In good news for Notepad users, Microsoft has rolled out spellcheck and autocorrect in the Notepad app in Windows 11 -40 years after the text editor was first introduced in Windows in 1983.
The tech giant started testing both features in March. According to multiple reports, it has now quietly begun rolling out both the features for Windows 11 users. The spellcheck feature is nearly identical to how Word or Microsoft Edge highlight misspelled words, with a red underline to show errors.
The users can enable or disable spellcheck on a file type basis in Notepad for Windows 11.
Microsoft has been adding new features to its Notepad app for Windows 11.
Notepad now offers character count, dark mode, tabs, Copilot integration, and even a virtual fidget spinner.
In December last year, Notepad app on Windows 11 received a character count feature at the bottom, similar to how Microsoft Word counts the number of words in a document.
When text is selected, the status bar shows the character count for both the selected text and the entire document.
Month: July 2024
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Microsoft rolls out spellcheck, autocorrect for Notepad users in Windows 11
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Soon, get a satellite image of your backyard at click of mouse
Want a satellite picture of your backyard? It may soon be possible as Bengaluru-based space start-up Pixxel plans to unveil an online software suite to browse through images of earth captured by its satellites and also order customised pictures. In an interaction with PTI editors here, Pixxel Space Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Awais Ahmed said the start-up’s earth observation studio ‘Aurora’ was part of efforts to make space-based data accessible to the common person for a small fee.
Pixxel’s earth observation studio is expected to go live later this year and make the hyperspectral images of the earth taken by its satellites and data analysis accessible to everyone.
“It would be as simple as using Google Earth but pictures and satellite imagery would be much more advanced,” Ahmed, the 26-year-old CEO, who is among the handful of entrepreneurs who are making a mark in the space sector which was opened to private players about four years ago, said. -
How a few days in space can change biology of astronauts
Only about 600 people have ever traveled to space. The vast majority of astronauts over the past six decades have been middle-aged men on short-duration missions of fewer than 20 days. Today, with private, commercial and multinational spaceflight providers and flyers entering the market, we are witnessing a new era of human spaceflight. Missions have ranged from minutes, hours and days to months. As humanity looks ahead to returning to the Moon over the coming decade, space exploration missions will be much longer, with many more space travelers and even space tourists. This also means that a wider diversity of people will experience the extreme environment of space – more women and people of different ethnicities, ages and health status.
Since people respond differently to the unique stressors and exposures of space, researchers in space health, like me, seek to better understand the human health effects of spaceflight. With such information, we can figure out how to help astronauts stay healthy both while they’re in space and once they return to Earth. As part of the historic NASA Twins Study, in 2019, my colleagues and I published groundbreaking research on how one year on board the International Space Station affects the human body. I am a radiation cancer biologist in Colorado State University’s Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences. I’ve spent the past few years continuing to build on that earlier research in a series of papers recently published across the portfolio of Nature journals.
These papers are part of the Space Omics and Medical Atlas package of manuscripts, data, protocols and repositories that represent the largest collection ever assembled for aerospace medicine and space biology. Over 100 institutions from 25 countries contributed to the coordinated release of a wide range of spaceflight data.
NASA’s Twins Study seized on a unique research opportunity.
NASA selected astronaut Scott Kelly for the agency’s first one-year mission, during which he spent a year on board the International Space Station from 2015 into 2016. Over the same time period, his identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and current U.S. senator representing Arizona, remained on Earth.
My team and I examined blood samples collected from the twin in space and his genetically matched twin back on Earth before, during and after spaceflight. We found that Scott’s telomeres – the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, much like the plastic tip that keeps a shoelace from fraying – lengthened, quite unexpectedly, during his year in space.
When Scott returned to Earth, however, his telomeres quickly shortened. Over the following months, his telomeres recovered but were still shorter after his journey than they had been before he went to space. -
Higher screen time linked to increase in myopia in children
Myopia, or nearsightedness, makes distant objects appear blurry while close objects remain clear. This condition occurs when the eye’s shape causes light rays to bend incorrectly.
A recent study, published in BMC Public Health, reviewed and analysed the link between screen time and myopia in children and adolescents. Researchers from Soochow University in China assessed various studies to determine how screen exposure affects the risk of developing myopia.
Study Scope
The researchers reviewed 19 studies with 102,360 participants. They used data from major health databases to understand the link between screen time and myopia.
Screen Time Impact
Children who spent more time on screens had a higher risk of developing myopia. Those who had high screen time were much more likely to become nearsighted compared to those with low screen time.
Device-Specific Findings
The study found that using computers and watching TV were linked to higher myopia risk, but smartphone use was not as clearly linked.
Geographic Variation
The increased risk was especially notable in studies from East and South Asia, and in research done after 2008.
Quality and Bias
Most of the studies were of good quality, but some had issues like small sample sizes and not accounting for all possible factors. Despite these issues, the overall results were strong.
The study highlights the potential risks of prolonged screen time for children’s eye health and suggests that limiting screen exposure could help reduce the risk of myopia.
Source: India Today
Tips to trim your kids’ screen tme
– If your kids spend a lot of time on screens, including watching TV, start by setting smaller, more attainable goals. Instead of jumping right to the recommended one-two hours or less per day, start by cutting their screen time in half.
– After school or work, spend time each day talking face to face with kids and give them your full attention.
– During screen-free hours, put devices away or at a charging station in a common area so they’re not attracting your kids’ attention.
– Making family meal areas a phone-free zone is an easy way to start. -
Zika virus can be sexually transmitted, says expert
Zika virus that recently infected five people in Maharashtra’s Pune is majorly asymptomatic, but can resemble dengue fever, said health experts. Zika virus disease (ZVD) is a mosquito-borne disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, the mosquito which also transmits dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
It usually bites during the daytime. It is usually a mild to moderate severity disease in adults and requires no specific treatment.
Common symptoms include mild fever, rashes, headache, muscle and joint pain, and inflammation of the underside of the eyelid, which normally lasts for 2-7 days.
“Around 80 per cent of cases are estimated to be asymptomatic, though the accuracy of this figure is hindered by the wide variance in data quality,” Dr. Suruchi Mandrekar, Consultant Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospital, Pune, told IANS. On the other hand, “symptomatic cases are usually mild and can resemble dengue fever, and may include fever, red eyes, joint pain, headache, and a maculopapular rash,” the doctor said.
Dr. Digvijay Adke, Consultant and In-charge, Emergency Department, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pune, noted that “the rise in Zika virus cases, identical to dengue, is primarily owing to multiple factors, including sudden weather changes, followed by clogging of drains and water accumulation in the surroundings along with poor personal hygiene practices at an individual level.” On the other hand, “symptomatic cases are usually mild and can resemble dengue fever, and may include fever, red eyes, joint pain, headache, and a maculopapular rash,” the doctor said.
Dr. Digvijay Adke, Consultant and In-charge, Emergency Department, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pune, noted that “the rise in Zika virus cases, identical to dengue, is primarily owing to multiple factors, including sudden weather changes, followed by clogging of drains and water accumulation in the surroundings along with poor personal hygiene practices at an individual level.” Source: IANS -
Blame gut bacteria for your compulsive eating, obesity
Worried about your food addiction? Take heart, a team of researchers has identified a specific gut bacteria associated with both mice and human compulsive eating disorder and obesity.
In the research, presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2024, the international team identified bacteria that play a beneficial role in preventing food addiction.
While until now, the mechanisms underlying this behavioural disorder were largely unknown, the new findings, also published in the journal Gut, could be used as potential new treatments for this obesity-related behaviour.
“Potential new treatments could involve using beneficial bacteria and dietary supplementation,” said Rafael Maldonado, from the Laboratory of Neuropharmacology-NeuroPhar at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain.
In the study, the team investigated the gut bacteria in mice who were and were not addicted to food.
They found an increase in bacteria belonging to a group called the Proteobacteria phylum and a decrease in bacteria belonging to the Actinobacteria phylum in the food-addicted mice.
These mice also had a decrease in the amount of another type of bacteria called Blautia from the Bacillota phylum. Similar to the findings in mice, decreases in the Actinobacteria phylum and Blautia were seen among people with addiction to food and increase in the Proteobacteria phylum. “The findings in both mice and humans suggested that specific microbiota could be protective in preventing food addiction,” said Elena Martin-Garcia, from the varsity. Source: IANS -
Manicure mistakes you are making
Manicures may seem pretty straightforward, but there are probably a few things you’re doing that could seriously harm your nail health.
Not washing your tools
Sanitizing your tools should be the first step and your number one priority. According to research, the area around and under our fingernails stores the largest amount of harmful bacteria, and if these tools are not being washed with disinfectant you are allowing the spread of germs and risking contamination. In addition, storing tools in a sealed bag, allows bacteria to fester. So the best way to store your tools is in a breathable container and use disinfectant or alcohol to clean them before and after each use.
Cutting your cuticles
We’ve all been guilty of doing this because we’ve seen it occasionally done to us by professionals, but, cutting your cuticles is a major health risk, due to the fact that you leave unprotected cuts on your fingers which could potentially get infected. In addition to that, when the cuticles start growing again, they come back flaky and messy looking which completely ruins your look. If you love the look of nipped cuticles, then the best thing for you to do is to use a rosewood stick and push them back. This way you will protect your fingernails from getting an infection while still achieving the aesthetic look that you desire.
Not using a base coat
A lot of people believe that a basecoat is unnecessary and a waste of time so they skip this step when they are getting their manicure. However, basecoats were originally created to bind with your natural nails and make your manicure last up to one week longer. This happens because our nails produce natural oils that prevent the nail polish from binding well with the nail, so a base coat keeps the oils out and keeps the manicure or gel polish from chipping.
Applying thick coats of polish
We all like a very pigmented look on our nails that takes less time to complete and looks solid, and that automatically makes us apply thicker coats of nail polish. Even though this may seem the best way to go, it is actually a major mistake when you are doing your manicure.
Thick coats of nail polish take twice as long to dry and underneath take approximately 5-6 minutes which is a recipe for a smudging disaster. Nail polish, in general, is not designed to dry well when it’s thick in order to be protected when it’s housed in the bottle.
So the best thing to do is apply 3-4 thin layers of nail polish instead of 1-2 thick ones.
Using Q-tips
Q-tips are proven life-savers especially when it comes to makeup, so we slowly started incorporating them into our manicure routine as well. When nail polish gets on the skin around the nail, we just get a cotton pad and start wiping, but it takes the slightest motion to bring chaos to the whole look and have to start over from the beginning. The cotton fuzzies, no matter how many millimeters they are away from the wet nail polish have a tendency to stick to the manicure and ruin the whole look, forcing you to start from the beginning. Instead of using Q-tips, use a very thin makeup brush to clean the area. -
Humor can change your relationship
A sense of humor is an attractive trait. There is abundant cross cultural evidence that shows that being funny makes you more desirable as a mate, especially if you are a man. But once the initial flirting is over, and you are in a romantic relationship, how large a role does humor play?
For dating couples, use of positive humor (for example, using humor to cheer up your date) can positively contribute to relationship satisfaction. The use of aggressive humor, on the other hand (teasing and making fun of your partner) has the opposite effect. These feelings can fluctuate on a day-to-day basis depending on each partner’s use of humor.
For long-term relationships, such as in marriages, couples generally share a similar sense of humor – although similarities in sense of humor are not associated with greater marital satisfaction, nor with longer marriages. Perhaps not surprisingly, the research that resulted in this finding also found that couples with fewer children laugh more, compared to couples with a larger number of children.
In another study, conducted with 3,000 married couples from five countries, both husbands and wives were found to be happier with a humorous partner, but this trait was reported to be more important for the marital satisfaction of the wives than the husbands. Interestingly, both husbands and wives thought that the husband was humorous more often. Regardless, married couples overwhelmingly say that humor has a positive impact on their marriages.
But what happens when things aren’t going so well? Humor is a great ice breaker and a social lubricant, but can it also help resolve conflict in marriages? In one study, researchers observed 60 newlywed couples when they discussed a problem in their marriage. They coded how much humor was used in the conversation. The couples also completed a measure of life stress. What researchers found when they followed up 18 months later was quite surprising. In couples that reported high stress, the more the husband used humor, the greater the chance the couple would separate or divorce. -
Homemade malpua
INGREDIENTS
1 cup all purpose flour, 2 tablespoon almonds, 1 teaspoon saffron, milk as required, 1/2 cup wheat flour, 2 tablespoon pistachios, boiling water as required
Method
– For the malpua batter: take a mixing bowl, add all purpose flour, wheat flour and milk as per the requirement. Begin to stir till its a thick flowing batter without lumps. Allow the batter to rest for 30 minutes.
– Meanwhile, blanch the almonds and pistachios by soaking them in hot water.
– Next, to prepare the sugar syrup: Put a pan on low flame and add sugar in it along with 1/4th cup water. Stir it well till the sugar melts. (Note: You need to have a 1/2-1 inch string consistency in the sugar syrup or wait until the syrup is sticky. Add saffron in the sugar syrup.
– Now, we are ready to prepare the malpuas. Put a pan on medium flame and melt some ghee in it. When the ghee is hot enough, take 2-3 tablespoons of the flour batter and gently pour it into the hot ghee. Spread the batter in round shape lightly with the back of the spoon.
– Fry the malpuas on low to medium flame from both sides until they are golden and crisp. Thereafter, drain them on kitchen towels. Then immediately place them in the warm sugar syrup. Gently coat the malpuas with the sugar syrup with a spoon or small tongs.
– After a minute or two, remove them from the syrup and place them in a serving tray or plate. Garnish with chopped almond and pistachios along with hot rabdi. -
Scarlett Johansson gets surprise welcome to ‘Jurassic World’ from franchise favorite
As Scarlett Johansson begins filming the latest installment of Universal’s enduring dino-centric action-adventure, she received a warm welcome to Jurassic World from franchise veteran Jeff Goldblum.
Johansson, who recently outed herself as a “huge nerd” for all things Jurassic Park and Jurassic World appeared on NBC’s Today on Tuesday morning to promote her new romantic comedy, Fly Me to the Moon. As the interview with host Savannah Guthrie concluded, the Avengers star was informed that “somebody wanted to welcome you aboard to the team.” Johansson appeared slightly perplexed but that quickly turned to a delightful smile when a video of Goldblum was played on air.
“Dr Johansson, this is Jeff Goldblum,” the veteran actor, donning his trademark glasses and a dinosaur sweater, says to the camera. “Here’s what I want to say to you. This I know: Scarlett will find a way. Don’t get eaten, unless you want to. I love you.”
Goldblum’s reference here is to the classic line, “Life finds a way,” which he delivered in 1993’s franchise launching Jurassic Park. In the beloved blockbuster, Goldblum portrays Dr. Ian Malcolm, a mathematician who along with a paleontologist and paleobotanist, finds himself fleeing cloned dinosaurs as they run amok at a new amusement park on a remote Central American island. The Ian character became iconic for both Goldblum and the franchise; he repeated the role in The Lost World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Johansson, seemingly stunned by the personal video from a star of one of her favorite films, gushes, “I mean, I think my life is complete. It’s done. Yes… done. I can retire. Oh my gosh!” The actor also politely corrected Guthrie’s misstatement of the line when she recalled it as “water finds a way.”
In a recent interview with Comicbook.com, Johansson said that it’s been a decade-long struggle to get into the Jurassic franchise, which after three Jurassic Park films in the 1990s, was rebooted in 2015 with Jurassic World, set 22 years after the first trilogy concluded. The movie took in $1.6 billion globally and spawned franchise entries Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022). The Johansson-led fourth entry into the franchise is scheduled for 2025. Source: Hollywood Reporter -
Brad Pitt has ‘virtually no contact’ with adult children, engagement with younger kids ‘limited’: Report
Brad Pitt often has visitations from his younger kids but has “no virtual contact” with the adult ones. The kids mostly stay with their mother, Angelina Jolie, however, the custody agreement stated that Brad Pitt was allowed to have visitation with the younger kids. Recently, their daughter, Shiloh, legally dropped her dad’s surname ‘Pitt’ from her name which made headlines. According to an exclusive by People magazine, the custody agreement, allowed Pitt to have meet-ups with the minor children. The source said, “He has virtually no contact with the adult kids. His engagement with the younger kids is more limited in recent months because of his filming schedule.” The 60-year-old actor is currently on location to shoot for his upcoming film F1.
The source further added, “[Angelina] has the kids most of the time, but per their agreement, he has visitation with the younger kids.”
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt share six kids, namely Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax and twins Knox and Vivienne. The two got married in the year 2014 and parted ways in 2019. Pitt is currently dating Ines de Ramon while Jolie is not dating anyone.
Pitt and Jolie’s daughter Shiloh filed documents right around her 18th birthday to drop Pitt from her name and simply go by Shiloh Jolie. The source informed that the actor is “aware and upset” about her daughter wanting to drop Pitt from her name. The source stated back in June, “He’s aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name. The reminders that he’s lost his children, is of course not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them. It’s very sad.” -
Jennifer Lopez seeks ‘revenge’ on Ben Affleck: Targets his $150m fortune
Jennifer Lopez is reportedly seeking financial revenge on her soon-to-be ex-husband, Ben Affleck. According to insiders, the ‘Love Don’t Cost a Thing’ singer is aiming to take a significant portion of Affleck’s $150 million fortune, despite her own net worth being considerably higher at $400 million.
The couple’s rumoured split after just two years of marriage has led Lopez to reassess their financial dynamics.
Lopez is said to have borne the brunt of their extravagant lifestyle expenses. Affleck, however, “always grumbled about spending money,” an insider revealed, leading Lopez to cover most of their costs to avoid his complaints.
“One of the little-known secrets is Jennifer paid for much of their marital expenses and now she feels he owes her,” a source told .
“She’s adding up all those private jet bills she put on her plastic, the hotels and meals, clothes, coffee runs, gas. The high cost of living was done on her dime. She paid the lion’s share for that $60 million mansion they bought, too. Ben took so much money out of her, at least that’s what she’s saying.”
She is reportedly demanding a detailed account of their expenditures, seeking reimbursement for what she believes she “invested” in their life together. “She’s demanding a full inventory of what she spent versus what he spent and wants all the money back she ‘invested,’” another source shared.
“She isn’t the one who gave up on their marriage and she’s feeling seriously burned and is out for blood,” the source added. “If he had stayed in the marriage like a good boy, she wouldn’t have minded. But he abandoned her and ultimately, Jennifer always gets payback and now she’s ready to play hardball.” -
‘Jaanam’: Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri exude fiery chemistry in ‘Bad Newz’ song
After ‘Tauba Tauba’ became a cult, Vicky Kaushal is back with another track from ‘Bad Newz’, this time co-starring Triptii Dimri. The teaser of the song was unveiled on July 8. With their oh-so-hot romance and fiery chemistry, Vicky and Triptii are bound to set your screen on fire.
Vicky Kaushal and Triptii Dimri, co-stars in ‘Bad Newz’, are too hot to handle in a new song from the film. The teaser of ‘Jaanam’ was released on Monday. From their pool and shower romance to underwater kisses, the duo are hotness personified in the recently-released teaser of the track.
Fans had the most hilarious comments to the teaser of ‘Jaanam’. Comments such as “Katrina didi, mein toh nah seheti (Katrina, I wouldn’t have tolerated this) (sic)”, “Bhai aapko Katrina bhabhi kuchh kehti nahi hai kya? (Doesn’t Katrina say anything to you?) (sic)”, “Katrina close your eyes (sic).”
Previously titled ‘Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam’, ‘Bad Newz’ will see Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk team up for the first time. Directed by Anand Tiwari, the film also stars Neha Dhupia.
The film is backed by Dharma Productions and produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari. It is written by Ishita Moitra and Tarun Dudeja.
‘Bad Newz’ will release on July 19. -
Supreme Court Grants Interim Bail to Arvind Kejriwal in PMLA Case; Refers Plea Challenging ED Arrest to Larger Bench
NEW DELHI (TIP): In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday, July 12 granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) over the liquor policy case, while referring his petition challenging the arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a larger bench.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta referred Kejriwal’s petition to a larger bench to examine the question whether the need or necessity of arrest must be read as a condition into Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Kejriwal will however remain in custody since he was arrested by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act in relation to the same liquor policy case on June 25.
Reading the excerpts from the judgment in open court, Justice Khanna held that the “reasons to believe” for arrest meet with the parameters of S.19 of the PMLA, which gives the power of arrest to ED officers. “However, having said so, we have raised an additional ground which relates to the need and necessity of arrest…we felt that this issue whether the ground of need and necessity of arrest must be read into Section 19, especially in view of the doctrine of proportionality. We have referred those questions to the larger bench,” Justice Khanna said.
We have also held that mere interrogation does not allow you to arrest. That is not a ground under S.19,” Justice Khanna added.
While referring the matter to the larger bench, the present bench chose to grant him interim bail considering his incarceration so far. The bench clarified that the question of interim bail can be modified by the larger bench.In another crucial development, Kejriwal has challenged before the Delhi High Court his arrest by CBI and 3 days of police remand. He has also filed a plea seeking bail in the CBI case. Both matters are fixed for hearing on July 17.
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Pelosi raises doubts about Biden’s presidential race, Clooney asks him to end campaign
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): US President Joe Biden must decide quickly whether to stay in the 2024 White House race, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a long-time Biden ally, said on Wednesday, July 10, while declining to say definitively that she wanted him to run, says a Reuters report.
In an opinion piece published on Wednesday in the New York Times, Hollywood star George Clooney, a Democrat who co-hosted a fundraiser for Biden last month, withdrew his support.
Pelosi’s remarks, which ignored Biden’s repeated insistence that he remains in the race, suggested he could face a fresh wave of doubts from fellow Democrats.
For nearly two weeks the 81-year-old Biden has sought to stem defections by Democratic lawmakers, donors and other allies worried he might lose the Nov 5 vote to Republican Donald Trump, 78, after Biden’s halting June 27 debate performance.
Pelosi said on MSNBC she was encouraging her colleagues on Capitol Hill with concerns about Biden to refrain from airing them while he hosts NATO leaders in Washington this week.
“I’ve said to everyone: let’s just hold off. Whatever you’re thinking, either tell somebody privately, but you don’t have to put that out on the table until we see how we go this week,” she said, describing Biden’s strong remarks at the NATO summit on Tuesday as “spectacular”. “We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short.”
In his opinion piece, Clooney wrote: “It’s devastating to say it… He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate,” Clooney wrote. “We are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we won’t win the House, and we’re going to lose the Senate.”
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US envoy to India Eric Garcetti says India must not take ties for granted
NEW DELHI (TIP): Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti described the US-India defense partnership as the most consequential, but went on suggest that the relationship couldn’t be taken for granted and efforts were needed to maintain it, as was the case in a marriage.
I know India likes its strategic autonomy and I respect that. But in times of conflict, there is no such thing as strategic autonomy. “Don’t take the relationship for granted, but enjoy it every day. Pay something into it. It’s like a marriage. Let’s listen to each other in this relationship,” the Ambassador said at a dialogue on “Deliverables to deliveries”, supported by the US State Department and the United Services Institution, a think-tank. The two-day event is titled “Stories of US-India Defense and Security Partnership”.
Garcetti also spoke on India’s strategic autonomy, saying, “I know India likes its strategic autonomy and I respect that. But in times of conflict, there is no such thing as strategic autonomy.” Though he did not elaborate, the hint was clear the US no longer wanted India to maintain a neutral approach on international matters, including the Russia-Ukraine and the West Asia conflicts.
In an obvious reference to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the US Ambassador said, “We are interconnected in the world. No war is distant anymore and we must not just stand for peace. We must take concrete actions to ensure that war machines of those not abiding by peace rules cannot continue unabated.”
“In times of crisis, we will need to trust each other and act together… we need to be known to each other’s systems and also know each other as humans. The US and India have to act together… take stand in principle against war,” he said. “Increasingly, we are not like two countries with two different cultures. We are two countries with one heart. The US and India together are an unstoppable force… India is now the number one US partner for doing military exercises.”
Garcetti mentioned how the Malabar exercise off the Australian coast was like the Quad coming together in a strategic partnership to uphold a “rules-based order”. The Quad comprises India, US, Japan and Australia and the phrase “rules based order” is used in diplomatic terms to question China’s claims over the South China Sea and the East China Sea.
“The US-India defense partnership stands among the most consequential in the world. My Commander-in-Chief and President Joe Biden asked me to take this position (in India). This is the most important country in the world,” he said.
Over the past three years, he said, countries had been witnessed ignoring sovereign borders. “I don’t have to remind India how important borders are,” he said, in an obvious reference to the ongoing military standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control. “The central principle is for peace in our world. I come here not to teach and preach or to lecture… always to listen and learn… also to remind us of those commonly shared values,” the Ambassador added.
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Eminent economists tell PM Modi to take steps to accelerate growth
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget for 2024-25 in Lok Sabha on July 23
NEW DELHI (TIP): Ahead of the upcoming budget, eminent economists during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, July 11, urged the government to take steps to accelerate economic growth and improve infrastructure, sources said. The meeting was organized by the NITI Aayog on Thursday, July 11, to elicit views and suggestions of economists for the first budget of the Modi 3.0 government.
“Earlier today, interacted with eminent economists and heard their insightful views on issues pertaining to furthering growth,” Modi said in a post on X.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget for 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha on July 23. Besides economists and sectoral experts, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery and other members also attended the meeting.
Finance Minister Sitharaman, Planning Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran and economists Surjit Bhalla and Ashok Gulati and veteran banker K V Kamath, among others, were present in the meeting.
The Budget for 2024-25 will be the first major economic document of the Modi 3.0 government, which, among other things, is expected to lay the road map for making India a developed nation by 2047.
Suggestions were also made to accelerate economic growth and improve agriculture productivity, sources added.
According to sources, the discussions were also held on the Viksit Bharat @2047 document being prepared by the NITI Aayog.
President Droupadi Murmu, in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament last month, had indicated that the government would come out with historic steps to accelerate the pace of reforms.
She also said the Budget will be an effective document of the government’s far-reaching policies and futuristic vision. Sitharaman has already held discussions with various stakeholders, including economists and captains of Indian industry, on the forthcoming Budget.
Several experts have urged the government to provide tax relief to the common man to boost consumption and take steps to check inflation and accelerate economic growth.
The economy has recorded a growth rate of 8.2 per cent in 2023-24.
Earlier in February, Sitharaman presented an interim budget for 2024-25 in view of the Lok Sabha elections.
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‘Bayaan’: Huma Qureshi announces new film
Huma Qureshi has announced her next film titled ‘Bayaan’. She will lead the upcoming investigative police procedural drama. The film will be backed by award-winning producer, Shiladitya Bora. Developed at Film Independent in Los Angeles, ‘Bayaan’ will be directed by writer-director Bikas Mishra, best known for his acclaimed feature film, ‘Chauranga’.
Huma Qureshi announced the same on Instagram with a note: “A film I am very excited about #Bayaan, developed at Film Independent, Los Angeles goes on floors. It’s a rare combination: a fantastic script, a talented crew, and their complete dedication to their work. The energy is infectious. Written and Directed by Bikas Mishra, Produced by Shiladitya Bora (Platoon One Films), Madhu Sharma (Summit Studios), Kunal Kumar, and Anshuman Singh (sic).”
She continued, “The film is supported by the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund and was developed at LA Residency, a part of the Global Media Makers (GMM) program of Film Independent, Los Angeles. During the course of the residency, Bikas was mentored by Craig Mazin (HBO’s Chernobyl) and received advice on the script from writer Jeff Stockwell and story editor Ruth Atkinson (sic).”
Set against the picturesque landscape of Rajasthan, the drama unfolds the story of a father-daughter duo. Roohi, a female detective, is dispatched to a small town in Rajasthan to tackle the first case of her career as a lead investigator. Despite her determination, she faces a formidable adversary with deep-rooted influence in the system. Roohi must strive to uphold her father’s legendary legacy in law enforcement, as described in the film’s logline. The film also stars Chandrachur Singh and Sachin Khedekar, and is set to begin production in Rajasthan this month. ‘Bayaan’ is jointly produced by Shiladitya Bora (Platoon One Films), Madhu Sharma (Summit Studios), Kunal Kumar, and Anshuman Singh.
The film is supported by the Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam and was developed during the LA Residency, a segment of the Global Media Makers (GMM) program at Film Independent, Los Angeles. Throughout the residency, Bikas Mishra received mentorship from Craig Mazin (creator of HBO’s ‘Chernobyl’ and ‘The Last of Us’) and script advice from writer Jeff Stockwell and story editor Ruth Atkinson. -
Ranveer calls ‘Kalki’ trippy: ‘Deepika’s character is pregnant, she’s pregnant here’
Ranveer Singh was mind-blown after watching Deepika Padukone and Prabhas’ ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ in theatres. The ‘Rocky Aur Rani’ actor called it ‘trippy’ as Deepika is pregnant in real-life and in the film as well. Deepika shared a reel on Instagram, which captured their reactions. Last week, the couple, along with his mother and sister, paid a visit to a multiplex to watch the Nag Ashwin-directorial on the big screen.
On July 9, Deepika shared a reel which features reactions from her and Ranveer, along with fans’ response. She obliged for selfies with a few fans as well.
She captioned the video, “What was your favourite part? Comment Below. Have you watched it yet (sic).”
Ranveer Singh said, “It’s really trippy to see a movie like this where her character is pregnant and she’s pregnant. What’s happening?” Deepika smiled and said, “Real review will come now when we go home.”
The ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ actor continued, “I don’t know what to feel. I’m just overwhelmed with emotions.”
‘Kalki 2898 AD’ grossed Rs 900 crore worldwide and is still going strong in theatres. The sci-film with Indian mythology hit theatres on June 27 and has been receiving a positive response from celebrities and fans. The film ends on a cliffhanger with a lead-up to Part 2, which is still in the works.
Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, the film features Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan in lead roles. ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is the highest grossing film of 2024. -
SKAL International announces new board members for India
SKAL International, the premier professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, is pleased to announce the election of its new board members for India. This esteemed team will serve for the term 2024 – 2026, bringing with them a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to advancing the tourism industry and the aims of the SKAL fraternity in India.
The newly elected board members are as follows:
President: Sanjeev Mehra
Vice President 1: Venkat Reddy
Vice President 2: Krishna Gopalan
Secretary: Rohit Hangal
Treasurer: Monik Dharamshi
Director PR: Shalini Khanna Charles
Director Young SKAL: Raj Gopalan Iyer
Sr. Auditor: M Varadaraj Prabhu
Jr. Auditor: Dr Sheri Kurian
The newly elected President of SKAL International India Sanjeev Mehra, expressed enthusiasm about the new team, stating, “I am honored to lead such a distinguished group of professionals. This election marks a new chapter for SKAL International India. I am excited to work alongside my fellow board members to support our members, expand our network, and advocate for the interests of the tourism community.”
AGM was held at GRT Grand Hotel. NSN Mohan Director Skal International administered Oath to the newly elected Board followed by the Skal Toast.
SKAL International India has 1200 members across 17 chapters and remains dedicated to its mission of uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. The organization will continue to offer valuable networking opportunities, professional development, and initiatives that support the growth and sustainability of the tourism sector.
About SKAL International
Founded in 1934, Skål International is the only professional organization promoting global Tourism and friendship, uniting all sectors of the Tourism industry. SKAL International is a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Its members, the industry’s managers and executives, meet at local, national, regional, and international levels to discuss and pursue topics of common interest. SKAL International is a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. For more information about SKAL International and its activities, please visit www.skal.org. -
Patanjali asked to deposit Rs 50 lakh for breach of court order
The Bombay High Court (HC) has directed Patanjali Ayurved to deposit Rs 50 lakh for alleged breach of the HC’s interim order restraining it from selling its camphor products, in relation to a trademark infringement case filed by another company.
Following trademark infringement allegations by Mangalam Organics Ltd, the HC in an interim order in August 2023 restrained Patanjali Ayurved Ltd from selling its camphor products.
A single bench of Justice R I Chagla on July 8 noted that Patanjali, in an affidavit submitted in June, admitted breach of the earlier order granting injunction against sale of the impugned camphor products.
“Such persistent breach of the injunction order dated 30th August 2023 by defendant no. 1 (Patanjali) cannot be tolerated by this court,” Justice Chagla said in the order.
The bench said it would be appropriate to direct Patanjali to deposit a sum of Rs 50 lakh prior to passing of an order for contempt/breach of the injunction order. -
Can still file fresh cases under repealed laws: Punjab and Haryana High Court
Chandigarh (TIP)- Just about 10 days after the new laws came into force, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has clarified that fresh cases and applications can still be filed under the repealed laws. The order, issued by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, just two days after his elevation, facilitates the coexistence of the old and new legal systems during the transition period, ensuring continued access to justice without procedural hindrances.
“In light of the enactment of new laws, ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023’, ‘Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023’ and ‘Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023’, which have come into force with effect from July 1, fresh cases/applications can be filed in this high court either under the provisions of newly enacted laws or repealed laws, ie, Indian Penal Code, 1860; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; and Indian Evidence Act, 1872,” says the order.
Dispelling all apprehensions, the High Court has explicitly directed that no objections will be raised by the High Court Registry regarding the filing of cases under either set of laws.
The order marks a crucial step in the implementation of the country’s new criminal justice laws. The new laws have been purportedly designed to align more closely with contemporary societal values, but challenges in terms of interpretation and implementation are anticipated. The flexibility in filing cases under both the new and repealed laws is expected to avoid confusion and ensure continuity and stability in the judicial process. The intent is to ensure that ongoing and new cases are not adversely affected by the transition.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, defining offences and prescribing punishments, aims to address modern crimes and streamline criminal justice processes. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita deals with procedural aspects of criminal law, including investigation and prosecution, and seeks to reduce delays and inefficiencies in the criminal justice system. The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam governs the rules of evidence, ensuring they are modern and fair. Source: TNS -
NEET-UG leak case: CBI arrests alleged kingpin
The CBI on Thursday, July 11, arrested one of the alleged kingpins in the NEET-UG paper leak case who was on the run ever since the crackdown on irregularities in the entrance exam began, officials said.
Rockey, alias Rakesh Ranjan, who hails from Nalanda, and is said to be a relative of mastermind Sanjeev Mukhia, was nabbed by the agency from outskirts of Patna, they said.
The CBI had been trailing him since the case came to the agency. His run came to an end Thursday morning when he was arrested by the agency, they said.
The agency produced him before a special court in Patna which has remanded him in 10 days of CBI custody, they said.
The CBI conducted searches at three locations in Patna and nearby areas and one in Kolkata after his arrest, they said.
Earlier this week, the CBI had conducted searches at 15 locations in Bihar and Jharkhand gathering incriminating evidence in the case, they said.
The agency had earlier arrested the principal and vice-principal of Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh-based Oasis school in the case and two persons who allegedly lent premises to NEET candidates where burnt question papers were recovered by the Bihar Police.
The CBI, which is probing the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam, has registered six FIRs in the matter so far.
The FIR from Bihar pertains to paper leaks, while the remaining, from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, are linked to the impersonation of candidates and cheating. -
India abstains from UN vote on Ukraine’s nuclear facility safety
United Nations (TIP)- India has abstained in the UN General Assembly on a resolution that demanded that Russia immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine and urgently withdraw its military and other unauthorised personnel from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The 193-member UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on Thursday, July 11, with 99 votes in favor, nine against and 60 abstentions, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Egypt, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Those voting against the resolution included Belarus, Cuba, North Korea, Russia and Syria.
The resolution titled ‘Safety and security of nuclear facilities of Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant’ demanded that Russia “immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders”.
It also demanded that Russia urgently withdraw its military and other unauthorised personnel from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and immediately return the plant to the full control of the sovereign and competent authorities of Ukraine to ensure its safety and security. It called for the “immediate cessation of the attacks” by Russia against the critical energy infrastructure of Ukraine, which increases the risk of a nuclear accident or incident at all nuclear facilities of Ukraine.
The draft resolution was introduced by Ukraine and was sponsored by over 50 member states, including France, Germany and the United States.
Source: PTI