Archives for October 2023

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as the two leaders exchanged views on the latest developments in the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, a statement released by the Egyptian side said.

They also discussed the gravity of the continuation of the current escalation, given its formidable impact on the lives of civilians and the threat it poses to the security of the entire region, the statement said.

A spokesman for the Presidency, Counselor Ahmed Fahmy, said President El-Sisi confirmed that Egypt is pursuing its endeavours to coordinate regional and international efforts to push toward reaching a ceasefire.

The president warned of the grievous humanitarian and security repercussions of a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, the statement said.

He underscored the critical need for unified international action to find a prompt solution at the diplomatic level, that stipulates reinforcing an immediate humanitarian truce that protects the lives of civilians and allows the instantaneous, sustainable and unfettered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the resolution of the UN General Assembly in this regard, which was adopted on October 27, it said.

President El-Sisi and Prime Minister Modi expressed relief at the outstanding level of the two countries’ bilateral relations and strategic partnership.

They stressed their determination to continue to lead the two countries’ institutions to further strengthen joint cooperation between Egypt and India, the Egyptian statement said.

NEW DELHI: Despite advertising restrictions in place, at least 85 per cent of respondents of a survey in India, China, Australia and the UK reported being exposed to e-cigarette advertising, especially on social media and in or around vape shops and other retailers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends banning all forms of e-cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

India has enacted the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Act (PECA) 2019, which prohibits the manufacture, sale and advertisements of e-cigarettes and similar devices.

Four thousand people in the age group of 15-30 years participated in the survey conducted by the George Institute of Global Health.

The researchers contend that exposure to e-cigarette advertising can alter people’s perceptions of the danger and risk involved and further pique their interest, leading to an increase in their propensity to use.

The survey assessed demographic characteristics, e-cigarette and tobacco use, the number of friends and family members who vape, and exposure to multiple forms of e-cigarette advertising.

These included various modes of media exposure such as television, print, radio, and social media.

“In online contexts, exposure was more common for most social media platforms compared to general Internet usage. For example, 50 pc of those from China and 39 pc of those from Australia, India and the UK reported seeing e-cigarette advertising on Douyin and Instagram, respectively, compared to 29 pc seeing e-cigarette advertising when using other parts of the Internet,” the study report said.

The research findings have been published in the journal “Tobacco induced diseases”.

“For ‘in real life’ contexts, exposure was most common for vape shops (48 pc) and supermarkets, corner stores and petrol stations (42 pc),” it added.

The report pointed out that despite advertising restrictions in place in all four countries, large majorities of young people reported being exposed to e-cigarette advertising.

Simone Pettigrew, lead author and Program Director of Health Promotion and Behaviour Change at The George Institute said “Digital forms of e-cigarette promotion are particularly difficult to monitor and control, and the vaping industry is exploiting this opportunity to target young people”.

Social media and advertising on or around vape shops and other retailers appear to be key exposure locations.

Urgent attention is needed to address these forms of exposure given their apparent association with e-cigarette use, it said.

The results of the present study signal the critical importance of restricting e-cigarette advertising on the exterior of vape stores and other retailers, as this appears to be a primary mechanism via which e-cigarette marketers can reach young people, the report said.

As has been found for alcohol retailing, effective use of signage on and around stores can effectively bypass advertising restrictions to reach vulnerable population groups.

“Regulations need to be carefully constructed and vigilantly enforced to prevent this exposure,” it said.

Exposure to e-cigarette advertising among respondents who had heard of e-cigarettes was assessed across multiple questions, asking them about seeing various ads or promotions, and four options were given as responses.

Descriptive analyses were conducted on those who had heard of e-cigarettes, and a logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with e-cigarette use.

VISAKHAPATNAM: At least eight people were reported dead and 32 persons were injured, after two trains collided in Vizianagaram district on Sunday evening, railway officials said.

At around 7 p.m, the Visakhapatnam-Palasa special passenger waiting for a signal due to a technical snag was hit by the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train coming from behind, resulting in the derailing of three bogies.

6 people died and 18 injured in the Andhra Pradesh train accident: Deepika, SP, Vizianagaram 

After an alert, Waltiar Divisional Railway Manager Saurabh Prasad along with other railway officials rushed to the accident spot, and rescue operations are in full swing.

Viziangaram district administration and police department swung into action and took up relief operations.

Ambulances were rushed to the spot and the injured were shifted to different hospitals in the Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts. With a lack of power connection, the entire accident spot is in the dark hampering rescue and relief operations.

Expressing shock over the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed that Medical and Health,  Revenue, Police, and other department officials coordinate and carry out relief operations immediately. Governor S. Abdul Nazeer expressed anguish over the train accident

Helplines

Visakhapatnam Railway Station: 83003; 83004; 83005; and 83006

BSNL landline no: 08912746330; 08912744619

Airtel: 8106053051; 8106053052

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A flight carrying the first batch of Indians, who were stranded in Israel amid the ongoing war, landed in New Delhi under ‘Operation Ajay’ on Friday morning.

The latest Israel-Palestine war, ignited by a wide-ranging attack by the militant group Hamas on Israel, has already claimed thousands of lives on both sides.

The immediate trigger was Hamas militants firing thousands of rockets and sending fighters — through land, air and sea — into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip during a major Jewish holiday (Simchat Torah) in a deadly offensive branded “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”.

Israel has been responding to Saturday’s attack with a massive bombardment of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “crush and destroy” Hamas.

Palestinians says palastines are paying the price in strikes on Gaza, a small coastal strip of land (140 square miles) packed with 2.3 million residents, which has been blockaded for more than 15 years.

A spokeswoman for Gisha, an Israeli human rights group, warned that the “Israeli decisions to cut electricity, fuel, food and medicine supplies” would severely affect Palestinians.

The conflict is expected to continue to escalate.

Karthyayani Amma, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: One hundred and one-year old Karthyayani Amma, who made history by becoming the oldest learner under the Kerala State Literacy Mission, has died at her residence in coastal Alappuzha district.

She was bedridden for some time after suffering a stroke and died on Tuesday.

She would be cremated on Thursday with state honours, the Alappuzha district administration said.

The Alappuzha ADM visited Karthyayani Amma’s residence in Cheppad village of the district and offered a floral wreath, it said.

Karthyayani Amma had shot to fame not only for being the oldest student, at the age of 96, under the southern state’s literacy mission, but also for scoring the highest marks in the ‘Aksharalaksham’ test, a fourth standard equivalent examination.

The nonagenarian was the oldest among the 43,330 candidates who appeared for the test. She also received the Nari Shakti award from former president Ram Nath Kovind on Women’s Day in March, 2020.

In 2019, she became a Commonwealth of Learning Goodwill Ambassador.

Social media was abuzz today with condolence messages from people from all walks of lives on her demise.

Expressing his condolences, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said Karthyayani Amma inspired many people to learn and continue their education.

“Heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Smt. Karthyayani Amma, honored with #NariShaktiPuraskar for determination to learn and pass the literacy exam at the age of 96, inspiring many people to learn and to continue their education. May her soul attain mukti,” the Governor said in a Facebook post.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in his condolence message, recalled meeting her after she won the award and indicating her desire to study further and get a job after clearing the 10th standard.

“There was confidence and determination in those words,” Vijayan said in a Facebook post.

He also posted a condolence message on the social media platform X in which the CM said Karthyayani Amma served as an inspiring role model for many through her unwavering determination to pursue education despite challenges.

“Deeply saddened by the passing of Karthyayani Amma, who made history by becoming the oldest learner under the State Literacy Mission. She served as an inspiring role model for many, showing unwavering determination to pursue education despite challenges.

“Her demise is a significant loss to our literacy movement, which helped shape modern Kerala. Heartfelt condolences,” he said.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan also condoled her death and said Karthyayani Amma’s was an example of what one can achieve through determination and will power.

State General Education Minister V Sivankutty too condoled the demise of Karthyayani Amma.

“Amma, who grew up under circumstances where she could not study and became literate at the age of 96, is a symbol of determination,” he said.

Former Leader of Opposition in the state assembly and the MLA from Haripad, Ramesh Chennithala, also expressed grief over her death.

He recalled, in a Facebook post, that in the last Republic Day parade, a float of Karthyayani Amma was also there.

Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar also took to social media to convey his condolences.

“Saddened to hear about the demise of Smt. Karthyayani Amma, at the age of 101 years. By passing literacy examinations with top marks at the age of 96, she became inspirational to many of the deprived to venture into the world of literacy.

“My condolences to her family and friends. Om Shanti,” he said in a Facebook post.

Karthyayani Amma, a widow and mother of six hailing from Alappuzha’s Haripad municipality in Kerala, swept the streets outside temples in her village to bring up the children.