The Indian Panorama

Tag: Apple News

  • Singapore tribunal rejects Future’s plea to lift ban on Reliance deal

    Singapore tribunal rejects Future’s plea to lift ban on Reliance deal

    The Singapore-based arbitrator, SIAC, has rejected Future Retail’s plea to lift the interim stay on its Rs 24,713-crore deal with Reliance Retail, giving a major relief to Amazon that is contesting the transaction. The development comes a day after the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) held that Future Retail is a party to the ongoing arbitration between Amazon and Future group in the dispute over the sale of its assets to Reliance Retail.

    Future had contended before the SIAC that it should be excluded from arbitration proceedings because it is not a party to the dispute between its promoter Future Coupons Pvt Ltd (FCPL) and Amazon.

    In a regulatory filing on Friday,  Oct 22, Future Retail Ltd (FRL) said it has received SIAC’s decision dated October 21, 2021 on its plea to vacate the Interim Award of the Emergency Arbitrator dated October 25, 2020.

    “The Tribunal is satisfied that the orders set out in… the EA Award was correctly granted, and have not been vitiated by any subsequent events or proceedings. Further or alternatively, the Respondents have not demonstrated that circumstances have materially changed to justify any change to the EA Award,” the filing said.

  • Facebook plans to change its name: Report

    Facebook plans to change its name: Report

    Social media giant Facebook is reportedly planning to rebrand the company with a new name that focuses on the metaverse. According to a source with direct knowledge of the matter, Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg is expected to announce the name at the company’s Connect conference on October 28, reports The Verge. As per report, the rebrand would likely position the Facebook app as one of the many products under a parent company overseeing groups like Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, and more. Facebook first announced its plans to build out the metaverse — a term used to describe virtual, interactive spaces in the digital world — last month. Facebook earlier this month announced to hire 10,000 people to help the social network build the metaverse — a new phase of interconnected virtual experiences using technologies like virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR). According to the company, the next computing platform has the potential to help unlock access to new creative, social and economic opportunities.

  • Moon rocks brought back by China show recent volcanic activity on lunar surface

    Moon rocks brought back by China show recent volcanic activity on lunar surface

    Moon rocks brought back to Earth by a Chinese robotic spacecraft last year have provided new insights into ancient lunar volcanic activity, a researcher said. Li Xianhua said an analysis of the samples revealed new information about the moon’s chemical composition and the way heat affected its development.

    Li said the samples indicate volcanic activity was still occurring on the moon as recently as 2 billion years ago, compared to previous estimates that such activity halted between 2.8 billion and 3 billion years ago.

    “Volcanic activities are a very important thing on the moon. They show the vitality inside the moon, and represent the recycling of energy and matter inside the moon,” Li told reporters.

    China in December brought back the first rocks from the moon since missions by the U.S. and former Soviet Union in the 1970s.

    Last week, China launched a new three-person crew to its space station, a new milestone in a space program that has advanced rapidly in recent years.

    China became only the third country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to put a person in space on its own in 2003 and now ranks among the leading space powers.

    Alongside its crewed program, it has expanded its work on robotic exploration, retrieving the lunar samples and landing a rover on the little-explored far side of the moon. It has also placed the Tianwen-1 space probe on Mars, whose accompanying Zhurong rover has been exploring for evidence of life on the red planet.

    China also plans to collect soil from an asteroid and bring back additional lunar samples. The country also hopes to land people on the moon and possibly build a scientific base there. A highly secretive space plane is also reportedly under development.

    The military-run Chinese space program has also drawn controversy. China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday,  Oct 18, brushed-off a report that China had tested a hypersonic missile two months ago. A ministry spokesperson said it had merely tested whether a new spacecraft could be reused.        Source: AP

  • RBI imposes penalty on Paytm Payments Bank, Western Union

    RBI imposes penalty on Paytm Payments Bank, Western Union

    New Delhi (TIP): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty on two payment system operators for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. A statement issued by the RBI today read, “The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had, by an order dated October 01, 2021, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs1 crore (Rupees one crore only) on Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL), for an offence committed of the nature referred to in Section 26 (2) of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSS Act).”

    It further said, “A Compounding Order dated October 7, 2021, was also issued to Western Union Financial Services Inc (WUFSI), a Money Transfer Service – cross-border inbound service (customer to customer only) operator – imposing a penalty of ?27,78,750 for non-compliance with certain provisions of the directions contained in the Master Direction on Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS Directions) dated February 22, 2017.”

    The RBI further stated that the penalties have been imposed in the exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of Section 30 and Section 31 of the PSS Act.

    This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the entities with their customers, it added.

    The RBI further informed that on examination of PPBL’s application for issue of final Certificate of Authorisation (CoA), it was observed that PPBL had submitted information that did not reflect the factual position.

    As this was an offence of the nature referred to in Section 26 (2) of the PSS Act, a notice was issued to PPBL. After reviewing the written responses and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, the RBI-determined that the aforementioned charge was substantiated and warranted the imposition of a monetary penalty.

    The RBI further stated that the Western Union Financial Services (WUFSI) had reported instances of breach of the ceiling of 30 remittances per beneficiary during the calendar years 2019 and 2020 and filed an application for compounding of the violation.

    The RBI-determined that the aforementioned non-compliance warranted the imposition of a monetary penalty after analysing the compounding application, and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, it added.

                    Source: ANI

  • India smartphone market falls 5% in Q3

    India smartphone market falls 5% in Q3

    New Delhi (TIP): As smartphone vendors struggled with supply issues for low-end mobile handsets, the shipments in India fell 5 per cent (on-year) in the third quarter (Q3) this year, a new report showed on Thursday, Oct 21. In Q3 2021 (July-September period), 47.5 million units were shipped and the market was one again led by Xiaomi at 24 per cent share (down 2 per cent from the year-ago quarter), followed by Samsung at 19 per cent (down 1 per cent from the year-ago period) and Vivo at 17 per cent (also down 1 per cent), according to data by market research firm Canalys. The third quarter makes for a tough year-on-year compare, due to pent-up demand last year. Shipments in Q3 2021 were 47 per cent higher than in Q2 2021, as consumer demand bounced back rapidly owing to the suppression of Covid-19 wave.

    “From the end of June, a surge in demand has swept India, which is set to persist during the festive season. Smartphone vendors have seized the opportunity to push the older stock into the channel ahead of the holiday period,” said analyst Sanyam Chaurasia.

    But low-end model supply constraints mean shipments have been restricted, and “brands have been forced to use promotions to make their high-end models more appealing,” Chaurasia added.

    These challenges will persist into Q4, and high component and logistics costs, together with container shortages will result in longer lead times and higher retail prices.

    Xiaomi maintained its lead in the quarter by shipping 11.2 million units. Samsung remained second with 9.1 million units and vivo came third with 8.1 million shipments.          Source: IANS

  • US budget deficit hits $2.77 trillion in 2021, 2nd highest on record

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The United States budget deficit totaled $2.77 trillion for 2021, the second highest on record but an improvement from the all-time high of $3.13 trillion reached in 2020. The deficits in both years reflect trillions of dollars in government spending to counteract the devastating effects of a global pandemic. The Biden administration said Friday that the 2021 deficit, for the budget year that ended September 30 was $360 billion lower than 2020 as a recovering economy boosted revenues, helping to offset government spending from pandemic relief efforts. Before the pandemic deficits of the past two years, the biggest deficit the federal government recorded was a shortfall of $1.4 trillion in 2009 during the Obama administration as the government spent heavily to lift the country out of a severe recession following the 2008 financial crisis.

    Source: AP

  • This AI tech may spot unseen signs of heart failure

    This AI tech may spot unseen signs of heart failure

    New York (TIP): US researchers have developed an electrocardiogram-reading algorithm that can detect subtle signs of heart failure. Heart failure, or congestive heart failure, occurs when the heart pumps less blood than the body normally needs. For years, doctors have relied heavily on an imaging technique called an echocardiogram to assess whether a patient may be experiencing heart failure.

    While helpful, echocardiograms can be labour-intensive procedures that are only offered at select hospitals.

    In the study, the researchers at Mount Sinai described the development of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer algorithm that not only assessed the strength of the left ventricle but also the right ventricle, which takes deoxygenated blood streaming in from the body and pumps it to the lungs.

    The algorithm was 94 per cent accurate at predicting which patients had a healthy ejection fraction and 87 per cent accurate at predicting those who had an ejection fraction that was below 40 per cent.

    The algorithm also learned to detect right valve weaknesses from the electrocardiograms with 84 per cent accuracy at predicting which patients had weak right valves.

    “We showed that deep-learning algorithms can recognise blood pumping problems on both sides of the heart from ECG waveform data,” said Benjamin S. Glicksberg, Assistant Professor of Genetics and Genomic Science at Mount Sinai.

    For the study, published in the ‘Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging’, the team programmed a computer to read patient electrocardiograms along with data extracted from written reports summarising the results of corresponding echocardiograms taken from the same patients.

    In this situation, the written reports acted as a standard set of data for the computer to compare with the electrocardiogram data and learn how to spot weaker hearts.    Source: IANS

  • Orange juice helps fight inflammation and oxidative stress in adults, says study

    A new study has suggested 100 per cent orange juice has the potential to help fight inflammation and oxidative stress in adults. The findings of the study were published in the journal ‘Advances in Nutrition’.

    Though limited in scope, the study indicates drinking 100 per cent orange juice significantly reduces interleukin 6, a well-established marker of inflammation, in both healthy and high-risk adults. Two additional inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were also reduced; however, the results did not quite reach statistical significance.

    The findings of this study, which was funded through an unrestricted grant by the Florida Department of Citrus, harmonise with a previously published FDOC-funded review that reported beneficial effects of hesperidin, the primary bioactive compound found in oranges and 100 per cent orange juice, on reducing some markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Chronic inflammation may play a key role in causing or advancing some chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.

    “We know that 100 per cent orange juice contains a number of nutrients, like vitamin C, as well as beneficial bioactive compounds that have the potential to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress,” said Gail Rampersaud, Florida Department of Citrus registered dietitian.

    “This review tells us that some studies find benefits with 100 per cent orange juice, but we need more data and large well-designed studies to make more definitive conclusions. This analysis is especially helpful as we and others plan future research related to orange juice,” added Rampersaud.

    The review examined published studies relating to 100 per cent orange juice and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. The review was conducted by the Think Healthy Group and researchers at Tufts University and George Mason University.

    The analysis consisted of three parts: a qualitative scoping review of 21 studies with a total of 307 healthy adults and 327 adults at risk for disease; a systematic review of a subset of 16 studies that measured the six most reported biomarkers related to inflammation and oxidative stress in the body; and 10 studies that had sufficient data to conduct a meta-analysis. The researchers also examined the overall quality and potential bias in the studies.

    The broad scoping and systematic reviews revealed that, in general, 100 per cent orange juice either had beneficial or null (no adverse) effects on oxidative stress or inflammation. The researchers cautioned that studies included a relatively small number of subjects, had a low strength of evidence, and had a moderate risk of bias; therefore, overall findings should be interpreted with caution.

                    Source: ANI

  • Mix-and-match vaccines highly effective against Covid: Lancet study

    London (TIP): People who received a first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine followed by an mRNA vaccine shot had a lower risk of infection compared to those immunised with both doses of the AstraZeneca preventive, according to a nationwide study in Sweden.

    Since the use of AstraZeneca’s vector-based vaccine against Covid was halted for people younger than 65 years of age due to safety concerns, all individuals in Sweden who had already received their first dose of this vaccine were recommended an mRNA vaccine as their second dose.

    “Having received any of the approved vaccines is better compared to no vaccine, and two doses are better than one,” said Peter Nordstrom, a professor at Umea University, Sweden. “However, our study shows a greater risk reduction for people who received an mRNA vaccine after having received a first dose of a vector-based, as compared to people having received the vector-based vaccine for both doses,” Nordstrom said. The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe journal on Monday, is based on nationwide registry data from the Public Health Agency of Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare, and Statistics Sweden. In the main analysis, about 700,000 individuals were included. During a 2.5-month average follow-up period after the second dose, the study showed a 67 per cent lower risk of infection for the combination of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine shots.    Source: PTI

  • Guide to buying the right scent

    Guide to buying the right scent

    Seasonal perfumes

    Scents are known to evoke seasonal fragrances and moods.  Winter perfumes should have rich scents along with sweet notes like amber, vanilla and cinnamon. There are various perfumes, which combine sweet fragrances like oranges, caramel, lemon, honey and fruits.

    The right fragrance for you

    Woody: An ideal choice for cooler months and evenings, earthy tones are the feature of woody fragrances. These perfumes usually feature such scents as sandalwood, patchouli and cedar to give a rich and natural fragrance. Woody perfumes are easy to wear and versatile.

    Oriental

    These perfumes are the strongest of all. With sensual overtones and rich undertones, this scent makes for quite heavy blends, but they are complemented by the fine scents of sweet vanilla, musk, sumptuous flowers and Oriental resins. Most Oriental perfumes have a wonderful crossing-over of qualities from all the other categories from the spicy fruit tones to warm woody tones and this makes them a superb choice for corporate environments, evening events and special occasions.

    Floral

    These have strong overtones of flowery fragrances. Overtones like rose, jasmine and lavender work perfectly for the winter season. These scents are feminine without being overpowering and are suitable as a day wear.

    Fruity

    Fruity fragrances are spicy and fresh. They are quite youthful in their scent and apt for cool weather. In the winters, they invoke a sense of warm desserts and cider. They are an excellent choice for women who like classic fragrances but also want to add a little flair.

  • Get prettier feet without a pedicure

    Get prettier feet without a pedicure

    If you have no time for a professional pedicure, there are some easy and effective at-home treatments you can try. Besides saving time, these treatments have the added benefit of being easy and cost-effective because they can be done with inexpensive products you may already have at home.

    Soothe and refresh your feet. These simple steps will have your feet looking and feeling better fast.

    Start With a Soak

    Add a few tablespoons of bath salts or Epsom salts to a basin of warm water and soak your feet for 5-15 minutes. This will cleanse and soften skin and nails, making toenail trimming and callus removal much easier.

    File Calluses

    Once your feet are dry use a foot file tool or large nail file to gently file any corns or calluses. Using light hand pressure, file corns and calluses until the skin appears and feels smoother.

    Sometimes larger corns and calluses will need to be professionally trimmed by a podiatrist, especially if they are painful. Avoid callus shavers, as they may cut healthy skin and cause bleeding.

    Exfoliate

    To remove dead skin cells and diminish rough skin, gently massage your feet with an exfoliating foot scrub product. Be sure to avoid any wounds. Rinse thoroughly after application.

    If you prefer, you can make your own scrub: Dilute two tablespoons of sea salt with equal amounts of baby oil and lemon juice. Other types of oils that can be used are olive oil, coconut oil or canola oil.

    Toenail Treatment

    Here is a quick and simple routine for improving the look and health of toenails:

    –              Remove any nail polish.

    –              Trim toenails straight across so that some of the white remains.

    –              Lightly brush the surface of toenails with a nail buffer or fine grit nail file.

    –              Apply some lemon juice with a cotton swab on and around the nail to further remove dead skin and give nails a healthy shine.

    –              If your toenails are discolored yellow from frequent nail polish use, scrub them with a paste made of baking soda diluted with water.

    Moisturize

    Once feet are dry, finish by applying your favorite lotion or cream. For areas that tend to get cracks or calluses, try applying a heavier moisturizing product, such as a heel cream or balm.

    More Foot Care Tips

    Use these tips to treat your feet right:

    –              Do not cut toenail cuticles because they protect the nail and surrounding skin from infection.

    –              Toenails can absorb some of the pigment in nail polish causing a yellow discoloration. So, don’t always paint your toenails; take a few weeks off occasionally so they can return to normal, and you’ll see less discoloration.

    –              Nail polish removers with acetone can dry-out nails causing a chalky appearance. Try an acetone-free nail polish remover or apply a moisturizing product to the nail after removing the polish.

    –              Apply moisturizing products at least once a day to callused or cracked skin.

    –              Use an over-the-counter foot powder or sneaker spray if your feet tend to sweat.

    –              Rinse your feet with cool water after a long day in shoes. This will minimize the ravages of sweat, which can irritate skin and increase the risk of athlete’s foot.

    –              Seek medical treatment for any slow or non-healing wound, rash, or toenail infection.

  • Handi Chicken

    Handi Chicken

    Ingredients

    750 gms Chicken on Bone, 3 big Tomatoes, 2 medium sliced Onions, 1 1/2 tblsp ginger garlic paste

    1/2 cup Curd, 1/2 cup Full Cream, 2 tbsp Coriander Powder, 1 tsp Turmeric Powder, 1 tsp Red Chilly Powder, 1 tsp Fenugreek Leaves (Kasthuri Methi), Salt To Taste, 3 -4 tblsp Ghee / Oil, 2 tsp Garam Masala (Ingredients given below)

    For Garam Masala:

    3 tsp Cumin Seeds (Jeera ), 3 tsp Coriander Seeds (Sookha Dhania), 1 1/2 tsp Black peppercorns, 4 Cloves (Laung), 1 ” Cinnamon Stick piece, 3 Brown Cardmom, 2 tsp Fennel Seeds (Saunf), 1 Star Anise, 2 Dry Red Chillies

    For Garnish

    Finely chopped green coriander

    How to make Handi Chicken

    –              Heat ghee or oil in a heavy bottom pan, add chicken pieces and fry till they are done. Take them out on a paper towel.

    –              In the remaining ghee add the onions sliced abd saute them till light brown. Make sure not burn them.

    –              Add the ginger garlic paste and cook till all the raw smell disappears. Now add all the dry spices – Red Chilly Powder, Corainder Powder, Turmeric Powder. Add a tablespoon of water so that the spices do not burn.

    –              Once the masala is nicely cooked add the tomato puree and cook it till the oil separates. Now add beaten curd and cook till the curd gets fully incorporated in the gravy.

    –              When the oil starts to separate add the chicken pieces and mix well so that all the pieces are fully smeared with the masala. Let the chicken simmer for few minutes in this masala. Once the chicken is fully done add the cream and kasuri methi and garam masala.Cook for just 2 minutes on low flame and then take it out in a serving dish.

    –              Garnish with the finely chopped coriander leaves.

  • India in history this Week-October 22 to october 28, 2021

    India in history this Week-October 22 to october 28, 2021

    22 OCTOBER

    1680       Rana Raj Singh of Mewar passed away.

    1796       Death of Rana Raj Singh of Mewar.

    1962       India’s largest multipurpose river valley project ‘Bhakra Nangal’ dedicated to the nation

    2008       Chandrayaan-1 was successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.

    1879       The first sedition case under British rule was against the great revolutionary Basudev Balwani Phadke.

    2016       India won the Kabaddi World Cup.

    1933       The elder brother of Sardar Patel and the famous freedom fighter Vitthalbhai Patel died.

    1893       Dalip Singh, the youngest son of Maharaj Ranjit Singh of Punjab, died.

    23 OCTOBER

    1623       The famous poet Tulsidas died.

    1764       Mir Qasim was defeated in the battle of Buxar.

    1934       Mahatma Gandhi resigned as the leader of the Indian National Congress.

    1943       Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose founded the ‘Rani Brigade of Jhansi’ of Azad Hind Fauj in Singapore.

    2003       India and Bulgaria signed the Extradition Treaty.

    1883       Mirza Ismail, Assistant Secretary to the Maharaja of Mysore was born.

    1957       Sunil Mittal, an Indian industrialist, social worker and chairman of India’s largest telecom company Airtel was born.

    24 OCTOBER

    1605       The Mughal ruler Jahangir ascended the throne in Agra.

    1914       Freedom fighter and philanthropist Laxmi Sehgal was born.

    1991       Famous Hindi writer Ismat Chugatai passed away.

    1851       First telegraph line started between Calcutta and Diamond Harbor.

    1579       Jusuit pastor SJ Thomas was the first Englishman to visit India. He arrived in Goa by Portuguese boat.

    1975       An ordinance was brought to end the bonded labor system and came into effect from the next day.

    1982       Sudha Madhavan became the first Indian female athlete to run in a marathon.

    1984       First underground metro train started between Esplanad and Bhawanipur in Kolkata.

    2013       Renowned playback singer Manna Dey of Hindi and Bengali films in Indian cinema world passed away. In 2005, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in the field of art.

    25 OCTOBER

    1924       The British arrested Subhash Chandra Bose and sent him to jail for two years.

    2005       Hindi writer Nirmal Verma passed away.

    1951       The first general election began in India.

    1964       The first indigenous tank ‘Vijayanta’ was built at the Avadi factory.

    1995       The then Prime Minister of India, Narasimha Rao addressed the 50th anniversary session of the United Nations.

    1955       For the first time, a company called Microwave Oven was started by Tappan Oven for domestic use.

    26 OCTOBER

    1947       After the partition of India and Pakistan, after the attack from Pakistan, the Hindu king of the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir decided to go with India on this day.

    1934       All India Rural Industries Association was established under the patronage of Mahatma Gandhi.

    1947       Raja Hari Singh agreed to merge Jammu and Kashmir with India.

    1969       The first astronauts to step on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, came to Mumbai.

    1775       Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last emperor of the Mughals was born in India.

    1890       Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, who participated in the freedom struggle, was born.

    1943       The cholera epidemic in Calcutta (erstwhile Kolkata) killed 2155 people in the third week of October.

    1962       After the Chinese attack on India, the then President declared Emergency for the first time.

    1999       The Supreme Court of India fixed life imprisonment for 14 years.

    27 OCTOBER

    1920       The 10th and first Dalit President of the country, K. R. Narayanan was born in 1920.

    1952       Anuradha Paudwal, who created a special identity with the hymns along with the film world, was born in 1952.

    2008       The Central Government issued a notification of interim relief to journalists and non-journalists of the newspaper industry.

    1947       Raja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir accepted the accession of Jammu and Kashmir into India.

    28 OCTOBER

    1867       Birth of Swami Vivekananda’s disciple Bhagini Nivedita in Ireland

    1913       Jain Shwetambar Terapanthi Sabha was established

    1851       The British Indian Association was established in Bengal.

  • Karwa Chauth: Celebration of love, marriage and the unbreakable bond

    Karwa Chauth: Celebration of love, marriage and the unbreakable bond

    In Hinduism, Karva Chauth is one of the most auspicious festivals for women. On this day, married women keep a Nirjala (without water) fast not only for the long life of their husband but also as a symbol of love and affection.

    In many regions across the country, young girls also keep the Karwa fast in order to get the desired groom. Being a Hindu festival, it is more significantly celebrated in the northern part of India, however, any married woman can keep this fast in the love of her husband.

    According to the Hindu calendar, Karva Chauth is celebrated each year on the Chaturthi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. This year Karva Chauth is falling on Sunday, 24 October 2021. On this day, women break the fast after offering Arghya to the moon at night in an earthen pot known as Karwa.

    History

    According to the Vrath Katha, there was a queen named Veerawati who deeply loved her husband. She also had seven brothers who loved her immensely. The story goes that one day Veerwati was visiting her home during Karwa Chauth while she was fasting for her husband’s long life.

    By evening, she began to feel a little faint and was eagerly waiting for the moon to come out so that she could eat something. Upon seeing her like this, her brothers could not bear to witness this and begged her to eat something. However, when she denied, they devised a plan to ease her misery.

    One of her brothers climbed up a pipal tree and held up a sieve with a flame behind it. Their aim was to trick Veerawati into believing that the moon was out and that she could break her fast. Upon seeing the flame, the innocent Veerawati believed her brothers and broke the fast.

    Unfortunately, the moment she did, the news of her husband’s passing arrived within a few minutes. She began to cry when a goddess appeared in front of her and revealed that she had been tricked by her brothers. Veerawati promised to keep the fast with full devotion and begged the goddess to return her husband to life. This is when Yama, the Lord of Death saw her devotion and restored her husband’s life.

    Significance of Karwa Chauth

    Karwa Chauth is a festival in which married women pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for the long life of their husbands. They dress up in ethnic clothes mostly sarees and salwar suits and adorn all the traditional symbols of a married woman such as Sindoor. Women from the neighborhood gather at one place where they hear the Vrat Katha and sing hymns. Later in the evening, a Puja is performed and once the Moon is sighted, the fast is broken.

    What’s interesting is that in 2021, the moon on Karwa Chauth is expected to rise in the Rohini Nakshatra. According to the Hindu calendar, this constellation is very auspicious and since the Moon is the lord of this nakshatra, it is believed that seeing the moon and worshipping it in this nakshatra will be very auspicious.

    Apart from observing fasts, women also pray for a prosperous and happy married life. Later in the evening, they perform puja for their husbands before the moon sighting. After this, the women try to see the moon through a sieve and then catch a glimpse of their husbands through the same sieve. It is also believed that when a wife looks at her husband through a sieve, all negative emotions are filtered through it.

    Once this is done, the women eat something and their fast is completed. The festival has also been made popular by its depiction in various movies and TV shows. During recent times, a lot of men have also started observing fasts for their wives. This has made the festival even more special as it signifies love, compassion and understanding.

  • Bodh Gaya: Buddha, Mahabodhi Tree and the land of Nirvana

    Bodh Gaya: Buddha, Mahabodhi Tree and the land of Nirvana

    Bodh Gaya is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in Gaya District of Bihar. Famous for the Mahabodhi Temple, It was here under the Bodhi tree that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. It is now one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a lot of foreign countries, including Japan and China, have helped the Indian government in building facilities for the Buddhist pilgrims. The place is bustling with pilgrims all through the year from India and abroad who come to pay their homage in monasteries, temples and remnants of Bodhi Tree. Located near the river Neranjana, Bodh Gaya was earlier known as Uruwela. It was also known as Sambodhi, Vajrasana or Mahabodhi until the 18th century CE. It is one of the four important Buddhist sites that include: Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sarnath.

    Places to visit – Mahabodhi Temple

    The Mahabodhi temple, also called the “Great Awakening Temple”, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Bodhgaya, Bihar. It is a Buddhist temple that marks the location where the Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Lord Buddha holds a very significant place in the religious history of India as he is believed to be the 9th and the most recent incarnation of Lord Vishnu to have walked the earth. The temple spreads over an area of a whopping 4.8 hectares and is 55 meters tall. The Bodhi Tree is situated to the left of the temple and is believed to be the direct descendant of the actual tree under which Lord Gautam Buddha meditated and attained enlightenment and laid down his philosophy for life. The original temple was built by Emperor Ashoka after he turned to Buddhism in order to seek peace and solitude from war and conquests.

    The great Emperor Ashoka visited Bodh Gaya in around 260 BC. During his visit, he constructed a small temple by a tree, which was the Bodhi tree- the tree under which Gautam Buddha was sitting when he attained enlightenment. An inscription dated back to between 1st century and 2nd century read that the temple built by Emperor Ashoka was replaced by a new one. Many monks and devotees can be seen performing countless prostrations to the tree. It’s a purificatory ritual, and some monks are known to do up to 1,00,000 prostrations at one time. The architecture of the temple and its overall silence and peace will surely enchant you as you visit it.

    Great Buddha Statue

    This statue of Lord Buddha is the tallest in India and was instated by the XIV Dalai Lama in 1989. It is a meditating Buddha resting on a giant lotus, constructed using intricately carved sandstone and red granite.

    Bodhi Tree

    The Bodhi Tree, located 100 kilometres to the south of Patna in the north Indian state of Bihar, is perhaps the most prominent and respected sacred places in Buddhism because of the rich historical significance attached to it. It is under this tree that Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher who later became to be known as the Buddha, attained enlightenment. It is believed that Prince Siddhartha had to sit and meditate under this tree for seven days. Later on, a shrine known as Animisalocana Cetiya was erected on the spot where he had sat down. A small temple was also built near the Bodhi tree in the 7th century.

    The Bodhi tree is a frequently visited destination spot by tourists and is one of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage sites. In fact, the Anandabodhi tree in Sravasti and the Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, both of which are again significant places that find mention in the history of Buddhism, are believed to have been propagated from this tree here at Bodh Gaya. The aura of the Bodhi tree and the temple complex in which this tree is located have attracted sages, meditators and yogis to it ever since the time of the Buddha. Great and renowned spiritual figures like Buddhajnana, Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra, Nagarjuna and Atisha, have lived and meditated underneath the historically and religiously significant Bodhi Tree. Bodh Gaya is also popular for its UNESCO World Heritage Site- the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, which is just beside the tree. Religious people, as well as lovers of history, find this place especially fascinating.

    Thai Monastery

    Well known for its curved roof covered with exquisite tiles of gold, the Thai Monastery houses a bronze statue of Buddha and another recently erected 25m high statue in the garden.

    Muchalinda Lake

    A popular site at Bodh Gaya, the Muchalinda Lake is located next to the main temple. It is associated with a mythological tale stating that Lord Buddha was protected from the storm by Snake King Muchalinda.

    A popular site at Bodh Gaya, the Muchalinda Lake is located next to the main temple. It is associated with a mythological tale stating that Lord Buddha was protected from the storm by Snake King Muchalinda.

    Vishnupad Temple

    As the name suggests, this temple was built as a dedication to Lord Vishnu and features a 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu that is enclosed by a basin made of silver plates.

    This footprint marks the act of Lord Vishnu subduing Gayasur by placing his feet on Gayasur’s chest. Within the courtyard, there are other temples situated as well. One is dedicated to Lord Narasimha and another to Lord Shiva in the form of Phalgwisvara. This temple serves as a very significant place of worship for Hindus and is located in Gaya.

    Dungeshwari Hills

    Dungeshwari Hills is where Lord Buddha spent a few years before travelling to Bodh Gaya in search of enlightenment. The hills are mostly known for the caves that Gautam Buddha used for shelter and meditation. The Stupas/ Buddhist shrines exist even today amidst the beautiful natural surroundings. The picturesque location of the Dungeshwari Hills is also a well-known trekking destination and draws enthusiasts in large numbers.

  • India-Pak tie: T20 World Cup: For Sunday ‘dogfight’, leadership key, says Matthew Hayden

    India-Pak tie: T20 World Cup: For Sunday ‘dogfight’, leadership key, says Matthew Hayden

    Karachi (TIP): Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden says leadership would be key in the much-anticipated match between India and Pakistan at the T20 World Cup on Sunday, October 24. India would be led in the contest by the passionate Virat Kohli while Pakistan’s captain is Babar Azam, often cited as Kohli’s rival as a top-class batsman.

    The marquee match will be played on the second day of the main tournament after the qualifying round. Hayden, currently working with the Pakistan team as a batting consultant, cited the examples of MS Dhoni and Eoin Morgan in leadership roles in the recent IPL. “Their individual performances were not as good as they have previously done as per their statistical records but the way they led their troops and conducted themselves played an important part in their teams reaching the IPL final in UAE conditions,” Hayden said.

    No margin for error

    Hayden said the margin for error will be very small in the big match. “I feel leadership will be key in the coming match as conditions in UAE leave very little margin for error and there are dogfight conditions out there,” Hayden said. He said Azam would have a huge role to play in the match as a leader and top batter. “There will be additional pressure on him as captain and batsman because he will be targeted and everyone will be wanting to, like they say, put him in their pocket,” Hayden said. “Babar has command and presence and he needs to fulfil that role in a batting sense and captain.”

    KL, Pant threat

    Hayden also said that having followed Indian cricket very closely over the years, he believed that KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant pose the biggest threat to Pakistan. “More or less I have watched KL Rahul grow and he is a major threat to Pakistan. I have watched him grow up as a boy. I have seen his struggles and his dominance in shorter formats,” Hayden said. “I have seen someone like Rishabh Pant, his brash nature and beautiful vision for the game, how he has destroyed bowling attacks because he has got the opportunity because he sees it that way.”

    Matchless

    Hayden said having been part of the sport for a very long time, he believes nothing matches the rivalry between Pakistan and India. “For an Australian obviously the Ashes and matches against England are tops but nothing matches the rivalry of these two teams,” he said.

    Asked about his short-term role as consultant with the Pakistan team, Hayden said his main purpose was to bring calmness and control into the dressing room, telling the players to remain ever-present in play. “I have learnt for whatever reason you are always under pressure, you don’t need to create additional pressure to what the game demands,” Hayden said.

                    Source:  PTI

  • Sonu Sood on hosting NatGeo series ‘It Happens Only in India’

    Sonu Sood on hosting NatGeo series ‘It Happens Only in India’

    Sonu Sood is all set for a new series titled It Happens Only in India. Hosted by him, this 10-part series will take viewers into the lesser-known and well-researched narratives from across the length and breadth of India. Sonu Sood will be seen presenting some fascinating stories from different corners of the country from modern to mystic, people to places, myths to natural wonders, talented innovators, astounding mega structures to the latest in-space technology that are all distinctly Indian. It will help the viewers to understand India in a better way. Sonu said, “No matter how much you learn about India, you can’t know enough. The country’s diversity has tons of incredible stories that are yet to be revealed and this show will take viewers on a fascinating journey; bringing them closer to the incredible culture, nature, heritage and marvels of our nation and make them proud to be a citizen of this country.” It Happens Only in India will start from October 26 at 8 p.m. on National Geographic.

    Source:IANS

  • ‘I have always done Dhaakad things in life,’ says Kangana Ranaut

    ‘I have always done Dhaakad things in life,’ says Kangana Ranaut

    Kangana Ranaut, who took to social media to share a four-looks-in-one poster of her upcoming film, Dhaakad, launched it in person here at an event, saying that all her life she has done Dhaakad things. When a journalist compared her with Arnold Schwarzenegger, however, Kangana countered testily if it was a compliment. Asked about the Dhaakad moments in her life, Kangana said, “I think everything I have done is Dhaakad. From running away from my home till now, I continue to do all the Dhaakad stuff. Now, I am doing this Dhaakad film and I hope the audience will love it.”

                    Source: IANS

  • Salma Hayek says she and Chloe´ Zhao had ‘serious fight’ at her home

    Salma Hayek says she and Chloe´ Zhao had ‘serious fight’ at her home

    Salma Hayek will debut as a superhero in Marvel’s upcoming film Eternals. Directed by Oscar-winning Chloe´ Zhao, Salma will be seen playing Ajak in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film. While Salma was excited about playing the part, she confessed she had issues with the script and had gotten into a ‘serious fight with Chloe´. In a recent interview, Salma revealed that the argument took place at the actor’s house and the people overhearing the ‘fight’ were worried Salma might get fired from the film. “I had some problems with the script and we got into a serious fight at my house. We were both passionate. And she was like, ‘No, but that’s not how I designed it.’ The people outside my house were calling it a fight, because we were kind of screaming. We continued to talk and talk, and it went on for a long time. The people outside were so nervous that I was going to get fired,” she told Elle.

  • Freida Pinto says she secretly married fiance Cory Tran

    Actor Freida Pinto has revealed she tied the knot with her fiance and photographer Cory Tran when they were in lockdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The “Slumdog Millionaire” star said when they got engaged in November 2019, they thought they will have “this most magical wedding” but the pandemic played a spoilsport.

    “I should clear the air. I wasn’t planning a big fat Indian wedding. It was just going to be something pretty and simple… But then Covid happened and it’s still happening and we just realised we were going to be planning this for the rest of our lives and probably never doing it,” Pinto said during an appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” on Wednesday, Oct 20.

    The 37-year-old actor, who is expecting her first child with Tran, said the couple eventually went to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and got married.

    “Honestly, I have to say if any of you have planned a wedding, you probably know this, I do not want stomach ulcers from planning my own wedding. This was perfect! We got married and then we got to go home and take an afternoon nap,” she added.

    Pinto also shared she meet Tran, 34, through actor Aaron Paul, her co-star in the drama series “The Path”. She told Clarkson that she was happily single while shooting their television show in New York when Paul said, “‘I want you in my life forever, Freida, so I’m going to introduce you to my friend’.”        Source: PTI

  • Alec Baldwin fired prop gun that killed cinematographer: Police

    US actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun that killed a cinematographer and wounded the director on a film set in New Mexico, US law enforcement officers said Thursday, October 21.

    The incident happened on the set of Rust in the southwestern US state, where Baldwin is playing the lead in a 19th-century western. No charges have been filed over the incident, which is being investigated.

    Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza “were shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin,” the sheriff in Santa Fe said in a statement, with Hutchins succumbing to her wounds.

    According to AP, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said a 42-year-old woman was airlifted to a hospital, where she died, while a 42-year-old man was getting emergency care at another hospital.

    Production has been halted on the movie, which is being directed by Joel Souza with Alec Baldwin producing and starring in it. A spokesperson for Baldwin said there was an accident on the set involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks.

    The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Baldwin was seen Thursday outside the sheriff’s office in tears, but attempts to get comment from him were unsuccessful.

  • Sarah Jessica Parker poses in a lehenga

    Sex and the City actor Sarah Jessica Parker wore an Indian attire on the sets of her upcoming series And Just Like That. In several pictures that surfaced online, Sarah was seen wearing a fuschia pink and blue chequered pattern blouse with matching lehenga.

    Sarah Jessica Parker wore a floral maang tikka and tied her hair into a braid adding a bunch of fresh flowers to her hairdo. She wore minimal makeup and accessorised her look with a pendant neckpiece, earrings and bangles. In the photos, she smiled and posed for the camera.

    The lehenga has been designed by Indian designer Falguni Shane Peacock. Taking to her Instagram Stories, Falguni re-shared posts on Sarah wearing the lehenga.

    And Just Like That, a Sex and the City reboot, will air in December. It will follow the life of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) as they navigate friendship in their 50s. Original series star Kim Cattrall will not return for the sequel, following a much-publicized feud with Sarah.

    Since the last feature film, the cast has been open about spats between Kim and the other stars, notably Sarah. Kim had lashed out at Sarah on social media following her brother’s death in 2018 and the cast and crew opened up about behind-the-scenes drama in a podcast later that year.

    The original series of Sex and the City was based on author Candace Bushnell’s book of the same name. It had been adapted from her dating column, based on her own life, for the New York Observer. Candace told The Hollywood Reporter, “Of course, I’m going to watch it. … I hope it runs for six seasons.”

    Darren Starr got the TV rights and turned it into the successful show that aired from 1998-2004 on HBO and spawned two feature films.

  • Air bubbles to continue for some time

    Air bubbles to continue for some time

    New Delhi (TIP): International air travel to and from the country will continue only under the “air-bubble” arrangement for the foreseeable future, according to Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia. If certain routes see a spurt in demand, the government could look at increasing frequency of flights within the “air-bubble”.

    “Within our current air-bubble arrangement, we are scaling up. Earlier, U.K. was only 15 flights, which we have now increased to 35 flights. We are going to do this across the board. As the demand goes up, we are going to increase that [the number of flights] in the air-bubble,” Mr. Scindia said at an event organized by Public Affairs Forum of India. He was responding to a question on resumption of international flights. “International travel is not governed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation alone, but also by the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs and [also depends on] other countries,” Mr. Scindia said, implying that concerns over the spread of COVID-19 as well as travel restrictions by various countries were hindering India from fully opening up international travel.

    Scheduled international flights were banned by the government on March 23 last year. Later that year, the government started gradually opening up the skies by entering into “air bubble” agreements with various countries, with a limited number of direct flights permitted to and from India. India now has “air bubble” tie-ups with 28 countries.

    Defence ministry clears Rs 423-cr deal for US torpedoes

    The Navy will strengthen its anti-submarine capability with the Defense Ministry signing a contract with the US Government for the procurement of MK 54 Torpedo and expendable (chaff and flares) at a cost of Rs 423 crore.

    In April, the US Department of State had approved this Foreign Military Sale to India at an estimated cost of $63 million. The principal contractor for the first deal is Raytheon Integrated Defense System.

  • Uttarakhand rain fury: 88 rescued as death toll rises to 75

    Uttarakhand rain fury: 88 rescued as death toll rises to 75

    Dehradun (TIP): The death count in Uttarakhand rose to 75 on Friday, Oct 22,  as rescue workers found more bodies and also brought to safety score of stranded people after the rains that recently lashed the state.

    State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) men rescued 65 trekkers, including six foreigners, stranded near Bageshwar’s Pindari and Kafni glaciers. Twenty-three people were rescued from from Darma Valley of Pithoragarh.

    The official death toll in the state now is 68, including the five bodies of members of a team of 11 people who were trekking from Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi to Chitkul in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

    The figure, however, does not include two others member of the Chitkul trek reported dead.

    Five people feared dead in Bageshwar are also not included in the official count.

    Rains battered Uttarakhand for nearly three days, beginning Sunday night, with the Kumaon division bearing the brunt of it.

    An official said Kumaon suffered a loss of Rs 2,000 crore, out of Rs 7,000 croe damage statewide estimated by the Uttarakhand government.

    “SDRF teams have rescued 42 tourists, including six foreigners, from Dwali near the Pindari glacier and 23 from the Kafni glacier,” Bageshwar DM Vineet Kumar told PTI.

    Meanwhile, two Cheetah helicopters, which were to make sorties in search of 10 members of a trekking team stranded in Sundardhunga, could not take off due to cloudy weather, he said.

    “But four members of the team have returned safe. We suspect that there may have been some casualties too. The helicopters will make another attempt early on Saturday morning in search of the missing members of the trekking team,” Kumar said.

    Besides, 15 people who had gone missing in Sarmool, the point of origin of the Saryu river, have also been found safe, he said.

    Twenty-one tourists and two ailing locals were rescued from Darma Valley of Pithoragarh district, DM Ashish Chauhan said.

    Two surviving members of a trekking team have already been rescued while the search for two missing is on, officials in Uttarkashi said.

    Kumaon Divisional Commissioner Sushil Kumar said, “Kumaon division bore the brunt of the unseasonal spell of record rains which damaged crops and property worth Rs 2,000 crore besides accounting for the highest number of deaths and large scale destruction of houses,” the official said.

    Fifty-nine deaths were reported from Kumaon alone with Nainital reporting the maximum 35 deaths followed by 11 in Champawat, six in Almora, one in Bageshwar and three each in Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar districts.

  • 1 billion jabs identity of a new India: Modi

    New Delhi (TIP): India gave a befitting reply to those questioning the country’s ability to vaccinate its population against Covid-19 and surmounted the challenge posed by the pandemic by administering one billion shots in a short time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, Oct 22.

    Modi also took a swipe at his opponents and said economic growth was getting a boost from rising vaccinations, a day after India administered the billionth Covid-19 shot to much fanfare.

    “100 crore vaccinations are not just a figure, but a reflection of the strength of the country, it is the creation of a new chapter of history. This is a picture of a new India that sets difficult goals and knows how to achieve them,” the PM said in a televised address to the nation.

    He said that while other countries had the expertise, India achieved the target by basing the vaccination programme on scientific methods. “Questions were asked if Indians can cope with this pandemic, where will it get the money to purchase vaccines, will Indians get the vaccines or not, will it be able to inoculate so many to stop the (Covid-19) spread… This one billion is an answer to these questions,” he added.

    The billionth shot was administered on Thursday, nine months and five days after the country’s Covid-19 immunisation programme kicked off on January 16. Only China has been able to administer more doses.