The Indian Panorama

Month: August 2024

  • WALL STREET EXEC INSPIRES TEACHING TEENS LIFE LESSONS

    • By Mabel Pais

    “I believe it is important for all young people to have time, resources and opportunities to think about the life they want to make for themselves and not just how they will make a living,” Ed Hajim

    What is the Ed Hajim Professional Readiness Program?

    Ed Hajim (Credit: NJPAC.org)

    This fall, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) will launch a new initiative for its arts education students, the Ed Hajim Professional Readiness Program, which will offer rising teen artists, 14 and up, a series of free classes and opportunities that will propel them towards a successful career in the performing arts. The program will equip student performers with skills and strategies necessary to succeed professionally in the performing arts.

    Inspired by Hajim’s book, ‘Island of the Four Ps: A Modern Fable About Preparing for Your Future,’ a guide to success in life and business told in the form of a fable, the program is designed to let young artists harness the elements of success that propelled Hajim himself from foster care to Wall Street board rooms.

    Hajim, a leading business executive who held senior management positions with the Capital Group, E.F. Hutton, and Lehman Brothers before becoming chairman and CEO of Furman Selz, is supporting the program with a significant gift to the Arts Center. He will also meet with participants to share with them how he made his way from an orphanage to Harvard Business School and the C-suite of multiple financial firms.

    Watch 2015 Horatio Alger Award Winner Edmund Hajim speak of the troubles of his youth during the Depression, including time spent in foster care while his father was at sea during World War II, and how he discovered his passion for financial management while at Harvard Business School

    – youtu.be/i-9q2bKSCwM

    While career preparedness has always been an element of NJPAC’s extensive arts education programs  – which offer thousands of young people skills instruction in vocal and instrumental jazz music, acting, musical theater and hip-hop arts every year – the PREP initiative will formalize and significantly expand those offerings. 

    “Ed Hajim’s life story is a remarkable one, and the lessons he’s gleaned from his extraordinary career have inspired us to create a series of workshops and programs for our students to ensure they’re fully prepared for their professional lives. Success in the performing arts requires talent, of course, but also practical and interpersonal skills that Ed has uniquely identified,” says John Schreiber, President and CEO of NJPAC. “The career-readiness aspect of our arts education programming will be turbocharged by this gift and by Ed’s personal engagement with our students.”

    “These initiatives will help our students marry their raw talent with the skills they need to become thriving businesspeople as well as great performers. They’ll be able to explore their passions, and develop the skills that will allow them to make informed plans for their futures, all here at the Arts Center,” says Rosa Hyde, Senior Director Arts Ed Performances and Special Events at NJPAC.

    PROGRAM

    NJPAC Arts Ed Students (Credit: NJPAC.org)

    The  program – which is FREE to current NJPAC students who desire to pursue a profession in the arts, and to alumni of the Arts Center’s arts training programs – will guide students through a series of steps that will advance their career readiness. Starting at age 14, and continuing through their university-level education and the early years of their professional work, students will receive both instruction in key skills and access to a ready-made professional network. The programs that will be available to NJPAC students beginning in Fall 2024 include:

    • Business of the Arts Workshops: For students ages 14 to 18

    A year-long series of two-hour Saturday seminars (offered immediately following NJPAC’s Saturday arts training classes)  on the practical skills young artists will need to advance their careers, including resume-writing, social media management, contract and financial literacy and audition etiquette, taught both by working artists and professionals in other fields.

    • The Production Education Assistants program: For students and alumni ages 18-30

    Students and alumni will be offered the opportunity to take a month-long series of bi-weekly classes in technical theater skills, from light and sound design to stage management. Once classes are completed, they will have the opportunity to learn from and shadow professional stagehands. Participants will have the opportunity to sit for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) BACKstage Exam (Basic and Comprehensive Knowledge Exam for High School Technical Theatre Students), a prerequisite for consideration for union membership.

    • NJPAC Alumni Network: For graduates of the Arts Centers arts training programs New alumni will now be able to join and learn from a community of NJPAC-trained artists. Through this network, not only will alumni be able to share insights and information with fellow artists, but the Arts Center will be able to call upon its graduates to provide mentorship to younger artists, perform at events, advise on programming and share their success stories. Through a new online platform, alumni will be able to network with peers who can provide advice, share job leads, and collaborate creatively. These additions to the Arts Center’s arts education curriculum will also include expansions of career-focused initiatives that have been piloted at NJPAC in recent years including:
    • Creative Coaching: For student artists ages 14 through 18. The Creative Coaching program pairs arts training students with teaching artists who serve as their mentors for two years. Working together, student and mentor identify a career-focused goal for the year – from producing a student’s first EP to preparing a repertoire of songs and monologues for auditions – and work together on the steps toward achieving that goal. Mentors and students meet twice a week throughout the school year.
    • The Creator’s Room: For students ages 16 to 18 A quarterly series of conversations at which students can meet with working professional artists to both network and pick up tips and insight on how to handle auditions, how to find representation, where best to seek our job opportunities in today’s market, even how to dress for auditions and rehearsals. These meetings are designed to offer students the nitty-gritty details of pursuing a career in the arts, from artists who are currently working in the field.

    Finally, with this training supporting them, students engaged in the  program will be able to take on paid performance jobs through the Arts Center’s unique placement service for the students it trains:

    • Brick City Booking: For current students aged 14 and up, and NJPAC alumni

    Student artists and recent alumni can access paid performance opportunities, and work with staff and mentors to negotiate contract terms, prepare repertoire, and nurture ongoing relationships with clients, through this service, NJPAC’s student and alumni “booking agency.”

    Watch the video of Arts Ed Students – player.vimeo.com/external/351250473.hd.mp4?s=0659a112ecadb56e1fbe83d3c38de29ca4c3b345&profile_id=175

    For more information about NJPAC’s arts education and career readiness programs, visit njpac.org/arts-education.

    Ed Hajim

    Ed Hajim is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, ‘On The Road Less Traveled: An Unlikely Journey from the Orphanage to the Boardroom’ and ‘The Island of the Four Ps: A Modern Fable About Preparing for Your Future’.

    The son of a Syrian immigrant, he is a seasoned Wall Street executive with more than 50 years of investment experience. He has held senior management positions with the Capital Group, E.F. Hutton, and Lehman Brothers before becoming chairman and CEO of Furman Selz. Hajim has been the co-chairman of ING Barings, Americas Region; chairman and CEO of ING Aeltus Group and ING Furman Selz Asset Management. He is now non-executive chairman of High Vista, a Boston-based money management company.

    In 2008, after 20 years as a trustee of the University of Rochester, Hajim began an eight-year tenure as chairman of the university’s board. Upon assuming that office he gave the school $30 million—the largest single donation in its history—to support scholarships and endow the Edmund A. Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Through the Hajim Family Foundation, he has made generous donations to organizations that promote education, health care, arts, culture, and conservation.

    In 2015, he received the Horatio Alger Award, given to Americans who exemplify the values of initiative, leadership, and commitment to excellence and who have succeeded despite personal adversities. Married for 59 years, Ed and his wife Barbara have three children and eight grandchildren. Learn more at edhajim.com.

  • ‘THE THORN’ DEPICTS EVERY HUMAN’S SPIRITUAL BATTLE

    ‘THE THORN’ DEPICTS EVERY HUMAN’S SPIRITUAL BATTLE

    • By Mabel Pais

    Do you wish to take a front seat to experience the thrilling live theatrical performance of ‘THE THORN’ portraying the passion of Jesus?

    Then don’t miss this incredible opportunity to witness the passion of Jesus brought to life at one of the few select venues: the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for this compelling theatrical event taking place on Wednesday, September 18 at 7 pm.

    ‘THE  THORN’ tells the story of Jesus and the epic spiritual battle for every human being. The story begins with the creation of the world and weaves through time, highlighting the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus and ending with the beginning of the early church.

    With a powerful theatrical portrayal of the passion of Jesus, this highly popular production has been witnessed by over one million people. ‘The Thorn’ captivated audiences across the country, with over 50 performances from Spokane to Miami, most of which were nearly sold out.

    ‘The Thorn’ offers audiences a unique theatrical experience in a show that has been hailed as “Cirque meets ‘The Passion’” thanks to its compelling mix of drama, music, dance, martial arts, aerial acrobatics, emotionally evocative performances, and timeless spiritual perspectives. The story spans from creation to the formation of the early church.

    THE THORN STORY

    Author John Bolin created the show 25 years ago to convey the meaning of Christ’s sacrificial death to a group of young people who knew little about the story of Jesus’ suffering but were familiar with pain through their own practice of cutting and self-harm.

    The show has evolved ever since, with the current live version returning to the original format featuring St. John, “the beloved disciple,” recalling his many amazing encounters with Jesus.

    “It’s a story full of love, sacrifice, spiritual warfare, and redemption,” said Bolin.

    Watch the video – youtu.be/m-CrGi3KPTo

    ‘THE THORN’ CREATORS

    “The Thorn” creator John Bolin, says God called him: “to tell stories on the page, stage, and screen,” an assignment he has now completed with the film version of ‘The Thorn.’ His books include novels (The Eden Project) and Christian growth guides (‘So Loved’, ‘The Two Doors of Heaven’, and ‘Life Unlimited’).

    John’s wife, Sarah Bolin helped create the show and is the Executive Producer, managing the show’s national touring troupes. When asked about why she tours and has participated in ‘The Thorn’ for so long, Sarah said, “God asked us to trust him and open our hands, and he promised to make something beautiful happen.” Over the years, Sarah has been witness to seeing God move in tangible ways across audiences and cast members alike.

    JESUS TRENDING

    Although polls show that U.S. church attendance is declining, interest in Jesus is growing. ‘The Chosen,’ the popular streaming series about Jesus, has racked up over 400 million episode views.

    “As I first saw with my students 25 years ago, people who may have jaundiced views of Christians or churches are more open to learning about who the real Jesus was, how he lived, and what he taught,” said Bolin.

    While previous incarnations of ‘The Thorn’ live show have been performed mostly at churches, the new touring model makes the show available to everyone at mainstream performing arts venues and arenas. 

    “Jesus believes in accessibility,” said Bolin. “He wants everyone to have access to the ultimate story of love and hope. That’s why he came to earth in the first place.”

    PARTNERS/SPONSORS

    ‘The Thorn’ partners with Compassion International, a child sponsorship and Christian humanitarian aid organization, headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, the same town where ‘The Thorn’ was created. In an effort to assist in the sustainable development of children living in poverty around the world, Compassion works with the local church to provide food, clothing, education, healthcare, discipleship and more. With a partnership spanning over 12 years, ‘The Thorn’ is proud to have the touring cast and audiences be participants in seeing thousands of children sponsored and is expectant to see many more sponsored this Spring.

    TICKETS

    For Tickets to The Thorn, visit NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

    The performance is recommended for adults and children ages 12+. Not advisable for children below 12.

    The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

    NJPAC is located in downtown Newark, N.J., is America’s most diverse performing arts center, and the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, which have reached almost 2 million children, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 10 million visitors since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Learn more at njpac.org or call 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

    Follow NJPAC Online:

    Website:   njpac.org

    Twitter:    @NJPAC

    Instagram:  @NJPAC

    Hashtag:    #NJPAC

    Facebook:   facebook.com/NJPAC

    YouTube:    NJPACtv

    Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:

    Website: njpac.org/takeastand

    Hashtag: #NJPACTakeAStand

    Youtube:  Standing in Solidarity playlist

    (Mabel Pais writes on Spirituality, Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)

  • Four Indian women wrestlers become U17 world champions

    Four Indian women wrestlers become U17 world champions

    In a sparkling show by India’s women wrestlers at the Under-17 World Championships, four grapplers annexed the titles in Amman (Jordan) on August 22, and at least two more are in gold medal contention.
    Aditi Kumari (43kg), Neha (57kg), Pulkit (65kg) and Mansi Lather (73kg) won world titles in their respective categories with remarkable ease. Kajal (69kg) and Shrutika Patil (46kg) will also compete in the gold medal bouts on Friday after making the finals.
    India can bag more medals as Raj Bala (40kg) will compete in the bronze playoff while Muskan (53kg) and Rajnita (61kg) are still in contention for podium finishes by making the repechage round. India are now certain to win the women’s team trophy despite not fielding a wrestler in the 49kg weight class.
    Aditi emerged champion after blanking Maria Louiza Gkika of Greece 7-0 in the title clash. Neha overpowered Japan’s So Tsuitsui as she stood out with her double-leg attacks. Neha hardly gave a chance to her rival in the gold medal bout. Pulkit faced Daria Frolova, who is competing as a neutral athlete, and won 6-3. She was leading 5-0 but conceded a pushout point and caution late in the bout that allowed Frolova to gain three points. Frolova made a desperate attempt to get the winning move but Pulkit defended well in the final 20 seconds to claim the title.
    Mansi raced to a 5-0 lead against Hanna Pirskaya and then found a way to pin her rival, ending the bout in style. India also won two bronze medals in the Greco-Roman category with Ronak Dahiya and Sainath Pardhi (51kg) ending on the podium.
    Vinesh Phogat’s brand value skyrockets after Paris Olympics 2024
    Vinesh Phogat had a memorable, but disappointing Paris Olympics 2024 campaign. It was supposed to be a moment of redemption, but it became a stuttering end to her glittering career. With Antil Panghal in her weight category, she had to drop down to 50 kg and qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024.
    According to Economic Times, Vinesh’s performances in Paris caught the entire’s nation’s attention and her endorsement fee has also taken a huge surge. She reportedly charged Rs 25 lakh for each endorsement deal before Paris 2024, and has increased it in the region of Rs 75 lakh and 1 crore for a single brand.
    Vinesh also returnedto India to a rousing welcome. He was feted by several supporters and khap panchayats as she made her way to her village Balali. Hundreds of supporters were outside the IGI airport and welcomed her to the beats of dhol, as she made her way out.
    With at least silver expected, tragedy struck ahead of the gold medal bout. In the weigh-in for the final, Vinesh was 100 gm overweight and was therefore disqualified. Stunned by the decision, she appealed to the CAS, and also announced her retirement. The CAS verdict also didn’t go to her side.

  • Three Indian-origin girls named in Australia’s U19 women’s squad

    Three Indian-origin girls named in Australia’s U19 women’s squad

    Cricket Australia (CA) on Thursday, August 22, announced their squad for the upcoming Women’s Under-19 Tri-series involving New Zealand and Sri Lanka, set to take place from September 19 in Brisbane. The Youth Selection Panel has selected 15-player squads for each format (T20 and 50-over) for the Tri series in Brisbane and Gold Coast. Former Australian player Kristen Beams has been named as the head coach of the squad. In this 14-day tri-series, Australia will play four T20s and two One-Day matches. The squad comprises three Indian origin players in Ribya Syan, Samara Dulvin, and Hasrat Gill. “Their inclusion reflects the growing diversity within Australian cricket and the significant contributions of players with Indian heritage,” CA said in their statement. Australian U19 Women’s – T20 Squad: Bonnie Berry, Caoimhe Bray, Ella Briscoe, Maggie Clark, Samara Dulvin, Lucy Finn, Hasrat Gill, Lucy Hamilton, Amy Hunter, Eleanor Larosa, Ines McKeon, Ribhya Syan, Tegan Williamson, Elizabeth Worthley, Hayley Zauch.
    Australian U19 Women’s – 50 Over Squad: Bonnie Berry, Caoimhe Bray, Ella Briscoe, Maggie Clark, Samara Dulvin, Lucy Finn, Hasrat Gill, Amy Hunter, Eleanor Larosa, Ines McKeon, Juliette Morton (NSW) Ribhya Syan, Tegan Williamson, Elizabeth Worthley, Hayley Zauch.

  • Women’s T20 World Cup moved out of Bangladesh

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) today moved the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to the UAE, saying it “wasn’t feasible” to conduct the event there after governments of a number of participating countries advised against travelling to the unrest-hit nation. The event, which is scheduled to take place from October 3 to 20, will now be staged in Dubai and Sharjah, with Bangladesh retaining the hosting rights, ensuring that it receives its share of the revenue.
    “It is a shame not to be hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh as we know the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would have staged a memorable event,” ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said in a statement which avoided any direct mention of the violence and tension in the South Asian nation.
    Allardice said the BCB explored “all avenues to try and enable the event to be hosted” there. “…but travel advisories from the governments of a number of the participating teams meant that wasn’t feasible. However, they will retain hosting rights. We look forward to taking an ICC global event to Bangladesh in the near future,” he said.
    Smith, Brook lead England charge
    Jamie Smith’s unbeaten 72 propelled England to a 23-run lead over Sri Lanka on Day 2 of the opening Test at Old Trafford where only 57 overs were bowled after the first session was washed out and bad light stopped play.
    Harry Brook’s 56 guided England within reach of Sri Lanka’s first innings total and the hosts were at 259/6 with Smith at the crease alongside Gus Atkinson when the teams returned to the pavilion as the skies darkened amid a light drizzle.
    After posting 236 in the first innings on Wednesday, Sri Lanka could not use their fast bowlers at the end of Day 1 due to bad light as England scored 22 runs off spin in four overs. But after an early lunch due to the wet outfield today, the tourists took full advantage of the cloudy conditions to pick up three wickets in the first hour that put England on the backfoot.
    Asitha Fernando opened the bowling on Day 2 and trapped Ben Duckett leg-before in his second over with an inswinging delivery. He then broke through stand-in skipper Ollie Pope’s defence to hit the top of off stump while his left-arm fast bowling counterpart Vishwa Fernando had Dan Lawrence — opening in place of the injured Zak Crawley — caught behind for 30.

  • Neeraj Chopra finishes 2nd in Lausanne Diamond League

    Neeraj Chopra finishes 2nd in Lausanne Diamond League

    Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finished second in the Lausanne Diamond League as he recovered in time to produce a season’s best effort of 89.49m in his last attempt on Thursday, August 22.
    The 26-year-old Chopra was at fourth spot till the fourth round before sending his spear to 85.58m in his fifth attempt. He saved the best for the last as his sixth and final attempt measured 89.49m, which was better than his performance in the Paris Olympics.
    He was in danger of missing the sixth throw but his fifth round effort of 85.58m saved him. Only the top three after five rounds get their respective final attempts.
    Two-time world champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada won the event with his second round monster throw of 90.61m while Julian Weber of Germany took the third spot with 87.08m.
    “The feeling wasn’t great at first, but I´m happy with my throw, especially the second (career) best throw on my last attempt. It was a tough start, but the comeback was really nice and I enjoyed the fighting spirit I showed,” Chopra said after the event.

    “Even though my early throws were around 80-83m, I pushed hard in the last two attempts finishing strong. Competing at this high level, it’s important to stay mentally tough and fight through.” Nursing a long-standing groin injury, Chopra claimed a silver in the Paris Olympics on August 8 with an 89.45m throw, having won a historic gold in the Tokyo edition of the Games three years ago. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem had beaten Chopra for the gold in Paris with an Olympic record throw of 92.97m.
    Peters, who had struggled to find his form last year, led the competition from beginning to end and he stamped his class with the 90m-plus throw in the last round. He has a personal best of 93.07m which he had produced in 2022. With seven points from Thursday’s second-place finish, Chopra will be on joint third spot with Weber on Diamond League standings with 15 points. Peters jumped to top spot with 21 points.
    Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, who finished seventh (82.03m) on Thursday, is in second spot with 16 points.
    On Saturday, Chopra had confirmed his participation at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, leaving a decision on a possible surgery after the end of the season.
    Chopra was the Diamond League champion in 2022 and finished second behind Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic in the winner-takes-all DL final in Eugene, USA, last year.
    This season’s DL finals will be held in Brussels on September 14. He needs to finish in the top-six of the Diamond League meetings series standings to qualify for the season finale.
    There is another DL meeting — in Zurich on September 5 — which has a men’s javelin throw event in its roster. Chopra had won the Lausanne leg of the Diamond League in 2022 and 2023, but could not do so this time. In fact, Chopra is yet to win a DL meeting this year. He finished second behind Vadlejch in Doha on May 10.
    Chopra has been managing his groin injury since winning the gold in the Budapest World Championships last year. Source: PTI

  • Cricket: T10 is all set to make its debut in Mississauga

    Cricket: T10 is all set to make its debut in Mississauga

    By Prabhjot Singh

    T10, the latest and shortest version of instant cricket, will make its debut in Canada later this month. This time, girls and women in colorful clothing will take to the field in the first-ever major international T10 event on Canadian soil. Instead of Brampton, the acknowledged cricket capital of cricket in Canada, this marquee event will be held at Danville Park in Mississauga.
    After the mixed success of the weather-marred T20 World Cup for men jointly staged by the USA and West Indies, cricket looks set to spread its base in North America. Early this month, Brampton organized its second edition of the GT 20 cricket tournament. Women cricketers will now take over the onerous task of popularizing this bat and ball game further in Canada through this three-day extravaganza featuring both present and upcoming women cricketers.
    “We are thrilled to bring such a high-caliber event to Mississauga,” Atul Ahuja, Curator, said. “The World T10TM Women’s Series and World T10TM Rising Star Women Series are set to be incredible showcases of talent and skill. We invite fans from all around to join us in celebrating the sport and supporting these fantastic teams and players.”
    After Brampton, it is now the turn of Mississauga to host an exciting sports extravaganza. It is all set to welcome the World T10TM Women’s Series and the World T10TM Rising Star Women’s Series from August 31 to September 2. This thrilling weekend of T10 will feature some of the best players from across Canada and the Caribbean, showcasing high-energy matches and unparalleled sporting talent. Former Member of the Provincial Assembly and sitting Councillor Dipika Damerla will inaugurate the series on August 31.
    In the World T10TM Women’s Series, three teams – Trinidad South Young Warriors, Mississauga Premiers and Montreal Thunders – will battle it out for supremacy:
    Since it will be a premier event, each team will bring its A-game to the field, promising exhilarating matches to showcase of high-octane fast paced sport. T10, being the latest and shortest version, not only promises exciting battles between the bat and the ball but also some sizzling shots, some spectacular saves on the field and some immaculate bowling to ensure each game witnesses rapid scoring, dynamic gameplay, and intense competition as these teams vie for the top spot.
    Simultaneously, the World T10TM Rising Star Women Series will highlight the emerging talent of three promising teams – East Credit Rapids, Meadowvale Glory, and Malton Arrows. This series for promising and upcoming players will provide a platform for the next generation of players to shine and demonstrate their skills on a grand stage. The Rising Star Series promises to be a launchpad for future stars. The T10 format, known for its fast-paced and action-packed nature, ensures that both series will be a spectacle of high-intensity match-ups, providing entertainment for all fans of the sport.

    (Prabhjot Singh is a senior journalist. He writes with equal aplomb on sports and politics. He can be reached at Prabhjot416@gmail.com)

  • Uttarakhand: Mystical land of mountains and mythologies

    Uttarakhand: Mystical land of mountains and mythologies

    Uttarakhand is one of the most beautiful northern states of India located on the southern slope of the Himalayan range. Mighty Himalayan peaks and glaciers are on its north where it borders Tibet. Nepal is on its east, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is on south and Himachal Pradesh lies on its west and northwest. 65% of its area is covered by dense forests that are home to Royal Bengal tiger, leopards and many other endangered animal and plant species. The glaciers of two of the most important rivers—Ganga and Yamuna—are located here.
    It has something to offer to every kind of traveller. For wildlife lovers, Jim Corbett National Park—the oldest national park of the Indian subcontinent is a must visit. Many rare Himalayan birds can also be spotted here besides Pangot and Sattal. For adventure seekers there are some of India’s best trekking trails like Valley Of Flowers, Roopkund, and Chopta-Chandrashila. It also provides immense opportunities for adventure sports, such as skiing at Auli and white water rafting at Shivpuri. Popularly known as the ‘Land of Gods’, it is home to numerous holy places like Gangotri, Yamnotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Rishkesh and Haridwar. Therefore, thousands of pilgrims throng the state every year. Amazing hill stations like Chakrata, Mukteshwar, Dhanaulti and Munsiyari make Uttarakhand a sought after tourist destination for leisure trips. Here’s a list of destinations in Uttarakhand that every nature lover would love to visit.
    CHAKRATA
    Having breakfast with the view of snow-covered Himalayan peaks on a lazy morning while soft rays of winter sun embrace your body and soul while cool breeze kisses you is something city people always crave for. Chakrata located at a distance of 330 km from Delhi, is a tiny hamlet which is a perfect place to do so. There are two routes to drive from Delhi to Chakrata, one is via Panipat and Kurukshetra and the second one is via Loni and Saharanpur, which supposedly is more beautiful and has less traffic.
    Chakrata is a small cantonment town in Dehradun district resting at an elevation of about 7500 ft. The town gets a magnificent view of the snow covered Himalayas and is covered in deodar, Himalayan oak and rhododendron forest. Many day trips to places like Deoban, Koti, Kanasar can be done with Chakrata as base. There are some easy treks also around Chakrata that your hotel guys can arrange for you. There are not many hotels in the area so make sure to book your accommodation in advance. Chakrata is a year round destination; the winter season is perfect to experience snow, greenery is at its best during the monsoon season and the summer season too is quite pleasant.
    AULI
    Auli is one of the most beautiful places of Uttarakhand. Bordered by snow-covered Himalayan peaks, Auli is enveloped in dense golden oak and pine forest with green meadows and slopes ranging from a height of 2519 m to 3049 m. It is considered to be a world-class spot for skiing. GMVN winter resort here provides skiing facility, besides ski training for aspirants. Almost from everywhere in Auli, you can enjoy stunning views of the lofty mountain ranges—Nanda Devi, Mana Paravat and Kamat. The golden rays of sun on the snow-laden peaks fill the atmosphere with a divine glow. The 3rd highest peak of the world—Nanda Devi gleams like the crown of the region. There is an open cable-car to go up to the spot where skiing is done. Even if you do not want to ski, you have plenty of things to do. Climb up the slopes, play with snow, ride a sledge and who knows you might feel like trying skiing too. The best time to visit Auli is in between December and March.
    CORBETT
    Spread across an area of 520.8 sq km, Jim Corbett National Park is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. It is the oldest national park, and is named after Jim Corbett who was the main person behind this establishment. The park is divided in 5 zones—Bijrani, Jhirna, Durgadevi, Dhikala, Sitavani—and is inhabited by royal Bengal tiger, leopard, jungle cat, barking deer, hog deer, cheetal, sloth bears, otters, Himalayan goral, Indian pangolins, langur and many other wild animals. Many rare birds can also be spotted in the region.
    Gorgeous Corbett National Park is one of the favourite destinations equally for wildlife lovers and weekenders. It is just 235 km away from capital city and can be reached in couple of hours. It features splendid landscapes and offers a good amalgam of hills, rivers, forests, marshlands and grasslands. The park is open from the months of November through June. The park is kept closed in the monsoon season as the roads inside the park get washed away due to rain. After the monsoon season, repair work starts and ends only by November.
    MUKTESHWAR
    Staying in middle of fruit orchards in tents and eating garden fresh meals while looking at the Himalayan peaks covered in fresh snow are a few of the many beautiful memories I have of Mukteshwar. You can walk through the dense pine forest and enjoy stunning views of the mighty mountains. Situated at an altitude of 7500 ft in the lap of Kumaon hills, Mukteshwar is an ideal nature get away from Delhi. It just takes 7 hrs from Delhi to reach Mukteshwar via Gajraula, Rampur, Haldwani and Bhowali. Summer months (March to July) are the best months to visit Mukteshwar. If you want to experience snow, visit during Jan or Feb when the whole area is covered in snow and looks stunningly beautiful. If you happen to visit this place around the month of June, the harvesting season, you’d find many fruits like peaches, plum and apricot. And if you still did not have your fill, Mukteshwar has many fruit orchards and you might get lucky to get offered the fruits just plucked from the trees by villagers. The taste of crunchy fresh peaches plucked from a road side tree of an orchard that belonged to a generous local who gladly offered us to pluck as many as we want, is still fresh in my mouth. Mukteshwar has recently got very popular among those looking for holidays in offbeat destinations and hence there is a wide range of options to stay starting from camps to budget hotels to boutique hotels.

  • Janmashtami: Celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna

    Janmashtami: Celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna

    Krishna Janmashtami also known as Krishnashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti or sometimes merely as Janmashtami, is an annual celebration of the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Krishna belonged to the Vrishni clan of Yadavas from Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) and was the eighth son born to the princess Devaki and her husband Vasudeva. Lord Krishna reciprocates in unique, personal ways with every devotee who offers Him love. He is the most adorable, mischievous son, the most romantic lover, the most compassionate friend as described in ancient scriptures. Krishna Janmashtami falls on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of “Bhadrapada” in India. This year, Janmashtami will be celebrated on August 26. According to Hindu mythology, Krishna is the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu and also the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudev. Devotees mark this auspicious occasion by observing a fast and praying to Lord Krishna. People adorn their homes with flowers, diyas and lights. Temples are also beautifully decorated and lit.
    According to Vedic chronology, this year will mark the 5,251th birthday of Krishna. The festival is especially observed in Mathura, Vrindavan and Dwarka, where the God was believed to be born and spent his growing years.
    History and significance
    According to Hindu mythology, Krishna is the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu and also the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudev. He was born on Janmashtami to destroy and defeat the demon king of Mathura, Kansa, who was also Devaki’s brother. The demon king had captured and kept Devaki and Vasudev in prison because of a prophecy that claimed that the couple’s eighth son would cause Kansa’s downfall. Due to this, he killed off six of their children. It is believed that at the time of their seventh child Balram’s birth, the foetus magically transferred from Devaki’s womb to Princess Rohini’s. When Krishna was born, the entire palace fell into a deep slumber. The prison gates magically opened and Vasudev carried Krishna to Nand Baba and Yashoda in a basket on his head. He crossed the river Yamuna to reach Vrindavan and handed Krishna to them. Vasudev returned to the palace with a baby girl. When Kansa tried to kill the baby girl, she transformed into Goddess Durga and warned him of his death. Krishna grew up in Vrindavan and subsequently killed his uncle.
    Celebrations
    Janmashtami is a huge festival in India as it marks the victory of good over evil. On this day, devotees fast and read the Bhagavad Gita as well. They pray to Lord Krishna and distribute sweets. At midnight, priests open the drapes and reveal Krishna’s beautifully decorated deity adorned with new clothes.
    People also mark the day by celebrating the “Dahi Handi” festival. It is quite popular in the states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra. Young boys come together to make a human pyramid and aim to break an earthen pot filled with dahi or curd. The pot is hung very high from the ground and the festival highlights the mischievous and playful personality of Lord Krishna. It is believed that he loved “makkhan” or butter very much and used to steal it, thus earning him the name “Makkhan Chor”.
    Krishna Janmashtami puja procedure
    Before the day of Krishna Janmashtami, the household is cleaned and decorated. On the day of Krishnashtami, the devotees wake up early in the morning and take a holy bath. Then the puja altar is set up. Preferably, the puja altar can be set up in the puja room itself. If you are planning for an elaborate puja, you can organize the puja altar in the main hall also.
    Sri Krishna’s idol is the central attraction of the Krishnashtami puja. Some people use the regular idol or picture they have in their puja room. Some people buy a new image of Krishna every year for the puja. Depending on which material the Krishna idol is made of, you can plan for a holy bath for the idol; or can simply decorate the idol with flowers, clothes, and ornaments. In many Hindu households, people draw the images of little footsteps leading from the main door to the puja room. This practice symbolically represents Sri Krishna’s little feet bringing him into the household to bless the puja and the residents of the house. Krishna’s visit to every home during the puja is said to fill the home with prosperity and happiness. Light the lamp and offer incense to the Lord. Offer Chandan and kumkum. Offer special homemade prasad. Curd/yoghurt, ghee, butter, and other milk products and milk-based sweets are especially suitable to offer to Lord Krishna. Do not forget berries and other fruits. Sing the songs of Krishna and chant some shlokas and mantras related to Krishna. Wave camphor and conclude the puja. Share the prasad with the gathering and family as a mark of Krishna’s blessings.

  • Govt flags e-commerce risk to 100 million retailers

    Govt flags e-commerce risk to 100 million retailers

    Unfettered growth of e-commerce in India may cause “huge social disruption”, impacting the livelihood of 100 million small retailers across the country, Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday, August 21, accusing multinationals such as Amazon of resorting to unfair practices such as predatory pricing to gain market share. His comments are likely to cause concern among large e-commerce companies, Indian as well as foreign, as well as investors that have pumped billions of dollars into them.
    Commenting on Pahle India Foundation’s report “Net Impact of E-Commerce on Employment and Consumer Welfare in India”, Goyal said that the study has prompted “us to start assessing the subject” based on data and empirical evidence. “I’m being contrarian … we have seen this happened in the West. I dare say, Europe, America, all have seen the consequences of this,” he said referring to the disappearance of so-called Mom-n-Pop or kirana stores. Cautious about its disruptive potential, Switzerland initially discouraged e-commerce and later allowed it in a limited way, he added. While Goyal did not elaborate, it is likely that he was referring to the new laws governing e-commerce that will come into effect in the European country from next year, that recognize e-commerce platforms as “deemed suppliers” — a move that is likely to have far-reaching impact on them.
    “I’m not wishing away e-commerce. It’s there to stay… Since this is a study about the impact it should be dispassionate. It should come out with even more details…,” he said emphasising the social need to venture out for shopping and eating out with friends instead of “becoming a country of couch potatoes” watching OTT and ordering in every day.
    “But, I don’t deny that e-commerce has a role. But, we’ll have to think very carefully and cautiously what that role is. Is predatory pricing policy good for the country where Amazon says we are going to invest a billion dollars in India, and we all celebrate. We forget the underlying story that the billion dollars is not coming in for any great service or any great investment to support the Indian economy. They made a billion dollars loss in their balance sheet that year. They have to fill in that loss. And how did that loss get caused? They paid Rs 1,000 crore to professionals. I don’t know who these professionals are..,” he said.
    “I’d love to know which chartered accountants, professionals, lawyers get Rs 1,000 crore unless you are paying all the top lawyers to block them so that nobody can fight a case against you. ”
    The minister continued in the same vein: “ If you make Rs 6,000 crore loss in one year, does that not smell of predatory pricing to any of you? They are, after all an e-commerce platform. They are not allowed to do B2C (business to consumer).”
    Indian laws only allow multinational e-commerce companies to operate platforms that connect sellers to buyers. They cap the stake the companies can have in the sellers. Foreign investment in retail and e-commerce are both issues of significant political relevance in India. It is widely believed that small traders and retailers constitute the core electoral base of the Bharatiya Janata Party which heads the NDA coalition governing the country. Source: HT

  • Walmart tears up China online strategy with JD.com stake sale

    Walmart tears up China online strategy with JD.com stake sale

    New York (TIP)- Walmart’s stake in Chinese e-commerce firm JD.com was once central to its China strategy. Now it is tearing up that playbook by unloading its entire $3.74 billion stake in one of China’s biggest online retailers, in another example of the volatile nature of its relationship with China. The unshackling from JD.com is emblematic of the broader strategic withdrawal of the world’s largest retailer from markets where profitability has proven elusive. It follows the retailer’s exits from several big markets over the past few years, including Japan, Britain, Brazil and Argentina, which industry-watchers have attributed to Walmart’s difficulty in competing with nimble local rivals. When Walmart took its initial investment in JD.com in 2016 it was struggling to scale its own e-commerce platform, Yihaodian, and gain a foothold in China’s rapidly growing online shopping market.
    At the time, David Cheesewright, then CEO of Walmart International, positioned the $1.5 billion deal as a move to improve Walmart’s competitiveness in China’s cutthroat retail sector and boost sales in its underperforming physical stores. The deal, which was one of the biggest investments in a Chinese retailer by a U.S. company, included the opening of a Sam’s Club China store on JD.com and access to JD.com’s distribution network for same- and next-day deliveries, a joint announcement from the companies said.
    The company’s reliance on JD.com to drive sales, however, has diminished since the pandemic, when home-bound Chinese consumers gravitated to Sam’s Clubs so they could stock up for possible lockdowns and make fewer trips to the store. This trend has continued even post-pandemic, Walmart executives have said, with memberships at Sam’s Club hitting a record high in Walmart’s most recent quarter. Sam’s Club, which opened its first store in Shenzhen in 1996, is the top warehouse club chain in China. Half of Walmart’s China sales come from online channels, the company has said, which include sales from JD.com, JD Daojia and its Sam’s Club app.
    Walmart on Tuesday said its decision to sell its JD.com stake “allows us to focus on our strong China operations for Walmart China and Sam’s Club, and deploy capital towards other priorities.” Some of Walmart’s other international priorities include doubling the amount of merchandise it sells in foreign markets to $200 billion in the next four years. The company is also working toward an initial public offering of its digital payments platform PhonePe and Flipkart marketplace in India. The divestiture of JD.com is also notable as a big first move by Kathryn McLay, who took over as CEO of Walmart’s international division last year, and it occurs as U.S.-China trade tensions, coupled with geopolitical uncertainties, have made China a more challenging trade partner. Several Western firms, including Walmart, are increasingly shifting investments and sourcing away from China to other developing countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, to improve their supply-chain resilience.
    Source: Reuters

  • ‘Complex, expensive’: Further tranches of sovereign gold bonds unlikely

    Further tranches of sovereign gold bonds are unlikely, said sources to Business Today TV. SGBs are government securities denominated in grams of gold and are substitutes for physical gold. According to sources, “SGB is a complex and expensive instrument”.
    SGBs are issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on behalf of the Indian government.
    Meanwhile, earlier this month, the RBI announced the final redemption price at Rs 6,938 per gram – 122 per cent higher – for SGBs that were issued on August 5, 2016. The gold bonds were issued at a price of Rs 3,119 in August 2016 by RBI. The final redemption date was August 5. The price of Sovereign Gold Bonds is based on the average closing price of 999 purity gold as published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association Limited for the week before the subscription period, according to RBI guidelines. Investors buy SGBs at the issue price in cash and redeem them for cash upon maturity. The central bank issues these bonds on behalf of the government.
    SGBs, issued by the government, have an 8-year tenure. The SGB August 2016 issue is reaching maturity, requiring redemption. Unlike the optional redemption by the RBI at the end of the fifth year, this bond’s redemption is mandatory.
    Source: Business Today

  • Chandrayaan 4-5 design complete; 70 satellites likely to be launched in 5 yrs: ISRO chief

    ISRO chairman S Somanath has said the space agency has completed the design for the next round of moon missions – Chandrayaan 4 and 5 – and is in the process of seeking government approval for the same.
    The Chandrayaan-4 mission includes bringing back moon rocks and soil to earth after a soft landing on the lunar surface, launching a spacecraft from the moon, demonstrating a space docking experiment in lunar orbit and getting the samples back to earth. “We have a series of missions to go to the moon. Chandrayaan-3 is over. Now, design for Chandrayaan 4 and 5 has been completed and we are seeking approval of the government,” Somanath told reporters here on the sidelines of an event organized by the All India Council for Technical Education and Indian Space Association. Earlier, the ISRO officials had said that the targeted launch for Chandrayaan-4 mission was 2028.
    Somanath also said that the space agency was planning to launch 70 satellites over the next five years, including a constellation of low earth orbit satellites to meet the requirements of different ministries and departments of the government.
    These 70 satellites include four for the NAVIC regional navigation system to provide positioning, navigation and time service, INSAT 4D weather satellites, the Resourcesat series of satellites, Cartosat satellites for remote sensing and high resolution imaging, he said.
    Somanath said the space agency was also planning to develop the Oceansat series of satellites and technology demonstration satellites 01 and 02 to demonstrate electric propulsion systems, and quantum key distribution technologies.
    The ISRO was also developing data relay satellites for the Gaganyaan mission, high throughput satellites for providing internet connectivity and GSAT satellite which was getting ready for shipping to the US for launch on a Falcon rocket of SpaceX, he said.
    Somanath said the space agency was also planning to launch a series of earth observation satellites over the next five years. Source: HT

  • AI scientists are producing new theories of how the brain learns

    AI scientists are producing new theories of how the brain learns

    Five decades of research into artificial neural networks have earned Geoffrey Hinton the moniker of the Godfather of artificial intelligence (AI). Work by his group at the University of Toronto laid the foundations for today’s headline-grabbing AI models, including ChatGPT and LaMDA. These can write coherent (if uninspiring) prose, diagnose illnesses from medical scans and navigate self-driving cars. But for Dr Hinton, creating better models was never the end goal. His hope was that by developing artificial neural networks that could learn to solve complex problems, light might be shed on how the brain’s neural networks do the same.
    Brains learn by being subtly rewired: some connections between neurons, known as synapses, are strengthened, while others must be weakened. But because the brain has billions of neurons, of which millions could be involved in any single task, scientists have puzzled over how it knows which synapses to tweak and by how much. Dr Hinton popularised a clever mathematical algorithm known as backpropagation to solve this problem in artificial neural networks. But it was long thought to be too unwieldy to have evolved in the human brain. Now, as AI models are beginning to look increasingly human-like in their abilities, scientists are questioning whether the brain might do something similar after all.
    Working out how the brain does what it does is no easy feat. Much of what neuroscientists understand about human learning comes from experiments on small slices of brain tissue, or handfuls of neurons in a Petri dish. It’s often not clear whether living, learning brains work by scaled-up versions of these same rules, or if something more sophisticated is taking place. Even with modern experimental techniques, wherein neuroscientists track hundreds of neurons at a time in live animals, it is hard to reverse-engineer what is really going on.
    One of the most prominent and longstanding theories of how the brain learns is Hebbian learning.
    Source: The Economist

  • WhatsApp will soon allow users to choose a default theme for the app

    WhatsApp will soon allow users to choose a default theme for the app

    WhatsApp is working on a new feature for the app that will allow users to select a default theme for the app. This theme will be independent of the theme setting of the phone. Till now, the WhatsApp theme is in sync with the default theme of the phone. So if the device is on dark theme, the app also turns dark, and if the phone’s setting is on a light theme, then WhatsApp also runs the same theme. However, with the upcoming features, users will be able to customise the theme for the app individually.
    The feature is still in beta and was spotted by WABetaInfo. It is part of the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.18.6 update. There is no timeline when this feature will roll out to the stable version. However, users running WhatsApp on the beta version should now be able to see the feature in settings.
    WABetaInfo has also shared a screenshot of the upcoming features. With the feature rolling out, WhatsApp will likely get a fresh look by updating its signature green colour across two distinct themes. In the light theme, the familiar green will be replaced with black, lending the app a sleek, modern, and minimalist appearance. On the other hand, in the dark theme, the primary colour will switch to white, creating a bold contrast that not only enhances readability but also adds a contemporary edge to the app’s overall aesthetic.
    A similar feature was also spotted last month. WhatsApp was reported to be developing chat themes that allow iPhone users to choose from five preset colours for their chat bubbles and wallpaper, including classic green, white, blue, pink, and purple.. Additionally, WhatsApp is reportedly working on a feature to change the app’s accent colour, offering the same color choices as the chat themes, allowing for customisable in-app buttons. While these features aren’t publicly available yet, their presence in beta indicates a potential upcoming release.
    In April this year, WhatsApp started to go green. No, not in the environmental preservation kind of a way. The text, bubbles and accent on the app all turned green. For iPhone users, in particular, this just happened overnight. It was not a change users asked for, and there was quite a bit of conversation around it on social media.
    These new customisation options could position WhatsApp more favourably against competitors like Telegram, which already offers a variety of personalisation features. By providing users with greater control over the app’s appearance, WhatsApp seems to be aiming to attract and retain those who prioritise a personalised messaging experience.
    WhatsApp is introducing a significant privacy feature designed to address one of the platform’s most persistent issues–spam. The new feature, available in the beta version 2.24.18.2 for Android, introduces a Username PIN system aimed at improving user security and curbing unwanted messages, according to GSM Arena. This new functionality allows WhatsApp users to set a four-digit PIN in addition to their username.
    The PIN serves as an extra layer of security, ensuring that users who have not interacted with you previously cannot send you messages solely by knowing your username.
    This measure is expected to significantly reduce spam and enhance privacy for WhatsApp users, according to GSM Arena. “Once implemented, this feature should greatly cut down on spam, which has been a prevalent issue on WhatsApp,” said a spokesperson for the company, according to GSM Arena.

  • August 23 New York & Dallas E – Edition

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”E-Edition” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F08%2FTIP-August-23-E-Edition.pdf”][vc_single_image image=”169815″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TIP-August-23-E-Edition.pdf”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Lead Stories This Week” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2F”][vc_wp_posts number=”5″ show_date=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”82828″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”” link=” https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][vc_single_image image=”82829″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”” link=” https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Healthy foods you must add to your grocery shopping list

    Healthy foods you must add to your grocery shopping list

    Leafy greens
    Leafy greens are nutritional powerhouses, rich in vitamins A, C, K, and folate, as well as minerals like iron and calcium. They are low in calories and high in fibre, which supports digestive health and helps maintain a healthy weight.
    Berries
    Berries are loaded with antioxidants, particularly vitamin C and anthocyanins, which protect cells from damage and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Their high fibre content promotes digestive health, and their low glycemic index helps regulate blood sugar levels.
    Nuts
    Nuts are a great source of healthy fats, particularly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which support heart health by lowering bad cholesterol levels. They also provide protein, fibre, vitamins (like vitamin E), and minerals (such as magnesium and zinc).
    Whole grains
    Unlike refined grains, they retain their bran and germ, which are packed with nutrients. The fibre in whole grains supports digestive health, helps control blood sugar levels, and keeps you full longer, aiding in weight management.
    Fatty fish
    Fatty fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation, lower the risk of heart disease, and support brain health. Fatty fish also provide high-quality protein, vitamin D, and selenium, which are important for bone health and immune function.
    Legumes
    Legumes are an excellent plant-based protein source, rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals like iron and potassium. They have a low glycemic index, which helps manage blood sugar levels, making them ideal for people with diabetes.

  • Too much chicken can sneak in extra fat and sugar into your diet

    Too much chicken can sneak in extra fat and sugar into your diet

    Chicken breasts are most people’s go-to option for daily protein intake. For some people, chicken makes up for the most part of their diet for health reasons. However, a recent study reveals that consumption of too much chicken may not be as healthy as we think.
    Chicken breast and ketchup – too much of it – might be the reason for overconsumption of fat and sugar. The surprising details were revealed in a study. Ice-cream, pizza and cheese are known for not being too healthy already. But when it comes to consuming chicken and harmless servings of ketchup, we never thought that we were, in fact, sneaking in extra fat and sugar in our diet.
    In a media release, Professor Christopher Taylor, director of medical dietetics at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University and lead study author said that while chicken breast is known as a lower saturated fat food, we must know that foods with lower saturated fats can also slowly add saturated food to the diet.
    The study was conducted on 35,000 U.S. adults to research the unhealthy eating habits in people. The study also helps in spreading awareness about the unexpected daily sources of sugar and fat that we add to the diet. Professor Christopher Taylor further added that while chicken breast and ketchup are not poor food choices, we should know how they work.
    The study noted down cheese, pizza, ice cream, and eggs as top contributors of saturated fat to the body. Cold cuts, substitutes for cream, fried potatoes, and whole milk are also high in saturated fat content. Beverages and desserts such as soft drinks, tea, fruit drinks, cakes, and pies are the sources of added sugars to the body. Tomato-based condiments, cereal bars, energy drinks, and yeast breads also contribute to added sugars in the body.

  • Red meat linked with increased diabetes risk: Lancet study

    Red meat linked with increased diabetes risk: Lancet study

    Consuming red meat is related to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, according to an analysis of more than 19 lakh adults from 20 countries across world regions, including southeast Asia, providing the “most comprehensive evidence to date.”
    Published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal, the analysis found that a habitual consumption of three types of meat and their daily amounts – 50 grams of processed meat, 100 grams of unprocessed red meat and 100 grams of poultry – was related to 15 per cent, 10 per cent and eight per cent increases in risk of developing type 2 diabetes, respectively.
    The international team of researchers from the US, UK, Brazil, Mexico, among others, said that intake of meat exceeds recommended levels in many regions of the world and has been correlated with non-communicable diseases, including type 2 diabetes.
    However, all the existing evidences are largely based on studies from high-income countries, mainly in North America and Europe, they said.
    For this study, the researchers included 31 cohorts from the InterConnect project, data for which was compiled from scientific studies and online registries, including unpublished information. Of the total 19,66,444 participants, more than a lakh developed type 2 diabetes during follow-up, typically lasting 10 years.
    “The positive associations of unprocessed red meat and processed meat with incident type 2 diabetes were significant in the region of the Americas (13 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively), in the European region (six per cent and 13 per cent), and in the Western Pacific region and east Asia (17 per cent and 15 per cent),” the authors wrote.
    They also estimated that replacing 50 grams of daily intake of processed meat with 100 grams of unprocessed red meat lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes by seven per cent on an average.
    Further, diabetes risk was found to fall by 10 per cent on replacing 50 grams of processed meat daily intake with 100 grams of poultry a day.
    The researchers, however, found no evidence that replacing unprocessed red meat with poultry helped in cutting down diabetes risk. Source: PTI

  • Vermicelli Pulao

    Vermicelli Pulao

    FOR ROASTING:
    – 1 tsp ghee / clarified butter, 1 cup vermicelli / semiya
    FOR MASALA PASTE
    – handful coriander, handful mint / pudina
    1 chilli
    OTHER INGREDIENTS:
    – 2 tbsp ghee / clarified butter, 2 bay leaf, 3 pod cardamom, 1 inch cinnamon, 4 clove, 1 star anise, 1 tsp cumin / jeera, 15 whole cashew / kaju, 1 onion, finely chopped, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste, ½ capsicum, finely chopped, ½ carrot, finely chopped, 2 tbsp peas / matar, 5 beans, finely chopped, ¾ tsp garam masala, ¾ tsp salt, 1½ cup water, 2 tsp lemon juice
    INSTRUCTIONS
    – Firstly, take 1 tsp ghee in a pan and roast 1 cup vermicelli.
    – Roast on low flame until it turns golden brown. you can use roasted vermicelli in place. however, i still recommend roasting for non-sticky pulao. keep aside.
    – In a small blender take handful coriander, mint and 1 chilli.
    – Blend to smooth paste adding water as required. keep aside.
    – In a large kadai, heat 2 tbsp ghee and saute 2 bay leaf, 3 pod cardamom, 1 inch cinnamon, 4 clove, 1 star anise, 1 tsp cumin and 15 whole cashew.
    – Roast on low flame until spices turn aromatic and cashew turn crunchy.
    – Now add 1 onion, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste and saute well.
    – Further add ½ capsicum, ½ carrot, 2 tbsp peas and 5 beans.
    – Stir fry for 2 minutes without overcooking vegetables.
    – Add in prepared masala paste, ¾ tsp garam masala and ¾ tsp salt.
    – Saute well until all spices are well combined.
    – Pour in 1½ cup water and get the water to a rolling boil.
    – Add in roasted vermicelli and give a good mix.
    – Cover and simmer for 7 minutes or until water are absorbed completely.
    – Now mix gently, making sure vermicelli is well cooked.
    – Cover and rest for 5 minutes. this helps to get non-sticky semiya.
    – Finally, just before serving vermicelli pulao, squeeze 2 tsp lemon juice.

  • Best out of waste ideas for home décor

    Best out of waste ideas for home décor

    Making the most of waste means using materials that would otherwise be thrown away to produce something unique and beneficial. Making imaginative and decorative home decor items out of leftover household products rather than throwing them away is one of the many methods to make the most of your trash. Used newspapers, used bottles, empty tin cans, cardboard boxes, coconut shells, and plastic bottles are among the standard household things we use. All of these things are readily available in any home and are frequently thrown out as random trash. They can give you the best waste-to-wonder ideas for remodelling your home if you give them some time and creative freedom.
    Decorative/Artistic Glass Bottles
    Empty glass bottles are frequently discarded. Instead, repurpose them for straightforward home décor. Useless bottles can be transformed into a vase, a showcase, or a table lamp. Glass bottles can be made more attractive by decoupage, which is the art of adorning a surface with paper cutouts and covering it with varnish or adhesive. To construct a beautiful bottle that can be used as decor, all one needs are coloured paper or pages from an old magazine, strong adhesive, and a flat brush.
    Sand and small shells can be placed into clear or coloured glass bottles. Adding coloured fairy lights will create a sparkling effect.
    Table Mats Using Old Sarees
    You may simply make tablecloths, table mats, and table covers at home using your mother’s or grandmother’s old sarees. These sarees have brocades or exquisite stitching that is too fragile to be thrown away. Hold onto them a little longer and use them to create something new. Simply cut an old saree to the length you want, and you’re done. You can glam it up by adding additional fabrics to the saree’s body or adding more zari to the border. Use basic, block-colored vintage saris and embellish as you choose if you prefer a minimalist and stylish look. To prevent the thread from escaping after cutting, be sure to stitch the sides of the saree.
    Lamps And Candle Holders
    Some glass jars are made from recycled pickles, jams, coffee, or perfume bottles. Any of these can be used again to creatively repurpose waste materials. Batteries-powered fairy lights in various colours can be placed inside these bottles to instantly illuminate the space and simply raise the “oomph factor.” Your artistic prowess can also be displayed through fabric painting, stencil sketching, and spray painting. The jars’ exteriors can be adorned with glitter, beads, ribbons, seashells, and other materials. Also, you can use them to hold tealight candles and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home.
    Recycling Used Newspapers To Make Tea Coasters
    Another “best out of the trash” concept, this one is certain to get your attention. In every home, there is a constant stack of newspapers. Recycled newspaper is used to make products that are both environmentally responsible and aesthetically pleasing. With just two materials—old newspapers and glue—you can make newspaper tea or coffee coasters with ease. It can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes, including triangles, squares, and rounds. To make it look even quirkier, paint it thoroughly and allow it to dry completely. The technique is completed by making the dried paint semi-waterproof by covering it with a clear nail.

  • Chia seeds scrub to keep acne at bay

    Chia seeds scrub to keep acne at bay

    You may not know but chia seeds are great for your skin. All you need is some chia seeds, oats and aloe vera. Mix these three ingredients and apply on your face to get rid of all the dirt from your skin. It clears all the dust particles that lead to acne and pimples.
    How To Prepare?
    Soak chia seeds and then add aloe vera and aloe vera to it to make a paste. Apply it all over your face and keep iot for 15 minutes. Wash it off with cold water. You can also add lemon juice or rose water to this paste. Here is another homemade scrub that you can try this monsoon to fight common skin problems:
    Multani mitti is great for your skin. To prepare a scrub using it, you need some sandalwood powder, saffron and lemon juice. Mix these ingredients together to make a paste. Apply it on your skin and keep it for 15 minutes. This scrub is great for dry skin as it moisturises your skin well. Also, it makes your skin glow from within.
    Here are some more skin care tips you should keep in mind during this season:
    – Rosewater is a great toner for your skin and you should keep it handy in your bag. Use it through a spray bottle or apply it all over your face using a cotton ball. This will keep your skin soft.
    – You don’t need a cleansing cream if you have some cold milk. Take a cotton ball and apply cold milk on your face using it. This will clean your face completely and make your skin glow.
    – Scrape out some aloe vera gel from the plant and add some rose water to it. Apply this mix on your face and keep it for a few minutes. Wash it off and you will get clear, glowing skin instantly.
    – Make sure you always run a patch-test on your skin before using the pack on your face.

  • Meg Ryan honoured for achievement by Sarajevo Film Festival

    Meg Ryan honoured for achievement by Sarajevo Film Festival

    Hollywood actor, film director and producer Meg Ryan was honoured by the Sarajevo Film Festival with the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo for her contribution to the film industry.
    Ryan was one of four film authors who received the award, alongside US and Palestinian film directors Alexander Payne and Elia Suleiman and U.S. actor and producer John Turturro.
    “It’s an award in recognition of outstanding contribution to the world of cinema, to her incredible talents,” festival director Jovan Marjanovic said before handing Ryan a silver heart-shaped award.
    Ryan symbolically presented a special screening of her 1998 hit romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail” at an open air cinema, the same place where it was first screened at the festival in 1999.
    At the masterclass moderated by Oscar-winning Bosnian film director Danis Tanovic, Ryan talked about “What Happens Later”, her second feature that she directed, wrote and co-starred with David Duchovny, which was also screened at the festival.
    She said that she ventured into acting to pay for her journalism studies, and that she was an “untrained actress”.
    “I had a beginner’s mind, which I see now as a very valuable thing, there is certain naivety, innocence that is important when you are an artist,” she said.
    The Sarajevo Film Festival, a movie showcase spreading from Vienna to Istanbul, was created by a group of film enthusiasts towards the end of the Bosnian war 30 years ago. It will showcase 240 films in total this year.

  • Matthew Perry’s master bedroom suite was a ‘disaster’ after his death:

    Matthew Perry’s master bedroom suite was a ‘disaster’ after his death:

    Matthew Perry’s bedroom at Pacific Palisades house was found in a “disaster” condition after police arrived there and discovered the “Friends” actor’s body in his hot tub on October 28 last year.
    According to a source who has access to the crime scene photos from the police probe, “The master suite looked like someone was in the middle of a long bender. Clothes everywhere, towels on the floor, just dirty.” “it was a disaster,” the insider told The Post.
    However, the rest of the property was really clean and tidy, the legal source informed, adding, “Like maybe the cleaning lady wasn’t allowed in those bedrooms.”
    Perry died due to an overdose of ketamine. In his hot tub, he was discovered floating face down. Kenneth Iwamasa, his longtime staff member, is one of the five persons who have been detained by the authorities in connection with his death.
    Iwamasa is charged with giving Perry at least 27 shots of ketamine in the final five days of his life, three of which are said to have caused Perry’s “serious bodily injury” and eventual “death.”
    On July 7, he entered a guilty plea to a single charge of conspiring to supply ketamine that causes death.
    Court records show that Iwamasa obtained ketamine for Perry from a number of sources, spending over $55,000 on the drug over the course of the roughly month-long period before the actor passed away.
    Charges were also filed against drug dealer Erik Fleming, Salvador Plasencia, Dr. Mark Chavez, and Jasveen Sangha, the so-called “ketamine queen.”
    Federal prosecutors claimed in a criminal complaint that Iwamasa disposed off drugs, syringes, and other paraphernalia before dialing 911. Additionally, he phoned Sangha, purportedly to seek her advice before getting rid of the drugs.
    The insider claimed, “It looks like the bathroom and bedroom had been ransacked,” stressing that “someone tried to cover it up” as “something very bad had happened”.

  • Bennifer is officially over again

    Bennifer is officially over again

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, the Hollywood stars who rekindled their romance and married two decades after a high-profile split, are getting a divorce, TMZ and other media outlets reported on Tuesday, August 20. Lopez, singer of “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” submitted divorce papers in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, Aug 20, TMZ said. The filing came two years to the day after the pair held a lavish wedding celebration in Georgia. They had initially exchanged vows in July 2022 at a Las Vegas wedding chapel.
    Spokespeople for Lopez and Affleck did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
    In the early 2000s, the pair dubbed “Bennifer” were the most talked about couple in the celebrity world in a relationship marked by his-and-her luxury cars and a large 6.1-carat pink diamond engagement ring. They abruptly called off their wedding in 2003 and split up a few months later.
    Lopez married Latin singer Marc Anthony, her third husband, just five months after her 2004 split with Affleck.
    Affleck, director and star of Oscar-winning film “Argo,” went on to marry, and later divorce, actress Jennifer Garner.
    Lopez and Affleck started dating again in 2021, months after she and baseball star Alex Rodriguez called off their engagement and ended a four-year relationship.
    Lopez said later that the initial breakup with Affleck “was the biggest heartbreak of my life.”
    “I honestly felt like I was going to die,” she said in an interview with Apple Music in November 2022. “But now, 20 years later, it does have a happy ending.”