NEW YORK (TIP): Large U.S. banks injected $30 billion in deposits into First Republic Bank (FRC.N) on Thursday, swooping in to rescue the lender caught up in a widening crisis triggered by the collapse of two other mid-size U.S. lenders over the past week, a Reuters report said. Banking stocks globally have been battered since Silicon Valley Bank collapsed last week due to bond-related losses that piled up when interest rates surged last year, raising questions about what else might be lurking in the wider banking system.
Within days, the market turmoil had ensnared Swiss lender Credit Suisse (CSGN.S), forcing it to borrow up to $54 billion from Switzerland’s central bank to shore up liquidity. By Thursday afternoon, the spotlight whipsawed back to the United States as big banks led an effort to prop up support for First Republic, a regional lender whose shares had tumbled 70% in the last nine trading sessions.
Some of the biggest U.S. banking names including JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), Citigroup Inc (C.N), Bank of America Corp (BAC.N), Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N), Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) were involved in the rescue, according to a statement from the banks. The deal was put together by power brokers including U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who discussed the package on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the situation. U.S. regulators said the show of support was most welcome and showed the resilience of the banking system. A round of financing on Sunday raised through JPMorgan had given First Republic access to $70 billion in funds. But that failed to calm investors as worries of a contagion deepened with the demise of Signature Bank to follow that of SVB and depositors began moving cash to larger lenders. First Republic Bank’s stock closed up 10% on news of the rescue but its shares fell 18% in after-market trading, after the bank said it would suspend its dividend.
The bank’s stock price is down more than 70% since March 6.
News of the rescue also helped boost Wall Street indexes, with JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America all up more than 1%, while the benchmark S&P 500 Banks Index (.SPXBK) recovered 2.2%.
(Source: Reuters / Pete Schroeder, Chris Prentice and Nupur Anand)
NEW DELHI (TIP): India has welcomed the confirmation of U.S. Ambassador-designate Eric Garcetti by the Senate saying that New Delhi looks forward to work with him to advance bilateral relations. The statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came as past comments from Mr. Garcetti on the human rights record of India became viral over the past week which drew criticism from multiple stakeholders, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
“Let me emphasize, we welcome the confirmation of Mr. Eric Garcetti as the Ambassador to India. We look forward to working with him to take forward our multifaceted bilateral relation,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in response to a question from The Hindu. Mr. Garcetti’s confirmation had been stuck at the legislative level in the U.S. where he faced multiple hurdles, including allegations of sexual harassment by his chief of staff Rick Jacobs.
Mr. Garcetti’s confirmation was expected since July 2021 when President Joe Biden nominated him to be the U.S. Ambassador to India. Further revelations on Mr. Garcetti came in a right-wing news portal Daily Caller that alleged he had close links with Chinese officials. At the same time, a 2021 video showing him speak on India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) also went viral. In the video Mr. Garcetti is shown arguing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he will take up human rights issues in India during his tenure and said, “These will not just be afterthoughts for me…I have fought for human rights on four different continents and will be a core part of what I will pursue with my Indian counterpart.” Responding to the video, VHP’s national spokesperson Vinod Bansal told The Hindu that Mr. Garcetti’s remarks on the CAA and the human rights scenario in India showed “his lack of understanding” of the Indian scenario.
“We welcome his confirmation but his comments on the largest democracy in the world shows that he is not fully informed about the Indian scenario. It will be better if he forms a better understanding of the issues relevant to India before taking up the post of the U.S. Ambassador here,” said Mr. Bansal alleging that there had been a spike in “anti-India “propaganda” in the U.S.
Mr. Bagchi, however, clarified that Mr. Garcetti’s comments on CAA did not originate recently and said, “Our position on many of these issues are well known.”
Both Houses put together functioned for just five minutes and 45 seconds on Thursday, March 16, as pandemonium breaks out over Rahul speech, Adani row
NEW DELHI / NEW YORK (TIP): India’s both Houses of Parliament put together functioned for 345 seconds on March 16, 2023, with the ruling BJP unrelenting in its demand for an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition refusing to back down on the call for a joint parliamentary probe into the Adani Group controversy.
While Mr. Gandhi’s remarks abroad that democracy is under attack has drawn the BJP’s ire, the Opposition parties are insistent that the government breaks its silence on the Adani issue. To further press their point, several MPs from the Opposition organized a human chain in the Parliament premises. The Lok Sabha worked for two minutes and 20 seconds in the pre-lunch sitting and 50 seconds in the post lunch sitting. The Rajya Sabha functioned for one minute and 55 seconds in the morning and 40 seconds in the afternoon.
Pandemonium broke out in the Lok Sabha right from the moment the House convened for the day. MPs on both sides tried to outshout the other. Trinamool Congress MPs were already in the well with black cloth tied around their mouths, accusing the Treasury benches of stalling Parliament for four days in a row.
Asking the protesting MPs to return to their seats, Speaker Om Birla said: “I want to run the House, I want to give you enough opportunities and time to speak. You have to go to your seats. You come to the well and then go outside and say that you don’t get a chance to speak. This is not right.” The House was adjourned till 2 p.m. without even the procedural functions such as laying of the papers and standing committee reports. The post-lunch sitting was even shorter.
In the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool MPs sported black gags in the well and other Opposition members stood on their seats shouting slogans.
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s pleas to maintain order went in vain. In the afternoon, Deputy Chairman Harivansh faced a similar challenge. Even before the Upper House met at 2 p.m., the Trinamool MPs made a circle around the table of the House. Watch and Ward personnel were assigned near the Chair. Mr. Harivansh adjourned the House for the day without taking up any business.
Meanwhile, in the Parliament complex at 12:30 p.m., Opposition leaders formed a human chain questioning the government’s studied silence on the alleged stock manipulation by the Adani Group. Barring the Trinamool Congress, which did not participate in the protest, all major Opposition parties were represented, including the Congress, the DMK, the Samajwadi Party, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Revolutionist Socialist Party, the Indian Union Muslim League and the Bharat Rashtra Samiti.
The decision to form a human chain demanding a JPC probe was taken at a joint meeting of Opposition leaders convened by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday morning. Speaking to reporters during the protest, Mr. Kharge said, “Our demand from day one is that there should be a probe by a joint parliamentary committee but the government is shying away from it. What we do not understand is, when they have the majority, why are they afraid of constituting a JPC?”
Among the major Opposition parties, the Trinamool Congress is alone in not supporting the demand for a JPC probe. The party, while demanding a debate specifically on the risk that SBI and LIC funds face because of investments in the Adani group, believes that a Supreme Court monitored probe — which is already under way — will be more effective.
At a press conference later in the day, the Trinamool’s Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien said the Congress party needed to make up its mind. “In Tripura, you will be friends with the Left, that’s your choice, in Bengal you will fight us tooth and nail… then in Meghalaya, before the election, you will write a litany on how bad Trinamool is. In Kerala, your friends in Meghalaya and West Bengal will become your enemy.” The Trinamool also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of turning Parliament into a “deep dark chamber”. “They don’t want Parliament to run because they don’t want to be accountable to the people,” Mr. O’Brien added.
Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast–on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
Patrick was born in Britain of a Romanized family. At age 16 he was torn by Irish raiders from the villa of his father, Calpurnius, a deacon and minor local official, and carried into slavery in Ireland. He spent six bleak years there as a herdsman, during which he turned with fervour to his faith. Upon dreaming that the ship in which he was to escape was ready, he fled his master and found passage to Britain. There he came near to starvation and suffered a second brief captivity before he was reunited with his family. Thereafter, he may have paid a short visit to the Continent.
The best known passage in the Confessio tells of a dream, after his return to Britain, in which one Victoricus delivered him a letter headed “The Voice of the Irish.” As he read it, he seemed to hear a certain company of Irish beseeching him to walk once more among them. “Deeply moved,” he says, “I could read no more.” Nevertheless, because of the shortcomings of his education, he was reluctant for a long time to respond to the call. Even on the eve of reembarkation for Ireland he was beset by doubts of his fitness for the task. Once in the field, however, his hesitations vanished. Utterly confident in the Lord, he journeyed far and wide, baptizing and confirming with untiring zeal. In diplomatic fashion he brought gifts to a kinglet here and a lawgiver there but accepted none from any. On at least one occasion, he was cast into chains. On another, he addressed with lyrical pathos a last farewell to his converts who had been slain or kidnapped by the soldiers of Coroticus.
Careful to deal fairly with the non-Christian Irish, he nevertheless lived in constant danger of martyrdom. The evocation of such incidents of what he called his “laborious episcopate” was his reply to a charge, to his great grief endorsed by his ecclesiastical superiors in Britain, that he had originally sought office for the sake of office. In point of fact, he was a most humble-minded man, pouring forth a continuous paean of thanks to his Maker for having chosen him as the instrument whereby multitudes who had worshipped “idols and unclean things” had become “the people of God.”
The phenomenal success of Patrick’s mission is not, however, the full measure of his personality. Since his writings have come to be better understood, it is increasingly recognized that, despite their occasional incoherence, they mirror a truth and a simplicity of the rarest quality. Not since St. Augustine of Hippo had any religious diarist bared his inmost soul as Patrick did in his writings. As D.A. Binchy, the most austerely critical of Patrician (i.e., of Patrick) scholars, put it, “The moral and spiritual greatness of the man shines through every stumbling sentence of his ‘rustic’ Latin.”
It is not possible to say with any assurance when Patrick was born. There are, however, a number of pointers to his missionary career having lain within the second half of the 5th century. In the Coroticus letter, his mention of the Franks as still “heathen” indicates that the letter must have been written between 451, the date generally accepted as that of the Franks’ irruption into Gaul as far as the Somme River, and 496, when they were baptized en masse. Patrick, who speaks of himself as having evangelized heathen Ireland, is not to be confused with Palladius, sent by Pope Celestine I in 431 as “first bishop to the Irish believers in Christ.”
Toward the end of his life, he retired to Saul, where he may have written his Confessio. It is said that an angel conveyed to him that he was to die at Saul, the site of his first church, despite his wishes to die within the ecclesiastical metropolis of Ireland. His last rites were administered by St. Tussach (also spelled Tassach or Tassac).
It was emigrants, particularly to the United States, who transformed St. Patrick’s Day into a largely secular holiday of revelry and celebration of things Irish. Cities with large numbers of Irish immigrants, who often wielded political power, staged the most extensive celebrations, which included elaborate parades. Boston held its first St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1737, followed by New York City in 1762. Since 1962 Chicago has coloured its river green to mark the holiday. (Although blue was the colour traditionally associated with St. Patrick, green is now commonly connected with the day.) Irish and non-Irish alike commonly participate in the “wearing of the green”—sporting an item of green clothing or a shamrock, the Irish national plant, in the lapel. Corned beef and cabbage are associated with the holiday, and even beer is sometimes dyed green to celebrate the day. Although some of these practices eventually were adopted by the Irish themselves, they did so largely for the benefit of tourists.
Legends
Before the end of the 7th century, Patrick had become a legendary figure, and the legends have continued to grow. One of these would have it that he drove the snakes of Ireland into the sea to their destruction. Patrick himself wrote that he raised people from the dead, and a 12th-century hagiography places this number at 33 men, some of whom are said to have been deceased for many years. He also reportedly prayed for the provision of food for hungry sailors traveling by land through a desolate area, and a herd of swine miraculously appeared.
Another legend, probably the most popular, is that of the shamrock, which has him explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, three persons in one God, to an unbeliever by showing him the three-leaved plant with one stalk. Traditionally, Irishmen have worn shamrocks, the national flower of Ireland, in their lapels on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
Interested in a film festival that is Socially Relevant to our times….. where the invisible is made visible, to awaken us to the marginalized?
Head over to the tenth edition of The Socially Relevant™ Film Festival (SRFF) showcasing such films, March 16-31, 2023. In-person films screen March 17-19 and virtual films stream March 24-31.
The 10th Anniversary edition of SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival NY is a hybrid of in-person and online events. SRFF 2023 opens March 16 at the Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater (165 W. 65th Street, north side, upper level), March 17-19 at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street), and March 20-23 in West Harlem, Columbia University, Morningside Retirement and Health Services (MRHS – 100 La Salle Street, #MC, New York, NY 10027), Columbia Maison Française (515 West 116th Street, Buell Hall, 2nd floor, MC 4990, New York, NY 10027), Dear Mama (West Harlem, 611 West 129th Street), and JCC Harlem (Jewish Community Center, Harlem, 318 W 118th St, New York, NY 10026) . The online section runs from March 24-31.
The Official Selection program of 13 Documentaries, six Narrative features, and six thematically divided short film blocks (ratedsrfilms.org/2023-short-and-bipoc-films), Family and Adoption, Home and Health, Climate Change, LGBTQ, and BIPOC Films and Filmmakers, screen over three days at Cinema Village from March 17-19, and Uptown in West Harlem from March 20-23. The links above open the list and trailers of the films. A panel will examine BIPOC representation on screen, and Q&A will follow in-person screenings. Online Meet the Filmmakers discussions complement the program. A Smartphone filmmaking workshop will be offered, as well as a table read of the finalist scripts in the festival’s scriptwriting competition.
Watch the Festival trailer – youtu.be/lTtVYaC-GXw
“Ten years have gone by quickly. We are proud to have had the opportunity to present over 600 socially relevant films from 40 countries. These films highlight the work of talented and dedicated filmmakers and have offered us the added bonus of learning about the human condition, filmmaking, and engaging an audience as the first step towards raising awareness of social issues,” said Festival Founding Artistic Director Nora Armani.
At a press event held in February 2023, Festival Founding Artistic Director Nora Armani said, “We take pride in telling the stories of invisible people; invisible because they are indigenous because they belong to marginalized groups such as LGBTQ, invisible because of their disabilities, because of the stigma of incarceration, homelessness, age, or disease. We take pride in shining the spotlight on wonderful films made by dedicated filmmakers who succeed in engaging an audience and raising awareness of social issues. We are lucky in that our hard work as volunteers is rewarded with the added bonus of learning so much from these films.”
The Socially Relevant Film Festival (SRFF)
The Mission of the SR Film Festival is to shine the spotlight on filmmakers who tell compelling, socially relevant™, human-interest stories, across a broad range of social issues without resorting to violence and violent forms of storytelling.
SRFF was founded by Actress/ Filmmaker Nora Armani in 2013 as a response to the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling in media and entertainment. SRFF believes in the power of the film medium in raising awareness of social issues and promoting positive social change. This new edition deals with topics such as Climate Change, Family and Adoption, LGBTQ Rights, Home and Health, Disability, Incarceration and Freedom, New York City, Racism, and BIPOC cultures.
Program Schedule
March 16
**Opening Night – Red Carpet – Walter Reade Theater Lincoln Center
Red Carpet – 5:30 pm
Opening Ceremony – Honor Awards to three prolific individuals honored for their work in social justice and gender equality.
Film 1 – Shabu – 6 pm, NEW YORK PREMIERE
Dir: Shamira Raphaëla | The Netherlands | Doc l 1h 15m
Followed by Q&A with filmmakers
Reception follows to celebrate the 10th anniversary and blow out the candles on the SRFF 2023 cake
**Cinema Village – Shorts, Documentary, and Narrative films March 17-19
The film slate, trailers, and synopses are at ratedsrfilms.org under SRFF 2023.
The complete film schedule, can be viewed at ratedsrfilms.org/schedule2023
More information is available at ratedsrfilms.org, or contact rsvp.srff@gmail.com.
The SRFF 2023 Competition Categories are
Narrative Features
Documentary Features
Narrative Shorts
Documentary Shorts
Women Directed films acknowledged
Rejoice Resist: BIPOC Films and Filmmakers
REJOICE, RESIST: BIPOC Films (Photo credit : SRFF 2023)
Rejoice Resist: BIPOC Films and events in West Harlem March 20-23, highlight films by and about BIPOC communities. This program takes place at MRHS (Morningside Health and Retirement Services), at Dear Mama in West Harlem, Maison Française Columbia University, and JCC Harlem. The program offers film screenings, a panel discussion on Diversity and Representation with the participation of the filmmakers, and invited guests, Justin Thomas, Joseph Jones, and HipHop by Division X.
Closing Awards Night
March 23, 5:00 PM Documentary, Maka (youtu.be/oXREqY1DtXU),
‘Maka’ is about pioneer Black Italian activist Geneviève Makaping, Jazz by Kim Thomas. Closing Awards Ceremony at 7:00 PM where winning filmmakers are awarded by the International Jury.
The evening is capped by the Tatev Jazz Trio and a reception.
AWARDS
The Award Categories: Best Narrative Feature, Best Actor and Best Actress, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short Film, Best Actor/ Actress in narrative shorts, Best Documentary Short Film, Best Script, WFCC (the Women Film Critics Circle award), in addition, there will be two Honor Awards given out on Closing Night, and these will be unveiled shortly.
Online Films
The online section of the festival starts on March 24. It streams on srff.sparqfest.live.
TICKETS
Tickets for Opening Night, VIP Tickets, Single Tickets, All-Access Passes, In-Person & Virtual Tickets are available at filmfreeway.com/SRFF23/tickets
The Socially Relevant™ Film Festival (SRFF)
The Mission of the SR Film Festival is to shine the spotlight on filmmakers who tell compelling, socially relevant™, human-interest stories, across a broad range of social issues without resorting to violence and violent forms of storytelling.
The Festival was founded by Actress/ Filmmaker Nora Armani in 2013 as a response to the proliferation of violence and violent forms of storytelling in media and entertainment. This new edition deals with topics such as Climate Change, Family and Adoption, LGBTQ Rights, Home and Health, Disability, Incarceration and Freedom, New York City, Racism, and BIPOC cultures.
During its first nine years, SRFF has showcased over 600 films from 40 countries. This year, a roster of 70 selected films is on offer, including narrative and documentary features, and shorts from 23 countries. For more information is available at ratedsrfilms.org, or contact rsvp.srff@gmail.com.
(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Health & Wellness, Cuisine and Spirituality)
Flushing Town Hall (FTH, flushingtownhall.org) on Saturday, March 18 will host Celebrate Holi! (flushingtownhall.org/celebrate-holi) — a celebration of the new beginnings that come with the changing of the seasons.
Holi Celebrations at FTH, Collage (Photo Credit / FTH)
Holi, known as the Festival of Colors, is one of the most popular festivals in Hinduism. The festival is celebrated to welcome spring, a new beginning where people can release all their inhibitions and start afresh. Traditionally, festival participants throw powder dye into the air, covering all in attendance with vibrant colors. For some, the rich colors represent starting a vibrant new life. For others, washing off the dye at the end of the day represents cleansing oneself of evils and demons and a new commitment to living a good life. This year, those attending the Flushing Town Hall (FTH) festival will throw colorful scarves and confetti to celebrate.
The Srijan Dance Company and its artistic director Abha Roy will join the Apoorva Mudgal Ensemble for a concert to celebrate the new season. The festival will feature performances of devotional and Hindustani classical raga music, traditional Kathak dance, a dance drama of Holi, folk dances, and more. The theme of this show is celebrating love and forgiveness.
The Artists:
Abha B. Roy, the artistic director of Srijan Dance Center and Flushing Town Hall’s annual Diwali Festival. A master of Kathak dance, she studied under the guidance of late great Guru Kundan Lal Gangani and attained professional precision under the training of Pt. Durgalal when she completed her specialization in Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. She represented the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and has taught and performed in South America, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. She has also performed throughout Europe and venues such as Lincoln Center, Flushing Town Hall, Queens Museum, NYC Cultural Festival, and many more.
The Srijan Dance Company, founded by Kathak master dancer Abha B. Roy in 2001, has performed at Flushing Town Hall and festival stages throughout New York and the U.S. FTH is excited to welcome them back for this special event. Featured musicians from this group are Tabla-Naren Budhakar and Gulam Mirasi.
The Apoorva Mudgal Ensemble features the serene vocals of Agra-born (North India) and New York-based Hindustani singer and composer Apoorva Mudgal, arranged to Ria Modak’s classical guitar, and Yacouba Sissoko’s Kora (African Harp) to make for transcendental performances of the Urdu Ghazal, Hindavi folk and Punjabi Sufi Kalaam.
“The Holi and Diwali programs at FTH are a great occasion for Flushing Town Hall visitors to come together and learn about and celebrate popular Indian festivals and culture. They promote cross-cultural integration and harmony and also provide a platform to showcase creativity, as many of the art, dance and music performances are fusions of Indian and other forms,” said Mukund Padmanabhan, founder of the Guru Krupa Foundation. “The Guru Krupa Foundation has been a supporter of the Diwali program at Flushing Town Hall since 2019, and this year, we’re very happy to extend this support to the Holi program as well.”
“The Guru Krupa Foundation has been a wonderful partner to Flushing Town Hall, and this generous donation is another example of their selflessness and commitment to celebrating Indian culture and promoting cultural understanding,” says Flushing Town Hall Executive & Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek. “We look forward to celebrating spring’s beginning with this great festival.”
TICKETS
In-person regular tickets for the general public and discounted tickets for members of Flushing Town Hall, seniors, children, and students with ID are available. Tickets must be purchased in advance; they will not be available at the door. Visit flushingtownhall.org/celebrate-holi for more details and to purchase tickets.
Health Safety Protocols:
Until further notice: Flushing Town Hall requires all visitors, performers, and staff to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 with matching identification. Additionally, masks will be required at all times. For more details on Flushing Town Hall’s Covid-safety measures and vaccine requirements, visit: flushingtownhall.org/covid-safety.
Flushing Town Hall
Learn more at flushingtownhall.org.
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SOUTH ASIAN HOUSE PARTNERS WITH SXSW @ 2023 FEST
Participants in South Asian House Program. (Photo Credit / South Asian House)
By Mabel Pais
South Asian House, for the first time showcases events at South By Southwest (SXSW) 2023. South Asian House events will take place at Fourth & Co located at 208 West Fourth St. Unit D in Austin, Texas during the first weekend of SXSW on Saturday, March 11, 11am-2am and Sunday, March 12, 11am-2am.
Featured speakers for the initiative include industry professionals from various sectors such as business, tech, film, TV, theater, music, and fashion. South Asian house will also provide a networking brunch and happy hour each day, as well as live music entertainment and a DJ set each night.
To conclude the weekend, South Asian House will host a Red Carpet Awards Ceremony, presented by Tasveer, at 5:45 pm and a live Oscar Viewing Party at 7pm on Sunday, March 12. Media and photographers are invited to cover the red carpet event beginning at 5 p.m. and may RSVP or request general coverage of the weekend at madelyn@juiceconsulting.com.
South Asian House programming will also include two noteworthy panels on Saturday, March 11. The first, starting at 2:30 p.m., is “Creating South Asian Content for a Global Audience,” which will be an hour-long discussion with actor Rizwan Manji (“Schitt’s Creek,” “Peacemaker”), Emmy-award winning executive producer for ViceTV, Falguni Lakhani Adams, and Emmy-award winning producer of the hit TV series “Delhi Crime,” Apoorva Bakshi, moderated by DFW South Asian Film Festival Founder/Director and producer of South Asian House Jitin Hingorani.The second panel, “Investing in the Future of Our South Asian Stories,” will be from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Panelists for this important conversation will include CEO and Co-founder of URL Media S. Mitra Kalita, actress Kausar Mohammed (“4400,” “The Flash”), and CEO of Create Entertainment Atit Shah, moderated by co-founder of Box Office Guru Media Gitesh Pandya. Learn more about the South Asian House weekend events at southasianhouse.com/programs.“We are so excited to have these fantastic panels that explore topics which are often overlooked when it comes to the contributions of South Asians in the media and entertainment worlds,” states Rohi Mirza Pandya, producer of South Asian House and co-founder of Box Office Guru Media.
“It has been so exciting working with these panelists, given the vast experience they will be bringing to SXSW and what will surely be enlightening conversations,” adds Kirtana Banskota, producer of South Asian House and founder of Banskota Productions.South Asian House
For more information on South Asian House, visit southasianhouse.com.
(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Health & Wellness, Cuisine and Spirituality)
Film highlights include Oscar nominated SHAUNAK SEN’S ‘All That Breathes’
Path of the Panther. (Photo Credit : DCEFF)
The District of Columbia’s Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF) for its 31st edition returns to venues across the DC Metro for in-person screenings March 16-26, 2023. This hybrid Festival will also include a robust slate of virtual programming available to its audiences around the world.
The 2023 Festival is a hybrid (in-person and virtual) event with programming in venues around D.C., in addition to select online programming accessible to audiences around the world. The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) gears up for its much anticipated return of in-person events after a three year pause on live screenings due to the pandemic.
Entering its 31st year, the festival will resume its public screenings from March 16-26 across multiple venues in D.C., including the Naval Heritage Center, Landmark E Street Cinema, the National Geographic Society, various Smithsonian Museums, Embassies and other cultural organizations with many multicultural selections that feature stories from around the globe which will be screened at local embassies throughout D.C.
Throughout the eleven days of the Festival, the Festival seeks to inspire its audiences to learn more, get involved, and take meaningful action on the issues and causes that its programs highlight, and to catalyze grassroots community awareness and action around a wide array of Environmental concerns.
Reclaim Your Water (Photo Credit : DCEFF)
DCEFF also introduces for the first time a live pitch contest which offers emerging BIPOC filmmakers the opportunity to win a sizable grant towards the production of a short or their first feature film. Finalists will have a unique opportunity to be mentored by Judith Helfand (co-founder Chicken & Egg Pictures, award-winning filmmaker).
TICKETS
For the in-person schedule and tickets, visit dceff.eventive.org/schedule.
For the FREE virtual schedule and tickets, visit watch.eventive.org/dceff. All films are available to stream from Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 26.
NOTE: Many additional virtual programs will be offered April 18-23 as part of Earth Day Encores.
DCEFF
To learn more about the Festival and the full season program, visit dceff.org.
(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Health & Wellness, Cuisine and Spirituality)
Ahmedabad (TIP)-Stru ggling with a recurring back injury, premier India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has undergone a successful surgery in New Zealand’s Christchurch and is expected to be out of action for six months.
According to BCCI sources, the surgery was conducted “successfully” by Dr Rowan Schouten, an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in the management of adult spinal conditions and hip replacement surgery.
Bumrah is expected to be out of action for six months which would rule him out of the Asia Cup. His return, if everything goes according to the plan, is likely to be in the ODI World Cup in India in October-November, BCCI sources told PTI.
The 29-year-old is out since playing two T20Is on Australia’s tour of India in September last year. He subsequently pulled out of a white-ball series against South Africa and could not make it to the T20 World Cup. Satisfied with his rehab at the NCA, the selectors named him in the home series against Sri Lanka in January but he experienced niggles to be ruled out again. Source: PTI
AHMEDABAD (TIP)- Usman Khawaja struck a majestic 180 and Cameron Green smashed his maiden Test hundred to power Australia to a series-high 480 all out on Day 2 of the fourth and final Test against India here on March 10.
Khawaja and Green were the bedrock of Australia’s innings with a 208-run stand for the fifth wicket, the highest partnership from either side in the bowler-dominated series. Khawaja’s batting masterpiece was spread over 10 hours during which the opener faced 422 balls, the most by an Australian batter in India, hitting 21 fours.
India, who lead the series 2-1, were 36 for no loss in reply with Rohit Sharma (17) and Shubman Gill (18) seeing off the final 10 overs of the day.
The home side trail by 444 runs in the match, which they need to win to seal their place in the final of the World Test Championship against Australia in June.
Earlier, on a flat track where the ball did not really turn and reverse swing did not materialise, Khawaja and Green, who made a fluent 114, piled on the runs in the morning session.
Green showed his growing confidence by hitting Umesh Yadav for three boundaries in an over and brought up his hundred with a four off Ravindra Jadeja. The beaming all-rounder took off his helmet and soaked up the applause before being hugged by Khawaja.
Ashwin (6/91) finally broke the stand when Green attempted a sweep shot and managed to glove the ball to wicketkeeper KS Bharat.
Ashwin removed Alex Carey in the same over and Khawaja fell to the first ball after the tea break when Axar Patel trapped him lbw. The batsman was initially adjudged not out but India reviewed the decision which was overturned after replays confirmed the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.
Todd Murphy (41) and Nathan Lyon (34) chipped in with useful cameos before Ashwin wrecked their lower order. Source: Reuters
Striker Sukhjeet Singh struck a second-half brace as India stunned world champions Germany 3-2 in their FIH Pro League match here today. It was India’s first outing after the World Cup debacle. It was the fifth match of the Pro League season for both teams.
India relied on three quick goals on either side of the half-time break to take an unassailable lead, and while Germany pulled two back, it was not enough as India took all three points from the encounter.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh gave the hosts the lead in the 30th minute through a penalty-corner conversion. Harmanpreet is the top-scorer in the tournament so far with seven goals.
The 26-year-old Sukhjeet, one of the players who survived the axe after India’s shock pre-quarterfinal exit in the World Cup in January, scored in the 31st and 42nd minutes. The first was a deflection off a long pass from Jarmanpreet Singh.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh gave the hosts the lead in the 30th minute through a penalty-corner conversion. Harmanpreet is the top-scorer in the tournament so far with seven goals.
The 26-year-old Sukhjeet, one of the players who survived the axe after India’s shock pre-quarterfinal exit in the World Cup in January, scored in the 31st and 42nd minutes. The first was a deflection off a long pass from Jarmanpreet Singh.
Chants of “Bruno! Bruno!” reverberated around Old Trafford as the healing process began for Manchester United.
The wounds from Sunday’s humiliating 7-0 rout by Liverpool remain fresh. But a 4-1 win against Real Betis in the Europa League was an encouraging response from Erik ten Hag’s players.
None more so than Bruno Fernandes, who scored one and had a role in two more in the round-of-16 first leg on Thursday, March 9.
“I think he was the best player on the pitch, it showed his personality,” United manager Ten Hag said.
The Dutchman had given his team the chance to begin making amends for Anfield by naming an unchanged lineup. It had the desired effect.
Marcus Rashford scored his 26th goal of the season.
Antony swept a shot into the top corner from distance. And Wout Weghorst, who had faced a backlash on social media for touching the famous “This is Anfield” sign, let his emotion show when firing in United’s fourth.
But perhaps no one needed redemption more than Fernandes, who received the brunt of the criticism after the collapse against Liverpool. On this occasion his efforts were greeted with approval by United fans as well as Ten Hag.
This is one of the best tiger reserves of the country, known to have “friendly” tigers and chances of sighting one here is reasonably better than many other tiger reserves of India. Along with this Ranthambore has one of the richest flora and fauna making it an absolutely must visit area
Nestled in the foothills of Vindhya and Aravali Hills, Ranthambore is famous for its tiger reserves and the variety of flora and fauna found. The Ranthambore National Park, along with the Ranthambore Fort and the surrounding hills and valleys, altogether make Ranthambore a traveller’s delight. The place is a boon for wildlife photographers and is perfect for excursions and sightseeing. Safari Rides add to the adventure along with hot Rajasthani picks for shopaholics. With an area of 392 kilometres square, Ranthambore National Park is a natural habitat for a variety of exotic species. It is an absolute delight for birdwatchers and an ideal place to watch animals in their natural habitat.
The Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th century, stands tall over the entire National Park. Built by the Chauhan Dynasty, the Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located inside the fort is the majestic temple of Lord Ganesha, the Trinetra Ganesh Temple. Ganesha devotees flock the temple throughout the year. The other two temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Ramlalaji respectively. Two Jain temples, devoted to Lord Sumatinath and Lord Sambhavnath are other attractions of the Fort. The Padam lake and the Surwal lake are two among many that are a haven for bird watching. The ideal time to visit these lakes is early morning. Located adjacent to the Padam lake is the Jogi Mahal, a red sandstone marvel. Kachida Valley, famous for locating panthers and bears, along with Raj Bagh Ruins and the surrounding deciduous forests altogether score brownie points for Ranthambore.
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
Spread in an area of 392 sq. Km, the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is one of the largest and famed tiger reserves in the country, famous for the magnificent Bengal Tiger found there. The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve derives its name from the Ranthambore Fort located in the region. Situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, it forms a part of Project Tiger reserves, by the Government of India, set up in 1955. Ancient religious ruins found within the forest, surrounded by the rich biodiversity and aesthetically crumbling cenotaphs make Ranthambore Tiger Reserve a favourite spot for photographers, wildlife enthusiasts and travellers.
Among other things, the tiger reserve is known for the medieval hunting trips carried out by the royals of Jaipur when hunting a tiger was the symbol of valour. One can take a safari ride through the jungle and experience watching a tiger in its natural habitat from a few metres away. Dry deciduous forests and marshy grassland forms a distinctive feature of this place with the Aravalli Range and Vindhya Plateau surrounding it to set it apart from the strikingly different desert in the very same state. The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Kaldevi Sanctuary that surrounds this tiger reserve became part of the tiger reserve project in the 1990s.
Jeep Safari
Jeep Safari is the best way to explore the various zones of the Ranthambore National Park. Wildlife photographers and bird watchers often opt for these safaris to capture thrilling moments in the National Park. Jeep safaris need to be booked well in advance to ensure availability.
Ranthambhore Fort
Ranthambhore Fort is a magnificent fort erected by a ruler belonging to the Chauhan Royal family located in Ranthambhore in Rajasthan. The regal fort is said to have existed since the 12th century and is a perfect tourist attraction for those wanting to explore Royal Rajasthan. The splendid fort of Ranthambhore stands strong amidst dense forests that form the Ranthambhore National Park. The view of the fort from the national park and the view of the dense forest from the top of the fort are both worth seeing. As one explores the magnificent structure, they are bound to experience the magnificent vibe that the fort radiates in the warm sunlight of Rajasthan.
Ranthambore Fort has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is an important Hill Fort of Rajasthan. The dense forest that forms the Ranthambhore National Park was once the hunting ground of the royalty that lived here. The fort is surrounded by a massive wall and has strong stone pathways and staircases that lead to the top portion of the structure. As you trek upwards; do notice the traditional Rajasthani architecture with massive gates, pillars, domes, palace and temples. The reserve is home to some birds and animals. Tourists will usually find a lot of monkeys in and around the fort; however, if you are lucky, you may also be presented with the beautiful peacocks living in the National Park.
Source: Holidify.com
New Delhi (TIP)-The Adani Group has repaid a $500 million bridge loan due Thursday, according to people with knowledge of the matter, adding to a slew of other payments as the Indian conglomerate works to restore confidence in its financial health after a scathing short seller report. The money was released to lenders on Tuesday, March 9, the people said, asking not to be identified as the details are private. Some banks had balked at refinancing the debt following a report from Hindenburg Research late-January that sent Adani assets tumbling, Bloomberg News reported in February.
The empire led by billionaire Gautam Adani has since pre-paid about $2 billion of share-backed loans, made bond repayments on time and won another $1.9 billion investment from star investor Rajiv Jain of GQG Partners. That’s helped pare losses in the group’s market value to around $124 billion from as much as $153 billion. Global banks had lent Adani $4.5 billion to finance the purchase of Holcim Ltd. cement assets last year, and a portion of this was due March 9. The next tranche of the loan comes due in 2024, one of the people said.
Adani rout puts spotlight back on Mauritius as it aims to shed ‘tax haven’ image
The tiny island of Mauritius spent years trying to clean up its image as a base for murky money launderers and shell firms. The short-seller allegations against billionaire Gautam Adani are once again reviving questions about the country’s role as a tax haven for India’s tycoons.
In a report late January that sent Adani stocks on a $153 billion downward spiral, Hindenburg Research said that entities controlled by the tycoon’s brother, Vinod, or his associates used Mauritius as a conduit for money laundering and share-price manipulation. Though the report mentioned a “vast labyrinth” of shell companies from the Caribbean to the United Arab Emirates, it pinpointed offshore firms in Mauritius as having played a pivotal part.
The US-based short seller said 38 firms connected to Vinod were domiciled in the tropical island, located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Madagascar. Hindenburg claims some were used to reroute money from India that was then used to buy shares in the group, and inflate their stock prices back home.
Sheetala Saptami is considered an important festival in Hinduism. On the day of Sheetala Saptami, women fast for the whole day. As the name suggests, this day is dedicated to Sheetla Mata. Sheetala Saptami is celebrated almost all over India. Sheetla Saptami is considered with special significance and enthusiasm in rural areas. On this day, women worship Goddess Sheetala to protect their children from infectious diseases like chickenpox and smallpox.
Goddess Sheetala is known by various names in India. For example, in the southern states of India, she is worshiped as ‘Goddess Poleramma’ or ‘Goddess Mariamman’.
In the Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, a similar festival like Sheetala Saptami is celebrated, which is known as ‘Polala Amavasya’.
Sheetala Saptami is celebrated twice a year. Earlier, this festival is celebrated on the seventh day of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month. Sheetla Saptami has special significance in the month of Chaitra. For the second time, this festival is also celebrated on the Saptami of Shukla Paksha of Shravan month. According to the Gregorian calendar, these dates fall for the months of March-April and July-August respectively.
On this day this festival is celebrated with special importance and reverence in all the temples of India. The temple of Goddess Sheetla is situated in Gurugram near Delhi. On this day, a long line of devotees starts in the Sheetla Devi temple since morning and waits for the darshan and worship of the goddess.
Importance of Sheetala Saptami
Goddess Sheetla is believed to be an incarnation of Mother Parvati. The importance of Sheela Saptami has been described in the Skanda Purana. Shakti is worshiped in two forms in Hinduism. Out of which Goddess Sheetala liberates people suffering from infectious diseases like ‘Chickenpox’ or ‘smallpox’ and also represents the healing power by nature.
Goddess Sheetla has been described in Skanda Purana. Sheetlashtak sings the glory of Sheetla Devi, as well as inspires the devotees to worship her.
According to the belief, by observing this fast, Sheetla Devi is pleased and in the family of the fast, Dahjwar, yellow fever, explosive, foul-smelling boils, all diseases of the eyes, signs of Sheetla’s pimples and the defects caused by Sheetla are removed.
Legend
A legend says Goddess Durga has incarnated as Katyayani, the daughter of sage Katyayan to destroy evil demonic forces of the world. She killed many demons. Jwarasur, the demon of fever, started spreading incurable diseases. Katyayani cured the diseases. To relieve the world from all fevers and diseases, Katyayani took the form of Sheetala Devi. She held a broom, winnowing fan, a pot of water and a cup. She cured all the diseases of children. Katyayani requested her friend Batuk to confront the demon Jwarasur. A battle ensued between the young Batuk and demon Jwarasur. Batuk was defeated by Jwarasur. Batuk magically disappeared into dust. Jwarasur was shocked and wondered where he went. Batuk has assumed the form of an awful male figure with three eyes and four arms. He held an axe, sword, trident and demon head. He was black in color with flowing hairs, and his eyes were blazing with fury. He wore a tiger-skin and skull garland. Batuk took the form of Lord Shiva’s ferocious form, the Bhairav. A battle broke out between them. Jwarasur created many demons, but Bhairav managed to destroy all of them. Finally, Bhairav wrestled with Jwarasur and killed him with his trident.
Celebration and Rituals
Goddess Sheetala Devi is worshiped by her devotees. Devotees get up early in the morning and bath in cold water. They visit the temple to offer their prayers to Goddess. Rituals are performed on this day for a peaceful and happy life. On Sheetala Saptami some of the devotees shave their heads in honor of Goddess Sheetala.
Devotees do not cook food on Sheetla Saptami. They consume the food, which is prepared on the previous day. Eating hot food is strictly prohibited. Several devotees even keep a fast on this day. Women keep the fast for the well-being of her children.
Sheetala Saptami Vrat Katha
There are many legends and stories related to Sheetala Saptami fast. According to one of the most important legends associated with the festival, there was a king named Indradyumna. He was a generous and virtuous king who had a wife named Pramila and a daughter named Shubhakari. The daughter was married to Rajkumar Gunaban. In the kingdom of Indradyumna, everyone used to observe Sheetala Saptami fast every year with eagerness. Once during this festival, Shubhakari was also present in his father`s kingdom. Thus, he also observed the fast of Sheetala Saptami, which is celebrated as a ritual of the royal household.
To perform the ritual, Shubhakari left for the lake with his friends. Meanwhile, on their way to the lake, they wandered their way and asked for help. At that time, an old woman helped him and guided the way to the lake. He helped them in performing rituals and observing the vow. Everything became so good that even Sheetala Devi was pleased and gave a boon to Shubhakari. But, Shubhakari told the goddess that she will use the boon when she needs it or she wants something.
As they were returning to the state, Shubhakari saw a poor Brahmin family mourning the death of one of their family members due to a snake bite. For this, Shubhakari remembered the boon that Sheetala Devi had bestowed on her and Shubhakari prayed to Goddess Sheetala to give life to the dead Brahmin. The Brahmin regained his life. Seeing and hearing this, everyone understood the importance and auspiciousness of observing the Sheetala Saptami Vrat and worshiping. Thus, from that time everyone started observing the fast every year with perseverance and dedication.
President Joe Biden is proposing a series of new tax increases on billionaires, rich investors and corporations in his latest proposal for how Congress should prioritize taxes and spending.
Biden’s budget request to Congress, which is slated to be released Thursday, calls for a 25% minimum tax on billionaires, according to a White House official familiar with the proposal who declined to be named because the plan is not yet public. The plan would also nearly double the capital gains tax rate for investment to 39.6% from 20% and raise income levies on corporations and wealthy Americans.
The proposal, which is largely a reprise of Biden’s multi-trillion dollar Build Back Better economic package, has little chance of passing Congress, particularly now that Republicans control the House of Representatives. Biden was unable to pass similar tax increases when Democrats enjoyed control of both chambers of Congress, instead settling for slimmed down legislation focusing on energy and health policy known as the Inflation Redution Act.
But the White House’s proposal foreshadows both Democrats’ strategy ahead of high-stakes negotiations over the debt ceiling and government spending later this year, as well as the economic platform underpinning an expected Biden reelection campaign. Administration officials argue that the proposals show a commitment to cutting the deficit — projecting that Biden’s budget would slash $3 trillion largely through increased revenues over the next decade — and represent a politically popular return to tax levels in place before former President Donald Trump’s tax reform legislation. Taxes on the wealthy and large corporations have been a rallying cry for progressives for years and polls repeatedly show they are favored by a majority of Americans.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy immediately dismissed Biden’s plans to increase levies, telling reporters Wednesday “I do not believe raising taxes is the answer.”
The Biden proposal would require that the richest 0.01% of Americans pay at least a 25% tax rate. It would also increase the top tax rate for Americans making $400,000 to 39.6% from 37%, reversing one of Trump’s tax cuts — though tax rates for those making below that amount would remain untouched. It additionally calls for investors making at least $1 million to pay that 39.6% on their long-term investments, which are currently taxed at a 20% rate. The proposal would increase the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%, undoing another signature Trump tax change. It would also eliminate a loophole that business owners and higher-earners can exploit to avoid paying levies for the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund on more of their income. White House officials so far have not indicated that Biden’s budget includes new Social Security payroll taxes on wages above $400,000, which some Democrats have proposed to shore up the program.
Biden is also calling for an end to valuable industry-specific tax breaks for private equity fund managers, oil companies, as well as investors in crypto and real estate, in his upcoming budget proposal, according to a summary of the plan. Eliminating these would upend the economics of many real estate and investment-fund deals — forcing Wall Street to reinvent the way that many transactions have been done for decades — if they were to become law. Source: Bloomberg
Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL), the fast-moving consumer goods arm and subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL), on Thursday, March 9, announced the launch of the iconic brand, Campa, made for a new-age India. The Campa portfolio will initially include Campa Cola, Campa Lemon and Campa Orange in the sparkling beverage category. The launch of this brand was in line with the company’s strategy to promote homegrown Indian brands that not only have a rich heritage but also boasted a deep-rooted connect with Indian consumers, Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL) said in a statement on Thursday, March 9.
The company said RCPL’s roll-out of its cold beverage portfolio across India, starting with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is aligned with the company’s overall vision of offering value and choice to Indian consumers through high-quality products at affordable price points.
With this launch, RCPL said it further strengthened its versatile FMCG portfolio which comprises heritage brands from Sosyo Hajoori, confectionary range from Lotus Chocolates, Sri Lanka’s leading biscuit brand Maliban, as well as daily essentials under its own brands including Independence and Good Life, among others.
Cryptocurrency transactions to come under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, says govt
Any participation in transactions involving virtual digital assets or cryptocurrency, would come under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act or PMLA, the Centre has said.
This was announced through a gazette notification, issued on March 7.
The step has been taken to tighten misuse of digital assets.
Government in the gazette has warned investors against “participation in and provision of financial services related to an issuer’s offer and sale of a virtual digital asset”.
“Exchange and transfer of virtual digital assets would also fall under PMLA laws,” the notification further said.
The satellite has re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and would have disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean. The Indian Space Research Organisation said it successfully carried out an “extremely challenging” controlled re-entry experiment of the decommissioned orbiting Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT-1) satellite.
“The satellite re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and would have disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean,” the Bengaluru-headquartered national space agency said on Twitter.
The low Earth satellite was launched on October 12, 2011, as a joint satellite venture of ISRO and the French space agency, CNES for tropical weather and climate studies. An uninhabited area in the Pacific Ocean between 5°S to 14°S latitude and 119°W to 100°W longitude was identified as the targeted re-entry zone for MT1, weighing about 1000 kg, ISRO said earlier this week. About 125 kg on-board fuel remained unutilised at its end-of-mission that could pose risks for accidental break-up, an ISRO statement had noted.
This left-over fuel was estimated to be sufficient to achieve a fully controlled atmospheric re-entry to impact the uninhabited location in the Pacific Ocean, ISRO had said.
Controlled re-entries involve deorbiting to very low altitudes to ensure impact occurs within a targeted safe zone.
Usually, large satellites/rocket bodies, which are likely to survive aero-thermal fragmentation upon re-entry, are made to undergo controlled re-entry to limit ground casualty risk. However, all such satellites are specifically designed to undergo controlled re-entry at end-of-life (EOL).
“MT1 was not designed for EOL operations through controlled re-entry which made the entire exercise extremely challenging”, ISRO said.
Furthermore, the on-board constraints of the aged satellite, where several systems had lost redundancy and showed degraded performance, and maintaining subsystems under harsher environmental conditions at much lower than originally designed orbital altitude added to the operational complexities. Source: PTI
Google has shared more information about the Universal Speech Model (USM), a system that the company describes as a “critical first step” in realising its goals, which is now moving closer toward its goal of building an AI language model that supports 1,000 different languages to beat ChatGPT.
In November last year, the company announced its plans to create a language model supporting 1,000 of the world’s most-spoken languages while also revealing its USM model.
The tech giant describes USM as a family of state-of-the-art speech models with 2 billion parameters trained on 12 million hours of speech and 28 billion sentences of text, spanning 300+ languages.
“USM, which is for use in YouTube (e.g., for closed captions), can perform automatic speech recognition (ASR) not only on widely spoken languages like English and Mandarin, but also on under-resourced languages like Amharic, Cebuano, Assamese, and Azerbaijani to name a few,” Google said in a blogpost.
Google currently claims that USM supports over 100 languages and will serve as the “foundation” for a much larger system.
Meanwhile, Google is expected to introduce a host of AI features for its products in the near future, and among them, Gboard for Android is working to integrate the Imagen text-to-image generator.
Users may soon see how much memory each tab using on Chrome
Tech giant Google is reportedly working on a new feature for Chrome which will show users how much memory each tab is using. The information was shared by Chrome expert Leopeva64 on Twitter, reports Android Police.
The new feature will let users know specific memory usage for every open tab when they place the cursor on it.
This feature will be helpful for users when they have opened multiple tabs, as it will help them decide which tabs to close.
Last month, the tech giant had rolled out the Memory and Energy Saver modes for Chrome on Mac, Windows, Linux, as well as Chromebooks.
Chrome’s Memory Saver automatically “frees up memory from inactive tabs” to give other pages and apps on users’ computers more resources. And, with Energy Saver, “Chrome conserves battery power by limiting background activity and visual effects”.
Source: IANS
Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp is rolling out a new “Push name within the chat list” feature on iOS beta. Beta testers will now see push names within the chat list instead of the phone numbers every time they receive a message from an unknown group member, reports WABetainfo.
This feature will make it easier for the users to understand who the unknown contact is without any need to save the number as a new contact.
It will be useful for participants in large group chats where it is difficult to keep track of who is who.
This feature is currently available for some beta testers that install the latest version of WhatsApp beta for iOS from the TestFlight app, and is expected to roll out to more users over the coming days, the report said.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, it was reported that the messaging platform was working on a new feature for iOS beta which will allow users to set an expiration date for groups.
When this feature will be released, users will be able to choose from various expiration options such as one day, one week or a custom date.
Microsoft increases Bing AI’s chat limits to 120 per day
Tech giant Microsoft has increased conversation limits on Bing AI to 10 chats per session and 120 total chats per day. Earlier, these conversations were limited to 6 chat turns per session and a total of 100 per day.
Corporate Vice President & Consumer Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft, Yusuf Mehdi, tweeted on Wednesday: “Bing Chat moving today to 10 chats per session / 120 total per day.”
“Engineering making steady progress with quality of experience giving us confidence to expand the testing. Let us know how it’s working for you!”
Last month, the tech giant had implemented limits of 5 chat turns per session and a total of 50 per day on Bing AI.
This decision came as Bing AI went haywire for some users during the chat sessions.
ChatGPT-driven Bing search engine triggered a shockwave after it told a reporter of The New York Times that it loved him, confessed its destructive desires and said it “wanted to be alive”, leaving the reporter “deeply unsettled.” However, later, the company had increased the limitations to 6 chats per session and a total of 60 per day. After a few days of the announcement, Mikhail Parakhin, the head of web services at Microsoft, announced that total chats have been increased to a total of 100 per day. Source: IANS
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, jointly known as keratinocyte carcinoma and the most prevalent types of cancer diagnosed in the United States, are thought to be preventable with simple laser skin treatments, according to new research.
A group of scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of Mass General Brigham, carried out the research. It provides an approach to safeguarding people’s skin health that is simple to execute and was published in Dermatologic Surgery.
Nonablative fractional lasers (NAFL) deliver heat in a fractional manner that leaves it fully intact after treatment (unlike ablative fractional lasers that remove the top layer of skin), and they’re currently used to treat scars, sun-damaged skin, age spots, and more; however, their effectiveness for preventing skin damage is unknown.
To investigate, Mathew Avram, MD, JD, director of the Mass General Dermatology Laser & Cosmetic Center, and his colleagues studied patients who had been successfully treated for facial keratinocyte carcinoma in the past. Such patients have a 35% risk of experiencing a subsequent keratinocyte carcinoma within 3 years and a 50% risk within 5 years.
In the study, 43 patients received NAFL therapy and 52 served as controls and did not receive NAFL therapy.
The rate of subsequent facial keratinocyte carcinoma development over an average follow-up of more than 6 years was 20.9% in NAFL-treated patients and 40.4% in controls, indicating that patients treated with NAFL had about half the risk.
When controlling for age, gender, and skin type, control patients were 2.65 times more likely to develop a new facial keratinocyte carcinoma than NAFL-treated patients.
Also, among patients who developed a facial keratinocyte carcinoma, the time to development was significantly longer in patients treated with NAFL compared with untreated patients.
“These findings suggest that NAFL treatment may have an important role in protecting against subsequent keratinocyte carcinomas,” said Avram.
“While the mechanism of NAFL’s protective effect is not completely understood, it is suspected that NAFL treatment reduces the overall burden of photo damaged keratinocytes and may promote a wound healing response, which gives healthy skin cells a selective advantage.” Avram noted that additional studies are warranted to more critically assess the role of NAFL in skin cancer prevention, to reveal the duration of its protective effects, and to determine optimal treatment parameters. Source: ANI
Looking to try weight loss by following a ‘keto’ diet? You could be at twice the risk of suffering heart attack and stroke, warns a study. Researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada showed that the popular weight-loss dietary programme, which includes very low amounts of carbohydrates and high amounts of fats, is associated with higher blood levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol.
It is also linked with a two-fold heightened risk of cardiovascular events such as chest pain (angina), blocked arteries requiring stenting, heart attacks and strokes, they said while presenting the study at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session.
“Our study found that regular consumption of a self-reported diet low in carbohydrates and high in fat was associated with increased levels of LDL cholesterol — or ‘bad’ cholesterol –and a higher risk of heart disease,” said lead author Iulia Iatan, from St. Paul’s Hospital and University of British Columbia’s Centre for Heart Lung Innovation in Vancouver, Canada.
For the study, Latan and her team analysed 305 participants who were compared with 1,220 individuals eating a standard diet. They defined a low in carbohydrates and high in fat diet as consisting of no more than 25 per cent of total daily energy or calories from carbohydrates and more than 45 per cent of total daily calories from fat.
Compared with participants on a standard diet, those on a keto-like diet had significantly higher levels of both LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apoB) — a protein that helps carry fat and cholesterol through the human body. Previous studies have shown that elevated apoB may be a better predictor than elevated LDL cholesterol for risk of cardiovascular disease, Latan said. After about 12 years of follow-up, the team found that people on the keto-like diet had more than two times higher risk of having several major cardiovascular events, such as blockages in the arteries that needed to be opened with stenting procedures, heart attack, stroke and peripheral arterial disease.
In all, 9.8 per cent of participants on the keto-like diet experienced a new cardiac event, compared with 4.3 per cent of those on a standard diet, a doubling of risk for those on the keto-like diet. Source: IANS
US researchers have successfully developed a blood test for anxiety that examines biomarkers to help doctors objectively determine a person’s risk for developing anxiety, its severity, and therapies best suited for them. “Many people are suffering from anxiety, which can be very disabling and interfere with daily life,” said professor of psychiatry Alexander Niculescu, from Indiana University School of Medicine.
“The current approach is to talk to people about how they feel to see if they could be on medications, but some medications can be addictive and create more problems. We wanted to see if our approach to identify blood biomarkers could help us match people to existing medications that will work better and could be a non-addictive choice,” Niculescu added.
The study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, showed that examining the RNA biomarkers in blood samples helped researchers identify a patient’s current state of anxiety. They matched them with medications and nutraceuticals, showing how effective different options could be for them based on their biology.
“In addition to medications, there are other methods to treat anxiety, such as cognitive behavioural therapy or lifestyle changes,” Niculescu said.
“But having something objective like this where we can know what someone’s current state is as well as their future risk and what treatment options match their profile is very powerful in helping people.”
A person’s biomarkers can also change over time. Niculescu said the test can help evaluate a person’s risk of developing higher levels of anxiety in the future as well as how other factors might impact their anxiety, like hormonal changes.
Further, Niculescu said this new test could also be used in combination with the other blood tests his research has led to, providing a more comprehensive view of a patient’s mental health and risk of future mental health concerns.
Researchers can also use the test to develop new treatments for anxiety that are more targeted to individual biomarkers.
“This is something that could be a panel test as part of a patient’s regular wellness visits to evaluate their mental health over time and prevent any future distress,” Niculescu said. “Prevention is better in the long run, so our goal is to be able to provide a comprehensive report for patients and their physicians using simply one tube of blood.” Source: IANS
Respect each other
The law of attraction says, what goes around, comes around. But you need to give in order to achieve the thing you want. The law that follows on this earth is that first, you will have to give and then you will get. So, if you want respect, then you need to give respect first to everyone, the more respect you give, the more you will get in return! Similarly, if you want love, you need to give love.
Be grateful for being in the marriage
Be thankful for the reason you got married, maybe you like his nature, maybe you like his family, maybe you like his figure. If the reason for getting married is society or your family, then whatever the reason, always remember the reason and be thankful that today you are very grateful to your wife because of which you can live in your society respectfully, or if you got married because of your family, then you are very happy for your parents that you married their favorite girl. So whatever reason you are getting married, be thankful for that reason, and you will live a happy married life. Because that will be the foundation of a lifelong marital life.
Be sexually active
Sex plays a huge role in a relationship. Why do we marry? Perhaps to have children, for a long life partner, love, for Social Security, for whatever reason, be grateful for it. the thought we have while in intimacy affect our normal daily life, if you are adjusting while having sex, then your martial life will be adjusting, if you are being adventurous while having sex, your partner will be adventurous in your relationship, so the emotions play a major role here. Always be grateful for what you have. While intimacy supposes the wife is very courageous or she is very cooperative then in their relationship the man will be very cooperative and courageous. Respecting each other during sex, respecting feelings, and understanding each other will directly impact your relationship. Everything you do and feel during intimacy has a direct impact on your partner.
Complement your partner
There is a very good thing in married life, a sense of gratitude. If your wife cooks a delicious breakfast for you, say thank you to her, and appreciate her, Appreciation is one of the keys to having a blissful life. In the same way, your husband put the wet towel in the sunlight to dry up the towel, you can say, Wow, so helpful you are!! Then he brought the vegetables for dinner, and say thank you. We ignore appreciating small things, but the more chances you find to appreciate them, the more you will see that your life remains blissful.
Source: Free Press Journal
Healthy-looking skin is extremely important to look confident. The way good food is needed for good health, in the same way, it is important to have a correct diet and lifestyle for good-quality skin.
Some people take their skincare routine very seriously by regularly applying creams and serums to look young, but just using a normal cream and serum would not give you healthy and younger-looking skin.
Many dermatologists must have advised you to take enough vitamins for younger-looking skin that we often neglect and end up developing a lot of blemishes, wrinkles and fine lines.
List of vitamins which are beneficial for keeping your skin healthy and younger.
Vitamin C
When it comes to beauty, only Vitamin C is held responsible for it. Antioxidants are found in Vitamin C which is helpful in providing anti-aging benefits to the skin. These vitamins are also beneficial in protecting our skin from pollution and UV rays, Vitamin C helps fight fine lines and wrinkles. It evens out the skin tone. Helps in keeping the skin hydrated. Protects against skin damage. It also brings tightness to the skin. If there is a deficiency of Vitamin C in the body, then the face starts looking bad.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin. Its main source is sunlight. However, if you stay in the sun for a long time, then it can cause problems like sunburn, and if there is a deficiency of vitamin D in the body, then the problem of pimples and acne persists on the skin and you start looking old before time. You can consume things rich in Vitamin D in your diet. Like you include fatty fish, dairy products in your diet.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E contains antioxidants, which reduce damage to the skin and at the same time promote collagen production. It also protects from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. If it is not in sufficient quantity in the body, it can worsen cellular breakdown. And you start looking old before time. In such a situation, you can take vitamin E from many nuts and fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A deficiency also makes you a victim of wrinkles and acne. Vitamin A has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are believed to reduce the symptoms of wrinkles, acne and premature aging, in which case you can consume fruits and vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes. Source: DNA
Ingredients
Chicken – 350 to 400 gms, boneless, skinless, chopped
Onion – 1, big, finely chopped
Tomatoes – 100 gms, chopped
Ginger Garlic Paste – 2 to 3 tsp
Cumin Seeds – 1/2 tsp
Cloves – 2, crushed
Black Cardamom – 1
Cinnamon – 1/4 inch piece
Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp
Red Chilli Powder – 1/4 tsp
Coriander Leaves – small handful, chopped
Butter – 2 tsp
Oil – 2 tsp
For the marinade
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – 1/2 tblsp
Vinegar – 1/2 tblsp
Garlic Paste – 2 tsp
Green Chilli – 1, finely chopped
Black Pepper Powder – 1/4 tsp
Salt – 1/2 tsp Method
– Combine all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
– Add the chicken pieces and mix well.
– Cover with a lid and keep it in the fridge for 3 to 5 hours or overnight.
– Heat oil and butter in a pan over medium flame.
– Saute the onions for a minute.
– Add the green chillies and ginger garlic paste.
– Stir well and cook for a minute.
– Add the cumin seeds, cloves, black cardamoms and cinnamon.
– Stir again.
– Add the tomatoes, salt, turmeric powder and red chilli powder.
– Cook for 5 to 10 minutes.
– Add the chicken (with the marinade) and stir well.
– Cook for 5 minutes.
– Garnish with coriander leaves.
– Remove after a minute.
– Serve with rice or roti.
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