The Indian Panorama

Month: February 2022

  • Indian diaspora group urges Biden to reject appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan envoy to US

    Indian diaspora group urges Biden to reject appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan envoy to US

    WASHINGTON,D.C.(TIP): An Indian diaspora group urged US President Joe Biden to reject the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, alleging that the diplomat is a sympathizer and supporter of terrorist groups. The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), in a statement, on Wednesday , Feb 2, urged Biden to reject the appointment of the “Jihadi-terrorist-sympathizer” Masood Khan as Pakistani Ambassador to the United States. “We also request Secretary of State Antony Blinken and members of the Senate and House committees on foreign relations to support this rejection,” it said.

    “Masood Khan has repeatedly demonstrated a soft spot for Jihadi-terrorists, including Aafia Siddiqui, a convicted terrorist operative known as ‘Lady Al-Qaeda’. His support to designated terrorist organizations under the US law such as Hizbul Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), and Jamaat-e-Islami, is not only inimical to US interests, but also to global peace,” FIIDS said.

    FIIDS is a US-based institute for US-India policy studies and awareness.

    “Khan’s diplomatic role in the United States may open an avenue for access for terrorist organizations to US institutions. Furthermore, his former active role as president of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir will complicate US relations with its strategic partner India. His support to the Taliban will also adversely affect US interests in Afghanistan,” it said.

  • Ravi & Naina Patel Foundation donates $1.5 million for Gandhi Center

    Ravi & Naina Patel Foundation donates $1.5 million for Gandhi Center

    Paraminder Aujla

    FRESNO, CA (TIP): California State University, Fresno, plans to establish a Gandhi Center to promote the development of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of inner peace and sarvodaya (universal uplift) with a $1.5 million donation from an Indian American foundation.

    “The Ravi and Naina Patel Foundation members appreciate one of Gandhi’s most beloved principles, vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the whole world is my family),” the Indian American doctor couple stated. “In the spirit of this principle, although based in Bakersfield, we had no problem reaching outside our home city to create learning opportunities at Fresno State.”

    “In a time of increasing unrest and polarization, we are excited by this one of its kind collaborations with the incredible leadership team at Fresno State to create a learning center emphasizing the two central pillars of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy — inner peace and sarvodaya,” they added.

    The donation from the Foundation would be used to establish an endowed fund to create and support the “M.K. Gandhi Center: Inner Peace and Sarvodaya” in the College of Arts and Humanities, the University announced in a press release.

    The Gandhi Center will promote the development of intellectual understanding and experiential learning of Gandhi’s philosophy of inner peace and sarvodaya. The idea of sarvodaya focuses on the development of the entire person and the construction of a nonviolent, peaceful and equitable society, the release noted.

    A virtual gift announcement will be held Feb. 18. The Gandhi Center Fund will support a director, student scholarly research, curriculum development, and activities like conferences, essay and art competitions, and public lectures to bring campus and community together.

    The Gandhi Center will be located in the campus library. Reflected in the library’s windows, the Fresno State Peace Garden occupies a central place on the campus.

    Spearheaded by Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor, professor emeritus and a supporter of the initiative, the Peace Garden holds the bust of Gandhi which looks east towards the monuments of leaders Jane Addams, Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez.

    These leaders were influenced by Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence, soul-force and the upliftment of all, the release noted.

    As the Peace Garden is reflected in the glass, so is Gandhi’s philosophy reflected in Fresno State’s values of discovery, diversity and distinction. “Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence changed the course of human history by illuminating a path for the individual to make lasting change through peaceful and creative action,” University President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval said. “His ideals of peace, equity and sarvodaya are intertwined in the mission, vision and values at Fresno State.”

    “Thanks to Drs. Ravi and Naina Patel’s generosity, the M.K. Gandhi Center: Inner Peace and Sarvodaya will enable an immersive experience for students who will become better equipped to make our community and the world a better place,” he said.

    Dr. Honora Chapman, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State, is enthusiastic about the impact of this initiative.

    “We are very grateful to the Patels for forging this unique partnership that underscores the University’s commitment to educate current and future generations about the principles and practices of inner peace and sarvodaya through courses, service-learning projects, public events and research.”

    Sarvodaya is connected with the principles of equality, justice, sustainability and dignity. Gandhi proposed programs that were meant to create economic, social, religious and political welfare, the release noted.

    These programs addressed all aspects of human life, including health, education, growing local and organic food, developing moral citizenry, sanitation practices, interfaith harmony, industries and local government structures.

    Dr. Veena Howard, a Fresno State religious studies professor who holds the Endowed Chair in Jain and Hindu Dharma, said, “The Gandhi Center will create academic and experiential opportunities for students to learn the value and social impact of Gandhi’s philosophy of inner peace and sarvodaya alongside his methods of satyagraha and ahimsa. “They will also learn the historical connections with American leaders, influenced by Gandhi in their nonviolent struggles to confront violence and injustice,” she added.

  • 12 migrants freeze to death near Turkey border after Greece pushback

    12 migrants freeze to death near Turkey border after Greece pushback

    Ankara (TIP): The bodies of 12 migrants who froze to death were found near Turkey’s border with Greece, the Turkish interior minister said February 2, accusing Greek border guards of pushing them back over the frontier.

    Interior Minister SuleymanSoylu tweeted that the 12 were among 22 migrants who were pushed back into Turkey by Greek border guards.

    He said they were found near the Ipsala border crossing between Turkey and Greece “without shoes and stripped of their clothes.”

    The minister didn’t provide further details, but shared blurred photographs of eight of the recovered bodies, including three in shorts and T-shirts. Soylu accused Greek border units of acting as “thugs” toward migrants while showing sympathy toward members of a network — which Turkey says is behind a 2016 failed military coup — who have escaped to Greece.

    He also accused the European Union of being “helpless, weak and inhumane.”

    The governor’s office for Edirne province, near the land border with Greece, said the deceased included a migrant who died in a hospital after being rescued by Turkish authorities.

    Turkey frequently accuses neighbouring Greece of illegally pushing back migrants wanting to make their way into Europe.

    Greece denies accusations that it carries out so-called pushbacks that prevent migrants from applying for international protection.

    Turkey, which hosts about 3.7 million Syrian refugees, is a major crossing point for migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa seeking a better life in European Union countries.

    Most try to cross into Greece by either crossing the northeastern land border or cramming into smuggling boats headed for the eastern Aegean Sea islands. Recently, smuggling gangs have even been piling migrants into yachts heading from Turkey to Italy. Dozens of migrants have died in the central Aegean last month. AP

  • PengShuai case shows barriers Chinese women face

    Beijing (TIP): The controversy surrounding Chinese tennis star PengShuai’s accusations of sexual assault against a former top politician continues to cast a shadow of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in the run up to their official kickoff on February 4. Within China, however, her case has drawn little attention amid the crushing force of official censorship. Yet it points also to the barriers Chinese women face when raising such claims, both in the courts and within a male-dominated social and political culture that regards any dissent as a threat to the tightly-controlled, Communist Party-dominated system. While the #MeToo movement gained some initial traction when it launched in China in 2018, recent cases show those early hopes for a significant change in official attitudes may have been unrealistic.

    Paying the price for going public : Coming forward publicly with allegations can expose victims to a host of perils from online abuse to job loss, countersuits from those they accuse and simple disappearance into the judicial system.

    In the case that first defined the Chinese #MeToo movement, activist Zhou Xiaoxuan sued state TV host Zhu Jun only after he sued her for defamation first. She accused him of groping her when she was a young intern at CCTV. After initially receiving public support and media coverage, Zhou now gets messages attacking her every day and has been banned from positing on her Weibo account — a Twitter-like platform — for a year. Other cases reflect the perils as well. Huang Xueqin, who publicly supported a woman when she accused a professor of sexual assault, was arrested in September. Wang Jianbing, who helped women report sexual harassment, was detained along with her. Neither has been heard from since. Peng disappeared from public view last year after accusing former Communist Party official Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. (AP)

  • David Attenborough, WHO, SviatlanaTsikhanouskaya among nominees for Nobel Peace Prize

    David Attenborough, WHO, SviatlanaTsikhanouskaya among nominees for Nobel Peace Prize

    Oslo (TIP): British nature broadcaster David Attenborough, the World Health Organization and Belarusian dissident SviatlanaTsikhanouskaya are among the nominees for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize after being backed by Norwegian lawmakers who have a track record of picking the winner. Also among the candidates for the accolade were Greta Thunberg, Pope Francis, the Myanmar National Unity Government formed by opponents of last year’s coup and Tuvalu’s foreign minister Simon Kofe, last-minute announcements showed. Thousands of people, from members of parliaments worldwide to former winners, are eligible to propose candidates. Norwegian lawmakers have nominated an eventual Peace laureate every year since 2014—with the exception of 2019—including one of the two laureates last year, Maria Ressa. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which decides who wins the award, does not comment on nominations, keeping secret for 50 years the names of nominators and unsuccessful nominees. However, some nominators like Norwegian lawmakers choose to reveal their picks.

    Natural world : Attenborough, 95, is best known for his landmark television series illustrating the natural world, including ‘Life on Earth’ and ‘The Blue Planet’. He was nominated jointly with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which assesses the state of biodiversity worldwide for policymakers. They were put forward for “their efforts to inform about, and protect, Earth’s natural diversity, a prerequisite for sustainable and peaceful societies,” said nominator UneBastholm, the leader of the Norwegian Green Party. Another Green Party representative nominated Sweden’s Greta Thunberg, whose rise from teen activist to global climate leader has made her a frequent Nobel nominee in recent years, along with the Fridays For Future movement she started. Pope Francis was nominated for his efforts to help solve the climate crisis as well as his work towards peace and reconciliation, by Dag IngeUlstein, a former minister of international development. Tuvalu’s foreign minister Simon Kofe was nominated by the leader of Norway’s Liberal Party, GuriMelby, for his work in highlighting climate change issues. Kofe filmed a speech to last year’s COP26 climate conference standing knee-deep in seawater.

    Environmentalists have won the Nobel Peace Prize in the past, including Kenyan activist WangariMaathai, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and former US Vice-President Al Gore. Still, “there is no scientific consensus on climate change as an important driver of violent combat”, said HenrikUrdal, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, cautioning against a “too simplistic connection between the two”. (Reuters)

  • 60 people killed in militia attack at displaced persons’ camp in Congo

    Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo (TIP): At least 60 people were killed in a militia attack on February 2 morning at a displaced persons’ camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the head of a local humanitarian group and a witness said. Both sources told Reuters the CODECO militia was responsible for the killings, which took place about 0200 GMT at the Savo camp in Ituri province. CODECO fighters have killed hundreds of civilians in Ituri in recent years and forced thousands to flee their homes, according to the United Nations. Recent attacks have also targeted displaced persons camps. “I first heard cries when I was still in bed. Then several minutes of gunshots. I fled and I saw torches and people crying for help and I realized it was the CODECO militiamen who had invaded our site,” said Lokana Bale Lussa, a camp resident. “We have counted more than 60 dead and (more) seriously injured,” he said.

    Charite Banza Bavi, president of the local humanitarian group for the Bahema-North area, put the death toll at 63. The Savo displacement site was home to about 4,000 people in December, according to the UN migration agency.

    CODECO’s fighters are drawn mainly from the Lendu farming community, which has long been in conflict with Hema herders. A government spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. Reuters

  • Adulterated cocaine kills 20, sickens 74 in Argentina

    Adulterated cocaine kills 20, sickens 74 in Argentina

    Buenos Aires (TIP): Apparently adulterated cocaine killed 20 people and seriously sickened 74 others in Buenos Aires, health officials said early February 3 as authorities searched frantically for the remainder of the deadly batch to get it off the streets before it is consumed.

    Experts were still analysing the drug to determine what was in it that caused the deaths. Judicial officials said one hypothesis being considered was that the cocaine was intentionally adulterated as part of a settling of scores between traffickers.

    Police said the cocaine was sold in the poor neighbourhood “Puerta 8” in San Martín — a suburb to the north of Argentina’s capital — and that a dozen people had been arrested. “This event is absolutely exceptional. We have no precedent,” San Martin Attorney General Marcelo Lapargo told cable channel TodoNoticias.

    “If the situation has escalated and the nature of trafficking has changed to the point where this becomes commonplace, I hope I never see it again.” Argentine authorities initially reported that eight members of the same group had died after buying the drug Tuesday. But as time passed, the number of deaths grew. The province’s health ministry said early Thursday that 20 people had died and 74 more were in the hospital, with 18 of those requiring mechanical respiration.

    “The urgency is to remove the poison from the market, to stop it from being sold,” Lapargo said.

    “There must be a lot of people with a bag in their pocket and the number of people hospitalised shows that the most important thing is to stop this extremely high risk.”           Authorities urged anyone who might have bought the deadly drug not to use it.

    Sergio Berni, the security minister for Buenos Aires province, called on “those who have bought drugs in the last 24 hours to discard what they bought.” AP

  • Military response not on cards for Covid protests: Canada PM Justin Trudeau

    Military response not on cards for Covid protests: Canada PM Justin Trudeau

    Ottawa (TIP): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on february 3 that a military response to the ongoing Ottawa protest against Covid measures is “not on the cards right now”.’ Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly said this week that all options are on the table, including calling in the military, to end the ongoing demonstration that was being called an “occupation” by some on the city council.

    Thousands of protesters railing against vaccine mandates and other Covid restrictions descended on the capital last weekend, deliberately blocking traffic around Parliament Hill. Police estimate about 250 remain. Trudeau said one must be “very, very cautious” about deploying troops on Canadian soil, adding there has been no such request to the federal government. He said any formal requests for assistance from the City of Ottawa or Ontario would be considered. Organisers, including one who has espoused white supremacist views, had raised millions for the cross-country “freedom truck convoy” against vaccine mandates and other restrictions.

    It has attracted support from former US President Donald Trump.

    Ottawa’s mayor, meanwhile, is calling on several opposition Conservative lawmakers to apologise for praising the protesters and posing with them.

    A photo posted by one of the lawmakers shows some of them giving the thumbs-up — in front of one of the protest trucks, which have been barricading roads and honking horns in the city almost non-stop since Saturday.

    Mayor Jim Watson responded on Twitter by calling the action an “absolute disgrace,” saying residents have been harassed by protesters and businesses have been forced to close. (AP)

  • Lanka inks $500-mn fuel deal with India

    Colombo / New Delhi (TIP):  Sri Lanka on February 2 signed an agreement with India for a $500 million credit line to help finance its fuel purchases. The first tranche will be used to buy 80,000 tonnes of petrol and diesel from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). India’s help has come just when Sri Lanka was faced with the spectre of dry fuel pumps. Its Energy Minister UdayaGammanpila had warned of fuel shortages as the country had no money to pay for not just oil imports, but also medicines and food. Power cuts are already the order of the day across the island nation as many turbines have not received diesel supplies.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had, in a letter to his Lankan counterpart GL Peiris on January 18, offered a new line of credit (LOC) of $500 million to Sri Lanka for the purchase of petroleum products. It was preceded by a meeting between Jaishankar and Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. India is likely to provide another $1 billion in credit facility to Sri Lanka for importing food, essential items and medicines. Earlier, it had provided foreign exchange support of more than $900 million. “These measures are in line with India’s commitment to stand with Sri Lanka, contribute to its economic growth and impart greater momentum to bilateral economic and commercial partnership,” said the Indian High Commission in Colombo in a statement. Sri Lanka has reciprocated by ending its hesitancy over involving India in a major way in the development of a Colombo port terminal and the vast petroleum storage facilities in Trincomalee. (TNS)

  • 15 ultras, four soldiers killed in Pak gunfight

    Karachi (TIP): Armed assailants attacked two camps of security forces in Pakistan’s restive southwesternBalochistan province, triggering an intense exchange of fire in which 15 terrorists and four soldiers were killed, a senior official said on February 3. The attacks, claimed later by the banned Baloch Liberation Army, took place in Panjgur and Noshki districts on Wednesday. In Panjgur, terrorists tried to enter a camp of security forces from two locations, while in Noshki, they tried to get into a Frontier Corps post. Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said in a video that nine terrorists and four soldiers were killed in Noshki, while six terrorists were shot dead in Panjgur.

    “Terrorists were repulsed from both places by the Pakistan Army,” he said, terming it a “great success” against terrorism. PM Imran Khan took to Twitter on Thursday to congratulate the security forces for foiling the terror attacks. (PTI)

  • Afghanistan’s Taliban told they can’t take their guns to the funfair

    Afghanistan’s Taliban told they can’t take their guns to the funfair

    Kabul (TIP): Taliban fighters will no longer be allowed to carry their weapons in amusement parks in Afghanistan, the group’s spokesman said on February 2, in what appeared to be another effort by the country’s new rules to soften their image.

    Taliban fighters, many of whom have spent most of their lives in a 20-year insurgency against a U.S. backed government, flocked to amusement parks in Afghan cities in towns after they took over in August.

    “Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are not allowed to enter amusement parks with weapons, military uniforms and vehicles,” the main Taliban spokesman, ZabihullahMujahid, said on Twitter.

    “(They) are obliged to abide by all the rules and regulations of amusement parks.” The Taliban earned a reputation as uncompromising and often brutal enforcers of their strict ways than they last ruled, between 1996 and 2001.

    But since taking over in August, they have tried to present a more moderate face to their fellow Afghans and to the wider world, as an interim cabinet grapples with a looming humanitarian crisis. Of particular attraction for Taliban fighters was one of Kabul’s largest amusement parks and a waterside park at the Qargha reservoir, in the city’s western outskirts.

    Fighters clutching automatic rifles queued for up carousel and swinging pirate ship rides – with regular visitors looking on nervously.

    Most of the fighters Reuters spoke to then had never been to Kabul until the Taliban took control of the capital on Aug. 15, and some were eager to visit the amusement park before returning to duties around the country. Reuters

  • IMF approves USD 1 billion loan tranche for Pakistan

    IMF approves USD 1 billion loan tranche for Pakistan

    Islamabad (TIP): The International Monetary Fund has approved the completion of the sixth review of its stalled USD 6 billion programme for Pakistan, paving the way for an immediate disbursement of about USD 1 billion loan tranche for the cash-strapped country. The IMF’s Executive Board held a meeting in Washington DC on February 2 to consider Pakistan’s request for completion of the sixth review and release of a USD 1 billion tranche under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The completion of this review allows for an immediate disbursement of 750 million in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) (about USD 1 billion) to Pakistan, bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 2,144 million (about USD 3 billion) or 106 per cent of the country’s quota, the Dawn newspaper reported on Thursday. Finance Minister ShaukatTarin also confirmed the approval in a tweet. “I am pleased to announce that the IMF Board has approved the 6th tranche of their programme for Pakistan,” he wrote. In July 2019, Pakistan and the IMF reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies for a three-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Under the agreement, Pakistan was to receive about USD 6 billion for a period of 39 months. The IMF had pledged to provide support under the EFF programme when Pakistan’s economy was in a critical stage and badly needed assistance to meet the balance of payments challenge. (PTI)

  • Sell assets of Future Retail to recover dues, lenders tell SC

    Sell assets of Future Retail to recover dues, lenders tell SC

    New delhi (TIP)-A consortium of 27 banks on Thursday, Feb 3, told the Supreme Court the money lent to Future Retail Ltd (FRL) belonged to the depositors and to safeguard the “public interest”, the entire assets of FRL can be subjected to open bids by Amazon and Reliance with a reserve price of Rs 17,000 crore. A Bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana, hearing FRL’s plea seeking a direction to the banks that no coercive action be taken against it for a certain time period due to non-payment of debt, did not pass any interim order and adjourned the hearing at the request of the company.

    At the outset, senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for FRL, said the hearing be deferred for a week or 10 days so that the company may try to work out some kind of settlement over payment of dues. The Bench, also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli, took note of the submissions and said the hearing may be deferred as it was FRL’s plea only.

                    Source: PTI

  • Wall Street ends winning run as Facebook forecast halts tech-led recovery

    Wall Street ends winning run as Facebook forecast halts tech-led recovery

    NEW YORK (TIP)- Wall Avenue snapped a four-session successful streak on Thursday, Feb 3, with all three benchmarks ending decrease after Fb-owner Meta Platforms’ dour forecast despatched its inventory plummeting and halted a nascent restoration constructed on upbeat earnings from different huge tech. Meta shares sank 26.4%, wiping round greater than $200 billion off its market worth, based on Reuters calculations, because it blamed Apple’s privateness adjustments and elevated competitors from rivals resembling TikTok for its disappointing outlook. The decline in market capitalization was the most important ever recorded by a US firm in a single session, eclipsing when Apple Inc shed $180 billion on September 3, 2020.

    In flip, Meta’s efficiency eradicated 0.9% of the Nasdaq’s worth and minimize the S&P 500’s mixed price by 0.6%, based on Reuters calculations. The exchanges, respectively, suffered their worst each day falls since September 2020 and February 2021.

    Shares of different social media corporations additionally took a beating. Twitter Inc dropped 5.6%, whereas Pinterest Inc and Snap Inc slumped 10.3% and 23.6% respectively forward of reporting their very own earnings after the bell.

    Massive tech shares resembling Alphabet Inc and Microsoft Corp fell greater than 3%, whereas Amazon.com Inc slumped 7.8%, earlier than it was scheduled to launch outcomes.

    “As we have gotten numbers in latest days, what we’re seeing is the supply of earnings being rewarded or penalized, and in case you proceed to ship robust earnings development, the market will reward that,” stated Maxwell Grinacoff, US fairness & derivatives strategist at BNP Paribas.

    “In a rising fee setting, as we progress via the yr, we anticipate to see extra divergence between the upper high quality names, such because the megacaps, and decrease high quality names which aren’t making any cash.”

    Monetary expertise corporations noticed a second day of promoting, after PayPal Holdings Inc’s disappointing earnings on Tuesday induced buyers to query if these corporations – which benefited considerably from the pandemic advancing the shift to digital funds – would justify steep valuations in 2022.

    PayPal dropped 6.2%, whereas friends Block Inc, Affirm Holdings Inc and SoFi Applied sciences slipped between 4.9% and 11%.

    Tech shares have loved a dominant interval amid low rates of interest, as buyers sought out excessive development, however with inflation rising and the US Federal Reserve signaling an aggressive rate-hike stance to rein it in, cash managers are having to regulate portfolios accordingly. “Persons are going to begin rising allocations to worth shares, and to try this they must promote their development shares, even when they’re down 15% to 30%,” stated Jack Murphy, co-chief funding officer of Easterly Funding Companions.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Common fell 518.17 factors, or 1.45%, to 35,111.16, the S&P 500 misplaced 111.94 factors, or 2.44%, to 4,477.44 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 538.73 factors, or 3.74%, to 13,878.82.    Source: Reuters

  • Crypto tax doesn’t bestow legality to trade, says I-T Dept

    New delhi (TIP)-The Budget announcement of taxing ‘virtual digital assets’ or crypto currencies will help the Income-Tax Department measure the “depth” of this trade in the country, know the investors and the nature of their investments and it does not “attach any legality” to these transactions, CBDT Chairman JB Mohapatra said.

    The head of the I-T department establishment in the country said this is “the right time” for the taxman to enter this arena, about which, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the government was undertaking a stakeholders’ consultation to frame a national policy and regulator in the coming days.

    Stating that there has been a “phenomenal increase” in transactions in virtual digital assets, Finance Minister announced in the Budget that any income from transfer of any virtual digital asset shall be taxed at the rate of 30% along with tax deduction at source.

  • All in a day: Zuckerberg loses $29bn, Bezos set to pocket $20bn

    New York (TIP)-Mark Zuckerberg lost $29 billion in net worth on Thursday, Feb 3,  as Meta Platforms Inc’s stock marked a record one-day plunge, while fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos was set to add $20 billion to his personal valuation after Amazon’s blockbuster earnings.

    Meta’s stock fell 26%, erasing more than $200 billion in the biggest ever single-day market value wipeout for a US company. That pulled down founder and chief executive officer Zuckerberg’s net worth to $85 billion, according to Forbes.

    Zuckerberg owns about 12.8% of the tech behemoth previously often known as Facebook.

    Bezos, the founder and chairman of e-commerce retailer Amazon, owns about 9.9% of the corporate, based on Refinitiv knowledge. He’s additionally the world’s third richest man, based on Forbes.

    Amazon’s holiday-quarter revenue surged, due to its investments in electrical car firm Rivian; and the corporate mentioned it will hike annual costs of Prime subscriptions in america, sending its shares up 15% in prolonged buying and selling and readying it for its greatest share achieve since October 2009 on Friday.

    Bezos’ internet price rose 57% to $177 billion in 2021 from a yr earlier, based on Forbes, largely from Amazon’s increase through the pandemic when folks had been extremely depending on on-line procuring.

    Source: Reuters

  • Google’s parent Alphabet seeks more investors in 20-for-1 stock split

    Google’s parent Alphabet seeks more investors in 20-for-1 stock split

    Alphabet Inc. announced a 20-for-1 stock split in the form of a one-time special stock dividend, aiming to draw a wider audience for its shares. “The reason for the split is it makes our shares more accessible,” Ruth Porat, Alphabet’s chief financial officer, said in a conference call with television anchors. “We thought it made sense to do.”

    The new class of retail investors often weigh affordability and brand recognition when deciding which stocks to buy. Alphabet has been at a disadvantage, as its stock is expensive and uses the name of a holding company, rather than the globally recognized brand, Google.

    The stock split could lead to Alphabet’s listing on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, one of the most commonly quoted indexes that holds 30 blue-chip companies. It could also help the company on its path to cross a $2 trillion market cap. A prior stock split happened in 2014, after the company’s shares topped $1,000. Porat said the split announced on Tuesday will come at the close of business July 15.Alphabet shares extended gains to 7% at 4:24 p.m. New York time after the stock split was announced.

    Source: Bloomberg

  • Apple launches support for unlisted App Store apps accessible via link

    Apple launches support for unlisted App Store apps accessible via link

    Tech giant Apple in an update on its developer website has announced that the App Store now supports unlisted apps that are only accessible with a link. Unlisted app distribution allows developers to release apps that are not meant for public use, reports AppleInsider.

    Such apps will not appear in any App Store categories, recommendations charts, search results or listings. Apps can also be accessed through the Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager, the report said.Developers will be able to distribute apps to a limited audience, which could include part-time employees, partners, business affiliates or conference attendees.

    In addition, apps can be distributed to employee-owned devices that might not be eligible for a mobile device management platform.

    Apple said that apps aimed at “specific organisations, special events or research studies, or apps used as employee resources or sales tools” are all good use cases for unlisted app distribution.

    The feature is currently available by request only. Developers will need to submit a request to receive a link for an unlisted app.

    Apple noted that unlisted apps must be ready for distribution — the company will decline any app in beta or pre-release state.

    Developers will be able to create unlisted distribution links for both new and existing apps. If a request is approved, the app’s distribution method will change to “Unlisted App” for both current and future versions.

    If the app is already listed on the App Store, its primary listing will remain unchanged.    Source: IANS

  • Forget metals, chemists use DNA to build the world’s tiniest antenna

    Forget metals, chemists use DNA to build the world’s tiniest antenna

    One of the main innovations of these nanoantennas is that the receiver part of the antenna (bright green) is also employed to sense the molecular surface of the protein (CAITLIN MONNEY)

    A team of researchers at the University of Montreal have developed a nanoantenna made of DNA (nucleic acid) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) to study changes in the structure of protein molecules. These fluorescent nanoantenna offer a distinct advantage over the fluorescent dyes that are ubiquitously used in biotechnology. The latter ‘display a low affinity for proteins’, while these nanoantennae are able to detect even the most minute of changes. The dye in the nanoantenna has an affinity to a specific region of a protein, which is contingent on the structure and chemistry of the protein. The antenna also performed well when used for examining enzyme kinetics i.e. the speed at which a reaction progresses in the presence of an enzyme. It also remained stable at higher temperatures. The findings were published last month in Nature Methods. The team explained that the nanoantenna works like a two-way radio that can both receive and transmit radio waves. It receives light in one wavelength, and depending on the protein changes it senses, it transmits light in another colour and this can be detected and studied.

    “In addition to helping us understand how natural nanomachines function or malfunction, consequently leading to disease, this new method can also help chemists identify promising new drugs as well as guide nano engineers to develop improved nanomachines,” Dominic Lauzon, co-author of the study, said in a press release.

  • India seeks tougher action from US tech giants on fake news

    India seeks tougher action from US tech giants on fake news

    Indian officials have held heated discussions with Google, Twitter and Facebook for not proactively removing what they described as fake news on their platforms, sources said in what is the government’s latest altercation with the Big Tech. The officials, from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), strongly criticised the companies and said their inaction on fake news was forcing the Indian government to order content takedowns, which in turn drew international criticism that authorities were suppressing free expression, the sources said. The sources, who were familiar with the proceedings at the virtual meeting on Monday, described the conversation as tense and heated, signalling a new low in ties between American tech giants and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. The officials did not issue any ultimatum to the companies at the meeting, the sources said. The government has been tightening tech sector regulations but wants companies to do more on content moderation.

    ource: Reuters

  • Hitchhiking in Earth’s orbit, asteroid may be with us for 4,000 years

    Hitchhiking in Earth’s orbit, asteroid may be with us for 4,000 years

    An asteroid that was discovered riding along in Earth’s orbit is about three-quarters of a mile wide and might remain as a hitchhiker with our planet for at least 4,000 more years while posing no danger, scientists said on Tuesday. Using observations from telescopes in Chile, Arizona and the Canary Islands, researchers provided the most comprehensive description yet of the asteroid, named 2020 XL5 and first detected two years ago. They confirmed it is one of only two of what are called Trojan asteroids traveling as a companion with Earth.

    Trojan asteroids can be wanderers in the solar system – as appears to be the case with this one – or material left over from their home planet’s formation. They become ensnared by the planetary gravitational grip and subsequently orbit the sun along the same path as that planet. This one looks to be a so-called C-type asteroid – one of the most common kinds in the solar system, according to planetary scientist Toni Santana-Ros of the University of Alicante and the University of Barcelona’s Institute of Cosmos Sciences in Spain, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications.

    These are dark in color and contain a lot of carbon along with rocks and minerals.

    “2020 XL5 poses no threat to Earth. We expect it will remain in its current stable orbit for at least the next 4,000 years,” said telescope scientist and study co-author Cesar Briceño of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab.

    Its location varies between about 56 million miles (90 million km) and 168 million miles (270 million km) from Earth.

    The asteroid occupies one of five so-called Lagrange points – positions in space where objects tend to stay put. These five locales allow for stable orbits due to the competing gravitational forces of Earth and the sun. This one resides at what is called the L4 point.

    The only other Trojan asteroid seen around Earth, discovered 12 years ago, also at the L4 point, and called 2010 TK7, is smaller, with a diameter of about a quarter mile (400 metres).

    It, too, is thought to have been captured by Earth’s pull while meandering through the solar system.

    2020 XL5, first detected in December 2020 using a telescope in Hawaii, may have been captured by Earth’s gravitational pull somewhere between 500 to 1,000 years ago, Santana-Ros said.                Source: Reuters

  • Kolkata – The city of joy

    Kolkata – The city of joy

    Kolkata is not only the capital of West Bengal but the heritage and cultural hub of India. This city is a beautiful blend of the vintage and the modern. A flourishing metropolis, it has preserved its essence in the form of music, dance and literature. The presence of beautiful buildings, museums, eateries, markets, temples, churches, fort, and theatres makes Kolkata a place where a visitor would always feel that they are short of time. Travellers come to Kolkata from all parts of the world to soak in this city’s heritage into their soul. Kolkata, West Bengal located on the East Bank of Hooghly river has many wonderful attractions that are just situated in the middle of the city.

    The history of Calcutta goes back to two millennia when Kalkata was only a small fishing village. The remains of the old villages and settlements are still found all around the banks of Hooghly River. The city’s recorded history started in the year 1690 when East India Company arrived and started operating from here. Before them, Calcutta State was a subsidiary of the Mughals. The presence of Hooghly river provided an easy commute for inland water transport and during this time, Kolkata was nothing but a collection of three villages that used the river as a source of their livelihood.

    Kolkata served as Capital of India before the Independence. Formally known as Calcutta, the city began the era of cultural renaissance in India. Many great laureates like Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananad, Subhas Chandra Bose, Nabakrishna Deb, Kaji Najrul Islam, among the few were from Kolkata and are still credited for literal revolution in India.

    Best Places To Visit In Kolkata-Howrah Bridge

    Howrah Bridge is the sixth largest bridge in the world and an important landmark in tourist monuments of India. This bridge is an engineering marvel that hides an entire world inside its massive plates. Close to Howrah Station, this legendary bridge provides commute option to millions of people on a daily basis. A visit to Howrah Bridge is a journey into the vintage side of Kolkata. Many markets located here are paradise for explorers and photographers

    Victoria Memorial

    Spread across 57 acres of land, Victoria Memorial is one of the stunning iconic landmarks of the city that offers a glimpse into its splendid past. For a travelling soul, Victoria Memorial presents one with a number of delightful sections including over 24000 artefacts to gaze upon, 21 lush green gardens to wander and click photos, and more than 3500 paintings that are 200 years old. Among all the tourist places in Kolkata, Victoria Memorial is considered to be the most beautiful.

    Travel tip: Hire a Kolkata tourist guide to learn interesting stories about the building and the artefacts.

    Park Street

    Park Street is a paradise for shoppers and food lovers. Located in South Kolkata area, Park Street is one of those places where visitors can find the most legendary eateries, street side shops and small cafes that are as old as the time when Kolkata came into existence. Some of the must try food items around Park Street iare Jhalmuri, Egg Rolls, Chinese, and various varieties of fish.

    Fort William

    Fort William is the part of the heritage that makes Calcutta tourism so important in the entire country. This building from the colonial era is a journey back in the past when the city started coming to life. Fort William also housed a ghastly jail that was filled with many prisoners kept under inhumane circumstances. A visit to Fort William is a must for history enthusiasts and the admirers of colonial architecture.

    Jorasanko Thakurbari

    The birthplace of Nobel Laureate Rabindranth Tagore is highly revered among Kolkata’s Bengali population. His work took Indian literature to new heights and brought the various communities of the city together to celebrate and appreciate their art and culture. Visitors can witness here artefacts from the life of Ranbindrahath Tagore’s childhood and observe the lifestyle of his family. Many letters, clothes and paintings are displayed here that evoke a desire to have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Tagore.

    Marble Palace

    Among the many highlights of Kolkata tourist map, Marble Palace is one of the most fascinating. The nineteenth century palatial mansion is one of the most beautiful royal family palaces that exudes splendour. Many brilliant artistic statues, elegant glassware, and wonderful pieces of artworks are showcased at the palace. Adore the beauty of this place and keep some extra time to explore the tiniest of item in great detail.

    Indian Museum

    The grandeur and magnificence that Indian Museum carries in its premises and inside the galleries is impossible to find anywhere else. Indian museum is the oldest and the largest in the country. It was established in the early 19th century and today boasts of many rare items that are kept on display. The museum has one of the original Egyptian Mummy along with many rare paintings and artefacts from the bygone era. Visitors of all age find something to do here as there is something interesting for the young and the old.

    Festivals Of Kolkata

    Kolkata and Durga Puja are synonymous to each other. The city celebrates this festival with great fervour and enthusiasm. Durga Puja is dedicated to the goddess of power and wisdom, Durga who is known as the annihilator of all forces of evil. Calcutta’s Bengali folks wait for Maa’s arrival for months and start preparing to welcome the mother goddess in different ways. On 9 nights of the festival the city is bedecked with beautiful pandals hosting the statue of the Goddess showcasing her war with demon king Mahishasura. Durga Puja is one of the most unique aspects about Kolkata and tourist flock to the city in large numbers to witness the grand celebration. Kolkata has a huge community of Anglo Indians who stayed here after the Independence and celebrate Christmas in Kolkata The city is decorated with lights and many bakeries prepare Christmas special delicacies. Kolkata tourism also encourages visitors to come to the city during this time as they organize many festivals and fairs in different areas where travellers can join in and be a part of the celebration.   Source: Thomascook

  • Vasant Panchami

    Vasant Panchami

    Vasant Panchami day is dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on Vasant Panchami day. Vasant Panchami is also known as Shri Panchami and Saraswati Panchami.

    This year, Vasant Panchamifalls on Saturday, February 5, 2022.

    Vasant Panchami Muhurat – 06:39 AM to 12:12 PM

    Duration – 05 Hours 33 Mins

    Vasant Panchami Madhyahna Moment – 12:12 PM

    Panchami Tithi Begins – 03:47 AM on Feb 05, 2022

    Panchami Tithi Ends – 03:46 AM on Feb 06, 2022

    People worship Goddess Saraswati to get enlighten with knowledge and to get rid of lethargy, sluggishness and ignorance. This ritual of initiating education to children is known as Akshar-Abhyasam or Vidya-Arambham/Praasana which is one of the famous rituals of Vasant Panchami. Schools and colleges arrange pujas in the morning to seek blessing of the Goddess.

    Being an important festival, all Hindus celebrate this day with much enthusiasm and religious activities. Also known as Saraswati Puja, it is considered to be the birthday of goddess Saraswati. She is the deity of wisdom and learning. Along with goddess Parvati and Laxmi, she is one of the three most important deities in Hindu culture. She represents all kinds of knowledge including science, arts, crafts and other skills. Known for her calmness and serenity, she is often shown seated on a white lotus with four hands and wearing a pure silk white sari. The four hands of the deity symbolize the different sides of human personality in learning. When seated on a peacock, she signifies that wisdom suppresses ego. On this day people observe various kinds of religious activities and large numbers of Hindus visit temples. Goddess Saraswati is dressed in yellow garments, yellow being the symbol of spiritual knowledge. People also dress up in yellow clothes and offer yellow flowers to deities in the temples. At homes people prepare yellow sweets and dishes such as Kesar Halwa and distribute among relatives and friends. Being an auspicious occasion, children are taught their first words, hence, marking the beginning of their learning period. Schools and colleges organize special pujas to worship goddess Saraswati. Students place their books at the deity’s feet and seek her blessing for better learning. Other religious activities of the day include feeding Brahmans and performing the traditional ritual of ancestral worshipping known as Pitr-Tarpan. On this day, people also perform pujas to worship the God of Love, Kamadeva. Children fly kites on this day and a famous kite festival is observed in Ferozepur, Punjab. Basant Panchami symbolizes the beginning of spring, denoted by flowering and blooming of trees and crops. Signs of new and fresh life on trees and crops indicate the end of winter and beginning of happiness and joy.

    The festival of Basant Panchami is a widely celebrated festival which marks the end of the winter season and the beginning of spring. Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of arts and knowledge, is the presiding deity of the festival. The festival falls on the fifth day of the Indian month of Magh and in the months of January-February according to the Gregorian calendar. The color which denotes the celebration of this festival is yellow and during the entire season, the whole atmosphere is filled with this vibrant color. People wear yellow clothes and prepare yellow sweets which are distributed among their loved ones. The goddess of knowledge is worshipped especially by students and academicians. Though it is celebrated primarily by the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists worship her too as she is the benefactor of all written and performed arts.

    Rituals & Tradition

    The festival is celebrated with great pomp and show in all parts of India. On this auspicious day, the Hindus get up early in the morning and worship the Sun God after taking bath, if possible, in the sacred river Ganges. Then they clad themselves in yellow, as it signifies spirituality and prosperity. The color yellow also signifies the color of the ripened spring crop. Festive sweets are prepared at home using saffron, as it helps in deriving the color yellow. The goddess is dressed in yellow and the deity is worshipped by the worshippers who are dressed in yellow too. Later, swings are tied to the trees and women have fun singing traditional folk songs to greet the beautiful season of spring. After these rituals, sweets are distributed among the loved ones. The traditional sweet which goes along with the spirit of the festival is ‘Kesar Halwa’ and ‘Sweet Rice’ which are prepared with saffron to add yellow color to the preparation.

    Schools and other teaching institutions organize cultural programs on this day, including the worshipping of goddess Saraswati. Along with these rituals, another important part of this festival is introducing children to the world of knowledge, hence marking a beginning to their learning phase. Floral designs are made in front porch of houses to signify the arrival of spring. Colorful kites are arranged by children and the sky gets filled with numerous kites on this auspicious day.

    Kite Festival

    The festival of Vasant Panchami is celebrated to welcome the season of spring, a season when the earth replenishes itself. Spring also denotes pleasant weather, during which calm wind whistles in your ear and caresses your face with its light cool touch. It is the season when the weather is neither hot nor cold, when the wind has a cooling effect but not the kind to chill your bones. This kind of weather reminds you of a number of things including Basant Panchami, the primary festival of this season. It is one of the most colorful and wonderful festivals of this effervescent nation. The festival brings in a number of colors in the form of colorful attires. Being the color of spring, yellow gets into vogue as it also denotes prosperity, happiness, intellect and energy.

    Flying kites is a sport much popular in India. In a clear and pleasant weather, you will see plenty of kites in the sky. Being a part of Vasant Panchami, kite flying competitions take place during this festival. Fighter kites were designed in India and Pakistan for decades. Ferozepur, a small town in Punjab, is famous for this sport and a number of children including both girls and boys purchase kites and fly them. Popular among adults too, they get on to their building’s terrace along with the children, play songs at high volume and dance with the rhythm while flying kites.

    The event of kite flying is filled with a lot of enthusiasm and thrill. Both skilled and unskilled participants bring in their fancy colorful kites and the joy they receive when they cut their opponent’s kite is a sight to cherish. With pomp and show the kites are flown and interesting kite fights take place thereafter. Children learn to fly kites from their elders, who themselves like flying them a lot. Kite fighting being the main attraction, people from around the world come to this place to experience the fun involved with this colorful festival. The kites are flown with the help of a string called ‘Manjha’. There are a number of such competitions which are organized during the festival. The competition is always there to rule the sky and one has to keep his kite flying till the end to be the winner. There are judges too, some of whom decides which the most beautiful kite is while others decide which is the biggest. The festival brings with it colors in form of greenery and colorful kites.

  • Salman Khan is ‘getting back’ in shape before resuming Tiger 3 shoot with Katrina Kaif

    Salman Khan is ‘getting back’ in shape before resuming Tiger 3 shoot with Katrina Kaif

    Salman Khan is back to the grind. He recently posted a picture of himself as he worked out in the gym. In the photo, Salman is seen flaunting the muscles of his back. Sharing the picture from the gym, Dabangg Khan wrote, “Getting back! @beingstrongglobal.”

    Salman’s chiselled physique found many admirers on social media. Commenting on the picture shared by the actor, one of the Instagram users wrote, “Awesome”. Another added, “Real fitness Icon” There were some who called the image “Goal”. A few also wrote, “Tiger is Back”. Salman Khan will reportedly resume the shoot of the next film in his Tiger franchise. The actor will be finishing the last schedule of the film in Delhi along with co-actor Katrina Kaif from February 12 and 13.

    Recently, Salman congratulated Katrina on her marriage to Vicky Kaushal on the grand finale on Bigg Boss 15. On the show, Salman grooved on Katrina’s “Chikni Chameli” with Rakhi Sawant and Rubina Dilaik. As the performance ended, Salman said, “Shaadi mubarak ho, Katrina (Congratulations on your wedding, Katrina).”

    Salman Khan and his family were not invited to Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif’s wedding that took place on December 9 last year.

    Yash Raj Films’ Tiger 3 is the next chapter in the spy action-thriller franchise, which will see Salman and Katrina reprise their roles of agents Tiger and Zoya. Helmed by Maneesh Sharma, the film will also star Emraan Hashmi as the antagonist. On his 56th birthday, Salman had said Tiger 3 would release by December 2022.

  • Khloe Kardashian hits back at troll accusing her of hiding ‘chicken feet’ hands in latest photo

    Khloe Kardashian hits back at troll accusing her of hiding ‘chicken feet’ hands in latest photo

    Let’s give Khloe Kardashian an applause for this epic clapback. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum’s hands have recently piqued the Internet’s interest, with fans often uploading close-up photographs of her long and thin fingers on social media. So when someone recently mocked Khloe’s posing in a Good American commercial, which showed the star’s hands tucked behind her head while wearing blue jeans, Khloe resorted to the comments section to shut it down. “Oh lord, she’s hiding her hands,” the Instagram user wrote, to which Khloe responded, “lol never.” She added, “My hands are beautiful baby.” As per E! News, This wasn’t the first time Khloe has addressed the media’s focus on her fingers. After a stylised picture session for her debut Good American shoe collection made headlines online in February, Khloe assured followers that she had “normal size hands/fingers.” In response to charges that it was all “photoshop,” the mogul clarified publicly that her limbs were “elongated” in the shots because of a specialist camera lens. “HA I’m cracking up!” she tweeted, before explaining that some of the promotional images were “shot on a camera lens that creates a stretching effect.” Interestingly, Kardashian addressed an Instagram troll who questioned her appearance in an August 2020 Instagram post.