Delhi: India will have to monitor very closely the geopolitical flux including the realignment of forces following the Russia-Ukraine conflict and needs to ensure that the ongoing situation does not divert attention from the developments in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said on Monday.Talking about the immediate impact of the conflict on the Army, Gen Pande said that the supply chain of certain ammunition and spares has been affected to some extent but added that the available stocks are adequate to last for a reasonable period of time in the immediate future.At an interaction with a select group of journalists, he said the Army is looking at certain other "mitigation measures" by identifying alternative sources amongst certain friendly foreign countries. Russia and Ukraine have been major suppliers of military hardware to India.Gen Pande, who took over as the Army chief on April 30, said India will have to especially watch out for the stance of its two adversaries in the emerging geopolitical scenario, in an oblique reference to China and Pakistan."In terms of the emerging geopolitical situation or the world order, that is something we have to monitor very closely in terms of realignment, in terms of new alliances," Gen Pande said."That is something which will emerge clearly once the conflict ends. We will also have to watch out for the stance and position of our adversaries, the two adversaries, as to what position they take," he said in a reference to China and Pakistan.The chief of the Army staff also said that India must ensure that the Ukraine crisis does not take away attention from the situation in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific.He said another important aspect is that the "attention from our two areas of interests, or immediate interests -- Afghanistan and Indo-Pacific -- does not get diverted to what is happening in the Russia-Ukraine war.""These are the situation and issues we have to constantly monitor and evolve our responses at the national level to address the situation of geopolitical flux," he added.The Army chief said India has to draw many lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and added the Army is dependent on the two countries for certain equipment relating to air defence systems, rockets, missiles and certain tanks."Insofar as the immediate impact (of the conflict) is concerned, yes the supply chain of our spares, certain ammunition has got impacted to some extent but I would say we have adequate stocks to last for a reasonable period of time in the immediate future," Gen Pande said."We are also looking at certain other mitigation measures by identifying alternative sources amongst our friendly foreign countries and I think, in the long term, this is also an opportunity for our private industry to step up and involve themselves in the manufacture and production of some of the spares, armaments and equipment," he said.The Army chief also said the Indian armed forces have important lessons to take from the ongoing war, the foremost among them is how conventional war is still relevant.He said the conflict also shows that wars necessarily need not be "short and swift" and that they could be prolonged in the manner the current conflict is unfolding.Gen Pande also said that the conflict has shown the impact of non-contact or non-kinetic warfare, referring to the importance of the cyber and information domains."We have seen the battle of narratives as to how information operations have been used in this conflict to gain advantage over the adversary," he said.—PTI

India will have to monitor very closely the geopolitical flux including the realignment of forces following the Russia-Ukraine conflict and needs to ensure that the ongoing situation does not divert attention from the developments in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said on Monday.

Ukraine war hits supply chain of certain ammunition, spares: Army chief

Mumbai: The Mumbai police have arrested a Pune-based man, said to be a social media influencer, on extortion charge for allegedly demanding over Rs 7 lakh from a woman in suburban Bandra, an official said on Thursday. According to the BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex) police station official, the man, Shyam Bhau Shinde, was nabbed on Tuesday after an FIR was lodged against him for allegedly trying to extort money from the woman. Owing to his habit of wearing heavy gold ornaments, Shinde is locally known as a goldman .During probe, it came to light that Shinde faces half a dozen extortion cases in Pune, the official said, adding he is also known as a social media influencer. "We have arrested him under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including extortion, and further investigation was underway," he added.—PTI

The Mumbai police have arrested a Pune-based man, said to be a social media influencer, on extortion charge for allegedly demanding over Rs 7 lakh from a woman in suburban Bandra, an official said on Thursday.

Mumbai cops nab Pune man for extortion

New Delhi: Industrialist Gautam Adani, Supreme Court lawyer Karuna Nundy and Kashmiri rights activist Khurram Parvez are amongst the TIME Magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People of 2022, according to the announcement made on Monday.The list also includes an Indian American businessperson, Bela Bajaria, who is currently the head of the Global TV at Netflix. Adani is an industrialist, who had just last month, edged past Warren Buffet to become the 5th richest man in the world, is owner of multiple top-brands across sectors. “Adani’s once regional business now spans airports, private ports, solar and thermal power and consumer goods,” read his profile by TIME. Karuna Nundy, Supreme Court lawyer, known for several landmark cases vis-A-vis gender and women’s rights, was described by TIME as “not just a lawyer but also a public activist who ably and bravely uses her voice both inside and outside the courtroom to bring about change.”The profile for Khurram Parvez, chairperson of the Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearances, was authored by journalist Rana Ayyub. “Startled and most deeply honoured to be on #ime100, with and for the multitudes of people, the court systems, the lawyers, the movements, and the rights I represent. Thank you each of you who has offered support along the way, you know who you are (sic),” Nundy tweeted as the news broke late on Monday evening. “Bajaria is helping create the future of television. The shows she has shepherded have become global phenomena,” the TIME profile of Bajaria said.The 100 people in categories such as Icons, Pioneers, Titans, Artists, Leaders and Innovators. Top global leaders include US President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Some of the Titans include Apple CEO, Tim Cook, US television show host Oprah Winfrey and Indonesian Michelle Yeoh; Icons included tennis pro Rafael Nadal, while Artists included actors Mila Kunis and Sarah Jessica Parker of the Sex and the City fame.—IANS

Industrialist Gautam Adani, Supreme Court lawyer Karuna Nundy and Kashmiri rights activist Khurram Parvez are amongst the TIME Magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People of 2022, according to the announcement made on Monday.

Adani, Karuna Nundy, Khurram Parvez Among TIME’s ‘100 Most Influential People Of 2022’

Adelaide: Peter Malinauskas, Premier of the state South Australia (SA), on Sunday announced that flu vaccines would be made free until June 30 effective immediately amid the ongoing battle against Covid-19. Previously, only pensioners, young children and immunocompromised people were eligible for free flu vaccines, with everyone else facing out-of-pocket costs, reports Xinhua news agency.Malinauskas said the move would relieve pressure on SA's hospitals amid a spike in flu and coronavirus infections. "We must do everything we can to ensure as many South Australians as possible are immunized against both Covid-19 and influenza to ease pressure on our hospitals," he said. "The dual challenge of broad community spread of Covid-19 and influenza at the same time during winter threatens to put further pressure on a hospital system already facing significant demand." Until May 8, there had been 10,599 confirmed influenza cases in Australia compared to fewer than 1,000 in 2021 amid coronavirus restrictions and border closures.Chris Moy, vice president of the Australian Medical Association, welcomed the decision to make flu vaccines free. "It's an important move, not only to increase access to people who could not previously have been eligible or afforded it, but also as an important signal to all South Australians to get a flu shot as overflowing hospitals face their first true flu season in three years," he told the local media.—IANS

Peter Malinauskas, Premier of the state South Australia (SA), on Sunday announced that flu vaccines would be made free until June 30 effective immediately amid the ongoing battle against Covid-19.

Aus state announces free flu vaccines amid Covid battle

Adelaide: Influenza cases in South Australia (SA) have spiked, prompting concerns about pressure on the hospital system. According to data released by SA Health, the number of confirmed flu cases in the state surged by 673 to 1,868 in the past seven days, reports Xinhua news agency. It comes as health authorities warn that a spike in flu and Covid-19 cases could put severe pressure on the health system. Chris Picton, SA's Health Minister, urged everyone to take up free flu vaccines and "do their bit" to save lives. "This is a concern as our hospitals and hardworking staff manage both Covid and flu cases, and normal winter demand," he told News Corp Australia. "You can protect yourself and your loved ones, and stay out of hospital this winter."The Guardian Australia on Thursday published data revealing the number of workers who took sick leave in the first half of May was 50 percent higher than the long-term average.Karen Price, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said levels of illness in the community were unusually high. "We've got a larger proportion of the population who have not been exposed to viruses much in the last two years, other than Covid, of which there is still high community transmission," she said. "It's not that the flu is any more severe in nature than normal, the problem is that we just don't have any cross-immunity built up because we haven't really had a flu season in the last two years. There is just no baseline immunity."In the year to date in 2022, there have been 38,743 notifications reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) in Australia, of which 26,193 notifications had a diagnosis date this fortnight, more than three times the notifications in the previous fortnight, according to Australian Influenza Surveillance Report and Activity Updates, which was last updated on May 27. "From mid-April 2022, the weekly number of notifications of laboratory-confirmed influenza reported in Australia has exceeded the five-year average," said the report. Australia on Thursday reported more than 30,000 new Covid-19 cases and more than 40 deaths, according to the health department figures from states and territories.—IANS

Influenza cases in South Australia (SA) have spiked, prompting concerns about pressure on the hospital system.

Influenza cases spike in Aus state

Washington: New insights into how genetic factors affect the body's immune response in type 1 diabetes have recently been found.The findings, published in eLife, provide evidence of a direct link between genetic factors associated with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes and immune functionality, particularly involving immune T cells. They also highlight 11 genes which could be explored as potential candidates for new treatments.Type 1 diabetes develops when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks groups (or islets) of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. There are currently over nine million people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, but there is no cure and patients need to have regular insulin injections to manage the condition. People with certain genetic variations are more susceptible to type 1 diabetes. But while previous studies have identified around 60 associated variations, it is still unknown how they influence the condition."To characterise the body's immune response in type 1 diabetes, we need to look at both the proportion of immune cells and their production of proteins - cytokines - that stimulate the immune system," explains Xiaojing Chu, a Doctorate Student at the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands. Chu is a co-first author of the study alongside Anna Janssen, a Medical Doctor and PhD Candidate, and Hans Koenen, Assistant Professor, at Radboud University Medical Center, the Netherlands. Xiaojing added, "In our study, we explored how genetic factors affect immune cells and their cytokine production in people with type 1 diabetes, as well as the differences between the immune response in patients and a healthy response." To do this, the researchers collected blood samples from 243 volunteers of Dutch descent with type 1 diabetes, aged 20-84 years old. They then applied a technique called genetic association analysis on more than 200 immune cell traits and more than 100 cytokine production profiles to identify genetic determinants of immune functionality. They compared the results to those obtained in a group of 500 healthy individuals from previous studies that characterised the impact of genetic factors on immune responses in these individuals.Their analyses showed that genetic variants determining susceptibility to type 1 diabetes significantly affect T-cell composition. Specifically, a group of these cells, called CCR5+ regulatory T cells, was actively involved in type 1 diabetes through an area of the genome called the constrained coding region.The team then used a technique called genome-wide quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping to analyse immune traits. This revealed 15 genetic 'commands' that influence the behaviour of immune cells in type 1 diabetes. Of these, 12 have not previously been reported in healthy people, implying a disease-specific genetic regulation. Additionally, the team identified 11 genes as potential candidates for drug development. "Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the immune mechanisms involved in the development of type 1 diabetes and that affect the general inflammatory response in patients. We hope this work will open up new avenues for the development of much-needed treatments," concludes Yang Li, Professor of Computational Biology and Director of the Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany. Li is a co-senior author of the study alongside Cees Tack, Professor in Internal Medicine at Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.&nbsp;—ANI

New insights into how genetic factors affect the body's immune response in type 1 diabetes have recently been found.

Study Explores How Genetics Influence Immunity In Type 1 Diabetes Patients

Beijing: China has been consistently increasing its inroads in the Pacific Islands, however its agenda to increase its sphere of influence in the region is in the doldrums.Di Valerio Fabbri, writing in Geopolitica.info said that Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, started his multi-country journey to the Pacific Island countries (PICs) on May 26th, 2022 and wrapped up his visits on June 3rd, 2022.His itinerary covered several island countries in the Pacific region including the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timur.The Global Times quoted observers hailing the visit as a "miraculous trip" that provided a timely answer to each PICs' individual needs, increased the scope of cooperation and ushered in a broader future for both bilateral and multilateral relations for China in the region".Wang Yi carried out "cloud visits" and virtual connections with 17 leaders of PICs and more than 30 ministerial officials and co-chaired the second China-Pacific Island countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Suva, Fiji. However, China's agenda and grand design to increase its sphere of influence among the small pacific islands were fulfilled only partially as its proposed comprehensive, multilateral security and economic cooperation agreement fell through, reported Fabbri.The Pacific Islands Forum in a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister Yi declined to sign up for the sweeping regional economic and security deal proposed by China.As purported by the Chinese Foreign Minister's spokesperson, the visit was aimed to deepen the friendship and cooperative relationship between China and regional countries and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.However, it could not generate enough trust. Of late, Beijing has been actively pursuing its engagements with those countries, efforts that are part of its aspiration to be a global power by using its deep pockets with an aim to showcase China as a development partner among the developing and least-developed PICs, reported Geopolitica.info.Nevertheless, the PICs are aware that their enhanced engagement with China could spark a local confrontation between China and the West, which perceives Chinese incursions in the region as a threat to regional peace and stability, said Fabbri.The United States, meanwhile, alerted the South Pacific nations to be wary of "shadowy" agreements with China, which has put forth a package to expand cooperation dramatically.Earlier, the US State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, noted that "we are concerned that these reported agreements may be negotiated in a rushed, non-transparent process".While the Chinese Foreign Minister was mid-way in his PICs visit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also stated that China posed an even more devious, long-term threat than Russia does.According to him, "China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it."The scope of China's failed proposed agreement with Pacific Island countries was very comprehensive and described as a potential 'game changer'.Some observers have attributed China's failure to steer ahead of its comprehensive multilateral agreement with the Pacific Island countries to Australia's new Foreign Minister Penny Wong's intervention in Fiji just before Wang's stopover.However, many analysts opine that the rejection of the Chinese deal signals a "collective and unequivocal approach" of the Pacific Island countries not allowing themselves to be "used as pawns" in a "geopolitical contest".&nbsp;—ANI

China has been consistently increasing its inroads in the Pacific Islands, however its agenda to increase its sphere of influence in the region is in the doldrums.

China's Agenda To Increase Its Sphere Of Influence In Pacific Islands In Doldrums

Barcelona (Spain): While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is certain to dominate an upcoming NATO summit in Madrid, Spain and other member nations are quietly pushing the Western alliance to consider how mercenaries aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin are spreading Moscow’s influence to Africa.As the host of the summit taking place from Tuesday to Thursday, Spain wants to emphasize its proximity to Africa as it lobbies for a greater focus on Europe’s southern flank in a new document outlining NATO’s vision of its security challenges and tasks. The Strategic Concept is NATO’s most important working document after the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949, which contained the key provision holding that an attack on one member is viewed as an attack upon all. The security assessment is updated roughly every decade to reset the West’s security agenda.The current version, approved in Lisbon in 2010, stated the risk of a conventional war on NATO territory was “low.” It did not explicitly mention concerns about instability in Africa. At the time, the alliance viewed apathy as its biggest military threat; U.S. complaints that some European members were not paying their due featured heavily in summit talks.Fast forward a dozen years, and the view looks very different from NATO headquarters in Brussels. After Russia brought war close to NATO’s eastern borders, the alliance has worked to provide Ukraine with an assortment of more powerful weapons and to avoid the very real risk of getting drawn into the fighting.But there appears to be a consensus among NATO members heading into the Madrid summit that while Russia remains concern No. 1, the alliance must continue to widen its view globally. Spain’s position for an increased focus on “the South” is shared by Britain, France and Italy.In their view, the security challenges in Africa arise from a Putin apparently dead-set on restoring the imperial glories of Russia as well as from an expansive China. Russia has gained traction thanks to the presence of its mercenaries in the Sahel region, a semiarid expanse stretching from Senegal to Sudan that suffers from political strife, terrorism and drought.“Each time I meet with NATO ministers, the support of the allies is total due to the instability that we see on the alliance’s southern frontier and especially the situation in the Sahel region right now,” Spanish Foreign Minister José Albares said.The Kremlin denies links to the Wagner Group, a mercenary force with an increasing presence in central and North Africa and the Middle East. The private military company, which has also participated in the war in Ukraine, has developed footholds in Libya, Mali, Sudan and Central African Republic.In Mali, Wagner soldiers are filling a void created by the exit of former colonial power France. In Sudan, Russia’s offer of an economic alliance earned it the promise of a naval base on the Red Sea. In Central African Republic, Wagner fighters protect the country’s gold and diamond mines. In return, Putin gets diplomatic allies and resources.French President Emmanuel Macron as long called for a “greater involvement” from NATO in the Sahel region. Now that Wagner has moved into Mali, French authorities underlined that Wagner mercenaries were accused of human right abuses in the Central African Republic, Libya and Syria.Former NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana said that Russia’s brutal military campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his country’s long civil war left it emboldened.“Syria gave [the Russians] the sentiment that they could be more active in that part of the world,” Solana told The Associated Press. “They have very good relations with Algeria and they have (...) the Wagner type of people in the Sahel, which is delicate.”With the Sahel, Morocco and Algeria at risk of worsening instability, “the southern part of NATO, for Portugal, Spain, Greece, etc., they would like to have an eye open to that part of the world,” he said.Italy is another NATO member attuned to the political climate across the Mediterranean Sea. The country is home to NATO’s Joint Force Command base in Naples, which in 2017 opened a south hub Hub focusing specifically on terrorism, radicalization, migration and other security issues emanating from North Africa and the Middle East.The Italian ambassador to NATO, Francesco Maria Talo, said in a May interview with Italian news agency ANSA that humanitarian crises in Africa must concern all NATO allies.“Near us there’s Africa, with a billion inhabitants at risk of poverty, aggravated by food insecurity, terrorism and climate change, all factors that combine to create insecurity,” Talo said. “And Russia is present there, too.” The importance of the other side of the Mediterranean became painfully evident to Spain over the past year due to a series of diplomatic crises involving Morocco and Algeria and their rivalry over the fate of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony.Amid the disputes, reduced border security allowed migrants to enter Spanish territory, and there were perceived threats to energy supplies. Analysts consider both to be tactics of “hybrid warfare” when governments use them against other countries. Speaking in Madrid last month, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace noted the problems caused last year when Belarus, a Putin ally, allegedly encouraged migrants to cross its borders into Poland and other neighboring countries. “If the likes of Wagner get the control they have or they’d like to have in places like Libya or indeed what we see they’re already doing in Mali, do not think that Spain will be untouched by that,” Wallace said.NATO is also expected to include in the new Strategic Document a reference to China’s growing military reach both in and beyond the Pacific theater. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said last month in Madrid that “China has joined Russia in openly contesting the right of each and every country to choose his own path.”In May, U.S. Army Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command, warned that China was trying to build a military naval base on Africa’s Atlantic coast. He said that China “has most traction” toward establishing the base in Equatorial Guinea, a tiny oil-rich dictatorship that was once Spain’s only sub-Saharan African colony.China only operates one acknowledged foreign military base, located in Djibouti in East Africa. But many believe that its People’s Liberation Army is busy establishing an overseas military network, even if it doesn’t use the term “base.” NATO has invited the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand to the summit to demonstrate its interest in the Asian-Pacific. The foreign minister of Mauritania, a former French colony in West Africa, is also invited to attend a working dinner of fellow foreign ministers at the NATO summit. NATO said the country, which borders Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali and Senegal, was “closely associated with the preparatory work” for the new Strategic Concept. —AP

While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is certain to dominate an upcoming NATO summit in Madrid, Spain and other member nations are quietly pushing the Western alliance to consider how mercenaries aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin are spreading Moscow’s influence to Africa.

As Summit Host, Spain Urges NATO To Watch Its Southern Flank

Tokyo: In spite of significant and impressive advances in vaccine technology, the global COVID-19 pandemic is over by any means. An important challenge in limiting the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is identifying the infected individuals. Researchers in Japan have now developed a new antibody-based method for the rapid and reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2 that does not require a blood sample.The ineffective identification of SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals has severely limited the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the high rate of asymptomatic infections (16 per cent-38 per cent) has exacerbated this situation. The predominant detection method to date collects samples by swabbing the nose and throat. However, the application of this method is limited by its long detection time (4-6 hours), high cost, and requirement for specialized equipment and medical personnel, particularly in resource-limited countries. An alternative and complementary method for the confirmation of COVID-19 infection involves the detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Testing strips based on gold nanoparticles are currently in widespread use for point-of-care testing in many countries. They produce sensitive and reliable results within 10-20 minutes, but they require blood samples collected via a finger prick using a lancing device. This is painful and increases the risk of infection or cross-contamination, and the used kit components present a potential biohazard risk.Lead author Leilei Bao from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, explains: "To develop a minimally invasive detection assay that would avoid these drawbacks, we explored the idea of sampling and testing the interstitial fluid (ISF), which is located in the epidermis and dermis layers of human skin. Although the antibody levels in the ISF are approximately15%-25% of those in blood, it was still feasible that anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG antibodies could be detected and that ISF could act as a direct substitute for blood sampling."After demonstrating that ISF could be suitable for antibody detection, the researchers developed an innovative approach to both sample and test the ISF. "First, we developed biodegradable porous microneedles made of polylactic acid that draws up the ISF from human skin," explains Beomjoon Kim, senior author. "Then, we constructed a paper-based immunoassay biosensor for the detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies." By integrating these two elements, the researchers created a compact patch capable of on-site detection of the antibodies within 3 minutes (result from in vitro tests). This novel detection device has great potential for the rapid screening of COVID-19 and many other infectious diseases that is safe and acceptable to patients. It holds promise for use in many countries regardless of their wealth, which is a key aim for the global management of infectious diseases.&nbsp;—ANI

In spite of significant and impressive advances in vaccine technology, the global COVID-19 pandemic is over by any means.

Research Shows New Coronavirus Antibody Detection Method That Does Not Require Blood Sample

Chennai: An influential association, representing thousands of Indian esports athletes and skill gamers, has made a representation to the Tamil Nadu government to recognise skill games as a distinct sport and not club it along with gambling. Two Indian chess prodigies have also weighed in with their support.
The Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA), said in the representation that the TN government should provide a safe harbour for professional, amateur and casual online skill gamers as exemption from the ambit of any state-related gambling or gaming legislations.
This has come in the backdrop of a controversy that has broken out in Tamil Nadu around rummy and other skill games. The Tamil Nadu government constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) K. Chandru for advising on enacting fresh legislation on online games. The committee's report is under the active consideration of the state government.
Further, the government has invited inputs from various stakeholders, like the general public, parents, teachers, gamers, social activists, gaming service providers on the proposed litigation on online games.
Two Indian chess prodigies from India have also lent their weight to this plea. Grandmaster Ankit Rajpara said, "The Central government needs to take some action with regards to these arbitrary bans. In the past the Central government has given comfort to players in stakeholder meetings that we will not be treated as criminals. However, state governments continue to do the opposite."
Rathanvel VS, who was recently third at the prestigious Andorra Chess Open said, "In the past, when the Tamil Nadu government banned online skill-based gaming, various chess players were not able to participate in tournaments. These tournaments help us fund our coaching, and treating chess players the same way as gamblers by a state that has over 30 grandmasters and just hosted the Chess Olympiad does not make sense."
Shivani Jha, director, EPWA said, "Multiple legislations and putting skill-based games in the same bucket as gambling is leading to criminalisation of skill-based players. While India is participating in international tournaments and developers are making new games, it is imperative for the state to regulate online skill-based gaming. Moreover, courts have repeatedly pronounced judgments stating the state government can only make laws on online gambling and not gaming, this ends up putting players at risk and equating them with gamblers and criminals."
Shivani Jha recently led a delegation of esports athletes and skill gamers for a special meeting with Rajeev Chandrashekhar, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology. India has approximately 150,000 professional and semi-professional esports players and over 400 million online gamers. The Indian team for DOTA 2 won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022 conducted as part of CWG in Birmingham.
—IANS&nbsp;

An influential association, representing thousands of Indian esports athletes and skill gamers, has made a representation to the Tamil Nadu government to recognise skill games as a distinct sport and not club it along with gambling. Two Indian chess prodigies have also weighed in with their support.

 'We are skill gamers, not gamblers'; Indian esports and skill gamers' plea to the TN government

New Delhi: Experts have warned that there could be an outbreak of swine flu and other viral illnesses in the capital, flagging disruptions in flu vaccination for the last two years owing to the Covid pandemic. With Delhi witnessing an increase in swine flu cases, they have also advised people to follow the mask mandate and adhere to social distancing norms.
Dr Vishakh Varma, senior consultant and HoD, Critical Care Medicine at Aakash Healthcare, said since the symptoms of swine flu are quite similar to the common cold, people often don’t take it seriously in the initial stages until it becomes critical.
“A swine flu patient usually goes through burning / sore throat, nose and abdominal pain and cough. There is an additional symptom of shortness of breath,” he added. He stressed that it’s imperative to maintain good hydration, hand hygiene, cough hygiene (cough and sneezing in disposable tissue), and suitable disposal of this infected waste material. Dr Manoj Goel, director, Pulmonology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, said due to the pandemic, the flu vaccination was disrupted which could be responsible for an increase in swine flu cases.
“There could be a swine flu outbreak due to the situation,” he said.
But how does one distinguish between the symptoms of Covid and swine flu? Explaining the difference between the two infections, he said, “In Covid, the problem of respiratory distress arises in the second week and in the first week, patients have symptoms like fever, cough, etc but in the case of swine flu, shortness of breath, respiratory distress will start right from the first week.” He asserted that masking up and following social distancing norms will help guard one against swine flu.
His colleague, Dr Vikas Maurya, director and HOD, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, also added that swine flu cases are increasing and those patients are also requiring hospitalisation.
This, he said, comes amid a slight increase in number of COVID-19 patients needing hospitalisation.
Varma recommended that people should get themselves vaccinated with a quadriplegic flu vaccine shot before the peak of the season and for health care / high-risk cases. “Our hospital has encountered a case of swine flu, where the patient had a fever, cough and cold for three days. He even developed breathing difficulties a couple of hours before getting admitted to the hospital. The patient is also a diabetic and on maintenance dialysis due to his CKD,” he said.
Dr Jugal Kishore, head of community medicine, Safdarjung Hospital, said, “In August-September, we see a spike in cases and every two-three years, there is a cycle when such spikes happen.
“The reasons might be decline in immunity or some new variant emerging. Although there is vaccination, but no one goes for it. People should get vaccinated. This swine flu season could continue till November-December,” he said. He advised that people should get vaccinated in April and May. —PTI

Experts have warned that there could be an outbreak of swine flu and other viral illnesses in the capital, flagging disruptions in flu vaccination for the last two years owing to the Covid pandemic. 

Experts Warn Of Spike In Swine Flu Cases In Delhi

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has issued an advisory on tomato flu, a hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) that is identified by the symptom of tomato-shaped blisters.
"The best thing for prevention is maintaining proper hygiene and sanitisation of the surroundings. Parents should tell their children not to hug or touch other children having fever or rash symptoms," reads the advisory which has been shared with all the Chief Medical Officers (CMO) of the state's 75 districts by the infectious disease/vector-borne disease department.
The disease occurs mainly in children under 10 years of age, but adults can be infected as well.
Tomato flu has symptoms similar to other viral infections (fever, fatigue, body ache, and rashes), but is not related to SARS-CoV2, monkeypox, dengue or chikungunya, said the advisory.
"Among children, the primary symptoms are like other viral infections such as fever, rashes and pain in joints. Tomato flu is a self-limiting disease and there is no specific drug to treat it. Hence, the best option is to adhere to preventive measures of proper hygiene," said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general, Association of International Doctors.
The advisory has also mentioned ways to take samples from suspected cases and how to transport it to the lab.
Manoj Agrawal, CMO, Lucknow, said: "We have circulated the advisory to all medical institutes, including the KGMU, SGPGI, district level hospitals and private hospitals to follow the protocol."
India's first tomato flu case was reported in Kerala's Kollam district on May 6. —IANS

The Uttar Pradesh government has issued an advisory on tomato flu, a hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) that is identified by the symptom of tomato-shaped blisters.

UP Issues Advisory On Tomato Flu

Washington: Researchers have demonstrated the low environmental footprint of water fluoridation compared to other preventive measures for tooth decay. Research findings also strengthen the case internationally for water fluoridation programs to reduce dental decay, particularly in the most vulnerable populations.
Water fluoridation is regarded as one of the most significant public health interventions of the twentieth century. But as the climate crisis worsens, the contribution of healthcare and the prevention of disease to the crisis must be considered. Action is urgent.
Influenced by this urgency, researchers quantified the environmental impact of water fluoridation for an individual five year-old child over a one-year period and compared this to the traditional use of fluoride varnish and toothbrushing programmes, which take place in selected schools across the UK, and internationally.
Today, over 35% of the world's population have access to water fluoridation, with studies showing significant reductions in dental caries. Whilst data on the clinical effectiveness and cost analysis of water fluoridation are available, there has been no data regarding its environmental impact up to now.
To quantify this impact, the research team performed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by carefully measuring the combined travel, the weight and amounts of all products and the processes involved in all three preventive programmes (toothbrushing, fluoride varnish programmes and water fluoridation) . Data was inputted into a specific environmental programme (OpenLCA) and the team used the Ecoinvent database, enabling them to calculate environmental outputs, including the carbon footprint, the amount of water used for each product and the amount of land use. The results of the study, led by Brett Duane, Associate Professor in Dental Public Health at Trinity College, concluded that water fluoridation had the lowest environmental impact in all categories studied, and had the lowest disability-adjusted life years impact when compared to all other community-level caries prevention programmes. The study also found that water fluoridation gives the greatest return on investment.
Considering the balance between clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and environmental sustainability, researchers believe that water fluoridation should be the preventive intervention of choice. This research strengthens the case internationally for water fluoridation programmes to reduce dental decay, especially in the most vulnerable populations.
Associate Professor Duane said:
" As the climate crisis starts to worsen, we need to find ways of preventing disease to reduce the environmental impact of our health systems. This research clearly demonstrates the low carbon impact of water fluoridation as an effective prevention tool. "
Professor Paul Ashley, Senior Clinical Lecturer (Honorary NHS Consultant), UCL Eastman Dental Institute added:
"Renewed efforts should be made to increase access to this intervention." —ANI

 Researchers have demonstrated the low environmental footprint of water fluoridation compared to other preventive measures for tooth decay. Research findings also strengthen the case internationally for water fluoridation programs to reduce dental decay, particularly in the most vulnerable populations.

Researchers Consider Water Fluoridation As Effective Prevention Of Tooth Decay

Puducherry: The Union Territory of Puducherry has suspended classes for students from standards 1 to 8 till September 25, after a hike in the number of influenza cases in the territory.
The closure was initiated after the state Health Department gave a recommendation to this effect and the decision was made by Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, and Minister for Education, A. Namassivayam.
The Directorate of School Education in a statement on Saturday said that the holidays will be applicable for LKG, and UKG students as well.&nbsp;
Health Department officials told IANS that in the past week, there was an estimated increase of 50 per cent in cases of influenza among children who are visiting various health clinics.
The officials added that most of the children are arriving with high fever and cough and the spread is on the rise.
Dr. R. Santhanakrishnan of a Government hospital at Karaikkal, while speaking to IANS said: "The flu-like illness is spreading when children inhale droplets from infected persons or when they are in direct contact with mucous from patients. This has led to the high spread among children attending schools.
He said that children must stay at home, use face masks, maintain social distancing, and regularly wash hands with soap to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Puducherry Health Department has also opened dedicated fever clinics in government clinics and PHCs across the territory. It has also ensured that doctors are present in all fever clinics and PHCs.
According to a study conducted by the Puducherry Health Department, after the decline in the number of Covid-19 cases, people throng markets and public places without masks and this has led to the spread of flu-like fever.
The authorities have directed patients infected with fever to wear face masks and to isolate themselves from other members of the family to prevent the spread.&nbsp;
—IANS

The Union Territory of Puducherry has suspended classes for students from standards 1 to 8 till September 25, after a hike in the number of influenza cases in the territory.

 Influenza cases on the rise: Classes 1-8 in Puducherry shut till Sep 25

Paris: France detected an increase of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases in coastal birds since mid-May, the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food has said. "The national health situation with regards to avian influenza had improved in France since the beginning of May, with the return to a level of risk classified as 'negligible'. However, since mid-May a sharp increase in cases has been observed in 'indigenous' wildlife on the Channel coast and more recently on the Atlantic coast," the ministry was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. "Since mid-May, grouped mortalities of coastal birds have been observed," it said in a press release. "The situation is exceptional (never encountered in France before) due to its scale and the period of when the detections are held," the ministry said, adding that "strict compliance with biosecurity rules and bird monitoring" were reinforced. In these cluster areas, "various measures have been introduced, the aim of which is to strengthen the surveillance of the wildlife and poultry farms," the ministry noted. On Monday, 19 clusters of HPAI, 12 in breeding farms and seven in poultry yards, were detected in the country, the ministry said. An avian flu cluster has been detected on Saturday in a farm of 36,000 poultry which located in the city of Cere-la-Ronde, Indre-et-Loire department, west-central France, the local prefecture of the department revealed on Monday. According to the prefecture, in order to avoid the spread of the avian flu, culling of the animals in the farm was "carried out as soon as possible." A three-km protection zone and 10-km surveillance zone were established on Saturday around the cluster, where hunting of waterfowl and other birds were also prohibited, the prefecture added. Since August 2021, HPAI outbreaks have been detected in wildlife or farms in Europe and 36 countries are affected by the avian flu on the continent.&nbsp;
—IANS

France detected an increase of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases in coastal birds since mid-May, the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food has said.

 France detects avian flu case increase in coastal birds since mid-May

France detected an increase of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases in coastal birds since mid-May, the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food has said.


Roorkee (The Hawk): Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) in its pursuit to lead the future by providing cutting-edge science and technology solutions took another big leap when it opened up a state-of-the-art laboratory named ‘Rock &amp; Fluid Multiphysics Laboratory’.
The lab was inaugurated by Padma Bhushan Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Honorable Member, NITI Aayog in the august presence of Prof. Ajit K Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee, Prof. Manoranjan Parida, Deputy Director, IIT Roorkee, and Prof. Akshay Dwivedi, Dean SRIC, IIT Roorkee. Prof. Manika Prasad, Colorado School of Mines, USA, along with Prof. Anand Joshi, Head Earth Sciences, and other respected faculty colleagues of IIT Roorkee and students also graced the inaugural ceremony (Figure 1).
This lab hosts some of the cutting-edge tools and technologies in the domain of Applied Geoscience and Petroleum Engineering. It can facilitate Multiphysics and multiscale experiments and create feasibility models for increasing the success rates of the exploration and development targets of energy companies in their efforts to successfully exploit conventional and unconventional energy resources. The laboratory has a Low-Frequency System (Figure 2) that provides dynamic estimates of the seismic rock property response in the range of 0.1 Hz to 3000 Hz, under insitu conditions. This simulates the insitu reservoir under hydrostatic assumptions. The Pseudo Triaxial Setup provides the static (0 Hz) estimates of the elastic and the associated geo-mechanical attributes in the formations of mineral deposits under more realistic subsurface conditions.
In addition to these seismic domain investigations, the laboratory is also capable of making an observation in the resistivity domains using economic and non-destructive techniques like spectral induced polarization (SIP) measurements and the cation exchange capacity (CEC) measurements. This Multiphysics approach to understanding the physical processes of rock &amp; fluid and their interactions in the laboratory and helps a great deal in upscaling the observations to understand the field measurements.
Given the complexity of the subsurface in terms of its constituents and environment, the energy resource can be extremely challenging to identify and characterize. The key is to unlock the precious energy resources held in these rocks using a Multiphysics approach where the constraints from each physics principle help in getting a fully converging solution with the least uncertainty. The Rock and Fluid Multi-physics laboratory at IIT Roorkee is well equipped to fulfill this role.
This lab can handle characterization challenges of the oil and gas reservoir in routine (more homogeneous and good permeability) and complex (very heterogeneous and poor permeability) formations including the hydrates and the geothermal systems. The lab can also carry out carbon utilization and storage feasibility studies for formations such as shales, organic-rich resources, carbonates, coals, saline aquifers, coals, and volcanic rocks. Hence, this lab can prove to be of significant value addition in helping the geoscientist and petroleum engineers in having an insight into the physical processes happening inside the earth and make well-constrained decisions with minimum possible uncertainty.
Prof. Ravi Sharma, Ph.D., In-charge, Rock and Fluid Multi-physics Laboratory, IIT Roorkee, highlighted, "In the laboratory, we simultaneously experiment with rock physics modeling to investigate the multi-physical properties of rocks, fluids and their interactions at benchtop and in-situ condition. It is very challenging to invert for the subsurface properties but the critical feasibility models from this laboratory can help reduce the uncertainty to understand the potential of oil &amp; gas, hydrates, and geothermal resources."
Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, said, “State of the art laboratory like these fits very well into the dynamics of the challenges associated with exploration and development of energy resources hosted in the complex subsurface formation. This laboratory would also be a significant boost to the efforts of carbon sequestration and a good understanding of the associated implications with the help of feasibility models created in the lab. My best wishes to Prof. Sharma and hope to see some field applicable solutions coming out from the laboratory in near future.” Prof. Ajit K Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee, said, “The Rock and Fluid Multi-physics Laboratory at IIT Roorkee is ideally located near the Himalayan Mountain ranges and very close to the headquarters of ONGC. This lab will significantly contribute to the petroleum engineering profession, groundwater exploration and resource characterization. This will help towards a sustainable approach in energy exploration.”

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) in its pursuit to lead the future by providing cutting-edge science and technology solutions took another big leap when it opened up a state-of-the-art laboratory named ‘Rock & Fluid Multiphysics Laboratory’.

IIT Roorkee Establishes State-Of-The-Art ‘Rock And Fluid Multi-Physics Laboratory’ To Aid In Efforts Of Energy Resource Exploration In The Country

Washington: A new research has shed light on one of the reasons why animal evolution accelerated millions of years ago and according to scientists it is the wild fluctuations in the oxygen levels a billion years ago that could be held responsible.
Scientists believe atmospheric oxygen developed in three stages, starting with what is known as the Great Oxidation Event around two billion years ago, when oxygen first appeared in the atmosphere. The third stage, around 400 million years ago, saw atmospheric oxygen rise to current levels.
What is uncertain is what happened during the second stage, in a time known as the Neoproterozoic Era, which started about one billion years ago and lasted for around 500 million years. During this time, early forms of animal life emerged.
The question scientists have tried to answer is - was there anything extraordinary about the changes to oxygen levels in the Neoproterozoic Era that may have played a pivotal role in the early evolution of animals - did oxygen levels suddenly rise or was there a gradual increase?
Fossilised traces of early animals - known as Ediacaran biota, multi-celled organisms that required oxygen - have been found in sedimentary rocks that are 541 to 635 million years old.
To try to answer the question, a research team at the University of Leeds supported by the Universities of Lyon, Exeter and UCL, used measurements of the different forms of carbon, or carbon isotopes, found in limestone rocks taken from shallow seas. Based on the isotope ratios of the different types of carbon found, the researchers were able to calculate photosynthesis levels that existed millions of years ago and infer atmospheric oxygen levels.
As a result of the calculations, they have been able to produce a record of oxygen levels in the atmosphere over the last 1.5 billion years, which tells us how much oxygen would have been diffusing into the ocean to support early marine life.
Dr Alex Krause, a biogeochemical modeller who completed his PhD in the School of Earth and Environment at Leeds and was the lead scientist on the project, said the findings give a new perspective on the way oxygen levels were changing on Earth.
He added: "The early Earth, for the first two billion years of its existence, was anoxic, devoid of atmospheric oxygen. Then oxygen levels started to rise, which is known as the Great Oxidation Event.
"Up until now, scientists had thought that after the Great Oxidation Event, oxygen levels were either low and then shot up just before we see the first animals evolve, or that oxygen levels were high for many millions of years before the animals came along.
"But our study shows oxygen levels were far more dynamic. There was an oscillation between high and low levels of oxygen for a long time before early forms of animal life emerged. We are seeing periods where the ocean environment, where early animals lived, would have had abundant oxygen -- and then periods where it does not."
Dr Benjamin Mills, who leads the Earth Evolution Modelling Group at Leeds and supervised the project, said: "This periodic change in environmental conditions would have produced evolutionary pressures where some life forms may have become extinct and new ones could emerge."
Dr Mills said the oxygenated periods expanded what are known as "habitable spaces" -- parts of the ocean where oxygen levels would have been high enough to support early animal life forms. He said: "It has been proposed in ecological theory that when you have a habitable space that is expanding and contracting, this can support rapid changes to the diversity of biological life.
"When oxygen levels decline, there is severe environmental pressure on some organisms which could drive extinctions. And when the oxygen-rich waters expand, the new space allows the survivors to rise to ecological dominance. "These expanded habitable spaces would have lasted for millions of years, giving plenty of time for ecosystems to develop."
The findings - "Extreme variability in atmospheric oxygen levels in the late Precambrian" - are published in the journal Science Advances. —ANI

A new research has shed light on one of the reasons why animal evolution accelerated millions of years ago and according to scientists it is the wild fluctuations in the oxygen levels a billion years ago that could be held responsible.

Research Sheds Light On How Fluctuating Oxygen Levels May Have Accelerated Animal Evolution

Washington: Rapid changes in marine oxygen levels may have played a significant role in driving Earth's first mass extinction, according to a new study led by Florida State University researchers.
About 443 million years ago, life on Earth was undergoing the Late Ordovician mass extinction, or LOME, which eliminated about 85% of marine species. Scientists have long studied this mass extinction and continue to investigate its possible causes, such as reduced habitat loss in a rapidly cooling world or persistent low-oxygen conditions in the oceans.
By measuring isotopes of the element thallium, which shows special sensitivity to changes in oxygen in the ancient marine environment, the research team found that previously documented patterns of this mass extinction coincided with an initial rapid decrease in marine oxygen levels followed by a rapid increase in oxygen. Their work is published online in the journal Science Advances.
"Paleontologists have noted that there were several groups of organisms, such as graptolites and brachiopods that started to decline very early in this mass extinction interval, but we didn't really have any good evidence of an environmental or climate signature to tie that early decline of these groups to a particular mechanism," said co-author Seth Young, an associate professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science.
"This paper can directly link that early phase of extinction to changes in oxygen. We see a marked change in thallium isotopes at the same time these organisms start their steady decline into the main phase of the mass extinction event," he said.
That decrease in oxygen was immediately followed by an increase. This rapid shift in oxygen coincided with the traditional first die-off of mass extinction and major ice sheet growth over the ancient South Pole.
"Turbulence in oxygen levels in oceanic waters is really what seems to have been pretty problematic for organisms that were living in the Late Ordovician at that time, which might have been adapted to cope with low oxygen conditions initially or vice versa," Young said.
"The fact that oxygen levels in the oceans next to the continents switching back and forth over short geologic time scales (a few hundred thousand years) really did seem to play havoc with these marine ecosystems," he added.
The Late Ordovician extinction was one of five major mass extinctions in Earth's history and the only one scientists are confident took place in what are called 'icehouse' conditions, in which widespread ice sheets are present on Earth's surface. Earth is currently experiencing icehouse conditions and loss of biodiversity, which makes this ancient mass extinction an important analog for present-day conditions, along with trying to understand Earth's future as our climate continues to warm and ice sheets recede.
Previous research into environmental conditions surrounding the LOME used evidence found in limestones from more oxygenated settings, but this study used shales that were deposited in deeper, oxygen-poor water, which record different geochemical signatures, allowing the researchers to make conclusions about global marine conditions, rather than for local conditions.
"The discovery of the initial expansion of low-oxygen conditions on a global level and the coincidence with the early phases of decline in marine animals helps paint a clearer picture of what was happening with this extinction event," said lead author Nevin Kozik, a visiting assistant professor at Occidental College and former FSU doctoral student. —ANI

 Rapid changes in marine oxygen levels may have played a significant role in driving Earth's first mass extinction, according to a new study led by Florida State University researchers.

Rapid Fluctuations In Oxygen Levels Coincided With Earth's First Mass Extinction

Hyderabad (The Hawk): In December and January, the South Central Railway (SCR) would operate 38 Sabarimala special trains to accommodate the influx of devotees.
These trains will operate between multiple destinations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, as well as Kollam and Kottayam in Kerala.
Special Hyderabad-Kollam trains will operate every Monday on December 5, 12, 19, and 26 and January 2,9 and 16 according to SCR. The special trains between Kollam and Hyderabad will operate on December 6, 13, 20, and 27 and January 3, 10, and 17 of each month on Tuesdays.
Hyderabad-Kollam-Hyderabad special trains will stop at Secunderabad, Nalgonda, Miryalaguda, Nadikude, Sattenapalli, Guntur, Tenali, Bapatla, Chirala, Ongole, Kavali, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Tirupati, Chittoor, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palghat, Thrisur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Chenganacheri, Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Mavelikera, Kayankulam and Sasthankota stations in both the directions.
The special Narsapur-Kottayam train will run every Friday on December 2, 9, 16, 30, and January 6 and 13. In the other direction, the special train will operate on December 3, 10, 17, and 31 and January 7 and 14 respectively (Saturdays).
Narsapur-Kottayam-Narsapur special trains will stop at Palakollu, Bhimavaram, Bhimavaram Town, Akividu, Kaikaluru, Gudivada, Vijayawada, Tenali, Bapatla, Chirala, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Tirupati, Chittoor, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Thrisur, Aluva and Ernakulam Town stations in both the directions.
Special trains will operate between Secunderabad and Kottayam on December 4, 11, 18, and 25 and on January 1 and 8. (Sundays). Special trains between Kottayam and Secunderabad are scheduled on December 5, 12, 19, and 26 and January 2 and 9. (Monday).
Secunderabad-Kottayam-Secunderabad special trains will stop at Cherlapalli, Nalgonda, Miryalaguda, Nadikude, Piduguralla, Sattenapalli, Guntur, Tenali, Bapatla, Chirala, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palghat, Thrisur, Aluva and Ernakulam Town in both the directions.
The coaches on these trains will be 2AC, 3AC, Sleeper Class, and General Second Class.
(Inputs from Agencies)

In December and January, the South Central Railway (SCR) would operate 38 Sabarimala special trains to accommodate the influx of devotees.

There are 38 Sabarimala pilgrimage trains from Telugu states

New Delhi (The Hawk): India faced the resurgence of infectious diseases as it reopened after the two horrific years of Covid, and a new version of the hand, foot, and mouth disease, sometimes known as tomato flu, caused quite a worry throughout many states.
The uncommon viral virus known as tomato flu may represent a new form of the widespread infectious disease hand, foot, and mouth disease, which primarily affects young children between the ages of one and five.
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha were the first states to report instances of tomato flu. On May 6, 2022, the Kollam district of Kerala reported the discovery of tomato flu.
Even while the tomato flu virus is not thought to be life-threatening, medical professionals cautioned that if it continues to spread, it may return to schools after the epidemic.
Health officials also stated that individuals have a very slim probability of catching the illness.
This is a very strong indication that we are moving into a viral disease period, according to Bhawuk Dhir, a dermatologist at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi.
With the spread of Covid, monkeypox, and now hand, foot, and mouth disease, it is obvious that we are moving towards an era of viral infections, according to Dhir. This was something that many academics had previously anticipated.
Coxsackie virus A16, a non-polio enterovirus that causes tomato flu, is highly contagious and spreads by fecal-oral pathway, fluid from blisters, secretions from the nose, and throat.
It is typically a minor, self-limiting viral illness that only needs supportive treatment to recover. A small number of people could experience problems like meningitis and widespread infection.
The Union Health Ministry recently released advice for Tomato Flu, emphasising that its treatment is similar to that for other viral infections, including rest, isolation, drinking lots of fluids, and using a hot water sponge to soothe itching and rashes. It is necessary to administer paracetamol as supportive therapy for fever, body aches, and other symptomatic conditions.
There are no antiviral medications or vaccinations available to treat or prevent tomato flu.
According to Dhir, "the phrase tomato fever was coined because of the red blisters that resemble a tomato."
The greatest approach to prevent this sickness, even though there aren't many new cases being reported right now, is to keep the environment clean and hygienic, as well as to keep an affected child from exchanging toys, clothes, food, or other objects with other children who aren't afflicted.
(Inputs from Agencies)

India faced the resurgence of infectious diseases as it reopened after the two horrific years of Covid, and a new version of the hand, foot, and mouth disease, sometimes known as tomato flu, caused quite a worry throughout many states.

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