दुनिया के चाहने पर खत्म होगी महामारी: WHO


विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन के प्रमुख ट्रेडोस ऐडनोम घेबरियस ने बर्लिन में आयोजित अपने एक वर्ल्डहेल्थ समिट को संबोधित करते हुए कहा कि जब सभी देश उपलब्ध स्वास्थ्य उपकरणों का प्रभावी ढंग से उपयोग करना शुरू कर देंगे,तब जाकर कोरोना महामारी खत्म हो जाएगी। उन्होंने कहा कि जब दुनिया इसे खत्म करना चाहेगी, तब यह समाप्त होगा। यह हमारे हाथों में है। वह सभी उपकरण हमारे पास मौजूद है,चाहे प्रभावी सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य उपकरण हो या प्रभावी चिकित्सा उपकरण,जिनकी हमे अवश्यकता है। परंतु दुनिया ने इसका अच्छी तरीके से उपयोग नहीं किया।एक सप्ताह में करीब 50 हज़ार मौतें हुईं हैं तो अभी महामारी खत्म नहीं हुई।



उन्होंने सम्मेलन में बोलते हुए कहा कि वह को भी ने टीकाकरण के लिए एक वैश्विक रणनीति शुरू करने के लिए WHO प्रमुख में शामिल हुए,जो सभी देशों में लोगों को टीके वितरित करने के लिए एक लागत और विश्वसनीय प्रभावी योजना का सुझाव देता है।

WHO प्रमुख ने जी 20 देशों का पहले से ही 40% अपनी आबादी को कोवैक्स तंत्र में सक्रिय रूप से संलग्न कर देने के लिए भी आव्हान किया। रविवार को संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासचिव एंटोनियो गुटेरेस ने जी-20 देशों से पूरी दुनिया में कोविड-19 के टीका का उचित वितरण सुनिश्चित करने के लिए 8 बिलियन अमेरिकी डॉलर इकट्ठा करने में मदद का एलान किया।

बता दें, WHO पहले से भी कोरोना को लेकर पूरी दुनिया को चेतावनी देता रहा है। एक बार फिर से भारत में कोरोना से मरने वालों की संख्या में इजाफा देखा गया है। पिछले 24 घंटों में 443 लोगों की मौतें हुई है। वहीं एक दिन में 14,306 कोरोना के नए मामले सामने आए हैं।

अनन्या कौशल द्वारा संपादित।

Top dating sites are actually good for finding serious relationships

 Most seasoned singles know that dating culture can be broken up into hookup culture and actually-looking-to-date-long-term relationship culture. Most online dating sites are a mix of both, and after living with online dating as an increasingly ubiquitous option for the past 20 years, the general public (mostly) sees dating sites as a super normal means to find casual dates or a hookup.  But what if you’re looking for a serious relationship that lasts? What if you just don’t want to be alone on Valentine’s Day ever again? What if you’re over casual dating and just want someone consistent to come home to? What if you have no idea where to start? Big names like match and eharmony likely come to mind, but they’re not interchangeable — nor are they your only options. Can you really fall in love with someone online? The long-term potential of online dating is still met with a cloud of doubt. However, new evidence is proving that relationships that started online might have a stronger foundation than those that started offline.  Hotloves is another new destination for love chats and dating site. 

A 2017 study cited in the MIT Technology Review found that people who meet online are more likely to be compatible and have a higher chance of a healthy marriage if they decide to get hitched. If marriage is your goal, you’ll be glad to know that another recent study found that heterosexual couples who met online were quicker to tie the knot than couples who met offline. Either way, online dating seems to be a good recipe for a satisfying, long-term relationship whether it involves marriage or not. No one is saying that online dating is the variable that changes everything, but the research does point to the fact that people who sign up for dating sites that require thoughtful responses are more ready to settle down.  Enter: The pandemic that made inviting strangers over to bang and leave a no-no. 2020’s uptick in dating app sign-ups — due to sheer boredom or the forced realization that it’d actually be pretty nice to spoon on a nightly basis — mathematically upped your chances of meeting someone special. As the light at the end of the nose swab tunnel nears, nature is healing: First dates are returning to their natural habitats (a dimly-lit bar with shitty beer) instead of the emergency video date features instated by multiple apps during quarantine. People are replenishing their non-sweatpants wardrobes. Singles have begun planting the seeds for summer romance. 

But Covid changed dating forever, and for reasons past “I’m fully vaccinated” becoming a turn-on. Communication skills were forced to evolve in the year that most human connection was facilitated through a screen. People learned to voice their boundaries and have serious talks (like about social distancing) early on. Coronavirus anxiety became a natural conversation starter and universal way to bond. More single people may now be more comfortable with delving into deeper subjects with someone they met online — a great thing for serious relationship hunters, if true. Tinder thinks the honesty will carry over when things are back to normal, and hopefully the aggressively horny people will continue to weed themselves out. At the very least, isolation may have simply forced more people to realize that they do, in fact, crave more company than a booty call. Tinder says that more daters are open to “seeing where things go” than they were before the pandemic. That means that you could have more luck finding something serious on a dating app that has historically had a reputation for casual relationships and hookups. 

SEE ALSO: FODA (Fear of Dating Again) is a thing now  We should also remember what we learned while dating in the era of social distancing: You’re never required to meet up with a match in person immediately. Someone’s willingness to date you via texting or FaceTime is a pretty clear sign that they’re genuinely interested in learning more about you. Even if and when social distancing isn’t as believable of an excuse as it was in 2020, someone who pressures you to hang out before you’re ready probably isn’t long-term material. Divorcees and single parents have particularly high untapped potential on online dating sites, too. True, being in the over-60 group may mean that more people your age are already off the market — but online dating can prove that the mature dating pool isn’t as bleak as you think, even if your local one is. People over 50 actually have an advantage over the younger crowd: Many people in their 20s and 30s just aren’t ready to settle down. Developing a crush on someone is more likely to end with an awkward “situation-ship” rather than something serious. Most older folks have been figuring this whole “love” thing out for longer than millennials have been alive. With life experience and possible previous marriages under your belt, you know the red flags and you know what you want. Like one person in the Reddit thread from r/datingoverfifty suggests, if you want commitment, a dating site with a high barrier to entry — like eharmony, match, or Elite Singles — could help to weed out people who aren’t about to pay a high monthly price just to mess around.  What makes a dating site better for relationships than others? Do we even need to get into why Tinder is a long shot? Is being introduced to nearly every person in a 10-mile radius worth the cliché bios quoting The Office or how they’re “not looking for commitment?” Sure, Tinder has its fair share of those lucky success stories, but it’s also the dating app where ghosting, breadcrumbing, and every other disheartening dating trend flourish. Singles looking for something serious ASAP might get frustrated with sites that only give a limited number of matches per day. But choosing sites that force you to be selective really heightens the focus on what you’re truly looking for in a perfect match — and gets you closer to cuffing status. For online daters who want the power to peruse the dating pool, you need to seek out detailed, high-energy profiles that give a well-rounded idea of who you’re messaging. Swiping is guided by the compatibility ranking that most sites offer, which predicts how well you’ll get along with other daters based on how you both answered questions. Plus, you can tell how much other daters care about the process by how much effort they put into their profile. If a single sentence about being drama free is the extent of someone’s bio, you can assume that 1. they’re not taking this seriously and 2. they create drama. 

OkCupid has a particularly strong red flag game: The site has found that personal politics are a major deciding factor for young people choosing a partner, and profile building revolves around make-or-break stances on things like women’s issues or whether they bother to vote. Aside from a compatibility percentage, OkCupid shows what issues the person gives a shit about (or not) so you don’t get stuck on a first date with someone who’s on the opposite end of the spectrum. Potential matches will analyze your dating profile, so make sure it does you justice On its face, it makes sense to question the legitimacy of a connection with someone who is only showcasing their best self. But how much more information are you really getting from the tipsy person hitting on you at the bar aside from what they look like IRL? The dating sites that let users express themselves with prompts — from favorite movies to where you want to retire — are setting you up for success by avoiding an unnecessary argument six months in. SEE ALSO: 6 ways to make your dating app profile stand out from the crowd  The best way to attract genuine people? Be authentic yourself. That’s easier said than done when your biggest worry is that a truthful answer — like the fact that you might not be as good of a communicator as you would like — will deter “the one” from swiping right. But deep down, you know that lying on a compatibility questionnaire probably won’t lead to a healthy relationship. It’s crucial to remind yourself that people who get freaked out by your honesty aren’t ideal potential partners, anyway. We’ve left out the dating sites that get torn apart in reviews for being ravaged by scammers and fake profiles, but asking to video chat before meeting up IRL is a smart way to confirm that the photos match the person behind them. Until a smarter AI can read minds and simply ban hookup seekers from serious sites, these are the best datings sites for serious relationships: match Your Best Option match Credit: Match Specs Free version: Yes Three months of Premium: $26.99/month Six months of Premium: $23.99/month One year of Premium: $20.99/month Buying Options See Details Long-term relationships are the name of the game at match (no “dot com”). It’s OK to admit it: It’s kind of comforting that you’ve been seeing TV commercials about the success of match for the past 20-some years. Launched in 1995, its decades in the business help match bring a comforting level of experience to the table for singles wary about online dating. The OG dating site is so confident in the blueprint it’s been perfecting over the years that it guarantees that you’ll find someone in six months. If you don’t, you get six months for free. match continuously solidifies its spot as a well-rounded choice for all ages because it refuses to get lost in the antiquated, corny trope. Its questionnaire evolves with what modern singles care about — for instance, match prefers to narrow down matches based on shared interests (like volunteering or clubbing), pet preferences, whether you want (or have) kids, and dealbreakers like smoking or drinking. Most of us would like to believe that anyone paying $20 per month is serious, but match has had its fair share of extreme catfishing. But they’re working to make this better: match is set to follow Tinder as the second Match Group app to utilize location-based emergency services via Noonlight, as well as photo verification to authenticate faces with real humans. Want to know how match stacks up against eharmony? 

We got you. eharmony Best For Those Dating To Marry eharmony Credit: Eharmony Specs Free version: Yes Six months of Premium: $40 to $60/month One year of Premium: $30 to $40/month Two years of Premium: $20 to $30/month Buying Options See Details Ever see a commercial for eharmony and wonder if a dating site that corny actually works? Weirdly enough, it does. A spokesperson for the site says it’s been used by 54 million people, and is apparently responsible for 4 percent of U.S. marriages. That doesn’t mean you’re going to walk down the aisle within the first year, but it at least narrows your options to singles who are open to being exclusive, meeting the family, or moving in together. What was once a doozy of a sign-up process is now short, sweet, and free of the corny, religious questions that held it back from being a top choice for the younger crowd. The comprehensive questionnaire now covers 32 dimensions (up from 29) of what makes a happy relationship. Instead of blatantly asking if you get mad easily or if you’re emotionally stable, eharmony may ask how you handle apologizing after a fight or if a certain action would piss you off. These hypotheticals draw more natural responses, and a few other fun ones are thrown in to cover surface-level basics like hobbies, too. It should be noted that eharmony hasn’t always been a welcoming place to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Following a 2010 lawsuit, their gay and lesbian spin-off site Compatibility Partners has been folded into eharmony’s overall site, but users on Reddit as recently as 2019 say that it still seems geared more toward straight people.  OkCupid Best For Liberals And Leftists OkCupid Credit: Okcupid Specs Free version: Yes One month of OkCupid Basic: $44.99 Three months of OkCupid Basic: $29.99/month Six months of OkCupid Basic: $22.49/month One month of OkCupid Premium: $54.99 Three months of OkCupid Premium: $36.66/month Six months of OkCupid Premium: $27.49/month Buying Options See Details For young, progressive singles, politics aren’t just a “well if we agree, it’s great” thing when looking for a partner — it’s the make or break for a solid romantic foundation. OkCupid’s 2017 redesign is more than just millennial aesthetics: It’s geared toward ensuring that you don’t end up on a date with someone who doesn’t pay attention. Twelve gender identities, 20 sexual orientations, and the option to choose your pronouns make it an ideal space for non-binary and queer individuals to find love while using the pronouns they love. Users can weed out people they’d fight with on Facebook by answering inquiries like “Would you date someone who keeps a gun in the house?” or “Should the government require children be vaccinated for preventable diseases?” 

In June 2020, the site introduced a Black Lives Matter badge for your profile. You’ll even get to see the percentage of how much you have in common with other daters based on the questions you both answer.  AdultFriendFinder Best For Getting Serious About Getting Down AdultFriendFinder Credit: Adultfriendfinder Buying Options See Details Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder. Pros: You can definitely find a way to get off, even if you don’t meet up with someone IRL LBGTQ and poly friendly Cons: Super outdated site that looks like a giant porn ad Don’t be surprised if you interact with scam profiles AdultFriendFinder is like a Pornhub that you can interact with. It takes someone in a very specific mood with a very specific type of connection in mind — but if the potential hookups you’re finding on Tinder aren’t as mature (or kinky) as you’d prefer, AFF will be satisfying. Is it the best for finding a serious relationship? No. But hear us out. For anyone who’s been out of the dating game for a while, doing some sexy flirting in an environment where you aren’t looking for something serious can definitely take the pressure off and help you get comfortable again. Just use good judgment and be careful when interacting with people on AFF. Regardless of whether you’re looking for an in-person hookup or to blow off some steam over the screen, AFF has everything that your dirty mind can whip up. With 20-something million monthly users as well as live video options, chat rooms, groups for ultra-specific kinks, and more, you can assume how wild things can get. Another bonus is that AdultFriendFinder is like the dating site version of New York City — it never sleeps. You’ll find people who work the regular 9 to 5, people who work the night shift, and people in other time zones, so it’s nearly impossible to log on and not have people to talk to.  Privacy policy: AFF discloses your personal information to services providers like credit card processing companies, but it does not sell your data to third parties for marketing purposes without your permission. In 2016, AdultFriendFinder had a huge data breach with more than 412 million accounts affected. Read the full privacy policy here. Hinge Best Serious App For Millennials Hinge Credit: Hinge Specs Free version: Yes One month of Hinge Preferred: $29.99 Three months of Hinge Preferred: $19.99/month Six months of Hinge Preferred: $14.99/month Buying Options See Details Young people looking to at least go on a few dates with the same person before staying the night was a major blind spot for dating sites — until Hinge blew up. The general appeal might be in the same realm as Tinder and Bumble, but Hinge’s unique profile criteria and algorithms based on that criteria set the scene for long-term potential. By covering so many bases before the first message, Hinge lowers the chance of meeting someone you’d hate. Despite the fact that we’re actively seeking out new dating apps and feel a rush every time a cute contender swipes right back, no one wants to be on these — because deleting such apps probably means you’ve found someone. That’s Hinge’s whole thing. Hinge’s real-world statistics speak for themselves: The “We met” feature asks users how the first date went. Some 90 percent said the first date was great and 72 percent said they’d be down for a second date. Instead of droning questionnaires and emails about the 50 winks you were sent, Hinge uses witty personal prompts and lets you send up to 10 likes per day. EliteSingles Best For Career-oriented People EliteSingles Credit: Elite Singles Specs Free version: Yes Three months of Premium: $57.95/month Six months of Premium: $44.95/month One year of Premium: $31.95/month Buying Options See Details It only takes dating one person with completely different professional goals to make you realize that a relationship can’t stay afloat on romance alone. For those unwilling to budge when it comes to their partner’s educational values and passion for success, EliteSingles attempts to offer a more established pool. The site’s claim to fame is that 82 percent of members are college grads (most being between the age of 33 and 50). This is the place for folks who have hit a comfortable stride professionally and are now pursuing a partner who’s at the same point in their life. The site’s questionnaire decodes 29 personality traits to suggest matches who not only have an income compatible with yours, but with whom you’d mesh based on communication styles, ideal first dates, and whether you’re one to make the first move.  

Past users report a feed full of people who live way farther away than they indicated in their preferences, and, unfortunately, it’s hard for any dating website to catch everyone who’s lying about their job or income. HER Best For Queer Women HER Credit: Her Specs Free version: Yes One month of HER Premium: Starting at $14.99 Six months of HER Premium: Starting at $9.99/month One year of HER Premium: Starting at $7.49/month Buying Options See Details Apps like Tinder and Bumble are technically for *everyone*, but they’ll be damned if they don’t sneak some male profiles into feeds belonging to people who requested otherwise. Given the existence of Grindr and Scruff, the need for an online dating arena specifically for queer women was clear — thus, HER. Founders of the award-winning app are committed to cultivating a space that’s “so ragingly queer” that frustrated women can delete apps that don’t feel like home. As the user base of over 4 million grows, HER could widen your dating pool beyond the queer women you already know. Users can get creative in profile building with categories like diet preferences (like veganism), and star signs, as well as a “What does this mean?” field in the sex, gender, and pronoun categories to supply a more well-rounded understanding of identity. The traditional text bio is where you can flex your sense of humor or describe what kind of relationship you’re seeking. Joining niche groups like “newly out” or “travelers” can introduce you to people using the app for similar reasons. Bumble Best For Outgoing Women And Shy Men Bumble Credit: Bumble Specs Free version: Yes One week of Boost: $8.99 One month of Boost: $24.99 Three months of Boost: $16.66/month Six months of Boost: $13.33/month Lifetime Boost: $119.99 Buying Options See Details In an attempt to correct one of the common dating app gripes — women getting spammed with creepy messages — women are required to message first on Bumble. It pushes some women out of their comfort zone and takes the pressure off of men who hate breaking the ice every time. (With same-sex matches, either party can kick things off.) If no one speaks up within 24 hours, the match is tossed. The photos and short bios are pretty close mock of Tinder, except for the fact that Bumble Boost relieves the anxiety of accidentally swiping left on a hottie by letting you backtrack. With a whole decade of being the number one gay dating app under its belt, Grindr is likely the first gay dating app that a lot of men download. But if you’re looking for a relationship, it’s probably not the last. That’s where Bumble comes in: parent company Magic Labs noticed that there was a spot to be filled for gay men who wanted something more than that intimidating, dick pic-drenched space. Bumble could be a serious option for queer men who need a tamer energy than Grinder. SilverSingles Best For People 50 And Over SilverSingles Credit: Silver Singles Buying Options See Details Pros: Large pool of people 50 or older In-depth personality test at sign-up helps the algorithm find actually compatible matches Cons: Only three to seven matches per day Setting a location limit is basically pointless because you’ll still get matches outside of your radius Dating over 50 means that, more than likely, this is your second or third attempt at love. When match or eharmony’s user bases still pose too much of a never married, no kids crowd, SilverSingles is here to let you know that putting yourself back out there during your golden years doesn’t have to be scary.  A sister site to EliteSingles, SilverSingles uses the same intense compatibility system that EliteSingles does, bringing in the popular big five personality traits to assess five levels of your being: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Rather than sitting around sifting through a never-ending pool, you’ll receive five handpicked matches per day. Reddit user LSMJIMMY, who found the “right one” on SilverSingles in 2020, gave this advice on Reddit: “I put up 18 pictures and changed the primary picture every few days to keep it fresh. I also edited or changed the responses to the questions about once per week. I spelled out what I DID NOT want…I am not a couch potato and love to travel fish, boat, ride motorcycles, hotrods, etc, etc. That cleans out the “sit and knit” crowd and I mentioned that I am “actively romantic” which cleans out the ladies that have lost the Zest for Life, if you know what I mean. I don’t have time to drag this dating thing out, so I think it helped by getting what Who I am and want I am looking for on the table early.” Privacy policy: SilverSingles uses SSL encryption and fraud detection systems to keep your information secure. It uses your information for site functionality purposes and for targeted ads through its website, email, social media channels, or third-party sites. Read the full privacy policy here. 

Coffee Meets Bagel Best For Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone Coffee Meets Bagel Credit: Coffee Meets Bagel Specs Free version: Yes One month of Premium: $34.99 Three months of Premium: $24.99/month Six months of Premium: $19.99/month One year of Premium: $14.99/month Buying Options See Details Grabbing coffee is the low-pressure date idea that lets you skip trying to choose a dressy-but-not-too-extra outfit for a concert or a restaurant. Coffee Meets Bagel is like the “grabbing coffee” version of dating apps, aiming to bring an easy-going atmosphere to folks who might just be a little rusty. (It’s actually one of the few dating apps that doesn’t get completely roasted on Reddit, and threads about the app are full of promising success stories about how that Redditor or someone they know met their person on CMB.) Millions upon millions of active users is usually a plus. It is nice to know that your options are virtually limitless, but it’s a bit jarring to have 20 new messages to read every time you sign on. This happens on eharmony and Tinder alike — people want connection, and they want it now. The slow and steady approach is great for singles who are rusty, introverted, or who simply don’t feel like scrolling every free minute. Every day, CMB offers seven of its best matches (bagels) for you, chosen by your answers to prompts, how you swiped on yesterday’s batch, and who has already expressed interest in you, too. You’re encouraged to get the ball rolling with matches disappearing in seven days. It’s less pressure than Bumble’s 24-hour time limit but still eliminates a list full of people who don’t care enough to respond or plan a meet-up.  Tinder Best For Finding A Friend With Benefits Tinder Credit: Tinder Specs Free version: Yes One month of Tinder Plus: $14.99/month Six months of Tinder Plus: $10/month One year of Tinder Plus: $6.67/month One month of Tinder Gold: $29.99 Six months of Tinder Gold: $18.83/month One year of Tinder Gold: $12.50/month Buying Options See Details Let’s just get this one out of the way. If you’re thinking of dating apps, you’re thinking of Tinder. They pioneered the now-ubiquitous swiping function, revolutionizing the world of online dating and boasting 1.6 billion swipes per day. What started out as a niche hookup app has turned into a wingman that most of us have used at least once in our life. As you’re served a series of photos, swipe right if you like what you see and left if you don’t. When you both indicate interest, it’s a match. Tinder may not want to advertise as such, but we all know what it’s mostly used for. You’re quite literally deciding if you want to interact with someone based on nothing but profile pictures and a quote from The Office — but hey, we all know those couples who met on Tinder and have been together for years. It’s fast, easy, and if there’s one app that even the shyest, most skeptical people will be on, it’s Tinder. Tinder is famously free, but fewer people know about the paid upgrades: Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold. These include extras like undoing a left swipe (bless), send “Super Likes” to people you’re really into, and in the case of Tinder Gold, see which users have liked your profile.  Pure Best For Attachment-free Sex Pure Credit: Pure Specs Free version: Yes Buying Options See Details If you got this far and still haven’t found the app for you, perhaps you’re interested in hookup apps instead? Here is one. 

Let’s scrap the dreaded “What are we?” talk, shall we? PURE is the place to find a hookup who won’t text you earlier than midnight. App rules urge you to “pretend like you’re strangers afterwards,” making no-strings-attached the only name of the game here. This minimalistic and hella millennial app is no-nonsense, sex-positive, and even features some art — the blueprint of what a hookup app should be.  Your uploaded selfies, personal info, and conversations with others self-destruct every 60 minutes, promoting spur-of-the-moment and borderline anonymous connections. The app will ask for your phone number and credit card info, but that’s just to make sure you’re a real person. The app uses your geolocation and sends out the sex version of an Uber request, rather than trying to pair you with someone who lives in another state. We like that Pure gives all the feels of a hookup-only site without the obnoxious spam and nudes everywhere. The surge of blatant sex positivity is a breath of fresh air when compared to other dating apps that try to convince you that you’ll find your soulmate.

SIMPLE LIVING HIGH THINKING

Haven’t we all been a part of the mad rat race to acquire money? Humans keep running behind wealth throughout their lives and eventually when they reach old age, they realize the importance of peace in life. Not always, luxury is based on looks or garments. Real richness is reflected through a person’s values and mannerisms. Bringing positive changes in the lives of others shall be taken into consideration more than bringing materialistic changes in one’s lives. It is not money that is of utmost importance but generosity and the act of giving back to the society is important. Life resembles a steadily flowing stream of water and what we do while being a part of that flow of water will matter in the end. In our day to day living we may notice the amount of clutter that is spread on our study desks inspite of the fact that, the only commodity that we use daily might be a laptop or a book, at the dining table, many food items are often seen lying for days together which later on get disposed off, in our wardrobes, numerous clothes often remain unused. What does this tell us? We humans keep running in the blind race of materialism without even considering whether something is really needed by us or not.

Siddhartha Gautama better known as a Gautam Buddha, renounced his life as a wealthy prince and instead left his palace to seek inner peace as an ascetic. He gave up on his comforts because at the age of 29, he realized that mere wealth cannot bring home happiness. He also came across the sufferings of people, hence wanted to find out ways on how human suffering can be ended. According to Buddha, ‘Desire’ is the root cause of suffering. In today’s times, eliminating desires is not quite possible but limiting them certainly is. The Wisdom of Frugality, states how living a simple living leads to good virtues and ultimately good virtues lead to happiness. In simple words, if a person chooses to live life without any extravaganza, he may not have to take up a stressful job. When he does not experience stress and overtime at his workplace, he gets more time for leisure, which in turn generates happiness.

A minimalist lifestyle involves living with fewer resources whether in terms of a house or possession. Minimalist livers prefer to have a simple lifestyle and yet be satisfied in life. A minimalist lifestyle is by no means a radical lifestyle but rather an optimal one. Minimalistic living involves a high thinking. For instance, rather than buying an expensive television set, a phone or an air conditioner, buying a cheaper one and spending rest of the money on buying basic necessities for the underprivileged displays the real wealth that a man possesses. Pioneers such as A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Sudha Murty, Mahatma Gandhi and many more idolizing personalities have opted to live in a simple manner and possess a benevolent, generous and humane disposition.

Are more women dying of Covid-19 in India?

New research by a group of scientists in India and US shows that although men make up the majority of infections, women face a higher risk of dying from the coronavirus than men.



The study, based on Covid-19 deaths in India until 20 May, shows early estimates that 3.3% of all women contracting the infection in India were dying compared to 2.9% of all men. (India had a caseload of more than 110,000 with 3,433 deaths and a fatality rate of 3.1% when the study was conducted.)In the 40-49 age group, 3.2% of the infected women have died, compared to 2.1% of men. Only females have died in the 5-19 age group.

Five key questions about India’s rising Covid-19 infections
I asked SV Subramanian, a professor of population health at Harvard University and one of the leader authors of the study, what this implied.


He told me that the narrative of calculating the Covid-19 fatality rate by groups has conflated two key metrics – mortality risk and mortality burden.

Mortality risk measures the probability of death in a specific group- in this case, total number of deaths of women divided by confirmed infections among women.

On the other hand, mortality burden gives you the number of deaths among women as a percentage share of the total deaths, both men and women.Prof Subramanian says for the large part, the statistics have looked at the latter – men having a greater share of total deaths (63% in India, hewing to international data) – but “inferred the former risk”.



“Our overall conclusion is that, when infected, women do not seem to have any specific survival advantage [in India],” says Prof Subramanian.

“How much of this can be attributable to biological factors and how much of this is associated with social factors is unclear. Gender can be a critical factor in Indian settings,” he says.

The ‘mystery’ of lndia’s low Covid-19 death rates
But the findings are certainly striking because they run counter to what has been observed elsewhere in the world.

For one, men are more likely to suffer from co-morbidities or underlying health conditions, like cardio-vascular disease and hypertension, says Kunihiro Matsushita, a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Men also smoke more than women in many countries, and some studies have shown that men wash their hands less frequently than women.

Prof Matsushita says that studies he had participated in had shown that male patients have a higher risk of contracting severe Covid-19 infection.

Scientists also believe that women have a lower mortality risk because of sturdier immune defences. And have hormones like oestrogen which has “beneficial effects on upper and lower airways and is associated with stimulation of the immune response to upper airway infections”.

“In that regard, a higher case fatality rate in women than men in this report is certainly unique,” Prof Matsushita told me.

But he says the research data needs to be scrutinised in the context of how Covid-19 is diagnosed in India. “For example, is the opportunity to get a test same between men and women?” he wonders.There could be more to this puzzle than what meets the eye.

Women outlive men in India and there are more older women than men. Is this leading to more deaths among women, as elderly people are vulnerable to the infection?

Also, women in India are more likely to delay going to doctors, and often self-medicate at home. And a woman’s health is more likely to be ignored in a household. So are women arriving late for testing and treatment?

Homemaker caregivers are more prone to contracting the infection – during the 1918 Spanish flu more women in India – relatively undernourished, cooped up in unhygienic and ill-ventilated dwellings, and nursing the sick – died than men.


“We need to dissect the gender data to find out more about what’s going on,” says T Jacob John, a retired professor of virology at Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Researchers agree. “We will keep a close watch and keep updating the results,” Prof Subramanian says.

Written by: Ananya Kaushal

Thrillers to start your halloween week right.

The Girl On The Train – Paula Hawkins

Rachel takes the same commuter train to work every day. It will always wait at the same signal, overlooking a stretch of back yards, she knows. She’s even begun to feel as though she knows the residents of one of the houses. She refers to them as “Jess and Jason.” Their lives are ideal, in her opinion. If only Rachel could be as content as that. Then she notices something startling. It’ll only be a minute until the train departs, but it’ll be enough. Everything has changed now. Rachel now has the opportunity to become a part of the lives she has only observed from afar. They’ll see now that she’s more than simply the train girl.

The Women in the window – A. J. Finn

Anna Fox is a recluse who stays alone in her New York City apartment, unable to leave. She spends her days drinking wine (perhaps excessively), watching old movies, reminiscing about happier times… and spying on her neighbours.The Russells, a father, a mother, and their teenage son, then move into the house across the street. The ideal family. However, when Anna sees something she shouldn’t one night while staring out her window, her world begins to unravel and its horrifying secrets are revealed.

No Exit – Taylor Adams

Darby Thorne, a college student, is stuck in a terrible blizzard in the Colorado Rockies on her way to Utah to see her ailing mother. She’s forced to wait out the storm at a lonely highway rest stop since the roads are unusable. There are vending machines, a coffee maker, and four strangers inside. Darby returns to the storm, desperate for a signal to phone home… and finds a terrifying discovery. A small child is imprisoned in an animal box in the rear of the van parked next to her automobile. What is the name of the child? Why was she kidnapped? And how will Darby be able to help her?
Darby must find a way out of a perilous scenario in which a child’s life and her own are on the line.

Survive the Night – Riley Sagar

The man behind the wheel, Josh Baxter, is a complete unknown to Charlie. They gathered at the campus transportation board, hoping to split the cost of the lengthy journey back to Ohio. Both of them have valid reasons for wanting to flee. Charlie is torn between guilt and sadness over the murder of her closest friend, who became the Campus Killer’s third victim. Josh’s motivation is to assist in the care of his ailing father. So he claims. Charlie, like the Hitchcock heroine for whom she is named, has her reservations. Josh has a suspicious air about him, from the gaps in his tale about his father to the fact that he doesn’t want Charlie to peek inside the trunk.As they drive along an empty highway in the middle of night, Charlie becomes increasingly concerned that she is sharing a car with the Campus Killer. Is Josh actually a threat? Is Charlie’s suspicion an illusion of her movie-fueled imagination, or is it anything more?What follows is a cat-and-mouse game set on moonlit highways and neon-lit parking lots, in an era when the only way to get help is to dial a pay phone number and there’s nowhere to hide. Charlie just has one chance to win: she must survive the night.

The Guest list – Lucy Foley

Guests assemble on an island off the coast of Ireland to commemorate two individuals combining their lives as one. The groom is an up-and-coming television personality. The bride is a magazine editor. The expensive gown, the isolated venue, the opulent party gifts, the boutique whiskey: it’s a wedding fit for a magazine or a star. Although mobile phone connection is patchy and the waves are rough, every aspect has been meticulously planned and will be meticulously implemented.
Resentments and petty jealousies blend with reminiscences and good wishes when the champagne is cracked and the festivities begin. Then someone is found dead. Who didn’t send their best wishes to the happy couple?

ABC of Punjab politics: Here’s a look at major political parties ahead of Assembly polls in 2022From AAP to SAD.

With former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announcing that he is set to float his own party and declaring that he is open to an alliance with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), the 2022 Assembly election in the state is likely to see new political dynamics. Meanwhile, BJP’s age-old ally Shiromani Akali Dal has found a new partner this time. Aam Aadmi Party, which managed to win just 20 seats in the past elections, is striving hard to become a major player in the state.

With these changing dynamics at play, here is a look at the major political players in Punjab.

History: Formally launched on 26 November 2012, the Aam Aadmi Party made forays into Punjab politics in 2016 after trouncing the largest national players at that time — Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress — in Delhi Assembly Elections.

In its electoral debut, the Aam Aadmi Party emerged as the second-largest party in the Delhi Legislative Assembly polls of 2013. It formed the government for 49 days with 28 of the 70 seats in the Assembly with support from the Congress party. Its main agenda was to quickly introduce the Jan Lokpal bill in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. When this didn’t come to fruition, the AAP government resigned.null

In the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls, it emerged victorious with a record margin. It won 67 of 70 seats, while the rest three went to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Past Election Performance: In the 2014 General Elections, the party fielded 434 candidates but won a meagre four seats from Punjab. This, however, allowed AAP to become a recognised state party in Punjab, paving the way for it to contest in the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls. However, the party that was predicted to give the Congress a close contest, did not fare as well as expected and won 20 seatsnull

Alliance: In all likelihood, the AAP will be facing the polls alone. The party has not commented on the possibility of a post-poll alliance so far as well.

Election Agenda: This time around, AAP’s election strategy revolves around the three controversial farm laws by the Centre. AAP enjoys the unique position of not having any contact with this political hot potato. Congress’ previous chief minister Amarinder Singh, dubbed ‘black laws’ architect’ by his bete noire Navjot Singh Sidhu, was the one who passed very similar laws in the state Assembly. Whereas Akali Dal had initially supported the bills as an NDA ally but walked out of the government later when farmers around the country rallied behind the issue. BJP, which is anyway a small player in the state, is the one who brought the controversial laws at the Centre. AAP on the other hand did not take a position until opposing it was the safest choice left.

ABC of Punjab politics: Here’s a look at major political parties ahead of Assembly polls in 2022From AAP to SAD. here is a look at the major players in Punjab politics ahead of the next year’s Assembly elections

With former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announcing that he is set to float his own party and declaring that he is open to an alliance with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), the 2022 Assembly election in the state is likely to see new political dynamics. Meanwhile, BJP’s age-old ally Shiromani Akali Dal has found a new partner this time. Aam Aadmi Party, which managed to win just 20 seats in the past elections, is striving hard to become a major player in the state.

With these changing dynamics at play, here is a look at the major political players in Punjab.

History: Formally launched on 26 November 2012, the Aam Aadmi Party made forays into Punjab politics in 2016 after trouncing the largest national players at that time — Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress — in Delhi Assembly Elections.

In its electoral debut, the Aam Aadmi Party emerged as the second-largest party in the Delhi Legislative Assembly polls of 2013. It formed the government for 49 days with 28 of the 70 seats in the Assembly with support from the Congress party. Its main agenda was to quickly introduce the Jan Lokpal bill in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. When this didn’t come to fruition, the AAP government resigned.null

In the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls, it emerged victorious with a record margin. It won 67 of 70 seats, while the rest three went to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Past Election Performance: In the 2014 General Elections, the party fielded 434 candidates but won a meagre four seats from Punjab. This, however, allowed AAP to become a recognised state party in Punjab, paving the way for it to contest in the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls. However, the party that was predicted to give the Congress a close contest, did not fare as well as expected and won 20 seatsnull

Alliance: In all likelihood, the AAP will be facing the polls alone. The party has not commented on the possibility of a post-poll alliance so far as well.

Election Agenda: This time around, AAP’s election strategy revolves around the three controversial farm laws by the Centre. AAP enjoys the unique position of not having any contact with this political hot potato. Congress’ previous chief minister Amarinder Singh, dubbed ‘black laws’ architect’ by his bete noire Navjot Singh Sidhu, was the one who passed very similar laws in the state Assembly. Whereas Akali Dal had initially supported the bills as an NDA ally but walked out of the government later when farmers around the country rallied behind the issue. BJP, which is anyway a small player in the state, is the one who brought the controversial laws at the Centre. AAP on the other hand did not take a position until opposing it was the safest choice left.

INDIA ACHIEVES A MILESTONE – News Update

The Indian Prime Minister, Mr.Narendra Modi has recently announced that the country remains a steadfast partner in global efforts to combat the Covid pandemic. The government’s results have resulted in a positive impact against the battle with the deadly Corona Virus. India made a 100 Crore Vaccine jabs milestone on 22nd October, 2021. Thousands of health care workers and people from the government sector joined hands to achieve this mark. There had been no such mass vaccination drive in the country prior to the pandemic. Indians were not made to wait endlessly for these jabs due to vaccine makers such as The Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute. Within a short duration of time amidst the Covid – 19 waves, these manufacturers came to the rescue and supplied indigenous doses.

After several episodes of complete and partial lockdowns in the nation, the authorities began permitting to open up different sectors, trains, educational institutes and shopping malls, with the mandatory restriction of complete vaccination of an individual. The date 16th of July, will be engraved in the history of India’s achievements, as this is the day when the very first vaccines were administered to the frontliners. The civilians were initially hesitant with administration of the jabs because of several inhibitions and rumours. Gradually, the public started pre-booking their slots in order to get vaccinated. In about only 9 months, India is basking in glory with the milestone that has been achieved.

The country not just secured itself from the virus, but also worked for humanitarian causes by supplying these vaccines to other nations such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, South Africa, Afghanistan and many more. There were times when the government did receive backlash for supplying vaccines and this move was also being called as a risky diplomacy. Inspite of hardships, the country did supply approximately 361 lakh doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to other nations.

With the completion of this landmark, a gesture of gratitude towards the frontline warriors was displayed by lighting up of 100 monuments in India, ins colour of the Indian tri-colour. This initiative was lead by the Archaeological Survey Of India. Therefore, to offer a vote of thanks to all the doctors, nurses, sanitation staff, police officers, monuments including the Konark Temple, Agra Fort, Red Fort, Shanivar Wada, Khajurao, Fatehpur Sikri, Qutb Minar, Kumbalgarh, Nalanda, St. Francis Church, Dholavira, etc were illuminated. This expression of gratefulness towards the relentless efforts of the essential workers took place on the night of 21st October, 2021.

The National COVID-19 vaccination drive of India is the world’s largest vaccination drive and has been unprecedented in both scale and reach. India alertly imposed restrictions on the movement of people and quickly arranged for hospital like setups to provide timely health care. A series of sessions were conducted by the Prime Minister to advice the citizens regarding the ongoing crisis. India scored high on communications with health care workers during a public health emergency, trade and travel restrictions, laboratory systems, immunization, and socioeconomic resilience.

No Judgement Club

Being out of the box and not following being a part of the rat race is the new black.

Being trapped inside the box of “log kya kahenge” is something that we all have faced and we still do even if we deny it. With the parents and guardians being supportive and the youth being overtly conscious and aware of their rights, we, as a generation, as a club of the 2000’s, the “gen-z club” are trying to freely reign the things that we want to do ignoring any type of judgement and pushing away the people who pull us down.   

We are conquering the world of nonlinear growth pattern and not focusing on the aligned growth pattern which means that we do not focus on just the “conservative” idea of growth. We do not indulge into working like a robot but focus on a nonaligned growth pattern which means that we not only love to work but also focus on our mental health. We understand that we are not in a rat race and believe in living our lives in a comfortable manner.

Why is mental health important? 

There is a clear connection between mental health and academic
performance. Mental health is important for person’s growth just like
a person’s physical health. Imagine working with a broken arm, will
you be able to work? No. Then why should someone with anxiety
disorders, paranoia, depression, etc., are expected to work efficiently
when they can’t even process their mind the way they want to.

Social media and positivity 

Being a generation with extreme activeness on the social media, we have made social media a happy, comforting place for everyone. Social media positivity helps us bear things. With innumerable creators creating content that helps us ignore the negativity and LIVE. 

Log kya hi keh lenge! 

When we start, when we initiate, the paradigm shifts, the pattern starts changing. We have to hold hands and work together. We all can shift the attention from “log kya kahenge” to “log kya hi keh lenge” and then see how the world changes, how we conquer the art of living and being a generation that creates better adults. 

Petrol, diesel prices today: Fuel rates hiked, diesel crosses ₹100 mark in Chennai

Petrol and diesel prices on Saturday touched an all-time high across the country after rates were hiked for the fourth consecutive day by 35 paise per litre each.

The prices of petrol and diesel were hiked by ₹0.35 and will cost ₹107.24 per litre and ₹95.97 per litre respectively in Delhi.

In Mumbai, the petrol price stands at ₹113.12 per litre and diesel would be sold at  ₹104.00 per litre, today.

In Kolkata, the petrol will be sold at Rs. 107.78 per litre and diesel will be sold at Rs. 99.08 per litre. The prices in Chennai on Thursday stands at Rs. 104.22 per litre for petrol and Rs. 100.25 per litre for diesel.

The rising fuel prices in the country are not going to come down immediately. The central government is in talks with several oil-exporting countries on the issue of supply and demand of oils but there is no possibility of immediate relief in prices.

In Bengaluru, petrol is available at  ₹110.98 per litre and diesel at  ₹101.86 and in Hyderabad, one litre of petrol is now available at  ₹111.55 and diesel cost ₹104.70 for one litre of diesel.

The costliest fuel was in the border town of Ganganagar in Rajasthan, where petrol comes for  ₹119.42 a litre and diesel for ₹110.26 per litre.

Prices differ from state to state, depending on the incidence of local taxes.

Petrol price has been hiked on 19 occasions since September 28, when a three-week-long hiatus in rate revision ended. In all, prices have gone up by  ₹5.7 a litre.

Diesel rates have been increased by  ₹7 per litre in 22 hikes since September 24.

Prior to that, the petrol price was increased by ₹11.44 a litre between May 4 and July 17. The diesel rate had gone up by ₹9.14 per litre during this period.

MASS MEDIA

As the name itself suggests, Mass Media refers to an array of methods which help to promote a variety of things/messages/ideas among the masses through different communication outlets. In today’s times, the various kinds of mass media include, Cinema, Radio, Television, Internet, Print, Recordings, Mobile phones, etc. People may opt for a particular medium of communication based on the availability of technology, type of message/product to endorse and ease of mass communication.

CINEMA

Movie making is certainly gaining a lot of popularity in this era. Cinema Media has a lot of potential to create an impact on the society at large. The film industry inclusive of Hollywood, Bollywood, Tollywood, so on and so forth manifests the reflection of society in the past and the present. Today, the youth does look up to movies for recreation. A good cinema can entertain, educate and inspire the viewer in several ways.

EXAMPLE – The movie JOKER, impacted it’s audience with inspirations like, leaning to forgive, succeeding despite having mental issues, never giving up on your dreams, etc.

RADIO

The credit of being able to enjoy broadcasting in the earlier times and today as well, goes to Guglielmo Marconi, the developer of the first radio transmitter and receiver. With scarce means of recreation in the olden times, Radio bound families, peers, neighbors together. The auditory mode of communication, Radio is also used to maintain contacts with the flights and ships that are out in the air and water. Radio is also an essential element used at war zones to transmit information through morse codes.

EXAMPLE – Africa considers radio as the most important too of communication. Radio is quite cost efficient, does not need any expensive data package, helps to reach out to a broader audience and is also easily portable.

TELEVISION

Television is an audio visual type of Mass medium. It is used by broadcasters to air sports, daily soap, movies, news, etc. The progress of the T.V is easily noticeable, as it started from the black and white version and has now developed to a very high extent in the form of OLED, LCD, LED, and HD. It is used by direction and production houses to entertain, inform and educate viewers. It can be considered as an ultimate Pandora’s Box.

EXAMPLE – Viewers ranging from the kids to the elderly at home, are often seen glued to the television for the purpose of entertainment.

INTERNET

Sharing information and communication has become a piece of cake since the invention of the Internet. This mass medium has bypassed almost all other media of communication. Internet is now considered as a boon to e-sellers, social media influencers, researchers and all the other end users as well. The Internet has become a global networking platform which anyone can access at any point of time.

EXAMPLE – People do resort to the Internet to pay their bills, listen to music, manage finances, to shop online or even to communicate with people all across the globe.

Mass Media plays a significant role in this era. Making appropriate usage of it will give us fruitful results. Mass media helps in transmitting values, heritage, cultures and information and acts as a watchdog on society.

Any Limit?


Photo by Soubhagya Maharana on Pexels.com

Today, when the sun comes up the main hotly debated issue that individuals could pick from the news segments that could give some reprieve to the detestable, tattle cherishing individual inside them is the update about people living in the b-town. Directly from the primary cup of tea of the day, individuals need their portion of reports, some evident other bogus with regards to the big names working in the film business of India explicitly and others as a rule, to the last feast of the day, every one of these tattle sharing creatures care about is the most recent embarrassment that happened even a second prior. Indians have been so energetic about the littlest of the insights regarding each huge or little occasion occurring in the existences of the entertainers extraordinarily working in the Hindi entertainment world that they now and then even complain when an entertainer isn’t that public with regards to their own lives. They become so reveled the existences of the bollywood stars that they barely have any track of their own lives.

With the new paparazzi culture growing quick in India, the interest of next move of these stars have ascended to another level. With paparazzi catching them in the neighborhood city similarly as they move, it has become simpler for individuals to follow them and go all function over them. Each spending day the frenzy for the information about the film entertainers increment. Each new undertaking of their cherished VIP works like a caffeinated drink for their tattle adoring personalities. A smallest of fire of undertaking of two big names is sufficient to consume the place of reality to remains and accept the talk. The data regarding whose dating whom, whose getting hitched to whom, who is having children with whom, who is getting most endorsement on their tryouts, whose been dismissed frequently, who is into medications and who follows which god or religion, fills in as the cold pieces on their newly requested pizza just to consume their tongues later.

This poisonous conduct of following everything about their dearest superstar life which in the end transforms into fixation is unsafe for both the VIP and individuals fixated on them. These supporters become so involved into the existences of these enormous town stars that they are influenced to the outrageous levels when they gain proficiency with the truth around one or other of these entertainers which is certainly not the same as what they had anticipated that it should be. They in a real sense love these entertainers to the degree that they even become prepared to surrender their lives only so to have a selfie with them. With the passings of some well known and truly respected stars this year the passings of their fans in their recognition has lead to the stunning and startling harmfulness that this after to the alcove culture has created. Individuals need to retreat from this over inclusion, interest, energy for the big name they follow to give them and themselves the space for breathing into the solid culture of adoring and respecting somebody however not getting so fascinated that they transform into some neurotic supporter who knows no limits.

No Boundaries

Today, as soon as the sun comes up the only hot topic that people could pick from the news sections that could give some respite to the evil, gossip loving person inside them is the update about humans living in the b-town. Right from the first cup of tea of the day, people want their dose of rumors, some true other false about the celebrities working in the movie industry of India specifically and others in general, to the last meal of the day, all these gossip sharing beings care about is the latest scandal that happened even a second ago. Indians have been so passionate about the tiniest of the details about every big or small event taking place in the lives of the actors specially working in the Hindi film industry that they sometimes even take offence when an actor is not that public about their personal lives. They become so indulged the lives of the bollywood stars that they hardly have any track of their own lives.

With the new paparazzi culture developing ever so fast in India, the curiosity of next move of these stars have risen to another level. With paparazzi capturing them in the local city just as they move, it has become easier for people to track them and go all gala over them. Each passing day the craze for the knowledge about the movie actors increase. Every new project of their favorite celebrity works like an energy drink for their gossip loving minds. A slightest of fire of affair of two celebrities is enough to burn the house of reality to ashes and believe the rumor. The information about whose dating whom, whose getting married to whom, who is having kids with whom, who is getting most approval on their auditions, whose been rejected most often, who is into drugs and who follows which god or religion, serves as the chilly-flakes on their freshly ordered pizza only to burn their tongues later.

This toxic behavior of following every detail in their beloved celebrity life which eventually turns into obsession is harmful for both the celebrity and the people obsessed with them. These followers become so involved into the lives of these big town stars that they are affected to the extreme levels when they learn the reality about one or other of these actors which is definitely different from what they had expected it to be. They literally worship these actors to the extent that they even become ready to give up their lives just so to have a selfie with them. With the deaths of some famous and really admired stars this year the deaths of their fans in their remembrance has lead to the shocking and unexpected toxicity that this following to the nook culture has developed. People need to back out from this over involvement, fascination, passion for the celebrity they follow so as to give them and themselves the space for breathing into the healthy culture of loving and admiring someone but not getting so engrossed that they turn into some maniac follower who knows no boundaries.

Picture Credits: https://bit.ly/2ZbrY4j