tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88316681741757942742024-03-18T15:15:31.803+09:00Manash (Subhaditya Edusoft)Manash Kundu
Science Blog
And also Blog on Different subjects like : History,Geography, 3D Animations,Cartoons,art etc.MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.comBlogger748125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-5566419681014758012024-03-16T00:27:00.001+09:002024-03-16T00:53:51.659+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS NEWS OF THIS WEEK : SCIENCE, POLITICAL,SPORTS ,MOVIES AND BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoCEj6p6lSPFju-9ChQlI11PTLV5KHmtDSUnL2Ihyphenhypheny9BFwRQ2mA6ghLyAYqbT-E6ryRFob1EG4w-aexwJUuTjwa5_VUjyWft5XPpVLEP0rC7zVVY_w8UKSDYR0WIN8WaX3gpWeXN1tJDFF9JruUoechU6OsuRqHAQ8nwvDHXXaXK0cOx9097yWU-XnQA/s960/NEWSWEEK16324GIF.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoCEj6p6lSPFju-9ChQlI11PTLV5KHmtDSUnL2Ihyphenhypheny9BFwRQ2mA6ghLyAYqbT-E6ryRFob1EG4w-aexwJUuTjwa5_VUjyWft5XPpVLEP0rC7zVVY_w8UKSDYR0WIN8WaX3gpWeXN1tJDFF9JruUoechU6OsuRqHAQ8nwvDHXXaXK0cOx9097yWU-XnQA/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK16324GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lEpO3I6Ozd1C1_sXwG-__hyphenhyphenzCq9DjSlqe_dng5_HeEF8rZHYliNqgXY4DtsUBK1Hg2OWPnt7Oo06QvG-nAzL7ZdgRxetTg7Dqvw_APrTYrw3j-5Esp8fIF5UHNeBZYg5zTzlKb0jKXK1byGrpkZBDtXDYe6AOh_vU_TNVqeATko4MXSVdRtUFYd2dZQ/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lEpO3I6Ozd1C1_sXwG-__hyphenhyphenzCq9DjSlqe_dng5_HeEF8rZHYliNqgXY4DtsUBK1Hg2OWPnt7Oo06QvG-nAzL7ZdgRxetTg7Dqvw_APrTYrw3j-5Esp8fIF5UHNeBZYg5zTzlKb0jKXK1byGrpkZBDtXDYe6AOh_vU_TNVqeATko4MXSVdRtUFYd2dZQ/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Scientists
discover 100 potential new deep-sea species, including mystery creature By
Katie Hunt, CNN<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eCcgLueCTdaORH6m1aB5E6vif0LwE1NZJ_5ni753Za0lGJyYK3EZMxaeaeQDtjHg77ufHau-tqsVPFEVJvy4_nm2JF3diTqUPJEQuAVpP6hzcqUdwgoIngblRA6VI4R-w4PQPCVC6-m1SI5-ST48mYWY4u1VcJ0NFUeeBp7ZwWjVLILyu1KzZ2p9CU8/s702/NEWSPECIES7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="702" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eCcgLueCTdaORH6m1aB5E6vif0LwE1NZJ_5ni753Za0lGJyYK3EZMxaeaeQDtjHg77ufHau-tqsVPFEVJvy4_nm2JF3diTqUPJEQuAVpP6hzcqUdwgoIngblRA6VI4R-w4PQPCVC6-m1SI5-ST48mYWY4u1VcJ0NFUeeBp7ZwWjVLILyu1KzZ2p9CU8/w640-h434/NEWSPECIES7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Marine researchers on a
mission to record life hidden in the world’s oceans have reported they found
about 100 potential new species — including one mystery starlike creature.</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz2uvGtiKwvoL-Amo6UaXOxeSIWcHK9LBC37EmTLKpfABpBLYUeBZMoqta9izS5AvxLDPTzFcJks-suIhUGnHLGNNGTElDRNsRug6TsjzE27bqUyeP33h00-46AcqIv0SroqCvcNalP7UrNE6euYjlBNH41XpDDHo1U__pbF0eZuKBJpYcLy2_B7nOvs/s965/NEWSPECIES1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="965" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz2uvGtiKwvoL-Amo6UaXOxeSIWcHK9LBC37EmTLKpfABpBLYUeBZMoqta9izS5AvxLDPTzFcJks-suIhUGnHLGNNGTElDRNsRug6TsjzE27bqUyeP33h00-46AcqIv0SroqCvcNalP7UrNE6euYjlBNH41XpDDHo1U__pbF0eZuKBJpYcLy2_B7nOvs/w640-h372/NEWSPECIES1.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The expedition team
focused its investigation on the 500-mile (800-kilometer) long Bounty Trough, a
little-explored part of the ocean off the coast of New Zealand, east of South
Island. The scientists’ three-week voyage aboard the research vessel Tangaroa,
which belongs to the country’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research, occurred in February.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmjwf3Pgk8KKdq7bSBPm3h1LT0auq5_r2n3qqk1JhohrhASbeNpwzE-8XVeBBWtXk1yF50DMCwijXz7mTDUZA2wR-Wo1iemqQVCfOw13hOEQIQmPWsd0dMe8VFA4d8aEl52iynT7Yn3y64xLVSrlY_UzYQlVW0D-Pc4IWYo7uPUvPTBMm-6dpCtwweYY/s985/NEWSPECIES2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="985" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmjwf3Pgk8KKdq7bSBPm3h1LT0auq5_r2n3qqk1JhohrhASbeNpwzE-8XVeBBWtXk1yF50DMCwijXz7mTDUZA2wR-Wo1iemqQVCfOw13hOEQIQmPWsd0dMe8VFA4d8aEl52iynT7Yn3y64xLVSrlY_UzYQlVW0D-Pc4IWYo7uPUvPTBMm-6dpCtwweYY/w640-h372/NEWSPECIES2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team collected
almost 1,800 samples from depths as far down as 3 miles (4,800 meters), finding
species of fish, squid, mollusk and coral that they believe are new to science.
“You’ve got this big area off the east coast of New Zealand where there’s just
an absolutely paucity of data points. We don’t know anything about it,” said
Dr. Daniel Moore, expedition science manager of Ocean Census, a new alliance
launched in April 2023 that aims to identify 100,000 unknown species in the
next 10 years. “It was true exploration, very exciting.”For the next three
weeks, a team of scientists will sort and describe the deep-sea finds to
confirm whether they are newfound species.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxBgj1pEZNBB4Z34wOSjzDCslldDaBpe5XSkV_whRRiopX4Di-QhVyzJZhmBTxwy7HGsWG0Od0Ctav6MFIWqxvqXYfBN8aYzM9XHEUn6tbnuicPoedDIkc2g-HcWh4RSHLT61XxrcaSg-6jcW2QlzRB7Tt3NQ9TFYVJvj6sCVghh-VoZ4OObSuc_eTAM/s974/NEWSPECIES3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="974" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxBgj1pEZNBB4Z34wOSjzDCslldDaBpe5XSkV_whRRiopX4Di-QhVyzJZhmBTxwy7HGsWG0Od0Ctav6MFIWqxvqXYfBN8aYzM9XHEUn6tbnuicPoedDIkc2g-HcWh4RSHLT61XxrcaSg-6jcW2QlzRB7Tt3NQ9TFYVJvj6sCVghh-VoZ4OObSuc_eTAM/w640-h384/NEWSPECIES3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team’s scientists
have been puzzled by one find, which they initially thought was a type of sea
star or sea anemone.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM23cYAc3uOHnh16E4JXKK9tkWOM64LgugGp4rFi7IKUK09ODt_WrmRAG4d_9iClflGc_4mnMA8owckK5pXUTZj0EqycHXOHOoSk4ZxjDJanrANOUuj11ANcoNbNiAurTXkcFKDmtt7oZwNu946woiTYpaei1P4HT8MCJXFqiy9CCCLZhsm-yvfQbs40/s991/NEWSPECIES4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="991" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM23cYAc3uOHnh16E4JXKK9tkWOM64LgugGp4rFi7IKUK09ODt_WrmRAG4d_9iClflGc_4mnMA8owckK5pXUTZj0EqycHXOHOoSk4ZxjDJanrANOUuj11ANcoNbNiAurTXkcFKDmtt7oZwNu946woiTYpaei1P4HT8MCJXFqiy9CCCLZhsm-yvfQbs40/w640-h378/NEWSPECIES4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It is still a mystery.
We can’t even describe it to family. We don’t know where it is in the tree (of
life) as of yet, so that’ll be interesting,” Moore said.Dr. Michela Mitchell, a
taxonomist at the Queensland Museum Network, said in a statement released by
Ocean Census it could be a type of deep-sea coral called octocoral.“Even more
excitingly, it could be a whole new group outside of the octocoral. If it is,
that is a significant find for the deep sea and gives us a much clearer picture
of the planet’s unique biodiversity,” she said in the statement.Moore said he
was surprised that the team found a new species of fish known as an eelpout
that was “instantly recognized as being different to the others.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykRGFFtnJjD56aaCPPLn7I9wm9vak32AU3ofZ88PT7xsPSnqcTNLpyUZ_PgGOIF48ZrmohjMwUkF5dmOrlKTfAbEXttApOhqpJ-XTRf8FvU66djORUodL_ClxmuiaL-Azh-KvPxSVq8tMSUUvUKuj8pgWGDygGTrtrZcncOsNf7aETZwh5Jdgg4ZNh5E/s987/NEWSPECIES5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="987" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykRGFFtnJjD56aaCPPLn7I9wm9vak32AU3ofZ88PT7xsPSnqcTNLpyUZ_PgGOIF48ZrmohjMwUkF5dmOrlKTfAbEXttApOhqpJ-XTRf8FvU66djORUodL_ClxmuiaL-Azh-KvPxSVq8tMSUUvUKuj8pgWGDygGTrtrZcncOsNf7aETZwh5Jdgg4ZNh5E/w640-h384/NEWSPECIES5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Finding new vertebrates
is rare. There’s hundreds of thousands of invertebrates in the sea that we
still don’t know. Vertebrates, we like to think that we know what’s out there,
but the reality is, we just don’t,” he said.To collect the samples, the vessel
towed three different types of sleds depending on the terrain. These included a
traditional beam trawl that towed a net to collect samples, a heavy-duty
seamount sled for rocky surfaces and another device that sampled the water just
above the seafloor, as well as a towed underwater camera.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBzXbrnCc_RZC8qH2YCzDCJoH_q1o8bjSZHJXDkgPcPeM4ydZxKtCfEN5yH3u9NUM_7wn7MbL-q9C6EP7U6_QxNnT8lhdnnDn6urR3WWWWaXc0eZJurh8Kw28GGGUTK41VpF093kXpvR2eybUIXUpvgAcgfMXfrXZypK_XABULbEwrZlOrhLr9tT2XBA/s684/NEWSPECIES6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="684" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBzXbrnCc_RZC8qH2YCzDCJoH_q1o8bjSZHJXDkgPcPeM4ydZxKtCfEN5yH3u9NUM_7wn7MbL-q9C6EP7U6_QxNnT8lhdnnDn6urR3WWWWaXc0eZJurh8Kw28GGGUTK41VpF093kXpvR2eybUIXUpvgAcgfMXfrXZypK_XABULbEwrZlOrhLr9tT2XBA/w640-h510/NEWSPECIES6.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Huge gaps remain in
scientific knowledge of the ocean depths. Of the 2.2 million species believed
to exist in Earth’s oceans, only 240,000 have been described by scientists,
according to Ocean Census.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Migration of
hominins out of Africa may have been driven by the first major glaciation of
the Pleistocene by Bob Yirka , Phys.org<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm6al04KDUP4DENOpvkdiwrHSVc1iSrjPd39ovO09TvPlGDU-W0Z3DQEkMw_GPfY2GiGdKz3UG2P2GIR_aQ2RPHmzOX6aGZzNjiGkHHCMvXZTjAlx7VCLlX_aSUtmuVeVv14wevxEFtiIY_PGariXU3kquWPWxiBoZMkOtaj9gW3cuoLLWIrwSQca2K4/s682/HOMIMIGRATION1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="682" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm6al04KDUP4DENOpvkdiwrHSVc1iSrjPd39ovO09TvPlGDU-W0Z3DQEkMw_GPfY2GiGdKz3UG2P2GIR_aQ2RPHmzOX6aGZzNjiGkHHCMvXZTjAlx7VCLlX_aSUtmuVeVv14wevxEFtiIY_PGariXU3kquWPWxiBoZMkOtaj9gW3cuoLLWIrwSQca2K4/w640-h542/HOMIMIGRATION1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A pair of planetary
scientists, one with the University of Milan, the other with Columbia
University, has found evidence that the exodus of hominins out of Africa
approximately 1 million years ago may have been driven by the first major
glaciation of the Pleistocene.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In their study, reported
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Giovanni Muttonia and
Dennis Kent more accurately dated the onset of the first major Pleistocene ice
age and compared it with genetic evidence of a hominin population bottleneck described
in prior research efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNCZL26Bad2r-Il6ioofskz5G8m1vXPUpX6QHNYKIclRq93JrehEClY-Hs0MZw-7azxy4kzfSjh05oVRkzCqHTLrZIWYg2yE742ii6ZlDUfhoMfUAurO2LFJOYKz1YWvp-RQDZn-K2Qkl0nXU_9gQh-wLAM9VHFWuPD2ZwjirB_V64VAjKA3vHwPcBA0/s739/HOMIMIGRATION2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="739" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNCZL26Bad2r-Il6ioofskz5G8m1vXPUpX6QHNYKIclRq93JrehEClY-Hs0MZw-7azxy4kzfSjh05oVRkzCqHTLrZIWYg2yE742ii6ZlDUfhoMfUAurO2LFJOYKz1YWvp-RQDZn-K2Qkl0nXU_9gQh-wLAM9VHFWuPD2ZwjirB_V64VAjKA3vHwPcBA0/w640-h458/HOMIMIGRATION2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prior research has shown
that a major migration of hominins out of Africa occurred sometime between 1.1
and 0.9 million years ago. Research has also suggested that there was a hominin
population bottleneck (drop in numbers) roughly around the same time that
triggered the migration. In this new study, the researchers sought to better
explain the timing and reason for the migration.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team began by
studying shifts in oxygen isotopes (found in rock sediment layers), which
allowed them to see that the first major Pleistocene began approximately
900,000 years ago. They turned their attention to the results of prior studies
that showed a population bottleneck approximately 200,000 years earlier. In
that work, the team found that the results were not reliable—it is possible,
they note, that population numbers were higher but there were areas where they
were not being counted.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE26RLs5PDdVXdnFvzi4fzlCBxEY7KW6pyu4aY9fdNe9JhvNFBl-lIS5U3tOA7j7RZLfb0KMOycQ3YAXdutIeYSUm6RvyOgefjQZ3fdM0J4bOnPjtiaYD0tznWmz4PAZW9XGGloOaYYvOJdrQAYAtftd8sT14e3hwZbS5pPP9l9HiW_HIHuRPJ9-Meb9s/s944/HOMIMIGRATION3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="944" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE26RLs5PDdVXdnFvzi4fzlCBxEY7KW6pyu4aY9fdNe9JhvNFBl-lIS5U3tOA7j7RZLfb0KMOycQ3YAXdutIeYSUm6RvyOgefjQZ3fdM0J4bOnPjtiaYD0tznWmz4PAZW9XGGloOaYYvOJdrQAYAtftd8sT14e3hwZbS5pPP9l9HiW_HIHuRPJ9-Meb9s/w640-h396/HOMIMIGRATION3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They then pointed out
that evidence in past research showed hominin habitation all across Eurasia
started approximately 900,000 years ago, which coincides with the onset of the
first Pleistocene ice age. As the ice age began, ocean levels would have
dropped, allowing hominins an easier route from Africa. Also, conditions in
Africa would have become more difficult for the hominins living there, making
migration a tempting proposition. And the researchers note that many animals
also began migrating out of Africa around the same time.The team suggests that
the true reason for the migration was climate change—and it happened
approximately 0.9 million years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Newly discovered
fossil of giant turtle is named after Stephen King novel character :by
Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIa7BB7k_CTa6-Q-hTcTzs_3blo3H3u1umKdAiC_VeV-BdGWvF1LX-40a5MAR4mdvkFz0aJwTG08roSjqgflTBnnVI8ntTW7aNFaGjZSfYdUOHnqNEYn1cQpgp_NZLct_JUePglBDSY7tGUJslL3gw-vmrVE-Z8LVsKID90Y8x6sXqRAqYChvf9SpD8w/s1308/GIANT-TURTLE1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="1308" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIa7BB7k_CTa6-Q-hTcTzs_3blo3H3u1umKdAiC_VeV-BdGWvF1LX-40a5MAR4mdvkFz0aJwTG08roSjqgflTBnnVI8ntTW7aNFaGjZSfYdUOHnqNEYn1cQpgp_NZLct_JUePglBDSY7tGUJslL3gw-vmrVE-Z8LVsKID90Y8x6sXqRAqYChvf9SpD8w/w640-h272/GIANT-TURTLE1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An international
research team led by Dr. Gabriel S. Ferreira from the Senckenberg Center for
Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment at the University of Tübingen has
described a new species of giant turtle from the late Pleistocene.Peltocephalus
maturin is between 40,000 and 9,000 years old and comes from the Brazilian
Amazon. With a shell length of about 180 centimeters, the species is one of the
largest known freshwater turtles in the world. The armored reptile was named
after the giant turtle "Maturin," a fictional character created by
best-selling author Stephen King.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfcuoMtZP4DdnqEvOuJBVmXwezUVM-UmtDMkqS1MDBwa41xD5freYfL4Lhb718AB0ZNihYaDjfHmfGBOn-BJXyvv6BpB6ZKLBvL2uPruw4J5enVuigSQhgOFP7e0-QnJWPewrBHvRgHXwkNHuvZnIFA_XhN03IMmdjfOQXSAzfWGPdFAAG0CfgMoZZPI/s1205/GIANT-TURTLE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="1205" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfcuoMtZP4DdnqEvOuJBVmXwezUVM-UmtDMkqS1MDBwa41xD5freYfL4Lhb718AB0ZNihYaDjfHmfGBOn-BJXyvv6BpB6ZKLBvL2uPruw4J5enVuigSQhgOFP7e0-QnJWPewrBHvRgHXwkNHuvZnIFA_XhN03IMmdjfOQXSAzfWGPdFAAG0CfgMoZZPI/w640-h298/GIANT-TURTLE2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With a maximum shell
length of 140 centimeters, the Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle (Chitra
chitra) together with the approximately 110-centimeter-long South American
river turtle (Podocnemis expansa) is one of the largest freshwater turtles
alive today.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"In the past, we
only know of a few turtles living in fresh waters that had a shell length of
more than 150 centimeters," explains Dr. Ferreira. "Such large
animals are most recently known primarily from the Miocene, the period around
23 to 5 million years ago."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01VNqX-ivlXxnLl9y8L5Y8oF6FkXuxTzE1laSxgGzjxVPS6edKJNFHd_Zlp_KofNqVKY0Y1SKhAZRdZJ46OQ2PZTp_ThZGCO5XSmRMrW-thQLj9dP48rUp_1B2pS5HhbcyIGqM1AuthJmNPlWsynzrZg7M-pdf3ecUM7hhBIBD2Wm6EZcc2AVkQehrK0/s1280/GIANT-TURTLE3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01VNqX-ivlXxnLl9y8L5Y8oF6FkXuxTzE1laSxgGzjxVPS6edKJNFHd_Zlp_KofNqVKY0Y1SKhAZRdZJ46OQ2PZTp_ThZGCO5XSmRMrW-thQLj9dP48rUp_1B2pS5HhbcyIGqM1AuthJmNPlWsynzrZg7M-pdf3ecUM7hhBIBD2Wm6EZcc2AVkQehrK0/w640-h360/GIANT-TURTLE3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ferreira and an
international team have now discovered a giant representative of this order of
reptiles from the end of the Pleistocene period, around 40,000 to 9,000 years
ago, and described it as a new species. The fossil remains—part of the turtle's
lower jaw—were collected by gold miners at the "Taquaras" quarry in
Porto Velho, Brazil.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Based on various
characteristics, the research team assumes a close relationship with the modern
big-headed Amazon turtle (Peltocephalus dumerilianus) and an omnivorous diet.
"We named the new species after the giant turtle Maturin, an overarching
protagonist in the Stephen King multiverse. Maturin is responsible for the
creation of the universe in King's novels and films," explains Dr. Ferreira.
The paper is published in the journal Biology Letters.Referencing the turtle's
extremely large size, Dr. Ferreira says, "This is very surprising because
freshwater turtles—in contrast to their terrestrial and marine relatives—rarely
have such gigantic forms and the youngest giant fossils known to date come from
Miocene deposits."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFP5PNJc2LWVt5pDJnHWG-C9mQtOOBjSwl4yxsLrqGQfivXJF7fxR1Qkj9Hxax0rP-BOugKSKOa-dwegEB7MvB32Gfa5LYhtcBhlPRj0e3uaBbA1fopH2M1RtpY6S9tZeJhiTCjhsLsBTMk6NiS5RIn8imdUxfwKzsN6tCTgQRwyP2j-dwvPZNLLpw6c/s914/GIANT-TURTLE4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="914" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFP5PNJc2LWVt5pDJnHWG-C9mQtOOBjSwl4yxsLrqGQfivXJF7fxR1Qkj9Hxax0rP-BOugKSKOa-dwegEB7MvB32Gfa5LYhtcBhlPRj0e3uaBbA1fopH2M1RtpY6S9tZeJhiTCjhsLsBTMk6NiS5RIn8imdUxfwKzsN6tCTgQRwyP2j-dwvPZNLLpw6c/w640-h374/GIANT-TURTLE4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new find is the
youngest known occurrence of giant freshwater turtles and suggests a
coexistence of Peltocephalus maturin with early human inhabitants in the Amazon
region.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"People settled in
the Amazon region around 12,600 years ago. We also know that large tortoises
have been on the diet of hominins since the Paleolithic. Whether freshwater
turtles, which are much more difficult to catch due to their agility, were also
eaten by early humans and whether Peltocephalus maturin—together with the South
American megafauna—fell victim to human expansion is still unclear.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Here we need more
data from the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene deposits of the Amazon
Basin," says Ferreira, giving an outlook on future work.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Our bacteria are
more personal than we thought, new study shows:by Sarah C.P. Williams, Stanford
University Medical Center<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5sGDONbQsWMLQXj57-pvAzdmbUdlg0fq7OOJgzdCjoH9h-U5ab5r1X4dQgOGCg9IBID_cVOp18ZNurWcWhqTb7u4QpgAYe0nwDMroR1NqTbxNeTC1EhYW8gNwr4y519Iz-VFqhw7duxnq9-1KvoOsXQsLBkIuq8XFrjLzTWDJkdf4bzCojVq2vqyZCQ/s996/MICOBIOME1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="996" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5sGDONbQsWMLQXj57-pvAzdmbUdlg0fq7OOJgzdCjoH9h-U5ab5r1X4dQgOGCg9IBID_cVOp18ZNurWcWhqTb7u4QpgAYe0nwDMroR1NqTbxNeTC1EhYW8gNwr4y519Iz-VFqhw7duxnq9-1KvoOsXQsLBkIuq8XFrjLzTWDJkdf4bzCojVq2vqyZCQ/w640-h640/MICOBIOME1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The trillions of
bacteria that call your body home—collectively known as the microbiome—appear
to be unique to you, like a fingerprint. That's one conclusion of a detailed
study of the gut, mouth, nose and skin microbiomes of 86 people. Over the
course of six years, the bacteria that persisted best in each person's
microbiome were those that were most particular to the individual, rather than
those shared by the entire population.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgED6nbPXeXQ4d5x0bt1OXCQt1f0oz9V1ZnQhnQurBz6tefqvw-HuLC_0IDQHI48jaMf714EI_A9NIjyoYAvFmwMPW0Jh4MCMtYYtN-R_LEt-oxBsdO4hcosVxhjZjadKm5RUODLvaWXDtCQwt01fzHumYuqZ-hUtqneUb4o0tA-ivaG0qSVPmCrAWx_1M/s482/MICOBIOME2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="482" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgED6nbPXeXQ4d5x0bt1OXCQt1f0oz9V1ZnQhnQurBz6tefqvw-HuLC_0IDQHI48jaMf714EI_A9NIjyoYAvFmwMPW0Jh4MCMtYYtN-R_LEt-oxBsdO4hcosVxhjZjadKm5RUODLvaWXDtCQwt01fzHumYuqZ-hUtqneUb4o0tA-ivaG0qSVPmCrAWx_1M/w640-h600/MICOBIOME2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Our results underscore
the idea that we each have individualized microbiomes in our bodies that are
special to us," said Michael Snyder, Ph.D., the Stanford W. Ascherman, MD,
FACS Professor in Genetics and director of the Stanford Center for Genomics and
Personalized Medicine. "Your genetics, your diet and your immune system
are all shaping this ecosystem."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh7OEBIwOrIj62btqRod4gH9QxxDb6hL-XZRi2iY0Svj4Jnn1hyphenhyphenzU2yFcf7Dv7ruaYBizQlM0PYjpTi5_vZo-CgFtkBTSyJ6-bxa8_WE0FIqEZaHjuiQsxxk2dEuYZvzx-WbirT3o5pFF5nIDMUPnZ45Ibjn2usAq2Aihcabp2WOJ3a8Jrr0W6mGZslQ/s313/MICOBIOME3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="184" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh7OEBIwOrIj62btqRod4gH9QxxDb6hL-XZRi2iY0Svj4Jnn1hyphenhyphenzU2yFcf7Dv7ruaYBizQlM0PYjpTi5_vZo-CgFtkBTSyJ6-bxa8_WE0FIqEZaHjuiQsxxk2dEuYZvzx-WbirT3o5pFF5nIDMUPnZ45Ibjn2usAq2Aihcabp2WOJ3a8Jrr0W6mGZslQ/w376-h640/MICOBIOME3.jpg" width="376" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new study, led by
Snyder in collaboration with Jackson Laboratory biologist George Weinstock, who
passed away in 2023, was part of the National Institute of Health's Integrative
Human Microbiome Project and is published online in Cell Host & Microbe.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The research also found
several correlations between the microbiome and health: For example, people
with type 2 diabetes showed a less stable and less diverse microbiome.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We think that with
insulin resistance, the altered lipids, proteins and other metabolites in your
blood change what kind of nutrients are available for the microbiome and affect
the growth of these bacteria," said Xin Zhou, Ph.D., a postdoctoral
scholar in genetics and the lead author of the paper.Long-term tracking<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0Yy-h_rqp6akJ3QxXqSp61Xez-76pv1l3lKnltLVjRn-llFKa0cAWbt6XALqw-zWqp3dmDO2u3sfyAACNdEcQgXi3gXkWYZBP70cEa7STteLQ7Aph1iGVIgw5NF9vYDvAJv_OfxhGe5PHA_PrcExWQ6GNxEqWCI8Gor0_wM2V_ZY4Pzj19I4zYYkzHc/s293/MICOBIOME4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="184" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0Yy-h_rqp6akJ3QxXqSp61Xez-76pv1l3lKnltLVjRn-llFKa0cAWbt6XALqw-zWqp3dmDO2u3sfyAACNdEcQgXi3gXkWYZBP70cEa7STteLQ7Aph1iGVIgw5NF9vYDvAJv_OfxhGe5PHA_PrcExWQ6GNxEqWCI8Gor0_wM2V_ZY4Pzj19I4zYYkzHc/w402-h640/MICOBIOME4.jpg" width="402" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Scientists have recently
gained an appreciation for the role of the human microbiome in health and
disease. But the massive size of the microbiome—around 39 trillion microbes in
an average person's body—and the fact that it can constantly change make it difficult
to study. Researchers have struggled to determine whether there is one ideal
microbiome composition and whether altering someone's microbes can alleviate
disease.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Snyder, Zhou and their
colleagues set out to track people's microbiomes for up to six years to better
understand how the microbes in an individual's body shift with short infections
or with the onset of chronic disease. They collected quarterly microbiome
samples from the stool, skin, mouth and noses of 86 people ranging in age from
29 to 75 years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When participants had a
respiratory illness, received a vaccination or took an antibiotic, an
additional three to seven samples were taken over a five-week period. Each
microbiome sample was genetically sequenced to reveal the bacteria it contained.At
the same time, the researchers collected a plethora of other clinical data on
the participants' health to study how a variety of factors correlated with
changes in the microbiome.In total, the researchers analyzed 5,432 biological
samples and generated 118,124,374 measurements.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Studying microbes
from different body sites over this long a period of time allowed us, for the
first time, to look at the entire microbiome as a single, fluid system,"
Snyder said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Focus on stability</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Confirming what had been
found in previous studies, the new research revealed a handful of bacteria that
were often found in the microbiomes of healthy people, as well as a pronounced
shift in people's microbiomes during infections and other diseases. Far more
telling than individual types of bacteria, however, was the stability of the
microbiome. In periods of health, a person's microbiome rarely underwent
drastic changes. During an infection, or during the development of diabetes,
the bacteria making up the microbiome fluctuated more.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We found that when
you get sick with something like a cold, you have this temporary change in the
microbiome; it becomes very dysregulated," Zhou said. "With diabetes,
that signature is the same in many ways except that it is long-term rather than
temporary."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When the researchers
focused on which microbes were most likely to change over the course of years,
they were surprised to find that the bacteria most particular to an individual
were the most stable.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"A lot of people
would suspect that the bacteria shared among us would be the most important and
thus the most stable," Snyder said. "We found the complete
opposite—the personal microbiome is the most stable. It further suggests that
our personal microbiome, different from everyone else's personal microbiome, is
pretty integral to our health. This makes sense because all have different
healthy baselines."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The data turned up
another surprise: The microbiomes in different places in the body were highly
correlated. Even though different types of bacteria are present, when the
microbiome of one body area changes, the others also shift. If the nasal
bacteria change at the onset of a respiratory infection, for instance, the gut,
mouth and skin microbes quickly start to change as well. When the gut bacteria shift
with diabetes, so do the bacteria on the skin, mouth and nose.Connections to
health<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Based on the blood
samples taken throughout the study, Snyder's team suspects the immune system is
the common link connecting the microbes in different areas of the body—and
connecting overall health within the microbiome. Levels of certain immune
proteins in the blood changed in sync with the microbiome. In addition,
lipids—fats in the blood—were also associated with changes in microbiome
stability, explaining some of the link to diabetes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The group pinpointed
several environmental factors that played roles in shaping the microbiome:
Microbes predictably shifted with the seasons, for instance, likely due to
changing humidity and sunlight levels as well as fresh food availability. But
these environmental factors, including diet, still didn't explain much of the
variability between people.The new data, the researchers said, closes the door
on the idea that there is a gold standard microbiome everyone should be trying
to achieve for optimal health.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Instead, we're
moving toward this idea that we have a personal microbiome that is incredibly
important for our own metabolic and immune health. Our metabolic and immune
health also greatly affect our microbiome—it is all tied together. The
microbiome varies enormously between people," Snyder said. "How you
feed it and what it's exposed to probably makes a big impact on your health,
and we still have to work that out in many ways."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers from
University of Oxford, Ohio State University, uBiome, Oregon Health &
Science University, Yale University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang
University, Texas Tech University, Agrosavia, and University of Connecticut
were also involved in the study.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) How do neural
networks learn? A mathematical formula explains how they detect relevant
patterns:by University of California - San Diego<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaLFcHCSTcJq_w-g3WEb3KXl9yjqTpYB46wPoq5pSf-_IQPp0rsh0EKyLUJfihxfbWhHB1U24t6Dpmi-IWKSI1eSqxMHrPIwTlRCZSy6WvmLve3NV4bJy8AycyqVCjekuCtYomRkYCycUEDF9i6ejc0X1J16rYZqtGPTWHm7J1kP5v8L0Ujk4UbcgQNE/s1300/BRAIN-PATTERN1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="1300" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaLFcHCSTcJq_w-g3WEb3KXl9yjqTpYB46wPoq5pSf-_IQPp0rsh0EKyLUJfihxfbWhHB1U24t6Dpmi-IWKSI1eSqxMHrPIwTlRCZSy6WvmLve3NV4bJy8AycyqVCjekuCtYomRkYCycUEDF9i6ejc0X1J16rYZqtGPTWHm7J1kP5v8L0Ujk4UbcgQNE/w640-h274/BRAIN-PATTERN1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Neural networks have
been powering breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, including the large
language models that are now being used in a wide range of applications, from
finance, to human resources to health care. But these networks remain a black
box whose inner workings engineers and scientists struggle to understand. Now,
a team led by data and computer scientists at the University of California San
Diego has given neural networks the equivalent of an X-ray to uncover how they
actually learn.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS3HlaluK1SSazlBI3sFYZkWdeOynN85D9dsxUerytlrawvqejrb_fYl78WOmKBNytWEHGU5YHokfHr3UbLdTTu3x18CqTp0O-KJjHHkM1OuRH-9sMSZSM8CvSSrwpMZPLBnRanlurfZSKbNIcsHG6wHsEBjCbqpAHMqCwRSufNXw1ca3E4ExkzO4Jbo/s685/BRAIN-PATTERN2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="685" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS3HlaluK1SSazlBI3sFYZkWdeOynN85D9dsxUerytlrawvqejrb_fYl78WOmKBNytWEHGU5YHokfHr3UbLdTTu3x18CqTp0O-KJjHHkM1OuRH-9sMSZSM8CvSSrwpMZPLBnRanlurfZSKbNIcsHG6wHsEBjCbqpAHMqCwRSufNXw1ca3E4ExkzO4Jbo/w640-h414/BRAIN-PATTERN2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers found
that a formula used in statistical analysis provides a streamlined mathematical
description of how neural networks, such as GPT-2, a precursor to ChatGPT,
learn relevant patterns in data, known as features. This formula also explains
how neural networks use these relevant patterns to make predictions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We are trying to
understand neural networks from first principles," said Daniel Beaglehole,
a Ph.D. student in the UC San Diego Department of Computer Science and
Engineering and co-first author of the study. "With our formula, one can
simply interpret which features the network is using to make predictions."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team present their
findings in the journal Science<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Why does this matter?
AI-powered tools are now pervasive in everyday life. Banks use them to approve
loans. Hospitals use them to analyze medical data, such as X-rays and MRIs.
Companies use them to screen job applicants. But it's currently difficult to
understand the mechanism neural networks use to make decisions and the biases
in the training data that might impact this<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"If you don't
understand how neural networks learn, it's very hard to establish whether
neural networks produce reliable, accurate, and appropriate responses,"
said Mikhail Belkin, the paper's corresponding author and a professor at the UC
San Diego Halicioglu Data Science Institute. "This is particularly
significant given the rapid recent growth of machine learning and neural net
technology."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VKrZdxLWmRG9TissHapdku-QrNdBYQd8xD-Q42G7LbKeZcVUIZOHf78LPTjD25Yw2TKjIWhgEDh774x_tW8a6rSUlrDyKAlGt5Df3ao0DVgfIWdqwQYWPrgXfVgXCSmjzPLAF7soyxSAo511RT7YSZNkOm_8LvYwcX7IacjUxRXURuwIB6IrOsTdNds/s316/BRAIN-PATTERN3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VKrZdxLWmRG9TissHapdku-QrNdBYQd8xD-Q42G7LbKeZcVUIZOHf78LPTjD25Yw2TKjIWhgEDh774x_tW8a6rSUlrDyKAlGt5Df3ao0DVgfIWdqwQYWPrgXfVgXCSmjzPLAF7soyxSAo511RT7YSZNkOm_8LvYwcX7IacjUxRXURuwIB6IrOsTdNds/w405-h640/BRAIN-PATTERN3.jpg" width="405" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The study is part of a
larger effort in Belkin's research group to develop a mathematical theory that
explains how neural networks work. "Technology has outpaced theory by a
huge amount," he said. "We need to catch up."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team also showed
that the statistical formula they used to understand how neural networks learn,
known as Average Gradient Outer Product (AGOP), could be applied to improve
performance and efficiency in other types of machine learning architectures
that do not include neural networks.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"If we understand
the underlying mechanisms that drive neural networks, we should be able to
build machine learning models that are simpler, more efficient and more
interpretable," Belkin said. "We hope this will help democratize
AI."The machine learning systems that Belkin envisions would need less
computational power, and therefore less power from the grid, to function. These
systems also would be less complex and so easier to understand.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Illustrating the new findings with an example</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">(Artificial) neural
networks are computational tools to learn relationships between data
characteristics (i.e. identifying specific objects or faces in an image). One
example of a task is determining whether in a new image a person is wearing
glasses or not. Machine learning approaches this problem by providing the
neural network many example (training) images labeled as images of "a
person wearing glasses" or "a person not wearing glasses."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The neural network
learns the relationship between images and their labels, and extracts data
patterns, or features, that it needs to focus on to make a determination. One
of the reasons AI systems are considered a black box is because it is often
difficult to describe mathematically what criteria the systems are actually
using to make their predictions, including potential biases. The new work
provides a simple mathematical explanation for how the systems are learning
these features.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Features are relevant
patterns in the data. In the example above, there are a wide range of features
that the neural networks learns, and then uses, to determine if in fact a
person in a photograph is wearing glasses or not.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One feature it would
need to pay attention to for this task is the upper part of the face. Other
features could be the eye or the nose area where glasses often rest. The
network selectively pays attention to the features that it learns are relevant
and then discards the other parts of the image, such as the lower part of the
face, the hair and so on.Feature learning is the ability to recognize relevant
patterns in data and then use those patterns to make predictions. In the
glasses example, the network learns to pay attention to the upper part of the
face. In the new Science paper, the researchers identified a statistical
formula that describes how the neural networks are learning
features.Alternative neural network architectures: The researchers went on to show
that inserting this formula into computing systems that do not rely on neural
networks allowed these systems to learn faster and more efficiently."How
do I ignore what's not necessary? Humans are good at this," said Belkin.
"Machines are doing the same thing. Large Language Models, for example,
are implementing this 'selective paying attention' and we haven't known how
they do it. In our Science paper, we present a mechanism explaining at least
some of how the neural nets are 'selectively paying attention.'"</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MXuXKA2b71rXS9tYO9AGadAtjd0-9PdLRd8JlsoSLdA2sFp54A1lRC3bG95tFq5jjzZX-ocgZ6cxcKwmjhqh1U9A-WfkhT4A5k-Jg7kC7DTiF9XtekgW-l0nbIz4Mjw9gZljevMXKL0CmlwofYuABFQvHKxxeVmqUdSzzeaih7RryEglsSWYp0uWG7I/s960/POLITICALNEWN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MXuXKA2b71rXS9tYO9AGadAtjd0-9PdLRd8JlsoSLdA2sFp54A1lRC3bG95tFq5jjzZX-ocgZ6cxcKwmjhqh1U9A-WfkhT4A5k-Jg7kC7DTiF9XtekgW-l0nbIz4Mjw9gZljevMXKL0CmlwofYuABFQvHKxxeVmqUdSzzeaih7RryEglsSWYp0uWG7I/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) ₹1L annually to
poor women, 50% quota in govt jobs: Rahul Gandhi promises 5 guarantees<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRFkiSgsY2-mnFpN2ZUGt_21hLPBQorK3ZgP44AhObg-iG7nrtXbQ7GoIn4qobYXnF3m9b-D2O6xjX4WxgxaSkPkK1GdAg6u_PGQZIItUk1HvcSaOkFx0TtgJHmGCSpxX1L-h6sl3JSmSRJHYQe7oFajgA1xgq7xc44znv74KUIx1-pSiGx8XXgs4ed4/s537/RAHULONWOMEN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="537" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRFkiSgsY2-mnFpN2ZUGt_21hLPBQorK3ZgP44AhObg-iG7nrtXbQ7GoIn4qobYXnF3m9b-D2O6xjX4WxgxaSkPkK1GdAg6u_PGQZIItUk1HvcSaOkFx0TtgJHmGCSpxX1L-h6sl3JSmSRJHYQe7oFajgA1xgq7xc44znv74KUIx1-pSiGx8XXgs4ed4/w640-h436/RAHULONWOMEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Thursday was the second
day of the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ that covered Dhule, Malegaon and reached
Nashik by late evening.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi unveiled five ‘Mahila Nyay’
guarantees to empower women by pledging support such as ₹1 lakh annually
deposited into the bank accounts of women from poor financial backgrounds and
ensuring 50% reservation in government jobs if his party attains power. The
announcements were made in the backdrop of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections
scheduled to be declared anytime soon. If Modiji can give ₹16 lakh crore to
billionaires, we can give ₹1 lakh to crores of women under ‘Mahalaxmi
Guarantee’ scheme,” he said while addressing a women’s convention in Dhule on
Wednesday afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gandhi also vowed to
double the central government’s budgetary allocation for women engaged in crucial
roles such as ASHA workers, anganwadi workers, and those involved in mid-day
meal schemes by bringing ‘Shakti Ka Samman’ scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Further emphasising
empowerment, he announced the ‘Adhikar Maitri’ scheme that will enable the
government to appoint nodal officers to educate women about their rights and
assist them in legal battles at each and every gram panchayat of the
country.“If we came to power, hostels for working women would be opened in all
the districts across the country. This would be done under ‘Savitribai Phule
Chhtrawas’ scheme,” he declared.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Additionally, the
Wayanad MP declared to implement women’s reservation soon after coming to power
in the general elections. He said, “There is no need to wait for a survey that
will be conducted ten years from now and then implement reservation for women.
Congress will give reservations in all the fields as soon as we come to power.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Thursday was the second
day of the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ that covered Dhule, Malegaon and reached
Nashik by late evening. In Malegaon, Gandhi held a road show that got a
tremendous response from the people.Agniveer scheme will result in more
casualties’<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress leader has
slammed the contentious ‘agniveer’ recruitment scheme brought by the Narendra
Modi-led BJP government saying that it will result in a high number of
casualties in case of a direct confrontation with the Chinese troops because
‘agniveer’ provides training for a limited period of six months which is not
enough to fight a war.China provides training of three to four years to its
soldiers. One requires two to three years to become a pro in using modern
high-skill weapons. Instead ‘agniveer’ scheme provides only six months of
training to our soldiers. Imagine what will happen on the battlefield in case
of a conflict, there will be high casualties on our side,” Gandhi stressed
while addressing a public meeting in Dhule during ‘Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra’.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Further criticising the
scheme, the Congress leader also said the scheme has snatched their honour from
the soldiers by not giving them martyr status even after giving their lives for
the country.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Earlier, our soldiers
and their families used to get pensions and the honour of a martyr status in
case of a casualty. With ‘agniveer’ Modi ji made two types of martyrs, one who
be honoured as a martyr as they were not recruited under ‘agniveer’ scheme and
second the one who will not be honoured as a martyr as they were recruited
under the scheme,” Gandhi remarked.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2)Farmers in large
numbers gather at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan for ‘Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYKhOkDxtYFaXVqfz0Pu1EW6CcoFBhBezxuyl2NjO7N5ci4oWTkbsZvN8eGAtVcQsEcebTstbdizrwqF1eHQoiVqrvogDdOZs9pV8h-dQPcw5DUEk8XZrhQtFOiL-gYkmIqdwXeE_cOf7ZOfwEmsgEKE_Fc7O26Up9hGN4oeag-HjpnmFpnZi49BsHiA/s777/FARMERPROTEST1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="777" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYKhOkDxtYFaXVqfz0Pu1EW6CcoFBhBezxuyl2NjO7N5ci4oWTkbsZvN8eGAtVcQsEcebTstbdizrwqF1eHQoiVqrvogDdOZs9pV8h-dQPcw5DUEk8XZrhQtFOiL-gYkmIqdwXeE_cOf7ZOfwEmsgEKE_Fc7O26Up9hGN4oeag-HjpnmFpnZi49BsHiA/w640-h424/FARMERPROTEST1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Farmers gathered at
Ramlila Ground for a "Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat" on Thursday to
protest against BJP-led Centre's farming policies.</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Various farmer unions
gather at Ramlila Maidan for a Kisan Mahapanchayat in New Delhi on Thursday. On
February 22, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 37 farm
unions, initiated the call for the 'mahapanchayat'.(PTI)</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Farmers are pressing for
legislation ensuring legal status for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops.
They voiced their discontent against the Union government's policies at the
protest venue. Although the SKM did not actively participate in the "Delhi
Chalo" march, it has supported splinter groups.(PTI)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkUZ6J2Lf6Jv50kb_b5d6AYxS5iREGw-AFD723hRK2JBWK_gQ5vg4nWsJMnMy7FDJG9idnyRvvRfUVtNYrm-CQyKYityI0lH0iu4waHQ8cnucCHh-8fglGVHuKuAanHyfeixenTYIcwqrYFfj85Jlm21MySGipyVP0hSP04DSab8he5eIxV5sm9688SQ/s767/FARMERPROTEST2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="767" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkUZ6J2Lf6Jv50kb_b5d6AYxS5iREGw-AFD723hRK2JBWK_gQ5vg4nWsJMnMy7FDJG9idnyRvvRfUVtNYrm-CQyKYityI0lH0iu4waHQ8cnucCHh-8fglGVHuKuAanHyfeixenTYIcwqrYFfj85Jlm21MySGipyVP0hSP04DSab8he5eIxV5sm9688SQ/w640-h450/FARMERPROTEST2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Security personnel are
on guard during the Kisan Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan, with the Delhi
Police permitting the event under certain conditions, including a cap of 5,000
attendees and no tractor trolleys or marches.(PTI)Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU)
leader Rakesh Tikait speaks to PTI during the Kisan Mahapanchayat in New Delhi.
Various farmer unions converge at Ramlila Maidan for the Kisan Mahapanchayat.
Earlier, farmers from Punjab attempted to demonstrate peacefully at the site on
February 13 but were halted at the Punjab-Haryana border by the police
According to the SKM, farmers will issue a 'Sankalp Patra' or resolution letter
at the Mahapanchayat “to intensify the fight against what they perceive as
pro-corporate, communal, and dictatorial policies of the Modi government.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The event caused traffic
snarls around Ramlila Maidan, prompting the Delhi traffic police to issue
traffic regulations and route diversions advisories on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Rahul Gandhi
announces Congress' 5 big poll promises to farmers: MSP, agriculture loan
waiver…<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnWsJolzr2Oe37FXgk28PQfG0JdmB9gXIPyeWUack2Jlte-fUMABnmEP0kvKeiezr2rafzywhV9n-WDKBzsA5z45_hLcp_5QRmW1yleJ_4KPyPbumdHKdohr19opRenSUesxzBqHQjsq4n-ui5h8houABsHDF2UrX7RIspgfuFL3wDh_62Yp-lkJXQDI/s495/RAHULONFARMER1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="495" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnWsJolzr2Oe37FXgk28PQfG0JdmB9gXIPyeWUack2Jlte-fUMABnmEP0kvKeiezr2rafzywhV9n-WDKBzsA5z45_hLcp_5QRmW1yleJ_4KPyPbumdHKdohr19opRenSUesxzBqHQjsq4n-ui5h8houABsHDF2UrX7RIspgfuFL3wDh_62Yp-lkJXQDI/w640-h626/RAHULONFARMER1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi on Thursday announced five big promises to farmers under its 'Kisan
Nyay’ guarantee.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday announced the grand
old party's five big promises to farmers under its 'Kisan Nyay’ guarantee ahead
of the upcoming Lok Sabha election. This comes amid the ongoing farmers' stir
as they continue to press the Centre to accept several of their demands.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress' five big
poll promises to the farmers include -<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Guarantee of legal
status to MSP under the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Guarantee to create a
permanent 'Agriculture Loan Waiver Commission' to waive off the loans of
farmers and determine the amount of loan waiver.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Guarantee to ensure
payment directly into the bank account of farmers within 30 days in case of
crop loss by changing the insurance plan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Guarantee to make new
import-export policy keeping the interest of farmers ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Guarantee to make
farmers GST-free by removing GST from agricultural commodities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TR_G8-nD3jH0qUqIKOSY8D77psmBAp-_hrXBoDXLcrCPQ1zSjBnDqG6HLqr3jv5UaVAh7EjnA1GE3boIDs87sgq373dmR12ouDE7JJP-hAIIPvitAoPP7xlpTWYXmfqPmETCEVhQwHmZniSSbjO2gmDbaJ2bsb2SO9edn1RV4nYhMg0L6jrgPmHG5yY/s529/RAHULONFARMER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="529" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TR_G8-nD3jH0qUqIKOSY8D77psmBAp-_hrXBoDXLcrCPQ1zSjBnDqG6HLqr3jv5UaVAh7EjnA1GE3boIDs87sgq373dmR12ouDE7JJP-hAIIPvitAoPP7xlpTWYXmfqPmETCEVhQwHmZniSSbjO2gmDbaJ2bsb2SO9edn1RV4nYhMg0L6jrgPmHG5yY/w640-h414/RAHULONFARMER2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“My salute to all the
food providers of the country! Congress has brought five such guarantees for
you which will eliminate all your problems from the roots…Congress aims to make
the lives of the farmers who irrigate the soil of the country with their sweat,
happy and these five historic decisions are steps taken in that direction,”
Gandhi wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter.On Wednesday, the Congress
announced five key poll promises under the party’s ‘Nari Nyay (Women’s Justice)
Guarantee. These included financial assistance of ₹1 lakh per annum for poor
women, a right to half the new posts under the central government and working
women’s hostels in every district.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) ‘Rigged’:
Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary on appointment of election commissioners<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5j5yrLXULrqneHD5pP2MhcPqhAIZwBPvPnNT9WbXixdQMg0DDRFxX-5MnxhGYfkG9KIMfRUnKpi4UUzXh2WTLm9QycVQnk1F250Pbi3M95oLvkshKZKLVmGEPra_DzCUVHGJBHPOIq2Eyw9vP3N1p24R25yulsl26UC7gUAUnXH67UPvas-Qik8eKB0Y/s532/ELECTIONCOMMIAPPOINT1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="532" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5j5yrLXULrqneHD5pP2MhcPqhAIZwBPvPnNT9WbXixdQMg0DDRFxX-5MnxhGYfkG9KIMfRUnKpi4UUzXh2WTLm9QycVQnk1F250Pbi3M95oLvkshKZKLVmGEPra_DzCUVHGJBHPOIq2Eyw9vP3N1p24R25yulsl26UC7gUAUnXH67UPvas-Qik8eKB0Y/w640-h404/ELECTIONCOMMIAPPOINT1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary
alleged that the system was rigged in favour of the government as the selection
committee consisted of the PM and the home minister A high-powered selection
committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appointed two
retired IAS officers – Gyanesh Kumar (Kerala cadre) and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu
(Uttarakhand cadre) – as election commissioners, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan
Chowdhury said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chowdhury, who is the
sole opposition member in the panel, criticised the selection process of the
new appointments, saying it was “fait accompli” that the government’s
pre-decided candidates would be chosen for the posts Addressing reporters at
his home soon after the meeting ended on Thursday, Chowdhury expressed his
dissent on the selection process, claiming that he was given a list of six
shortlisted names only 10 minutes before the panel meeting began.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He said as the
opposition member, he was given a list of 212 names to examine only last night.
“In a single night, [you tell me] whether it is humanly possible for me to
examine the 212 names to find out the most competent person amongst them. It
was fait accompli,” he said. Chowdhury said that there was no clarity on how
six names were shortlisted, adding that the Chief Justice of India should have
been part of the selection panel.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“If the CJI had been
there, it would have been a different matter,” he said, further alleging that
the law was amended to ensure that the CJI was removed from the selection
process.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWpENIHUAdEsJryjxDwEkweGE6Ja8ClCZpl_mKa0vZYGSOkGkvzkM1QAB1c3L9MufvZwKb5T-oeuF8WJuHzAPhhFPT7VukSeyt5Vqgt4b-YPX0gsJip2r8dm6lAlvCtneNvgJayFv0sJqwrWbWV8-a-B-vs2FlbisFWq2ciLDpDkIOCnY5_pfY_jWbJc/s619/ELECTIONCOMMIAPPOINT2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="619" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWpENIHUAdEsJryjxDwEkweGE6Ja8ClCZpl_mKa0vZYGSOkGkvzkM1QAB1c3L9MufvZwKb5T-oeuF8WJuHzAPhhFPT7VukSeyt5Vqgt4b-YPX0gsJip2r8dm6lAlvCtneNvgJayFv0sJqwrWbWV8-a-B-vs2FlbisFWq2ciLDpDkIOCnY5_pfY_jWbJc/w640-h458/ELECTIONCOMMIAPPOINT2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to the new
act, the selection process consists of two committees – a three-member search
committee led by the Union law minister and constituting two government
secretaries; and a three-member selection committee headed by the PM and
consisting of a Union minister recommended by the PM and the leader of
opposition.Thus, of the six individuals involved in the process, three are
members of the government and two are employed by the government, Chowdhury
said and alleged that the system was already rigged in favour of the government
as the selection committee consisted of the prime minister and the home
minister on one side and a single leader of the opposition on the other.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The search committee, as
per the act, is required to recommend five names to the selection committee but
the latter is empowered to select commissioners from outside this list as
well.However, Chowdhury said that Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who
headed the search committee, came out with these six names. He said that was
immaterial as he had no input in shortlisting these names.Singh and Kumar fill
the two vacancies came about following the resignation of Arun Goel on March 8
and Anup Chandra Pandey’s retirement on February 14.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Haryana CM News
Highlights: Nayab Singh takes oath as the new Chief Minister, floor test likely
tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggq8WTNMGR7d6yFlUFG3BC_aRLRnF4BsAn_FZ2whfTZZAUenkmjrMb8XRA1QGqMoJKI_lDLFSnGI_XEaXY8GmGGYTryeYojTASvl4GgGsSTXLLUiGNlBcLH0qlTF3sKuHnhnEDgHaU3K7UNNM7z2Al_m6WKi4HAbM4-HaSQkY9ShIUxszCsgEPoZ8J_EQ/s548/HARIANA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="548" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggq8WTNMGR7d6yFlUFG3BC_aRLRnF4BsAn_FZ2whfTZZAUenkmjrMb8XRA1QGqMoJKI_lDLFSnGI_XEaXY8GmGGYTryeYojTASvl4GgGsSTXLLUiGNlBcLH0qlTF3sKuHnhnEDgHaU3K7UNNM7z2Al_m6WKi4HAbM4-HaSQkY9ShIUxszCsgEPoZ8J_EQ/w640-h426/HARIANA.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Haryana CM News
Highlights: Haryana CM and his cabinet have resigned today as BJP-JJP cracks
emerge. BJP's Nayab Singh Saini took oath as the new CM of Haryana on Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BJP's Nayab Singh Saini
replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as the new chief minister of Haryana after taking
oath in front of Governor Bandaru Dattatreya in Chandigarh on Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the oath-taking
ceremony, he presented a letter of support of 48 MLAs to the Governor and asked
him to convene an assembly session on Wednesday for a floor test.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The development has come
after Manohar Lal Khattar resigned after a seat-sharing dispute between the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its alliance partner, the Dushyant
Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) for the Lok Sabha elections. Manohar
Lal Khattar's Cabinet ministers also submitted their resignations to Governor
Bandaru Dattatreya on Tuesday<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The government fell
apart over the seat-sharing differences between the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) and its alliance partner, Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party (JJP)
for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Opposition has
targeted the BJP and called the change of CM in Haryana a scripted drama.“What
happened today in Haryana is a well-planned drama that was scripted six months
ago. I have been saying this on public platforms that BJP and JJP have decided
to break their alliance," said Congress leader Deepender Hooda.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6)SBI electoral
bonds data: PVR, Bajaj Auto, Vedanta, Sun Pharma and more – list of top 10
donors as EC releases details<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsBvs2LSvO14JriLcOYjf-wp09Xzm5wX2leY0kBb8KEyEUYnLTcQG0oGG6UhflASwlgSADC66n6RxbsmPj4e5ztGAnePlIAQSVyoafTDsTQSPwiTMXE518Wn35Cs0wWrLO49yoyr0KkfgPqegQHNWO0JoHVH8v4CDXwWE1MKDbzQWTWNZGVTNZR3nF2k/s552/ELECTORALBONDLIST1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="552" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsBvs2LSvO14JriLcOYjf-wp09Xzm5wX2leY0kBb8KEyEUYnLTcQG0oGG6UhflASwlgSADC66n6RxbsmPj4e5ztGAnePlIAQSVyoafTDsTQSPwiTMXE518Wn35Cs0wWrLO49yoyr0KkfgPqegQHNWO0JoHVH8v4CDXwWE1MKDbzQWTWNZGVTNZR3nF2k/w640-h420/ELECTORALBONDLIST1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Election Commission
of India (ECI) on Thursday made the electoral bonds data public as per the
orders of the Supreme Court of India. The data was released after the State
Bank of India (SBI) submitted the details to the election body on
Tuesday.According to the list published, top donors to political parties
include major corporates such as Grasim Industries, Megha Engineering, and
Piramal Enterprises. The list also includes Apollo Tyres, Lakshmi Mittal,
Edelweiss, PVR, Keventer, Sula Wine, Welspun, and Sun Pharma. Torrent Power,
Bharti Airtel, DLF Commercial Developers, and Vedanta Ltd also lead the list of
big donors to political parties.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvtNc2bLKZreEcaqrlVxqO5AgYs2Mwp1l6ofG53aHUH2MRkasLgfqsLZDY1WFwapv1mpKBMouaInYZRdP4-He3kmhby5hJAm_iZ57_xiRhdfmJdf-sUFZ7TmUi-b05mRF8YfdOAWPAavWvQT0zwi4nXlsXlibPD6Pxjb-rGXd4SqWjNFt-YxHOrg63Oo/s505/ELECTORALBONDLIST2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="375" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvtNc2bLKZreEcaqrlVxqO5AgYs2Mwp1l6ofG53aHUH2MRkasLgfqsLZDY1WFwapv1mpKBMouaInYZRdP4-He3kmhby5hJAm_iZ57_xiRhdfmJdf-sUFZ7TmUi-b05mRF8YfdOAWPAavWvQT0zwi4nXlsXlibPD6Pxjb-rGXd4SqWjNFt-YxHOrg63Oo/w476-h640/ELECTORALBONDLIST2.jpg" width="476" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The startling fact was
that the biggest purchaser of the electoral bonds turned out to be an unknown
Coimbatore-based lottery firm that had splashed out Rs 1,368 crore in 21
separate bouts of purchases between October 21, 2020, and January 9, 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Future Gaming is led by
“lottery king” Santiago Martin. In October last year, the Enforcement
Directorate reportedly raided four premises linked to Martin in Tamil Nadu.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHTLpkLMLTeS_zzEoQmNT-namJBNbv4YC9oTjjGkVFppakn4ON6Rm3FaOe2NNFEAtBFppFLBcV0LJpgFEo0HdEbL6txwb8uaxjgLjG-jWK7MGCbBqK0s1i-aMuMsxbVgOFZcOsHJM1-mHv5YIUIBpMsyi6U0JCfTIwuYxHCVTLa_ntG3Do3s5TwzHH_k/s618/ELECTORALBONDLIST3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="618" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHTLpkLMLTeS_zzEoQmNT-namJBNbv4YC9oTjjGkVFppakn4ON6Rm3FaOe2NNFEAtBFppFLBcV0LJpgFEo0HdEbL6txwb8uaxjgLjG-jWK7MGCbBqK0s1i-aMuMsxbVgOFZcOsHJM1-mHv5YIUIBpMsyi6U0JCfTIwuYxHCVTLa_ntG3Do3s5TwzHH_k/w640-h434/ELECTORALBONDLIST3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The second biggest buyer
was the Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Infrastructures Ltd
(MEIL) which bought bonds worth Rs 967 crore.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">MEIL is present in
verticals like hydrocarbons, transportation, power, irrigation, drinking water
and manufacturing. The websites of both these groups witnessed heavy traffic
after the electoral data was announced and more granular details about their
businesses could not be ascertained.The Ambanis, the Tatas and the Adani group
did not figure in the list.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But there was a fair
spattering of tycoons and large corporate groups including London-based
billionaire Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Auto and Bajaj Finance,
DLF group, Dilip Shanghvi’s Sun Pharmaceuticals, Cipla, Kumar Mangalam Birla’s
Grasim Industries and Century Textiles, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Piramal
Enterprises, Apollo Tyres, and Goa-based Dempo Industries.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbbptqXmD3yEYJamKCA6-EikUHcJN4FbbgNQ1WApg_C-7CiWWz6cc1ZCRnG5MuAV-QmTz8Tmupen19PFx-_ePOYH0hc9ISnXe7kCM9hhP2ShSAfhN8DvJ1FavPGJtWPOlZs6jYgwbTyDGp-ebbQpsBpHASdgduXP2HBAKt47SmbtiC1tIoudd4npgPNQ/s1366/ELECTORALBONDLIST4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbbptqXmD3yEYJamKCA6-EikUHcJN4FbbgNQ1WApg_C-7CiWWz6cc1ZCRnG5MuAV-QmTz8Tmupen19PFx-_ePOYH0hc9ISnXe7kCM9hhP2ShSAfhN8DvJ1FavPGJtWPOlZs6jYgwbTyDGp-ebbQpsBpHASdgduXP2HBAKt47SmbtiC1tIoudd4npgPNQ/w640-h360/ELECTORALBONDLIST4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Aditya Birla firm Essel
Mining too figured, with its cumulative contribution amounting to Rs 220 crore.
Group firm UltraTech Cement bought a modest Rs 35 crore worth of bonds. Utkal
Alumina, another Birla group company, purchased bonds worth nearly Rs 147
crore.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The pecking order was
rounded off by Navi Mumbai-based Qwik Supply Chain Pvt Ltd (Rs 410 crore),
Haldia Energy (Rs 377 crore) and Anil Agarwal’s mining and metals giant Vedanta
(Rs 376 crore).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Piramal Enterprises Ltd,
Muthoot Finance Limited, Pegasus Properties Private Limited, Finolex Cables
Ltd, Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, Edelweiss Housing Finance Ltd, GHCL Ltd, Jindal Poly
Films Limited, and ITC Limited are also on the list, reported ANI.Aggraval’s
Vedanta Ltd donated ₹398 crore via bonds, whereas Bajaj Auto bought EC bonds
worth ₹25 crore, and Sun Pharma Laboratories purchased bonds worth Rs25 crore.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Top 10 donors on SBI
bonds list<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the list of donors
who purchased SBI bonds, Future Gaming And Hotel Services (Lottery Martin), and
Megha Engineering And Infrastructure Ltd are the top two donors.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Future Gaming And Hotel
Services (Lottery Martin) purchased bonds worth ₹1,368 crore. Megha Engineering
And Infrastructure Ltd bought bonds worth ₹980 crore, according to EC sources.
However, Livemint could not independently verify the claim.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SBI EC bond donor
name (Top 10)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Donation amount (Rs.
crores)</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1. Future Gaming and
Hotel Services<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1,368<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2. Megha Engineering and
Infrastructure Ltd<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>966 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3. Qwik Supply Chain
Private Ltd<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>410<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4. Vedanta Ltd <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>400<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5. Haldia Energy Ltd<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>377 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6. Bharati Group<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>247<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">7. Essel Mining and
Industries Ltd<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>224<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">8. Western UP Power
Transmission <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>220 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">9. Keventer Foodpark
Infra Ltd<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>194<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">10. Madanlal Ltd <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>185<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to the data
uploaded by ECI, Future Gaming purchased 1,368 electoral bonds worth ₹1 crore
each since 2019, totalling ₹1,368 crore. Qwik Supply Chain Private Limited,
Haldia Energy Limited, Vedanta Limited, Essel Mining and Inds Ltd, Western UP
Power Transmission Company Ltd, Keventers Foodpart Infra Limited, Madanlal
Limited, and Bharti Airtel Limited were among the top 10 donors on the SBI
electoral bonds list released by the EC today.Top recipients of funds through
electoral bonds are BJP, Congress, AIADMK, BRS, Shiv Sena, TDP, YSR Congress,
DMK, JDS, NCP, Trinamool Congress, JDU, RJD, AAP, and SP.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JssX4wgg5EArs1eKqcMP34NDWE2w7IDVwUDhWNNM6wwWPECUXoGsiiRHZTSoSN4pKEf7gxemS1IFGIgiM_qwCFrATnaIsZSd3BeIiz2dniGy4mfHkA3S38WiwS-BRNIcyU8KCMUxHq-74EJ5U2peTGsZjXj8aYTibr9asxnyeiIXHPkAcY9mSfdQ4Bk/s1366/ELECTORALBONDLIST5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JssX4wgg5EArs1eKqcMP34NDWE2w7IDVwUDhWNNM6wwWPECUXoGsiiRHZTSoSN4pKEf7gxemS1IFGIgiM_qwCFrATnaIsZSd3BeIiz2dniGy4mfHkA3S38WiwS-BRNIcyU8KCMUxHq-74EJ5U2peTGsZjXj8aYTibr9asxnyeiIXHPkAcY9mSfdQ4Bk/w640-h360/ELECTORALBONDLIST5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The data reveals the
information of donors who have purchased bonds of three denominations, ie ₹1
lakh, ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore - dating back to April 12, 2019. Notably, electoral
bonds are money instruments that act as promissory notes or bearer bonds that
can be purchased by individuals or companies in India. They are issued
specifically for the contribution of funds to political parties. These bonds
were issued by the SBI and were sold in multiples of ₹1,000, ₹10,000, ₹1 lakh,
and ₹1 crore. The electoral bonds scheme was first announced by former finance
minister Arun Jaitley during the 2017 Budget session, It was later notified in
January 2018 as a source of political funding by way of money bills introducing
amendments to the Finance Act and the Representation of the People Act.
However, last month, the Supreme Court struck down the scheme, terming it as
“unconstitutional”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">7) Mamata Banerjee
injured after a fall at home, now back from hospital after treatment<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXBECwPpdQCT46tMKwafH0ov9zucRP8pM0Jm7qjTDgLyBr5bpuixALU0KzDCF7HHS3JksRQypx0hlXtzxqOiKQbLJUldevbgOKOWShma9tdL4GEr3LS889zX-2wwBsGI4OOVR-v0DiFwEyL8kEJw4jykwH9PvaaV3nKkk9qTHMuCX7fV3cdSfIQzOBUw/s580/MAMTA%20WONDED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="455" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXBECwPpdQCT46tMKwafH0ov9zucRP8pM0Jm7qjTDgLyBr5bpuixALU0KzDCF7HHS3JksRQypx0hlXtzxqOiKQbLJUldevbgOKOWShma9tdL4GEr3LS889zX-2wwBsGI4OOVR-v0DiFwEyL8kEJw4jykwH9PvaaV3nKkk9qTHMuCX7fV3cdSfIQzOBUw/w502-h640/MAMTA%20WONDED.jpg" width="502" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Four stitches had to be
made. She is better now and will improve soon,said Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata’s
nephew and Trinamul all-India general secretary, while leaving the SSKM
Hospital with his aunt for her Kalighat residence Chief minister Mamata
Banerjee was hospitalised on Thursday evening after she injured her forehead
apparently after a fall at home. By 9.45 pm, a bandaged Mamata was on her way
home after having received multiple stitches.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Though the wound on the
forehead was deep, the mandatory tests conducted at the SSKM hospital’s
Woodburn ward where she was admitted for a while revealed no serious damage.</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Four
stitches had to be made. She is better now and will improve soon,” said
Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata’s nephew and Trinamul all-India general secretary,
while leaving the SSKM Hospital with his aunt for her Kalighat
residence.Abhishek was at 30B Harish Chatterjee street--- Mamata’s residence---
when the accident happened, though how she fell is not clear. Apparently, the
chief minister was taking a walk in the premises of her Kalighat residence when
the accident took place.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chief minister Mamata
Banerjee was hospitalised on Thursday evening after she injured her forehead
apparently after a fall at home. By 9.45 pm, a bandaged Mamata was on her way
home after having received multiple stitches.Mamata is likely to stay at home
for the next few days till she fully recovers and takes charge of the
Trinamul’s Lok Sabha poll campaign.Ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls Mamata had
fractured her leg while campaigning in Nandigram from where she lost.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Doctor Manimay
Bandyopadhyay, SSKM superintendent, says, "The hon'ble chief minister
Mamata Banerjee reported to our hospital around 730 pm with a history of a fall
in the vicinity of her home due to some push from behind."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"She had a cerebral
concussion and had a sharp cut on her forehead and nose which was bleeding
profusely. Initially, she was assessed by senior doctors of the neurosurgery,
medicine, and cardiology departments of our institute and her vitals were
stabilised. Three stitches were applied on her forehead, and one on her nose
and the required dressing was done. Investigations like ECG, echocardiogram,
CT-Scan, and Doppler were done," he added.Bandopadhyay said the chief
minister was advised to remain at the hospital for observation but she
preferred to go home.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"She will continue
to be under close watch and treatment. She will again be assessed tomorrow and
subsequent treatment will be decided accordingly," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YBMcjeIyP_n0di-JXQaMVpQb5yNINDbGOgz0AmnICiDtUK4whYrhY_NZ7rX-QBBvVXJUO2_aFKjJ8MUbX-5gINKxNMoGk5fK3r2eiT_PSnVkx7ebUIsHLZI-gAFcyaIwds7TRTLhFPW-_j72H2hlvLrk9Z2wjY1xxFZf8bAl85uv_AoEIFcQK-pHXJM/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YBMcjeIyP_n0di-JXQaMVpQb5yNINDbGOgz0AmnICiDtUK4whYrhY_NZ7rX-QBBvVXJUO2_aFKjJ8MUbX-5gINKxNMoGk5fK3r2eiT_PSnVkx7ebUIsHLZI-gAFcyaIwds7TRTLhFPW-_j72H2hlvLrk9Z2wjY1xxFZf8bAl85uv_AoEIFcQK-pHXJM/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) All England
badminton: Lakshya Sen in second round<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKHWvMz_3rQQzOfNch16KoOqTkahplcGYM5GN4l9nW07JaZNR-sMRbZJF5wpbZa-CEHl_clrrx20gFj1XdvpTBYU0DrkzsrXG3vX3emEITjoig1dUnj4l2aMw9etC4se1BojX9DEYy5UkBKzVui1424b3MN-4Em3D49pB1eSkkEFy2oN929jHMFp7dzQ/s532/BADMINTON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="532" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKHWvMz_3rQQzOfNch16KoOqTkahplcGYM5GN4l9nW07JaZNR-sMRbZJF5wpbZa-CEHl_clrrx20gFj1XdvpTBYU0DrkzsrXG3vX3emEITjoig1dUnj4l2aMw9etC4se1BojX9DEYy5UkBKzVui1424b3MN-4Em3D49pB1eSkkEFy2oN929jHMFp7dzQ/w640-h404/BADMINTON.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He runs into world No.3
Anders Antonsen in the next round of the BWF Super 1000 tournament being held
in Birmingham U Vimal Kumar was animated as ever while giving tips to Lakshya
Sen during mid-game intervals of both games at the All England Open badminton
on Wednesday. Even though his ward was leading, the darts that were flying in
from the racquet of Magnus Johannesen were enough to make the coach anxious.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Johannesen, 22, is rated
highly in Europe and is considered the ‘next big thing’ in Danish men’s badminton.
Being a southpaw also helps as it rattles even the best of right-handers on the
tour.But Sen postponed the Dane’s rise by eliminating him in the first round of
the $1.3 million event in Birmingham. The Commonwealth Games champion was
clearly the better player at the net and was patient during longer rallies to
notch a 21-14, 21-14 victory in the first meeting between the two.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Though the 22-year-old
has got off to a strong start, the path ahead will only get tougher. “Yes, but
tomorrow will be a real test for Lakshya,” Vimal, who was sitting in Sen’s
corner alongside former All England champion Prakash Padukone, said.Sen will
take on Johannesen’s compatriot and world No.3 Anders Antonsen in the Super
1000 event on Thursday. While Sen had won the first time they met, the
three-time World Championships medallist has got the better of the Indian the
last three meetings with the head-to-head tilted 3-1 in the Dane’s favour.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is the third
successive year that the two will face each other at the All England Open. And
for a third year on the trot the two will face in Round 2. While Sen ended
Antonsen’s journey two years back on way to a sensational run to the final, it
was the Dane who trumped the diminutive Indian before losing in the semi-finals
to eventual winner Li Shi Feng of China.Antonsen has been in brilliant form
this year too, winning Malaysia Open – the only other Super 1000 event yet –
and Indonesia Masters in January.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Priyanshu Rajawat
suffered a 19-21, 21-11, 9-21 loss to Indonesian Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo, his
fifth successive loss in the first two rounds on the BWF World Tour.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In women’s doubles,
Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa beat Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam for a
second time in as many months– they beat the Hong Kong pair at the Badminton
Asia Team Championships – to enter the second round. Following their 21-13,
21-18 win, they will next take on Chinese fifth seeds Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng
Yu.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Treesa Jolly and Gayatri
Gopichand though lost late on Tuesday. They went down 18-21, 12-21 to
Indonesia's Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) India rout
England in Dharamsala to take 4-1 series victory<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ31oSj-fpt0TQCDEsRyh5flu80VaqxevRhqPmzL3jLbsI1yc9iLkJZt8iXB7GWqau6lUtnKntOEzMSjNcBKQKlXHajhwq7APu3mep2jk74kIqnf3WB4qtOujYGvtDU_DKurZnz11Q27lEIpvBx7c9MxTdzmYVctLFYhGa2t51yPYK5CUOgr7sULIobLo/s767/CRICKET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="767" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ31oSj-fpt0TQCDEsRyh5flu80VaqxevRhqPmzL3jLbsI1yc9iLkJZt8iXB7GWqau6lUtnKntOEzMSjNcBKQKlXHajhwq7APu3mep2jk74kIqnf3WB4qtOujYGvtDU_DKurZnz11Q27lEIpvBx7c9MxTdzmYVctLFYhGa2t51yPYK5CUOgr7sULIobLo/w640-h444/CRICKET.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ravichandran Ashwin
marked his 100th Test with a record 36th five-wicket haul and India beat
England by an innings and 64 runs England were blown out of the park in
Dharamsala in just over a session with Ravichandran Ashwin taking a record 36th
Test five-wicket haul in his 100th match in the longest format for India.(AFP)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">England were blown out
of the park in Dharamsala in just over a session with Ravichandran Ashwin
taking a record 36th Test five-wicket haul in his 100th match in the longest
format for India.(AFP)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shoaib Bashir then
finished his five-wicket haul, thanks in part to some lightning-fast glovework
from Ben Foakes, to end the Indian innings on 477 and India took a first
innings lead of 259 runsJasprit Bumrah captained India during England's second
innings with Rohit Sharma sitting out due to a stiff back. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ravichandran Ashwin took
three wickets in the first 10 overs itself and England were found hobbling
shortly after resumption. Ben Stokes ended up falling to Ashwin in the last
over of the session, with Kuldeep Yadav ending Jonny Bairstow's cameo to be the
only wicket taker for India apart from Ashwin in that session. England crumbled
further in the second session and Ashwin eventually got his 36th five-wicket
haul. He thus went past Anil Kumble's record of 35 Test fifers and now leads
that list for Indians. Ashwin is now level with Richard Hadlee at third in the
overall list of players with most Test five-wicket hauls and is just one away
from equalling Shane Warne's tally of 37 above him. The list is led by Muttiah
Muralitharan and Ashwin might not climb that mountain. The Sri Lanka legend
retired with 67 five-wicket hauls.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Joe Root played pretty
much a lone hand in the England second innings. The former England captain
scored his 61st Test half-century. He was the last man to fall for England,
going for a big shot and holing out to Bumrah at long-on off Kuldeep at 84 off
128 balls. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Paris Olympics:
India stare at boxing crisis after Bernard Dunne's resignation<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASiK7ZmPajDQ4MM3hc9CO79ZWJATAStspAF5IcG0ZOUQRZwM-M1FUKNYsexUufE6-QuqY-irrAejvO99HNON1SnU6PbaDkX0XsdZpGxcszLUfHrX5sdqHgWaClEZwE5fxAQqkpPNUag2MkWsUU5j0mEsycUD7EiCzSXdA58NzgCsdDz9NLhBk8wqtj9k/s532/BOXING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="532" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASiK7ZmPajDQ4MM3hc9CO79ZWJATAStspAF5IcG0ZOUQRZwM-M1FUKNYsexUufE6-QuqY-irrAejvO99HNON1SnU6PbaDkX0XsdZpGxcszLUfHrX5sdqHgWaClEZwE5fxAQqkpPNUag2MkWsUU5j0mEsycUD7EiCzSXdA58NzgCsdDz9NLhBk8wqtj9k/w640-h418/BOXING.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BFI will quickly need to
decide on the future course with the last Olympic qualifiers just two months
away in Thailand from May 23. Four months before the Paris Olympics, Indian
boxing is staring at a crisis with high-performance director Bernard Dunne
resigning from his position following the team's disastrous show at the Olympic
qualifiers in Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India failed to win a
single quota from Busto Arsizio, Italy, with eight boxers crashing out in
opening rounds. Dunne, who did not return to India with the team, sent his
resignation to Boxing Federation of India. "We have received his
resignation letter and we have called an executive committee meeting on Friday
to take a stock of the situation," said Boxing Federation India secretary
general Hemanta Kalita.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The BFI top brass was
unhappy with Dunne's way of functioning. The Irishman changed the selection
policy, bringing in an evaluation process in the national camp. That did not go
down well with BFI. The final straw was the performance in Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Foreign coach Dmitry
Dmitruk, who was brought by Bernard, is in India currently and his fate hangs
in the balance. BFI will quickly need to decide on the future course with the
last Olympic qualifiers just two months away in Thailand from May 23.In such a
short time, it will not be possible to hire foreign coaches, BFI therefore will
have to fall back upon trusted coaches at home.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There is some talk that
BFI might recall coach Bhaskar Bhatt for the women's team. Bhatt, who was head
coach of women's team till June last year, is currently SAI HPD of boxing in
NCOE Rohtak. He reportedly had differences with Dunne over training and
selection process of the team, following which he left.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The men's team head
coach CA Kuttapa has been there for a long time along with Dharmendra Pradhan.
"We will look at all the options before finalising," said a BFI
member.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The biggest stumbling
block may be the selection policy. Since 2023, Indian teams have been picked
through evaluation process -- be it Asian Games or world championships. No
selection trials were held and boxers have also knocked the doors of the court.
A change in policy at this point, so late in the Olympic cycle, might start a fresh
debate."I have not been comfortable with the evaluation process for
selection. We don't get to know how we are being marked and why certain boxers
are getting opportunity again and again. I have raised my concerns many
times," said a national camper who could not make it to the team in Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A coach, aware of
developments, said you need one Olympic cycle to bring changes. "To bring
change into any system it takes time. The evaluation process he introduced is
followed in some other countries also. It is good and boxers were getting used
to it. When we won four medals at world championships, nobody was
complaining," said the coach.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dunne joined late in
October 2022, after BFI dragged its feet over the contract extension of
previous HPD Santiago Nieva for a year losing crucial time in preparation for
Paris Olympics. When Dunne joined, he had the responsibility to prepare the
team for world championships and Asian Games and wanted a focussed approach
with small set of elite boxers in the national camp. At the Asian Games, Nikhat
Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain, Preeti Saipawar and Parveen Hooda, won Paris berths,
but the men boxers let him down there.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Novak Djokovic
to skip Miami Masters after shocking Indian Wells exit: Report</span></u></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVLybDCbxkDyyKpKQzJGlnHN1eetZZqH9f5d4hpNUh05yo2jSOj1vJx7wKMb4Aq8F6zhxXt8N41ZzmNd6KsQ_zxLqxafTclBt4CYHg5XkDrHc5c-ikgDXKSeci5J5Auyhtp2j6rIyUmISm3UPKBp1Bqozk5WKNm-6czjVwoGPwmpDWyon_NRwGaQiieM/s537/TENNIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="537" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVLybDCbxkDyyKpKQzJGlnHN1eetZZqH9f5d4hpNUh05yo2jSOj1vJx7wKMb4Aq8F6zhxXt8N41ZzmNd6KsQ_zxLqxafTclBt4CYHg5XkDrHc5c-ikgDXKSeci5J5Auyhtp2j6rIyUmISm3UPKBp1Bqozk5WKNm-6czjVwoGPwmpDWyon_NRwGaQiieM/w640-h400/TENNIS.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Novak Djokovic will
reportedly skip the upcoming Miami Masters, after his Indian Wells
defeat.Making his first Indian Wells appearance since 2019, Novak Djokovic
crashed to a Round of 32 defeat against Italy's Luca Nardi, 4-6 6-3 3-6, on
Tuesday. It was a huge win for the 20-year-old Nardi, who is also ranked No.
123, as he dropped his racket and brought his hands to his face almost in
disbelief before greeting boyhood idol Djokovic at the net.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Italian also became
the lowest-ranked player to defeat Djokovic in a Grand Slam or ATP Masters 1000
level event, surpassing No. 122 Kevin Anderson in 2008 in Miami.After Indian
Wells, Djokovic was expected to participate at the Miami Masters, scheduled to
begin on March 22. But now it looks like he won't be playing in Miami, as
reported by Serbian journalist Sasa Ozmo.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Djokovic did the same
after losing to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-final, opting to skip
tournaments in February and then returned to action at the Indian Wells.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Speaking in a press
conference after his defeat, Djokovic said, "Yeah, for the moment, Miami
is there, so let's see. Let's see, obviously 10 minutes ago I was on the court,
so I'm still hot-headed a bit. I need to take a day or two and then see what I
want to do next."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Complimenting Nardi, he
said, "He got in as a lucky loser' to (the) main draw, so he really didn't
have anything to lose. So he played great. Deserved to win. I was more
surprised with my level. My level was really, really bad."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Meanwhile, Nardi said,
"This is a miracle. I'm a 20-years-old guy, 100 in the world, and beating
Novak. So, crazy. Crazy. Before this night, no one knew me. I hope now the
crowd enjoyed the game. I'm super happy with this one."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nardi entered the draw
as a lucky loser, which is a player who lost in the final qualifying hurdle,
but made it to the main draw as a replacement for an injured player, who pulled
out before the first round. At the Indian Wells, Nardi came in for Tomas Martin
Etcheverry.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5)Sharath Kamal
upstages world No.13 Darko Jorgic at S'pore Smash table tennis<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGp3rG25ZW8dGTcQ0zGPZwmhoTIO9ykqmUvaPTFk_RNpcB0izlaHTtuIDXlGkFqbYUTRbkSAwD9Xrh5C7lSlzGtVCBZxKC5YfzLdtxc-Lfqhv-UQuGawDfC3-n5fwSCDmbmBedBXoR2p-XX-61fU4R9vwwegFbFraf5U0d9ynlU97O-qJWsMpSWm8wFs/s534/TABLE-TENNIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGp3rG25ZW8dGTcQ0zGPZwmhoTIO9ykqmUvaPTFk_RNpcB0izlaHTtuIDXlGkFqbYUTRbkSAwD9Xrh5C7lSlzGtVCBZxKC5YfzLdtxc-Lfqhv-UQuGawDfC3-n5fwSCDmbmBedBXoR2p-XX-61fU4R9vwwegFbFraf5U0d9ynlU97O-qJWsMpSWm8wFs/w640-h400/TABLE-TENNIS.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 41-year-old, looking
to shake off his poor singles run, rallied to upstage the Slovenian and enter
the last 16 in this prestigious event.Sharath Kamal produced a stunning upset
at the Singapore Smash, beating Slovenian world No.13 Darko Jorgic 3-1 (8-11,
11-6, 11-8,11-9) to march into the singles Round of 16 of the prestigious table
tennis tournament on Wednesday.The 41-year-old Commonwealth Games singles
champion, now ranked 88 in the world, scripted a gritty comeback after losing
the first game to turn the tables on the Slovenian who is the 2022 European
Championships silver medallist. Sharath, who earned a main draw place after
winning three qualifying rounds, will take on 22nd-ranked Egyptian Omar Assar
on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The result would give a
boost to Sharath, both in terms of his confidence and rankings. The veteran
paddler has had little to cheer in singles of late, struggling to find his
level after recovering from back issues that had troubled him last year. Losing
to even younger Indian players at home and on the WTT tour, the multiple-time
national champion admitted to feeling a slump in his mindset and intent.With
the World Team Championships as his goal, Sharath put in the work in the
off-season to peak at the tournament that offered Paris Olympics spots. While
he did deliver a few wins in the team Worlds last month in Busan, Singapore is
where he appears to be showing signs of getting back to top shape. After
winning his three qualifying rounds, he beat 51st-ranked Nicolas Burgos 3-0 on
Monday before rallying to down Jorgic.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With the team spot for
Paris Games secured that also brought along two singles quotas, Sharath’s
singles revival — if he can maintain his steady rankings rise over the last few
months — could make things interesting in terms of the singles representation
in Paris. Down in the 100s a couple of months ago, Sharath is set to jump
considerably in the rankings from 88 after his Singapore showing.Currently, Harmeet
Desai (No.64) and Manav Thakkar (83) are above him. After India secured the
team qualification earlier this month, Sharath said his focus will be on doing
well individually in the team event and, “if the singles qualification happens
along with it, it happens.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Asian Games bronze
medallists Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee went down 3-1 (4-11, 14-12,
3-11, 9-11) to the Romanian-Spanish combine of Adina Diaconu and Maria Xiao in
the women's doubles Round of 16.</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSHNSKKhygrJE0KYDVRZuWDxYPfr8-F_fpxC5FbmLeN94D03N0Kh8t6CPD3FBtIRVYU22Yx7W5Sqamt314CEUvA7-JYBFWGilL5qrutw9QpqGKr7cYiX774XsNzxlq96GhoB9CAHertXOzYiUJlsbqDb2r-fi-56WA_-l8ScSQrTOfRbVY2FeUH5ALh0/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSHNSKKhygrJE0KYDVRZuWDxYPfr8-F_fpxC5FbmLeN94D03N0Kh8t6CPD3FBtIRVYU22Yx7W5Sqamt314CEUvA7-JYBFWGilL5qrutw9QpqGKr7cYiX774XsNzxlq96GhoB9CAHertXOzYiUJlsbqDb2r-fi-56WA_-l8ScSQrTOfRbVY2FeUH5ALh0/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Murder Mubarak:</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKoFJ99LMIU2Au_2MvndDWXSeNgNJGL5SZ9QWejHJm1TDnpbYALkanQTvzBcFwrKKZPKLBY1dzPpMUss34ucGkZJsG_dlecSw7NsOANSn-j-P2UVdxkEFwFojF7uEKo7xPZvXTLFiqAB7HuwF4AzXDd3ctl9qkYWYZ7PMHeeDDJMiy5Bw8IBRrOMsIG8/s754/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="754" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKoFJ99LMIU2Au_2MvndDWXSeNgNJGL5SZ9QWejHJm1TDnpbYALkanQTvzBcFwrKKZPKLBY1dzPpMUss34ucGkZJsG_dlecSw7NsOANSn-j-P2UVdxkEFwFojF7uEKo7xPZvXTLFiqAB7HuwF4AzXDd3ctl9qkYWYZ7PMHeeDDJMiy5Bw8IBRrOMsIG8/w640-h362/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A street-smart detective
races against the clock as he delves into the lives of suspects, with each
encounter challenging his initial assumptions and drawing him further into the
shadows of the case.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">IMDb rating – To Be
Announced<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Streaming on – Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Starring – Sara Ali
Khan, Vijay Varma, Karisma Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Tisca Chopra, and Sanjay
Kapoor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date on OTT –
March 15th, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">IRON REIGN –
NETFLIX<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CxaI0cGgXjGWmvUPtW9Bb7tCO0moC4kXWtCF_3XygySh8abYv9YwG-YHz3n9bA1GPfudGiD2A2gIQk1M7Pa90jWA__HeAoGG0gHNjxlyD6ZJmkJ81nDP6lCYHvD5VDR9FnbybD1ngF4XVkcNEcwdpY8MznS6_0hPXad3QjuyuzfF1rBrU66NitOPpSY/s1280/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CxaI0cGgXjGWmvUPtW9Bb7tCO0moC4kXWtCF_3XygySh8abYv9YwG-YHz3n9bA1GPfudGiD2A2gIQk1M7Pa90jWA__HeAoGG0gHNjxlyD6ZJmkJ81nDP6lCYHvD5VDR9FnbybD1ngF4XVkcNEcwdpY8MznS6_0hPXad3QjuyuzfF1rBrU66NitOPpSY/w640-h320/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Iron Reign. The thriller
drama revolves around Joaquín Manchado, a powerful drug lord who is known for
ruling the port of Barcelona with an iron fist until a new shipment derails his
operations. The upcoming Spanish series stars Eduard Fernández, Chino Darín,
Jaime Lorente, Natalia de Molina, Sergi López, and Enric Auquer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">YODHA – THEATRES<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnodlkPYp8CEVMLaCgqrdBLrHIREDY3U-3zi_ZMxkRDJiLmnsbaoqnLDC8QowR1qs1VS3O6owX3bia405VXMf4BAAprW6R9YrzFCh-XJqPplzwCimREj_EnhjHwbrdM9BloYRgpZ9r59TSkO_aPL5BPXasY4Itr77Cj3DC-tA6dBqQacrBU7aJF67ZZfc/s1280/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnodlkPYp8CEVMLaCgqrdBLrHIREDY3U-3zi_ZMxkRDJiLmnsbaoqnLDC8QowR1qs1VS3O6owX3bia405VXMf4BAAprW6R9YrzFCh-XJqPplzwCimREj_EnhjHwbrdM9BloYRgpZ9r59TSkO_aPL5BPXasY4Itr77Cj3DC-tA6dBqQacrBU7aJF67ZZfc/w640-h360/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sidharth Malhotra, Disha
Patani, and Raashi Khanna come together for director-duo Sagar Ambre and
Pushkar Ojha’s action-packed thriller titled Yodha. The upcoming
edge-of-the-seat drama follows a soldier who rescues the passengers onboard a
flight who have been taken hostage by a group of terrorists.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BRAMAYUGAM –
SONYLIV<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgu2Dflq9TNSjPe6ghGyv3ESyT-uz4RBoPRNAwqAwru5KlNDIZa1w6kaNJJbuSQsiukia7RZz2-7zBqk9A9PgFwxdywkJw-Otd_9zTWCQTvi_u4_xtbqzOIGo6U3z_CfE79ellBIVRb14WF4dlw4SsXhi651INaAxS-JnQ0WWvwOhLqgLO0Oo2E0MfTA/s1076/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1076" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgu2Dflq9TNSjPe6ghGyv3ESyT-uz4RBoPRNAwqAwru5KlNDIZa1w6kaNJJbuSQsiukia7RZz2-7zBqk9A9PgFwxdywkJw-Otd_9zTWCQTvi_u4_xtbqzOIGo6U3z_CfE79ellBIVRb14WF4dlw4SsXhi651INaAxS-JnQ0WWvwOhLqgLO0Oo2E0MfTA/w640-h384/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After doing good
business at the box office, Malayalam period horror film Bramayugam arrives on
OTT later this week. The plot of the Mammootty starrer revolves around a folk
singer from the Paanan caste who escapes slavery and learns an ancient
tradition.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BASTAR: THE NAXAL
STORY – THEATRES<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93zxCgjiTYg3iNnf6O0kN6LYlFJamS_vWH7lvTg7IeY-JF8e1M6xlv6HRlC_94dQDSIdFGU3cObhP5zIE5vY8J8C4_nXGi_BoNmC_YuXSxyY0aIM_a_2IK2O2J1fiUwW6Q7QVOWPjjr6DiU1IMrXIL-86EiW2eZtgEyz5B1wcSuWc-2t3VAO4fFIU54M/s1280/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93zxCgjiTYg3iNnf6O0kN6LYlFJamS_vWH7lvTg7IeY-JF8e1M6xlv6HRlC_94dQDSIdFGU3cObhP5zIE5vY8J8C4_nXGi_BoNmC_YuXSxyY0aIM_a_2IK2O2J1fiUwW6Q7QVOWPjjr6DiU1IMrXIL-86EiW2eZtgEyz5B1wcSuWc-2t3VAO4fFIU54M/w640-h320/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bastar: The Naxal Story
marks filmmaker Sudipto Sen and actress Adah Sharma‘s second outing after The
Kerala Story. The plot of the upcoming movie is based on the Naxalite–Maoist
insurgency in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. The film also features
Indira Tiwari, Shilpa Shukla, and Raima Sen in pivotal roles.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">KUNG FU PANDA 4 –
THEATRES<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JBkINPH9p0fZlV4OejPBTpjx5FmpdfAKi2JT4RUJtM4m0b9OT_sB7qnlesd_fQH3GLCpplo54_E4GtUw-WQHOyDchvWXnKksFijpsO2hdktn5OqfPFQ_vZFLk9mjtMUgmeBJFddMysNLQ7kHAXVcjqI9FAAEZqGLNNDF8HgR8hKbMpuRRfMuUJqSgBo/s1280/M6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JBkINPH9p0fZlV4OejPBTpjx5FmpdfAKi2JT4RUJtM4m0b9OT_sB7qnlesd_fQH3GLCpplo54_E4GtUw-WQHOyDchvWXnKksFijpsO2hdktn5OqfPFQ_vZFLk9mjtMUgmeBJFddMysNLQ7kHAXVcjqI9FAAEZqGLNNDF8HgR8hKbMpuRRfMuUJqSgBo/w640-h320/M6.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After three successful
outings, the makers of Kung Fu Panda are back with a new instalment that
continues to follow Po who searches for his successor. However, the situation
turns dark when an evil sorceress (The Chameleon) derails his plan. Watch him
collaborate with a fox (Zhen) to take down the sorceress.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVwNu5Tn7t5iMSVfkLPuQMvzaP3Whyphenhyphenhu9AH3vxGAhuYI1qidy1Nd0u7o9Mngf3uket73SiQjAgasc0RtKKShxDQsnr72A_HXCAyjouuo8czchzRSWan0-TQ6AVI-RKNDIgB80lUC98o31zWp7yOXARgKJnATs07oc2z85k0bZv5JX5opsJrolyYK8aMo/s1000/BOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="652" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVwNu5Tn7t5iMSVfkLPuQMvzaP3Whyphenhyphenhu9AH3vxGAhuYI1qidy1Nd0u7o9Mngf3uket73SiQjAgasc0RtKKShxDQsnr72A_HXCAyjouuo8czchzRSWan0-TQ6AVI-RKNDIgB80lUC98o31zWp7yOXARgKJnATs07oc2z85k0bZv5JX5opsJrolyYK8aMo/w418-h640/BOOK.jpg" width="418" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Until August: The
Lost Novel from the Winner of the Nobel Prize by Gabriel Garcia Marquez <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sitting alone,
overlooking the still and blue lagoon, Ana Magdalena Bach surveys the men of
the hotel bar. She is happily married and has no reason to escape the world she
has made with her husband and children. And yet, every August, she travels here
to the island where her mother is buried, and for one night takes a new lover.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Amid sultry days and
tropical downpours, lotharios and conmen, Ana journeys further each year into
the hinterland of her desire, and the fear that sits quietly at her heart.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Constantly surprising
and wonderfully sensual, Until August is a profound meditation on freedom,
regret, and the mysteries of love, from one of the greatest writers the world
has ever known.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">'The master of magic
realism’s slim and inventive last novel is a tale of forbidden love in later
life. I read it straight through in one sitting, then got up the next day and
did it again' The Times<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘No writer since Dickens
was so widely read, and so deeply loved, as Gabriel García Márquez’ Salman
Rushdie<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘One of the greatest
visionary writers – and one of my favourites from the time I was young’ Barack
Obama<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Few writers can be said
to have written books that have changed the whole course of literature. Gabriel
García Márquez did just that’ Guardian<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">'A novel both sexy and
disturbing... The lasting impression of Until August is one of deep feeling,
astutely observed and beautifully conveyed' Telegraph<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Gabriel Garcia Marquez <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlMmD0bfd_JSiej3nSGpqolK3H9tsyZpX0Fs_UGdM-vcMNcob5IZA7Ue9sFdBRm-AwivOO5VWiKodx2YJNZPF2Zw-Mt77IMCMIbJDhu3WFNCRfChp3849J1sl2ygwGRyaujQuPXX_9-NSyZuaLDwDlniUKQgAuCWaMfnJXZTgfOTPJb_cwPSYR8uRjQo/s300/WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlMmD0bfd_JSiej3nSGpqolK3H9tsyZpX0Fs_UGdM-vcMNcob5IZA7Ue9sFdBRm-AwivOO5VWiKodx2YJNZPF2Zw-Mt77IMCMIbJDhu3WFNCRfChp3849J1sl2ygwGRyaujQuPXX_9-NSyZuaLDwDlniUKQgAuCWaMfnJXZTgfOTPJb_cwPSYR8uRjQo/w427-h640/WRITER.jpg" width="427" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Latin American Spanish 6
March 1927 – 17 April 2014) was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer,
screenwriter, and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo ([ˈɡaβo]) or Gabito
([ɡaˈβito]) throughout Latin America. Considered one of the most significant
authors of the 20th century, particularly in the Spanish language, he was
awarded the 1972 Neustadt International Prize for Literature and the 1982 Nobel
Prize in Literature.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">García Márquez started
as a journalist and wrote many acclaimed non-fiction works and short stories.
He is best known for his novels, such as One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967)
which sold over fifty million copies, Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1981), and
Love in the Time of Cholera (1985). His works have achieved significant
critical acclaim and widespread commercial success, most notably for
popularizing a literary style known as magic realism, which uses magical
elements and events in otherwise ordinary and realistic situations. Some of his
works are set in the fictional village of Macondo (mainly inspired by his
birthplace, Aracataca), and most of them explore the theme of solitude. He is
the most-translated Spanish-language author.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><br /></div><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-87738944144569791372024-03-09T03:29:00.001+09:002024-03-09T04:05:05.868+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS NEWS OF THIS WEEK: SCIENCE,POLITICAL,SPORTS , MOVIE AND BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS209WDqw56FlBRDrGaswD7WRnmiDpjNkrVcXWn3Bct0bTXN4z1LnaaQ0HYge8yxlinUkPMykW5jotK2ebzCLX_0ENbP5Bcgcf_39uybcOEJXIyJByirzvT_8uC-6d9IsUAaYgmMuBRP4BXuzdKMypZ3hQccNIwUfaIdPOAJvh4wUSU57hKew0-BbbmTk/s960/NEWSWEEK8324GIF.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS209WDqw56FlBRDrGaswD7WRnmiDpjNkrVcXWn3Bct0bTXN4z1LnaaQ0HYge8yxlinUkPMykW5jotK2ebzCLX_0ENbP5Bcgcf_39uybcOEJXIyJByirzvT_8uC-6d9IsUAaYgmMuBRP4BXuzdKMypZ3hQccNIwUfaIdPOAJvh4wUSU57hKew0-BbbmTk/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK8324GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_m8Qwo8Fhs3HKg609RplUavzCP_OiB8_ewtf_N0l76r6esVSZaTeaJMrMK2w90EtergjbZ7aj81o9AxmZ0rxrvtvs3AcsUpJsvBx9qHABHYLbZlpw1NO7Dt5vDwrgFyruRAh93zOok2SBAQGq1KmE7I2mjmcnqnKYPvg52wKG2-z8Le9TnpnSkCZ1bY/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_m8Qwo8Fhs3HKg609RplUavzCP_OiB8_ewtf_N0l76r6esVSZaTeaJMrMK2w90EtergjbZ7aj81o9AxmZ0rxrvtvs3AcsUpJsvBx9qHABHYLbZlpw1NO7Dt5vDwrgFyruRAh93zOok2SBAQGq1KmE7I2mjmcnqnKYPvg52wKG2-z8Le9TnpnSkCZ1bY/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) This is the
first egg-laying amphibian found to feed its babies ‘milk’By Jake Buehler<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_IYXFUdGfU35BEwGud0lLqu7xL-GRRys4PbfL0IIKXcggYS3-xxfsM_Mfx4XZjwLLeyJl_bdw1CRnCwhnmLEHjUf8XygPAQZXV385dmuEHmsmK3xsc1JFoKBnmfv3iYgG-vhwhuLVXKrPxA8WQwuNpnonNzwazs-cZc5VDc12WjR1Kt-olhHzxhg7_I/s855/AMPHIMILK1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="855" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_IYXFUdGfU35BEwGud0lLqu7xL-GRRys4PbfL0IIKXcggYS3-xxfsM_Mfx4XZjwLLeyJl_bdw1CRnCwhnmLEHjUf8XygPAQZXV385dmuEHmsmK3xsc1JFoKBnmfv3iYgG-vhwhuLVXKrPxA8WQwuNpnonNzwazs-cZc5VDc12WjR1Kt-olhHzxhg7_I/w640-h398/AMPHIMILK1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the middle of the
night in a humid coastal rainforest, a litter of pink, hairless babies snuggle
with their mother. They stir and squeak for milk, their mother obliges, and
they are sated. But these are no puppies or cubs. They are snake-shaped amphibians,
far closer to frogs than foxes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These ringed caecilian
moms feed their hatchlings a kind of “milk” brewed in the reproductive tract,
researchers report in the March 8 Science. The long, cylindrical creatures are
the first egg-laying amphibians known to feed hatchlings this way. The
discovery suggests the evolution of parental care across animal life is more
diverse than researchers thought. For an animal with so few discernable
external features, caecilians are a fount of strange biology. Caecilians are
elusive, legless, burrowing amphibians that are nearly blind (SN: 6/19/17).
Some species, like the ringed caecilian (Siphonops annulatus) in the new study,
have poisonous slime, may be venomous and feed their own skin to their young
(SN: 7/3/20).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Herpetologist Carlos
Jared of the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo and his colleagues have been
studying these eccentric animals for years. In previous studies, the team
noticed that ringed caecilian hatchlings, which live their first two months out
of the egg in their mother’s care, spent much of their time around the end of
her body near the shared opening of the reproductive, digestive and urinary
systems — an anatomical part called the vent. The female would periodically
expel a thick fluid from the vent, which the young would enthusiastically feed
on. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Some [young] even stuck
their heads inside this opening,” Jared says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the new work, the
team collected 16 females and their newly hatched litters from Bahia state in
Brazil, bringing them into the lab for observation. There, the researchers
recorded the amphibians’ interactions, accumulating over 240 hours of video
footage. The team recorded 36 feedings, which often involved the babies
wriggling and nibbling at their mother’s vent while making high-pitched noises.
Mom would then raise that end of her body and release the fluid. This happened
up to six times per day and appeared to be in response to the babies’ pleas. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXVWKkYfhUy3fSYiTTFl93RWAIMrwxJt82KFj87-EsdUcTtdaCpjBl_t0ipnWsU4uF5NX3kL76xlgCpv4yUtn8qzMH5-rYyZnN9EC9MgmRtBEVa0GKBVElSxPTJ20Em0o2JwQ_Rn9k5s-q8wNd99CZaiaAeojyteaNMjmSaVZ5SmCFd1pBK3n1m2_mgo/s796/AMPHIMILK2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="796" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXVWKkYfhUy3fSYiTTFl93RWAIMrwxJt82KFj87-EsdUcTtdaCpjBl_t0ipnWsU4uF5NX3kL76xlgCpv4yUtn8qzMH5-rYyZnN9EC9MgmRtBEVa0GKBVElSxPTJ20Em0o2JwQ_Rn9k5s-q8wNd99CZaiaAeojyteaNMjmSaVZ5SmCFd1pBK3n1m2_mgo/w640-h416/AMPHIMILK2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The squeaking and
begging is a particularly fascinating observation, says Mark Wilkinson, an evolutionary
biologist at the Natural History Museum in London, because the adults are
thought to be sensitive only to lower sound frequencies. The team also examined
the internal anatomy of some of the adult female caecilians and analyzed the
nutritional and biochemical makeup of the nutritional fluid. It is secreted by
glands in the mother’s oviduct that enlarge while raising her hatchlings. It’s
also rich in fats, much like mammal milk. This nutritious resource may help
explain how the hatchlings grow so fast — bulking up their mass by up to 130
percent, an additional 0.27 grams, in the first week out of the egg — despite
not leaving their mother’s side and feeding on her skin only once every few
days.Isabella Capellini, an evolutionary biologist at Queen’s University
Belfast in Northern Ireland, wonders if there is conflict between squiggly
siblings for milk access and how that competition might play out. She’d also be
curious to know more about how milk production affects the mother caecilian.“In
mammals, lactation is the most expensive stage of reproduction for the mother,”
she says. “It would be useful to study whether milk production is as expensive
in caecilians too. How is the mother impacted in the short- and long-term?”It’s
not known how these amphibians have evolved their version of “milk.” The
substance is relatively rare in animals. Outside of mammals and some
caecilians, it’s found only in certain spiders, fishes, cockroaches and birds,
as well as two amphibians that give live birth.In these egg-laying caecilians,
the oviducts are behaving similarly to those of live-bearing caecilian species,
which sometimes feed their babies a milky substance while in the womb, but do
not feed them after they’re born.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“That makes it easier to
conceive of how [live-bearing] could have evolved from [egg-laying] species
that already used their oviducts to produce food,” Wilkinson says. “We really
have learned a lot about caecilians in the last few decades, but we are only
seeing the tip of the iceberg.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) See 3-D models
of animal anatomy from openVertebrate’s public collection By Erin Garcia de
Jesús<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fFLftfsMqouch5jFLETeySvb8aNiUJDtIb9rwHbVgYhmr3QiUkM5RwaVXWJ6Ku39603LAcfKgsmln12zxUC7IMmJlqkwPqDXijkg03aNNFypCCXcBNm8ms6h4x830O6JR94GjGBcEIT2pQK4ONjZ1eZjnwjowPpctiYGoVrYMxrW1xjXrhkKwh6IrdE/s1380/3DSCANANIMALS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1380" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fFLftfsMqouch5jFLETeySvb8aNiUJDtIb9rwHbVgYhmr3QiUkM5RwaVXWJ6Ku39603LAcfKgsmln12zxUC7IMmJlqkwPqDXijkg03aNNFypCCXcBNm8ms6h4x830O6JR94GjGBcEIT2pQK4ONjZ1eZjnwjowPpctiYGoVrYMxrW1xjXrhkKwh6IrdE/w640-h360/3DSCANANIMALS1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">More than 13,000 museum
specimens were CT scanned as part of a six-year-long project</span></b></div></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Frog entrails, lizard
scales and mouse tails, oh my.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4rgm14YLpVH0Y6BlnW_zc5YU-DfY8VQg-n3FsWP2VsVi93JRkOkyoY8P3f6kkyeayQFyMLhyat6qTH1Ld_5fcq33jBxhfq3PNJgpPjP0JNh7O6VyvYeSe1MaUySquDv5lbo5oXuANoZlMsW3sRCJmBjGSrDF8nTA1ywyyaOmtdGR60APSU58z1_OhM4/s738/3DSCANANIMALS2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="738" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4rgm14YLpVH0Y6BlnW_zc5YU-DfY8VQg-n3FsWP2VsVi93JRkOkyoY8P3f6kkyeayQFyMLhyat6qTH1Ld_5fcq33jBxhfq3PNJgpPjP0JNh7O6VyvYeSe1MaUySquDv5lbo5oXuANoZlMsW3sRCJmBjGSrDF8nTA1ywyyaOmtdGR60APSU58z1_OhM4/w640-h422/3DSCANANIMALS2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These creatures are
among more than 13,000 museum specimens that had their innards CT scanned as
part of a six-year mission to create 3-D digital reconstructions. The effort,
called openVertebrate, or oVert, aims to make vertebrate specimens freely
available online. Such specimens typically have been kept in storage until put
on display for the public or pulled for examination by a specialist,
researchers report March 6 in BioScience.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Online replicas not only
make museum collections accessible to more folks but also give people a peek
inside animals without the need for scalpels or other dissection equipment. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE77_kZA0zoS2GNfGIJugHYSHucYeJFnc1LQNHG-MNFJB7JY_a4tlDizDT1HWpGreKHrbiO4-NPWkM7w3_3ePJKpQAyrMrvjd3ShdjikuAGYpcXolIBj2l6RZ_vrS81K-bYXlUAg7nVgSuqdLpR7Z6gdPDWgeHujoiMUTjF3JOaXxj9tvPdEkG0h5qaJs/s740/3DSCANANIMALS3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="740" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE77_kZA0zoS2GNfGIJugHYSHucYeJFnc1LQNHG-MNFJB7JY_a4tlDizDT1HWpGreKHrbiO4-NPWkM7w3_3ePJKpQAyrMrvjd3ShdjikuAGYpcXolIBj2l6RZ_vrS81K-bYXlUAg7nVgSuqdLpR7Z6gdPDWgeHujoiMUTjF3JOaXxj9tvPdEkG0h5qaJs/w640-h440/3DSCANANIMALS3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The best part of that
is the weird, wonderful things that you weren’t expecting to see that jump
out,” says evolutionary biologist Edward Stanley of the Florida Museum of
Natural History at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Those things
include parasitic infections, last meals and new insights into animal anatomy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFSd3t13vAfbE1Xuj13uJRwbsQzzYmYZTS4j9zw4iYD5mMJGyw5EHGIaoS4W2tQr6JwLtJjhsOT3qlcYeS81nqDQuwgZyXXFl1Tilrc-5BPS0FZhl1Gbz2PCK4dfYqw4p-b3Qo2b5O_3xexRbWuIUoG_-o3UYngcCEu7DFWGK_jxlcRIgjKHnWLl5wkA/s739/3DSCANANIMALS4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="739" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFSd3t13vAfbE1Xuj13uJRwbsQzzYmYZTS4j9zw4iYD5mMJGyw5EHGIaoS4W2tQr6JwLtJjhsOT3qlcYeS81nqDQuwgZyXXFl1Tilrc-5BPS0FZhl1Gbz2PCK4dfYqw4p-b3Qo2b5O_3xexRbWuIUoG_-o3UYngcCEu7DFWGK_jxlcRIgjKHnWLl5wkA/w640-h438/3DSCANANIMALS4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">CT scans of pumpkin
toadlets’ inner ears, for instance, revealed that the amphibians crash-land
their hops due to misshapen ear tubes (SN: 6/15/22). And images that Stanley
and colleagues took of spiny mice showed that the animals’ tails are covered in
bony armor like an armadillo (SN: 5/24/23).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfF9fi2PoT56RMNnY3PEJsbQy65HsWuALNzMm6KYrJvNyOZSVV9mKeJgmtt0B09kJ7wndmKhO75wlz9W21Efga55uujXUy6XpQ0fqLS3WGnYHRxfIClDKmDxoeVDgszlvjQMcJetULRBHeim6x6SWmAhx1J4_lYb6SkUmfjVHvQ6piMeBfLIcftjxleA/s744/3DSCANANIMALS5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="744" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfF9fi2PoT56RMNnY3PEJsbQy65HsWuALNzMm6KYrJvNyOZSVV9mKeJgmtt0B09kJ7wndmKhO75wlz9W21Efga55uujXUy6XpQ0fqLS3WGnYHRxfIClDKmDxoeVDgszlvjQMcJetULRBHeim6x6SWmAhx1J4_lYb6SkUmfjVHvQ6piMeBfLIcftjxleA/w640-h432/3DSCANANIMALS5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As part of oVert,
Stanley and researchers across 25 institutions took CT scans of fluid-preserved
specimens representing more than half of all known vertebrate genera, lighting
up the skeletons of chameleons, frogs, bats, lizards, snakes, eagles and more.
Some animals were soaked in iodine so that internal organs and muscles were
visible. Each specimen was mounted inside a tube. The tube then rotated around
a fixed X-ray scanner that captured a complete picture of the animal’s body.
But few vertebrates are tube-shaped, so the team had to pack the cylinder with
materials that could hold the specimen in place without interfering with the
scan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNsV9VKFo-VvDNp1lgD2EhFv6hn_MkcNiZ2r_6VYA3_5evJjzM7FXLozSQ_Wm0iIVzyjfDsDWIuaOKVLbwmragPGWdJm8fm6hXstkWEas1cXUde6CmgP_REIzRUseQKpipR-iNHQv5oH_eKGGBrqFcII2j51YrWvIQVKB3M-yJ3aAUQiseJVna5dDVyM/s741/3DSCANANIMALS6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="741" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNsV9VKFo-VvDNp1lgD2EhFv6hn_MkcNiZ2r_6VYA3_5evJjzM7FXLozSQ_Wm0iIVzyjfDsDWIuaOKVLbwmragPGWdJm8fm6hXstkWEas1cXUde6CmgP_REIzRUseQKpipR-iNHQv5oH_eKGGBrqFcII2j51YrWvIQVKB3M-yJ3aAUQiseJVna5dDVyM/w640-h450/3DSCANANIMALS6.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It turns out bubble
wrap, packing peanuts, plastic Coke bottles, that sort of thing, that’s the
magic,” Stanley says. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The technology could
help digitize additional organisms tucked away in natural history collections
including invertebrates and plants, the researchers say. Some scanners may even
work for living vertebrates<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Study of slowly
evolving 'living fossils' reveals key genetic insights by Mike Cummings, Yale
University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLoVpb8J025pwVOhiBXr9nrY0MxuoMkAG3Kj-2NKOFuqr_CLxkYtRtRWkO6fB1cFjXzCk1f12FfRWh6wvrph7ZQcJ1reCrWvgcEa3SqHBt3xXK26jcasn3DvrBKt3fjk8QIo6b9OdXzOE32IgM77LYgrglXYOIDJzs0YtQC4gOo41ebDl2bojVLzTd3M/s1314/LIVINGFOSSIL1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1314" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLoVpb8J025pwVOhiBXr9nrY0MxuoMkAG3Kj-2NKOFuqr_CLxkYtRtRWkO6fB1cFjXzCk1f12FfRWh6wvrph7ZQcJ1reCrWvgcEa3SqHBt3xXK26jcasn3DvrBKt3fjk8QIo6b9OdXzOE32IgM77LYgrglXYOIDJzs0YtQC4gOo41ebDl2bojVLzTd3M/w640-h282/LIVINGFOSSIL1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 1859, Charles Darwin
coined the term "living fossils" to describe organisms that show
little species diversity or physical differences from their ancestors in the
fossil record. In a new study, Yale researchers provide the first evidence of a
biological mechanism that explains how living fossils occur in nature. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The study, published in
the journal Evolution, shows that gars—an ancient group of ray-finned fishes
that fit the definition of a living fossil—have the slowest rate of molecular
evolution among all jawed vertebrates, meaning their genome changes more slowly
than those of other animals.By linking this finding to the process of
hybridization—when two different species produce viable offspring—of gar
species in the wild that last shared common ancestry during the age of the
dinosaurs, the researchers demonstrate that slow evolution rate of their genome
drives their low species diversity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We show that gars'
slow rate of molecular evolution has stymied their rate of speciation,"
said Thomas J. Near, professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in Yale's
Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the paper's senior author.
"Fundamentally, this is the first instance where science is showing that a
lineage, through an intrinsic aspect of its biology, fits the criteria of living
fossils."The researchers speculate that gars have an unusually strong DNA
repair apparatus, allowing them to correct somatic and germline
mutations—alterations to DNA that occur before and after conception—more
efficiently than most other vertebrates.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zkqyg_nu0Pdj44BI8KVd7xl69CZBwM-hSJhOAQgrt3NvugSm55bIWyL-5ofn1NaFjB03B_WbP6Np8eSCWYhewrjPlym-MBMjajqHNrY5PAVjmjrD1hUDLJKSzdhHapTIQq8m_spF5llNb0qYyuQrHTgT90yfXUjhMD5YqC6OH4Pa-7_ykDRR-TjUDBs/s1297/LIVINGFOSSIL2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="1297" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zkqyg_nu0Pdj44BI8KVd7xl69CZBwM-hSJhOAQgrt3NvugSm55bIWyL-5ofn1NaFjB03B_WbP6Np8eSCWYhewrjPlym-MBMjajqHNrY5PAVjmjrD1hUDLJKSzdhHapTIQq8m_spF5llNb0qYyuQrHTgT90yfXUjhMD5YqC6OH4Pa-7_ykDRR-TjUDBs/w640-h280/LIVINGFOSSIL2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If confirmed, these
findings could have profound implications for human health, said Near, the
Bingham Oceanographic Curator of Ichthyology at the Yale Peabody
Museum."Most cancers are somatic mutations that represent failures of an
individual's DNA repair mechanisms," he said. "If further study
proves that gar DNA repair mechanisms are extremely efficient, and discovers
what makes them so, we could start thinking about potential applications to
human health."The seven living gar species are nearly identical
structurally to the earliest fossil gars from the Jurassic period about 150
million years ago. One of the two living major lineages of gars begin appearing
in the fossil record as early as 100 million years ago, during the middle
Cretaceous period.In analyzing a dataset of 1,105 exons—the coding region of
DNA—from a sample of 471 jawed vertebrate species, the researchers found that
gars' DNA consistently evolves up to three orders of magnitude more slowly than
any other major group of vertebrates. (They also detected similarly slow rates
among sturgeon and paddlefish, two other examples of living fossils, but have
stronger data on gars.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers then
demonstrated that the slow rate of molecular evolution is linked to slow rate
of speciation in gars by analyzing examples of hybridization between two
distinct gar species in the Brazos and Trinity River systems in Texas.As the
rates of genetic mutation increase, distinct species must share a younger
common ancestry to reproduce, explained Chase D. Brownstein, a graduate student
in Yale's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the study's lead
author."The slower a species's genome is mutating, the more likely it is
that it will be able to interbreed with a separate species that it's been genetically
isolated from over a long stretch of time," said Brownstein, who began
working with Near on this research project as a Yale undergraduate.The
researchers found that the two species, alligator gar and longnose gar, which
share a common ancestor from at least 100 million years ago, are still making
viable and fertile hybrids. It is the oldest identified parental split among
all animals, plants, and fungi that produce viable, fertile hybrids, beating
the previous record holder—two fern species—by about 60 million years,
according to the study.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The finding, combined
with the overlapping morphology, or physical structures, of the hybrids and
other gar species, indicates that gars' slow rate of genetic mutation creates a
barrier to both speciation and the evolution of new observable characteristics,
the researchers said."Our paper shows that living fossils aren't simply
strange accidents of history but provide a fundamental demonstration of the
evolutionary process in nature," Brownstein said. "It shows that
analyzing patterns in living fossils' evolutionary history might have
implications for our own story. It not only helps us better understand the
planet's biodiversity, but potentially could one day be applied to medical
research and improve human health."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Near and Brownstein
co-authored the study with Daemin Kim and Oliver Orr, both of Yale's Department
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Daniel J. MacGuigan of the University of
Buffalo; Liandong Yang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Bejing; Solomon R.
David of the University of Minnesota; and Brian Kreiser of the University of
Southern Mississippi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Will these
reprogrammed elephant cells ever make a mammoth?By Ewen Callaway<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHpQ-Sa5Xx56ZV5bY5AyUOxHl3GcF1nkir0YWTr1ntSATmFMJrHp5WmTGE3cHg9TlMo6wF6blrClb4L36_r2jCjhvW0-mQ9i6xeDxc3Vnz5IiONb7BSEMC43GfKM0BcD7ZM_pBcCQQNH-rkTMf2_b6yX4yzUyT5OId328Dcem5_izz21ldpX7CIZaHqw/s975/MAMMOTHGENE3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="975" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHpQ-Sa5Xx56ZV5bY5AyUOxHl3GcF1nkir0YWTr1ntSATmFMJrHp5WmTGE3cHg9TlMo6wF6blrClb4L36_r2jCjhvW0-mQ9i6xeDxc3Vnz5IiONb7BSEMC43GfKM0BcD7ZM_pBcCQQNH-rkTMf2_b6yX4yzUyT5OId328Dcem5_izz21ldpX7CIZaHqw/w640-h374/MAMMOTHGENE3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The de-extinction
company Colossal is the first to convert elephant cells to an embryonic state,
but using them to make mammoths won’t be easy, say researchers.Scientists have
finally managed to put elephant skin cells into an embryonic state.The
breakthrough — announced today by the de-extinction company Colossal
Biosciences in Dallas, Texas — is an early technical success in Colossal’s
high-profile effort to engineer elephants with woolly mammoth traits.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMsJ7gun5Quxp9S_d1J33p_1j7HsWGlpqm1s8_AdF2-325MDgMa4V8zIuSvuUKhcILJD-zogv3l0iUliQgCF6dldtjKTftZD1ZDr0P6YfKsJrVRZRUHu62T5MfZtThy71C6UV9p5UCppGNunHbWCqePvgzZRNVlCUkXIqpooU8Osk-PQopbd_872tdrw/s1012/MAMMOTHGENE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1012" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMsJ7gun5Quxp9S_d1J33p_1j7HsWGlpqm1s8_AdF2-325MDgMa4V8zIuSvuUKhcILJD-zogv3l0iUliQgCF6dldtjKTftZD1ZDr0P6YfKsJrVRZRUHu62T5MfZtThy71C6UV9p5UCppGNunHbWCqePvgzZRNVlCUkXIqpooU8Osk-PQopbd_872tdrw/w640-h368/MAMMOTHGENE2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Eighteen years ago,
researchers showed that mouse skin cells could be reprogrammed to act like
embryonic cells1. These induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can differentiate
into any of an animal’s cell types. They are key to Colossal’s plans to create
herds of Asian elephants (Elephus maximus) — the closest living relative of
extinct woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius) — that have been genetically
edited to have shaggy hair, extra fat and other mammoth traits.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I think we’re certainly
in the running for the world-record hardest iPS-cell establishment,” says
Colossal co-founder George Church, a geneticist at Harvard Medical School in
Boston, Massachusetts, and a co-author of a preprint describing the work, which
will soon appear on the server bioRxiv.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2vebTiSenPt1x4bwddG-MjwNcSNVntQbjuGtWK0pN10-RhNk_SVus5rqhfDBveGDDC0i8vuCVE883H8n7IYJGDd12uP85sRLVSB65qYSssdGxSIMM-0KFkH_bHfDbWwlwK6TRRVleLw0DTBU9p6u1hBSKTkmaY5gU3CajAx8RoPD1HivdAemi5lIO5M/s1019/MAMMOTHGENE4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="1019" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2vebTiSenPt1x4bwddG-MjwNcSNVntQbjuGtWK0pN10-RhNk_SVus5rqhfDBveGDDC0i8vuCVE883H8n7IYJGDd12uP85sRLVSB65qYSssdGxSIMM-0KFkH_bHfDbWwlwK6TRRVleLw0DTBU9p6u1hBSKTkmaY5gU3CajAx8RoPD1HivdAemi5lIO5M/w640-h328/MAMMOTHGENE4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But the difficulty of
establishing elephant iPS cells — in theory, one of the most straightforward
steps in Colossal’s scheme — underscores the huge technical hurdles the team
faces.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Endangered species</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2011, Jeanne Loring,
a stem-cell biologist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla,
California, and her colleagues created iPS cells from a northern white
rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) and a monkey called a drill
(Mandrillus leucophaeus), the first such cells from endangered animals2.
Embryonic-like stem cells have since been made from a menagerie of threatened
species, including snow leopards (Panthera uncia)3, Sumatran orangutans (Pongo
abelii)4 and Japanese ptarmigans (Lagopus muta japonica)5. However, numerous
teams have failed in their attempts to establish elephant iPS cells. “The elephant
has been challenging,” says Loring.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A team led by Eriona
Hysolli, Colossal’s head of biological sciences, initially ran into the same
problems trying to reprogram cells from an Asian elephant calf by following the
recipe used to make most other iPS cell lines: instructing the cells to
overproduce four key reprogramming factors identified by Shinya Yamanaka, a
stem-cell scientist at Kyoto University in Japan, in 20061.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwkoDE4fFms4bVfSxiAJBKGn-U416NxOQbPKgUzciXMRsghVxyqbLieVoclTcJ6E7EbmF15L9FCNGo2rLSS3il-KYqY26mpmiN59Z7gC1mLlCi3V7Xnf4KVHvaKpIsypotWrGRY7UOVsWLF2q8vHoGQi7uaCHXd_capUKey1aOFIoLw13mbsDzDU1Epg/s1016/MAMMOTHGENE5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1016" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwkoDE4fFms4bVfSxiAJBKGn-U416NxOQbPKgUzciXMRsghVxyqbLieVoclTcJ6E7EbmF15L9FCNGo2rLSS3il-KYqY26mpmiN59Z7gC1mLlCi3V7Xnf4KVHvaKpIsypotWrGRY7UOVsWLF2q8vHoGQi7uaCHXd_capUKey1aOFIoLw13mbsDzDU1Epg/w640-h364/MAMMOTHGENE5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When this failed,
Hysolli and her colleagues treated elephant cells with a chemical cocktail that
others had used to reprogram human and mice cells. In most cases, the treatment
caused the elephant cells to die, stop dividing or simply do nothing. But in
some experiments, the cells took on a rounded shape similar to that of stem
cells. Hysolli’s team added the four ‘Yamanaka’ factors to these cells, then
took another step that turned out to be key to success: dialling down the
expression of an anti-cancer gene called TP53.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers created
four iPS-cell lines from an elephant. The cells looked and behaved like iPS
cells from other organisms: they could form cells that make up the three ‘germ
layers’ that comprise all a vertebrate’s tissues.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“We’ve been really
waiting for these things desperately,” says Church.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Technological leaps</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Colossal’s plan to
create its first gene-edited Asian elephants involves cloning technology that
does not require iPS cells. But Church says the new cell lines will be useful
for identifying and studying the genetic changes needed to imbue Asian
elephants with mammoth traits. “We’d like to pre-test them before we put them
in baby elephants,” Church says. Elephant iPS cells could be edited and then
transformed into relevant tissue, such as hair or blood.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But scaling up the
process would require numerous other leaps in reproductive biology. One path
involves transforming gene-edited iPS cells into sperm and egg cells to make
embryos, which has been accomplished in mice6. It might also be possible to
convert iPS cells directly into viable ‘synthetic’ embryos.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To avoid the need for
herds of Asian elephant surrogates to carry such embryos to term, Church
imagines that artificial wombs, derived in part from iPS cells, would be used.
“We do not want to interfere with the natural reproduction of endangered
species, so we’re trying to scale up in vitro gestation,” he says<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwkoDE4fFms4bVfSxiAJBKGn-U416NxOQbPKgUzciXMRsghVxyqbLieVoclTcJ6E7EbmF15L9FCNGo2rLSS3il-KYqY26mpmiN59Z7gC1mLlCi3V7Xnf4KVHvaKpIsypotWrGRY7UOVsWLF2q8vHoGQi7uaCHXd_capUKey1aOFIoLw13mbsDzDU1Epg/s1016/MAMMOTHGENE5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1016" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwkoDE4fFms4bVfSxiAJBKGn-U416NxOQbPKgUzciXMRsghVxyqbLieVoclTcJ6E7EbmF15L9FCNGo2rLSS3il-KYqY26mpmiN59Z7gC1mLlCi3V7Xnf4KVHvaKpIsypotWrGRY7UOVsWLF2q8vHoGQi7uaCHXd_capUKey1aOFIoLw13mbsDzDU1Epg/w640-h364/MAMMOTHGENE5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Time and effort</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Loring, who last year
co-organized a conference on iPS cells from endangered animals, says adding
elephants to the list is important, but not game-changing. “It will be useful
for others who are having challenges reprogramming the species they’re
interested in,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sebastian Diecke, a
stem-cell biologist at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the
Helmholtz Association in Berlin, would like to see more evidence that iPS cell
lines grow stably and can be transformed into different kinds of tissues, for
instance, by making brain organoids with them. “There are still steps before we
can call them proper iPS cells,” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48tOIoRgrhVTt-uwQXBNOSKE8Cx1Pf6XNLAi5wUtqQ0cw307j6CKZKPdvazxUTLUPwjiA9iYedrVNbGuTL0u8Eh8VdqbC4jZi_f_i1oue4gxBQIiJwGCy5uDvv1Vq-JcblQ3HInPMsG-APk3W6Nc4FkjieFE8HSNVlSRPOJyGMM6FLFcl5bPxb4GheKE/s751/MAMMOTHGENE1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="751" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48tOIoRgrhVTt-uwQXBNOSKE8Cx1Pf6XNLAi5wUtqQ0cw307j6CKZKPdvazxUTLUPwjiA9iYedrVNbGuTL0u8Eh8VdqbC4jZi_f_i1oue4gxBQIiJwGCy5uDvv1Vq-JcblQ3HInPMsG-APk3W6Nc4FkjieFE8HSNVlSRPOJyGMM6FLFcl5bPxb4GheKE/w640-h486/MAMMOTHGENE1.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Vincent Lynch, an
evolutionary geneticist at the University at Buffalo in New York, has been
trying — and failing — to make elephant iPS cells for years. He plans to
attempt the method Hysolli and her colleagues developed, as part of his lab’s
ongoing efforts to understand why elephants seem to develop cancer only rarely.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The myriad technologies
needed to grow an iPS cell into a mammoth-like elephant might not be even close
to ready yet. But given enough time and money, it should be possible, Lynch
says. “I just don’t know the time frame and whether it’s worth the resources.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Oldest stone
tools in Europe hint at ancient humans’ route there By Giorgia Guglielmi<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20J_p5Ib6W9gBzVhDqivCkFy5Oz8n9X6H5KGMSOj4768fZ6-kmBhcsP-sQcIcUMa4KoVjqpIDkemQCxliFN45Vyn5sLXtunwFCOFH1tblHYOGNHVDKTIs8oWNDptPx8sYdTNlB1kDvGrJrdmMnkwnLMQYkkI6CB8QRVanLc_aAUpgfDtJ0Rk_k7m0_Ow/s627/STONETOOLS3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="627" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20J_p5Ib6W9gBzVhDqivCkFy5Oz8n9X6H5KGMSOj4768fZ6-kmBhcsP-sQcIcUMa4KoVjqpIDkemQCxliFN45Vyn5sLXtunwFCOFH1tblHYOGNHVDKTIs8oWNDptPx8sYdTNlB1kDvGrJrdmMnkwnLMQYkkI6CB8QRVanLc_aAUpgfDtJ0Rk_k7m0_Ow/w640-h498/STONETOOLS3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dating of artefacts
found at a site in western Ukraine suggests that archaic humans had entered
Europe’s eastern gate by 1.4 million years ago. Stone tools found in western
Ukraine date to roughly 1.4 million years ago1, archaeologists say. That means
the tools are the oldest known artefacts in Europe made by ancient humans and
offer insight into how and when our early relatives first reached the region.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNB-yRsJ0sKF75n_GWQE-dkMTdSPDQuWzzYzb-1ViJ_xw9zIZ8bvJLHrytAEb6_AU5Xl7EH_h3xd0MhipVgTuRIEm7zFEfHdLMnYz3M292yFG1KxO11EQUbUmT4lmKo5ssDq1N_6k2vKrgjxWeRNBocIRDRFZkwvwbnjiIuT98QVepS_WK_IqYA0UbqM/s641/STONETOOLS2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="641" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNB-yRsJ0sKF75n_GWQE-dkMTdSPDQuWzzYzb-1ViJ_xw9zIZ8bvJLHrytAEb6_AU5Xl7EH_h3xd0MhipVgTuRIEm7zFEfHdLMnYz3M292yFG1KxO11EQUbUmT4lmKo5ssDq1N_6k2vKrgjxWeRNBocIRDRFZkwvwbnjiIuT98QVepS_WK_IqYA0UbqM/w640-h416/STONETOOLS2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The findings support the
theory that these early arrivals — probably of the versatile species Homo
erectus — entered Europe from the east and spread west, says study co-lead
author Roman Garba, an archaeologist at the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague.
“Until now, there was no strong evidence for an east-to-west migration,” he
says. “Now we have it.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prehistoric sites
documenting the presence of human ancestors in Europe before 800,000 years ago
are extremely rare, says Véronique Michel, a geochronologist at the University
of Côte d’Azur in Nice, France, who was not involved in the research. “This new
study adds another piece to the puzzle [of] the dispersal of early hominins in
Europe.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The findings were
published on 6 March in Nature. Set in stone<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The tools were
discovered in the 1980s at the Korolevo archaeological site near Ukraine’s
border with Romania, yet no one had been able to precisely date them.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkehKRzmF1s2blfkNhO_8mqPnzRV320D6NDcA9sYcvLScCWYP6mP2AK39QNa5KX3l6ztY8rnu1A5fai8zKwIGAKpCcE2jjlq0jeYn5B4DqTSbrZdUkA5XpwikFHqVGt6P3K9sL4KcsP2f0Zb3cZYmrc2S2t6H5Jq5lTbdwiLYR1sCVHznt1aedQZrwUPY/s750/STONETOOLS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="750" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkehKRzmF1s2blfkNhO_8mqPnzRV320D6NDcA9sYcvLScCWYP6mP2AK39QNa5KX3l6ztY8rnu1A5fai8zKwIGAKpCcE2jjlq0jeYn5B4DqTSbrZdUkA5XpwikFHqVGt6P3K9sL4KcsP2f0Zb3cZYmrc2S2t6H5Jq5lTbdwiLYR1sCVHznt1aedQZrwUPY/w640-h502/STONETOOLS1.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Carbon dating, the
archaeological workhorse, is getting a major reboot<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To do so, Garba and his
colleagues used a dating method based on cosmogenic nuclides — rare isotopes
generated when high-energy cosmic rays collide with chemical elements in
minerals on Earth’s surface. Changes in the concentrations of these cosmogenic
nuclides can reveal how long ago a mineral was buried. By calculating the ratio
of specific cosmogenic nuclides in the sediment layer in which the tools were
buried, the team estimated that the implements must be 1.4 million years old.
The dating analyses, Michel says, “appear highly reliable”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Until now, the earliest
precisely dated evidence of hominins in Europe comprised fossils2 and stone
tools3 found in Spain and France. Both are 1.1 million to 1.2 million years
old.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Intrepid travellers</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The dates of the
Korolevo tools lead the researchers to speculate that the human ancestors who
made them were H. erectus, the only archaic humans known to have lived outside
Africa about 1.4 million years ago. What’s more, the Korolevo tools resemble
those found at archaeological sites in the Caucasus Mountains that have been
linked to H. erectus and dated to about 1.8 million years ago, says Mads
Knudsen, a geoscientist at Aarhus University in Denmark, who co-led the study.
However, Knudsen adds, Korolevo’s most ancient layer of sediment didn’t yield
any fossilized human remains, so it is impossible to say for sure that the
tools were made by H. erectus.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Geographically, Korolevo
lies between older archaeological sites at the intersection of Asia and Europe,
and younger sites in southwestern Europe. The findings give a fuller picture of
the direction of travel probably taken by the first Europeans, supporting the
idea that they spread from east to west — perhaps along the valleys of the
Danube River, Garba says.Korolevo is a treasure trove of prehistoric remains,
says study co-author Vitaly Usyk, an archaeologist affiliated with the National
Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, who visited the site last year with
Garba for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The
Korolevo site is relatively safe and hasn’t been damaged during the war,
although the area is now overgrown with vegetation, Garba says. “I can imagine
doing fieldwork there even now.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, Usyk notes, few
scientists can participate in field research at Korolevo or anywhere else in
the country, because of travel restrictions or because they have fled the
conflict. Usyk himself left Ukraine in 2022 and is now working at the Institute
of Archaeology in Brno, Czech Republic, with a fellowship that allows him to
continue doing his research. “Would I like to go back [to Ukraine]? Yes, of
course,” he says. “I would like to organize expeditions to Korolevo to help
other scientists reveal how ancient humans came from Africa to Europe.”</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro5pSmbfXPfbFJHh2rO9yEoZNGbAuCmwnOLQKoDSpRy3us6YUcapLo0vxEFGbPt7ZD6cA0em0qy7iqSLkusMmH9_7shwPV1AHdLYH0u5wrDCCp04Xa9TqOGOa3sJ5RMYruuhXtKcOsHOw_IxemSjX-xdruFHs8D1jeyXLa75e8Te9idudIKk9snu1-z0/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro5pSmbfXPfbFJHh2rO9yEoZNGbAuCmwnOLQKoDSpRy3us6YUcapLo0vxEFGbPt7ZD6cA0em0qy7iqSLkusMmH9_7shwPV1AHdLYH0u5wrDCCp04Xa9TqOGOa3sJ5RMYruuhXtKcOsHOw_IxemSjX-xdruFHs8D1jeyXLa75e8Te9idudIKk9snu1-z0/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Mission 2024:
NDA buries the hatchet, back with old allies<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YZKjFUWlwC0CtRbh1nHl7G2an2a_LrsmIqdMpH9jQjScIM3RY9SrNpIF6A0w1Zrtzy08yD9gzACRN6BxjW9SATY0OfAVBQUpemQm5FHpySr-dqRZLpNDp_Via6cFrzoVVlkwNWHK2WFVOm9HvLVQuhyAylckglrVnDSQtqm3thyJnp9u2P1lwNlq6vs/s538/BJP-ALLIES1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="538" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YZKjFUWlwC0CtRbh1nHl7G2an2a_LrsmIqdMpH9jQjScIM3RY9SrNpIF6A0w1Zrtzy08yD9gzACRN6BxjW9SATY0OfAVBQUpemQm5FHpySr-dqRZLpNDp_Via6cFrzoVVlkwNWHK2WFVOm9HvLVQuhyAylckglrVnDSQtqm3thyJnp9u2P1lwNlq6vs/w640-h414/BJP-ALLIES1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With the BJP securing
alliances in a bid to meet its target of winning over 400 of the 543 Lok Sabha
seats, the TDP-JS combine is well on its way to a formal induction into the NDA<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Late night meetings are
part and parcel of the election season. On Thursday evening, the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) leadership began conversations with two regional parties
that went on for long to firm up a possible alliance.Former Andhra Pradesh chief
minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who heads the Telugu Desam Party, and
actor-turned politician Pawan Kalyan, who heads the Jana Sena, met Union home
minister Amit Shah for talks on pre-poll tie-ups.The TDP, which walked out of
the BJP-led NDA in 2018 over the issue of granting special status to Andhra
Pradesh, has been sending feelers to be reincluded in the coalition. Kalyan too
has played a role in helping Naidu mend fences with the BJP.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With the BJP securing
alliances in a bid to meet its target of winning over 400 of the 543 Lok Sabha
seats, the TDP-JS combine is well on its way to a formal induction into the
NDA. The nitty-gritty of seat sharing for both the Lok Sabha and state
elections is nearly over.The new alliance will give the BJP room to gain a foothold
in the southern state and help bag more seats in the general elections. The
party has been working hard to emerge as an alternative in Andhra Pradesh but
has little to show in terms of electoral performance. It has does not have a
single legislator in the 175-member assembly, while its vote share in the
previous assembly elections was less than 1%.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In July, the party
appointed D Purandeswari as the state unit president with an eye on Naidu’s
vote bank. Daughter of the late NT Rama Rao, the founder of TDP, Purandeswari
is related to Naidu and is from the politically dominant Kamma community.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Social welfare schemes
and sops for consumers have been integral to the BJP-led NDA governments’
policies in the last decade. With schemes such as Ujjwala Yojana for subsidised
gas connections, PM Kisan Nidhi, PM Awas Yojna, the government created a new
vote bank of beneficiaries or ‘labharthis’.While the government takes credit
for empowering the poor and the marginalised through schemes, there has been
criticism from the opposition that spiraling costs of fuel have made it hard
for the common man to pay for the refills of cooking gas cylinders.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To rule out any damage
to its electoral foray, the government on Thursday announced a subsidy for
cooking gas through a ₹12,000 crore bonanza to 102.7 million poor households by
extending ₹300 subsidy on cooking gas refills for one more year up to 31 March
2025.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">From 21 May 2022, the
government has been providing budgetary support for a targeted subsidy of ₹200
per 14.2kg LPG cylinder for PMUY beneficiaries for up to 12 refills a year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) BJD, BJP hold
discussions for alliance in Lok Sabha, Odisha polls<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8pLDHGoLBS4irv3pz3RjpeMV87zixUjBbFjf6A2Wk4NPVSNQ7BJ3dKqj2jS8s9dPufVD8fs9zXZXkEux8gD8c6ZiF6ygCZk9Op5MgvDoNpZLpMIl5jWqDakukkGRkxvumUaNzj1zgf6EknqXmt_jjZjXg7M5NZcChyphenhyphenXHk1KID2NjMsGXEUHzitO6M4s/s529/MODI-BJD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="529" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8pLDHGoLBS4irv3pz3RjpeMV87zixUjBbFjf6A2Wk4NPVSNQ7BJ3dKqj2jS8s9dPufVD8fs9zXZXkEux8gD8c6ZiF6ygCZk9Op5MgvDoNpZLpMIl5jWqDakukkGRkxvumUaNzj1zgf6EknqXmt_jjZjXg7M5NZcChyphenhyphenXHk1KID2NjMsGXEUHzitO6M4s/w640-h414/MODI-BJD.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to leaders of
both the parties, the two former allies were working out the contours of a
seat-sharing pact for the simultaneous polls.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hectic parleys were
underway between the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
on Wednesday for a possible alliance ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls
According to leaders of both the parties, the two former allies, who parted
ways in 2009, were working out the contours of a seat-sharing pact for the
assembly elections and Lok Sabha polls, which is scheduled to be held in Odisha
simultaneously this summer. The BJD is considered a “friendly party” to the
ruling BJP, having lent support to the Union government for the passage of
crucial bills.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But it was being pursued
by the BJP to renew its ties with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as
part of the coalition’s efforts to win 400+ seats in the polls.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On Wednesday, BJD chief
and Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik held meetings with senior party
leaders in Bhubaneshwar. Meetings were also held in the national capital where
the BJP discussed the specifics of seat-sharing both for the 147 assembly seats
and the 21 Lok Sabha seats.The BJP’s core group on Odisha also met in the
Capital to discuss candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, ahead of the central
election committee’s meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The BJP wants to
contest more seats than the BJD. In the last election the party won eight of
the 21 seats and this time it is keen to contest more than 15 if the two
parties announce an alliance. Similarly, it has put forth a number for the
assembly as well...” said a party functionary, requesting anonymity.In 2019,
the BJD won 112 assembly seats to form the government in the state, while the
BJP won 23, which was 13 more than the tally in 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the Lok Sabha, the
BJD won 12 seats, the BJP eight and the Congress one.After two meetings of
senior leaders at Naveen Patnaik’s residence chaired by the CM, the BJD issued
a cryptic statement.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Odisha is heading
towards next level of development and efforts are on by the CM Naveen
Patnaik-led government in this regard. Odisha will complete 100 years of its
statehood and BJD and CM has major milestones to be achieved by this time.
Therefore, Biju Janata Dal will do everything towards this in the greater
interests of people of Odisha and the State. The party supremo will take the
decision which will be apt for Odisha,” said party vice-president and senior
MLA Debi Prasad Mishra.Senior BJD leader Arun Sahoo added that several issues
were discussed. The BJP also played its cards close to its chest.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“There was discussion on
alliance but nothing is final now. The top leaders of the party will decide on
it. But we have told that we will fight alone. We gave our opinion, but
whatever the central leaders of the party decide, we will abide by it. Various
issues on how to fight elections were discussed at the crucial meeting,” said
BJP MP and former Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram.</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Lok Sabha polls:
Congress unveils 5 guarantees to woo youth in poll promise<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5lDUwSMyaNeTs0YAhJwuT7GPhGBqe8pLvD47h9o-S6gir04YjXQvcYjZJYAbs4B4gKygdV8HwU1esnSDZ6t3Fe45mYka8rIwffrBEyl1E0NEUaxcXcu2WWw0gOmDGm1rAla3Z1RDVXt8H0ZE9pnwEpPmzEChl_-T6gBzcAh_3TjSw3tvDkG72qh3jcU/s765/RAHUL-YUVA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="765" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5lDUwSMyaNeTs0YAhJwuT7GPhGBqe8pLvD47h9o-S6gir04YjXQvcYjZJYAbs4B4gKygdV8HwU1esnSDZ6t3Fe45mYka8rIwffrBEyl1E0NEUaxcXcu2WWw0gOmDGm1rAla3Z1RDVXt8H0ZE9pnwEpPmzEChl_-T6gBzcAh_3TjSw3tvDkG72qh3jcU/w640-h404/RAHUL-YUVA.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Congress government
will guarantee a "bharti bharosa" to the youth, where the Centre will
take steps to fill three million vacant government jobs As part of its poll
promise for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the Congress will focus on offering solutions to unemployment, including
promising to fill the three million government vacancies. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On Thursday, Congress
president Mallikarjun Kharge said a Congress government at the Centre will
usher in a “rozgar (employment) revolution” with five “guarantees” for the
country’s youth. A Congress government will guarantee a “bharti bharosa” to the
youth, where the Centre will take steps to fill three million vacant government
jobs. “A timeline will be decided from examination to recruitment,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Second, it will
“guarantee a first job” by introducing a “right to apprenticeship law.”This
will provide for “apprenticeship training to every diploma or degree holder
below 25 years of age in the government or private sector.” All apprentices
will receive Rs 100,000, which works out to Rs 8,500 a month for a year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Other three “guarantees”
include taking steps to curb the leakage of examination papers of government recruitment,
a law to ensure social security and better working conditions for gig economy
workers, and setting up a Rs 5,000 crore corpus to fund startups of youth below
30 years of age.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Addressing a public
meeting in Rajasthan’s Banswara, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi elaborated upon
his party’s “five Yuva (youth) Nyay guarantees”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) SC To Hear SBI’s
Plea On Extension Of Deadline To Submit Details Of Electoral Bond On March 11<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDd044Halc227u_Wjyf5W_h5eZRk8wdE8RqN2Q2IvMzuYBIg0nOfM4kg3ptqyp2zX3n-fYYaSx1a2zEZ5nbk5Cri01Fh6YAq7WEbsEOK3AUz5Zf9sjzxM7nKNUorLXVOK9ZgpbWGAaSZsU1Vwjl91uDMfKjYSoqlxzamRw5d4BiOQrhobpfj6GBOqHC2E/s1600/SBI-PLEAINSC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDd044Halc227u_Wjyf5W_h5eZRk8wdE8RqN2Q2IvMzuYBIg0nOfM4kg3ptqyp2zX3n-fYYaSx1a2zEZ5nbk5Cri01Fh6YAq7WEbsEOK3AUz5Zf9sjzxM7nKNUorLXVOK9ZgpbWGAaSZsU1Vwjl91uDMfKjYSoqlxzamRw5d4BiOQrhobpfj6GBOqHC2E/w640-h360/SBI-PLEAINSC.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Association for
Democratic Reforms (ADR) filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court
accusing the State Bank of India of failing to provide the Election Commission
with information regarding electoral bonds. he Supreme Court will hear a plea
from the State Bank of India (SBI) on March 11, regarding an extension of the
deadline until June 30 to provide the Election Commission of India with
information about electoral bonds. The case will be heard by a five-judge bench
chaired by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. On the same day, the
Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) will also have its contempt petition
heard by the bench.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Contempt Petition
Filed By ADR</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Association for
Democratic Reforms (ADR) has filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court
accusing the State Bank of India of failing to provide the Election Commission
with information regarding electoral bonds.ADR attorney Prashant Bhushan
informed the apex court that the State Bank of India had submitted an
application for an extension, which is anticipated to be listed on Monday, and
brought up the case before a bench chaired by CJI DY Chandrachud on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prashat Bhushan on
Thursday pleaded the Supreme Court to include ADR’s argument in addition to
SBI’s submission. What Was SC’s Order To SBI?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Supreme Court’s
Constitution bench ordered the SBI to provide the Election Commission of India
with all the information it has received regarding political parties that have
obtained electoral bonds from April 12, 2019, by March 6. This occurred after
the Supreme Court declared that the Electoral Bond Program violated Article
19(1)(a) and was unconstitutional, leading to its repeal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SBI’s Request To
Extend Deadline</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The State Bank of India
(SBI) approached the Supreme Court to request an extension of time until June
30 to provide the information of electoral bonds to the Election Commission of
India, as SBI missed the deadline to submit the details. In its plea, SBI
stated that it requires more time to reveal information about electoral bonds
that political parties have cashed in.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ADR’s Claim Over
SBI </span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ADR has now attempted to
start contempt proceedings against SBI for failing to follow the court’s order.
It claims that SBI has willfully and deliberately disregarded the ruling made
by the top court’s Constitution Bench, which willfully undermines the apex
court’s authority in addition to negating citizens’ rights to information.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ADR in one of its
petitions in the case, claimed that the State Bank of India (SBI) had submitted
the application, which is fraudulent and shows willful and deliberate
disobedience & defiance of the ruling made by the top court’s Constitution
Bench, two days ahead of the deadline for SBI to provide information regarding
electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India. It is evident from the
contempt plea that there is an effort to weaken the supreme court’s authority.</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) ‘Wilfully
disobeyed’ SC directions: Contempt plea against SBI over electoral bonds by
newslaurndry team:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjfHuiki0wU40sf-eSXEDAWAxuZcbCk8a48MbqHojfPpibgJS_im3fOBrDstCp3K-2Af67LpppTgsm7FZDb52qkvqCvbT55G1neM3HcZBUP1GCmRSJo1nMN4Q9l6GWCOLTtPAgPMOGxVpRQQZUMnepXVnU_0x_6rGRTsPF6MVbm7dVRdl-u_noomIG8A/s1200/electoral%20bond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjfHuiki0wU40sf-eSXEDAWAxuZcbCk8a48MbqHojfPpibgJS_im3fOBrDstCp3K-2Af67LpppTgsm7FZDb52qkvqCvbT55G1neM3HcZBUP1GCmRSJo1nMN4Q9l6GWCOLTtPAgPMOGxVpRQQZUMnepXVnU_0x_6rGRTsPF6MVbm7dVRdl-u_noomIG8A/w640-h360/electoral%20bond.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The EC earlier said it
had no information on whether the SBI had adhered to the court’s deadline. A
contempt petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against the State Bank of
India after it reportedly missed the March 6 deadline to disclose information
about electoral bonds purchased and encashed since 2019, LiveLaw reported.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This comes a day after
the Election Commission said it had “no information or comments to offer” on
whether the SBI had adhered to the deadline.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The SBI had on Monday
moved the apex court seeking time till June 30 to disclose details of all
electoral bonds purchased or encashed by political parties.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On Thursday, the
Association of Democratic Reforms moved the top court saying the SBI had
“wilfully and deliberately disobeyed” the verdict passed by the Constitution
bench of the court on February 15, according to LiveLaw. “The same not only
negates the right to information of the citizens, but also wilfully undermines
the authority” of the court, the ADR reportedly said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Appearing for ADR,
advocate Prashant Bhushan mentioned the plea before CJI DY Chandrachud for
urgent listing. He said the petition could be listed along with the SBI’s
petition, which is likely to be listed next week and seeks more time to
disclose the information.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Bank Employees
Federation of India had earlier said that SBI must stick to the deadline set by
the top court.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Supreme Court
verdict in February had tried to assuage concerns surrounding transparency in
political funding ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An investigation by
Newslaundry and The News Minute had earlier highlighted a pattern to the money
flow driving the BJP’s financial rise. Read all about it here.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress had
subsequently demanded a white paper from the BJP over its finances.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Narendra Modi in
Kashmir Highlights: In Srinagar, PM emphasises on ‘Wed in India’ call<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyn_RnZ0vk5opuj0ezOFwgW3UlYQ6ItEvWz5gZQpKOtmz5roLzGi19SaBotYYKN2Y4BKGZHYqbgb-VEctRFtz9c30WhutsyV_6iJd06_DV-TezgX9BwDA69ZuGjLmlUss6o20RUZUim9K909h69x5W92bYp4yo0NmmuzbDqfncDLHb38P4m_Bodn2msuA/s363/MODIONKASHMIR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="363" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyn_RnZ0vk5opuj0ezOFwgW3UlYQ6ItEvWz5gZQpKOtmz5roLzGi19SaBotYYKN2Y4BKGZHYqbgb-VEctRFtz9c30WhutsyV_6iJd06_DV-TezgX9BwDA69ZuGjLmlUss6o20RUZUim9K909h69x5W92bYp4yo0NmmuzbDqfncDLHb38P4m_Bodn2msuA/w640-h424/MODIONKASHMIR.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Narendra Modi Kashmir
visit Highlights: PM Modi unveiled multiple developmental projects worth Rs.
6,400 crore during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jammu
and Kashmir's Srinagar today to take part in the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu
Kashmir’ initiative. During this visit, he inaugurated and dedicated multiple
developmental projects worth Rs. 6,400 crore, including the ‘Holistic
Agriculture Development Programme’, valued at Rs. 5000 crore, aimed at
enhancing the Union Territory's agricultural economy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Thursday's visit marks
PM Narendra Modi's first trip to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of
Article 370.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFjXC2zt1qGInyAbXoQHDR36NWmsUHIUuYIlaUNmSKyOiuXQ-5hbIejwYZGhU1GYH-g2ZvUkvrfr73eABMTEF9nV7s88gZjmcmVb6aXlXtfcX1pUMwcXf20yCfqEzf3DT8nAk-LjX89yDAt58Ds5GHRXdMa47huU-9Xgwd7IfqDV7UHK7ozY2thYP2K4/s774/MODIONKASHMIR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="774" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFjXC2zt1qGInyAbXoQHDR36NWmsUHIUuYIlaUNmSKyOiuXQ-5hbIejwYZGhU1GYH-g2ZvUkvrfr73eABMTEF9nV7s88gZjmcmVb6aXlXtfcX1pUMwcXf20yCfqEzf3DT8nAk-LjX89yDAt58Ds5GHRXdMa47huU-9Xgwd7IfqDV7UHK7ozY2thYP2K4/w640-h396/MODIONKASHMIR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Key projects inaugurated
in Srinagar today -<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">• In the realm of
tourism, PM Modi inaugurated multiple projects totalling over Rs. 1400 crore
under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes. This includes initiating the
‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’ project in Srinagar.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">• He distributed
appointment letters to approximately 1000 new government recruits in Jammu and
Kashmir. Additionally, he engaged with beneficiaries of various government
schemes, including women achievers, successful farmers, entrepreneurs, and
others.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">• PM Modi also
introduced the nation's first-ever initiative, 'Dekho Apna Desh People's Choice
2024', to gauge the pulse of the nation on tourism. The initiative aims to
involve citizens in identifying preferred tourist attractions and understanding
perceptions across five tourism categories.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">• A total of 43 projects
aimed at developing pilgrimage and tourist sites across the nation are set to
be launched, encompassing significant religious destinations such as the
Annavaram Temple in Andhra Pradesh and the Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">• Furthermore, PM Modi also
kickstarted the ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign’, seeking to motivate the
Indian diaspora to become ambassadors for ‘Incredible India’ and promote
tourism to the country.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">7) Rahul Gandhi to
fight Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad, Amethi seat uncertain<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJs8DRj7Rg-c6J-15UHfGkupGS31SuBNgMngkn6cHKn_FU8cqLl7fsGryKhaScduAqQNHMgrnBG_VkYgPDW6olQdvnFAyi7HSBxJJDvfmItuE7RrwPqUU0-1oqjJsrpXJf4kYcnYUIYfg7D16STSNFLnW03Nz6BoA4EtabZPy44mTcLCfl0WFGqAmK5U/s359/RAHUL%60S%20SEAT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="359" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJs8DRj7Rg-c6J-15UHfGkupGS31SuBNgMngkn6cHKn_FU8cqLl7fsGryKhaScduAqQNHMgrnBG_VkYgPDW6olQdvnFAyi7HSBxJJDvfmItuE7RrwPqUU0-1oqjJsrpXJf4kYcnYUIYfg7D16STSNFLnW03Nz6BoA4EtabZPy44mTcLCfl0WFGqAmK5U/w640-h474/RAHUL%60S%20SEAT.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress convened a
meeting of the party's central election committee on Thursday to finalise the
first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Congress committee
hands over draft manifesto for Lok Sabha polls Meanwhile, the Congress manifesto
committee, headed by former finance minister P Chidambaram, has prepared a
draft manifesto for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The draft was
presented to Congress president Kharge which will be presented to CEC for
further discussion and finalisation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the first time,
Congress is set to include the "right to employment" for youths in
its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. The draft manifesto is formulated by
the committee led by former union minister P Chidambaram and includes committee
members- Shashi Tharoor, K Raju, Gurdeep Sappal, and Imran Pratapgarhi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Our draft
manifesto based on 'NYAY' for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections is ready and was
presented to me today by the Congress manifesto committee," Kharge said on
Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Lok Sabha elections
are anticipated to take place in April-May this year.</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GYKDFlnAgP34UK6ZaJ6MswC7lJtCTKuuU6NzbBPitAoKbvwxmOvhhQWmharW6QBAJjTpOx85Vjishu17vpo8WzTJejZhxsZ7b2GCK4IGneFHDrNL9H2pbP6W-c24MGPp66Wy_CyhNlwqAB73fm3t1wuX7Yn4KrqYE6W-3TsLMLzn8_i985m0a5rTTQY/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GYKDFlnAgP34UK6ZaJ6MswC7lJtCTKuuU6NzbBPitAoKbvwxmOvhhQWmharW6QBAJjTpOx85Vjishu17vpo8WzTJejZhxsZ7b2GCK4IGneFHDrNL9H2pbP6W-c24MGPp66Wy_CyhNlwqAB73fm3t1wuX7Yn4KrqYE6W-3TsLMLzn8_i985m0a5rTTQY/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Wrestling trials
to be held by ad hoc Committee<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-czsKo0fxjs4EujNmdoMGre2vh3APNpOoSWXoVcRSt3Zo3t-q6ZFd0gPiLdBTcH4Qz1BUN4_PLkfSNylcmmtyNGQIgs52FO-024-s7NsVSkmN7qBaKAR1hbXbVSw36l-XNnlvZYADAZnxCNnUVgHikZukToFGltpuB1E-RuES6tRxP3OhG07wKMW93Uk/s533/WRESTLING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="533" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-czsKo0fxjs4EujNmdoMGre2vh3APNpOoSWXoVcRSt3Zo3t-q6ZFd0gPiLdBTcH4Qz1BUN4_PLkfSNylcmmtyNGQIgs52FO-024-s7NsVSkmN7qBaKAR1hbXbVSw36l-XNnlvZYADAZnxCNnUVgHikZukToFGltpuB1E-RuES6tRxP3OhG07wKMW93Uk/w640-h404/WRESTLING.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">WFI said it will
withdraw its circular regarding the trials after the bench said 'we can't have
2 parallel trials'Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) undertook to withdraw its
notice conducting selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships
2024 and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Wrestling Tournament on March 10 and 11
on Thursday, after Delhi high court’s nudge that there cannot be two parallel
trials.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The court after taking
note of WFIs undertaking directed that the trials for the championships shall
proceed in accordance with WFIs Ad Hoc Committee’s February 9 circular calling
wrestlers for selection trials for the exact same event and on the same dates
and all the eligible candidates shall be allowed to participate in the same.
Let the trial by the ad hoc committee go on. Why parallel trials? At least the
country will speak in a single voice. Let the trial proposed by the ad hoc
committee go on. Instead of country making spectacle of itself, why don’t you
bend for now? For now, don’t have spoke in the wheels. Keep your hands off
& don’t be a spoilt sport. We’ll find a comprehensive solution. We can’t
have 2 parallel trials. Show some sportsmanship. You withdraw your circular.” a
bench of justice Sachin Datta said to senior advocate Dayanan Krishnan who
appeared for the WFI.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"After some
hearing, Mr. Dayan Krishnan, learned senior counsel who seeks to appear for
respondent no.2 (through Mr. Sanjay Kumar Singh) submits, on instructions, that
without prejudice to his rights and contentions, the circular dated 26.02.2024,
filed as Annexure P-26 to the present petition, may be treated as withdrawn. It
is directed accordingly. Consequently, there shall be no parallel selection
trials, as apprehended in the present application. The selection trials shall
proceed as The selection trials shall proceed as per the circular/ press
release dated 09.02.2024. Needless to say, the ad-hoc committee shall ensure
that all athletes, which are found eligible, are permitted to participate in
the trial." the court said in the order.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The court was dealing
with a plea filed by the four wrestlers including Bajrang Punia challenging
WFIs February 26 notice, claiming that federation had deliberately issued the
notice despite being barred by the union sports ministry from conducting
championships and having knowledge of WFI ad hoc committee’s February 9 press
release.The plea also filed by Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and her husband
Satyawart stated that ministry’s January 7 notice was still in operation with
the status quo maintained. To be sure, the ministry in the said notice while
restraining WFI from conducting competitions had categorically stated that any
championships organised by the former’s suspended executive committee would be
treated as unsanctioned and unrecognized.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It is submitted that
unless Respondent No. 2 is specifically restrained from conducting such events
or issuing any such circulars it will continue to mislead, manipulate,
influence, threaten and create undue and unnecessary adversities for the
wrestling sportspersons. Two parallel national championships shall result in
utmost confusion and disparity amongst contesting athletes leading to multiple
qualification entrants for the International Governing bodies,” the plea
read.On Thursday, senior advocate Dayanan Krishnan, had initially submitted
that the United World Wrestling (UWW) would neither recognise a team not sent
by the elected WFI, nor consider the participation of the wrestlers. He had
also assured that the entire trials would be video-graphed and there would be a
live telecast. Krishnan had further said that the plea wherein the wrestlers
had also sought to declare WFI’s December 21, 2023 elections as illegal was not
maintainable since they had not made the successful candidates as parties.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The wrestlers appearing
through senior advocate Rahul Mehra submitted that the trials conducted by
suspended WFI would be in teeth of the National Sports Code, 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While the union sports
ministry appearing through standing counsel Anil Soni suggested that WFI as
well as the WFI ad hoc committee should put forth dual suggestions regarding
the trials. “Our prime concern is that those medallists should go under the
national flag. Our third -party interference is limited,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) India vs England
Live Score 5th Test Day 2, IND vs ENG: Bashir, Hartley trigger India collapse
in final session<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuGd3w-9aT8ufyY651rPf-rxw98NKSrdxM2aIrtkcPI04-qu4L_zLQjzU9xbrQQ3M5c08pFCjErYvWoqa1jH2P2Medct-oVQCTvjhItIMazTmRUAlQKGczpouxTDDYmgDvl_W88iMIAY64rrt4OE2NXpG3uOYGZVgXWsXoJcCJULFDvENMoD6mkuiOVQ/s362/IND%20VS%20ENG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="362" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuGd3w-9aT8ufyY651rPf-rxw98NKSrdxM2aIrtkcPI04-qu4L_zLQjzU9xbrQQ3M5c08pFCjErYvWoqa1jH2P2Medct-oVQCTvjhItIMazTmRUAlQKGczpouxTDDYmgDvl_W88iMIAY64rrt4OE2NXpG3uOYGZVgXWsXoJcCJULFDvENMoD6mkuiOVQ/w640-h406/IND%20VS%20ENG.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sarfaraz Khan and
Devdutt Padikkal seem to have put India back in cruise mode after England made
a dream start to the second session of Day 2. The visitors were belted around
the park by Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the first session. However, Ben
Stokes finally bowled for the first time since the Ashes last year and ended up
dismissing Rohit on 103 off 162 off the very first ball of his over with a
magical delivery. Stokes thus ended a 171-run partnership after which Anderson
dismissed Gill on 110 off 150 in the next over and thus got to 699 Test
wickets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Padikkal then
counterattacked for India while Sarfaraz played himself in. The latter shifted
gears and started playing at his usual pace after the drinks break in the
second session.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rohit and Gill,
particularly the latter, bossed the proceedings in the first session of Day 2.
Both players cruised past their respective centuries and Gill took India into
the lead with his fourth six of the innings. The two batters ended up hitting
boundaries at will and not giving even a glimmer of a chance in the first
session.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On Day 1, Ben Duckett
and Zak Crawley had seen England through the first 45 odd minutes quite
miraculously, despite Jasprit Bumrah turning the ball around corners. They also
managed to keep the scorecard ticking and eventually, India got their reward
only when Kuldeep Yadav came in.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With Mohammed Siraj and
Jasprit Bumrah bowling a string of tidy overs full of some of the most
unplayable deliveries, England were off to something, but all that changed when
Kuldeep was given the ball to. Seven years removed from his Test debut at this
very venue, it was as if time had stood still. Admired highly by the late great
Shane Warne, Kuldeep produced a spell much like the spin wizard in a 45-minute
breathtaking display of bowling.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">England, who looked
rather set on 137/2, did not know what hit them, and crumbled to 218 all out –
losing 7 wickets for 81 runs in yet another batting collapse. Kuldeep began the
carnage by first foxing Duckett by a google as Shubman Gill took a catch – that
reminded India of a certain Travis Head – to give India the first breakthrough.
Ollie Pope's post-196 struggles continued and he was out stumped, so far down
the track was he that it was almost as if he wanted to have an early lunch.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Crawley, having smashed
a fourth half-century of the series, played some glorious shots but like the
previous three occasions, could not convert it into a century. Kuldeep,
channeling her inner Warne, produced his version of the 'ball of the century'
that turned nine degrees and then some to castle the England opener.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And the collapse had
begun. Jonny Bairstow, playing his 100th Test, played a cameo of sorts but one
fancy drive too many and the edge was taken by Dhruv Jurel. In between the
Kuldeep show, Ravindra Jadeja snuck in with the wicket of Joe Root, and when
Kuldeep picked up his fifth, having Stokes pinned on the backfoot, he had his
fifer – richly deserved – and gave the England captain one of the worst batting
returns of his career. With five down, Ravichandran Ashwin, the milestone man,
was handed the ball for his second spell and he wrapped up the tail by picking
up four quick wickets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If there was ever a
semblance of hope, it was erased by the Indian openers and Rohit Sharma and
Yashasvi Jaiswal raced away to another blistering start. The pair put on 104
runs at the same pace they have throughout the series. While Rohit batted
cautiously, Yashasvi 'Jaz-balled' his way to another cracking fifty and became
just the second man since the legendary Sunil Gavaskar to go past 700 runs in a
series. Madness.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Usually, Day 3 of a Test
match is called the moving day, but in this case, it could well he today. There
are no demons on this pitch but that’s how good and formidable this Indian
bowling line-up has been. So for England to replicate it, one of Tom Hartley
and Shoaib Bashir need to step up. They both have a five-wicket-haul in this
series and as Ashwin and Kuldeep showed, spinners are in this game from Day 1.
And of course, there is James Anderson, who is eyeing his 100th wicket and some
form back after his lackluster outing in Ranchi. With Dharamsala being the
ideal backdrop for quicks, if not now, then when.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Here are some pointers
from the 5th Test between India and England:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- India were 376/3 at
Tea, leading by 158 runs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Sarfaraz Khan and
Devdutt Padikkal ensured India don't lost their advantage in the second session<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Rohit Sharma scored
his 12th Test century, his fourth as India's captain in the longest format<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Shubman Gill reached
his 4th Test century with a four<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Ben Stokes bowled for
the first time in nine months and dismissed Rohit with his very first delivery<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Rohit fell on 103
while Gill fell in the next over to Anderson on 110<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- India finished 264/1
at Lunch, leading England by 46 runs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- India resumed their
innings on 135/1, behind England by 83 runs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Satwik-Chirag
pair cruises into French Open quarterfinals<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6NEr6S0WpABWjGKsmWRC68z4LQGflU4h9WBBUj69-pmxUlPaJobASIXnplMlwt-VEjHUOS27KZXoR3A1HvSv6x56S7DwPHUxRVG_TTXuNKn3NBXVAnOIo6wqg2NnuByZ42-TUWmo7ZWXUPgtvEK4p5L2vKd4iSOP8v_xCmFspEhZ1HYBVLrl6zfNyM4/s761/BADMINTON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="761" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6NEr6S0WpABWjGKsmWRC68z4LQGflU4h9WBBUj69-pmxUlPaJobASIXnplMlwt-VEjHUOS27KZXoR3A1HvSv6x56S7DwPHUxRVG_TTXuNKn3NBXVAnOIo6wqg2NnuByZ42-TUWmo7ZWXUPgtvEK4p5L2vKd4iSOP8v_xCmFspEhZ1HYBVLrl6zfNyM4/w640-h402/BADMINTON.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Star Indian pair of
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the second round of
French Open Super 750 badminton tournament with a hard-fought win against
Malaysia's Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi here on Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Satwik and Chirag,
ranked world no. 1, had claimed the title in 2022. The Asian Games champions
made a fine start to the tournament by outwitting the world no. 12 Malaysian
combination 21-13 24-22 in 47 minutes for their fifth win in last eight
meetings. Satwik and Chirag, who finished second best in their last three
tournaments, will face another Malaysian pair of Man Wei Chong and Kai Wun Tee
in the next round. World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen came from
behind to eke out a 15-21 21-15 21-3 win over Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama in his
opening round fixture.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The unseeded Indian will
take on third seed Li Shen Feng in the pre-quarterfinal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Commonwealth Games
bronze medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also progressed to the
second round after claiming a 16-21 21-19 21-17 win over Ashwini Ponnappa and
Tanisha Crasto in an all-Indian opening match in women's doubles.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The two pairs are
fighting to qualify for the Paris Olympics. While Tanisha-Ashwini are ranked
11th, Treesa-Gayatri are placed at 14th spot in the Olympic Games qualification
ranking. Treesa and Gayatri are in red-hot form, having played a vital role in
the Indian women's side epic win at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in
Shah Alam, Malaysia last month.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, it was curtains
for Priyanshu Rajawat who suffered a 8-21 15-21 defeat at the hands of reigning
Olympic champion top seed Victor Axelsen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) All games drawn
in final round, Praggnanandhaa finishes joint second<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc2lh3n_XwoZxQfiNAHzt6x_EIp7J2wq02YmpL8lkXrUVNDJpq8UGQDNRL5kHbAE1T3iPAik9569-PdkJLyxGNwiSZWplVnDTDLbpQWAo80uVxf-0wKjFUXsQ-GcDiObP5YZL7K8sKJ7xPR5dhmSY4yeOxyQdskfGbx8fO-rvo1QKJLJOtAWLa6YaAC4/s766/CHESS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="766" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc2lh3n_XwoZxQfiNAHzt6x_EIp7J2wq02YmpL8lkXrUVNDJpq8UGQDNRL5kHbAE1T3iPAik9569-PdkJLyxGNwiSZWplVnDTDLbpQWAo80uVxf-0wKjFUXsQ-GcDiObP5YZL7K8sKJ7xPR5dhmSY4yeOxyQdskfGbx8fO-rvo1QKJLJOtAWLa6YaAC4/w640-h392/CHESS.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">R Praggnanandhaa tried
hard but had to settle for a draw with David Navara of Czech Republic in the
final round of Prague Masters chess tournament that concluded here on
Thursday.R Praggnanandhaa tried hard but had to settle for a draw with David
Navara of Czech Republic in the final round of Prague Masters chess tournament
that concluded here on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Praggnanandhaa can take
heart from the fact that he goes in to the candidates as the top rated Indian
slated to be held in about four weeks from now in Toronto. It took a mammoth
effort from FIDE and various channels to resolve the visa issue for the
candidates but as of now everything seems to be in order for one of the biggest
events of the year. With five draws happening between 10 players in the final
round nothing actually changed. Abdusattarov had won the event with a round to
spare clocking 6/8 and he inched up to 6.5 points for probably his career best
performance.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Praggnanandhaa to his
credit ended on a plus score clocking five points alongside Parham Maghsoodloo
of Iran and surprise packet Ngyen Thai Dai Van of Czech Republic with all three
of them tallying five points out of a possible nine.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gukesh, Richard Rapport
of Romania and David Navara, the local star ended on 4.5 points sharing the
fifth spot followed by Bartel and Keymer having 3.5 points each. Vidit Gujrathi
had to be content with a last place finish on three points. With the three
candidates here in fray from India, Praggnanandhaa seems to be best on form
ahead of Gukesh and Gujrathi. But now that the dates for the challenger of the
next world championship match is fixed it remains to be seen who has the best
nerves.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Results final round
(Indians unless stated): Parham Paghsoodloo (Iri, 5) drew with D Gukesh (4.5);
Vincent Keymer (Ger, 3.5) drew with Vidit Gujrathi (3); Richard Rapport (Rou,
4.5) drew with Nodirbek Abdusattarov (Uzb, 6); R Praggnanandhaa (5) drew with
David Navara (Cze, 4.5); Mateusz Bartel (Pol, 3.5) drew with Nguyen Thai Dai
Van (Cze, 5).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Indian boxer
Nishant makes a winning start at 2024 Olympics Qualifier<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjry-MSXGatETlJjIOth7EUj_TXLHa0cUgDP555wAb2YXOFAwMFkaysj9PmyKwX5upNYeCGRzzQuWcmCgFduh13G_2a_pHBjIIvVSpNGT5Fu4zMbOV9U1JOa3NAbdVhNIqBHBImDwXRmGc6OkxpfaWhHPRfuSs2DIaV25ZGa8WHgFJLqrOI2t2ycbr-0gg/s768/BOXING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="768" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjry-MSXGatETlJjIOth7EUj_TXLHa0cUgDP555wAb2YXOFAwMFkaysj9PmyKwX5upNYeCGRzzQuWcmCgFduh13G_2a_pHBjIIvVSpNGT5Fu4zMbOV9U1JOa3NAbdVhNIqBHBImDwXRmGc6OkxpfaWhHPRfuSs2DIaV25ZGa8WHgFJLqrOI2t2ycbr-0gg/w640-h380/BOXING.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 23-year-old Indian
became even more dominant in the second round with the help of his long reach
and delivered some effective right hooks to win it 5-0. World Championships
bronze medallist Nishant Dev started his campaign at the 1st Olympic Boxing
Qualifier with an exciting 3-1 win against British pugilist Lewis Richardson
but the seasoned Shiva Thapa lost here on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Competing in the men's
71kg category, Nishant didn't take much time to settle in against the
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Richardson and went into the attacking mode
from the word go, winning the first round 4-1. The 23-year-old Indian became
even more dominant in the second round with the help of his long reach and
delivered some effective right hooks to win it 5-0. He produced a controlled
performance in the third round as well and avoided multiple attacks from his
opponent while trying to protect his lead and ultimately won the bout with a
split decision.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Six-time Asian
Championships medallist Shiva Thapa (63.5kg), however, went down to reigning
world champion Uzbekistan's Ruslan Abdullaev.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ruslan, living up to his
reputation with his pinpointed punches, penetrated Shiva's defense multiple
times which forced the Indian pugilist to go on the defensive from the start.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The defensive approach
didn't last long as Abdullaev continued his attacking display before the
referee stopped the contest in the first round. Meanwhile, national champion
Lakshya Chahar (80kg) also made an exit from the competition after losing
against former Asian Championships silver medallist Iran's Gheshlaghi Meysam.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After going down 2-3 in
the first round, Lakshya fought back well in the second and was looking good in
the final round as well. However, the Iranian knocked him out with just 20
seconds remaining on the clock.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Birmingham Commonwealth
Games bronze medallist Jaismine (60kg) also bowed out of the competition with a
0-5 loss against Japan's Ayaka Taguchi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Later Wednesday night,
youth world champion Ankushita Boro (66kg) will face Sonvico Emilie of France
while national champion Sanjeet (92kg) will square off against Aibek Oralbay of
Kazakhstan.The first World Olympic Qualifier is hosting over 590 boxers and
will offer a total of 49 quotas, including 28 for men and 21 for women, at the
2024 Paris Olympics.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Between 45 to 51 boxers
will qualify for the second World Qualification Tournament, to be held in
Bangkok from May 23 to June 3.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India have already
secured four quotas for Paris 2024 with Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti (54kg),
Parveen Hooda (57kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) confirming their berths with
impressive performances at the Asian Games.</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBohIm4GxSr5yFe8FoQgNPw9mcSd6DeRHMlVSoGAGu8HK6Mx6iXmcMkLdTQjlpbtDqloVi6be4KEvxhJsPk87b-HrIOt-86TS3CCxvA3DB7ZJq-Y2uGI9ZPxRZJtufD3Br3T8e4Qz8zh2uJgwTsXYYnJzbyso_H_hnBWPxgMOXadCpdu_9fP6vc0oAAI0/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBohIm4GxSr5yFe8FoQgNPw9mcSd6DeRHMlVSoGAGu8HK6Mx6iXmcMkLdTQjlpbtDqloVi6be4KEvxhJsPk87b-HrIOt-86TS3CCxvA3DB7ZJq-Y2uGI9ZPxRZJtufD3Br3T8e4Qz8zh2uJgwTsXYYnJzbyso_H_hnBWPxgMOXadCpdu_9fP6vc0oAAI0/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /></u></b><p></p></div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SHOWTIME – DISNEY+
HOTSTAR</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Yfpn5_lWaiPquQQ3VAiEgtcVjXNOSscLgQ7EXDXQI-hsYAbA8TicHoCcWEfQohNthvhlHY0bsOOhp4Eurhmqcug32yTdGpyUDjrNwQq2zlDLfbLYcIKIig7ykfZfa7Z3AkYCN-nNYTLcqyio-Zus9BbtwYoD8w96kocnVLNG8JyKH_0S7ShwBkWSKKk/s1920/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Yfpn5_lWaiPquQQ3VAiEgtcVjXNOSscLgQ7EXDXQI-hsYAbA8TicHoCcWEfQohNthvhlHY0bsOOhp4Eurhmqcug32yTdGpyUDjrNwQq2zlDLfbLYcIKIig7ykfZfa7Z3AkYCN-nNYTLcqyio-Zus9BbtwYoD8w96kocnVLNG8JyKH_0S7ShwBkWSKKk/w640-h360/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Disney+ Hotstar will be
rolling out a compelling new drama set in the backdrop of Bollywood. The
upcoming series delves into the depths of the world of entertainment showcasing
the power struggle within the glamorous industry. Created by Sumit Roy, the series
features Emraan Hashmi, Shriya Saran, Naseeruddin Shah, Rajeev Khandelwal, and
Mahima Makwana in prominent roles.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">LAL SALAAM –
NETFLIX<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRvTKKRDFv6dBiZlvq5YIL5_EVyjCZsrMHvTtdxQSk4viKhk4xQxcgadAxi3rHala6ST_X0QO02AmTTgQNIaAOWtfwnfrJ25QiDFk7rB0rihrdPXvhzjHzgyEJFanlFHCLFEC0822P3FqYEOLbTBAvTHrxJs7AMMYDPYqeBA3PbpLaqSkZxbJ5PgRmII/s1200/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRvTKKRDFv6dBiZlvq5YIL5_EVyjCZsrMHvTtdxQSk4viKhk4xQxcgadAxi3rHala6ST_X0QO02AmTTgQNIaAOWtfwnfrJ25QiDFk7rB0rihrdPXvhzjHzgyEJFanlFHCLFEC0822P3FqYEOLbTBAvTHrxJs7AMMYDPYqeBA3PbpLaqSkZxbJ5PgRmII/w640-h360/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After doing good
business at the box office, the Tamil sports drama Lal Salaam is scheduled to
arrive on Netflix this Friday ie. March 8, 2024. Helmed by Aishwarya
Rajinikanth, the film revolves around a man who dreams of becoming a
professional cricketer but encounters several obstacles in his personal life.
According to a Times of India report, Rajinikanth charged a whopping Rs 40
crore for an extended cameo in the film.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOGLA MAMA –
HOICHOI<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiop51BPPU5bELMwo1ay6PHAMsOU5C8bLlRnViZ4OrFYifnFIFtIlrUmo6R6d_7LO_R8VowsHz3D-5P5ggGzaB4mqnrzG0vCTWIrda57k6WKFBKQQwTRVyYBq3tnlLj19UXlr_TvXm_75OVxDKo9aTiIWME-uOVZ2t-MwuKSIoGO892XYGoJeSrO3IK0K8/s1280/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiop51BPPU5bELMwo1ay6PHAMsOU5C8bLlRnViZ4OrFYifnFIFtIlrUmo6R6d_7LO_R8VowsHz3D-5P5ggGzaB4mqnrzG0vCTWIrda57k6WKFBKQQwTRVyYBq3tnlLj19UXlr_TvXm_75OVxDKo9aTiIWME-uOVZ2t-MwuKSIoGO892XYGoJeSrO3IK0K8/w640-h360/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Adding to the list of
new OTT releases arriving later this week apart from Damsel, Showtime, and more
is Dhrubo Banerjee’s Bogla Mama. The Bengali film tells the story of a middle-aged
man whose love for theatre lands him in trouble when a local gangster
commissions him to stage a play.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">TERA KYA HOGA
LOVELY – THEATRES<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGYf8VE7buK7vODsYS5cNSMqgI9IE7U8gf_3acFmXrjpqYcmPAT7eYxmeDVyueZEAfMBDz3rvFwShL0x5jlzZatn3714M7HQnhGNrjPxjRgVNff5NglOHa4RTH4okORCzpCsC-5aqabKkHbcyAT4dUOxxjogNPsoZnu1Su8CpYz__noaOzMHD5Q7YhMA/s1280/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGYf8VE7buK7vODsYS5cNSMqgI9IE7U8gf_3acFmXrjpqYcmPAT7eYxmeDVyueZEAfMBDz3rvFwShL0x5jlzZatn3714M7HQnhGNrjPxjRgVNff5NglOHa4RTH4okORCzpCsC-5aqabKkHbcyAT4dUOxxjogNPsoZnu1Su8CpYz__noaOzMHD5Q7YhMA/w640-h360/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Randeep Hooda, Ileana
D’Cruz, and Karan Kundrra come together for Balwinder Singh Janjua’s movie,
Tera Kya Hoga Lovely, which follows a young woman whose family struggles to
find a suitable groom due to her dark complexion. However, when a police
officer enters their home to solve a case, he instantly develops feelings for
her. What ensues next is a series of comic events that’ll keep you on the edge
of your seat.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SHAITAAN – THEATRES<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-S18Az7j2AC7uAXlyZUzqg5oceKLaVZwg9IIeuPOlLlwTrEqqWMaihhhtjklmZsAAT6pnJ4Ii_ev5SKxDjIosVdepC3sUPCQiHXnbwCu0QZiz339AbhFGBb-DM6dosXChlCtzPIBUppwYUfQWEc7J0iq41HGOvIoKdigV03HKUS7m5KyE98FlKEBIYM/s1200/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-S18Az7j2AC7uAXlyZUzqg5oceKLaVZwg9IIeuPOlLlwTrEqqWMaihhhtjklmZsAAT6pnJ4Ii_ev5SKxDjIosVdepC3sUPCQiHXnbwCu0QZiz339AbhFGBb-DM6dosXChlCtzPIBUppwYUfQWEc7J0iq41HGOvIoKdigV03HKUS7m5KyE98FlKEBIYM/w640-h336/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Horror genre lovers are
in for a treat as Shaitaan starring Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan, and Jyotika arrives
in cinemas later this week. The plot of the Vikas Bahl directorial delves into
the lives of a couple whose lives are rattled by the arrival of a mysterious
man who manages to hypnotise their daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> DAMSEL – NETFLIX<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaE-PXDMVx1hxK4CaI777GwvIWMI4z9_nP9e9GIzc5EcSONnKpzkqd017wdouQg7Bfgvo4JT_m0pkIvcoJawqN8_qvWHbVZe1t4vjk5D6OqKWcA2OctmqkwbpOa5x4QSQC8nsgZMRyk2SfGMcWGBA_OWL1znmpLHj6KCWD3Bo064tdY-Ma_0tWkrZ7hw/s1778/M6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaE-PXDMVx1hxK4CaI777GwvIWMI4z9_nP9e9GIzc5EcSONnKpzkqd017wdouQg7Bfgvo4JT_m0pkIvcoJawqN8_qvWHbVZe1t4vjk5D6OqKWcA2OctmqkwbpOa5x4QSQC8nsgZMRyk2SfGMcWGBA_OWL1znmpLHj6KCWD3Bo064tdY-Ma_0tWkrZ7hw/w432-h640/M6.jpg" width="432" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Millie Bobby Brown plays
a young princess named Elodie whose marriage to a young charming prince takes a
dark turn when she learns the truth about the royal family, who sacrifice her
to a fire-breathing dragon to pay off their debt. Will she be able to survive
and make it out of the cave alive?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlyOHPPWBdZM7fswwUq1V36bBlATsZRdcXdPn4bpcNqwXg7JDyStuOJZM20Xh3xPRak66YSjJJ9aaM_8mFTyY7-7acQ82-SvR7rz-AXzYV1VXpRXfP9Hu2ZDt3kIWxrV-vLrn_4G1JSSsX9GX2IZ9fKVaDGzeWH5A2TlrG62wu_RX8ENxjtNvCk1D3yk/s1500/BOOKF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="948" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlyOHPPWBdZM7fswwUq1V36bBlATsZRdcXdPn4bpcNqwXg7JDyStuOJZM20Xh3xPRak66YSjJJ9aaM_8mFTyY7-7acQ82-SvR7rz-AXzYV1VXpRXfP9Hu2ZDt3kIWxrV-vLrn_4G1JSSsX9GX2IZ9fKVaDGzeWH5A2TlrG62wu_RX8ENxjtNvCk1D3yk/w404-h640/BOOKF.jpg" width="404" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shadows and Secrets
by Harini Srinivasan (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm00-Yk-NUj-7bv_f1h87ljqhEG_2ghqM1CaEQaXUDSHFYdpQYh1kaMRDxcfnBfObTAqrW6LP3jLTRzXF2YL1VovVtAGY3fk2orpVqCZSSznlLRxAvHjwp7gsixjYwKA1qdVKv4jkzhBtd4d75qtv9jnuw0WXC60qkWNcR2vHsuxc1pOxI2wV9-HrSgM0/s1500/BOOKB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="950" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm00-Yk-NUj-7bv_f1h87ljqhEG_2ghqM1CaEQaXUDSHFYdpQYh1kaMRDxcfnBfObTAqrW6LP3jLTRzXF2YL1VovVtAGY3fk2orpVqCZSSznlLRxAvHjwp7gsixjYwKA1qdVKv4jkzhBtd4d75qtv9jnuw0WXC60qkWNcR2vHsuxc1pOxI2wV9-HrSgM0/w406-h640/BOOKB.jpg" width="406" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Circa 403-404 CE. The
Gupta Empire has reached its zenith under its greatest ruler yet, Maharaja
Chandragupta II Vikramaditya. But with glory comes mischief. Mahakavi Kalidasa,
the great poet-dramatist and one of the Navaratnas of the kingdom, heads the
state intelligence network to weed out threats, internal and external.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the eve of the annual
Buddhist procession, a spate of shocking murders casts a dark shadow on the
glorious city of Pataliputra, with corpses of unidentified foreigners and the
city's social and administrative elite turning up one by one.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Who is behind these
killings and why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To crack the mystery,
the Mahakavi enlists the help of Shaunaka, one of his unofficial spies. As the
keenly observant but idealistic guptachara pursues his secret mission, the young
man gets a taste of real-world affairs-deception, religious fanaticism and a
100-year-old secret.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Faced with more
questions than answers, there is one thought on everyone's mind-what is going
on in Pataliputra?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Harini Srinivasan</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b2n7VuO2UPxo3WjjYWymwl8Tj6JSIvUTutw9slT1sK2Cb-EUpJRtYtjz0rAFloPplqPVt1DpbaTA1KfP2f2E-6X8d450sakvjpT3t4vm5NBG9Zjhc64tA9mtWMvMuvkvO4xpEMBuUcvbJwvPxIJoukW5OpQsYN2CZctM0V8n87d6z8-VT0pmmGfwm64/s1028/WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1028" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b2n7VuO2UPxo3WjjYWymwl8Tj6JSIvUTutw9slT1sK2Cb-EUpJRtYtjz0rAFloPplqPVt1DpbaTA1KfP2f2E-6X8d450sakvjpT3t4vm5NBG9Zjhc64tA9mtWMvMuvkvO4xpEMBuUcvbJwvPxIJoukW5OpQsYN2CZctM0V8n87d6z8-VT0pmmGfwm64/w640-h522/WRITER.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Having undertaken different
roles (Civil Servant, Project Manager, Communications Professional and Editor)
across countries (India, Germany and The Netherlands) for over 18 years, Harini
Srinivasan has edited several prestigious books including Selected Speeches of
the President, Indian Dance – Through a Critic’s Eye, Abode under the Dome and
Legends of Indian Silver Screen. She has authored a children’s book “The Wizard
Tales – Adventures of Bun-Bun” which is now into second print. She is
passionate about History, Literature and the Performing Arts and writes a blog
on classic Hindi films and books (at <a href="file:///F:/NEWSWEEK9324/www.bagsbooksandmore.wordpress.com"><span style="color: blue;">www.bagsbooksandmore.wordpress.com</span></a>).
She is currently with the Centre for Digital Financial Inclusion (CDFI), a
non-profit organisation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2kiOthy0aMnIrNcGkT0iX9hw9f-_LNhJY0D3cJOnZcfTHHCmoYXWcTfgteaoPWaR1xuNfW_ho522jH4Lk-NOyoH2jobtnXGF7w_qx6w-sQsdcpOlp6Iic3jG0iTIifEitpRY8Oqqiu9EWXbwvxHnSBVjh3rlJshseZN5Y3qW9-Z1az0j4dgqwPOUcBc/s1280/WRITERINTRO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2kiOthy0aMnIrNcGkT0iX9hw9f-_LNhJY0D3cJOnZcfTHHCmoYXWcTfgteaoPWaR1xuNfW_ho522jH4Lk-NOyoH2jobtnXGF7w_qx6w-sQsdcpOlp6Iic3jG0iTIifEitpRY8Oqqiu9EWXbwvxHnSBVjh3rlJshseZN5Y3qW9-Z1az0j4dgqwPOUcBc/w640-h360/WRITERINTRO.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">
<br /></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-14189623416462794362024-03-08T01:56:00.006+09:002024-03-08T02:27:13.163+09:00IF 65 MILLION YEARS AGO DINOSAUR NOT DESTROYED BY THE COLLISION OF THE LARGE COMET THEN IT WILL MAY HAPPEN<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObsIrIQV9le2oclKa8hZGW1hZdu-cl97vq2DvbqzSczTkPgmSoOVbSelk4Nd0ETFe-j2S2Llo3FCMhWQk4TF6Fb-bgDHY9LaZHU6w2EHmWThQJplIShdLUY2KuDFmD_ZIdeaccei1Ja1t7XjEHfW3e-VNoGp4M9qboAfq1fFkcdbXBrTnkTgKH41a8_4/s800/TREXSEPIGIF.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObsIrIQV9le2oclKa8hZGW1hZdu-cl97vq2DvbqzSczTkPgmSoOVbSelk4Nd0ETFe-j2S2Llo3FCMhWQk4TF6Fb-bgDHY9LaZHU6w2EHmWThQJplIShdLUY2KuDFmD_ZIdeaccei1Ja1t7XjEHfW3e-VNoGp4M9qboAfq1fFkcdbXBrTnkTgKH41a8_4/w640-h480/TREXSEPIGIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXMwkYSh1Bjkv3dS8Rkr0NQpnEw3f2g-33onpreYB8UVIF2RhimeTqCuz4xRIU9GSlWGMtIQ7oDVFMt2Psru2_naHTrtB7YtAbK0enddMMGmU0VMXFfcYJTmy2mjZqyrLxbdzcw_xmJmwCbaFIwOMYf6Mi_tuw61xDBu5-hg3jeeSgTPToEFw6sWbWM4/s800/meteordinodestructiongif.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXMwkYSh1Bjkv3dS8Rkr0NQpnEw3f2g-33onpreYB8UVIF2RhimeTqCuz4xRIU9GSlWGMtIQ7oDVFMt2Psru2_naHTrtB7YtAbK0enddMMGmU0VMXFfcYJTmy2mjZqyrLxbdzcw_xmJmwCbaFIwOMYf6Mi_tuw61xDBu5-hg3jeeSgTPToEFw6sWbWM4/w640-h480/meteordinodestructiongif.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IF 65 MILLION YEARS AGO DINOSAUR NOT DESTROYED BY THE COLLISION OF THE LARGE COMET THEN IT WILL MAY HAPPEN</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>1) MAMMAL EVOLUTION ,ULTIMATELY HUMAN EVOLUTION WOULD NOT HAPPEN</p><p>2) DINOSAURS WOULD BE MORE EVOLVE .</p><p>3) SMALL FRONT LEGS OF T-REX AND SPINOSAUR ETC WOULD EVOLVE INTO LONG HANDS LIKE HUMAN.</p><p>4) DINO-SAPIEN WOULD WALK UPRIGHT ON THEIR TWO LEGS LIKE MODERN DAY HUMAN.</p><p>5) DINOSAURS WOULD EVOLVE INTO DINO-SAPIEN (DINOSAUR+HOMO-SAPIEN)</p><p>6) HERE I TRY TO CREATE 3D MODELS AND ANIMATION OF TWO SPECIES OF DINO-SPIENCE LIKE SPINO-SAPIEN,AND T-REX-SPIEN PURELY ON MY IMAGINATION.</p><p>7) DINO-SEPI WOULD BECAME TOP SPECIES ON EARTH ECOSYSTEM. </p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>SPINO-SAPIEN:</u></b></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6bP4yac2BBrg9X3To2lERR54-i52Q3U-g4ry6NNQWyIASvECu-mGk3tnayb1vbvx5Cwtq_xNHHmBg_dURnc6mHdF3X2WQ0lOSV9lg6t-f3crvxtzSEFxosCn1ApEfzFDuwi-VIw9O47G1UrI3HMCqIrB1tnTZJIM-hIWiAsGlDqyeE8YhuM_IKQjFHo/s800/SPINOSEPIGIF.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6bP4yac2BBrg9X3To2lERR54-i52Q3U-g4ry6NNQWyIASvECu-mGk3tnayb1vbvx5Cwtq_xNHHmBg_dURnc6mHdF3X2WQ0lOSV9lg6t-f3crvxtzSEFxosCn1ApEfzFDuwi-VIw9O47G1UrI3HMCqIrB1tnTZJIM-hIWiAsGlDqyeE8YhuM_IKQjFHo/w640-h480/SPINOSEPIGIF.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">SMALL FRONT LEGS OF </span>SPINOSAUR ETC WOULD EVOLVE INTO LONG HANDS LIKE HUMAN.DINO-SAPIEN WOULD WALK UPRIGHT ON THEIR TWO STRONG HIND LEGS LIKE MODERN DAY HUMAN.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgV5yRDbR7Zb0Tae6EEmM9hrkfVkBaTsJ-6BbN2d4Lml09HOW2mu8JD2gaFA9IR9L60b-Yl4GO3d8Vp4f1C0XD9HJ2EU88NzHm4L_K6G_hOQBr8xftWX-Oqqp8YS7GzxwLJCypOm8jvHy_ZstNQKEDlSPm3BsK9Inlyg6J0FufpohzLQt3PGQeIo2D8k/s800/spinosepienceaniG0000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgV5yRDbR7Zb0Tae6EEmM9hrkfVkBaTsJ-6BbN2d4Lml09HOW2mu8JD2gaFA9IR9L60b-Yl4GO3d8Vp4f1C0XD9HJ2EU88NzHm4L_K6G_hOQBr8xftWX-Oqqp8YS7GzxwLJCypOm8jvHy_ZstNQKEDlSPm3BsK9Inlyg6J0FufpohzLQt3PGQeIo2D8k/w640-h480/spinosepienceaniG0000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgKhK6xXVrT1jECeyM5MQcrAV1BckWwelyZ9e-cDC4TJwMi7Q-JF7B8phH1cuRwVSnuZzVQ15CbHDz9yzzYsYniYvPCtISdIoPmdvL9oYgLmC0Cws2Pn6y2jKKrXINh0GjBkvMvRT8BhYrGI1nQaT4ooM5oj9C_QIrgFUYNRV7-haz3lntkwDRevi6vk/s800/spinosepienceaniG0189.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgKhK6xXVrT1jECeyM5MQcrAV1BckWwelyZ9e-cDC4TJwMi7Q-JF7B8phH1cuRwVSnuZzVQ15CbHDz9yzzYsYniYvPCtISdIoPmdvL9oYgLmC0Cws2Pn6y2jKKrXINh0GjBkvMvRT8BhYrGI1nQaT4ooM5oj9C_QIrgFUYNRV7-haz3lntkwDRevi6vk/w640-h480/spinosepienceaniG0189.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4CSeL1ObCcpNY-bBuYXEIJ2ldKlkS5Q2_DRP1dfe5k9PJJ3UfYYAOqW5LVclqkN4cLJ6TOAlCQM2dE2epqntBtOSoooYZhIlZSx6XFFKG8W00cL4MYG6p_dBQso5c_i5bwhR5-Cchm9eFN-P7f6tlLWiygNW7xVElZ1vmJhIctPmKH3b74SZU2fsZbw/s800/spinosepienceaniG0201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4CSeL1ObCcpNY-bBuYXEIJ2ldKlkS5Q2_DRP1dfe5k9PJJ3UfYYAOqW5LVclqkN4cLJ6TOAlCQM2dE2epqntBtOSoooYZhIlZSx6XFFKG8W00cL4MYG6p_dBQso5c_i5bwhR5-Cchm9eFN-P7f6tlLWiygNW7xVElZ1vmJhIctPmKH3b74SZU2fsZbw/w640-h480/spinosepienceaniG0201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">SMALL FRONT LEGS OF </span>SPINOSAUR ETC WOULD EVOLVE INTO LONG HANDS LIKE HUMAN.DINO-SAPIEN WOULD WALK UPRIGHT ON THEIR TWO TWO STRONG HIND LEGS LIKE MODERN DAY HUMAN.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>T-REX-SAPIEN:</u></b></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ9qBQ41Pd9cCqJzoGc-8rV6NfEvg__AnCOf7m7cCwEvLSaDWe23VCzB1JnmXDslkRSoKK-WtASyral5t_wyllLXqRWQISbVLU81yqhyphenhyphena3QmIb6W6QeS4_kk2aH-zvV5zz276euKE9UW2jKr1gGx9xQd58SzHqYKuR-q9IeMjqOeT3pvQIhFZv3dyvRk/s800/TREXSEPIGIF.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ9qBQ41Pd9cCqJzoGc-8rV6NfEvg__AnCOf7m7cCwEvLSaDWe23VCzB1JnmXDslkRSoKK-WtASyral5t_wyllLXqRWQISbVLU81yqhyphenhyphena3QmIb6W6QeS4_kk2aH-zvV5zz276euKE9UW2jKr1gGx9xQd58SzHqYKuR-q9IeMjqOeT3pvQIhFZv3dyvRk/w640-h480/TREXSEPIGIF.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">SMALL FRONT LEGS OF T-REX</span> ETC WOULD EVOLVE INTO LONG HANDS LIKE HUMAN.DINO-SAPIEN WOULD WALK UPRIGHT ON THEIR TWO TWO STRONG HIND LEGS LIKE MODERN DAY HUMAN.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SqWjQ_gk-WZardeQLxbgsUHFcE4x8sSyJ08f7rqFgbhvqZN0WUvsJu0BzUaKIY9UEuyS1awe82TiiMLY8SaobJ2Km_zgxMW7SBnCIgkcHTyxWcm7qCGnMoj4xxW85d_eDNQju7kOZuJa_pjsq3PA9JmuhG2AYacHfncdlwXEPJa_YrsbcEowvaFZYas/w640-h480/T-REXSEPIG0180.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHFWMVI7JbRKAiVgAL3mOMMBegYS1VRfpzyWJmm0GJdj84bMeuXq_s_6FytdbFw-9Xg-jc7nCJNO-VTYIaWjzpyc29mjKawUhkocyufHigIp4wT09NprGafRTeCejefsbQfzyhObTUVEKD7HBC4b-C9mnG_U40E5qh_zV117ofs_FwoSI1n_UFBRyQXQ/s800/T-REXSEPIG0192.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHFWMVI7JbRKAiVgAL3mOMMBegYS1VRfpzyWJmm0GJdj84bMeuXq_s_6FytdbFw-9Xg-jc7nCJNO-VTYIaWjzpyc29mjKawUhkocyufHigIp4wT09NprGafRTeCejefsbQfzyhObTUVEKD7HBC4b-C9mnG_U40E5qh_zV117ofs_FwoSI1n_UFBRyQXQ/w640-h480/T-REXSEPIG0192.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOCUcqz8K6fJeCEY1_B4MXtdZgrznLuXh5n7xkYmssU0zNql22TmwpoRSVid-UnDDYvp9lvajcN6N84nf3eSp0kX_7epmnqMs-J_04eZbuVBhy8UJDmfyhsKht-hWpcnV8geH40TMGP8TL3WHNGeGju5mCBjA2BOgeYcdhZJLuoGfjohVeM_2jkQfymc/s800/T-REXSEPIG0219.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOCUcqz8K6fJeCEY1_B4MXtdZgrznLuXh5n7xkYmssU0zNql22TmwpoRSVid-UnDDYvp9lvajcN6N84nf3eSp0kX_7epmnqMs-J_04eZbuVBhy8UJDmfyhsKht-hWpcnV8geH40TMGP8TL3WHNGeGju5mCBjA2BOgeYcdhZJLuoGfjohVeM_2jkQfymc/w640-h480/T-REXSEPIG0219.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">SMALL FRONT LEGS OF T-REX</span> ETC WOULD EVOLVE INTO LONG HANDS LIKE HUMAN.DINO-SAPIEN WOULD WALK UPRIGHT ON THEIR TWO TWO STRONG HIND LEGS LIKE MODERN DAY HUMAN.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7XBuztPXOQp8qDWTTtTt1lnnydBI0_5gkjwlW2wU8qQo6zhZkm3HuB4gNF3ZgZQtQCV0EtG3lBxMND33DmjUSuWVicg4h-G2HnvEll88znmglyr1eW-lzwWRiZKzfqI5XjzoaSQRHuuMjcEqFKSc8cBKMiTAOE1Dg5M4mm6qjJ-duCuK96AnQxeKbfk/s800/T-REXSEPIG0237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7XBuztPXOQp8qDWTTtTt1lnnydBI0_5gkjwlW2wU8qQo6zhZkm3HuB4gNF3ZgZQtQCV0EtG3lBxMND33DmjUSuWVicg4h-G2HnvEll88znmglyr1eW-lzwWRiZKzfqI5XjzoaSQRHuuMjcEqFKSc8cBKMiTAOE1Dg5M4mm6qjJ-duCuK96AnQxeKbfk/w640-h480/T-REXSEPIG0237.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyurCJLdQMCuyE9K0rt3byIRXHtR4TahvdfSOoVY_Snbbco1vKReW7F9f2uFU6sUTXIGPuSuMEdBL0eiGuTwQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxli6V2fXb8lJeXDbDjO-Wf7JhpL4tzehYk7yH_bQjeQmC43uyLpLJYzoeO3jg0eXOo-VzBv5S-iBc1sBRsDA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-46449064999393194212024-03-02T23:40:00.001+09:002024-03-03T00:08:06.858+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS NEWS OF THIS WEEK : SCIENCE , POLITICAL,SPORTS MOVIE AND BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lob1BFXM8PsSYfmAlEjkbNxsS071J5b9HpvEXJmAbRU4vNq1PN0O-PxMXpU0pFNnf_KRvvyCKRHsqhxLud0_cGBASzCrZzJK1dnqxJUEIrDgymWm9YzZ3W0zbG34JZWfSJpJN3JGVtCVuquKiNq6uQzaR_bXu7l9hLk5fClLdVsviO06n0wnfx8xQL0/s960/NEWSWEEK2324GIF.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lob1BFXM8PsSYfmAlEjkbNxsS071J5b9HpvEXJmAbRU4vNq1PN0O-PxMXpU0pFNnf_KRvvyCKRHsqhxLud0_cGBASzCrZzJK1dnqxJUEIrDgymWm9YzZ3W0zbG34JZWfSJpJN3JGVtCVuquKiNq6uQzaR_bXu7l9hLk5fClLdVsviO06n0wnfx8xQL0/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK2324GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLLxWloqbMT-wdPVAiow8QX_4RtIztuekeQx20TSGxq8nak6gks3kpqFDGlA7Os810gwNlfVVeXOwKLYijdHR2UkbEqUqI_blUy9urqIYm4yZ0CHgBDk0Ix7a8tcpkBkeXge82srIeisJOE1c-yIV3t5FINP4yh-z0Mr0RD-7CAz01Eezrvqi1ii3ia8/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLLxWloqbMT-wdPVAiow8QX_4RtIztuekeQx20TSGxq8nak6gks3kpqFDGlA7Os810gwNlfVVeXOwKLYijdHR2UkbEqUqI_blUy9urqIYm4yZ0CHgBDk0Ix7a8tcpkBkeXge82srIeisJOE1c-yIV3t5FINP4yh-z0Mr0RD-7CAz01Eezrvqi1ii3ia8/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) A
genetic parasite may explain why humans and other apes lack tails By Erin
Garcia de Jesús<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_-hauriSuB9nLZ62x-VK7nYI_s_ZHOvo9U_RWRkwYlqimixao00fdFwAzFAsDHeXUfyhdZlHIxVsJkZpv4TNjYLa2jsKf9BFnPIXBTOcRK-10jgCdykDJCj05f4LZnGVqv3GDvISK4tlYzME252KZr5FHJglb32ff3iMs7wx1ZARd5d8napJbomuaxA/s640/APENOTAIL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="640" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_-hauriSuB9nLZ62x-VK7nYI_s_ZHOvo9U_RWRkwYlqimixao00fdFwAzFAsDHeXUfyhdZlHIxVsJkZpv4TNjYLa2jsKf9BFnPIXBTOcRK-10jgCdykDJCj05f4LZnGVqv3GDvISK4tlYzME252KZr5FHJglb32ff3iMs7wx1ZARd5d8napJbomuaxA/w640-h402/APENOTAIL.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Not having a tail
is one way apes differ from monkeys A genetic parasite may have robbed humans
and other apes of their tails.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Around 25 million
years ago, this parasite, a small stretch of repetitive DNA called an Alu
element, ended up in a gene important for tail development, researchers report
in the Feb. 29 Nature. The single insertion altered the gene Tbxt in a way that
seems to have sparked one of the defining differences between monkeys and apes:
Monkeys have tails, apes don’t. “It was like lightning struck once,” says Jef
Boeke, a geneticist at New York University Langone Health, and ape behinds
ultimately became bare.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The genetic tweak
may also give insight into why some babies are born with spinal cord defects
such as spina bifida, when the tube that holds the cord doesn’t close all the
way (SN: 12/6/16). Alu elements are part of a group of genetic parasites known
as transposons or jumping genes that can hop across genetic instruction books,
inserting themselves into their hosts’ DNA (SN: 5/16/17). Sometimes, when the
gene slips itself into a piece of DNA that is passed down to offspring, these
insertions become permanent parts of our genetic code. Transposons, including more than 1 million
Alu elements, are found throughout our genome, says geneticist and systems
biologist Bo Xia of the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Mass. Researchers once
thought of transposons as genetic garbage, but some have central roles in
evolution. Without transposons, the placenta, immune system and insulation
around nerve fibers may not exist (SN: 2/16/24).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEyBa5qwUa519brlnKxtkMyqE4MVWrPQZhPiChJ-PpfnXdxq2Ge5XmQVPqG71Xz9yucQ_slJRATwDmS98hcAZLNOQP_df0V6Y6ltGrjZhDZpC5dhDu1cVa8YD7GG_6lxdAnwVCboQx4kdCrNHI0ZVRrwcQFusGnJm0ghuv7VO3Uz0lmp4YRD_pK3zJ1A/s617/APENOTAIL2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="617" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEyBa5qwUa519brlnKxtkMyqE4MVWrPQZhPiChJ-PpfnXdxq2Ge5XmQVPqG71Xz9yucQ_slJRATwDmS98hcAZLNOQP_df0V6Y6ltGrjZhDZpC5dhDu1cVa8YD7GG_6lxdAnwVCboQx4kdCrNHI0ZVRrwcQFusGnJm0ghuv7VO3Uz0lmp4YRD_pK3zJ1A/w640-h328/APENOTAIL2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And
humans might still have tails.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To find out how
apes lost their tails, Xia, then at NYU Langone Health, Boeke and colleagues
analyzed 140 genes involved in vertebrate tail development. The team found that
in monkeys, including baboons and rhesus macaques, the Tbxt gene was missing a
chunk of DNA that’s found in humans, chimpanzees and other apes. It was a
“eureka moment,” Boeke says. The insertion may have appeared around the time
apes diverged from African and Asian monkeys, around 25 million years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But the missing
chunk was in a part of the gene called an intron, a bit of genetic material
that isn’t made into proteins. “So why would that even matter?” he asks. A
close look at the gene’s structure provided a plausible explanation: The
missing bit tweaked Tbxt so that the gene makes a different form of the protein
in apes than in monkeys.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Experiments in mice
seemed to confirm the hypothesis. Mice, like monkeys, make normal versions of
the Tbxt protein and have full-length tails. But when genetically engineered to
make shortened versions of the Tbxt protein like apes do, the mice had shorter
tails or none at all. Some mice also had spinal cord defects similar to spinal
bifida, suggesting that there may be drawbacks to tail loss.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Why
large language models aren’t headed toward humanlike understanding By Tom
Siegfried<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0Ruu9M6WvKdu25a7Fje3MwFBNM427uhd-Rt9-Ixenmz5Z5uND9dMJweRaXP3pZaX6-OQHPRCTpRpD9RWElbsEosgJ5OhSG1Ps0ooTDTVw3SlPCKJXwbS9gnyvBQZcYzD8l_4_qbxsst2RjE_z3CDymuMUtdZQhEC2iicz_YZFylIviAOhVdDisgmpx8/s638/AIBRAIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="638" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0Ruu9M6WvKdu25a7Fje3MwFBNM427uhd-Rt9-Ixenmz5Z5uND9dMJweRaXP3pZaX6-OQHPRCTpRpD9RWElbsEosgJ5OhSG1Ps0ooTDTVw3SlPCKJXwbS9gnyvBQZcYzD8l_4_qbxsst2RjE_z3CDymuMUtdZQhEC2iicz_YZFylIviAOhVdDisgmpx8/w640-h406/AIBRAIN.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Generative AI is
not very skillful at applying what it learns to new situations Apart from the
northward advance of killer bees in the 1980s, nothing has struck as much fear
into the hearts of headline writers as the ascent of artificial intelligence. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ever since the
computer Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997, humans
have faced the prospect that their supremacy over machines is merely temporary.
Back then, though, it was easy to show that AI failed miserably in many realms
of human expertise, from diagnosing disease to transcribing speech. But then
about a decade ago or so, computer brains — known as neural networks — received
an IQ boost from a new approach called deep learning. Suddenly computers
approached human ability at identifying images, reading signs and enhancing
photographs — not to mention converting speech to text as well as most typists.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91DJTn2qGcwxIieYyjDy1sjgELeE_xW6UC0ANmEsS7z7ydyboMZwKpL0Yg7Zh43hshGu6J8rQk2nsSs-DX_EFSfCXS0mwdUw6uXDuPRl2HuJlHZDAVIsNEMYcOGaqy5NuuLa80YjKshJYl7PFdo2jkZK7ozjJe3ctoQsldKRTOXNReuh12YxP86wcFTc/s890/AIBRAIN2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="890" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91DJTn2qGcwxIieYyjDy1sjgELeE_xW6UC0ANmEsS7z7ydyboMZwKpL0Yg7Zh43hshGu6J8rQk2nsSs-DX_EFSfCXS0mwdUw6uXDuPRl2HuJlHZDAVIsNEMYcOGaqy5NuuLa80YjKshJYl7PFdo2jkZK7ozjJe3ctoQsldKRTOXNReuh12YxP86wcFTc/w640-h416/AIBRAIN2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Those abilities had
their limits. For one thing, even apparently successful deep learning neural
networks were easy to trick. A few small stickers strategically placed on a
stop sign made an AI computer think the sign said “Speed Limit 80,” for
example. And those smart computers needed to be extensively trained on a task
by viewing numerous examples of what they should be looking for. So deep
learning produced excellent results for narrowly focused jobs but couldn’t
adapt that expertise very well to other arenas. You would not (or shouldn’t)
have hired it to write a magazine column for you, for instance.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But AI’s latest
incarnations have begun to threaten job security not only for writers but also
a lot of other professionals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Now we’re in a new
era of AI,” says computer scientist Melanie Mitchell, an artificial
intelligence expert at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico. “We’re beyond the
deep learning revolution of the 2010s, and we’re now in the era of generative
AI of the 2020s.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EVHQK_eVMXYNBhW6HADtveYSpFlobym6V_DdgM0wJCcnzrEtNhbP3B-6z-ffKAoA0GfhZIfVvuyt7tHwhWviIXSUpfoEtkhYcnbcB3kVgCBbSV-L8N0iihm_Jo1HM-PUUTRT7h_B5vpumFJ7NSHkxKJeD2lXrhPGN1KlI5Y3EgHur91qkRhKwlo9Zx8/s1500/AIBRAIN3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1500" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EVHQK_eVMXYNBhW6HADtveYSpFlobym6V_DdgM0wJCcnzrEtNhbP3B-6z-ffKAoA0GfhZIfVvuyt7tHwhWviIXSUpfoEtkhYcnbcB3kVgCBbSV-L8N0iihm_Jo1HM-PUUTRT7h_B5vpumFJ7NSHkxKJeD2lXrhPGN1KlI5Y3EgHur91qkRhKwlo9Zx8/w640-h432/AIBRAIN3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Generative AI
systems can produce things that had long seemed safely within the province of
human creative ability. AI systems can now answer questions with seemingly
human linguistic skill and knowledge, write poems and articles and legal
briefs, produce publication quality artwork, and even create videos on demand
of all sorts of things you might want to describe.Many of these abilities stem
from the development of large language models, abbreviated as LLMs, such as
ChatGPT and other similar models. They are large because they are trained on
huge amounts of data — essentially, everything on the internet, including
digitized copies of countless printed books. Large can also refer to the large
number of different kinds of things they can “learn” in their reading — not
just words but also word stems, phrases, symbols and mathematical equations.By
identifying patterns in how such linguistic molecules are combined, LLMs can
predict in what order words should be assembled to compose sentences or respond
to a query. Basically, an LLM calculates probabilities of what word should
follow another, something critics have derided as “autocorrect on
steroids.”Even so, LLMs have displayed remarkable abilities — such as composing
texts in the style of any given author, solving riddles and deciphering from
context whether “bill” refers to an invoice, proposed legislation or a
duck.“These things seem really smart,” Mitchell said this month in Denver at the
annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.LLMs’
arrival has induced a techworld version of mass hysteria among some experts in
the field who are concerned that run amok, LLMs could raise human unemployment,
destroy civilization and put magazine columnists out of business. Yet other
experts argue that such fears are overblown, at least for now.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the heart of the
debate is whether LLMs actually understand what they are saying and doing,
rather than just seeming to. Some researchers have suggested that LLMs do
understand, can reason like people (big deal) or even attain a form of
consciousness. But Mitchell and others insist that LLMs do not (yet) really
understand the world (at least not in any sort of sense that corresponds to
human understanding).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What’s really
remarkable about people, I think, is that we can abstract our concepts to new
situations via analogy and metaphor.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Melanie
Mitchell</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a new paper
posted online at arXiv.org, Mitchell and coauthor Martha Lewis of the
University of Bristol in England show that LLMs still do not match humans in
the ability to adapt a skill to new circumstances. Consider this letter-string
problem: You start with abcd and the next string is abce. If you start with
ijkl, what string should come next?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Humans almost
always say the second string should end with m. And so do LLMs. They have,
after all, been well trained on the English alphabet.But suppose you pose the
problem with a different “counterfactual” alphabet, perhaps the same letters in
a different order, such as a u c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t b v w x y z.
Or use symbols instead of letters. Humans are still very good at solving
letter-string problems. But LLMs usually fail. They are not able to generalize
the concepts used on an alphabet they know to another alphabet.While humans
exhibit high performance on both the original and counterfactual problems, the
performance of all GPT models we tested degrades on the counterfactual
versions,” Mitchell and Lewis report in their paper.Other similar tasks also
show that LLMs do not possess the ability to perform accurately in situations
not encountered in their training. And therefore, Mitchell insists, they do not
exhibit what humans would regard as “understanding” of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Being reliable and
doing the right thing in a new situation is, in my mind, the core of what
understanding actually means,” Mitchell said at the AAAS meeting.Human
understanding, she says, is based on “concepts” — basically mental models of
things like categories, situations and events. Concepts allow people to infer
cause and effect and to predict the probable results of different actions —
even in circumstances not previously encountered.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What’s really
remarkable about people, I think, is that we can abstract our concepts to new
situations via analogy and metaphor,” Mitchell said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She does not deny
that AI might someday reach a similar level of intelligent understanding. But
machine understanding may turn out to be different from human understanding.
Nobody knows what sort of technology might achieve that understanding and what
the nature of such understanding might be.If it does turn out to be anything
like human understanding, it will probably not be based on LLMs.After all, LLMs
learn in the opposite direction from humans. LLMs start out learning language
and attempt to abstract concepts. Human babies learn concepts first, and only
later acquire the language to describe them.So LLMs are doing it backward. In
other words, perhaps reading the internet might not be the correct strategy for
acquiring intelligence, artificial or otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3)
Mind-reading devices are revealing the brain’s secrets By Miryam Naddaf<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmmhkJO5B5552aWGyvmNSbj7cYoEo_KRwexIY40NO-gPN3YxmbCyRkQYMCopulZh3gIQT7_NlB5Ty7XXi3AJ6q0LuG2hSRXnkv6-eeYcRQeGJ9Uy8jnEZaqTqVdIMvKF2GPKbN7P77Vzq5xk8pmpEZWzjYJG2Hb4iqby6Q7SWGBYU2bYoC2Z_447UgtA/s978/BRAINSCAN1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="978" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmmhkJO5B5552aWGyvmNSbj7cYoEo_KRwexIY40NO-gPN3YxmbCyRkQYMCopulZh3gIQT7_NlB5Ty7XXi3AJ6q0LuG2hSRXnkv6-eeYcRQeGJ9Uy8jnEZaqTqVdIMvKF2GPKbN7P77Vzq5xk8pmpEZWzjYJG2Hb4iqby6Q7SWGBYU2bYoC2Z_447UgtA/w640-h374/BRAINSCAN1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Implants and other
technologies that decode neural activity can restore people’s abilities to move
and speak — and help researchers to understand how the brain works. Moving a
prosthetic arm. Controlling a speaking avatar. Typing at speed. These are all
things that people with paralysis have learnt to do using brain–computer
interfaces (BCIs) — implanted devices that are powered by thought alone.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These devices
capture neural activity using dozens to hundreds of electrodes embedded in the
brain. A decoder system analyses the signals and translates them into
commands.Although the main impetus behind the work is to help restore functions
to people with paralysis, the technology also gives researchers a unique way to
explore how the human brain is organized, and with greater resolution than most
other methods.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Scientists have
used these opportunities to learn some basic lessons about the brain. Results
are overturning assumptions about brain anatomy, for example, revealing that
regions often have much fuzzier boundaries and job descriptions than was
thought. Such studies are also helping researchers to work out how BCIs
themselves affect the brain and, crucially, how to improve the devices.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“BCIs in humans
have given us a chance to record single-neuron activity for a lot of brain
areas that nobody’s ever really been able to do in this way,” says Frank
Willett, a neuroscientist at Stanford University in California who is working
on a BCI for speech.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The devices also
allow measurements over much longer time spans than classical tools do, says
Edward Chang, a neurosurgeon at the University of California, San Francisco.
“BCIs are really pushing the limits, being able to record over not just days,
weeks, but months, years at a time,” he says. “So you can study things like
learning, you can study things like plasticity, you can learn tasks that
require much, much more time to understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOb1tCxeS_zFvSBUd0cwx3OWpljxtQOD-HfMIkdP1McKOoO2tpDAeNaJ36NOj_kkL72lFtVmWvEd7M7iEgfGdtep-ZyhNGfPY4YiEHjuXip8lwMcq-tkABaw_N0-xsHwyzFcDncRVyxccQZVCuzOk53fvzwsyV1uHkumxkrs7eZfeIvzRIwAv7msAPN0/s596/BRAINSCAN2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="596" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOb1tCxeS_zFvSBUd0cwx3OWpljxtQOD-HfMIkdP1McKOoO2tpDAeNaJ36NOj_kkL72lFtVmWvEd7M7iEgfGdtep-ZyhNGfPY4YiEHjuXip8lwMcq-tkABaw_N0-xsHwyzFcDncRVyxccQZVCuzOk53fvzwsyV1uHkumxkrs7eZfeIvzRIwAv7msAPN0/w640-h522/BRAINSCAN2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Recorded
history</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The idea that the
electrical activity of the human brain could be recorded first gained support
100 years ago. German psychiatrist Hans Berger attached electrodes to the scalp
of a 17-year-old boy whose surgery for a brain tumour had left a hole in his skull.
When Berger recorded above this opening, he made the first observation of brain
oscillations and gave the measurement a name: the EEG (electroencephalogram).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers
immediately saw that recording from inside the brain could be even more
valuable; Berger and others used surgery to place electrodes on the surface of
the cortex to study the brain and diagnose epilepsy. Recording from implanted
electrodes is still a standard method for pinpointing where epileptic seizures
begin, so that the condition can be treated using surgery. Then, in the 1970s,
researchers began to use signals recorded from further inside animal brains to
control external machines, giving rise to the first implanted brain–machine
interfaces.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2004, Matt
Nagle, who was paralysed after a spinal injury, became the first person to
receive a long-term invasive BCI system that used multiple electrodes to record
activity from individual neurons in his primary motor cortex1. Nagle was able
to use his system to open and close a prosthetic hand, and to perform basic
tasks with a robotic arm.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers have
also used EEG readings — collected using non-invasive electrodes placed on a
person’s scalp — to provide signals for BCIs. These have allowed paralysed
people to control wheelchairs, robotic arms and gaming devices, but the signals
are weaker and the data less reliable than with invasive devices.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So far, about 50
people have had a BCI implanted, and advances in artificial intelligence,
decoding tools and hardware have propelled the field forwards.Electrode arrays,
for instance, are becoming more sophisticated. A technology called Neuropixels
has not yet been incorporated into a BCI, but is in use for fundamental
research. The array of silicon electrodes, each thinner than a human hair, has
nearly 1,000 sensors and is capable of detecting electrical signals from a
single neuron. Researchers began using Neuropixels arrays in animals seven
years ago, and two papers published in the past three months demonstrate their
use for questions that can be answered only in humans: how the brain produces
and perceives vowel sounds in speech2,3.Commercial activity is also ramping up.
In January, the California-based neurotechnology company Neuralink, founded by
entrepreneur Elon Musk, implanted a BCI into a person for the first time. As
with other BCIs, the implant can record from individual neurons, but unlike
other devices, it has a wireless connection to a computer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And although the
main driver is clinical benefit, these windows into the brain have revealed
some surprising lessons about its function along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgHPu9u0RjgJGpXLphv-8NpvD0Gzui1mfqUkOaAT1mQ1J8oYYjSk36vvCAVWyLcPmcwI1_moEOFmqn9zsQVgBmP9F9ZAAAfxG-m0zlink7xmNs8lPsE1yld4LLp0LNKrKB6pnEnDL5l3BUHxnNZh_ziFvkvs6HCXsla6S1LmZKpeBdKH_F-36YexGytA/s585/BRAINSCAN3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="585" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgHPu9u0RjgJGpXLphv-8NpvD0Gzui1mfqUkOaAT1mQ1J8oYYjSk36vvCAVWyLcPmcwI1_moEOFmqn9zsQVgBmP9F9ZAAAfxG-m0zlink7xmNs8lPsE1yld4LLp0LNKrKB6pnEnDL5l3BUHxnNZh_ziFvkvs6HCXsla6S1LmZKpeBdKH_F-36YexGytA/w640-h534/BRAINSCAN3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fuzzy
boundaries</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Textbooks often
describe brain regions as having discrete boundaries or compartments. But BCI
recordings suggest that this is not always the case.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Last year, Willett
and his team were using a BCI implant for speech generation in a person with
motor neuron disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). They expected to find
that neurons in a motor control area called the precentral gyrus would be
grouped depending on which facial muscles they were tuned to — jaw, larynx,
lips or tongue. Instead, neurons with different targets were jumbled up4. “The
anatomy was very intermixed,” says Willett.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They also found
that Broca’s area, a brain region thought to have a role in speech production
and articulation, contained little to no information about words, facial
movements or units of sound called phonemes. “It seems surprising that it’s not
really involved in speech production per se,” says Willett. Previous findings
using other methods had hinted at this In a 2020 paper about motion6, Willett
and his colleagues recorded signals in two people with different levels of
movement limitation, focusing on an area in the premotor cortex that is
responsible for moving the hands. They discovered while using a BCI that the
area contains neural codes for all four limbs together, not just for the hands,
as previously presumed. This challenges the classical idea that body parts are
represented in the brain’s cortex in a topographical map, a theory that has been
embedded in medical education for nearly 90 years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“That’s something
that you would only see if you’re able to record single-neuron activity from
humans, which is so rare,” says Willett.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nick Ramsey, a
cognitive neuroscientist at University Medical Center Utrecht in the
Netherlands, made similar observations when his team implanted a BCI in a part
of the motor cortex that corresponds to hand movement7. The motor cortex in one
hemisphere of the brain typically controls movements on the opposite side of the
body. But when the person attempted to move her right hand, electrodes
implanted in the left hemisphere picked up signals for both the right hand and
the left hand, a finding that was unexpected, says Ramsey. “We’re trying to
find out whether that’s important” for making movements, he says. Movement
relies on a lot of coordination, and brain activity has to synchronize it all,
explains Ramsey. Holding out an arm affects balance, for instance, and the
brain has to manage those shifts across the body, which could explain the
dispersed activity. “There’s a lot of potential in that kind of research that
we haven’t thought of before,” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To some scientists,
these fuzzy anatomical boundaries are not surprising. Our understanding of the
brain is based on average measurements that paint a generalized image of how
this complex organ is arranged, says Luca Tonin, an information engineer at the
University of Padua in Italy. Individuals are bound to diverge from the
average.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Our brains look
different in the details,” says Juan Álvaro Gallego, a neuroscientist at
Imperial College London.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To others, findings
from such a small number of people should be interpreted with caution. “We need
to take everything that we’re learning with a grain of salt and put it in
context,” says Chang. “Just because we can record from single neurons doesn’t
mean that’s the most important data, or the whole truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Flexible
thinking</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BCI technology has
also helped researchers to reveal neural patterns of how the brain thinks and
imagines.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Christian Herff, a
computational neuroscientist at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, studies
how the brain encodes imagined speech. His team developed a BCI implant capable
of generating speech in real time when participants either whisper or imagine speaking
without moving their lips or making a sound8. The brain signals picked up by
the BCI device in both whispered and imagined speech were similar to those for
spoken speech. They share areas and patterns of activity, but are not the same,
explains Herff.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That means, he
says, that even if someone can’t speak, they could still imagine speech and
work a BCI. “This drastically increases the people who could use such a speech
BCI on a clinical basis,” says Herff.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The fact that
people with paralysis retain the programmes for speech or movement, even when
their bodies can no longer respond, helps researchers to draw conclusions about
how plastic the brain is — that is, to what extent it can reshape and remodel
its neural pathways.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is known that
injury, trauma and disease in the brain can alter the strength of connections
between neurons and cause neural circuits to reconfigure or make new
connections. For instance, work in rats with spinal cord injuries has shown
that brain regions that once controlled now-paralysed limbs can begin to
control parts of the body that are still functional9.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But BCI studies
have muddied this picture. Jennifer Collinger, a neural engineer at the
University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and her colleagues used an
intracortical BCI in a man in his 30s who has a spinal cord injury. He can
still move his wrist and elbow, but his fingers are paralysed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Collinger’s team
noticed that the original maps of the hand were preserved in his brain10. When
the man attempted to move his fingers, the team saw activity in the motor area,
even though his hand did not actually move. “We see the typical organization,”
she says. “Whether they have changed at all before or after injury, slightly,
we can’t really say.” That doesn’t mean the brain isn’t plastic, Collinger
notes. But some brain areas might be more flexible in this regard than others.
“For example, plasticity seems to be more limited in sensory cortex compared to
motor cortex,” she adds.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In conditions in
which the brain is damaged, such as stroke, BCIs can be used alongside other
therapeutic interventions to help train a new brain area to take over from a
damaged region. In such situations, “people are performing tasks by modulating
areas of the brain that originally were not evolved to do so”, says José del R.
Millán, a neural engineer at the University of Texas at Austin, who studies how
to deploy BCI-induced plasticity in rehabilitation.In a clinical trial, Millán
and his colleagues trained 14 participants with chronic stroke — a long-term condition
that begins 6 months or more after a stroke, marked by a slowdown in the
recovery process — to use non-invasive BCIs for 6 weeks11. In one group, the
BCI was connected to a device that applied electric currents to activate nerves
in paralysed muscles, a therapeutic technique known as functional electrical
stimulation (FES). Whenever the BCI decoded the participants’ attempts to
extend their hands, it stimulated the muscles that control wrist and finger
extension. Participants in the control group had the same set-up, but received
random electrical stimulation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Using EEG imaging,
Millán’s team found that the participants using BCI-guided FES had increased
connectivity between motor areas in the affected brain hemisphere compared with
the control group. Over time, the BCI–FES participants became able to extend
their hands, and their motor recovery lasted for 6–12 months after the end of
the BCI-based rehabilitation therapy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What
BCIs do to the brain</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In Millán’s study,
the BCI helped to drive learning in the brain. This feedback loop between human
and machine is a key element of BCIs, which can allow direct control of brain
activity. Participants can learn to adjust their mental focus to improve the
decoder’s output in real time.Whereas most research focuses on optimizing BCI
devices and improving their coding performance, “little attention has been paid
to what actually happens in the brain when you use the thing”, says Silvia
Marchesotti, a neuroengineer at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.Marchesotti
studies how the brain changes when people use a BCI for language generation —
looking not just in the regions where the BCI sits, but more widely. Her team
found that, when 15 healthy participants were trained to control a non-invasive
BCI over 5 days, activity across the brain increased in frequency bands known
to be important for language and became more focused over time12.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One possible
explanation could be that the brain becomes more efficient at controlling the
device and requires fewer neural resources to do the tasks, says Marchesotti.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Studying how the
brain behaves during BCI use is an emerging field, and researchers hope it will
both benefit the user and improve BCI systems. For example, recording activity
across the brain allows scientists to detect whether extra electrodes are
needed in other decoding sites to improve accuracy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Understanding more
about brain organization could help to build better decoders and prevent them
making errors. In a preprint posted last month13, Ramsey and his colleagues
showed that a speech decoder can become confused between a user speaking a
sentence and listening to it. They implanted BCIs in the ventral sensorimotor
cortex — an area commonly targeted for speech decoding — in five people
undergoing epilepsy surgery. They found that patterns of brain activity seen
when participants spoke a set of sentences closely resembled those observed when
they listened to a recording of the same sentences. This implies that a speech
decoder might not be able to differentiate between heard and spoken words when
trying to generate speech.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The scope of
current BCI research is still limited, with trials recruiting a very small
number of participants and focusing mainly on brain regions involved in motor
function.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“You have at least
tenfold as many researchers working on BCIs as you have patients using BCIs,”
says Herff.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers value
the rare chances to record directly from human neurons, but they are driven by
the need to restore function and meet medical needs. “This is neurosurgery,”
says Collinger. “It’s not to be taken lightly.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To Chang, the field
naturally operates as a blend of discovery and clinical application. “It’s hard
for me to even imagine what our research would be like if we were just doing
basic discovery or only doing the BCI work alone,” he says. “It seems that both
really are critical for moving the field forwards.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) New
species of ancient vampire squid unearthed in Luxembourg :by Bob Yirka ,
Phys.org<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcs_rcnBqr0OGadzPDhbzgHUo7NBdA3o3cforJmI1h8JUiVQE8z-3uOHu7zPeMtWm66dAyaHrYjjG1JYPVa2Vinu0x6w0cAOfSdJ2O92BAvINZw9Dg2Mj2B2gBoh9NgoZL3DD7lnNeg3kitcBFFY03-e6go5Q_RRYgC6UyIYn4P9VDCT4g1V_bbZtCEQ/s940/VAMPSQUID2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="940" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcs_rcnBqr0OGadzPDhbzgHUo7NBdA3o3cforJmI1h8JUiVQE8z-3uOHu7zPeMtWm66dAyaHrYjjG1JYPVa2Vinu0x6w0cAOfSdJ2O92BAvINZw9Dg2Mj2B2gBoh9NgoZL3DD7lnNeg3kitcBFFY03-e6go5Q_RRYgC6UyIYn4P9VDCT4g1V_bbZtCEQ/w640-h388/VAMPSQUID2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A trio of
paleontologists in Germany has found a fossilized vampire squid that they dated
to 183 million years ago. In their paper published in the Swiss Journal of
Palaeontology, Robert Weis, Ben Thuy and Dirk Fuchs describe where the fossil
was found, its condition, and how it compares to modern vampire squids. Vampire
squid (vampyromorphs) are a type of cephalopod—they most resemble squid but are
actually related more closely to octopi. Several species of vampyromorphs have
been discovered, including several that are extinct. They are known for their
bioluminescent organs and long, retractable filaments, a feature that
distinguishes them from other squid and octopi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YxIVsckLwctmNZ22HkwhdxAf4bMZSud6HoFwV9xD97g2URWzGsIzN43iV-JEfWvOmRo9XxOloM_xH0vB9k2bqD4lySg3Q9rvZwzlrU2xThXxPJhPSH1105FT8STrPTgXagQVb7xiM2MHDH3aMkJKUU0hRRTHiji-wtCiF7gdfOfdaVYuSo5pFXX81VA/s1200/VAMPSQUID4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YxIVsckLwctmNZ22HkwhdxAf4bMZSud6HoFwV9xD97g2URWzGsIzN43iV-JEfWvOmRo9XxOloM_xH0vB9k2bqD4lySg3Q9rvZwzlrU2xThXxPJhPSH1105FT8STrPTgXagQVb7xiM2MHDH3aMkJKUU0hRRTHiji-wtCiF7gdfOfdaVYuSo5pFXX81VA/w640-h360/VAMPSQUID4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For this new study,
the research team further investigated the fossilized remains of a vampyromorph
found at a dig site in Bascharage in 2022 and dated it back to the Early
Jurassic. They named the new species Simoniteuthis michaelyi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaakB4_rfjj04e-fez8ZFXxf_RoCFxrFMSHyJcPyrmg_mcTqj8wpdorT1A9VSw1pYXcxW-ZiojDGszh0ez5XK4qbInyHLTpS5Jq_o12xpad-HgEn3zW72jnuH884rvlbVDixQkcr3RQiZ-qTb5e9EYnhzs6BAj_M1hg0DPx_psLB7K4buH8CRY04ELbBE/s1960/VAMPSQUID1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="1960" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaakB4_rfjj04e-fez8ZFXxf_RoCFxrFMSHyJcPyrmg_mcTqj8wpdorT1A9VSw1pYXcxW-ZiojDGszh0ez5XK4qbInyHLTpS5Jq_o12xpad-HgEn3zW72jnuH884rvlbVDixQkcr3RQiZ-qTb5e9EYnhzs6BAj_M1hg0DPx_psLB7K4buH8CRY04ELbBE/w640-h514/VAMPSQUID1.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers
found the fossil to be in excellent condition, and it was a complete specimen,
which allowed for a detailed study. They also found that the creature had died
while in the middle of consuming two small fish—a rare find for any fossil. It
measured 38 centimeters long. They describe the find as exceptional due to its
quality of preservation. They were able to study what had once been soft tissue
structures, such as eyeballs, and muscle tissue, all in great detail.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKm3HjmbId3vz5JAKM7Yafm_wz0tP2-ZZ_qfeyqDtWEbgdCfGontjYrr_R1WQ9mvTEgzBZ5mo1X68zn9HqhBvNWFCccbpcFj-c6OYgOVRLQk5Aj9QGyvWAiXGyZAYrbrkvFamWE2ohHrEDdTmrZJH_9Bzs1uY4kaW8ooAIta6sfG-OG6cKac6OZoFBJMg/s907/VAMPSQUID3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="907" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKm3HjmbId3vz5JAKM7Yafm_wz0tP2-ZZ_qfeyqDtWEbgdCfGontjYrr_R1WQ9mvTEgzBZ5mo1X68zn9HqhBvNWFCccbpcFj-c6OYgOVRLQk5Aj9QGyvWAiXGyZAYrbrkvFamWE2ohHrEDdTmrZJH_9Bzs1uY4kaW8ooAIta6sfG-OG6cKac6OZoFBJMg/w640-h362/VAMPSQUID3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prior research
suggests that the vampyromorph lived in the shallows off an island that once
existed in what is now the heart of the European mainland. The research team
believes that the remarkable degree of preservation of this squid is due to
unique conditions at the moment of the creature's death. Water at the bottom of
the sea where it ventured would have been poorly oxygenated, causing the
creature to suffocate. In addition to killing the squid, it would have
prevented other creatures from feeding on its remains, allowing it to become
buried in the seafloor, wholly intact.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) The
possibility of past life on Mars: Biomolecules may have originated from
atmospheric formaldehyde :by Tohoku University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg134XM7z7QKJjIq6t6X59vSiK7Xxz9aXhjW-zTGzHfXn6juJsqhQ5liCOIDscvOrUI5ioU8OuPCfWKF_uzr6WoZzwgtRzZmYFt8NS8BlPDaxm4e-Vlx_l91-o9SJN8x6PoMR-9bGUU0W9WyIDXMBD0fVLn50nPs3hYttIIHbfNbdmNJaSWZtxTxkTrwA0/s999/MARSLIFE1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="999" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg134XM7z7QKJjIq6t6X59vSiK7Xxz9aXhjW-zTGzHfXn6juJsqhQ5liCOIDscvOrUI5ioU8OuPCfWKF_uzr6WoZzwgtRzZmYFt8NS8BlPDaxm4e-Vlx_l91-o9SJN8x6PoMR-9bGUU0W9WyIDXMBD0fVLn50nPs3hYttIIHbfNbdmNJaSWZtxTxkTrwA0/w640-h344/MARSLIFE1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Organic materials
discovered on Mars may have originated from atmospheric formaldehyde, according
to new research, marking a step forward in our understanding of the possibility
of past life on the red planet. Scientists from Tohoku University have
investigated whether the early atmospheric conditions on Mars had the potential
to foster the formation of biomolecules—organic compounds essential for
biological processes. Their findings, published in Scientific Reports, offer
intriguing insights into the plausibility of Mars harboring life in its distant
past.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Today, Mars
presents a harsh environment characterized by dryness and extreme cold, but
geological evidence hints at a more hospitable past. About 3.8–3.6 billion
years ago, the planet probably had a temperate climate, sustained by the
warming properties of gases like hydrogen. In such an environment, Mars may
have had liquid water, a key ingredient for life as we know it. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers
investigated whether formaldehyde could have formed in the early Martian
environment. Formaldehyde is a simple organic compound that plays a crucial
role as a precursor for the formation of vital biomolecules through purely
chemical or physical processes. These biomolecules, like amino acids and
sugars, serve as the fundamental building blocks for proteins and RNA,
essential components of life. Using an advanced computer model, the team
simulated the potential atmospheric composition of early Mars to explore the
potential for formaldehyde production. The model was built with the assumption
that the atmosphere was rich in carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETlCmxtBW-YReompJ5G13VWIXrwtcS8Tmbd-3X7ee07qm8k-iZWFdeiBAb59wpy3Trg8fNKLnDAofVzQ5IYZPcoCAKZC7Qs59nlTodRGEF89wR_vGo5V0CZCmXCZqxCflj6r2HghXS2ugrsgV8omYakYH9bMGMclRPTMU09cFttnT6Ox6e0p0qvqN7vY/s586/MARSLIFE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="417" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETlCmxtBW-YReompJ5G13VWIXrwtcS8Tmbd-3X7ee07qm8k-iZWFdeiBAb59wpy3Trg8fNKLnDAofVzQ5IYZPcoCAKZC7Qs59nlTodRGEF89wR_vGo5V0CZCmXCZqxCflj6r2HghXS2ugrsgV8omYakYH9bMGMclRPTMU09cFttnT6Ox6e0p0qvqN7vY/w456-h640/MARSLIFE2.jpg" width="456" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Their simulations
suggest that the ancient Martian atmosphere could have provided a continuous
supply of formaldehyde which would have potentially led to the creation of
various organic compounds. This raises the intriguing possibility that the
organic materials detected on the Martian surface could have originated from
atmospheric sources, particularly during the planet's two earliest geological
periods.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Our research
provides crucial insights into the chemical processes that may have occurred on
ancient Mars, offering valuable clues to the possibility of past life on the
planet," says Shungo Koyama, lead author of the study. By revealing that
there were conditions favorable for the formation of biomolecules, the research
broadens our understanding of the planet's ancient capacity to sustain life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg7sasZWcc_NYbeZd3HUun5Y4yl2ociZBeEX0k3x2EBNS4WiGSvxXC_L3vmS4jAXgA2NiQOC0cvutTx3lEZYPJy_R7uGF-Ck6s320g4jYtMzvV8pjt8kjaEqIMbI41DYhyphenhyphenWShauzdRzAiPzqkxX8JyB4G8Np6dL7Hfy2CEU6tLVHuygoG4g7ZsVX_8Bw/s876/MARSLIFE3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="876" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg7sasZWcc_NYbeZd3HUun5Y4yl2ociZBeEX0k3x2EBNS4WiGSvxXC_L3vmS4jAXgA2NiQOC0cvutTx3lEZYPJy_R7uGF-Ck6s320g4jYtMzvV8pjt8kjaEqIMbI41DYhyphenhyphenWShauzdRzAiPzqkxX8JyB4G8Np6dL7Hfy2CEU6tLVHuygoG4g7ZsVX_8Bw/w640-h290/MARSLIFE3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Next, the team
plans to analyze geological data gathered by NASA's Martian rovers, with the
aim of increasing their understanding of organic materials present early in the
planet's history. By comparing the expected carbon isotopes of ancient formaldehyde
with data from Martian samples, they hope to get a better picture of the
processes that shaped the planet's organic chemistry.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6)
Scientists reveal how first cells could have formed on Earth by The Scripps
Research Institute<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyGhU7Fjk_2XfrDxTuhGoOCzCzf-qpfUKjoHwLoGQX_9ZPy__UvcInUH6jdTBivyZh7SCZ78YTJ-a8ooNE6hb5yJ4MH4ESEqkPukKHzVIxInj5IrgT7lm4OY0V5lgv7YApjUgfVo_G4hDtTYWdYyOuCKjFftZwAFu5wlihho3pnEspte2R2yHaOqGWxE/s757/FIRSTCELL1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="757" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyGhU7Fjk_2XfrDxTuhGoOCzCzf-qpfUKjoHwLoGQX_9ZPy__UvcInUH6jdTBivyZh7SCZ78YTJ-a8ooNE6hb5yJ4MH4ESEqkPukKHzVIxInj5IrgT7lm4OY0V5lgv7YApjUgfVo_G4hDtTYWdYyOuCKjFftZwAFu5wlihho3pnEspte2R2yHaOqGWxE/w640-h424/FIRSTCELL1.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Roughly 4 billion
years ago, Earth was developing conditions suitable for life. Origin-of-life
scientists often wonder if the type of chemistry found on the early Earth was
similar to what life requires today. They know that spherical collections of
fats, called protocells, were the precursor to cells during this emergence of
life. But how did simple protocells first arise and diversify to eventually
lead to life on Earth? Now, Scripps Research scientists have discovered one
plausible pathway for how protocells may have first formed and chemically
progressed to allow for a diversity of functions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The findings,
published online on February 29, 2024, in the journal Chem, suggest that a
chemical process called phosphorylation (where phosphate groups are added to
the molecule) may have occurred earlier than previously expected. This would
lead to more structurally complex, double chained protocells capable of
harboring chemical reactions and dividing with a diverse range of
functionalities. By revealing how protocells formed, scientists can better
understand how early evolution could have taken place.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglohLGyrTi4HeWuU1APMQ_BForUOOZwmaVwx8YbeFEChLN0xmYMr98Fqe-qj59_7PSp0FjBzUqVV-o1ikxq9vqqu-_rxJ36z0ZTDlemNA38rWQyBqMh3Sr6CLlxyJzz-coBQcfOyl8QG4LW96F7AoY299ARS8blppwevR54909zDc9WNNMoy2VefBzfs/s752/FIRSTCELL2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="752" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglohLGyrTi4HeWuU1APMQ_BForUOOZwmaVwx8YbeFEChLN0xmYMr98Fqe-qj59_7PSp0FjBzUqVV-o1ikxq9vqqu-_rxJ36z0ZTDlemNA38rWQyBqMh3Sr6CLlxyJzz-coBQcfOyl8QG4LW96F7AoY299ARS8blppwevR54909zDc9WNNMoy2VefBzfs/w640-h426/FIRSTCELL2.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"At some
point, we all wonder where we came from. We've now discovered a plausible way
that phosphates could have been incorporated into cell-like structures earlier
than previously thought, which lays the building blocks for life," says
Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy, Ph.D., co-corresponding senior author and
professor in the Department of Chemistry at Scripps Research.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This finding
helps us better understand the chemical environments of early Earth so we can
uncover the origins of life and how life can evolve on early Earth."
Krishnamurthy and his team study how chemical processes occurred to cause the
simple chemicals and formations that were present before the emergence of life
in prebiotic Earth. Krishnamurthy is also a co-leader of a NASA initiative
investigating how life emerged from these early environments. In this study,
Krishnamurthy and his team collaborated with the lab of soft matter
biophysicist Ashok Deniz, Ph.D., co-corresponding senior author and professor
in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at
Scripps Research. They sought to examine if phosphates may have been involved
during the formation of protocells. Phosphates are present in nearly every
chemical reaction in the body, so Krishnamurthy suspected they may have been
present earlier than previously believed.Scientists thought protocells formed
from fatty acids, but it was unclear how protocells transitioned from a single
chain to a double chain of phosphates, which is what allows them to be more
stable and harbor chemical reactions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The scientists
wanted to mimic plausible prebiotic conditions—the environments that existed
prior to the emergence of life. They first identified three likely mixtures of
chemicals that could potentially create vesicles, spherical structures of
lipids similar to protocells.The chemicals used included fatty acids and
glycerol (a common byproduct of soap production that may have existed during
early Earth). Next, they observed the reactions of these mixtures and added
additional chemicals to create new mixtures. These solutions were cooled and
heated on repeat overnight with some shaking to promote chemical reactions.They
then used fluorescent dyes to inspect the mixtures and judge if vesicle
formation had taken place. In certain cases, the researchers also varied the pH
and the ratios of the components to better understand how these factors
impacted vesicle formation. They also looked at the effect of metal ions and temperature
on the stability of the vesicles.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The vesicles
were able to transition from a fatty acid environment to a phospholipid
environment during our experiments, suggesting a similar chemical environment
could have existed 4 billion years ago," says first author Sunil
Pulletikurti, postdoctoral researcher in Krishnamurthy's lab.It turns out that
fatty acids and glycerol may have undergone phosphorylation to create that more
stable, double chain structure. In particular, glycerol derived fatty acid esters
may have led to vesicles with different tolerances to metal ions, temperatures,
and pH—a critical step in diversifying evolution.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We've
discovered one plausible pathway for how phospholipids could have emerged
during this chemical evolutionary process," says Deniz. "It's
exciting to uncover how early chemistries may have transitioned to allow for
life on Earth. Our findings also hint at a wealth of intriguing physics that
may have played key functional roles along the way to modern cells."Next,
the scientists plan to examine why some of the vesicles fused while others
divided to better understand the dynamic processes of protocells.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjny3dOYXCrPSWEmSS_b9V4xGea4zRvU5eeF0k-iwPAAKY_WDqevKCozKIaLZgygGFfvZuKyx6GW58SniAPhwxelq0EV6OYwfJTfAXR6BYcBIvwSHhzW6L1Bbc1JZVeVfN3c6tDQt8nR7qvayRfT9syjP4I9KU85_UH3SDf9k0NAfRZRrUnlocLvPQ9pok/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjny3dOYXCrPSWEmSS_b9V4xGea4zRvU5eeF0k-iwPAAKY_WDqevKCozKIaLZgygGFfvZuKyx6GW58SniAPhwxelq0EV6OYwfJTfAXR6BYcBIvwSHhzW6L1Bbc1JZVeVfN3c6tDQt8nR7qvayRfT9syjP4I9KU85_UH3SDf9k0NAfRZRrUnlocLvPQ9pok/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) General
Elections Buzz: INDIA Alliance Reportedly Finalise Seat Sharing in Maharashtra,
Tamil Nadu<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFndNJy-H6uMvZQIWy_VBpx2HsB1zJz3U6MPXEy9O0_M6XxS69XWZuL1_Q2MVyCH6EHXcIYHv7b0OprcPM3Pfrjz649f36vUzYjxe7VlcU38ODyZ-mh4-U0lDTjs6AO8O4MHKgvkRllKOgYNCVnCm3F_IsFGIhAsxMw1Aw7ZxYXnT65H2ZVoGHQjLzQT4/s1200/MAHARASTRA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="1200" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFndNJy-H6uMvZQIWy_VBpx2HsB1zJz3U6MPXEy9O0_M6XxS69XWZuL1_Q2MVyCH6EHXcIYHv7b0OprcPM3Pfrjz649f36vUzYjxe7VlcU38ODyZ-mh4-U0lDTjs6AO8O4MHKgvkRllKOgYNCVnCm3F_IsFGIhAsxMw1Aw7ZxYXnT65H2ZVoGHQjLzQT4/w640-h188/MAHARASTRA.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The BJP’s Central
Election Committee Meeting too was held at the party headquarters in Delhi on
Thursday.There are news reports about alliances and seat-sharing deals being
reached in the states.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Maha Vikas Aghadi or
Maharashtra’s MVA alliance, knocked off power in an Eknath Shinde-led coup last
year, is reported to have agreed on a seat-sharing arrangement. The Uddhav
Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will contest 48 seats in the state, it is reported.
The state has the highest number of seats in the country after UP’s 80 seats. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress leaders Nana
Falgunrao Patole, Prithviraj Chavan, Varsha Gaikwad, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction)
leaders Jayant Patil, Jitendra Awhad and Anil Deshmukh, and Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay
Raut and Vinayak Raut participated in the meeting, according to news agency
PTI.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The final agreement is
said to be announced in a press conference later.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sanjay Raut, MP and
spokesperson for the UBT faction, said that no proposal (as reported in a
section of the press) has come forth from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s Prakash
Ambedkar, for a seat to Manoj Jarange Patil from Jalna. Patil has emerged as
the focal point of the intense protests for Maratha reservations across the
state that have proved to be a big thorn in the BJP-Eknath Shinde-Ajit Pawar
government’s plans.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) had won 23 Lok Sabha seats, its then-alliance partner Shiv Sena
(undivided) had bagged 18, undivided NCP had won four. Congress and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen (AIMIM) had won one seat each. An independent candidate had won one
seat. There were reports of “nine seats” holding up the alliance a week ago,
which appear to have been ironed out.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tamil Nadu: DMK + allies<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The DMK on Thursday (February
29) finalised its seat-sharing talks with the Communist Party of India (CPI)
and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), “allotting two seats each to both
Left parties. The constituencies are to be decided upon later,” the Hindu
reported. The decision was made during a meeting between the Left parties at
the DMK head office on Thursday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The DMK had started
finalising seat-sharing pacts with its allies last week. Like with the Left
parties, retaining the numbers they contested together in the 2019 election,
DMK allotted the Ramanathapuram constituency to the Indian Union Muslim League
(IUML) and Namakkal to the Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK). The talks
between the DMK and the MDMK would continue, MDMK were reported to have said
earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“We have asked for two
Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. Today’s talks were satisfactory.
Talks will continue,” MDMK’s Arjun Raj told reporters after meeting the DMK
seat-sharing committee.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The DMK’s seat-sharing
committee is led by T.R. Baalu while K.N. Nehru, I. Periyasamy, K. Ponmudy, A.
Raja, M.R.K. Panneerselvam and Tiruchi N. Siva are the other members.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BJP meets</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The BJP’s Central
Election Committee meeting too was held at the party headquarters in Delhi on
Thursday. The meeting is said to have focused on Lok Sabha election seats
across 17 states. “During the meeting, decisions were made regarding over 155
seats, the details of which are expected to be released within the next couple
of days”, say news reports.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Himachal Pradesh
News Highlights: Vikramaditya Singh announces to not to press for resignation<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAIa7Rbt0lzO9ZWmdvVHu8qetX_wh3aVV68wwHL-_S9CLu6lbnQAm9HD-QNZ2VukMnnl8nf70JIYQq2fRnDiQe80GPDi5EmQMrzb_Z5gVTmmBEMLYD-AoolWREMw_GHgwsjQo0Q78iyy1c5hMR82XO89GXqQBXtxMe2BcS2D1sGrFkhxnlfNUBSkGMLM/s549/Himachal%20Pradesh%20MLA%20Vikramaditya%20Singh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAIa7Rbt0lzO9ZWmdvVHu8qetX_wh3aVV68wwHL-_S9CLu6lbnQAm9HD-QNZ2VukMnnl8nf70JIYQq2fRnDiQe80GPDi5EmQMrzb_Z5gVTmmBEMLYD-AoolWREMw_GHgwsjQo0Q78iyy1c5hMR82XO89GXqQBXtxMe2BcS2D1sGrFkhxnlfNUBSkGMLM/w640-h360/Himachal%20Pradesh%20MLA%20Vikramaditya%20Singh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Himachal Pradesh MLA Vikramaditya Singh</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress government
is on the brink after a major setback in the Rajya Sabha elections held on
Tuesday, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the only Rajya Sabha seat
in the state. Despite the BJP's minority position in the Himachal assembly, the
saffron party succeeded in outmanoeuvring the Congress. Leader of the
Opposition Jairam Thakur has now called for the resignation of Himachal Pradesh
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chief Minister
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu faced challenges in maintaining party unity during the
Rajya Sabha elections, with six MLAs from the Congress cross-voting, leading to
an embarrassing defeat.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With the Congress
holding 40 out of 68 seats in the assembly and the BJP 25, the six Congress
MLAs' actions may pave the way for a potential no-confidence motion.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On Wednesday, Thakur
along with members of the BJP's legislative party, convened with Governor Shiv
Pratap Shukla at the Raj Bhawan. On Tuesday, amid disruptions from both the
treasury and opposition benches, the Himachal Pradesh assembly adjourned for
the day. Thakur accused the government of evading the division of votes,
alleging a loss of majority.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He told reporters on
Wednesday, “We have informed the Governor about what happened in the Assembly.
When we demanded a division of votes during the financial bill, our request was
denied, and the House was adjourned twice. The conduct of the Marshals towards
our MLAs was unacceptable.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the assembly session
on Wednesday, the Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly expelled 15 BJP
MLAs, including LoP Jairam Thakur, Vipin Singh Parmar, Randheer Sharma,
Lokender Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Hans Raj, Janak Raj, Balbir Verma, Trilok Jamwal,
Surender Shori, Deep Raj, Puran Thakur, Inder Singh Gandhi, Dileep Thakur, and
Inder Singh Gandhi. Their expulsion was purportedly due to shouting slogans and
engaging in misconduct within the Speaker's chamber.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Himachal crisis:
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu claims Congress government is 'safe'<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq4Pm2iKL-HWICkvCEWTsbxDAdzzINy90HI5unhS5GE-ZXJ2wiMVwK7m_RkbDPWpGV8cqmRgM7Klic6N_QP0eYGLflqIdoUCzvEVr0CNV3qMHw-9e_Z2JOycSwOIw9Sh2zX3TBJEz8avrnbLGJFFeKcBhSVU0Z5yxOcwOHQ2vRT_qCkKDrqm6n4x8S2w/s1069/SUK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1069" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq4Pm2iKL-HWICkvCEWTsbxDAdzzINy90HI5unhS5GE-ZXJ2wiMVwK7m_RkbDPWpGV8cqmRgM7Klic6N_QP0eYGLflqIdoUCzvEVr0CNV3qMHw-9e_Z2JOycSwOIw9Sh2zX3TBJEz8avrnbLGJFFeKcBhSVU0Z5yxOcwOHQ2vRT_qCkKDrqm6n4x8S2w/w640-h348/SUK.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The political crisis for
the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh began on Monday, shortly after six
of its MLAs cross-voted in Rajya Sabha elections.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Amid the ongoing
political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on
Wednesday said that the ruling government in the state is “safe”. Sukhu's
comment came shortly after he held a meeting with the Congress observers in
Shimla.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The three observers
included Bhupesh Baghel, DK Shivakumar, and Bhupinder Hooda who will submit
their report in two parts - the accountability behind the cross-voting, and the
future course of action for the Congress government in Himachal
Pradesh.“Discussion was held regarding elections…We decided on the future
course of action. Our government is safe,” Sukhu told the media post the
meeting.Earlier in the day, Sukhu refuted all the reports of his resignation
asserting that he will prove a majority in the House and run the government for
five years. “Neither anyone asked for my resignation nor have I presented my
resignation to anyone. We will prove the majority. We will win, the people of
Himachal will win,” the Himachal CM said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He added, “I am not
someone who will get scared and I can say this with guarantee that the Congress
is going to win…The BJP is spreading rumours of my resignation. The Congress is
united.”The political crisis for the Congress government in the hilly state
began on Tuesday, shortly after six of its MLAs cross-voted which resulted in
the BJP winning the state's lone Rajya Sabha seat, despite the Congress being
in the majority. Adding to the crisis, Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh also
announced his resignation from the state cabinet.The surprising win of the
saffron party prompted it to challenge Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sikhu-led
government and demand a show of strength in the House.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Meanwhile, Himachal
Pradesh speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania has reserved an order on a Congress
petition seeking the disqualification of six party MLAs who cross-voted.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) 3 TV News
channels fined, ordered to take down content that spread hate<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GFQ_BUvsizFS57sk-1_LVHqbXLfDFnLHc-itQv0KJtVrQff2LMdX51nppnTRJxXhWF6Vq1JR-RhW73Xl5QH8z04TATwfBXRyNCPJbdYmT4Xfu6wABQe3gAbQR32HsCBbucP1mi8O7xuwBaM20w-ms6F-G-zjhmSk13KLh8YZ0NtmmWISlB0Lie2gSPY/s549/NBDSA%20has%20ordered%20three%20TV%20news%20channels%20to%20remove%20programmes%20broadcast%20by%20them%20from%20their%20online%20platforms%20and%20YouTube..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GFQ_BUvsizFS57sk-1_LVHqbXLfDFnLHc-itQv0KJtVrQff2LMdX51nppnTRJxXhWF6Vq1JR-RhW73Xl5QH8z04TATwfBXRyNCPJbdYmT4Xfu6wABQe3gAbQR32HsCBbucP1mi8O7xuwBaM20w-ms6F-G-zjhmSk13KLh8YZ0NtmmWISlB0Lie2gSPY/w640-h360/NBDSA%20has%20ordered%20three%20TV%20news%20channels%20to%20remove%20programmes%20broadcast%20by%20them%20from%20their%20online%20platforms%20and%20YouTube..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NBDSA has ordered three TV news channels to remove programmes broadcast by them from their online platforms and YouTube.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Three leading TV News
channels – Aaj Tak, News18 India, Times Now Navbharat – have been penalised and
ordered to take down content that spread hate.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The News Broadcasting
and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has taken stern action against three
prominent television news channels – News18 India, Times Now Navbharat, and Aaj
Tak, ordering them to remove videos of several shows aired over the past two years.
The directive comes in response to complaints over the dissemination of content
that promotes hatred and communal disharmony, deemed to be in violation of
broadcasting standards and ethics guidelines. Among the channels penalised,
News18 India faced a fine and removal order for three specific shows. These
shows, two anchored by Aman Chopra and one by Amish Devgan, were found guilty
of communalising the Shraddha Walker case, labelling it as "love
jihad." The NBDSA imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 on the channel and mandated
the removal of the offending videos.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The NBDSA order stated
that the “term ‘love jihad’ should not be used loosely and should be used with
great introspection in future broadcasts as religious stereotyping can corrode
the secular fabric of the country, cause irreparable harm to a community and
create religious intolerance or disharmony.” The regulatory body also imposed a
fine of ₹1 lakh on Times Now Navbharat for its show, hosted by Himanshu Dixit,
on “love jihad” which was aired on May 31, 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It appears that at the
very beginning of the broadcast, the anchor has concluded that men from a
certain community lured women from another community by hiding their religious
identity and then committed violence or murders against such women and every
such violence or murder committed on women of a certain community related to
love jihad,” it said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Aaj Tak came under
scrutiny for a show hosted by Sudhir Chaudhary. The NBDSA found Chaudhary's use
of terms such as "Tukde Tukde Gang," "Khalistani in
Punjab," and "Pakistani Supporters" during a discussion on
former President Barack Obama's comments concerning India to be inflammatory
and violative of objectivity and neutrality standards. A fine of Rs. 75,000 was
levied on Aaj Tak, coupled with an order to either expunge the objectionable
remarks from the video or remove it entirely.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In its assessment, the
NBDSA noted a clear departure from journalistic principles in the implicated
broadcasts. The channels were found to have failed in presenting controversial
issues with impartiality, objectivity, and sensitivity, as mandated by
broadcasting standards.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A legal representative
of the India Today Group, said, “Even though we are disappointed by the order,
we respect the decision by the regulatory body and will follow it”, reported
The Indian Express<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Morning
briefing: Bengaluru's Rameshwaram cafe owners react to blast, IMD's rainfall
alert for states; all latest news<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKYbGd5snfEc5WmV7jqpPEsZzfEhHa8O1Rm6rpBw0himICv9iiHMY1mL9UXy5cUXlIzLoT_S4r-kdYpFW3xBbXHJD3WdZr5HxOtlPNs1-UAPccyKBWqKiWRvmtVVHDr_w26IoIhalOHngQP2Klbi9GI6sYFE_dTdCVNeM3qxLnx2TgA6pcEAI2t7RtRs/s549/The%20Rameshwaram%20Cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKYbGd5snfEc5WmV7jqpPEsZzfEhHa8O1Rm6rpBw0himICv9iiHMY1mL9UXy5cUXlIzLoT_S4r-kdYpFW3xBbXHJD3WdZr5HxOtlPNs1-UAPccyKBWqKiWRvmtVVHDr_w26IoIhalOHngQP2Klbi9GI6sYFE_dTdCVNeM3qxLnx2TgA6pcEAI2t7RtRs/w640-h360/The%20Rameshwaram%20Cafe.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">10 people got injured on
Friday after a low-intensity blast took place in Rameshwaram Cafe, a popular
eatery in Bengaluru's Brookefield area. The cafe's owners said that they are
cooperating with the law enforcement authorities. "We are deeply saddened
by the unfortunate incident at our Brookefield branch. We are cooperating with
the authorities and officials in their investigations," the cafe said in a
statement. Divya Raghavendra Rao, the co-founder of the cafe, said they are
offering support to those injured. "Our thoughts are with the injured and
their families, and we are offering them all the support, assistance and care
they need and praying for their speedy recovery," she said. The Bengaluru
Police have registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act in connection with the explosion
at the cafe.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Delhi-NCR experienced a
sudden shift in weather as the region received light rainfall on Saturday
morning. Following the rainfall, cloudy skies enveloped the national capital
and adjoining areas, bringing the temperature a notch down. Visuals captured
from the Kartavya Path and Greater Kailash area showed droplets of rain
creating ripples on puddle-covered streets. Pedestrians were seen carrying
umbrellas as they navigated through the wet conditions. A Western Disturbance,
coupled with a cyclonic circulation over northwest Afghanistan and its
vicinity, alongside a trough extending from this circulation to the Northwest
Arabian Sea in the lower and middle tropospheric levels, is currently
influencing weather patterns, according to the Indian Meteorological Department
(IMD).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Narendra Modi
Bengal Visit: Mamata Banerjee meets PM at Raj Bhavan<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedgx_EXOQlJJL4io6pkS7whifl3zLePsBz6dJ8HLF1NIcRJEutHnGbe3uVUOxJAJPF4i1Bi9SLfw5thRIWazM9wb7Rewy9DR0gqTAkx5W4yXgEmTEf22Lrd5JIFvt64k5CMcDnbHGYIixknG8zqQIPx3hmZCyNcHRHJSXxJ94L_XVTAGm0HYwMyvQWnM/s550/Narendra%20Modi%20Bengal%20Visit%20Mamata%20Banerjee%20meets%20PM%20at%20Raj%20Bhavan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedgx_EXOQlJJL4io6pkS7whifl3zLePsBz6dJ8HLF1NIcRJEutHnGbe3uVUOxJAJPF4i1Bi9SLfw5thRIWazM9wb7Rewy9DR0gqTAkx5W4yXgEmTEf22Lrd5JIFvt64k5CMcDnbHGYIixknG8zqQIPx3hmZCyNcHRHJSXxJ94L_XVTAGm0HYwMyvQWnM/w640-h360/Narendra%20Modi%20Bengal%20Visit%20Mamata%20Banerjee%20meets%20PM%20at%20Raj%20Bhavan.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prime Minister Narendra
Modi is on a visit to Jharkhand and West Bengal today. In Jharkhand's Sindri
the Prime Minister inaugurated several developmental projects worth ₹17,600
crore. These projects encompass significant developments such as the expansion
of the Sone Nagar-Andal third and fourth lines, the Tori-Shivpur first and
second lines, and the Biratoli-Shivpur third line, a part of the Tori-Shivpur Project.
Additionally, new rail lines like Mohanpur-Hansdiha and the Dhanbad-Chandrapura
line were inaugurated.The Prime Minister also flagged off three trains during
the event: the Deoghar-Dibrugarh service, MEMU Train Service between Tatanagar
and Badampahar daily, and a long-haul freight train departing from Shivpur
station.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Later in the day, the
Prime Minister visited West Bengal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In Bengal's Arambagh,
the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and dedicated multiple
developmental projects related to rail, ports, oil pipeline, LPG supply, and
wastewater treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Among these projects,
the Prime Minister inaugurated Indian Oil's 518-km Haldia-Barauni Crude Oil
Pipeline, which has been developed at a cost of approximately ₹2,790
crore.Additionally, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of multiple
projects aimed at enhancing the infrastructure at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port
in Kolkata, with an investment of approximately ₹1000 crore.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PM Modi also laid the
foundation stone for Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station Phase II (2x660 MW)
situated in Raghunathpur, Purulia district. This coal-based thermal power
project, overseen by the Damodar Valley Corporation, will employ highly
efficient supercritical technology.The establishment of this new plant marks a
significant stride towards fortifying the energy security of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">7) Sandeshkhali
case: Sheikh Shahjahan of TMC arrested, sent to 10-day police custody<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGA0VgU_fvNqKKojh9P1h671YAzWwrUcL5gLFi2UVOT81IUsRX49qk32K1KHIhT5C0tESynE5v97SB3_3H3V2FqMR-zYbwpfcqN0yxAhzrI9JqhYhdZgiPioz3giNUZF9uQ2kWbWhyphenhyphenpf9aCZLPmnYev6K8fsjnz90shQEIbryG4vc7cUPPUnv6If9RoY/s550/TMC%20leader%20Sheikh%20Shahjahan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGA0VgU_fvNqKKojh9P1h671YAzWwrUcL5gLFi2UVOT81IUsRX49qk32K1KHIhT5C0tESynE5v97SB3_3H3V2FqMR-zYbwpfcqN0yxAhzrI9JqhYhdZgiPioz3giNUZF9uQ2kWbWhyphenhyphenpf9aCZLPmnYev6K8fsjnz90shQEIbryG4vc7cUPPUnv6If9RoY/w640-h360/TMC%20leader%20Sheikh%20Shahjahan.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sandeshkhali case:
Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested from a house at Minakhah in North 24 Parganas
district where he was hiding, the police said.Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh
Shahjahan, who was arrested on Thursday morning for allegedly torturing
villagers in the trouble-torn Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal, has been sent
to a 10-day police custody by a local court. Sheikh is accused of alleged
sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali. He was arrested
from a house at Minakhah in North 24 Parganas district where he was hiding, the
police said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Advocate Raja Bhowmick,
lawyer of Sheikh Shahjahan said, “ ...The police sought 14 days custody but the
court granted 10 days…On March 10, he will be produced in court again”The
Calcutta high court on Wednesday directed that Sheikh Shahjahan can be arrested
by the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the West Bengal Police.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On Monday, the high
court had directed police to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan, following which the
state's ruling party asserted that it does not shield culprits and he would be
arrested within seven days.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sheikh Shahjahan was at
large since an ED team that went to raid his house in connection with the
alleged ration scam was attacked by a mob of around 1,000 people on January
5.West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose welcomed the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan
asserted that the time has come to put criminals, who are ruling the roost in
parts of Bengal, behind bars.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“This is the beginning
of an end. We have to put an end to the cycle of violence in Bengal. In parts
of Bengal, the goons are ruling the roost. This must end and the gangsters
should be put behind bars,” news agency PTI quoted the Bengal governor saying
at a press conference<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">CV Ananda Bose
maintained that the Sandeshkhali incident is only the tip of an iceberg,
suggesting there is much more to it than what meets the eye.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVMIau47pbIp_DRq88_J_Y_UrChgz_vUbBHM3UCjUrVrI4KmtyIWdlKrYGtC-hYCzh94XI6dnIxxT8c4u5jSiKqrdm07QW-WZikg4xFxBwmbHrHqn8gvC1O1uPFkkYLXUIxX7-_qUqP78UNP4wkqwXLemygYv_Leq5H8Wuel6raLKBMAmTDFGfnlwquc/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVMIau47pbIp_DRq88_J_Y_UrChgz_vUbBHM3UCjUrVrI4KmtyIWdlKrYGtC-hYCzh94XI6dnIxxT8c4u5jSiKqrdm07QW-WZikg4xFxBwmbHrHqn8gvC1O1uPFkkYLXUIxX7-_qUqP78UNP4wkqwXLemygYv_Leq5H8Wuel6raLKBMAmTDFGfnlwquc/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) India win 4th
test by 5 wickets to claim series victory over England<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-fmte2Y8vwPol3Gsf09fxaPKR_oeFofgmXj22GhPBw5sHQt3SMxXh-I2zt-2G2FvB7lHoJcfK9OalpnOsvwdlWqtSFy8YEtSU2ncqd-GlZ95exram9X0sJxFACxfmETn5VkRTEP5IC9rBp3D6kvceGtE45WUUXohn82Ji_kDbiYIV_eJ_9aZANeX1L0/s549/Indian%20and%20English%20players%20greet%20each%20other%20after%20India%20won%20the%20fourth%20Test%20cricket%20match%20against%20England,%20in%20Ranchi,%20Monday,%20Feb.%2026,.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-fmte2Y8vwPol3Gsf09fxaPKR_oeFofgmXj22GhPBw5sHQt3SMxXh-I2zt-2G2FvB7lHoJcfK9OalpnOsvwdlWqtSFy8YEtSU2ncqd-GlZ95exram9X0sJxFACxfmETn5VkRTEP5IC9rBp3D6kvceGtE45WUUXohn82Ji_kDbiYIV_eJ_9aZANeX1L0/w640-h360/Indian%20and%20English%20players%20greet%20each%20other%20after%20India%20won%20the%20fourth%20Test%20cricket%20match%20against%20England,%20in%20Ranchi,%20Monday,%20Feb.%2026,.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian and English players greet each other after India won the fourth Test cricket match against England, in Ranchi, Monday, Feb. 26,</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India win 4th test by 5
wickets to claim series victory over England India took an unassailable 3-1
lead in the five-match test series against England by winning the fourth test
by five wickets on Monday. Chasing 192 to win, India lost five wickets for 36 runs
to be reduced to 120-5 but Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel put on a sixth-wicket
partnership of 72 runs to get the hosts over the line.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is the first test
series’ defeat for England under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India's victory was set
up on Sunday's third day when England's batting lineup collapsed to be all out
for 145 in its second innings as the tourists surrended the initiative after
taking a 46-run lead from the first innings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India's victory here
gives it unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-test series. England had won the
first test in Hyderabad by 28 runs. India responded by winning the second test
in Visakhapatnam by 106 runs, and then the third test in Rajkot by 434 runs.
The fifth test will be played in Dharamsala from March 7.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chasing 192, India
resumed Monday at 40 without loss. Captain Rohit Sharma completed his half
century and seemingly had set India on course for victory, before England
snared three wickets to keep their slight hopes alive of achieving a dramatic
turnaround.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sharma shared an 84-run
opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal, before the latter was spectacularly caught
by veteran James Anderson off Joe Root for 37 to give the tourists a
much-needed breakthrough against the seemingly comfortable Indian opening pair.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jaiswal’s wicket sparked
a mini-collapse as India went from 84-0 to 100-3 inside nine overs as England
sniffed a chance of victory.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Left-arm spinner Tom
Hartley had Sharma caught behind in the 26th over for 55. It was initially
judged as a stumping, but on review, the television umpire also detected an
edge from the batter while keeper Ben Foakes held on to a sharp
catch.Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir then had Rajat Patidar caught at short leg for
a six-ball duck as India lost its second wicket in eight deliveries.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India went to lunch at
118-3, but the slide continued after the break.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ravindra Jadeja (4) was
caught first ball on resumption of play. He hit a low full toss off Bashir
straight to mid-on. Next ball, Sarfaraz Khan was out caught at short leg.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jurel (39 not out)
denied Bashir the hat-trick and then bedded down for a match winning
partnership with Gill.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 24-year-old Gill was
watchful and intent on not taking any risks. He only scored his first boundary
after 119 deliveries.The two batters grew in confidence as they spent time at
the wicket, adding 50 off 122 balls as England's spinners began to wane.Gill
(52 not out) then hit two sixes to reach his sixth test half century and
brought a swift end to an enthralling match.Bashir, playing only his second
test, finished with 3-79 and collected a match haul of eight wickets to lead
the tourist bowlers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Who is Mathias
Boe? The kingmaker behind Chirag-Satwik's stellar rise, now set to marry Indian
actress Taapsee Pannu<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep1jGnTSLFNClDesyC9zowfZFMJbYXvq2sk7VCBqqKeh5Y9IpYEm6VwoZLShCztAvKNINmHeXdlzMgEPIyuhxxOBRs5oGKsnsH7citQlVwCQKyE3AkPcTbpPBAjhoKTGLh5cUya8D2jZbzDf4n_Sp23fMUAMCQwChnGZ2bxbE09SsksnDfGUsB4q2whY/s549/Taapsee%20Pannu%20with%20Mathias%20Boe.%20The%20two%20are%20reported%20to%20exchange%20vows%20in%20March%202024(.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep1jGnTSLFNClDesyC9zowfZFMJbYXvq2sk7VCBqqKeh5Y9IpYEm6VwoZLShCztAvKNINmHeXdlzMgEPIyuhxxOBRs5oGKsnsH7citQlVwCQKyE3AkPcTbpPBAjhoKTGLh5cUya8D2jZbzDf4n_Sp23fMUAMCQwChnGZ2bxbE09SsksnDfGUsB4q2whY/w640-h360/Taapsee%20Pannu%20with%20Mathias%20Boe.%20The%20two%20are%20reported%20to%20exchange%20vows%20in%20March%202024(.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taapsee Pannu with Mathias Boe. The two are reported to exchange vows in March 2024(</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mathias Boe will
reportedly be marrying Indian actor Taapsee Pannu in March<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bollywood actress
Taapsee Pannu and her longtime partner, former badminton ace Mathias Boe, are
reportedly gearing up to exchange vows in March, according to NDTV. The
extravagant affair, the report states, is slated to unfold in the picturesque
city of Udaipur and is expected to be an intimate gathering of close family
members.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As they prepare for
their big day, it's worth delving into the illustrious career of Mathias
Boe.Hailing from Denmark, Boe boasts an impressive resume as a badminton
player, having clinched silver medals at both the 2012 London Olympics and the
2013 World Championships. Throughout his twenty-year tenure in the sport, the
Danish former shuttler formed formidable partnerships with renowned players
such as Michael Jensen, Thomas Hovgaard, and Michael Lamp.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, it was his
partnership with Carsten Mogensen that stood out; together, they achieved
remarkable success, securing a silver medal at the London Olympics and
clinching victory at the World Championships the following year. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In Indian badminton
circles, Mathias Boe is best known for his work with India's star men's doubles
duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. Currently coaching the men's
world no.1 doubles duo, Mathias Boe took on the coaching role for Rankireddy
and Shetty in early 2021.This decision came about when the Indian national
team's doubles coach at the time, Flandy Limpele, stepped down due to personal
reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Known for his aggressive
and passionate approach on the court during his playing days, Boe's coaching
style has left a noticeable impact on Rankireddy and Shetty's game, too.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2023 saw a phenomenal
rise for the Indian duo as it achieved the world no.1 ranking, as well as
stellar wins at the Indonesia Open Super 1000, the Thomas Cup, and a medal at
the BWF World Championships. Shetty and Rankireddy, fondly known ‘SatChi’, also
won India's first-ever gold at the Asian Games last year under Boe's
coaching.Mathias Boe continues to be key for Indian badminton in the Olympic
year, as the duo of Shetty and Rankireddy remains the country's biggest
prospect for a badminton gold medal in Paris.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Asian team title boosts India ahead of Uber Cup
challenge<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTiv5QnXMa-zxvlRXXtuVNvmKZL1a6qYZPCmruxsDv8bturOFYZ43A5T5syRnG3dtMRvgtGn72RV426BzCo5NGq_81k-AyeSz2jiQSF-cxYws_IqbrmgsrpNqIsFJcpET7XKNcyXTj6t7w_-PInnI4b3E-9FdDtVqBElbZPd9vgDhaxZa6a5h5UMmHKQ/s549/Indian%20women%20team%20celebrates%20after%20winning%20the%20Badminton%20Asia%20Team%20Championships%20with%20a%203-2%20victory%20over%20Thailand%20in%20Selangor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTiv5QnXMa-zxvlRXXtuVNvmKZL1a6qYZPCmruxsDv8bturOFYZ43A5T5syRnG3dtMRvgtGn72RV426BzCo5NGq_81k-AyeSz2jiQSF-cxYws_IqbrmgsrpNqIsFJcpET7XKNcyXTj6t7w_-PInnI4b3E-9FdDtVqBElbZPd9vgDhaxZa6a5h5UMmHKQ/w640-h360/Indian%20women%20team%20celebrates%20after%20winning%20the%20Badminton%20Asia%20Team%20Championships%20with%20a%203-2%20victory%20over%20Thailand%20in%20Selangor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian women team celebrates after winning the Badminton Asia Team Championships with a 3-2 victory over Thailand in Selangor</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Despite top teams
resting their best, India's BATC triumph was commendable. The Uber Cup from
April 28 to May 5 will be a tough test Every two years, the Badminton Asia Team
Championships (BATC) commences a journey that culminates with the prestigious
Uber Cup, for which it is also a qualifier. Thrice in the last four editions,
the team winning the Asian title at least reached the final of the Uber Cup, if
not win it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Will it be the case this
time around too?A young Indian team put up an impressive performance in Shah
Alam, Malaysia earlier this month to win the BATC for the first time since its
inception in 2016. Barring PV Sindhu, who was returning after a four-month
injury break, and Ashwini Ponnappa, the team was full of youngsters. The
youngest member, Tanvi Sharma, is only 15.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Despite the lack of
experience, the unheralded Indians upset the top three seeds China, Japan and
Thailand to lift the trophy. It was really commendable with 17-year-old Anmol
Kharb emerging the star performer, winning the high-pressure fifth and deciding
matches against much-higher ranked opponents to return unbeaten from Malaysia. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But will Sindhu, Anmol
and teammates be able to repeat this success at the Uber Cup, which will be
held in Chengdu, China from April 28 to May 5.“It will be tough at the Uber
Cup, definitely. You will have China come in with Chen Yufei and He Bing Jiao
to start with. Japan will have (Akane) Yamaguchi. Ratchanok (Intanon) will be
back in the (Thailand) team as well. It makes their teams stronger. We went in
with our full team (to BATC) so we can't definitely say we are contenders for
Uber Cup in that sense,” chief national coach Pullela Gopichand said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Certain of qualification
for Uber Cup -- it is also called the World Women’s Team Championships -- most
of the top teams didn't field full strength squads in BATC. For example, China,
who India beat 3-2 in the group stage, didn't have Olympic champion Chen Yufei,
world No.6 He Bingjiao and world No.1 doubles combine Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi
Fan Japan were without two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi and two of their
top pairs. Thailand were without their top two singles players, including
former world champion Ratchanok, with the big names rested and prepare for the
BWF World Tour that resumes this week, given it is the Paris Olympics
qualification period.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Having said that,
Sindhu and Anmol have done well. If you look at the Indian group, there’s a lot
of young talent. We are looking at an immense possibility. Both the doubles
(pairs) are good. We have two strong doubles combinations, otherwise we would
have been tilted towards the singles to pull out our wins," the former All
England champion said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India now has two pairs
– world No.20 Tanisha Crasto/Ashwini Ponnappa and No.23 Treesa Jolly/Gayatri
Gopichand – who regularly beat the best in the business. While Tanisha got injured
before the semi-finals against Japan, Treesa and Gayatri pulled off sensational
victories to remain unbeaten in the continental tournament.Gayatri and Treesa
first stunned 2022 All England champions Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida for
the first time in three outings before beating world No.10 Jongkolphan
Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand in the final.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Gayatri-Treesa were
unbeaten, having beaten China, Japan and Thailand who had top 10 players. That
along with the singles make it (India) a strong team. But if you ask me if they
are really going to win all the matches against China, Japan, Korea, Thailand
all the time, it will be tough. But this certainly is a very positive step. I
am looking at many more of these in the future, it augurs very well for Indian
women’s badminton," Gopichand said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 32 editions, India
have medalled only twice (2014 and 2016) in Uber Cup, Saina Nehwal, Sindhu and
Jwala Gutta-Ashwini powering India to bronze both times.More than anything,
BATC provided youngsters Ashmita Chaliha, Anmol and the doubles pair of Priya
Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra, and even those who didn’t get a game, the
exposure of being at a major team event. This should benefit them in the
future.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">National selector U
Vimal Kumar said: “It is not going to be easy (at Uber Cup). But winning the
Asian title is not only for the young girls but for the profile of our sport.
These young girls will get an opportunity to compete. They need to find a
breakthrough and play because in team championships anything can happen. For me
it is heartening, especially since I was a little concerned about what after
Saina and Sindhu. There’s some sort of positive trend emerging. How we can
nurture these young ones is the key.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Trials for
Olympic qualifiers more a trial for wrestlers<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzp7vHdu8mlgEi1DkTY7UI0rXmb7L1Jg0nPJAOc1IF9wXITnLqm8a8zgU4knTYYrq-B2bEXcxbPat8NLozMT5Spseq4TiS0O7dTU3veVI8aUOjevkGVTbh2cPsBu8EElZyQzeILiCoEaklmAK3rHvpR2MOwS2aDnV7erXYSrSnEetUS1qIP1hLAXnWQE/s549/For%20Bajrang%20and%20Vinesh%20to%20appear%20in%20the%20federation's%20trials%20will%20be%20a%20setback%20as%20they%20had%20fought%20against%20the%20regime(.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzp7vHdu8mlgEi1DkTY7UI0rXmb7L1Jg0nPJAOc1IF9wXITnLqm8a8zgU4knTYYrq-B2bEXcxbPat8NLozMT5Spseq4TiS0O7dTU3veVI8aUOjevkGVTbh2cPsBu8EElZyQzeILiCoEaklmAK3rHvpR2MOwS2aDnV7erXYSrSnEetUS1qIP1hLAXnWQE/w640-h360/For%20Bajrang%20and%20Vinesh%20to%20appear%20in%20the%20federation's%20trials%20will%20be%20a%20setback%20as%20they%20had%20fought%20against%20the%20regime(.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For Bajrang and Vinesh to appear in the federation's trials will be a setback as they had fought against the regime(</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Confusion over whether
the federation or the IOA-appointed ad hoc panel runs the sport has left the
wrestlers in a tight spot Sakshi Malik shared a cryptic post on the current
situation in wrestling on Tuesday, insisting that Wrestling Federation of India
(WFI) is back to governing the sport and things will go back to what it was
before their protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the then federation
chief, in January last year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With broken heart and
mind, I welcome Sanjay Singh alias Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to the Wrestling
Federation of India (WFI). Once again national camps will be held in Lucknow
and Nationals will be held in Nandini Nagar....Nobody can stop them, they are
bigger than the government and people of this country," the 2016 Rio
Olympics bronze medallist and one of the leading protesters against Brij
Bhushan, posted on Facebook.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the last few days,
WFI has announced dates for selection trials to pick the Indian squad for the
Olympic qualifier and Asian Championships and a list of wrestlers eligible to
attend the trials. The list includes the three top protesting wrestlers, Tokyo
Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, Sakshi and world championship medallist
Vinesh Phogat.This was in keeping with the United World Wrestling's (UWW)
condition that WFI should not discriminate against the protesting wrestlers,
particularly Bajrang, Vinesh and Sakshi while lifting its suspension on
February 13.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, in an Olympic
year with so much at stake, the wrestlers are grappling with confusion and
uncertainty barely two weeks before the selection trials. Despite being
reinstated by UWW, the federation remains suspended by the union sports
ministry. IOA's ad hoc panel still officially governs wrestling in India and it
had fixed the trials for March 10-11 in Patiala and Sonipat. The suspended WFI
has picked the same dates with Delhi's IG Stadium as the venue. A year after
the sit-in wrestling protests, things have got to a point where it is not clear
who will pick the team for the Olympic qualifiers."We don't know who is
running the sport in the country. Who will select teams, whether it will be WFI
or the ad-hoc committee. It is such a discouraging situation before the Olympic
qualifiers," said a coach whose trainee will participate in the trials<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">WFI bosses have met
sports ministry officials while Bajrang, who is training in Russia, has also
spoken to the ministry top brass over the possible return of WFI. In a message
on February 14, he requested that the government decide on the matter and
"not force the wrestlers to protest again."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ministry has not
reacted to UWW's reinstatement of WFI, nor has it lifted the suspension of the
Sanjay Singh-led body. "Unless the ministry lifts its suspension, the ad
hoc panel will remain the deciding authority," according to people aware
of the development.While suspending WFI on December 24, the sports ministry had
said "WFI continues to be in the complete control of former office-bearers
in complete disregard to the Sports Code."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There have been voices
within WFI as well, especially after it announced nationals in Pune, parallel
to that held by the ad hoc body in Jaipur. Some WFI state units, including
powerhouse Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha chose to field teams
for the Jaipur meet. "The wrestlers should not suffer. The sports ministry
should find a way to solve this crisis. Things will be clear in a day or
two," a WFI official said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Future of Bajrang,
Vinesh</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With its suspension by
UWW lifted, WFI holds the right to send teams for international meets. For
Bajrang and Vinesh to appear in the federation's trials will be a setback as
they had fought against the regime. It remains to be seen what their next
course of action will be. In the list issued by WFI, Vinesh has been put in the
non-Olympic 55kg category in which she competed in the nationals of the ad hoc
body and won, marking her injury comeback. Vinesh has spoken about entering
53kg for the Paris Olympics. A WFI official said: "Wrestlers will be
allowed to change their weight class if they desire."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Antim Panghal has
already won the Olympic quota in 53kg, and in the current scenario it is not
clear what the selection criteria for Paris will be. Though the Olympic quota
is for the country, WFI had earlier said that the quota winner will go for the
Olympics as has been the practice.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Even for Antim -- the
only Indian wrestler to win an Olympic quota so far -- the situation can't be
more baffling. The ad hoc panel had exempted her from trials for the Asian
Championships. WFI, however, has named her for the trials on March 10-11.There
has been so much confusion since the last one year. So close to the Paris
Olympics, the wrestlers are not clear about the selection process," said
another coach.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Manu Gandas eyes
redemption after reality check<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nYHA0nKTvHcXjd6134rZBJmiREXwi7Iv4-C2J94T27FG358m98M6ZpfLKn_aZU1P8nBmjHzuJae-bU5NnPTTp_cgmEqbRtGa1pTZ5ZJPLQB3WPTmeWvNKNNB_VTTwUHRtwYIGdn1vLiY2qvl6D7l5IlJW0hwf7Vog6BAoaWp2nARtxkrX1VVbRGA7rI/s549/Gandas%20started%20the%202024%20PGTI%20season%20by%20winning%20the%20Players%20Championship%20in%20Kolkata's%20Tollygunge%20Club%20last%20month%20and%20finished%2013th%20at%20Vooty%20Masters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nYHA0nKTvHcXjd6134rZBJmiREXwi7Iv4-C2J94T27FG358m98M6ZpfLKn_aZU1P8nBmjHzuJae-bU5NnPTTp_cgmEqbRtGa1pTZ5ZJPLQB3WPTmeWvNKNNB_VTTwUHRtwYIGdn1vLiY2qvl6D7l5IlJW0hwf7Vog6BAoaWp2nARtxkrX1VVbRGA7rI/w640-h360/Gandas%20started%20the%202024%20PGTI%20season%20by%20winning%20the%20Players%20Championship%20in%20Kolkata's%20Tollygunge%20Club%20last%20month%20and%20finished%2013th%20at%20Vooty%20Masters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gandas started the 2024 PGTI season by winning the Players Championship in Kolkata's Tollygunge Club last month and finished 13th at Vooty Masters</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 27-year-old could
not retain his DP World Tour card but has returned richer in experience First
seasons on international tours can always be tricky, and Manu Gandas discovered
it the hard way last year. The 27-year-old from Gurugram qualified for his
maiden DP World Tour (European Tour) in 2023 by virtue of topping the PGTI
Order of Merit the year before, but only five cuts from 25 appearances meant
the European sojourn was a bit of an eye-opener for Gandas."The results
didn't go my way but I have returned richer in experience. I now know what it
takes to compete with world-class golfers in challenging conditions,"
Gandas, whose best finish in Europe was a tied-20th at ISPS HANDA World
Invitational in Northern Ireland, said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gandas, however, has
shown signs of returning to form. He started the 2024 PGTI season by winning
the Players Championship in Kolkata's Tollygunge Club last month and finished
13th at Vooty Masters. Later this month, he will be eyeing another good week at
the Hero Indian Open — a DP World Tour event — on his home course.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This year's Indian Open
will carry a record prize purse of $2.25 million and will be the second of five
events comprising the Asian Swing. The tournament will see 144 players in
action, about a third of which will be Indians.While the entry list is yet to
be closed, 2015 champion Anirban Lahiri, Indian veteran Shiv Kapur, and
three-time DP World Tour winner Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium are among the star
attractions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I will try and put
my learnings to use. DLF course can be a bit intimidating, and it can get very
windy sometimes," said Gandas who finished the competition tied-32nd last
year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Reflecting on his
European experience, he said, "It is much colder and windier and it gets
very tough when it rains. The body gets longer to warm up which again affects
the distances you hit. These are the conditions that we don't get in
Asia."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">European courses, Gandas
reckoned, are longer than most Indian courses, which means the long game is put
to test. The Indian was also troubled by recurring niggle on his right wrist
and left ankle."I have been playing with pain for the past 2-3 years. It
is a muscle stress-related issue. This season, I want to give it proper rest
and also get physically stronger to add more yardage to my game," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The tour can be a lonely
place, especially if the results are not encouraging, and Gandas admitted to
pangs of self doubt. "There were a lot of days when I questioned myself,
but as an athlete, you ought to keep trying."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Although I had
Shubhankar to lean on, you can get homesick easily. There were a lot of
technical and mental inputs from the tour regulars but speaking to my coach
Anitya Chand really helped," Gandas, who made trips to India every two
weeks, added.Meanwhile, Indian Golf Union (IGU) President Brijinder Singh said
they are in the process of hiring a National Development Manager (NDM) and
National High Performance Manager (NHPM).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We have already
interviewed a few people for the two posts. For NDM, we have shortlisted a few.
They are supposed to make a presentation about what would be their approach to
grow golf. Hopefully, we should get a NDM by the first week of April.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"NHPM has to be an
established player, someone who is a good golfer and is committed. It is a long
process," Singh said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61wa3lMYeHVVDGWudHaAUm7e3ogbY4AKbF3BvgkpT-IiL-jyjdCOyJr6NQweztPKJ6FDtNyeSrNQEiJsJGnSkslRXEb_DkxJEbvI_fcoZvmPDLTHBq4hnychREzPDK1xgkgW9AjXHj71LblgBIivIYTDsZTtVuP4Uhs_bkC0RiiywAccEQbxsTo81rvA/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61wa3lMYeHVVDGWudHaAUm7e3ogbY4AKbF3BvgkpT-IiL-jyjdCOyJr6NQweztPKJ6FDtNyeSrNQEiJsJGnSkslRXEb_DkxJEbvI_fcoZvmPDLTHBq4hnychREzPDK1xgkgW9AjXHj71LblgBIivIYTDsZTtVuP4Uhs_bkC0RiiywAccEQbxsTo81rvA/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Maamla Legal Hai:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEior2y31KM1TqDxn-yUYKGKOBOQwDmTqkdlpBswgLBCalLRkVWWlmRogYIvwOG6CcDhj9s5ngKyc-O-ex0jSPocJ2AkwRcDU-Wstd6tX8I5N7ByJkQFqWCOnhqxyY9AWPuEY72wXS-dT0pKlvgroseuWN2Ae7svB2sOQq0HlrEoXFchYe1Pdu-sBMpq7es/s1600/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEior2y31KM1TqDxn-yUYKGKOBOQwDmTqkdlpBswgLBCalLRkVWWlmRogYIvwOG6CcDhj9s5ngKyc-O-ex0jSPocJ2AkwRcDU-Wstd6tX8I5N7ByJkQFqWCOnhqxyY9AWPuEY72wXS-dT0pKlvgroseuWN2Ae7svB2sOQq0HlrEoXFchYe1Pdu-sBMpq7es/w512-h640/M1.jpg" width="512" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chaos collides with the
letter of the law at the District Court of Patparganj, where quirky employees
work to uphold justice. However, their daily escapades are not without a few
objections.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> DUNE2:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GXrlk3IXdrA9DlJoCAmb8VX4qtKlvJpuoHNfp2Lf7uruAf4Ahu4Op1nQ2I1sk89lZAp2AXO8yn0AENDLf1h7oC6KO739bX4u4zwS7NGqti1clN3jrUCCP2wScnwim2L5-9a3qcf3qHSPktLBfpU30JoN-ml8md0-pf8ygqkENwuz1V-Mx8ZLJrlXi04/s2132/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2132" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GXrlk3IXdrA9DlJoCAmb8VX4qtKlvJpuoHNfp2Lf7uruAf4Ahu4Op1nQ2I1sk89lZAp2AXO8yn0AENDLf1h7oC6KO739bX4u4zwS7NGqti1clN3jrUCCP2wScnwim2L5-9a3qcf3qHSPktLBfpU30JoN-ml8md0-pf8ygqkENwuz1V-Mx8ZLJrlXi04/w432-h640/M2.jpg" width="432" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Paul Atreides unites
with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who
destroyed his family.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Denis Villeneuve<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Writers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Denis VilleneuveJon
SpaihtsFrank Herbert<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Timothée
ChalametZendayaRebecca Ferguson<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Laapataa Ladies<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh369e6pShTi6O1A1oqnG4E3U727Bz35zzsUfxcaKPZb9O9SzydQipQdjhjZwR4scYP3Cuxrfbk9S4IIAUbwVwNkaZK9SD7ca5XDVqD4OI4ZM_VFB6cCuVq5bMQhuAegQONLKtQMbKpcg8N67g1QaPdqHjS05nS5QiEG6za6eNrvFyMkPj_u1Ig7Xv4Pk/s828/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="828" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh369e6pShTi6O1A1oqnG4E3U727Bz35zzsUfxcaKPZb9O9SzydQipQdjhjZwR4scYP3Cuxrfbk9S4IIAUbwVwNkaZK9SD7ca5XDVqD4OI4ZM_VFB6cCuVq5bMQhuAegQONLKtQMbKpcg8N67g1QaPdqHjS05nS5QiEG6za6eNrvFyMkPj_u1Ig7Xv4Pk/w640-h634/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It's a jolly mess when
two young brides get lost from a train. Set in 2001, somewhere in rural India.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kiran Rao<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Writers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Biplab GoswamiDivyanidhi
SharmaSneha Desai<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nitanshi GoelSparsh
SrivastavSavita Malviya<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sunflower Season 2 </span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho00PDlWpOpmRIp6nFMho4IsOWaYrJnvkAViNDd8Cft4J8eE7BAcbHC91dCYRkhzaUhJBhlPkExDdcUaMC3iBuSevEp5Z4Zha0VtsFJqkvK8Dh6X6iCkRHHkoQ6_fftE-F3mKYivlSS45JXhI1VkE7q7-AY160-3GBnReO1J_NNio7guBTv6V-Z9mCzSw/s1280/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho00PDlWpOpmRIp6nFMho4IsOWaYrJnvkAViNDd8Cft4J8eE7BAcbHC91dCYRkhzaUhJBhlPkExDdcUaMC3iBuSevEp5Z4Zha0VtsFJqkvK8Dh6X6iCkRHHkoQ6_fftE-F3mKYivlSS45JXhI1VkE7q7-AY160-3GBnReO1J_NNio7guBTv6V-Z9mCzSw/w640-h360/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Season 2 of Sunflower
continues the investigation into Mr. Kapoor's (Ashwin Kaushal) death, with a
majority of the residents and frequent visitors coming under suspicion and
being interrogated.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Eagle<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3Id35g8tiSsznbYNhqAvKP8tBeBRtfaLDpu2X_GihZkCZCkaE17xrQxesvMZlrbPx9YJC2vYAYHrGY1cQksWPSwpnqFfKVDuA0sDKfEFXTBrVF9FsgdIjcHdrCOLeGHBHQoWzmmzXHXM9LHrtHf5Uut4Zh25DnV7lcmo9KFgbvEdDywnc7eizXE5wmQ/s680/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="680" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3Id35g8tiSsznbYNhqAvKP8tBeBRtfaLDpu2X_GihZkCZCkaE17xrQxesvMZlrbPx9YJC2vYAYHrGY1cQksWPSwpnqFfKVDuA0sDKfEFXTBrVF9FsgdIjcHdrCOLeGHBHQoWzmmzXHXM9LHrtHf5Uut4Zh25DnV7lcmo9KFgbvEdDywnc7eizXE5wmQ/w640-h354/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja
recently came up with the stylish action drama Eagle. Directed by the famous
cinematographer Karthik Ghattamneni, the film was lauded for its superior
technical values. Kavya Thapar played the romantic interest of Ravi Teja, while
Anupama Parameswaran played a journalist.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The latest update is
that the film will make its digital debut on March 1 on ETV Win and Prime
Video. Both OTT platforms hold Eagle’s post-theatrical streaming rights, and
the movie is making its premiere on the same day on both digital platforms.
This is a great chance for all those who missed watching this full-on action
film in theatres.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHoqHUG9duotnBstoj3YFI0OGCtkumvkLBtgK5iR3eHlvnZXZh6MftBsvGM5juziPBS_VsVntseaRJ63J-GBqr6tknR49pSMiQ4H1UHDq6th3tnywL25PtnuKQHxlnGRwG2Mb9asriagxHEjsnLkNyGAtrMF0sM3Gtq593zs7i6GhV3BQqRc0u_vVYT8/s1069/BOOK&WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1069" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHoqHUG9duotnBstoj3YFI0OGCtkumvkLBtgK5iR3eHlvnZXZh6MftBsvGM5juziPBS_VsVntseaRJ63J-GBqr6tknR49pSMiQ4H1UHDq6th3tnywL25PtnuKQHxlnGRwG2Mb9asriagxHEjsnLkNyGAtrMF0sM3Gtq593zs7i6GhV3BQqRc0u_vVYT8/w640-h348/BOOK&WRITER.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Vanara : The Legend
of Baali, Sugreeva and Tara by Anand Neelakantan (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XYe3tDLOyrRIf6EwZkPCnGUki-8tVtrZ5KDHOnR7LGKLGmki7JYOLzpny3FDGsNBDUbhpDIiRywKf6Yx9z65Pwz5HF81EoCAmCSehsDVVG14G4537CeM9hdMuYyUBNvYATqNXvqdfyEmue2NtRDaYNojdlZO0l9mDqM-buNWIbg5DNrdI1K9EdnI98c/s1500/BOOK1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="937" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XYe3tDLOyrRIf6EwZkPCnGUki-8tVtrZ5KDHOnR7LGKLGmki7JYOLzpny3FDGsNBDUbhpDIiRywKf6Yx9z65Pwz5HF81EoCAmCSehsDVVG14G4537CeM9hdMuYyUBNvYATqNXvqdfyEmue2NtRDaYNojdlZO0l9mDqM-buNWIbg5DNrdI1K9EdnI98c/w400-h640/BOOK1.jpg" width="400" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Baali and Sugreeva of
the Vana Nara tribe were orphan brothers who were born in abject poverty and grew
up as slaves like most of their fellow tribesmen. They were often mocked as the
vanaras, the monkey men. Sandwiched between the never-ending war between the
Deva tribes in the north and the Asura tribes in the south, the Vana Naras
seemed to have lost all hope. But Baali was determined not to die a slave.
Aided by his beloved brother, Sugreeva, Baali built a country for his people.
The capital city, Kishkindha, became a beacon of hope for emancipated slaves
from across the world. It was a city of the people, by the people, for the
people, where there was no discrimination based on caste, creed, language or
the colour of skin. For a brief period in history, it seemed as if mankind had
found its ideal hero in Baali. But then fate intervened through the beautiful
Tara, the daughter of a tribal physician. Loved by Baali and lusted after by
Sugreeva, Tara became the cause of a fraternal war that would change history
for ever.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The love triangle
between Baali, Tara and Sugreeva is arguably the world's first. Written by
Anand Neelakantan who gave a voice to Ravana in Asura, Duryodhana in the Ajaya
series and Sivagami in the Baahubali series, Vanara is a classic tale of love,
lust and betrayal. Shakespearean in its tragic depth and epic in its sweep,
Vanara gives voice to the greatest warrior in the Ramayana-Baali.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Anand Neelakantan<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK06T41c_x5RmzibD3Spj3TJJnf6pzoZzcxIcWMDjGlXccCLq3qLwD1LHgEJmz98NFgzTg3L672mQfI5sp2sJWLIx8Tdvd9-efDcDbI795UHpAhNeYhkTLi2HgkVgosPli17Nkvb19_CUzrqDY0ApGgI8hHJtxHKD4vbkLje3yjHkpxH9cYisJ64gbZtM/s817/WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK06T41c_x5RmzibD3Spj3TJJnf6pzoZzcxIcWMDjGlXccCLq3qLwD1LHgEJmz98NFgzTg3L672mQfI5sp2sJWLIx8Tdvd9-efDcDbI795UHpAhNeYhkTLi2HgkVgosPli17Nkvb19_CUzrqDY0ApGgI8hHJtxHKD4vbkLje3yjHkpxH9cYisJ64gbZtM/s320/WRITER.jpg" width="313" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">is one of India's top
selling authors with more than 15 books to his credit. Anand is also a
columnist, screenwriter, and public speaker. He is known for writing
mythological fiction and has authored fourteen books in English and one in
Malayalam. He has also written screenplays for popular television series in
Hindi on various GEC and OTT platforms. He has been writing a column named
Acute Angle in the New Indian Express since 2017.[1] Anand has acted in two
Advertisement films and has also played the role of the antagonist Ettappa
Naicker in the Doordarshan Television show Swaraj.[2] He follows the style of
telling stories based on the perspective of the antagonists or supporting characters
of a larger work. His debut work Asura: Tale of the Vanquished (2012) was based
on the Indian epic Ramayana, told from the perspective of Ravana—the first book
in his Ramayana series. It was followed by series of books based on characters
from Mahabharata and Baahubali. His books have been translated to different
languages such as Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali,
Gujarati, Assamese, English, Sinhalese, Burmese and Indonesian. Anand has
written screenplays for popular Hindi television serials like Siya Ke Ram in
Star TV, Mahabali Hanuman in SONY TV, Chakravarthy Ashoka in Colors TV,
Sarfarosh in Netflix, Swaraj in DD National, Srimad Ramayan in Sony TV etc. He
has written the story for the OTT series TAJ in Zee5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDPHVvrIyixUoVrslTqcDTtEcnC-KNy1TPchZOEt-Hsa2oM07iQJrVJZQVVMxZnK8xQBXjd8xUS-2WM-Xiw54CjT0FBgJI599Ntr4YMltspREF056wfvPyeu2j0RWzFeyyZR0q5PuECavWSePN7B_oO2NY8bfA5hhir02ixVB_1FV0VXyVhFrZvok75Q/s784/BOOK&WRITER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="784" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDPHVvrIyixUoVrslTqcDTtEcnC-KNy1TPchZOEt-Hsa2oM07iQJrVJZQVVMxZnK8xQBXjd8xUS-2WM-Xiw54CjT0FBgJI599Ntr4YMltspREF056wfvPyeu2j0RWzFeyyZR0q5PuECavWSePN7B_oO2NY8bfA5hhir02ixVB_1FV0VXyVhFrZvok75Q/w640-h334/BOOK&WRITER2.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-34274938821699630372024-02-25T02:04:00.002+09:002024-02-25T02:04:17.711+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS : SCIENCE ,POLITICAL, SPORTS , MOVIES AND BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzrLoXGZBSTuNTIAqjN-8vucvBxZghqAMj5HboU7ol2OoMb-_x6961lhfGkvkxGAggi-WPhyphenhyphenFaz_tG8jI9IO7JlPXvc_ePuRfqjQZdLeMTdsCsJB3FyLkaq41SNmfjZ_bxvXyycIviwdq3bU2NcmkQv-d2PUB3Ky5FqPSVT9OtCpP5Yqj_9Tv708GN3k/s960/NEWSWEEK2424GIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzrLoXGZBSTuNTIAqjN-8vucvBxZghqAMj5HboU7ol2OoMb-_x6961lhfGkvkxGAggi-WPhyphenhyphenFaz_tG8jI9IO7JlPXvc_ePuRfqjQZdLeMTdsCsJB3FyLkaq41SNmfjZ_bxvXyycIviwdq3bU2NcmkQv-d2PUB3Ky5FqPSVT9OtCpP5Yqj_9Tv708GN3k/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK2424GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oD49sjMZbl7WaPu6gprWYRnj7V6o8bRPiCMGC4oCnzhrb7CkqSpzCRDLKM2P7hSsTn8OdI-fcmwvNTb-y88KZjquiqwMCEJgntXupdISWfpFy1jqmaYSiA3esLTCSqEV6MzfDiKPY-FMqE9kzySmfVJP5225Dz5jkdbl0ashk-cIpP519kzEi0vGwyY/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oD49sjMZbl7WaPu6gprWYRnj7V6o8bRPiCMGC4oCnzhrb7CkqSpzCRDLKM2P7hSsTn8OdI-fcmwvNTb-y88KZjquiqwMCEJgntXupdISWfpFy1jqmaYSiA3esLTCSqEV6MzfDiKPY-FMqE9kzySmfVJP5225Dz5jkdbl0ashk-cIpP519kzEi0vGwyY/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Scientists
shocked to discover new species of green anaconda, the world's biggest snake:by
Bryan G. Fry, The Conversation<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2bewPKvcEw2yqcyxJ7N3iWDpgYpMJkTaWMac0heZIcwUBkyFPPtUK1MK844iEGa2a7321gkKoCmIO3HKVoBJg6X2mbrag-oRoehwQGi_IZQvpD-3eUd6Z3KdpnbFoVag0kT3P_RlJAq-qJ4xEvKA1GeK2XpvTxMRdvgYG_-RHMZeeW-N1jqwH8-SSPg/s2720/BIGSNAKE3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="2720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2bewPKvcEw2yqcyxJ7N3iWDpgYpMJkTaWMac0heZIcwUBkyFPPtUK1MK844iEGa2a7321gkKoCmIO3HKVoBJg6X2mbrag-oRoehwQGi_IZQvpD-3eUd6Z3KdpnbFoVag0kT3P_RlJAq-qJ4xEvKA1GeK2XpvTxMRdvgYG_-RHMZeeW-N1jqwH8-SSPg/w640-h320/BIGSNAKE3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The green anaconda has
long been considered one of the Amazon's most formidable and mysterious
animals. Our new research, published in Diversity, upends scientific
understanding of this magnificent creature, revealing it is actually two
genetically different species. The surprising finding opens a new chapter in
conservation of this top jungle predator. Green anacondas are the world's
heaviest snakes, and among the longest. Predominantly found in rivers and
wetlands in South America, they are renowned for their lightning speed and
ability to asphyxiate huge prey then swallow them whole.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My colleagues and I were
shocked to discover significant genetic differences between the two anaconda
species. Given the reptile is such a large vertebrate, it's remarkable this
difference has slipped under the radar until now.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G7xfn_BtEAEcGOGpgPN9CSYoQX4PHRAzG51Wb3qwKf4OuuHImqeiv_htlM75aMu8fp1rP-f344psjs8pylrxK5nug5cMX-3Jqvh9sLwveUPZVHZLl4nkC9U8hNdCEH9_jbrKqQjCJj86XNgZkRw7GO8S-Ca_HfWctIBIkkkp1okJeYNfh1ZPTFpSsIQ/s549/One%20of%20the%20scientists,%20Prof.%20dr.%20Freek%20Vonk%20has%20recorded%20a%20video%20of%20a%2026-feet-long%20green%20anaconda,%20believed%20to%20be%20the%20biggest%20snake%20in%20the%20world..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G7xfn_BtEAEcGOGpgPN9CSYoQX4PHRAzG51Wb3qwKf4OuuHImqeiv_htlM75aMu8fp1rP-f344psjs8pylrxK5nug5cMX-3Jqvh9sLwveUPZVHZLl4nkC9U8hNdCEH9_jbrKqQjCJj86XNgZkRw7GO8S-Ca_HfWctIBIkkkp1okJeYNfh1ZPTFpSsIQ/w640-h360/One%20of%20the%20scientists,%20Prof.%20dr.%20Freek%20Vonk%20has%20recorded%20a%20video%20of%20a%2026-feet-long%20green%20anaconda,%20believed%20to%20be%20the%20biggest%20snake%20in%20the%20world..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the scientists, Prof. dr. Freek Vonk has recorded a video of a 26-feet-long green anaconda, believed to be the biggest snake in the world.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Conservation strategies
for green anacondas must now be reassessed, to help each unique species cope
with threats such as climate change, habitat degradation and pollution. The
findings also show the urgent need to better understand the diversity of
Earth's animal and plant species before it's too late.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An impressive apex
predator</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Historically, four
anaconda species have been recognized, including green anacondas (also known as
giant anacondas).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Green anacondas are true
behemoths of the reptile world. The largest females can grow to more than seven
meters long and weigh more than 250 kilograms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The snakes are
well-adapted to a life lived mostly in water. Their nostrils and eyes are on
top of their head, so they can see and breathe while the rest of their body is
submerged. Anacondas are olive-colored with large black spots, enabling them to
blend in with their surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The snakes inhabit the
lush, intricate waterways of South America's Amazon and Orinoco basins. They
are known for their stealth, patience and surprising agility. The buoyancy of
the water supports the animal's substantial bulk and enables it to move easily
and leap out to ambush prey as large as capybaras (giant rodents), caimans
(reptiles from the alligator family) and deer.Green anacondas are not venomous.
Instead they take down prey using their large, flexible jaws then crush it with
their strong bodies, before swallowing it.As apex predators, green anacondas
are vital to maintaining balance in their ecosystems. This role extends beyond
their hunting. Their very presence alters the behavior of a wide range of other
species, influencing where and how they forage, breed and migrate.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhIoThBhXT4woEIyE4_LDyVhYCgrlxdUs6id77_WJMzQQhoPMf7QWp6HS7AJRKgeacVfAyUYsYKex4WA1OG4mMpXljT6PWaDpQUYxswj2Agf75TSvEvRhVoMl-lmWOQpEhIdUDCOv5WK0jldyQHupvjH55T-EVP_EY17x-oAWqGZQk8kzvRtufRPDy5Q/s2425/BIGSNAKE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="2425" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhIoThBhXT4woEIyE4_LDyVhYCgrlxdUs6id77_WJMzQQhoPMf7QWp6HS7AJRKgeacVfAyUYsYKex4WA1OG4mMpXljT6PWaDpQUYxswj2Agf75TSvEvRhVoMl-lmWOQpEhIdUDCOv5WK0jldyQHupvjH55T-EVP_EY17x-oAWqGZQk8kzvRtufRPDy5Q/w640-h490/BIGSNAKE2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">(a) E. deschauenseei caught in Beni, Bolivia (B54). (b,c) Anacondas caught in Beni that had markings of E. deschauenseei but were recovered as E. beniensis in the phylogenetic analysis (B52 and B58). (d) E. beniensis recovered as E. beniensis in the phylogenetic analysis. Credit: Diversity (2024). DOI: 10.3390/d16020127</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Anacondas are highly
sensitive to environmental change. Healthy anaconda populations indicate
healthy, vibrant ecosystems, with ample food resources and clean water.
Declining anaconda numbers may be harbingers of environmental distress. So
knowing which anaconda species exist, and monitoring their numbers, is crucial.To
date, there has been little research into genetic differences between anaconda
species. Our research aimed to close that knowledge gap.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Untangling anaconda
genes</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We studied
representative samples from all anaconda species throughout their distribution,
across nine countries.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Our project spanned
almost 20 years. Crucial pieces of the puzzle came from samples we collected on
a 2022 expedition to the Bameno region of Baihuaeri Waorani Territory in the
Ecuadorian Amazon. We took this trip at the invitation of, and in collaboration
with, Waorani leader Penti Baihua. Actor Will Smith also joined the expedition,
as part of a series he is filming for National Geographic.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We surveyed anacondas
from various locations throughout their ranges in South America. Conditions
were difficult. We paddled up muddy rivers and slogged through swamps. The heat
was relentless and swarms of insects were omnipresent.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We collected data such
as habitat type and location, and rainfall patterns. We also collected tissue
and/or blood from each specimen and analyzed them back in the lab. This
revealed the green anaconda, formerly believed to be a single species, is
actually two genetically distinct species.The first is the known species,
Eunectes murinus, which lives in Perú, Bolivia, French Guiana and Brazil. We
have given it the common name "southern green anaconda". The second,
newly identified species is Eunectes akayima or "northern green
anaconda", which is found in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad,
Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.We also identified the period in time where
the green anaconda diverged into two species: almost 10 million years ago.The
two species of green anaconda look almost identical, and no obvious
geographical barrier exists to separate them. But their level of genetic
divergence—5.5%—is staggering. By comparison, the genetic difference between
humans and apes is about 2%.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Preserving the web
of life</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Our research has peeled
back a layer of the mystery surrounding green anacondas. This discovery has significant
implications for the conservation of these species—particularly for the newly
identified northern green anaconda.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Until now, the two
species have been managed as a single entity. But each may have different
ecological niches and ranges, and face different threats.Tailored conservation
strategies must be devised to safeguard the future of both species. This may
include new legal protections and initiatives to protect habitat. It may also
involve measures to mitigate the harm caused by climate change, deforestation
and pollution—such as devastating effects of oil spills on aquatic habitats.Our
research is also a reminder of the complexities involved in biodiversity
conservation. When species go unrecognized, they can slip through the cracks of
conservation programs. By incorporating genetic taxonomy into conservation
planning, we can better preserve Earth's intricate web of life—both the species
we know today, and those yet to be discovered.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Brightest and
fastest-growing: Astronomers identify record-breaking quasar by ESO<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQaxuwx-ZUlIjt4sePTz072zg_4QBMwbFY5SxDjB2OJmkegj-KGm9sXbe7juvvhtChCB4VzqndwC9EdZO39ZYznfWZEoHSO3ftXbW0xFEQFHcgc3s2RyC-ltqOMv8ieXEh_uf55qnFrD56TKr08P72BPD3mEQn1KHBXezP7060EpblTgPHlWM35rd1qg/s1280/QUASAR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1280" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQaxuwx-ZUlIjt4sePTz072zg_4QBMwbFY5SxDjB2OJmkegj-KGm9sXbe7juvvhtChCB4VzqndwC9EdZO39ZYznfWZEoHSO3ftXbW0xFEQFHcgc3s2RyC-ltqOMv8ieXEh_uf55qnFrD56TKr08P72BPD3mEQn1KHBXezP7060EpblTgPHlWM35rd1qg/w640-h398/QUASAR1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;"> </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">This artist’s impression shows the record-breaking quasar J059-4351, the bright core of a distant galaxy that is powered by a supermassive black hole. Using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, this quasar has been found to be the most luminous object known in the universe to date. The supermassive black hole, seen here pulling in surrounding matter, has a mass 17 billion times that of the sun and is growing in mass by the equivalent of another sun per day, making it the fastest-growing black hole ever known. Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Using the European
Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have
characterized a bright quasar, finding it to be not only the brightest of its
kind but also the most luminous object ever observed. Quasars are the bright
cores of distant galaxies, and supermassive black holes power them.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The black hole in this
record-breaking quasar is growing in mass by the equivalent of one sun per day,
making it the fastest-growing black hole to date.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The black holes powering
quasars collect matter from their surroundings in an energetic process that
emits vast amounts of light. So much so that quasars are some of the brightest
objects in our sky, meaning even distant ones are visible from Earth.
Generally, the most luminous quasars indicate the fastest-growing supermassive
black holes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfl9TLXf6FNDBq_3MYVTKCU13Q48nfVMJFDf9H-FxKTlLjui6lk55267BIvhiMpME09reVRbgUS-xTvcVg2K0dxR-0X1m9lWvE2oIr0yUlMXTurFxcBkSG3NL7gID9RrsvDI5C6G7Sz3PWA7TeByqT5kkuEjpoHNNqf71WBuqv_XWuMDnP8_IKq6X5-Q/s1280/QUASAR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1280" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfl9TLXf6FNDBq_3MYVTKCU13Q48nfVMJFDf9H-FxKTlLjui6lk55267BIvhiMpME09reVRbgUS-xTvcVg2K0dxR-0X1m9lWvE2oIr0yUlMXTurFxcBkSG3NL7gID9RrsvDI5C6G7Sz3PWA7TeByqT5kkuEjpoHNNqf71WBuqv_XWuMDnP8_IKq6X5-Q/w640-h454/QUASAR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">IMAGE DESCRIPTION2:</span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">This image shows the region of the sky in which the record-breaking quasar J0529-4351 is situated. Using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, this quasar has been found to be the most luminous object known in the universe to date. This picture was created from images forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2, while the inset shows the location of the quasar in an image from the Dark Energy Survey. Credit: ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2/Dark Energy Survey</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We have discovered
the fastest-growing black hole known to date. It has a mass of 17 billion suns
and eats just over a sun per day. This makes it the most luminous object in the
known universe," says Christian Wolf, an astronomer at the Australian
National University (ANU) and lead author of the study published Nature
Astronomy. The quasar, called J0529-4351, is so far away from Earth that its
light took over 12 billion years to reach us. The matter being pulled in toward
this black hole, in the form of a disk, emits so much energy that J0529-4351 is
over 500 trillion times more luminous than the sun. "All this light comes
from a hot accretion disk that measures seven light-years in diameter—this must
be the largest accretion disk in the universe," says ANU Ph.D. student and
co-author Samuel Lai. Seven light-years is about 15,000 times the distance from
the sun to the orbit of Neptune.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Remarkably, this
record-breaking quasar was hiding in plain sight. "It is a surprise that
it has remained unknown until today when we already know about a million less
impressive quasars. It has been staring us in the face until now," says
co-author Christopher Onken, an astronomer at ANU. He added that this object
showed up in images from the ESO Schmidt Southern Sky Survey dating back to
1980, but it was not recognized as a quasar until decades later.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Finding quasars requires
precise observational data from large areas of the sky. The resulting datasets
are so large that researchers often use machine-learning models to analyze them
and tell quasars apart from other celestial objects.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, these models
are trained on existing data, which limits the potential candidates to objects
similar to those already known. If a new quasar is more luminous than any other
previously observed, the program might reject it and classify it instead as a
star not too distant from Earth.An automated analysis of data from the European
Space Agency's Gaia satellite passed over J0529-4351 for being too bright to be
a quasar, suggesting it to be a star instead. The researchers identified it as
a distant quasar last year using observations from the ANU 2.3-meter telescope
at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, discovering
that it was the most luminous quasar ever observed required a larger telescope
and measurements from a more precise instrument. The X-shooter spectrograph on
ESO's VLT in the Chilean Atacama Desert provided crucial data.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The fastest-growing
black hole ever observed will also be a perfect target for the GRAVITY+ upgrade
on ESO's VLT Interferometer (VLTI), which is designed to accurately measure the
mass of black holes, including those far away from Earth. Additionally, ESO's
Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), a 39-meter telescope under construction in the
Chilean Atacama Desert, will make identifying and characterizing such elusive
objects even more feasible.Finding and studying distant supermassive black
holes could shed light on some of the mysteries of the early universe,
including how they and their host galaxies formed and evolved. But that's not
the only reason why Wolf searches for them. "Personally, I simply like the
chase," he says. "For a few minutes a day, I get to feel like a child
again, playing treasure hunt, and now I bring everything to the table that I
have learned since."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3)Study reveals
molecular mechanisms behind hibernation in mammals :by eLife<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIXbpRZ6Pv49C6ZZSHmvOitw72cB33qrOmkxr_wQ7mIfX4N35aP6BJhl3pWJX4iS7MVLvzV4tlfJkH_8Kwis33TvXh2YrxfIiCcHhUg7Gvn3ElyI43xbpvHgwU7kj5ENUw_yEHiy9YmcYqRXABHrTFsQE3PKAvXyUk48AKZlcHXPF7oQbh2D-5TKPG9M/s544/HIBERNATION1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="544" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIXbpRZ6Pv49C6ZZSHmvOitw72cB33qrOmkxr_wQ7mIfX4N35aP6BJhl3pWJX4iS7MVLvzV4tlfJkH_8Kwis33TvXh2YrxfIiCcHhUg7Gvn3ElyI43xbpvHgwU7kj5ENUw_yEHiy9YmcYqRXABHrTFsQE3PKAvXyUk48AKZlcHXPF7oQbh2D-5TKPG9M/w640-h448/HIBERNATION1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers have shed
light on the molecular mechanisms underlying hibernation, publishing their
findings today as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife.Their research, in small and
large hibernating mammals, is described by the editors as an important study
advancing our knowledge of the role of myosin structure and energy consumption
on the molecular mechanisms of hibernation, backed by solid methodology and
evidence. The findings also suggest that myosin—a type of motor protein
involved in muscle contraction—plays a role in non-shivering thermogenesis
during hibernation, where heat is produced independent of the muscle activity
of shivering.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hibernation is a
survival strategy used by many animals, characterized by a state of deep
dormancy and profound reductions in metabolic activity, body temperature, heart
rate and respiration. During hibernation, animals rely on stored energy
reserves, particularly fats, to sustain their bodily functions. The metabolic
slowdown allows hibernators to conserve energy and endure long periods of food
scarcity and harsh environmental conditions during winter. However, the
underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms behind hibernation remain
incompletely understood.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2tM_A0ntAhO8aezkt7SLRF4as1gDEnh10dAU0KRhhyphenhyphenCEQJBOmCpQajpTYrCI3SQT1eiB1KNV3HbCK-Ti_MYe_ZZg3wytGgkXDykugJ12PHbamiQbz_6v3j_gTgiRfaJo0P4AGCEX6jzMltxVQFbDUG9buyA3yedX8_wPG3HWUyd5sFpI8qt_oqbvCdI/s736/HIBERNATION2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="736" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2tM_A0ntAhO8aezkt7SLRF4as1gDEnh10dAU0KRhhyphenhyphenCEQJBOmCpQajpTYrCI3SQT1eiB1KNV3HbCK-Ti_MYe_ZZg3wytGgkXDykugJ12PHbamiQbz_6v3j_gTgiRfaJo0P4AGCEX6jzMltxVQFbDUG9buyA3yedX8_wPG3HWUyd5sFpI8qt_oqbvCdI/w640-h322/HIBERNATION2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Smaller hibernating
mammals experience extended bouts of a hypo-metabolic state called torpor,
which significantly decreases their body temperature and is punctuated by
spontaneous periods of interbout euthermic arousals (IBA)—where they
temporarily raise their body temperature to restore some physiological
functions, such as eliminating waste and eating more food.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This contrasts with
larger mammals, whose body temperature is much less reduced during hibernation
and remains fairly consistent. Skeletal muscle, which comprises around half of
a mammal's body mass, plays a key role in determining their heat production and
energy use.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Until recently,
energy consumption in skeletal muscles was thought to be primarily linked to
the activity of myosin, which is involved in muscle contraction. However, there
is growing evidence that even when they are relaxed, skeletal muscles still use
a small amount of energy," explains lead author Christopher Lewis, a
postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of
Copenhagen, Denmark.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Myosin heads in
passive muscles can be in different resting states: the 'disordered-relaxed,'
or DRX state, and the 'super-relaxed,' or SRX state. Myosin heads in the DRX
state use up ATP—the energy currency of the cell—between five to ten times
faster than those in the SRX state," Lewis adds.Lewis and colleagues
hypothesized that changes in the proportion of myosin in the DRX or SRX states
may contribute to the reduced energy use seen during hibernation. To test this,
they took skeletal muscle samples from two small hibernators—the thirteen-lined
ground squirrel and the garden dormouse—and two large hibernators—the American
black bear and brown bear.First, they looked to establish whether the myosin
states, and their respective ATP consumption rates, were different between
active periods and hibernation. They looked at muscle fibers taken from the two
bear species during their active summer phase (SA), and their winter
hibernation period.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwggwkmPfKGr0WSHPFWxZA7pjzK5x88lnQpoHPWl0nV0xSSpszyHyroOy8njol0tcFvPMWRwRZApgGPPRCqQ4fhvBUsYeReqhuvE27ZCTgO9fg6LQOOJCn28v5JGxKwdFu1qZRy9THSDB9IvL0wuTxIEvuKVcR0S2ODyd4RPyw8N_7v73R1dX2apA6Nww/s594/HIBERNATION3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="594" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwggwkmPfKGr0WSHPFWxZA7pjzK5x88lnQpoHPWl0nV0xSSpszyHyroOy8njol0tcFvPMWRwRZApgGPPRCqQ4fhvBUsYeReqhuvE27ZCTgO9fg6LQOOJCn28v5JGxKwdFu1qZRy9THSDB9IvL0wuTxIEvuKVcR0S2ODyd4RPyw8N_7v73R1dX2apA6Nww/w640-h372/HIBERNATION3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They found no
differences in the proportion of myosin in the DRX or SRX state between the two
phases. To measure the rate of ATP consumption by myosin, they used a
specialized test called the Mant-ATP chase assay. This revealed that there were
also no changes in the energy consumption rates of myosin. This may be to
prevent the onset of significant muscular wastage in bears during
hibernation.The team also conducted the Mant-ATP chase assay on samples taken
from the small mammals during SA, IBA and torpor. As in the larger hibernators,
they did not observe any differences in the percentage of myosin heads in the
SRX or DRX formation between the three phases. However, they did discover that
the ATP turnover time of myosin molecules in both formations was lower in IBA
and torpor compared to the SA phase, leading to an unexpected overall increase
in ATP consumption.As small mammals undergo a more significant drop in body
temperature during hibernation than large mammals, the team tested whether this
unexpected increase in ATP consumption also occurred at a lower temperature.
They reran the Mant-ATP chase assay at 8° C, compared to the ambient lab
temperature of 20° C used previously. Lowering the temperature decreased DRX
and SRX-linked ATP turnover times in SA and IBA, leading to an increase in ATP
consumption.Metabolic organs, such as skeletal muscle, are well known to
increase core body temperature in response to significant cold exposure, either
by inducing shivering or through non-shivering thermogenesis. Cold exposure
caused an increase in ATP consumption by myosin in samples obtained during SA
and IBA, suggesting that myosin may contribute to non-shivering thermogenesis
in small hibernators.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team did not observe
cold-induced changes in myosin energy consumption in samples obtained during
torpor. They suggest that this is likely a protective mechanism to maintain the
low core body temperature, and wider metabolic shutdown, seen during torpor.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Finally, the researchers
wanted to understand the changes that occur at the protein level during the
different hibernating phases. They assessed whether hibernation affects the
structure of two myosin proteins from the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Myh7
and Myh2. Although they did not observe any hibernation-related changes in the
structure of Myh7, they discovered that Myh2 underwent significant
phosphorylation—a process crucial for energy storage—during torpor, compared to
SA and IBA.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They also analyzed the
structure of the two proteins in the brown bear, finding no structural
differences between SA and hibernation. They therefore conclude that Myh2
hyper-phosphorylation is specifically associated with torpor, rather than
hibernation in general, and propose that this serves to increase myosin
stability in small mammals. This may act as a potential molecular mechanism to
mitigate myosin-associated increases in skeletal muscle expenditure in response
to cold exposure during periods of</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> torpor.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">eLife's editors note
that some areas of the study warrant further study. Namely, the muscle samples
were taken exclusively from the legs of the animals studied. Given the core
body and limbs have different temperatures, investigating muscle samples from
other areas of the body would further validate the team's findings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Altogether, our
findings suggest that ATP turnover adaptations in DRX and SRX myosin states
occur in small mammals like the thirteen-lined ground squirrel during
hibernation in cold environments. In contrast, larger mammals like the American
black bear show no such changes, likely due to their stable body temperature
during hibernation," concludes senior author Julien Ochala, Associate
Professor at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.
"Our results also suggest that myosin may act as a contributor to skeletal
muscle non-shivering thermogenesis during hibernation."</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) First known
photos of 'lost bird' captured by scientists :by University of Texas at El Paso<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv52P4T33PtJznk-ZtK29DqsiqkZSkULN83iZR5ga1s2vN4PKesYYt-niajUckjb86UIwetn9sJcky7jiJps_1aexHVAMFFFwihNFLRzqvFWcizG385DxEfI1OOhzOiFyn69cl3goV-XREZpK_uiGYeH46h03pqLQrYDGFh77-fjF4kakTfZTvfYuU5WM/s526/RARESP1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="526" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv52P4T33PtJznk-ZtK29DqsiqkZSkULN83iZR5ga1s2vN4PKesYYt-niajUckjb86UIwetn9sJcky7jiJps_1aexHVAMFFFwihNFLRzqvFWcizG385DxEfI1OOhzOiFyn69cl3goV-XREZpK_uiGYeH46h03pqLQrYDGFh77-fjF4kakTfZTvfYuU5WM/w640-h502/RARESP1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the first time,
scientists have captured photos of a bird long thought lost. Known as the
Yellow-crested Helmetshrike, or Prionops alberti, the species is listed as a
'lost bird' by the American Bird Conservancy because it had not seen in nearly
two decades.University of Texas at El Paso scientists made the discovery during
a six-week expedition to the Itombwe Massif, a mountain range in the eastern
Democratic Republic of the Congo. The photos of the helmetshrikes have been
reviewed and confirmed by Cameron Rutt, Ph.D., who leads the Lost Birds project
at the American Bird Conservancy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"It was a
mind-blowing experience to come across these birds. We knew they might be
possible here, but I was not prepared for how spectacular and unique they would
appear in life," said Michael Harvey, Ph.D., an ornithologist and UTEP
assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoLxDbMKL56aHUC-_qdEOSL1fCvkCGP8TUHwOk2Fk0GNuebW21WAjRhbeMBrS_7jlbMEpeUE5CMFBMY7RU4Vy4YXrTL8BgNspVlXchvDGVDzB6g-oTJAA_K5NPoR_z5DR60QfgZ_Gs8CZT9shzNtXJa7IKnPEV9ny9uc9j1RuYAcwAOf5Qlffocuba6k/s300/RARESP2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="178" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoLxDbMKL56aHUC-_qdEOSL1fCvkCGP8TUHwOk2Fk0GNuebW21WAjRhbeMBrS_7jlbMEpeUE5CMFBMY7RU4Vy4YXrTL8BgNspVlXchvDGVDzB6g-oTJAA_K5NPoR_z5DR60QfgZ_Gs8CZT9shzNtXJa7IKnPEV9ny9uc9j1RuYAcwAOf5Qlffocuba6k/w380-h640/RARESP2.jpg" width="380" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Harvey co-led the
expedition with UTEP Professor of Biological Sciences Eli Greenbaum, Ph.D. They
were joined by ornithologist Matt Brady, as well as a group of Congolese
researchers from the Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles, including Chifundera
Kusamba, Ph.D., Robert Kizungu Byamana, Chance Bahati Muhigirwa, Mwenebatu M.
Aristote, and Wandege M. Muninga.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team trekked by foot
for over 75 miles through the depths of the Itombwe Massif, studying birds,
amphibians, and reptiles along the way.While exploring the cloud forests on the
slopes of a mountain, Harvey and Brady stumbled upon the helmetshrike—a
striking black bird with a bright yellow "helmet." The team said they
appeared as rather "noisy and active groups in the midstory of the forest."The
bird is endemic to the western slopes of the Albertine Rift of Central Africa,
according to Harvey, a region that has been largely inaccessible due to war and
security issues but that has recently become safer to visit.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In total, about 18 birds
were found at three sites during the expedition."This inspires hope that
perhaps the species still has a reasonably healthy population in the remote
forests of the region," Harvey said. "But mining and logging, as well
as the clearing of forests for agriculture, are making inroads deep into the
forests of the Itombwe range. We are in discussions with other researchers and
conservation organizations to further efforts to protect the region's forests
and the helmetshrike."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Harvey added,
"Right now is a golden opportunity to protect these tropical forests so
that we don't lose species like the helmetshrike before they are known and
studied."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3MJQ5a_RlqSk2n4l4uwkgThEE6M2UrIjgA7JsQg6jiGonjje10lyE7IkXu1Fqd-QKFncMJ1s8qcFLyla2Zpj5AsU3lIpgPfLNANgcMKWWdGjn9rsP3lbcbXXvvmuB-9txltSxUuVIJWi1Is5zWR9IteJrvdrqwoEmERM_IH4Pr-WXLtDdSbG0Fs1W3U/s687/RARESP3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="687" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3MJQ5a_RlqSk2n4l4uwkgThEE6M2UrIjgA7JsQg6jiGonjje10lyE7IkXu1Fqd-QKFncMJ1s8qcFLyla2Zpj5AsU3lIpgPfLNANgcMKWWdGjn9rsP3lbcbXXvvmuB-9txltSxUuVIJWi1Is5zWR9IteJrvdrqwoEmERM_IH4Pr-WXLtDdSbG0Fs1W3U/w640-h514/RARESP3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The expedition, which
ran from December 2023 to January 2024, yielded other important discoveries.
The herpetology team rediscovered the Red-bellied Squeaker Frog, or
Arthroleptis hematogaster, which had not been seen since the 1950s. The frog
rediscovery has been confirmed by David Blackburn, Ph.D., professor at the
University of Florida's Museum of Natural History.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"UTEP's global
impact is showcased through not just the accomplishments of its graduates but
also through groundbreaking and captivating discoveries, exemplified here by
the contributions of Drs. Greenbaum and Harvey," said UTEP College of
Science Dean Robert Kirken, Ph.D. "I hope this discovery illuminates and
inspires students and scientists worldwide."</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Universal
antivenom for lethal snake toxins developed by researchers :by The Scripps
Research Institute<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfjRCQvODAC9ULgk0ILGkvhuB8IF_QnsFBGIoH6c0RFuNg8qo0HD_bGB7cbqUauP-260Q9-_vU4SwA1teOttSYRFYAgzrBuDDaEVCxIvBHTqiIdMo0WGrTlC5YUt-Oax-dxwm3V9_KS-o3_-uB6jkiFjmXzYmZkK7kAX6eHqnjc6YDXoBjBiNGc2T5T0/s1272/SNAKE-VENOM1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="1272" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfjRCQvODAC9ULgk0ILGkvhuB8IF_QnsFBGIoH6c0RFuNg8qo0HD_bGB7cbqUauP-260Q9-_vU4SwA1teOttSYRFYAgzrBuDDaEVCxIvBHTqiIdMo0WGrTlC5YUt-Oax-dxwm3V9_KS-o3_-uB6jkiFjmXzYmZkK7kAX6eHqnjc6YDXoBjBiNGc2T5T0/w640-h284/SNAKE-VENOM1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Scientists at the
Scripps Research Institute and the Evolutionary Venomics Lab (EVL) at the
Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have
developed a synthetic human antibody that can neutralise a potent neurotoxin
produced by the Elapidae family of highly toxic snakes, which includes the
cobra, king cobra, krait and black mamba.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Scripps Research
scientists have developed an antibody that can block the effects of lethal
toxins in the venoms of a wide variety of snakes found throughout Africa, Asia
and Australia. The antibody, which protected mice from the normally deadly
venom of snakes including black mambas and king cobras, is described in Science
Translational Medicine. The new research used forms of the toxins produced in
the laboratory to screen billions of different human antibodies and identify
one that can block the toxins' activity. It represents a large step toward a
universal antivenom that would be effective against the venom of all snakes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi_wJJJVjN_Nd6pOby3Z13Yh6C2EW8sSz1sHz5O8oK4SHd3hsf8XciC1TQSnBFJVATuyLMNqo1NmySDSNcCRdgdyWD4Pc4D9h8HzXJyYO1nzjXZnEwRluhS6qzHolFRJacUbTFyI81IJGNV2QDQQHuD6zIByGm_kqLqpFD2v3rBJr6KYAI29lGCO2Wb8/s720/SNAKE-VENOM2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="720" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi_wJJJVjN_Nd6pOby3Z13Yh6C2EW8sSz1sHz5O8oK4SHd3hsf8XciC1TQSnBFJVATuyLMNqo1NmySDSNcCRdgdyWD4Pc4D9h8HzXJyYO1nzjXZnEwRluhS6qzHolFRJacUbTFyI81IJGNV2QDQQHuD6zIByGm_kqLqpFD2v3rBJr6KYAI29lGCO2Wb8/w640-h472/SNAKE-VENOM2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This antibody
works against one of the major toxins found across numerous snake species that
contribute to tens of thousands of deaths every year," says senior author
Joseph Jardine, Ph.D., assistant professor of immunology and microbiology at
Scripps Research. "This could be incredibly valuable for people in low-
and middle-income countries that have the largest burden of deaths and injuries
from snakebites."More than 100,000 people a year, mostly in Asia and
Africa, die from snakebite envenoming—rendering it more deadly than most
neglected tropical diseases. Current antivenoms are produced by immunizing
animals with snake venom, and each generally only works against a single snake
species. This means that many different antivenoms must be manufactured to
treat snake bites in the different regions.Jardine and his colleagues have previously
studied how broadly neutralizing antibodies against the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) can work by targeting areas of the virus that cannot mutate. They
realized that the challenge of finding a universal antivenom was similar to
their quest for an HIV vaccine; just like quickly evolving HIV proteins show
small differences between each other, different snake venoms have enough
variations that an antibody binding to one generally doesn't bind to others.But
like HIV, snake toxins also have conserved regions that cannot mutate, and an
antibody targeting those could possibly work against all variants of that
toxin.In the new work,</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdfkrW6AY-hAes-3Atl4cSWSgdBYuG5I2N7pCTXe3h830kkRFArnU5LPPFuLQ12CU25qhl4sQ_tgucGYyWQhgLhOkKGffanu8zhBu9Jp-8XxmJ4oubrKDoOZLjy4ilILzqJMg_yKKbqDh3Ept_rky81eIKSnteGqPU7vGtLiNdWYDOuZM8olizYAtBjw/s591/SNAKE-VENOM4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="571" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdfkrW6AY-hAes-3Atl4cSWSgdBYuG5I2N7pCTXe3h830kkRFArnU5LPPFuLQ12CU25qhl4sQ_tgucGYyWQhgLhOkKGffanu8zhBu9Jp-8XxmJ4oubrKDoOZLjy4ilILzqJMg_yKKbqDh3Ept_rky81eIKSnteGqPU7vGtLiNdWYDOuZM8olizYAtBjw/w618-h640/SNAKE-VENOM4.jpg" width="618" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> the researchers isolated and compared venom proteins
from a variety of elapids—a major group of venomous snakes including mambas,
cobras and kraits. They found that a type of protein called three-finger toxins
(3FTx), present in all elapid snakes, contained small sections that looked
similar across different species. In addition, 3FTx proteins are considered
highly toxic and are responsible for whole-body paralysis, making them an ideal
therapeutic target.With the goal of discovering an antibody to block 3FTx, the
researchers created an innovative platform that put the genes for 16 different
3FTx into mammalian cells, which then produced the toxins in the lab. The team
then turned to a library of more than 50 billion different human antibodies and
tested which ones bound to the 3FTx protein from the many-banded krait (also
known as the Chinese krait or Taiwanese krait), which had the most similarities
with other 3FTx proteins.That narrowed their search down to about 3,800
antibodies. Then, they tested those antibodies to see which also recognized
four other 3FTx variants.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr-GuurbLB7EtkuedgttBhhpC_7agb99e08q8i7gXUigRdn_KF1dGDHhy4MbD7QGRJe3SyX__ZMuiaxwvvZsSjv76AhmNLwYEYGlCgu6aeOSQmQuOux7LiyX4KFC3oCLPcBBSIpamXEPNNBc8guWSj-usJ50-4E36fNV7LTmXl3jMxM45eD_GV-mnq88/s752/SNAKE-VENOM5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="752" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr-GuurbLB7EtkuedgttBhhpC_7agb99e08q8i7gXUigRdn_KF1dGDHhy4MbD7QGRJe3SyX__ZMuiaxwvvZsSjv76AhmNLwYEYGlCgu6aeOSQmQuOux7LiyX4KFC3oCLPcBBSIpamXEPNNBc8guWSj-usJ50-4E36fNV7LTmXl3jMxM45eD_GV-mnq88/w640-h496/SNAKE-VENOM5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Among the 30 antibodies identified in that screen,
one stood out as having the strongest interactions across all the toxin
variants: an antibody called 95Mat5."We were able to zoom in on the very
small percentage of antibodies that were cross-reactive for all these different
toxins," says Irene Khalek, a Scripps Research scientist and first author
of the new paper. "This was only possible because of the platform we
developed to screen our antibody library against multiple toxins in
parallel."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jardine, Khalek and
their colleagues tested the effect of 95Mat5 on mice injected with toxins from
the many-banded krait, Indian spitting cobra, black mamba and king cobra. In
all cases, mice who simultaneously received an injection of 95Mat5 were not only
protected from death, but also paralysis.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When the researchers
studied exactly how 95Mat5 was so effective at blocking the 3FTx variants, they
discovered that the antibody mimicked the structure of the human protein that
3FTx usually binds to. Interestingly, the broad-acting HIV antibodies that
Jardine has previously studied also work by mimicking a human protein.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRAh8G2tIGJebxp0oXnI6mGDAVhfMzLQoJfhkUTC0ZgcyGN21g30j2QnxHjZk69y6ywCKaKNnDdRfLXlu_TQ7aybepDIPNGyyNSiUwhZVmqjpQgqjzRrZ68mdJm2ghV6NiuYQR-EMYAomFBZHZF9_xCPpLyn-v81AxSXdeTSp_IrcLoevDx6dyj7jujw/s1200/SNAKE-VENOM3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1200" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRAh8G2tIGJebxp0oXnI6mGDAVhfMzLQoJfhkUTC0ZgcyGN21g30j2QnxHjZk69y6ywCKaKNnDdRfLXlu_TQ7aybepDIPNGyyNSiUwhZVmqjpQgqjzRrZ68mdJm2ghV6NiuYQR-EMYAomFBZHZF9_xCPpLyn-v81AxSXdeTSp_IrcLoevDx6dyj7jujw/w640-h496/SNAKE-VENOM3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"It's incredible
that for two completely different problems, the human immune system has
converged on a very similar solution," says Jardine. "It also was
exciting to see that we could make an effective antibody entirely
synthetically—we did not immunize any animals nor did we use any snakes."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While 95Mat5 is
effective against the venom of all elapids, it does not block the venom of
vipers—the second group of venomous snakes. Jardine's group is now pursuing
broadly neutralizing antibodies against another elapid toxin, as well as two
viper toxins. They suspect that combining 95Mat5 with these other antibodies
could provide broad coverage against many—or all—snake venoms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We think that a
cocktail of these four antibodies could potentially work as a universal
antivenom against any medically relevant snake in the world says Khalek.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Astronomers
observe the effect of dark matter on the evolution of the galaxies :by
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7QwFTqAGJtGbIlk-RW1lE_HoVvTAOP2hlMNiJnp-lESJLZooKL_Xp1aOHJAFkECmzV9645cZkh6Zq6orR9POx-fSVbB9QHO0IJg_Tppe-uBtiC27m3q1-NUmstX3D71zuTtuXCPonSlFZdJ0WClNevJCgBja7bE2MKccftU6c96-RH68bCuhUJ8fhFM/s849/DARK-MATTER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="849" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7QwFTqAGJtGbIlk-RW1lE_HoVvTAOP2hlMNiJnp-lESJLZooKL_Xp1aOHJAFkECmzV9645cZkh6Zq6orR9POx-fSVbB9QHO0IJg_Tppe-uBtiC27m3q1-NUmstX3D71zuTtuXCPonSlFZdJ0WClNevJCgBja7bE2MKccftU6c96-RH68bCuhUJ8fhFM/w640-h314/DARK-MATTER2.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dark matter comprises
around 85% of all the matter in the universe. Although ordinary matter absorbs,
reflects and emits light, dark matter cannot be seen directly, which makes its
detection difficult. Its existence is inferred from its gravitational effects
on visible matter, the material that forms stars, planets, and other objects in
the cosmos.Galaxies are made up of these two types of material The dark matter
is distributed in halos, which are huge structures surrounding galaxies, while
the ordinary matter is mainly present in the central regions where most of the
stars are found.Traditionally observational studies of galactic evolution have
centered on the role of ordinary matter, even though it is quite a small
fraction of the mass of a galaxy. For decades there have been theoretical
predictions about the effect that dark matter should have on the evolution of
galaxies. However, in spite of numerous efforts, there is no clear consensus
about this.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Now, research led by a
team at the IAC has managed to confirm, for the first time using observations,
the effect of dark matter on galaxy evolution. The work is published in the
journal Nature Astronomy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Dark matter has an
obvious effect on galaxies because we can measure it, but the effect on the
evolution of galaxies which we have found is something which had been proposed,
even though we did not have a technique for studying it observationally,"
explains Laura Scholz Díaz, a pre-doctoral researcher at the IAC and first
author of the article.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To study the effect of
dark matter the team has concentrated on the difference between the mass of the
stars in a galaxy, and the mass which can be inferred from its rotation, called
the total dynamical mass.The research showed that the ages, the metal content,
the morphology, the angular momentum and the rate of formation of the stars
depend not only on the mass of those stars, but also on the total mass, and
this means including the dark matter component which fits the estimates of the
halo mass.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We have seen that
in galaxies with equal masses of stars, their stellar populations behave
differently depending on whether the halo has more, or less dark matter, in
other words, the evolution of a galaxy, from its formation until the present
time is modified by the halo in which it is contained. If it has a more or a
less massive halo, the evolution of the galaxy over time will be different, and
this will be reflected in the properties of the stars which it contains," adds
Ignacio Martín Navarro, an IAC researcher who is a co-author of the article<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpJ1jo89OLWlC97F7WibBTLp0gIHWl3u8fQ0CbDrp9_B0O_UCj9Q9UKDXhBFOX_tICzlksMZgxSr5xaqSi1F8vwRDjW454d2NBrjvNvLs0Z637KJRZP1s7u1z68GaXaPJBzOjSCGNCpmzOko3b4T8mqgjn2XHbRSxBUkTiwPmRwrpRTQCqnegI-uKSQ4/s743/DARK-MATTER3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="743" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpJ1jo89OLWlC97F7WibBTLp0gIHWl3u8fQ0CbDrp9_B0O_UCj9Q9UKDXhBFOX_tICzlksMZgxSr5xaqSi1F8vwRDjW454d2NBrjvNvLs0Z637KJRZP1s7u1z68GaXaPJBzOjSCGNCpmzOko3b4T8mqgjn2XHbRSxBUkTiwPmRwrpRTQCqnegI-uKSQ4/w640-h512/DARK-MATTER3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the future the team
plans to make measurements of stellar populations at different distances from
the center of the galaxy, and to show whether this dependence on the dark
matter halo of the properties of the stars is maintained at all radii. A
following step in the research will allow the study of the relation between
dark matter halos and the large scale structure of the universe."These
dark matter halos are not created alone they are connected by filaments which
form part of the large scale structure, called the cosmic web," says
Scholz. "The mass of the halo appears to modify the property of its
galaxy, but it could be the result of the position occupied by each halo within
the cosmic web. In the coming years we want to see the effect of this large
scale structure in the context we are studying," she explains.This study
is based on 260 galaxies of the CALIFA (Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area)
an international project in which the IAC participates actively under the
coordination of Jesús Falcón Barroso, another co-author of the article.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This survey gives
spectral information, and gives unprecedented spatial cover of galaxies,"
he says. "These galaxies were observed in a high resolution configuration,
to obtain detailed measurements of their kinematic properties, which allowed us
to study the motions of the stars very precisely, and so infer the total masses
of the galaxies."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">7) Neurobiology:
Examining how bats distinguish different sounds : by Markus Bernards, Goethe
University Frankfurt am Main<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJy1FpzP5DyVLE7DUUpP2Hy-rR73DoLaoj3aMZ5oCazDvYpxJL9dplUjqSzglQ5tfuAuXP24Ps7_5Kns9aNwNmXNLApBUXK06DkSLmQpxXPnBWtg_tMA313jQpouYgF-Mj_mOKl0Yj5EJwLbg5Xb5dm8hCubAX0RJECwL9-SGBMfjZoBWj5VmQTiGugp0/s1298/BAT-SOUND1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="1298" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJy1FpzP5DyVLE7DUUpP2Hy-rR73DoLaoj3aMZ5oCazDvYpxJL9dplUjqSzglQ5tfuAuXP24Ps7_5Kns9aNwNmXNLApBUXK06DkSLmQpxXPnBWtg_tMA313jQpouYgF-Mj_mOKl0Yj5EJwLbg5Xb5dm8hCubAX0RJECwL9-SGBMfjZoBWj5VmQTiGugp0/w640-h278/BAT-SOUND1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Seba's short-tailed bat
(Carollia perspicillata) lives in the subtropical and tropical forests of
Central and South America, where it mostly feeds on pepper fruit. The animals
spend their days in groups of 10 to 100 individuals in hollow trunks and rocky
caverns, and at night they go foraging together. They communicate using sounds
that create distinct ambient noise in the colony—like the babble of voices at a
lively party. At the same time, the bats also use vocalizations to navigate
their surroundings, a phenomenon known as echolocation, for which they emit
ultrasonic sounds that reflect off solid surfaces. The animals then assemble
these echoes into an "image" of their surroundings.But how does
Seba's short-tailed bat manage to filter out important sounds from constant
ambient noise? A common explanation is that the brain constantly predicts the
next signal and reacts more strongly to an unexpected signal than to an
expected one.This is referred to as deviance detection, and neuroscientists led
by Johannes Wetekam and Professor Manfred Kössl from the Neurobiology and
Biosensors Working Group at the Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience at
Goethe University Frankfurt are exploring its mechanisms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Together with
colleagues, they were already able to show in 2021 that signal processing does
not begin in high-level regions of the brain but is already in the brainstem,
which is responsible for controlling vital functions such as breathing and
heart rate. However, these studies only used artificial stimuli that were not
meaningful to the animals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a study recently
published, the team led by Wetekam and Kössl repeated the experiments with
natural communication and echolocation calls. "With our study, we wanted
to find out what happens in deviation detection when, instead of meaningless
stimuli, ones are presented to Seba's short-tailed bat that actually occurs in
its auditory world," says Wetekam.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To do this, two
electrodes, the thickness of a human hair, were inserted under the bats' scalps
to record their brain waves. Although this was painless for the animals, the
measurements were carried out under a general anesthetic, as any movement could
distort the results.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The bat's brain reacts
to sounds even when the animal is anesthetized and fast asleep. Either
echolocation or communication calls were then played to the animals, each
interspersed with the other sound, with a 10% probability of it occurring.It
was then possible to read from the brain waves measured that the brainstem
processes echolocation and communication calls differently. While infrequent
echolocation sounds indeed induced stronger signals than frequent ones—i.e.,
showed deviation detection—in the case of communication sounds, the probability
of them occurring did not influence the strength of the response.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Bats probably need
to react faster during echolocation than when communicating with
conspecifics," presumes Manfred Kössl. "The brainstem is the first
station in the brain to receive the acoustic signals, which is why calculating
the probability of echolocation calls might be necessary first of all there,
and especially their echoes, so that the animal can dodge obstacles in good
time." The stronger response to less frequent calls is presumably due to
better neural synchronization.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1sO7j4vZ8GaeHhzEYxzig3ZiZ6C7FGmvjDcdLJvrm0o2a9yhqgTmz_inLccsciAUkJjeQr8PBfTwHy9iOZAeqVAnuNZvesCmuhEgQ1E2NT6qtRS3XeJq1b-tTMm4nJXQS2BLMU9nrDKNk0ZZJhqqUMzgkeGINji9ZdKxaFvO6qkHK70a_h2roedNA5I/s1301/BAT-SOUND2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1301" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1sO7j4vZ8GaeHhzEYxzig3ZiZ6C7FGmvjDcdLJvrm0o2a9yhqgTmz_inLccsciAUkJjeQr8PBfTwHy9iOZAeqVAnuNZvesCmuhEgQ1E2NT6qtRS3XeJq1b-tTMm4nJXQS2BLMU9nrDKNk0ZZJhqqUMzgkeGINji9ZdKxaFvO6qkHK70a_h2roedNA5I/w640-h286/BAT-SOUND2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The study also showed
that the brainstem can utilize other features of bat calls for deviance
detection, such as rapid changes in frequency or volume, in addition to
differences in pitch. "This is astonishing, as the brainstem is a rather
primitive part of the brain that scientists did not previously think capable of
any substantial involvement in signal processing," says Wetekam.
"They saw its role more in receiving signals from the auditory nerve and
transmitting them to high-level regions of the brain."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These findings might
also be important in relation to medical applications in humans. For example,
the low-level regions of the brain ought to be included when studying diseases
such as ADHD or schizophrenia, which are associated with impaired processing of
extraneous stimuli. The fact that the bat brainstem processes various complex
acoustic signals differently can also help scientists understand how the brain
deciphers and processes complex human speech.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalqESS_W5aQFHeetAIvho-H289re7ptolGoJonx4u6pe6n1gV0k3ETpAH2d5jTMzjOIGjUj3m-vhOlosU8m4o-MqooGk6G0tsOjS2kR4hSiNpzbWbf_6ZY_gwC8nUuqCtXae4YKl3g3v0okRX-mujEB_ZGpqXwNitgK9u5-5qSuY-Ul4pph1EdvLqtLk/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalqESS_W5aQFHeetAIvho-H289re7ptolGoJonx4u6pe6n1gV0k3ETpAH2d5jTMzjOIGjUj3m-vhOlosU8m4o-MqooGk6G0tsOjS2kR4hSiNpzbWbf_6ZY_gwC8nUuqCtXae4YKl3g3v0okRX-mujEB_ZGpqXwNitgK9u5-5qSuY-Ul4pph1EdvLqtLk/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Congress keeps
Raebareli, Amethi, Varanasi in 17-seat deal with Akhilesh Yadav</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEvJx-oGR0TItPuWzbrWcaPzinOHzRxgk_3rBUssK54ZO_xbvRbE9fOa7Kn1uh81tc7M5FPWGEaT8FO5XkkTfoLWcMpS835hpIelZRqMHTLroi2Ic9GCdSanD9uzxvffQhhk2o9052IGSiWbX8kOeMbiTR_Bi87W79I4gY_NN4Z3MRa-ocScrk99CXJ0/s529/CONGWITH%20AKI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="529" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEvJx-oGR0TItPuWzbrWcaPzinOHzRxgk_3rBUssK54ZO_xbvRbE9fOa7Kn1uh81tc7M5FPWGEaT8FO5XkkTfoLWcMpS835hpIelZRqMHTLroi2Ic9GCdSanD9uzxvffQhhk2o9052IGSiWbX8kOeMbiTR_Bi87W79I4gY_NN4Z3MRa-ocScrk99CXJ0/w640-h420/CONGWITH%20AKI.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress will contest
from 17 seats in Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party from 63 as Mallikarjun
Kharge and Akhilesh gave go-ahead. Congress will contest from 17 seats in Uttar
Pradesh as finalised and agreed upon by both the Congress and the Samajwadi Party
leadership. This means the Samajwadi Party won't give any candidate on these 17
seats and the details of these seats once again trigger speculations of
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra making her poll debut from RaeBareli -- after her mother
Sonia Gandhi shifted to the Rajya Sabha. RaiBareli is a Congress bastion which
the party won't want to lose and ensuring that there is no SP candidate might
be the first step for that. Congress-Samajwadi seat sharing deal: Congress to
contest from these 17 seats<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Raebareli<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Amethi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fatehpur Sikri<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Saharanpur<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prayagraj<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Maharajganj<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Varanasi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Amroha<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jhansi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bulandshahr<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ghaziabad<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mathura<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sitapur<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Barabanki<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kanpur<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bansgaon<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Deoria<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">RaeBareli, Amethi and
Varanasi are three crucial seats that Akhilesh ceded to the Congress. While
Varanasi is the Lok Saha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amethi
is the one that Rahul Gandhi in 2019 lost to BJP's Smriti Irani. RaeBareli was
Sonia Gandhi's seat until she vacated it for health reasons and shifted to the
Rajya Sabha.The Congress has given the Samajwadi Party Madhya Pradesh's
Khajuraho seat.With AAP in Punjab, Delhi and Trinamool in Congress, the INDIA
bloc's seat-sharing prospect hit a deadlock. Akhilesh too made an offer of 11
seats first, then made it to 15 and the final offer was 17. On 17, Akhilesh put
his foot down and said he would join Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra only
after Congress finalised the deal.According to insiders, the initial deal to
the Congress was 'raw' with seats where winnability was low. The telephone
conversation between Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi helped the agreement
and Congress got Sitapur, Barabanki. In the Moradabad division, the Congress
was asking for two seats but has agreed on Amroha alone, PTI reported citing
sources.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) AAP, Congress
announce alliance in Delhi, four other states<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M2ckE6pCiPYcd_ixJl-wgDMK8ozcH5kgknbaZiugZiN8ClTuDT28MqsgL6j1KFmLxaq8Z68o3vLc0YRH__Kozay9sEPsFpk9E5tsmQm5-vR2CSlDiHdYERAWuOEC0jr3XHXMMoQ2_Wets1JwjpUWSY_Ejg9nfFP-zC1ZS5ffXQ3I80xc18AhuamtDjI/s530/CONG-AAP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="530" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M2ckE6pCiPYcd_ixJl-wgDMK8ozcH5kgknbaZiugZiN8ClTuDT28MqsgL6j1KFmLxaq8Z68o3vLc0YRH__Kozay9sEPsFpk9E5tsmQm5-vR2CSlDiHdYERAWuOEC0jr3XHXMMoQ2_Wets1JwjpUWSY_Ejg9nfFP-zC1ZS5ffXQ3I80xc18AhuamtDjI/w640-h412/CONG-AAP.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pact first such alliance
between the two and the second big agreement clinched in INDIA bloc after an
arrangement between Congress and SP in UP and MP The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and
the Congress on Saturday jointly announced their pact for the upcoming Lok
Sabha election. Announcing the seat-sharing plan, both parties agreed to
jointly contest from Delhi, Haryana, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Addressing a joint press
conference here, Congress leader Mukul Wasnik announced that the AAP will
contest four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, two of the 26 seats in
Gujarat, and one of the 10 seats in Haryana, while Congress will contest the
rest of the seats in these states. Both the Lok Sabha seats of Goa and the one
seat of Chandigarh will be contested by the Congress in alliance with the AAP,
the Congress leader said.In Gujarat, the Congress will contest 24 Lok Sabha
seats while the AAP will contest two – Bharuch and Bhavnagar – and in Haryana,
the Congress will contest nine out of the 10 seats while AAP will contest the
Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat, Wasnik announced in a press conference at the
Constitution Club of India, attended by senior AAP leaders Sandeep Pathak,
Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wasnik said the AAP will
contest New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi, and East Delhi seats in Delhi while
Congress will contest North East, North West, and Chandni Chowk
constituencies.The pact is the first such alliance between the two erstwhile
rivals and the second big agreement clinched in the beleaguered Indian National
Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) after an arrangement between the
Congress and Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.Both parties
are constituents of the INDIA bloc, formed by opposition parties to take on the
Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming general elections.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Two days ago, the
Congress finalised its alliance in UP with Samajwadi Party. In the last few
days, long discussions were held with AAP, following which AAP-Congress has
finalised seat-sharing. We are happy that two important partners of the INDIA
alliance will fight the election together,” Wasnik said “We will contest the
election on different seats, and together we will try to win all the seats
being contested under the alliance,” he added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When asked about
resentment from party leaders in some of the seats such as Bharuch, Wasnik said
all factors have been taken into consideration and finally a decision has been
taken. “We firmly believe that the decision will be respected by all the
workers of the Congress and AAP,” Wasnik said.The AAP has already announced
candidates for the Bharuch and the Bhavnagar Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat.AAP MP
Sandeep Pathak said the party joined the alliance and decided to contest
together because, for the AAP, the country is more important.“Today, the
country is going through a tough time. The BJP is crushing all institutions one
by one, and the way electoral malpractices are being done, opposition leaders
are being put in jail, farmers are suffering, and people are facing inflation
and unemployment, we have joined the alliance keeping the interests of the
country before the interests of the party,” Pathak said. Pathak said that the
alliance would disturb the political equations of the BJP. In reply to a question,
the AAP leader said the details of the campaigning (whether there will be any
joint campaigning by the two parties) will be worked out. “All our cadre came
to politics for the country. They understand the current prevailing political
situation,” Pathak said when asked whether the alliance will create resentment
among AAP workers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is the first time
that the Congress and AAP have come together to contest the Lok Sabha seats
together in Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2019, the Congress
came second in five seats — East Delhi, West Delhi, New Delhi, North East Delhi
and Chandani Chowk — and the AAP came second in two seats — North West Delhi
and South Delhi. A similar formula was proposed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
in 2019, but talks collapsed.The sealing of the pact caps weeks of tense
negotiations between the erstwhile rivals. The AAP first came to power in Delhi
riding an anti-Congress wave in 2013 with Arvind Kejriwal defeating then-CM
Shiela Dikshit in her constituency of New Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Both sides formally
discussed seat sharing for the first time on January 8. In that meeting, the
AAP offered three seats to the Congress and demanded seats in Gujarat, Goa and
Haryana. The Congress’s national alliance committee led by Mukul Wasnik told
the AAP representatives that the alliance panel’s mandate was to discuss only
Delhi seats.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Eleven days later,
Kejriwal met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi at Kharge’s
residence to give fresh momentum to seat talks. The AAP later ruled out
alliance in Punjab and threatened to fight alone in Delhi. AAP has 62 MLAs in
the 70-member Delhi assembly.Delhi BJP leader Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said the AAP
and Congress didn’t trust each other but were trying to ally due to fear of
losing the elections. “There is a serious trust crisis between the Congress and
AAP, but despite that they are going to form an alliance is nothing but
politics of opportunism,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) 30 firms who donated
Rs 335 cr to BJP were also stung by I-T, ED By:Prateek Goyal & Korah
Abraham, Nandini Chandrashekar & Basant Kumar<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Q0LynVWg9-olxKAnUBxwOHICUt1qnfVbRkaSIlH1QCv6ekpMgFOt2q6mEnVvATQbbn66h3aY96uxEat6Js6YkJzo23fi9WKpft2owR1GVmM1GYrDIE_WbN5s0n8oz45VJCh22n6ff6q9-z-Br2bZuVgv0CU03Lz9LhyphenhyphenoV-81B-an-U1TSnjvuzk6XNg/s1200/30FIRMDONATES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Q0LynVWg9-olxKAnUBxwOHICUt1qnfVbRkaSIlH1QCv6ekpMgFOt2q6mEnVvATQbbn66h3aY96uxEat6Js6YkJzo23fi9WKpft2owR1GVmM1GYrDIE_WbN5s0n8oz45VJCh22n6ff6q9-z-Br2bZuVgv0CU03Lz9LhyphenhyphenoV-81B-an-U1TSnjvuzk6XNg/w640-h360/30FIRMDONATES.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">EC records, financial
statements and agency action point to a pattern. An exclusive investigation.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">➨</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> At least 30 companies, which donated a total of nearly
Rs 335 crore to the BJP between financial years 2018-19 and 2022-23, also faced
action by central agencies during that period.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">➨</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Of these firms, 23
companies, which gave a total of Rs 187.58 crore to the party during this
period, had never donated any amount to the BJP between 2014 and the year of
the raid.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">➨</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> At least four of these
companies donated a total of Rs 9.05 crore within four months of the central
agency visit. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">➨</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> At least six of these
firms, which were already donors to the party, handed out a heftier amount in
the months following the searches. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">➨</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Six other firms, which
had donated to the BJP each year before, faced central action after they
skipped donations in one financial year. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">➨</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> At least three BJP
donors, who are not part of the list of 30, had been accused of receiving undue
favours from the Union government.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">➨</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Only three of these 32
companies donated to the Congress during the same period.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These are some of the
findings of Newslaundry and The News Minute’s analysis of Election Commission
records, case files, and financial statements between the financial years
2018-19 and 2022-23. In some cases, donations were made during or after raids
were conducted on the company and in some others, the companies that donated
the money received licences or clearances. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, in some cases,
the agency action continued despite the donations. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The episodes mentioned
in this report only point to a pattern between raids or surveys by central
agencies and donations to the BJP. Accusations of political funding being no
less than extortion have found their way to news headlines in the past.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It’s significant
considering there is a surge in action by central agencies such as the CBI,
Enforcement Directorate, and the Income Tax (I-T) Department against opposition
leaders and their supporters. There are already concerns that the electoral
bonds scheme, announced in 2018 by the Narendra Modi government, brought in an
opaque system. The Supreme Court, which struck down the electoral bonds scheme on
February 15, also warned that it could have led to quid pro quo
arrangements.But it’s not just political donations and electoral bonds – the
BJP has received the highest amounts through electoral trusts too. The BJP
cornered over 70 percent of the total donations by electoral trusts in 2022-23,
according to data shared by the Election Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So, who were the 30
companies who donated to the BJP directly between So, who were the 30 companies
who donated to the BJP directly between 2018-19 and 2022-23? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Behind the BJP’s
rise and rise, bonds, trusts and raids on corporatesBy:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prateek Goyal<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNq46gR5LhA50TLcAK8dwNiheXGEucVkipcwNutUYF0JruJxmilI-nE93D27QjCTcoiEWWLWe714WX45UpUf2cDiemBS86V5FkKglGbEuDI5y08klXk23vz8wqwsO5g6MpqkPXPWJ5Zg58FEaQeQ6NUcgWUZfhEtEFZNoVkP61qbn0IKJe45aPZlE_nE/s1205/30FIRMDONATES2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="1205" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNq46gR5LhA50TLcAK8dwNiheXGEucVkipcwNutUYF0JruJxmilI-nE93D27QjCTcoiEWWLWe714WX45UpUf2cDiemBS86V5FkKglGbEuDI5y08klXk23vz8wqwsO5g6MpqkPXPWJ5Zg58FEaQeQ6NUcgWUZfhEtEFZNoVkP61qbn0IKJe45aPZlE_nE/w640-h298/30FIRMDONATES2.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Corporate funding of
politics is a controversial subject. More so in India, where most of the money
in recent years has gone to only one party. But there is a pattern to this
money flow.At least 30 companies, which donated a total of nearly Rs 335 crore
to the BJP in the five previous financial years, had faced action by central
agencies during the same period. Some of them even handed out chunkier
donations in the months that followed the action.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Coincidence or
causation?</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Meanwhile, the
predecessor to the electoral bond – the electoral trust – has almost gone
extinct. But one is still in the fray. Why? And why are some companies still
choosing to donate through trusts?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These are some of the
questions this investigative series by Newslaundry and The News Minute attempts
to answer. With all the data available in the public domain from the last 10
years – that is, everything except electoral bonds.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This, considering that
the Narendra Modi government’s electoral bonds scheme has been struck down, and
the Supreme Court has pointed to the possibility of a quid pro quo in corporate
funding to parties and the need for public transparency.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Power, bonds, and
corporates</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It has been frequently
reported how in the last few years, the party in power – the BJP – has
consistently got a lot more funds than other parties.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The party got the
highest through electoral trusts. In 2022-23, the Congress received 19 paise
for every Rs 100 that the BJP made from India Inc through electoral trusts – a
scheme where corporate companies pool their donations into a trust and
distribute the total sum to various political parties, while remaining
semi-anonymous. Since 2013, when the scheme was brought in by the UPA
government, it has benefitted the BJP the most. The party has received over Rs
1,893 crore in the past 10 years through various ETs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The BJP got the most
through electoral bonds too. It received nearly Rs 1,300 crore in 2022-23,
seven times more than what the Congress got in the same period. Nearly 61
percent of the BJP’s funding in the same period was through electoral bonds.
Between 2018 and 2022, nearly 57 percent of the total donations made through
this method went to the BJP.The party cornered the lion’s share overall as
well. Of the total Rs 850.4 crore donated to national parties in 2022-23, Rs
719.8 crore went to the BJP alone, according to the Association for Democratic
Reforms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Meanwhile, the number of
electoral bonds released by the government saw an increase.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Electoral bonds
totalling a cumulative value of Rs 2,800 crore were sold during the fiscal year
spanning from April 2022 to March 2023.
According to the government’s data in Parliament this month, bonds worth
over Rs 16,518 crore have been sold since 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Who bought these bonds?
From 2018 to December 2022, bonds worth Rs 1,000 denomination formed just 0.01
percent of the total sales while those worth Rs 1 crore made up 94.41 percent,
according to an RTI response received by transparency activist Commodore Lokesh
Batra (retired). There is a possibility that these donations were engineered by
corporate firms, hiding behind individuals or shell companies.The Supreme Court
has now told the State Bank of India to stop issuing these bonds and the
Election Commission of India to submit the details of funding received since
2019. The money received through the latest tranche, meanwhile, is likely to
fund the latest round of poll campaigning across India.Corporate funding of
political parties is a fraught subject all over the world. Companies giving
money to politicians raises questions of a nexus between the two, leading to
corruption and cronyism, leaving the field wide open for quid pro quo deals.
And this is something the apex court also underlined as it delivered its
verdict on February 15. “Contributions made by companies are purely business
transactions made with the intent of securing benefits in return.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The two trends in
two deep dive data reports</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There were two trends as
Newslaundry and The News Minute sifted through the list of companies which have
donated Rs 1 crore or more in the last 10 years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At least 30 companies
which donated a total of Rs 335 crore to the BJP also faced action by Union
government agencies in the same period.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Some companies donated
higher amounts to the party after being searched while a few others faced
action after they skipped donations in a year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Madhya Pradesh-based
distillery was the quickest to donate to the party after action – just days
after its owners got bail.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) BJP received
highest donations amounting to ₹719.858 cr in 2022-23: ADR <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvX0iWaKtbYLgYv2_WW0llITp4JuTNUIwawKY5N61UXHK2S7tB_wTGXEEWsy4DYwye1Fo6kBgF59mImlEAancGl78_8EpiVKRJ5Ue6dp5hddMG-9-o6Ls6dISktCAqP6-Gk5cRCQjM5WSdL33OSi9cmqf9k5nb_7NRnCXn3C2bOnfShh_rZFxvwU05hxc/s1200/30FIRMDONATES3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvX0iWaKtbYLgYv2_WW0llITp4JuTNUIwawKY5N61UXHK2S7tB_wTGXEEWsy4DYwye1Fo6kBgF59mImlEAancGl78_8EpiVKRJ5Ue6dp5hddMG-9-o6Ls6dISktCAqP6-Gk5cRCQjM5WSdL33OSi9cmqf9k5nb_7NRnCXn3C2bOnfShh_rZFxvwU05hxc/w640-h360/30FIRMDONATES3.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With this, BJP saw an
increase of 17.12% as compared to the last financial year (2021-22) when it
received ₹614.626 croreThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received the highest
donations amounting to ₹719.858 crore from 7,945 donors in the 2022-23 fiscal
year (FY), a report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)
said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With this, BJP saw an
increase of 17.12% as compared to the last financial year (2021-22) when it
received ₹614.626 crore. The total declared by the national parties for FY
2022-23 was ₹850.438 crore from 12,167 donations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The Indian National
Congress (INC) stood second in comparison after it received ₹79.924 crore which
is a decrease from the previous FY 2021-22 (-16.27%).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Similarly, the decrease
in donations declared by CPI(M) was 39.56% ( ₹3.978 crore), and by the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) was 2.99% ( ₹1.143 crore).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the 17th year in a
row, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) declared that the party did not receive any
donations above ₹20,000 during FY 2022-23.State-wise donation segregation made
by ADR, highlights a total of ₹276.202 crore was donated to the national
political parties from Delhi, followed by ₹160.509 crore from Gujarat and ₹96.273
crore from Maharashtra.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Of the total, as many as
3,318 donations to these parties were made by corporate/business sectors
amounting to ₹680.495 crore (80.017% of total donations) while 8,567 individual
donors donated ₹166.621 crore (19.592% of total donations) to the parties
during FY 2022-23.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“BJP ( ₹610.491 crore)
received more than eight times the total amount ( ₹70.004 crore) of corporate
donations declared by all other national parties for the FY 2022-23. Prudent
Electoral Trust being the top donor to parties, donated a total of ₹257.15
crore to BJP (256.25 crore) and AAP (90 lakh) together,” the report added.The
total donations of the national parties during FY 2022-23 increased by ₹91.701
crore, a rise of 12.09% from the previous financial year 2021-22.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress received 19
paise for every 100 rupees that the BJP made from India Inc in 2022-23 through
Electoral Trusts – a scheme where corporate companies pool their donations into
a trust and distribute the total sum to various political parties, while
remaining semi-anonymous. In fact, the total money that Congress has received
in the 10 years between 2013 and 2023 through Electoral Trusts is less than the
amount that BJP made through the same scheme in just 2022-23. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There is no clarity on
how these trusts operate, or how they decide on the sums that each political
party receives. The monumental disparity in (partial) corporate funding for the
two biggest parties in the fray for the 2024 General Elections raises questions
about whether a fair playing field is even possible – and whether big
corporations should have this large a say in how political parties perform in a
democracy. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Delhi's Singhu,
Tikri borders to reopen partially<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dZNvSk1L5q1NIYBDVhOE4wx3uqJV6GvOJlc5vjZp4WYOHh6k2Vn5nV0L3c4MKB2vAZdY6qtlw6BrUnR4tVdrDdTzFrYshhKNalS-7t4xmrhF8yurCxvuwUGqDIID_XF0wdAQtMj36J88sYBvl6BoyVHGAV4LA3q5YRNt5dFjpvJTfpbx8Sn-8LeVURc/s549/Farmers%20blocking%20traffic%20movement%20amid%20protests%20at%20Delhi%20borders..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dZNvSk1L5q1NIYBDVhOE4wx3uqJV6GvOJlc5vjZp4WYOHh6k2Vn5nV0L3c4MKB2vAZdY6qtlw6BrUnR4tVdrDdTzFrYshhKNalS-7t4xmrhF8yurCxvuwUGqDIID_XF0wdAQtMj36J88sYBvl6BoyVHGAV4LA3q5YRNt5dFjpvJTfpbx8Sn-8LeVURc/w640-h360/Farmers%20blocking%20traffic%20movement%20amid%20protests%20at%20Delhi%20borders..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmers blocking traffic movement amid protests at Delhi borders.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Farmer leaders will hold
a candle march today. Multiple seminars on issues related to farmers will be
held on February 25. Farmer leaders will hold a candle march today. Seminars on
issues related to farmers will be held on February 25 and effigies of the World
Trade Organization and the Centre will also be burnt on February 26. Several
meetings of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM will be held over the next two days.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Farmers are determined
to continue their agitation for higher crop prices at the two interstate border
points after February 29, when further actions will be decided, stated Sarwan
Singh Pandher, their leader. The decision to maintain camps at the protest
sites of Shambhu and Khanauri was made by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha
(Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), the leading organizers of the
ongoing protest.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Last week, thousands of
farmers initiated a 'Delhi Chalo' march but were halted by security forces
approximately 200 km north of the capital. The death of a farmer during clashes
with security forces has intensified the protest, prompting the previously
uninvolved Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to join the movement.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">7) Bharat Jodo Nyay
Yatra: Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra begin final leg in UP<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6Rlrlsc1pMvXJZvQSLO04beC7GyovC21oghFhawgnNsNtYkX7d73yzqbcAtcNSxZpYAcACAGKC8z6TfuMaTzQTGYxTQK_dwI1E9qXd2PfVS_lZaQ1pD4eNlbnAyA2KScwNcDUptAKXRj88R_R_Jn2f6VP2qSiKA0v69z_67h331Brw2IGX0LidedN4w/s960/ra&priyanka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6Rlrlsc1pMvXJZvQSLO04beC7GyovC21oghFhawgnNsNtYkX7d73yzqbcAtcNSxZpYAcACAGKC8z6TfuMaTzQTGYxTQK_dwI1E9qXd2PfVS_lZaQ1pD4eNlbnAyA2KScwNcDUptAKXRj88R_R_Jn2f6VP2qSiKA0v69z_67h331Brw2IGX0LidedN4w/w640-h360/ra&priyanka.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress general
secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined party leader Rahul Gandhi on the last
leg of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in UP's Moradabad. Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday took out
the final leg of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad. (PTI)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">More than a month after
the Bharat Jodo Yatra started, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
on Saturday joined party MP and her brother Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay
Yatra in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad.Earlier this week, Priyanka Gandhi was
discharged from Sir Gangaram Hospital in New Delhi following treatment for
dehydration and a stomach infection. She had been admitted to the hospital
after experiencing health issues.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Speaking at the Bharat
Jodo Nyay Yatra, Priyanka Gandhi said, “28 lakh students wrote the exam for UP
Police but the paper was leaked... As BJP's government is formed in the centre
and state, unemployment rates have increased... Until you are not employed, you
don't get facilities, paper leaks are not stopped, there will be no development.
Change will happen only when you cast your vote according to your
experiences." Priyanka Gandhi had expressed regret for being unable to
join the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on February 16 due to her illness.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I was really
looking forward to receiving the BJNY in UP today but unfortunately, have ended
up admitted to hospital. I will be there as soon as I am better! Meanwhile
wishing all the yatris, my colleagues in UP who have worked hard towards making
arrangements for the yatra and my sweet brother, all success as they reach
Chandauli today," Following the disclosure of the seat-sharing agreement
between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, Ajay Rai, the Uttar Pradesh
Congress chief, extended an invitation to SP leaders for the Bharat Jodo Nyay
Yatra in Agra on February 25. Rai mentioned that key leaders from the Samajwadi
Party would be joining the yatra, emphasizing the unity of the INDIA bloc.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The yatra will be
held in Agra on the 25th (February). We gave the invitation letter to the SP
office here so that they can join the yatra and send a message of the strong
unity of the INDIA alliance. All of them will join the yatra there on the 25th
of February," Ajay Rai said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQz5FErJ99uEtTFpDfxy90XRIhIEfIuQvqHud4jUIxkwvqXwAx0XI7-wREMW4fViY5TWmeFDFj-kZkCV_ztETmg8V9xFfo3_l4eNQGCs3HwxRqctn6q8VUBrUZ7oTFRicY7AoVKUS8zKqG-r6Gbh-OzoN7Wvs8h9EAoH7p6ym3Jt8A5D9VrmdDFPrsUM/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQz5FErJ99uEtTFpDfxy90XRIhIEfIuQvqHud4jUIxkwvqXwAx0XI7-wREMW4fViY5TWmeFDFj-kZkCV_ztETmg8V9xFfo3_l4eNQGCs3HwxRqctn6q8VUBrUZ7oTFRicY7AoVKUS8zKqG-r6Gbh-OzoN7Wvs8h9EAoH7p6ym3Jt8A5D9VrmdDFPrsUM/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) IND vs ENG:
Jurel, Kuldeep hold fort after quick dismissals, India 219/7 at Stumps</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEify2WH0qme5pghLC9oJjVeYC34PpFMW86tzlJvip4hcrmr4-ZZQv-XcVHLugoRAOF-DFnExKNedYc29SFi6dH1-ObUMdPu69l54uXbBAEDH7xpm2RQXRavkye8Pjwmba1tfj3QCJ0H74OarRMTKWfmrZOKy27Vrfo_lLPNMWulKm9p6ODh5vvYDNj_S-I/s549/India%20vs%20England%20Live%20Score%204th%20Test,%20IND%20vs%20ENG%20Jaiswal,%20Sarfaraz%20fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEify2WH0qme5pghLC9oJjVeYC34PpFMW86tzlJvip4hcrmr4-ZZQv-XcVHLugoRAOF-DFnExKNedYc29SFi6dH1-ObUMdPu69l54uXbBAEDH7xpm2RQXRavkye8Pjwmba1tfj3QCJ0H74OarRMTKWfmrZOKy27Vrfo_lLPNMWulKm9p6ODh5vvYDNj_S-I/w640-h360/India%20vs%20England%20Live%20Score%204th%20Test,%20IND%20vs%20ENG%20Jaiswal,%20Sarfaraz%20fall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India vs England Live Score 4th Test, IND vs ENG Jaiswal, Sarfaraz fall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep
Yadav held fort through the final hour of play, as India reached 219/7 at
Stumps. England still hold a comfortable 134-run lead, and with the pitch
swiftly deteriorating, the visitors would aim at curbing this partnership early
in the morning session tomorrow. India faced early setbacks in the third and
final session of Day 2 as Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had been the most promising of
all batters in the innings, fell to Shoaib Bashir as the spinner castled him on
73. Sarfaraz, too, followed suit a few overs later, as he could only score 14
off 53 balls. Tom Hartley dismissed the young batter and followed it up with
another wicket in the 56th over, dismissing Ravichandran Ashwin for 1. Dhruv
Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav now carry India's hopes following the quick dismissals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier, India lost
Rohit Sharma early but Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill looked almost
untroubled either side of Lunch. The pair put up 82 runs for the second wicket
with Gill upping the ante after Lunch. Shoaib Bashir broke the stand by sending
Gill back on 38. Bashir then went on to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja and soon got
the wicket of Jaiswal himself to complete his maiden Test four-wicket haul.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier, Joe Root and
Ollie Robinson dominated the first half an hour with India looking rather
deflated in that period. The eighth-wicket stand between Root and Robinson
reached 102 runs in 163 balls, with the latter scoring 58 off 96. Jadeja
finally got the breakthrough for India in the form of Robinson's wicket, after
he which he got one more wicket in the same over. James Anderson fell soon
thereafter and Ravindra Jadeja finished with four wickets. Root was unbeaten on
122 off 274 and England were all out for 353.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier, Akash Deep
enjoyed a memorable debut by dismantling England's top order in the first
session on Day 1, giving India an early upper hand. The spin duo of Ashwin and
Jadeja struck in quick succession before Lunch, further bolstering India's
dominance. England found themselves in trouble at 112/5, but Root and Foakes
steadied the ship with a resilient partnership after Lunch, marking the first
session in this series without losing a wicket. Their partnership exceeded 100
runs, and although they accelerated after tea, Siraj's fiery spell saw the
dismissal of Foakes and Hartley, swinging the momentum back towards India.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mohammed Siraj struck
the breakthrough in the final session of Day 1, as he dismissed Ben Foakes on
47 to end a gritty 113-run stand for the sixth wicket. Root and Foakes kept the
aggressive ‘Bazball’ style of batting in the backburner and their resistance
seemed to have frustrated India with a lot of frowning faces towards the end of
that session and Rohit Sharma burning their last remaining review for an LBW
decision against Foakes.Earlier, pacer Akash Deep has made a dream debut to his
Test career, taking three wickets in his first six overs and leaving England
reeling after they won the toss and chose to bat. England eventually lost half
their batting lineup in the first session with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran
Ashwin taking a wicket each before Lunch.Akash Deep replaced the rested Jasprit
Bumrah and has been almost unplayable in the early part of the first session.
He knocked Zak Crawley over in his second over but it turned out that he had overstepped,
thus giving the batter a lifeline. He then took the wickets of Ben Duckett and
Ollie Pope shortly thereafter and then smashed Crawley's off stump. This time,
it was a legitimate delivery and Crawley had to walk. England captain Ben
Stokes earlier said that spinner Rehan, who has been their highest wicket-taker
thus far in this series, has gone back home for personal reasons and will not
return for the rest of the series.Ranchi plays host for the decisive fourth
Test between India and England. India currently lead the five-match series 2-1
and a win here for the hosts would mark the end of England's quest to prevent
Rohit Sharma's side from winning yet another Test series at home. On the other
hand if England do manage to win it, the series goes back to level-pegging at
2-2 and sets up an exciting finale in Dharamsala.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India are going to be
without their ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, with the 30-year-old having been rested
in order to manage his workload. Bumrah has bowled well over 80 overs in this
series and is the highest wicket-taker. Mohammed Siraj, who had been rested in
the second Test, is now expected to lead the pace effort and Bengal fast bowler
Akash Deep could also make his debut.KL Rahul, who injured his thigh in the
opening Test in Hyderabad, has not recovered yet but India will take heart from
Sarfaraz Khan's twin fifties in his debut Test in Rajkot. Wicketkeeper Dhruv
Jurel, who also made his debut in Rajkot, struck a fluent 46 to prove he is no
dud with the bat either.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India have been forced
to hand debut caps to Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan so far
because to the absence of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, and with pace
spearhead Bumrah too being rested for the Ranchi Test, Akash Deep could also be
in line for the coveted Test spot. Additionally, Devdutt Padikkal is knocking
on the doors with Patidar failing to impress in his first four innings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sarfaraz, though, would
be an easy fit into the side for the remainder of this series thanks to the
twin half-centuries he scored in his debut Test in Rajkot. His Mumbai teammate
Yashasvi Jaiswal, meanwhile, has probably confirmed himself for the next few
Test series at the very least. Jaiswal has scored two double centuries this
series and is the highest run scorer by some distance. In six innings, Jaiswal
has smashed 545 runs at an average of 109.00. Ben Duckett, with 288 at 48.00,
is a distant second.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Smarting from their
record defeat by 434 runs in Rajkot, England have brought in seamer Robinson
and spinner Shoaib Bashir, replacing Mark Wood and Rehan Ahmed. The shellacking
also prompted questions about England's ultra-aggressive approach, which many
feel borders on recklessness. England captain Ben Stokes, who is tipped to
resume bowling in this match following knee surgery last November, has brushed
aside the backlash. The look of the pitch in Ranchi was a greater concern for
the 32-year-old as he plots ways to keep England alive in the series.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) FIH Hockey Pro
League: India men's hockey team goes down to Netherlands in shootout<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhnQ587rBkZn_1Nok5oB2bTm8aa4mlFyDfK7eKArgtZx1EHrteiy8fFKn6GYgDjkC_7DEnJHsYlITxiWz26bjmnVXo9j_UiIMtj-AKNHCFwwpHwL7ZZtL2mFscAhQKfuvynZ77bR-gcFQnq8m-0y6lTsoirfAmraTDEEY_TFCoZk2P_xP0zWeC2LC8VM/s549/India%20vs%20Netherlands%20in%20FIH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhnQ587rBkZn_1Nok5oB2bTm8aa4mlFyDfK7eKArgtZx1EHrteiy8fFKn6GYgDjkC_7DEnJHsYlITxiWz26bjmnVXo9j_UiIMtj-AKNHCFwwpHwL7ZZtL2mFscAhQKfuvynZ77bR-gcFQnq8m-0y6lTsoirfAmraTDEEY_TFCoZk2P_xP0zWeC2LC8VM/w640-h360/India%20vs%20Netherlands%20in%20FIH.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India vs Netherlands in FIH</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hardik Singh (38’)
scored the lone goal for India, while Floris Middendorp (4’) was on the
scoresheet for the Netherlands in regulation time. The Indian men’s hockey team
went down against the Netherlands in the shootout (2-4) in their sixth match of
the FIH Hockey Pro League after the game was locked at 1-1 at the end of
regulation time at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Wednesday. In
the shootout, Araijeet Singh Hundal and Lalit Kumar were on target for India,
while Jorrit Croon, Thierry Brinkman, Duco Telgenkamp and Joep de Mol were on
target for the Netherlands.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hardik Singh (38’)
scored the lone goal for India, while Floris Middendorp (4’) was on the
scoresheet for the Netherlands in regulation time The Indian Team found
themselves under pressure early in the first quarter as the Netherlands were
putting the Indian defenders on the backfoot with their attacking. The strategy
paid off as the Netherlands broke the deadlock early in the game when Floris
Middendorp (4’) found the back of the net to give them a 1-0 lead. The Indian
Team gradually settled in and had a better share of ball possession. With just
seconds remaining at the end of the first quarter, the Netherlands earned a PC
but Krishan Pathak’s superb two saves kept the score at 1-0 in favour of the
Netherlands at the end of the first quarter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the beginning of the
second quarter, India made an aggressive start in the opening minutes as they
put pressure on the Netherlands’ defence with constant attacks, but were unable
to find an equalizer. India had better ball possession for the majority of the
second quarter as Mandeep and Amit Rohidas created goalscoring chances but were
denied by a strong defence display from the Netherlands. Going into the
half-time, the Netherlands led India 1-0.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In their bid to find
ways to get back in the game, the Indian Team stepped up their ante. With India
putting constant pressure on the Netherlands defenders, India earned a PC after
Mandeep made a fine run from the left flank, but they failed to capitalize on
the opportunity as the shot went wide. Minutes later, India scored an
equalizer, thanks to Hardik Singh's brilliant effort in the 38th minute. His
goal resulted from a skillful rebound off a penalty corner. At the end of the
third quarter, the score was tied 1-1.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With 15 minutes left on
the clock, India started mounting more pressure on the Netherlands. The Indian
team continued with intent and created various goalscoring opportunities, but
the Netherlands defence was up to the mark, ending the regulation time with a
1-1 scoreline.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India will face
Australia in their sixth match on Saturday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Gauff beats
Pliskova to reach Dubai quarterfinals. Swiatek and Rybakina also advance<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qSCk34qFLydtANpK7Y1n0ju3PpGyUCJSzMG6K69OZGPSU_L1NuSXLPBtwHWbBryIJUI6V8tiOggGWUNAv7IMWo593cA4fRx1hl4-sgIW2cdjBD6bBxiMn7X9dr5PUBdeQoQleF7jXkIskMKhRZ1QfsYHFNKSNmphmpaUxx3dctNChab_MXP6aJiSgEI/s549/Coco%20Gauff%20of%20the%20U.S.%20reacts%20during%20her%20round%20of%2016%20match%20against%20Czech%20Republic's%20Karolina%20Pliskova.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qSCk34qFLydtANpK7Y1n0ju3PpGyUCJSzMG6K69OZGPSU_L1NuSXLPBtwHWbBryIJUI6V8tiOggGWUNAv7IMWo593cA4fRx1hl4-sgIW2cdjBD6bBxiMn7X9dr5PUBdeQoQleF7jXkIskMKhRZ1QfsYHFNKSNmphmpaUxx3dctNChab_MXP6aJiSgEI/w640-h360/Coco%20Gauff%20of%20the%20U.S.%20reacts%20during%20her%20round%20of%2016%20match%20against%20Czech%20Republic's%20Karolina%20Pliskova.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coco Gauff of the U.S. reacts during her round of 16 match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gauff will next face
Anna Kalinskaya after the Russian beat ninth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 7-5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Coco Gauff rallied from
a slow start and a second-set argument with the chair umpire to beat Karolina
Pliskova 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 and reach the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships
on Wednesday. The third-seeded Gauff ended Pliskova's 11-match winning streak.
The 19-year-old American built a 4-2 lead in the second set before a lengthy
back-and-forth with chair umpire Pierre Bacchi. Gauff complained to Bacchi that
he called her serve at deuce out only after Pliskova returned it into the net.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gauff had to repeat her
first serve and went on to hold for a 5-2 lead.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The U.S. Open champion
said the argument “fueled” her.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It’s OK. It’s just one
point. That happens in tennis. Players make mistakes. Everybody makes
mistakes,” Gauff said in her on-court interview. “It kind of went upward from
there for me.”Gauff will next face Anna Kalinskaya after the Russian beat
ninth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 7-5.Top-ranked Iga Swiatek advanced to the
last eight by beating two-time Dubai champion Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-4.
Fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina had a tougher time reaching the quarterfinals. She
outlasted Magdalena Frech 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Swiatek will next play
sixth-seeded Qinwen Zheng, who eliminated Anastasia Potapova 6-3, 6-2. Rybakina
has a quarterfinal match against Jasmine Paolini. The Italian defeated
eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-2.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The other quarterfinal
match is seventh-seeded Marketa Vondrousova against Sorana Cirstea.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Sumit Nagal
handed wildcard for Dubai Championship main draw<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0J8g0S0PZO5-XcicshkQtkZdIv9UxqTNMlCY9yM3YdNW_4gn4tO8umQ6I3s6fyiES3snuvqMpi11HxPpIGadFYN-yOWyy5QQY8WMh2aHSjPTR2YzHP7S3asQbhdoRGsWnpQGeSbov_lHWHwY4HTqYpZOjcef-GNaiCQ4uu4S4qLOIIgiZI4Objepjwk/s549/India's%20Sumit%20Nagal%20celebrates%20a%20point%20against%20Italy's%20Stefano%20Napolitano%20during%20a%20tennis%20semi-final%20match%20of%20Bengaluru%20Open%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0J8g0S0PZO5-XcicshkQtkZdIv9UxqTNMlCY9yM3YdNW_4gn4tO8umQ6I3s6fyiES3snuvqMpi11HxPpIGadFYN-yOWyy5QQY8WMh2aHSjPTR2YzHP7S3asQbhdoRGsWnpQGeSbov_lHWHwY4HTqYpZOjcef-GNaiCQ4uu4S4qLOIIgiZI4Objepjwk/w640-h360/India's%20Sumit%20Nagal%20celebrates%20a%20point%20against%20Italy's%20Stefano%20Napolitano%20during%20a%20tennis%20semi-final%20match%20of%20Bengaluru%20Open%202024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India's Sumit Nagal celebrates a point against Italy's Stefano Napolitano during a tennis semi-final match of Bengaluru Open 2024</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nagal will be up against
Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, currently world number 49, in the opening round.
Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal has received a wildcard for the main draw of the
Dubai Championship, an ATP 500 event.While the qualifiers of the tournament
began on Saturday, the main draw matches get underway on Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nagal will be up against
Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, currently world number 49, in the opening round.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 26-year-old Indian
has had a remarkable run this year, qualifying for the main draw of the
Australian Open last month, where he made it to Round 2 after beating Alexander
Bublik of Kazakhstan. He became the first Indian since 1989 to knock off a
seeded player in a Grand Slam.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He attained his
career-high ranking of 98 earlier this month, but dropped to 101st, despite
having won the Chennai Open last week, an ATP Challenger event.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As for the Dubai
Championship, Daniil Medvedev of Russia is the top seed, followed by his fellow
countryman Andrey Rublev, Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, Karen Khachanov of Russia,
Ugo Humbert and Adrian Mannarino of France, Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan and
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain. Other players who were handed wildcards
include Gael Monfils of France and Abedallah Shelbayh of Jordan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) A tale of two
cuts: How Jeev and Honey turned it around<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZD6RbUjm-QURIEeLjWaOUMPVb-F3la_V_M4jyqEpi44iXmptxQGCcBNetHnM3SioYeSOmAq336OP199wnhOodlsPL_-RMWyySuKK-vyxtgHjAn6Fhwfp85Si1Poyuf2fXkJUm7Di5B03LgfqmYPz_2SOubkXjIfYO31abUFqMKEYrl56BZHl-ldYe5Q/s549/Jeev%20Milkha%20Singh%20in%20action..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZD6RbUjm-QURIEeLjWaOUMPVb-F3la_V_M4jyqEpi44iXmptxQGCcBNetHnM3SioYeSOmAq336OP199wnhOodlsPL_-RMWyySuKK-vyxtgHjAn6Fhwfp85Si1Poyuf2fXkJUm7Di5B03LgfqmYPz_2SOubkXjIfYO31abUFqMKEYrl56BZHl-ldYe5Q/w640-h360/Jeev%20Milkha%20Singh%20in%20action..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeev Milkha Singh in action.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Both lapsed into errors
late in their opening round, but found a way to re-set and card 4-under par
rounds on Friday Veteran Jeev Milkha Singh and Honey Baisoya, a relative
newcomer to international golf, provided a masterclass on how to handle
disappointment in the $2 million International Series Oman.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At 2-under and 1-under
par after the second round on Friday, Baisoya and Jeev comfortably made the cut
at the premier Asian Tour event, but it was a different story on Thursday when
they finished their opening rounds Starting from the 10th tee at Al Mouj Golf
Club, 28-year-old Baisoya was cruising at 2-under par after 15 holes when he
reached the tough par-5 seventh hole. Two brilliant shots left in the greenside
bunker, but what happened thereafter was nightmarish.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Baisoya did not have the
best connection with the bunker shot, went over the green to the bunker on the
other side, was back in the first bunker with his fifth shot, took two swipes
to come out and two-putted for a deflating quadruple-bogey nine. He finished
the day at 2-over. Jeev, at 52 the oldest player in the field, was solid as he
played his first 14 holes bogey-free with a solitary birdie. But once he
dropped a shot on the 15th hole, he made a bogey in the next three holes coming
in to finish at a disappointing 3-over par.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Their reactions after
finishing the round could not have been more contrasting.Jeev was breathing
fire.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“That’s unacceptable...
I made a bogey on the 15th, which was alright, but instead of taking my
medicine and going through my process, I just tried to push harder to get back
that shot and made one mistake after another,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Baisoya could only smile
at his misfortune.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Honestly, the least I
should have shot was a 4-under par round. Instead, I was 4-over for a single
hole. I am annoyed with myself, but I can only laugh at what I have done,” he
said. Both approached their evenings differently as well.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Baisoya went out for dinner
with some of the other Indian players in the field.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I just tried to forget
that hole, and I did a good job in doing that. The moment I took the taxi from
the golf course, I was ok. The dinner, tikkas and naan, was very good, and the
other boys kept making jokes,” said Baisoya, who is getting married next
month.Jeev had dinner in his hotel room and spoke to his family back home. “It
took some time for me to get over it, but I have realised one thing over my
long career as a professional golfer – there is no use brooding over something
that is in the past. All I needed to do was learn from the mistakes and get
better.” And get better they did. Both shot rounds of 4-under 68 on Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jeev again showed
immaculate ball-striking, often using the driver off the deck to keep the ball
under the wind; he was 3-under through 11 holes. He made two bogeys after that
but made up with three birdies, including a stunning 25-feet putt on his
penultimate hole, the eighth of the course.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I just told myself one
thing this morning… I am playing good golf and I just need to follow my
routines and stay in the moment. I did a very good job of that today,” said the
two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.Baisoya moved to 5-under par
through 11 holes before making his only bogey on the par-3 13th hole.He then
parred his way in.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It was a good round and
even though I did not strike the ball as well as I did in the first round, I
still felt like I left a couple of shots out there,” said Baisoya. “Some days
you play great and do not score. Some days you play average and score better.
That’s golf.”Among the Indians who made the cut were Karandeep Kochhar and S
Chikkarangappa (both -3), Rashid Khan (-2) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (even-par).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJ56aztMYSQkpGXnFuxgd_c84epzUfkQOuiVjsEA1_62eBQQzT64uMP8NZCcUNXqVUaU1qdkitOyB18fI-FH7FEEINlDyOQMrRNjKhbf-SRoGM3RcwFMfLyGI02dBgowfGB6DxQpAUa5UlfSgbdzJp96VMTAe1QU3rXI2fZS_5ds48SY_hXkKuXgQ9T4/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJ56aztMYSQkpGXnFuxgd_c84epzUfkQOuiVjsEA1_62eBQQzT64uMP8NZCcUNXqVUaU1qdkitOyB18fI-FH7FEEINlDyOQMrRNjKhbf-SRoGM3RcwFMfLyGI02dBgowfGB6DxQpAUa5UlfSgbdzJp96VMTAe1QU3rXI2fZS_5ds48SY_hXkKuXgQ9T4/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Article 370</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAocWjkkqKc7Gkp8TcReNWdxZKMkk3Meo4f7o5cC2B5dgAFFP-TM-fOl77SZmupMlnVpUPQIWHrOqXyy_sG9Od-eXnThA7VRGsy8PRNKgPc5r2MYjWrTRT04RKoaCBlGtL-N_Zl3FvjzVCZZkl_givsaeirwU3iaHUGtPEw0M-Fu-js0VyZuOyiKysGG4/s600/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAocWjkkqKc7Gkp8TcReNWdxZKMkk3Meo4f7o5cC2B5dgAFFP-TM-fOl77SZmupMlnVpUPQIWHrOqXyy_sG9Od-eXnThA7VRGsy8PRNKgPc5r2MYjWrTRT04RKoaCBlGtL-N_Zl3FvjzVCZZkl_givsaeirwU3iaHUGtPEw0M-Fu-js0VyZuOyiKysGG4/w640-h360/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After 2016 Kashmir
unrest, local agent Zooni Haksar chosen for secret mission by Rajeshwari to end
terrorism and conflict economy by abrogating Article 370 without bloodshed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Aditya Suhas Jambhale<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Writers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Aditya DharArjun
DhawanAditya Suhas Jambhale<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Raj ArjunSandeep
ChatterjeeYami Gautam<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Crakk Jeetegaa Toh Jiyegaa <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT02YEuJ-_nCMosQE2sWQA7LdEhXvq_zSGq8XFfGpDYZuDu753DP8uJW-yDbzaHA7QxVOuLOnQY-k9xMKWPvqW17WGnUElAtMyi8g5G0w8wb_lsTLMzRG_6hmsduGcnkWke52ksHA9XUE7TXt7qOMlP3_DgU31WkZ6-RxtCHyf2oX5uEFJRvKK0aGpgK4/s549/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT02YEuJ-_nCMosQE2sWQA7LdEhXvq_zSGq8XFfGpDYZuDu753DP8uJW-yDbzaHA7QxVOuLOnQY-k9xMKWPvqW17WGnUElAtMyi8g5G0w8wb_lsTLMzRG_6hmsduGcnkWke52ksHA9XUE7TXt7qOMlP3_DgU31WkZ6-RxtCHyf2oX5uEFJRvKK0aGpgK4/w640-h360/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Showing mindless action
that sometimes doesn't even pack a punch has been quite a favourite genre for
Bollywood. And Crakk: Jeetega Toh Jiyegaa doesn't do anything differently to
stand out in the crowd. For the novelty factor, and make it look somewhat
different from other actioners, the film infuses a lot of extreme sports with
action, but it lacks the depth in its narrative and never appears fully
convincing as far as the storyline is concerned.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director Aditya Datt
combines too many tropes to make an impact, and ends up with none of them
striking a chord. At the outset, Crakk is clear in its intention - it wants to
impress and not leave any lasting impact. But it struggles for most part even
while doing so. Also, if watching action and stunts onscreen came with any sort
of a disclaimer, Crakk should flash it every few minutes, for there is no
dearth of adrenaline pumping sequences it offers. Some are actually quite
exhilarating and give you goosebumps, while others end up as poorly enhanced
using VFX.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Poacher<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqJzNT7i9KS9qNFhinSs10WDHqonvUyqYqjCAM75wdsTnlD0smxj9caL0t7xJugD0s2V8oTUyTHGfncCKr-mgjVJccxhvFE_5pOoovA4Ge62t9de_d7_O6An3iNzIRQPbxanUzE1Oxu7N4JZqcJchiHxezLhTAV10IXT_6QtrhzrvV1-H7g6ewiULVmE/s1200/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqJzNT7i9KS9qNFhinSs10WDHqonvUyqYqjCAM75wdsTnlD0smxj9caL0t7xJugD0s2V8oTUyTHGfncCKr-mgjVJccxhvFE_5pOoovA4Ge62t9de_d7_O6An3iNzIRQPbxanUzE1Oxu7N4JZqcJchiHxezLhTAV10IXT_6QtrhzrvV1-H7g6ewiULVmE/w640-h360/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Created by Richie Mehta
with Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Ankith Madhav as
part of the ensemble cast, Poacher follows a group of Indian Forest Service
officers, NGO workers, police constables and Good Samaritans as they risk their
lives trying to track down the biggest elephant ivory poachers in the history
of India.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Where to watch Poacher:
Prime Video<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Avatar: The Last
Airbender</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZSOtidlQ6MEmRzJwkW_xZ0hGzQ99nlQEnQWoAxxNh3keWFZMni88p8gudKx-lCr0KS1_X_qSfUhWYC5PFScjZIluwRYgEC3VT-A2xOF-KDcTatsloiwLaXYVOAhPBY3G7jn3YfhduzL-87_DSIbVctmV8HqhNm4JFqUYmhRtjXt86XfJS-66cPiCTis/s1200/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZSOtidlQ6MEmRzJwkW_xZ0hGzQ99nlQEnQWoAxxNh3keWFZMni88p8gudKx-lCr0KS1_X_qSfUhWYC5PFScjZIluwRYgEC3VT-A2xOF-KDcTatsloiwLaXYVOAhPBY3G7jn3YfhduzL-87_DSIbVctmV8HqhNm4JFqUYmhRtjXt86XfJS-66cPiCTis/w640-h360/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Netflix’s Avatar: The
Last Airbender, a new live-action series, has been grabbing attention. If you
watched the original series first as a kid and then again as an adult, you
might want to watch this new series. Created by Albert Kim, it is about a young
boy known as the Avatar, who must master the four elemental powers to save the
world, and fight against an enemy bent on stopping him.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WNIGLZeAdIQ8rc2BJv_8JcC50lBAWVU392xDEuXm7Y6rqbwSW_M_hUVDNMYsqRQdKfeqXGYkYpBseZ_DTcQebA3mjGGn8VFlYY4T6fzazOZesfd7XIwgPEJQQRxsx-nZ1WzgtM0RZuQ9ViIQIaz19UYEVPCT3iTFGtH0eZl5n5YWuRz-9TmBgD4LBN0/s1804/AI2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1804" data-original-width="1474" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WNIGLZeAdIQ8rc2BJv_8JcC50lBAWVU392xDEuXm7Y6rqbwSW_M_hUVDNMYsqRQdKfeqXGYkYpBseZ_DTcQebA3mjGGn8VFlYY4T6fzazOZesfd7XIwgPEJQQRxsx-nZ1WzgtM0RZuQ9ViIQIaz19UYEVPCT3iTFGtH0eZl5n5YWuRz-9TmBgD4LBN0/w522-h640/AI2.jpg" width="522" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72q07POYxbxboC3TAsGFGcoaN1lKhSqPQFeH259LYrebQbDQqDmaRq7P7vB1OvkyqZGWaIBDuNg2PhEdQWYK2QtQS99aredY89yvF0ESUltGJ91HkLZ6d3hS869YuDWtNaPyM1sKPaUOoWDBYEfAfsSdCpYBw8WZ19QhvUvvQ6wWLUKUvnoylT6R2dq0/s1796/AI20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="1489" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72q07POYxbxboC3TAsGFGcoaN1lKhSqPQFeH259LYrebQbDQqDmaRq7P7vB1OvkyqZGWaIBDuNg2PhEdQWYK2QtQS99aredY89yvF0ESUltGJ91HkLZ6d3hS869YuDWtNaPyM1sKPaUOoWDBYEfAfsSdCpYBw8WZ19QhvUvvQ6wWLUKUvnoylT6R2dq0/w530-h640/AI20001.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Think AI : by
Swapnali Joshi Naik (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Description<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Think AI" is
a rapid-learning book that covers a wide range of Artificial Intelligence
topics, including Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Computer Vision, and Natural
Language Processing. Most popular Python libraries and toolkits are applied to
develop intelligent and thoughtful applications.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With a solid grasp of
python programming and mathematics, you may use this book's statistical models
and AI algorithms to meet AI needs and data insight issues. Each chapter in
this book guides you swiftly through the core concepts and then directly to
their implementation using Python toolkits. This book covers the techniques and
skill sets required for data collection, pre-processing, installing libraries,
preparing data models, training and deploying the models, and optimising model
performance.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The book guides you
through the OpenCV toolkit for real-time picture recognition and detection,
allowing you to work with computer vision.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What you will learn<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">● Work with Jupyter and
various Python libraries, including scikit-learn, NLTK, and TF.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">● Build and implement ML
models and neural networks using TensorFlow and Keras.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">● Utilize OpenCV for
real-time image processing, face detection, and face recognition.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Who this book is for<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Whether you're a
student, newbie or an existing AI developer, this book will help you get up to
speed with various domains of AI, including ML, Deep Learning and NLP. Knowing
the basics of python and understanding mathematics will be beneficial.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Table of Contents<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1. Introducing
Artificial Intelligence<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2. Essentials of Python
and Data Analysis<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3. Data Preparation and
Machine Learning<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4. Computer Vision using
OpenCV<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5. Fundamentals of
Neural Networks and Deep Learning<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6. Natural Language
Processing<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMopyPqcyDm1bJ9KAiSVUK-GEClJ95Y-KdLX2k2v_Kz5CjeockIntxxDe4Dfm0DE0rS_jfbj8vzyid60hNALUm7sM8wq0nZetuoja9LJvk3xupsD-UqHhkJkYN17AuqGdjpjgJH70c1RbxUczXHP5jSgVBNk2ndykadYijnsENu71_e29aP5JfEHx30c/s225/swapnali%20Joshi%20-%20IIBM%20Institute%20of%20Business%20Management%20-%20Salem,%20Oregon,%20United%20States.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMopyPqcyDm1bJ9KAiSVUK-GEClJ95Y-KdLX2k2v_Kz5CjeockIntxxDe4Dfm0DE0rS_jfbj8vzyid60hNALUm7sM8wq0nZetuoja9LJvk3xupsD-UqHhkJkYN17AuqGdjpjgJH70c1RbxUczXHP5jSgVBNk2ndykadYijnsENu71_e29aP5JfEHx30c/w640-h640/swapnali%20Joshi%20-%20IIBM%20Institute%20of%20Business%20Management%20-%20Salem,%20Oregon,%20United%20States.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">swapnali Joshi </span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- IIBM Institute of Business Management - Salem, Oregon,
United States</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-2924225897148155322024-02-18T01:08:00.005+09:002024-02-18T01:51:04.129+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWSWEEK PRESENTS NEWS OF THIS WEEK : SCIENCE,POLITICAL,SPORTS MOVIES AND BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLHSedek_oJj663tfP_UYJP-x-_0bovb2ubvIQKagC0UM0NN3AxSI58luhSXLY40D34n7qTrlpA-8xBwMRjfMOxO2w-hAlw5Aqp6x9k_64PENhu8B_lWqn-dmsIH4_vNreaEVNJIejmkwXZzBFMvJN2uXFGKYYmkOpFfHwWh_zI7jecipCSmcti7fmrc/s960/NEWSWEEK17224GIF.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLHSedek_oJj663tfP_UYJP-x-_0bovb2ubvIQKagC0UM0NN3AxSI58luhSXLY40D34n7qTrlpA-8xBwMRjfMOxO2w-hAlw5Aqp6x9k_64PENhu8B_lWqn-dmsIH4_vNreaEVNJIejmkwXZzBFMvJN2uXFGKYYmkOpFfHwWh_zI7jecipCSmcti7fmrc/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK17224GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1MXyJ0FaFMi2LLGN6FFLlIx1dN3GDGz_KRzU8XJPe3jHaWgzIEXo1sej9MSJh0EF5V6bNgEpj9b_6Tgn4_0NNV4NaQMwdra1swF9pP80_2MZTkxqQDCVd_M4wnL4Sdj1JbpJK3N5YDzMyV33NfJg0lTtPPmG7XJSrtBZs43MfKuxQQ6bwH4gVr_ma7A/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1MXyJ0FaFMi2LLGN6FFLlIx1dN3GDGz_KRzU8XJPe3jHaWgzIEXo1sej9MSJh0EF5V6bNgEpj9b_6Tgn4_0NNV4NaQMwdra1swF9pP80_2MZTkxqQDCVd_M4wnL4Sdj1JbpJK3N5YDzMyV33NfJg0lTtPPmG7XJSrtBZs43MfKuxQQ6bwH4gVr_ma7A/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Could a
rice-meat hybrid be what’s for dinner? By Meghan Rosen<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcJjuZzSeZNEUz6dLBgT6xr5-KJYKNg28fPC8yWjoLxXPU11OaHZbL18TRMUxc7KXtKgnImj5NYKlskLbdA3s-qGinG7Sy4JOVCucK6ctnY8mjI6NvhRFHfbOQ0ejvY3ioiM8Hlbs96RNQpfB7bct9ZufmZTPho3sfkRAp6vQorPtTlvjulc56M7tdjs/s1030/It%20may%20look%20like%20a%20bowl%20of%20chopped%20brains,%20but%20this%20pinkish%20product%20is%20actually%20a%20rice-meat%20hybrid..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1030" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcJjuZzSeZNEUz6dLBgT6xr5-KJYKNg28fPC8yWjoLxXPU11OaHZbL18TRMUxc7KXtKgnImj5NYKlskLbdA3s-qGinG7Sy4JOVCucK6ctnY8mjI6NvhRFHfbOQ0ejvY3ioiM8Hlbs96RNQpfB7bct9ZufmZTPho3sfkRAp6vQorPtTlvjulc56M7tdjs/w640-h360/It%20may%20look%20like%20a%20bowl%20of%20chopped%20brains,%20but%20this%20pinkish%20product%20is%20actually%20a%20rice-meat%20hybrid..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It may look like a bowl of chopped brains, but this pinkish product is actually a rice-meat hybrid.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A new take on lab-grown
meat infuses cow cells into rice grains Foodies of the future may be dining on
beefed-up rice.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A new lab-grown meat
product merges rice grains with cow cells, scientists report February 14 in
Matter. The rice acts as a scaffold that supports the growth of fat or muscle
cells. Together, the ingredients form a rice-meat hybrid that steams up to a pinkish-brown
mash.It tasted delicious, “nutty and a little sweet,” says Sohyeon Park, a
chemical engineer at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. Lab-made beefy
rice isn’t ready for the dinner table yet, she says, but it could one day offer
a more sustainable way to eat meat. Current methods for producing meat include
farming cattle, which requires vast expanses of pastureland and emits more than
100 million metric tons of methane into the atmosphere each year. Finding ways
to eschew the moo may be better for the environment, scientists suggest. Some
potential alternatives include cricket farming and swapping meat for fermented
fungal spores (SN: 5/2/19; SN: 5/5/22).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lab-grown meat is
another way to cut the cow (mostly) out of the equation. In the lab, Park and
colleagues coated rice grains with fish gelatin and enzymes and then added cow
cells to each grain. The fishy coating helped the cells stick to and grow
inside the grains. And rice offers a 3-D structure for cells to cling to, like
vines climbing a trellis. That structure gives the cultured cells a more
meatlike heft, Park says. On their own, the cells grow in thin, flat</span></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> layers.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvovBSE35_LCXIT13vROzlerQgql1uXKHjEKMhAY79OJI41msgO0bnGaSMOazsw0ycI96Uimu_d6leKNtQVTu4u-ncfWudho-h8RmA2sgUmKNYDY01VzakfmTBn3RHCFXM1ziwhLZmy0i1mRHCFU-FKcVp_4g5GVP1Lg96Id1rHNbbeC1xq9tlfUEaVE/s1200/RICE-MEAT2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="866" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvovBSE35_LCXIT13vROzlerQgql1uXKHjEKMhAY79OJI41msgO0bnGaSMOazsw0ycI96Uimu_d6leKNtQVTu4u-ncfWudho-h8RmA2sgUmKNYDY01VzakfmTBn3RHCFXM1ziwhLZmy0i1mRHCFU-FKcVp_4g5GVP1Lg96Id1rHNbbeC1xq9tlfUEaVE/w462-h640/RICE-MEAT2.jpg" width="462" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nutritionally, the
hybrid rice is more sizzle than steak, with just 8 percent more protein than
conventional rice. But Park hopes to boost that number by packing more cow
cells into each grain. Rice wasn’t originally on her radar; but the grains
worked surprisingly well, she says. What’s more, they’re inexpensive,
nutritious and already popular — a grade-A ingredient. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) These South
American cave paintings reveal a surprisingly old tradition By Bruce Bower<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvPoBp0Wr6YeTehgateJrZRTbFuza17ko5z-eRRuYUtknaIUb0LZrDWY50wdEni8SQQBNyQY3dM8z1RRSMitf0-9vB9lBGD4tRxoaJ2NbkQfvzrWJs33k1blF_S5T6kdwBVmngMQchxKJ1qRykbTJJbICkQrGalrJ-1OXyPeper6ibnztxfi2SR9EGoI/s1030/A%20cave%20in%20northwestern%20Patagonia,%20Argentina,%20contains%20895%20painted%20designs%20(some%20shown).%20Researchers%20have%20dated%20three%20examples%20of%20this%20cave%20art%20to%20between%20around%208,200%20and%205,100%20years%20ago..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1030" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvPoBp0Wr6YeTehgateJrZRTbFuza17ko5z-eRRuYUtknaIUb0LZrDWY50wdEni8SQQBNyQY3dM8z1RRSMitf0-9vB9lBGD4tRxoaJ2NbkQfvzrWJs33k1blF_S5T6kdwBVmngMQchxKJ1qRykbTJJbICkQrGalrJ-1OXyPeper6ibnztxfi2SR9EGoI/w640-h360/A%20cave%20in%20northwestern%20Patagonia,%20Argentina,%20contains%20895%20painted%20designs%20(some%20shown).%20Researchers%20have%20dated%20three%20examples%20of%20this%20cave%20art%20to%20between%20around%208,200%20and%205,100%20years%20ago..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cave in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina, contains 895 painted designs (some shown). Researchers have dated three examples of this cave art to between around 8,200 and 5,100 years ago.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Near the southernmost
tip of South America, people may have started cave painting nearly 8,200 years
ago, several millennia earlier than previously suggested by ancient rock art in
that area.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dating of comblike
depictions in a cave in Argentina indicates that these designs belonged to a
rock art tradition that lasted more than 3,000 years, ending around 5,100 years
ago, researchers report February 14 in Science Advances. Ancient South
Americans painted a variety of designs on the cave’s internal wall and part of
its ceiling over roughly 130 generations, probably to preserve cultural
knowledge shared by regional hunter-gatherer groups, archaeologist Guadalupe
Romero Villanueva and colleagues say. Prior studies suggested that extremely
dry conditions kept South America sparsely populated during this period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small, dispersed groups would have needed a
central spot to preserve visually their ecological and ritual know-how, the
investigators say.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7nD3nhJtre55vpdBniCljmOGkOzUhHDRe30MHDdAUXYh9zXZPwCofVhbVaIcC4Gc9qfPIQAcOEur_lHx3K8CvaONjSpO9hWYrTWkg9VnzoiStn_gsuMFX5QFxrxlaJZMvaH3aSg4f4-GPpgxxvisvyvdJ5rnsQsJ-8mjs69lKogycioIel_a__YLC08/s1900/This%20creativity,%20this%2012,000-year-old%20print%20of%20human%20hands,%20and%20this%20extraordinary%20depiction%20of%20long-extinct%20species,%20is%20remarkable%20and%20moving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1900" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7nD3nhJtre55vpdBniCljmOGkOzUhHDRe30MHDdAUXYh9zXZPwCofVhbVaIcC4Gc9qfPIQAcOEur_lHx3K8CvaONjSpO9hWYrTWkg9VnzoiStn_gsuMFX5QFxrxlaJZMvaH3aSg4f4-GPpgxxvisvyvdJ5rnsQsJ-8mjs69lKogycioIel_a__YLC08/w640-h384/This%20creativity,%20this%2012,000-year-old%20print%20of%20human%20hands,%20and%20this%20extraordinary%20depiction%20of%20long-extinct%20species,%20is%20remarkable%20and%20moving.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This creativity, this 12,000-year-old print of human hands, and this extraordinary depiction of long-extinct species, is remarkable and moving</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Paint pigments used in
the Argentinian cave designs provided the oldest direct dates for rock art in
the Americas, Romero Villanueva says. For comparison, indirect measures of
mineral growths that formed over and underneath an Indonesian cave depiction
suggest it’s the oldest known rock art anywhere, dating to at least 45,500
years ago (SN: 1/13/21).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Argentinian cave,
known as Cueva Huenul 1, lies about 1,000 meters above sea level in a desert
region of northwestern Patagonia. Its internal wall and part of its ceiling
display 895 painted designs, including geometric shapes, cross-shaped lines and
figures of humans and llama relatives known as guanacos.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Romero Villanueva, of
the National Scientific and Technical Research Council in Buenos Aires, and
colleagues radiocarbon-dated minuscule chips from four cave paintings of
similar, comblike designs. Three paintings yielded reliable age estimates.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzJpgZZw9gB4NxFYoj_FjvIWDNLQVAH5f6xKQ90UezX4rchS34KW3kBAyfb3An9-ybUfg3mWcj0WtTyBNRtvzMs_ICnsLt_IBK92bZgemQ-kPPGUsWuzfr3SKH4OlZmbFaJr0am3GImcpudFMiwBW4wq3GrJZQJLAiUmJlUbogWc-i-CYWOTrGSrRlMU/s640/PATAGONIAN-PAINTING2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="640" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzJpgZZw9gB4NxFYoj_FjvIWDNLQVAH5f6xKQ90UezX4rchS34KW3kBAyfb3An9-ybUfg3mWcj0WtTyBNRtvzMs_ICnsLt_IBK92bZgemQ-kPPGUsWuzfr3SKH4OlZmbFaJr0am3GImcpudFMiwBW4wq3GrJZQJLAiUmJlUbogWc-i-CYWOTrGSrRlMU/w640-h364/PATAGONIAN-PAINTING2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; mso-ansi-language: EN;">(A) Original photograph and digital enhancement of the complete rock art panel. (B) Original photograph and digital enhancement of the dated black comb-shaped motif. (C) Digital tracing of the complete rock art panel showing the dated black comb-shaped motif underlaying a series of superimpositions</span></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Photo and digital traci</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dating of material
excavated inside the cave, including guanaco bones bearing butchery marks,
indicate that people first reached the site as early as around 11,700 years
ago. The scientists say that no signs of hunting or other daily activities
appear in the cave when rock art was produced there, underscoring the cave’s
transition from a general-purpose site to a special place for keeping cultural
knowledge alive via painted images.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Scandinavia's
first farmers slaughtered the hunter-gatherer population, DNA analysis suggests
by Lund University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62ACADhqtm4bsywo2g-N1aqszis9N-B1yNrK3WsaLfhf4ADreqSItXe9socc0WxhjZcEiTQb2f4RuiB0aJlFhBQZl0acN57dkk-McRAVGa7vc1nytUDO7LvDf1kdDMUUJI-No5cuIVDWxDDg7rR4nEua1R5HBFyisrTyG6MEYAwNAqc3VdV0DkdKFWOs/s2147/Overview%20of%20dataset.%20Credit%20Nature%20(2024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="2147" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62ACADhqtm4bsywo2g-N1aqszis9N-B1yNrK3WsaLfhf4ADreqSItXe9socc0WxhjZcEiTQb2f4RuiB0aJlFhBQZl0acN57dkk-McRAVGa7vc1nytUDO7LvDf1kdDMUUJI-No5cuIVDWxDDg7rR4nEua1R5HBFyisrTyG6MEYAwNAqc3VdV0DkdKFWOs/w640-h372/Overview%20of%20dataset.%20Credit%20Nature%20(2024).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview of dataset. Credit Nature (2024)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Following the arrival of
the first farmers in Scandinavia 5,900 years ago, the hunter-gatherer
population was wiped out within a few generations, according to a new study
from Lund University in Sweden, among others. The results, which are contrary
to prevailing opinion, are based on DNA analysis of skeletons and teeth found
in what is now Denmark.The extensive study has been published as four separate
articles in the journal Nature. An international research team, of which Lund
University in Sweden is a member, has been able to draw new conclusions about
the effects of migration on ancient populations by extracting DNA from skeletal
parts and teeth of prehistoric people.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidqP5uuBvPtMhbzkaL_KTi3SASZLTEF25iCEu1htOj_yyo9Ynl8RO7yPZamUAmYOwUG8dXch5MPc9y7w4GAmYE2aTlXmn2vKShwavI_PsnBsPv7qTImsnDrM4x1w5qKCeSYm3nSoZo6UXo0xQFrZA4fn-0UHl83NCgJCISkJ7NKbLoe14qJj4VzhmG84/s1124/HUNTER-GATHER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1124" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidqP5uuBvPtMhbzkaL_KTi3SASZLTEF25iCEu1htOj_yyo9Ynl8RO7yPZamUAmYOwUG8dXch5MPc9y7w4GAmYE2aTlXmn2vKShwavI_PsnBsPv7qTImsnDrM4x1w5qKCeSYm3nSoZo6UXo0xQFrZA4fn-0UHl83NCgJCISkJ7NKbLoe14qJj4VzhmG84/w640-h358/HUNTER-GATHER2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The study shows, among
other things, that there have been two almost total population turnovers in
Denmark over the past 7,300 years. The first population change happened 5,900
years ago when a farmer population, with a different origin and appearance,
drove out the gatherers, hunters and fishers who had previously populated
Scandinavia. Within a few generations, almost the entire hunter-gatherer
population was wiped out.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This transition
has previously been presented as peaceful. However, our study indicates the
opposite. In addition to violent death, it is likely that new pathogens from
livestock finished off many gatherers," says Anne Birgitte Nielsen,
geology researcher and head of the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory at Lund
University.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM25SpA2yzn7nhVsWPqPm_79QMda6UnLJOVXK4SHS_Ccx0HOj73JeHXvUaq3kUshkQiuQBfh4agasBVMe_HJ4tDcrq9MDEVJzdsera550o72mHKLzTIbTRTpdO-Od0V2wpIE6AnuvW570f1nDXD6vXh2rv25VLhGVs4ZU7_cFWvPJng6M5qi7NbFM7tDA/s1024/HUNTER-GATHER4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM25SpA2yzn7nhVsWPqPm_79QMda6UnLJOVXK4SHS_Ccx0HOj73JeHXvUaq3kUshkQiuQBfh4agasBVMe_HJ4tDcrq9MDEVJzdsera550o72mHKLzTIbTRTpdO-Od0V2wpIE6AnuvW570f1nDXD6vXh2rv25VLhGVs4ZU7_cFWvPJng6M5qi7NbFM7tDA/w640-h424/HUNTER-GATHER4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A thousand years later,
about 4,850 years ago, another population change took place when people with
genetic roots in Yamnaya—a livestock herding people with origins in southern
Russia—came to Scandinavia and wiped out the previous farmer population. Once
again, this could have involved both violence and new pathogens. These big-boned
people pursued a semi-nomadic life on the steppes, tamed animals, kept domestic
cattle and moved over large areas using horses and carts.The people who settled
in our climes were a mix between Yamnaya and Eastern European Neolithic people.
This genetic profile is dominant in today's Denmark, whereas the DNA profile of
the first farmer population has been essentially erased.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This time there
was also a rapid population turnover, with virtually no descendants from the
predecessors. We don't have as much DNA material from Sweden, but what there is
points to a similar course of events. In other words, many Swedes are to a
great extent also descendants of these semi-nomads," says Birgitte
Nielsen, who contributed quantitative pollen data that show how the vegetation
changed in connection with the population changes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqkOPHKTn57DnRFHHcDhC-qNe517wVmU2ocah8fJ-OiSmAWbX5oJ-KJQyKbHW-2fORMnfm_ho1zv27o5U-x2YFfOjzQkosKFc0JzwjuyBJm_egncoDtx4jjuPM9drUpqZjVxiPtP6jByFNspAuTNUdD2dPb7Kv9p2_K45F5mfOjJRhB0n2mgEGHHvE9I/s610/Hunter-gatherers%20in%20a%20violent%20encounter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="610" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqkOPHKTn57DnRFHHcDhC-qNe517wVmU2ocah8fJ-OiSmAWbX5oJ-KJQyKbHW-2fORMnfm_ho1zv27o5U-x2YFfOjzQkosKFc0JzwjuyBJm_egncoDtx4jjuPM9drUpqZjVxiPtP6jByFNspAuTNUdD2dPb7Kv9p2_K45F5mfOjJRhB0n2mgEGHHvE9I/w640-h358/Hunter-gatherers%20in%20a%20violent%20encounter.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunter-gatherers in a violent encounter</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The results do not just
overturn previous theories about amorous and peaceful meetings between groups
of people. The study also provides a deepened understanding of historical
migration flows, and the interpretation of archaeological finds and changes in
vegetation and land use found in paleoecological data.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Our results help
to enhance our knowledge of our heredity and our understanding of the
development of certain diseases. Something that in the long term could be
beneficial, for example in medical research," concludes Birgitte Nielsen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Greenland's ice
sheet is melting and being replaced by vegetation, finds major satellite
analysis :by University of Leeds<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5ShQDOyoWeLzNIEsLAgpOO4qlWvxeWNoyvLF4RAJUny1k1oDlXLK_v9Rm7LqgD-xJGGFKjNPcUbizYVG2GW_AdK0tqQ9iCLcxYTMfuAhltU_6KFthWpGTG-6vMXY5J4-eqiishYs-6ITGAteJjMZCq-6KF74mm_trBGNr3kJuRozldqVr3btsYGZeDE/s800/Proglacial%20area%20of%20Fan%20Glacier,%20Qaanaaq,%20north-west%20Greenland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5ShQDOyoWeLzNIEsLAgpOO4qlWvxeWNoyvLF4RAJUny1k1oDlXLK_v9Rm7LqgD-xJGGFKjNPcUbizYVG2GW_AdK0tqQ9iCLcxYTMfuAhltU_6KFthWpGTG-6vMXY5J4-eqiishYs-6ITGAteJjMZCq-6KF74mm_trBGNr3kJuRozldqVr3btsYGZeDE/w640-h320/Proglacial%20area%20of%20Fan%20Glacier,%20Qaanaaq,%20north-west%20Greenland.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russell Glacier and proglacial area, near Kangerlussuaq, west Greenland.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An estimated 11,000 sq
miles or 28,707 sq kilometers of Greenland's ice sheet and glaciers have melted
over the last three decades, according to a major analysis of historic
satellite records. The total area of ice loss is equivalent to the size of
Albania, and represents about 1.6% of Greenland's total ice and glacier cover.
Where there was once ice and snow, there is now barren rock, wetlands and areas
of shrub.A team of scientists from the University of Leeds, who have tracked
the changes across Greenland from the 1980s through to the 2010s, say warmer
air temperatures are causing the ice to retreat, which in turn is having an
impact on the temperature of the land surface, greenhouse gas emissions and the
stability of the landscape.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijziubJDaUsMYbAv5hfsnE7_eMg2DxdQbCfPkrYMHMzD35FTt0IJ5aSN6zRwM5s3Dqpp2oENb__jXITFq-Jp-KAxMUuC4X4NwXJWldI3C5KQTIF6prtovi8uvmevTjoyXLVqYlZLJCAOxwSvwrWUEbZjYPGDCe710fZ02-7rjhE4iGvgdgMz-MPQ_k7Gg/s2880/Comparison%20between%20landcover%20classifications%20for%20the%20late%201980s%20and%20for%20the%20late%202010s%20at%2030%20m%20resolution%20reveals%20greening%20as%20vegetation%20coverage%20expands,%20especially%20in%20the%20south-west%20and%20north-east..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2037" data-original-width="2880" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijziubJDaUsMYbAv5hfsnE7_eMg2DxdQbCfPkrYMHMzD35FTt0IJ5aSN6zRwM5s3Dqpp2oENb__jXITFq-Jp-KAxMUuC4X4NwXJWldI3C5KQTIF6prtovi8uvmevTjoyXLVqYlZLJCAOxwSvwrWUEbZjYPGDCe710fZ02-7rjhE4iGvgdgMz-MPQ_k7Gg/w640-h452/Comparison%20between%20landcover%20classifications%20for%20the%20late%201980s%20and%20for%20the%20late%202010s%20at%2030%20m%20resolution%20reveals%20greening%20as%20vegetation%20coverage%20expands,%20especially%20in%20the%20south-west%20and%20north-east..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comparison between landcover classifications for the late 1980s and for the late 2010s at 30 m resolution reveals greening as vegetation coverage expands, especially in the south-west and north-east.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Permafrost—a permanently
frozen layer below the Earth's surface—is being "degraded" by the
warming and in some areas, scientists warn that it could have an impact on the
infrastructure, buildings and communities that exist above it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Their findings are
published in an article titled "Land cover changes across Greenland
dominated by a doubling of vegetation in three decades" in the journal
Scientific Reports.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Impact of global
warming</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Greenland is part of the
Arctic region. It is the world's biggest island, around 836,330 sq miles in
size (2.1 million sq km). Most of the land is covered by ice and glaciers and
it is home to almost 57,000 people.Since the 1970s, the region has been warming
at double the global mean rate. On Greenland, average annual air temperatures
between 2007 and 2012 were 3°C warmer, compared with the 1979 to 2000 average.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUAk7gjzdJlrbKPvNFNebarzZrIOQi7C_nDld13QdUd48HAEWd0p2N5h36y7oBSaLJq6riLFSa32xe9P1mKxH5YkhsGYsPZpy3gUrrMYAQDzMie31YkvNZOTP0hTdHxz2KpLuYAmO94dNnGtw5mmGfYBzKWu9tpLJINfAEfNdi30K-NWL_Zwu_hYx8Xk/s2560/Above%20Sydgletscher%20looking%20to%20Bowdoin%20Fjord,%20at%20Qaanaaq,%20north-west%20Greenland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUAk7gjzdJlrbKPvNFNebarzZrIOQi7C_nDld13QdUd48HAEWd0p2N5h36y7oBSaLJq6riLFSa32xe9P1mKxH5YkhsGYsPZpy3gUrrMYAQDzMie31YkvNZOTP0hTdHxz2KpLuYAmO94dNnGtw5mmGfYBzKWu9tpLJINfAEfNdi30K-NWL_Zwu_hYx8Xk/w640-h360/Above%20Sydgletscher%20looking%20to%20Bowdoin%20Fjord,%20at%20Qaanaaq,%20north-west%20Greenland.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above Sydgletscher looking to Bowdoin Fjord, at Qaanaaq, north-west Greenland</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And the researchers warn
that more extreme temperatures are likely in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jonathan Carrivick, an
Earth scientist based in the Faculty of Environment at Leeds and one of the
authors of the study, said, "Warmer temperatures are linked to the land
cover changes that we are seeing on Greenland.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"By analyzing high
resolution satellite images, we have been able to produce a detailed record of
the land cover changes that are taking place."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ice disappears to
be replaced by bare rock and shrubs</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ice loss was
concentrated around the edges of present-day glaciers but also in the north and
south-west of Greenland. There were also high levels of ice loss in localized
areas in the west, mid-north-west and south-east.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Over the three decades,
the amount of land with vegetation growing on it increased by 33,774 sq miles
(87,475 sq km), more than doubling over the study period.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A pronounced increase in
vegetation was seen across the south-west, east and north-east. The greatest
increase in dense wetland vegetation occurred in the vicinity of Kangerlussuaq
in the south-west and in isolated areas in the north-east.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Analysis by the
researchers revealed that vegetation had increased along a latitudinal gradient
between 63° north and 69° north and declined north of this.Carrivick said,
"We have seen signs that the loss of ice is triggering other reactions which
will result in further loss of ice and further 'greening' of Greenland, where
shrinking ice exposes bare rock that is then colonized by tundra and eventually
shrub."At the same time, water released from the melting ice is moving
sediment and silt, and that eventually forms wetlands and fenlands."Loss
of ice triggers further warmingThe loss of ice affects land surface
temperatures because of albedo, which is the measure of how reflective a
surface is.Snow and ice are good reflectors of the sun's energy hitting the
Earth's surface and this helps to keep the Earth cooler. As the ice retreats,
it exposes bedrock which absorbs more solar energy, raising the temperature of
the land surface.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Similarly, as ice melts
it increases the quantity of water in lakes. Water absorbs more solar energy
than snow and this also increases the temperature of the land surface.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthQV6L2tnenFBwQRwnzyIjGCzdDCOU8V-M8JqEqxpCQO5eGdmRiu8JfwcJwOcGZ2wpfAVBVgFXMRWGtgergX9rC28_ZWskaab2LOlDKi7SvehTYkHLwbxrA28kbVurE6fWWFPIaMOK4e_1ZrP1TzmYaiAU9l9qqIk3a39rTyiSwXw6_WNr39mkFyUVNI/s2880/Russell%20Glacier%20and%20proglacial%20area,%20near%20Kangerlussuaq,%20west%20Greenland..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2880" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthQV6L2tnenFBwQRwnzyIjGCzdDCOU8V-M8JqEqxpCQO5eGdmRiu8JfwcJwOcGZ2wpfAVBVgFXMRWGtgergX9rC28_ZWskaab2LOlDKi7SvehTYkHLwbxrA28kbVurE6fWWFPIaMOK4e_1ZrP1TzmYaiAU9l9qqIk3a39rTyiSwXw6_WNr39mkFyUVNI/w640-h360/Russell%20Glacier%20and%20proglacial%20area,%20near%20Kangerlussuaq,%20west%20Greenland..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proglacial area of Fan Glacier, Qaanaaq, north-west Greenland</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Greenhouse gas
emitter</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The analysis shows a
near quadrupling of wetlands across Greenland, particularly in the east and
north-east. The wetlands are a source of methane emissions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Writing in the paper,
the researchers noted, "Expansion of vegetation and especially in wetland
areas indicates but also exacerbates permafrost thaw, active layer thickening
and thus emissions of greenhouse gases previously stored in these Arctic
soils."The researchers also developed a model to predict those areas on
Greenland that are likely to see "marked and accelerated" change in
the future.Dr. Michael Grimes, the lead author of the report who conducted the
research as part of their Ph.D., added, "The expansion of vegetation,
occurring in tandem with the retreat of glaciers and the ice sheet, is
significantly altering the flow of sediments and nutrients into coastal
waters."These changes are critical, particularly for the indigenous
populations whose traditional subsistence hunting practices rely on the
stability of these delicate ecosystems."Moreover, the loss of ice mass in
Greenland is a substantial contributor to global sea level rise, a trend that
poses significant challenges both now and in the future."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Chimeric Antigen
Receptor T-Cells: An Overview of Concepts, Applications, Limitations, and
Proposed Solutions<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclDdgc1r5qy15PxD9aZ5IAx-Agkra05hNh9MoP1qxD4IviqZqy71-dUADf3jWRhCtg-mg1xzaJuMdqcrizCU74jgSZknXWIkF82FnGI-qzM_n8kWprxCDgbW_Pq3jItGKLHR6chMUmzM4UEZJlMVT1DKns1jRsdaXbBzTQWnDa8DGBv7YQpASD3xrRIg/s1070/CHIMERIC%20T-CELL%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1070" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclDdgc1r5qy15PxD9aZ5IAx-Agkra05hNh9MoP1qxD4IviqZqy71-dUADf3jWRhCtg-mg1xzaJuMdqcrizCU74jgSZknXWIkF82FnGI-qzM_n8kWprxCDgbW_Pq3jItGKLHR6chMUmzM4UEZJlMVT1DKns1jRsdaXbBzTQWnDa8DGBv7YQpASD3xrRIg/w640-h346/CHIMERIC%20T-CELL%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1Department of Medical
Services, King Faisal Medical Complex, Taif, Saudi Arabia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2Department of
Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3Department of Clinical
Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4Multidisciplinary
Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi,
India<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5Department of
Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi
Arabia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6Chief of Medical
Department, King Faisal Medical Complex (KFMC), Taif, Saudi Arabia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyAZ3qtZwmy6uFvQseKJSxyjm7tTxCGMPE_fvC3AWwNx_k4ZmqWfL3CEJ3wswx7IbZAsUg3jMNuxivA0FXJY-lSYoZa1VtENVTtBsqI513FO6adpWnDOJED0aTM7lQeobsVhyTawgWb6N-zoM4a6CLaDI3Lf-JH6MCmTsYFTEtqJsXx-T8j5yYXT7OsA/s1072/CHIMERIC%20T-CELL%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="1072" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyAZ3qtZwmy6uFvQseKJSxyjm7tTxCGMPE_fvC3AWwNx_k4ZmqWfL3CEJ3wswx7IbZAsUg3jMNuxivA0FXJY-lSYoZa1VtENVTtBsqI513FO6adpWnDOJED0aTM7lQeobsVhyTawgWb6N-zoM4a6CLaDI3Lf-JH6MCmTsYFTEtqJsXx-T8j5yYXT7OsA/w640-h590/CHIMERIC%20T-CELL%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Adaptive immunity,
orchestrated by B-cells and T-cells, plays a crucial role in protecting the
body from pathogenic invaders and can be used as tools to enhance the body’s
defense mechanisms against cancer by genetically engineering these immune
cells. Several strategies have been identified for cancer treatment and
evaluated for their efficacy against other diseases such as autoimmune and
infectious diseases. One of the most advanced technologies is chimeric antigen
receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, a pioneering therapy in the oncology field.
Successful clinical trials have resulted in the approval of six CAR-T cell
products by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hematological
malignancies. However, there have been various obstacles that limit the use of
CAR T-cell therapy as the first line of defense mechanism against cancer.
Various innovative CAR-T cell therapeutic designs have been evaluated in
preclinical and clinical trial settings and have demonstrated much potential
for development. Such trials testing the suitability of CARs against solid
tumors and HIV are showing promising results. In addition, new solutions have
been proposed to overcome the limitations of this therapy. This review provides
an overview of the current knowledge regarding this novel technology, including
CAR T-cell structure, different applications, limitations, and proposed
solutions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghr8bOXjYy2DTw1EHL1LS5TAP1c7mnjXpiZEBeUYrNoYHOYa1Kkd1PbsBQ7JDomE0sX8M0BN5p4RgHg2qaGefCChyphenhyphenTe51zdBma5WcTpA7SQGDwDQ_9hYJnl_E5dVWX2dojBs9ryLgq16ETAXmzRTsbRLqTto1hMof6a8iLfqp5Z3JYowx7z3Hi-9EelQ/s1024/CHIMERIC%20T-CELL%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="1024" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghr8bOXjYy2DTw1EHL1LS5TAP1c7mnjXpiZEBeUYrNoYHOYa1Kkd1PbsBQ7JDomE0sX8M0BN5p4RgHg2qaGefCChyphenhyphenTe51zdBma5WcTpA7SQGDwDQ_9hYJnl_E5dVWX2dojBs9ryLgq16ETAXmzRTsbRLqTto1hMof6a8iLfqp5Z3JYowx7z3Hi-9EelQ/w640-h412/CHIMERIC%20T-CELL%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1 Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The global cancer
burden, cancer incidence, and mortality estimations have increased rapidly.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, 19.3 million
diagnosed cases and 10.0 million deaths worldwide in 2020 have been attributed
to cancer (Sung et al., 2021). The relationship between cancer and the immune
system was shown by Rudolf Virchow more than 150 years ago (Adams et al.,
2015). Interest in immune system activation as a therapeutic approach for
treating cancer began in the late 19th century when William Coley injected
heat-inactivated bacteria into the tumor mass, resulting in its size reduction.
Although the failure to achieve desirable clinical outcomes with early immunotherapies
such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-2 treatments, novel
immunotherapies launched in the 21st century have achieved robust clinical
results, establishing cancer immunotherapy as one of the foremost anchors of
anticancer therapies (Lesterhuis et al., 2011; Jiang T. et al., 2016; Castro et
al., 2018).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zKXtMPZM_7Gq2UiVcYLC62pbAThYjD1avPGC9H_mpZf87MNGW3jp77Ahe8Ypik67HRR_Z1N72AKQwKNuhT4-FJRnMHnpG6oBZ6QNu8Dsb5P9ZxHymNRNG13uK3uB9Ox9M-rkytaL39tlqBr4rhkdhWu3X6oqKNJInUrP3_Z2UcE-HnN1QXHmsBVfq3Q/s701/CHIMERIC%20T-CELL%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zKXtMPZM_7Gq2UiVcYLC62pbAThYjD1avPGC9H_mpZf87MNGW3jp77Ahe8Ypik67HRR_Z1N72AKQwKNuhT4-FJRnMHnpG6oBZ6QNu8Dsb5P9ZxHymNRNG13uK3uB9Ox9M-rkytaL39tlqBr4rhkdhWu3X6oqKNJInUrP3_Z2UcE-HnN1QXHmsBVfq3Q/w548-h640/CHIMERIC%20T-CELL%202.jpg" width="548" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The effective
eradication of cancer cells via the immune system involves several steps known
as the cancer-immunity cycle, defined as a series of steps involving increased
antitumor T-cell responses that are initiated upon recognition of the
tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) captured from dying tumor cells by
antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells (DCs). Upon capturing
TAA’s, DCs get activated, express CCR7, mature, and 1) migrate to draining
lymph nodes, 2) present the captured antigens to naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells
via the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules, 3)
express T-cell costimulatory molecules, for example, CD40, CD80, and CD86, 4)
secrete critical cytokines to regulate T-cell responses, 5) activate naïve CD8+
T-cells converting them into cytotoxic T-cells, which immigrate from lymphoid
organs into the bloodstream and reach tissues and ultimately infiltrate the
tumor. Activated cytotoxic T cells recognize the specific TAA (presented to
them by DC’s) found on MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules of tumor cells and kill
the tumor cells via secreting perforins and granzymes that result in the
release of additional TAAs, which trigger the initiation of another cycle of
cancer immunity (Chen and Mellman, 2013).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cancer eradication
through cytotoxic immune responses is evident; however, cancers can grow
progressively, suggesting their ability to mask and not be recognized by the
immune system as seen in carcinogen-induced mouse models. This mechanism
prompted Schreiber and others to hypothesize the immunoediting concept to
explain the progressive growth of otherwise immunogenic cancers (Shankaran et
al., 2001; Dunn et al., 2004; Schreiber et al., 2011; Matsushita et al., 2012).
The immunoediting process of human cancers can be related to neoepitope
presentation. Non-silent point mutations that lead to antigenic neoepitopes
(T-cell recognition) are lost more frequently in cancers than in silent point
mutations, thus preventing T-cells from recognizing and identifying cancer
cells (Rooney et al., 2015). This concept suggests that the ability of cancers
to progress and grow could be impaired by loss of immunogenicity; however, this
perception alone contradicts another evidence that T-cells are adequately
activated to enhance their cancer recognition by the administration of
immune-activating cytokines or immune checkpoints releases such as programmed
cell death-1 (PD-1) or cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4)
that leads to robust tumor responses in patients and mice (Chambers et al.,
2001; Pardoll, 2012). T cells are central infiltrates of the heterogeneous
tumor microenvironment (TME), and their population consists of naïve, effector,
memory, and regulatory T cells (Hashimoto et al., 2018). The antigen
stimulation of T cell receptors (TCRs) initiates an intrinsic program that
guides the differentiation of T cells into cytotoxic effectors capable of
eradicating the antigen; however, these cells start dying gradually except for
a small number of surviving memory T cells that provide long-term protection
against the antigen (Chang et al., 2014). Chronic exposure of T cells to the
same antigen leads to remarkable alterations, thus affecting their activation
and differentiation and eventually causing T-cell exhaustion (Wherry, 2011;
Schietinger and Greenberg, 2014). T effector cell exhaustion is highlighted by
the loss of effector functions such as proliferation, cytotoxicity, metabolic
and transcriptional molecule alterations, and immune checkpoint upregulation
(Guo et al., 2018; Li H. et al., 2019). Different factors have been identified
that play several roles in T-cell exhaustion; the intrinsic factors relate to
transcription, epigenetic, and metabolic factors, whereas the extrinsic factors
include extracellular and cytokine interactions that create the TME and the
immunosuppressive network (Maimela et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2020).
Therefore, the use of engineered T-cells targeting specific cell-surface
antigens is considered a great approach to ensure specificity and overcome the
shortcomings of other available immunotherapies.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In this review, we
present a comprehensive prospect of the developmental and experimental progress
in the field of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy while relating
to some aspects of adaptive immunity as the rationale behind the evolution of
this cutting-edge technology. The significance of this review is the broad
inclusiveness of current therapeutic applications of CAR T-cells in
hematological malignancies, solid tumors, and human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) infection while focusing on some recently published results of
pre-clinical and clinical trials, pointing out some drawbacks, and suggesting
some modifications.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2 Adoptive Immune
Therapy<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cancer immune therapy,
which exploits the body’s immune system to combat cancer cells, can be
classified into three categories: adoptive cell therapies (ACTs), tumor
vaccines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). These therapies have proven
beneficial in patients with advanced tumors, and some have reached complete
remission (Li D. et al., 2019). ACT is mainly based on the concept that the
immune system can control a patient’s cancer in the long-term and has been
demonstrated by three independent approaches. The first approach involved
tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which can be isolated from tumor lesions
(e.g., melanoma) and expanded in vitro, followed by patient re-infusion,
resulting in tumor regression and remission in a considerable number of
patients. However, the downsides of the TILs approach included access
limitations to the removable metastases or tumors, time-consuming preparation
of T cells, and tumor-reactive T-cell clones were rarely found, which hindered
the success of this strategy. The second approach involved T-cell receptor
(TCR) engineering, where TCRs identified from TILs were virally transduced into
peripheral blood T-cells, making them capable of inducing tumor regressions
upon re-infusion into the patient. Unfortunately, this method was explicitly
restricted because of its dependency on identifying MHC peptides expressed by
tumors via their MHC complexes (Dudley et al., 2002; Zacharakis et al., 2018;
Benmebarek et al., 2019). The third ACT approach is CAR-engineered T cells and
is marked as the beginning of a new era in cancer therapy by providing a
transformative approach to tumor exclusion and gained attention over the other
two as it offered a series of innovative modifications (Kershaw et al., 2006;
Lamers et al., 2011; Mikkilineni and Kochenderfer, 2017). CARs are synthetic
receptors that have the specificity of a monoclonal antibody and a signaling
domain capable of inducing a cascade of events in the CAR-engineered immune
cells (e.g., T-lymphocytes) upon target engagement. Engineering immune cells to
express CARs is achieved by transferring protein-coding sequences using viral
vectors (e.g., Lentiviral or Retroviral). CAR T-cells display immunological
characteristics similar to activated T cells such as generating an immune
response against target cells and expanding within the patient ensuring
long-term protection (Porter et al., 2011; Grupp et al., 2013; Heiblig et al.,
2015).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3 Evolution of CAR-T
Cells<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Conventional T cells can
distinguish between foreign peptide-MHCs (pMHCs) and the body’s pMHCs via their
TCRs, which can trigger a small number of agonist pMHCs compared with thousands
self-pMHCs (Sykulev et al., 1996; Irvine et al., 2002; Huang et al., 2013).
Genetic insertion of CARs, in immune cells, particularly T-cells, redirects
them to target a preferred antigen (Jackson et al., 2016). CARs are
bioengineered receptors which specifically target a desired antigen; almost 30
years ago, the first CARs were generated and undergone multiple modifications
since they contributed to their development and evolution (Kobold et al., 2015;
Lim and June, 2017). The flexibility of CARs arises from their ability to
recognize antigens in the absence of MHC presentation, which is the opposite of
innate TCRs (Lim and June, 2017). Additionally, CARs have advanced properties
compared with conventional T-cells, as they combine the antigen-binding ability
of monoclonal antibodies with T-cell self-renewal and lytic capacity (Ramos and
Dotti, 2011; Curran et al., 2012; Maher, 2012). Also, TCRs can recognize short
peptide sequences, whereas CAR T-cells can recognize several tumor antigens in
different forms, such as proteins, glycolipids, and carbohydrates (Abbott et
al., 2020). CAR T-cell recognition and destruction of tumor cells occur in an
independent-manner of MHCs; this promotes enhanced cell recognition undisturbed
by the tumor’s ability to avoid MHC-restricted recognition of T-cells, such as
the tumor’s ability to encourage defective antigen processing by downregulating
human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules (Dotti et al., 2014). It is
considered an advantage where MHC expression is suppressed or lost due to the
immunosuppressive cancer microenvironment (Garrido et al., 2016). CARs have
been proven effective in treating cancers, especially hematological tumors. The
specificity of CARs in targeting cancers makes them an appealing alternative to
standard cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation (Sadelain et al.,
2013). CARs consist of three major domains: 1) extracellular domain
(ectodomain), which can be further divided into an antigen-recognition domain,
a single peptide on the cell surface cleaved from the mature CAR cell (Goulart
et al., 2017). The antigen-recognition domain is a single-chain fragment
variant (scFV) chiefly comprising of heavy and variable light chain regions
composed of an antigen-specific immunoglobin separated by a flexible linker and
attached to the transmembrane domain by a spacer (hinge) responsible for the
transmission of receptor-binding signals (Zhang et al., 2017). 2) transmembrane
domain is essential for receptor stability and surface expression; it is a
hydrophobic alpha helix that extends in the cell membrane (Ramos and Dotti,
2011; Zhang et al., 2017). 3) intracellular domain (endo-domain), which upon
stimulation, clusters and undergoes conformational changes, thus enabling the
recruitment and phosphorylation of downstream signaling proteins (Cantrell,
2002; Su and Vale, 2018). The intracellular domain classifies CARs into five
generations: first has a single activation domain, a cytoplasmic domain mostly
CD3 zeta (CD3ζ), and some studies used the gamma chain (γ) of the Fc receptors,
the second generation has CD3ζ plus one costimulatory domain, obtained from
costimulatory molecules such as 4-1BB or CD28 connected to an activator domain
(CD3ζ/γ chain of Fc receptor) to enhance both cell proliferative and cytotoxic
competences of CAR T cells (Finney et al., 1998; Hombach et al., 2001; Acuto
and Michel, 2003). The third generation is similar to the second generation but
has multiple costimulatory domains with CD3ζ, such as 4-1BB and CD28, CD134,
and CD137 (Sadelain et al., 2013; Zhang et al., 2017; Guedan et al., 2019). The
fourth generation CARs, known as T cells redirected for universal
cytokine-mediated killing (TRUCKs), were engineered to release transgenic
cytokine-like interleukin 12 (IL-12) upon CAR signaling in the tumor tissue to
overcome TME immunosuppression and endorse robust therapeutic outcomes
(Chmielewski et al., 2014; Chmielewski and Abken, 2015, 2020). IL-12 is
responsible for the induction of IFN-γ, perforin, and granzymes in T-cells, and
inhibits Treg proliferation (Kubin et al., 1994; Cao et al., 2009). Other
cytokines studied in the fourth generation are IL-15 and IL-18 (Hurton et al.,
2016). IL-15 belongs to the γ-chain family and holds important properties for T
cell expansion and survival (Klebanoff et al., 2004). Additionally, IL-18 CAR
T-cells treatment of large pancreatic and lung tumors exhibited changes in the
immune cell landscape related to the tumor; a significant increase in the
macrophages (CD206− M1) and NKs (NKG2D+) was observed besides a decrease in
Tregs such as M2 macrophages suppressive CD103+ DCs, suggesting the ability of
“IL-18 TRUCKs” to sensitize large tumor lesions for efficient immune
destruction (Chmielewski and Abken, 2017).The fifth generation of CARs is currently
being explored; it is mainly designed based on the second generation. However,
it contains a truncated cytoplasmic receptor (IL-12) and a β-chain domain
(IL-2Rβ truncated intracellular interleukin 2β chain receptor) along with the
transcription factor STAT3/5 binding motif</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoliLKZ3ewKqcDrGj7cweE0jSxqQ95frZfL0eP7xzTpRqasVICm3_I5sbhuty-m0dJtEajuebRlOQNB-px3IRMxzkdAP4BvUpXsTfOZ0ZmNu6L0q0PgWXbeJNMwk_rDWklaMBIIeTNZbawNw4vWG_os9L0iB6iGFgsK7L9t6l6Qn_IA2O8KX-KKl9dWY/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoliLKZ3ewKqcDrGj7cweE0jSxqQ95frZfL0eP7xzTpRqasVICm3_I5sbhuty-m0dJtEajuebRlOQNB-px3IRMxzkdAP4BvUpXsTfOZ0ZmNu6L0q0PgWXbeJNMwk_rDWklaMBIIeTNZbawNw4vWG_os9L0iB6iGFgsK7L9t6l6Qn_IA2O8KX-KKl9dWY/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Electoral bonds
scheme 'unconstitutional’: Supreme Court strikes down poll funding system<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WcB0qfHrfy3yko2jGJJPa09PpUUJmC3EV2GoX7wbLU40sbn6FuyEUo9dtGu_cE2dwGrYwB3wLegJeqHEBV_ElTt3jP6dRUCD2DksvWJeSVv7s1KxwH9robrcWLfuqPtKpZE59acN4B82S-dSIeMI3RnYHj4JT8qD5LTYCfCb9R3X87vifWfzexa-VRY/s921/ELECTORAL-BIND1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="921" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WcB0qfHrfy3yko2jGJJPa09PpUUJmC3EV2GoX7wbLU40sbn6FuyEUo9dtGu_cE2dwGrYwB3wLegJeqHEBV_ElTt3jP6dRUCD2DksvWJeSVv7s1KxwH9robrcWLfuqPtKpZE59acN4B82S-dSIeMI3RnYHj4JT8qD5LTYCfCb9R3X87vifWfzexa-VRY/w640-h614/ELECTORAL-BIND1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Supreme Court holds
that anonymous electoral bonds scheme is violative of the right to information
under Article 19(1)(a). In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday
said the electoral bonds scheme has to be struck down as “unconstitutional”. It
has delivered a unanimous verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the legal
validity of the central government’s electoral bond scheme which allowed for
anonymous funding to political parties. A five-judge Constitution bench headed
by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud held that the anonymous electoral bonds scheme
is violative of the right to information under Article 19(1)(a). The bench had
on November 2 last year reserved its verdict in the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqgSgMHgOtxBB3HlHIFLGPtpPDFakx098ppOkSjnRnRMNVuCAhdNjJ4jIHbTKcWiLAOMDecHyZIxByDJhK6OFQdTJfhfOGA8E6UjY7pUAzzv4pinaHc_QbEexmPM_VWdoXALSzm-K7ia-uCBYs11bRgatX5eC3NU_Knvjh-DiFlp_dJihrt2MY96sYUI/s998/ELECTORAL-BIND2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="998" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqgSgMHgOtxBB3HlHIFLGPtpPDFakx098ppOkSjnRnRMNVuCAhdNjJ4jIHbTKcWiLAOMDecHyZIxByDJhK6OFQdTJfhfOGA8E6UjY7pUAzzv4pinaHc_QbEexmPM_VWdoXALSzm-K7ia-uCBYs11bRgatX5eC3NU_Knvjh-DiFlp_dJihrt2MY96sYUI/w640-h264/ELECTORAL-BIND2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Supreme Court said
political parties are relevant units in the electoral process and information
about funding of political parties is essential for electoral choices. The
court also directed the State Bank of India or SBI to not issue any more of
these bonds. Follow Live Updates on Electoral bonds case<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The decision is seen as
a setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been the largest
beneficiary of the system it introduced in 2017. The SBI shall submit details
of electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019, to date to the Election
Commission, the Supreme Court said. "In a very significant judgment which
will have a long-term effect on our electoral democracy, the Supreme Court has
struck down the electoral bonds scheme and all the provisions that were made to
bring it into effect in the income tax act, in the companies act, etc.
everything has been struck down. They have held that this violates the
fundamental right to information of citizens to know about who is contributing
this much money to political parties," advocate Prashant Bhushan told reporters
on the Supreme Court's verdict.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The scheme, which was
notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to
cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring in
transparency in political funding. According to the provisions of the scheme,
electoral bonds could be purchased by any citizen of India or entity
incorporated or established in the country. An individual can buy electoral
bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Only the political parties
registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and
which secured not less than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the last
elections to the Lok Sabha or a state legislative assembly were eligible to
receive electoral bonds.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to the
notification, electoral bonds shall be encashed by an eligible political party
only through an account with an authorised bank.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQijluxu03NgJGFzBgBs4-EQVeNENRsIv3e8JdISnb_Mp2kqmirnWmVtSgB9Fu0YpKH4BZ6GcpfAFSTXakk12tqWYyBo1fFvTVnAxyeZt_dsYFwUJCFDgtLvnrHLM1O6Yk1EyMsxaKdvj6dKN6g30dsWz3PF5cSQcs5YPaiMfaSNKqql-j194axiEn_U/s686/ELECTORAL-BIND3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="686" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQijluxu03NgJGFzBgBs4-EQVeNENRsIv3e8JdISnb_Mp2kqmirnWmVtSgB9Fu0YpKH4BZ6GcpfAFSTXakk12tqWYyBo1fFvTVnAxyeZt_dsYFwUJCFDgtLvnrHLM1O6Yk1EyMsxaKdvj6dKN6g30dsWz3PF5cSQcs5YPaiMfaSNKqql-j194axiEn_U/w640-h360/ELECTORAL-BIND3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In April 2019, the apex
court had declined to stay the electoral bonds scheme and made it clear that it
would accord an in-depth hearing on the pleas as the Centre and the Election
Commission had raised "weighty issues" that had "tremendous
bearing on the sanctity of the electoral process in the country". The
Constitution bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB
Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, had on October 31 last year commenced hearing
arguments on the four petitions, including those filed by Congress leader Jaya
Thakur, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and NGO Association for
Democratic Reforms (ADR).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">During the hearing in
the matter, the apex court had underscored the need for reducing the cash
component in the electoral process.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Rahul Gandhi's
yatra in Bihar: Riding in Jeep Wrangler with Tejashwi Yadav at the wheel<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MSJeu_LIxk11yi0pNCKU1_fkJoIfbun3glZJjVn41Ci2_cKoZcR_5QPTD2ImAgzhSFOO6G_h5PbGVjaybmZ_gPujWjeEedb_pTJcJVdypO-TDhH2QmyaJgRsl6yJzb1SmEJIa_34Kfhn9tJtqBGlESLGBD1SAk9gyZDph6wIM1Vg2OigocSWAcf9tDQ/s549/Rahul%20Gandhi%20with%20RJD%20leader%20Tejashwi%20Yadav%20during%20the%20Bihar%20yatra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MSJeu_LIxk11yi0pNCKU1_fkJoIfbun3glZJjVn41Ci2_cKoZcR_5QPTD2ImAgzhSFOO6G_h5PbGVjaybmZ_gPujWjeEedb_pTJcJVdypO-TDhH2QmyaJgRsl6yJzb1SmEJIa_34Kfhn9tJtqBGlESLGBD1SAk9gyZDph6wIM1Vg2OigocSWAcf9tDQ/w640-h360/Rahul%20Gandhi%20with%20RJD%20leader%20Tejashwi%20Yadav%20during%20the%20Bihar%20yatra.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rahul Gandhi with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav during the Bihar yatra</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi
Yadav are scheduled to address a public meeting in Kaimur at around 3 pm.
Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD on Friday joined the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress's
‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Bihar's Sasaram. Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi
were seen sitting in a sports utility vehicle as it slowly moved. They were
seen waving at the crowd that had queued up on both sides of the road.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Rashtriya Janata Dal
leader was later also seen driving Rahul Gandhi and other leaders in the lead
jeep as the procession made its way through Sasaram. Tejashwi Yadav also shared
the stage with Rahul Gandhi during a public meeting in Kaimur at Dhaneychha in
the Durgawati block of Kaimur. In the meeting, Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the
Centre alleging it as “anti-farmer” and “anti-labour”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What the government is
calling development is anti-farmer and anti-labour,” the Congress leader said.
“In the name of development, everything is being handed over to Adani. This is
not development, this is theft,” Rahul Gandhi said. Both leaders of the
opposition 'Mahagathbandhan' are scheduled to address a public meeting in
Kaimur around 3 pm on Friday, news agency PTI reported.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULDYbbSQU96TmCSj0idA77aqwY5PIeC6Oag5Ee2HqqeyK7Wh4j5ALfB5RLGkxRlZfdznq5ziJkt3hxzAZBo8VCvGEzt-QVxQBAE8Kro-Ail9HFRk1Ar0HeBPzaKgvKVMYBrczJgnWSrk9K9txI8sOBt1Ikpk-TcggLgCfA3P6RbWKrstRKl52vQb0lQQ/s549/Congress%20President%20Mallikarjun%20Kharge%20and%20party%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20at%20AICC%20headquarters%20in%20New%20Delh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULDYbbSQU96TmCSj0idA77aqwY5PIeC6Oag5Ee2HqqeyK7Wh4j5ALfB5RLGkxRlZfdznq5ziJkt3hxzAZBo8VCvGEzt-QVxQBAE8Kro-Ail9HFRk1Ar0HeBPzaKgvKVMYBrczJgnWSrk9K9txI8sOBt1Ikpk-TcggLgCfA3P6RbWKrstRKl52vQb0lQQ/w640-h360/Congress%20President%20Mallikarjun%20Kharge%20and%20party%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20at%20AICC%20headquarters%20in%20New%20Delh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi at AICC headquarters in New Delh</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay
Yatra’, which started in Manipur on January 14, is scheduled to cover 6,713 km
in 67 days, passing through 110 districts in 15 states, before culminating in
Mumbai on March 20. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will join Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat
Jodo Nyay Yatra as it enters Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli on Friday. A public
meeting scheduled for both leaders to address in Chandauli will also mark the
beginning of the party’s election campaign for the Lok Sabha polls.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra
will bring about a massive change in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. The yatra
will receive a grand welcome at the entrance point Naubatpur in Chandauli. Both
leaders will address a public meeting in Chandauli, and the yatra flag will be
handed over to Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief Ajay Rai there,”
Avinash Pandey, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (in-charge
of UP), told HT over the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Bharat bandh
What protesting farmers want:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6tULz1DtDCGNanmg9uh5eZm9ZgXw_lUOMuA0ZkeR4FQogcrJHjZpyctuGIsDkwbRwc37dLGSWKvvWuClo-wd5H5R_bnFhR9MtCzw4BH9E5kLhrY2pn9GcU5z2Rz6Qr-yD1VC0DNLIOym5MBFxcruA3xG1aSOaU7KMQAnkRmEhLpS4HuNKmpStaGdi3s/s549/Farmers%20block%20the%20railway%20tracks%20in%20Amritsar%20on%20Thursday%20as%20they%20continue%20their%20'Delhi%20Chalo'%20protest%20march%20demanding%20a%20law%20guaranteeing%20MSP%20for%20crops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6tULz1DtDCGNanmg9uh5eZm9ZgXw_lUOMuA0ZkeR4FQogcrJHjZpyctuGIsDkwbRwc37dLGSWKvvWuClo-wd5H5R_bnFhR9MtCzw4BH9E5kLhrY2pn9GcU5z2Rz6Qr-yD1VC0DNLIOym5MBFxcruA3xG1aSOaU7KMQAnkRmEhLpS4HuNKmpStaGdi3s/w640-h360/Farmers%20block%20the%20railway%20tracks%20in%20Amritsar%20on%20Thursday%20as%20they%20continue%20their%20'Delhi%20Chalo'%20protest%20march%20demanding%20a%20law%20guaranteeing%20MSP%20for%20crops.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmers block the railway tracks in Amritsar on Thursday as they continue their 'Delhi Chalo' protest march demanding a law guaranteeing MSP for crops</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bharat bandh today:
Farmers are seeking guaranteed crop prices, renewing a movement that succeeded
in getting three laws repealed in 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gramin Bharat Bandh
today: Tens of thousands of farmers across the country are protesting for
guaranteed crop prices, renewing a movement that succeeded in getting the
Centre's three contentious agricultural laws repealed in 2021. The Bharatiya
Kisan Union (BKU), which is part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), has called
for a Gramin Bharat Bandh on Friday, February 16, citing a host of unmet
demands of farmers. BKU leader Pawan Khatana said during the "Bharat
bandh" called by his union, farmers had been asked to suspend work for a
day to press the government for demands. "Farmers have been asked to shun
work in farms, or not to go to markets for any purchases. Traders and
transporters have also been exhorted to join the strike," Pawan Khatana
said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFo03kgzyS12OGfi57RB4BRAFcpb4DOmtQTp9T7S1MmYrNRoet-N9ck8ZYR8pyvOi0fxJIfnUw8qShQvLggFF75f4XtT8UggDdJN1Ggb0tvrimNQfPNP9922UAInxoZsAIpfISCHYOdYh3Ug1laXV-OyY11TYG8xRi5HUwn6QaAT_MAFpkEWNIwCYSIXg/s549/Farmers%20run%20for%20cover%20after%20police%20fired%20tear%20gas%20to%20disperse%20protesting%20farmers%20who%20were%20marching%20to%20New%20Delhi%20near%20the%20Punjab-Haryana%20border%20at%20Shambhu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFo03kgzyS12OGfi57RB4BRAFcpb4DOmtQTp9T7S1MmYrNRoet-N9ck8ZYR8pyvOi0fxJIfnUw8qShQvLggFF75f4XtT8UggDdJN1Ggb0tvrimNQfPNP9922UAInxoZsAIpfISCHYOdYh3Ug1laXV-OyY11TYG8xRi5HUwn6QaAT_MAFpkEWNIwCYSIXg/w640-h360/Farmers%20run%20for%20cover%20after%20police%20fired%20tear%20gas%20to%20disperse%20protesting%20farmers%20who%20were%20marching%20to%20New%20Delhi%20near%20the%20Punjab-Haryana%20border%20at%20Shambhu.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmers run for cover after police fired tear gas to disperse protesting farmers who were marching to New Delhi near the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bharat bandh: Why are
farmers protesting?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The farmers, who rode on
tractors and trucks from Haryana and Punjab, said the Centre has failed to meet
some of their key demands from the previous protests. In 2021, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi repealed a set of agricultural laws that the protesting farmers
said would hurt their incomes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But farmers' unions now
claimed that the government hasn’t made progress on other important demands
such as guaranteed crop prices, a doubling of farmers’ income and loan waivers.
The demand for legislation that will guarantee minimum prices is at the heart
of their protests.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">What are the demands?</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The farmers are
demanding legal guarantees of a minimum support price or MSP, which acts as a
safety net for the farming community. The farmers argue that by making MSP a
legal guarantee, margins for the farmers can be protected.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Along with this demand,
farmers also ask for the withdrawal of cases registered during the last
agitation in 2020-21.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Their list of demands
also include pensions for farmers, loan waivers and withdrawal from world trade
organisation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The farmers also want
the government to honour a promise to double their incomes, complaining that
costs of cultivation have jumped over the past few years while incomes have
stagnated, making farming a loss-making enterprise.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The farmers also insist
that the government ensure at least 50 per cent profit over their overall cost
of production.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Farmers' protest: What happened in 2021?</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In November 2021, the
government's announcement that the controversial laws would be repealed was
widely seen as a victory for the farmers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The government had
defended the three farms laws as necessary reforms to modernise Indian farming,
but farmers feared the government’s move to introduce market reforms in
agriculture would leave them poorer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The protests, which
began in northern India, triggered nationwide demonstrations and drew
international support. Dozens of farmers died due to suicides, bad weather and
Covid19.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2021, when the Modi
government repealed the farm laws, the government said it would set up a panel
of growers and government officials to find ways to ensure support prices for
all produce. Farmers accuse the government of going slow in fulfilling that
promise.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Bharat bandh
today: Farmers block roads in Punjab; are banks closed? Top updates on
nationwide protest<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zaksmoRNrCCCgpLRG7h33MX_JAa5TvbOu2J8iHxpdFxfpk68ivL06uaWWQW9FxIwQzazSHjg2JE8Ms2zTQMoN0OicQlIyTH1p7sk-UxGkrceLbQo-ZjHkE45xLj7mxTuWjb3FbJKNBJRUGcXZoxuVggpXVd3lAPAC80NZuV38hABYkdkECe_GkDMF1s/s549/Members%20of%20the%20farm%20union%20Bharatiya%20Kisan%20Union%20(Ekta%20Ugrahan)%20block%20railway%20tracks%20during%20a%20protest%20to%20demand%20minimum%20crop%20prices%20at%20a%20railway%20station%20in%20Rajpura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zaksmoRNrCCCgpLRG7h33MX_JAa5TvbOu2J8iHxpdFxfpk68ivL06uaWWQW9FxIwQzazSHjg2JE8Ms2zTQMoN0OicQlIyTH1p7sk-UxGkrceLbQo-ZjHkE45xLj7mxTuWjb3FbJKNBJRUGcXZoxuVggpXVd3lAPAC80NZuV38hABYkdkECe_GkDMF1s/w640-h360/Members%20of%20the%20farm%20union%20Bharatiya%20Kisan%20Union%20(Ekta%20Ugrahan)%20block%20railway%20tracks%20during%20a%20protest%20to%20demand%20minimum%20crop%20prices%20at%20a%20railway%20station%20in%20Rajpura.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Members of the farm union Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) block railway tracks during a protest to demand minimum crop prices at a railway station in Rajpura</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bharat bandh today:
Gramin or Grameen Bharat Bandh is scheduled to begin from 6am to 4pm. Farmers
would join in ‘chakka jam’ from 12 noon to 4pm Commuters, including
officer-goers and schoolchildren, across the country are likely to face
inconvenience as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of various
farmer unions, and other farmers' groups have called for a ‘Gramin Bharat
Bandh’ or nationwide strike on Friday, February 16, citing a host of unmet
demands, including the legalisation of minimum support prices (MSPs). The
Samyukta Kisan Morcha has also urged all like-minded farmers' organisations to
unite and take part in the February 16 Gramin Bharat Bandh.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Gramin or Grameen
Bharat Bandh is scheduled to begin from 6am to 4pm as the farmers would join in
‘chakka jam’ on major roads across the country from 12 noon to 4pm Several
political parties, including the Congress, have also extended support to the
'Gramin Bharat Bandh'.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Bharat bandh call
comes even as the marathon talks between three Union ministers and leaders of
protesting farmer unions concluded without a resolution in Chandigarh late on
Thursday while Union minister Arjun Munda termed the discussion as “positive”
and said that another meeting will be held on Sunday. The farmer leaders said
they will continue to stay put at the two borders of Punjab and Haryana.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bharat bandh today:
3,000 govt buses to remain off roads in Punjab</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Around 3,000 state-run
buses will stay off roads on Friday as driver and conductor unions affiliated
with Punjab Roadways and PRTC have thrown their weight behind the Bharat Bandh
against the Centre’s proposed hit-and-run law. The law, under Section
106(2)BNS, proposes stringent penalties, including a 10-year jail term and a
fine of ₹7 lakh, for drivers involved in hit-and-run accidents.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In addition to showing
solidarity with the nationwide Bharat bandh call, the Punjab government bus
drivers and conductors demand better security and facilities. They highlight
the risks associated with their profession and the lack of support from
authorities, particularly in cases of accidents. The workers, earning between ₹400
to 500 per day, question how they could afford such hefty fines and provide for
their families.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ludhiana: Farmers
block main roads</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Schools, colleges and
markets are open in Ludhiana, but the bus service is halted. Farmers have
blocked the main roads in different locations. According to officials of Punjab
roadways, most routes have been blocked by the farmers, due to which all the
bus services have been cancelled. Ranjit Singh Bagga, general manager of of
Punjab roadways, said, “We have deputed four buses on different routes,
including Raikot, Chandigarh, Ferozepur and Bathinda but the buses returned due
to road closures. Also, there are no passengers at the bus stand."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bharat bandh: Noida
police issues traffic advisory</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Gautam Buddh Nagar
Police has imposed restrictions under CrPC Section 144, including a ban on
unauthorised public assemblies, across the district in view of Bharat bandh
called by farmers' unions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The police also
cautioned commuters going to Delhi and coming back from the capital city of
traffic diversions in Noida and urged citizens to opt for Metro rail service
"as far as possible" to avoid inconvenience.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The decisions have been
taken in view of the proposed protest marches called by the SKM and other
unions, the police said. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), part of SKM, had
earlier called for a Bharat bandh on February 16. The Noida-based Bharatiya Kisan
Parishad (BKP) has also extended support to the bandh.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bharat bandh:
Traders to continue their business operations</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Traders are poised to
continue their business operations uninterrupted, reaffirming their
"commitment to serving communities and maintaining economic
stability," news agency ANI reported.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BC Bhartia, president,
and Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of the Confederation of All India
Traders (CAIT), said traders will keep their establishments open during the
bharat bandh, emphasising their role in ensuring the availability of essential
goods and services to the public, asserting their right to conduct business and
support the economy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Despite the Bharat
Bandh called by farmers on 16th Feb, traders nationwide stand resilient in
their commitment to serve communities and maintain economic stability. As,
Secretary General of CAIT, I emphasize the vital role traders play in our
nation's economy. We assert our right to conduct business, urging fellow
traders to keep establishments open," posted on X.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The CAIT urged traders
across the country to remain vigilant and ensure the safety of their
establishments and customers during the bharat bandh. The organisation advised
members to cooperate with local authorities and adhere to all safety protocols to
prevent any disruptions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gramin Bharat
Bandh: Are banks, schools, offices closed?</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Transportation,
agricultural activities, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MNREGA) rural works, private offices, village shops, and rural industrial and
service sector institutions are expected to remain shut due to farmer unions'
nationwide strike on February 16. The strike is likely to disrupt roads and
transportation, possibly leading to traffic jams. As of now, school holidays
have not been announced.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Some reports claimed
that emergency services such as ambulance operations, newspaper distribution,
marriage, medical shops, students going for board exams, etc., are unlikely to
be affected during the strike.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As of now, banks haven't
announced about disruption in services. The Reserve Bank of India’s holiday
matrix also states that banks will remain open.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bharat bandh: Why are
farmers protesting again?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2020, farmers held a
massive protest against Centre's now-repealed three far, laws at Delhi borders.This
time around, the ‘Delhi chalo’ call was announced, advocating for legal
guarantees to minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, Swaminathan
Commission's formula implementation, full debt waiver for farmers, pension for
farmers and labourers, and withdrawal of cases against protestors from the
2020-21 demonstrations.The government announces support prices for more than 20
crops each year to set a benchmark, but state agencies buy only rice and wheat
at the support level, benefiting around just 7 per cent of farmers who raise
those crops, news agency Reuters reported.State agencies buy the two staples at
government-fixed MSP to build reserves to run the world's biggest food welfare
programme that entitles 800 million Indians to free rice and wheat. This costs
the government $24.7 billion annually - its largest outgoing subsidy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2021, when the Centre
repealed the farm laws after India's longest farmers' protest in years, the
government said it would set up a panel of growers and government officials to
find ways to ensure support prices for all produce. Farmers accuse the
government of going slow in fulfilling that promise.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The farmers also want
the government to honour a promise to double their incomes, complaining that
costs of cultivation have jumped over the past few years while incomes have
stagnated, making farming a loss-making enterprise.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2016, the Narendra
Modi government pledged to step up investment in rural development, aiming to
double farmer incomes by 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Farmers also insist that
the government ensure at least 50 per cent profit over their overall cost of
production.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Who else are supporting?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A number of public
intellectuals and artists issued a joint statement on Wednesday in support of
the joint call by the workers and farmers for a sectoral industrial strike and
Grameen Bharat Bandh on February 16.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A total of 34 people
signed the joint statement, which appeals to people from all walks of life
"to extend all support to this momentous action" of the farmers and
the workers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prabhat Patnaik,
economist; Irfan Habib, historian; Nasir Tyabji, economic historian; Anil
Chandra, cultural activist; and P Sainath, journalist, are some of the people
who signed the statement.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The Central Trade
Unions (CTUs) and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) have given a united call for
an Industrial/Sectoral Strike and Grameen Bharat Bandh on 16 February. They
have joined forces to launch united and coordinated struggles and bring
together all sections of the labouring classes who face the severest brunt of
the attack by the BJP-led government's pro-corporate, anti-people
policies," the statement read.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The statement claimed
that the farmers and workers have joined hands to create a far more powerful
force to challenge the government's ever-more aggressive offensive on their
lives and livelihoods and its poisonous communal propaganda to disrupt any
united struggle. This force will gain increasing momentum as it takes its
campaign to the farthest corners of the country, the statement said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">'Dilli Chalo'
protest</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The third meeting
between Union ministers and the farmer leaders ended in a stalemate on Thursday
night. The next round of the talks will take place on Sunday. After the meeting
concluded, Union minister Arjun Munda said the third round of talks with the
leaders of the protesting farmers was, however, "positive".<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Today, a very
positive discussion happened between the government and the farmers' unions.
Focusing on the topics highlighted by the farmers' union, we have decided that
the next meeting will take place on Sunday at 6 pm... We all will find a
solution peacefully...," Munda said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The third round of talks
between the Union ministers and the 14 farmer union leaders concluded after
around five hours. Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and minister of
state (MoS) for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, represented the central government
at the meeting. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann was also present at the
meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Congress claims
bank accounts frozen: 'No money to pay electricity bill, salaries'<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGbKBuAFYRmtvWaVD6iHrstJ6m4IKWwtJW0RmAB7-nS_MZQs8d3vbUzC5nh5tdKXVQ5fHiaKLq2I169sH6k7plA-3-iIrNH9vyv8KgjFEK6-0lmZE4FYMMZTBS8vRyfZqjtANi2Mu2MVEF2Ceg2ByCmv5zsbeJX4bYuEyKYiR8pxIY87kgm1FOKTBSNI/s1280/Congress'%20Bank%20Accounts%20Allegedly%20Frozen%20By%20IT%20Department%20Ahead%20Of%20Elections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGbKBuAFYRmtvWaVD6iHrstJ6m4IKWwtJW0RmAB7-nS_MZQs8d3vbUzC5nh5tdKXVQ5fHiaKLq2I169sH6k7plA-3-iIrNH9vyv8KgjFEK6-0lmZE4FYMMZTBS8vRyfZqjtANi2Mu2MVEF2Ceg2ByCmv5zsbeJX4bYuEyKYiR8pxIY87kgm1FOKTBSNI/w640-h360/Congress'%20Bank%20Accounts%20Allegedly%20Frozen%20By%20IT%20Department%20Ahead%20Of%20Elections.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congress' Bank Accounts Allegedly Frozen By IT Department Ahead Of Elections</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress leader
Mallikarjun Kharge said freezing the bank accounts just ahead of the Lok Sabha
elections is an assault on Indian democracy. The Congress party on Friday
alleged that four of its main bank accounts have been frozen by the Income Tax
department on “flimsy grounds”. The accounts, including that of the Indian
Youth Congress, were frozen on an Income Tax demand of ₹210 crore for 2018-19,
an election year, Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Maken added that
Congress had filed its Income Tax return for the concerned year a “few days
late” and that is why this action, according to PTI. “Democracy has completely
ended in India. All the accounts of the country's main opposition party have
been frozen,” Maken said in a press conference.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Maken said that the
party was informed on Thursday that banks are not honouring the cheques issued
by the party.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“On further
investigation, we got to know that the Youth Congress bank accounts have been
frozen. The accounts of the Congress party have also been seized,” Maken said,
according to ANI. "Income tax asked for ₹210 crore recovery from Youth
Congress and Congress party. The crowdfunding money in our accounts has been
frozen. Just 2 weeks before elections when the opposition's accounts are
frozen, it is equivalent to freezing the democracy..."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Maken added that the
party at present lacks funds to spend, settle bills, or pay salaries to its employees."Right
now we don't have any money to spend, to pay electricity bills, to pay salaries
to our employees. Everything will be impacted, not only Nyay Yatra but all
political activities will be impacted..." he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, an hour after
Maken's press conference, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha said that the
party approached the Income Tax Appellate Authority (ITAT) over the issue,
which granted interim relief. “Very graciously, the ITAT...said that there will
be only a lien on the bank account. There are no restrictions. The party can
operate its accounts,” he said in a video message.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He added that the
tribunal will hear the case next on Wednesday.Deep assault on Indian democracy:
Mallikarjun Kharge<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress chief
Mallikarjun Kharge said that the move to freeze the accounts of the country’s
largest Opposition party just before the Lok Sabha elections is a deep assault
on Indian democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Power drunk Modi govt
has frozen the accounts of the country’s largest Opposition party - the Indian
National Congress - just before the Lok Sabha elections,” Kharge wrote on X.
“This is a deep assault on India's Democracy! Kharge alleged that the
“unconstitutional” money collected by the BJP would be utilised by them for
elections, but the money collected by the Congress through crowdfunding has
been seized.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“That is why, I have
said that there won't be any elections in the future. We appeal to the
Judiciary to save the multi-party system in this country and protect India's
Democracy,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kharge added: We will
take to the streets and fight strongly against this autocracy!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress not about
money, but people: Rahul Gandhi</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Reacting to the
development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government
of being behind the IT department's action.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Don't be afraid Modi
ji, Congress is not about the power of money but of people. We have never bowed
down before dictatorship, nor will we ever bow down. Every Congress worker will
fight tooth and nail to protect India's democracy,” he wrote on X.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress leader Shashi
Tharoor also termed the move by the Income Tax department as “shocking” and
“utterly shameful”</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXyf1yvy5jSMr9Rua8aiL71-PsKojP0SprTGpJ0hdtGtdrOstUVBV5xwcWa5QWfTiH89tIyV4r20qpFuxVPfF5R3UbgKIcoFIW2ku8099-M50RQyOnll0_rEjZb-dye_BS1LV6oLADzktT3gFYwXIJeprvv9xotIQcMIardb8AVA_QBuE0gc-8rZa-1Y/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXyf1yvy5jSMr9Rua8aiL71-PsKojP0SprTGpJ0hdtGtdrOstUVBV5xwcWa5QWfTiH89tIyV4r20qpFuxVPfF5R3UbgKIcoFIW2ku8099-M50RQyOnll0_rEjZb-dye_BS1LV6oLADzktT3gFYwXIJeprvv9xotIQcMIardb8AVA_QBuE0gc-8rZa-1Y/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) India vs England
Live Score 3rd Test Day 3, IND vs ENG: Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav strike
early, IND off to flier<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hYz16pObDzZLfgOHz-AB6zPSLvICbkXFW5Ili4LBJ9d6gtf_dJqyiFxO0c0M9c6pQN6s9pbF4lPOHCfWVauwVrQg8vMyjVqJoiXmEVJFt4LXSAc7P9WUGwZGr3lEno5pOp2vzmNGKUSWM3WLfaq0qUXnW6a6r-oR033_pxv3oTVOur5GkSNNMQbv-uw/s549/ndia%20vs%20England%20Live%20Score%203rd%20Test%20Day%203,%20IND%20vs%20ENG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hYz16pObDzZLfgOHz-AB6zPSLvICbkXFW5Ili4LBJ9d6gtf_dJqyiFxO0c0M9c6pQN6s9pbF4lPOHCfWVauwVrQg8vMyjVqJoiXmEVJFt4LXSAc7P9WUGwZGr3lEno5pOp2vzmNGKUSWM3WLfaq0qUXnW6a6r-oR033_pxv3oTVOur5GkSNNMQbv-uw/w640-h360/ndia%20vs%20England%20Live%20Score%203rd%20Test%20Day%203,%20IND%20vs%20ENG.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ndia vs England Live Score 3rd Test Day 3, IND vs ENG</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ravichandran Ashwin made
history on Day 2 by taking his 500th wicket but India will now have to play the
rest of the Test without him as the senior spinner-allrounder withdrew from the
match late on Friday due to a family emergency. This means that India have
their tasks cut out, with England arguably being the happier lot at the end of
the second day despite losing three wickets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ben Duckett has led a
strong reply from England after India scored 445 batting first. England start
Day 3 on 207/2 in just 35 overs, trailing India by 238 runs. Opener Duckett
starts on an overnight score of 133 off just 118 balls and he has Joe Root at
the other end on nine off 13. Duckett has smashed an incredible 21 fours and
two sixes thus far in his innings as England rattled along at a scoring rate
just under six. They were handed a late blow on Day 2 with Ollie Pope falling
to Mohammed Siraj on 39 off 55, thus ending a 93-run stand which he built with
Duckett. Before that, Duckett shared an opening stand of 84 runs with Zak Crawley
which came in just 80 balls.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India's breakthrough
came in the 14th over when Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Crawley on 15 and thus
became the second Indian after Anil Kumble to reach 500 Test wickets. However,
India will have to play without their senior spinner and all-rounder for the
rest of this match a Ashwin withdrew from the match after the day's play on
Friday due to a family emergency. It means that India are effectively left with
10 men to pick from for batting and bowling but they can have a substitute
fielder in place at all times.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Duckett needed only 88
balls for his third test century, all scored after tea. His 118-delivery
innings so far included two sixes and 21 fours. His was the quickest hundred by
an England batter against India, beating Graham Gooch’s 95-ball century in
1990. Duckett also became the first visiting batter to score 100-plus runs
within a test session on Indian soil.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier, India resumed
its first innings on 326-5 and lost Yadav in the fourth over of the morning,
caught behind off James Anderson for 4. The bigger blow came six balls later —
century-maker Jadeja offered a simple return catch to Root. Jadeja was out for
112, adding only two more runs to his total. Overall, he faced 225 deliveries
and hit nine fours as well as a six in his second test hundred at his home
ground.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the drinks break,
Ashwin was penalized by umpire Joel Wilson for running onto the danger area of
the pitch, and England was awarded five penalty runs. That meant it started its
first innings from 5-0. India reached lunch at 388-7 thanks to a 57-run
partnership between Ashwin and debutant Dhruv Jurel for the eighth wicket. Post
lunch, Jurel survived two dropped catches as he made his way to 46. His was the
third highest score for an India keeper-batter on test debut.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jurel was eventually
caught behind off Rehan Ahmed, who finished with 2-85. Overall, Ashwin and
Jurel combined for 77 runs. Jasprit Bumrah scored 26 and frustrated the
visitors with a final 30-run partnership with Siraj. India’s innings ended just
before tea when Mark Wood dismissed Bumrah lbw to finish with 4-114.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Here are some highlights
around IND vs ENG 3rd Test Day 3:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- England start on an
overnight score of 207/2, trailing India by 238 runs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Ben Duckett ended Day
2 batting on 133 off 118, with Joe Root at the other end on nine runs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- England were handed a
late blow with Ollie Pope falling to Mohammer Siraj<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Ravichandran Ashwin
took his 500th wicket by ending an opening partnership of 89 runs between
Duckett and Zak Crawley<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- India will be without
Ashwin for the rest of the Test as he withdrew due to a family emergency late
on Friday<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Ayhika
Mukherjee, Sreeja Akula stun world No 1 and 2 as beaten India rattle China<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENTat8oWMCCygvwRAq2t0kcthJolSfI6EQUXILyopVNZi5xRZzWqUKmXTg4FgFfTmRNtu94dMXAW0gCAMHoE4tGs1HzynT8D4o9-Q7SZuiBnZft9Pqb-t5RAF3WN5DJh1JPX5rDGQamPWStw_yLLR9KePXSyehg9kaJ_4TXAH98oGMfvZEL34G3Kr6r0/s549/India's%20Ayhika%20Mukherjee%20in%20action..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENTat8oWMCCygvwRAq2t0kcthJolSfI6EQUXILyopVNZi5xRZzWqUKmXTg4FgFfTmRNtu94dMXAW0gCAMHoE4tGs1HzynT8D4o9-Q7SZuiBnZft9Pqb-t5RAF3WN5DJh1JPX5rDGQamPWStw_yLLR9KePXSyehg9kaJ_4TXAH98oGMfvZEL34G3Kr6r0/w640-h360/India's%20Ayhika%20Mukherjee%20in%20action..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India's Ayhika Mukherjee in action.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The powerhouses restored
order to eke out a 3-2 victory in the end, but not before they were rattled
unlike too many times in the recent past. In table tennis, the Chinese aren't
used to this. Their women's team blazed to the 2022 World Team Table Tennis
Championships gold medal without dropping a single match. Sun Yingsha has never
been beaten in an event of such kind, winning all her 26 singles matches in
international team tournaments.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Enter Ayhika Mukherjee
and Sreeja Akula, with their Friday blockbusters featuring the biggest wins of
their singles careers. The two stunned World No 1 Sun and No 2 Wang Yidi,
respectively, to hand India a jaw-dropping 2-1 lead against China in their
opening encounter of this World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan. The
powerhouses restored order to eke out a 3-2 victory in the end, but not before
they were rattled unlike too many times in the recent past.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is now the second
time in less than six months that Indian women have come out on top in
encounters with the Chinese — a feat considered almost improbable in women's TT
— after Ayhika and Sutirtha Mukherjee went past Wang and Cheng Meng for last
year's Asian Games doubles bronze.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was Ayhika, with her
unique Dr. Neubauer Gorilla backhand rubber, that set the Sun on the world No
1's winning march with a 3-1 (12-10, 2-11, 13-11, 11-6) outcome that gave India
the head start. India's top-ranked Manika Batra went down to world No 4 Wang
Manyu 1-3 (3-11, 8-11, 15-13, 6-11) before Sreeja, fresh into the top 50, got
the team back up with a clinical 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 13-11) triumph over No 2
Wang. Manika again managed to snatch a game yet not the match in her 1-3 defeat
to Sun (3-11, 6-11, 13-11, 9-11), while Manyu remained too good for Ayhika in
the 3-0 (11-9, 13-11, 11-6) decider.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The defeat, especially
from the position they found themselves in, would pinch India, but also pump in
belief for their remaining group matches — they take on Hungary next on Sunday
— as they seek a quarter-final finish and a Paris Olympics quota from this
event.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ayhika, ranked 155 in
singles, kept the top-ranked player in a daze with her change of pace from the
anti-spin backhand rubber, mixed by some terrific forehand winners especially
off returns. The Indian trailed in every game, and still found a way to edge
ahead. From being 3-5 and 7-10 in the opening game, Ayhika saved three game
points and sealed it winning a rally where every shot came off her backhand.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sun kept her at bay in
the second game but Ayhika's combination of backhand slices followed by fast
forehands proved effective in the third game, where she again zoomed ahead from
5-9 down. Sun sure was feeling the heat, getting a card for time-wasting in the
fourth game and dishing out a service error at 6-6. From 8-6, Ayhika delivered
three cracking forehands and a first bump in the end to seal the incredible
win.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I really feel
great beating Sun Yingsha. Today was my day... I was confident and I just told
myself that I should enjoy the match," Ayhika was quoted as saying by WTT.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">World No. 1 foxed by
Ayhika’s change of pace, the world No. 2 was blown away by Sreeja’s forehand.
Sreeja said she has been working on that facet of her game to go with her
long-pimped backhand rubber, and in the first two points itself against Wang,
her big forehands were out. The 25-year-old Indian was bossing the forehand
duels with the 2021 Worlds singles bronze medallist — like to go 9-7 up in the
first game or reduce a 1-4 deficit in the second. Working into rallies with her
backhand and unleashing the forehand the moment she got Wang out of position, a
composed Sreeja pocketed the second game despite trailing for most of it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Indian was off to a
6-1 lead in the third on the back of a forehand winner, and even though Wang
got back in it to set herself up for a game point, Sreeja saved it with another
big forehand and eventually got the job done in straight games.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Against a Chinese,
that’s a rare sight. Even rarer? Defeating two of them in a day.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Indian women
assured of historic medal after entering semis in Badminton Asia Team
Championship by beating Hong Kong<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1ynwEuwjyeaBICOSv-HYVMhj2TtnMKkEEfPS7hG0p2L3EpluX_wReZkn4_mer7N39wOCNMoUsyEKMSzSiHtpyzR7m9JEDp1_HAiZqVpIchpJ8VbDeht3K2i0y4gEr0eUZ7J4oTip-qIaBMnTbN38oMAl6P88LW4usDF5V5ivp7pvqU-uDbNsx7KZo1Q/s549/Indian%20women's%20badminton%20team%20creates%20history.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1ynwEuwjyeaBICOSv-HYVMhj2TtnMKkEEfPS7hG0p2L3EpluX_wReZkn4_mer7N39wOCNMoUsyEKMSzSiHtpyzR7m9JEDp1_HAiZqVpIchpJ8VbDeht3K2i0y4gEr0eUZ7J4oTip-qIaBMnTbN38oMAl6P88LW4usDF5V5ivp7pvqU-uDbNsx7KZo1Q/w640-h360/Indian%20women's%20badminton%20team%20creates%20history.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian women's badminton team creates history</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After stunning top seeds
China to top the group stage, India blanked Hong Kong. Indian women shuttlers
assured themselves of a maiden Badminton Asia Team Championships medal by
cruising to a 3-0 win over Hong Kong in the quarterfinals at Shah Alam in
Malaysia on Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After stunning top seeds
China to top the group stage, India blanked Hong Kong riding on wins from
double Olympic-medallist PV Sindhu, Ashmita Chaliha and the doubles pair of
Ashwini Ponappa and Tanisha Crasto.India will now face the winner of the other
quarterfinal between top seed Japan and China.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Returning from a long
injury layoff, Sindhu registered a hard-fought 21-7, 16-21, 21-12 win against a
lower-ranked Lo Sin Yan Happy.The women's doubles combination of Tanisha and
Ponnappa then doubled the lead by getting the better of world no. 18
combination of Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam 21-10, 21-14 in 35 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ashmita then wrapped up
the tie with a comfortable 21-12, 21-13 triumph over Yeung Sum Yee, assuring
the team of at least a bronze."It is a comfortable result for the women's
team. I am very happy with their performance," former national coach Vimal
Kumar, who is with the team, told PTI from Shah Alam."There was a little
drift, so it was initially difficult to control the shuttle as it was going
out. Sindhu was stretched a bit as it was tough from one end due to the drift
but it is a good result, we are in the semifinals."Up against world no. 77
Lo, Sindhu zoomed to 11-1 in the opening game after her rival found the going
tough. The Indian conceded six points after resumption before wrapping up the
game.It turned out to be a tight battle after the change of sides as Sindhu and
Lo moved neck and neck till 10-10 before the Hong Kong player went into the
break with a one-point lead with the help of a cross drop.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lo jumped to a 15-10
lead thereafter with Sindhu struggling to control the shuttle, hitting at the
net and long. Lo too produced some good shots, including a body smash and
Sindhu made few judgement errors at the backline.Lo eventually took the match
to the decider when Sindhu went to the net again.In the decider, Sindhu was
back in her element as she rushed to a 5-1 lead. Lo did engage the Indian in
some exciting rallies but she lacked precision. The result was that Sindhu took
a 11-7 cushing at the break after Lo served into the net.After resumption,
Sindhu used her variety of strokes to accumulate points quickly, moving to
17-8. She grabbed nine match points when Lo sprayed into net and converted it
in the second chance with Lo again going wide.The Indian men's team will face
Japan later in the day in the quarterfinals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Carlos Alcaraz
into Buenos Aires semi-finals<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V-aymH5e2LxW7nIU3zoT5ZOJcuN8kUFBaeVHcpKTpyUrlzLCwfWkc_1Y09OQewcjN6ZlYGOD9QkHt-PHzkfQwJdFD4bJnSuH9gYEzYdUYOBN5kRyv2JSOeoGrLni18VmFsG7GXavImq8ZI0Z-aseMsT3PS5DRCqgcyY20nHHRvAJFteeYbDYVvpZeV4/s549/Carlos%20Alcaraz,%20of%20Spain,%20celebrates%20a%20point%20during%20an%20Argentina%20Open%20ATP%20quarterfinal%20tennis%20match%20against%20Andrea%20Vavassor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V-aymH5e2LxW7nIU3zoT5ZOJcuN8kUFBaeVHcpKTpyUrlzLCwfWkc_1Y09OQewcjN6ZlYGOD9QkHt-PHzkfQwJdFD4bJnSuH9gYEzYdUYOBN5kRyv2JSOeoGrLni18VmFsG7GXavImq8ZI0Z-aseMsT3PS5DRCqgcyY20nHHRvAJFteeYbDYVvpZeV4/w640-h360/Carlos%20Alcaraz,%20of%20Spain,%20celebrates%20a%20point%20during%20an%20Argentina%20Open%20ATP%20quarterfinal%20tennis%20match%20against%20Andrea%20Vavassor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates a point during an Argentina Open ATP quarterfinal tennis match against Andrea Vavassor</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">World number two
Alcaraz, playing his first tournament since a shock quarter-final exit at the
Australian Open, came through 7-6 (7/1), 6-1.Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz
reached the semi-finals of the Buenos Aires clay-court tournament on Friday
with a straight-sets win over Italian qualifier Andrea Vavassori.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">World number two
Alcaraz, playing his first tournament since a shock quarter-final exit at the
Australian Open, came through 7-6 (7/1), 6-1 against his 152nd-ranked opponent.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Vavassori, who stunned
three-time major winner Andy Murray on clay at the Madrid Masters last year,
matched the Spanish star blow-for-blow in the opening set.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, Alcaraz then
raced into a 5-0 lead in the second set before sealing victory after an hour
and 40 minutes on court."In the first set he played such a high
level," Alcaraz said."It was really tough to return his serve and
challenging conditions with the wind. But I think I played better in the second
set."His level went down a bit, with his serve as well and I put some
returns in, took my chances and I think that was the difference."The
20-year-old Spaniard will face either Chilean third seed Nicolas Jarry or
Argentina's Tomas Etcheverry, seeded sixth, for a place in Sunday's title
match.The other semi-final will be an all-Argentine affair with Facundo Diaz up
against Federico Coria.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Ramkumar
Ramanathan feels India can tame Sweden on clay in Davis Cup<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLwTlVFYhrYS6kHJGHIPfAn4zchSryY-FFg-WoG5p67Kyc0Pm0lHjgc0jkuKuu3JJzPNt9P8jKTXH3h1XSHQuv98MNeEdYnppIUxraYivjGDUJ-K11ZMq8qN_CCFt9OZTgKNqDBwWBiKceCjf2DVNzD-5t5ADVmXXZKH_nINTJ1X7Im6a4FKnpDit2rc/s549/Ramkumar%20said%20their%20familiarity%20with%20the%20game%20style%20of%20Sweden%20players%20will%20also%20stand%20them%20in%20good%20stead..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLwTlVFYhrYS6kHJGHIPfAn4zchSryY-FFg-WoG5p67Kyc0Pm0lHjgc0jkuKuu3JJzPNt9P8jKTXH3h1XSHQuv98MNeEdYnppIUxraYivjGDUJ-K11ZMq8qN_CCFt9OZTgKNqDBwWBiKceCjf2DVNzD-5t5ADVmXXZKH_nINTJ1X7Im6a4FKnpDit2rc/w640-h360/Ramkumar%20said%20their%20familiarity%20with%20the%20game%20style%20of%20Sweden%20players%20will%20also%20stand%20them%20in%20good%20stead..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramkumar said their familiarity with the game style of Sweden players will also stand them in good stead.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ramkumar Ramanathan says
Indian Davis Cup team is well-equipped to tackle the challenge of Sweden.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ramkumar Ramanathan says
Indian Davis Cup team is well-equipped to tackle the challenge of Sweden even
if the hosts choose to play on clay courts in the September tie. Indian team
will travel to Sweden, hoping to get its first win over the European nation in
the sixth clash between the two sides.Ramkumar said their familiarity with the
game style of Sweden players will also stand them in good stead.India qualified
for the World Group after beating Pakistan 4-0 recently in the playoffs held in
Islamabad.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I am sure they are
going to play on clay. But we have been playing some unbelievable tennis and
then there is Sumit Nagal, and I think he can grind them off, and I am sure he
is very fit too," Ramkumar told media here during the felicitation
ceremony of Davis Cup players organised by the KSLTA."Rankings don't
matter on court because it comes down to how well we play on that particular
day. You have seen how Aisam (ul-Haq Quershi of Pakistan) performed (in the
Davis Cup), right?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The function was also
attended by N Sriram Balaji, Saketh Myneni, Nikki Poonacha and Sunil Yajaman,
the joint secretary of KSLTA.Ramkumar also hoped to polish his singles skills
further ahead of the Sweden tie.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Sweden is a great
team and they have some very good players like Elias (Ymer, a world No.
160)."I am looking forward to play some good singles in the next few
months. I have played Elias and he is a very skilled player. He has an
unbelievable backhand and plays some very consistent tennis from the baseline.
So, we know a few things about them and we need to use them."It is going
to be a close contest, but I am sure we have an edge in doubles," said
Ramkumar.Even though Rohan Bopanna no longer competes in the Davis Cup, India
have a formidable doubles contingent with Yuki Bhambri, Sriram Balaji, Vijay
Prashanth and Anirudh Chandrasekhar featuring inside top 100 rankings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Bopanna is
phenomenal’</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ramkumar also lauded
Bopanna, who recently climbed to world No. 1 spot in doubles rankings."It
is a phenomenal job, as being number one in the world is spectacular. It is not
easy at all. I have to congratulate him for all the hard work and sacrifices he
has done."Indian tennis and Indian players can look up to him for what he
has achieved and I am sure he will inspire several players,” said Ramkumar, a
former doubles partner of Bopanna.The players also reminisced about their
first-ever trip to Pakistan and rated it as a memorable experience on and off
the field.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) India's 3rd
straight ICC final loss to Australia at U19 World Cup triggers meme meltdown<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXSFKDUTTxpzbBkDQs9izNefGe9ZNw91GQSXPrH08C-gcxS3pVKYATY3u88gSL37cdRMwhoxvLBGexDksGC4A-SlH2oKailjLUXPEMgYXwCEuaWKIEyxAYjrcly2f7aG04WeLEH-h1MZh4RzXasvE88vSiEo_0FtjRU5nZ0m94XKCiqukR6-KIYza5Mo/s549/Australia%20U19%20players%20celebrate%20a%20wicket%20during%20the%20final%20match%20against%20India's%20U19%20in%20the%20ICC%20Under-19%20World%20Cup%202024,%20at%20Willowmoore%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXSFKDUTTxpzbBkDQs9izNefGe9ZNw91GQSXPrH08C-gcxS3pVKYATY3u88gSL37cdRMwhoxvLBGexDksGC4A-SlH2oKailjLUXPEMgYXwCEuaWKIEyxAYjrcly2f7aG04WeLEH-h1MZh4RzXasvE88vSiEo_0FtjRU5nZ0m94XKCiqukR6-KIYza5Mo/w640-h360/Australia%20U19%20players%20celebrate%20a%20wicket%20during%20the%20final%20match%20against%20India's%20U19%20in%20the%20ICC%20Under-19%20World%20Cup%202024,%20at%20Willowmoore%20Park.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australia U19 players celebrate a wicket during the final match against India's U19 in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024, at Willowmoore Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India faced a
third-successive ICC final loss to Australia in less than a year, facing a
79-run loss in the U19 World Cup final. In yet another chapter of World Cup
final heartbreak, Australia inflicted a crushing defeat on defending champions
India, clinching victory by a significant margin of 79 runs to seize their
fourth Under-19 World Cup title at Willowmoore Park on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The loss marked India's
second consecutive defeat against Australia in the World Cup final within a
short span of just three months; the senior men's team had faced a six-wicket
defeat at the hands of Pat Cummins' Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final
last November. India's pursuit of a daunting target of 254 runs encountered
early hurdles as Australia's bowlers set the tone with two maiden overs,
foreshadowing the demanding task that lay ahead for the Indian batters. The
side kept losing wickets at regular intervals, with India's highest partnership
coming for the ninth wicket (44 runs).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Indian U19 team
experienced a parallel narrative to their senior men's counterparts this year,
triumphing in every match except the final. Following the loss, social media
platforms were abuzz with commendation for the Australian team, alongside
Indian fans expressing admiration for their own team despite the setback.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Concurrently, the third
consecutive defeat to Australia sparked a wave of humorous memes and jokes on
X.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjgTaIzzffkd_XYZpdf48qHdIwrXi_04Yeqdu0blzsRaOXcD9-Sh9mUDkI-NsbP2wB_vMAjZSgTkWbaielbaW9DTV4HnyEhGouJGTP9toaag3P_irTlaOoyAu3X02Uajns53psCOnn9_FFJg7B-ahyDHqLuyBIADvnLJ8nIXMYKRKIKLLjbm6YUXRDdg/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjgTaIzzffkd_XYZpdf48qHdIwrXi_04Yeqdu0blzsRaOXcD9-Sh9mUDkI-NsbP2wB_vMAjZSgTkWbaielbaW9DTV4HnyEhGouJGTP9toaag3P_irTlaOoyAu3X02Uajns53psCOnn9_FFJg7B-ahyDHqLuyBIADvnLJ8nIXMYKRKIKLLjbm6YUXRDdg/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SALAAR (HINDI) –
DISNEY+ HOTSTAR<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizWR7WqrghC7tjDwXrfSjDTBu80c3FaRiwVzykDcsfnWSurToDBqv179NQyTumOCBPdKRI7qm-vypG-2KQQqyGBUJybMfR7l6RyYbyxF-wSzQaANkanlSBHhh35o7ePklAM3in9DtHboQ9EKEeP4HmciYfd5iVQDCS1lTUOTdLbCQRIoJhFSvTlzV0kI/s1200/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizWR7WqrghC7tjDwXrfSjDTBu80c3FaRiwVzykDcsfnWSurToDBqv179NQyTumOCBPdKRI7qm-vypG-2KQQqyGBUJybMfR7l6RyYbyxF-wSzQaANkanlSBHhh35o7ePklAM3in9DtHboQ9EKEeP4HmciYfd5iVQDCS1lTUOTdLbCQRIoJhFSvTlzV0kI/w640-h426/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After minting crores at
the box office, Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s action film, Salaar, is
scheduled to arrive in Hindi on Disney+ Hotstar. Helmed by Prashanth Neel, the
first part of the Telugu film revolved around a tribesman who aids his friend
in becoming the undisputed ruler of Khansaar. A must-watch film for all cinephiles
who love the action genre.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">THIS IS ME…NOW: A
LOVE STORY – AMAZON PRIME VIDEO<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF4yWhqKJFNF8Clk_NH3bX1Rk-xYQuaT97gXBX7W2LRnoYe35qCxxG6xDlXcVTBXRcbfdZHp0W1J42UK1c5cLBgvIXysDp1wwCyZct3Ihl84kQZTLD3pGeWB9vEDYzi3mgQ8owyLru3vHPKs62nian9B9O_34EKZUyKhBp9TE2xugZ0dE_lBsXDxKRH0/s1046/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="1046" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF4yWhqKJFNF8Clk_NH3bX1Rk-xYQuaT97gXBX7W2LRnoYe35qCxxG6xDlXcVTBXRcbfdZHp0W1J42UK1c5cLBgvIXysDp1wwCyZct3Ihl84kQZTLD3pGeWB9vEDYzi3mgQ8owyLru3vHPKs62nian9B9O_34EKZUyKhBp9TE2xugZ0dE_lBsXDxKRH0/w640-h360/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Watch American singer
and actress Jennifer Lopez star in Amazon Prime Video‘s musical movie, This Is
Me…Now: A Love Story, which narrates her journey to love through her own eyes.
Directed by Dave Meyers, the upcoming title is another binge-worthy title on
the list of upcoming Friday OTT releases.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">EINSTEIN AND THE
BOMB – NETFLIX<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CFAg_yTjPjCaEsj42K7YhoOhIAnWNnmEA3m6tT-Eami538B847YQirEo_D3omQdDCuT2OxbF6A0m2mitNUnx1uLCffyILZRb5_bbpR180HCQ79owGmAWvTmWwWpQzwQkIm7jiloOEZ7_0Us84XkMsetAf8QywtYCULcrafIHjcdEzjkyxFYstTyuhuY/s1500/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CFAg_yTjPjCaEsj42K7YhoOhIAnWNnmEA3m6tT-Eami538B847YQirEo_D3omQdDCuT2OxbF6A0m2mitNUnx1uLCffyILZRb5_bbpR180HCQ79owGmAWvTmWwWpQzwQkIm7jiloOEZ7_0Us84XkMsetAf8QywtYCULcrafIHjcdEzjkyxFYstTyuhuY/w640-h640/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What happened after
theoretical physicist Einstein fled Nazi Germany? Netflix’s upcoming docuseries
Einstein and the Bomb answers all your questions using archival footage and key
moments from his life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">THE KERALA STORY –
ZEE5<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglakGJwUkG4ddWBKNVbWIuQL3ICvBwN4mf8Xrz-38xBzCA1_6MHaCA1iGQiPPKhtwtgUcnfgUvkUkXN1XwwxfP0lWthd5SU57Ev-5Y-Tpz4O8HlezkzZjQ2ETjxTLf9r5593G_Rj8iZGMmf3gA-icdAMR2l_cttazi80p0E17_yuIOQo55P_54rehMNM/s1200/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglakGJwUkG4ddWBKNVbWIuQL3ICvBwN4mf8Xrz-38xBzCA1_6MHaCA1iGQiPPKhtwtgUcnfgUvkUkXN1XwwxfP0lWthd5SU57Ev-5Y-Tpz4O8HlezkzZjQ2ETjxTLf9r5593G_Rj8iZGMmf3gA-icdAMR2l_cttazi80p0E17_yuIOQo55P_54rehMNM/w640-h360/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Directed by Sudipto Sen,
The Kerala Story is a hard-hitting movie that tells the tale of a group of
women who were kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam by a terrorist group.
Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film made on a budget of Rs 15 crore,
ended up earning over Rs 300 crore at the box office.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">KSHETRAPATI –
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSk9WLKtJBoXLCxhPLoLPVrZ4NNjNtu5D6NI4PJpx5-1Sukksj4nDnjZdfEjiSbiIhJZsiWH5uB6s70BCefwIvPuOUTRPOA-qlSDQmJ_UTTbhHYMRFvTbOpvMx6GxS4-oxqgwt5xUqg0ZMZ_r3rwev9vYk0t3pSg5rIT7Lh1sg2dW437Y3pRmZapo-9lE/s1280/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSk9WLKtJBoXLCxhPLoLPVrZ4NNjNtu5D6NI4PJpx5-1Sukksj4nDnjZdfEjiSbiIhJZsiWH5uB6s70BCefwIvPuOUTRPOA-qlSDQmJ_UTTbhHYMRFvTbOpvMx6GxS4-oxqgwt5xUqg0ZMZ_r3rwev9vYk0t3pSg5rIT7Lh1sg2dW437Y3pRmZapo-9lE/w640-h360/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The list of new OTT
releases arriving this Friday includes an exciting Kannada movie titled
Kshetrapati. Written and directed by Shrikant Katagi, the movie starring Naveen
Shankar revolves around a young man who rages a fight against the corrupt
system and government officials after his father’s death.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uttWMTmXoBIm9juB1kceaaa6FUVvxSgGH8VoZI-zK8CHI3BHL8OVvFHjZNpQeK2x4PsVjczoZsC5ES1g0GtoGhYM5iR9ok9MmXRJVCJHntdg7tCyDGIGNni7jChaNEciFNNqG3LPsqydNt58v7y3GMk4nbS90eeO6FDXZCakLdL7bmIEaUM9kSXb4UI/s1804/ai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1804" data-original-width="1181" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uttWMTmXoBIm9juB1kceaaa6FUVvxSgGH8VoZI-zK8CHI3BHL8OVvFHjZNpQeK2x4PsVjczoZsC5ES1g0GtoGhYM5iR9ok9MmXRJVCJHntdg7tCyDGIGNni7jChaNEciFNNqG3LPsqydNt58v7y3GMk4nbS90eeO6FDXZCakLdL7bmIEaUM9kSXb4UI/w418-h640/ai.jpg" width="418" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOkk5ylFXsGUukCaKx_jq0G2KSqkMq11K4W69CDcSbTQH3ev-dSOnpXWATM67RU7OukY8-TFUvaMDBUiUMfdmo7G3Zp_bb-gi7J5Scww3boLv2bxxZMSDlQl3jL2WHdwKk4FLeEb9N-c8fxYXqkD-ww-wV0OGzegrt-hqATroSGSL63vDEz0bz6iHv4A/s1796/ai0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="1207" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOkk5ylFXsGUukCaKx_jq0G2KSqkMq11K4W69CDcSbTQH3ev-dSOnpXWATM67RU7OukY8-TFUvaMDBUiUMfdmo7G3Zp_bb-gi7J5Scww3boLv2bxxZMSDlQl3jL2WHdwKk4FLeEb9N-c8fxYXqkD-ww-wV0OGzegrt-hqATroSGSL63vDEz0bz6iHv4A/w430-h640/ai0001.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">AI for You: The New
Game Changer:by Shalini Kapoor (Author), Sameep Mehta (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Artificial Intelligence
is all around us. It is set to transform the way we run businesses. Yet people
fear it and businesses struggle to derive maximum value from it. Learning from
the best practices of industry leaders, AI For You brings together frameworks
and tools for infusing AI in business processes. The book demystifies AI,
simplifies the complexities around AI technologies and describes how to take AI
from lab to field while satisfying the concerns of different stakeholders.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A must-read for
builders, consumers, sponsors and sellers of AI, AI For You lays down the
building blocks for the AI revolution while attempting to close the gap between
the promise of AI and its actual impact.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shalini Kapoor</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is a technologist, innovator and thought leader. Her
path breaking technological solutions have launched global businesses and she
now focuses on tech for impact to the billions. A well-known voice at industry
forums, she has 15 patents, several women in STEM awards and was honoured as
the first IBM Fellow in India<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxXKDwfJEFcCS8cDWCemcaRnvEcGC87VXAj1feKIZfMFF5gKLBeSn0vSA9mJK98PXxlmm5aGX1CCfowcdNMLl2wMhXPjotcjkhI9GmRGyLxEQmQPfKPHGROwZTwcBeLp8TER9SHvDK9dZLSzW9io08HZOoxGCfC4OjojoeCiIn1VJjqjfJKTCZPv8tHQ/s1152/SHALINI%20KAPOOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxXKDwfJEFcCS8cDWCemcaRnvEcGC87VXAj1feKIZfMFF5gKLBeSn0vSA9mJK98PXxlmm5aGX1CCfowcdNMLl2wMhXPjotcjkhI9GmRGyLxEQmQPfKPHGROwZTwcBeLp8TER9SHvDK9dZLSzW9io08HZOoxGCfC4OjojoeCiIn1VJjqjfJKTCZPv8tHQ/w640-h320/SHALINI%20KAPOOR.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sameep Mehta</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is a leader in the area of AI with 50+ patents and 80+
publications. He finished his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 2006.
This book is the outcome of his vast experience in incubating AI research
agenda, performing research and making the technology available to customers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUDfzu-OYQPmqFMlrpf1g-Y0LLwzFHYjABPxMHn9xmekeH6yZcUSMZLgKSG8aS8sKrZ-8I0KDhNnqdc8T0RvujcQi8jNx7DnN8wFEQwsBcseWP6ZpVc-kMMjU9wDI_x7LUYbP_bhgde6-Drc79jterC10HOuTghG-s9NqUTtRCEOda8btBMFcW1SHRVw/s1280/SAMEEP%20MEHTA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUDfzu-OYQPmqFMlrpf1g-Y0LLwzFHYjABPxMHn9xmekeH6yZcUSMZLgKSG8aS8sKrZ-8I0KDhNnqdc8T0RvujcQi8jNx7DnN8wFEQwsBcseWP6ZpVc-kMMjU9wDI_x7LUYbP_bhgde6-Drc79jterC10HOuTghG-s9NqUTtRCEOda8btBMFcW1SHRVw/w640-h360/SAMEEP%20MEHTA.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p><br /></div></div></div><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-18895528360350826302024-02-10T22:30:00.003+09:002024-02-10T23:35:40.413+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS NEWS THIS WEEK: SCIENCE,POLITICAL,SPORTS ,MOVIES AND BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-4epJa7NS8TZxxFwgkdiIfkc63Izp1eT1GXoTwHawvN2QOLEBxl4bEIGEyyF1PdgzSiwuRNungO5Em3728PxxbE6AXPWkwSrXexN8oYCFoinknlN9BiraFIDa3MhmunEW9epAX9dHxjsNZi3atS2QW-w4BiUGmalLpHqzOOes7jUa7I70SqPp08ahUI/s960/newsweek10224gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-4epJa7NS8TZxxFwgkdiIfkc63Izp1eT1GXoTwHawvN2QOLEBxl4bEIGEyyF1PdgzSiwuRNungO5Em3728PxxbE6AXPWkwSrXexN8oYCFoinknlN9BiraFIDa3MhmunEW9epAX9dHxjsNZi3atS2QW-w4BiUGmalLpHqzOOes7jUa7I70SqPp08ahUI/w640-h480/newsweek10224gif.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIJai1Q5_NAGZB1upjuuQ1n6H4k-WuowX7j27czm2tVUZ0CEikk9aQ1bCCP5kJSanZLD1RXqm5wYQQcy-b07VBgerT_8_c0F4ipLm9LmoRCi0k7v-AiUGnwDRY6pyNbsiBg2Tl9QVsI0HSYN7MRpXWfeqKSxooSdDB-t6KKrjlA8ySODjaq24X-f0OCg/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIJai1Q5_NAGZB1upjuuQ1n6H4k-WuowX7j27czm2tVUZ0CEikk9aQ1bCCP5kJSanZLD1RXqm5wYQQcy-b07VBgerT_8_c0F4ipLm9LmoRCi0k7v-AiUGnwDRY6pyNbsiBg2Tl9QVsI0HSYN7MRpXWfeqKSxooSdDB-t6KKrjlA8ySODjaq24X-f0OCg/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) New mRNA 'cancer
vaccine' trial launches in UK By Nicoletta Lanese <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_RD0xaaXcc1dhxiSyCkQ2f5csW0RxM_79EMRx2lOdIdrAXd2CAP_bMoZpzGHWXasRhREqw5TipIwyiykkwwIzvYg5TqaUdfcKe3fOcJ8f0GHbLNHiMcDo2ypj0GMNTmijyaLeBh8X3vrBFFWsVEHBPJ5KlXMNqoYcddwf4bApL0TD5LrSaqCEpudytc/s299/CANCER-VACCINE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="299" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_RD0xaaXcc1dhxiSyCkQ2f5csW0RxM_79EMRx2lOdIdrAXd2CAP_bMoZpzGHWXasRhREqw5TipIwyiykkwwIzvYg5TqaUdfcKe3fOcJ8f0GHbLNHiMcDo2ypj0GMNTmijyaLeBh8X3vrBFFWsVEHBPJ5KlXMNqoYcddwf4bApL0TD5LrSaqCEpudytc/w640-h471/CANCER-VACCINE.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The first U.K. patient
has received a dose of "cancer vaccine" in a new trial. An
81-year-old man from Surrey became the first patient in the U.K. to receive a
new "vaccine" designed to treat solid-tumor cancers, such as the skin
cancer melanoma.</span></b><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmMZf-KpRBTWfOJP8hjTOkRh66wYJa_6AHY_9RF-Ps0XP66mZ23rFntEjHOgFCzO5ymBAMVZieQSx5oZ1fK2L6zSAHsqCVQdmYOtyI3B4o_m4Xgh8Z21lX8hIq902GXGFyW0vBSz6f7PbBIwJQXMEbFBKhsjyH50oUkhW7DZmim3iFFUEohyyKnwm_FY/s4724/diffcancer%20vaccines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="4724" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmMZf-KpRBTWfOJP8hjTOkRh66wYJa_6AHY_9RF-Ps0XP66mZ23rFntEjHOgFCzO5ymBAMVZieQSx5oZ1fK2L6zSAHsqCVQdmYOtyI3B4o_m4Xgh8Z21lX8hIq902GXGFyW0vBSz6f7PbBIwJQXMEbFBKhsjyH50oUkhW7DZmim3iFFUEohyyKnwm_FY/w640-h352/diffcancer%20vaccines.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TYPES OF CANCER VACCINE</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Therapeutic cancer
vaccines act as a kind of immunotherapy, meaning they help train the immune
system to fight cancer cells. They're different from vaccines that prevent
cancer, such as the HPV vaccine that's incredibly effective at preventing
cervical cancer. In the U.S., there are a handful of therapeutic cancer
vaccines approved for melanoma, prostate cancer and bladder cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new vaccine being
tested in the U.K. and elsewhere around the world is called mRNA-4359,
according to a statement from the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, one of
the institutions running the global trial. Similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech and
Moderna vaccines against COVID-19, the treatment contains a genetic molecule
called mRNA. This cousin of DNA can relay instructions to the protein-building
factories in cells, prompting them to churn out specific proteins. In the case
of mRNA-4359, the vaccine instructs cells to make proteins commonly found on
cancerous solid tumors. These proteins then get presented to the body's immune
system, which builds up an arsenal to go after the cancer cells.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">mRNA-4359 is considered
a "ready-made" cancer vaccine — it's designed to be used in any
patient with a particular type of cancer, off-the-shelf, because it goes after
proteins commonly present on those tumor types. Other mRNA cancer vaccines in
development are more personalized. For example, there's a pancreatic cancer
vaccine that's made using genetic information drawn from a patient's own
tumors. Thus, it's tailored to target proteins found on that specific patient's
cancer cells. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNf4XrH9Y3iZ55mEIhOljyPGwR1aEKxYFLw8pr4hhTWzlMl8sGLdMsF9ufMeMo1PckE-3f1NenJJP3EGS6M6g1uWHUNx_RNueO2FOvNXkNrlk6OwuizmAQST4-8T32-ps7VgM9eW4gjG_-ogFoEncZg5E5vvyfaSqjWtHKUrnwdYwVCuXqt8sN7hlQrAQ/s1308/Dr%20David%20Pinato,%20who%20is%20leading%20the%20trial%20at%20Imperial..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1308" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNf4XrH9Y3iZ55mEIhOljyPGwR1aEKxYFLw8pr4hhTWzlMl8sGLdMsF9ufMeMo1PckE-3f1NenJJP3EGS6M6g1uWHUNx_RNueO2FOvNXkNrlk6OwuizmAQST4-8T32-ps7VgM9eW4gjG_-ogFoEncZg5E5vvyfaSqjWtHKUrnwdYwVCuXqt8sN7hlQrAQ/w640-h376/Dr%20David%20Pinato,%20who%20is%20leading%20the%20trial%20at%20Imperial..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr David Pinato, who is leading the trial at Imperial.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The mRNA-4359 trial is
testing whether the vaccine appears safe and tolerable to human patients. It
will both be tested in isolation and as an add-on to an existing immunotherapy
called pembrolizumab. As a secondary measure, the trial organizers will also
see whether the treatment shrinks the tumors of lung and skin cancer patients. </span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5GD98LErbCqssZkWoWPqrO8NVwGa9AmlHkmdQKDxKjrtF7NqVGDNVSgdiYh2oZ9x707t38MevF4Nu4ZkdIbdI4VTjIrhVP2usu3LuiJ4hbsE0VUrxe6tPFho0SJ6mLXFUnMaBtS2zUUgRuHfYXrOiIuA8ihdy6cr_SxNOCPrqFnbeNCE7-_ST_EBMtA/s785/mRNA-based%20vaccine%20mode%20of%20action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="642" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5GD98LErbCqssZkWoWPqrO8NVwGa9AmlHkmdQKDxKjrtF7NqVGDNVSgdiYh2oZ9x707t38MevF4Nu4ZkdIbdI4VTjIrhVP2usu3LuiJ4hbsE0VUrxe6tPFho0SJ6mLXFUnMaBtS2zUUgRuHfYXrOiIuA8ihdy6cr_SxNOCPrqFnbeNCE7-_ST_EBMtA/w524-h640/mRNA-based%20vaccine%20mode%20of%20action.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; mso-ansi-language: EN;">IMAGE DESCRIPTION :</span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> mRNA-based vaccine mode of action mRNA is taken up by antigen-presenting cells and peptides are loaded on MHC class I for antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell activation. Extracellular proteins are cross-presented on MHC class I or loaded on MHC class II for CD4+ T-cell activation. CD4+ T cells can co-activate protein-specific B cells, and B cells can activate CD4+ T cells after B-cell receptor-mediated antigen internalisation.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The effectiveness of the vaccine will be probed further in future studies.
"This research is still in the early stages and may be a number of years
from being available to patients,"<u> Dr. David Pinato, a clinician
scientist at Imperial College London's Department of Surgery & Cancer and a
consultant medical oncologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust</u>,
said in the statement. "But this trial is laying crucial groundwork that
is moving us closer towards new therapies that are potentially less toxic and
more precise."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8ReY6fBvptfenFWpv8UKhmYWDZAnaetiAdhdBJLe0jm2yFlQX2hMxGlOjfWRsK1Saz6Llq0skT2f7Dea_8cSUh4T_3BMDCMQi0FWq7VOecz3sXU_aiLvJv8KbINa_RMcNZgyfWzaeJq1XIX62BJcr2zMvDaYHhJW4ZzMKsTg9OlLvCRCQyFZZhQufac/s1294/CANCER%20PAITENT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1294" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8ReY6fBvptfenFWpv8UKhmYWDZAnaetiAdhdBJLe0jm2yFlQX2hMxGlOjfWRsK1Saz6Llq0skT2f7Dea_8cSUh4T_3BMDCMQi0FWq7VOecz3sXU_aiLvJv8KbINa_RMcNZgyfWzaeJq1XIX62BJcr2zMvDaYHhJW4ZzMKsTg9OlLvCRCQyFZZhQufac/w640-h470/CANCER%20PAITENT.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">First patient receives treatment</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An 81-year-old man from
Surrey with treatment-resistant malignant melanoma was the first person in the
UK to receive mRNA-4359 in late October.The patient, who wishes to remain
anonymous, said: “I was pleased to be offered a chance to take part in a new
trial. Fundamentally, it's a relief. I knew from my original diagnosis that I
had something that was never going to go away, or unlikely to go away.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I had a different
immunotherapy, I had radiotherapy; the only thing I didn't have was
chemotherapy. So, the options were either do nothing and wait, or get involved
and do something.”On being the first patient: “It's been OK. Obviously you
can't refer back to anybody else, but hopefully it's going to be given to many
more patients and it is going to be successful. The other thing I realised from
being on a trial before was that just because one person has a reaction of one
kind, it doesn't mean that everybody will.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It was a little strange
thinking, well, ‘how are they going to measure this?’. But of course, obviously
the whole point of a trial like this is to take something that you've done
preliminary tests on and give it to patients to see what happens.”The first
person treated in the U.K. arm of the trial wishes to remain anonymous, but
said "I was pleased to be offered a chance to take part in a new
trial."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Fundamentally,
it's a relief. I knew from my original diagnosis that I had something that was
never going to go away, or unlikely to go away," he said in the statement.
The man has a treatment-resistant malignant melanoma and he'd already received
a different immunotherapy and radiotherapy prior to the trial.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The trial is sponsored
by the pharmaceutical company Moderna and set to recruit patients around the
world over the next three years. Each patient will be followed up for a period
of up to 34 months after treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Patients on the trial
will receive either mRNA-4359 alone, or mRNA-4359 and Pembrolizumab, and will
be followed up for a period of up to 34 months. Preclinical testing in both
cell and animal models of cancer provided initial evidence that mRNA-4359 had
an effect on the immune system, providing a rationale for it to be offered in
early-phase clinical trials.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvgQwVnBGu-KNAwcuXx3gD-O5alsf5OoHKdWIjZghh5KWLS1Byjd-w1W5XkJOePFTGQXuFhmuVK-8NqjFJylM3-_0sn-KowRvIU2iUF4lBSU2jWdZElltbJNE0lafKB3dP4WlDBDaQo_7uAQbszIILjFAylzzktzbWBfzGGbs7Fw6GrD_0PRTr3ni-D0/s2840/The%20advantages%20of%20mRNA%20vaccines%20in%20the%20context%20of%20cancer%20therapy..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="2840" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvgQwVnBGu-KNAwcuXx3gD-O5alsf5OoHKdWIjZghh5KWLS1Byjd-w1W5XkJOePFTGQXuFhmuVK-8NqjFJylM3-_0sn-KowRvIU2iUF4lBSU2jWdZElltbJNE0lafKB3dP4WlDBDaQo_7uAQbszIILjFAylzzktzbWBfzGGbs7Fw6GrD_0PRTr3ni-D0/w640-h502/The%20advantages%20of%20mRNA%20vaccines%20in%20the%20context%20of%20cancer%20therapy..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The advantages of mRNA vaccines in the context of cancer therapy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The study is a Phase
1/2, non-randomised trial, so all patients receive the same treatment. It is
also an open-label trial, so clinicians and patients know what they are
receiving – unlike blinded trials, where patients don’t know which treatment
they are receiving. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2)Bronze Age
'treasure' was crafted with extraterrestrial metal By Jennifer Nalewicki<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QcRwEHMUsaxDwbSfKyKPlZg2_9w_MYxmXOrTd67eG4Cc5OS7wPViYZ1jzno0_UFjdm57XVYendMvsANEyzT5SJ8BImX7RdvYa60wWhjjYHnx1I_rWhLVmUU6WaEUJqQQXD08fFZc4E1hVhGEFmGM52N_ukNYnlGxn0PD2NBpb2_omu9w1OyLwfjeI3o/s1245/The%20Treasure%20of%20Villena%20(left)%20is%20considered%20the%20most%20important%20prehistoric%20treasure%20in%20Europe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1245" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QcRwEHMUsaxDwbSfKyKPlZg2_9w_MYxmXOrTd67eG4Cc5OS7wPViYZ1jzno0_UFjdm57XVYendMvsANEyzT5SJ8BImX7RdvYa60wWhjjYHnx1I_rWhLVmUU6WaEUJqQQXD08fFZc4E1hVhGEFmGM52N_ukNYnlGxn0PD2NBpb2_omu9w1OyLwfjeI3o/w640-h360/The%20Treasure%20of%20Villena%20(left)%20is%20considered%20the%20most%20important%20prehistoric%20treasure%20in%20Europe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Treasure of Villena (left) is considered the most important prehistoric treasure in Europe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers determined
that two artifacts in the Bronze Age hoard were made with meteoric iron.A
dazzling Bronze Age hoard discovered in Spain more than 60 years ago contains
some out-of-this-world metal, as a new analysis reveals that parts of the
treasures were made from meteoric iron.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The hoard, known as the
Treasure of Villena and discovered by archaeologists in 1963, encompasses a
total of 59 bottles, bowls and pieces of jewelry exquisitely crafted from gold,
silver, amber and iron.Upon the hoard's discovery, in a gravel pit in the
province of Alicante, however, researchers noticed a few curious details about
some of the iron pieces. At the time, they described the items as being crafted
of "a dark leaden metal. It is shiny in some areas, and covered with a
ferrous-looking oxide that is mostly cracked," according to El País, a
newspaper in Spain.Now, new research has revealed that the iron used in two of
the artifacts originated from a meteorite that fell to Earth around 1 million
years ago, according to a translated study published Dec. 30 in the journal
Trabajos de Prehistoria. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUy1fWs59uhIsc_Us_HgZGFn4_tYkdbpru2d7u2f-LoPKY2EAJZnlH864zZ7BFK2gIAx-IIY-wK7FRr5LSb-ssC9_GGVWPcl5-qSJC1ZXisPXzzfJJrutw9a4ghG2Nut4qjHie_czmPL_4w5b3wSiJrpBFWl4_iElS8KubPVoFcMMXUNdaL-BMT56SZ7Q/s640/The%20Treasure%20of%20Villena%20is%20one%20of%20the%20most%20important%20archaeological%20finds%20in%20Europe..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUy1fWs59uhIsc_Us_HgZGFn4_tYkdbpru2d7u2f-LoPKY2EAJZnlH864zZ7BFK2gIAx-IIY-wK7FRr5LSb-ssC9_GGVWPcl5-qSJC1ZXisPXzzfJJrutw9a4ghG2Nut4qjHie_czmPL_4w5b3wSiJrpBFWl4_iElS8KubPVoFcMMXUNdaL-BMT56SZ7Q/w640-h360/The%20Treasure%20of%20Villena%20is%20one%20of%20the%20most%20important%20archaeological%20finds%20in%20Europe..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Treasure of Villena is one of the most important archaeological finds in Europe.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the new study,
researchers tested two of the iron pieces: a C-shaped bracelet and a hollow
sphere topped with a gold sheet that may have once decorated a sword's pommel.
Both items were crafted between 1400 and 1200 B.C.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The connection
between gold and iron is important, as both elements have a as both elements
have a great symbolic and social value," study senior author Ignacio
Montero Ruiz, a researcher at Spain's Institute of History, told Live Science
in an email. "In this case, [the artifacts] were … probably hidden
treasure that could have belonged to a whole community and not to a single
person. There were no kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula at this historical
period."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg092Gz1LAttp7ybxihky45js7cnb31KlL7vN6zB7-zqXj5wqbJPODmrC-ubJHEelFUeuC6Qjz1in1izrGKdyXfhwAAhnV-bYpU7CrKNPgMFL44gdhKmtw-OHeG4ZV7sU2SiU7mSf1Sv3VTknxFl75U-RrCVDwPx_uzD58jFuKNf7V6h_NnwTXbI4W5C4U/s1200/A%20sword%20pommel%20from%20the%20Villena%20hoard,%20made%20with%20iron%20from%20a%20meteorite%20and%20inlaid%20gold%20which%20forms%20a%20four-pointed%20star%20motif..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1200" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg092Gz1LAttp7ybxihky45js7cnb31KlL7vN6zB7-zqXj5wqbJPODmrC-ubJHEelFUeuC6Qjz1in1izrGKdyXfhwAAhnV-bYpU7CrKNPgMFL44gdhKmtw-OHeG4ZV7sU2SiU7mSf1Sv3VTknxFl75U-RrCVDwPx_uzD58jFuKNf7V6h_NnwTXbI4W5C4U/w640-h464/A%20sword%20pommel%20from%20the%20Villena%20hoard,%20made%20with%20iron%20from%20a%20meteorite%20and%20inlaid%20gold%20which%20forms%20a%20four-pointed%20star%20motif..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sword pommel from the Villena hoard, made with iron from a meteorite and inlaid gold which forms a four-pointed star motif.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Using mass spectrometry,
a technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of molecules, they measured
traces of iron-nickel alloy that were comparable to that found in meteoric
iron, according to the study.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Given that the
compositions of the artifacts are very similar, "both objects could [have]
come from the same meteorite," Montero Ruiz said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The iron
technology is completely different to the copper-based metallurgy and to the
noble metals (gold and silver)," he added. "So, people who started to
work with meteoritic iron and later with terrestrial iron must [have had to]
innovate and develop new technology." <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He added that it is
"fascinating" to see how cultures innovated with new technologies,
noting that "experimentation and curiosity were a part of these past
societies."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While researchers remain
unsure of who crafted the objects and where they originated, they do know that
these are both the first and oldest meteoritic iron objects found in the
Iberian Peninsula, according to the study.The artifacts also offer new insight
into metallurgy practices from the Late Bronze Age. The only known artifacts
that include meteoric iron from the first millennium B.C. include an arrowhead
from 900 B.C. found in Mörigen, Switzerland, and a few objects from Poland from
around 800 B.C. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnvwP1L_CKb1UzWR3eFk4xC1DY76-8QWCov7DP3xfKCW35UncfEiumMzmOcZwBX9KGugpEk8j7knpigp7Xzq33DoV9pYXNCEKZsum9b0Z417WtZOMNcQ5TrnSo5QxU5w7-c9eG4Kq3bnPESjp-NG8x6fwVdFwrKeTza4V97QGg3iWmbZqmrTnlzM0LJ4/s650/Replicas%20of%20artifacts%20that%20belong%20to%20the%20Villena%20hoard%20in%20Spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="650" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnvwP1L_CKb1UzWR3eFk4xC1DY76-8QWCov7DP3xfKCW35UncfEiumMzmOcZwBX9KGugpEk8j7knpigp7Xzq33DoV9pYXNCEKZsum9b0Z417WtZOMNcQ5TrnSo5QxU5w7-c9eG4Kq3bnPESjp-NG8x6fwVdFwrKeTza4V97QGg3iWmbZqmrTnlzM0LJ4/w640-h360/Replicas%20of%20artifacts%20that%20belong%20to%20the%20Villena%20hoard%20in%20Spain.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replicas of artifacts that belong to the Villena hoard in Spain</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As for where the hoard's
artifacts came from, that's still up in the air."One option is [they] came
from the eastern Mediterranean where other contemporary objects are known (for
example, the dagger and other items from [King] Tutankhamun's tomb),"
Montero Ruiz said. "We do not have arguments to support a more local
production, because other meteoritic iron in Europe has later chronologies
(from Poland or Switzerland)."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The items are part of
the collection at the Archaeological Museum in Villena, Spain.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Viagra may help
to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, study finds by Ian Sample Science
editor<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseIzuZGcM5R_V5Uht89ph7tYXWdgT-VPMsRBCHNcLlr3JOgyPXoOaZgLGO4qVzFZnHjMl0AfqmVm8E5giTB6i86hJOoQzo4BlTyHX7Q10QlEYPz7RmEkdGSKgOmDGOt7JhrJ3EcMwmxS-31nGeItgKUFk0AbUoJqEllUCP6Aiq09yAvL7KDOkPgX43JM/s1900/PDE5%20inhibitor%20drugs%20like%20Viagra%20improve%20blood%20flow%20in%20the%20brain,%20which%20may%20give%20a%20protective%20effect..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1900" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseIzuZGcM5R_V5Uht89ph7tYXWdgT-VPMsRBCHNcLlr3JOgyPXoOaZgLGO4qVzFZnHjMl0AfqmVm8E5giTB6i86hJOoQzo4BlTyHX7Q10QlEYPz7RmEkdGSKgOmDGOt7JhrJ3EcMwmxS-31nGeItgKUFk0AbUoJqEllUCP6Aiq09yAvL7KDOkPgX43JM/w640-h384/PDE5%20inhibitor%20drugs%20like%20Viagra%20improve%20blood%20flow%20in%20the%20brain,%20which%20may%20give%20a%20protective%20effect..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PDE5 inhibitor drugs like Viagra improve blood flow in the brain, which may give a protective effect.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Research by UCL, which
examined medical records of 260,000 men with erectile dysfunction, has provided
‘food for thought After a decades-long and largely fruitless hunt for drugs to
combat Alzheimer’s disease, an unlikely candidate has raised its head: the
erectile dysfunction pill Viagra.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers found that
men who were prescribed Viagra and similar medications were 18% less likely to
develop the most common form of dementia years later than those who went
without the drugs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The effect was strongest
in men with the most prescriptions, with scientists finding a 44% lower risk of
Alzheimer’s in those who received 21 to 50 prescriptions of the erectile
dysfunction pills over the course of their study.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While the findings are
striking, the observational study cannot determine whether Viagra and similar
pills protect against Alzheimer’s or whether men who are already less prone to
the condition are simply more likely to use the tablets. “We can’t say that the
drugs are responsible, but this does give us food for thought on how we move
into the future,” said the lead author Dr Ruth Brauer at University College
London. “We now need a proper clinical trial to look at the effects of these
drugs on Alzheimer’s in women as well as men.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Brauer and her
colleagues analysed medical records for more than 260,000 men who were
diagnosed with erectile dysfunction but had no evidence of memory or thinking
problems.Just over half were taking PDE5 inhibitor drugs, including sildenafil
(sold as Viagra), avanafil, vardenafil and tadalafil. The men were followed for
an average of five years to record any new cases of Alzheimer’s.An estimated 55
million people live with dementia around the world, most of which is due to
Alzheimer’s. New drugs that clear aberrant proteins from the brain have shown
promise for slowing down the disease, but the effects of the medicines appear
marginal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Viagra was originally
developed to treat angina and high blood pressure, but when Welsh miners who
took part in a trial in Merthyr Tydfil remarked on its unexpected night-time
side-effects, the drug became a multibillion dollar erectile dysfunction pill.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PDE5 inhibitors work by
relaxing veins and arteries, allowing blood to flow more freely. Studies in
animals show that this improves blood flow in the brain, which may help protect
against Alzheimer’s. Further work has shown that PDE5 inhibitors raise levels
of a compound called cGMP, which may also help to protect brain cells.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There are other possible
explanations for the findings, published in the journal Neurology.Because the
information is not recorded reliably in medical records, the researchers were
unable to account for differing levels of physical and sexual activity among
the men. It may be that the most physically and sexually active men, who had a
low risk of developing Alzheimer’s, were most likely to use Viagra or similar
pills.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Previous studies into
Viagra and Alzheimer’s have found contradictory effects. In 2021, researchers
at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio reported a 69% lower risk of Alzheimer’s among
Viagra users, while a Harvard study in 2021 found no protective effect in
patients with pulmonary hypertension.‘That’s just normal forgetting’: the
difference between memory loss and dementia – and how to protect your brain<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If PDE5 inhibitors do
protect against Alzheimer’s, the drugs would be expected to work in women as
well as men. “We think it would be very worthwhile to run a trial in a wide
group of people,” Brauer said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIJRr5KghEFhExGYWazNo3xzKTAHGz0DMl1T-_guO61JJeQjVStnQYr23As6INUXkuZ5WDRcUEl_rkCmzRIT5OuvWl60AvtBrn9CXPf6-5AlubSaPP9cfphhiNvwX5ofnUDbI-J1TOTbNv3LG4QOdCOZ_It41sRkhSNoY7N1fOnBZMreu9err8fjoarA/s550/These%20drugs%20attack%20gunge%20called%20beta%20amyloid%20which%20builds%20up%20in%20the%20brains%20of%20people%20with%20Alzheimer's..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="550" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIJRr5KghEFhExGYWazNo3xzKTAHGz0DMl1T-_guO61JJeQjVStnQYr23As6INUXkuZ5WDRcUEl_rkCmzRIT5OuvWl60AvtBrn9CXPf6-5AlubSaPP9cfphhiNvwX5ofnUDbI-J1TOTbNv3LG4QOdCOZ_It41sRkhSNoY7N1fOnBZMreu9err8fjoarA/w640-h350/These%20drugs%20attack%20gunge%20called%20beta%20amyloid%20which%20builds%20up%20in%20the%20brains%20of%20people%20with%20Alzheimer's..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These drugs attack gunge called beta amyloid which builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“This is a significant
development, as repurposing existing drugs for the prevention of dementia is a
promising strategy to stop dementia from developing in the first place,” said
Dr Ivan Koychev, a senior clinical researcher at the University of Oxford.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But he warned that it
would be difficult to run a blinded placebo-controlled trial, where neither
doctors nor patients know who receives which, given the prominent effects of
the drugs.Dr Leah Mursaleen, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said
developing drugs for Alzheimer’s disease was costly and could take many
years.“Being able to repurpose drugs already licensed for other health
conditions could help accelerate progress and open up new avenues to prevent or
treat dementia-causing diseases,” she added.Dr Madhav Thambisetty, a senior
investigator at the US National Institute on Aging, whose 2021 study found no
protective effect of Viagra, said there is always a risk of unmeasured factors,
such as the quality of people’s sleep or how well they control their diabetes,
producing false results.He also questioned the plausibility of a drug like
sildenafil, which is only used when needed in patients with erectile
dysfunction, altering the course of a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative
disease.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“While sildenafil is
known to reach the brain from blood, can its levels in the brain be maintained
at high enough concentrations over a sustained period of time that may be
required to alter the trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease?” he said.“This is an
important question to consider for drugs like sildenafil that are only used ‘as
needed’ in comparison to drugs that are used every day or multiple times a day
over a prolonged period of time.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) New species of
Jurassic pterosaur discovered on the Isle of Skye : by University of Bristol<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqOnit-QBmz3BK-4c6OtUltw1VfFYgujHm2IKmaKMCB7WM7JMoPMtL8zAfHcmRwdm7GM_P7_xVIlob8TgfYG8V1qGdSbnCGuFhvZ16CJFK53Yh9l-GsH0e_heZ-mOATW7XXSX_Y7WMVLtnVk0zDUtBv52CTP_7iIe6boCRuqCYXMi9Lj8ZqyP77tSV4Y/s2250/Reconstruction%20of%20Ceoptera%20evansae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="2250" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqOnit-QBmz3BK-4c6OtUltw1VfFYgujHm2IKmaKMCB7WM7JMoPMtL8zAfHcmRwdm7GM_P7_xVIlob8TgfYG8V1qGdSbnCGuFhvZ16CJFK53Yh9l-GsH0e_heZ-mOATW7XXSX_Y7WMVLtnVk0zDUtBv52CTP_7iIe6boCRuqCYXMi9Lj8ZqyP77tSV4Y/w640-h356/Reconstruction%20of%20Ceoptera%20evansae.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reconstruction of Ceoptera evansae</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A new species of pterosaur
from specimens found on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, has been announced by
scientists from the Natural History Museum, University of Bristol, University
of Leicester, and University of Liverpool. The new pterosaur is part of the
Darwinoptera clade of pterosaurs. Its discovery shows that the clade was
considerably more diverse than previously thought, and persisted for more than
25 million years, from the late Early Jurassic to the latest Jurassic. During
this period species within the clade spread worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The discovery underpins
a new and more complex model for the early evolution of pterosaurs. The study
"A new pterosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Skye, Scotland and the early
diversification of flying reptiles" is published in the Journal of Vertebrate
Paleontology.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuSSykjHcnKBK9vMDkAST6xuM-qvajglyO4kmOFACIlh_rVP_Ine9HiYzer8rwhr46SHzbn8dslrcSyJlGFXloAtL309TbvpnZdImkdbtmgPQLQF3kLG3agpws1ukpIZpkAXsum6J9AL0GmrQ0z3jjoGugcmoZ6EEZH9OkxNHQ_8iYQM-u_2mE_1y84c/s2880/Close%20up%20on%20part%20of%20the%20skeleton%20of%20Ceoptera%20evansae%20showing%20the%20shoulder%20region,%20parts%20of%20the%20wing%20and%20verterbae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="2880" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuSSykjHcnKBK9vMDkAST6xuM-qvajglyO4kmOFACIlh_rVP_Ine9HiYzer8rwhr46SHzbn8dslrcSyJlGFXloAtL309TbvpnZdImkdbtmgPQLQF3kLG3agpws1ukpIZpkAXsum6J9AL0GmrQ0z3jjoGugcmoZ6EEZH9OkxNHQ_8iYQM-u_2mE_1y84c/w640-h500/Close%20up%20on%20part%20of%20the%20skeleton%20of%20Ceoptera%20evansae%20showing%20the%20shoulder%20region,%20parts%20of%20the%20wing%20and%20verterbae.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up on part of the skeleton of Ceoptera evansae showing the shoulder region, parts of the wing and verterbae</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The rarity of Middle
Jurassic pterosaur fossils and their incompleteness have previously hampered
attempts to understand early pterosaur evolution. This discovery shows that all
principal Jurassic pterosaur clades evolved well before the end of the Early
Jurassic, earlier than previously realized. The discovery also shows that
pterosaurs persisted into the latest Jurassic, alongside avialans, the
dinosaurs which eventually evolved into modern birds. The remains consist of a
partial skeleton of a single individual, including parts of the shoulders,
wings, legs and backbone. Many of the bones remain completely embedded in rock
and can only be studied using CT-scanning.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Professor Paul Barrett,
Merit Researcher at the Natural History Museum and senior author on the paper,
said, "Ceoptera helps to narrow down the timing of several major events in
the evolution of flying reptiles. Its appearance in the Middle Jurassic of the
U.K. was a complete surprise, as most of its close relatives are from China. It
shows that the advanced group of flying reptiles to which it belongs appeared
earlier than we thought and quickly gained an almost worldwide
distribution." Prof. Barrett and his colleagues described the new species,
naming it Ceoptera evansae: Ceoptera from the Scottish Gaelic word Cheò,
meaning mist (a reference to the common Gaelic name for the Isle of Skye Eilean
a' Cheò, or Isle of Mist), and the Latin -ptera, meaning wing. Evansae honors
Professor Susan E. Evans, for her years of anatomical and palaeontological
research, in particular on the Isle of Skye.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmvjQyKDXWT1gw0J81pgYZFSC-6p0KlbHFnqmlddHOZJHa2FkoHgZSijvIZD91qv49G640owM5qp3KeHfJD1zi0SZjErauGsERCDRUrriLlwt8jvd1UKLr1DIc6nUSG2ZFcNKVaTBMUc4l5nDAE9HsYLxqd2Y4j4y9Q2eaqfVdF0gFOMC0greSfCAMmQ/s2880/3D%20models%20of%20skeleton.%20Credit%20Natural%20History%20Museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1996" data-original-width="2880" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmvjQyKDXWT1gw0J81pgYZFSC-6p0KlbHFnqmlddHOZJHa2FkoHgZSijvIZD91qv49G640owM5qp3KeHfJD1zi0SZjErauGsERCDRUrriLlwt8jvd1UKLr1DIc6nUSG2ZFcNKVaTBMUc4l5nDAE9HsYLxqd2Y4j4y9Q2eaqfVdF0gFOMC0greSfCAMmQ/w640-h444/3D%20models%20of%20skeleton.%20Credit%20Natural%20History%20Museum.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3D models of skeleton. Credit Natural History Museum</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lead author Dr. Liz
Martin-Silverstone, a palaeobiologist from the University of Bristol, said,
"The time period that Ceoptera is from is one of the most important
periods of pterosaur evolution, and is also one in which we have some of the
fewest specimens, indicating its significance. To find that there were more
bones embedded within the rock, some of which were integral in identifying what
kind of pterosaur Ceoptera is, made this an even better find than initially
thought. It brings us one step closer to understanding where and when the more
advanced pterosaurs evolved."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) AI reads ancient
scroll buried by Vesuvius eruption:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgJft67qEpT6baFdUB-ByOAY7FzGa_B8F_j6sAvkexIKVN3xo430biT7lJ8rCCOUEH7zkJSgH4hM2iGFaAFVMncFEui5BfkPBDc7sVbID77FiQ3B9PNbs25jhoUfP4hzFblQgJd6x_aukQZz7BKVlagNxuLQNucw7-wUWHe6hvbFwsQmQZLpbnNe1NpU/s1200/VESUVIUS-SCROLL2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgJft67qEpT6baFdUB-ByOAY7FzGa_B8F_j6sAvkexIKVN3xo430biT7lJ8rCCOUEH7zkJSgH4hM2iGFaAFVMncFEui5BfkPBDc7sVbID77FiQ3B9PNbs25jhoUfP4hzFblQgJd6x_aukQZz7BKVlagNxuLQNucw7-wUWHe6hvbFwsQmQZLpbnNe1NpU/w640-h334/VESUVIUS-SCROLL2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Three researchers on
Monday won a $700,000 prize for using artificial intelligence to read a
2,000-year-old scroll that was scorched in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The
Herculaneum papyri consist of about 800 rolled up Greek scrolls that were
carbonized during the 79 CE volcanic eruption that buried the ancient Roman town
of Pompeii, according to the organizers of the "Vesuvius Challenge."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILiMprpdGsJMi37qy1iqW7pBB0xu4Zf6bO8kCu92IAeGVBSoCx7w8JK817EcKLKApizOAF-f17UnU6o-N5_Kz3ZJWHqATzTLG7kVjUk71cGZNSiwpADxsgqrR1yGDjxnzN5cbCVvW3VuRid60cnlqK5tkRe6MZ1BTOwjoXlPEjSlxsBbjcqsc408ykag/s776/AI%20unravels%20scrolls%20that%20haven't%20been%20read%20in%202,000%20years.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="776" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILiMprpdGsJMi37qy1iqW7pBB0xu4Zf6bO8kCu92IAeGVBSoCx7w8JK817EcKLKApizOAF-f17UnU6o-N5_Kz3ZJWHqATzTLG7kVjUk71cGZNSiwpADxsgqrR1yGDjxnzN5cbCVvW3VuRid60cnlqK5tkRe6MZ1BTOwjoXlPEjSlxsBbjcqsc408ykag/w640-h426/AI%20unravels%20scrolls%20that%20haven't%20been%20read%20in%202,000%20years.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AI unravels scrolls that haven't been read in 2,000 years</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Resembling logs of
hardened ash, the scrolls, which are kept at Institut de France in Paris and
the National Library of Naples, have been extensively damaged and even crumbled
when attempts have been made to roll them open.As an alternative, the Vesuvius
Challenge carried out high-resolution CT scans of four scrolls and offered one
million dollars spread out among multiple prizes to spur research on them.The
trio who won the prize was composed of Youssef Nader, a Ph.D. student in
Berlin, Luke Farritor, a student and SpaceX intern from Nebraska, and Julian
Schilliger, a Swiss robotics student.The group used AI to help distinguish ink
from papyrus and work out the faint and almost unreadable Greek lettering
through pattern recognition.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXlIIzIaTgML3RXW-m1ziDZmv6MAyWQJhvOXZsJgFdNElXIBLoq6DrFs8wmd6ot_iM6wH8-0VKMlwRFJQ6T1m-pnvsNqHI4WXY3aBtuzPXKMoJxEDKV1z8LR55JbKCevKI5cBt26_Mk7tT5mgllT5H4Qg8P5XmLzkv3aSArXzSku9xgY4X3KK9UavDwQ/s2880/Credit%20Tara%20Winstead%20from%20Pexels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2880" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXlIIzIaTgML3RXW-m1ziDZmv6MAyWQJhvOXZsJgFdNElXIBLoq6DrFs8wmd6ot_iM6wH8-0VKMlwRFJQ6T1m-pnvsNqHI4WXY3aBtuzPXKMoJxEDKV1z8LR55JbKCevKI5cBt26_Mk7tT5mgllT5H4Qg8P5XmLzkv3aSArXzSku9xgY4X3KK9UavDwQ/w640-h426/Credit%20Tara%20Winstead%20from%20Pexels.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Some of these
texts could completely rewrite the history of key periods of the ancient
world," Robert Fowler, a classicist and the chair of the Herculaneum
Society, told Bloomberg Businessweek magazine.The challenge required
researchers to decipher four passages of at least 140 characters, with at least
85 percent of characters recoverable.Last year Farritor decoded the first word
from one of the scrolls, which turned out to be the Greek word for "purple."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkq0eumcEV3pVT94ju_yh6umPKVryLqhZ1d66_w5fY5dDYql-QMN8Q71qur4zBNf-66fZaMXlfZ0SRUaEsBQqcS-bS3JT_Pp9vEA1CN1NVqeEO7p5PUSXpM5AZB1LgSdLuHv_KiAkuEKHJ2sIKKRfqdJdfb2nW4faLtOliCzJfUUSo7jGIQkzSyXK9bo/s1900/High-resolution%20CT%20scans%20of%20a%20scroll%20were%20taken%20at%20Diamond,%20the%20UK%E2%80%99s%20national%20synchrotron%20facility%20in%20Oxfordshire..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1900" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkq0eumcEV3pVT94ju_yh6umPKVryLqhZ1d66_w5fY5dDYql-QMN8Q71qur4zBNf-66fZaMXlfZ0SRUaEsBQqcS-bS3JT_Pp9vEA1CN1NVqeEO7p5PUSXpM5AZB1LgSdLuHv_KiAkuEKHJ2sIKKRfqdJdfb2nW4faLtOliCzJfUUSo7jGIQkzSyXK9bo/w640-h384/High-resolution%20CT%20scans%20of%20a%20scroll%20were%20taken%20at%20Diamond,%20the%20UK%E2%80%99s%20national%20synchrotron%20facility%20in%20Oxfordshire..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High-resolution CT scans of a scroll were taken at Diamond, the UK’s national synchrotron facility in Oxfordshire.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jointly, their efforts
have now decrypted about five percent of the scroll, according to the
organizers.The scroll's author was "probably Epicurean philosopher
Philodemus," writing "about music, food, and how to enjoy life's
pleasures," wrote contest organizer Nat Friedman on X.The scrolls were
found in a villa thought to be previously owned by Julius Caesar's patrician
father-in-law, whose mostly unexcavated property held a library that could
contain thousands more manuscripts.The contest was the brainchild of Brent
Seales, a computer scientist at the University of Kentucky, and Friedman, the
founder of Github, a software and coding platform that was bought by
Microsoft.The recovery of never-seen ancient texts would be a huge
breakthrough: according to data from the University of California, Irvine, only
an estimated 3 to 5 percent of ancient Greek texts have survived.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IPaGp983x-H_cv3AcnCuwJGO7GQuo1rmzXvPuMKH_FCkCF3pJxD-6W1xTFA_yUUo5CgjtfL9tiX5TcVFVjcM4Rm6CykMXoddzgKSPgu3KLP-rTz9hpkYWk0g3ejeGtHBIfYIjsQRWMd2NKHxLMK9GgvBr2dwsR8lSF0yGlGYOgMJig6HuQrVHhOKUNE/s1900/One%20of%20the%20Herculaneum%20scrolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1900" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IPaGp983x-H_cv3AcnCuwJGO7GQuo1rmzXvPuMKH_FCkCF3pJxD-6W1xTFA_yUUo5CgjtfL9tiX5TcVFVjcM4Rm6CykMXoddzgKSPgu3KLP-rTz9hpkYWk0g3ejeGtHBIfYIjsQRWMd2NKHxLMK9GgvBr2dwsR8lSF0yGlGYOgMJig6HuQrVHhOKUNE/w640-h384/One%20of%20the%20Herculaneum%20scrolls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Herculaneum scrolls</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This is the start
of a revolution in Herculaneum papyrology and in Greek philosophy in general.
It is the only library to come to us from ancient Roman times," Federica
Nicolardi of the University of Naples Federico II told The Guardian
newspaper.In the closing section, the author of the scroll "throws shade
at unnamed ideological adversaries—perhaps the stoics?—who 'have nothing to say
about pleasure, either in general or in particular,'" Friedman said.The
next phase of the competition will attempt to leverage the research to unlock
85 percent of the scroll, he added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Innovation in
stone tool technology involved multiple stages at the time of modern human
dispersals, study finds :by Nagoya University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglo2G6yZwoDLMj37BH0F-lL62fNmu-pt-cYURBfvMM3zr036jWV2_zTkdClveodyMbhvTI9nVSu4xKd-yvRtubNp94il3v-D3NBW6VuIdTQyVFurqwcrKM5YGq0JbFPc2y75tbb47j1KxWW1PI9T26_mBJidRf5VohhX9qyTpoJQXyesyDk7bIn898Pg/s2880/STONE%20TOOLS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="2880" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglo2G6yZwoDLMj37BH0F-lL62fNmu-pt-cYURBfvMM3zr036jWV2_zTkdClveodyMbhvTI9nVSu4xKd-yvRtubNp94il3v-D3NBW6VuIdTQyVFurqwcrKM5YGq0JbFPc2y75tbb47j1KxWW1PI9T26_mBJidRf5VohhX9qyTpoJQXyesyDk7bIn898Pg/w640-h360/STONE%20TOOLS1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The increase in the productivity of stone tool cutting-edge (shown in white lines) did not occur before or at the beginning of Homo sapiens' wide dispersals in Eurasia but subsequently occurred after their initial dispersals, coinciding with the development of bladelet technology in the Early Upper Paleolithic. Credit: Reiko MatsushitaThe experimental setup and examples of the lithics.(a) Knapping footage. (b) Discoidal core and flakes. (c) Earlier (left) and later (right) handaxes. (d) Preferential Levallois core and flake. (e) Recurrent Levallois core and flakes. (f) and (g) Prismatic blade cores and blades</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A study led by
researchers at the Nagoya University Museum in Japan may change how we
understand the cultural evolution of Homo sapiens at the time of their
dispersal across Eurasia about 50,000 to 40,000 years ago. These findings
challenge traditional beliefs about the timing and nature of cultural
transitions during this critical period in human history.Published in Nature
Communications, the researchers' insights into stone tool technology suggest
that the commonly held view of a "revolution" in culture and
technology that allowed anatomically modern humans to outcompete Neanderthals
and other archaic humans was a more nuanced and complicated process of cultural
evolution.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriqgQHIvZHpRMAqFOw9XG5tC81EicVUA405g50vqPzjCUFSCt-Su9bHWVpv6r8AFXwDkWj2xVIYaxqFbL7hCFytbpa1Tnce9k6bb0Hfy05kabfyuhpCwU3c918E9LM92zDo85QJt6u135CLPGnnrWsQascEmg10Ay6jnfVQgXFdLxez0h4q3jNL2OsQM/s1920/Investigation%20of%20mechanical%20properties%20of%20rocks%20suggested%20that%20paleolithic%20humans%20changed%20their%20choice%20of%20raw%20material%20to%20suit%20their%20stone%20tool%20morphologies%20and%20production%20techniques.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriqgQHIvZHpRMAqFOw9XG5tC81EicVUA405g50vqPzjCUFSCt-Su9bHWVpv6r8AFXwDkWj2xVIYaxqFbL7hCFytbpa1Tnce9k6bb0Hfy05kabfyuhpCwU3c918E9LM92zDo85QJt6u135CLPGnnrWsQascEmg10Ay6jnfVQgXFdLxez0h4q3jNL2OsQM/w640-h360/Investigation%20of%20mechanical%20properties%20of%20rocks%20suggested%20that%20paleolithic%20humans%20changed%20their%20choice%20of%20raw%20material%20to%20suit%20their%20stone%20tool%20morphologies%20and%20production%20techniques.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Investigation of mechanical properties of rocks suggested that paleolithic humans changed their choice of raw material to suit their stone tool morphologies and production techniques</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team of researchers
focused on the Middle-Upper Paleolithic (MP-UP) cultural transition, an
important boundary between two key phases in our evolution:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Middle Paleolithic period (250,000 to 40,000 years
ago) </span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">witnessed anatomically
modern humans coexisting with Neanderthals and archaic humans existing at the
same time. Culturally, anatomically modern humans and Neanderthals had similar
stone tool technology, such as making tools using "Levallois
methods," which involved striking stones with a hammer-like tool.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Upper Paleolithic period (50,000 to 12,000 years ago)</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is the period in which anatomically modern humans made
wide geographic expansions, and archaic humans went extinct. During this
period, new cultural elements emerged in various realms, including tool
technology, food acquisition, seafaring, and artistic expression in ornaments
and cave art.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4nec8UjohqpfIvGVZMJhKIR8BFuXfcZKdNOJwXTFjqZlXC4YDWcwfnVtuYdGhSGqmhyphenhyphenp5Nd7piBrM4oFVSgNN36RthgwWiBGJnm4Oi8_riNJuwPx4QAuUO2x13-bJjAMqxHA2W2omhbSzrNfnq3ew26V2MaZ1sHAfSG0tB_b14ZYEscmvWFkg8F2mgw/s1527/STONE%20TOOLS3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1502" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4nec8UjohqpfIvGVZMJhKIR8BFuXfcZKdNOJwXTFjqZlXC4YDWcwfnVtuYdGhSGqmhyphenhyphenp5Nd7piBrM4oFVSgNN36RthgwWiBGJnm4Oi8_riNJuwPx4QAuUO2x13-bJjAMqxHA2W2omhbSzrNfnq3ew26V2MaZ1sHAfSG0tB_b14ZYEscmvWFkg8F2mgw/w630-h640/STONE%20TOOLS3.jpg" width="630" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">IMAGE 3 DESCRIPTION</span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> The experimental setup and examples of the lithics.(a) Knapping footage. (b) Discoidal core and flakes. (c) Earlier (left) and later (right) handaxes. (d) Preferential Levallois core and flake. (e) Recurrent Levallois core and flakes. (f) and (g) Prismatic blade cores and blades</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Traditionally, scholars
viewed the MP-UP transition as an abrupt change marked by the revolutionary
emergence of new cultural elements. An example is the hypothesized sudden
neural mutation in Homo sapiens, which resulted in their superior cognitive
abilities. This change allowed them to ultimately outcompete other archaic
humans and drive the Neanderthals to extinction. However, this study challenges
this paradigm.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers examined
the productivity of stone tools with a cutting edge over a 50,000-year span
that encompassed six cultural phases from the Late Middle Paleolithic, through
the Upper Paleolithic, to the Epipaleolithic period. They discovered that the
major increase in innovative productivity did not occur before or at the
beginning of the widespread dispersal of Homo sapiens in Eurasia. Rather, it
subsequently occurred after their initial dispersals, coinciding with the
development of bladelet technology in the Early Upper Paleolithic.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This result shows a
complicated process of cultural change involving multiple stages rather than a
single "revolution."According to the lead researcher Professor Seiji
Kadowaki, the cultural transition from the Middle to the Upper Paleolithic was
a complex, evolutionary process involving multiple aspects and changes
occurring over an extended period.He said, "In terms of cutting-edge
productivity, Homo sapiens did not start to spread to Eurasia after a quick revolution
in stone tool technology, but rather the innovation in the 'cutting-edge'
productivity occurred later, in tandem with the miniaturization of stone tools
like bladelets."</span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUs0HaUe3eT6ho-ysUgsf_sZv0eQHiLPfsWiXUAuqVUfzOsGmUqbnH0-TH7KcY0hnHw84zKVXerzGPXy76l3jOCmWQ7DLtH_CjJWab0kuqbCiC_b8eRTBm44N6oCIhFm2631KLr8T739wRYnaDnXjNwzFaUZqnb7Pe4-fGYp2rV0VA14EKNvixmW4bu4/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUs0HaUe3eT6ho-ysUgsf_sZv0eQHiLPfsWiXUAuqVUfzOsGmUqbnH0-TH7KcY0hnHw84zKVXerzGPXy76l3jOCmWQ7DLtH_CjJWab0kuqbCiC_b8eRTBm44N6oCIhFm2631KLr8T739wRYnaDnXjNwzFaUZqnb7Pe4-fGYp2rV0VA14EKNvixmW4bu4/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Congress will
protect tribal rights: Rahul during yatra in Jharkhand<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNlDq5O7S0uxLRokJw9b_LNz9pVQZay8RrJDlq5zDURQ2eZuKCHSlX_4hqwtd9ms9uJRBYnxF11jepwrXxlW8D3Pz4BKFy2jlpQ9LqRMURt2kRrxGB2rqdWy19siEIlwVyA6CGRS4f7_awBz-3v6X464G53HQ4euPFl689q3yDaXB5AZF28mT0HP8imM/s550/Congress%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20during%20the%20Bharat%20Jodo%20Nyay%20Yatra%20at%20Bank%20More%20in%20Dhanbad%20on%20Sunday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNlDq5O7S0uxLRokJw9b_LNz9pVQZay8RrJDlq5zDURQ2eZuKCHSlX_4hqwtd9ms9uJRBYnxF11jepwrXxlW8D3Pz4BKFy2jlpQ9LqRMURt2kRrxGB2rqdWy19siEIlwVyA6CGRS4f7_awBz-3v6X464G53HQ4euPFl689q3yDaXB5AZF28mT0HP8imM/w640-h360/Congress%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20during%20the%20Bharat%20Jodo%20Nyay%20Yatra%20at%20Bank%20More%20in%20Dhanbad%20on%20Sunday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra at Bank More in Dhanbad on Sunday</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress party
stands for ‘Jal-Jungle-Jamin’ (water, forest and land) of the tribal people and
education and employment of youngsters from the community, party leader Rahul
Gandhi on Sunday said. The Congress party stands for ‘Jal-Jungle-Jamin’ (water,
forest and land) of the tribal people and education and employment of
youngsters from the community, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said, as he
slammed the Union government for its policies which, he claimed, are meant only
for a few capitalists. Gandhi also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
initiatives like the demonetisation and the implementation of the Goods and
Services Tax (GST) system had “destroyed the country’s economy and broken the
back of the industry that has led to widespread unemployment”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress leader, a
Lok Sabha MP, was addressing the party’s ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in
Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district when he made the remarks. After a night halt in
Tundi area in the district on Saturday, the yatra resumed from Govindpur in
Dhanbad city on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The Congress stands for
‘Jal-Jungle-Jamin’ of the tribal people, for education and employment of
youths. Economic imbalance, demonetisation, GST and unemployment have ruined
the future of youngsters in the country,” Gandhi told the crowd at Birsa Chowk
in Bank More. The main objective of the yatra is to save public sector units
from being sold to private entities, and ensure justice to unemployed youths
and tribals of the country, he added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A few billionaire
friends of the Prime Minister are gradually getting control over all the
resources, the former Congress president alleged. “The Prime Minister might
soon hand over the steel mills of the state, like the one in Bokaro, to the
same friends,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The policies of the
present central government are meant to benefit only three capitalists, even as
the country belongs to everyone,” he added.The Prime Minister is “handing over
the public sector undertakings (PSUs), which otherwise generated huge
employment, to his friends”, he said. “Earlier, SCs, STs, OBCs and other categories
of people used to get jobs in PSUs but due to privatisation, that process has
also been affected, depriving such people with the job opportunities.” Gandhi
also said that the Congress;s fight was against the alleged hatred in the
hearts of the “BJP people”. “The BJP is spreading hate. We undertook a 4,000-km
Bharat Jodo Yatra against this hatred and violence, coining the slogan ‘Nafrat
Ke Bazaar Mein Mohabbat Ki Dukan’. No matter how much hatred they (BJP) spread
or the violence they orchestrate, the Congress and its allies will open
‘Mohabbat Ki Dukan’ all over the country. Our fight is against the hatred in
the hearts of the BJP people,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There was no immediate
reaction from the BJP on Gandhi’s remarks.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) PM Modi says he
chose in 2014, didn't bring white paper on economy then<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafAyeB-ytz5DlweZ4Mut22Va6ku86cXWIvmTZ83Mpn4ArVPZ0zOvjogYjZYWsUTCrFH97thKIKz_gkJG4afvRlbch17ZNoHixN5W4EKco7vBkr0TZnYOcKdcmAphp0DSOk85rkLCX3YGG0bCMd8IUcnwbeeywZlWYbnF-qtWN_gEPRodBcHAEF-0L_6U/s549/PM%20Modi%20addressing%20a%20global%20business%20summit%20on%20Friday..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafAyeB-ytz5DlweZ4Mut22Va6ku86cXWIvmTZ83Mpn4ArVPZ0zOvjogYjZYWsUTCrFH97thKIKz_gkJG4afvRlbch17ZNoHixN5W4EKco7vBkr0TZnYOcKdcmAphp0DSOk85rkLCX3YGG0bCMd8IUcnwbeeywZlWYbnF-qtWN_gEPRodBcHAEF-0L_6U/w640-h360/PM%20Modi%20addressing%20a%20global%20business%20summit%20on%20Friday..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PM Modi addressing a global business summit on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PM Modi said India will
be the 3rd largest economy in the 3rd term of the government and he is working
on the roadmap of major decisions Modi 3.0 will take.Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Friday spoke on the white paper on the economy that his government
presented in Parliament and said he could have brought those figures in 2014
soon after coming to power and it would have suited him politically but he did
not do that because he did not see his political interest. "I was shocked
seeing the figures in 2014. The economy was in shambles. Policy paralysis and
scams plagued the economy so much that global investors were negative about
India. Had I exposed all these at that time and a wrong signal was sent across,
people would have lost confidence in the country. Like if you tell a patient
that he is suffering from a serious disease, he will be held dead there,"
PM Modi said at ET Now Global Business Summit 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I chose over and when
after 10 years the situation became stable I thought now is the time to make
people aware of what the economic situation was," PM Modi said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India will be 3rd
largest economy in NDA's 3rd term: PM Modi</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PM Modi said India will
become the third largest economy in the world in the third term of the government
for which he is now preparing the roadmap. "This is my guarantee that this
will happen in our third term. Be prepared, I don't hide anything. I give time
to everyone for preparation. But people think he is a politician, he won't walk
his talk. But now you are aware of my style. In the third term, there will be
major and bigger decisions. I have been planning the roadmap for new projects
for the last 1.5 years. I have taken suggestions from over 15 lakh people for
this. I never issued any press note regarding this. This is the first time I am
saying this. In the next 20-30 days, the roadmap will take a final shape,"
PM Modi said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PM Modi's 'wine and
cheese' attack on opposition over poverty</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Explaining his 'money
saved is money earned' policy, PM Modi said time-bound completion of projects
helped his government to save money. PM Modi gave the example of Assam's
Bogibeel Bridge the construction of which started in 1998. It was completed in
2018, PM Modi said. "Whose money was getting wasted by this delay in
projects? Taxpayers' money. Our government respected the taxpayers' money. Be
it Kartavya path, the new Parliament Building or Atal Setu -- we completed
everything on time," PM Modi said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The government earned ₹1,100
crore selling the waste cleared out from government offices in the cleanliness
drive, PM Modi added. "I maintain distance from the policy of emptying the
coffers to get a few votes....you are aware of the electricity policy of some
governments but my policy is different. Rooftop solar project will enable
people to produce electricity at their house," the prime minister said.The
slogans of gareebi hatao have been raised for the last 70 years. But was
poverty eliminated? They used to become crorepatis with every new way they
suggested to eliminate poverty. Because those policies were made in AC rooms
with wine and cheese. But in 2014 after a poor man became the prime minister,
their shops got shut. I know how to fight poverty," PM Modi said adding
that 25 crore people were lifted from poverty.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Is there any
competition, not talking about the May one’: PM Modi</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Talking about the speed
of projects in his government, PM Modi said, “40,000 km railway line
electrification was done in 10 years, double of what happened in the last 70
years. Is there any challenge? I am not talking about May."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PM Modi then explained
the ‘curse of incremental thinking’ and said, “How do you set the target of
your organisation? Many people will say it's based on last year's figures. If
it was 5 in last year, 10 will be better this year. This is wrong because you
are limiting yourself. When our government came to power, our bureaucracy too
was in this thought of incremental thinking. I decided to free bureaucracy from
this and started working faster and at a much bigger scale,” PM Modi said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Uttarakhand
assembly passes Uniform Civil Code, Pushkar Singh Dhami says ‘law not against
anyone’<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCH5YRML9kWK_Sk65fnGPkGASPz5ROJiqJB2m-xfqs2tFNw080CPNpYvmsS_SZ8C0PGc0B4TVG1vSNiNFW9cNwiccuE3RSBUin6hcPbGXnDxNUTZ7crWHsjiaTpvqRjBeV952f_SFmBGPTciU3HpCZaB_niQRimFf-GetSVEmzVx7Cj0j2F1h7BICzRk/s549/Uttarakhand%20CM%20Pushkar%20Singh%20Dhami%20in%20the%20Uttarakhand%20Assembly..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCH5YRML9kWK_Sk65fnGPkGASPz5ROJiqJB2m-xfqs2tFNw080CPNpYvmsS_SZ8C0PGc0B4TVG1vSNiNFW9cNwiccuE3RSBUin6hcPbGXnDxNUTZ7crWHsjiaTpvqRjBeV952f_SFmBGPTciU3HpCZaB_niQRimFf-GetSVEmzVx7Cj0j2F1h7BICzRk/w640-h360/Uttarakhand%20CM%20Pushkar%20Singh%20Dhami%20in%20the%20Uttarakhand%20Assembly..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami in the Uttarakhand Assembly.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chief minister Pushkar
Singh Dhami had tabled the contentious legislation in the house on Tuesday.The
Uttarakhand Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code bill, which
seeks to replace religious personal laws that govern marriage, relationship and
inheritance. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had tabled the contentious
legislation in the house on Tuesday. With this, Uttarakhand has become the
first state in India to have a law on the Uniform Civil Code.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dhami said the draft of
the bill was prepared in accordance with the Constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"After
independence, the makers of the Constitution gave the right under Article 44
that the states can also introduce the UCC at appropriate time... People have
doubts regarding this. We made the draft as per the constitutional
system," he said in the assembly.The implementation of the Uniform Civil
Code was the Bharatiya Janata Party's main promise in the 2022 Uttarakhand
Assembly election's manifesto.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dhami said the law will
be implemented after the President's assent."This law is of equality,
uniformity and equal rights. There were many doubts regarding this but the
two-day discussion in the assembly clarified everything. This law is not
against anyone. It is for the women who have to face difficulty because of the
social norms... This will strengthen their self-confidence. This law is for the
holistic development of women... The bill is passed... We will send it to the
President. We will implement it in the state as a law, as soon as the President
signs it," he said. The Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya said rules were
not followed for the passage of the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Instead of
presenting the draft, the Bill was directly presented. Discussions began within
2 hours. But we participated in the discussion on both days. Our MLAs gave
suggestions and also raised some objections. Government was asked to rectify
the loopholes...The only way to amend these loopholes was to send this to the
Select Committee and after examining the draft, it be brought back to the
House, discussions be held again and then it be given the form of a Bill,"
he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Assam chief minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma has promised that his state will be the second to implement
the law.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">What is Uniform Civil Code bill?</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The bill seeks to make
sweeping changes in the institution of marriage and relationships of such
nature. The highlight of the legislation is that it makes it compulsory to
register live-in relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Per the bill, live-in
relationships need to be registered within one month of the date of entering
the relationship. Adults will be required to obtain consent from their parents.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The bill also imposes a
complete ban on child marriage and introduces a uniform process for divorce.
The Code provides equal rights to women of all religions in their ancestral
property.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The bill has fixed the
minimum age for marriage in all communities -- 18 for women, 21 for men.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The registration of
marriage is mandatory for all religions. Unions without registration will be
deemed to be invalid.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Muslim bodies oppose
bill<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Leading Muslim bodies
have opposed the code.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Basically, there
is no use of such a kind of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) when you are yourself
saying that certain communities will be exempted from the Act. Then where is
the uniformity? UCC means that the same laws should be implemented on each and
every citizen of the state," Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, executive committee
member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board told PTI. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
said Muslims won't be able to compromise on Shariah.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We cannot accept
any law that is against Shariah because a Muslim can compromise with
everything, but he or she can never compromise on Shariah and religion,"
said the body. Owaisi slams proposed UCC law<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">AIMIM chief Asaduddin
Owaisi said today that the Hindu undivided family has been kept out of the
ambit of the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The Uttarakhand
UCC Bill is nothing but a Hindu Code applicable for all. Firstly, Hindu
undivided families have not been touched. Why? If you want a uniform law for
succession and inheritance, why are Hindus kept out of it? Can a law be uniform
if it doesn’t apply to the majority of your state?" he wrote on X.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He also took exception
to the fact that the tribals were left out of the ambit of the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He claimed the bill
violates the rights of the Muslim community to practice religion and culture.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Congress's
Mallikarjun Kharge releases ‘black paper’ to counter Centre's ‘white paper’<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf2BBkb5sW7Wt5AUxJNeQikx5Q1_KN2qq1fl-qQ1jwRbyChhp7cRdIrBq3Rs-bwzoNBwxFlPoiqR_WgXPkI_Y02TrEHBEKKCf_PL2hZj5fvKIS_DUak07QEVePOFFIeQuHCoq1lptQw4zYHJ15t5oybbdDaMQBdFU0AFnR_wL76FAompG1M4r-hYnsps/s1280/Congress%20releases%20'Black%20Paper'%20to%20counter%20Centre's%20'White%20Paper'.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf2BBkb5sW7Wt5AUxJNeQikx5Q1_KN2qq1fl-qQ1jwRbyChhp7cRdIrBq3Rs-bwzoNBwxFlPoiqR_WgXPkI_Y02TrEHBEKKCf_PL2hZj5fvKIS_DUak07QEVePOFFIeQuHCoq1lptQw4zYHJ15t5oybbdDaMQBdFU0AFnR_wL76FAompG1M4r-hYnsps/w640-h360/Congress%20releases%20'Black%20Paper'%20to%20counter%20Centre's%20'White%20Paper'.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congress releases 'Black Paper' to counter Centre's 'White Paper'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress 'black
poaper' focuses on the 10-year governance tenure of Prime Minister Narendra
Modi-led central government. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday
released a ‘black paper’ against the Centre's much-talked-about 'white paper'.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to present the
government's 'white paper' during the current Budget Session of Parliament.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Today, we are bringing
out a 'black paper' against the government. Whenever PM (Narendra) Modi
presents his views in Parliament, he hides his failures. At the same time, when
we speak about the failures of the government, it is not given importance.
Therefore, we want to bring out a black paper and tell the public about the
failures of the government,” Kharge said a press conference.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Reports indicated that
the Congress's 'Black Paper' focuses on the 10-year governance tenure of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi-led central government. He added, “There is
discrimination being done with non-BJP states like Kerala, Karnataka,
Telangana...”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ‘black paper’
highlights the 'failures' of the Narendra Modi government in relation to
unemployment, inflation and farmers' distress, Kharge said. He added, “Congress
ensured country's independence and in 2024, it will take country out of BJP's
'darkness of injustice'”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Speaking to media, he
also said, “There is a danger to democracy in the country...In last 10 years,
411 MLAs were taken on their by the BJP. They toppled so many Congress
governments. They are finishing democracy.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1oYvJ-3DaaceyMIyf71cgSGBdStuxvdDGeVvb65N6w0iOQzCvSb-yAGtVCYCYbGmfZIjV7zNSqGKn2m6jXWnAUlze8_Awa4-AWQcXkk23y-HmPfR0J8jPxc8awQS7vvIoFMW9ZdNbrSjNLglaIOKaoQBGtmlMfWuv4XJFZa5eT9VnPNPWdRhh3c-SWE/s549/Congress%20President%20Mallikarjun%20Kharge%20along%20with%20Pawan%20Khera%20and%20MP%20Nasir%20Hussain%20during%20the%20press%20conference%20at%20his%20residence%20in%20Delh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1oYvJ-3DaaceyMIyf71cgSGBdStuxvdDGeVvb65N6w0iOQzCvSb-yAGtVCYCYbGmfZIjV7zNSqGKn2m6jXWnAUlze8_Awa4-AWQcXkk23y-HmPfR0J8jPxc8awQS7vvIoFMW9ZdNbrSjNLglaIOKaoQBGtmlMfWuv4XJFZa5eT9VnPNPWdRhh3c-SWE/w640-h360/Congress%20President%20Mallikarjun%20Kharge%20along%20with%20Pawan%20Khera%20and%20MP%20Nasir%20Hussain%20during%20the%20press%20conference%20at%20his%20residence%20in%20Delh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge along with Pawan Khera and MP Nasir Hussain during the press conference at his residence in Delh</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Modi government had
announced in the Union Interim Budget presented on February 1 that it would
come out with a 'white paper' to compare the economic performance of 10 years
of the Congress-led UPA government with that of 10 years of the BJP-led NDA
government.A white paper serves as a government publication designed to
showcase new policies and accomplishments, aiming to garner public support and
assess reactions. Typically, it is distinguished by its white cover.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">During the presentation
of the Interim Budget 2024-25 in Parliament, Nirmala Sitharaman asserted that
India's economy faced a "crisis" in 2014 when the Modi government
took office. She attributed this predicament to the "mismanagement"
of the preceding administration.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She declared that the
government intended to present a White Paper in the House "to examine the
period from the Congress-led government's tenure until 2014 and the present
scenario, with the sole aim of learning from the mismanagement during those
years".<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The White Paper is
expected to provide an overview, evaluation, and analysis of the Indian
government's comprehensive economic strategy over the years, encompassing
aspects such as fiscal policy, monetary policy, trade policy, and exchange rate
policy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The budget session
commenced on January 31 with President Droupadi Murmu addressing the joint
sitting of the two Houses. This session, the final one before the Lok Sabha
polls anticipated in April-May this year, is set to adjourn on February 10.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Bengal budget:
Mamata govt announces 4% hike in DA, more funds for Kanyashree, Lakshmi Bhandar
schemes for women<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcji5aBL5JE9lq4z-5-LSYMQIXwDYk3qA8PLWwe6qz18nQuf9ddXZYUnBIOj1T1a5J2pRVORi8DJT39tE4xfL58Fop55HwbHnFDr4Aby30jP_3tiKQPQlkOIommIhMwdTBE_QB0aJOigUfk8VA6OJHRPlns2ySzQJwte-Tq3HK1NdVcfv8cHLB4K6nRI/s900/West%20Bengal%20Chief%20Minister%20Mamata%20Banerjee%20with%20Finance%20Minister%20Chandrima%20Bhattacharya%20before%20the%20presentation%20of%20the%20State%20Budget,%20in%20Calcutta..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcji5aBL5JE9lq4z-5-LSYMQIXwDYk3qA8PLWwe6qz18nQuf9ddXZYUnBIOj1T1a5J2pRVORi8DJT39tE4xfL58Fop55HwbHnFDr4Aby30jP_3tiKQPQlkOIommIhMwdTBE_QB0aJOigUfk8VA6OJHRPlns2ySzQJwte-Tq3HK1NdVcfv8cHLB4K6nRI/w640-h426/West%20Bengal%20Chief%20Minister%20Mamata%20Banerjee%20with%20Finance%20Minister%20Chandrima%20Bhattacharya%20before%20the%20presentation%20of%20the%20State%20Budget,%20in%20Calcutta..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya before the presentation of the State Budget, in Calcutta.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">D for development was
replaced by D for dole in Bengal's budget.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The cash-strapped Mamata
Banerjee government announced a slew of schemes for enlarging the pool of
beneficiaries ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, which would further drain the
state's meagre resources. Among the major announcements made on Thursday was an
additional four per cent of dearness allowance for state employees, separate
funds for fishermen, increase in financial assistance for women under Lakshmi
Bhandar, trainee apprentices, artisans and weavers as well as 50 days minimum
work guarantee for job card holders.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the next fiscal, the
highest allocation has been for the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme at ₹14,400.05crore,
to provide monthly support of ₹1,000 for women from SC and ST and ₹500 for the
general category. ₹10,501.95 crore has been marked for different pension funds.
Under the Kanyashree scheme, which provides annual scholarships for girl students,
₹1,374.50 crore has been allocated. A special centre for minorities culture
development has also been proposed at ₹20crore.The minister of state for
finance (independent), Chandrima Bhattacharya, also announced the state
government was considering revising the provisions of land ceiling under the
West Bengal land and land reforms act."This budget seems to have been
prepared keeping the Assembly polls in mind, not the Lok Sabha. Whoever forms
the next government in Bengal will be in deep trouble," said Ashok Lahiri,
economist and BJP MLA from Balurghat.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Figures provided by the
state finance department reveal nearly half of the total capital expenditure
was spent on repayment of loans. Out of ₹6,2,170.89 crore (revised estimate for
2023-24), ₹30,631.42 crore was spent on repayment.The total debt of Bengal in
the current fiscal stands at ₹6,30,783.50crore. In 2011, when the Left Front
government was voted out, the state's debt was above ₹One lakh crore. In the 13
years since then the financial health of the state has further weakened.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Mamata Banerjee
government's market borrowings stand at ₹73,000crore (revised from the
estimated ₹78,946.49crore). The government expects to raise ₹79,727crore from
the market in the next financial year.In the next fiscal Bengal's debt burden
is expected to rise to ₹6,93,231.66crore.During her budget speech, Bhattacharya
referred to the Centre's refusal to release funds for Bengal. Trinamul leaders
led by Mamata Banerjee have been on a dharna at the Red Road demanding the funds
be released.Mamata even went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi
last month. On Monday, leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari met vice president
Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union home minister Amit Shah and Union finance minister
Nirmala Sitharaman apprising them of the financial situation in Bengal.The
state budget figures presented in the Assembly floor reveals, the state share
of union taxes and duties was pegged at ₹76,843.55crore. The actual amount
received by the Bengal government is ₹83,192.87crore. For the next fiscal the
stare government's projection of the share from the central pie is ₹
92,900.29croreMamata Banerjee and the Trinamul ministers claim the Centre's due
to be around ₹15,000crore.For the cash-strapped Bengal government the main
source of income remains the state goods and service tax (SGST), followed by
Excise.Last year, the government had fixed a target of ₹37,791.85crore from
SGST. The actual earnings from SGST in the 2023-24 fiscal was ₹42,858.14crore.
For the next financial year, the revenue target from SGST is ₹47,336.55crore.From
excise the government had expected ₹17,921.56crore as revenue. The revised
figures from excise for the current fiscal is ₹18,851.06crore.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In stamp duty, another
major source of revenue, the government's earning has dipped to ₹6,623.43 from
the expected ₹7,473.79crore. In the next fiscal, the revenue projection from
stamp duty is ₹7,300.45crore."The budget is completely directionless. Our
legislator Manoj Tigga will submit cut motions. If the Speaker allows, we will
participate in the voting," Adhikari said. "She keeps talking about
Kurmis, Lepchas, OBCs and other communities but there is nothing for
them."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Bharat Ratna
awarded to 5 people so far in 2024, highest in a single year<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyWn4SHVtLFIRhn72KDeTWoVSIaiiMtCMN5VN22Rt7HRLV5w0bWlYV0NWIcs3dtxcj70WdUjaOTOlrp3uXAlM0GzY-pXymj_BJTkmf1dSI-N8aT8ssxpvAR-jUSrQ4yp-Z_uqzZhRpd9d8cRgVNaqYXTxevbx6-CORtCZlJO191uMC88y7S_gSJx5T40/s360/From%20LK%20Advani,%20Narasimha%20Rao%20to%20MS%20Swaminathan%20%20The%205%20Men%20Who%20Joined%20India's%20Bharat%20Ratna%20List%20in%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyWn4SHVtLFIRhn72KDeTWoVSIaiiMtCMN5VN22Rt7HRLV5w0bWlYV0NWIcs3dtxcj70WdUjaOTOlrp3uXAlM0GzY-pXymj_BJTkmf1dSI-N8aT8ssxpvAR-jUSrQ4yp-Z_uqzZhRpd9d8cRgVNaqYXTxevbx6-CORtCZlJO191uMC88y7S_gSJx5T40/w640-h426/From%20LK%20Advani,%20Narasimha%20Rao%20to%20MS%20Swaminathan%20%20The%205%20Men%20Who%20Joined%20India's%20Bharat%20Ratna%20List%20in%202024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From LK Advani, Narasimha Rao to MS Swaminathan The 5 Men Who Joined India's Bharat Ratna List in 2024</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PM Modi said former
Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, alongside
scientist MS Swaminathan, will be awarded the Bharat Ratna. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi announced on Friday that former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao
and Chaudhary Charan Singh, alongside agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan,
will be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. This year's
five recipients surpass the four awarded in 1999, marking the highest number of
Bharat Ratnas awarded in a single year. Praising Rao for his liberalisation
policies that transformed the economy, Singh for his advocacy for farmers'
rights, and Swaminathan for his globally recognized contributions to
agriculture, Modi commended their invaluable service to the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Experience Delhi’s rich
history through a series of heritage walks with HT! Participate Now Among the
recipients, four will receive the honour posthumously, while Advani, aged 96,
is the sole living recipient.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Here is the list of
Bharat Ratna awardees this year</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1. Karpoori Thakur
(Posthumous) (politician and former Bihar chief minister): Karpoori Thakur, a
well-known socialist leader from Bihar and former chief minister of the state,
will be posthumously honoured with India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat
Ratna. Fondly referred to as 'Jan Nayak' (people's leader), Thakur will become
the 49th recipient of this prestigious award. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2. Lal Krishna Advani
(politician and former deputy prime minister): Advani has held the position of
president of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the longest duration since its
establishment in 1980. Over the course of nearly three decades in parliament,
he served as both the home minister and deputy Prime Minister under the
leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1999 to 2004. On February 3, PM Modi
disclosed that Advani would be bestowed with India's highest civilian honour.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3. Pamulaparthi Venkata
Narasimha Rao (Posthumous) (former Prime Minister of India): In honouring Rao,
who passed away in 2004, PM Modi expressed admiration for his multifaceted
service to the nation as a revered scholar and statesman. Modi highlighted
Rao's notable contributions not only as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh
but also as a Union minister and longstanding legislator in both the Parliament
and the state assembly. Rao, a respected Telugu leader, served a full five-year
term as prime minister from 1991 to 1996 and is widely lauded for his pivotal
role in introducing economic reforms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4. Chaudhary Charan
Singh (Posthumous) (former Prime Minister of India): Singh, a prominent Jat
leader hailing from western Uttar Pradesh, served as prime minister during
1979-80 and played a pivotal role in spearheading anti-Congress politics during
an era when the party held dominant influence. Modi expressed gratitude for the
opportunity to honour Singh with the Bharat Ratna, attributing it to his
unparalleled contributions to the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5. Mankombu Sambasivan
Swaminathan (Posthumous) (agriculture scientist): Modi expressed immense
delight in his government's decision to bestow the Bharat Ratna upon
Swaminathan, acknowledging his significant contributions to agriculture and the
welfare of farmers. Modi praised Swaminathan's visionary guidance, which
revolutionised Indian agriculture, ensuring both food security and prosperity
for the nation. Modi emphasised his close relationship with Swaminathan,
valuing his wisdom and contributions. The renowned agronomist passed away last
year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZuO1RaT8dEW1R7PkmIiE_47ukfQr1_9aHzAcL4Ia7Sa8iqzut4od9ljUBc3sSc0RPPV46BgeN1HoE0IcZ6irSa8UkWiG2Uc3X5bXyEDI_iCdroxwZW2fo7X4b8sah23DCVvTTaTbYj0O3EVyZOr_MZfKF5G3dpTnVhb5tGi_ZJzL-ymQyQVxy_3gaKU/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZuO1RaT8dEW1R7PkmIiE_47ukfQr1_9aHzAcL4Ia7Sa8iqzut4od9ljUBc3sSc0RPPV46BgeN1HoE0IcZ6irSa8UkWiG2Uc3X5bXyEDI_iCdroxwZW2fo7X4b8sah23DCVvTTaTbYj0O3EVyZOr_MZfKF5G3dpTnVhb5tGi_ZJzL-ymQyQVxy_3gaKU/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Australia vs
Pakistan, Semifinal U19 World Cup 2024 highlights: Ali Raza masterclass in vain
as AUS enter 6th final<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx0O3CDpJlzv5w-fqoueYbT49LMaY75XJ25tEDABPxZWUDfBtN3FLiDaJDEg2Pb4IBQiR_u_oJ0HqzTOwjxzqQxucxo-M6k5a45zQluz9LCZY93kdCb_lJ9X-mEdzYnzw8eLgp0i_NTrzoYSFORe05zC8S0IflFPdn0ity-qiY8seB8xY-CI4EnDDWlE/s550/Australia%20are%20chasing%20the%20180-run%20target%20against%20Pakistan..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx0O3CDpJlzv5w-fqoueYbT49LMaY75XJ25tEDABPxZWUDfBtN3FLiDaJDEg2Pb4IBQiR_u_oJ0HqzTOwjxzqQxucxo-M6k5a45zQluz9LCZY93kdCb_lJ9X-mEdzYnzw8eLgp0i_NTrzoYSFORe05zC8S0IflFPdn0ity-qiY8seB8xY-CI4EnDDWlE/w640-h360/Australia%20are%20chasing%20the%20180-run%20target%20against%20Pakistan..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australia are chasing the 180-run target against Pakistan.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Australia vs Pakistan
U19 World Cup 2024, AUS vs PAK: Australia have set a rematch of the 2023 ODI
World Cup final with India in South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Australia vs Pakistan,
highlights U19 World Cup 2024, AUS vs PAK: Staging a comeback for Pakistan in
the low-scoring contest, 15-year-old Ali Raza bowled a double-wicket maiden to
turn the tie on its head. However, Raza's death-over heroics went in vain as
Raf MacMilllan hit the winning runs in the in the 50th over to seal Australia's
one-wicket win over Pakistan. Australia will meet defending champions India in
the final on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Australia are chasing
the 180-run target against Pakistan. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tom Straker led the
Australian bowling charge with a six-wicket haul to bowl Pakistan out for 179
in 48.5 overs. Azan Awais kept Pakistan breathing with a gritty half-century,
but the menacing Straker broke through to really dent the opposition's chances.
At 5 down for 79, Pakistan needed a special partnership and it came from a
fifty-plus stand between Awais and Arafat Minhas. That is before the
partnership was broken and Pakistan went 6 down with less than 10 overs to go.
All hopes were then pinned on Minhas, but after completing a half-century, the
left-hander perished to drill the final nail in the coffin for Pakistan.
Straker, who had picked three wickets by then, returned for his final over,
wrapped up the Pakistan innings inside 50 overs with 7 balls remaining and
finished with 6/24.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier Callum Vidler,
Straker and Raf MacMillan all struck to dismiss the top in the Pakistan line-up
and have taken the bull by its horns. The Powerplay belonged to Australia as
Straker took out Shamyl Hussain for 14 followed by Vidler removing Shahzaib
Khan, who really struggled during his 30-ball stay for four runs. Any hopes of
a comeback were further dented by Straker, who picked up his second wicket in
the form of the Pakistan captain Saad Baig. Spin was introduced in the form of
Raf MacMillan and the off-spinner took just two overs to get himself going.
Pakistan lost half their side with Beardman cleaning up Haroon Ahmad. This was
after Australia won the toss and captain Hugh Weibgen had no hesitation in
batting first as he informed of the three changes made to his Playing XI. His
counterpart Baig wanted to bat first. has been a fascinating and one heck of a
tournament. Heavyweights India, the defending champions were the outright
favourites to make it to the final and they did so almost without breaking a
sweat. We say almost because they were tested by South Africa like no other
team before and at one point, seemed to be kissing their campaign goodbye
before Sachin Dhas and captain Uday Saharan stitched a Mohammad Kaif-Yuvraj
Singh circa 2002 kind of a partnership. But as good as India were, Australia
are equally challenging when it comes to ICC finals. India and Australia are
yet to register an 'L' against their name, but have been occasionally pushed by
oppositions. Having said that, they are a well-rounded squad, with an
impressive stock of pacers, spinners and batters.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) India vs
Australia, U19 Cricket World Cup final: Road to final, squads, telecast and
date - All you need to know<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hYI6PCe6PjUqXSMTDvEP1c22HvjhXNQkHMy2EhOmw2zoZ4cpHN7NdZC3gLE1h8DM7vMv5wa-WQK4C6iCurHdXmmSR3Dr2qIw-PXI9PguiKoBCMQPLSmujexPYy-37IeNOmP4wXcTxYulB7LGZVtFhV14iP0yX6VfzrFQlt8AVpv5Vj3tH3yi34UNDQc/s549/India%20face%20Australia%20in%20the%20U19%20World%20Cup%20final..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hYI6PCe6PjUqXSMTDvEP1c22HvjhXNQkHMy2EhOmw2zoZ4cpHN7NdZC3gLE1h8DM7vMv5wa-WQK4C6iCurHdXmmSR3Dr2qIw-PXI9PguiKoBCMQPLSmujexPYy-37IeNOmP4wXcTxYulB7LGZVtFhV14iP0yX6VfzrFQlt8AVpv5Vj3tH3yi34UNDQc/w640-h360/India%20face%20Australia%20in%20the%20U19%20World%20Cup%20final..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India face Australia in the U19 World Cup final.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India face Australia at
the U19 World Cup final, in Benoni on Sunday. India will be looking to win
back-to-back U19 WC titles. India take on Australia in the U19 Cricket World
Cup final, at the Sahara Park Willowmoore Cricket Stadium in Benoni on Sunday.
India will also be looking to win back-to-back titles, and are the most
successful team in this tournament with five trophies. Australia qualified for
the final after a thrilling win in the semi-finals against Pakistan, winning by
one wicket. Lower-order batter Oliver Peake smacked a match-winning 49 to help
his side seal a berth in the final. Meanwhile, India eased past South Africa in
their semi-final fixture, winning by two wickets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Road to final -
India</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India began their
campaign with an easy 84-run victory against arch-rivals Bangladesh, followed
by a massive 201-run win against Ireland. In their final group stage fixture,
India thrashed hosts USA by 201 runs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the Super Six stage,
India cruised past New Zealand (by 214 runs) and Nepal (by 132 runs), to set up
a semi-final clash against South Africa, which they won by two wickets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India have been the
strongest team in this tournament, with three batters in the top-five
run-scorers. Captain Uday Saharan is the tournament's highest run-scorer with
389 runs in six matches, followed by Musheer Khan in third place with 338 in
six games. Meanwhile, Sachin Dhas is third with 294 runs in six fixtures. On
the other hand, Saumy Pandey is the tournament's third-highest wicket-taker
with 17 wickets in six matches, including a four-fer. Road to final - Australia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Aussies started off
with a four-wicket win against Namibia and then hammered Zimbabwe by 225 runs,
followed by a six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka. Then in the Super Six
stage, Australia beat England by 110 runs (via DLS method) and then their
fixture against West Indies was washed out due to rain. In the semi-finals, a
narrow one-wicket win against Pakistan saw them reach the finals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Squads</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">India:</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Arshin Kulkarni, Adarsh Singh, Rudra Mayur Patel, Sachin Dhas, Priyanshu
Moliya, Musheer Khan, Uday Saharan (captain), Aravelly Avanish Rao, Saumy Kumar
Pandey, Murugan Abhishek, Innesh Mahajan, Dhanush Gowda, Aaradhya Shukla, Raj
Limbani, Naman Tiwari.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Australia:</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Hugh Weibgen (captain), Lachlan Aitken, Charlie
Anderson, Harkirat Bajwa, Mahli Beardman, Tom Campbell, Harry Dixon, Ryan
Hicks, Sam Konstas, Rafael MacMillan, Aidan O'Connor, Harjas Singh, Tom
Straker, Callum Vidler, Ollie Peake.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) India vs England
2nd Test Day 4: IND win the match by 106 runs, level the series 1-1<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVCvDfUCzZ3BbKve0K2HUJpuIrjcAlBLwXJ7yLJ8dgUVyUY6XhrUBrtRa5H5wZrI2IRwoufXPfLavY2Z94mQJk-4CGLV9I-pY9hnNxLoF011NvXxZnj-5Loz39ebOuD6ZaddkgtTOQvBcQBfDcDNWDBAh5fHRd21upeLFLJmr4R0vIC30KQ2O5bKoYv8/s600/Jasprit%20Bumrah%20deservedly%20took%20the%20final%20scalp%20for%20India,%20getting%20the%20wicket%20of%20well%20set%20Tom%20Hartley%20on%20a%20score%20of%2036..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVCvDfUCzZ3BbKve0K2HUJpuIrjcAlBLwXJ7yLJ8dgUVyUY6XhrUBrtRa5H5wZrI2IRwoufXPfLavY2Z94mQJk-4CGLV9I-pY9hnNxLoF011NvXxZnj-5Loz39ebOuD6ZaddkgtTOQvBcQBfDcDNWDBAh5fHRd21upeLFLJmr4R0vIC30KQ2O5bKoYv8/w640-h360/Jasprit%20Bumrah%20deservedly%20took%20the%20final%20scalp%20for%20India,%20getting%20the%20wicket%20of%20well%20set%20Tom%20Hartley%20on%20a%20score%20of%2036..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jasprit Bumrah deservedly took the final scalp for India, getting the wicket of well set Tom Hartley on a score of 36.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India vs England 2nd
Test Day 4: IND vs ENG, India have won the 2nd match in Vishakhapatnam by 106
runs, and levelled the series 1-1. Jasprit Bumrah was declared the Player of
the Match deservedly for taking 9 wickets in the match.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India won the second
Test at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vishakhapatnam by 106 runs to level the
series at 1-1. The two teams will now meet in Rajkot for the 3rd Test, which is
expected to be another exciting encounter given the history of the last two
matches.Opener Zack Crawley and nightwatchman Rehan Ahmed started the fourth
day's play for England against Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel and needed 332
runs to win the match, but the total of 399 proved too much for England.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After being hammered by
Ahmed, Axar dismissed the lower-order batsman for 23 to give India their first
breakthrough of the day. England, however, continued to set the tempo, scoring
at around 5 an over throughout the first session. Ollie Pope began his innings
on an aggressive note, hitting Axar Patel for a boundary and maintaining a
strike rate of over 100 throughout his innings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ollie Pope was also
eventually dismissed when he tried to play a shot off Ashwin and was caught at
slip by skipper Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, Joe Root started his innings in a
similar fashion, hitting Ashwin for two boundaries off the reverse sweep in the
first three balls of his innings. Root was eventually dismissed for 16 when he
tried to step out of his crease to hit Ashwin for a big shot.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Just before Lunch, India
tilted the game in their favour with two crucial wickets of Jonny Bairstow and
well-set Zack Crawley and two new batters were forced to take the crease in the
second session of the day. After Lunch, Skipper Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes
seemed to be making themselves comfortable at the crease in the 2nd session of
the day when a direct hit from Shreyas Iyer put an end to Stokes' innings.
Meanwhile, Foakes and Tom Hartley stitched together an over 50 run partnership
to give a fickle of a hope to England but the English innings fell apart
quickly after the wicket of Ben Foakes.Earlier in the game, India managed to
score 255 runs in their 2nd innings on the back of a brilliant century from
Shubman Gill while there were some important contributions from Shreyas Iyer
and Axar Patel. Gill hit 11 fours and 2 sixes. Shubman Gill is now the third
Indian to score a century playing at number 3 after 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Even prior to that,
Indian bowlers led by Jasprit Bumrah's ‘Sixfer’, dominated the DAY 2 play and
restricted the visitors on a score of 255, taking a lead of 143 runs which
proved<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to be crucial in the game. For
England Tom Hartley picked 4 wickets, Rehan Ahmed took 3 and James Anderson
took 2 wickets. Debutant Shoaib Bashir clinched 1 wicket in the second innings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Dion Gowda: New
kid on the formula racing block:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHB25-MFIN9nCPjfsuMfWn2bnhtG6mrK31GYyvtst-D6T9qXGZnnDYG3w9hmoqCyH_KSO2FArWoT-0WLpU2d5o1r613ADEWfpDRvoNBOc0pNL07lwQjL9muFlijYk8pxyqj9QWo8i-UtMJdKNlaT3P1CM16uDBe7vWFNhVaWM1QAW9BuYGwRBgGsb-KM8/s530/Dion%20Gowda%20made%20an%20impressive%20debut%20in%20formula%20racing%20last%20year%20at%20the%20British%20Formula%204%20Championship%20with%20consistent%20performances%20that%20included%20four%20wins,%20six%20podiums%20and%20three%20pole%20positions,%20finishing%20an%20overall%20fourth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="530" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHB25-MFIN9nCPjfsuMfWn2bnhtG6mrK31GYyvtst-D6T9qXGZnnDYG3w9hmoqCyH_KSO2FArWoT-0WLpU2d5o1r613ADEWfpDRvoNBOc0pNL07lwQjL9muFlijYk8pxyqj9QWo8i-UtMJdKNlaT3P1CM16uDBe7vWFNhVaWM1QAW9BuYGwRBgGsb-KM8/w640-h374/Dion%20Gowda%20made%20an%20impressive%20debut%20in%20formula%20racing%20last%20year%20at%20the%20British%20Formula%204%20Championship%20with%20consistent%20performances%20that%20included%20four%20wins,%20six%20podiums%20and%20three%20pole%20positions,%20finishing%20an%20overall%20fourth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dion Gowda made an impressive debut in formula racing last year at the British Formula 4 Championship with consistent performances that included four wins, six podiums and three pole positions, finishing an overall fourth</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After a solid show in
the British Formula 4 Championship, the 16-year-old will be racing in the
Italian Championship this year On a normal day, Dion Gowda is just like any
other 16-year-old. But when the visor comes down, the teenager transforms into
a racer with reaction times like a fighter pilot, g-forces pin him down too.
All for one goal – to battle through cut-throat competition and progress in the
world of formula racing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Born in Bengaluru,
Dion’s interest in racing was kindled at the age of 9 by a visit to a
Singaporean kart track after he was inspired by watching Formula 1 great Lewis
Hamilton. The Gowda family also have racing in their blood. Dion's father
Santhosh is not just a motorsport enthusiast but also took part in the Indian
National Rally Championship back in the 1990s.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dion made an impressive
debut in formula racing last year at the British Formula 4 Championship with
consistent<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) WTA Mumbai Open: Sahaja Yamalapalli's hard-won
progress fills her with belief<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Nyd35nXsZxpAW7qlhBY2Ojdq0z1BxBvRZJgp0XJcPU2QbDu9VYG49XikB1DmZSY7-Xo8zRmQaIVUMI1mMKs4sM1znL4XTrjOBdCkEDvAgMlNLvKwha-ACV8GP8krE8iwTqzPXhyJFGFknzxPprZa0sqP9TqXpRZqYt2si4nQIF0btJNqSgpM-iKe8PM/s549/Sahaja%20Yamalapalli%20produced%20the%20biggest%20victory%20of%20her%20career%20by%20knocking%20out%20top%20seed%20and%20world%20No.%2092%20American%20Kayla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Nyd35nXsZxpAW7qlhBY2Ojdq0z1BxBvRZJgp0XJcPU2QbDu9VYG49XikB1DmZSY7-Xo8zRmQaIVUMI1mMKs4sM1znL4XTrjOBdCkEDvAgMlNLvKwha-ACV8GP8krE8iwTqzPXhyJFGFknzxPprZa0sqP9TqXpRZqYt2si4nQIF0btJNqSgpM-iKe8PM/w640-h360/Sahaja%20Yamalapalli%20produced%20the%20biggest%20victory%20of%20her%20career%20by%20knocking%20out%20top%20seed%20and%20world%20No.%2092%20American%20Kayla.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sahaja Yamalapalli produced the biggest victory of her career by knocking out top seed and world No. 92 American Kayla</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a little over 18
months, the 22-year-old has gone from being ranked in the 900s to 300s now,
with a new career-high awaiting next week. Sahaja Yamalapalli was happy when
she glanced through the draw of the WTA 125K L&T Mumbai Open. Odd, because
she was slotted to face top seed Kayla Day first up.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I wanted to see
where I stand, in terms of my game and level," Sahaja said. The Indian
wild card’s first outing on the WTA Tour ended by beating 92nd-ranked Kayla and
going down to 162nd-ranked Polina Kudermetova on Thursday night, when she was
one game away from a quarter-final spot leading 5-2 in the third set. The
defeat, snatched from the jaws of victory, did hurt a little, but the
23-year-old took home from this tournament the belief of having it in her to
compete at this level.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Sahaja has been
thinking and dreaming about getting into the Grand Slam stage (qualifiers) by
the end of this year. And this tournament will be a huge confidence booster for
her in believing that she has the level to do that," said Rituplawan
Gogoi, head coach of the PBI (Peter Burwash International) Academy in Bengaluru
where Sahaja trains. Sahaja may still be work in progress, but there has been
definite progress over the last couple of years that has catapulted her to
becoming the India No. 2 among women at 336.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She made her debut on
the ITF tour in 2021 after graduating from the Sam Houston State University,
where she made her mark playing collegiate tennis. Sahaja’s initial steps on
the professional ladder were far from smooth, and began the 2022 season ranked
1335.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That’s when she decided
to train at the PBI Academy, a call that added wings to her career. PBI, which
opened its centre at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence six years
ago, isn't exclusively for professionals but has a global footprint of teaching
“over 3 million students, including Olympic and Grand Slam champions”, as its
website states. Its presence in India goes back to the Britannia Amritraj
Tennis foundation in the 1980-90s that produced the likes of Leander Paes. “One
of the best things about Sahaja is how dedicated, professional and humble she
is towards her work. So once that was in place, our job was to provide her with
an ecosystem that would help develop her game further,” Gogoi said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Part of that development
was not only working on her strengths — solid groundstrokes, potent forehand
and an attitude of not playing within herself — but also adding variety to her
play. The serve has been an area of improvement, and so has her ability to try
“different things out of my comfort zone", as Sahaja said she did in her
matches in Mumbai.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“In the women's game,
most in the top 150 or 200 have solid groundstrokes. So, to get to the top —
and by that, I mean top 50 — there needs to be variety in your game. We have
tried doing that with Sahaja, developing her slicing and volleying to go with
the baseline play,” said Gogoi, who travelled with Sahaja to Mumbai. The
results began to show. In 2022, Sahaja won a couple of ITF titles in Nagpur and
Gurugram, going past the then India No. 2 Karman Kaur Thandi in the latter. The
Solapur ITF title last year gave her a first top 200 victory, and the Mumbai WTA
event her first top 100 scalp. In a little over 18 months since her Gurugram
title in July 2022, she has gone from being ranked in the 900s to 300s now,
with a new career-high awaiting next week.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gogoi believes a good
tournament or two this season can push her closer to her goal of getting into
the Slam qualifiers, and getting a sponsor to fund her travel overseas would
help. The “hunger” to get there and beyond, he said, is ingrained. “I don't
want to put a number on the ranking (in terms of her goal). But of course, I
want to build on this (Mumbai show)," Sahaja said. “There’s still a lot to
learn and improve. I want to take the confidence and motivation from this and
keep going. At the end of the year, I want to play the Grand Slams, get into
the qualies at least. That's my goal, and I'm going to keep working hard and
keep going towards it.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiDSQSm4feQAJ3E-7Xs389iLewSfgLkctssH-ZnnnndGliYPNZjYGU91y8MFsCf_k86THeSt9lmoNU4IaxXNTMBi4wi6CfDsFqJ3vrGkRLPfsYdUr0OuEeLqrYOwI4Adu3t-6GSbat5NCx2wSyQYH57Pe5mr6IvT8ycdQ2HhWUQTkUae-dBIRiuKLTu0/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiDSQSm4feQAJ3E-7Xs389iLewSfgLkctssH-ZnnnndGliYPNZjYGU91y8MFsCf_k86THeSt9lmoNU4IaxXNTMBi4wi6CfDsFqJ3vrGkRLPfsYdUr0OuEeLqrYOwI4Adu3t-6GSbat5NCx2wSyQYH57Pe5mr6IvT8ycdQ2HhWUQTkUae-dBIRiuKLTu0/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Teri Baaton Mein
Aisa Uljha Jiya</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjufbn9l0orONaCfR0kjlYK3aLinvHWVQkeIhdX7gQ-7dl77vJP5bt7JlvVYzQgrYM6DJFk3TE8d89a5YbomCPB3lezuZJ95P38b8mqDEt_hYx7Om6IkmI50aEL1m0bn_5em3ghUl-FQOeh16cp_eonGKWQTc-1IxgjHI25_3KP0Bl72vL43L7MydQ_DM/s1200/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjufbn9l0orONaCfR0kjlYK3aLinvHWVQkeIhdX7gQ-7dl77vJP5bt7JlvVYzQgrYM6DJFk3TE8d89a5YbomCPB3lezuZJ95P38b8mqDEt_hYx7Om6IkmI50aEL1m0bn_5em3ghUl-FQOeh16cp_eonGKWQTc-1IxgjHI25_3KP0Bl72vL43L7MydQ_DM/w640-h426/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p></div><p></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">is a newly released
Indian Hindi-language science fiction romantic comedy movie that was released
in theatres on 9 February 2024. The film’s star cast is Shahid Kapoor and Kriti
Sanon. The film was produced under Maddock Films and Jio Studios. The movie
writer and director are Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah, in their directorial
debuts. According to sources, principal photography began in October 2022 and
ended in April 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Story of this film:
Aryan meets a young woman Sifra and both fall in love. Aryan, deciding to
introduce Sifra to his family, runs into trouble when he discovers that Sifra
is a humanoid android robot. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bhootpori <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNiZP4aavrsA9gbGqQk1cHHT2eKiXCp92thMOjWEcg4bQwi3XVvjpByhOM2yRdv7Zli1yTgt_bsUmCrzqcY8GmHvnjX6aOiwNsrTUnugVp4U7qppasnMu_-KCcS9ZhgpgyhYBNIMGTiG48xI5fzWL7Umht2HXVnU81Am_b7vydCn81r6YnY8OyCPYay4/s1054/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="1054" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNiZP4aavrsA9gbGqQk1cHHT2eKiXCp92thMOjWEcg4bQwi3XVvjpByhOM2yRdv7Zli1yTgt_bsUmCrzqcY8GmHvnjX6aOiwNsrTUnugVp4U7qppasnMu_-KCcS9ZhgpgyhYBNIMGTiG48xI5fzWL7Umht2HXVnU81Am_b7vydCn81r6YnY8OyCPYay4/w640-h302/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bhootpori is a Bengali
movie released on 9 Feb, 2024. The movie is directed by Soukarya Ghosal and
featured Jaya Ahsan, Ritwick Chakraborty, Sudipta Chakraborty and Shaantilal
Mukherjee as lead characters. Other popular actors who were roped in for
Bhootpori are Bishantak Mukherjee and Abhijit Guha.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The film chronicles the
tale of a deceased woman and a little boy who meets the restless soul of the
departed woman. The woman seeks help from the little boy to unravel the mystery
behind her death.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bhakshak'<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKXcT9RYtluQ6tC75_4liLOOMtc9Se7XEFlgJBJ1bEE6K2Bw8fAm1d4KCki_UC3TAkN7lX1npXASoDkCByUPlxEkpTx35H8I7gDcskFxH-kKi8pikIejmT_4XabOFnJ_tvCXeuXCCQDbV10B9zK1eOUYEjju82tpt4y7howT4QqChEMepdh8RiElzx5c/s1200/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKXcT9RYtluQ6tC75_4liLOOMtc9Se7XEFlgJBJ1bEE6K2Bw8fAm1d4KCki_UC3TAkN7lX1npXASoDkCByUPlxEkpTx35H8I7gDcskFxH-kKi8pikIejmT_4XabOFnJ_tvCXeuXCCQDbV10B9zK1eOUYEjju82tpt4y7howT4QqChEMepdh8RiElzx5c/w640-h480/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The film follows
Pednekar as journalist Vaishali Singh as she uncovers the stories of abuse at a
girls' shelter home. It also stars Sanjay Mishra, Aditya Srivastava and Sai
Tamhankar.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Streamer Netflix on
Wednesday unveiled the trailer of Bhumi Pednekar's upcoming movie
"Bhakshak", about an investigative journalist who tries to expose a
heinous crime.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Superstar Shah Rukh
Khan's banner Red Chillies Entertainment has backed the crime drama, which is
inspired by true events. The film is directed by Pulkit and will debut on Netflix
on February 9.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Marvels<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo-TH7sEkvmyd_0FLqUN0RC8qNGctRicPBu4yWgVrhkfr3byRXdXgPOkewg_0Aspm6aduCmCUDVHbnAGSZpmyhgFkpCyBLIur-xbNtIvEehln0lyOAijeY4J3-NebfFjfvxd5EFOBLPoKM_5H0nk7PpBPQQPCGoLtakPNz2hAIRE66SOTPSPEEZwJPwc/s491/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="370" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo-TH7sEkvmyd_0FLqUN0RC8qNGctRicPBu4yWgVrhkfr3byRXdXgPOkewg_0Aspm6aduCmCUDVHbnAGSZpmyhgFkpCyBLIur-xbNtIvEehln0lyOAijeY4J3-NebfFjfvxd5EFOBLPoKM_5H0nk7PpBPQQPCGoLtakPNz2hAIRE66SOTPSPEEZwJPwc/w482-h640/M4.jpg" width="482" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the heart of every
Marvel Cinematic Universe movie lies riveting characters that sweep you off
your feet. In Marvel Studios’ 33rd MCU movie, The Marvels, we are presented
with all-new story arcs for fans to enjoy and relish. From Captain Marvel
trying to maintain order in the universe to Ms Marvel fighting alongside her
superhero to Captain Monica Rambeau being in the middle of the chaos, the three
come together to unleash powerful action, comedy, and chaos. Here’s a look at
the five characters that bring you a thrilling new chapter of MCU.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Marvels is all set
to stream on Disney+ Hotstar from February 7.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Captain Marvel: Carol
Danvers as Captain Marvel, reclaims her identity from the tyrannical Kree and
takes revenge on the Supreme Intelligence in The Marvels. But unintended
consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When
her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary,
her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan aka
Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain
Monica Rambeau. It’s a tough one for Carol because she’s sort of decided to
work alone because it’s too painful to try and deal with loss.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ms Marvel: Ms Marvel is
Jersey City’s local teen hero- Kamala Khan, played by Iman Vellani, and was
introduced in Marvel Studios’ Disney+ Hotstar series, Ms Marvel. In The
Marvels, she makes her second appearance in MCU and charms all with her antics
as she goes from a fangirl of Captain Marvel to her trusted aide fighting
beside her.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rambeau: Scientist
Captain Monica Rambeau, as in the late Maria Rambeau’s daughter and Carol’s
estranged niece, is played by Teyonah Parris. She was rediscovered as an adult
in another Marvel Studios series, the award-winning WandaVision.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYvgJ-NCGOAsOWilTDiIRFqrJfP_jmDhdyBrR-i0cPNMbeClLfum8TotAfIz-VkTf1q2D82k0Pb2FfhCrkdHUwxDlYVr1ozzx1hyGnle2siXsFcODsx0zsDZuywvdLC6hW2_1dNHqhL-bYmJS5VH5Nyr1eZn8-qzPrT_JbUNtpF6FD6qIenbmaEz1s8g/s1696/APRAJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="1155" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYvgJ-NCGOAsOWilTDiIRFqrJfP_jmDhdyBrR-i0cPNMbeClLfum8TotAfIz-VkTf1q2D82k0Pb2FfhCrkdHUwxDlYVr1ozzx1hyGnle2siXsFcODsx0zsDZuywvdLC6hW2_1dNHqhL-bYmJS5VH5Nyr1eZn8-qzPrT_JbUNtpF6FD6qIenbmaEz1s8g/s320/APRAJ.jpg" width="218" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUkccM27RXeVgXuvNCthWnpAtmnAC3C0byuHwG1S7D1fPRGycQZBhz5N00QCviCLullqE6W22Mwff8GVNf8eDQz1kjudnJuxu1SREKFD8rlS0JrOM7NZbmFVcFHQPaNm45YUgYSX33LjXuAuzDt6-ixUyfrX30cZWCoCulpUJcRF7gvdkDQo-muqas7k/s1707/APRAJ0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="1133" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUkccM27RXeVgXuvNCthWnpAtmnAC3C0byuHwG1S7D1fPRGycQZBhz5N00QCviCLullqE6W22Mwff8GVNf8eDQz1kjudnJuxu1SREKFD8rlS0JrOM7NZbmFVcFHQPaNm45YUgYSX33LjXuAuzDt6-ixUyfrX30cZWCoCulpUJcRF7gvdkDQo-muqas7k/s320/APRAJ0001.jpg" width="212" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">APRAGYTIHASIK
:ISHRARER BAGAN: BY SOHOM GUHA</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">মাটির রং এবং মানুষের ভাষার সঙ্গে তালে তাল মিলিয়ে বদলে যায়
কল্পবিজ্ঞান ও ফ্যান্টাসির গল্প</span></b><b><span face=""Aparajita","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span face=""Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">সোহম বয়সে
তরুণ হলেও তাঁর দেখার চোখ অনেক পরিণত</span></b><b><span face=""Aparajita","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span face=""Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">তাই
অবলীলায় সে এই বদলে যাওয়া ভাষাটা ধরে ফেলে ‘আমাদের’ গল্প বলতে পারে অনায়াসে</span></b><b><span face=""Aparajita","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span face=""Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">এ
কারণেই তাঁকে বোধহয় অন্য কোনও দেশের থেকে ভাষা বা ভঙ্গিমা ধার করতে হয় না নিজের চরিত্রদের
ফুটিয়ে তুলতে</span></b><b><span face=""Aparajita","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span face=""Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">সেই আশ্চর্য রকমের পরিচিত ভাষ্যে সুলেখক সোহম গুহ’র অনবদ্য বড়
গল্পের সংকলন প্রকাশ পেয়েছে কল্পবিশ্বের হাত ধরে</span></b><b><span face=""Aparajita","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">।<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Soham Guha: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiIH0F3LGyvlkuefQwrwX8MMusKA3StoaeUycY_I93KIQc-a3-iU8XrO9tlCHDRAw8WkQPbvEeDVKpLKmTZ1Rsqoj1qKjqbet9t-swgipdq48iayWHFXP7TT-eTzYfxzueWWTaA-3crq7U-RO8bXRBMmRWvD96kd-9XubrO5SuHCcDr1l3Zlgayb7Iho/s600/SOHOM%20GUHA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiIH0F3LGyvlkuefQwrwX8MMusKA3StoaeUycY_I93KIQc-a3-iU8XrO9tlCHDRAw8WkQPbvEeDVKpLKmTZ1Rsqoj1qKjqbet9t-swgipdq48iayWHFXP7TT-eTzYfxzueWWTaA-3crq7U-RO8bXRBMmRWvD96kd-9XubrO5SuHCcDr1l3Zlgayb7Iho/w640-h640/SOHOM%20GUHA.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The universe is made of
quarks and speculative dreams. As a part of this universe, Soham Guha (</span></b><b><span face=""Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">সোহম</span></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b><b><span face=""Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">গুহ</span></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">) finds
himself often in his suburban home near Kolkata (India).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He writes in his mother
tongue, Bengali, and English as well. His works were published in
Kalpabiswa.com, Scroll.in, Mohs 5.5: Megastructure Anthology, Mithila Review,
Meteotopia: Futures of Climate (In)justice, and The Gollancz Anthology of South
Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy Vol II.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">His collection of
Bengali speculative fiction can be found in Archimedes and Other Stories (2022,
Kalpabiswa Publications).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTo4BRruqLIWlo-Zs0i19ZpeTks7QNscj8262Jrtm1qIaRVa3kF_pHIKO5KOB1Fgx2P8-K1FMIi0sM7LcYURjgbh0iFnx-Ze1aNqK-VBmNRZPt7I39tAWK_DxjeGHflfziWbaB7Jt1XKHcFSPZ-KWrFxYhyphenhyphenVwZPlb-s1y5m0NPGiXevRfEMZzNhHBMjM/s564/sohom%20guhan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="564" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTo4BRruqLIWlo-Zs0i19ZpeTks7QNscj8262Jrtm1qIaRVa3kF_pHIKO5KOB1Fgx2P8-K1FMIi0sM7LcYURjgbh0iFnx-Ze1aNqK-VBmNRZPt7I39tAWK_DxjeGHflfziWbaB7Jt1XKHcFSPZ-KWrFxYhyphenhyphenVwZPlb-s1y5m0NPGiXevRfEMZzNhHBMjM/w640-h392/sohom%20guhan.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The heritage of SF in
Bengal, both east and West, is rich, distinct, yet somewhat underrepresented to
the global audience. Looking at the current status, the development may appear
fragmented, even halted. The reason can be traced to the mainstream vernacular
magazines, the respective publishing houses, and their treatment of SF entirely
as MG fiction. Magazines play a crucial role in the emergence of genre fiction,
as they are the first and foremost platforms for any aspiring and experimenting
pen. However, looking at the SFs printed in these magazines, if someone
compares them with the global standard, one might find the majority of the stories
to be inadequate antiquities. Considering the lack of SF special issues, the
reluctance to experimentation, the predominant absence of adult themes in the
printed SFs, the prevalent atmosphere can be said to be stagnant. This is a
stark divergence from the paths paved by SF-only magazines like Ashchorjo,
Bismoy, and Fantastic. All three magazines were either edited or influenced by
Adrish Bardhan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><br /></div>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-78497489706767926432024-02-04T00:15:00.001+09:002024-02-04T00:15:08.118+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS NEWS THIS WEEK : SCIENCE, POLITICAL, SPORTS ,MOVIE & BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7o5dErmDW_z7WAMS2mTa1lofqJhfy5hx_g6Jrkq7gRn33US4I0E-do2ry5z5WZ8deRxOPDi-yqbrGtvuUhXzUmqlvoIdDHe1Uw_xuXANbUNwm4czLTvOEQNKjt81Snb_7IPaESr2qqQPV0yej05H5ZqvgqRp3T36EsJ35qLrmlDGH2FZFooxJXm06KE/s960/NEWSWEEK3224GIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7o5dErmDW_z7WAMS2mTa1lofqJhfy5hx_g6Jrkq7gRn33US4I0E-do2ry5z5WZ8deRxOPDi-yqbrGtvuUhXzUmqlvoIdDHe1Uw_xuXANbUNwm4czLTvOEQNKjt81Snb_7IPaESr2qqQPV0yej05H5ZqvgqRp3T36EsJ35qLrmlDGH2FZFooxJXm06KE/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK3224GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-22kk4r7OXgWumV2GLWwya4kmC9vwZfrNCG9n0NBLmySIp7JG6eRZBd049gLMRkLxnxi7kLOP1RENyyEDFUryh5oaOrheO9Lk1jTYP2cJh5U6CDeOQNxrFzZe-bEKnUkvrANx5AUqfFEWkv-7dATYakvm2_fmt2RT7gto7ZWjNcTuUReFFiadfbii37M/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-22kk4r7OXgWumV2GLWwya4kmC9vwZfrNCG9n0NBLmySIp7JG6eRZBd049gLMRkLxnxi7kLOP1RENyyEDFUryh5oaOrheO9Lk1jTYP2cJh5U6CDeOQNxrFzZe-bEKnUkvrANx5AUqfFEWkv-7dATYakvm2_fmt2RT7gto7ZWjNcTuUReFFiadfbii37M/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Chip inside the
brain, Elon Musk says first Neuralink-connected human is doing well: Story in 5
points:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwsdPP9Yk8kTtvvOF1eB9FBXTylDaziWYtNE3SilVPJcyKrI7ZSgHM90vX3JjbnVuSegIQv7-caYxpRxAB8X9X-G_9JKY9DwDhhihx4ebQgarICPhViMjZj1j01FXzSJI8_GKaqAVOuy_W9pSvjGxrWBfDbPiP2tvyGc6OgPNcuMwa3QT0r9DLMRGWhE/s600/NEURALINK2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwsdPP9Yk8kTtvvOF1eB9FBXTylDaziWYtNE3SilVPJcyKrI7ZSgHM90vX3JjbnVuSegIQv7-caYxpRxAB8X9X-G_9JKY9DwDhhihx4ebQgarICPhViMjZj1j01FXzSJI8_GKaqAVOuy_W9pSvjGxrWBfDbPiP2tvyGc6OgPNcuMwa3QT0r9DLMRGWhE/w640-h480/NEURALINK2.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Elon Musk has revealed
on X that his neurotechnology startup, Neuralink, has successfully implanted a
brain chip in its first human patient, with initial results described as
"promising." He says that the tech enables control of your phone or
computer just by thinking. Here is the full story in 5 points.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In Short:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Elon Musk has reported
promising results in first human implant.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Neuralink aims to enable
device control through thought.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Musk says initial users
may include those with limb disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Elon Musk has revealed
on X that his neurotechnology startup, Neuralink, has successfully implanted a
brain chip in its first human patient, with initial results described as
"promising." He says that the tech enables control of your phone or
computer just by thinking. Here is the full story in 5 points. -Elon Musk, who
is the co-founder of Neuralink, announced the installation of a brain implant in
the first human recipient. This marks a significant milestone for the company,
which Musk founded in 2016 with the mission of establishing direct
communication pathways between the human brain and computers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S0zpPBInS2ZmqnJkC-xCdN38BjvlitXWES8FZK1uvsJNDaDn0qeIlO4cZSZKihcnhs7_MSuDA0JZ8K9-nxXuBIlUtGqZtU7wwfoYf9F8X2NJsH1V3AuaBrEQDajT5nHb5nafGXN_8wo3EGsjOFcuXgKpUlyzYSki1ZmPPeGCWoR72Et_W40wOk8eDrM/s251/NEURALINK3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S0zpPBInS2ZmqnJkC-xCdN38BjvlitXWES8FZK1uvsJNDaDn0qeIlO4cZSZKihcnhs7_MSuDA0JZ8K9-nxXuBIlUtGqZtU7wwfoYf9F8X2NJsH1V3AuaBrEQDajT5nHb5nafGXN_8wo3EGsjOFcuXgKpUlyzYSki1ZmPPeGCWoR72Et_W40wOk8eDrM/w561-h640/NEURALINK3.jpg" width="561" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-Neuralink's goal is to
improve human capabilities significantly, address neurological disorders such
as ALS and Parkinson's. The company wants to establish a potential symbiotic
relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. The technology aims to
enable direct control of devices, like phones or computers, simply by just
thinking.-Elon Musk reported that the initial recipient of the Neuralink
implant is recovering well. Musk expressed optimism by stating that the early
results demonstrate promising neuron spike detection. This positive outcome is
a crucial step forward in validating the safety and result of Neuralink's
neurotechnology.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-Musk asserted that
initial users of Neuralink's technology would likely be individuals who have
lost the use of their limbs. He illustrated the potential impact by imagining a
scenario where someone like Stephen Hawking could communicate at a speed
surpassing that of a professional typist or auctioneer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0mXW1AE9yKOu1gJXU327erqFNMPqbUmS_LkJmw5OqcoSmYhWlkB0y8iVORu5EwGPWHnfBvPD_6fFvVM-D3cQkUJcC1PNz9wHii8cHdUowfCT5c2uz5HIsVBPInUG7NnSAEEzu_bTpFQCEp2KOWoHJgYnNPFHUrxzH3CSjH8Iskdn5O8h8hYmtmuGe8o/s1075/NEURALINK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1075" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0mXW1AE9yKOu1gJXU327erqFNMPqbUmS_LkJmw5OqcoSmYhWlkB0y8iVORu5EwGPWHnfBvPD_6fFvVM-D3cQkUJcC1PNz9wHii8cHdUowfCT5c2uz5HIsVBPInUG7NnSAEEzu_bTpFQCEp2KOWoHJgYnNPFHUrxzH3CSjH8Iskdn5O8h8hYmtmuGe8o/w640-h360/NEURALINK.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-Neuralink's technology
relies on an implant known as the "Link," a device approximately the
size of five stacked coins that requires invasive surgery for placement within
the human brain. While Neuralink has faced delays, the company received
regulatory approval in the United States for testing its brain implants on
humans. In contrast, other players in the field, such as Synchron, have
developed implant versions that do not require skull penetration.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Under very rare
conditions, Alzheimer’s disease may be transmitted By Laura Sanders<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aU3wv4a8QqvzdSiK_-BSijKFGJRPajIurUUIYKdABGVHydWt-XyUYBv3ZN7iI63lyHst-ZZZ9pShDnDjn7xXIwN3r1Kxh6qU_gpkuuzNnlLabtytAI9hIJrZh_3YHn-vHhuyldVuDpG_tkh8wJpWmBMqQWVEydMzKm5fAvcz95fNUgIRRrwAYANrMPg/s1030/A%20PET%20scan%20of%20the%20brain%20of%20a%20man%20who%20received%20contaminated%20growth%20hormones%20as%20a%20child%20and%20later%20developed%20Alzheimer%E2%80%99s%20disease%20shows%20higher-than-usual%20levels%20of%20the%20sticky%20protein%20A-beta%20(purple%20and%20orange%20areas)%20associated%20with%20the%20disease..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1030" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aU3wv4a8QqvzdSiK_-BSijKFGJRPajIurUUIYKdABGVHydWt-XyUYBv3ZN7iI63lyHst-ZZZ9pShDnDjn7xXIwN3r1Kxh6qU_gpkuuzNnlLabtytAI9hIJrZh_3YHn-vHhuyldVuDpG_tkh8wJpWmBMqQWVEydMzKm5fAvcz95fNUgIRRrwAYANrMPg/w640-h360/A%20PET%20scan%20of%20the%20brain%20of%20a%20man%20who%20received%20contaminated%20growth%20hormones%20as%20a%20child%20and%20later%20developed%20Alzheimer%E2%80%99s%20disease%20shows%20higher-than-usual%20levels%20of%20the%20sticky%20protein%20A-beta%20(purple%20and%20orange%20areas)%20associated%20with%20the%20disease..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A PET scan of the brain of a man who received contaminated growth hormones as a child and later developed Alzheimer’s disease shows higher-than-usual levels of the sticky protein A-beta (purple and orange areas) associated with the disease.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Under extremely rare
circumstances, it appears that Alzheimer’s disease can be transmitted between
people. Five people who received contaminated injections of a growth hormone as
children went on to develop Alzheimer’s unusually early, researchers report
January 29 in Nature Medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The findings represent
“the first time iatrogenic Alzheimer’s disease has been described,” neurologist
John Collinge said January 25 in a news briefing, referring to a disease caused
by a medical procedure.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That sounds alarming,
but researchers are quick to emphasize that Alzheimer’s disease is not contagious
in everyday life, including caretaking and most medical settings. “We are not
suggesting for a moment that you can catch Alzheimer’s disease,” said Collinge,
of the University College London’s Institute of Prion Diseases. “This is not
transmissible in the sense of a viral or bacterial infection.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The reassurance is
echoed by Carlo Condello, a neurobiologist at the University of California, San
Francisco who wasn’t involved in the study. “In no way do we believe sporadic
Alzheimer’s disease is a communicable disease,” he says. “Only under incredibly
artificial, now out-of-date, medical practices is this appearing. It’s no
longer an issue.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrradOJUFN8zE0MacFUyV05BiD2gfdbD3IlVHLewN_GJvl1MdpKwNV3NHNT-y6WOl737rBO8bH9UUdG_WySJTiR4VV5E0_zvQAWhdHLdJ16yCwuA4NFRFZze3UiLd85zNw2V4Yi0lvlaGsI7kz5z-ujBD4mzs1ZTGFWFFFYwhTVcn4yBgd4o5BmClEKCU/s549/The%20exact%20role%20that%20amyloid-beta%20plays%20in%20Alzheimer%E2%80%99s%20is%20not%20fully%20understood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrradOJUFN8zE0MacFUyV05BiD2gfdbD3IlVHLewN_GJvl1MdpKwNV3NHNT-y6WOl737rBO8bH9UUdG_WySJTiR4VV5E0_zvQAWhdHLdJ16yCwuA4NFRFZze3UiLd85zNw2V4Yi0lvlaGsI7kz5z-ujBD4mzs1ZTGFWFFFYwhTVcn4yBgd4o5BmClEKCU/w640-h360/The%20exact%20role%20that%20amyloid-beta%20plays%20in%20Alzheimer%E2%80%99s%20is%20not%20fully%20understood.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The exact role that amyloid-beta plays in Alzheimer’s is not fully understood</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Most cases of
Alzheimer’s disease arise spontaneously in older people (in the United States,
for instance, about 1 in 9 people aged 65 and older have the disease). That’s
part of what makes these newly described cases of Alzheimer’s so unusual.
Symptoms started early for these five people with Alzheimer’s — between ages 38
and 55 — and in three for whom genetic data were available, researchers ruled
out the presence of mutations known to cause early-onset forms of the
disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people in the study had all
received growth hormone injections as children or teenagers. Used to treat
various growth disorders, these hormones were extracted from the pituitary
glands of cadavers and combined into batches, a source that is no longer used.
Some of these mixtures were later found to be contaminated with prions,
infectious, misshapen proteins, that caused a disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease. Globally, more than 200 people were affected. This type of growth
hormone treatment stopped in 1985; doctors now use synthetic versions.It turns
out that those batches held another problem. In an earlier study, Collinge and
his colleagues had found higher-than-expected levels of amyloid-beta in the
brains of four people who had died with CJD. Accumulation of the sticky protein
is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s and, in these cases, a worrisome signal that
perhaps some of these proteins had been transferred, along with prions, from
donors (SN: 9/9/15). A-beta from some of the hormone batches could spread in
the brains of mice, suggesting that the protein behaves in some ways like an
infectious prion, the researchers reported in 2018 (SN: 12/13/18)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Now, the researchers
report on eight more people who had received contaminated growth hormone and
were referred to their clinical team. None of these people had CJD, but three
had already received Alzheimer’s diagnoses. Further exams showed that two more
people had the disease and two had signs of cognitive trouble. One person
didn’t have symptoms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7pZqMw-aApe5RGPnIXzoeh0-uHcrdE13ejEYShsc_-U7cLl7qTON2R48iE73C_Ud-wsQT7Kr9umvid12XFrrN3XBZ6LQRXsnZtxasAnlvn9FX2_SfslD7z5q9slRiinDqsj2nqmWLu6YIc1kgDDU5pwEZfl085zKMPKOqNJ3BKnWNhB3nMIeyvAZBQ0/s673/Human%20brain,%20in%20two%20halves%20healthy%20and%20Alzheimer's%20disease%20Healthy%20neuron%20and%20neuron%20with%20amyloid%20plaques.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="673" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7pZqMw-aApe5RGPnIXzoeh0-uHcrdE13ejEYShsc_-U7cLl7qTON2R48iE73C_Ud-wsQT7Kr9umvid12XFrrN3XBZ6LQRXsnZtxasAnlvn9FX2_SfslD7z5q9slRiinDqsj2nqmWLu6YIc1kgDDU5pwEZfl085zKMPKOqNJ3BKnWNhB3nMIeyvAZBQ0/w640-h346/Human%20brain,%20in%20two%20halves%20healthy%20and%20Alzheimer's%20disease%20Healthy%20neuron%20and%20neuron%20with%20amyloid%20plaques.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Human brain, in two halves healthy and Alzheimer's disease Healthy neuron and neuron with amyloid plaques</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The most likely cause of
these Alzheimer’s cases seems to be the unusual introduction of A-beta early in
life, the researchers conclude. “Taken as a whole, the only real explanation is
the shared exposure” to contaminated growth hormone, neurologist Gargi
Banerjee, also at UCL, said in the Jan. 25 briefing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That interpretation “is
plausible,” says Condello. “What’s in those extracts could have done what they
claim it did.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Still, scientists can’t
be certain that contaminated growth hormone caused these people’s Alzheimer’s
disease. It’s possible, for instance, that the underlying childhood conditions
that necessitated the growth hormone treatments, or other medical procedures
such as radiation, contributed to early Alzheimer’s or cognitive problems.
Several of the people suffered from seizures, which could perhaps influence
cognitive problems or brain pathology. “The definitive answer may never come,” Condello
says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Beyond these rare
circumstances, the results may hold clues about how Alzheimer’s disease can
take hold in the brain, and whether A-beta, like a prion, incites other
versions of A-beta to misfold. Untangling the details of how various forms of
A-beta spread “lies ahead,” Collinge said. “A great deal more research needs to
be done.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) First-ever
sighting of a live newborn great white may help solve longstanding mystery in
shark science :by University of California - Riverside<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlJzALAp0NXog6dK8ef4bbuK-ShohHpVcR-rBCg0_Gv4oXkysGLw-SR23EnB3IBRbTieXugrpA0L-BZXpUFeNOa6XG7A9GyW16Jx6GwFNIdx87bgc1QU20lxJYfT53MarOMrnpcs_J5nAIY2QCYlFHgZcNDM2fIj4Gh6ILylZhcoZ16kkznoXlYZq63o/s480/great-white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="480" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlJzALAp0NXog6dK8ef4bbuK-ShohHpVcR-rBCg0_Gv4oXkysGLw-SR23EnB3IBRbTieXugrpA0L-BZXpUFeNOa6XG7A9GyW16Jx6GwFNIdx87bgc1QU20lxJYfT53MarOMrnpcs_J5nAIY2QCYlFHgZcNDM2fIj4Gh6ILylZhcoZ16kkznoXlYZq63o/w640-h358/great-white.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newborn great white, filmed off the California coast near Santa Barbara. Credit Carlos Gauna,The Malibu Artist</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Great whites, the largest
predatory sharks in the world with the most fatal attacks on humans, are tough
to imagine as newborn babies. That is partially because no one has seen one in
the wild, it seems, until now. Wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna and UC Riverside
biology doctoral student Phillip Sternes were scanning the waters for sharks on
July 9, 2023, near Santa Barbara on California's central coast. That day,
something exciting appeared on the viewfinder of Gauna's drone camera. It was a
shark pup unlike any they'd ever seen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Great whites, referred
to only as white sharks by scientists, are gray on top and white on the bottom.
But this roughly 5-foot-long shark was pure white.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We enlarged the
images, put them in slow motion, and realized the white layer was being shed from
the body as it was swimming," Sternes said. "I believe it was a
newborn white shark shedding its embryonic layer."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA8NkOr1iranM7I_LBxjH3sYPFfH8d-Ilv1i3tU_sYl4V436QLIQV98jk8nJJ3XueUflarwqCrT718Vtbv5tPOMYHti63WjJtetHWS0a-00bhLeGAYA51oVOCnrTqUeLhSbMaRAZWFgUptZiHlEDw-Om4f0e03FY0Fj1g2_jjYUjF4KvJ74enspP4MU8/s1900/Newborn%20great%20white,%20filmed%20off%20the%20California%20coast%20near%20Santa%20Barbara.%20Credit%20Carlos%20Gauna,The%20Malibu%20Artist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1900" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA8NkOr1iranM7I_LBxjH3sYPFfH8d-Ilv1i3tU_sYl4V436QLIQV98jk8nJJ3XueUflarwqCrT718Vtbv5tPOMYHti63WjJtetHWS0a-00bhLeGAYA51oVOCnrTqUeLhSbMaRAZWFgUptZiHlEDw-Om4f0e03FY0Fj1g2_jjYUjF4KvJ74enspP4MU8/w432-h640/Newborn%20great%20white,%20filmed%20off%20the%20California%20coast%20near%20Santa%20Barbara.%20Credit%20Carlos%20Gauna,The%20Malibu%20Artist.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First-ever sighting of a live newborn great white</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These observations are
documented in a new paper in the Environmental Biology of Fishes journal. The
paper also details the significance of having seen a live newborn white shark.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gauna is known online as
The Malibu Artist. He has spent thousands of hours filming sharks around the
world, and his videos of them swimming close to beachgoers have millions of
views. What he and Sternes observed could help solve the longstanding mystery
of great white birthing habits. Though the paper authors acknowledge it is
possible the white film the shark shed could have been a skin condition, the
duo do not believe this to be the case. "If that is what we saw, then that
too is monumental because no such condition has ever been reported for these
sharks," Gauna said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For many reasons, the
duo believes what they saw was in fact a newborn great white.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">First, great white
females give birth to live pups. While in utero, the embryonic sharks might
feed on unfertilized eggs for protein. The mothers offer additional nourishment
to the growing shark pups with a 'milk' secreted in the uterus."I believe
what we saw was the baby shedding the intrauterine milk," Sternes said.A
second reason is the presence of large, likely pregnant great whites in this
location. Gauna had observed them here in previous years, and in the weeks
leading up to the observation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr41yvDFOtFXZWd1bDxKN2yZDJtybSqwT8xzxhbmqetHNKNXuVpyiXL_j6LCRMT0QJtY-ZZSvABk6bXenoukGv9uw33HUxzXWMw6oSj9f8Xjo3e3zAJlhoHgt6a2iv2iCULPX7UzoQDzohWQLLOuBUQyaFaXlYwmk8q2toLkAf2mI6mQYa4NqgjqDcM9E/s367/Side%20view%20of%20the%20newborn%20great%20white%20shark..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="367" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr41yvDFOtFXZWd1bDxKN2yZDJtybSqwT8xzxhbmqetHNKNXuVpyiXL_j6LCRMT0QJtY-ZZSvABk6bXenoukGv9uw33HUxzXWMw6oSj9f8Xjo3e3zAJlhoHgt6a2iv2iCULPX7UzoQDzohWQLLOuBUQyaFaXlYwmk8q2toLkAf2mI6mQYa4NqgjqDcM9E/w640-h430/Side%20view%20of%20the%20newborn%20great%20white%20shark..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side view of the newborn great white shark.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I filmed three
very large sharks that appeared pregnant at this specific location in the days
prior. On this day, one of them dove down, and not long afterwards, this fully
white shark appears," Gauna said. "It's not a stretch to deduce where
the baby came from."Thirdly, the shark's size and shape are also
indicative of a newborn. What the two observed was thin, short, and rounded.
"In my opinion, this one was likely hours, maybe one day old at
most," Sternes said.Finally, this location off the coast of central
California has long been proposed as a birthing location for great whites.
"There are a lot of hypothetical areas, but despite intense interest in
these sharks, no one's seen a birth or a newborn pup in the wild," Sternes
said. "This may well be the first evidence we have of a pup in the wild,
making this a definitive birthing location."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosgHL6rCl9grXJRz38RvAgq90ZeTYAU0HVuMmpnbbcBUaYH1OTMatvsKvXvO3b0TohVum8d4nUKvQpf2z1f_-KWHPwfJ02spZwD9cEZcmfZY2VTvsOQ28ygbE2Le0_Yg5ey0bGP5cq94RRxePZLZ0GzNu0l79UOUwDMLOs5T6G73Vjw2CRs7OPMWNexk/s1170/First-ever%20sighting%20of%20a%20live%20newborn%20great%20white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1170" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosgHL6rCl9grXJRz38RvAgq90ZeTYAU0HVuMmpnbbcBUaYH1OTMatvsKvXvO3b0TohVum8d4nUKvQpf2z1f_-KWHPwfJ02spZwD9cEZcmfZY2VTvsOQ28ygbE2Le0_Yg5ey0bGP5cq94RRxePZLZ0GzNu0l79UOUwDMLOs5T6G73Vjw2CRs7OPMWNexk/w640-h246/First-ever%20sighting%20of%20a%20live%20newborn%20great%20white.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">great-white</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Many scholars believe
great whites are born farther out at sea. That this pup was filmed so close to
shore—roughly 1,000 feet from the beach—is significant because its age means it
was likely born in shallow waters.Great whites are listed as an international
endangered species. "Further research is needed to confirm these waters
are indeed a great white breeding ground. But if it does, we would want
lawmakers to step in and protect these waters to help white sharks keep
thriving," Sternes said."Where white sharks give birth is one of the
holy grails of shark science. No one has ever been able to pinpoint where they
are born, nor has anyone seen a newborn baby shark alive," Gauna said.
"There have been dead white sharks found inside deceased pregnant mothers.
But nothing like this."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Inner ear of
6-million-year-old ape fossil reveals clues about the evolution of human
movement : by New York University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwGyIp9RoysrtyJtIScsMHwhsAko7aB0ZLnSTQfen15oO9RyWOMjtr8qXQ13W96VbnhudzA0g1yOeQ100vHboJS6l6ukOp4_If5qcApTWVkgLH3_vp0mL2fydSnqVhOG2_kWillO0vTWaqlsQyF4KP_8i0-gk__DuVK3aRmkew6SNDgg2I725ey3_1BA/s2880/Reconstruction%20of%20the%20locomotor%20behavior%20and%20paleoenvironment%20of%20Lufengpithecus%20Credit%20Xiaocong%20Guo;%20image%20courtesy%20of%20Xijun%20Ni%20Institute%20of%20Vertebrate%20Paleontology%20and%20Paleoanthropology,%20Chinese%20Academy%20of%20Sciences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="2880" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwGyIp9RoysrtyJtIScsMHwhsAko7aB0ZLnSTQfen15oO9RyWOMjtr8qXQ13W96VbnhudzA0g1yOeQ100vHboJS6l6ukOp4_If5qcApTWVkgLH3_vp0mL2fydSnqVhOG2_kWillO0vTWaqlsQyF4KP_8i0-gk__DuVK3aRmkew6SNDgg2I725ey3_1BA/w640-h380/Reconstruction%20of%20the%20locomotor%20behavior%20and%20paleoenvironment%20of%20Lufengpithecus%20Credit%20Xiaocong%20Guo;%20image%20courtesy%20of%20Xijun%20Ni%20Institute%20of%20Vertebrate%20Paleontology%20and%20Paleoanthropology,%20Chinese%20Academy%20of%20Sciences.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reconstruction of the locomotor behavior and paleoenvironment of Lufengpithecus Credit Xiaocong Guo; image courtesy of Xijun Ni Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Humans and our closest
relatives, living apes, display a remarkable diversity of types of
locomotion—from walking upright on two legs to climbing in trees and walking
using all four limbs. While scientists have long been intrigued by the question
of how humans' bipedal stance and movement evolved from a quadrupedal ancestor,
neither past studies nor fossil records have permitted the reconstruction of a
clear and definitive history of the early evolutionary stages that led to human
bipedalism.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, a new study,
which centers on recently discovered evidence from skulls of a
6-million-year-old fossil ape, Lufengpithecus, offers important clues about the
origins of bipedal locomotion courtesy of a novel method: analyzing its bony
inner ear region using three-dimensional CT-scanning.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The semicircular
canals, located in the skull between our brains and the external ear, are
critical to providing our sense of balance and position when we move, and they
provide a fundamental component of our locomotion that most people are probably
unaware of," explains Yinan Zhang, a doctoral student at the Institute of
Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of
Sciences (IVPP) and the lead author of the paper, which appears in the journal
The Innovation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The size and shape
of the semicircular canals correlate with how mammals, including apes and
humans, move around their environment. Using modern imaging technologies, we
were able to visualize the internal structure of fossil skulls and study the
anatomical details of the semicircular canals to reveal how extinct mammals
moved.""Our study points to a three-step evolution of human
bipedalism," adds Terry Harrison, a New York University anthropologist and
one of the paper's co-authors.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"First, the
earliest apes moved in the trees in a style that was most similar to aspects of
the way that gibbons in Asia do today. Second, the last common ancestor of apes
and humans was similar in its locomotor repertoire to Lufengpithecus, using a
combination of climbing and clambering, forelimb suspension, arboreal
bipedalism, and terrestrial quadrupedalism. It is from this broad ancestral
locomotor repertoire that human bipedalism evolved."Most studies of the
evolution of ape locomotion had focused on comparisons of the bones of the limbs,
shoulders, pelvis, and spine and the way they are associated with the different
types of locomotor behaviors seen in living apes and humans. However, the
diversity of locomotor behaviors in living apes and the incompleteness of the
fossil record have hampered the development of a clear picture of human
bipedalism's origins.The skulls of Lufengpithecus—originally discovered in
China's Yunnan Province in the early 1980s—have given scientists the
opportunity to address, in new ways, unanswered questions about the evolution
of locomotion. However, the heavy compression and distortion of the skulls
obscured the bony ear region and led previous researchers to believe that the
delicate semicircular canals were not preserved.To better explore this region,
Zhang, Ni and Harrison, along with other researchers at IVPP and the Yunnan
Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (YICRA), used three dimensional
scanning technologies to illuminate these portions of the skulls to create a
virtual reconstruction of the inner ear's bony canals. They then compared these
scans to those collected from other living and fossil apes and humans from
Asia, Europe, and Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEier8yGkXtr0iWgwhiEe0velprZu43og9f6sTIEXe6FY0pBIsCjoOSvs5Wny79-2PtUS6_5HaZ8o-UWhlft1Uwa6i6EaIOZ1lxWUPBTSfPSzYMtO4v07VX390_z_aXkbr91CBAeqk1-U94Pr96UANZKOiQilaqoibNKqiAVu7L8kIxPBA-_Zkts4yW90pU/s2880/Three%20different%20views%20of%20the%20reconstructed%20inner%20ear%20of%20Lufengpithecus%20%20Credit%20Yinan%20Zhang%20Institute%20of%20Vertebrate%20Paleontology%20and%20Paleoanthropology,%20Chinese%20Academy%20of%20Sciences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="2880" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEier8yGkXtr0iWgwhiEe0velprZu43og9f6sTIEXe6FY0pBIsCjoOSvs5Wny79-2PtUS6_5HaZ8o-UWhlft1Uwa6i6EaIOZ1lxWUPBTSfPSzYMtO4v07VX390_z_aXkbr91CBAeqk1-U94Pr96UANZKOiQilaqoibNKqiAVu7L8kIxPBA-_Zkts4yW90pU/w640-h224/Three%20different%20views%20of%20the%20reconstructed%20inner%20ear%20of%20Lufengpithecus%20%20Credit%20Yinan%20Zhang%20Institute%20of%20Vertebrate%20Paleontology%20and%20Paleoanthropology,%20Chinese%20Academy%20of%20Sciences.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three different views of the reconstructed inner ear of Lufengpithecus Credit Yinan Zhang Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Our analyses show
that early apes shared a locomotor repertoire that was ancestral to human
bipedalism," explains IVPP Professor Xijun Ni, who led the project.
"It appears that the inner ear provides a unique record of the
evolutionary history of ape locomotion that offers an invaluable alternative to
the study of the postcranial skeleton."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Most fossil apes and
their inferred ancestors are intermediate in locomotor mode between gibbons and
African apes," adds Ni. "Later, the human lineage diverged from the
great apes with the acquisition of bipedalism, as seen in Australopithecus, an
early human relative from Africa."By studying the rate of evolutionary
change in the bony labyrinth, the international team proposed that climate
change may have been an important environmental catalyst in promoting the
locomotor diversification of apes and humans."Cooler global temperatures,
associated with the build up of glacial ice sheets in the northern hemisphere
approximately 3.2 million years ago, correspond with an uptick in the rate of
change of the bony labyrinth and this may signal a rapid increase in the pace
of ape and human locomotor evolution," explains Harrison.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Neanderthals and
humans lived side by side in Northern Europe 45,000 years ago, genetic analysis
finds :by University of California - Berkeley<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavLQ8PPZAmeIV3TtgeLR9i3IhkW7EoOwq8-mj_8Ka-wr5m3b-JIQKE1uX4xgKmWkZsKSwWsiu-6ty3ueUc_erkghxoci081O58hsRncPDJ1_0Hq5jV8_NqQ1CPj3Dj-pwagkTh8s1akjzxYwg8dBuwc4JXpu-9kWuC2gB8JzilGKjbyiAUa7cJoLZYLI/s2880/Excavating%20the%20LRJ%20layers%208%20meters%20deep%20at%20Ranis%20was%20a%20logistical%20challenge%20and%20required%20elaborate%20scaffolding%20to%20support%20the%20trench.%20Credit%20Marcel%20Weiss,%20License%20CC-BY-ND%204.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2880" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavLQ8PPZAmeIV3TtgeLR9i3IhkW7EoOwq8-mj_8Ka-wr5m3b-JIQKE1uX4xgKmWkZsKSwWsiu-6ty3ueUc_erkghxoci081O58hsRncPDJ1_0Hq5jV8_NqQ1CPj3Dj-pwagkTh8s1akjzxYwg8dBuwc4JXpu-9kWuC2gB8JzilGKjbyiAUa7cJoLZYLI/w640-h480/Excavating%20the%20LRJ%20layers%208%20meters%20deep%20at%20Ranis%20was%20a%20logistical%20challenge%20and%20required%20elaborate%20scaffolding%20to%20support%20the%20trench.%20Credit%20Marcel%20Weiss,%20License%20CC-BY-ND%204.0.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excavating the LRJ layers 8 meters deep at Ranis was a logistical challenge and required elaborate scaffolding to support the trench. Credit Marcel Weiss, License CC-BY-ND 4.0</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A genetic analysis of
bone fragments unearthed at an archaeological site in central Germany shows
conclusively that modern humans—Homo sapiens—had already reached Northern
Europe 45,000 years ago, overlapping with Neanderthals for several thousand
years before the latter went extinct. The findings establish that the site near
Ranis, Germany, which is known for its finely flaked, leaf-shaped stone tool
blades, is among the oldest confirmed sites of modern human Stone Age culture
in north central and northwestern Europe.The evidence that Homo sapiens and
Homo neanderthalensis lived side by side is consistent with genomic evidence
that the two species occasionally interbred. It also feeds the suspicion that
the invasion of Europe and Asia by modern humans some 50,000 years ago helped
drive Neanderthals, which had occupied the area for more than 500,000 years, to
extinction.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The genetic analysis,
along with an archaeological and isotopic analysis and radiocarbon dating of
the Ranis site, are detailed in a trio of papers appearing in the journals
Nature and Nature Ecology and Evolution.The stone blades at Ranis, referred to
as leaf points, are similar to stone tools found at several sites in Moravia,
Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom. These tools that are thought to have
been produced by the same culture, referred to as the
Lincombian–Ranisian–Jerzmanowician (LRJ) culture or technocomplex. Because of
previous dating, the Ranis site was known to be 40,000 years old or older, but
without recognizable bones to indicate who made the tools, it was unclear
whether they were the product of Neanderthals or Homo sapiens.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new findings
demonstrate that "Homo sapiens made this technology, and that Homo sapiens
were this far north at this time period, which is 45,000 years ago," said
Elena Zavala, one of four first authors of the Nature paper and a Miller
Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. "So these are
among the earliest Homo sapiens in Europe."Zavala was a Ph.D. student at
the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) in Leipzig in
2018 when she first began working on the project, which was a major effort
spearheaded by Jean-Jacque Hublin, former director of the institute and a
professor at the Collège de France in Paris."The Ranis cave site provides
evidence for the first dispersal of Homo sapiens across the higher latitudes of
Europe. It turns out that stone artifacts that were thought to be produced by
Neanderthals were, in fact, part of the early Homo sapiens toolkit,"
Hublin said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This fundamentally
changes our previous knowledge about the period: Homo sapiens reached
northwestern Europe long before Neanderthal disappearance in southwestern
Europe." Bones from maternal relatives?Zavala conducted the genetic
analysis of hominid bone fragments from the new and deeper excavations at Ranis
between 2016 and 2022 and from earlier excavations in the 1930s. Because the
DNA in ancient bones is highly fragmented, she employed special techniques to
isolate and sequence the DNA, all of it mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that is
inherited solely from the mother.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We confirmed that
the skeletal fragments belonged to Homo sapiens. Interestingly, several
fragments shared the same mitochondrial DNA sequences—even fragments from
different excavations," she said."This indicates that the fragments
belonged to the same individual or their maternal relatives, linking these new
finds with the ones from decades ago."The bone fragments were initially
identified as human through analysis of bone proteins—a field called
paleoproteomics—by another first author, Dorothea Mylopotamitaki, a doctoral
student at the Collège de France and formerly of MPI-EVA.By comparing the Ranis
mitochondrial DNA sequences with mtDNA sequences obtained from human remains at
other paleolithic sites in Europe, Zavala was able to construct a family tree
of early Homo sapiens across Europe. All but one of the 13 Ranis fragments were
quite similar to one another and, surprisingly, resembled mtDNA from the
43,000-year-old skull of a woman discovered in a cave at Zlatý kůň in the Czech
Republic. The lone standout grouped with an individual from Italy."That
raises some questions: Was this a single population? What could be the
relationship here?" Zavala said. "But with mitochondrial DNA, that's
only one side of the history. It's only the maternal side. We would need to
have nuclear DNA to be able to start looking into this."A transitional
site between Middle and Upper Paleolithic<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Zavala specializes in
the analysis of DNA found in long-buried bones, on bone tools and in sediment.
Her search through sediment from various levels of the Ranis excavation turned
up DNA from a broad array of mammals, but none from hominids<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxpUfDzDd7IgJcWcOyZ1ivDxe9cGNAOafPgxcoE3ghyg0Vk-hGVW-dfLqRJHTEW5LBHSgsKWpEOJd4Osd8KqQnLG8nTFSSDrmcR0HAQk7fXqGUUSmyRRYnevSgWLvdSNuCMx2HGOyqcXNQcVZxbPyP6ky7HEJd8O884JrsWB5htlEsFv5dUYoS6iWV7Q/s2880/Human%20bone%20fragment%20from%20the%20new%20excavations%20at%20Ranis%20Credit%20Tim%20Sch%C3%BCler%20TLDA,.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1826" data-original-width="2880" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxpUfDzDd7IgJcWcOyZ1ivDxe9cGNAOafPgxcoE3ghyg0Vk-hGVW-dfLqRJHTEW5LBHSgsKWpEOJd4Osd8KqQnLG8nTFSSDrmcR0HAQk7fXqGUUSmyRRYnevSgWLvdSNuCMx2HGOyqcXNQcVZxbPyP6ky7HEJd8O884JrsWB5htlEsFv5dUYoS6iWV7Q/w640-h406/Human%20bone%20fragment%20from%20the%20new%20excavations%20at%20Ranis%20Credit%20Tim%20Sch%C3%BCler%20TLDA,.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Human bone fragment from the new excavations at Ranis Credit Tim Schüler TLDA,</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The analysis, combined
with morphological, isotopic and proteomic analysis of bone fragments, paints a
picture of the environment at that time and of the diet of both humans and
animals that occupied the cave over the millennia.The presence of reindeer,
cave bear, wooly rhinoceros and horse bones, for example, indicated cold
climatic conditions typical of steppe tundra and similar to conditions in
Siberia and northern Scandinavia today, and a human diet based on large
terrestrial animals. The researchers concluded that the cave was used primarily
by hibernating cave bears and denning hyenas, with only periodic human
presence."This lower-density archaeological signature matches other
Lincombian–Ranisian–Jerzmanowician sites and is best explained by expedient
visits of short duration by small, mobile groups of pioneer H. sapiens,"
according to one of the papers published in Nature Ecology and Evolution."This
shows that even these earlier groups of Homo sapiens dispersing across Eurasia
already had some capacity to adapt to such harsh climatic conditions,"
said Sarah Pederzani, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of La Laguna in
Spain, who led the paleoclimate study of the site.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6hAm6GPmzBVb44gNouOoEIB46-PjoOG13cZB-ghP_QYeWJG7mFXGKUcVhhbEfhnk0RxG-Nwapax0v2dpmXWCLGmAvlCW9eqNlPiYhOnykGhkfALzK0Uob38TAwkz-fZjWuhj62EJvyGISNh1nhRmRGAwe0jGLCdtcr5mSj7E85qVlXWFdrq3cy-S-8k/s2481/Stone%20tools%20from%20the%20LRJ%20at%20Ranis.%201)%20partial%20bifacial%20blade%20point%20characteristic%20of%20the%20LRJ;%202)%20at%20Ranis%20the%20LRJ%20also%20contains%20finely%20made%20bifacial%20leaf%20points.%20Credit%20Josephine%20Schubert,%20Museum%20Burg%20Ranis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2481" data-original-width="2363" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6hAm6GPmzBVb44gNouOoEIB46-PjoOG13cZB-ghP_QYeWJG7mFXGKUcVhhbEfhnk0RxG-Nwapax0v2dpmXWCLGmAvlCW9eqNlPiYhOnykGhkfALzK0Uob38TAwkz-fZjWuhj62EJvyGISNh1nhRmRGAwe0jGLCdtcr5mSj7E85qVlXWFdrq3cy-S-8k/w610-h640/Stone%20tools%20from%20the%20LRJ%20at%20Ranis.%201)%20partial%20bifacial%20blade%20point%20characteristic%20of%20the%20LRJ;%202)%20at%20Ranis%20the%20LRJ%20also%20contains%20finely%20made%20bifacial%20leaf%20points.%20Credit%20Josephine%20Schubert,%20Museum%20Burg%20Ranis.jpg" width="610" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone tools from the LRJ at Ranis. 1) partial bifacial blade point characteristic of the LRJ; 2) at Ranis the LRJ also contains finely made bifacial leaf points. Credit Josephine Schubert, Museum Burg Ranis</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Until recently, it was
thought that resilience to cold-climate conditions did not appear until several
thousand years later, so this is a fascinating and surprising result."The
Ranis site, called Ilsenhöhle and located at the base of a castle, was
initially excavated mainly between 1932 and 1938. The leaf points found there
were eventually assigned to the final years of the Middle Paleolithic
period—between about 300,000 and 30,000 years ago—or the beginning of the Upper
Paleolithic, which began around 50,000 years ago.Because of the importance of
the Ranis site for understanding the LRJ technocomplex and the transition from
the Neanderthal-associated late Middle Paleolithic to the modern human Upper
Paleolithic in central Europe, Hublin and his team decided to re-excavate the
site using modern tools of archaeology.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWuUh3VCK_sBEYmtpZ8_fdlUuCtcAmtYK6rtacR59C4ksB1GGPxxoYSi5GUvEdNXaze92ie_X0w7O7-KrRs8KS5_ihJ4jBc-lzWDNjDG2r7j17Enj17NnOfiP0EDM0kMSwr8sadBDt40-ZRJ3PL3KtGimIGuFZJ-Nul5xTdC1w_YG7dEwNB7nwE5fe3c/s2880/Analysis%20of%20over%201000%20animal%20bones%20from%20Ranis%20showed%20that%20early%20Homo%20sapiens%20processed%20the%20carcasses%20of%20deer%20but%20also%20of%20carnivores,%20including%20wolf.%20Credit%20Geoff%20M.%20Smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2880" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWuUh3VCK_sBEYmtpZ8_fdlUuCtcAmtYK6rtacR59C4ksB1GGPxxoYSi5GUvEdNXaze92ie_X0w7O7-KrRs8KS5_ihJ4jBc-lzWDNjDG2r7j17Enj17NnOfiP0EDM0kMSwr8sadBDt40-ZRJ3PL3KtGimIGuFZJ-Nul5xTdC1w_YG7dEwNB7nwE5fe3c/w640-h360/Analysis%20of%20over%201000%20animal%20bones%20from%20Ranis%20showed%20that%20early%20Homo%20sapiens%20processed%20the%20carcasses%20of%20deer%20but%20also%20of%20carnivores,%20including%20wolf.%20Credit%20Geoff%20M.%20Smith.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Analysis of over 1000 animal bones from Ranis showed that early Homo sapiens processed the carcasses of deer but also of carnivores, including wolf. Credit Geoff M. Smith</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new excavations
extended to bedrock, about 8 meters below the surface, and involved removing a
rock—likely fallen from the cave ceiling—that had halted the previous
excavation. Here, Hublin's team uncovered chips from flint tools and a
quartzite flake consistent with the LRJ technocomplex.Subsequent proteomic
analysis of thousands of recovered bone chips confirmed that four were from
hominids. Of bone chips uncovered during the 1930s excavations, nine were from
hominids.Zavala's DNA analysis confirmed that all 13 bone fragments came from
Homo sapiens.A revised settlement history of Northern Europe<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team also carried
out radiocarbon dating of human and animal bones from different layers of the
site to reconstruct the site's chronology, focusing on bones with traces of
human modifications on their surfaces, which links their dates to human
presence in the cave.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtc4Q8hkjWTk_YjsfK8QE96sz2mWdrj0WFSI9LquLsPKlGp7wrU2HCb3CQ-Ejq27qTlXDyd6v5E55AYDyserx7Bivt2GE2Ks7OvDMTlBKqwT4b0DfJdJACDlqTiFUujWK0qtaGvQm3rHd0CYGdNF6FcqwJQgWrvo0EwIxSCTR44XS6usnmJ5TsrsMbwE/s2880/Proteomic%20extraction%20from%20archaeological%20bone%20fragments%20is%20performed%20in%20a%20sterilized%20environment%20to%20avoid%20modern%20contamination%20Credit%20Dorothea%20Mylopotamitaki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2880" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtc4Q8hkjWTk_YjsfK8QE96sz2mWdrj0WFSI9LquLsPKlGp7wrU2HCb3CQ-Ejq27qTlXDyd6v5E55AYDyserx7Bivt2GE2Ks7OvDMTlBKqwT4b0DfJdJACDlqTiFUujWK0qtaGvQm3rHd0CYGdNF6FcqwJQgWrvo0EwIxSCTR44XS6usnmJ5TsrsMbwE/w640-h274/Proteomic%20extraction%20from%20archaeological%20bone%20fragments%20is%20performed%20in%20a%20sterilized%20environment%20to%20avoid%20modern%20contamination%20Credit%20Dorothea%20Mylopotamitaki.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proteomic extraction from archaeological bone fragments is performed in a sterilized environment to avoid modern contamination Credit Dorothea Mylopotamitaki</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We found very good
agreement between the radiocarbon dates from the Homo sapiens bones from both
excavation collections and with modified animal bones from the LRJ layers of
the new excavation, making a very strong link between the human remains and
LRJ. The evidence suggests that Homo sapiens were sporadically occupying the
site from as early as 47,500 years ago," said another first author, Helen
Fewlass, a former Max Planck researcher who is now a European Molecular Biology
Organization (EMBO) Postdoctoral Fellow at the Francis Crick Institute in London.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The results from
the Ilsenhöhle in Ranis fundamentally changed our ideas about the chronology
and settlement history of Europe north of the Alps," added Tim Schüler of
the Thuringian State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments and
Archaeology in Weimar, Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">6) </span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">New genus of 'alien-faced' multi-legged forest dwellers
discovered</span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> :</span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">by University of the Sunshine Coast</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l-6ShRuSfOoDeyXlzxAH6kFlM6yD8uPKKc_1OX1o2esVdiswoKH6_3yujGjxdamSqXUR5D0gSs6prlhSaGkAhMeUlv_RA9JmoHvsgtV_xVOY0ilOd8m_kMOE0_bS0VU6I1GdD9dxvPrsWUMf_riBc_WMSEfDnckT83h0ACiEGAX0xxKR_eE373ndHJI/s1771/Credit%20European%20Journal%20of%20Taxonomy%20(2024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1771" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l-6ShRuSfOoDeyXlzxAH6kFlM6yD8uPKKc_1OX1o2esVdiswoKH6_3yujGjxdamSqXUR5D0gSs6prlhSaGkAhMeUlv_RA9JmoHvsgtV_xVOY0ilOd8m_kMOE0_bS0VU6I1GdD9dxvPrsWUMf_riBc_WMSEfDnckT83h0ACiEGAX0xxKR_eE373ndHJI/w640-h360/Credit%20European%20Journal%20of%20Taxonomy%20(2024).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit European Journal of Taxonomy (2024)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">University of the
Sunshine Coast researchers have uncovered a new genus and five new species of
millipedes in remote African jungles—and say the many-legged creatures could
hold important clues to whether woody vines are choking or protecting the
world's forests.UniSC Professor Andy Marshall said they found the
millipedes—with heads that look somewhat like Star Wars characters—among forest
litter and loose soil while researching tree and vine growth in the Tanzania's
remote Udzungwa Mountains.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new genus and
species were officially described recently in the European Journal of Taxonomy
in a paper titled "A mountain of millipedes XI. The trachystreptoform
spirostreptids of the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida,
Spirostreptidae)," with six international collaborators including lead
author Professor Henrik Enghoff of the University of Copenhagen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The millipedes
will help us to determine two very different theories on the role of vines on
forest recovery—whether the vines are like bandages protecting a wound or
'parasitoids' choking the forest," Marshall said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We record
millipedes of all sizes during our fieldwork to measure forest recovery because
they are great indicators of forest health, but we didn't realize the
significance of these species until the myriapodologists had assessed our
specimens," Marshall added. "It's remarkable that so many of these
new species did not appear in earlier collecting of millipedes from the same
area, but we were still hoping for something new."Marshall and Ph.D.
student Alain Ngute from UniSC's Forests Research Institute found the new
millipedes while conducting the research in Tanzania as part of Forest
Restoration and Climate Change Experiment.Recent findings, part of a global
research collaboration, suggest that warmer temperatures are a key driver in
woody vines taking over the forests already disturbed by logging and other
impacts.Known for their multitude of legs, the largest African millipedes can
grow up to 35 centimeters.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd7IPU3wMoDb3C42k2_zarviBZkSAlqrlXvb15FlNVK3XT3ZgxqzPJ44pcAvy_tYFbf69m5gxNj1RANA715ZPygaZC47bnjgJbGjoyYuxi20puw2kNWduZdfgl15r37xOk_-8GBrjP_7zKrIxcJdUN576WjkEqcbuK8cRkdFBxoY6ZUktpo4z4q3wlxs/s1500/Box%20of%20sample%20millipedes%20collected%20by%20UniSC%20FoRCE%20project%20researchers%20in%20Tanzania.%20Photo%20credit%20A.R.%20Marshall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1500" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd7IPU3wMoDb3C42k2_zarviBZkSAlqrlXvb15FlNVK3XT3ZgxqzPJ44pcAvy_tYFbf69m5gxNj1RANA715ZPygaZC47bnjgJbGjoyYuxi20puw2kNWduZdfgl15r37xOk_-8GBrjP_7zKrIxcJdUN576WjkEqcbuK8cRkdFBxoY6ZUktpo4z4q3wlxs/w640-h406/Box%20of%20sample%20millipedes%20collected%20by%20UniSC%20FoRCE%20project%20researchers%20in%20Tanzania.%20Photo%20credit%20A.R.%20Marshall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Box of sample millipedes collected by UniSC FoRCE project researchers in Tanzania. Photo credit A.R. Marshall</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Marshall, from UniSC's
Forest Research Institute, explained that while the millipedes they found were
only a few centimeters long, they still had about 200 legs each.It is not the
first time Marshall has had the thrill of discovering new species during his
research; his previous finds include a new chameleon and new species of tree
that could already be on its way toward extinction. He said unearthing the new
genus and species of millipedes highlighted the huge amount of discovery
remaining in tropical forests.Professor Enghoff and the team named one of the
new species Lophostreptus magombera after the Magombera Nature Reserve, a
biologically unique forest that Marshall has been working to conserve since the
turn of the millennium.The millipede specimens are now in Denmark's Natural
History Museum at the University of Copenhagen.The new genus is
Udzungwastreptus. The five new species are Lophostreptus magombera;
Attemsostreptus cataractae; Attemsostreptus leptoptilos; Attemsostreptus
julostriatus and Udzungwastreptus marianae.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0-K5tBOakFHfj6yHtHPA8Q10gy9HygSZ_fheP-q1ij5rAOXNV8A3gX66xblB1pvgAdTiO5JP0ck0fWiUwWAGS55EWEme9eauTgD5tCnK4BGpP3sYNMFY6SOB-NDwBsDkDbbFMp-797ZfrwNzdCJSfynx3ZK95BY_plazUnMtScsb9af2Zoz5oT4GXOk/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0-K5tBOakFHfj6yHtHPA8Q10gy9HygSZ_fheP-q1ij5rAOXNV8A3gX66xblB1pvgAdTiO5JP0ck0fWiUwWAGS55EWEme9eauTgD5tCnK4BGpP3sYNMFY6SOB-NDwBsDkDbbFMp-797ZfrwNzdCJSfynx3ZK95BY_plazUnMtScsb9af2Zoz5oT4GXOk/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Nitish Kumar
takes oath as Bihar CM for 9th time; Samrat Chaudhury, Vijay Kumar Sinha to be
deputy CMs</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Yh2-hnKqzZWQiO5GPKUJQnb5z0MaoVW2coJzXQ6Sfn4HOYGJkdoxMqtsIe0Bc5QQ-bxfMHHiOO1NbHN_npeLlPbjcHCymCkBsAijnt8_iOhNu0SYm1Sl3WD-tNPzffq8exLd2zX47e6Hj0c0tU8gXpOsYgGPy5soQN85JGtc5E07pFPzYXR2DQ-0d44/s549/Nitish%20Kumar%20taking%20oath%20as%20the%20chief%20minister%20of%20the%20BJP-JD(U)%20government%20in%20Bihar..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Yh2-hnKqzZWQiO5GPKUJQnb5z0MaoVW2coJzXQ6Sfn4HOYGJkdoxMqtsIe0Bc5QQ-bxfMHHiOO1NbHN_npeLlPbjcHCymCkBsAijnt8_iOhNu0SYm1Sl3WD-tNPzffq8exLd2zX47e6Hj0c0tU8gXpOsYgGPy5soQN85JGtc5E07pFPzYXR2DQ-0d44/w640-h360/Nitish%20Kumar%20taking%20oath%20as%20the%20chief%20minister%20of%20the%20BJP-JD(U)%20government%20in%20Bihar..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) Chief Nitish Kumar took oath as the chief minister of Bihar for the 9th time on Sunday</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">JD(U) snaps ties with
grand alliance in Bihar; two Deputy CMs from BJP and six Ministers sworn in;
Mr. Kumar says he was acting for ‘the interest of Bihar’; RJD says ‘the game is
not over yet’ Nitish Kumar took oath as the chief minister of BJP-JD(U)
government in Bihar on Sunday after breaking up with RJD. Nitish Kumar took
oath as the chief minister of Bihar for a record ninth time, hours after he
tendered his resignation as the chief minister of the RJD-JD(U) government.
Jitan Ram Manjhi, Chirag Paswan, Samrat Chaudhary and JP Nadda were present as
Kumar took the oath amid chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shree Ram.The
last time Nitish Kumar took oath as chief minister was in 2022 when he severed
his ties with the NDA and joined the RJD, Congress and the Left alliance in
Bihar.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Between 2022 and 2024,
Nitish Kumar took the lead in forging the alliance of the opposition parties to
unitedly fight the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In June 2023, he hosted
the first meeting of the opposition parties before it even adopted the INDIA
name.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1. Along with Nitish
Kumar, BJP's Samrat Choudhury, Vijay Sinha took oath on Sunday. HAM will also
be a part of the new government. Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) president Dr
Santosh Kumar Suman took oath on Sunday. Nitish Kumar said Samrat Chaudhury,
Vijay Kumar Sinha will be deputy CMs.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2. Overnight, the RJD
ministers are out of the cabinet as Nitish Kumar will now get a new cabinet in
the changed political equation in Bihar</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3. Tejashwi Yadav said
2024 marks the end of the JD(U) and the game in Bihar is far from being over.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4. Political strategist
Prashant Kishor said Nitish's tryst with the BJP will be short-lived and Bihar
will again see changes within six months after the Lok Sabha election. But
whoever Nitish Kumar goes with, he will not win more than 20 seats in the state
election in 2025.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5. Akhilesh Yadav said
Nitish Kumar made a new record of betrayal and the BJP is at its weakest now.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6. Nitish Kumar became
the CM for the first time in 2000. At that time, he was against RJD and his
campaign was based on opposing Lalu. In 2013, Nitish broke away from the NDA
and came with RJD in 2015 election.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">7. In 2017, Nitish Kumar
severed his ties with the RJD and went back to the NDA. In 2022, Nitish Kumar
again deserted the NDA and came back to RJD.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">8. As Nitish Kumar
tendered his resignation on Sunday morning, he explained that things in the
INDIA bloc have not been working out.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">9. The Congress said it
was aware of what was brewing in Bihar but did not comment on it before in the
interest of the INDIA bloc. Countering JD(U)'s allegation that the Congress
insulted Nitish Kumar time and again, the Congress said if Nitish Kumar wanted
to stay, he would have; but he wanted to join the NDA. Earlier, the Congress
said Mallikarjun Kharge tried to reach out to Nitish Kumar but was
unsuccessful.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">10. Kharge said Nitish's
switch was pre-planned and Nitish Kumar kept the Congress, and the RJD
leadership in the dark.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Bihar CM Nitish Kumar says he will remain in
NDA ‘forever’ now<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6bbYbr0qj7ZfR4UBZlDWe2sFE3jGS5zN3kpqFFWgR2dUYm_2dTOXr6yw3MUwhlYbHwxkBXMuT575X6GfXTy2-WBV3qc7If2pXjDbLH3wGeX-TMclMhbnz4BMXtVcXwPvmbmvIwnfaM8m5rYcH6vPgUTuZjivyS-18AiAh-gkoZ1fSi5t0vQzRgS-ZHA/s549/Janata%20Dal%20(United)%20(JD-U)%20Chief%20Nitish%20Kumar%20took%20oath%20as%20the%20chief%20minister%20of%20Bihar%20for%20the%209th%20time%20on%20Sunday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6bbYbr0qj7ZfR4UBZlDWe2sFE3jGS5zN3kpqFFWgR2dUYm_2dTOXr6yw3MUwhlYbHwxkBXMuT575X6GfXTy2-WBV3qc7If2pXjDbLH3wGeX-TMclMhbnz4BMXtVcXwPvmbmvIwnfaM8m5rYcH6vPgUTuZjivyS-18AiAh-gkoZ1fSi5t0vQzRgS-ZHA/w640-h360/Janata%20Dal%20(United)%20(JD-U)%20Chief%20Nitish%20Kumar%20took%20oath%20as%20the%20chief%20minister%20of%20Bihar%20for%20the%209th%20time%20on%20Sunday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) Chief Nitish Kumar took oath as the chief minister of Bihar for the 9th time on Sunday</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier this week,
Nitish Kumar dumped the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar and formed a new coalition
government with the BJP, whom he had left in 2022.Days after he dumped the
Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) and the INDIA bloc to form a new government
with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar, chief minister
Nitish Kumar on Wednesday asserted that he will now stay in the fold of the
National Democratic Alliance “forever”. Addressing reporters in Patna, Kumar
also criticised the INDIA bloc, saying that they said he had urged the Congress
and other members of the Opposition's alliance to not name the political group
'Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA'."I was urging
them to choose another name for the alliance. But they had already finalized
it. I was trying so hard. They did not do even one thing. Till today they
haven't decided which party will contest how many seats," Kumar said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He added: "Then I
left them and came back to who I was with initially. Now I will stay here
forever. I will keep working for the people of Bihar." The Janata Jal
(United) chief also also that his new government will seek a trust vote in the
Bihar Assembly on February 10.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier this week, Kumar
announced the end of the 17-month-old coalition government run by the Rashtriya
Janata Dal (RJD), Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), Congress and Left parties
on Sunday. Hours later, he joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
and took oath as chief minister for the third time in four years, and ninth
since 2005.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Two Deputy Chief
Ministers from the BJP, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and six other
ministers, including Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Santosh Kumar Suman, Shrawan Kumar,
and others, also took the oath with Kumar. It was not for the first time that
Kumar switched sides. In 2005, he formed his first government in alliance with
the BJP. He snapped ties in 2013, fought the 2014 Lok Sabha polls alone and the
2015 assembly polls in alliance with the RJD. He again returned to NDA in 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2019, the JD(U)
contested the national polls and 2020 Bihar elections as part of the BJP-led
grouping. In 2022, Kumar quit the NDA to form the government again with the
RJD, Congress, and Left parties. Earlier, Congress General Secretary
(Communication) Jairam Ramesh criticised Kumar for switching sides.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I thought Narendra
Modi was a master of U-turns... but Nitish Kumar has left even the master of
U-turns behind," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Champai Soren
sworn in as Jharkhand CM; Hemant in 5-day custody<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz-Z0yIsU3lQ1S2fCd5q1KE6KemQN6a-EO-OZC52ap0lxZUhD787gK1sgTQvxezj6XzafhCF6aYf0VlFNdmmbKNg3S6wFaYhb8xTnoLoFLAy_9K5z2DQOb2Kw2HREvJs1Lpgrp8_91kFBcs3DtluMeQuaZcwg47B3-brbNVnIEvbSQjXI-9BWiHy1dJE/s550/JMM%20leader%20Champai%20Soren%20takes%20oath%20as%20Jharkhand%20chief%20minister%20in%20Ranchi%20on%20Friday..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz-Z0yIsU3lQ1S2fCd5q1KE6KemQN6a-EO-OZC52ap0lxZUhD787gK1sgTQvxezj6XzafhCF6aYf0VlFNdmmbKNg3S6wFaYhb8xTnoLoFLAy_9K5z2DQOb2Kw2HREvJs1Lpgrp8_91kFBcs3DtluMeQuaZcwg47B3-brbNVnIEvbSQjXI-9BWiHy1dJE/w640-h360/JMM%20leader%20Champai%20Soren%20takes%20oath%20as%20Jharkhand%20chief%20minister%20in%20Ranchi%20on%20Friday..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JMM leader Champai Soren takes oath as Jharkhand chief minister in Ranchi on Friday.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Champai Soren is sworn
in as the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand, following the arrest of his
predecessor Hemant Soren on money laundering charges.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Champai Soren became the
seventh person to take oath as Jharkhand’s chief minister on Friday, resolving
for now the instability roiling the state after the dramatic arrest of his
predecessor Hemant Soren over money laundering allegations two days ago.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Champai Soren became the
seventh person to take oath as Jharkhand’s chief minister on Friday, resolving
for now the instability roiling the state after the dramatic arrest of his
predecessor Hemant Soren over money laundering allegations two days ago.Champai
Soren, the 67-year-old minister who was elected leader of Jharkhand’s ruling
coalition hours before Hemant Soren’s arrest, was sworn in alongside two other
members — Alamgir Alam from the Congress and Satyanand Bhokta from the
Rashtriya Janata Dal — even as the alliance shifted 35 legislators to
Hyderabad, the capital of Congress-ruled Telangana.“We will take forward
welfare schemes launched by Hemant Soren. I am committed to the development of
Jharkhand, We will continue the fight for jal, jungle, jameen (water, forest,
land),” he said, referring to a slogan made famous by tribal icon Komaram
Bheem.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Champai Soren’s
swearing-in caps a dramatic 48 hours in Ranchi that began with the arrest of
Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate at 10pm on Wednesday, minutes after
his resignation. In a letter addressed to his party’s legislators before his
arrest, Hemant Soren confirmed transport minister Champai Soren as the new
legislature party leader.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Chandigarh
mayoral polls: SC to consider AAP councillor’s plea for urgent hearing<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLED4FTBbanh860Z3unyLGlb4mYOQCXGdE1fvyQJT7rorCfqv6NgqiRR09QtDED4RBBkzR1oLlCzilveO5B3zWCJHLxERIHnPHYQPD3Dg31gMiFNRHQXKyLlGfW1iR5JbFH26t7XJ5WMbMahV5LBQJ9CqxGsNsDZaPkL2RreeebhKMXnUk7ZbyQb1KBw/s550/Aam%20Aadmi%20Party%20councillors%20consoling%20their%20mayoral%20candidate,%20Kuldeep%20Dhalor,%20after%20the%20BJP%20swept%20the%20elections%20on%20Tuesday..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLED4FTBbanh860Z3unyLGlb4mYOQCXGdE1fvyQJT7rorCfqv6NgqiRR09QtDED4RBBkzR1oLlCzilveO5B3zWCJHLxERIHnPHYQPD3Dg31gMiFNRHQXKyLlGfW1iR5JbFH26t7XJ5WMbMahV5LBQJ9CqxGsNsDZaPkL2RreeebhKMXnUk7ZbyQb1KBw/w640-h360/Aam%20Aadmi%20Party%20councillors%20consoling%20their%20mayoral%20candidate,%20Kuldeep%20Dhalor,%20after%20the%20BJP%20swept%20the%20elections%20on%20Tuesday..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aam Aadmi Party councillors consoling their mayoral candidate, Kuldeep Dhalor, after the BJP swept the elections on Tuesday.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Punjab and Haryana high
court had denied interim relief to AAP and issued notices to Chandigarh
administration, MC, presiding officer Anil Masih and newly elected mayor Manoj
Sonkar, asking them to file their replies within three weeks. The Supreme Court
on Friday agreed to consider an AAP councillor’s request seeking urgent hearing
of his plea challenging a Punjab and Haryana high court order that refused to
grant interim relief to the party seeking fresh mayoral elections in
Chandigarh.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The matter was mentioned
before a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud by senior advocate
Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for councillor Kuldeep Dhalor, the INDIA bloc
candidate for the mayor’s post. Singhvi submitted that the returning officer
was caught on video smudging the ballots.“We will list it... we will look at
it,” the bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The BJP swept the
Chandigarh mayoral polls, retaining all three posts, a setback to the
Congress-AAP alliance that alleged tampering with ballot papers by the
presiding officer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On Wednesday, a division
bench of Justices Sudhir Singh and Harsh Bunger of the high court denied
interim relief to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which alleged that ballot papers
had been tampered with and sought fresh elections under the supervision of a
retired judge of the court. The high court issued notices to the Chandigarh administration,
the municipal corporation, presiding officer Anil Masih and newly elected mayor
Manoj Sonkar, among others, asking them to file their replies within three
weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">AAP councillor Kuldeep
Dhalor filed the appeal in the top court against the denial of interim relief
and listing of the plea after three weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The matter was adjourned
till February 26 in the high court.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to the plea
filed in the high court, the AAP candidate has sought directions for holding
fresh polls in a free and fair manner under the supervision of a retired judge
to ensure no malpractice.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The plea says it was
filed as the election was not held in a free and fair manner and there was a
gross violation while counting of votes, with tampering of the ballot papers
and then declaring them invalid, in favour of the BJP and against the alliance
of AAP and Congress. The petitioner sought an investigation by an independent
agency into the “entire fraud” committed during the election process.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The petitioner has also
sought directions to the respondents to seal, preserve and present before the
high court the entire process of the election, including the record of the
ballot papers and proceedings of the election process and videography done on
Tuesday.The petitioner has sought directions to restrain the newly elected
mayor from discharging his functions as the entire process of election was
“vitiated by fraud”.The Congress and the AAP had predicted an easy victory for
their alliance in the 35-member Chandigarh municipal corporation, projecting it
as an early test for the INDIA opposition bloc ahead of the Lok Sabha election.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Interim Budget
2024 | 6 key takeaways from Nirmala Sitharaman's speech<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIqmqt0I4_LO0_h5nB1EWRoYxvhHZBhIQPrwIrC5_u_bO5lq4qRzhdByUST5TJ9u7ko5L6FTN-HHQy73QxB-grTL-rQKQ6HU9yssQnDC1jaO_BxMoxXwXgkVorB9BoFM50BpnSLxhhMHn_daM_Sl5VPJ53bk5cWqxhTdMnNXc4H6xleEE_-IpnTLFadI/s549/People%20at%20a%20TV%20showroom%20during%20presentation%20of%20the%20Interim%20Budget%202024%20in%20the%20Parliament%20by%20union%20finance%20minister%20Nirmala%20Sitharaman%20in%20Mumbai%20on%20Thursday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIqmqt0I4_LO0_h5nB1EWRoYxvhHZBhIQPrwIrC5_u_bO5lq4qRzhdByUST5TJ9u7ko5L6FTN-HHQy73QxB-grTL-rQKQ6HU9yssQnDC1jaO_BxMoxXwXgkVorB9BoFM50BpnSLxhhMHn_daM_Sl5VPJ53bk5cWqxhTdMnNXc4H6xleEE_-IpnTLFadI/w640-h360/People%20at%20a%20TV%20showroom%20during%20presentation%20of%20the%20Interim%20Budget%202024%20in%20the%20Parliament%20by%20union%20finance%20minister%20Nirmala%20Sitharaman%20in%20Mumbai%20on%20Thursday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People at a TV showroom during presentation of the Interim Budget 2024 in the Parliament by union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Mumbai on Thursday</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Budget 2024: Finance
minister Nirmala Sitharaman made no changes in the taxation structure in which
can be seen as a relief to taxpayers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Union finance minister
Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled her last Budget or Interim Budget on Thursday
before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections this year, announcing a double-digit boost
to infrastructure spending and flagging the government's "golden
moments" ahead.Nirmala Sitharaman also proposed a scheme that will allow
people to buy or build their own homes, free electricity as part of a new
rooftop solar programme and increased medical coverage for some government workers.
Nirmala Sitharaman also announced plans to increase milk and dairy production
in the country. India is the largest milk producer in the world but there is
low productivity, Sitharaman said. The finance minister also said a strategy
will be developed for Atma Nirbharta for oilseeds production. Efforts of the
value addition in the agriculture sector and increase farmers' income will be
stepped up, the minister said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The finance minister
made no changes in the taxation structure in which can be seen as a relief to
taxpayers. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"In keeping with
convention, I do not propose to make any changes relating to taxation and
propose to retain the same tax rates for direct and indirect taxes including
import duties. However, certain tax benefits to startups and investments made
by sovereign wealth or pension funds as also tax exemption on certain income of
some IFSC units are expiring on March 31 2024; to provide continuity, I propose
to extend the date to March 31 2025," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Budget 2024: Six
key takeaways</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1. Nirmala Sitharaman
stuck to fiscal prudence with a lower-than-expected fiscal deficit of 5.8 per
cent (of GDP) in FY24 and an estimated 5.1 per cent next year - lower than
estimated.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2. There are no sops or
big rural transfers, but she announced building 2 crore more houses for the
rural poor in the next five years under the continuing PM Awas Yojana
(Grameen).Sitharaman said the government is close to achieving the target of 3
crore affordable houses.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3. The country's capital
spending for 2024-25 has been raised 11 per cent to ₹11.11 lakh crore, or 3.4
per cent of GDP.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4. No changes to direct
or indirect tax rates. No change in tax structure.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5. The government will
set up ₹1 lakh crore corpus with 50 50-year interest-free loan - long-term
financing or refinance with long tenor and low or nil interest rates: to scale
up R&D in sunrise sectors.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6. Average real income
of people increased by 50%.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Income Tax</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"...I do not
propose any changes in tax rates in direct and indirect taxes including import
duties," Sitharaman said, during her Budget speech.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While no changes were
seen in the tax regime in this budget, the FM announced that over the last 10
years, tax collections have more than doubled. She also pointed out that the
average processing time of tax returns was reduced to 10 days this
year."The Finance Minister reports a significant milestone, citing a
doubling of tax collections over the past decade. Notably, the current budget
maintains the status quo in both direct and indirect taxation, including import
duties. Companies may find this predictability beneficial in navigating their
financial planning, fostering a more secure and sustainable business
environment," said Siddhesh Mehta, Research Analyst, Samco Securities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Infrastructure Development</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Building on the massive
tripling of the capital expenditure outlay in the past 4 years resulting in a
huge multiplier impact on economic growth and employment creation, the outlay
for the next year is being increased by 11.1 percent to 11.11 lakh crore,
announced the FM. This is 3.4 percent of the GDP.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Railways</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">FM Sitharaman announced
that 40,000 normal rail bogies will be converted to Vande Bharat to enhance the
safety, convenience, and comfort of passengers. Key rail infrastructure
projects including Metro Rail and Namo Bharat will be expanded to more cities.
Also, 3 major railway corridors were also announced - the port connectivity
corridor, the energy, mineral, and cement corridor, and the high traffic
density corridor.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The resultant
decongestion of the high-traffic corridors will also help in improving the
operations of passenger trains, resulting in safety and higher travel speed for
passengers.Together with dedicated freight corridors, these three economic
corridor programs will accelerate our GDP growth and reduce logistic costs,
said Sitharaman.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"After the success
of Vande Bharat trains, the FM announced around 40,000 more rail bogies will be
converted to Vande Bharat coaches. This will further create job opportunities
while reducing travel time as well as increasing tourism across the
country," said Sanjay Moorjani, Research Analyst at SAMCO
Securities.Meanwhile, CRISIL noted that the development of commodity-specific
economic rail corridors can de-congest existing lines, mostly in the eastern
part of the country. This is supportive of faster freight movement and
turnaround times and should help reduce the logistics cost for India from 12
percent of GDP, improving competitiveness, especially manufacturing, against
peers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Meanwhile, CRISIL noted
that the development of commodity-specific economic rail corridors can
de-congest existing lines, mostly in the eastern part of the country. This is
supportive of faster freight movement and turnaround times and should help
reduce the logistics cost for India from 12 percent of GDP, improving
competitiveness, especially manufacturing, against peers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">'Lakhpati Didi' Scheme</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">FM announced that
eighty-three lakh SHGs (self-help groups) with nine crore women are
transforming the rural socio-economic landscape with empowerment and
self-reliance. Their success has assisted nearly one crore women to become
‘Lakhpati Didi’ already. Buoyed by the success, it has been decided to enhance
the target for ‘Lakhpati Didi’ from 2 crore to 3 crore.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The Lakhpati Didi
Scheme, aiming to empower two crore women in villages, has achieved notable
success by reaching 83 lakh self-help groups and benefiting 9 crore women. With
a financial injection of ₹1 lakh per household for one crore beneficiaries,
this initiative is poised to significantly uplift the economic status of rural
women. This empowerment not only stimulates the rural economy but also enhances
credit demand for micro-financiers, particularly from women and self-help
groups, potentially reducing stress on asset quality issues," said Veer
Trivedi, Research Analyst, SAMCO Securities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Electricity</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Through roof-top
solarisation, 10 million households will be enabled to obtain up to 300 units
of free electricity every month. This scheme follows the resolve of the Prime
Minister on the historic day of the consecration of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya,
said FM Nirmala Sitharaman. This will help save up to ₹15,000-18,000 annually
for households from free solar electricity and selling the surplus to the
distribution companies, noted Sitharaman.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Green Energy</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Towards meeting the
commitment to ‘net zero’ by 2070, the following measures were announced.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">a. Viability gap funding
will be provided for harnessing offshore wind energy potential for the initial
capacity of one giga-watt.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">b. Coal gasification and
liquefaction capacity of 100 MT will be set up by 2030. This will also help in
reducing imports of natural gas, methanol, and ammonia. c. Phased mandatory
blending of compressed biogas (CBG) in compressed natural gas (CNG) for
transport and piped natural gas (PNG) for domestic purposes will be mandated.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">d. Financial assistance
will be provided for procurement of biomass aggregation machinery to support
collection<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Electric vehicles</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The government will
expand and strengthen the EV ecosystem by supporting manufacturing and charging
infrastructure, the finance minister said. Greater adoption of e-buses for
public transport networks will be encouraged through payment security
mechanisms, she added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“In addressing the key
barrier to EV and hybrid vehicle adoption - the shortage of public charging
stations, evident from the 6,586 stations recorded by March 2023 - the Indian
government's 2024-25 Union Budget presents a forward-thinking strategy. It aims
to incentivise and substantially expand the electric vehicle ecosystem, with a
focused investment in boosting the number of charging stations. This initiative
is a cornerstone in transforming India's EV landscape, overcoming range
anxiety, and promoting electric vehicles as a viable, sustainable transport
solution for the future," said Kartik Narayan, CEO at Staffing, TeamLease
Services.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tourism</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">FM announced that states
will be encouraged to take up comprehensive development of iconic tourist
centers' branding and marketing at a global scale. A rating system based on the
quality of facilities and services will be established. Long-term interest-free
loans will be provided to states for financing these developments. Projects for
port connectivity, tourism infrastructure, and amenities will be taken up on
our islands, including Lakshadweep. This will help in generating employment as
well, says FM Sitharaman.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Promoting investments</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The FDI inflow during
2014-23 was $596 billion marking a golden era. That is twice the inflow during
2005-14. For encouraging sustained foreign investment, the government is
negotiating bilateral investment treaties with foreign partners, in the spirit
of ‘first develop India’, said FM in her speech.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Technology</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">New-age technologies and
data are changing the lives of people and businesses. They are also enabling
new economic opportunities and facilitating the provision of high-quality
services at affordable prices for all, including those at the ‘bottom of the
pyramid’, said FM Sitharaman.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She announced a corpus of
rupees one lakh crore will be established with a fifty-year interest-free loan.
The corpus will provide long-term financing or refinancing with long tenors and
low or nil interest rates. This will encourage the private sector to scale up
research and innovation significantly in sunrise domains.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We need to have
programs that combine the powers of our youth and technology," she said.A
new scheme will be launched for strengthening deep-tech technologies for
defence purposes and expediting ‘atmanirbharta’, added the FM.“The 50-year
interest-free loan for a corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore can be seen as an
indispensable boon for the IT industry and sunrise sectors. We can expect the
funding to bolster research and innovations, thereby improving India’s position
as a global technology leader in the coming decade," said Manick Wadhwa,
Director at SKI Capital.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ayushman Bharat</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ayushman Bharat cover
will be extended to all Anganwadi and Asha workers, Finance Minister Sitharaman
announced. She also added that all maternal and child healthcare schemes will
be brought under one comprehensive scheme. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PM Awas Yojana</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Despite the challenges
due to COVID, implementation of PM Awas Yojana (Grameen) continued and the
centre is close to achieving the target of three crore houses. Two crore more
houses will be taken up in the next five years to meet the requirement arising
from the increase in the number of families, said Sitharaman<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Launched on June 25,
2015, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Mission seeks to ensure housing
for all. The government aimed to construct 3 crore pucca houses by March 2024,
the finance minister stated in the speech that they are closer to achieving
this goal. An additional plan to build 2 crores more houses over the next five
years signals sustained commitment. This intensified focus on PMAY is expected
to trigger increased investments and heightened activity in the construction
sector, with multiplier effects on Housing Finance, Cement, Steel, and Paints
industries, reflecting a significant positive impact across various
sectors," said Veer Trivedi, Research Analyst, SAMCO Securities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">MSME</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Policy priority is to
provide training for MSMEs to compete globally and facilitating their growth
will be important. To meet the investment needs, the government will prepare
the financial sector, said FM Sitharaman.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The Skill India
Mission's initiative to train 1.4 crore young individuals, along with the
upskilling and re-skilling of 54 lakh youth, coupled with the establishment of
3,000 new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), is a vital step towards
bolstering the PLI and Make in India programs. This comprehensive approach is
essential in enhancing the manufacturing sector's contribution to the GDP from
17 percent to 25 percent by 2047, thereby creating numerous job
opportunities," said Kartik Narayan, CEO, Staffing at TeamLease Services.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Agriculture and
food processing</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">FM announced that the
efforts for value addition in the agricultural sector and boosting farmers’
income will be stepped up. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana has benefitted
38 lakh farmers and generated 10 lakh employment. Pradhan Mantri Formalisation
of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Yojana has assisted 2.4 lakh SHGs and
sixty thousand individuals with credit linkages. Other schemes are
complementing the efforts for reducing postharvest losses and improving
productivity and incomes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To ensure faster growth
of the sector, the government will further promote private and public
investment in post-harvest activities including aggregation, modern storage,
efficient supply chains, primary and secondary processing, and marketing and
branding, she added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) CPM rides INDIA
divide in Bengal, joins Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrRos2e_ygiTEFZGl4UfaFYG38tGzYjS_UA905RqMGcIQdWhekKBr9dgTqX2AlPBhi8PCa5k_iRLgvRECHHGIRIp4f9YT6onZvQvn6zfzXGuvVWtO_eJmmBygr0gWRyZcJDckN-wU3gHFRGgJGP0xYRZUGSN5k8RcFu3ugRJQLA9aDtPzTjLE-emE_Fk/s900/Rahul%20Gandhi%20with%20Md%20Salim,%20Sujan%20Chakraborty%20and%20other%20CPM%20leaders%20in%20Jangipur,%20Murshidabad,on%20Thursday..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrRos2e_ygiTEFZGl4UfaFYG38tGzYjS_UA905RqMGcIQdWhekKBr9dgTqX2AlPBhi8PCa5k_iRLgvRECHHGIRIp4f9YT6onZvQvn6zfzXGuvVWtO_eJmmBygr0gWRyZcJDckN-wU3gHFRGgJGP0xYRZUGSN5k8RcFu3ugRJQLA9aDtPzTjLE-emE_Fk/w640-h426/Rahul%20Gandhi%20with%20Md%20Salim,%20Sujan%20Chakraborty%20and%20other%20CPM%20leaders%20in%20Jangipur,%20Murshidabad,on%20Thursday..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rahul Gandhi with Md Salim, Sujan Chakraborty and other CPM leaders in Jangipur, Murshidabad,on Thursday.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A day after Mamata
accused the Marxists of using their influence on the Congress to spoil her
“good understanding” with it, the CPM mocked her, underscoring its oft-repeated
prediction that she would abandon the anti-BJP bloc before the general election
The Bengal CPM, visibly upbeat after arch-adversary Mamata Banerjee’s repeated
public assertions of a virtual withdrawal from the INDIA grouping, on Thursday
joined Rahul Gandhi in his Murshidabad leg of the Nyay Yatra.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A day after Mamata
accused the Marxists of using their influence on the Congress to spoil her
“good understanding” with it, the CPM mocked her, underscoring its oft-repeated
prediction that she would abandon the anti-BJP bloc before the general
election. Through vast stretches of the Murshidabad route of the Yatra, CPM
flags were brandished alongside those of the Congress and the national flag,
while Trinamul jeered at the Marxists for their alleged desperation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress high
command, taking a line at odds with its Bengal unit, yet again issued a
statement of optimism — of being able to retain Mamata in the INDIA coalition
and sealing a seat deal in Bengal. The CPM state committee, led by state secretary
Md Salim and central committee member Sujan Chakraborty, met Rahul and his
Yatra entourage<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">at Piyarapur in
Murshidabad, vowing to stand by nyay (justice) in the fight against the
division of the nation through onyay (injustice).“We are not here to discuss
the alliance but to offer our wholehearted support to this endeavour. Alliance
talks will take place in party offices,” a beaming Salim said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He made no attempt to
conceal his pleasure at the Bengal chief minister’s recent declarations about
going it alone in the state in the general election, and her unwillingness to
participate in the Yatra despite repeated requests from the Congress high
command.“Mamata has been firing her gun at the Congress, off our shoulders….
Everybody got on the (INDIA) train, but we cannot guarantee who will get off
where,” Salim said.“Mamata Banerjee has now, unsurprisingly, said, ‘Stop the
train, I will disembark’. We are saying, ‘You are welcome to’.”On Wednesday at
Berhampore in Murshidabad, Mamata had said: “We had a good understanding with
the Congress… if somebody played foul, it was the CPM. The CPM is today the
biggest agent of the BJP.” Over the past few days, Mamata has repeatedly
accused the CPM of getting in the way of her alliance talks with the Congress,
often underscoring how the CPM was encouraging a negative approach towards her
within the INDIA grouping.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Trinamul chief’s
displeasure at the delay in sealing seat shares has been exacerbated by the
state Congress’s attacks on her and its attempts to drive a hard bargain,
besides the relentless, militant opposition to her from the CPM.This has,
however, coincided with an increasingly placatory approach from a Congress high
command cornered by the serious setbacks handed by the AAP and the body blow
dealt by the JDU’s departure.Throughout the Nyay Yatra, and not only in the
Bengal leg, Rahul has spoken well of Mamata or at least avoided publicly
criticising her despite the attacks from the Bengal chief minister. But his
party’s state unit has been belligerently returning the fire.Congress general
secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh, who has over the past few days been
consistently mollycoddling Mamata, refused to budge from his — effectively, the
high command’s — optimism about eventually pulling off a seat-sharing
arrangement with her in Bengal.This despite her assertion on Wednesday that she
was now willing to offer none of the state’s 42 Lok Sabha seats to the
Congress.“In an alliance, dynamics of give and take exist. We remain hopeful of
arriving at a consensus on a joint seat-sharing formula in the state, one that
is satisfactory to all parties involved,” Ramesh, part of Rahul’s entourage,
said at Jangipur.“Mamataji has, on several occasions, expressed her commitment
to INDIA, and we welcome this.”Asked about Mamata’s refusal to offer even a
single seat to the Congress in Bengal on account of its alignment with the CPM,
which she says would strengthen the BJP’s chances in the state, Ramesh said he
had heard about this.“It reflects her opinion, not the consensus of the bloc.
Trinamul and the Congress have the common goal of defeating the BJP…. The
shared objective — of paramount importance to all INDIA constituents — is to
oust the BJP,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMq2WWS9WJ8BPuNPeEOkb2MIzxrYzUUd1KSoufQmM0TbHg3WuOFJs7KWa_oChXJpoPTg-Yf4mi2ZdwXXwZcwtEIyLInu2U2sirrNrIZE0NIpbk8l-QqDw_D5TnwIGZ2fHJCacEjotIGsw__Yjo8mg7RQT8k-I7zZj3z2Ee8SYhekF6-6HZFdlsQmH_3U/s900/Rahul%20Gandhi%20in%20Jangipur,%20Murshidabad,%20on%20Thursday..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMq2WWS9WJ8BPuNPeEOkb2MIzxrYzUUd1KSoufQmM0TbHg3WuOFJs7KWa_oChXJpoPTg-Yf4mi2ZdwXXwZcwtEIyLInu2U2sirrNrIZE0NIpbk8l-QqDw_D5TnwIGZ2fHJCacEjotIGsw__Yjo8mg7RQT8k-I7zZj3z2Ee8SYhekF6-6HZFdlsQmH_3U/w640-h426/Rahul%20Gandhi%20in%20Jangipur,%20Murshidabad,%20on%20Thursday..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rahul Gandhi in Jangipur, Murshidabad, on Thursday.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“In Bengal, we have to
ensure that the BJP is defeated in the 18 seats it won in 2019,” he added.In
response to the CPM’s refusal to ally with Mamata in Bengal, Ramesh said that
representatives of the Marxists and all other major Left parties had been part
of every major INDIA exercise, alongside Trinamul and the Congress.Sources in
not just Trinamul but also the Congress high command believe that the biggest
hurdle to a settlement in Bengal is the militant resistance from state Congress
chief Adhir Chowdhury, backed by party general secretary and working committee member
Deepa Das Munshi.While Mamata on Thursday reiterated her go-it-alone stand in
Nadia, Trinamul state general secretary Kunal Ghosh — widely seen as a
mouthpiece of her nephew and heir apparent Abhishek Banerjee — ridiculed the
CPM.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The CPM, which is
fussing over pictures with Rahul Gandhi today, had called his grandmother
(Indira Gandhi) a witch; cartoons of Rahul’s father (Rajiv Gandhi) had been
used as graffiti, calling him a thief. They had also joined hands with the BJP
to oust him (Rajiv, in 1989),” Ghosh said in a Bengali post on X.“Now if you
(the CPM) fight alone, your deposits will be forfeited in all 42 seats; that is
why the CPM is roaming around greedily, like a madman.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcdVvOZxiQydZ9oSQ2uAmSfpSqQ3spWRtpXrselAyjP8r5diozBqfdBoeqP7Zt0yxqS69FBdZec8eXuZeysJhdIy8rUCqHlwXAqA1ehdH8A5gMREaXuEw34lUBYwmzXrqV7JEz7kKPTMhbaUGfFGghY_b6PFiVmGxCuLLLhWpcpeFo24PY2jy8RXbndo/s960/SPORTNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcdVvOZxiQydZ9oSQ2uAmSfpSqQ3spWRtpXrselAyjP8r5diozBqfdBoeqP7Zt0yxqS69FBdZec8eXuZeysJhdIy8rUCqHlwXAqA1ehdH8A5gMREaXuEw34lUBYwmzXrqV7JEz7kKPTMhbaUGfFGghY_b6PFiVmGxCuLLLhWpcpeFo24PY2jy8RXbndo/w640-h480/SPORTNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) India vs England
2nd Test, Day 1 highlights: Yashasvi Jaiswal 179*, In<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">dia 336/6 at stumps<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNNzydCLT85nbbWf2I_XM9acB366tH3d48e1dEbPWw9zjqOUtxfRkKpc6sBXuxA5ShRLxvIQdR2VDsAgD95_N9_1OYw9ZXdEHEYEs35LhBzpKg3BUs73EWsdPGywYDtzlHm85ETrdQ_PnsLoiTbVaZyTSQyMqOG8P6fLYx_jSD5Juob5ZH1kN02ziIQk/s549/India%20vs%20England%20highlights%202nd%20Test,%20Day%201Yashasvi%20Jaiswal%20plays%20a%20shot%20on%20the%20first%20day%20of%20the%20second%20test%20match%20between%20India%20and%20England%20in%20Visakhapatnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNNzydCLT85nbbWf2I_XM9acB366tH3d48e1dEbPWw9zjqOUtxfRkKpc6sBXuxA5ShRLxvIQdR2VDsAgD95_N9_1OYw9ZXdEHEYEs35LhBzpKg3BUs73EWsdPGywYDtzlHm85ETrdQ_PnsLoiTbVaZyTSQyMqOG8P6fLYx_jSD5Juob5ZH1kN02ziIQk/w640-h360/India%20vs%20England%20highlights%202nd%20Test,%20Day%201Yashasvi%20Jaiswal%20plays%20a%20shot%20on%20the%20first%20day%20of%20the%20second%20test%20match%20between%20India%20and%20England%20in%20Visakhapatnam.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India vs England highlights 2nd Test, Day 1Yashasvi Jaiswal plays a shot on the first day of the second test match between India and England in Visakhapatnam</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2nd Test, Day 1:
Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 179 as India went to stumps at 336/6.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India vs England
highlights 2nd Test, Day 1: Yashasvi Jaiswal batted through the entire day to
put India in a strong position in Visakhapatnam. He remained unbeaten on 179 as
India reached 336/6 at stumps on Day 1 of the second Test at the ACA-VDCA stadium.
Jaiswal was far more<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yashasvi Jaiswal
batted through the entire day to put India in a strong position in
Visakhapatnam. He remained unbeaten on 179 as India reached 336/6 at stumps on
Day 1 of the second Test at the ACA-VDCA stadium. Jaiswal was far more measured
in the early part of his innings than in the first Test, biding his time and
waiting for the bad balls with opening partner and captain Rohit Sharma at the
other end. Rohit had won the toss and chosen to bat first. He ended up becoming
spinner Shoaib Bashir's maiden Test wicket after which Shubman Gill joined
Jaiswal and continued on the watchful approach. Eventually, though, the former
switched gears and was looking primed for a for a big score when he was undone
by the genius of James Anderson. England were then pegged back by a 90-run
stand between Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer, with the pair seeing India through to
Lunch and then keeping them steady for much of the first half of the second
session. Iyer couldn't convert his start though, falling for 27 off 59 to Tom
Hartley. This brought debutant Rajat Patidar to the crease. He was dismissed in
the final session by Rehan Ahmed for 32.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India vs England
highlights 2nd Test, Day 1: Yashasvi Jaiswal plays a shot on the first day of
the second test match between India and England, in Visakhapatnam<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India vs England
highlights 2nd Test, Day 1: Yashasvi Jaiswal plays a shot on the first day of
the second test match between India and England, in Visakhapatnam(AP)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rohit earlier confirmed
at the toss that Patidar will be making his debut as a replacement for the
injured KL Rahul. Additionally, India have also decided to play Kuldeep Yadav
as opposed to going for the all-round option of Washington Sundar in place of
Ravindra Jadeja while pacer Mohammed Siraj has been rested and Mukesh Kumar
takes his place. Patidar was handed his maiden Test cap minutes before the
toss, thus ending speculation about whether it would be him or Sarfaraz Khan
who will get to play.After the first Test ended in four days, the action moves
to Visakhapatnam – Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA stadium being the venue
– where the second game of the five-match series starts today. India were dealt
a shock in Hyderabad by England and then were handed a couple more blows in the
days since that first Test ended. However, coming back from 1-0 down in a home
series is not something they haven't done before, even in the recent past in
which they have been so dominant at home. India had lost the first of the
four-Test series the last time they hosted England and then went on to win it
3-1.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, India have a
couple of complications to deal with in the form of the in-form KL Rahul being
ruled out along with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The latter's absence could
particularly sting the host with Jadeja being crucial to the team's cause in
Test cricket with ball, bat and in the field in recent years. Kuldeep Yadav
could get a chance to feature in the squad. He has missed 56 of India's 64
Tests since making his debut in 2017. He has been patient to wait for his
opportunity which are hard to come by. But the second Test could give him a
window that he has been eagerly waiting for. Another frontrunner to replace
Jadeja could be Washington Sundar. While Kuldeep may have more experience,
Sundar is arguably a better fit as Jadeja's replacement because of the fact
that he is a genuine all-rounder. And of course, there is no Virat Kohli
either.And now the biggest conundrum of them all. The battle between two
youngsters for a place in the XI. Jadeja's injury not could, but will make the
way for Sundar, but just who will replace Rahul is a throw of the dice no one
can predict. In an ideal world, Sarfaraz Khan's ability to play spin better
than most youngsters in India makes him an obvious chance, but don't forget
Rajat Patidar found a place in this squad before him, making him the likely
choice. Both spoke about their dreams of representing India, and one's would
pretty much set to come true today. As for the third youngster, Dhruv Jurel, he
too is expected to warm the bench after KS Bharat's participation was confirmed
following his appearance in the press conference on the eve of the match. He
spoke about how India are keeping chill and that despite the defeat in
Hyderabad, the atmosphere is relaxed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After clinching a 28-run
in the first Test, England have named three frontline spinners - Tom Hartley,
Rehan Ahmed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Shoaib Bashir, who lack
a bit of experience. Jack Leach who holds the highest experience is on the
sidelines due to a knee injury. In his absence, Joe Root would look to inspire
the team and pick up wickets if the young spin trio fail to rise to the
occasion. Veteran pacer James Anderson is also back in the squad in place of
Mark Wood. This is his sixth Test tour of India and he would have played at least
one game in all of them. Legend indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Jannik Sinner
beats Daniil Medvedev in five-set thriller to claim maiden Grand Slam at
Australian Open 2024<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2GCVZ-MnjBE10wcgVJLfMroDiA1dowXfDps1ITIGhvIg6FhaADTe-xbSSDbTGnXX_7ig1bdiWpSZQzETsUPianu17mzW0QA_hTzoyMPFVssnSHCX-ChNldKNzWAEnZEn7YxWL6jjYcccCquHBYpTYfhRGyEHxWTyDkGrVxawnNEvwFtCjPIyDv2L1OQ/s549/Italy's%20Jannik%20Sinner%20celebrates%20with%20the%20Norman%20Brookes%20Challenge%20Cup%20trophy%20after%20defeating%20Russia's%20Daniil%20Medvedev%20in%20the%20men's%20singles%20final%20match%20on%20day%2015%20of%20the%20Australian%20Open%20tennis%20tournament%20in%20Melbourne%20on%20January%2028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2GCVZ-MnjBE10wcgVJLfMroDiA1dowXfDps1ITIGhvIg6FhaADTe-xbSSDbTGnXX_7ig1bdiWpSZQzETsUPianu17mzW0QA_hTzoyMPFVssnSHCX-ChNldKNzWAEnZEn7YxWL6jjYcccCquHBYpTYfhRGyEHxWTyDkGrVxawnNEvwFtCjPIyDv2L1OQ/w640-h360/Italy's%20Jannik%20Sinner%20celebrates%20with%20the%20Norman%20Brookes%20Challenge%20Cup%20trophy%20after%20defeating%20Russia's%20Daniil%20Medvedev%20in%20the%20men's%20singles%20final%20match%20on%20day%2015%20of%20the%20Australian%20Open%20tennis%20tournament%20in%20Melbourne%20on%20January%2028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophy after defeating Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the men's singles final match on day 15 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jannik Sinner made an
emphatic comeback from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in Australian Open
final.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Italy's Jannik Sinner
scripted a sensational come-from-behind win, reminiscent of Rafael Nadal's 2022
feat in Melbourne, against Daniil Medvedev to claim his maiden Grand Slam
trophy at the 2024 Australian Open on Sunday. The 22-year-old rallied from
two-sets-to-love down to register a 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 win in front of a
packed Rod Laver Arena to claim a three-hour, 44-minute triumph, his fourth
consecutive tour-level win against his rival. With the win, the 22-year-old
became the youngest player to win the Australian Open men's singles title since
a 20-year-old Novak Djokovic claimed his maiden Slam in Melbourne in 2008.
Sinner also became the first Italian man to win a major since Adriano Panatta
in 1976, the third Italian man in history, and first at Melbourne Park.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Thanks [to] my
team," Sinner said during the trophy ceremony. "Everyone who is in
the box and watching from home, who works with me. We are trying to get better
everyday and even during the tournament, trying to get stronger and understand
the situation a little bit better. It is not easy as I am still a little bit
young but I want to thank everyone."It was sheer agony for Medvedev, who
came back from two sets down twice over the last fortnight to reach his third
Australian Open final, but failed to prevent an inspired comeback from Sinner.
The world No. 3 has now gone 1-5 in major finals as he lost the chance to
become the sixth active player on the tour to win multiple Slams and go past
reigning Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz (No. 2) in the ATP rankings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Medvedev's strategy was
clear right from the start of the match, having incurred three straight losses
against Sinner last year, as he flew out of the blocks, breaking the Italian
early. He stood closer to the baseline than his usual deep-return position,
which he had explained to Jim Courier in one of his post-match on-court
interactions, taking the time away from Sinner, who also struggled against the
falt ball-striking from Medvedev.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sinner was broken just
twice en route to the final, which included a match against Novak Djokovic,
where he did not face a single break point. But he was broken thrice in the
opening two sets as Medvedev won over 80 per cent points behind his first
delivery while blasting 23 winners in all. Despite Medvedev standing on the
brink of a win, Sinner resumed with more authority, pushing the Russian deeper
with the weight behind his forehand, while finding more first-serves in. Sinner
missed an easy forehand pass at the net following a 31-shot rally in the 10th
game of the third set but bounced back quickly to break Medvedev and win the
set, beginning his comeback in the clash. The Italian saved a breakpoint at 3-3
in a tense fourth set with a big ace and pounced on Medvedev's serve again late
on to level the match at two sets apiece, before a vital break for a 4-2 lead
in the decider put him on course for victory.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Sports Ministry
gets ₹45 crore boost in Union Budget<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTb6u4e73ugKgbtQUe3RFYm9sGmM6Z0KqQcx7J0Mwf55t7eZ2l9sqfwFQHCASLgPhtt6Xq1UTqQ2eSLT7Zu044TxQl7fwhaIPEj2CRqFAjKlo3RePz-M4lYX_ll84If_Tbgy7pATz8YjF8Cajua1YGE5R5A5WIG0yvAnUXZnqNOhG5GytiBMDX3sSYV4A/s549/Khelo%20India,%20Ministry%20of%20Youth%20Affairs%20and%20Sports.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTb6u4e73ugKgbtQUe3RFYm9sGmM6Z0KqQcx7J0Mwf55t7eZ2l9sqfwFQHCASLgPhtt6Xq1UTqQ2eSLT7Zu044TxQl7fwhaIPEj2CRqFAjKlo3RePz-M4lYX_ll84If_Tbgy7pATz8YjF8Cajua1YGE5R5A5WIG0yvAnUXZnqNOhG5GytiBMDX3sSYV4A/w640-h360/Khelo%20India,%20Ministry%20of%20Youth%20Affairs%20and%20Sports.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khelo India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the previous budget,
the Sports Ministry had got a revised allocation of ₹3,396.96 crore The Sports
Ministry was on Thursday allocated ₹3,442.32 crore, a hike of ₹45.36 crore as
compared to last year, in the interim Union Budget presented by Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the previous budget,
the Sports Ministry had got a revised allocation of ₹3,396.96 crore The Olympic
Games in Paris, to be held from July 26 to August 11, will be the country's
main focus during the 2024-25 financial year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ministry's flagship
programme, Khelo India, was allotted ₹900 crore, an increase of ₹20 crore from
the previous budget.The Sports Authority of India (SAI), which organises
national camps, provides infrastructure and equipment to athletes, appoints
coaches among others, saw ₹26.83 crore increase in its budgetary allocation
from the previous year's revised expenditure of ₹795.77 crore.The National
Sports Federations (NSFs) will receive ₹15 crore more this time, as compared to
the 2023-24 revised budget of ₹325 crore.The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
too got a raise with the government allocating ₹22.30 crore in the interim
budget as compared to ₹21.73 crore in 2023-24. The National Dope Testing
Laboratory (NDTL), which conducts the testing of dope samples, will receive ₹22
crore, ₹2.5 crore more than the previous budget.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The budget for National
Centre of Sports Science and Research has been reduced to ₹8 crore from ₹10
crore previously, while the National Sports University will get an increased
allocation of ₹91.90 crore from ₹83.21 crore of 2023-24 budget.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The budget for giving
incentives to sportspersons saw a significant reduction from ₹84 crore to ₹39
crore.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The allocation for
National Sports Development Fund was also reduced to ₹18 from ₹46 crore. The
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare for Sportspersons scheme got ₹2
crore.The allocation for 'Enhancement of Sports Facility in Jammu and Kashmir'
was also brought down to ₹8 crore from previous budget allocation of ₹20
crore.In the previous budget, the allocation for Commonwealth Games was ₹15
crore, which was brought down to ₹0.01 crore this time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Kidambi Srikanth
moves to second round of Thailand Masters<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJAc3Leuwz9m5EFo15ZKcfHdhHK__L1IOz6hb7JMllaF-ol2AKUrDLyiR2jI55_1OW7D13NhYXF6y1wCNqOQ986ZxKaW32eOYhIDwD-5dtvgkZxxjZt9t3wrruqWNQWITNciuaKu8Vg131TN1_7StcEeX3BfYO8PtW7w5jfwG6wS6u6AIC8Ai2CbOWGw/s1280/KSRI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJAc3Leuwz9m5EFo15ZKcfHdhHK__L1IOz6hb7JMllaF-ol2AKUrDLyiR2jI55_1OW7D13NhYXF6y1wCNqOQ986ZxKaW32eOYhIDwD-5dtvgkZxxjZt9t3wrruqWNQWITNciuaKu8Vg131TN1_7StcEeX3BfYO8PtW7w5jfwG6wS6u6AIC8Ai2CbOWGw/w640-h360/KSRI.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The former world number
toiled hard for 45 minutes to get the better of Wang 22-20 21-19 and enter the
second round.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Indian shuttler Kidambi
Srikanth opened his campaign at the Thailand Masters badminton tournament with
a straight-game win over Chinese Taipei's Wang Tzu Wei in Bangkok on Wednesday.
Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth opened his campaign at the Thailand Masters
badminton tournament with a straight-game win over Chinese Taipei's Wang Tzu
Wei in Bangkok on Wednesday. The former world number toiled hard for 45 minutes
to get the better of Wang 22-20 21-19 and enter the second round.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He will take on
compatriot Mithun Manjunath who defeated Hong Kong's Jason Gunawan 21-17 21-8
in his first round men's singles match.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">S Sankar Muthusamy
Subramanian also started his campaign with a 21-14 21-17 straight game win over
Leong Jun Hao of Malaysia.Sameer Verma made a first round exit, going down to
Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka Long 14-21 18-21 while Kiran George retired after
trailing 17-21 in his round of 32 match against China's Lei Lan Xi.Malvika
Bansod and Ashmita Chaliha cruised to the second round of the women's singles
event.While Ashmita defeated Wong Ling Ching 21-10 21-16, Malivika got the
better of Peru's Ines Lucia Castillo Salazar 22-20 21-8.Malvika will next face
Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan, who knocked out India's Imad Farooqui Samiya
21-14 21-18.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Saravanan
qualifies for second successive Olympics<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0EzKPSl8_XE1vmZ61UScE3mu9EM9BkN-7YCr33jIty-ExEThxDiB5iXmFEmhB9q5Ir0nmGPtttNcZSkvC_kqqdeMBHrt84tlYRMts6-6XwGNSIoyBfeqGdJO3LnTBfaCOIFzlV8jvcJHXdecGvJo4FHQdvX-0t4gPYN5DunXUKQLiEo0HECmk3-vr_o/s549/Indian%20sailor%20Vishnu%20Saravanan%20with%20team%20manager%20Col%20Utpal%20More%20(left)%20and%20foreign%20coach%20Milan%20Vujasinovic%20(right)%20after%20qualifying%20for%20Paris%20Olympics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0EzKPSl8_XE1vmZ61UScE3mu9EM9BkN-7YCr33jIty-ExEThxDiB5iXmFEmhB9q5Ir0nmGPtttNcZSkvC_kqqdeMBHrt84tlYRMts6-6XwGNSIoyBfeqGdJO3LnTBfaCOIFzlV8jvcJHXdecGvJo4FHQdvX-0t4gPYN5DunXUKQLiEo0HECmk3-vr_o/w640-h360/Indian%20sailor%20Vishnu%20Saravanan%20with%20team%20manager%20Col%20Utpal%20More%20(left)%20and%20foreign%20coach%20Milan%20Vujasinovic%20(right)%20after%20qualifying%20for%20Paris%20Olympics.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian sailor Vishnu Saravanan with team manager Col Utpal More (left) and foreign coach Milan Vujasinovic (right) after qualifying for Paris Olympics</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 24-year-old from
Vellore finished 26th out of 152 sailors at the ILCA 7 World Championships to
make the Paris cut. Asian Games bronze medallist Vishnu Saravanan has become
the first Indian sailor to qualify for successive Olympics by making the cut
for Paris Games. The 24-year-old from Vellore finished 26th out of 152 sailors
at the ILCA 7 World Championships held in Adelaide on Wednesday. The only other
Indian in the fray, Mohit Saini, finished 136th. So far, Sarvanan is the only
Indian sailor to qualify for this year's Olympics. A Subedar from the
Mumbai-based Army Yachting Node, Saravanan had finished 20th overall among 35
competitors at the Tokyo Games. In Adelaide, Saravanan was the best placed
Asian, finishing ahead of Hangzhou Asian Games gold medallist from Singapore Lo
Jun Han Ryan (42nd). Asian Championships gold and silver medallists — Hong
Kong's Nicholas Halliday and Thailand's Arthit Mikhail Romanyk — finished 31st
and 62nd respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Saravanan, an under-21
World Championships bronze medallist, concluded the competition with an overall
score of 174. Following the standard rule, his least score of 49 among ten
races was subtracted, resulting in a his net score of 125. Tokyo Olympics gold
medallist Matthew Wearn of Australia won the competition with a net score of
24. Like most sports, the Olympic quota in sailing belongs to the NOC but since
Saravanan is by far country's best sailor in the ILCA 7 class, his ticket to
Paris is all but secure. Besides Saravanan, Varun Thakkar, KC Ganapathy, and
Nethra Kumanan had qualified for Tokyo Olympics but with Last Chance Regatta
being the only Olympic qualifier left, chances of Saravanan having company in
Paris look unlikely. Last Chance Regatta will be held in Hyeres, France in
April.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kumanan, 26, competed in
the ILCA6 Women’s World Championships 2024 in Mar del Plata, Argentina (Jan
5-10) but her 41st-place finish was not enough to earn her a Paris quota. KC
Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar, the 2021 Asian champions, finished eighth in men's
skiff (49er class) at the Asian Championships in December to miss the cut.Paris
2024 will feature ten sailing events with a total athlete quota of 330, 20 less
than Tokyo. Both events and athlete quota are equally split between men and
women and an NOC may enter only one boat per event.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Vinesh, Anshu
headline wrestling nationals in Jaipur:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqM6o1tZeYha2GOEdGTxFJgLUa7FczUcK8N7eG1Ca01um6gNP5Fg7wim-f6Yam3QHM2Wo4H9O8RpaFUtgWMUhsZQ3-yWWu_BzKHWMMBXnNjOhv5qgkLlFmGhirxNuICTHsfGTUVs2ZPO76-MxuqU0GzG39d6KdlFaHpg8aLD408kB3w1XVDoTcClufY68/s549/The%20biggest%20name%20to%20feature%20in%20the%20three-day%20event%20Vinesh%20Phogat.(Vinesh%20Phogat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqM6o1tZeYha2GOEdGTxFJgLUa7FczUcK8N7eG1Ca01um6gNP5Fg7wim-f6Yam3QHM2Wo4H9O8RpaFUtgWMUhsZQ3-yWWu_BzKHWMMBXnNjOhv5qgkLlFmGhirxNuICTHsfGTUVs2ZPO76-MxuqU0GzG39d6KdlFaHpg8aLD408kB3w1XVDoTcClufY68/w640-h360/The%20biggest%20name%20to%20feature%20in%20the%20three-day%20event%20Vinesh%20Phogat.(Vinesh%20Phogat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The biggest name to feature in the three-day event Vinesh Phogat.(Vinesh Phogat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With the event, Indian
wrestling's focus will finally shift back to the mat Six months before the
Paris Olympics, Indian wrestling's preparedness appears to be way off the mark.
For the sport that fetched India two Olympic medals in Tokyo, the situation, in
2024, is grim. Only one wrestler, Antim Panghal, has bagged an Olympic quota so
far, and currently, there are not many who can be counted on to win a Paris
berth.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Domestic wrestling
activities came to a standstill last year following protests by top wrestlers
against the then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan
Sharan Singh. No national camp was organised and no domestic competition held
in absence of an elected federation. Circumstances continued to remains adverse
even after the election. As things stand, the WFI stands suspened by the Sports
Ministry and IOA's ad hoc panel has the responsibility to look into administrative
affairs of wrestling. In this backdrop, the Senior National Championships,
organised by the ad-hoc committee in Jaipur starting Friday, assumes greater
significance. In a way, it is going to be the starting point for preparations
towards Paris Olympics. Besides giving a peek into the form and fitness of
wrestlers coming back from injuries, national campers will also be picked from
these championships.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A week ago, the
suspended WFI organised a National Championship in Pune, prompting the Ministry
to declare it an "unsanctioned" event. Domestic powerhouses like
Railways, Services, Punjab therefore skipped the event, while Haryana too was
not present in full force.Several wrestlers chose to compete in both the
tournaments, unsure of who would call the shots in an Olympic year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the eve of Jaipur
Nationals, ad-hoc committee chairman Bhupinder Singh Bajwa made it clear that
only they have the mandate to organise domestic competitions and send teams for
international events."Only Ad-hoc committee has been entrusted with the
responsibility of submitting entries to participate in international sports
events, " he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Indeed, nothing can be
more positive for Indian wrestling than the focus finally shifting to the mat.
The biggest name to feature in the three-day event is two-time world
Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat.Vinesh, one of the faces of the wrestling
protest, will be returning to action after almost 15 months. She has not
competed since the 2022 world championships in Belgrade where she won a bronze
and thelLast year was full of emotional and physical turmoil for the gritty
wrestler. While most of the first half of the year went in the unprecedented
protest, her comeback in the Asian Games did not take off due to a knee injury.
She has spent the last five months in rehab even while continuing to raise her
voice against Brij Bhushan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the other hand, Antim
Panghal has bagged an Olympic in her preferred weight class (53kg), The quota
belongs to the country but Vinesh will have to return stronger to upstage her
if selection trials are held.The first step would be to asses herself in this
competition. That is why Vinesh has chosen to feature in 55kg as she will not
have to cut much weight.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Vinesh is coming
back after a long period and she will be better off competing in a higher
weight class to avoid risk of injuries, said Railways women's team coach Kripa
Shankar Bishnoi. "She has recovered from the knee injury and this event
will help gauge her fitness levels. She is a world class wrestler and she has
it in her to make another comeback."Tokyo Olympian Anshu Malik is
returning from injury too. The 2021 world championships medallist, by her usual
standards, wasn't great last year. She lost to Sarita Mor in the trials for the
Asian Games, and spent rest of the year tending to a ligament injury.
"When there is no domestic tournament, it is difficult to assess
performances. The coaches are also not aware of fitness levels of players. This
tournament will help us take a stock of the preparation, " said a national
level coach.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With two Paris Olympic
qualifiers still remaining, the focus will be on fresh faces in the Olympic
weight division.Some of the big names have given it a miss as they are either
training abroad or preparing for the Asian Championships in April. In addition
to Tokyo Olympics medallists Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya, Aman Sehrawat,
Deepak Punia and Antim Panghal will also not compete in Jaipur.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4-XI9U3gHXNt0PaFVpXIz8LOEiXiIXcTW_UxcUVX4bSKXaRDnZz28I5dgpVXCvoIoir41kescMVU0EmrjHWRvWwp9gGZ9wxYXwLqTdbVbD_Tk8h7sJ6o4SthLVNWTud4dR7tBfRalMoYPv2tKTBdMsUbMsw5O1xP6jJNEZrnIMNqJQT07VAtA8exUig/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4-XI9U3gHXNt0PaFVpXIz8LOEiXiIXcTW_UxcUVX4bSKXaRDnZz28I5dgpVXCvoIoir41kescMVU0EmrjHWRvWwp9gGZ9wxYXwLqTdbVbD_Tk8h7sJ6o4SthLVNWTud4dR7tBfRalMoYPv2tKTBdMsUbMsw5O1xP6jJNEZrnIMNqJQT07VAtA8exUig/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pindam:</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVbCRSE6omRWfDUdFptpzm5ab9OkU3z9gbJgA-ntx9GVYWdv5rtJef6VO716tQ02acnkURqMujgShF31plJmk1rDIqYTs4s5ZRZoPX36lYo8Kw_sQ5S8u9-2tSiFDvRD5rkU8_7p7Spc70u0iTOe6jM8ZKqpiciMTFRtSyvAeZ3rDvdvsdQxXW3uqsmw/s600/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVbCRSE6omRWfDUdFptpzm5ab9OkU3z9gbJgA-ntx9GVYWdv5rtJef6VO716tQ02acnkURqMujgShF31plJmk1rDIqYTs4s5ZRZoPX36lYo8Kw_sQ5S8u9-2tSiFDvRD5rkU8_7p7Spc70u0iTOe6jM8ZKqpiciMTFRtSyvAeZ3rDvdvsdQxXW3uqsmw/w640-h360/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This horror film which
was touted as 'The Scariest Film Ever,' is going to finally make its digital
streaming debut. Telugu's first OTT platform Aha Video secured the rights to
this movie and it announced the official streaming date. Accordingly, Pindam will
start streaming from February 2 on Aha Video. Pindam Cast The movie stars
Srikanth Sriram, Kushee Ravi, Easwari Rao, Srinivas Avasarala, Ravi Varma,
Manik Reddy, Baby Chaitra, Baby Leisha, Vijayalakshmi, and Srilatha among
others playing important characters. Pindam Crew Pindam was written and
directed by Saikiran Daida. Yeshwanth Daggumati produced the movie under his
Kalaahi Media banner. Krishna Saurabh Surampalli composed the film's entire
music and background score. Sathish Manoharan cranked the camera and Sirish
Prasad worked as the film's Editor.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mr & Mrs. Smith
</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjLrkREWAxfSM1kewrTf6KhcH8D_JjMBvkNNxyqzBRLthMeo5bMKqspstHZvtA8XDxQKLqvnOCfL_JV7Unax7y1LQ_qUPUX4VUGdrEQ0W_tJefkdaNQ9WZIFO0MArwjUOd0JgDiPKyvtHcUMCsKXEk4HWObtEjuwQ8rkxWMJDpU7_BU9lvAJMsF5pfjs/s1200/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjLrkREWAxfSM1kewrTf6KhcH8D_JjMBvkNNxyqzBRLthMeo5bMKqspstHZvtA8XDxQKLqvnOCfL_JV7Unax7y1LQ_qUPUX4VUGdrEQ0W_tJefkdaNQ9WZIFO0MArwjUOd0JgDiPKyvtHcUMCsKXEk4HWObtEjuwQ8rkxWMJDpU7_BU9lvAJMsF5pfjs/w640-h360/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Official Synopsis: Two
strangers land jobs with a spy agency that offers them a life of espionage,
wealth, and travel. The catch: new identities in an arranged marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Starring Donald Grover
and Maya Erskine, the series will be available on Prime Video from 2 February
‘24. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Orion and the Dark </span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vhF4tL618BFci7FtvQ8wo9dz2VXqrGuOB3uC6VwWPNXtFAvwkpuTFGwP5B8dmKsl4TdwW6ufmlnjy5vQsLYXz6Q98gflMmeUACOHO98xsE811oWXTPxnPQ5ixPC6PwjK3Sevv76rfdX-UCU2whUgDdO1whwuV3S2hv5UNcqXQxY_mHIDUZ11T3ZWhMk/s1280/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vhF4tL618BFci7FtvQ8wo9dz2VXqrGuOB3uC6VwWPNXtFAvwkpuTFGwP5B8dmKsl4TdwW6ufmlnjy5vQsLYXz6Q98gflMmeUACOHO98xsE811oWXTPxnPQ5ixPC6PwjK3Sevv76rfdX-UCU2whUgDdO1whwuV3S2hv5UNcqXQxY_mHIDUZ11T3ZWhMk/w640-h360/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Official Synopsis:
Follows Orion, a young boy who is afraid of heights, and pets, and rendered
nearly catatonic by the worst of all perils: the dark. The Dark takes Orion on
a nighttime trip to prove to the youngster that the only thing to fear is fear
itself. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It will be streaming on
Netflix from 2 February ‘24.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After Everything </span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKVM8e2lLb1Ey2S8xI0NOP0Zz01ao7tZmY8E9MvOrPByCdgawuN-qTEtO8N1X_VWiSHgEwCzZm5E0eJiO5VVTeyo5nlTXPPp5bxfyGZOOmWkSm2-zbwF4n7j4pteYQVobVf2tlSm9SU69WWB6bHnURdz_hYedeJaZQH2S4tTTz-2ojRk6mQkWAcuLrm4/s1280/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKVM8e2lLb1Ey2S8xI0NOP0Zz01ao7tZmY8E9MvOrPByCdgawuN-qTEtO8N1X_VWiSHgEwCzZm5E0eJiO5VVTeyo5nlTXPPp5bxfyGZOOmWkSm2-zbwF4n7j4pteYQVobVf2tlSm9SU69WWB6bHnURdz_hYedeJaZQH2S4tTTz-2ojRk6mQkWAcuLrm4/w640-h360/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After breaking up with
his true love, best-selling author Hardin Scott travels to Portugal in an
attempt to make amends for his past behavior. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Feature Hero Fiennes
Tiffin and Josephine Langford the final installment of the After series will be
available on Netflix on 1 February ‘24. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-TmOAhSlgNl6X_QVC7tzok-JjSVBulwYrCIbekmOvy34eWEnSxrBhFOSvd_M5nIaku0Yjb8dBUYjo5-HsRFzcLUVkPDbPlXCHVsnrR3JSZq-jFWUjgT0ETGKz9vX0jFb7TkC_qPHU4HXx44_YLiJ4_zWi7VwLUDC_PaMIc4XPrIJwFaCKwWD8Wls51o/s1770/AI3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1770" data-original-width="1396" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-TmOAhSlgNl6X_QVC7tzok-JjSVBulwYrCIbekmOvy34eWEnSxrBhFOSvd_M5nIaku0Yjb8dBUYjo5-HsRFzcLUVkPDbPlXCHVsnrR3JSZq-jFWUjgT0ETGKz9vX0jFb7TkC_qPHU4HXx44_YLiJ4_zWi7VwLUDC_PaMIc4XPrIJwFaCKwWD8Wls51o/s320/AI3.jpg" width="252" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrRdUW1JXLWdwODHqSWVeISj9YKtfvxtp-3_yzQNc_6FOW5bu7DiEvjqxxb4ME16hEdChDEKvnsDCQIH4GdIDpRes7I-wSFp1Q7ruUgRjsAjFh2irX9xgEzJpKAdUFwUGUJQVIox3Eb-7ZTIBzq2mJ-NZpcxYLfTjwyWj7YZAwoQbV45ZfK5WLy7I5Ao/s1763/AI30001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1763" data-original-width="1408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrRdUW1JXLWdwODHqSWVeISj9YKtfvxtp-3_yzQNc_6FOW5bu7DiEvjqxxb4ME16hEdChDEKvnsDCQIH4GdIDpRes7I-wSFp1Q7ruUgRjsAjFh2irX9xgEzJpKAdUFwUGUJQVIox3Eb-7ZTIBzq2mJ-NZpcxYLfTjwyWj7YZAwoQbV45ZfK5WLy7I5Ao/s320/AI30001.jpg" width="256" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Artificial Intelligence:
An Illustrated History: by Clifford A. Pickover (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">From medieval robots and
Boolean algebra to facial recognition, artificial neural networks, and
adversarial patches, this fascinating history takes readers on a vast tour
through the world of artificial intelligence. Award-winning author Clifford A.
Pickover (The Math Book, The Physics Book, Death & the Afterlife) explores
the historic and current applications of AI in such diverse fields as
computing, medicine, popular culture, mythology, and philosophy, and considers
the enduring threat to humanity should AI grow out of control. Across 100
illustrated entries, Pickover provides an entertaining and informative look
into when artificial intelligence began, how it developed, where it’s going, and
what it means for the future of human-machine interaction.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Clifford A.
Pickover:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQsUfCYifrrTPX-dhJBwbfULLMVQM4-SFcCrBUyz4-0lqC5mkLtCiAaAjFY7D9cH5hRpYcjo1LolRpckfSUt7-g6iQc5SYDgWHz8AA5qAn7hbdKczP6ANg3TqUDmdZA73y3q9KzqUJEdOJ4Px8Wca0-cV55KprS3VbjBuo9GPiy1yoHiAebtR9O0eYE8/s850/CIFFORD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="850" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQsUfCYifrrTPX-dhJBwbfULLMVQM4-SFcCrBUyz4-0lqC5mkLtCiAaAjFY7D9cH5hRpYcjo1LolRpckfSUt7-g6iQc5SYDgWHz8AA5qAn7hbdKczP6ANg3TqUDmdZA73y3q9KzqUJEdOJ4Px8Wca0-cV55KprS3VbjBuo9GPiy1yoHiAebtR9O0eYE8/w640-h302/CIFFORD.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Clifford A. Pickover
received his Ph.D. from Yale University and is the author of over 30 books on
such topics as computers and creativity, art, mathematics, black holes, religion,
human behavior and intelligence, time travel, alien life, and science fiction. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pickover is a prolific
inventor with dozens of patents, is the associate editor for several journals,
the author of colorful puzzle calendars, and puzzle contributor to magazines
geared to children and adults. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">WIRED magazine writes,
"Bucky Fuller thought big, Arthur C. Clarke thinks big, but Cliff Pickover
outdoes them both." According to The Los Angeles Times, "Pickover has
published nearly a book a year in which he stretches the limits of computers,
art and thought." <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Christian Science
Monitor writes, "Pickover inspires a new generation of da Vincis to build
unknown flying machines and create new Mona Lisas." Pickover's computer
graphics have been featured on the cover of many popular magazines and on TV
shows. His web site, Pickover.Com, has received millions of visits. His Blog
RealityCarnival.Com is one of his most popular sites.</span></b><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-6038518903507083442024-02-01T02:21:00.002+09:002024-02-01T02:21:13.920+09:00BOOKS FROM BOOK FAIR 2024<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyOKIc-GvCwqpCPJPcEkWPB1du9QU4WlvWmeRQ_6A8HJIoUASFRfpDzZd9kOC74Fmek2ltj3Rw9WkaRi2z0ItcBPRRgnYgc2HtD3xku1zYMgy9CZ9j5Vb4sIXiXhQh-tmxM7CcIuGS9rxM_O9Z7ure6iGRRSfk4SUBBrJ7-1lM0qoe31h91iHzhhGhUw/s800/librarygif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyOKIc-GvCwqpCPJPcEkWPB1du9QU4WlvWmeRQ_6A8HJIoUASFRfpDzZd9kOC74Fmek2ltj3Rw9WkaRi2z0ItcBPRRgnYgc2HtD3xku1zYMgy9CZ9j5Vb4sIXiXhQh-tmxM7CcIuGS9rxM_O9Z7ure6iGRRSfk4SUBBrJ7-1lM0qoe31h91iHzhhGhUw/w640-h480/librarygif.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqCoTuPXvknm7WBJyyA2Fli95CNtzQNlEVPu-JD8cxSsl8dBX2pPLlDOz_jmusuc5c_9J6WoRGUkOSXAlwAJq2r0SD79ehPMKtqYOYiQdMu2InvEZFrsDhV4ilnviOTfeWSI63aoKN1o0KjHbnFbE0JaLHqjP1ktHJrKfrBAH8ZbhSa2eOQD2DY9K5yY/s800/booklibani0288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqCoTuPXvknm7WBJyyA2Fli95CNtzQNlEVPu-JD8cxSsl8dBX2pPLlDOz_jmusuc5c_9J6WoRGUkOSXAlwAJq2r0SD79ehPMKtqYOYiQdMu2InvEZFrsDhV4ilnviOTfeWSI63aoKN1o0KjHbnFbE0JaLHqjP1ktHJrKfrBAH8ZbhSa2eOQD2DY9K5yY/w640-h480/booklibani0288.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIrJqFQbxwrRKxnjQ1-qRlA-o1umeVmhgwkd3vanpT25J0Frry-k9ej_TbwOx1kanYq_kstcbifGRsvwWYH0giTbZaCDDWj8GpyIydexbqZGhtVRp66NN8suiqQSycJuNMvCL2iEVXxbsM0dNp2Rf_3PvJ19aqh_EvPi7yOiMY6ghRcW-MvTiV-xDUvQ/s960/BOIMELA2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIrJqFQbxwrRKxnjQ1-qRlA-o1umeVmhgwkd3vanpT25J0Frry-k9ej_TbwOx1kanYq_kstcbifGRsvwWYH0giTbZaCDDWj8GpyIydexbqZGhtVRp66NN8suiqQSycJuNMvCL2iEVXxbsM0dNp2Rf_3PvJ19aqh_EvPi7yOiMY6ghRcW-MvTiV-xDUvQ/w640-h480/BOIMELA2024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOKS FROM BOOK
FAIR 2024 ;<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Evolution Hardcover
:by Dr Alice Roberts (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06WvwV7m3OMqZutmvtiOyu_Z5RxmdGelWm299bwTFh2qFHegVMZWXVB67OBzltnSC2pUwvKqFbhROy6No9FqWtVLbEtezFi0W8uuQB0NrBex9pdELqrtsdq1C_UAn5u1iV3X4qbtFDaZ9bHBZkUM0QwmU1GtTzYITumUH8LkDaFLSJrr8Q60_Uk6SU2Q/s2283/evolutionbook1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2283" data-original-width="1654" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06WvwV7m3OMqZutmvtiOyu_Z5RxmdGelWm299bwTFh2qFHegVMZWXVB67OBzltnSC2pUwvKqFbhROy6No9FqWtVLbEtezFi0W8uuQB0NrBex9pdELqrtsdq1C_UAn5u1iV3X4qbtFDaZ9bHBZkUM0QwmU1GtTzYITumUH8LkDaFLSJrr8Q60_Uk6SU2Q/s320/evolutionbook1.jpg" width="232" /></a> <b style="text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXCB10j89bDgo3ujWTd7b1lzP2_5yRVD9fQxOxE22PoAgsbuOdI5Jn2xxvwYTFsjrT_CAWqm3QidJErakUG9Z1H_ukmJJJ-_F_ulV64Mx8TbSTxaBbAMi_XPDLlsL7GYOkQ4EPV9-DPEDxWpvOmN_fwC_853zvsg7rZBSZ_IlgOYG8QF_uxgh2HXzxjY/s2235/evolutionbook0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2235" data-original-width="1654" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXCB10j89bDgo3ujWTd7b1lzP2_5yRVD9fQxOxE22PoAgsbuOdI5Jn2xxvwYTFsjrT_CAWqm3QidJErakUG9Z1H_ukmJJJ-_F_ulV64Mx8TbSTxaBbAMi_XPDLlsL7GYOkQ4EPV9-DPEDxWpvOmN_fwC_853zvsg7rZBSZ_IlgOYG8QF_uxgh2HXzxjY/s320/evolutionbook0001.jpg" width="237" /></a></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Travel back in time
almost eight million years to explore the roots of the human family tree.</span></b></div></u></b><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Written and
authenticated by a team of experts and with a foreword by Professor Alice
Roberts, Evolution brings us face to face with our ancestors. Interweaving
latest discoveries, maps, and incredible illustrations, it tells the story of
our origins and helps us better understand our species, from tree-dwelling
primates to modern humans.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Renowned Dutch
paleoartists the Kennis brothers bring our ancestors to life with their
beautiful, accurate reconstructions that visually trace each step in our
evolutionary history. Combined with clear prose, this comprehensive yet
accessible book provides a rich history of each stage of human evolution, from
human anatomy and behaviour to the environment we live in.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Travel back 8 million
years with Evolution The Human Story and go on a fascinating journey to
discover how our species has developed from tree-dwelling primates to modern
humans.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is the first time
that the story of evolution has been documented in such amazing visual detail
thanks to the work of the renowned Dutch paleoartists, Kennis and Kennis.
Staggeringly realistic CGI and model reconstructions from original fossils
bring us face to face with our distant ancestors portraying them as never
before. Plus, Dr Alice Roberts shares her extensive knowledge helping answer
all the big questions and more.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Evolution: The Human
Story is packed with all the latest discoveries and profiles every human
ancestor to date from Ardipithecus ramidus to Homo neanderthalensis. An
essential read for anyone fascinated in finding out where we come from.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Alice Roberts:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_63v_S1bbIpYsGu7TWutAVKBsZdfq_CgsiyI71IrqBTuoUNujKfyASD7XUP-VGth3pr0De_fAxnLDcGOQI_cz5wMVvq8_fE1-Y5yM9gk7oihnMlTyGtWdwaiOwXPSS7fDFxbqWE7IuZEXt1MWWfURyg8KNoaKql-AKiEpEL0H5pJiYoa3BEOwvjyKHCQ/s640/WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_63v_S1bbIpYsGu7TWutAVKBsZdfq_CgsiyI71IrqBTuoUNujKfyASD7XUP-VGth3pr0De_fAxnLDcGOQI_cz5wMVvq8_fE1-Y5yM9gk7oihnMlTyGtWdwaiOwXPSS7fDFxbqWE7IuZEXt1MWWfURyg8KNoaKql-AKiEpEL0H5pJiYoa3BEOwvjyKHCQ/s320/WRITER.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTReaQmmEToZ0uZ6ffFgfoleYvZskkMsEZjE9A5dL84JNmkjLdCeTNGuXrUNMDsnqSrGqOwUcreW8dHr6lB96B5bYgdQVfMZ7_7sR353ZT1UM4RTJY005H0NtMmbca1xXDSzsqey6OsUxIW_CMiYIDakYprYW5UXVeneiWGgpDmqwXO4UQ4dQj3LGgsk/s1047/WRITER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTReaQmmEToZ0uZ6ffFgfoleYvZskkMsEZjE9A5dL84JNmkjLdCeTNGuXrUNMDsnqSrGqOwUcreW8dHr6lB96B5bYgdQVfMZ7_7sR353ZT1UM4RTJY005H0NtMmbca1xXDSzsqey6OsUxIW_CMiYIDakYprYW5UXVeneiWGgpDmqwXO4UQ4dQj3LGgsk/s320/WRITER2.jpg" width="245" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Alice May Roberts FRSB
(born 19 May 1973)is an English academic, TV presenter and author. Since 2012
she has been Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of
Birmingham. She was president of the charity Humanists UK between January 2019
and May 2022. She is now a vice president of the organisation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Early life and
education</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Roberts was born in
Bristol in 1973, the daughter of an aeronautical engineer and an English and
arts teacher. She grew up in the Bristol suburb of Westbury-on-Trym where she
attended The Red Maids' School. In December 1988, she won the BBC1 Blue Peter
Young Artists competition, appearing with her picture and the presenters on the
front cover of the 10 December 1988 edition of the Radio Times.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Roberts studied medicine
at the University of Wales College of Medicine (now part of Cardiff University)
and graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB BCh)
degree, having gained an intercalated Bachelor of Science degree in Anatomy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Artificial
Intelligence: An Illustrated History: by Clifford A. Pickover (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOVkwJ7TOUm1XaanOtd58Kd1WU9dvOox6muFQQ9gzujdzHZPu77f6Q4N0RRvtwSk94RZ3OfOTf7aHYGL3-NyWxiMQKQq2Mn3BL3ocFiI6Z75KIOTWXgspym6luR3grAvNjDc024F1oD8iL6TDGbqAF0InELFoIWdyfVWoG5wfVy09uwoOsXszuUn3QwI/s1770/AI3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1770" data-original-width="1396" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOVkwJ7TOUm1XaanOtd58Kd1WU9dvOox6muFQQ9gzujdzHZPu77f6Q4N0RRvtwSk94RZ3OfOTf7aHYGL3-NyWxiMQKQq2Mn3BL3ocFiI6Z75KIOTWXgspym6luR3grAvNjDc024F1oD8iL6TDGbqAF0InELFoIWdyfVWoG5wfVy09uwoOsXszuUn3QwI/s320/AI3.jpg" width="252" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkuZtu1vT69ceKzqldlGBdCoIan_CXqO2H1Gp1uZkkEBD9unH8vkP1U7yHFf52BSE5a1aOsFa7R8LpGqos5K-BI7hm70I045fVTlDpDuvzfQB7jl_oiACnmcV6zN5aSf-oZX9XBd-UH_mZ5Xy9Sk-q-XZ62N7txda91FKafeNk_UTOaOBptc0GV7ZjYQ/s1763/AI30001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1763" data-original-width="1408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkuZtu1vT69ceKzqldlGBdCoIan_CXqO2H1Gp1uZkkEBD9unH8vkP1U7yHFf52BSE5a1aOsFa7R8LpGqos5K-BI7hm70I045fVTlDpDuvzfQB7jl_oiACnmcV6zN5aSf-oZX9XBd-UH_mZ5Xy9Sk-q-XZ62N7txda91FKafeNk_UTOaOBptc0GV7ZjYQ/s320/AI30001.jpg" width="256" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">From medieval robots and
Boolean algebra to facial recognition, artificial neural networks, and
adversarial patches, this fascinating history takes readers on a vast tour
through the world of artificial intelligence. Award-winning author Clifford A.
Pickover (The Math Book, The Physics Book, Death & the Afterlife) explores
the historic and current applications of AI in such diverse fields as
computing, medicine, popular culture, mythology, and philosophy, and considers
the enduring threat to humanity should AI grow out of control. Across 100
illustrated entries, Pickover provides an entertaining and informative look
into when artificial intelligence began, how it developed, where it’s going,
and what it means for the future of human-machine interaction.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Clifford A.
Pickover:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmE7B4UvylBnFdTVxUVb1-tvw8joUclrqcHC-r9_t0s5M9ND0xb3UeXN16MhBFFm3ikS6Yv_m7t7QcDJxSYsMcaWwOshMyNxOqD8DQVa3MeFvpqMLin_4ALmeXn3pLX87MRYHX4ow-Zrn7D9m6QDeVWvP1VS7rVXGKTY7Ov6aogfmn6-dtPHmaitmDVDQ/s850/CIFFORD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="850" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmE7B4UvylBnFdTVxUVb1-tvw8joUclrqcHC-r9_t0s5M9ND0xb3UeXN16MhBFFm3ikS6Yv_m7t7QcDJxSYsMcaWwOshMyNxOqD8DQVa3MeFvpqMLin_4ALmeXn3pLX87MRYHX4ow-Zrn7D9m6QDeVWvP1VS7rVXGKTY7Ov6aogfmn6-dtPHmaitmDVDQ/w640-h302/CIFFORD.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Clifford A. Pickover
received his Ph.D. from Yale University and is the author of over 30 books on
such topics as computers and creativity, art, mathematics, black holes,
religion, human behavior and intelligence, time travel, alien life, and science
fiction. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pickover is a prolific
inventor with dozens of patents, is the associate editor for several journals,
the author of colorful puzzle calendars, and puzzle contributor to magazines
geared to children and adults. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">WIRED magazine writes,
"Bucky Fuller thought big, Arthur C. Clarke thinks big, but Cliff Pickover
outdoes them both." According to The Los Angeles Times, "Pickover has
published nearly a book a year in which he stretches the limits of computers,
art and thought." <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Christian Science
Monitor writes, "Pickover inspires a new generation of da Vincis to build
unknown flying machines and create new Mona Lisas." Pickover's computer
graphics have been featured on the cover of many popular magazines and on TV
shows. His web site, Pickover.Com, has received millions of visits. His Blog
RealityCarnival.Com is one of his most popular sites.</span></b><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">AI for You: The New
Game Changer:by Shalini Kapoor (Author), Sameep Mehta (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5JBTSP2-xK8x2Kp0WjFnpziad8UfCRieRxGdIr0kd2kR2uCQ6odfW1Z8bQBND3OU7IEElS4_0bS79sNf9B5bgEROSafXLGspDpT8kRLiYODQzu7sWeH2bb84_xprqDxIgx4oupzxcf0U5IyrNsF99sWb-1dO9c8DX0c0RWuGXrKYg8VAjy909Fmee8E/s1804/ai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1804" data-original-width="1181" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5JBTSP2-xK8x2Kp0WjFnpziad8UfCRieRxGdIr0kd2kR2uCQ6odfW1Z8bQBND3OU7IEElS4_0bS79sNf9B5bgEROSafXLGspDpT8kRLiYODQzu7sWeH2bb84_xprqDxIgx4oupzxcf0U5IyrNsF99sWb-1dO9c8DX0c0RWuGXrKYg8VAjy909Fmee8E/s320/ai.jpg" width="209" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYDsPhnEMkk7_xZgv_aFIRy877aRYJsw_qFBnPgTyD9rfhdx3aD4PE4bnh53S93maauZglttjCqcgfbYPeKDWqFtMnRIXGo2WjmxiaqPrVS7z9cOdAz6Otg_zsaLVC2yo9GyxHglZWCi4PWAihr5L1TL7FLYG1K1xjx9lCmvD8DsBDG_XAIRgyJWfk5M/s1796/ai0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="1207" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYDsPhnEMkk7_xZgv_aFIRy877aRYJsw_qFBnPgTyD9rfhdx3aD4PE4bnh53S93maauZglttjCqcgfbYPeKDWqFtMnRIXGo2WjmxiaqPrVS7z9cOdAz6Otg_zsaLVC2yo9GyxHglZWCi4PWAihr5L1TL7FLYG1K1xjx9lCmvD8DsBDG_XAIRgyJWfk5M/s320/ai0001.jpg" width="215" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Artificial Intelligence
is all around us. It is set to transform the way we run businesses. Yet people
fear it and businesses struggle to derive maximum value from it. Learning from
the best practices of industry leaders, AI For You brings together frameworks
and tools for infusing AI in business processes. The book demystifies AI,
simplifies the complexities around AI technologies and describes how to take AI
from lab to field while satisfying the concerns of different stakeholders.</span></b></div></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A must-read for
builders, consumers, sponsors and sellers of AI, AI For You lays down the
building blocks for the AI revolution while attempting to close the gap between
the promise of AI and its actual impact.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhZm_jg7pFRLFf8Ko4cryXmntTVUVxTdwkJF8VYNxz8H_EnA9nYDiyA0Ba8gHBTarR0gmnVArpaqDMQ3X70PFg0JrdbPBkevw8s6vjiujFzodhnuhSKWOPdSOve3fBklNgoul9najNTL9jQgFggVH8ZB5RIkbaPu_zbhEjzrm1IfLFGl2uX9bmXqhj4s/s1152/SHALINI%20KAPOOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhZm_jg7pFRLFf8Ko4cryXmntTVUVxTdwkJF8VYNxz8H_EnA9nYDiyA0Ba8gHBTarR0gmnVArpaqDMQ3X70PFg0JrdbPBkevw8s6vjiujFzodhnuhSKWOPdSOve3fBklNgoul9najNTL9jQgFggVH8ZB5RIkbaPu_zbhEjzrm1IfLFGl2uX9bmXqhj4s/w640-h320/SHALINI%20KAPOOR.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shalini Kapoor</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is a technologist, innovator and thought leader. Her
path breaking technological solutions have launched global businesses and she
now focuses on tech for impact to the billions. A well-known voice at industry
forums, she has 15 patents, several women in STEM awards and was honoured as
the first IBM Fellow in India<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu00r-CXfLVzOHoLuZf4LYJA4L16PB9DafDDnlP5zRbr_xf1SPfr8MbONmgdmijHbpt7Q-4UZLmBMNBMmO3WB3ATI9_QZQu49FjzbXs33ymNaushKWyyy_BJ5Y4P66fThKwAgUEr5tp5JQgpJbwb8M4-WOfoi3AB-gK_CyvnC48Zo-w33Tl1w0dmk8w2I/s1280/SAMEEP%20MEHTA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu00r-CXfLVzOHoLuZf4LYJA4L16PB9DafDDnlP5zRbr_xf1SPfr8MbONmgdmijHbpt7Q-4UZLmBMNBMmO3WB3ATI9_QZQu49FjzbXs33ymNaushKWyyy_BJ5Y4P66fThKwAgUEr5tp5JQgpJbwb8M4-WOfoi3AB-gK_CyvnC48Zo-w33Tl1w0dmk8w2I/w640-h360/SAMEEP%20MEHTA.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sameep Mehta</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is a leader in the area of AI with 50+ patents and 80+
publications. He finished his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 2006.
This book is the outcome of his vast experience in incubating AI research
agenda, performing research and making the technology available to customers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ISHRARER BAGAN BY
SOHOM GUHA</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9NsGThze7CpHgnNGw1wTUBp5uPR4YDz9zieernlxGOK62bSeSJLGVOIj_w0XFABmbsSHH80Zl0AaDu11iy8ynxvP2lLfzI6XoEkvckmwf79IKk8AcB2LC9roq2uTaqoVx9YG-Zjxm9uqVJKvfaQsfJRnmeWa29JWyrVOU1NUSmY3fRRh-TGT6-jH43E/s1696/APRAJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="1155" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9NsGThze7CpHgnNGw1wTUBp5uPR4YDz9zieernlxGOK62bSeSJLGVOIj_w0XFABmbsSHH80Zl0AaDu11iy8ynxvP2lLfzI6XoEkvckmwf79IKk8AcB2LC9roq2uTaqoVx9YG-Zjxm9uqVJKvfaQsfJRnmeWa29JWyrVOU1NUSmY3fRRh-TGT6-jH43E/s320/APRAJ.jpg" width="218" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OXqwCxTjy_zOeVFahePQp7tOUVmX8NcaQvVo1Ly8MqXkXoslmcDwKbJYD0kRufcw_nknXLjA-Pcv1KG8cwL2S3yWlemm54oxjqDSamxAE97o1VRtFVZ6gZHGY7SwDlRhm_KElF7G3TAqimAUkPcAjIpoWNMqQfrtX7TbNWeZLlLNt2WIGvI_DRH4KDg/s1707/APRAJ0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="1133" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OXqwCxTjy_zOeVFahePQp7tOUVmX8NcaQvVo1Ly8MqXkXoslmcDwKbJYD0kRufcw_nknXLjA-Pcv1KG8cwL2S3yWlemm54oxjqDSamxAE97o1VRtFVZ6gZHGY7SwDlRhm_KElF7G3TAqimAUkPcAjIpoWNMqQfrtX7TbNWeZLlLNt2WIGvI_DRH4KDg/s320/APRAJ0001.jpg" width="212" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">মাটির রং এবং মানুষের ভাষার সঙ্গে তালে তাল মিলিয়ে বদলে যায়
কল্পবিজ্ঞান ও ফ্যান্টাসির গল্প</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">সোহম বয়সে
তরুণ হলেও তাঁর দেখার চোখ অনেক পরিণত</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">তাই
অবলীলায় সে এই বদলে যাওয়া ভাষাটা ধরে ফেলে ‘আমাদের’ গল্প বলতে পারে অনায়াসে</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">এ
কারণেই তাঁকে বোধহয় অন্য কোনও দেশের থেকে ভাষা বা ভঙ্গিমা ধার করতে হয় না নিজের চরিত্রদের
ফুটিয়ে তুলতে</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">সেই আশ্চর্য রকমের পরিচিত ভাষ্যে সুলেখক সোহম গুহ’র অনবদ্য বড়
গল্পের সংকলন প্রকাশ পেয়েছে কল্পবিশ্বের হাত ধরে</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">।<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Soham Guha: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHhdnHdxXFvQm66DmsdUjy_uYmz46kCkSDMRmXfRsrHT7nmGQiRE3143_MW54yJpucbXu-uV_bkXMYYD6-5-ykeGuhewmtWYsNvxxx4vQ3P2kbIHaNaWCFE569oHjUcydeSCXTGM3ibh5rRugRwu303i95YSzM07EMhyphenhyphenQiDhB2g6HWqMsDKRDSvy_l4k/s600/SOHOM%20GUHA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHhdnHdxXFvQm66DmsdUjy_uYmz46kCkSDMRmXfRsrHT7nmGQiRE3143_MW54yJpucbXu-uV_bkXMYYD6-5-ykeGuhewmtWYsNvxxx4vQ3P2kbIHaNaWCFE569oHjUcydeSCXTGM3ibh5rRugRwu303i95YSzM07EMhyphenhyphenQiDhB2g6HWqMsDKRDSvy_l4k/w640-h640/SOHOM%20GUHA.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The universe is made of
quarks and speculative dreams. As a part of this universe, Soham Guha (</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">সোহম</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">গুহ</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">) finds
himself often in his suburban home near Kolkata (India).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He writes in his mother
tongue, Bengali, and English as well. His works were published in
Kalpabiswa.com, Scroll.in, Mohs 5.5: Megastructure Anthology, Mithila Review,
Meteotopia: Futures of Climate (In)justice, and The Gollancz Anthology of South
Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy Vol II.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">His collection of
Bengali speculative fiction can be found in Archimedes and Other Stories (2022,
Kalpabiswa Publications).</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">The heritage of SF in Bengal, both east and West, is rich, distinct, yet somewhat underrepresented to the global audience. Looking at the current status, the development may appear fragmented, even halted. The reason can be traced to the mainstream vernacular magazines, the respective publishing houses, and their treatment of SF entirely as MG fiction. Magazines play a crucial role in the emergence of genre fiction, as they are the first and foremost platforms for any aspiring and experimenting pen. However, looking at the SFs printed in these magazines, if someone compares them with the global standard, one might find the majority of the stories to be inadequate antiquities. Considering the lack of SF special issues, the reluctance to experimentation, the predominant absence of adult themes in the printed SFs, the prevalent atmosphere can be said to be stagnant. This is a stark divergence from the paths paved by SF-only magazines like Ashchorjo, Bismoy, and Fantastic. All three magazines were either edited or influenced by Adrish Bardhan.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Battala BY Sripantha:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></u></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MP0qu3D1NBS5mv3YJlQJ4vcPJ20Osg1GNumYxwRtziz4XNWA380NVgHlrw3KXPHeJFuanjOtiEYiMBYZhOG0QbyhOksUWwO8wT5oa5AYAiwbrLNnd41eP4qKTUbXeaGmnR4ZAwMjPbzdLLydrH_acC_5xm8JDKmU1XIOPjghJZL0lJCv9fZHNr2csnw/s1908/Battalla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="1244" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MP0qu3D1NBS5mv3YJlQJ4vcPJ20Osg1GNumYxwRtziz4XNWA380NVgHlrw3KXPHeJFuanjOtiEYiMBYZhOG0QbyhOksUWwO8wT5oa5AYAiwbrLNnd41eP4qKTUbXeaGmnR4ZAwMjPbzdLLydrH_acC_5xm8JDKmU1XIOPjghJZL0lJCv9fZHNr2csnw/s320/Battalla.jpg" width="209" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6sARidq_7mcNtnOQVB-4Tb3I90Fd3M9jrTt9H9YLGfmq1FrP4mHFhK9A8y-hMM1Aj1DchYLxiDE9jRPxT5jHjr3HcWcRCUOVuT9X9GwddvFtVXW8blHPKMg96MhqHYcgtYEWfCDCp47Z-DcIPHXJQDLpzsOFOz8_2gJYIz6UpRBSvAIwhqEXaKJvIdo/s1889/Battalla0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1889" data-original-width="1237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6sARidq_7mcNtnOQVB-4Tb3I90Fd3M9jrTt9H9YLGfmq1FrP4mHFhK9A8y-hMM1Aj1DchYLxiDE9jRPxT5jHjr3HcWcRCUOVuT9X9GwddvFtVXW8blHPKMg96MhqHYcgtYEWfCDCp47Z-DcIPHXJQDLpzsOFOz8_2gJYIz6UpRBSvAIwhqEXaKJvIdo/s320/Battalla0001.jpg" width="210" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sripantha:Nikhil
Sarkar:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutaSPR8Oj95aCYUNCEKOyLcgy5PbweUzI7zvZLRJ-oijWRwdmI7dEEv0g12WGpM-8c_X7cI7OeFMoMkGyppJTyRed49E6-cqoYL6M6md9MiTqCJS7-E0akuusXlyWGyriVDQz3uDEvY4htSOMP57zBgi4bEmaSonR1s3eqP_NjgzlfPvy5nhPXBxRTrw/s400/sripantha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="336" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutaSPR8Oj95aCYUNCEKOyLcgy5PbweUzI7zvZLRJ-oijWRwdmI7dEEv0g12WGpM-8c_X7cI7OeFMoMkGyppJTyRed49E6-cqoYL6M6md9MiTqCJS7-E0akuusXlyWGyriVDQz3uDEvY4htSOMP57zBgi4bEmaSonR1s3eqP_NjgzlfPvy5nhPXBxRTrw/w538-h640/sripantha.jpg" width="538" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">একই সঙ্গে ইতিহাস
আর সাংবাদিকতার জগতে ডুবে থাকতেন বলেই কি তাঁর দৃষ্টি একাধারে সহজ এবং সমৃদ্ধ হতে পেরেছিল?
এর উত্তর অবশ্য এখানে নেই</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">উত্তর সহজও নয়</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">কিন্তু অন্যতম শ্রেষ্ঠ লেখাটির রচয়িতা গৌতম ভদ্র যখন বলেন, ‘একাধারে [শ্রীপান্থ]
গাল্পিক এবং চাক্ষিক: ইতিহাস পড়তে, দেখতে, চাখতে ও দেখাতে তিনি ভালবাসতেন, ইতিহাসের
খাঁজে খাঁজে নানা অভিজ্ঞতায় যে চমৎকৃতি বা অভিনব রসটুকু মাঝে মাঝে জমে থাকে, তাই আস্বাদন
করেই তাঁর তৃপ্তি,’ তখন সম্ভবত তাঁর সাংবাদিক সত্তাটির মধ্যে যে বিরাট শক্তি ছিল তার
একটা আন্দাজ মিলতে পারে</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। ‘</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">খাঁজে খাঁজে নানা অভিজ্ঞতার চমৎকৃতি’ খুঁজে যাওয়াটা তো সাংবাদিক
সত্তারই একটি বিশেষ ধরন</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">শ্রীপান্থ ওরফে নিখিল সরকার পাঠক ছাড়াও ছিলেন সাংবাদিক, প্রাবন্ধিক,
ইতিহাসবিদ এবং সম্পাদক</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">তাঁর এই নানা পরিচয়ের উপর বিভিন্ন দিক থেকে আলো ফেলেছে এই বই</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">কিন্তু কী ভাবে তাঁর এই নানা পরিচয় নিজেদের পরিচিত ও স্বীকৃত গন্ডি ছাড়িয়ে পরস্পরের
উপর দিয়ে বয়ে গিয়েছে, পাশাপাশি প্রবাহিত হতে হতে একে অন্যকে পূর্ণতর করেছে, তার হদিশটি
প্রত্যক্ষ ভাবে পাওয়া গেল না</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">এই একটি দুর্বলতা এই সংকলনের</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">হয়তো সামান্য দুর্বলতা, কিন্তু আক্ষেপ থেকেই যায়</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">নানান ইন্টেলেকটুয়াল প্রবণতা ও ভূমিকার আশ্চর্য সন্নিবেশ ছিল এই মানুষটির মধ্যে</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">আর তাই, তাঁর বহু সত্তার মধ্যে সংযোগের আলোচনাও জরুরি ছিল এই স্মারকগ্রন্থে</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">। </span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Shonar Bangla","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">এমন মানুষ তো সুলভ নন! এমন আলোচনার সুযোগও সহজে মেলার নয়</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Aparajita","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">।<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Mind Traveller
- Warrior of Shaka by Viveck Rai Marwah (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteRWWmUj9dyeCTxiwSyTYMx1the0qIwvp-nfvhf_6W3BKDtjIyxWrBcoK3nZ5YobMw_5ZzJGazE3WucsSsv0uyijGkSvSOVFrf3p8p2873tWPj0Ly7Wh-hMAJW7ZcmjyNolJyQG4Ocg_zUGRbLSbfBCUlxhCO9Qd2O6cMxBe68dShPdZHLTy9AEWJDQg/s1585/mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1585" data-original-width="1022" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteRWWmUj9dyeCTxiwSyTYMx1the0qIwvp-nfvhf_6W3BKDtjIyxWrBcoK3nZ5YobMw_5ZzJGazE3WucsSsv0uyijGkSvSOVFrf3p8p2873tWPj0Ly7Wh-hMAJW7ZcmjyNolJyQG4Ocg_zUGRbLSbfBCUlxhCO9Qd2O6cMxBe68dShPdZHLTy9AEWJDQg/s320/mind.jpg" width="206" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjG2Hh4d39rvP1zOVQ9qiM9haDYdA9cDwWUS8v4R-5JWzFBEJ96-tckJvCIfTxP8nGWGckPGY1sg7OVNJz-biI_AoTI_MvFKqimgWd9EnbvBRelW6FqfnYXlcNWMUbS_e1Zt0N0aBjgcwaDSIG0gy7wVepsZgYU7U7C1KQMADS90KF1L3xjianIg_biY/s1533/mind0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="1010" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjG2Hh4d39rvP1zOVQ9qiM9haDYdA9cDwWUS8v4R-5JWzFBEJ96-tckJvCIfTxP8nGWGckPGY1sg7OVNJz-biI_AoTI_MvFKqimgWd9EnbvBRelW6FqfnYXlcNWMUbS_e1Zt0N0aBjgcwaDSIG0gy7wVepsZgYU7U7C1KQMADS90KF1L3xjianIg_biY/s320/mind0001.jpg" width="211" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Young Sankalp’s family
is brutally murdered by a band of soldiers led by Darqan Doodra, a renegade
general feared across the kingdom of Lhasa. He is barely able to escape with
his life. Seeking refuge in the mountains surrounding his once idyllic village,
he stumbles upon a wondrous cave where he meets Kalimpong, the fabled monk
possessed of great powers and learning. Struck by what he senses within
Sankalp, the monk takes him as his disciple.Thus begins the young boy’s
incredible journey. Guided by Kalimpong, he overcomes his pain and anger and
seeks to understand why fate dealt him such a terrible blow.With his mind
awakened to a higher perception, he is able to go beyond the limitations of the
physical self, to become a ‘mind-traveller’, crossing to a dimension beyond the
known laws of the universe. Sankalp the warrior monk must now chart his course
to the glorious city of Lhasa, to a court rife with treachery, conspiracy and
rumour. Although his chosen path is fraught with danger, Sankalp knows he must
fight, both for the sake of his people and for the peace of his soul.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeqdhxWA_C5TFlv3t0ds7ybg9NF3Y_gO7oTkj4XKhagsChiQ0_Wa0hyphenhypheniQZ8q-KWXxp_xJT3lUSyuqxA3X1G2_74MTo1xt9-ZVAf5CiExSlMBpdI9Vs3cCgEJuKr_BAdoxMw8Xe7mimrX1VZnIhEhHz88q737sZmOuXeJ_MYnqb-VbB2GBYgIqByNPsE4/s261/vivek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="261" height="539" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeqdhxWA_C5TFlv3t0ds7ybg9NF3Y_gO7oTkj4XKhagsChiQ0_Wa0hyphenhypheniQZ8q-KWXxp_xJT3lUSyuqxA3X1G2_74MTo1xt9-ZVAf5CiExSlMBpdI9Vs3cCgEJuKr_BAdoxMw8Xe7mimrX1VZnIhEhHz88q737sZmOuXeJ_MYnqb-VbB2GBYgIqByNPsE4/w640-h539/vivek.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Think AI : by
Swapnali Joshi Naik (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkoVm4WTtg9WKfvpdp1hqTSmyirdRMdLtlpeFpCs6EEw0XGq5Oqa7sEvVSmVE7PxUzo2NRVnDTqGd69BwWJdudlHy5RMFxcXnfX0MkYWP867-KF0tmPYLkqPOQTkpxyPCpMr57H2Ex_FWTZeutqv9qP8fYkoiMKHd1IpeOWYjmfYqdpoBzEg87cpK31Q/s1804/AI2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1804" data-original-width="1474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkoVm4WTtg9WKfvpdp1hqTSmyirdRMdLtlpeFpCs6EEw0XGq5Oqa7sEvVSmVE7PxUzo2NRVnDTqGd69BwWJdudlHy5RMFxcXnfX0MkYWP867-KF0tmPYLkqPOQTkpxyPCpMr57H2Ex_FWTZeutqv9qP8fYkoiMKHd1IpeOWYjmfYqdpoBzEg87cpK31Q/s320/AI2.jpg" width="261" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclXJ3iPtanvSdagU5Afbp81htz9kOwydCcpYvp70KcDuLJCkOgLUaILzg6E0cp4ow3CMPrDz0n9A46sAqCdVw9swqEJWg8ySqTdDiggaYU3BUYjTY_hd92XMK0EXOo1AWxmwtrc97t-KQBn95nKA_j2QZ44OqsXTW54jHNRYhcWKvSqeCcs4pst1pSi4/s1796/AI20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="1489" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclXJ3iPtanvSdagU5Afbp81htz9kOwydCcpYvp70KcDuLJCkOgLUaILzg6E0cp4ow3CMPrDz0n9A46sAqCdVw9swqEJWg8ySqTdDiggaYU3BUYjTY_hd92XMK0EXOo1AWxmwtrc97t-KQBn95nKA_j2QZ44OqsXTW54jHNRYhcWKvSqeCcs4pst1pSi4/s320/AI20001.jpg" width="265" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Description<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Think AI" is
a rapid-learning book that covers a wide range of Artificial Intelligence
topics, including Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Computer Vision, and Natural
Language Processing. Most popular Python libraries and toolkits are applied to
develop intelligent and thoughtful applications.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With a solid grasp of
python programming and mathematics, you may use this book's statistical models
and AI algorithms to meet AI needs and data insight issues. Each chapter in
this book guides you swiftly through the core concepts and then directly to
their implementation using Python toolkits. This book covers the techniques and
skill sets required for data collection, pre-processing, installing libraries,
preparing data models, training and deploying the models, and optimising model
performance.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The book guides you
through the OpenCV toolkit for real-time picture recognition and detection,
allowing you to work with computer vision.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What you will learn<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">● Work with Jupyter and
various Python libraries, including scikit-learn, NLTK, and TF.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">● Build and implement ML
models and neural networks using TensorFlow and Keras.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">● Utilize OpenCV for
real-time image processing, face detection, and face recognition.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Who this book is for<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Whether you're a
student, newbie or an existing AI developer, this book will help you get up to
speed with various domains of AI, including ML, Deep Learning and NLP. Knowing
the basics of python and understanding mathematics will be beneficial.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Table of Contents<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1. Introducing
Artificial Intelligence<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2. Essentials of Python
and Data Analysis<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3. Data Preparation and
Machine Learning<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4. Computer Vision using
OpenCV<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5. Fundamentals of
Neural Networks and Deep Learning<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6. Natural Language
Processing<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ55XToS-HDcA4PWS7ejnxhp9D0U3raoVTtzYqJ5w-GVpvM2vngkQJcKUdElorGFhX9426fwIU1XVxh-pOrhV3de2MQ7kN1RYFdzSBfmGzoefrnz-zyznX_urbcH50SYzqZX7zbo4C-m2E1XEqD5iLBqJyHEkAwTem_QyygKIWIuLgGklBmQq18hq6CYE/s225/swapnali%20Joshi%20-%20IIBM%20Institute%20of%20Business%20Management%20-%20Salem,%20Oregon,%20United%20States.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ55XToS-HDcA4PWS7ejnxhp9D0U3raoVTtzYqJ5w-GVpvM2vngkQJcKUdElorGFhX9426fwIU1XVxh-pOrhV3de2MQ7kN1RYFdzSBfmGzoefrnz-zyznX_urbcH50SYzqZX7zbo4C-m2E1XEqD5iLBqJyHEkAwTem_QyygKIWIuLgGklBmQq18hq6CYE/w640-h640/swapnali%20Joshi%20-%20IIBM%20Institute%20of%20Business%20Management%20-%20Salem,%20Oregon,%20United%20States.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">swapnali Joshi </span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- IIBM Institute of Business Management - Salem, Oregon,
United States</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>GRAPHIC NOVEL:</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Devas from Vedic Literature</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_eZmCPb7jBuY-vD2r_Y-lA4GflD79aTNXtPOp_vCShlPWsAoA42dA09ppvN34chp6FJNjjYlElaiJ6v0KgSIk1rKBva502nTipHndzAO7aNNFRnKMmTym4ArPo3dkejaSAyCq2A6GbIgni6wRN8Nki4mJ_mtQdRwTlY-1xV8gczPycndohmblKUtfd8/s1859/AmarChitraKatha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1859" data-original-width="1400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_eZmCPb7jBuY-vD2r_Y-lA4GflD79aTNXtPOp_vCShlPWsAoA42dA09ppvN34chp6FJNjjYlElaiJ6v0KgSIk1rKBva502nTipHndzAO7aNNFRnKMmTym4ArPo3dkejaSAyCq2A6GbIgni6wRN8Nki4mJ_mtQdRwTlY-1xV8gczPycndohmblKUtfd8/w482-h640/AmarChitraKatha.jpg" width="482" /></a></b></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtenwxYRBjpwx-WHNLhuiM46bmYjMI-XQwPsIzxeX9Lj97L-m5j6179tgNDDLgbW6E4sSxCnXm4YFmBkr9lWDIpjK_FkntvwLXYrt96Gbs_lvHx4IJOMmMWOkCXy8Lb0pXo4t35lCIJzCKQqqi2VoA5OiAN0GlmoJfyZL0zIMMzZ1P6wqtB67Z6uULUMY/s1863/AmarChitraKatha0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1863" data-original-width="1389" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtenwxYRBjpwx-WHNLhuiM46bmYjMI-XQwPsIzxeX9Lj97L-m5j6179tgNDDLgbW6E4sSxCnXm4YFmBkr9lWDIpjK_FkntvwLXYrt96Gbs_lvHx4IJOMmMWOkCXy8Lb0pXo4t35lCIJzCKQqqi2VoA5OiAN0GlmoJfyZL0zIMMzZ1P6wqtB67Z6uULUMY/w478-h640/AmarChitraKatha0001.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br /><u>Tribal Folklore of India:</u></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjg2So2nTdFV6n5zk_zihsq1_oHpLrrgvC0PRvOqVDipGUhnE9x0E8N0sQ_BpY0xDOUeUVOAADNU0_TJhcB1DImkDXua7u8KtKYacSmwzkRgOcqlRP8Q0ys4Zbw6OBcbJqC4IAUiGdspYHGRxnX76Kiut_teLQdCScm0ouvAMMkwmQ6NnUrEzLTe3OX0/s1874/AmarChitraKatha0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1874" data-original-width="1404" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjg2So2nTdFV6n5zk_zihsq1_oHpLrrgvC0PRvOqVDipGUhnE9x0E8N0sQ_BpY0xDOUeUVOAADNU0_TJhcB1DImkDXua7u8KtKYacSmwzkRgOcqlRP8Q0ys4Zbw6OBcbJqC4IAUiGdspYHGRxnX76Kiut_teLQdCScm0ouvAMMkwmQ6NnUrEzLTe3OX0/w480-h640/AmarChitraKatha0002.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg7QxvgHdclak0mkP-4GrVaSmFc7S4-hKdj260wXYqALwmgidI1aTrfi22kO31IY6o13NRCp6YKBs0GHFmRPNDOVqtst3Q2hxNHqCFFEoYRQwMM1-LHVXsxwykEmQGBoS4XxbZ_wM9FVcnSW4racywbIrIdzW1sbSJXStIdRonOCwydAA9A6skDZBEV4/s1870/AmarChitraKatha0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1870" data-original-width="1396" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg7QxvgHdclak0mkP-4GrVaSmFc7S4-hKdj260wXYqALwmgidI1aTrfi22kO31IY6o13NRCp6YKBs0GHFmRPNDOVqtst3Q2hxNHqCFFEoYRQwMM1-LHVXsxwykEmQGBoS4XxbZ_wM9FVcnSW4racywbIrIdzW1sbSJXStIdRonOCwydAA9A6skDZBEV4/w478-h640/AmarChitraKatha0003.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline;">Glimpse of Book Fair 2024:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTqg2MGh9VHIrIchC3Ez07OOYUyySZNjBqtdkuf2059flLjL0Pr3zjqrUZRA1JM6EJF5Hi1ky-9qX2DsjP1pazwPQMrud3-zcpFNVf8RTact3p32yrrIu4rY9FcyW8jc7-26e485HnCAMiX9oCZXj7Pus0hYsZujehoVat8u2ZpdZzhXSFtYZqni8xnM/s1600/BOOK%20FAIR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAsyUXFomzO_bcp4BbFRooBVXM8qVFlHuUFzuCrm5-_4ybtQbJznDr-eUcbRbGzhPjqokvSurPEa1YXP5Iir-FmAGA6tpKpA5HpU83mBXnwlwTiJtlEGdOMOOentUMo7edGv5wNxSscL2jSRaf34xvh7JR7W1NSUvNIQU7V1U1UWrWvUWsNdhCDfNj8s/s1200/BOOK%20FAIR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAsyUXFomzO_bcp4BbFRooBVXM8qVFlHuUFzuCrm5-_4ybtQbJznDr-eUcbRbGzhPjqokvSurPEa1YXP5Iir-FmAGA6tpKpA5HpU83mBXnwlwTiJtlEGdOMOOentUMo7edGv5wNxSscL2jSRaf34xvh7JR7W1NSUvNIQU7V1U1UWrWvUWsNdhCDfNj8s/w640-h480/BOOK%20FAIR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfzW-VL2p9sgu7-grw6zxg7LUV3WUWcyx5JW6hDsuDjlXkc1b8eRMx4y2Z5UTbX6VyJ82zaKlPLAsLqa_0bwDCxdBi9RqhvzRsnITYaSkYTQkcRc_t-LXlyRxKFrK7IMEmaIo66sCE_OXDls6ZPFSmzE_id2Oa9X9bs3ukWQiDs3W3UbfJD-Gyu_p5Z0/s800/BOOK%20FAIR3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfzW-VL2p9sgu7-grw6zxg7LUV3WUWcyx5JW6hDsuDjlXkc1b8eRMx4y2Z5UTbX6VyJ82zaKlPLAsLqa_0bwDCxdBi9RqhvzRsnITYaSkYTQkcRc_t-LXlyRxKFrK7IMEmaIo66sCE_OXDls6ZPFSmzE_id2Oa9X9bs3ukWQiDs3W3UbfJD-Gyu_p5Z0/w640-h428/BOOK%20FAIR3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div></span><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-74057652638349439832024-01-28T05:30:00.006+09:002024-01-28T05:30:53.483+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS NEWS OF THIS WEEK: SCIENCE,POLITICAL,SPORTS,MOVIES AND BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGHvE-ZvdN50Rk5hXz-UMy7QF06Ep8CyWPG8b4vaSPpcsgweUnNzM5_bsKyDtEbzQntZPKFy90qh_bjbu-yYzNircoqT5HKf2Uecw4KVHAEYOYNTSIUnyktSfLPMRftmHlNVlcht8zrbZ9zceAwEr92YD-7sM9y5Q8QbvqyOQ-F9udP3DIlrGqlodX0A/s960/NEWSWEEK27124GIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGHvE-ZvdN50Rk5hXz-UMy7QF06Ep8CyWPG8b4vaSPpcsgweUnNzM5_bsKyDtEbzQntZPKFy90qh_bjbu-yYzNircoqT5HKf2Uecw4KVHAEYOYNTSIUnyktSfLPMRftmHlNVlcht8zrbZ9zceAwEr92YD-7sM9y5Q8QbvqyOQ-F9udP3DIlrGqlodX0A/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK27124GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObbpR_qBtMmGZwGPYnKRgVy1g4t5XNO149LNMe6qiaMfyoMGkeEuHeThlYHnaBAlpl4zOZ_1PnD8fAcLj8-agtmnqt_aDdhsfqc_4VjrqB7gvlQntf34-fQzDrBXIX7brVCurCzeGkNjdwYopey4EOtL9DCz4mOwXGhSkvFYp7I126ABoHnESdGBFZXo/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObbpR_qBtMmGZwGPYnKRgVy1g4t5XNO149LNMe6qiaMfyoMGkeEuHeThlYHnaBAlpl4zOZ_1PnD8fAcLj8-agtmnqt_aDdhsfqc_4VjrqB7gvlQntf34-fQzDrBXIX7brVCurCzeGkNjdwYopey4EOtL9DCz4mOwXGhSkvFYp7I126ABoHnESdGBFZXo/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Handwriting may
boost brain connections more than typing does : By Claudia López Lloreda<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_HTG1Ke9h8mNQpPhb5SIKPf1n0n5KT47I6hZvCbbU2RTg1zpKKslsfjBlSGTg-IyUMYdnEBkwWcvOztxSwQmKPDHTKjmoGcx3xPkVK50UgB2wBFqAyFPZ8dUBReSII0w42PIifw8XxGkYVe9lNUh9nSuSU54VjzfP1JdLmDYSHDKp2d1eXZ02BN6VPY/s1030/Using%20a%20pen%20or%20pencil%20to%20write%20boosts%20brain%20connectivity,%20which%20suggests%20handwriting%20might%20help%20with%20learning..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1030" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_HTG1Ke9h8mNQpPhb5SIKPf1n0n5KT47I6hZvCbbU2RTg1zpKKslsfjBlSGTg-IyUMYdnEBkwWcvOztxSwQmKPDHTKjmoGcx3xPkVK50UgB2wBFqAyFPZ8dUBReSII0w42PIifw8XxGkYVe9lNUh9nSuSU54VjzfP1JdLmDYSHDKp2d1eXZ02BN6VPY/w640-h360/Using%20a%20pen%20or%20pencil%20to%20write%20boosts%20brain%20connectivity,%20which%20suggests%20handwriting%20might%20help%20with%20learning..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using a pen or pencil to write boosts brain connectivity, which suggests handwriting might help with learning.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Writing out the same
word again and again in cursive may bring back bad memories for some, but
handwriting can boost connectivity across brain regions, some of which are
implicated in learning and memory, a new study shows.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When asked to handwrite
words, college students showed increased connectivity across the brain,
particularly in brain waves associated with memory formation, compared with
when they typed those words instead, researchers report January 26 in Frontiers
in Psychology. The finding adds to growing evidence of handwriting’s benefits
and could give fodder to laws that implement handwriting curricula, such as the
recently enacted California law requiring the teaching of cursive in grades 1
through 6. The new study shows that “there is a fundamental difference in brain
organization for handwriting as opposed to typing,” says Ramesh
Balasubramaniam, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Merced who
was not involved with the study.Plenty of previous research has shown that
handwriting improves spelling accuracy, memory recall and conceptual
understanding. Scientists think that the slow process of tracing out letters
and words gives individuals more time to process the material and learn.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the new study,
psychologists Audrey van der Meer and Ruud van der Weel, both at the Norwegian
University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, recruited students from the
university and stuck electrodes on their heads. The researchers asked the
students to type out or handwrite in cursive with a digital pen a word that
appeared on a computer screen. Sensors in a cap recorded electrical brain
activity while participants carried out each task.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK6HzDi4Y6NaxPokhQGCvnQhZ1ABZlfy5l7rl9File2ztNy2fWQZtu8zZFWzEo56dxD7VenxCJSgKYy9URtjU2fpE5I96MjayIEF-cbLKhR6TwMPjnG0DLS6zVj8Ywh6q-PmXuzRduiUZKacwubuE65zaROcxqZokUvOfXyzwIrc6dDbfHV4DBh1eGQY/s680/In%20a%20lab%20at%20the%20Norwegian%20University%20of%20Science%20and%20Technology%20in%20Trondheim,%20college%20students%20were%20asked%20to%20type%20or%20handwrite%20a%20word%20they%20saw%20on%20a%20screen%20while%20wearing%20a%20cap%20outfitted%20with%20256%20electrodes%20to%20see%20how%20their%20brains%20behaved..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="680" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK6HzDi4Y6NaxPokhQGCvnQhZ1ABZlfy5l7rl9File2ztNy2fWQZtu8zZFWzEo56dxD7VenxCJSgKYy9URtjU2fpE5I96MjayIEF-cbLKhR6TwMPjnG0DLS6zVj8Ywh6q-PmXuzRduiUZKacwubuE65zaROcxqZokUvOfXyzwIrc6dDbfHV4DBh1eGQY/w640-h426/In%20a%20lab%20at%20the%20Norwegian%20University%20of%20Science%20and%20Technology%20in%20Trondheim,%20college%20students%20were%20asked%20to%20type%20or%20handwrite%20a%20word%20they%20saw%20on%20a%20screen%20while%20wearing%20a%20cap%20outfitted%20with%20256%20electrodes%20to%20see%20how%20their%20brains%20behaved..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In a lab at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, college students were asked to type or handwrite a word they saw on a screen while wearing a cap outfitted with 256 electrodes to see how their brains behaved.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Then the scientists
looked for coherence, which is when two brain areas are active with the same
frequency of electrical waves at the same time. This parameter can reveal the
strength of functional connectivity among different regions across the brain.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With handwriting, the
researchers saw increased activity, specifically in low frequency bands called
alpha and theta, not only in the expected motor areas due to the movement but
also in others associated with learning. These low frequency bands have
previously been shown to support memory processes. When the team compared the
two tasks, they realized that handwriting — but not typing — increased the
connectivity across parietal brain regions, which are involved in sensory and
motor processing, and central ones, many of which are involved in memory. These
findings suggest that there are distinct processes of brain activation
happening while a person types or writes. Even when the movements are very
similar, the activation seems much, much higher in handwriting,” Balasubramaniam
says. “It shows that there’s more involvement of these brain regions when
you’re handwriting, which might give you some specific advantages.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers posit
that this boost of stimulation facilitates learning because these particular
waves between these areas are implicated in memory formation and encoding.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Because the team did not
test whether participants remembered the words, it’s not yet clear how exactly
the increased activity impacts learning, says psychologist Kathleen Arnold of
Radford University in Virginia. “[The study] warrants some follow up to see
what exactly is causing those connectivity differences and whether or not they
reflect learning outcomes.”Balasubramaniam also notes that it’s possible the
differences in brain activation are merely due to the unique movement required
to type or write. “But that said, we’ve got to start somewhere, and these are
the first results to actually show that these two things have different brain
activation patterns.”And although handwriting may help with learning processes,
typing is often easier, faster and more practical. Students and teachers alike
should therefore consider the task at hand to inform their decision to
handwrite or type, van der Meer says. For example, using handwriting to take
notes might help retain information better while typing out an essay may be
easier.Despite the need for more studies to determine the optimal learning
strategy, experts say that handwriting shouldn’t be left behind in the digital
age. “[Schools] need to bring in more writing into curriculum design,”
Balasubramaniam says.Van der Meer agrees. “[Writing is] so good for [young]
brains, so we shouldn’t use [this generation] as guinea pigs to see how their
brains end up without any handwriting,” she says. “And it’s important for them
to be able to at least write a grocery list or a love letter. I really think
that that is important for us humans.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) How an invasive
ant changed a lion’s dinner menu :By Bethany Brookshire<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilh1rJ9x-_PbqrZRWpd9QGMmOy-kCKTGSePhfw1grg00VecZw5thOYy0ODyJ4_oE10-aTFX-kxtN7yhml_WvyXSlSeBQdYvi2I3grbB27t0WLZmQxkk71idIni24IE1kbBvP3ccLbtqtHhlWm3yIR2oEQEkxCF3-xmvVqmolCWL3xnngCEtteXJc2T3Cs/s1030/LION.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1030" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilh1rJ9x-_PbqrZRWpd9QGMmOy-kCKTGSePhfw1grg00VecZw5thOYy0ODyJ4_oE10-aTFX-kxtN7yhml_WvyXSlSeBQdYvi2I3grbB27t0WLZmQxkk71idIni24IE1kbBvP3ccLbtqtHhlWm3yIR2oEQEkxCF3-xmvVqmolCWL3xnngCEtteXJc2T3Cs/w640-h360/LION.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">LION PIC DESCRIPTION: </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">When there’s not enough tree cover, lions in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya switch from their favorite food — zebra — to buffalo. What’s taking down the trees? Invasive ants, which are messing up the ant-tree mutualism that protects trees from elephants.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">How did the ant steal
the lion’s dinner? This isn’t the beginning of one of Aesop’s Fables. It’s the
finding of a new study showing how the disruption of one tiny mutual
relationship on the African savanna has big impacts on the food web — all the
way to the lion’s den.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When big-headed ants
(Pheidole megacephala) invade the savanna, they kill off native acacia ants
(genus Crematogaster), robbing local whistling thorn trees of their valiant
defenders against hungry elephants. Without ants to bite them, the elephants
rip up the thorn trees, opening up the grassland, which makes it harder for
lions to catch their preferred zebra meals. Lions end up hunting buffalo
instead. The findings, published online January 25 in Science, show that
invasive species’ effects can be very indirect — and suggest that changes in
different low-level mutualisms might also echo up food webs in other
ecosystems. Over the past 15 years or so, wildlife ecologist Jake Goheen and
his colleagues at the University of Wyoming in Laramie and the Ol Pejeta
Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya, have been studying how acacia ants protect
whistling thorn trees (SN: 6/15/10). When an elephant tries to eat the tree,
“ants swarm up inside its nostrils and bite from the inside out,” Goheen says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The scientists were also
examining what the lions in the conservancy eat as part of a separate study.
“One of the things that we found … was that lions are much more effective,
they’re more successful with their hunts in areas where tree cover is high,”
Goheen says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But what happens when
tree cover is suddenly low? To find out, Goheen and his colleagues collared six
lionesses from the local prides to track their activity and kills. The team
also set up experimental plots where big-headed ants had invaded, and where the
native ants still held sway.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The big-headed ant
arrived in the conservancy between 2002 and 2005, Goheen says. “We think it
probably was imported on produce,” brought into the houses or tourist camps in
the area. The invading insects kill local acacia ants wherever they find them.
And other studies have shown that without defending ants, pachyderms tore down
the thorn trees five to seven times more often. In the new study, the
scientists could have used drones or satellite images to study tree cover, but
“we don’t have that kind of money,” Goheen says. Instead, the researchers
tracked their collared lions, and then got down on hands and knees near the
lions’ recent kills, using a range finder to measure the openness of the area.
Areas with big-headed ants, the team showed, had 2.67 times higher visibility
than areas without — meaning that lions could see farther, but so could their
prey.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lions relied on the
cover of trees to pounce on hapless zebras nearby: Where visibility was low,
the probability of a zebra kill was 62 percent. But when visibility was high,
the lion’s chance of taking down a zebra dropped to only 22 percent.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-D5N7dbDeXC78uXDrhY0s4PEy3AYUkwK35jpJcJmiVLzPFoa1GykybY9tGUUIHV8AvfB4N6B4k52Nc7asJ-QmStipdT9W8iYIiGQyhf_KwqnJnQz6ul-B9rpGShS5l1EHkJo1J2oAla34rhaPOd_esb0jC3yTtJdZpDOyaoz6GD5SIeZNEN7ptXGmys/s680/LIONANT2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="680" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-D5N7dbDeXC78uXDrhY0s4PEy3AYUkwK35jpJcJmiVLzPFoa1GykybY9tGUUIHV8AvfB4N6B4k52Nc7asJ-QmStipdT9W8iYIiGQyhf_KwqnJnQz6ul-B9rpGShS5l1EHkJo1J2oAla34rhaPOd_esb0jC3yTtJdZpDOyaoz6GD5SIeZNEN7ptXGmys/w640-h484/LIONANT2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">LION ANT2 PIC DESRIPTION: </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">When the invasive big-headed ant finds native acacia ants, they surround them and attack, leaving the acacia ants’ tree home undefended and vulnerable to elephants. Here the smaller invasive ants encircle and tear apart the larger native ants.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Over the three years of
the study, zebra dinners decreased from 67 percent to 42 percent of lion kills.
But the lions didn’t go hungry. Instead, they went for beef. Buffalo kills
increased from zero to 42 percent of kills over the study period. It’s a risky
diet, Goheen says. Buffalo “are big and feisty,” and lions hunting buffalo are
more likely to be injured. The study
shows that “the disruption of a mutualism can have cascading effects on other
species in the community,” says Emilio Bruna, a plant ecologist at the
University of Florida in Gainesville. “Those effects can be unexpected and
indirect.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It’s a clue, Bruna says,
that ecologists should be looking out for other pairs like the acacia ant and
the thorn tree, where a single special relationship is a foundation for an
ecosystem and a single anthill could cause a savanna-wide shift in who is
eating who. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Scientists spin
naturalistic silk from artificial spider gland :by RIKEN<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vIPFymEbGAqPkWFrU6G2eUJBUDOqcrfdiFqjrQAeTmY7uWzJrvRAD5o-pdpgpN3pT78pRVaBWBRgdEBu-_16XKDFa9Licl8hxGlaDjbikxSb_eLbdS8o-y3Jlv74o4YtV6OfuoDOdhR3z86ryR4Qw7PJJBMVthyphenhyphenpD1xrTMkxaHkcu4i2WmAEMWwKgz8/s1691/look-out-spider-man-na.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1691" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vIPFymEbGAqPkWFrU6G2eUJBUDOqcrfdiFqjrQAeTmY7uWzJrvRAD5o-pdpgpN3pT78pRVaBWBRgdEBu-_16XKDFa9Licl8hxGlaDjbikxSb_eLbdS8o-y3Jlv74o4YtV6OfuoDOdhR3z86ryR4Qw7PJJBMVthyphenhyphenpD1xrTMkxaHkcu4i2WmAEMWwKgz8/w640-h326/look-out-spider-man-na.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">IMAGE DESCRIPTION: </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">The microfluidic device. Precursor spidroin solution is placed at one end and then pulled towards the other end by means of negative pressure. As the spidroins flow through the microfluidic channels, they are exposed to precise changes in the chemical and physical environment, and self-assemble into silk fibers.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers have
succeeded in creating a device that spins artificial spider silk that closely
matches what spiders naturally produce. The artificial silk gland was able to
re-create the complex molecular structure of silk by mimicking the various
chemical and physical changes that naturally occur in a spider's silk gland.
This eco-friendly innovation is a big step towards sustainability and could
impact several industries. The study, led by Keiji Numata at the RIKEN Center
for Sustainable Resource Science in Japan, along with colleagues from the RIKEN
Pioneering Research Cluster, was published in the journal Nature
Communications.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTXfO6sgkMqZXj6jCzKD9vh6etpEpmpm9oXRZGPuUxJUF38DoYe8SuOa5UeqYxyHUHqs0wOwsS-9XmPKCwKJ4_oIoLfc2beILv5Mt2H3oGfBhL20uimH2UVuZRtHh-_ggsdA6gpyet09XiXCxZnMBSNxpAKByfpkjBc5T1WhhRhbNaREuQBtvjdqu2CY/s1280/ARTIFITIALSPIDERGLAND2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTXfO6sgkMqZXj6jCzKD9vh6etpEpmpm9oXRZGPuUxJUF38DoYe8SuOa5UeqYxyHUHqs0wOwsS-9XmPKCwKJ4_oIoLfc2beILv5Mt2H3oGfBhL20uimH2UVuZRtHh-_ggsdA6gpyet09XiXCxZnMBSNxpAKByfpkjBc5T1WhhRhbNaREuQBtvjdqu2CY/w640-h360/ARTIFITIALSPIDERGLAND2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Famous for its strength,
flexibility, and light weight, spider silk has a tensile strength that is
comparable to steel of the same diameter, and a strength-to-weight ratio that
is unparalleled. Added to that, it's biocompatible, meaning that it can be used
in medical applications, as well as biodegradable. So why isn't everything made
from spider silk? Large-scale harvesting of silk from spiders has proven
impractical for several reasons, leaving it up to scientists to develop a way
to produce it in the laboratory. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Spider silk is a
biopolymer fiber made from large proteins with highly repetitive sequences,
called spidroins. Within the silk fibers are molecular substructures called
beta sheets, which must be aligned properly for the silk fibers to have their
unique mechanical properties. Re-creating this complex molecular architecture
has confounded scientists for years. Rather than trying to devise the process
from scratch, RIKEN scientists took a biomimicry approach. As Numata explains,
"In this study, we attempted to mimic natural spider silk production using
microfluidics, which involves the flow and manipulation of small amounts of
fluids through narrow channels. Indeed, one could say that the spider's silk
gland functions as a sort of natural microfluidic device."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The device developed by
the researchers looks like a small rectangular box with tiny channels grooved
into it. Precursor spidroin solution is placed at one end and then pulled
towards the other end by means of negative pressure.As the spidroins flow
through the microfluidic channels, they are exposed to precise changes in the
chemical and physical environment, which are made possible by the design of the
microfluidic system. Under the correct conditions, the proteins self-assembled
into silk fibers with their characteristic complex structure.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPULKZvX2AF386Ow5SPaI7bZXUBBTRBbWrhLsGuyWUyCYZ4FzdP61Y2lwC9FByOkb237Xy4UXijwK7rFUUQ4uPYON3ULHAdswk9hQNB1WqaF2qlyEwrKJQpqz-KXGZ7HybENyO8dBQlrx7nkDUPvXSgG3wn9t4MMFoku4wJoJBzTloSUuiczDiJnnwlKg/s685/Silk%20gland%20mimic%20spins%20strong%20fibres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="599" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPULKZvX2AF386Ow5SPaI7bZXUBBTRBbWrhLsGuyWUyCYZ4FzdP61Y2lwC9FByOkb237Xy4UXijwK7rFUUQ4uPYON3ULHAdswk9hQNB1WqaF2qlyEwrKJQpqz-KXGZ7HybENyO8dBQlrx7nkDUPvXSgG3wn9t4MMFoku4wJoJBzTloSUuiczDiJnnwlKg/w560-h640/Silk%20gland%20mimic%20spins%20strong%20fibres.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silk gland mimic spins strong fibres</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers
experimented to find these correct conditions, and eventually were able to
optimize the interactions among the different regions of the microfluidic
system. Among other things, they discovered that using force to push the
proteins through did not work; only when they used negative pressure to pull
the spidroin solution could continuous silk fibers with the correct telltale
alignment of beta sheets be assembled."It was surprising how robust the
microfluidic system was, once the different conditions were established and
optimized," says Senior Scientist Ali Malay, one of the paper's
co-authors. "Fiber assembly was spontaneous, extremely rapid, and highly
reproducible. Importantly, the fibers exhibited the distinct hierarchical
structure that is found in natural silk fiber."The ability to artificially
produce silk fibers using this method could provide numerous benefits. Not only
could it help reduce the negative impact that current textile manufacturing has
on the environment, but the biodegradable and biocompatible nature of spider
silk makes it ideal for biomedical applications, such as sutures and artificial
ligaments.As Numata explains, "In this study, we attempted to mimic
natural spider silk production using microfluidics, which involves the flow and
manipulation of small amounts of fluids through narrow channels. Indeed, one
could say that the spider's silk gland functions as a sort of natural
microfluidic device."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeMnZATu6kJy7osqAYa2yvLsZFHp-3DzA_IoiCwumTZHZYkvhVClXEjni1WXjfINSZeRZgk4CU9SFUhQvh4JmkbWCWMZLiHCN9KtyZQhv7kiCFEFJ8QjVZH49ieiFrfK4mQ0bHb2d8n9OOikQunOkA7a2XyFdv8yWm9YK2hKZifALDGgHOLMn5QUQ46g/s1692/Toward%20spinning%20artificial%20spider%20silk%20%20Nature%20Chemical%20Biology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="1395" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeMnZATu6kJy7osqAYa2yvLsZFHp-3DzA_IoiCwumTZHZYkvhVClXEjni1WXjfINSZeRZgk4CU9SFUhQvh4JmkbWCWMZLiHCN9KtyZQhv7kiCFEFJ8QjVZH49ieiFrfK4mQ0bHb2d8n9OOikQunOkA7a2XyFdv8yWm9YK2hKZifALDGgHOLMn5QUQ46g/w528-h640/Toward%20spinning%20artificial%20spider%20silk%20%20Nature%20Chemical%20Biology.jpg" width="528" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toward spinning artificial spider silk Nature Chemical Biology</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The device developed by
the researchers looks like a small rectangular box with tiny channels grooved
into it. Precursor spidroin solution is placed at one end and then pulled
towards the other end by means of negative pressure.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As the spidroins flow
through the microfluidic channels, they are exposed to precise changes in the
chemical and physical environment, which are made possible by the design of the
microfluidic system. Under the correct conditions, the proteins self-assembled
into silk fibers with their characteristic complex structure.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers
experimented to find these correct conditions, and eventually were able to
optimize the interactions among the different regions of the microfluidic
system. Among other things, they discovered that using force to push the
proteins through did not work; only when they used negative pressure to pull the
spidroin solution could continuous silk fibers with the correct telltale
alignment of beta sheets be assembled."It was surprising how robust the
microfluidic system was, once the different conditions were established and
optimized," says Senior Scientist Ali Malay, one of the paper's
co-authors. "Fiber assembly was spontaneous, extremely rapid, and highly
reproducible. Importantly, the fibers exhibited the distinct hierarchical
structure that is found in natural silk fiber."The ability to artificially
produce silk fibers using this method could provide numerous benefits. Not only
could it help reduce the negative impact that current textile manufacturing has
on the environment, but the biodegradable and biocompatible nature of spider
silk makes it ideal for biomedical applications, such as sutures and artificial
ligaments.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Ideally, we want
to have a real-world impact," says Numata. "For this to occur, we
will need to scale up our fiber-production methodology and make it a continuous
process. We will also evaluate the quality of our artificial spider silk using
several metrics and make further improvements from there.""Ideally,
we want to have a real-world impact," says Numata. "For this to
occur, we will need to scale up our fiber-production methodology and make it a
continuous process. We will also evaluate the quality of our artificial spider
silk using several metrics and make further improvements from there."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) North China
fossils show that eukaryotes first acquired multicellularity 1.63 billion years
ago :by Chinese Academy of Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbIzXtPUCzxfXnWdiwj7oC5feob_xdK-gAgRPIpck55xk4I2dYI3M5JbGJapMFvcmdZUpiHFE2unyy1gW0ee3hd74RA2VlmONL7QHQRJ6OHvJWDXuNkXpTH7gKR909gCjq4oD6-g7nGDurEkV4vWXX6NvNVJnGKNkKEc1f23QXqa_dp_1h0fpq1CaAr8/s1448/Multicellular%20fossils%20come%20from%20the%20late%20Paleoproterozoic%20Chuanlinggou%20Formation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="1269" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbIzXtPUCzxfXnWdiwj7oC5feob_xdK-gAgRPIpck55xk4I2dYI3M5JbGJapMFvcmdZUpiHFE2unyy1gW0ee3hd74RA2VlmONL7QHQRJ6OHvJWDXuNkXpTH7gKR909gCjq4oD6-g7nGDurEkV4vWXX6NvNVJnGKNkKEc1f23QXqa_dp_1h0fpq1CaAr8/w560-h640/Multicellular%20fossils%20come%20from%20the%20late%20Paleoproterozoic%20Chuanlinggou%20Formation.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Multicellular fossils come from the late Paleoproterozoic Chuanlinggou Formation</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a study published in
Science Advances, researchers led by Prof. Zhu Maoyan from the Nanjing
Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have
reported their recent discovery of 1.63-billion-year-old multicellular fossils
from North China. These exquisitely preserved microfossils are currently
considered the oldest record of multicellular eukaryotes. This study is another
breakthrough after the researchers' earlier discovery of decimeter-sized
eukaryotic fossils in the Yanshan area of North China, and pushes back the
emergence of multicellularity in eukaryotes by about 70 million years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">All complex life on
Earth, including diverse animals, land plants, macroscopic fungi, and seaweeds,
are multicellular eukaryotes. Multicellularity is key to eukaryotes acquiring
organismal complexity and large size, and is often regarded as a major
transition in the history of life on Earth. However, scientists have been
unsure when eukaryotes evolved this innovation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fossil records offering
convincing evidence show that eukaryotes with simple multicellularity, such as
red and green algae, and putative fungi, appeared as early as 1.05 billion
years ago. Older records have claimed to be multicellular eukaryotes, but most
of them are controversial because of their simple morphology and lack of
cellular structure."The newly discovered multicellular fossils come from
the late Paleoproterozoic Chuanlinggou Formation that is about 1,635 million
years old. They are unbranched, uniseriate filaments composed of two to more
than 20 large cylindrical or barrel-shaped cells with diameters of 20–194 μm
and incomplete lengths up to 860 μm. These filaments show a certain degree of
complexity based on their morphological variation," said Miao Lanyun, one
of the researchers.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> The
filaments are constant, or tapered throughout their length, or tapered only at
one end. Morphometric analyses demonstrate their morphological continuity,
suggesting they represent a single biological species rather than discrete
species. The fossils have been named Qingshania magnifica, 1989, a form taxon with
similar morphology and size, and are described as being from the Chuanlinggou
Formation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A particularly
important feature of Qingshania is the round intracellular structure (diameter
15–20 μm) in some cells. These structures are comparable to the asexual spores
known in many eukaryotic algae, indicating that Qingshania probably reproduced
by spores. In modern life, uniseriate filaments are common in both prokaryotes
(bacteria and archaea) and eukaryotes. The combination of large cell size, wide
range of filament diameter, morphological variation, and intracellular spores
demonstrate the eukaryotic affinity of Qingshania, as no known prokaryotes are
so complex.Filamentous prokaryotes are generally very small, about 1–3 μm in
diameter, and are distributed across more than 147 genera of 12 phyla. Some
cyanobacteria and sulfur bacteria can reach large sizes, up to 200 μm thick,
but these large prokaryotes are very simple in morphology, with disk-shaped
cells, and are not reproduced by spores.The best modern analogs are some green
algae, although filaments also occur in other groups of eukaryotic algae (e.g.,
red algae, brown algae, yellow algae, charophytes, etc.), as well as in fungi
and oomycetes."This indicates that Qingshania was most likely photosynthetic
algae, probably belonging to the extinct stem group of Archaeplastids (a major
group consisting of red algae, green algae and land plants, as well as
glaucophytes), although its exact affinity is still unclear," said Miao.In
addition, the researchers conducted Raman spectroscopic investigation to test
the eukaryotic affinity of Qingshania from the perspective of chemical
composition, using three cyanobacterial taxa for comparison. Raman spectra
revealed two broad peaks characteristic of disordered carbonaceous
matter.Furthermore, the estimated burial temperatures using Raman parameters
ranged from 205–250° C, indicating a low degree of metamorphism. Principal
component analysis of the Raman spectra sorted Qingshania and the
cyanobacterial taxa into two distinct clusters, indicating that carbonaceous
matter of Qingshania is different from that of cyanobacterial fossils, further
supporting the eukaryotic affinity of Qingshania.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLglSDFI1U_FALHLp07dIONLcLTJ2CwPPiTYGUP3JKFoFhlssXsvTkUqv2pbBxbaNe0G91JqWE9ggQdSYyqaN1uoDzchSPU_SUUFv6f42CFNKfWocpJ0IhxHeCXzMJkNgXnyeL9i3LlWahp8iArG9LSlM0WNPaz85-tPkG8Z_EnMMYXKjD72G-VMGMVo/s1280/north-china-fossils-sh-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1273" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLglSDFI1U_FALHLp07dIONLcLTJ2CwPPiTYGUP3JKFoFhlssXsvTkUqv2pbBxbaNe0G91JqWE9ggQdSYyqaN1uoDzchSPU_SUUFv6f42CFNKfWocpJ0IhxHeCXzMJkNgXnyeL9i3LlWahp8iArG9LSlM0WNPaz85-tPkG8Z_EnMMYXKjD72G-VMGMVo/w636-h640/north-china-fossils-sh-1.jpg" width="636" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">IMAGE DESCRIPTION: </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">In eukaryotic tree, grey dash lines represent stem group eukaryotes. Solid lines denote crown group eukaryotes (LECA plus its descendants). Grey bars at nodes display the estimated age range of divergence of major branches from a molecular clock study (Parfrey et al., 2011, PNAS). Scale bar in the green algal fossil equals 500 μm; the rest are 50 μm. Credit: MIAO Lanyun</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Currently, the
oldest unambiguous eukaryotic fossils are unicellular forms from late
Paleoproterozoic sediments (~1.65 billion years ago) in Northern China and
Northern Australia. Qingshania appeared only slightly later than these
unicellular forms, indicating that eukaryotes acquired simple multicellularity
very early in their evolutionary history.Since eukaryotic algae
(Archaeplastids) arose after the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA), the
discovery of Qingshania, if truly algal in nature, further supports the early
appearance of LECA in the late Paleoproterozoic—which is consistent with many
molecular clock studies—rather than in the late Mesoproterozoic of about 1
billion years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5) 'Hell chicken'
species suggests dinosaurs weren't sliding toward extinction before the fateful
asteroid hit :by Kyle Atkins-Weltman and Eric Snively, The Conversation<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRuub0RES6V15bvnz7XDDRxj38tEk5nVMVH7LTtPuhH_S9XlsmbW1bGE-hsDa9n9bJUyglYUs2jwSy__o9HR6ax8s2m1r3sydTUeMmHt1Df3uNRqlH55S066XezrlkTZUVxp3WrpuhoALi99iOckHvyNGuZGxKTPKkn9W5fmlTUaOqEPHIX1Jry5WXRs/s1280/Birdlike%20dinosaur%20Eoneophron%20infernalis%20was%20about%20the%20size%20of%20an%20adult%20human.%20Credit%20%20by%20Zubin%20Erik%20Dutta,%20from%20Atkins-Weltman%20et%20al.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1280" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRuub0RES6V15bvnz7XDDRxj38tEk5nVMVH7LTtPuhH_S9XlsmbW1bGE-hsDa9n9bJUyglYUs2jwSy__o9HR6ax8s2m1r3sydTUeMmHt1Df3uNRqlH55S066XezrlkTZUVxp3WrpuhoALi99iOckHvyNGuZGxKTPKkn9W5fmlTUaOqEPHIX1Jry5WXRs/w640-h466/Birdlike%20dinosaur%20Eoneophron%20infernalis%20was%20about%20the%20size%20of%20an%20adult%20human.%20Credit%20%20by%20Zubin%20Erik%20Dutta,%20from%20Atkins-Weltman%20et%20al.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birdlike dinosaur Eoneophron infernalis was about the size of an adult human. Credit by Zubin Erik Dutta, from Atkins-Weltman et al</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Were dinosaurs
already on their way out when an asteroid hit Earth 66 million years ago,
ending the Cretaceous, the geologic period that started about 145 million years
ago? It's a question that has vexed paleontologists like us for more than 40
years.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the late
1970s, debate began about whether dinosaurs were at their peak or in decline
before their big extinction. Scientists at that time noted that while dinosaur
diversity seemed to have increased in the geologic stage that spanned 83.6
million to 71.2 million years ago, the number of species on the scene seemed to
decrease during the last few million years of the Cretaceous.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m6p2OPfK-lO-cI9t7hW35Bk_JpfUWgVD_KcJxTbwXXCeiOL6eGeY-zJuWytqPc-50Yq12Gkvvd1ltNpmS131mEqpd6U38xqLrZ3YNiFPI7W425WvQvf8P1dsNa6eJxtTMdiWI5U1QV9ZcZdqh32XrT5jqCEcuuS3ZQe82_U1CojgcTlDs0IX-ozO2h8/s600/Eoneophron%20infernalis%20and%20the%20smaller%20unnamed%20species%20now%20join%20the%20larger%20Anzu%20as%20late-Cretaceous%20caenagnathid%20dinosaurs%20from%20the%20Hell%20Creek%20region.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m6p2OPfK-lO-cI9t7hW35Bk_JpfUWgVD_KcJxTbwXXCeiOL6eGeY-zJuWytqPc-50Yq12Gkvvd1ltNpmS131mEqpd6U38xqLrZ3YNiFPI7W425WvQvf8P1dsNa6eJxtTMdiWI5U1QV9ZcZdqh32XrT5jqCEcuuS3ZQe82_U1CojgcTlDs0IX-ozO2h8/w640-h476/Eoneophron%20infernalis%20and%20the%20smaller%20unnamed%20species%20now%20join%20the%20larger%20Anzu%20as%20late-Cretaceous%20caenagnathid%20dinosaurs%20from%20the%20Hell%20Creek%20region.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eoneophron infernalis and the smaller unnamed species now join the larger Anzu as late-Cretaceous caenagnathid dinosaurs from the Hell Creek region</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Some researchers
have interpreted this pattern to mean that the asteroid that struck the Gulf of
Mexico was simply the final blow for an already vulnerable group of
animals.However, others have argued that what looks like a decrease in the
diversity of dinosaurs may be an artifact of how hard it is to accurately count
them. Fossil formations might preserve different dinosaurs more or less often
based on factors like their favored environment and how easily their bodies
fossilized there.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
accessibility of various outcrops could influence what kinds of fossils
researchers have so far found. These biases are a problem because fossils are
what paleontologists must rely on to conclusively answer how healthy dinosaur
populations were when the asteroid hit.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At that crucial
moment, what was really happening to dinosaur diversity? Discovery,
identification and description of new dinosaurs provide vital clues. This is
where our work published in PLOS ONE comes in. Close examination of what we'd
thought was a juvenile specimen of an already known species of dinosaur from
this time period revealed that it was actually part of an adult from a
completely new species.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglGtw-LEeTCeb8nhryygWtYboFqx8_bHeBJqScSLhGbgw4ASxR2kOtab5t8l0KwiGdxVw0q9mRTI4-P7O2C9Y7iqqgaHKi9q4CDLck-3ybe8Iw9Yp5bI2X7LQPvHegHmKh5Dl2uZaEQvox-ctlCXenIhHL8wvkouFYILH__2d8upB17RUM9hJGIH9DPc/s600/Kyle%20Atkins-Weltman%20holds%20the%20femur%20of%20the%20new%20dinosaur%20as%20it%20was%20received,%20with%20the%20other%20fossils%20in%20the%20background.%20Kyle%20Atkins-Weltman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglGtw-LEeTCeb8nhryygWtYboFqx8_bHeBJqScSLhGbgw4ASxR2kOtab5t8l0KwiGdxVw0q9mRTI4-P7O2C9Y7iqqgaHKi9q4CDLck-3ybe8Iw9Yp5bI2X7LQPvHegHmKh5Dl2uZaEQvox-ctlCXenIhHL8wvkouFYILH__2d8upB17RUM9hJGIH9DPc/w640-h480/Kyle%20Atkins-Weltman%20holds%20the%20femur%20of%20the%20new%20dinosaur%20as%20it%20was%20received,%20with%20the%20other%20fossils%20in%20the%20background.%20Kyle%20Atkins-Weltman.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyle Atkins-Weltman holds the femur of the new dinosaur as it was received, with the other fossils in the background. Kyle Atkins-Weltman</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our work
focusing on the life stage of our specimen demonstrates that dinosaur diversity
may not have been declining before the asteroid hit, but rather that there are
more species from this time period yet to be discovered—potentially even
through reclassification of fossils already in museum collections.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Clues inside the bones of a birdlike dinosaur</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our new study
focused on four hindlimb bones—a femur, a tibia and two metatarsals. They were
unearthed in South Dakota, in rocks of the Hell Creek Formation, and date to
the final 2 million years of the Cretaceous.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When we first
examined the bones, we identified them as belonging to a family of dinosaurs
known as the caenagnathids—a group of birdlike dinosaurs that had toothless
beaks, long legs and short tails. Direct fossil and inferred evidence indicates
these dinosaurs were covered in complex feathers, much like modern birds.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The only known
species of caenagnathid from this time and region was Anzu, sometimes called
the "chicken from Hell." Covered in feathers and sporting wings and a
toothless beak, Anzu was between roughly 450 and 750 pounds (200 and 340
kilograms). Despite its fearsome nickname, though, its diet is a matter of
debate. It was likely an omnivore, eating both plant material and small
animals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Because our
specimen was significantly smaller than Anzu, we simply assumed it was a
juvenile. We chalked up the anatomical differences we noticed to its juvenile
status and smaller size—and figured the animal would have changed had it
continued to grow. Anzu specimens are rare, and no definite juveniles have been
published in the scientific literature, so we were excited to potentially learn
more about how it grew and changed throughout its lifetime by looking inside
its bones.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Just like with a
tree's rings, bone records rings called lines of arrested growth. Each annual
line represents part of a year when the animal's growth slowed. They would tell
us how old this animal was, and how fast or slow it was growing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We cut through
the middle of three of the bones so that we could microscopically examine the
internal anatomy of the cross-sections. What we saw completely uprooted our
initial assumptions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In a juvenile,
we would expect lines of arrested growth in the bone to be widely spaced,
indicating rapid growth, with even spacing between the lines from the inside to
the outside surface of the bone. Here, we saw that the later lines were spaced
progressively closer together, indicating that this animal's growth had slowed
and it was nearly at its adult size.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This was no
juvenile. Instead, it was an adult of an entirely new species, which we dubbed
Eoneophron infernalis. The name means "Pharaoh's chicken from Hell,"
referencing the nickname of its larger cousin Anzu. Traits unique to this
species include ankle bones fused to the tibia, and a well-developed ridge on
one of its foot bones. These weren't features a young Anzu would outgrow, but
rather unique aspects of the smaller Eoneophron.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Expanding the caenagnathid family tree</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">With this new
evidence, we started making thorough comparisons with other members of the
family to determine where Eoneophron infernalis fit within the group.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It also inspired
us to reexamine other bones previously believed to be Anzu, as we now knew that
more caenagnathid dinosaurs lived in western North America during that time.
One specimen, a partial foot bone smaller than our new specimen, appeared
distinct from both Anzu and Eoneophron.Where once there was one "chicken
from Hell," now there were two, and evidence for a third: one large
(Anzu), weighing as much as a grizzly bear, one medium (Eoneophron), humanlike in
weight, and one small and yet unnamed, close in size to a German shepherd.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vP5aH-NDzYPxDf1OadauIa9dH_ifb_Jf7aG4hIe-EwwSMee0Q_wf3D0S5hZ2KUs0Y844TMEO1quh_eecu1i0oLw1wJxmobbvYFnMivishglG_NSmRaNnRTZKfmtYEUNQAE3vDzOABpUNeWTY2gzHvh56Ht9beZ6ZBZJk5QCk3rNNl_Ebl6eGCSNh7Mw/s600/HELLCHICKEN4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vP5aH-NDzYPxDf1OadauIa9dH_ifb_Jf7aG4hIe-EwwSMee0Q_wf3D0S5hZ2KUs0Y844TMEO1quh_eecu1i0oLw1wJxmobbvYFnMivishglG_NSmRaNnRTZKfmtYEUNQAE3vDzOABpUNeWTY2gzHvh56Ht9beZ6ZBZJk5QCk3rNNl_Ebl6eGCSNh7Mw/w640-h486/HELLCHICKEN4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">IMAGE DESCRIPTION 3: </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">Teal markers point to lines of arrested growth on the cross-section of fossilized bone. Toward the outside of the bone, the lines are much closer together, reflecting less growth per year. Researchers counted exactly six lines, meaning this animal was between 6 and 7 years old when it died. Holly Woodward</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Comparing Hell
Creek with older fossil formations such as the famous Dinosaur Park Formation
of Alberta that preserves dinosaurs that lived between 76.5 million and 74.4
million years ago, we find not only the same number of caenagnathid species,
but also the same size classes.There, we have Caenagnathus, comparable to Anzu,
Chirostenotes, comparable to Eoneophron, and Citipes, comparable to the third
species we found evidence for. These parallels in both species count and
relative sizes offer compelling evidence that caenagnathids remained stable
throughout the last part of the Cretaceous.Our new discovery suggests that this
dinosaur group was not declining in diversity at the very end of the
Cretaceous. These fossils show that there are still new species to be
discovered, and support the idea that at least part of the pattern of
decreasing diversity is the result of sampling and preservation biases.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Did large
dinosaurs go extinct the way a Hemingway character quipped he went broke:
"gradually, then suddenly"? While there are plenty of questions still
outstanding in this extinction debate, Eoneophron adds evidence that
caenagnathids were doing quite well for themselves before the asteroid ruined
everything.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_yIIFn_lc5AeKiPd8DZg_RkDXLO6im4ov33D0KhQpfmKgkxDq4hvqkf2VQqHjTQ5vrwJvvcZO8gBitSjMtP69cAK6AjWHDqMjfjIdl2aLA-6x4Pnoz4pg0sH7F9s-B8VS7JvBBHjF-we0bbIO2WagU26FL_c9Iu0-tjJb2WoL_KQX80sCpOBcmWrAMo/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_yIIFn_lc5AeKiPd8DZg_RkDXLO6im4ov33D0KhQpfmKgkxDq4hvqkf2VQqHjTQ5vrwJvvcZO8gBitSjMtP69cAK6AjWHDqMjfjIdl2aLA-6x4Pnoz4pg0sH7F9s-B8VS7JvBBHjF-we0bbIO2WagU26FL_c9Iu0-tjJb2WoL_KQX80sCpOBcmWrAMo/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Ayodhya Ram
Mandir pran prathistha:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIrYAcXM7lYeL9cHmQ9d6PsBNgzolHPwKOQzLJaKGcS4PosjQOTKCwMPs5JIE-WieR2nNrIjKIOE2NdEAmAocJgZM-0tPBZgz9vAqBviuO-8m5Km-XKtbNOx6fOYfvaKzrQKdJWvmiGHi_szn9H5rXgG5ec0Mfairkr9G7z5FtAdfQpFpoIgMKgGT4PE/s800/RAMTEMPLE2GIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIrYAcXM7lYeL9cHmQ9d6PsBNgzolHPwKOQzLJaKGcS4PosjQOTKCwMPs5JIE-WieR2nNrIjKIOE2NdEAmAocJgZM-0tPBZgz9vAqBviuO-8m5Km-XKtbNOx6fOYfvaKzrQKdJWvmiGHi_szn9H5rXgG5ec0Mfairkr9G7z5FtAdfQpFpoIgMKgGT4PE/w640-h480/RAMTEMPLE2GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3D MODEL OF RAM TEMPLE IN 3DSMAX</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ayodhya Ram Mandir
Opening: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed saints and
religious leaders who arrived in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
Monday presided over the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony of the idol of Ram Lalla
inside the sanctorum of the newly constructed Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Pran
Pratishtha ceremony was attended by nearly 7,000 invitees, including
politicians, industrialists, celebrities and sports personalities. The temple
will be opened to the public tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1CkgPkqgvmA-V_mzC1H8bYktK_Cdgcl_tH30R3AXS_60cSkC9iogU4jbLCHGP27tk9LAVkILH6UM8AHDcKmkEbY4e0wuq6eoz4CK4avE69SB5CQPZGebcLvbGiJriR3TbquJDcZWuZqIQoPj69A1hq817ndk1Zr54ZT4wj1n283xSFKsrLbTL8Xbs8o/s549/PM%20Modi%20in%20garba-griha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1CkgPkqgvmA-V_mzC1H8bYktK_Cdgcl_tH30R3AXS_60cSkC9iogU4jbLCHGP27tk9LAVkILH6UM8AHDcKmkEbY4e0wuq6eoz4CK4avE69SB5CQPZGebcLvbGiJriR3TbquJDcZWuZqIQoPj69A1hq817ndk1Zr54ZT4wj1n283xSFKsrLbTL8Xbs8o/w640-h360/PM%20Modi%20in%20garba-griha.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PM Modi in garba-griha</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ayodhya in grip of
religious fervour as long-awaited Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla took
place on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS Chief
Mohan Bhagwat and other dignitaries. Army helicopters showered flower petals on
the temple premises when the consecration took place.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Crafted by the skilled
hands of sculptor Arun Yogiraj from Mysuru, the 51-inch-tall idol, captures the
image of a five-year-old Lord Ram standing gracefully on a lotus, all
meticulously carved from a single block of stone.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxR5olA2O-9LDfTQqQUEfFlGlphuvONwEgLtNEtY0r2sIQcAbTlcPJuZD84pb8qZu1N8Dacz95KF7rR6JuQ-Jg5gkyfg-D3Jd5RHfVdBI7NCBmVf7WZ4yiNlo5yIIQwmzYq8-CXJtd2QnALqOv-W8eWk3f0T8odxs3_E1H7xQVgiFx7ZTVeuUYG1ly-Ww/s360/RAMSTATUE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="283" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxR5olA2O-9LDfTQqQUEfFlGlphuvONwEgLtNEtY0r2sIQcAbTlcPJuZD84pb8qZu1N8Dacz95KF7rR6JuQ-Jg5gkyfg-D3Jd5RHfVdBI7NCBmVf7WZ4yiNlo5yIIQwmzYq8-CXJtd2QnALqOv-W8eWk3f0T8odxs3_E1H7xQVgiFx7ZTVeuUYG1ly-Ww/w504-h640/RAMSTATUE.jpg" width="504" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The grand event saw the
presence of around 7,000 VVIPs from across the nation which includes actors,
sportspersons, industrialists, politicians, etc.Constructed in the conventional
Nagara architectural style, the Ram Mandir compound is designed to span 380
feet in the east-west direction, with a width of 250 feet and an impressive
height of 161 feet. The temple's vertical structure consists of floors, each
measuring 20 feet in height, supported by a remarkable ensemble of 392 pillars
and adorned with 44 gates.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PM Modi followed a
strict 11-day ‘anushthan’ and slept on the floor and had coconut water before
the ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22. He also visited several temples across
India ahead of the ‘pran-pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Mandir and took a holy
dip at the Rameswaram 'Angi theerth' beach.While addressing the gathering in
Ayodhya after performing rituals in the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, PM
Modi congratulated the people as the hundred years long wait ended on Monday.
After the consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, PM Modi encouraged people to
“lay foundation of India of next 1,000 years; We take pledge to build a
capable, grand, divine India from this moment."“Ram temple's construction
will set off a firestorm. They should reconsider as Ram is energy, not fire, a
solution not dispute," said PM Modi in Ayodhya on Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-PM Modi performed the
Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi
Temple in Ayodhya.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Later he performed the
‘aarti’ of the Ram Lalla idol inside the sanctum sanctorum affter the idol was
unveiled at the temple in the presence of the prime minister.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After performing the
whole ritual, PM Modi addressed the gathering at the temple and congratulated
people. "Lord Ram has finally arrived (in his abode) following the wait of
centuries. After the patience that we showed for centuries and the sacrifices
we made, our Lord Ram has finally arrived," PM Modi said during his
address.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After addressing the
gathering, PM Modi offered prayers at Kuber Tila Shiva temple and unveiled
Jatayu statue. The ancient Shiv temple located on the Kuber Tila in the Ram
Janmabhoomi complex is also being renovated by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth
Kshetra Trust, which is constructing the Ram temple.-Later, he showered flower
petals upon the workers who were the part of the construction crew of the Ram
Mandir.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Rahul Gandhi
rescued amid alleged attack by ‘unruly BJP crowd’ in Assam<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5yciCuIgYu9WPsEhweWhTIUIfN7EDS81y4t0Mei2i7QBvaY2O3uDar-r6lXeSfyRRP0br_to0x-qiBndyIrGlbgmLPHDddFxSA60_hXs18rtWAceKTUxzjauSl5A_LoqIgdA4gdC_qXZF2-b3oO-FZBaY556Ptk5FwVABUMQEV3eRHzRwKp_TeuPzGA/s549/Rahul%20Gandhi%20being%20moved%20inside%20the%20'Bharat%20Jodo%20Nyay%20Yatra'%20bus%20by%20his%20security%20personnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5yciCuIgYu9WPsEhweWhTIUIfN7EDS81y4t0Mei2i7QBvaY2O3uDar-r6lXeSfyRRP0br_to0x-qiBndyIrGlbgmLPHDddFxSA60_hXs18rtWAceKTUxzjauSl5A_LoqIgdA4gdC_qXZF2-b3oO-FZBaY556Ptk5FwVABUMQEV3eRHzRwKp_TeuPzGA/w640-h360/Rahul%20Gandhi%20being%20moved%20inside%20the%20'Bharat%20Jodo%20Nyay%20Yatra'%20bus%20by%20his%20security%20personnel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rahul Gandhi being moved inside the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' bus by his security personnel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rahul Gandhi claimed
that over 20 workers with sticks came in front of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra
bus.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi was rescued and moved inside the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' bus by his
security personnel and party workers after a large crowd, including those
carrying BJP flags, flocked the yatra in Assam's Sonitpur district on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress claimed their
workers and leaders were attacked by the BJP workers. Their vehicles were
attacked and media persons accompanying the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra were
"manhandled" by BJP crowd, Congress leaders alleged. As per the visuals
shared by the news agency ANI, Rahul Gandhi can be seen moving out of a bus
towards the crowd, after which his security personnel and party workers took
him back into the vehicle after the unruly crowd, including people carrying the
BJP flags, ran in the yatra. The Wayanad MP claimed that over 20 workers with
sticks came in front of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra bus and they ran away as
soon as he came out.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“ 20-25 BJP workers
carrying sticks came in front of our bus, and when I came out from the bus, they
ran away...they think that Congress is scared of BJP and RSS, they're dreaming.
They can tear as many posters and placards as they want, we don't care. we are
not scared of anybody, we are neither scared of PM Narendra Modi nor Assam CM,”
ANI quoted Rahul Gandhi as saying. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh
said that his vehicle was attacked at Jumugurihat by BJP workers who also tore
off the Yatra stickers from the windshield.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“My vehicle was attacked
a few minutes ago at Jumugurihat, Sunitpur by an unruly BJP crowd who also tore
off the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra stickers from the windshield. They threw water
and shouted anti-BJNY slogans,” Ramesh wrote on X. “But we kept our composure,
waved to the hooligans and sped away,” he added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress president
Mallikarjun Kharge lambasted Assam chief minister Himata Biswa Sarma, saying
that the latter is a "chela" of PM Modi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Bharat Jodo Nyay
Yatra will cross 15 states...The Yatra before this was undertaken from
Kanyakumari to Kashmir. At that time, no stone pelting occurred anywhere. No
attempts were made to scare off...Why is this happening in Assam? Because he
(Assam CM) is the 'chela' of PM Modi. He listens to what Shah says. He scares
the Dalits, minorities & backward class of the country. By scaring people,
he is working on the next election," he said. All India Congress Committee
(AICC) communications coordinator Mahima Singh told PTI that they informed the
police and the additional superintendent of police has reached the spot.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Nitish Kumar to
resign on Sunday? What is RJD, Cong's game plan for Bihar<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIU0hLDCZVAmtWPE7HgIMm8qFaIrL3vNgyrm3hKvUyAJwIN5PJAWh6DKcddxlAoxIVriNsWKH129ZDY3vQEj5tyj0WoC9yLHROuQdl5JlGZc4j7IheaBJ4GXeRkTr92C9PPe9b9qSnQZX8_l1qr0WW7Pjy3CpuWdVOCTbBeCl8lSfR27R4_ydCoGqmkQ/s549/The%20Congress,%20RJD%20moved%20to%20action%20as%20Nitish%20Kumar%20is%20all%20set%20to%20resign%20for%20the%20CM%20post%20to%20become%20the%20CM%20again%20with%20the%20support%20of%20the%20BJP..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIU0hLDCZVAmtWPE7HgIMm8qFaIrL3vNgyrm3hKvUyAJwIN5PJAWh6DKcddxlAoxIVriNsWKH129ZDY3vQEj5tyj0WoC9yLHROuQdl5JlGZc4j7IheaBJ4GXeRkTr92C9PPe9b9qSnQZX8_l1qr0WW7Pjy3CpuWdVOCTbBeCl8lSfR27R4_ydCoGqmkQ/w640-h360/The%20Congress,%20RJD%20moved%20to%20action%20as%20Nitish%20Kumar%20is%20all%20set%20to%20resign%20for%20the%20CM%20post%20to%20become%20the%20CM%20again%20with%20the%20support%20of%20the%20BJP..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Congress, RJD moved to action as Nitish Kumar is all set to resign for the CM post to become the CM again with the support of the BJP.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nitish Kumar will hold a
customary meeting of the legislature party before submitting his resignation,
reports said.The Bihar secretariat will remain open tomorrow despite being a
Sunday as a lot of activity is expected with Nitish Kumar possibly resigning
and then extending support to the BJP to become the chief minister of a
BJP-JD(U) government in Bihar. The move -- months before the Lok Sabha election
-- would strengthen the BJP and deliver a blow to the opposition alliance
INDIA. Till late Saturday evening, hectic parleys went on in JD(U) -- which
blamed the Congress for insulting Nitish Kumar, in the BJP -- on how to receive
Nitish Kumar once again, in RJD, the largest party in the Assembly -- on how
not to yield any ground in any situation that arises in Bihar on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress sent Bhupesh
Baghel, former Chhattisgarh chief minister to Patna as a senior observer. Rahul
Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will also enter Bihar soon<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Reaching out: What is Congress doing</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress president
Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday denied any knowledge about Nitish Kumar and
JD(U) leaving the INDIA bloc. "Are they (JD(U)) going out? I have not got
any information about it so far. I have written a letter to them (JD(U)
leadership) and have tried to talk to them. I don't know clearly what is in
their minds." Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Mallikarjjun
Kharge tried to reach out to Nitish Kumar several times but made no success as
both are busy. Without blaming Nitish Kumar, Jairam Ramesh said when Nitish
Kumar called back, Kharge was busy, Unless Kharge and Nitish Kumar speak, he
won't be able to commit anything about Bihar, he said. Jairam Ramesh said the
situation is under control and INDIA bloc is not imploding.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Congress says
situation in Manipur turning ‘from bad to worse’, asks Amit Shah to take action<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zjSZgaZ2hKcgZezXy8w2MItREP7MidxlxFSOlTo38FNYan8SZfl7zShm-_SWf26rB8CQfIfn0db7h_NpcrjX_wKlb7Gapfyb-F19lsvRa4kZq14vS7VgKtxImAAHvcDj2RHiXHnnaS_zbK-LswVjzzGvh4972ed19KSwe0iJZ1oL9IORSwVFipxxOU4/s549/A%20supporter%20of%20the%20Congress%20party%20holds%20up%20a%20banner%20during%20Rahul%20Gandhi's%20Bharat%20Jodo%20Nyay%20Yatra%20in%20Manipur's%20Thoubal%20district%20on%20January%2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zjSZgaZ2hKcgZezXy8w2MItREP7MidxlxFSOlTo38FNYan8SZfl7zShm-_SWf26rB8CQfIfn0db7h_NpcrjX_wKlb7Gapfyb-F19lsvRa4kZq14vS7VgKtxImAAHvcDj2RHiXHnnaS_zbK-LswVjzzGvh4972ed19KSwe0iJZ1oL9IORSwVFipxxOU4/w640-h360/A%20supporter%20of%20the%20Congress%20party%20holds%20up%20a%20banner%20during%20Rahul%20Gandhi's%20Bharat%20Jodo%20Nyay%20Yatra%20in%20Manipur's%20Thoubal%20district%20on%20January%2014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A supporter of the Congress party holds up a banner during Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Manipur's Thoubal district on January 14</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress chief
Mallikarjun Kharge urged Amit Shah to take urgent action to ensure that
democracy and the rule of law prevails once more in Manipur.Expressing
"grave concern" over the situation in Manipur, Congress president
Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and said
the "continuing silence and inaction" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
is an injustice to the people of the northeastern state.In his letter, Kharge
urged Shah to take urgent action to ensure that democracy and the rule of law
prevails once more in Manipur<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I write to you on
a matter of very grave concern. It has been almost nine months since Manipur
erupted in violence, and the situation has only turned from bad to worse,"
he claimed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kharge detailed recent
developments in the state, noting that on January 24 a meeting was convened of
ministers/MPs/MLAs in the historical Kangla Fort in Imphal that is heavily guarded
by central and state security forces.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Many members present in
the meeting were compelled and coerced to attend this meeting by an armed
group, he claimed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Not only that, the
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President and MLA from Wangkhem, Keisham
Meghachandra was brutally assaulted and tortured during this meeting,"
Kharge said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Why Kerala
Family Wants To Ask Supreme Court For Mercy Killing Permission<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIEpzYwyeu5nHQ5r7R1rp1VsUa5u-dK7p7pEBPpZUQBWY8yFt9EgL69kVZ7Y0gmctkoeysV_PgipHmpDCMNrbeUnRjoB3DfSd7OUzPgWiEWt3vD115BY5OXyGeSQ3bOLGSezAupx4-x-rIhxHlWDmrpfrkQGrnkxBdpeN-nIT4qdcN92Jx56xB0ZcugA/s1200/MERCYKILLINGINSC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1200" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIEpzYwyeu5nHQ5r7R1rp1VsUa5u-dK7p7pEBPpZUQBWY8yFt9EgL69kVZ7Y0gmctkoeysV_PgipHmpDCMNrbeUnRjoB3DfSd7OUzPgWiEWt3vD115BY5OXyGeSQ3bOLGSezAupx4-x-rIhxHlWDmrpfrkQGrnkxBdpeN-nIT4qdcN92Jx56xB0ZcugA/w640-h394/MERCYKILLINGINSC.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A couple in Kerala said
they will go to request the Supreme Court to allow mercy killing of all five
members of the family as they are unable to continue the treatment of their
children, suffering from a rare congenital disease. A couple in Kerala's Kottayam
said they will go to request the Supreme Court to allow mercy killing of all
five members of the family as they are unable to continue the treatment of
their children, suffering from a rare congenital disease.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Smitha Antony and Manu
Joseph took the decision as they could not find any way to carry on the
treatment of two of their three children who are suffering from Salt-Wasting
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (SWCAH).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Salt-Wasting is the most
severe form of CAH, a group of genetic disorders that affect the adrenal glands
that produce crucial hormones. Ms Smitha said though she and her husband are
nurses, they are not unable to go to work since they are needed at home for the
complete care of their two children.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Speaking to reporters,
she said her two children - Santrin and Santiyo - were diagnosed with SWCAH and
the elder one was 90 per cent autistic.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They have sold and
pledged their properties to bear the expenses of the treatment and buy
medicines, she said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We are struggling
to find means for our daily expenses, for the treatment of the younger
children, and the education of the eldest child. As there is no income, life
cannot go on," Ms Smitha said.She alleged that they had approached the
local panchayat for a job and assistance for the treatment, but got no support.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Though the panchayat
committee unitedly decided to give her a job a while back, its secretary didn't
send the necessary papers about the decision to the government, she further
charged.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Despite lodging several
complaints, nothing happened, she said.Though the secretary later sent the file
to the government after the interventions of the Human Rights panel, no
decision has been taken about the promised job, she claimed.So, our family now
has no option other than requesting mercy killing. We are now contemplating
approaching the Supreme Court and the High Court requesting the same," she
said, adding that the family is undergoing severe mental trauma.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Row erupts as
Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra curbed in Assam</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEknF4H5MQXHWltTiEzF3TIjSARGM4E_KwLJklKgO0qbVcx932zuPX5EFNwtBbv3yexypkf52OTQKqnPMADzuzHpihFndAXUAJ5kqJ6n-rqtoCDDjGTYufeni5auqnFOI3yEb2iWBqG5FzuGUg8ODX-TPRJkdKIWIFhQH3C_zT9seFutsJnfkwD9p0J0g/s550/Congress%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20in%20Guwahati%20on%20Tuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEknF4H5MQXHWltTiEzF3TIjSARGM4E_KwLJklKgO0qbVcx932zuPX5EFNwtBbv3yexypkf52OTQKqnPMADzuzHpihFndAXUAJ5kqJ6n-rqtoCDDjGTYufeni5auqnFOI3yEb2iWBqG5FzuGUg8ODX-TPRJkdKIWIFhQH3C_zT9seFutsJnfkwD9p0J0g/w640-h360/Congress%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20in%20Guwahati%20on%20Tuesday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Guwahati on Tuesday</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress claims that
the BJP was allowed to conduct road shows in central Guwahati, wh</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ile they were
stopped from entering the city. Hundreds of Congress workers clashed with the
police and broke through barricades after they were stopped outside Guwahati
during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, setting off a bitter war of words between
chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who
is leading the 6,600km march.Later in the day, Sarma said an FIR was filed
against Gandhi, Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Kanhaiya Kumar and others.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Assam police used batons
to disperse Congress workers around noon as they tried to break through
barricades put up to prevent the yatra from proceeding to a busy area in
Guwahati, citing potential traffic disruptions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Assam Congress chief
Bhupen Kumar Borah and the leader of Opposition in the assembly Debabrata
Saikia were among the people injured in the police action, a day after Gandhi
was stopped from visiting one of the state’s most important shrines in Nagaon,
prompting him to stage a sit-in. We have broken down the barricades, but
Congress workers would not break the law... Congress workers are not afraid of
anyone, including the [ruling] BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and [its
ideological fount] Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh,” said Rahul Gandhi in an
address from atop a bus, minutes after the confrontation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sarma hit back, saying
he had directed the state police to lodge a case against Rahul Gandhi for
provoking the crowd, using the footage shared on social media as evidence. “This
is not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such Naxalite tactics
are completely alien to our culture,” he posted on X. He added that the “unruly
behaviour” and “violation of agreed guidelines” resulted in a traffic jam in
Guwahati.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tensions were already
flying high after Gandhi was stopped on Monday morning outside Batadrava Than,
the birthplace of 15th-century social reformer-saint Srimanta Sankardeva and a
sacred site for the Assamese. Gandhi then sat on protest for over an hour.On Tuesday
morning, the Assam government informed the Congress that the yatra, which began
in Manipur on January 14, will not be allowed to enter the heart of Guwahati as
it could cause traffic jams and advised the party to take the ring road. The
Congress, however, insisted on the original route and pointed out that BJP
chief JP Nadda and Union home minister Amit Shah were allowed to conduct road
shows in central Guwahati earlier.With Congress workers not stepping back,
barricades were put up at Khanapara on the outskirts of Guwahati to prevent the
yatra from proceeding to GS Road, the busiest road in Assam’s capital. As the
yatra, including the bus carrying Gandhi, neared Khanapara, Borah, Saikia and
hundreds of Congress workers tried to forcibly break through the barricades and
move forward, before being halted by police personnel.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As the situation
escalated, policemen resorted to baton charge and in the ensuing melee Borah,
Saikia and a few others fell on the road. Borah sustained a minor injury on his
right hand, Saikia was hurt on his legs and a few other workers also sustained
bruises and other injuries.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As Congress workers
fought against the police, Gandhi vowed to fight for the people’s rights and
promised that his party would form the next government in Assam.Borah hit out
at Sarma. “This is how the state government is treating us. We broke down three
barricades set up to prevent our yatra from progressing, but we will continue
as planned,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sarma, who shifted from
the Congress to the BJP in 2015 and is credited for the BJP’s rapid expansion
across the Northeast, blamed the Congress for the violence.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“They didn’t listen to
us and indulged in confrontation with the police while Gandhi was witnessing
and instigating them from his vehicle. I have directed the police to lodge a
case and take action as per law. Gandhi won’t be arrested now, he will be
arrested after Lok Sabha polls,” he said. Hours later, he confirmed that an FIR
had been registered.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“With reference to
wanton acts of violence, provocation, damage to public property and assault on
police personnel today by Cong members, a FIR has been registered against Rahul
Gandhi, KC Venugopal , Kanhaiya Kumar and other individuals under section
120(B)143/147/188/283/353/332/333/427 IPC R/W Sec. 3 of PDPP Act,” Sarma said
in post on X. The Assam chief minister said that despite repeated requests to
the Congress for the last six days to not take the yatra through Guwahati, the
party insisted on doing so with 300 vehicles and around 3,000 workers, which
would have caused huge disruptions to traffic in the city.Action is being taken
as per law. Unruliness and violation of ASL (advanced security liaison)
decision including attempt to change route through force is also being taken up
with appropriate agencies,” Assam director general of police GP Singh said in a
post on X.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the minutes-long
melee, the Congress relented. The yatra then bypassed the city, and at Hajo, a
pilgrimage town 30km away, Gandhi told reporters that the disruptions will
benefit the party. “The things that Assam CM has been doing against the yatra
is benefitting us... the kind of publicity, which we might not have got, are
getting now because of what the Assam CM and maybe Union home minister Amit
Shah are doing,” Gandhi said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Stopping us from
entering a temple, college and the yatra itself (from entering Guwahati) is
their style. It’s a way to intimidate us. We are not afraid and will not get
intimidated. Frankly, it benefits us as our message of nyay (justice) is
reaching all,” he added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">7) Congress' Bharat
Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi enters Bengal at Cooch Behar:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFemQWl9qDVSxSPjKf1y1JFiBq-6gEA3Vs_aVUcevgkXCmm4J1NBA2tgHVx4zhaniIP-MwRKHRJnak_LodsaayjS8pCnrXJOnewMf1CTZnHrNBN8xpAswPETnmBRc-m2ORpWA4ExWyrwwmJR9wfhoMEgv-Chv-JsvkThdGFJDNHD-FW30A14C_vFnxMs/s900/RAHUL%20AT%20COOCHBEHARWB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFemQWl9qDVSxSPjKf1y1JFiBq-6gEA3Vs_aVUcevgkXCmm4J1NBA2tgHVx4zhaniIP-MwRKHRJnak_LodsaayjS8pCnrXJOnewMf1CTZnHrNBN8xpAswPETnmBRc-m2ORpWA4ExWyrwwmJR9wfhoMEgv-Chv-JsvkThdGFJDNHD-FW30A14C_vFnxMs/w640-h426/RAHUL%20AT%20COOCHBEHARWB.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He was welcomed by state
Congress president Adhir Chowdhury Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' led by
Rahul Gandhi entered West Bengal from Assam on Thursday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He was welcomed by state
Congress president Adhir Chowdhury. The Yatra entered West Bengal through
Bakshirhat in Cooch Behar district in the northern part of the state. After the
handover of the flag, the Yatra will head towards Khagrabari Chowk in Cooch Behar
district, where Gandhi will address a public meeting. Congress' 'Bharat Jodo
Nyay Yatra' led by Rahul Gandhi entered West Bengal from Assam on Thursday
morning.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He was welcomed by state
Congress president Adhir Chowdhury.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Yatra entered West
Bengal through Bakshirhat in Cooch Behar district in the northern part of the
state.After the handover of the flag, the Yatra will head towards Khagrabari
Chowk in Cooch Behar district, where Gandhi will address a public meeting.After
passing through Tufanganj and Cooch Behar town, Gandhi will conduct a padayatra
from Maa Bhawani Chowk in Cooch Behar. The Yatra will continue by bus at
Gokshadanga before reaching Falakata in Alipurduar district for an overnight
halt.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Following a two-day
hiatus on January 26-27, it will navigate through Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Uttar
Dinajpur, and Darjeeling districts before entering Bihar on January
29.Re-entering West Bengal on January 31 via Malda, it will pass through
Murshidabad, both Congress stronghold districts, before departing the state on
February 1. The Bengal leg of the yatra spans 523 km across six districts and
six Lok Sabha constituencies — Darjeeling, Raigunj, North and South Malda, and
two in Murshidabad — over five days.This marks Gandhi's first visit to the
state since the April-May 2021 assembly polls.The Bengal leg of the Yatra began
a day after Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's announcement that her
party will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls independently in West Bengal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Both Congress and the
TMC are constituents of the INDIA bloc formed to take on the BJP-led National
Democratic Alliance in the 2024 Parliamentary elections.The CPI (M) and Left
parties, allies of the Congress within the state and the INDIA bloc at the national
level, are expected to join the march.However, TMC has decided to abstain,
citing a lack of information about the Yatra.The Yatra, which started in
Manipur on January 14, is scheduled to cover 6,713 km in 67 days while passing
through 110 districts in 15 states, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8i9re5xgMrOrX9oBn87h7-P30L_vDpPm67Xv5KwP-EOHPQdgt5Ve8xWAtQcFCwt8bpeKZtnEznkocCRFgm7gxW5r-u-WNYljzOHaGV9oI1MIykcVgEgn7AsON8DrlWSFHqo_i0eNM01dH7C8PhZHpi1GQxS_Fcs5k4oUIesYj88iBUFW19IplIzlZpAQ/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8i9re5xgMrOrX9oBn87h7-P30L_vDpPm67Xv5KwP-EOHPQdgt5Ve8xWAtQcFCwt8bpeKZtnEznkocCRFgm7gxW5r-u-WNYljzOHaGV9oI1MIykcVgEgn7AsON8DrlWSFHqo_i0eNM01dH7C8PhZHpi1GQxS_Fcs5k4oUIesYj88iBUFW19IplIzlZpAQ/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Australian Open
2024: Rohan Bopanna, 43, climbs a Slam doubles peak as well<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20jXn7goqlypOPeTl-5v5OB5q2Pud1RKOsFZNAyg_GpqWmLjtHawszekCojOQEaHyFJafolY-CJoIZcdBjw88W_Tq9oP31wD-SIbgOygs-JT-qpHkzstqakrN1lKrClcmF9RSpUAP3nqCc0ufA2I3cCFskm-r1TYAjc3qcfskKJp3VUDxHto_kWmq1dc/s549/ndia's%20Rohan%20Bopanna%20poses%20with%20his%20family%20after%20victory%20against%20Italy's%20Simone%20Bolelli%20and%20Andrea%20Vavassori%20during%20their%20men's%20doubles%20final%20match%20on%20day%2014%20of%20the%20Australian%20Open%20tennis%20tournament%20in%20Melbourne%20on%20January%2027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20jXn7goqlypOPeTl-5v5OB5q2Pud1RKOsFZNAyg_GpqWmLjtHawszekCojOQEaHyFJafolY-CJoIZcdBjw88W_Tq9oP31wD-SIbgOygs-JT-qpHkzstqakrN1lKrClcmF9RSpUAP3nqCc0ufA2I3cCFskm-r1TYAjc3qcfskKJp3VUDxHto_kWmq1dc/w640-h360/ndia's%20Rohan%20Bopanna%20poses%20with%20his%20family%20after%20victory%20against%20Italy's%20Simone%20Bolelli%20and%20Andrea%20Vavassori%20during%20their%20men's%20doubles%20final%20match%20on%20day%2014%20of%20the%20Australian%20Open%20tennis%20tournament%20in%20Melbourne%20on%20January%2027.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ndia's Rohan Bopanna poses with his family after victory against Italy's Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori during their men's doubles final match on day 14 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 27</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sixteen years after his
Major men's doubles debut, Bopanna wins a Slam at the Australian Open
partnering Mathew Ebden Stationed at the net, Rohan Bopanna lunged full stretch
to his right to send back a winner and set up two championship points. Seconds
later, after smashing the ball from high up at the net, he slumped on the
bright blue Rod Laver Arena and lay on his back with hands on the head. So did
his partner Matthew Ebden, before they both rose and jumped to exchange a chest
bump.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpifYHBzanvOHaP2y0X5KLI7X-uYiMBxni5XeZX27x_zY5OhuCmZV0eSmZpQA0wk2CPkHVk8PI7ccjR0NnzBEaalead7LTZeM6z0zXPuip-Zgwc8w1yO37Qfbid27nfJWfRMfJVk0HeGqzR4zrnOLuYT6sVuaIk3S8h5tdCzJhr5c7b7UCyLupwvErGAI/s549/picture%20of%20Professional%20Tennis%20player%20Rohan%20Bopanna%20congratulating%20him%20on%20his%20Australian%20Open%20win,%20on%20Saturday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpifYHBzanvOHaP2y0X5KLI7X-uYiMBxni5XeZX27x_zY5OhuCmZV0eSmZpQA0wk2CPkHVk8PI7ccjR0NnzBEaalead7LTZeM6z0zXPuip-Zgwc8w1yO37Qfbid27nfJWfRMfJVk0HeGqzR4zrnOLuYT6sVuaIk3S8h5tdCzJhr5c7b7UCyLupwvErGAI/w640-h360/picture%20of%20Professional%20Tennis%20player%20Rohan%20Bopanna%20congratulating%20him%20on%20his%20Australian%20Open%20win,%20on%20Saturday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">picture of Professional Tennis player Rohan Bopanna congratulating him on his Australian Open win, on Saturday</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The child-like enthusiasm
of winning a first men’s doubles Grand Slam was evident through those moments.
The age, well, not so much. At age 43 and attempt 61 since making his doubles
debut in a Major 16 years ago, Bopanna finally wrapped his hands around a men’s
doubles Slam title for the first time at the Australian Open on Saturday to
become the oldest man to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Indian and his
Australian partner, who also won the 2022 Wimbledon with compatriot Max
Purcell, defeated the Italian combine of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori
7-6(0), 7-5 in the final that had emotions oozing at the end of it. Especially
from the Indian whose beard now has specks of white but tennis remains red-hot
in the doubles circuit. Adding to Saturday's first on Monday will be Bopanna
occupying the world No.1 spot in doubles, and the Bopanna-Ebden pair becoming
the new No.1 doubles team. Plenty of firsts brewing for the late-blooming
coffee connoisseur from Bengaluru.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Totally amazing feeling
winning my first men’s doubles Grand Slam title here,” Bopanna said after the
win.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I’d like to say —
never, ever have any limitations. Keep believing in yourselves, because you
never know when life can change and make it absolutely magical.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bopanna, the 2017 French
Open mixed doubles champion, has experienced the feel of winning a Slam but
this clearly meant much more. For it took a long while coming. Turning pro more
than two decades ago and making his Slam debut in 2008 after switching from
singles to doubles, Bopanna pocketed 24 titles on the ATP Tour. Slam success
though eluded him, knocking on the door twice (2010 US Open final, 2023 US Open
final) yet unable to enter the coveted club. At the back end of a lengthy
career that saw him surge to as high as No. 3 in the rankings a decade ago,
battling injuries either side of it (knee being the worst), Bopanna endured a
patch of seven straight first-round exits in early 2021. Right then, he
reckoned he was done with tennis.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I sent her a video
message, where I said I'm going to call it a day, because I was not winning
matches at all," Bopanna, addressing his wife Supriya, said on court.
"But that perseverance inside me kept me going... And then I found a
wonderful partner to get me to all the laurels.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Joining forces with that
partner at the start of last year, Bopanna and Ebden won ATP titles at Doha and
Indian Wells Masters before stepping it up in Slams. A Wimbledon semi-final
entry was backed up by a run to the US Open final. The Australian Open had not
been Bopanna's Happy Slam — in his 16 previous visits, he never made it past
the third round in men's doubles — but the Indian-Aussie pair found joy this
time around. The second seeds were the better team in the final, where both
pairs thwarted break points in the opening set to unlock a tiebreaker. Bopanna
was locked in there, kicking it off with a trademark booming serve and
following it up with crisp forehand winners as the Italians could not even get
on board.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The crucial break in the
second set came in the 11th game, in which a Bopanna backhand return whizzed
past Bolelli at the net and Vavassori double-faulted. With Ebden serving out
the match, Bopanna's appetite for lifting a men’s doubles Slam was finally
fulfilled. At the ripe age of 43.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Aryna Sabalenka
romps to second Australian Open in a row<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-6fewj4jy6RAQYWmRIGdqwPI3z7XURKDUlv5F4O18mCH3SB2GZ6HLmCYfVv58EzVQ9UEXvwovT14Tc9HXz37Vu93tdJMwThNJNcaV0oseifDDMicXKaXqEcfo8wlNjRekQxMTecAYSCwXfoAVlo-iPKojNIZF_YrBupZ4epz_JQ6Y4j4goD7j3ZjFOw/s549/This%20handout%20picture%20released%20by%20Tennis%20Australia%20on%20January%2027,%202023,%20shows%20Belarus'%20Aryna%20Sabalenka%20poses%20with%20the%202024%20Australian%20Open%20women's%20singles%20final%20trophy%20at%20the%20locker%20room%20in%20Melbourne(.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-6fewj4jy6RAQYWmRIGdqwPI3z7XURKDUlv5F4O18mCH3SB2GZ6HLmCYfVv58EzVQ9UEXvwovT14Tc9HXz37Vu93tdJMwThNJNcaV0oseifDDMicXKaXqEcfo8wlNjRekQxMTecAYSCwXfoAVlo-iPKojNIZF_YrBupZ4epz_JQ6Y4j4goD7j3ZjFOw/w640-h360/This%20handout%20picture%20released%20by%20Tennis%20Australia%20on%20January%2027,%202023,%20shows%20Belarus'%20Aryna%20Sabalenka%20poses%20with%20the%202024%20Australian%20Open%20women's%20singles%20final%20trophy%20at%20the%20locker%20room%20in%20Melbourne(.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This handout picture released by Tennis Australia on January 27, 2023, shows Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka poses with the 2024 Australian Open women's singles final trophy at the locker room in Melbourne(</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Belarusian world
No.2 retained the women's singles title without dropping a set, beating China's
Zheng Qinwen 6-3 6-2 in the final In any sport, maintaining a lead is often as
hard as gaining it in the first place. It can get harder to do that in an
individual sport where you’re left to banish the doubts and find a way by
yourself. In the Australian Open women’s singles final on Saturday, Aryna
Sabalenka showed that in world tennis, she’s probably the strongest front
runner at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 25-year-old headed into
the title showdown against Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen on the back of a
stunning streak. Across her previous 13 matches at Melbourne Park, which
included her triumphant run last year, she had dropped just one set (in the
2023 final). That’s 26 out of 27 sets won. And once again, she was at her
dominant best in a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Zheng to bag her second Grand Slam
title. She was the overwhelming favourite, but never let the pressure get to
her.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was an emphatic
statement by the world No. 2 from Belarus, who became the fifth woman since
2000 to win the Australian Open without dropping a set and the ninth woman in
the Open Era to win the singles title in consecutive years. Her serve didn’t
get broken even once in the final, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams
against Maria Sharapova in 2007.Sabalenka broke to take a 2-0 lead in the
opener and never looked back. Zheng, who was aiming to become the first Major
champion from China since Li Na in 2014, struggled with her serve for the most
part. Perhaps it was nerves but her ball toss, unusual as it is, kept going a
bit too forward and she landed just 53 % of her first serves in. Sabalenka
getting to feast on second serves went a long way in making the contest
one-sided.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Although rallies were few
and far between, 21-year-old Zheng held her own and ended up hitting 19 winners
compared to her opponent’s 14. She’s set to enter the top 10 of the WTA
rankings for the first time and one can expect to see a lot more of her in the
years to come. But on the day, Sabalenka simply had much more firepower, be it
while serving or returning. The Belarusian saved each of the four break points
she faced, including one while serving for the match, to close out a memorable
win in 76 minutes.Apart from her semi-final against Coco Gauff, Sabalenka
didn’t drop more than three games in a set in any match. The average number of
games she lost per match through the tournament was, astonishingly, less than
five.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The incredible numbers
Sabalenka racked up over the fortnight make sense when one looks at her run
over the past couple of years. Since missing the 2022 Wimbledon, she has made
it to at least the semi-finals of the last six Majors. She was always a
powerful ball-striker but for a long time her game seemed one-dimensional.
During the clay swing last year, she showed her will to keep improving and beat
world No.1 Iga Swiatek in the Madrid final before reaching the Roland Garros
semis. Then came the heartbreak of the US Open final, which saw her lose to
Gauff despite winning the first set. “I'll work harder so next time I'm not
going to get even a little bit tired on court,” a tearful Sabalenka had vowed
back then. The result of her determination was there for all to see at this
Australian Open.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Actually, it's been in
my mind that I didn't want to be that player who won it and then disappeared,”
said Sabalenka after her victory. "I just wanted to show that I'm able to
be consistently there and I'm able to win another one. I really hope more, more
than two, but for me it was really important. That's why, no matter what the
result, win or lose, we are always working hard, we were always looking for
things to improve in my game. It's all about the process and make sure that,
about the discipline, make sure that you're always there, you always show up,
and you always work hard.” Sabalenka reached the top of the rankings last
September and she’s closing in on Swiatek once again. Going by her composure in
the biggest tournaments and success across surfaces over the past year, it
seems her best is yet to come.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) India's Sreeja
Akula advances to quarterfinals, Manika Batra loses in WTT Star Contender<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZKIcDKKkXQ70JwPVkOsaueBPR8BFx489qRaw9ye00RIYOwHJEP2IO_UlQl11VY8jI-wsz2JckIY3YEFkCXn2NGxmJGsiOefk39ZU4Xw6lR5lmg0uGfF-gJ5B2pHyh32NjkGbzuiDOsd-dWhz5Zg-IYXV_-WT-bX9x1xmvJb98lfVtf6C9VSrqIfces8/s549/India's%20Sreeja%20Akula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZKIcDKKkXQ70JwPVkOsaueBPR8BFx489qRaw9ye00RIYOwHJEP2IO_UlQl11VY8jI-wsz2JckIY3YEFkCXn2NGxmJGsiOefk39ZU4Xw6lR5lmg0uGfF-gJ5B2pHyh32NjkGbzuiDOsd-dWhz5Zg-IYXV_-WT-bX9x1xmvJb98lfVtf6C9VSrqIfces8/w640-h360/India's%20Sreeja%20Akula.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India's Sreeja Akula</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The world No. 66 Indian
looked in complete control of the next two games after losing the first to
reach the quarterfinals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Indian paddler Sreeja
Akula registered a commanding victory to move into the women's singles
quarterfinals of the ongoing World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender Goa 2024,
while Manika Batra and Archana Kamath suffered defeats in their respective
last-eight matches in Mapusa (Goa) on Saturday.The Hyderabad-based paddler
Akula began the contest on a positive note against higher ranked Hong Kong
opponent Doo Hoi Kem (WR 36) and won the thrilling first game before losing the
second However, the world No. 66 Indian looked in complete control of the next
two games and clinched the match 3-1 (12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8) to reach the
quarterfinals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"In 2021, I had
lost to the same opponent, so it feels really great to win a match against her
in this tournament. I was able to execute my plans perfectly and kept myself
motivated even after losing the second game to win the contest," Akula
said after the win.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"She was really
aggressive and I focused on putting the ball on the table and choosing the
right ball to attack which worked in my favour. I will be well prepared for the
upcoming match as well." The tournament is co-hosted by Stupa Sports
Analytics and Ultimate Table Tennis under the guidance of the Table Tennis
Federation of India (TTFI).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the other hand,
India's top-ranked singles paddler Batra (WR 38) went down 1-3 (11-9, 11-13,
7-11, 9-11) to the world No. 13 Xiaoxin Yang of Monaco despite winning the
first game of the contest.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the other women's
singles pre-quarterfinal, youngster from Bengaluru Kamath lost to South Korea's
Jeon Jihee by 1-3 (11-13, 11-9, 6-11, 4-11). <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">World No. 8 Shin Yubin
of South Korea continued her positive form to defeat Sweden's Christina
Kallberg 3-1 (11-5, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6), whereas Chinese Taipei's Cheng I-ching
(WR 18) beat Yang Ha Eun of South Korea by 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-9). In the
last-16 stage of the men's singles category, world No. 8 Felix Lebrun of France
extended his sparkling form to register a comfortable 3-0 (11-3, 12-10, 11-9)
win against Sweden's Ruls Moregard.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, his brother
Alexis Lebrun faced a 1-3 (8-11, 11-8, 10-12, 8-11) defeat against world No. 14
Quadri Aruna of Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Six-time Olympic
medallist Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany looked in fine form to beat England's
Liam Pitchford 3-1 (11-5, 8-11, 17-15, 11-8) as he made his way into the
quarter-finals of WTT Star Contender Goa 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) India vs
England: How Bumrah’s reverse-swinging pearlers arrested England’s
free-swingers</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgWJJQaqZohrk6w5qnFoCVYGgb4Rx1So5OuB3RgGCC90U37wkh5bmwAVPy94vZH2ff9xLnD_GGkIPzmPVyvGbY5a-9HNyQbtIcfdYjxM1nFHLCmW02RV8-AHecnSvE0mwxAaAqIEtnOFvzOgJHBjySrmyx8OCR7jgr6Vz-rUtQaY6mAEvVzZsuFzcvg8/s640/ndia's%20Jasprit%20Bumrah%20celebrates%20after%20taking%20the%20wicket%20of%20England's%20Ben%20Duckett%20during%20the%20third%20day%20of%20first%20test%20match%20between%20India%20and%20England.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgWJJQaqZohrk6w5qnFoCVYGgb4Rx1So5OuB3RgGCC90U37wkh5bmwAVPy94vZH2ff9xLnD_GGkIPzmPVyvGbY5a-9HNyQbtIcfdYjxM1nFHLCmW02RV8-AHecnSvE0mwxAaAqIEtnOFvzOgJHBjySrmyx8OCR7jgr6Vz-rUtQaY6mAEvVzZsuFzcvg8/w640-h360/ndia's%20Jasprit%20Bumrah%20celebrates%20after%20taking%20the%20wicket%20of%20England's%20Ben%20Duckett%20during%20the%20third%20day%20of%20first%20test%20match%20between%20India%20and%20England.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ndia's Jasprit Bumrah celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Ben Duckett during the third day of first test match between India and England</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new ball was taken
off Jasprit Bumrah’s hand after a two-over spell. With R Ashwin immediately
finding turn, Rohit Sharma brought Axar Patel from the other end. Switching
between mid-on or short fine-leg, Bumrah would use every opportunity, sometimes
just five-ten seconds, to urgently shine the ball. When the ball was not in his
hands, standing at fine-leg, he would point out the BCCI emblem on his t-shirt
to whoever had the ball, signalling which side of the ball to shine.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the next 13 overs,
as England’s top-order employed the reverse-sweep to good effect and thwarted
the plans of India’s spin trio, Bumrah would watch the proceedings quietly from
his perch. He would often walk for a short conversation with Ashwin and Rohit,
using those moments to attend the red-cherry.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With lush green
outfields being the norm in Indian grounds, like the one in Hyderabad, and
since the ICC stopped players from using saliva to shine the ball, bowlers have
struggled to find reverse swing. The ball doesn’t scuff up easily. But the most
celebrated and revered spells of reverse-swing have all come on the green baizes
of Australia. Like Imran Khan at the MCG in 1977 and Sarfraz Nawaz at the same
venue in 1979. But unless the ball is taken care of properly, there is little
room for reverse-swing. Which is why India took utmost care of the ball.
England’s batsmen aided their cause a bit, as every time they employed the
reverse-sweep, the new-ball bounced off the bald square patches adjacent to the
pitch. With due care, where players identify a slightly rough side and polish
it with diligent care, the other side becomes totally rough. From using saliva,
bubble-gums, dirt, cold-drink bottle caps, Vaseline and even sandpaper, teams
have used all sorts of tricks to scuff up the ball. With all the cameras and
the ban on using saliva to shine the ball, reverse swing has been hard to
purchase, especially in India. James Anderson found some in the first Chennai
Test during the last England tour. But in conditions where the spinners have
dominated, it has become a forgotten art, until Bumrah reminded everyone of it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So before Bumrah got the
ball back in his hand to send another spell. India had taken care of the ball,
but how it would behave is unpredictable.The art of reverse-swing remains more
mysterious than the mystery spinners. It caught England off-guard. They seemed
prepared to counter the Indian spinners, who came out all attacking, but didn’t
have answers to Bumrah’s reverse-swing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It’s what you’d expect
from a Test match, and it was a big moment in the game,” Root, who faced that
spell, would tell later. “I was disappointed not to get through it. You know
that for four or five overs he will charge in and throw everything at us. You
get through that and it puts a big dint in it mentally. You recognise that as a
big moment in the game. One of my frustrations was to not still be there at the
backend of it, but he’s a quality bowler with a huge amount of skill and pace.
1-0 to him, although 1-1 actually as I got him out earlier, so I’m sure that
battle will continue throughout the series,” Root added. As Waqar Younis, a master
exponent of reverse-swing claimed, players with a slinging action tend to be
good at it. There is no bigger one than Bumrah, when it comes to an unorthodox
fast bowler. So with Ben Duckett being at his adventurous best, and spinners
being least threatening, Rohit called up Burmah for second over after lunch.
And in a five-over spell, Bumrah would open up the game for India. In those
five overs, he got Duckett twice (India didn’t review a turned down LBW
appeal), nearly had Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow once before
dismissing the former England captain. In those five over spell, the ball
listened to Burmah orders.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There was a hint of
reverse in Bumrah’s first over, in which Duckett survived a close LBW call.
When India chose not to review and the replays confirmed the ball would have
hit Duckett’s leg-stump, Bumrah would get even more animated. It would turn
into seething anger in his next over when Duckett hit two boundaries. But off
the next ball, Bumrah wielded his magic. The England opener would go for an
expansive drive, after watching the shiner part of the ball was inside. But the
reverse -swinging rocket came in with the angle.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In his next over, Root
survived an incoming one with a faint edge. Pope somehow kept out a devilish
yorker. Bumrah then slipped in a slower one, which just lobbed over the vacant
cover region. But to the next, which again cut in sharply – the shiner part was
pointing inwards again – Root had no answers as it sneaked past his inside edge
and hit him flush on the knee. The DRS confirmed it was hitting the leg-stump.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Indian origin
teen’s race to become UK’s youngest chess Grandmaster<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoSlV68kpIMA4lC3Cgik7BTzXR2P9cTyLLgvHFacQcOAyngRUzxEvRW8g6f5U1pO0POv3rJ-qryiRB6yHPjiTzPaLGlQ3Rdw0qKend7QGK6CA7QxVs3cAWoDLugUujO9RHVnOpk_77Kb-bM_wvT1DkHIrEdFO2haakuxKx6A4bNu3U6d4Jbr7YC2lBdo/s549/Fourteen-year-old%20Shreyas%20Royal%20is%20now%20in%20the%20running%20to%20become%20UK%E2%80%99s%20youngest%20Grandmaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoSlV68kpIMA4lC3Cgik7BTzXR2P9cTyLLgvHFacQcOAyngRUzxEvRW8g6f5U1pO0POv3rJ-qryiRB6yHPjiTzPaLGlQ3Rdw0qKend7QGK6CA7QxVs3cAWoDLugUujO9RHVnOpk_77Kb-bM_wvT1DkHIrEdFO2haakuxKx6A4bNu3U6d4Jbr7YC2lBdo/w640-h360/Fourteen-year-old%20Shreyas%20Royal%20is%20now%20in%20the%20running%20to%20become%20UK%E2%80%99s%20youngest%20Grandmaster.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fourteen-year-old Shreyas Royal is now in the running to become UK’s youngest Grandmaster</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shreyas Royal, 14, has
achieved one of the three required GM norms. David Howell is the holder of the
youngest UK GM record, achieved at 16 years and one month Jitendra Singh had
sold off property, exhausted savings and e-mails to corporates had gone
unanswered. The only thing left to do was to break it to his young son – UK’s
strongest junior player – that he might have to give up chess. Things turned in
the months that followed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fourteen-year-old
Shreyas Royal is now in the running to become UK’s youngest Grandmaster. He
already has one out of the three required GM norms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shreyas, Elo 2438, sees
the youngest UK GM record as a “huge motivation” and marker. “If I can get it
this year, I’ll beat<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiea7X-NBBylsIb90VHjq4UJ5hZRPZ_M1_NF7kZ0FuLzIDomI511_eNjGCHZ5bHF41WfQTRv-O6NhxLp7opHuHXla0EdIAw_JRqGOKNH5BUApQ54CifEd8atp18M5mBSV-A9MJGmhuGK5czr5zoSb9dgkWkvAWkVEn2hklpwvzLdtYzH_OR4Ypg3RBaQQc/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiea7X-NBBylsIb90VHjq4UJ5hZRPZ_M1_NF7kZ0FuLzIDomI511_eNjGCHZ5bHF41WfQTRv-O6NhxLp7opHuHXla0EdIAw_JRqGOKNH5BUApQ54CifEd8atp18M5mBSV-A9MJGmhuGK5czr5zoSb9dgkWkvAWkVEn2hklpwvzLdtYzH_OR4Ypg3RBaQQc/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fighter</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAt_OxajzrDD2hgy0DjiwZaXpYQ4Myo9tiisDF8sQxMaN7MG9DtNJalDAUXDr3vfv8pnvjDP4DIj7qCgOe2Id2BAKeHJKg56OucGCJsjl1_yhB-Qs2nHL4PCmDkVcfk9xtjojLbxLy01qRw3lqFuZT1mUts-46bB9XAt4jfCrI2mx09yamYjOIGT_jDg/s636/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="636" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAt_OxajzrDD2hgy0DjiwZaXpYQ4Myo9tiisDF8sQxMaN7MG9DtNJalDAUXDr3vfv8pnvjDP4DIj7qCgOe2Id2BAKeHJKg56OucGCJsjl1_yhB-Qs2nHL4PCmDkVcfk9xtjojLbxLy01qRw3lqFuZT1mUts-46bB9XAt4jfCrI2mx09yamYjOIGT_jDg/w640-h382/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: 25
January, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Where to watch: Theatres<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Starcast: Hrithik
Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director: Siddharth
Anand<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Siddharth Anand’s
directional upcoming movie Fighter will be released on 25 January 2024. The
movie Fighter stars actors, Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor
in the lead roles. The movie Fighter will surely give a patriotic feeling to
the audience and will be an absolute grand welcome of 2024 from Bollywood.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Animal</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vCOuUUQ_dklqAyrMr7SnLpJY-K-ycVHMTBafVDN-oFN_BKHEeDkfw1gHShAox_4Kedhmq3FrbkWtw-BmhvW5ERpcXIyBjS6AZNJ7Sr6LHs7w0VS5xVwQClI1rqH7Qb-SYgZCQ70RSLS55JHWx1Vk15X31x4LvUiZ-ZS2IdFAjdmZ-67vUOkU4qPY0mQ/s1280/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vCOuUUQ_dklqAyrMr7SnLpJY-K-ycVHMTBafVDN-oFN_BKHEeDkfw1gHShAox_4Kedhmq3FrbkWtw-BmhvW5ERpcXIyBjS6AZNJ7Sr6LHs7w0VS5xVwQClI1rqH7Qb-SYgZCQ70RSLS55JHWx1Vk15X31x4LvUiZ-ZS2IdFAjdmZ-67vUOkU4qPY0mQ/w640-h360/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: January
26, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Where to watch: Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Star Cast: Ranbir
Kapoor, Rashmika Mandana, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director: Pranay Reddy
Vanga<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ranbir Kapoor and
Rashmika Mandana’s Animal is one of the biggest releases of this year. After a
successful theatrical run, the movie will be streaming on Netflix on January
26. The movie has crossed the Rs. 900 crore mark worldwide and emerged as a
major commercial success, becoming the third highest-grossing Indian film of
2023.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sam Bahadur</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWP87JzKjfAr4B3u9_6u0eE6V3SqnPGMu2CxHLoIIHRneQrbqc6z5TR1-nhWYRXUV69RyMFSCOJ63MPlA2kc39sUMk0UeDRdl-2vv8-uM_f_sx4mJ7a8blzOKQYdTFPxG-pdhZxfhG2pOyluXXr2sfYBcrrLtJ-42Hx0Qt8VY3CyuXWWu1gR46uDT6I0I/s1280/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWP87JzKjfAr4B3u9_6u0eE6V3SqnPGMu2CxHLoIIHRneQrbqc6z5TR1-nhWYRXUV69RyMFSCOJ63MPlA2kc39sUMk0UeDRdl-2vv8-uM_f_sx4mJ7a8blzOKQYdTFPxG-pdhZxfhG2pOyluXXr2sfYBcrrLtJ-42Hx0Qt8VY3CyuXWWu1gR46uDT6I0I/w640-h320/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: 1 December
2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Where to Watch: ZEE5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Starcast: Vicky Kaushal,
Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Sheikh<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director: Meghna Gulzar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sam Bahadur is based on
the life of one of the most decorated Indian Army officers, Sam Manekshaw.
Directed by Meghna Gulzar, Sam Bahadur features Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra,
and Fatima Sana Sheikh. After a successful theatrical run, Sam Bahadur will be
released on ZEE5 on the occasion of Republic Day.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Thangalaan</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwAFdNTjSGOxnwHf5OXhMjMh105WLIAkggbvs4rXGVCzO_bn1RTyN6jx6Nv7KG4HjHTAyEUhw4l25LkSy_1skyhZaxgILePS1hu6EaruyZMV3gnmmYoDSXCjPxez3oYsnWbFTbtYVEuz2c2G-0ozxA9UlskevA6FXaDMptR_lpX_ze-KNTLI49QTPJSg/s636/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="636" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwAFdNTjSGOxnwHf5OXhMjMh105WLIAkggbvs4rXGVCzO_bn1RTyN6jx6Nv7KG4HjHTAyEUhw4l25LkSy_1skyhZaxgILePS1hu6EaruyZMV3gnmmYoDSXCjPxez3oYsnWbFTbtYVEuz2c2G-0ozxA9UlskevA6FXaDMptR_lpX_ze-KNTLI49QTPJSg/w640-h382/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Source: IMBD<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Releasing on January 26,
2024 Thangalaan is a Telegu movie, made with a massive budget and set during
the British rule in India. Thangalaan translates to 'God of Sun' and is a
historical action-drama film. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The story revolves
around a tribal leader, Thangalaan, and his valiant struggle against the
British after they plot to seize his land for gold mining. As the release date
coincides with Republic Day, it will attract a number of people to the
theatres. Cast- Vikram and Pasupathy are in the lead roles, and Parvathy
Thiruvothu, Malavika Mohanan, Daniel Caltagirone, and Harikrishnan Anbudurai
are in supporting roles.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director- Pa. Ranjith<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Producer- K. E. Gnanavel
Raja under Studio Green and Neelam Productions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Budget- Over Rs 100
crores<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release date- January 26,
2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Karmma Calling</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHabp05f2vd4lh4nTCTNRSwlRRgEi4cFVVOTwQWevYPxZTU4uM6IS-K1-bRE5ns7byJRoaxsCE0pXgCSWijafkKyPdcSMLSOA05NsvOWz_YsWgW6wuO_2VGTEWI8iBoixFczFIPBVIDQ25YS-pGdr4X0JjzZvBJqEk89XlFzVLMRkbCJA00dx3ANiovQ/s636/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="636" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHabp05f2vd4lh4nTCTNRSwlRRgEi4cFVVOTwQWevYPxZTU4uM6IS-K1-bRE5ns7byJRoaxsCE0pXgCSWijafkKyPdcSMLSOA05NsvOWz_YsWgW6wuO_2VGTEWI8iBoixFczFIPBVIDQ25YS-pGdr4X0JjzZvBJqEk89XlFzVLMRkbCJA00dx3ANiovQ/w640-h382/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Source: Disney+ Hotstar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Raveen Tandon has made a
successful comeback through the web show Aranyak, and she is all ready to grace
the OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar again with her movie Karmma Calling. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The story will be about
Indrani Kothari (Raveena Tandon), a glamorous queen of the 90s who is now
married to a billionaire. The story takes turns when she becomes the target of
a girl looking for revenge. If media reports are true, Karmma Calling is a remake
of the popular American show, Revenge. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast- Raveena Tandon,
Sabrina Gomez, Micaela Gabrielle, and Carmen Dahlman<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director- Ruchi Narain<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Producer- Ashutosh Shah
and Taher Shabbir of R.A.T. Films<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Budget- Not Available<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release date- January
26, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Evolution Hardcover
:by Dr Alice Roberts (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYJrV-C4e9cCw0ayVqRFsI6olmmipc3vEVirCzuqnwoYiJIOvvxUuNDpTGWuCXxlUPelJHc7rvMp1bQ-klwtk-xgqcD3y1vQDGujKvIXrU3jfapqUvqRlT3aawAYznJZxS9N8RhpwtHCyEVoCegW5Swoqle3uwE9O5iztwIhUGEZpLqzfuKk5r2bytgk/s2283/evolutionbook1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2283" data-original-width="1654" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYJrV-C4e9cCw0ayVqRFsI6olmmipc3vEVirCzuqnwoYiJIOvvxUuNDpTGWuCXxlUPelJHc7rvMp1bQ-klwtk-xgqcD3y1vQDGujKvIXrU3jfapqUvqRlT3aawAYznJZxS9N8RhpwtHCyEVoCegW5Swoqle3uwE9O5iztwIhUGEZpLqzfuKk5r2bytgk/w464-h640/evolutionbook1.jpg" width="464" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Travel back in time
almost eight million years to explore the roots of the human family tree.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Written and
authenticated by a team of experts and with a foreword by Professor Alice
Roberts, Evolution brings us face to face with our ancestors. Interweaving
latest discoveries, maps, and incredible illustrations, it tells the story of
our origins and helps us better understand our species, from tree-dwelling
primates to modern humans.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1q1lPlAfs5HonhuN2m8qxTifsJLxioNWA9xQlsuWom1HNLUN9T4jgvTR06vrEABNXhGOABDLT8VtGxZGR6BIUX7x1M1Q4jO-nQ1OcXZN1mT4b5bYzMPWP81nT1cgepKTRCcz1Zub89nc3M9z8qeFRg3TT6M7yUwx6yITtfE6rkwoJ0wufff_cDq1JI2o/s2235/evolutionbook0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2235" data-original-width="1654" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1q1lPlAfs5HonhuN2m8qxTifsJLxioNWA9xQlsuWom1HNLUN9T4jgvTR06vrEABNXhGOABDLT8VtGxZGR6BIUX7x1M1Q4jO-nQ1OcXZN1mT4b5bYzMPWP81nT1cgepKTRCcz1Zub89nc3M9z8qeFRg3TT6M7yUwx6yITtfE6rkwoJ0wufff_cDq1JI2o/w474-h640/evolutionbook0001.jpg" width="474" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Renowned Dutch
paleoartists the Kennis brothers bring our ancestors to life with their
beautiful, accurate reconstructions that visually trace each step in our
evolutionary history. Combined with clear prose, this comprehensive yet
accessible book provides a rich history of each stage of human evolution, from
human anatomy and behaviour to the environment we live in.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Travel back 8 million
years with Evolution The Human Story and go on a fascinating journey to
discover how our species has developed from tree-dwelling primates to modern
humans.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgHerz3UfiDPlR6ZWb3CINpzBn3m3njixCZGG-U6ekLHmQQwT7gXDf-B62P1O3_CTEBQS-qaMgR1TKzM3j8e-ljSpBXzIXz09fwpd-W8tRpx0c4riMD3my-BVMOemRwpjvdbnb0nqjFKvAPjSVTPnbhmDQ_1_tEoM8pzqowBSBfxeFn2c4NTqjrgVgVA/s1500/BOOK3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1500" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgHerz3UfiDPlR6ZWb3CINpzBn3m3njixCZGG-U6ekLHmQQwT7gXDf-B62P1O3_CTEBQS-qaMgR1TKzM3j8e-ljSpBXzIXz09fwpd-W8tRpx0c4riMD3my-BVMOemRwpjvdbnb0nqjFKvAPjSVTPnbhmDQ_1_tEoM8pzqowBSBfxeFn2c4NTqjrgVgVA/w640-h382/BOOK3.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is the first time
that the story of evolution has been documented in such amazing visual detail
thanks to the work of the renowned Dutch paleoartists, Kennis and Kennis.
Staggeringly realistic CGI and model reconstructions from original fossils
bring us face to face with our distant ancestors portraying them as never
before. Plus, Dr Alice Roberts shares her extensive knowledge helping answer
all the big questions and more.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Evolution: The Human
Story is packed with all the latest discoveries and profiles every human
ancestor to date from Ardipithecus ramidus to Homo neanderthalensis. An
essential read for anyone fascinated in finding out where we come from.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Alice Roberts:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsrt7b8SMyuEQHd_QwJmzKIk27u228fe0m35XAUfs8yatxVzZXP68If8zKOLxj-xRk81ltyaHD_-FFiMithk2qB6rXT4V3o5byaa2caGz0qtLARdF87HzgOFpqKWIPd0qWxgNoldwFf9RUvq6fxUVKOQkO8hx1H-KiJm76zGZ9hPrbe97EbWDmaixAFQ/s640/WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsrt7b8SMyuEQHd_QwJmzKIk27u228fe0m35XAUfs8yatxVzZXP68If8zKOLxj-xRk81ltyaHD_-FFiMithk2qB6rXT4V3o5byaa2caGz0qtLARdF87HzgOFpqKWIPd0qWxgNoldwFf9RUvq6fxUVKOQkO8hx1H-KiJm76zGZ9hPrbe97EbWDmaixAFQ/w640-h360/WRITER.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Alice May Roberts FRSB
(born 19 May 1973)is an English academic, TV presenter and author. Since 2012
she has been Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of
Birmingham. She was president of the charity Humanists UK between January 2019
and May 2022. She is now a vice president of the organisation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Early life and
education</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8gyqsJNNle84kJRV_eqDGpvnID05aqkCWarYSnOEQx4Cq3XxFLryto-_rna3s21cuq4jdnHWPgReXkE4w3u6uZ_GdJkrks3G86d0CcaAY4nPmBWsb-7oI-nFW6Wds-H2HopjzCrapTzuX5Wbf2pM3b1f0u6pJke89dxg9-MPNPm95pSYcoYFsBRoI0M/s1047/WRITER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8gyqsJNNle84kJRV_eqDGpvnID05aqkCWarYSnOEQx4Cq3XxFLryto-_rna3s21cuq4jdnHWPgReXkE4w3u6uZ_GdJkrks3G86d0CcaAY4nPmBWsb-7oI-nFW6Wds-H2HopjzCrapTzuX5Wbf2pM3b1f0u6pJke89dxg9-MPNPm95pSYcoYFsBRoI0M/w490-h640/WRITER2.jpg" width="490" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Roberts was born in
Bristol in 1973, the daughter of an aeronautical engineer and an English and
arts teacher. She grew up in the Bristol suburb of Westbury-on-Trym where she
attended The Red Maids' School. In December 1988, she won the BBC1 Blue Peter
Young Artists competition, appearing with her picture and the presenters on the
front cover of the 10 December 1988 edition of the Radio Times.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Roberts studied medicine
at the University of Wales College of Medicine (now part of Cardiff University)
and graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB BCh)
degree, having gained an intercalated Bachelor of Science degree in Anatomy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VBM3ZK6NHl4Tsm1XZeHLuPuathAwwie_xduziqGFgkR2mJLxqYmNFh57XZxKUwAP_bjy8IYtfZPzHlqdhiGKkHakWJ6JYQhbke-toH1o5UG2ytVpcijbhyMuplHSI18ZQsL7FfM4IzHZ0vLoPpvZj8qXploM8i99b_C5An_dLPTKg-izY3_njcoJ3Wc/s797/ALLWRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="797" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VBM3ZK6NHl4Tsm1XZeHLuPuathAwwie_xduziqGFgkR2mJLxqYmNFh57XZxKUwAP_bjy8IYtfZPzHlqdhiGKkHakWJ6JYQhbke-toH1o5UG2ytVpcijbhyMuplHSI18ZQsL7FfM4IzHZ0vLoPpvZj8qXploM8i99b_C5An_dLPTKg-izY3_njcoJ3Wc/w640-h176/ALLWRITER.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-55590500892594011662024-01-26T21:29:00.000+09:002024-01-26T21:29:14.968+09:00RAM TEMPLE MODEL ANIMATION IN 3DS MAX<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YomikHrjG0Z1evCyjzSs5z3GdvE26B4ZtD2NNnB5ITCrYHRt8gvALg1zCS3FzKx0U_nuVUjHMTAJRtaMUgb0UGQeRWh9hdfGR58oL9dcQOkKSbVzaERw_vaJE3KNClUE7jkykJzbj1xor-aEZ_1R5rg_ZYrKDlAajKk3vv3kHS4GTnw3EuUMJ26MeoQ/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK20124GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMezNn8ia8-FnUUsphvRO0C_iL5w_S_FiyiRl_hKmtTlKejF9k7hCnHoa6QzQNaJwI0qo1HWg_iiAZmrQA3WkFZm8r4F1AincLWsjCSlH1u6NgqphNWbi2I1UHvj6NCmbThIKoS_NMae_ThozHDvFRXGd54MCIgiIQV2rrTk4cHPk9r5w_zARWjJoF6Qo/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMezNn8ia8-FnUUsphvRO0C_iL5w_S_FiyiRl_hKmtTlKejF9k7hCnHoa6QzQNaJwI0qo1HWg_iiAZmrQA3WkFZm8r4F1AincLWsjCSlH1u6NgqphNWbi2I1UHvj6NCmbThIKoS_NMae_ThozHDvFRXGd54MCIgiIQV2rrTk4cHPk9r5w_zARWjJoF6Qo/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Experiment could
test quantum nature of large masses for the first time:by University College
London<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXrO7X8DBGT1yN0a8iuSuOaxkGsTG84cZGqjc_zceakbYL6aRMeAeXI57aiPQDumhW8EgDfj4KbDCV7f5jvyDZoO0AjN8co13Drx2kXL5qSPb0TRusZPvZPA8LdBr3z2Y6KMqqn0uaJf8TSLxeyK8KXjBu4832PjZVTDZubHDUys6wkYUq6MA-yz6L2M/s2767/Technicians%20inspect%20the%20First%20Contact%20coating%20on%20one%20of%20LIGO's%20Input%20Test%20Masses%20(mirrors).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1845" data-original-width="2767" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXrO7X8DBGT1yN0a8iuSuOaxkGsTG84cZGqjc_zceakbYL6aRMeAeXI57aiPQDumhW8EgDfj4KbDCV7f5jvyDZoO0AjN8co13Drx2kXL5qSPb0TRusZPvZPA8LdBr3z2Y6KMqqn0uaJf8TSLxeyK8KXjBu4832PjZVTDZubHDUys6wkYUq6MA-yz6L2M/w640-h426/Technicians%20inspect%20the%20First%20Contact%20coating%20on%20one%20of%20LIGO's%20Input%20Test%20Masses%20(mirrors).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Technicians inspect the First Contact coating on one of LIGO's Input Test Masses (mirrors)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An experiment outlined
by a UCL (University College London)-led team of scientists from the UK and
India could test whether relatively large masses have a quantum nature,
resolving the question of whether quantum mechanical description works at a
much larger scale than that of particles and atoms.Quantum theory is typically
seen as describing nature at the tiniest scales, and quantum effects have not
been observed in a laboratory for objects more massive than about a
quintillionth of a gram, or more precisely 10-20g.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new experiment,
described in a paper published in Physical Review Letters and involving
researchers at UCL, the University of Southampton, and the Bose Institute in
Kolkata, India, could, in principle, test the quantumness of an object
regardless of its mass or energy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The proposed experiment
exploits the principle in quantum mechanics that the act of measurement of an
object can change its nature. (The term measurement encompasses any interaction
of the object with a probe—for instance if light shines on it or if it emits
light or heat).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl8pKGohs7WmVL9GDpmfxmousUEXP8sx8UF6iMHomRlq1stHBtiXmYvPHstJ7MCXRcvikBSlpO2cQ5wybCYzxbEYd0H-M8SNQarLtWve86nagX1OCMnIVIHoH_87RPhlobwQ-CyS_DuQvgHVpw1Oc4NvV8lVRcZY_q2TXc9D8F4D0XDQMm5UT7PZWCJo/s1173/NANOPARTICLES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="1173" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl8pKGohs7WmVL9GDpmfxmousUEXP8sx8UF6iMHomRlq1stHBtiXmYvPHstJ7MCXRcvikBSlpO2cQ5wybCYzxbEYd0H-M8SNQarLtWve86nagX1OCMnIVIHoH_87RPhlobwQ-CyS_DuQvgHVpw1Oc4NvV8lVRcZY_q2TXc9D8F4D0XDQMm5UT7PZWCJo/w640-h268/NANOPARTICLES.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The experiment focuses
on a pendulum-like object oscillating like a ball on a string. A light is shone
on one-half of the area of oscillation, revealing information about the
location of the object (i.e., if scattered light is not observed, then it can
be concluded that the object is not in that half). A second light is shone,
showing the location of the object further along on its swing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If the object is
quantum, the first measurement (the first flash of light) will disturb its path
(by measurement-induced collapse—a property inherent to quantum mechanics),
changing the likelihood of where it will be at the second flash of light,
whereas if it is classical, then the act of observation will make no
difference. Researchers can then compare scenarios in which they shine a light
twice to ones where only the second flash of light occurs to see if there is a
difference in the final distributions of the object.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrudcbGY4gZne0SymjcFb8iiAavM1wpa4cEvZaBcWavhJBGoZVeJvxtkxRtsErIxzfpf_HxA5MtO4Mzb6BjU598YBcofHzOTtvok6jRWn0-SXRrBRK64xzXG8N92ULqW5qCOmJzDTQ6LcGQIz30HFWlN8KU5aK_q8eEN4m-GREIZdJYyO5kqhbTKFNMw/s558/NANOPARTICLES4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="558" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrudcbGY4gZne0SymjcFb8iiAavM1wpa4cEvZaBcWavhJBGoZVeJvxtkxRtsErIxzfpf_HxA5MtO4Mzb6BjU598YBcofHzOTtvok6jRWn0-SXRrBRK64xzXG8N92ULqW5qCOmJzDTQ6LcGQIz30HFWlN8KU5aK_q8eEN4m-GREIZdJYyO5kqhbTKFNMw/w640-h540/NANOPARTICLES4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lead author Dr. Debarshi
Das (UCL Physics & Astronomy and the Royal Society) said, "A crowd at
a football match cannot affect the result of the game simply by staring
strongly. But with quantum mechanics, the act of observation or measurement
itself changes the system."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Our proposed
experiment can test if an object is classical or quantum by seeing if an act of
observation can lead to a change in its motion."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The proposal, the
researchers say, could be implemented with current technologies using
nanocrystals or, in principle, even using mirrors at LIGO (Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-Wave Observatory) in the United States which have an effective
mass of 10kg.The four LIGO mirrors, which each weigh 40kg but together vibrate
as if they were a single 10kg object, have already been cooled to the
minimum-energy state (a fraction above absolute zero) that would be required in
any experiment seeking to detect quantum behavior.Senior author Professor
Sougato Bose (UCL Physics & Astronomy) said, "Our scheme has wide
conceptual implications. It could test whether relatively large objects have
definite properties, i.e., their properties are real, even when we are not
measuring them. It could extend the domain of quantum mechanics and probe
whether this fundamental theory of nature is valid only at certain scales or if
it holds true for larger masses, too.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IY_Ut-S3pG8o8EZWnSBgXWu9vxZF216RxawzKprg3SBNheMBWMaXiDqMWZ3ob1dRHwTWLw1PN_CB0dNrCDMhdvAbkLe9O9_ivwgq8FyqfSQk743B_eWdmzp-bYDTou1cJS67slt7VLwgB5NoVbL4i3VyQR0vJyl1aa0WkZwUGQwYQRHE3f6_fWlVHxU/s2000/A%20silica%20nanoparticle%20has%20been%20cooled%20to%20its%20quantum%20ground%20state..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="2000" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IY_Ut-S3pG8o8EZWnSBgXWu9vxZF216RxawzKprg3SBNheMBWMaXiDqMWZ3ob1dRHwTWLw1PN_CB0dNrCDMhdvAbkLe9O9_ivwgq8FyqfSQk743B_eWdmzp-bYDTou1cJS67slt7VLwgB5NoVbL4i3VyQR0vJyl1aa0WkZwUGQwYQRHE3f6_fWlVHxU/w640-h322/A%20silica%20nanoparticle%20has%20been%20cooled%20to%20its%20quantum%20ground%20state..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A silica nanoparticle has been cooled to its quantum ground state.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"If we do not
encounter a mass limit to quantum mechanics, this makes ever more acute the
problem of trying to reconcile quantum theory with reality as we experience
it."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In quantum mechanics,
objects do not have definite properties until they are observed or interact
with their environment. Prior to observation they do not exist in a definite
location but may be in two places at once (a state of superposition). This led
to Einstein's remark: "Is the moon there when no one is looking at
it?"<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Quantum mechanics may
seem at odds with our experience of reality, but its insights have helped the
development of computers, smartphones, broadband, GPS, and magnetic resonance
imaging.Most physicists believe quantum mechanics holds true at larger scales
but is merely harder to observe due to the isolation required to preserve a
quantum state. To detect quantum behavior in an object, its temperature or
vibrations must be reduced to its lowest possible level (its ground state), and
it must be in a vacuum so that nearly no atoms are interacting with it. That is
because a quantum state will collapse, a process called decoherence if the
object interacts with its environment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new proposed
experiment is a development of an earlier quantum test devised by Professor
Bose and colleagues in 2018. A project to conduct an experiment using this
methodology, which will test the quantum nature of a nanocrystal numbering a
billion atoms, is already underway, led by the University of Southampton.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That project already
aims for a jump in terms of mass, with previous attempts to test the quantum
nature of a macroscopic object limited to hundreds of thousands of atoms. The
newly published scheme, meanwhile, could be achieved with current technologies
using a nanocrystal with trillions of atoms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oscillating
nanocrystal</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrfZpb0ISuuZirbE9-CqQjWmiow8T6KytHTbZH071ZnzIeak6ct4cKjr3b5xZduj8Q6BIZCG9rduX4ttkLzdCd9KhZVEgLcSXxRVOGpmocVRq0kFECU5FVQjmIULlUsovvZFOLw-614Y0XjJ6_hYYQqltIvM6d9INDqOVNVtgMEWmzXCQi5SqISYx_AI/s585/NANOPARTICLES5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="585" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrfZpb0ISuuZirbE9-CqQjWmiow8T6KytHTbZH071ZnzIeak6ct4cKjr3b5xZduj8Q6BIZCG9rduX4ttkLzdCd9KhZVEgLcSXxRVOGpmocVRq0kFECU5FVQjmIULlUsovvZFOLw-614Y0XjJ6_hYYQqltIvM6d9INDqOVNVtgMEWmzXCQi5SqISYx_AI/w640-h558/NANOPARTICLES5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2018, the theoretical
physicist Sougato Bose at University College London and colleagues proposed
doing such a test on a cooled nanocrystal that oscillates back and forth in an
optical harmonic trap. The position of the nanocrystal would be determined by
focusing a beam of light on one side of a trap. If the light passes through
without scattering, the object is in the other side of the trap. By observing
the same side of the trap later on, one can calculate whether or not the
Leggett-Garg inequality is violated. If it is, an initial non-detection of the
object would have disturbed its quantum state, and therefore the nanocrystal
would display quantum behaviour.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The problem, says Bose,
is that the mass must be measured in the same side of the trap twice. This is
viable only for masses with short periods of oscillation because the quantum
state must remain coherent throughout the measurement. However, large masses of
interest will have periods that are too long for this to work. Now, Bose and
colleagues propose that the second measurement be made at a location that, if
the object obeys classical mechanics, it is expected to have reached.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It is much better to go
to the place where it would go due to its normal oscillation and find out how
much it differs about that place,” says Bose.The benefit of this scheme is
that, as long as the object remains in a coherent state, it should be possible
to do the experiment for objects of any mass as it is always possible to
calculate the expected position of a classical harmonic oscillator. It does
become more difficult to isolate larger object, but Bose believes these
apparently classical states would be more robust to noise than exotic
macroscopic quantum states such as superpositions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) How
disease-causing microbes load their tiny syringes to prep an attack By Elise
Cutts<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_o0Rb1NZCPZjDTWIWdHC37dqboOeijuMWS3wJj-k9nRhbyP7jV10iARhDJ2i5OyokOA5melgRow7K91QtccRIr1O_8T5_-PosNhNmwUFwfLz77HOox1bAsiQ5uD-5yoDfrIUmm69zhRzuA6Kn2S5vEW5UUikxi-roxEnG8xqjSHmZ8EXHuTXBu6V04I/s857/BACTERIALSYRINGE1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="857" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_o0Rb1NZCPZjDTWIWdHC37dqboOeijuMWS3wJj-k9nRhbyP7jV10iARhDJ2i5OyokOA5melgRow7K91QtccRIr1O_8T5_-PosNhNmwUFwfLz77HOox1bAsiQ5uD-5yoDfrIUmm69zhRzuA6Kn2S5vEW5UUikxi-roxEnG8xqjSHmZ8EXHuTXBu6V04I/w640-h424/BACTERIALSYRINGE1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Swallow the wrong
microbe, and you might end up in the hospital with a needle or two in your arm
— and plenty of itty-bitty bacterial needles poking at you from the inside.
That’s because many bacteria that make us sick use microscopic, syringelike
structures to inject our cells with proteins that wreak havoc from the inside.
Now, researchers have shown how these microbes load their nanoscale needles
with proteins.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tracking individual
proteins as they jittered around inside living bacteria revealed the microbes
use a shuttle bus–like system to load their syringes: shuttle proteins travel
random paths within the microbes’ interiors, grabbing cargo destined for
injection as they go and dropping it off at the syringes, scientists report
January 3 in Nature Microbiology. Knowing how these bacterial needles work
could help scientists learn how to disrupt them — or commandeer them for
medical applications, like using bacterial needles to inject cancer cells with
targeted drugs while leaving healthy tissue unscathed. Shuttling proteins to
the syringe is “a really novel molecular mechanism that was not known before,”
says microbiologist Andreas Diepold of the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial
Microbiology in Marburg, Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y_DRN2ql0rkBDQXnLyUbpta-YS6OmxiD7rAE4K5faNQv4jNpITeZbiagLce30jtmKD19DAWJjqCzE0qBuwJHyEJMyOaLiq5M2cdhyphenhyphenwYhjcjKL4XV4-X-WMdHYq4dLqb2DAPS0Re7VNlL_8VW9Tp0S5ZdTun6JGFR99oXCaBdPBngCkWu6L8fO4m8OPc/s580/BACTERIALSYRINGE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="568" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y_DRN2ql0rkBDQXnLyUbpta-YS6OmxiD7rAE4K5faNQv4jNpITeZbiagLce30jtmKD19DAWJjqCzE0qBuwJHyEJMyOaLiq5M2cdhyphenhyphenwYhjcjKL4XV4-X-WMdHYq4dLqb2DAPS0Re7VNlL_8VW9Tp0S5ZdTun6JGFR99oXCaBdPBngCkWu6L8fO4m8OPc/w626-h640/BACTERIALSYRINGE2.jpg" width="626" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Under the microscope,
the syringelike structures, called a type-III secretion system, look like
hollow needles just wide enough for a single unfolded protein to slither
through, Diepold says. A microbe’s entire surface might be covered in such
needles, giving the bacterium the look of a sinister little pincushion.
Scientists know the protein structure of these nanoscale needles quite well.
But “we don’t know the basic question of how they recruit whatever is
injected,” he says. Previous studies suggested that a ring of proteins at the
base of the secretion system, where it attaches to the bacterial cell membrane,
might act something like a sorting platform that grabs target proteins and
loads them into the syringe. But that work wasn’t done in living cells, says
microbial geneticist Kelly Hughes of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City,
who was not involved in the new study.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Other studies in live
cells, including recent work by Diepold and his colleagues, hinted that the
components of the sorting platform might not stay put at the bases of the
syringes. Instead, they might wander around the gel-like jumble of fluids,
proteins and other biological bits enclosed within a bacterium’s cell membrane,
picking up and dropping off target proteins as they go — like shuttle buses.The
new study put the shuttle-bus idea to the test by using fluorescence microscopy
to track the movement of individual sorting platform proteins in Yersinia
enterocolitica, a stomach bug that lurks in undercooked pork. Maps of the
proteins’ paths show them wandering random, zigzag paths through the cells. And
experiments with mutant Y. enterocolitica that lack injectable proteins
revealed that the shuttle-bus proteins move more quickly in the mutants —
without any injectable targets to bind to, the shuttle-bus proteins don’t get
weighed down by cargo and can diffuse faster through the cells. This showed
that the sorting platform proteins don’t just wander; they also pick up
passengers along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What I loved about this
paper was that it was all set in vivo,” in living cells, Hughes says. “You get
these beautiful pictures. And you know, a picture’s worth a thousand words.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Unraveling more of the
outstanding mysteries surrounding these microscale needles will make it easier for
scientists to throw a wrench in these machines, or to tinker with them. This
type of secretion system, one of a handful of different types of needles
bacteria have at their disposal, is widespread across different species of
bacteria, Diepold says, so they’re good targets for new types of antibacterial
drugs (SN: 3/30/22).They’re also promising tools for medicine and biotech,
Hughes says. But as much as they look like medical syringes, bacterial syringes
work differently — and scientists still don’t know exactly how bacteria push
proteins through their needles. It’s also unclear how the proteins that load up
the needles recognize their targets. “We want to understand the riddle of how
these systems work,” Diepold says. “We want to understand which solutions
evolution came up with to allow bacteria to infect us.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Artificial
intelligence helped scientists create a new type of battery :By Emily Conover<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9fkJpYqBc7qC0LQ9bGbPp2aU_rlcLi7XzHsk5vloCWRsyaycFM0MuspI6n4PE425RTGL_829Dg99xHGeCOsYeAY7H4xWgZBI4DhH7Yj7xb_6AJJGhgivLCTogYcMhl1pwpTr2Lrvlw4PmDs3e7kx5_s29xGwZ01o09MEXJZGjlZVUuWp-ApHZD7V0jo/s691/Batteries%20made%20with%20the%20new%20material%20are%20tested%20to%20see%20how%20they%20charge%20and%20discharge%20power.%20(Dan%20DeLong%20for%20Microsoft).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="691" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9fkJpYqBc7qC0LQ9bGbPp2aU_rlcLi7XzHsk5vloCWRsyaycFM0MuspI6n4PE425RTGL_829Dg99xHGeCOsYeAY7H4xWgZBI4DhH7Yj7xb_6AJJGhgivLCTogYcMhl1pwpTr2Lrvlw4PmDs3e7kx5_s29xGwZ01o09MEXJZGjlZVUuWp-ApHZD7V0jo/w640-h426/Batteries%20made%20with%20the%20new%20material%20are%20tested%20to%20see%20how%20they%20charge%20and%20discharge%20power.%20(Dan%20DeLong%20for%20Microsoft).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batteries made with the new material are tested to see how they charge and discharge power. (Dan DeLong for Microsoft)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Microsoft’s AI Helps
Find Promising New Battery Material With 70% Less Lithium.</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the hunt for new materials,
scientists have traditionally relied on tinkering in the lab, guided by
intuition, with a hefty serving of trial and error.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But now a new battery
material has been discovered by combining two computing superpowers: artificial
intelligence and supercomputing. It’s a discovery that highlights the potential
for using computers to help scientists discover materials suited to specific
needs, from batteries to carbon capture technologies to catalysts. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogZPniOEwu50-X7b9lU2t0ROoMiMKow70Om8DvCsUZ3UnpqtUSfKgODFNq8-gOF_c_TL5vWwsTVWDPKpukm1Tu5NvtGHHAlDgI9KLZDUUcLP0oWqtUyHaYDU_yzeHAg9bSZi2UCuVgIWH559e-x7lCnKPU8o7mz5sB4Ql7XOt8DENmXFfZoTiRkpVZzE/s691/A%20materials%20scientist%20at%20Pacific%20Northwest%20National%20Laboratory%20assembles%20a%20prototype%20battery%20using%20the%20newfound%20material.%20(Dan%20DeLong%20for%20Microsoft).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="691" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogZPniOEwu50-X7b9lU2t0ROoMiMKow70Om8DvCsUZ3UnpqtUSfKgODFNq8-gOF_c_TL5vWwsTVWDPKpukm1Tu5NvtGHHAlDgI9KLZDUUcLP0oWqtUyHaYDU_yzeHAg9bSZi2UCuVgIWH559e-x7lCnKPU8o7mz5sB4Ql7XOt8DENmXFfZoTiRkpVZzE/w640-h426/A%20materials%20scientist%20at%20Pacific%20Northwest%20National%20Laboratory%20assembles%20a%20prototype%20battery%20using%20the%20newfound%20material.%20(Dan%20DeLong%20for%20Microsoft).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A materials scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory assembles a prototype battery using the newfound material. (Dan DeLong for Microsoft)</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Calculations winnowed
down more than 32 million candidate materials to just 23 promising options,
researchers from Microsoft and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, or PNNL,
report in a paper submitted January 8 to arXiv.org. The team then synthesized and
tested one of those materials and created a working battery prototype.While
scientists have used AI to predict materials’ properties before, previous
studies typically haven’t seen that process through to producing the new
material. “The nice thing about this paper is that it goes all the way from
start to finish,” says computational materials scientist Shyue Ping Ong of the
University of California, San Diego, who was not involved with the research.The
researchers targeted a coveted type of battery material: a solid electrolyte.
An electrolyte is a material that transfers ions — electrically charged atoms —
back and forth between a battery’s electrodes. In standard lithium-ion
batteries, the electrolyte is a liquid. But that comes with hazards, like batteries
leaking or causing fires. Developing batteries with solid electrolytes is a
major aim of materials scientists.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoXzWdGu4Dp8b3iyPVKhfFTjhTzXOftl8Ha9iflNrya3Ie62ZTCo0Lja2Z_Uj7K5jPpmtbWWHVmOSpXOpUDwpuXVz8nI3PG12vFQHqANjskoXBa51p_mEHAw7dbGnHmdCzuVQtgIV_q5VOE31xg_qIoH4D88UqiUMfVCDXyPd8RuoZx-CqKiUvvuasHA/s1024/NEWBATTERIES4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoXzWdGu4Dp8b3iyPVKhfFTjhTzXOftl8Ha9iflNrya3Ie62ZTCo0Lja2Z_Uj7K5jPpmtbWWHVmOSpXOpUDwpuXVz8nI3PG12vFQHqANjskoXBa51p_mEHAw7dbGnHmdCzuVQtgIV_q5VOE31xg_qIoH4D88UqiUMfVCDXyPd8RuoZx-CqKiUvvuasHA/w640-h360/NEWBATTERIES4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The original 32 million
candidates were generated via a game of mix-and-match, substituting different
elements in crystal structures of known materials. Sorting through a list this
large with traditional physics calculations would have taken decades, says
computational chemist Nathan Baker of Microsoft. But with machine learning
techniques, which can make quick predictions based on patterns learned from
known materials, the calculation produced results in just 80 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhil7kvUeqhTO6hzZ8PocolLAJ9pz1Q9vB972p0lcNTuNYaT7H444b5WPurG8KMZN0Z3h-3nK7NKDS6mj08BEisAjUtsgsPvmr8EM8xJuXObR3rOY6xpSojEUOL-oEOrmsuICbUuClRTdqGCHi81FPYFHW-dQpXletI3AeAme-cmHukOFgjkW-LLbZVc/s858/NEWBATTERIES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="858" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhil7kvUeqhTO6hzZ8PocolLAJ9pz1Q9vB972p0lcNTuNYaT7H444b5WPurG8KMZN0Z3h-3nK7NKDS6mj08BEisAjUtsgsPvmr8EM8xJuXObR3rOY6xpSojEUOL-oEOrmsuICbUuClRTdqGCHi81FPYFHW-dQpXletI3AeAme-cmHukOFgjkW-LLbZVc/w640-h384/NEWBATTERIES.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">First, the researchers
used AI to filter the materials based on stability, namely, whether they could
actually exist in the real world. That pared the list down to fewer than 600,000
candidates. Further AI analysis selected candidates likely to have the
electrical and chemical properties necessary for batteries. Because AI models
are approximate, the researchers filtered this smaller list using
tried-and-tested, computationally intensive methods based on physics. They also
weeded out rare, toxic or expensive materials. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That left the
researchers with 23 candidates, five of which were already known. Researchers
at PNNL picked a material that looked promising — it was related to other
materials that the researchers knew how to make in the lab, and it had suitable
stability and conductivity. Then they set to work synthesizing it, eventually
fashioning it into a prototype battery. And it worked.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0jZOpW8PqPfb8U159tufdyEgeVm44xN6XxJv6xYwmxaiE0FNIKP-tRT74frtXBXw5ykEadmwdrQ1BtZ456I1NyKK5_Mh1msXrtqacGCkA7z0_xQBtMeci2MdaU_-I8pW_dVYZ08uo-qtj3kCpJJh2d4P_Roz6qshNj0ihu6OJumjzOKT477XD0RSHf0/s750/An%20Indian-origin%20scientist,%20Vijay%20Murugesan-led%20team%20has%20discovered%20a%20new%20battery%20material%20using%20Artificial%20Intelligence%20(AI)%20and%20supercomputing%20that.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="750" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0jZOpW8PqPfb8U159tufdyEgeVm44xN6XxJv6xYwmxaiE0FNIKP-tRT74frtXBXw5ykEadmwdrQ1BtZ456I1NyKK5_Mh1msXrtqacGCkA7z0_xQBtMeci2MdaU_-I8pW_dVYZ08uo-qtj3kCpJJh2d4P_Roz6qshNj0ihu6OJumjzOKT477XD0RSHf0/w640-h384/An%20Indian-origin%20scientist,%20Vijay%20Murugesan-led%20team%20has%20discovered%20a%20new%20battery%20material%20using%20Artificial%20Intelligence%20(AI)%20and%20supercomputing%20that.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Indian-origin scientist, Vijay Murugesan-led team has discovered a new battery material using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and supercomputing that</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“That’s when we got very
excited,” says materials scientist Vijay Murugesan of PNNL in Richland, Wash.
Going from the synthesis stage to the functional battery took about six months.
“That is superfast.”The new electrolyte is similar to a known material
containing lithium, yttrium and chlorine,
but swaps some lithium for sodium — an advantage as lithium is costly
and in high demand (SN: 5/7/19).Combining lithium and sodium is unconventional.
“In a usual approach … we would not mix these two together,” says materials
scientist Yan Zeng of Florida State University in Tallahassee, who was not
involved in the research. The typical practice is to use either lithium or
sodium ions as a conductor, not both. The two types of ions might be expected
to compete with one another, resulting in worse performance. The unorthodox
material highlights one hope for AI in research, Zeng says: “AI can sort of
step out of the box.”In the new work, the researchers created a series of AI
models that could predict different properties of a material, based on training
data from known materials. The AI architecture is a type known as a graph
neural network, in which a system is represented as a graph, a mathematical
structure composed of “edges” and “nodes.” This type of model is particularly
suited for describing materials, as the nodes can represent atoms, and the
edges can represent bonds between the elements.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To perform both the AI
and physics-based calculations, the team used Microsoft’s Azure Quantum
Elements, which provides access to a cloud-based supercomputer tailored for
chemistry and materials science research.The project, Baker says, is an example
of a practice known in tech circles as “eating your own dog food,” in which a
company uses its own product to confirm that it works. In the future, he says
he hopes others will pick up the tool and use it for a variety of scientific
endeavors.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Key moment in
the evolution of life on Earth captured in fossils :by Curtin University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VgMYHA_Iy5Y8mhLt5cbPQ3oZbNgryAojGu5y6UuIp9NTWGYmquWn_482jHGSxc7SgZhSpARPrSM0wYnH2RQ1zEAIRJugQTDg6GM0W0w8tjdIjVFvkza07M-EbV3klRwoIEFiNb27rp5DLHPo3ld_F5KUP1tlCdyVJ40xnrk0SWNvLth8H-4mQztMkEk/s2880/The%20Welsh%20countryside%20near%20the%20Coed%20Cochion%20Quarry,%20where%20the%20fossils%20were%20found.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2880" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VgMYHA_Iy5Y8mhLt5cbPQ3oZbNgryAojGu5y6UuIp9NTWGYmquWn_482jHGSxc7SgZhSpARPrSM0wYnH2RQ1zEAIRJugQTDg6GM0W0w8tjdIjVFvkza07M-EbV3klRwoIEFiNb27rp5DLHPo3ld_F5KUP1tlCdyVJ40xnrk0SWNvLth8H-4mQztMkEk/w640-h480/The%20Welsh%20countryside%20near%20the%20Coed%20Cochion%20Quarry,%20where%20the%20fossils%20were%20found.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Welsh countryside near the Coed Cochion Quarry, where the fossils were found</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Curtin-led research has
for the first time precisely dated some of the oldest fossils of complex
multicellular life in the world, helping to track a pivotal moment in the
history of Earth when the seas began teeming with new lifeforms—after 4 billion
years of containing only single-celled microbes. The research paper, "U–Pb
zircon-rutile dating of the Llangynog Inlier, Wales: Constraints on an
Ediacaran shallow 1 marine fossil assemblage from East Avalonia," appears
in the Journal of the Geological Society.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lead author Ph.D.
student Anthony Clarke, from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group within
Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said to determine the age of
the fossils, researchers used volcanic ash layers like bookmarks in the
geological sequence.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Located in the
Coed Cochion Quarry in Wales, which contains the richest occurrence of shallow
marine life in Britain, we used outfall from an ancient volcano that blanketed
the animals as a time marker to accurately date the fossils to 565 million
years, accurate down to 0.1%," Clarke said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"With similar
Ediacaran fossils found at sites around the world including in Australia,
dating the fossils identifies them as being part of an ancient living community
that developed as Earth thawed out from a global ice age.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MAdhH54wY4vtRNIzdijs8rcOdRhc27ilriFfxTQNkV1w01c7L3a4LKsjLtKAHzWoVGVu4BDfygzfsu2hacNi90rgCkAZCqurbUVWWMiUBUwkymhrhOa8N7aCPxo6l2-wf1jDeqFOFgksX6tPrFDh6mbkkcRBdFxUxm7nYlABcvFDk2GBFE9rRGjY45w/s4803/FOSSILSMANY1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4803" data-original-width="3071" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MAdhH54wY4vtRNIzdijs8rcOdRhc27ilriFfxTQNkV1w01c7L3a4LKsjLtKAHzWoVGVu4BDfygzfsu2hacNi90rgCkAZCqurbUVWWMiUBUwkymhrhOa8N7aCPxo6l2-wf1jDeqFOFgksX6tPrFDh6mbkkcRBdFxUxm7nYlABcvFDk2GBFE9rRGjY45w/w410-h640/FOSSILSMANY1.jpg" width="410" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">IMAGE DESCRIPTION : </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">Photographs of the Ediacaran biota from the Llangynog Inlier. The variable scale for the images should be noted. (a) Group of Aspidella s.s. (b) Pair of Ediacaria-type morphs of Aspidella s.l., showing growth interference. (c) Ediacaria-type morph of Aspidella s.l. (d) Hiemalora. (e) Palaeopascichnus sp. (f) Yelovichnus sp. (g) A pair of Spriggia-type morphs of Aspidella. (h) Sinusoidal trace fossil. The Llangynog fossils have been deposited in Amgueddfa Cymru–Museum Wales under the registered number NMW.79.16G.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"These creatures
would in some ways resemble modern-day marine species such as jellyfish, yet in
other ways be bizarre and unfamiliar. Some appear fern-like, others like
cabbages, whereas others resembled sea pens."Study co-author Professor
Chris Kirkland, also from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group at Curtin,
said the fossils are named after the Ediacara Hills in South Australia's
Flinders Ranges, where they were first discovered, leading to the first new
geological period established in over a century.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNORH6S8tC2WIY4a29bY5tvgNDGAaaJP8NUkCQUrACmnBHrcEy6smeXIEgUHmEkbQqG1pG5yY6pXf5vkwgyls_-DAn0ekrbyzTPMfALZuKoZg7QHlI3jip7S5mshDdSz1wGprYPLESW_cjvBu_CGrbzJHk4M8msDE3-AkwLtCAL_r4tRFyXvl8Bf-r9Q/s2479/FOSSILMANY2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2479" data-original-width="1359" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNORH6S8tC2WIY4a29bY5tvgNDGAaaJP8NUkCQUrACmnBHrcEy6smeXIEgUHmEkbQqG1pG5yY6pXf5vkwgyls_-DAn0ekrbyzTPMfALZuKoZg7QHlI3jip7S5mshDdSz1wGprYPLESW_cjvBu_CGrbzJHk4M8msDE3-AkwLtCAL_r4tRFyXvl8Bf-r9Q/w350-h640/FOSSILMANY2.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">IMAGE DESCRIPTION </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;"> iostratigraphic charts for major fossil sites within the Avalonian microcontinent. Superscript letters denote the source of age data. All TIMS age uncertainties show internal and external error components, including decay constant and tracer uncertainty. LA-ICP-MS age uncertainties are reported to one decimal place. Sources: age data: (a) Compston et al. (2002), (b) Noble et al. (2015) and (c) Matthews et al. (2020). Fossil occurrences for the Llangynog Inlier are from Cope (1977, 1983). Occurrence data for Newfoundland are from Matthews et al. (2020) and references therein. For the Charnwood Forest assemblage, fossil occurrences are after Wilby et al. (2011) and Kenchington et al. (2018). Long Mynd fossil occurrences are from Peat (1984), Callow et al. (2011) and Menon et al. (2015, 2017).</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"These Welsh
fossils appear directly comparable to the famous fossils of Ediacara in South
Australia," Professor Kirkland said."The fossils, including creatures
like the disk-shaped Aspidella terranovica, showcase some of the earliest
evidence of large-scale multicellular organisms, marking a transformative moment
in Earth's biological history."Ediacaran fossils record the response of
life to the thaw out from a global glaciation, which shows the deep connection
between geological processes and biology.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Our study
underscores the importance of understanding these ancient ecosystems in order
to unravel the mysteries of Earth's past and shape our comprehension of life's
evolution."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Study suggests
that physical processes can have hidden neural network-like abilities :by
University of Chicago<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7cDpv3iXc7pzpjlfx8U2DKsh16G-mOexToq1n8GR-xgcSVWuowVHF4R629CEzFuC9UXRp8HCpl2_vZ-5WUq48QO-N2XrGk5N2qb-xUJXvbgYlF_l2uPyaR_-zEtfIxTho2hYtdaUXy7cQuwVCTqh04dibRlr672Ak0r0kPeMwykCyNXpitBMzXAltXM/s1280/NEURAL%20PROPETY1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1280" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7cDpv3iXc7pzpjlfx8U2DKsh16G-mOexToq1n8GR-xgcSVWuowVHF4R629CEzFuC9UXRp8HCpl2_vZ-5WUq48QO-N2XrGk5N2qb-xUJXvbgYlF_l2uPyaR_-zEtfIxTho2hYtdaUXy7cQuwVCTqh04dibRlr672Ak0r0kPeMwykCyNXpitBMzXAltXM/w640-h598/NEURAL%20PROPETY1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">IMAGE DESCRIPTION:</span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">Conceptual framework for pattern recognition by nucleation. When one set of molecules can potentially assemble multiple distinct structures, the nucleation process that selects between outcomes is responsive to high-dimensional concentration patterns. Assembly pathways can be depicted on an energy landscape (schematic shown) as paths from a basin for unassembled components that proceed through critical nucleation seeds (barriers) to a basin for each possible final structure. Seeds that colocalize high-concentration components will lower the nucleation barrier for corresponding assembly pathways. The resulting selectivity of nucleation in high-dimensional self-assembly is sufficiently expressive to perform complex pattern recognition in a manner analogous to neural computation. Credit: Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06890-z</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We tend to separate the
brain and the muscle—the brain does the thinking; the muscle does the doing.
The brain takes in complex information about the world and makes decisions, and
the muscle merely executes. This has also shaped how we think about a single
cell; some molecules within cells are seen as 'thinkers' that take in
information about the chemical environment and decide what the cell needs to do
for survival; separately, other molecules are seen as the 'muscle,' building
structures needed for survival.But a new study shows how the molecules that
build structures, i.e., the muscle, can themselves do both the thinking and the
doing. The study, by scientists with the University of Chicago, California
Institute of Technology, and Maynooth University, was published in Nature and
may suggest avenues for new ways to think about computation using the
principles of physics.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QqFkvSYpcmbov3y51U9fvySDFPn73boA5ovfzdwZ_XiDXcCjRhURcopFK_a6xlCDEivB70J-h2Sj7aBHUWGBs-cEMhWbDSIasymQ94-XcaSt4MDu8OPoVjNhLaFb5X0sxYDb1V4Oj_Tc6-AA5fNvtAl1ZjmV-xjt3W6lqiSwMnVoooI2Ink1htJImMU/s1380/A%20new%20study%20shows%20how%20molecules%20draw%20on%20the%20rules%20of%20physics%20to%20perform%20computations%20similar%20to%20neural%20networks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1380" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QqFkvSYpcmbov3y51U9fvySDFPn73boA5ovfzdwZ_XiDXcCjRhURcopFK_a6xlCDEivB70J-h2Sj7aBHUWGBs-cEMhWbDSIasymQ94-XcaSt4MDu8OPoVjNhLaFb5X0sxYDb1V4Oj_Tc6-AA5fNvtAl1ZjmV-xjt3W6lqiSwMnVoooI2Ink1htJImMU/w640-h360/A%20new%20study%20shows%20how%20molecules%20draw%20on%20the%20rules%20of%20physics%20to%20perform%20computations%20similar%20to%20neural%20networks.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new study shows how molecules draw on the rules of physics to perform computations similar to neural networks</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We show that a
natural molecular process—nucleation—that has been studied as a 'muscle' for a
long time can do complex calculations that rival a simple neural network,"
said UChicago Assoc. Prof. Arvind Murugan, one of the two senior co-authors of
the paper. "It's an ability hidden in plain sight—the 'doing' molecules can
also do the 'thinking.' Evolution can exploit this fact in cells to get more
done with fewer parts, with less energy and greater robustness."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Thinking using
physics</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To survive, cells need
to recognize the environment they are in and respond accordingly. For example,
some combinations of molecules might indicate a time of stress that requires
hunkering down, while other combinations of molecules might indicate a time of
plenty. However, the difference between these molecular signals can be
subtle—different environments might involve the same molecules but in different
proportions.Constantine Evans, the lead author of the study, explained that it
is a bit like walking into a house and smelling freshly baked cookies versus
smelling burning rubber. "Your brain would alter your behavior depending
on you sensing different combinations of odorful chemicals," he said.
"We set out to ask if just the physics of a molecular system can do the
same, despite not having a brain of any kind."</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The traditional view has
been that cells might be able to sense and respond in this way using molecular
circuits that conceptually resemble the electronic circuits in your laptop;
some molecules sense the amount of salt and acid in the environment, other
molecules make a decision on what to do, and finally 'muscle' molecules might
carry out an action in response, like building an internal protective structure
or a pump to remove unwanted molecules.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Murugan and his
colleagues wanted to explore an alternative idea: that all of these tasks—sensing,
decision making, response—can be accomplished in one step by the physics
inherent to the 'muscle' molecules that build a structure.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They did so by working
with the principle of "phase transitions." Think of a glass of water
freezing when it hits 32F; first, a little fragment of ice 'nucleates,' and
then grows out until the whole glass of water is frozen.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the face of it, these
initial steps in the act of freezing—called 'nucleation' in physics—does not
resemble 'thinking'. But the new study shows that the act of freezing can
"recognize" subtly different chemical combinations—e.g., the smell of
oatmeal raisin cookies versus chocolate chip—and build different molecular
structures in response.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Robustness in
experiments</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The scientists tested
the robustness of 'phase transitions'–based decision-making using DNA
nanotechnology, a field that Erik Winfree (BS'91) helped pioneer. They showed
that a mixture of molecules would form one of three structures depending on
what concentrations of molecules were present in the beaker.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"In each case, the
molecules came together to build different nanometer-scale structures in
response to different chemical patterns—except the act of building the
structure in itself made the decision on what to build," Winfree said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The experiment revealed
that this 'muscle'-based decision making was surprisingly robust and scalable.
With relatively simple experiments, the researchers could solve pattern
recognition problems involving about a thousand kinds of molecules—nearly a
10-fold larger problem than had been done previously using other approaches
that separated 'brain' and 'muscle' components.The work points at a new view of
computation that does not involve designing circuits, but rather designing what
physicists call a phase diagram. For example, for water, a phase diagram might
describe the temperature and pressure conditions in which liquid water will
freeze or boil, which are 'muscle'-like material properties. But this work shows
that the phase diagram can also encode 'thinking' in addition to 'doing,' when
scaled up to complex systems with many different kinds of
components."Physicists have traditionally studied things like a glass of
water, which has many molecules, but all of them are identical. But a living
cell is full of many different kinds of molecules that interact with each other
in complex ways," said co-author Jackson O'Brien (Ph.D.'21), who was
involved in the study as a UChicago graduate student in physics. "This
results in distinct emergent capabilities of multi-component systems."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The theory in this work
drew mathematical analogies between such multi-component systems and the theory
of neural networks; the experiments pointed to how these multi-component
systems can learn the right computational properties through a physical
process, much like the brain learns to associate different smells with
different actions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While the experiments
here involved DNA molecules in a test tube, the underlying concepts—nucleation in
systems with many kinds of components—applies broadly to many other molecular
and physical systems, the authors said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"DNA lets us
experimentally study complex mixtures of thousands of kinds of molecules, and
systematically understand the impact of how many kinds of molecules there are
and the kinds of interactions they have, but the theory is general and should
apply to any kind of molecule," explained Winfree.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We hope this work
will spur work to uncover hidden 'thinking' abilities in other multi-component
systems that currently appear to merely be 'muscles,'" said Murugan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlp-FO4nPt1MgpAUbvZf6c0fWA9MzcqLhvZ0FaSG3eidNBeFEwC8QhWirpMiXwfBjb7Sv36YGVBsaaBgNbv-WjAfh4Mb7JXOzEUloMvw3oEIBdUdHu1-zF_sP369AFOgQ-puxLWIe4i3d4ir02s46483XM0d5bvkKuebpEDh2CaqM_gMWevGoBvcLoyE/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlp-FO4nPt1MgpAUbvZf6c0fWA9MzcqLhvZ0FaSG3eidNBeFEwC8QhWirpMiXwfBjb7Sv36YGVBsaaBgNbv-WjAfh4Mb7JXOzEUloMvw3oEIBdUdHu1-zF_sP369AFOgQ-puxLWIe4i3d4ir02s46483XM0d5bvkKuebpEDh2CaqM_gMWevGoBvcLoyE/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Most corrupt CM,
says Rahul Gandhi in Assam; Himanta Biswa Sarma hits back<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJLRyKi-T8NHmnNDjHP2HAgIqeT4NnTyxT5CCTEcCuouaaH8gMdP06BFBibJqh5WYlcaSDReSxmFcV_ZXKVW6u-fznmZu9cmXrhjSWmqykBjGdIWX6jA2f-I22UVjoFXlhGBYHLZGrKbYTpvhZ8A-DSIhKSiR3p4VDsWvoH3rigz4-GiLja1HIabbP58/s550/Congress%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20addresses%20a%20public%20meeting%20during%20the%20Bharat%20Jodo%20Nyay%20Yatra,%20on%20Thursday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJLRyKi-T8NHmnNDjHP2HAgIqeT4NnTyxT5CCTEcCuouaaH8gMdP06BFBibJqh5WYlcaSDReSxmFcV_ZXKVW6u-fznmZu9cmXrhjSWmqykBjGdIWX6jA2f-I22UVjoFXlhGBYHLZGrKbYTpvhZ8A-DSIhKSiR3p4VDsWvoH3rigz4-GiLja1HIabbP58/w640-h360/Congress%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20addresses%20a%20public%20meeting%20during%20the%20Bharat%20Jodo%20Nyay%20Yatra,%20on%20Thursday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a public meeting during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, on Thursday</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Assam chief minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma responded to Rahul’s attack, saying the Gandhi family was
“the most corrupt family in the country” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on
Thursday stepped up his attack on Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government soon after
the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Assam, describing Sarma as the “most
corrupt” chief minister, an accusation that drew a swift and sharp counter from
Sarma who called the Gandhi family, the country’s most corrupt. “The government
in Assam is one of the most corrupt. You are all aware of it. We will highlight
it during our yatra… probably Assam’s chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is the
most corrupt,” Gandhi, 53, said soon after the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered
Assam from Nagaland on Thursday The yatra started from Tuli in Nagaland early
on Thursday before entering Assam at Haluating in Sivasagar district around
9am. From there, it moved to Jorhat district where Gandhi will spend the night
before proceeding to Majuli district on Friday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Not just him (Himanta),
Sarma’s wife and other family members are mired in corruption. He thinks that
he can buy the people of Assam, but he is wrong” Gandhi added. The Wayanad MP
also repeated his attacks on the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya
Swayamsewak Sangh, accusing them of spreading hatred in the country and make
followers of one religion fight with the other. “Their aim is to make the public
fight and then loot their money,” he said, presenting the yatra as a sharp
contrast. The yatra, he added, was inspired by the teachings of Srimanta
Sankardev, the 15th-16th century saint-scholar and socio-religious reformer
from Assam who sought to unite all communities of the state.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sarma, who exited the
Congress in 2014 and is widely credited for playing a key role in the BJP’s
expansion in the northeast, hit back within hours. “According to me, the most
corrupt family in the country is that of the Gandhis,” Sarma told reporters.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“From the Bofors scam to
allowing (Warren) Anderson (of Union Carbide) to flee the country after the
Bhopal gas tragedy, they are responsible for all. They are not just corrupt,
but duplicate as well,” Sarma said.Sarma, who has been accusing the yatra led
by Rahul Gandhi of being against the Hindus, on Thursday said the yatra was
meant only for ‘miyas’ (a reference for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam with
origins in Bangladesh) and said that only some people from that community will
go to attend Gandhi’s events in the state.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rahul Gandhi’s yatra hit
the headlines minutes after crossing into the state when his specially designed
bus didn’t stop at Amguri in Sivasagar district where a woman Congress leader,
who was expelled from the party in 2023 for six years, was sitting on the
roadside along with hundreds of supporters seeking ‘nyay’, or justice.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Angkita Dutta, daughter
of a late Congress minister and the former chief of the Assam chief of Indian
Youth Congress, was expelled from the party last year after she filed a police
complaint against IYC national president Srinivas BV accusing him of
harassment. “I was expelled from the party without hearing my side of the
story. I’ve been in exile for 10 months now and have not joined any other
party. I was hoping to meet Gandhi and get justice, But that didn’t happen,”
Dutta told reporters.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Assam Congress chief
Bhupen Borah attributed motives for her protest. “She (Dutta) has become a
victim of a political conspiracy. Everyone knows that I had assured her of
providing justice at our party platform. But the next day chief minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma said that if she files a police complaint, he will ensure
justice and Dutta lodged her police complaint. Now it’s a matter of
investigation and sub judice issue and we can’t intervene in it. We will accept
whatever judgement the court gives,” said Borah. Dutta, the eldest daughter of
late Anjan Dutta, a former Congress minister from Assam, had been grilled by
both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
in 2022 for her alleged involvement in the Saradha Group financial scam.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 6,700 km long yatra
in hybrid mode (on foot and by bus) which started from Thoubal in strife-torn
Manipur on Sunday will culminate in Mumbai on March 20 after passing through 15
states.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gandhi’s yatra did stop
at a pachayat office in Mariani of Jorhat district where application forms for
a welfare scheme to promote entrepreneurship among women self-help group (SHG)
members were being distributed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As the dates of issue of
the forms, which would help nearly 3.9 million applicants get ₹10,000 each in
the first year, clashed with the Assam leg of the yatra, the Congress unit in
Assam alleged that it was a deliberate move by the state’s BJP-led government
to try and keep women away from coming to Gandhi’s event.The Assam government
tried to keep women away from meeting Gandhi, but he chose to go and meet them
instead. They are very happy and are thanking Gandhi for the yatra as they feel
if he hadn’t visited Assam, the state government might not have announced the
scheme,” said Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) ‘Has to be
built’: The temple at the heart of Modi’s India re-election bid<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1IjSOjH0o5Gmy55ZHL0dEpt6xB0b6Azik4t97YBEsFTTltN8UZzt00ayLJWozjHN7UiwR681Zr-RugbzNhhUypwYc0cgbNYKGre79ett35qHi-RE_-LpY7Lus4gsuRLa4Bcz7zZ9F81p-3qGZ4oFfeuP7QY4qjFQ053WGuDoPq7641KKZDjRzbP3jlc/s770/A%20construction%20crew%20works%20on%20Ram%20Mandir,%20a%20Hindu%20temple%20dedicated%20to%20Lord%20Ram,%20being%20built%20at%20the%20site%20of%20the%20demolished%20Babri%20Masjid%20in%20Ayodhya,%20India,%20December%2029,%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="770" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1IjSOjH0o5Gmy55ZHL0dEpt6xB0b6Azik4t97YBEsFTTltN8UZzt00ayLJWozjHN7UiwR681Zr-RugbzNhhUypwYc0cgbNYKGre79ett35qHi-RE_-LpY7Lus4gsuRLa4Bcz7zZ9F81p-3qGZ4oFfeuP7QY4qjFQ053WGuDoPq7641KKZDjRzbP3jlc/w640-h426/A%20construction%20crew%20works%20on%20Ram%20Mandir,%20a%20Hindu%20temple%20dedicated%20to%20Lord%20Ram,%20being%20built%20at%20the%20site%20of%20the%20demolished%20Babri%20Masjid%20in%20Ayodhya,%20India,%20December%2029,%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A construction crew works on Ram Mandir, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ram, being built at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India, December 29, 2023</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For Modi’s BJP, the Ram
Mandir, built on the ruins of the demolished Babri Masjid, represents a promise
fulfilled – and a trap for opponents. For hundreds of years, a journey to
Ayodhya for many Hindu pilgrims meant a walk down narrow lanes to the Hanuman
Garhi Mandir, a temple honouring Hanuman, the monkey god. Now a wide street
leads to the shrine, with shops on both sides selling sweetmeats as offerings
to the deity. Hanuman Garhi has a brooding dark dome, and the temple has a new
coat of red and saffron paint. Its young priests are sprightly and quick.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But the 10th-century
temple in the northern Uttar Pradesh state is no longer the main attraction
here. Some 500 metres (547 yards) away, a brand new, as yet incomplete,
construction has taken hold of India’s attention. Long queues of young men and
women chant “Jai Shri Ram” (Victory to Lord Ram) as they try to enter the
complex, guarded zealously by police officers. One policeman helpfully tells
them to deposit their mobile phones in a safe. Inside, craftsmen work on large
horizontal prefab structures. Others chisel away painstakingly at pillars and
rock features. It is not noisy, but there is a buzz of construction activity
everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The queue leads to a
statue of Ram, which will give way to a new one that has been selected in a
nationwide competition and will be moved to the venue on January 17. Meanwhile,
workers race against time, repairing the steps of a nearby baoli or step-well,
and building accommodation for pilgrims.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They have a deadline to
meet – January 22 – by when they must build enough of the Ram Mandir for Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate it, amid nationwide frenzy around the
project fed and fuelled by the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its
allied Hindu majoritarian outfits.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Built on the ruins of a
mosque of the 16th century, Babri Masjid, which Hindu activists demolished in
December 1992, the temple is close to the site that is believed by many Hindus
to be the birthplace of Lord Ram, a personification of the victory of good over
evil. In 1990, the BJP and quasi-religious bodies like Vishwa Hindu Parishad
(VHP) launched a massive campaign demanding that a temple be built where the
mosque stood, culminating in the physical assault on the existing shrine two
years later. The movement catapulted the BJP, which had won only two out of the
543 seats in the lower house of India’s parliament, to national centre stage.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Now, the
semi-constructed temple is poised to serve as the backdrop for what many
analysts and opposition leaders say is effectively the launch of Modi’s
campaign for re-election in the 2024 national polls, expected to be held
between March and May.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘No one disputes the importance of the temple’</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To many Ayodhya
residents, and those visiting the temple town, it is a moment to cherish.“We
are very happy with the temple,” said Daudas, the chief priest at Hanuman
Garhi, adding that it would be good for the economy of the city too. Deepak
Gupta, a shopkeeper near Hanuman Garhi, agreed and said many tourists were
already visiting the city to see the construction that has been under way. More
pilgrims would come, he said, after the January 22 consecration.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At a petrol station on
his way from Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, to Ayodhya, businessman
Dalip Chopra acknowledged that political reasons might be driving the project.
But, he added, “No one disputes the importance of the temple and the fact that
it has to be built.” Had he ever prayed to Ram before? “We will do it now,” he
said, defiantly. Vijay Mishra, an astrologer and priest who divides his time
between Lucknow and Ayodhya, said a brand new international airport and a
railway station, both inaugurated by Modi on December 30, “could make many
bigger cities envious” of Ayodhya. Politics or religion?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Across Ayodhya, flags of
the governing party lazily flutter alongside banners of a victorious Ram and an
angry Hanuman, reinforcing the idea that the temple is a gift to India’s Hindu
majority from the BJP.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Only 6,000 specially
chosen invitees will be allowed in on January 22, and the security blanket, it
appears, is aimed at preparing for the possibility of excited crowds trying to
enter. On October 30, 1990, the state police had fired on devotees and
religious workers, known as karsevaks, as they tried to force their way to the
site. At least 50 people were killed. The party in power then in Uttar Pradesh
is now in opposition. And a BJP government in the state will not want even the
possibility of a repeat. “What would happen if thousands come to Ayodhya,”
wondered Shyambabu, owner of a sweetmeat shop in front of the Hanuman Garhi
temple. Besides Modi, others who will be part of the consecration include Mohan
Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological
parent; Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and a priest chosen to
perform the ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That the inauguration is
taking place before the temple is complete, and that it focuses on Modi — who
is not from the Brahmin or priestly community — has upset some Hindu gurus.
Four of the most prominent seers, called the Shankaracharyas, are boycotting
the event.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Also skipping the event
is the opposition Congress party, which described the inauguration as a
political show rather than one meant to honour Ram. India’s mostly
pro-government mainstream media has savaged the Congress over its decision —
the BJP and its allies portray India’s Grand Old Party as anti-Hindu and
focused on the interests of Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But political analyst
Harish Khare said the Congress decision was a reflection of the leadership of
the party’s current president, veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who in 2022
took over from the Nehru-Gandhi family that has controlled the Congress for
much of the past 75 years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Unlike the Gandhis, the
new Congress president will not allow himself to be on the backfoot on this
matter,” Khare said. “Mr Kharge has brought in new clarity that the new
president would not be part of any congregation in which the RSS chief would be
a major presence.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress is the hub
around which the opposition alliance, called INDIA, has been built. With elections
coming up, Congress cannot be seen as complicit in a ceremony orchestrated by
the party it wants to replace.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the BJP, meanwhile,
the Congress decision is a chance to reinforce its narrative that it alone
cares about the country’s Hindus. On January 22, as the Ram Mandir is
consecrated, a re-election campaign too, will in effect be inaugurated.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Pakistan, Iran
agree to ‘de-escalate’ tensions after tit-for-tat attacks<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiB-FoZBsCd-EbjssAepxgPUO8TLzHyHhAS32pgsZmhbhcZiBxxCeHGJ8Kt7upmTGPAh3XLkdDPbXYpOYxfZ_KzK1speyVg7krrPysBrgBF1RPit7-rfcUNRdKKAA-AF6uKVxmhQe9Mu6JZpmHWfImRBDXct7-DPHEaspumZTXMqER056xMVHPpnPYI0/s770/The%20flag%20of%20Iran%20is%20seen%20over%20its%20consulate%20building,%20with%20Pakistan's%20flag%20in%20the%20foreground,%20in%20Karachi,%20Pakistan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="770" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiB-FoZBsCd-EbjssAepxgPUO8TLzHyHhAS32pgsZmhbhcZiBxxCeHGJ8Kt7upmTGPAh3XLkdDPbXYpOYxfZ_KzK1speyVg7krrPysBrgBF1RPit7-rfcUNRdKKAA-AF6uKVxmhQe9Mu6JZpmHWfImRBDXct7-DPHEaspumZTXMqER056xMVHPpnPYI0/w640-h426/The%20flag%20of%20Iran%20is%20seen%20over%20its%20consulate%20building,%20with%20Pakistan's%20flag%20in%20the%20foreground,%20in%20Karachi,%20Pakistan.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pakistan and Iran’s
foreign ministers emphasised ‘close brotherly relations’ during their phonecall
on Friday. Pakistan and Iran have decided to “de-escalate” tensions after an
exchange of missile and drone strikes this week raised fears of further
instability in the region.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pakistan’s Foreign
Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and Foreign Minister of Iran, Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian, spoke via phone on Friday, Islamabad’s foreign ministry said
in a statement. “The two Foreign Ministers agreed that working level
cooperation and close coordination on counter terrorism and other aspects of mutual
concern should be strengthened. They also agreed to de-escalate the situation,”
the statement read.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The return of
Ambassadors of the two countries to their respective Capitals was also
discussed.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Al Jazeera’s Osama bin
Javid, reporting from Islamabad, said there has been “a lot of diplomacy in the
last 24 hours from both sides” to try and come out of the growing tensions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkYpoK-DxJveeAyNCOtHZTjgXb4o-U_KGbcjiF0J3eOuFNZ1xTIzuBmzAF1bycAVJ8uzBXtb-ZTsCG8FJiKuqz4wJOBFOPAJOy-0HO7lnvETaFuUsxqknv89SlTf8H4XsZhnLzYJ1rsx_3AccNVPJDKamBH8o0RB2pj1ULYeAl9L7YDnGOuJYMeEvaWk/s770/PAK-IRANWAR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="770" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkYpoK-DxJveeAyNCOtHZTjgXb4o-U_KGbcjiF0J3eOuFNZ1xTIzuBmzAF1bycAVJ8uzBXtb-ZTsCG8FJiKuqz4wJOBFOPAJOy-0HO7lnvETaFuUsxqknv89SlTf8H4XsZhnLzYJ1rsx_3AccNVPJDKamBH8o0RB2pj1ULYeAl9L7YDnGOuJYMeEvaWk/w640-h640/PAK-IRANWAR1.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“For the first time,
we’re seeing both countries’ militaries get involved in what has been a
slow-burner proxy war that has continued in these two provinces of Balochistan
and Sistan-Baluchestan, and now, as we’ve been hearing from various sources and
analysts, things seem to be going back on track towards normalcy.” Pakistan’s
top military and civilian leaders also conducted a national security review,
called by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, over the situation on
Friday, where one source told Javid that officials were discussing a resumption
of diplomatic ties.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But Pakistan’s action
followed Iran’s air raids against the armed group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan’s
southwestern border province of Balochistan, in which two people died.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A security official said
the chief of army staff and head of the intelligence services were attending
the meeting, the Agence France-Presse news agency reported. Kakar cut short his
visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, following the
attack.Javid said the attendees will discuss the fallout of what is happening
in the southern part of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“These areas are problem
areas for both Pakistan and Iran, and proxies aligned to both countries have
been operating in this region for years now,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“They have carried out
tit-for-tat attacks against each other, but the recent developments are unusual
as both countries militaries are involved this time around, using ballistic
missiles, drones and heavy ammunitions against each other,” our correspondent
said.The tit-for-tat strikes have been the largest cross-border intrusions in
recent years and have raised alarm about the potential for wider instability
since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, both Pakistan
and Iran have signalled a desire to calm tensions.Iran’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said on Thursday that it was committed to good neighbourly relations
with Pakistan but called on Islamabad to prevent the establishment of
“terrorist bases” on its soil.Pakistan issued a similar statement with its
Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that its “sole” reason for the retaliatory
attacks was “in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest, which
is paramount and cannot be compromised”.China, a close ally of both Pakistan
and Iran, said it was willing to mediate.United Nations Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres urged the two countries to “exercise maximum restraint to
avoid a further escalation of tensions”.Guterres “underlines that all security
concerns between the two countries must be addressed by peaceful means through
dialogue and cooperation in accordance with the principles of sovereignty,
territorial integrity and good neighbourly relations,” UN spokesperson Stephane
Dujarric said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Jarange-Patil
rejects Shinde’s new appeal, says there’s a limit to everything<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaO4zVmIQwpLAP9dC61ETi8eHhRXMcAIWZoqu3A4XcDQyokz93Yg937S_o27clhQoPQRZbrvY_i8_EaocImR2K0PNxB4D2GBW6UoqarKm3MlNdk3p2xt9xoda6gn62m9Gd8dzoS09rPcJcje25AgjLyc5l6C_MMKkXshXoN4W0ZQhc7Lfi17gYbunW0Y/s550/Maratha%20reservation%20activist%20Manoj%20Jarange%20Patil%20plans%20to%20begin%20an%20indefinite%20hunger%20strike%20after%20the%20march%20reaches%20Mumbai%20on%20January%2026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaO4zVmIQwpLAP9dC61ETi8eHhRXMcAIWZoqu3A4XcDQyokz93Yg937S_o27clhQoPQRZbrvY_i8_EaocImR2K0PNxB4D2GBW6UoqarKm3MlNdk3p2xt9xoda6gn62m9Gd8dzoS09rPcJcje25AgjLyc5l6C_MMKkXshXoN4W0ZQhc7Lfi17gYbunW0Y/w640-h360/Maratha%20reservation%20activist%20Manoj%20Jarange%20Patil%20plans%20to%20begin%20an%20indefinite%20hunger%20strike%20after%20the%20march%20reaches%20Mumbai%20on%20January%2026.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil plans to begin an indefinite hunger strike after the march reaches Mumbai on January 26</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The protest march to
demand inclusion of Maratha community under OBC will start from Jalna on
Saturday and cover the 400 km distance in 7 days Maratha activist Manoj
Jarange-Patil on Friday rejected an appeal by chief minister Eknath Shinde to
put off his march to Mumbai to demand inclusion of the Maratha community in the
Other Backward Classes (OBC) for quotas in government jobs and education “There
is a limit to everything. The youth (from the Maratha community) are coming to
seek justice. CM Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis should closely watch as
we are leaving for Mumbai tomorrow morning,” Jarange-Patil said on Friday<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The statement was his
response response to the chief minister Eknath Shinde who asked him to review
the decision to march to Mumbai when the government was still making efforts.
“We have made the promise and are working on it. I urge and request
Jarange-Patil to take a conciliatory stand when the government is positive. He
should avoid holding a protest,” Shinde said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The government was
bringing legislation in February for reservation to the Maratha community, Shinde
said, underlying that this would be done without affecting reservation to the
OBC and other communities. ”This reservation will pass legal scrutiny... A
curative petition has also been filed before the Supreme Court,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Bilkis Bano case
convicts not ‘missing’, under police watch, official says<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumoCSsw9QWf3sKIIUXzmqtx-L5ZkFFtM4WToS78cARj34hGAGrMRHnAQYh_aDUC-bLOllzSaZ8CfoJKU7hCQl3DoDTZ0EgDFpEiTgstFsDAVsvs8IIYOY357w1BqlNjMpOZgTCrDUIJ3JgDLU-jt1jYzif-tcdx4V0hQO6H_egRz2uLCAkRkRduxIVT8/s549/A%20file%20photo%20of%20Bilkis%20Bano,%20who%20was%20gangraped%20during%20the%202002%20riots%20in%20Gujara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumoCSsw9QWf3sKIIUXzmqtx-L5ZkFFtM4WToS78cARj34hGAGrMRHnAQYh_aDUC-bLOllzSaZ8CfoJKU7hCQl3DoDTZ0EgDFpEiTgstFsDAVsvs8IIYOY357w1BqlNjMpOZgTCrDUIJ3JgDLU-jt1jYzif-tcdx4V0hQO6H_egRz2uLCAkRkRduxIVT8/w640-h360/A%20file%20photo%20of%20Bilkis%20Bano,%20who%20was%20gangraped%20during%20the%202002%20riots%20in%20Gujara.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A file photo of Bilkis Bano, who was gangraped during the 2002 riots in Gujara</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On January 8, the
Supreme Court scrapped the remission granted to the 11 convicts in the Bilkis
Bano gangrape case and directed them to surrender in two weeks.All the 11 men
convicted in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case of 2002, who are currently out on
remission, are under ‘police watch’ and are not missing, PTI reported on
Friday, quoting a senior Gujarat Police officer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“They have been under
police watch ever since the SC gave its verdict (on January 8, quashing the
remission granted by the Gujarat government),” Assistant Superintendent of
Police, Limkheda division, Bishakha Jain said. "We contacted all of them
on that day itself and it did not appear that they had any intention of going
incommunicado after the verdict."On January 8, a bench of justices BV
Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court scrapped the remission granted
to the 11 convicts in the case and directed them to surrender in two weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The bench said Gujarat
usurped the power of Maharashtra, where the original trial of the convicts
happened, to grant remission, and nullified a 2022 judgment by another bench of
the top court, which had directed Gujarat to consider the remission
applications of the 11 convicts, saying it was obtained by “playing fraud” on
court.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJmysTQm57IKJRYDMB23e8dneN1Pqmi5uZUFJDnUmfTt2cZ7fWxTRuwfXEmDvZdCFeMvOMsOHIU_vnVWLwHWUBfR0NtrJLQuniaxzjd6ptyOYM6rlwX7ctnsye53tfN78NbC5OEizylX_xs8sttarWKpLrmGRN1Xo5lp0N6K-Qwx3cFX5O9_QIZGrJTA/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJmysTQm57IKJRYDMB23e8dneN1Pqmi5uZUFJDnUmfTt2cZ7fWxTRuwfXEmDvZdCFeMvOMsOHIU_vnVWLwHWUBfR0NtrJLQuniaxzjd6ptyOYM6rlwX7ctnsye53tfN78NbC5OEizylX_xs8sttarWKpLrmGRN1Xo5lp0N6K-Qwx3cFX5O9_QIZGrJTA/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) IND beat AFG in
2nd Super Over:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOx6bDEgFe3_LDuTVYGSrqOMNkQqn9swLc4N41hNHg8D4_F8SNvVit-iNKwKkZzD07v1nHXompnrQuW7A2T5AEOMWAlG2xz2P3a6nHvYXhsRLbbqkJ04274o8IDwXL_CPzOi6lVopr75se_xu8nBK5O7eNTlzPXFmw9iiZCF0SaRaqNa6UeBd9cSBWLM/s549/India%20vs%20Afghanistan%203rd%20T20I%20Highlights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOx6bDEgFe3_LDuTVYGSrqOMNkQqn9swLc4N41hNHg8D4_F8SNvVit-iNKwKkZzD07v1nHXompnrQuW7A2T5AEOMWAlG2xz2P3a6nHvYXhsRLbbqkJ04274o8IDwXL_CPzOi6lVopr75se_xu8nBK5O7eNTlzPXFmw9iiZCF0SaRaqNa6UeBd9cSBWLM/w640-h360/India%20vs%20Afghanistan%203rd%20T20I%20Highlights.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I Highlights</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Afghanistan incredibly
made 212/6 to tie the scores and the first Super Over ended in a tie as
well.The match looked to be done and dusted when India had dismissed both of
Afghanistan's openers after the 120th over as they defended a target of 213.
However, Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib put up a sensational fightback that
pegged back the Indians. Nabi fell for 34 off 16, thus ending a 56-run stand
between him and Gulbadin that came in just 22 balls. However, Gulbadin carried
on as wickets fell at the other end. He ended up being unbeaten on 55 off 23
and Afghanistan tied the scores, thus incredibly pushing the match into a Super
Over. Both teams ended up scoring 16 runs in the first one, which meant that a
second Super Over is now needed to decide the match. India scored 11 runs and
lost two wickets in their second Super Over innings which means Afghanistan
needed 12 runs to record their first-ever T20I match win over India. But they
ended up scoring just one run and lost their two wickets, which meant that
India won the second Super Over.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier, Rohit Sharma
and Rinku Singh first took India out of a disastrous situation and then
completely turned the tables on Afghanistan to help the post a total of 212/4
in 20 overs. India were left reeling early on as Afghanistan's Fareed Ahmed and
Azmatullah Omarzai descended down on them on a Chinnaswamy pitch that seemed to
take the batters by surprise. India lost four wickets in the powerplay, three
of which were picked by Fareed alone. Two of those wickets - those of Yashasvi
Jaiswal and Virat Kohli, came off back to back deliveries, with the latter
falling for a golden duck. Sanju Samson, brought in for Jitesh Sharma in this
match, also fell for a golden duck while Shivam Dube, who scored unbeaten
half-centuries in both the previous matches, fell for one.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The pair weathered the
storm and then switched gears afterthe 10th over. Rohit eventually got to a
gritty half-century as he and Rinku took India past the 100-run mark. They
unleashed carnage in the death overs, creaming 103 runs off the last five
overs. In the process, Rohit scored his fifth T20I century and India smashed 36
runs off the last over. Rohit finished on 121 off 69 balls with 11 fours and
eight sixes. Rinku Singh on 69 off 39 with two fours and six sixes. The
partnership between the two was unbeaten on 190 off 95 balls.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Dube, Jaiswal carnage ensures 6-wicket win,
IND confirm series win<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1iWcQYWLhAbG3b-zoCq3XhUzfLmpTqJfjbMNGu0uLOa48cmywXChsSumJf0HIndr2phsldANWDAPRATzwEMlpFWZu9xfnT87QrNLdh1TaO2MDxsX4cZJwhD43jz467jvVYwhNvvz0D9Y3KzZH-1YOX_rHlNV9o-ZJD-2jenoB-W-oWRl_tY0INdLPPM/s549/India%20vs%20Afghanistan%202nd%20T20I%20Highlights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1iWcQYWLhAbG3b-zoCq3XhUzfLmpTqJfjbMNGu0uLOa48cmywXChsSumJf0HIndr2phsldANWDAPRATzwEMlpFWZu9xfnT87QrNLdh1TaO2MDxsX4cZJwhD43jz467jvVYwhNvvz0D9Y3KzZH-1YOX_rHlNV9o-ZJD-2jenoB-W-oWRl_tY0INdLPPM/w640-h360/India%20vs%20Afghanistan%202nd%20T20I%20Highlights.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I Highlights</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dube starred with the
bat once again as whirlwind fifties from him and Jaiswal ensured a
comprehensive win for India. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube have made a
mockery of the 173-run target that Afghanistan set for India to chase and the
hosts won the match with six wickets and 26 balls to spare. Jaiswal scored 68
off 34 balls in a 92-run partnership with Dube that came in just 42 balls
before falling to Karim Janat in the 13th over, by which point India were
already on the cusp of victory. Dube remained unbeaten on 63 off 32 balls while
Virat Kohli smashed 29 in just 16 balls in his first T20I since November 2022.
Rohit Sharma, though, fell for a second consecutive duck in the series, being
dismissed off his very first ball by Fazalhaq Farooqi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jaiswal raced to his
half-century in just 27 balls, which was the fastest by an Indian against
Afghanistan in T20Is. However, Dube ended up breaking that record a few balls
later, reaching his fifty in just 22 deliveries. Gulbadin Naib earlier powered
the Afghanistan innings and a late push then helped them get to a score of 172.
Naib 57 in 35 balls after being promoted to No.3 and Afghanistan then smashed
63 runs in the last five overs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Olympic
heartbreak in Ranchi as India go down to Japan<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAS0tqhqlDXqUAZ5DkPgx_i_IIAHeoYbJ9Nma_fiFoXW2JlmZA5Yo_OPaMwBFKr95Ob_Kf1qTIAPnQirAljd8N2pKTHmsS1VTX1qplcVzGIm1hCQ8YNzGiabyLHTWf3eZy9RKrhxdaO_Oq6yzUixkXEB3ajzrPC0IFHGLvMOEQv3fxhEIf9G6lexHfJ8/s549/The%20Indian%20women%E2%80%99s%20hockey%20team%20will%20not%20go%20to%20the%202024%20Paris%20Olympics%20after%20throwing%20away%20another%20chances-littered,%20high-pressure,%20must-win%20contest..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAS0tqhqlDXqUAZ5DkPgx_i_IIAHeoYbJ9Nma_fiFoXW2JlmZA5Yo_OPaMwBFKr95Ob_Kf1qTIAPnQirAljd8N2pKTHmsS1VTX1qplcVzGIm1hCQ8YNzGiabyLHTWf3eZy9RKrhxdaO_Oq6yzUixkXEB3ajzrPC0IFHGLvMOEQv3fxhEIf9G6lexHfJ8/w640-h360/The%20Indian%20women%E2%80%99s%20hockey%20team%20will%20not%20go%20to%20the%202024%20Paris%20Olympics%20after%20throwing%20away%20another%20chances-littered,%20high-pressure,%20must-win%20contest..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Indian women’s hockey team will not go to the 2024 Paris Olympics after throwing away another chances-littered, high-pressure, must-win contest.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a must-win match, the
hosts were simply unable to find the goals they so desperately needed The
moment the final hooter went off, India goalkeeper Savita Punia took off her
helmet and trudged straight towards the dugout. The other Indian players, each
of them parked in the Japanese half for the large part of the final quarter
desperately hunting for the equaliser, soon followed, one heavy step after
another.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They all sat on the
dugout benches without uttering a word to the other, staring into the abyss.
The smoky haze from the day before had long made way for a brighter Friday, but
the cold reality would only bite them now The Indian women’s hockey team will
not go to the 2024 Paris Olympics after throwing away another chances-littered,
high-pressure, must-win contest. India’s plethora of nine penalty corners (PC)
yielded no returns. Japan converted one from their four in the sixth minute to
get the one goal that mattered and the final Paris spot from the FIH Women’s
Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Ranchi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Breaking their silenced
stares, the women got up and into a huddle with head coach Janneke Schopman and
the rest of her staff. Fewer words were spoken, certainly a lot quieter than
the animated chants before the game. That seemed a long time ago.So does the
fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, a potentially defining
moment in Indian women’s hockey that only returned to the Olympic stage in 2016
Rio for the first time after 1980. Many of these players who experienced the
crest of Tokyo will now have to live by the trough of not being able to qualify
for Paris.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“This is really hard for
us to take," said Savita, the captain as teary-eyed as most of her players
after the game. “I didn't think that our team did not deserve to go the
Olympics.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After giving Germany a
run for their money only to go broke in the sudden death of penalty shootouts,
the players woke up believing they could do it all over again less than 24
hours against Japan. However, like their opening loss to USA with a similar
scoreline, they did not turn up with the same finishing flair to get past a
resolute opposition.“We dominated the game after 1-0. But you need to score a
goal. And we didn't,” Schopman told reporters.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India were playing a
team they had beaten thrice last year, once for the Asian Games bronze (where
they would've sealed the Paris berth with gold) and twice for the Asian
Champions Trophy gold in the same stadium in Ranchi. But something seems to
switch mentally for this team in matches where the stakes surge, especially at
home.And Jude Menezes, the former India goalkeeper and Japan head coach, knew
it well. "I have played for India so I know what the pressure of
expectation is and I know that a home game always has an added pressure in a
must-win game. So we pressed higher at the start, and said let’s hope for
mistakes," Menezes said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Japan's plan executed to
a fault, the fault lines in India's start were evident. Savita was made to work
in the second minute itself, and within six minutes Japan earned their game’s
second PC. Kana Urata fired the ball that deflected off Savita's left leg into
the goal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India did not seem to
have a plan to construct a goal, relying on deflections from long slaps to
somehow find the goal. Japan, in contrast, knew exactly what to do. They
initially used a lot of high balls to not allow India to turn to their
free-flowing pressing game, and then sat back to defend for their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The hosts grew into the
game and earned a couple of PCs in the 18th and 19th minutes. Both dragflicks
by Deepika, who struck against Germany, were saved. Four further PC
opportunities came raining down in the third quarter — Udita also took a shot —
yet the drought continued (one of Deepika's PC hit the top of the bar). Japan's
PC defence remained efficient, their goalkeeper Eika Nakamura exceptional.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She pulled off two
brilliant saves early in the final quarter, denying Lalremsiami and Vaishnavi
Phalke. India kept pressing hard but went soft in the finishing. Three more PCs
came and went. Symbolic of India's show was Salima Tete's almost open shot at
goal with around 90 seconds to go. It went wide.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It's going to hurt for
a long time, because when the Olympics is on the TV, we know we wanted to be
there," said Schopman, whose contract runs till the Paris Games.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Asked if she thought she
would be around in her role till then, she replied: "That I don't know.
That I don't know."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Can’t blame the
coach: Tirkey</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hockey India president
Dilip Tirkey, though, said he was happy with the way the team was performing
under the former Dutch player, and that the coach can’t be blamed for this
tournament. “We're quite happy with how the team is playing and performing under
her. If you don't convert the several PC chances, and can't finish things off
being 2-0 up in the shootout (against Germany), then we can't blame the
coach," Tirkey said. "At the same time, it is really sad that the
women's team won't play at the Olympics, especially after qualifying for the
past two Games."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Praggnanandhaa
stuns world champion Liren in Tata Steel tourney; surpasses Anand as No.1
Indian<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_M_Y6AKqgIiQAGpbZWq1ahbX8FOOjJIzQ-Ialqe5f4ZKIphIRiFRIzQTPaGX4l8UHdV_MzfAPIiX5_89653tAJ6xv6D1i6wFVDl3icVUf_cAFmiRRWiwHqwLPJ37aaHyqkQqgipk-8KP3QEB2Em4GOqQupjDowGLlTw0LCd47crbbRk-gk51l_KVTpc/s549/Indian%20grandmaster%20R%20Praggnanandhaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_M_Y6AKqgIiQAGpbZWq1ahbX8FOOjJIzQ-Ialqe5f4ZKIphIRiFRIzQTPaGX4l8UHdV_MzfAPIiX5_89653tAJ6xv6D1i6wFVDl3icVUf_cAFmiRRWiwHqwLPJ37aaHyqkQqgipk-8KP3QEB2Em4GOqQupjDowGLlTw0LCd47crbbRk-gk51l_KVTpc/w640-h360/Indian%20grandmaster%20R%20Praggnanandhaa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The win also helped
Praggnanandhaa surpass the legendary Viswanathan Anand as the top-rated Indian
player. Teenaged Indian chess superstar R Praggnanandhaa defeated world
champion Ding Liren of China in the fourth round of the Tata Steel Chess
Tournament in Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands), a win which also helped him
surpass the legendary Viswanathan Anand as the top-rated Indian player.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the victory late
on Tuesday night, the 18-year-old Praggnanandhaa has 2748.3 points as against
2748 of five-time world champion Anand in the FIDE live ratings. The world
chess body publishes the ratings at the start of each month With the 62-move
win with black pieces, Praggnanandhaa became the second Indian after Anand to
defeat a reigning world champion in classical chess.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Praggnanandhaa had also
beaten Liren at the 2023 Tata Steel tournament.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"That feels
good!" Praggnanandhaa said after the win.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He is now third in the
standings with 2.5 points in the Masters event.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The teenaged Indian GM
has been in good form in recent times, having finished runner-up in the World
Cup to Magnus Carlsen last year to qualify for the Candidates tournament to be
held in April to identify the challenger to Liren.The Masters group saw Dutch
player Anish Giri emerge as the sole leader heading into the first rest day.
Giri's endgame prowess secured him victory against teenaged Indian GM D Gukesh
to take him to 3.5 points.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Alireza Firouzja is half
a point behind the leader on 3 points.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The third Indian player
in the fray, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi was held to a draw by Jorden Van Foreest in
round four. He has 2 points from four rounds.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the fifth round on
Thursday, Praggnanandhaa runs into the leader Anish Giri while his compatriots
Gukesh and Gujrathi will take on Ian Nepomniachtchi and Max Warmerdam
respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Dakar Rally:
Harith becomes first Indian to win Rally 2 class<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_dNJoUUaeANnV1EJUYfiC-JWNuHZ1Wy7Ao4fcAxPgMLXmk_tDDUdtUgYhu4h8d-Mizzf6NrpR4_LMEw_uatbDQkypT1c6u2eIbon7vIcAKRzjboF4K6K-JdqjIuv4cVLp0hl9mkU_K4RrsKHroWpc8JBhU7lERKsYYfcDDgAb8pBbWJlSpJQYlETQ1I/s549/Harith%20Noah%20Koitha%20Veettil%20in%20action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_dNJoUUaeANnV1EJUYfiC-JWNuHZ1Wy7Ao4fcAxPgMLXmk_tDDUdtUgYhu4h8d-Mizzf6NrpR4_LMEw_uatbDQkypT1c6u2eIbon7vIcAKRzjboF4K6K-JdqjIuv4cVLp0hl9mkU_K4RrsKHroWpc8JBhU7lERKsYYfcDDgAb8pBbWJlSpJQYlETQ1I/w640-h360/Harith%20Noah%20Koitha%20Veettil%20in%20action.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harith Noah Koitha Veettil in action</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He also finished 11th
overall, missing the coveted top 10 spot by just six minutes. It is the best
ever ranking achieved by an Indian in Dakar rally. Harith Noah capped two
gruelling weeks in the Saudi Arabian desert with a slice of history on Friday,
becoming the first Indian ever to win at the Dakar Rally in the Rally 2 class
and finishing 11th overall, missing the coveted top 10 spot by six minutes.
Competing in his fifth Dakar Rally, Noah was over four minutes clear of
second-placed Romain Dumontier.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is the best ranking
achieved by an Indian in Dakar rally. The 12-stage race saw the TVS Sherco
rider come into his own in the second week after battling some health issues in
the opening week. Stage 6 saw him jump from P18 to P13 overall and he climbed
two more places after Stage 8, a position he maintained till the end of the
rally. Noah set the fastest time in Stage 8 and Stage 10.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He finished Stage 11 in
second place behind BAS World KTM Racing Team's Bradley Cox. The South African
defeated Noah by eight minutes and 29 seconds, but a strong finish meant the
Indian took the lead in the Rally 2 general rankings. Romain Dumontier, on top
in overall rankings after Stage 10, lost more than 18 minutes and 30 seconds to
Cox on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Slick Uzbekistan
punish sloppy India in Asian Cup Group B game<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJihPyylUirxDyKPOixXSvzNF3zQNcPVLDhgs5FrSxj2cQ2_Ig2_77X0U_Dh1eIKOGn807g4ycRaQpZOTuyPV8sdVHGUjDZMJpEEVofNwGnLldlJp-4_RByRN6OTJpHtkdrEBq2QKfzmNXbWg1pRhpvM_9WoMxwvZUNHX9eeijFVrLGB_8TcyHHbC5XPE/s549/India's%20players%20react%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20Qatar%202023%20AFC%20Asian%20Cup%20Group%20B%20football%20match(.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJihPyylUirxDyKPOixXSvzNF3zQNcPVLDhgs5FrSxj2cQ2_Ig2_77X0U_Dh1eIKOGn807g4ycRaQpZOTuyPV8sdVHGUjDZMJpEEVofNwGnLldlJp-4_RByRN6OTJpHtkdrEBq2QKfzmNXbWg1pRhpvM_9WoMxwvZUNHX9eeijFVrLGB_8TcyHHbC5XPE/w640-h360/India's%20players%20react%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20Qatar%202023%20AFC%20Asian%20Cup%20Group%20B%20football%20match(.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India's players react at the end of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group B football match(</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hopes of attacking
football dashed by three first-half goals<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Igor Stimac had
predicted that Uzbekistan would come hard from the start. What was not expected
was that India would ship three soft goals in the first half in this Asian Cup
group B game on Thursday. In what was possibly the worst first half under the
Croat head coach, Uzbekistan pulled ahead through Abbosbek Fayzullaev in the
fifth minute, made it 2-0 through Igor Sergeev in the 18th and just when you
thought it couldn’t get any worse, Sherzod Nasrullaev tapped home in added
time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A rasping left-footer
from Mahesh Naorem late in the first half that goalie Utkir Yusupov palmed away
for a corner-kick, Rahul KP beginning the second by thudding into the upright and
Rahul Bheke’s header that was tipped over were the closest India came to giving
their fans, who again comprised a large part of the 38,491 that turned up at
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, some cheer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Naorem’s attempt to
press Yusupov was proof of how India, buoyed by the fight in the 0-2 loss
against Australia, had wanted to start. It unspooled in the fifth minute and
after the first move Uzbekistan managed. Nasrullaev found space on the left and
the ease with which his delivery was headed forward by Otabek Shukurov for an
unmarked Fayzullaev would embarrass the backline. By the time Sandesh Jhingan
realised what was happening, Uzbekistan were ahead. It as 2-0 after Bheke lost
the ball near the halfway line, one of the many unforced errors that ruined
whatever hopes India had of taking the game to their superior rivals who
started with three Europe-based players. Down 0-2, his team suitably chastened,
Stimac was seen sitting in the dug-out, hand on his mouth. India’s worst
performance under him was a 0-6 defeat against UAE in 2021 but even in that
friendly, they had leaked two goals before half-time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A smart save by Sandhu
in the ninth minute and skipper Jaloliddin Masharipov’ free-kick hitting the
framework prevented more goals in a game where India struggled to contain CSKA
Moscow’s Fayzullaev on the left. Uzbekistan played short, crisp passes in the
front third, their maturity in finding space leaving India chasing crooked
shadows. Against Australia, it was backs-to-the-wall defending. When it came to
trying to play against a team not that good, gaps showed up.That Uzbekistan
didn’t exert themselves but still forced India into a string of
bodies-on-the-line saves in the second half where Jamshid Iskanderov rocked the
horizontal showed how much work needs to do be done if Stimac has to realise
the aim of making the top 10 in Asia in four years. Three players converging on
Suresh Wangjam leaving him nowhere to go encapsulated the gulf between teams
and showed why Uzbekistan are under-20 Asian champions, won the Asian under-23
title in 2018 and were runners-up in 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Making the defeat worse
was how disjointed India were. The press wasn’t coordinated, twice Bheke
conceded throw-ins while trying to find Akash Mishra and Naorem, Lalengmawia
Ralte and Mishra collided in the middle of the park and when Nasrullaev sneaked
in for the goal, Manvir Singh was ball watching as was Jhingan for the first
goal. Anirudh Thapa was supposed to provide the spark but Uzbekistan gave him,
or any one in a blue shirt fir that matter, no room in midfield. Add to that a
free header Sunil Chhetri couldn’t put on target for the second time in as many
defeats. His replacement Ishan Pandita had a chance late in the game but didn’t
have the legs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHijYxtedAjC5dkE9PWkVqVgLi03FkrqvLBbz3KJJzY-lUH34v2LCiH-waZ1Fpgqm3rSdlqN8Vku5mBRjq-1dW7e2YsLkCzTnUHTvroUkBzwPAmK_4cwLjrfrQRjQwW1rwju5dTmZ3DV_rAHYFmmKSnFUBWeQakyZwEMOgaM-osbtfgBTFOZCQ3k8cZ74/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHijYxtedAjC5dkE9PWkVqVgLi03FkrqvLBbz3KJJzY-lUH34v2LCiH-waZ1Fpgqm3rSdlqN8Vku5mBRjq-1dW7e2YsLkCzTnUHTvroUkBzwPAmK_4cwLjrfrQRjQwW1rwju5dTmZ3DV_rAHYFmmKSnFUBWeQakyZwEMOgaM-osbtfgBTFOZCQ3k8cZ74/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Indian Police Force<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJB7PKIYaLjjVJTtHICFbu7_UEVnhuamX4E7LFpgeBvwufBrX65JK42UZ3r2NskMMYb7ZkwRdMEY5WHgFGlA7VtKf8WRRh15zYNWg4M7NEg3tKnBWIxuPLBEzjRG2SffDHnUat-VJmVkU-gb-Ym60himKu7I0oneWQ0htV3SEBKQpEOqWfYVAbhcGbbY/s1200/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJB7PKIYaLjjVJTtHICFbu7_UEVnhuamX4E7LFpgeBvwufBrX65JK42UZ3r2NskMMYb7ZkwRdMEY5WHgFGlA7VtKf8WRRh15zYNWg4M7NEg3tKnBWIxuPLBEzjRG2SffDHnUat-VJmVkU-gb-Ym60himKu7I0oneWQ0htV3SEBKQpEOqWfYVAbhcGbbY/w640-h426/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An action-thriller
series helmed by Rohit Shetty, Indian Police Force is an extension of the
director’s fictional cop-universe. The show stars Sidharth Malhotra, Shilpa
Shetty and Vivek Overoi in pivotal roles.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Release Date: 19 January 2024 Streaming on Amazon Prime Video<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Marvels<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMJWdBTu61ETBaViOZ_XeC8w1ifnoVjdBz5gZE-LYQrtqMOaRKuVmqe44TEfuV0Gm1LpF6zrTo1DTN3Ox3hRqOqIBe-Dc6iTt1nwUacwJvfMmoQJcNT10oKTVSnWpjv7Fh8GMatL42VLgdmrpN5CAGU1nE1Jkh3tZci0h_yUPzGN9g_CDUo37aW_rRjM/s3840/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMJWdBTu61ETBaViOZ_XeC8w1ifnoVjdBz5gZE-LYQrtqMOaRKuVmqe44TEfuV0Gm1LpF6zrTo1DTN3Ox3hRqOqIBe-Dc6iTt1nwUacwJvfMmoQJcNT10oKTVSnWpjv7Fh8GMatL42VLgdmrpN5CAGU1nE1Jkh3tZci0h_yUPzGN9g_CDUo37aW_rRjM/w432-h640/M2.jpg" width="432" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 33rd film in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Marvels is ready to debut on OTT after its
theatrical run. The film focuses on the aftermath of Carol Danvers’ (Brie
Larson) actions that destroyed the Supreme Intelligence and led to a civil war
in the Kree empire. She is joined by Captain Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan in
her journey to save the universe against the new evils. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: 16 January
2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Available to buy and rent
on Apple TV and Prime Video<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kübra<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0OQneTgAQZKOQxkHcC_qruzjmHVteDoBZkR1FGHXD5JQRLof4ic5L1GM_Sn7x_5AvOkdCRLPzBVql8Z5A09lf10740_3vbWywPqXhqm90FB8WjhX6o-ol5f6QOY_BW1DzGfmxrKhZVDQQcspFMws1apxaqGFT_IUUkzvKg1qT-DSzYgQyedMj13QOyE/s1062/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="717" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0OQneTgAQZKOQxkHcC_qruzjmHVteDoBZkR1FGHXD5JQRLof4ic5L1GM_Sn7x_5AvOkdCRLPzBVql8Z5A09lf10740_3vbWywPqXhqm90FB8WjhX6o-ol5f6QOY_BW1DzGfmxrKhZVDQQcspFMws1apxaqGFT_IUUkzvKg1qT-DSzYgQyedMj13QOyE/w432-h640/M4.jpg" width="432" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Turkish
drama-thriller, Kübra is based around Gökhan Ahinolu, a regular man whose
monotonous life in the suburbs of Istanbul is turned around by enigmatic
messages from an unknown titular entity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: 18 January
2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Streaming on Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sixty Minutes</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLiGX47eOvfajWzgLMET6OwNah-fV9bVvQZ5NthyphenhyphenVyPajXLHhwN7QMFWRqQoc0HxxdtjBoxBPfJUFAfPw95JYhHLyga_p0jicyXerkXioXBjpVZUavxkMML_30qeXQS1IjQ2Iv7ADdR6kuK3Fn05Ri1VJe6NvWBiouXfjlOHTg0OqidZYNUjGpQzSy7E/s1280/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLiGX47eOvfajWzgLMET6OwNah-fV9bVvQZ5NthyphenhyphenVyPajXLHhwN7QMFWRqQoc0HxxdtjBoxBPfJUFAfPw95JYhHLyga_p0jicyXerkXioXBjpVZUavxkMML_30qeXQS1IjQ2Iv7ADdR6kuK3Fn05Ri1VJe6NvWBiouXfjlOHTg0OqidZYNUjGpQzSy7E/w640-h360/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A high-stakes sports
film, Sixty Minutes is the story of MMA fighter Octavio “Ox” Rodriguez who is
faced with a difficult choice: attend his daughter’s birthday party instead of
his match or lose custody forever.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: 19 January
2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Streaming on Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Main Atal Hoon<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QNaMzG105PYJhZMiUp4B-5oxrz1fizLrUU7fkkbev7UbH87_FGVddfVI1F3Wily6ErkdxcBbvYYzrBDTe6H0CzZhB3jEx4wnbN3nm9AvsWMvSCE73ZQZzcJcdzom_GAyw6cmhb3E2WF8x-W7wsM5WFiMA4K7NfmY1XGZq1nGevH88KJkaZOv2hvycdo/s825/M6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="654" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QNaMzG105PYJhZMiUp4B-5oxrz1fizLrUU7fkkbev7UbH87_FGVddfVI1F3Wily6ErkdxcBbvYYzrBDTe6H0CzZhB3jEx4wnbN3nm9AvsWMvSCE73ZQZzcJcdzom_GAyw6cmhb3E2WF8x-W7wsM5WFiMA4K7NfmY1XGZq1nGevH88KJkaZOv2hvycdo/w508-h640/M6.jpg" width="508" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Follows the
extraordinary life and political journey of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, an
iconic figure in Indian politics and delves into the multifaceted persona of
Vajpayee Ji, capturing his essence as a poet, a gentleman, and a statesman.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ravi Jadhav<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Writers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ravi JadhavRishi Virmani<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pankaj TripathiBenedict
GarrettHarshal Gire<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOwGCgiCevPvjzYHsptnjmhAHQy8FRT2rPT10zmcPmZNcrWqwHdn5wpdkiES9Ce3LqLTbSrvJ_RfSBfQkEIJ6riLo6owF_arem3SJq4f4kHRGrvMCZn8DZzy1OYrmPsxGmjLbR06NT5KuwUwhn3WiQiu5wq-EW7M7WIleU5Ya6yob3MWj5LRjvAYzKCQ/s1600/BOOK&AUTHOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOwGCgiCevPvjzYHsptnjmhAHQy8FRT2rPT10zmcPmZNcrWqwHdn5wpdkiES9Ce3LqLTbSrvJ_RfSBfQkEIJ6riLo6owF_arem3SJq4f4kHRGrvMCZn8DZzy1OYrmPsxGmjLbR06NT5KuwUwhn3WiQiu5wq-EW7M7WIleU5Ya6yob3MWj5LRjvAYzKCQ/w640-h360/BOOK&AUTHOR.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nuts and Bolts:
Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World in a Big Way: by Roma Agrawal
(Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfCMsF9-vF9FT8d0P2gyTeuBQxTD8KSZhRfm6lte8gDBlTLaeSNPLQVPQDRpsY2KS0tN7MGIs5jj7qtWY5cn8Ktcq1i55_m-U-3Oa2-qkIH9Um0rBduV26pV5QW-OKEvmehfB6zYGT05wOBwn9ia5MAMjJYh46uTA_a547THFLXFaYCCLCO-sbhymJ5o/s1500/BOOK2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="983" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfCMsF9-vF9FT8d0P2gyTeuBQxTD8KSZhRfm6lte8gDBlTLaeSNPLQVPQDRpsY2KS0tN7MGIs5jj7qtWY5cn8Ktcq1i55_m-U-3Oa2-qkIH9Um0rBduV26pV5QW-OKEvmehfB6zYGT05wOBwn9ia5MAMjJYh46uTA_a547THFLXFaYCCLCO-sbhymJ5o/s320/BOOK2.jpg" width="210" /></a></u></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3o8w_DG06hFZw_lGMCQh84pFwKpro8dNtATERkMggidAMyqR0xzrjOAHKg3jUQso3mUlf6tVvOLKuua0vurBeP1TjkxRRfK_lDak59xtAHCRSnBsGr6e3g9OpAOBQ90Oce2q397j-wpxBVP4zNNtNIlIBJaG1SQyfPyV-vWnHZlcLmB7IPW4BaXyqWk/s1200/BOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3o8w_DG06hFZw_lGMCQh84pFwKpro8dNtATERkMggidAMyqR0xzrjOAHKg3jUQso3mUlf6tVvOLKuua0vurBeP1TjkxRRfK_lDak59xtAHCRSnBsGr6e3g9OpAOBQ90Oce2q397j-wpxBVP4zNNtNIlIBJaG1SQyfPyV-vWnHZlcLmB7IPW4BaXyqWk/s320/BOOK.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Some of humanity’s
mightiest engineering achievements are small in scale—and, without them, the
complex machinery on which our modern world runs would not exist. In Nuts and
Bolts, structural engineer Roma Agrawal examines seven of these extraordinary
elements: the nail, the wheel, the spring, the magnet, the lens, the string,
and the pump.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tracing the evolution
from Egyptian nails to modern skyscrapers, and Neanderthal string to musical
instruments, Agrawal shows us how even our most sophisticated items are built
on the foundations of these ancient and fundamental breakthroughs. She explores
an array of intricate technologies—dishwashers, spacesuits, microscopes,
suspension bridges, breast pumps—making surprising connections, explaining how
they work, and using her own hand-drawn illustrations to bring complex
principles to life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Alongside deeply
personal experiences, she recounts the stories of remarkable—and often
uncredited—scientists, engineers, and innovators from all over the world, and
explores the indelible impact these creators and their creations had on
society. In preindustrial Britain, nails were so precious that their export to
the colonies was banned—and women were among the most industrious nail makers.
The washing machine displayed at an industrial fair in Chicago in 1898 was the
only machine featured that was designed by a woman. The history of the wheel,
meanwhile, starts with pottery, and takes us to India’s independence movement,
where making clothes using a spinning wheel was an act of civil disobedience.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Eye-opening and
engaging, Nuts and Bolts reveals the hidden building blocks of our modern
world, and shows how engineering has fundamentally changed the way we live.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Roma Agrawal:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhRS8XvF9ffx1j4qWMUzgfcncgq48kISg9B63rzNsIO242G-hlOSYuPi3LcemNI_lDaIC7CQ-8D6j77XpShTmk8Y-myFUREEwGCAjtk9G0R_4rRcKqFC5hpSy63CdInR2G_tUVqcBaQgyfSN16ko7Jfn3uuUD0EihpxZwGe7cbgDK7RKmCYSF7sezPcc/s300/AUTHOR-%20ROMA%20AGARWAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhRS8XvF9ffx1j4qWMUzgfcncgq48kISg9B63rzNsIO242G-hlOSYuPi3LcemNI_lDaIC7CQ-8D6j77XpShTmk8Y-myFUREEwGCAjtk9G0R_4rRcKqFC5hpSy63CdInR2G_tUVqcBaQgyfSN16ko7Jfn3uuUD0EihpxZwGe7cbgDK7RKmCYSF7sezPcc/w640-h640/AUTHOR-%20ROMA%20AGARWAL.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I'm an award-winning
engineer, author and broadcaster and am best known for working on the design of
The Shard, Western Europe's tallest tower. I studied at Imperial College London
and have an MA in Physics from the University of Oxford. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My first book, BUILT
(Bloomsbury, 2018) won an AAAS science book award and has been translated into
eight languages. The children's version, How Was That Built? (Bloomsbury, 2021)
will be published soon.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I'm currently writing
another book called Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions that Changed the
World (In a Big Way) (Hodder & Stoughton, 2023) where I will explore the
seven building-blocks of engineering that have come to underpin our lives: the
nail, spring, wheel, lens, magnet, string and pump. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I've had the absolute pleasure
of presenting television shows for the BBC, Channel 4 and Discovery, and I host
own podcast, Building Stories. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I'm particularly
passionate about promoting engineering and technical careers to young people,
particularly under-represented groups such as women and people of colour. In
2017 I won the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering's Rooke Award, and in
2018 was appointed an MBE for my services to engineering.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-71914024486759788042024-01-14T15:35:00.000+09:002024-01-14T15:35:59.486+09:00DANCING DINOSAURS OF JURASSIC AGE: TEN DANCING DINOSAURS FROM JURASSIC AGE ON AIR, WATER, AND LAND : 3D ANIMATION ON 3DS MAX SOFTWARE<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPxyjIWB4Sq-A1wd6R1RRC-AJbFMA5iAgpDhMNlx9x1ThCnvIYMctvEOAij-LOe5NkLa4CSLs7iv_BaXLo6obpnk6-YPcI3eGAqLrC6TWgHtxm-qaezVbqmNwh0OK6wV12MvOTmia_b8EU4UCeFgNbmFE3c7JSVspD04xTAuLeWOLi2ulxmcGSPJB590/s800/DINODANCINGGIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLFlweu1fZeFJyzW9j8lH8h4tKSCc7BBR5WVNderSmVywGw5M0beILiuZCENguMcuYlANMwy9sAIJPh8gkqcmNAjSkKdOR634oxPogFk6-JEQ7bHY2EWJ8CHgDvXPm-DITIFZcu1H7SdFPhPg7dNLhAWZvyv_h_N5nhEV9ZgBdZlJhx_1qlUc1D0ThDU/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK13124GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDQzHmRe8geV5GkjfdyWd4i9a6HqmsiqYl4mGkDqBAzDh6ZPxt7jWWDC832ZnmYy9wqr_hv1E5jEKmLymj_DOtrvqed3leU3wW9AEkp26ezGx7ToTko_L-jlEi0E7WFZzTE2FAMIzYcCQV1RQTOTqpfwk45nKQP4qrG4bOByRJ9axJ9WQnmOsCU-bqJQ/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDQzHmRe8geV5GkjfdyWd4i9a6HqmsiqYl4mGkDqBAzDh6ZPxt7jWWDC832ZnmYy9wqr_hv1E5jEKmLymj_DOtrvqed3leU3wW9AEkp26ezGx7ToTko_L-jlEi0E7WFZzTE2FAMIzYcCQV1RQTOTqpfwk45nKQP4qrG4bOByRJ9axJ9WQnmOsCU-bqJQ/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Earth’s largest
ape went extinct 100,000 years earlier than once thought By Carolyn Gramling<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdxpYZn1pTlUSutfQw-OklatDR-8OKIpKD-WyS_X3X1doUb963V4bvws56ltoKnreSYyqcWZV8BqpmKO-kvWaYb0LS1J-I-DkUwoSOuoTHolx6Ydey5EBJFqqJkkmU45VffpQNgEInqjsmg2geVP399YHPElvdbXCzrCXQ1r_dPZbIxB1p0bAi-G_PDo/s1030/Gigantopithecus%20blacki,%20the%20largest%20ape%20known%20on%20Earth%20(shown%20in%20this%20artist%E2%80%99s%20rendition),%20died%20out%20between%20295,000%20and%20215,000%20years%20ago,%20researchers%20say..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1030" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdxpYZn1pTlUSutfQw-OklatDR-8OKIpKD-WyS_X3X1doUb963V4bvws56ltoKnreSYyqcWZV8BqpmKO-kvWaYb0LS1J-I-DkUwoSOuoTHolx6Ydey5EBJFqqJkkmU45VffpQNgEInqjsmg2geVP399YHPElvdbXCzrCXQ1r_dPZbIxB1p0bAi-G_PDo/w640-h360/Gigantopithecus%20blacki,%20the%20largest%20ape%20known%20on%20Earth%20(shown%20in%20this%20artist%E2%80%99s%20rendition),%20died%20out%20between%20295,000%20and%20215,000%20years%20ago,%20researchers%20say..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest ape known on Earth (shown in this artist’s rendition), died out between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago, researchers say.</td></tr></tbody></table></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><b><br /></b></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Giants once roamed the
karst plains of southern China, three-meter tall apes weighing in at 250
kilograms. These very distant primate relatives—Gigantopithcus blacki—went
extinct before humans arrived in the region, with few clues to why, and so far
leaving around 2,000 fossilized teeth and four jawbones as the only signs of
their existence.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gigantopithecus blacki
couldn’t adapt to the shift from forest to savanna-like habitats The world’s
largest ape vanished from Earth more than 100,000 years earlier than once
thought, pushed to extinction as the environment around it shifted, researchers
report January 10 in Nature.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnZEyElS2wGXZJqQtXlgFTcS-z1Ze3aNMUteskGjIiNsdRLUnhNru8qgL8E1xRRdUqd6Rkfg1UOGj2pCKUMLqvMQ6JZcRijvitzmF_OrL3pfpUsv0TYJyf1pBLr4caxVx_VG61jF2DxaFg6llBHkAtb3kckulTXiZkzF34BwC6qHLZpluggKZRwO7Xsw/s2880/An%20artist%20impression%20of%20a%20group%20of%20G.%20blacki%20within%20a%20forest%20in%20southern%20China..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1863" data-original-width="2880" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnZEyElS2wGXZJqQtXlgFTcS-z1Ze3aNMUteskGjIiNsdRLUnhNru8qgL8E1xRRdUqd6Rkfg1UOGj2pCKUMLqvMQ6JZcRijvitzmF_OrL3pfpUsv0TYJyf1pBLr4caxVx_VG61jF2DxaFg6llBHkAtb3kckulTXiZkzF34BwC6qHLZpluggKZRwO7Xsw/w640-h414/An%20artist%20impression%20of%20a%20group%20of%20G.%20blacki%20within%20a%20forest%20in%20southern%20China..jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An artist impression of a group of G. blacki within a forest in southern China.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new extinction date
comes from new analyses of fossils of Gigantopithecus blacki, as well as on the
sediments of about a dozen caves in southern China where the ape once dwelled.
Instead of dying out around 100,000 years ago, the ape was driven to extinction
between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago, the team found. The fate of G. blacki,
twice the size of the largest modern apes and resembling a super-sized version
of its close cousin, the orangutan, has long been a mystery (SN: 11/13/19; SN:
6/24/44). For about 2 million years, G. blacki inhabited a mosaic landscape of
forests and grasses in what’s now southern China. It left behind only scattered
remnants: thousands of teeth and four jawbones, unearthed in cave sediments in
the region.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvjkswKfv1xmrcWvXPnv3S00TFXEfCH3itBEXzOD6h-kpcPV-t0EpwQhNUB5DpHBCyNXuTwiMKL-pOwKtIxqQDCAwFwvZgxA4y7cokmvOiERq0c0nuP45gs3f2uwZcHuoh20VyNV71cjtPEE8r0YUOSqzvkFHJRsuQw1eXmRzvrQEbCtRXDcFhduIgwY/s2880/Digging%20into%20the%20hard%20cemented%20cave%20sediments%20containing%20a%20wealth%20of%20fossils%20and%20evidence%20of%20G.%20blacki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2880" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvjkswKfv1xmrcWvXPnv3S00TFXEfCH3itBEXzOD6h-kpcPV-t0EpwQhNUB5DpHBCyNXuTwiMKL-pOwKtIxqQDCAwFwvZgxA4y7cokmvOiERq0c0nuP45gs3f2uwZcHuoh20VyNV71cjtPEE8r0YUOSqzvkFHJRsuQw1eXmRzvrQEbCtRXDcFhduIgwY/w640-h426/Digging%20into%20the%20hard%20cemented%20cave%20sediments%20containing%20a%20wealth%20of%20fossils%20and%20evidence%20of%20G.%20blacki.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digging into the hard cemented cave sediments containing a wealth of fossils and evidence of G. blacki</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To establish a
chronology for the ape’s extinction, paleoanthropologist Yingqi Zhang of the
Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and colleagues assembled an array of
different dating techniques to determine the ape’s habits, diet and
environment. In the teeth, they looked for data on the ape’s diet, measuring
isotopes of carbon and oxygen as well as examining the teeth for tiny evidence
of wear and tear — which can reveal not only diet, but also give hints of
repeated behaviors and stress. The team also analyzed the cave sediments
bearing the fossils, hunting for fossil pollen and conducting luminescence
dating on radioactive elements within the sediments.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEH2dwzPmVvb3J7zppJz0ICpnW_ayBPRJh41jHMxUH5lSMfd07KIuqY5Hzlfnx3-FSqqI9M8nAcPPee0bBV4lXVesELeRydXRbOPzBwLl8O53p9hCAqYq1chWeUfAcw3c0C6NrgfF5v3KU412OTJwXNn0SiSy7ug-HYly6O7uOmGirK7TleSiEXM-JsEM/s4320/The%20G.%20blacki%20bearing%20cave%20of%20Zhang%20Wang%20lies%20150%20m%20above%20the%20valley%20floor%20making%20for%20a%20tough%20climb%20every%20day%20to%20conduct%20excavations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4320" data-original-width="2880" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEH2dwzPmVvb3J7zppJz0ICpnW_ayBPRJh41jHMxUH5lSMfd07KIuqY5Hzlfnx3-FSqqI9M8nAcPPee0bBV4lXVesELeRydXRbOPzBwLl8O53p9hCAqYq1chWeUfAcw3c0C6NrgfF5v3KU412OTJwXNn0SiSy7ug-HYly6O7uOmGirK7TleSiEXM-JsEM/w426-h640/The%20G.%20blacki%20bearing%20cave%20of%20Zhang%20Wang%20lies%20150%20m%20above%20the%20valley%20floor%20making%20for%20a%20tough%20climb%20every%20day%20to%20conduct%20excavations.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The G. blacki bearing cave of Zhang Wang lies 150 m above the valley floor making for a tough climb every day to conduct excavations<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Six Australian
universities contributed to the project. Macquarie University, Southern Cross
University, Wollongong University and the University of Queensland used
multiple techniques to date samples. Southern Cross also mapped G. blacki teeth
to extract information on the apes' behaviors. ANU and Flinders University
studied the pollen and fossil-bearing sediments in the cave respectively, to
reconstruct the environments in which G. blacki thrived and then disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZYZacP2koRvijprvyJibb6PPrcyWGdcHk8gYdjqwGd91OHLRQ3Nl4-civo3EO_INJ-MHntAX-SHjDdtaMt_1q0ADoSWi2VrkmzlYSV0uTNwTgS4rt3nDQFmXSVL5hPB7KyIx0IyXpgC69H_fq97xuUD51V2gaQaHz9sJxGLYz2fdXQ8i0Sl_cdSPO3E/s2880/The%20location%20of%20many%20caves%20including%20two%20G.%20blacki%20bearing%20caves..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2880" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZYZacP2koRvijprvyJibb6PPrcyWGdcHk8gYdjqwGd91OHLRQ3Nl4-civo3EO_INJ-MHntAX-SHjDdtaMt_1q0ADoSWi2VrkmzlYSV0uTNwTgS4rt3nDQFmXSVL5hPB7KyIx0IyXpgC69H_fq97xuUD51V2gaQaHz9sJxGLYz2fdXQ8i0Sl_cdSPO3E/w640-h360/The%20location%20of%20many%20caves%20including%20two%20G.%20blacki%20bearing%20caves..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The location of many caves including two G. blacki bearing caves.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Six different dating
techniques were applied to the cave sediments and fossils, producing 157
radiometric ages. These were combined with eight sources of environmental and
behavioral evidence, and applied to 11 caves containing evidence of G. blacki,
and also to 11 caves of a similar age range where no G. blacki evidence was
found.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team’s
reconstruction revealed that around 700,000 to 600,000 years ago, southern
China shifted from its forested landscape to a more seasonally-driven
environment. Some apes, including the orangutans, were able to adapt to these
changes. But G. blacki was unable to change rapidly enough, and its numbers
slowly dwindled before going extinct, the team suggests.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The assembled evidence
tells a convincing story that “the demise of Gigantopithecus coincided in
southern China with a decrease of forest cover and expansion of savanna-like
environments,” says Hervé Bocherens, a biogeologist at the University of Tuebingen
in Germany. Still, he says, documenting the extinction of this species from the
fossil record is tricky — and it’s impossible to rule out the possibility that
pockets of G. blacki may have lingered in still-undiscovered caves for longer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Understanding the fate
of this ape, the researchers say, helps reveal how modern environmental
pressures might push orangutans, now on the brink of extinction as their
habitat shrinks, over the edge (SN: 1/25/06).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) An ancient,
massive urban complex has been found in the Ecuadorian Amazon By Amanda Heidt</span></u></b><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nN_0iQUW8xY_N013QftfrdJu5wpJIT_aofn-7M2bWaBlbQYEhaC7kkIQ3eeq9VZULnQiDudNB_6vcZuK9PuttxOu21ZguvVuEcN7JS_3rUClyAAfZGeNnLKQzY12xriH9kD5yQfDzR6pot8G9Pn1ihM0fcXLxHkDWofGPvj_edbmH4iIzqLybfbBhps/s1030/At%20several%20sites%20in%20Ecuador%E2%80%99s%20Upano%20Valley,%20such%20as%20this%20one,%20called%20Kunguints,%20laser%20scans%20revealed%20the%20remains%20of%20buildings%20arranged%20around%20low%20squares%20and%20distributed%20along%20widely%20dug%20streets..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1030" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nN_0iQUW8xY_N013QftfrdJu5wpJIT_aofn-7M2bWaBlbQYEhaC7kkIQ3eeq9VZULnQiDudNB_6vcZuK9PuttxOu21ZguvVuEcN7JS_3rUClyAAfZGeNnLKQzY12xriH9kD5yQfDzR6pot8G9Pn1ihM0fcXLxHkDWofGPvj_edbmH4iIzqLybfbBhps/w640-h360/At%20several%20sites%20in%20Ecuador%E2%80%99s%20Upano%20Valley,%20such%20as%20this%20one,%20called%20Kunguints,%20laser%20scans%20revealed%20the%20remains%20of%20buildings%20arranged%20around%20low%20squares%20and%20distributed%20along%20widely%20dug%20streets..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At several sites in Ecuador’s Upano Valley, such as this one, called Kunguints, laser scans revealed the remains of buildings arranged around low squares and distributed along widely dug streets.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Scientists have
uncovered the Amazon’s earliest and largest example of farm-based citylike
settlements high in the foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The thousands of mounds,
plazas, terraces, roads and agricultural fields — revealed for the first time
in their fullest extent by airborne laser scans — necessitate a rethinking of
just how complex ancient civilizations of the Amazon may have been, researchers
report in the Jan. 12 Science.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lC6pHhT-38UbfZdZAXofAvzYSqartjupB87ypwmIB7PI0QMtt_b6e3IOHBpxPHo01PF1NyCc_bzNDbRMshTrcRKy6WP51gn3L3Zvdy9TMQVNK_45HQaOhdcgvyAKsfdxHcuqV28i9yLRu_aqUgP-JRqwgvT1kmK_npz7hcyODpnKBEv7yoqL3nPmrHI/s680/Archaeologists%20had%20studied%20human-made%20mounds%20in%20Upano%20Valley%20for%20decades%20(some%20shown),%20but%20lidar%20scans%20gave%20them%20an%20unprecedented%20view%20of%20the%20landscape..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="680" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lC6pHhT-38UbfZdZAXofAvzYSqartjupB87ypwmIB7PI0QMtt_b6e3IOHBpxPHo01PF1NyCc_bzNDbRMshTrcRKy6WP51gn3L3Zvdy9TMQVNK_45HQaOhdcgvyAKsfdxHcuqV28i9yLRu_aqUgP-JRqwgvT1kmK_npz7hcyODpnKBEv7yoqL3nPmrHI/w640-h398/Archaeologists%20had%20studied%20human-made%20mounds%20in%20Upano%20Valley%20for%20decades%20(some%20shown),%20but%20lidar%20scans%20gave%20them%20an%20unprecedented%20view%20of%20the%20landscape..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archaeologists had studied human-made mounds in Upano Valley for decades (some shown), but lidar scans gave them an unprecedented view of the landscape.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Over the last decade or
so, the use of light detection and ranging, or lidar, in archaeology has led to
significant discoveries in tropical climates, where ancient settlements often
lay obscured beneath dense jungle (SN: 12/4/23). In 2018, researchers released
scans of remnants of Mayan settlements in Guatemala, followed by Olmec ruins in
Mexico in 2021 and Casarabe sites in the Bolivian Amazon in 2022, all which
have been revealed to be metropolitan-like settlements filled with complex
infrastructure (SN: 9/27/18; SN: 1/6/23; SN: 5/25/22).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It’s a gold rush
scenario, especially for the Americas and the Amazon,” says Christopher Fisher,
an archaeologist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins who has scanned
sites throughout the Americas but was not involved in the new research. “Scientists
are demonstrating conclusively that there were a lot more people in these
areas, and that they significantly modified the landscape,” he says. “This is a
paradigm shift in our thinking about how extensively people occupied these
areas.”For decades, archaeologists have visited the Upano Valley, a fertile
basin at the foot of a massive volcano in the eastern foothills of the Andes,
to excavate hundreds of human-made mounds left by pre-Hispanic peoples. But,
until 2015, Upano had not yet been systematically imaged like other, similarly
sized Mesoamerican settlements to the north.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Then, the Ecuadorian
government scanned a 600-square-kilometer swathe of the valley. Based on his
own expeditions in the valley over many years, archaeologist Stéphen Rostain of
CNRS in Paris expected to see extensive infrastructure in the scans. But he was
still surprised by the scale of what once existed when he and colleagues
analyzed the lidar data.Beneath the tree canopy was a massive network of
roughly 6,000 mounds — once homes and community spaces — clustered into 15
settlements and connected by an intricate road system. The lidar data also
revealed that the open spaces between settlements were in fact agricultural
fields that had been drained to grow crops such as maize, beans, sweet potatoes
and yucca. Within the settlements, the researchers found tiered gardens that
would have kept some food closer at hand.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rEr-eW_lg_a9vP4X4wYa_jSE0Y3AYkTog8uKODWkHdPV_K39ZgWgrmGOKfVMj4tF8XB9A6J7pQfR3doElbUXnGEi7ivNzXEmR0VPAJr4RMlY0PecN-XdZDa97ygUWkfLHRgMgBjtd_FRrbnaW_mNM5aFMz-8UJRXFP269teNYzLaI_TUoStMidxAxcU/s2880/Kettle%20Top%20Butte%20in%20southeastern%20New%20Mexico.%20This%20fossilized%20jaw%20from%20Tyrannosaurus%20mcraeensis%20was%20uncovered%20near%20the%20base%20of%20the%20butte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2880" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rEr-eW_lg_a9vP4X4wYa_jSE0Y3AYkTog8uKODWkHdPV_K39ZgWgrmGOKfVMj4tF8XB9A6J7pQfR3doElbUXnGEi7ivNzXEmR0VPAJr4RMlY0PecN-XdZDa97ygUWkfLHRgMgBjtd_FRrbnaW_mNM5aFMz-8UJRXFP269teNYzLaI_TUoStMidxAxcU/w640-h480/Kettle%20Top%20Butte%20in%20southeastern%20New%20Mexico.%20This%20fossilized%20jaw%20from%20Tyrannosaurus%20mcraeensis%20was%20uncovered%20near%20the%20base%20of%20the%20butte.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The location of many caves including two G. blacki bearing caves.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Put together, the
results show that the valley wasn’t simply a series of small villages linked by
roads, but “an entirely human-engineered landscape” built by skilled urban
planners, Rostain says. Dating from several sites suggests the area was
inhabited for roughly 2,000 years beginning around 500 B.C. by at least five
different cultural groups. A next step will be to calculate how many people
might have lived there.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“This landscape scale
we’re able to document via airborne lidar really helps us understand what the
variety of urbanism was in the past,” says Anna Cohen, an anthropological
archaeologist at Utah State University in Logan who was not involved in the
work. In particular, “it shows that you need to look at these green spaces in
addition to the buildings.”Beyond what the work says about the landscape,
Fisher says, it’s also revealing a lot about the people who lived there. After
Europeans’ conquest in predominately the 1500s, many Indigenous populations
were almost wiped out by disease. “We see the Amazon today as a pristine
tropical forest, but in reality, it’s an abandoned garden,” he says. “And this
is the first time we’ve been able to see these people since they were victims
of this incredible mortality event.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3)New dinosaur
species may be closest known relative of Tyrannosaurus rex :by Nature
Publishing Group<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGRrm47mKv6x39Q-8sxS6kHXfz4nRPk6C_A4A1UVtm9jfFTjO4EIF1lhnrU5NsIg_ce0hrbHE_8ZHfHwt-t3ZfOo-Vxa3grACSZRdZ2-0DlRCWsc64EQePS4r9qlHCf1ZSYyDElEjVJdY2wwBUymbNtMM1gxRVLBlBwOfs40XhfndXIJ8j_4WRVTs31w/s2362/Reconstruction%20of%20Tyrannosaurus%20mcraeensis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1677" data-original-width="2362" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGRrm47mKv6x39Q-8sxS6kHXfz4nRPk6C_A4A1UVtm9jfFTjO4EIF1lhnrU5NsIg_ce0hrbHE_8ZHfHwt-t3ZfOo-Vxa3grACSZRdZ2-0DlRCWsc64EQePS4r9qlHCf1ZSYyDElEjVJdY2wwBUymbNtMM1gxRVLBlBwOfs40XhfndXIJ8j_4WRVTs31w/w640-h454/Reconstruction%20of%20Tyrannosaurus%20mcraeensis.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reconstruction of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A new species of
tyrannosaur from southern North America that may the closest known relative of
Tyrannosaurus rex is described in a study published in Scientific Reports.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sebastian Dalman and
colleagues identified the new species—which they have named Tyrannosaurus
mcraeensis—by examining a fossilized partial skull, which was previously
discovered in the Hall Lake Formation, New Mexico, U.S.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5LMfedrtm6wH2Xbpa2hnwcQFWC0qbTIRW9eF0oHgjKnMoncPpIGTw27pVhW2-Dafyaq5ZIqLUS6rL-JtH7E18Bqu2eVb97YAM_J7_r3IPu_Ow5ioSmxmUSKy4JVXYr2-m5PW1ENlluXQ6Vx-0BOnonPRBzLSnXLRBAP4pMYYvMh2VjNJesv1DS2IiUw/s2880/Jaw%20of%20Tyrannosaurus%20mcraeensis%20at%20the%20New%20Mexico%20Museum%20of%20Natural%20History%20and%20Science.%20Note%20the%20large%20scar%20towards%20the%20back%20of%20the%20jaw,%20which%20the%20authors%20speculate%20may%20have%20resulted%20from%20a%20fight%20with%20another%20Tyrannosaurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2880" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5LMfedrtm6wH2Xbpa2hnwcQFWC0qbTIRW9eF0oHgjKnMoncPpIGTw27pVhW2-Dafyaq5ZIqLUS6rL-JtH7E18Bqu2eVb97YAM_J7_r3IPu_Ow5ioSmxmUSKy4JVXYr2-m5PW1ENlluXQ6Vx-0BOnonPRBzLSnXLRBAP4pMYYvMh2VjNJesv1DS2IiUw/w640-h426/Jaw%20of%20Tyrannosaurus%20mcraeensis%20at%20the%20New%20Mexico%20Museum%20of%20Natural%20History%20and%20Science.%20Note%20the%20large%20scar%20towards%20the%20back%20of%20the%20jaw,%20which%20the%20authors%20speculate%20may%20have%20resulted%20from%20a%20fight%20with%20another%20Tyrannosaurus.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaw of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Note the large scar towards the back of the jaw, which the authors speculate may have resulted from a fight with another Tyrannosaurus</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Although these remains
were initially assigned to T. rex and are comparable in size to those of T. rex
(which was up to 12 meters long), the authors propose that they belong to a new
species due to the presence of multiple subtle differences in the shape of, and
joins between, the skull bones of the specimen and T. rex.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaJ2JFQ7dSci7avp6gTUtBP9s6ensXjy44_FnWIMcS1GyLU1VD6tJp06bHZlgrztmfIU1CaXj5fRei4yHOZp8QpVjBUzuMc-10-G6DCnO_pVOD5JmFZeKVQXz4uHH9pqM0hceHfLGyn4785OaR83oISs_nDk_UqAp8tySuKjB6pChLGedpVOAryQevdU/s3840/Teeth%20of%20Tyrannosaurus%20mcraeensis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2880" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaJ2JFQ7dSci7avp6gTUtBP9s6ensXjy44_FnWIMcS1GyLU1VD6tJp06bHZlgrztmfIU1CaXj5fRei4yHOZp8QpVjBUzuMc-10-G6DCnO_pVOD5JmFZeKVQXz4uHH9pqM0hceHfLGyn4785OaR83oISs_nDk_UqAp8tySuKjB6pChLGedpVOAryQevdU/w480-h640/Teeth%20of%20Tyrannosaurus%20mcraeensis.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teeth of Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Based on the locations
of the remains in relation to rocks and other dinosaur remains that have been
previously dated to between 66 and 75 million years ago, the authors suggest
that T. mcraeensis may have lived between 71 and 73 million years ago—between
five and seven million years before T. rex. Analysis of the relationships
between T. mcraeensis and other theropod dinosaur species indicates that T.
mcraeensis may have been a sister species to T. rex, making it the closest
known relative of T. rex.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzne-bJcmhLgQ8rqIDJFoALHdAW-etFEFk0lApwKefARcUbDM5ZZRaoZ6kV5aXF0jEh9V-FQXPNshn8mP-kuNw32p1sD04UxkjVuig8MWSP-A9aXulyE2ezl1kt4lB241ZR2JYkmIVzEiFuQPoizzdPo-wK8Dsv-Rd03rQ2TEo8ffj5p_PHxD0luJEMNk/s2880/Kettle%20Top%20Butte%20in%20southeastern%20New%20Mexico.%20This%20fossilized%20jaw%20from%20Tyrannosaurus%20mcraeensis%20was%20uncovered%20near%20the%20base%20of%20the%20butte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2880" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzne-bJcmhLgQ8rqIDJFoALHdAW-etFEFk0lApwKefARcUbDM5ZZRaoZ6kV5aXF0jEh9V-FQXPNshn8mP-kuNw32p1sD04UxkjVuig8MWSP-A9aXulyE2ezl1kt4lB241ZR2JYkmIVzEiFuQPoizzdPo-wK8Dsv-Rd03rQ2TEo8ffj5p_PHxD0luJEMNk/w640-h480/Kettle%20Top%20Butte%20in%20southeastern%20New%20Mexico.%20This%20fossilized%20jaw%20from%20Tyrannosaurus%20mcraeensis%20was%20uncovered%20near%20the%20base%20of%20the%20butte.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kettle Top Butte in southeastern New Mexico. This fossilized jaw from Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis was uncovered near the base of the butte</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Based on its discovery
in New Mexico and its relationship to T. rex, the authors suggest that the
Tyranosaurus lineage, Tyrannosaurini, may have originated in southern
Laramidia—an island continent that existed between 100 and 66 million years ago
and stretched from modern-day Alaska to Mexico. Additionally, they propose that
Tyrannosaurini may have evolved a giant body size approximately 72 million
years ago, alongside other giant dinosaurs from southern Laramidia such as
ceratopsians, hadrosaurs, and titanosaurs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The authors speculate
that the evolution of giant tyrannosaurins may have been driven by the giant
body sizes of herbivores that they preyed on in southern Laramidia.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Scientists tame
chaotic protein fueling 75% of cancers :by Jules Bernstein, University of
California - Riverside<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbN84SW7WmUChAM5TLkQmqswIO_nh219PmXzoiocGZH36V4obn6DZJVyGj1HsZvu1f0p4VauaKmwOj0LVEbKQG5ILW4Db9hoxoixMHsVGHJLhbmDPPsepi6tSmqR6bVyfePCxseZuebUjfwxjPCdxSPlHLP6iO8nwIFV1xewT2ihfVdoJXfZZ9sonHbRY/s2050/NTB%20bicyclic%20peptide%20library%20construction,%20MYC%20epitope%20screening,%20and%20chemical%20linearization%20of%20hit%20peptides%20followed%20by%20MS%20MS%20sequencing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1421" data-original-width="2050" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbN84SW7WmUChAM5TLkQmqswIO_nh219PmXzoiocGZH36V4obn6DZJVyGj1HsZvu1f0p4VauaKmwOj0LVEbKQG5ILW4Db9hoxoixMHsVGHJLhbmDPPsepi6tSmqR6bVyfePCxseZuebUjfwxjPCdxSPlHLP6iO8nwIFV1xewT2ihfVdoJXfZZ9sonHbRY/w640-h444/NTB%20bicyclic%20peptide%20library%20construction,%20MYC%20epitope%20screening,%20and%20chemical%20linearization%20of%20hit%20peptides%20followed%20by%20MS%20MS%20sequencing.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p>MYC is the shapeless
protein responsible for making the majority of human cancer cases worse. UC
Riverside researchers have found a way to rein it in, offering hope for a new
era of treatments. In healthy cells, MYC helps guide the process of
transcription, in which genetic information is converted from DNA into RNA and,
eventually, into proteins. "Normally, MYC's activity is strictly
controlled. In cancer cells, it becomes hyper active, and is not regulated
properly," said UCR associate professor of chemistry Min Xue.</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"MYC is less like
food for cancer cells and more like a steroid that promotes cancer's rapid
growth," Xue said. "That is why MYC is a culprit in 75% of all human
cancer cases."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the outset of this
project the UCR research team believed that if they could dampen MYC's
hyperactivity, they could open a window in which the cancer could be
controlled.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, finding a way
to control MYC was challenging because unlike most other proteins, MYC has no
structure. "It's basically a glob of randomness," Xue said.
"Conventional drug discovery pipelines rely on well-defined structures,
and this does not exist for MYC."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A new paper in the
Journal of the American Chemical Society, on which Xue is the senior author,
describes a peptide compound that binds to MYC and suppresses its activity. In
2018, the researchers noticed that changing the rigidity and shape of a peptide
improves its ability to interact with structureless protein targets such as
MYC.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Peptides can
assume a variety of forms, shapes, and positions," Xue said. "Once
you bend and connect them to form rings, they cannot adopt other possible
forms, so they then have a low level of randomness. This helps with the
binding."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Taming MYC</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The UCR team’s
innovative approach involved developing a peptide compound that effectively
binds to and suppresses MYC’s activity. This was based on their 2018
observation that modifying the rigidity and shape of peptides could enhance
their interaction with structureless proteins like MYC. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBTMmmhTkcKUt0YovkOs9nhNwjSi6uThtxl0ROW8JDB6DsMhaIn9cQdMPUab9mNQPmr8p06vrx9JQgIa1dgNcu94fdXp3M53T3DYPSjBVUZO2dtfd0aWdIx_MOnmyEFqkzZjOocavXjERDhmG6nmKkeQcPj3hzeuKWhHczOKfvOIN3yCIQ-eLPnoY4_E/s1219/The%20MYC%20proteins%20(grey%20ribbons)%20bind%20to%20DNA%20and%20promote%20cancer%20progression.%20UCR%20researchers%20developed%20a%20molecule%20(orange%20pretzel-like%20shape)%20that%20binds%20to%20MYC,%20inhibiting%20its%20cancer-promoting%20function.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1219" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBTMmmhTkcKUt0YovkOs9nhNwjSi6uThtxl0ROW8JDB6DsMhaIn9cQdMPUab9mNQPmr8p06vrx9JQgIa1dgNcu94fdXp3M53T3DYPSjBVUZO2dtfd0aWdIx_MOnmyEFqkzZjOocavXjERDhmG6nmKkeQcPj3hzeuKWhHczOKfvOIN3yCIQ-eLPnoY4_E/w640-h582/The%20MYC%20proteins%20(grey%20ribbons)%20bind%20to%20DNA%20and%20promote%20cancer%20progression.%20UCR%20researchers%20developed%20a%20molecule%20(orange%20pretzel-like%20shape)%20that%20binds%20to%20MYC,%20inhibiting%20its%20cancer-promoting%20function.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">By manipulating peptides
into specific forms and shapes, the researchers were able to significantly
reduce the randomness, facilitating stronger binding to MYC.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the paper, the team
describes a new peptide that binds directly to MYC with what is called
sub-micro-molar affinity, which is getting closer to the strength of an
antibody. In other words, it is a very strong and specific interaction."We
improved the binding performance of this peptide over previous versions by two
orders of magnitude," Xue said. "This makes it closer to our drug
development goals."Currently, the researchers are using lipid
nanoparticles to deliver the peptide into cells. These are small spheres made
of fatty molecules, and they are not ideal for use as a drug. Going forward,
the researchers are developing chemistry that improves the lead peptide's
ability to get inside cells.Once the peptide is in the cell, it will bind to
MYC, changing MYC's physical properties and preventing it from performing
transcription activities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiMVKN0pSc4hC9fwLmy28Go38lu9MyIQnvWGbePQBsX1MV5j5IWTILnHE430rxLkBTYdNaGJnlr-l8esZwKngox8snjqnuq1bLfakl6suQllIqOMX-RCDkpeJbyY4IscR0vrS7AkAWSSfXCVRwUTLzHWQtLlILkCr5YzesigzsshS8sV0TU7Es7qJBYQ/s1222/TAMING%20CANCERPROTEIN2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1222" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiMVKN0pSc4hC9fwLmy28Go38lu9MyIQnvWGbePQBsX1MV5j5IWTILnHE430rxLkBTYdNaGJnlr-l8esZwKngox8snjqnuq1bLfakl6suQllIqOMX-RCDkpeJbyY4IscR0vrS7AkAWSSfXCVRwUTLzHWQtLlILkCr5YzesigzsshS8sV0TU7Es7qJBYQ/w640-h322/TAMING%20CANCERPROTEIN2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Xue's laboratory at UC
Riverside develops molecular tools to better understand biology and uses that
knowledge to perform drug discovery. He has long been interested in the
chemistry of chaotic processes, which attracted him to the challenge of taming
MYC."MYC represents chaos, basically, because it lacks structure. That,
and its direct impact on so many types of cancer make it one of the holy grails
of cancer drug development," Xue said. "We are very excited that it
is now within our grasp."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Researchers
sequence the first genome of myxini, the only vertebrate lineage that had no
reference genome :by University of Malaga<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt3pN7ZEn7-M3LijZN38Ao24UjNVTLU4Kzf4BcuCzGrqVKfNy3NSHTGFB5NB8-xdSCxRVi8LPe9ycocCUnjXO_LGHZHyaja0ERsQ9kQtOH7n9VxCwYb6FhdAdKvJdefeFDWfEZwHl1q0ilixspSu6PctNIkn3wzt8KuhykuEkv2tjzA_Rqy-Es47KTWY/s1500/Credit%20University%20of%20Malaga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt3pN7ZEn7-M3LijZN38Ao24UjNVTLU4Kzf4BcuCzGrqVKfNy3NSHTGFB5NB8-xdSCxRVi8LPe9ycocCUnjXO_LGHZHyaja0ERsQ9kQtOH7n9VxCwYb6FhdAdKvJdefeFDWfEZwHl1q0ilixspSu6PctNIkn3wzt8KuhykuEkv2tjzA_Rqy-Es47KTWY/w640-h426/Credit%20University%20of%20Malaga.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit University of Malaga</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An international
scientific team including more than 40 authors from seven different countries,
led by a researcher at the University of Malaga Juan Pascual Anaya, has managed
to sequence the first genome of the myxini, also known as hagfish, the only
large group of vertebrates for which there has been no reference genome of any
of its species yet.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxepKI0M6HH3U7dop5VptR7zsJ8k3BrqLu2PnIzCNOVCtLKtm4h-Oq3Ad1LI5v568BHy4gH_m1VIrOazUBN_ZEfdwCgvi68fJIjGkZYrU_ZakdKz4f4e6fw9rF7g8tp3lghOenRnbBx8MuKKQ4dcnsVU-ICPGl6fDt4Fml-bMe5W7XxmLRM_vlTRDDWpw/s2880/HAGFISHSEQUENCE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2880" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxepKI0M6HH3U7dop5VptR7zsJ8k3BrqLu2PnIzCNOVCtLKtm4h-Oq3Ad1LI5v568BHy4gH_m1VIrOazUBN_ZEfdwCgvi68fJIjGkZYrU_ZakdKz4f4e6fw9rF7g8tp3lghOenRnbBx8MuKKQ4dcnsVU-ICPGl6fDt4Fml-bMe5W7XxmLRM_vlTRDDWpw/w640-h480/HAGFISHSEQUENCE2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This finding, published
in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, has allowed for deciphering the
evolutionary history of genome duplications that occurred in the ancestors of
vertebrates, a group that includes humans.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This study has
important implications in the evolutionary and molecular field, as it helps us
understand the changes in the genome that accompanied the origin of vertebrates
and their most unique structures, such as the complex brain, the jaw and the
limbs," explains the scientist of the Department of Animal Biology of the
UMA Pascual Anaya, who has coordinated the research.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBCg3Sdldd2ScGtIgsOaXHHY8l7artB3z4F4in5M42FIm4jLcHj2WlF0b_GgfU-njEGMm847A4qstzPpE1A1AsJgBGA4hhohMeyX0s-jELwhbTQBbmmeNcAjv6S5MjtYeBIWhDTNzpey3InenRAk8vZ0ZWyjMCpenTNFPLzbzOYp1T_gZ2oRNwOHBwwg/s640/HAGFISHSEQUENCE3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="640" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBCg3Sdldd2ScGtIgsOaXHHY8l7artB3z4F4in5M42FIm4jLcHj2WlF0b_GgfU-njEGMm847A4qstzPpE1A1AsJgBGA4hhohMeyX0s-jELwhbTQBbmmeNcAjv6S5MjtYeBIWhDTNzpey3InenRAk8vZ0ZWyjMCpenTNFPLzbzOYp1T_gZ2oRNwOHBwwg/w640-h568/HAGFISHSEQUENCE3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Thus, this study, which
took almost a decade, was carried out by an international consortium that includes
more than 30 institutions from Spain, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Italy,
Norway and the United States, including the University of Tokyo, the Japan
research institute RIKEN, the Chinese Academy of Science, and the Centre for
Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, among others. Genome duplications<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For this study, the
sequenced genome was that of the Eptatretus burgeri, which lives in the
Pacific, on the coasts of East Asia. To achieve this, the researchers generated
data up to 400 times the size of its genome, using advanced techniques of
chromosomal proximity (Hi-C) and managing to assemble it at chromosome level.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8Qw6kxVs0IIx7pEJGDJMMQ43Cbl5noUs_ua9uQcss4F97QDuhb9K1KxPJlQea65UHC5tlIe3aY_nWnLZVM1lf6szMI-85Gz8mcCNH0n_S-i5zMr5gPgPVTT8YG-LfM-Ll7y_CLVXDwvvNX-i_CuzjbhLoqc8-qweTtjNCI2e7FB6argRwyzCCjrMJO0/s700/THE%20RESEARCHER%20AT%20THE%20UNIVERSITY%20OF%20MALAGA%20JUAN%20PASCUAL%20ANAYA,%20HAS%20MANAGED%20TO%20SEQUENCE%20THE%20FIRST%20GENOME%20OF%20THE%20MYXINI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="700" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8Qw6kxVs0IIx7pEJGDJMMQ43Cbl5noUs_ua9uQcss4F97QDuhb9K1KxPJlQea65UHC5tlIe3aY_nWnLZVM1lf6szMI-85Gz8mcCNH0n_S-i5zMr5gPgPVTT8YG-LfM-Ll7y_CLVXDwvvNX-i_CuzjbhLoqc8-qweTtjNCI2e7FB6argRwyzCCjrMJO0/w640-h360/THE%20RESEARCHER%20AT%20THE%20UNIVERSITY%20OF%20MALAGA%20JUAN%20PASCUAL%20ANAYA,%20HAS%20MANAGED%20TO%20SEQUENCE%20THE%20FIRST%20GENOME%20OF%20THE%20MYXINI.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE RESEARCHER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MALAGA JUAN PASCUAL ANAYA, HAS MANAGED TO SEQUENCE THE FIRST GENOME OF THE MYXINI</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This is important
because it allowed us to compare, for example, the order of genes between this
and the rest of vertebrates, including sharks and humans, and thus solve one of
the most important open debates in genomic evolution: the number of genome
duplications, and when these occurred during the origin of the different
vertebrate lineages," says the UMA scientist, who adds that thanks to this
we now know that the common ancestor of all vertebrates derived from a species
which genome was completely duplicated once.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Later, according to
Pascual Anaya, the lineages that gave rise to modern mandibular and
non-mandibular vertebrates separated, and each of these re-multiplied its
genome independently: while the former, which includes humans, duplicated it,
the latter tripled it. Evolutionary impact<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An analysis of the
functionality of genomes, based on extremely rare samples of myxini embryos,
carried out in the laboratory of Professor Shigeru Kuratani of RIKEN; and a
study on the possible impact of genome duplications on each vertebrate,
developed together with the Professor at the University of Bristol and member
of the Royal Society Phil Donoghue, complete this multidisciplinary research
that is key to understanding the evolutionary history of vertebrates.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The study provides
perspectives on the genomic events that likely drove the appearance of
important characteristics of vertebrates, such as brain structure, sensory
organs or neural crest cells, and among them, an increase in regulatory
complexity (a greater number of switches that turn genes on/off).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qfNb3faDBkrAcHGvN-2nTDdvxVZruoLT__pm3om3jMj-ae8EplPjUzb8sh7_KWi_JAAvaGGQu8O2Jkzm0DZ5wvbFY6tXQTjUXaN2ciR9b31p8A2iGnMhfLhDPY2S7nGu7YPSsl9C7i-qztvtnDw14FYHPFxrEOJYLGoX4tKWMiD-3uCzC0zsCr03MRI/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qfNb3faDBkrAcHGvN-2nTDdvxVZruoLT__pm3om3jMj-ae8EplPjUzb8sh7_KWi_JAAvaGGQu8O2Jkzm0DZ5wvbFY6tXQTjUXaN2ciR9b31p8A2iGnMhfLhDPY2S7nGu7YPSsl9C7i-qztvtnDw14FYHPFxrEOJYLGoX4tKWMiD-3uCzC0zsCr03MRI/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Bilkis Bano:
India Supreme Court cancels release of 2002 riots rapists By Geeta Pandey BBC
News, Delhi<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgdgA62l1z8UVYdh6YiDBGgLFUTG3mw843o8buu6RntzUMe7woI-EEot435HYKxNxKW_8AFhuLUX3BughWa6RPNX6FLdle5oQ9l7gyCbS3auzt7mUJVghW68s6bjJPGyEK3d118G9ti5_owDeE8r99YYogyA9vqQq3KmUQERhAF4ERAV_GUYKbKpRWJM/s976/Bilkis%20Bano%20has%20said%20she%20wants%20her%20attackers%20to%20understand%20the%20severity%20of%20their%20crime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgdgA62l1z8UVYdh6YiDBGgLFUTG3mw843o8buu6RntzUMe7woI-EEot435HYKxNxKW_8AFhuLUX3BughWa6RPNX6FLdle5oQ9l7gyCbS3auzt7mUJVghW68s6bjJPGyEK3d118G9ti5_owDeE8r99YYogyA9vqQq3KmUQERhAF4ERAV_GUYKbKpRWJM/w640-h360/Bilkis%20Bano%20has%20said%20she%20wants%20her%20attackers%20to%20understand%20the%20severity%20of%20their%20crime.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bilkis Bano has said she wants her attackers to understand the severity of their crime</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Eleven men freed early
after being found guilty of gang raping a pregnant Muslim woman must be
returned to prison, India's Supreme Court has said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Part of a Hindu mob, the
men were serving life terms for the attack on Bilkis Bano, as well as the
murder of 14 of her family members, during anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat state
in 2002.However, they were released in August 2022 by order of Gujarat's government.The
order, and the celebrations as they left prison, caused global outrage.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQUEecPGCFlm9SL_selcllso2I0zu1g_pqlN8ChUZQWQdZx4yn9JRzivzrpB-ITZKyNwRGs__2gzlzZrNi3SOj2MFK0TmrUFU1OYYcZ1k88MQKJv_4DvQJQ_w7ccnpY0wuJPGkOT9PtnmkNhNl4TUL0ixZOCav6bBfKQqN5U3NGcyQV-COgEyF_YTauk/s976/Mr%20Modi%20was%20chief%20minister%20of%20Gujarat%20state%20when%20the%20riots%20took%20place,%20but%20denies%20any%20wrongdoing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQUEecPGCFlm9SL_selcllso2I0zu1g_pqlN8ChUZQWQdZx4yn9JRzivzrpB-ITZKyNwRGs__2gzlzZrNi3SOj2MFK0TmrUFU1OYYcZ1k88MQKJv_4DvQJQ_w7ccnpY0wuJPGkOT9PtnmkNhNl4TUL0ixZOCav6bBfKQqN5U3NGcyQV-COgEyF_YTauk/w640-h360/Mr%20Modi%20was%20chief%20minister%20of%20Gujarat%20state%20when%20the%20riots%20took%20place,%20but%20denies%20any%20wrongdoing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Modi was chief minister of Gujarat state when the riots took place, but denies any wrongdoing</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The article contains
details that some readers may find disturbingMs Bano said she had "wept
tears of relief" on hearing that the decision to free her attackers had
been overturned. She thanked the Supreme Court "for giving me, my children
and women everywhere this vindication and hope in the promise of equal justice
for all".She had petitioned the court after men were released.The
two-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice BV Nagarathna, ruled that the
state of Gujarat was "not competent" to pass the remission order in
the case since the men had been tried and convicted in a court in the
neighbouring state of Maharashtra. The bench added that since the government's
remission order had been nullified, the 11 convicts must return to prison
within two weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Justice
encompasses not just the rights of the convicts but also the rights of the
victims" and the "primary duty" of the court is to uphold
justice and rule of law, Justice Nagarathna said, adding that the "rule of
law must be preserved unmindful of the ripples of the consequences".<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India PM Modi's
government okayed rapists' release<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gujarat riots: How one
woman fought to convict her rapists<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The landmark judgement
is expected to create ripples, especially in Gujarat where Prime Minister
Narendra Modi was chief minister at the time of the riots and was criticised
for not doing enough to prevent the carnage. He has always denied wrongdoing
and has not apologised for what happened in the riots.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gujarat's state
government had sought the federal government's approval to release the men
sentenced for attacking Ms Bano and her family. It was granted by the home
ministry, led by Mr Modi's close aide Amit Shah.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">State officials said in
court that the 11 men - first convicted by a trial court in 2008 - had spent
more than 14 years in jail and were released after factors such as their age
and good behaviour in prison were taken into consideration. When the men were
freed in 2022 they were given a heroes' welcome as they left the jail in
Godhra, with relatives giving them sweets and touching their feet to show
respect.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Federal prosecutors had
argued they should not be "released prematurely and no leniency may be
shown" to them as their crime was "heinous, grave and
serious".After her attackers were freed, Bilkis Bano said the decision to
release them had "shaken her faith in justice".<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"How can justice
for any woman end like this? I trusted the highest courts in our land. I
trusted the system, and I was learning slowly to live with my trauma," she
wrote, appealing to the Gujarat government to "undo this harm".<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The attack on Ms Bano
and her family was one of the most horrific crimes during the riots, which
began after 60 Hindu pilgrims died in a fire on a passenger train in the town
of Godhra.Blaming Muslims for starting the fire, Hindu mobs attacked Muslim
neighbourhoods. Over three days, more than 1,000 people died, most of them
Muslims.The morning after the train fire, Ms Bano - then 19 and pregnant with
her second child - was visiting her parents in a village called Randhikpur near
Godhra with her three-year-old daughter. When rioters attacked the village and
started setting Muslim homes on fire, she and 16 relatives went on the run, she
told the BBC in 2017. Over the next few days, they sought shelter in mosques or
subsisting on the kindness of Hindu neighbours.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the morning of 3
March 2002, a group of men attacked them "with swords and sticks".<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"One of them
snatched my daughter from my lap and threw her on the ground, bashing her head
into a rock."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Her attackers were her
neighbours, men she had seen almost daily while growing up. They tore off her
clothes and several of them raped her, ignoring her pleas for mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Her cousin, who had
given birth two days earlier, was raped and murdered and her newborn baby was
killed too.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5V5uIVGJSxinfM3nXu3e-3YmTfLS0EOpgIOV0F2QiMZoMGt_bV2neWFZGwCPLYbECAiaALM7htvNN9o1IIn-ke7VjNj1wI2LSvEs9GqkiVATmwOqiJodQeQp45cH7-U8CC62cBsc0EkfpD1YH5MXD8wWAE4c6QY3FTWoupa2kxYL9huN4pqKYsAtBmI/s976/The%20riots%20began%20after%20a%20fire%20on%20a%20passenger%20train%20in%20Godhra%20town%20killed%2060%20Hindu%20pilgrims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="976" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5V5uIVGJSxinfM3nXu3e-3YmTfLS0EOpgIOV0F2QiMZoMGt_bV2neWFZGwCPLYbECAiaALM7htvNN9o1IIn-ke7VjNj1wI2LSvEs9GqkiVATmwOqiJodQeQp45cH7-U8CC62cBsc0EkfpD1YH5MXD8wWAE4c6QY3FTWoupa2kxYL9huN4pqKYsAtBmI/w640-h432/The%20riots%20began%20after%20a%20fire%20on%20a%20passenger%20train%20in%20Godhra%20town%20killed%2060%20Hindu%20pilgrims.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The riots began after a fire on a passenger train in Godhra town killed 60 Hindu pilgrims</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bilkis Bano survived
because she lost consciousness and her attackers left, believing she was dead.
Two boys - seven and four - were the only other survivors of the massacre<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Her fight for justice
has been long and nightmarish. It has been well documented that some police and
state officials tried to intimidate her, evidence was destroyed and the dead
were buried without post-mortem exams. The doctors who examined her said she
hadn't been raped, and she received death threats.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The first arrests in the
case were made only in 2004 after India's Supreme Court handed over the case to
federal investigators and transferred her case to Mumbai saying that courts in
Gujarat could not deliver justice to her.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Over the years, the
courts have convicted dozens of people for involvement in the riots, but some
high-profile accused won bail or were exonerated by higher courts. This
included Maya Kodnani, an ex-minister in Mr Modi's Gujarat cabinet, whom a
trial court had called "a kingpin of the riots" that took place in
one area.In 2013, a Supreme Court panel ruled there was insufficient evidence
to prosecute Mr Modi, who became prime minister the following year. But critics
have continued to blame him for the riots happening on his watch.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Who are 4
Shankaracharyas refusing to attend Ram Mandir event on Jan 22?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31FbxKoDDhb1IJuD1u_fBXAPiCuGVbX1XaO_X-8hmZ9CXFV2V8FmYy-4zTWwOUkAMnigBnI4AtEsAJpm9ydW0ejjmNcEZIVqI79B5zI8rJBgGIx14V0L8XH3z2ZvGx2rCk67JcP_AkB-mHEBUqXm-emxY4DcJG7xtghc_lk35FlxhrKmItvNi0ETDibQ/s549/Adi%20Shankaracharya%E2%80%99s%20108%20feet%20tall%20statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31FbxKoDDhb1IJuD1u_fBXAPiCuGVbX1XaO_X-8hmZ9CXFV2V8FmYy-4zTWwOUkAMnigBnI4AtEsAJpm9ydW0ejjmNcEZIVqI79B5zI8rJBgGIx14V0L8XH3z2ZvGx2rCk67JcP_AkB-mHEBUqXm-emxY4DcJG7xtghc_lk35FlxhrKmItvNi0ETDibQ/w640-h360/Adi%20Shankaracharya%E2%80%99s%20108%20feet%20tall%20statue.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adi Shankaracharya’s 108 feet tall statue</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Top four Sanatan Hindu
Dharma spiritual leaders, also known as ‘Shankaracharyas’, will not attend the
consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The top four Sanatan Hindu
Dharma spiritual leaders, also known as ‘Shankaracharyas’, have decided to not
attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22,
though two of them have issued a statement supporting the event. Swami
Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth in
Uttarakhand, said the construction of the temple doesn't signify a victory of
Sanatan Dharma. The top four Shankaracharyas, who head four major Hindu mutts,
are based in Uttarakhand, Odisha, Karnataka, and Gujarat.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shankaracharya Swami Shri Nischalananda Saraswati</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Shankaracharya of
Puri Gowardhanpeeth, Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati, is the 145th Sankaracharya
of the Govardhana Peetha at Jagannath Puri, Odisha. He took the responsibility
of the Peetha as its head on February 9, 1992.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier this week, Swami
Nishchalanand Saraswati Shankaracharya said that he would not attend the Ram
Mandir event because it was against the scriptures, adding that the ceremony
had turned into a political show.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shankaracharya
Avimukteshwaranand looks after all the ceremonies and activities in Jyotir Math
in Uttarakhand - which is one of the four cardinal pithams established by saint
Adi Shankara. He reportedly took over the responsibility in 2006.According to
reports, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand has refused to attend the
consecration ceremony as it does not follow the norms of the Hindu religion.
“We are not anti-Modi but at the same time we also can’t go against our Dharma
Shastra,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shankaracharya Bharati Teerth</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shankaracharya Bharati
Teerth of Sringeri Sharda Peeth is the 36th Shankaracharya of the Peeth. While
media reports have suggested that he will not be attending the Ram temple event
on January 22, the Sringeri mutt recently reportedly rejected this claim. It is
not yet clear if the Shankaracharya will attend the consecration ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shankaracharya Sadanand Saraswati</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sadanand Saraswati is
the Shankaracharya of Paschimannaya Dwarka Shardapeeth, which is one of the
four cardinal peeth established by the saint Adi Shankara. Located in Gujarat's
Dwarka, it is also known as the Kalika mutt. According to reports,
Shankaracharya Sadanand Saraswati will also not attend the event, however,
there is no official confirmation from the spiritual leader yet.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Ram temple
consecration ceremony will be held on January 22, while the rituals for the
event will begin on January 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief
guest at the event where thousands of people, including celebrities, saints,
and politicians have been invited.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) No claim for
justice now as child is dead: Lawyer of Bengaluru CEO's estranged husband<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpOpN4R_0sZd9w4BPyakZ9Y6KjyHMXSBc_0o67MWUCyFRXGMjUUx0DQeTJzwS7LkAWsmeooxzGBC_foN0ojCRm-JMEQZp66pQc1q81QhhXlT6yYm0uSBet_px1nam0aqB-9IzA-8UF7wKoVVTi2qVuWgWZygA0MGhhtJMbjJNEvroGaGVJtlRoQodF9Q/s1600/SUCHAN%20SEN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpOpN4R_0sZd9w4BPyakZ9Y6KjyHMXSBc_0o67MWUCyFRXGMjUUx0DQeTJzwS7LkAWsmeooxzGBC_foN0ojCRm-JMEQZp66pQc1q81QhhXlT6yYm0uSBet_px1nam0aqB-9IzA-8UF7wKoVVTi2qVuWgWZygA0MGhhtJMbjJNEvroGaGVJtlRoQodF9Q/w640-h360/SUCHAN%20SEN.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Suchana Seth probably
didn't want her child to meet the father or have an emotional connection and
that might be the trigger, her husband's lawyer said.As PR Venkat Raman, the
estranged husband of AI startup CEO Suchana Seth, recorded his statement before
the police after Suchana was arrested on the charges of killing her
four-year-old son, Raman's lawyer said his client was numb with grief. He told
the police that he did not know what might have led to the killing and only
Suchana could say why she committed the crime. The 39-year-old AI startup CEO,
however, has not admitted to having killed her son and maintained that she
found him dead when she woke up.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"He can die for his
son but will now have to live without him. My client has no claim for justice
for himself or the child, who is no more," the lawyer told reporters, as
reported by PTI. "The trigger for the offence is just a guess. Maybe she
did not want the child to meet his father or have an emotional connect,"
the lawyer said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Link between
custody battle and murder of the 4-year-old<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Suchana Seth was
fighting a bitter custody battle over her son and the investigators are
considering this as a major factor behind the crime. In a crumpled note found
in Suchana's luggage, Suchana wrote something about this custody battle and its
frustration. Later, she tore it into pieces. Suchana checked in at a Goa hotel
on January 6 with her son and left alone on January 7. On her way from Goa to
Bengaluru, police on January 8 found the body of the son stuffed inside her
luggage. The autopsy report said the child was suffocated to death around 36
hours ago.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Venkat Raman's lawyer
said initially the court allowed his client to speak to the child over phone or
over video call. In November, the court allowed him to visit the child at home.
But Suchana did not want him to visit the home and insisted on meeting outside.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Raman was supposed
to meet his son on January 7 in Bengaluru. He went to the house at 10am and
waited till 11am. He sent a message to Suchana but got no reply," the
lawyer said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Raman told police that
he was not allowed to meet his son for the past five Sundays and on January 7
too he waited and got no reply while the mother and son were in Goa.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Rahul Gandhi's
Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to begin from Manipur: Top points<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NDLu-qj2ZmM9jTcNazG2A3da8ZhcmcDU7A3LAzc9C6lOb1SEtyt2kAn8nkI0CEtmWcbNP8XSCACztlrQzkJOegIIHM3ce4t5aJMhkQKjMi-9BWYjMrLspblOoFndR_EsvxMuN03pyqZi0Ld8E1G5fwlL9-HHBR4A9GbmxGpo0912tFHBed_ytdG9utM/s549/Congress%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20with%20his%20mother%20and%20party%20leader%20Sonia%20Gandhi%20and%20his%20sister%20and%20General%20Secretary%20Priyanka%20Gandhi%20Vadra%20during%20the%20Bharat%20Jodo%20Yatra,.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NDLu-qj2ZmM9jTcNazG2A3da8ZhcmcDU7A3LAzc9C6lOb1SEtyt2kAn8nkI0CEtmWcbNP8XSCACztlrQzkJOegIIHM3ce4t5aJMhkQKjMi-9BWYjMrLspblOoFndR_EsvxMuN03pyqZi0Ld8E1G5fwlL9-HHBR4A9GbmxGpo0912tFHBed_ytdG9utM/w640-h360/Congress%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20with%20his%20mother%20and%20party%20leader%20Sonia%20Gandhi%20and%20his%20sister%20and%20General%20Secretary%20Priyanka%20Gandhi%20Vadra%20during%20the%20Bharat%20Jodo%20Yatra,.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rahul Gandhi's Bharat
Jodo Nyay Yatra: The Yatra will start at 12pm tomorrow from Khongjom War
Memorial although it was earlier scheduled to start from Imphal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress MP Rahul Gandhi
will begin the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra- a two month long endeavour of 6,200
kilometres from Manipur's Thoubal district to Mumbai- undertaken largely by bus
along with 60-70 yatris. The Yatra will start at 12pm tomorrow from the Khongjom
War Memorial although it was earlier scheduled to start from the capital
Imphal. Amid ongoing tensions in the state, the Manipur government did not
provide permission for the event.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What Congress said on
issue over Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra's delay?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress's Manipur
president Keisham Meghachandra said, “We had proposed to the state government
on January 2 that Hapta Kangjeibung public ground in Imphal be allowed for
flagging off the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. We had also announced that the Yatra
will start from Imphal, and culminate in Mumbai<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We met Chief
Minister N Biren Singh in this regard on January 10 but were told that the
permission will not be given. Later that night, an order was issued which gave
permission for Hapta Kangjeibung ground but with a limited number of
participants," he explained.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mallikarjun Kharge to
flag off Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Manipur<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress president
Mallikarjun Kharge will flag off the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the party said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What is the route of the
Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The route of the yatra
will remain the same even though the starting point has been changed. The
Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will conclude in Mumbai on March 20 covering a total
distance of 6,713 kilometers over a span of 67 days. The route covers 110
districts across 15 states.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) ED raids Bengal
minister Sujit Bose's premises in Kolkata:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2_7m2fK8Y5dEJq22nIMaz3mR_d3WK2WhIHMCsIJ0vKc5pE05BIKsOXDK-m7VhhwrO6osPpzHRWgL0BRQXds9Jumn6Sm7xlhLStNkn-SK2cPL54t0rc82LQmRCnEnL6eacw27P6igRHJzqU4MbOhuZ7hQex1Mrr4oGE5liesXTf_zwc3pl72za62PZAQ/s720/ED%20Raids%20Premises%20Of%20West%20Bengal%20Minister%20Sujit%20Bose,%20TMC's%20Tapas%20Roy%20In%20Kolkata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2_7m2fK8Y5dEJq22nIMaz3mR_d3WK2WhIHMCsIJ0vKc5pE05BIKsOXDK-m7VhhwrO6osPpzHRWgL0BRQXds9Jumn6Sm7xlhLStNkn-SK2cPL54t0rc82LQmRCnEnL6eacw27P6igRHJzqU4MbOhuZ7hQex1Mrr4oGE5liesXTf_zwc3pl72za62PZAQ/w640-h480/ED%20Raids%20Premises%20Of%20West%20Bengal%20Minister%20Sujit%20Bose,%20TMC's%20Tapas%20Roy%20In%20Kolkata.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ED Raids Premises Of West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose, TMC's Tapas Roy In Kolkata</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This comes amid the
central agency's ongoing investigation into the alleged recruitment scam in
state-run schools in West Bengal.The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is carrying
out raids at the premises of West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader
Sujit Bose in the state capital, Kolkata, in connection with the alleged civic
body recruitment scam. The development comes as the central agency conducts
search and seizure in parts of Kolkata and its fringes in connection with its
ongoing probe into the alleged recruitment scam in state-run schools in West
Bengal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Among other senior TMC
leaders, houses of party spokesperson Tapas Roy and former North Dum Dum
Municipality chairman Subodh Chakraborty are also being searched by the central
agency.On December 28 last year, the probe agency carried out simultaneous
raids at nine different places in the city in its bid to probe the school
recruitment scam case. Offices and residents of different people were raided in
the capital city's Burrabazar area, Kakurgachi and EM Bypass.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The minister of state's
fire and emergency services was summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) last year in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment in the
state's municipalities.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, Bose claimed
that he did not receive any summons notice from the CBI and assured while
addressing a presser that he'd appear before the probe agency if he received
any notice. He further alleged a political conspiracy to target him. The Bengal
minister was earlier the vice-chairman of South Dum Dum Municipality from 2010
to 2021, when around 250 people were recruited to the civic body allegedly in
an unscrupulous manner.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The CBI and ED had
earlier informed the Calcutta high court about a link between the cases related
to the civic body recruitment scam and the West Bengal school recruitment scam.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWs_QBKCOhwUeR1ux-mwBxc8xIa_K5QIO2hkC3B6u001-mLyv8qoF0CJUclZqrKVXt3qLTzJy70SihQ6atuLT6UKInXl1HNlyJrRJj2JzIupkLtAesEMkGY4RXb48MwVyo3a_DziWMNGbVqPvAsC8FxpHOfE7bEfU2tvFh9ir5Biz_NAXoLWlMSXXGqPQ/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWs_QBKCOhwUeR1ux-mwBxc8xIa_K5QIO2hkC3B6u001-mLyv8qoF0CJUclZqrKVXt3qLTzJy70SihQ6atuLT6UKInXl1HNlyJrRJj2JzIupkLtAesEMkGY4RXb48MwVyo3a_DziWMNGbVqPvAsC8FxpHOfE7bEfU2tvFh9ir5Biz_NAXoLWlMSXXGqPQ/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) India stumble
against USA in opener<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdUH9MI9Of_9wk56Gv2chHk427YMs9CebdfwuFrTgcBDKgS1NJdv61V3N54Wm45gYK4SBb4_yO7rpwdk7uoIJqcxfTHr4fTLvK7563GnzTHaHVmxp2ey5-z1EyIuNfr3Q5AtTT40nJTrjnvXnxGQk4mBhQ_pkppviOy5ayjphrYQdOqieYibM96KnMWg/s549/Ranchi%20Monika%20%20of%20India%20in%20Blue%20tries%20to%20score%20a%20goal%20during%20the%20FIH%20Hockey%20Olympic%20Qualifiers%20match%20between%20India%20and%20United%20States.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdUH9MI9Of_9wk56Gv2chHk427YMs9CebdfwuFrTgcBDKgS1NJdv61V3N54Wm45gYK4SBb4_yO7rpwdk7uoIJqcxfTHr4fTLvK7563GnzTHaHVmxp2ey5-z1EyIuNfr3Q5AtTT40nJTrjnvXnxGQk4mBhQ_pkppviOy5ayjphrYQdOqieYibM96KnMWg/w640-h360/Ranchi%20Monika%20%20of%20India%20in%20Blue%20tries%20to%20score%20a%20goal%20during%20the%20FIH%20Hockey%20Olympic%20Qualifiers%20match%20between%20India%20and%20United%20States.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ranchi Monika of India in Blue tries to score a goal during the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers match between India and United States</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India’s route to the
2024 Paris Olympics, though, encountered a huge stumbling block to begin with,
as the hosts went down 0-1 to lower-ranked USA.The mention of Paris, the City
of Love with a penchant for art, fashion and culture, comes across an unusually
high number of times through the streets of sleepy and nippy Ranchi. On every
billboard that greets and informs you about the FIH Women's Hockey Olympic
Qualifiers that kicked off in the city on Saturday, the words "EN ROUTE TO
PARIS” are imprinted in bold, capital and large fonts.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India’s route to the
2024 Paris Olympics, though, encountered a huge stumbling block to begin with,
as the hosts went down 0-1 to lower-ranked USA on the opening night at the
Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium here on Saturday. The
crushing defeat threatens to derail the women’s team’s hopes of just getting to
the Paris Games after a memorable fourth-place finish in Tokyo three years ago.
It also leaves them with no scope for another slip-up in their second match against
world No.9 New Zealand — they beat Italy 3-0 in their opener — on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On paper, India (ranked
6th) are nine spots above USA (15th) but they hardly played this encounter,
skill-wise or mentally, like a higher-ranked team. On paper, India had more scoring
opportunities (in every aspect: shots on goal, circle penetrations, penalty
corners) but they hardly looked like scoring one. On the field and on the day,
the Janneke Schopman-coached team just did not turn up. “We looked not ready
today, for the lack of a better word," Schopman said after the loss.
“That, I didn’t expect, to be honest.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The scrappy start came
from both teams. The Indians tried asking a few questions especially from the
right flank, though it was the Americans with the answer first. USA thought
they’d gone ahead in the 11th minute before a review overturned the goal as the
ball had struck their own player’s foot before going in.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A minute into the second
quarter, USA did indeed go ahead after the Indian defence failed to clear the
ball inside the circle. Tamer Abigail couldn’t lift the ball over goalkeeper
and captain Savita Punia but did calmly manage to trickle it in off the
rebound. Midway through the quarter, India had three back-to-back penalty
corner (PC) opportunities and, true to their glaring lack of effectiveness in
that area, could convert none. The hosts then began to display a lot more
attacking hockey yet not necessarily incisive. With a couple of minutes to go,
Sangita Kumari’s reverse flick went wide while a Navneet Kaur attempt was saved
by USA goalkeeper Kelsey Bing. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At half-time, India held
the upper hand in circle entries (8 to 3) yet not in the game and the stat that
truly matters. The third quarter resembled an extension of the first two: India
had three PCs (the first mistrapped by Sonika and the other two missed by
Navneet) and a few more circle entries with no goals to show against the gritty
opposition.A deafening roar engulfed the stadium third minute into the final
quarter as Udita’s flick off another PC finally went it but, as it turned out
after the video referral, it had brushed Jyoti’s foot along the way. The
silence that soon made way was palpable at the final whistle, both among the
home fans and players.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India will have to do a
lot more talking on Sunday against New Zealand. And not just on paper.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Vijayveer wins
Paris Olympics quota spot in rapid fire pistol<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22biOSEvHBlAw0eIhL3k6W6RH4rj4RMFWRTU_tsJrWQ5DzE2LSdBK2kVE5uiRcPkQdADgnmEfY5W57dbWdZh6bXzlinA6yMCYl4Fu7NaRX3zNnfrW1ImuFtjHprZYWbO1Q7eb8Ekof7WCLMBJMs12wbHE4zunLMxjnx2wZQwezI01e8oYWTFpsS0X0yw/s548/Vijayveer%20Sidhu%20secures%20Paris%20Olympics%20quota.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="548" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22biOSEvHBlAw0eIhL3k6W6RH4rj4RMFWRTU_tsJrWQ5DzE2LSdBK2kVE5uiRcPkQdADgnmEfY5W57dbWdZh6bXzlinA6yMCYl4Fu7NaRX3zNnfrW1ImuFtjHprZYWbO1Q7eb8Ekof7WCLMBJMs12wbHE4zunLMxjnx2wZQwezI01e8oYWTFpsS0X0yw/w640-h360/Vijayveer%20Sidhu%20secures%20Paris%20Olympics%20quota.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vijayveer Sidhu secures Paris Olympics quota</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India have now won all
the four quotas in 25m pistol events, taking their total number of berths to 17
Vijayveer Sidhu was heart-broken when he missed the Paris Olympics quota place
in 25m rapid-fire pistol by one point at the 2022 world championships in Cairo.
So, when the opportunity came to seal a berth at the ongoing Asian Olympic
Qualification tournament in Jakarta, he could feel the nerves.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, he was able to
focus all his energy and qualify for the six-shooter final in fourth place with
a score of 577/600 on Saturday. That was enough for him to win the coveted
Paris spot as Korea, which had three shooters in the final, and Japanese
shooter Dai Yoshioka had already sealed Olympic spots. Once in the final,
Vijayveer displayed a more fearless approach to win a silver medal with 28 hits
behind gold medallist Nikita Chiryukin of Kazakhstan (32 hits).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India would be proud of
its 25m pistol teams after grabbing all the four available quotas in the men's
and women's sections. In rapid fire, Anish Bhanwala is the other quota place
winner. India won silver in rapid fire at the 2012 London Olympics courtesy
armyman Vijay Kumar. "It’s a historic occasion to win all four quotas in
the 25m pistol events. The 25m rapid fire team was consistently shooting high
scores last year. We are regularly making it to the finals," said Ronak
Pandit, chief coach (25m pistol).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For Vijayveer, 21, it
was a big relief to seal an Olympic quota. In 2021, he came close to winning a
Tokyo Olympics berth during the World Cup in Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I have been coming
close to an Olympic quota for a long time. Whenever you miss an opportunity all
you can do is go back to the drawing board and work hard," Vijayveer said
over phone from Jakarta.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“At every Olympic quota
event you are under pressure. But I am more experienced now. I have improved
technically and better equipped to handle the stress of a competition.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Asian Cup:
India, gritty in defence, lose 0-2 to Australia<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQr0Q9tD9b_cvxZFKzHPGko6yDtD9iNHQBPDkec8U1GrzMYJkXOunTV01Z5JsUHvjfB9s46YcSUf4ltgUnAkX_GlVpgi7Noc3CNoJdnXHgCrKuNIFjJTERtNdgB0AyQlL07UU4LKlNugp46bSRVhfI5QFzpaTePbjo4zt7RVz61A1MKDTJjBN7Zmrruc/s549/Australia's%20Jordan%20Bos%20celebrates%20scoring%20their%20second%20goal%20with%20teammate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQr0Q9tD9b_cvxZFKzHPGko6yDtD9iNHQBPDkec8U1GrzMYJkXOunTV01Z5JsUHvjfB9s46YcSUf4ltgUnAkX_GlVpgi7Noc3CNoJdnXHgCrKuNIFjJTERtNdgB0AyQlL07UU4LKlNugp46bSRVhfI5QFzpaTePbjo4zt7RVz61A1MKDTJjBN7Zmrruc/w640-h360/Australia's%20Jordan%20Bos%20celebrates%20scoring%20their%20second%20goal%20with%20teammate.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australia's Jordan Bos celebrates scoring their second goal with teammate</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India held the title
contenders goalless in the first half and showed fight before and after the
Aussies cashed in on two lapses in their opening Group B tie So stout was
India’s resistance for 50 minutes that Australia needed a slice of luck to get
their first goal. Jackson Irvine scored after a clanger from Gurpreet Singh
Sandhu. Shipping such a goal could have deflated India but they kept denying
vastly superior opponents through a combination of disciplined defending and grit.
That continued even after Jordan Bos’ strike from a slick move that showed why
Australia have said they are in Qatar to win the Asian Cup.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Embrace the challenge,
Igor Stimac had said prior to the game. Stimac was a no-frills defender
unafraid to look illustrious opponents in the eye, his attitude symptomatic of
Croatia’s when they took the 1998 World Cup by storm. Going into five years as
India head coach, Stimac has moulded a bunch of bravehearts who try to bridge
the obvious gap in skill with an abundance of spirit. In 2019, India had done
that once in Doha against Asian champions Qatar.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sandhu had led from the
back in that game. He looked assured at Doha’s Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Friday
as well, bravely leaving his line to collect and bossing his 18-yard box. On
either side of two bloopers, that is. The first situation, in the 21st minute,
Sandhu salvaged by getting back to deny Connor Metcalfe after slipping while
trying to break Australia’s press. The second put Australia ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Martin Boyle, always a
threat on the right, floated a speculative cross which, under no pressure,
Sandhu could have grabbed using both hands. Instead, he flapped at it and the
ball fell kindly for Irvine. Australia could have scored through Boyle after he
had ghosted in or when he had volleyed over and it wouldn’t have felt like such
an anti-climax when they finally did.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is also a measure of
how good Sandhu has been for India in over a decade that barring a blip against
Bangladesh in 2019, it is difficult to pick a howler in his international
career. Ditto his club career, though an error in the 2023 Super Cup final and
a heavy touch in the season’s ISL opener against Kerala Blasters come to mind.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">rather focus on their
team. But for even regular followers of the India team, Deepak Tangri wouldn’t
be a name to reckon with simply because the defensive midfielder had never
played for India. Had Jeakson Singh been fit, Tangri may not have travelled.
But against the world's 25th ranked team which has won the Asian Cup, Tangri
put in a shift as industrious as it was excellent.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With two banks of four,
India defended not allowing Australia to deliver a storm of crosses Stimac had
predicted. Manvir Singh hung back and pulled off a superb sliding tackle and
kept the significantly bigger Harry Souttar away from the 14 corner-kicks
Australia got. That Australia didn’t convert their corner-kicks or any of the
three free-kicks in dangerous positions would be among the positives Stimac
would take into games against Uzbekistan and Syria. “Full credit to India for
their determination and fight,” Reuters quoted Australia coach Graham Arnold as
saying. “They are well-coached.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Malaysia Open
badminton: Satwik-Chirag upstage world champions, reach final<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMpOLSiaaKr-ZjslTZLtJr3vv2QM_OOAhwzjRpUHFz70AyTu32Km1OMQIuDUqADith-ZdkazimsP6gOUYTprR0gxFw1JVBwYOrxL-BkxsJfprzW3wsDO86Z36mpNwtNuYouesktU905-b27IHEn-WnEKVBNwIPzFsjBzY9Qg4MiKzkxkaKfzRqtv2m7c/s549/India's%20Chirag%20Shetty%20(R)%20and%20Satwiksairaj%20Rankireddy(.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMpOLSiaaKr-ZjslTZLtJr3vv2QM_OOAhwzjRpUHFz70AyTu32Km1OMQIuDUqADith-ZdkazimsP6gOUYTprR0gxFw1JVBwYOrxL-BkxsJfprzW3wsDO86Z36mpNwtNuYouesktU905-b27IHEn-WnEKVBNwIPzFsjBzY9Qg4MiKzkxkaKfzRqtv2m7c/w640-h360/India's%20Chirag%20Shetty%20(R)%20and%20Satwiksairaj%20Rankireddy(.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India's Chirag Shetty (R) and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy(</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a sensational show,
the Indians reeled off eight points in the second game after their Korean
rivals went 20-14 up to enter the final in Kuala Lumpur Just before leaving for
Kuala Lumpur to participate in the Malaysia Open, Chirag Shetty was a little
downcast. “Sadly, we won’t be able to collect our awards. Even if a ceremony is
organised later, it is unlikely that we will get the awards from the
president,” lamented the top doubles shuttler.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shetty was referring to
the National Sports Awards conferred on Tuesday where he and doubles partner
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were due to receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna –
the country’s highest sports award – but had to skip the function to
participate in the $1.3 million tournament in Kuala Lumpur.Shetty and
Rankireddy though have made that decision count by reaching the final of the
year’s first tournament, that too in spectacular fashion.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Having clinched the
first game after never relinquishing their lead, India's world No.2 pair were
down 11-18 and then 14-20 in the second to reigning world champions Kang
Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae. The Asian champions staged a sensational comeback
against the South Koreans, winning eight successive points on Shetty's serve to
win 21-18, 22-20 in 47 minutes and enter the final at the Axiata Arena.“I don’t
remember winning a match from 20-14 before. All the points from there were easy
points. We pretty much dominated those eight points, barring the point at 19,
maybe. There was a very 50-50 chance where it could have gone either way. We
played quite well to keep the shuttle low and not give them any opportunities,”
said Shetty.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They were ecstatic,
Shetty falling to the floor pumping his fists. Rankireddy broke into his
typical victory dance while coach Mathias Boe leapt onto his chair courtside
thumping his chest.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was a significant
victory as world No.3 Kang and Seo have been in sensational form, ending 2023
with the prestigious BWF World Tour Finals title. Southpaw Seo was anointed the
2023 BWF Male Player of the Year last month.Shetty and Rankireddy’s fourth
victory in five meetings over the Koreans leaves them chasing a slice of
history on Sunday. No Indian has won a Malaysia Open title across categories –
the tournament was first played in 1937.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In addition, Malaysia
Open is also one of four Super 1000 tournaments, along with All England and the
Indonesia and China Opens. The Asian Games gold medallists are also the only
Indians to have won a Super 1000 event – the highest tier on the BWF World
Tour. They achieved that by clinching the Indonesia Open last year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It will a battle of the
titans on Sunday as standing in their way are Chinese world No.1 Liang Wei Keng
and Wang Chang, who reached seven finals in 2023, including the Malaysia Open.
They have a 3-1 record against Shetty and Rankireddy, including a semi-final
victory over them in Kuala Lumpur last year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Australian Open
2024 Day 1: Full schedule, order of play and how to watch Djokovic and
Sabalenka in action in India?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyhiiwbBjf8Y4lM45UGQOeJEau8MMfc_llnGYm5_KzCTinK8CWIqukVqVuflMo6aj6kbORa2sWCkpGzVr41Lcv5BYXj8DtXKKIK34aHtg5ZmYIaoOYCoavJN64ODzJYng29LZSOCOzH9GkvVFJLlqbycwbDjpyJrsNWau_x76CZTXiXujwpDtp_IwF6s/s549/Serbia's%20Novak%20Djokovic%20and%20Aryna%20Sabalenka%20of%20Belarus%20react%20during%20an%20exhibition%20match%20against%20Stefanos%20Tsitsipas%20of%20Greece%20and%20compatriot%20Maria%20Sakkari%20ahead%20of%20the%20Australian%20Open%20tennis%20championships%20at%20Melbourne%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyhiiwbBjf8Y4lM45UGQOeJEau8MMfc_llnGYm5_KzCTinK8CWIqukVqVuflMo6aj6kbORa2sWCkpGzVr41Lcv5BYXj8DtXKKIK34aHtg5ZmYIaoOYCoavJN64ODzJYng29LZSOCOzH9GkvVFJLlqbycwbDjpyJrsNWau_x76CZTXiXujwpDtp_IwF6s/w640-h360/Serbia's%20Novak%20Djokovic%20and%20Aryna%20Sabalenka%20of%20Belarus%20react%20during%20an%20exhibition%20match%20against%20Stefanos%20Tsitsipas%20of%20Greece%20and%20compatriot%20Maria%20Sakkari%20ahead%20of%20the%20Australian%20Open%20tennis%20championships%20at%20Melbourne%20Park.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus react during an exhibition match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece and compatriot Maria Sakkari ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Other players who will
add to the star-studded line-up for Day 1 in Melbourne are Jannik Sinner,
Andrey Rublev, Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sakkari.Novak Djokovic and Aryna
Sabalenka, the defending men’s and women’s singles champions, will be in action
at Melbourne Park on the opening day as the 2024 Australian Open is all set to
kick off on Sunday. Djokovic will begin his campaign against Croatia’s Dino
Prizmic, who made it to the main draw through the qualifiers, as the Serb hunts
for an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title and a history-scripting 25th
major overall. Sabalenka, No. 2 seed in the women's singles draw, will be
playing against Ella Seidel in her opening match at the Rod Laver Arena.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Other players who will
add to the star-studded line-up for Day 1 in Melbourne are Jannik Sinner,
Andrey Rublev, Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sakkari.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-9BDD7ys1g9bxPQqjTDRy8zOPEhruJXqzLvJzVYxL84c-8YdxrTkZFGGN69KZoZLPDhDrj__jP6XUjKidU8lDkgImO83Ha49iMmiILLGnkm8KJ0saEa1Sjqj4oq_cqK51EJggO17P2Eb55zbyKD5r1szUsDbamRzQTJWgmRwv_zgtDhiZ1zSf2ylthY/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-9BDD7ys1g9bxPQqjTDRy8zOPEhruJXqzLvJzVYxL84c-8YdxrTkZFGGN69KZoZLPDhDrj__jP6XUjKidU8lDkgImO83Ha49iMmiILLGnkm8KJ0saEa1Sjqj4oq_cqK51EJggO17P2Eb55zbyKD5r1szUsDbamRzQTJWgmRwv_zgtDhiZ1zSf2ylthY/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Merry Christmas :<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx9v6Z6D2MkpL2s3rWyn8BVelPIex6rfiurpX1mK-sYr_VKvBxRJljVwJeF5dx6tHm0srISx9VuVsVYzzY32OZNRPwQl2B6pw8nojbE8Vlvzrc0ayQI1tfJCKSqHv7sJUoG5yTZjjAgDfH2JaAHGoFdEstmm5d0Dj1jmp3JwV5lf1-M3Zi6-kBgeKCwA/s1070/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1070" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx9v6Z6D2MkpL2s3rWyn8BVelPIex6rfiurpX1mK-sYr_VKvBxRJljVwJeF5dx6tHm0srISx9VuVsVYzzY32OZNRPwQl2B6pw8nojbE8Vlvzrc0ayQI1tfJCKSqHv7sJUoG5yTZjjAgDfH2JaAHGoFdEstmm5d0Dj1jmp3JwV5lf1-M3Zi6-kBgeKCwA/w640-h346/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Two strangers meet on a
fateful Christmas Eve. A night of delirious romance turns into a nightmare.
Revealing anything more would be a crime.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Writers :Frédéric
DardSriram RaghavanArijit Biswas<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stars :Katrina KaifVijay
SethupathiTinnu Anand<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Killer Soup :<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB51z2z1iG3TwU5wRfqLXvBvkGb_rgzZFdloQTuutaMJUgevyJu-zbrZ5J-ePxANzg7zas6w4THike5Rs16iTsu6W8FybJmI8APDeGzInSJ4Dk_VTTgeCR8-aU-ywaeGz45ZIU5VULhqp9i7sobZ9Kua8LvhNmlSjXlFKUa0Plchjt21_I8q5eX1C4J-w/s1200/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB51z2z1iG3TwU5wRfqLXvBvkGb_rgzZFdloQTuutaMJUgevyJu-zbrZ5J-ePxANzg7zas6w4THike5Rs16iTsu6W8FybJmI8APDeGzInSJ4Dk_VTTgeCR8-aU-ywaeGz45ZIU5VULhqp9i7sobZ9Kua8LvhNmlSjXlFKUa0Plchjt21_I8q5eX1C4J-w/w640-h360/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Killer Soup, a new crime
thriller series starring Manoj Bajpayee and Konkona Sensharma, will premiere on
Netflix on January 11, 2024, the makers announced on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Directed and co-written
by Abhishek Chaubey, the series is set in South India and follows Swathi
Shetty, an aspiring yet talentless home chef, who conspires to replace her
husband, Prabhakar, with her lover, Umesh. “But when a bumbling local inspector
and amateur villains stir the pot, things don’t go as planned and a recipe for
chaos ensues,” read a note from the makers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tiger 3 <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSMnTr2p5TNeyY84WxkkZFHbOeVOSkh_aNxfIZnIOVI6OSb2y9SpUIXlF-hl7Pd0KeafR9mpWGSTyhsdW2dJ0XQikLf3ZbO4s4NDvojRl9SNi-vzfskrkYO91tiENkK9gnmqRF4iPCt4I3eYstwOUisS1pdq87hCSveZhF3bMBCNJSYiQsUWSj1z9p3c/s1280/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSMnTr2p5TNeyY84WxkkZFHbOeVOSkh_aNxfIZnIOVI6OSb2y9SpUIXlF-hl7Pd0KeafR9mpWGSTyhsdW2dJ0XQikLf3ZbO4s4NDvojRl9SNi-vzfskrkYO91tiENkK9gnmqRF4iPCt4I3eYstwOUisS1pdq87hCSveZhF3bMBCNJSYiQsUWSj1z9p3c/w640-h360/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tiger 3 OTT Release Date
is now ready for its big debut on the popular streaming service, Amazon Prime
Video. After making a splash in theatres on November 12, 2023, and becoming
super popular worldwide with over Rs 464 crore in earnings, it is now streaming
on Amazon Prime Video since January 7, 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mission Impossible
7, also known as Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktHhuid7wfIoz2p0ZzxnizGxxuN5EqcfSrPFOQIhUkH-mO_WNuYtLjfyoo11a_1B-BHL0eyz1jDlQShbzU04oJXdNZ71WMoAY-QE-18OUX3zvKFwxTcVqPHaGZ2P15bNie49lvwK0VvmVuiioNezuVQjc8dfX43arn8li5E8Dl3OXHGmz7vdIZEZgRRY/s1280/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktHhuid7wfIoz2p0ZzxnizGxxuN5EqcfSrPFOQIhUkH-mO_WNuYtLjfyoo11a_1B-BHL0eyz1jDlQShbzU04oJXdNZ71WMoAY-QE-18OUX3zvKFwxTcVqPHaGZ2P15bNie49lvwK0VvmVuiioNezuVQjc8dfX43arn8li5E8Dl3OXHGmz7vdIZEZgRRY/w640-h360/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">has generated significant buzz among fans and movie
enthusiasts alike. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the film is the seventh
installment in the Mission Impossible franchise and features Tom Cruise
reprising his role as the daring secret agent, Ethan Hunt. Here’s what you need
to know about the film’s budget, cast, OTT release date, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Plot:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The plot of Mission
Impossible 7 remains tightly under wraps. However, based on trailers and
interviews, it is expected to follow Ethan Hunt and his team as they confront a
new threat intertwined with their past missions. The film will delve into
Ethan’s personal life and his relationship with Grace, who may harbor ulterior
motives. Audiences can anticipate breathtaking stunts, such as motorcycle
leaps, helicopter maneuvers, and train jumps, performed by Tom Cruise himself.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dfDDXKk9CIBAMAYtaOAwIEDtGYMNI61PUvcPoY0RhCWqJowJytQJ-4acGx2mOZPeu-ZecSZomi8Oj5HWwZHhTpx1OKpdtCSzlYV9rEzbzI-_SqRIb0zXgF93Zo26MK1R_qq3LCoExlrmhyphenhyphen-eHZO80cNX1R8s7e71VNAGDIJEQz0bFgTvSpFx8Ibjr88/s1200/BOOK&WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dfDDXKk9CIBAMAYtaOAwIEDtGYMNI61PUvcPoY0RhCWqJowJytQJ-4acGx2mOZPeu-ZecSZomi8Oj5HWwZHhTpx1OKpdtCSzlYV9rEzbzI-_SqRIb0zXgF93Zo26MK1R_qq3LCoExlrmhyphenhyphen-eHZO80cNX1R8s7e71VNAGDIJEQz0bFgTvSpFx8Ibjr88/w640-h426/BOOK&WRITER.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /><u><br /></u></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Courting India:
England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire by Das Nandini Das (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSS3OYjS1IlgD5SrCMnJ0KXpCLOz31_XtQHUN043tdahEOAM0MTo-hvKCf4QKd4DsIJ_T0K2ofSALDmLsvG3yPTE6HcePtns3ilItKLi5c8mQgQvon5bLCtgSpJGPEefyoqMf18c3vI0aCGy2TKpdKaBFjnqvvvFEMDGUP_OZUUY0VtGPovPGo9-6CQc/s1500/BOOKPIC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="975" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSS3OYjS1IlgD5SrCMnJ0KXpCLOz31_XtQHUN043tdahEOAM0MTo-hvKCf4QKd4DsIJ_T0K2ofSALDmLsvG3yPTE6HcePtns3ilItKLi5c8mQgQvon5bLCtgSpJGPEefyoqMf18c3vI0aCGy2TKpdKaBFjnqvvvFEMDGUP_OZUUY0VtGPovPGo9-6CQc/w416-h640/BOOKPIC.jpg" width="416" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When Thomas Roe arrived
in India in 1616 as James I's first ambassador to the Mughal Empire, the
English barely had a toehold in the subcontinent. Their understanding of South
Asian trade and India was sketchy at best, and, to the Mughals, they were minor
players on a very large stage. Roe was representing a kingdom that was beset by
financial woes and deeply conflicted about its identity as a unified 'Great
Britain' under the Stuart monarchy. Meanwhile, the court he entered in India
was wealthy and cultured, its dominion widely considered to be one of the
greatest and richest empires of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In Nandini Das's
fascinating history of Roe's four years in India, she offers an insider's view
of a Britain in the making, a country whose imperial seeds were just being
sown. It is a story of palace intrigue and scandal, lotteries and wagers that
unfolds as global trade begins to stretch from Russia to Virginia, from West
Africa to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A major debut that
explores the art, literature, sights and sounds of Elizabethan London and
Imperial India, Courting India reveals Thomas Roe's time in the Mughal Empire to
be a turning point in history - and offers a rich and radical challenge to our
understanding of Britain and its early empire.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nandini Das:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2f3xP6UU7uqKRLcvSMq7eBrKcB3i_Pf6E7hfYb9FUabjrRK2MZYDetUGc2HIj4pYCBXxky5xyrcKriGlvnS7bLEQaimOR4l4P3EB47nHkM9FMwAWBeMgSJYu9D_hx0etUuoRY89dCdEaP1xxMDry1mdun9sKUJY2eYsjs6ujTY9mAdbUrhAfNl2DSXc/s300/WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2f3xP6UU7uqKRLcvSMq7eBrKcB3i_Pf6E7hfYb9FUabjrRK2MZYDetUGc2HIj4pYCBXxky5xyrcKriGlvnS7bLEQaimOR4l4P3EB47nHkM9FMwAWBeMgSJYu9D_hx0etUuoRY89dCdEaP1xxMDry1mdun9sKUJY2eYsjs6ujTY9mAdbUrhAfNl2DSXc/w640-h640/WRITER.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nandini Das is Professor
of Early Modern English Literature and Culture at Oxford University. She is a
scholar of Renaissance literature, travel, migration, and cross-cultural
encounters, and has published widely on these topics, from major sixteenth and
seventeenth century authors like Philip Sidney, Shakespeare and Cervantes, to
the fleeting presence of three Japanese boys in sixteenth century
Portuguese-held Goa, India. Her Cambridge History of Travel Writing (2019),
co-edited with Tim Youngs, covers global Anglophone and non-Anglophone travel
writing from antiquity to the internet, </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc75W2jH5-4BgI5xf4I0zBQNuiWJNiV5m2F7GmpQ4rktBcgtfuFYr8gRdrP_sn45hz8cDU-ec_jUp-oz-PbRZGvrAG0Gg4YTPqtGZMr1uboSAchO7YF1i_SxSNFh0mqo6tghOp9wV7t4lMFGVnbXIihHbzcpJff_PuMk-meHBefK_fx8_dv-wqNk_Ttm4/s750/BOOKPRIZE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="750" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc75W2jH5-4BgI5xf4I0zBQNuiWJNiV5m2F7GmpQ4rktBcgtfuFYr8gRdrP_sn45hz8cDU-ec_jUp-oz-PbRZGvrAG0Gg4YTPqtGZMr1uboSAchO7YF1i_SxSNFh0mqo6tghOp9wV7t4lMFGVnbXIihHbzcpJff_PuMk-meHBefK_fx8_dv-wqNk_Ttm4/w640-h402/BOOKPRIZE.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">while Keywords of Identity, Race, and
Human Mobility in Early Modern England (2021) emerges from her major, long-term
research project on the impact of travel and human mobility, both forced and
voluntary, on fundamental ideas of identity and belonging. She regularly
presents television and radio programmes on topics related to her research.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-91788291359000218052024-01-10T16:52:00.000+09:002024-01-10T16:52:17.413+09:00HUNGRY TEDDY ANIMATION IN 3D MAX<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zkR6Yo15kIT4M7hWfSa6E9AtCqI66ATV2v6FeJpPFdGDXt51D0IeuiGgQVqJfowGnTWsPrnGLNDIMy4Q_Yl2ku8XKnfRcwqbIUqoaoykQvSrU3osW-hDdPfNUoAcmQERdOgueBRfqHtelLSmghHRfuEEdIVZLxqW1JEC8tylOmpf2PkB0v5C7hJC_Ig/s800/UNGRY-TEDDYGIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zkR6Yo15kIT4M7hWfSa6E9AtCqI66ATV2v6FeJpPFdGDXt51D0IeuiGgQVqJfowGnTWsPrnGLNDIMy4Q_Yl2ku8XKnfRcwqbIUqoaoykQvSrU3osW-hDdPfNUoAcmQERdOgueBRfqHtelLSmghHRfuEEdIVZLxqW1JEC8tylOmpf2PkB0v5C7hJC_Ig/w640-h480/UNGRY-TEDDYGIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGDxEJCzx1jA5KnJAN3zTcX0QYz1WjoOS4BzANbYWnaTMdBDuU8nVy0yu0l6J98GFnSVOfHKrBUf4Zp6vaeb1T4dsqp7hBVCobq6c_uj4mSYb-1YNLvfAbJW7JxtVhvMyM_8Qz1XWS7OPDl9duh4a0uUzBW2D9OKh0RUzHVbhlZjPSzBEjXz7YsOQZOk/s960/NEWSWEEK6123GIF.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGDxEJCzx1jA5KnJAN3zTcX0QYz1WjoOS4BzANbYWnaTMdBDuU8nVy0yu0l6J98GFnSVOfHKrBUf4Zp6vaeb1T4dsqp7hBVCobq6c_uj4mSYb-1YNLvfAbJW7JxtVhvMyM_8Qz1XWS7OPDl9duh4a0uUzBW2D9OKh0RUzHVbhlZjPSzBEjXz7YsOQZOk/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK6123GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHeeqODfulkduGXOABy1LbWe0sVedxa_Em7sM9CpfTkcjsZDREVGHnSgFMgFR4F4p4wtqYJOdRkLkj2QXsRwr0r8CyGBFrHS3Zmd8eyO4ODiUJAC4y02uwIlj0BoLH6NJltJnsm66Mv6Xt9El1aYlN2PHh3y5rRM3iVkGCs5WCvp2ZMhyphenhyphenwoyRUdBTZ7w/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHeeqODfulkduGXOABy1LbWe0sVedxa_Em7sM9CpfTkcjsZDREVGHnSgFMgFR4F4p4wtqYJOdRkLkj2QXsRwr0r8CyGBFrHS3Zmd8eyO4ODiUJAC4y02uwIlj0BoLH6NJltJnsm66Mv6Xt9El1aYlN2PHh3y5rRM3iVkGCs5WCvp2ZMhyphenhyphenwoyRUdBTZ7w/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Bacteria fossils
hold the oldest signs of machinery needed for photosynthesis :By Tina Hesman
Saey<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosrSuIfBoPlPHQOhN-JJyjb9safX8nS4Q_Ddr6jI3h9f4GemPaA9tAu3TCGhu7rW1UvNX5gW2q4TeTIwRe_w_sur9vlgklZe0xKD9NKEDfDBmD58wirFt0GutDGeaGM6lkTkhwMNr2JNNn0iXWISYpX43ZOeR8cuxs_EF4bOUj5UjbDesPyY3H7htYSg/s1030/Cyanobacteria,%20like%20these%20ocean-dwelling%20Prochlorococcus,%20invented%20photosynthesis%20billions%20of%20years%20ago.%20Now,%20scientists%20have%20fossil%20evidence%20of%20the%20structures%20needed%20to%20turn%20sunlight%20into%20chemical%20energy%20in%20some%20ancient%20cyanobacteria..jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1030" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosrSuIfBoPlPHQOhN-JJyjb9safX8nS4Q_Ddr6jI3h9f4GemPaA9tAu3TCGhu7rW1UvNX5gW2q4TeTIwRe_w_sur9vlgklZe0xKD9NKEDfDBmD58wirFt0GutDGeaGM6lkTkhwMNr2JNNn0iXWISYpX43ZOeR8cuxs_EF4bOUj5UjbDesPyY3H7htYSg/w640-h360/Cyanobacteria,%20like%20these%20ocean-dwelling%20Prochlorococcus,%20invented%20photosynthesis%20billions%20of%20years%20ago.%20Now,%20scientists%20have%20fossil%20evidence%20of%20the%20structures%20needed%20to%20turn%20sunlight%20into%20chemical%20energy%20in%20some%20ancient%20cyanobacteria..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cyanobacteria, like these ocean-dwelling Prochlorococcus, invented photosynthesis billions of years ago. Now, scientists have fossil evidence of the structures needed to turn sunlight into chemical energy in some ancient cyanobacteria.</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /></u></b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ancient tiny fossils
from Australia may carry evidence of great power: the ability to make oxygen
through photosynthesis.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The fossilized bacteria,
dating from 1.73 billion to 1.78 billion years ago, are chock-full of
structures that resemble those where oxygen-producing photosynthesis takes
place in most modern cyanobacteria and in plants. Called thylakoid membranes,
the structures are the oldest ever found, researchers report January 3 in
Nature. The finding pushes back the evidence of thylakoids in cyanobacteria by
1.2 billion years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cyanobacteria’s
invention of photosynthesis is responsible for the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere.
“So they’re a big deal,” says Woodward Fischer, a geobiologist at Caltech who
was not involved finding the thylakoid membranes. And “this is the kind of
information that I thought we were not going to be able to pull out of
fossils,” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Most fossils preserve
mineralized tissues such as bone or shells, but bacteria don’t contain such
mineral structures. These fossils are “just compressions of carbon” squished
into mud, Fischer says. To find the bacteria preserved is impressive enough,
but the new fossils reveal complex structures inside the microscopic bacteria.
“It suggests this kind of future where we might be able to pull more
information, more cell biology and morphological detail out of these minuscule
fossils,” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers already had
indirect evidence from genetics and chemical studies that cyanobacteria had
developed thylakoids by the time these fossilized bacteria lived, says Patricia
Sanchez-Baracaldo, an evolutionary microbiologist at the University of Bristol
in England (SN: 9/8/15). Still, exactly when the structures evolved is hotly
debated (SN: 3/2/17). So it’s exciting to see fossil evidence of such old
thylakoids, says Sanchez-Baracaldo, who was not involved in the work. “Any
evidence that you have from that time period is important because the fossil
record is really very sparse.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo73z736O0XvCbKV4cvYvcHlmWwNW_cz1hkhJrbZfgJ4hx9P8LRrcIixgVNn6UMQ22sbuXdB2pBoqqrGUem2VgmHf0mUTSyygRrX1zzwqOSqT5H9oQelACXSrz4qGX33krwlIkVnl00NtGJKyZ1nirF6ykhb4W_gyhn0VZVYyVCo9_RRd8cXfJez9p6M/s680/PHOTOBAC2.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="680" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo73z736O0XvCbKV4cvYvcHlmWwNW_cz1hkhJrbZfgJ4hx9P8LRrcIixgVNn6UMQ22sbuXdB2pBoqqrGUem2VgmHf0mUTSyygRrX1zzwqOSqT5H9oQelACXSrz4qGX33krwlIkVnl00NtGJKyZ1nirF6ykhb4W_gyhn0VZVYyVCo9_RRd8cXfJez9p6M/w640-h200/PHOTOBAC2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers found microscopic fossils of cyanobacteria dubbed Navifusa majensis (left) in 1.73 billion- to 1.78 billion-year-old shale from Australia). A peek inside the fossils revealed black horizontal lines indicating the bacterium contained stacks of membranes known as thylakoids (right) like those in modern bacteria and plants where oxygen-producing photosynthesis takes place.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Some researchers think
that thylakoids may have evolved before the Great Oxidation Event around 2.4
billion years ago (SN: 12/11/19). Prior to that event, there were whiffs of
oxygen here and there in the atmosphere, but it took the concentrated action of
photosynthetic bacteria to send Earth’s oxygen levels skyrocketing. Stacks of
thylakoids within cyanobacteria may have multiplied the bacteria’s oxygen
production.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">During the period when
the now-fossilized cyanobacteria lived, oxygen levels in Earth’s atmosphere had
plummeted again to a fraction of today’s levels, Sanchez-Baracaldo says. The
fossils hint that there may have been small pockets where oxygen was abundant
and could have fostered the evolution of the ancestors of plants and animals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Many rocks that might
harbor such fossils have been compressed and “cooked” destroying delicate
intracellular structures like thylakoids, says Emmanuelle Javaux, an
astrobiologist at the University of Liège in Belgium.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“We didn’t know that
they could be preserved in such old microfossils,” she says. But she has no
doubt that the dark lines stacked through tiny sausage-shaped cells represent
thylakoids. “It cannot be something else, actually. This arrangement is very
unique to cyanobacteria with thylakoids,” she says.Javaux and colleagues found
the oldest thylakoid-like structures in microfossils in shale from Australia.
The structures were also present in about 1 billion-year-old fossils from
Canada, but not in 1 billion-year-old ones from Congo. The rocks from Congo
experienced slightly higher temperatures than the others, which may have
destroyed fossil evidence of thylakoids. Or maybe those fossils are
cyanobacteria that never evolved the structures or are another type of microbe
entirely.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers can’t
tell from the fossils whether the Australian and Canadian cyanobacteria are
direct ancestors of living species, Javaux says, but they are almost certainly
cousins. The team hopes to investigate even older rocks from before the Great
Oxidation Event for even more ancient evidence of thylakoids.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Evolution is not
as random as previously thought, finds new study : by University of Nottingham<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1aeXNYQ4YPDChMjvEMlGa3J3t7W2YDpTN3Hz69gBURHqoIJ8UnXT5PK-d9z8EVZxqdOSrgDR7QlLhfigcQP4HqqadSbXEXgKnHcOl8JfSl2bkZ_Uleo2P7JX2fakchDHm1GtiP8RMEngt-UMgfd29DWE8SWTeLfd0rRqwnHuHBAHVDaUo27Rfi6U56Q/s1930/PREDICTABLE-RESISTANCE%20GENE1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1930" data-original-width="1928" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1aeXNYQ4YPDChMjvEMlGa3J3t7W2YDpTN3Hz69gBURHqoIJ8UnXT5PK-d9z8EVZxqdOSrgDR7QlLhfigcQP4HqqadSbXEXgKnHcOl8JfSl2bkZ_Uleo2P7JX2fakchDHm1GtiP8RMEngt-UMgfd29DWE8SWTeLfd0rRqwnHuHBAHVDaUo27Rfi6U56Q/w640-h640/PREDICTABLE-RESISTANCE%20GENE1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">IMAGE DESCRIPTION:</span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> The coincident relationships of predictable genes and their predictors. The nodes are gene families, or groups of gene families with the same PAP, and the edges are coincidence relationships with the arrow pointing at the node whose presence is predicted by the otherCredit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304934120</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A new study has found
that evolution is not as unpredictable as previously thought, which could allow
scientists to explore which genes could be useful to tackle real-world issues
such as antibiotic resistance, disease, and climate change. The study, which is
published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS),
challenges the long-standing belief about the unpredictability of evolution and
has found that the evolutionary trajectory of a genome may be influenced by its
evolutionary history, rather than determined by numerous factors and historical
accidents.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvqOQBizQequkEz-uWltR3vzAgVe2WxvqBsewlJ5RWxgRE-WFrxBziJfUV1LTxZYxQ22Pj4CdqJDU0GcVf2iAS5KJOYOLX6qFUh3CLVGgpxHxr0bvnkTSPpLCcblhLJUChM7Kuj3e_Zr3akwvNEzXgVLU_JK9jD_xTmh8Db3URHsBYkaZ52xtjDbGCCM/s220/Professor%20James%20McInerney.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvqOQBizQequkEz-uWltR3vzAgVe2WxvqBsewlJ5RWxgRE-WFrxBziJfUV1LTxZYxQ22Pj4CdqJDU0GcVf2iAS5KJOYOLX6qFUh3CLVGgpxHxr0bvnkTSPpLCcblhLJUChM7Kuj3e_Zr3akwvNEzXgVLU_JK9jD_xTmh8Db3URHsBYkaZ52xtjDbGCCM/w640-h640/Professor%20James%20McInerney.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Professor James McInerney</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The study was led by
Professor James McInerney and Dr. Alan Beavan from the School of Life Sciences
at the University of Nottingham, and Dr. Maria Rosa Domingo-Sananes from
Nottingham Trent University.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The implications
of this research are nothing short of revolutionary," said Professor
McInerney, the lead author of the study. "By demonstrating that evolution
is not as random as we once thought, we've opened the door to an array of
possibilities in synthetic biology, medicine, and environmental science."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmEPlOXj-JalN6JlOnFaahAH0V0LwwJ9QR9hA3DHrcldKE4KLYm-NdMJ9o0dDOSEUcQmmRBFsgxvFRDisPLQWBpc-IjvEPkXErh61RHkiN98Q8NkvCYq1STTM58hJAMybMY0hEwIWzeNLWWY4nbS92YPCf-jt6UkE4-2bwwgdHxklXnTiAgMZigLfvjo/s256/A%20pangenome%20identifies%20which%20portions%20of%20the%20genome%20are%20unique%20and%20which%20overlap%20and%20are%20therefore%20core%20to%20the%20species..jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="256" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmEPlOXj-JalN6JlOnFaahAH0V0LwwJ9QR9hA3DHrcldKE4KLYm-NdMJ9o0dDOSEUcQmmRBFsgxvFRDisPLQWBpc-IjvEPkXErh61RHkiN98Q8NkvCYq1STTM58hJAMybMY0hEwIWzeNLWWY4nbS92YPCf-jt6UkE4-2bwwgdHxklXnTiAgMZigLfvjo/w640-h550/A%20pangenome%20identifies%20which%20portions%20of%20the%20genome%20are%20unique%20and%20which%20overlap%20and%20are%20therefore%20core%20to%20the%20species..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pangenome identifies which portions of the genome are unique and which overlap and are therefore core to the species.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team carried out an
analysis of the pangenome—the complete set of genes within a given species, to
answer a critical question of whether evolution is predictable or whether the
evolutionary paths of genomes are dependent on their history and so not
predictable today. Using a machine learning approach known as Random Forest,
along with a dataset of 2,500 complete genomes from a single bacterial species,
the team carried out several hundred thousand hours of computer processing to
address the question.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The coining of the
“pangenome” </span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Around 2005,
geneticists started to explore the concept of the pangenome, originally defined
as the entire set of genes possessed by all members of a particular species and
then extended to refer to a collection of all the DNA sequences that occur in a
species.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After feeding the data
into their high-performance computer, the team first made "gene
families" from each of the gene of each genome.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"In this way, we
could compare like-with-like across the genomes," said Dr.
Domingo-Sananes.Once the families had been identified, the team analyzed the
pattern of how these families were present in some genomes and absent in
others."We found that some gene families never turned up in a genome when
a particular other gene family was already there, and on other occasions, some
genes were very much dependent on a different gene family being present."In
effect, the researchers discovered an invisible ecosystem where genes can
cooperate or can be in conflict with one another.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCAldsyEL49XyLZ82Fqxi3YDTG0p3Mx7XT-sOmKux1xGJVU7ALkC97G__DiNYnxci40nlelTbyCenWOxIPiN-eCKPbMhgOfUo42e4p_d4_sT8z0OSAYno7v7z7qd3B9CFrR9LrQO8uWdIZGeULyFo-Gx2NyQnLipe260I9_Ne4Dotq0S4InzvbKiWorg/s788/PREDICTABLE-RESISTANCE%20GENE2.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="788" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCAldsyEL49XyLZ82Fqxi3YDTG0p3Mx7XT-sOmKux1xGJVU7ALkC97G__DiNYnxci40nlelTbyCenWOxIPiN-eCKPbMhgOfUo42e4p_d4_sT8z0OSAYno7v7z7qd3B9CFrR9LrQO8uWdIZGeULyFo-Gx2NyQnLipe260I9_Ne4Dotq0S4InzvbKiWorg/w640-h360/PREDICTABLE-RESISTANCE%20GENE2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"These interactions
between genes make aspects of evolution somewhat predictable and furthermore,
we now have a tool that allows us to make those predictions," adds Dr.
Domingo-Sananes.Dr. Beavan said, "From this work, we can begin to explore
which genes 'support' an antibiotic resistance gene, for example. Therefore, if
we are trying to eliminate antibiotic resistance, we can target not just the
focal gene, but we can also target its supporting genes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We can use this
approach to synthesize new kinds of genetic constructs that could be used to
develop new drugs or vaccines. Knowing what we now know has opened the door to
a whole host of other discoveries."The implications of the research are
far-reaching and could lead to:Novel Genome Design—allowing scientists to
design synthetic genomes and providing a roadmap for the predictable
manipulation of genetic material.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Combating Antibiotic
Resistance—Understanding the dependencies between genes can help identify the
'supporting cast' of genes that make antibiotic resistance possible, paving the
way for targeted treatments.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFmILa1r0AeSssN4iNddijtmHIM_bcjBNZVgnogRJXHhvB2_1v0Tl4hgaz766x32TbKYPe3aiO42kJsUMp0Pe5Utk-IOxQ7s_WnSDq0Q0E7gygp9Oii5Duk6tZ3RbL5pSv5avoy2M3NQNQJ_hO2025YiYCUQu3hfV2jwMObUYdoKL1k2VEGFTP7I5IvM/s1900/PREDICTABLE-RESISTANCE%20GENE3.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1900" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFmILa1r0AeSssN4iNddijtmHIM_bcjBNZVgnogRJXHhvB2_1v0Tl4hgaz766x32TbKYPe3aiO42kJsUMp0Pe5Utk-IOxQ7s_WnSDq0Q0E7gygp9Oii5Duk6tZ3RbL5pSv5avoy2M3NQNQJ_hO2025YiYCUQu3hfV2jwMObUYdoKL1k2VEGFTP7I5IvM/w640-h384/PREDICTABLE-RESISTANCE%20GENE3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Climate Change
Mitigation—Insights from the study could inform the design of microorganisms
engineered to capture carbon or degrade pollutants, thereby contributing to
efforts to combat climate change.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Medical Applications—The
predictability of gene interactions could revolutionize personalized medicine
by providing new metrics for disease risk and treatment efficacy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The implications of this
research are nothing short of revolutionary. By demonstrating that evolution is
not as random as we once thought, we've opened the door to an array of
possibilities in synthetic biology, medicine, and environmental science."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Professor James
McInerney, lead author of the study<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) 'Giant' predator
worms more than half a billion years old discovered in North Greenland :by
University of Bristol<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: underline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_3byWADsU6zIJGHKsZb9xa-3HHxx8ZKtf2Igbim7oJn6i6XO0LYhiqfvC18H0pjL_vAmasy8qOTpLCOFwcPY4RFjnz5q4-cZ1QeFFmhZ3FOhp8FemKO__DLgUkjfXX823FvNEagyxvggvTFHPYCUghoiRlFiRNOT4s5dfDQpW1sFckDLPvYJOD3eh9k/s696/A%20reconstruction%20of%20the%20pelagic%20ecosystem%20and%20the%20organisms%20fossilised%20in%20Sirius%20Passet,%20revealing%20how%20Timorebestia%20was%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20predators%20in%20the%20water%20column%20more%20than%20518%20million%20years%20ago.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="696" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_3byWADsU6zIJGHKsZb9xa-3HHxx8ZKtf2Igbim7oJn6i6XO0LYhiqfvC18H0pjL_vAmasy8qOTpLCOFwcPY4RFjnz5q4-cZ1QeFFmhZ3FOhp8FemKO__DLgUkjfXX823FvNEagyxvggvTFHPYCUghoiRlFiRNOT4s5dfDQpW1sFckDLPvYJOD3eh9k/w640-h426/A%20reconstruction%20of%20the%20pelagic%20ecosystem%20and%20the%20organisms%20fossilised%20in%20Sirius%20Passet,%20revealing%20how%20Timorebestia%20was%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20predators%20in%20the%20water%20column%20more%20than%20518%20million%20years%20ago.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A reconstruction of the pelagic ecosystem and the organisms fossilised in Sirius Passet, revealing how Timorebestia was one of the largest predators in the water column more than 518 million years ago</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><b>Fossils of a new group
of animal predators have been located in the Early Cambrian Sirius Passet
fossil locality in North Greenland. These large worms may be some of the
earliest carnivorous animals to have colonized the water column more than 518
million years ago, revealing a past dynasty of predators that scientists didn't
know existed. The new fossil animals have been named Timorebestia, meaning
'terror beasts' in Latin. Adorned with fins down the sides of their body, a
distinct head with long antennae, massive jaw structures inside their mouth,
and growing to more than 30cm in length, these were some of the largest
swimming animals in the Early Cambrian times.</b></span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We have previously
known that primitive arthropods were the dominant predators during the Cambrian,
such as the bizarre-looking anomalocaridids," said Dr. Jakob Vinther from
the University of Bristol's Schools of Earth Sciences and Biological Sciences,
a senior author on the study. "However, Timorebestia is a distant, but
close, relative of living arrow worms, or chaetognaths. These are much smaller
ocean predators today that feed on tiny zooplankton."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmhp-WZXaKXcRCZUYX7QoxHBUJkD6duKCyTH-HpGvZhUCAR_6s0nPW98ItLhun-OzhQhhEikbbtVyQzWkZP9naXIIbeeQGSqMuPc00pt2lT1_32_TKis8AIcvRyE2TBv0zDDrRNxoe9JZ_d8ANHC5Qw_55BH_t3wdAgReBwm-c1GYd_tv3omLCXQlT3w/s1024/Fossil%20of%20Timorebestia%20kopr%20the%20largest%20known%20specimen,%20almost%2030%20cm%20or%2012%20inches%20long%20Credit%20Dr%20Jakob%20Vinther.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="653" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmhp-WZXaKXcRCZUYX7QoxHBUJkD6duKCyTH-HpGvZhUCAR_6s0nPW98ItLhun-OzhQhhEikbbtVyQzWkZP9naXIIbeeQGSqMuPc00pt2lT1_32_TKis8AIcvRyE2TBv0zDDrRNxoe9JZ_d8ANHC5Qw_55BH_t3wdAgReBwm-c1GYd_tv3omLCXQlT3w/w408-h640/Fossil%20of%20Timorebestia%20kopr%20the%20largest%20known%20specimen,%20almost%2030%20cm%20or%2012%20inches%20long%20Credit%20Dr%20Jakob%20Vinther.jpg" width="408" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fossil of Timorebestia kopr the largest known specimen, almost 30 cm or 12 inches long Credit Dr Jakob Vinther</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Our research shows
that these ancient ocean ecosystems were fairly complex, with a food chain that
allowed for several tiers of predators."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Timorebestia were
giants of their day and would have been close to the top of the food chain.
That makes it equivalent in importance to some of the top carnivores in modern
oceans, such as sharks and seals back in the Cambrian period."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Inside the fossilized
digestive system of Timorebestia, the researchers found remains of a common,
swimming arthropod called Isoxys. "We can see these arthropods were a food
source for many other animals," said Morten Lunde Nielsen, a former Ph.D.
student at Bristol and part of the current study.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"They are very
common at Sirius Passet and had long protective spines, pointing both forwards
and backwards. However, they clearly didn't completely succeed in avoiding that
fate, because Timorebestia munched on them in great quantities."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Arrow worms are one of
the oldest animal fossils from the Cambrian. While arthropods appear in the
fossil record about 521 to 529 million years ago, arrow worms can be traced
back at least 538 million years back in time.Dr. Vinther explained, "Both
arrow worms, and the more primitive Timorebestia, were swimming predators. We
can therefore surmise that in all likelihood they were the predators that
dominated the oceans before arthropods took off. Perhaps they had a dynasty of
about 10–15 million years before they got superseded by other, and more
successful, groups."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm8JJ9wh1_ORfSO5vZryxL5CxGPOLr0J0_qiQF8LVvK-x0sOWam4Kkph65J0gH3_UIOwL5WQir6RMo4vs1Q5kJWBRFbK38R4_UPbB1afhHJimqw5MTddAN6uVRxkDu1z6PrvmGhwKHE6tVy_vyDhJlPmRy7I4vsMVVGkEFnme69EESCZQaMMCI7L8dP0/s1440/GIANTWORM4.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1440" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm8JJ9wh1_ORfSO5vZryxL5CxGPOLr0J0_qiQF8LVvK-x0sOWam4Kkph65J0gH3_UIOwL5WQir6RMo4vs1Q5kJWBRFbK38R4_UPbB1afhHJimqw5MTddAN6uVRxkDu1z6PrvmGhwKHE6tVy_vyDhJlPmRy7I4vsMVVGkEFnme69EESCZQaMMCI7L8dP0/w640-h370/GIANTWORM4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Luke Parry from Oxford
University, who was part of the study, added, "Timorebestia is a really
significant find for understanding where these jawed predators came from.
Today, arrow worms have menacing bristles on the outside of their heads for
catching prey, whereas Timorebestia has jaws inside its head.""This
is what we see in microscopic jaw worms today—organisms that arrow worms shared
an ancestor with over half a billion years ago. Timorebestia and other fossils
like it provide links between closely related organisms that today look very
different."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Our discovery firms up
how arrow worms evolved," added Tae Yoon Park from the Korean Polar
Research Institute, the other senior author and field expedition leader.
"Living arrow worms have a distinct nervous center on their belly, called
a ventral ganglion. It is entirely unique to these animals."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEIvPtlupWb9A8hznHUuWdFMzIP7pKdksGm0mdj40ex3cUfTZMwS7xdUmkCVHp-cRc_73WjJYO9BEA48ANX756Rvr0ylQRgQf4UDI-NcrgIxZXIQ4-GhB7wK3612b4MxBEqY9iU4ka0Pv2DZFA5J7B9sHhitwLUtyvQ4usRlHhT3O7VUFH3TFsIPxw8g/s1779/GIANTWORM5.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEIvPtlupWb9A8hznHUuWdFMzIP7pKdksGm0mdj40ex3cUfTZMwS7xdUmkCVHp-cRc_73WjJYO9BEA48ANX756Rvr0ylQRgQf4UDI-NcrgIxZXIQ4-GhB7wK3612b4MxBEqY9iU4ka0Pv2DZFA5J7B9sHhitwLUtyvQ4usRlHhT3O7VUFH3TFsIPxw8g/w518-h640/GIANTWORM5.jpg" width="518" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We have found this
preserved in Timorebestia and another fossil called Amiskwia. People have
debated whether or not Amiskwia was closely related to arrow worms as part of
their evolutionary stem lineage. The preservation of these unique ventral
ganglia gives us a great deal more confidence in this hypothesis."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7gwRnKR8HP6CjwVjtcuAbcbW_jm394fxJTCP_He0tR0BT18EHFLJQ55Xp9tZQKhlNSU6dYYKmgtp_9oW8atAdsjG3FqB2_x2z-35oqWX3W7xBfZISsBKt8T_fBNkgIOCBmXoA-ArK4zx8wX7qlOMlpYvhoa7oUXZS44pbAfxzvAkUihQ_xvmPG4nE7I/s840/The%20fossilized%20worm%20offers%20new%20insight%20into%20ancient%20swimming%20carnivores%20Jakob%20Vinther%20University%20of%20Bristol.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7gwRnKR8HP6CjwVjtcuAbcbW_jm394fxJTCP_He0tR0BT18EHFLJQ55Xp9tZQKhlNSU6dYYKmgtp_9oW8atAdsjG3FqB2_x2z-35oqWX3W7xBfZISsBKt8T_fBNkgIOCBmXoA-ArK4zx8wX7qlOMlpYvhoa7oUXZS44pbAfxzvAkUihQ_xvmPG4nE7I/w640-h426/The%20fossilized%20worm%20offers%20new%20insight%20into%20ancient%20swimming%20carnivores%20Jakob%20Vinther%20University%20of%20Bristol.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fossilized worm offers new insight into ancient swimming carnivores Jakob Vinther University of Bristol</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We are very
excited to have discovered such unique predators in Sirius Passet. Over a
series of expeditions to the very remote Sirius Passet in the furthest reaches
of North Greenland, more than 82,5˚ north, we have collected a great diversity
of exciting new organisms. Thanks to the remarkable, exceptional preservation
in Sirius Passet, we can also reveal exciting anatomical details, including
their digestive system, muscle anatomy, and nervous systems."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BeFbduPmagLlRi3_ZlCNcFxZ_GebmMIq2ISM8M2aQj8kd0bSmYmSkfoK6K8v2Rese5ZoewpAcwDb4m7DkHyQ3kni8tsnFMvHP1dHZd-XG7ppg74pYTnANjI8pRxsqyYqYG2V_t5Nb2rH8kYTFhE4_KcH0TIPxj8mODakRak7FGGyYUGJ_9VBVgsUD5E/s2880/greenland-GIANTWORM.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2880" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BeFbduPmagLlRi3_ZlCNcFxZ_GebmMIq2ISM8M2aQj8kd0bSmYmSkfoK6K8v2Rese5ZoewpAcwDb4m7DkHyQ3kni8tsnFMvHP1dHZd-XG7ppg74pYTnANjI8pRxsqyYqYG2V_t5Nb2rH8kYTFhE4_KcH0TIPxj8mODakRak7FGGyYUGJ_9VBVgsUD5E/w640-h426/greenland-GIANTWORM.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We have many more
exciting findings to share in the coming years that will help show how the earliest
animal ecosystems looked like and evolved," Dr. Park concluded.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Evolutionary
'U-turn' may mitigate antibiotic resistance, study finds :by Silvia Dropulich,
Monash University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthibN-mn40p1_WVtJc9pfxhn_Tkk4bBifWARDWmeH81olqRbMFFtKvMMbXDzN5dmouRf1Bf7MNgVyOE5l4i3C09E88ceyNzj7uVM8KDNKAnDZdmDGO4pSRjILQHy0Sn2BCV70gWPNbozLsCmRaYJ-0G2tH2f-ZMjyEYJ6Q5g-Vnc9xV3CKvt97VULVOk/s1503/Experimental%20evolution%20with%20HGT%20in%20antibiotic%20free%20conditions.%20Credit%20Nature%20Ecology%20&%20Evolution.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1503" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthibN-mn40p1_WVtJc9pfxhn_Tkk4bBifWARDWmeH81olqRbMFFtKvMMbXDzN5dmouRf1Bf7MNgVyOE5l4i3C09E88ceyNzj7uVM8KDNKAnDZdmDGO4pSRjILQHy0Sn2BCV70gWPNbozLsCmRaYJ-0G2tH2f-ZMjyEYJ6Q5g-Vnc9xV3CKvt97VULVOk/w640-h416/Experimental%20evolution%20with%20HGT%20in%20antibiotic%20free%20conditions.%20Credit%20Nature%20Ecology%20&%20Evolution.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Experimental evolution with HGT in antibiotic free conditions. Credit Nature Ecology & Evolution</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a scientific
breakthrough, Monash University researchers have discovered a revolutionary
"U-turn" in the evolution of antibiotic resistance, challenging the
widely accepted notion that traits once developed are irreversible. The
finding, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution has far-reaching
implications for the battle against antibiotic resistance, a global health
crisis threatening the efficacy of medications.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dollo's Law, considered
a fundamental principle in evolutionary biology, posits that traits, once lost,
cannot be regained."Our study challenges this idea by uncovering the
first-known example of molecular reverse evolution in antibiotic
resistance," said the study's lead author, Associate Professor Mike
McDonald, from the Monash University School of Biological Sciences.The study
explores the potential of undoing detrimental traits, such as antibiotic
resistance, through a mechanism called horizontal gene transfer (HGT).The
bacterium Helicobacter pylori was the focal point of the experiment due to its
capacity to exchange DNA by HGT. The research team tracked and sequenced
genetic alterations in real-time across independent bacterial populations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0T5zCc7XqLtCNCTzSL7mI3f3ChRJUsa06-fw7_cPJyUy2okhWLmmsF9pQ-WiqeUffGlFKKxmIoXDAz0DKsckf6DPancy4mLXDQM01l0Q7peQrUyI-8MsHDOBcmtQGKYPvcIVJ9dwCzdhk_rD4goGHqH0dfZcIlBsBnMrXF9rXHQAViKZ39RppY4Vt8I/s690/ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="690" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0T5zCc7XqLtCNCTzSL7mI3f3ChRJUsa06-fw7_cPJyUy2okhWLmmsF9pQ-WiqeUffGlFKKxmIoXDAz0DKsckf6DPancy4mLXDQM01l0Q7peQrUyI-8MsHDOBcmtQGKYPvcIVJ9dwCzdhk_rD4goGHqH0dfZcIlBsBnMrXF9rXHQAViKZ39RppY4Vt8I/w640-h404/ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In some of these groups,
they found the antibiotic-resistant gene variant reverted to its sensitive
original form, marking a groundbreaking discovery in the realm of evolutionary
biology."Imagine a scenario where infections lose their damaging
characteristics, like antibiotic resistance, effectively returning to their
original state," said Associate Professor McDonald."This research
opens up new possibilities in our fight against antibiotic resistance, and
reinforces the importance of responsible antibiotic stewardship our approach to
antibiotic and insecticide stewardship."The study also sheds light on the
role of recombination, the shuffling and exchanging of genetic material, in
facilitating this evolutionary U-turn. Populations with lower rates of
recombination evolved a hyper-recombination phenotype, speeding up the rate at
which bacteria exchange DNA, and reversed antibiotic resistance.To further
understand the dynamics of natural selection and HGT, the researchers
constructed a population genetic model. Mathematical simulations revealed that
while the costs of resistance are substantial, a moderate to high levels of HGT
could make populations that were resistant to antibiotics, susceptible
again.The study challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding irreversible
traits and presents a new avenue for combating antibiotic resistance."This
research could redefine our strategies against antibiotic resistance, offering
hope for a future where we can mitigate the spread of detrimental traits and
potentially restore the effectiveness of anti-microbial drugs," Associate
Professor McDonald said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) HKDC1 protein
found crucial to maintaining two mitochondria subcellular structures, mitochondria
and lysosomes :by Osaka University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVFQ0dmczb9fDx2tW3OJsv0Uryg4kbhInuwCm1cDGVcsM6UrC3E7yOA8-Y11xJPqW4Gia68oECrb083nMUZaGF8_glFw3ObAOy1vBN7UYVzk2Oh_h6PHf6MUfJfnKMjiyrjh4V4oZB7XrmYzIQsDPQj1h5iQQ8vcgrniCghwgcCjEb3zH-NQVb1_cZ0Q/s1280/MITOCHONDRIA1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVFQ0dmczb9fDx2tW3OJsv0Uryg4kbhInuwCm1cDGVcsM6UrC3E7yOA8-Y11xJPqW4Gia68oECrb083nMUZaGF8_glFw3ObAOy1vBN7UYVzk2Oh_h6PHf6MUfJfnKMjiyrjh4V4oZB7XrmYzIQsDPQj1h5iQQ8vcgrniCghwgcCjEb3zH-NQVb1_cZ0Q/w640-h428/MITOCHONDRIA1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Both mitochondrial and lysosomal stress stimulate TFEB nuclear translocation, followed by increased HKDC1 expression. HKDC1 stabilizes PINK1 through interaction with TOM70, thereby facilitating PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy. Additionally, HKDC1 and the VDAC proteins with which it interacts are important for repair of damaged lysosomes and maintaining mitochondria–lysosome contact. HKDC1 prevents DNA damage–induced cellular senescence by maintaining mitochondrial and lysosomal homeostasis. Credit: 2024 Cui et al., HKDC1, a target of TFEB, is essential to maintain both mitochondrial and lysosomal homeostasis, preventing cellular senescence</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /><br /></u></b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Just as healthy organs
are vital to our well-being, healthy organelles are vital to the proper
functioning of the cell. These subcellular structures carry out specific jobs
within the cell; for example, mitochondria power the cell, and lysosomes keep
the cell tidy. Although damage to these two organelles has been linked to
aging, cellular senescence, and many diseases, the regulation and maintenance
of these organelles have remained poorly understood. Now, researchers at Osaka
University have identified a protein, HKDC1, that plays a key role in
maintaining these two organelles, thereby acting to prevent cellular aging.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62u3ORXope15naOjC9bLClf8FiqSc9UJoNTCpH2NdycG8Q5sHyz2ut92tgtYrX8O7FChT6NRpoFqQz_zqRB7Sve8WooZlPh9g4Tl_IJi6OfDj6cB-04isHtmcgQDf4ucwjdfAaVg-QIVx6oZYa4tGWhzBrGXBJ9KL1Tf1NSlTdRE2-bpTUQWsbfh4jUk/s1024/MITOCHONDRIA2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62u3ORXope15naOjC9bLClf8FiqSc9UJoNTCpH2NdycG8Q5sHyz2ut92tgtYrX8O7FChT6NRpoFqQz_zqRB7Sve8WooZlPh9g4Tl_IJi6OfDj6cB-04isHtmcgQDf4ucwjdfAaVg-QIVx6oZYa4tGWhzBrGXBJ9KL1Tf1NSlTdRE2-bpTUQWsbfh4jUk/w640-h426/MITOCHONDRIA2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There was evidence that
a protein called TFEB is involved in maintaining the function of both organelles,
but no targets of this protein were known. By comparing all the genes of the
cell that are active under particular conditions and by using a method called
chromatin immunoprecipitation, which can identify the DNA targets of proteins,
the team was the first to show that the gene encoding HKDC1 is a direct target
of TFEB, and that HKDC1 becomes upregulated under conditions of mitochondrial
or lysosomal stress.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT29FeclBtkTtUk93ZvryZuCI6BH_mCqjXV7ZVC15uIOHnaFFptUq4Xbzvx-_rnWAn9CAbAeMqDK5zMpy962mHXWeNQ6ltSEetcv7TGaJNvN89cUOeBASL0SB6S9U81CfHauQgWh4pG0puuCvmrlpidt7ef-hSSCeQa96kNhbWzaUTflSKq9Xwfuzo1Y/s777/MITOCHONDRIA3.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="777" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT29FeclBtkTtUk93ZvryZuCI6BH_mCqjXV7ZVC15uIOHnaFFptUq4Xbzvx-_rnWAn9CAbAeMqDK5zMpy962mHXWeNQ6ltSEetcv7TGaJNvN89cUOeBASL0SB6S9U81CfHauQgWh4pG0puuCvmrlpidt7ef-hSSCeQa96kNhbWzaUTflSKq9Xwfuzo1Y/w640-h426/MITOCHONDRIA3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Osaka University research highlights the protein HKDC1’s critical role in preserving mitochondria and lysosomes, thus preventing cellular aging and related diseases. This finding opens potential new therapeutic approaches for aging-related conditions. Credit: SciTechDaily.com</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One way that
mitochondria are protected from damage is through the process of
"mitophagy", the controlled removal of damaged mitochondria. There
are various mitophagy pathways, and the most well-characterized of these
depends on proteins called PINK1 and Parkin.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We observed that
HKDC1 co-localizes with a protein called TOM20, which is located in the outer
membrane of the mitochondria," explains lead author Mengying Cui,
"and through our experiments, we found that HKDC1, and its interaction
with TOM20, are critical for PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy." So, put
simply, HKDC1 is brought in by TFEB to help take out the mitochondrial trash.
But what about lysosomes? Well, TFEB and KHDC1 are key players here, too.
Reducing HKDC1 in the cell was shown to interfere with lysosomal repair,
indicating that HKDC1 and TFEB help lysosomes to recover from damage.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27w43hon0zqZGGGpc1i5RbjrfL4sYlYHjNKiHjTKWWdeaCMc0A9WxXWpW6scpwNoJktVtVjrgplNxv4MXfcwYOa0AeVwilHJ7yvf1BxpKMKOiCucsnLNmNimBIsmeY1IthSURqRjdGA_8HmenajZ4VrMapiImB61KFHcP27SX7yJIwcbXj8wxjkxevfI/s765/MITOCHONDRIA4.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="765" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27w43hon0zqZGGGpc1i5RbjrfL4sYlYHjNKiHjTKWWdeaCMc0A9WxXWpW6scpwNoJktVtVjrgplNxv4MXfcwYOa0AeVwilHJ7yvf1BxpKMKOiCucsnLNmNimBIsmeY1IthSURqRjdGA_8HmenajZ4VrMapiImB61KFHcP27SX7yJIwcbXj8wxjkxevfI/w640-h490/MITOCHONDRIA4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"HKDC1 is localized
to the mitochondria, right? Well, this turns out to also be critical for the
process of lysosomal repair," explains senior author Shuhei Nakamura.
"You see, lysosomes and mitochondria contact each other via proteins called
VDACs. Specifically, HKDC1 is responsible for interacting with the VDACs; this
protein is essential for mitochondria–lysosome contact, and thus, lysosomal
repair."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These two diverse
functions of HKDC1, with key roles in both the lysosome and the mitochondria,
help to prevent cellular senescence by simultaneously maintaining the stability
of these two organelles. As dysfunction of these organelles is linked to aging
and age-related diseases, this discovery opens new avenues for therapeutic
approaches to these diseases.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXTeml_HGXl7oAeAMTmwXyEiPmEzeiZ1rMoC5cnIbveJh0yJMOzMCA092wgXxZDbxL5dL2O8zrwhdg8jZ-Qk0H-iriB1fPIRDFP6EA5YlIh9L1sOA-q-bdusiGFAwPB0lWKDLRuq7ubb97sR6qyNsn_a6uoYX-fn9mfCijyWe21qWef2vjhrsZ57KPPc/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXTeml_HGXl7oAeAMTmwXyEiPmEzeiZ1rMoC5cnIbveJh0yJMOzMCA092wgXxZDbxL5dL2O8zrwhdg8jZ-Qk0H-iriB1fPIRDFP6EA5YlIh9L1sOA-q-bdusiGFAwPB0lWKDLRuq7ubb97sR6qyNsn_a6uoYX-fn9mfCijyWe21qWef2vjhrsZ57KPPc/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">) Adani Hindenburg
Case Updates: SC directs Sebi to complete probe within 3 months in remaining
two cases<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5MoLZSPJTKFceTfpWsGguF6aQ4ZY53-H0rmHGVoZbPZ-Voh3H_LnoYLaMXcDW7cHN4FSfRyWxujpS0MgTvT3aKYsyZx5BEN23wlOI1QUkFtEM1eHhMlu9GMufmgYpb-MxJt1wE7hCHRmRIS_elzK0cKXMc1oGWJOPpRwh06O4A3Hjhvgx3SAgEmhYfg/s549/Billionaire%20Gautam%20Adani..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5MoLZSPJTKFceTfpWsGguF6aQ4ZY53-H0rmHGVoZbPZ-Voh3H_LnoYLaMXcDW7cHN4FSfRyWxujpS0MgTvT3aKYsyZx5BEN23wlOI1QUkFtEM1eHhMlu9GMufmgYpb-MxJt1wE7hCHRmRIS_elzK0cKXMc1oGWJOPpRwh06O4A3Hjhvgx3SAgEmhYfg/w640-h360/Billionaire%20Gautam%20Adani..jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Adani Hindenburg Case
Updates: SC directs Sebi to complete probe within 3 months in remaining two
cases The Supreme Court today delivered its judgment on a bunch of petitions
seeking an investigation into allegations of accounting fraud and stock manipulation
against Adani group companies, published in a research report by US
short-seller Hindenburg Research in January 2023. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud
pronounced the verdict in the case that was reserved on November 24 after the
conclusion of the arguments.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The top court said that
cannot enter into the domain of the regulatory regime and that the report by
Hindenburg “or anything like that” cannot become the basis of a separate probe.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It also directed the
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to go ahead and continue its
probe as per the law.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Here's more on the Adani-Hindenburg case:</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hindenburg’s report,
which was published in January 2023, <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">claimed “brazen
accounting fraud” and “stock manipulation” by the Gautam Adani-led group.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Even though the conglomerate
rejected the report as “unresearched” and “maliciously mischievous”, it
triggered a massive rout of Adani group stocks, which lost over $140 billion in
days and forced the cancellation of a ₹20,000 crore share sale.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In March, the Supreme
Court set up a six-member panel, led by retired Supreme Court judge AM Sapre,
to look into regulatory failure by Sebi and alleged breach of laws by the Adani
group. However, in its report submitted two months later, the committee said
the allegations of stock price manipulation or violation of MPS norms by Adani
group companies cannot be proved “at this stage”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the same time, the
panel raised certain red flags regarding the current Foreign Portfolio
Investors (FPI)</span></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> regulations.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JUy7KU0LIwTS2nTmTvvOIuKPx-3JWWGDWorv4txQNj-agRHT6JwHMiavI2Ts6Q3_uzVc5l0Yimcz7B2NwS57Hyo9tz-azMZ0cFopMCWYsERlQb6nhGLlN-KITprsrf7c6rJFWTXtbNjct4XM64wzoJ8JU_oFIJwZpygTLBGewVQBWwQq3ROqf6viwks/s1200/Opposition%20parties%20undertake%20a%20protest%20march%20demanding%20a%20JPC%20probe%20into%20the%20Adani-Hindenburg%20issue%20at%20Vijay%20Chowk%20in%20New%20Delhi,%20on%20March%2024,%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JUy7KU0LIwTS2nTmTvvOIuKPx-3JWWGDWorv4txQNj-agRHT6JwHMiavI2Ts6Q3_uzVc5l0Yimcz7B2NwS57Hyo9tz-azMZ0cFopMCWYsERlQb6nhGLlN-KITprsrf7c6rJFWTXtbNjct4XM64wzoJ8JU_oFIJwZpygTLBGewVQBWwQq3ROqf6viwks/w640-h360/Opposition%20parties%20undertake%20a%20protest%20march%20demanding%20a%20JPC%20probe%20into%20the%20Adani-Hindenburg%20issue%20at%20Vijay%20Chowk%20in%20New%20Delhi,%20on%20March%2024,%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opposition parties undertake a protest march demanding a JPC probe into the Adani-Hindenburg issue at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi, on March 24, 2023</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In November, the top
court observed that it would not be proper for the court to appoint an SIT to
look into alleged violations of MPS norms by Adani group companies without
there being evidence of lapses on the part of the Sebi, which is already
investigating the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Senior advocate Mukul
Rohatgi on SC verdict</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Senior advocate Mukul
Rohatgi says, "It is the complete exoneration of the Adani group. The
court has trusted the SEBI investigation. The Court has said that it trusts
SEBI & it does not warrant any CBI or and police probe as demanded in 4
petitions. No material was found to warrant any other investigation."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Clean chit to
Adani,’ says conglomerate's lawyer</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Since the Supreme
Court has taken a view that the report on 20 out of 22 transactions is clear, I
think it is a clean chit to Adani definitely, and there is no doubt about
that," Siddharth Luthra, the advocate of Adani Group, tells PTI.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Adani Group
comapnies shares surge after verdict</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the Supreme Court
disregarded the report submitted by Hindenburg on Adani Group, the share prices
of multiple firms under the conglomerate spiked by a cumulative 18% during the
early trade hours of Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This was despite both
Sensex and Nifty falling flat during the market opening bell.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Here's what
Congress said on SC verdict</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress MP Manish
Tewari tells PTI: “I have not read the SC order in detail but they have
directed the Sebi to complete their investigation in two months. The fact
remains that the allegations made in the Hindenburg report came into the public
space a year ago and if the Sebi had been vigilant or they would have been
swift, the investigation would have been completed a long time<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What all SC said<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Supreme Court of
India on Wednesday refused to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into
allegations levelled by American short-seller Hindenburg against the Adani
Group. It, however, asked SEBI to complete its probe into the pending two cases
against the Gautam Adani-led conglomerate within three months<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) India's first
solar observatory Aditya L1 in its final orbit now</span></u></b><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMxOgprH5EasBF3crn5ci8WIAn8pPBvXWAjl8B125LZREKZk6xifaVwEwRTOiKuXjQY_k__-JlLWEAxfGxZgDOU0xXriNNYkqSBT7R8nWomX6emw1y_jx-Px9ORicZPbY8enCZEJvFruXtEd0jZ6HJsWoHDZCPSAhu2PXRhsEaDusD7gGzmT9VluWSK8/s550/This%20strategic%20position%20at%20Langrage%20L1%20enables%20uninterrupted%20observation%20of%20the%20Sun,.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMxOgprH5EasBF3crn5ci8WIAn8pPBvXWAjl8B125LZREKZk6xifaVwEwRTOiKuXjQY_k__-JlLWEAxfGxZgDOU0xXriNNYkqSBT7R8nWomX6emw1y_jx-Px9ORicZPbY8enCZEJvFruXtEd0jZ6HJsWoHDZCPSAhu2PXRhsEaDusD7gGzmT9VluWSK8/w640-h360/This%20strategic%20position%20at%20Langrage%20L1%20enables%20uninterrupted%20observation%20of%20the%20Sun,.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This strategic position at Langrage L1 enables uninterrupted observation of the Sun,</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Aditya L1, India's
maiden solar observatory, entered the ‘Halo orbit’ around the Lagrange L1 point
on Saturday. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s Aditya L1, the
country's maiden solar observatory, entered the ‘Halo orbit’ around the Lagrange
L1 point on Saturday, marking another significant milestone for the space
agency after Chandrayaan-3's moon landing on the south pole! Since its launch
nearly four months ago in September, the spacecraft, equipped with seven
payloads, has reached a distance of approximately 1.5 million km from Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This strategic position
enables uninterrupted observation of the Sun, providing scientists with an
unobstructed view to study solar activities and their effects on space weather
in real-time The primary goal is to delve into the physics of the solar corona
and its heating mechanisms, solar wind acceleration, the dynamics of the solar
atmosphere, distribution and temperature anisotropy of solar wind, and the
origins of Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) and flares, along with near-earth space
weather.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Following the final
orbit injection, ISRO stated that the selected halo orbit ensures a mission
lifespan of five years. This orbit minimises the need for station-keeping
manoeuvers, reducing fuel consumption and facilitating a continuous, unhindered
view of the Sun. ISRO's statement confirmed the successful Halo-Orbit Insertion
(HOI) of the Aditya-L1 solar observatory spacecraft around 4 pm on Saturday.
The manoeuvre's final phase involved a brief firing of control engines.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Mahua Moitra's
‘thok dijiye’ jibe at Yogi Adityanath over accused's photos:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZlTEi1Y_VJWJGiWJLwW5j5rMTL1l9uolCz5VPGKKiKWU8T6p5gIFGX54vwO3Kwn4_cTlCi_nux6eWW_JPnC0mqdm2iBmTx5F4TN1uzZJ-sdTck91tr5d_mcSWIoEk_r7-PXoBGUdCViF2hd0H-XlkMLFKvfKlPOENwfLfTtw6AlOJ2TNgTlX5zxbc7E/s549/TMC%20leader%20Mahua%20Moitra%20speaks%20to%20the%20media..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZlTEi1Y_VJWJGiWJLwW5j5rMTL1l9uolCz5VPGKKiKWU8T6p5gIFGX54vwO3Kwn4_cTlCi_nux6eWW_JPnC0mqdm2iBmTx5F4TN1uzZJ-sdTck91tr5d_mcSWIoEk_r7-PXoBGUdCViF2hd0H-XlkMLFKvfKlPOENwfLfTtw6AlOJ2TNgTlX5zxbc7E/w640-h360/TMC%20leader%20Mahua%20Moitra%20speaks%20to%20the%20media..jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Two months after a woman
student was allegedly gang-raped inside the IIT-BHU campus in UP, police on
Sunday arrested three men. Mahua Moitra of the Trinamool Congress took a swipe
at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath over the alleged involvement of
local Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in the gang-rape of an IIT-BHU student,
asking how much time will it take to run a bulldozer on their properties.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Wonder Ajay Bisht aka
@myogiadityanath was doing since Nov 2nd when his BJP Troll Sena aka IT cell
vaanars gang -raped a woman. Thok dijiye, Sir. Is Baar Bulldozer Chalaane Mein
Itni Der Kyon?” the expelled TMC MP wrote on X (formally Twitter) while sharing
pictures of the accused with Yogi Adityanath. Yogi Adityanath, after taking
over as the chief minister in 2017, had said in an interview: “Agar aparadh
karenge, toh thok diye jayenge (if anyone commits a crime, he will be shot
dead).” His ‘thok do’ policy has led to a number of ‘encounters’ of alleged
criminals in the state in the last three years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Two months after a woman
student was allegedly gang-raped inside the IIT-BHU campus in Uttar Pradesh,
police on Sunday arrested three men, while opposition parties alleged that they
were BJP functionaries. The three accused claimed themselves to be the BJP's IT
cell members on their Facebook page.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On Monday, the Congress
also took a dig at the BJP, saying the ruling party works exactly opposite of
its slogan 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'. Addressing a press conference at
Congress headquarters in Delhi, Mahila Congress chief Netta D'Souza said the
truth is that it has become "Balatkaari (rapist) Janata Party" for
women.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress leader from
Uttar Pradesh Dolly Sharma at the press conference also hit out at the BJP.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Home minister Amit
Shah used to state that even if you search with binoculars in Uttar Pradesh,
criminals will not be found. There is no need for binoculars, because you have
the culprits sitting next to you," news agency PTI quoted Sharma as
saying.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sharma said bulldozers
were not seen going to the houses of these criminals in Uttar Pradesh.
Opposition parties have targeted Yogi Adityanath government over the law and
order situation in the state and alleged that those arrested in the case have
links with the ruling BJP.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">IIT-BHU rape case: What
we know so far<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SHO of Lanka police
station Shivakant Mishra said the accused have been identified as Kunal Pandey,
Anand alias Abhishek Chauhan and Saksham Patel.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The alleged incident of
rape occurred on the night of November 1.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAC0NXr8fd-CFgB3fSDZuZYnCoQ05ZgRViznLYX1jT_MwhBXgpyxA3W-ITMOgSJ4xzBN5nj9TdC19gS3x76KRND_eYdH8rF1zjFkekFnoH9BPpELN6X0OsSzimzw8EWtg1bhHZgMKqi-fEa7pdoKYb8PAY8eZrT_lyFE54d3u9MvhD0IFQpjtNBPPRP4/s1294/Wonder%20Ajay%20Bisht%20aka%20@myogiadityanath%20was%20doing%20since%20Nov%202nd%20when%20his%20BJP%20Troll%20Sena%20aka%20IT%20cell%20vaanars%20gang%20-raped%20a%20woman..jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="1290" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAC0NXr8fd-CFgB3fSDZuZYnCoQ05ZgRViznLYX1jT_MwhBXgpyxA3W-ITMOgSJ4xzBN5nj9TdC19gS3x76KRND_eYdH8rF1zjFkekFnoH9BPpELN6X0OsSzimzw8EWtg1bhHZgMKqi-fEa7pdoKYb8PAY8eZrT_lyFE54d3u9MvhD0IFQpjtNBPPRP4/w638-h640/Wonder%20Ajay%20Bisht%20aka%20@myogiadityanath%20was%20doing%20since%20Nov%202nd%20when%20his%20BJP%20Troll%20Sena%20aka%20IT%20cell%20vaanars%20gang%20-raped%20a%20woman..jpg" width="638" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to the
complainant, she had gone out of her hostel with a friend when three men on a
motorcycle forcibly took her to a corner and gagged her after separating her
from her friend near the Karman Baba temple.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The accused then
allegedly stripped the woman, made a video of her and took photos. They let her
go after about 15 minutes and took her phone number, the complainant stated.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the basis of the
victim's complaint, an FIR has been registered under section 354 (assault or
criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC and
under provisions of the Information Technology Act at the Lanka police station.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Subsequently, a section
of gangrape was also added to the case, police said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Uddhav Thackeray
emerging as a key player in INDIA?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0076H3zOpA6giF9pS_p2Ui4DQx9vX_-f7c5KtBvs9kvRssw3jMs7nnPuv24aKVrpxFtKqm25h2yN5XBBl2JugIe3l1O9KIt2jPJTFpkF9GZDNTtv2jBrlBDPbZMOIbNITDFW0PdxVUNYelVut-YCCSrZ7vEQkIA6r6jdNgybkE7kxmZtXAkSAP-HmFQ/s550/Ever%20since%20he%20parted%20ways%20with%20the%20BJP%20in%202019,%20Uddhav%20Thackeray%20has%20been%20periodically%20reaching%20out%20to%20regional%20satraps%20such%20as%20Kejriwal,%20Banerjee,%20Nitish%20Kumar%20and%20M%20K%20Stalin..jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0076H3zOpA6giF9pS_p2Ui4DQx9vX_-f7c5KtBvs9kvRssw3jMs7nnPuv24aKVrpxFtKqm25h2yN5XBBl2JugIe3l1O9KIt2jPJTFpkF9GZDNTtv2jBrlBDPbZMOIbNITDFW0PdxVUNYelVut-YCCSrZ7vEQkIA6r6jdNgybkE7kxmZtXAkSAP-HmFQ/w640-h360/Ever%20since%20he%20parted%20ways%20with%20the%20BJP%20in%202019,%20Uddhav%20Thackeray%20has%20been%20periodically%20reaching%20out%20to%20regional%20satraps%20such%20as%20Kejriwal,%20Banerjee,%20Nitish%20Kumar%20and%20M%20K%20Stalin..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ever since he parted ways with the BJP in 2019, Uddhav Thackeray has been periodically reaching out to regional satraps such as Kejriwal, Banerjee, Nitish Kumar and M K Stalin.</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Uddhav Thackeray is
emerging as a key player in the INDIA coalition, holding closed-door chats with
AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee. The developments of the
past few weeks indicate that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is emerging
as a key player in the INDIA coalition. On the sidelines of the opposition
bloc’s meeting in Delhi this week, Thackeray had a closed-door chat with AAP
chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the trouble the AAP is
facing in forging an alliance with Congress in Delhi and Punjab. Thackeray also
had discussions with Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal CM Mamata
Banerjee on the concerns among INDIA allies that things such as seat-sharing
and setting the agenda for theLok Sabha campaign are not moving at a faster pace.
According to his close aides, Thackeray has been raising these issues with
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“If we are part of a
coalition against BJP, we also have a lot at stake. We have to ensure that
things happen the way we would like them to. Unlike Kejriwal and Banerjee,
Thackeray does not have an uneasy relation with Congress. Hence, he is trying
to resolve certain issues,” said a top Shiv Sena (UBT) leader.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ever since he parted
ways with the BJP in 2019, Thackeray has been periodically reaching out to
regional satraps such as Kejriwal, Banerjee, Nitish Kumar and M K Stalin. His
son, Aaditya too has been keeping in touch with leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav
in Uttar Pradesh and Tejasvi Yadav in Bihar. Thackeray also shares cordial
relations with the Congress top brass. Significantly, it was Shiv Sena (UBT)
which was the first to demand that there should be a convenor or coordinator
for the INDIA coalition. Thackeray also apparently supported the name of Kharge
for the position<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gadkari’s straight-talk<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Union minister Nitin
Gadkari is known for not mincing his words. Speaking at a function in Vile
Parle on Thursday, Gadkari did some hard talk about the state of affairs in
politics. He said there is no connection between parties and ideologies now.
“There are no rightists nor leftists. We are only opportunists,” Gadkari
remarked, and added: “You never know who will jump from one party to another.”
While most politicians in the state chose to keep quiet, deputy chief minister
Ajit Pawar seemed to have taken it personally. “In a democracy, anybody can go
anywhere. The Constitution has given the right to the citizens,” he reacted,
when asked by mediapersons about Gadkari’s comments. “Even you change jobs from
one media house to other,” he told the reporters. Pawar, however, was a bit
irked when someone pointed out that a job and ideology are different.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What happened when the
MVA was formed by parties who are ideologically against each other?” he
retorted. His cousin Supriya Sule tried to rub salt in the wound. “Gadkariji
speaks the truth. He is a committed politician,” she remarked.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Another Pawar in
politics<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A wrestling competition
organised in Baramati has led to speculations on the entry of a young member of
Pawar family in politics. Yugendra, son of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s
brother Shriniwas, could be joining politics soon. Significantly, Yugendra
seems to be joining not his uncle but NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Posters have been
put up in Baramati with pictures of senior Pawar and Yogendra on the occasion
of the wrestling competition where the NCP chief would be the chief guest. An
entrepreneur by profession, Yugendra is also president of Baramati Wrestling
Association and treasurer of Sharad Pawar founded Vidya Pratishthan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Yugendra’s inclination
towards senior Pawar is not surprising. He was seen with the latter on several
occasions after his uncle Ajit split the NCP to join Shiv Sena-BJP alliance
government with a group of MLAs. The timing of Yugendra’s entry in politics is
interesting. It is happening when Ajit Pawar is gearing to wrest control of the
family bastion, Baramati from his uncle. Ajit also recently announced that his
party would be contesting Baramati Lok Sabha constituency currently represented
by Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule. There are speculations that Ajit could field
his wife Sunetra or son Parth who had unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha
elections from Maval constituency in 2019.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When Raj’s wife
defended Aaditya</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Though there is no love
lost between the warring Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj, the latter’s wife
Sharmila Thackeray defended nephew Aaditya when mediapersons asked her about
the SIT probe into allegations against the Thackeray scion in Disha Salian
case. “I don’t think he will be involved in anything like that,” Sharmila
said.Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, publicly thanked Sharmila for her
support to his son. A day later, Sharmila’s reminded her brother-in-law that he
never showed any support to Raj. “Unfortunately, Uddhav Thackeray never gave us
an opportunity to thank him. Since Kini case, there were several occasions when
he often taunted us but never showed faith in his younger brother,” she
lamented while speaking to the media.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Cong's ‘Bharat
Nyay Yatra’ renamed as ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’. Here's why<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7X5PJmMu1VHK9AP_nNb-LgAj6wurPWfbn7o78Ef2qEkon4eV2FMNfv-nyUF1cgkZaioQUeHRgvOBHFGS2eIMeMBJhFb7T2Izjp4tbghZCK6wungIqiu4yrczVEHjZywtK220654e5T_gxSMyoQft4CDcYOy0gnuidjgPjai_4pyZpO6OjaWLDER5Wf4/s549/Congress%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20with%20his%20mother%20and%20party%20leader%20Sonia%20Gandhi%20and%20his%20sister%20and%20General%20Secretary%20Priyanka%20Gandhi%20Vadra%20during%20the%20Bharat%20Jodo%20Yatra,.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7X5PJmMu1VHK9AP_nNb-LgAj6wurPWfbn7o78Ef2qEkon4eV2FMNfv-nyUF1cgkZaioQUeHRgvOBHFGS2eIMeMBJhFb7T2Izjp4tbghZCK6wungIqiu4yrczVEHjZywtK220654e5T_gxSMyoQft4CDcYOy0gnuidjgPjai_4pyZpO6OjaWLDER5Wf4/w640-h360/Congress%20leader%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20with%20his%20mother%20and%20party%20leader%20Sonia%20Gandhi%20and%20his%20sister%20and%20General%20Secretary%20Priyanka%20Gandhi%20Vadra%20during%20the%20Bharat%20Jodo%20Yatra,.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with his mother and party leader Sonia Gandhi and his sister and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the Bharat Jodo Yatra,</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Bharat Jodo Nyay
Yatra will begin at 12 pm from violence-hit Manipur's capital Imphal on January
14 Congress on Thursday renamed its ‘Bharat Nyay Yatra’ that is scheduled to
kick off from January 14 from northeastern India to the western shore. Congress
general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the march will now be called ‘Bharat
Jodo Nyay Yatra’.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“In the meeting of all
general secretaries, in-charges, PCC chiefs and CLP leaders, it was felt that
the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ has become a brand that is embedded in minds of people.
We should not lose it,” Ramesh said, referring to the march carried out by
Rahul Gandhi in September 2022 from Kanyakumari to Srinagar in January
2023," he added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to Ramesh, the
Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will begin at 12 pm from violence-hit Manipur's capital
Imphal on January 14. Rahul Gandhi will address the 6,700-km march twice daily
over the course of 66 days. “Based on the discussions today we finalised
routes. We always had Arunachal Pradesh in mind and therefore BJNY will cover
15 states including Arunachal,” he added. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress initially
had planned the march from Arunachal's Pasighat to Porbandar in Gujarat, the
birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. But the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3
prompted the Congress to change its plan The yatra will cover a distance of
1,000 kilometres in Uttar Pradesh, where the party has just one Lok Sabha MP,
i.e former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. The BJNY will cover 523 kilometres in
West Bengal across seven districts in five days.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“All INDIA parties and
civil society organisations will be invited,” Ramesh said, adding that the
march will cover 110 districts in total.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat
Jodo Yatra received mixed successes so far. The Congress suffered its worst
defeat in Gujarat, but managed to form government in Himachal Pradesh. The
grand old party was wiped out in north India but managed to win Karnataka and
Telangana in 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6)Three ED
officials attacked during raid in West Bengal; Governor warns govt of
'constitutional options'<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgWP4swYUU5MhypVlGG6-JCxKS2WWh7ftoDycLnpwYwnP3JNdRr0vtxsjV5lcBlPZjR3oG8VIGXodbeXX-rk9VyrKgJ4RML5PMmRGV8orn7fFRnuTBxTMsHOlx_AKRbvEvwCSrqm66W0yB4DhmqCEMrKPYpoipVrG6Wu_9sxtJXbVXs_7_McAu9Bbamc/s900/An%20Enforcement%20Directorate%20(ED)%20official%20after%20getting%20assaulted%20allegedly%20by%20the%20supporters%20of%20TMC%20leader%20Sheikh%20Sajahan%20during%20a%20raid%20at%20the%20latter%E2%80%99s%20residence,%20in%20North%2024%20Parganas%20district,%20Friday,%20Jan.%205,%202024..jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="900" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgWP4swYUU5MhypVlGG6-JCxKS2WWh7ftoDycLnpwYwnP3JNdRr0vtxsjV5lcBlPZjR3oG8VIGXodbeXX-rk9VyrKgJ4RML5PMmRGV8orn7fFRnuTBxTMsHOlx_AKRbvEvwCSrqm66W0yB4DhmqCEMrKPYpoipVrG6Wu_9sxtJXbVXs_7_McAu9Bbamc/w640-h366/An%20Enforcement%20Directorate%20(ED)%20official%20after%20getting%20assaulted%20allegedly%20by%20the%20supporters%20of%20TMC%20leader%20Sheikh%20Sajahan%20during%20a%20raid%20at%20the%20latter%E2%80%99s%20residence,%20in%20North%2024%20Parganas%20district,%20Friday,%20Jan.%205,%202024..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Enforcement Directorate (ED) official after getting assaulted allegedly by the supporters of TMC leader Sheikh Sajahan during a raid at the latter’s residence, in North 24 Parganas district, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The attack took place
when ED officers raided the residence of TMC leader Sheikh Sajahan regarding
investigation into an alleged ration distribution scam.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A team of ED officers
was attacked by a mob in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on
Friday when they arrived to search the house of a local Trinamool leader. The
attackers were allegedly the supporters of the Trinamool leader. Terming the incident alarming, Governor C V Ananda
Bose warned of “constitutional options” if the state government failed to take
action<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ED teams had arrived
at the residence of Sheikh Sajahan in connection with the alleged scam in
ration distribution. At Sheikh’s residence, they found the door locked from
inside. The leader, ED claimed, refused to open the door. While the ED sleWhile
the ED sleuths, along with CRPF personnel, were trying to have the door opened,
they faced a surprise attack. A mob of over 800 locals arrived with various
objects like lathis, stones and bricks, and assaulted the officials.Slogans
were raised against the agency and the Centre, and the official vehicles were
vandalised. “ED officials while discharging their duties were badly attacked by
crowds (suspected to be instigated by Sheikh Sajahan and his associates),” <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">an official release
stated. Personal and official belongings of the officials were snatched by the
mob. Three officers suffered serious injuries and are undergoing treatment.
“Other officers had to escape from the place to save their lives,” the
stPersonal and official belongings of the officials were snatched by the mob.
Three officers suffered serious injuries and are undergoing treatment. “Other
officers had to escape from the place to save their lives,” the statement
added. A complaint haA complaint has been filed with police for registration of
FIR.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Open to constitutional
options: Bose The incident has reignited the claims by opposition parties of
alleged “lawlessness” in parts of the state. The ruling Trinamool on most
occasions countered such incidents by playing down the allegations as
effor“malign” the state’s reputation. Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, taking
an exceptional stand, said that the state is not a “banana republic”. He termed
the latest incident as “alarming” and “deplorable”. Bose said that a civilised
government is “If (the) government fails its basic duty, then the Constitution
of India will definitely take its course,” he said, while warning about
constitutional options at his disposal, for “appropriate action at the
appropriate moment”. BJP leader Suvendu held Mamata Banerjee responsible for
the incident, citing her past statements. State minister Shashi Panja said that
Trinamool didn’t support violence, and villagers complained that the central
force personnel who accompanied the ED team had provoke them. She termed the
development “election-centric”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH363yIzuHZP16rWYjxvXwNZSPoXA04_mXqHHohWKWQkRGzDXA5DalCDbrtUpGkAmfT-7pUR6IkDNazcpSdJ0S0tWn0AVIj3SDecLZ9TlEh8kwgno0fzIpS4CYEMf322LuTaZbyhKgx7A_yU1WjRda24QusvQPHbMGcGgLihElHzvhnIIlR1UOCKJxNA/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH363yIzuHZP16rWYjxvXwNZSPoXA04_mXqHHohWKWQkRGzDXA5DalCDbrtUpGkAmfT-7pUR6IkDNazcpSdJ0S0tWn0AVIj3SDecLZ9TlEh8kwgno0fzIpS4CYEMf322LuTaZbyhKgx7A_yU1WjRda24QusvQPHbMGcGgLihElHzvhnIIlR1UOCKJxNA/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Bumrah emerges
as standout performer; Rohit and Co. level series 1-1 at Cape Town<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKn1IFa_KEsOmgMHP5ohmTSEMDuO58MXHdCvVormVVNU7XKjQEKETsqV_4Y6vTZqjjPTFKhyEt0egXo9oGjT1K9Q2uM8WEvrBh5DIdCxXjMzMEW-rCpQxFcJgjBo3eXL8cTLfFv7G4fHdX2cN5kca5cBW7EEooVZRVGDer2TWvOKUDLMtdGF2QuAGqrg/s550/Rohit%20Sharma's%20Team%20India%20is%20in%20the%20driving%20seat%20to%20win%20the%202nd%20Test(.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKn1IFa_KEsOmgMHP5ohmTSEMDuO58MXHdCvVormVVNU7XKjQEKETsqV_4Y6vTZqjjPTFKhyEt0egXo9oGjT1K9Q2uM8WEvrBh5DIdCxXjMzMEW-rCpQxFcJgjBo3eXL8cTLfFv7G4fHdX2cN5kca5cBW7EEooVZRVGDer2TWvOKUDLMtdGF2QuAGqrg/w640-h360/Rohit%20Sharma's%20Team%20India%20is%20in%20the%20driving%20seat%20to%20win%20the%202nd%20Test(.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rohit Sharma's Team India is in the driving seat to win the 2nd Test(</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jasprit Bumrah bagged a
6-wicket haul as India defeated South Africa by 7 wickets to win the 2nd Test.
With the win, India also levelled the series 1-1. India vs South Africa, 2nd
Test Day 2 highlights: Premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah bagged a match-changing six-wicket
haul in the first session while South Africa's Aiden Markram slammed a fighting
century for the Proteas on Day 2 of the series decider at Newlands. With the
Proteas all out for 176, Rohit Sharma and Co. chased down the 79-run target to
thrash the hosts by 7 wickets at Newlands. India's first-ever win at Cape Town
has arrived in Dean Elgar's farewell Test. India won the shortest completed
Test match to level the series 1-1 on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As many as 23 wickets
tumbled on a crazy first day of the New Year's Test match between India and
South Africa at Cape Town. Dismantling the Proteas lineup in the first session
of the series decider at Newlands, speedster Mohammed Siraj recorded his maiden
six-wicket haul to spark a shocking batting collapse of the hosts in the 1st
innings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Siraj's career-best
figures of 6-15 paved the way for Rohit Sharma and Co. to skittle the hosts for
55 in their first essay at Cape Town. In Elgar's farewell Test, India also
suffered a spectacular collapse as South Africa bounced back after the tea
break. Resuming on 153-4 after tea, Lungi Ngidi bowled a triple-wicket maiden
to turn the tie on its head. Joining forces with speedster Ngidi, pace ace
Kagiso Rabada bagged two wickets as India were bowled out for 153 in the space
of 11 deliveries.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ngidi and Rabada were
earlier assisted by Nandre Burger, who picked three wickets before tea break to
keep the Proteas in the hunt. Recovering from the great Indian collapse, Rohit
and Co. restricted South Africa to 62-3 in 17 overs on Day 1 of the Cape Town
decider. South Africa's stand-in skipper, Elgar, became the second batter to
get dismissed twice on the opening day of the Test match. Pacers Mukesh Kumar,
Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Bumrah shared ten wickets for India in South
Africa's 2nd innings. Team India has become the first Asian side to beat South
Africa at Cape Town.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Under Rohit Sharma's
leadership, Team India became the first Asian side to upstage South Africa at
Cape Town.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-India won the shortest
completed Test match on Day 2 to level the series 1-1.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-Rohit and Co. chased
down the 79-run target to beat South Africa by 7 wickets at Cape Town.Opener
Aiden Markram slammed his 7th century off 99 balls.KL Rahul dropped an on-song
Markram in the 1st session on Day 2.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pacer Jasprit Bumrah
bagged his 9th Test five-wicket haul.As many as 23 wickets fell on a crazy
opening day of the series decider at Newlands.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Resuming on 153-4 after
tea, India lost wickets for the same score in the space of 11 deliveries.Dean
Elgar's South Africa side was bowled out for just 55 in 23.2 overs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-India's Mohammed Siraj
claimed his career-best Test haul of 6-15 on Day 1.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-Playing his final Test,
Elgar became the second player after Australia's Jack Barrett to get dismissed
twice on the same day.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Ace shuttler Lakshya
Sen eyes Paris Olympics qualification:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDU8tvgxcCIQWvnlHH3ZT6YEON1sYUKmf5M9CSUKxYNlLmGK4cPXZSM5IDaVjfMVoFd4pDdm4-0E6lbEc9KyfJf6dZTMaCamZPjvAhrlos3vsRzHD52DvRTvH0fzbii6IkePPbXXySOE4jIk_n3WDTO5mvx6lTxG89pYnxuF0m70ltgqGdhJs9NlvVn3E/s549/Lakshya%20Sen%20in%20action.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDU8tvgxcCIQWvnlHH3ZT6YEON1sYUKmf5M9CSUKxYNlLmGK4cPXZSM5IDaVjfMVoFd4pDdm4-0E6lbEc9KyfJf6dZTMaCamZPjvAhrlos3vsRzHD52DvRTvH0fzbii6IkePPbXXySOE4jIk_n3WDTO5mvx6lTxG89pYnxuF0m70ltgqGdhJs9NlvVn3E/w640-h360/Lakshya%20Sen%20in%20action.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lakshya Sen in action</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lakshya Sen is currently
ranked 17th in the Olympic Games qualification rankings and needs to stay
inside the top 16 by April-end to make it to the Paris Games. Lakshya Sen is
aware that his Olympic qualification is still in choppy waters but said he has
been working on his "variations" and "deceptions" during
the off-season to regain his world's top-10 position and seal his Paris Games
berth.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 22-year-old from
Almora is currently ranked 17th in the Olympic Games qualification rankings and
needs to stay inside the top 16 by April-end to make it to the Paris Games. To
secure the spot I still have to work a little more harder in terms of getting
good results, and once that is done, the qualification won't be an issue,"
Sen told PTI during an interview ahead of his departure to Kuala Lumpur on
Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"For me, right now
the main concern is to go deep into the tournament in the next few months until
April and then ranking will follow. As of now, we are not in a comfortable
stage in the qualification ranking.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I would like to
improve my ranking and come in the top-10 by the end of
qualification."Commonwealth Games champion Sen claimed the Canada Open
Super 500 title in July, besides three semifinal finishes at the Thailand Open
Super 500, US Open Super 300 and Japan Open Super 750 last season.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, Sen also made
11 first-round exits, including the last seven events, in the season which
ended with a loss in the Senior National Championships in December.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Despite the rough waters
and high tides, the former world No. 6 has not allowed it to dampen his spirits
and has worked on the "variation of his attack" during the last few
weeks to regain his form in the new season.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I was not at my
best, I was trying to fight every game but somehow I couldn't find that
momentum. I really can't pinpoint one aspect. I mean, physical aspect would be
one but there are few other on-court things," Sen said."I played a
lot of tournaments in 2023, I didn't get time to prepare well or work hard on
fitness. Last six weeks I have had time to train. So my fitness level has
improved, last few weeks I have been focusing on on-court training, gradually
increasing the intensity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I worked on some
specific things like playing more sharper strokes from the backcourt, being
confident enough to keep the shuttle in play."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The next three weeks
will be crucial for Sen as he competes at the Malaysia Open Super 1000, India
Open Super 750 and Indonesia Open Super 500.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sen admits he had lost
the sting in his attack and has not been able to sustain his aggressive game in
three games as opponents started reading his game."Yes, I mean, when you
play higher-ranked players, the opponents start reading your game and they
don't allow you to attack like before," said the 2022 All England
finalist, who will open his campaign at the Malaysia Open against China's Weng
Hongyang.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"When you play
those many matches and there are so many videos, people tend to read your
favourite shots which I use when I am in good position. So people are ready for
my game.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"So, I have been
working and have to keep working on the variation aspect of my attack, have to
keep them guessing, use a bit more deception. It is a matter of constant
learning for me.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I feel more
confident now. With all that I have done in the last few weeks, I am hoping it
will help me in the next 2-3 months, especially physical fitness the work that
I have put in."Sen will have his mentor Vimal Kumar to guide him in the
Asia leg as he will be travelling with him for the next three tournaments. He
will also have his elder brother Chirag Sen, who recently won the Senior
National championships.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Lakshya needs
to be unpredictable": DK Sen</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Badminton coach DK Sen,
who is also Lakshya's father, feels his son needs to have an element of
unpredictability in his game, and that will come with more variation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"International
badminton is extremely competitive, matches are very close and the difference
between players is by inches.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"So, I feel he
needs to mix it up by playing more slices, attacking tosses and slow drops. He
needs to be unpredictable, there has to be a surprise element in his
game."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Top-seeded
Sabalenka beats Azarenka to set up a Brisbane final against Rybakina<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZ2VrSlFY23CXDfH8i9oZw3AxL20MHCT2HmaEMcYHoEbwBCtEk3NaQww2LojjezqzME7hFoRMftOM_gnX73AUHkerC-Jqh5HoCoST2hN3CXKPEKeBw52rbdIo4idRwgavanqzssmPtwiFx5QKXsa0OXd1ZGdmshXHzwyMmNyQmhK15KTy_tde2WzspSg/s549/Aryna%20Sabalenka%20of%20Belarus%20gestures%20after%20winning%20her%20semi-final%20match%20against%20Victoria%20Azarenka.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZ2VrSlFY23CXDfH8i9oZw3AxL20MHCT2HmaEMcYHoEbwBCtEk3NaQww2LojjezqzME7hFoRMftOM_gnX73AUHkerC-Jqh5HoCoST2hN3CXKPEKeBw52rbdIo4idRwgavanqzssmPtwiFx5QKXsa0OXd1ZGdmshXHzwyMmNyQmhK15KTy_tde2WzspSg/w640-h360/Aryna%20Sabalenka%20of%20Belarus%20gestures%20after%20winning%20her%20semi-final%20match%20against%20Victoria%20Azarenka.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus gestures after winning her semi-final match against Victoria Azarenka</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The win extended
Sabalenka’s streak to 15 in Australia, including a title run in Adelaide to
start 2023 before her Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park Aryna Sabalenka
overpowered two-time champion Victoria Azarenka in a 6-2, 6-4 win Saturday that
earned her a spot in the Brisbane International final against Elena Rybakina, a
rematch of last year’s Australian Open championship decider.The win extended
top-seeded Sabalenka’s streak to 15 on Australian soil, including a title run
in Adelaide to start 2023 before her Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park
and has given her momentum for the year's first major.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Her 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win in
the Australian Open final last January was the highlight of Sabalenka’s five
wins over Rybakina in their seven career meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sabalenka fired 10 aces
and hit 35 winners against Azarenka, who won back-to-back Australian Open
titles in 2012 and '13 and is also a two-time champion in Brisbane.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She broke her
34-year-old compatriot's serve three times and saved all three break points she
faced.Azarenka appeared to hurt her right knee in her last service game, but
continued the match.She played amazing tennis, like the whole week, especially
tonight,” Sabalenka said. “I really hope that she’s OK and she’ll be ready for
Melbourne. I wish her a speedy recovery.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sunday's final will be
the first to feature the top two seeds in Brisbane since 2015, when No. 1 Maria
Sharapova held off No. 2 Ana Ivanovic in three sets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rybakina, the 2022
Wimbledon champion, had 26 winners and committed just 10 unforced errors as she
advanced 6-3, 6-2 over 19-year-old Linda Noskova.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She has conceded just 12
games across four straight-set wins and spent less than four hours on court in
the key tune-up event for the Australian Open, which starts Jan. 14.The men's
final could also feature the top two seeds. No. 1 Holger Rune advanced with a
6-4, 7-6 (0) win over Roman Safiullin.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The No. 8-ranked Rune
will be aiming for a fifth title on the ATP tour when he faces either
second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov or Jordan Thompson on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It’s exactly how I
wanted it to be, to get the most amount of matches as possible,” Rune said of
his run in Brisbane. “It’s a great challenge tomorrow to try to see where I’m
at when it really matters."Since opening with a tough win over Andy
Murray, 2017 champion Dimitrov has only conceded eight games.Thompson produced
the biggest upset of the tournament when he saved three match points and
rallied to beat 22-time major winner Rafael Nadal in an almost 3 1/2-hour
quarterfinal on Friday night.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Iga Swiatek and
Hubert Hurkacz lead Poland into United Cup mixed teams tennis final<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiipe9B9NHms6VazDcUgl4194EhQ9DO3skfwq8G1HQsqIwMP3lvZt-H3DoJWJMxvx9HQlqUty3gZgRqTzhMfq7ei33X_TWW0Q63ZigkQcPvPB9kiR0NbWppQRYNDdI1-riWfp87bDI0QcL-Ag2d2ncv_-OMDOro7ruHYuulOMgapsY95vpkifGnWGZe24/s549/Poland's%20Iga%20Swiatek,%20right,%20celebrates%20with%20her%20teammates%20after%20defeating%20Caroline%20Garcia%20of%20France%20in%20their%20United%20Cup%20semifinal%20tennis%20match%20in%20Sydney,%20Australia,%20Saturday.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiipe9B9NHms6VazDcUgl4194EhQ9DO3skfwq8G1HQsqIwMP3lvZt-H3DoJWJMxvx9HQlqUty3gZgRqTzhMfq7ei33X_TWW0Q63ZigkQcPvPB9kiR0NbWppQRYNDdI1-riWfp87bDI0QcL-Ag2d2ncv_-OMDOro7ruHYuulOMgapsY95vpkifGnWGZe24/w640-h360/Poland's%20Iga%20Swiatek,%20right,%20celebrates%20with%20her%20teammates%20after%20defeating%20Caroline%20Garcia%20of%20France%20in%20their%20United%20Cup%20semifinal%20tennis%20match%20in%20Sydney,%20Australia,%20Saturday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poland's Iga Swiatek, right, celebrates with her teammates after defeating Caroline Garcia of France in their United Cup semifinal tennis match in Sydney, Australia, Saturday</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Australia play Germany
in the other semifinal later Saturday, with the winner to face Poland in
Sunday’s final, also at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena. No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek
won her singles match Saturday after Hubert Hurkacz gave her team the early
lead over France to advance Poland to the United Cup mixed teams final. Swiatek
won 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 over Caroline Garcia while ATP No. 9-ranked Hurkacz’s 6-3,
7-5 defeat of Adrian Mannarino gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead. For good
measure, Poland later won the mixed doubles for a final 3-0 score line.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Australia plays Germany
in the other semifinal later Saturday, with the winner to face Poland in
Sunday’s final, also at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Swiatek said she need to
make a “big adjustment” after her opening-set loss to Garcia.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I was making bad
decisions and I needed to be more composed," Swiatek said. "After the
break after the first set I came back more focused, so I’m pretty proud of
myself.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hurkacz won 31 of 36
points on his first serve and had 15 aces. “He’s really difficult to play
against; I was just fighting for every point and I was able stay positive and
was really resilient today,” Hurkacz said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Top-seeded Poland lost
just one match in the group stage of the tournament in Perth before beating
China 3-0 to reach the final four for the second straight year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the Australia-Germany
semifinal, Ajla Tomljanovic is scheduled to lead the tie off for the hosts against
Angelique Kerber before Alex de Minaur takes on Germany's Alexander Zverev.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mixed doubles will see
the Australian team of Storm Hunter and Matt Ebden take on Laura Siegemund and
Maximilian Marterer of Germany, although late changes can be made.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Rybakina will
play the winner of an all-Belarusian clash between top seed Sabalenka and
former world number one Victoria Azarenka.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRE1Zn54nr0QEfehdmU6iKoqH9c6DCtFB2jhseodNYlaL00C3pISeQIbgDZMPnhQJyBsYsPK2ImHc7QZSLr9wMc_D8k8Si-4Gcb67SbJhyphenhyphen_JWzEzMkNMNnFaOk2i94IragnuLjIZFMEdiYdNUhjLEo1H7KVk3lwIWTLLia46PUGZwzKs2c0K2CG-Qul4/s549/Kazakhstan's%20Elena%20Rybakina%20celebrates%20wining%20her%20women's%20singles%20semi-final%20match%20against%20Czech%20Republic's%20Linda%20Noskova%20at%20the%20Brisbane%20International%20tennis%20tournament%20in%20Brisbane%20on%20January.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRE1Zn54nr0QEfehdmU6iKoqH9c6DCtFB2jhseodNYlaL00C3pISeQIbgDZMPnhQJyBsYsPK2ImHc7QZSLr9wMc_D8k8Si-4Gcb67SbJhyphenhyphen_JWzEzMkNMNnFaOk2i94IragnuLjIZFMEdiYdNUhjLEo1H7KVk3lwIWTLLia46PUGZwzKs2c0K2CG-Qul4/w640-h360/Kazakhstan's%20Elena%20Rybakina%20celebrates%20wining%20her%20women's%20singles%20semi-final%20match%20against%20Czech%20Republic's%20Linda%20Noskova%20at%20the%20Brisbane%20International%20tennis%20tournament%20in%20Brisbane%20on%20January.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina celebrates wining her women's singles semi-final match against Czech Republic's Linda Noskova at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">World number four Elena
Rybakina put on a serving masterclass as she stormed into the final of the
Brisbane International with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Linda Noskova Saturday.The
Russian-born Kazakh blasted eight aces past the Czech teenager on her way to
the 63-minute win, breaking her opponent once in the first set and twice in the
second.Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022, has only lost 12 games on the way
to the final and is yet to drop serve in a perfect build up to the Australian
Open, where was runner-up last year to Aryna Sabalenka.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I didn't expect I
would play that well this week," said the second seed, adding that she had
been sick before arriving in Brisbane. "It's an amazing start to the year
for me."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She made 75 percent of
her first serves against Noskova, hitting 26 winners and making only 10
unforced errors to reach her 15th final on the WTA Tour. She will play the winner
of an all-Belarusian clash between top seed Sabalenka and former world number
one Victoria Azarenka.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Dipa wins
all-around national title on return, eyes Paris berth this year<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuKMfjBZZ6bhX4HZ93g5UXnEtVFHOCeST2nNBAM8bcKG65Rp2z67uP8kOVaaupYLSU8XilIl43aNb1EHMQezlJu8y1FMm7bjC3ra5MZ8H7C2Y30oPHKr1So5WuHuEx_lDQfIgWPNUGmzYLAOg82uR3HqsFBZtqHagcdUso2kkCQd2V1ijWQhRLBLbAwg/s549/Dipa%20Karmakar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuKMfjBZZ6bhX4HZ93g5UXnEtVFHOCeST2nNBAM8bcKG65Rp2z67uP8kOVaaupYLSU8XilIl43aNb1EHMQezlJu8y1FMm7bjC3ra5MZ8H7C2Y30oPHKr1So5WuHuEx_lDQfIgWPNUGmzYLAOg82uR3HqsFBZtqHagcdUso2kkCQd2V1ijWQhRLBLbAwg/w640-h360/Dipa%20Karmakar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dipa Karmakar</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To make a comeback after
two surgeries was difficult, says star gymnast<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ravaged by injuries,
Dipa Karmakar has been through tough times when she found even a typical
gymnastic routine difficult to execute. The national title on Friday,
therefore, came as an encouraging sign as she looks to resurrect her career and
qualify for the Paris Olympics. With a broad smile on her face, Dipa stood on
the podium at the Kalinga Stadium, in Bhubaneswar. "I am delighted. I was
competing in the national championships after eight years and to win the
all-around title was fantastic," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dipa won the individual
all-round competition with a score of 49.55. Pranati Das came second (47.00)
and Swastika Ganguly finished third (45.30). In the vault and uneven bar
apparatus, Dipa finished with silver medals. In vault, Pranati Nayak (13.067),
who was India's sole representative at the Asian Games, beat Dipa (12.584) for
the gold medal. In uneven bars, Dipa tallied 10.433. "I was looking for
some exposure since I have not competed in a long time. I did not train much
but the idea was to execute the routines which I have been doing with ease in
practice during the competition. I am happy that I was able to do that,"
said the 29-year-old. She has her eyes set on the World Cup series and Asian
Championships where she will be up for a Paris Olympics quota. "It's just
the start of the year and I want to compete in the Asian Championships and
World Cup and see if I can qualify for Paris."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I am happy that I
was able to perform the routines without difficulty. Even to reach this level
was very difficult after two surgeries (knee). I was not sure whether I would
be able to do such routines again. I have put so much hard work with my coach
to be able to just start competing again."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Last year, Dipa topped
the selection trials for the Asian Games but was dropped from the Hangzhou team
because she did not fulfil the criteria set by the Sports Ministry. She has put
the episode behind her now. "I will be able to judge myself better only
after competing at the international level. I have to increase the difficulty
level of my routines and that's going to be my target in training in the next
few months."After a sensational fourth-place finish at the Rio Olympics,
Dipa has struggled with injuries. Her next best performance was a gold and
bronze medal in the World Cup circuit in 2018 before knee and ankle injuries
cut short her chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dipa's coach BS Nandi
said they were not sure of participating at the National Championships until a
month ago.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We started
training a few weeks back in Agartala. We first thought of participating in two
apparatus but Dipa felt confident going into the competition and said 'let me
try it out.' So, it was a good sign the way she performed and handled the
pressure. Vaulting is her forte and we will increase her level before
international competitions."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYpyZ4EzJeN6698pdjZ6G8Uc-bR6GDvll0hSRyf0m1xwCmUgXrl_gRtV8zJWse2lfHsnOWxfQvAqWRbNMr6UMTVd1OHgGy-ntacSbHVrSgiYerTsXxzYfeafmJQIYT0DQUONDIFZbrjbwZg3aQ5e2mmj5C6Uk32Y-WxbWygqy909RCj8FpuVhJIRB4PA/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYpyZ4EzJeN6698pdjZ6G8Uc-bR6GDvll0hSRyf0m1xwCmUgXrl_gRtV8zJWse2lfHsnOWxfQvAqWRbNMr6UMTVd1OHgGy-ntacSbHVrSgiYerTsXxzYfeafmJQIYT0DQUONDIFZbrjbwZg3aQ5e2mmj5C6Uk32Y-WxbWygqy909RCj8FpuVhJIRB4PA/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Night Swim</span></u></b><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS89n9kE-sPmWzC5sZWtzxeg4UZUXh7LXm_Bqwk4AwqDPgkFPCQGZZJZKI7lwmO6NT05-JkQGYh4PEWjHlsaRKNv-C4KhLI4Ilv9oOXeKWwY5RWgj8vQqa-2m9IB8RhiTxP3AksuDJfwSIvYYQG2JJczhpzRZonxNSqsBQqiFPFv_1wlBQ-Y94HuCP9yo/s1280/M1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS89n9kE-sPmWzC5sZWtzxeg4UZUXh7LXm_Bqwk4AwqDPgkFPCQGZZJZKI7lwmO6NT05-JkQGYh4PEWjHlsaRKNv-C4KhLI4Ilv9oOXeKWwY5RWgj8vQqa-2m9IB8RhiTxP3AksuDJfwSIvYYQG2JJczhpzRZonxNSqsBQqiFPFv_1wlBQ-Y94HuCP9yo/w640-h360/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Night Swim is an
upcoming American horror movie, written and directed by Bryce McGuire. The
movie is based on the short film released in 2014 with the same name by McGuire
and Rod Blackhurst. The movie features Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amélie
Hoeferle, and Gavin Warren. The running time of the movie is 98 minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release date: January 5,
2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Where to watch: Peacock<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Meg 2 - The Trench<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzg22CdyMyA9uRcfNC7ROYgm-2KmraEV1T1LBikOTKdszMDrvi-w7gOw424ltbzyRF26RB1uYJVmtWyCDPF3-mLlN8hAiiIngaCa07YU9-HfjXsyfJo9lQr1CTVbWbEHAPULzTDOTtEXLm2Pu9Bs7UEXCmNvj4L6i0UNpHizeqXn8lp4PMQe1RIz-oyas/s1217/M2.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="1217" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzg22CdyMyA9uRcfNC7ROYgm-2KmraEV1T1LBikOTKdszMDrvi-w7gOw424ltbzyRF26RB1uYJVmtWyCDPF3-mLlN8hAiiIngaCa07YU9-HfjXsyfJo9lQr1CTVbWbEHAPULzTDOTtEXLm2Pu9Bs7UEXCmNvj4L6i0UNpHizeqXn8lp4PMQe1RIz-oyas/w640-h260/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In Meg 2: The Trench,
Jason Statham plays rescue diver Jonas Taylor again after the hit 2018 movie
The Meg. The thrilling sequel, which will debut on Jio Cinema this week,
follows a team of researchers as they battle enormous prehistoric sharks and
ruthless environmental thieves. It was released on January 3, 2024, on Jio
Cinema.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hi Nanna<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDDazzU0KqBTxrQG4SjI-Cd-OChVZXStf-NVMBEj8vFmGmR2QKxUPy0sPWHqtXErGVGw9V-mdK1KiVtnyZPABAC2LsWHD0OcluIO5U6rmOKmFMf5RtoS2-kdsbEUSBPx7sQ6Zd14aY19-rcvIpHcb_HzmNZOZWsr1AB81d5dG2BPc8c5eioj07QNkdoQ/s1280/M3.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDDazzU0KqBTxrQG4SjI-Cd-OChVZXStf-NVMBEj8vFmGmR2QKxUPy0sPWHqtXErGVGw9V-mdK1KiVtnyZPABAC2LsWHD0OcluIO5U6rmOKmFMf5RtoS2-kdsbEUSBPx7sQ6Zd14aY19-rcvIpHcb_HzmNZOZWsr1AB81d5dG2BPc8c5eioj07QNkdoQ/w640-h320/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Starring Nani and Mrunal
Thakur This week, Netflix released the Telugu movie Hi Nanna on January 4,
2024, on Netflix. A touching tale about a single father's life centres on how
they meet Varsha (Mrunal Thakur), who prevents his daughter, age six, from
dying in a car crash.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tejas<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8vz_a5C3Rryc60kE5RTRnB2_OURFAp4ED5VBHB5EPhOuK13a5DnzNnVYEXt4_oTaUnp5RHteDAQhJez8BRkpwwWgUuBAqLktZLIVP9mfsUsuv48livlZ4Fj3L3WB6onFMBQKkRPLFdkxhlWW4HsaMl8Pxq6lx1WCSxCdZTJNdRb3hSnNIT1NVeRxHt4/s1280/M4.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8vz_a5C3Rryc60kE5RTRnB2_OURFAp4ED5VBHB5EPhOuK13a5DnzNnVYEXt4_oTaUnp5RHteDAQhJez8BRkpwwWgUuBAqLktZLIVP9mfsUsuv48livlZ4Fj3L3WB6onFMBQKkRPLFdkxhlWW4HsaMl8Pxq6lx1WCSxCdZTJNdRb3hSnNIT1NVeRxHt4/w640-h320/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This week, the OTT
behemoth ZEE5 has also released Sarvesh Mewara's Tejas, which stars actress
Kangana Ranaut in the lead role. Tejas Gill, an Indian Air Force pilot, embarks
on a perilous mission to free hostages held by terrorists in Pakistan; this is
the storyline of the film. Actors like Anshul Chauhan and Ashish Vidyarthi
co-star with Kangana in the supporting roles. It has been released today, 5
January 2024, on Zee5.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Society of the Snow<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TRBJai8WnuunCOJ-FxcuvYpRzJd396mulPizBTokjZ6fGZ98eJVe5c1yUk9mvCb38AwdwaBg3OR3_aDiqpSScVJv07kjNHNUYj8CVu-0PbPjVdQ3gL-ndehBa780rcjLDl3xpgrX8CQZQoTnX_LZLi7hZnL34h0p-yQdm_g6BsNzpFJ3kO7TY4KpcYE/s1200/M5.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TRBJai8WnuunCOJ-FxcuvYpRzJd396mulPizBTokjZ6fGZ98eJVe5c1yUk9mvCb38AwdwaBg3OR3_aDiqpSScVJv07kjNHNUYj8CVu-0PbPjVdQ3gL-ndehBa780rcjLDl3xpgrX8CQZQoTnX_LZLi7hZnL34h0p-yQdm_g6BsNzpFJ3kO7TY4KpcYE/w640-h360/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Spanish film Society
of the Snow by JA Bayona is based on the true story of Uruguayan Flight 571,
which crashed in the Andes mountains in 1972. It tells the true story of the
survivors stranded in the snow-covered mountains with little supplies and
deteriorating weather. Notably, the movie has already made it to the shortlist
for Best International Feature Film and is Spain's official Oscar submission.
The movie has been released on 4 January 2024 on Netflix.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7DFC6TiZYMed5S-Wg6bbeQJexcPXTj_A85ZN1S-iAbQ7J7kJ8y4rhXDQucDOAGigwaOTzty7GKrxHg4xCMudZfUMkbHGZcz5balzNSU8Sr2NyF8Phx3dAdiXb9PK8_1wCsUmiFC2wNyHRwlrAi9MNv5uapO5S2GLG16L3SC9kCSErwWQXFldt0ITJqc/s1500/BOOKF.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1127" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7DFC6TiZYMed5S-Wg6bbeQJexcPXTj_A85ZN1S-iAbQ7J7kJ8y4rhXDQucDOAGigwaOTzty7GKrxHg4xCMudZfUMkbHGZcz5balzNSU8Sr2NyF8Phx3dAdiXb9PK8_1wCsUmiFC2wNyHRwlrAi9MNv5uapO5S2GLG16L3SC9kCSErwWQXFldt0ITJqc/s320/BOOKF.jpg" width="240" /></a></u></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabuRBKNRnKGgETIcIJr7epK8kWptHhDOc14y9ebNgWUMlqJgoUyw4jw4MpdzbYle3uYcGHcLpuXmOlBROZ0FTPZ9q5ULfgnXTr5JuQPhasA5t4xCPKIY59fJdPo3G8ntikUXP9Jr4J5uMdXPX_yz53H2P9kBokahIXo-fQqQOZGC0bO2KpuGlXj2bSEM/s1500/BOOKB.jpg" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="972" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabuRBKNRnKGgETIcIJr7epK8kWptHhDOc14y9ebNgWUMlqJgoUyw4jw4MpdzbYle3uYcGHcLpuXmOlBROZ0FTPZ9q5ULfgnXTr5JuQPhasA5t4xCPKIY59fJdPo3G8ntikUXP9Jr4J5uMdXPX_yz53H2P9kBokahIXo-fQqQOZGC0bO2KpuGlXj2bSEM/s320/BOOKB.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Mind Traveller
- Warrior of Shaka by Viveck Rai Marwah (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Young Sankalp’s family
is brutally murdered by a band of soldiers led by Darqan Doodra, a renegade
general feared across the kingdom of Lhasa. He is barely able to escape with
his life. Seeking refuge in the mountains surrounding his once idyllic village,
he stumbles upon a wondrous cave where he meets Kalimpong, the fabled monk
possessed of great powers and learning. Struck by what he senses within
Sankalp, the monk takes him as his disciple.Thus begins the young boy’s
incredible journey. Guided by Kalimpong, he overcomes his pain and anger and
seeks to understand why fate dealt him such a terrible blow.With his mind
awakened to a higher perception, he is able to go beyond the limitations of the
physical self, to become a ‘mind-traveller’, crossing to a dimension beyond the
known laws of the universe. Sankalp the warrior monk must now chart his course
to the glorious city of Lhasa, to a court rife with treachery, conspiracy and
rumour. Although his chosen path is fraught with danger, Sankalp knows he must
fight, both for the sake of his people and for the peace of his soul.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Viveck Rai Marwah<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPq2-vf4fD2cFDQ2Gp3NeOiFMYuSTjRIDYEhueDT5rXA_e5NTLnYP2E-hqZxcPilKHkgz4aqvkiQxs3EU2y_gndYbk_jkSI4H_CEFynOQgvBO5v9zjXvaJFrJPGilRs5ijqGX74MHSYR8RlfddDJQqWMKmAczw-4hatrvAbbPg3QSGDKWPZDw5KUzho9U/s480/AUTHOR.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPq2-vf4fD2cFDQ2Gp3NeOiFMYuSTjRIDYEhueDT5rXA_e5NTLnYP2E-hqZxcPilKHkgz4aqvkiQxs3EU2y_gndYbk_jkSI4H_CEFynOQgvBO5v9zjXvaJFrJPGilRs5ijqGX74MHSYR8RlfddDJQqWMKmAczw-4hatrvAbbPg3QSGDKWPZDw5KUzho9U/w640-h480/AUTHOR.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> was born in Delhi and has a degree in business
management. Inspired by his proclivity for spiritual and philosophical
discourses, his first book, A Passage Through Life: A Saga of Life, Death and
Beyond, was published in 2004. He has personally encountered many mystics in
the last fifteen years on regular journeys to the lower Himalayas. His keen
interest in philosophy, religion, and mysticism took him to Tibet and other
regions in north-east India where Buddhist philosophy is still alive in
ordinary life. An avid theosophist,Viveck’s journeys to such areas have helped
him develop a better understanding of ancient Kangyur texts, rendering him
deeply influenced by Buddhist culture and theology. His current work, a fable,
is a culmination of all that he has seen, learnt, and encountered thus far.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><u><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-52813128370987857722024-01-02T23:51:00.001+09:002024-01-04T13:35:03.139+09:00LORD SHIVA THE DESTROYER : LORD SHIVA DESTROY ALL LIVING ORGANISM OF MOTHER EARTH MANY TIMES TO SECURE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR MORE ADVANCE ORGANISM: LIKE COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF DINOSAURS 65 MILLIONS YEARS AGO TRIGGER THE SPEED OF HUMAN EVOLUTION<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizV3wRJjLQ6k8ddpcy1sYE4pXWz_6kWq-SNOMF4RN0D_ht9tXUaAi9aXm-RRTJN9JT1fH-qimtRW8D0wzV7xs9rDnebl-tEdG4Nw0NeYYHJOGHsWiSLwsyM5kqwmp4uERnfCnJcYiyvQscTJSkI44r8cqWJittYBGqquP-WF2ONj9sGKLlN3HYOhyphenhyphen4lY/s800/SHIVA-DESTROYERGIF.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizV3wRJjLQ6k8ddpcy1sYE4pXWz_6kWq-SNOMF4RN0D_ht9tXUaAi9aXm-RRTJN9JT1fH-qimtRW8D0wzV7xs9rDnebl-tEdG4Nw0NeYYHJOGHsWiSLwsyM5kqwmp4uERnfCnJcYiyvQscTJSkI44r8cqWJittYBGqquP-WF2ONj9sGKLlN3HYOhyphenhyphen4lY/w640-h480/SHIVA-DESTROYERGIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvhitiRzy5Z4yAqaX9zkpYn79mGGXNgDdnjyUdJPWRcorf8WS75EUHUW6Iym-3bzX9hvrf8l0KPGejBZ3KomJOB8Vm1_BHyYmb8QY9K__JKWSfQP-5ozobVZAJRjR5OwLPWlzicPPXDIOlQ5pznfX-EV2tJ3siQE2qtaijfDX8cctewD6A-CcWXo3uAs/s800/shiva-destroyerg0006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvhitiRzy5Z4yAqaX9zkpYn79mGGXNgDdnjyUdJPWRcorf8WS75EUHUW6Iym-3bzX9hvrf8l0KPGejBZ3KomJOB8Vm1_BHyYmb8QY9K__JKWSfQP-5ozobVZAJRjR5OwLPWlzicPPXDIOlQ5pznfX-EV2tJ3siQE2qtaijfDX8cctewD6A-CcWXo3uAs/w640-h480/shiva-destroyerg0006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD SHIVA APPEAR WITH HIS TRISHUL</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBLIqk_PxxdvvsAEvTHICOw_Z0ifkCXuFcEpiCv1vJu0bMSYYtVu0t-_oW3ZW0p_erI2miblXVg1C-vYfF7RiqQp662AqS7tSLIudGt9MeaNv0DmkLIJ_s1JdWDQzyNjhdI8ibNYnLt89A5IB8pvipMQtRLTbDMB8LYy4ubVLhrGvz4ObeEw0NMbjW-U/s800/shiva-destroyerg0048.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBLIqk_PxxdvvsAEvTHICOw_Z0ifkCXuFcEpiCv1vJu0bMSYYtVu0t-_oW3ZW0p_erI2miblXVg1C-vYfF7RiqQp662AqS7tSLIudGt9MeaNv0DmkLIJ_s1JdWDQzyNjhdI8ibNYnLt89A5IB8pvipMQtRLTbDMB8LYy4ubVLhrGvz4ObeEw0NMbjW-U/w640-h480/shiva-destroyerg0048.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD SHIVA WITH HIS TRISHUL</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcLQv62CQRFGEfGZPwdoO0l54F7F9f9d1X1xT9hXkGhdqA6Berxprspe_j7sEtQp8BJw2sOM3o7jMWBVk2nCL4ESRDOoBkYfeI6UsEimdvm_yn2Zzkj5Ddv6fEu5jObQMDFY1dq_ZYYwuXNKjdCkkpT8i9jMXxJbEhZh6Enz1Sf1GJ5Rz2ws8_zb6pMY/s800/shiva-destroyerg0060.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcLQv62CQRFGEfGZPwdoO0l54F7F9f9d1X1xT9hXkGhdqA6Berxprspe_j7sEtQp8BJw2sOM3o7jMWBVk2nCL4ESRDOoBkYfeI6UsEimdvm_yn2Zzkj5Ddv6fEu5jObQMDFY1dq_ZYYwuXNKjdCkkpT8i9jMXxJbEhZh6Enz1Sf1GJ5Rz2ws8_zb6pMY/w640-h480/shiva-destroyerg0060.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD SHIVA WITH HIS SACRED COW NANDY</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8IsnKuf_PghBKutkEl85fKiszLNsTWeZRL1glW1WyPZkyLHmQksIfFupe4sGIGgiWSEUxdInXVJR8oGTOrfNbiz01Eu0njHaKN5PVjd5VHHBpyoqw-9BsDMyqtxgSqFyi6Q53TxyaGrJsZFIi_KITLwn9v9tn1157gvAauXPvKYacovrbS3wT5_-jTQ/s800/shiva-destroyerg0078.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8IsnKuf_PghBKutkEl85fKiszLNsTWeZRL1glW1WyPZkyLHmQksIfFupe4sGIGgiWSEUxdInXVJR8oGTOrfNbiz01Eu0njHaKN5PVjd5VHHBpyoqw-9BsDMyqtxgSqFyi6Q53TxyaGrJsZFIi_KITLwn9v9tn1157gvAauXPvKYacovrbS3wT5_-jTQ/w640-h480/shiva-destroyerg0078.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD SHIVA STARTED HIS TANDAV DANCE DURING COMET CRASHED ON TO MOTHER EARTH</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofWUDAu-XVuPzZGhtm_jiyX3A8XtgWauDswmU1O_AI5zZRDCpAEv4QwB6Id50mB37Ch57TmjRGSenkGq9Tco0-wuLhBGTJeTJQQLVj8C345cdqNpFeR7xnG6UufXkA5PSTc5Ie7LCtTrgwUJysxISVM2AwPh8h-6fK6XSEU32FCB5LIVUDhuV5SYFnfM/s800/shiva-destroyerg0099.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofWUDAu-XVuPzZGhtm_jiyX3A8XtgWauDswmU1O_AI5zZRDCpAEv4QwB6Id50mB37Ch57TmjRGSenkGq9Tco0-wuLhBGTJeTJQQLVj8C345cdqNpFeR7xnG6UufXkA5PSTc5Ie7LCtTrgwUJysxISVM2AwPh8h-6fK6XSEU32FCB5LIVUDhuV5SYFnfM/w640-h480/shiva-destroyerg0099.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD SHIVA STARTED HIS TANDAV DANCE DURING COMET CRASHED ON TO MOTHER EARTH</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGnA9f41_kr75OjeY-sOCXoYAh6RduwA3cIxEXvMSCFWkgTlNUjS4oXw8O4z5L9zE8NSMAn4G2Wc02IN7OzIbrMzlrALv7KEpkGmMR6joy7F9A_oGUq7wIF5Nyc9YXQN2IH3WVW5-6oJmhuzYJSR573Lm61wELNhSTryur_L9NHxB9s9lm3tiH5UVRKs/s800/shiva-destroyerg0141.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGnA9f41_kr75OjeY-sOCXoYAh6RduwA3cIxEXvMSCFWkgTlNUjS4oXw8O4z5L9zE8NSMAn4G2Wc02IN7OzIbrMzlrALv7KEpkGmMR6joy7F9A_oGUq7wIF5Nyc9YXQN2IH3WVW5-6oJmhuzYJSR573Lm61wELNhSTryur_L9NHxB9s9lm3tiH5UVRKs/w640-h480/shiva-destroyerg0141.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DINOSAURS STARTED RUN AWAY BY FEAR IMPENDING DOOM ON MOTHER EARTH BY THE COMET</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpA2Nw_7u5taDhrGUE3feoEe431w2bga8j0mb1CEN6KC0K77tW96bqPLksw-XQ4-RrR2tQ_gishuW1RrjRRk1hLRvAToQhoG5rmZGw9QFfpS74XXBBKrS1WuYA7Pkqg0QsU3Ro79H7Vc7gROeKBvsLOqAcNL6Uex5KX5wPjTn9hgbLrQL8mO2B2eXQbnw/s800/shiva-destroyerg0168.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpA2Nw_7u5taDhrGUE3feoEe431w2bga8j0mb1CEN6KC0K77tW96bqPLksw-XQ4-RrR2tQ_gishuW1RrjRRk1hLRvAToQhoG5rmZGw9QFfpS74XXBBKrS1WuYA7Pkqg0QsU3Ro79H7Vc7gROeKBvsLOqAcNL6Uex5KX5wPjTn9hgbLrQL8mO2B2eXQbnw/w640-h480/shiva-destroyerg0168.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DUE TO COMET COLLISION EARTH`S INTERNAL LAVA BURST OUT FROM THE EARTH CORE ,SMOKES COVER OUT THE EARTH ATMOSPHERE AND MOST OF THE DINOSAUR SPECIES CHOKED TO DEATH</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj86_78hUlD8GYvgJqefRdabNToHV6MzIEO7caFlckiuQEHdqNDhrFFnEC7lTVZChwol7Wj24aqU-ZC79XwYrqGVe5K8gGjQm-nqSKT7ZeZygwmuhCY8jhwPMJPx-O7XDveK5vAHiolvPGa3N8DfDCXk1r2AaGrPVfcsYunArLHGi3wkVLrVO8FJHvNLw/s800/shiva-destroyerg0180.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj86_78hUlD8GYvgJqefRdabNToHV6MzIEO7caFlckiuQEHdqNDhrFFnEC7lTVZChwol7Wj24aqU-ZC79XwYrqGVe5K8gGjQm-nqSKT7ZeZygwmuhCY8jhwPMJPx-O7XDveK5vAHiolvPGa3N8DfDCXk1r2AaGrPVfcsYunArLHGi3wkVLrVO8FJHvNLw/w640-h480/shiva-destroyerg0180.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DUE TO COMET COLLISION EARTH`S INTERNAL LAVA BURST OUT FROM THE EARTH CORE ,SMOKES COVER OUT THE EARTH ATMOSPHERE AND MOST OF THE DINOSAUR SPECIES CHOKED TO DEATH</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfS0X_yVh8ehIqaihh2Q48v1VEaYWPVdvtOaEPr-E4_vC-xge-yNA_30CHMCJKxzSspRIGRCxEY6wmTTRXiT6J9q7HGBFAa2onJWNLXANUvILAs_ZdOvrgwPMeQGwHLuSr1tKb4TulU0Lbf-j5zlc69ZHXxN1mUjOIKDy_A9KZ6GoIMAL3ei2mLxfDxtk/s800/shiva-destroyerg0198.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfS0X_yVh8ehIqaihh2Q48v1VEaYWPVdvtOaEPr-E4_vC-xge-yNA_30CHMCJKxzSspRIGRCxEY6wmTTRXiT6J9q7HGBFAa2onJWNLXANUvILAs_ZdOvrgwPMeQGwHLuSr1tKb4TulU0Lbf-j5zlc69ZHXxN1mUjOIKDy_A9KZ6GoIMAL3ei2mLxfDxtk/w640-h480/shiva-destroyerg0198.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DUE TO COMET COLLISION EARTH`S INTERNAL LAVA BURST OUT FROM THE EARTH CORE ,SMOKES COVER OUT THE EARTH ATMOSPHERE AND MOST OF THE DINOSAUR SPECIES CHOKED TO DEATH</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwGXcLSNTAD--NYDnEeBwFqirvKk8eU5dgzn3fb5nX4g1bI7Tzfg84cuflsQOXd2NMPzyLeKhPy5xNAQv5L4g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-7541931668552356682024-01-02T15:00:00.001+09:002024-01-02T15:27:27.489+09:00LORD VISHNU THE PRESERVER : LORD VISHNU RESCUED MOTHER EARTH FROM DROWNING IN THE SEA BY SLAYING BULL DEMON AND HUMAN RACE PROSPER ON EARTH WITHOUT FEAR (IN 3D ANIMATION)<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6ml3RugFGwCX5NKvJAY1BHOu-RvJmL3-N-qUxvzzChnu6P_Ue4pLumA-BfCOFOqVg6yMyOVoQTgTukuhcIC-njAeO-sai9SNhAERpmDfba8tgkbZVPIe3QV-Wm6hbjI1qqHgM8u09S8cKYUjvE305duQVaUYVfoq1iSYKXdwfBOYwKwYXxhk6cO_NRg/s800/VISHNU-ANIMATIONGIF.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6ml3RugFGwCX5NKvJAY1BHOu-RvJmL3-N-qUxvzzChnu6P_Ue4pLumA-BfCOFOqVg6yMyOVoQTgTukuhcIC-njAeO-sai9SNhAERpmDfba8tgkbZVPIe3QV-Wm6hbjI1qqHgM8u09S8cKYUjvE305duQVaUYVfoq1iSYKXdwfBOYwKwYXxhk6cO_NRg/w640-h480/VISHNU-ANIMATIONGIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVJod6wwTxJbOwxkn98XL57Qup6wJAiHosEHfrXpsAX_X4XMQlsrANcohIxX0BOKxDGNS9T0lKyI3yNgL_1i-2JH0kTCXW-ghwjoW1ZkPM2d-7ZrzllzfQ1DAj_s8I2YsBMjNVCcPAEswS5t8Cbt3bIPzm4Io4QSm8_4lN4duxz0bzCll3n9G5TrrZto/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0042.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVJod6wwTxJbOwxkn98XL57Qup6wJAiHosEHfrXpsAX_X4XMQlsrANcohIxX0BOKxDGNS9T0lKyI3yNgL_1i-2JH0kTCXW-ghwjoW1ZkPM2d-7ZrzllzfQ1DAj_s8I2YsBMjNVCcPAEswS5t8Cbt3bIPzm4Io4QSm8_4lN4duxz0bzCll3n9G5TrrZto/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0042.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD VISHNU APPEARING ON UNIVERSE WITH HIS GREAT SERPENT SHESHNAAG</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDtwil-r1BTKLjbWGQZP-Au3OFYcdnDziPHHzIOI_RBEKAsYrhBykF5EcSwGBxd9FVpvb9YAAN0rStRL46bDiFPczhn8ikjIcOjfDASl-RRZFgGVFXXGNgd8oa21m36MTGhZ_p9IhCRKoITNGDXEa4p69QwoFkrwxphzrnx382rw04wMYpD5HoWgEr5U/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0102.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDtwil-r1BTKLjbWGQZP-Au3OFYcdnDziPHHzIOI_RBEKAsYrhBykF5EcSwGBxd9FVpvb9YAAN0rStRL46bDiFPczhn8ikjIcOjfDASl-RRZFgGVFXXGNgd8oa21m36MTGhZ_p9IhCRKoITNGDXEa4p69QwoFkrwxphzrnx382rw04wMYpD5HoWgEr5U/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0102.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD VISHNU APPEARING ON UNIVERSE WITH HIS GREAT SERPENT SHESHNAAG</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPBZBQC8TDH5BDl86L_oH_kIpmWTlANF58yJuq8XH-AsBij8vZNYJWCZv9y8DpcrhhPcm8Xkt5pslyACBOwBglVLvRDeKxVf6yrOJy7NDHezDGNZk95qR3bz0m5gxXAS9I9MavHEq1sS79AGFj1GQ1-pdyGlZNfo1r4gXX6pZOHmSB-qJkKpif1899xE/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0147.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPBZBQC8TDH5BDl86L_oH_kIpmWTlANF58yJuq8XH-AsBij8vZNYJWCZv9y8DpcrhhPcm8Xkt5pslyACBOwBglVLvRDeKxVf6yrOJy7NDHezDGNZk95qR3bz0m5gxXAS9I9MavHEq1sS79AGFj1GQ1-pdyGlZNfo1r4gXX6pZOHmSB-qJkKpif1899xE/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0147.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BULL DEMON(WHO TAKEN CAPTIVE MOTHER EARTH UNDER THE OCEAN) APPEAR IN FRONT OF LORD VISHNU</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T-lpXlnGtZ2yCELn826bGye7xEK9lB3huReTuLVXTUsydInl96UmU2Q1EYGG7hafb-HrZ8xgSYXG1oGsIM61sMsEb-BERHlqGeizz2pshDKeZAZVoG57245HefgHNVqabXeea10hzIz3aby1rDGp9rNqsAT0F2ZFP9rc-zlRl9q7lHb1DfoIY1kLCHw/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0159.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T-lpXlnGtZ2yCELn826bGye7xEK9lB3huReTuLVXTUsydInl96UmU2Q1EYGG7hafb-HrZ8xgSYXG1oGsIM61sMsEb-BERHlqGeizz2pshDKeZAZVoG57245HefgHNVqabXeea10hzIz3aby1rDGp9rNqsAT0F2ZFP9rc-zlRl9q7lHb1DfoIY1kLCHw/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0159.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BULL DEAMON ATTACKED LORD VISHNU WITH HIS LARGE AXE AND LORD COUNTER IT WITH HIS MACE OR GADHA</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdR4rmiUSQ51OJU6iN4E_PCHbNpYPjYm-_nAjMxGZVRuwJdfvjnPBKly10FyM7kvF4ELz6nBxgp8N8ILy4GsvUWFgcHft5jmlXzjE5yw9rovfrjF3X_tgzdHmDDLKIi6HdiECRvBEBQOhN6Zea_3j9LBO0zK0MFJ6O8ECODosG_X_BpGLqU9xk5nacDKU/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0183.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdR4rmiUSQ51OJU6iN4E_PCHbNpYPjYm-_nAjMxGZVRuwJdfvjnPBKly10FyM7kvF4ELz6nBxgp8N8ILy4GsvUWFgcHft5jmlXzjE5yw9rovfrjF3X_tgzdHmDDLKIi6HdiECRvBEBQOhN6Zea_3j9LBO0zK0MFJ6O8ECODosG_X_BpGLqU9xk5nacDKU/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0183.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BULL DEAMON ATTACKED LORD VISHNU WITH HIS LARGE AXE AND LORD COUNTER IT WITH HIS MACE OR GADHA</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVdpns99FmYY57k-kS_5LYfb8dNNioDOznfHlXz0LY4ZiOGEvsWzSN7lnWXPe0cpVs8Xbhgdiod03HpWZJmaxjrJg7g8HfysJlAsc4Pk6CCXfYh1dSPTj0ANxY93ngEnCZyfCj1P1hSCk7Jl8td-Io5vzThplrx6WFyRDbnire-I2aGH9yOjJnrdIXMk/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0273.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVdpns99FmYY57k-kS_5LYfb8dNNioDOznfHlXz0LY4ZiOGEvsWzSN7lnWXPe0cpVs8Xbhgdiod03HpWZJmaxjrJg7g8HfysJlAsc4Pk6CCXfYh1dSPTj0ANxY93ngEnCZyfCj1P1hSCk7Jl8td-Io5vzThplrx6WFyRDbnire-I2aGH9yOjJnrdIXMk/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0273.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN LORD VISHNU ULTIMATELY RELEASE HIS SURDARSHAN CHAKRA TO SLAY DEMON BULL</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGi_rcpWoPoV6MeTgq8YKB09ccovznHDWlI3fRQ8zu4Ufn-p-e9P7qHibksfgVjSILGnHzS4YdQvGkoavS9FnRBMupM6ypgGPLVm7UDgbJKOwCpqRnlqS0P32am4GHN5oZN_D5TmMfzZC3VWD-CnMx7bv4D_ir8V1qhikqseF9p6GTqUlPlFUb0K3LzMU/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0297.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGi_rcpWoPoV6MeTgq8YKB09ccovznHDWlI3fRQ8zu4Ufn-p-e9P7qHibksfgVjSILGnHzS4YdQvGkoavS9FnRBMupM6ypgGPLVm7UDgbJKOwCpqRnlqS0P32am4GHN5oZN_D5TmMfzZC3VWD-CnMx7bv4D_ir8V1qhikqseF9p6GTqUlPlFUb0K3LzMU/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0297.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SUDARSHAN CHAKRA CUT DEMON BULL`S HEAD </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86jy1kZjXuIx4SyejOX2I6h3Mw6qFQ4ZtjCxtcZ7GNONKIoOOVCabuS5WFPtGAJToBng4CL0n0PbfRsSRrem7A22nYaJweSIOD-A9wtin40xrTZ3DxXYbbK0EsorxXF9bWLjXqUEBDVt5EJ1yPEpgV3VMOH2hiWVDbwupMZiAQA7tUsAXFkPMnU5eno4/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0372.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86jy1kZjXuIx4SyejOX2I6h3Mw6qFQ4ZtjCxtcZ7GNONKIoOOVCabuS5WFPtGAJToBng4CL0n0PbfRsSRrem7A22nYaJweSIOD-A9wtin40xrTZ3DxXYbbK0EsorxXF9bWLjXqUEBDVt5EJ1yPEpgV3VMOH2hiWVDbwupMZiAQA7tUsAXFkPMnU5eno4/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0372.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DEAD BODY OF DEMON BULL FALL IN THE OCEAN</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN23RyvVN7PINCHTJ_xzjZzyVKRQp7HeEF2Z4ZQqBv4V-u4UmbNGH_J5JBbMLYui4Z9jqWZmYeNaoiKhk8W1Pzfzk2FvC4MCZ5RaEVI1OTlSY0g_rpEIApScDC9WMXBfrVXM0UuvDnYHdRHAnclcojrqyHsQITD8PH3Ba37omvXlLk2Z9VFzku-8LJJEY/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0390.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN23RyvVN7PINCHTJ_xzjZzyVKRQp7HeEF2Z4ZQqBv4V-u4UmbNGH_J5JBbMLYui4Z9jqWZmYeNaoiKhk8W1Pzfzk2FvC4MCZ5RaEVI1OTlSY0g_rpEIApScDC9WMXBfrVXM0UuvDnYHdRHAnclcojrqyHsQITD8PH3Ba37omvXlLk2Z9VFzku-8LJJEY/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0390.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DEAD BODY OF DEMON BULL FALL IN THE OCEAN</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzHTlkeUB_82LSpdim31wCCplSDvytFm8d5X67bodcnmdCBi-2Mzy36H50S2nYf1RElikB3wGA_qvcIPYGJU_68MomWPRH_8jUqf_g5vr3uiMPcso7Ij-XUyMQ25LrdeaBZuuGflGumqmhp_5zwlO2zlUJwz6Ile0I50lOOoOsTLrqkt3WsN1hBwO3oM/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0429.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzHTlkeUB_82LSpdim31wCCplSDvytFm8d5X67bodcnmdCBi-2Mzy36H50S2nYf1RElikB3wGA_qvcIPYGJU_68MomWPRH_8jUqf_g5vr3uiMPcso7Ij-XUyMQ25LrdeaBZuuGflGumqmhp_5zwlO2zlUJwz6Ile0I50lOOoOsTLrqkt3WsN1hBwO3oM/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0429.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD VISHNU THE RESCUE MOTHER EARTH FROM THE OCEAN</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z4Rz-YnsKYPgIgQkaE8AIitVZZ4Oh2kiJ6lBkaKZNZWZORukPpPY7AFm7F3wg8CguG7J4BZKPDP2p_K7twIkqs5kiEarzyeaZRpK6SH58cx_MSGd1vkX5sEKOdM-aWRxSX-P1Yt9xFekuWsc8iSwrFuhzzgylGdShPZZ65zev-DGH_-NRuqEe_AffuY/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0441.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z4Rz-YnsKYPgIgQkaE8AIitVZZ4Oh2kiJ6lBkaKZNZWZORukPpPY7AFm7F3wg8CguG7J4BZKPDP2p_K7twIkqs5kiEarzyeaZRpK6SH58cx_MSGd1vkX5sEKOdM-aWRxSX-P1Yt9xFekuWsc8iSwrFuhzzgylGdShPZZ65zev-DGH_-NRuqEe_AffuY/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0441.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN LORD VISHNU CREATED PANGEA(LARGE LAND BODY WHICH INCLUDE ALL CONTINENTS)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrFRiQrazpvTZ4SgcPlm3jEbWgaGcK3h0JjgCBalUJLcnCeltvRRPFidhgxqJpJfC_10r1a_r4l0MG7AkvqZiDdcTa7mJ8ii_BbT8ZXbBK_vS2t6AUX3sFdgZXnnQvKOXtzI2mpUxnBG_9qOj4zbDqZJHcXrmu2FHw5qSa74xjGxLOUKn9W7azxo5cr8/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0489.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrFRiQrazpvTZ4SgcPlm3jEbWgaGcK3h0JjgCBalUJLcnCeltvRRPFidhgxqJpJfC_10r1a_r4l0MG7AkvqZiDdcTa7mJ8ii_BbT8ZXbBK_vS2t6AUX3sFdgZXnnQvKOXtzI2mpUxnBG_9qOj4zbDqZJHcXrmu2FHw5qSa74xjGxLOUKn9W7azxo5cr8/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0489.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN LORD VISHNU GRADUALLY CREATED AND SEPARATE ALL THE CONTINENTS LIKE ASIA ,AFRICA ETC</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvQFRZzuaXNhVeyUpFJGlyfH6ytRJQw9i_8YRzOHVctNjXGlAMv_jfi__4AfIawE92H_FdZfI-T4JtFQFimwnSRjEFSpk44HOEsxARcYktUzJVsVS0vkvgwZfApVrQYgjJ1jRdObeGDtVJdZ7DJ0vnqZuM-IhyEkvE7vnRr3TiJQGYfDdbUVmtu8fTaI/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0534.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvQFRZzuaXNhVeyUpFJGlyfH6ytRJQw9i_8YRzOHVctNjXGlAMv_jfi__4AfIawE92H_FdZfI-T4JtFQFimwnSRjEFSpk44HOEsxARcYktUzJVsVS0vkvgwZfApVrQYgjJ1jRdObeGDtVJdZ7DJ0vnqZuM-IhyEkvE7vnRr3TiJQGYfDdbUVmtu8fTaI/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0534.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN MODERN HUMAN WHO GRADUALLY PROSPER AND SPREAD ALL OVER THE CONTINENTS</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbmYBxL7iYnoCaqtMR-r8lm2BrRT7EAXkSQsVFfOg_3kVmY5bDnYn23HAvWTk1lhAVLhDKtO9FJ7Kspglp3SEDecCjBudc9P6eqxOeA_nItdwPJAj9Gb1b8WwvbucfQkFHh6lJjw4WWj1BnKRr0dOXGe5pebzlhCOkhCKicZ6D0j-dIpXmJnnoG6onQY/s800/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0528.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbmYBxL7iYnoCaqtMR-r8lm2BrRT7EAXkSQsVFfOg_3kVmY5bDnYn23HAvWTk1lhAVLhDKtO9FJ7Kspglp3SEDecCjBudc9P6eqxOeA_nItdwPJAj9Gb1b8WwvbucfQkFHh6lJjw4WWj1BnKRr0dOXGe5pebzlhCOkhCKicZ6D0j-dIpXmJnnoG6onQY/w640-h480/LORD-VISHNU-ANIMATIONG0528.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN MODERN HUMAN WHO GRADUALLY PROSPER AND SPREAD ALL OVER THE CONTINENTS UNDER LORD VISHNU</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwMDSNsb9bGf0o_oeMQhwla_owOTQ4jM_J5M1HKfmDDgbbZX9d9QUM8vmeQot2Q49uSpy_4ruEfi5Gpu0T9tQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-83407664386891705292023-12-31T03:21:00.002+09:002023-12-31T03:21:21.246+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS NEW OF THIS WEEK: SCIENCE,POLITICAL,SPORTS, MOVIE & BOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcLLL1JufWIcNgrpfqGJdyzny1rWHBsryaejiyGpFQIeANydTstKl4XuPFS1DH5BGd3tQ5m0aO15rMlhia8cqq1_JYUoDjAW4c72aGwqi3sWBhdqhA_ew3pnRQrLOhBg6bz2g0P39HYbY3_ZGpH_wFdArd5Xd0JgzXrVd6d8fiKBxLkx6RjrjAdtA5dE/s960/NEWSWEEK301223GIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcLLL1JufWIcNgrpfqGJdyzny1rWHBsryaejiyGpFQIeANydTstKl4XuPFS1DH5BGd3tQ5m0aO15rMlhia8cqq1_JYUoDjAW4c72aGwqi3sWBhdqhA_ew3pnRQrLOhBg6bz2g0P39HYbY3_ZGpH_wFdArd5Xd0JgzXrVd6d8fiKBxLkx6RjrjAdtA5dE/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK301223GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDfrKS0Gqb62L_mD2fglV3OGwMn9d3vzW7yQn1b66hIjTu-UmSz_erBnZ65bfXgCA2NtpBqw8zqYuS82tahyphenhyphenWDktC4Ew5_iM7P6NVnFBAkoUgxTguNQiURzJCx0KRE1POPawpWYxa1r3wvASwBkprnAEO1wQpp3qwWUY5FhHqH_IfhwFSJE1ZPu11qfg/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDfrKS0Gqb62L_mD2fglV3OGwMn9d3vzW7yQn1b66hIjTu-UmSz_erBnZ65bfXgCA2NtpBqw8zqYuS82tahyphenhyphenWDktC4Ew5_iM7P6NVnFBAkoUgxTguNQiURzJCx0KRE1POPawpWYxa1r3wvASwBkprnAEO1wQpp3qwWUY5FhHqH_IfhwFSJE1ZPu11qfg/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Visva-Bharati
University names newly-discovered plant growth bacterium after Nobel laureate
Rabindranath Tagore:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRm52Qka1HTYx29-q673LzD3Hw8zOaVoQaoClUas1E-XcCIApouM_oZ3pcECcy3S5mfzlCRhfKjPplGK9fmBsureowoy7ZZKOVEMcKPiYv1lh1WSyOUooUV5k34ohDY6XcDFu-X80daX2bRVytg6pr4w7o-Wea5XRgU_gH5hQkHNopALLBVPvHet0VRA/s920/PLANTGROWBAC6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRm52Qka1HTYx29-q673LzD3Hw8zOaVoQaoClUas1E-XcCIApouM_oZ3pcECcy3S5mfzlCRhfKjPplGK9fmBsureowoy7ZZKOVEMcKPiYv1lh1WSyOUooUV5k34ohDY6XcDFu-X80daX2bRVytg6pr4w7o-Wea5XRgU_gH5hQkHNopALLBVPvHet0VRA/w640-h480/PLANTGROWBAC6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shantiniketan: A team of
scientists from Visva-Bharati University’s botany department has discovered a
bacterium with the ability to boost plant growth and named it 'Pantoea Tagorei'
after Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, a report in the media said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIM9oYxiMQJRrWlNa1gks-HNh8uAB0xv3hEmFKEIU1ihHNnSJ1B2e_jaPN401mfyAAVgQKDVT53XxAn3iFHpi8bIV5D7F3FK9iFlTIevRVZH-pvbazUYc7e4QLY4CEWbxQov9IY4x1MQ9hg-uBv6RGN0-iO5eDyoGRRF5ZBO2fnUynC8ryKfpSMyYq1A/s414/PLANTGROWBAC5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="414" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIM9oYxiMQJRrWlNa1gks-HNh8uAB0xv3hEmFKEIU1ihHNnSJ1B2e_jaPN401mfyAAVgQKDVT53XxAn3iFHpi8bIV5D7F3FK9iFlTIevRVZH-pvbazUYc7e4QLY4CEWbxQov9IY4x1MQ9hg-uBv6RGN0-iO5eDyoGRRF5ZBO2fnUynC8ryKfpSMyYq1A/w640-h358/PLANTGROWBAC5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Visva-Bharati is a
public central university and an Institute of National Importance located in
West Bengal's Shantiniketan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to
microbiologist Bomba Dam, who led the study, this bacterium holds immense
potential for transforming agricultural methods.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOHsW54O-AOcEXB9VPgpnCfYabrtdoBLJLlQuiGBN-jokHHNcWyIMecp4CsowuaFvpNFqiozBQt9SjIGe_OtAO3e_5zQgYm3ci-jmaBNjMMx7Mxa08CJKdb1_lQKXoshpWsmKzRI6YtbmQT-FzWNH4StAIAjAFCD8WJjFzw-bCrhFleE76M9eE-9BVGg/s515/PLANTGROWBAC3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="515" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOHsW54O-AOcEXB9VPgpnCfYabrtdoBLJLlQuiGBN-jokHHNcWyIMecp4CsowuaFvpNFqiozBQt9SjIGe_OtAO3e_5zQgYm3ci-jmaBNjMMx7Mxa08CJKdb1_lQKXoshpWsmKzRI6YtbmQT-FzWNH4StAIAjAFCD8WJjFzw-bCrhFleE76M9eE-9BVGg/w640-h360/PLANTGROWBAC3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3B3Jcu7xyU3x5GUPpuZBaF-TfepKGHXH4dczPqrUZy1Xocp-uBaZ7SuUVDLA8sKDtJUNHMA-TC5AN2XDxZJ0Zneyb7jgQCjR0eKsj1ilHsyFU-K8GxGZTJm_lHiuf7PmK-0-wq6ZUl9FUXi9e3wAsrA4jnUVMtvQYd1QdDy6ownoKB8xAcRcxCNrzsY/s464/PLANTGROWBAC2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="464" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3B3Jcu7xyU3x5GUPpuZBaF-TfepKGHXH4dczPqrUZy1Xocp-uBaZ7SuUVDLA8sKDtJUNHMA-TC5AN2XDxZJ0Zneyb7jgQCjR0eKsj1ilHsyFU-K8GxGZTJm_lHiuf7PmK-0-wq6ZUl9FUXi9e3wAsrA4jnUVMtvQYd1QdDy6ownoKB8xAcRcxCNrzsY/w640-h400/PLANTGROWBAC2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AjojaXa_kMgvCmcZI6dzhUB5J2EFMA3TgcaNG7G56Rjasid1VRVo7Dt9FG57ha1kuJp_BC9KcsujDo9cHKB-ZkoYOuyxz1nILzUDU0xLN2VS2VBQ6WySLqb3WehwKjUxJuw9RWNxY0DQLzq94yTaK8XkH_8bMbdJwOwsOLk5bYtLq8FR7JAbtJ2EJGA/s571/PLANTGROWBAC1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="571" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AjojaXa_kMgvCmcZI6dzhUB5J2EFMA3TgcaNG7G56Rjasid1VRVo7Dt9FG57ha1kuJp_BC9KcsujDo9cHKB-ZkoYOuyxz1nILzUDU0xLN2VS2VBQ6WySLqb3WehwKjUxJuw9RWNxY0DQLzq94yTaK8XkH_8bMbdJwOwsOLk5bYtLq8FR7JAbtJ2EJGA/w640-h468/PLANTGROWBAC1.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bomba Dam's team
included research assistants Raju Biswas, Abhijit Mishra, Abhinav Chakraborty,
Pooja Mukhopadhyay, and Sandeep Ghosh, the report said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMshh-FJsgmLhwOyFUWSwMTF7tBWoEzcGHCAIcwdObe_pNUI3HCI2fP-OPuvObWCWmRsvYf-2FK6b6L6YAHQMsz_ySNGgXRqII0_59eq0CWH6qpTdU1JlGkmYVG0VzIO1xCmGLWU_ee9kThTMPS1e5x8quErgmaSqyfAxZyppAIYBEzbmUr3ZWs64DYd0/s601/PLANTGROWBAC4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="601" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMshh-FJsgmLhwOyFUWSwMTF7tBWoEzcGHCAIcwdObe_pNUI3HCI2fP-OPuvObWCWmRsvYf-2FK6b6L6YAHQMsz_ySNGgXRqII0_59eq0CWH6qpTdU1JlGkmYVG0VzIO1xCmGLWU_ee9kThTMPS1e5x8quErgmaSqyfAxZyppAIYBEzbmUr3ZWs64DYd0/w640-h622/PLANTGROWBAC4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bomba Dam and his team
discovered 'Pantoea Tagorei' by isolating the bacteria from the soil in
Santiniketan's Sonajhuri and later in Jharia's coal mining belt.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This bacterium
efficiently extracts potassium from soil, enhancing plant growth by
solubilizing potassium and phosphorus and fixing nitrogen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Identified as a new and
unique species, 'Pantoea Tagorei' has the potential to reduce the need for
commercial fertilizers, cutting agricultural costs and boosting crop yields.
The discovery has been officially recognized by the Association of
Microbiologists of India (AMI).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The findings were also
published in the Indian Journal of Microbiology.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team said naming the
unique bacterium after Tagore is the best way to honour the poet, who was also
the founder of Visva Bharati University.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dam referred to the
visionary agricultural pursuits of Tagore and his son Rathindranath Tagore’s
agricultural pursuits.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Abstract</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Gram-negative,
short-rod, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic, potassium-solubilizing
bacterium MR1 (Mine Rhizosphere) was isolated from rhizospheric soil of an
open-cast coal mine of Jharia, Jharkhand, India. Isolate MR1 can grow in a
broad range of temperature, pH, and NaCl concentrations. The 16S rRNA gene
sequence of the strain showed 99.24% similarity with Pantoea septica LMG 5345T.
However, maximum-likelihood tree constructed using 16S rRNA gene sequence,
multilocus sequence analysis using concatenated sequences of ten housekeeping
genes, whole-genome based phylogenetic reconstruction, digital DNA–DNA
hybridization, and average nucleotide identity (ANIm and ANIb) values indicated
segregation of MR1 from its closest relatives. Fatty acid profile of MR1 also
suggested the same, with clear variation in major and minor fatty acid
contents, having C13: 0 anteiso (10-Methyldodecanoic acid) as the unique one.
Thus, considering all polyphasic data, strain MR1T (= MTCC 13265T, where ‘T’
stands for Type strain) is presented as a novel species of the genus Pantoea,
for which the name Pantoea tagorei sp. nov. is proposed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Researchers
develop 'electronic soil' that enhances crop growth by Linköping University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfdYax-yldC5qlOBKv1Wb8g6lxa5SrSzojGVAAXmrNn5SgG49WUl2INdlLditoA8a4viskXe5tL1UuGXspsVUxJDjVFaF5KJzX4W_8e3XxBk236GjUM5sJCHOddaislDa-M5FI2h9bDAn_koCv_9KZgmfbWkmo_DCPFFQ7Yrx-hPkurHRtpopYkLigRI/s2880/Eleni%20Stavrinidou,%20associate%20professor,%20and%20supervisor%20of%20the%20study%20and%20Alexandra%20Sand%C3%A9hn,%20Ph.D.%20student,%20one%20of%20the%20lead%20authors,%20connect%20the%20eSoil%20to%20a%20low%20power%20source%20for%20stimulating%20plant%20growt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2880" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfdYax-yldC5qlOBKv1Wb8g6lxa5SrSzojGVAAXmrNn5SgG49WUl2INdlLditoA8a4viskXe5tL1UuGXspsVUxJDjVFaF5KJzX4W_8e3XxBk236GjUM5sJCHOddaislDa-M5FI2h9bDAn_koCv_9KZgmfbWkmo_DCPFFQ7Yrx-hPkurHRtpopYkLigRI/w640-h360/Eleni%20Stavrinidou,%20associate%20professor,%20and%20supervisor%20of%20the%20study%20and%20Alexandra%20Sand%C3%A9hn,%20Ph.D.%20student,%20one%20of%20the%20lead%20authors,%20connect%20the%20eSoil%20to%20a%20low%20power%20source%20for%20stimulating%20plant%20growt.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eleni Stavrinidou, associate professor, and supervisor of the study and Alexandra Sandéhn, Ph.D. student, one of the lead authors, connect the eSoil to a low power source for stimulating plant growt</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Barley seedlings grow on
average 50% more when their root system is stimulated electrically through a
new cultivation substrate. In a study published in the journal PNAS,
researchers from Linköping University have developed an electrically conductive
"soil" for soilless cultivation, known as hydroponics<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The world population is
increasing, and we also have climate change. So it's clear that we won't be
able to cover the food demands of the planet with only the already existing
agricultural methods. But with hydroponics we can grow food also in urban
environments in very controlled settings," says Eleni Stavrinidou,
associate professor at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics at Linköping
University, and leader of the Electronic Plants group.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Her research group has
now developed an electrically conductive cultivation substrate, tailored to
hydroponic cultivation, that they call eSoil. The Linköping University
researchers have shown that barley seedlings grown in the conductive
"soil" grew up to 50% more in 15 days when their roots were
stimulated electrically.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hydroponic cultivation
means that plants grow without soil, needing only water, nutrients and
something their roots can attach to—a substrate. It is a closed system that
enables water recirculation so that each seedling gets exactly the nutrients it
needs. Therefore, very little water is required and all nutrients remain in the
system, which is not possible in traditional cultivation.Hydroponics also
enables vertical cultivation in large towers to maximize space efficiency.
Crops already being cultivated in this manner include lettuce, herbs and some
vegetables. Grains are not typically grown in hydroponics apart for their use
as fodder. In this study the researchers show that barley seedlings can be
cultivated using hydroponics and that they have a better growth rate thanks to
electrical stimulation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWWz9-DpDg5gOKP0QAthV10M3SVeIyhJm2nmYuJiH0h1dqD4beqElawToqYTyGLOBkaIhP_MXYW-fwVRzxrIjSdSeP06nm4SQogFBVxm6MrHUfLIJ_WZxjBWAR5O7kLnSecyqqY_SfHASksfi4SFwnLRXX8XnGbUXpNLF9DCxpyxOl62XiYSAhnL1RdQ/s2880/A%20barley%20seedling%20grows%20within%20the%20eSoil,%20an%20artificial%20electronic%20soil%20that%20makes%20seedlings%20grow%20faster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1922" data-original-width="2880" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWWz9-DpDg5gOKP0QAthV10M3SVeIyhJm2nmYuJiH0h1dqD4beqElawToqYTyGLOBkaIhP_MXYW-fwVRzxrIjSdSeP06nm4SQogFBVxm6MrHUfLIJ_WZxjBWAR5O7kLnSecyqqY_SfHASksfi4SFwnLRXX8XnGbUXpNLF9DCxpyxOl62XiYSAhnL1RdQ/w640-h428/A%20barley%20seedling%20grows%20within%20the%20eSoil,%20an%20artificial%20electronic%20soil%20that%20makes%20seedlings%20grow%20faster.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A barley seedling grows within the eSoil, an artificial electronic soil that makes seedlings grow faster</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"In this way, we
can get seedlings to grow faster with less resources. We don't yet know how it
actually works, which biological mechanisms that are involved. What we have
found is that seedlings process nitrogen more effectively, but it's not clear
yet how the electrical stimulation impacts this process," says
Starvrinidou.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mineral wool is often
used as cultivation substrate in hydroponics. Not only is this
non-biodegradable, it is also produced with a very energy-intensive process.
The electronic cultivation substrate eSoil is made of cellulose, the most
abundant biopolymer, mixed with a conductive polymer called PEDOT. This
combination as such is not new, but this is the first time it has been used for
plant cultivation and for creating an interface for plants in this manner.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Previous research has
used high voltage to stimulate the roots. The advantage of the Linköping
researchers' "soil" is that it has very low energy consumption and no
high voltage danger. Stavrinidou believes that the new study will open the
pathway for new research areas to develop further hydroponic cultivation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We can't say that
hydroponics will solve the problem of food security. But it can definitely help
particularly in areas with little arable land and with harsh environmental
conditions," she says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) New reptile on
the block: A new iguana species discovered in China:by Pensoft Publishers<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWbyb0Dfes5Q3o2Tu_514jXFYF-MKst0C52SQ9YHeKhRilFpDdhsl1_74N8iZ1jTJVNDk0Z_0iU2sM0G0dIpPZkPD3EojeSsB9NKdjNK1S5NwAt9dY9mexcXHWofwnm2Pt2c0AdMMsHGzrimAdgfgMBP55ypao9v1WlyeGvpggrO02FLcIZf8vbXcAFc/s1280/Calotes%20wangi.%20Credit%20Huang%20et%20al.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1280" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWbyb0Dfes5Q3o2Tu_514jXFYF-MKst0C52SQ9YHeKhRilFpDdhsl1_74N8iZ1jTJVNDk0Z_0iU2sM0G0dIpPZkPD3EojeSsB9NKdjNK1S5NwAt9dY9mexcXHWofwnm2Pt2c0AdMMsHGzrimAdgfgMBP55ypao9v1WlyeGvpggrO02FLcIZf8vbXcAFc/w640-h366/Calotes%20wangi.%20Credit%20Huang%20et%20al.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calotes wangi. Credit Huang et al</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A new iguana joins
Asia's rich reptile fauna, officially described as new to science in the
open-access journal ZooKeys."From 2009 to 2022, we conducted a series of
field surveys in South China and collected a number of specimens of the Calotes
versicolor species complex, and found that the population of what we thought
was Calotes versicolor in South China and Northern Vietnam was a new
undescribed species and two subspecies," says Yong Huang, whose team
described the new species.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wang's garden lizard
(Calotes wangi) is less than 9 cm long, and one of its distinguishing features
is its orange tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Calotes wangi is
found in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and tropical monsoon
forests in southern China and northern Vietnam, mostly in mountainous areas,
hills and plains on forest edges, arable land, shrub lands, and even urban
green belts. It is active at the edge of the forest, and when it is in danger,
it rushes into bushes or climbs tree trunks to hide. Investigations found that
the lizards lie on sloping shrub branches at night, sleeping close to the
branches," says Yong Huang.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinepxAnmgrPWyEJyORx5a_Ei2Q8j3Vuyvl1QQxmv_EgTEMlLtYBKYus2OFOytoalk-bMaN1YkHZwqUcn9GZuKtt3ju6fax0wwRfoJlGXu9Z4z8jZiDjWa376OnBFbEV04Jkht_fofDfqf34xepG-g1Sq6kjs987Nu3ywPulv1WmFoP3MheepiE0vPvieY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1280" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinepxAnmgrPWyEJyORx5a_Ei2Q8j3Vuyvl1QQxmv_EgTEMlLtYBKYus2OFOytoalk-bMaN1YkHZwqUcn9GZuKtt3ju6fax0wwRfoJlGXu9Z4z8jZiDjWa376OnBFbEV04Jkht_fofDfqf34xepG-g1Sq6kjs987Nu3ywPulv1WmFoP3MheepiE0vPvieY=w640-h472" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><br /></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is active from April
to October every year, while in the tropics it is active from March to November
or even longer, and eats a variety of insects, spiders, and other
arthropods.For now, the researchers estimate that the new species is not
threatened, but they do note that in some areas its habitat is fragmented.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"In addition, their
bodies are used medicinally and the lizards are also eaten," they write in
their research paper.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is why they suggest
that the local government strengthen the protection of their ecological environment
and pay close attention to the population dynamics.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) How Daydreams
Shape Our Brain’s Visual Response<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX7tPXwyECUvXFUbmIKqmEd2uGwqVVoUEsp61Kni9rdMTfADMmfOgbOh7jXmH1zAi5lsxAa1ABrm8sMYDw3kHpHJTZ2D-uDo5bNbV81BjxUXR1Z8ytTs9xHzN1osNTZv-2ewGdahR876Cd9V02zhny_oPcF_vaIOGRCmQ11i3fPU6mFrIVxoTEnQQF6U/s1200/DAYDREAM1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX7tPXwyECUvXFUbmIKqmEd2uGwqVVoUEsp61Kni9rdMTfADMmfOgbOh7jXmH1zAi5lsxAa1ABrm8sMYDw3kHpHJTZ2D-uDo5bNbV81BjxUXR1Z8ytTs9xHzN1osNTZv-2ewGdahR876Cd9V02zhny_oPcF_vaIOGRCmQ11i3fPU6mFrIVxoTEnQQF6U/w640-h426/DAYDREAM1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Summary: Researchers
made a breakthrough in understanding how daydreaming affects the brain.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">By studying mice, they
discovered that neurons in the visual cortex fire in patterns similar to when
viewing actual images, indicating daydream-like activity. This finding suggests
daydreams may influence how the brain processes visual information over time,
potentially contributing to brain plasticity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The study highlights the
importance of quiet wakefulness and its possible role in learning and memory.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrkyF796sFiNAbJTanGf3DCCA8CmouqEeTXQ8C8HcmfdUxZvctu_pTw01F5LbnJUmDqGf7SKNd4UsJpMN1UDTNyqDpKsvE57Eqvyth-isWaRp-WEaxZd8BTgUZ5vXnbFKbzNho7ZlWXE_KwjT5m5-_IZ5a74bSrIzlpBu4OKc9QxfKQDjz-PMJPl7hb8/s1068/DAYDREAM2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="1068" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrkyF796sFiNAbJTanGf3DCCA8CmouqEeTXQ8C8HcmfdUxZvctu_pTw01F5LbnJUmDqGf7SKNd4UsJpMN1UDTNyqDpKsvE57Eqvyth-isWaRp-WEaxZd8BTgUZ5vXnbFKbzNho7ZlWXE_KwjT5m5-_IZ5a74bSrIzlpBu4OKc9QxfKQDjz-PMJPl7hb8/w640-h360/DAYDREAM2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Key Facts:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Neurons in the visual
cortex of mice fire in patterns during quiet wakefulness, akin to when they
view actual images, hinting at daydreaming.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The study suggests a
link between daydreaming and brain plasticity, with early daydreams predicting
future brain responses to images.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This research sheds
light on the underexplored visual cortex and its role in forming visual
memories and processing experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">You are sitting quietly,
and suddenly your brain tunes out the world and wanders to something else
entirely — perhaps a recent experience, or an old memory. You just had a
daydream.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Yet despite the ubiquity
of this experience, what is happening in the brain while daydreaming is a
question that has largely eluded neuroscientists.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eEdPYdI4IMAN0RakidZnloYV1qnM0wYjiWWj3Mfvj1fazZay402V3Fl6jcLS9YTSte2vY7QFdrQbDfrYDooTwcxp0CH1vqjeFdQ5kyIE_tgK57QhhLlfFnUHJBvuFrSDf6G-Mdn39BlfdB1inX1Emgewa9EDxxXhfyDpQ0_XlE-5A2buwpi10sJckBg/s1070/DAYDREAM3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1070" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eEdPYdI4IMAN0RakidZnloYV1qnM0wYjiWWj3Mfvj1fazZay402V3Fl6jcLS9YTSte2vY7QFdrQbDfrYDooTwcxp0CH1vqjeFdQ5kyIE_tgK57QhhLlfFnUHJBvuFrSDf6G-Mdn39BlfdB1inX1Emgewa9EDxxXhfyDpQ0_XlE-5A2buwpi10sJckBg/w640-h346/DAYDREAM3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Now, a study in mice,
published Dec. 13 in Nature, has brought a team led by researchers at Harvard
Medical School one step closer to figuring it out.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers tracked
the activity of neurons in the visual cortex of the brains of mice while the
animals remained in a quiet waking state.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They found that
occasionally these neurons fired in a pattern similar to one that occurred when
a mouse looked at an actual image, suggesting that the mouse was thinking — or
daydreaming — about the image.Moreover, the patterns of activity during a
mouse’s first few daydreams of the day predicted how the brain’s response to
the image would change over time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The research provides
tantalizing, if preliminary, evidence that daydreams can shape the brain’s
future response to what it sees. This causal relationship needs to be confirmed
in further research, the team cautioned, but the results offer an intriguing
clue that daydreams during quiet waking may play a role in brain plasticity —
the brain’s ability to remodel itself in response to new experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“We wanted to know how
this daydreaming process occurred on a neurobiological level, and whether these
moments of quiet reflection could be important for learning and memory,” said
lead author Nghia Nguyen, a PhD student in neurobiology in the Blavatnik
Institute at HMS.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig60Lnps9DlJuI83jld29FVeszzNLaF-GtwvcmqBLReOocrNjqqvtbV96RL9aSA7qHeREpamlsyyqSmBvaVMY5gooN7Fkb0DOCaOWAy3Er1S5EI2Eb_kPVKJSNB-NZYr8J2KuwCun7w6YIhOqY1xYYmK6Kl52YNPy_BljtkxXgJ7DsZVo6dwQV81-GOrg/s732/DAYDREAM4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="732" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig60Lnps9DlJuI83jld29FVeszzNLaF-GtwvcmqBLReOocrNjqqvtbV96RL9aSA7qHeREpamlsyyqSmBvaVMY5gooN7Fkb0DOCaOWAy3Er1S5EI2Eb_kPVKJSNB-NZYr8J2KuwCun7w6YIhOqY1xYYmK6Kl52YNPy_BljtkxXgJ7DsZVo6dwQV81-GOrg/w640-h480/DAYDREAM4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An overlooked brain region</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Scientists have spent
considerable time studying how neurons replay past events to form memories and
map the physical environment in the hippocampus, a seahorse-shaped brain region
that plays a key role in memory and spatial navigation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">By contrast, there has
been little research on the replay of neurons in other brain regions, including
the visual cortex. Such efforts would provide valuable insights about how
visual memories are formed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“My lab became
interested in whether we could record from enough neurons in the visual cortex
to understand what exactly the mouse is remembering — and then connect that
information to brain plasticity,” said senior author Mark Andermann, professor
of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and professor of
neurobiology at HMS.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the new study, the
researchers repeatedly showed mice one of two images, each consisting of a
different checkerboard pattern of gray and dappled black and white squares.
Between images, the mice spent a minute looking at a gray screen. The team
simultaneously recorded activity from around 7,000 neurons in the visual
cortex.The researchers found that when a mouse looked at an image, the neurons
fired in a specific pattern, and the patterns were different enough to discern
image one from image two.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">More important, when a
mouse looked at the gray screen between images, the neurons sometimes fired in
a similar, but not identical, pattern, as when the mouse looked at the image, a
sign that it was daydreaming about the image. These daydreams occurred only
when mice were relaxed, characterized by calm behavior and small pupils.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Unsurprisingly, mice
daydreamed more about the most recent image — and they had more daydreams at
the beginning of the day than at the end, when they had already seen each image
dozens of times.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But what the researchers found next was completely
unexpected</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Throughout the day, and
across days, the activity patterns seen when the mice looked at the images
changed — what neuroscientists call “representational drift.” Yet this drift
wasn’t random.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Over time, the patterns
associated with the images became even more different from each other, until
each involved an almost entirely separate set of neurons. Notably, the pattern
seen during a mouse’s first few daydreams about an image predicted what the
pattern would become when the mouse looked at the image later.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“There’s drift in how
the brain responds to the same image over time, and these early daydreams can
predict where the drift is going,” Andermann said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Finally, the researchers
found that the visual cortex daydreams occurred at the same time as replay
activity occurred in the hippocampus, suggesting that the two brain regions
were communicating during these daydreams. Based on the results of the study,
the researchers suspect that these daydreams may be actively involved in brain
plasticity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“When you see two
different images many times, it becomes important to discriminate between them.
Our findings suggest that daydreaming may guide this process by steering the
neural patterns associated with the two images away from each other,” Nguyen
said, while noting that this relationship needs to be confirmed. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nguyen added that
learning to differentiate between the images should help the mouse respond to
each image with more specificity in the future.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These observations align
with a growing body of evidence in rodents and humans that entering a state of
quiet wakefulness after an experience can improve learning and memory.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Next, the researchers
plan to use their imaging tools to visualize the connections between individual
neurons in the visual cortex and to examine how these connections change when
the brain “sees” an image.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“We were chasing this 99
percent of unexplored brain activity and discovered that there’s so much
richness in the visual cortex that nobody knew anything about,” Andermann said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Whether daydreams in
people involve similar activity patterns in the visual cortex is an open
question, and the answer will require additional experiments. However, there is
preliminary evidence that an analogous process occurs in humans when they
recall visual imagery.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Randy Buckner, the
Sosland Family Professor of Psychology and of Neuroscience at Harvard
University, has shown that brain activity in the visual cortex increases when
people are asked to recall an image in detail. Other studies have recorded
flurries of electrical activity in the visual cortex and the hippocampus during
such recall.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For the researchers, the
results of their study and others suggest that it may be important to make
space for moments of quiet waking that lead to daydreams. For a mouse, this may
mean taking a pause from looking at a series of images and, for a human, this
could mean taking a break from scrolling on a smartphone.“We feel pretty
confident that if you never give yourself any awake downtime, you’re not going
to have as many of these daydream events, which may be important for brain
plasticity,” Andermann said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Oral peptides: A
new era in drug development :by Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPz7CMNw-0nEt7hIxy8bYioG1oYNf3JMVKGp954lzemlnx9G3voIIklmWRbbP18d8Y0dwlqAQtb9erG68AhyphenhyphenXy1xbQzzAfiWERepRr2gJPFSifYeRmF-zC7sTEgoQFCfo239AhSf4KPNptZwVjtijs11b9LlGyHsa0elug4yOnmrPM4xhp0fTcIXGNNY/s2593/Graphical%20abstract%20of%20cyclic%20oral%20peptides%20Credit%20%20Christian%20HeinisEPFL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1759" data-original-width="2593" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPz7CMNw-0nEt7hIxy8bYioG1oYNf3JMVKGp954lzemlnx9G3voIIklmWRbbP18d8Y0dwlqAQtb9erG68AhyphenhyphenXy1xbQzzAfiWERepRr2gJPFSifYeRmF-zC7sTEgoQFCfo239AhSf4KPNptZwVjtijs11b9LlGyHsa0elug4yOnmrPM4xhp0fTcIXGNNY/w640-h434/Graphical%20abstract%20of%20cyclic%20oral%20peptides%20Credit%20%20Christian%20HeinisEPFL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphical abstract of cyclic oral peptides Credit Christian HeinisEPFL</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For decades, a
substantial number of proteins, vital for treating various diseases, have
remained elusive to oral drug therapy. Traditional small molecules often
struggle to bind to proteins with flat surfaces or require specificity for
particular protein homologs. Typically, larger biologics that can target these
proteins demand injection, limiting patient convenience and accessibility. In a
new study published in Nature Chemical Biology, scientists from the laboratory
of Professor Christian Heinis at EPFL have achieved a significant milestone in
drug development. Their research opens the door to a new class of orally
available drugs, addressing a long-standing challenge in the pharmaceutical
industry.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"There are many
diseases for which the targets were identified but drugs binding and reaching
them could not be developed," says Heinis. "Most of them are types of
cancer, and many targets in these cancers are protein-protein interactions that
are important for the tumor growth but cannot be inhibited."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The study focused on
cyclic peptides, which are versatile molecules known for their high affinity
and specificity in binding challenging disease targets. At the same time,
developing cyclic peptides as oral drugs has proven difficult because they are
rapidly digested or poorly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Cyclic peptides
are of great interest for drug development as these molecules can bind to
difficult targets for which it has been challenging to generate drugs using
established methods," says Heinis. "But the cyclic peptides cannot
usually be administered orally—as a pill—which limits their application
enormously."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeUUXrE0-636FPASHSHZx0Mp742_9iORRjji22C6DY2kxWzTOtW4Rb4khb5vMYGROh_eR4Lu937oon7oFT6567dYgu6sQhyeDsbcWq803Q9jvRcNiGdIeGelGwYX3lGeNEFZYvt1Sxz0ASa9fZkOmGT9fWc3uOSyS-gwPeTujzB5yeTzVxtsHoAgw7S8/s688/Graphical%20abstract%20of%20cyclic%20oral%20peptides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="688" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeUUXrE0-636FPASHSHZx0Mp742_9iORRjji22C6DY2kxWzTOtW4Rb4khb5vMYGROh_eR4Lu937oon7oFT6567dYgu6sQhyeDsbcWq803Q9jvRcNiGdIeGelGwYX3lGeNEFZYvt1Sxz0ASa9fZkOmGT9fWc3uOSyS-gwPeTujzB5yeTzVxtsHoAgw7S8/w640-h360/Graphical%20abstract%20of%20cyclic%20oral%20peptides.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphical abstract of cyclic oral peptides</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cyclizing breakthrough</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The research team
targeted the enzyme thrombin, which is a critical disease target because of its
central role in blood coagulation; regulating thrombin is key to preventing and
treating thrombotic disorders like strokes and heart attacks.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To generate cyclic
peptides that can target thrombin and are sufficiently stable, the scientists
developed a two-step combinatorial synthesis strategy to synthesize a vast
library of cyclical peptides with thioether bonds, which enhance their
metabolic stability when taken orally.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We have now
succeeded in generating cyclic peptides that bind to a disease target of our
choice and can also be administered orally," says Heinis. "To this
end, we have developed a new method in which thousands of small cyclic peptides
with random sequences are chemically synthesized on a nanoscale and examined in
a high-throughput process."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDXFO238TIIQ116LsMbbnKJHCXC7HkJQblKG0Hi934aM9AIdk-b67NyhfXG9pVx2pdqGW5HCphwSJUEYhsqgS02EvEKDPcyn0AlNBg2ZQ-m5sv3lNOiULStQ2Yi2UH93t-2dLHKdrfysxXJcfYKUifB2Mo9tYxQp8ntvy6Z5PSV-eKA0fgGJ1zcjsnsY/s400/ORAL-PEPTIDE3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDXFO238TIIQ116LsMbbnKJHCXC7HkJQblKG0Hi934aM9AIdk-b67NyhfXG9pVx2pdqGW5HCphwSJUEYhsqgS02EvEKDPcyn0AlNBg2ZQ-m5sv3lNOiULStQ2Yi2UH93t-2dLHKdrfysxXJcfYKUifB2Mo9tYxQp8ntvy6Z5PSV-eKA0fgGJ1zcjsnsY/w640-h640/ORAL-PEPTIDE3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Two steps, one pot</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new method process
involves two steps, and takes place in the same reactive container, a feature
that chemists refer to as "one pot."The first step is to synthesize
linear peptides, which then undergo a chemical process of forming a ring-like
structure—in technical terms, being "cyclized." This is done with
using "bis-electrophilic linkers"—chemical compounds used to connect
two molecular groups together—to form stable thioether bonds.In the second
phase, the cyclized peptides undergo acylation, a process that attaches carboxylic
acids to them, further diversifying their molecular structure.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The technique eliminates
the need for intermediate purification steps, allowing for high-throughput
screening directly in the synthesis plates, combining the synthesis and
screening of thousands of peptides to identify candidates with high affinity
for specific disease targets—in this case, thrombin.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Using the method, the
Ph.D. student leading the project, Manuel Merz, was able to generate a
comprehensive library of 8,448 cyclic peptides with an average molecular mass
of about 650 Daltons (Da), only slightly above the maximum limit of 500 Da
recommended for orally-available small molecules.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The cyclic peptides also showed a high affinity for
thrombin</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When tested on rats, the
peptides showed oral bioavailability up to 18%, which means that when the
cyclic peptide drug is taken orally, 18% of it successfully enters the
bloodstream, and to have a therapeutic effect. Considering that
orally-administered cyclic peptides generally show a bioavailability below 2%,
increasing that number to 18% is a substantial advance for drugs in the
biologics category—which includes peptides.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Setting targets</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">By enabling the oral
availability of cyclic peptides, the team has opened up possibilities for
treating a range of diseases that have been challenging to address with
conventional oral drugs. The method's versatility means it can be adapted to
target a wide array of proteins, potentially leading to breakthroughs in areas
where medical needs are currently unmet.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"To apply the
method to more challenging disease targets, such as protein-protein
interactions, larger libraries will likely need to be synthesized and
studied," says Manuel Merz. "By automating further steps of the
methods, libraries with more than one million molecules seem to be within
reach."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the next step of this
project, the researchers will target several intracellular protein-protein
interaction targets for which it has been difficult to develop inhibitors based
on classical small molecules. They are confident that orally applicable cyclic
peptides can be developed for at least some of them.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmIB3xleJt5jicxeSeXPUkqXHcl1W9eHW-AyhUMopkooLZFfR22dmFhpb1wUNLf4eRAsOZwvBnMWCMi95thnTPjKiQv02ERb0W7o73JdWX6r6NyOyD3nfUHrAlVHeZMejDx3z_1wN_1dT3EaCty1R05k-TDxok18Dg3a89kEmstaLp5LyCx0PSbZw02o/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmIB3xleJt5jicxeSeXPUkqXHcl1W9eHW-AyhUMopkooLZFfR22dmFhpb1wUNLf4eRAsOZwvBnMWCMi95thnTPjKiQv02ERb0W7o73JdWX6r6NyOyD3nfUHrAlVHeZMejDx3z_1wN_1dT3EaCty1R05k-TDxok18Dg3a89kEmstaLp5LyCx0PSbZw02o/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Rahul Gandhi to
kick off Bharat Nyay Yatra from January 14:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsM1JoCIQ3A1hkYvdtMUqNySXfLP_4LH57pMZxCeolxXSLBOSnz6vm5rk_8gNze80KNPbtd3KBifChyLMFWOTNzGI9kp6aCQy0-khG1wZiQ8DATAwllY39vfKsMYmgXqpk1pQXF9ALZSr7HdNY0DtnXQ3Aih2YWpxbSipLWxrW4CAQjPnBhSmcwm0hsU/s549/Congress%20leaders%20Rahul%20Gandhi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsM1JoCIQ3A1hkYvdtMUqNySXfLP_4LH57pMZxCeolxXSLBOSnz6vm5rk_8gNze80KNPbtd3KBifChyLMFWOTNzGI9kp6aCQy0-khG1wZiQ8DATAwllY39vfKsMYmgXqpk1pQXF9ALZSr7HdNY0DtnXQ3Aih2YWpxbSipLWxrW4CAQjPnBhSmcwm0hsU/w640-h360/Congress%20leaders%20Rahul%20Gandhi.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rahul Gandhi was under
pressure from his party colleagues to undertake another yatra in the last few
months.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will undertake a 6,200km-long Bharat Nyay
Yatra from the northeastern tip of India to its western shore between January
and March, the party announced on Wednesday, in what is a reiteration of a
Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir Bharat Jodo foot march that galvanised workers but
produced mixed electoral dividends.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress general
secretary KC Venugopal said the yatra will begin on January 14 in violence-torn
Manipur and end on March 20 in Mumbai, covering 14 states and 85 districts,
largely by bus and on foot, and end just weeks before general elections next
summer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The route will cover
Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha,
Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and
Maharashtra. Nine of these states were not covered in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in
2022-23.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It will end at Mumbai
on March 20,” Venugopal said. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will flag off the
yatra in Imphal.Gandhi was under pressure from his party colleagues to
undertake another yatra in the last few months. In the last meeting of the
Congress Working Committee on December 21, nearly all participants urged the former
party chief to undertake another cross-country march on the lines of the
4,500km-long Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began in Kanyakumari in September 2022
and ended in Srinagar on January 30. This time, Gandhi will use a bus for large
chunks of the journey instead of walking the whole distance. Gandhi had told
them that he would do whatever the party asked him to.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The yatra comes weeks
after the Congress suffered a drubbing in three key heartland states, unable to
retain its governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and failing to displace
the Bharatiya Janata Party in Madhya Pradesh. The party won Telangana in a
strong showing but with just months left for the general elections, its poor
performance in north India that accounts for at least 225 Lok Sabha seats is a
cause of concern.The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the idea. “...Prime
Minister Modi has given nyay to the people of India, whereas Congress, on the
one hand, campaigned for gareebi hatao [eradicate poverty] but on the other
hand, pushed people further into poverty during its regime... These people play
divisive politics, they do not know how to bring the nation together...” Union
information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4lg_yOR4WUtIs9kqXAYn6T_wplxTCSUeSuikT5-B7qsdmtSsp-SdZRLTnsJ3wnP9by7mzXq9RW1l53wO4P-f8VJ6LfRhfRuW565mgH4C2x6nU4tu9AUqe9TbBPgxlmdm_w3RMDvCl1kCZCjyoIFEyjwa9HgTUxLtMclQtHuH84GmsyinhBao5a3oUeA/s749/NAIY%20YATRA%20ROUTE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4lg_yOR4WUtIs9kqXAYn6T_wplxTCSUeSuikT5-B7qsdmtSsp-SdZRLTnsJ3wnP9by7mzXq9RW1l53wO4P-f8VJ6LfRhfRuW565mgH4C2x6nU4tu9AUqe9TbBPgxlmdm_w3RMDvCl1kCZCjyoIFEyjwa9HgTUxLtMclQtHuH84GmsyinhBao5a3oUeA/w628-h640/NAIY%20YATRA%20ROUTE.jpg" width="628" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The previous Bharat Jodo
Yatra was credited for rebooting Gandhi’s image among the common people as he
met a raft of ordinary people, social groups, activists, farmers and women. It
also helped energise the party cadre in many states where the organisation was
moribund.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But the electoral
results were mixed -- the Congress slumped to its worst defeat in decades in
Gujarat, and won a majority of its own in Himachal Pradesh in December 2022. In
elections held in 2023, it won the southern states of Karnataka and Telangana,
but was wiped out in north India.Congress leaders said that the Bharat Nyay
Yatra was scheduled ahead of the 2024 elections to bolster ground workers. The
yatra also assumes importance as the Congress’s previous poll planks -- which
included welfare schemes, overtures to Hindutva,a nationwide caste census, and
the brand of leadership -- have failed to win seats in north India, which will
be the primary focus of the yatra. Eight of the 14 states to be covered are
ruled by the BJP.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Bharat Nyaya Yatra will
end on March 20. This yatra is going to enthuse the youth, women, and all
marginalised people,” Venugopal said. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh
announced that the yatra will focus on economic, social, and political justice.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ramesh also said the
Congress will hold a mega rally in Nagpur on December 28 on the occasion of the
party’s foundation day. The rally, named ‘Hain Tayyar Hum” (we are ready), will
sound the bugle for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.The Bharat Jodo Yatra of the
Indian National Congress led by @RahulGandhi — where he walked from Kanyakumari
on September 7th, 2022 till Srinagar on 31st January, 2023—was anchored in our
preamble’s pillars of liberty, equality and fraternity...The Bharat Nyay Yatra
is anchored in the Preamble’s very first pillar of justice — social, economic and
political. The repeated assaults on the Constitution will not be allowed to
succeed!” Ramesh later tweeted.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress had
initially planned a yatra from Arunachal Pradesh’s Pasighat to Gujarat’s
Porbandar. But the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3 that led to 187
deaths and left around 50,000 people displaced prompted the Congress to change
its plan. The Congress and the other Opposition parties had aggressively raised
the Manipur issue in Parliament and Union home minister Amit Shah replied to the
debate.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hailing Manipur as one
of the important parts of the North-East, Venugopal said the party wanted to
“try to heal the wounds of the state”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“This is not a political
yatra. We are going to raise the issues of the common people. It would not
affect the poll preparations. We will have a separate mechanism [for
election],” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) 52-year-old cop
mowed down by car carrying liquor in Bihar, 1 held<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgyhj78copligYWWwNBJH3F5p11KYtQwkmOEsNxg4EBuXIbL4DnBn2cmQpVPZ2rN8M_-p7VksMqkbkntXZeCGFcbncmK1-psSpw9-ymYQnEU26XCusDHcMVFc49KmDvLVyf6FE1CGciakLUPPR6ypGiFBDc75EmqirZgjofHN0JH9N2qGnyskqbjZcLo/s550/SI%20Khamas%20Choudhary%20(52),%20along%20with%20three%20other%20home%20guards,%20was%20standing%20on%20the%20Chhatauna%20bridge%20built%20over%20Budhi%20Gandak%20River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgyhj78copligYWWwNBJH3F5p11KYtQwkmOEsNxg4EBuXIbL4DnBn2cmQpVPZ2rN8M_-p7VksMqkbkntXZeCGFcbncmK1-psSpw9-ymYQnEU26XCusDHcMVFc49KmDvLVyf6FE1CGciakLUPPR6ypGiFBDc75EmqirZgjofHN0JH9N2qGnyskqbjZcLo/w640-h360/SI%20Khamas%20Choudhary%20(52),%20along%20with%20three%20other%20home%20guards,%20was%20standing%20on%20the%20Chhatauna%20bridge%20built%20over%20Budhi%20Gandak%20River.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SI Khamas Choudhary (52), along with three other home guards, was standing on the Chhatauna bridge built over Budhi Gandak River</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A police sub-inspector
was killed and a home guard injured in Bihar after being hit by a liquor-laden
vehicle they were trying to stop. The incident occurred in Begusarai district,
where the sale, transportation, and consumption of alcohol has been banned
since 2016. The owner of the car has been arrested, but the driver remains at
large. A special team has been formed to apprehend the driver.A police
sub-inspector (SI) was killed and a home guard was injured in Begusarai
district of Bihar after they were mowed down by a liquor-laden vehicle, which
they tried to intercept late on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While the owner of the
car was later arrested, a special team has been formed to nab the driver who is
absconding, police added.Sale, transportation and consumption of alcohol was
banned in Bihar in 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to Begusarai
superintendent of police (SP) Yogendra Kumar, the incident took place on
Chhatauna bridge in Dhanauta area, after a team of Nawakothi Police arrived
upon receiving information that liquor was being transported in a car.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The Nawakothi Police
received information that liquor was being transported in a car. Based on the
information, a night patrol vehicle was sent to the spot. At around 12.30am,
police found an Alto car coming from the opposite direction. SI Khamas
Choudhary (52), along with three other home guards, was standing on the
Chhatauna bridge built over Budhi Gandak River,” Kumar said.“Seeing the police
vehicle, the car driver increased his speed and knocked down Choudhary and home
guard Baleshwar Yadav before fleeing the spot. The SI fell from the bridge and
his body was found on the boulders just below the bridge. He died on the spot
due to a head injury,” he added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The home guard sustained
injuries and is undergoing treatment at Sadar Hospital, he said.Recalling the
incident in the hospital, Yadav said the vehicle initially slowed down after
the SI signalled it to stop. “As the SI went near the vehicle, the driver
increased the speed and fled,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Police said the vehicle
was later seized from Muffasil police station area and its owner, Rupesh Kumar,
was arrested.Begusarai SP said that they had tip off about liquor being
smuggled in the car, based on which, the police office tried to intercept the
vehicle. A few hours later, the car was found from Muffasil police station
area, around 10 km from the incident place. Police suspect that the driver
managed to flee with liquor consignments.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“During interrogation,
Rupesh said the vehicle was driven by one Kartikey Singh, who remains at large.
The vehicle owner may be involved in liquor smuggling. So, police have registered
an FIR against both the owner and the driver,” the SP said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While the owner was
booked under Section 120b (conspiracy), the driver was booked under 302
(murder) of Indian Penal Code. Police said a special team has been formed to
probe the incident and nab the driver.The incident triggered a political row
after the BJP slammed the government over its “wrong policies”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Due to the wrong
policies of liquor ban, due to the stubbornness of Bihar chief minister Nitish
Kumar, a lot of innocent people had to go to jail. A lot of people were killed
by liquor mafias… Who is responsible for this? Nitish Kumar!” Union minister
Giriraj Singh said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Nitish Kumar, please
let go of your stubbornness and review your decision by calling an all-party
meeting,” he added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“There is complete
Jungle Raj in Bihar. Liquor mafia runs over a cop and injures a home guard.
Earlier, sand mafia had killed a cop on duty…,” BJP national spokesperson
Shehzad Poonawalla said, referring to the death of an SI, after he was mowed
down by a tractor carrying illegally mined sand in Jamui district last
month.State excise minister Sunil Kumar assured strict action in the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Let us wait for the
police report, and we’ll ensure that from next time, the standard operating
procedure is followed and the police will go with adequate strength for raids.
Secondly, we’ll ensure that the morale of the excise and police personnel stays
up. We will also ensure the arrest and speedy trial of the culprits, so that
there is no recurrence of such incidents,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Nitish Kumar,
now JD(U) president, reveals 2024 Lok Sabha polls action plan<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefaLdcGclSv3JUpaR9VbhsbhTbCashL9375KIQCx70-YIZx2olFv_U-99qNGpBjkU8W_D3zYEBOl9qKbiLzvVWPVOiH4BrvyzT76vsO35OzeP-CsRCaI5JX6W6Qgo3A7AlY-VHm2z35nClD5MVdBWs-YeJkFdbpiT-M_la1nkYpy7anmv0JsiJOluQKg/s549/Bihar%20chief%20minister%20Nitish%20Kumar%20speaks%20to%20the%20media%20on%20becoming%20the%20new%20national%20president%20of%20Janata%20Dal%20(United),%20in%20New%20Delhi%20on%20Friday.%20Former%20JD(U)%20President%20Rajiv%20Ranjan%20(Lalan)%20Singh%20is%20also%20seen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefaLdcGclSv3JUpaR9VbhsbhTbCashL9375KIQCx70-YIZx2olFv_U-99qNGpBjkU8W_D3zYEBOl9qKbiLzvVWPVOiH4BrvyzT76vsO35OzeP-CsRCaI5JX6W6Qgo3A7AlY-VHm2z35nClD5MVdBWs-YeJkFdbpiT-M_la1nkYpy7anmv0JsiJOluQKg/w640-h360/Bihar%20chief%20minister%20Nitish%20Kumar%20speaks%20to%20the%20media%20on%20becoming%20the%20new%20national%20president%20of%20Janata%20Dal%20(United),%20in%20New%20Delhi%20on%20Friday.%20Former%20JD(U)%20President%20Rajiv%20Ranjan%20(Lalan)%20Singh%20is%20also%20seen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar speaks to the media on becoming the new national president of Janata Dal (United), in New Delhi on Friday. Former JD(U) President Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh is also seen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is not the first time
when Nitish Kumar has taken over as the president of the party. In 2016, he had
become party president after replacing Sharad Yadav.Bihar chief minister Nitish
Kumar on Friday took over as the Janata Dal (United) president at the meeting
of his party's national executive in the national capital, a move seen by many
as the 70-year-old leader's national ambitions for the 2024 Lok Sabha
elections.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I didn't seek any post.
Thr good work we have done in Bihar has to be publicized across the country. I
will travel to different states. The BJP doesn't allow us to highlight our
achievements,” Kumar said in the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias
Lalan Singh, who was serving as the JD(U) chief since 2021, stepped down and
proposed the CM's name for the top party post. JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi
rejected rumours of a tiff between the two leaders. “Our party remains united, there
are no differences between Nitish Kumar and Lalan Singh,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Four proposals were
passed including political caste based census at the national level. In
January, Nitish Kumar will start campaign starting from Jharkhand. He
authorised to negotiate with allies for seat sharing agreement,” Tyagi said.
JD(U) is a part of the opposition ‘INDIA’ bloc.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bihar minister Vijay
Kumar Choudhary earlier said,""There will national executive meeting
of JD(U). If they accept our proposal then Nitish Kumar will be the party
president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with
elections, so he wants to hand over the post of party president to him and
Nitish Kumar accepted it."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is not the first time
when Nitish Kumar has taken over as the president of the party. In 2016, he had
become party president after replacing Sharad Yadav. A year later, Kumar broke
ruling alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and joined hands with the BJP.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Last year, Nitish Kumar
ended his five-year-long association with the BJP again and reunited with the
RJD.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Uddhav camp
taunts BJP over Ayodhya buzz, says may declare Lord Ram as poll candidate<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNi7dg14HuNCrLwVqnDy2udC2c1nhBp8WP7xa0Tkz7amLXBukCuggLONh-dOjDgdvyK25F0XAXKoFvSSAGOQbw14r1qCYLVjucwD_z8ez5rUbacEMnzoPBu2G2O4O4iH-iAOlCmO_8WOgjJCuAtbTaK0s4f8F_g0VnIzQl1tfuj3eaAPgh8wplEO2j9CM/s550/Shiv%20Sena%20(UBT)%20leader%20Sanjay%20Raut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNi7dg14HuNCrLwVqnDy2udC2c1nhBp8WP7xa0Tkz7amLXBukCuggLONh-dOjDgdvyK25F0XAXKoFvSSAGOQbw14r1qCYLVjucwD_z8ez5rUbacEMnzoPBu2G2O4O4iH-iAOlCmO_8WOgjJCuAtbTaK0s4f8F_g0VnIzQl1tfuj3eaAPgh8wplEO2j9CM/w640-h360/Shiv%20Sena%20(UBT)%20leader%20Sanjay%20Raut.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Ram Temple
inauguration in Ayodhya is expected to boost PM Modi and his party's chances as
they fulfill one of their main poll promises.Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb
Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata
Party over the politicization of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying the only thing
left for the BJP is to announce Lord Ram as their candidate for the 2024 Lok
Sabha elections. Raut's remarks came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
visit to the riverside town of Uttar Pradesh, where he is scheduled to launch
several mega projects.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Now, the only thing
left is that the BJP will announce that Lord Ram will be their candidate for
the elections. So much politics is being done in the name of Lord Ram,” Raut,
known for his no-holds-barred comments, told reporters.Raut earlier said the
inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22 was a "BJP
event" and not a national one.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Responding to a query on
whether Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray would take part in the idol
consecration ceremony, he said, “Thackeray will definitely go but only after
the BJP's event gets over. Why should one go to a BJP event? It is not a
national event. The BJP is holding rallies and campaigning a lot for this
function but where is the purity in it.”Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate
projects totalling ₹11,000 crore in Ayodhya, including a new airport and revamped
railway station ahead of the consecration ceremony of the long-anticipated
temple in January. The airport, whose facade will mirror temple architecture,
has been developed in anticipation of an increase in tourism to the city,
according to a government statement.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ayodhya has undergone a
facelift over the past few years as authorities widened roads and built bridges
and highways ahead of an anticipated influx of Hindu pilgrims.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDr5E56Awj_Nm5lvK9gyUObqB3RqFmACbNd21yqgN0B_LOlJlLkllq6jGHIByVpLHTGv-5oTNndgf9bLbxaL5cw5fl1w2YWywV0W_-R4c4n9mazSDqleku5hEjRelLe7QOKe0Nv28ujfwSidm16pJaq09s7Ik-Fb8eHhu6HCzJGcAqCIxn65MyCewZZnQ/s549/The%20Maharshi%20Valmiki%20International%20Airport%20in%20Ayodhya..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDr5E56Awj_Nm5lvK9gyUObqB3RqFmACbNd21yqgN0B_LOlJlLkllq6jGHIByVpLHTGv-5oTNndgf9bLbxaL5cw5fl1w2YWywV0W_-R4c4n9mazSDqleku5hEjRelLe7QOKe0Nv28ujfwSidm16pJaq09s7Ik-Fb8eHhu6HCzJGcAqCIxn65MyCewZZnQ/w640-h360/The%20Maharshi%20Valmiki%20International%20Airport%20in%20Ayodhya..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Maharshi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya.</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Our government is
committed to developing international-standard infrastructure, improving
connectivity and revamping civic facilities while confirming the rich history
and heritage of Lord Shri Ram’s Ayodhya,” Modi said in a post on X.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Rajasthan
cabinet: Rajyavardhan Rathore, Kirodi Lal Meena take oath | Full list<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcFhznsEsdu1PKlLOY2Bdq_Zxd-iD8adp1m6zJNoSwPCflu71zdAu-sWXgS4jgf3xLKWJOjKfg9xmEAKvoW2lwAAgU1SQvMwBgqLl8_pnHM4N6gu4FWCd0rd7zpj_WtYollAtpaAGzvTbCycEsKOnxVBJ1f03OsYAYgLvUN-UPiN0xiNTt-9S-XcBNIU/s549/Governor%20Kalraj%20Mishra%20administered%20the%20oath-taking%20ceremony%20for%20the%20BJP%20MLAs%20at%20Raj%20Bhavan%20in%20Jaipur%20on%20Saturday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcFhznsEsdu1PKlLOY2Bdq_Zxd-iD8adp1m6zJNoSwPCflu71zdAu-sWXgS4jgf3xLKWJOjKfg9xmEAKvoW2lwAAgU1SQvMwBgqLl8_pnHM4N6gu4FWCd0rd7zpj_WtYollAtpaAGzvTbCycEsKOnxVBJ1f03OsYAYgLvUN-UPiN0xiNTt-9S-XcBNIU/w640-h360/Governor%20Kalraj%20Mishra%20administered%20the%20oath-taking%20ceremony%20for%20the%20BJP%20MLAs%20at%20Raj%20Bhavan%20in%20Jaipur%20on%20Saturday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Governor Kalraj Mishra administered the oath-taking ceremony for the BJP MLAs at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur on Saturday</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rajasthan cabinet
expansion: 12 MLAs were sworn in as cabinet ministers, five as ministers of
state (independent charge), and five as ministers of state.Nearly a month after
the announcement of the assembly election results in Rajasthan, 22 MLAs were
sworn in as state ministers on Saturday for chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's
cabinet. Among them, 12 were sworn in as cabinet ministers, five as ministers
of state (independent charge), and five as ministers of state.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Among those who took the
oath were Kirodi Lal Meena, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, and Gajendra Singh
Khimsar.Governor Kalraj Mishra administered the oath-taking ceremony for the
BJP MLAs at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur. Earlier in the day, Bhajan Lal Sharma met
with Mishra at Raj Bhavan, seeking permission for the swearing-in ceremony, as
per an official statement. The governor granted consent for the ceremony,
scheduled to take place at Raj Bhavan at 3.15 pm, the statement confirmed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">MLAs inducted into the Rajasthan cabinet:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kirodi Lal Meena<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Madan Dilawar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rajyavardhan Singh
Rathore<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gajendra Singh Khimsar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Babulal Kharadi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jogaram Patel<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Suresh Singh Rawat<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Avinash Gehlot<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Joraram Kumawat<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hemant Meena<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sumit Godara<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Those who took oath as ministers of state (independent
charge):</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sanjay Sharma<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gautam Kumar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jhabar Singh Kharra<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Surendra Pal Singh<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Heeralal Nagar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Five others took oath as
ministers of state:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ottaram Dewasi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Manju Baghmar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Vijay Singh Choudhary<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">K K Bishnoi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jawahar Singh Bedam<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Rajasthan assembly
election results were declared on December 3, with the BJP securing victory in
115 out of the 199 contested seats. The party named Sharma, a newcomer to the
legislative assembly, as the chief minister, and appointed Diya Kumari and Prem
Chand Bairwa as his deputies on December 12.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Layoffs 2023:
Nike to cut hundreds of jobs in December, will spend $400 million in severance</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5BHLDzdiKaPr9hdqcOfuEdNRM_tQamt9KiQ1EoENVzavtkZ6qG97ersj1AJa8Izx4Zfu1NMOKoHBPyLilZIWpu04NZ9ALwNHBvfYuuokjfjZjxDlo3aq_HxyhmOBZzEH7sMhlPYu3O3d92HzLmGimZAJyw3I11MjY6ZBeRJxJGTQY7QXjAp2QCCJBJo/s1280/NIKELAYOFF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5BHLDzdiKaPr9hdqcOfuEdNRM_tQamt9KiQ1EoENVzavtkZ6qG97ersj1AJa8Izx4Zfu1NMOKoHBPyLilZIWpu04NZ9ALwNHBvfYuuokjfjZjxDlo3aq_HxyhmOBZzEH7sMhlPYu3O3d92HzLmGimZAJyw3I11MjY6ZBeRJxJGTQY7QXjAp2QCCJBJo/w640-h360/NIKELAYOFF.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nike recently said in a
statement that the company is cutting hundreds of jobs in December 2023, just
as recession fears had begun to cool down.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The wave of layoffs in
2023 has not been kind to any industry, be it technology, retail or fashion.
Now, major apparel brand Nike has announced that it is planning to cut hundreds
of jobs before the new year starts. Nike is planning to cut hundreds of jobs
and increase automation of certain services in order to $2 billion in costs,
reported The Guardian. The company is cutting costs across the departments due
to poor sales over the last year.In a statement, the US-based sports apparel
firm said that they have taken this measure to streamline this organisation,
and will be spending $450 million during the layoffs due to restructuring and
for severance for the employees.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nike has not yet seen
any major uptick in sales in 2023, with the company reporting only 1 per cent
hike in sales over the last three months. The profit margins of the company
were up, but the company remains uncertain of its retail future as sales
continue to dip.Not only is there a lull in the rise of the sales of Nike, but
the share prices of the company fell 10 percent in after hours trading. Nike is
not the only sporting apparel company with a dip in share prices, with other
firms such as JD Sports and Sports Direct also experiencing a fall on the stock
market.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is the second
largest layoff in Nike after the company fired 700 employees in 2020 in the
middle of the Covid pandemic in an effort to cut costs during the global
lockdown. Layoffs in 2023 spark recession fear<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The economic slowdown in
the United States and European Union, as well as the inflation rates caused by
Covid, Russia-Ukraine war and other factors have sparked a fear of recession in
2023 in western countries, leading to many companies indulging in mass layoffs.
However, Indian companies saw a 58 per cent increase in layoffs, surpassing
last year's trends. a total of 1,175 tech companies laid off 2,60,509 employees
in 2023 as compared with 1,064 tech companies letting go of 1,64,969 employees
in 2022, as per data from layoffs.fyi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">7) IMF cautions
India on govt debt vulnerabilities, Centre disagrees<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrIP5hb20B0WXbLwx23im5anepSsl4HimUwkfc4uFctM3uRK0eKtG_3pb5nbG9_1pty2bIQLky7YmRRVuw0LHTmF9AqwQGkQPdjc0e8G5JDuUD7b_wd2aBIP3jZmKAsb2p-4OEcDDU9YRWRANT1t0326ErlqQDLuS6DvuNNjO0oJxj7mDOZAwopTISXA/s826/IMF%20LOAN1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="826" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrIP5hb20B0WXbLwx23im5anepSsl4HimUwkfc4uFctM3uRK0eKtG_3pb5nbG9_1pty2bIQLky7YmRRVuw0LHTmF9AqwQGkQPdjc0e8G5JDuUD7b_wd2aBIP3jZmKAsb2p-4OEcDDU9YRWRANT1t0326ErlqQDLuS6DvuNNjO0oJxj7mDOZAwopTISXA/w640-h360/IMF%20LOAN1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">General govt debt may
exceed 100% of GDP in medium term, warns Fund The International Monetary Fund
(IMF) warned on Tuesday that India’s general government debt could exceed 100
per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the medium term. It also cautioned
that long-term debt sustainability risks are high due to the significant
investment required to meet India’s climate change mitigation targets.</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDRjURIDDDdWVKEV1NcClR2DAMUNzdiE1GrTdpmN79UtnzHfgd1szEeDO5EjKf_e632ONSoUvLPn-VWrrMDfj7e6wrL71iRsUnQcJLGJ8seF-XpX__z4bxcamY0iSnHjp0cwfxe3osvlBXHaxpQiahaSL1C_ju_KoEKi2CtAeqKSk1_o6dVlo4EPD4Ow/s574/IMF%20LOAN2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="549" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDRjURIDDDdWVKEV1NcClR2DAMUNzdiE1GrTdpmN79UtnzHfgd1szEeDO5EjKf_e632ONSoUvLPn-VWrrMDfj7e6wrL71iRsUnQcJLGJ8seF-XpX__z4bxcamY0iSnHjp0cwfxe3osvlBXHaxpQiahaSL1C_ju_KoEKi2CtAeqKSk1_o6dVlo4EPD4Ow/w612-h640/IMF%20LOAN2.jpg" width="612" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Indian government,
however, disagreed, arguing that risks from sovereign debt are extremely
limited as it is predominantly denominated in domestic currency. “Long-term
risks are high because considerable investment is required to reach India’s
climate change mitigation targets and improve resilience to climate stresses
and natural disasters. This suggests that new and preferably concessional
sources of financing are needed, as well as greater private sector investment
and carbon pricing or equivalent mechanism,” the IMF said in its annual Article
IV consultation report, which is part of the Fund’s surveillance function under
the Articles of Agreement with member countries. KV Subramanian, India’s
executive director at the IMF, on the other hand, said the IMF’s assertion that
the baseline carries the risk that debt would exceed 100 per cent of GDP in the
medium term in the event of shocks which India has experienced historically
sounds extreme. “The same can be said of the staff prognosis that debt
sustainability risks are high in the long term. The risks from sovereign debt
are very limited as it is predominantly denominated in domestic currency.
Despite the multitude of shocks, the global economy has faced in the past two
decades, India’s public debt-to-GDP ratio at the general government level has
barely increased from 81 per cent in 2005-06 to 84 per cent in 2021-22, and
back to 81 per cent in 2022-23,” he said in a statement, which is part of the
report.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1hQlSan5jl5y90nEkrcSKBRQqxzPpy3LBEc8eL84EQgOX9h18frcjvQAXXOdLUCi9mE5r7Dzkv3STKlE6id_d9wREeEY5DoKmcUq_u_d-luK_DEHSz9KK2t378x2lR9dWrx5oktkz1SCyCJM9tnYwS42RYpn8Z7vChAM0nY0LNgGc1_kIXGTcolthJY/s1280/IMF%20LOAN3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1hQlSan5jl5y90nEkrcSKBRQqxzPpy3LBEc8eL84EQgOX9h18frcjvQAXXOdLUCi9mE5r7Dzkv3STKlE6id_d9wREeEY5DoKmcUq_u_d-luK_DEHSz9KK2t378x2lR9dWrx5oktkz1SCyCJM9tnYwS42RYpn8Z7vChAM0nY0LNgGc1_kIXGTcolthJY/w640-h360/IMF%20LOAN3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The IMF noted the
rupee-US dollar exchange rate moved within a narrow range during December
2022-October 2023, suggesting that foreign exchange intervention (FXI) by the
central bank likely exceeded levels necessary to address disorderly market
conditions. The Fund reclassified India’s de facto exchange rate regime to
“stabilised arrangement” from “floating” for the said period and argued that a
flexible exchange rate should act as the first line of defence in absorbing
external shocks. The Indian side denounced the reclassification, terming it
“unjustified” and pointing out the subjective selection of the period by staff
in their analysis.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There was a significant
divergence of views on the exchange rate and FXI assessments. The authorities
highlighted that FXI is only used to curb excessive exchange rate volatility.
The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) strongly disagreed with staff’s assessment that
FXI likely exceeded levels necessary to address disorderly market conditions
and has contributed to the rupee-USD moving within a narrow range since
December 2022. The RBI strongly believes that such a view is incorrect as, in
their view, it uses data selectively,” the report noted.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Subramanian argued that
the movement in the rupee-US dollar exchange rate exceeds the stipulated margin
if the analysis period is extended, implying a subjective selection of the
period by staff in their analysis. He stated, “Given the foregoing, staff
characterisation of India’s exchange rate as a ‘stabilised arrangement’ is
incorrect and inconsistent with reality. As in the past, exchange rate
flexibility would continue to be the first line of defence in absorbing
external shocks, with interventions limited to addressing disorderly market
conditions.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRLnWS1hBopkSqEMZdUHvrLnV7keioEEU_mqQ2p-uUnyCrmG1itKqgEOJUl_yJ96Tub7w_pPWtAGHdK_9jO81JfDi0wk-9tBH3cYJzwr41pUjipGSZgUTPFDfAGoSqfpAcq7WxHOVUtxq6l9s92w11dVdkh6Do6cqGe5Q6oOLlfRR9PkCcvh_Zz0ECMs/s600/IMF%20LOAN4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRLnWS1hBopkSqEMZdUHvrLnV7keioEEU_mqQ2p-uUnyCrmG1itKqgEOJUl_yJ96Tub7w_pPWtAGHdK_9jO81JfDi0wk-9tBH3cYJzwr41pUjipGSZgUTPFDfAGoSqfpAcq7WxHOVUtxq6l9s92w11dVdkh6Do6cqGe5Q6oOLlfRR9PkCcvh_Zz0ECMs/w640-h360/IMF%20LOAN4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A government official
said: “The IMF doesn't understand India's domestic compulsions. Since imported
inflation is a crucial element of India’s overall inflation that impacts 1.4
billion people, the central bank has to actively manage the rupee volatility.”
The Fund said risks to India’s economic growth outlook are balanced, while
raising the medium-term potential growth rate at 6.3 per cent, from 6 per cent
estimated earlier, citing larger-than-expected capital spending and higher
employment. However, the Indian government communicated to the IMF that it is
more optimistic with a potential growth estimate of 7-8 per cent. “A sharp
global growth slowdown in the near term would affect India through trade and
financial channels. Further global supply disruptions could cause recurrent
commodity price volatility, increasing fiscal pressures for India.
Domestically, weather shocks could reignite inflationary pressures and prompt
further food export restrictions. On the upside, stronger than expected
consumer demand and private investment would raise growth,” the Fund said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The multilateral lending
institution said India did not experience a significant spike in the inflation
rate when most economies suffered from elevated commodity prices in 2022,
reflecting extensive government interventions, such as restrictions on wheat,
sugar, and rice exports, removal of tax on import of lentils, and reversal of
earlier increases in excise duties on petrol and diesel.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Subramanian, however,
emphasised that India’s lower inflation rate was not due to “extensive
government intervention”, but due to India’s “sui generis economic policy”
during the Covid-19 pandemic that anticipated that the pandemic also presented
a significant supply-side shock, which led to India implementing a judicious
mix of demand-side and supply-side measures.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Contrary to the IMF
perception, he said there are no lingering vulnerabilities in NBFCs and the
weaker tail of NBFCs vulnerable to liquidity risks are not systemically
important. “Staff scenario that a sudden increase in sovereign risk premia
could weigh on balance sheets and bank lending appetite appears far-fetched,
given the strong macro fundamentals. The forthcoming inclusion in emerging
government bond indices will broaden the investor base and diversify risks,” he
added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmOZgzma5rv4ArGc1eew_ooGGlo-50gVWGiaIKmRx56Mp9jH01NmMqX1eE6CSxcE5plKl31tsLgU1M3N_xNfdeNnlWeFDqXqWaZ5mUMcRi2s7HPOb_hdFYSxO6YCudeTjyfD9xYPVxq_2WeC41LTvohSHLM_tA08AQLDq0dTP2uxoWtYuJFqlBj1N6t0/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmOZgzma5rv4ArGc1eew_ooGGlo-50gVWGiaIKmRx56Mp9jH01NmMqX1eE6CSxcE5plKl31tsLgU1M3N_xNfdeNnlWeFDqXqWaZ5mUMcRi2s7HPOb_hdFYSxO6YCudeTjyfD9xYPVxq_2WeC41LTvohSHLM_tA08AQLDq0dTP2uxoWtYuJFqlBj1N6t0/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) India vs South
Africa Highlights, 1st Test Day 3: Kohli fifty only a consolation prize as IND
slump to innings defeat:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqCS1_WYe4JdwoOMznjiLNZYa6tpXz3qHE23D3i5zSFxExBxoZ8qje-8cAFg-9UN8XMrRHRndgs4SIh_kUAL5s5LvzmkwYzpK0VkVNgEWt2yK-NAp15OqsXniIEuogB2ICjXsKU5WkclTKA9A_735nqzmrgb3LjkGcKWFGGrvUXwZVgHkGenbICPOT00/s549/ndia%20vs%20South%20Africa%20Live%20Score,%201st%20Test%20Day%203%20Shreyas%20Iyer%20fell%20after%20tea(.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqCS1_WYe4JdwoOMznjiLNZYa6tpXz3qHE23D3i5zSFxExBxoZ8qje-8cAFg-9UN8XMrRHRndgs4SIh_kUAL5s5LvzmkwYzpK0VkVNgEWt2yK-NAp15OqsXniIEuogB2ICjXsKU5WkclTKA9A_735nqzmrgb3LjkGcKWFGGrvUXwZVgHkGenbICPOT00/w640-h360/ndia%20vs%20South%20Africa%20Live%20Score,%201st%20Test%20Day%203%20Shreyas%20Iyer%20fell%20after%20tea(.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ndia vs South Africa Live Score, 1st Test Day 3 Shreyas Iyer fell after tea(</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India vs South Africa
Highlights, 1st Test Day 3: SA beat IND by an innings and 32 runs inside three
days to go 1-0 up Centurion.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1st Test Day 3: South
Africa beat India by an innings and 32 runs to sail to a 1-0 lead in the
series. India were rocked in the final session of Day 3, losing 7 wickets for
59 runs to inch closer to an innings defeat and go 0-1 in the series. The
collapse was triggered by Marco Jansen, who dismissed Shreyas Iyer to pick up
his second wicket before Nandre Burger sent back KL Rahul and Ravichandran
Ashwin in back-to-back deliveries. Virat Kohli waged a lone battle with a
half-century but it was nothing more than a consolation prize for India.
Jasprit Bumrah was run out and Mohammed Siraj was caught behind as it all came
crashing down for India with their hopes of winning a maiden Test series in
South Africa going up in smoke.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India had reached 62/3
at Tea, trailing SA by 101 runs in their second innings on Day 3 of the ongoing
first Test, in Centurion on Thursday. In response to South Africa's first
innings total of 408, India began on a weak note, losing openers Yashasvi
Jaiswal (5) and Rohit Sharma (0) early. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill failed to build
on a good start, falling for 26 off 37 balls.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier on Day 3, SA
posted 408, and have took a lead of 163 runs. Dean Elgar and Marco Jansen gave
the Proteas a strong start on Day 3, and built a 100-run partnership. But Elgar
narrowly missed out on a double hundred, falling to Shardul Thakur for 185 off
287 balls. Meanwhile, Jansen (72*) is currently unbeaten and will look to form
a partnership with Kagiso Rabada (1*) in the post-Lunch session. Gerald<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Coetzee was the other
South African wicket in the first session, falling to R Ashwin for 19 off 18
balls. Jansen built on his half-century in the post-Lunch session, but wasn't
supported by the tailenders. Kagiso Rabada (1) and Burger (0) fell to Bumrah as
SA ended their innings with a massive lead. Initially, India posted 245 in the
first innings and were bowled out on Day 2. KL Rahul (101) top-scored for the
visitors with a ton. Meanwhile, Kagiso Rabada bagged five wickets for South
Africa. Dean Elgar scored 185 before he was the first South Africa batter out
today, dismissed by Shardul Thakur.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Marco Jansen struck a
career-best 87 not out as South Africa's innings ended at 408/9.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- The injured Temba
Bavuma did not come to bat for South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Jasprit Bumrah picked
up 4/69 but South Africa managed to take a 163-run lead.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- India were off to a
woeful start losing opener Rohit Sharma for a duck and Yashasvi Jaiswal for 5.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Shubman Gill scored a
quickfire 26 off 37 before he was bowled by Marco Jansen.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- Virat Kohli scored a
fifty but it went in vain.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">- India lost 7 wickets
for 59 runs in the final session as SA wrapped up the game.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Nihal, Arjun
tied for top place in World Blitz</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYBIBLXgTpaGwdr2f-SsPx6HCNva5U5nkNnzlAmT_1az7uz4jfLtRTa0i5mR_-VrUZQ2n2UtLmt9Vi-ceOZYXLihOlHawkrx9fX48CObn-WRj57YQhvucBzGYpKpCTgHZ_F_EFTImSQYSn0VZMPkezhDrcjaFB66QpWCC5Ygh1kkUTUD-r2MB50Q3ePs/s550/Nihal%20Sarin%20is%20an%20Indian%20grandmaster..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYBIBLXgTpaGwdr2f-SsPx6HCNva5U5nkNnzlAmT_1az7uz4jfLtRTa0i5mR_-VrUZQ2n2UtLmt9Vi-ceOZYXLihOlHawkrx9fX48CObn-WRj57YQhvucBzGYpKpCTgHZ_F_EFTImSQYSn0VZMPkezhDrcjaFB66QpWCC5Ygh1kkUTUD-r2MB50Q3ePs/w640-h360/Nihal%20Sarin%20is%20an%20Indian%20grandmaster..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nihal Sarin is an Indian grandmaster.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Indian GMs were tied
on 9 points along with freshly-crowned rapid champion Carlsen, Artemiev, Dubov,
Nepomniachtchi, Vachier-Lagrave and Riazantsev.India's Nihal Sarin and Arjun
Erigaisi were among the eight joint leaders after 12 rounds on the opening day
at the 2023 FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on
Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Indian Grandmasters
were tied on 9 points along with freshly-crowned rapid champion Magnus Carlsen,
Vladislav Artemiev, Daniil Dubov, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
and Alexander Riazantsev.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Both Sarin and Erigaisi
shared the top spot with 8.5 points after the 11th and penultimate round and
settled for draws in the day's final round. While the former split a point with
Dubov playing with white, the latter did so with Artemiev.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After beginning with
three draws, Sarin had four straight wins over Mitrabha Guha, Mahammad Muradli,
Alexey Dreev and Denis Makhnev before also beating Vahap Sanal and Artemiev.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Erigaisi, meanwhile,
suffered an early defeat against Aleksandr Rakhmanov in the second round but
turned it around against Venkataraman Karthik and Sumiya Chinguun with black.
He followed it up by beating Jakhongir Vakhidov, Javokhir Sindarov, Volodar
Murzin, Rodrigo Vasquez Schroeder, Aleksandar Indjic and Rauf Mamedov before
the final-round draw. Among other Indians in fray, SL Narayanan and Vidit
Gujrathi are both on 8 points while R Praggnanandhaa, who endured four defeats
including in the final two rounds after a bright start of five straight
victories, finds himself below the pack with 7.5 points.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Carlsen and
Nepomniachtchi, meanwhile, played out a nervy draw in the final round.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The competition will
continue on Friday, with 9 more rounds to unfold.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Sandeep takes
the Kabaddi route to success<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_6PLrfBN7iY5yihIaXuL2fjdJtwGugVxQnk73pwEluyg1EUTBnsUChPNdg04cmDnpez13dn_YlUv78Hzz-nMO6-UzOvGx1B5XVawGY5v_l9w6L55V6pE-q6306At7bD3NAuiXucH9aVLOZ7VUT_Q10WNsw48NB2lLVL1CYeBTo52xqa3GNekOghtkeg/s549/Sandeep%20Kumar%20aims%20to%20play%20for%20India.(.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_6PLrfBN7iY5yihIaXuL2fjdJtwGugVxQnk73pwEluyg1EUTBnsUChPNdg04cmDnpez13dn_YlUv78Hzz-nMO6-UzOvGx1B5XVawGY5v_l9w6L55V6pE-q6306At7bD3NAuiXucH9aVLOZ7VUT_Q10WNsw48NB2lLVL1CYeBTo52xqa3GNekOghtkeg/w640-h360/Sandeep%20Kumar%20aims%20to%20play%20for%20India.(.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandeep Kumar aims to play for India.(</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The son of an auto
rickshaw driver, he made his PKL debut as a raider for Patna Pirates<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Playing kabaddi on the
banks of Ganga in Bihar’s Chamtha village, Sandeep Kumar would often stop to
watch an airplane fly past, wondering how it would be to fly in one of them.
Little did he know that a few years down the line, he would be flying
regularly, watching the same river from above as he flew from one city to
another, criss-crossing the country for the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). "It
was surreal, the first time I flew was last month. I cannot tell you how good
it felt. It was a dream come true. I had never thought I’d sit in a plane,”
said the 20-year-old.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The son of an auto
rickshaw driver, Sandeep has lived a poverty-stricken childhood in Begusarai
district. As his father’s income wasn’t enough to make ends meet, Sandeep, his
mother and two siblings used to live with relatives.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Also, my father wasn’t
with us in Bihar as he used to drive the auto rickshaw in Rohtak. I cannot
explain how bad the situation was. Only someone who has lived in poverty can
understand,” said Sandeep.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Like any kid in India,
Sandeep too used to play cricket with his friends in his village when he
noticed some seniors play kabaddi and decided to join them. While his friends
started dropping out and playing cricket again, Sandeep stuck to his newfound
interest. As Sandeep kept improving, he was picked by scouts to play local
tournaments which became a rewarding experience as he would win prize money,
anywhere between ₹1,500 to ₹5,000, for winning these events. Initially
Sandeep’s family was against him ‘wasting time’ in kabaddi but the teenager
returning home with cash which not just took care of his expenses but also
brought in ration for the family started changing mindsets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I was asked to
study. If not, then at least get some job so that the family could earn some
money. They used to say what can you possibly do in your life playing kabaddi.
Things started changing when I started bringing in a few thousand rupees after
winning local tournaments,” said Sandeep. With the aim of sharpening his game,
Sandeep left Begusarai to take training at the academy at the Patliputra Sports
Complex in Patna, which also hosted the 2012 women’s World Cup.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The influx of money kept
increasing as Sandeep also got picked for the Bihar state team, playing the
2022 Junior Nationals and the 2023 Junior Federation Cup, where he captained
his state, bringing Sandeep into the ambit of the PKL auction pool. A raider,
his skills were immediately noticed which made Patna Pirates buy him for ₹9
lakh in October.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sandeep has immediately
become a critical part of the team, playing all eight games of the team yet,
helping them win four including the one against Haryana Steelers in Noida on
Friday. “My family is very happy now and realise how sticking to kabaddi helped
me. They support me and also watch my matches on TV," said Sandeep. The
financial situation is his household has also improved with his brother taking
up a private job in Rajasthan while his younger sister, who studies in Class
XII, is a national level gymnast and has already played seven Nationals at sub
junior, junior and senior levels. Having accumulated some money, his family is
now thinking of buying a piece of land to build a house in his village.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Having played at the
national level and now the PKL, Sandeep now aims to play for India. “I want to
win medals for India,” said Sandeep.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Formula E
Hyderabad E-Prix runs into fresh trouble<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSHd6LWQSMX2goVO57Z9HMbiQpKQXh3tbAPWPXCxuhpxR6r0FghP6BbTWeA40hQlMvMDvhkboqWZsVmfAENX9XwUy9Z4k-JFFee97hSmWrVn-RNHZUZNjS0lvWKFUyP3mNUbkM9zIpQAXJUvbUdUD4flKYUKvCnW5HgDj6AtelJhuazvh58Mkln1jAl8/s549/Jean-Eric-Vergne%20of%20France%20DS%20Penske%20driver%20ride%20during%20the%20Hyderabad%20E-Prix%20on%20February%2011,%202023%20in%20Hyderabad,%20India.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSHd6LWQSMX2goVO57Z9HMbiQpKQXh3tbAPWPXCxuhpxR6r0FghP6BbTWeA40hQlMvMDvhkboqWZsVmfAENX9XwUy9Z4k-JFFee97hSmWrVn-RNHZUZNjS0lvWKFUyP3mNUbkM9zIpQAXJUvbUdUD4flKYUKvCnW5HgDj6AtelJhuazvh58Mkln1jAl8/w640-h360/Jean-Eric-Vergne%20of%20France%20DS%20Penske%20driver%20ride%20during%20the%20Hyderabad%20E-Prix%20on%20February%2011,%202023%20in%20Hyderabad,%20India.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jean-Eric-Vergne of France DS Penske driver ride during the Hyderabad E-Prix on February 11, 2023 in Hyderabad, India</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Following a recent
communication received from the new Government of Telangana, Formula E is
seeking urgent clarification of their contractual commitments The 2024
Hyderabad E-Prix has hit fresh trouble after Formula E on Thursday raised
concerns if the race would be able go ahead as planned on February 10.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Following a recent
official communication received from the new Government of Telangana, Formula E
is seeking urgent clarification of their contractual commitments under the
agreement and how it could impact the Hyderabad race. Based on the content of
the letter received, Formula E is concerned the race will not be able to go
ahead as planned," said a Formula E statement.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The fourth round of the
21-race calendar, the Hyderabad E-Prix was initially not in the provisional
2024 calendar when it was released in June before making the final list in
October following the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But a lot has changed
since then as Telangana got a new government this month with Congress’s Revanth
Reddy as the new chief minister. Bharat Rashtra Samithi's KT Rama Rao, cabinet
minister of the previous Telangana government and son of former CM K
Chandrashekar Rao, had played an important role in bringing the global
motorsport championship to India with the inaugural race held in February this
year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Formula E has a
four-year contract to host the race in India with the host city agreement
signed on October 30 for the 2024 race. Formula E’s senior executive team met
with the new government immediately following election results earlier this
month. Discussions have been ongoing since then.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“With the event just a
few weeks away and in its final stages of preparation, Formula E, partners and
suppliers have already made significant commercial investments in the event.
The inaugural Hyderabad E-Prix in February this year returned almost $84
million in positive economic impact to the region, many times more than the
overhead costs invested by Formula E and the Government of Telangana,"
added the statement.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An additional problem is
that the race has no promoter currently as Ace Gen Nxt backed by green energy
company Greenko, which was also the principal sponsor, has already pulled out
after hosting the first race in February. The maiden race had its own share of
problems. Many last-minute arrangements had to be made well into the race
weekend that didn't go down well with the organisers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The race was the first
global motorsport race to be held in India following the unceremonious exit of
Formula 1 in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Govt didn't
follow ‘proper procedure’ while suspending WFI, will challenge in court: Sanjay
Singh<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfNeEvNFSU4m8yAIjrtTEFH1i53c3C8VrUdOidhuXVtrkVsy8FkQhgVpqrlStCVF-nBo86S_J_h39uGEivaJUu9WqETVdm3rlDUiavsTK3wKvrotOx2tGwQoRM_Na82FO97ysShbIen2AGo2Rr-t3ZJVVD3qcIkmvmuIzhB1MamyjVCBlO9AKmcncfQE/s549/Sanjay%20Singh,%20who%20was%20elected%20as%20the%20new%20Wrestling%20Federation%20of%20India%20(WFI)%20chief,%20speaks%20regarding%20the%20suspension%20of%20the%20newly%20elected%20body.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfNeEvNFSU4m8yAIjrtTEFH1i53c3C8VrUdOidhuXVtrkVsy8FkQhgVpqrlStCVF-nBo86S_J_h39uGEivaJUu9WqETVdm3rlDUiavsTK3wKvrotOx2tGwQoRM_Na82FO97ysShbIen2AGo2Rr-t3ZJVVD3qcIkmvmuIzhB1MamyjVCBlO9AKmcncfQE/w640-h360/Sanjay%20Singh,%20who%20was%20elected%20as%20the%20new%20Wrestling%20Federation%20of%20India%20(WFI)%20chief,%20speaks%20regarding%20the%20suspension%20of%20the%20newly%20elected%20body.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanjay Singh, who was elected as the new Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, speaks regarding the suspension of the newly elected body</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sanjay said that his
"autonomous" and "democratically elected" body could not
have been suspended by the government without hearing the WFI's side of the
story. Newly-elected WFI president Sanjay Singh on Thursday said that the
sports ministry did not follow "proper procedure" while suspending
the wrestling national body and will challenge the government's decision in a
court.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The sports ministry on
Sunday suspended the WFI, three days after its elections were held, for
flouting its own constitution while taking certain decisions, including the
announcement of U-15 and U-20 National Championships. Sanjay, however, said
that his "autonomous" and "democratically elected" body
could not have been suspended by the government without hearing the WFI's side
of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We have won the
elections (of WFI) democratically. The returning officer was the retired chief
justice of J&K High Court, there were observers from the IOA and UWW
(United World Wrestling). There were 22 state units (three absent out of 25
state associations) taking part in the elections, 47 votes were polled out of
which I got 40," Sanjay told PTI. After all these, if you say we are
suspended, we are not going to accept it. A democratically-elected body was not
given a chance to explain its position which is against the principle of
natural justice which everybody is entitled to under the Constitution of
India."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Asked what is the way
forward for his body, he said, "WFI is an autonomous body and the
government has not followed proper procedure. We are going to talk to the government
and if it (government) does not take back the suspension, we are taking legal
opinion and going to court."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He said since the WFI is
contesting the suspension, he does not accept the three-member ad-hoc committee
formed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday to run the
day-to-day affairs of the national sports body. Bajrang, Vinesh and Sakshi
playing politics’<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He said the visit by
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in an akhada in Haryana to meet Olympic medallist
Bajrang Punia made it clear that the trio, who led the five-month-long protest
accusing former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing women
grapplers, were playing politics.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"It is clear that
they (Bajrang, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik) are being backed by the Congress,
tool-kit gang and left parties. These three are playing on the lap of these
political parties," said Sanjay, a close aide of Brij Bhushan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Please tell me any
fourth wrestler who is opposing the WFI other than these three. These three
don't want the junior wrestlers to progress, they want to take away the rights
of junior wrestlers. "Bajrang had gone (to the Hangzhou Asian Games)
without taking part in the trials and he came back with 10-0 loss. They are not
in wrestling, they are in politics. Please come forward if you are concerned
about wrestling, the road is clear for you, but if you want to do politics,
please do it in the open."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sanjay also took a dig
at Bajrang for leaving his Padma Shri on the road after he decided to return it
to the government.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"It may be a
personal matter, but the country's emotions are associated in Khel Ratna, it's
not for a single person, but belongs to the whole society. Padma Shri is not
something which should be put on a road." After the election of Sanjay as
WFI chief, Sakshi quit the sport while Bajrang decided to return his Padma
Shri. Vinesh followed suit by returning her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Hoping that UWW will lift ban on WFI’<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sanjay also claimed that
he had written a letter to the United World Wrestling requesting lifting of the
ban imposed on WFI, and he is hopeful of a favourable decision from the
international parent body.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We have written to
the UWW requesting to lift the ban imposed on the WFI, as the elections were
held democratically. Office holidays are going on (in Europe) so may take some
days."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He also claimed that the
newly-elected office bearers did not violate any constitutional provision of
the WFI while announcing dates and venue of the U-15 and U-20 National
Championships in Gonda -- Brij Bhushan's Lok Sabha constituency -- after the
December 21 elections. "There was full quorum when we took the decision to
hold the U-15 and U-20 Nationals. There was an AGM on the day of the elections,
we went to a hotel (in Delhi) and took the decision.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"If the Nationals
were not held this year, the future of the young wrestlers would have been
spoilt, which it has happened now. They will become overage. Everybody agreed
to the venue also."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Asked why the
newly-elected WFI secretary general Prem Chand Lochab was not involved in the
decision making, he said, "We told the secretary general to go there (at
the hotel) along with us but he did not come. I don't know what is his
intention.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We followed the
WFI Constitution to the full. If we did something (wrong), the government
should have asked for an answer from us instead of restraining us from our
work. WFI is an autonomous body and we were elected in a democratic way under
our (WFI) constitution."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) India squad for
AFC Asian Cup: Samad makes cut but Jeakson, Martins miss out due to injuries</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJh-dDuLHE9C6viVWoKT_1ZaCZqvGpEY-ml0DKvshwWBfPOv6vJgKz2DVOrbKdiW6mzf_6vDIiOytAFFYh6hN8JLo3ZwfMX7c1PuBW_epzkWu-etjWWE2bNji90LngjiCNJMnZAb4tARSjy0A5YJNxP3nV6OHR3be1DG_a7KcgVTTFUdlUGhLaqxmSt2M/s549/Sahal%20Abdul%20Samad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJh-dDuLHE9C6viVWoKT_1ZaCZqvGpEY-ml0DKvshwWBfPOv6vJgKz2DVOrbKdiW6mzf_6vDIiOytAFFYh6hN8JLo3ZwfMX7c1PuBW_epzkWu-etjWWE2bNji90LngjiCNJMnZAb4tARSjy0A5YJNxP3nV6OHR3be1DG_a7KcgVTTFUdlUGhLaqxmSt2M/w640-h360/Sahal%20Abdul%20Samad.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sahal Abdul Samad</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Top defensive midfielder
Jeakson, who underwent shoulder injury in November, was always doubtful and so
was Mohun Bagan's Martins Top defensive midfielder Jeakson, who underwent
shoulder injury in November, was always doubtful and so was Mohun Bagan's
Martins, who got injured recently. Both of them were among the 50 probables.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, Samad, who had
also picked up an injury early this month, managed to get into the side that
will be spearheaded by seasoned striker Sunil Chhetri.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Indian senior men's
team head coach Igor Stimac announced the squad.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Blue Tigers are due
to arrive in Doha later on Saturday, ahead of marking their fifth appearance in
the Asian Cup.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India will play their
opening Group B match against Australia on January 13 at the Ahmad bin Ali
Stadium in Al Rayyan before facing Uzbekistan on January 18 at the same venue.
Stimac's men will then move to the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor to take on Syria
on January 23<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"All these boys are
very similar in terms of football quality. We are a team, a family. But no
matter the talent, if there is no character, nothing can be achieved,"
Stimac said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sharing the areas he
would want to improve upon ahead of the tournament, Stimac said, "The
things we are looking to work on are defensive compactness, offensive
transitions, and the set pieces, mostly. It will be very important to work on
man-marking inside the box because I was not happy with that part of our game.
In the last few games, we started leaking some unnecessary goals inside the
box." The 1998 Croatian World Cup semifinalist added, "All three of
our opponents are very good technically, physically stronger with great speed.
So, we are not going to have much difference in approach to all these three
games, I can tell you that.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We need to check
the fitness level of our players at present and see how much we can develop in
the next two weeks."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Blue Tigers are no
stranger to competing in Qatar, having played four of their 2022 FIFA World Cup
Qualifiers matches there, including two against the hosts.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Moreover, Chhetri and
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu were part of the Indian squad at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup
which was also held in Qatar. Chhetri scored a goal each against Bahrain and
South Korea. "I'm looking forward to seeing our Indian fans in Doha. They
came in massive numbers to support the Indian team during the qualifiers, and
that was one of the reasons why we had two great performances against Qatar
here.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"So, I'm well aware
that there will be massive support for our boys. Hopefully, we can pay them
back and celebrate some good results," said Stimac. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India's squad:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Goalkeepers: Amrinder
Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Defenders: Akash Mishra,
Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh
Jhingan, Subhasish Bose.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Midfielders: Anirudh
Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco,
Naorem Mahesh Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Udanta Singh.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Forwards: Ishan Pandita,
Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Sunil Chhetri,
Vikram Partap Singh.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HuKIIAuL4UyZ5HR5FypeLHeIZZju9abibOfqLuY71MHbQJVk6NZW_RagIzQpJzFuphMbMPumy6ijBnHYOd1OVPOtLIvTCKVMUUyfH-EsoI3c4yauguv6NSXuN7c3i9lcQevKS1hBjzxKdOHFXwzFolr9ED3GfwqpLdtJ0UP2Ht1Fd1lsNsU3j53H7ss/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HuKIIAuL4UyZ5HR5FypeLHeIZZju9abibOfqLuY71MHbQJVk6NZW_RagIzQpJzFuphMbMPumy6ijBnHYOd1OVPOtLIvTCKVMUUyfH-EsoI3c4yauguv6NSXuN7c3i9lcQevKS1hBjzxKdOHFXwzFolr9ED3GfwqpLdtJ0UP2Ht1Fd1lsNsU3j53H7ss/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kho Gaye Hum Kahan<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT6_uwUh9ChM24_ZvznA4x53ZVKtOXLaZnQqWFgjnc7LYyGUV8N_dX8bjhfE8C5pXfNWRXznZ0HbJBRbFEbPnIGoWQgEAHnsl2SM6In_Q9v3Mp4RKXB4yNS5TTC_UatX9tX1wjQMS-9_G1-ZaRjBb3UGlQXrkIJnbRQzKlWzER4t25qyukzqQRYgAmjA/s864/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="864" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT6_uwUh9ChM24_ZvznA4x53ZVKtOXLaZnQqWFgjnc7LYyGUV8N_dX8bjhfE8C5pXfNWRXznZ0HbJBRbFEbPnIGoWQgEAHnsl2SM6In_Q9v3Mp4RKXB4yNS5TTC_UatX9tX1wjQMS-9_G1-ZaRjBb3UGlQXrkIJnbRQzKlWzER4t25qyukzqQRYgAmjA/w640-h590/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Plot: Three close
friends navigate their twenties in Mumbai, grappling with love, aspirations,
and heartaches, all intertwined with the irresistible allure of social media.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Genre: Drama<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Siddhant
Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Adarsh Gourav<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Platform: Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: December
26<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dono<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zf0hoQhi2VRvNTlPZESoz_CyMTknA6HoHA6eQMrBWNRrrkAixwf7Jz3nYDULsDqXGrOZyj-ikajDeOFH8eE-OJkITfYy2MDYORFmq1sUlgfAw96CSwvCTiGV3lG95VHKTIWndLfklRCf2f1yV7eoT7q3iTlDad3_uUiWKellsMTnjKsSbv5j6ctJZPs/s1280/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zf0hoQhi2VRvNTlPZESoz_CyMTknA6HoHA6eQMrBWNRrrkAixwf7Jz3nYDULsDqXGrOZyj-ikajDeOFH8eE-OJkITfYy2MDYORFmq1sUlgfAw96CSwvCTiGV3lG95VHKTIWndLfklRCf2f1yV7eoT7q3iTlDad3_uUiWKellsMTnjKsSbv5j6ctJZPs/w640-h360/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Plot: Dev, nursing a
secret love for a decade, meets Meghna at a wedding in Thailand. Both
heartbroken, they form a bond, but their future together remains uncertain.
Genre: Drama, Romance<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Rajveer Deol,
Paloma Dhillon<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Platform: ZEE5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: December
29<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Berlin<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKQ7iYfWPni2mB72oaSdV3TNCc7TyM5847sCrrIPbph8P_JKP6CuFR2qF13nruneSrPeXS6b7WzTUPNk9sjQALmCklxAC3xsGcCL99522UNuPUmgyO9R6q_EU_Fd56KS9iKaj-cKiuQN-NUZQrF-YiTKqU0J8R3yAn6RgvWWq3fRpZ2PNwLX8NKiBWhs/s1240/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1240" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKQ7iYfWPni2mB72oaSdV3TNCc7TyM5847sCrrIPbph8P_JKP6CuFR2qF13nruneSrPeXS6b7WzTUPNk9sjQALmCklxAC3xsGcCL99522UNuPUmgyO9R6q_EU_Fd56KS9iKaj-cKiuQN-NUZQrF-YiTKqU0J8R3yAn6RgvWWq3fRpZ2PNwLX8NKiBWhs/w640-h362/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Plot: A prequel to Money
Heist, this series delves into Berlin's life, revealing the events and schemes
that shaped this enigmatic character.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Genre: Crime, Drama<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Pedro Alonso,
Tristán Ulloa<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Platform: Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: December
29<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Three of Us<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6Qc8CaVoo8COyLKmCTcSA1AUrsSKNxyC2WhAA8IX8pcFXYb02wZHO4kcFCe91wqw1miSAA2cHabbCUN7aPaSlKvQ6Amy-Fy84MTWIOt10oZLO0KDgi0UGfpzEkUdZ19E6Pa_tBtDBfZSNakThvcTg01OQb1MTA-H-m7-aVcG5SJu6r2KovVUFAnhbRI/s1280/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6Qc8CaVoo8COyLKmCTcSA1AUrsSKNxyC2WhAA8IX8pcFXYb02wZHO4kcFCe91wqw1miSAA2cHabbCUN7aPaSlKvQ6Amy-Fy84MTWIOt10oZLO0KDgi0UGfpzEkUdZ19E6Pa_tBtDBfZSNakThvcTg01OQb1MTA-H-m7-aVcG5SJu6r2KovVUFAnhbRI/w640-h320/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Plot: A woman diagnosed
with dementia decides to return to her childhood village, leading to unexpected
encounters and revelations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Genre: Drama<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Shefali Shah,
Swanand Kirkire<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Platform: Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: December
29<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12th Fail<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfds5NMNAannA3aAExuUBLlK9Cd9m_XjeUjPr6Gjyo-F2OXxkdrkCCe1hQhuX-TexGfmRr_gIOlkd0mMf-E83aftA9Awg4z6d71ycLVU_DpPhdmULRkzrKKG6GVy1t2-W5ohxCDF7p8FVzDKDA1pKuxddtrr0cm63WDsGbo78HxMytV5m5CWOjt55Y1I/s1600/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfds5NMNAannA3aAExuUBLlK9Cd9m_XjeUjPr6Gjyo-F2OXxkdrkCCe1hQhuX-TexGfmRr_gIOlkd0mMf-E83aftA9Awg4z6d71ycLVU_DpPhdmULRkzrKKG6GVy1t2-W5ohxCDF7p8FVzDKDA1pKuxddtrr0cm63WDsGbo78HxMytV5m5CWOjt55Y1I/w640-h360/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Plot: The inspiring
journey of Manoj Kumar Sharma from failing his Class 12 exams to becoming an
IPS officer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Genre: Biographical
Drama<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Vikrant Massey<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Platform: Disney+
Hotstar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: December
29<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3T3P3jUUM6O7uqFBaF0VOnAkt6My8KYinsgf5q5WvoIlyHTebWJI4PBXq8bRllPmhyphenhyphenR11XyvVk8zKwpWycZiGnhJgDd8ncOK9KKrzBqs58mQJJP7sLjAaBN__w-llX8Muuo305rXRppqrk-1-TADua-Lfs3vuC3jMZTDP19k9TPiuHdPBvUwBWg0620/s1500/BOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="963" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3T3P3jUUM6O7uqFBaF0VOnAkt6My8KYinsgf5q5WvoIlyHTebWJI4PBXq8bRllPmhyphenhyphenR11XyvVk8zKwpWycZiGnhJgDd8ncOK9KKrzBqs58mQJJP7sLjAaBN__w-llX8Muuo305rXRppqrk-1-TADua-Lfs3vuC3jMZTDP19k9TPiuHdPBvUwBWg0620/w410-h640/BOOK.jpg" width="410" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Age of Vice
Paperback :by Deepti Kapoor (Author)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Age of Vice is an epic,
action-packed story propelled by the wealth,corruption, and bloodthirsty
violence of the Wadia family—loved by some, loathed by others, feared by all.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the shadow of lavish
farmhouses, drug-filled parties, rapacious business deals and predatory
political play, three lives become dangerously intertwined: Ajay is the
watchful servant, born into poverty, who rises through the family’s ranks.
Sunny is the dilettante heir who dreams of outshining his father but doesn’t
have his ruthlessness to succeed. And Neda is the curious journalist caught
between morality and desire.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Transporting readers
from the dusty and violent towns of Uttar Pradesh to the corrosive, glittering
energy of New Delhi, Age of Vice is the great novel about power, corruption,
and the ways it works in India today. This is binge-worthy entertainment at its
literary best.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0EmxVWm3RSCkhYE9deQSsl2N8YkeZw2Sk7cjrUDtxXfKkeqC-1w2S-oMWB-jciTInbTTHzl3pZv2oaET7xk_YUHTO6AHTLIuzrd4_b7yQGw4djqPxv6lmI9EeL9-dIduneKIVkBnvspUj8z1tCG93GhEXs16zQdM_GdC8Z0Lf8Khz4lE8-tT_Wm8axE/s1200/AUTHOR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0EmxVWm3RSCkhYE9deQSsl2N8YkeZw2Sk7cjrUDtxXfKkeqC-1w2S-oMWB-jciTInbTTHzl3pZv2oaET7xk_YUHTO6AHTLIuzrd4_b7yQGw4djqPxv6lmI9EeL9-dIduneKIVkBnvspUj8z1tCG93GhEXs16zQdM_GdC8Z0Lf8Khz4lE8-tT_Wm8axE/s320/AUTHOR2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwS9Jbqq2zO7Q3vVCPwvnrT9zMAt_d1AflTVrUKE95cotLAZUNFh2M5z6f920l4k2NE5acuDev02kMvjomMYwD6GTs3GqUf0YGMIXii5vvRRU_I2f-vRcEiaoT2Wh04uzO45aO2J7yFieqh5yABC_uM0OlaA8rzSaxo3dJG2VgatU3VhaCAYx833bmHdY/s450/AUTHOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwS9Jbqq2zO7Q3vVCPwvnrT9zMAt_d1AflTVrUKE95cotLAZUNFh2M5z6f920l4k2NE5acuDev02kMvjomMYwD6GTs3GqUf0YGMIXii5vvRRU_I2f-vRcEiaoT2Wh04uzO45aO2J7yFieqh5yABC_uM0OlaA8rzSaxo3dJG2VgatU3VhaCAYx833bmHdY/s320/AUTHOR.jpg" width="213" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Deepti Kapoor</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> grew up in northern India and worked for several years
as a journalist in New Delhi. The author of the novel Bad Character, she now
lives in Portugal with her husband.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Deepti Kapoor has penned
the kind of novel that gets a publisher excited—so excited that they ship it
out to advance readers with a mini-bottle of champagne and a bar of chocolate.
Thankfully, Age of Vice, the first book in a trilogy, deserves the hype. The
42-year-old Indian author was once “a straight-laced good girl” studying
journalism in New Delhi. At 20, her life turned sideways, first with the death
of her father, then with a tumultuous relationship that ended in tragedy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kapoor’s debut novel,
2014’s A Bad Character, explores the recklessness and excess of India’s young
and wealthy—including the Delhi nightlife that consumed her boyfriend. “In my
thirties, I turned my life around,” she explains. “I met my husband and taught
yoga in Goa. And I started to think deeply about those early years and how to
account for them.” That accounting got brutal and opened the door to her
current trilogy project.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The far-ranging Age of
Vice contends with the rise of the Mafia Raj, human trafficking, catastrophic
urban development, violence, and obscene consumption, and ranges in setting
from Uttar Pradesh in 1991 to Delhi in 2008. “I couldn’t just be an artist who
was solipsistic and inward with my writing,” she says. “I had to figure out how
to integrate my life into this wider political/social/economic life of the
country.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx-n_uQldFLPG6n-jgcputRUPMfT2kogiuc8BarPhpDHQeVXC30oUzlxeBINvJ-CElo6sr0ZMXfWdsl0NpvJDVqOeREVcQ0QlrvOwyJkRaoenFONoqzUuOAwC5VnwaXEqv4SXpYRYskI3hwjcQiz3Pt931VAgyDqa7AISwReX9zx4KK7PPJz75R6deDs/s1200/AUTHOR&BOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx-n_uQldFLPG6n-jgcputRUPMfT2kogiuc8BarPhpDHQeVXC30oUzlxeBINvJ-CElo6sr0ZMXfWdsl0NpvJDVqOeREVcQ0QlrvOwyJkRaoenFONoqzUuOAwC5VnwaXEqv4SXpYRYskI3hwjcQiz3Pt931VAgyDqa7AISwReX9zx4KK7PPJz75R6deDs/w640-h336/AUTHOR&BOOK.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The novel’s central
characters come from distinct classes and mirror people from different stages
in Kapoor’s life. Take her rich, dashing, debauched character Sunny Wadia: As a
teenager, Kapoor attended a boarding school six hours north of Delhi that
overlapped with a circle of extreme wealth. “These are the people responsible
for all that pain you’re seeing. They’re sitting on top,” she says. Neda, a
young journalist who gets nudged to the lifestyle beat, glides into the world
of the rich and “throws the keys of her beat-up car to the valet at the Taj.”
Kapoor, reflecting on her own class fluidity as a journalist, says, “I had her
absolute audacity. I had her shitty car. That car gave me this incredible way
of navigating the city, which you can’t do when you have a driver because
you’re constantly being watched.” Ajay, the third main character, comes from
the serving class. “At night, partying with these extremely wealthy people in
these private homes, I remember, while being pretty high, that there was always
a servant: the butler, the chauffeur, the guy who would know what you wanted
before you knew what you wanted.”</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ajay is the humble heart
of the novel, which speaks to Kapoor’s reorientation with modern India. Kapoor
now lives in Lisbon, in a neighborhood “full of Nepalis and hipsters—it halfway
feels like home.” Here she’s working on the second volume in the trilogy,
looking from afar at a fictional India which, as she describes it, is a
“crowded chessboard about to break into all-out war.”</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-63171383442452476582023-12-29T18:51:00.004+09:002023-12-29T19:02:54.154+09:00CREATION OF UNIVERSE THEN MOTHER EARTH AND ULTIMATELY ADVENT OF HUMAN BY BRAHMA (ACCORDING TO HINDU MYTHOLOGY) IN 3D ANIMATED FORM<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmxHeniiL20LsZ_3PgPic5aJZn9h-ERYjjKsLNScKEPsF1_p3uM_FDnTWZSh7wnxJFOwIsAqBqC4LRdBV-PN73SEghbjSV3Z_pH-vV7_Fa1k2BLU6l-tDe8AevlnpQIubYBmYrr50PzIRwYKcJwPsm6fN01UGQoEQhBI7OMTg2H21u7caALDhFcCU_Sk/s800/BRAHMA-PRAJAPATIGIF.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmxHeniiL20LsZ_3PgPic5aJZn9h-ERYjjKsLNScKEPsF1_p3uM_FDnTWZSh7wnxJFOwIsAqBqC4LRdBV-PN73SEghbjSV3Z_pH-vV7_Fa1k2BLU6l-tDe8AevlnpQIubYBmYrr50PzIRwYKcJwPsm6fN01UGQoEQhBI7OMTg2H21u7caALDhFcCU_Sk/w640-h480/BRAHMA-PRAJAPATIGIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAiN6L1WGaRPsyyhTC4BCGXaYxPicD-YlkUGSDzQHGpnQuW0xyx9Z_tJzwl8xABahHWZov6qLA1xAfguKOyE5kAwiKoF30LZ4kwwkKTJ2Y76C4DfqIEtxujcBopxBv5c2T7jjKTJlaZwEOKybXrZ_3aJAyOsm-rPD8jTKHVTGmAxZrWhM7K9Bw2xhsD0/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAiN6L1WGaRPsyyhTC4BCGXaYxPicD-YlkUGSDzQHGpnQuW0xyx9Z_tJzwl8xABahHWZov6qLA1xAfguKOyE5kAwiKoF30LZ4kwwkKTJ2Y76C4DfqIEtxujcBopxBv5c2T7jjKTJlaZwEOKybXrZ_3aJAyOsm-rPD8jTKHVTGmAxZrWhM7K9Bw2xhsD0/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0000.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AT INITIAL STAGE ACCORDING TO VEDA(ANCIENT HOLY BOOK OF HINDU) THERE IS NOTHING BUT. DARK EMPTINESS(BEFORE THE BIG BANG)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrthlswHePRjrNKH97Vpj8xq17iQc36VORfm0hQSo0Qtwz2h-4FM7Gpbf6vmdTiVjHJ2pcUaH0JEYpRbUNRDehq0NysjdxCaWtg1ytSe2pnwAAwfoMmeB0_N_YktFCuI5hsw5rNXkd93R4pFdkgcnkLaW4mdAnE9NVHdEr_CLenk-TYgCu82nvcIjZ01w/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0057.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrthlswHePRjrNKH97Vpj8xq17iQc36VORfm0hQSo0Qtwz2h-4FM7Gpbf6vmdTiVjHJ2pcUaH0JEYpRbUNRDehq0NysjdxCaWtg1ytSe2pnwAAwfoMmeB0_N_YktFCuI5hsw5rNXkd93R4pFdkgcnkLaW4mdAnE9NVHdEr_CLenk-TYgCu82nvcIjZ01w/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0057.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN THERE IS A LOTUS OR PADMA WHICH SIGNIFY BIG COSMIC EGG</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiamrI__BzNRhv0PSZcpHYSP7g3clSvi4Ph-ARPOnzdGAEktJZfqE74tzdsFyLMGo92CmRUnUntqZYFsVS6rQhE4Kzvayv-0SQwpwtOCVKaKatF93aatm9mcL_OWsSuIP1FVFGP2mLAfZ8o9-SDeYj-BoDlxXsNGbaJOiKzNbgGBAPl5cxku21PQnVS0/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0087.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiamrI__BzNRhv0PSZcpHYSP7g3clSvi4Ph-ARPOnzdGAEktJZfqE74tzdsFyLMGo92CmRUnUntqZYFsVS6rQhE4Kzvayv-0SQwpwtOCVKaKatF93aatm9mcL_OWsSuIP1FVFGP2mLAfZ8o9-SDeYj-BoDlxXsNGbaJOiKzNbgGBAPl5cxku21PQnVS0/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0087.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COSMIC EGG OR LOTUS GIVE BIRTH TO LORD BRAHMA (THE ULTIMATE CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE ACCORDING TO HINDU VEDA)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUU-i7wAm6NnCAb74GWinguf7IRStR0mX_DN68howSD57rdST_zBePDGP02FLNInqWetFGLJLJeGrrfKSIQR-EInayq40Dve_nqhrNQLnvvDesmHOgY0ybd9scwd1ABxkrkkeZorG6ay-QJEGOxe59KCvlvM_g_ASWOzlNfB7sb1W8baKS2Bt57bdQgo/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0105.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUU-i7wAm6NnCAb74GWinguf7IRStR0mX_DN68howSD57rdST_zBePDGP02FLNInqWetFGLJLJeGrrfKSIQR-EInayq40Dve_nqhrNQLnvvDesmHOgY0ybd9scwd1ABxkrkkeZorG6ay-QJEGOxe59KCvlvM_g_ASWOzlNfB7sb1W8baKS2Bt57bdQgo/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0105.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD BRAHMA HOLD KAMANDULU( CARRIER OF HOLY WATER FOR CREATION), 4 VEDA(HOLY BOOK OF ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE) ,LOTUS(AS COSMIC EGG FOR CREATION) AND RUDRAKSH (FOR CHANTING HOLY MANTRA FOR CREATION) IN HIS FOUR HAND AND HE CREATED THE UNIVERSE AND SOLAR SYSTEM</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPeWvlopTNlrc9sxRjkV-rqbr1Wds2v5omAR0tvtouheNQdJdGVjxiPdntYcN-_KmJZtapt7Bsco7df38PuDB1GwF-b4vRzgCTr9gm7rwxQ5dR3IhJ7AOZ0Hu1xUSG68KWalM8cMwu8A3bq1j7uxHuBV3LJARfE6SN2Ozu6abH6xwAt7GDI7KZLLpyUc/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0108.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPeWvlopTNlrc9sxRjkV-rqbr1Wds2v5omAR0tvtouheNQdJdGVjxiPdntYcN-_KmJZtapt7Bsco7df38PuDB1GwF-b4vRzgCTr9gm7rwxQ5dR3IhJ7AOZ0Hu1xUSG68KWalM8cMwu8A3bq1j7uxHuBV3LJARfE6SN2Ozu6abH6xwAt7GDI7KZLLpyUc/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0108.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD BRAHMA HOLD KAMANDULU( CARRIER OF HOLY WATER FOR CREATION), 4 VEDA(HOLY BOOK OF ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE) ,LOTUS(AS COSMIC EGG FOR CREATION) AND RUDRAKSH (FOR CHANTING HOLY MANTRA FOR CREATION) IN HIS FOUR HAND AND HE CREATED THE UNIVERSE AND SOLAR SYSTEM AND BIG BANG HAPPEN<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRByW83wta77Bt0tsDp7gwqHguwp_Yh7uUj-T84ZRUFIJlMUlLN4yncyzGNH5rQdXZq9SaZ3oC8wQafIr9y8hmHYV_LrLEUh8z52fa_iiGVHLBwoXQg7JHDCSJKAY-hQW9KF-7anhJue8WLAwHiy89glKlfddPfqpqKtiUCn2NUy0fHlcrf0oa7U0dcGA/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0150.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRByW83wta77Bt0tsDp7gwqHguwp_Yh7uUj-T84ZRUFIJlMUlLN4yncyzGNH5rQdXZq9SaZ3oC8wQafIr9y8hmHYV_LrLEUh8z52fa_iiGVHLBwoXQg7JHDCSJKAY-hQW9KF-7anhJue8WLAwHiy89glKlfddPfqpqKtiUCn2NUy0fHlcrf0oa7U0dcGA/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0150.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN LORD BRAHMA DETERMINE THE ROTATIONAL PATH OF MOTHER EARTH IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXInIKKkOubL9ZDyEAthmDw66mrXGjzeXzDzDPFNzAmcRh9amn2h9W7QmAzMPS_i5J78A-6q7n4k7mLZfwynq8M-JOPaVcNSlxiyLqyiK_H8kHVZTofC4yXqXb2RmCPolLnzq_ip7K2_3mSTbsYYrWiyKO2FWf7XN_yDczVv5La2DV3OF33QXMs1lH6DM/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0168.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXInIKKkOubL9ZDyEAthmDw66mrXGjzeXzDzDPFNzAmcRh9amn2h9W7QmAzMPS_i5J78A-6q7n4k7mLZfwynq8M-JOPaVcNSlxiyLqyiK_H8kHVZTofC4yXqXb2RmCPolLnzq_ip7K2_3mSTbsYYrWiyKO2FWf7XN_yDczVv5La2DV3OF33QXMs1lH6DM/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0168.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN LORD BRAHMA DETERMINE THE ROTATIONAL PATH OF MOTHER EARTH IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfAx3aooa2EY8lICSIuLBSHShGUhQjYDWe9AhWDinkN1ge3q4PWvKm7uZkwDcWAmqyE0SQYEVVgKVwotn9dUiaet4HOF_x_xHxsdluy-T7BKR_8kD49j0ga9730sfPz2Z4QGl1WEUj4ieVKKhdqQrc2BYQXs6BacDMV69Nat6qJdYDm27jXs3cCF4Xok/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfAx3aooa2EY8lICSIuLBSHShGUhQjYDWe9AhWDinkN1ge3q4PWvKm7uZkwDcWAmqyE0SQYEVVgKVwotn9dUiaet4HOF_x_xHxsdluy-T7BKR_8kD49j0ga9730sfPz2Z4QGl1WEUj4ieVKKhdqQrc2BYQXs6BacDMV69Nat6qJdYDm27jXs3cCF4Xok/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN LORD BRAHMA COOL DOWN THE MOTHER EARTH MADE SEAS,RIVER,LARGE MOUNTAIN TO MAKE MOTHER EARTH MORE HOSPITABLE FOR LIFE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hBnzLSfpDTYBiKY-JS4WgMVVEQlykab7OD59MYUZco1XNVh45WbzkZeATC5sluoSa3Cxz2cIn8D2eAgT1K9TiFdOWCaxr9oMQHE_hkHDkSVatnpKpQ_dIYcyNVFDZXyATwEyWvbKCq7IerC7gEYw0SzJqjvaEokd09Ij3fGEmA18jZM1mFwPeVseCI4/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0228.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hBnzLSfpDTYBiKY-JS4WgMVVEQlykab7OD59MYUZco1XNVh45WbzkZeATC5sluoSa3Cxz2cIn8D2eAgT1K9TiFdOWCaxr9oMQHE_hkHDkSVatnpKpQ_dIYcyNVFDZXyATwEyWvbKCq7IerC7gEYw0SzJqjvaEokd09Ij3fGEmA18jZM1mFwPeVseCI4/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0228.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHEN MOTHER EARTH MORE HOSPITABLE FOR LIFE BRAHMA CREATED VARIOUS ANIMALS</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEku_TaIJPKz9anZN0vI4vwyXkgtGhqTThU3CO0PFtjksDHjLRVTZ1eXOWXHkF8wIM-kRzPHYPKdvGyB4JM13-B3foQ8rjTpn0NibJ5hi7FJUOc8SkEJBzZFKPw_Pk0ySfYaIN21kmiW4zaRUTEtJ2Nl03jxvZ9z6DkFuQiY6jcfpQkw9CH2mcmuu0u4/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0255.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEku_TaIJPKz9anZN0vI4vwyXkgtGhqTThU3CO0PFtjksDHjLRVTZ1eXOWXHkF8wIM-kRzPHYPKdvGyB4JM13-B3foQ8rjTpn0NibJ5hi7FJUOc8SkEJBzZFKPw_Pk0ySfYaIN21kmiW4zaRUTEtJ2Nl03jxvZ9z6DkFuQiY6jcfpQkw9CH2mcmuu0u4/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0255.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN LORD BRAHMA CREATED DINOSAURS WHO DOMINATE THE AIR , WATER AND LAND OF EARTH FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQiv5CJFQuz6fRKSpYdsQjvmQes_ddJJSKxChTs8hL9XoRA6wu0ieb2VlwxtDnFSzYGt9g3v6uMCEwFU39sQ0BGLmImtkGaOijlPbUygQn1vT9uIk3jgVuSqorcgp8x72FQWHwutA8cH25atcIiqMWZYO_HmEpPvlm9VeZWJ9jRB7oiG4Z7EAWMjZDLY/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQiv5CJFQuz6fRKSpYdsQjvmQes_ddJJSKxChTs8hL9XoRA6wu0ieb2VlwxtDnFSzYGt9g3v6uMCEwFU39sQ0BGLmImtkGaOijlPbUygQn1vT9uIk3jgVuSqorcgp8x72FQWHwutA8cH25atcIiqMWZYO_HmEpPvlm9VeZWJ9jRB7oiG4Z7EAWMjZDLY/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0300.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN LORD BRAHMA CREATED PRAJAPATIS OR BRAHMANAS (HELPING HAND OF BRAHMA DURING CREATION OF HUMAN).THEY ALSO KNOW THE KNOWLEDGE OF FOUR VEDAS</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZnM9VxsXKE-rTleyABAhlOVmSFIs4fskGI__HxcWZ0la4Q8VILmQlnUZNGfXHg02pASfaMAKcgKIQv_8qKNqf81LYHyqi7x7MqTENjeKVorqF76MnMiikNzBAeMGIRuGO_u9xTRSiWx-sDCPhTU7F_uMVKBrkUVmLzJ-ivSyr9b2MUAgX6Gst6KgjEc/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0327.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZnM9VxsXKE-rTleyABAhlOVmSFIs4fskGI__HxcWZ0la4Q8VILmQlnUZNGfXHg02pASfaMAKcgKIQv_8qKNqf81LYHyqi7x7MqTENjeKVorqF76MnMiikNzBAeMGIRuGO_u9xTRSiWx-sDCPhTU7F_uMVKBrkUVmLzJ-ivSyr9b2MUAgX6Gst6KgjEc/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0327.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN LORD BRAHMA CREATED PRAJAPATIS OR BRAHMANAS (HELPING HAND OF BRAHMA DURING CREATION OF HUMAN).THEY ALSO KNOW THE KNOWLEDGE OF FOUR VEDAS</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_TdK8z8YUQOyhsnV2EAfNPFJBWK13ZF4BAnOh6Ur1xc-WK0T4KQka9u5mx8Lg-0UCTidCQqmM7-mhA9Ggf8C5DBl2jxbRutDuoDDK0OGcTi_l5QhRhtmgK1n3J1l6Ty__S-bW9Zvzi77yvpLQFn6jekPErm4G9dJhKU36dHDJjyVXQP6PU_GR58ASgg/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0351.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_TdK8z8YUQOyhsnV2EAfNPFJBWK13ZF4BAnOh6Ur1xc-WK0T4KQka9u5mx8Lg-0UCTidCQqmM7-mhA9Ggf8C5DBl2jxbRutDuoDDK0OGcTi_l5QhRhtmgK1n3J1l6Ty__S-bW9Zvzi77yvpLQFn6jekPErm4G9dJhKU36dHDJjyVXQP6PU_GR58ASgg/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0351.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN LORD BRAHMA CREATED PRAJAPATIS OR BRAHMANAS (HELPING HAND OF BRAHMA DURING CREATION OF HUMAN).THEY ALSO KNOW THE KNOWLEDGE OF FOUR VEDAS</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg32tbiMLC13-x8K0XqBJzk3G1CGmCrTZb4HPQiuOyk7gf12CI2egEDHMWlWg0H3vWsGwHKDLLFb9YEkUCK8QR9VmyxBmo34AhCCOAftYyAVmomvHQBVQD6WA0WD0uhy1DU3LwTtX9ycxu5IcUdni1KaAMf_TycbN4UBVSE15XQCmzEqiHZA-BhK56r7A/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0405.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg32tbiMLC13-x8K0XqBJzk3G1CGmCrTZb4HPQiuOyk7gf12CI2egEDHMWlWg0H3vWsGwHKDLLFb9YEkUCK8QR9VmyxBmo34AhCCOAftYyAVmomvHQBVQD6WA0WD0uhy1DU3LwTtX9ycxu5IcUdni1KaAMf_TycbN4UBVSE15XQCmzEqiHZA-BhK56r7A/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0405.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ALL PRAJAPATIS AND LORD BRAHMA ULTIMATELY CREATED HUMANS BY THE CHANTING OF SACRED POEMS OR MANTRA FROM FOUR VEDAS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1_pehC5j9IW-DobmnJf32zMqUt1CprNjSHfbb02B6IFG1KeSv1RCqgSDT5ZKAbwMUKi9f-pIiKtESLR1g26v7ppekxIzMtwlEuFb72GoTR3ToMueGZKcEblOgjSyIQe1C8R_qvBjEgA0paRQw5MPasffD2-AFSYyhInlSJMDJRFfHcyy-tpgR7Tyx_Q/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0483.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1_pehC5j9IW-DobmnJf32zMqUt1CprNjSHfbb02B6IFG1KeSv1RCqgSDT5ZKAbwMUKi9f-pIiKtESLR1g26v7ppekxIzMtwlEuFb72GoTR3ToMueGZKcEblOgjSyIQe1C8R_qvBjEgA0paRQw5MPasffD2-AFSYyhInlSJMDJRFfHcyy-tpgR7Tyx_Q/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0483.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ALL PRAJAPATIS AND LORD BRAHMA ULTIMATELY CREATED HUMANS BY THE CHANTING OF SACRED POEMS OR MANTRA FROM FOUR VEDAS. EARLY HUMAN GRADUALLY HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF TOOL MAKING. THEN EARLY HUMAN RACE FACE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF NATURE WITH THEIR TOOLS(LIKE THEY HAUNTS PREDATOR ANIMAL WITH THEIR POISONED ARROW)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirsGCLQW0ublnzv3QPXNPEyWlcyIsPGJCmyRHNi6PdOgGKsGHfmKc4JwWHlBJY79gOdGIdsZ84_fmBOjBGC2z9wDQwODrZaOoHP7JgiWeWP2rAr7OszzXh_OI4B56PCoMLLdom56JUMjiy6ft91l8OWqm1GJPxJmyKb-50gYNvt2DCSNKM63TaK-62Vg/s800/creator-brahma-prajapatig0522.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirsGCLQW0ublnzv3QPXNPEyWlcyIsPGJCmyRHNi6PdOgGKsGHfmKc4JwWHlBJY79gOdGIdsZ84_fmBOjBGC2z9wDQwODrZaOoHP7JgiWeWP2rAr7OszzXh_OI4B56PCoMLLdom56JUMjiy6ft91l8OWqm1GJPxJmyKb-50gYNvt2DCSNKM63TaK-62Vg/w640-h480/creator-brahma-prajapatig0522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN HUMAN HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF IGNITION OF FIRE. THEN THEY KNOW THE VALUE OF COMPANIONSHIP AND FAMILY. HUMAN GRADUALLY PROSPER WITH THE KNOWLEDGE GIVEN BY LORD BRAHMA AND HIS PRAJAPATIS AND HOLY BOOK OF FOUR VEDAS</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzOqCVXqqV_kV53CZ_ArjBdvOxC-d-7ratemCce0qcEU_vDZDxAVIs3XTG1TdXAn5DBI-5x5fYDJh2ua8RWJA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-80703572319163667082023-12-24T18:14:00.000+09:002023-12-24T18:14:50.704+09:00SHIVA TANDAVA ALONG WITH HIS HOLY COW NANDY: SHIVA TANDAVA FOR PLEASURE OF CREATION WHICH CREATE MOTHER EARTH AND GIVE EARTH A ROTATIONAL MOTION<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_g8YOcYHBnjTfzUsBorDQywxdHv-y_I2qW-5AfhE2DUKa8rTTs4tDFtuL0E5cQKhzDqrTjHeLafyxvStOslKrDVL4q5YmsFBoe315hII851ykXeQlc9v0_yNdeT0JjZ_xVoQotfwWdgl6Q5HbTFrXjmRpdMJI0seatgTf8S0TFkXejSu-WJaeDGFezcw/s800/SHIVA%20-TANDAVGIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_g8YOcYHBnjTfzUsBorDQywxdHv-y_I2qW-5AfhE2DUKa8rTTs4tDFtuL0E5cQKhzDqrTjHeLafyxvStOslKrDVL4q5YmsFBoe315hII851ykXeQlc9v0_yNdeT0JjZ_xVoQotfwWdgl6Q5HbTFrXjmRpdMJI0seatgTf8S0TFkXejSu-WJaeDGFezcw/w640-h480/SHIVA%20-TANDAVGIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWjIZckXxuDYvaFJgD1j2rVCRKzSd0PtbM9_C9jPgQEtZNN61IhnACBQDmpeTACH19zDItGLidvfEbCrr9TE2C6HSgojdSd5F7LgrAsf06FHxc0YtemDXRapBS6c4ymRrAjnENzRplfBuqJIpaIBUQdfaokYx2X4rW4wErwNBqRpahyNZS3NoTfFYDdQ/s800/SHIVA-TANDAV-ANIMATIONg0120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWjIZckXxuDYvaFJgD1j2rVCRKzSd0PtbM9_C9jPgQEtZNN61IhnACBQDmpeTACH19zDItGLidvfEbCrr9TE2C6HSgojdSd5F7LgrAsf06FHxc0YtemDXRapBS6c4ymRrAjnENzRplfBuqJIpaIBUQdfaokYx2X4rW4wErwNBqRpahyNZS3NoTfFYDdQ/w640-h480/SHIVA-TANDAV-ANIMATIONg0120.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNISyso9FE79Ns6gs5_A9D1LfByixEX3P0aHH54VD59oaG3sfxki7g5cZNALrTpIfXI4d1pX9zMOduZGOC-PGZfaL592oHpOvyNkn-h3A9OUF1o0c_rfohau8BpmnFEVmgYFqwWyStUKSk8DIDf6Mlf9xDadLhMiipR-tF0Yr-KoSUQk5E7H6VuidBvY/s800/SHIVA-TANDAV-ANIMATIONg0225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNISyso9FE79Ns6gs5_A9D1LfByixEX3P0aHH54VD59oaG3sfxki7g5cZNALrTpIfXI4d1pX9zMOduZGOC-PGZfaL592oHpOvyNkn-h3A9OUF1o0c_rfohau8BpmnFEVmgYFqwWyStUKSk8DIDf6Mlf9xDadLhMiipR-tF0Yr-KoSUQk5E7H6VuidBvY/w640-h480/SHIVA-TANDAV-ANIMATIONg0225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdItvLiiMNbwhkXmklQax4yq_I-CRIIvsjdatseNEvtGACC7rzZrP6wS3GNci7dCyCc9G-rcQlkgZpp4ohSJ_wu2j9PEw2qpz7yQ8Ujl2p1p76m1da-3tthwSyxK5-5Ps0yr7moV8vHhQYt5_b98heH8_sh9xxQ9zcSJLlvgpvFhXGk3J2dao1B42lx4/w640-h480/SHIVA-TANDAV-ANIMATIONg0320.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDkELU61LeJhyphenhyphen5ZiUj7_LZT3X01R0c-XMkHUt-sz1uCCV_NHj1V_GnrOzv38KWRdROurgU0ZGhzdMeJYr1qelfqSkTo9ACXcSEE27JfsKQyMgef0RBN_RcytVDDT8vBGZoVUDYovffhJ3UVf3qdL7__u4NcKhLqNcnNiJvagLqICRdF0oeZ4qyRl-vAg/s800/SHIVA-TANDAV-ANIMATIONg0395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDkELU61LeJhyphenhyphen5ZiUj7_LZT3X01R0c-XMkHUt-sz1uCCV_NHj1V_GnrOzv38KWRdROurgU0ZGhzdMeJYr1qelfqSkTo9ACXcSEE27JfsKQyMgef0RBN_RcytVDDT8vBGZoVUDYovffhJ3UVf3qdL7__u4NcKhLqNcnNiJvagLqICRdF0oeZ4qyRl-vAg/w640-h480/SHIVA-TANDAV-ANIMATIONg0395.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvi85W9TizY3T6nW9Az4TX_il6uuSp0uOh8QI5vsfFC4EBWe0K-330B2UxmvUEE9zkHQ6OywRQ7GyBeZSvyMRBdI6lLZL-lFzS7CcLpxBFuB6Xj8nEdyydeNdbna6zAbcAs8irwUH53dU7dAGJsbHrCMTCeB97Ebv3-sD-y8UPJ6_ewlEDC7Ai5OYuvQ/w640-h480/SHIVA-TANDAV-ANIMATIONg0710.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxYq2frmiBXJoyZdUnh6BIyNZqoXr5Ug86UW3EyvIKcALzaTiIy-eQdtcuROeZdEPeq87FpWYXqp545xlpkLA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-8676273512473530612023-12-23T13:27:00.002+09:002023-12-23T13:27:24.522+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS NEWS OF THIS WEEK: SCIENCE,POLITICAL,SPORTS MOVIE AND BOOK NEWS OF THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4i50x5z7RfKTNJxWLcvqSa196hdIlg2i7JrTBvERLXiAt_ZZNShNIqPsr4ooTQqTTmXn-zVaWllLHr9kPZGzbpAut5eSy2fSu1wpUl5uAJThoMmJMDsj8hr0JeelwaFeF_uprFdTCVUxbWlId9rUEhmycD1aCd3-zeCnkGmSVnWg-XOJxMSwEMedtgyQ/s960/NEWSWEEK23123GIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4i50x5z7RfKTNJxWLcvqSa196hdIlg2i7JrTBvERLXiAt_ZZNShNIqPsr4ooTQqTTmXn-zVaWllLHr9kPZGzbpAut5eSy2fSu1wpUl5uAJThoMmJMDsj8hr0JeelwaFeF_uprFdTCVUxbWlId9rUEhmycD1aCd3-zeCnkGmSVnWg-XOJxMSwEMedtgyQ/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK23123GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaY5a9ReDcwLT_e67-OSwrc4jJdBT5RI3e9fJBBeTLX2dRAFmtFx7dEZIh0v-PQAkwnfSeTFxUVIF9Ysu2zXho-DaniUqmyFOcMqMdf1iWtEp0yQ3kvM9jFP602f2P-4uhcb_TvcypC8117npdbn8DTxDbop6BkUdZFs3JDHmKGoMis0ef-SDU4TWcuI/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaY5a9ReDcwLT_e67-OSwrc4jJdBT5RI3e9fJBBeTLX2dRAFmtFx7dEZIh0v-PQAkwnfSeTFxUVIF9Ysu2zXho-DaniUqmyFOcMqMdf1iWtEp0yQ3kvM9jFP602f2P-4uhcb_TvcypC8117npdbn8DTxDbop6BkUdZFs3JDHmKGoMis0ef-SDU4TWcuI/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Chimps and
bonobos can recognize long-lost friends and family for decades, find
researchers :by University of California - Berkeley<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2OVZCaVbm1Vg8uxmQkeQqANda2_SHS6w7qSGnb5g-Sz-2ShQRb7xOJ3OK8muoOivFedxzMSiuXyPoFt-CWh0Lagl0W1VzhDB1APp6BLqivwUu7SLuMIWKAPCgSpCWPOZsNS8-EmGqXasfuOOUNipqryzheA0ErL1tkItpYBzYJYzPJmCOC2nDqPl_cs/s1920/CHIMPS&BUBONOS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1761" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2OVZCaVbm1Vg8uxmQkeQqANda2_SHS6w7qSGnb5g-Sz-2ShQRb7xOJ3OK8muoOivFedxzMSiuXyPoFt-CWh0Lagl0W1VzhDB1APp6BLqivwUu7SLuMIWKAPCgSpCWPOZsNS8-EmGqXasfuOOUNipqryzheA0ErL1tkItpYBzYJYzPJmCOC2nDqPl_cs/w588-h640/CHIMPS&BUBONOS1.jpg" width="588" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Key takeaways:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers documented
the longest-lasting nonhuman memory.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bonobos and chimps
recognized groupmates they hadn't seen in decades.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The findings help
explain how we developed rich, long-term memory.</span></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers led by a
University of California, Berkeley, comparative psychologist have found that
great apes and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, can recognize
groupmates they haven't seen in over two decades—evidence of what's believed to
be the longest-lasting nonhuman memory ever recorded. The findings also bolster
the theory that long-term memory in humans, chimpanzees and bonobos likely
comes from our shared common ancestor that lived between 6 million and 9
million years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuIlNhs1QS68gtlBag6d8Aib04LxXE2XLvu9KuW5b5eGWYf3FXesCnTf_gLseYrrelPDeYlrOFpSa8y0BH-FdI4q_FzV1F9T2uOx9dpz6a0K7PF37vhEx9Wk4ckk2sj7lsyaYkoo1dI03WrlnPSXgeP5o46a4kG_6R7aIuCpbJHR5mtcQGn8NLfuEBsE/s1920/Apes%20recognize%20photos%20of%20groupmates%20they%20haven't%20seen%20for%20more%20than%2025%20years%20and%20respond%20even%20more%20enthusiastically%20to%20pictures%20of%20their%20friends,%20a%20new%20study%20finds.%20CreditJohns%20Hopkins%20University.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuIlNhs1QS68gtlBag6d8Aib04LxXE2XLvu9KuW5b5eGWYf3FXesCnTf_gLseYrrelPDeYlrOFpSa8y0BH-FdI4q_FzV1F9T2uOx9dpz6a0K7PF37vhEx9Wk4ckk2sj7lsyaYkoo1dI03WrlnPSXgeP5o46a4kG_6R7aIuCpbJHR5mtcQGn8NLfuEBsE/w640-h426/Apes%20recognize%20photos%20of%20groupmates%20they%20haven't%20seen%20for%20more%20than%2025%20years%20and%20respond%20even%20more%20enthusiastically%20to%20pictures%20of%20their%20friends,%20a%20new%20study%20finds.%20CreditJohns%20Hopkins%20University.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apes recognize photos of groupmates they haven't seen for more than 25 years and respond even more enthusiastically to pictures of their friends, a new study finds. CreditJohns Hopkins University</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team used infrared
eye-tracking cameras to record where bonobos and chimps gazed when they were
shown side-by-side images of other bonobos or chimps. One picture was of a
stranger; the other was of a bonobo or chimp that the participant had lived
with for a year or more.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Participants' eyes
lingered significantly longer on images of those with whom they had previously
lived, the researchers found, suggesting some degree of recognition. In one
case, a bonobo named Louise had not seen her sister, Loretta, or nephew, Erin,
for over 26 years. But when researchers showed Louise their images, her eyes
homed in on the photos.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhjCG-k_pOgRUIGRTyElL4PmI1bUTqFFWBVPvHieZZtC5AKcZD4amekhTkKi62Jm1TuzzLLi7kiwYF7p83p4lh57RA7k565qYLZbUjw4ovrhCU2rkKzCajrrRRn5KgGCTDe4Dij2SKewrgjmRVN_N-1Zh3DGbXK38_Eh6k5QPBp5XkEVUXiLUdkJuLcw/s1890/Laura%20Simone%20Lewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="1890" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhjCG-k_pOgRUIGRTyElL4PmI1bUTqFFWBVPvHieZZtC5AKcZD4amekhTkKi62Jm1TuzzLLi7kiwYF7p83p4lh57RA7k565qYLZbUjw4ovrhCU2rkKzCajrrRRn5KgGCTDe4Dij2SKewrgjmRVN_N-1Zh3DGbXK38_Eh6k5QPBp5XkEVUXiLUdkJuLcw/w640-h640/Laura%20Simone%20Lewis.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura Simone Lewis</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"These animals have
a rich recognition of each other," said Laura Simone Lewis, a UC
President's Postdoctoral Fellow in Berkeley's psychology department and lead
author of the study, which was published in the journal Proceedings of the
National Academies of Sciences. What's more, participants looked longer at
individuals with whom they had had more positive, as compared with
antagonistic, relationships. In other words, they seemed to recognize friends
more than foes."We don't know exactly what that representation looks like,
but we know that it lasts for years," she said. "This study is
showing us not how different we are from other apes, but how similar we are to
them and how similar they are to us."The findings expand what was known
about long-term memory in animals and also raise questions central to
evolutionary biology and psychology. Chief among them: How did humans develop
such good long-term memory?Understanding the links between our vivid, episodic
memory and the recall of other animals has long been a research puzzle.
Previous studies have shown that ravens, for example, remember people who
tricked them and can recall social relationships in uncanny ways. Social memory
beyond just a few years had previously been documented only in dolphins, which
studies have found can recognize vocalizations for up to 20 years<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg737H1QBe36kjMLZcVkSxjiXSsnm7j2Tjk1-lakttLIo6rVJ9HwT93touSi9mG0LqT01iExM9Tx_3CfY4MgPKoHQkDc42p28gpYyybQWOqd94oYvJNGjYHzJ1N8D30EKkHpT6pm96cmGhkspJjiCE08Pqs1vIMDhyvfqDj7f3tqqesl8ZQGOJQzThWF3A/s5760/Bonobos%20and%20chimps%20that%20participated%20in%20the%20study%20looked%20significantly%20longer%20at%20pictures%20of%20their%20previous%20groupmates..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5760" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg737H1QBe36kjMLZcVkSxjiXSsnm7j2Tjk1-lakttLIo6rVJ9HwT93touSi9mG0LqT01iExM9Tx_3CfY4MgPKoHQkDc42p28gpYyybQWOqd94oYvJNGjYHzJ1N8D30EKkHpT6pm96cmGhkspJjiCE08Pqs1vIMDhyvfqDj7f3tqqesl8ZQGOJQzThWF3A/w640-h426/Bonobos%20and%20chimps%20that%20participated%20in%20the%20study%20looked%20significantly%20longer%20at%20pictures%20of%20their%20previous%20groupmates..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonobos and chimps that participated in the study looked significantly longer at pictures of their previous groupmates.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"That, up until
this point, has been the longest long-term social memory ever found in a
nonhuman animal," Lewis said of the dolphin research. "What we're
showing here is that chimps and bonobos may be able to remember that long—or
longer."Lewis's project was one born from a longtime observation among
primate researchers, who often go months or years between seeing the animals
they study. When they returned, bonobos and chimpanzees acted as if they were
picking up right where they left off. So the researchers decided to see if that
memory hunch was true.To get answers, the team began what at times was equal
parts genealogy and scrapbooking.First, they needed to identify bonobos and
chimps that had been separated from what we might view as friends or family.
Sometimes, their groupmates had been relocated to other zoos to prevent
in-breeding. Other times, a sibling or elder may have died while they all lived
together.With a list of pairs in hand, sprinkled across zoos in Europe and
Japan, researchers needed to track down photos to show the participants. It
couldn't be just any snapshot, however. They needed a quality image taken from
around the time that the pair last saw one another. This was somewhat easy for
the animals that were separated recently in an era rich with high-quality
photos. It proved much trickier for others, like Louise's relatives, who were
separated circa 1995.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team ended up being
able to show images to 26 bonobos and chimpanzees.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After setting up a
computer system with sensitive cameras and non-invasive eye-tracking tools,
participating animals were allowed to enter the room voluntarily. Their
compensation? A bottle filled with diluted juice. (Bonobos and chimps love
fruit juice and eat lots of fruit in the wild.)As they sipped, the screens in
front of them alternated between pairs of images. The cameras monitored where
the animals' eyes wandered. And the computer logged the time spent on each
image down to a fraction of a second—data the team would comb through months
later."It was a really simple test: Do they look longer at their previous
groupmate, or are they looking longer at the stranger?" Lewis said.
"And we found that, yes, they are looking significantly longer at the
pictures of their previous groupmates."Lewis said she and others were
especially concerned about how the participants might react when they were
shown an image of a relative they hadn't seen in years. As the project began,
zookeepers monitored the animals for signs of stress. But they didn't show any
markers of agitation. Instead, when images of a once-close relative appeared on
the screen, the participants would sometimes stop drinking the juice entirely,
seemingly mesmerized by the image.The study showed that something is happening
with the mind in recognizing the images. What's unclear is what kind of
memories they were. Could they have been rich, episodic narratives like humans
have? Might there have been some fleeting curiosity about why they saw this?
Can they extrapolate what those relatives might look like today?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These are the next
questions for Lewis. Born and raised in Berkeley, Lewis attended Duke
University and Harvard University and conducted a fellowship at the University
of St. Andrews. Lewis' co-authors include researchers from Harvard, Johns
Hopkins University, Kyoto University, the University of Antwerp in Belgium and
the University of Konstanz in Germany Lewis returned to Berkeley earlier this
year as a postdoctoral fellow. It was a homecoming of sorts, she said, and she
plans to continue asking big questions about what our closest living ancestors
can teach us about our memory. Partly it's out of a curiosity that drives
science. It's also out of a determination to conserve the habitats that are
home to endangered bonobos—animals that can teach us about ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This study is
reminding us how similar we are to other species walking on the planet,"
Lewis said. "And therefore, how important it is to protect them."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Could dinosaurs
be the reason humans can’t live for 200 years? : Joao Pedro de Magalhaes<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCX290_BBzWQSRMHhEGW4RdZWhZyVzMP2xnyZyohcFrrpGWGwbLYuz-8NDLPuR52i9w7VT2yIY-YTExwhq5tdyHJqc2cogXZMULKQZ9yviuQxRueWYLbSvv965OOplFVNUJ7ecLIZMLp-UODYv0MHiYwWeYMUo0fHORaVOQ5JS4S2WoiE5iy78SMD59o/s690/Evolutionary%20history%20may%20illuminate%20why%20mammals%20age%20in%20the%20manner%20they%20do..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="690" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCX290_BBzWQSRMHhEGW4RdZWhZyVzMP2xnyZyohcFrrpGWGwbLYuz-8NDLPuR52i9w7VT2yIY-YTExwhq5tdyHJqc2cogXZMULKQZ9yviuQxRueWYLbSvv965OOplFVNUJ7ecLIZMLp-UODYv0MHiYwWeYMUo0fHORaVOQ5JS4S2WoiE5iy78SMD59o/w640-h360/Evolutionary%20history%20may%20illuminate%20why%20mammals%20age%20in%20the%20manner%20they%20do..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evolutionary history may illuminate why mammals age in the manner they do.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">All human beings age. It
is part of our biology and limits our lifespan to slightly over 120 years.Not
all animals experience ageing during their lives. Some animals’ bodies do not
gradually degenerate as they get older the way our bodies do.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But for humans once they
reach about age 30 their chance of dying doubles roughly every eight years. So
even if you are fortunate enough to become a centenarian, your chance of dying
each year will be high.This high mortality reflects numerous other health
problems, such as loss of muscle mass and general frailty, cognitive decline,
loss of vision and hearing and many other degenerative changes that
characterise the human ageing process.And the reason humans age so markedly may
be due to the fact our ancestors evolved during the time of the
dinosaurs.Compared to other mammals, humans have a long life. We have the
longest lifespan of all land-based mammals, and of all mammals only whales
probably outlive us. I say “probably” because you need to keep animals in
captivity to do a detailed study on lifespan, which for whales is virtually
impossible due to their size and longevity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTrouuE5-UdxcPlQwySaloX5_c03jaTq7KEt-1ORkCUXueIcX_rEhAOvly1ZfEfmJzg9OOVdv3L_ENK-xVs7c17NRJqpBKrHLXbNUiKaUARRMOtR7nsPFQcTJZF4XjUxEiz512jwkSrC4jq1hrO-04K9o3aS5QfuRkyinl99pCHv6b_RxAgm-HhdxvPQ/s900/A%20skeleton%20of%20an%20adult%20dinosauR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTrouuE5-UdxcPlQwySaloX5_c03jaTq7KEt-1ORkCUXueIcX_rEhAOvly1ZfEfmJzg9OOVdv3L_ENK-xVs7c17NRJqpBKrHLXbNUiKaUARRMOtR7nsPFQcTJZF4XjUxEiz512jwkSrC4jq1hrO-04K9o3aS5QfuRkyinl99pCHv6b_RxAgm-HhdxvPQ/w640-h360/A%20skeleton%20of%20an%20adult%20dinosauR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A skeleton of an adult dinosauR</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We know that species of
whales and dolphins exhibit menopause, and all mammals show some form of reproductive
decline with age. In fact, all studied mammals show physiological ageing and
increased mortality with age, even if some species – like mice and voles – age
much faster than others – such as humans, whales, and elephants.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But many species of reptiles,
amphibians and fish do not show signs of ageing. Examples include turtles and
tortoises, salamanders and rockfishes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One study of 77 species
of reptiles and amphibians published in Science in 2022 showed that age-related
increases in mortality are not seen in many species of reptiles and amphibians.
It is as if these animals do not age at all. Some of these animals, such as
turtles, probably live longer than humans.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzBWPeBQBXxxzHxqDi6I-WhsW30fFr7LChE6uyjMTgm1wGlPYLj-1AwkQe9741BTWlyZHhpAezJLG62BQAEbIPEWiX6rnKtc0TnMFbdKquVT0K3WcG0G9ykFUTYWvF67HplHQ7JoqgSzfGMct0lzkxxudBudLIbUn_m2PpKZXzU3ptlZ3WI1rOPIgnbg/s960/GREENLAND%20SHARK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="960" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzBWPeBQBXxxzHxqDi6I-WhsW30fFr7LChE6uyjMTgm1wGlPYLj-1AwkQe9741BTWlyZHhpAezJLG62BQAEbIPEWiX6rnKtc0TnMFbdKquVT0K3WcG0G9ykFUTYWvF67HplHQ7JoqgSzfGMct0lzkxxudBudLIbUn_m2PpKZXzU3ptlZ3WI1rOPIgnbg/w640-h366/GREENLAND%20SHARK.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GREENLAND SHARK</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Perhaps if we study
these apparently non-ageing species for long enough they will show signs of
ageing. But good luck studying animals such as the Greenland shark, which has
been estimated to live nearly 400 years.For now we can at least say that among
reptiles, amphibians and fish, some species not only live longer than the
longest living mammals, but they age substantially slower. Besides, some of
these non-ageing species grow throughout their lives, which means that older
females lay more eggs, again in stark contrast to what happens in mammals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These animals die mainly
from being eaten by predators and diseases. Indeed, most animals in the wild do
not die of old age and, until the 20th century, of course, most people died of
infectious diseases.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Some reptiles,
amphibians and fish are also known for their ability to regenerate tissue.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pressure on mammals</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Amphibians evolved from
fish about 370 million years ago, and about 50 million years later reptiles
evolved from amphibians. Mammals then evolved from reptiles about 250-300
million years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We are all products of
evolution, which we see in relics such as our tailbone. Our evolutionary
history can have a profound influence in modern times. For example, humans
maintain evolutionary traits from when our ancestors roamed the savannah that
are no longer fit for the modern world, from craving sugar to behaviour that
leads to prejudices.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">About 200 million years
ago, massive volcanic eruptions wiped out 76% of marine and land species.
Afterwards, the dinosaurs became the dominant predators in the land. To survive
and avoid being hunted to extinction by dinosaurs, mammals became small,
nocturnal and short-lived.Our ancestors of this time were not like us at all.
They were more like voles and mice, small animals going out in the dark to
catch insects. Under the pressure from the dinosaurs, ancestral mammals had to
reproduce rapidly, just like mice and rats do now. And just like mice, rats and
voles, our ancestors had short lifespans.For 100 million years, during the time
of the dinosaurs, mammals were at or near the bottom of the food chain. Mammals
were more often prey than predators. During this time there was no reason for
mammals to keep processes and genes related to long life, such as DNA repair
and tissue regeneration systems.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My longevity bottleneck
hypothesis proposes that repair and regeneration systems were lost, mutated or
inactivated by the evolution of early mammals. This imposed biological
constraints that shape how mammals age to this day.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the dinosaurs
disappeared when an asteroid hit the Earth 66 million years ago, mammals conquered
the world. An astonishing diversity of species evolved with a variety of
lifespans. Some species, like humans, evolved a long lifespan, but they may
have done it under constraints, remnants from the time of the dinosaurs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Why dinosaurs made a difference<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We can take a guess by
looking at species that did not undergo the same evolutionary pressures as
early mammals. For example, the tuatara, a reptile endemic to New Zealand, may
look like a lizard but it diverged from snakes and lizards about 250 million
years ago. It is sometimes referred to as a “living fossil”, due to its slow
evolution.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbulA2JA_7p1imggWCfE82OwiOC0J-K5kTRM3hmv_5Lli5wMP98nL8CdTLOPceL-fysfe715WuhQj4EIYdtA6jgUu2PV_RkeixE9e4lRb2mNCYj2SXUy3-wOm8Q3Xjs4EECxJL44SULWBM9ymhNM2q3hI066zytVUQwbCaCbL4rigyb0NwQtKUGFPP0ss/s600/The%20Tuatara%20lives%20for%20over%20a%20hundred%20years.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbulA2JA_7p1imggWCfE82OwiOC0J-K5kTRM3hmv_5Lli5wMP98nL8CdTLOPceL-fysfe715WuhQj4EIYdtA6jgUu2PV_RkeixE9e4lRb2mNCYj2SXUy3-wOm8Q3Xjs4EECxJL44SULWBM9ymhNM2q3hI066zytVUQwbCaCbL4rigyb0NwQtKUGFPP0ss/w640-h386/The%20Tuatara%20lives%20for%20over%20a%20hundred%20years.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tuatara lives for over a hundred years</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tuataras are thought to
live for more than 100 years and age much slower than human beings, as a 2022
DNA analysis study showed. Perhaps they have kept their anti-ageing genes,
unlike even the longest lived mammals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Our lifespan may be
limited because of our evolutionary history.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) The Great
Attractor: Our Galaxy Is Being Pulled Toward Something We Cannot See: JAMES
FELTON<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6V4dLcnNhHJq4BOatm8LnhKppEUDNTbQFh6GkFKzzQZvwiPh0otzGBj4HHifOCDHdA7wNOEPiGdMJXexUUv5Mjb9xDwjj76_Mradgr9J_BUtnHWsBuRrJg4RlL1KHnWEwsyQIaPOHauulxJ7Y56vr0Wn3SZWJ3TrlqvYwKUDjjZClWUSIfBQlTMZuOk/s1200/The%20great%20attractor%20is%20beyond%20this%20region%20of%20sky..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6V4dLcnNhHJq4BOatm8LnhKppEUDNTbQFh6GkFKzzQZvwiPh0otzGBj4HHifOCDHdA7wNOEPiGdMJXexUUv5Mjb9xDwjj76_Mradgr9J_BUtnHWsBuRrJg4RlL1KHnWEwsyQIaPOHauulxJ7Y56vr0Wn3SZWJ3TrlqvYwKUDjjZClWUSIfBQlTMZuOk/w640-h360/The%20great%20attractor%20is%20beyond%20this%20region%20of%20sky..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The great attractor is beyond this region of sky.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Astronomers noticed 400
galaxies, including our own, were being pulled in the same direction. 1929
brought the discovery that how redshifted a galaxy is is proportional to its
distance, giving us a way to measure distant galaxies, leading to the discovery
that the majority are moving away from us (and giving support to the idea of an
expanding universe). This knowledge, as well as helping us learn about the
shape of the universe and its expansion, eventually led to a slightly
unsettling discovery. As they continued to map the observable universe,
astronomers looking at 400 elliptical galaxies noticed that they were moving
towards something we cannot see, as it is in the "Zone of Avoidance",
or the area of sky obscured by our own galaxy's galactic plane and the cosmic
dust within it. Whatever it was, to move a large number of galaxies requires a
lot of mass. We can't see it, but we are being dragged towards something
gigantic.</span></b><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4NyquBci7uo9zdlRvqujJAneKxqb4XiglWVgaO0UzT-0PJYdwig4-SCf7SPFe3nV1vdeYrcC60hVi-5B-Vk7B-iG9tlVoyCHsQC9VmQbdQC4H80cX1qDOz9zmvZOr-Ap9qyp_SoSbgbOPYmQfznhvbiczA5jPN2652axdff48Xw4pQcxLK0YBj5xtpU/s400/The%20Great%20Attractor%20serves%20as%20a%20central%20gravitational%20focal%20point%20for%20our%20local%20universe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4NyquBci7uo9zdlRvqujJAneKxqb4XiglWVgaO0UzT-0PJYdwig4-SCf7SPFe3nV1vdeYrcC60hVi-5B-Vk7B-iG9tlVoyCHsQC9VmQbdQC4H80cX1qDOz9zmvZOr-Ap9qyp_SoSbgbOPYmQfznhvbiczA5jPN2652axdff48Xw4pQcxLK0YBj5xtpU/w640-h360/The%20Great%20Attractor%20serves%20as%20a%20central%20gravitational%20focal%20point%20for%20our%20local%20universe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Attractor serves as a central gravitational focal point for our local universe</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So, is it time to crack
each others' heads open and feast on the goo inside? No. While continuing to be
largely obscured by the Zone of Avoidance, we have a fairly good idea of what
we're (not) looking at. Observing other galaxies in the sky has shown us that
galaxies clump together to form "superclusters", with 90 percent of
galaxies thought to reside within them.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDpIQAd8afjVz64u-WpCn4NuCfefk9yPSrTm6vYCq6_llrsUuFE3bKZ1tRSmOoVil2NdoW_SyoP04xaJ-_yq6akafaILk9kDuxFMCdoUCuo4S9AAJHPzn-j4tIv5TP5g_TRYvNfek5-O9YB6YVW6HdxFqYS9GH_yIpayWIEtb_ACLXWKZDSmFcKtJiPw/s1239/Panoramic%20view%20of%20the%20entire%20near-infrared%20sky.%20The%20location%20of%20the%20Great%20Attractor%20is%20shown%20following%20the%20long%20blue%20arrow%20at%20bottom%20right..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1239" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDpIQAd8afjVz64u-WpCn4NuCfefk9yPSrTm6vYCq6_llrsUuFE3bKZ1tRSmOoVil2NdoW_SyoP04xaJ-_yq6akafaILk9kDuxFMCdoUCuo4S9AAJHPzn-j4tIv5TP5g_TRYvNfek5-O9YB6YVW6HdxFqYS9GH_yIpayWIEtb_ACLXWKZDSmFcKtJiPw/w640-h324/Panoramic%20view%20of%20the%20entire%20near-infrared%20sky.%20The%20location%20of%20the%20Great%20Attractor%20is%20shown%20following%20the%20long%20blue%20arrow%20at%20bottom%20right..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view of the entire near-infrared sky. The location of the Great Attractor is shown following the long blue arrow at bottom right.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">By looking at the flow
of galaxies, a team in 2014 found the Milky Way, already part of the Virgo
Supercluster, is likely within an even larger structure containing around
100,000 galaxies. Local flows within the region converge toward the Norma and
Centaurus clusters in good approximation to the location of what has been
called the ‘Great Attractor’," the team wrote in their paper. "The
region deserves a name. In the Hawaiian language 'lani' means 'heaven' and
'akea' means 'spacious, immeasurable'. We propose that we live in the Laniakea
Supercluster of galaxies."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3eA-bgzVlYruGyclKYkrw2AUtj_ojz5WanLnumK84UQp5Bgvg-YTef89OEYKJQLrUCI_qunkSkeAR3BR_NcZyJHztpcz1MF5VCCeBo1sr0iW08SZFAS6er2jLKvezMsTqnh_H28NDT5pdU2kQ7U9M1eOQOqH2H3xGNmdZj9IN0nBp3sQtg8mQag2AOk/s320/Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20image%20of%20the%20region%20of%20the%20sky%20where%20the%20Great%20Attractor%20is%20located.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="310" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3eA-bgzVlYruGyclKYkrw2AUtj_ojz5WanLnumK84UQp5Bgvg-YTef89OEYKJQLrUCI_qunkSkeAR3BR_NcZyJHztpcz1MF5VCCeBo1sr0iW08SZFAS6er2jLKvezMsTqnh_H28NDT5pdU2kQ7U9M1eOQOqH2H3xGNmdZj9IN0nBp3sQtg8mQag2AOk/w620-h640/Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20image%20of%20the%20region%20of%20the%20sky%20where%20the%20Great%20Attractor%20is%20located.jpg" width="620" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubble Space Telescope image of the region of the sky where the Great Attractor is located</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Great Attractor,
rather than anything to be afraid of, is where our local galaxies are heading
to hang out, the central gravitational point of our local area of the universe.
Unfortunately for any lonely galaxies hoping to meet other singles in their
area, the expansion of the universe will eventually rip us all apart from the
cluster's influence, as is the fate of the other superclusters out there.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Newly discovered
hedgehog species diverged from others more than a million years ago: by Justin
Jackson <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlskMKNRkpRP4AB8t5uuhOZ4E2ivdp_7KhCU9S7UCGg0d3fXXBtCvcl40h7qLSosX3BNZ2ke9oJxUqBtePPw7bBbd9f1b7oVr1l10iiMe1l_V9eGGfj7ZDgcKtUlwl7tONcZxUAVazxfBFwBUfr8lkLmcYVHWDK6ErJ5FFv7LPYTyqHc1ld6yQ8AVEKM/s1975/A%20living%20Mesechinus%20orientalis%20sp.%20nov.%20(XC%202205003)%20from%20Xuancheng,%20Anhui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1317" data-original-width="1975" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlskMKNRkpRP4AB8t5uuhOZ4E2ivdp_7KhCU9S7UCGg0d3fXXBtCvcl40h7qLSosX3BNZ2ke9oJxUqBtePPw7bBbd9f1b7oVr1l10iiMe1l_V9eGGfj7ZDgcKtUlwl7tONcZxUAVazxfBFwBUfr8lkLmcYVHWDK6ErJ5FFv7LPYTyqHc1ld6yQ8AVEKM/w640-h426/A%20living%20Mesechinus%20orientalis%20sp.%20nov.%20(XC%202205003)%20from%20Xuancheng,%20Anhui.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A living Mesechinus orientalis sp. nov. (XC 2205003) from Xuancheng, Anhui</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers at Anhui
Normal University, Wuhu, China, have announced the discovery of a new species
within the hedgehog genus Mesechinus. The eastern China hedgehog species was
found to be distinct from other regional hedgehogs across morphological and
phylogenetic characteristics.In their paper, "A new species of forest
hedgehog (Mesechinus, Erinaceidae, Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) from eastern
China," published in the open access journal ZooKeys, the research team
details the analysis resulting in the decision to formally describe a new
species of hedgehog, Mesechinus orientalis.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8-3MzI_c37HP910FXlUSj2HISgJq-I1IV2svBN09kZ4QiHxCapah_FDzLIW4aIex_2hPycYdDS_eCmmER76FDmpxCGxsjpYPwAs186F5IOTEVeCDApSvFDdc3Sx45K2gI5icS7JEdvEPE9B51Il_NM7YJcEcnwv9v-U2gIQG5hODpbEmhwJrlbZgcso/s990/Hylomys%20maxi%20seen%20in%20the%20wild%20on%20Fraser%E2%80%99s%20Hill,%20Pahang,%20Malaysia.%20(David%20Awcock%20via%20SWNS).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="990" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8-3MzI_c37HP910FXlUSj2HISgJq-I1IV2svBN09kZ4QiHxCapah_FDzLIW4aIex_2hPycYdDS_eCmmER76FDmpxCGxsjpYPwAs186F5IOTEVeCDApSvFDdc3Sx45K2gI5icS7JEdvEPE9B51Il_NM7YJcEcnwv9v-U2gIQG5hODpbEmhwJrlbZgcso/w640-h426/Hylomys%20maxi%20seen%20in%20the%20wild%20on%20Fraser%E2%80%99s%20Hill,%20Pahang,%20Malaysia.%20(David%20Awcock%20via%20SWNS).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hylomys maxi seen in the wild on Fraser’s Hill, Pahang, Malaysia. (David Awcock via SWNS)</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Previously known
Mesechinus species (M. dauuricus, M. hughi, M. miodon, and M. wangi) mainly
inhabit northern China, Mongolia, Russia and southwestern China. This new
species is exclusive to eastern China.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Seven Mesechinus
specimens were collected from eastern China between 2018 and 2023 to determine
which species of hedgehog they were. The researchers utilized various
methodologies, including morphological measurements, mitochondrial genome
sequencing, assembly, annotation, and phylogenetic analysis using genetic data
from several Mesechinus species and related hedgehog genera obtained from
GenBank.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIg9rnmhvAjGhvRAmTPdaWYXqO3suN4Cto0eeoFTp6oVG42xtFO0cI5kGtH_M3-0-HyTFi79O-XucbvQt2Xvn4NUFaO3-GmmUsRP2rM_q49YQ_fyb3xULFqtJXA5J0v6fL93R9QKssqa2ZaKassNQLuTpwD_N0pl8XYL36Ay_-mpfiDRbFrleQsuZIz0/s2880/The%20museum%20specimen%20that%20scientists%20studied%20to%20describe%20the%20new%20soft-furred%20hedgehog%20species%20Hylomys%20vorax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2880" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIg9rnmhvAjGhvRAmTPdaWYXqO3suN4Cto0eeoFTp6oVG42xtFO0cI5kGtH_M3-0-HyTFi79O-XucbvQt2Xvn4NUFaO3-GmmUsRP2rM_q49YQ_fyb3xULFqtJXA5J0v6fL93R9QKssqa2ZaKassNQLuTpwD_N0pl8XYL36Ay_-mpfiDRbFrleQsuZIz0/w640-h426/The%20museum%20specimen%20that%20scientists%20studied%20to%20describe%20the%20new%20soft-furred%20hedgehog%20species%20Hylomys%20vorax.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The museum specimen that scientists studied to describe the new soft-furred hedgehog species Hylomys vorax</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Morphological,
morphometric, and genetic evidence supported the recognition of Mesechinus
orientalis as a new species, distinct from the previously recognized species
within the genus Mesechinus. The new species shares morphological similarities
with M. hughi but is distinguishable by its smaller size, shorter spines, and
specific cranial characteristics.Divergence times were estimated from the most
recent common ancestor. The genus Mesechinus began to appear in the early
Pleistocene around 1.71 million years ago. M. orientalis was estimated to have
diverged from M. hughi and M. wangi ancestor approximately 1.10 million years
ago. In comparison, M. hughi and M. wangi diverged from each other about 0.74
million years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">These long time frames
since divergence indicate that the hedgehogs have been isolated from one
another for a long time, likely due to climatic shifts during the Pleistocene
that altered migration routes and led to prolonged geographic isolation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) First in situ
documentation of a fossilized megalodon tooth in the deep sea :by Bob Yirka ,
Phys.org<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlvZXKG9T_zGYJq2e-0tWCiTdBuBV7D24MbfX9W-A38YLUKS5ui8TlEqfNuN1dXSGAK-xynt2G2Gkvk7UriUBQlHbRMgtzIM9d44EvGMksxkH6MbQBXjTgrxxom261T3iPvXmlCXlMgJ3BeDHj-77Jr-o4JMAsOecDn-myhC51Mxjg5oKKAhAUyKOXEU/s1280/MEGALODON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlvZXKG9T_zGYJq2e-0tWCiTdBuBV7D24MbfX9W-A38YLUKS5ui8TlEqfNuN1dXSGAK-xynt2G2Gkvk7UriUBQlHbRMgtzIM9d44EvGMksxkH6MbQBXjTgrxxom261T3iPvXmlCXlMgJ3BeDHj-77Jr-o4JMAsOecDn-myhC51Mxjg5oKKAhAUyKOXEU/w640-h360/MEGALODON.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A small team of
oceanographers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S., working with a
zoologist from the SNSB-Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, in Germany, has
documented the first in situ discovery of a fossilized megalodon tooth in the
deep sea. In their paper, published in the journal Historical Biology, the
group describes how they discovered the ancient shark took and what the study
of it revealed about its condition.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno4ErZQ68WxWGHBu6RupPBnP6Cfzn9FvumXf4dGD_WlDGZmk2i4caFwocqGdcMUO9YPN7pKIjLkU_ELqsU7oWf_nmJFc2U47mU2eapS4AtzbyMjSVm0wva5iUSdJIDDBWLSZVbHSd1_mxKJOcphqNFoShgjSEC8p6STomRRo9vyosRusBqdvak-IS9eU/s500/MEGALODON2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="500" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno4ErZQ68WxWGHBu6RupPBnP6Cfzn9FvumXf4dGD_WlDGZmk2i4caFwocqGdcMUO9YPN7pKIjLkU_ELqsU7oWf_nmJFc2U47mU2eapS4AtzbyMjSVm0wva5iUSdJIDDBWLSZVbHSd1_mxKJOcphqNFoShgjSEC8p6STomRRo9vyosRusBqdvak-IS9eU/w640-h520/MEGALODON2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prior research has shown
that megalodons were an extinct species of giant mackerel shark that lived from
3.6 to 23 million years ago—members of its species are believed to have been
among the largest and most powerful predators ever to have lived.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Very little evidence of
the shark has been found, however—most of it in the form of fossilized teeth.
Such teeth have been found in a variety of locations, including sandy beaches
and sticking out of fossilized whale bones. But until now, no megalodon tooth
has ever been found in the location where it originally settled after exiting
the mouth of its owner.The researchers found the tooth by accident. They were
on a ship off the coast of the Johnson Atoll, in the Pacific Ocean, surveying
the ocean floor using a remotely controlled underwater robot, when they
happened to spot the tooth sticking nearly straight up out of the sand. After
taking pictures and video of the tooth, they had their robot extract it. Later,
after studying the tooth in their lab, they found it to be in nearly pristine condition,
particularly its serrated edge.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ae6LXGiePXq9L9DPj3WcJC3q_Tfq1FLuRA1YFnXMl2rHoN1tH6nGn2sWlxxU-LhJ0bfSSccIKq8SQHNQSzQhVkkEDHPllEk4Ob66jr-YJwJzhOGsExe_fCm5ZYdNkgc0pJ4qBlouSgZGCuIh_JVdpN7tNeFFbtbQJoovW3V3o036tSmrMWtSs8mna2U/s1280/Otodus%20megalodon%20tooth%20NA141-006-01-MT.%20A,%20labial%20view;%20B,%20profile%20view;%20C,%20lingual%20view;%20D,%20basal%20view.%20Scale%20bar%202%E2%80%89cm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1280" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ae6LXGiePXq9L9DPj3WcJC3q_Tfq1FLuRA1YFnXMl2rHoN1tH6nGn2sWlxxU-LhJ0bfSSccIKq8SQHNQSzQhVkkEDHPllEk4Ob66jr-YJwJzhOGsExe_fCm5ZYdNkgc0pJ4qBlouSgZGCuIh_JVdpN7tNeFFbtbQJoovW3V3o036tSmrMWtSs8mna2U/w640-h376/Otodus%20megalodon%20tooth%20NA141-006-01-MT.%20A,%20labial%20view;%20B,%20profile%20view;%20C,%20lingual%20view;%20D,%20basal%20view.%20Scale%20bar%202%E2%80%89cm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Otodus megalodon tooth NA141-006-01-MT. A, labial view; B, profile view; C, lingual view; D, basal view. Scale bar 2 cm</td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The research team
suggests the tooth was able to remain in its original position due to its
location on the sea floor, a part of the ocean where strong currents prevent
buildup of sediment. In this case, it also prevented sediment from wearing away
features of the tooth. It had clearly not been tossed and tumbled—it had
remained firmly in the place where it originally fell. They note that the tooth
was not from a particularly large shark; it measured just 63 to 68 millimeters
in length, but its positioning could help ocean scientists learn more about the
ancient sea creatures</span></b><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3Se4EMnBel4A3LCw46Cl-A6Dl8LWq-MkynYDu52CHJRtbU6bxHC0NgWOR1718I_s2LVWoRWv6Hm6bOL-KrcSAQ71IE6xZ8OmcpURtWCZmmNtpG5Igl030aIvJBao11MIt8UfPPPFrHjp57XwKZlKxML8B5d4T_905anbDv_kLQ6dS4yvg2p1xBedCNw/s620/The%20megalodon%20tooth%20is%20believed%20to%20be%20about%203.6%20million%20years%20old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="620" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3Se4EMnBel4A3LCw46Cl-A6Dl8LWq-MkynYDu52CHJRtbU6bxHC0NgWOR1718I_s2LVWoRWv6Hm6bOL-KrcSAQ71IE6xZ8OmcpURtWCZmmNtpG5Igl030aIvJBao11MIt8UfPPPFrHjp57XwKZlKxML8B5d4T_905anbDv_kLQ6dS4yvg2p1xBedCNw/w640-h440/The%20megalodon%20tooth%20is%20believed%20to%20be%20about%203.6%20million%20years%20old.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshapmwtfwTWk4kr9xtNd76dNkpbo95ZETxz-pdsMbIc9fZ0pUdD8-hMDPSXVR8RvMNAvNAxiEJCIKGOLrIEszxpP_rfQCPV6eCtmWQCqfUGZkfZ7KV4-gMqngxVdk4hjXK77-7h003t9_se-LuJA0TFN-2NuOG-rcs3JDaPjgsmXk8MBiP-AescIZEhA/s960/PLITICALNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshapmwtfwTWk4kr9xtNd76dNkpbo95ZETxz-pdsMbIc9fZ0pUdD8-hMDPSXVR8RvMNAvNAxiEJCIKGOLrIEszxpP_rfQCPV6eCtmWQCqfUGZkfZ7KV4-gMqngxVdk4hjXK77-7h003t9_se-LuJA0TFN-2NuOG-rcs3JDaPjgsmXk8MBiP-AescIZEhA/w640-h480/PLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Parliament
Winter Session Highlights: Three criminal bills passed in Rajya Sabha
unanimously in absence of Oppn MPs<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRX5wW4OGY29rABu8ZGzjBiMrhvkQ0zR08xgS7u3bbY5-BJj-TtyItw-FiVtn6bZoqeFK9dzXqTKINscocDqHuJ3fsoa665u-wYMR6591R2lwoj4CM21udXbGUX-IBfwrjax_e_exwJCZMNvKx6-sZEnHB7CJzHjrcjT2goHWOgG_UlHte92Pb9MeaoTQ/s550/ok%20Sabha%20Speaker%20Om%20Birla%20conducts%20the%20proceedings%20of%20the%20House%20during%20the%20Winter%20Session%20of%20Parliament.(.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRX5wW4OGY29rABu8ZGzjBiMrhvkQ0zR08xgS7u3bbY5-BJj-TtyItw-FiVtn6bZoqeFK9dzXqTKINscocDqHuJ3fsoa665u-wYMR6591R2lwoj4CM21udXbGUX-IBfwrjax_e_exwJCZMNvKx6-sZEnHB7CJzHjrcjT2goHWOgG_UlHte92Pb9MeaoTQ/w640-h360/ok%20Sabha%20Speaker%20Om%20Birla%20conducts%20the%20proceedings%20of%20the%20House%20during%20the%20Winter%20Session%20of%20Parliament.(.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ok Sabha Speaker Om Birla conducts the proceedings of the House during the Winter Session of Parliament.(</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Centre passed three
new criminal code bills in the Rajya Sabha today.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Parliament Winter
Session Highlights: The Lok Sabha on Thursday cleared the bill to regulate the
appointment of top election officers in the Lok Sabha. The Chief Election
Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of
Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, has already been passed by the Rajya
Sabha.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Union Home Minister Amit
Shah moved three new criminal code bills for consideration and passage in the
Rajya Sabha on Thursday, and they were subsequently passed. The Bharatiya Nyaya
(Second) Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023
and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023 were passed by the Lok Sabha on
Wednesday. The Centre also passed the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 in the
Upper House. The bill seeks to amend and consolidate the law relating to the
development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and
telecommunication networks; assignment of the spectrum; and matters connected
therewith. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Meanwhile, the protest
by Opposition leaders over the December 13 security breach and the subsequent
suspension of its 143 MPs, is likely to continue today.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The suspensions were a
result of the Opposition members’ refusal to budge on their demand for a statement
from Shah on the Parliament security breach. Parliamentarians of the INDIA bloc
decided to hold a nationwide protest, including one at Jantar Mantar in Delhi,
on Friday. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Here are some
provisions of newly passed criminal laws</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-The new laws establish
severe penalties for crimes against women and address loopholes by defining
organized crime.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-Hit-and-run cases will
incur a 10-year imprisonment penalty. However, leniency is exercised in road
accident scenarios where the accused promptly attends to victims by taking them
to the hospital, as highlighted by Union minister Amit Shah in the Parliament.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-The bills outline
specific timelines for various stages, starting from FIR registration to
investigation and filing of charge sheets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-In cases involving accused
individuals, such as those related to bomb blasts or economic offenses, who
attempt to evade justice, trials in absentia will be conducted, Shah mentioned.
In cases involving accused individuals, such as those related to bomb blasts or
economic offenses, who attempt to evade justice, trials in absentia will be
conducted, Shah mentioned.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-Shah emphasised the
introduction of a timeframe for filing mercy petitions. Specifically, only
individuals convicted and on death row are eligible to submit such pleas within
30 days after the Supreme Court confirms the punishment. Others are not
permitted to file such appeals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘Three bills not
intended at punishing, but giving justice’: Amit Shah on criminal bills tabeled
in RS</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We had been
deliberating and discussing on this since August 2019. I feel joyous to be
presenting this today. Not just the names of laws have been changed, but major
changes have been made in their objectives. Indian Penal Code, Criminal
Procedure Code and Evidence Act were formulated to safeguard the British
rule," says Union Home Minister Amit Shah while speaking in Rajya Sabha on
Bills replacing IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The order of the
sections (in the current criminal laws) show that looting the treasury,
breaking the railway tracks and conspiring against the British rule were
prioritised over murder and crimes against women.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The three Bills I
have tabled today are not intended at punishing, but giving justice," he
added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The soul of these
laws is Indian and for the first time, our criminal justice system will be
governed by laws made by India, for India and made in Indian Parliament."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Rahul Gandhi's
Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0 likely in January 2024 before Lok Sabha polls<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pNGrqsxi0nmju2Ksqo0WLLoy1SEDu0_WiROejkd9LvRmG8vR_YHEIIl0qMvHBmKhR0Lt4DTZWCftdnqGKH6kwnrect0l_mOFSegX_PegkRfJJXg7I6XKRtaUVvBgHQ8ewNI6FjcdwL8QofYr8ORGmEwJn_HVUC3dWXz6ZiZU0Piu7Z6SHRZpz55Olxo/s948/RAHULBHARAT%20JORO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="948" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pNGrqsxi0nmju2Ksqo0WLLoy1SEDu0_WiROejkd9LvRmG8vR_YHEIIl0qMvHBmKhR0Lt4DTZWCftdnqGKH6kwnrect0l_mOFSegX_PegkRfJJXg7I6XKRtaUVvBgHQ8ewNI6FjcdwL8QofYr8ORGmEwJn_HVUC3dWXz6ZiZU0Piu7Z6SHRZpz55Olxo/w640-h360/RAHULBHARAT%20JORO.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress is
considering to launch the public outreach rally after the first week of January
2024 before the Lok Sabha elections. The grand old Congress is looking at the
possibility of lauching the second phase of public outreach rally Bharat Jodo
Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, in January 2024. The Congress is considering to
launch the public outreach rally after the first week of January 2024 before
the Lok Sabha elections<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The second iteration of
the public outreach rally-- Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0-- will be in hybrid mode.
This implies that those participating in the rally will march on foot as well
as use vehicles. Two routes are being considered for this Yatra. If finalised,
the Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0 is expected to begin from a Northeastern state, said
sources.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A senior Congress leader
said that the focus of this Yatra would be on Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and
Maharashtra. The party is also looking at including prominent faces from
opposition given that the Yatra will likely be conducted in the run-up to the
2024 General Elections, sources further said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Similar to the first Yatra,
several public meetings by Rahul Gandhi are also being planned this time around
as well. The Yatra is likely to find a mention during the Congress Working
Group meeting on December 21. Rahul Gandhi had underwent the first iteration of
the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir from September 7, 2022 to
January 30 this year. The primary objective of this Yatra was to unite India
against the divisive politics of the ruling party. It was also aimed at
addressing other issues like unemployment and inequality.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gandhi covered a
distance of around 4,080 kilometres when the Yatra concluded in Srinagar in
January this year. The Bharat Jodo Yatra was India's longest foot march as the
Yatra had passed through 75 districts across 12 states in 136 days.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It received overwhelming
response from the public and eminent professionals from all walks of life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Yatra also saw
participation of personalities such as former Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Governor Raghuram Rajan, ex-Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram, former Army Chief
General (Retd) Deepak Kapoor, Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan, Pooja Bhatt, and
Amol Palekar. Opposition leaders including Mehbooba Mufti, Aaditya Thackeray,
Sanjay Raut and Supriya Sule also walked alongside Rahul Gandhi at various
points of time during the march.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) WFI election
Highlights: Sakshi Malik breaks down into tears as she announces retirement<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJq6d0WJxR7r8NLh5kXFpePEut5XPG-Ks3MZ2OzTGtXuLkklAlJBal9OXkfVA0829l01JiA_AarK1HbMu7nFJSSQX6UU1doJ8Q0BgxnXRPeNIBOFW0t6buJH4BFS5JrH3Ie8nrJYmQuaDwEeqCDfE-MmpzqAFF6ug_fLWCG3A4h4m6uoM_8O2Am1nOOk/s549/Wrestler%20Sakshi%20Malik%20hangs%20up%20boots%20during%20a%20press%20conference%20as%20she%20announces%20her%20retirement%20from%20the%20sport,%20protesting%20against%20Brij%20Bhushan%20Sharan%20Singh%20loyalist%20Sanjay%20Singh%20winning%20the%20Wrestling%20Federation%20of%20India.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJq6d0WJxR7r8NLh5kXFpePEut5XPG-Ks3MZ2OzTGtXuLkklAlJBal9OXkfVA0829l01JiA_AarK1HbMu7nFJSSQX6UU1doJ8Q0BgxnXRPeNIBOFW0t6buJH4BFS5JrH3Ie8nrJYmQuaDwEeqCDfE-MmpzqAFF6ug_fLWCG3A4h4m6uoM_8O2Am1nOOk/w640-h360/Wrestler%20Sakshi%20Malik%20hangs%20up%20boots%20during%20a%20press%20conference%20as%20she%20announces%20her%20retirement%20from%20the%20sport,%20protesting%20against%20Brij%20Bhushan%20Sharan%20Singh%20loyalist%20Sanjay%20Singh%20winning%20the%20Wrestling%20Federation%20of%20India.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrestler Sakshi Malik hangs up boots during a press conference as she announces her retirement from the sport, protesting against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh winning the Wrestling Federation of India</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sanjay Singh, a close
supporter of Brij Bhushan, was elected as the new president of the Wrestling
Federation of India.Sanjay Singh, a close aide of Brij Bhushan, was elected as
the new President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) after his panel
secured victory in 13 out of 15 positions in the long-awaited polls. This
outcome led to uproar among protesting wrestlers, prompting Sakshi Malik to
announce her retirement from the sport.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sanjay, also the Vice
President of the UP Wrestling Association from Varanasi, received 40 votes,
while his rival, former CWG gold medallist Anita Sheoran, managed only seven
votes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Following the results,
star wrestlers and Olympic medallists Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi
Malik held a press conference. They previously spoke out against ousted WFI
chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKtpxS840yazs30cgfzBZjh277QcS9cIdZz8PSIcob-YmDhWda60UNnYL_uc9hrbKUKkrPwZIj5AEQkgNx7tkYpjeoeLzr_Azsxo7rbQmuG4FvUR3X-HoxPutwWvr8wYED3qweHXJ-bxrMRz7MZ-hpzwClCQf9GzXlkP_P8ALYa8C11oUDjKb1A8494o/s690/Sanjay%20Singh%20(R)%20won%20the%20Wrestling%20Federation%20of%20India%20elections%20in%20New%20Delhi%20on%20Thursday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="690" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKtpxS840yazs30cgfzBZjh277QcS9cIdZz8PSIcob-YmDhWda60UNnYL_uc9hrbKUKkrPwZIj5AEQkgNx7tkYpjeoeLzr_Azsxo7rbQmuG4FvUR3X-HoxPutwWvr8wYED3qweHXJ-bxrMRz7MZ-hpzwClCQf9GzXlkP_P8ALYa8C11oUDjKb1A8494o/w640-h360/Sanjay%20Singh%20(R)%20won%20the%20Wrestling%20Federation%20of%20India%20elections%20in%20New%20Delhi%20on%20Thursday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanjay Singh (R) won the Wrestling Federation of India elections in New Delhi on Thursday</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Olympic medalist Sakshi
Malik, a leading voice in the wrestlers' protest against former WFI president
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh due to sexual harassment allegations, declared her
retirement from wrestling on Thursday. Her decision came following the election
of Sanjay Singh, an aide of Sharan Singh, as the federation's president.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Expressing deep distress
and emotion, Sakshi Malik tearfully concluded her address at a press conference
in the national capital before leaving the venue.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Originally scheduled for
August 12, the WFI elections faced delays due to a Punjab and Haryana High
Court order, extending the stay until September 25. These elections, initially
planned for June, oversee wrestling across the country.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier this month,
Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik met Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur in the
national capital to discuss the WFI polls.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) People in
constitutional posts doing politics using caste, region: Mallikarjun Kharge<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaBQiMNT2SNjrREAvzFNG2S0kkuqwBsbHT2ca-PyQmSY-S3a6npCZP5rMYIrQmWmgxj8NPDbh2GqQYx6ZSdncXR3oMGRmYYseEc4V8k2h3c67I2krqSiejuhtSvY6JcuAwb2h9udWRSHq25kiT7RDBS0tNT4Lm1PCDYEmblyDrvKTIC8NlfJBZL94y94/s550/Congress%20chief%20Mallikarjun%20Kharge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaBQiMNT2SNjrREAvzFNG2S0kkuqwBsbHT2ca-PyQmSY-S3a6npCZP5rMYIrQmWmgxj8NPDbh2GqQYx6ZSdncXR3oMGRmYYseEc4V8k2h3c67I2krqSiejuhtSvY6JcuAwb2h9udWRSHq25kiT7RDBS0tNT4Lm1PCDYEmblyDrvKTIC8NlfJBZL94y94/w640-h360/Congress%20chief%20Mallikarjun%20Kharge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kharge accused the Union
government of passing bills without discussion and alleged a conspiracy to
convert Parliament into a platform for the ruling BJP. People holding
constitutional posts have failed to fulfil their obligations, and are indulging
in politics using “caste, region and occupation as their shield”, Congress chief
Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday – an apparent reference to Rajya Sabha
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar amid an ongoing tussle between the Opposition and
government over the suspension of 146 MPs during the winter session of
Parliament.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Speaking at the Congress
Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Kharge also slammed the Union government for
“arbitrarily passing important bills without discussion and debate” and alleged
a conspiracy to “convert Parliament into a platform” for the ruling Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Speaking at the CWC
meeting, Kharge said: “The biggest challenge is that people holding
constitutional posts, who are responsible for providing protection to the
Opposition MPs, are themselves becoming a part of party politics and doing
politics using caste, region and occupation as their shield. He has failed to
fulfil his obligations under the Constitution. The whole country is watching
it.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While the Congress chief
did not name anyone, his remarks came two days after Vice President Dhankhar
took strong exception of suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee
allegedly mimicking him and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recording the act. On
Tuesday, video clips of Banerjee ostensibly mimicking Dhankhar, on the steps of
the new Parliament building, were aired on television and circulated on social
media platforms, triggering a political row. Gandhi was seen filming the act as
the MPs gathered to protest against a spate of suspensions from both Lok Sabha
and Rajya Sabha.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I had suffered, I tell
you. On Instagram, Mr Chidambram, your party put a video which was withdrawn
later on. That was a shame to me. You used official Twitter (now X) handle of
the spokesperson to demean me, insult me, insult my background as a farmer, my
position as a Jat, insult my position as a Chairman,” Dhankhar told senior
Congress leader P Chidambaram in the Upper House. On Wednesday, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi spoke to Dhankhar to convey his “pain”, and President Droupadi
Murmu stressed that protests should not cross the “norms of dignity and
courtesy”. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla also met Dhankhar and said the Opposition
MP’s conduct was “demeaning”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Amid growing criticism,
Banerjee on Wednesday said his intention was not to hurt anyone. He, however,
said mimicry is not an offence and alleged the BJP is “trying to change the
main issue which is whether suspension of opposition MPs was right”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the CWC meeting,
Kharge accused the BJP of strangling democracy and alleged a “conspiracy to
convert Parliament into a platform for the ruling party”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Our example of the
largest democracy in the world is in crisis. The whole country is seeing that
the BJP is strangling democracy by arbitrarily passing important bills without
discussion and debate. There is a conspiracy going on to convert Parliament
into a platform for the ruling party,” Kharge, who is the Leader of Opposition
in Rajya Sabha, said. “The way 143 MPs (by the end of the session, the figure
rose to 146) of our INDIA bloc were suspended in both the Houses in the current
Parliament session is unfortunate. The Modi government is working against the
dignity of Parliament by passing all the important bills in the absence of the
Opposition,” he added<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress chief
further accused the BJP of trying to take over institutions such as the
Election Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“By trying to take over
institutions like the Election Commission, the government has put the
Constitution, Parliament and democracy in danger. The Opposition gave full
cooperation in the Parliament session. But after the incident in Parliament on
December 13, the Opposition MPs were demanding a statement from the home
minister and a comprehensive discussion in both the Houses on the issue, which
the government made a question of prestige,” he added, referring to last week’s
security breach in Parliament. Meanwhile, the BJP slammed the Opposition. “An
investigation into the security breach is going on; the Opposition does not
want the House to function... Does (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi support all
this?...” Union minister Pralhad Joshi said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Poonch ambush:
What we know about PAFF which claimed responsibility for terror attack<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwBh2RoGHo5bnCOXkb3ncDZq1iarp3PsUazgR47TqSjhl0H2i619u8cIaBqUEjYkQMXR9CyrnhgPPVEWs8j_hMhxi_OKx58efsW27lG-F55t7RqTUjV27xHqALL_kt5kOUOi46HZxuT3AKalbfBYeboJM-n_dmJ8-r-qHbnubCjeToIYH11_4u87eArk/s549/A%20damaged%20Indian%20Army%20vehicle%20after%20an%20attack%20by%20terrorists%20in%20Poonch%20district%20on%20Thursday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwBh2RoGHo5bnCOXkb3ncDZq1iarp3PsUazgR47TqSjhl0H2i619u8cIaBqUEjYkQMXR9CyrnhgPPVEWs8j_hMhxi_OKx58efsW27lG-F55t7RqTUjV27xHqALL_kt5kOUOi46HZxuT3AKalbfBYeboJM-n_dmJ8-r-qHbnubCjeToIYH11_4u87eArk/w640-h360/A%20damaged%20Indian%20Army%20vehicle%20after%20an%20attack%20by%20terrorists%20in%20Poonch%20district%20on%20Thursday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A damaged Indian Army vehicle after an attack by terrorists in Poonch district on Thursday</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The PAFF is a proxy
outfit of Jaish-e-Mohammed and was involved in terror acts and issuing threats
to security forces, political leaders, civilians. The People's Anti-Fascist
Front or PAFF, an offshoot of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), claimed
responsibility for the Poonch terror ambush in Jammu and Kashmir in which four
soldiers were killed and three injured on Thursday. The bodies of two of the
slain soldiers were mutilated, officials said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A damaged Indian Army
vehicle after an attack by terrorists in Poonch district on Thursday, (PTI)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A damaged Indian Army
vehicle after an attack by terrorists in Poonch district on Thursday, (PTI)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Security and defence
experts have called for immediate strengthening of the security management and
intelligence network along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region, which
witnessed the killing of 59 people, including 24 security personnel and 28
terrorists, in terror incidents this year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stay tuned with breaking
news on HT Channel on Facebook. Join Now<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lt General Paramjit
Singh (retd), who headed the Nagrota-based XVI corps of the army, acknowledged
that the terrain where the incident took place is a difficult one. "But
having said that one needs to be prepared for all eventualities," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ambush came weeks
after a major gunfight in the Dharmsal belt of Bajimaal forest area in nearby
Rajouri district that had left five Army personnel, including two captains,
dead last month.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A top commander of
Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Quari, who masterminded several attacks,
including the killing of 10 civilians and five Army personnel, and his
associate were killed in the two-day-long encounter in November.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What do we know about People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF)?</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The PAFF is a proxy
outfit of Maulana Masood Azhar-led Jaish-e-Mohammed and was involved in terror
acts and issuing threats to Indian security forces, political leaders,
civilians in J&K, and other states.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was banned by the
ministry of home affairs (MHA) under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act
(UAPA) in January for carrying out terror activities in Kashmir.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The MHA banned PAFF
after it banned The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, for
carrying out terror activities in Kashmir.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The PAFF emerged in 2019
as a proxy outfit of JeM, a proscribed terrorist organisation listed at serial
number 6 of the First Schedule under the UAPA.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It regularly issues
threats to Indian security forces, political leaders, civilians working in
Jammu-Kashmir from other states and is involved, along with other
organisations, in conspiring pro-actively physically and in social media to
undertake violent terrorist acts and Jammu-Kashmir and other major cities in
India, the MHA said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">PAFF terrorists are
known to use body cameras to film their attacks. They then use the films for
propaganda.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In April this year, the
PAFF attacked an Indian Army truck in Poonch and filmed it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Bajrang Punia to
return Padma Shri award in protest over WFI chief election<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2rc5p9igsG8tLbvMytxfVOmfKrICmfbxXJ1wJ-31pL7KXMwYgLVJ-SorvCZP81nfz2oFTsQcc7hMy_ME125oAlUOh96qrVDNQ3vB1MumK_cntrNOVCXw4alWOHfkyAXSt42XId3A2OJyrZj7vZEkYASZGpMxZZJSL8O7uUFxAmWjXyFVPTIvtGIYZmY/s549/Bajrang%20Punia%20said%20he%20wants%20to%20return%20his%20Padma%20Shri%20award%20that%20he%20received%20in%202019%20as%20a%20mark%20of%20protest%20against%20the%20injustice%20meted%20out%20to%20the%20women%20wrestlers%20of%20the%20country..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2rc5p9igsG8tLbvMytxfVOmfKrICmfbxXJ1wJ-31pL7KXMwYgLVJ-SorvCZP81nfz2oFTsQcc7hMy_ME125oAlUOh96qrVDNQ3vB1MumK_cntrNOVCXw4alWOHfkyAXSt42XId3A2OJyrZj7vZEkYASZGpMxZZJSL8O7uUFxAmWjXyFVPTIvtGIYZmY/w640-h360/Bajrang%20Punia%20said%20he%20wants%20to%20return%20his%20Padma%20Shri%20award%20that%20he%20received%20in%202019%20as%20a%20mark%20of%20protest%20against%20the%20injustice%20meted%20out%20to%20the%20women%20wrestlers%20of%20the%20country..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bajrang Punia said he wants to return his Padma Shri award that he received in 2019 as a mark of protest against the injustice meted out to the women wrestlers of the country.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Bajrang Punia was
stopped at Delhi's Kartavya Path after he went to keep his Padma Shri award on
the footpath outside PM's residence. A day after wrestler Sakshi Malik hung up
her boots protesting the election of Brij Bhushan's close aide Sanjay Singh as
the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, Bajrang Punia wrote a letter to
PM Modi returning his Padma Shri award. "I am returning my Padmashree
award to the Prime Minister. This is just my letter to announce that. This is
my statement," Bajrang Punia tweeted.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the X post,
Bajrang Punia went to keep his Padma Shri award on the footpath outside the
PM's residence. He was stopped at Delhi's Kartavya Path by police officials. On
Thursday, Brij Bhushan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh was elected the president of
the Wrestling Federation of India winning 13 of the 15 posts. Sakshi Malik,
Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat addressed a press conference after Sanjay Singh's
election in which Sakshi announced that she would quit the sport as a mark of
protest. "We fought from our heart but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his
business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I give up
wrestling. From today onwards you will not see me on the mat," Sakshi said
as she kept her boot with tears in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dear PM Ji, hope your
health is well. You must be busy in many work but I am writing this to draw
your attention to the wrestlers of the country. You must be aware that the
women wrestlers of the country started a protest in January this year against
Brish Bhushan Singh accusing him of sexual harassment. I too joined their
protest. The protest stopped after the government promised strong action,"
Punia wrote."But there was no FIR against Brij Bhushan even after three
months. We again took to the streets in April so that the police at least file
an FIR against him. There were 19 complainants in January but the number came
down to 7 by April. This means Brij Bhushan exerted his influence on 12 women
wrestlers," Bajrang Punia wrote.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Our protest went
on for 40 days. There was much pressure on us during those days...We went to
immerse our medals to the Ganga River. Then we were stopped by farmer leaders.
At that time a responsible minister from your cabinet called us up and assured
us of justice. Meanwhile, we met Union home minister Amit Shah who too promised
us of justice. We stopped our protest," the letter read."But in the
election of the WFI on December 21, the federation came under Brij Bhushan once
again. He himself said he would prevail over the federation like he did always.
Coming under tremendous pressure, Sakshi Malik announced her retirement from
wrestling," it added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We all spent the
night in tears. We did not understand what to do, or where to go. The
government has given us a lot. I was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2019. I
also received the Arjuna, Khel Ratna award. When I got these awards, I was on
cloud nine. But today the sadness weighs more. And the reason is a woman
wrestler left the sport because of her security," Bajrang wrote.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Sports have
empowered our women athletes, changed their lives. All credit to the
first-generation women athletes. The situation is such that the women who could
have been the brand ambassadors of beti bachao, beti padhao are now taking back
their steps in their sports. And we 'awarded' wrestlers could not do anything.
I can't live my life as a Padma Shri awardee while our women wrestlers are
insulted. Hence I return my award to you," Bajran wrote.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) </span></u></b><b><u><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mamata Banerjee meets PM Modi over pending
central funds for West Bengal</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetWsBbdCgZCTn-57CmN1_4-hzSm4YFjKb_WrObsMzoEzLiantgBHtNiZSHeom2_YM4umeAsV2hFo6PdQpp4Ha4Q8Va2RB6wcQdbD6q9ZDkm_YQ1L07-ntHFE6HUvFpi2PIrwGGkH6xFmI1lIVAWAuHNDsCDwVHFDWlQvctNxIUzCOrKO2MBxBSDaMOcg/s900/Prime%20Minister%20Narendra%20Modi%20in%20a%20meeting%20with%20West%20Bengal%20Chief%20Minister%20and%20TMC%20supremo%20Mamata%20Banerjee..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetWsBbdCgZCTn-57CmN1_4-hzSm4YFjKb_WrObsMzoEzLiantgBHtNiZSHeom2_YM4umeAsV2hFo6PdQpp4Ha4Q8Va2RB6wcQdbD6q9ZDkm_YQ1L07-ntHFE6HUvFpi2PIrwGGkH6xFmI1lIVAWAuHNDsCDwVHFDWlQvctNxIUzCOrKO2MBxBSDaMOcg/w640-h360/Prime%20Minister%20Narendra%20Modi%20in%20a%20meeting%20with%20West%20Bengal%20Chief%20Minister%20and%20TMC%20supremo%20Mamata%20Banerjee..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We didn't even get a penny for 100 days of work
(under MGNREGA) in the budget for 2022-23. Funds for (Pradhan Mantri) Aawas
Yojna have been stopped, rural development schemes have been shut, and the
health mission programme has also been shut,' said </span></b><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Bengal CM
Banerjee.</span><o:p></o:p></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday
met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss pending central funds for the
state. She said the prime minister proposed that officials from the state and
Centre can sit together and clear the issues. Speaking to the media after the
meeting in the Parliament complex along with nine party MPs, Banerjee said 155
central teams have alhave already visited West Bengal. Talking about the
pending MGNREGA funds for the state, she said it is mandatory under the Constitution
to pay the workers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">We didn't even get a penny for 100 days of work (under MGNREGA) in
the budget for 2022-23. Funds for (Pradhan Mantri) Aawas Yojna have been
stopped, rural development schemes have been shut, and the health mission
programme has also been shut. We are also not getting funds under the Finance
Commission," said Banerjee. "Our officials have given all the
clarification they asked for. PM has said a joint meeting will be held by the
Centre and state officials. I said we have given clarification 155 ttimes. We
can do that once again, they can decide the formula. In a federal structure,
the central government has a share and the state also has a share," she
said. "It is not right to stop the money for poor people," Banerjee
said, adding that the that the Centre owed Rs 1.15 lakh crore to West Bengal. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPPmx1iZcZ3uPJO2S7tD4RRgh2N_LKeo8Ucx_kvuksOqabaiD73dEPN43q651L0JEIMCTXWQfLBWXc12BgQolvvvukwivQjsupuxBvR3OpO7p39Z18SBwzE9jafBLmlY43R5UdrYHQX1AXvLoJ4V09NJuWqYRBQrqgQF866lMRHVFWzf0Uudb_vZT5c4/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPPmx1iZcZ3uPJO2S7tD4RRgh2N_LKeo8Ucx_kvuksOqabaiD73dEPN43q651L0JEIMCTXWQfLBWXc12BgQolvvvukwivQjsupuxBvR3OpO7p39Z18SBwzE9jafBLmlY43R5UdrYHQX1AXvLoJ4V09NJuWqYRBQrqgQF866lMRHVFWzf0Uudb_vZT5c4/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) India vs South
Africa Highlights, 3rd ODI: Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh shine as IND beat SA
by 78 runs, win series 2-1<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6vcZ-4NPEbTH7VfqWCLsyode9lr6gIZWgqZ0vjCmRTcx55wUxjzffByA-AGW4j8uhqXVBaqpTK1fEIjIgcwqdE-h37rgOZRfAi4Y6OWeVC-kpKQr3JbU2D8hegLb6ZjT_8DaehydTVXePfg0F-kz9tsX5KXOdtspVm4iEJ0VN25uvmpqEABxP4Ah5CI/s549/India%20vs%20South%20Africa,%203rd%20ODI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6vcZ-4NPEbTH7VfqWCLsyode9lr6gIZWgqZ0vjCmRTcx55wUxjzffByA-AGW4j8uhqXVBaqpTK1fEIjIgcwqdE-h37rgOZRfAi4Y6OWeVC-kpKQr3JbU2D8hegLb6ZjT_8DaehydTVXePfg0F-kz9tsX5KXOdtspVm4iEJ0VN25uvmpqEABxP4Ah5CI/w640-h360/India%20vs%20South%20Africa,%203rd%20ODI.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India defeated South
Africa by 78 runs in the third and final ODI of their three-match series, in
Paarl on Thursday. The win helped India clinch the series 2-1. Chasing 297,
South Africa were bowled out for 218 in 45.5 overs, despite a knock of 81 runs
off 87 balls by Tony de Zorzi. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh took four wickets for
the visitors, Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan scalped two dismissals each.
Initially, a ton from Sanju Samson saw India post 296/8 in 50 overs as the
Rajasthan Royals captain hammered 108 off 114 balls, packed with six fours and
three sixes. Meanwhile, Tilak Varma got a crucial half-century for India,
slamming 52 off 77 deliveries. For South Africa's bowling department, Beuran
Hendricks took three wickets and Nandre Burger scalped two dismissals.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Sports Ministry
confirms Arjuna award for Mohammed Shami; Khel Ratna to Satwik and Chirag -
Check full list of winners<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWH_CRe3mdaPAc9Y0V405Pf219ZoUTGGdingLNv7zyNIHSkVRDcWl_lASoSrq1nHIAn9-5qNj4HBLE1m2rknLw59MZgV4s-Ve7lgMw9122gHKJWjddIXtQ2pngxMkwB8Y_IjLmeY268n_2xw_H29q2HlZCNd0UAQZPZjxWhywLpvigDJ9BW3qmqD8Pvw/s549/The%20awards%20will%20be%20conferred%20on%20the%20athletes%20by%20President%20Droupadi%20Murmu%20at%20the%20Rashtrapati%20Bhavan%20on%20January%209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWH_CRe3mdaPAc9Y0V405Pf219ZoUTGGdingLNv7zyNIHSkVRDcWl_lASoSrq1nHIAn9-5qNj4HBLE1m2rknLw59MZgV4s-Ve7lgMw9122gHKJWjddIXtQ2pngxMkwB8Y_IjLmeY268n_2xw_H29q2HlZCNd0UAQZPZjxWhywLpvigDJ9BW3qmqD8Pvw/w640-h360/The%20awards%20will%20be%20conferred%20on%20the%20athletes%20by%20President%20Droupadi%20Murmu%20at%20the%20Rashtrapati%20Bhavan%20on%20January%209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The awards will be conferred on the athletes by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The awards will be
handed by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January
9.India's dynamic badminton duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
will receive the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting
honour in the country for athletes, the sports ministry confirmed on Wednesday
while announcing the annual National Sports Awards for 2023.Based on the
recommendations of a government-appointed panel, the ministry also gave its nod
to confer the Arjuna Award to 26 sportspersons, including cricketer Mohammed
Shami who enjoyed a stellar ODI World Cup.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Five coaches, including
RB Ramesh who has shaped the career of chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, will
receive the Dronacharya Award while three others have been conferred the same
honour in the lifetime category. The awards will be handed by President
Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Khel Ratna award
comes as an icing on the cake on the back of an extremely fruitful year for
Chirag and Satwik. The pair earned India's first-ever badminton gold medal at
the Hangzhou Asian Games this year that underlined their medal aspirations at
the 2024 Paris Olympics. Besides the historic medal, they also lifted titles at
the Asian Championships, Swiss Open, Indonesia Open and Korea Open besides
reaching the final of the season-ending China Masters. Their incredible year
also lifted them to the top of the world rankings charts, becoming the first
Indian doubles pair to get there. In the Arjuna awards list, Shami is only one
of the two cricketers, the other being blind cricketer Ajay Kumar Reddy. The
33-year-old fast bowler had an ODI World Cup to cherish at home, finishing as
the top wicket-taker (24) despite missing the first four matches of the
tournament where India lost in the final. Drafted into the playing XI only due
to Hardik Pandya’s injury, Shami stole the show with his movement and pace and
elevated the strength of India's bowling unit.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Other Arjuna awardees
include athletes Murali Sreeshankar and Parul Chaudhary, archers Aditi Swami,
17, and Ojas Pravin Deotale, shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Esha
Singh, wrestlers Sunil Kumar (Greco-Roman) and Antim Panghal, paddler Ayhika
Mukherjee, squash pro Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu and Roshibina Devi (wushu). All
of them medalled at the Hangzhou Asian Games.Golfer Diksha Dagar and R
Vaishali, Praggnanandhaa's sister who recently became a Grandmaster, are other
notable winners. Para athletes Sheetal Devi (archery) and Prachi Yadav
(canoeing) will also receive the Arjuna award.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Besides Ramesh, the
Dronacharya Award will be given to Lalit Kumar (wrestling), Mahaveer Prasad
Saini (para athletics), Shivendra Singh (hockey) and Ganesh Prabhakar
Devrukhkar (mallakhamb). In the lifetime category, golf coach Jaskirat Singh
Grewal and Bhaskaran E (kabaddi) and Jayanta Kumar Pushilal (table tennis) will
be awarded.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Gukesh wins in
Chennai, one step closer to Candidates<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWcW31nl1SLaGGBdEsEN6GXtvvaT0_E1wtVQqe2sB8KFY70y4HmeLbCUxI9g3v8ls_hqk-SLimOQLIlaSGOvj1RsI-NLrB7dGHDKfg9f_HlfPpULjqbsPxxc5vfiCK4XcXVr3UyrjeWwFRxkuUkUwq_RalF0LaPjckHBe8nThCbNza0Q5YB26gGDWEKc/s549/D%20Gukesh%20in%20action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWcW31nl1SLaGGBdEsEN6GXtvvaT0_E1wtVQqe2sB8KFY70y4HmeLbCUxI9g3v8ls_hqk-SLimOQLIlaSGOvj1RsI-NLrB7dGHDKfg9f_HlfPpULjqbsPxxc5vfiCK4XcXVr3UyrjeWwFRxkuUkUwq_RalF0LaPjckHBe8nThCbNza0Q5YB26gGDWEKc/w640-h360/D%20Gukesh%20in%20action.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D Gukesh in action</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 17-year-old edged
past compatriot Arjun Erigaisi on tie-breaks after both Indians finished on 4.5
points after the completion of the seventh and final round Indian Grandmaster D
Gukesh took a significant step towards earning a spot in the prestigious
Candidates tournament next year by winning the Chennai Grand Masters 2023 chess
tournament in Chennai on Thursday. Local boy Gukesh, 17, edged past compatriot
Arjun Erigaisi on tie-breaks after both Indians finished on 4.5 points after
the completion of the seventh and final round. Another Indian Grandmaster P
Harikrishna, whom Gukesh drew with in the final round on Thursday, finished
third on the leaderboard with 4 points.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Going into the final
round of the eight-player tournament, Gukesh needed only a draw in his clash
with Harikrishna with black pieces. Erigaisi made things rather interesting by
defeating Russian-born Hungarian Grandmaster Sanan Sjugirov in the final round.
Gukesh and Erigaisi were equal on points and on par in terms of head-to-head
but the former came out triumphant on the basis of a superior tie-break score.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The tournament victory
gives Gukesh — who in September this year had surpassed Viswanathan Anand as
the top-ranked Indian player in the FIDE charts — a great chance of booking a
seat in next year's Candidates tournament in Toronto in April through the FIDE
Circuit route. With six of the eight spots already taken (including those by
Indians R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi), two remain up for grabs via the
2023 FIDE Circuit (for one player who achieves the highest results during the
eligible tournaments in 2023) and the FIDE rating route. By winning the
tournament in Chennai, Gukesh has put himself on top of the FIDE Circuit
leaderboard and will be in a battle with Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri to finish
on top with one more tournament to go.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The FIDE Circuit ends
with the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from
December 26-30. Gukesh, though, was quoted as saying by chess.com after his
tournament win that he was still "50-50" about participating in the
World Rapid and Blitz. Gukesh remained unbeaten through the seven rounds in
Chennai, notching up wins against Russian-born Serbian Grandmaster Alexandr
Predke and Sjugirov in the fourth and fifth round, respectively, to go with the
five draws. The win over Sjugirov with black pieces on Tuesday had put Gukesh
in the sole lead.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"It was really
good. I finally managed to enjoy myself in a tournament," Gukesh told
chess.com. "Obviously, the last few months have been very stressful."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Erigaisi had an
impressively strong finish to the tournament (with three wins overall). He
defeated Sjugirov on Thursday and Parham Maghsoodloo, the Iranian GM who was
the top seed in Chennai, with black in the penultimate round. However, his
opening-round defeat to compatriot Harikrishna proved to be the difference in
the end. The 20-year-old Grandmaster needed to win this tournament to stand a
chance of qualifying for the Candidates via FIDE Circuit. Harikrishna, the
37-year-old from Guntur, meanwhile also remained unbeaten with six draws that
followed the win over Erigaisi. Top-seeded Maghsoodloo, another competitor who
was in contention for the Candidates through a triumph in Chennai, could not
quite live up to his billing and finished sixth with 3.5 points and a couple of
defeats.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) India vs South
Africa, 2nd ODI highlights: Zorzi's maiden ton seals big win for SA; Burger
bags IPL deal on auction day<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjse3OxTVpA-pksXob6GQnQlHn3zdhPIyu_a_yJghInfJbaw-GKg3qKY2NnEvHYVwPJh79W08VsBhOYaxyM9sckNaU-ZfXv-vKR2LfujEBH_z0jCv3vuI4XJnqznZo7Y1lVInmxGAqNAU2JP2CkJmfT5gYC9xR78TNJhoqUouj0xUgECoEvXCqdmk4uRkw/s549/Tony%20de%20Zorzi%20slammed%20his%20career-best%20score%20while%20Nandre%20Burger%20bagged%20an%20IPL%20gig%20in%20India%20vs%20South%20Africa%202nd%20ODI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjse3OxTVpA-pksXob6GQnQlHn3zdhPIyu_a_yJghInfJbaw-GKg3qKY2NnEvHYVwPJh79W08VsBhOYaxyM9sckNaU-ZfXv-vKR2LfujEBH_z0jCv3vuI4XJnqznZo7Y1lVInmxGAqNAU2JP2CkJmfT5gYC9xR78TNJhoqUouj0xUgECoEvXCqdmk4uRkw/w640-h360/Tony%20de%20Zorzi%20slammed%20his%20career-best%20score%20while%20Nandre%20Burger%20bagged%20an%20IPL%20gig%20in%20India%20vs%20South%20Africa%202nd%20ODI.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony de Zorzi slammed his career-best score while Nandre Burger bagged an IPL gig in India vs South Africa 2nd ODI</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tony de Zorzi's 1st-ever
ODI ton sealed a massive win for South Africa. With the 8-wicket win in the 2nd
ODI, the hosts have levelled the series 1-1. India vs South Africa, 2nd ODI
highlights: Leading India from the front, skipper Rahul slammed his 18th One
Day International (ODI) half-century while opener Sai Sudharsan achieved a rare
feat in the series decider against South Africa on Tuesday at the St George's
Park in Gqeberha. Dishing out a low-scoring finish for Team India on the Indian
Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction day, South Africa's Nandre Burger bagged three
wickets to stage an impressive comeback for the hosts in the 2nd ODI. Burger
picked up three wickets as India posted 211 in 46.2 overs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tony de Zorzi slammed
his career-best score while Nandre Burger bagged an IPL gig in India vs South
Africa 2nd ODI<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tony de Zorzi slammed
his career-best score while Nandre Burger bagged an IPL gig in India vs South
Africa 2nd ODI(ANI-PTI)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kickstarting the run
chase for the hosts, opener Tony de Zorzi slammed his first-ever ODI century to
seal South Africa's 8-wicket win over India. Opener Zorzi and Reeza Hendricks
(52) stitched the record partnership of 130 in 27.5 overs. Zorzi remained
unbeaten on 119 off 122 balls to make sure South Africa levelled the series 1-1
in Gqeberha. The Proteas batter was named the Player of the Match for his
batting masterclass.Fresh from an impressive win over South Africa in the
curtain-raiser, Team India, led by wicketkeeper Rahul, was hoping to take an
unassailable lead in the three-match series decider. On a day when the
mini-auction for IPL 2024 is taking place in Dubai, India's rising star Rinku
Singh pipped Rajat Patidar for a place in the starting XI at Gqeberha. Invited
to bat first in the 2nd ODI, Rahul's Team India lost opener Ruturaj Gaikwad in
the 1st over.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rewriting history, youngster
B. Sai Sudharsan became the second Indian batter after Navjot Singh Sidhu to
score two half-centuries in the first two ODIs for India. With middle-order
batter Iyer set to join the Test squad for the Boxing Day clash against the
Proteas, India had the luxury to name Rinku in its playing XI. Kolkata Knight
Riders (KKR) youngster Rinku was a star-turnout for the visitors in T20Is but
the power-hitter only scores 17 runs on debut.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier, India handed a
debut cap to Gujarat Titans (GT) youngster Sudarshan, who slammed a gritty
half-century in India's eight-wicket win over the Proteas. Sudharsan opened the
innings for the Men In Blue and smashed nine boundaries in his 55-run knock off
43 balls. He was assisted by premier batter Shreyas Iyer, who played a crucial
knock of 52 off 45 balls as India chased down the paltry target of 117 in 16.4
overs. The series opener was turned into a one-sided contest by fast-bowling
brilliance from Arshdeep Singh, who bagged his first-ever five-wicket haul in
the 50-over format. Arshdeep was named the Player of the Match for returning
magical figures of five for 37 in 10 overs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Deepti Sharma
shines as India Women's cricket team secures historic Test victory against
England<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7N09MymlCFOLdZ2NK23YdXbbx-rTWqEcuJBoIXFHJ5hzzlzMq8mgBb7FJn9PaVxvOiM3kw8HQutQAB1R_G9OO8Pr0tnMZUu3YcQLjJ6e4tHKqWJP0KGi_TBoMu2L1IOmzsGQhGWpjwbSQmEnQ3-xEvSMRKroU1nirmg-KxDhD_Cw9OHMY1relH356Pb8/s600/India%20Women%20vs%20England%20Women%20Indian%20players%20pose%20with%20the%20trophy%20after%20winning%20the%20one-off%20Test%20cricket%20match%20against%20England.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7N09MymlCFOLdZ2NK23YdXbbx-rTWqEcuJBoIXFHJ5hzzlzMq8mgBb7FJn9PaVxvOiM3kw8HQutQAB1R_G9OO8Pr0tnMZUu3YcQLjJ6e4tHKqWJP0KGi_TBoMu2L1IOmzsGQhGWpjwbSQmEnQ3-xEvSMRKroU1nirmg-KxDhD_Cw9OHMY1relH356Pb8/w640-h360/India%20Women%20vs%20England%20Women%20Indian%20players%20pose%20with%20the%20trophy%20after%20winning%20the%20one-off%20Test%20cricket%20match%20against%20England.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">India Women vs England Women Indian players pose with the trophy after winning the one-off Test cricket match against England</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India's women's cricket
team created history on Saturday as they clinched a maiden home Test victory
against England. India's all-rounder Deepti Sharma punished the England cricket
team with first bat and then a 9-wicket haul. India's 347-run victory against
England is the biggest margin of victory in the women's cricket team. The
strong performance will surely provide the Indian women's cricket team with
more confidence in the Test match against Australia next week.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Deepti Sharma first
impressed with the bat as she played a cautious innings of 67 runs to stabilize
the Indian innings and take the team to a secure place. Satheesh Shubha (69)
and Jemimah Rodrigues (68) also played brilliantly well to take India to 428
runs in the first innings. Then, Deepti Sharma turned to her bowler avatar and
clinched 5 crucial wickets to derail England's batting.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India walked to the
second innings with a comfortable lead and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (44) asked
her players to be faster this time. As the wickets kept falling, India decided
to declare the innings at 186 runs, setting a 479-run daunting target for
England. Soon, Deepti Sharma was back in action and this time she clinched 4
wickets to dash the hopes of English cricketers. Sharma was just one wicket
away from the 10-wicket record of legendary Jhulan Goswami.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Just waiting to
bowl’</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I was just waiting to
bowl and keeping myself warmed up, got a lot of help from the wicket and I
backed myself. Harry di (Harmanpreet) was saying bowl in your areas and the
turn will help you. We want to continue this in the next Test," she said
after the match.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Former women players
were impressed with Deepti Sharma even before the match was over as former
Indian skipper Mithali Raj lauded the all-rounder for her 5 wickets during the
first innings. "From her variations to tactics, Deepti Sharma turned
everything to gold today! India is in a solid position to clinch this test.
#INDvENG," said Mithali in a post on X.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Paes, Amritraj
become first Asian men to be inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP1c1YCQsYiEzJQTPGnAwARJwvpiaD5B_YgW6bdD4zclwVFFKxa6kKJ81tVnQjsAc-wXx62QDItPsnoDTfSF8Y849YhlJ5IhNqWVd6A_xQsEkgD3iD3UtGGLC4VaDGp0reEaMjOfA_8HQhSv7Vt3YtzddcHAiW3bnncEd3VAN26pXOhoZoMMZow0beJU/s600/Leader%20Paes%20and%20Martina%20Navratilova%20after%20winning%20the%20the%20mixed%20doubles%20final%20at%20the%20Australian%20Open%20in%202003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP1c1YCQsYiEzJQTPGnAwARJwvpiaD5B_YgW6bdD4zclwVFFKxa6kKJ81tVnQjsAc-wXx62QDItPsnoDTfSF8Y849YhlJ5IhNqWVd6A_xQsEkgD3iD3UtGGLC4VaDGp0reEaMjOfA_8HQhSv7Vt3YtzddcHAiW3bnncEd3VAN26pXOhoZoMMZow0beJU/w640-h360/Leader%20Paes%20and%20Martina%20Navratilova%20after%20winning%20the%20the%20mixed%20doubles%20final%20at%20the%20Australian%20Open%20in%202003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leader Paes and Martina Navratilova after winning the the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open in 2003</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Former doubles world No.
1 Leander Paes and broadcaster and promoter Vijay Amritraj of India have become
the first Asian men to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Besides the duo, renowned journalist and writer Richard Evans have also been
elected in the Ultimate Honour in Tennis. Paes, an 18-time Grand Slam champion
in doubles and mixed doubles, has been selected in the player category, while
Amritraj and United Kingdom's Evans are inductees in the contributor category,
which is considered for election every two years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The contributor category
recognises true pioneers, visionary leaders, or individuals/groups who have
made a transcendent impact on the sport.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Class of 2024 will
be officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday
in Newport, Rhode Island. Paes, Amritraj and Evans will join an elite group of
264 inductees from 27 nations – with India set to become the 28th nation
represented in the Hall of Fame.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"It has been my
life's honour to play for my country for over three decades in a sport that has
given and taught me everything. This acknowledgment is indeed the ultimate
accolade for every tennis player. Induction into the International Tennis Hall
of Fame belongs not just to me, but to our billion-plus Indians," Paes
said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Receiving this
honour culminates a professional journey of a lifetime, standing on the
shoulders of greats and sets the tone for other youngsters in Asia and around
the world."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">During his three-decade
career, Paes topped the world rankings in doubles and won 18 Grand Slam titles.
With eight doubles Grand Slam titles and 10 in mixed doubles, he is one of only
three men in tennis history to capture a career Grand Slam in both disciplines.
Paes is tied with his former partner, Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova, for
the most mixed doubles major titles in history. Additionally, he and Hall of
Famer Martina Hingis are one of only two mixed doubles teams in the Open Era to
complete a career Grand Slam together.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a testament to his
longevity at the sport's height, Paes spent a total of 462 weeks inside the ATP
doubles top 10, including 37 weeks at No. 1, and won 55 doubles titles on tour.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Paes proudly represented
India in international competition for 30 years, winning a Davis Cup record 45
doubles rubbers during his career. He competed in a record seven consecutive
Olympic Games, the most in tennis history, and is India's only Olympic
medallist in tennis, capturing bronze in singles at the 1996 Atlanta Games.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I am thrilled to
congratulate Leander Paes, Vijay Amritraj, and Richard Evans on their election
to the International Tennis Hall of Fame," Kim Clijsters, Honorary
President of ITHF and Class of 2017 Hall of Famer said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"These three
legends have served as trailblazers in their impact on tennis, and in spreading
the sport worldwide. We are excited to celebrate the Class of 2024 in the
coming year."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier this year, fans
around the globe cast their ballots and elected Paes as the winner of the Hall
of Fame's annual Fan Vote for induction.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdo0lO3xpRkqYVjohI7dWksnmjBmLaiaiPXeFHyO3i_bHr8mKTUXt6Ds7bERN15_GSdGe80TLaZ2tx-_bhSjJqHnIqvsx78YeVxEDAK8mGgqILvBAhEwao5nOyP9ZUBkI1YL3vl8nKS1rx19EXauhQ9f9hd8LQCJ963-bHxVHhpEi4FOp6UxxoIbWgSI/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdo0lO3xpRkqYVjohI7dWksnmjBmLaiaiPXeFHyO3i_bHr8mKTUXt6Ds7bERN15_GSdGe80TLaZ2tx-_bhSjJqHnIqvsx78YeVxEDAK8mGgqILvBAhEwao5nOyP9ZUBkI1YL3vl8nKS1rx19EXauhQ9f9hd8LQCJ963-bHxVHhpEi4FOp6UxxoIbWgSI/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dunki</span></u></b><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FoShWPMWO0zxvys1M4A6EKWrDXqbpPLclJ9lTie7Lq4aK3kKgIiIoy0KQmSUKkOoiO93e2RuwzZIgUJTST4GrkRGxnp9AJ2u2b5pM_KwcCiWxMsopuxDhSGMoCurHwTaykCC1qJ9KjjScoIcaWpH1Hgm5XYpo2AcU_klz51xOWSc1xqEySY86_BxNV0/s1500/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FoShWPMWO0zxvys1M4A6EKWrDXqbpPLclJ9lTie7Lq4aK3kKgIiIoy0KQmSUKkOoiO93e2RuwzZIgUJTST4GrkRGxnp9AJ2u2b5pM_KwcCiWxMsopuxDhSGMoCurHwTaykCC1qJ9KjjScoIcaWpH1Hgm5XYpo2AcU_klz51xOWSc1xqEySY86_BxNV0/w426-h640/M1.jpg" width="426" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Four friends from a
village in Punjab share a common dream: to go to England. Their problem is that
they have neither the visa nor the ticket. A soldier promises to take them to
the land of their dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director Rajkumar Hirani<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Writers Kanika
DhillonRajkumar HiraniAbhijat Joshi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stars Shah Rukh
KhanTaapsee PannuBoman Irani<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Salaar: Part 1 –
Ceasefire <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLykxqG5Z0QFlVr1N1Iw8oM9eL66netDAIFr8luvVi-o4KGU5xEiogCQU786rYimhGUBxtgaVzPM3ewYFUSwCNFlHsNBhQ-YevZle0OV1rO82eTSr5G2K_Y1ghmBZkH_-W0xIDuHweFMaiRORl5DTsEPmBx-ZsnUg4ZSfb6EKT1YbmxcXlf1bqqJC0OI/s1200/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLykxqG5Z0QFlVr1N1Iw8oM9eL66netDAIFr8luvVi-o4KGU5xEiogCQU786rYimhGUBxtgaVzPM3ewYFUSwCNFlHsNBhQ-YevZle0OV1rO82eTSr5G2K_Y1ghmBZkH_-W0xIDuHweFMaiRORl5DTsEPmBx-ZsnUg4ZSfb6EKT1YbmxcXlf1bqqJC0OI/w640-h480/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Part 1 of Prabhas'
upcoming movie ‘Salaar’ is scheduled to release worldwide on December 22, 2023.
This is an action-thriller movie written and directed by Prashanth Neel and
produced by Vijay Kiragandur. The movie was made with a budget of Rs 400 crore.
The teaser of the movie garnered 83 million views in 24 hours, which is a
record. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: December
22, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Prabhas, Prithviraj
Sukumaran, Shruti Haasan, Jagapathi Babu, Tinnu Anand, Sriya Reddy, Easwari
Rao, and Ramachandra Raju.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hello Ghost!<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4mrBslo2jrbYRIJS8nemiRlR4Fan5ZdlrMySMwcP_u086x7xN0kxR3N3mB7KpRE5wmhmdCoeB4en2d5-GgrlkJSVljfSJtYI8G0jet-ZpAS7FvxDBnhksWffhIjCK4HWCk35iSpfBt9tPUek9FM_meM7wV-4iAAeDfl2ClvGYwqhOmVu8zcxGlcNgsU/s600/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="600" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4mrBslo2jrbYRIJS8nemiRlR4Fan5ZdlrMySMwcP_u086x7xN0kxR3N3mB7KpRE5wmhmdCoeB4en2d5-GgrlkJSVljfSJtYI8G0jet-ZpAS7FvxDBnhksWffhIjCK4HWCk35iSpfBt9tPUek9FM_meM7wV-4iAAeDfl2ClvGYwqhOmVu8zcxGlcNgsU/w640-h336/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Directed by: Hsieh
Pei-Ju<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Jing-Hua Tseng,
Ivy Shao, Lu Yi-Ching, Tsai-Hsing Chang, Jia-Yin Tsai, Chun-Hao Hung, Bai Jing
Yi, Xie Kun Da, Calvin Tsou<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Releasing on: 18
December 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Streaming on: Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Synopsis: Adapted from
the 2010 South Korean blockbuster comedy, the movie revolves around a lonely
delivery man named A-wei. He attempts to commit suicide multiple times but
fails at it no matter what. During this endeavour to end his life, he meets
four ghosts who inform him that they will leave him alone only if he helps them
fulfil their final wishes. In the process of doing so, A-wei finds a new
purpose in life and pursues his love for Nurse Linda. This is one of the most
heart-warming OTT movie releases this week.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Percy Jackson and
the Olympians<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEvgBuXv1oNmKMacFcfNa6WYm1bthtKE2baUj_TchKV0E96_chmC1eYfExE-q1uwFQXoXwChvag6fsgx3Ukd_Gwehy6n_7rWFjRqbt_QXdd7Cd5QUSRawayexrUu9bXdnTAfo38Kd9TyyI-IpRWqFq8VSMVr6HdAxJJ8i6rvzsI426vIur5BCdlxuw60/s1000/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="675" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEvgBuXv1oNmKMacFcfNa6WYm1bthtKE2baUj_TchKV0E96_chmC1eYfExE-q1uwFQXoXwChvag6fsgx3Ukd_Gwehy6n_7rWFjRqbt_QXdd7Cd5QUSRawayexrUu9bXdnTAfo38Kd9TyyI-IpRWqFq8VSMVr6HdAxJJ8i6rvzsI426vIur5BCdlxuw60/w432-h640/M4.jpg" width="432" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Created by: Rick
Riordan, Jonathan E. Steinberg<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Walker Scobell,
Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadr, Virginia Kull, Glynn Turman, Jason
Mantzoukas<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Releasing on: 20
December 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Streaming on: Disney+
Hotstar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Synopsis: The
fantastical story revolves around a 12-year-old contemporary demigod, Percy
Jackson. While Percy is still trying to come to terms with his newfound
supernatural powers, the sky god Zeus accuses him of stealing his master
lightning bolt. To prove himself innocent, Percy must now journey across
America to locate the bolt and restore order to Olympus. Are you excited to
watch this new OTT release this week?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Barbie:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FLDjAbDEZLv_rtUGbvQ3RAYMxrQCPXJ76fYnlhLfqdQGLn9yckCMaHKmVjO13N_Y4qKn9gd0TvwQVaA4rgwUuURdawYv-mtAqcl0VkW2JvuU9b8ksnJnd6AEVv2GLfdFlU4QbIE5hgGd-ULgP6VRDjG7bHn1sEz9q6HVhCAXwRdvw4p-G8iGC4Qm3CM/s3000/MBAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FLDjAbDEZLv_rtUGbvQ3RAYMxrQCPXJ76fYnlhLfqdQGLn9yckCMaHKmVjO13N_Y4qKn9gd0TvwQVaA4rgwUuURdawYv-mtAqcl0VkW2JvuU9b8ksnJnd6AEVv2GLfdFlU4QbIE5hgGd-ULgP6VRDjG7bHn1sEz9q6HVhCAXwRdvw4p-G8iGC4Qm3CM/w426-h640/MBAR.jpg" width="426" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Directed by: Greta
Gerwig<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Margot Robbie,
Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will
Ferrell<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Releasing on: 21
December 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Streaming on: Jio
Cinemas<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Synopsis: The story
revolves around Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling), who set out on a
mission to travel to the real world and meet the owner of a Barbie who is
melancholy. Once in the real world, Barbie has major realisations about how the
world works and how women are not as influential in the real world, unlike Barbie
Land. Shattered and confused, Barbie then decides to fix things up when Kens
take over Barbie land. If you wish to not spend time watching Bollywood
content, then this OTT release this week is for you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Aquaman And The
Lost Kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HYLPSVHO7qsGMzul1XilwzhE9e1fE3AG5vaG2Bur97yxVgSoDpigNMXOEb-Gt-bO2dTkitLJBQfJMlv4m8BOjF_LmdhqevM1KGckhmlP7VTBxz9C1t34qghUhzM5NP6pQK5pDgFJkIsKA_5-V2NR5xlp_5P0RFXCCJfZ95f8_mtooL0t-1Elin3F1g8/s1280/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HYLPSVHO7qsGMzul1XilwzhE9e1fE3AG5vaG2Bur97yxVgSoDpigNMXOEb-Gt-bO2dTkitLJBQfJMlv4m8BOjF_LmdhqevM1KGckhmlP7VTBxz9C1t34qghUhzM5NP6pQK5pDgFJkIsKA_5-V2NR5xlp_5P0RFXCCJfZ95f8_mtooL0t-1Elin3F1g8/w640-h360/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Directed by: James Wan<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Jason Momoa,
Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nicole Kidman<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Releasing on: 21
December 2023 (in theatres)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Synopsis: Several years
after the events of Aquaman (2018), Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa) is
forced to fight David Kane/Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ) again. Driven
by the aim to avenge his father’s death, Manta has obtained the cursed Black Trident
and has become more problematic than ever before. To protect Atlantis and his
loved ones, Aquaman will have to seek help from his imprisoned brother Orm
(Patrick Wilson), the former King of Atlantis and fight together against Black
Manta.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dry Day<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVfJDwsQbpDlym3r06-NIKz9N7iLOmCDkG6iW2ADk8SROInj1lzCBoG1cR0Cqy-F5povOUw3Uj233c7cwBvFs9h5KfC39pf6KlDF7E3mxR3xm5tRN8ZD85Y8cEMmtLoIRBQPev6QwdIsAKgvVaSrFk8CQxaILt6FMPQhsDf8GNlSNnLG4rynpvEeP1X0/s1200/M6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVfJDwsQbpDlym3r06-NIKz9N7iLOmCDkG6iW2ADk8SROInj1lzCBoG1cR0Cqy-F5povOUw3Uj233c7cwBvFs9h5KfC39pf6KlDF7E3mxR3xm5tRN8ZD85Y8cEMmtLoIRBQPev6QwdIsAKgvVaSrFk8CQxaILt6FMPQhsDf8GNlSNnLG4rynpvEeP1X0/w640-h336/M6.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Directed by: Saurabh
Shukla<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Jitendra Kumar,
Shriya Pilgaonkar, Annu Kapoor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Releasing on: 22
December 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Streaming on: Amazon
Prime Video<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Synopsis: Gannu
(Jitendra Kumar) is a doting husband who only has one vice. He is an alcoholic,
something his wife is not okay with. Gannu is the biggest loafer of Jagodhar
but when his wife decides to abort their baby due to his alcoholism, he sets
out on a mission to ban alcohol while also struggling with his own drinking
habits. This upcoming OTT release is as entertaining as watching a Bollywood
movie this week.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-hJwCWbjLmoEelh7-mV-xYkLCv2NuiKaQmyh9gd81QQoxPsERtuyV2ZhEvsu3zydbc4lUuiix-PzWgKbmbtHIOlFYtIVIZB-pkmUGwAvgV1rtMbIvKQNkuCuA8lE78D92GNuE96fmZDZz2AH0W8traYdWolwC5SrLw8mPQDfByehczckVMwGrTaGQPE/s1000/BOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="651" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-hJwCWbjLmoEelh7-mV-xYkLCv2NuiKaQmyh9gd81QQoxPsERtuyV2ZhEvsu3zydbc4lUuiix-PzWgKbmbtHIOlFYtIVIZB-pkmUGwAvgV1rtMbIvKQNkuCuA8lE78D92GNuE96fmZDZz2AH0W8traYdWolwC5SrLw8mPQDfByehczckVMwGrTaGQPE/w416-h640/BOOK.jpg" width="416" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Secret History
of the World by Jonathan Black<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Here for the first time
is a complete history of the world, from the beginning of time to the present
day, based on the beliefs and writings of the secret societies. From the
esoteric account of the evolution of the species to the occult roots of
science, from the secrets of the Flood to the esoteric motives behind American
foreign policy, here is a narrative history that shows the basic facts of human
existence on this planet can be viewed from a very different angle. Everything
in this history is upside down, inside out and the other way around.At the
heart of “The Secret History of the World” is the belief that we can reach an
altered state of consciousness in which we can see things about the way the
world works that are hidden from us in our everyday, commonsensical
consciousness. This history shows that by using secret techniques, people such
as Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton and George Washington have worked themselves
into this altered state – and been able to access supernatural levels of
intelligence. There have been many books on the subject, but, extraordinarily,
no-one has really listened to what the secret societies themselves say. The
author has been helped in his researches by his friendship with a man who is an
initiate of more than one secret society, and in one case an initiate of the
highest level.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jonathan Black
:Non-fiction writer<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHAiEvKt0kU3LzAD5Hss8MF4kIgmgVp828gsSgzoffmFAIm3HVqofNPDBwyHc_L80uvemIb-I4FgkIsh6wx5zUG_iKFGC_llxpYW7HpGkzryJ7vr09I1X2KKn_aNGFN9hNMKFijk8fSm-sbCVCKYOrbU3MZsrb-vh_Z-IzVMn6KTlkwgxtm64BZX2VuI/s300/WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="300" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHAiEvKt0kU3LzAD5Hss8MF4kIgmgVp828gsSgzoffmFAIm3HVqofNPDBwyHc_L80uvemIb-I4FgkIsh6wx5zUG_iKFGC_llxpYW7HpGkzryJ7vr09I1X2KKn_aNGFN9hNMKFijk8fSm-sbCVCKYOrbU3MZsrb-vh_Z-IzVMn6KTlkwgxtm64BZX2VuI/w640-h580/WRITER.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jonathan Black is the
nom de plume of Mark Booth. He was educated at Ipswich School and Oriel
College, Oxford, where he studied Philosophy and Theology. He has worked in
publishing for over 20 years, and is currently Publishing Director of Coronet,
an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton. He also publishes many prominent authors
in the MBS and ‘alternative history’ fields, including Graham Hancock, Lorna
Byrne, Mooji and Rupert Sheldrake.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">His first book The
Secret History of the World was published by Quercus in 2007. It is the outcome
of a lifetime spent reading literature in this area, publishing many of the
leading authors in the field and hanging around antiquarian bookshops. His next
book The Sacred History, a history of the world through the spiritual
dimension, was published in 2013, along with his following book, The Secret
History of Dante, published in the same year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Booth has given lectures
and interviews at the Royal Academy, Maastricht University and the Marion
Institute in Massachusetts. He has been widely interviewed on radio and TV,
including BBC Radio 4’s Today and Coast to Coast in the US. He has written
articles for the Independent on Sunday, English National Opera, Shakespeare’s
Globe Theatre and Mind Body Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-50572783741220752702023-12-16T01:06:00.004+09:002023-12-16T01:06:23.891+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS NEWS OF THIS WEEK : SCIENCE,POLITICAL, SPORTS ,MOVIE AND BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8sRs-mQrzj_DfNlJvv7jZemroX32GeACA2P9yh0fQzwO3ngTqKj8Fhta28b0bzRcB-GS5eUK_fwXUATPTTRYBbscL0vb7q476wuorE-IlHLJGC-nPFhQS8ufaYTRfWoAFR_UO2bnpgvJBNHAX8VeR2os3OEDSYTHVztotvHxl3iDvOE_HrkezZp1Sug/s960/NEWSWEEK161223GIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8sRs-mQrzj_DfNlJvv7jZemroX32GeACA2P9yh0fQzwO3ngTqKj8Fhta28b0bzRcB-GS5eUK_fwXUATPTTRYBbscL0vb7q476wuorE-IlHLJGC-nPFhQS8ufaYTRfWoAFR_UO2bnpgvJBNHAX8VeR2os3OEDSYTHVztotvHxl3iDvOE_HrkezZp1Sug/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK161223GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHwG8wd7DdhV7hy5_qlDl-4rJqsROZezq5ztELTLQPgamzMqoUuhYI3v2KVCaBi9qfVybY2351BoO3ZpN5boP6agoskjXAxtqiA5WynVwGhP-5R3xRRnHnflkcYRSdEx1SK3BfMq8ELcydp0iJrvd3202soP0eFQJbhcSYPCQRjlCcnWlSUcNtS1vgdY/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHwG8wd7DdhV7hy5_qlDl-4rJqsROZezq5ztELTLQPgamzMqoUuhYI3v2KVCaBi9qfVybY2351BoO3ZpN5boP6agoskjXAxtqiA5WynVwGhP-5R3xRRnHnflkcYRSdEx1SK3BfMq8ELcydp0iJrvd3202soP0eFQJbhcSYPCQRjlCcnWlSUcNtS1vgdY/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) NASA's
Perseverance rover deciphers ancient history of Martian lake:by JPL/NASA</span></u></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsX5-emiXQaVjsVLtODDLyxQK7WxgpqurSeYIXRDkY15hoHEjTPdebgvNR02roS88Jza-piJc59jHoI3aDFoLC4I8hdc9i1UeKkzlPdVNL_8yu4mBSstZFYRy2x07snRVcMdwa6zXzRbYzECvNSznaqpNCMyXYRXsGOUcSNf60vCvdlmIDM7p7ZFOiUg/s1280/MARSROVER1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="1280" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsX5-emiXQaVjsVLtODDLyxQK7WxgpqurSeYIXRDkY15hoHEjTPdebgvNR02roS88Jza-piJc59jHoI3aDFoLC4I8hdc9i1UeKkzlPdVNL_8yu4mBSstZFYRy2x07snRVcMdwa6zXzRbYzECvNSznaqpNCMyXYRXsGOUcSNf60vCvdlmIDM7p7ZFOiUg/w640-h276/MARSROVER1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">IMAGE DESCRIPTION 1:</span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">This 360-degree mosaic from the “Airey Hill” location inside Jezero Crater was generated using 993 individual images taken by the Perseverance Mars rover’s Mastcam-Z from Nov. 3-6. The rover remained parked at Airey Hill for several weeks during solar conjunction. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Marking its 1,000th
Martian day on the Red Planet, NASA's Perseverance rover recently completed its
exploration of the ancient river delta that holds evidence of a lake that
filled Jezero Crater billions of years ago. The six-wheeled scientist has to
date collected a total of 23 samples, revealing the geologic history of this
region of Mars in the process. One sample called "Lefroy Bay"
contains a large quantity of fine-grained silica, a material known to preserve
ancient fossils on Earth. Another, "Otis Peak," holds a significant
amount of phosphate, which is often associated with life as we know it. Both of
these samples are also rich in carbonate, which can preserve a record of the
environmental conditions from when the rock was formed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The discoveries were
shared Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the American Geophysical Union fall meeting in San
Francisco.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We picked Jezero
Crater as a landing site because orbital imagery showed a delta—clear evidence
that a large lake once filled the crater. A lake is a potentially habitable
environment, and delta rocks are a great environment for entombing signs of
ancient life as fossils in the geologic record," said Perseverance's
project scientist, Ken Farley of Caltech. "After thorough exploration,
we've pieced together the crater's geologic history, charting its lake and
river phase from beginning to end."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvtQscc3VrFElqTeDIniLgtCxhoDZPf32zbp9O4IUsIfVkmcqyM4DLvhPWSW0BXTe20v1UFB_Y4qa1ZDkP6LEdSK5ytUy9NmqQUTobbH9QzYGn5sMjQOjJL9xKPZG6S4M7JPO28R1owGDGz2KdcM1YgCo13SFnO9WiNwsXlHdxQKOil0O5bxY9Iaj_-g/s1280/MARSROVER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1280" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvtQscc3VrFElqTeDIniLgtCxhoDZPf32zbp9O4IUsIfVkmcqyM4DLvhPWSW0BXTe20v1UFB_Y4qa1ZDkP6LEdSK5ytUy9NmqQUTobbH9QzYGn5sMjQOjJL9xKPZG6S4M7JPO28R1owGDGz2KdcM1YgCo13SFnO9WiNwsXlHdxQKOil0O5bxY9Iaj_-g/w640-h512/MARSROVER2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">IMAGE DESCRIPTION 2:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">This image of Mars’ Jezero Crater is overlaid with mineral data detected from orbit. The green color represents carbonates – minerals that form in watery environments with conditions that might be favorable for preserving signs of ancient life. NASA’s Perseverance is currently exploring the green area above Jezero’s fan (center). Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/JHU-APL</span></b></p><div><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;"><br /></span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jezero formed from an
asteroid impact almost 4 billion years ago. After Perseverance landed in
February 2021, the mission team discovered the crater floor is made of igneous
rock formed from magma underground or from volcanic activity at the surface.
They have since found sandstone and mudstone, signaling the arrival of the
first river in the crater hundreds of millions of years later. Above these
rocks are salt-rich mudstones, signaling the presence of a shallow lake
experiencing evaporation. The team thinks the lake eventually grew as wide as
22 miles (35 kilometers) in diameter and as deep as 100 feet (30
meters).Enticing samplesThe samples Perseverance gathers are about as big as a
piece of classroom chalk and are stored in special metal tubes as part of the
Mars Sample Return campaign, a joint effort by NASA and ESA (European Space
Agency). Bringing the tubes to Earth would enable scientists to study the
samples with powerful lab equipment too large to take to Mars.To decide which
samples to collect, Perseverance first uses an abrasion tool to wear away a
patch of a prospective rock and then studies the rock's chemistry using
precision science instruments, including the JPL-built Planetary Instrument for
X-ray Lithochemistry, or PIXL.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At a target the team
calls "Bills Bay," PIXL spotted carbonates—minerals that form in
watery environments with conditions that might be favorable for preserving
organic molecules. (Organic molecules form by both geological and biological
processes.) These rocks were also abundant with silica, a material that's
excellent at preserving organic molecules, including those related to
life."On Earth, this fine-grained silica is what you often find in a location
that was once sandy," said JPL's Morgan Cable, the deputy principal
investigator of PIXL. "It's the kind of environment where, on Earth, the
remains of ancient life could be preserved and found later."Perseverance's
instruments are capable of detecting both microscopic, fossil-like structures
and chemical changes that may have been left by ancient microbes, but they have
yet to see evidence for either.Later, fast-flowing water carried in boulders
from outside Jezero, distributing them atop of the delta and elsewhere in the
crater."We were able to see a broad outline of these chapters in Jezero's
history in orbital images, but it required getting up close with Perseverance
to really understand the timeline in detail," said Libby Ives, a postdoctoral
fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, which
manages the mission.At another target PIXL examined, called "Ouzel
Falls," the instrument detected the presence of iron associated with
phosphate. Phosphate is a component of DNA and the cell membranes of all known
terrestrial life and is part of a molecule that helps cells carry energy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf068TXMVn18TJORbPAd8zSGPbQrMXrh7LXB7YzBvqdg8m-_Y8v8sI1HimkgD1bIMC3zNu131-uxU-wbPNH0q6FEQm_TzyespEO_iuihbVYratm7PQ9sHRkw9Q7kXlJCfyaSX29263DMw4DAjB37QUzActlIJ1d0wESIxfn04-gjtIcl57rWlUR5jJaP8/s1366/MARSROVER3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf068TXMVn18TJORbPAd8zSGPbQrMXrh7LXB7YzBvqdg8m-_Y8v8sI1HimkgD1bIMC3zNu131-uxU-wbPNH0q6FEQm_TzyespEO_iuihbVYratm7PQ9sHRkw9Q7kXlJCfyaSX29263DMw4DAjB37QUzActlIJ1d0wESIxfn04-gjtIcl57rWlUR5jJaP8/w640-h360/MARSROVER3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After assessing PIXL's
findings on each of these abrasion patches, the team sent up commands for the
rover to collect rock cores close by: Lefroy Bay was collected next to Bills
Bay, and Otis Peak at Ouzel Falls.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We have ideal
conditions for finding signs of ancient life where we find carbonates and
phosphates, which point to a watery, habitable environment, as well as silica,
which is great at preservation," Cable said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Perseverance's work is,
of course, far from done. The mission's ongoing fourth science campaign will
explore Jezero Crater's margin, near the canyon entrance where a river once
flooded the crater floor. Rich carbonate deposits have been spotted along the
margin, which stands out in orbital images like a ring within a bathtub.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) 12-Billion-Year-Old
and Largest Water Reservoir in Universe Discovered Floating Around a Massive
Feeding Black Hole :Caleb White</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20m6TzxLug5wXNKah5NHVobkJfxX1adhMZRu3mlDGS10RSZUii2nRg4tO_K-ptbZoBuJU1cftt1hTESezRMZj_oceptuj2cSFY6VVLkTnN6GcLh_fk0vt3Cnb3jcgpAXkMipwN9Cp37aHcz2kF7kKXa9mMj6VxTGY89Iyg4Dg8S1YYlbHkH-Ycy-Jsjk/s668/WATERBODY1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="668" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20m6TzxLug5wXNKah5NHVobkJfxX1adhMZRu3mlDGS10RSZUii2nRg4tO_K-ptbZoBuJU1cftt1hTESezRMZj_oceptuj2cSFY6VVLkTnN6GcLh_fk0vt3Cnb3jcgpAXkMipwN9Cp37aHcz2kF7kKXa9mMj6VxTGY89Iyg4Dg8S1YYlbHkH-Ycy-Jsjk/w640-h466/WATERBODY1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers have found
the biggest water reservoir in the universe, but it's not on our planet. It is
reportedly floating in space.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Biggest and
Farthest Water Reservoir in the Universe</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc8qBxfEZjEeKTJu4Inp5k1U5y-8TogX0vsrI6GZOD9pgfD3kLCass38wI1svSwbOviPou4P5HzcAtROTfNmqiRz3QNcu2bNKQnM8HnEPKWxOGxVAQRjv2zTuVrRyyfCSwtubLJ0fdV0GUKXMJ2fvnxm5tOvhAZDK61SmcTld4s652uSxuTd2jkM-_kE/s816/WATERBODY2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="816" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc8qBxfEZjEeKTJu4Inp5k1U5y-8TogX0vsrI6GZOD9pgfD3kLCass38wI1svSwbOviPou4P5HzcAtROTfNmqiRz3QNcu2bNKQnM8HnEPKWxOGxVAQRjv2zTuVrRyyfCSwtubLJ0fdV0GUKXMJ2fvnxm5tOvhAZDK61SmcTld4s652uSxuTd2jkM-_kE/w640-h258/WATERBODY2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Two astronomy teams have
found the largest and farthest water reservoir ever found in the universe. It
is reportedly 12 billion years old.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmmliixY12Gco8HOrnB3nmSlFcmFTe1nC0luEjXStZ-ZW9auqFfy00hnIetXDX_DhaLXtFUZCgWpZ03uzh9yDzEqLj_5Q7-zqJNiX2czQ4oS-XrcUszZ4xEqjmfzxxISn3Rfz6hQkjc8VPcipqMzjMI-7-SZSdbToG0kowAlNOYjnYfUPKpzdVYNVrP4/s829/WATERBODY3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="829" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmmliixY12Gco8HOrnB3nmSlFcmFTe1nC0luEjXStZ-ZW9auqFfy00hnIetXDX_DhaLXtFUZCgWpZ03uzh9yDzEqLj_5Q7-zqJNiX2czQ4oS-XrcUszZ4xEqjmfzxxISn3Rfz6hQkjc8VPcipqMzjMI-7-SZSdbToG0kowAlNOYjnYfUPKpzdVYNVrP4/w640-h268/WATERBODY3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The body of water is noticeably
larger than Earth's total water. Furthermore, scientists estimate it is 140
trillion times larger than all the water in the world's oceans.However, since
the body of water surrounds a massive feeding black hole known as a quasar,
located more than 12 billion years away, there is little likelihood that you
would be able to see it with a microscope.The scientists' investigations have
shown that the universe was only 1.6 billion years old at one point.According
to Matt Bradford, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena,
California, the discovery only demonstrated the presence of water across the
cosmos."The environment around this quasar is unique in that it's
producing this huge mass of water," he explained. "It's another
demonstration that water is pervasive throughout the universe, even at the very
earliest times."Massive celestial phenomena known as quasars release a
great deal of energy. Across the whole electromagnetic spectrum, supermassive
black holes generate electromagnetic radiation from the falling gas and dust
into their core.APM 08279+5255, a specific quasar with a black hole 20 billion
times more massive than the sun and generating energy equivalent to a thousand
trillion suns, was the study subject for both astronomers.Bradford's team
discovered multiple spectral fingerprints of the water, which allowed them to
obtain additional information, most notably its enormous mass.Water vapor had
never been discovered by scientists in the early universe before. Although
water is throughout the Milky Way, it is mainly covered in ice.To expand our
understanding of the far-off cosmos, researchers in this study suggested
constructing a 25-meter telescope in Chile's Atacama Desert.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefdCszVVtb3q1dGpCbkJUec6QGlTJ1EtVsuEBGT1ETfMXsGKCe9d9xuMIDaSfNhIb5-NyHGgZA7mWE7ad1-t-2XevX9i-wDGPG65G3l4b8lpjizmbQp7KngVCtrXMa0oBwjYwA5I4n30jaKpZa3aoeGRHUjX09xhTHXVMLzWxerq34PFi5Kr9d1KVPrc/s838/WATERBODY4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="838" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefdCszVVtb3q1dGpCbkJUec6QGlTJ1EtVsuEBGT1ETfMXsGKCe9d9xuMIDaSfNhIb5-NyHGgZA7mWE7ad1-t-2XevX9i-wDGPG65G3l4b8lpjizmbQp7KngVCtrXMa0oBwjYwA5I4n30jaKpZa3aoeGRHUjX09xhTHXVMLzWxerq34PFi5Kr9d1KVPrc/w640-h364/WATERBODY4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With 97.3% of all water
on Earth, the ocean is the biggest water reservoir on the planet. Naturally,
this is salt water; unless it is treated specifically to get rid of the salt,
it is poisonous.Glaciers and polar ice are the next largest reserves, with
slightly more than 2% of the water available.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While some nations,
notably Saudi Arabia-have considered removing icebergs from the frozen North
and using them as a supply of fresh water, this is not economically viable in
most situations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzarJ06GOQcnrhhkbr-6c0V6diPlZOP8GxAI-XxKkcypMVK6M8c0cZrSvzZ7QAr3ig9n6Kf9BNY87xilsu2rj1eqDnVoP-QWPHbz7-5zqyHwHqAIox0u3jz8LOD1kS_H1_nADzhJXigyUY64ox2PIKW3hz6XZP0YnBr_XyDxCEM8w3KY22n7XUMMpqP8/s838/WATERBODY5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="838" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzarJ06GOQcnrhhkbr-6c0V6diPlZOP8GxAI-XxKkcypMVK6M8c0cZrSvzZ7QAr3ig9n6Kf9BNY87xilsu2rj1eqDnVoP-QWPHbz7-5zqyHwHqAIox0u3jz8LOD1kS_H1_nADzhJXigyUY64ox2PIKW3hz6XZP0YnBr_XyDxCEM8w3KY22n7XUMMpqP8/w640-h362/WATERBODY5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Groundwater is the
primary source of drinking water. You will ultimately come across water if you
continue to drill into the Earth.Water percolates via the pore spaces and
fissures in the rock, and the porosity of the Earth determines how much water
it can contain. The ground may not be wet when digging because the pores are air-filled.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Researchers
identify potential treatment target for genetic type of epilepsy ;The Francis
Crick Institute<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUrwXruIqG0igGQiKggkpXmERGJ7wKWImJXRMT4vbO5M0AjVWTtDTtngwQDoftM5VYRmm0Ya4-JgMhGuvES-7J9egXtfmwHL4tJaj-ddKmN9bVkXwjx7Jsqzfwcqxoj8mXk1n9HCyoZLD6lMgPh8pFVYe_OPe4FhGdoQbNzQk1EsWjHYGTtolS14SaLA/s750/EPILEPSY1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="750" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUrwXruIqG0igGQiKggkpXmERGJ7wKWImJXRMT4vbO5M0AjVWTtDTtngwQDoftM5VYRmm0Ya4-JgMhGuvES-7J9egXtfmwHL4tJaj-ddKmN9bVkXwjx7Jsqzfwcqxoj8mXk1n9HCyoZLD6lMgPh8pFVYe_OPe4FhGdoQbNzQk1EsWjHYGTtolS14SaLA/w640-h384/EPILEPSY1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers at the
Francis Crick Institute, UCL and MSD have identified a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">potential treatment
target for a genetic type of epilepsy.Developmental and epileptic
encephalopathies are rare types of epilepsy whichstart in early childhood. One
of the most common types of genetic epilepsy,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogmHH03AqwRmQZWrbwowL9uOTagu2nctaCFC29yTbzIVUBRgxfh-6UPkNCuGMBuu5xoYibQpgFlSbLYyyc2G-tPvoqEV1kCh4j-RqVkNAiCPOWrlg_HXUIHLLCizzvqMXB1IXGtpoNZig7DAGvdY5JHdgXNAdFxiZ_OaDXarUxgEHDHunBikdyW2hgjA/s3607/EPILEPSY2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2789" data-original-width="3607" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogmHH03AqwRmQZWrbwowL9uOTagu2nctaCFC29yTbzIVUBRgxfh-6UPkNCuGMBuu5xoYibQpgFlSbLYyyc2G-tPvoqEV1kCh4j-RqVkNAiCPOWrlg_HXUIHLLCizzvqMXB1IXGtpoNZig7DAGvdY5JHdgXNAdFxiZ_OaDXarUxgEHDHunBikdyW2hgjA/w640-h494/EPILEPSY2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">CDKL5 deficiency
disorder (CDD), causes seizures and impaired development.Children are currently
treated with generic antiepileptic drugs, as there aren'tyet any
disease-targeting medications for this disorder.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">CDD involves losing the
function of a gene producing the CDKL5 enzyme, which phosphorylates proteins,
meaning it adds an extra phosphate molecule to altertheir function. Until now,
researchers have not been sure how genetic mutations in CDKL5 cause CDD. Through
their research, published today in Nature Communications, the researchers
examined mice which lacked the Cdkl5 gene, and used a technique called
phosphoproteomics to scan for proteins which are a target for the CDKL5 enzyme.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc3c8UXKTCLad2eO28HgXFUN2HYS_xYWqG8QvrBsdpjmgAUGr7iZX8dO64dIfreILee-7ZJghDb7eQHd9hzp3cCnfiCx5OolNqDMy-QPWv3i4EsRH2KPF74jDZFohnlAo_XBp_MpICQRDhxooNEFuM12Bp7U56ZP0cZB0_57Dzkb4wdwMlOTZid7IIB8/s1200/EPILEPSY3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc3c8UXKTCLad2eO28HgXFUN2HYS_xYWqG8QvrBsdpjmgAUGr7iZX8dO64dIfreILee-7ZJghDb7eQHd9hzp3cCnfiCx5OolNqDMy-QPWv3i4EsRH2KPF74jDZFohnlAo_XBp_MpICQRDhxooNEFuM12Bp7U56ZP0cZB0_57Dzkb4wdwMlOTZid7IIB8/w640-h360/EPILEPSY3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They identified a
calcium channel, Cav2.3, as a target. Cav2.3 allows calcium to enter nerve
cells, exciting the cell and allowing it to pass on electrical signals. This is
needed for the nervous system to function properly, but too much calcium coming
into cells can result in overexcitability and seizures. The researchers then
recorded from the calcium channels to see what was happening when they were not
being phosphorylated by CDKL5. The channels were able to open, but were taking
a lot longer to close, leading to larger and more prolonged currents flowing
through them. This implies that CDKL5 is needed to limit calcium entry into
cells. The researchers also used nerve cells derived from stem cells taken from
people with CDD, again observing that phosphorylation of Cav2.3 was reduced.
This suggests that Cav2.3 function is potentially altered in humans as well as
mice. Mutations in Cav2.3 that enhance channel activity are already known to
cause severe early onset epilepsy in a related condition called DEE69, which
shares a lot of the same symptoms of CDD. These results suggest that Cav2.3 overactivity
is a common feature of both disorders, and that inhibiting Cav2.3 could help
with symptoms like seizures.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bT86TdkmLq5Uo6uABIVd2RrVLXJ2dfFrD1uDtchGJEtw7n40xuYeJBwl2g4tk7_mV_anpOvzSbZn0TwqikuLWAy8KmNMDcTe_pEaibkzPBSKqMMf3KqX6bvcUrKNpcxYY3xzrlfr-LwKkGGkOOrqp_00sV7Dy03W6WsTv0fbjfLkMW9o7hcHmnEDImA/s600/EPILEPSY4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="600" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bT86TdkmLq5Uo6uABIVd2RrVLXJ2dfFrD1uDtchGJEtw7n40xuYeJBwl2g4tk7_mV_anpOvzSbZn0TwqikuLWAy8KmNMDcTe_pEaibkzPBSKqMMf3KqX6bvcUrKNpcxYY3xzrlfr-LwKkGGkOOrqp_00sV7Dy03W6WsTv0fbjfLkMW9o7hcHmnEDImA/w640-h618/EPILEPSY4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Marisol
Sampedro-Castañeda, postdoctoral researcher at the Crick, and first author,
said: "Our research highlights for the first time a CDKL5 target with a link
to neuronal excitability. There's scattered evidence that this calcium channel
could be involved in other types of epilepsy too, so we believe that Cav2.3
inhibitors could eventually be tested more widely. "Our findings have
implications for a large group of people, from the families affected by these
conditions to researchers working in the rare epilepsy field." This
research was funded by MSD and the Loulou Foundation, a private foundation
dedicated to the development of therapeutics and eventual cures for CDD. Jill
Richardson, Executive Director and Head of Neuroscience Biology at MSD,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">said: "MSD is proud of this innovative research resulting from a
collaboration with researchers at the Crick and UCL. We have collectively
furthered our scientific understanding of the biological targets associated
with the aetiologies </span></b><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">of
Developmental Epileptic Encephalopathies – an understanding we hope will contribute
toward scientific progress in this important area of high, unmet medical
need." The researchers are now working with Lario Therapeutics, a recently
launched biotech company which is seeking to develop first-in-class CaV2.3
inhibitors as<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">precision medicines to treat CDD and related neurodevelopmental
syndromes.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the moment, there's a
clear need for drugs which specifically target the biological nature of CDD.
We've made a molecular link between CDKL5 and Cav2.3, mutations in which
produce similar disorders. Inhibiting Cav2.3 could be a route for trials of
futuretargeted treatments."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sila Ultanir, Senior
Group Leader of the Kinases and Brain Development Laboratory at the Crick<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Survey results
suggest men with expensive cars seen as having a higher mating value<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabolsgLeLj0gEKwn3npNOQyaoE_YwfgDvT_cTB5hJQKBcsS_CaOzLKJdfEVVnL2yAItioHhRnFOLlqRbgnAeJc8b-5jWxWc73cU2R_LD8oININjdBXzNoTPo9jbhEUH3OgMaWarCoJRWmStpBvQuB9aoKfPuN-cmlkOaAoKZSWgPd8OWHGKZ-_seMio8/s2880/LUXURY-CARS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2880" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabolsgLeLj0gEKwn3npNOQyaoE_YwfgDvT_cTB5hJQKBcsS_CaOzLKJdfEVVnL2yAItioHhRnFOLlqRbgnAeJc8b-5jWxWc73cU2R_LD8oININjdBXzNoTPo9jbhEUH3OgMaWarCoJRWmStpBvQuB9aoKfPuN-cmlkOaAoKZSWgPd8OWHGKZ-_seMio8/w640-h426/LUXURY-CARS1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A team of behavioral
scientists at Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, in Brazil, has found
via survey results that people view men who drive luxurious cars as having a
higher mating value and other positive attributes. In their study, reported in
the journal Personality and Individual Differences, the group conducted two
surveys involving people driving expensive cars.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtKwX8KzTUum6irPii3cz4yfsvDtKc4CfcnVaUYf2CDjPRMpag8tQWC-ycAUD8zjTL_ylvLp2aTCoHqy5toWBMWIVzT6EHC3_BruRCzO01qMST72dfD_I1NXb3F6wdxXxFAVtPZ974nq0-JvYcaphnH2Rw8Y7tKsBmuwlsvumPqtRCx369BAkx9uxTow/s1560/LUXURY-CARS2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="1560" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtKwX8KzTUum6irPii3cz4yfsvDtKc4CfcnVaUYf2CDjPRMpag8tQWC-ycAUD8zjTL_ylvLp2aTCoHqy5toWBMWIVzT6EHC3_BruRCzO01qMST72dfD_I1NXb3F6wdxXxFAVtPZ974nq0-JvYcaphnH2Rw8Y7tKsBmuwlsvumPqtRCx369BAkx9uxTow/w640-h202/LUXURY-CARS2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Anecdotal evidence has
long suggested that men who drive expensive cars attract women looking for a
partner who can provide them with a certain level of lifestyle. But such
evidence has not been well tested in a more formal way. In this new effort, the
research team sought to find out how both women and men really feel about men
who drive top-of-the-line cars and how the owners of such cars feel about
themselves. To that end, they sent out two surveys.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1OWMiitANS0NPUVPum7BdBKy3Rw4Rny10Cvi6JXdHHswUiWHyzatrihd1GBqbqekgdwfFFW1NUUZFOEYkss3Z1CzRlRSrQ3tKwHpkpK2wy_6-ulTojZpE25bYgZSk-0HlsEMEiEie5s3DIYrOMAEjPBSqrkp-6UMcqzvoFDwsw9H_NFxCVdWI7cdTGU/s1975/LUXURY-CARS3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1596" data-original-width="1975" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1OWMiitANS0NPUVPum7BdBKy3Rw4Rny10Cvi6JXdHHswUiWHyzatrihd1GBqbqekgdwfFFW1NUUZFOEYkss3Z1CzRlRSrQ3tKwHpkpK2wy_6-ulTojZpE25bYgZSk-0HlsEMEiEie5s3DIYrOMAEjPBSqrkp-6UMcqzvoFDwsw9H_NFxCVdWI7cdTGU/w640-h518/LUXURY-CARS3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The first survey asked
potential respondents about their opinions on luxury cars and the men who drive
them, including their feelings on mating values and male dominance. The team
received 171 responses, 93 from women. To prevent bias, the researchers used
examples with fabricated people in the surveys. The second survey asked luxury
car owner respondents questions regarding how they felt about themselves and
their place in society and whether they thought they would make a better mate
than someone who drove an ordinary car. The researchers received 409 responses,
206 of which were from women.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4skjNoU7uvT-2AiWruesi5wr_WStIXLplyJxhOrVbumtEquoPd_GhVbYb_khxNwxB3BB9K3bNEI6p50Uv9Dvm_mHvlAnBToEwnBM32Scc9HI-tNFBAGVu4vl2Pr8ah_eF7e6SyutuRb6NB5GEoMj2ZQc8r3lzPLtn4AdVAimhuUUGZDUUGLYI0iQs8Tg/s634/Men%20who%20own%20luxury%20cars%20like%20a%20Corvette%20and%20Porsche%20are%20perceived%20as%20having%20higher%20levels%20of%20mating%20values%20and%20social%20dominance%20and%20are%20seen%20as%20more%20competent.%20Pictured%20is%20Brad%20Pitt,%2059,%20driving%20a%20$200,000%20electric%20Porsche%20Taycan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="634" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4skjNoU7uvT-2AiWruesi5wr_WStIXLplyJxhOrVbumtEquoPd_GhVbYb_khxNwxB3BB9K3bNEI6p50Uv9Dvm_mHvlAnBToEwnBM32Scc9HI-tNFBAGVu4vl2Pr8ah_eF7e6SyutuRb6NB5GEoMj2ZQc8r3lzPLtn4AdVAimhuUUGZDUUGLYI0iQs8Tg/w640-h394/Men%20who%20own%20luxury%20cars%20like%20a%20Corvette%20and%20Porsche%20are%20perceived%20as%20having%20higher%20levels%20of%20mating%20values%20and%20social%20dominance%20and%20are%20seen%20as%20more%20competent.%20Pictured%20is%20Brad%20Pitt,%2059,%20driving%20a%20$200,000%20electric%20Porsche%20Taycan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men who own luxury cars like a Corvette and Porsche are perceived as having higher levels of mating values and social dominance and are seen as more competent. Pictured is Brad Pitt, 59, driving a $200,000 electric Porsche Taycan</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In analyzing the
returned surveys, the research team found that the majority of respondents
(both male and female) viewed men driving luxury vehicles as having higher
mating value and social dominance and were often seen as more competent in
their lives and in their jobs—and in some cases, as more intelligent. The
survey results also showed that most respondents believed they would benefit
from personal or intimate relationships with such men.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers also
found that people who drive luxury cars view themselves as having higher social
status and thus believe they have more self-confidence than others. Most also
rated themselves as having higher mating value.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5 ) Researcher
discovers new technique for photon detection :by University of Central Florida<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeU9XgNdAeiGJaknQDDEBWShGYnOksir51UsfZrOuBqGdbKykj-t90o_kmlIcqQSY5bE0UWGgY44c4D-oEpLkGAQoibxqxvlu7f-AJtPNlFbgU2fjn2UseyGg4KmoV6m6MFEchJWJpdJGiKG18usVpI532sn1_rn4t00caG4vnvzPbFCsNN7WXF_Y1Uc/s1280/UCF%20researcher%20Debashis%20Chanda%20is%20an%20expert%20in%20infrared%20imaging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeU9XgNdAeiGJaknQDDEBWShGYnOksir51UsfZrOuBqGdbKykj-t90o_kmlIcqQSY5bE0UWGgY44c4D-oEpLkGAQoibxqxvlu7f-AJtPNlFbgU2fjn2UseyGg4KmoV6m6MFEchJWJpdJGiKG18usVpI532sn1_rn4t00caG4vnvzPbFCsNN7WXF_Y1Uc/w640-h426/UCF%20researcher%20Debashis%20Chanda%20is%20an%20expert%20in%20infrared%20imaging.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UCF researcher Debashis Chanda is an expert in infrared imaging</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">University of Central
Florida researcher Debashis Chanda, a professor at the NanoScience Technology
Center, has developed a new technique to detect photons—elementary particles
that span from visible light to radio frequencies and are instrumental in
carrying cellular communication. The advancement could lead to more precise and
efficient technologies in various fields, from improving medical imaging and
communication systems to enhancing scientific research and even potentially
bolstering security measures.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Photon detection has
typically relied on change/modulation of voltage or current amplitude. But
Chanda has developed a way to detect photons by modulating the frequency of an
oscillating circuit, paving the path for ultra-sensitive photon detection.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBfIbBjy_qkjPAx6lu6UqsOsehi1HUpwnxxUGSKLgjsaPKO4wsvsoJxgnwsvXLEM4GXUBBy5_cR6M-zaZ78pxTCY0_MHRLMdZI31hdyzI-gb_4D3kR190dR-jV8hB7YVL4WKW6Mnft0LuNdlEvLUhB1qYZ5kx0oLHDxBqKHGUH0Xo66Zw6PzguoYxKKw/s750/PHOTON-DETECTION2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="750" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBfIbBjy_qkjPAx6lu6UqsOsehi1HUpwnxxUGSKLgjsaPKO4wsvsoJxgnwsvXLEM4GXUBBy5_cR6M-zaZ78pxTCY0_MHRLMdZI31hdyzI-gb_4D3kR190dR-jV8hB7YVL4WKW6Mnft0LuNdlEvLUhB1qYZ5kx0oLHDxBqKHGUH0Xo66Zw6PzguoYxKKw/w640-h398/PHOTON-DETECTION2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chanda's method uses a
special, phase-change material (PCM) that changes its form when light touches
it, making an electrical rhythm that stays steady, or a stable electrical
circuit oscillation. When a light photon hits the material, it changes how fast
the rhythm goes, or shifts the oscillation frequency. How much the rhythm
changes depends on how strong the light is, similar to how a person's voice changes
the sound on the radio.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The new development was
published recently in Advanced Functional Materials.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3IGy4IA8vpxbJwloAjHJobBaroGab4z3ie8twrABjK9gsEeSgwbTf2542fKiU2fJ6SuSLYlNOOUXawvyWhGf2njJdIreQrkdti1EKq6CHYXg7d-d7eXsqgl61jvBPIMJdKI9hQpsEPSm3NJjYeQ5A0qW7qqxzREAXTkuh9shwVQapLZ1cgMRfqQpgJQ/s602/PHOTON-DETECTION3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="602" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3IGy4IA8vpxbJwloAjHJobBaroGab4z3ie8twrABjK9gsEeSgwbTf2542fKiU2fJ6SuSLYlNOOUXawvyWhGf2njJdIreQrkdti1EKq6CHYXg7d-d7eXsqgl61jvBPIMJdKI9hQpsEPSm3NJjYeQ5A0qW7qqxzREAXTkuh9shwVQapLZ1cgMRfqQpgJQ/w640-h334/PHOTON-DETECTION3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Long Wave Infrared
(LWIR) detection in the 8 to 12 micrometer wavelength range is extremely
important in astronomy, climate science, materials analysis and security.
However, LWIR detection at room temperature has been a long-standing challenge
due to the low energy of photons. LWIR detectors that are currently available
can be broadly categorized into two types: cooled and uncooled detectors, with
both having their own limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While cooled detectors
offer excellent detectivity, they require cryogenic cooling—making them
expensive and limiting their practical utility. On the other hand, uncooled
detectors can operate at room temperature but suffer from low detectivity and
slow response due to the higher thermal noise intrinsic to room temperature
operation. A low-cost, highly sensitive, fast infrared detector/camera
continues to confront scientific and technological challenges.This is the main
reason LWIR cameras are not widely used except in Department of Defense and
space-specific applications."Unlike all present photon detection schemes
where light power changes the amplitude of voltage or current (amplitude
modulation—AM), in the proposed scheme hits, or incidents of photons, modulate
the frequency of an oscillating circuit and are detected as a frequency shift,
offering inherent robustness to noises, which are AM in nature," Chanda
says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Our FM-based
approach yields an outstanding room temperature noise equivalent power,
response time and detectivity," Chanda says. "This general FM-based
photon detection concept can be implemented in any spectral range based on
other phase-change materials.""Our results introduce this novel
FM-based detector as a unique platform for creating low-cost, high-efficiency
uncooled infrared detectors and imaging systems for various applications such
as remote sensing, thermal imaging and medical diagnostics," Chanda says.
"We strongly believe that the performance can be further enhanced with
proper industry-scale packaging."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This concept developed
by the Chanda group provides a paradigm shift to high sensitive, uncooled LWIR
detection as noise limits detection sensitivity. This result promises a novel
uncooled LWIR detection scheme that is high sensitive, low cost, and can be
easily integrated with electronic readout circuitry, without the need for complex
hybridization.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) Encounter with
humpback whales reveals potential for nonhuman intelligence communication :by
SETI Institute<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLV-cv_gabmwHMO559GnwITMMAzZLeSyuEs3Pa_5ZPy_i3bdMGPyQbLKOS7dB5vd7yAeFfb2jOYgETfbomiMO5He0cNciV7WRvSh4Srj_VTGjYcDXgGz_PBNd-wZNX2cKGH_gMkVVqzEZZytg-lKe7CgA1QMIM16sLQ6cpFDkcs1whzkZXneiTwl6soo/s1400/Twain%20fluke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLV-cv_gabmwHMO559GnwITMMAzZLeSyuEs3Pa_5ZPy_i3bdMGPyQbLKOS7dB5vd7yAeFfb2jOYgETfbomiMO5He0cNciV7WRvSh4Srj_VTGjYcDXgGz_PBNd-wZNX2cKGH_gMkVVqzEZZytg-lKe7CgA1QMIM16sLQ6cpFDkcs1whzkZXneiTwl6soo/w640-h320/Twain%20fluke.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A team of scientists from the SETI Institute, University
of California Davis and the Alaska Whale Foundation, had a close encounter with
a non-human (aquatic) intelligence. The Whale-SETI team has been studying
humpback whale communication systems in an effort to develop intelligence
filters for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. In response to a
recorded humpback "contact" call played into the sea via an
underwater speaker, a humpback whale named Twain approached and circled the
team's boat while responding in a conversational style to the whale's
"greeting signal." During the 20-minute exchange, Twain responded to
each playback call and matched the interval variations between each signal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33uYL5OE0KCIAJh1KCW_eRriZNT8hBCfWa8c4ofeKE-xestXfhHcU_Jgdw_M1kZ8YMBR-JMwgOHSm8nRncvYURel_XGLFi_ak1WcopjHUNqVFcvKj6e3dDJj80MvKvWf3ecTEaZQBuiszW9U32xh2lPgCfIrjMKTi0JiS0iAWxbZ4fGabpnZx_9h0xGQ/s1000/Dr.%20Brenda%20McCowan%20and%20Dr.%20Fred%20Sharpe%20at%20work%20onboard%20the%20Blue%20Pearl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1000" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33uYL5OE0KCIAJh1KCW_eRriZNT8hBCfWa8c4ofeKE-xestXfhHcU_Jgdw_M1kZ8YMBR-JMwgOHSm8nRncvYURel_XGLFi_ak1WcopjHUNqVFcvKj6e3dDJj80MvKvWf3ecTEaZQBuiszW9U32xh2lPgCfIrjMKTi0JiS0iAWxbZ4fGabpnZx_9h0xGQ/w640-h424/Dr.%20Brenda%20McCowan%20and%20Dr.%20Fred%20Sharpe%20at%20work%20onboard%20the%20Blue%20Pearl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Brenda McCowan and Dr. Fred Sharpe at work onboard the Blue Pearl</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A description and analysis of the encounter appears in a recent
issue of the journalPeerJ, titled "Interactive Bioacoustic Playback as a
Tool for Detecting and Exploring Nonhuman Intelligence: 'Conversing' with an
Alaskan Humpback Whale.""We believe this is the first such
communicative exchange between humans and humpback whales in the humpback
'language,'" said lead author Dr. Brenda McCowan of U.C. Davis.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjG77Vuuxzu_Dlm_DlEVec8Pa_AYfF0ZB7bwtGOLlfUlLaX4VG6krLuBX6CuwprgJm4FeAMsiYftmMqlROBBsmu5KiEdsoIosQN2Kxj61tY6hyphenhyphenFCbYNwE3hjVggmbv92vfQ53swMtSiyTenCI0aPmzRVrXklJ5I5k_AXZAFoLNU4vNP5DFGnPliYiarM/s1000/WHALE-SOUND2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjG77Vuuxzu_Dlm_DlEVec8Pa_AYfF0ZB7bwtGOLlfUlLaX4VG6krLuBX6CuwprgJm4FeAMsiYftmMqlROBBsmu5KiEdsoIosQN2Kxj61tY6hyphenhyphenFCbYNwE3hjVggmbv92vfQ53swMtSiyTenCI0aPmzRVrXklJ5I5k_AXZAFoLNU4vNP5DFGnPliYiarM/w640-h426/WHALE-SOUND2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Humpback whales are extremely intelligent, have
complex social systems, make tools—nets out of bubbles to catch fish, and
communicate extensively with both songs and social calls," said co-author
Dr. Fred Sharpe of the Alaska Whale Foundation."Because of current
limitations on technology, an important assumption of the search for
extraterrestrial intelligence is that extraterrestrials will be interested in
making contact and so target human receivers. This important assumption is
certainly supported by the behavior of humpback whales," said Dr. Laurance
Doyle of the SETI Institute, a co-author of the paper.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItdqyIpiwGvFF_Ob38o7aYhRImv_Cs5HR1p3J-AaIw729LBTvm3h69thJ_ehl8bzC9F7tiqDdBPz8j2mlIRNlp4QkakUVS1ZzCTubUo3hUOzAQFXww8Khu1mw0rghfJmo6ZqX3vHJhzG_Tenc51VLTO0pmk2Kq83Md7Z2It5452takoQCB8uS0C9XZgQ/s1281/That%20time%20Spock%20talked%20to%20a%20humpback%20whale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1281" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItdqyIpiwGvFF_Ob38o7aYhRImv_Cs5HR1p3J-AaIw729LBTvm3h69thJ_ehl8bzC9F7tiqDdBPz8j2mlIRNlp4QkakUVS1ZzCTubUo3hUOzAQFXww8Khu1mw0rghfJmo6ZqX3vHJhzG_Tenc51VLTO0pmk2Kq83Md7Z2It5452takoQCB8uS0C9XZgQ/w640-h358/That%20time%20Spock%20talked%20to%20a%20humpback%20whale.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Similar to studying Antarctica as a proxy for Mars, the
Whale-SETI team is studying intelligent, terrestrial, non-human communication
systems to develop filters to apply to any extraterrestrial signals received.
The mathematics of information theory to quantify communicative complexity—(for
example rule structure embedded in a received message) will be utilized.Other
team members and co-authors of the paper are Dr. Josie Hubbard, Lisa Walker,
and Jodi Frediani, with specialties in animal intelligences, humpback whale
song analysis, and photography and behavior of humpback whales, respectively. A
second paper by the team will soon be available on the non-audio communicative
behavior of humpback whales—bubble rings made in the presence of (and possibly
for) humans.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh570zUrudGo3D7lpzdkhk3w903PWAVwY-O99kswCcxL9z2bmOxjxxb_m_azLGsVRvkHkbcbANx2Af7wVGzRtQyQdPFf0M-deuznBBSA-NFEbVtWX3389Dxuxk1TfhxWJaz-RAC5RuV7NekWFg4VAcmgHE85s-pSYv8XeWN5rm1k4pDK_2nsUsL5xRsLBE/s1024/WHALE-SOUND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="1024" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh570zUrudGo3D7lpzdkhk3w903PWAVwY-O99kswCcxL9z2bmOxjxxb_m_azLGsVRvkHkbcbANx2Af7wVGzRtQyQdPFf0M-deuznBBSA-NFEbVtWX3389Dxuxk1TfhxWJaz-RAC5RuV7NekWFg4VAcmgHE85s-pSYv8XeWN5rm1k4pDK_2nsUsL5xRsLBE/w640-h372/WHALE-SOUND.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">WHALE-SOUND IMAGE DESC:</span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">Representative spectrograms of (A) baseline control (pre) period, (B) experimental playback (during) period, and (C) follow-up control (post) period. No whup calls were recorded during pre- and post- periods. (D) Example spectrograms and waveforms of the whup exemplar and Twain’s whup call. Note exchange between E (exemplar) and T (Twain) in B<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgwO-8w636fvns5OtfLSr7UWyO9-cb5u8DF2q852mOuFp8cg55GLNcZXMwebT-H8lkjxzK6n7wlTL612YxCQWlYbo3mlA_Mz3qikCvJulLbYSWDk1VUDqzAkHu3F5VEcK5mGTUQ1MR0NZgqGtVcoFDsIXBogHvj26srOazw4ra6q22dKJF8g3Zt_h9qQ/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgwO-8w636fvns5OtfLSr7UWyO9-cb5u8DF2q852mOuFp8cg55GLNcZXMwebT-H8lkjxzK6n7wlTL612YxCQWlYbo3mlA_Mz3qikCvJulLbYSWDk1VUDqzAkHu3F5VEcK5mGTUQ1MR0NZgqGtVcoFDsIXBogHvj26srOazw4ra6q22dKJF8g3Zt_h9qQ/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Parliament
breach: 5th accused nabbed, all unemployed; 4 charged under UAPA<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvKx98jBnrwqZdPWjZEi9Wqu-yUKb98ER44kk0yn9oIbRdxMsWYRTnqXiy868ZytHKeN48fXP3ITig6nh0Y-TOIWQIrxucmZc-oTWnAb-3HWFeWvJltey-I_HOJ9gS_FZ6VsRncJ4J6qThhGuZLTZ7zijhKe_KkpnnvkrmuChogdvFOKEI6-UZmarETY/s1200/PARLIAMENT%20ATTACK2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvKx98jBnrwqZdPWjZEi9Wqu-yUKb98ER44kk0yn9oIbRdxMsWYRTnqXiy868ZytHKeN48fXP3ITig6nh0Y-TOIWQIrxucmZc-oTWnAb-3HWFeWvJltey-I_HOJ9gS_FZ6VsRncJ4J6qThhGuZLTZ7zijhKe_KkpnnvkrmuChogdvFOKEI6-UZmarETY/w640-h360/PARLIAMENT%20ATTACK2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruckus inside the Lok Sabha after two men jumped from the visitors' gallery and started spraying yellow gas.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><br /></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Parliament security
breach: Charges under anti-terror law UAPA have been invoked against the
accused. The 5th suspect of the major security breach of the Lok Sabha on
Wednesday was nabbed from Gurugram while the 6th one is still on the run.
Vishal Sharma, the 5th suspect, gave shelter to the four who hatched the plan.
Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D dived inside the Lok Sabha from the visitors'
gallery during the session and sprayed yellow gas. Outside Parliament, Amol
Shinde and Neelam Devi were found protesting. The arrest of the four -- all
unemployed youth with disparate backgrounds -- led the police to Vishal whose
place all stayed before pulling off the security attack. Another accomplice
Lalit is on the run. The security breach -- on the anniversary of the 2001
Parliament attack -- put the radar on the security system of the new Parliament
building as Sagar and Manoranjan D had their passes signed by BJP MP Pratap
Simha. The opposition turned the heat on the BJP for the massive breach.</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Delhi police special
cell has registered cases under sections of the Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act, and 120B and 452 of the Indian Penal Code. Sagar, Manoranjan,
Neel, Amol, Vishal, Lalit: Who are the accused?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The six accused are from
different states, but they knew each other. Their family members had no idea of
what they were doing in Parliament on Wednesday. All of them are unemployed.
During the preliminary investigation, Amol told cops that they were upset over
farmers' protest, the Manipur crisis and unemployment. It is not yet known
whether they worked for any organisation or not. Neelam claimed to be a student
studying for competitive exams after completing MA, B.ED, M.Ed, M.Phil and
clearing NET. Amol is a resident of Maharashtra's Latur. Manoranjan D is from Mysusu,
Pratap Simha's constituency. All of them knew each other for the past four
years through social media.Home ministry orders inquiry<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The ministry of home
affairs ordered an enquiry into the security breach. A panel has been set up
under Anish Dayal Singh, DG, CRPF, with members from other security agencies
and experts.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBQCUPA66C4WT-RikapvCfUtYOJ3daZqIIgpxZHecjEeReCmzqJfGwKIpgeBFJNNiKDKPhAukFQe6PiniFEWJ1Z7IAN0LXxKREfdcAUPJEBoNJ-ux6Ae5V5UZtygA09lQG5KpjJpBWgjB7lcAsu-IEx7wIZ_VpV79KF4Kb6BBGcoIDToQT8BeNSwLAKw/s548/Ruckus%20inside%20the%20Lok%20Sabha%20after%20two%20men%20jumped%20from%20the%20visitors'%20gallery%20and%20started%20spraying%20yellow%20gas..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="548" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBQCUPA66C4WT-RikapvCfUtYOJ3daZqIIgpxZHecjEeReCmzqJfGwKIpgeBFJNNiKDKPhAukFQe6PiniFEWJ1Z7IAN0LXxKREfdcAUPJEBoNJ-ux6Ae5V5UZtygA09lQG5KpjJpBWgjB7lcAsu-IEx7wIZ_VpV79KF4Kb6BBGcoIDToQT8BeNSwLAKw/w640-h360/Ruckus%20inside%20the%20Lok%20Sabha%20after%20two%20men%20jumped%20from%20the%20visitors'%20gallery%20and%20started%20spraying%20yellow%20gas..jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Parliament security
protocols overhauled</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Following the major
breach, the security protocols of the new Parliament building were overhauled
to reduce any contact between the MPs and the visitors. A dedicated place has
been set up as the media briefing centre. The Lok Sabha Secretariat released
instructions for the MPs on Smart Identity Cards and facial recognition
systems.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">How Sagar,
Manorajan could enter the Lok Sabha</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sagar and Manorajan D
entered the Lok Sabha jumping from the visitors' gallery. They started spraying
yellow gas from the canister they hid inside the shoe. They got the pass from
Mysuru MP Pratap Simha. Only MPs can arrange visitor passes for which they have
to give a declaration that they know the guest personally and take full
responsibility for him or her, according to the Lok Sabha handbook for
members."The above-named visitor is my relation/personal friend/known to
me personally and I take full responsibility for her/him" -- the mandatory
declaration reads.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Parliament
session highlights: Totally 13 oppn MPs suspended, SR Parthiban's suspension
revoked<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUJLMSIP2ly1RMLt0snn2uJw0WzEwZuofi_vfvLd9KowZryyryEDFLmo3wUdi5K7wv11QqJaJprQTW3WW9MlzamZ3D3CE3fmnxhLYxfNixt-XMAMRW2yGHVkQjSrfjaN_vDrZyg8gZMCF9lz5sG4vpcdTWM7E-O3HBf_Q3Ofr_nK8noPZ4_vk_cDEJeM/s549/The%20Lower%20House%20or%20Lok%20Sabha%20in%20Parliament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUJLMSIP2ly1RMLt0snn2uJw0WzEwZuofi_vfvLd9KowZryyryEDFLmo3wUdi5K7wv11QqJaJprQTW3WW9MlzamZ3D3CE3fmnxhLYxfNixt-XMAMRW2yGHVkQjSrfjaN_vDrZyg8gZMCF9lz5sG4vpcdTWM7E-O3HBf_Q3Ofr_nK8noPZ4_vk_cDEJeM/w640-h360/The%20Lower%20House%20or%20Lok%20Sabha%20in%20Parliament.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lower House or Lok Sabha in Parliament</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After major security
breach, stringent measures were implemented to overhaul security protocols.Lok
Sabha Speaker on Thursday suspended fourteen Opposition members of parliament
due to their “disorderly conduct”. Among these, nine are from the Congress, two
from the CPIM, two from the DMK, and one from the CPI. The Opposition's outcry
stems from Wednesday's security breach in the Lok Sabha, with demands for a
statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the 22nd anniversary
of the Parliament terror attack, a significant security breach occurred as two
intruders entered the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitor gallery during Zero
Hour.Two men leaped into the House from the visitors' gallery, holding gas
canisters. They released yellow gas, shouted slogans, before being overpowered
by MPs.Visuals depicted a man jumping from the visitor's gallery of the Lok
Sabha as members discussed urgent public matters, with BJP MP Khagen Murmu
addressing, resulting in brief commotion. Simultaneously, two others, including
a woman, sprayed coloured gas and shouted slogans outside the Parliament
premises.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Delhi Police Special
Cell has filed a case under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act against the five individuals apprehended in connection with the incident.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Meanwhile, the Ministry
of Home Affairs (MHA) has initiated an inquiry into the Parliament security
breach incident. Parliament session live updates: Vicky Sharma and his wife
Rakhi, detained by the Police regarding the Parliament security breach, have
been released and returned to their Gurugram residence, stated news agency ANI.
Their questioning involved the five accused (four arrested, one missing) who
supposedly stayed at their home. Delhi Police indicated that both individuals
must be available for further questioning as needed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh new CMs to take oath today, PM Modi will be present</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2SvYxax5K1fJqqnoF2Ov8IFFJ21ujSlfZiL-UjiRTQ_npXgMKsTpw49EWazks3d3WG7zF7mAK_dn_K-TbXwu1_5daiSz6fB1pappwesy-pdztxeLC6CWA0hjgAQFib-hNMb-skPOwThaVudWwsD2uUIZd9AIC5mCqUSvfQ4eA1LXMZRLxLBtyfNK9EI/s549/Madhya%20Pradesh%20new%20CM%20Mohan%20Yadav%20(left)%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20new%20CM%20Vishnu%20Deo%20Sai%20will%20take%20the%20oath%20today..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2SvYxax5K1fJqqnoF2Ov8IFFJ21ujSlfZiL-UjiRTQ_npXgMKsTpw49EWazks3d3WG7zF7mAK_dn_K-TbXwu1_5daiSz6fB1pappwesy-pdztxeLC6CWA0hjgAQFib-hNMb-skPOwThaVudWwsD2uUIZd9AIC5mCqUSvfQ4eA1LXMZRLxLBtyfNK9EI/w640-h360/Madhya%20Pradesh%20new%20CM%20Mohan%20Yadav%20(left)%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20new%20CM%20Vishnu%20Deo%20Sai%20will%20take%20the%20oath%20today..jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madhya Pradesh new CM Mohan Yadav (left) and Chhattisgarh new CM Vishnu Deo Sai will take the oath today.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh CMs will have two deputies each who will also be sworn in today.
The new chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Mohan Yadav and
Vishnu Deo Sai will take oath on Wednesday in the presence of PM Modi and other
senior BJP leaders. After the suspense over the chief ministers' names ended
with BJP announcing their unusual CM choices, now there are speculations over
the cabinet berths. This will likely end with today's swearing-in events at the
two states. Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will take oath on
December 15.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Madhya Pradesh's new CM
Mohan Yadav<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">58-year-old Mohan Yadav
is a three-time MLA and a prominent OBC leader. He as the new chief minister
surprised many as all calculations over the CM probables went awry. Mohan Yadav
is close to RSS, was first elected as an MLA in 2013 from Ujjain South and
retained the constituency in 2018 and 2023. An LLB, MBA and PhD-holder, Mohan
Yadav was the higher education minister of Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mohan Yadav will have
two deputies -- Jagdish Devda and Rajendra Shukla. Narendra Singh Tomar will be
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shivraj Singh Chouhan
who led the BJP to win in Madhya Pradesh with a landslide majority said he is
confident that under the leadership of the new chief minister, the state will
progress. "I would rather die than go and ask something for myself. I
won't go to Delhi," the outgoing chief minister said. Chhattisgarh new
chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">59-year-old Vishnu Deo
Sai will become the first tribal chief minister of Chhattisgarh. A former Union
minister, former MP, Vishnu Deo Sai as the CM was also a surprise from the BJP
in the state that it wrested from the Congress. Though Sai has years of
experience in electoral politics and also that of working at the grassroots
level, he was not seen as a frontrunner as he lacked a public profile.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Vijay Sharma and Arun
Sao will serve as the deputies to Vishnu Deo Sai. Former chief minister Raman
Singh will be the Speaker.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The party took a week to
finalise the names of the CMs and the deputy CMs as it put forward a new line
of leaders jettisoning the expected names that were doing the rounds.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Mahua Moitra:
India parliament expels firebrand MP in bribery row<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwEYtPAXtFagiggCtZzHBmMFmEERV2Dpa3aVD2EbtrHHCGpfFmFhuFe7rxG5nAEaeZU25aXQuIMLGS3vrzeI_kfYGvhdbYq-V0S0TBBWolB7f4sTkO8AM7-oWdGYZi5r2-3Kl5GKqramvmbShYTNdH7sebKXJF5i3bXbVIT755U5CiVbOgGoCnbvv1kw/s976/Mahua%20Moitra%20was%20an%20MP%20from%20the%20opposition%20Trinamool%20Congress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwEYtPAXtFagiggCtZzHBmMFmEERV2Dpa3aVD2EbtrHHCGpfFmFhuFe7rxG5nAEaeZU25aXQuIMLGS3vrzeI_kfYGvhdbYq-V0S0TBBWolB7f4sTkO8AM7-oWdGYZi5r2-3Kl5GKqramvmbShYTNdH7sebKXJF5i3bXbVIT755U5CiVbOgGoCnbvv1kw/w640-h360/Mahua%20Moitra%20was%20an%20MP%20from%20the%20opposition%20Trinamool%20Congress.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mahua Moitra was an MP from the opposition Trinamool Congress</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India's parliament has
expelled an opposition lawmaker who was accused of taking bribes in exchange
for asking questions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mahua Moitra, who has
denied the allegations, said she was expelled "without proof".<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She has the option to
challenge the decision in court.Friday's expulsion followed a resolution passed
by lawmakers in the Lok Sabha - lower house of parliament - after a voice vote.
Earlier in the day, an ethics panel report that recommended Ms Moitra's
expulsion was tabled in the house. Opposition lawmakers had asked for more time
to study the almost-500-page report before debating it, but the speaker did not
agree to this."Heavens would not have fallen had we been given three-four
days to take cognisance of this report and then keep our opinions before the
house because it is going to make a decision on a very sensitive matter,"
Congress MP Manish Tewari said during the debate.The firebrand Indian MP in
‘cash-for-query’ scandal<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India opposition MP
questioned over bribery charge<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ms Moitra is from the
Trinamool Congress, which is in power in West Bengal state. She is known to be
a fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), which has a majority in the Lok Sabha.Her party colleagues had held a
protest in the house on Friday, raising slogans in Ms Moitra's defence. The
session was adjourned for an hour before lawmakers reassembled for the debate.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Trinamool Congress
leaders called the report an "eyewash" and repeated their stance that
the bribery allegation was unfounded. They and other opposition leaders have
alleged that Ms Moitra was targeted for her criticism of Mr Modi's party.Speaker
Om Birla did not allow Ms Moitra to speak in the house on Friday, saying that
she had been given the chance to defend herself in front of the ethics
committee. Ms Moitra had walked out during questioning by the committee,
accusing them of "unethical, sordid and prejudiced behaviour".The
controversy began in October when BJP MP Nishikant Dubey filed a complaint
against Ms Moitra, alleging that she had asked several questions targeting the
Adani Group - a conglomerate owned by one of Asia's richest men, Gautam Adani -
in exchange for gifts and cash from a businessman called Darshan Hiranandani.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mr Adani is perceived as
being close to Mr Modi and has long faced allegations from opposition
politicians that he has benefited from his political ties, which the
businessman and the BJP deny.Earlier this year, a US-based short-seller
Hindenburg had accused Mr Adani of engaging in decades of "brazen"
stock manipulation and accounting fraud. The Adani Group has denied these
allegations, calling the report "malicious".In his complaint, Mr
Dubey claimed that "until quite recently", 50 of 61 questions Ms
Moitra asked in the Lok Sabha were focused on the Adani Group and accused her
of accepting bribes adding up to 20m rupees ($240,542; £197,700) from Mr
Hiranandani. Ms Moitra has strongly denied this.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The BJP leader alleged
he had received "irrefutable evidence" against Ms Moitra from an
advocate named Jai Anant Dehadrai - whom Ms Moitra has described as a
"jilted ex".Mr Hiranandani also submitted an affidavit before the
ethics committee, accusing the TMC leader of targeting Mr Adani "for
becoming famous". Ms Moitra questioned the authenticity of the affidavit,
but Mr Hiranandani said he had signed it "voluntarily".<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mr Dubey's complaint
also accused Ms Moitra of sharing her parliamentary login credentials with Mr
Hiranandani so that he "could post questions directly on her behalf when
required".Ms Moitra admitted that she had given her login details to the
businessman, but said that she had not violated any rules in doing so.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">She has filed defamation
cases against Mr Dubey and Mr Dehadrai in the Delhi high court.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) China reiterates
claims over Ladakh, says ‘never recognised the so-called Union Territory’<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlP1Qwd42fqBY-aiMZlTTFaRbBrTCskSa5uM9zPzbRHpb1SZYwI2LzisgxRe0vgcU8eekyCMiQ1SwZQ1OnR9sGKLARrKuNYZb29TfoHqqZ5nHk2axRi_2pwkivg7ps4QX3_2ZKmBL6HD0J_0Eet6Paj0zbKEDJrEmliPrayBfKrZ6qTUo2196_yBPoF4/s918/n%20a%20press%20briefing%20on%20Wednesday,%20Foreign%20Ministry%20Spokesperson%20Mao%20Ning%20said%20that%20the%20verdict%20won%E2%80%99t%20impact%20Beijing%E2%80%99s%20stance%20that%20the%20%E2%80%9Cwestern%20section%20of%20the%20China-India%20border%20has%20always%20belonged%20to%20China.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="918" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlP1Qwd42fqBY-aiMZlTTFaRbBrTCskSa5uM9zPzbRHpb1SZYwI2LzisgxRe0vgcU8eekyCMiQ1SwZQ1OnR9sGKLARrKuNYZb29TfoHqqZ5nHk2axRi_2pwkivg7ps4QX3_2ZKmBL6HD0J_0Eet6Paj0zbKEDJrEmliPrayBfKrZ6qTUo2196_yBPoF4/w640-h352/n%20a%20press%20briefing%20on%20Wednesday,%20Foreign%20Ministry%20Spokesperson%20Mao%20Ning%20said%20that%20the%20verdict%20won%E2%80%99t%20impact%20Beijing%E2%80%99s%20stance%20that%20the%20%E2%80%9Cwestern%20section%20of%20the%20China-India%20border%20has%20always%20belonged%20to%20China.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">n a press briefing on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that the verdict won’t impact Beijing’s stance that the “western section of the China-India border has always belonged to China</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">here was no immediate
response from the external affairs ministry to China’s latest staking of claim
to Ladakh China on Wednesday again staked claim to Ladakh, asserting that the
Supreme Court verdict upholding the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir did not
change the reality “that the western section of the China-India border has
always belonged to China”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chinese foreign ministry
spokesperson Mao Ning said: “China has never recognised the so-called Union
Territory of Ladakh set up unilaterally and illegally by India."China on
Wednesday again staked claim to Ladakh, asserting that the Supreme Court
verdict upholding the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir did not change the
reality “that the western section of the China-India border has always belonged
to China”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chinese foreign ministry
spokesperson Mao Ning said: “China has never recognised the so-called Union
Territory of Ladakh set up unilaterally and illegally by India."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Responding to a question
seeking China’s response to the Supreme Court verdict pronounced earlier this
week, Mao said: “India’s domestic judicial verdict does not change the fact
that the western section of the China-India border has always belonged to
China.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There was no immediate
response from the external affairs ministry to China’s latest staking of claim
to Ladakh. A day after India moved the bill to abrogate Article 370 and
bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, China had described
the decision to turn Ladakh into a Union Territory as unacceptable.</span></b><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxOz5-OU1LdDtcwNmUMO_Ozn35-71L8ZccAkVEPzEcZ-x82klZ80ofQKxhN9n-nf6_5EXyoHtIzV4SbaTgsS9ow6ZmD2Bw6DU7jweOw4_a4gYgs35AkladJVC0jt_JfkBl3hmsyq0qpsDXVrduxIKTB4rw_Df73_swgPc3qg619yuiequmnlQEZN2gkw/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxOz5-OU1LdDtcwNmUMO_Ozn35-71L8ZccAkVEPzEcZ-x82klZ80ofQKxhN9n-nf6_5EXyoHtIzV4SbaTgsS9ow6ZmD2Bw6DU7jweOw4_a4gYgs35AkladJVC0jt_JfkBl3hmsyq0qpsDXVrduxIKTB4rw_Df73_swgPc3qg619yuiequmnlQEZN2gkw/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) India vs South
Africa 2nd T20I Highlights: SA beat IND by five wickets<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTdmava2F5wJbYQbO0uLBj8N7UcZuqalvQ2XXSkZXPTEShvF0B1ZqRKT2mtfSmxdiMxAKn3oXm2NVKdOTF6P0npSrOCb86aj_KG2MEyXNwB8K8mUeeG2NhX4GvnKo7jtyUfgvnqmawDUzbnVK7XVBNiQQlosqARBxR1KbHRUquLVpZpbTw21DqAq5Sco/s549/India%20vs%20South%20Africa%20Live%20Score,%202nd%20T20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTdmava2F5wJbYQbO0uLBj8N7UcZuqalvQ2XXSkZXPTEShvF0B1ZqRKT2mtfSmxdiMxAKn3oXm2NVKdOTF6P0npSrOCb86aj_KG2MEyXNwB8K8mUeeG2NhX4GvnKo7jtyUfgvnqmawDUzbnVK7XVBNiQQlosqARBxR1KbHRUquLVpZpbTw21DqAq5Sco/w640-h360/India%20vs%20South%20Africa%20Live%20Score,%202nd%20T20.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> SA chased down the target of 152 in just 15
overs with ease and flattened IND with their big hitting<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India vs South Africa
2nd T20I Highlights: India's openers fell for ducks but Suryakumar Yadav's
half-century led the way as the visitors gained a foothold on the game. He
first put up a 49-run stand for the third wicket with Tilak Varma off 24 balls.
SKY then put up 70 for the fourth with Rinku Singh off just 48 balls before
falling for 56 off 36. Rinku eventually crossed his first T20I half-century but
India's finish was dented somewhat by Gerald Coetzee taking two back to back
wickets in the last over. Rain made an appearance with three balls left in that
over and the players rushed back into the dressing room with India's score
reading 180/7 in 19.3 overs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The innings didn't
continue and South Africa were given a target of 152 to chase in 15 overs. They
ended up unleashing carnage with their top order of Matthew Breetzke, Reeza
Hendricks and captain Aiden Markram smashing the Indian bowlers to all parts of
St George's Park. India made a comeback by dismissing Hendricks, Markram and
Heinrich Klaasen in quick succession but the visitors still had an uphill
struggle for themselves. South Africa held it together and ended up winning
with five wickets and nearly two overs to spare.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) India vs South
Africa 3rd T20 Highlights: IND thrash SA by 106 runs, level series 1-1<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFyRs6Y8VJ76w0R-r_sOam_sSCcCfM8sKc6TvGUeCUwaB0xyH9R3VVzp24-KeOnsaWQHkVUMTCpDgoQySAQ6BEBUcLC-ByRrNrB05NqbbBVJhmD8uRxqUjsEIDz989X0GzvBzEco92PjbC7qylSwK1WfsHBK1Z0dEepw2NYeW-KrnFCl88DSfP3Yg3f8/s549/India%20vs%20South%20Africa%203rd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFyRs6Y8VJ76w0R-r_sOam_sSCcCfM8sKc6TvGUeCUwaB0xyH9R3VVzp24-KeOnsaWQHkVUMTCpDgoQySAQ6BEBUcLC-ByRrNrB05NqbbBVJhmD8uRxqUjsEIDz989X0GzvBzEco92PjbC7qylSwK1WfsHBK1Z0dEepw2NYeW-KrnFCl88DSfP3Yg3f8/w640-h360/India%20vs%20South%20Africa%203rd.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India vs South Africa
3rd T20 Highlights: IND thrash SA by 106 runs, level series 1-1 Captain
Suryakumar Yadav produced a hundred of rare brilliance and Kuldeep Yadav worked
his inimitable sorcery with a fifer as India registered a comprehensive 106-run
series-levelling win over South Africa in the third and final T20I here on
Thursday. Suryakumar’s 100 off 56 balls that contained seven fours and eight
sixes and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fluent 60 off 41 balls carried India to 201 for 7
after the visitors were asked to bat first. Indian bowlers, especially left-arm
wrist spinner Kuldeep (5/17), who turned 29 on Thursday, managed to hit better
lengths to bundle out SA for 95 in 13.5 overs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Want to take all
the positivity into next year and put up a show in bigger events: Ashwini
Ponnappa<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE6n-7OCRI_YFQQ_84XPhN5wa5HoXxrk9tGRRe_aGQMs_SS0mN2_af59L6po8iWq5rXC-IohGItNxHjCTByAKAnxtifqHrjisnhHo02XpizstF0b2IN8gIEgXZw3MdPT9oExfitTA0He73A2ZVa_m5W1a783BgNaLjhwCVKULQCViPR6BrqqRIZSt1vA/s549/Ashwini,%2034,%20and%20the%2020-year-old%20Tanisha%20Crasto,%20who%20joined%20hands%20in%20January%20this%20year,%20secured%20their%20third%20women's%20doubles%20title%20and%20the%20second%20Super%20100%20crown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE6n-7OCRI_YFQQ_84XPhN5wa5HoXxrk9tGRRe_aGQMs_SS0mN2_af59L6po8iWq5rXC-IohGItNxHjCTByAKAnxtifqHrjisnhHo02XpizstF0b2IN8gIEgXZw3MdPT9oExfitTA0He73A2ZVa_m5W1a783BgNaLjhwCVKULQCViPR6BrqqRIZSt1vA/w640-h360/Ashwini,%2034,%20and%20the%2020-year-old%20Tanisha%20Crasto,%20who%20joined%20hands%20in%20January%20this%20year,%20secured%20their%20third%20women's%20doubles%20title%20and%20the%20second%20Super%20100%20crown.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashwini, 34, and the 20-year-old Tanisha Crasto, who joined hands in January this year, secured their third women's doubles title and the second Super 100 crown</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ashwini Ponnappa wants
to continue her fine run in the upcoming bigger tournaments to stay on course
for a trip to the Paris Olympics A sensational run over the last two weeks has
given wings to Ashwini Ponnappa's Olympics dreams, and the ace Indian shuttler
now wants to continue her fine run in the upcoming bigger tournaments to stay
on course for a trip to Paris. Ashwini, 34, and the 20-year-old Tanisha Crasto,
who joined hands in January this year, secured their third women's doubles
title and the second Super 100 crown with a 21-13, 21-19 win over Chinese
Taipei's Sung Shuo Yun and Yu Chien Hui in the final of the Guwahati Masters on
Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The pair had finished
runners-up at the Syed Modi International Super 300 tournament last week in
Lucknow and will start as favourites this week at the Odisha Open Super 100 in
Cuttack.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Their exploits in
Guwahati will lift them to world No. 23 when the BWF ranking is issued on
Tuesday, taking them closer to top 16, which is the cut off mark for the Paris
Games."... the goal of course is to play at the Olympics but since we are
a new pair, our focus is to do well in every single tournament we are playing,
to put up a good show and that is what we are focusing on right now,"
Ashwini, a two-time Olympian, told PTI. "I think there are a lot of
factors to get to the Olympics, and for us it is important to simplify our
journey and focus on our performance, and if we are meant to be in the
Olympics, then it's fine."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Currently, world No. 19
pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly are the frontrunners in the Olympic
race.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ashwini and Tanisha had
won the Abu Dhabi Masters Super 100 and Nantes International Challenge also
this year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Now, we will get
an entry in to bigger tournaments. We actually started off the year playing in
a Super 500 event (Indonesia Masters) where we reached the quarterfinals, that
gave us a lot of confidence because it was our first tournament
together."Now, having had this journey of playing smaller tournaments and
gradually working our way up, it gives us a lot of confidence. We have a lot of
matches under our belt. So, now, the idea is to take all this positivity into
next year but before that our focus is giving our best in Odisha."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One of India's finest
doubles exponents, Ashwini has enjoyed a lot of success with Jwala Gutta,
winning the 2011 World Championships bronze and gold and silver medals at the
2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ashwini and Jwala had
also participated in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics in London and Rio de Janeiro
but couldn't cross the group stage on both the occasions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the 2016 Games,
the duo parted ways and Ashwini forged an alliance with N Sikki Reddy. The pair
parted ways last year.Asked how she sees her role of a senior partner, Ashwini
said: "Tanisha makes it easy for me because she is someone who is a fast
learner and understands things really well. She holds her own on court and she
keeps me calm when I go off track, having that freedom makes a
difference."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It is not easy to keep
performing at 34 and Ashwini said focus on her diet and nutrition was the key.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I made a few
changes, especially in terms of looking after my body. I now understand the
importance of being mindful of what I am eating and drinking. In the past, I
got away by eating things in moderation but now it doesn't work. I used to love
sweets but now I don't even eat sweets in moderation."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Kishore Jena
chases fresh javelin glory after breakthrough 2023<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUckiC2Is_gB8-TixbUQOY4AuFI0Wz8jzDvlKNlcF-77IOmfmCNUxWisYjUrqveORxmSh0vW7qGUv8cI9oI64nxptW_MF4ho1c4iFGHJqzcF1ZMLn99oETJ_uEkaSqHYthaXZjPNfWMeVg-Q2RhkHo3XX9GTaFihiaKbooiF2cl3MCg7HahpV64cBqfw/s549/From%20an%20unfancied%20competitor%20at%20the%20start%20of%20the%20year%20to%20becoming%20India%E2%80%99s%20No.2%20javelin%20thrower,%20behind%20world%20and%20Olympic%20champion%20Neeraj%20Chopra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUckiC2Is_gB8-TixbUQOY4AuFI0Wz8jzDvlKNlcF-77IOmfmCNUxWisYjUrqveORxmSh0vW7qGUv8cI9oI64nxptW_MF4ho1c4iFGHJqzcF1ZMLn99oETJ_uEkaSqHYthaXZjPNfWMeVg-Q2RhkHo3XX9GTaFihiaKbooiF2cl3MCg7HahpV64cBqfw/w640-h360/From%20an%20unfancied%20competitor%20at%20the%20start%20of%20the%20year%20to%20becoming%20India%E2%80%99s%20No.2%20javelin%20thrower,%20behind%20world%20and%20Olympic%20champion%20Neeraj%20Chopra.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From an unfancied competitor at the start of the year to becoming India’s No.2 javelin thrower, behind world and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Odisha thrower rose
to become India’s No.2 javelin thrower, behind Neeraj Chopra in a year he
improved by almost 10 metres<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the beginning of the
year, the soft-spoken Kishore Jena would have reacted in disbelief if he had
been told he would be a World Championships finalist, leave alone win an Asian
Games medal and qualify for the Paris Olympics.But 12 months is a lifetime in
international sport and Jena understands it all too well. From an unfancied
competitor at the start of the year to becoming India’s No.2 javelin thrower,
behind world and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, the Odisha thrower has enjoyed
a meteoric rise in currently the most popular athletics discipline in the
country.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It does feel like a
dream. Earlier, people barely took note of me, but now there are requests for
photographs and autographs. It all feels a little surreal. Credit to my coach
and well wishers,” the 28-year-old says.“Honestly, if you would have told me at
the start of the year that I will have such results in the coming months, I
wouldn't have believed. Having said that, in javelin an improvement of 3-4
metres is not unnatural. So, once I started doing well, I knew I could get in
the 85-87m range.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Having started the year
with a best throw of 78.93m that helped him win the season-opening Indian Open
Throws Competition, it turned into a largely subdued season for Jena as he
managed to breach the 80m mark just once in his next four competitions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The turnaround happened
in Sri Lanka in July where I threw 84.38m. I was under tremendous pressure
going into that event as it was a make-or-break situation. Had I not done well
there, I wouldn’t have made the cut for the Budapest Worlds and ultimately the
Asian Games medal and Olympics qualification wouldn’t have happened. So for me,
the Sri Lankan championships remains the most important performance of the
year.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While 2023 in Indian
athletics will be remembered for Chopra’s historic world title and the men’s
relay team finishing fifth at the World Championships in Budapest, Jena’s
ascent does deserve mentioning. He entered the year with a personal best of
78.05m. In the 12 competitions he participated in 2023, he dipped under that
mark only twice, bettering his best seven times in eight months. By the time
the season ended, Jena had improved that start-of-the-year PB by 9.49m.“People
say it is a miracle, but in sports there are no miracles. This is the result of
Jena’s unwavering dedication and commitment to get better,” his coach Samarjeet
Singh Malhi says from Patiala. So much so that barring travel days, Jena missed
training only for four days. “That was only because of the visa trouble ahead
of the World Championships, otherwise he never missed a session. He didn’t go
home, stuck to the diet and fitness routines and trained with single-minded
zeal.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Malhi took Jena under
his wing towards the end of 2021 when the volleyball player-turned-javelin
thrower had a PB of 76.41m. A jump of 11.13m in two years is the result of a
meticulous process put in place that involved a gradual overhaul of Jena’s
technique. He also stands at 1.73m, much shorter than Chopra (1.82m) and DP
Manu (1.87m-PB 84.35m).“From his run-up to block to angle of release, we
changed everything over time. Credit goes to Jena for trusting the process. He
submitted himself to me and the sport rewarded him,” the coach says. “I could
sense he is a 85m-plus thrower because his foundation was always strong. At the
start of the year, we earmarked Budapest and Hangzhou as our main targets and
went about things in a clinical manner. Thankfully, everything came together.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The test, Malhi says,
will be to maintain the momentum. Jena’s success was built on peaking at the
right time and Malhi believes the challenge will be to repeat it in 2024. “Of
course, Olympics will be our primary goal next year. We now know that Jena can
throw in the 87-88m range. In fact, I expected him to throw 88m in Hangzhou. If
he manages to consistently throw in that range, he will be a genuine medal
candidate in every big meet.”India’s athletics season is likely to begin next
month but the field events will start only in March. Jena is using the three
months off-season to work on strength, endurance and technique. This involves
using the 900gm javelin as opposed to the 800gm spear used in senior men’s
competitions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Heavier javelin will
improve his arm speed. We also want to improve his pace on the runway, so even
a small improvement in speed (with a heavier javelin) will translate into a
significant jump once he runs with the 800gm javelin. We are also working on
his block to ensure his front knee doesn’t collapse while throwing,” the coach
says.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For Jena, the trick lies
in repeating what worked for him. “I don’t think we need to do something
drastically different. I will just stick to the process and do my best. Who
knows, on a good day, something special may happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Amir Ali shores
up shaky defence, guides India into junior hockey World Cup semis<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0uljESRr4cBiLzS8lBZdtGTKQOjyzyTIHrNKbmnp5H_AiiWzn61qy4Wg1cS5624KAK1oEXQkyzzOdAhIsQmACzipCJu0MXBSjkPKj9fTVdN_CSUqwKDPkRzqeXF0tOMMDe9MLFE4DI0g0YaRQXuVkHbGOIF7x_n1UKw5c6LsNfcXkCCDTyKtcKh5JzI/s549/Amir%20Ali%20guided%20India%20into%20junior%20hockey%20World%20Cup%20semis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="549" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0uljESRr4cBiLzS8lBZdtGTKQOjyzyTIHrNKbmnp5H_AiiWzn61qy4Wg1cS5624KAK1oEXQkyzzOdAhIsQmACzipCJu0MXBSjkPKj9fTVdN_CSUqwKDPkRzqeXF0tOMMDe9MLFE4DI0g0YaRQXuVkHbGOIF7x_n1UKw5c6LsNfcXkCCDTyKtcKh5JzI/w640-h360/Amir%20Ali%20guided%20India%20into%20junior%20hockey%20World%20Cup%20semis.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amir Ali guided India into junior hockey World Cup semis</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The defender's vital
interception and then penalty corner blocks thwart Netherlands, hand India a
4-3 comeback quarter-final win in Kuala Lumpur.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Olivier Hortensius was
charging towards the Indian goal; 2-0 up and moments away from the first-half
hooter, another Dutch goal would have surely put the game beyond India’s reach.
Olivier Hortensius was charging towards the Indian goal; 2-0 up and moments
away from the first-half hooter, another Dutch goal would have surely put the
game beyond India’s reach. But the diminutive but fast Indian defender Amir Ali
had other plans. The 19-year-old rushed towards Hortensius, made a brilliant
tackle and halted Netherlands from increasing the lead. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That move provided the
impetus India needed to produce a spectacular come-from-behind victory to
outwit powerhouse Netherlands 4-3 and enter the semi-finals of the FIH Junior
Men's Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After Timo Boers (5th
min) and Pepijn van der Heijden (16th) put Netherlands 2-0 up via two penalty
corners, Aditya Lalage (34th) and Araijeet Singh Hundal (35th) levelled the
contest in the third quarter. Hortensius (44th) put Netherlands ahead once more
before Sourabh Kushwaha (52nd) and skipper Uttam Singh (57th) put India in
front for the first time, three minutes from the final hooter. But that’s not
where the contest ended. The Dutch earned six successive PCs in the final two
minutes of the quarter-final at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium. Once
again rushers Amir and Rohit came to India’s rescue, thwarting any chance of
the Dutch drawing level and pushing the match into a shootout, guiding India to
their third consecutive semi-final.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An emotional Amir was
beaming over a video call from the Malaysian capital after India’s victory.
“Hockey has given me everything. It is unbelievable that my hands that now hold
the hockey stick once held the tools to repair motorbikes,” recalled Amir.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The son of a bike
mechanic, Amir has risen from the streets of Lucknow to make the national team
which now has the chance to attain glory, India having won the title last at
his hometown in 2016.My father is a bike mechanic. He doesn’t have a shop, just
a toolbox which he carries whenever he gets a call to repair bikes. I used to
help him. With only one breadwinner, we pretty much had a hand-to-mouth
existence. Whatever my father earned was spent for the daily ration to feed our
family of seven,” said Amir.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Growing up in
Hazratganj, neither Amir nor his family knew much about hockey, but the
youngster was fascinated watching his mohalla boys play. Initially against
their son ‘wasting time’ on a sport, Tasauvar Ali and his wife finally gave in
to the demand of their eldest son, who also took younger sibling Taruq to play
hockey.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Both brothers started
learning the basics of the game under renowned Sports Authority of India (SAI)
coach Rashid Aziz Khan at the KD Singh Babu Stadium, which was walking distance
from his home. From 2011 to 2015 Amir played under Khan. “Even during this
period, after practice I’d go help my father fix bikes before we both returned
home,” said Amir. His father and Khan realised that Amir belonged to higher
echelons of hockey. While his father borrowed money to ensure Amir had the
necessary equipment to continue his pursuit, Khan sent his ward to the Saifai
Sports College in Etawah, known for sports in Uttar Pradesh. Amir honed his
skills and kept getting better, playing in school and local events followed by
state level tournaments.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2019, Amir had a
chance to return home when he trialled for SAI Lucknow. Impressed with his
defensive skills, discipline, fitness, speed and the ability to adjust his
game, the defender was selected and was back training under Khan for another
three years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was under Khan that
Amir realised his potential. He first guided Air India to runners-up at the
2020 Senior Nationals before guiding Uttar Pradesh to successive titles in the
2021 and 2022 Junior Nationals, earning a deserved call-up to the junior
national team.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Amir made a golden
international debut too when he helped India win the 2022 Sultan of Johor Cup
before winning gold at the Junior Asia Cup in June. Now, Amir wants to help
India win gold in Malaysia, the next step for which is the clash against
six-time champions Germany in the semis on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNOBgttBlvqU8_DaiN_4CPjAp2N2ZlVPikT5jZb9a9XegR0I4lGYuYe3sRheyjNMxnBmlzxZabkmV03n2AVSNIivou8AZyKMARbeXXoP5ltZerEPo5_Q3pTT2Ce2UAB0zdxpCAla8j7HsJ32tYlaU62frhr2RhkvcLaHbqzAfiEEXnaN3v4NaWyj3wi4/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNOBgttBlvqU8_DaiN_4CPjAp2N2ZlVPikT5jZb9a9XegR0I4lGYuYe3sRheyjNMxnBmlzxZabkmV03n2AVSNIivou8AZyKMARbeXXoP5ltZerEPo5_Q3pTT2Ce2UAB0zdxpCAla8j7HsJ32tYlaU62frhr2RhkvcLaHbqzAfiEEXnaN3v4NaWyj3wi4/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wonka;<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOSue39573i7ONkzUd0giQSE48vvssC2DFcrigWqoVZ4HYYzQKSJVsIWZMQtU6dJ19GSSnfwTv1-oF0djx948YDqetGlhUwtSqxEmKMCUzSuMOH4NDLDkqafby3R_LkzSLBuxTZejhS7Z-1crqHsEBGvwY1fzWWUcX-SWtciJRZrYly51MjnqNOaQmSo/s2048/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOSue39573i7ONkzUd0giQSE48vvssC2DFcrigWqoVZ4HYYzQKSJVsIWZMQtU6dJ19GSSnfwTv1-oF0djx948YDqetGlhUwtSqxEmKMCUzSuMOH4NDLDkqafby3R_LkzSLBuxTZejhS7Z-1crqHsEBGvwY1fzWWUcX-SWtciJRZrYly51MjnqNOaQmSo/w512-h640/M1.jpg" width="512" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With dreams of opening a
shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka
discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Director aul King<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Writers imon FarnabyPaul
KingRoald Dahl<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stars imothée
ChalametGustave DieMurray McArthur<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Japan;<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9Dj9MVLKnpjMvb6WWMt7qNHvJAq_De-nKj2i3p0GHxjGHue9WT34uduf2MAEAquUasPSQBvEgCMW7tAjhtyiwiiLHX_447CN9ejS0zrbNQiP_Is0pwONRGOp2_uQ64DGHxTw4TWR_rT6HpRqPAIJQTZAIPJPb4feDZJsAdkQ77YIUY_iJuHI73YIS0U/s1227/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1227" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9Dj9MVLKnpjMvb6WWMt7qNHvJAq_De-nKj2i3p0GHxjGHue9WT34uduf2MAEAquUasPSQBvEgCMW7tAjhtyiwiiLHX_447CN9ejS0zrbNQiP_Is0pwONRGOp2_uQ64DGHxTw4TWR_rT6HpRqPAIJQTZAIPJPb4feDZJsAdkQ77YIUY_iJuHI73YIS0U/w640-h426/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Plot: A legendary master
thief steals a fortune in gems from a jewellery store, triggering an intense
police chase.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Genre: Action/Comedy<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Anu Emmanuel,
Karthi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Platform: Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: December
11<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Freelancer: The
Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5n3sBOpSR_VsGf5xV6QtURvphPXT8TxJgvL7xpV4pI0iHkywXvQiE7iHK7Ea4KYpoTo-LND_J7E2GRpNlYA5RCMRn1XlGlEgJtKIniMScJxER0s7ANF4f5wyyFt-s_nBWLXm2CjNpxDRH4D_okSIO-WxEj12lIhnPY6Hnjyd1fCZfBg_MrfGLj6OzVOw/s1200/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5n3sBOpSR_VsGf5xV6QtURvphPXT8TxJgvL7xpV4pI0iHkywXvQiE7iHK7Ea4KYpoTo-LND_J7E2GRpNlYA5RCMRn1XlGlEgJtKIniMScJxER0s7ANF4f5wyyFt-s_nBWLXm2CjNpxDRH4D_okSIO-WxEj12lIhnPY6Hnjyd1fCZfBg_MrfGLj6OzVOw/w640-h360/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Plot: The story follows
Aliya's journey as she attempts to escape the challenging conditions in
war-torn Syria, portraying her struggle and resilience.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Genre: Action/Thriller<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Mohit Raina,
Anupam Kher, Kashmira Pardeshi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Platform: Disney+Hotstar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: December
15<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Family Plan:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6P69TuJsJ8Je0v5Qm5hOBwv6CihP-uOtnMfvs7IdsN7W-C6Wc7cdDwq8EcWfcjkihTDq7Gn4wIg8XVGYWM-1oPoN6KBS4WcI0NQrb0JuVGhXYD7hLJYsQZrYKue2MFXUj-8I0j2k4nONsf2QrzAiRKe-ztrsQ9YkKepTXrQzFy2RQxg9k5iOQLCN2ZI/s980/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="980" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6P69TuJsJ8Je0v5Qm5hOBwv6CihP-uOtnMfvs7IdsN7W-C6Wc7cdDwq8EcWfcjkihTDq7Gn4wIg8XVGYWM-1oPoN6KBS4WcI0NQrb0JuVGhXYD7hLJYsQZrYKue2MFXUj-8I0j2k4nONsf2QrzAiRKe-ztrsQ9YkKepTXrQzFy2RQxg9k5iOQLCN2ZI/w640-h360/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Plot: Dan, a former
elite government assassin, embarks on a spontaneous cross-country drive to Las
Vegas with his family, evading adversaries from his past.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Genre: Action/Comedy<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Mark Wahlberg,
Michelle Monaghan, Valkyrae<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Death’s Game:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj16LP3k9v8VGDybg6IScEczTGj3I2J48uRVKQ5FY-n9mRJ64w7y4Q1hALgaNOLW-CgtVmg3dYhYz3cTyIqgoN5It40Osx5M8ODNlblZBg41z3fZBqI0fiTkqdntIM3Ckuy4cGiN1ZlPc8pZDhS0_5uX8qEpF2mlEMa_Kq-hU85unyEV3xOx3DGI3wpI/s640/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj16LP3k9v8VGDybg6IScEczTGj3I2J48uRVKQ5FY-n9mRJ64w7y4Q1hALgaNOLW-CgtVmg3dYhYz3cTyIqgoN5It40Osx5M8ODNlblZBg41z3fZBqI0fiTkqdntIM3Ckuy4cGiN1ZlPc8pZDhS0_5uX8qEpF2mlEMa_Kq-hU85unyEV3xOx3DGI3wpI/w640-h480/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Plot: This South Korean
psoriasis is based on a popular webtoon, blending thrilling and mysterious
elements.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Genre: Drama<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Seo In-guk, Park
So-dam<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Platform: Amazon Prime
Video<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Release Date: December
15<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnofNcrXmlkUxAogekgfjUcFZic1ZPdiLMEBYFZFToT6t3AW-83RXVZgEsqSSK9PQCrN2mPd5h6_fVWA1wV_U0rYnuE9SEhV9YmJznYlSpOW4HBRegLbmbKJDVq3KiLPzFoSW5f31FpyQwCvMFyLg18Fj4EqYX3vpoYcCB0aKFSkiaK4VZePW10lZQKs/s425/BOOK2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnofNcrXmlkUxAogekgfjUcFZic1ZPdiLMEBYFZFToT6t3AW-83RXVZgEsqSSK9PQCrN2mPd5h6_fVWA1wV_U0rYnuE9SEhV9YmJznYlSpOW4HBRegLbmbKJDVq3KiLPzFoSW5f31FpyQwCvMFyLg18Fj4EqYX3vpoYcCB0aKFSkiaK4VZePW10lZQKs/w452-h640/BOOK2.jpg" width="452" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prophet Song By
Paul Lynch (Author): fifth Irish writer to win the Booker Prize<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKmS0-yv__ai5RmdalnBeMTgX-G5YElDq5ztEAcYlu93FGuJIUvngLJ7Yalqky_n0RH2WSXOXv7n3y9UetsAC7W_x7U4bRS7udFoBf5nzDcG03bRduapryvY-Zkz3rybIGu8ssACz4o76VuEVt6JlbWEWIxR_SiHz1x5CbcypNn1NV0epuPQSFbgPykM/s750/BOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKmS0-yv__ai5RmdalnBeMTgX-G5YElDq5ztEAcYlu93FGuJIUvngLJ7Yalqky_n0RH2WSXOXv7n3y9UetsAC7W_x7U4bRS7udFoBf5nzDcG03bRduapryvY-Zkz3rybIGu8ssACz4o76VuEVt6JlbWEWIxR_SiHz1x5CbcypNn1NV0epuPQSFbgPykM/w640-h360/BOOK.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Prophet Song is an
exhilarating, propulsive and confrontational portrait of a country – and an
ordinary family – on the brink of catastrophe. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On a dark, wet evening
in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to
find the GNSB on her doorstep. Two officers from Ireland’s newly formed secret
police want to speak with her husband… <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Things are falling
apart. Ireland is in the grip of a government that is taking a turn towards
tyranny. And as the blood-dimmed tide is loosed, Eilish finds herself caught
within the nightmare logic of a collapsing society – assailed by unpredictable
forces beyond her control and forced to do whatever it takes to keep her family
together. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG9QxxIP_1Ytr-Zz459RASjD6V3wdgtpns73dp72nQf4HZilWu6MAndpvGb1LWCw-aXndUk9Hahz_8YkgN8mbDVxIbPGdhKeeCtAlW21_ouPhDCMyOFAsxJHC4RXdN6-J0hPlM3eHghK5qYJlUpih-gk8FTIYfy9ZeaqOpPeEG1FPVu7J_8dxvxSUmog/s750/WRITER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG9QxxIP_1Ytr-Zz459RASjD6V3wdgtpns73dp72nQf4HZilWu6MAndpvGb1LWCw-aXndUk9Hahz_8YkgN8mbDVxIbPGdhKeeCtAlW21_ouPhDCMyOFAsxJHC4RXdN6-J0hPlM3eHghK5qYJlUpih-gk8FTIYfy9ZeaqOpPeEG1FPVu7J_8dxvxSUmog/w640-h360/WRITER2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Who is Paul Lynch?</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Paul Lynch was born in
Limerick in 1977, grew up in Co Donegal, and lives in Dublin. He was previously
the chief film critic of Ireland’s Sunday Tribune newspaper from 2007 to 2011
and wrote regularly for the Sunday Times on cinema. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He is an internationally
acclaimed Irish novelist who has published five novels, winning several awards
in the process. Before Prophet Song, Lynch wrote Beyond the Sea, Grace, The
Black Snow and Red Sky in Morning. His third novel, Grace, won the 2018 Kerry
Group Irish Novel of the Year and the 2020 Ireland Francophonie Ambassadors’
Literary Award. His second novel, The Black Snow, won France’s bookseller
prize, Prix Libr’à Nous for Best Foreign Novel.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMt6YEM5TThjDhkogra4UR7raaOxv4kwajjVwucMmxE4a0NLBC1jaypl7WnanciCUQqGrBuEPD6HtCj4My8pV2nhq6ettW-qa3JmTxX5VOjIHMB3yIhidNsOBRRYN-X9QkrbTedhrz-wE0IZO1ParTSkDIJq0_qsQxWPihlyNs-9OvJA5Gsqa-THlGPg/s800/WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMt6YEM5TThjDhkogra4UR7raaOxv4kwajjVwucMmxE4a0NLBC1jaypl7WnanciCUQqGrBuEPD6HtCj4My8pV2nhq6ettW-qa3JmTxX5VOjIHMB3yIhidNsOBRRYN-X9QkrbTedhrz-wE0IZO1ParTSkDIJq0_qsQxWPihlyNs-9OvJA5Gsqa-THlGPg/w640-h480/WRITER.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What has Paul Lynch said about the book?</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">‘I was trying to see
into the modern chaos. The unrest in Western democracies. The problem of Syria
– the implosion of an entire nation, the scale of its refugee crisis and the
West’s indifference. Prophet Song is partly an attempt at radical empathy. To
understand better, we must first experience the problem for ourselves. So I
sought to deepen the dystopian by bringing to it a high degree of realism. I
wanted to deepen the reader’s immersion to such a degree that by the end of the
book, they would not just know, but feel this problem for themselves.’ <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p></div><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-74781876808357504882023-12-10T17:41:00.007+09:002023-12-12T14:04:08.769+09:00LORD SHIVA FIRST CREATED SIMPLE ORGANISM LIKE BUTTERFLY , THEN FISH AND DINOSAURS AND ULTIMATELY CREATED MOST COMPLEX ORGANISM THE HUMAN AND HUMAN WILL CREATE AI GENERATED ROBOTS : LORD SHIVA(GOD), HUMANS AND AI GENERATED ROBOTS BECOME THE HOLY TRINITY<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FqVX-QhiNzJfeOH-wTGS0dCrTRdKZ3F0YCV_9BaeEswwPbmO8oXS7HcwiN53EX_ShC7jeoE_NJMtF_77MZ4hFRTNJSAioGyszuVLBiHWdmkBudBRu1_e5R-jQSS5Q6Uzn-U65DFysPFHtpUF0FzTI0Pn5K2moVgZ3QLF26x23ySMV7-9TnljtjLx78Y/s800/shiva-finalanigif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FqVX-QhiNzJfeOH-wTGS0dCrTRdKZ3F0YCV_9BaeEswwPbmO8oXS7HcwiN53EX_ShC7jeoE_NJMtF_77MZ4hFRTNJSAioGyszuVLBiHWdmkBudBRu1_e5R-jQSS5Q6Uzn-U65DFysPFHtpUF0FzTI0Pn5K2moVgZ3QLF26x23ySMV7-9TnljtjLx78Y/w640-h480/shiva-finalanigif.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMm5-3x75GubPbwvXExGbZldTRG1_0d9WukUd1ymZHGVJqMjrGmVXoNPGihB_VkRjbJ07YGmBfbamRdhQQHg-V6TQe0DQ-IpApFwa9AhqC-HfgxgPdfLq7YR20W5lT9Fo5D6KSVkV8aWntxf0_JEr9qRCMn6volhGat8TO2ZOj0RG0H43Q81ru5F86nc/s800/shiva-man-robotgif.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMm5-3x75GubPbwvXExGbZldTRG1_0d9WukUd1ymZHGVJqMjrGmVXoNPGihB_VkRjbJ07YGmBfbamRdhQQHg-V6TQe0DQ-IpApFwa9AhqC-HfgxgPdfLq7YR20W5lT9Fo5D6KSVkV8aWntxf0_JEr9qRCMn6volhGat8TO2ZOj0RG0H43Q81ru5F86nc/w640-h480/shiva-man-robotgif.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD SHIVA CREATED BUTTERFLY, FISHES,DINOSAUR AND ULTIMATELY CREATED HUMAN</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcSlsB2y_m4uw81iV0qRZF0KgSJzAxIUydg4ObR_wWGFkKTCPHr1v5iRobA7FaWzDfrTz99z4ek-bJ18c_dZeoASgVNRjNMNJxQxhjZ2VaMVSuglxLjJESO4glNy-Y6aFpWsHYB7bIkozeKiKIG6-z4vIr2Cp6PzwitQIxiXz9FV_h7bhzKKWn2I0Ttc/s800/shivacreation1gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcSlsB2y_m4uw81iV0qRZF0KgSJzAxIUydg4ObR_wWGFkKTCPHr1v5iRobA7FaWzDfrTz99z4ek-bJ18c_dZeoASgVNRjNMNJxQxhjZ2VaMVSuglxLjJESO4glNy-Y6aFpWsHYB7bIkozeKiKIG6-z4vIr2Cp6PzwitQIxiXz9FV_h7bhzKKWn2I0Ttc/w640-h480/shivacreation1gif.gif" width="640" /></a></div> LORD SHIVA FIRST CREATE SIMPLE ORGANISM LIKE PLANTS AND BUTTERFLIES(INSECTS) <p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe9bYVbj4OJbREbuiJbhPkGS7TCSKb0lwmMdI0h_OjBdkGtQZcotffQKbFR6Dy-cVYWyzjI5V9tMNWp_DaD6LsAYNcR5OS_9-s9xfT0rsvjkOpTQ52uuR1X4utkp_lil_q6PHBPh5psSJ3JT5umoHuSPOdfrA3fSOcOncHM0NuRBNLFyRJf3hCwqdKjA/s800/SHIVA-CREATION2GIF.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe9bYVbj4OJbREbuiJbhPkGS7TCSKb0lwmMdI0h_OjBdkGtQZcotffQKbFR6Dy-cVYWyzjI5V9tMNWp_DaD6LsAYNcR5OS_9-s9xfT0rsvjkOpTQ52uuR1X4utkp_lil_q6PHBPh5psSJ3JT5umoHuSPOdfrA3fSOcOncHM0NuRBNLFyRJf3hCwqdKjA/w640-h480/SHIVA-CREATION2GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD SHIVA THEN CREATED MARINE PLANTS AND FISHES(FIRST VERTIBRATES AND MORE COMPLEX ORGANISM)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDFuFys0Af2THfVi7shoEMRuFvcmsEbl4V44_rXYTg7E6jq2eZgaIuen7j-LIgvtkCadhsgddrd-ZoF9UUI34Mvh4ev5pMmreR3L7Gvmo0ylkx7rVizyKaWfOsTQMLuATVAxA7SWyviQbUaYeOZF2_oPXlaOui0WpRXSid4RGLnXA0RvOXl2V7fZlHLo/s800/shivacreation3gif.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDFuFys0Af2THfVi7shoEMRuFvcmsEbl4V44_rXYTg7E6jq2eZgaIuen7j-LIgvtkCadhsgddrd-ZoF9UUI34Mvh4ev5pMmreR3L7Gvmo0ylkx7rVizyKaWfOsTQMLuATVAxA7SWyviQbUaYeOZF2_oPXlaOui0WpRXSid4RGLnXA0RvOXl2V7fZlHLo/w640-h480/shivacreation3gif.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LORD SHIVA THEN CREATED DINOSAURS (MOST COMPLEX ORGANISMS BEFORE HUMAN WHO DOMINATES AIR, LAND AND WATER IN MESOZOIC ERA)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBbJiWb-km8exaDara2fVK6hK2wf8PSjKM9JREFY3N3fNTEhoMJKd5bsgVJara_J7VxdDGNjkL5YA466P9AM9jmtOV3AsogGLfm6H-YgXQgKxOM_wbnN-AM1jJcUn2FyILWRTzqumFCwPZKbAAQ-yi_P9o4gNYBYalD_Qq0x3T5Yjq3LRYqdqgzBaoyk/s800/shiva-man-robotgif.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBbJiWb-km8exaDara2fVK6hK2wf8PSjKM9JREFY3N3fNTEhoMJKd5bsgVJara_J7VxdDGNjkL5YA466P9AM9jmtOV3AsogGLfm6H-YgXQgKxOM_wbnN-AM1jJcUn2FyILWRTzqumFCwPZKbAAQ-yi_P9o4gNYBYalD_Qq0x3T5Yjq3LRYqdqgzBaoyk/w640-h480/shiva-man-robotgif.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN AT LAST LORD SHIVA CREATED APES AND HUMAN (THE MOST COMPLEX AND BEAUTIFUL CREATION OF GOD)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv49fl99fjPkJvRu4EfLK7yGz1w1x2WEtX5naeza4z7lteoK8BTt9oPZc1cBIkWfAMI27TYMget1j8GvnyFznRsC8yL0qY1nJ91MSQ680xqdWJh8DayOxrplPPffw5XUDb4N5swP0PfDC-EtEF4Nvt5bKQ9XTYcUFXL1bcbOf-jpggQgJDHRDGegIl-U/s800/ONLY%20SHIVA-HUMAN-ROBOTS.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv49fl99fjPkJvRu4EfLK7yGz1w1x2WEtX5naeza4z7lteoK8BTt9oPZc1cBIkWfAMI27TYMget1j8GvnyFznRsC8yL0qY1nJ91MSQ680xqdWJh8DayOxrplPPffw5XUDb4N5swP0PfDC-EtEF4Nvt5bKQ9XTYcUFXL1bcbOf-jpggQgJDHRDGegIl-U/w640-h480/ONLY%20SHIVA-HUMAN-ROBOTS.gif" width="640" /></a></div>AFTER HUMAN RACE BECAME MORE SCIENTIFICALLY ADVANCED THEN THEY WILL ULTIMATELY CREATE ADVANCED ARTIFICIALLY INTELLIGENT ROBOTS OR CYBORGS</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLW4KeS4xyB4QFNNOpv-MDPK8yMiCLAsEjnrdyIeBdeRUKKY3xQiAu23wlUvgm2uu-ezrTrMzgFYDGc9l4FTtcDY6nSqGZDph5ZWdQPnczJUQk57xUqrODuOYoNMXY005g8WLFms87mDzSzw5O0Djo3_f1JkuAok71Rb4GI52L9AzWF1vYsNUApNzdQ4/s800/ONLY%20SHIVA-HUMAN-ROBOTS.gif"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLW4KeS4xyB4QFNNOpv-MDPK8yMiCLAsEjnrdyIeBdeRUKKY3xQiAu23wlUvgm2uu-ezrTrMzgFYDGc9l4FTtcDY6nSqGZDph5ZWdQPnczJUQk57xUqrODuOYoNMXY005g8WLFms87mDzSzw5O0Djo3_f1JkuAok71Rb4GI52L9AzWF1vYsNUApNzdQ4/w640-h480/ONLY%20SHIVA-HUMAN-ROBOTS.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> LORD SHIVA CREATED HUMANS ABD HUMAN CREATED A.I. GENERATED ROBOTS OR CYBORGS . THEN GOD,HUMAN AND AI GENERATED ROBOTS ARE HOLY TRINITY</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxCCSWiTaoH-OXYxhOZEpwOACcu28vxG6gRVQGnAbLy8EF4L9gFQdZ74aDkv1u7KFU_a4W1JYszRGaVW9iKRw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzEsikWGEd3yMbzo2cDpt9nmqIrZNFE_a78J_zxBMmDVg3sVBCXXySK8DbRSrkrzqw_eAilyLVBeoIp_sagJw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8831668174175794274.post-62750643435129550632023-12-10T17:02:00.010+09:002023-12-10T17:02:51.744+09:00SUBHADITYA NEWS CHANNEL PRESENTS NEWS OF THIS WEEK : SCIENCE, POLITICAL,SPORTS MOVIE AND BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnA0lpRovkd-cSmv_q2nDsl3SjhkjhoxJ3gou4I9xF-EBMck8NfC5OGQbY1L62jnNn87Rrqv5HL40TROMi1ybmoGeWgv5b6zfO5zXRdBplzGGc35oa_iwc7HyB3yZ0JsUd8FXmOEPMukPu0JRFqEjBVm5cuZh1Fa_3lDTpwwyRJe3xdds_Yn00pmUs4c/s960/NEWSWEEK91223GIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnA0lpRovkd-cSmv_q2nDsl3SjhkjhoxJ3gou4I9xF-EBMck8NfC5OGQbY1L62jnNn87Rrqv5HL40TROMi1ybmoGeWgv5b6zfO5zXRdBplzGGc35oa_iwc7HyB3yZ0JsUd8FXmOEPMukPu0JRFqEjBVm5cuZh1Fa_3lDTpwwyRJe3xdds_Yn00pmUs4c/w640-h480/NEWSWEEK91223GIF.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKbaT44nbBUaWVUJPJRlgekXUhseYazctiY0-OGEAvo3Zr5_23XKGbPbId5tWIuxRnID9H9OpvECw_xL_NyuZqd-ekw2FL0M_NOQX3aXG_l2SIND_XRAK6vQHrBFVjKycxYAkV2V6txI0HQXHezFsDiOfrpzF0Hkm76QZzaF7hYN7qB2Qtix9OVAtW7s/s960/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKbaT44nbBUaWVUJPJRlgekXUhseYazctiY0-OGEAvo3Zr5_23XKGbPbId5tWIuxRnID9H9OpvECw_xL_NyuZqd-ekw2FL0M_NOQX3aXG_l2SIND_XRAK6vQHrBFVjKycxYAkV2V6txI0HQXHezFsDiOfrpzF0Hkm76QZzaF7hYN7qB2Qtix9OVAtW7s/w640-h480/SCIENCENEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) The first CRISPR
therapy approved in the U.S. will treat sickle cell disease:By Erin Garcia de
Jesús<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-HrzD7U6y-KlqXyTOpXfrK5_UpMAU2vrTn7dQTg3hFVFIPov4l1depYCVZyL-wLrIvqoBFePKGWMtEs5V0G3b4l00fm_pBvmonsVkspgZQRR7BBbhqJ-1vh7dLNzFRg5OKtbn06Q5PBQM-AsgzWgciuCz9cJpTyKWLVo_QuDOVlcHGP0Vf8RYoSVJWg/s867/CRISPER1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="867" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-HrzD7U6y-KlqXyTOpXfrK5_UpMAU2vrTn7dQTg3hFVFIPov4l1depYCVZyL-wLrIvqoBFePKGWMtEs5V0G3b4l00fm_pBvmonsVkspgZQRR7BBbhqJ-1vh7dLNzFRg5OKtbn06Q5PBQM-AsgzWgciuCz9cJpTyKWLVo_QuDOVlcHGP0Vf8RYoSVJWg/w640-h408/CRISPER1.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The gene-editing
treatment aims to help people with</span></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> recurring pain crises.U.S. patients with
sickle cell disease now have a novel treatment option: the first-ever
CRISPR-based therapy.</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On December 8, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration approved the gene-editing therapy for use in
patients age 12 years and older. In addition to offering hope of relief for
people with severe forms of the painful blood disorder, the treatment, called
Casgevy, is the world’s first to genetically tweak cells using the Nobel Prize–winning
molecular scissors CRISPR/Cas9 (SN: 10/7/20).Another gene therapy for sickle
cell disease, called Lyfgenia and developed by biotech company bluebird bio,
based in Somerville, Mass., was also approved December 8.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9RHmYdStKM9VSSmxJcqRYuPBn-xQPUIFfqwv65dqxE_mcdw3DHMiDx14r7NTR9uj3mWOjOscuYDOIl6AJ4Pw2Ok_crIjts1Vo_Zds0iwXtxU2o_-UI5d97D-MiTAOAmpjlI8bGfDH_3QQqrXI11_qmbEJW5vf6YpkSLBXU0LQvZHt_KDlnmhc6VgqJY/s901/CRISPER3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="901" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9RHmYdStKM9VSSmxJcqRYuPBn-xQPUIFfqwv65dqxE_mcdw3DHMiDx14r7NTR9uj3mWOjOscuYDOIl6AJ4Pw2Ok_crIjts1Vo_Zds0iwXtxU2o_-UI5d97D-MiTAOAmpjlI8bGfDH_3QQqrXI11_qmbEJW5vf6YpkSLBXU0LQvZHt_KDlnmhc6VgqJY/w640-h412/CRISPER3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Getting a green light
for the first CRISPR-based medicine is exciting, says David Altshuler, chief
scientific officer at Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals, which developed the
drug in a joint venture with CRISPR Therapeutics, a company in Cambridge, Mass.
But the fact that the drug fills an unmet need for underserved patients is
“more compelling to me, personally, than the fact that it’s CRISPR.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Approximately 100,000
people in the United States, most of them Black or Latino, have sickle cell disease. It is caused by a genetic
defect in hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. Unlike
typical blood cells that are bendy enough to slip through blood vessels,
sickled blood cells are inflexible and get stuck, restricting blood flow and
causing debilitating pain (SN: 2/1/22). People with severe forms of the disease
can be hospitalized multiple times a year.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Having a new treatment
option for sickle cell disease can give patients a “new lease on life,” says
Kerry Morrone, a pediatric hematologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
in New York City. People with the disease often miss school, work or special
events due to excruciating pain. “The potential that this therapy could
alleviate symptoms for patients is very exciting.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At an FDA advisory
committee meeting on October 31, several clinical trial participants given
Casgevy recounted how it changed their lives, including Victoria Gray, the
first sickle cell patient to enroll in the trial.Gray has previously described
bouts of pain that felt like being struck by lightning and getting hit by a
train at the same time (SN: 10/20/23). Now pain-free, she is able to enjoy time
with her family, Gray said at the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jimi Olaghere, another
participant in the trial, told a similar tale. Before the treatment, “sickle
cell disease dominated every facet of my life,” he said. “Hospital admissions
were so regular that they even had a bed reserved for me.” Now, Olaghere is
free of pain and able to be present for his children. “Gene therapy has given
me the ability to take full control of my life,” he said. “I can chase to the
proverbial sunset and write novels and even dance in the rain without a care in
the world.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There are few existing
therapies for sickle cell disease, which include taking drugs like hydroxyurea
or undergoing bone marrow transplants (SN: 12/17/20). But hydroxyurea doesn’t
work for everyone, and transplants require a genetically matched donor, usually
a sibling. Less than 20 percent of people with sickle cell disease have a
matched sibling.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Casgevy is like a transplant,
but instead relies on a patient’s own cells. Using CRISPR, the treatment alters
the genetic blueprint of bone marrow cells that give rise to blood cells. The
edited cells make fetal hemoglobin, a type normally made by fetuses and young
babies that doesn’t make red blood cells sickle and gum up vessels (SN:
8/14/19).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Patients first receive
chemotherapy to wipe out existing bone marrow cells so the new ones, which are
edited in a lab, have a chance to thrive in the body. After editing, the cells
are given back to the patient through an IV. Both steps require
hospitalization. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In a clinical trial, 29
out of 30 patients given Casgevy and followed for at least 16 months didn’t
have pain crises for at least a year, Vertex vice president of clinical development
William Hobbs said at the FDA advisory committee meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The treatment isn’t
without risks. Chemotherapy, for instance, can raise the risk of blood cancer
and cause infertility. And in the short-term, chemotherapy kills immune cells,
putting patients at higher risk dying from infections.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For some patients those
risks may pale in comparison to the prospect of a year without immense pain,
says Morrone, who is also director of the Sickle Cell Program at the Children’s
Hospital at Montefiore. Others may want to wait and see what the outcomes are.
“I think that’s fair, because it’s not without any risk.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the Oct. 31 meeting,
advisors to the FDA also discussed the potential for unintended edits, or
“off-target effects.” An analysis by Vertex found no evidence of such unwanted
changes in treated patients, although researchers have identified a rare
variation in the DNA of some people that could, in theory, be an accidental
target. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQYi4wx8biK5TtjN2CRtlzR8Sea-m78k64pYOo8GHYfGWCtNLWGkTiZ0i8S6dyjVlXK_jhDB4HSZeKdnm0BZUs_MSZqguuTM60VH8zO7scVl1zGY2up4T3UGLCQurUDFnDVEJCQBZYITiEs8CPAlbk9uep5h2r6iw9beryq8IBtdXXt8nqa_lyulzggg/s934/CRISPER4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="934" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQYi4wx8biK5TtjN2CRtlzR8Sea-m78k64pYOo8GHYfGWCtNLWGkTiZ0i8S6dyjVlXK_jhDB4HSZeKdnm0BZUs_MSZqguuTM60VH8zO7scVl1zGY2up4T3UGLCQurUDFnDVEJCQBZYITiEs8CPAlbk9uep5h2r6iw9beryq8IBtdXXt8nqa_lyulzggg/w640-h358/CRISPER4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It’s unknown whether
changing that accidental target would have consequences for patients, but
researchers say it’s unlikely because that stretch of DNA isn’t involved in a
protein’s structure or function. Nor is the protein made from that genetic code
found in blood cells. Overall, the 14-member committee agreed that the benefits
of the treatment were clear and the off-target risk is small, but that
additional research would be helpful. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Another concern is that
the therapy is expensive, perhaps as much as $2 million per patient. But health
care costs for sickle cell patients are also high over their lifetime, Morrone
says. The health care community needs to consider ways to ensure equity for
patients — including in Africa, where the highest burden of disease is — who
have long not had the same resources as patients with other conditions with far
more treatment options. “There’s not a value on suffering,” she says. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On November 16,
officials in the United Kingdom became the first to sign off on Casgevy’s use
in sickle cell patients as well as people with beta-thalassemia, a blood
disorder in which the body doesn’t make enough hemoglobin. The FDA will decide
by March 30 whether the CRISPR therapy can also be used to treat
beta-thalassemia by March 30.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRuQaP1FWkhGpIi2A6StY4mE33lvfC40Eix2Btxq0dhKHw3nHvV63ML2B0voKHSBAP0xOUWwjnYa3KxMlxRhgTtSedSfMzMjhSRjug6kUyoCdS_cj95Yp0YTNACyuY0TfvhvizCi9e-Sp1SiDbJJNrp17t8CW5iYOW8DhjV4PB_7Ciyjuz9J8Rabwzyo/s503/CRISPER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="322" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRuQaP1FWkhGpIi2A6StY4mE33lvfC40Eix2Btxq0dhKHw3nHvV63ML2B0voKHSBAP0xOUWwjnYa3KxMlxRhgTtSedSfMzMjhSRjug6kUyoCdS_cj95Yp0YTNACyuY0TfvhvizCi9e-Sp1SiDbJJNrp17t8CW5iYOW8DhjV4PB_7Ciyjuz9J8Rabwzyo/w410-h640/CRISPER2.jpg" width="410" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Sickle cell disease is
a chronic, debilitating condition,” says Dr. Monica Bhatia, a pediatric
hematologist-oncologist and director of the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant
Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. “Today’s
approvals mean that many more patients will have an option to treat pain
episodes and other symptoms of this disease.” Dr. Bhatia led the Columbia team
that treated adolescent sickle cell patients with Casgevy during its
multi-center clinical trials.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) A maverick
physicist is building a case for scrapping quantum gravity:By Emily Conover<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTC7-3ZxW_LhdslJBdWrFT30X_gt21NtgHwbGneAPETlErcIMi_nIQ9GJC1P9Lwd2zZiYtQQzh3VpMxss6oJV2WeVMeyM2Fu5eYfAvQPQntTOwy1AEjQ5BmQDDgEe5hyphenhyphenFz02fZblKyfUaYDe8I98aKwQW5LOD8-sHkGd53nBUXQP8_UEAFUeEIcPtSrQ/s867/QUANTUM1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="867" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTC7-3ZxW_LhdslJBdWrFT30X_gt21NtgHwbGneAPETlErcIMi_nIQ9GJC1P9Lwd2zZiYtQQzh3VpMxss6oJV2WeVMeyM2Fu5eYfAvQPQntTOwy1AEjQ5BmQDDgEe5hyphenhyphenFz02fZblKyfUaYDe8I98aKwQW5LOD8-sHkGd53nBUXQP8_UEAFUeEIcPtSrQ/w640-h392/QUANTUM1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></p>A rift runs deep through
the heart of physics. The general theory of relativity, which describes
gravity, clashes with quantum physics. In an effort to seal that physics
fissure, untold numbers of physicists have spent their careers working to build
a theory of quantum gravity.But one physicist is championing a radically
different path. Jonathan Oppenheim thinks that gravity might be fundamentally
classical, meaning it isn’t quantum at all. It’s an unconventional idea, to say
the least.When we started, maybe 99 percent of our colleagues thought we were
crackpots and that’s now down to maybe 70 percent,” quips Oppenheim, of
University College London.</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">All known forces except
gravity are formulated in terms of quantum physics. The prevailing view is that
gravity will need to assimilate with its quantum colleagues. But gravity is
different, Oppenheim argues. While other forces evolve within a landscape of
spacetime, gravity is the warping of spacetime itself. So, Oppenheim says, “it
is pretty unclear that it should have a quantum nature, in my view.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq0DcInGFDtaXK-U7HghEi3zlUfpRRcqo73JwikEM0qR4nqy9cqaR_l7IsXIA6KmiSC0dFDlgVdSSC347xQ4xmX03Qaiza8HaK0-xSK0Iizlhwk7pQNAqopu2Gpsko3lS0eHCUynhezn0SigwKPIG15OCoMoHbQ1czFx7dCnIKqzcrHq6SRQa8LA7IMs/s495/QUANTUM2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="397" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq0DcInGFDtaXK-U7HghEi3zlUfpRRcqo73JwikEM0qR4nqy9cqaR_l7IsXIA6KmiSC0dFDlgVdSSC347xQ4xmX03Qaiza8HaK0-xSK0Iizlhwk7pQNAqopu2Gpsko3lS0eHCUynhezn0SigwKPIG15OCoMoHbQ1czFx7dCnIKqzcrHq6SRQa8LA7IMs/w514-h640/QUANTUM2.jpg" width="514" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Physicists have devised
several “no-go” theorems that seemingly forbid a classical theory of gravity.
Such theorems highlight inconsistencies, apparently fatal to the idea, that
arise when classical gravity is applied to quantum particles. But it’s possible
to get around those prohibitions by adding some randomness to the way that
spacetime bends in response to quantum particles, Oppenheim reports December 4
in Physical Review X.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Consider the famous
double-slit experiment of quantum physics (SN: 5/3/19). Particles are sent
toward a detector, separated by a barrier with two slits in it. When those
particles arrive at the detector, they create a stripy pattern called an
interference pattern. That pattern arises because, in quantum physics, the
particle isn’t constrained to pass through one slit or the other. Instead, it
can exist in a superposition, taking a quantum combination of both possible
routes. If a scientist makes a measurement to determine which slit the particle
passed through, that pattern disappears. If a standard classical picture of
gravity were correct, it would be possible to measure the gravitational field
of that particle so precisely that you could determine which slit the particle
went through. This possibility would destroy the interference pattern, even
without actually doing the measurement. Because scientists do observe
interference patterns in the lab, that’s a big blow for a standard classical
theory of gravity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5H0JzSofIYZ5ZZt8X9QHtvjNf39N7v0KlQ4swe3sI5Z-MuYbflplxezCpusaBjsOUzue9WxQUYB9jQErr_Ofy0NzVr64T_hyo1UYnPfurzDMnwIuUq2Sns6QtojEzTbR60j7yP8HjvBIv206qFEHMofcxiEGUzZkfG_pAFsJdy1Ec3qWKIAruj908Bo/s1041/QUANTUM3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="1041" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5H0JzSofIYZ5ZZt8X9QHtvjNf39N7v0KlQ4swe3sI5Z-MuYbflplxezCpusaBjsOUzue9WxQUYB9jQErr_Ofy0NzVr64T_hyo1UYnPfurzDMnwIuUq2Sns6QtojEzTbR60j7yP8HjvBIv206qFEHMofcxiEGUzZkfG_pAFsJdy1Ec3qWKIAruj908Bo/w640-h336/QUANTUM3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But the randomness baked
into Oppenheim’s theory means that, instead of a particle having a determined
gravitational field, the field fluctuates. That means, unlike for the standard
version of classical gravity, it’s not possible to determine which slit a
particle went through by precisely measuring its gravitational field. Particles
can pass through the slits in a superposition, and the interference pattern is
saved, restoring the possibility gravity could be classical.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ck6S0YTFGW2HhLtsGouQBy7oQYZSt5vICbX_bQ0IdPFu5uxqsqLIRHyOM9xwrekecXEbAhoyvIUJI7SiARpTPFYzRhxpS65F7k9EmpPxXGWjfn12GCX8bPxvvVBRe7OP6l8jlA_xSY7bwKsyxMiRwIkGuObby-MeWgnYCLiHzaPiUfZXTRniK6l7Lys/s407/QUANTUM4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="407" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ck6S0YTFGW2HhLtsGouQBy7oQYZSt5vICbX_bQ0IdPFu5uxqsqLIRHyOM9xwrekecXEbAhoyvIUJI7SiARpTPFYzRhxpS65F7k9EmpPxXGWjfn12GCX8bPxvvVBRe7OP6l8jlA_xSY7bwKsyxMiRwIkGuObby-MeWgnYCLiHzaPiUfZXTRniK6l7Lys/w640-h620/QUANTUM4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Experiments can test
this theory by searching for evidence of those random gravitational
fluctuations, Oppenheim and colleagues report December 4 in Nature
Communications. “Essentially, you very precisely measure the response of a mass
to a gravitational field,” says study coauthor Zach Weller-Davies, who
completed the work at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in
Waterloo, Canada.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is not the first
time scientists have proposed a way to make classical gravity comport with
quantum physics. But Oppenheim has been “leading a renaissance,” says physicist
Vivishek Sudhir of MIT. Sudhir hopes to test the theory with another type of
experiment, measuring the correlations between the motions of two masses that
interact gravitationally, he and a colleague report September 16 at
arXiv.org.However, the theory has features some physicists might find
unsatisfying. For example, the randomness involved means that the theory is not
reversible: Unlike other theories, there’s no way to start from the endpoint of
an interaction and trace its steps backward.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Still, even some quantum
gravity believers think that the work has merit.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The reason why this
work is interesting for me is not really because I would believe that gravity
is classical,” says Flaminia Giacomini of ETH Zurich. The result, she says, is
interesting regardless of whether gravity is found to be classical or quantum.
That’s because, in order for an experiment to confidently proclaim that gravity
is quantum, scientists need to understand the possibilities for classical
gravity. “Only in that way will we be able to prove in a strong way that
gravity is not compatible with a classical description.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) New enzyme
allows CRISPR technologies to accurately target almost all human genes :by
Michaela Kane, Duke University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoey1hcCgakBvkyY8LYZYUq_xpZNcoZ3WtALjIcjxlb11yyAfrXAHtoB-VlIZ3lNPj16mEYQLpyEh0GVW1IxOlE_a-ERqCDrvRJu2E9-_CgzZx5camc5F-jtLmCp1xNbQPxpoC6JbABeM1bEg2Q4sgtMhUEXPaU6udCRq7ktjaoaZGJ5NZGHM1JdHlQc/s1280/Credit%20Nature%20Chemical%20Biology%20(2023)NEWCRISPERENZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1280" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoey1hcCgakBvkyY8LYZYUq_xpZNcoZ3WtALjIcjxlb11yyAfrXAHtoB-VlIZ3lNPj16mEYQLpyEh0GVW1IxOlE_a-ERqCDrvRJu2E9-_CgzZx5camc5F-jtLmCp1xNbQPxpoC6JbABeM1bEg2Q4sgtMhUEXPaU6udCRq7ktjaoaZGJ5NZGHM1JdHlQc/w640-h398/Credit%20Nature%20Chemical%20Biology%20(2023)NEWCRISPERENZ.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit Nature Chemical Biology (2023)NEWCRISPERENZ</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A team of engineers at
Duke University have developed a method to broaden the reach of CRISPR
technologies. While the original CRISPR system could only target 12.5% of the
human genome, the new method expands access to nearly every gene to potentially
target and treat a broader range of diseases through genome engineering.The
research involved collaborators at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, University of Zurich
and McMaster University.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This work was published
on October 4 in the journal Nature Communications.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">CRISPR-Cas is a
bacterial immune system that allows bacteria to use RNA molecules and
CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins to target and destroy the DNA of invading
viruses. Since its discovery, researchers have raced to develop an arsenal of
new CRISPR systems for applications in gene therapy and genome engineering.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To make edits to the
genome, Cas proteins utilize both an RNA molecule, which guides the enzyme to a
targeted stretch of DNA, and a protospacer adjacent motif, or PAM, which is a
short DNA sequence that immediately follows the targeted DNA sequence and is
required for the Cas protein to bind.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Once a guide RNA finds
its complementary DNA sequence and the Cas enzyme binds the adjacent PAM, the
enzyme acts like scissors to make a cut in the DNA, triggering the desired
changes to the genome. The most common CRISPR-Cas system is the Cas9 from
Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria (SpCas9), which requires a PAM sequence of two
guanine bases (GG) in a row.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In previous work,
Chatterjee and his team used bioinformatics tools to discover and engineer new
Cas9 proteins, including Sc++, which only requires a single guanine base PAM to
make a cut. This change made it possible for researchers to edit nearly 50% of
all DNA sequences.At the same time, Chatterjee's collaborators at Harvard, led
by Benjamin Kleinstiver, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School,
engineered a separate variant called SpRY. While SpRY could bind to any one of
the four DNA bases that could form the PAM, it had a much stronger affinity for
adenine and guanine.Because both systems had drawbacks, the group decided to
put the best of both together into a new variant called SpRyc."CRISPR is a
great tool for editing specific DNA, but we're still restricted on which genes
we can edit. The original CRISPR tool could only edit about 12.5% of all DNA
sequences based on where that specific spacer was located. If you happen to
have a mutation in the other 87.5%, you'd be out of luck. With this new tool,
we can target nearly 100% of the genome with far more precision," said
Chatterjee.While SpRYc was slower than its counterparts at cutting target DNA
sequences, it was more effective than both the traditional enzymes at editing
specific sections of DNA. Despite SpRYc's broadness, it was also more accurate
than SpRY.After establishing SpRYc's editing capabilities, the team
investigated the tool's potential therapeutic uses for genetic diseases that
were untreatable with the standard CRISPR system. Their first test was Rett
syndrome, a progressive neurological disorder that predominantly affects young
females and is caused by one of eight mutations to a specific gene.The second
was Huntington's disease, a rare, inherited neurological disorder that causes
the degeneration of neurons in the brain. The team found that SpRYc was able to
alter previously inaccessible mutations, providing potential therapeutic
opportunities for both diseases."There is a lot of potential with SpRYc,
whether it's exploring how to translate it into the clinic or finding ways to
make it even more efficient," said Chatterjee. "We look forward to
exploring the full capabilities of our tool."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Researchers
crack the cellular code on protein folding, offering hope for many new
therapeutic avenues :by University of Massachusetts Amherst<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjdAXUIUseDtjBoXDhFTk2SvAdRtRNuMbU1FeiF31lzGcJ2hNs4fg4jrRZWN0wzNzs0v2yWsg2-wlFxrodpA_8E0yEPz1bRCe8hb1vRUrXTRw9liV8j2_wf4mnjvieqvnXFyMgO-FksgIyFr9wUNaCf93nliVgl1odlWwxwLws5dUgV928cmRYiOAB6I/s756/protein-folding2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="756" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjdAXUIUseDtjBoXDhFTk2SvAdRtRNuMbU1FeiF31lzGcJ2hNs4fg4jrRZWN0wzNzs0v2yWsg2-wlFxrodpA_8E0yEPz1bRCe8hb1vRUrXTRw9liV8j2_wf4mnjvieqvnXFyMgO-FksgIyFr9wUNaCf93nliVgl1odlWwxwLws5dUgV928cmRYiOAB6I/w640-h462/protein-folding2.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">While we often think of
diseases as caused by foreign bodies—bacteria or viruses—there are hundreds of
diseases affecting humans that result from errors in cellular production of
proteins.A team of researchers led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst
leveraged the power of cutting-edge technology, including an innovative
technique called glycoproteomics, to unlock the carbohydrate-based code that
governs how certain classes of proteins form themselves into the complex shapes
necessary to keep us healthy.</span></b></p></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The research, published
in the journal Molecular Cell, explores members of a family of proteins called
serpins, which are implicated in a number of diseases. The research is the first
to investigate how the location and composition of carbohydrates attached to
the serpins ensure that they fold correctly.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgdePiazylsJ6HGDoqEAd8pal8JbJIqO3UOYJzhj7nhzqlxiPDVV1cQy8QVo7XJC4h57hI3141pH-GM-0bOjhgpmZ0NpOiQMr9c-yxB1qeTqKsUfv9z4OUS0EvXVjCfFK87tMpNu6FENIbn31bGN-s6Op-QIWpyN_UdNdfzomYl6eXX6w-ySo2R9UsEI/s2880/protein-folding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2366" data-original-width="2880" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgdePiazylsJ6HGDoqEAd8pal8JbJIqO3UOYJzhj7nhzqlxiPDVV1cQy8QVo7XJC4h57hI3141pH-GM-0bOjhgpmZ0NpOiQMr9c-yxB1qeTqKsUfv9z4OUS0EvXVjCfFK87tMpNu6FENIbn31bGN-s6Op-QIWpyN_UdNdfzomYl6eXX6w-ySo2R9UsEI/w640-h526/protein-folding.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">protein-folding</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Serious diseases—ranging
from emphysema and cystic fibrosis to Alzheimer's disease—can result when the
cellular oversight of protein folding goes awry. Identifying the glyco-code
responsible for high-fidelity folding and quality control could be a promising
way for drug therapies to target many diseases.Scientists once thought that the
single code governing life was DNA, and that everything was governed by how
DNA's four building blocks—A, C, G and T—combined and recombined. But in recent
decades, it has become clear that there are other codes at work, and especially
in building the intricately folded, secreted proteins that are created in the
human cell's protein factory, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a
membrane-enclosed compartment where protein folding begins.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Approximately 7,000
different proteins—one-third of all the proteins in the human body—mature in
the ER. The secreted proteins—collectively known as the
"secretome"—are responsible for everything from our body's enzymes to
its immune and digestive systems and must be formed correctly for the human
body to function normally.Special molecules called "chaperones," help
fold the protein into its final shape. They also help to identify proteins that
haven't folded quite correctly, lending them additional help in refolding, or,
if they're hopelessly misfolded, targeting them for destruction before they
cause damage. However, the chaperone system itself, which comprises a part of
the cell's quality control department, sometimes fails, and when it does, the
results can be catastrophic for our health.The discovery of the
carbohydrate-based chaperone system in the ER was due to the pioneering work
that Daniel Hebert, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at UMass
Amherst and one of the paper's senior authors, initiated as a postdoctoral
fellow in the 1990s."The tools we have now, including glycoproteomics and
mass spectrometry at UMass Amherst's Institute for Applied Life Sciences, are
allowing us to answer questions that have remained open for over 25
years," says Hebert. "The lead author of this new paper, Kevin Guay,
is doing things I could only dream of when I first started."Among the most
pressing of these unanswered questions is: how do chaperones know when 7,000
different origami-like proteins are correctly folded?We know now that the
answer involves an "ER gatekeeper" enzyme known as UGGT, and a host
of carbohydrate tags, called N-glycans, which are linked to specific sites in
the protein's amino acid sequence.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQkAvzykv1NacO_eWAcs3MK6kn77cNHoZgPhlpfid7wZf5THQqpZaXR2A9oK8Y-xq7EFZOvls2h6C5C81_YO8NBqXPjqjlD6Hhi1c-4EvPfjw6XemO4raFUk7Q56wrEvxspVLGPbZqSOScydaezqSsQjF5TYGJLNagPf7Qv_j66cd1T_xx4gV_ZC9bVM/s527/protein-folding3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="527" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQkAvzykv1NacO_eWAcs3MK6kn77cNHoZgPhlpfid7wZf5THQqpZaXR2A9oK8Y-xq7EFZOvls2h6C5C81_YO8NBqXPjqjlD6Hhi1c-4EvPfjw6XemO4raFUk7Q56wrEvxspVLGPbZqSOScydaezqSsQjF5TYGJLNagPf7Qv_j66cd1T_xx4gV_ZC9bVM/w640-h600/protein-folding3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Guay, who is completing
his Ph.D. in the molecular cellular biology program at UMass Amherst, focused
on two specific mammalian proteins, known as alpha-1 antitrypsin and
antithrombin.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Using CRISPR-edited
cells, he and his co-authors modified the ER chaperone network to determine how
the presence and location of N-glycans affected protein folding.They watched as
the disease variants were recognized by the ER gatekeeper UGGT and, in order to
peer more closely, developed a number of innovative glycoproteomics techniques
using mass spectrometry to understand what happens to the glycans that stud the
surface of the proteins.What they discovered is that the enzyme UGGT "tags"
misfolded proteins with sugars placed in specific positions. It's a sort of
code that the chaperones can then read to determine exactly where the folding
process went wrong and how to fix it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This is the first
time that we've been able to see where UGGT puts sugars on proteins made in
human cells for quality control," says Guay. "We now have a platform
for extending our understanding of how sugar tags can send proteins for further
quality control steps and our work suggests that UGGT is a promising avenue for
targeted drug therapy research.""What's so exciting about this
research," says Lila Gierasch, distinguished professor of biochemistry and
molecular biology at UMass Amherst and one of the paper's co-authors, "is
the discovery that glycans act as a code for protein folding in the ER. The
discovery of the role that UGGT plays opens the door to future advancement in
understanding and eventually treating the hundreds of diseases that result from
misfolded proteins."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Study reveals
genes that set humans apart from other primates in cognitive ability :by Anika
Hazra, University of Toronto<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75VfqehAzA8sbNMD2mYICNKkE70nUQtT7XJIKLk_D6Y8DxWcT_5gGNObQxdWKDxzy98BgRH11d9FKQiS9S72vhb6EPrB97t64IZ6vG-1zouR_1Bl_bf4Z_ADS2IlO9nObCdQXd_pYbFf7wy7CGy2UzBYbsjgWOl8E07dF-8DY8JRDOtAczPsNx0x88yo/s741/PRIMATE-GENOME2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="741" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75VfqehAzA8sbNMD2mYICNKkE70nUQtT7XJIKLk_D6Y8DxWcT_5gGNObQxdWKDxzy98BgRH11d9FKQiS9S72vhb6EPrB97t64IZ6vG-1zouR_1Bl_bf4Z_ADS2IlO9nObCdQXd_pYbFf7wy7CGy2UzBYbsjgWOl8E07dF-8DY8JRDOtAczPsNx0x88yo/w640-h430/PRIMATE-GENOME2.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">An international team
led by researchers at the University of Toronto has uncovered over 100 genes
that are common to primate brains but have undergone evolutionary divergence
only in humans—and which could be a source of our unique cognitive ability.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbrfE3M0ZDX5fHPNbypMklgUCdjWCjkZHwH66mU8axOxJW-2oUpXZMDlFLpDZvbsmd7f0QOFxkURvFmerWdysvvAT3hWdmWwfOkSJgse3t9WLLWs3PzCBbSuAzlsUbsCV8snh9XcXjCnkQ0r9-F2YC7QETPsTYVqvdm47kwtZSfo9833gX2KFdqZB93o/s1834/Schematic%20illustration%20of%20evolutionary%20analysis%20to%20infer%20subtle%20regulatory%20shifts%20underlying%20human-specific%20single-cell%20transcriptomic%20divergence%20Credit%20Nature%20Ecology%20&%20Evolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1755" data-original-width="1834" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbrfE3M0ZDX5fHPNbypMklgUCdjWCjkZHwH66mU8axOxJW-2oUpXZMDlFLpDZvbsmd7f0QOFxkURvFmerWdysvvAT3hWdmWwfOkSJgse3t9WLLWs3PzCBbSuAzlsUbsCV8snh9XcXjCnkQ0r9-F2YC7QETPsTYVqvdm47kwtZSfo9833gX2KFdqZB93o/w640-h612/Schematic%20illustration%20of%20evolutionary%20analysis%20to%20infer%20subtle%20regulatory%20shifts%20underlying%20human-specific%20single-cell%20transcriptomic%20divergence%20Credit%20Nature%20Ecology%20&%20Evolution.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>Schematic illustration of evolutionary analysis to infer subtle regulatory shifts underlying human-specific single-cell transcriptomic divergence Credit Nature Ecology & Evolution</b><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The researchers, led by
Associate Professor Jesse Gillis from the Donnelly Center for Cellular and
Biomolecular Research and the department of physiology at U of T's Temerty Faculty
of Medicine, found the genes are expressed differently in the brains of humans
compared to four of our relatives—chimpanzees, gorillas, macaques and
marmosets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The findings, published
in Nature Ecology & Evolution, suggest that reduced selective pressure, or
tolerance to loss-of-function mutations, may have allowed the genes to take on
higher-level cognitive capacity. The study is part of the Human Cell Atlas, a
global initiative to map all human cells to better understand health and
disease.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMVLQ6jPNsFWeQRqs0ntSTgBcpGrA_PFuxi1QnyywT1H4lky_-V8O5BT5k4vCcIAiZ2YjikacNyCevXC4e5tt2_-b1dt43M2d_LMNneXA_JEiR4yVfEDWaUpPaF42LZPnpaqQYpEDlMFoe4kXoZQbgYHnAsKHWN0Af7wN-xBhr_g86RBSkV_95sfpWWA/s600/PRIMATE-GENOME3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="600" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMVLQ6jPNsFWeQRqs0ntSTgBcpGrA_PFuxi1QnyywT1H4lky_-V8O5BT5k4vCcIAiZ2YjikacNyCevXC4e5tt2_-b1dt43M2d_LMNneXA_JEiR4yVfEDWaUpPaF42LZPnpaqQYpEDlMFoe4kXoZQbgYHnAsKHWN0Af7wN-xBhr_g86RBSkV_95sfpWWA/w640-h520/PRIMATE-GENOME3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"This research
contributes to our understanding of differences in the brain between humans and
other primates at the cellular level, but it has also resulted in a database
that can be used to further characterize genetic similarities and differences
across primates," said Gillis.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The team, which includes
researchers from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the Allen Institute for
Brain Science in the U.S, created a brain map for each primate species based on
single-cell analysis, a relatively new technique that enables more specific
genetic sequencing than standard methods. They used a BRAIN Initiative Cell
Census Network (BICCN) dataset created from samples taken from the middle
temporal gyrus of the brain.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In all, the team found
139 genes that are common across the primate groups but highly divergent in
their expression in human brains. These genes displayed a stronger ability to
withstand mutations without impacting their function, suggesting they may have
evolved under more relaxed selective pressure.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The genes that
have diverged in humans must be tolerant to change," said Hamsini Suresh,
first author on the study and a research associate at the Donnelly Center.
"This manifests as tolerance to loss-of-function mutations, and seems to
allow for rapid evolutionary change in the human brain."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaU0KxvP92lPBi_YDYiFWh-FQFbuQuc59ZEiJbqd82JxE9u0lLtjR8ujp1AnhX51VYzVeEBA5IkHevc1_XtF_tNvKFM24sTrNIYhAgfha-ztwtGdpjlX-BpUzy0I8MuhxtB7ELpplxA4pWdkqvkn2XvNTgZQ5BUF9qaMih-jjunhxxJ_XVAR8Qap0MDCw/s513/PRIMATE-GENOME4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="513" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaU0KxvP92lPBi_YDYiFWh-FQFbuQuc59ZEiJbqd82JxE9u0lLtjR8ujp1AnhX51VYzVeEBA5IkHevc1_XtF_tNvKFM24sTrNIYhAgfha-ztwtGdpjlX-BpUzy0I8MuhxtB7ELpplxA4pWdkqvkn2XvNTgZQ5BUF9qaMih-jjunhxxJ_XVAR8Qap0MDCw/w640-h430/PRIMATE-GENOME4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Our higher cognitive
function may have resulted from the adaptive evolution of human brain cells to
a multitude of less threatening mutations over time. It's also worth noting
that around a quarter of the human-divergent genes identified in the study are
associated with various brain disorders.The divergent genes the researchers
identified are found in 57 brain cell types, grouped by inhibitory neurons,
excitatory neurons and non-neurons. A quarter of the genes were only expressed
differently in neuronal cells, also known as gray matter, and half were only
expressed differently in glial cells, which are white matter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Gray matter in the brain
consists of neurons, while white matter consists of other cell types, including
those responsible for vasculature and immune function.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This study is part of
the BICCN initiative to identify and catalogue the diverse cell types in the
brains of humans and other species. In 2021, the consortium published a
comprehensive census of cell types in the mouse, monkey and human primary motor
cortex in the journal Nature. The initiative is shedding light on the evolution
of the brain by studying neurotransmission and communication at the finest
resolution.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"There are around
570,000 cells in the cross-primate single cell atlas of the middle temporal
gyrus," said Suresh. "Defining a catalogue of shared cell types in
this area of the brain provides a framework for exploring the conservation and
divergence of cellular architecture across primate evolution. We can use the
resulting information to study evolution and disease in a more targeted
manner."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">6) New genes found
that can arise 'from nothing':by University of Helsinki<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9aceSavZOmi9i1Lso2s8wxKDo13YdCZemZYeWPGRyu8_2IfVObvKrKYafyIwJLrvV4HHlt9GOAu5OG1_5ozjhkY5WzutzS2i0YYTXJVntU895vYaCTaERt-iB1sODVeFJWapSfMeyWUwxtPYYW4QesoZqB4ZZnq1TGsna1BQw7iYozyHLYUeAj4mpEs/s1280/Researchers%20studied%20an%20error%20mechanism%20in%20DNA%20replication,%20and%20noticed%20that%20some%20errors%20create%20palindromes%20that%20can%20fold%20into%20hairpin%20structures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1280" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9aceSavZOmi9i1Lso2s8wxKDo13YdCZemZYeWPGRyu8_2IfVObvKrKYafyIwJLrvV4HHlt9GOAu5OG1_5ozjhkY5WzutzS2i0YYTXJVntU895vYaCTaERt-iB1sODVeFJWapSfMeyWUwxtPYYW4QesoZqB4ZZnq1TGsna1BQw7iYozyHLYUeAj4mpEs/w640-h562/Researchers%20studied%20an%20error%20mechanism%20in%20DNA%20replication,%20and%20noticed%20that%20some%20errors%20create%20palindromes%20that%20can%20fold%20into%20hairpin%20structures.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Researchers studied an error mechanism in DNA replication, and noticed that some errors create palindromes that can fold into hairpin structures</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The complexity of living
organisms is encoded within their genes, but where do these genes come from?
Researchers at the University of Helsinki resolved outstanding questions around
the origin of small regulatory genes, and described a mechanism that creates
their DNA palindromes. Under suitable circumstances, these palindromes evolve
into microRNA genes The human genome contains ca. 20,000 genes that are used
for the construction of proteins. Actions of these classical genes are
coordinated by thousands of regulatory genes, the smallest of which encode
microRNA molecules that are 22 base pairs in length. While the number of genes
remains relatively constant, occasionally, new genes emerge during evolution.
Similar to the genesis of biological life, the origin of new genes has
continued to fascinate scientists.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">All RNA molecules
require palindromic runs of bases that lock the molecule into its functional
conformation. Importantly, the chances of random base mutations gradually
forming such palindromic runs are extremely small, even for the simple microRNA
genes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hence, the origin of
these palindromic sequences has puzzled researchers. Experts at the Institute
of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland, resolved this mystery,
describing a mechanism that can instantaneously generate complete DNA
palindromes and thus create new microRNA genes from previously noncoding DNA
sequences.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In their project, the
researchers studied errors in DNA replication. Ari Löytynoja, the project
leader, compares DNA replication to typing of text.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTOV5vvSCXfRAfL_d4HDmEzDaJxi4IpYpIU1zkDNdVmKykxxavL6lUOJXqDQbj1mCaLJygb-rTQrT50lD8KpBQVGHEVbPyIAaQkoe5o_GUBKUwceKxxzvAfS4exKu84nB8uhX7O2I6auZnx0qTRyvYGZaDZwm_Z_Org4-ahQP5055bOKQJCM0OqCrdyk/s1280/central%20insight%20was%20to%20model%20the%20gene%20history%20using%20information%20from%20related%20species.%20The%20modeling%20demonstrated%20that%20the%20palindromes%20of%20microRNA%20genes%20are%20generated%20by%20single%20mutation%20events.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1280" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTOV5vvSCXfRAfL_d4HDmEzDaJxi4IpYpIU1zkDNdVmKykxxavL6lUOJXqDQbj1mCaLJygb-rTQrT50lD8KpBQVGHEVbPyIAaQkoe5o_GUBKUwceKxxzvAfS4exKu84nB8uhX7O2I6auZnx0qTRyvYGZaDZwm_Z_Org4-ahQP5055bOKQJCM0OqCrdyk/w640-h340/central%20insight%20was%20to%20model%20the%20gene%20history%20using%20information%20from%20related%20species.%20The%20modeling%20demonstrated%20that%20the%20palindromes%20of%20microRNA%20genes%20are%20generated%20by%20single%20mutation%20events.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"DNA is copied one
base at a time, and typically mutations are erroneous single bases, like
mis-punches on a laptop keyboard. We studied a mechanism creating larger
errors, like copy-pasting text from another context. We were especially
interested in cases that copied the text backward so that it creates a
palindrome."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Researchers recognized
that DNA replication errors could sometimes be beneficial. They described these
findings to Mikko Frilander, an expert in RNA biology. He immediately saw the
connection to the structure of RNA molecules.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"In an RNA
molecule, the bases of adjacent palindromes can pair and form structures
resembling a hairpin. Such structures are crucial for the function of the RNA
molecules," he explains.Researchers decided to focus on microRNA genes due
to their simple structure: the genes are very short—just a few tens of
bases—and they have to fold into a hairpin structure to function correctly.A
central insight was to model the gene history using a custom computer
algorithm. According to postdoctoral researcher Heli Mönttinen, this enables
the closest inspection of the origin of genes thus far."The whole genome
of tens of primates and mammals is known. A comparison of their genomes reveals
which species have the microRNA palindrome pair and which lack it. With a
detailed modeling of the history, we could see that whole palindromes are
created by single mutation events," says Mönttinen.By focusing on humans
and other primates, researchers in Helsinki demonstrated that the newly found
mechanism can explain at least a quarter of the novel microRNA genes. As
similar cases were found in other evolutionary lineages, the origin mechanism
appears universal.In principle, the rise of microRNA genes is so easy that
novel genes could affect human health. Heli Mönttinen sees the significance of
the work more broadly, for example, in understanding the basic principles of
biological life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAYnkVYo6iwmXYLEOW3DgM8a_qZbZI386m02-oFj9tmUvyx-_TJU5OpllF1co9JpoXz_nrYu0VfFwdx6_ZPRIG_SoKxL6veKqMecXEKBY5Ya1r5UKGEw7wn4WWOhED6g2hdI8g6fNk4YSaesW1VYMf0gSIkA0Z9x-5Fo0qRcCc3D9nlo8Y8G3CY_eEvc/s790/GENE-FROM-NOTHING2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="790" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAYnkVYo6iwmXYLEOW3DgM8a_qZbZI386m02-oFj9tmUvyx-_TJU5OpllF1co9JpoXz_nrYu0VfFwdx6_ZPRIG_SoKxL6veKqMecXEKBY5Ya1r5UKGEw7wn4WWOhED6g2hdI8g6fNk4YSaesW1VYMf0gSIkA0Z9x-5Fo0qRcCc3D9nlo8Y8G3CY_eEvc/w640-h432/GENE-FROM-NOTHING2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The emergence of
new genes from nothing has fascinated researchers. We now have an elegant model
for the evolution of RNA genes," she highlights.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Although the results are
based on small regulatory genes, researchers believe that the findings can be
generalized to other RNA genes and molecules. For example, by using the raw
materials generated by the newly found mechanism, natural selection may create
much more complex RNA structures and functions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">7) Study reshapes
understanding of mass extinction in Late Devonian era :by Indiana University<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOn8PxPdh3tFON5wxoDozaI_cmDDON6q_VV5akKW4kNYslAnHtNYbXlaRAExaC2JjdG78DaAr2_WlsiDBV2Igd9uwZ9m3-5CB4s7YM-lLNz0O7i0_82fYqdVbc4-q3C81PV1j8AvgAvYkvjFlWPQ9fEhPWbtv5yAzkPV-qPgum9eJvdkm55CUykAJJOXo/s390/DEVONIAN1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="390" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOn8PxPdh3tFON5wxoDozaI_cmDDON6q_VV5akKW4kNYslAnHtNYbXlaRAExaC2JjdG78DaAr2_WlsiDBV2Igd9uwZ9m3-5CB4s7YM-lLNz0O7i0_82fYqdVbc4-q3C81PV1j8AvgAvYkvjFlWPQ9fEhPWbtv5yAzkPV-qPgum9eJvdkm55CUykAJJOXo/w640-h548/DEVONIAN1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0uRG0W-W_9KXhD3hdhlR0UVflfLl7vbUULzhInlqFqknehh02KOS8JYzTPIaiTWPaDpod4x39LUB1wC91tE1JXvPFqQ6hw52Xw9oMnJUNktRR75yr7Vxl5a8bwQPAe1a97ZqCfb8cZjCQ1DeNzoF-vXbBP_dEU_UqkAMS6kILbffjxbUHFFmw24KcTo/s1350/study-reshapes-underst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1350" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0uRG0W-W_9KXhD3hdhlR0UVflfLl7vbUULzhInlqFqknehh02KOS8JYzTPIaiTWPaDpod4x39LUB1wC91tE1JXvPFqQ6hw52Xw9oMnJUNktRR75yr7Vxl5a8bwQPAe1a97ZqCfb8cZjCQ1DeNzoF-vXbBP_dEU_UqkAMS6kILbffjxbUHFFmw24KcTo/w640-h322/study-reshapes-underst.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">IMAGE DESCRIPTION :</span></u></b><b style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">Geographic distribution of Late Devonian phosphorus records. Marine records (B–E) are shown in relation to the Heintzbjerg study site (A), indicated as red stars. Marine records include: (B) Steinbruch Schmidt, Germany; (C) Kowala, Poland; (D) Coumiac, France; and (E) H-32 Core, Iowa, USA. The Viluy large igneous province (LIP) is indicated by the orange triangle. Credit: Communications Earth & Environment (2023)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><u><br /></u></b></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Diverse and full of sea
life, the Earth's Devonian era—taking place more than 370 million years ago—saw
the emergence of the first seed-bearing plants, which spread as large forests
across the continents of Gondwana and Laurussia.However, a mass extinction
event near the end of this era has long been the subject of debate. Some
scientists argue the Late Devonian mass extinction was caused by large-scale
volcanic eruptions, causing global cooling. Others argue a mass deoxygenation
event caused by the expansion of land plants was to blame.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyUPuv-NGx8DU6d8ut_fe27z8VuNk6lvX0ctAYjxMfxttPDN5pCiyBbPUMVbVc5jIWrEC8Ed3eHO3dvvMeCRT7e_YIs4ZTgTJTHjMmXpPyzBqJDGF8ocZF6P-uYxIErcv9Ur3kn2HyfmcH8rIXSieeYbCpbmESYqFbuyFFt4vb5WjxIThXAImTp_HYNE/s1500/DEVONIAN4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyUPuv-NGx8DU6d8ut_fe27z8VuNk6lvX0ctAYjxMfxttPDN5pCiyBbPUMVbVc5jIWrEC8Ed3eHO3dvvMeCRT7e_YIs4ZTgTJTHjMmXpPyzBqJDGF8ocZF6P-uYxIErcv9Ur3kn2HyfmcH8rIXSieeYbCpbmESYqFbuyFFt4vb5WjxIThXAImTp_HYNE/w640-h480/DEVONIAN4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A recently published
study in the journal Communications Earth & Environment led by researchers
at IUPUI now posits that both factors played a role—and draws attention to the
environmental tipping points the planet faces today.The study is co-authored by
School of Science at IUPUI faculty Gabriel Filippelli and William Gilhooly III.
The lead author is Matthew Smart, an assistant professor of oceanography at the
U.S. Naval Academy who was a graduate student in Filippelli's lab at the time
of the study.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The work is the first to
unify two competing Late Devonian extinction theories into a comprehensive
cause-and-effect scenario. Essentially, the group concluded that both
events—mass volcanism and deoxygenation caused by land plants flushing excess
nutrients into oceans—needed to occur for the mass extinction to take place.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The key to
resolving this puzzle was identifying and integrating the timing and magnitude
of the geochemical signals we determined using a sophisticated global
model," Filippelli said. "This modeling effort revealed that the
magnitude of nutrient events we were seeing based on the geochemical records
could drive substantial marine extinction events, but the duration of the
events required both factors—tree root evolution and volcanism—to sustain the
marine conditions that were toxic to organisms."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With experts in
sedimentology, paleontology, geochemistry, biogeochemistry and mathematical
modeling, the group literally dug deep to geochemically analyze hundreds of
samples scattered across different continents. These include samples from Ymer
Island in eastern Greenland, home of some of the oldest rock samples on the
planet.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The process was
highly interdisciplinary," Gilhooly said. "This combined expertise
created a rigorous approach to collecting the samples, correlating sequences in
time, acquiring the chemical data and using geochemical models to test working
hypotheses about the relative influences of biotically—plants—and
chemically—volcanoes—driven triggers of mass extinction. Our analyses
demonstrate that the influences are much more mixed than an either-or
scenario."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFhzHMIsFSBbnrj6gtMeav0c4a-tiWSUsNVd7Eyqib8f1XbNt4CSAKYAs1bPpEuOOm-YuP9uCZPI1yqn7a1kn7BfwoMTOuWtWJKIstZySpsRzQiwURYF6e6rtjJpcr6IaYvfmc-vcq97hkvmuRyK5Qf2oF8j_AaYLoYynBtLyu8Ex7ViZDEaONXAmwfI/s305/DEVONIAN2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFhzHMIsFSBbnrj6gtMeav0c4a-tiWSUsNVd7Eyqib8f1XbNt4CSAKYAs1bPpEuOOm-YuP9uCZPI1yqn7a1kn7BfwoMTOuWtWJKIstZySpsRzQiwURYF6e6rtjJpcr6IaYvfmc-vcq97hkvmuRyK5Qf2oF8j_AaYLoYynBtLyu8Ex7ViZDEaONXAmwfI/w529-h640/DEVONIAN2.jpg" width="529" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Filippelli and Gilhooly
said the study's conclusion gives researchers a lot to consider. During the
Devonian era, new biological outcomes on land produced negative effects for
life in the ocean. In the present day, Gilhooly noted, activity like fertilizer
runoff emptying into the ocean, combined with heating from fossil fuel
combustion, are reducing oceans' oxygen levels. The previous outcome of this
similar scenario in the Late Devonian had catastrophic outcomes, he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOXR-EXpCTxSDvlw02IlUlGggDJjG3vWzHGYBMJSw4rVy-gI3gqK5N4QF10ETJ-GoFdXmxhQXnaw_Ir_CpmMooQBHd9TOwCgai20Z4FAI_N1UFxzp9SzzyBqUwKNsu-GCrg64b88-2Fg6mF4Q7YSi5WgYuSD6eSuGKEvsuHQimXPPg600hcUIoVLcBgw/s303/DEVONIAN3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOXR-EXpCTxSDvlw02IlUlGggDJjG3vWzHGYBMJSw4rVy-gI3gqK5N4QF10ETJ-GoFdXmxhQXnaw_Ir_CpmMooQBHd9TOwCgai20Z4FAI_N1UFxzp9SzzyBqUwKNsu-GCrg64b88-2Fg6mF4Q7YSi5WgYuSD6eSuGKEvsuHQimXPPg600hcUIoVLcBgw/w532-h640/DEVONIAN3.jpg" width="532" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Throughout Earth's
history, there have been a series of biological innovations and geological
events that have completely reshaped biological diversity and environmental
conditions in the ocean and on land," Gilhooly said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"In the Devonian
era, a new biological strategy on land produced a negative impact for life in
the ocean. This is a sobering observation when put in the context of modern
global and climatic change driven by human activities. We have a lot to learn
from Earth history that can help us think of strategies and actions to avoid
future tipping points."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJj41MLzBVA1wYDgQg7-618SUcFmifYcidhn0LM5iUEz_A-PXXudY__CW722Pe14yzmXL07TdYXEvcGSn57CAPe_XncBkKT8s6ZLVaXlLJZPFN6qr14NfJfObq-mssBHaFm61YTXXd2eQDplmJezZfCKqfkTS4zdnIZBWk3JNqlS33mwGjjIDWSDAfa0/s960/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJj41MLzBVA1wYDgQg7-618SUcFmifYcidhn0LM5iUEz_A-PXXudY__CW722Pe14yzmXL07TdYXEvcGSn57CAPe_XncBkKT8s6ZLVaXlLJZPFN6qr14NfJfObq-mssBHaFm61YTXXd2eQDplmJezZfCKqfkTS4zdnIZBWk3JNqlS33mwGjjIDWSDAfa0/w640-h480/POLITICALNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) Amid Congress'
lead in Telangana, party leader says 'It's a fair reward’; hints BRS leaders
are ‘in touch’:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OZV1AxUV0jatGyCZwB58yl6M7XMHKOZvwZLRldPSAl8oc_-Hvkb0Rlii1FAfU657ujzvk7V8ccqMk3Yb4FxXNrLlw_UTY820gDyC49c33lB4eQCfrcuGp7ewJpB5gftWThXPNGgTS_gaWeSpDmxTNXdxrKv4D8CT8faC53NL9a4luxMe5pdN7V-s43k/s534/telenganavote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="534" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OZV1AxUV0jatGyCZwB58yl6M7XMHKOZvwZLRldPSAl8oc_-Hvkb0Rlii1FAfU657ujzvk7V8ccqMk3Yb4FxXNrLlw_UTY820gDyC49c33lB4eQCfrcuGp7ewJpB5gftWThXPNGgTS_gaWeSpDmxTNXdxrKv4D8CT8faC53NL9a4luxMe5pdN7V-s43k/w640-h416/telenganavote.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Congress leader said
today's politics is in line with nicking off leaders from opposition parties. “Sometimes
they take away ours, sometimes theirs come here”.As Congress shows a
comfortable lead in at least 60 seats out of the 199-member Telangana assembly,
party leader Renuka Chowdhury mulled “it is a fair reward” for the grand old
party as they have been “praying” for a victory in the state for the last 10
years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Congress leader
further said leaders of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) “are in touch
with us”, adding that “today's politics is like that”. "Sometimes they
take away ours (MLAs), and sometimes theirs come here," she said.As per
the latest trends, Congress has crossed the halfway mark at 63 seats, whereas
BRS is trailing with 43. BJP managed to bag 9 seats and others including CPI on
4.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I had been saying
for more than a year because we tapped into the pulse of the public. We
understood that a big change is going to come and that is what is happening.
Victory is ours, I am very confident. People were tired of BRS. BJP and BRS are
one - everyone understood it. They also understand the dangerous role that
AIMIM played. I think AIMIM, Owaisi has suffered the biggest loss in this game.
People understood the truth behind the wrong step he took at the national
level. It is unfortunate because I had always considered him to be an intelligent
man. When Congress contests unitedly, no force in the country can stand against
us," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) India’s BJP wins
three of four state polls months before national election<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_rvj_IY81y-7vRk-Z5t3JU6Kj5NRE-ef0J-CES-o693mUjGan36odLhqt5jo1F6H3mGwD3vkMnyUfHU5l7P09zp7PlmvBCwjvu8lTr-7KxwBs7ZTxv02NhUWV7u_eUsC0bDxImivJnhszmazsb3tJhgxao-01KqPj2l0CTasWe75PtkR7oAaQFfEh9E/s772/BJP3STATESWIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="772" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_rvj_IY81y-7vRk-Z5t3JU6Kj5NRE-ef0J-CES-o693mUjGan36odLhqt5jo1F6H3mGwD3vkMnyUfHU5l7P09zp7PlmvBCwjvu8lTr-7KxwBs7ZTxv02NhUWV7u_eUsC0bDxImivJnhszmazsb3tJhgxao-01KqPj2l0CTasWe75PtkR7oAaQFfEh9E/w640-h446/BJP3STATESWIN.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Hindu nationalist
party wrests control of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan from the Congress and wins
record fifth term in Madhya Pradesh.India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party has
won three out of four key state elections, according to the election
commission’s website.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The crucial polls pitted
India’s opposition against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the vital national vote, scheduled in less than
six months.Ballot counting on Sunday showed the BJP wrested control of the
heartland states of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan from the Indian National
Congress, India’s main opposition party.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Of 90 assembly
constituencies in Chhattisgarh, the BJP bagged 54 while the Congress won 35. In
Rajasthan, the BJP got 115 of 199 seats.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The right-wing party was
also likely to be re-elected in Madhya Pradesh for a record fifth term by
winning 163 of 230 seats.The Congress comfortably won Telangana state, which
was ruled by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi party, formerly known as the Telangana
Rashtra Samithi. Of 119 seats in the southern state, the Congress won 64, while
the BRS got 39. The BJP won an impressive eight seats in the state.Vote
counting in a fifth state, Mizoram, is set for Monday where BJP’s regional
ally, the Mizo National Front, is in power.Elections in the five states were
held last month and more than 160 million people, or a sixth of India’s
electorate, were eligible to vote. Polling in India is generally done in phases
owing to the large population.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Historic and unprecedented’</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The election results
indicate the voter mood ahead of the national elections in May in which Modi is
eyeing a third consecutive term.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the BJP headquarters
in New Delhi on Sunday evening, party members and supporters lined up on the
two sides and Modi walked between them, waving. The activists showered him with
flower petals, chanting “Long live Mother India” and other slogans.Later, Modi
in a speech said the results were “historic and unprecedented” and “a victory
for honesty, transparency and good governance”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The results in
Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan indicate that the people of India
are firmly with politics of good governance and development, which the
@BJP4India stands for,” Modi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">New opposition alliance</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Modi and his BJP remain
popular on a national level after nearly a decade in power and surveys suggest
he is expected to win a third term.However, a new alliance of 28 opposition
parties, called the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA,
is set to challenge the BJP nationally. It is led by the the Congress.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rahul Gandhi, the
Congress leader, conceded defeat in the three states where his party was
trailing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The battle of ideology
will continue,” he wrote on X, and thanked the people of Telangana where his
party was winning.The charged-up voting campaigns witnessed both leaders
promising voters subsidies, loan waivers and employment guarantees.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The elections came at a
time when India is facing multiple challenges – rising unemployment, attacks
and “hate speech” by Hindu nationalists against the country’s minorities,
particularly Muslims, and a shrinking space for dissent and free media.Although
Congress won Telangana, its second victory in the south this year, Sunday’s
outcome was seen as a setback to the party and its leader, Gandhi, as it was
wiped out of the politically critical heartland.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“We always said we will
win the heartland states,” BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda said. “The results
are the outcome of our finest political strategy and work on the ground.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Election results
highlights: 3 Hindi heartland states turn saffron, Congress wins Telangana<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPD1LsUP8swZjd3MHusf67U0uEsH88gUuYx3483FLmG9EA6TJm337y5l_CsBHkVDnjrBlqFs0JHEWQYwFJt7wvxtPGeWsGWZ66JmtMZKb7PW4C1n7si56rKzZYp10-R42qbHG4e9D_WH_GX8dS-wsa2Hgw9wygMuSJKQUg3aesW_yKo2WLhM4Ujp2N2s/s535/3STATESWIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="535" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPD1LsUP8swZjd3MHusf67U0uEsH88gUuYx3483FLmG9EA6TJm337y5l_CsBHkVDnjrBlqFs0JHEWQYwFJt7wvxtPGeWsGWZ66JmtMZKb7PW4C1n7si56rKzZYp10-R42qbHG4e9D_WH_GX8dS-wsa2Hgw9wygMuSJKQUg3aesW_yKo2WLhM4Ujp2N2s/w640-h412/3STATESWIN.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The election commision
trends has poised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a win in Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while in Telanagna, the Congress is leading over
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's BRS. The assembly elections 2023 results
will be declared by the evening. What you need to know about Rajasthan
elections<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Elections for 199 of the
total 200 seats of the Rajasthan Assembly were held on November 25. The BJP was
cruising to victory in Rajasthan with its candidates winning from eight seats
and leading in 106, while the Congress won from one constituency and was
leading in 69, according to Election Commission trends.What you need to know
about Chhattisgarh elections<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The elections in
Chhattisgarh</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> were held on
November 7 for 20 seats and on November 17 for the remaining 90. As per the
latest trends by the ECI, the BJP has crossed the halfway mark of 46 in the
90-member assembly of Chhattisgarh with the party leading in 54 seats while
Congress is leading in 33 seats. What you need to know about Madhya Pradesh
elections<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to the ECI
trends, the BJP was leading on 161 seats, the Congress on 66 seats and Bahujan
Samaj Party on two seat while the Bharat Adivasi Party had bagged one seat.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What you need to
know about Telangana elections</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Voting for 119 seats in
Telangana was held on November 30. Congress dethroned Chandrasekhar Rao-led
Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), who has been in power since 2014, when Telangana
was granted statehood, by crossing the halfway mark. As per the trends from the
ECI, the Congress crossed the majority mark, leading on 65 seats in 119-member
Telangana Assembly.The BRS is leading on 39 seats, BJP on 9, AIMIM on 5 and CPI
on 1.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) How is it
possible?’: Kamal Nath claims ex-MLAs didn't even get 50 votes in assembly
polls<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs_RrysZtGjrMPTvhcZoN-PLp-gX-zi_Pzlne1-p9joCmnq8oJYXe2ynnCFUSiTSgkocFXKdsjvqev6wEjUthc_FjulpsW3fMExD4iavVLGtyyxqXjrJ5ljd4dwiU_xLOnKX6WNJ0pIJH1rX1sc_kMKegwnmr6OdBiZesgj0UtNbR6TfWJBjdaNnf860/s533/MADHYA%20PRADESH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="533" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs_RrysZtGjrMPTvhcZoN-PLp-gX-zi_Pzlne1-p9joCmnq8oJYXe2ynnCFUSiTSgkocFXKdsjvqev6wEjUthc_FjulpsW3fMExD4iavVLGtyyxqXjrJ5ljd4dwiU_xLOnKX6WNJ0pIJH1rX1sc_kMKegwnmr6OdBiZesgj0UtNbR6TfWJBjdaNnf860/w640-h398/MADHYA%20PRADESH.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kamal Nath's claim was
in line with Digvijaya Singh's earlier remark on possible tampering with
electronic voting machines (EVM).Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Tuesday
expressed his surprise over the results of the Madhya Pradesh assembly election
after he claimed that some former MLAs complained to him that they got not more
than 50 votes in their seats. His claim resonates with his party colleague and
Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh's remark on possible electoral malpractices
during this election.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We are holding
discussions with the elected and non-elected MLAs and analysing the result.
Some MLAs have met me, and one of them told me that he got only 50 votes in his
own village. How is this possible?...Exit polls are done only to create an
atmosphere," Kamal Nath told reporters earlier.Kamal Nath's claim was in
line with Digvijaya Singh's earlier remark on possible tampering with
electronic voting machines (EVM). “Any machine with a chip can be hacked,”
Singh wrote on X (formerly Twitter).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BJP and Congress among
other Opposition parties are at loggerheads over the election result following
Singh's remark which was also backed by leaders from the parties including
National Conference and Shiv Sena (UBT).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The poll results are
unexpected and surprising but we respect the democratic process. When the
mandate goes against your party, one has to accept it. However, the results of
Madhya Pradesh are not only surprising but also shocking for us. The poll
results in three of four states should be considered as the EVM mandate and it
has to be accepted in that way only,” Shiv Sena (UBT) Sanjay Raut said earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, while asked if
EVM was hacked, Kamal Nath said, “It would not be right to conclude without
holding discussions. I will talk to everyone first,” while expressing surprise
at the poll results. "Even you know what the mood was. Why are you asking
me? Ask the people," he added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The BJP won 163 seats in
the 230-member assembly, pushing the Congress far behind with 66
seats.Meanwhile, speculations of Kamal Nath's resignation as state Congress
chief were rife following the party's defeat. He is likely to meet party
president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday and may tender his resignation from the
post, as per sources cited by PTI.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) Mahua Moitra
expelled from Lok Sabha: What next for TMC leader? Options before her<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_VHIN-zKbJR5IMNY1YEV4KLfxJ9p-VVy2wAbmMW5rLS6ytlBdqtAPfo6wXim9ZfD3dVzvJrdkb9_R_Kn9ErbFzowsRMPnajKQBtZFUZFtqFaHY3clkFUXDgMaNLSq0PL5rXDCDzFusVcbegryCaDax5N6htRbbN_nF-DDLmQEKTtI0fv2a5sr0M7nNg/s535/MOHUA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="535" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_VHIN-zKbJR5IMNY1YEV4KLfxJ9p-VVy2wAbmMW5rLS6ytlBdqtAPfo6wXim9ZfD3dVzvJrdkb9_R_Kn9ErbFzowsRMPnajKQBtZFUZFtqFaHY3clkFUXDgMaNLSq0PL5rXDCDzFusVcbegryCaDax5N6htRbbN_nF-DDLmQEKTtI0fv2a5sr0M7nNg/w640-h410/MOHUA.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mahua Moitra expelled:
Former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary said Mahua Moitra has the option
of challenging the expulsion in the Supreme Court.Mahua Moitra of the Trinamool
Congress was expelled on Friday from the Lok Sabha after the House adopted the
report of its ethics committee that found her guilty of accepting gifts and
illegal gratification from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to further his
interest.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The committee report
found Moitra guilty of "unethical conduct" and contempt of the House
by sharing her Lok Sabha credentials – user ID and password of Lok Sabha Member's
Portal, with unauthorised persons which had an irrepressible impact on national
security, Joshi said.“The serious misdemeanours on the part of Smt Mahua Moitra
calls for severe punishment. The Committee, therefore, recommend that Smt Mahua
Moitra, MP may be expelled from the membership of the 17th Lok Sabha. In view
of highly objectionable, unethical, heinous and criminal conduct of Smt. Mahua
Moitra, the Committee recommend for an intense, legal, institutional inquiry by
the Government of India in a time-bound manner,” the panel report said.It said
that a “threadbare examination” had established, beyond doubt, that Moitra had
“deliberately” shared her Lok Sabha login credentials with businessman Darshan
Hiranandani. “Therefore, Smt Mahua Moitra is guilty of unethical conduct,
breach of her privileges available to members of Parliament and contempt of the
House.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Former Lok Sabha
secretary general PDT Achary said Moitra has the option of challenging the
expulsion in the Supreme Court. “Normally, House proceedings cannot be
challenged on the ground of procedural irregularity. Article 122 of the
Constitution is clear. It gives immunity to the proceedings from a challenge
from court,” Achary told The Indian Express.According to Article 122, “the
validity of any proceedings in Parliament shall not be called (into) question
on the ground of any alleged irregularity of procedure”. It states that “no
officer or Member of Parliament in whom powers are vested by or under this
Constitution for regulating procedure or the conduct of business, or for
maintaining order, in Parliament shall be subject to the jurisdiction of any
court in respect of the exercise by him of those powers”.Achary, however, said
the Supreme Court said in the 2007 Raja Ram Pal case that “those restrictions
are only for procedural irregularities. There may be other cases where judicial
review may be necessary.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India Today reported
that Moitra can file an appeal against the committee's decision in the Supreme
Court or the high court based on the grounds of natural justice and principles
of fair hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Moitra could also
challenge the jurisdiction and conduct of the ethics committee, it reported.
She could argue that the panel overstepped its mandate, that the proceedings
were irregular.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The expelled TMC MP
could also approach senior Parliament or government officials through her party
or independent avenues, alleging bias, prejudice or any sort of malfeasance in
the committee's proceedings, India Today added.The motion moved by Joshi said
that Moitra’s "conduct has further been found to be unbecoming as a member
of parliament for accepting gifts and illegal gratification from a businessman
to further his interest which is a serious misdemeanour and highly deplorable
conduct" on her part.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Om Birla cites 2005
case</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Parliamentary affairs
minister Pralhad Joshi moved a motion to expel Moitra for "unethical
conduct", which was adopted by a voice vote.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Joshi urged the House to
accept the recommendation and finding of the panel and "resolve that
continuance of Mahua Moitra as member of Lok Sabha is untenable and she may be
expelled from the membership of the Lok Sabha".<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Trinamool Congress and
other opposition members demanded that Moitra be allowed to put her views in
the House, which was turned down by Speaker Om Birla citing past
precedence.Birla observed that in 2005, the then Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had
in a directive disallowed 10 Lok Sabha members, who were involved in a 'cash
for questions' scam, to speak in the House.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Joshi said in 2005 the
then Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee had moved a motion to expel 10
members on the same day the report was introduced in the Lok Sabha<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earlier, ethics
committee chairman Vinod Kumar Sonkar tabled the first report of the Committee
on the complaint filed by BJP member Nishikant Dubey against Moitra.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) The ballot
revolution led by women voters:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiRBsh1kUKjWk33_gJ1PGm6xKwnvqoDMG3-h0VFn-eWLeBkVZMv5wp9ocF3sZd_LTEcZjsfUKyGWO4esGCeDptueWVUZOXC_USAAkLA9ENHClg9MbcD3kkHacM6DpMxYD6_q4ASwxPv2BmXZ8yvhvvTG-Bzzak8ys-2RoRKD2dXF-okGkQcYsL5XOnfA/s532/WOMEN%20IN%20ELECTION.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="532" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiRBsh1kUKjWk33_gJ1PGm6xKwnvqoDMG3-h0VFn-eWLeBkVZMv5wp9ocF3sZd_LTEcZjsfUKyGWO4esGCeDptueWVUZOXC_USAAkLA9ENHClg9MbcD3kkHacM6DpMxYD6_q4ASwxPv2BmXZ8yvhvvTG-Bzzak8ys-2RoRKD2dXF-okGkQcYsL5XOnfA/w640-h398/WOMEN%20IN%20ELECTION.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The emergence of the
woman voter has meant that there are new deals to be made between parties and
potential voters Let’s count what we do know. The first is that more women are
voting, in some cases in larger numbers than men. There is evidence also that
women are exercising their ballot independently, unmindful of family
consideration or which way their husbands instruct them to vote. The second
fact. Despite the near unanimous passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
bill that will set aside 33% of seats in Parliament and the state assemblies
for women, political parties without exception remain plagued by an old
problem: A reluctance to share power with women. These elections have been no
different. Analysis by this newspaper finds that women accounted for less than
12% of the candidates fielded by the two major national parties, the BJP and
the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For 200 seats in the
Rajasthan assembly, the BJP fielded just 20 women and the Congress 28. Women
comprise a paltry 10% of the new assembly. In Barmer, Priyanka Chowdhary, a BJP
rebel stood as an independent and won. “Male politicians don’t want women to
succeed or come forward,” she told The Indian Express. “They find a dedicated,
hard-working and strong woman politician a threat.” The Congress loss in the
state is being attributed at least partly to rising crime against women with
more women voting for the BJP than the Congress.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Yet, because the data
tell us that more women are voting independently than ever before, political
parties can no longer ignore the woman voter, and this is the third fact. From
free bus fares to subsidised LPG cylinders, from cash handouts to fixed
deposits, parties, otherwise so stingy about fielding women candidates, are
extremely generous when it comes to these sort of promises.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Four-time incumbent
chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s stunning victory in Madhya Pradesh is
being put down to his women-oriented schemes including the Ladli Behna and
Ladli Lakshmi yojana that makes direct cash transfers to woman. The Axis My
India exit poll found a gender gap of 10 percentage points with more women
backing the BJP, writes senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research,
Neelanjan Sircar in this paper. But analysis by Lokniti-CSDS finds that women’s
turnout surpassed that of men in only 34 of 230 assembly constituencies and
that more men than women voted for the BJP.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In Telangana, with 1.63
crore women voters compared to 1.62 crore men, the Congress repeated some of
the promises it had made in the run up to its Karnataka victory. These included
free bus travel for women, subsidised LPG cylinders and monthly financial
assistance to poor women. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi promised a higher amount
and shaved off another ₹100 from the subsidized LPG cylinders, yet lost.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In Chhattisgarh, the
Congress lost despite its promise of ₹15,000 a year to unmarried women being
more than the BJP’s promise of ₹12,000. The bright spot is of course Mizoram
that has elected three women—the most ever—in a region that has traditionally
opposed the participation of women in politics.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Women can swing
elections, which is why every party now offers sops. But since nobody knows
quite what works, the results are varied. What works in one state, won’t in
another. What works for one election, doesn’t become the template for all. The
simple truth is there is no formula. Nor is there a monolithic “woman vote”. Women
vote not just as women but as minorities, as Dalits, as farmers, as housewives.
And this is the fourth evident fact. Nobody knows what women want.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But this much is clear.
Voters in India have proved to be extremely canny and women voters are able to
spot genuine commitment. In the end, there are no short cuts and it cannot be a
coincidence that among metro cities, Kolkata with Mamata Banerjee as West
Bengal chief minister records the lowest crime against women.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The assiduous
cultivation of women’s self-help groups (SHG) has led to the growth of powerful
collectives. Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister, Nitish Kumar has found not
just a loyal vote bank. He’s returned the favour by keeping his promise of
state-wide prohibition made to SHGs. His track record in fielding women
candidates is as bad as any other party, but his government was the first to
give free cycles to middle school girls so that they remain in school.“Parties
think of voters through a very transactional lens,” says Akshi Chawla, curator
of #WomenLead, a platform that tracks the political representation of women
globally. The emergence of the woman voter has meant that there are new deals
to be made between parties and potential voters.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Meanwhile, Telangana’s
new chief minister Revanth Reddy had promised to set aside four ministerial
berths to women if voted to power. It was, said Chawla, “a refreshing change
from the pure transactional nature of poll promises.” But at the swearing in,
only two in the 12-member cabinet are women. It's early days yet, but nobody is
holding their breath.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D9vOQsfunxLWZV0MnDPk5Qzmezf5RVCAIJBNWfKU8QEQSO8ueDyW2ilRpi3zHdGM8_ZB6UceZRrw9CdhOkpfS6QKkH-ZktdYriS7-YRxMmP-zoYrRWcPcCXLIzbvaepQw4lnV2moN52fzGd_p67RxwK0I7MOWfgsJLp7hjPBf__EmHq6gUO7zg7o9AY/s960/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D9vOQsfunxLWZV0MnDPk5Qzmezf5RVCAIJBNWfKU8QEQSO8ueDyW2ilRpi3zHdGM8_ZB6UceZRrw9CdhOkpfS6QKkH-ZktdYriS7-YRxMmP-zoYrRWcPcCXLIzbvaepQw4lnV2moN52fzGd_p67RxwK0I7MOWfgsJLp7hjPBf__EmHq6gUO7zg7o9AY/w640-h480/SPORTSNEWSN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">1) India vs
Australia 5th T20I Highlights: IND beat AUS by six runs, win series 4-1:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarfRmk84gFoc3MIBxLy7Fetlx7R4s-rzXiyG6KkPlp47vTsjsAHN7-iFcuf3JktMu2kLNyqii7Er4o9JY4gm1brC4J4RG3W8DS9fxt8Ob1c72nUm9oLBE1o2RH19tF2Q621uZY8IsGAR1Gbo1__Pnq6GpMUr4KMyfa0aJL97ygF6hL3y56AGURCag5g4/s532/INDVSAUS4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="532" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarfRmk84gFoc3MIBxLy7Fetlx7R4s-rzXiyG6KkPlp47vTsjsAHN7-iFcuf3JktMu2kLNyqii7Er4o9JY4gm1brC4J4RG3W8DS9fxt8Ob1c72nUm9oLBE1o2RH19tF2Q621uZY8IsGAR1Gbo1__Pnq6GpMUr4KMyfa0aJL97ygF6hL3y56AGURCag5g4/w640-h404/INDVSAUS4.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> India (160/8) beat Australia (154/8) by 6 runs
in Bengaluru to win series 4-1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India vs Australia 5th
T20I Highlights: A superb bowling effort combined with Shreyas Iyer's gritty
batting helped India beat Australia by six runs in the fifth and final T20I
against Australia in Bengaluru. India, who were asked to bat first, piled 160/8
in 20 overs and Australia could only manage 154/8 in response.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Iyer smashed 53 off 37
balls and found some support from Jitesh Sharma and Axar Patel in the middle
overs. Jitesh chipped in with 16-ball 24, while Axar scored 31 in 21
deliveries.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mukesh Kumar and Ravi
Bishnoi then made early injections as Australia lost both openers Travis Head
and Josh Phillipe in the powerplay overs. Mukesh removed Phillipe for run a
ball four, while Bishnoi cleaned up Head for 28(18). Australia, who are chasing
161, accumulated 50/2 at the end of powerplay. Bishnoi then removed Aaron
Hardie for 6(10) in his next over.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tim David and Ben
McDermott then added 47 runs for the fourth wicket before Axar broke the stand.
He removed David for run a ball 17. McDermott, on the other hand, completed his
half-century before falling against Arshdeep Singh for 54(36). Mukesh Kumar
then removed Matthew Short (16 off 11) and Ben Dwarshuis (0) in consecutive
deliveries.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Matthew Wade kept
Australia in hunt before getting out to Arshdeep Singh for 22(15) in the final
over.Earlier, India got off to a brisk start before Australia crashed the party
and removed openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad inside powerplay
overs. Jaiswal was removed by Jason Behrendorff for 21(15), while Gaikwad fell
for 10(12) against Ben Dwarshuis. Dwarshuis then got rid of Suryakumar Yadav in
the next over, packing the Indian skipper for 5(7).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Australia continued to
make inroads as Tanveer Sangha removed Rinku Singh for 6(8), reducing India to
55/4 in 9.1 overs.Both teams have made one change each in their playing XIs.
Nathan Ellis got some game time and replaced Chris Green. Deepak Chahar, on the
other hand, has flown back home due to medical emergency and is replaced by
Arshdeep Singh.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">2) Delayed
wrestling federation polls to be held on Dec 21<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9M3uv2GovQPONx3WM1UC5sl-_kyLNvdc7xO5_vdOv5DGD8ttty9MmXkt-uQ7gOiav4TkxkZgbb59eTbWQU89ZqT6yQOZFRoN6QGxZ7b94wpVsDmaP5gx9lA_9a7VQDIx-G5UIrf8RBAvgGDnH3imZt_3IS0akyiBrpxSsi84mBnGqKD_uE9F7MlahE9c/s532/INDIAWRESLING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="532" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9M3uv2GovQPONx3WM1UC5sl-_kyLNvdc7xO5_vdOv5DGD8ttty9MmXkt-uQ7gOiav4TkxkZgbb59eTbWQU89ZqT6yQOZFRoN6QGxZ7b94wpVsDmaP5gx9lA_9a7VQDIx-G5UIrf8RBAvgGDnH3imZt_3IS0akyiBrpxSsi84mBnGqKD_uE9F7MlahE9c/w640-h396/INDIAWRESLING.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The one-day process is
expected to end months-long delay after protests by top wrestlers over alleged
sexual harassment by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh After a long delay due to court
injunctions, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) election is finally
scheduled to be held on December 21.Returning officer Justice (retd) MM Kumar
on Saturday issued a fresh notification drawing up a revised schedule.
According to it, the polling (during the WFI special general body meeting), counting
and declaration of results will all be done in a single day. The election was
originally scheduled on August 12. The nomination process was completed and the
final list of candidates drawn up when the Punjab and Haryana high court stayed
the election on a writ petition by the de-recognised Haryana federation.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Supreme Court
vacated the stay on November 28, paving the way for the process to resume. The
court directed the returning officer to issue a revised election programme. The
apex court order though stipulates that the results will be subject to the
outcome of the plea pending before the high court.“The Hon’ble Supreme Court of
India vide its order dated 28.11.2023 has vacated the stay orders and therefore
the remaining steps like polling, etc. will now recommence on 21.12.2023 as per
the following revised schedule,” said the notification, adding that as per WFI
constitution 10 days’ notice has been given.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Outgoing WFI president
and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused by six women
wrestlers of sexual harassment and is facing trial in a Delhi lower court,
still enjoys huge clout within the federation having governed WFI for 12 years.
His supporters have filed nominations for all 15 posts. Singh’s close associate
Sanjay Kumar Singh of Uttar Pradesh is standing for the president’s post.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A second group which has
the support of wrestlers who protested against Singh is also in the fray for
the top posts. Former wrestler and 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist,
Anita Sheoran, who is with the Haryana Police official and is a witness in the
sexual harassment case, is standing against Sanjay Singh. Railways Sports
Promotion Board (RSPB) secretary Prem Chand Lochab – a key mediator between the
protesting wrestlers and the government – is in the fray for the secretary
general’s post, while former wrestler and senior superintendent with the Jammu
and Kashmir Police, Dushyant Sharma, has pitched himself for the treasurer’s
post.While Singh’s faction enjoys majority support, the possibility of a
compromise on some of the key posts cannot be ruled out, according to people
aware of the developments.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On Friday, the ad-hoc
committee announced that the senior nationals will be hosted by RSPB in Jaipur
from January 2-5. It will be the first domestic event to be organised after
a <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The elections are
important for the world body – United World Wrestling (UWW) -- to remove its
suspension of WFI. Indian wrestlers currently can’t compete under the India
flag because of the suspension. They took part as neutral athletes at the
September world championships in Serbia. Antim Panghal won bronze and India’s
first quota for the Paris Olympics.The wrestling fraternity will hope the
elections to go off smoothly as it has already faced several delays due to the
barred state associations petitioning the courts.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Last week, the Haryana
Amateur Wrestling Association (HAWA) president Rohtas Singh appealed to the
ad-hoc committee to go through the entire election process again, alleging that
the final list of the electoral college and candidates flouted the government’s
National Sports Code. He said some states need to be heard again with a “fresh
schedule of election”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">3) Time running out
for pistol shooters to book flight to Paris<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ziZa-CfMBPMQaNx8xLNhs1lyNw8PcVS6KTwHg1L5TXGj4A6AC5LatY89p24ZvQYEESZi35ryiVxGHYk26V8DjywEXK4Lk4MgJkqxAy3OZoupQXD_FqHujxT1ren8g7mKrZOZAC78HVBsxAivxvfk_O0vaLJ6bi8zGFQbI9OwlwuPAXW1uf4qWkDJNYc/s536/PISTOL-SHOOTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="536" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ziZa-CfMBPMQaNx8xLNhs1lyNw8PcVS6KTwHg1L5TXGj4A6AC5LatY89p24ZvQYEESZi35ryiVxGHYk26V8DjywEXK4Lk4MgJkqxAy3OZoupQXD_FqHujxT1ren8g7mKrZOZAC78HVBsxAivxvfk_O0vaLJ6bi8zGFQbI9OwlwuPAXW1uf4qWkDJNYc/w640-h392/PISTOL-SHOOTER.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Out of eight quotas for
pistol events at the Paris Olympics, the Indian shooters have managed to grab
just three so far A mind-boggling 1200 shooters participated in men’s air
pistol event at the Senior National Championships in Bhopal culminating in the
final on Thursday after 11 days of competition in just one event. The scores in
the qualification round and final were world class — as high as the World
Championships in Baku this year. Encouraging it might seem just seven months
before the Paris Olympics, but the reality is different. There is still an
Olympic quota to be won from the event and there is no guarantee that such high
scores will be replicated in the next international competition, which will be
a Paris Olympic qualifier in Jakarta in January.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Going into the Tokyo
Olympics, India had all four quotas in their kitty and it was the air pistol
team, including the mixed<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">4) India slip to
third in pool after going down 1-4 to Spain in their Junior World Cup hockey
match in Kuala Lumpur:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bgev7qJ5wCa5XbU56TOvTBddANRgaI8_7i-06gYF1xr32eEw78e-skymxDIJPaFnu1OTfy5Cnbv74HSkHzV_bC5sdXJEG-5e4IwBoK0CueRbRZ1g6u8yccrICMIdZoKUhyphenhyphencDAGqWp1tdAfvEbH7DJO79AZ0_IRvAfpPhkG_pUNk0DNdY1eDh928wHPs/s536/HOKEYINDIA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="536" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bgev7qJ5wCa5XbU56TOvTBddANRgaI8_7i-06gYF1xr32eEw78e-skymxDIJPaFnu1OTfy5Cnbv74HSkHzV_bC5sdXJEG-5e4IwBoK0CueRbRZ1g6u8yccrICMIdZoKUhyphenhyphencDAGqWp1tdAfvEbH7DJO79AZ0_IRvAfpPhkG_pUNk0DNdY1eDh928wHPs/w640-h398/HOKEYINDIA.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Spain thrashed India 4-1
in their group match ongoing Junior World Cup to go top of the table in Pool C,
in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Both India and Spain were coming off convincing wins
in the previous encounters — India had beaten South Korea 4-2 on Tuesday while
Spain blanked Canada 7-0 — but Spain, led by braces from skipper Rafi Andreas
and Cabre Verdiell Pol, proved too hot to handle for India.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Spain got off the blocks
early and found the opening goal in the first minute itself through an unmarked
Pol who beat goalkeeper Shashikumar Honnenahalli with a lovely deflection.
Rohit drew level for India in the 33rd minute through a penalty corner but a
tactically superior Spain were significantly better than the Indians who
appeared jaded on the pitch.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Spain were superb on the
wings and played a close-knit game, allowing little room to the Indian
forwards. Andreas restored the lead for Spain in the 18th minute through a PC
before Pol converted another PC in the 41st minute. Andreas then put the result
beyond doubt with a penalty stroke in the last minute of regulation time to
unwittingly underscore his team's domination from the first minute to the last.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Spain goalkeeper
Capellades Jan stood out for his pluck and anticipation, saving a handful of
sure-shot strikes from Indian forwards.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">India earned three
penalty corners between the 55th and 57th minutes but Capellades put his body
on the line to deny them success.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Overall, India had more
circle penetrations (18 to Spain's 16) and penalty corners (six to Spain's
seven) but Spain had more shots on goal (13 as compared to India's 10) and,
eventually, goals. Spain pressed with pace and scored in each quarter while the
2016 champions were left chasing the game. India will next play Canada on
Saturday while Spain will square off against South Korea. India and Korea are currently
level on points but the latter occupy the second spot in Pool C owing to better
goal difference. Canada, with two losses in as many outings, occupy the fourth
spot.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">5) Squash's
Olympics tag adds wheels to Anahat's go pro drive<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDOn-kbYXyJfrzYyv2r5LMdllnPowZeQe0Gbns030NDkAMhHFXPsuIX5LCwvDFpMXVut76HEJ1NQPmd7Jrk_qEMd4Z-QcwvQT1m_514QkO268pxFINxXdg-wl6Pfn_M_aaEoczDb7YLzCeKEYTAlrPUHColJT9gWj867P5xczSGz4bBgKFTn75CG1N7E/s533/INDSQASH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="533" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDOn-kbYXyJfrzYyv2r5LMdllnPowZeQe0Gbns030NDkAMhHFXPsuIX5LCwvDFpMXVut76HEJ1NQPmd7Jrk_qEMd4Z-QcwvQT1m_514QkO268pxFINxXdg-wl6Pfn_M_aaEoczDb7YLzCeKEYTAlrPUHColJT9gWj867P5xczSGz4bBgKFTn75CG1N7E/w640-h404/INDSQASH.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 15-year-old, fresh
from her twin medals in Hangzhou Asian Games, is happy to take a step-by-step
approach to the Olympics<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Moments after squash was
included as one of the new sports for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at
October's IOC Session in Mumbai, Saurav Ghosal, India's top squash professional
aged 37, chuckled that he wished he was 10 years younger.Moments after squash
was included as one of the new sports for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at
October's IOC Session in Mumbai, Saurav Ghosal, India's top squash professional
aged 37, chuckled that he wished he was 10 years younger.Anahat Singh, the
reigning women’s national champion, is 15. This year's U-17 Asian junior gold
medallist, she grabbed a couple of medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games — a
bronze each in the women's team and mixed doubles with Abhay Singh. By far the
brightest young talent in the country’s squash circuit, the soft-spoken teen
from Delhi felt the timing of the belated Olympics tag couldn’t have been
better from an Indian perspective, having come days after the squash
contingent’s creditable five-medal Asian Games show.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“It was almost like a
miracle. Really exciting," said Anahat, the glee on her face while talking
about it truly bringing out her age. What follows, however, is another reminder
of her being unlike many other 15-year-olds. “I was always somewhat sure that I
would want to go pro. I really love playing this sport. But yes, this (Olympics
inclusion) does give me a definite direction. It's going to be a target which
I'm going to be working towards for the next five years," said Anahat
sitting by the squash courts of Cricket Club of India here on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"I know for the
next five years that I'm going to be 100% serious about squash because the
Olympics will be the next big goal. So, it does change my approach quite a bit
— in terms of the amount of training and the amount of work that I'm going to
put in. Because it is an athlete's dream to win a medal at the Olympics.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At 15, Anahat has
already been to the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, richer with experience
from the former and medals from the latter. She has pocketed age-group medals
at the prestigious British Junior Open (U-11 in 2019 and U-17 in 2023) and US
Junior Open (U-15 in 2021), ticking off boxes that the stars of Indian squash —
Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik — did in their junior days.
For her age, it’s about those little steps, although Anahat isn’t shying away
from drawing out a five-year plan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“I mean, I do have to
look at it from the long-term view. I'm still playing the juniors for the next
three years, so it has to be step by step and tournament by tournament. At the
same time, that is going to be the long-term goal: to win a medal at the
Olympics. But before that there are other things as well, like winning PSA
(Professional Squash Association) tournaments and some top junior events,” she
said.won the 2023 title after Tanvi Khanna retired in the final and lost the
2022 final to Joshana), one of Anahat’s goals for next year is to start
competing in more PSA world tour events to climb up the world rankings. “I'm
going to start playing more of the senior tournaments and less junior
events," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Juggling both this year
has meant her “tournaments have almost doubled”. Right after the Asian Games,
she turned up for the senior nationals last month. Currently in Mumbai for the
CCI-Western India Slam Squash Championship, she will head out for another
junior tournament later this month. The difference in level from the juniors to
seniors is evident for Anahat, who believes playing the latter has helped her
while competing in the top junior world events.“Seniors is a lot more physical.
There, your whole career is squash, you're working towards it day and night and
everyone wants to just win no matter what," she said. “The amount of
training that the seniors do, the precision of their shots and their fitness
overall is much better than the junior level.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKcFrQ53iIA8zbGP5tq7GJKueD1itmViaPzTJIBcL5C1S-u9E8CnxXwKp_xhLH5o06pZE_YQfngCf3DMIGxUuO-oDkaXpg52Q98K5AJQik7pret23IAbuWX7qHiSFRFua-3s2vjYnlohrecRbklx996c1R16Z-Q7PRZLjjCANDhMRiSYAMUIgRyaL9dg/s960/MOVIE&BOOKNEWN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKcFrQ53iIA8zbGP5tq7GJKueD1itmViaPzTJIBcL5C1S-u9E8CnxXwKp_xhLH5o06pZE_YQfngCf3DMIGxUuO-oDkaXpg52Q98K5AJQik7pret23IAbuWX7qHiSFRFua-3s2vjYnlohrecRbklx996c1R16Z-Q7PRZLjjCANDhMRiSYAMUIgRyaL9dg/w640-h480/MOVIE&BOOKNEWN.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">THE ARCHIES
Netflix, December 7:</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXqm4rAq12oybFI4QevZlPWE9Zzox52fUHQZiX2zMR0A8GwmuQPxEMLUqsozYiFZJ7Xg5QSsvF7TwXTeFFrxUWfRgjwSTxCd-JuHtW9lI9B2TFP-z_cuXwjBs4JRzD9GLMtSL2mLHeCCvq0HqoT-7-NkjgKuLRHDVBVqLvMRf7gW_uLQVRE6zHx-dkbo/s690/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="690" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXqm4rAq12oybFI4QevZlPWE9Zzox52fUHQZiX2zMR0A8GwmuQPxEMLUqsozYiFZJ7Xg5QSsvF7TwXTeFFrxUWfRgjwSTxCd-JuHtW9lI9B2TFP-z_cuXwjBs4JRzD9GLMtSL2mLHeCCvq0HqoT-7-NkjgKuLRHDVBVqLvMRf7gW_uLQVRE6zHx-dkbo/w640-h360/M1.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Drawing inspiration from
Archie Comics, Zoya Akhtar's forthcoming musical drama, ‘The Archies’, tells
the story of Archie Andrews and his tight-knit group of friends as they embark
on a mission to rescue a park in Riverdale.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Set to debut exclusively
on Netflix this December, the film stars Agastya Nanda, Suhana Khan, Khushi
Kapoor, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Aditi Saigal, and Yuvraj Menda in key roles.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kadak Singh (8
Decemnber)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDudOIQTRHhKO6RMU4Y4k0LGO0TecUF2HRbHP7_isr2jzz0Fv16pZAIZLj1mh2xLiJ1BwCoUq9ZtlMVcXXi_kiK4Jj3l_JSzIOdlZKESXV8aIJvWLxmCu2KYPWBQZYyqR6FeME9e_qj9W2PiNpu6BnryzhyphenhyphenPyufmMJKVvTWz9qrOcBtOjLh4AbC8dxZag/s1200/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDudOIQTRHhKO6RMU4Y4k0LGO0TecUF2HRbHP7_isr2jzz0Fv16pZAIZLj1mh2xLiJ1BwCoUq9ZtlMVcXXi_kiK4Jj3l_JSzIOdlZKESXV8aIJvWLxmCu2KYPWBQZYyqR6FeME9e_qj9W2PiNpu6BnryzhyphenhyphenPyufmMJKVvTWz9qrOcBtOjLh4AbC8dxZag/w640-h360/M2.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kadak Singh is one of
the most anticipated OTT releases this week. It is a film that boasts an
impressive IMDB rating of 8.6 stars out of 10 and has been said to be a “difficult
film to make” by the lead actor Pankaj Tripathi. Coming up on Zee5 this week,
Kadak Singh is a drama, thriller film revolving around AK Srivastava, an
officer who despite being in hospital & given amnesia solves a complex case
of a Chit Fund Scam. Watch out for this new OTT movie this week on Zee5 by the
director of the famous movie, Pink released in 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Platform: Zee5<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Release Date: 8 December<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Pankaj Tripathi,
Parvathy Thiruvothu, Dilip Shankar & others<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Vadhuvu (8 December)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8KjOYGnfY2KRam6S03o62AnYVBcHVwW5YecpXWuuLCMkRW45kLAoIueBJzWCQ8q_FkX8sJJoZQF-LIU4ryPzxu4HAyb51ZPXAx9xsuve41Ycd_e465ComCGUatjl9y91BLAH4RoyKzqEuGDwKV-uWO4qjHaYyOIm6od_IZt-82YxXH8IaI1ugAYPvsk/s1200/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8KjOYGnfY2KRam6S03o62AnYVBcHVwW5YecpXWuuLCMkRW45kLAoIueBJzWCQ8q_FkX8sJJoZQF-LIU4ryPzxu4HAyb51ZPXAx9xsuve41Ycd_e465ComCGUatjl9y91BLAH4RoyKzqEuGDwKV-uWO4qjHaYyOIm6od_IZt-82YxXH8IaI1ugAYPvsk/w640-h360/M3.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Vadhuvu is one of the
most anticipated OTT releases this week. It is a remake of a much-appreciated
Bengali TV Series, Indu (2021 - 2023). Vadhuvu starring Avika Gor as a bride
who sets on a mysterious journey when she marries a family with a mansion full
of secrets. It is a drama, mystery, thriller OTT release this week on Disney+
Hotstar.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">OTT Platform: Disney+
Hotstar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">OTT Release Date: 8
December<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Avika, Nandu, Ali
Reza, Mounika, Madhavi Prasad<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chamak Series (7
December)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tkD_knZ8ZMtZQAhxSy-ngCtte4oPj5bhQLh0uT74SMOplGVt1O7IbxYuv8Z2LOPsqGFBhkt6LYm2MJH9GCIp-holvJpWR5dTAYTjxqA4FslWPX5oS4ZIVgOMrqSwMCP9wSJNn3jcPMWTwMuW5QMW-oe27P7W95whiO0s5ZYhUJmKC6DpGcEOusQCJxA/s1200/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tkD_knZ8ZMtZQAhxSy-ngCtte4oPj5bhQLh0uT74SMOplGVt1O7IbxYuv8Z2LOPsqGFBhkt6LYm2MJH9GCIp-holvJpWR5dTAYTjxqA4FslWPX5oS4ZIVgOMrqSwMCP9wSJNn3jcPMWTwMuW5QMW-oe27P7W95whiO0s5ZYhUJmKC6DpGcEOusQCJxA/w640-h360/M4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Chamak streaming on
SonyLiv from 7 December is a new musical thriller web series. A Punjabi rapper
singer returns from Canada to avenge his father’s death who was apparently also
a legendary singer. Bajao released on August 25th on jioCinema also had a plot
revolving around the singing industry. Stream Chamak on SonyLiv starting 7
December, Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">OTT Platform: SonyLiv<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">OTT Release Date: 7
December<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Manoj Pahwa, Mohit
Malik, Isha Talwar, Mukesh Chhabra<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Leave the World Behind (8 December)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjUUfBkOD7OKtfM4dby4FZ260-HPzX0AMgEdiU3-mPTK1jZZHo_69GNp-YVzKeAHWkpIvsbdOee35ZnYin1zwxcAuGD7SgG8iogdUx624524KDgSpn3udvPpzch0Fql2h1oKAm05qxVB7TU-Ute7prWfPLrc0KmyCOJV2QH-Ai_gkRcxa-TFS3vRXogM/s1200/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="1200" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjUUfBkOD7OKtfM4dby4FZ260-HPzX0AMgEdiU3-mPTK1jZZHo_69GNp-YVzKeAHWkpIvsbdOee35ZnYin1zwxcAuGD7SgG8iogdUx624524KDgSpn3udvPpzch0Fql2h1oKAm05qxVB7TU-Ute7prWfPLrc0KmyCOJV2QH-Ai_gkRcxa-TFS3vRXogM/w640-h234/M5.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The recently released
film in theaters, Leave the World Behind is making its debut on OTT this week
on Netflix. So grab your popcorn & enjoy this crackling of an upcoming OTT
release this week. The story revolves around a family who sets on a luxurious
getaway but somehow enters into a strange & difficult situation where their
devices have turned dead and two strangers appear at their house door.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">OTT Platform: Netflix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">OTT Release Date: 8
December<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cast: Julia Roberts,
Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BOOK OF THIS WEEK:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBU4tJIiUuGNPp23eG5mGPwIB8_60fyXByi8gVp4wf9p1vhT2gr0EXzWLoOvY_awmBVRetwL5AOZcKRguNpH3JGtoZpVbD05OJ9oMnoXo0rTYNJPUkb5LGX-vxx6gdYI8tHcrP-f57CS9vyZmTqvOADvDJcmjslLqTDb0x8j4tnOtwU_KpX4JTFg187Ns/s300/BOOK&WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="300" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBU4tJIiUuGNPp23eG5mGPwIB8_60fyXByi8gVp4wf9p1vhT2gr0EXzWLoOvY_awmBVRetwL5AOZcKRguNpH3JGtoZpVbD05OJ9oMnoXo0rTYNJPUkb5LGX-vxx6gdYI8tHcrP-f57CS9vyZmTqvOADvDJcmjslLqTDb0x8j4tnOtwU_KpX4JTFg187Ns/w640-h452/BOOK&WRITER.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">THE FUTURE OF THE
MIND:by Michio Kaku (Author), </span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DlTUwu53XrxEaghkKSkUln9sW0wpd1B_VxLmggAbkkCfBVb-xzvbST6XTZrwmymnowmlAc75zGSyJAN6IrahRN4p9LFcU8E48otTBgKmAWzFJhk_yQl72qItPuyQWXw83xiaZLBYHvdxqjcbO5n9XILhTePhfhMIQ1v3zE1imvVIZCNfQDnOWdz5_Z8/s425/BOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DlTUwu53XrxEaghkKSkUln9sW0wpd1B_VxLmggAbkkCfBVb-xzvbST6XTZrwmymnowmlAc75zGSyJAN6IrahRN4p9LFcU8E48otTBgKmAWzFJhk_yQl72qItPuyQWXw83xiaZLBYHvdxqjcbO5n9XILhTePhfhMIQ1v3zE1imvVIZCNfQDnOWdz5_Z8/w452-h640/BOOK.jpg" width="452" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Throughout human history
– Scientists have sought to unlock the secrets of the human mind and Dr. Michio
Kaku, noted theoretical physics, bestselling author and the co-founder of
string field theory, says thanks to new breakthroughs in neural mapping,we’re on
the fron<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">tier of a new era in
understanding the human brain.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“We can now put a chip
right on top of the brain of a person who is totally paralyzed and have them
control the cursor on a laptop, so that person who starts the soccer tournament
in Brazil may be a paraplegic.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In his book, THE FUTURE
OF THE MIND, Kaku investigates multiple breakthrough ideas in
neuroscience, many of which were once
considered sheer fantasy or even science fiction. Ideas like telepathy,
telekinesis, mind reading, uploading our memories… and even shooting human
consciousness into space.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dr. Kaku says many of
these ideas, which were once considered impossible have now been achieved in
the laboratory. One of the most fascinating new technologies has allowed
scientists to record something never recorded before…a persons dream.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“What happens is, you
have to fall asleep in an MRI machine, and then it scans your brain and creates
a picture and these pictures are remarkable. They’re fuzzy of course, but you
can actually see eyes, noses, you can see an elephant is an elephant and a
human is a human. But the very fact that you can even do this is astounding and
it means that in the future when you wake up in the morning you can hit the
play button on your computer and watch the dream you had last night.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Watch video footage of a recorded dream</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dr. Kaku says last year
for the first time in world history, the first memory of a mouse was recorded
on tape. You could actually play the memory back.The memory was sipping water
from a container. It wasn’t a very complex memory, but the fact you could do it
at all means that one day we might have something like the Matrix, whereby you
could become a Karate master simply by hitting a play button.”This leads to the
question of privacy. Are people going to be able to read our minds and record
or dreams against our will?“That’s not going to happen. Brain waves dampen
extremely rapidly outside the skull, so don’t think the CIA is going to be able
to tap into your thoughts from the outside. That’s not going to happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So, what can we do with
all these recorded dreams and memories? Another seemingly impossible new
technology in Dr Kaku’s book may allow scientists<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">to upload the data in
our brains and shoot it on a laser beam across space.“Then we wouldn’t need
expensive booster rockets. We would go literally at the speed of light on a
laser beam containing all this vast amount of information, and go to a relay
station, whereby you construct a robot which then springs to life. ”Sounds like
pure science fiction, but Dr. Kaku insist it could become scientific fact.“So
many of the themes of science fiction are still science fiction of course, but
the fact we can talk about some of them in a scientific way is amazing.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dr Michio Kaku says all
these new breakthroughs in neuroscience will not only help us explore new
horizons in outer space, but also more
internal problems right here on earth. Problems like the many mental
disabilities that plague society today,
depression, autism, schizophrenia, all of which remain largely unsolved
mysteries. Dr. Kaku hopes making headway
in<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">these areas will help
create a world where peoples innate talents and abilities“So many times we have
hopes and dreams that are dashed by illness, by poverty, by disease, and we
don’t live up to our full potential. What we’re capable of being and becoming.
So why do we have to be victims of this, when one day science may be able to
unleash us, so that we fulfill our destiny.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Michio Kaku:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMK_4MKXHqNn_EmLaEbzr942A3ZVxFR6I14aXpThNLiprvoX11kWnJudnTdxgVa3tQlurzzHqdJpMSbwWxZ_FRRuSjJBVz42hJ29limIFwyC9fLR_WpjRZVPDt7JH0DrhIZSuqyq0SPgUr8zXeyL5_0SCfVsSgOeBUO1fTZQbgd9mWp0cxwwP_HDa_Qs/s1280/WRITER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMK_4MKXHqNn_EmLaEbzr942A3ZVxFR6I14aXpThNLiprvoX11kWnJudnTdxgVa3tQlurzzHqdJpMSbwWxZ_FRRuSjJBVz42hJ29limIFwyC9fLR_WpjRZVPDt7JH0DrhIZSuqyq0SPgUr8zXeyL5_0SCfVsSgOeBUO1fTZQbgd9mWp0cxwwP_HDa_Qs/w640-h360/WRITER.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Michio Kaku is the
co-founder of String Field Theory and is the author of international
best-selling books such as Hyperspace, Visions, and Beyond Einstein. Michio
Kaku is the Henry Semat Professor in Theoretical Physics at the City University
of New York.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p></p>MANASH KUNDUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184849271403213301noreply@blogger.com0