The friendly and playful dolphin we know of has sharp conical teeth
We all have sometime or the other experienced first hand or watched on videos the friendly, playful and super smart behaviour of dolphins in controlled environments of water zoos or pools. But are they equally friendly or playful in their natural wild settings!
Attacks on human on the beaches are not uncommon, but these are invariably attributed to sharks. Over the last three years, however, increasing attacks on humans on serene beaches in the Fukui prefecture in central Japan are being attributed by experts to rare aggressive behaviour by a ‘lonely’ single Indo-Pacific Bottlenose male dolphin.
According to Kyodo News quoting the Tsuruga Coast Guard Office, 18 people have been injured this summer at beaches in the prefecture as on August 27, including an elementary school student whose finger required 20 to 30 stitches and took a month to heal.
The number of incidents this year has increased rapidly compared to the last two, with at least one person injured in 2022 and five in 2023, according to the coast guard.
On August 27, a man in his 50s suffered bite injuries on both hands from a dolphin while he was swimming off Mizushima island in Tsuruga, marking the second consecutive day an incident occurred at the beach.
Other victims in the past have even suffered broken bones after being rammed by the dolphin at some speed.
Kyodo News quoting Tadamichi Morisaka, a professor of cetology at Mie University, said that the dorsal fin characteristics of a dolphin spotted at the same beach a few days before the incident matched those of a 2.5-meter-long one observed off the coast of Fukui Prefecture up until last year.
“The dolphin may be coming to the beach in search of human interaction,” Morisaka said.
While dolphins in aquariums are often seen forming bonds with humans, frequent interaction with people can cause them to try to assert their dominance through behaviours like biting and ramming, Morisaki said, adding that in such situations people should “move away from the dolphin immediately.”
Ryoichi Matsubara, director of Echizen Matsushima Aquarium in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, also warned that as some dolphins can be larger than bears, “contact with them can be very dangerous. It’s too late once a fatal accident occurs.”
The Kyodo News mentioned that capturing dolphins is generally prohibited under government regulations and Fukui prefectural officials have said they currently have no plans to do so in this instance.
Some beaches have begun installing devices that emit ultrasonic waves as a deterrent (how effective they prove is yet to be ascertained) while swimmers are warned to leave the water immediately if they encounter a dolphin.
Discussing common dolphin behaviours that could explain such aggressive encounters with people, an article in Nature, quotes Dolphin ecologist Tadamichi Morisaka as saying Bottlenose dolphins typically live in pods. The males form lifelong partnerships with other males. Hanging out in pairs gives them better access to females, because two is stronger than one.
These pairs spend hours and hours being playful with each other. This includes behaviours like chasing each other and rubbing the other dolphin with their pectoral fins – which is thought to signal fondness – and even sexual behaviours, such as pressing their penises against each other. Gentle biting is one of these pro-social behaviours.
So, the dolphin in Fukui has probably isolated itself from its pod or pair mate, which is not an uncommon behaviour, and is looking for a relationship acting like he’s playing with a male pair mate. In the process, humans are suffering injuries with gentle bites (by dolphin standards), according to the expert.
Well known urologist from the region Dr Priyadarshi Ranjan, Director of Urology Services at Shalby Hospital Mohali, demonstrates the position of the prostate at a press meet in Chandigarh on Tuesday, 27.08.2024
It has been prevalent in the USA and Europe for nearly a decade. But now this FDA approved minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedure is slowly finding traction in India and replacing the conventional surgical method for the treatment of the most common benign (non-cancerous) and progressive tumour found in ageing men, called prostate gland enlargement (in common parlance) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (in medical terminology).
The procedure, called Rezūm therapy, also known as water vapour therapy, uses a special instrument that delivers controlled doses of thermal energy from water vapour to shrink enlarged areas of the prostate. The instrument is inserted through the urethra (tube that lets urine leave your bladder and your body), so there are no incisions or stitches required. A healthcare provider will numb the area before the procedure to reduce discomfort. It’s a few minutes day care procedure, and the patient walks away within a couple of hours.
Well known urologist from the region Dr Priyadarshi Ranjan, currently serving as Director of Urology Services at Shalby Hospital Mohali, while sharing his personal experience with the procedure at a press meet organised in Chandigarh on Tuesday, said the procedure is successfully being performed at the hospital and patients are finding it much more comfortable undergoing this 10-minutes nonsurgical alternative to the much more complicated and painful hour long conventional surgery.
An artistic impression of an enlarged prostate gland and resultant constriction of the urethra (urinal passage)
Explaining the problem of prostate gland enlargement and its resultant complications, he said it’s an unpreventable ageing medical condition which 70-80% of the males will invariably face with advancing age.
In this condition, the enlarged prostate, a small, rubbery gland about the size of a table tennis ball (typical size 40 mm in diameter), located deep inside the groin, between the bladder and the penis, constricts the urethra (urinary passage) leading to obstructive urination and ejaculation, the latter among the sexually active.
He said symptoms of prostate gland enlargement were earlier appearing among males around the age of 55 years, but of late these are being experienced as early as 40 years of age. However, treatment for prostate gland enlargement may only be required when it starts creating obstructive complications.
Dwelling on the drawbacks of conventional surgery, known as Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), Dr Ranjan said after undergoing the surgery, the patients had to stay hospitalised for two to three days. During the surgery, lasting an hour, the patients also had to endure considerable pain. Moreover, the sexually active patients also lost the ability to ejaculate.
On the other hand, counting the benefits of Rezūm or vapour therapy therapy, he said the procedure, which involves non-surgically dissolving the enlarged part of the prostate gland with the help of steam injections, and needing only local anaesthesia, takes about 10 minutes and the patient is discharged the same day after two to four hours. A small catheter is kept for five to seven days. Apart from providing relief to patients from obstructive urination, this procedure retains ejaculation among sexually active patients.
Over a few weeks, the patient’s body’s natural healing response absorbs the treated prostate tissue, shrinking the prostate. This improves the obstructive symptoms due to enlarged prostate tissue. Most patients begin to experience relief as early as two weeks, and maximum benefit may occur within three months, Dr Ranjan added.
According to Dr Ranjan, the procedure costs anything between Rs 1.5 to Rs 2.5 lakh depending on the size of the prostate gland enlargement and how much of the tissue needs to be removed.
Medication is also available for treatment of the medical condition, but after a couple of years side effects far outweigh the benefits.
Highlighting the need for public awareness about prostate gland enlargement, Dr Ranjan said in most cases of obstructive complications emerging from the medical condition these are passed off as routine ageing issues. But prolonged neglect can lead to more serious issues like bladder damage, even kidney damage, he cautioned.
Some related facts
Function of prostate gland
It is important for reproduction, because it supplies part of the seminal fluid (semen), which mixes with sperm from the testes.
Prevalence increases with age
The prevalence of BPH, or prostate gland enlargement, increases with age, affecting about 50% of men between the ages of 51 and 60, 70% of men aged 60 to 69, and around 80% of men over 70 years old. By age 85, the proportion of men with BPH reaches 90%.
Signs and Symptoms (according to hopkinsmedicine.org)
BPH symptoms can be divided into those caused directly by urethral obstruction and those due to secondary changes in the bladder.
Typical obstructive symptoms are:
Difficulty starting to urinate despite pushing and straining
A weak stream of urine; several interruptions in the stream
Dribbling at the end of urination
Bladder changes cause:
A sudden strong desire to urinate (urgency)
Frequent urination
The sensation that the bladder is not empty after urination is completed
Frequent awakening at night to urinate (nocturia)
As the bladder becomes more sensitive to retained urine, a man may become incontinent (unable to control the bladder, causing bed wetting at night or inability to respond quickly enough to urinary urgency).
Diagnostics
Urinary flow test: You pee into a container attached to a machine. The machine measures how strong your urine flow is and how much urine you pass. Test results can show over time whether your condition is getting better or worse.
Transrectal ultrasound: A device that uses sound waves to make pictures is inserted into the rectum. It measures the size of the prostate.
Microplastic particles in atmospheric dust. Photograph: Janice Brahney/Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences/as published in The Guardian
Twenty-four brain samples collected and analysed by researchers in early 2024 measured on average about 0.5% plastic by weight, according to a news report published in The Guardian
A news report, based on latest studies by researchers, published in The Guardian says leading researchers are calling for more urgent actions to rein in plastic pollution after finding that microplastics, or tiny shards and specks of plastics (typically smaller than 5mm in diameter), are increasingly accumulating in critical human organs like brain, lungs, placentas, reproductive organs, livers, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels and bone marrow.
Given the research findings, “it is now imperative to declare a global emergency” to deal with plastic pollution, The Gurdian report has said quoting Sedat Gundogdu, who studies microplastics at Cukurova University in Turkey.
Humans are exposed to microplastics, and the chemicals used to make plastics, from widespread plastic pollution in air, water and even food.
The Guardian report said that the health hazards of microplastics within the human body are not yet well-known. Recent studies are just beginning to suggest they could increase the risk of various conditions such as oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage and inflammation, as well as cardiovascular disease.
Animal studies have also linked microplastics to fertility issues, various cancers, a disrupted endocrine and immune system, and impaired learning and memory.
The Guardian report mentioned that in one of the latest studies to emerge – a pre-print paper still undergoing peer review that is posted online by the National Institutes of Health – researchers found a particularly concerning accumulation of microplastics in brain samples.
An examination of the livers, kidneys and brains of autopsied bodies found that all contained microplastics, but the 91 brain samples contained on average about 10 to 20 times more than the other organs. The results came as a shock, according to the study’s lead author Mathew Campen, a toxicologist and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of New Mexico.
The researchers found that 24 of the brain samples, which were collected in early 2024, measured on average about 0.5% plastic by weight.
The Guardian report quoted Campen as saying, “It’s pretty alarming, there’s much more plastic in our brains than I ever would have imagined or been comfortable with.”
The pre-print brain study led by Campen also hinted at a concerning link. In the study, researchers looked at 12 brain samples from people who had died with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. These brains contained up to 10 times more plastic by weight than healthy samples. (The latest version of Campen’s study, which contains these findings, was not yet posted online when this story was published.)
India team with coaches after winning the team title in women's wrestling at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)
Make up for Vinesh Phogat’s deprived medal at Olympics, winning 5 gold medals, one silver and two bronze, with one fifth-place finish
Relegate powerhouse Japan to the second position, with Kazakhstan finishing third
Men’s freestyle team returns empty-handed
Indian wrestlers may have had just a bronze metal to show in the recently concluded Paris Olympics, but young women wrestlers have shined brighter than diamonds by winning the first-ever women’s freestyle wrestling team title in the Under-17 World Wrestling Championships held in Jordan’s capital Amman.
According to information available on the website of the world wrestling governing body, United World Wrestling (UWW), India finished the women’s competition in the under-17 worlds with five gold medals, one silver, two bronze and a fifth-place finish to win the title with overall 185 points.
All 10 women’s wrestling world champions in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)
Powerhouse Japan finished second with 146 points and Kazakhstan took the third spot with 79 points.
The championships were conducted in the Princess Sumaya Bint al-Hasan Arena in Amman from August 19-25.
The meet features competitions in all three wrestling disciplines – men’s freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle. Each discipline offers medals in 10 different weight categories, with four medals (one gold, one silver and two bronze) awarded per weight category.
Indian wrestlers competed in 29 of the 30 medal events – 10 in Greco-Roman, 10 in men’s freestyle and nine in women’s freestyle.
The men’s freestyle team returned empty-handed, though in Greco-Roman discipline, India additionally won two bronze medals.
At the U17 World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul last year, India had overall bagged one gold, seven silver and three bronze medals in all three dsiciplines.
(Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling practiced in Olympics and international amateur competitions, in which legs are forbidden to be used in any way to obtain a fall, and no holds are allowed to be taken below the waist. Other rules and procedures for Greco-Roman wrestling are the same as those for freestyle wrestling, the other international amateur style)
Indian medallists
Indian wrestler
Event
Medal
Aditi Kumari
Women’s freestyle 43kg
Gold
Neha Sangwan
Women’s freestyle 57kg
Gold
Pulkit
Women’s freestyle 65kg
Gold
Kajal
Women’s freestyle 69kg
Gold
Mansi Lather
Women’s freestyle 73kg
Gold
Shrutika Patil
Women’s freestyle 46kg
Silver
Bala Raj
Women’s freestyle 40kg
Bronze
Muskan
Women’s freestyle 53kg
Bronze
Sainath Pardhi
Greco-Roman 51kg
Bronze
Ronak Dahiya
Greco-Roman 110kg
Bronze
Aditi KumariKajalMansi LatherNeha SangwanPulkit
Young Indian women wrestlers had been flirting with the pinnacle of glory, top of the podium in Women’s Wrestling at the U17 World Championships, consistently finishing in the top five since 2016. They came particularly close to winning the title in 2021 in the absence of Japan. But the United States had then sealed the title with the final bout of the competition.
India’s impressive victory capped a run of successes by the U17 women wrestling team, claiming the U17 Asian Championships crown over China and Japan. Last year, it had won its first U20 World Championships team title as well, incidentally, that too in Amman.
Team left stranded at airport
The glorious moments of the young women’s team were, however, dampened somewhat when at the conclusion of the championships, the nine Indian women wrestlers and their three coaches were left stranded at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman when they missed their respective flights back home, scheduled for Saturday evening.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) body, which is under suspension since December 2023 by the Union sports ministry for not conforming to the National Sports Code, is learnt to have made arrangement for their overnight stay and return home by the next flight available.
In suspending the WFI body, immediately after holding of its fresh elections, the ministry had argued that the newly elected WFI body was working under the complete control of its former office-bearers, which was not in conformity with the National Sports Code.
Shikhar Dhawan, with his loved trademark kabaddi style thigh-five, has announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket
One of the most formidable Indian white ball openers, his pairing with Rohit Sharma to amass 5148 runs from 115 innings, at an average of 45.55 with 18 centuries made them the fourth-highest opening duo scorers of all time
Dhawan was also India’s man for ICC tournaments with consistent stellar performances in the Champions Trophy and ODI World Cup tournaments since 2013
The iconic ‘Gabbar’ (film actor Amjad Khan) of ‘Sholay’ fame retired from this world at age 51 some 30 years ago. Now, the modern day ‘Gabbar’, dashing Indian left-handed batsman Shikhar Dhawan has retired from international and domestic cricket with immediate effect. It’s not yet clear whether he will continue to play in league cricket, including the IPL.
One of India’s most formidable white ball openers, Dhawan, who is loved by cricket fans for his trademark twirl of the moustache and the kabaddi style thigh-five/thigh-slap celebration, took to social media to call time on his career spanning over 13 years for India, in which he played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs and 68 T20Is scoring 2315, 6793 and 1579 runs respectively in the three formats.
“It’s important to turn the page to move forward in a story, and in life. That’s why, I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket,” Dhawan said in his retirement video. “I’ve told myself to not feel sad that you won’t play for India again but feel happy that you played for the country.”
Dhawan, who last played for India in December of 2022 in an ODI against Bangladesh, scored 10,867 runs from 269 appearances for India in all three formats of the game, cracking 24 centuries and 44 fifties.
Together with Rohit Sharma, Dhawan formed India’s second-most successful opening pair in ODIs after Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. In fact, Rohit and Dhawan’s 5148 runs from 115 innings, at an average of 45.55 with 18 centuries makes them the fourth-highest opening duo scorers of all time.
How nickname ‘Gabbar’ stuck
Nicknamed ‘Gabbar’ for his on-field delivery of dialogues from the iconic filmi character to lift the spirits of his teammates right from the Ranji Trophy days, Dhawan also earned for himself the distinction of being India’s man for ICC tournaments.
Shikhar Dhawan leaps in joy to celebrate with teammates after their win over England in the ICC Champions Trophy Final cricket match at Edgbaston cricket ground, Birmingham, England in 2013
Dhawan played a stellar role in India’s first title victory in the Champions Trophy (in the 7th edition of the one-day international tournament) held in England and Wales in 2013. In the tournament, then Indian captain MS Dhoni fielded a brand-new opening pair of Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. Dhawan grabbed the opportunity with both hands scoring consecutive centuries against South Africa and West Indies. He went on to aggregate 363 runs in the tournament to win the Player of the Tournament award and receive the golden bat.
Developing a strong offside game with his elegant cover drives and cuts, Dhawan again emerged India’s highest scorer at the 2015 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with 412 runs from eight matches at an impressive average of 51.5 runs.
His run of form continued in the 2017 edition of the Champions Trophy, where he amassed 338 runs at an average of 79.25 and a strike rate of 102.26 with his highest score being 125. However, despite his second successive golden bat award, India fell short in the last lap and lost the finals to Pakistan, which won the tournament for the first time.
As if picking up from where he left in 2017, Dhawan gave a glimpse of his top form in the 2019 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup as well, with a hundred against Australia, before a fractured thumb unfortunately ruled him out from the rest of the tournament. It turned out to be Dhawan’s final ICC tournament.
Fastest to 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 ODI runs
He is credited with being the joint-fastest Indian, along with Virat Kohli, to complete 1000 ODI runs and quickest to the 2000 and 3000-run mark.
Interestingly, though he emerged as one of India’s most formidable white ball openers, his debut in the ODIs against Australia in 2010 was eminently forgettable as he was dismissed for a two-ball duck.
Dhawan, however, hit back against Australia three years later, when on his memorable Test debut in Mohali, he smashed the fastest Test century by any batter on debut (in only 85 deliveries). He went on to score 187 runs in the first inning in 174 balls, which till day stands as a record for most runs on a Test debut by an Indian batter.
Despite having its big moments, his Test career overall did not pan out too well, ending with a tally of 2315 runs from 40 matches.
He also captained India in 15 games (12 ODIs and 3 T20Is) with a win-loss record of 8-5 (2 no-results). He led the side to ODI series wins against Sri Lanka in 2021, and West Indies and South Africa in 2022.
Rollicking IPL career too
Dhawan had a rollicking 222-game IPL career too as a batter representing five franchises – starting with Delhi Daredevils in 2008, and going on to play for Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings – scoring 6,769 runs. He was a one-time championship winner with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, in 2016, striking a formidable partnership with David Warner.
The southpaw rose to prominence in the 2004 U-19 World Cup, where he scored three centuries and scored 505 runs, but was a late bloomer, making his men’s international debut only in 2010 in the ODI series against Australia.
Tanishq jewellery brand store in Sector 17-C Chandigarh, the biggest in Upper North India
The store, spanning across 11000 sq. ft., features an exclusive zone on each of the four floors, including an Exclusive Wedding Zone and Exclusive High Value Diamond Zone
There was a time when people relied heavily on their trusted neighbourhood family jeweller for all their gold and diamond jewellery requirements, assured that he/she will not cheat them on purity, weight or price. Till the early 90s the unorganised sector commanded a lion’s share (around 95%) of the total jewellery retail market.
But things have changed since then, and drastically so in the last five years, when the market share of the organised sector jumped from 20% to 35% as the fast-growing domestic jewellery retail trade and exports attracted a host of big players in the field.
Tata brand Tanishq, the country’s first jewellery retail chain, revolutionised the way people shopped for jewellery by winning trust through best practices. This included the introduction of the ‘karatmeter’ in its stores, which allowed customers to verify if the jewellery they bought from their local jeweller was truly 22-carat gold or not.
1/5th market share, but competition growing
After more than two decades of dominance, the Tata jewellery brand continues to hold around one-fifth market share of the organised jewellery retail trade in the country, though it is facing increased competition from other retail chains like Reliance Jewels, Malabar Gold and Diamonds, Kalyan Jewellers, Bhima Jewellers, Joyalukkas, Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri (TBZ) Jewellery, Senco Gold and Diamonds, etc.
The latest big-bang entrant is the Aditya Birla Group, which has announced the launch of its new brand ‘Indriya’. The group will be investing a whopping Rs 5,000 crores to tap into India’s booming jewellery market valued at over Rs 6 lakh crores, with an ambitious five-year target of becoming one of the top three jewellery retailers in the country.
Sector 17 Chandigarh brand store, biggest in Upper North
Coming to the headline of this piece, the 27 years young Tanishq brand store in Sector 17-C has become even bigger and grander with still another floor being added to the existing three, to make it the biggest Tanishq brand store in entire Upper North, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir.
The store, spanning across 11000 sq. ft., features an exclusive zone on each of the four floors, including an Exclusive Wedding Zone and Exclusive High Value Diamond Zone.
The expanded store was formally inaugurated earlier this month by CK Venkataraman, Managing Director, Titan Company Ltd., of which Tanishq is a crowning jewel.
10,000+ designs
The store has on display an extensive selection of 10,000+ designs, including gold, antique jewellery, diamonds, ‘kundan’, ‘polki’, and contemporary styles.
A showcase for the season is Tanishq’s exclusive festive collection in gold called ‘Dharohar’, which according to brand officials draws inspiration from the heirloom artefacts of eras gone by.
Along with modern, contemporary and lightweight jewellery collection ‘String It’, the store also features a versatile range of contemporary daily wear jewellery ‘GlamDays’.
Among other collections, there is ‘Rivaah X Tarun Tahiliani’ collection, designed with intricate ‘karigari’ techniques such as Rawa, Filgree, Chandak and enamel work along with coloured stones ‘piroi’ for modern brides; and ‘Enchanted Trails’ collection, drawing inspiration from the intricate beauty of exotic nature.
Additionally, the store houses ‘The Spotlight Edit’ collection, offering 33 designs of natural diamond necklaces along with ‘Aveer’, an exclusive jewellery line for men.
And, not to forget the popular jewellery pieces from ‘Rivaah’, a dedicated wedding jewellery sub-brand of Tanishq. Rivaah caters to the fashion preferences of women from various regions across India and is claimed to have evolved as a one-stop destination for wedding shopping.
According to Ashish Tewari, Regional Business Manager (North), Tanishq as a brand keeps itself fresh and vibrant by constantly looking to bring something new to the market and launching new collections and new designs.
Though jewellery largely continues to be a look and feel business, online purchases are also picking up with the brand making available around 95% of its entire product line there.
With the government’s recently resorting to a cut in import duty on gold, making it cheaper, and with the festive season on its way, gold jewellery sales are expected to get a major leg-up in the coming months, he added.
(left to right) Japan’s Minister of Defence Kihara Minoru, Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar posing for a group picture at the third 2+2 dialogue between the two countries in New Delhi on Aug 20, 2024.
Space, cyber, chip-manufacturing, and other emerging technologies also priority areas
The increasingly unpredictable geopolitical environment, essentially emerging out of the rise and apparent global ambitions of China as an economic and military superpower, and United States of American’s manoeuvring to contain its influence on the world stage, is threatening the very fabric of international peace.
Lesser, but significant powers like India, with rapidly growing economies and with aspirations of playing a far greater role in world affairs, are finding themselves sandwiched in this superpower rivalry.
Despite its enviable status as the fastest growing among the major economies of the world, India finds itself in a tense geopolitical environment.
The pressures of facing two hostile neighbours in the North and Northwest, and its quest for hard-to-get high-end technology and investment, not only to support its ambitious future economic growth plans, but also to bolster its defences, are testing to the hilt India’s resilience as a nation.
Wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and the balancing act the country is having to play between the warring parties, in which its close defence partners Russia and Israel are arguably seen to be the aggressors, are only further complicating matters for India.
In such a scenario, disruptions in international supply chains and possibility of arm twisting in single supplier situations for various critical components, equipment, materials and technologies, has the potential of jeopardising the country’s national interests, including security and its push for self-reliance.
India wary of US partnership
It is in this context that India’s deepening economic and defence ties with technology giant Japan assume greater importance. Despite its growing defence and technology partnerships with the USA, the government is wary of depending too heavily on it and thereby exposing itself to possible arm-twisting tactics. It has already felt the pinch of steadfastly resisting pressures to align with the US and its allies in the geopolitical battleground.
The sudden slowdown by the US in fulfilling its crucial contractual defence obligations towards India, including the supply of critical F404 engines for the rollout of the indigenous Tejas MK1 fighter jets, and the six additional Apache attack helicopters ordered by the Indian government, strengthen the apprehensions in the Indian establishment of Washinton not being a long-term reliable partner.
Tokyo, which has had longstanding strong economic ties with New Delhi, could possibly be a reliable defence partner too, especially in the field of transfer of technology and co-development and co-production of futuristic military hardware.
India is already exploring increased avenues of sourcing high-end defence equipment and technology from its other significant suppliers like France, Germany, United Kingdom and South Korea.
Japan’s revised National Security Strategy
Japan has had a history of stringent defence equipment export controls, inspired by its pacifist Constitution, adopted following its surrender to the allied forces in World War II.
But with heightened concerns over China’s growing assertiveness on territorial disputes, North Korea’s belligerence and Russia’s aggressive posture towards it, Japan revised its National Security Strategy (NSS) in 2022.
The move signalled the country’s drift away from its pacifist security stance of adopting a self defence posture (Japan’s defence forces are called Self-Defence Forces) to acquiring counter-strike capabilities and increasing defence spending by 2 per cent of its GDP.
Underscoring the recent urgency with which Tokyo is pursuing its Indo-Pacific strategic outreach, Japan has had a series of crucial 2+2 (foreign and defence ministers’) meetings with its allies, including with the United States and Philippines, and a defence trilateral with the US and South Korea in the past few weeks.
This was followed by the 2+2 dialogue with India on August 20 (planned to be an annual fixture, the third in the series of dialogues was held after two years of its 2nd edition in Japan in 2022), for which Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko and Minister of Defence Kihara Minoru travelled to New Delhi.
The meeting with their Indian counterparts, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with delegations from both sides, though it demonstrated significant progress in the bilateral relationship over the past few years, appeared to highlight that both sides need to move faster and harder in their negotiations to ease the Japanese restrictions on transfer of high-end technology, especially in the field of defence.
Joint statement
The joint statement issued at the end of the dialogue noted impressive achievements in defence cooperation between the two nations, especially participation by Japanese fighter aircraft in ‘Tarang Shakti’, the first multilateral exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force; the inaugural edition of the bilateral fighter exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2023’; and conduct of the bilateral exercises of all the three services, all in one calendar year for the first time in 2023.
The cutting edge stealthy Japanese naval antenna for warships being negotiated for by the Indian government. (Image credit: Kyodo News)
But negotiations for the first major defence deal between the two nations – the transfer of cutting-edge Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) and related Japanese technologies for Indian warships – are still far from being concluded. Though the joint statement appreciated the progress made in the negotiations, it also emphasised the need for early signing of related agreements.
The naval communication antennas for warships are crucial to strengthening India’s naval prowess because of their ability to integrate multiple antennas which enhance a warship’s stealth capabilities.
Experts point out that while continuing with its ‘atmanirbhar’ (self-reliance) push, India needs to plug into newer opportunities opening up in Japan’s defence sector, like co-development and co-production of defence equipment. Japan itself has in the recent past entered into bilateral and trilateral agreements with various close allies to jointly develop cutting edge futuristic defence technologies, including for next-generation fighter aircraft. India could explore joining such initiatives.
Space, cyber, chip manufacturing are other areas where India and Japan need to work closely by overcoming the challenges of cost competitiveness, technology transfer, and export controls.
Joint research project in unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs)
Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) and its Indian counterpart, the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), had in 2018 entered into an agreement for cooperative research in unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and robotics, but little is known about the outcome of the initiative on the ground.
Though the joint statement “appreciated the successful completion of the cooperation in the areas of Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)/Robotics,” it, however, did not reveal any details about the outcome of the research project.
In the field of fostering people-to-people exchanges, the joint statement appreciated the significance of India’s decision to establish a new consulate in Fukuoka, Japan (bringing the total number of Indian missions in Japan to three. Japan currently has five missions in India).
The impending celebration of India Month in Japan and Japan Month in India in September was also welcomed in the joint statement.
Protest demanding justice in Kolkata doctor rape and murder case and safety for doctors at workplaces
Apex Court asks CBI to file a status report on the investigation by Thursday (August 22 and the State of West Bengal to submit a status report on the investigation into the acts of vandalism at the hospital by a mob
Orders constitution of a “National Task Force” comprising doctors from all over the country to give recommendations on the modalities to be followed all over the country to ensure the safety of medical professionals
Taking the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal Government and the state police to task for its handling of the brutal rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Govt Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, which has shaken the conscience of the nation and led to nationwide protests by doctors and civil society, the Supreme Court has, as an immediate measure, ordered placing the RG Kar Hospital and doctors’ hostels in Kolkata under CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) security cover.
It has been asked the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), which is currently investigating the matter, to file a status report on the investigation by Thursday (August 22. The State of West Bengal has also been asked to submit a status report on the investigation into the acts of vandalism by a mob which invaded the hospital on August 14 and damaged critical facilities while a “reclaim the night” protest campaign was ongoing elsewhere in the city.
The court ordered the constitution of a ten-member National Task Force (NTF) comprising doctors from all over the country and headed by Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin AVSM, VSM. Director General Medical Services (Navy). It will make recommendations pertaining to the safety, working conditions and well-being of the medical professionals. The NTF has been asked to furnish an interim report to the court in three weeks and a final report within 2 months.
Appeal to doctors to return to work
With these orders, the court appealed to the doctors, who are protesting all over the country against the crime, to return to their duties, observing that since it has taken up the issues relating to the doctors’ safety, the protesting medical professionals ought to refrain from abstention from duties.
“We request all the doctors who are abstaining from work across the country to resume the work at the earliest. Above all the abstention from the work of doctors affects those segments of the society who need medical care the most from accessing day-to-day services. The abstaining doctors and medical professionals can stand assured that their concerns are receiving the highest concern from the Supreme Court of India,” the Court observed in its order.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was hearing the suo motu cognizance taken by the court of the gruesome rape and murder of the doctor.
The Court observed that it is deeply concerned about the absence of conditions of safety for doctors and medical professionals across the country. It has initiated the suo motu case to address the “systemic issues.”
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal represented the state government and Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta stood for the central government.
The body of the post-graduate trainee doctor was found in the RG Kar Hospital’s seminar room on August 9. The Kolkata Police has arrested a civic volunteer in the case so far.
Acting on petitions filed by a parent of the victims and some other individuals, the Calcutta High Court had directed the CBI to take over the investigation, after expressing lack of satisfaction with the Kolkata Police.
State Govt, police roasted
The Court questioned the State over the conduct of the Principal of the medical college and hospital, the delay in the registration of the FIR and the vandalism which took place at the hospital on August 14.
The various observations by the SC bench:
After the crime is detected in the early hours of the morning, the Principal of the medical college-hospital tries to pass this off as a suicide. The parents are not allowed to see the body for a few hours.
Why the Principal was given the charge of another hospital after he resigned from RG Kar Hospital.
About the timing of the FIR: Autopsy is conducted between 1 PM and 4.45 PM of the day. The body is handed over to the parents at about 8.30 PM for cremation. However, the FIR is registered only at 11.45 PM.
FIR is registered at 11.45 at night? Nobody at the hospital registers the FIR? What were the authorities at the hospital doing? Doesn’t autopsy reveal the victim was raped and murdered?
What was the principal doing? Why first it was attempted to pass off as suicide?
Hospital is invaded by the mob! Critical facilities are damaged. What was the police doing? The first thing the police have to do is to secure the crime scene.
We are unable to comprehend how the authorities were not able to deal with the vandalism.
The Court also urged the State not to take coercive actions against people who are participating in peaceful protests and speaking up in media and social media.
Mob returned to threaten women doctors by name
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh, appearing for an organization of doctors “Protect the Warriors”, told the bench that after the vandalism incident on August 14, the mob returned to the medical college hospital and threatened the women doctors that they will also meet the same fate as the rape-victim if they complained about the incident. While informing the court that a “brave doctor” has emailed a complaint regarding this to the police, she presented a copy of the complaint to the court.
The beating of drums by one of the band groups participating in the annual India Day Parade to commemorate India's Independence Day in New York City, USA, on August 18, 2024
Credits for all images: https://www.facebook.com/fianynjct.org/
Thousands of Indian Americans and others, including prominent spiritual guru Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj and some Indian film actors, participated in the grand 42nd annual India Day Parade down Madison Square in New York City on August 18 to commemorate India’s Independence Day despite a “malicious and hate-filled” social media campaign by some groups to have it stalled because of the inclusion of a float of Ram Mandir being included in this year’s parade.
The Ram Temple float
Among the Indian film stars who joined in were newly weds Sonaksh Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal, Pankaj Tripathi and Manoj Tewari.
The parade has been held in New York city every year for the past over four decades.
According to the Federation of India Associations (FIA) in USA, which organises the parade, more than 40 floats from various communities representing the Indian diaspora, 50 marching groups and 30 marching bands participated in the parade. Enthusiastic waving of the tricolour, dancing, singing of patriotic songs and beat of the drums marked the parade.
Apart from the grand parade, a festival featuring cultural performances, 45 booths and food stalls, vending a variety of traditional Indian foods from different regions of the country wowed the participants.
The float which generated some controversy carried a flower bedecked wooden replica of the recently consecrated Ram Temple in Ayodhya with the Ram Lalla idol.
Defending the inclusion of the float in the annual parade, Dr Avinash Gupta, president of New York’s FIA, said, “The temple was built after 500 years of wait and it was decided by the highest court of the land. Supreme Court decided it. The parade is all about unity, diversity, and inclusiveness, and there is no place for hate. We are respectful to all faiths,” he added.
Earlier on Independence Day, on the initiative of FIA-NY, NJ, CT (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) the most iconic building in New York City, the Empire State Building was illuminated with a stunning display of the Indian tricolour, a ceremony in which Indian Consul General Binaya S. Pradhan also joined.
An Indian flag-hoisting ceremony held at Times Square witnessed vibrant energy and patriotism.
City residents need not wait long for their turn in a hospital or visit a limited-services standalone medical clinic any longer for their overall outpatient healthcare requirements.
A new structured premium multi-speciality outpatient healthcare facility has opened at a central location in the city, providing quick and easy access to quality post graduate doctors in more than a dozen specialities, lab tests in tie-up with the most reputed laboratory chain in the country Agilus (earlier SRL), small interventions and procedures and vaccination for children and adults, all under one roof.
The ONE – Chandigarh, located on the Madhya Marg in Sector 8 (SCO 112, Sector 8C, Madhya Marg) promises to redefine how outpatient care is delivered in non-metro cities and beyond, comprehensively and with compassion.
Brainchild of Dr Vishal Bhambri
Dr Vishal Bhambri, Director, The ONE – Chandigarh
A brainchild of well-known physician Dr Vishal Bhambri, who has served for nearly quarter of a century in a corporate hospital and clinical environments, has come up with this new concept to bridge the wide gap, which he felt existed for patients between a multi-speciality hospital and a standalone medical clinic in non-metro cities.
The new vertical created in healthcare services has retained all the positives of a corporate hospital, including pleasing ambience, smartly dressed and friendly staff, OPDs manned by the best doctors in their respective specialities, quality medical tests, etc.
Where the facility adds value to a patient is its central location with adequate parking facility, less waiting time, personalised attention and care by doctors and support staff, comfortable seating right in front of the concerned doctor’s cabin and complimentary welcome tea-coffee.
Sample collection centre in tie-up with Agilus
Sharing his thoughts with your own news portal LifeInChandigarh.com, Dr Bhambri, who has worked with Fortis Hospital as well as Apollo Clinics, along with running his own standalone clinic, says “the idea is to provide the best possible multi-speciality OPDs, manned by senior consultants, medical tests, minor interventions/procedures and vaccination facilities to patients all under one roof at a convenient central location, and at a decent price. And, at the same time make sure that the overall healthcare experience of patients is comprehensive, warm, compassionate and satisfying.”
Ethical practice & quality time
Doctor consultation room
The multi-speciality healthcare facility promises to adhere to ethical practices like, if required, referring patients for admission or surgeries only to a hospital of their choice. It will also not empanel itself with any health insurance companies or government organisations.
Another promise is of doctors spending enough quality time with the patients to hear out their medical issues before prescribing the best possible treatments without any ulterior considerations.
Minor procedures roomVaccinations
‘The ONE – Chandigarh’ in Sector 8 Madhya Marg is the first structured premium multi-speciality outpatient facility to be opened by VH Medical Services, a private limited company specially floated for this purpose, of which Dr Bhambri is one of the two partners. Gradually, more ‘The ONE’ centres are planned to be opened at central locations in non-metro cities in the region.
Specialities at ‘The ONE’
Experienced post graduate doctors are available for consultation in the following specialities:
* Internal Medicine
* Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Endoscopic Surgery
* Urology & Andrology
* ENT
* Orthopaedics
* Paediatrics
* Psychiatry & De-addiction
* Psychology
* Dentistry
* Dietetics & Weight Loss
* Inpatient/Critical Care Backup
List of senior consultants
Explaining how the concept of ‘The ONE’ came about, Dr Bhambri says, “During my long clinical practice, I realised that a big gap existed for patients between multi-speciality hospitals and standalone medical clinics. The idea of a structured premium multi-speciality outpatient facility had been germinating in my mind for quite some time now, but it started taking practical shape in the last about five years.”
Dental room
The name ‘The ONE’, he says “is inspired by ‘Ik Onkar’ which embodies the belief in One God and the equality of all people. “We intend to cater to the around 75% of the healthcare-seeking patients who do not require hospital admission, providing them comprehensive and compassionate care, which I am very passionate about.”