What Are mRNA Vaccines That Earned Two Scientists Nobel Prize In Medicine?

The coronavirus pandemic brought global renown to the mRNA technology that underpins vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, and on Monday earned a Nobel Prize for two scientists who have been key to its development. 

Katalin Kariko of Hungary and Drew Weissman of the United States won the Nobel Medicine Prize for their work on "nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19".

These types of jabs are new but researchers have been working for decades to try to figure out how to use messenger RNA (ribonucleic acid) for other vaccinations and to treat illnesses from AIDS to cancer. 

How does it work? 

Messenger RNA's job in the body is to help deliver specific instructions from DNA to cells. In the case of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna jabs, lab-generated mRNA tells human cells to create antigens -- proteins that are similar to ones found in the Covid-19 virus.

Thanks to those antigens, a person's immune system learns how to fight the virus and neutralise Covid if it enters the body.

After the cells create these proteins, the body breaks down the mRNA instructions and gets rid of them.

Such direct communication with cells is revolutionary -- classic vaccines aimed to provoke an immune response by injecting a neutralised form of a virus or antigens into the system. 

Where did this come from?

The first big breakthrough, in the late 1970s, was in using mRNA to make test-tube cells produce proteins. A decade later, scientists were able to get the same results in mice, but mRNA still had two major drawbacks as a medical tool.

For one thing, cells in live animals resisted synthetic mRNA, provoking a dangerous immune response.

On top of that, mRNA molecules are fragile, making them difficult to deliver to the system without altering them.

In 2005, Kariko and Weissman of Penn State University published a groundbreaking study showing that a lipid -- or fat molecule -- envelope could safely deliver mRNA without negative effects. 

The research caused a buzz in the pharmaceutical community and start-ups dedicated to mRNA therapies began to pop up around the world.

What else can mRNA do? 

Scientists have worked on developing mRNA jabs for illnesses like seasonal flu, rabies and Zika, as well as those that have remained vaccine-resistant until now, including malaria and AIDS.

Researchers have also started testing personalised treatments on cancer patients, using samples of the proteins in their tumours to create specialised mRNA.

This then triggers the immune system to target specific cancer cells.

"The mRNA platform is versatile," University of Pennsylvania biochemist Norbert Pardi told AFP. "Any protein can be encoded as mRNA so there are many potential applications."

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Mother Glued To Her Phone, 3-Year-Old Drowns At US Water Park: Cops

A three-year-old boy drowned at a waterpark in Texas, United States, while his mother was engrossed in her phone for hours, singing along to music, according to the police. However, her lawyer blamed lifeguards for not being attentive, as reported by The New York Post. The incident occurred at Camp Cohen water park in El Paso.

Jessica Weaver (35) faced accusations of negligence and was charged in connection with the tragic death of her only child, Anthony Leo Malave. Several eyewitnesses also held her accountable for the incident, citing her alleged reckless inattentiveness in the lead-up to her son's drowning during the "soft opening" of the city-owned park in May, as reported by the El Paso Times.

On August 30, Mrs Weaver was apprehended in her hometown of Indiana, where she willingly agreed to extradition. She was then placed in custody at the El Paso County Jail on September 22 and was released on a $100,000 surety bond, according to the news outlet.

During the incident, it was one of the 18 lifeguards on duty at the park who rescued the three-year-old from a four-foot-deep section of the pool.

The child was not wearing a life vest, even though the facility had these devices available for guests, as reported in the paper.

Signs at Camp Cohen indicate that children under six must be actively supervised by a swimming adult, with an adult nearby for oversight at all times.

One witness described a woman who matched Mrs Weaver's appearance as being entirely absorbed in her phone by the pool, not looking up or paying attention to anything, for over an hour.

Another witness mentioned that the woman, whom he believed to be alone, was continuously taking photos while she was at the pool.

A third individual witnessed the woman singing along to a song playing and reclining, engrossed in her phone, approximately seven minutes before the child/victim was pulled out of the water, according to the report.

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INDIA Bloc Will Find Way Out: Akhilesh Yadav On AAP-Congress Punjab Fight

Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took a swipe at the ruling BJP in the state, saying that people in UP have decided to 'remove' the BJP from power.

Mr Yadav, while talking to the media, hoped that BJP would lose in the upcoming poll like the way it lost in the by-poll of UP's Ghosi.

"With the strategy that the INDIA alliance is making, I hope that the people of India will remove the BJP... Especially people in Uttar Pradesh have decided to remove the BJP... In Ghosi by-elections, people made the BJP lose by 50,000 votes," Mr Yadav said.

Notably, Samajwadi Party's Sudhakar Singh won the Ghosi bypoll which was concluded recently.

This was the first win by the opposition INDIA alliance and a test for the unity of the opposition bloc as none of them fielded candidates in Ghosi and chose to support the Samajwadi Party candidate.

Earlier in the day, while addressing a public gathering in UP's Noida, SP Chief said that his party has played a major role in framing policies for the infrastructure that are getting implemented today by the BJP-led government in the state.

"The infrastructure that we see now, every government has attempted to make this area better...I can claim that the SP has played a major role in framing policies for the infrastructure that we see today getting implemented..." he said.

However, on being asked about the Aam Adami Party (AAP) against Congress in Punjab, Mr Yadav said that the Opposition bloc- INDIA will find some way out.

"We (INDIA alliance) will find some way out... Because all the parties that are against each other (in states) want to defeat the BJP... The Samajwadi Party will help to defeat the BJP in Madhya Pradesh...The SP will work towards defeating the BJP..." he said.

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"Won't Walk Away From Ukraine": Biden After New Bill Drops Aid For Kyiv

Hours after the short-term spending bill was passed to avoid a government shutdown, US President Joe Biden on Sunday assured that Washington will "not walk away" from supporting Ukraine, CNN reported.

This comes after the spending bill didn't include new aid for Ukraine. Biden also called on the Republicans to keep their word about support for Ukraine.

"There's no Ukraine funding in this agreement...Despite that, I did not believe we could let millions of Americans go through the pain of a government shutdown," Joe Biden said in his address after signing the bill.

"I want to assure our American allies and the American people and the people of Ukraine that you can count on our support. We will not walk away," CNN quoted President Biden as saying.

The president further said that he would hold Republicans "accountable to their previous signals" of support for Ukraine.

"But let's be clear. I hope my friends on the other side keep their word about support for Ukraine. They said they were going to support Ukraine in a separate vote," CNN quoted the president as saying.

"We cannot, under any circumstances, allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted," he added.

Joe Biden said that he fully expects House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to "keep his commitment to secure the passage and support needed to help Ukraine as they defend themselves against aggression and brutality".

He added that there is broad bipartisan support for Ukraine's war effort. "Let's vote on it," he said.

Joe Biden also chastised Republicans and the pattern of "governing by crisis" during remarks from the White House on Sunday.

"Folks, the truth is we shouldn't be here in the first place. We shouldn't have gotten here in the first place. It's time to end governing by crisis and keep your word when you give it in the Congress," CNN quoted him as saying.

However, the President refrained from weighing in on whether Democrats should help McCarthy keep the speakership, as conservatives attempted to oust him over his handling of the shutdown negotiations.

"I don't have a vote on that matter. I'll leave that to the leadership in the House," Joe Biden added.

Notably, the original drafts of a spending bill to avert the shutdown included aid for Ukraine, but the funds were ultimately removed over concerns the measure could not pass over the objections of some conservatives, CNN reported.

Bipartisan members of Senate leadership released a joint statement on Saturday committing to vote on further funding for Ukraine aid "in the coming weeks." Congress will need to negotiate another funding bill by mid-November, CNN reported.

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Digital Passports: These Countries Are Early Movers

Finland became the first country to launch digital passports, aiming to streamline and enhance international travel.Finnish travellers departing from Helsinki to the UK now have the option to present a digital ID on their mobile device instead of their physical passport, according to Euronews. The Finnish Border Control has noted that this marks the first instance worldwide where a digital passport is accepted in a genuine border control setting, promising a more efficient and seamless travel experience.

The initiative was launched on August 28 in collaboration with Finnair, the Finnish police, and airport operator Finavia. The Finnish Border Guard is overseeing the trial, which will continue until February 2024 at Helsinki Airport's border control.

How do these digital passports function?

Interested travelers must initially download the FIN DTC Pilot digital travel document app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. To use the app, a phone screen locking method such as a PIN number, fingerprint, or face ID must be activated before installation.

Subsequently, travellers must register with the police at Vantaa Main Police Station's license services. This registration entails booking an appointment and presenting a valid physical passport to create its digital counterpart. During the registration process, individuals will provide consent and have a facial photo taken for facial recognition purposes.

Once registered, travelers can use DTC at Helsinki Airport when flying directly to the United Kingdom and returning to Helsinki Airport on Finnair flights until the trial concludes in February 2024. Before each trip, travelers must transmit their data via the app to the Finnish Border Guard 36 to 4 hours prior to departure.

Digital passports worldwide

Several countries have launched or are planning similar initiatives. In alignment with Finland, Poland, South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom are also developing digital passport projects. Notably, in 2021, Ukraine granted digital passports the same legal status as physical ones.

Singapore introduced HealthCerts in February 2021, a digital health passport that securely stores and presents Covid-19 test results and vaccination records for travelers. Additionally, countries such as China, Estonia, and Israel have introduced digital vaccine passports.

Where India stands

On the occasion of Passport Seva Divas on June 24, 2023, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced the commencement of the second phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP-Version 2.0), which will include new and enhanced e-passports. Jaishankar emphasized the commitment to providing passports and related services in a timely, reliable, accessible, transparent, and efficient manner.

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Iconic House From Netflix Show 'Sex Education' Up For Sale

The iconic chalet-style riverside home that featured in the hit Netflix series 'Sex Education' is up for sale for 1.5 million pounds, BBC reported. The home has been a central location in the storyline, serving as the home of lead characters Otis Milburn, portrayed by Asa Butterfield, and his sex therapist mother Jean, played by Gillian Anderson.

The property, located in Symonds Yat near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, was listed online on Thursday. The beautiful home, being sold by Knight Frank, sits on the banks of the river Wye and boasts five bedrooms and three bathrooms over three floors. It also has a custom-painted wood kitchen, a conservatory, a stone pizza oven, a lawn, a summer house, an orchard, and a Swedish hot bath.

''After 21 years of ownership, we've decided to put our beautiful chalet up for sale. Such a privilege to have been the custodian of this wonderful property,'' a post on the Chalet's Instagram said.

See the post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Chalet, Symonds Yat East (@thechaletsymondsyat)

The description for the property reads: "Under the current ownership, the property has featured in many location shoots including the Channel 4 series, Extraordinary Escapes and globally acclaimed Netflix series, Sex Education. The setting of The Chalet is quite exceptional with stunning views of the Wye Gorge from its completely hidden and wooded position."

''There is also pedestrian access from its grounds down to the River Wye. The property is approached over a very long in-and-out drive, through woodland. There are breathtaking views over the Wye River to the south and north from the interior, and from the strategically built decked external balcony terraces,'' it further read. 

The Norwegian design chalet was built in 1912 for use as a salmon fishing lodge. The then-owner saw and purchased it when it was first exhibited in London at the Ideal Homes exhibition that same year. It was then completely renovated when bought by the current owner in 2002.

Here are some pictures of the house:

Real estate agent James Toogood of Knight Frank Bristol, told the BBC: ''The fact that this property is so well known only adds to the appeal of what is an incredibly rare opportunity to own a spectacular home.''

Not just Sex Education, the luxurious home has also been featured as the location for other TV projects. The fourth and final season of Sex Education, which stars Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Alistair Petrie, Mimi Keene and Aimee Lou Wood, was released September 21 on Netflix.

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Afghan Embassy Announces Decision To Cease India Operations From Today

The Afghanistan Embassy in India announced Saturday night that it is ceasing its operations from October 1, citing a lack of support from the host government, failure to meet expectations in serving Afghanistan's interests, and a reduction in personnel and resources.

In a statement, the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi said it regrets to announce the decision to cease its operations, effective October 1, 2023.

"It is with profound sadness, regret, and disappointment that the Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi announces this decision to cease its operations," the statement said.

The embassy said that this decision, while deeply regrettable, is made after careful consideration, taking into account the historic ties and long-standing partnership between Afghanistan and India.

The Embassy statement also listed key factors affecting its ability to continue the mission effectively and said that they were the primary reasons for the "unfortunate closure".

The Embassy cited a "lack of support from the host government", alleging that it has experienced a notable absence of crucial support from the host government, which it said hindered its ability to carry out duties effectively.

Failure To Meet Expectations

The mission also cited "failure to meet expectations in serving Afghanistan's interests" as one of the reasons.

"We acknowledge our shortcomings in meeting the expectations and requirements necessary to serve the best interests of Afghanistan and its citizens due to the lack of diplomatic support in India and the absence of a legitimate functioning government in Kabul," it said.

It also said that due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, there has been a significant reduction in both personnel and resources available to it, making it increasingly challenging to continue operations.

"The lack of timely and sufficient support from visa renewal for diplomats to other critical areas of cooperation led to an understandable frustration among our team and impeded our ability to carry out routine duties effectively," the statement said.

Given these circumstances, "it is with deep regret that we have taken the difficult decision to close all operations of the mission with the exception of emergency consular services to Afghan citizens till the transfer of the custodial authority of the mission to the host country," it said.

The embassy has been headed by Ambassador Farid Mamundzay. Mr Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and he has been operating as the Afghan envoy even after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

Power Tussle

In April-May, the embassy was rocked by a power struggle in the wake of reports of the Taliban appointing a charge d'affaires to head the mission, replacing Mr Mamundzay. Following the episode, the embassy came out with a statement that there was no change in its leadership.

The tussle for power had erupted after Qadir Shah, who was working as a trade councillor at the embassy since 2020, wrote to the MEA in late April claiming that he was appointed as the charge d'affaires at the embassy by the Taliban.

India is yet to recognise the Taliban set-up and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul, besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

In its statement, the Afghan Embassy said this step is being taken in the best interest of the people of Afghanistan.

In accordance with Article 45 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), all property and facilities of the Embassy will be transferred to the custodial authority of the host country, it said.

The embassy said it also wishes to address recent speculations and provide clarity on certain matters of importance.

In the three-page statement, the embassy categorically refuted any "baseless claims" regarding internal strife or discord amongst its diplomatic staff or any diplomats using the crisis to seek asylum in a third country.

"Such rumours are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of our mission. We remain a united team working towards the best interests of Afghanistan," the embassy said.

The embassy also said it would like to verify the "authenticity" of an earlier communication with the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the intent to close the mission.

"This communication accurately represents our decision-making process and the factors leading to the closure," the statement said.

"We request the government of India to give serious consideration to the four requests outlined in the official note verbally submitted earlier. Specifically, we emphasize the importance of permitting the hoisting of the Afghan flag over the properties of our premises, as well as facilitating the smooth transition of the mission's buildings and assets to a legitimate government in Kabul in the future," the statement said.

The embassy also acknowledged that, given the gravity of this decision, "there may be some who receive support and instructions from Kabul that may differ from our current course of action".

The Embassy of Afghanistan made an "unequivocal statement" regarding the activities of certain consulates.

"It is our firm belief that any actions taken by these consulates are not in consonance with the objectives of a legitimate or elected government and rather serve the interests of an illegitimate regime," the statement said.

The embassy also said it is keen to reach an agreement with the Indian government at the earliest possible juncture.

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"Didn't Even Spare Cow Dung": PM On Congress "Corruption" In Chhattisgarh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress government in Chhattisgarh of being steeped in "corruption and misrule", saying there is a scam in every scheme of the state and that it did not spare even cow dung.

PM Modi also accused the Congress of seeking to divide women in the name of caste and by spreading lies, as he launched a fierce counter-attack on the main opposition party over its demand for OBC sub-quota in women's reservation in legislatures.

Addressing a large crowd at the 'Parivartan Mahasankalp rally' here to mark the conclusion of the BJP's two 'Parivartan Yatra' outreach campaigns in the poll-bound state, the Prime Minister also invoked his own OBC background to assert that the Congress hates him and has not stopped abusing the backwards, Dalits and tribals despite its leader being sentenced by court, an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi. 

Mr Gandhi was convicted by a Gujarat court for his "Modi surname" remarks. The Supreme Court has since stayed the conviction.

PM Modi cautioned people of Chhattisgarh that if the Congress is given another chance, it will be emboldened to continue to take the path of corruption and assured them that if the BJP is elected to power, stern action will be taken against those who are guilty in the alleged Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitment scam.

"Chhattisgarh is steeped in corruption and misrule. There is a scam in every scheme in the state...," PM Modi said, hitting out at the Bhupesh Baghel government over alleged scams in ration distribution, liquor trade, PSC recruitment, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund utilisation and cow dung procurement.

The state government "did not even spare cow dung and committed corruption in the name of gau mata (cow)," he said, referring to allegations of corruption in the cow dung procurement scheme.

The Prime Minister said the BJP was completely dedicated to the development of Chhattisgarh whether it was in power at the Centre or in the state.

"Today I have come to give you a guarantee that Modi will leave no stone unturned to make your every dream come true. It is Modi's guarantee that your dreams are Modi's resolution," he said.

"No matter how much I try from Delhi to ensure that development reaches you, the Congress government here keeps trying to disrupt it. In the last five years, Chhattisgarh has received thousands of crores of rupees from the Centre for development work. There is no shortage of money for the state, and I am not saying this but deputy Chief Minister (TS Singh Deo) of Chhattisgarh has said this in a public programme," the PM alleged.  

Mr Singh Deo, seen as Baghel's rival in the state Congress, had said at a function in Raigarh district - where he shared the stage with the Prime Minister - that the Union government has not been biased against Chhattisgarh.

PM Modi claimed that after Mr Singh Deo spoke the truth, it created a "storm" in the Congress and the party leaders started targeting him. 

"When the Congress was in power at the Centre (as part of the United Progressive Alliance), which has now become a 'ghamandia' alliance, it only gave Rs 300 crore on an average per year for railway works, but the Modi government gave Rs 6,000 crore in a year for expansion of railway networks," he said.

Accusing the Congress government of committing scams in rice distribution under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojna, PM Modi asked people whether they will give another opportunity to this party.

"They are a little scared as I am sitting in Delhi. But if they(Congress) get a chance again, their courage to commit a scam will be boosted so much that no one will be able to stop them in Chhattisgarh," he said. 

PM Modi also accused the Congress government of hiding the deaths of children due to malnutrition, saying that Congress leaders "are very concerned with the lives of their children, but have nothing to do with your children." 

He hit out at the Congress for "spreading lies" on paddy procurement, claiming that every single grain of rice grown by farmers in Chhattisgarh was procured by the BJP-led Union government. A BJP government will take care of paddy cultivators, he assured.

"Congress hates Modi as they think how a person from the backward classes became the PM. They abuse the backward classes on the pretext of targeting Modi. They (Congress) hate Dalits, the poor, tribals and OBCs. Even after being punished by the court (for making slanderous statements), they continued with the same attitude," PM Modi said.

"When the BJP nominated Ram Nath Kovind, who hails from the Dalit community, for the post of President, Congress opposed it. They even opposed Droupadi Murmu's candidature (in the last presidential election)....It was not ideological opposition. Had it been ideological opposition, the Congress would not have fielded a former leader of the BJP (Yashwant Sinha)," he added.

PM Modi said he has fulfilled another guarantee with the passage of the bill reserving 33 per cent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies which has now become law after receiving the assent of President Murmu.

"It (women's reservation bill) was pending for 30 years. Congress and its allies in the 'ghamandia' bloc are now wondering what Modi has done. They are full of anger. They supported the bill out of compulsion and fear that Modi will get blessings of women after this development," he said. 

But now they are "playing new tricks to create division among women" on the lines of caste and by spreading lies, and the women of Chhattisgarh should remain alert about this, the PM said.

"This decision (women's reservation) will have an impact for thousands of years to come. It will make your daughters' future bright. Please, mothers and sisters, do not fall prey to the lies of liars. Your blessings should continue to shower so that Modi continues to fulfill everyone's dreams,"  he added.

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Lord Jagannath Owns 60,822 Acres In Odisha, 6 Other States, Says State Minister

The Jagannath Temple in Puri owns over 60,822 acres of land in Odisha and six other states, Odisha Law Minister Jagannath Saraka informed the assembly on Saturday.

In a written reply to a question from BJD member Prasanta Behera, the minister said a total of 60,426.943 acres of land in the name of Mahaprabhu Jagannath Bije, Srikhetra Puri, have been identified in 24 of the 30 districts of Odisha.

Of these, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has received the final Record of Rights (RoR) over 38,061.892 acres of land, he said.

Similarly, 395.252 acres of land in six other states were identified in the name of Lord Jagannath, Mr Saraka said.

The minister said that the temple has already lodged 974 encroachment cases in different tehsils of the state to remove illegal encroachments.

The cases were filed as per the provision of the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, after the conduct of a proper inquiry by SJTA officials.

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"No Posters Or Bribes, Vote For Me If You Want To": Nitin Gadkari

In a sign of his confidence in the work he has done, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said he has decided not to put up any posters or banners for the Lok Sabha elections next year, nor will he offer any inducements to voters. "I have served you. Vote for me if you like, don't if you do not want to," Mr Gadkari told a public gathering in Maharashtra. 

Speaking during the inauguration of a road in Washim on Saturday, Mr Gadkari said in Marathi that he will not bribe (give chai-paani to) the voters and that he would not indulge in corruption, nor let them indulge in it. 

"I have decided that I will not put up any banners or posters for the next Lok Sabha elections and will not give any chai-paani. You will not get the darshan of Goddess Lakshmi (a colloquial way of saying one won't get money), nor will you get domestic or foreign liquor. I will not indulge in corruption and won't let you indulge in it either," he said.

Mr Gadkari, who is the minister for Road Transport and Highways, is the Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from the Nagpur constituency.

On Thursday, the minister had said that the government is working on a policy to ensure that there are no potholes on national highways by the end of the year. The ministry is also preferring to undertake construction of roads using the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model as such projects are maintained better, he had said. 

Generally, road construction is done using three models - BOT, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), and Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).

"The roads which are constructed under the EPC mode require maintenance quite early whereas, under the BOT mode, roads are better constructed as the contractor knows that he will have to bear the cost of maintenance for the next 15-20 years," news agency PTI quoted Mr Gadkari as saying. 

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Climbing 50 Stairs A Day Can Significantly Reduce Heart Disease Risk, Study Finds

A new study from Tulane University suggests that climbing at least 50 stairs each day can lower the risk of heart disease, The Independent reported. According to the research, daily stair climbing of more than five flights may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by almost 20 per cent. Strokes, coronary artery disease, and other cardiovascular illnesses, such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), are the main killers and causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

 "Short bursts of high-intensity stair climbing are a time-efficient way to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and lipid profile, especially among those unable to achieve the current physical activity recommendations," The Independent quoted Dr Lu Qi, a co-author of the study and a professor at Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine as saying.
He added, "The findings highlight the potential advantages of stair climbing as a primary preventive measure for ASCVD in the general population."

Researchers used data from the UK Biobank, which included 450,000 adults, to carry out the study. On the basis of their family history of cardiovascular disease, known risk factors, and genetic risk factors, participants were assessed. A survey of lifestyle practises and the frequency of stair climbing was also conducted, with a median follow-up period of 12.5 years.

The findings showed that people who were less sensitive to cardiovascular disease had a lower risk when they climbed more stairs each day. 

Walking up stairs has more advantages than walking on a flat surface because it requires the use of more muscles, balance, and gross motor skills, according to Dr. Nicolas Berger, a senior lecturer in sport and exercise at Teesside University in England who was not involved in the study. He stated that even brief periods of stair climbing involve significant cardiovascular activity, which is why people frequently experience shortness of breath while engaging in this exercise.

Dr Berger emphasized, "These short, intermittent bursts of activity have large benefits in terms of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. They can significantly increase your heart rate and oxygen uptake and cause positive adaptations in the body."

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8 Killed After Tourist Bus Falls Into Gorge Near Tamil Nadu: Cops

At least 8 persons were killed and many injured when the tourist bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge in this hilly district on Saturday, police said.

Among the dead were four women and a minor boy, they said.

Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed anguish over the deaths and announced cash relief to the family of the victims.

The victims hailed from Kadayam in Tenkasi district and they were returning home when the incident happened.

The bus fell into the gorge after the driver of the vehicle lost control and locals, members of the police department and fire and rescue services rushed to the aid of the victims and rescued the injured.

The bus toppled in the impact and the rescue workers were seen using ropes to get down to the ill-fated vehicle and reach out to the passengers.

Most of the injured persons have been sent to nearby Coimbatore for medical treatment.

Expressing concern over the accident, chief minister Stalin expressed his sympathies with the family of the victims.

He announced a relief of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the victims and Rs 1 lakh to those under treatment with grievous injuries.

In a statement, he said Rs 50,000 would be provided to those who had suffered minor injuries. He directed special treatment for the injured.

The CM said he has deputed Tourism Minister K Ramachandran to oversee the rescue and relief work.

Meanwhile, the district administration has set up a phone line--1077, regarding information about the accident. Information will be also available on 0423-2450034. 

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Asian Games Live: Indian Athletes, Golfers, Shooters In Action

Asian Games 2023 September 30, Live Updates: The Day 7 of the Asian Games 2023 will be a crucial one for India as stars like weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, mixed doubles pair of Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale will be in action in Hangzhou. India men's hockey team will be taking on Pakistan in their Pool A match. Meanwhile, athletes like huddler Jyothi Yarraji, long jumpers Murali Sreeshankar and Jeswin Aldrin will also be in action during the qualifying events. Apart from this, India men's badminton team will their semi-final match. (Asian Games 2023 Medals Tally | Asian Games 2023 Full Schedule)

Here are the Live Updates of Asian Games 2023, September 30:

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Man Charged With 1996 Killing Of Rapper Tupac Shakur: Prosecutor

A former gang leader has been charged with the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, a prosecutor said Friday.

The development is the latest in a long-running case that has gripped the public imagination after the death of an artist whose spectacular career was cut short at the age of just 25.

Duane "Keffe D" Davis was indicted by a grand jury in Nevada, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo told a court.

"The presumption is great that he is responsible for the murder of Tupac Shakur, and he will be found guilty of murder with use of a deadly weapon," he said.

Shakur, the best-selling hip-hop artist behind hits such as "California Love," was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.

Shakur had a brief but stratospheric career, rapidly rising from backup dancer to self-styled gangsta rapper and one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, selling 75 million records.

He became a key figure in a vaunted rivalry, egged on by promoters, between East Coast and West Coast hip-hop.

Though born in New York, Shakur moved as a teenager with his family to California, becoming one of the most identifiable figures in the West Coast scene.

The circumstances of Shakur's death in September 1996 remain murky, and theories have long abounded.

Shakur's murder was followed six months later by the gunning down of his rival, East Coast rapper Christopher "The Notorious BIG" Wallace.

Many believe they were slain as part of a rivalry between their music labels, LA-based Death Row and New York's Bad Boy Entertainment.

But some music historians say the coastal rift was exaggerated for commercial reasons.

Shakur -- whose mother Afeni was active in the Black Panther movement and named him after Tupac Amaru, a revolutionary Inca chief -- used his lyrics to highlight issues facing Black Americans, from police brutality to mass incarceration.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Family Attacked For Asking Not To Play Music Due to Death Of Son: Cops

A family was assaulted allegedly by 21 persons in Pune district after it asked them not to play loud music during the Ganpati idol immersion procession due to the death of a relative, police said on Friday.

The incident took place in Ganesh Nagar near Somathane Phata in Pimpri Chinchwad on Sunday, an official said.

"All 21 persons have been arrested in connection with the assault. Complainant Sunil Shinde's son had died recently. When the immersion processed passed by their home, he asked them not to play loud music as the family was grieving," he said.

"The accused, while returning after immersing the idol, attacked them with iron rods, sticks and sharp weapons. Shinde, some of his family members and their driver sustained serious injuries," the Talegaon Dabhade police station official said.

The 21 accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act for attempt to murder, rioting and other offences, he informed. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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3 Arrested For Killing Girl, Engaging In Sexual Acts With Body In Assam

Three people, including a railway employee, were arrested on Thursday for allegedly strangling a teenage girl to death and then engaging in sexual acts with the body in Assam's Karimganj district, police said.

The minor's body was found beside Karimganj town bypass on September 9, the same day she was murdered.

A post-mortem examination confirmed necrophilia and a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered, Karimganj Superintendent of Police Partha Pratim Das told reporters.

During the course of the investigation, police found a phone number in the girl's personal diary, through which the three accused were traced and nabbed from their homes in Karimganj town, the SP said.

"It was found that a newly recruited railway employee had an affair with the girl and was pressuring her to have a physical relationship with him, but she repeatedly rejected his sexual advances," he said. 

"On September 9, on finding the girl alone at her home, her lover, along with two of his friends, tried to rape her. When she resisted, they strangled her to death and took turns to engage in sexual acts with the corpse," he added. 

The accused had disposed of the body beside the bypass, from where it was later recovered and identified by her parents, he added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"You Make The...": Soni Razdan's Wish For Ranbir Is Aww-Dorable

Mom-in-law Soni Razdan's birthday wish for her son-in-law Ranbir Kapoor might be the cutest thing on the internet today. On Thursday, Ranbir Kapoor rang in his 41st birthday with an adorable birthday wish from his wife Alia Bhatt's mother and veteran actor Soni Randan. The Raazi actor shared a selflie clicked with Ranbir Kapoor and wrote underneath it, "Happy birthday to the sweetest sil. You make the world a better place by just being in it. Have an amazing year, love you loads."

See Soni Razdan's wish for her son-in-law Ranbir:

 On his special day, wife Alia Batt curated some super cute pictures to wish him, accompanied by an equally adorable caption. She wrote, "My love.. my best friend.. my happiest place... As you read this caption from your secret account sitting right next to me...All I'd like to say is...Happy birthday baby... You make it all magical."

Read Alia Bhatt's post here:

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A post shared by Alia Bhatt 💛 (@aliaabhatt)

The actor's 41st birthday happens to coincide with the release of the teaser of his film Animal. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor alongside Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and others. ICYMI, here's the teaser of Animal.

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A post shared by Alia Bhatt 💛 (@aliaabhatt)

On the work front, Ranbir Kapoor was last seen in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar with Shraddha Kapoor. His next project is Sandeep ReddyVanga's Animal with Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Rashmika Mandanna. The film will release in December this year. His wife Alia Bhatt recently won the National Film Award for her performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi. She also made her big Hollywood debut this year with Gal Gadot's Heart Of Stone.

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Ayushmann's Journey From The "Sets Of Roadies" To An "Actor On Life's Stage"

Vicky Donar actor Ayushmann Khurrana was the latest star to take up the #IHaveComeALongWay challenge. While at it, the star treated his fans to some pictures and memories from his early days in television and films. Sharing some throwback gems, Ayushmann Khurrana, in an elongated post wrote, "Dus janam qurbaan yeh janam paane ke liye. Zindagi ne diye mauke hazaar hunar dikhaane ke liye”. Starting out as a young boy on the sets of Roadies to now standing as an actor on life's stage #IHaveComeALongWay. My journey is a testament to the emotional highs and lows an artist encounter. I'm thankful for the tears, the sweat and every sacrifice that moulded me into the person I've become today."

The actor continued, "Now also feels like the perfect moment to thank the energy that made the young Ayushmann chase those stars that once seemed out of reach for him, and today I have many other dreams that I shall be chasing with all the love, respect & motivation I get from my family, fans & industry.#ThankYouForComing. Thank you @ektarkapoor for making me a part of this."

Ayushmann's latest post received big love from his fans who flooded his Instagram feed with comments like "You're the inspiration" and "so proud."

See what Ayushmann posted:

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A post shared by Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk)

Ayushmann Khurrana was honoured with the TIME100 Impact award this year. While receiving the award last night in Singapore, Ayushmann recited one of the verses from Bhagavad Gita. During his acceptance speech, he said, “Before I begin, I would like to recite one of the verses from our Indian/Hindu scripture and guide - The Bhagavad Gita - Karmanye vadhikaraste, Ma Phaleshu Kadachana, Ma Karmaphalahetur bhurma, Te Sango Stvakarmani. This verse encapsulates the essence of selfless action. It emphasises to be process oriented than result oriented. It trains you to be detached from the fruits of your labour.”

Ayushmann was proudly representing India at the prestigious global event.

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A post shared by Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk)

Ayushmann Khurrana was last seen in the box office successful film Dream Girl 2 alongside Ananya Panday.

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Rohit Asks Rahul To Collect Trophy After ODI Series Win. Video Goes Viral

Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma asked KL Rahul to collect the trophy after the ODI series against Australia as the wicket-keeper batter led the side in the first two games. Rohit was rested for the first two matches and he made a return for the third one in Rajkot. India went down fighting in the match on Wednesday but were able to clinch the series 2-1 thanks to wins in Mohali and Indore. It was a heartwarming gesture from Rohit and the video of the incident went viral on social media.

Australia saved their best for the last as Indian middle-order wilted under pressure exerted by part-time off-spin of Glenn Maxwell, losing the third ODI by 66 runs.

India however won the series 2-1.

Captain @ImRo45 & @klrahul collect the @IDFCFIRSTBank Trophy as #TeamIndia win the ODI series #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/k3JiTMiVGJ

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 27, 2023

"I'm pretty happy, of course, I would like to go all the way along but if I'm hitting like that I'm happy. The last 7-8 ODIs we have played really well, we have been challenged under different conditions and different teams, I thought we responded to that challenge pretty well. Unfortunately not the result we wanted today," Rohit said after the match.

India were cruising along at 171 for 2 chasing a stiff target of 353 on a placid track but the middle-order crumbled in chase with Maxwell (4/40) getting crucial breakthroughs to restrict the hosts to 286 in 49.4 overs.

Skipper Rohit Sharma (81) and Kohli struck fifties to provide the middle-order with a perfect platform in the big chase, but the rest floundered to hand Australia the advantage.

Earlier, Mitchell Marsh (96) headlined Australia's best batting show with David Warner, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne helping themselves to attacking half-centuries during a commanding performance to break a five-ODI losing streak.

The two teams will now play a couple of warm-up games before meeting again in 10 days' time for the tournament-opener in Chennai on October 8.

(With PTI inputs)

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"Not Living In British Era": Nitish Kumar On Library Signboard In English

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday voiced his extreme displeasure over the signboard of a government school's library bearing the inscription in English.

Mr Kumar was in Banka district, about 250 km from the state capital, where he reached after inspection of a bridge in the adjoining Jamui which got damaged after heavy rainfall last week.

In Banka, Mr Kumar inaugurated a newly constructed hospital and inspected a recently renovated indoor stadium before visiting a high school and got upset upon seeing the signboard stating it was a "digital library".

"Why is this not in Hindi? We are not living in the British era," he told the District Magistrate, Anshul Kumar, who was present there.

"Look, I have nothing against English. It was the medium of my instruction while I was studying engineering. Many of my speeches in Parliament, too, were in that language", said the longest-serving chief minister of Bihar.

He added, "But, at one point of time, I decided to promote the use of Hindi. I therefore gave up putting on my signature in English. Please get this signboard changed, at the earliest".

The DM assured Mr Kumar that the needful would be done "today itself".

The septuagenarian, who owes his passionate advocacy for Hindi to his ideological devotion towards late socialist stalwart Ram Manohar Lohia, has voiced displeasure, in public, over the use of English on more than one occasion.

In February, he reprimanded an agricultural entrepreneur for making a presentation that contained "too many English words".

A month later, inside the state legislative council, he chided Chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur, who belongs to his party Janata Dal (United), upon seeing words like "honourable" and "speaking time" on the electronic display board.

The chief minister was accompanied by cabinet colleagues and top government officials during his tour of the two districts. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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