Early in 2023, researchers discovered a new cyber threat Atomic macOS Stealer (AMOS) which is a sophisticated malware, primarily targeting Apple users. Once installed on a victim’s device, AMOS malware has the capability to extract sensitive information, including iCloud Keychain passwords, credit card details, crypto wallets, and various files. While the malware was already a threat, a new report reveals that cyber hackers are now delivering AMOS to Mac users via a fake browser update chain tracked as ‘ClearFake’.
According to Malwarebytes, a cyber threat alarm system company, cyber attackers are using the ClearFake approach to deliver AMOS to Mac users. ClearFake, initially observed in Windows attacks, involves distributing fake Safari and Chrome browser updates through compromised websites. By exploiting this growing network of compromised websites, threat actors are expanding their reach, capturing login credentials and sensitive files of the users who download the malware for immediate financial gain or future attacks.
But what exactly is clear fake and how it is being used as a way to deploy AMOS? Well, the researchers further explain that Clear fake is a type of deepfake that is created by using machine learning to manipulate or generate images or videos in a way that makes it appear as if they are real. This can be done by using techniques such as image splicing, facial recognition, and voice synthesis. Clear fakes can be used for a variety of purposes, including spreading misinformation, creating fake news stories, and impersonating people.
In this case, ClearFake is being used to deploy AMOS, a type of malware that steals information from its victims. The attackers are creating fake websites to inject malicious JavaScript code. Once a user visits such a website, deceptive prompts mimicking legitimate browser updates for Safari or Chrome appear. These prompts are carefully crafted to induce users into clicking, triggering the download and installation of AMOS malware.
Upon clicking the link to the fake update, unsuspecting victims are redirected to a website that surreptitiously downloads and installs AMOS malware onto their unsuspecting computers. Once installed, AMOS stealthily infiltrates the victim’s system, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information. Its primary objective is to pilfer sensitive data, including iCloud Keychain passwords, credit card details, and cryptocurrency wallets.
The adaptability of ClearFake is indeed concerning as it extends its reach beyond traditional Windows environments to target macOS users. This shift highlights the evolving nature of cyber attack strategies, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance and proactive measures.
How to stay safe
In order to protect against ClearFake and other evolving threats, it is important to take proactive measures. This includes:
– Avoid downloading software from untrusted or unknown sources: It is crucial to update Safari directly from your Mac’s System Settings or Chrome directly from Google/the Chrome app. Source: India Today
Year: 2023
-
After Deepfake, researchers alert Windows and Mac users on ClearFake
-
Antarctic ozone hole largest on record over past 3 years, new research finds
Contrary to public perception, the Antarctic ozone hole has been amongst the largest on record over the past three years, new research has found. The ozone hole above Antarctica has been remarkably massive and long-lived over the past four years and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are not the only things to blame, said researchers in their study published in the journal Nature Communications.
CFCs are greenhouse gases containing carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine have been studied to contribute to ozone depletion. The ozone layer in the Earth’s atmosphere blocks the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun to protect people from skin diseases.
According to the study’s lead author Hannah Kessenich, PhD candidate at the University of Otago, New Zealand, the team found much less ozone in the centre of the hole compared to 19 years ago.
“This means that the hole is not only larger in area, but also deeper throughout most of spring,” said Kessenich.
The team analysed the monthly and daily ozone changes, at different altitudes and latitudes within the Antarctic ozone hole, from 2004 to 2022.
“We made connections between this drop in ozone and changes in the air that is arriving into the polar vortex above Antarctica. This reveals the recent, large ozone holes may not be caused just by CFCs,” said Kessenich.
The researchers believe that there are complex factors contributing to the ozone hole, even as the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer regulates the production and consumption of man-made chemicals known to deplete the ozone.Therefore, they are raising concerns about how major communications about the ozone layer over the last few years have given the public the impression that the ‘ozone issue’ has been solved. “While the Montreal Protocol has vastly improved our situation with CFCs destroying ozone, the hole has been amongst the largest on record over the past three years, and in two of the five years prior to that.
“Our analysis ended with data from 2022, but as of today the 2023 ozone hole has already surpassed the size of the prior three years – late last month it was over 26 million square km, nearly twice the area of Antarctica,” said Kessenich.
The researchers said that understanding ozone variability is important because of the major role it plays in the Southern Hemisphere’s climate.
“We all know about the recent wildfires and cyclones in Australia and New Zealand and the Antarctic ozone hole is part of this picture. “While separate from the impact of greenhouse gases on climate, the ozone hole interacts with the delicate balance in the atmosphere. Because ozone usually absorbs UV light, a hole in the ozone layer can not only cause extreme UV levels on the surface of Antarctica, but it can also drastically impact where heat is stored in the atmosphere,” said Kessenich. Source: PTI -
Rajasthani Jungli Maas
Jungli Maas is a delicious spicy mutton recipe from Rajasthan usually cooked in the jungle while on hunting. As Jungli Maas recipe required very few ingredients so it is perfect non vegetarian recipe to cook in outdoors or while hunting birds or animals. Jungli Maas got its flavour with dried red chillies, salt and ghee. You can also add garlic to enhance the flavour of the dish. The hero of the recipe is Meat so let it shine without adding any fancy ingredients or spices.
Ingredients
• Mutton or Goat meat (with bone)- 1 kilograms
• Garlic cloves- 8 to 10
• Dried red chillies- 15 to 20 or to taste
• Ghee or Clarified Butter- ½ cup
• Salt- to taste
Method
• Cut the mutton pieces in equal size.
• Heat ghee in a heavy bottomed pan, add meat and fry it for about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add whole red chillies, salt and garlic cloves.
• Cover the pan and cook on a low flame.
• Add little water make sure the water should never dry up completely else the meat will fry and become dry but too much water can boil the meat. So add 4 to 5 tablespoons of water every time when it starts drying.
• Cook for an hour or two till the mutton become tender and start leaving the bone. Cooking time will depend on the size of the mutton pieces.
• Serve hot Jungli Maas with rice or roti. To cut down the spiciness serve cool cucumber raita with food. -
Turmeric can work wonders for your body
Turmeric is often regarded as one of the best nutritional supplements. The herb’s properties range from antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, to anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory. Following is a list of easy and efficient recipes which combine turmeric with various other things, to add to its effect.
Turmeric Milk
This is the most common grandmothers’ recipe when anyone in the family falls sick with cold and cough or pain. Simply mix half tablespoon of turmeric in boiled milk (ideally full-fat). You can also add turmeric while boiling the milk.
Acne Gel
Turmeric is also very healthy for skin and can be used to treat acne. Take 1/3 tablespoon of turmeric and mix it with an equal amount of honey (you can increase the amount by keeping the proportion same). Put the paste on your acne and leave it until dry. Rinse it with water and pat dry.
Daily Detox Drink
Turmeric is known for its detoxification properties and can leave you soothed if you drink it every day. One simple daily detox turmeric recipe can be prepared by adding 1/3 tablespoon of turmeric, honey (to taste), and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in lukewarm water. Have it everyday empty stomach in the morning.
Face Mask
Turmeric can be used to prepare a face mask that leaves your skin smoothened and brighter. Add in 1 tablespoon of yoghurt 1/3 tablespoon of turmeric and ½ tablespoon of honey. Leave it until dry. Rinse it with water and pat dry. -
Walk more to slow down ageing
Walking is the most basic, but important way to stay fit. But most of us don’t give much thought to how we walk or whether we should improve the way we walk. However, walking correctly helps to prevent back, hip, neck, and leg pain and injury risk while also promoting good posture, strong bones, increased balance, and stability. Besides, it promotes weight loss and can even help you slow down ageing. Just follow these ways to walk to reap these benefits. Even though walking is one of the most underappreciated exercises, it targets every part of your body from head to toe. You should be aware that walking can tighten your skin, aid in weight loss, improve blood circulation, boost energy levels, and lower your risk of developing a number of chronic conditions, all of which can help you stay youthful.
Alternate your speed
To make the most of your walking, keep switching between moderate and vigorous pace. Your body will be put to the test, your heart rate will rise, and you’ll burn more calories when you walk in this way. Start with adding 20 seconds of high pace in between your regular walking pace and gradually increase the duration. Keep listening to your body and slow down when body asks you to.
Carry light hand weights
A workout that is not challenging enough, is not even worth doing. Walking is already an easy task for most people. Therefore, you must step up your game and incorporate some difficult features if you want to reap the most rewards. Switching to a power walk, which involves walking while carrying small weights or wearing ankle weights, is an excellent approach to do this.
This will push your body to work a little harder and you will end up building more muscle and hence slow down ageing. Make sure you do not overdo with the weights, as it can lead to a neck or shoulder or back injury.
Always use stairs
The benefits of walking can also be derived to some extent by monitoring our walks during the day – such as at work or while shopping at the mall. One helpful tip is to take the stairs whenever possible instead of using any escalators or elevators. Also, park your car far away when you go for your daily shopping.
Take more than one walk
Try to incorporate at least two walks per day. Your absolute minimum to slow down ageing should be 30 minutes. Add two 10-minute light walks—one before lunch and one in the morning. A light walk after eating can decrease the body’s insulin and blood sugar levels.
Take your dog for a walk
This is the one for you if you have a dog. Simply take your dog for enjoyable walks in the park every day without having to make any special plans. They will enjoy the free space and the physical activity. You can also take a break to play fetch or stretch out. There are great chances that your dog will make you run here and there, increasing your heart rate and improving your mood. If you do not have a pet at home, see if your friend or a neighbour does and you can go for a happy evening walk.
Source: Healthshots -
Rheumatoid arthritis in young adults: Causes, symptoms and treatment
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often perceived as a disease that affects older people but it can also have a significant impact on young adults where the onset of RA in the late teens or early twenties can dramatically alter the trajectory of life for these individuals. According to health experts, youngsters with RA may find themselves navigating a world of chronic pain, fatigue and limited physical abilities.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Divya K Lala, Consultant Rheumatologist at Medicover Hospitals in Navi Mumbai, shared, “One major way that rheumatoid arthritis impacts young adults is through career choices. Moreover, the emotional toll of living with rheumatoid arthritis as a young adult cannot be underestimated. It is common for individuals in this age group to experience feelings of isolation, frustration, and sadness due to the challenges posed by the disease. They may struggle to maintain relationships with friends who do not understand the extent of their limitations or face difficulties dating due to concerns about being judged based on their health condition.”
The symptoms
According to Dr Divya K Lala, while the signs of RA in young people may be similar to those experienced by adults, there are a few key differences to be aware of. She highlighted, “One common symptom of RA in youngsters is joint pain and swelling, particularly in the hands and feet. This can make it difficult for them to participate in activities such as sports or even simple tasks like writing or gripping objects. Another indication may be morning stiffness that lasts longer than an hour, making it challenging for children to get up and get ready for school. In some cases, fatigue may also be present, making youngsters feel tired and lacking energy throughout the day. By recognizing these symptoms of RA in youngsters early on, prompt medical intervention and management strategies can be put into place to help alleviate the impact on their daily lives.”
The treatment
Dr Divya K Lala concluded, “The primary objectives in managing RA are to restore functionality and effectively alleviate symptoms and inflammation. Treating RA in young people requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses medication management, lifestyle changes, emotional support, and regular monitoring by the experts. By taking medications alongside physical therapy interventions tailored to their unique needs and preferences. Physical therapy plays a vital role in managing RA in youngsters. It helps improve joint flexibility, muscle strength, and overall function while also providing education on techniques for joint protection. Exercise, eat well, and maintain an optimum weight to keep the symptoms of arthritis under control.” Source: HT -
New glaucoma treatment strategy to guide stem cells to retina
Researchers have identified a promising new strategy for glaucoma cell replacement therapy. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, and vision loss, due to the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), cannot currently be reversed with any treatment.
In the new study researchers at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear changed the micro-environment in the eye in a way that enabled them to take stem cells from blood and turn them into retinal ganglion cells that were capable of migrating and surviving into the eye’s retina.
They conducted their study on the adult mouse retina, but the work’s implications could one day be applied to human retina.
One limitation that prevents the success of current stem cell transplantation strategies in retina studies is that the majority of donor cells remain at the site of injection and do not migrate where they are most needed.
To identify an improved solution, the researchers created RGCs out of stem cells, then tested the ability of various signaling molecules known as chemokines to guide these new neurons to their correct positions within the retina.
The research team utilised a “big data” approach and examined hundreds of such molecules and receptors to find 12 unique to RGCs. They found stromal derived factor 1 was the best performing molecule for both migration and transplantation.
“This method of using chemokines to guide donor cell movement and integration represents a promising approach to restoring vision in glaucoma patients,” said Petr Baranov, from Mass Eye and Ear, who is also an assistant professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School.
The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Source: IANS -
Covid vaccines didn’t cause sudden deaths, says new ICMR study
A recent peer-reviewed study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has dispelled concerns about an increased risk of sudden death among young adults in India due to Covid-19 vaccination.
Instead, the study suggests that factors such as post-Covid hospitalisation, family history of sudden death, and certain lifestyle behaviours may be the underlying causes.
The research, involving 47 tertiary care hospitals across the country, focused on apparently healthy individuals aged 18-45 without known health issues who unexpectedly died between October 2021 and March 2023.
Data collection involved interviews to gather information on Covid-19 vaccination, infection, post-Covid conditions, family history, smoking, recreational drug use, alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and intense physical activity in the 48 hours preceding death. The study emphasised the positive associations between lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol use frequency, binge drinking, recreational drug use, and vigorous physical activity with unexplained sudden death.
The frequency of alcohol use was highlighted as a contributing factor.
Contrary to concerns, the study found that two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine lowered the odds of unexplained sudden death, whereas a single dose did not.
Overall, the study affirmed the documented benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in preventing all-cause mortality across various age groups and settings.
The research was prompted by anecdotal reports of sudden unexplained deaths among seemingly healthy young adults in India during the pandemic.
It highlighted the need to investigate such cases more thoroughly, considering the potential links to COVID-19 or vaccination.
While acknowledging that COVID-19 may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, the study noted a lack of understanding regarding the pathways through which the virus could lead to sudden deaths.
It also highlighted the scarcity of evidence for sudden deaths among COVID-19-recovered individuals or those with breakthrough infections.
The study contributes valuable insights into the factors influencing sudden deaths among young adults in India and emphasises the importance of a comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing these occurrences. -
Shah Rukh Khan top on IMDb list of 2023’s most popular Indian stars
IMDb has announced its list of the year’s most popular Indian stars, with Shah Rukh Khan landing in first place. Khan has had quite a year, leading two major blockbusters, Jawan and Pathaan, which are respectively the No. 2 and 3 biggest Hindi movies ever worldwide. IMDb determines the star rankings by page views worldwide. Scroll down for the full list. Also making the cut high on the list are Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone. Bhatt, whose credits include Oscar winner RRR, this year starred in Netflix’s Heart of Stone with Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan, and Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
Bhatt commented, “I thank my audience for bringing me to the position that I am at. While I hope to continue entertaining them, I am filled with only love and gratitude. I also promise to keep working hard and bringing more inspiring stories and characters on screen.”
Veteran actress Padukone was seen this year with Shah Rukh Khan in both Jawan and Pathaan. On deck, she has Siddharth Anand’s Fighter also starring Hrithik Roshan, and Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again with Akshay Kumar. -
Ranbir calls Animal ‘adult-rated Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’
Actor Ranbir Kapoor has described his upcoming film Animal as “adult-rated Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham”. As per news agency PTI, Ranbir also said he has played the “most complex character” of his life in Animal. The actor interacted with the media at the trailer launch event of Animal. At the event, Ranbir was asked to describe the film and he said, “Animal is basically the adult-rated Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. If I had to describe this story in a line, then it’s about a man who goes to any length to protect his family. That’s what the core of the film is.” Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was a 2001 family drama helmed by Karan Johar.
On his character, Ranbir also said that he won’t call it “darkness but it is the most complex character I have played”. Talking about violence, Ranbir added, “That you hit someone and blood comes out, you’ll get bored after 10 seconds. Violence is about the mind, what it thinks, what the human mind is capable of? What is right or wrong, where society is concerned? Is Bobby sir the antagonist or I am the antagonist? Who is right, who is wrong? These are questions as a society, audience, we will start asking after this film.”
Talking about Bobby Deol, Ranbir said that he grew up watching him. He added that when he got a chance to work with Bobby he realised they were similar as people. Ranbir said that as both are Punjabis, so there was an instant connection. He recalled that they were shooting shirtless in London in minus 4 degree temperature but “there was so much warmth between us” adding that they will cherish the bond forever.
Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film’s trailer showcases a violent world set against the backdrop of a troubled relationship between Ranbir’s Arjun Singh and his father Balbir Singh, played by Anil Kapoor. The film also stars Bobby Deol and Rashmika Mandanna. Animal will hit the screens on December 1. Source: HT -
Jamie Foxx accused of sexual assault in new lawsuit
Actor Jamie Foxx has been accused of a rooftop sexual assault that allegedly happened 8 years ago in New York City.
According to a report by TMZ, the court documents reveal that he has been sued by a woman in a case of sexual assault. The woman alleged that Jamie Foxx assaulted her at the Catch restaurant rooftop in New York City in August 2015. In the document the plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe, alleges Foxx “intentionally and without consent used force to offensively touch” her, by groping her breasts and genitals at a rooftop bar in Manhattan.
The restaurant; its employees; and the co-founder of Catch Hospitality Group, Mark Birnbaum have been listed as defendants in the lawsuit.
“The alleged incident never happened. In 2020, this individual filed a nearly identical lawsuit in Brooklyn. That case was dismissed shortly thereafter,” a spokesperson for Foxx said. -
Sofia Boutella engages in guns blazing stand-off as Kora in ‘Rebel Moon’ poster
Director Zack Snyder’s upcoming and highly anticipated sci-fi-fantasy-epic film ‘Rebel Moon Part One: A Child of Fire’ has unveiled a striking new poster which features actress Sofia Boutella as fierce warrior as Kora, a fierce rebel who is aiming her pistol at enemies, likely in a stand-off as the blazing sun, hidden by Jupiter is lighting the sky with gunships behind her, and one ship crashing into the ground.
According to another official synopsis of the film: “After crash landing on a moon in the furthest reaches of the universe, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a stranger with a mysterious past, begins a new life among a peaceful settlement of farmers. But she soon becomes their only hope for survival when the tyrannical Regent Balisarius (Fra Fee) and his cruel emissary, Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein), discover the farmers have unwittingly sold their crops to the Bloodaxes (Cleopatra Coleman and Ray Fisher) — leaders of a fierce group of insurgents hunted by the Motherworld.”
A mixture of iconic sci-fi film franchises such as ‘Star Wars’, ‘Blade Runner’, ‘Dune’, and ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, among others ‘Rebel Moon’ is a bleak movie that takes place in a dystopian future. More of a space opera rather than just an action film, ‘Rebel Moon’ is essentially a sci-fi-epic that features a prophesied one to end a cataclysmic war. There are spaceships raining lasers down on a small village leading to a bloody carnage, talking robots, a monitoring AI authority, mutant creatures, laser and plasma guns, energy blades, teleportation devices, and in typical Zack Snyder fashion, a lot of slow-motion.
The story centers around a young woman living on the outskirts of a galaxy who must find a group of warriors to save the galaxy from an invasion by a tyrant. Funny enough, ‘Rebel Moon’ takes place in the same universe as his zombie-action film ‘Army of the Dead’, but this time this is sci-fi-epic instead of a shoot the living dead in the face kind of thing.
Boasting a massive narrative with a detailed world, many characters, intricate complex storytelling, and an entire mythology, ‘Rebel Moon’ was meant to be a single part film until it was made in two parts so as to do the narrative and Snyder’s own vision justice. Source: IANS -
Jenna Ortega drops out of ‘Scream 7’ over scheduling conflicts with ‘Wednesday 2’
Actress Jenna Ortega has left the ‘Scream 7’ film due to scheduling conflicts. The actress dropped out of the horror franchise due to her ‘Wednesday’ season 2 shooting schedule with Netflix, which was said to be in the works months ago before the SAG-AFTRA strike began.
Production dates for the upcoming season of ‘Wednesday’ are yet to be confirmed, reports Mirror.co.uk. Meanwhile, Jenna also needs to wrap filming on Tim Burton’s ‘Beetlejuice 2’, which has a few more days to shoot after it was interrupted by the SAG-AFTRA strike.
As per Mirror.co.uk, the news of her exit from ‘Scream 7’ comes as her co-star and Mexican actress Melissa Barrera was fired from the movie franchise, with her axing following on from posts she made relating to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and Gaza conflict.
Variety has confirmed that Jenna’s exit from Scream was not connected to Melissa’s dismissal. According to a new report, Spyglass Media Group has “dropped” Melissa from the cast of ‘Scream VII’, with them said to be “pushing back on a narrative that has quickly coalesced around the decision that Barrera was fired for showing support for the Palestinian cause.”
Melissa, 33, was cast as Sam Carpenter in August 2020 for the fifth ‘Scream’ film, with the film hitting screens in January 2022. She is also famous for having starred in the likes of In ‘The Heights’ and ‘Carmen’. She was supposed to be at the helm of the leading role for the next ‘Scream’ movie.
Ortega received a Comedy Series Actress Primetime Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe Comedy TV Actress nom for her turn as the title character of Wednesday.
The Scream franchise with a seventhquel stands to hit the $1 billion global mark at the box office. Through six films, it stands at $911M.
In response to Barrera being dropped from Scream VII, Spyglass issued the statement, ““Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”
Christopher Landon, the new director on Scream 7, posted on X, and then removed the Tweet, “This is my statement: “Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.” -
Amid dating rumors, Kartik Aaryan parties with Tara Sutaria
Wednesday, Nov 22, was actor Kartik Aaryan’s birthday and to mark the special occasion he visited Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai. Hours later, the actor threw a birthday party that was attended by celebs such as actor Vaani Kapoor, director Abhishek Kapoor as well as Rasha Thadani, actor Raveena Tandon’s daughter, who is set to make her Bollywood debut soon. Tara Sutaria, who is rumoured to be dating Kartik, also graced his birthday bash.
An inside picture from party has surfaced and shows Kartik posing with Tara Sutaria and Rasha on his either side. They were all dressed in black party looks. Recently, Kartik and Tara sparked dating rumours after they were seen together out and about in Mumbai. Amid rumours that the two are dating, it is also being reported that Kartik and Tara will share screen space in Anurag Basu’s Aashiqui 3, and are therefore often spotted together. However, nothing has been confirmed yet by the makers.
Earlier, Tara Sutaria wished birthday boy Kartik Aaryan with a BTS picture from their photoshoot for a brand. Kartik and Tara were both in black. He was holding her in his arms. Sharing their photo, Tara also revealed her nickname for Kartik. She wrote on Instagram Stories, “Happy Birthday Popat (Kartik Aaryan)! May our Scorpio energy always make brand shoots look like this”.
Tara Sutaria confirmed breakup with Aadar Jain, and said she was single in an interview with News18 earlier this month. Tara and Aadar had made their relationship official in 2020 after dating for a couple of years. “I’m not in a relationship,” the actor, who was last seen in Ek Villain Returns (2022), had told the portal. -
IITM Pune launches with spectacular grand opening ceremony
Pune (TIP)- The highly anticipated ‘India International Travel Mart‘ (IITM) is poised to be the focal point in Pune from November 24 to 26, 2023. The ‘India International Travel Mart’ transcends being merely an exhibition; it stands as a collective tribute to the spirit of adventure inherent in each individual. Beyond showcasing the latest trends and innovations in the travel industry, this exhibition serves as a platform for forging connections between cultures and cultivating a deeper understanding of our shared world, according to a press release.
The three-day B2B expo was inaugurated by Noriah Jaafar, Director, Tourism Malaysia-Mumbai, along with several dignitaries, including Deepak Pujari, President, Travel Agents Association Pune; Amit Sharma, President, Poona Hoteliers Association; Mehboob Shaikh, Chairman, Travel Agent Association Of India – Pune Chapter; Sameer Kuklkarni, Chairman, The Travel Agents Federation of India – Pune Chapter; Priyaank Ranka, President, Tourism Forum of Maharashtra; Sagar Waghchoure, President, Travel Agent Association Of Nashik; Jeevan Hendre, Chairman, Enterprising Travel Agents Association – Western India; Saket Pimple, Chairman, Ethical Travel Professionals Association Of India; and Pravin Ghorpade, Chairman, Bharatiya Paryatan Vikas Society.
The event aspires to create a dynamic platform for aspiring travel agents, tour operators, corporate buyers, and members of various travel-trade organizations. It’s a unique annual opportunity for networking, engagement, and meaningful connections in the vibrant realm of travel and hospitality, offering budding influencers the chance to create content and connect with their peers. -
Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: Option of manual drilling being considered
Uttarkashi (TIP)- With the auger machine encountering hurdles in the rubble time and again, rescuers are considering switching over to manual drilling at the Silkyara tunnel where 41 labourers have been trapped for the past 13 days, officials said on Saturday, November 25. Drilling at the collapsed portion of the tunnel to rescue the trapped men was halted again on Friday night, in yet another setback to the multi-agency effort.
An official said the auger drilling machine faced a hurdle, apparently a metal object, a little after drilling resumed on Friday, a day after officials had put the operation on hold following technical problems.
With one hurdle or the other not letting the auger machine drill further and lay steel pipes through the rubble to prepare an escape route for the trapped workers, the option of manual drilling is being considered, an official said.
However, he said manual drilling takes longer.
The rescue effort began on November 12 when a portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhand’s Char Dham route collapsed following a landslide, trapping workers inside.
The team of experts who came to conduct a survey at the rescue site of the Silkyara tunnel, informed that there were no heavy objects up to 5 metres in the rescue tunnel. The team, which came from Parsan Overseas Pvt Ltd Delhi, used the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technique to examine the rescue tunnel.
“We were called because something got stuck in the auger machine. GPR helps us know how far away the metallic object is. GPR basically scans; therefore, two people are needed, one to run the GPR and the other to acquire the data. Two members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were sent with me inside the tunnel for safety reasons. After acquiring the data with GPR technology, we came to the conclusion that there were no heavy objects up to 5 metres in the rescue tunnel,” geophysicist Chendoor told ANI.
The drilling by the American-made auger machine to rescue the trapped workers was halted after the rescue team faced a technical glitch.
“We hope that all of them are rescued safely. They have been stuck there since November 12. Every expert says that there is no escape tunnel. No rules and regulations were followed…The central or state government should take accountability from the contractors,” Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday said
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the officials that the last phase of the rescue operation should be conducted at a fast pace and with complete caution.
The rescue teams also are inserting pipes into the dug-out channel and welding them together to serve as a passageway. About 46 meters (151 feet) of pipe has been put in so far, according to Panwar. -
Persistent challenges: Afghan Embassy announces permanent closure in Delhi
New Delhi (TIP)- Afghanistan Embassy on Friday, November 24, announced its permanent closure, citing “persistent challenges from the Indian government”, even as heads of its Mumbai and Hyderabad missions claimed to have assumed the leadership of the embassy here. The developments come after the Afghanistan Embassy had announced on September 30 that it is ceasing its operations from October 1. The mission had then cited a lack of support from the host government, failure to meet expectations in serving Afghanistan’s interests and reduction in personnel and resources.
In a statement, the embassy said it regrets announcing the permanent closure of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi, effective from November 23, “owing to persistent challenges from the Indian government”.
“This decision follows the embassy’s earlier cessation of operations on 30th September 2023, a move made in the hope that the Indian government’s stance would evolve favourably for the normal continuation of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi,” the statement said.
Unfortunately, despite an eight-week wait, the objectives of visa extension for diplomats and a shift in the Indian government’s conduct were not realised, the Afghan embassy said. “Given the constant pressure from both the Taliban and the Indian government to relinquish control, the embassy faced a difficult choice,” it said.
However, Consul General of Afghanistan in Mumbai Zakia Wardak and Acting Consul General in Hyderabad Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil declared in a statement that in view of the friendly relations between India and Afghanistan, they again reiterate that they have decided to ensure continued functioning of the embassy in New Delhi.
The two diplomats said they have assumed the leadership of the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi. Wardak and Ibrahimkhil urged everyone to kindly ignore and disregard the “unprofessional and irresponsible communications issued by the former Afghan diplomats who are based abroad and have no locus standi in the internal affairs of Afghan Embassy in New Delhi”.
“Such random, fraudulent, baseless and factually incorrect communications are creating panic, distrust and negativity in the overall functioning of the Embassy, as well as amongst the Afghan nationals. Such communications do not represent the wish of all Afghans,” they said in the statement which was also issued on the letter head of the Afghan Embassy.
Wardak and Ibrahimkhil, in their statement, requested former Afghan ambassador and former diplomats to “not use the social media platforms of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, New Delhi for issuing any unwarranted, irresponsible and unprofessional statements/press releases from abroad”.
“We are in constant touch with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and trying to address the current difficult situation wherein most of our former Embassy colleagues have received asylum and left India, therefore, we are facing shortage of diplomatic and official staff,” they said.
Earlier, the statement put out on the Afghan Embassy handle, said that as of now, there are no diplomats from the Afghan Republic remaining in India.
Source: PTI -
Prof Gandam’s new book ‘Ugade Suraj Di Akh’ released by Smt Apneet Riyait, IAS at a ‘Pustak Lok Arpan Samagam’
Phagwara (TIP)- A new book ‘Ugade Suraj Di Akh”, authored by noted Punjabi writer Prof Jaswant Singh Gandam, was released recently here by Smt. Apneet Riyait, I.A.S.,Chief Admin,PUDA, at an impressive “Pustak Lok Arpan Samagam” where she was the Chief Guest.
Punjabi Virsa Trust (Regd.) Phagwara, led by eminent Punjabi writer and columnist Gurmit Palahi, had organized it. Arjuna awardee legendary footballer Inder Singh, Vice Chancellor Sant Baba Bhag Singh University Dr Dharamjit Singh,former national wrestling coach PR Sondhi, Ex-Head of History Department, Kamla Nehru College For Women,Phagwara Prof Manjit Kaur Riyait, General Secretary Punjab Football Association(PFA) Harjinder Singh, noted footballer Varinderjit Parmar, Sports official Deepa also graced the ‘Pardhangi mandal’ and spoke.
Addressing the function, Prof Jaswant Singh Gandam said,” This is my third book, having 176 pages, containing 33 articles on different issues, including 14 satirical pieces. These articles were written after the Corona(AC) period (2022-23) and published in leading Punjabi dailies and weeklies. My first book ”Kuchh Terian Kuchh Merian’ and the second book “Suttey Shehar Da Safar” each contained 28 articles written and published respectively before Corona(BC) ie before 2020 and during Corona(DC) ie 2020-21 respectively. The present book is dedicated to my soulmate Prof Sital Singh Riyait, a sports commentator, football promoter and trainer who left us this 12 May.”
Maintaining that experiences of life and literature go cheek by jowl and that one keeps experiencing throughout one’s life, Prof Gandam quoted lines from Alfred Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses” in this regard, “I am a part of all that I have met;/Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’/Gleams that untravell’d world whose margin fades/For ever and for ever when I move”. He said that a writer sifts and sieves the coarser elements of his experiences, purges and prunes the baser parts of events/incidents to finally pen down a refined piece of literary work. Prof Gandam said,” A writer gives back what he gets from his surroundings”.
He quoted Sahir Ludhianvi to hammer home his point-“Duniyan ne tajarbaat-o-havadis ki shakal mei/Jo kuchh mujhey diya hai lauta raha hun mei”(Whatever the world has given me in the form of experiences and events, I am returning these(to the world)”.
He referred to Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle who had said that all art was mimetic by nature as it imitated life. “Actually, literature, which was a form of art, mirrored life as well as showed mirror to life”, he quipped. Maintaining that history kept people alive, PR Sondhi lauded inclusion of a chapter on Prof Sital Singh in the book.
Apneet Riyait thanked Prof Gandam for dedicating the book to her father Prof Sital Singh Riyait. She also spoke about her interest in literature.
VC Dharamjit Singh went down memory lane while sharing his association with Prof Riyait.
Gurmit Palahi, the organizer of the function, spoke about the book and its author.
Noted Punjabi writers SL Virdi, TD Chawla, Ravinder Chot, Baldev Komal, Didar Shetra, Lashkar Dhandarwi,Parvinderjit Singh were among those present on the occasion.
Poetesses Jaswinder Kaur,Balbir Saini,Kamlesh Sandhu,Monika Bedi,Simrat Kaur and poets Baldev Raj Komal and Manoj Phagwarvi regaled audience with their poems.
Singer Manveet Mevi mesmerized listeners with his song on Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
Smt Apneet Riyait and her mother Prof Manjit Kaur Riyait were feted with shawls and a set of books. -
Indian Army says retired Pakistan soldiers among terrorists in J&K
In a recent terror attack in the Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army said that retired Pakistani soldiers were among the group of militants. “Some of the terrorists have been found to be retired soldiers…Pakistan wants to bring foreign terrorists here as there are no local recruits here. We are trying to eliminate the foreign terrorists,” Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi said.
Further asked if Pakistan intends to push more terrorists in the coming months to disrupt upcoming elections, including the Lok Sabha polls, he answered in the affirmative without going into details.
Dwivedi made this statement yesterday after he visited the Kalakote area of the Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir and reviewed the operational situation in the region. On Thursday, Nov 23, two foreign terrorists of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit were eliminated in a 36-hours-long gunfight with security forces in the Bajimaal area of Rajouri’s Darmsal.
Commander of 14 Sector Rashtriya Rifles Brigadier Soumeet Patnaik informed that security forces safely evacuated trapped civilians, including women and children. During the gunfight, five army personnel – Capt M V Pranjal, Capt Shubham Gupta, Hav Abdul Majid, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht, and Paratrooper Sachin Laur – laid down their lives. -
IT firms ready to act in 7 days: Govt on tackling deepfakes
A day after the Centre said it was coming up with stricter regulations and penalties to tackle deepfakes, it on November 24, asserted all platforms and intermediaries have agreed to align their community guidelines specifically targeting 11 types of content that cause user harm, including deepfakes.
A statement of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said a ‘Digital India’ dialogue session was held with ‘Digital Intermediaries’ on deepfakes’ compliance of Information Technology rules today.
Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar said: “All platforms and intermediaries agreed that current rules and laws, even as we discuss new laws and regulations, provide for adequate compliance requirements on their part to deal with deepfakes conclusively.” They have agreed in the next seven days to ensure users are expressly forbidden from accessing 11 types of content specified under IT rules. -
Wife punches husband to death for not taking her to Dubai for birthday celebration
A 38-year-old man died in Pune city of Maharashtra after his wife allegedly punched him in the face as she was apparently upset with him for not taking her to Dubai to celebrate her birthday, police said. The incident occurred on Friday, Nov 24, afternoon in Wanwadi area, they said. The deceased, Nikhil Khanna, was a real estate developer, according to the police. “During the investigation, it came to light that the man’s 36-year-old wife, Renuka, had her birthday on September 18. She wanted to celebrate it in Dubai, but her husband did not fulfil her demand,” an official of Wanwadi police station said. “Besides, the couple also had their wedding anniversary on November 5 and she was expecting some good gift from her husband. The woman was also upset as she wanted to go to Delhi for her relative’s birthday, but there was no favourable response from her husband,” he said.
The couple had a heated argument on Friday over these issues. In a fit of rage, the woman hit her husband on his nose that led to profuse bleeding and resulted in him falling unconscious , the official said. After being informed by their neighbours, a police team reached the spot and took the victim to the Sassoon General Hospital, where he was declared dead, he added. It is being probed whether the woman hit her husband using only her fist or some object, the police official said, adding that the exact cause of death will be known only after the autopsy. -
Cash-strapped Pakistan sold weapons worth USD 364 million to Ukraine: Report
ISLAMABAD/LONDON (TIP): Cash-strapped Pakistan reportedly earned USD 364 million in an arms deal with two private US companies last year to supply ammunition to Ukraine in its war with Russia, according to a media report. A British military cargo plane flew from Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan in Rawalpindi to the British military base in Cyprus, Akrotiri, and then to Romania a total of five times to supply arms to the war-torn country, the BBC Urdu reported on November 15. Islamabad has, however, consistently denied that it has provided any ammunition to Ukraine, a neighbouring country to Romania.
Citing details of the contract from the American Federal Procurement Data System, the BBC report claimed that Pakistan signed two contracts with American companies named ‘Global Military’ and ‘Northrop Grumman’ for the sale of 155mm shells.
These agreements to provide weapons to Ukraine were signed on August 17, 2022, and were specifically linked to the purchase of 155mm shells.
The Foreign Office in Islamabad has denied any sale of arms and ammunition to Ukraine, saying that Pakistan maintained a policy of “strict neutrality” in the dispute between the two countries and did not provide them with any arms or ammunition in that context.
These alleged agreements took place during the rule of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – a multi-party coalition that ousted Imran Khan-led government through a no-trust vote in April last year.
Then Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who had pledged to take Pakistan-UK relations to a “new height”, retired in November 2022.
In August 2022, when these alleged contracts were signed, the Ukraine crisis was very much a part of the political discourse in Pakistan, particularly in the wake of the cricketer-turned-politician Khan’s visit to Russia on February 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine.
Months after the visit, Gen Bajwa publicly distanced from Khan and called for the invasion to be stopped immediately.
During a visit to Pakistan this July, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also rejected reports that Pakistan was supplying arms to Ukraine to support its military during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The BBC Urdu report claimed that a USD 232 million contract was awarded to Global Military while another USD 131 million contract was signed with Northrop Grumman.
“These agreements expired last month i.e. October 2023,” it added.
The report alleged that the deliveries were made in a British military cargo plane from the Nur Khan Air Base, which landed in Rawalpindi five times.
The first such plane landed in Rawalpindi in August 2022.
“Each time, the plane flew from Nur Khan Airbase to the British military base in Cyprus and then to Romania, that too at a time when Russia was waging war in Romania’s neighbouring country Ukraine,” the report claimed.
BBC Urdu, while citing further evidence for its claims, said data by the State Bank of Pakistan also showed that the country’s arms exports increased by 3,000 per cent during FY 2022-23.
“Pakistan exported arms worth USD 13 million in 2021-22, while these exports reached USD 415 million in 2022-23,” it said.
Earlier reports said secret Pakistani arms sales to the US to be used by Ukraine helped cash-strapped Islamabad secure a crucial International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout earlier this year.
The arms sales were made for the purpose of supplying the Ukrainian military — marking Pakistani involvement in a conflict it had faced US pressure to take sides on.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, however, rejected as “baseless and fabricated” the report which says the cash-strapped country provided arms to the US to get its support to clinch the USD 3 billion deal with the IMF towards the end of June to avoid default. (PTI) -
About 250 Rohingya refugees reach Indonesia’s west on decrepit boat
BIREUEN (AFP): About 250 desperate Rohingya refugees reached western Indonesia on a decrepit, overcrowded wooden boat November 16, bringing the total number reported by local officials to have arrived this week to nearly 600. The boat holding the members of the persecuted Myanmar minority, many barefoot and some pleading for help, sat just off the coast in the archipelago nation’s Aceh province.
Some made a dash for shore after residents refused to let them land, collapsing to the sand and begging for the vessel’s exhausted passengers to be allowed to disembark.
The mostly Muslim Rohingya are heavily persecuted in Myanmar and thousands risk their lives each year on long and expensive sea journeys, often in flimsy boats, to try to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.
Men, women, children and babies could be seen looking to shore as angry locals told them not to land the boat, which some on board said had sailed from Bangladesh.
Young men on board held their arms out in exasperation as the open-topped boat listed to one side through overcrowding. The local Acehnese delivered food to the boat in the hope those on board would decide to move on, according to Mukhtaruddin, village head of Pulo Pineung Meunasah. The passengers, however, were insistent after almost three weeks at sea. After climbing down ropes to swim to shore and remonstrate with the Acehnese, one Rohingya man covered in plasters lay on the sand barefoot, shirtless, appearing almost lifeless. The rest of Thursday’s arrivals were still waiting on the boat about 100 metres (110 yards) from the beach, Mukhtaruddin said.
Rohingya refugee Manzur Alam told AFP the boat had left Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh — home to almost a million Rohingya refugees — 20 days ago with 249 people on board.
Mukhtaruddin estimated there were “between 250 and 260” refugees on the boat or the beach.
Three people, including Alam, gave different passenger breakdowns but all said mostly women and children were on board. “There are many babies, little children, please protect them, they are very hungry because they didn’t get anything,” said Alam, 23.
Some of the Rohingya men straddled the vessel’s sides, using their hands to shield their faces from the sun as they looked for answers on shore.
A young Rohingya girl could also be seen cupping her hands upward in a gesture of prayer. The latest boat brings the total number of Rohingya arrivals in Indonesia over the past 72 hours to nearly 600, according to figures provided by local officials. (AFP) -
Bangladesh will go to polls on Jan 7 amid concerns over fair elections
Dhaka (TIP): Bangladesh is set to hold its 12th general elections on January 7, 2024, announced the Chief Election Commissioner, Kazi Habibul Awal, on Wednesday. The announcement of elections comes against a backdrop of nationwide protests that have resulted in the deaths of four people, including a policeman, and injury to hundreds. The opposition, rallying against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, has made several calls for her resignation and advocated the establishment of an interim government to ensure a fair electoral process.
Nomination papers must be submitted by November 30, with scrutiny scheduled between December 1 and 4. Candidates can withdraw until December 17, and on December 18, election symbols will be assigned, as revealed by Awal in a televised address. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), leading the opposition, insists on a non-party interim government for unbiased elections. BNP’s right-wing allies, Jamaat-e-Islami, have joined the protests, demanding Prime Minister Hasina’s resignation amid corruption and money laundering allegations.
With some BNP leaders in jail and Khaleda Zia under house arrest, the US has called for free and fair elections while condemning human rights violations in Bangladesh. This stance aims, in part, to counter China’s growing influence in the region. India, too, prefers a government less influenced by China, safeguarding its own regional interests.
Reports indicate the arrest of over 8,000 opposition members and protesters since the onset of protests on October 28. The opposition is expected to persist in demanding Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and the formation of an interim government. The ruling Awami League has dismissed these demands, affirming that elections will proceed under Prime Minister Hasina’s leadership. Hasina has rejected the proposals for dialogue with the opposition, labelling the BNP a terrorist organisation.
Senior BNP leader Mahbubuddin Khokon has held the Election Commission accountable for potential conflicts arising from the poll schedule announcement. Security measures have been heightened across the country, with increased vigilance in anticipation of potential unrest. The election campaign, as per the announcement, is slated to run from December 18 to midnight of January 5, 2024. (ENS) -
‘Queen of Latin Pop’ Shakira to go on trial in Spain for tax fraud
BARCELONA (TIP): Just days after her success at the Latin Grammys, Colombian pop idol Shakira is set to go on trial in Barcelona on November 14 for allegedly cheating Spain’s tax office out of 14.5 million euros.
Prosecutors are seeking a jail term of eight years and two months, and a fine of nearly 24 million euros (USD 24 million) for the 46-year-old singer, who now lives in Miami with her two sons Milan and Sasha.
She has denied any wrongdoing and turned down a plea deal with prosecutors, paving the way for the trial which is set to get underway on Monday at 10:00 am (0900 GMT).
The case centres on where the singer, whose hit singles include “Hips Don’t Lie”, “Whenever, Wherever” and the 2010 World Cup song “Waka Waka”, lived between 2012 and 2014.
Prosecutors allege Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll — dubbed the Queen of Latin Pop — spent more than half of that period in Spain and should have paid taxes in the country.
They say she moved to Spain after her relationship with FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique became public in 2011, but maintained official tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015.
In its indictment, the prosecution claims that Shakira “used a set of companies” based in tax havens “with the intention of not paying” tax in Spain.
Shakira’s lawyers say that until 2014, she was leading a “nomadic life” and earned most of her money from international tours and that she only moved permanently to Barcelona just before the birth of her second son in January 2015. The high-profile trial is expected to hear from nearly 120 witnesses and to run until December 14. While the singer is expected to testify during the opening session of the trial, she may request permission from the court to not be present at the remaining hearings.
Even without her presence, details of her private life will likely emerge during the proceedings, since Spanish prosecutors carried out a meticulous investigation to prove their case. They interviewed her neighbours, tracked her images on social networks, checked her payments at hairdressers and even the health clinic she attended during her pregnancy to prove their accusation. Questions about the singer’s finances have been raised before. (AFP)