The Indian Panorama

Year: 2022

  • Queens becomes first county in New York to have 2 million residents receive COVID-19 vaccine

    Queens becomes first county in New York to have 2 million residents receive COVID-19 vaccine

    QUEENS, NY (TIP): As the city continues to encourage New Yorkers to get tested, vaccinated and boosted to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Queens on Jan. 8 became the first county in New York state to have 2 million residents receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the city’s Health Department.

    It’s a milestone for the “World’s Borough,” which was once the original “epicenter of the epicenter” of the greatest public health crisis in our lifetime, according to Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.

    “Queens has proven again and again, culminating with today’s incredible milestone, no borough has shown more strength, resilience and resolve in our collective comeback than our own,” Richards said. “The pandemic is not over yet, as we’ve learned with the recent surge in cases brought on by the omicron variant, and neither is our fight against it. To all our neighbors who continue to roll up their sleeves to get both vaccinated and boosted and to all our healthcare workers who continue to serve their communities with unparalleled heroism, thank you for stepping up on behalf of our shared borough.”

    In April 2021, Queens became the first county in New York state to have 1 million residents receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. As of Jan. 11, 89% of all Queens residents, regardless of age, have received at least one dose — 7 percentage points higher than the city average. In terms of percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated, Queens leads the five boroughs at 80%. For children ages 5 to 17 in Queens, 66% have received at least one dose of a vaccine and 51% are fully vaccinated — nearly 10 points higher than the city average for both criteria.

    During the Queens Borough Board meeting held on Monday, Jan. 10, NYC Test & Trace Corps and the city Health Department reported a 960% increase in COVID cases between November 2021 and December 2021.

    “We’ve pulled all of the levers we’ve had to put testing in as many places as possible,” said Laura Atlas, director of External Affairs at NYC Test & Trace Corps. According to the city Health Department’s data for Queens, there have been immense rates of transmission, with the latest seven-day cases at 10,000 per day.

    Chelsea Cipriano, executive director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the city Health Department, said their number one tool in the fight against COVID-19 is getting people vaccinated.

    “If you’re fully vaccinated, your job is not done. Now is the time to get a booster shot,” Cipriano said. “The vaccine works. Yes, there are cases among those that are vaccinated, but it is by and large among those that are not vaccinated.”

    Cipriano and Atlas reiterated that it’s important for people to get tested before they travel and gather with friends and family. According to Atlas, NYC Test & Trace Corps have been adding new vendors, partners and locations — brick-and-mortar, mobile units and tent teams — for vaccination sites in Queens.

    There are CDC units in the borough and a state mass testing site at York College in Jamaica. Additionally, there are tent teams providing relief at emergency rooms in hospitals to get people tested.

    When asked by the borough president how they are targeting communities with higher rates of transmission, Atlas said they are maintaining an extensive presence with brick-and-mortar and mobile units in those communities and are relying on people to inform them of the places residents would go to for testing.

    COVID-19 testing is also provided at multiple sites at JFK airport, according to Atlas, and at LaGuardia Airport to service residents in East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights.

    “Those folks who are going to LaGuardia instead of Elmhurst Hospital have other alternatives. We also opened a testing site at Newtown High School,” Atlas said.

    Atlas says they’re also distributing rapid at-home testing kits to hospital emergency rooms and public schools.

    According to Richards, testing and vaccination sites have been expanded in College Point and Forest Hills. A testing unit is also open at the Ridgewood Clinic providing PCR and antigen COVID-19 testing.

    The borough president noted that they’re working on expanding testing sites into other areas across the borough. In Far Rockaway, the percentage of vaccinated residents increased from 32% last summer to 60%, according to Richards. Richards said they will continue to work with the city Department of Health and the state to continue providing resources and information to the Queens community.

  • Queens becomes first county in New York to have 2 million residents receive COVID-19 vaccine

    Queens becomes first county in New York to have 2 million residents receive COVID-19 vaccine

    QUEENS, NY (TIP): As the city continues to encourage New Yorkers to get tested, vaccinated and boosted to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Queens on Jan. 8 became the first county in New York state to have 2 million residents receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the city’s Health Department. It’s a milestone for the “World’s Borough,” which was once the original “epicenter of the epicenter” of the greatest public health crisis in our lifetime, according to Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.

    “Queens has proven again and again, culminating with today’s incredible milestone, no borough has shown more strength, resilience and resolve in our collective comeback than our own,” Richards said. “The pandemic is not over yet, as we’ve learned with the recent surge in cases brought on by the omicron variant, and neither is our fight against it. To all our neighbors who continue to roll up their sleeves to get both vaccinated and boosted and to all our healthcare workers who continue to serve their communities with unparalleled heroism, thank you for stepping up on behalf of our shared borough.”

    In April 2021, Queens became the first county in New York state to have 1 million residents receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. As of Jan. 11, 89% of all Queens residents, regardless of age, have received at least one dose — 7 percentage points higher than the city average.

    In terms of percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated, Queens leads the five boroughs at 80%. For children ages 5 to 17 in Queens, 66% have received at least one dose of a vaccine and 51% are fully vaccinated — nearly 10 points higher than the city average for both criteria.

    During the Queens Borough Board meeting held on Monday, Jan. 10, NYC Test & Trace Corps and the city Health Department reported a 960% increase in COVID cases between November 2021 and December 2021.

    “We’ve pulled all of the levers we’ve had to put testing in as many places as possible,” said Laura Atlas, director of External Affairs at NYC Test & Trace Corps.

    According to the city Health Department’s data for Queens, there have been immense rates of transmission, with the latest seven-day cases at 10,000 per day.

    Chelsea Cipriano, executive director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the city Health Department, said their number one tool in the fight against COVID-19 is getting people vaccinated.

    “If you’re fully vaccinated, your job is not done. Now is the time to get a booster shot,” Cipriano said. “The vaccine works. Yes, there are cases among those that are vaccinated, but it is by and large among those that are not vaccinated.”

    Cipriano and Atlas reiterated that it’s important for people to get tested before they travel and gather with friends and family. According to Atlas, NYC Test & Trace Corps have been adding new vendors, partners and locations — brick-and-mortar, mobile units and tent teams — for vaccination sites in Queens.

    There are CDC units in the borough and a state mass testing site at York College in Jamaica. Additionally, there are tent teams providing relief at emergency rooms in hospitals to get people tested.

    When asked by the borough president how they are targeting communities with higher rates of transmission, Atlas said they are maintaining an extensive presence with brick-and-mortar and mobile units in those communities and are relying on people to inform them of the places residents would go to for testing.

    COVID-19 testing is also provided at multiple sites at JFK airport, according to Atlas, and at LaGuardia Airport to service residents in East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights.

    “Those folks who are going to LaGuardia instead of Elmhurst Hospital have other alternatives. We also opened a testing site at Newtown High School,” Atlas said.

    Atlas says they’re also distributing rapid at-home testing kits to hospital emergency rooms and public schools.

    According to Richards, testing and vaccination sites have been expanded in College Point and Forest Hills. A testing unit is also open at the Ridgewood Clinic providing PCR and antigen COVID-19 testing.

    The borough president noted that they’re working on expanding testing sites into other areas across the borough. In Far Rockaway, the percentage of vaccinated residents increased from 32% last summer to 60%, according to Richards.Richards said they will continue to work with the city Department of Health and the state to continue providing resources and information to the Queens community.

  • Eight Indian Americans among100 Most Influential Academics in Government

    Eight Indian Americans among100 Most Influential Academics in Government

    NirpalShergill

    LONDON (TIP):  As many as eight Indian American academics, including IMF’s Gita Gopniath figure in London based Apolitical’s latest list of 100 Most Influential Academics in Government whose work influenced policymaking in five key areas. This year’s list recognizes academics working in five timely policy areas that represent problems being faced by government everywhere, and present an opportunity for intergovernmental collaboration, it said. They are: Recovery from Covid-19; Employment and skills social policy, Climate and sustainability and Policymaking processes and approaches.

    Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, its number-two leadership position, since Jan 21, has been recognized in the area of Economics, employment & skills.

    Karthik Muralidharan, Tata Chancellor’s Professor of Economics at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Rohini Pande, the Henry J. Heinz II Professor of Economics and Director of the Economic Growth Center, Yale University too have been selected in the same category.

    Nitin Nohria, Dean of Harvard Business School, has been recognized for his work in other policy areas along with Devesh Kapur, Starr Foundation Professor of South Asian Studies and Pradeep Khosla, Eighth Chancellor, University of California San Diego.

    Anup Malani, Lee and Brena Freeman Professor at the University of Chicago Law School, and Manoj Mohanan, Associate Professor at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, have been chosen in Recovery from Covid-19 category.

    The John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and of Economics at Harvard University, Gopinath is currently on leave of public service from the economics department. She served as the IMF Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 1919 to 2022. Gopinath’s research focuses on International Finance and Macroeconomics. She is currently a member of the Group of Thirty and the Council on Foreign Relations.

    Earlier she was a member of the economic advisory panel of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Economic Adviser to the Chief Minister of Kerala state in India, and member of the Eminent Persons Advisory Group on G-20 Matters for India’s Ministry of Finance.

    Before coming to Harvard, she was an assistant professor of economics at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. She received her PhD in economics from Princeton University, after earning a BA from Lady Sri Ram College, and MA degrees from the Delhi School of Economics and the University of Washington.

    Nohria’s intellectual interests center on human motivation, leadership, corporate transformation and accountability, and sustainable economic and human performance. He is co-author or co-editor of 16 books as also author of over 50 journal articles, book chapters, cases, working papers, and notes.

    Prior to joining the Harvard Business School faculty in July 1988, Nohria received his PhD in Management from the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    He is a BTech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (which honored him as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2007). He was a visiting faculty member at the London Business School in 1996.

    Anup Malani is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He conducts research in development economics, health economics and law and economics. During the Covid pandemic, Malani led a modeling team that developed a forecasting model and method of adaptive control for Covid in India; that model was used to inform policy in Bihar and in Indonesia.

    Malani was an investigator on population-level viral surveys in Bihar, serological (antibody) surveys in Mumbai, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, and a cellular immunity survey in Bangalore.

    This work on Covid has won two Emergent Ventures prizes. He worked on vaccine distribution policies for Indonesia and India. He also used a large, panel survey to estimate the number of excess deaths in India during the pandemic and to understand the economic impacts of the pandemic.

    He is now conducting verbal autopsies on roughly 30,000 to determine the fraction of excess deaths that are attributable to Covid. Finally, Malani has studied how Indian households adapted financially to Covid and the impact of Covid on individual income inequality in India. Prior to the pandemic, Malani’s research focused on development economics. He is the co-founder and Faculty Director of the International Innovation Corps, a social service program that sends postgraduates to work on innovative projects with government officials in India and the US.

    Malani has a JD and PhD in economics from the University of Chicago. He was a law clerk to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court and the founding Faculty Director of the Tata Centre for Development at the University of Chicago.

    Manoj Mohanan’s research focuses primarily on the economics of health and development, and health policy. His past research has examined topics including performance incentive contracts, public private partnerships, quality of care, social franchising, accountability interventions, and household health behavior across multiple countries.

    His research also contributed to early evidence on Covid from seroprevalence studies in India. His ongoing research aims to understand long term consequences of large-scale disruptions caused by the pandemic and its effect on vulnerability of households.

    Mohanan was trained as a health economist at Harvard University’s Inter-Faculty PhD Program in Health Policy (Economics), and also holds additional degrees in public health and medicine.

    Born and raised in India, Prof. Muralidharan earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University (summa cum laude), an MPhil in economics from Cambridge University (ranked first), and a PhD in economics from Harvard University.

    His research spans development, public, and labor economics with a focus on improving the effectiveness of public spending in the social sector (education, health, and social protection programs).

    His research program is characterized by large-scale randomized experiments conducted in partnership with governments to study the impact of programs and policies at scale.

    A Fellow and Board Member of the Bureau of Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD), he is actively involved in policy advising and capacity building in India at both the central and state government level.

    A co-editor of American Economic Review: Insights, Rohini Pande’s research is largely focused on how formal and informal institutions shape power relationships and patterns of economic and political advantage in society, particularly in developing countries.

    She is interested the role of public policy in providing the poor and disadvantaged political and economic power, and how notions of economic justice and human rights can help justify and enable such change.

    Her most recent work focuses on testing innovative ways to make the state more accountable to its citizens, such as strengthening women’s economic and political opportunities, ensuring that environmental regulations reduce harmful emissions, and providing citizens effective means to voice their demand for state services.

    In 2018, Pande received the Carolyn Bell Shaw Award from the American Economic Association for promoting the success of women in the economics profession.

    Before coming to Yale, Pande was the Rafik Harriri Professor of International Political Economy at Harvard Kennedy School, where she co-founded Evidence for Policy Design.

    Pande received a PhD in economics from London School of Economics, a BA/MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and a BA in Economics from Delhi University.

    Devesh Kapur joined the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in July 2018 from the University of Pennsylvania

    There, he was a professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for the Advanced Study of India, holding the Madan Lal Sobti Chair for the Study of Contemporary India.

    Prior to his tenure at Penn, he was Associate Professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Frederick Danziger Associate Professor of Government at Harvard.

    Kapur received the Joseph R. Levenson Teaching Prize, awarded to the best junior faculty at Harvard College and Outstanding Teaching in Political Science by the American Political Science Association, in 2005.

    Kapur’s research has focused on five broad areas that examine the political and institutional determinants of economic development: international financial institutions; political and economic consequences of international and internal migration; the effects of market forces and urbanization on the well-being of socially marginalized groups in India; governance and public institutions; and higher education.

    Kapur has a BTech in Chemical Engineering from IIT (BHU) Varanasi; MS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota; PhD from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton.

    Pradeep Khosla’s research interests encompass the areas of internet-enabled collaborative design, collaborating autonomous systems, agent-based architectures for distributed design and embedded control, software composition and reconfigurable software for real-time embedded systems, reconfigurable and distributed robotic systems, integrated design-assembly planning systems and distributed information systems.

    His research has resulted in three books and more than 350 journal articles and conference and book contributions. He is also the founding director of the Carnegie Mellon CyLab and the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems, which pursues interdisciplinary projects.

    Khosla is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

    He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Association of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) and the Indian Academy of Engineering.

    He is an Honorary Fellow of the Indian Academy of Science. His other awards include the 2012 Light of India Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the W. Wallace McDowell Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society.

    In 2012, he was named as one of the 50 most influential Indian-Americans by SiliconIndia.

  • Two Indias-one for the rich and the other for the poor: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

    Two Indias-one for the rich and the other for the poor: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

    You’re fiddling with the idea of India; your policies show a lack of understanding of history

    NEW DELHI (TIP): In a scathing attack on Modi and his government, Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of behaving like a “King” and of fiddling with the “idea of India”.India faces a challenge that is the creation of two Indias—one extremely wealthy and the other is being pushed deeper into poverty, said Rahul Gandhi.

    Gandhi was speaking in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, February 2,  on the “motion of thanks” on the Presidential Address.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhB0JGdeWnI

    Gandhi, in fact, drew attention to three crucial problems India has been grappling with at the current moment – rising unemployment, strategic failures to corner China and Pakistan, and an unprecedented attack on the country’s institutional framework. These are concerns that every opposition political party and scores of civil society groups have been pinpointing and on which they have failed to draw a convincing response from the Union government. Gandhi said one India is for extremely rich people and those who have immense wealth and power, while the other side has those who are being pushed into poverty.

    “The poor of India have no jobs. The Presidential address had not a word on unemployment,” he said. “About 3 crore jobs were lost in 2021. The SME and MSME enterprises have had no support rather have been attacked by the Government.”

    He listed demonetization, the wrong implementation of GST, and lack of support during coronavirus as causes of the “attack”.

    “The UPA uplifted 27 crore people from poverty and you have pushed 23 crore people into poverty,” he said. He claimed monopolies were being created in the formal sector and accused ‘Adani and Ambani’ of cornering ports, airports, petrochemicals, power transmission, green energy, telecom and e-commerce. “There can be no ‘Make in India’ until SMEs and MSMEs are doing better. Manufacturing has been reduced by 46 percent,” he said. “You have focused only on 5 or 10 big industries.”

    “I am not against the big industry,” he qualified.Taking on the BJP and Modi, he said it is Union of India, “a partnership and not a Kingdom”. “The only way India has been ruled is by conversation and negotiation. You people are confused. You think you can suppress people.  You have no idea of history.”

    “There is a vision that India can be ruled by a stick from the center. Every time it has been done that stick has been broken,” said Gandhi and said he was not afraid to speak about the Emergency when it was pointed out by the ruling party.

    Gandhi cited the example of farmers saying they stood in protest for one year.

    “But it did not matter, the King does not agree. You don’t listen to anyone”, he added, accusing the BJP and the Prime Minister of functioning like a King. The confused understanding of the country is playing havoc, he said.

    Pegasus, the judiciary, and control over the Election Commission are all acts of destroying the country.

    “The PM personally goes to Israel and authorizes use of Pegasus,” he said.

    “My great-grandfather (Jawaharlal Nehru)  spent 15 years in jail, my grandmother (Indira Gandhi) took 32 bullets, and my father (Rajiv Gandhi) was blown away with pieces, I know history,” he said.

    “Please stop. If you don’t stop you will create problems. What you are doing is dangerous and demonstrates a lack of understanding of history”, said Gandhi. “Go back and look at empires that have ruled in India. It is always a union of states.”

    He accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP of weakening the foundation of the country. Rahul Gandhi also criticized the country’s foreign policy, saying that India currently stood isolated in her own neighborhood.

     “The Chinese have a clear vision about what they want to do. The single biggest strategic goal of India’s foreign policy was to keep China and Pakistan separate, you have brought them together,” Gandhi said. “China acts in Doklam and Ladakh are the foundation of serious threat.” Gandhi’s remarks about unemployment in the country came a few days after unrest among candidates of the Railway Recruitment Board’s NTPC exam. Protests over the exam’s shortlisting process turned violent in Bihar earlier this week.

    (With input from agencies)

  • ‘Indian intelligence service’ bought Pegasus from Israel, coordinated with Mossad: New York Times

    ‘Indian intelligence service’ bought Pegasus from Israel, coordinated with Mossad: New York Times

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The “Indian intelligence service” purchased Pegasus from Israeli company NSO in a deal pegged at “dozens of millions of dollars”, a The New York Times (NYT) reporter involved in the newspaper’s investigation into the use of the surveillance system worldwide has said. The New York Times said the purchase was finalized during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel and cleared by the then Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in 2017.

    Describing the NSO procedure for Pegasus, which is a high-grade cyberweapon on Israel’s export control list, The New York Time’s Tel Aviv-based correspondent Ronen Bergman said the Israeli Ministry of Defense had cleared the contract, and that NSO engineers would have had to travel to India to install the system themselves and Israeli intelligence agency Mossad liaised with them. However, neither the NYT nor Mr. Bergman specified whether they meant the Intelligence Bureau (IB) or the Research and Analysis wing ((R&AW), or any other agency reporting to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) under National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.

    Mr. Bergman also said that the entity that signed the Pegasus purchase agreement would have had to give three guarantees to the Israeli Ministry of Defense: that it would use it only by itself, that it would get prior written permission to share it with any other entity, and that it would use it Pegasus surveillance against terrorism and organized crime.

    “While the ongoing technical maintenance is done by NSO vis-a-vis, in this case, Indian intelligence service, which was the entity that purchased Pegasus – the overall connection is also with the involvement of the agency in Israel that is in charge of running secret intelligence and political relationships, which is the Mossad,” Mr. Bergman said in an interview to Indian news portal The Wire, which had taken part in the global investigation by several agencies that found thousands of phones belonging to civilians, including politicians, judges, journalists, activists with no criminal record had been hacked using the Pegasus software. Journalists belonging to The Wire, The Hindu and other Indian agencies were also on the list. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs declined to comment on the New York Times story and the latest interview.

    Last July, in Parliament, IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, whose phone was also on the list of Pegasus- hacked devices, said the news reports were “sensational” and “had no factual basis and were categorically denied by all parties including in the Supreme Court,” referring to an ongoing case in the apex court, which subsequently ordered its own enquiry committee to investigate the allegations against the government. Separately, the Ministry of Defense had said it had “not had any transactions” with the NSO group.

    Significantly, the NSCS had for the first time seen a 10-fold increase in budgetary allocation in 2017-18, when its allocation shot up to ₹333 crore and it was further increased to ₹841.73 crore in 2018-19 but was revised to ₹140.92 crore in 2019-20, and officials did not respond to The Hindu report requesting explanations for the sudden surge in outlay. The functioning of the NSCS, IB and the R&AW are exempted from the provisions of the Right to Information Act (RTI) and also from Parliament scrutiny. The organizations cannot be financially audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) also.

    In the interview, Mr. Bergman offered no evidence of the NYT’s claims, but detailed the workings of NSO and procedure involved by each of the countries, including India, Mexico, Hungary, Morocco, KSA etc., who had purchased the Pegasus program. He said he couldn’t divulge his sources, but The New York Times had conducted an extensive multi-country investigation based on documents that he was privy to. “Some of the details that are specified, this comes from a very sensitive, a long-time dealing with sources, and, therefore, I’ll be a little bit cagey in some of the details… we have been working for a year in 12 different countries, speaking with intelligence officials, with leaders of law enforcement agencies, politicians, leaders, cyber experts, human rights activists, etc. and I think we got as close as possible to the full picture – if not the whole picture,” Mr. Bergman stated.

    As the programme is on a controlled export list, NSO officials have said all their contracts are cleared by the Israeli government. The NYT story had linked the Pegasus purchase in each of the countries to relations between their leaders and Mr. Netanyahu and claimed that those governments had changed their foreign policy, and votes at the United Nations as a result of the relationship.

    “[In] India, [there is] the relationship, a close personal relationship between the leaders of India and Israel that gave birth to, I would say, a new generation of military expenditure as well as a new Indian stand, including international public steps towards Israel,” Mr. Bergman said, adding that according to his sources, there was “a specific interest and specific emphasis from the Indian leadership to the Israeli leadership to obtain that specific license” for Pegasus.

    (Source: The Hindu)

  • TMC MP Mahua Moitra takes the Modi government to task for its dismal misgovernance

    TMC MP Mahua Moitra takes the Modi government to task for its dismal misgovernance

    NEW DELHI (TIP): TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s  speech on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address enumerated a number of human rights violations and alleged executive excesses during the last few years of the Narendra Modi government. In her usual belligerent style, she made a note of how the US-based Freedom House Report downgraded India’s status from “free” to “partly free” and that India has fallen 17 spots to 111th position out of 160 countries in the Human Freedom Index. She also mentioned that India is at an abysmal 142nd position out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, adding that the country “remains one of the most dangerous places for journalists today.” Her speech was peppered with references to the farmers’ agitation, the ‘Bulli Deals’ app in which Muslim women were auctioned and the Pegasus spyware controversy.Ms Mahua said:  “The way the masters of the republic mistrust the present is most accurately illustrated by the Pegasus mess. The government stands accused of having spent taxpayers’ money to buy technology to spy for years on its own citizens. To paraphrase a leading journalist, the New York Times is lying, The Wire is lying, Amnesty is lying, the French government is lying, the German government is lying, the US government is lying, WhatsApp and Apple – who have sued NSO are lying. Only this government is in splendid isolation with the truth on Pegasus. One minister calls it Supari media, another stands up in this house and lies to us blatantly. The government has misled even the Supreme Court.”She continued with references to raids on opposition leaders ahead of elections, targeting of Muslims by Hindu fundamentalists and recent attacks on Christians by the same groups in 19 Indian towns. She lashed out at the Union government’s attempts to alter IAS cadre rules and said that the tweaking of rules was a heavy-handed move by the Union government to “bully” bureaucrats in the states.“You mistrust the Jats, Sikhs and anyone who stands up to you. But as elections are around the corner, you shamelessly put on a pagdi,” she said in an apparent reference to the prime minister who had donned a Sikh turban during the NCC Republic Day camp. “You (the government) want to get inside our homes, what we eat, what we wear,” Moitra said.

    Moitra claimed that the mention of freedom fighters in the president’s address was mere “lip service”. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who Kovind referred to in the speech, held the view that the government of India should have an absolutely neutral and impartial attitude towards all religions. Stating this, she asked, “Would Netaji have approved of a Haridwar Dharma Sansad that issues blood-curdling calls for Muslim genocide?”Moitra also accused the government of being in fear of an India which was “comfortable in its own skin”. “Ours is a living constitution, it breathes as long as we are willing to breathe life into it. Otherwise, it is just a piece of paper, black and white, that can be smudged into shades of grey by any majoritarian government,” she said.

    The TMC MP also accused the Modi government of seeking to “alter history” and said, “They are fearful of the future and they mistrust the present.” She added that “this battle of 80% vs 20% that this government has started risks destroying our republic.” She appealed to all opposition parties to come together and defeat the BJP. “Woh Subah hum hi se aayegi (That dawn will come from us). Enough of sahanshilta (tolerance), daya (symapthy), Kshama (forgiveness), it is time now to become Tipu’s (Sultan) springing tiger.”

    (With inputs collected by  Dave Makkar)

  • Tax Time Guide: Important considerations before filing a 2021 tax return

    Tax Time Guide: Important considerations before filing a 2021 tax return

    WASHINGTON(TIP): Now that the 2022 tax season is open, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers to make sure they’ve got what they need before they file and to consider free resources available to help them get organized. This news release is part of a series called the Tax Time Guide, a resource to help taxpayers file an accurate tax return. Additional help is available at IRS.gov or in Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax.

    Don’t file before ready

    While taxpayers should not file late, they also should not file prematurely. People who file before they receive all the proper tax reporting documents risk making a mistake that may lead to processing delays.

    Typically, year-end forms start arriving by mail – or are available online – in January. Taxpayers should review them carefully. If any of the information shown is inaccurate or not available, taxpayers should contact the payer right away for a correction or to ensure they have their current mailing or email address.

    New this year, the IRS sent Letter 6419, Advance Child Tax Credit Reconciliation, in January 2022 to help individuals reconcile and receive the full amount of their 2021 Child Tax Credit. This letter includes the total amount of the 2021 advance Child Tax Credit payments issued and the number of qualifying children used to calculate their advance payments. People need this important information to accurately claim the other half of the 2021 Child Tax Credit when filing their 2021 tax return and prevent delays in processing. The IRS reminds people to check this information carefully.

    Most eligible people were already issued their third Economic Impact Payment and won’t include any information about it when they file. However, people who didn’t qualify for a third payment or did not receive the full amount may be eligible for the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit based on their 2021 tax situation. They will need the total amount of their third Economic Impact Payment to file an accurate tax return to avoid a processing delay. Taxpayers can sign into their IRS Online Account to view the total amount of the third-round Economic Impact Payment or wait to receive IRS Letter 6475.

    Individuals not required to file must file a tax return to claim important tax credits

    The IRS strongly encourages individuals who are not required to file a tax return to file one this season to claim potentially thousands of dollars in tax credits. By filing a tax return, individuals could claim:

    The Recovery Rebate Credit to receive any remaining 2021 stimulus payments that they might not have received (for example, if they added a new child or other dependent in 2021);

    The remaining Child Tax Credit for which they are eligible, including any monthly payments that they might not have received (for example, if they added a new qualifying child in 2021); and

    The Earned Income Tax Credit, the federal government’s largest refundable tax credit for low- to moderate-income families (the amount of which has been nearly tripled for filers without children).

    View IRS account information online

    Individuals can use their IRS Online Account to securely access information about their federal tax account, including payments, tax records and more.

    To help with filing a return, individuals can view:

    The total amounts of Economic Impact Payments issued for tax year 2021

    The total amount of advance Child Tax Credit payments

    Their adjusted gross income from their last tax return

    The total of any estimated tax payments they made, and refunds applied as a credit

    They can also now make and track payments and manage communication preferences, including the option to go paperless and request email notifications for certain notices available online. Taxpayers are encouraged to register for an online account, if they haven’t already, or sign in to access this information and explore these new features.

    Important 2021 Tax Documents

    Organized tax records make preparing a complete and accurate tax return easier and may help taxpayers find overlooked deductions or credits. Taxpayers should wait to file until they have all their supporting income statements including but not limited to:

    Forms W-2 from employer(s)

    Forms 1099 from banks, issuing agencies and other payers including unemployment compensation, dividends and distributions from a pension, annuity or retirement plan

    Form 1099-K, 1099-Misc, W-2 or other income statement if they worked in the gig economy

    Form 1099-INT if they received interest payments

    Other income documents and records reporting virtual or crypto currency transactions

    Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, to reconcile advance Premium Tax Credits for Marketplace coverage

    Letter 6419, 2021 Total advance Child Tax Credit Payments to reconcile advance Child Tax Credit payments

    Letter 6475, 2021 Economic Impact Payment, to determine eligibility to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.

    Free help

    Once taxpayers have collected all their tax documents and information, they’re ready to consider how they will file.

    IRS Free File is a great option for eligible taxpayers who are only filing a tax return to reconcile 2021 advance payments and claim the remaining portion of their Child Tax Credit or to claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, either because they didn’t receive a third-round Economic Impact Payment or did not receive the full amount. IRS Free File can also be used to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, which provides a refundable tax credit based on a filer’s income and family size.

    IRS Free File is available to any person or family who earned $73,000 or less in 2021. This year, there are eight IRS Free File products in English and one in Spanish.

    Taxpayers can use a “look up” tool to choose from one of the Free File Providers. Each provider sets its own eligibility standards, generally based on income, age and state residency giving taxpayers who earned $73,000 or less at least one product to use for free.

    Free File is just one way the IRS provides free tax preparation options to taxpayers through a partnership model. The IRS also partners with community organizations to train IRS-certified volunteers to prepare and electronically file basic income tax returns for qualified individuals for free.

    Qualified taxpayers who generally make $58,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need help preparing their own tax returns can get free tax help at one of thousands of community volunteer sites through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

    And the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offered by AARP, offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those who are 60 and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

    Members of the military and qualifying veterans can use MilTax, a Department of Defense program that generally offers free online tax preparation and e-filing software for federal returns and up to three state returns.

    New alternative media preference to help taxpayers

    Beginning Jan.31, 2022, taxpayers can complete Form 9000, Alternative Media Preference, to choose to receive their IRS tax notices in Braille, large print, audio or electronic formats. This includes notices about additional taxes or penalties owed. Taxpayers can include the completed form with their tax return, mail it as a standalone form to the IRS or call 800-829-1040 to elect their preferred format.

    As a reminder, Forms 1040 and 1040-SR are available in Spanish, and Schedule LEP, Request for Change in Language Preference, allows taxpayers to request information in 20 different languages besides English.

    E-file and choose direct deposit

    The IRS encourages taxpayers to file electronically and use direct deposit to get their refunds. Combining e-file with direct deposit is the safest and fastest way to receive a refund. Taxpayers can file electronically through a tax professional, IRS Free File or commercial tax preparation software. When choosing e-file and direct deposit, most people receive their refunds in less than 21 days.

    People who don’t have a bank account can visit the FDIC website or use the National Credit Union Administration’s Credit Union Locator Tool to find an institution that allows them to open an account online and for tips on how to choose the right account. Veterans can check out the Veterans Benefits Banking Program for access to financial services at participating banks. Taxpayers can also ask their preparer if they offer other electronic refund options.

    Although most refunds are delivered in 21 days, it could take longer if the tax return includes errors, is incomplete or requires further security review. Paper-filed tax returns and paper refund checks will take even longer this year.

  • IRS warning: Scammers work year-round; stay vigilant

    IRS warning: Scammers work year-round; stay vigilant

    WASHINGTON(TIP): As the new year begins, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers to protect their personal and financial information throughout the year and watch out for IRS impersonation scams, along with other schemes, that try to trick people out of their hard-earned money. These schemes can involve text message scams, e-mail schemes and phone scams. This tax season, the IRS also warns people to watch out for signs of potential unemployment fraud.

    “With filing season underway, this is a prime period for identity thieves to hit people with realistic-looking emails and texts about their tax returns and refunds,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Watching out for these common scams can keep people from becoming victims of identity theft and protect their sensitive personal information that can be used to file tax returns and steal refunds.”

    The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax industry – working together in the Security Summit initiative – have taken numerous steps since 2015 to protect taxpayers, businesses and the tax system from identity thieves. Summit partners continue to warn people to watch out for common scams and schemes this tax season.

    Text message scams

    Last year, there was an uptick in text messages that impersonated the IRS. These scams are sent to taxpayers’ smartphones and have referenced COVID-19 and/or “stimulus payments.” These messages often contain bogus links claiming to be IRS websites or other online tools. Other than IRS Secure Access, the IRS does not use text messages to discuss personal tax issues, such as those involving bills or refunds. The IRS also will not send taxpayers messages via social media platforms. If a taxpayer receives an unsolicited SMS/text that appears to be from either the IRS or a program closely linked to the IRS, the taxpayer should take a screenshot of the text message and include the screenshot in an email to phishing@irs.gov with the following information:

    Date/time/time zone they received the text message

    Phone number that received the text message

  • February 4 New York & Dallas E – Edition

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    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Dual Edition” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F02%2FTIP-February-4-Dual-Edition.pdf”][vc_single_image image=”119959″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/TIP-February-4-Dual-Edition.pdf”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”82828″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][vc_single_image image=”82829″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Lead Stories This Week” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2F%20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_wp_posts number=”8″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Monthly Horoscope- February 2022

    Monthly Horoscope- February 2022

    By Chirag Bejan Daruwalla

    We know February Month as a romantic month because of Valentine’s Day and week. Also, there are some astrological changes this month like there will be a full moon in Leo. Ganesha says this month there will be cherished changes that you will face in your zodiac sign. We will list all the good and bad things that you can expect in this second month of 2022. For February month its structure and days are different compared to other months. And also, this month holds something really special in it love-wise. We will give you complete knowledge about this new month based on your zodiac sign.

    Each sign has its changes in the planets and stars systems. There will be some new transits we will see this month. And how it will affect your zodiac sign and life. If it is good, then fine but there are some bad times then how to overcome them. All this will be answered by Ganesha.

     

    Aries: Ganesha says that Aries natives have the perfect time to bond in a relationship. Whether it is personal life or professional, make a team or friends in this month. You will have a great time this month and you will be in the spotlight of life. There will be many new things which will attract you. It is advised that you learn about it. Because there is a chance it will bring great benefits in your life. After that, there will be a reduction in your issues in life for the rest of the year. And you will enjoy the most gala time of your life.

    Taurus: Ganesha says to Taurus natives that this month is the ambitious month for you. The month will give you good opportunities to explore in the life direction which you always wanted. But there will also be some major obstacles and issues you will face in this journey. Work hard on your dreams and you will definitely achieve the goal without any worries this month. After that, for the rest of the year, there will be fewer worries and issues in your life. And everything will fall into place as you always wanted it.

    Gemini: Ganesha says that Gemini natives will hear some good news in their job this month. If you own a business, you will make new contacts and earn great profits. This month you will be fully beneficial and of complete growth in life. There will be zero obstacles in your professional life this month. Everything will fall in place as you always wanted it in life. February is the month of profit for you. So, grab this opportunity and work hard on it. To make the rest of the year easy-going and peaceful.

    Cancer: Ganesha says the Cancer natives will pass through some tests this month. The start of the month will be favourable and stable for you. But after that, you will face some shaky phases in your career, personal life, and family matters. But deal with this patiently and you will find the perfect solutions regarding it. And get the rest of the month or year back on track. February is the month of tests for you to pass it with flying colours and get yourself a good time in life with fewer worries and issues. So that you can enjoy the rest of the year.

    Leo: Ganesha indicates that Leo natives need to push forward to make things work. You have to be courageous and hard working for every goal. There will be great support from family and spouses in your life. This will keep you going happily in life without any worries. There will be just good times in life after some time and effort given by you. After the hard work, the results will be completely amazing and worthwhile in your life. Make sure to use this February month as your month in life.

    Virgo: Ganesha says that Virgo natives need to be careful of the people surrounding them this month. Most importantly you don’t need to trust anyone desperately and blindly. This will cause you to harm in life. It is advised to choose your people wisely and trust them carefully. Otherwise, if you are planning something big this month will not fall in place and you will have a hard time in life. Make sure to deal with this carefully this month. Then you will be relaxed for the rest of the year and face good times in a year with fewer worries and the removal of unwanted people.

    Libra: Ganesha says that this upcoming February Month is the most auspicious month for Libra. You will have a good income and constant wealth source. With that, there will be a supportive family and great love life. The things will be hopelessly romantic and full of joy in your life. Just be careful not to get carried away in this. Other than that, this will be one of the happiest months for Libra natives. If you successfully deal with this month and prepared yourself for the rest of the year. Then you will have good times this year with lesser worries and problems in life.

    Scorpio: Ganesha says that the role and responsibility of the Scorpio natives will increase this month. Whether it is in personal life or professional life you will see a rise in you. There will be good times you will have this month but it will come with certain responsibilities which you need to fulfil completely. If you did that successfully then nothing can stop you in your personal and professional life. And for the rest of the year, many things will be sorted out for you. There will be just a happy and peaceful year laid ahead of you in 2022.

    Sagittarius: Ganesha says that Sagittarius natives can face some ups and downs in professional life. You might have a hard time in your professional life. Where there will be tension, conflict, or not getting the results you expected. But apart from all of these, there will be great support from family and happy times in love life. This will keep you going this month. And help you to overcome professional life problems in minimum time. After that, you will be less worried about every aspect of life for the rest of the year.

    Capricorn: Ganesha says that for the Capricorn natives this New Year is very driven and passionate. You will have many things planned in your life and have a certain idea to execute in your career. This month is perfect for you to work on it because it will give you direct openness in this month. Alongside that, you will have support from family and your spouse which will help you greatly and having said that there will also be a good income source. This month is perfect for you to work passionately on your desired things in life with fewer worries and problems.

    Aquarius: Ganesha says this month is one of the most advantageous months of this year for the natives. There will be new openings, guidance, path, and direction in your life. This will help you and lead towards new things in your life. In your professional life, new doors can be opened for you. So, choose the door wisely, and for your personal life, you will be intrigued and fall in love with your partner more. This will definitely bring good times to your life. Make this month of February a worthy month for you.

    Pisces: Ganesha says this month for the Pisces natives is a struggling month where you will need to really work hard on new things. And take some major decisions in career life. By doing this you will face temporary problems in life but this is really beneficial for the long-term life. Apart from that, your personal life will be happy, stable, and peaceful for you. This will work as a great support system for you in life with no worries and issues. And you will have a good time after some tough decisions and times in life.

    To Sum Up: Every month there is a new type of change astrologically. And this affects every zodiac sign. For the month of February, there will be some transit and the Moon enters Leo. But most importantly how it will affect your sign and how you can overcome the tough time or enjoy a good time in this month is all needed as guidance and solutions.

  • Birthday Horoscope-Feb 7  to Feb 13, 2022

    Birthday Horoscope-Feb 7  to Feb 13, 2022

    • By Astro Friend Chirag – Son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla

    February 7: Ganesha says you will notice that you’re overly excited today.Your extrovert behavior and your cheerful disposition are highly appreciated in the social circle. Your strong leadership qualities will make you confident enough that you will be able to do all the work very well.Success will come your way if you work really hard. Today will bring in some good fortune as the planets align in your favor.

    February 8: Ganesha says today your day will be very kind. Today you will be able to complete the remaining task in projects. You may complete your work early, due to which you will be able to enjoy your time with family. You may plan for a trip with your partner. Your business will go great today. Today things will turn out the way you want as you have a lot of luck. One new opportunity will arise which will come immediately today itself and make you a lot of profits. Stars are in your favor which will help you navigate through any problems easily regarding this new opportunity.

    February 9: Ganesha says you will notice that things are working out for you without much effort. Little good things will keep happening throughout the day. It is great that everything will work out for you today but do not get lazy and focus on the things you need to get done today. You are very lucky today because you will get what you wish for, make sure you use the luck you have today to benefit yourself and not others because only then it will remain a positive thing for you.

    February 10 : Ganesha says wake up and meditate the first thing in the morning; it will be beneficial for your personal as well as professional life. You will make great profits in your business hence you will have a good day today. You will lean more towards altruism today considering the spiritual awaking in your sign. Ensure that you do not drift away from your dreams & ambitions as you might come across a few distractions today. Ensure that you’re ethical both in your personal & professional life.

    February 11: Ganesha says you will feel a lot of love and care coming towards you from family friends as well as your partner. Your day will be a tough one today but you will feel supported and cared for in all ways, at the end of the day you will feel very satisfied with where you are in your life currently. Your partner’s loving and caring nature will make you fall in love with your partner a lot today. You will experience firsthand how beautiful it is to be loved and cared for by someone you trust and love with all your heart.

    February 12: Ganesha says your love life has been on a roller coaster, but you will experience stability for today. Try to say what you have been thinking. Expressing your feelings will help you better your love life. Venus will bring love and the moon will bring fortune in your face today.You are entering a new phase that marks the start of a lane named success. Along with your old commitments you will be taking on additional responsibilities today, but it won’t seem like hard or tough work as you will enjoy doing it thoroughly.

    February 13: Ganesha says you are very lucky today because you will get what you wish for; make sure you use the luck you have today to benefit yourself and not others because only then it will remain a positive thing for you. You will tend to focus more on your financial issues hence your love life will be on a back seat. Immense support from your partner might surprise you a little bit. Try to have patience and understanding. You are extremely close to finding that person that will support you in everything, do not annoy that person.

  • Weekly Horoscope -February 7 to  February 13, 2022

    Weekly Horoscope -February 7 to  February 13, 2022

    Shree Ganeshaya Namah!!!

    Aries: Ganesha says this week, you’ll have a “can-do” attitude. Make use of your disposition to your advantage. You will carry out your strategy and make things happen as you intend. This week, you’ll disseminate the get-it-done mindset wherever you go. You will motivate your coworkers to dream big and achieve their objectives. Your zeal will land you fantastic chances and clientele. This week, keep your spirits high. Your relationship fronts look very strong this week as your partner will be able to spend a lot of time with you this week. Your health will need some attention this week as you might feel fatigued do too long working hours every day.

    Taurus: This week will be all business and no leisure for you. This perspective will aid you in making a favorable view of your bosses. You’ll enchant your clientele and form strong bonds with them. In the future, the links will help you with your errand. There will be no disruptions during the critical meeting set for this week. Nobody will be able to stop you from succeeding in your job. This week is a critical week at the workplace for you. This week, you will hardly pay any heed to your romantic life and this will make you feel less contented. In the latter half of the week, energies coming from Venus will affect your 7th house and your connection with your partner will start to shine again. Avoid traveling to distant places this week.

    Gemini: You will begin your week on a high note and with optimistic thoughts. Your week will be jam-packed with both excellent learning and anxiety. This week, you’ll be more hands-on, and you’ll avoid making decisions based on emotions. Your work attitude will improve as a result of your pragmatic and effective perspective. This week, you’ll be able to strike a better balance between your business and personal lives. This week, you’ll discover out what your life’s mission is. Your week will provide answers to some of your job and goal-related questions. This week, you will have to make a visit to your family doctor or a physiotherapist as you will find it difficult to deal with your back pain issues.

    Cancer: This is the week you invest in a company that you’ve been dreaming about for a long time. The stars are aligned wonderfully in your favor. Your primary source of nourishment will be your family. You have a tendency to be a bit apprehensive, but you are going to work marvels. Your well-wishers will assist you in making decisions by providing valuable advice for your new business. You will have no trouble raising funds for your business.Your romantic fronts will see several faces this week. You will find it difficult to make your partner understand your need to have your own little “me time”. Things will get better before the end of the week so keep yourself calm.

    Leo: You have a busy week ahead of you. From the start of your week, you will feel a huge surge of power moving towards you. This week at work, you’ll have a lot of meetings, but you’ll be able to complete all of your tasks. This week, your mental abilities will be put to good use. As a result, you must take full advantage of any possibilities that come your way. People who are already married will find comfort in their spouses after feeling worn out and tired with all the work they will have to do this week. Single people will feel changes in their feelings for their close friends. Your health will be totally fine this week.

    Virgo: How could a week of creation possibly go wrong!! It isn’t possible! This week, you will spend the whole week making something. This week, everything you give a shape up oryour design will teach you something about life. This week is a good time to reflect and work on yourself. This week, you’ll meet a lot of eager folks. This week is going to be a lot of fun and happiness even in your romantic life. Although you will not be able to meet your partner on most of the days of the week, things will eventually get better with a new relationship. Try to stay away from loud noises and tensing people as you might face issues of headache in the first half of the week as the position of the moon will affect you adversely.

    Libra: You’ll spend your week admiring and praising whatever you have. You will assist illiterate females in obtaining employment and living on their terms. Your gratification will come from assisting them. This week, you will stop carping about the bad things that are happening in your life and instead focus on the wonderful and better things! Your professional front will stay uptight as your 8th house will stay blessed by Lord Sun throughout the week. There might be some issues on your romantic front or marital life as you will find it difficult to forgive the mistakes your partner has made recently. Your relationship deserves true happiness and hence, be a bigger person here and try to make things better with your partner. Keep your mental healthon a good watch this week.

    Scorpio: Your children will get promoted and achieve success in their various fields this week. This week, you will be fulfilled and content. This week, you’ll have visitors who will brighten your week even more. This week will be a week of festivities for you. It’ll be the week you celebrate. Your entire family will be together in one place to honor you and your children! Marital fronts and romantic fronts will be blessed as Venus will transit to a positive spot from an unfavorable position. A very good bond will start to reconstruct between couples. There will be a lot of improvement in your health issues this week. Hence, do not stay anxious about your fitness.

    Sagittarius: This week, you’ll finish a project that will be beneficial for your company, especially if it involves real estate. Your greatest power is your healthy approach, and you must behave appropriately. Someone close to you will urge you to practice this virtue. You will be able to experience a wide range of emotions as well as spiritual development. You will thrive as a result of new experiences. This week, you’ll discover out where you stand in your career. Although you will stay very much occupied with all the big changes, you will find time for making things lively in your romantic life. The latter half of the week will not be favorablefor traveling as it might affect your health adversely.

    Capricorn: This week will be particularly memorable for you since your efforts will be recognized. It’s a new week, and it’s full of possibilities. Your hard effort is going to pay off in the end. This week, you could encounter new people who wish to collaborate with you. Jupiter appears to be on your side, and this week is a favorable week for you to make commercial decisions. You will receive wonderful news from your family in the second half of the week. Marital friends will be blessed this week. People what thinking to propose should wait a little bit as this week will not be favorable to build new connections. Your health will be alright do not worry about it.

    Aquarius: This week, your major goal is to take care of yourself. This week, you will reclaim your charisma in your life. It’ll be a pleasant and relaxing week ahead. Your good attitude will benefit the business as a whole as well as all of its personnel. You’ll have a solid week ahead of you. This week, you’ll get closer to the universe. This week, your planets are in an excellent position.The position of Venus in your 7th house will lead to a bigger development on your romantic fronts. Although you and your partner will not be able to spend much time with each other, you will stay very much emotionally connected. Minor back pain might bother you in the latter half of the week therefore avoid doing heavy physical activities.

    Pisces: Your new moon will travel to a location this week that will increase your inner resilience. You will be able to make an important decision about your family’s future. Your chosen career will have a positive impact on your judgment. Your planetary placements will aid you in taking a strategic approach to a scenario. Your coworkers will back you up this week when you take on your boss. You’ve got a lot of important decisions to make this week. This week will present you with a slew of fantastic possibilities. This week, your partner will plan out something very special for you as they will not be available to attend you in a few upcoming days. You will get a little nostalgic while having meaningful conversations with your spouse/ partner. Your health will be totally alright this week.

  • Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 variant under investigation in UK

    The UK health authorities on Friday said they will be conducting further analysis into a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 after designating it a variant under investigation (VUI).

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which monitors data related to the pandemic, said the sub-lineage known as BA.2 shows a low number of cases in the country, with the original Omicron lineage BA.1 still dominant.

    A VUI designation is the initial step of investigation before being designated a variant of concern (VOC), which the original Omicron BA.1 currently is.

    “The Omicron variant sub-lineage known as BA.2 has been designated as a variant under investigation,” UKHSA said.

    “The number of BA.2 cases is currently low, with the original Omicron lineage, BA.1, still dominant in the UK and further analyses will now be undertaken. UKHSA are continuing to monitor data on the BA.2 sub-lineage closely,” it said. The sub-lineage was designated in early December last year and as of January 10 this year, 53 sequences of BA.2 had been identified in the UK.

    “It is in the nature of viruses to evolve and mutate, so it’s to be expected that we will continue to see new variants emerge as the pandemic goes on,” said Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA Incident Director.

    “Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to detect them and assess whether they are significant. Case rates remain high throughout the UK and we must remain vigilant and take up vaccinations,” she said.

    The UKHSA update comes as the UK recorded another 107,364 Covid-19 infections on Thursday, after having dropped below the 100,000 mark in recent days. The health agency said there is now “high confidence” that the Omicron variant causes low severity of disease in adults. However, confidence levels for severity indicators for children are low because further analysis is required to compare the risk of hospitalisation between Omicron and Delta, and to assess the clinical nature of illness in children.

    Source: PTI

  • Chicken with sweet potatoes and cauliflower

    Chicken with sweet potatoes and cauliflower

    Ingredients

    –        3/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt

    –        1 teaspoon Madras-style curry powder

    –        1 teaspoon ground coriander

    –        1 teaspoon ground ginger

    –        1 clove garlic, minced-

    –        3/4 teaspoon salt, divided

    –        1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

    –        8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, (about 1 1/2 pounds), trimmed

    –        1 sweet potato, (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

    –        3 cups cauliflower florets, (1 small head) or broccoli florets

    –        1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

    –        Freshly ground pepper, to taste

    –        1/4 cup chopped unsalted dry-roasted peanuts, or cashews

    –        1/4 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves

    Method

    –        Combine yogurt, curry powder, coriander, ginger, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and cayenne in a shallow glass dish; mix to blend. Reserve 1/4 cup of this mixture; cover and refrigerate. Add chicken to the remaining yogurt mixture and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.

    –        Preheat oven to 230°C. Lightly coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

    –        Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the prepared baking sheet. Toss sweet potato with the reserved yogurt mixture in a medium bowl and place on the baking sheet.

    –        Toss cauliflower with oil in a medium bowl and add to the baking sheet. Season vegetables with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Roast chicken and vegetables, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

    –        Carefully turn the chicken over and stir the vegetables. Roast until the vegetables are tender and chicken is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes more.

    –        Arrange chicken and vegetables on a platter or individual plates and garnish with peanuts (or cashews) and cilantro.

  • Remove blackheads on your nose at home with these easy DIY masks and scrubs

    Remove blackheads on your nose at home with these easy DIY masks and scrubs

    There is something about those tiny, pesky blackheads that are so stubborn that they often have you pull your hair out in attempts to get rid of them, don’t you agree?

    But have you ever wondered, what exactly are those or how can you put an end to them?

    Today, through this article, we are going to decode everything about blackheads – from the causes to solutions in the form of home remedies and understand the best ways to keep blackheads at bay.

    What Are Blackheads?

    Blackheads are basically a form of acne that rise to the surface of the skin. They hold an oxidized version of melanin which is the dark pigment made by cells in the skin.

    In simple terms, when a pore gets clogged and closes up, it is known as a whitehead. While, on the other hand, when the top remains open, a blackhead forms.

    It is usually believed that blackheads are dark because the dirt in the specific pore is that colour. Contrary to popular notion, blackheads are black or dark gray because the oil and dead skin that clogs the pore oxidize when exposed to air.

    Causes Of Blackheads

    If you’re dealing with blackheads, you may be wondering, why do these pop-up? Some of these factors can increase the chance of developing blackheads. So, take note!

    –        Age and hormonal changes

    –        Inheritance

    –        Blocking or covering pores by cosmetics and clothing

    –        Excessive sweating

    –        Overproduction of skin cells by the body

    –        Performing activities that open the hair follicles

    –        High humidity and grease in the environment

    –        Use of some steroid-based drugs, such as corticosteroids

    Why Do You Commonly Find Blackheads On The Nose?

    We all can relate that the tip of the nose is home to blackheads. It generally happens because pores on your nose are usually bigger than the pores on the rest of your facial skin.

    These pores are also connected to the sebaceous glands that produce sebum and natural oil in your skin. Also, skin in this area is the centre of more oil glands as compared to the rest of your face, thereby, cropping up more blackheads.

    DIY Masks And Scrubs

    Now that you know all about blackheads, we know what you must be wondering. You certainly can’t get rid of the skin pores and you definitely can’t stop the oil secretion in your skin, so what can you do, right?

    Take a look at these effective homemade blackhead removal masks and scrubs and get flawless, blackhead-free skin.

    Bentonite Clay Mask

    A gentle ingredient that effectively works on blackheads is bentonite clay. It helps the skin in getting rid of excess oil and may help to loosen or even remove dirt from clogged pores.

    Not only to your nose, but you can also extend this mask to your whole t-zone as blackheads tend to appear more in this area.

    Method

    –        Take 3 tablespoons of bentonite clay.

    –        Add water to get a paste-like consistency.

    –        You can also add lavender oil to the mix.

    –        Apply the paste evenly on your face and leave it on for about 20 minutes.

    –        Remove the mask with a soft cotton cloth dipped in water and gently wipe it off.

    Cinnamon And Honey Mask

    Is there anything the humble honey cannot pull off? Honey mixed with cinnamon powder is one of the most effective masks for blackhead removal. Both of these ingredients have antibacterial and cleansing properties.

    Cinnamon is an astringent ingredient that is known for improving blood circulation, tightening the skin’s pores, and doesn’t let oil and dirt settle in. While honey hydrates the skin and makes it nourished and glowing.

    Method

    –        Take 3 tablespoons of organic honey.

    –        Take 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder.

    –        Mix them together and make a thick paste.

    –        Apply it on your damp face with the help of a brush.

    –        Also note, stick to only the nose area as cinnamon can be irritating for sensitive skin.

    –        Leave the mask on for 10 minutes.

    –        Remove the mask with lukewarm water.

    Sugar Scrub

    One of the most proven home remedies to get rid of blackheads is to make yourself an effective sugar scrub. You just need two ingredients for this – sugar and jojoba oil. These ingredients will help in cutting down dead skin cells.

    Method

    –        Take a cup of white sugar.

    –        Take three tablespoons of jojoba oil.

    –        Stir the mixture well until you get an evenly thick paste.

    –        You can also use almond oil or olive oil, as per your convenience.

    –        Apply it to your nose area and massage it for a minute or two.

    –        Let it sit for 4-5 minutes

    –        Rinse it off with lukewarm water.

    –        You can scrub at least twice a week to get the desired results.

    Oatmeal And Yoghurt Scrub

    Method

    –        Take 2 tablespoons of oatmeal.

    –        Take 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt

    –        You can also take half a lemon juice.

    –        Mix the ingredients well until you get a fine paste.

    –        Apply this to your nose area and massage it for a minute.

    –        Leave the scrub for 10-15 minutes.

    –        Rinse it off with lukewarm water.

    You can scrub with this mixture once a week to get the desired results.

              Source: Her Zindigi

  • India’s economy has some bright spots, a number of very dark stains, says Raghuram Rajan

    India’s economy has some bright spots, a number of very dark stains, says Raghuram Rajan

    New delhi (TIP)-The Indian economy has “some bright spots and a number of very dark stains” and the government should target its spending “carefully” so that there are no huge deficits, noted economist and former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said on Sunday.

    Known for his frank views, Rajan said the government needed to do more to prevent a K-shaped recovery of the economy hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

    Generally, a K-shaped recovery will reflect a situation where technology and large capital firms recover at a far faster rate than small businesses and industries that have been significantly impacted by the pandemic.

    “My greater worry about the economy is the scarring to the middle class, the small and medium sector, and our children’s minds, all of which will come into play after an initial rebound due to pent-up demand. One symptom of all this is weak consumption growth, especially for mass consumption goods,” Rajan told PTI in an e-mail interview.

    Rajan, currently a Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, noted that as always, the economy has some bright spots and a number of very dark stains.

    “The bright spots are the health of large firms, the roaring business the IT and IT-enabled sectors are doing, including the emergence of unicorns in a number of areas, and the strength of some parts of the financial sector,” he said.

    On the other hand, “dark stains” are the extent of unemployment and low buying power, especially amongst the lower middle-class, the financial stress small and medium-sized firms are experiencing, “including the very tepid credit growth, and the tragic state of our schooling”.

    Rajan opined that omicron is a setback, both medically and in terms of economic activity but cautioned the government on the possibility of a K-shaped economic recovery.

    “We need to do more to prevent a K-shaped recovery, as well as a possible lowering of our medium-term growth potential,” he said.

              Source: PTI

  • Sensex snaps 5-day rout, rebounds 367 points

    Sensex snaps 5-day rout, rebounds 367 points

    Mumbai (TIP)-Snapping its five-session losing streak, equity benchmark Sensex rebounded 367 points on Tuesday, January 25, boosted by strong gains in Maruti, Axis Bank and SBI amid a supportive trend in European equities. The BSE gauge ended 366.64 points or 0.64 per cent higher at 57,858.15. Similarly, the NSE Nifty rose 128.85 points or 0.75 per cent to close at 17,277.95. Maruti was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 7 per cent, followed by Axis Bank, SBI, IndusInd Bank, Bharti Airtel and NTPC.

    On the other hand, Wipro, Bajaj Finserv, HDFC twins and RIL were among the laggards.

    Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul ended sharply lower.

    Stock exchanges in Europe were trading with significant gains in mid-session deals.

    International oil benchmark Brent crude advanced 0.89 per cent to USD 87.04 per barrel.

    Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net sellers in the capital market as they sold shares worth Rs 3,751.58 crore on Monday, according to stock exchange data.

  • IMF slashes India’s economic growth forecast to 9% in FY22

    Washington (TIP)-The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut India’s economic growth forecast to 9% for the current fiscal year ending March 31, joining a host of agencies which have downgraded their projections on concerns over the impact of a spread of new variant of coronavirus on business activity and mobility.

    In its latest update of World Economic Outlook on Tuesday, the Washington-based international financial institution, which had in October last year projected a 9.5% GDP growth for India, put the forecast for the next fiscal FY23 (April 2022 to March 2023) at 7.1%. The Indian economy had contracted by 7.3% in the 2020-21 fiscal.

    The IMF’s forecast for the current fiscal is less than 9.2% that the government’s Central Statistics Office has predicted and 9.5% that the RBI has estimated. Its forecast is lower than the 9.5% projection by S&P and 9.3% by Moody’s but more than the 8.3% projection by the World Bank and 8.4% by Fitch.

    According to the IMF, India’s prospects for 2023 are marked up on expected improvements to credit growth and, subsequently, investment and consumption, building on better-than-anticipated performance of the financial sector.

    The IMF said global growth is expected to moderate from 5.9% in 2021 to 4.4% in 2022, half a percentage point lower for 2022 than in the October WEO, largely reflecting forecast markdowns in the two largest economies — the US and China. A revised assumption removing the Build Back Better fiscal policy package from the baseline, earlier withdrawal of monetary accommodation, and continued supply shortages produced a downward 1.2 percentage-point revision for the US, it said.

               Source: PTI

  • Microsoft profits up 21%, giving cushion for gaming push

    Microsoft profits up 21%, giving cushion for gaming push

    washington (TIP)- Demand for Microsoft’s cloud-computing services and work software helped boost its quarterly profits by 21% as the pandemic continued to keep many office workers at least partly at home.

    The Redmond, Washington company on Tuesday, January 25,  reported fiscal second-quarter profit of $18.8 billion. It posted revenue of $51.7 billion for the October-December period, up 20% from a year earlier.

    In a call with investors, CEO Satya Nadella said the company is transitioning from a period of pandemic-fueled demand to one in which digital technology can help overcome economic constraints to “drive productivity while keeping costs down.” “The other area we are seeing strength is gaming,” Nadella said. “That’s where we have doubled down in terms of our consumer category.”

    Microsoft last week announced its plans to buy high-profile game publisher Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, an all-cash deal that could be the priciest tech acquisition in history if it withstands scrutiny by antitrust regulators. It could also catapult the Xbox-maker ahead of Nintendo to join Sony and Tencent as one of the three biggest video game companies.

    But the financial results revealed Tuesday show that business-focused offerings such as Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform and its suite of software products are still driving the company’s growth.

    Net income of $2.48 per share beat Wall Street expectations. Analysts surveyed by FactSet were expecting Microsoft to earn $2.32 per share on revenue of $50.71 billion for the fiscal quarter. It’s the first time the company hit over $50 billion in sales in a three-month period.

    Beating analysts’ forecasts wasn’t enough to stop Microsoft shares from first dropping, then rising about 2% in after-hours trading on a jittery day for investors. As markets have been swinging between steep losses and gains, expensive stocks in high-flying tech companies have led losses as investors worry about rising interest rates.

    Sales from Microsoft’s cloud computing business segment — where its biggest competitor is Amazon — grew 26% to $18.3 billion in the quarter ending in December.

    Microsoft’s productivity segment, which includes its Office suite of workplace products such as email, grew by 19% from the same period a year earlier, to $15.9 billion.

    The productivity segment also includes revenue from Microsoft’s LinkedIn jobs networking service, which increased 37% from the same time a year earlier. Nadella said it’s getting more engagement because of the “great reshuffle across the labor market.”

    he company late last year halted its localized version of LinkedIn in mainland China, citing tightening government restrictions affecting the only major Western social networking platform that had still operated in the country.

    Microsoft’s personal computing business, which includes Windows software licenses, Xbox and the Surface line of devices, grew by 15% to $17.5 billion.

    Holiday gadget sales typically make the October-December quarter an important one for Surface devices and Xbox games and consoles. The company said Xbox content and services revenue grew 10% over the same time a year earlier. Xbox hardware revenue grew more modestly at 4% — in part because numbers in late 2020 had been boosted by the release of Microsoft’s Xbox Series X system, the company’s first new console since 2013.         Source: AP

  • WhatsApp to allow transfer of chats from Android to iPhone

    WhatsApp to allow transfer of chats from Android to iPhone

    Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly testing the possibility of allowing users to migrate chats from their Android device to an iPhone. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working on an “import chat history” feature that will let Android users move their chats to an iPhone device. The feature was spotted in development in the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS v22.2.74. Currently, it is not available to everyone at the moment. It appears that WhatsApp will rely on an app called Move to iOS in order to make the migration possible.

    At present, chat transfer feature has been available from iOS to Samsung devices and Google pixel since last October. Users can also migrate chats from iOS to devices based on Android 12 out-of-the-box.

    WhatsApp is also reportedly rolling out a new global voice note player on iOS beta that will let users listen to a voice message even when they switch to a different chat.

    The voice note that users are listening to will not be dismissed when they swipe back or open a different chat.

    This feature has been released to some iOS beta testers, including WhatsApp Business beta.

  • Google launches beta of Android games on Windows PCs

    Google launches beta of Android games on Windows PCs

    Tech giant Google is reportedly launching a limited beta of its app to bring Android games to Windows PCs.

    According to The Verge, Google Play Games will be available in beta in Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan, allowing Windows PC owners to play popular Android games like Mobile Legends, Summoners War, State of Survival and Three Kingdoms Tactics.

    Players in these countries will be able to sign up to access the beta and access Google’s standalone app on Windows PCs.

    The tech giant is promising “seamless gameplay sessions between a phone, tablet, Chromebook and Windows PC”, suggesting that you’ll be able to easily resume games between multiple devices.

    “Players can easily browse, download, and play their favourite mobile games on their PCs while taking advantage of larger screens with mouse and keyboard inputs,” Arjun Dayal, group product manager for Google Play Games was quoted as saying.

    “No more losing your progress or achievements when switching between devices; it just works with your Google Play Games profile,” he added.

    Google Play Games will also include Play Points that can be earned while playing Android games on PCs. The company only announced its plans to bring Android games to PCs a month ago, but it’s still not clear what technology the company is using to get Android games running on Windows PCs. The Google Play Games app will be a native Windows app that will not involve game streaming, though and Google is opening up a developer site today that should start to provide more information for game developers.     Source: IANS

  • Google Search adds new Easter Egg for Wordle players

    Google Search adds new Easter Egg for Wordle players

    Wordle has been taking over the internet. After Twitter users flooding their timelines with yellow, green and grey boxes, the game now is now acknowledged by Google as a trend. The search giant now has a dedicated easter egg that comes into play when your search for ‘Wordle’.

    Google will show a new animation on the top left of the search result screen and the animation will cycle through a number of six-letter words (instead of Wordle’s default five-letter words) to show certain green and yellow boxes.

    The same can be spotted on the top of the screen in the middle when you search for ‘Wordle’ on phone. As you keep watching words like GOALIE and COLUMN get animated, the final word with all green characters is revealed to be GOOGLE.

    The animation is currently seen on both desktops and smartphones. While Google does pay homage to the trend, note that this isn’t a Google Doodle (when Google changes its logo on the main Google Search page) and rather an easter egg that will appear only when you search for ‘Wordle’. However, because it is a search-specific easter egg, the Wordle animation may stick around for much longer than a Google Doodle, which is usually there only for one day.

    If you too want to hop on the Wordle train you can check out our guides on what the game is about, how to play it and even how to get better at it.

    Wordle continues to grow more popular each day as more players are introduced to the simple puzzle game that drops a five-letter word each day that must be strategically guessed within six chances. The only help players get is a three-way colour code that lets them know what letter is present in and where it is positioned in the word of the day.

  • How trillion-dollar ‘space economy’ is threatened by debris

    How trillion-dollar ‘space economy’ is threatened by debris

    The space economy is on track to be valued at a trillion dollars by the end of 2030, but assets such as navigation, weather and communication satellites that serve our society daily are threatened by space debris, an Indian-American professor has stressed. According to NASA, it is estimated that millions of pieces of space debris orbit around Earth. A major portion of these objects as well as active satellites reside in the low-Earth orbit region, at altitudes between 200 km and 1,000 km.

    In November last year, Russia destroyed one of its own satellites with a ground-based missile, creating thousands of pieces of debris that passed through the International Space Station (ISS).

    The astronauts and cosmonauts had to take shelter in their Soyuz and Dragon vehicles docked at the space station, as the orbital lab continued to pass through a debris field every 90 minutes.

    The US identified more than 1,500 trackable pieces of debris from the event, and many thousands of smaller ones couldn’t be traced.

    According to Piyush Mehta, Assistant Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at West Virginia University, the US, in low-Earth orbit, our ability to safeguard these space assets depends on modelling of the aerodynamic forces acting on the satellites, specifically satellite drag.

    “The drag force acting on a satellite is affected by various physical parameters, however, the most crucial and uncertain are the drag coefficient and mass density,” said Mehta, who leads a collaborative effort on satellite drag coefficient modelling under the International Space Weather Action Teams (ISWAT) initiative.

    Mehta explained that because of the interconnectedness of the two parameters, one of them is held constant, typically the drag coefficient, while the other is investigated.

    However, he added that this causes inconsistencies or inaccuracies in our understanding of the mass density variability in the upper atmosphere or thermosphere.

    Jason Gross, Interim Chair of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the Statler College, West Virginia University, said: “With the continued rapid increase of manmade satellites in low-Earth orbit, his (Mehta’s) work towards improved orbital decay prediction becomes more important for the future of space environment sustainability with each passing day. His lab is at the forefront of this important field.”

              Source: IANS

  • Vibrant Gujarat

    Vibrant Gujarat

    Located in the westernmost part of India, Gujarat is home to several architectural marvels and is famous for its vibrant culture and rich heritage, apart from the scenic landscapes and mouth-watering cuisine. Offering a broad range of the most spectacular attractions, Gujarat, also known as ‘The Land of Legends’, presents a perfect blend of art, history, music and culture.

    Being the sole home of the pure Asiatic Lions, Gujarat also offers splendid views of the scenic beauty ranging from the Great Rann of Kutch to the hills of Satpura. Apart from the picturesque landscapes and the more than 1600 kilometres long coastline, Gujarat also offers its tourists with some magnificent ancient cave paintings, historic murals, holy temples, historic capitals, wildlife sanctuaries, beaches, hill resorts and fascinating handicrafts. Gujarat is a dry state but the cultural exuberance of the Gujratis will give rejuvenate you.

    Places to Visit Ahmedabad

    A rapidly growing metropolis, an industrial hub, an educational hotspot, and a city with a magnificent past – Ahmedabad is one of the most important cities in Gujarat. Located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, Ahmedabad is the former capital of Gujarat, and its delicious food, colourful culture is making it a fast-growing tourist destination. The historic city of Ahmedabad or the old part of the city was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Home to a plethora of remarkable temples like Swaminarayan Temple, intriguing museums and classy markets, with a little bit of colonial history attached to it, Ahmedabad is an excellent example of how a city can still retain every bit of its old-world charm while still rapidly progressing on the path of globalisation.

    Ahmedabad is famous for its textiles and its tie-dye bandhani handloom technique, which makes it a great place to shop. From bandhani sarees, dupattas to traditionally embroidered dress materials, and other local handicrafts.

    Sabarmati Ashram, situated directly beside the Sabarmati river, is a quaint and peaceful ashram built by Mahatma Gandhi after he returned from South Africa. To this date, Gandhiji’s living quarters are preserved here and is now used as a museum where visitors can learn all about his life and his teachings. The infamous Dandi Salt March, which was a crucial point in India’s independence struggle, originated from this ashram.

    Kutch

    Virtually an island that resembles the shape of a tortoise, Kutch is an erstwhile princely state of India holding onto its grandeur nature from the past. Kutch is probably one of the most beautiful, yet surreal places in India with the vast expanses of the white salt desert.  The place comes to life during the winters when the Rann Festival is held during December-February everywhere in which there are huge camp settlements with cultural programs, functions and adventure activities like hot-air ballooning.

    Kutch is also among the largest district of India with a terribly low population density. Also, Kutch lies on the India-Pakistan border and you can see parts of Pakistan from Kutch. Kutch is also famous for crafts and embroidery works, Flamingo Sanctuary and Wild Ass Sanctuary. Bhuj is an ideal starting point to visit the Rann of Kutch. Beautiful beaches of Mandvi near Bhuj are also totally worth visiting during your trip to Kutch. Don’t miss to see the ancient town of Dholavira.

    Gir National Park

    Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only remaining home for the Asiatic Lions. Located in Talala Gir in Gujarat, the Sanctuary is a part of Kathiawar- Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion. Gir National Park is closed from 16 June to 15 October every year and the best time for wildlife spotting is April and May.

    Gir provides you with the unique experience of visiting a place which almost singularly plays a crucial and defining role in the preservation and sustaining of a certain species. The preservation of these lions was initiated by the Nawab of Junagadh when these were just about to enter the phase of extinction due to hunting.

    The official count said that there were 411 lions in 2010. Also, there are roughly different 2375 species of fauna here with 38 species of mammals, over 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles and over 2000 species of insects. Other important wildlife forms found here are leopard, chausingha, spotted deer, hyena, sambar deer and chinkara.

    Somnath

    Somnath, literally meaning ‘lord of the moon’ is a pilgrim center and is home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is a town which derives much of its identity from the mythology, religion, and legends that surround it.

    Primarily a temple town, Somnath is a place where a strong scent of religion and legends lingers around tourism and even daily life. Its spiritual environment is ornamented by the huge number of temples in the area, however, Somnath also offers beaches, museums and other attractions. While the Somnath temple and Somnath beach are the primary places to visit here, Gita Mandir, Balukha Tirtha, Kamnath Mahadev Temple, Somnath Museum are some of the other places that one can visit.

    Vadodara

    Vadodara or Baroda is a cosmopolitan city located in Gujarat. Home to some of the most exemplary displays of architecture, Vadodara is a fitting memorial to Maratha leader Sayaji Rao Gaekwad III who had envisioned a dream to make this Big City an educational, industrial and commercial centre.

    Known for one of the most lavish palaces in India- the Lakshmi Vilas Palace and plenty more legendary monuments, Vadodara is the cultural capital of Gujarat. With a prominent part of it being occupied by the Gujaratis, this place is the most sought after during the nine days of the Navratri festival. No city in India celebrates the festival of Navratri with as much zeal and exuberance as Vadodara does. It houses one of the premier universities of India- the Maharaja Sayajirao University.

    Dwarka

    Located on the western tip of the Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat, Dwarka is believed to be the capital city of Lord Krishna’s kingdom. Known as Devbhoomi Dwarka, Dwarka boasts of being the only city that is a part of both Char Dham (four principal holy places) and also Sapta Puris (seven sacred cities) mentioned in the Hindu religion. Dwarka was a part of the ancient kingdom of Krishna and Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, is also located in Dwarka. The beachside and the seashores are an added tourist attraction.Legend has it that the city was once engulfed by the sea and recent excavations reveal that a city did exist here. The name Dwarka translates to dwar meaning ‘door’ and ka meaning ‘moksha’ meaning the ‘door to salvation.

  • I would be more dangerous if forced to step down, Pak PM Imran Khan warns Opposition

    Islamabad (TIP): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday warned the Opposition parties that he would be more dangerous if they forced him to step down as he ruled out granting any concession to them.

    Responding to a question about the planned long march by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on March 23 during live calls by the public, Khan said that the move would fail.

    “If I take to the streets, then you (opposition parties) won’t find any place to hide,” Khan said, adding that he would be more dangerous if forced to step down.

    The PDM – an alliance of nearly a dozen opposition parties – was formed against the Pakistan Army’s interference in politics and installing “puppet” Prime Minister Khan through a “manipulated” election.

    PDM President and JamiatUlema-e-Islam-Fazl head MaulanaFazlurRahman has announced that the opposition parties would launch a long march towards Islamabad on March 23 to rid the nation of the “incapable and illegitimate” government of Imran Khan. Khan also slammed the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and refused to have any interaction with him. (PTI)