The Indian Panorama

Month: July 2023

  • Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton Applauds Committee Approvals to Increase Funding for Sands Point Bridge Repairs

    Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton Applauds Committee Approvals to Increase Funding for Sands Point Bridge Repairs

    Final approval for the funding could come as early as Aug. 7.

    SANDS POINT, N.Y. ((TIP)– Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D – Glen Cove) applauded the committee passage of capital plan amendments that will deliver crucial resources for repairs to the Sands Point Bridge. Members of the Public Works, Finance, and Rules committees voted unanimously on Monday, July 17 to approve $200,000 in additional bonding and increase the overall capital authorization for the project to $2.4 million. Final approval could come as soon as the Aug. 7 meeting of the full Legislature.

    The scope of the project includes rehabilitation along the length of the bridge and its approaches; cleaning of the historic stone fascia arches and retaining walls; repointing the stone masonry; repairing the damaged stone parapets; and repairing the architectural trim; and roadway rehabilitation including the excavation of the roadway, replacement of the sub-grades and asphalt riding surface; and upgrading the drainage system.

    “These long-awaited repairs to the Sands Point Bridge are crucial for giving our entire community the comfort of knowing that this historic structure will be safe and secure for motorists to drive on for many years to come,” Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton said. “I thank my colleagues for supporting this important investment in our community and look forward to its approval by the full Legislature in the coming weeks.”

  • Legislator Lafazan Applauds Rules Committee Approval of Nearly $2.6 Million Bailey Arboretum Restoration Contract

    Legislator Lafazan Applauds Rules Committee Approval of Nearly $2.6 Million Bailey Arboretum Restoration Contract

    LATTINGTOWN, N.Y. (TIP): Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (D – Woodbury) applauded the approval of a nearly $2.6 million contract for the restoration of the pond at Bailey Arboretum in Lattingtown.

    The Legislature’s Rules committee signed off on the $2,576,225 contract with Galvin Bros., Inc./Madhue Contracting on Monday, July 17 to restore Bailey Arboretum’s pond to its original condition. Contracts are enacted upon approval by the Rules committee, and no further legislative action is required.

    Sited on the former estate of Frank and Marie Louise Bailey, the 42-acre property was donated to Nassau County in 1968 after Marie Louise Bailey passed away and has been under the care of the Friends of Bailey Arboretum since 2006. In addition, Friends of the Bailey Arboretum notes that Frank Bailey himself was a self-taught horticulturalist who created one of America’s first private garden museums.

    In recent years, however, the pond system has deteriorated due to an increase in aquatic invasive species, the failure of weirs and related overflow structures, shoreline erosion, and sedimentation. This project will address these issues by dredging the pond, repairing the weirs, planting native species, and stabilizing the shoreline.

    “It is wonderful that Bailey Arboretum will soon be receiving the resources that are befitting of its rich history,” Legislator Lafazan said. “I thank my colleagues in the Rules committee for approving a contract that clears the way a project that will allow future generations to enjoy one of Nassau County’s great natural treasures.”

     

     

  • Indian American youth Shaylan “Shay” Shah from New Jersey missing

    Indian American youth Shaylan “Shay” Shah from New Jersey missing

    EDISON, NJ (TIP): In what can be the worst nightmare for parents, a 19-year-old Indian American youth from New Jersey has gone missing. Shaylan “Shay” Shah was last seen on Saturday near Westgate Square in Edison, New Jersey. The parents of the young man, Rich Shah and Kalpana Shah who are residents of New Jersey are desperately trying to look for their missing son and seeking the help of both authorities and the community.
    According to the latest update from Shay’s dad, Rich Shah, the family have been unable to contact their missing kid. Rich also updated on his social media page that they are working closely with New Jersey police.
    “We have made contact with NJ Transit police who will be providing support to attempt tracking Shaylan’s whereabouts,” he wrote. “We are grateful for their service and giving us continued hope to validate that he is safe.”
    Shay has been missing since early Saturday morning. According to the family, Shay went missing at approximately 5:50 am on July 15. The family says that they have confirmation that Shay was last seen at Newark Penn Station on the same day, Saturday morning around 11 am.
    Shay’s father Rich Shah said, “Unfortunately, we do not know where Shay is heading at this time. We are still concerned about Shay’s well-being and appreciate any ongoing support in finding him. Our family is blessed with the overwhelming support, and we know Shay will be found safely.”
    The Indian American community got involved on social media as the news of missing teenager came. Flyers carrying Shay’s pictures and details about him being missing were shared from Michigan to California.
    Some community members have been circulating Shay’s pictures and details on WhatsApp groups and local expat groups. By Monday late in the night, community social media groups were busy with people circulating information about the missing teenager.
    Friends and acquaintances of the family from Pennsylvania to missing also shared father’s plea for reporting any information related to his son.
    Shaylan’s dad Rich Shah is the founder of a non-profit VRX Foundation. The family relocated to New Jersey from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
    Shay’s dad Rich Shah can be reached at 732-447-4634.
    Edison police also issued a notice seeking public help in finding Shay:
    “Edison PD seeks your help in locating a missing person: SHAYLAN SHAH, 19-year-old Indian Male 508 140 lbs. Black Hair Brown Eyes Unknown on Clothing Unknown Possible Destination, Last Seen in the area of Linda Lane & Westgate Drive in Edison. Left the area on foot. If you have information that can assist in helping safely locate SHAYLAN SHAH, please contact your local police department or call Edison PD 732-248-7400, press 1”

  • ADB retains India’s growth forecast at 6.4% for current fiscal

    ADB retains India’s growth forecast at 6.4% for current fiscal

    The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday, July 19, retained India’s economic growth forecast at 6.4 per cent for the current financial year and 6.7 per cent for the next, saying robust domestic demand will continue to support the region’s recovery. In an update to its Asian Development Outlook, the ADB said inflation is expected to continue to fall, approaching pre-pandemic levels as fuel and food prices decline. It forecast 3.6 per cent
    inflation this year for developing economies in Asia, and 3.4 per cent in 2024. The Indian economy grew 7.2 per cent in the 2022-23 fiscal ended March 2023.
    “Asia and the Pacific continues to recover from the pandemic at a steady pace,” ADB Chief Economist Albert Park said. “Domestic demand and services activity are driving growth, while many economies are also benefiting from a strong recovery in tourism. However, industrial activity and exports remain weak, and the outlook for global growth
    and demand next year has worsened, Park added. In April, the ADB had projected that India’s economic growth is expected to moderate to 6.4 per cent in the current financial year due to tight monetary conditions and elevated oil prices.

  • Elon Musk says Twitter has lost half its ad revenue

    Elon Musk says Twitter has lost half its ad revenue

    Twitter has lost roughly half of its advertising revenue, according to owner Elon Musk, since he bought the social media platform for $44 billion last October.
    Musk, who has been outspoken about the difficulties facing the company, broke the figures in a tweet response to a user who was giving suggestions on financing for the platform.
    “We’re still negative cash flow, due to ~50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load,” the billionaire tweeted Saturday.
    “Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else,” he added, without further elaboration.
    Insider Intelligence has reported that Twitter was set to earn less than $3 billion in revenue in 2023, down one-third from 2022. Changes instituted by Musk since his takeover of Twitter have turned off users and advertisers alike.
    Earlier this month, Musk announced that Twitter was limiting verified accounts to reading 10,000 tweets a day, in a bid “to address extreme levels of data scraping” and “system manipulation” by third-party platforms.
    Non-verified users — the free accounts that make up the majority of users — are limited to reading 1,000 tweets per day, while new unverified accounts are limited to 500 tweets.
    Twitter has also said TweetDeck, a popular program that allows users to monitor several accounts at once, will only be available to verified users from next month.

  • RIL Q1 profit drops 11% to Rs 16,011 crore

    RIL Q1 profit drops 11% to Rs 16,011 crore

    New Delhi (TIP)- Reliance Industries (RIL) on Friday, July 21, reported an 11% drop in its June quarter net profit largely due to weak oil-to-chemical (O2C) vertical and higher interest and depreciation cost. Net profit was Rs 16,011 crore in April-June period of the current fiscal — compared with Rs 17,955 crore a year ago, according to a company’s stock exchange filing.
    Revenue fell to Rs 2.1 lakh crore from Rs 2.22 lakh crore in the year-ago period.
    Reliance Jio on Friday reported over 12% rise in net profit to Rs 4,863 crore in the June 2023 quarter, the company said in a filing
    The total income during the reported quarter rose to Rs 24,127 crore from Rs 21,995 crore a year ago.
    Jio Financial valued at over $20 bn
    JFSL, the demerged financial services unit of Reliance Industries, was valued at over $20 billion, ahead of Adani Group firms, Coal India and IndianOil.
    Jio Financial Services Ltd (JFSL) stock was priced at Rs 261.85 based on the difference between Reliance’s stock price at Wednesday’s close of Rs 2,841.85 and Rs 2,580, its price at the end of an hour-long special pre-market session.
    Infosys Q1 net profit up 11% at Rs 5,945 cr
    IT major Infosys reported a 10.9% rise in its net profit in the quarter ending June 30 to Rs 5,945 crore as compared to Rs 5,360 crore in the same quarter last year. In constant-currency (CC) terms, the company’s revenue grew 4.2% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 37,933 crore. The operating margin for the quarter was stable at 20.8%. Its attrition declined to 17.3% during the quarter.

  • Chinese mobile firms evade Rs 9,000-crore tax in 5 years

    Chinese smartphone makers, including Oppo Mobile, Vivo India and Xiaomi Technology, have been found evading taxes worth Rs 9,000 crore in India, Parliament was informed on Friday, June 21.
    Data shared by the Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar in the Rajya Sabha showed tax evasion of around Rs 9,000 crore, comprising customs duty and GST, has been detected between 2018-19 and 2022-23. Chinese smartphone makers, including Oppo Mobile, Vivo India and Xiaomi Technology, have been found evading taxes worth Rs 9,000 crore in India. Data shared by the Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar in the Rajya Sabha showed tax evasion of around Rs 9,000 crore, comprising customs duty and GST, has been detected between 2018-19 and 2022-23.
    Vivo has evaded taxes worth Rs 2,923.25 crore comprising Rs 2,875 crore in customs duty and Rs 48.25 crore in GST, according to the written reply by Chandrasekhar.
    Tax evasion of Rs 851.14 crore has been detected in the case of Xiaomi Technology India Pvt Ltd comprising Rs 682.51 crore in customs duty and Rs 168.63 crore in GST.
    The minister was replying to a question on the number of Chinese handset companies which have evaded taxes and made illegal remittances in India.

  • Tatas to invest £4 bn to build EV battery plant in UK

    Tata Group on Wednesday , July 19, announced an investment of £4 billion (about Rs 42,500 crore) in setting up a flagship factory to make batteries for Jaguar Land Rover as well as other manufacturers. Tata Sons, owner of JLR, chose Bridgwater in Somerset in southwest England for the gigafactory over a rival location in Spain. The gigafactory, at 40GWh, will be one of the largest in Europe and Tata’s first outside of India, the conglomerate said.
    The plant, being described as the most important investment in UK automotive since Nissan arrived in the 1980s, may have got subsidies worth hundreds of millions of pounds. Neither the company nor the UK government gave details of the subsidy provided.

  • Facebook parent Meta makes public its ChatGPT rival LLaMA

    Facebook parent Meta makes public its ChatGPT rival LLaMA

    Facebook parent company Meta Platforms has built an artificial intelligence system that rivals the likes of ChatGPT and Google’s Bard but it’s taking a different approach: releasing it for free.
    Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday, July 18, that the company is partnering with Microsoft to introduce the next generation of its AI large language model and making the technology, known as LLaMA 2, free for research and commercial use.
    Much like tech peers Google and Microsoft, the social media company has long had a big research team of computer scientists devoted to advancing AI technology. But it’s been overshadowed as the release of ChatGPT sparked a rush to profit off of “generative AI” tools that can create new prose, images and other media.
    Meta has also tried to distinguish itself by being more open than some of its Big Tech rivals about offering a peek at the data and code it uses to build AI systems. It has argued that such openness makes it easier for outside researchers to help identify and mitigate the bias and toxicity that AI systems pick up by ingesting how real people write and communicate.
    “Open source drives innovation because it enables many more developers to build with new technology,” Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post Tuesday. “It also improves safety and security because when software is open, more people can scrutinize it to identify and fix potential issues. I believe it would unlock more progress if the ecosystem were more open, which is why we’re open sourcing Llama 2.” Source: AP

  • Microsoft puts a price on AI-powered Copilot and Bing Chat Enterprise, announces visual search option in chat

    Microsoft puts a price on AI-powered Copilot and Bing Chat Enterprise, announces visual search option in chat

    In March this year, Microsoft introduced the Microsoft 365 Copilot to help its commercial customers with a variety of tasks. In a blog post, Microsoft had then explained how Copilot will be users’ ‘copilot for work’ and will help users carry out their day-to-day tasks at work with ease.
    “Copilot is integrated into Microsoft 365 in two ways. It works alongside you, embedded in the Microsoft 365 apps you use every day — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and more — to unleash creativity, unlock productivity and uplevel skills,” the company had said back then.
    Copilot was made available to a few companies via an Early Access Program and companies like Chevron, Goodyear, General Motors and Dow got a first-hand experience of the company’s AI-powered subscription service. And now, Microsoft has announced the pricing for Microsoft 365 Copilot.
    In a new blog post, Microsoft announced the pricing of copilot for its commercial customers. Companies will have to pay USD 30 per user per month to get access to the AI-powered features.
    “Bing Chat Enterprise unlocks generative AI for work. And Microsoft 365 Copilot brings a whole new way of working – reasoning over all your business data in the context of your enterprise, including the ability to ask questions and get answers from the web. Microsoft 365 Copilot will be available for commercial customers for USD30 per user per month for Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard and Business Premium customers when broadly available,” the company wrote in a blog post.
    Microsoft 365 Copilot can help corporate workers with their day-to-day work. The blog post explains that from keeping a track of meetings and emails to creating a SWOT analysis form internal files and data from the web, Copilot will be at the users’ command.
    Microsoft also announced Bing Chat Enterprise access for users. It basically is Bing Chat AI with an added layer of security so that the company’s data remains safe.
    Talking about the security with Bing Chat Enterprise, Microsoft wrote in the blog, “With Bing Chat Enterprise, user and business data are protected and will not leak outside the organization. What goes in — and comes out — remains protected. Chat data is not saved, and Microsoft has no eyes-on access – which means no one can view your data. And, your data is not used to train the models.”
    The company added that access to Bing Chat Enterprise has been rolled out already with no additional cost in Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard and Business Premium. However, in future, Bing Chat Enterprise will also be available as a separate tool at a price of USD 5 per month.
    Source: India Today

  • Spotify & Calm join forces to offer soothing mental health content for listeners

    Spotify & Calm join forces to offer soothing mental health content for listeners

    Spotify has partnered with Calm, the popular meditation and sleep app, to bring wellness-focused content to its platform. The collaboration aims to provide a range of soothing content from Calm to support individuals on their mental health journey. The content is now accessible on Spotify’s podcast catalogue. Calm has launched 11 shows on Spotify, covering topics such as sleep, stress, anxiety, meditation, and mindfulness. Some of the shows feature celebrity narrators, such as Harry Styles, Cynthia Erivo, Cillian Murphy, Jennifer Garner, Wanda Sykes, and Camila Cabello. Each show has a certain amount of free content while the remaining content requires a subscription or free trial.
    Some of the shows include:
    Calm for Beginners: A series of short meditations for those who are new to mindfulness or want to refresh their practice.
    Calm for Stress & Anxiety: A collection of guided meditations and soundscapes to help listeners cope with challenging emotions and situations.
    Calm for Meditation: A variety of meditations for different levels and goals, from beginner to advanced, from focus to gratitude.
    Calm for Sleep: A selection of soothing stories and sounds to help listeners fall asleep faster and sleep better. Calm for Kids: A series of fun and engaging stories and meditations for children of different ages.
    You can access these directly on Spotify by searching them on the app.
    The partnership comes through Spotify Open Access (SOA), an initiative introduced in 2021 that allows companies to offer their paid content on Spotify at different subscriber tiers. This means that Spotify users can enjoy a certain amount of free Calm content without having to download a separate app or pay for a full subscription. However, to access all the Calm content on Spotify, a Premium subscription to Calm is required.
    For the uninitiated, Calm is one of the most popular wellness apps on mobile, with over 100 million downloads. It offers hundreds of hours of original audio content, including meditations, sleep stories, music, nature sounds, and masterclasses from experts.
    Source: Indian Express

  • Mystery object that washed up on Australian beach could be part of Indian rocket

    A dome-shaped mysterious object has washed up on a remote Australian beach, amid speculation that it could be from a 20-year-old Indian rocket that was used for launching a satellite. The canister was discovered near the beach in Green Head in Western Australia (WA) about 250 kilometres north of the city of Perth on Saturday.
    When contacted by PTI, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sources confirmed receipt of a formal communication from the Australian Space Agency. However, they did not provide the details.The bizarre-looking object has been declared a piece of space junk, while national agencies, including the Australian Space Agency (ASA), continue working to identify its origin.
    The copper-coloured bulky cylinder, which stands taller than a human, appears to be damaged at one end and is covered with barnacles, indicating that it has spent a significant amount of time at sea before washing up.
    “We are currently making enquiries related to this object located on a beach near Jurien Bay in Western Australia. The object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle and we are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information,” the ASA said in a series of tweets on Monday, July 17.
    As the origin of the object is unknown, the community should avoid handling or attempting to move the object, it said, adding that if the community spot any further suspected debris they should report it to local authorities and notify the agency. Source: PTI

  • July 21 New York & Dallas E – Edition

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”E-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%2F2023%2F07%2FTIP-July-21-E-Edition.pdf”][vc_single_image image=”147420″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TIP-July-21-E-Edition.pdf”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Lead Stories This Week” 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”][vc_wp_posts number=”5″ show_date=”1″][/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]

  • Anti-ageing function of human cell protein discovered

    Anti-ageing function of human cell protein discovered

    Researchers have found an anti-ageing function in a protein deep within human cells. The protein, ATSF-1, controlled the fine balance between creation of new and repair of damaged mitochondria, the part of cell responsible for producing energy, the researchers at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland, Australia, discovered.
    “Mitochondrial dysfunction lies at the core of many human diseases, including common age-related diseases such as dementias and Parkinson’s,” said associate professor at QBI, Steven Zuryn.
    While the energy produced by the mitochondria powers biological functions, the toxic by-products of this process contribute to the ageing process of the cell.
    “Our finding could have exciting implications for healthy ageing and for people with inherited mitochondrial diseases. “In conditions of stress, when mitochondrial DNA has been damaged, the ATSF-1 protein prioritises repair which promotes cellular health and longevity,” said Zuryn.
    As an analogy, Zuryn likened the relationship to a race car needing a pitstop.
    “ATSF-1 makes the call that a pitstop is needed for the cell when mitochondria need repairs.
    “We studied ATFS-1 in C. elegans, or round worms, and saw that enhancing its function promoted cellular health, meaning the worms became more agile for longer.
    “They didn’t live longer, but they were healthier as they aged,” said Zuryn.
    Understanding how cells promote repair is an important step towards identifying possible interventions to prevent mitochondrial damage, the authors said in the study published in the journal Nature Cell Biology said.
    “Our goal is to prolong the tissue and organ functions that typically decline during ageing by understanding how deteriorating mitochondria contribute to this process,” said Michael Dai, QBI.
    Source: PTI

  • Rules to lose belly fat: 10 lifestyle changes to reduce visceral fat

    Rules to lose belly fat: 10 lifestyle changes to reduce visceral fat

    Belly fat, the most stubborn of all fat deposits, poses serious health risk to people. While many people try to find quick fixes on web by searching ‘how to reduce belly fat quickly’, there are no shortcuts to getting rid of the visceral fat which often surrounds internal organs and eventually make metabolism difficult inviting a plethora of lifestyle diseases. The problem of belly fat isn’t limited to obese people. Even people who have a perfect BMI can also be struggling with belly fat and can face similar long-term health risks. Adopting healthy lifestyle measures that slowly and surely kill belly fat is the only way to fight this health issue.
    From modifying your bedtime and becoming an early sleeper to having a nourishing breakfast, even simple measures can go a long way in getting rid of this pesky fat accumulation. If you have so far been casual about your food choices and skipped essential nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, nuts, fish etc, you can fix these dietary habits immediately to reap long term benefits. Sugary snacks and refined grains must be eliminated from your diet if you need a leaner stomach.
    If you are largely sedentary, and rarely move your body, your belly fat is unlikely to bid adieu anytime soon. Take those stairs, do a 30-minute exercise, Yoga and a range of indoor aerobic exercises if your schedule doesn’t permit additional time in the morning.
    Dr. Charu Dua, Chief Clinical Nutritionist, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad in an interview with HT Digital shares with us what exactly is belly fat, its health risks and lifestyle changes to reduce it.
    What’s belly fat?
    Belly fat or visceral body fat (fat stored inside the belly/abdomen, around the organs, including the liver and intestines) or commonly known as abdominal fat is probably more dangerous of all. Abdominal fat/obesity is seen in people having apple-shaped body and is associated with more health issues as compared to other body types.
    What happens if I am slim but have more fat around belly
    If a person has more fat around the abdomen (or your waist circumference is high) but is not overweight, risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, liver disease, cancer is higher as compared to people with smaller waist or less visceral fat.
    How belly fat can cause diabetes
    Visceral fat as stated, is stored and grows in abdominal cavity and fills the spaces between the organs. It slows down our metabolism, may cause insulin resistance and thus result increase of blood sugar and your risk of type 2 diabetes.
    Source: HT

  • Tricks to get shiny legs

    Tricks to get shiny legs

    Ever thought about having legs like a celebrity? If you dreamed of having those perfectly toned legs like celebrities, this article is just for you. We tell you how you could make your legs look shiny, continue reading. All those who want to gain attention by their legs, taking care of this part is equally important as you take care of your face. Bumpy stumbles, ingrown hair, oily bumps, scars, marks and other such things can make your legs look awful and unpleasant.
    If you are craving to gain attention with your legs, here we mention to you some of the easy tips you should follow. Check out these easy tips to make your legs shine like a celebrity!
    Go For Waxing
    In order to get flawless and shining legs, you should opt for a closer shave. You should avoid using razors, tweezers, and other electronic devices while shaving, as it will prevent giving you a closer shave. Instead, you should go for waxing, as it will help to remove hair follicles deeply without leaving any marks behind.
    Keep Your Legs Moisturised
    You should always keep your legs moisturised by using an ounce full of moisturiser. Applying a good-quality moisturiser can help to keep your legs hydrated and moisturised for a longer period of time, thus preventing dark spots or bumps. You should make sure you moisturise your skin well and reapply the lotion after 5-6 hours. When you step out, remember to apply a sunscreen, so that your legs are protected.
    Look For A Firming Cream
    Using firming cream can help to tighten your skin and also improve the elasticity of same. You should look for a lotion which contains extracts of caffeine in it, as it helps to rejuvenate your skin quickly and prevents dullness or sagging. Leg creams with extracts of caffeine are especially designed to keep your legs to look younger and beautiful.
    Exfoliate Your Skin
    Exfoliating your skin is another vital step that will help to get rid of the dead skin cells easily. Not exfoliating your skin daily may lead to an appearance of large-sized pores, dead skin cells, breakouts and other such problems to be found on the legs. In order to prevent all of these, it is advisable to use a body scrub to remove the dead skin cells. Use a sugar-based scrub and exfoliate your skin every alternate day to remove the dead skin cells and debris from the skin.
    Tone Them
    In order to make your legs look beautiful, you should tone them. Exercise is one of the common and an effective way to tone your legs properly. Performing exercise for the lower body can help to tone your legs easily and also give a wonderful shape. If you are craving to get beautiful and toned legs in one month, opt for a tedious workout that promises to cut down the lower body fat.
    Massage Your Legs Regularly
    Massaging your legs with baby oil can help to treat razor marks and bumps if any. Using baby oil can help to soothe your skin and also add a nice shine to your beautiful legs. If not anything, you can heat some coconut oil and massage your legs with this lukewarm oil. Massaging your legs with organic oil every alternate day can help to give you beautiful and smooth legs.

  • Grilled chicken

    Grilled chicken

    Ingredients
    8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste, 2 cups peach preserves, 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon mustard, 4 ripe peaches, halved and pitted
    Method
    – Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Season chicken breast halves with salt and black pepper.
    – Stir peach preserves, olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, and mustard in a bowl; season with salt and black pepper. Reserve about 1/2 cup peach sauce.
    – Place chicken on preheated grill; cook until golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes, then flip chicken. Continue cooking for 5 to 6 minutes. Brush both sides of the chicken with peach sauce. Cook until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 4 to 5 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
    – Arrange peach halves cut side down on the grill. Grill for 2 minutes, flip, and brush with reserved 1/2 cup peach sauce. Continue to grill until peaches are tender, 3 to 4 minutes more.

  • Bad diet can lead to weight gain

    A bad diet has consequences on the immune system which can lead to weight gain and other signs of obesity, a recent study has revealed. According to the study, published in the Journal of Immunology, the researchers studied the impact of a western-style high fat diet on the immune system and came out with two surprising results. “Our research looked at whether bad diets have consequences before we notice an increase in body weight. We found that over-consumption of saturated fats is a form of malnutrition: one that needs to be taken seriously,” Abigail Pollock, a researcher at the University of New South Wales, said.
    The researchers examined the impact of dietary lipids on a class of immune cells — T lymphocytes or T cells in which a diet rich saturated fats can impact immune function.
    “We fed mice a western-style high fat diet for nine weeks to observe if this diet would impact the T cell response before the animal gains weight. Despite our hypothesis that the T cell response would be weakened we actually saw the opposite: the percentage of T cells multiplying increased,” added Pollock.
    One clinical ramification of overactive T cells may be autoimmune disease where the immune system begins attacking healthy parts of the body, suggested the study.
    According to the study, the other unexpected finding was that T cell responses were altered even in the absence of obesity and obesity induced inflammation.
    Dietary lipids do in fact directly influence T cell activation and responsiveness by altering the composition and the structure of the T cell membrane, suggested the study.
    “T cells are actually affected prior to the mice becoming overweight. Lipids in the diet change the abundance of lipids in the cell membrane, which in turn changes the structure of the cell altering the responsiveness of the T cells and changing the immune response,” added Pollock.
    Weight loss pill found safe
    Losing your weight can now be as easy as swallowing a pill as, according to a new study, gastric balloon that is swallowed like a pill, rather than surgically implanted, is safe to use and helps in significant weight loss.
    Gastric balloon — also known as the bariatric technology — involves inserting a small silicon balloon filled with saline solution into a patient’s stomach through an endoscopic procedure to create a feeling of fullness so that the patient loses the urge to overeat.
    The traditional procedures required endoscopy for placement and removal.
    However, the new Elipse is the first procedure-less gastric balloon .
    It is swallowed like a pill and gets inflated by an attached catheter with 550ml of fluid over 10 minutes, after which the catheter detaches.
    After four months, a valve opens to deflate the balloon for excretion from the body.

  • Sofia Vergara, Joe Manganiello announce divorce after seven years of marriage

    Sofia Vergara, Joe Manganiello announce divorce after seven years of marriage

    Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello have announced their divorce seven years after they tied the knot. As per a new report, the duo issued a statement and called it a ‘difficult decision’. The actors also urged people to give them privacy as they ‘navigate this new phase’ of their lives.
    As per Page Six, the couple said in a statement, “We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.”
    Quoting a source, Page Six reported, “Sofia and Joe have been growing apart for a while now and are taking some distance from each other to contemplate their future.” As per the report, the couple was last seen together in June in Hoboken, when Sofia visited Joe on the set of his new project Nonnas with Vince Vaughn.
    Sofia Vergara, who last week clocked her 51st birthday, is currently in Italy travelling and enjoying with her friends. She shared a string of posts on Instagram but none of them featured Joe. On July 11, a day after Sofia’s birthday Joe wished her on Instagram. Sharing their photo, he simply wrote, “Happy Birthday Sofia!!!”
    Sofia and Joe tied the knot in Palm Beach, Florida in November 2015. Last year, when they celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary, she shared a series of throwback photos on her social media platforms. She had captioned the post, “Love You (red heart emojis)”.
    Joe, in August 2020, told PEOPLE that he felt that he made the right call by marrying Sofia. “I knew pretty quickly that I could trust her, and she knew pretty quickly that she could trust me. And we’re both the kind of people who are capable of putting the other person ahead of ourselves. I was capable of putting her wishes ahead of mine, whatever they were, and she was capable of doing the same. Once you have that, you don’t let go of it. My instincts about her were right.”

  • Tom Cruise joins striking actors to battle use of AI

    Tom Cruise joins striking actors to battle use of AI

    In a surprising turn of events, Tom Cruise, the renowned A-list actor, has thrown his support behind the Hollywood actors’ strike. During a Zoom negotiating session between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), Cruise made a surprise appearance, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The 61-year-old star passionately spoke out against the increasing presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the TV and film streaming era. Cruise’s statement resonated with thousands of actors and entertainers who are currently on strike alongside the Writers Guild of America (WGA). This joint strike is a significant event, marking the first time in over six decades that both actors and screenwriters have united in this way.
    Cruise’s involvement in the strike has had a tangible impact on the industry. Production of his latest “Mission: Impossible” movie, as well as other high-profile projects like the “Avatar” sequel, “Gladiator 2,” and “Deadpool 3,” has come to a halt due to the strike action.

  • Dylan Sprouse, Barbara Palvin marry in Hungary

    Dylan Sprouse, Barbara Palvin marry in Hungary

    Congratulations are in order for actor Dylan Sprouse and model Barbara Palvin. The couple tied the knot in Hungary – Barbara’s home country – on July 15, according to a new report. Their official wedding photos were shared on Wednesday, July 19, and give a glimpse of their special day.
    Dylan’s twin brother Cole Sprouse served as his brother’s best man, while his girlfriend Ari Fournier was one of Barbara’s bridesmaids. The newlyweds are reportedly also planning a bigger wedding ceremony later this year, which will take place in the US.
    Dylan and Palvin exchanged their vows in the same church that Barbara’s parents got married in 34 years ago, Vogue reported in an exclusive story highlighting the couple’s big day. They reportedly hosted their wedding ceremony in front of 115 guests at her parents’ property in Hungary.
    “This past weekend was supposed to be an intimate event, but we ended up having 115 guests in the end because there are a lot of people we care about, and we wanted them all to be there,” Barbara told Vogue in the new interview.
    Last month, the couple confirmed the engagement in an interview with V magazine. Dylan and Barbara said that they had actually gotten engaged in September 2022. Dylan had said, “We didn’t necessarily feel the need to be fully transparent with the public about that aspect of our engagement.” To which, Barbara had added, “We just want to do it on our time.”
    In the same interview, the two had opened up about their then-forthcoming nuptials in Hungary, though they didn’t disclose the date of their wedding at the time. Barbara had said, “I’m excited to show that side of me and introduce my culture, the places I grew up, and the places I went to. I know there was no way we would have not had a wedding in Hungary because my parents would have killed me.”
    Source: HT

  • Gadar 2 song Khairiyat: Sunny Deol crosses mountains to bring son home

    Gadar 2 song Khairiyat: Sunny Deol crosses mountains to bring son home

    Khairiyat, a new song from Gadar 2, was released on Tuesday. The over three-minute-long track gives us a glimpse of Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel’s lives as they await meeting their son played by Utkarsh Sharma.
    In the video, an emotional Sunny Deol (Tara Singh) is seen travelling on top of a bus crossing mountains and rivers, while reading a letter. Back home, Ameesha (Sakeena) gets emotional as she prays for her son. On the other hand, their son Utkarsh (Charanjeet), now all grown up, remembers the happy time he spent with his family.
    The video doesn’t reveal how Charanjeet got separated from his family. Sunny while travelling prays to every God to keep his son safe. Throughout the song, all three of them cry, remember their good old times together and pray. Khairiyat is composed by Mithoon, written by Sayeed Quadri and sung by Arijit Singh.
    Bringing back the magic and nostalgia of Tara and Sakina’s love story, the film’s team recently rearranged the iconic chartbuster, Udd Jaa Kaale Kaava. In no time the song started trending across various social media platforms and garnered tremendous love and appreciation from the fans.

  • Alia Bhatt turns rapper at Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani song launch

    Alia Bhatt turns rapper at Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani song launch

    Apart from being a phenomenal actor, Alia Bhatt is also a great singer and she showed her singing skills at the launch of her upcoming film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’s third song ‘Ve Kamleya’ on Tuesday, July 18. She also impressed the audience as she rapped at the event with the help of her co-star Ranveer Singh.
    Social media is abuzz with viral videos from the song’s launch event. In one clip, Alia took center stage and performed the rap from ‘What Jhumka’. When she fumbled, her co-star Ranveer Singh, was quick to jump in as he started rapping with her, adding his energy to the performance.
    Alia’s vocal strength was further showcased as she crooned the film’s romantic track ‘Tum Kya Mile’. Her sweet voice left the audience mesmerised. The song is originally sung by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal.
    Alia and Ranveer’s camaraderie was evident as the two danced on the stage. In the clip, as Ranveer attempted to sing ‘Tum Kya Mile’, Alia playfully intervened and reminded him of their flight. “Flight hum miss karne vale hai (We are going to miss our flight),” Alia quipped, playfully pulling Ranveer away from the stage.
    Directed by Karan Johar and penned by Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan and Sumit Roy, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani will hit the theatres on July 28. The film boasts a stellar cast, including veteran actors Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi.

  • Bhumi Pednekar gets a room full of red roses for her birthday

    Bhumi Pednekar gets a room full of red roses for her birthday

    Actor Bhumi Pednekar turned 34 on July 18 and she celebrated the day with lots of flowers and multiple cakes thanks to her loved ones. On Tuesday, July 18, night, the actor took to Instagram to share a series of inside pictures and videos from her lavish birthday celebration. She was joined by sister Samiksha Pednekar and others on a birthday trip to Goa.
    The actor wrote on Instagram, “I feel so blessed and loved. Thank you, for all your love and wishes. Couldn’t have asked for a better day (red heart emoji).” In the accompanying post she shared pictures and videos of her birthday outfit, the decor at her birthday bash as well as group selfies. Bhumi posed solo in front of a table covered with red rose bouquets and white candles. The room was also decorated with red roses. She wore a pale purple dress. The actor also shared a video of herself cutting her birthday cakes; she danced in a dark room lit up with candles in another video. Bhumi also shared a picture showing a garden decorated with flower petals that said ‘HBD Bhumi’.
    The actor wrote on Instagram, “I feel so blessed and loved. Thank you, for all your love and wishes. Couldn’t have asked for a better day (red heart emoji).” In the accompanying post she shared pictures and videos of her birthday outfit, the decor at her birthday bash as well as group selfies. Bhumi posed solo in front of a table covered with red rose bouquets and white candles. The room was also decorated with red roses. She wore a pale purple dress. The actor also shared a video of herself cutting her birthday cakes; she danced in a dark room lit up with candles in another video. Bhumi also shared a picture showing a garden decorated with flower petals that said ‘HBD Bhumi’.

  • No interim suspension of Rahul Gandhi’s conviction, Supreme Court lists case for August 4

    No interim suspension of Rahul Gandhi’s conviction, Supreme Court lists case for August 4

    New Delhi (TIP)- The Supreme Court on Friday, July 21, issued notice to complainant Purnesh Modi and the State of Gujarat in a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a stay of his conviction in a criminal defamation case. A Bench led by Justice BR Gavai listed the case for hearing on August 4.
    The case relates to Gandhi’s “Modi” surname remark in a political speech during a rally in Karnataka in 2019.
    A request by senior advocate A.M. Singhvi and advocate Prasanna S., appearing for Gandhi, for an “interim suspension” of the conviction was refused.
    Justice Gavai said that cannot be done without hearing the rival side first.
    “At this stage, without hearing the other side, how can we…?” Justice Gavai asked.
    Singhvi then pressed for the next “shortest possible date” for the hearing. He highlighted the need for an urgent hearing of the case as 111 days had already passed since Mr. Gandhi’s disqualification from the House. He has already missed one session, and is unable to participate in the ongoing monsoon sitting of the Parliament.
    When senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani objected, Singhvi said “your client needs to be bothered only about the conviction part and not the disqualification part”.
    Singhvi said the by-elections for the Wayanad constituency may be announced any time. There was a constitutional mandate under Section 151A of the Representation of People Act 1951 to not allow the vacancy of a seat for more than six months.
    Jethmalani said he needed time to file written submissions on “propositions of law and questions of fact” in the case.
    The Bench initially scheduled the case within the next 10 days on July 31, but finally fixed the case for hearing on August 4.
    “We will take it up on August 4. The question we have to decide is whether the conviction deserves to be suspended or not,” Justice Gavai observed.
    Justice Gavai, as soon as the hearing began, informed the lawyers about his family’s history of political association with the Congress party.
    Justice Gavai’s father, R.S. Gavai, was an activist, parliamentarian, Governor and the founder of the Republican Party of India (Gavai). His brother, Rajendra Gavai, is a politician.
    “My father was associated, though not a Congress member… but closely associated.. Singhvi, you know he was associated with the Congress for more than 40 years and my brother is still in politics and he is in Congress… Please take a call if you want me to hear this,” Justice Gavai addressed Jethmalani and Singhvi.
    Both sides told Justice Gavai to not recuse.
    Singhvi said it was a sign of the times that “these kinds of things should be raked up”.
    “I am only doing my duty. I have to disclose this so there is no problem later on. I have been on the Bench for 20 years. These things have never affected my judgment,” Justice Gavai said.
    In fact, on a lighter note, Justice Gavai said his father was fellow parliamentarian and good friends with the fathers of both Singhvi and Jethmalani.
    In his petition, Mr. Gandhi contended that the lower courts had branded his political speech critical of economic offenders and also of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made in the course of democratic political activity, as an act of “moral turpitude”.
    “A political speech in the course of democratic political activity, critical of economic offenders, and also of Shri Narendra Modi, has been held to be an act of moral turpitude inviting the harshest punishment. Such a finding is gravely detrimental to democratic free speech in the midst of a political campaign. It is respectfully submitted that the same will set a disastrous precedent wiping out any form of political dialogue or debate which is remotely critical in any manner,” the petition has argued.
    Source: The Hindu