Latest news with #Menon
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Shashi Tharoor's independent stance fuels friction within Congress
Tharoor's independent stance and BJP-like nationalist tilt are testing Congress loyalty, stoking intra-party friction and future uncertainty, writes Shine Jacob Shine Jacob Chennai Listen to This Article Once hailed in the West as 'India's Rasputin' and considered the de facto number two to Jawaharlal Nehru, former defence minister V K Krishna Menon embodied the paradox of being a global citizen who struggled to belong within his own party. Menon's eventual exile from the Congress mainstream remains a study in political alienation — one that, increasingly, observers in Kerala now see echoed in the trajectory of Shashi Tharoor, a member of the Lok Sabha from Thiruvananthapuram. Tharoor, like Menon, is internationally popular, and seen as independent-minded. And like Menon, he is now grappling with a widening gulf between
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Indian aviation market outlook bullish; in talks with IndiGo for possible membership: AAPA
The outlook for the Indian aviation market is very bullish but there are supply chain issues being faced by airlines globally, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines ( AAPA ) said on Friday. At a briefing in the national capital, AAPA Director General Subhas Menon said it is in talks with IndiGo to look at the airline becoming a member of the association. Currently, the grouping has 18 airlines as members, including Air India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elegant New Scooters For Seniors In 2024: The Prices May Surprise You Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Learn More Urging regulators across the Asia Pacific region to ensure harmonisation of rules to ensure predictability for airlines, Menon also said regulations should be put in place after discussions with airlines. The costs for airlines should not increase with regulations, he added. The Indian aviation market outlook is very bullish and the country's potential is amazing and air traffic rebounded after the coronavirus pandemic, he said. Live Events According to him, there is a supply chain crisis and no demand crisis while India is also doing well on airport expansion. India is one of the world's fastest-growing civil aviation markets. AAPA, a not-for-profit association, has a permanent secretariat based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. PTI
India Today
6 days ago
- Health
- India Today
How the new Covid variant NB.1.8.1 affects immunity: What you need to know
With the recent surge of Covid-19 in parts of India and across the globe, health experts are closely monitoring a new variant of the virus: NB.1.8.1. This subvariant of Omicron has shown early signs of being more immune-evasive than its predecessors, meaning it may be better at escaping the body's defences, even in people who are vaccinated or previously to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NB.1.8.1 has been classified as a 'variant under monitoring', a category for strains that carry genetic changes that may affect virus behaviour, but which have not yet shown a significant public health early studies and expert analysis suggest that NB.1.8.1 could pose a new challenge in managing Covid-19's spread due to its ability to partially evade immune protection. WHAT IS NB.1.8.1?NB.1.8.1 is part of the Omicron lineage, closely related to other recent subvariants such as LP.8.1 and variant has already been widely reported in China, Thailand, and other East Asian countries, and has also been detected in travelers from France, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, and Taiwan, according to data from the GISAID global database. It is also circulating in several parts of SCIENTISTS CONCERNED?One reason NB.1.8.1 is raising alarms is its increased transmissibility and immune evasion capacity."Right now, the reasons for its increased transmissivity are unclear, although the fraction of new cases accounted for by this variant have rapidly increased over the past few weeks,' Gautam Menon, dean of research and professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University, told NB.1.8.1 has been classified as a advertisement'NB.1.8.1 is believed to be about 1.5 times more contagious than the previous LP.8.1 variant. It is currently unknown whether immune protection from the JN.1 vaccine may transfer to NB.1.8.1," Menon WHO has also noted that NB.1.8.1 appears to be more immune-evasive than LP.8.1, a descendant of JN.1, raising concerns about whether current vaccines can still offer sufficient DOES IT EVADE IMMUNITY?Virologist Lara Herrero of Griffith University discussed preliminary findings from a lab-based study (not yet peer-reviewed), which could help explain why NB.1.8.1 is spreading so rapidly."Researchers found NB.1.8.1 had the strongest binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor of several variants tested, suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains," she wrote in The same study also examined how antibodies from either vaccination or past infection responded to the variant. Results showed that NB.1.8.1 was 1.5 times less susceptible to neutralisation compared to LP.8.1.1, meaning the body's immune response was weaker against it. The WHO has also noted that NB.1.8.1 appears to be more immune-evasive than LP.8.1, a descendant of JN.1, raising concerns about whether current vaccines can still offer sufficient protection. () This mix of stronger cell attachment and weaker immune response means the variant can spread more easily, even among people who already have some there is currently no indication that NB.1.8.1 causes more severe disease, since most cases are presenting mild symptoms, its ability to spread more efficiently and bypass some immune defences highlights the need for continued surveillance, updated vaccines, and public is a need to continue to monitor its growth across regions, and vaccine developers may need to adapt formulations if NB.1.8.1 becomes widespread InMust Watch
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First Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Thug Life: Shiva Rajkumar defends Kamal Haasan amid language row: ' He understands exactly what the...'
The Kannada star Shiva Rajkumar, who also attended the movie's audio launch, reacted to the controversy and said Kamal Haasan has contributed significantly to Kannada cinema. read more Kamal Haasan recently garnered controversy after he stated, 'Kannada was born out of Tamil,' at the promotional event for his upcoming movie, Thug Life. Now, the Kannada star Shiva Rajkumar, who also attended the movie's audio launch, reacted to the controversy and said he has contributed significantly to Kannada cinema. ' Kamal Sir has always spoken highly of Kannada and has expressed great admiration for Bengaluru. He speaks with pride about our city. We've grown up watching him, and I've been a die-hard fan of Kamal Sir for years. Some might say, 'How can you call yourself a fan of Kamal Haasan and not your father?' Father is family. But Kamal Sir is different. He's not just a star — he's been a true inspiration to me. Like each of you may have a favourite actor, for me, it's always been Kamal Sir. He understands exactly what the audience needs, and I truly believe he always delivers,' said Shiva at an event in Bengaluru. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He further questioned, 'Our commitment to Kannada must be lifelong. If needed, I'm ready to fight — even give my life — for Kannada. Speaking highly of Kannada in front of cameras isn't enough. Actions matter more than words. What have you done for Kannada cinema? Have you given opportunities to newcomers? If we truly want Kannada to grow, it's our duty to support it in every way possible. Please don't misunderstand why I'm saying all this. Ask your own conscience — is what I'm saying right or wrong? The answer will be clear. As for Kamal Sir, I don't need to comment further — he's already contributed a lot to Kannada cinema.' The Kannada film body demanded an apology from Kamal Haasan, stating that if he didn't apologise, Thug Life wouldn't be allowed to release in Karnataka. The actor replied as per ANI, 'What I said was said out of love, and a lot of historians have taught me language history. I didn't mean anything. Tamil Nadu is a state where a Menon has been our Chief Minister, where a Reddy has been our Chief Minister, a Tamil has been our CM, and a Kannadiga Iyengar has been our CM.' Talking about Thug Life, the Mani Ratnam directorial also stars Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Ali Fazal and Silambarasan TR among others in prominent roles.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shiva Rajkumar defends Kamal Haasan amid language row: ‘He has already contributed a lot to Kannada cinema'
Kamal Haasan recently found himself at the centre of a controversy following his remark that "Kannada was born out of Tamil" during a promotional event for his upcoming film Thug Life. Now, Shiva Rajkumar, who attended the Thug Life audio launch, has also addressed the controversy. (Also Read: Shiva Rajkumar reveals he shot a film while undergoing chemotherapy: 'I was worried about hair loss') Speaking at an event in Bengaluru on May 28, Shiva said, "Kamal Sir has always spoken highly of Kannada and has expressed great admiration for Bengaluru. He speaks with pride about our city. We've grown up watching him, and I've been a die-hard fan of Kamal Sir for years. Some might say, 'How can you call yourself a fan of Kamal Haasan and not your father?' Father is family. But Kamal Sir is different. He's not just a star — he's been a true inspiration to me. Like each of you may have a favourite actor, for me, it's always been Kamal Sir. He understands exactly what the audience needs, and I truly believe he always delivers." He added that it was a matter of pride to be invited to the Thug Life audio launch as the chief guest and questioned why people hadn't raised the issue at the time, instead choosing to remain silent. He emphasised that love for Kannada shouldn't surface only when someone speaks up — it should be consistent and heartfelt at all times. Addressing media channels specifically, he added that support for the language shouldn't be limited to public events; the same passion should be reflected throughout the year. Shiva Rajkumar further questioned, "Our commitment to Kannada must be lifelong. If needed, I'm ready to fight — even give my life — for Kannada. Speaking highly of Kannada in front of cameras isn't enough. Actions matter more than words. What have you done for Kannada cinema? Have you given opportunities to newcomers? If we truly want Kannada to grow, it's our duty to support it in every way possible. Please don't misunderstand why I'm saying all this. Ask your own conscience — is what I'm saying right or wrong? The answer will be clear. As for Kamal Sir, I don't need to comment further — he's already contributed a lot to Kannada cinema." Kamal faced backlash for his remarks, and the Kannada film body even demanded an apology, stating that if he did not apologise, Thug Life would not be released in Karnataka. Responding to the controversy, Kamal said, "What I said was said out of love, and a lot of historians have taught me language history. I didn't mean anything. Tamil Nadu is a state where a Menon has been our Chief Minister, where a Reddy has been our Chief Minister, a Tamil has been our CM, and a Kannadiga Iyengar has been our CM," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. He added that politicians are not qualified to speak on matters of language — including himself. In his view, such in-depth discussions should be left to historians, archaeologists, and language experts who are better equipped to handle the subject. The gangster drama marks Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam's reunion after 38 years. The film also stars Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Ali Fazal, Silambarasan TR, and others in key roles. It is scheduled to release in cinemas on 5 June.
