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NATIONAL EDITION | Volume 13 • Issue No. 655 Januray 14, 2022 | hiindia.com - News Update 24X7 | South Indian Views On Global News

Where the Indian OTT industry is headed in 2022

Jacqueline Fernandez says ‘You would not do this to your own loved ones’

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AASHU PATEL, OF GANGISTAN FAME IS A REAL LIFE HERO

r e m u s n o c US prices t s e t s a f t a e s ri 0 4 y l r a e n n i rate years pply for key

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HISTORIC

d and scarce suthe increases, n a m e d g n o tr S rs are driving items such as caing pressure on policymakers which are putt c ted to raise e to act. p x e is k n a b l g The US centra is year. The rise in borrowin g th s in interest rate t reducing demand by mak costs is aimed a as cars more expensive. purchases such ge : 04 Pa

Biden administration to offer

Free Covid tests to schools

Indian Origin Sikh Taxi Driver Assaulted at New York’s JFK International Airport

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US Surgeons Successfully Implant Pig Heart In Human US surgeons have successfully implanted a heart from a genetically modified pig in a 57-year-old man, a medical first that could one day help solve the chronic shortage of organ donations.

The “historic” procedure took place Friday, the University of Maryland Medical School said in a statement on Monday.

While the patient’s prognosis is far from certain, it represents a major milestone for animal to human transplantation.

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Entry Prohibited - Non-Hindus "This is not a request, but a warning".

HiIndia Newsdesk

Posters In Varanasi Ask Non-Hindus To Stay Away From Ghats

Varanasi: Posters asking non-Hindus to stay "So far, no written complaint has been made away from the ghats of the Ganga and the with the police. However, the police took temples along the river came up in Varanasi, note of the episode after some local groups prompting the police to launch a probe. highlighted it. The posters are being removed Police said the posters, allegedly put up by with their help," he added. right-wing outfits, are being removed.

The holy city in eastern Uttar Pradesh attracts "The ghats and temples along Maa Ganga in tourists from across the world.

Kashi are symbols of the Sanatan Dharma, Considered among the oldest cities in the world, Indian culture, faith and belief. Those who Varanasi is also the Lok Sabha constituency of have faith and belief in Sanatan Dharma are Prime Minister Narendra Modi. welcome. Otherwise, this is not a picnic spot," "Non-Hindus violate the purity of the ghats. read one of the posters written in Hindi.

That is why this warning has been issued The poster had "Entry Prohibited - Non- to them," Bajrang Dal's Kashi mahanagar Hindus" written on top and concluded saying coordinator Nikhil Tripathi "Rudra" told PTI. "this is not a request, but a warning".

He said the warning to stay away from the Pictures and videos of such posters, allegedly ghats is for those who do not have faith in the put up by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Sanatan Dharma and alleged that such people and its youth wing, Bajrang Dal, also surfaced consume liquor and non-vegetarian food at on social media platforms. the ghats.

The Varanasi police has taken note of the "Recently, pictures of girls consuming beer at a matter and launched a probe, officials said. ghat had surfaced. The ghats and the temples "The matter is being probed by the local are symbols of the Sanatan Dharma. These are Bhelupur police station. The people who not picnic spots. If any such person is seen at were seen in the videos and pictures are being the ghats, we will catch hold of them and hand identified," a police official told. them over to the police," Tripathi added.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

USA NEWS

Senate Republican Mitch McConnell

Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell has denounced US President Joe Biden's voting rights speech as "incoherent" and "profoundly unpresidential".

Top Republican slams US consumer prices Biden voting speech rise at fastest rate as UNPRESIDENTIAL in nearly 40 years HiIndia Newsdesk

" I h ave k n ow n , l i ke d, an d personally respected Joe Biden for many years," Mr McConnell said on the Senate floor.

"I did not recognise the man at the podium yesterday."

The remarks come one day after Mr Biden delivered a fiery speech in Atlanta calling for an overhaul of the US election system.

The president said he supported changes that would allow his

party's proposed overhaul of the election system to be passed without the support of opposition Republicans.

Currently, a majority of 60% is needed to pass most legislation in the Senate. Mr Biden said the push to pass the legislation was a "battle for the soul of America", adding that the 60-vote rule - known as the filibuster - had rendered the Senate "a shell of its former self ".

U.S. criticizes China over canceled flights China on Wednesday ordered the suspension of six more U.S.-to-China flights in coming weeks after a surge in passengers testing positive for COVID-19, rising to 70 cancellations mandated this year in a schedule that had already been drastically cut back.

HiIndia Newsdesk

The Biden administration on Wednesday criticized China’s decision to cancel a growing number of flights from the United States to China because of passengers who later tested positive for COVID-19 and warned it could take action in response.

“China’s actions are inconsistent with its obligations under the U.S.-China Air Transport Agreement. We are engaging with the (Chinese government) on this and we retain the right to take regulatory measures as appropriate,” a U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT) spokesperson said. China on Wednesday ordered the suspension of six more U.S.-to-China flights in coming weeks after a surge in passengers testing positive for COVID-19, rising to 70 cancellations mandated this year in a schedule that had already been drastically cut back.

US Sanctions Five North Koreans After Missile Launch

HiIndia Newsdesk

Washington: The United States imposed sanctions Wednesday on five North Koreans linked to the country's ballistic missile program, a day after Pyongyang carried out what it said was the launch of a hypersonic missile.

The Treasury Department said the five individuals being sanctioned were "responsible for procuring goods for (North Korea's) weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile-related programs."

"Today's actions, part of the United States' ongoing efforts to counter (North Korea's) weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, target its continued use of

The Treasury Department said the five individuals being sanctioned were "responsible for procuring goods for (North Korea's) weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile-related programs."

overseas representatives to illegally procure goods for weapons," Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement. "(North Korea's) latest missile launches are further evidence that it continues to advance prohibited programs despite the international community's calls for diplomacy and denuclearization," Nelson said.

North Korean state media reported on Wednesday that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, personally oversaw the successful test of the hypersonic missile, the second such launch by the nucleararmed nation in less than a week.

Prices in the US are rising at their fastest rate in almost 40 years, with inflation up 7% year-on-year in December.

S

trong demand and scarce supply for key items such as cars are driving the increases, which are putting pressure on policymakers to act.

The US central bank is expected to raise interest rates this year.

The rise in borrowing costs is aimed at reducing demand by making purchases such as cars more expensive.

December's increase marked the third month in a row that the US annual inflation rate has hovered above 6% - well north of policymakers' 2% target. The last time the pace of inflation exceeded that level was 1982.

Housing costs were up 4.1% year-on-year, while the cost of groceries rose 6.5% - compared to a 1.5% annual average over the last 10 years. Wednesday's report from the Labor Department showed signs that some of the pressures may be easing. The cost of energy dropped 0.4% from November to December - its first decline since April. But over 12 months energy costs are up by nearly 30% and have returned to their upward trend in recent days. "Overall, this is every bit as bad as we expected," Paul Ashworth, chief economist at Capital Economics, said of the December inflation report.

Biden administration to offer free Covid tests to schools

The White House also promised to make lab capacity available for five million free PCR tests, facilitated through regional providers HiIndia Newsdesk

he Joe Biden administration said on Wednesday that it would distribute millions of free coronavirus tests to schools across the US to try to keep classrooms open, expanding measures as debates have raged over whether schools should continue in-person instruction amid an omicron-driven surge of cases.

Five million rapid antigen tests will be made available to K-12 schools across the country, the administration said, but states will have to apply for them.

Once such requests are made, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will work to deliver the first shipments as early as this month.

The White House also promised to make lab capacity available for five million free PCR tests, facilitated through regional providers.

“These additional tests will help schools safely remain open and implement screening testing and test-to-stay programs,” the White House said, adding that the moves would help schools double their Covid testing capacity compared with November.

Toll on officers

For the second year in a row, Covid-19 was the leading cause of death for law enforcement officers in the US, according to a report released on Tuesday by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). total of 458 officers died in the line of duty in the country last year, making it the deadliest year in more than 90 years .

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

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Jobs Crisis is more serious than it seems

India's joblessness is worrying because even as the country's growth is restarting, the bottom segment is doing worse than in most other nations, Prof Basu says. He believes the government needs to control inflation, generate employment and support workers.

India urgently needs cash transfers or an employment guarantee scheme for the bottom 20% of struggling households in cities to help them consume and pay back debt.

In the long run, the challenge is to ensure that all workers have a basic minimum wage and social security.

I

ndia's unemployment rate crept up to nearly 8% in December, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), an independent think tank. It was more than 7% in 2020 and for most of 2021.

"This is way higher than anything seen in India, at least over the last three decades, including the big [economic] crisis of 1991 [when the country did not have enough dollars to pay for imports]," Kaushik Basu, former chief economist of the World Bank, told me.

Most countries saw joblessness rise in 2020.

But India's rate exceeded most emerging economies like Bangladesh (5.3%), Mexico (4.7%) and Vietnam (2.3%), notes Prof Basu.

Even salaried jobs have shrunk, according to the CMIE. Part of this could be because firms have used the pandemic to trim their workforce and reduce costs. Studies

by Azim Premji University show young workers - 15 to 23 years old - were hardest hit during the 2020 lockdown.

The pandemic is only partly responsible for the sharp decline in jobs, economists say.

"What has happened in India reflects the fact that policy is being made with little attention to the wellbeing of workers and

small businesses, as we saw during the lockdown in 2020," Prof Basu said.

For one, these dismal headline numbers don't tell us the whole story about persistent joblessness in India.

The number of active job seekers in the working age population has fallen. The proportion of women, aged 15 and older, in the workforce is among the lowest in the world. But unemployment in India mainly refers to educated young people looking for jobs in the formal economy - although the informal economy employs 90% of the workforce and generates half the economic output.

"Unemployment is a luxury which the educated, relatively well-off can afford. Not the poor, unskilled or semi-skilled people," said Radhicka Kapoor, a labour economist.

The more educated the person is, the more likely it is they'll remain jobless and unwilling to take up a low-paying informal job. On the other hand, the poor who have little access to education are compelled to take up whatever work comes their way.

So, unemployment numbers don't reveal much about the total supply of workers in the economy as a whole.

Three-quarters of India's workforce is

self employed and casual, with no social security benefits.

India's joblessness is worrying because even as the country's growth is restarting, the bottom segment is doing worse than in most other nations, Prof Basu says.

He believes the government needs to control inflation, generate employment and support workers. Also, a "politics of polarisation and hate" during Mr Modi's rule is "damaging trust, which is one of the most important underlying drivers of economic development".

Mr Modi, who swept to power in 2014 promising jobs aplenty, is offering financial incentives to key industries and running an ambitious "Make in India" campaign to encourage local manufacturing. None of this has so far led to a manufacturing and jobs - boom, in part due to depressed demand.

In the short term, many like Dr Basole feel India urgently needs cash transfers or an employment guarantee scheme for the bottom 20% of struggling households in cities to help them consume and pay back debt. In the long run, the challenge is to ensure that all workers have a basic minimum wage and social security.

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No Virus Is Welcome

WHO Official On Brazil President's Omicron Comment

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

‘No ultimatums’ Russia sets out security demands at NATO meeting

Omicron overtaking Delta globally: WHO

Six studies have provided evidence of reduced vaccine effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against new variant HiIndia Newsdesk

In an interview, Jair Bolsonaro played down the advance of the new variant in Brazil. (FILE) HiIndia Newsdesk

Brasilia: Wo r l d He a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n Emergency Director Mike Ryan on Wednesday refuted statements made

by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus would be welcome and that it could even bring about the end of the pandemic.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, center, and Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, third right, arrive for the NATO-Russia Council at NATO headquarters, in Brussels, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Russia laid out its demands for security guarantees in Europe to NATO’s 30 allies on Wednesday but insisted they were not ultimatums following intense talks with the United States in Geneva that failed to break the deadlock.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg received Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko at allied headquarters to try to defuse the worst East-West tensions since the Cold War over Russia massing troops near its border with Ukraine. Moscow has dismissed concerns expressed by the United States that it may be planning to invade its neighbour and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said live-fire exercises on the Ukraine border on Tuesday were not linked to the NATO talks.

Omicron is quickly overtaking the Delta variant of COVID-19 and becoming dominant around the world, a senior WHO official has warned, with the global health agency cautioning that there is "increasing evidence" Omicron is able to evade immunity but has less disease severity as compared to other variants.

It could take some time for Omicron to overtake Delta in some countries, because it depends on the level of circulation of the Delta variant in those countries, Infectious Disease Epidemiologist and COVID-19 Technical Lead at the WHO Maria Van Kerkhove said on Tuesday.

Quebec to impose health tax Senior Tories urge PM to on unvaccinated Canadians Boris Johnson:

quit after party apology

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Boris Johnson is facing calls from senior Tories to stand down as prime minister after he admitted attending a drinks party during lockdown.

The PM apologised for the way he handled the event in the Downing Street garden in 2020 and said he understood

the public's "rage" over it.

Cabinet members including deputy PM Dominic Raab rallied round Mr Johnson.

But Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross and MPs William Wragg, Caroline Nokes and Roger Gale called on him to go.

Mr Ross, an MP and an MSP, said he had a "difficult conversation" with Mr Johnson after the PM apologised earlier on Wednesday in the House of Commons. He said he would write to the 1922 Committee - which organises Tory leadership contests - to register his lack of confidence in the PM. "He is the prime minister, it is his government that put these rules in place, and he has to be held to account for his actions," he said.

The Canadian province of Quebec will charge a health tax to residents who are not vaccinated against Covid-19.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Quebec, which has seen the highest number of Covid-related deaths in Canada, is currently struggling with a surge in cases.

On Tuesday, the premier announced that it would be the first in the nation to financially penalise the unvaccinated.

Only about 12.8% of Quebec residents are not vaccinated, but they make up nearly a third of all hospital cases.

According to federal data, just over 85% of Quebec residents had received at least one vaccine dose by 1 January.

Premier Francois Legault said during a

news conference that people who have not received their first dose of vaccine will have to pay a "contribution".

The fee has not yet been decided, but will be "significant", he said.

"I think right now it's a question of fairness for the 90% of the population who made some sacrifices," Mr Legault said. "I think we owe them this kind of measure." Last week, the province announced that it would require proof of vaccination to shop in government cannabis and liquor stores.

In a first, EU to suspend visa-free travel for ‘golden passport’ country HiIndia Newsdesk

The European Commission proposed on could pose security and money laundering risks.

Wednesday a suspension of a visa-free travel Other countries, including eastern European agreement with the Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu states are monitored. because of its scheme offering passports to rich “The Commission has concluded that Vanuatu’s foreigners. investor citizenship schemes present serious If the proposal is backed by EU states, it would be deficiencies and security failures,” it said in a the first time that the EU imposes sanctions on a statement. Under the scheme, foreigners can country for running “golden passport” schemes, obtain Vanuatu citizenship and passport in which the Commission has repeatedly warned exchange for a minimum investment of $130,000.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

INDIA NEWS

Pakistan’s New Security Policy Seeks ‘Peace’ With India: Report HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: Pakistan is willing to make peace with India and other immediate neighbours under its first National Security Policy that leaves the door open for trade with New Delhi even without the settlement of the Kashmir issue – provided there is headway in bilateral talks, according to a report by a Pakistan newspaper.

The National Security Policy, separately endorsed by the country’s National Security Committee and the Cabinet last month, is scheduled to be formally unveiled by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday.

Peace with immediate neighbours and economic diplomacy will be the central theme of Pakistan’s foreign policy under the new National Security Policy, the Express Tribune newspaper reported on Tuesday. The five-year-policy document, which will span 2022-26, is being touted by the Pakistan government as the country’s first-ever strategy paper of its kind, spelling out the national security vision and guidelines for the attainment of those goals. The original 100-page policy, which will be kept under wraps, leaves the door open for trade and business ties with India without the final settlement of the longstanding Kashmir dispute, provided there is progress in the talks between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, an official was quoted as saying by the paper.

Delhi Has 27,561 New Cases, 2ndHighest Since April, Positivity Rate 26%

India Open: Seven Players Withdrawn After Testing Positive For COVID-19

HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: Delhi today logged 27,561 fresh Covid cases, which is a 29 per cent rise over the cases in the last 24 hours and the most number of cases in a day since April. The positivity rate has touched 26 per cent, which is the highest in seven months.

On April 20 last year, the city reported 28,395 cases.

The city also reported 40 Covid deaths, which is the most since June 10, when it reported 44 deaths.

Active Covid cases, according to the health bulletin, stand at 87,445, highest in the last eight months (It was 87,907 on May 8 last year). There are 25,240 patients in home isolation, says the bulletin. Over the last 24 hours, 1,05,102 tests were conducted, out of which 85,349 were RT-PCR tests, while 19,753 were antigen tests.

Yogi Adityanath Could Have New Constituency

BCCI’s Plan B IPL in South Africa or Sri Lanka

HiIndia Newsdesk

The India Open tournament has been rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic with as many as seven Indian players withdrawing from the event after testing positive for the dreaded virus, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Thursday. "The players returned a positive result to a mandatory RT-PCR test conducted on Tuesday. Doubles partners deemed close contact of the seven players have also been withdrawn from the tournament," the world governing body said in a statement.

China threat on, says Army Chief Gen Naravane

HiIndia Newsdesk HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: The BJP, facing a rebellion in the ranks with exit of six leaders over the last two days in Uttar Pradesh, is considering fielding Yogi Adityanath from Ayodhya in the assembly polls, say sources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to sign off on the proposal, the sources add.

The 49-year-old Chief Minister is from Eastern UP, and has served as a five-time Lok Sabha MP from Gorakhpur. However, Eastern UP is in churn right now for with OBC leaders from there quitting the BJP. Ayodhya, the sources said, checks many boxes as the ongoing construction of the Ram temple has boosted its political profile for the BJP.

India’s top cricketers might be returning to South Africa in a few months time. With India’s Covid-19 curve showing an alarming upswing, the BCCI has put in place a contingency plan of holding the upcoming Indian Premier League on foreign shores. In case the virus surge doesn’t dip by April, when the newly expanded 10-team event is expected to kick-off, the Indian board is inclined to move the IPL’s Season 15 to South Africa, which had earlier hosted the T20 league in 2009. The BCCI is also exploring the Sri Lanka option as it puts on paper its pandemic-time Plan B.

It is learnt that in wake of the rising Covid count and increasing positivity rate, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah's office was forced to redraw BCCI's 2021 schedule.

HiIndia Newsdesk

As Indian and Chinese Corps Commanders met for the 14th round of discussions to resolve the 21-month-long standoff in eastern Ladakh, Army Chief General MM Naravane Wednesday said the Chinese threat in the region had not reduced in any way despite partial disengagement at multiple friction points. Naravane also rejected China’s land boundary law that came into force on January 1, saying it was not legally binding on India.

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DIASPORA NEWS

British judge rules BR Shetty to pay Barclays $131 mn

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

PM greets Indian diaspora on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Barclays gave UAEEC more than $129 million in less than a week, but never received the expected currencies in exchange as share trading in parent company Finablr was suspended on the London Stock Exchange amid a massive accounting scandal

B.R. Shetty

London– Barclays can enforce a $131 million judgment to recover unpaid bills from embattled NMC Health founder B.R. Shetty following the failure of a foreign exchange venture, a British judge has ruled, The National reported.

US to probe attack on Sikh taxi driver HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: The US said it was committed to investigating a possible case of hate-based violence in which a Sikh taxi driver was assaulted at the JFK International Airport.

“We all have a responsibility to hold perpetrators of hate crimes accountable for their actions, no matter where such crimes occur,” said the US State Department in a statement.

An undated26-second video uploaded on January 4 purportedly shows a man assaulting the Sikh taxi driver outside what appears to be JFK International Airport. The Indian mission in New York has already urged the US authorities to investigate the incident.

The UK-based international bank had sought to claw back its losses after the businessman’s Abu Dhabi-based UAE Exchange Centre (UAEEC) reneged on a currency-swap agreement in March 2020 with his empire on the brink of collapse.

Barclays gave UAEEC more than $129 million in less than a week, but never received the expected currencies in exchange as share trading in parent company Finablr was suspended on the London Stock Exchange amid a massive accounting scandal, the report said.

A court in Dubai ruled in favour of the bank in April last year, prompting Barclays to go to the High Court in

London to enforce the ruling and tap NEW DELHI: Prime Minister the cricket lover’s frozen assets around Narendra Modi on Sunday greeted the world, the report added. everyone, especially the Indian They include his only known English diaspora on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. asset, a $5.4 million penthouse close to the Lord’s cricket ground in north- In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, west London. The flat is owned by "Greetings to everyone, especially the Indian diaspora on Pravasi Shetty through a British Virgin Islands Bharatiya Diwas. Our diaspora has company, Multi Skies Ltd, according to distinguished itself all over the world land registry documents. and has excelled in different spheres.

The Indian-born businessman — who signed a guarantee in 2015 to pay off At the same time, they have remained connected to their roots. We are proud any debts to Barclays incurred by the of their accomplishments."

UAE Exchange Centre — had tried to delay the ruling, claiming that the bank On January 9, the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is observed to strengthen was responsible for misconduct and had the engagement of the Indian connived with fraudsters to rip off his community overseas with the India company. government and reconnect them with their roots. It is celebrated to mark the contribution of the Indians living abroad in the development of the land of their ancestors. Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan will address a HiIndia Newsdesk virtual youth Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Flipkart; Kundan joshi, founder CEO conference on 'the role of Indian of TheAppleLab; Amit Sodani, founder diaspora' with regard to innovation CEO of kupos.com; Rahul Jain, co- and new technologies. founder and CEO of peach payments and others.

PBD is celebrated once in every two years to strengthen the engagement of the Indian community overseas with the India government and reconnect them with their roots. It is celebrated to mark the contribution of the Indian living abroad in the development of the land of their ancestors.

January 9 was chosen as the day to New Delhi, Jan 8 (IANS) On the celebrate this occasion since, in 1915, occasion of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) on January 9, Union Minister Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, of State for External Affairs V. had returned to India from South Muraleedharan will address a virtual Africa, on this day, and led the country’s freedom struggle which changed the youth PBD conference on ‘the role London lives of Indians forever. of Indian diaspora’ with regard to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson T h e 1 6 t h P B D C onve nt i on on innovation and new technologies. has shot down speculation that the UK Other notable speakers at the event “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat” will ease immigration rules for India as will be Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO of was held virtually in New Delhi last year. part of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Negotiations on an Indo-British FTA are scheduled to begin this month. Sir Edward Leigh, asked in the House of Commons: “Apparently, the government are thinking of relaxing visa controls for India in order to get a free trade deal.

While a free trade deal is valuable, we should not be held to ransom. certain guidelines. If it's a human or Johnson said : “I do not recognise the procedural fault, then we will certainly account that my honourable friend has take action," airport director VK given. We do not do free trade deals Seth said. Dr Charanjit Singh, civil on that basis. Indeed, I can tell him surgeon of Amritsar, told the BBC that that since we took back control, net preliminary investigations suggested immigration has gone down. That is all that the controls of the machines the Opposition wants – their answer is, were not working properly, and that everywhere and always, uncontrolled the issue was being investigated at immigration.

That is their approach to At least 13 passengers who the "highest levels". Mr Singh added the economy, and it is not the right way that SpiceHealth was hired by the arrived on the flight from Milan forward. That is why our Nationality Airports Authority of India (AAI) and tested positive escaped and Borders Bill, currently in the House on 15 December to test passengers of Lords, is so important – it will enable institutional quarantine. arriving from high-risk countries as us to take back control of our borders per government rules. properly and tackle illegal immigration.”

Pravasi Bhartiya Divas to be held virtually on ‘role of Indian diaspora’ on Jan 9

India lab investigated over 298 positive tests on flights from Italy HiIndia Newsdesk

Indian officials are investigating a private laboratory accused of faulty Covid-19 tests on passengers on two flights from Italy last week.

At least 173 passengers from Rome, and 125 travellers from Milan tested positive on arrival in Amritsar.

Thirty of them were tested again at the airport - but only three people tested positive for Covid the second time.

Airport officials told they have stopped using the services of the lab, SpiceHealth, for now. "If it's a manufacturing fault, we have to follow

No easing of immigration rules for Indians: UK PM

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SOUTH INDIA NEWS

Chennai reports 6,484 new Covid-19 cases; PM Modi to virtually inaugurate 11 medical colleges in TN HiIndia Newsdesk

Tamil Nadu on Tuesday recorded 15,379 fresh Covid-19 cases, pushing the caseload to 28,29, 655. The total number of cases included 49 returnees from other countries and states. With 20 deaths, the toll reached 36,886. As many as 3,043 people recovered in the past 24 hours, leaving 75,083 active infections. The positivity rate stood at 11.33 per cent. Chennai, meanwhile, recorded 6,484 cases and 1,389 recoveries, leaving 35,833 active infections in the city.

In view of the rising Covid-19 cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was scheduled to visit Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu to inaugurate 11 new medical colleges alongside Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday, will now attend the event via video conferencing.

Health Minister Ma Subramanian, meanwhile, ruled out the possibility of a full lockdown in Tamil Nadu after Pongal. He stated that following the safety guidelines issued by the government and wearing masks are enough to tackle the current scenario of Covid-19. he Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), too, directed all shop owners to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines, in a circular on Tuesday. Among other Vellore: Patients wait at the entrance of Christian Medical College (CMC) hospital for verification process to get instructions, the corporation has said that liquor should admission, as only emergency services are provided by the hospital currently after over 200 staffers tested COVID-19 only be sold to those who wear masks. positive, amid the ongoing third wave of Coronavirus, in Vellore, Monday, January 10, 2022

Readying for third wave, Andhra hospitals get 144 oxygen plants

Nigerian national, who made MDMA crystals by looking at YouTube videos, arrested in Bengaluru HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

In one of the biggest infrastructural upgrades since the deadly second wave of Covid-19 last year, the Andhra Pradesh government on Monday inaugurated 144 oxygen plants at various government hospitals in the state.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated virtually the Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) oxygen plants, which provide on-site medical-grade oxygen, and dedicated them to the nation.

With Covid cases rising and a looming Omicron threat, the Chief Minister said the government has been taking all measures to contain the virus ahead of the third wave. He said steps were being taken to achieve self sufficiency in oxygen.

In Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh CM says BJP will come to power

Raw materials worth Rs 50 lakh from the accused's residence were seized, the police said.

PM Modi dials Karnataka CM, enquires about latter’s health

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru Police arrested a Nigerian national for allegedly making MDMA crystals using Methylsulfonylmethane, sodium hydroxide and acid at his residence by looking at YouTube videos. Raw materials worth Rs 50 lakh from the accused’s residence were seized, the police said.

The accused was identified as Richard Mbudu Cyrill, a resident of Tarabanahalli. Police seized 930 grams of methylsulfonylmethane, 580 grams of sodium hydroxide crystal, five litres of acid, an altered 10 litre pressure cooker, pipe, a digital weighing machine, two mobiles and a scooter. Cyrill reportedly came to Bengaluru in 2019 on a business visa along with his elder brother and changed houses twice in the last six months.

60 students of Karnataka school fall ill after consuming mid-day meal

HiIndia Newsdesk

M P C M Sh iv r aj Si ng h Chouhan on Friday criticised his Telangana counterpart and expressed confidence that the BJP would win the 2023 Assembly elections in Telangana. Chouhan was in Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Hyderabad to attend a function to welcome Telangana BJP Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar after he was released from jail on Tuesday and enquired about his health, a day after Thursday. Kumar was arrested on January 2 in Karimnagar the latter tested positive for Covid-19. Bommai, at present, is in home isolation. for allegedly violating Covid-19 rules while staging a protest against a government order regarding transfers and postings The Karnataka chief minister said the conversation with the prime minister lasted for about five minutes. of government employees in new districts. Chouhan said the silence of his Telangana counterpart, K Chandrashekar Rao, “The PM’s call came when I was holding a virtual meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in the state. regarding the Opposition’s criticism was cowardly. Chouhan I told him that two more members of my family have added that the BJP would fight to end the Telangana Rashtra also tested positive,” the Karnataka CM said.

Samithi’s rule in Telangana.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Sixty students of a government school in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district fell ill after consuming mid-day meals on Monday.

According to officials, students at the school in Vadakehalla village began vomiting after having rice and sambar for their mid-day meals, and were shifted to the nearest health centres. An official said the children have recovered and are doing fine. Deputy Director of Public Instruction (Chamarajanagar) Manjunath S M said initial probe indicated that a lizard had fallen into the food prepared.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

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fter 2020 we had hoped t h at 2 0 2 1 w ou l d br i n g us some respite from the pandemic. However, things were challenging for a large part of the year. With many of us stuck within the four walls of our house for the most part of the year, OTT platforms sometimes became the only source of entertainment in our lives.

Not only did 2021 see the launch of a lot of big-budget originals on various OTT platforms, a lot of movies like Sardar Udham Singh, Mimi and Shershaah launched on these platforms. Content producing companies put their best foot forward and created award-winning shows that won both commercial and critical acclaim.

A recent joint report by industry body CII and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) stated that the Indian OTT sector is currently in the scaling stage with strong subscription growth and high investment in premium as well as original content. The Indian OTT sector is one of the most competitive amongst emerging markets with over 40 players. While there have been debates about more and more people moving away from TV, Mandeep Kohli, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group India states that we are still some time away from that happening at a large scale in India.

Megha Tata, Managing Director, South Asia, Discovery, Inc As SVOD continues to grow aggressively, we are seeing an increasing number of audiences now willing to pay for good content. I believe a right combination of compelling content and pricing would be the key in attracting a bigger share of consumers into the SVOD world next year. Also, differentiated programming will add to a player’s competitive advantage in the midst of most mainstream players offering similar content. This is a trend familiar to what we saw even broadcast channels go through.

Where the Indian OTT industry is headed in 2022 HiIndia Newsdesk

Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 India The already-growing online media and entertainment business received a major boost with the black swan event that the Covid-19 pandemic was, setting a new growth trajectory in the last year. The audience adopted a more digitally advanced way of entertainment, something that went beyond the conventional mediums, leading to mass adoption of OTT platforms which resulted in a surge in both viewership and watch-time.

At ZEE5, we have seen a 3X growth in the viewership on connected devices.

Rohit Jain, Managing Director, Lionsgate South Asia and Networks, Emerging Markets Asia 2022 is going to be an exciting year for OTT players as the content pipeline will be stronger than ever. While the pandemic has leapfrogged growth in terms of viewers and subscription we expect 2022 to further amplify the reach and will witness growth not only in the metros but also in tier II & tier III cities.

Today’s viewers are constantly looking for edgy and unique stories. We have always said premium content is the ultimate winner.

As we enter a new year, we wanted to understand what to expect from the Over-the-top (OTT) industry in 2022. In today's feature, we speak to industry experts who share their thoughts on what this year has in store for us.

Industry leaders share their expectations from the year ahead

Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment I believe the biggest emerging trend for the streaming industry in 2022 and beyond is the increasing flattening of the Earth, with both geographical borders and language barriers breaking down as internet connectivity reaches the remotest audiences. Our audiences, both local and global, have become smarter, more perceptive and way more critical; this requires us as Content Creators and Distributors to significantly improve the quality of our storytelling, of our productions and of the consumer experience we offer.

Rishi Negi, COO, Banijay Asia

Siddhartha Roy, COO, Hungama Digital Media

Hiren Gada, CEO-Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd

At Banijay Asia, we have become more aggressive towards producing content that delights the heartland of India. We see a hike in demand for stories which are untold, female centric and with CTV on the rise, we anticipate growing interest in regional unscripted content in 2022.

While we have seen this trend kickstart already with our Tamil unscripted show The Survivors as it received unparalleled response from the audience and our hinterland drama Matsya Kaand recently crossed a 100M views on MX Player within a month. These numbers affirm that the trendsmap that we're following leads to a sustainable future. Given these past two years have been a real tester, we have pushed through every possible challenge posed by the virus this year and successfully produced shows for the streaming giants and kept the show running.

The media and entertainment industry has been making rapid strides in the interior of India. Regional markets are becoming the industry’s point of convergence as the digital infrastructure expands across the length and breadth of the country. Content houses and creators are going vocal through local, thereby, making homegrown, highquality content available at the click of a button.

G oing fur ther, consumption of entertainment, in addition to audio and video, will be extended to varied mediums, such as gaming. As the Indian online gaming sector is witnessing tremendous growth in 2020 it sets a tone that gaming will be the next big thing. The industry will witness a rapid rise in the use of AI and ML to create a customised and personalised experience for audiences.

we will also see content being offered across other segments that include devotional, and kids’ categories. As we see new OTT apps being launched almost every month with multiple paying models, the consumers will have more flexibility and power to make their own choices.

With increased smartphone adoption along with affordable data, mobile penetration of the OTT will see more focus. Mobile-centric plans have been introduced by most OTTs today to cater to the Millennials and GenZs who have the hunger to consume content but not the deep pockets to pay. This space will continue to grow with the increased bundling of OTT by telecos. Additionally, the arrival of 5G which is most likely to take off this year will be a game-changer not just for the OTTs but also for the consumers.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY MIDWEST / 14, 2022

AASHU PATEL,

OF GANGISTAN FAME IS

A REAL LIFE

HERO

g BY ZOFEEN MAQSOOD

I

t’s not very often that journalists get to tell their life stories. While covering stories about the world, celebrities and changemakers, it is often their own stories of courage and bravado that get buried in the din of news!

It is heartening then that a podcast like Gangistan was able to bring a slice of life to the world about a journalist who rose from humble beginnings to delve into a world most dread about. Aashu Patel, a journalist with decades of experience and an author of over 50 books has brought to life stories that would live with us for generations.

But when you first speak with Mumbaibased Aashu Patel, his gentle mannerisms and polite demeanor may come as a surprise. After all, a man who dared to discover and uncover some of the most mighty gangsters and their deep, dark world would be presumed to be gruff and tough. But this is where Patel wins you over. Despite the restricted world he dared to tell about in his stories, his affable personality is perhaps what got him access to places most do not get to know.

In a heart-warming conversation with Hi India, thousands of miles away from the US in Mumbai, Aashu Patel tells us everything that led to the making of Gangistan – a one of its kind podcast and the journey that made him what he is today.

Writer-Journalist Aashu Patel PhotoSanjay Vaidya

suggestions!”

When he was still a teenager he decided to give wings to his dreams and soared to his next destination – Mumbai. He says, “I came to Mumbai with Rs 350 (less than $5) in my pocket and a passion to become a journalist. I was inspired by Gujarati journalism stalwarts like Sheela Bhatt and Kanti Bhatt.” But his journey involved its own share of blood and sweat.

SPOTIFY’S PODCAST, GANGISTAN IS A BRAVE, NEVERTOLD-BEFORE HINDI AUDIO THRILLER ABOUT THE LESSEXPLORED SIDE OF MUMBAI’S UNDERBELLY. BUT AMIDST THE CLASH OF THE GANGSTERS AND THE GRIM OF UNDERWORLD, EMERGES AN UNLIKELY REAL HERO OF THE STORY – JOURNALIST AASHU PATEL, ON WHOSE LIFE THE PODCAST IS BASED.

Gangistan on Spotify

THE HINDI CRIME AUDIO THRILLER STARS PRATIK GANDHI, SAIYAMI KHER AND DAYASHANKAR PANDEY IN LEAD ROLES. THE DIRECTION IS BY SIDDHANTA PINTO, THE STORY

BY AASHU PATEL AND THE WRITING BY HEER KHANT.

BRAVE BEGINNINGS

Aashu Patel who is today a respected name in Gujarati journalism is responsible for many landmark stories, dozens of critically acclaimed novels, immensely popular newspaper columns and now a podcast based on his life didn’t quite have an eventful beginning to his life. He started out quite humbly as a young man with few means in his small village in Gujarat. A son of a farmer, growing up he tilled the fields, worked in a shop and even did magic tricks to sustain. But he had a curious mind. He says, “When a library in our nearby town shut down, my elder brother purchased all the books. I read all the books.” He adds, “As a teenager I even wrote letters to famous personalities and leaders and my letter to the then PM Rajiv Gandhi about suggestions to govern the country got me an encouraging reply where the PM acknowledged my great

Gangistan’s Aashu Patel (Pratik Gandhi) with real Aashu Patel

MUMBAI CALLING

While Mumbai gave him everything one could imagine, Aashu did not shy away from the grind. Aashu lived with his cousin for a while and even though he knew his salary as a trainee reporter in the weekly magazine Abhiyaan was not enough to sustain him in a big city, he insisted on living on his own. This meant he spent many nights traveling to

and from the Mumbai trains or spending the nights at the Virar Railway Station or staying hungry towards the end of the month as his money depleted. His tough lifestyle took a toll and he had to later undergo a major intestinal surgery to save his life.

Once he began working as a trainee journalist his stories took him places.

From boarding a plane for the very first time in his life on his first assignment to finding his own niche, the next decade in

his life was full of thrills and trials.

UNCOVERING THE UNDERWORLD

As a journalist, Patel was able to create a firm grasp over his subject – the underworld. He was able to uncover stories others had no access to and his career was nothing short of a Bollywood film in the making. Amongst his memorable incidents Aashu recalls, “There are many thrilling episodes like the one where Mumbai police had shot down three sharpshooters of the infamous Arun Gawli gang in don Gawli’s house.

When I reached the spot for reporting, my shoes became tainted with blood that was on the floor. I remember that day well. After reaching home, I washed my blood- stained shoes.”

As word spread about Aashu’s extraordinary reportage, people began noticing his work. He says, “I never shied away from a difficult subject and gave my 100 percent to all the assignments.”

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022 MIDWEST / EASTCOAST

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Actors Dayashankar Pandey, Pratik Gandhi & Actress Saiyami Kher during a promotional shoot of Gangistan

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L to R - Director Siddhanta Pinto, Actress Saiyami Kher, Actors Pratik Gandhi, Dayashankar Pandey, Audio Producer Rajesh Ravi, Writer & Creative Producer Heer Khant, Music Composer & Audio Producer Ananth Krishnan

GETTING THE SPOTLIGHT

Aashu maintains that he never sought the spotlight but things just happened. He never planned to approach film makers with his stories but destiny shaped its own way. He says, “One day a businessman friend of mine called me and said that Jituji want to meet you. It was only later that I got to know that he meant the legendary actor Jeetendra. Jituji introduced me to director Tigmanshu Dhulia who became interested in turning my novel into a movie. Even though that project got shelved, there were other things awaiting me. Jituji asked me to be the script consultant for ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbai.’”

By then, Aashu had built a formidable reputation as a journalist and was doing a successful docu-novel in Gujarat Samachar titled, ‘The Don.’

Writer of Gangistan, Heer Khant

Actors Pratik Gandhi, Dayashankar Pandey, director Siddhanta Pinto and writer-journalist Aashu Patel during a recording of Gangistan in Mumbai

enjoyed the challenge of having to use only my voice to perform the role.”

Aashu Patel, says, “Audio has an appeal similar to that of the power of the pen, in the sense that it’s left to the audience’s imagination to picturise the story. Writing Gangistan with Heer Khant brought back so many memories from my journalism days. It is truly a grand story, over a grand timeline of several decades, straddling both fiction and non-fiction. This has never been done before in the audio space.”

THE BEGINNING OF GANGISTAN

The story behind Gangistan is also one of chance happenings. He says, “I never thought that I could be the subject of a thriller but when the idea was floated around I was game.” Based on true events from Aashu Patel’s life, research and investigations this fictional podcast brings an extraordinary tale to the lovers of thrills.

Actor Pratik Gandhi, famous for playing the role of Harshad Mehta in the famous 1992 scam web series, plays the real life role of Aashu himself in the audio thriller show.

About the series, Pratik says, “Playing the role of Aashu was slightly easy for me because I have known Aashu Patel for many years. Immersing myself in complex emotions and intriguing situations was a treat. I was able to naturally relate with the protagonist’s ambition and thoroughly

THE FUTURE

Actors Dayashankar Pandey & Pratik Gandhi playing journalist Aashu Patel & gangster Pappu Takla in Gangistan

Aashu is currently researching for his next English novel. He says, “A web series based on one of my novels will go on floor after a few months. I am also working on a suspense thriller novel for leading Gujarati daily ‘Divya Bhaskar’.

Eminent director Tigmanshu Dhulia also announced a film based on his English novel, Madam X.

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January - 2021 “My grandmother will always be the epitome of grace and beauty for me” – Sara Ali Khan

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

ENTERTA

Pandemic hit us hard, there was no chance to fight back

Incidentally Rinku the character Sara plays in Atrangi Re is the nickname of her gorgeous grandmother Sharmila Tagore.

Sara Ali Khan is very happy with the progress she made in her life and career in 2021. Sara says, “2021 has been quite the bittersweet year. We are in the midst of a pandemic, but Atrangi Re was the small bubble I escaped into that gave me solace and motivation. It gave me great memories to replace the bad ones. It was also a wonderful moment for the family when Jehangir was born and I do try to spend time with him and Taimur whenever I get the chance.”

Sara Ali Khan is over whelmed by the response she has received to her performance in Aanand L Rai’s Atrangi Re. “My character Rinku and the film Atrangi Re will forever be a part of me. The film has given me a lifetime of memories.”

The feedback Sara has been receiving has delighted her. “It is humbling and very motivating, especially at this early phase of my career. My friends, family, fans, the industry has had some very nice things to say and I’m truly thankful for that. But the

fact that I’ve been able to make my parents cry, and make my brother proud, and even my grandmother (Sharmila Tagore)… that for me is a huge achievement.”

The girl that Sara plays in Atrangi Re is in love with a phantom lover. Sara confesses she believes in idealized love. “As a girl who’s a diehard romantic at heart, and an idealistic person by nature I have definitely grown up imagining a ‘perfect’ or ‘ideal’ love. In fact in Atrangi Re, the fact that Rinku has a perfect idealised version of her love is so relatable to me. Whether it’s our personal life, or choice of films and professional life, somewhere we all have an idealized version of what we would want or desire in life.

Rinku is the same, so am I.” Incidentally Rinku the character Sara plays in Atrangi Re is the nickname of her gorgeous grandmother Sharmila Tagore.

Hrithik Roshan unveils fierce first look of ‘Vedha’

The much-talked-about Hindi remake of Vikram Vedha starring Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, and Radhika Apte has concluded two schedules of the film already. Hrithik had done an extensive shoot in Dubai whereas Saif filmed for 12 days in Lucknow in December 2021. Now, on the occasion of Hrithik Roshan’s birthday today, makers of Vikram Vedha have unveiled his first glimpse as Vedha.

A little over two weeks after his much awaited film 83 released theatrically, filmmaker Kabir Khan describes his headspace as a “mixed bag”.

While he is happy that the cricket drama has received unprecedented love, the feeling is also punctured with the reality that the project’s box office prospects took a hit due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Led by Ranveer Singh, the film chronicles India’s win under Kapil Dev’s captainship, when the team defeated the mighty West Indies in the final to clinch their first-ever World Cup trophy in 1983.

Pankaj Tripathi to kickstart the new year with the shoot of Criminal Justice 3

Pankaj Tripathi is all set to bring one of his most loved roles as Madhav Mishra back on the small screens with the third installment of Applause entertainment's popular courtroom drama web show, Criminal Justice. With the first two seasons performing exceedingly well in terms of audience response and viewership, the makers of the show have decided to take things up a notch with their third outing. According to reports, it is going to be shot on a much bigger scale with a mix of new as well as old characters from the franchise coming together in a new story line.

Golden Globes 2022 Winners:

Andrew Garfield, Will Smith, Nicole Kidman, Jeremy Strong

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

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AINMENT

Kashmera Shah says Krushna Abhishek fought with Govinda while she was in Bigg Boss house

November - 2021

Kashmera Shah appeared in Bigg Boss 15 Weekend Ka Vaar along with Debina Bonerjee, Vishal Singh, Divya Agarwal, Rahul Mahajan, Geeta Kapur and Neha Bhasin.

K

ashmera Shah revealed how her husband and actor Krushna Abhishek fought with his ‘mama-mami’ Govinda and Sunita Ahuja while she was inside the Bigg Boss house as a challenger last season. Ironically, Krushna had asked her not to fight inside the house. Kashmera, who was a special guest on the ongoing Bigg Boss 15 Weekend Ka Vaar, revealed this after host Salman Khan mocked her for her quick temper.

It started when Kashmera pulled up contestant Karan Kundrra for talking distastefully about Tejassawi Prakash. Salman then looked into the camera and jokingly said, “Krushna, tujhe salute hai (Salute to you, man)!”

Kashmera, who didn’t like Salman pulling her leg, clarified that it’s not her but Krushna who has had fights in the past, pointing to his spat with Govinda. She said despite advising her to keep her calm when she was on Bigg Boss 14, Krushna failed to abide by his own words. “Usne mujhe last season mein bol ke bheja ‘look Kash tum andar jaa rahi ho, kisi se jhagda mat karna, be nice to everyone, dekho meri ghar ki izzat ki baat hai.’ Maine kuch nahi kia andar I admit it, bahar aake dekha sabse khud jhagda karke baitha tha, what is this, khud jhagda kiya mama se maami se. Ab nahi sunne waali main (He told me in the last season that don’t fight with anyone inside the house and I didn’t do anything. But when I came out, I saw he had fought with his own uncle and aunt.

Now I’m not going to listen to him),” Kashmera said.

Many people helped me to be strong: Samantha Ruth Prabhu

A

ctor Samantha Ruth Prabhu opened up about the importance of mental health and how she is battling the issues. Samantha, who separated from Naga Chaitanya in September last year after four years of marriage, talked about how she relied on friends and counselors, to help her get through the difficult phase.

At a launch event for the Psychiatry At Your Doorstep initiative of Roshini Trust and Datla Foundation, she said, “There should be no inhibitions about seeking help when you are mentally disturbed. In my case, I was able to overcome my mental health issues only with the help of my counsellors and friends.” “If I am successful for the next part of my life, it is not because I was strong. But it is because many people around me helped me to be strong. A lot of people are spending a lot of time and effort to help. It’s time for all of us to do our bit as well,” she added.

Saumya Kamble wins India’s Best Dancer Season 2

Pune girl Saumya Kamble was on Sunday announced the winner of India’s Best Dancer Season 2. She beat Gourav Sarwan and Roza Rana to take home the trophy, a car and cash prize of Rs 15 lakh. Her choreographer Vartika Jha was handed a cheque of Rs five lakh.

One of the best freestyle dancers on the show, Saumya Kamble’s belly dancing skills added to her strengths. On the show, she revealed that her father wanted her to become a doctor and mother supported her dance dreams. Over the last few years, she has been balancing both their dreams. So much so that her father recently called her ‘India’s Best Daughter’ on the show.

Jacqueline Fernandez says ‘You would not do this to your own loved ones’ This country and its people have always given me tremendous love and respect. This includes my friends from the media, from whom I have learned a lot. I am currently going through a rough patch but I am sure that my friends and fans will see me through it. It is with this trust that I would request my media friends to not circulate images of a nature that intrude my privacy and personal space.

You would not do this to your own loved ones, am sure you would not do this to me either. Hoping that justice and good sense prevails. Thank you,

Zeenat Aman exudes timeless grace and charm on a magazine cover

Zeenat Aman’s elegance and charm continue to remain unmatchable to date. Even at 70, she can give a lot of young actors a run for their money with her impeccable and timeless sartorial sense.

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Science

US Surgeons Successfully Implant Pig Heart In Human HiIndia Newsdesk

Washington: US surgeons have successfully implanted a heart from a genetically modified pig in a 57-year-old man, a medical first that could one day help solve the chronic shortage of organ donations.

The "historic" procedure took place Friday, the University of Maryland Medical School said in a statement on Monday. While the patient's prognosis is far from certain, it represents a major milestone for animal to human transplantation.

The patient, David Bennett, had been deemed ineligible for human transplant -- a decision that is often taken when the

as was a gene that would have led to excessive growth of pig heart tissue.

Six human genes responsible for human acceptance were inserted into the genome, for a total of 10 unique gene edits.

The editing was performed by Virginia-based biotech firm Revivicor, which also supplied the pig used in a breakthrough kidney transplant on brain dead patients in New York in October.

But while that surgery was purely a proofof-concept experiment, and the kidney was connected outside the patient's body, the new surgery is intended to save a person's life.

The donated organ was kept in an organ-

Bennett was dying and ineligible for a human heart donation because heart failure and an irregular heartbeat made him ineligible

Left is Dr. Bartley Griffith, who conducted the procedure, with David Bennett (right) after the surgery was completed. Bennett is now recovering and being carefully monitored to determine how the new organ performs

'It was either die or do this transplant,' said Bennett before the operation. 'I want to live. I know it's a shot in the dark, but it's my last choice'

recipient has very poor underlying health.

He is now recovering and being carefully monitored to determine how the new organ performs.

"It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot in the dark, but it's my last choice," the Maryland resident said a day before the surgery.

Bennett, who has spent the last several months bedridden on a heart-lung bypass machine, added: "I look forward to getting out of bed after I recover."

The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization for the surgery on New Year's Eve, as a last ditch effort for a patient who was unsuitable for conventional transplant.

"This was a breakthrough surgery and brings us one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis," said Bartley Griffith, who surgically transplanted the pig heart.

"We are proceeding cautiously, but we are also optimistic that this first-in-the-world surgery will provide an important new option for patients in the future."

Muhammad Mohiuddin, who co-founded the university's cardiac xenotransplantation program, added the surgery was the culmination of years or research, involving pig-to-baboon transplants, with survival times that exceeded nine months.

"The successful procedure provided valuable information to help the medical community improve this potentially life-saving method in future patients," he said.

preservation machine ahead of the surgery, and the team also used an experimental new drug made by Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals along with conventional anti-rejection drugs to suppress the immune system.

About 110,000 Americans are currently waiting for an organ transplant, and more than 6,000 patients die each year before getting one, according to official figures.

To meet demand, doctors have long been interested in so-called xenotransplantation, or cross-species organ donation, with experiments tracing back to the 17th century.

Early research focused on harvesting organs from primates -- for example, a baboon heart was transplanted into a newborn known as - 10 unique gene edits Bennett's donor pig belonged to a herd that "Baby Fae" in 1984, but she survived only 20 days. had undergone genetic editing procedures.

Today, pig heart valves are widely used in Three genes that would have led to rejection of pig organs by humans were "knocked out," humans, and pig skin is grafted on human burn victims.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

Most Challenging In My Whole Career: South Africa Batter

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Sports

Michael Vaughan

Best Bowler In The World Across All Formats Former England captain Michael Vaughan heaped immense praise on Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, tagging him as the best bowler in the world across all formats.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

South Africa batter Keegan Petersen feels the Indian pace attack is the "most challenging" bowling attack he has faced in his career. Jasprit Bumrah's dominant bowling performance backed up by a gritty batting performance by Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli helped India recover some lost ground against South Africa on Day 2 of the ongoing third Test at Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday.

"It's (the Indian pace attack) extremely challenging. It's the most challenging I've had in my whole career. You have to be focused and on your mark all the time or else they will expose you," said Petersen in the press conference after the end of the day's play. "They test you in terms of scoring, there's not much scoring opportunities.

They have not given us much. They are arguably one of the best bowling attacks in the world. We knew that coming into the series, it's been challenging, we just got to deal with it," he added.

"You'll Always Be My Champion"

Actor Siddharth's Apology To Saina Nehwal

Team India fast bowler Jasprit Indian pacer as the Bumrah endured one of the best bowlers in the best days in South African world across all the conditions as he claimed formats of the game. an impressive five-wicket His caption read: haul in the first innings of " Ho w g o o d i s @ South African batting on Jaspritbumrah93 !!! the second day of the 3rd I reckon across all Test match at Newlands in formats he is the best Cape Town. Bumrah used in the World at the the pace and bounce on moment.. #SAvIND." offer to his advantage as This is Bumrah's he jolted the home team 7th five-wicket with regular wickets to help haul in India claim a crucial 13- his Test run lead in the first innings. career.

Taking this performance into notice, former Asheswinning England captain Michael Vaughan also took to Twitter to express his views on Bumrah's spell.

Following yesterday's game, Vaughan termed the

Joe Root considering entering IPL auction Root had expressed his desire to play in the IPL earlier too even though he had decided against entering the auction.

HiIndia Newsdesk

PCB chief Ramiz Raja proposes 4-nation T20I series HiIndia Newsdesk

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja on Tuesday said that he is going to make a proposal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to hold a four-nation T20I series including arch-rivals India and Pakistan. The other two teams will be T20 World Cup winner Australia and 50 overs champions England.

Raja feels that if this round did take place, then the profits would be shared on a percentage basis with all ICC members.

England’s Test captain Joe Root has revealed that he is considering entering the upcoming IPL auction, four years after going unsold in the auction for the lucrative T20 league.

Considered one of the modern greats of the game, Root is yet to play in the IPL after going unsold in the 2018 auction. The 31-yearold batter, however, said he would look to play in the tournament only if it does not distract him from his Test career.

“Time is ticking but I have a lot to weigh up,” Root said. “Will it have a negative impact on me playing Test cricket? If I don’t think so then I will put myself in the auction. But I will never do anything that will detract from playing Test cricket for England.

It’s so important to make sure that is the priority for me and other players as well.” Root had expressed his desire to play in the IPL earlier too even though he had decided against entering the auction.

Novak Djokovic clarifies movements, Australian visa saga continues HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Actor Siddharth has apologised for his "rude joke" on badminton player Saina Nehwal following an uproar over his recent remark.

The actor has asserted that his "word play" had "none of the malicious intent" that was attributed to it.

Responding to a tweet by Ms Nehwal in which she raised concerns over the breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security during his visit to Punjab, Siddharth tweeted, "Subtle cock champion of the world... Thank God we have protectors of India.

Folded hands. Shame on you Rihanna."

Novak Djokovic has moved to clarify how mistakes were made on the immigration document he submitted on his arrival in Melbourne last week, before his visa was revoked and then reinstated in a COVID-19 vaccination saga that has overshadowed the days leading up to the Australian Open.

A statement was posted on Djokovic’s social media accounts Wednesday while the men’s tennis No. 1 was in Rod Laver Arena holding a practice session against Tristan Schoolkate, a 20-year-old Australian.

The nine-time and defending Australian Open champion is in limbo before the year’s first tennis major starts next Monday. Djokovic won a legal battle on Monday allowing him to stay in the country, but he still faces the prospect of deportation because he’s not vaccinated against COVID-19.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Indian Origin Sikh Taxi Driver Assaulted at New York’s JFK International Airport

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

CBP Agents Conduct Cold Weather Rescue

HiIndia Newsdesk

NEW YORK , NY – Terming the assault on a Sikh taxi driver at the JFK International Airport as “deeply disturbing”, India’s Consulate General here said that it has taken up the matter with the US authorities and urged them to investigate the incident.

“The assault against a Sikh taxi driver in New York is deeply disturbing. We have taken up the matter with US authorities and urged them to investigate this violent incident,” the Consulate General of India in New York tweeted on Saturday.

An undated 26-second video uploaded

by Navjot Pal Kaur on Twitter on January 4, showed a man assaulting the Sikh taxi driver outside the airport.

Kaur said in a tweet that the video was shot by a bystander at the airport.

Horrific Bronx Apartment Fire Leaves 19 Dead HiIndia Newsdesk

BRONX, NY — An enormous blaze claimed the lives of nine children and 10 adults in The Bronx Sunday, according to officials and reports.

At least 63 people were injured in the 5-alarm fire that broke out on the third floor of 333 E. 181st St. in Tremont about 11 a.m., according to the FDNY. The fire was started because of a faulty space heater, and the door to the apartment unit was left open, making it easier to spread, Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said at a news conference Sunday evening.

National Women’s Conference in Southern California Held by NFIA

Attendees at National Women’s Conference 2021 HiIndia Newsdesk

ARTESIA, CA – The National Federation of Indian American Associations held its National Women’s Conference 2021 at Guru Restaurant here Dec. 26, which not only brought Indian American community leaders together but encouraged them to share their life journey that led to the uplift of their own lives and motivated others to see a different perspective.

Organized by Pooja Thomre, convener of the NFIA conference and treasurer of NFIA; Ajoy Dube, president of

NFIA; and Vasu Pawar, CEO/founder of Step2StepUp Inc. and incoming Regional Vice President of NFIA, the conference’s theme was “The Myth of the Illusionary Glass Ceiling.” Several speakers had divergent views on this topic, according to a press release, such as Ms. Khandelwal, who expressed the fact that she saw no gender gap bias, while Kamini Khare, the founder of IASC, and a strong community leader said she did experience prejudice whenever she intended to purchase a

property. Rini Ghosh, president of the Vedanta International Cultural Center, shared her own personal experience, relating that she was asked to sell their business after her husband passed away as society did not see a woman capable of transitioning. But she said she stood strong and proved them wrong.

Dr. Manorama Gupta, president and founder of the Global Peace Foundation; Vijay Patil, founder of SMAP; and Kewal Kanda, past president of GOPIO and an NFIA executive, all agreed that the gender gap bias is something that starts in your home. If men and women were brought up equally in their families, it would have obliterated even the thought that women had to be treated differently, noted the release.

Chief guest Ashok Madan said he clearly saw male domination in the real estate industry, said the release, but now one sees so many successful women in real estate. Keynote speaker Shrina Kurani, a graduate of UC Riverside, said that with her first engineering project with NASA, and running for Congress, she is a fierce believer in the power of innovation, and with her experience attending United Nations conferences on climate change, she has witnessed women coming to the forefront.

Representative image

SIERRA BLANCA, TX–- Big Bend Border Patrol Sector agents rescued 25 undocumented migrants from a failed smuggling event on Wednesday.

On the morning of Jan. 5, Border Patrol agents assigned to Sierra Blanca Station rescued the migrants from a failed smuggling event when they were found abandoned in a locked trailer with no means to escape and no heat. Agents noticed that some undocumented migrants were crying and distraught upon entering the vehicle, with some shivering from the cold temperature outside. “There have been significant rescues as of late by our agents where individuals were left in hazardous conditions and required immediate medical attention,” said Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin. “Transnational criminal organizations have no concern for humanity, they continually place lives in danger.” Big Bend Sector partners with many local and state law enforcement entities to keep our border communities safe. If you see something suspicious, report it by contacting our 24/7 hotline at 1-866581-7549.

Bank of America in Evanston IL Robbed

by Armed Man

Photo of suspect released by FBI HiIndia Newsdesk

EVANSTON, IL- A Bank of America in Evanston was robbed Wednesday morning. Around 11:50 a.m., the FBI responded to the bank located at 1336 Chicago Avenue. According to the FBI, the suspect entered the bank and presented a note to the teller demanding money. A handgun was shown. The suspect was described as a Black male between the ages of 30 and 40, standing 6-feet tall. He was wearing a tan fedora-style hat, green surgical facemask, thick, black rimmed glasses, a black winter jacket over a trench coat, a black and white scarf, white button-down dress shirt and khaki pants. The FBI says the suspect is still at large. Anyone with information should contact 312-4216700 or head to tips.fbi.gov.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

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South Asian American Business Community Honored at Annual SABAN2021 Award Gala Night HiIndia Newsdesk

LOS ANGELES, CA — SABAN2021, South Asian Biz Awards Nationwide, a national annual business gala event of reception, dinner, awards, and entertainment of the South Asian American business community in the U.S., held its 2021 annual event Dec. 9 at the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel in Cerritos, California, according to a press release.

Dole Bagged Salads Recalled in 13 States Over Listeria Concerns HiIndia Newsdesk

SPRING FIELD, OH- Dole Fresh Vegetables is asking consumers to “immediately” discard Dole-branded packaged salad bags and privatelabel salad bags due to their possible contamination with listeria, according to a recall notice put out by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recalled items include prepackaged salad items that contain iceberg lettuce and were processed at Dole’s Springfield, Ohio, and Soledad, Calif. facilities, the FDA noted.

According to the recall notice, about 36 products from the Springfield facility were distributed to 25 states across the country, and another 36 products from the Soledad facility were distributed to about 30 states.

Dole issued the voluntary recall after testing found that the “harvest equipment used in the harvesting of the raw iceberg lettuce material used in these finished products” contained listeria, the recall notice stated.

“Consumers who still have any of these products in their refrigerators are urged not to consume the product and to discard it immediately,” Dole said.

NY Health Care Workers Will Likely Face a Mandate to Get COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot HiIndia Newsdesk

NEW YORK, NY -New York health care workers will likely face a mandate to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot this month, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday. New York could become the first

U.S. state to implement such a booster mandate, which the governor said will be reviewed by a state health board next Tuesday.

“But health care workers will be asked to do this, with no exemptions other than a medical exemption and no test out options,” she said. “We’re the first state in the nation to institute this.”

The mandate will require health care workers to get boosters within two weeks of becoming eligible, according to the governor.

“We anticipate swift approval and it’ll take effect immediately,” Hochul said.

“And we’ll keep New Yorkers posted on the developments of this.”

Its whose goal is to create and develop the South Asian American market as an integral part of the U.S. national economy. It works towards the harmony of entrepreneurial diversity in the community-at-large, including Americans, South Asian Americans, Indian Americans, with a common goal of economic stability, growth, and prosperity of America and global leadership, it added.

The main attraction of the gala night was the presentation of its South Asian Business Awards, as well as a fashion show organized by Smita Vasant of India Fashion Week.

The different South Asian best category awards recipients, according to the release, are: Kaveri Nathan of Rock A Bella Creations, Mahomed Khan of Star Power of Peace; Faysal Mozumder of Abedin Sons Traders, Ramshankar Tashildar of Rambabu Sweets, Rahman of Cox Capital Group, LLC, Yogi Patel of Lebon Hospitality Inc, Parimal Shah of Pioneer Money Corp.; and Sabu Syriac, CPA of Syriac CPA, Tax & Accounting Services.

The South Asians Corporate Partners award went to SoCal Gas and City of Hope OC. The Chairman’s awards for community outreach went to Suzanna Choi, Tammy Martin-Ryles, and Julian Canete.

The chairman of SABAN2021 event was Ranjit Siva, while the executive director was Mohammed Islam, noted the release.

26 Migrants Aboard a Train Attempt to Circumvent Checkpoint HiIndia Newsdesk

Border Patrol agent assist undocuments persons off of train to transport to the El Centro Sector's CentralizedProcessing Center for further medical evaluations and further processing.

NILAND, CA – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended 26 undocumented individuals aboard a freight train near the Highway 111 checkpoint Tuesday morning.

At approximately 4:45 a.m., a train conductor notified agents working at the checkpoint that he observed a group of individuals attempting to circumvent the checkpoint aboard his train traveling northbound through Bombay Beach, CA, five miles north of the checkpoint.

Agents responded to the area and encountered 10 individuals who did not possess the proper documents to be legally present in the United States.

Members of the group stated that there was also an additional group aboard the train. The conductor was notified of the other group and the train was stopped by the Indio train yard, near Dillon Road and Avenue 48. Responding agents encountered an additional 16 undocumented individuals.

Agents responded to the area and encountered 10 individuals who did not possess the proper documents to be legally present in the United States. Members of the group stated that there was also an additional group aboard the train Welfare checks were conducted on all 26 individuals and no medical assistance was required. Agents transported all the individuals to the El Centro Sector’s Centralized Processing Center to be further medically evaluated and processed accordingly.

For all news, information, and updates related to the El Centro Border Patrol Sector, follow us on Facebook Twitter and Instagram. Visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

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HEALTH

Sugar, the simplest form of energy our body uses, is remarkably complicated. It is often seen as public health enemy number one, particularly in the new year, when some people resolve to go on a "sugar detox" after an indulgent festive period.

3tips

to keep check of your sugar intake: Q Read food labels to learn where the sugar in your diet is coming from. Then you can find a suitable alternative, such as an unsweetened version, or choose to eat less of the same item. It may be as easy as switching from sugary energy balls to a piece of fresh fruit and a handful of unsalted nuts for a snack.

Q Stick to one portion of juice. The recommended daily limit of fruit or vegetable juice is 150ml, and this contains one of your five a day. Drinking more juice is not advised due to the sugar content.

Q Start with one swap. As with any dietary change, the key is being able to stick to it long term. The NHS Change 4 Life scheme recommends reducing sugar by swapping sugary breakfast cereals, snacks and drinks for no or low sugar options.

Reducing your sugar intake slowly can be a more sustainable change.

You don't need to go on a

"sugar detox" T

here's no doubt that we as a nation consume more than the recommended amount of sugar, according to the latest government data. Cutting back on sweets, chocolates and biscuits is surely no bad thing. And sugar can turn up in unlikely places making us more prone to eating more of it than we thought.

There’s a growing movement among some experts that demonising sugar can be dangerous, leading to confusion, unrealistic expectations and cutting out important food groups in our diets. Sugar is naturally found in many foods that we don't eat enough of, like fruits and vegetables. While the term "natural sugar" is often co-opted to describe concentrated, added sugars that we eat too much of.

So what's important to know about sugar before you try to cut it out completely?

Are some sugars better than others?

Sugar is found naturally in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products. Our bodies break carbohydrates down into sugars to be used by our cells for energy. Glucose, a form of sugar, is the primary source of energy for the body and the brain uses half of all the glucose energy our body requires.

The sugars naturally contained in milk, whole fruits and vegetables are intrinsic sugars, explains nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert, as the sugar is contained inside the structure of the food. While all sugars are eventually processed in the same way by your body, these foods also contain beneficial nutrients, fibre and fats, which are important for health and slow down the absorption of sugar, keeping blood sugar levels more stable. You don’t need to worry so much about these foods, and it's important to eat at least five different fruits and vegetables each day.

Intrinsic sugars do not count toward the recommended maximum intake of 30g per day for adults (less for children).

The recommended limit of 30g refers to “free sugars”.

Free sugars are removed from their natural state (in a sugar beet, in a maple tree, in an apple) and stripped of their structure, sometimes concentrated, then added to foods. Free sugars include everything from granulated sugar to coconut sugar, from golden syrup to agave

Added free sugars should make up no more than 5% of the calories you get from food and drink each day. This is estimated to be 30g, or roughly 7 sugar cubes (7 tsp), per day for those aged 11 and over.

nectar, from icing sugar to molasses. Even though the name of a sugar sounds "natural" or the sugar looks darker, or less refined, it is still a free sugar.

Free sugars also include honey and fruit juice, though the sugar is naturally occurring it is freely available for the body to absorb. The free sugar hits the bloodstream quickly, which can lead to high blood sugar levels that the body counters by secreting insulin. Insulin takes the sugar out of the bloodstream into cells where the energy can be used or stored as fat.

Sugar might not be a health food, but it doesn’t need to be demonised Added sugar is not needed by your body and research shows many of us have too much of it, however, there’s still room for some sugar in a healthy diet. While it can useful to know what the ingredients in your foods are, it’s also important to be mindful that you don’t become fixated with it, as this can be a warning sign or symptom of disordered eating.

There’s a lot more to food than the sugar content too, such as satisfaction. “Ultimately a healthy relationship with food means everything in moderation, it’s about striking a balance that works for you and importantly, please don’t see food as good or bad, everything has a place,” says Lambert.

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LIFESTYLE

DISCOMFORT growth is important for

"Seeking discomfort sounds odd, but you have to learn to embrace it, because it's the only environment where sustained or exponential growth can occur."

I

Shilpa Shetty

shows a chic way to style a lehenga The 46-year old was dressed in a stunning velvet, three-piece trench coat lehenga ensemble for an event. The classic outfit was designed by designer Kshitij Jalori. The entire outfit was in a stylish burnt orange tone with many shades of digitally-painted floral jaals. A sleeveless blouse with a square neckline and short hem was included in the set.

Shilpa’s choli had a thick ghera and a matching lehenga with contrasting pink and gold embroidered patti design on the hem. She completed her modern outfit with a notch lapel long jacket in the same tangerine tone and floral print.

n a Tedx Talk, Bill Eckstrom, the CEO and founder of Ecsell Institute, talks about the rewards of not only stepping out of your comfort zone, but also staying in a state of discomfort when it comes to growth and success. He talks about a personal experience when as an executive with a handsome salary and perks, he was fired by his boss.

“I left the conference room in a dazed state, and I went home and curled up in my bed in the fetal position for three hours. And while I could go on in vivid detail about how I felt, what it did to my self-esteem, my finances, and so on, what I now realise is, while that event created the greatest amount of discomfort I had ever felt, it was that discomfort, the departure from my ordered life, that forever changed it for the better.”

Eckstrom goes on to emphasise that “what makes you comfortable can ruin you, and only in a state of discomfort, can you continually grow.”

He went on to apply the science of discomfort to a concept he and a PhD friend titled ‘The Growth Rings’ which “represent living environments that promote or hinder growth. And that includes everything from your place of work, to even a fishbowl.” Comparing people to goldfish, Eckstrom makes the analogy that “the environments in which you work, live, and play, are all a proverbial fishbowl that dictates your growth”.

He goes to say that after stagnation and chaos, which is the antithesis of the former, is ‘order’. “Knowing that what you do, or what is happening in your environment, leads to a predictable outcome. And in predictability, comfort is found. But comfort is also what makes order so dangerous. Because science shows that anytime you continually do something, or even think about something the same way, you’ll eventually stop growing.”

Talking about the power of discomfort, Eckstrom says, “While most times your visceral response to discomfort is not just ‘no’, but ‘hell, no,’ you can actually learn how empowering it is to consciously acknowledge discomfort, and then, when appropriate, choose complexity over order. And I know seeking discomfort sounds odd, and not many people do it, but you have to learn to embrace it because it’s the only environment where sustained or exponential growth can occur.”

Get Your Home Ready for a House Party

1. Set Up A Bar Corner

Keeping your space organised is one thing that a good host should practice. Setting up a bar corner doesn't mean only liquor; you can even get mocktails and other beverages served in this spot. It will not only utilise the space but will also make it look decluttered, giving your guest a space to explore the party. Do not forget to decorate the bar accordingly. If you are setting it up against the wall, then go for quirky posters to make it look cool.

2. Fresh Flowers To The Go

Nothing beats the charm of fresh flowers and trust us, there is no better way to make your home look fresh and vibrant. Don't go overboard with endless varieties and multiple colours; stick to a theme and opt one to two colours to make it look minimal yet stunning at the same time. Spread it on the table and deck up your vases with some statement flowers.

3. Lightening Is A Must

Whether you are throwing a birthday bash or a cosy get-together, lighting is a must. You can also use Last minute mix-ups or running out of food sometimes candles in some corners and add wall or ceiling lamps to give an elegant aesthetic to your party. Do not sound like a house party. House parties are underrated when overdo it with colourful multiple lights; keep it simple and subtle as per your party theme.

it comes to hosting. We often assume that it is just a regular party and nothing could go wrong at the last minute. But this is where we are wrong. A house party needs adequate preparation too and we just don't mean the decor. From ensuring enough food is stocked to setting up a bar corner, it's all about keeping things ready beforehand. With these ways. your next house party will be a hit. To get you started, we have curated the best ways to get your home ready for a house party.

4. Set Up The Table Well

Setting up the table beforehand gives you time to attend your guests nicely. Whether it is a fine dine setting or a buffet one, do ensure beforehand that everything is in place and there is adequate space for the guest to eat comfortably without turning your home into an absolute mess.

5. Stock Up On Snacks

You don't want to run errands in the middle of your party and the best way to avoid this case scenario is by stocking up on salty snacks, nuts and more as they are the highlight food in any party, and you don't want to run out of these of course! Also ensure that your kitchen is tidy and the stocked-up food is well organised in a certain way instead of throwing it all on table so organise it in one corner.

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Top Stories the Week - News Update 24/7 | Advtertising Inq. 773.338.0222 NATIONAL EDITION | January 11 , 2022 | THE COMMUNITY FIRSTof | hiindia.com

1.68 lakh new “No Lockdown In Delhi, Don’t cases in India Worry”: Arvind Kejriwal HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

India reported 1,68,063 Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours ending 8 am Tuesday, and 277 deaths, data from the Union Ministry of Health showed. The country’s Omicron tally rose to 4,461, with Maharashtra reporting the highest cases (1,247) of the new strain, followed by Rajasthan (645) and Delhi (546). There are 8,21,446 active cases in India. The daily positivity rate is 10.64 per cent. On Monday, 9.68 lakh people from three priority groups — the elderly with comorbidities, healthcare workers, and frontline workers — were administered ‘precautionary’ doses on the first day of the rollout.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said no lockdown will be imposed in the Capital.

New Delhi: There will be no lockdown in Delhi, where the positivity rate is at a seven-month high of 25 per cent, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today.

“Don’t worry, we will not impose a lockdown,” the Delhi Chief Minister told news agency ANI on the surge in cases in the capital. Delhi is likely to report about 22,000 new cases today.

All private offices have been ordered to shut down and send their employees into Work-From Home.

Only those providing essential services would be exceptions to the new rule, it was decided in a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Agency (DDMA). Restaurants and bars have also been shut and only takeaways and home deliveries are allowed.

“At the DDMA meet we requested central government officials to cover the entire NCR (National Capital Region) for restrictions. They assured us on the same,” he added. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has said that cases in the city may peak in the next 48 hours or “definitely this week”.

Paramilitary forces reduce attendance by 50 per cent

Lata Mangeshkar suffering from Covid-19 and pneumonia, admitted to ICU HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar was admitted to the ICU of Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital, after testing positive for Covid-19.

She is also suffering from pneumonia.

Dr Pratit Samdhani, who is heading the team of experts treating Mangeshkar, said that she was brought early on Sunday morning and is suffering from Covid-19 and pneumonia.

Her niece Rachna Shah told, “Lata taai has tested positive for Covid-19, and considering her age, doctors advised us to admit her in the ICU because she requires constant care. We cannot take a chance. As a family, we want the best for her and we want to ensure that she gets proper medical care,” she said.

A Key UP Minister Quits Ahead Of Election Advantage Akhilesh Yadav HiIndia Newsdesk

Top brass of the central paramilitary forces have decided to reduce attendance in offices to 50 per cent in the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases in the forces over the past few days, sources in the Union home ministry said.

“The Central Reserve Police Force, the country’s largest paramilitary force, has already advised its formations that the

3 Indian Americans in the Top 25 InsurTech Executives List

attendance should be reduced to 50 per cent in offices. Others have also followed suit,” a home ministry official said.

The number of Covid cases has increased from 148 on December 28 to 1,668 cases till Friday. The CRPF tops the list with 480 active cases.

The force has directed all its formations to reactivate all Covid care and health centres in the wake of the surge in cases.

In a big exit from the Yogi Adityanathled BJP government just before the Uttar Pradesh election, Swami Prasad Maurya has quit as minister and switched to the rival Samajwadi Party of Akhilesh Yadav. Reports suggest he may take a few more MLAs with him.

“Despite a divergent ideology, I worked with dedication in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet. But because of the grave oppression of Dalits, OBCs, farmers, unemployed and small businessmen, I am resigning,” Swami Prasad Maurya wrote in a stinging resignation letter.

Government To Own 36% In Vodafone Idea HiIndia Newsdesk

L. to R : Art Agrawal, Jack Kudale, Rajeev Gupta HiIndia Newsdesk

Three Indian Americans have found their name in the Top 25 InsurTech Executives of 2021 by the Financial Technology Report.

The list highlights executives who bring innovative and secure solutions that provide businesses the best in insurance technology.

The three on the list are – Art Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of Jerry, a car

ownership super app. The company saves more than 1.5 million customers an average of $850 per year. Jack Kudale, founder and CEO of Cowbell Cyber, the first AI powered cyber insurance provider is the other Indian origin executive on the list. Rajeev Gupta, co-founder and chief product officer of Cowbell Cyber also found a spot on the list.

Vodafone Idea Ltd. said the Indian government will own almost 36% in the countrys thirdlargest wireless phone operator after its board approved conversion of dues into equity.

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New Delhi: Vodafone Idea Ltd. said the Indian government will own almost 36% in the country’s third-largest wireless phone operator after its board approved conversion of dues into equity.

This will result in dilution for all the existing shareholders of the company, including the founders, the unprofitable wireless carrier said in a stock exchange filing.

Vodafone Group Plc will own around 28.5% and Aditya Birla Group will have about 17.8% in the company, it said.

This rescue plan was crucial for Vodafone Idea, a joint venture between the Vodafone Group and billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla’s conglomerate, which has been losing customers to bigger rivals.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

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Top Stories of the Week

China’s New Construction Another Minister And OBC Leader At Bhutan Border Dara Singh Chauhan, Has Big Implications For India

Quits Team Yogi

C

HiIndia Newsdesk

hina has accelerated settlement-building along its disputed border with Bhutan, with more than 200 structures, including two-storey buildings, under construction in six locations, according to satellite image analysis conducted for Reuters.

The images and analysis supplied to Reuters by US data analytics firm HawkEye 360, which uses satellites to gather intelligence on ground-level activities, and vetted by two other experts, provide a detailed look into China’s recent construction along its frontier with Bhutan.

HiIndia Newsdesk

This is the second OBC (Other Backward Class) leader to quit team Yogi just before the Uttar Pradesh election next month.

Ne w Delhi: A s econd minister, Dara Singh Chauhan, has quit Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet in Uttar Pradesh, continuing a flurry of exits that started with Swami Prasad Maurya’s shock resignation yesterday. This is the second OBC eader to quit team Yogi just before the Uttar Pradesh election next month.

In a huge blow to the BJP as it seeks reelection in India’s most politically vital state, two ministers and four MLAs have quit so far and are set to join the Samajwadi Party of Akhilesh Yadav.

“I worked with dedication but I am resigning as I am hurt by this government’s oppressive attitude towards the backward, deprived sections, Dalits, farmers and unemployed youth and the neglect of quota for the backward and Dalits,” Mr Chauhan wrote in his resignation letter.

Over 1.9 lakh new 2 crore teens cases in India jabbed: PM Modi

N. Carolina Senator Jay Chaudhuri Receives Fellowship HiIndia Newsdesk

Jay Chaudhuri

Indian American State Senator Jay Chaudhuri was recently chosen for the E Pluribus Unum as 2021 UNUM Fellows.

The 11 selected state legislators will be participating in an year-long program to advance racial and economic equity in their states through sustainable change and collaboration.

E Pluribus Unum, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a mission to build a more just, equitable and inclusive South and uprooting the barriers that have divided the region by race and class. Born in Chattanooga, Tenn., he now lives in Raleigh.

“I have rejected the BJP...there is no question of going back,” said Swami Prasad Maurya ahead of the fastapproaching UP Assembly polls.

HiIndia Newsdesk

My Exit Has Caused Earthquake In BJP

SP Maurya

New Delhi: Swami Prasad Maurya, whose resignation from Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet has set off a flurry of exits from the BJP just before elections, today said he would reveal his next move on Friday and that he “hasn’t quit the BJP or joined the Samajwadi Party” yet.

Still targeting the BJP, he made a series of contradictory statements about joining the Samajwadi Party of Akhilesh Yadav.

“My move has caused a bhuchaal (earthquake) in the BJP,” he boasted, claiming in an interview to NDTV that more ministers and MLAs would leave the party along with him.

Four MLAs have already announced their exit along with Mr Maurya - Roshan Lal Verma, Brijesh Prajapati, Bhagwati Sagar and Vinay Shakya.

US On “Threshold” Of Transitioning To Living With Covid: Top Scientist HiIndia Newsdesk

The top US scientist said eliminating Covid was unrealistic and that “Omicron, with its extraordinary, unprecedented degree of efficiency of transmissibility, will ultimately find just about everybody.”

Washington: Despite soaring cases and record-high Covid-19 hospitalizations, the United States is approaching the “threshold” of transitioning to living with the coronavirus as a manageable disease, Anthony Fauci said Tuesday.

Speaking to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the top US scientist said eliminating Covid was unrealistic and that “Omicron, with its extraordinary, unprecedented degree of efficiency of transmissibility, will ultimately find just about everybody.”

“There’s no way we’re going to eradicate this” virus, he said,

given its contagiousness, its propensity to mutate into new variants and the large pool of unvaccinated people.

Those up to date with their vaccines remain well protected against severe outcomes, but vaccine efficacy against infection has fallen. But “as Omicron goes up and down,” the country will hopefully enter a new phase “where there’ll be enough protection in (the) community, enough drugs available so that when someone does get infected and is in a high risk group, it will be very easy to treat that person,” said Fauci.

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GAS STATION HELP Gas Station located at River Grove, IL need Cashier, must be willing to work overnight.

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with: Experience preferred. Must Speak good English

HOTEL HELP Looking for Hotel Manger. couples or singles. Good salary with accommodation. English and computer knowledge must.

Call: 773-391-6682

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

Call Paul : 760-792-8820 MOTEL 6 GENERAL MANAGER HIRING

Looking for motivated, result driven, and experienced General Managers for Franchise Motel 6 in Milwaukee, WI, Candidates should have an entrepreneurial mindset. We offer attractive Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with: and bonus. salary

BEAUTY SALON HELP WANTED Beauty salon in Chicago looking for someone who knows how to do threading and waxing. Full-time and part-time available. Very good pay and tips.

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

Call 847-338-6684

Please email your resume to: jobs@incomepropertyinvestments.com or call: (619) 500 4241

LIQUOR STORE HELP

Now hiring Store Associate for Cardinal Warehouse Wine and Liquor, Northside Liquor Stores

773-931-7650 @hiindia /hiindiaNews Now Medicare AdvantageCall: PPO Plans available with: /hiindialive

Wanted Motel Manager couple orFOR Single SALE for Franchise LIQUOR STORE Motel in St. Louis, MO Good Salary Liquor Store for sale atand NorthAccommodation Chicago, Lake County,Provided.

IL. Asking $109K, Gross Sales $700K, Lotto Commission per year $30K, Rent $3000, 3000 Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with: CALL: 314-497-3292 or 314-330-4621 Sq. Ft. Store. Inventory $125K to $150K

Email: habeeban@saharahomecare.com Need Couple for Housekeeping. for Hotel in MADISON, WISCONSIN. Accommodation Provided.

Legal status Must.

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with: CALL: AK PATEL@ 608-852-4376

HOTEL HELP Baymont Inn in Stevensville, MI Hotel. indoor facility, looking for a couple to work housekeeping and Front desk positions.

Call Trushar Patel 269-369-6652

RESTAURANT HELP Well established Indian Restaurant in Wicker Park of Chicago is looking for a full-time experienced kitchen helper and a part-time food runner/server.

For immediate consideration.

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

773.526.8353

MOTEL HELP

Call Broker Raj Patel: HOTEL HELP630-205-6353

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DUNKIN DONUTS HELP WANTD

Single or Couple needed for full time job for Subway in Chicago Suburbs. Driving must. Experience preferred.

Call: Now Medicare Advantage630-624-1649 PPO Plans available with: or 872-218-9639

MIDWEST / EASTCOAST

773.526.8353

Contact Raj @ 773-875-2180 (text or 12, voice FRIDAY, MARCH 2021 mail)

MATRIMONIAL

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Muslim parents seeking a match for their 28 year old son, Ht 6’-2”, handsome educated looking for a US Citizen girl from a good family background. Caste no Now Medicare PPO Plans available bar.Advantage Please send biowith:data & recent photographs.

Email: mfatime899@gmail.com CAREGIVER WANTED •The person will assist another caregiver already working • Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Friday and on Sunday 6 hrs • The main job includes taking care ofAdvantage one elderly couple Now Medicare PPO Plans available with: who are wheel chair bound.

• COVID vaccination Card Proof required. ]LIQUOR STORE FOR SALE ]Liquor Store for sale at North Chicago, Lake County, IL.

Duties includes following items: dressing, Asking $109K, Gross Sales $700K, Bathing, Lotto Commission per $30K, Rent $3000, 3000 Sq. Ft. Store. Inventory $125K administeryear medicines, Kitchen cleaning and dishes, to $150K meal preparations, laundry. ]Call Broker Raj Patel: 630-205-6353 Please contact Pallavi Shah ] Cell: 847-687-6329 Email: pallavishah1@hotmail.com

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/hiindialive

@hiindia

/hiindiaNews

773.526.8353

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022