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HM Shah shoots down Saugata Roy’s advice on handling Naxalism Bengal-style

New Delhi, Aug 6, 2024
Question Hour in the Lok Sabha saw a spirited exchange between Trinamool MP Saugata Roy and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday over controlling Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

Bringing up the issue of extremism in the country, Saugata Roy said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday that every week, there is news about clashes and encounters between security forces and Maoists.

Speaking during Question Hour Saugata Roy added, “There was Left Wing Extremism in West Bengal, but the Mamata Banerjee government controlled it there, worked on development and gave jobs to tribals.”

Saugata questioned, “Will the Union Home Minister, and state ministers follow the model of West Bengal and adopt it in Chhattisgarh and other states as well? Because, they are not able to control Left Wing Extremism.”

The MP’s comments came in the wake of recent attacks by Naxals in Chhattisgarh.

In mid-July, as many as two security personnel lost their lives, and four others were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by Naxals in Bijapur District in Chhattisgarh.

Similarly in June, two CRPF personnel were killed in an IED blast by Naxalites in Sukma District in Chhattisgarh. The IED blast took place near Timmapuram village between Silger and Tekalgudem camps in Sukma District of security forces, over 400 km from Raipur.

Replying to the Trinamool MP, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “If any state does well, then Prime Minister Modi’s government has no problem in implementing its example in the whole country. But I believe that no state would want the model of West Bengal to be adopted there.”

This is not the first time Saugata Roy has criticised the Union government on its policies.

Earlier on Thursday, speaking in the Lok Sabha, the senior Trinamool MP accused the Centre of transforming the education system of the country into a money-laundering enterprise.

Saugata Roy also condemned the administration for failing to address the RSS’ growing interference in the education sector.

During a debate on the Union education ministry’s grant demands in the Lok Sabha, the MP for Dum Dum pointed out the absence of world-class institutions in India and questioned why the country lacks a single educational center that is on par with Harvard, Cambridge, or Yale.(Agency)

Public awareness, govt action needed to curb unhealthy foods, halt rising NCDs: Experts

New Delhi, Aug 6, 2024
Public awareness coupled with government action is needed to curb unhealthy food practices which will then help fight the rising non-communicable diseases like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, according to experts on Tuesday.

India has been witnessing a significant rise in obesity, diabetes, and hypertension which have been driving various health problems majorly heart diseases, stroke, and cancers.

A recent study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, showed that westernisation of diet characterised by increased consumption of processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats has contributed to the global rise in gut microbial vulnerability, chronic inflammation, and chronic diseases, affecting mainly the cardiovascular system, systemic metabolism, and the gut.

“Changing dietary patterns and eating more industrial food products is responsible for increasing obesity and diabetes and 56 per cent deaths in India,” Arun Gupta, a paediatrician, and NAPi convener, told IANS

He blamed it on the “seductive and misleading advertising” and called for “necessary stringent regulation to control the food industry which comes at the expense of a sicker population”.

Meanwhile, the study by researchers from the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria discussed the links between diet and disease in the context of obesity and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, gut and liver diseases, and solid malignancies.

They also argued that “healthcare professionals and societies must react today to the detrimental effects of the Western diet to bring about sustainable change and improved outcomes in the future”.

Rajeev Jayadevan, a Kochi-based gastroenterologist, told IANS that the term “Western diet” may be misleading and stigmatising, instead, he urged “it needs to be replaced by more precise, neutral terms such as ‘convenience diet’, ‘industrialised diet’ or ‘urban diet’.”

“Thus, it is not a question of the Western diet, but rather dietary indiscretion. It is driven by peer influence, advertising, availability, affordability, and convenience,” he said.

“Essentially, it refers to an increased amount of ultra-processed foods, high-calorie beverages, and fatty snacks that are high in sugar and salt being consumed instead of a balanced diet consisting of healthy fruit and vegetable servings, whole grains, eggs, legumes, fish, and lean meat,” he explained.

The doctor stated that excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods, unhealthy fats, and high salt and sugar in the setting of a sedentary lifestyle is a well-known recipe for chronic illnesses.

He called for educating children “about healthy eating patterns, informing of the outcomes of poor dietary choices”.

“While the additional effects of alcohol and tobacco are already known, what needs to be studied more are the effects of pesticides, plastics, reheated oil, various pollutants, food colouring agents, and preservatives,” Jayadevan said.

Gupta also suggested that the government “bring a Bill for ‘warning on the front of the pack’ and ‘restriction of marketing and advertising’ exposure of people and move to halt rising obesity and diabetes”.(Agency)

Manish Tewari raises B’desh issue in LS, questions Centre on South Asia stability

New Delhi, Aug 6, 2024
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Tuesday raised concerns about the political instability in Bangladesh and questioned the Centre on the steps taken to maintain stability in South Asia.

During a discussion on matters of urgent public importance in the Lok Sabha, Tewari highlighted India’s “special relationship” with Bangladesh.

He said, “…India has a special relationship with Bangladesh. In 1971, India played a significant role in the formation of Bangladesh, changing the geographical map of South Asia. The current situation in Bangladesh is a matter of concern.”

He highlighted the political developments in Bangladesh, stating, “In January 2024, under the leadership of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League formed the government for the fourth time. After almost six months, protests led to a situation where Sheikh Hasina had to resign and flee the country.”

Tewari also pointed out similar instances of political instability in other South Asian countries, including Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Pakistan, where military control is increasing over civil governments. “China’s influence in the western Indian Ocean has also significantly increased. Since India is the most important nation in South Asia, instability in the region will directly affect India.”

The Congress MP also questioned the Centre government about the steps it has undertaken to “maintain political stability” in South Asia.

The Bangladesh issue remained a key point of concern in the House.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar chaired an all-party meeting on the situation in violence-struck Bangladesh, during which he said that India was keeping a close watch on the developments in the neighbouring country. He informed all the political parties about the safety of Indian nationals residing there and the steps taken by the Union government.

On Monday, Sheikh Hasina landed at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad hours after resigning as the country’s Prime Minister and leaving Dhaka en route to Delhi.

She arrived in India on a military transport plane of the Bangladesh Air Force as thousands of protesters stormed and vandalized ‘Ganabhaban,’ the official residence of the Prime Minister in Dhaka.

Reports indicate that over 100 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured in clashes between police and protesters on Sunday.

The student-led non-cooperation movement has put immense pressure on Hasina’s government over the past few weeks.

Students were protesting against a 30 per cent reservation in government jobs for relatives of freedom fighters who wrested independence for Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971.(Agency)

Bear McCreary composes for ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2 again

Los Angeles, Aug 6, 2024
Emmy Award-winner Bear McCreary has composed tracks for “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” season 2, which also includes two new tracks featuring renowned singers Rufus Wainwright and Jens Kidman.

The soundtrack will be released worldwide on August 23. For the first season of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”, composer Bear McCreary brought in a blend of orchestra, percussion and folk instruments from across Europe and North Africa, combined with solo vocalists and choirs singing.

McCreary for the second season, has worked on new themes and colours, including Bulgarian women’s choir and gadulka for Rhûn, children’s choir for the pastoral city of Eregion, Hardanger fiddle for new character Estrid, and deathly whispers for the terrifying Barrow-wights, read a statement.

Grammy-nominated artist Rufus Wainwright brings his rendition of “Old Tom Bombadil”. “The Last Ballad of Damrod,” a song about a vicious Hill-troll by Jens Kidman.

McCreary is happy to bring the writer J.R.R Tolkien’s book to life once again.

“I am honoured to continue forward on this journey, bringing the events of Tolkien’s Second Age to life on the screen,” McCreary said.

The series also features names such as Sophia Nomvete, Benjamin Walker, Rory Kinnear, and Daniel Weyman, who too have lent their vocals to several songs on the soundtrack.

“This new soundtrack is a stunning companion to the series’ continued exploration of the Second Age” said Bob Bowen, head of music for Amazon MGM Studios.

Bowen added: “With the debut of Season Two on the horizon, we’re excited to give fans a further glimpse into the epic series.”

Season Two of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” will debut on Prime Video on August 29.

The second season of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is produced by showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.(Agency)

Great feeling: Prez Murmu lauds Indian diaspora in Fiji

Suva, Aug 6, 2024
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the Indian diaspora in Suva on Tuesday while on a three-nation visit, starting in Fiji, and said that it is a “great feeling” to meet Indians in foreign countries.

Starting her address with Ram Ram, Ni Sa Bula (a Fijian greeting that means good evening), she said, “I am very overwhelmed by meeting Indians in Fiji. In the last 24 hours, I have been overwhelmed with the heartwarming welcome of the people of Fiji. However, it is my first visit to Fiji, but with your love and support, I feel like I am in my home.”

She also thanked Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere for inviting her and conferring ‘Companion of the Order of Fiji’, the highest civilian award in the country.

President Murmu stressed that it is a “great feeling” to meet Indians in foreign countries and said, “Indian nationals have left their impact wherever they have gone… I am also happy to know that many organisations like Shri Sanatan Dharma Sabha, Aarya Pratinidhi Sabha, and Fiji Muslim League are helping Fiji in shaping this country very well.”

“The Indian diaspora in Fiji has significantly contributed to the development of the country and the Pacific region,” the President said, adding that both nations share “historic relations” and must work together to “voice the concerns of the Global South”.

She also expressed her gratefulness and thanked the Fiji government for making Hindi an official language in the country.

Talking about the forthcoming celebrations of the 78th Independence Day of India, the President said, “India is doing well in every aspect. India is the fastest-growing economy in the whole world. And, we will soon become the third-largest economy.”

She stressed India’s contribution to exporting vaccines, and highlighted, “During Covid-19, India exported vaccines to more than 100 countries, including Fiji.”

President Murmu highlighted the role of the G20 Summit in strengthening Indian diplomacy and said that it helped India establish good relations with other countries, including the European and the African Union.

She also visited the National War Memorial in Suva and paid her tributes to the brave souls who sacrificed their lives for their nation and humanity.

Later, she paid floral tributes to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School in Suva and interacted with the students.

Upon her arrival on Monday, President Murmu was accorded a ceremonial welcome by Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister, Viliame Gavoka, the Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, P.S. Karthikeyan, and other government officials at the airport.

This is the first-ever visit by an Indian President to Fiji. She will be in Fiji from August 5-7 at the invitation of President Katonivere.

After Fiji, the President is set to depart for New Zealand and then to Timor-Leste. Her six-day three-nation visit aims to take India’s Act East Policy forward.(Agency)

Paris Olympics: Ashwini criticises Padukone’s ‘player responsibility’ remark after Lakshya’s loss

New Delhi, Aug 6, 2024
Indian shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa criticised badminton legend Prakash Padukone over his remarks regarding “player responsibility” after Lakshya Sen missed out on a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Ponnappa in her Instagram story, expressed her disappointment at what she perceived as an unfair allocation of blame towards players. She questioned why only players were being held accountable for failures, while coaches, who play a critical role in preparation and strategy, were not similarly scrutinised.

“Disappointing to see this,” Ponnappa wrote in her Instagram story. “If a player wins, everyone jumps on the bandwagon to take credit, and if they lose, it’s just the player’s fault?! Why aren’t coaches held responsible for lack of preparation and getting the player ready? They are the first ones to take credit for wins; why not take responsibility for their players’ losses as well?”

She also argued that both victories and defeats should be seen as the result of a collective team effort, including players, coaches, and support staff.

“At the end of the day, winning takes a team effort and losing is also the team’s responsibility. You can’t suddenly push the player under the bus and blame it all on the player,” she added.

Padukone’s comments followed Sen’s defeat in the bronze medal match against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, which marked a painful end to India’s badminton medal hopes at the Olympics.

Addressing the press, Padukone stated, “After Milkha Singh in 1964 and PT Usha in the 80s, we have seen so many fourth-place finishes. I think it’s high time that players also take responsibility… Ultimately, the responsibility is on the players to deliver when it matters the most,” he emphasised that the federations and government had done their part, suggesting that the onus was on the athletes to perform.

The 2024 Paris Olympics proved challenging for India’s badminton contingent. Despite high hopes and strong performances leading up to the event, the team fell short of securing a medal.

This year, PV Sindhu, who was playing in her third Olympics, exited in the Round of 16 after a loss to China’s He Bingjiao, who she defeated in the Tokyo Games for the bronze, her second Olympic medal after silver in Rio 2016.

HS Prannoy, meanwhile, was eliminated by compatriot Lakshya Sen in the pre-quarters. Lakshya’s journey, however, was historic, as he became the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals at the Olympics.

The men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who were among the favourites for a medal, also faced disappointment, bowing out in the quarter-finals against Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh.’

In women’s doubles, Ponnappa and her partner Tanisha Crasto struggled, failing to progress beyond the group stage.(Agency)

Majority Indian online shoppers worried about data security, exposure of personal info: Report

Mumbai, Aug 6, 2024
A significant number of Indian consumers shopping online are worried about the possibility of data breaches, according to a report on Tuesday.

In the report by EY Future Consumer Index (FCI), based on responses from 1,000 Indian participants within a worldwide poll, 77 per cent of Indian consumers express profound concern about the possibility of data breaches when shopping online. About 73 per cent said they worry about their private information being disclosed.

A whopping 62 per cent of Indian consumers reported making online purchases influenced by AI recommendations as compared to just 30 per cent globally.

The report also revealed that 78 per cent of consumers prefer to shop on online platforms that provide human customer service support.

As much as 61 per cent were more inclined to share personal information with a human rather than through automated processes.

“To connect with today’s consumers, retailers must understand their evolving needs. As consumers become more discerning in their choices and empowered to demand fair value for their money, retailers need to step up to be able to satisfy these demands.

“While Indian consumers are putting a lot of faith in Artificial Intelligence and other technologies, the human touch through authentic, trustworthy connections and engagement is becoming more important than ever before,” said Angshuman Bhattacharya, Partner and National Leader – Consumer Product and Retail Sector, EY Parthenon.

“Data is king for consumer products companies and brands, but it is imperative for retailers to maintain transparency in their data usage practices and to simplify the opt-out process for consumers who prefer to keep their data private,” he added.

Further, the report showed that 60 per cent of Indian consumers find products recommended by influencers extremely trustworthy as compared to 27 per cent globally.

A whopping 84 per cent of Indian consumers have bought products solely based on an influencer’s recommendation or promotion.

Tangible benefits such as discounts and exclusive deals are driving the popularity of online shopping in India.

About 75 per cent of consumers acknowledged that they prefer to shop online and only visit stores that provide an exceptional experience, in contrast, only 41 per cent of global consumers feel the same.

In the last six months in India, 51 per cent of the consumers have downloaded a retail app compared to 31 per cent globally.

However, damaged goods (21 per cent), inadequate customer support (20 per cent), and obstacles in processing refunds (19 per cent) are also some concerns, revealed the report.(Agency)

SC reserves verdict on Manish Sisodia’s bail pleas

New Delhi, Aug 6, 2024
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on bail pleas filed by senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case.

A Bench presided over by Justice BR Gavai reserved its decision after hearing the oral arguments raised by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the central agencies and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared on Sisodia’s behalf.

On Monday, the CBI and the ED told the apex court that a Rs 100 crore bribe was demanded by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the Goa elections, out of which Rs 45 crore has been traced in the course of the investigation.

ASG Raju submitted, “A Rs 100 crore bribe was demanded to be used for Goa elections. Out of which we have been able to trace 45 crore. We have digital evidence. There is a lot of evidence.”

He said that Sisodia was in charge of the excise department of the Delhi government and co-accused Vijay Nair was tasked to receive the kickbacks.

“They wanted to make money out of this exercise. There is evidence to show that this particular gentleman (Sisodia) engineered emails and told certain interns to write a particular type of email,” ASG Raju said.

On the other hand, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi contended that the AAP leader has been in custody for 17 months and should be granted bail on the grounds of delay in the conclusion of the trial.

Singhvi also prayed that Sisodia be released on interim bail. He said his wife has “a very very bad medical condition” and is “virtually like a vegetable.”

In its judgment delivered on October 30 last year, the SC had denied bail to the former Deputy CM but said that if the trial proceeds slowly in the next three months, he may apply for bail afresh.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court had on April 30 refused to grant bail to Sisodia who was seeking regular bail a second time. Denying bail, the trial court order noted that delays in the case proceedings were largely due to actions attributable to Sisodia himself, dismissing his claims of undue delay.

Subsequently, the Delhi High Court denied bail to Sisodia, saying that he failed to pass the triple test for grant of bail in the corruption case and the twin conditions required under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Challenging this, the former Deputy CM filed special leave petitions before the Supreme Court. Last month, the apex court had disposed of the pleas seeking bail in corruption and money laundering cases after Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta gave an undertaking that the final charge sheet/complaint in the liquor policy case would be filed by July 3.

Meanwhile, a court here extended the judicial custody of Sisodia, till August 9 in the CBI case and till August 13 in the money laundering case. He was produced through video conferencing from Tihar Jail upon expiry of the previously granted judicial custody.(Agency)

Paris Olympics: Vinesh Phogat pulls off major upset to reach 50kg quarterfinals

Paris, Aug 6, 2024
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat advanced to the quarterfinal of the women’s freestyle 50kg after registering a 3-2 upset win over four-time world champion Japan’s Yui Susaki in the pre-quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics, here on Tuesday.

Phogat was trailing 0-1 after the first period but turned the tide in her favour in the final 30 seconds with a 2 pointer. The Indian was defensive in most of the match but she applied herself fully in the latter stage to clinch a victory at the Champ-de-Mars Arena.

Vinesh will now play in the quarterfinal against Ukaraine’s Oksana Livach later in the day.

Susaki is the reigning world champion and Tokyo Olympics gold medallist. She is the undisputed queen in the women’s 50 kg freestyle and won the gold medal in Tokyo without dropping a single point.

Notably, since 2010 Susaki had lost only five bouts.

Vinesh, on the other hand, is participating in her third Olympics. She narrowly missed a bronze medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics because of an injury. In the Tokyo Olympics, she lost to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya in the 53kg quarterfinal. Her stay in the tournament came to an end after Kaladzinskaya lost in the semi-final, ending repechage hopes for the Indian.

In the past, Vinesh has participated in 48 kg and 53 kg weight categories. This time in Paris, she is taking part in 50 kg for the first time.(Agency)

Rakul Preet Singh reveals her ‘comforter’ struggles in hotels

Mumbai, Aug 6, 2024
Actress Rakul Preet Singh has hilariously shared her “relatable” struggles with “comforters” in a hotel room.

Rakul took to Instagram, where she shared a meme, where a woman is seen struggling to pull out the duvet from the bed in a hotel room.

The funny meme had: “When you are ready to go to sleep at a hotel but first you need to pull out the comforter that is attached to Earth’s core,” written on it.

Rakul captioned it: “Anyone relate to this (laugh emoji) I do.”

On August 4, Rakul, who is married to filmmaker Jackky Bhagnani, celebrated a major fitness milestone on the photo-sharing app. The actress had completed over 21000 footsteps.

She posted a photograph of her smartwatch, which showed that the “De De Pyaar De” actress completed 21,573 footsteps and covered a distance of 15.37 km.

The newly-married actress captioned the image: “Days like these” with dancing girl emojis.

Rakul and Jackky got married in February this year in Goa. They had an intimate wedding celebration among their close friends and family members.

On the professional front, Rakul made her acting debut in 2009 with the Kannada film “Gilli”. Over a journey spanning 15 years, the actress showcased her prowess in several language films including Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.

She worked in movies such as “Rough”, “Keratam”, “Venkatadri Express”, “Yennamo Yedho”, “Current Theega”, “Bruce Lee”, “Thadaiyara Thaakka”, “Puthagam”, “Yaariyan”, “Aiyaary”, “De De Pyaar De”, “Doctor G”, “Thank God”, “Cuttputlli” and “Chhatriwali”.

Rakul, whose last big screen outing was in S. Shankar’s Tamil vigilante action film “Indian 2”, will next be seen in “Meri Patni Ka Remake”, “Indian 3” and “De De Pyaar De 2”.(Agency)

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