep rocks in the shallow sea allow rock climbing for the adventure junkies. Bird and animal life is plenty around the serene beaches. While in Gokarna Beach, taking a crash course in Yoga is also a great way to spend the mornings.

  • YouTube adds TikTok-style live rings to show when someone is streaming

    YouTube adds TikTok-style live rings to show when someone is streaming

    Google-owned video-streaming giant YouTube is adding a new indicator to show when a channel is live streaming on the platform. The feature would make it easier to find live content. The new update will display a ring with the word “Live” on it around a channel’s profile picture when they are live streaming. “Really focused on making it easier for users to find live streams on YouTube, so we are rolling out the Live ring feature on mobile. YouTube creators streaming live will now have a ring around the channel avatar and clicking on it will take you directly to the livestream,” Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer, YouTube, said in a statement. Currently, TikTok uses a pulsing ring effect on a channel’s profile picture to alert the user that it is live. Meanwhile, YouTube TV is finally getting support for picture-in-picture (PiP) on iPhone and iPad. Mohan said while he couldn’t share an exact date, picture-in-picture support on iOS should arrive “hopefully in the next few months” for YouTube TV users. The feature has been available to Android users for quite a while, but support for YouTube TV users on iOS is long overdue. YouTube TV is also working on expanding some other features that include surround sound, which was launched last year on a very limited subset of devices.

    Source: IANS

  • Intel launches 12th gen Alder Lake P-series and U-series CPUs for thin laptops

    Intel launches 12th gen Alder Lake P-series and U-series CPUs for thin laptops

    Intel’s Alder Lake bombing run continues with the launch of twelfth era P-series and U-series CPUs. Like their extra highly effective siblings, they mix efficiency and effectivity cores managed by Intel’s Thread Director know-how. Intel Xe built-in graphics, assist for PCIe 4.0 and Thunderbolt 4, and extra spherical out the checklist of options. The primary wave of Intel’s twelfth era Alder Lake CPUs for mid-range and high-end laptops arrived with a splash. Our personal Tim Schiesser discovered Staff Blue’s newest H-series CPUs to be a powerful improve over earlier generations. The Core i7-12700H, specifically, proved quicker than AMD’s wonderful Ryzen 7 5800H processor in quite a lot of duties. Immediately, Intel launched the second wave of Alder Lake cell processors designed for skinny and light-weight laptops. Identical to the remainder of the twelfth era lineup, Alder Lake P-series and U-series CPUs are hybrid designs constructed on an Intel 7 course of node that mixes efficiency cores (P-cores) and effectivity cores (E-cores) in a method that resembles Arm’s large. This configuration supplies greater core counts than in earlier era (Tiger Lake) CPUs, which affords some important efficiency beneficial properties and higher battery life in eventualities that require them. Intel says you may stand up to 70 % higher multi-threaded efficiency when in comparison with Tiger Lake and AMD’s Ryzen 5800U CPU, in addition to Apple’s M1 and M1 Pro chipsets-however not the M1 Max. The low-power U-series are break up into two sub-families rated at 15 watts and 9 watts, respectively.

                    Source: Dimkts.com

  • A rare collision of dead stars can bring a new one to life

    A rare collision of dead stars can bring a new one to life

    Like a phoenix, some stars may burst to life covered in “ash,” rising from the remains of stars that had previously passed on. Two newfound fireballs that burn hundreds of times as bright as the sun and are covered in carbon and oxygen, ashy byproducts of helium fusion, belong to a new class of stars, researchers report in the March Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. Though these blazing orbs are not the first stellar bodies found covered in carbon and oxygen, an analysis of the light emitted by the stars suggests they are the first discovered to also have helium-burning cores.

    “That [combination] has never been seen before,” says study coauthor Nicole Reindl, an astrophysicist from the University of Potsdam in Germany. “That tells you the star must have evolved differently.”

    The stars may have formed from the merging of two white dwarfs, the remnant hearts of stars that exhausted their fuel, another team proposes in a companion study. The story goes that one of the two was rich in helium, while the other contained lots of carbon and oxygen.These two white dwarfs had already been orbiting one another, but gradually drew together over time. Eventually the helium-rich white dwarf gobbled its partner, spewing carbon and oxygen all over its surface, just as a messy child might get food all over their face.

    Such a merger would have produced a stellar body covered in carbon and oxygen with enough mass to reignite nuclear fusion in its core, causing it to burn hot and glow brilliantly, say Tiara Battich, an astrophysicist from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Garching, Germany, and her colleagues.

    To test this hypothesis, Battich and her colleagues simulated the evolution, death and eventual merging of two stars. The team found that aggregating a carbon-and-oxygen-rich white dwarf onto a more massive helium one could explain the surface compositions of the two stars observed by Reindl and her colleagues.

    “But this should happen very rarely,” Battich says.

    In most cases the opposite should occur — the carbon-oxygen white dwarf should cover itself with the helium one. That’s because carbon-oxygen white dwarfs are usually the more massive ones. For the rarer scenario to occur, two stars slightly more massive than the sun must have formed at just the right distance apart from each other. What’s more, they needed to have then exchanged material at just the right time before both running out of nuclear fuel in order to leave behind a helium white dwarf of greater mass than a carbon-and-oxygen counterpart.      Source: ScienceNews

  • Meta is building a digital voice assistant for Metaverse push

    Meta is building a digital voice assistant for Metaverse push

    Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc is building a digital voice assistant to help people interact hands-free with physical devices, such as the company’s Portal video-calling device and, eventually, augmented-reality glasses. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said the company is building the assistant in preparation for the so-called metaverse, a more immersive version of the internet that will let people interact online through virtual and AR glasses. Digital assistants will need to “learn the way humans do” to help users navigate this new online world, Zuckerberg said during a presentation on Wednesday, Feb 23.

    “When we have glasses on our faces, that will be the first time an AI system will be able to really see the world from our perspective — see what we see, hear what we hear and more,” Zuckerberg added, saying he hopes to eventually build AI assistants that can “move between virtual and physical worlds.” The AI assistant doesn’t have a name, but Meta is calling the effort “Project CAIRaoke.” AI technology that can learn and anticipate human behaviour will be at the centre of Zuckerberg’s proposed metaverse — in part because people will eventually access it hands-free by wearing a pair of smart glasses. While the metaverse concept is still undefined, Meta video demos show people moving around digital spaces and interacting with others as avatars.            Source: Bloomberg

  • Wedding pictures of Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar are finally out

    Wedding pictures of Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar are finally out

    Filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar took the wedding vows with singer-actor-anchor Shibani Dandekar on February 19 in the presence of close friends and family. Now, a few days after their marriage, Shibani has changed her name and bio on the photo-sharing social network, Instagram. She and Farhan also shared a series of pictures from their simple yet stylish wedding. Shibani has changed her name from Shibani Dandekar to Shibani Dandekar-Akhtar. Also, now her bio on Instagram reads, “Producer, Presenter, Actress, Singer, MRS AKHTAR”. However, she still goes by the name Shibani Dandekar on the micro-blogging site Twitter.

    Sharing the pictures, Shibani wrote, “Hey there husband! @faroutakhtar.” In the photos, Farhan and Shibani look extremely happy as they stand beside each other. One of the photos also has Farhan kissing his bride. Farhan also shared the photos and wrote, “A few days ago, @shibanidandekar & I celebrated our union and we are deeply grateful to all those who did respect our need for privacy on the day. The celebration however, is incomplete without sharing some precious moments with you and seeking your blessings as we begin our journey across the skies of time, together. With love from us to you.”

    As soon as Shibani dropped her wedding photos on social media, her friends and colleagues showered her with love and best wishes. Ileana D’Cruz commented on the photos saying, “So stinkin cute!!!!!!” On her another post which also featured a slew of Shibani’s happy moments from her wedding day, Neha Dhupia commented, “congratulations Shibani n Farhan @shibanidandekar @faroutakhtar.” Vishal Dadlani wrote, “I love you both @shibanidandekar @faroutakhtar. Still kicking myself for missing it!”

  • Alia says she decided to marry Ranbir when she was just a ‘sweet little girl’

    Alia says she decided to marry Ranbir when she was just a ‘sweet little girl’

    Alia Bhatt said that she wanted to marry Ranbir Kapoor from a young age, ever since she first saw him on screen. The two have been in a relationship since 2017. In an interview, Alia opened up about constant news reports speculating about when she is tying the knot with Ranbir. She said that according to her marriage is a ‘state of mind’ and she already feels at peace in her relationship.

    Speaking to India Today, Alia said, “When people ask me one persistent question – ‘When are you getting married? When are you getting married? When are you getting married?’ – I’m like, firstly, it’s not anybody’s business and secondly, if you ask me honestly, marriage is a state of mind and that’s what I feel in terms of the peace I feel with my relationship. I’m already there. So, let’s move on, and whenever it has to happen, it will happen as per my desires and as per his desires. That’s something that’ll take its time.”

    Source: HT

  • Tom, Andrew, Tobey feature in hilarious bloopers in No Way Home BTS video

    Marvel Entertainment shared a BTS video from the sets of Spider-Man: No Way Home on Wednesday, Feb 23. The clip features various behind the scene shots from the movie. The video also comes with hilarious bloopers from the film’s sets.

    Sharing the video, Marvel Entertainment wrote, “Get more Spidey, more villains, and more fun with over 80 minutes of new and behind the scenes content! #SpiderManNoWayHome is on Digital March 22 and on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on April 12!”

    In the video, Tom can be heard saying, “How they became super-villains it is just so funny.” He also says, “To work with them (Tobey, Andrew) was the highlight of my career.” Andrew says, “Tobey arrives and all of their arms were open.”

    One fan commented on the post, “80 minutes..I am so excited.” Another one said, “This is what we’ve been waiting for.” A fan reacted, “love that they’re promoting the bts content. I don’t really see marvel doing that anymore.” Another wrote, “I am gonna cry because this is so beautiful.” One more comment read “This is going to be legendary.”      Source: HT