WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The US has said it expects accountability from India concerning the alleged role of an Indian government employee in the failed attempt to assassinate a Sikh separatist on US soil last summer.
In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds dual American and Canadian citizenship, in New York.
Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the US on June 14. “We continue to expect accountability from the government of India in relation to the alleged role of an Indian government employee in the failed attempt to assassinate a US citizen on US soil that occurred last summer,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters in response to a question at his daily news conference. “We continue to raise our concerns directly with the Indian government at senior levels,” he said. India has denied the allegations but has constituted an internal investigations team to look into it.
Patel, however, declined to comment on a news report alleging that Canadian authorities claim to have arrested five Indian nationals planning to target a Sikh separatist at a wedding ceremony.
“As it relates to the news that you mentioned out of Canada, I would refer you to the Canadian government to comment on issues that are happening within their law enforcement system,” the official said. He said that the US continues to raise our concerns directly with the Indian government at senior levels.
NEW YORK (TIP): Kerala-born rapper Hanumankind, also known as Sooraj Cherukat, has set the internet abuzz with his latest music video, “Big Dawgs.” The track, which has amassed over 11 million views on YouTube in just three weeks, is making waves across the globe, establishing Hanumankind as a rising star in the international hip-hop scene. Shot in the coastal district of Ponnani, Kerala, the video features a stunning display of daredevilry inside the iconic “wall of death,” where performers ride motorcycles and small vehicles at breakneck speeds along wooden planks. Directed by Bijoy Shetty, the video’s electrifying visuals complement the high-energy beats and raw, defiant lyrics that have come to define Hanumankind’s style.
The rapper’s journey to fame is as unconventional as his music. Born in Kerala, Cherukat spent his formative years moving from country to country before settling in Houston, Texas. After returning to India in 2012 to complete his education, he took up a traditional nine-to-five job at Goldman Sachs while pursuing his passion for music on the side. What began as a hobby has now blossomed into a full-fledged career, with Hanumankind currently signed to Def Jam India, one of the world’s most prestigious record labels. “Big Dawgs” has not only captured the attention of hip-hop fans but has also dominated social media platforms like TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. The track has also earned over 11.5 million streams on Spotify, holding the top spot on the Viral Songs Global chart since late July.
The success of “Big Dawgs” marks a significant milestone for Hanumankind, who has been steadily gaining recognition in the South Asian music scene. His unique blend of southern Indian and American influences, combined with his boundary-pushing visual style, has earned him a loyal fan base and critical acclaim.
As Hanumankind continues to push the boundaries of desi hip-hop, fans can expect more innovative and genre-defying music from this rising star. With “Big Dawgs,” he has firmly established himself as a force to be reckoned with, not just in India but on the global stage.
PARIS (TIP): Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek of the United States secured a silver medal in the men’s tennis doubles at the 2024 Olympics, following a closely contested match against Australia’s Matt Ebden and John Peers on Saturday. At age 40, Ram became the oldest player to win an Olympic medal in tennis, adding another remarkable achievement to his storied career. The American duo, who have been formidable on the court, started strong by clinching the first set 7-6. However, their Australian opponents rallied in the second set, taking it 7-6. With the match tied, the Olympic format called for a first-to-10, win-by-two tiebreaker instead of a traditional third set. In a nail-biting finish, Ram and Krajicek narrowly lost the tiebreaker 10-8, earning them the silver medal.
Ram, a tennis veteran based in Indiana, was on the verge of making history as the oldest player to win an Olympic tennis gold, a feat unmatched in both singles and doubles since the sport’s return to the Summer Games in 1988. Despite the outcome, his journey to the final was impressive, highlighted by a quarterfinal victory over Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, with Ram and Krajicek winning decisively 6-2, 6-4.
Rajeev Ram was born in Denver to Raghav and Sushma Ram, both immigrants from India. His father hailed from Bangalore, and his mother is from Delhi. Ram attended Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana, where his tennis skills began to flourish. He has described his knowledge of Hindi as “decent,” but admitted that he unsuccessfully tried to learn Kannada, the language of his father’s family. Ram’s father passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2019.
This silver medal adds to Ram’s illustrious career, which includes six Grand Slam titles and a previous Olympic silver in mixed doubles with Venus Williams at the 2016 Rio Games. Having risen to World No. 1 in doubles in October 2022, Ram’s consistent performance at the highest level of the sport continues to inspire many.
Austin Krajicek, who hails from Allen, Texas, joined Ram in their quest to become the third U.S. men’s doubles team to win Olympic gold, a feat last achieved by the Bryan brothers in 2012. The Bryans were present to support the team in Paris, with Bob Bryan coaching the U.S. men’s tennis team and Mike Bryan assisting with doubles coaching.
ATLANTA, GA (TIP): Dr. Sreeni R. Gangasani, a cardiologist based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, has been elected to serve as the Chairman of the Georgia Composite Medical Board. Dr. Gangasani has been a member of the Board since 2021 and served as Vice Chair for the 2023-24 term. Dr. Gangasani is a founding partner of the Cardiovascular Group in Gwinnett County, Metro Atlanta. He holds board certifications in cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, heart failure, and transplantation. Dr. Gangasani is an alumnus of Kurnool Medical College at the University of Health Sciences, where he graduated with honors.
In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Gangasani has held several leadership roles within professional organizations, including serving as the past president of the Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (GAPI) and as Vice Chair of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). He also chaired the AAPI conventions in Atlanta in 2019 and 2021, as well as the AAPI Global Health Summit in 2019-20 in Hyderabad, India.
The Georgia Composite Medical Board is an independent state agency responsible for protecting the health of Georgians by regulating the practice of medicine. The Board licenses physicians and other healthcare professionals, investigates complaints, and enforces the Medical Practice Act. It is composed of fifteen volunteer members appointed by the Governor, including thirteen practicing physicians, two non-physician consumer appointees, and one ex-officio Physician Assistant.
Dr. Gangasani was also recently elected to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees of GAPI for the 2024-25 term.
Experience the film concert for music lovers, filmgoers and anyone looking for an exciting and unique concert experience!
Marlon Brando, the Godfather – Corleone Family head (an assistant whispers in his ear)The Corleone sonsA Corleone daughter’s wedding (Photos : Courtesy njsymphony.org)
‘The Godfather Live’ brings director Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece to music venues for the first time, making its premiere at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC – njpac.org) in Newark on Friday, August 16 at 7:30 pm; and Count Basie Center for the Arts (thebasie.org) in Red Bank on Sunday, August 18 at 3 pm.
Winner of three Academy® Awards and countless other honors, ‘The Godfather’ remains one of the greatest films in the history of cinema. Nino Rota’s iconic score, accompanied by the film’s traditional Italian folk music and jazz comes to life on stage, performed live by the New Jersey Symphony (njsymphony.org) while the film is simultaneously shown in high definition on the big screen.
THE GODFATHER
‘The Godfather,’ released by Paramount Pictures in 1972 to popular and critical acclaim, tells the story of the Corleones and their rivalry with other New York crime families between 1945 and 1955, as the title character (Marlon Brando) hands over the reins of power to his youngest son (Al Pacino). Also starring James Caan, John Cazale, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton, the film won three Academy® Awards — including Best Picture and Best Actor (Marlon Brando) — and established Coppola’s reputation as one of the exciting new breed of directors who revolutionized Hollywood from the late 1960s onwards.
In 2008, an ‘Empire’ magazine vote saw ‘The Godfather’ named as the greatest film ever made, a distinction also awarded by ‘Entertainment Weekly’ and ‘Metacritic’. It came second in ‘Sight & Sound’s’ 2002 list and ‘Time Out’s’ 2003 readers’ poll and is currently ranked at number two in IMDb’s all-time list.
Composer Nino Rota achieved international acclaim in the 1950s and 1960s for his work with Italian directors Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti, scoring the likes of ‘White Nights’, ‘The Leopard’, ‘La Dolce Vita’ and ‘8½’. His music for ‘The Godfather’, including its immortal “Love Theme from ‘The Godfather,’” was ranked at #5 in the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest scores ever written.
Justin Freer, Producer of ‘The Godfather Live’ in Concert said, “We are proud to embrace the evolution of live experience, and we hope that this concert honors the many talented musicians that bring the music of the movies to life, while giving everyone the ability to re-live one of the great masterpieces in Cinema.”
PROGRAM
‘The Godfather Live’ in Concert
New Jersey Symphony at the Movies
Newark: Friday, August 16, 2024, 7:30 pm, New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Red Bank: Sunday, August 18, 2024, 3 pm, Count Basie Center for the Arts
Nicholas Hersh conductor
New Jersey Symphony
CineConcerts
CineConcerts – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
TICKETS
Tickets are available at njsymphony.org/godfather.
This concert is produced by CineConcerts.
Content warning: This film contains Graphic Violence, Adult Content and Profanity that some viewers may find offensive or triggering. Rated R.
Programs, artists and prices are subject to change.
CineConcerts
CineConcerts (cineconcerts.com) is one of the leading producers of live and digital music experiences performed with visual media, and continues to redefine entertainment. Founded by Producer/Conductor Justin Freer and Producer/Writer Brady Beaubien, CineConcerts will engage over 4.8 million people worldwide in concert presentations in over 3,000 performances in 48 countries through 2025, and recently launched CineConcerts +PLUS — a global digital network and app suite with hundreds of exclusive podcast episodes and produced content continues to work with some of the most prestigious orchestras and venues in the world including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra and more. Learn more at cineconcerts.com.
Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Learn more at paramountpictures.com.
Nicholas Hersh (Conductor)
American conductor Nicholas Hersh is music director of the Modesto Symphony (California), having been appointed in August 2023 with immediate effect. Across the country, Nicholas has earned critical acclaim for his innovative programming and natural ability to connect with musicians and audiences alike.
Hersh is frequently in demand as an arranger and orchestrator, with commissions from orchestras around the globe for adaptations of everything from classical solo and chamber music to popular songs. His orchestration of Beethoven’s Cello Sonata Op. 69 was premiered by the Philharmonie Zuidnederland in January 2022, while his symphonic arrangement of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” continues to see worldwide success as a viral YouTube hit. He also serves as arranger and editor for the James P. Johnson Orchestra Edition.
Hersh grew up in Evanston, Illinois and started his musical training as a cellist. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Music from Stanford University and a master’s degree in Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Hersh is also a two-time recipient of the Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award. Learn more at nicholashersh.com.
The New Jersey Symphony
The Emmy and GRAMMY Award-winning New Jersey Symphony is redefining what it means to be a nationally leading, relevant orchestra in the 21st century. The Symphony is renewing its deeply rooted commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by championing new, and often local, artists; engaging audiences for whom the inspiring depth and breadth of classical music will be a new experience; and incorporating the broadest possible representation in all aspects of its organization – all to better reflect and serve its vibrant communities.
Connect with NJ Symphony
1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476)
njsymphony.org
@NJSymphony on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X
@NewJerseySymphony on YouTube
Email: information@njsymphony.org
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)
Winner: U.S. Directing Award, Sundance Film Festival 2024
“[A] stunning and brutal look at the lasting trauma of the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School, a government-funded institution run by the Catholic Church where indigenous children were sent with the aim of stripping them of the connection to their culture… It’s a portrait of what remains when injustice occurs.” – Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire
‘SUGARCANE’ is a stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life, the debut feature documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie. It is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning. Set amidst a ground-breaking investigation of abuse and death at an Indigenous residential school, the film empowers participants to break cycles of intergenerational trauma by bearing witness to painful, long-ignored truths and the love that endures within their families despite the revelation of genocide.
In 2021, evidence of unmarked graves near an indigenous residential school run by the Catholic Church in Canada sparked a national outcry about the forced separation, assimilation and abuse many children experienced at this network of segregated boarding schools designed to slowly destroy the culture and social fabric of Indigenous communities.
When Kassie – a journalist and filmmaker – asked her old friend and colleague, NoiseCat, to direct a film documenting the Williams Lake first investigation of St. Joseph’s mission, she never imagined just how close this story was to his own family. As the investigation continued, Emily and Julian traveled to the rivers, forests and mountains of his homeland to hear the myriad stories of survivors. During production, Julian’s own story became an integral part of this beautiful multi-stranded portrait of a community. By offering space, time and profound empathy, the directors unearthed what was hidden.
Kassie and NoiseCat encountered both the extraordinary pain these individuals had to suppress as a tool for survival and a unique beauty of a group of people finding the strength to persevere.
Release: Opens at Film Forum, New York City on August 9.
GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS
Preeti Panigrahi speaks as School Prefect (Photo / Courtesy filmforum.org)
Director: Shuchi Talati; 2024; English & Hindi; 117m
2024 Sundance Film Festival Prize-Winner:
World Cinema Drama Audience Award,
Special Jury Award for Acting (Preeti Panigrahi)
“With her first feature, Talati expertly captures the quiet wonder and aching intensity of adolescence, first love, and caring about someone whose dueling duties and desires sometimes stop them from behaving as they know they should.” indieWire – January 24, 2024 – Proma Khosla
A model student, 16-year-old Mira (Preeti Panigrahi in a radiant debut performance) is the first-ever female prefect in charge of enforcing rules at a straitlaced Indian boarding school in the Himalayas. Despite her ambition and primness, she can’t help but fall for new student Sri (Kesav Binoy Kiron), and steals away with him to flirt and stargaze. With frankness and sensitivity, writer-director Shuchi Talati uncovers the contradictory layers of Mira’s sexual awakening, the school’s lax penalties for boys’ transgressive behavior, and the complicated feelings triggered in her protective, unfulfilled mother (Kani Kusruti, star of 2024 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix-winner ‘All We Imagine as Light’).
Release: Opens on September 13 at Film Forum, New York City.
(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)
PARIS (TIP): India’s avowed policy of fighting global terrorism collectively is corroborated by the deployment of a section of its specially-trained men and canine squads in Paris, the host city of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
The men and dogs trained in counter-terrorist and anti-sabotage operations can be seen working in tandem with various security and police agencies of the host nation, France, and several other friendly nations.
Paris has virtually turned into a police cantonment with members of the National Police and Grenadier being deployed at all vulnerable points, including the venues of competitions, public places like Metro and bus stations, malls and busy tourist spots.
From India, there are 10 specially-trained Indian Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and special commando force dogs in France to provide a counter-terrorist and anti-sabotage security cover to various venues of the Paris Olympics that opened last week. The ten Indian K9 (canine) teams have been undertaking sniffing and patrolling duties at different venues that hold events for the Paris Olympics. The Indian police squads attended a special 10-week training for this first-ever kind of collaboration of canine squads between the Indian and the French government, media reports said.
Because of armed conflicts in various parts of the world, the French government wanted to take no chances over the possible
risk of foreign interference or a terrorist attack to disrupt the games. “The threat is real and constant, it hasn’t changed for several years,” says media reports quoting Wassim Nasr, a FRANCE 24 journalist who co-authored an article on security threats to the Paris Games for US counter-terrorism magazine.
Media covering the 2024 Olympic Games, has been quoting various agencies, including radio, TV and web channels while reporting the nearly “full proof” arrangements made for the safety of the participants, including players, and members of the visiting Olympic family. A report by public radio station France Inter said that French intelligence services identified a dozen leaders of the Islamic State group in Turkey and Syria capable of activating terrorist sleeper cells in France at any time. “There’s the latent, constant threat of someone acting alone, picking up a knife and deciding to attack in the name of a group,” says Nasr. On Monday, a man already convicted of Islamist radicalism was indicted on terrorism charges after attacking a cab driver with a knife near the city of Le Mans in Western France.
The reports further said that beyond terrorist groups, some state actors are hoping to take advantage of the divisions caused by the war in Gaza to create public disorder. “The turmoil of the war in Gaza may lead some people to create public disorder, to prevent teams from arriving where they are supposed to compete,” says Nasr. The report further suggests that the high-risk Israeli Olympic delegation is given 24-hour security with a reinforced police escort to travel to the various competition venues. This has been done to avoid a repeat of the Munich Olympic dastardly attack.
The security agencies also do not rule out the possibility of an increase in attempts by pro-Russian groups to disrupt the smooth running of the Games. Russia and Belorussia are the only nations who were denied the invitation to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Another media report in Le Monde, one of the main newspapers in France, said that Kirill Gryaznov, an agent for Russia’s intelligence service (FSB) with no diplomatic cover, was arrested in Paris and charged with “intelligence with a foreign power to incite hostilities in France”.
The city has been barricaded and movement to the City Central, which otherwise remains the busiest tourist hub, has the highest security cover.
Despite the deployment of police contingents everywhere, there has been little or no respite in incidents of pickpocketing. Paris is notoriously known for its pickpocketing menace. It leaves visitors to the city deprived of their valuables. One of the Indian journalists covering the Games lost a valuable cardigan from his back sack while his wallet and passport escaped the crafty hands of the suspect.
Tight security arrangements notwithstanding, many sports enthusiasts of Indian origin, from India and the rest of the world, are here to watch the Games and cheer Indian players.
Among them are Jatinderpal Singh and Maninder Singh who have come from Ludhiana. Both have been hockey players in their school days. Other than them there are some hardcore hockey fans from London, including Tarlochan Singh Panesar and Jhujjar Singh aka Jarri besides Ajit Kaur Tiwana, mother of Canadian water polo goalkeeper Jessica Gaudreault. Ajit Kaur Tiwana comes from Chanrthal village in Fatehgarh Sahib. She is the third player of Indian origin representing Canada in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Jessica is an Ontario-born athlete and has represented Canada in various international meets, including the Olympics and Pan Am Games.
Ajit Kaur Tiwana has been a celebrity as she was the first South Asian woman to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
PARIS (TIP): Asia is emerging as the new powerhouse of Olympic sports. China, Japan, and the Republic of South Korea are among the top seven nations in medals tally in the 2024 Olympic Games as of today. The previous powerhouse of Olympic sports, the USA, was placed on Day 6 of the 2024 Olympic Games as China has taken the lead with 21 medals, including 11 gold medals. Though the USA leads the overall medals tally with 31 medals to its kitty, it has fewer gold medals than it used to get in previous editions of the Games.
The US dominance in some of the sports, including aquatics, has been blunted to an extent by China and France. China has won four gold medals in shooting, including the 50 m Rifle 3 positions for men on Thursday besides making three top finishes in diving.
China won the opening event in athletics – 20 km walk – besides taking a gold medal each in cycling and swimming.
In the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the USA finished at the top of the medals tally with 113 medals, including 39 gold and 41 silver medals. China finished second with 89 medals, including 38 gold medals. Japan was third with 27 gold, 14 silver and 17 bronze medals.
In the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the USA topped the medals tally with 46 gold, 37 silver and 38 bronze medals to aggregate 121 while second-placed Great Britain had 27 gold medals in its tally of 67. China was placed third with 70 medals, including 26 gold.
Things look different in the 2024 Olympic Games. On Day 6, China took the lead with 11 gold medals in its total tally of 21 followed by the hosts, France, with 26 medals, including eight gold. Japan is a close third with 15 medals including eight gold.
The USA has been relegated to fifth position with 31 medals that have only six gold medals. Interestingly Australia is ahead of the US with a tally of 17 medals, including seven gold.
The third Asian country in the top seven group is Korea with 12 medals, half of which are gold.
Another Asian country to do well so far is India which has three bronze medals in its kitty. As of now, India stands at the 42nd position. India had finished with seven medals in the last edition of the Games with a sole gold medal won in men’s javelin throw through Neeraj Chopra.
Canadian athletes, too, are doing well as they have won gold medals, both in Diving and Judo (women), to take their tally to seven with two silver and three bronze medals.
In the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Canada aggregated 24 medals, including seven gold and an equal number of silver medals. In io, the Canadian tally was 22 with four gold medals.
Led by double medalists PV Sindhu (badminton) and Manu Bhaker (shooting), women athletes are keeping the Indian flag flying high at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
By Prabhjot Singh
PARIS (TIP): Led by double medalists PV Sindhu (badminton) and Manu Bhaker (shooting), women athletes are keeping the Indian flag flying high at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
While Manu Bhaker has emulated the double medal feat of PV Sindhu, women athletes, including Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra (table tennis), Deepika Kumari and Bhajan Kaur (archery), have had an impressive start to their Olympic campaign here. Though this is not to belittle the contribution of male athletes, especially badminton star Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy or shooters – Arjun Babuta, Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale – besides the men’s hockey team, in the first five days of competitions have gone well for women athletes of the Indian squad.
Before the start of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, PV Sindhu was the lone female athlete from India with two Olympic medals – a silver in women’s singles in Rio and a bronze in London. Haryana’s Manu Bhaker, however, has put her record to shade by winning two bronze medals here, scripting history by becoming the first-ever Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals in the same edition of the Games.
Manika Batra
While PV Sindhu failed to win her third Olympic medal in the women’s singles Round of 16 at the Olympics as she lost against sixth-seeded Chinese shuttler He Bing Jiao in straight sets 19-21, 14-21, Manu Bhaker stays a step ahead as she is determined to accomplish the rarest feat of winning three medals in the same Olympics. Her favorite event, 25 m Air Pistol, is scheduled for Friday.
PV Sindhu was impressive in her initial group matches. She defeated Kristin Kauuba of Estonia 21-5, 21-10.
In Table Tennis, Sreeja Akula beat Jian Zeng 9-11,12-10,11-4, 11-5, 10-12 and 12-10 to create a flutter here. She has joined her senior colleague Manika Batra in the round of 16. Manika takes on Japanese opponent Mio Hirano for a place in the quarterfinals.
Kanak Jha, a player of Indian origin, representing the US for the third consecutive time, also moved up with a splendid win over P. Gionis of Greece at 11-5,11-4,11-7, 7-11, 8-11 and 11-8.
The toast of Indian fans was young Lakshya Sen who toppled third seed Jonatan Christie 21-18, 21-12 in the group matches. The win puts Lashya in the run for a medal for his unbeaten performance in the competition so far. He has already crossed a tough hurdle.
Indian double pair Rani Reddy and Chirag Shetty, too, have been doing well in the competition tormented by sicknesses and last-minute withdrawals. Matches already won by Indian pair, like a few others, have been taken off the competition record. German opponents had cried off before the game of the world number Indian pair earlier.
Arjun Babbuta narrowly missed a bronze medal. He needed only one good shot in one of his last two laps, but it was not to be. On Wednesday, Swapnil Kusale made the medal round in the 50 m Rifle 3 positions with a score of 590, three points behind the top qualifier Liu Yukun of China. All eyes are set for the final tomorrow.
In archery, Deepika Kumari and Bhajan Kaur made a winning start in individual events to raise hopes for a first-ever Olympic medal.
PARIS (TIP): Indian community in France has every reason to feel pleased about the performance of its home country athletes in the 2024 Olympic games. Manu Bhaker has not only scripted history by becoming the first ever Indian athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single Olympics but has also warmed the cockles of hearts of the members of nearly hundred-thousand strong Indian community settled in this country holding its third Olympic Games since 1900.
Though many credit an Anglo-Indian Norman Pritchard for winning a pair of silver medals in the 1900 Olympic Games, no other Indian athlete has ever won two medals in the same edition of the prestigious quadrangular mega sporting event.
Manu Bhaker has not only emerged as a new sporting icon of India but also become the darling of the Indian community worldwide. This Jhajjar girl is the most sought-after Indian sportsperson here. She, however, wants to stay focused on her third and final event, 25 m Air Pistol, on August 2.
An India House has been set up in the Olympic city for the first time. It has emerged as a new center for the Indian community to interact with not only members of the Indian Olympic squad but also some of the stars of yesteryears, including non-Olympic sports.
Rahul Dravid, who just relinquished charge as the coach of the Indian cricket team, was a star attraction on the first three days of the Games. PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, and tennis hero Mahesh Bhupathi are among the others having intimate interactions with the leaders of the expatriate community.
Many ardent followers of Indian sports on arrival in Paris get a pleasant surprise when they find their compatriots, now settled in this francophone nation, greeting them while offering them useful tips for their safe stay in the Olympic city.
Daljeet Singh, for example, who moved to France from Mohali about three decades ago, is now an activist of the Indians in France organizations. It is this body that keeps organizing events for the community. He works at CDG Airport.
The Indian community of France was delighted when one of its youngsters, Prithika Pavade, was chosen to represent France in Table tennis events of the Games. It may be a mere coincidence that she ran into India’s top TT player, Manika Batra, in round two of women’s singles.
There are several gurdwaras in Paris. Prominent of them is the one at Bobigny. On Sundays, all gurdwaras hold special congregations besides organizing community kitchens regularly.
Every day, hundreds of Indian expatriates, turn up to watch various events, especially those featuring athletes from India. They carry tricolors.
Paris is dotted with several restaurants run by people of Indian origin. Some of them have volunteered to offer free food to Indian athletes and their family members.
Paris (TIP): After Manu Bhaker, it was the turn of male shooters to add to the Indian medal tally. Swapnil Kusale today gave an excellent account of himself in the 50 m Air Rifle 3 positions event for men by finishing a close third to give India its third shooting bronze.
Swapnil was 0.5 points behind the second-placed Kalish Serhiy (Ukraine) before the shoot for the gold started. Swapnil had shot 4561.4 while Kalish had 451.9. China’s Liu Yukun won the gold with a finish score of 463.6.
Indian eyes will remain focused on the shooting range as Manu Bhaker will take to her favorite 25 m Air Pistol for women. So far India has won all its three bronze medals in shooting. It is reiterated the country’s trust in its shooters after they drew a blank in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Indian challenge in Table Tennis ended last evening when Sreeja Akula lost her pre-quarterfinal game to Sun Xingsha 10-12,10-12, 8-11 while Manika Batra went down fighting to Miu Hirano 6-11, 9-11, 14-12, 8-11 and 6-11. Both Manika and Sreeja created history by reaching the pre-quarterfinals.
Indian hopes of a medal in boxing for women got a boost when Lovlina Borgohain recorded a fluent 5-0 win over Sunniva Hofstad in the preliminaries.
Paris (TIP)- A girl from Jhajjar in rural Haryana is the new sports icon of India. She has given India its first two medals, both bronzes, in 10 m Air Pistol. This new sports icon is none other than Manu Bhaker, a student at Panjab University in Chandigarh.
When she won a bronze medal in the 10 m Air Pistol for women, she became the first Indian woman shooter to win a medal in the Olympic Games. On Tuesday, she paired up with a boy from neighboring Punjab, Sarabjot Singh, to win a similar color medal in the 10 m Air Pistol Mixed team event. She thus added yet another feather to her cap to become the first Indian woman shooter to win two Olympic medals in the same Olympic Games. Incidentally, no other Indian shooter has won two Olympic medals.
Manu has her favorite event, 25 m Air Pistol (individual) left. She hopes to make a hat-trick of Olympic medals in her second Olympics after she drew a blank in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. Her struggle and hard work have been rewarded.
Manu Bhaker-Sarabjot Singh proudly display their Bronze medals at Paris Olympics.
She also brought luck to her teammate, Sarabjot Singh, who had earlier missed making the medal round in the men’s event. He finished ninth with a score of 577. His fellow shooter, Arjun Cheema, after a good start, suffered a lapse off concentration to finish 18th with a score of 574.
Arjun Cheema and Rhythm Sangwan failed to make the medal round in the event Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot excelled.
Shooting is one sport in which India hopes to reap a rich harvest of medals. Yesterday, Arjun Babuta finished fourth and missed the bronze medal by a whisker aggregating 208.4. It was a big heartbreak for him as he came so close and yet remained far away from his dream Olympic medal. His last two rounds of 10.1 and 9.5 proved costly for him while ultimate bronze medalist Miran Maricic of Croatia had 10.7 and 9.9 in his last two shoots.
One of the world’s oldest players in the Tennis circle, Rohan Bopanna, ended his Olympic campaign without a medal. He in partnership with Balaji was ousted in the first round by the French team of Gael Monfils and Roger Vasilin. Rohan had come close to winning a medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where he in partnership with Sania Mirza lost the mixed doubles semi-final to Rajeev Ram and Venus Williams.
Rajeev Ram and Venus Williams then went on to win the silver thus making Rajeev Ram. He has been the first Indian expatriate to win an Olympic medal.
Yesterday when Manika Batra won her second round in women’s singles in Table Tennis, she defeated Prithika Pavade, also a player of Indian origin representing the host country, France. Manika won in straight games against her.
Incidentally, another player of Indian origin in the competition on Monday was Jessica of Canada. Jessica is a water polo player and played the goalkeeper of the Canadian team that lost its opening game to Hungary.
Hariyali Teej is a vibrant festival celebrated with great enthusiasm in parts of India, marking the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
The auspicious festival of Hariyali Teej is just around the corner, and the devotees of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati are gearing up to mark this holy festival. There are three main Teej festivals celebrated by Hindus across the country – Hariyali Teej, Hartalika Teej, and Kajri Teej. They hold much significance because of their occurrence in the Sawan and Bhadrapada months. More specifically, Hariyali Teej falls on the third day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Sawan. If you are celebrating Hariyali Teej with your loved ones, it is important to learn about its history, significance and exact date. This year, the festival falls on August 7.
Legend
According to the legend associated with Hariyali Teej, Lord Shiva reminds Goddess Parvati about the number of times she took rebirths to win his heart. Mata Parvati had forgotten all that happened in the 107 previous births.
Therefore Lord Shiva narrated the stories of her struggles, determination and perseverance to her. Mata Parvati took her 108th birth at the house of the King of Himalayas.
During this birth, Mata Parvati performed intense penance to win Lord Shiva’s heart. She survived on dry leaves after giving up food and water.
She braved harsh weather, hail and storm and continued with her penance. After seeing her undergo so much pain, her father was distraught.
A few days later, Devarshi Narada Muni visited her father’s palace as Lord Vishnu’s representative with a marriage proposal. After learning that Lord Vishnu has expressed his desire to marry his daughter, the father beamed with joy, but this news left Parvati devastated.
Therefore, she sought one of her friend’s help and hid in a thick forest. The king of Himalayas sent his soldiers to nook and corner, but all their efforts went in vain.
Meanwhile, Lord Shiva appeared before Parvati and granted her the boon of having him as her husband. He also asked her to inform her father about her decision not to marry Lord Vishnu.
Eventually, after learning about his daughter’s desire, the father invited Lord Shiva and got Parvati married to him.
Fasting Rituals and Traditions
The Hariyali Teej is marked by a series of fasting rituals and traditions that are deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the festival.
Women across various regions observe a nirjala fast, which is a commitment to abstain from both food and water throughout the day. This practice is a testament to their devotion and the strength of their spiritual resolve.
Perform Aarti: Engage in the spiritual act of aarti, illuminating the sacred space with light.
Seek Blessings: Offer prayers for the prosperity and happiness of loved ones.
Breaking the Fast: Conclude the fast by offering water, fruits, and sweets to the moon.
Cultural Practices and Celebrations
Hariyali Teej is not just a festival; it’s a vibrant expression of culture and tradition. Women dress in green saris and adorn themselves with henna and bangles, symbolizing growth and prosperity.
The day is filled with singing traditional folk songs and swinging on beautifully decorated swings, which are often set up on trees or in courtyards.
Community gatherings are common, where stories of Goddess Parvati’s devotion to Lord Shiva are shared. These narratives reinforce the sanctity of marriage and the virtues of patience and devotion. The festivities also include a variety of local delicacies, each region adding its unique flavor to the celebration.
– Mehndi (Henna) Application
– Swinging on Decorated Jhoolas
– Singing Teej Songs
– Sharing of Hearty Meals
– Exchange of Gifts
The festival is a time for women to bond, share joys, and pray for the well-being of their families. It’s a day when the monsoon’s freshness is welcomed with open hearts and the hope for a prosperous future.
Nirjala Fasting and Its Importance
Nirjala fasting on Hariyali Teej is a testament to the unwavering faith and devotion of many women who abstain from both food and water throughout the day.
This form of fasting is a profound demonstration of determination and self-discipline. It is not just a physical challenge but also a spiritual endeavor to seek blessings for the well-being of their families.
The practice of Nirjala fasting is deeply integrated into the festival’s traditions, and it is observed with a series of rituals:
– Expressing the intention to fast and seeking divine blessings.
– Dressing in green attire to symbolize the monsoon’s lushness.
– Performing Aarti and singing devotional songs.
– Breaking the fast traditionally after sighting the moon, with a simple meal offered to the moon first.
Sankalp: The Vow of Fasting
The Sankalp is a solemn vow taken by women on the morning of Hariyali Teej, marking their commitment to the fast. It is a moment of spiritual reflection and dedication, where they express their intention to observe the Nirjala fast, abstaining from both food and water throughout the day.
This act is not merely a physical challenge but a testament to their determination and self-discipline.
The process of taking the Sankalp includes several steps, which are outlined below:
– Expressing the intention to fast and seeking divine blessings.
– Dedicating the fast to the prosperity and happiness of one’s family.
– Adorning oneself in green attire, symbolizing the monsoon’s verdure and the festival’s spirit.
– Breaking the fast is equally significant and is traditionally done after sighting the moon. The fast is concluded with a simple meal, offered first to the moon, along with water, fruits, and sweets.
The Department of Tourism, Government of Puducherry, organised an exclusive roadshow in Bengaluru on July 26, 2024, to promote the state as a premier tourist destination in India. This event highlighted Puducherry’s scenic tourist spots and unique products, providing a platform for travel agents, tour operators, media personnel, and travel trade partners from Bengaluru to discover the state’s diverse attractions. The roadshow showcased Puducherry’s rich cultural heritage, tranquil beaches, delicious cuisine, and vibrant local art. Participants had networking opportunities and access to first-hand information on the latest tourism initiatives in the region.
Under the guidance of K. Lakshminarayanan – Hon’ble Tourism Minister, Govt. of Puducherry the Puducherry Tourism delegation was led by Dr. Jayanta Kumar Ray, IAS – Secretary (Tourism), Govt. of Puducherry, K. Muralidharan – Director of Tourism, Government of Puducherry and Managing Director Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation. Around 15 representatives from Puducherry Tourism were present to interact with attendees, share insights, and forge collaborations to enhance tourism experiences in Puducherry. The event aimed to strengthen ties with the travel industry in Karnataka and foster partnerships for mutual growth and development.
The roadshow was attended by the travel-trade of Karnataka along with the Key industry delegates, and media representatives and had an enriching session to discover the charm and allure of Puducherry.
One of India’s eight Union Territories, Puducherry, popularly known as Pondicherry, is bordered by the southern state of Tamil Nadu. This former French colony offers the ideal fusion of elegant French buildings and traditional Indian aesthetics. Puducherry is a beautiful getaway with lots to offer visitors, including delicious French cuisine and enjoyable beach activities. In addition to beach sports, the fascinating marine life of Puducherry offers thrilling scuba diving off the East Coast of the nation. The town provides you with the best of everything, including exquisite cuisine, peaceful surroundings, stunning architecture, etc. Puducherry is a picturesque location where tourists can discover their adventurous spirit and feel revitalized.
The roadshow had networking session, presentations and cultural performances that showcased the destination along with its hidden gems and also opened up new avenues to showcase Pondicherry in a new light to the travel and trade community.
The Federal Reserve, in its latest meeting, decided to keep the federal funds rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent to 5.5 per cent for the eighth time. In its statement, the Fed observed that job gains in the U.S. economy have moderated, while the unemployment rate has increased slightly but remains low. “In support of its goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 5-1/4 to 5-1/2 per cent,” the Fed announced on July 31. The Fed also noted that recent data indicates economic activity in the U.S. has continued to expand at a solid pace.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to achieving maximum employment and a long-term inflation rate of 2 per cent. It believes that the risks to reaching these goals are becoming more balanced. However, the economic outlook remains uncertain, and the committee is vigilant about the risks to both sides of its dual mandate.
Looking ahead, the committee emphasized that it will carefully assess incoming data, evolving economic conditions, and the balance of risks. The Fed stated, “The Committee does not expect it will be appropriate to reduce the target range until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 per cent.”
Additionally, the Fed added it will continue to reduce its holdings of treasury securities, agency debt, and agency mortgage-backed securities.
The Fed reiterated its commitment to returning inflation to its 2 per cent objective. The committee added it will keep monitoring a wide range of information, including labour market conditions, inflation pressures and expectations, and financial and international developments, to determine the appropriate stance of monetary policy.
“The Committee’s assessments will take into account a wide range of information, including readings on labour market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and financial and international developments,” said Fed.
Mumbai (TIP)- India’s digital economy is poised to constitute a fifth of GDP by 2026 from one-tenth at present, according to a Reserve Bank report.
In the foreword of ‘Report on Currency and Finance (RCF) for the year 2023-24’, Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das emphasised that digitalisation in finance is paving the way for next-generation banking and improving access to financial services at affordable cost.
India is at the forefront of the digital revolution, the report said. The country has embraced not just financial technology (FinTech) by speeding up digital payments but has also celebrated India Stack comprising biometric identification, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), mobile connectivity, digital lockers and consent-based data sharing.
The digital revolution is galvanising banking infrastructure and public finance management systems covering both direct benefit transfers and tax collections, the report said. Vibrant e-markets are springing up and expanding their reach.
“It is estimated that the digital economy currently accounts for a tenth of India’s GDP; going by growth rates observed over the past decade, it is poised to constitute a fifth of GDP by 2026,” the report said.Several enabling forces have come together to energise this revolution. Although internet penetration in India was at 55 per cent in 2023, the internet user base has grown by 199 million in the recent three years.
India’s cost per gigabyte (GB) of data consumed is the lowest globally at an average of Rs 13.32 per GB. India also has one of the highest mobile data consumption in the world, with an average per-user per-month consumption of 24.1 GB in 2023.
Bank credit growth declines, gold loans rise 30.5%, credit card outstanding rises by Rs 51,000 cr
An Unfavourable base effect brought down the overall non-food credit growth of the banks to 13.9 per cent at Rs 163.46 lakh crore as of June 30, 2024 as against 16.3 per cent in June 2023, even as gold and housing loans rose sharply, according to the Reserve Bank’s latest data. The growth in credit card outstanding, meanwhile, declined during the 12-month period.
Analysts have attributed the slower rate to RBI measures such as higher risk weights on unsecured loans, a higher base effect and banks’ focus on managing the credit-to-deposit ratio. Gold loan outstanding jumped by 30.5 per cent to Rs 123,776 crore as of June 2024 from Rs 94,872 crore (19.3 per cent growth) in June 2023. Credit card outstanding rose by Rs 51,000 crore to Rs 273,044 crore, showing a slower growth of 23.3 per cent as against 37.6 per cent a year ago, according to RBI data.
“The rise in gold loans could be due to the sharp rise in gold prices in the last one year which prompted people to pledge gold to raise finances,” said a banking source. Gold loan NBFCs also hold a sizeable gold portfolio with Muthoot Finance alone accounting for a loan asset portfolio of Rs 63,200 crore in 2023.
Overall growth in the personal loan segment was lower at 16.6 per cent (Rs 50.91 lakh crore) in June 2024 as compared to 21.3 per cent a year ago, largely due to moderation in growth recorded in ‘other personal loans’ and ‘advances against fixed deposits’. However, credit growth to housing, the largest constituent of the segment, accelerated by 18.2 per cent at Rs 24.27 lakh crore in June 2024 from 14.8 per cent (Rs 20.52 lakh crore) a year ago, RBI data shows.
RBI measures to check the unprecedented growth in unsecured loans had slowed down the growth in the segment. In November 2023, the RBI had increased risk weight on the exposure of banks towards consumer credit, credit card receivables and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) by 25 per cent up to 150 per cent. The move was aimed to address build-up of any risks in these segments.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said there is no rethinking in the government to support foreign direct investments (FDI) from China as was pitched by the Economic Survey recently. He said it was a report that always speaks about new ideas and gives out their own thinking. The Survey, he said, is not at all binding on the government and there is no thinking on supporting Chinese investments in the country.
“There is no rethinking at present to support Chinese investments in the country,” the minister told reporters here. In 2020, the government made its approval mandatory for FDI from countries that share landed border with India. Countries which share land borders with India are China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.
The minister was responding on a pitch made by the pre-Budget Economic Survey on July 22 for seeking FDI from China to boost local manufacturing and tap the export market. Source: PTI
The Apple Vision Pro is the newest tool for Australians to access three-dimensional, immersive online environments, also known as the metaverse. Released in Australia earlier this month, it allows users to take a (virtual) walk in the savanna from their living room, watch sports matches in an immersive environment, or even buy a house after completing a virtual inspection.
But these new online environments also have the potential to enable new crimes. Metacrimes are those crimes occurring in the metaverse. They challenge our definitions of crimes in the digital realm, because they do not fit into existing frameworks of reporting and investigating crime.
Our new study tackles this problem by shedding light on the key characteristics of metacrimes. And by understanding these crimes better, we will be better able to fight them.
Metaverse, metacrime and cybercrime
The metaverse is a loose term describing a kind of three-dimensional, virtual world that users access via a virtual reality headset. The 2018 movie ‘Ready Player One’ provides a good visualisation of what the metaverse might look like. In the movie, people put on special goggles and pick their avatar to enter a massive, interactive digital universe where they can do almost anything.
Immersion is created through a number of sensory techniques in the headset, including visual, sound and haptic (touch). This creates a feeling of spatial presence that allows the user to perceive and experience the virtual space as real. This means negative experiences such as sexual violence and harassment also feel real.
Unless you are constantly recording your interactions in the metaverse via your headset, crucial evidence of that unpleasant interaction would not be captured. Some companies have created user controls, such as a safety bubble that can be activated around your avatar. However, we do not yet have sufficient research to know whether these are effective.
Our study argues the impact of metacrimes will also be exacerbated for vulnerable populations, especially children who occupy a large proportion of active metaverse users. Difficulties in verifying children’s age online add extra concerns about grooming and minor abuse. These risks are not hypothetical.
In 2022, researchers from the Centre for Countering Digital Hate conducted 11 hours and 30 minutes of recorded user interactions on Meta’s Oculus headset in the popular VRChat. They found that users, including children, encounter abusive behaviour approximately every seven minutes.
Bullying and sexual harassment was also rife, and minors were often manipulated into using racist slurs and promoting extremist ideas.
In January 2024, police in the United Kingdom launched the first case of rape in the metaverse after a 16-year-old girl’s avatar was attacked. Police reported the victim suffered psychological and emotional trauma, similar to an attack in the physical world.
The outcomes of the case are currently pending and are likely to set a legal precedent for the protection of minors in the metaverse. At the moment, metacrime presents new challenges in defining, measuring and pursuing avatars’ liability that conventional cybercrime does not usually confront.
We also found other risks including hacking and recording of a person’s environment. Manipulation of VR technologies, such as haptic suites that enable users to physically engage with virtual spaces, also enable perpetrators to inflict direct physical harm on users.
This can include inflicting visual vertigo, motion sickness, and neurologic symptoms.
Where to from here?
Major tech companies such as Apple, Meta and Microsoft are investing heavily in the metaverse, developing both hardware and software to enhance their platforms.
Research firm Gartner predicted by 2026, 25 per cent of people will spend at least an hour each day in the metaverse for work, shopping, education, social media and entertainment.
This prediction may be not too far away from reality. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner’s national online safety survey conducted in 2022 found 49 per cent of metaverse users said they had entered the metaverse at least once a month in the last year.
It is therefore urgent that governments and tech companies develop metaverse-specific legal and regulatory frameworks to safeguard immersive virtual environments. National and international legal frameworks will need to account for the new characteristics of metacrime we have identified. Law enforcement will need to upskill in metacrime reporting and investigations.
In the past, companies have talked about using new technologies responsibly – but haven’t taken responsibility when their platforms were used for crimes and harms. Instead, tech leaders deploy what researchers are now calling an “artful apology” (for example, “I’m sorry you experienced this on our platform”).
But this does nothing tangible to tackle the problem, and metaverse companies should instil clear regulatory frameworks for their virtual environments to make them safe for everyone to inhabit. Source: PTI
NASA’s DART spacecraft, prior to its historic impact on the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022, captured high-resolution images of both Dimorphos and its larger counterpart Didymos.
These images have allowed scientists to decode the intricate history of these near-Earth asteroids and understand the formation of binary asteroid systems, which consist of a primary asteroid with a smaller moonlet orbiting it. Analysis of Didymos’s craters and surface strength suggests it formed around 12.5 million years ago, while Dimorphos is estimated to have formed about 300,000 years ago.
Didymos likely originated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter before being pushed into the inner solar system.
Examination of the largest boulders on Didymos and Dimorphos revealed that these asteroids are made up of rocky fragments from the destruction of a parent asteroid.
“These large boulders could not have formed from impacts on the surfaces of Didymos and Dimorphos themselves,” said Maurizio Pajola of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) in Italy. Pajola explained that such impacts would have shattered the asteroids, according a report by Reuters.
Didymos, with a diameter of about 780 meters, and Dimorphos, roughly 170 meters wide, are classified as “rubble pile” asteroids. Their surfaces are strewn with boulders, with the largest on Dimorphos comparable to a school bus and on Didymos as large as a soccer field. Olivier Barnouin from Johns Hopkins University noted that the surfaces of both asteroids are much weaker than loose sand.
The study shows that Dimorphos likely formed from material ejected from Didymos’s equatorial region due to the latter’s faster rotation in the past. Didymos currently rotates once every 2.25 hours. The DART mission, which struck Dimorphos on September 26, 2022, at approximately 14,000 miles per hour, successfully demonstrated the ability to alter an asteroid’s trajectory, although Didymos and Dimorphos pose no immediate threat to Earth.
Japanese researchers have developed a new model that can help predict the outcomes of patients who suffer from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).
In cardiac arrest cases, immediate action is crucial, as it can determine the patient’s survival. Timely intervention not only improves the chances of recovery but also minimises the risk of severe complications.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University developed the R-EDByUS score, a scoring model that uses prehospital resuscitation data to predict outcomes in OHCA patients.
The R-EDByUS score comprises five variables: age, duration to return of spontaneous circulation or time to hospital arrival, absence of bystander CPR, whether the arrest was witnessed, and initial heart rhythm (shockable versus non-shockable).
Cardiac arrest, which can result in death within minutes, is a critical emergency with low survival rates. Accurate early prediction models are crucial in OHCA cases, potentially saving lives and reducing unnecessary healthcare costs.
“Current prognosis prediction models require complex calculations and blood test data, making them impractical for rapid use immediately after patient transport,” explained Takenobu Shimada, a medical lecturer at the University’s Graduate School of Medicine. The model demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with C-statistics values around 0.85, indicating excellent performance. “The R-EDByUS score enables high-precision prognosis prediction immediately upon hospital arrival, and its application via smartphone or tablet makes it suitable for everyday clinical use,” Shimada noted.
This new tool is expected to be invaluable for healthcare providers, aiding in the prompt assessment and management of patients undergoing resuscitation. Source: IANS
A new Lancet Commission report highlights high cholesterol and untreated vision loss as major new risks for dementia, which affects memory and thinking skills. Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common type of dementia, makes up 60-70% of cases. The report shows that these issues account for nine percent of all dementia cases. Seven percent of dementia cases are linked to high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) that often rise around age 40, while untreated vision problems contribute to two percent of cases. So, keep those cholesterol levels in check and get those eyes examined.
The report, written by 27 top dementia experts, underscores the importance of managing cholesterol and addressing vision issues to lower the risk of developing dementia. With dementia listed as the seventh leading cause of death worldwide by the World Health Organization (WHO), this new research is particularly relevant for India.
Suvarna Alladi, a professor of neurology at NIMHANS in Bengaluru and a key author of the report, points out that dementia affects 7.4% of people over 60 in India, with around 8.8 million individuals living with the condition. “Age remains the strongest risk factor for dementia, but this new evidence highlights why we need to prioritise screening and treating vision loss and managing cholesterol levels in older adults to help reduce dementia cases,” she says.
In 2020, the Lancet Commission identified 12 key risk factors for dementia, including low levels of education, hearing impairment, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury (TBI), air pollution, and social isolation.
A meta-analysis of three UK studies involving over 1.1 million people under 65 found that every 1 mmol/L increase in LDL cholesterol raised dementia risk by eight percent. Another study with 1.2 million participants showed that LDL cholesterol levels over 3 mmol/L increased the risk of dementia by 33 percent. Additionally, a large UK study of 1.8 million people tracked for 7.4 years confirmed that higher LDL cholesterol levels are linked to a greater risk of dementia. Researchers say this connection arises because excess cholesterol raises stroke risk and leads to the buildup of amyloid ß and tau proteins, which disrupt brain cell function.
High levels of LDL cholesterol are linked to increased amyloid buildup in the brain. “Several factors explain the connection between high LDL cholesterol (levels above 100 mg/dL) and brain amyloid accumulation,” says Dr. Faheem Arshad, assistant professor of neurology at NIMHANS. These include heightened activity of amyloid-producing enzymes like secretases, reduced clearance of amyloid from the brain, negative impacts on neuron cells, and damage to the blood-brain barrier due to inflammatory processes.
Researchers highlight that “individual counselling on diet and exercise has limited effects on lowering LDL cholesterol. Statins, which are being studied for their potential benefits in Alzheimer’s Disease, show promise due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Source: HT
Eating a vegan diet for eight weeks can help reduce biological age estimations, according to a small study. Knowing the biological age can help understand the risk of diabetes or dementia. The research, published in the journal BMC Medicine, showed that the age reduction observed was based on levels of DNA methylation—a type of chemical modification of DNA (known as an epigenetic modification) that alters gene expression but not DNA itself.
The new study, a randomised, controlled trial of 21 pairs of adult identical twins, investigated the molecular effects of a short-term vegan diet.
The team instructed one-half of each twin pair to eat an omnivorous diet for eight weeks—including between 170 and 225 grams of meat, one egg, and one-and-a-half servings of dairy each day—and the other half to eat a vegan diet for the same length of time.
The team found decreases in estimates of biological age—known as epigenetic ageing clocks—in participants who ate a vegan diet but not among those that ate an omnivorous diet.
People on a vegan diet also had decreases in the ages of the heart, hormone, liver, and inflammatory and metabolic systems. They also lost two kilograms more on average than those who ate an omnivorous diet due to differences in the calorie contents.
The findings are unclear, said the team stressing the need to investigate further the relationship between dietary composition, weight, and ageing.
Source: IANS
Ingredients
500g Soft white milk fudge (khoya)
300gms sugar powdered
½tsp cardamom powder
1tsp cardamom seeds semi crushed
1tbsp slivered or crushed pistachios
A few strands of saffron
1tbsp warm milk
2 drops saffron color (optional)
Method
– Soak the saffron in warm milk.
– Crumble the milk fudge. If very hard, grate the fudge. Add powdered sugar and mix well.
– Put mixture in a large heavy or nonstick pan. Heat on medium high for few minutes. Reduce the flame and cook till soft and gooey.
– Make sure to stir continuously, while on heat. When mixture is thick and gooey, add cardamom and saffron. Add the color if desired.
– Mix well, and take off fire. Allow to cool, gently turning occasionally.
– Use cookie molds, or shape pedas with palms into patty rounds. Mix pistachios and cardamom seeds and press a bit on top of each.
– If using molds, first sprinkle some at bottom. Take some mixture and press into mold. When set well, invert and carefully, unmold.
Hairfall has become a cause of trouble for many people these days. There can be many reasons behind this. Hair starts falling due to many reasons like stress, lack of essential nutrients in the body, dandruff, excess oil on the scalp, hormonal imbalance and chemical treatment. To reduce hairfall, you do not need expensive treatments, but you need to try some home remedies. Many types of oils, sprays and masks made at home can increase hair growth. If you are also troubled by hairfall, hair is falling and becoming thin and has lost its growth and shine, then to increase hair growth, you can easily make hair spray at home. This will reduce hairfall and hair can grow up to the waist. But, also pay attention to your diet and lifestyle.
Make this hair spray at home to increase hair growth
– Aloe vera gel and coconut oil reduces hair fall and thinning.
– Aloe vera has antibacterial properties. It also reduces scalp infections. Vitamin A, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin E are found in aloe vera. It strengthens the hair and gives shine to the hair .
– Aloe vera contains alonine, which helps in increasing hair growth.
– It increases hair growth, making hair long and thick.
– Coconut oil has anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces hair fall and strengthens the hair from the roots.
– This nourishes the hair.
– It also has anti-fungal properties. It removes scalp infections.
Material
– Aloe vera gel – quarter cup
– Water – one and half cup
– Coconut oil – 2 teaspoons
Method
– Mix water and aloe vera gel well.
– Now add coconut oil and mix it.
– After mixing it well in a bowl, fill it in a spray bottle.
– Shake the bottle well before each use.
– Spray it on your hair while sleeping.
– You can also spray it 1 hour before washing your hair.
Your perfume speaks before you do, however, just picking out any bottle from the stack is not the final step. Dress etiquette has been extensively written about, yet all perfume etiquette gets is a summary: Don’t put too much. There is undoubtedly more to fragrance etiquette than just recommending its moderate use. Let’s look at a few of the most overlooked perfume-wearing advice to avoid getting a bad rap.
Here are some tips and trick to up your fragrance game and maintain a classy perfume etiquette:
Choose the proper fragrance
It would help to choose the appropriate scent to use even before keeping track of the spritzes. Before purchasing, perform a patch test of the scent on your body to see how it aligns with your body chemistry, specifically your natural scent. What works well for your friend or favourite influencer might not be effective for you. Find your unique scent.
Think about the situation
When and where will you wear the fragrance? The venue’s and the event’s fragrances should match. On a night out, a strong, seductive scent could be perfect, but it will not be suited for your workplace. Choose milder fragrances during the day. When visiting a hospital, attending a baby shower, or attending an interview for your desired job, be discreet or don’t dab. In public settings, too, wear mild fragrances. Remember, perfume is supposed to discovered, not announced.
Say it, don’t spray it?
Spritz your perfume in a private location, such as your home, car, or the restroom. Always step away and spray if you need to touch up your perfume in public. Never spray your perfume in the public transport or a restaurant. Not everyone wants to smell like you, even if your perfume is good.
Avoid wearing expired perfume
After six to twelve months, the makeup of even the highest-quality scents changes. Exquisite notes that have already been opened tend to become harsh or sour with time. Remember to finish bottles on time. If it’s expired, it’s time to buy a new one.
Avoid using it to cover up other odor
Perfume is not a magic wand. It cannot clear a strong scent such as that of cigarette smoke or alcohol, even if it may temporarily mask it for some time. Even then, the extra spritz of perfume are a giveaway. It’s better to let the other odour settle down, or use soap and water to the extent possible, before spraying on perfume.
Apply from a distance
The ideal distance to spray eau de toilette is six inches. Don’t concentrate the spray in one spot. Apply on the pulse points (where you feel the heartbeat), such as the underside of your neck, your wrist, behind your ear, or above your elbow. Apply it to the chest or arms underneath your garments if you’re a male who prefers a mild aroma all day.
Stick to your body
Whatever they advise, don’t pour perfume on your clothes. Clothes can be ruined and stained by perfumes. Instead of your fabric conditioner, perfumes are made to respond to the chemistry of your skin. Do not apply perfume to your hair.
Stay within your fragrance circle
The golden rule of perfumes, “don’t put too much,” parallels this. An arm’s length away from your body, a smell circle can be filled with two spritzes on average. It’s better to not leave behind a fragrance trail.
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