Edition 14

Pakistan thrown into crisis as poll results still undeclared amid claims of rigging

1 www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

VOL: 01 • ISSUE: 14

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

P

akistan was thrown into a state of crisis on Friday with its election results still undeclared more than 24 hours after polling closed and the voting marred by widespread allegations of rigging, a media report said.

09 FEBRUARY 2024

MIDWEST EDITION www.indoustribune.com We serve community first

Key US Senator clears decks for MQ-9B drones for India, demands cooperation in Pannun case IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

Analysts and candidates widely questioned the integrity of the polls that took place on Thursday, raising concerns that there was an attempt to rig the vote to bring back three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) to power, The Guardian reported.

Sharif was seen to have the backing of Pakistan’s powerful military, which has long been the country’s political powerbroker and has a history of meddling in its elections.

Voters across the country, however, appear to have come out in unprecedented numbers to support Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI), the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is presently serving more than a decade in jail.

See Pg. 02

A

senior US lawmaker, whose approval paved the way for the Joe Biden administration formally notifying US Congress of the proposed sale of MQ-9B Sea Guardian drone, has said he has in return extracted a commitment from the administration that India will fully cooperate in the investigation of the murder-for-hire case in which an Indian official is alleged to have tried to kill a Khalistani activist.

The decks are clear now for the smooth passage for the deal through Congress, which has 30 days to either do nothing and let the administration take it to the next stage, or kill it though a “hold” by leaders of the foreign and armed services committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives; the former is controlled now by the Democrats and the latter by the Republicans.

The administration notified the US Congress on Thursday that it proposes to sell 31 MQ-9B drones made by General Atomics to India for nearly $4 billion. The deal was announced way back in June last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden.

an indictment in November accusing Nikhil Gupta, an Indian businessman, of trying to hire a man -- who turned out to be an official of the Drugs Enforcement Agency -- to kill proscribed outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The US Department of Justice then unsealed

See Pg. 03

Mahant Swami Maharaj reaches Abu Dhabi for inauguration of UAE’s first Hindu temple IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

Indian student attacked in Chicago, wife seeks EAM Jaishankar’s help

M

ahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual guru of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, reached Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for the grand inauguration of the first Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The spiritual leader will preside over the historic inauguration of the first Hindu temple in the Gulf nation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the temple on February 14, days after the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

A

student from Hyderabad was injured when four armed robbers attacked him in Chicago, as per his family. Syed Mazahir Ali, pursuing Masters in information technology from Indiana Wesleyan University, was attacked and robbed by three men at Campbell Avenue on Sunday morning (local time).

Mahant Swami Maharaj was received as a state guest by UAE Minister of Tolerance, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan.

Extending warm welcome to the spiritual guru, the minister said, “Welcome to the UAE. Our nation is blessed with your presence. We are touched by your kindness and we feel your prayers.”

As the BAPS spiritual guru arrived in Abu Dhabi, a large number of Swaminarayan Sanstha members and devotees also turned up to greet him. Prime Minister Modi is set to inaugurate the temple on February 14 in the presence of saints, swamis and thousands of devotees. A wave of religious fervour and festive atmosphere has already set in, with thousands of devotees visiting the large complex.

presence of more than 50,000 people.

the UAE.

‘Ahlan Modi’, which means ‘Hello Modi’, is being billed as the ‘largest community reception to Prime Minister’ on foreign soil. Notably, the BAPS Mandir is the first Hindu temple constructed in the Middle East. Ever since the construction work began in 2019, it drew attention and interest of the Hindu community from across the world.

The foundation stone for the temple was laid on April 20, 2019. Lots of volunteers from the Hindu community participated in the construction of the state-of-the art complex, made using white marble and limestone only.

Modi is also set to address the Indian diaspora at the grandiose Sheikh Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The event titled ‘Ahlan Modi’ is likely to see the

Situated in the Abu Mureikhah area, the majestic complex will reflect the spirit of Indian culture and will also be a testament to the growing friendship between India and

For the unversed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had donated 13.5 acres of land in 2015 for the construction of the temple.

Ali’s wife Syeda Ruquiya Fatima Razvi, who lives in Langar Houz area in Hyderabad, on Tuesday appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to help in ensuring best medical treatment to him.

In a letter to the minister, she requested that arrangements be made for her travel to the US along with their three minor children. She said she received a call from her husband’s friend that he was attacked and robbed at Campbell Avenue when he was near his apartment. He was taken to a hospital.

See Pg. 02

2

Top Stories www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Indian student attacked in Chicago, wife seeks EAM Jaishankar’s help Contd. from Pg. 01 Fatima said she got in touch with her husband after some time but he was in shock and was unable to talk to her. She wrote that she was worried about the safety of her husband. Video footage of the incident shows Ali walking on a road and three masked men chasing him. Another video clip shows the profusely bleeding victim narrating the incident.

With blood oozing out from his forehead, nose and mouth, he said he was returning home with a food packet when four men chased and attacked him. “I slipped near my house and they punched and kicked me and snatched my mobile phone,” he said pleading for help. The incident comes in the wake of five Indian-origin students being found dead in the US during the last one month.

Pakistan thrown into crisis as poll results still undeclared amid claims of rigging

California Civil Rights Department accepts caste not essential part of Hinduism The statement said: “CRD continues to assert what can only be described as counterfactual statements about the nature of what the plaintiff experienced at Cisco Systems, as evidenced by publicly available court documents that have been filed since the CRD filed its original case in October of 2020.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

I

n a victory for Hindu Americans, the California Civil Rights Department has amended a 2020 complaint and stated that caste and caste-based discrimination are not an essential part of Hinduism. The department voluntarily filed a motion in the first weeks of December to amend their complaint against Cisco Systems alleging that caste discrimination occurred at the Silicon Valley tech giant, a statement released by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) said on Tuesday.

The amended complaint removes the erroneous and unconstitutional assertion that caste and caste discrimination is an essential part of Hindu religious teachings and practices.

“We believe this is a significant step forward in protecting the First Amendment religious rights of Hindu Americans. As we argued in our Motion to Intervene, the California Civil Rights Department is constitutionally prohibited from defining Hinduism or any religion for that matter,” HAF Managing Director Samir Kalra said. However, the Washington-based Hindu advocacy group said that several problematic statements and citations in the complaint remain.

Foremost among these is the reliance on the

fundamentally flawed and statistically invalid survey by activist group Equality Labs on the alleged high prevalence of caste discrimination in the US, it said.

Further, HAF claimed that the survey has specifically been called into question by academic researchers at the Carnegie Endowment, Penn, and Johns Hopkins, whose work found that caste discrimination in the US was in fact very rare. According to HAF, the CRD (California Civil Rights Department) continues to pursue its case on the basis of many “false and xenophobic” claims about people of South Asian origin as well as the dubious implication that caste discrimination in India is tied to skin color.

This, it said, is in an obvious attempt to draw direct parallels with skin-colored-based racism in the US.

Biden off the hook in case of mishandling secret papers

Two Indian-origin Cisco engineers -- Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella -- were accused in the CRD’s lawsuit of discriminating and harassing an employee on the basis of caste in 2020.

Last year, CRD voluntarily dismissed its case alleging caste discrimination against Iyer and Kompella, while still keeping alive its litigation against tech giant Cisco. HAF said that its involvement in the case was far from over and that they planned to continue to hold the CRD accountable for its violation of the constitutional rights of Hindu and Indian Americans in California.

“While our motion to intervene was not accepted by the court, we’ll continue to pursue our civil rights claims against the CRD in our ongoing lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Hindu and Indian Americans in California,” HAF Executive Director, Suhag Shukla, said.

Deepfakes: EU prepares first set of guidelines for digital platforms ahead of election

Contd. from Pg. 01 With more than half the votes counted for the 265 seats in the National Assembly, PTI-backed candidates had won 88 seats, PML-N 60 and the Pakistan People’s Party 46, The Guardian reported. Many PTI leaders claimed that the true number of seats the party has won is much higher, and there are widespread allegations of rigging as the vote count was delayed.

Protests against the outcome erupted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, where police are alleged to have retaliated with violence, while PTI supporters also came out on to the streets of Lahore, The Guardian reported. As the day went on, both PML-N and PTI declared victory and there was a growing sense of frustration at the lack of clear results across the country, which is in the throes of the worst economic crisis in its history.

The lead for Khan’s party came as a shock to many. He is loathed by many in the military leadership after he had a dramatic fallout with senior generals and was toppled from power in 2022, The Guardian reported. The military has since led a sustained attack on Khan and his PTI, making it clear that it would not tolerate his return to power. Over the course of months, PTI leaders and workers were arrested, their candidates prevented from campaigning and their party symbol of a cricket bat banned.

T By: Yashwant Raj, IANS

A

special counsel investigating US President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents from his vicepresidency in 2017 has decided not to prosecute him but raised serious questions about his mental condition because of his age, which has become an issue as he seeks a second term that will further cement his place in history as the oldest American President.

Robert K. Hur, the special counsel, said in the report submitted to US Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday, “no criminal charges are warranted” in the case but the investigation found that President Biden had “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice-presidency when he was a private citizen”.

Biden had shared the papers with the ghost writer of his memoir “Promise Me, Dad”. The documents pertained to foreign policy issues

on Afghanistan and notebooks that contained nothing from briefings on national security and foreign policy.

The counsel, however, handed a severe indictment of Biden’s mental acuity.

“We have also considered that, at trial, Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”

The case against Biden came up in the aftermath of the loads of classified documents that were discovered to have been carried away by former President Donald Trump when he left office in January 2021.

He had refused to hand them back to the government and he has since defended his actions claiming these were not classified papers because, in exercising his presidential powers, he had declassified them.

he European Union has asked digital platforms like Facebook, Google, TikTok and X (Twitter) to give feedback on first-ever draft guidelines to maintain integrity of elections. The draft guidelines include recommendations to avoid “democratic risks from generative AI and deepfakes”, along with content moderation and political ads transparency.

Online platforms are invited to give feedback to draft election guidelines under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) on the integrity of elections, said the European Commission. The public consultation is open for feedback until March 7.

“With the Digital Services Act, Europe is the first continent with a law to address systemic risks on online platforms that can have real-world negative effects on our democratic societies,” said Thierry Breton, the EU’s commissioner for internal market.

“2024 is a significant year for elections.

That is why we are making full use of all the tools offered by the DSA to ensure platforms comply with their obligations and are not misused to manipulate our elections, while safeguarding freedom of expression,” Breton added.

3

Top Stories

www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Key US Senator clears decks for MQ-9B drones for India, demands cooperation in Pannun case Contd. from Pg. 01 Ben Cardin, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement on Friday that he has been in talks with the Biden administration for “months” to extract this commitment of India cooperation.

“My approval of this sale was the result of months of painstaking discussions with the Biden administration,” he said, adding, “While I’m fully aware of the significance of this sale for US national security and strategic interests, I have consistently conveyed my concerns regarding the timing of this sale to administration officials in light of the alleged murder-for-hire plot involving Indian officials to attempt to assassinate an American citizen on US soil.”

He further said: “I have been assured by the administration that the Indian government is committed to thoroughly investigating the situation and fully cooperating with the US Department of Justice investigation so that there is credible accountability in this case. As the Chairman of this committee, I fully intend to hold the administration to these commitments.”

Democrats have been outraged by the Department of Justice’s allegations about the Indian plot to kill the Khalistani activist.

“The disturbing news of a foiled assassination plot against a US citizen involving Indian government officials further underscores the importance of shedding light on efforts by governments to silence dissenters abroad,” Senator Cardin had said after the unsealing of the DoJ indictment in November last year.

Democratic Indian-American members of the House of Representatives -Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ami Bera and Shri Thanedar -- went as far as to issue a statement which warned India that its reluctance or failure to cooperate in the US investigation could damage ties between the two countries.

Governor Murphy sings executive order establishing the New Jersey-India Commission

G

overnor Phil Murphy has signed Executive Order No. 354 establishing the New Jersey-India Commission.

The commission will be charged with advancing bilateral trade and investment and encouraging economic development in both New Jersey and India. As India is the most populous country in the world with one of the fastest-growing economies, the commission aims to promote cultural and educational exchanges between New Jersey and India and to promote sustainable long-term economic growth.

“I am honored to establish the New Jersey-India Commission to strengthen the cultural and economic ties between New Jersey and India for generations to come,” said Governor Murphy.

“Following my visit to India in 2019, we have been committed to strengthening our relationship, building on the overlapping economic strengths that New Jersey and India have long shared. We take immense pride in the contributions of our vast Indian immigrant population and, through this commission, we can ensure that we seize a new century of opportunities to grow together and pioneer new possibilities.”

India is New Jersey’s second-largest foreign direct investor and the majority of New

Jersey’s immigrant population hails from India. In September of 2019, Governor Murphy and Choose New Jersey led an economic mission trip to India, fostering economic relations and securing over 1,200 new jobs by expanding the presence of three Indian companies within New Jersey. Over the past two decades, India has invested $2 billion dollars into New Jersey, helping to create nearly 6,000 jobs in key sectors like life sciences and technology.

The New Jersey-India Commission will consist of no less than 35 and no more than 45 members, each appointed by the Governor. The Governor shall select one Chairperson from the appointees to lead.

The commission is expected to provide advice to the Governor, as well as to the other New Jersey government agencies and departments.

Palestinian President Abbas King Charles diagnosed with meets Blinken on Palestinian cancer, Buckingham Palace confirms statehood, Gaza conflict IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

P

alestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the West Bank, discussing issues, including Palestinian statehood and the developments in the Gaza Strip.

Abbas said on Wednesday that peace and security could be achieved through the implementation of the two-state solution based on international legitimacy resolutions, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

During the meeting, Abbas affirmed the importance of accelerating the delivery of relief supplies, including medicine and food, and the

provision of water, electricity, and fuel to Gaza.

He meanwhile reiterated his rejection of the forced displacement of the Palestinian people, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Palestinian President also warned of the consequences of any potential military operation by Israeli forces in Rafah city in the south of the strip to force Gaza residents to flee, stressing Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian state and that the “Israeli plans” to separate the enclave from Palestinian territory would not be accepted.

Abbas also highlighted the importance of the US recognition of the State of Palestine, urging US support for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

K

ing Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and has begun a course of treatment, Buckingham Palace announced

on Monday “During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted.

Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. The type of cancer has not been revealed, but according to a palace statement the King began “regular treatments” on Monday.

“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to

postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual,” it said. The statement further said that the King is “grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible”.

According to Buckingham Palace, King Charles has chosen to share his diagnosis to “prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer”.

No further details are being shared on the stage of cancer or a prognosis.

4

Publisher Note www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 19 January, 2024

Letter from Publisher

Published Weekly IndoUS Tribune Chicago Office: Lincolnwood, IL 60712 marketing@Indoustribune.com

Your support matters

PUBLISHER

publisher@Indoustribune.com

(773) 866-1222

Editor in Chief Nikita Sharma

editor@Indoustribune.com

Graphics & Web Development

Furthermore, India’s approach to navigating through complex issues extends beyond the Middle East. Recent developments, such as the situation in Ukraine, have underscored the importance of India’s strategic partnerships with countries like the United States and Russia. Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar have demonstrated astute diplomatic acumen in managing these relationships, ensuring that India’s interests are safeguarded while fostering cooperation and dialogue on global challenges.

Sunil Panchal

graphics@Indoustribune.com

Board of Advisors

Legal Advisors Seth Kebron Ankush Ansal

Special Contributor Rajesh Ansal

Special Correspondent Sunita Verma

Social Media Neha Arya

Chicago Office:

Lincolnwood, IL 60712

Surrey Canada Office surrey@indoustribune.com

San Jose Office

sanjose@indoustribune.com

Delhi Office:

delhi@indoustribune.com Disclaimer The aim of IndoUS Tribune is to entertain, educate and inform the readers. The opinions expressed in our published works are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions of IndoUS Tribune or the editors. The information contained in our published work has been obtained by Indous Tribune nor its authors guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein and neither IndoUS Tribune nor its authors shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or claims for damages, including exemplary damages, arising out of use, inability to use, or with regard to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information contained in this publication. Neither the editor, nor the publisher or any other party associated with the production of IndoUS Tribune accept the responsibility of any accident or injury resulting from the use of materials contained herein. All the content of the IndoUS Tribune is printed and published in Chicago. All rights reserved. No part of any work published in the paper may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

The ongoing Gaza conflict and Houthi aggression have presented significant challenges for India’s foreign policy. As a nation committed to principles of peace and stability, India has sought to balance its relationships with all stakeholders while advocating for dialogue and de-escalation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar have adeptly maneuvered these intricate matters, ensuring that India maintains its principled stance without alienating its allies.

India’s improved relations with key players in the Middle East, Israel, and the United States have provided a robust foundation for its diplomatic endeavors. These relationships have facilitated constructive dialogue and enabled India to play a meaningful role in mitigating tensions and promoting regional stability. Prime Minister Modi’s personal rapport with world leaders has undeniably contributed to India’s enhanced standing on the global stage. His ability to foster strong personal relationships has paved the way for fruitful diplomatic exchanges and reinforced India’s position as a reliable partner in international affairs.

Dr. (H) Avi Verma

Rakesh Malhotra Ramesh Soparwala Madhu Patel Vandana Jhingan Neelam Verma

I

n recent years, India’s foreign policy has dynamically navigated through the complexities of the Middle East, a region marked by long standing conflicts and geopolitical tensions. At the forefront of this diplomacy are India’s burgeoning relations with Middle Eastern countries, Israel, and the United States, which have significantly influenced its stance and engagement in the region.

Dr. (H) Avi Verma Publisher

As we observe India’s foreign policy in action, it becomes evident that pragmatic diplomacy, underpinned by a commitment to peace and stability, remains at the heart of India’s engagement with the world. With Prime Minister Modi’s visionary leadership and India’s growing stature on the global stage, we can expect continued efforts to navigate through complex issues, foster stronger partnerships, and contribute positively to the resolution of conflicts worldwide.

Lastly, amidst these diplomatic endeavors, a landmark event awaits as the first Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is set to be inaugurated in February 2024. This historic occasion not only signifies the deepening cultural ties between India and the UAE but also promotes religious harmony on a global scale. The temple’s establishment in a major Muslim country exemplifies the spirit of inclusivity and mutual respect, fostering greater understanding and goodwill between diverse religious groups. As India continues its diplomatic efforts, initiatives like the inauguration of a Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi serve as powerful symbols of unity and cooperation, contributing to a more harmonious world.

Best Regards, Dr. (H) Avi Verma Publisher, IndoUS Tribune

5

Top Stories

www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 19 January, 2024

UK PM speaks on racism, says parents wanted him to speak without an accent to ‘fit in’ IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

U

K’s first Indian-origin PM Rishi Sunak shared his experiences of facing racism as a child, saying his parents sent him for extra drama lessons so that he could “speak properly” without an accent to fit into society.

In an interview with Anushka Asthana of ITV News, Sunak recalled the pain of hearing slurs directed at his younger siblings, adding that racism “stings” and “hurts in a way that other things don’t”, The Guardian reported.

“You are conscious of being different...

It’s hard not to be, right, and obviously, I experienced racism as a kid,” he told Asthana who detailed her encounter with the Prime Minister in The Times.

The PM also spoke about the “sting” of racism in July last year when he made a special appearance at the England versus Australia Ashes Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

Born in Southampton in a Hindu Punjabi family that had migrated from East Africa, the 43-year-old leader said his parents, his mother in particular, were keen for him and his siblings to “fit in and not for it to be, in any way, shape or form, a barrier”.

“One of the things my mum was obsessed with was that we didn’t speak with accents and

Haley reiterates US will have a female president - either her or Kamala Harris IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

F

resh out of her stinging loss in the Nevada primary, a confident Nikki Haley has reiterated that the US will have a female president in 2024 -either her or Vice President Kamala Harris -- both Indian-Americans.

we would speak properly,” he said. “So she was keen for us to try to do some extra drama.”

Calling any form of racism “simply unacceptable”, he also mentioned Britain’s reputation among global leaders as a model for racial harmony and equality.

Addressing his first Conservative Party conference as party leader in Manchester in October 2023, Sunak, using his example as proof, said that the UK is not

a racist country and that his skin color is not a “big deal” in the country. Sunak admitted while speaking to Asthana that he never expected to see an individual from the ethnic minority community becoming Britain’s prime minister one day “because you didn’t have role models like that... hadn’t happened yet”.

From lighting diyas on the steps of 10 Downing Street on Diwali to praying at Hindu temples, the Southampton-born leader has

Russia condemns US strikes on Syria, Iraq

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

ussia strongly condemns the US strikes on Syria and Iraq and is seeking an immediate review of the emerging situation through the United Nations (UN) Security Council, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has said.

According to a Morning Consult survey, 33 per cent of voters said they hold a positive view of Haley, while 40 per cent said they have an unfavorable view of her, which equates to a net favorability rating of negative 7.

“American airstrikes involving strategic bombers across Iraq and Syria, ... once again demonstrated to the world the aggressive nature of US policy in the Middle East and Washington’s complete disregard for international law,” Zakharova said on

R

Attending a ‘Ram Katha’ ceremony at the University of Cambridge’s Jesus College last year, Sunak said: “Being Prime Minister is a great honor, but it is not an easy job. There are difficult decisions to make, hard choices to confront and our faith gives me courage, strength, and resilience to do the best that I can for our country”.

India eyes $100 bn investment deal with Switzerland, Norway, reports suggest IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

I

Saturday in a Telegram post.

ndia is close to finalizing a trade deal that could see a small group of European nations invest as much as $100 billion over 15 years for easier trade access to the country, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, made a commitment as part of a trade pact that is in final negotiations, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The investment in India from the EFTA countries will see more than 1 million jobs created in the country, the report said, adding that the investment would be aimed at existing and new manufacturing projects, and will mostly come from state-sponsored organizations and private businesses.

The spokesperson said the US is purposefully trying to plunge the largest countries in the region into conflict by conducting the strikes, Xinhua news agency reported.

The trade deal will ensure market access for some agricultural projects, and guarantee easier movement of Indian professionals to EFTA countries, Bloomberg said.

“Recent events confirm that the United States is not and has never been looking for solutions to problems in the region,” she added.

India’s Commerce Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment and EFTA declined to comment on the report.

India has been attracting investments from several countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, which is considering investing as much as $50 billion in the country.

“This is about the fact that we are going to have a female President of the US. It will either be me or it will be Kamala Harris,” the Republican presidential aspirant told Fox News @ Night on Thursday. Following her first Republican presidential debate last year, Haley had said that the thought of having Harris as president “should send a chill up every American spine”, adding that a vote for President Joe Biden is a vote for Harris.

Haley first spoke about the US having a female president during a meet and greet at a Columbia barbeque restaurant last week. “We will have a female president of the US,” Haley told a gathering of about 100 people at Doc’s BBQ, which booed when she said, “the hard truth is it’s going to be me or Kamala Harris”.

shown that he is proud of his Indian roots and Hindu faith, which he says “guides him in every aspect of his life”.

The US on Friday carried out strikes on Iran-linked militia targets in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for a deadly attack on its military base in Jordan.

6

US News www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Former Trump official Mike Gill dies after being shot by carjacker in US

Heavy downpour, floods batter California IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

M

ike Gill, a former official in the Trump administration, has died, a few days after being shot during a deadly carjacking rampage in the US capital of Washington, D.C., the media reported.

Gill, who was attacked on Monday afternoon, the first of many reported in a carjacking rampage, died on Saturday, Fox News reported.

Gill, who previously served as chief of staff at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, was senior vice president for Capital Markets at the Housing Policy Council when he died.

The accused, identified as 28-year-old Artell Cunningham, entered Gill’s car that was parked in the 900 block of K. Street in northwest Washington and shot Gill inside, Xinhua news agency reported.

Addressing a press conference, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said: “There were two shootings by the same suspect, calling the events an ‘unthinkable tragedy’.” Cunningham was fatally shot by New Carrollton police officers on Tuesday after he allegedly moved toward them while armed at an intersection in Lanham, Maryland. “We believe the suspect suffered from mental health issues and investigation is still underway,” the police said.

Five US Marines confirmed dead in helicopter crash near San Diego IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

F

ive U.S. Marines were confirmed dead after their helicopter crashed in a remote area outside of San Diego while on a training flight during a fierce winter storm, the U.S. Marines Corps said on Thursday.

Their CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter went down in Pine Valley, a hilly remote area east of the city, on Tuesday night as it was headed to the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, the Marine Corps said in a statement. In a statement, President Joe Biden offered his condolences to the families of the five Marines, saying he and first lady Jill Biden were “heartbroken at the loss.”

The remains of the crew members were found during a search and rescue effort carried out by the Marines and local authorities.

A

final burst of heavy rain from a deadly atmospheric river storm doused California’s Central Coast on Wednesday as it headed for Los Angeles, bringing a renewed threat of mudslides and floods to a region soaked for days by record downpours.

The storm’s last gasp in California came as the confirmed number of storm-related fatalities statewide rose to at least six, according to the governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

The city of Hollywood, Los Angeles, bore the brunt of the storm’s fury on Monday where some 1.4 million people live and were faced with a flash flood warning -- including Hollywood’s famous Beverly Hills, where filmstars reside. A local state of emergency was issued for the city of Los Angeles by Mayor Karen Bass on Monday afternoon.

Across Southern California, heavy winds that battered the region on Sunday were diminishing on Monday, but the National Weather Service warned that an unstable weather pattern could generate waterspouts or small tornadoes.

Up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) of rain was forecast for the Los Angeles area from the impending late-evening blast, on top of 6-13 inches that fell during a four-day stretch ending at midday Wednesday as the storm’s center moved through Arizona, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

Flood-watch advisories and warnings remain posted for much of Southern California, with forecasters saying it would take little additional rain to unleash a dangerous new round of debris flows and collapsing hillsides.

Storm damage, road closures, traffic collisions and evacuations across Southern California extended far beyond the Los Angeles city limits, encompassing a sprawling seven-county area of some 21 million residents.

Some 68,000 homes and businesses in California remained without electricity as of Wednesday, according to online utility tracking service Poweroutage.us.

US plans visa ban for people connected to commercial spyware IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

T

“This new policy is the most recent action in the US’ comprehensive approach to countering the misuse of commercial spyware. Previous actions have included the issuance of an Executive Order prohibiting the US government’s use of commercial spyware that poses risks to US’ national security or foreign policy

US FAA to investigate collision between two JetBlue planes IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

T

he US government has announced a new policy that will allow the imposition of visa restrictions on individuals involved in the misuse of commercial spyware. The misuse of commercial spyware has been linked to arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the most egregious of cases.

Additionally, the misuse of these tools presents a security and counter-intelligence threat to US personnel, the government said in a statement. The new policy covers investors and heads of companies, as well as those acting on behalf of governments that carry out illegal surveillance.

The policy will be applied using the information in an individual’s visa application.

The storm was the product of a weather phenomenon called an atmospheric river, a vast airborne current of dense moisture funneled inland from the ocean. The latest tempest kicked off with heavy rains and powerful winds across northern and central California on Saturday before spreading to the south on Sunday.

he Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Thursday it will investigate the collision between two JetBlue Airways planes on the tarmac at Boston Logan Airport that damaged both planes but caused no injuries.

JetBlue Flight 777, an Airbus A321neo, struck another JetBlue Airbus A321 on an adjacent de-icing pad lane, damaging one aircraft’s winglet and the other aircraft’s tail section, JetBlue and the FAA said. interests,” said the US State Department.

The misuse of commercial spyware threatens privacy and freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association, said the government.

In March last year, the Joe Biden government via an executive order said that “it shall not make operational use of commercial spyware that poses significant counterintelligence or security risks to the US government or significant risks of improper use by a foreign government or foreign person”.

Both aircraft will be taken out of service for repairs, and JetBlue flight 777 to Las Vegas and JetBlue flight 551 to Orlando will operate on other aircraft, the airline said, adding it will investigate.

Tarmac collisions between airplanes are fairly rare. Last month, an All Nippon Airways Boeing 777 was taxiing at Chicago O’Hare when the left winglet struck the stabilizer of Delta Air Lines Boeing 717.

No injuries were reported and the FAA is investigating.

7

US News

www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Trump wins Nevada, Virgin Islands to close in on Republican nomination IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

D

onald Trump won Republican presidential nominating caucuses in Nevada and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday, moving closer to becoming his party’s White House standard-bearer in a likely general election rematch with U.S. President Joe Biden in November.

Trump, the frontrunner in his party’s nominating race, was the only major candidate competing in Nevada’s caucuses and was set to win the state’s 26 delegates to the party’s nominating convention in July after being projected the winner on Thursday night by Edison Research.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump easily won the U.S. Virgin Islands caucuses, adding

US Senate advances $95 bn Ukraine, Israel aid bill after failed border deal

four to his delegate haul. The former U.S. president won 182 votes, or 74% of the 246 votes cast there, beating his last remaining rival in the Republican race, Nikki Haley, who won 26% support with 64 votes.

The Nevada caucuses, organized by the Trump-friendly Nevada Republican Party, came two days after a state-run primary election, which saw a humiliating defeat for Haley. Despite being the only major candidate on Tuesday’s Republican primary ballot, Haley was still roundly defeated after tens of thousands of Trump supporters turned out to mark their ballots with “none of these candidates,” an option which garnered 63% of the vote to Haley’s 30%.

Trump spent Thursday morning watching coverage of arguments in a case he appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court

Tesla worker arrested for threatening to kill Musk, Biden IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

A

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

A

$95.34 billion bill that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan advanced in the U.S. Senate on Thursday after Republicans blocked compromise legislation that included a long-sought overhaul of immigration policy.

Senators backed a procedural motion by 67-32, exceeding the 60-vote threshold to advance the bill. Seventeen Republicans voted in favor, in a surprising shift after they blocked the broader bill on Wednesday.

“This is a good first step. This bill is essential for our national security, for the security of our friends in Ukraine, in Israel, for humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza, and for Taiwan,” Schumer said in the Senate after the vote.

There was no immediate word on when the 100-member chamber would consider final passage, as some senators said they expected to remain in session during the weekend if necessary. The Democratic-led Senate took up the security aid bill after Republicans on Wednesday blocked a broader measure that also included reforms of border security and immigration policy that a bipartisan group of senators had negotiated for months.

The security aid bill includes $61 billion for Ukraine as it battles a Russian invasion, $14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas and $4.83 billion to support partners in the IndoPacific, including Taiwan, and deter aggression

by China.

concerning Colorado’s decision to remove him from this year’s ballot for engaging in

Tesla employee, who threatened to kill US President Joe Biden and tech billionaire Elon Musk, was arrested in Texas, the media reported. As per court documents, 31-year-old Justin McCauley was charged on Tuesday with felony terroristic threats after tweeting, “@JoeBiden @X @Telsa @Elonmusk, I am planning to kill all of you”, reports Fox News.

“I will arrive in Texas, where the war has began on many fronts @X, @Tesla,” McCauley wrote in another post.

McCauley’s wife contacted Rogers police after he told her he was going to Texas and would never return, according to charges.

She also informed police that McCauley had left his cell phone behind, making it impossible to track him down. According

to the charges, McCauley was stopped by police in Oklahoma on January 26 while travelling through the state. McCauley told law enforcement that he wanted to speak with the president, the report mentioned.

“insurrection” relating to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

US Supreme Court leans against Trump disqualification IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

When asked why, he allegedly replied, “wouldn’t you want to talk to the president if you knew you were going to die tomorrow.”

The next morning, authorities were notified of a threat call at the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin. However, it remains unclear whether the 31-year-old employee initiated the call.

According to court documents, law enforcement stopped McCauley in Austin. He allegedly told authorities that he planned to visit the Tesla Gigafactory to speak with Musk.

McCauley was then arrested.

D

onald Trump appeared to be headed for a big legal victory at the U.S. Supreme Court as the justices on Thursday signaled their readiness to reject a judicial decision kicking the former president off the ballot in Colorado for taking part in an insurrection during the 2021 Capitol attack.

The nine justices heard about two hours of arguments in Trump’s appeal of a Dec. 19 ruling by Colorado’s top court to disqualify him from the state’s Republican March 5 primary ballot under the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment after finding that he participated in an insurrection.

The ruling in the case promises major implications for the Nov. 5 election. Trump, who did not attend the arguments, is the overwhelming frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment bars from holding public office any “officer of the United States” who took an oath “to support the Constitution of the United States” and then “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”

8

Diaspora www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

In a first, Indianorigin Australian senator takes oath on Bhagavad Gita IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

I

ndian-origin barrister Varun Ghosh has become the first-ever Australian Senator to take the oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita. The 38-year-old took his position in the Australian Senate with the Labor Party officially confirming him as their pick to represent Western Australia (WA), replacing present senator Patrick Dodson. Welcoming Ghosh in his new role, Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs and South Australia senator wrote on X: “Senator Ghosh is the first ever Australian Senator sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita. I have often said, when you’re the first at something, you’ve got to make sure you’re not the last”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Ghosh, a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers, will be a “great voice” for WA. “I was so pleased to support your candidacy and I say this as well, you’ve got big shoes to fill,” Albanese was quoted as saying in The Sydney Morning Herald. Ghosh is the second Indian-origin Australian in the Senate after Dave Sharma who was sworn in as a senator for New South Wales (NSW) in December. Ghosh, who joined the Labor party in Perth at the age of 17 after his parents moved from India in the 1980s, said his preselection was an honor he won’t take for granted.

Indian-origin lawyer appointed Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

I

ndian-origin employment lawyer Giridharan Sivaraman has been appointed Race Discrimination Commissioner by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).

Sivaraman is currently the Chair of Multicultural Australia, and a Principal Lawyer at Maurice Blackburn where he is head of the firm’s Queensland Employment Law department. “I’m honoured to be appointed Commonwealth Race Discrimination Commissioner. And excited, and slightly terrified! But there is so much work to be done and I can’t wait to work with the team at the @AusHumanRights,” Sivaraman wrote in a post on X on Monday.

According to the AHRC, he has run numerous state and national race discrimination cases and led the pro bono compensation scheme for underpaid 7-eleven workers, many of whom came from migrant backgrounds. In addition, he provides advice and legal representation in all areas of employment law including workplace bullying, employment contracts, redundancy, restraint of trade, workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, adverse action, and unfair dismissal.

Sanket Bulsara named to NY US District Court IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

P

resident Joe Biden has announced his intent to nominate Indian-origin judge Sanket Jayshukh Bulsara to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Bulsara, who has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York since 2017, was among the four individuals nominated by Biden to federal district courts.

All of the nominees “are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution”, the White House announced on Wednesday.

“These choices also continue to fulfill the President’s promise to ensure that the nation’s courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country -- both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds.”

Bulsara is an adjunct professor of Law at St John’s Law School where he teaches Remedies and Securities Litigation, and a guest instructor at the Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Workshop. A graduate of Edgemont High School, Bulsara received an A.B. degree magna

cum laude in 1998 from Harvard College and a J.D. degree cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2002.

of Long Island City, Bulsara was born in the Bronx to immigrant parents before moving to New Rochelle and later Edgemont, New York.

In recognition of his pro bono work in support of victims of domestic violence, he received the Sanctuary for Families Above & Beyond Award three separate times. A resident

According to the White House, this was Biden’s 45th round of nominees for federal judicial positions, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 219.

Indian-origin man charged with stealing donations from temples in Canada IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

A

41-year-old Indo-Canadian man has been charged with breaking into temples and stealing cash from donation boxes. The accused has been identified as Jagdish Pandher from Brampton city.

According to police, multiple break-andenter incidents were reported in Peel Region comprising Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon between March and August 2023.

Surveillance footage from three places of worship showed the suspect breaking into temples and stealing cash from donation boxes.

agencies across the Greater Toronto Area, Pandher of Brampton has been identified as the suspect.

Pandher was also caught on surveillance cameras breaking into other commercial locations and stealing money. Following a lengthy and coordinated investigation by police

Pandher, who is already in custody for similar offences, has been charged with five more counts of breaking in temples and businesses and stealing money.

British-Indian fined for demanding cash from Environment Agency officers concerned about the amount of waste stored at the site since the last visual check six months before. The officer wanted to check operations were within the conditions of Keep Green’s environmental permit to treat household, commercial, and industrial waste and that pollution-control measures were in place, a government release stated on Wednesday.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

A

n Indian-origin owner of a waste treatment plant in East London has been fined for barring environment inspectors from entering the site twice unless they paid her thousands of pounds in bogus fees. Gurjit Athwal, 51, director of Keep Green at Atcost Road in Barking, was ordered to pay a fine of 3,000 pounds, another 3,000 in cost, and a victim surcharge of 1,200 pounds.

The Barkingside magistrates’ court heard that between February 24 and April 18, 2023, Athwal intentionally obstructed Environment Agency officers in “the exercise or performance of their powers or duties”.

The court was told that one of the officers called Keep Green in February 2023 as the Environment Agency was

It said, Athwal stopped the officer from entering the premises and demanded 500 pounds and insurance documents to let her in. The officer left, having explained to Athwal why she was there, but the 51-year-old wouldn’t listen or look at the officer’s authorization card, which listed her powers as an Environment Agency member of staff.

9

Diaspora

www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Singapore Police to probe racism in ranks after Indianorigin officer’s death: Minister

Indian-American lawmaker from Arizona resigns to focus on congressional run IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

I

ndian-American doctor Amish Shah has stepped down from the House of Representatives in the US state of Arizona to focus on his congressional campaign.

The first Indian-American to serve in the Arizona legislature, 46-year-old Shah announced his run as a Democrat last year from the state’s 1st Congressional District, which is presently held by Republican David Schweikert.

“With mixed emotions, I resigned as your House Rep this week to pursue my Congressional campaign. Serving at the State Legislature was an incredible honor, offering diverse perspectives. As a Congressional candidate, I am eager to bring our collective values to the national stage,” Shah wrote in a post on X.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

T

he Singapore Police Force (SPF) will investigate cases involving racial slurs or casual racism among its officers as “possible misconduct” and “a disciplinary breach”, following the death of an Indian-origin officer who claimed to have been bullied by seniors, a minister announced on Tuesday.

Making a statement in the Parliament, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said that the SPF has reviewed its policy on such cases.

Along with Shah, an emergency physician for over 15 years, at least six other candidates are seeking a Democratic-run from the district, which covers parts of Scottsdale and northern Phoenix. The top issues Shah is running on include education, healthcare, and voting rights, and according to his website, he wants fair wages for workers, universal healthcare, and abortion access.

Thanking Shah for his service and leadership, the Arizona House Democrats said on X: “Worth your time. @DrAmishShah bids a fond and thoughtful farewell to his House colleagues. Dr Shah, who is running for Congress, resigned today after 5 years in office and a tremendous track record of bi-partisan legislation”.

Shah’s departure leaves three empty Democratic seats in the House amidst the legislature’s bill season, Arizona-based KGUN9 news channel reported. Shah

Tribunal dismisses British Indian’s claims that she was racially targeted at Deloitte

said in a release that he raised more than $530,000 from individual donors in the opening quarter of his congressional campaign, and over 75 per cent of these donors were from Arizona.

According to his campaign statement, he has made a name for himself with his unique brand of door-to-door campaigning, having visited over 15,000 households, and to date, he has had more bills signed into law than any other Democrat currently in the Arizona legislature.

Indian-American Purdue student Sameer Kamath’s death ruled suicide IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

Uvaraja Gopal, 35, died in hospital in July last year after he was found lying motionless at the foot of a residential block in Yishun. He had served with the police for more than 10 years and was last an officer with the Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Channel News Asia reported.

In a Facebook post that was later deleted, Uvaraja said he had been bullied by his superiors and subjected to ethnic slurs by his teammates. He also claimed that some officers’ misconduct was covered up, his performance appraisals were unfair to him, and he was ostracized at work.

He alleged that in 2019, his superior shredded his leave form and uploaded a video of this action in a group chat. After the allegations, Shanmugam asked police to investigate claims saying: “We will get to the bottom of it.

And be accountable. We have a clear policy of non-discrimination.

All officers are entitled to be treated fairly. SPF as an organization is committed to that principle. We will investigate the facts”.

Police had said they found the allegations of racial discrimination made by Uvaraja in 2015 “unsubstantiated”.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

A

n employment tribunal has dismissed a British Indian worker’s claim that she was racially targetted at Deloitte after a colleague compared her to Pocahontas, a Disney character based on the life of a Native American woman.

Shivali Patel, who was hired as a senior consultant in Deloitte’s digital division in March 2019, made the allegations against her colleague Ben Combes, a director in the company, The Telegraph newspaper reported.

and “sexual” element to this remark in which he was comparing her to his wife, and subsequently Pocahontas, the Daily reported.

The tribunal was told that Patel was denied a promotion after feedback from colleagues stated that her attitude could “wildly vary” which made some staff feel like they had to “walk on eggshells as one slight comment could derail a conversation”.

At a recent hearing in London, the tribunal was told that a “team drinks” event was held in September 2021 at a local BrewDog pub where Combes and Patel were present.

In his defence, Combes said he was discussing the BBC program ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ and had mentioned that his wife’s family believe they are descendants of Pocahontas. Clarifying that he did not comment on Patel’s appearance, Combes said he was not insinuating any connection between his wife and colleague.

Patel claimed that during a conversation, Combes made an “uncomfortable” remark about his wife in which he said she looked like Pocahontas. Patel felt there was a “racial”

The employment judge dismissed Patel’s claims of discrimination and harassment last week and suggested she had “unconsciously embroidered the discussion”.

T

he death of a 23-year-old IndianAmerican Purdue University student Sameer Kamath in Indiana has been ruled a suicide, according to a release from a US county coroner’s office.

Sameer Kamath, whose body was found at Crow’s Grove Nature Preserve in Williamsport, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Warren County Coroner Justin Brummett said, citing preliminary autopsy reports. A forensic pathologist’s autopsy was performed on Kamath’s body on February 6 afternoon in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

“Through extensive investigation by the Warren County Coroner’s Office in conjunction with multiple other local and federal agencies, we are now able to release a preliminary cause and manner of death,” the release said. Kamath, a US citizen according to the coroner’s office, was a doctorate student in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Purdue University, Indiana-based Journal & Courier reported, citing the Coroner’s Office.

Brummett expressed his ‘deepest sympathies’ and said that the family had been informed about Kamath’s death.

10

World News www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Sri Lanka to enhance FTA with India to recover economy IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

90 suspects detained over links to Istanbul courthouse attack IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

S

ri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday announced that steps have been taken to enhance free trade agreement (FTA) with India. He also announced that plans are underway to pursue FTAs with China, Indonesia and Bangladesh in the future.

Presenting the policy statement of the government during the Parliament session, President Wickremesinghe detailed his plans to forge FTAs with number of countries and establishing a new network of economic relationships that can help the debt-stricken island’s products’ entry into foreign markets.

“We will join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). We will connect with the common system of trade variations

Volcanic eruption in Iceland disrupts hot water supply IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

in the European Union,” President Wickremesinghe said.

He said that with India’s support, Sri Lanka plans to transform the country’s

Eastern port district Trincomalee to a multi-faceted regional hub which will in turn shift the 46 per cent of the country’s economy centered in the Western Province to other parts of the country.

‘Mr Bean’ actor Rowan Atkinson blamed in House of Lords for slump in EV sales in UK IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

‘Mr Bean’ actor Rowan Atkinson has been blamed for the slump in the sale of electric cars in the UK. The actor was name checked in the House of Lords, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, recently during its environment and climate change committee meeting.

T

he volcanic eruption that began in Iceland early Thursday is hampering the availability of hot water for heating, media reports said. A hot water pipe was broken by the eruption in the Reykjanes area in southwestern Iceland, Xinhua news agency reported.

The heating system in this area is based on the use of hot water, but the impact of the water shortage also extends beyond the immediate area. Keflavik airport ran out of hot water on Thursday afternoon, according to national radio RUV. A spokesperson for the airport’s operator said that it has had a limited effect on the airport’s operations, but developments are being closely monitored. The temperature in the terminal could be lowered. The head of Iceland’s National Energy Authority, Halla Hrund Logadottir, said on RUV that electricity systems are not designed for heating, and the electricity capacity would not be sufficient for that purpose.

Logadottir called on residents to reduce their consumption of electricity and hot water.

Finland extends land border closure with Russia until mid-April IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

The actor’s piece was headlined: “I love electric vehicles - and was an early adopter.

But increasingly I feel duped,” he wrote that EVs were “a bit soulless” and criticized the use of their lithium-ion batteries.

Zelensky replaces Ukraine’s armed forces commander-in-chief IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

U

krainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he had appointed Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, replacing Valery Zaluzhny.

“Starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Zelensky said on Thursday in a Telegram post, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the NTV broadcaster, police units have raided 67 addresses across the city since Tuesday, and the number of suspects detained rose to 90. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that the assailants were members of the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman, Ozgur Ozel, for backing the DHKP-C, calling him the “biggest patron of the terrorists who carried out this attack”. Ozel was elected as the new party leader in November last year.

During the meeting, the think tank Green Alliance presented its views on the main obstacles faced by the UK government in phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2035.

As per Sky News, the think tank pinned the blame on an article written by the actor and deemed it as damaging to the cause.

The actor had made the contentious comment back in June 2023. The think tank told the House of Lords, quoted by Sky News: “One of the most damaging articles was a comment piece written by Rowan Atkinson in The Guardian which has been roundly debunked. Unfortunately, fact checks never reach the same breadth of audience as the original false claim, emphasizing the need to ensure high editorial standards around the net zero transition.”

T

urkish police have detained at least 90 suspects over links to the Istanbul courthouse attack, local media reported. The comprehensive operations came after two attackers were captured dead in the gun attack on Istanbul’s largest courthouse on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Describing Syrsky as “the most experienced Ukrainian commander”, the President added that he had a successful defensive experience during the operation to defend Kiev. Besides, Syrsky had a successful offensive experience during the operation to take back the eastern Kharkiv region from the Russian forces, Zelensky said.

The 58-year-old Syrsky once served as the Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces between 2019 and 2024.

T

he Finnish government has decided to keep the land border with Russia closed until midApril, citing security concerns. All crossing points on the Finnish eastern border have been closed to passenger traffic since midDecember, Xinhua news agency reported.

The country closed the first border crossings in mid-November in response to illegal immigrants. According to the Interior Ministry, undocumented immigrants into Finland have mainly been of Middle Eastern and African origin, and half of them have asked for asylum. Some of them appear to have left Finland to travel onwards to other parts of the European Union.

11

World News

www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Maldives remains at high risk of debt distress, warns IMF IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

British universities to review international student admissions IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

W

ithout significant policy changes, the overall fiscal deficits and public debt are projected to stay elevated in the Maldives, even as the South Asian nation remains at high risk of external and overall debt distress, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a statement.

Amid elevated fuel prices coupled with continued strong import demands, the current account deficit in 2024 is projected to remain large, albeit gradually narrowing over the medium term. The Maldives is highly vulnerable to climate change risks, with potentially severe economic costs due to floods and rising sea level, the IMF said.

The Maldives’ post-pandemic growth has been strong, but recently normalized.

Growth is projected at 5.2 percent in 2024, as tourist arrivals are expected to rise further. Nevertheless, fiscal and external vulnerabilities have increased, calling for urgent policy adjustment, the IMF said.

T

he international student admission process in the UK is set to be reviewed after accusations of universities lowering entry standards for foreign applicants who pay far higher tuition fees.

Universities UK, which represents 140 universities, announced a series of measures to review international foundation programs and the use of recruitment agents employed to attract foreign students, The Guardian reported.

In addition to taking a review, the universities will also update their admissions code of practice “to clearly state its applicability to international students”.

The move comes after Higher Education Minister, Robert Halfon said in the House of Commons that he was “very disturbed” by a Sunday Times report that “clearly showed bad practice in the use of agents and that’s not acceptable”.

“While I am a strong supporter of international students, I want a level playing field for all domestic students

as well,” Halfon said while taking up questions from the MPs last week. After Halfon’s remarks, Vice Chancellors said they would work with the government to review the use of agents and make changes to “improve resilience and identify bad

practice”.

According to the Times report, the University of York has told staff to be “more flexible” in admitting international students with lower-than-expected grades.

Zimbabwe sees drop in South Korea’s nuclear cholera cases 5.5 tons of radioactive envoy, Swedish counterpart water leaked from discuss North Korea threats Fukushima nuclear IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

plant

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

A

pproximately 5.5 tons of water containing radioactive materials have leaked from equipment at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, local media reported.

Workers discovered water leaking from the outlet of a device used to purify nuclear-contaminated water, Fukushima Central Television reported, citing the plant’s operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). TEPCO estimates that the amount of water that leaked was approximately 5.5 tons, which may contain 22 billion becquerels of radioactive materials such as cesium and strontium, Xinhua news agency reported quoting local media.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

S

outh Korea’s chief nuclear envoy vowed unwavering efforts to stop North Korea’s missile provocations and make it return to dialogue during his talks with his Swedish counterpart on Wednesday.

Kim Gunn, special representative for the Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, made the point in the meeting with Peter Semneby, who was visiting South Korea this week, the ministry said in a release, Yonhap news agency reported.

Kim reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to creating conditions that will

make the North stop provocations and come back to denuclearization talks, despite the recent flare-up of tensions amid Pyongyang’s continued missile launches and its hostility toward the South.

During the talks, Kim stressed that denuclearizing North Korea is a prerequisite for achieving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the shared objective of the international community.

Semneby, in turn, explained Sweden’s diplomatic efforts regarding the North’s nuclear and missile issues, and promised to continue close communication with South Korea over the matters.

Z

imbabwe recorded drop in cholera cases after implementation of a raft of measures by the government to control the outbreak. Addressing media, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere said: “The Ministry of Health and Child Care is continuing to institute control measures to curb the outbreak.”

The country also started an oral cholera vaccination campaign targeting hotspot areas throughout the country, Xinhua news agency reported. Muswere said in the next 12 weeks, the government’s anticholera efforts will focus on vaccination in hotspots, procurement of cholera response medicines, supplies and commodities, and mobilization of additional funding to support the cholera response at national and sub-national levels.

12

India News www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Tension prevails in Bareilly after cleric’s call for protest on Gyanvapi issue IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

T

ension prevails in Bareilly after Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, Uttar Pradesh cleric and Head of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, gave a call for ‘jail bharo’ movement after Friday prayers in protest against offering of prayers inside the Gyanvapi mosque, the police said.

After the announcement by Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, the police is taking precautionary measures and has made concrete arrangements to stop the proposed program.

The Islamia Maidan has been sealed, and Pradeshik Armed Constabulary as well as Rapid Action Force have also been deployed. A senior police official said, “We will make sure that people do not collect at any place on Friday. We have adequate forces to deal with the situation peacefully.”

Iran waives visa requirement for Indian tourists IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

I

ndian tourists do not need a visa for visiting Iran with a new policy coming into effect from February 4, according to a statement issued by the Embassy of Iran here on Tuesday.

“Individuals holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter Iran without a visa once every six months, with a maximum stay of 15 days,” the Embassy said in a statement.

It is important to note that the 15-day period cannot be extended, the statement clarified. The visa-free entry applies only to individuals entering Iran for tourism purposes. Indians who visit Iran for business or educational purposes would have to apply for visa under the respective categories.

The cleric’s followers have distributed pamphlets and shared posts on social media that say, “The Babri mosque was snatched from us using court’s decision and now they have started offering prayers in Gyanvapi mosque. Our 700-year-old mosque was razed during midnight hours.” The media in-charge of the organization has appealed to the people to reach there.

The court gave them the interim bail on Rs 1 Lakh bail bond each. The next hearing of this case is scheduled on February 28. Earlier, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav appeared in the Rouse Avenue court on Friday morning after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a charge sheet against them in the case.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had questioned Lalu Prasad Yadav for 10 hours, Tejashwi Yadav for eight hours, Rabri Devi and Misa Bharti for three hours each in Patna after the government changed in Bihar.

Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav, Amit Katyal, Hridayanand Choudhary and others are facing charges of money laundering of Rs 600 Crore. Lalu Prasad Yadav as the Union railway minister between 2004 to 2009 had given the jobs to several people in Group D after allegedly taking their lands.

Iran now joins the list of countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, which have recently waived visa requirements for Indian visitors.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

T

he cow may be granted the status of ‘Mother of the Nation’ before the Maha Kumbh 2025, if the Uttar Pradesh chief minister accepts the demand of the sants in Prayagraj. The sants want that the cow should be referred to as ‘Rama’, with ‘Ra’ standing for ‘Rashtra’ (nation) and ‘Ma’ for ‘Mata’ (mother).

A proposal to this effect was among the 21 proposals passed by the sants at the ‘Gau Sansad’ held at the Magh Mela camp of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Uttarakhand’s Jyotish Peeth on Wednesday.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

D

neighboring nation would not be allowed to enter without a prior visa.

‘Gau Sansad’ wants the cow to be declared ‘Mother of the Nation’

Land-for-job scam case: Delhi court grants interim bail to ex-Bihar CM Rabri Devi, two daughters

elhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday granted interim bail to former Chief Minister Rabri Devi and her two daughters -- Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav -- in the IRCTC land-for-job case.

Those who want to visit Iran more than once within the six-month time span will have to obtain a visa. The statement also made it clear that the visa-free entry would be applicable only to those Indian tourists who arrive in Iran by air. Those coming to Iran via the land route through Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan or any

At the ‘Gau Sansad’, the holy men unanimously decided that from now onwards they would address cows as ‘Rama’. The ongoing 54-day annual religious fair of Magh Mela 2024 started with Makar Sankranti bathing on January

15 and would conclude with the Maha Shivaratri bathing on March 8.

The sants also resolved that if their demands raised through these proposals were not met, they would launch an agitation. The other proposals passed by them include establishing a ‘Rashtriya Rama Gau Bhakt Aayog’ with the help of cow devotees.

SGPC chief, Akali Dal leaders to join protest in Maharashtra IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

A

delegation led by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Friday reached Nanded to join the protest over the proposed amendments to the Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Act, 1956, by the Maharashtra government.

Other members of the delegation comprised Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljit Singh Cheema and SGPC general secretary Rajinder Singh Mehta. The delegation will join the protest being organized by Hazur Sahib ‘sangat’ against the amendment passed by the Maharashtra Cabinet.

The Takhat Hazur Sahib in Nanded in Maharashtra is one of the five Takhats (high temporal seats) of Sikhs and is of great

historical importance as the 10th Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, passed away there.

The decision to amend the Act that will increase the number of the government’s nominees to the religious body’s board has drawn criticism from SGPC president Dhami who said it was “sad, condemnable and a direct interference” in Sikh affairs “which cannot

be tolerated”. He has now written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, seeking an appointment to discuss this issue.

In a statement, GCC President Kanwaljit Kaur highlighted the “consistent disregard” shown by the ruling dispensation in Maharashtra towards Sikh sentiments.

13

India News

www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024 IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

M

anipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Thursday expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other central leaders for listening to the voice of the people of the state, and for taking the decision to construct fencing along the entire 1,643-km IndiaMyanmar border and immediate suspension of the Free Movement Regime (FMR).

Saying that the state government has been giving priority in keeping its people and the state’s boundary safe and secure, the Chief Minister maintained that the BJP government, since its formation in 2017, had been working in different ways to check the demographic balance in population growth, drugs trafficking and other concerns like border fencing and uncheck FMR among others.

Manipur has a 398-km border with Myanmar while three other northeastern states have international borders with the

Indian-Saudi joint military exercise successfully held in Rajasthan IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

T

he validation phase of first joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Royal Saudi Land Force, named ‘Sada Tanseeq’, was successfully completed at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan’s Bikaner on Thursday.

The 12 days joint exercise, which began on January 29, aimed to achieve interoperability between the two forces and acquaint each other with operational procedures and combat drills under a UN mandate.

The Indian contingent comprised soldiers from the 20th Battalion of the Brigade of Guards and the Saudi side of 45 soldiers of land forces. The exercise was conducted in two phases. The first phase focused on combat conditioning and tactical training, and the second phase culminated in physical exercises and validation.

Both the contingents jointly took part in the validation phase which included creation of temporary operating base, establishing an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance grid, establishing a mobile vehicle check post, carrying out cordon and search operations in a hostile village, heli-borne operations, and conduct of house intervention drills.

Manipur CM thanks PM Modi for suspending Free Movement Regime northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km) and Mizoram (510 km).

Informing that one km stretch of fencing through a Hybrid Surveillance System (HSS) is under execution in Manipur, bordering Myanmar, he continued that fencing works covering 20 km in vulnerable areas have also been approved, and the work would start soon.

Regarding the FMR, he reiterated the Home Ministry’s decision for immediate suspension, to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s northeastern states bordering Myanmar.

Singh also lauded the move of the Central

government to constitute a high-powered committee for considering the challenges

Famous luxury train ‘Palace on Wheels’ to conduct tours to Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

I

ndia’s luxury train Palace on Wheels will now take passengers to Ayodhya. The route of Palace on Wheels, which has won the title of the world’s second most luxurious train, is going to change after 42 years, as it embarks on a journey to the holy city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.

The religious tour will be conducted

A

Drone Port will be established in Hyderabad to provide training for drone pilots, it was announced on Wednesday. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday asked the officials to identify 20 acres of land required for the establishment of a Drone Port at the Pharma City. twice a month. This time, the focus is also on local tourists which means if a traveler wants to travel only to Ayodhya or Prayagraj, he will be able to do so and special discount will also be on offer for such trips.

Papanasham beach at Kerala’s Varkala features among world’s 100 best beaches

I

n an endorsement of Kerala’s lively beach tourism, the stunning seaside getaway of Papanasham Beach in Thiruvananthapuram has been featured among the 100 best beaches in the world by the prestigious Lonely Planet.

A favorite tourist destination due to its silvery stretches of sand and the serene ambience, Papanasham Beach, also known as Varkala Beach and about 40 kms from the state capital on the Arabian Sea, has been featured in Lonely Planet’s “Best Beaches: 100 of the World’s Most Incredible Beaches” guide book.

Fringed by coconut palms, blessed with an unending stretch of blue waters, and endowed with an idyllic serenity, the beach has earned the reputation of a traveler’s paradise and rejuvenation point dotted with spas with therapeutic effect gushing out from the surrounding laterite cliff.

Besides being a tourist hotspot, Papanasham beach is also a revered pilgrim site. The belief is that a ritualistic dip in the waters here washes away all the sins (papam) and hence, its name.

The ashes collected from the cremation grounds are immersed at the sea here, in the

Drone Port to come up in Hyderabad for training drone pilots IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

The train will now also organize religious tours, said officials, adding the new operation will start from May. The six-day religious tour will start from Delhi and take the passengers to Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura and Vrindavan.

Palace on Wheels officials said that during normal journey, non-veg food and liquor are served in the train because many foreign as well as domestic tourists travel in it. The company will now remove non-veg food from the menu during the religious trips. Also, onion and garlic will not be used in the food to be served to the passengers.

arising from “fast population growth and demographic changes”.

belief that it will wash away the sins of the deceased and the soul will achieve moksha (eternal salvation).

Another highlight of the beach is that it is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea. This has been recorded as a geological monument by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

Kerala Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas said featuring into the list of best beaches in the world is a remarkable recognition for Varkala Beach.

The facility will be useful for pilot training as well as conduct the trials by the drone manufacturing companies. The decision came on request of the Telangana State Aviation Academy, whose officials brought to the notice of the Chief Minister the inconvenience of providing training at the Hyderabad Airport due to increasing air traffic.

The Telangana State Aviation Academy signed an MoU with the ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to provide advanced training for drone pilots.

As part of the agreement, training on drone piloting, drone data management, and data analysis will be provided.

A 15 days training course on data analysis, data processing and mapping will be conducted for NRSC scientists and drone pilots in the Academy.

Officials noted that the use of drones increased in all sectors including agriculture. Farmers are using drones to spray fertilizers and pesticides in the farms and the Self-Help Groups also chose the drones as a means of employment.

14

Business www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

‘Russia’s Google’ pulls out of home country, sells biz for $5.2 bn We believe that we have found the best possible solution for our shareholders, our teams and our users in these extraordinary circumstances,” said John Boynton, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yandex NV.

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

T

he Dutch owner of Yandex which is touted as “Russia’s Google” has announced to divest its Russiabased businesses for $5.2 billion.

Yandex NV, the Dutch parent company of the Yandex group has entered into a definitive agreement with a purchaser consortium to sell all of the Yandex group’s businesses in Russia and certain international markets.

“The proposed transaction will allow shareholders to recover some value for the businesses that we are divesting, while unlocking new growth potential for the international businesses we will retain and enabling the divested businesses to operate under new ownership,” Boynton said in a statement. Following the successful completion of the transaction, in full compliance with international sanctions where applicable, the company will hold no interest in its businesses in Russia.

The total consideration for the sale will be 475 billion ruble (around $5.2 billion) and at least 50 percent will be paid in cash.

“Since February 2022, the Yandex group and our team have faced exceptional challenges.

US companies flashing key sign of economic uncertainty by hoarding cash IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

A

merica’s publicly traded companies are flashing a key sign of economic uncertainty -- they have been hoarding cash, a media report said.

Americans have spent down their pandemicera savings and then some. Credit card and auto loan delinquencies have not only surpassed pre-pandemic levels, they are the highest they have been in more than a decade, CNN reported.

US corporations, however, are clinging to their money -- they increased their cash on hand through the first half of last year by 13 per cent to $2.35 trillion from $2.08 trillion at the end of 2022. Firms also cut back on share buybacks, according to the most recent ‘Cash Pile’ report from Moody’s Investors Service, CNN reported.

There is a high opportunity cost to holding onto cash. Companies can potentially earn higher returns investing in their own business or in securities than they can from the relatively low interest rates on deposits.

In addition, companies with existing and expensive debt in a high-interest rate environment would likely want to use their cash to pay it down.

Mexico overtakes China as the top exporter of goods to US

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

N

F

ASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab has shown pink slips to about 530 people, or 8 percent of its workforce, due to lack of funds, the agency said, amid layoffs in Big Tech companies globally. About 40 additional members of contractor workforce have also been laid off.

or the past two decades, the US imported more goods from China than all other nations.

That’s no longer the case now, the media reported. Mexico is now the top exporter of goods to the US, according to new trade data released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, CNN reported. Mexico sent $475.6 billion worth of goods into the US last year, a 5 percent increase from 2022. China, meanwhile, exported $427.2 billion worth of goods to the US last year, a 20 per cent slump from 2022.

As a whole, the total US trade deficit in goods and services - a measure of the difference between exports and imports - was $773.4 billion last year, a 19 per cent decline from 2022. That’s the largest annual decline in the trade deficit since 2009, CNN reported.

Contributing to the overall trend was a weaker dollar that’s made the cost of US

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab lays off 8% of workforce citing lack of funds

“After exhausting all other measures to adjust to a lower budget from NASA, and in the absence of an FY24 appropriation from Congress, we have had to make the difficult decision to reduce the JPL workforce through layoffs,” officials said in a statement.

goods cheaper abroad, Matthew Martin, US economist at Oxford Economics, said in a note Wednesday.

The officials noted that the layoffs will have an impact on both technical and support areas of the Lab. “These are painful but necessary adjustments that will enable us to adhere to our budget allocation while continuing our important work for NASA and our nation,” the statement said. Based in California, JPL is federally funded but managed by the California Institute of Technology.

Sarvam AI partners Microsoft to bring its voice-based AI tools to Azure IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

I

ndian generative AI startup Sarvam AI on Thursday announced its collaboration with Microsoft to make its Indic voice Large Language Model (LLM) available on Azure. The collaboration will allow Sarvam AI to use Microsoft’s cutting-edge cloud and AI infrastructure -- including Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Machine Learning -- to train, host, and scale its LLMs quickly and efficiently.

“This partnership embodies our vision of ‘Sarvam’ -- meaning ‘all’ -- by enhancing AI’s reach across various Indian languages and sectors,” Pratyush Kumar, Co-founder of Sarvam AI, said in a statement.

Sarvam AI’s Indic voice LLM, which aims to provide a natural voice-based interface to LLMs, will initially be available in Hindi.

The startup is working to expand coverage to more Indian languages while ensuring support

for colloquial language use. Sarvam AI and Microsoft are also working together to improve and scale up the support for Indian languages in Microsoft’s Generative AI frontier language models, according to the company.

15

Business

www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

UBS deepens costcutting drive launched after its acquisition of rival Credit Suisse

SpaceX under investigation for discrimination, sexual harassment IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

E

lon Musk-run SpaceX is being investigated in the US for discrimination and sexual harassment, the media reported.

Seven former employees alleged that SpaceX executives joked about sexual harassment and fired workers for raising concerns, according to multiple reports.

The California Civil Rights Department is now investigating complaints by workers that SpaceX executives discriminated against women. In the SpaceX complaints, employees cite a pattern of discrimination, as well as inappropriate tweets by Musk that they said they could not easily avoid because he uses the platform for important company announcements.

One former employee said she received

IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

S

wiss lender UBS has deepened a cost-cutting drive launched after its emergency acquisition of rival Credit Suisse, as it slashes thousands of jobs and tries to boost earnings to make sure the mammoth deal pays off, a media report said.

UBS said on Tuesday that it is now targeting $13 billion in savings by the end of 2026 -- $3 billion more than what it had announced six months ago, CNN reported. The savings will provide “necessary capacity for reinvestment to reinforce the resilience of our infrastructure as we absorb Credit Suisse and to drive sustainable growth by investing in talent, products and services”, it added.

The additional cost reductions are likely to mean thousands more job cuts. Already, UBS has slashed headcount in the fourth quarter by more than 3,100 to under 113,000, taking the number of layoffs announced last year above 16,000. The bank shed 3,000 jobs in Switzerland alone in 2023.

a performance review accusing her of being “too emotional” and suggesting she “should be more humble” after she raised concerns about one of her male coworkers taking credit for her work, according to

a filing reviewed by Bloomberg. The same agency is also suing Tesla over charges of operating a “racially segregated workplace.” SpaceX or Musk were yet to comment on the investigation.

Deepfake video meeting with fake CFO costs company $25.6 mn IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk

A

deepfake video conference call where a digitally recreated avatar of the chief financial officer (CFO) ordered money transfers has cost a multinational company $25.6 million in a first-such scam. Employees at the company’s Hong Kong office were fooled by scammers who created digitally-altered versions of the company’s CFO and others in a video call where “everyone looked real”.

Everyone present on the video calls except the victim was a fake representation of real people, South China Morning Post reported. “The scammers applied deepfake technology to turn publicly available video and

other footage into convincing versions of the meeting’s participants,” said the report.

Police say the case is the first known instance of scammers using deepfakes to deceive financial agencies.

“This time, in a multi-person video conference, it turns out that everyone you see is fake,” acting senior superintendent Baron Chan Shun-ching was quoted as saying.

The company employees in the call looked and sounded like real people the targeted employee recognized. They followed instructions given during the meeting and made 15 transfers totalling HK$200 million $25.6 million) to five Hong Kong bank accounts.

Classified Ads MOTEL MANAGER

SHOP FOR LEASE

JOB

BOOK YOUR AD

Wanted Motel Manager Couple or Single for Franchise Motel in St. Louis, MO Good Salary and Accommodation Provided.

Wanted Motel Manager Couple or Single for Franchise Motel in St. Louis, MO Good Salary and Accommodation Provided.

Wanted Motel Manager Couple or Single for Franchise Motel in St. Louis, MO Good Salary and Accommodation Provided.

Wanted Motel Manager Couple or Single for Franchise Motel in St. Louis, MO Good Salary and Accommodation Provided.

CALL: XXX-XXX-XXX and XXX-XXX-XXX

CALL: XXX-XXX-XXX and XXX-XXX-XXX

CALL: XXX-XXX-XXX and XXX-XXX-XXX

CALL: XXX-XXX-XXX and XXX-XXX-XXX

CALL NOW FOR BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS (773) 866-1222

16

Sports www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Organizing Committee unveils medals for Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games

T

he Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Organizing Committee on Thursday unveiled the medals for the Olympics 2024 which is scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11 at the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee headquarters, Saint-Denis. The Paralympics will be held from August 28 to September 8.

Nestled within each gleaming gold, silver, and bronze medal lies a small piece of Paris itself—a fragment of the iconic Eiffel Tower, serving as a poignant testament to the enduring spirit of France and the universal values embodied by the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For over a century, Olympic and Paralympic medals have served as tangible symbols of athletic prowess and human achievement. Yet, the med-

Super Bowl ticket prices skyrocket, on pace to be most expensive ever

Ticket resale platform StubHub predicted it could end up as the most expensive Super Bowl ever with the average ticket price sold around $8,600, slightly above the price for the Los Angeles Super Bowl two years ago.

Fans from both sides have complained that ticket prices are too high and some say they will fly home from Vegas if that doesn’t change.

The decision came from a desire to make these objects unique and singular, as Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, explained: “There was a huge amount done to try to bring together these precious metals -- gold, silver and bronze -- with the most precious metal in the Eiffel Tower, the jewel in the French crown. So what’s specific about the 2024 medals is that meshing together, that fusion, that alloy.”

A total of 5084 medals have been manufactured for the biggest sporting spectacle of the year. The medals have been designed by jeweller Chaumet.

India’s Velavan Senthilkumar moves India beat England to win the title in first-ever into Pittsburgh Open squash quarters International Para Cricket Tournament

T

S

uper Bowl ticket buyers are facing a price surge for Sunday’s championship game owing to the dazzling, neonlit setting of first-time host Las Vegas and 49ers fans’ hopes to reverse their 2020 loss to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

als of Paris 2024 stand apart, not only in their timeless elegance but in their unique fusion of tradition and innovation.

R

eigning National champion Velavan Senthilkumar sailed into the quarterfinals of the Pittsburgh Open squash, a prestigious USD 75,800 PSA World Tour Silver event, with an 11-6, 5-11, 11-5, 11-8 win over home favorite and No.8 seed Faraz Khan in a thrilling encounter.

This is the first PSA outing of the year for the 25-year-old Tamil Nadu player, ranked 63 in the world, after a breakout 2023 that saw

him win four PSA titles in his first full year as pro. On achieving his maiden Silver-event quarter-final, he said: “I’m really happy, it’s something that I’ve always pushed for, and I’m always going to keep pushing for it as much as I can.”

“I’m excited to have this opportunity, I’m really happy to be here, and compete another day, and playing (Youssef Ibrahim) is going to be fun, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

World Athletics ratifies Kelvin Kiptum’s world marathon record World Athletics, the global governing body for international track and field competitions, has ratified Kelvin Kiptum’s world marathon record of 2:00:35 set in Chicago last year. Kenya’s Kiptum became the first athlete to break 2:01 in a record-eligible marathon, taking 34 seconds off the world record at the Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2023.

he Indian Physical Disability Cricket Team secured a 4-1 series victory over England during the country’s first-ever International Physically Disabled five-match T20 series organized by the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI). The five matches in the T20 series took place in Ahmedabad and were hosted by the Gujarat Cricket Association, under the patronage of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It featured intense matchups between the Indian and English physically challenged cricket teams during which India emerged victorious in four of them, securing a 4-1 series win against England.

The international physically disabled T20 cricket series marked a significant milestone for differently-abled cricket in India, providing a stage for talented para cricketers to showcase their skills and compete at an international level.

17

Sports

www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Boris Becker announces coaching split with Holger Rune

Mitchell Marsh tests Covid positive ahead of Windies T20Is opener

F

ormer German tennis icon Boris Becker has stepped down from his position as the coach of Danish tennis star and world number seven Holger Rune with immediate effect, the 56-year-old announced in a social media post.

In October of last year, Becker returned to the tennis circuit as Rune’s coach. The 20-year-old Dane subsequently made his debut in the ATP Finals in Turin, an eight-man season-ending championship, where his campaign concluded in the group stage.

A

ustralian T20 captain Mitch Marsh will convey instructions to his teammates from a distance during the opening T20 match against the West Indies on Friday. This necessity arises due to his positive Covid-19 test result.

Rune has worked with numerous coaches over the past year, and Becker is the latest to decide to part ways with the 20-year-old Dane.

Marsh will play despite testing positive for Covid on the eve of the series opener and will follow Cricket Australia protocols, which include operating out of a different dressing room and keeping his distance on the field, according to Daily Mail.

“I would like to inform you that I will step down as the head coach of Holger Rune with immediate effect. We started this partnership with the initial goal to reach the ATP Finals end of last year but moving forward I realized that in order for this to be successful, I would need to be available for Holger much more than I can,” Becker wrote in an X post.

“Due to professional and private responsibilities, I can’t give Holger what he needs now. I wish him only the very best and I’m always going to be his n.1 fan. I truly appreciated this journey together,”

he added. Counting on vast experience when in action, Becker for three years was the coach of Serbian great Novak Djokovic. The duo harvested six Grand Slams aside from 25 tournament titles.

Becker’s position as head coach of Rune

marked his return to a major role following his release from prison. The former Wimbledon champion had served eight months of a two-and-a-half-year sentence for concealing financial assets and loans.

It’s the third such instance of Covid in the Aussie camp in recent matches, with both Josh Inglis and Cameron Green also taking their place in Australian sides despite Covid positives. Both were kept away from teammates during national anthems, with Green even shooed from wicket celebrations during the Gabba Test against the Windies due to his Covid-19 positive status.

Armand Duplantis Australia recall Michael Neser for New Zealand Test series owling all-rounder Michael Neser retains Mondo has been recalled to the Test team as Australia named a 14-player squad for the two-match series against Classic title New Zealand that commences from February

R

eigning world record holder and Olympic champion pole vaulter Armand Duplantis has kicked off his 2024 year in style with a win at his own hometown meet ‘Mondo Classic’ in Uppsala. The reigning three-time world champion (indoors and outdoors) in pole vault cleared 5.92m before missing all three attempts at 6.02m on Tuesday night.

Americans KC Lightfoot and Sam Kendricks finished in second and third, respectively, with Lightfoot also clearing 5.92m but having missed his first attempt at the height - while Duplantis went over on his first. Kendricks soared over 5.82m to finish third.

B

29. The reigning ICC World Test Championship winners will travel to New Zealand with a similar squad from recent home series against Pakistan and West Indies, with Neser being the only notable change.

Neser has been included as selectors are expecting seam-friendly pitches at Wellington and Christchurch. His chances of getting picked received a boost after Lance Morris was injured during the ODI series against West Indies and Jhye Richardson was sidelined for six weeks with a side strain.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins will once again lead the side during the series and will lead a

formidable bowling line-up that includes Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, while vice-captain Steve Smith is expected to continue in his new role as opener alongside veteran Usman Khawaja. Australia currently sit

in second place on the World Test Championship standings, with New Zealand outright leaders on the table following their 285-run thumping of South Africa at home earlier this month.

Mohsin Raza Naqvi is elected unopposed as PCB chairman

Five Indian chess players among top 10 in junior world rankings

Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi was on Tuesday unanimously and unopposed elected as the 37th Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a three-year term, the PCB informed in a statement. His election, which took place at a special meeting of the Board of Governors (BoG) summoned by Shah Khawar at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, comes after a period of transition and uncertainty.

For the first time in the history, young Indian chess players occupied five slots -- including the top spot -- in the junior world rankings.

The honors go to Grandmasters (GM) the topranked R.Praggnanandhaa, D.Gukesh - ranked third, Nihal Sarin - ranked sixth, Raunak Sadhwani - ranked seventh and Leon Luke Meondonca - ranked tenth as per International Chess Federation or FIDE’s latest ranking list.

18

Entertainment www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

‘Just the opinion of a group of people’: Rapper Drake mocks Grammys

Kohli-Anushka expecting second child; social media frenzy after de Villiers spills the beans

R

apper Drake, who is a fivetime Grammy winner, has taken a dig at the ongoing 66th edition of Grammy Awards.

Drake and 21 Savage were nominated for four categories but failed to clinch the award in any category. The rapper, performed in Tampa, Florida, instead of attending the ceremony. He took to the Stories section of his Instagram story, and said, “All you incredible artistes remember this show isn’t the facts it’s just the opinion of a group of people whose name are kept a secret… (literally you can Google it). Congrats to anybody winning anything for hip hop but this show doesn’t dictate anything worthy in our world”.

The rapper has criticized the Grammys in the past as well. Earlier, he questioned the relevance and transparency of the award show for hip-hop and black artistes. In 2019, he used his acceptance speech for Best Rap Song to say that the Grammys do not represent the true value of music and that artists should not measure their success by trophies.

Korean hit series ‘Squid Game’ confirms expanded cast for Season 2

F

ormer South Africa captain AB de Villiers has let the cat out of the bag for former India captain Virat Kohli missing the first two Tests against England, by revealing that his one-time Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate and his wife actress Anushka Sharma are expecting their second child.

“Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma (are)

S

treaming giant Netflix on Tuesday confirmed expansion of starry Korean cast in the popular Korean series ‘Squid Game’ Season 2. The second season sees Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun and Gong Yoo reprise their roles as protagonist and antagonist survivors of the bloody elimination game, reports ‘Variety’.

The new story “will follow Gi-hun as he abandons his plans to go to the US and starts a chase with a motive”, said Netflix in Korea. Earlier photographs from Season 2 showed Lee’s Gi-hyun character with hair dyed beetroot red, reports ‘Variety’.

The company confirmed that Hwang Dong-hyuk, who became the first Asian to win outstanding directing for a drama series at the Primetime Emmy’s, is also re-set as director, writer, and producer and that production is through Firstman Studio.

expecting their second child, so Virat Kohli is spending his time with his family,” AB De Villiers said in a video on his YouTube channel. Married on December 11, 2017, Virat and Anushka had their first child, daughter Vamika, on January 11, 2021.

Kohli had pulled out of the first two Tests against England just before the start of the first match of the series at Hyderabad, informing

skipper Rohit Sharma and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he was withdrawing because of personal reasons.

“Virat Kohli has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be withdrawn from the first two Tests of the upcoming IDFC First Bank Test series against England, citing personal reasons,” the BCCI informed in a release on January 22.

‘Fighter’ gets legal notice over Hrithik-Deepika’s kissing scene

T

he recently released Hrithik Roshan-starrer action film ‘Fighter’ has landed in legal trouble. The makers of the film have been served a legal notice over a kissing scene between the film’s lead pair of Hrithik and Deepika Padukone both of whom essays Indian Air Force officers in the film.

As per reports, the notice against the makers of the film has been issued by an Air Force officer from Assam, Saumya Deep Das. Saumya Deep Das has claimed that the scene was an insult to the Indian Air Force as the lead characters are seen kissing while donning their IAF uniforms. In his complaint, the officer has said that the IAF uniform is a powerful symbol of commitment to duty, national security and selfless service. He further said that the film misrepresents its inherent dignity

by utilising the uniform for a scene promoting personal romantic entanglements.

‘Fighter’, which was released a day prior

to the Republic Day in India, follows the dramatised events after the Pulwama attack on CRPF personnel, and how India retaliated by conducting an airstrike at a terrorist camp.

19

Entertainment

www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

When Leonardo DiCaprio was browsing through Victoria’s Secret catalogue on a film set

Zakir Hussain honored for ‘Pashto’, Shankar Mahadevan for ‘This Moment’ at Grammys

Killer Mike speaks up after being handcuffed and questioned by police at 2024 Grammys

H

ollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has reportedly passed time looking “through a Victoria’s Secret catalogue” on the set of one of his blockbusters.

Details of actor’s penchant for dating models around half his age was revealed by filmmaker Edward Zwick, 71, who shared the anecdote while writing about directing the Oscar-winner on 2006’s ‘Blood Diamond’ alongside 53-yearold Jennifer Connelly, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Zwick said in his new book ‘Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood’: “It seems Leo was currently between gorgeous girlfriends. One morning I walked into the makeup trailer as I often did to discuss the day’s work with him.”

“I found him in the chair waiting for his turn and noticed he was paging through a Victoria’s Secret catalogue. ‘What are you doing?’ I asked. Connelly was in the chair beside him.

Taylor Swift threatens legal action against student who tracks celebrity jets

M

usic composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan has expressed his gratitude with a heart-felt note after his and Zakir Hussain’s Shakti band Shakti won the Best Global Music Album award at the Grammys 2024. He said that this is the moment from which he can say that dreams do come true.

Mahadevan took to Instagram, where he shared a string of pictures from Grammy 2024 and said that he never imagined that a band from where he learnt his music would

eventually win a Grammy.

He wrote alongside a picture where he is seen posing with a golden gramophone: “WE DID IT. I never imagined that a band from where I have learnt my music and my musical aesthetics would be the band with whom I would eventually perform and win a Grammy. This is the moment from which I can easily say that dreams do come true.

“Shakti was a dream which came true!

Thank you Almighty for making this happen! It’s truly ‘THIS MOMENT.’”

Kevin Spacey to pay $1 million in ‘House of Cards’ settlement

S

inger-songwriter Taylor Swift, who recently fought an uphill battle against her deepfake porn images, has threatened legal action against Jack Sweeney, a college student who tracks celebrity jets and faced Elon Musk’s ire in the past. Musk had banned him from Twitter (now called X) and accused the student of posting “assassination coordinates.”

Now, an attorney for Swift has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Sweeney, a University of Central Florida junior, reports The Washington Post. The letter alleged that Sweeney’s social media accounts cause “direct and irreparable harm, as well as emotional and physical distress.”

Unless Sweeney stops the “stalking and harassing behaviour,” Swift would “have no choice but to pursue any and all legal remedies.”

“I think it’s important to note that nowhere do I intend for harm. I actually think Swift has some good songs. I believe in transparency and public information,” Sweeney told The Verge.

‘House Of Cards’ actor Kevin Spacey will pay $1 million to the production company behind the show, to settle claims that he sexually harassed young male staffers on the show.

Killer Mike said in a statement shared with ‘People’, “As you can imagine, there was a lot going on and there was some confusion around which door my team and I should enter. We experienced an overzealous security guard but my team and I have the utmost confidence that I will ultimately be cleared of all wrongdoing. Until that time, keep listening to Michael, and keep going after your dreams.”

He had agreed to pay the $1 million over multiple years in installments equal to 10 per cent of his after-tax income. The company has also secured Spacey’s cooperation in trying to recoup the balance of its costs from someone better able to pay: its insurance company.

The insurer argued that MRC took that footnote “as a license to invent new facts.” The settlement was first reported

In a video shared by ‘The Hollywood Reporter’ on X, the musician was seen being escorted out of Crypto.com Arena by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department.

The LAPD confirmed on X that an adult male who “was detained & handcuffed for a physical altercation that occurred at the 700 block of Chick Hearn Court” was placed under arrest and transported to LAPD Central Division.

Spacey was dropped from the final season of the show in 2017. He was facing a $31 million judgment in the case, after an arbitrator found that the allegations were credible and that the production company MRC deserved to recoup its costs for scrapping the final season and starting over without him, reports Variety.

In a footnote to his November ruling, the judge had offered that if MRC could allege that Spacey was suffering from debilitating depression, that “would fit far more comfortably within the policies’ definition.”

R

apper Killer Mike, who was handcuffed and questioned by police at the 2024 Grammys, has broken his silence on the issue. The incident occurred after the Atlanta rapper won best rap song and best rap performance for ‘Scientist & Engineers’ and best rap album for Michael during the show’s pre-telecast ceremony, reports ‘People’ magazine.

Killer Mike said he and his team received “a number of calls from concerned fans and colleagues wanting to know if I was OK”.

“I greatly appreciate the concern and support, but I am better than OK”, Killer Mike added. on Monday. On Tuesday, Fireman’s lawyers informed the court that they had inadvertently failed to redact confidential information from their recent filings, and asked that those documents be sealed.

Apart from extending his appreciation to the Recording Academy for his awards, he shared that he had another big win following the ceremony.

20

Community www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Get ready for an unforgettable journey with VHPA T he World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) has announced the Ram Mandir Rath Yatra - An American Journey starting March 25, 2024, from Billerica, Massachusetts. This journey will let you immerse into a divine experience and uncover the spiritual richness of our culture as the procession winds its way through

the heartland of temples across US and Canada.

This sacred journey is not just a trail; it’s an exploration of 851+ Mandirs across America and 150+ in Canada! Each Mandir, a gem in the spiritual crown, awaits your presence. Be part of this celestial journey, where every Mandir echoes the timeless tales of devotion.

Classified Ads MOTEL MANAGER

SHOP FOR LEASE

Wanted Motel Manager Couple or Single for Franchise Motel in St. Louis, MO Good Salary and Accommodation Provided. Wanted Motel Manager Couple or Single for Franchise Motel in St. Louis, MO Good Salary and Accommodation Provided. Wanted Motel

Wanted Motel Manager Couple or Single for Franchise Motel in St. Louis, MO Good Salary and Accommodation Provided. Wanted Motel Manager Couple or Single for Franchise Motel in St. Louis, MO Good Salary and Accommodation Provided. Wanted Motel

CALL: XXX-XXX-XXX and XXX-XXX-XXX

CALL: XXX-XXX-XXX and XXX-XXX-XXX

CALL NOW FOR BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS (773) 866-1222

21 www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

sba 7(a) sba loan 7(a program ) loan program

Growing Growing businesses businesses need need cash cash flow. flow.

We We cancan help. help.

small business small capital business capit

Together, we’ll Together, put together we’ll put a loan together structure a loan forstructure your business for your that business can getthat it done—the can get itright done—the way—for right your way—for your bottom line. bottom SBA 7(a)line. loans SBA help 7(a)small loansbusinesses help smallgrow businesses by offering growlonger, by offering morelonger, flexiblemore terms flexible and lower-equity terms and lower-equity contributions. contributions.

Size of Loans Size of Loans Benefits to Business Benefits to Business • Longer amortization • Longer amortization allows for lower allows loan forpayments lower loan payments • Up to $5 million • Up to $5 million • No future balloon • No future payment balloon (fully payment amortizing (fullyloan) amortizing loan) Terms of Loans Terms of Loans • Non-collateral • Non-collateral dependent loans dependent available loans available • Up to 25 years • Upfor to 25 realyears estate fordebt real estate debt • Closing costs • Closing can becosts included can be in loan included in loan • Up to 15 years • Upfor to non 15 years real estate for nondebt real (term estatecan debt be(term can be blended if the blended debt includes if the debt both includes real estate bothand realnon estate and n Typical Customers/Use Typical Customers/Use of Funds of Funds real estate debt) real estate debt) • Real estate• acquisitions Real estate acquisitions or refinancing—up or refinancing—up to 90% to 90% financing available financing (51% available owner-occupied) (51% owner-occupied) Interest Rates Interest Rates • Construction • Construction Loans—up toLoans—up 90% financing to 90% available financing available • Variable and • Variable fixed rate and options fixed rate options • Franchise •financing Franchise financing Loan Fees Loan Fees • Business acquisitions • Business acquisitions • The SBA Guarantee • The SBAfee Guarantee ranges from fee ranges 2% to 3.5% fromof2% to 3.5% of • Insurance •Agency Insurance Acquisitions Agency Acquisitions the guaranteed the portion guaranteed of the portion loan of the loan • Machinery• &Machinery equipment&acquisitions equipment acquisitions or refinancing— or refinancing— • Other fees• include Other fees packaging includefees, packaging third party fees, third party up to 100% financing up to 100% available financing available reports, lien reports, filings, title liencharges, filings, title etc.charges, (closingetc. fees(closing fees • Line of credit • Line restructuring of credit restructuring can be incorporated can be incorporated into the loan)into the loan) • Lease refinancing • Lease refinancing • Business Expansion • BusinessLoans Expansion Loans

Name name name Namename namename namename namename name name Huyname Tran name HuynaT Title title title title titletitle title title title title titletitle titletitle titletitle title title title VPtitle -Title Business Development VP - Business Officer Development Offict (920) Phone475-1152 phone (920) Phone475-1 pho (920) (920) Cell cell475-1152 cell cell Cell cell475-1 cell htran@bylinebank.com htran@bylinebank.c Email email email Email email email email email email em ©2017 Byline Bank. ©2017 Member BylineFDIC. Bank. Member FDIC.

22

Community www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Chicago Hindu Mahotsav Group organize celebrations to honor 75th Republic Day of India and Valentine’s Day

The Maharashtrian festival of Haldi Kannu Suhagan lady was tilak and blessed each other.

By Jayanti Oza

T

he Chicago Hindu Mahotsav Group celebrated the 75th Republic Day of India and Valentine’s Day in the presence of more than a hundred people. The evening started with Shailesh Rajput welcoming all members and guests followed by a melodious ‘Ganesh Vandna’ by Kundan Ben Soni.

‘Deep Pragatya’ was performed by Raj Patel representing Nostrum Entertainment Hub. Next, the Republic Day celebration commenced with a parade featuring all participants carrying Indian flags and chanting patriotic slogans. The atmosphere was charged with emotions of love

Deep Pragatya performed by Movie Producer Raj Patel (Nostrum Entertainment Hub)

for the nation, as everyone walked with pride. Special guests, including Ex-Army Man Jawan Arvind Ankleshwaria, Navin bhai Dholakia portraying Gandhi ji, Mayur bhai Shah as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Iron Man), and Vinay bhai as Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, joined the parade.

Raj Patel and Ex-Army Man Jawan Arvind bhai Ankleshwaria led the flag-waving and saluted the Indian flag, while all members sang both the Indian and American anthems. Rambhai Patel shared his sentiments about Republic Day. Following the Republic Day festivities, the Maharashtrian festival of ‘Haldi Kannu’ was hosted and sponsored by Vinay and Anita Dalvi family. All married women received tilak and blessings from each other, with the Navin bhai Dholakia as Gandhi ji, Mayur bhai Shah as Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel (Iron Man) and Vinay bhai as our Prime Minister Narendra bhai Modi ji and all the members walk with pride.

Dalvi family giving them mementos . Chirayu Parikh, the Chief Guest, commended and supported the program, appreciating the concept and efforts of all involved.

All members Salute our Indian flag. All members sang a Indian Anthem and American Anthem

Renowned singers Dipak (Voice of Mukesh), Jitendra Balsara (Voice of Rafi Saab), and Shaila Khedkar (Voice of Lata ji) graced the event with performances of patriotic songs along with Kundan ben Soni and Gopal bhai Shah delivering patri-

otic renditions.

Special thanks were extended to Bela for providing special glasses for fun, Chirag Patel for arranging disco lights, and Jayanti Oza for capturing pictures of the celebration, creating lasting memories for all. Sailesh Rajput expressed gratitude to all members, supporters, and volunteers for making the event so special.

Indians in US reach out to Consul Generals to standardize celebration of Indian national festivals in the US

I

ndians in the United States are reaching out to request the support of consul generals in standardizing the Celebration of Indian National events.

Hemant Patel, an Indo-American activist and a front-runner for this cause said, “For NRIs, India still is our emotional pride.

With the unparalleled global leadership of Modi ji, we would like a graceful display of our national pride days.”

“We would like to instil pride, education, and respect in the next generation through different programs including the Indian National Festival parade. In the last several years, the standards of these pride days have been less than perfect with multiple organi-

zations hoisting the Indian flag. In an effort to attract higher attendance, they have been using uncanny tactics. These include but are not limited to inviting Indian TV and movie personalities. Who not only does not display graceful behaviour or Indian attire that is the representation of our pride heritage”, he added. He presented various recommendations for the standardization process and requested the Home Ministry of India to help standardize the process Internationally.

By Hemant Patel

23

Community

www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Indian Seniors of Chicago celebrate 75th Republic Day of India and Shobha Yatra to Ram Rath

Bhupendra Suthar who was N.C.C. held a ‘C’ certificate and attained the rank of Lieutenant; He presided over the Republic Day celebrations.

President Narsinhbhai were invited to salute the flag

By Jayanti Oza

I

ndian Seniors of Chicago is a group that runs for the benefit of the senior brothers and sisters in Manav seva Mandir in Bensenville village near Chicago. On January 27, members of the group organized a program to celebrate the Republic Day of India and the Shobha Yatra of Ram Rath.

The event included a great birthday celebration of the existing members and a felicitation ceremony for the new members.

Bipin Shah dressed up as India’s national flag bearer, Jyotsna Shah as Bharat Mata,

Members’ birthdays were celebrated and new members were introduced

Shivabhai as Gandhiji, Saroj Patel as Sushma Swaraj, Ramesh Patel as Yogi Adityanath and Nalin and Chandrika Shah as Gujarati Nagar Seth.

Ram Rath was led by the Group President Narsinghbhai Patel. Vinubhai Darji and Geeta Suthar and other members took part in the procession to Ram Rath. Bhupendra Suthar who was N.C.C. held a ‘C’ certificate and attained the rank of Lieutenant; He also presided over the Republic Day celebrations. Group presidents hoisted the Indian National flag and Pushpa Parekh sang ‘Ae Mere Vatan ke Logo’ that got all the members immersed in a wave of patriotism.

Ram Rath was led by Group President Narsinghbhai Patel.

BSC of Chicago commemorates 75th Republic Day of India

BSC Celebrating Ayodhya Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha’ Mahotsav.

‘Deep Pragatya’ ceremony performed by (from L to R): BSC Managing Trustee Parsottam Pandya, Bachubhai Paghdal, Secretary Rashila Dobariya, Vice President Hirji Ponkia, Treasurer Madarsang Chavda, Joint Secretary Vishnu Patel, Bhupat Ranparia, Joint Treasurer Indu Patel

By Jayanti Oza

B

haratiya Senior Citizens of Chicago in collaboration with ‘Mandi Theater’ organized a celebration to commemorate the 75th Republic Day of India. The event was a cultural extravaganza. The highlight of the evening was a Hindi Play ‘The Antidote’, followed by a cultural program, singing and dancing.

The event started with a melodious ‘Ganesh Vandna’ by BSC Secretary Rasila Dobariya, followed by a ‘Deep Pragatya’ ceremony. All the attendees honored India’ National Flag and sang

the national anthem in unison. A short video of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Ayodhya Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav’ was played and the evening was filled with a sense of patriotism. This was followed by a ‘Ram Charit Manas’ book distribution to all the BSC members.

The evening was filled with fun, devotion as well as patriotism. The audience enjoyed classical dance performances by Sonali, Ramya and Swati. Writer Paul Chopra was applauded for his mimicry. Jimmie and Shika Tandon made the evening melodious with their singing. The event ended with a scrumptious dinner.

BSC members salute the Indian flag on the national anthem.

BSC Managing Trustee Parsotam Pandya & Mandi Theater (Alka Sharma) with Artist group.

24

Dharam Karam www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

SXf¸f¨fdSX°f¸ff³fÀf ¸fZÔ Ud¯fÊ°f-³fU²ff ·fdöY ´fi·fb IZY ´ffÀf þf³fZ IZY Qû ¸ff¦fÊ þ¦f°f ´fidÀfð WX`Ô. EIY Äff³f ¸ff¦fÊ AüSX QcÀfSXf ·fdöY ¸ff¦fÊ. ´fPÞXZ d»fJZ Äff³fe þ³f A²¹f³f, ¸f³f³f AüSX d¨fÔ°f³f IYSX ´fi·fb IZY d³fSXfIYfSX øY´f ¸fZÔ SX¸f³fZ IYf ´fi¹ffÀf IYSX°fZ WX`Ô. þ¶fdIY Àff²ffSX¯f ·föY, A´f³fe ÀfZUf ·fdöY ÀfZ ´fi·fb IYû ´¹ffSX IYSX dSXÓff³fZ IYf ´fi¹f} IYSX°fZ WX`Ô.

BÀfe dSXÓff³fZ IYû ·fdöY IYWXf ¦f¹ff WX`. ¸ff³fÀf AüSX ßfe¸fòf¦fU°f ¸fZÔ ³fü ´fiIYfSX IYe ·fdöY IYf CX»»fZJ d¸f»f°ff WX`, þû Af³fZ Uf»fZ ÀfÔQ·fûÊÔ ¸fZÔ dUÀ°ffSX ÀfZ ¶f°ffBÊ ¦fBÊ WX`. ßfe¸fòf¦fU°f ¸fZÔ ßfeIÈY¿¯f »fe»ff AüSX ¦fûd´f¹fûÔ IZY ´fiZ¸f IZY ÀfÔQ·fÊ ¸fZÔ ³fü ´fiIYfSX IYe ·fdöY IYf ¶fOÞXZ dUÀ°ffSX ÀfZ U¯fʳf dIY¹ff ¦f¹ff WX`. UWX ³fü ·fdöY dU²ff¹fZÔ BÀf ´fiIYfSX WX`Ô: r) ßfU¯f s) IYe°fʳf t) À¸fSX¯f u) ´fQ ÀfZUf v) A¨fʳff ´fcþf w) ³f¸fÀIYfSX ¹ff UÔQ³ff À°fbd°f x) QfÀ¹f ·ffU y) ÀfJf ·ffU AüSX z) Af°¸f d³fUZQ³f ¹ff Af°¸f Àf¸f´fʯf.

AfþIY»f þ¶f IY·fe WX¸f IÈY¿¯f ¸fÔdQSXûÔ ¸fZÔ þf°fZ WX`Ô °fû B³f dUd·f³³f ·fdöY ·ffUûÔ, IYe°fʳf, IY±ff ßfU¯f, ´fcþf A¨fʳff, IYf ¶fWXb°f dQ½¹f øY´f QZJ³fZ IYû d¸f»f°ff WX`.

IY±ff. ¹fdQ IYûBÊ ·föY ¸fZSXe BÀf IY±ff IYû ·ffU SXf¸f¨fdSX°f¸ff³fÀf IZY ASX¯¹fIYf¯OX ¸fZÔ þ¶f SXf¸fþe ÀfdWX°f Àfb³fZ¦ff, °fû CXÀfZ CXÀfIYf ¸f³f ¨ffWXf RY»f Vf¶fSXe IZY Afßf¸f ¸fZÔ ´f²ffSX°fZ WX`Ô, °fû UWXfh ·fe ·fdöY AUV¹f d¸f»fZ¦ff.

ÀfZ CX¸fOÞX°fe WX`, ´fied°f. AüSX ´fied°f ÀfZ þ³¸f°fe WX` ßfðf. dRYSX BÀfe ßfðf ·ffU ÀfZ CX´fþ°fe WX` A³f³¹f ·fdöY. BÀf ´fiIYfSX IYe ·fdöY ÀfZ WXû°ff WX` ·föY IYf CXðfSX.

¸fZSXf ·föY ¸fbÓfZ ¶fWXb°f d´fi¹f WX`. EZÀff ·föY ¶fÀf ¹fWXe ¦ff°ff SXWX°ff WX`:

dþÀf d¶fd²f SXfJZ SXf¸f, d°fÀf d¶fd²f SXdWXEÜ Àfe°ff IYe ¨f¨ffÊ WXû°fe WX`. SXf¸fþe Vf¶fSXe IYe ÀfZUf AüSX ¦fb ÷ Y ´fQ ´fÔ I Yþ ÀfZ U f, °feÀfdSX ·f¦fd°f A¸ff³f, SXf¸f Àfe°ff SXf¸f Àfe°ff SXf¸f IYdWXEÜÜ ·fdöY ·ffU ÀfZ ¶fOÞXZ ´fiÀf³³f WXû°fZ WX`Ô. Vf¶fSXe þû EIY ÀfWXþ ÀfSX»f A³f´fPÞX ·fe»f³fe WX`, ¶ffSX ¶ffSX IYWX°fe ¨fü±fe ·f¦fd°f ¸f¸f ¦fb³f ¦f³f IYSXB IY´fMX °fdþ LNXe ´fiIYfSX IYe ·fdöY ¸fZÔ ÀfÔ¹f¸f d³f¹f¸f IYe ¶ff°f ¦ff³fÜÜ IYWXe ¦fBÊ WX`. ·föY IYf Af¨fSX¯f dUdVfá WXû°ff WX`. ³füUeÔ ·fdöY WX` - ÀfSX»f°ff. L»f SXdWX°f, IY´fMX WX`, ´fi·fb ¸f`Ô Af´fIYe ÀfZUf IZY »ff¹fIY ³fWXeÔ WXch. ¸fbÓfZ ·föY IYf þeU³f ¶fOÞXf d³f¹fd¸f°f WXû°ff WX`. UWX SXdWX°f ÀfSX»f ½¹fUWXfSX. Àf¶fIZY Àff±f ´fcSXe Àf¸fÓf ³fWXeÔ Af SXWXf, dIY ¸f`Ô Af´fIYe ÀfZUf I`YÀfZ °feÀfSX e ·fdöY IZ Y d»fE SX f ¸fþe IYWX ° fZ WX ` Ô , ¦fb ÷ YAûÔ ÀfÔ À ffSX IZ Y ·fû¦fûÔ ÀfZ Qc S X SX W X , ¶fOÞ X f WX e ÀfÔ ¹ fd¸f°f ´ffSXQdVfÊ°ff IZY Àff±f WX¸fZVff ÀfWXþ ÀfSX»f Af¨fSX¯f IYøYh? BÀfZ Àfb³f ´fi·fb SXf¸f IYWX°fZ WX`Ô: IYf Àf¸¸ff³f. þû ·föY A´f³fZ ¦fb÷YAûÔ IYe ÀfZUf þeU³f þe°ff WX`. Bd³Qi¹fûÔ IYû A´f³fZ UVf ¸fZÔ IYSX³ff. WX¸fZVff SXf¸fþe ´fSX ·fSXûÀff ¶f³ffE SXJ³ff: IYSX ° fZ WX ` Ô , UZ þ³f ·fe Àfe²fZ Àfe²fZ ¸fZ S X e WX e ·fdöY IYSX I Z Y , ·fû¦f dU»ffÀfûÔ ÀfZ ¶f¨f°fZ WX b E , EIY EZ À ff IYWX SX§fb´fd°f Àfb³fb ·ffd¸f³fe ¶ff°ff, ¸ff³fWXch ¸f`Ô EIY IYSX°fZ WX`Ô. ¦fb÷YAûÔ ÀfZ °ff°´f¹fÊ IZYU»f Af²¹ffd°¸fIY Af¨fSX¯f A´f³ff°ff WX`, dþÀfZ Àfªþ³f ´fb÷Y¿fûÔ IYf ¸fZSXZ °fû d¦fSX²fSX ¦fû´ff»f QcÀfSXû ³f IYûBÊ SXZ ·f¦fd°f IYSX ³ff°ff ¦fb ÷ YAûÔ ÀfZ ³fWX e Ô , ¶fd»IY þû IYûBÊ ·fe °fb ¸ WX Z Ô þeU³f Af¨fSX ¯ f IYWX f þf°ff WX ` .

BÀfe d»fE Àfªþ³f ´fb ÷ Y¿f þfIZY dÀfSX ¸fûSX ¸fbIbYMX ¸fZSXû ´fd°f ÀfûBÊ SXZ| WXZ ¸ffh, ¸fZSXe ¶ff°f ²¹ff³f ÀfZ Àfb³fû, ¸f`Ô IZYU»f EIY þ¦f°f ¸fZÔ Àf¸¸ff³f³fe¹f IYWXZ þf°fZ WX`Ô. Ad·f´fif¹f WXe ³ff°fZ ¸fZÔ dUV½ffÀf IYSX°ff WXch, AüSX UWX WX` ·fdöY ¸fZÔ IbYL dÀfJf SXWXf WX`, UWX ·föY IYf ¦fb÷Y WX`.

WX ¸ ffSX Z ´fi ± f¸f ¦fb ÷ Y WX ¸ ffSX Z ¸ff°f d´f°ff WX ` Ô , þû þ³¸f ¹fWX dIY Àfªþ³f°ff ·fe EIY ´fiIYfSX IYe ·fdöY WX`, EZÀff Bá A¦fSX dU¿f IYf ´¹ff»ff ·fe ·fZþZ °fû, CXÀfZ IYf ³ff°ff. UWX ³ff°ff °fb¸f ¶fOÞXZ ´fiZ¸f ·ffU ÀfZ d³f·ff ÀfZ »fZ I YSX ¶ff»¹fIYf»f °fIY þeU³f þe³fZ IYe IY»ff þû SXf¸fþe °fIY ´fWXbh¨f³fZ ¸fZÔ ÀfWXf¹fIY WX`. ·fe BÀf dUV½ffÀf IZY Àff±f ´fe þf³ff dIY, CXÀf³fZ SXWXe WXû. dÀfJf°fZ WX`Ô. WX¸fZÔ ´ff»f ´fûÀf IYSX, A¨LZ ÀfÔÀIYfSX ¨fSX¯ff¸fÈ°f WXe ·fZþf WXû¦ff, EZÀfZ ¸fZÔ ¸fbÓfZ ´fe³fZ ¸fZÔ IYûBÊ dWX¨fdIY¨ffWXMX ¢¹fûÔ? ¹fWX WX` ·fdöY IYe ¨fSX¸f AüSX ´fcL³fZ ´fSX SXf¸fþe ³fZ Vf¶fSXe IYû ³fU²ff ·fdöY, QZIYSX, EIY A¨Lf BÔÀff³f ¶f³ff°fZ WX`Ô. EZÀfZ ¸ffh d´f°ff Àff°fUeÔ, AfNXUeÔ AüSX ³füUeÔ ·fdöY: IYe ÀfZ U f ·fe EIY ¶fWX b ° f CX Ø f¸f ´fi I YfSX IYe ·fdöY Àff°fU Àf¸f ¸fûdWX ¸f¹f þ¦f QZ J f, ¸fû°fZ ÀfÔ ° f Àfe¸ff, ·fdöY IYe ´fc¯fÊ ´fSXfIYfâf. ¹ffd³f ³fü ´fiIYfSX IYe ·fdöY IYf CX´fQZVf dQ¹ff. ¸ff³fe ¦fBÊ WX`, þû Àfe²ff WX¸fZÔ SXf¸fþe ÀfZ þûOÞX°fe Ad²fIY IYSX »fZJf AfNXU þ±ff »ff·f Àf³°fû¿ff, Àf´f³fZWXc ³fdWX ³fU ¸fWXch EIYDY dþ³f IZY WXûBÊ, ³ffSXe ´fb÷Y¿f ³fU²ff ·f¦fd°f IYWXWXch °fûdWX ´ffWXeÔ, ÀffU²ff³f Àfb³fb WX`.

QZJeÔ ´fSXQû¿ff ÜÜ Àf¨fSXf¨fSX IYûBÊ ²f÷Y ¸f³f ¸ffWXeÔ ¨fü±fe ·fdöY WX ` Ô , ¸fZ S X f ·fþ³f IYe°fÊ ³ f.

I` Y ÀfZ IYSX ³ ff ³fU¸f ÀfSX » f Àf¶f L»f WX e ³ff, ¸f¸f ·fSX û Àf dWX ¹ fh ÀfûB Ad°fÀf¹f d´fi ¹f ·ffd¸f³fe ¸fûSXZÔ, ÀfIY»f ´fiIYfSX ´fi±f¸f ·fdöY ÀfÔ°f³f IYSX ÀfÔ¦ff, QcÀfSXe SXd°f ¸f¸f WX ` ?

IY´fMX SX d WX ° f, d¶f³ff dIYÀfe dQJfUZ IZ Y . d¶f³ff WX ¿ fÊ ³f Qe³ff ÜÜ ·fdöY úPÞX °fûSXZÔ IY±ff ´fiÀfÔ¦ffÜÜ dIYÀfe L»ffUZ IZY. IZYU»f Vfbð·ffU ÀfZ dIY¹ff ¦f¹ff IYe°fʳf Àfe²fZ SXf¸fþe °fIY ´fWXbh¨f°ff WX`. IYe°fʳf Àff°fUeÔ ·fdöY IZY øY´f ¸fZÔ SXf¸fþe ³fZ Vf¶fSXe ÀfZ AÔ°f ¸fZÔ SXf¸fþe ³fZ Vf¶fSXe ÀfZ IYWXf, WXZ ¸ffh BÀf ³fü ¸fZSXe ´fWX»fe ·fdöY WX`, ÀfÔ°fûÔ IYf ÀfÔ¦f, ¹ffd³fdIY IYf ·ffU dIYÀfe IYe ÀfÔ ´ fdØf »fc M X ³ fZ IYe ³f WX û .

IYWX f , dIY ¸fZ S X f ·föY BÀf þ¦f°f ¸fZ Ô WX S X þ¦fWX ´fiIYfSX IYe ·fdöY ¸fZÔ ÀfZ A¦fSX IYûBÊ ·föY EIY Àf°ÀfÔ¦f. °fb»fÀfe ¶ff¶ff ³fZ ´fcSXe ¸ff³fÀf ¸fZÔ Àf°ÀfÔ¦f IYe°fÊ ³ f IYf ·ffU dIYÀfe IYû ´fi · ffdU°f IYSX , CX À fIYf ¸fZ S X e LdU QZ J °ff WX ` : ´fiIYfSX IYe ·fdöY IYû ·fe A´f³ff »fZ °fû UWX ¸fbÓfZ ´fSX ¶fWXb°f þûSX dQ¹ff WX`. Àf°ÀfÔ¦f ·föY IZY ¨fdSXÂf A³f` d °fIY »ff·f CX N X f ³ff ³f WX û .

IYe°fÊ ³ f IYf ·ffU WX û A°¹fÔ°f d´fi¹f WX`, »fZdIY³f ¸ffh, Af´f ¸fZÔ °fû Àf·fe IYû EIY ´ffU³f dQVff ´fiQf³f IYSX°ff WX`. Àf°ÀfÔ¦f dÀf¹f SXf¸f ¸f¹f Àf¶f þ¦f þf³fe, IYSXWXch ´fi¯ff¸f ´fiIYfSX IYe ·fdöY IYf AfdU·ffÊU WX`. BÀfe d»fE ¶fWXb°f ÀffSXZ ¸ff³fUe¹f ¦fb¯fûÔ IYf ÀfÔ¨ffSX IYSX°ff WX`. ´fi·fb IZY ´fiZ¸f ¸fZÔ ¸fÀ°fe ÀfZ OXc¶f þf³ff. EZÀfZ d³f¸fÊ»f ùQ¹fe ·föY SX f ¸fþe IYû ¶fOÞ X Z d´fi ¹ f WX ` Ô .

BÀfe d»fE þûSXe þb¦f ´ffd¯fÜÜ Af´f ¸fbÓfZ d´fi¹f WX`Ô, AüSX ¸fZSXZ d»f¹fZ AfQSX¯fe¹f WX`Ô. þ`ÀfZ QcÀfSXûÔ IYe ÀfWXf¹f°ff IYSX³ff, QcÀfSXûÔ IZY Àff±f Àfb Ô Q SX I YfÔ O X ¸fZ Ô °fb » fÀfe ¶ff¶ff IYWX ° fZ WX ` Ô : ´fiZ¸f ·ffU ÀfZ Af¨fSX¯f IYSX³ff, LûMXZ ¶fOÞXûÔ IYf ¸ff³f A¦fSX WXSX þ¦fWX ·föY ¸fZSXe LdU QZJZ¦ff, °fû EZÀfe ·fdöY IYf A¦fSX EIY ·fe AÔVf WX¸ffSXZ Àf¸¸ff³f IYSX³ff. ´fi·fb dÀf¸fSX³f ¸fZÔ »fe³f SXWX³ff. ¶fbþeU³f ¸fZÔ Af þf¹fZ, °fû WX¸ffSXf þeU³f ²f³¹f WXû SXe AfQ°fûÔ AüSX ¶fbSXZ »fû¦fûÔ ÀfZ QcSX SXWX³ff. ¹fWX Àf¶f d³f¸fÊ»f ¸f³f þ³f Àfû ¸fûWXe ´ffUf, ¸fûdWX IY´fMX L»f Àf¶fIZY Àff±f ¶fOÞXf ´fiZ¸f EUÔ ÀfòfU ´fc¯fÊ ½¹fUWXfSX dLQi ³f ·ffUfÜÜ IYSX Z ¦ ff.

A¦fSX IYûBÊ ÀfÔ ° f CX À fZ d¸f»f þfE °fû CX À fZ þfE¦ffÜÜÜ Àf°ÀfÔ¦f IZY ¦fb¯f WX`Ô, BÀfed»fE SXf¸fþe ³fZ IYWXf ÀfÔ ° f ¸fZ Ô ¸fZ S X f ÀffÃff° QVfÊ ³ f WX û þf°ff WX ` , BÀfe d»f¹fZ ¸fZSXe ´fi±f¸f ·fdöY WX`- Àf°ÀfÔ¦f, dþÀfIZY ¸ff²¹f¸f ´ffh¨fUe AüSX LNXeÔ ·fdöY: ÀfÔ°fûÔ IYû ¸fZSXf ·föY ¸fbÓfÀfZ ·fe Ad²fIY AfQSX ÀfZ ·föY ¸fbÓf °fIY ´fWXbh¨f ÀfIY°ff WX`. ¸fÔÂf þf´f ¸f¸f úPÞX d¶fÀUfÀff, ´fÔ¨f¸f ·fþ³f Àfû Àf°IYfSX QZ°ff WX`, þû ¸fbÓfZ ¶fWXb°f d´fi¹f WX`. ¶fZQ ´fiIYfÀff QcÀfSXe ·fdöY, SXd°f ¸f¸f IY±ff ´fiÀfÔ¦ff. ¹ffd³f LNX Q¸f Àfe»f d¶fSX d°f ¶fWXb IYSX¸ff, d³fSX°f d³fSXÔ°fSX AfNXUeÔ ·fdöY WX`- ÀfÔ°fû¿f. IY¶feSX ³fZ IYWXf WX`, þ¶f ¸fZSXe IY±ff IZY ´fid°f A°¹fd²fIY ´fiZ¸f. ¸fZSXe IY±ff Àfªþ³f ²fSX¸ff ÜÜ AfUZ ÀfÔ°fû¿f ²f³f, Àf¶f ²f³f ²fcSXe Àf¸ff³f. ÀfÔ°fû¿f IZY IYû ·ffU ÀfZ, ßfðf ÀfZ Àfb³f³ff. IY±ff ¸fZÔ Af¹fe Af°fZ WXe ÀfÔÀffSX IYe ¶ffIYYe Àf·fe °f±ffIYd±f°f ²f³f A¨Le A¨Le ¶ff°fûÔ IYû þeU³f ¸fZÔ ²ffSX¯f IYSX³ff. ´ffh ¨ fUe ·fdöY WX ` ¸fZ S X f ¸fÔ Â f þf´f. ¶fWX b ° f ÀffSX Z Qü»f°f d¸f˜e Àf¸ff³f WXû þf°fe WX`, ¹ffd³f A±fÊWXe³f CXØfSXIYfÔOX ¸fZÔ ´fi·fb ³fZ, d³f¿IY¿fÊ øY´f ¸fZÔ, ¹fWXfh °fIY ·föY SX f ¸fþe IYe ¸ff»ff þ´f°fZ WX ` Ô . d³fSX Ô ° fSX SX f ¸f WXû þf°fe WX`. ·föY WXSX WXf»f ¸fZÔ ´fiÀf³³f EUÔ ÀfÔ°fbá IYWX dQ¹ff: ³ff¸f ÀfZ Ad·fUfQ³f IYSX ° fZ WX ` Ô .

UZ Q ûÔ ´fb S X f ¯fûÔ IYf SXWX°ff WX`. WXSX WXfd³f »ff·f ¸fZÔ, WXSX QbJ ÀfbJ ¸fZÔ, SXf¸f ¨fSX¯f SXd°f þû ¨fWX A±fUf ´fQ d³fUfʯf A²¹f¹f³f, ¸f³f³f. UZQûÔ ¸fZÔ Ud¯fÊ°f Af¨fSX¯f IYû d³fÔQf À°fbd°f ¸fZÔ, SXf¸fþe IYe B¨Lf QZJ ÀfÔ°fbá ·ffU ÀfdWX°f Àfû ¹fWX IY±ff, IYSXCX ßfU³f ´fbMX þeU³f ¸fZ Ô ²ffSX ¯ f IYSX ° fZ WX ` Ô .

CX ³ fIZ Y ¸f³f ¸fZ Ô EIY SXWX°ff WX`. ·föY ¸fZÔ BÀfe ÀfÔ°fû¿f IZY IYfSX¯f EIY ´ff³fÜÜ úPÞ X dUV½ffÀf WX û °ff WX ` , dIY A¦fSX ¸f` Ô SX f ¸fþe IYû AüSX ¦fb¯f Af þf°ff WX`, AüSX Uû WXû°ff WXSX EIY Rajendra Kapil A¦fSX dIYÀfe IYû d³fUfʯf ¨ffdWXE ¹ff ¸fZSXZ ¨fSX¯fûÔ WX ¸ fZ V ff ¹ffQ IYSX ° ff SX W X c h ¦ ff, °fû SX f ¸fþe ¸fZ S X Z Àfb J ¸fZ Ô IYûBÊ ·fe Qû¿f ³f QZ J ³ff.

WX S X EIY ¸fZ Ô IYûBÊ ³f ¸fZÔ A³f³¹f ·fdöY ¨ffdWXE, °fû CXÀfIYf ¸ff¦fÊ WX` ¸fZSXe 847-962-1291 QbJ ¸fZÔ WX¸fZVff ¸fZSXZ Àff±f SXWXZÔ¦fZ. BÀf dUV½ffÀf IYûBÊ A¨LfBÊ PXchPX »fZ³ff. EZÀfZ ¦fb¯fûÔ ÀfZ ÀfÔ´f³³f

25 Friday, 09 February, 2024

www.indoustribune.com

26

Dharam-Karam www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

·f¦fUQ ¦fe°ff

A²¹ff¹f 10 ÀffSXfÔVf

¶fišf, BÊV½fSX, ´fcSXZ ¶fišffÔOX ¸fZÔ ½¹ff~ WX̀ AüSX BÀfIZY ´fSXZ ·fe, A´f³fe ´fif¨fe³f ¸fdWX¸ff ¸fZÔ ¸füþcQ WX̀Ü BÀf ´fiIYfSX ¶fišf IZY Qû Af¹ff¸f WX̀Ô Ü

Astrologer Krishana Vyas.

Ph.no. 9811 646746

Vfbð, A½¹föY ´fWX»fc dþÀfIYe ¸ff³fU ¶fbdð õfSXf IY»´f³ff IYe AfUV¹fIY°ff WXû°fe WXÜ` °f¶f °fb¸WXÔZ ¨ffSXûÔ AûSX Aòb°f ³fWXeÔ IYe þf ÀfIY°fe AüSX ´fiIYMX ´fWX»fc þû Qbd³f¹ff ¸fZÔ ¨f¸f°IYfSX dQJfBÊ QZ³fZ »f¦f°fZ WXÜỒ þ`Àff dIY UOXÀÐ fÊU±fÊ ³fZ AÀfÔ£¹f ¸fdWX¸ffAûÔ IZY øY´f ¸fZÔ ½¹föY WXû°ff WXÜ` IÈY¿¯f IYWXf: A½¹föY, ´ffSX»füdIYIY ´fWX»fc IYe AûSX BVffSXf IYSXIYZ VfbøY IYSX°fZ WXÜỒ ¹fWXfÔ °fIY dIY QZU°ff AüSX ¸fWXf³f FYd¿f ·fe AüSX ¸fỒ³fZ EIY EZÀfe CX´fdÀ±fd°f ¸fWXÀfcÀf IYe WX` þû ¸fbÓfZ BÀf ´fWX»fc IYû ³fWXeÔ þf³f°fZ ¢¹fûÔdIY Af°¸ff Àf¸fÓf IYe DYÔ¨fZ dU¨ffSXûÔ IZY UÀ°fb ³fWXeÔ WXÜ` ¹fWX UWXe dU¿f¹f WX` þû Af´fIYû Àf¸fÓf³fZ Af³fÔQ ÀfZ ´fSXVZ ff³f IYSX QZ°fe WX` ; ¸fZÔ ÀfÃf¸f ¶f³ff°ff WXÜ` ¹fWX Aþ³¸ff, A³ffdQ AüSX ¶fišffÔOX EIY CXQfØf ·ffU IYf Af²ffSX WXÜ` þû ¹fû¦f AüSX dU·fcd°f IYû þf³f°ff WX` UWX dIYÀfe ¨feþ IYf þû IYWXeÔ Ad²fIY ÀU¹fÔ IYf EWXÀffÀf IYSX°ff WX` - þû ¶fišf IYû Àf¸fÓf°ff WX` ¦fWXSXfBÊ ÀfZ ½¹ff~ WX,` AüSX ¹fWX UfÀ°fU ¸fZÔ Qbd³f¹ff ¸fZÔ I`YÀfZ ´fiIYMX WXû°ff WX` UWX dþÀfIYf d³fUfÀf OX¶c f°fZ ÀfcSXþ IYe SXûVf³fe WX,` Àf¶f IbYL þf³f°ff WX` dþÀfZ þf³f³fZ IYe AfUV¹fIY°ff WXÜ` AüSX ¦fû»f ¸fWXfÀff¦fSX AüSX þedU°f WXUf, UWX ´fi¶fbð ½¹fdöY WXÜ` AüSX ³fe»ff AfIYfVf, AüSX ¸f³fb¿¹f IZY dQ¸ff¦f ¸fZ:Ô EIY ¦fd°f AüSX EIY Af°¸ff, þû Aþb³Ê f ÀfÔÀffSX IYf AfQ¸fe WXÜ` CXÀfZ ¸fc°fÊ Ad·f½¹fdöY¹fûÔ Àf·fe Àfû¨f IYû ´fidZ SX°f IYSX°fe WX` ¨feþZ,Ô Àf·fe dU¨ffSXûÔ IYe IZY ¸ff²¹f¸f ÀfZ Àf¸f±fʳf IYe AfUV¹fIY°ff WXÜ` þ¶f Af´f Àf·fe UÀ°fbE,Ô ÀfÔÀffSX ÀfZ ¶fÔ²fZ WXû°fZ WXỒ °fû Af´f BÀfÀfZ AÔ²fZ WXû þf°fZ AüSX Àf·fe ¨feþûÔ ¸fZÔ §fc¸f°fe WXÜỒ BÀfd»f¹fZ ¸fỒ A¶f ·fe WXÜỒ Af´f WXSX þ¦fWX ´fi·fb IZY ¨f¸f°IYfSXûÔ IYû QZJ³fZ IYe §ffÀf IZY ¸f`Qf³fûÔ, þÔ¦f»fûÔ AÔ°fúÊdá Jû QZ°fZ WXÜỒ ÀfÔÀffSX ¸fZÔ dQ½¹f°ff ´fi¨fbSX ¸ffÂff ¸fZÔ WXÜ` AüSX ´fWXfOÞXûÔ IYf ´fi¸Z fe WX;Ôc AüSX UWX Àf¶f þû WX¸f »fZdIY³f ÀffÔÀffdSXIY ´fi»fû·f³fûÔ ÀfZ ¸fûdWX°f WXûIYSX AüÀf°f BÀf WXSXe ²fSX°fe ÀfZ QZJ°fZ WX;Ồ ´fiIYÈ d°f ¸fZÔ ´fWX¨ff³f IYSX ½¹fdöY BÀfIYe ¸fdWX¸ff¸f¹f Ad·f½¹fdöY IYû QZJ³fZ ¸fZÔ ¶fWX°b f JbVfe WXBb Ê AÀfRY»f WXû þf°ff WXÜ` ¶fišf IYe Ad·f½¹fdöY IYû QZJ³fZ IZY ¸fZSXZ Vfbð°f¸f dU¨ffSXûÔ IYe »fÔ¦fSX, ³fÀfÊ, d»fE ·fe EIY d³fd›°f U`SXf¦¹f AüSX Àfcøf°ff IYe ·ffU³ff ¸ff¦fÊQVfÊIY, ¸fZSXZ dQ»f IYe ÀfÔSXÃfIY, AüSX

¸fZSXZ Àf·fe ³f`d°fIY AdÀ°f°U IYe Af°¸ffÜ dU·fcd°f ¹fû¦f ³ff¸fIY A²¹ff¹f ¸fZÔ ¶fišf IYe Ad·f½¹fdöY¹fûÔ IYf dUUSX¯f dQ¹ff ¦f¹ff WXÜ` Aþb³Ê f ¸f³f IYû CX¨¨f°fSX ¸fZÔ dÀ±fSX SXJ³fZ IZY ¸fWX°U IYû Àf¸fÓf°ff WXÜ` UWX þf³f°ff WX` dIY UWX Àf°fWXe AfIY¿fʯfûÔ ÀfZ ·fMXIY ¦f¹ff WXÜ` UWX IÈY¿¯f ÀfZ ÀfÔÀffSX ¸fZÔ BÊV½fSX IYe ½¹ff´fIY°ff IYû QZJ³fZ ¸fZÔ ¸fQQ IYSX³fZ IZY d»fE IYWX°ff WX` °ffdIY UWX ÀfÔÀffSX ¸fZÔ SXWX°fZ WXEb AüSX BÀfIZY Àff±f ¶ff°f¨fe°f IYSX°fZ WXEb ·fe BÊV½fSX ´fSX ²¹ff³f IZYdÔ Qi°f IYSX ÀfIZYÜ IÈY¿¯f ¹fWX IYWXIYSX AfSX·Ô f IYSX°fZ WXỒ dIY UZ Àf·fe ´fifd¯f¹fûÔ IZY ¸fc»f WXÜỒ UWX Àf·fe ´fifd¯f¹fûÔ IYf AfdQ, ¸f²¹f AüSX AÔ°f WXÜ` UZ CXÀfe ¸fZÔ CX°´f³³f WXû°fZ WX,Ồ CXÀfe ¸fZÔ dUô¸ff³f WXû°fZ WXỒ AüSX CXÀfe ¸fZÔ dU»fe³f WXû þf°fZ WXÜỒ UWX Àfcøf°ff ÀfZ BÀf °f±¹f IYe AûSX BVffSXf IYSX°fZ WXỒ dIY ARYÀfûÀf, Aþb³Ê f Ad·f½¹fdöY ¸ffÔ¦f SXWXf WX,` ³f dIY BÀf Àf¶fIZY ´feLZ IYe VfdöYÜ IÈY¿¯f, ·f¦fUf³f IYf AU°ffSX CXÀfIZY Àff¸f³fZ JOÞXf WX` AüSX UWX CXÀfIZY ·ffU ´fcL°ff WXÜ` ¹fWX CX°f³ff WXe ¶fZ°fbIYf WX` dþ°f³ff dIY Af´fIZY Àff¸f³fZ JOÞXZ ½¹fdöY IYe °fÀUeSX ¸ffÔ¦f³ff! dRYSX IÈY¿¯f ¶fifšf¯f IYe IbYL Ad·f½¹fdöY¹fûÔ IYe ¦f¯f³ff IYSX°fZ WX,Ồ ´fi°¹fZIY ßfZ¯fe ¸fZÔ ÀfUÊßfZâ IYû CXþf¦fSX IYSX³fZ IYf ²¹ff³f SXJ°fZ WXÜỒ BÀfÀfZ Àf¶fÀfZ IY¸f dUIYdÀf°f »fû¦f ·fe ´fidZ SX°f WXû ÀfIY°fZ WXÜỒ EZÀfZ »fû¦fûÔ IYû þbOXÞ fU ¸fWXÀfcÀf IYSX³fZ IZY d»fE dQ½¹f°ff IYe Vff³fQfSX Ad·f½¹fdöY IYe AfUV¹fIY°ff WXû°fe WXÜ` VfdöYVff»fe dWX¸ff»f¹f ¹ff »fb·ffU³fe d³f¹ff¦fif IYe °fSXWXÜ þ`ÀfZ-þ`ÀfZ IYûBÊ Af²¹ffd°¸fIY øY´f ÀfZ dUIYdÀf°f WXû°ff WX,` CXÀf¸fZÔ RcY»f ¹ff ´fØfe þ`Àfe Àff¸ff³¹f Ad·f½¹fdöY¹fûÔ ¸fZÔ ·fe dQ½¹f°ff IYû QZJ³fZ IYe ÀfÔUQZ ³fVfe»f°ff Af þf°fe WXÜ` CX¨¨f°f¸f À°fSX ´fSX ½¹fdöY ¶fišf ¸fZÔ d³fdWX°f WXû°ff WX,` ¶fišf IZY d¨fÔ°f³f ¸fZÔ OX¶c ff WXû°ff WX,` AüSX CXÀfZ ÀU¹fÔ IYû BÊV½fSX IYe ¹ffQ dQ»ff³fZ IZY d»fE dIYÀfe Ad·f½¹fdöY IYe AfUV¹fIY°ff ³fWXeÔ WXû°fe WXÜ` IÈY¿¯f ¹fWX IYWXIYSX Àf¸ff~ IYSX°fZ WXỒ dIY CX³fIYe Aòb°f ¸fdWX¸ffAûÔ IYe ¦f¯f³ff CX³fIYe VfdöY IYf EIY LûMXf Àff AÔVf ¸ffÂf WXÜ` IZYU»f ·ffUûÔ °fIY WXe Àfed¸f°f ³f SXWXÜÔZ ¸fc»f °f°U ÀfZ ´fSXZ þfAûÜ ÀfÔ´fc¯fÊ ¶fišffÔOX ¶fišf IZY AÀfed¸f°f dUÀ°ffSX IYf EIY LûMXf Àff, ³f¦f¯¹f dWXÀÀff WXÜ` UWX ¶fišf °fb¸f WXû. ¶fišffÔOX ÀfZ DY´fSX CXNXÔZ AüSX A´f³fe CX°IÈYá ·f½¹f°ff IYû Àf¸fÓfZÜÔ

27 Friday, 09 February, 2024

www.indoustribune.com

28

Beauty & Fashion www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Tips to avoid dry skin during the winter D uring the winter months, many individuals experience the discomfort of dry skin. The combination of cold wind, low humidity, and indoor heating can strip our skin of its natural moisture, leaving it dry, tight, and flaky. However, there are often overlooked factors that may exacerbate this issue, as well as simple steps that can be taken to alleviate it.

that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramide, and glycerin, which help attract and retain moisture in the skin. Apply your moisturizer immediately after showering or washing your face to lock in hydration. Additionally, take advantage of the overnight hours. Before going to bed, apply a thick layer of moisturizing lotion or body butter to your skin. This will allow the product’s hydrating ingredients to penetrate deeply into your skin while you sleep, resulting in soft, moisturized skin in the morning.

Avoid hot showers and baths: While hot showers might feel heavenly during the chilly winter days, they contribute to dry skin. Hot water strips away the natural oils from the skin, leading to moisture loss and increased dryness. Switch to lukewarm water and limit your shower or bath time to retain the skin’s natural moisture.

Exfoliation to remove dead skin cells: Exfoliating regularly is essential for removing dead skin cells that can accumulate on the surface, leading to a dull and flaky complexion. However, it’s crucial to choose a gentle exfoliator, especially during winter when your skin is more sensitive. A physical exfoliant with fine particles or a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid can effectively slough away dead skin and reveal a smoother, more radiant complexion.

Moisturization is key: A good moisturizer is essential in combating dry skin.

Choose a hydrating product

U

gg boots and slippers are some of the coziest winter shoes out there. They cradle your feet in the comfort of suede sheepskin with a wool fleece lining. While similar-looking boots and slippers made from synthetic materials can be tossed in the washer, it’s those natural materials that give Uggs their breathable qualities and require a bit of extra care when cleaning. Here’s how to clean Ugg boots and slippers to keep them looking their best.

How Often to Clean Uggs Ugg boots worn outside should be brushed to remove loose dust and dirt after every wearing

Vitamin C and retinol for the boost: Vitamin C, known for its antioxidant properties, serves as a potent defender against free radicals while promoting collagen synthesis.

This dual action not only revitalizes the skin but also imparts a natural radiance. On the other hand, retinol, derived from Vitamin A, addresses dryness at its roots by promoting cellular turnover, unclogging pores, and stimulating collagen production. Adding a retinol product to your nighttime routine can help fight dryness while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Also, pampering your skin to masks weekly or bi-weekly, with ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, aloe vera, and honey, provides a potent moisture boost.

Time to clean those Uggs that are looking a little too worn-in to prevent soil from accumulating. The ideal frequency of a deeper clean, targeting the inside of the boots, depends on how often you wear them and whether or not you wear socks.

If you often wear your boots without socks, you’ll want to clean them more frequently,

since sweat and odors can accumulate more easily. Indoor Ugg slippers should also be cleaned often to freshen the shearling lining.

Considerations Before You Start Cleaning 4 Never toss Ugg boots or slippers in the washing machine or expose them to the high heat of the dryer. Both choices can cause the adhesives used in construction to

loosen.

4 After cleaning, be sure the Uggs are completely dry before storing them, especially in a closed container. Allow them to air-dry for at least 24 hours so all moisture will evaporate.

4 To help Uggs hold their shape, use rolled towels, white tissue paper, or boot trees in the shoes while you are cleaning.

29 Friday, 09 February, 2024

www.indoustribune.com

30

Health & Fitness www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Diabetes and itching: Yes, there’s a connection between the two People with diabetes often experience itchy skin, which can lead to complications and discomfort.

A

lso, this might be the first symptom that diabetics may experience. Understanding the relationship between diabetes and itching is crucial for effective management and relief.

Pruritus, the medical term for itching, is a common skin condition observed in diabetic patients. Itching can stem from various causes, including infections, metabolic diseases, cancers, autoimmune disorders, and genetic conditions.

Diabetes amplifies the risk of certain conditions, such as fungal infections, and exacerbates itching. Moreover, diabetes itself can lead to pruritus due to impaired skin elasticity and decreased sebaceous gland activity.

Factors contributing to itching in diabetic patients Several studies have established a connection between elevated blood glucose levels and the development and severity of pruritus in diabetic individuals. Also, medications used to manage diabetes and its comorbidities, such as hypertension, and heart, and kidney conditions, may induce itching. Dry skin, prevalent among diabetic patients, is a common cause of pruritus.

Diabetic patients experiencing pruritus require thorough evaluation to determine the underlying cause of itching. This involves a detailed medical history to identify allergens, and skin irritants, clinical examinations, and necessary investigations. Initial treatment focuses

on providing symptomatic relief from itching, while subsequent interventions target the root cause.

Achieving good sugar control is essential for alleviating itching symptoms.

Symptomatic measures include the use of topical emollients for dry skin, along with topical lotions and antihistaminic drugs to alleviate discomfort.

You should also refrain from scratching dry or itchy areas as this can create openings for infections to develop.

Keep your skin moisturized to prevent chapping, particularly during cold or windy conditions, as stated by the American Diabetes Association.

Health & Fitness

31 www.indoustribune.com

Friday, 09 February, 2024

Mistakes that are making your sinus worse Excessive use of nasal spray: While over-thecounter nasal sprays provide temporary relief from sinus infection pressure, prolonged and improper usage can have adverse effects. The main chemical in these sprays may contribute to worsening sinus infections. If your sinus infection persists beyond a week, it is crucial to consult with an ENT specialist to ensure appropriate management.

Insufficient sleep: Ample sleep is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, particularly when combating a sinus infection. Ensuring a minimum of eight hours of sleep supports your immune system in its battle against the infection. Additionally, resting during the day and conserving energy aids in a quicker recovery from sinus infections.

Inadequate hydration: Staying well-hydrated is crucial when dealing with a sinus infection.

Increased water intake supports mucus production, helping to keep the mucus thin and easier to expel. Proper hydration during a sinus infection contributes to relieving congestion and facilitating better breathing.

Sinus infections, often triggered by preceding illnesses such as the cold or flu, can be both disruptive and persistent.

W

hile these infections typically run their course in about a week, some individuals experience prolonged and intensified sinus issues, indicating chronic sinusitis. Seeking timely consultation with a sinus specialist becomes crucial in such cases. Complicating matters, common mistakes made during a sinus infection can exacerbate the condition. As the cold and flu season approaches, sinusitis becomes a prevalent concern for both adults and children, leading to sinus inflammation.

In this article, we explore the mistakes that can worsen sinus issues:

tions not only impact the skin but also lead to the drying out of nasal passages, exacerbating sinus discomfort. To address this, consider using a humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to the air. This helps prevent your sinuses from becoming excessively dry and irritated, providing relief from discomfort.

Minimize sinus irritants: Sinus discomfort isn’t solely linked to dry air; various factors like seasonal allergies, fragrances, smoke, and airborne particles can exacerbate sinus issues, particularly during an infection. While you can’t control all environmental factors, ceasing the use of perfumes or quitting smoking can lead to noticeable relief. The toxins in smoke can aggravate sinusitis, making it crucial to minimize exposure for improved sinus health.

Common mistakes that aggravate sinus infections: Not using a humidifier: Sinus infections often worsen in colder seasons when the air becomes dry. Winter’s chilly and dry condi-

Why is cholesterol important for health, how to lower bad cholesterol?

W

orried about the high cholesterol in your blood report? Don’t know how to reduce bad cholesterol? Obnoxious eating habits like eating junk food, fried food, over-eating, not eating on time and so on, can lead to disturbed balance of cholesterol levels in your body. We throw some light on what cholesterol is and how maintaining a cholesterol level is important.

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol, a waxy substance in our body which originates from two primary sources. First, the liver synthesizes the necessary cholesterol, fulfilling the body’s requirements. Secondly, additional cholesterol is derived from animal-based foods. While the liver produces essential cholesterol, dietary choices can impact overall levels.

Understanding and managing cholesterol intake is vital for maintaining a healthy balance and preventing potential health risks.

Importance Of Cholesterol In Our Body Cholesterol is always heard in a negative form. We have always been hearing, this

supporting efficient metabolism. Additionally, cholesterol is essential for the production of vitamin D, highlighting its indispensable role in maintaining overall health and functionality Risk factors of high cholesterol Several factors contribute to high cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular issues. Unhealthy food choices, insufficient physical activity, smoking, or exposure to tobacco smoke are primary culprits. Being overweight or obese increases this risk, as does a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol.

Recognizing and addressing these factors through lifestyle changes and, if necessary, medical interventions is essential for maintaining optimal cholesterol levels and overall heart health.

person has a cholesterol problem, that person is fat because of cholesterol, but nobody ever said that cholesterol is important for our body. However, cholesterol

is crucial for the body, serving vital roles such as constructing cell membranes, synthesizing hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and adrenal hormones, and

For managing high cholesterol, focus on consuming beneficial foods like oily fish, brown rice, whole grain bread, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Limit intake of meat pies, sausages, fatty meats, butter, lard, ghee, cream, hard cheese, cakes, biscuits, and foods containing coconut or palm oil.

32 Friday, 09 February, 2024

www.indoustribune.com