NEW YORK (TIP): Walgreens expects to close 150 locations in the United States and 300 locations in the United Kingdom, Walgreens Boots Alliance CFO James Kehoe said in the company’s earnings call this week.
The pharmacy chain reported lower earnings on Tuesday , June 27, compared to the same quarter last year – $118 million, or 14 cents a share, compared to $289 million, or 33 cents a share, a year ago. The company is facing muted consumer spending and a pullback in demand for Covid vaccines. CEO Rosalind Brewer said the company was increasing its cost-savings efforts to $4.1 billion and “taking immediate actions to optimize profitability for our US healthcare segment.” Kehoe told analysts the company will have saved $3.3 billion by the end of this year, and is projecting to save “at least” $800 million in 2024. These store closures are part of its cost-cutting effort.
The chain operates almost 9,000 stores in the United States and expects to close the 150 US locations by the end of its next fiscal year, Aug 31, 2024, a spokesperson said. Kehoe said the company also eliminated more than 500 roles, or around 10% of its corporate and US office support workforce. Technology and its plans to build the “pharmacy of the future” will further drive savings, he said. “We are optimizing the model through our micro fulfillment centers, tech-enabled centralization of in-store activities and telepharmacy solutions,” Kehoe said.
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak and wife Amola Pathak were given a warm reception on arrival at the Mint Restaurant in Garden City. From L to R: Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, Arvind Vora, Kamlesh Mehta, Amola Pathak, Pam Kwatra, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Jagdish Sewhani, and Raj Wadhwa.
GARDEN CITY, NY (TIP): Prominent Indian American community leaders welcomed living legend Dr Bindeshwar Pathak at a meet-and-greet on June 19 in Long Island. A Padma Bhushan awardee, Dr Pathak is famous as the founder of Sulabh International, the largest NGO in India, which has built over 9,000 public toilets across the country.
Co-hosts of the dinner event at Mint restaurant near Roosevelt Field Mall included community leaders Pam Kwatra, Kamlesh Mehta, Eric Kumar, and Raj Wadhwa. Eminent speakers included Ragini Srivastava, Town Clerk, Town of North Hempstead, entrepreneur and philanthropist Mohan Wanchoo, The Indian Panorama Chief Editor Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, President of AAPI-QLI Dr Vinni Jayam, Shanti Fund founder Arvind Vora, Dr Jagdish Gupta, Jagdish Sewhani and senior community leader Dr Narinder Kukar.
Eric Kumar as emcee drew the line from the pathfinding work of Dr Pathak to eradicate scavenging to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachch Bharat campaign. Ellis Island Medal honoree Pam Kwatra mentioned that the seed capital for Dr Pathak’s social enterprise came in the form of jewelry from his wife, Amola, who was present at the event. Amola Pathak was felicitated by Nimmi Mehta and Totee Wadhwa. Prominent guests who gave Dr Pathak a standing ovation included Harish Thakkar, Jaspreet Mayall, Ashish Srivastava, Parveen Chopra, Shomik Chaudhuri, Jay Raj, Dr. Manju Kukar, Ila Vora, Taranbir Kaur and Prasad ji. In his speech, Dr Pathak, a sociologist with a PhD from the University of Patna, acknowledged that his inspiration came from Mahatma Gandhi. A recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2016, Dr Pathak was on the 5-member jury this time which last week selected Gita Press, Gorakhpur (the world’s largest publisher of Hindu religious books since 1923) for the same prestigious award by the Government of India.
Dr Pathak’s accomplishments span the fields of sanitation technology, social enterprise, and healthcare education for millions of people in India, serving as a model for NGO agencies and public health initiatives around the world.
Born a Brahmin, he has worked tirelessly for the human rights of the manual scavengers who clean dry latrines, come from the lowest stratum of India’s caste-based system, and are mostly women. His actions aimed at rehabilitating them and providing alternative employment through skill development.
The most visible sign of his work is the Sulabh toilets in all major public places in India including at 36 railway stations which are used by approximately 20 million people every day.
AIA Illinois Chapter President Hina Trivedi with PM Modi in Washington, D.C. on June 23, 2023
NEW YORK (TIP): Several current and former community leaders from the Association of Indians in America (AIA) participated in events welcoming the Honorable Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, during his visit to United States. “A rare honor afforded to a visiting head of state of any country, Prime Minister Modi received a red carpet welcome from President Joe Biden, members of the United States Congress and countless Americans of Indian origin,” said Mr. Gobind Munjal, National President of AIA. “We are delighted AIA was front and center in welcoming Mr. Modi.” In keeping with AIA’s motto of pride in “Indian Heritage and American Commitment,” several members of AIA – National, New York Chapter, and New Jersey chapters participated in the Yoga retreat at United Nations which was led by the prime minister.
(Pictures Enclosed)
Additionally, Mr. Gopal Khanna, former Vice President of AIA – National, along with his wife Anjali, a lifelong community worker, were at hand to welcome Prime Minister Modi In Washington, DC. “We were honored to be invited to attend the Joint Session of the Congress,” said Khanna who has served in the administration of two governors and two presidents, most recently as the Director of the Agency of Healthcare and Research for President Donald Trump. “A rare display of bipartisan support and heartfelt welcome afforded to PM Modi was evident on the floor of U.S. Congress. The prime minister’s message of AI – America and India partnership defining the new world order in the 21st century was appreciated with a standing ovation.”
“AIA organized the first ever trade delegation to India in 1979 to further U.S.- India ties. The relationship of our two counties has come a long way,” said Munjal. Khanna added, “I can see huge possibilities ahead, particularly in scaling business, technology and defense alliance. Of course, a lot will depend upon defining and crystallizing compelling strategic interests amongst the two nations. President Biden and Prime Minister Modi have set the course for building trust, investments and people to people exchange.”
Also, AIA Illinois Chapter President Hina Trivedi had the honor of meeting with prime minister Modi in Washington DC.
Earlier last month, AIA celebrated 75th anniversary of India’s independence and building of the nation’s democratic institutions. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined prominent members of the Indian-American community at the Honor Banquet hosted by AIA on May 6th at the Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadow Park, Queens, NY.
For more information, please reach out to NATIONAL PRESIDENT GOBIND MUNJAL at 646-209-8244 or gpmunjal@gmail.com; Or visit AIA National Website: www.aianational.org
About AIA: Established in 1967, the Association of Indians in America is the oldest national organization representing peoples of Indian origin in America.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived on his first State visit to US from June 21 to June 23 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden. He arrived in New York on the first leg of his visit on June 20, 2023. The same day he met with Nobel Laureates, CEO’s , Think Tank leaders and politicians.
On June 21, Modi participated in the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the United Nations where 175 nations were represented, and this being the largest gathering of diplomats at any event, it created a Guinness Book record.
On June 21, PM Modi had private dinner with Bidens at the White House.
On June 22 afternoon , PM Modi addressed the joint meeting of Congress. In the evening, Modi attended the State dinner in his honor at which about 400 guests were present. They included Mukesh Ambani, Sundar Pichai and many other CEO’s, eminent personalities from all walks of life, besides lawmakers and politicians.
On June 23 morning, PM Modi had a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and other leaders .
In the evening PM Modi attended Diaspora events at Kennedy House and Regan Center.
He was to depart for Egypt on June 24 morning.
We bring you here the visit of PM Modi in pictures. For articles on Modi’s visit, please turn to other pages.
Prime Minister Modi met with Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla , and Senator Chuck Schumer , Senate Majority Leader, among others on June 20.
Prime Minister Modi attended the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations on June 21 morning. The event was attended by diplomats from 175 nations, and the event got recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. President of the United Nations General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi was among those present.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Washington D.C. on June 21 afternoon to a warm welcome by Indian Americans , and by President Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden. Modi had a private dinner with the Bidens at the White House in the evening.
The next day, June 22 , US President Biden and India’s Prime Minister Modi had talks followed by a press conference.
Prime Minister Modi, on June 22 afternoon, addressed the joint meeting of US Congress.
The Zoom session will be held on Sunday, June 25th from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.
NEW YORK (TIP) : On the occasion of International Yoga Day 2023, GOPIO, and Emmy-nominated filmmaker & Happy Life Yoga speaker Tirlok Malik along with The Indian Panorama & Indian American Forum will be hosting a highly interactive and informative Yoga event featuring experts and speakers from various walks of life. Ambassador Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General of India in New York will be the chief guest. Other speakers will include Dr. Thomas Abraham, Professor Indrajit Saluja, Indu Jaiswal, Anil Narang, Lal Motwani (GOPIO International President), Neeta Bhasin, Dr. Renee Mehra, Deborah Fishman, Neha Lohia, Radhika Bhagat, Dr. Tara Shajan & Victoria Moran. The Zoom session will be held on Sunday, June 25th from 11:00am – 12:00pm. Interested participants can join the session using the meeting ID: 709 536 8686 and passcode: GOPIO
The event promises to be energetic, knowledgeable, inspiring, and celebratory in nature. Malik will interact with all the prominent speakers on the panel to discover their own personal mantras for happiness. While emphasizing the growing importance of Yoga in today’s times, session host Malik explains his vision behind Happy Life Yoga and its underlying philosophy as “a way of living inspired by the wisdom of Ayurveda, Yoga and Indian Philosophy.” Malik created the Happy Life Yoga workshop (No mats needed!) inspired by Ayurveda yoga and Indian philosophy as a practical way to live a happier and healthier life in today’s time. This interactive workshop emphasizes “love yourself,” and if you love yourself, it’s your responsibility to take care of your happiness and health, using the tools shared by Malik in this workshop. It’s the gift of ancient India, tested by science & time! The event is supported by many New York media outlets. Malik and the whole team look forward to the celebration of International Yoga Day 2023 and invite everybody to join!
1984 Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minsiter of India, vists Darbar Sahib after operation Bluestar. All Singh Sahibans were present but boycotted this visit. No saroopa was given as a protest and exhibition of Sikh anger.
24th June
1885 Master Tara Singh was born on 24 June, 1885, in Haryal in Rawalpindi district of North Western Province of undivided India. His mother, Moolan Devi, was a pious lady and his father, Bakshi Gopi Chand, was a patwari of the village and was a well known and respected person. Tara Singh’s original name was Nanak Chand. In 1902 Nanak Chand embraced Sikhism and came to be called Tara Singh. Tara Singh had a bright educational career and was a scholarship holder almost at all stages of his education. In 1907 he passed his B. A. examination from Khalsa College, Amritsar. Later Tara Singh joined as headmaster of Khalsa High School, Lyallpur, at an honorarium of Rs. 15 per month. Since then he came to be known as Master Tara Singh. His career as a teacher ended in 1921, following the Nankana tragedy. He also edited two Akali newspapers, Akali (Udru) and Akali te Pardesi (Grumukhi) in which he forcefully put forward the aims and objectives of the Akali Dal. He took an active part in national politics till his death on 22 November 1967.
1962 Punjabi University established.
25th June
1700 Sikhs forces defeated the combined forces of Hill chiefs and imperial troops.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s’ forces routed the 10,000 combined forces of Hill chiefs and the imperial troops. It was from the Baisakhiof 1699 that the hill chiefs became thirsty for Guru Gobind Singh’s blood and resolved to destroy the Sikh Panth which they considered inimical to varnashram dharam. They resolved to try all venues suggested to them by Kautilya’s statecraft: weakening the movement from within; instigating people of other faiths against it; and involving it straight away in an armed struggle with the forces of the state to retard its momentum, if not destroy it. This was the first battel of Anandpur Sahib.
1889 Maharaja Dalip Singh sent message from Geneva to initiate uprising against the British government. 1924 9th Shahidi Jatha of 500 Akalis, led by Sardar Kaesar Singh of Vidang (Amritsar), courted arrest upon reaching Jaito.
26th June
1838 Maharaja Ranjit Singh signed a tri-party agreement with the British and Shujah and British. Under this agreement, Maharaja Ranjit Singh was to give 5000 troops, British to give officers and financial assistance to Shah Shujah against Dost Mohd. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was virtually forced into this treaty by British diplomacy.
1839 Maharaja Ranjit Singh suffered another stroke.
1984 Baba Nihal Singh Hariawalae arrested.
1984 Panj Payaras demanded from the President, Prime Minister, and Governor of Punjab to give control of kar Sewa to SGPC.
27th June
1745 Nawab Zakaria Khan’s orders were carried out and Bhai Taru’s scalp was removed. On Harbhagat Naranjania’s complaint, Bhai Taru Singh of his village was arrested and accused of providing rations to the Sikhs. Bhai Taru Singh admitted the facts. Nawab Zakaria Khan ordered the removal of his scalp. Bhai Taru Singh said that the Governor would suffer as much torture. And Bhai Taru would take Zakaria Khan along with him to the other world.
1839 Maharaja Ranjit Singh passed away in Lahore.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the great ruler of Punjab for 40 years, breathed his last at 7 P.M. on this day and thus the most brilliant period of Sikh history came to a close.
28th June
1984 Ujagar Singh, acting President, Akali Dal and Atma Singh, acting President SGPC were arrested from their temporary offices in Sri Guru Ram Das hospital. These arrests were conducted to sabotage the Akali Dal meeting announced for Jun. 29, 1984.
1996 Kamaljit Singh Sandhu’s body found in a canal. He was one of the seven convicts in the hijacking of an Indian Airlines Boeing on August 23, 1984.
29th June
1924: 7th and 8th Sahidhi Jathas of 500 Akali Satyagrahies each, under the leadership of Karmveer Sardar Prtap Singh of Kuradpur (Jalandhar) and Sardar Man Singh Hunboo (Shakhupuraa) respectively, courted arrests upon reaching Jaito.
1984 First meeting of Akali Dal in Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, after Operation Bluestar. This meeting strongly condemned the attack and its resulting destruction, innocents killed.
K.P.S. Gill became the new Director General of Police in Punjab. Under Gill a fresh reign of terror was unleashed in Punjab. Numerous innocent families were destroyed; youth subjected to extra-judicial killings, women raped. Even the very young and old weren’t spared.
1980 Sanjay Gandhi, a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, died in the plane crash.
1985 An Air India passenger plane crashed into the air near the coast of Ireland. All 329 passengers aboard the plane were killed in this accident.
1761 Death of Maratha ruler Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao.
1810 Construction of Duncan Dock of Bombay completed.
1953 Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee died in a hospital in Kashmir.
2008 JK Tire India Limited, the country’s leading tire maker, acquired Mexico’s tire company Tornal and its subsidiaries for $ 270 million.
2008 The selection committee recommended in 2008 to confer the Dadasaheb Phalke Award on famous Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee.
2014 Gujarat’s ‘Rani Ki Vav’ and Himachal’s ‘Great Himalayan National Park’ were included in the 2014 World Heritage List.
1934 Gandhian thinker and social worker Chandi Prasad Bhatt was born.
24 JUNE
1654 Rani Durgavati was martyred during the war with the Mughals.
1961 India’s first indigenous HF24 supersonic fighter aircraft took off in 1961.
1966 117 people died when an Air India aircraft going from Mumbai to New York crashed in Mount Blanc, Switzerland. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, an Indian nuclear physicist, founding director, and professor of physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, was among those killed.
1974 The Indian team was reduced to 42 against England in the second innings of the 1974 Lord’s Test. This is India’s minimum score in the Test and it lost by innings and 285 runs.
1986 The government announced that unmarried mothers will also get maternity leave under their employment scheme.
1989 A majority of opposition members resigned from the Lok Sabha in 1989 over the issue of the CAG report on the Bofors gun deal.
1990 Defense scientists successfully tested the country’s first third-generation anti-tank missile ‘NAG’ in 1990.
1885 Famous politician and staunch Sikh leader Tara Singh was born.
1869 Damodar Hari Chapekar, one of the revolutionary immortal martyrs of India, was born.
1863 Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade, the famous Indian writer, historian, best orator and scholar was born.
1980 The fourth President of India, V.V. Giri died.
25 JUNE
1908 Sucheta Kripalani, the first female Chief Minister in the country, was born.
1975 On the advice of Indira Gandhi-led Congress government, President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed announced the imposition of Emergency in the country.
1932 The Indian cricket team played its first Test match at the Lord’s ground in Britain.
1983 India defeated the West Indies by 43 runs to win the Cricket World Cup title for the first time.
2004 Russia decided to extend a strategic partnership with India.
1903 Chandrashekhar Pandey – was born a litterateur.
1950 Swami Sahajanand Saraswati social reformer and revolutionary died.
1931 Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the eighth Prime Minister of India was born.
1975 Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, an Indian Army officer who was posthumously awarded India’s highest gallantry medal Paramveer Chakra for exceptional bravery in the 1999 Kargil War, was born
26 JUNE
2004 Famous filmmaker Yash Johar died on this day.
1838 The birth of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Bengali novelist and creator of Vande Mataram.
1873 Birth of Indian singer and dancer Gauhar Jaan.
1888 Birth of Bal Gandharva, the great hero and famous singer of Marathi theater.
1918 Birth of Indian Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Rama Raghoba Rane, awarded Paramveer Chakra.
1961 Famous litterateur Govind Shastri Dugvekar passed away.
1967 The birth of Tarun Sagar, the famous saint of the Indian Digambara sect of Jainism.
1975 India’s first woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in the country.
1982 Air India’s first Boeing Gourishankar crashed in Mumbai.
27 JUNE
1839 Maharaj Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire, died.
1838 Nationalist author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was born
1939 Music composer RD Burman, who gave music in more than 300 films, was born.
1964 PT Usha, who was known worldwide by the name of Udanpari, was born.
1964 Teen Murti Bhawan was made Nehru Museum.
2008 India and Pakistan have overcome bottlenecks in the commissioning of the Iranian gas pipeline project.
2008 Former Army Chief Sam Manekshaw, who played a key role in the Indian Army’s victory against Pakistan in the 1971 war, died
28 JUNE
1921 Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, who had knowledge of 17 languages, was born.
1975 In the backdrop of anti-government protests during the Emergency in India, the Center implemented the most rigorous press censorship since Independence.
1986 Agreement with Mizo National Front, Lal Denga becomes Chief Minister of Mizoram.
1986 The Central Government also enacted a law to provide maternity leave to unmarried girls.
1996 India opened its mission in Palestinian-controlled Gaza City.
29 JUNE
1757 Mir Jafar succeeded the Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.
1888 The first (known) recording of classical music was made.
2005 Composite 10-year agreement between India and the United States.
1893 Indian scientist and statistician Prashant Chandra Mahalanobis was born.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh performs yoga onboard INS Vikrant in Kochi and (left) President Droupadi Murmu performing yoga.
The world on June 21 marked the 9th year of the International Day of Yoga. UN recognised June 21 as the International Day of Yoga through a resolution in 2014. While the global celebration of IDY 2023 was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, the national celebration of IDY 2023 was led by Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.
‘Yoga is a way of life’, says PM Modi in New York
In a grand display of India’s soft power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the United Nations headquarters in New York on June 21, and described yoga as a “truly universal” and unifying force across ethnicities, faiths and cultures. The UN north lawns, overlooking the Hudson river, turned into a sea of white with an estimated 2,000 people representing around 135 nationalities joining
Modi, the UN General Assembly president Csaba Korosi and the New York mayor Eric Adams in performing yoga.
Some 650 people gather to practise yoga to mark the day on the grounds of Tsukiji Honganji Temple in Tokyo. Image Credit: AFP
The participation of the most number of nationalities in a single yoga session hit the Guinness Book of World Records, and the Prime Minister hailed this unprecedented coming together of people from across the world. “Yoga comes from India. It is a very old tradition. But it is living and dynamic. Yoga is free from copyright, from patents, from royalty payments. Yoga is adaptable to your age, gender and fitness level. Yoga is portable — you can do it at home or work or in transit. Yoga is flexible — you can practice it alone or in a group, learn from somewhere or be self taught. It is unifying, for all ethnicities, faiths, cultures. Yoga is truly universal. When we do Yoga, we feel fit, mentally calm and emotionally content,” Modi said, speaking in English.
The exercises were led by Annelies Richmond, a yoga trainer and the director of Art of Living, US. Among others present at the event were UN’s deputy secretary general Amina Mohammed, actor Richard Gere, award-winning chef Vikas Khanna, Grammy winner Ricky Kej, and a host of US corporate leaders, military veterans, television personalities, Yoga practitioners and teachers, and members of the Indian diaspora.
But the event was as much about India showcasing its leadership in multiple domains.
Modi reminded the audience, as did the UNGA president, that India proposed marking June 21 as the International Day of Yoga nine years ago. “It was wonderful to see the world come together to support the idea back then,” he said.
On peacekeeping, with India contributing the highest number of troops among all countries to UN forces, Modi said he in 2015 spoke of building a memorial in honour of those who had given up their lives.
“In 2015, I had called for a new memorial at UN in their memory. Last week, the whole world joined hands to make this reality soon. As the largest troop contributing nation, we are grateful to all nations for their support.”
And last year, Modi said, the whole world came together to support India’s proposal to mark 2023 as the International Year of Millets. “Millets are a superfood, they promote holistic health and are good for the environment.”
People perform Yoga in Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia. Image Credit: REUTERS
Returning to the theme of yoga, Modi said that it was not just about an exercise on a mat. “Yoga is a way of life. It is a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is way to bring mindfulness in thought and action. It is a way to live in harmony with self, with others and with nature.”
Expressing his happiness that many were working on scientifically validating different aspects of yoga, Modi urged everyone to use the power of yoga to be kind to oneself, to each other, and to nature; to build bridges of friendship and peace; to build a cleaner and more sustainable future; and to build “one earth, one family and one future” — the last is the theme of India’s G20 presidency.
Adams, the influential New York mayor, said an individual had two mothers — one who gave birth, one who sustained. “Yoga keeps us connected to both mothers and to each other.”
In a video message, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said Yoga offered a “haven of calm”, reduced anxiety, promoted well-being, helped develop discipline and patience and connected people to the planet “which so badly needs our protection”.
Explaining how yoga diplomacy had become a part of India’s soft power, Harsh Pant of New Delhi’s Observer Research Foundation (ORF) said, “The global acceptance of Yoga Day is a testament to both Modi’s effective leadership on the issue and India’s growing global clout. This has allowed India to shape its soft power in ways that were not anticipated a few years back.”
Pant said it was an interesting exercise that showed how soft power can be wielded and how it intersected with a country’s strategic rise.
Since the International Day of Yoga began, yoga has emerged as one of India’s biggest soft-power brands, allowing the country to take the lead in the global health and wellness sectors. The widespread celebrations have allowed the centuries-old practice to gain global recognition and popularity, propelled by government backing.
After the New York leg of his visit, Modi arrived in Washington DC on Wednesday afternoon eastern time for the official state visit. The US administration, particularly the White House, has gone all out in welcoming him with both ceremony and substance.
Yoga enthusiasts take part in a mass yoga session at the amphitheatre lawns at North Beach in Durban, South Africa. Image Credit: AFP
Amarnath Yatra is among the most revered pilgrimage circuits among Hindus. This annual event starts in July and goes on till mid-August every year. This holy Yatra is undertaken by thousands of people from all over the country.
This year, the Amarnath ji Yatra will commence on 1 July 2023 and will culminate on 31 August 2023.
Nestled in the lap of the mighty Himalayas in the Anantnag District of Kashmir, Amarnath Cave is one of the most celebrated Hindu shrines that hold spiritual significance among the devotees.
Situated at an altitude of 3,888 m above sea level, Amarnath Cave houses an ice stalagmite that symbolizes the mythical power of Lord Shiva. This ice Shiva Lingam is the prime attraction of the Amarnath Cave, which shrinks and grows with the phases of the moon.
This prominent Hindu shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva, which has many lore and legends related to pilgrimage and Amarnath Yatra.
Who discovered the Amarnath Cave?
According to the local folklore, the Amarnath Cave was discovered by a Muslim shepherd Buta Malik in 1850. According to the lore, he was roaming with his herds in the mountains, and a saint met him there.
The saint gave him a bag full of coal, and when he reached home, he opened the bag, and he found a bag full of gold instead of coal. He was overjoyed and ran back to the same place to thank the saint, but he did not find the saint. Instead, he found the cave and the ice Lingam.
He informed the villagers about this and shared this story, after which the pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave started.
According to myths, the Kashmir Valley was submerged underwater, and Sage Kashyap drained it through a series of rivers and creeks. After this incident, Rishi Bhrigu was the first to have discovered Amarnath.
He has had a darshan of Lord Shiva at Amarnath, and after listening to this story, people started to undertake the pilgrimage circuit to Amarnath Cave, which takes place in July and August.
Legends and Mythology of Amarnath Cave
There are numerous legends related to the Amarnath Cave. Among them, there is a most famous legend, which depicts that Lord Shiva has chosen this place to share the secret of immortality and the process of formation of the universe with Goddess Parvati.
He shared the story with Goddess Parvati about why he wears a bead of heads and what it implies. He told her that the head in the bead increases every time she is reborn. To this, Goddess Parvati asked about the reason behind Lord Shiva’s immortality.
He told her that she demanded to hear Amar Katha, which is a difficult task to listen for a human in one go and without sleeping.
She keeps insisting on Lord Shiva narrating the story, and then after a long time, he agrees to tell her the story at this place. For this, he was looking for a lonely place where no one could hear the story except for Mata Parvati.
On the way to Amarnath Cave, he left all these belongings en route, including his snake at Sheshnag Lake, Nandi bull at Pahalgam, his moon at Chandanwari, his son at Mahagunas Parvat, and at Panjtarni he left his five elements (Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Sky).
Lord Shiva entered the holy cave with Goddess Parvati, sat on the deerskin, and took a Samadhi. To ensure that there was no one in the cave, he created a Rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to set the cave ablaze so that everything living there will be destroyed.
He then started narrating the story of immortality to the Goddess Parvati. But, Lord Shiva was unaware that there was an egg that remained protected under the deerskin on which the Lord was sitting.
A pair of pigeons were born out of that egg and allegedly became immortal after listening to the story while in the egg form.
Today, after all these years, the pilgrims can see the pair of pigeons while going towards the Amarnath Cave. They are fondly referred to as ‘Amarnath Pigeon,’ and it is believed that they are the same pigeons who have listened to the story of immortality.
Significance of Amarnath
The most prominent feature of Amarnath Cave Temple is the Shiva Lingam, which is 40 m inside the cave. It is formed due to the dripping of freezing water from the cave’s ceiling and grows vertically on the cave floor to form the Lingam.
As per scientific terms, it is a stalagmite. As per Hindu mythology, the Lingam comprises the mythical energy of Lord Shiva. It is believed that the Shiva Lingam grows and shrinks as per the phase of the Moon, although there is no scientific proof for the same.
Apart from the main Linga, two other ice formations can be seen in the cave, which is believed to be Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha.
Now, you have gained knowledge about the religious and mythological significance of Amarnath Yatra. As Amarnath Cave is where Lord Shiva narrates the Amar Katha or story of immortality to Goddess Parvati, it is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for the devotees.
There are two ways to complete this Yatra. One starts from Pehelgaam and another one from Sonmarg Baltaal. The route from pehelgaam is simple and convenient. The route from Sonmarg is just 14 KM but it is very difficult and has security concerns also. People following this route do it at their own risk and also govt of India is not responsible for any mishap on this route.
Pehelgaam is at a distance of 315 KM from Jammu. The Yatra on foot starts from here. The first stop is at Chandanbadi which is at 8 KM from Pehelgaam. The devotees spend the first night here. On the next morning, they resume the Yatra for Pissoo Ghati along Lidder river. This part of Yatra is simple as compared to the rest of the Yatra.
The next stop from Chandanbadi is Sheshnaag. The route is dangerous and has steep height. One can see pissoo ghati here. This area is very dangerous. There are many beautiful lakes of blue water coming out of hills. The devotees spend night here and resume their third day Yatra from here.
Panchtarni is at a distance of 8 miles from Sheshnaag. One has to cross Baivwell and Mahagunass on the way to Sheshnaag. The place gets its name because of five small rivers flowing here. It is surrounded by high hills from all the sides. The devotees have to be extra careful here because of lack of oxygen at this place.
The holy cave is at a distance of only 8KM from here. The whole of route is filled with ice all along the way. This route is very difficult. One forgets all the tiredness as soon as he reaches the holy cave and attains spiritual bliss on witnessing the the Shiva-linga made of natural ice.
Age Limit for Amarnath Yatra
There are also some age restrictions for the Amarnath Yatra. No one below 13 years of age or above 75 years of age can take part in Amarnath Yatra. There is a ban on Amarnath Yatra for women who are more than 6 weeks pregnant.
Khandala is a popular hill station in Maharashtra, perched on the foothills of Sahyadri in the Western Ghats. Khandala provides for a perfect weekend respite for the Mumbai population, with its scenic valleys, grassy hills, serene lakes and misty waterfalls. It is one of the twin hill stations – Lonavala and Khandala. The place immortalized by the popular Bollywood song, “Aati Kya Khandala”, is a must-visit destination for everyone looking for beautiful nature, pleasant weather and the feeling of mist in the air. The natural beauty of Khandala blooms to its zenith and reveals a magical charm during the monsoons. Its meandering waterfalls and glittering lakes attributes to the majestic look an imposing ambience. The Mumbai-Pune expressway passes through Khandala. Due to this easy accessibility, it is a popular hiking spot from nearby cities. The Duke’s Nose peak and Karla Hills are the two popular spots for rock climbing. Located near two more popular tourist hotspots, viz. Lonavala (3 km away) and Karjat (7 km), Khandala is one of the perfect hill retreats for both trekkers and young couples.
Rajmachi Fort
Midway between Lonavala and Khandala is a fort by the name of Rajmachi Fort, a prominent landmark that watches over some of the most breathtakingly beautiful and wide sceneries of the region.
Atop the Western Ghats, the complex comprises two forts that are individually located at the Shrivardhan and Manaranjan Peaks. From the fort, tourists can catch an aerial view of Duke’s Nose, Karanala, Mahuli, Bhimashankar, Matheran and Ulhas River. The fort also enables tourists to get a view of the old caves lying at Kondhavi and Tungarli Lake.
Visapur Fort
The Visapur Fort is a popular hill fort near Visapur village located close to Lonavala. Also called Visapoor Fort, it is a popular weekend getaway from Pune and Mumbai. The majestic fort is a very popular destination for a trek. The climb to the Visapur Fort is rocky but welcoming. Starting at Bhaje village, it is about 2.5 to 3 hours long each way and ends at the height of 3556 feet.
The fort stands at the height of 1084 meters above sea level offering panoramic view hills covered in a thick blanket of green. Monsoons are definitely the best time to visit Visapur Fort – the greenery, brimming waterfalls, and the beautiful fog. This massive fort was built as a twin of the famous Lohagad fort, but at a higher elevation and covering a larger surface area.
Bedsa caves
Located slightly far from Kamshet, Bhedsa Caves is a group of rock-cut Buddhist monuments dating back to 60 BC. Also known as Bedse Caves, it is one of the oldest caves of Maharashtra tracing back to the Satvahana period.
Known for their beautiful, exquisite carvings, the caves contain four 25 feet high pillars. The main cave called the ‘Chaitya’ has a prayer hall that enshrines a magnificent stupa. The other cave is the vihara or the monastery. It is best to visit Bedsa Caves early morning as both caves face eastward.
Lohagad Fort
Situated at the height of 3400 feet, Lohagad Fort is a UNESCO world heritage site and formidable fort about 52 kilometres away from Pune. Perched atop an impressive hill near Malavali, this destination is the perfect amalgam of ancient architecture and natural beauty. Lohagad Fort was built in the 18th century and is an ideal destination for trekking and nature lovers, especially from Pune and Mumbai. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used to keep his treasury in this fort.
The trek to the fort is an easy one and perfect for the first-timers, making it a favourite haunt of hiking enthusiasts. In addition to its thrilling trek route, Lohagad Fort in itself is a massive structure that was once under the control of the mighty Maratha Empire and is connected to its twin Visapur Fort as well. Until a few years back, the base of the fort was quite far from the last point connected via road, but now a proper road has been built to the base of the fort, due to which a lot of people visit Lohagad during monsoon weekends, making it quite crowded. Whether you visit this destination for its lush green beauty, adventurous trekking route, panoramic views or illustrious history, Lohagad Fort is certainly worthy of a visit.
Duke’s Nose
With a rather peculiar origin to its name, this site is known for some of the widest and grandest views of the surrounding mountains, valleys and forests.
Owing its name to an apparent resemblance to Duke of Wellington’s nose, is this ideal picnic spot amidst beautiful surroundings. A famous spot for rock climbing, a very steep climb up rocky outcrops enables the tourists to reach the site. Trekking trail to reach the site begins from near the Khandala Railway Station. The 800-foot monolith can be reached by trekking for 1.5 hours.
New Delhi (TIP)- BCCI on Friday, June 23, announced India’s Test and ODI squads for the West Indies tour. The selection committee’s patience with veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav finally ran out as the duo were dropped from the Test side after a disappointing WTC final. Pujara’s dwindling returns ever since his return to the Test side a year ago were always a concern while Umesh Yadav’s lacklustre show against Australia in the WTC final put the writing on the wall. Young top-order batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and pacer Mukesh Kumar earned their maiden Test call-ups while Navdeep Saini returned to the scheme of things after a long gap.
Jaiswal was always on the selector’s radar after his fantastic show in IPL 2023, where he scored 625 runs at a strike rate of 163. What also went in the left-hander’s favour was his staggering record in first-class cricket. The Mumbai cricketer has an average of 80.21 in 15 matches with 9 centuries and a highest score of 265.
Mohammed Shami was given a break from both Tests and ODIs. Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur and Ajinkya Rahane held on to their places in the Test squad and so did spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel.
Interestingly, Rahane, who was nowhere in the scheme of things for about 15 months, was named as the vice-captain of the Test side following a successful WTC final where he ended up as India’s top run-getter riding on the back of a gritty 89-run knock in the first innings.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was first selected as a back-up opener for the WTC final only to be replaced by Jaiswal due to the right-hander’s wedding, also found a place in the 16-man squad for the two-match Test series starting July 12 at Windsor Park, Dominica.
“The Men’s Selection Committee has picked India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series and three ODIs against the West Indies. India are also scheduled to play five T20Is and the squad for the same will be announced later,” BCCI said in a release.
As far as the ODI squad is concerned, Sanju Samson was named as wicketkeeper-batter along with Ishan Kishan. In the absence of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, the selectors quite understandably decided to back Suryakumar Yadav at No.4, who has had a forgetful run in the 50-over format so far.
Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace battery. He will have Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat for support. Umran Malik made his comeback into the side while Mukesh Kumar was named in ODIs too. For the spin department, there were no surprises as Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja picked themselves.
The three-match ODI series will begin on July 27 in Barbados.
Sergio Busquets is joining former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, the team’s second major addition in less than a month. The team confirmed the move Friday in a video posted on Twitter. Inter Miami displayed the phrase “Busi,” referring to Busquets’ nickname, accompanied by quotes from various soccer stars.
“On the field, he’s always No. 5, but in reality as a player and a person, he’s a 10,” Messi wrote in Spanish.
The 35-year-old Messi announced on June 7 that he was joining Miami. He is expected to make his Major League Soccer debut in a home game on July 21, the team confirmed Tuesday. Owner Jorge Mas told selected outlets on Monday that his club and Messi have agreed to terms and are finalizing paperwork and a visa.
After nearly two decades with Barcelona, Busquets announced last month that he would not return to the club. His contract expires at the end of June.
Busquets arrived at Barcelona in 2005 and has played 722 matches for the club, putting him third all-time behind Xavi and record-holder Messi. One of the best defensive midfielders Barcelona has had, Busquets has scored 18 goals and had 40 assists. He has been team captain for the last two seasons.
Adding Busquets brings another high-profile name to a team looking to establish itself in a region that is enjoying plenty of sports success, as the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers are coming off respective finals runs. Source: AP
Rajiv Mishra, who was one of the stars of the Indian men’s junior hockey team at the 1997 World Cup, has passed away at the age of 46. The former forward was found dead at his residence in Sarsauli area of Varanasi under mysterious circumstances.
According to sources, Mishra might have died a few days back and it was his neighbours who informed the police after a foul smell started to come out of his house. Mishra used to stay alone as he was posted as chief inspector of ticket (CIT) with Northern Railway’s Lucknow Division at Varanasi. Mishra, who hailed from Leeludabait village in Hajipur in Bihar, is survived by his wife and two children. Famous for his curly long hair tied in a bandana, Mishra was at one point considered the next big thing in Indian hockey.
But his booming career suffered a setback just before the 1998 World Cup (senior) in Utrecht when he sustained a career-ending knee injury following a body clash with the then Indian goalkeeper AB Subbaiah.
The decision of the ad hoc committee of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to exempt wrestlers who had sat on a protest from the full selection trials for Asian Games was slammed on Friday by coaches, parents of wrestlers and an Olympic medallist.
The ad hoc panel has written to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) asking if the July 15 deadline for entries could be extended by a month only for wrestling. This was as per the request of the protesting six – Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sangeeta Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Satyawart Kadian and Jitender Kinha – who wanted time to prepare and face only the winners of the trials in a one-off bout for the Asian Games and World Championships selection. The six have been demanding the arrest of former federation president Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh for sexual harassment of women wrestlers.
While lack of time can be an issue for the Asian Games’ trials, there should be no problem for the world championships in Belgrade from September 10,which is also a qualifier for the Paris Olympics. The last date for sending entries is August 16.
The panel’s decision was criticized by London Olympics bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, who is part of the IOA executive council. “I don’t understand why only six wrestlers have been given the exemption. It is absolutely wrong and unfair. It is unprecedented and never happened in Indian wrestling. I don’t understand what the criteria the ad-hoc panel has followed for the trials,” Dutt said in a video posted on Twitter. Dutt, who was part of the Union sports ministry’s oversight committee running WFI till April, said an exception should not have been made for being in a sit-in protest.
“If you are exempting any wrestler, there should be a criteria. If you want to give exemption, there is also Tokyo Olympics medallist Ravi Dahiya, CWG medallist Deepak Punia, Worlds medallist Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik and so many top wrestlers. Was the protest against sexual harassment charges or for seeking exemption in trials? The IOA panel has not followed any rules and criteria before taking such a decision,” he said. He also called on other wrestlers, who will be taking part in the trials, to write to sports minister Anurag Thakur. Source: HT
London/Hong Kong (TIP)– Technology giant Apple is gearing up to launch its own credit card in India. The iPhone maker’s chief executive officer (CEO) Tim Cook recently met HDFC Bank CEO and managing director Sashidhar Jagdishan during his recent trip to India in April, Moneycontrol reported. As per report, Apple is having talks with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch ‘Apple Pay’ in the country. It is unclear whether the discussions pertained to the credit car being powered by the Rupay platform or for the unified payments interface (UPI). Rupay credit card can be linked to UPI too.
In India, only banks can launch credit cards while UPI is for customers to make seamless and fast payments by scanning QR codes through mobile phones. According to the Moneycontrol report, Apple has held talks with the Reserve Bank of India over the modalities of the card. The RBI reportedly asked the company to follow regular procedure for co-branded credit cards.
As per reports, Apple is set to launch its co-branded credit card with HDFC Bank in India. The discussions are in the early stages. At present, the tech behemoth currently operates a premium credit card in the United States, made of titanium and launched in partnership with Mastercard and Goldman Sachs. For the past couple of years, Apple has been focusing on India. According to report, the iPhone maker’s sales in India touched around Rs 50,000 crore in the financial year 2022-23. Recently, Tim Cook during his visit to India had launched two exclusive stores in Mumbai and Delhi. Apple has been shifting a significant portion of iPhone production to India. It has a four per cent share of overall smartphone market in India, which amounts to two crore users.
As mentioned earlier, only banks can issue credit cards to the customers. In India, Apple cannot introduce a card with its logo and customer’s name on the front. In the US, the brand names of Goldman Sachs and Mastercard appear on the Apple card. But the tech giant cannot take these liberties in India.
Talking about rewards, the Apple card is integrated with Apple Pay and the reward will be deposited into the Apple wallet. This card does not have any annual fees. In the United States, the company let its card users buy the products in installment without interest.
WASHINGTON (TIP)- The US economy is now expected to narrowly dodge a recession this year but underlying inflation will be faster than previously thought, according to the latest Bloomberg monthly survey of economists. Gross domestic product is now forecast to only contract in the final three months of the year, and it’s projected to merely stagnate in the third quarter instead of shrink, the June survey showed. While estimates were marked up for the current quarter and next — due to stronger consumer spending and upward revisions to business investment — GDP growth is seen slightly weaker through the end of 2024.
At the same time, economists see the personal consumption expenditures price index, excluding food and energy, rising at a faster pace over the next year than they did in the May survey. That corroborates the Federal Reserve’s view as well, supporting policymakers’ assertion that another two interest-rate hikes will probably be appropriate this year.
According to the median forecast, economists see one more rate hike in the third quarter, with the federal funds rate holding in a 5.25%-5.5% range through yearend before an expected quarter-point cut in early 2024.
The survey of 71 economists from June 16-21 showed stronger views of the labor market. Forecasters mostly see increased hiring this year and next, and they also expect the unemployment rate will peak at a slightly lower level. That helps explain projections for sustained consumer spending.
The findings also support the notion that the housing market bottom has passed. While sales of previously owned homes are struggling for momentum, buyers are seeking new construction and builders have been responding to demand. Economists see that trend continuing with higher new-home sales over the next year and more housing starts.
US jobless claims hold at 20-month high
The number of people filing for state unemployment benefits for the first time held steady at a 20-month high last week, remaining elevated for a third straight week in what may be an early indication of a softening labor market in the face of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive credit tightening.
The housing market, meanwhile, showed further signs of stabilizing last month after standing out last year as the sector most visibly upended by the Fed’s rate hikes. However, selling prices for existing homes – the largest slice of the U.S. residential property market – tumbled from a year earlier by the most in more than a decade, a demonstration of the choppy nature of the recovery underway.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday showed 264,000 new claims were filed for jobless benefits on a seasonally adjusted basis in the week ended June 17, unchanged from the prior week’s upwardly revised level, which is the highest level of initial claims activity since October 2021.
Amazon said on Wednesday it will collect soon-to-be-withdrawn Rs 2,000 notes from customers and credit them to online wallets to help people struggling with the exchange process. The Reserve bank of India had decided last month to withdraw the largest denomination notes from circulation, asking people to deposit or exchange them at banks by the end of September.
Amazon said its customers can hand over up to Rs 50,000 worth to delivery agents for orders meant for payment via cash.
The amount will then be credited to their Amazon Pay wallets.
“Don’t stress if stores are refusing to accept 2,000 rupee notes for payments,” the e-commerce giant said in a statement.
Unlike in 2016, India’s latest currency note change has not disrupted the markets.
Since the RBI’s May 19 order, Indians began to use the 2,000 rupee notes to pay for daily essentials, premium brands and online orders, with Zomato’s food delivery sales using cash payments surging in the first few days. “The facility to top up your Amazon Pay balance with cash handed to delivery agents at your doorstep is one of our unique services in India,” Vikas Bansal, whole-time director at Amazon Pay India, said in a statement.
The Indian economy is expected to clock a higher growth of 6.3% — one of the highest in the world — in the current fiscal aided by sustained momentum in manufacturing output and infrastructure spending, Fitch Ratings said on Thursday, June 22.
The agency has revised upwards the growth forecast from 6% projected in March.
The economy also continues to benefit from high bank credit growth and infrastructure spending (with more to come from the latter), Fitch added. “The stronger outturn in 1Q23 (March quarter) and near-term momentum have prompted us to upgrade our FY23-24 growth forecast to 6.3% — revised up from 6% in March — one of the highest growth rates in the world,” said the June update to Fitch’s Global Economic Outlook. RBI has projected India’s GDP to grow 6.5% in the current fiscal year.
Researchers have found that AI, particularly large language models (LLMs) may alter the nature of their work. The study was published in Journal, ‘Science’. Grossmann and colleagues observed that large language models trained on massive amounts of text data are becoming more capable of simulating human-like responses and behaviour. This opens up new avenues for testing theories and hypotheses about human behaviour at unprecedented scale and speed.
“What we wanted to explore in this article is how social science research practices can be adapted, even reinvented, to harness the power of AI,” said Igor Grossmann, professor of psychology at Waterloo.
Traditionally, social sciences rely on a range of methods, including questionnaires, behavioural tests, observational studies, and experiments. A common goal in social science research is to obtain a generalized representation of the characteristics of individuals, groups, cultures, and their dynamics. With the advent of advanced AI systems, the landscape of data collection in social sciences may shift.
“AI models can represent a vast array of human experiences and perspectives, possibly giving them a higher degree of freedom to generate diverse responses than conventional human participant methods, which can help to reduce generalizability concerns in research,” said Grossmann.
“LLMs might supplant human participants for data collection,” said UPenn psychology professor Philip Tetlock, adding, “In fact, LLMs have already demonstrated their ability to generate realistic survey responses concerning consumer behaviour. Large language models will revolutionize human-based forecasting in the next 3 years. It won’t make sense for humans unassisted by AIs to venture probabilistic judgments in serious policy debates. I put a 90 per cent chance on that. Of course, how humans react to all of that is another matter.” While opinions on the feasibility of this application of advanced AI systems vary, studies using simulated participants could be used to generate novel hypotheses that could then be confirmed in human populations.
But the researchers warn of some of the possible pitfalls in this approach – including the fact that LLMs are often trained to exclude sociocultural biases that exist for real-life humans. This means that sociologists using AI in this way couldn’t study those biases.
Professor Dawn Parker, a co-author of the article from the University of Waterloo, notes that researchers will need to establish guidelines for the governance of LLMs in research.
“Pragmatic concerns with data quality, fairness, and equity of access to the powerful AI systems will be substantial,” Parker said, adding, “So, we must ensure that individuals, groups, cultures, LLMs, like all scientific models, are open-source, meaning that their algorithms and ideally data are available to all to scrutinize, test, and modify. Only by maintaining transparency and replicability can we ensure that AI-assisted social science research truly contributes to our understanding of human experience.” Source: ANI
Phosphate, a key building block of life, has been detected in one of Saturn’s moon’s, Enceladus’s, ocean, and in what scientists call the “first finding of phosphorus on an extraterrestrial ocean world”.
The phosphates were detected in particles ejected from the ice-covered global ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, the international team of scientists led by the Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany, found using data from NASA’s Cassini space mission.
The team also found phosphate to be present in Enceladus’ ocean at levels at least 100 times higher than in Earth’s oceans.
Phosphorous, in the form of phosphates, is known to be vital for life on Earth. It forms the backbone of DNA and is part of cell membranes and bones.
“By determining such high phosphate concentrations readily available in Enceladus’s ocean, we have now satisfied what is generally considered one of the strictest requirements in establishing whether celestial bodies are habitable,” said Fabian Klenner, a postdoctoral researcher in Earth and space sciences at the University of Washington, US, and third author of the study published in the journal Nature.
Worlds with oceans beneath a surface layer of ice is common in our solar system and occur on the icy moons of Jupiter (Ganymede) and Saturn (Titan and Enceladus), as well as even more distant celestial bodies, like Pluto.
Cassini, the spacecraft, first discovered that Enceladus’ harboured an ice-covered watery ocean, and analysed material erupting through cracks in the moon’s south pole region using its Cosmic Dust Analyzer. NASA’s Cassini mission explored Saturn, its rings and moons from 2004 to 2017.
The analyser studied individual ice grains emitted from Enceladus and sent those measurements back to Earth. To try and match their unknown signatures in Cassini’s observations, Klenner tried different chemical compositions and concentrations in his samples.
“I prepared different phosphate solutions, and did the measurements, and we hit the bullseye. This was in perfect match with the data from space,” Klenner said.
Source: PTI
Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced a new privacy feature ‘Silence Unknown Callers’ to provide users more control over their incoming calls on WhatsApp. This new feature helps to automatically screen out spam, scams and calls from unknown people for increased protection, the company said in a statement.
When the feature is enabled, unknown calls will not ring on the users’ phone, but will be visible in their call list. Additionally, the company has introduced ‘Privacy Checkup’ to help make sure that everyone knows about the options of protection on the messaging platform. This step-by-step feature guides users through important privacy settings to help them choose the right level of protection, all in one place.
“Protecting the privacy of your messages remains the driving force behind what we’re building at WhatsApp,” the company said. “While end-to-end encryption is the foundation to ensure your calls and messages are secure, we continue to add more layers of privacy on top including the recently launched Chat Lock to protect sensitive chats behind a password, Disappearing Messages that vanish, screenshot blocking for View Once, and the ability to keep your online presence private,” it added.
In a major breakthrough in the world of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and human reproduction, a team of scientists in the US and the UK has developed the world’s first ever synthetic human embryo-like structures using stem cells.
This major development reportedly dodges the need for eggs or sperms for the creation of human embryos.
According to the report by The Guardian (article beyond paywall), these embryos resemble natural embryos in the earliest stages of human development. While they lack a beating heart or the beginnings of a brain, they contain cells that would give rise to the placenta, yolk sac and the embryo. These models would also help scientists understand the impact of genetic disorders and the biological reasons behind recurrent miscarriages. Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz of the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology, who is leading the research, said, “Our human model is the first three-lineage human embryo model that specifies amnion and germ cells, precursor cells of egg and sperm.” However, the research also raises major ethical and legal consequences as the use of synthetic embryos for clinical purposes is not legally imminent in the UK and most other countries. Implanting them into a patient’s womb is currently illegal, and it remains uncertain whether these structures have the potential to progress beyond the earliest stages of development.
NICOSIA (CYPRUS) (TIP): Cypriot emergency services rescued 45 Syrian migrants from two boats after receiving information that they were in distress near a coastal tourist resort, authorities said on June 23.
The eastern Mediterranean island’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said it had brought ashore 29 men, five women and 11 children who had been afloat off Cape Greco on Thursday evening.
Police said they were in good health and had been transferred to a migrant reception centre on the outskirts of the capital Nicosia.
Two people, aged 20 and 18, were arrested on suspicion of navigating the two boats and were scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
A court in Cyprus ordered that two Syrian men remain in police custody for seven days on suspicion of people smuggling after authorities rescued the Syrian migrants aboard two rickety vessels off the island nation’s southern coast.
European Union member Cyprus says it is on the front line of the bloc’s irregular migration flows, and last year registered the EU’s highest number of first-time asylum applicants per capita.
Those rescued on Thursday evening were 18 irregular migrants on a wooden boat and another 27 aboard an inflatable craft.
Police said they had set off from war-torn Syria before being detected off Cape Greco, near the tourist resort of Aya Napa on the island’s southeast coast.
The rescue operation comes after a boat carrying 37 Syrian migrants was intercepted off Cape Greco and escorted to shore on Wednesday.
Cypriot authorities say there has been a rise in migrants arriving by boat, with a 60 per cent increase recorded in the first five months of 2023 compared with last year.
They say most migrants arriving on boats set out from the port of Tartus in Syria, which has been ravaged by more than a decade of war, although fighting has subsided since 2020.
(With inputs from AFP and Associated Press)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (TIP): Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on June 23 she is writing a book, with the focus more on leadership than on politics.
In an Instagram post, Ardern said she is often asked whether she will write about her five years as New Zealand’s leader.
“At first, my answer was no. I didn’t want to write a book that hauled over the internal politics of the last five years, and then someone convinced me that I didn’t have to,” Ardern wrote.
“That maybe it might be worth expanding on some of things I talked about in my valedictory instead — like the idea you can be your own kind of leader and still make a difference. And so that’s what I’m planning to do.”
Ardern said she had no date for when the book will be published.
“But I hope when it’s done, it’s the kind of book that would have made a difference to my 14-year-old self,” Ardern wrote.
Just 37 when she became prime minister in 2017, Ardern was seen as a global icon of the left. She shocked New Zealanders in January when she said she was stepping down because she no longer had “enough in the tank” to do the job justice in an election year.
Since then, Ardern has announced she will temporarily join Harvard University this year after being appointed to dual fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School. She has also taken on an unpaid role combating online extremism.
This month, Ardern received one of New Zealand’s highest honors for her service leading the country through a mass shooting and pandemic. She was made a Dame Grand Companion, meaning people will now call her Dame Jacinda.
Ardern said she was working with a team of publishers — Penguin in New Zealand and Australia, Macmillan in Britain and Crown in the United States. The publishers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (AP)
JOHANNESBURG (TIP): At least 31 people were believed to have died in a gas explosion in a disused mine shaft in South Africa that happened last month but was only now coming to light, authorities said on June 23.
The suspected illegal miners were believed to have been killed on May 18 and most of their bodies were still underground, South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said. Authorities were being prevented from sending a search team into the mine to retrieve bodies because there were still dangerously high levels of methane gas in the shaft, the department said in a statement.
It said it was considering various options to “speedily deal” with what was “a unique and strange situation.”
The government department said it had received information that three bodies had been recovered after they were brought to the surface by other illegal miners. Another 16 suspected illegal miners who were also in the shaft have handed themselves over to authorities, police said. Authorities said they believe the miners are nationals from neighboring country Lesotho. Lesotho’s foreign ministry recently passed information onto South African authorities on the incident.
The mine, which was previously owned by Harmony, South Africa’s largest gold-mining company, was last operational in the 1990s, the mineral resources department said. It is located in the city of Welkom in the central Free State province. (AP)
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