The Indian Panorama

Year: 2022

  • Lord Shiva and his avatars

    Lord Shiva and his avatars

    Lord Shiva is one of the towering deities of the Hindu trinity. He is hailed as the “destroyer” while Brahma is the “creator” and Vishnu is the “protector”. Nonetheless, the “destruction” referred to here is not the dogmatic destruction of creation but the intrinsic negative human traits, imperfections and illusions. And this “destruction” paves the way for creation all over again. Therefore, Lord Shiva could be best described as a “constructive destroyer.” This Hindu deity, in a human form, is seen sitting in a meditative posture. It is Lord Shiva who is also worshipped in the form of a Linga. It is said that the Linga form of Lord Shiva came into being on the Chaturdashi Tithi, Krishna Paksha in Phalguna month (as per the Purnimant calendar). This auspicious day is also believed to be when Lord Shiva (Purusha) united with Parvati (Shakti). Therefore, the day, popular as Maha Shivratri, commemorates the Lord and his consort’s marriage. Hailed as Bholenath, Mahadev, Shankar and various other names, Lord Shiva has incarnated several times to serve multiple purposes.

    Piplaad Avatar

    This avatar of Lord Shiva was born to Sage Dadhichi and his wife, Swarcha. However, he lost his parent’s son after his birth. He was raised by his aunt Dadhimati. As he grew up and learnt about the cause of his father’s death, Piplaad cursed Shani Dev (Saturn). He wanted to avenge Shani Dev for causing troubling his father during his lifetime. As a result, Shani Dev fell from the galaxy. However, after the Devas intervened, Piplaad agreed to forgive Shani by saying that none below sixteen would get affected by his adverse effects. Therefore, those who have Shani Dosha worship Lord Shiva.

    Nandi Avatar

    This form of Lord Shiva was born to Sage Shilada. The sage performed intense penance to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings and asked for a child who would remain immortal. Therefore, pleased by Sage’s devotion, Lord Shiva took birth as Nandi, who then became the gate-keeper of Kailasha (Lord Shiva’s heavenly abode) and the mount of the Lord.

    Veerabhadra Avatar

    The Veerabhadra avatar of Lord Shiva is one of his fiercest forms. Lord Shiva incarnated as Veerabhadra after his wife Sati’s death. The Veerabhadra form of Lord Shiva destroyed King Daksha’s Yagya and beheaded him for being responsible for Sati’s death.

    Bhairava Avatar

    The Bhairava Avatar also is one of the fiercest avatars of Lord Shiva. Referred to as Dandapani, the Bhairava Avatar punishes those who are greedy, lustful and arrogant. These negative traits often lead to one’s downfall, and hence the purpose of the Bhairava avatar.

    Ashwatthama Avatar

    Guru Dronacharya had performed intense penance to please Lord Shiva. He wanted the Lord to be born as his son. Therefore, pleased by Guru Dronacharya’s devotion, Lord Shiva took birth as Ashwatthama, an able warrior who played a pivotal role in the Mahabharata.

    Sharabha avatar

    This form of Lord Shiva appeared to calm Lord Narasimha after the latter killed demon Hiranyakashipu. The Sharabha avatar is one of its kind. The Lord appeared as a being that partly looked like a lion and bird. In some texts, the Sharabha avatar is said to have eight legs.

    Grihapati avatar

    The Grihapati avatar of Lord Shiva was born to a sage named Vishwanar and his wife, who lived on the Narmada banks. The sage’s consort wanted Lord Shiva to be born as her son. Therefore, the sage performed intense penance in Kashi. A few days later, pleased by Vishwanar’s devotion, Lord Shiva was born as Grihapati to the sage and his wife.

    Durvasa avatar

    This avatar of Lord Shiva was born to Sage Atri and his wife, Anasuya. He was known for being short-tempered and commanded respect both from the humans as well as the Devas.

    Rishabha Avatar

    As per a legend associated with this avatar, Lord Shiva appeared as a bull to kill the sons born to Lord Vishnu and the Patala Loka women. Lord Vishnu’s sons caused destruction, and hence at Lord Brahma’s behest, Lord Shiva appeared as Rishabha to save creation.

    Yatinath Avatar

    The Yatinath avatar of Lord Shiva appeared to test a tribal couple, who were known for their hospitality. The tribal man named Aahuk lost his life while safeguarding his guest, Yatinath. Instead of mourning, his wife took pride in him for giving away his life for the sake of a guest. Pleased by the couple’s devotion, Lord Shiva blessed them by saying that they would be born as Nala and Damayanti in their next birth.

    Hanuman

    Lord Hanuman is said to be the eleventh avatar of Lord Shiva. He was born to Mata Anjani and Kesari.

    Krishna Darshan Avatar

    This avatar of Lord Shiva appeared to emphasise the importance of Yagya and the importance of remaining detached. This legend is associated with a king named Nabhag, his father Shradhadeva and Sage Angiras.

    Bhikshuvarya Avatar

    As the name suggests, Lord Shiva appeared as a beggar to save the child of a King named Sathyaratha. Since the child had lost his parents, he was brought up by a poor woman with Lord Shiva’s blessings.

    Sureshwar Avatar

    This avatar of Lord Shiva appeared in Indra Dev’s disguise to test the devotion of a young boy named Upamanyu. The young boy passed the litmus test and succeeded in making Lord Shiva reveal himself.

    Keerat Avatar

    This avatar of Lord Shiva appeared to test the bravery of Arjuna. When the Pandavas were in exile, Arjuna meditated to seek Lord Shiva’s Pashupat. As he was meditating, a demon named Mooka transformed into a boar to kill Arjuna. Lord Shiva’s Keerat Avatar and Arjuna both killed the boar with their respective arrows. Initially, Arjun couldn’t recognise Lord Shiva, but eventually, he realised that only the Lord could be a better archer than him.

    Sunatnartak avatar

    The Sunatnartak avatar of Lord Shiva appeared in the Himalayan King’s court and danced with his damru. In the end, he put forward a marriage proposal and expressed his desire to marry Parvati.

    Brahmachari avatar

    When Sati took birth as Parvati and performed intense penance to please Lord Shiva, the latter appeared before her as a Brahmachari. He hurled abuses at Shiva to test Parvati’s devotion. And Parvati, who loved Lord Shiva more than anyone else, gave a fitting reply to the Brahmachari. Eventually, Lord Shiva revealed himself and blessed Parvati.

    Yaksheshwar Avatar

    The Yaksheshwar avatar of Lord Shiva appeared to crush the pride/complacency of the Devas after they consumed Amrit, the divine nectar. He asked them to cut a blade of grass, and they failed to destroy it even with their combined powers. Subsequently, the apologised to Lord Shiva.

    Avadhut Avatar

    Lord Shiva appeared as Avadhoot to crush the ego of Indra Dev.               Source: Timesnownews

  • Ronaldo breaks silence with explosive tweet after reported walk-out threat before Portugal’s clash with Morocco at WC

    Ronaldo breaks silence with explosive tweet after reported walk-out threat before Portugal’s clash with Morocco at WC

    Doha (TIP)- Portugal are scheduled to lock horns with Morocco in the quarterfinal of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Saturday, December 10. The 2016 UEFA Euro winners are embroiled in a controversy surrounding their star striker – Ronaldo. According to multiple reports, Ronaldo threatened to leave the Portugal squad after being dropped from the starting eleven against Switzerland in the Round of 16 phase of the Qatar World Cup.

    A report from Portuguese newspaper Record claimed that Ronaldo had considered walking out on the team following a tense conversation with Portugal head coach Fernando Santos. However, the Portugal forward has apparently refuted the claims by sharing a noteworthy post on social media. “A group too close to be broken by outside forces. A nation too brave to let itself be frightened by any adversary. A team in the truest sense of the word, which will fight for the dream until the end! Believe with us! Strength, Portugal!,” tweeted Ronaldo.

    Ronaldo’s sensational response has come after the Portuguese FA released a statement denying the claims made by the newspaper. The FA has clarified that at no time did Ronaldo issue such threats as mentioned in the reports. “News released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, national coach. The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team in Qatar. Cristiano Ronaldo builds up a unique track record every day at the service of the national team and the country, which must be respected and which attests to the unquestionable degree of commitment to the national team,” the Portuguese FA said in a statement.

           Source: HT

  • Led by RIL, two Adani companies, top 100 firms create Rs 92.2 lakh crore wealth during FY17-22

    Led by RIL, two Adani companies, top 100 firms create Rs 92.2 lakh crore wealth during FY17-22

    Mumbai (TIP)- Two Adani group companies — Adani Enterprises and Adani Transmission — have uprooted the traditional leader Reliance Industries in annual wealth creation in 2022 so far, while the top 100 of them created a massive Rs 92.2 lakh crore of wealth, according to a report. However, Reliance Industries has smashed all records to emerge as the largest wealth creator during the five-year period ending March 2022, says the leading brokerage Motilal Oswal in its 27th annual wealth creation study. The Gautam Adani group companies have been rallying to dizzying heights in the year as the group snapped up many assets and diversified into newer areas.

    The rally was so high that Adani on September 16 became the second richest person in the world with USD 155.7 billion, only second to Elon Musk who had USD 253.5 billion of net worth, according to the Forbes real-time billionaires list. The spike was following the stocks of Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports and Adani Transmission hitting record highs on that day. Adani, who owns 75 per cent each in these three companies, has added more than USD 70 billion to his fortune in 2022 in mid-September.

    In February, he overtook Mukesh Ambani as the richest Asian, became a centi-billionaire in April and left behind Microsoft’s Bill Gates as the world’s fourth-richest person last month. He also owns 37 per cent of Adani Total Gas, 65 per cent of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, and 61 per cent of Adani Green Energy.

    As against this, Ambani was pushed to the distant eighth slot with a net worth of USD 92.3 billion.

    Reliance Industries, Adani Transmission and Adani Enterprises are the biggest, fastest and the most consistent wealth creators, respectively between 2017 and 2022. Adani Enterprises and Adani Transmission are also the top all-round wealth creators, said the report. Technology sector has been the largest wealth creating sector between 2017 and 2022, followed by the financial sector, which coming out of despair should continue to dominate wealth creation in the foreseeable future, the report added.

    The study is based on the analyses of the top 100 wealth creating companies during the 2017-22 and the wealth created is calculated as change in the market capitalisation of these companies between 2017 and 2022, duly adjusted for corporate events such as mergers, de-mergers, fresh issuance of capital, buyback, etc. These companies created Rs 92.2 lakh crore of wealth during this period, which is the highest ever so far, the report said, adding Reliance has smashed all records to emerge as the largest wealth creator during the five-year period.

    Source: PTI

  • Asian shares higher as dollar retreats, risk events abound

    Asian shares higher as dollar retreats, risk events abound

    SYDNEY (TIP)- Asian shares tracked Wall Street higher amid hopes that China’s economy would pick up pace as COVID-19 curbs ease, although caution ahead of a week full of risk events, including the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, could cap sentiment. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.9% in early trade, edging closer to a three-month high hit earlier in the week. For the week, it was also set to rise 0.9%.

    Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index advanced 1.2%, with mainland developers up a whopping 4%. Chinese blue chips, however, saw more subdued gains. China’s Premier Li Keqiang, in comments carried by state media, said on Thursday, December 8,  China’s shift in COVID policy would allow the country’s economy to pick up pace, a day after a top-level party meeting pledged to focus on stabilising growth while optimising the pandemic measures.

    Apart from China optimism, investors are focused on U.S. producer price inflation figures later in the day for more signs about the health of the U.S. economy, after data overnight showed some loosening in the labour market, with weekly jobless claims rising moderately.

    U.S. stocks snapped their recent losing streak to rebound. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.55%, the S&P 500 gained 0.75%, and the Nasdaq Composite added 1.13%.

    U.S. monthly consumer inflation data is also due next week, with economists forecasting inflation likely slowed slightly to 8.0% in November from a year earlier, compared with 8.2% in October.

    Futures have priced in a near-certain possibility that the Fed will slow down its rate hike to 50 basis points next week, but the target U.S. federal funds rate would have to peak around 4.9% by next May.

    “This slowing is not a signal that the central bank’s job is nearly done…the slower pace of hikes starts a new phase of the Fed’s tightening cycle,” said Brian Martin, head of G3 economics at ANZ. “With inflation proving sticky and the labour market still buoyant, the risks to our 5.00% terminal view are to the topside.”

    Analysts at Barclays expect the key objective for the Fed at this meeting would be to execute a transition to slower hikes without easing broader financial conditions.

    “With data on activity suggesting that the Fed’s hikes, to date, have had limited traction on activity, we think the FOMC will accompany the move with hawkish dots to reiterate that the hiking cycle has a ways to go.”

    The Fed, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England are all set to announce interest rate decisions next week as policymakers continue to tap the brakes on economic growth through firmer rates to thwart stubbornly high inflation.

    The U.S. dollar slid 0.2% against a basket of major currencies on Friday, on top of a drop of 0.4% overnight. The safe-haven greenback was set to finish the week flat.

    Treasury yields rose overnight and remained largely steady, after falling to the lowest in three years earlier in the week on expectations of slower growth or that a recession will curb the rise in rates.

    Source: Reuters

  • BharatPe files criminal suit against co-founder Ashneer Grover, family

    New Delhi (TIP)- Fintech unicorn BhartPe has filed a criminal suit against its former MD and co-founder Ashneer Grover and his family, seeking up to Rs 88.67 crore in damages for alleged cheating and embezzlement of funds. The suit, running into 2,800 pages, alleges that Grover, his wife Madhuri Jain and other family members created fake bills, enlisted fictitious vendors to provide services to the company, and overcharged the company for recruitment. The civil suit and criminal complaint came up before the Delhi High Court, which issued notices to the Grover family and asked them to respond within two weeks. The next hearing date has been set for January 9.

    It also issued summons to the other defendants, including Grover’s brother-in-law, his father and his brother. If found guilty, they could face imprisonment for up to 10 years.

    “Pass a decree of permanent injunction restraining the defendants (Grover and others) and/or anyone on their behalf in any manner whatsoever from making defamatory/derogatory statements concerning the plaintiff (BharatPe), its directors, employees and/or publicising, printing the same in any medium or form whatsoever,” the suit said, while also seeking direction to the defendants to disclose their assets.

    During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for BharatPe, contended that Grover, his wife and other relatives were carrying out a “vicious and vitriolic” campaign against the company which has a large number of foreign investors. The counsel for Grover and his wife said they were not served with a copy of the suit.

    Source: PTI

  • Air India to spend over $400 million on cabin upgrade of wide-body fleet

    Air India on Thursday, December 8,  announced plans to refurbish its entire legacy wide-body fleet, comprising 27 Boeing B787-8 and 13 B777 aircraft, committing over $400 million for the project.

    This refurbishment will see a complete overhaul of existing cabin interiors, including the addition of latest generation seats and best in-class inflight entertainment across all classes. In addition, the refurbishment will see the introduction of a Premium Economy cabin on both fleets. The First Class cabin will also be retained on the 777s. Air India has engaged leading London-based product design companies, JPA Design and Trendworks, to assist with the cabin interior design elements of this refurbishment programme.

    The collaboration brings together two experts in the fields of aviation and interiors that have produced designs for major brands, including Taj Hotels, The Orient Express and Herman Miller International.

    With this significant investment, Air India is committed to providing its passengers with a comfortable, modern, and technologically advanced cabin to facilitate travel experience that is comparable with the best airlines in the world.

    Source: TNS

  • Want to hide from security cameras? Chinese students have come up with an invisibility cloak

    A group of graduate students in China have invented an ordinary-looking coat that can apparently “hide the human body” from security cameras monitored by AI (artificial intelligence). Referred to as ‘InvisDefense’, the so-called invisibility cloak can blind the camera during the day with patterns and send unusual heat signals at night to dodge the AI monitoring. The coat, if perfected, could be helpful in countries like China and some South East Asian countries where the government widely uses AI-powered surveillance cameras. There’s also a possibility that governments may either ban the tech or improve their existing systems to detect such ‘invisibility cloaks’.

    As reported by the Chinese publication, South China Morning Post, the InvisDefense coat won first prize in a creative competition on November 27, sponsored by Huawei Technologies Co as part of the China Postgraduate Innovation and Practice Competitions. The report explains that the InvisDefense coat can interfere with the recognition algorithm of machine vision with a camouflage pattern on its surface during the day. At night, the coat messes with the temperature-detecting module to confuse the infrared camera.

    Speaking about the InvisDefense coat, Wei Hui, a PhD student responsible for the core algorithm, told the publication that the trickiest part was the camouflage pattern. “Traditionally, researchers used bright images to interfere with machine vision and it did work. But it stands out to human eyes, making the user even more conspicuous,” Wei said.

    The team seemingly carried out hundreds of tests before coming up with the technology. One of the biggest advantages of the invisibility cloak is its price. The creators say printing a pattern on the surface is relatively cheap, and only four temperature control modules are needed to blind the infrared camera. Its initial cost is quoted at CNY 500 (roughly Rs 6,000).

  • Apple iOS 16.2 beta is here: What’s new and how to install?

    Apple iOS 16.2 beta is here: What’s new and how to install?

    Apple has released the much-awaited iOS 16.2 beta software update for supported iPhones. This update is only for beta developers and users who are on the public beta list. The update brings 5G support to the iPhone 12 series and above in India, but again your iPhone needs to be on the public beta to get this.  However, 5G support is not the only new addition to the OS. Here are all the new features that come with iOS 16.2 beta.

    Apple iOS 16.2: What’s new?

    The update brings a new Freeform app to iOS, which acts as a seamless flexible canvas for users to add images, files and stickers on. The Freeform app is also available on Mac and iPad, so users can also access and edit their files everywhere. There’s also Apple Music Sing, a new feature that lets users sing along to their favourite songs. The new mode on Apple Music lets users adjust vocals on songs so they can sing themselves, but there are also ways to duet with the original artist or mix things up. The feature will also use what Apple calls ‘beat-by-beat’ lyrics that will make Karaoke easier than ever with precisely timed lyrics.

    Apple’s Advanced-Data Protection for iCloud support expands the total number of iCloud data categories protected on iOS with end-to-end encryption to 23. The list now also includes iCloud backup, Notes, and Photos. Users can also now hide their wallpaper or notifications on the Lock Screen when Always-On Display is enabled on the iPhone 14 Pro variants. A new sleep widget also lets users track their sleep data, while a medications widget prompts users with timely reminders.

    iOS 16.2 also brings SharePlay support to games via Game Center, enabling users to now play supported multiplayer games with the people they are on a Facetime Video call with. An accompanying Activity widget also lets you see what games your friends are playing. The Apple TV app now gets Live Activities as well, enabling users to follow live scores right from their Lock Screen or the Dynamic Island when their favourite matches are going on. The feature comes only to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

    The update also brings improved communications between the other smart home accessories and Apple devices you own. Improved search in Messages allows users to search for photos by searching for the content in them – like a dog, car, person, or simply actual text in a picture. Users can now also use the Hide IP address setting while enabling ‘iCloud Private Relay users to temporarily disable the service for a specific site in Safari.”

    The Weather app now shows location-relevant news articles on the weather. Meanwhile, on the Notes app, users can now see live participant cursors that show them where other users are on a shared note.

    AirDrop now automatically reverts to ‘Contacts Onlv’ mode after 10 minutes, so unwanted content is not sent to users by strangers. More Crash Detection optimisations are also coming to the iPhone 14-series with the iOS 16.2 update. An issue with iCloud that prevented notes from syncing is also now fixed.

    How to install iOS 16.2 beta?

    If you’re already on the iOS beta programme you should receive a notification for the new beta update. If not, stable channel users can first visit the iOS beta programme website to sign themselves up along with their Apple ID. This allows users to receive and install beta updates.

    Once you are eligible for iOS beta update, go to your Settings app when connected to a WiFi network and navigate to Settings>General>Software Update. You should see the new update and the changelog show up here, along with a button to install the update. Click on Install Now to proceed.

                    Source: The Indian Express

  • PSLV-XL rocket motor made by industry passes test: ISRO

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the performance of the booster motor made by Economic Explosives Limited for its PSLV-XL rocket was satisfactory. The Indian space agency tested the booster motor called PSOM-XL at its rocket port in Sriharikota on Wednesday, December 7.

    According to the ISRO, with this test, the private industry’s capability to produce the stage for PSLV has been established. This is the first step in the end-to-end production of PSLV through the industry.

    The ISRO had transferred the technology to Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur, in 2019.

    The commercial arm of Department of Space NewSpace India Limited has selected the HAL-L&T-led consortium to make five PSLV-XL rockets.

  • NASA’s Orion capsule flies over Apollo landing sites before heading home

    NASA’s Orion capsule flies over Apollo landing sites before heading home

    NASA’s Orion capsule and its test dummies swooped one last time around the moon, flying over a couple Apollo landing sites before heading home. Orion will aim for a Pacific splashdown on Sunday off San Diego, setting the stage for astronauts on the next flight in a couple years.

    The capsule passed within 130 km of the far side of the moon, using the lunar gravity as a slingshot for the 3,80,000-km ride back to Earth. It spent a week in a wide, sweeping lunar orbit.

    Once emerging from behind the moon and regaining communication with flight controllers in Houston, Orion beamed back photos of a close-up moon and a crescent Earth — Earthrise — in the distance. “Orion now has its sights set on home,” said Mission Control commentator Sandra Jones.

    The capsule also passed over the landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14. But at 1,900 km up, it was too high to make out the descent stages of the lunar landers or anything else left behind by astronauts more than a half-century ago. During a similar flyover two weeks ago, it was too dark for pictures. This time, it was daylight. Deputy chief flight director Zebulon Scoville said nearby craters and other geologic features would be visible in any pictures, but little else. “It will be more of a tip of the hat and a historical nod to the past,” Scoville told reporters last week.

    The three-week test flight has exceeded expectations so far, according to officials. But the biggest challenge still lies ahead: hitting the atmosphere at more than 30 times the speed of sound and surviving the fiery reentry. Orion blasted off on November 16 on the debut flight of NASA’s most powerful rocket ever, the Space Launch System.

  • Vaccine-linked heart inflammation high in males after 2nd dose: Study

    Vaccine-linked heart inflammation high in males after 2nd dose: Study

    A meta-analysis of 23 studies, including 854 patients aged 12 to 20 years with mRNA vaccine-associated myopericarditis (rare acute heart inflammation), has found that the incidence of myopericarditis was higher in males after the second dose, adding that however, the overall cases are very low.

    The findings, published in JAMA Pediatrics, a journal of JAMA Network, suggest largely low incidence rates and favourable outcomes of Covid vaccine-associated myopericarditis in adolescents and young adults.

    “This systematic review and meta-analysis found low incidence rate and largely favourable early outcomes of Covid-19 mRNA vaccine-associated myopericarditis in adolescents and young adults from a wide range of populations. These findings are reassuring but continued follow-up is warranted,” the researchers noted.

    Last month, a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that the incidence of myocarditis, pericarditis or myopericarditis is two- to threefold higher after a second dose of the Moderna Spikevax Covid-19 vaccine when compared to the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. However, “overall cases of heart inflammation with either vaccine are very rare”, it said. Since the emergency use was authorised, the association of the mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine with myopericarditis, which is a rare but serious adverse event, has been reported worldwide, especially in adolescents and young adults. The new JAMA study by Jun Yasuhara of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and Toshiki Kuno, of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, found that their findings are consistent with results from previous studies in adults, in which clinical course of Covid-19 vaccine-associated myopericarditis was typically mild, “with complete resolution of symptoms and LV systolic dysfunction at presentation normalised within a few days”.

    Source: IANS

  • Hair straightener: Here’s how often you should use it

    Hair straightener: Here’s how often you should use it

    We all know that using heating products on our tresses will lead to damage but it is difficult to completely abstain from them. Heat styling isn’t just for vanity but also keeps the hair looking neat. You don’t want to go out with frizzy and shabby hair! At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that excess heat styling can leave your hair damaged beyond repair. From immediate issues like dryness and roughness to more serious problems like brittleness, hair fall and split ends, heavy use of heat appliances can leave your hair devoid of nourishment and health. So, clearly, the need is to ensure that we use heat styling carefully to strike the right balance between looking gorgeous and keeping our hair healthy.

    As a thumb rule, you should try to use heat appliances as few times as possible but a more concrete answer to this question depends on your hair type and also the current health of your hair.

    If you have naturally straight hair, it is advisable that you use heating appliances once a week at the maximum. The main reason is that using heating appliances on your hair, which is generally known to be easy to manage, too often can leave it dry and frizzy.

    Curly

    For those who have curly or wavy hair, the duration stays the same. Most people with curly or wavy hair tend to use a blow dryer or straightening iron to make their hair more manageable. But, using heat on the tresses every day can damage the hair cuticles severely. Not only will it make the hair rough and frizzy but will also lead to breakage.

    Treated hair

    If you’ve coloured your hair or have been through the process of rebounding, you should ideally stay away from using heat styling. Such treatments often cause extreme damage to the hair due to exposure to strong chemicals. Hence, you’ll notice that chemically treated hair often is prone to dryness, split-ends, breakage, dullness and a loss of volume. In fact, most hairstyling professionals recommend taking extra care of hair that is coloured or chemically treated. So, it is best to steer clear of heating appliances if you fall into this category.

    Hair fall

    If you’re already going through excess hair fall, it is best to cut down your use of heating appliances to once in two weeks. In fact, you must avoid it as much as you can. This is because your hair health is already suffering and needs attention. You must find out the reason behind your hair fall instead of trying to find a quick fix in the form of styling using heating products.

                    Source: Healthshots

  • Common workplace fumes, dusts may heighten rheumatoid arthritis risk

    Common workplace fumes, dusts may heighten rheumatoid arthritis risk

    According to research published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, breathing in everyday occupational dust and fumes from substances including vapours, gases, and solvents may increase the chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The results also suggest that they may increase the harmful effects of smoking and genetic illness vulnerability. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory joint disease marked by excruciating pain and functional impairment. Up to 1 per cent of people worldwide are impacted.

    It is well known that smoking increases a person’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, but it is unknown what effect inhaling dust and fumes from the workplace may have.

    In a bid to find out, the researchers drew on data from the Swedish Epidemiological Investigation of RA. This comprises 4,033 people newly diagnosed between 1996 and 2017 and 6,485 others matched for age and sex, but free of the disease (comparison group).

    Personal job histories were provided and used to estimate the amount of individual exposure to 32 airborne workplace agents, using a validated technique.

    Each participant was assigned a Genetic Risk Score (GRS), according to whether they carried genes that could increase their chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

    Rheumatoid arthritis is characterised by the presence or absence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies or ACPA for short. ACPA positivity denotes a worse prognosis with higher rates of erosive joint damage.

    Nearly three-quarters of those with rheumatoid arthritis testing positive (73 per cent) and negative (72 per cent) for ACPA had been exposed to at least one workplace dust or fume compared with around two-thirds (67 per cent) of people in the comparison group. Analysis of the data showed that exposure to workplace agents was not only associated with a heightened risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, but also seemed to boost that risk further by interacting with smoking and genetic susceptibility.

    Exposure to any workplace agent was associated with a 25 per cent heightened risk of developing ACPA-positive rheumatoid arthritis, overall. And this risk increased to 40 per cent in men.

    Specifically, 17 out of 32 agents, including quartz, asbestos, diesel fumes, gasoline fumes, carbon monoxide, and fungicides, were strongly associated with an increased risk of developing ACPA-positive disease. Only a few agents—quartz dust (silica), asbestos, and detergents—were strongly associated with ACPA-negative disease.   Source: ANI

  • Green Coriander Rice

    Green Coriander Rice

    Coriander rice is a fragrant, tasty and spiced rice made with fresh coriander leaves, basmati rice, spices and veggies. There are many variations of making this savory rice dish. The recipe comes together in less than 40 minutes and makes for a hearty, filling weekday lunch or dinner.

    Ingredients

    1 cup brown rice, 1 green capsicum, large, 1 onion, medium, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste, 30ml curd, 2 Tbsp coriander mint and green chilli paste, 1 tsp garam masala, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 2 bay leaves, 1/2 tsp coriander powder, 1 tsp olive oil, Salt.

    Method

    –              In a non-stick vessel, heat oil and add cumin seeds.

    –              Once the seeds crackle, add the bay leaves, stir gently and add chopped onions.

    –              Cook the onions till they turn brown. Now add ginger garlic paste, coriander mint paste and curd to the vessel and cook well.

    –              Once the masala is cooked well, you will start getting a lovely aroma and this is the correct time to stir in the dry masalas.

    –              Cook for 5-6 minutes, time to add the crunchy capsicum. Once done, add the rice and 1 1/2 cups of water.Cover the vessel with a lid and let it cook for 15 minutes or till the rice is done.

    –              Garnish with some coriander and serve fresh.

  • Qualities women look for in a man

    Qualities women look for in a man

    Want to steal a woman’s heart? A sculpted body and killer looks may not be enough anymore as millennial women want their partner to be a responsible, mature, empathetic person who can also express emotions effectively. According to a survey, women also find qualities like good sense of humour, confidence, intellect impressive in men. However, this doesn’t mean that modern women do not like to be wooed at all. Apparently, as per this survey, guys who are romantic, arrange dates, present flowers, and treat them like royalty are their preferred choice. Here are some characteristics of men that are appealing to women, according to extramarital dating app Gleeden.

    –              Be a leader: Most women are drawn to guys who take responsibility for their actions and are unwavering in their beliefs. A person’s ability to lead is an indication of maturity. Women are drawn to guys with strong convictions who follow through on their decisions. Making long-term plans and being resolute in the pursuit of your objectives will make your girl stick to you like velcro or get you one.

    –              Express much? According to recorded history, man has not yet mastered or evolved the ability to be emotionally expressive. However, society is changing very quickly these days. In order to improve understanding, people are acknowledging their emotions and condition them. A woman is most attracted to men who speak up and say what they mean. As we all know, communication is the key to every relationship.

    –              Humour match: Relationships shouldn’t always be taken seriously. Another characteristic that automatically makes the connection enjoyable is having a sense of humor and making unexpected jokes. The laid-back aspect of your personality is also revealed, which is a commendable trait. Grumbling is a trait in men that women find undesirable. Everything is made great by being able to communicate freely with everyone, perceiving humour in circumstances, and laughing easily beside her.

    –              Fitness freak: To impress a lady, a man does not necessarily need to be a gym fanatic or have six-pack abs. However, women favour guys who are concerned about their health. One who adheres to a schedule maintains a healthy diet with occasional deviations and is aware of how to stay away from bad habits. Finding a spouse has little to do with being healthy, but a positive outlook can help you live a fulfilling life and have more self-confidence.

    –              How modest are you? One of the most important characteristics that most women seek is modesty. Outspokenness, charity, and honesty are further feminine appeal traits that are always observed, along with humility. Nothing appeals to a woman more than a man with a great sense of self. A man who exudes confidence is autonomous and capable of handling any circumstance. The woman may rely on her spouse and feel safe even in the long run.

    –              Bookworm: Women favour males who are brighter and more inventive. Someone who reads spends time learning more and expanding their horizons. A man who enjoys learning new things and is passionate about reading literature, science, goth, fiction or non-fiction, etc.                Source: HT

  • Get your posture right while using mobiles or be ready to suffer back, neck pain

    With the growing addiction of mobile phones, people are also becoming victims of degenerative spinal changes, especially in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. Our posture at the time of receiving and making mobile calls can potentially give rise to musculoskeletal issues. A host of studies have linked the wrong posture while using phones with pain and dysfunction. The joints of the body suffer from wear and tear process while it is active and it gets repaired during the period of rest. If we use the joints in abnormal posture for long time or pressure the joints in a single posture for long times, it will suffer for more wear and tear and one point will come where the wear and tear will be more in comparison with the repairs and the degeneration will start in the joints, Dr Uma Kumar, Head of Department, Rheumatology, AIIMS, told IANS. “When we hold the mobile in hands, not only the fingers are used but our hands, elbow, muscle and neck are involved as we usually watch the mobile while bending the neck from netural position which is over the head and complete straight,” Dr Kumar said.

    AIIMS doctor said that there is a constant weight of brain, skull and muscles over the neck which falls on cervical spine. So if we work or watch the mobile in wrong way, the weight proportionally increase the pressure on the spine and muscles creating pains.

    “When you tilt your head or angle it forward, the cervical spine’s (neck) muscles, tendons, and ligaments support the head. During exertions on the neck, it’s the neck’s intervertebral discs that help the force to be absorbed and distributed evenly,” Dr Kumar said. Talking about the increasing number of such patients, Dr Kumar said “In OPD, we often meet patients complaining of pain in waist, fingers or neck due to following the wrong posture.”  Long-term forward head posture may also increase the risk for accelerated degenerative spinal changes, warned Dr Kumar. Rather tilting the head down, keep it up and bring the mobile and laptop up to meet the eyes, she advised.

    “Our head has around 5 to 8 kgs of weight, if we tilt it in any direction, it will exert more pressure on supporting muscles of neck, due to the gravitational force, but on long standing fixed position (prolong sitting on computer and use of mobile) it will result into the muscles fatigue, pain and degenerative disorders due to chronic long bad posture,” said Dr Kaushal Kant Mishra, Director, Bone and Joint Institute, Fortis Escort Hospital.               Source: IANS

  • Dwayne Johnson reacts to reports calling Black Adam flop

    Dwayne Johnson reacts to reports calling Black Adam flop

    Amid reports that DC’s latest superhero venture Black Adam has been a flop despite the millions it has made, the film’s lead star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has come out in its defence. The actor has shared profit margin figures of the film and said that it is a ‘fact’ that the film has made a profit. While Dwayne did not address the reports doubting the film’s success directly, his tweet came soon after several such reports emerged.

    On Wednesday evening, Dwayne took to Twitter to share a news article about Black Adam’s profitability. Alongside, he wrote, “Waited to confirm with financiers before I shared this excellent #BlackAdam news – our film will PROFIT between $52M-$72M. Fact.” The accompanying article by Deadline was an explainer on how the film has been profitable.

    Black Adam has made $387 million globally. Two days ago, a Variety report had quoted a source saying that the film would end up causing a loss of over $100 million to the production house Warner Bros. The report said that the studio spent close to $500 million on the film in production and publicity. However, Dwayne denied that and added that the film had done great business, comparing it with a Marvel rival. “At almost $400M worldwide we are building our new franchise step by step (first Captain America did $370M) for the DC future,” he further tweeted.

  • Jennifer Lawrence dissed for claiming there’s no female action film lead before her

    Jennifer Lawrence dissed for claiming there’s no female action film lead before her

    Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence has been widely criticised after claiming that there’s no female action movie lead before her. Speaking with actress Viola Davis, she said: “I remember when I was doing ‘Hunger Games’, nobody had ever put a woman in the lead of an action movie because it wouldn’t work – because we were told girls and boys can both identify with a male lead, but boys cannot identify with a female lead.”

    She added: “And it just makes me so happy every single time I see a movie come out that just blows through every one of those beliefs, and proves that it is just a lie to keep certain people out of the movies. To keep certain people in the same positions that they’ve always been in.”

    Many quickly disagreed with Lawrence as Franklin Leonard, founder of The Black List, said on Twitter in response to the interview: “It is untrue that no one had ever put a woman in an action movie before Jennifer Lawrence in ‘Hunger Games’.”                 Source: IANS

  • Julia Roberts’ viral gown has BFF George Clooney’s framed pictures

    If you can’t do what Julia Roberts did for her BFF George Clooney, are you even a BFF? ‘Erin Brockovich’ star Julia Roberts wore a gown covered with photos of Hollywood star George Clooney. The two have worked together in many movies like ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, ‘Ocean’s Twelve’, ‘Money Monster’ and ‘Ticket to Paradise’. The 55-year-old actress made her fun fashion statement to show support for George, 61 at the Kennedy Center Honours ceremony in Washington DC, reports ‘The Mirror’. Her dress featured framed snaps of the actor throughout his career, dating from his early days as Doug Ross on ER. The actress rounded up her look with a black jacket. George won a lifetime achievement honour for his role in US cultural life. Julia appeared in the first two instalments of ‘Oceans’ franchise as Tess Ocean, with George playing her on-screen husband Danny Ocean. The latter character appeared in three films as part of the series.

    Source: IANS

  • Margot Robbie says she improvised a kiss with Brad Pitt during Babylon

    Margot Robbie says she improvised a kiss with Brad Pitt during Babylon

    Margot Robbie found the perfect opportunity to kiss her co-star Brad Pitt during the filming of her next movie, Babylon. The Australian actor reunites with her Once Upon A Time in Hollywood co-star in Damien Chazelle’s Babylon, which releases in select theatres on December 23. Margot, who plays an up and coming actor Nellie LaRay in the film, admitted that she took the opportunity to improvise a kiss scene with Brad Pitt even though it was not part of the script. Speaking about the behind-the-scenes moments on the much anticipated film with E! News, Margot admitted, “That wasn’t in the script,” she said of the kiss. “But I thought, When else am I gonna get the chance to kiss Brad Pitt? I’m just gonna go for it.”

    The actress further revealed that the kiss scene “was just great,” but in order to keep it in the film, she had to convince director Damien Chazelle. “I said, ‘Damien, I think Nellie would just go up and kiss Jack,’” the 32-year-old actor said. “And Damien was like, ‘Well, she could—wait, hold on. You just wanna kiss Brad Pitt.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, so sue me. This opportunity might never come up again.’ And he was like, ‘It does work for the character,’ and I was like, ‘I think so.’” When the scene was over, Margot revealed that “He [Damien] was like, ‘No, do it again. That really works.’ I was like, ‘Oh great,’” said the actor.

    Babylon is directed by Damien Chazelle, whose earlier works include Whiplash, La La Land, and First Man. For La La Land, Damien had won the Academy Award for Best Director. Babylon, which also stars Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Tobey Maguire and Phoebe Tonkin in pivotal roles, is a comedy-drama film that traces the decadent time period of 1920s Hollywood when it was moving out of the silent era films.                              Source: HT

  • Raveena slips into red dress as she poses with red roses and candles

    Raveena slips into red dress as she poses with red roses and candles

    Raveena Tandon has shared some solo pictures clicked in a romantic setting. However, she gave a funny caption as she shared them on Instagram. She is seen in a strapless red dress, with a rose in her hair and red hearts in the background as she poses behind red candles and a row of several red roses.

    Sharing them on Instagram, Raveena wrote, “Mem Batti, Gulaabo, aur mien.” She didn’t reveal the reason behind the celebration. A fan commented on her post, “Membatti gulag aur ap ka sahab deadly combination, koi bechara mar jana h aj (candles, roses and you make a deadly combinaton, it will kill someone today).” Another wrote, “Raveena mam you are looking very beautiful and always young whenever come to Instagram.” One more fan commented, “looking beautiful and gorgeous darling.”

    Raveena had recently attended designer Manish Malhotra’s intimate birthday celebration at his home on Sunday. In the pictures, she was seen sitting on veteran actor’s Rekha’s lap or sitting on the floor besides her as they both joined Manish and others for some fun pics.

    Raveena was last seen in KGF Chapter 2. She had also made her OTT debut with her web series Aranyak. She played a cop in Aranyak and was the lead actor.

  • Dhanush tops IMDb list of most popular Indian stars, followed by Alia and Aishwarya

    Dhanush tops IMDb list of most popular Indian stars, followed by Alia and Aishwarya

    Actor Dhanush, who was most recently seen in the Tamil movie Naane Varuvean, and has become a global star with The Gray Man, has grabbed the top spot in the IMDb list of Top 10 Most Popular Indian Stars of 2022.

    The actor appeared in five titles this year—The Gray Man, Maaran, Thiruchitrambalam, Naane Varuven and Vaathi. Dhanush is followed by Brahmastra actress Alia Bhatt, who also starred in the pan-India magnum opus RRR, Gangubai Kathiawadi and the streaming movie Darlings (her debut as producer), this year.

    Talking about her inclusion in this year’s list, Alia said, “2022 has by far been the most memorable year I’ve had at the movies. I am forever thankful and grateful for the love the audience gave my films this year and feel honoured to have collaborated with our country’s finest filmmakers and artistes. I hope I can continue to entertain the audience for as long as I face the camera! Love and light.” The list comprises stars who consistently ranked the highest on the IMDb weekly ranking chart throughout 2022. These rankings are based on the actual page views of the more than 200 million monthly visitors to IMDb worldwide. The third spot was grabbed by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who returned to cinema after five years with Mani Ratnam’s ambitious Ponniyin Selvan: Part I, which proved to be one of the biggest movies this year at the box-office.

    Alia’s co-stars from RRR Ram Charan Teja and N.T. Rama Rao Jr. landed 4th and 8th spot, respectively. Yashoda actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu was placed at the 5th spot followed by Hrithik Roshan at 6th spot and Kiara Advani, who captivated audiences Jug Jugg Jeeyo and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in 2022 acquiring the seventh spot on the list. Pushpa: The Rise star Allu Arjun grabbed the 9th spot followed by K.G.F. star Yash at the 10th position.

                    Source: IANS

  • Katrina Kaif turns muse for ‘photographer’ Vicky Kaushal

    Katrina Kaif turns muse for ‘photographer’ Vicky Kaushal

    Actors Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal, who will be celebrating their first wedding anniversary on December 9, are currently enjoying a vacation together. While the location of the holiday remains unknown, Katrina shared a picture from her vacation and gave photo credit to husband Vicky. In the photo, Katrina poses naturally for the camera. She captioned the image, ”Pahadon mein……??: Husband.”

    Netizens were quick to praise Vicky Kaushal’s photography skills. One follower wrote, “Vicky is a great photographer,” while another fan commented, “Vicky jiju is a nice photographer.” Many fans also wished the couple for their wedding anniversary and posted multiple heart emojis. Recently, Vicky posted a reel of himself performing on the song “Kya Baat Hai”. In the caption, he mentioned that Katrina has requested him not to make such videos. The actor wrote, “My wife begs me not to put up such videos, but I can’t help it. Hopefully one day she’ll say… “KYAA BAAT HAII!!!” ?????????????.”

    Filmmaker Farah Khan commented on Vicky’s post, “Don’t listen to her!”, while choreographer Dharmesh complimented Vicky and wrote, “Bhai moves.”

                    Source: The Indian Express

  • Deepika Padukone to unveil FIFA trophy at the final

    Deepika Padukone to unveil FIFA trophy at the final

    Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has added another feather to her cap, as she will be unveiling the FIFA World Cup trophy at the final match. She would be the first Indian actor to achieve this feat. Earlier this year, she had the opportunity to become the member of Cannes Film Festival jury. Deepika is the only Indian in the list of the World’s Top 10 most beautiful women. From being chosen as the global face of luxury brands to now heading to Qatar for the final match to unveil the FIFA trophy, she has come a long way.

  • Collegium a multi-member body whose tentative decision cannot be brought in public domain: SC

    New Delhi (TIP)- The Supreme Court on Friday, December 9, dismissed a plea seeking to disclose the details of a collegium meeting held on December 12, 2018 under the Right to Information Act.

    A bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar said that only resolutions drawn and signed by all collegium members can be said to be a final decision. Tentative resolutions drawn upon discussion and consultation among the members cannot be said to be final unless they are signed by all of them, it said. “Collegium is a multi-member body whose tentative decision cannot be brought in the public domain,” it said. The top court said it cannot place reliance on media reports and the interview of a former member of the collegium and doesn’t want to comment on statements made by the former judge. In a resolution passed on January 10, 2019, the collegium, whose combination was changed due to the retirement of Justice MB Lokur, mentioned that in its meeting on December 12, 2018 only consultations were held on certain names but no final decision was taken.

    The top court passed the verdict on a petition by RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj against a Delhi High Court order dismissing her plea seeking the agenda of the Supreme Court Collegium’s meeting held on December 12, 2018, when certain decisions were purportedly taken on the elevation of some judges to the apex court.       Source: PTI