Columns

Srinagar, Dec 11 (IANS) RoundGlass Punjab FC (RGPFC) will aim to bounce back from their loss last week as they face Real Kashmir FC in a Round 7 match of the I-League 2022-23 season at the TRC Stadium, here on Monday.

RGPFC had suffered their first loss of the season against TRAU at Imphal in the last round while table toppers Real Kashmir FC, who are unbeaten this season, had beaten Sreenidi Deccan FC in their last match at Srinagar.

RGPFC will have their task cut out against a confident side at their home ground which will see a good amount of supporters in the stands.

"We have a very difficult game ahead of us against one of the strongest sides. They have shown in their previous games how difficult it is to face them in their home. But, we are concentrated and focused on our target of getting a good result out of this game," said RGPFC head coach Staikos Vergetis during the pre-match press conference.

RGPFC top scorer Luka Majcen, who was not fit for their last match will lead the attacking line consisting of Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Brandon Vanlalremdika, Juan Mera and Samuel Lalmuanpuia and look to put pressure on a tough Real Kashmir defence.

Punjab FC have also looked solid in defence all season with captain Aleksander Ignjatovic and Deepak Devrani in the centre, supported by Khaiminthang Lhungdim and Huidrom Naocha Singh in the wings. They have provided very good cover for goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu.

"We are here competing for the title and our target tomorrow is to get the three points. Every match is an important one when you're competing to be on top of the table. We are well prepared for the match tomorrow and hope it will be an exciting match," said RGPFC goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu.

RoundGlass Punjab FC won their last encounter against Real Kashmir 2-0 last season. They are currently fifth in the table with 10 points from five matches while Real Kashmir FC are first in the table with 16 points from six games.

--IANS

avn/bsk

Shimla, Dec 11 (IANS) Four-time legislator and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was born on March 27, 1964, at Bhavran village in Nadaun tehsil of Hamirpur district and started his political career at the age of 17.

He is son of late Rasil Singh and married to Kamlesh Thakur. He has two daughters.

Sukhu did M.A., L.L.B. from Himachal Pradesh University here. He was elected class representative of Government Degree College in Sanjauli, Shimla, from 1981-82 and 1982-83.

He was elected as General Secretary in 1983-1984 and remained President of Government Degree College, Sanjauli, from 1984 to 1985.

He was also elected as a department representative of Law Department during 1985-86 and state president of the NSUI from 1989 to 1995.

Sukhu remained the general secretary of the state Youth Congress from 1995 to 1998 and President of the state Youth Congress from 1998 to 2008.

He was councillor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation twice from 1992 to 1997 and 1997 to 2002. He was elected as General Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee from 2008 to 2012 and President of the Pradesh Congress Committee in 2013.

He was elected to the state legislative Assembly in 2003, re-elected in December 2007 and remained as the Chief Whip of the Congress Legislature Party from 2007 to 2012.

He was re-elected to the 13th Vidhan Sabha for the third term in December 2017 and was nominated as a member of the Public Undertakings, Privileges and Business Advisory Committees.

Sukhu was again re-elected to the 14th Vidhan Sabha in December 2022.

--IANS
vg/uk/

New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) Fifatrol, an ayurvedic formulation composed of time-tested herbs, is effective in treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), a contagious viral and bacterial infection, according to a study published in the International Research Journal of Ayurveda and Yoga.

A team of researchers had carried out the study on 203 patients with URTI in various health centres across the country.

During the treatment, the health parameters of the patients, who were given Fifatrol twice a day, were checked on the first, fourth and seventh day.

As per the study, the patient's condition was found to be improved by 69.5 per cent and 90.36 per cent within the fourth and seventh days respectively.

"Effectiveness was evaluated by examining the reduction in symptoms scores at day four and seven respectively. This observational study has gathered evidence about the effectiveness and safety of Fifatrol on the amelioration of the symptoms of URTI," said the authors.

The researchers also did not find any adverse impact of the formulations on the patients.

Fifatrol has not only been found to be effective in treating URTI but also well accepted by the physicians of Ayurveda for the successful management of conditions like flu and associated symptoms like fever, nasal congestion, running nose, etc, it added.


In fact, Fifatrol as an immunity-boosting ayurvedic drug has found a mention as Covid-19 combating formulation in the 'Compendium of Indian Technologies for Combating COVID-19 (Tracing, Testing &Treating)', compiled by the state-run National Research Development Corporation last year, AIMIL Pharma Executive Director Sanchit Sharma said. Normally, the ayurvedic medicines have been seen as supplements to increase immunity, he added.

However, the government has been taking several steps to boost the Ayurveda sector. There has been compelling evidence that medicinal herbs can be a first line of defense against infectious diseases.

No wonder, being a rich combination of five vital classical formulations like Tribhuvan Kirti Rasa, Mrtunjay Rasa and Sanjivani Vati with extracts from herbs like Guduchi, Daruharidra, Chirayata, Kutaki, Tulsi, Apamarga and Karanja, Fifatrol improves the immune system to fight against viruses and other infections, eases the associated symptoms and fastens the recovery, underlined the study.

It also helps fast relief from nasal congestion, body ache, sore throat, and headache, it said.

The study on effectiveness of the Ayurveda formulation holds importance given that usually, to treat the infection which is common during winters, people resort directly to antibiotics.

It has a huge economic burden as well as high as USD 22 billion a year, leaving a hole in the pocket of the patients.

URTI accounts for around 10 million outpatient consultations in a year especially because of the severity of its symptoms.

--IANS
vg/shb/

Dhaka, Dec 3 (IANS) With T20 World Cups happening in 2021 and 2022, there was very little focus on ODI cricket. But now with the 2023 ODI World Cup less than 12 months, suddenly the format seems to have gained high importance in the eyes of teams and fans.

After a young side went to New Zealand and lost the only ODI of the series with the next two matches being rain-affected, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul are back as India brace themselves for the challenge from Bangladesh in the series opener on Sunday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur, Dhaka.

The ODIs against Bangladesh will also mark the re-uniting of Rohit, Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli as the top three. Since the 2019 World Cup, the trio have featured in just 12 ODIs together.

It remains to be seen if the opening pair of Rohit and Dhawan will be able to give India an aggressive start in the first ten overs and whether Kohli can carry his sizzling T20I form into a format where he has been a master of acing chases.

The focus will also be on India's middle-order, especially on who will bat at four, five and six. Rahul had established himself in the middle-order through stellar performances, and Shreyas Iyer has been consistently impressive in whatever opportunities he has got in absence of star-studded players in the format.

Rishabh Pant offers a left-handed option in the middle-order, but even his ardent fans will agree that he has to get the big runs against Bangladesh to keep himself in the reckoning, especially with contenders like Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson (who is not a part of this series).

In terms of bowlers, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are the favourites for the spin combination. As far as fast-bowling is concerned, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Sen, and Umran Malik are in the mix. It should be interesting to see what balance India opt for in the ODIs in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be without regular ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal due to a groin injury, and Taskin Ahmed, due to reoccurrence of a back injury. With an experienced opener and pacer gone, stand-in captain Litton Das will have to get the best out of the resources he has.

Litton, who sparkled with 63 against India in T20 World Cup in Adelaide, will need senior players like Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah to step up in their roles. Others like Afif Hossain, Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Anamul Haque will be expected to come in and rescue Bangladesh from tough situations.

In the fast-bowling department, left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who was the breakout star with 13 wickets to give Bangladesh a memorable ODI series win over India in 2015, will be the leader of the bowling attack with Hasan Mahmud and Ebadot Hossain. But with star players back in the mix, India would be hoping to win an ODI series in Bangladesh, something which hasn't happened since October 2016.

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Shahbaz Ahmed, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Sen, and Umran Malik.

Bangladesh: Litton Kumer Das (captain), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Nasum Ahmed, Mahmud Ullah, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, and Shoriful Islam.



--IANS

nr/akm

By Animesh Singh
New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) Out of the 141 coal blocks which the Centre has put up for commercial auction, 62 mines are old which had gone unsold during previous attempts. Therefore to make them more attractive to the bidders, these reserves have been modified.


Coal Ministry sources informed that the areas around these mines have been altered by removing hindrances and obstacles to ensure proper connectivity and easy transportation of dry fuel.

Excessive vegetation has been removed and unapproachable terrain around these 62 coal mines has been made accessible to ensure smooth passage.

After these modifications, the 62 old mines have been put up for commercial auction again, they added.

The remaining 71 mines out of the 141 are new reserves.

Of the 141 blocks, the ones which would be bid out, will be termed as monetised assets under the Government's National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), sources informed further.

Also, eight blocks among the 141 reserves are those which had received single bids in earlier rounds of auction, and have been put up for bidding again.

Coal Ministry has been holding roadshows across the country to attract bidders for these 141 mines.

Today it has organised an investor conclave in Bengaluru, where Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi and senior officials of both coal and mines ministries as well as Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai would be present.

The Ministry had organised a similar conclave in Mumbai last week.

It plans to conduct a series of investors' conclaves at several locations across India to attract prospective bidders.

These mines are spread all across the country in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Rajasthan, among others.

--IANS
ans/ksk/

Mumbai, Dec 3 (IANS) This weekend nominated housemates in reality show 'Bigg Boss 16' will not be shown the exit door as no elimination will be taking place.

This week MC Stan, Tina Datta, Shalin Bhanot, Sajid Khan, Shiv Thakare, and Priyanka Choudhary and Sumbul Touqeer were nominated.

This would be the second week for not having any evictions. The last contestant to be shown the exit door was Gautam Singh Vig.

Meanwhile, in the 'Weekend Ka Vaar' episode, hardcore fans of the show will be seen talking to contestants about their game plan and flawed behaviour.

--IANS
dc/khz/

New York, Dec 2 (IANS) Long Covid patients experience several of the same lingering negative effects on their physical, mental, and social well-being as those experienced by people who become ill with other, non-Covid illnesses, new research has revealed.

The researchers found that 40 per cent of the Covid-positive and 54 per cent of the Covid-negative group reported moderate-to-severe residual symptoms three months after enrolling in the study.

"Many diseases, including Covid, can lead to symptoms negatively impacting one's sense of well-being lasting months after initial infection, which is what we saw here", said lead author Lauren Wisk, assistant professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles.

Since these changes look similar for Covid negative and Covid positive participants, "this suggests the experience of the pandemic itself, and related stress, may be playing a role in slowing peoples' recovery from any illness", Wisk said in the study published in the peer-reviewed JAMA Network Open.

The study included people both with acute Covid and without Covid (but sick with some other illness).

The 1,000 participants were 18 years of age or older who, with either positive or negative test results and no prior Covid diagnosis, had symptoms known to be associated with Covid, such as cough, fever, headache or fatigue, at the time of testing.

Of these participants, 722 were positive for Covid and 278 tested negative.

"We found that, as far as well-being is concerned, Covid-positive and Covid-negative groups look more similar than different, but both still have worse well-being scores than the general population," the researchers noted.

The Covid-positive group, however, experienced better improvements in their social well-being than did the Covid-negative group.

The findings highlight the importance of comparing Covid-positive and Covid-negative people to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the population.

--IANS
na/ksk/

New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar called for increasing social inclusivity and using a multi-sectoral approach to tackle HIV, on the occasion of World AIDS Day on Thursday.

Pawar said that creativity through efforts of civil society organisations, youth communities established in the colleges and universities must be harnessed.

"Red ribbon clubs are playing an important role too and with more than 12,500 such clubs they can be used to create massive awareness."

She virtually inaugurated a programme on the occasion of the World AIDS Day at Talkatora Stadium that was attended by more than 3,000 people cutting across states, people living with HIV (PLHIV) communities, NGOs, CSOs, development partners and youth.

"World AIDS Day which is globally observed on December 1 since 1988, is an opportunity to show solidarity with people living with HIV (PLHIV) and create awareness for the same. The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is 'Equalise', which is a slogan for a call to action for all connected with this crusade. It calls for taking practical actions needed for addressing inequalities in the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Viruses) infected and affected populations across the country and also help in ending AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)," she said in her video message.

Pawar reiterated the commitment of the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards strengthening HIV/AIDS and STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) response.

Some steps being National AIDS toll-free helpline, lifetime free ART services and regular viral load monitoring for PLHIV. Dr. Pawar also highlighted the need to reduce discrimination against the affected population. Government in this regard has notified "HIV & AIDS policy for establishments 2022".

--IANS
avr/pgh

New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) The Delhi government has told the Delhi High Court that it is evolving a transparent, uniform, and hassle-free admission process for children under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category in private unaided recognised schools.

The court was told that a portal has been developed where the number of vacancies is displayed and the parents can apply online for the vacancies available under the admission quota.

Following that, the court disposed of a public interest litigation filed by an NGO 'Justice for All' seeking directions to ensure admission of over 44,000 children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups under the provisions of section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009.

The plea, directed at the Delhi government, also sought monitoring of the admission process.

"However, the Respondent/GNCTD is directed to ensure that the statutory provisions contained under the Delhi School Education Act, 1973 and Delhi Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 there under are strictly complied with," Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said while disposing of the matter.

Earlier, the petitioner submitted that about 50,000 children in the national capital are still waiting for admissions under the quota meant for EWS/DG category under RTE Act.

--IANS
spr/pgh

Jaipur, Dec 1 (IANS) Indian Army carried out one of its largest field training exercises involving all entities of war fighting, including civil agencies, on the western borders of Rajasthan, validating its actions in line with the resolve of 'Whole of the Nation' approach for decisive victory.

The training exercise culminated on Wednesday, said Col Amitabh Sharma, PRO, Defence, Rajasthan, on Thursday.

There were many firsts in this exercise which cemented the jointness and synergy between Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Border Security Force (BSF).

During the week-long exercise, there was on ground application and usage of numerous indigenous technologies and equipment validating their fusion in enhancing operational capabilities. The synergetic actions have also validated new concepts of war fighting in an integrated theatre.

For the first time, the senior most commanders of both Indian Army and Indian Air Force visited the troops in the forward areas and reviewed their inter-service coordination and interoperability, including that of the BSF.

The joint address by Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar Singh, GOC-in-C, Southern Command, and Air Marshal Vikram Singh, AOC-in-C, Southern Western Air Command, enhanced the moral and motivation of all ranks by instilling confidence among them.

During the concluding part of their visit, both the Commanders of Army and Air Force paid homage at the Longewala War Memorial dedicated to the bravehearts of 1971 Indo-Pak war. They lauded the courage and sacrifice of troops fighting together for ensuring territorial integrity of the nation.

--IANS
arc/arm