Copenhagen was to initiate measures that in the short term can improve the children’s conditions, the statement said…reports Asian Lite News.
Over these years, the crisis of Syrian kids has not been resolved and around 90% of Kids need humanitarian assistance according to UNICEF reports. The Danish government and a majority of parties in Parliament have agreed to set up a task force to investigate how to repatriate minors from refugee camps in Syria, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
By May 15, the group would present its findings including whether it would be feasible to evacuate Danish children without their parents, reports dpa news agency.
The agreement was supported by centre-right opposition parties as well as centre-left parties that often support the minority Social Democrats.
The development comes as the government has come under increasing pressure to act on behalf of the children amid worsening conditions in the camps.
Copenhagen was to initiate measures that in the short term can improve the children’s conditions, the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry estimated there were 19 children in the refugee camps aged between one and 14, and six mothers who have said they want to return to Denmark.
The Foreign Ministry statement said that adults who had joined the Islamic State terror group and fought against Denmark’s “democratic values of freedom and equality are undesirable”.
“What we all have in common is that we want to help the children,” Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said.
The collaboration is a way to forget the past and ring in a brighter future and new beginnings. After a truly testing year, we joined hands with Lakme Salon, FDCI & LFW are striving to spread joy and laughter, in the most trendy, stylish way possible…Pankaj and Nidhi speak with Puja Gupta.
Talking about fashion itself is fashionable trend in the modern world of craft and art. Fashion designer duo Pankaj and Nidhi said the pandemic has changed their perspective towards their craft.
“We’ve realised how prudent and imperative it is to design sharp and focused collections – reduce waste by designing less and ensuring each sample and each stitch and each cut of cloth counts,” they told.
Considering these factors, the duo launched their latest collection at the ongoing phygitical FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week. IANSlife spoke to them to know their views on how the fashion industry will shape in a post pandemic era and the major collaborations that the industry has seen this year. Excerpts:
Q. How do you see the fashion industry shaping up in a post pandemic era?
Pankaj & Nidhi: The pandemic has definitely changed our perspective on our craft. We’ve realised how prudent and imperative it is to design sharp and focused collections – reduce waste by designing less and ensuring each sample and each stitch and each cut of cloth counts. Our planet and nature need nurturing and so do our creative souls and there won’t be peace if one comes at the cost of the other. We need clothing that remains wearable and feels good. The fabric is our immediate environment. Humankind has its environment in nature but the body’s immediate environment is the clothing that we wear. These are cool and comfortably stylish.
Q. How do you see the collaboration between FDCI and LFW?
Pankaj & Nidhi: A much-needed cohesive platform – unified with the energy of two powerhouses of Indian fashion, sending a message of solidarity, unity and cooperation between all stakeholders, a great message for everyone out there watching and following Indian fashion. The collaboration is a way to forget the past and ring in a brighter future and new beginnings. After a truly testing year, we joined hands with Lakme Salon, FDCI & LFW are striving to spread joy and laughter, in the most trendy, stylish way possible
Q. The year already has seen many big collaborations in the fashion industry. How do you see this move?
Pankaj & Nidhi: It was high time the fashion industry put a single consolidated front. Through these collaborations and the phygital editions they can enable designers to expand their consumer outreach.
Q. Tell us more about your latest collection.
Pankaj & Nidhi: The collection is inspired by a kaleidoscope and the myriad of unique patterns and visuals it offers. We’ve always loved geometrics. This time we were really fascinated with how patterns keep changing when you view them through a kaleidoscope. It’s a technicolour explosion and we wanted to do something vibrant, positive, and optimistic. This collection ‘Kaleido’ is geometrically sharp & comes in a burst of rainbow hues of brilliant reds, luscious oranges, unabashed pinks, ultra-violet blues and electric greens. The silhouettes are holiday ready — flowing maxi and mini dresses to kick back and let loose and tailored co-ord sets with sporty elements, to acknowledge our pursuits towards wellness and fitness. The fabrics are sheer, translucent, breathable and easy to wear.
A kaleidoscope generates changing symmetrical patterns from small pieces of coloured glass, symbolising constant evolution. Creatively, too, we are always evolving, and this is the essence of our collection.
Q. What kind of trends do you see in the season?
Pankaj & Nidhi: We love the colours – they are brightly saturated and kaleidoscopic. The collection comprises comfortable jumpsuits and floor and midi length skirts and flowing maxi dresses along with bomber jackets in cropped length, and puff sleeve blouses in electric colours. We need a dose of cheer and this collection brings us a bit of joy and hope it does the same for everyone.
The collection is spontaneously engineered to evoke optimism. With hand-cut appliques, a riot of rainbow colours, a plethora of breathable fabrics, and an array of wearable silhouettes, we want to help usher in a new beam of light into our lives and rejuvenate our souls. We’re excited to be collaborating with Lakme Salon, which shares our core values and has created a collection of fluid, free-spirited hair looks that beautifully offset our pieces.
Q. Slow fashion is the talk of the hour, your views?
Pankaj & Nidhi: Slow fashion is the need of the hour. Sustainability is an idea that we all need to embrace from the stage to of conception to execution. Even small individual contributions make a difference – and we are doing it by reducing waste, using recycled materials, producing sensibly and making each item worthy of being bought with some conscience.
The leaders paid particular attention to joining efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including the possibility of registering, using and producing the Russian vaccine Sputnik V in European Union (EU) countries…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron held a video-conference on Tuesday to discuss cooperation and international affairs, the Kremlin said in a statement.
The leaders paid particular attention to joining efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including the possibility of registering, using and producing the Russian vaccine Sputnik V in European Union (EU) countries, Xinhua news agency reported.
As for the situation in Ukraine, Putin urged Kiev to fulfill agreements on establishing direct dialogue with Donbass and settling the legal issues regarding the region’s special status.
The Russian side voiced “serious concerns” over the escalation of the armed confrontation between the Donbass insurgents and the Ukrainian government forces, which was “provoked” by Kiev.
Discussing the situation in Belarus, Putin stressed the inadmissibility of external interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.
Putin reiterated Russia’s readiness to restore “normal, depoliticized” interactions with the EU, if the bloc shows reciprocal interest.
According to the Kremlin, the three leaders expressed support for preserving and implementing the Iran nuclear deal and further coordinating steps in this direction.
Putin explained to Merkel and Macron the case of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
They also discussed the situations in Syria and Libya.
Biden has nominated Rupa Ranga Puttagunta to be a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, which is a local court for Washington…reports Asian Lite News
US President Joe Biden has nominated an Indian American to be a judge in the local court system of the nation’s capital after having withdrawn another’s nomination made by his predecessor Donald Trump.
The White House announced on Tuesday that Biden was nominating Rupa Ranga Puttagunta to be a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, which is a local court for Washington.
Last month, he withdrew the nomination of Vijay Shankar to a higher local court, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, that Trump had made as one of a spate of last-minute appointments in January before his term was to end.
Shankar needed the Senate confirmation for his appointment, which he could not get with the Democrats getting control of it.
Puttagunta is now an administrative judge for the District of Columbia Rental Housing Commission dealing with landlord-tenant issues and rental housing regulations.
She had earlier represented the poor in criminal cases and worked with victims of domestic abuse, according to the White House.
Nominating judges who reflect America is a top priority. That’s why today I announced 11 nominees — the earliest any administration has announced this many judges in modern history. They represent the best of the legal profession and the diversity that makes our nation strong. pic.twitter.com/Zr7ywGpRLe
Meanwhile, Biden has appointed a Pakistani American, Zahid N. Quraishi, to be a federal judge.
He would become the nation’s first Muslim federal judge if confirmed by the Senate.
Another Muslim, Abid Qureshi, was nominated by former President Barack Obama in 2016 to be a federal judge but the Senate did not act on his nomination before Trump took office and it lapsed.
The federal judgeship would be an elevation for Quraishi who is now a federal magistrate judge in New Jersey.
Magistrate judges are appointed by the federal judges to assist them on matters like first appearances by the accused in criminal cases and setting bail. Unlike federal judges, they are not nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate and, therefore, do not issue judgments or hear cases.
Quraishi is a former US Army captain who ad served in Iraq and has also worked as an assistant chief counsel in the Department of Homeland Security and as an assistant federal prosecutor.
Former US President Donald Trump(IANS)
The South Asian Bar Association welcomed their nominations, tweeting, “We are proud to see Judges Rupa Ranga Puttagunta and Zahid Quraishi on the list” of Biden’s judicial nominees.
The White House said that the nominations announced on Tuesday reflect Biden’s “intent to nominate highly-qualified candidates to federal courts that reflect his deeply-held conviction that the federal bench should reflect the full diversity of the American people — both in background and in professional experience.”
Biden, who has said that he would nominate an African America woman to the Supreme Court, named Ketanji Brown Jackson to be a judge on the Federal Appeals Circuit Court in Washington, which is considered the most important after the Supreme Court.
If she is confirmed, it would put her on a fast track to become the nation’s first African American woman on the Supreme Court if a vacancy occurs during Biden’s term.
Brown Jackson replaces Merrick Garland, who was Obama’s unsuccessful nominee for the Supreme Court and is now the attorney-general in the Biden administration.
Trump’s nomination of Shankar was not meant to be taken seriously as he had lost the election and was an attempt at asserting himself in the last days in office.
It has been found that changing sleep positions helps. If a person sleeps on back, it obstructs the breathing, so sleeping on the side may work…writes Puja Gupta.
World sleep day has passed few weeks ago. Good sleep is central to our well-being. Nothing rejuvenates our body and mind as well as sound sleep. However, at times we can’t sleep properly as we may be tensed or excited or our body is not completely exhausted. This happens with all of us but generally this is a one-time phenomenon. But some suffer chronically from lack of proper sleep and may be suffering from Sleep Apnea. This if left untreated can have a damaging impact on a person’s overall health.
Medically speaking, Sleep Apnea has multiple reasons like obstruction in the throat, when the brain fails to detect signals to muscles that manage breathing and at times when both happen together. Typically, because the person is gasping for breath during the sleep, the person intermittently wakes up which leads to disturbed sleep. Since this is a repeated pattern, it leads to health complications such as compromised immune system, lack of proper memory, high blood pressure, diabetes and feeling of tiredness and irritability during the day. It impairs the person’s cognitive ability as well.
But there are certain home remedies which can be highly beneficial. Dr. Satya Rajan Sahu, Pulmonologist, PSRI Hospital shared some tips which can be beneficial in overcoming Sleep Apnea.
Common mistakes while trying to lose weight.
Manage weight
Obesity is a major problem responsible for many health issues and it is so in the case of Sleep Apnea as well. Obesity can lead to Airway Obstruction- meaning partial or complete blocking of air to lung and thus disrupting sleep. So if you are overweight and suffer from Sleep Apnea, you should do all efforts to reduce weight.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise or Yoga is like a panacea for any disease. Here too exercises can strengthen your respiratory system, your lungs inhale oxygen and since Sleep Apnea is caused by oxygen deprivation, the exercises or Yoga can help immensely in this.
Changing Sleep Positions
Sleep.
It has been found that changing sleep positions helps. If a person sleeps on back, it obstructs the breathing, so sleeping on the side may work.
Using air humidifier
Sometimes dry air in the closed environment can hinder oxygen diffusion, so devices like humidifiers which can improve moisture level can also help. Adding oils to these humidifiers is also recommended.
Having better lifestyle
Avoiding junk food, drinking and smoking. These impact the breathing pattern and best avoided to overcome Sleep Apnea. Smoking damages lungs, so excessive smoking does impair sleep pattern. So, it is better avoided. Avoiding caffeine at night is also recommended as it disrupts the sleep.
Medical Treatment
In some patients above tips may not work. In consultation with the doctor, such patients can opt for a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy (CPAP) machine. It helps a person to breathe more easily during sleep as it keeps the airway open by applying positive pressure.
Organised by seven Delhi-based galleries, DCAW focuses on contemporary art, showcasing a new wave of South Asian artists under one roof…writes Siddhi Jain.
The fifth edition of Delhi Contemporary Art Week (DCAW) will run from April 8-15 in the national capital, and is among the first collective, large scale art venture post-pandemic and a celebration of the spirit of artists and art institutions across South Asia as they overcame the many challenges presented by the global pandemic.
Organised by seven Delhi-based galleries, DCAW focuses on contemporary art, showcasing a new wave of South Asian artists under one roof.
With an innovative approach to programming, spread over an 8-day period, this year’s DCAW will be interspersed with talks, walkthroughs and a range of activities for art collectors and enthusiasts including a musical evening, said the organisers.
This year’s edition of DCAW is at heritage building Bikaner House, and will be spread across the Main Ballroom of Bikaner House as well as the Centre for Contemporary Arts.
In addition to the curated exhibition spaces of each partner gallery, there will be a specially curated exhibition by accomplished young curator Reha Sodhi, in the Main Ballroom’s side wing. As well as the multiple exhibition spaces at Bikaner House, there will be exhibitions at each of the DCAW partner’s individual galleries, creating a citywide fervour around contemporary art, the organisers said.
“The diverse variety of South Asian and international artists on display at DCAW make this a great opportunity for the collector to expand their aesthetic tastes and proclivities, and acquire emergent bold new works that have never been exhibited before.”
“Adapting to the socio-economic condition which have unfurled post-pandemic have been most challenging for all sectors, not least the arts, moreover with an already languished state-sponsored infrastructure. A silver lining has been offered by private ventures, pumping life-blood back into the local art scene. This resolution phase spells an exciting opportunity for the collector of Indian art, to be a part of the decisive moment that we have come to understand as the contemporary, and determine its future course,” said organisers.
They added that they are taking strict precautions against the spread of covid-19, including moderation on the number of people simultaneously inside the gallery space.
Females with persistent acne since teens or with acne presenting for the first time after 25 must be evaluated for PCOS…writes Puja Gupta.
PCOS is a common very among women in the modern period. It is a complex disorder or rather a spectral disorder with no uniform clinic or laboratory diagnostic criteria. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disturbances affecting women all over the world.
Dr. Vidushi Jain, Dermatologist Trichologist, Medical head of Dermalinks says: “It has an unknown etiology and is recognized as a heterogeneous disorder that results in overproduction of male hormone primarily from the ovary, and is associated with insulin resistance.”
The journey, the struggles and the treatment approach to each patient is different. As contrary to the popular belief, the manifestations are more severe in obese individuals with pcos but there is another phenotype known as lean PCOS.
“PCOS women can be sub grouped based on clinical features suggestive of endocrinological malfunctions and can be investigated accordingly for selection of appropriate treatment modalities,” the doctor points out.
“The cornerstone to PCOS pathology is insulin resistance meaning that the body doesn’t respond normally to insulin and thereby increasing insulin secretion from pancreas, which triggers inflammation and weight gain. High insulin level is both diagnostic criteria and also the underlying physiological driver. High insulin causes anovulation and also promotes testosterone secretion from ovaries (hyper androgenism).”
Dr Jain adds: “The skin features in PCOS sometimes present earlier as compared to irregular periods or investigations for infertility and a high degree of suspicion can help in early detection and prevention of disease progression.”
She further explains:
1. Acanthosis nigricans is a skin disorder characterised by darkening and thickening of the skin, occurring mainly in the folds of the skin in the armpit (axilla), groin and back of the neck. Often treated as dirt, this condition is synonymous with insulin resistance and obesity. Sometimes it can be drug and malignancy induced too. The treatment approach is weight reduction and decreasing the insulin resistance with low glycemic diet and regular workouts. Skin lightening agents like retinoids, glycolic acid and treatments like TCA peels also play a role in cosmetic improvement.
2. Hirsutism or unwanted facial hair is a result of hyperandrogenism or excess male hormone secretion. Mostly affects chin, sidelocks, chest, thighs and even the nipple area . Treatment needs weight reduction to control the serum sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) which in turn controls the free testosterone levels, androgen lowering medication like spironolactone, OCPs and laser hair reduction.
3. Acne or pimples: Females with persistent acne since teens or with acne presenting for the first time after 25 must be evaluated for PCOS. Acne in PCOS is generally resistant to standard acne treatments, affects mainly the lower one third of face , is associated with extremely tender eruptions suggesting more inflammation and shows premenstrual flare. Treatment results take longer to respond at least 3 months and best approach is to add combined oral contraceptives with anti androgen progesterone like drospirenone and cyproterone acetate as well as spironolactone to control the hyperandrogenic state. The role of supplements like inositol, magnesium, zinc and Vitamin D play an important role in controlling the inflammatory state.
4. Seborrhoeic dermatitis often presenting as oily scalp and dandruff, when severe can affect the oily areas of the skin like around nose, between eyebrows and behind ears. Associated with more androgens and hence more oil secretion promoting the growth of a fungus named malaseezia needs treatment and daily cleansing of the scalp with a salicylic acid or ketoconazole shampoo.
5. Female patterned hair loss or hair thinning presenting mainly in the crown and frontal area is often ignored until a major portion of the scalp becomes visible. Frequent changing of hairstyles to cover it up without seeking medical treatments leads to progression and greater damage. Starting minoxidil as a preventive therapy and doing platelet rich plasma sessions may be helpful. PCOS is a disorder which affects the body not only at a hormonal level thereby affecting metabolism and fertility but also it has far reaching effects on a person’s confidence when it has negative influence on appearance.
A total of 34 experts from the WHO and China jointly conducted a 28-day research from January 14 to February 10 in Wuhan, China…reports Asian Lite News
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday released a report on the global tracing of Covid-19 origins, following a joint research with China on issues including the pathways of the virus and future investigation in different countries.
A total of 34 experts from the WHO and China jointly conducted a 28-day research from January 14 to February 10 in Wuhan, China, Xinhua news agency reported.
They made assessment of the likelihood of possible pathways.
I welcome the report on the #COVID19 origins, which advances our understanding of this virus in important ways. The report also raises questions that will need to be addressed by further studies. https://t.co/zqu9LsvU5v
According to the report, Covid-19 introduction through an intermediate host is “likely to very likely,” introduction through cold/food chain products is “possible,” and introduction through a laboratory incident is “extremely unlikely”.
China believes that the joint research will play a positive role in promoting global cooperation in Covid-19 origin tracing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. Also read:WHO warns against easing curbs too early
Latest announcements are additional steps in the Biden Administration’s work to advance equity for Asian American …reports Asian Lite News
The White House on Tuesday announced new actions including additional funding and a cross-agency initiative to curb the alarming rise in violence and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Today’s announcements are additional steps in the Biden Administration’s work to advance equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through a whole-of-government approach to racial justice,” the White House said, Xinhua news agency reported.
According to a White House fact sheet, President Joe Biden will “appoint a permanent Director to lead the Initiative in the coordination of policies across the federal government impacting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.”
As part of the initiative, the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department reconvened its Hate Crimes Enforcement and Prevention Initiative with a focus on the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes in the country.
People take part in a rally against anti-Asian hate crimes in San Mateo, California, the United States, on Feb. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
The FBI will also publish a new interactive page that documents hate crimes against the AAPI community and begin holding training events to educate agents on recognizing and reporting anti-Asian bias.
The Department of Health and Human Services is providing nearly $50 million from the American Rescue Plan to assist AAPI survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
The Covid-19 Health Equity Task Force, founded in January, has also established a subcommittee on Structural Drivers of Health Inequity and Xenophobia, the White House said. This subcommittee will be specifically focused on combating the surge in anti-Asian bias during the coronavirus pandemic.
The National Endowment for the Humanities also launched a virtual library to expand resources and provide information on Asian-American history.
A treaty would provide a framework for international cooperation to immediately exchange information at the start of possible pandemics, and channel global resources for research into possible treatments and vaccines, reports Asian Lite News desk.
Twenty-five world leaders have supported a proposal from European Council President Charles Michel to draw up a new international treaty on pandemic preparedness in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.
Leaders including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha signed an opinion piece along with Michel and World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, dpa news agency reported.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph and publications such as Le Monde in France and El Pais in Spain, the 25 leaders argue that a treaty similar to that reached in the wake of World War Two is needed to build cross-border cooperation.
“There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone. The question is not if, but when,” the piece, published on Tuesday, said.
The BBC quoted the letter: “At that time, following the devastation of two world wars, political leaders came together to forge the multilateral system.
“The aims were clear: To bring countries together, to dispel the temptations of isolationism and nationalism, and to address the challenges that could only be achieved together in the spirit of solidarity and co-operation – namely peace, prosperity, health and security.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the other leaders said that in the same spirit, countries must now “be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly co-ordinated fashion”, the BBC reported.
A new treaty would help to establish better systems for alerting people about potential pandemics, they said, while also improving the sharing of data and distribution of vaccines and personal protective equipment.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe.”
The letter added: “At a time when Covid-19 has exploited our weaknesses and divisions, we must seize this opportunity and come together as a global community for peaceful co-operation that extends beyond this crisis.”
The article made the case for a new agreement anchored in the WHO’s constitution that would improve global preparedness for pandemics and ability to respond.
A treaty would provide a framework for international cooperation to immediately exchange information at the start of possible pandemics, and channel global resources for research into possible treatments and vaccines, Michel said at a virtual press conference with Tedros on Tuesday.
“The time to act is now,” Tedros said, “We must not allow the memories of this crisis to fade and go back to business as usual.”
Michel first put forward the idea in November, but has now won public support from heads of state or government from Indonesia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Tunisia and South Korea, among others.
However, notable omissions from the article’s signatories include the US and China.
Initial reaction among the 194 WHO member countries was “positive”, according to Tedros, who said he hoped all would help take forward debate on the initiative ahead of May’s World Health Assembly.
It was too soon to say whether the treaty could cover contentious issues such as intellectual property on vaccines or more equitable sharing of shots, the WHO chief added.
