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After watching the first debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, singer Taylor Swift came out in support of Harris saying “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election.”

Swift took to Instagram Wednesday, September 11, and penned a lengthy note.

The note stated, “Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most. As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country.”

Swift further said, “Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”

Harris was nominated as the Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden quit the presidential race amid mounting concerns over his age, particularly after his poor show in the debate with Donald Trump in June.

She is the first female, first Black, and first Asian American Vice President. If elected President, the 59-year-old Harris would become the first woman in history to become the US president. The Vice President is only the second woman ever nominated for the presidency by a major political party.

Swift mentioned Harris’ choice of Walz in her endorsement.

“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades,” the singer added.

 

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A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

Swift also urged people to do research before making their choices.

“I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story,” Swift continued.

She concluded her post by calling herself a “childless cat lady”, alluding to a phrase previously used by Sen JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, to criticize Democrats.

Kamala Harris is of Indian origin. Her mother was Indian and her father is Jamaican; both immigrated to the United States. She was born in Oakland, California, and attended a historically black university, Howard University, in Washington.

In the presidential polls, Harris has rallied on several issues. She has expressed support for women’s abortion rights, promised to provide an “earned pathway to citizenship” for illegal immigrants, and has also presented an “opportunity economy” plan.

On other contentious issues like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel-Hamas war, and China, Harris has presented a similar stance as President Biden’s administration.

In 2020, Swift announced her support for Biden and Harris in their bid for the White House, as reported by CNN Entertainment.

Throughout her almost two-decade career, Swift refrained from discussing politics until the 2018 midterms, when she gave her endorsement to two Democratic candidates from Tennessee. Since then, she has been outspoken in her support for Democratic policies and candidates, frequently urging her followers to vote and advocating for women’s rights, reproductive health, and LGBTQ+ rights.

In her 2020 documentary “Miss Americana”, Swift expressed remorse for not speaking out about political issues earlier, telling her father Scott Swift in an emotionally charged moment that she felt the need “to be on the right side of history”.

In another part of the documentary, she criticized former President Donald Trump.

A segment of Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, have united during the 2024 election cycle, establishing an online community called Swifties for Kamala shortly after Biden exited the race and endorsed Harris, as reported by CNN Entertainment.

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In the first US presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the VP and Democratic candidate accused her Republican opponent of aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

When the discussion shifted to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump refrained from answering directly whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war. Instead, he said, “I think it’s in the US’ best interest to get this war finished.”

Harris responded sharply, taunting Trump for his ‘friendship’ with Putin. She suggested that Trump would cave under pressure from the Russian leader.

“Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland,” Harris said. “How quickly you would give up for the sake of favor and what you think is a friendship with what is known to be a dictator who would eat you for lunch.”

On the Israel-Hamas conflict, Harris voiced her support for a two-state solution. Trump claimed the current situation in Gaza would never have escalated under his presidency and accused Harris of disliking both Israel and the Arab population in the region.

Harris firmly denied Trump’s accusations and reiterated her support for Israel.

Harris also criticized Trump’s global reputation, pointing out how world leaders perceive him.

“I have travelled the world as Vice-President of the United States. World leaders are laughing at Donald Trump. They say you are a disgrace,” she sarcastically remarked.

Throughout the debate, Harris handled Trump’s criticisms with composure, particularly when he attempted to highlight the failures of the Biden administration.

In response, Harris quipped, “You are not running against Biden.”

The debate, hosted by ABC News, marked the first time the two candidates faced off. Notably, Harris and Trump shook hands at the start of the debate, breaking an eight-year streak of no handshakes on the presidential debate stage.

Harris also made a point to formally introduce herself to Trump during their initial encounter, adding a personal touch to the fiery exchanges.

By Mayank Chhaya-

In her first and likely only presidential debate Vice President Kamala Harris repeatedly baited and hooked former President Donald Trump in a precise strategy that won her the night by a wide consensus.

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Criticizing the Donald Trump administration over his trade policy with regards to China, US Vice President Kamala Harris said that the former US President invited trade wars and sold American chips to China to help them improve and modernize the military.

During the presidential debate conducted by ABC News, Harris, the Democrat candidate, said that the US’ policy with regards to China should be to win the competition for the 21st century, which she stressed means focusing on relationships with allies of the US, focusing on investing in American-based technology.

In response to a question on whether Americans can afford higher prices on tariffs, Kamala Harris said, “The Trump administration resulted in a trade deficit, one of the highest we have ever seen in the history of America. He invited trade wars. You want to talk about his deal with China, what he ended up doing under Donald Trump’s presidency. He ended up selling American chips to China to help them improve and modernize their military.”

“Basically, sold us out when a policy about China should be in making sure the United States of America wins the competition for the 21st century, which means focusing on the details of what that requires, focusing on relationships with our allies, focusing on investing in American-based technology so that we win the race on AI, on quantum computing, focusing on what we need to do support America’s workforce so that we don’t end up having on the short end of the stick in terms of workers rights,” she added, as quoted by ANI.

Slamming the Republican nominee, Harris said that Trump thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping despite knowing that Xi was responsible for lacking and not giving transparency regarding the origins of COVID.

“But, what Donald Trump did, let’s talk about this with COVID. He actually thanked President Xi for what he did with COVID. Look at his tweet, Thank you Mr Xi! When we know Xi was responsible for lacking and not giving us transparency about the origins of COVID,” Harris said.

During the presidential debate on the same question, Donald Trump said that people in the US need not to pay higher prices. However, it is China and other nations that would pay higher prices. He also said that Biden administration has continued to charge the tariffs he had placed during his government.

Trump said that there was the highest inflation during the Biden administration and termed it the “worst period of time”.

Trump said, “They’re not going to have higher prices. What’s going to happen and who’s going to have higher prices in China and all of the countries that have been ripping us off for years? I charge, I was the only president ever, China was paying us hundreds of billions of dollars and so were other countries.”

“And, you know, if she doesn’t like them, they should have gone out and they should have immediately cut the tariffs. But those tariffs are there three and a half years now under their administration, we are going to take in billions of dollars, hundreds of billions of dollars. I had no inflation, virtually no inflation. They had the highest inflation perhaps in the history of our country because I have not seen the worst period of time. People can’t go out buy cereal, bacon, egg or anything else. The people of our country are dying with what they have done,” he added.

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Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will undertake a trip to India and Bangladesh. During his visit, he will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to supporting economic growth and promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific region, reports said.

Lu will travel to India and Bangladesh from September 10 to 16, the US Department of State said in a press release.

Assistant Secretary Lu will travel to New Delhi, where he will highlight US-India cooperation to promote development, security, and women’s economic security at the India Ideas Summit, hosted by the US-India Business Council.

He will also co-chair the eighth US-India 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue, alongside US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah P Royal and counterparts from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Ministry of Defence, the release added.

Notably, the dialogue will identify opportunities to enhance the US-India bilateral partnership, including defense cooperation, and expand US-India collaboration in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

In Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, Lu will join an interagency delegation for meetings with the Bangladeshi interim government led my Muhammad Yunus. The delegation will include representatives from the US Department of the Treasury, USAID, and Office of the US Trade Representative, the release said.

The US and Bangladeshi officials will also discuss how the United States can support Bangladesh’s economic growth, financial stability and development needs.

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Former US President and current Republican candidate Donald Trump and his Democrat counterpart and Vice President Kamala Harris squared up in their first Presidential Debate in Philadelphia on ABC News. Kicking off the debate, Trump took on the Biden-Harris administration saying that inflation in the US is probably the worst in the nation’s history.

Trump said that inflation is at 21% and other things are 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% higher than they were just a few years ago.

“We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before. Probably the worst in our nation’s history. We were at 21% but that’s being generous, because many things are 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% higher than they were just a few years ago. This has been a disaster for people, for the middle class, but for every class,” he said.

Trump also attacked Biden-Harris on the issue of illegal immigration claiming that millions had poured in from ‘mental institutions and insane asylums’.

“We have millions of people pouring into our country from prisons and jails, from mental institutions and insane asylums. And they’re coming in and they’re taking jobs that are occupied right now by African Americans and Hispanics and also unions. Unions are going to be affected very soon. And you see what’s happening. You see what’s happening with towns throughout the United States,” Trump said.

Trump said that President Joe Biden had allowed illegal immigrants into the country and those immigrants were destroying the country now.

“We’ve had a terrible economy because inflation has, which is really known as a country buster, it breaks up countries. You look at Springfield, Ohio. You look at Aurora in Colorado. They are taking over the towns. They’re taking over buildings. They’re going in violently. These are the people that Biden led into our country, and they’re destroying our country. They’re dangerous. They’re at the highest level of criminality, and we have to get them out. We have to get them out fast. I created one of the greatest economies in the history of our country. I’ll do it again and even better,” he said, as quoted by ANI.

At one point Trump even made the claim that Immigrants were resorting to eating pets of residents to meet extreme hunger. After Trump was fact checked on this by the host, Harris called this claim unfounded and said it showed how “extreme” Trump’s rhetoric has become.

She pointed to the scores of Republicans and former administration officials who have defected from Trump, saying 200 Republicans who worked for the former president have endorsed her.

“When we listen to this kind of rhetoric, when the issues that affect the American people are not being addressed,” Harris said, “I think the choice is clear in this election.”.

Harris focused on Trump’s allies scuttling a bipartisan immigration bill, which would have enacted some of the strictest measures in decades. Democrats have accused Republicans of intentionally blocking the bill to help Trump politically.

“He’d prefer to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem,” Harris said

Speaking about if Americans will pay higher prices due to tariffs, Trump said, “They’re not going to have higher prices. What’s going to happen and who’s going to have higher prices in China and all of the countries that have been ripping us off for years? I charge, I was the only president ever, China was paying us hundreds of billions of dollars and so were other countries. And, you know, if she doesn’t like them, they should have gone out and they should have immediately cut the tariffs. But those tariffs are there three and a half years now under their administration, we are going to take in billions of dollars, hundreds of billions of dollars.”

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As India geared up to organize the three-day ‘SEMICON India 2024’ conference — from September 11 to 13 — top CEOs of semiconductor companies hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership on Tuesday, September 10. They said Modi has inspired not just India but the entire world.

The CEOs and representatives of various organizations met the Prime Minister at his official residence in the national capital. Representatives from SEMI, Micron, NXP, PSMC, IMEC, Renesas, TEPL, Tokyo Electron Ltd, Tower, Synopsys, Cadence, Rapidus, Jacobs, JSR, Infineon, Advantest, Teradyne, Applied Materials, Lam Research, Merck, CG Power, and Kaynes Technology were present during the meeting in New Delhi.

Ajit Manocha, President and CEO of SEMI said that PM Modi’s leadership is exceptional, has no parallel and has inspired not just India but the entire world.

According to Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductors, he is yet to meet a political leader with such deep expertise in the semiconductor industry as PM Modi.

Luc Van Den Hove, CEO of IMEC, said he was very impressed with the leadership shown by PM Modi “which shows a very strong commitment and dedication to make India a powerhouse in the area of semiconductor technology”.

PM Modi chaired the Semiconductor Executives’ Roundtable at his residence on the eve of the three-day ‘SEMICON India 2024’ event, stressing that the semiconductor is the basis of the Digital Age and the day is not far when the semiconductor industry will be the bedrock for even our basic necessities.

The Prime Minister emphasized that democracy and technology together can ensure the welfare of humanity and India is moving ahead on this path recognizing its global responsibility in the semiconductor sector.

PM Modi underscored that India has the capability to become a trusted partner in a diversified semiconductor supply chain. With the focus on ‘Make In India’ and ‘Make for the World’ initiatives, the Prime Minister said the government will continue to support the industry at every step.

By Prakash Narayan-

All India Movement (or AIM) for Seva, a registered non-profit organization, held their annual Donor Appreciation Gala on Saturday, September 7, at the Elizabeth Hangs Theater in Santa Clara Convention Center in California.

The concert featured excellent artists from India: Jayateerth Mevundi on vocal, Pravin Godkhindi on flute, Narendra Nayak on harmonium, Ishaan Ghosh on table, Sukhad Munde on pakhwaj and Suryakant Surve on side rhythm.

AIM for Seva was founded on the concept of building chatralaya, or free student homes, in close proximity to educational institutions in rural India. This enables underprivileged children access to high-quality education.  Today, 94 chatralaya serve as homes for 3,500 children from grades 4 through 12 – thus providing them a nurturing environment, with academic support, and access to enriching activities.

AIM for Seva also has eight educational institutions that offer value-based curriculum for more than 5,000 students each year (from kindergarten through college).  The institutions are designed to prepare the students for further education/employment. There is an additional focus on extracurricular activities including cultural validation, community spirit, and the concept of seva (or service). Students participate in daily yoga and in artistic endeavors.

AIM for Seva has the highest (4-star) rating from Charity Navigator for the seventh consecutive year. This implies that an independent organization has evaluated AIM for Seva and concluded that they are more likely to use their donations effectively. This provides donors with peace of mind that their contributions will have a positive impact.

In speaking with Raj Paripatyadar and Sushma Bhatia – both volunteers at AIM for Seva Bay Area, it was abundantly clear that all the volunteers are actively engaged in the 190+ projects focused on paving the way to a bright future for these underprivileged children. Rani Goel, a San Francisco Chapter coordinator, said that her goal is help more people realize the value of participating in this worthy cause. She was driven to bring very high-quality artists from India to bring people together for a meaningful cause. There are 26 chapters across the US that are dedicated to raising money and having an impact.

Volunteers at AIM for Seva, Bay Area

It was heartening to see youth volunteers actively participate in the event. In fact, one of the youth volunteers, a Senior from Evergreen High School, founded a startup, aionix, as an initiative to innovate and educate society with a focus to teach senior citizens and children. With the funds raised, he contributed $5,000 to AIM for Seva. This involvement of youth volunteers to empower disadvantaged students to not only break the cycle of poverty but also fosters a sense of purpose, empathy, and social responsibility in other youth volunteers. Through their efforts, these young volunteers contribute to building a more equitable society in India where education is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background.

Coming to the event itself, it started with an address by Vijay Kapoor, one of the coordinators of the San Francisco Chapter. He invited two volunteers to conduct the fund raise. The cost to transform the life of one child for one year is $500. With a goal to raise funds for 300 children (of which they already had commitments for 150 children), they started by seeking audience members willing to provide support for 20 children (or $10,000). Within a few minutes, four people provided the pledge. The final tally of pledges was for 214 children (for a total of $107,000).

The Hé Govind: An Ode to Krishna concert was an ethereal blend of soul-stirring vocals and divine bansuri. It was obvious that this team played together many times with the intricate melo-rhythmic improvisations that they performed. They began the concert with a song in Raag Brindavani Sarang. This was followed by a beautiful melody in the Raag Pahadi, Jamuna kinare mere gaon. Jayateerth Mevundi next sang a Purandara Dasa song Govinda ninna namave chanda in the Raag Chandrakauns. He sang a composition of Swami Dayananda Saraswati (founder of AIM for Seva) in the Raag Durga, Ramam Bhaje Shyamam. Pravin Godkhindi displayed a flute that he had designed that plays one octave below.

He went on to play a beautiful melody in the Raag Yaman. Jayateerth Mevundi[Above photo] is the disciple of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. Not surprisingly, he sang a song composed by the great maestro in the Raag Hindustani Bhairavi, Bhaje re muraliya bhaje. Given that the concert took place on Ganesh Chaturthi, the next song was an Abhang on Ganapati. He sang another Purandara Dasa composition next in the Raag Bibhas, Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma. This song too was originally sung by Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. Surely, he was smiling from heaven at this melodious rendition. The concert concluded with another composition of Dayananda Saraswati in the Raag Desh, Bharata Desha Hitaya.

Overall, the evening was rewarding on many fronts. The Bay Area got to witness an excellent concert and the organization was able to exceed its goals for the funds to collect for a worthy cause. Those wanting to donate, you may click on this link: https://aimforsevabayarea.org/donate/

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India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Monday, September 9, that revenue from online gaming has increased 412%, reaching Rs 6,909 crore in six months, from the increased levy on the sector.

Addressing a press conference after the 54th GST Council meeting, the Finance Minister said revenues of casinos have “jumped by 30%”.

“For casinos, revenue increased 30% to Rs 214 crore over the six months,” she said.

In July last year, online games, both skill-based and chance-based, were placed in the 28% GST slab in the 50th GST meeting. The measure came into effect on October 1, 2023.

Earlier, skill-based games were taxed at 18%. This is in addition to the tax on winnings from different gaming tournaments.

As per the income tax law, these winnings are treated as winnings from online games and taxed at 30% under the head ‘Income from other Sources’.

The GoM on GST rate rationalisation will hold a meeting on September 23, informed FM Sitharaman.

The GoM on health insurance premium GST is likely to come with a status report by the end of October and the decision is likely in the November GST Council meeting.

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Ajay Bhutoria, a prominent leader within the South Asian American community and a member of the National Finance Committee for Harris for President, has launched a new Bollywood-themed campaign song titled “Nacho Nacho” to mobilize nearly 5 million South Asian voters in key battleground states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona. The initiative aims to rally voters behind Vice President Kamala Harris — the Democrat nominee — highlighting her as a beacon of hope for the future of Indian Americans and the broader South Asian community.

“Vice President Harris embodies the aspirations and future of millions of Indian Americans and immigrants,” Bhutoria stated. “Her leadership represents unity, progress, and a break from the divisiveness of Donald Trump’s past presidency. Through ‘Nacho Nacho’, we are using Bollywood’s universal appeal to unite and energize our community for this critical election.” Nacho Nacho follows the same beat as the Oscar winning song Naatu Naatu from the Indian film RRR.

The campaign is designed to galvanize the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, emphasizing the pivotal role these voters play in shaping the 2024 election outcome. Bhutoria called on the community to rise to the occasion: “Now is the time to stand up and be counted. The AANHPI community has the power to make a difference, and we must unite to support Kamala Harris.”

Building on the success of Bollywood-based campaigns during the 2020 election, Bhutoria plans to produce additional music videos to further increase voter engagement and turnout for the Harris-Walz ticket. “In 2020, our campaign videos went viral, reaching millions of voters. This time, we’re doubling down to make sure every South Asian vote counts,” he added.

The “Nacho Nacho” video, produced by Ritesh Parikh of Awesome TV and featuring vocals by Bollywood singer Shibani Kashyap, incorporates messages in multiple South Asian languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Punjabi, Hindi, and Bangla, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the community. Parikh noted, “Kamala Harris is a unifying figure, much like Bollywood, and her story resonates deeply with our community.”

As the election draws closer, Bhutoria and his team remain more committed than ever to energizing and mobilizing the South Asian electorate. “This election is about choosing between the future of hope and unity that Kamala Harris represents and the divisive past of Donald Trump. We are here to organize, mobilize, and win this election,” Bhutoria affirmed.

“Bollywood has always been about breaking barriers and telling stories that unite us. Kamala Harris embodies that same vision—bringing people together and championing a future where diversity is our greatest strength. Her journey is a story we all believe in,” said Ritesh Parikh, Founder of Awesome TV. “Join me, and let’s “Nacho Nacho” all the way to the polls! Let’s make history again in 2024!”

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Tech giant Apple on Monday, September 9, introduced its much-anticipated iPhone 16 series with Apple Intelligence, larger display sizes, camera control, innovative pro-camera features and a big leap in battery life.

Powered by the A18 Pro chip, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature a new 48MP Fusion camera with a faster quad-pixel sensor that enables 4K120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision, the company said in a statement.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available in black titanium, natural titanium, white titanium and desert titanium colours, in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities. iPhone 16 Pro starts at Rs 119,900 and iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at Rs 144,900.

Customers in India will be able to pre-order iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max beginning this Friday, September 13, with availability beginning September 20.

“Customers who are looking for the best possible iPhone will be able to take advantage of this huge step forward, whether they’re applying edits to a photo without lifting a finger, rewriting meeting notes for a more professional tone, or using the advanced camera system to capture their next masterpiece in 4K120 fps in Dolby Vision,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, as quoted by IANS.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be available in ultramarine, teal, pink, white, and black in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities. iPhone 16 starts at Rs 79,900 and iPhone 16 Plus starts at Rs 89.900. Pre-orders will begin on September 13, with availability beginning September 20, said the company.

The tech giant unveiled Apple Watch Series 10, featuring a refined design and new capabilities. It also features new sleep apnea notifications, faster charging, water depth and temperature sensing and new health and fitness insights and intelligence in watchOS 11.

Apple Watch Series 10 is available in both aluminum and titanium, in an array of stunning colors and finishes. Jet black is a new polished aluminum finish that is distinctively reflective and sleek, while new titanium cases — available in natural, gold, and slate — have a spectacular jewellery-like shine.

The users in India can now pre-order Apple Watch Series 10, with availability in stores beginning September 20. Apple Watch Series 10 starts at Rs 46,900 and Watch SE is available starting at Rs 24,900.

Apple Watch Series 10 is nearly 10% thinner than Apple Watch Series 7, Series 8, and Series 9.

The company also introduced Apple Watch Ultra 2 in a new black titanium finish and enhanced with features in watchOS 11 that enhances the Apple Watch.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 features an accurate GPS in a sports watch, the brightest display of any Apple product, and up to 36 hours of battery life with regular use or up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.

Customers can also pre-order AirPods 4 for Rs 12,900, with availability beginning September 20. They can also pre-order AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation for Rs 17,900. AirPods Pro 2 are available for Rs 24,900, said the company. They can also pre-order AirPods Max with USB-C charging for Rs 59,900, with availability beginning September 20.

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Kate, the Princess of Wales, has said that she has completed her chemotherapy treatment for cancer and now plans to live cancer-free.

“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” 42-year-old Princess Kate said in a video where she was seen spending time with her family in Norfolk, east of England.

“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown,” she said.

A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales

As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment.

The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an… pic.twitter.com/9S1W8sDHUL

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 9, 2024

“Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” she added.

The princess said she’s looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months.

Kate, wife of heir-to-the-throne Prince William, revealed her cancer diagnosis in March and her chemotherapy began in late February. The diagnosis was made after she underwent a major abdominal surgery in January.

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Speaking at the Washington DC metro area on Monday, September 9, Congress leader and India’s Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said that the Indians in the US are the bridge between the two countries.

The Congress leader said that the Indian diaspora has two identities- that of the US and India. They can transfer American and Indian ideas back and forth.

“You are the bridge between these two great unions of states. And you make us very proud because we understand that what it meant for you to come here. We understand the difficulties and struggles you faced. But when you came here, you came with humility, respect and affection… You did not say that United States is inferior to us, or that you hate the United States… You are proud of India and proud of the United States,” he said, as quoted by ANI.

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said that the Congress’s message is to spread love, not hatred.

“As per the BJP, you cannot have two identities. You cannot be an Indian, and at the same time an American. That is what the fight is about… We are saying that don’t spread hatred, spread love. Don’t be arrogant, be humble. Don’t disrespect people, communities, religions, traditions, languages… If you don’t do this, you will never be successful… You will take American ideas and values back home and will bring Indian values, traditions and ideas to the United States. You will help both states by doing this,” he said.

He alleged that the RSS does not understand India.

“And the problem is, these people don’t understand India… India is called a union of states. In the Constitution it is written clearly- India, that is Bharat, is a union of states. It means it is a union of languages, traditions, histories, music, or dance,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the RSS believes that certain states and communities are inferior to others.

“The RSS is saying that certain states, languages, religions and communities are inferior to others. This is what the fight is about. We are of the opinion that… all of you have your history, tradition and language. Every single one of them is as important as any other one. What would you do if somebody told you that you cannot speak Tamil? How would you feel? How would you react? That is the ideology of the RSS- That Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, Manipuri- are all inferior languages. It ends up in the polling booth, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha. But the fight is about what type of India we are going to have. Are we going to have an India where people are allowed to believe what they want to believe?… Or we are going to have an India where only few people can decide what is going to happen,” the Congress leader said.

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Global markets are bracing for potential economic turbulence, with the upcoming US elections and possible interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, the outlook for gold has become increasingly uncertain, says the World Gold Council.

The global shift towards gold as a hedge against macroeconomic risks is also being reflected in India. The uncertainty surrounding the US election and potential rate cuts has driven up demand for safe-haven assets like gold. These developments have led to heightened activity in the gold options market, reflecting concerns about the near-term future.

Despite global volatility, India, a key player in the global gold market, continues to show strong demand for the precious metal. However, global economic indicators present a mixed picture. While overall GDP growth is at 2.5 percent, the global manufacturing sector, particularly in Europe and China, is experiencing a slowdown.

In contrast, services continue to support growth figures. In the United States, recent data has been conflicting. Retail sales remain robust, and the stock market continues to climb, but unemployment jumped to 4.2 percent in August, raising concerns about a possible recession.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments at Jackson Hole have hinted at upcoming interest rate cuts, which could impact gold prices. Powell indicated that rate cuts will depend on incoming data, particularly inflation and labor market conditions. This uncertainty has led to increased use of gold options as a hedge by investors, positioning the metal as a safe haven asset.

In India, the gold market continues to display resilience. Even as China, one of the largest gold consumers, sees outflows from its gold Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), Indian gold ETFs have seen increased demand.

The Indian market remains a significant force in global gold consumption, driven by cultural and investment needs. August saw a continued rise in gold demand, supported by positive domestic sentiment and festival season buying.

India’s robust gold market is supported by factors unique to its economy. With inflation pressures easing and economic growth continuing at a steady pace, gold remains a preferred asset for both retail investors and institutional buyers.

Additionally, as the rupee stabilizes, the cost of importing gold becomes more favorable, boosting demand further. Indian investors, wary of global market volatility, are increasingly looking at gold as a stable investment option, particularly in the current environment where geopolitical risks are high.

With the US election set for November and the Fed likely to embark on an aggressive rate-cutting path, the gold market in India is expected to remain strong. The ongoing slowdown in China may impact global gold prices, but India’s demand is likely to remain robust, bolstered by the country’s deep cultural ties to the precious metal and a growing recognition of its investment potential in uncertain times.

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

Fruit Street Health, a CDC-recognized diabetes prevention program, has appointed an Indian-origin doctor as its Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Arvind Ravinutala is a board-certified internal medicine physician with over 12 years of experience in healthcare. Fruit Street Health delivers the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program, the in-person with distance learning component delivery type.

This enables participants to participate in Fruit Street’s program, if they choose to, via telehealth and live group video conferencing on Zoom with registered dietitians. Participants can also use a wireless scale and Fitbit that integrate with the app to track weight loss and physical activity. Fruit Street is a public benefit corporation whose mission is to deliver the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program via telehealth and live group video conferencing. Fruit Street is a member of the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Prevention Alliance.

Ravinutala graduated from the Keck School of Medicine of USC in 2016 and stayed on to work with the underserved in East Los Angeles during his residency at Adventist Health. He was promoted to hospitalist medical director and also serves as an associate professor at Loma Linda University. He is passionate about using technology to prevent chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes.

“As a physician, I am passionate about helping educate patients regarding the risks of type 2 diabetes and how to prevent it. As Chief Medical Officer at Fruit Street, I am extremely excited to work alongside Laurence Girard and the rest of the dedicated Fruit Street team to help fight this global epidemic and prevent the terrible comorbidities and illnesses that I see and treat every day related to type 2 Diabetes,” Ravinutala said.

Laurence Girard, CEO and Founder of Fruit Street Health said, “When I met Dr. Ravinutala, I could immediately sense how passionate he was about Fruit Street’s mission of preventing Type 2 diabetes. He shared stories with me about his own patients needing amputations because of diabetes-related computations and how he wished that none of his patients would ever need an amputation again. I am confident that Dr. Ravinutala will be able to help Fruit Street positively impact patients, especially once we become a Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Supplier. We have been discussing strategies for how physicians will be able to easily refer their prediabetic Medicare patients to Fruit Street’s diabetes prevention program.”

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

Timken Company, a global technology leader in engineered bearings and industrial motion, has appointed a senior executive of Indian origin as its president and CEO. He has also been elected to Timken’s Board of Directors.

Following a comprehensive search process, the Timken Board of Directors announced that Tarak Mehta, who previously served as a member of ABB’s Group Executive Committee and president of its Motion business, would succeed Richard G. Kyle as president and CEO. Mehta spent 26 years at ABB, a $32 billion leader in electrification and automation. He is an accomplished strategic leader with a proven record of delivering results, developing global teams, and achieving operational excellence.

Mehta succeeds Kyle, who has moved into an advisory role to assist with the leadership transition after 10 years as CEO. Following the transition, Kyle plans to retire as a Timken employee in February 2025 but will continue to serve on the company’s Board of Directors.

“On behalf of the Timken Board of Directors, I want to commend Rich for his contributions and leadership during a decade of strong growth and transformation for the company,” said Timken Chairman John M. Timken Jr. “As we look to the future, Tarak brings the deep experience and expertise we need to continue to advance our strategy and build on our 125-year legacy. Based on his impressive track record and strong business acumen, we’re confident that Tarak is the right leader to guide us through our next chapter of profitable growth.”

The Timken Company designs next-generation products for diverse industries. For 125 years, Timken has used its specialized expertise to innovate and create customer-centric solutions that increase reliability and efficiency. The company posted $4.8 billion in sales in 2023 and employs more than 19,000 people globally, operating from 45 countries. Timken is one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies, according to Fast Company, and has been recognized among America’s Greatest Companies, America’s Most Responsible Companies , and America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity by Newsweek, Best Companies to Work For by U.S. News & World Report, the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere and America’s Most Innovative Companies by Fortune.

“I’m excited to join Timken and hear directly from our employees, customers, and other stakeholders all around the globe about how we can accelerate profitable growth and continue to drive momentum for the company,” said Tarak Mehta. “I look forward to collaborating with our talented team to identify additional opportunities to advance customer-centric innovation.”

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

India and the United States on Monday, September 9, began their 20th edition of joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas at Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan and will continue till September 22.

The 14-day exercise will see the participation of around 600 troops from a battalion of the RAJPUT Regiment along with personnel from other arms and services, while the US side is being represented by the troops of the 1-24 Battalion of the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division.

The aim of the joint exercise is to enhance the joint military capability of both sides to undertake counterterrorism operations in a subconventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

During the exercise, tactical drills are to be rehearsed, which include joint response to a terrorist action, joint planning, and combined field training exercises that simulate real-world counter-terrorism missions.

According to the Ministry of Defense, “The 20th edition of India-USA Joint Military Exercise YUDH ABHYAS-2024 commenced today, at Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 9th to 22nd September 2024. Exercise YUDH ABHYAS has been held annually since 2004, alternating between India and the USA.”

“This edition marks a significant increase in the scope and complexity of the joint exercise in terms of troop strength and equipment. The Indian Army contingent, comprising 600 personnel, is being represented by a battalion of the RAJPUT Regiment along with personnel from other arms and services. The US contingent, comprising of similar strength, will be represented by the troops of 1-24 Battalion of the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division of the US Army,” the Ministry added.

Exercise YUDH ABHYAS will enable both sides to share best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures of conducting joint operations.

It will facilitate the development of inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies. The joint exercise will also enhance defense cooperation, further augmenting bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.

By Partha Chakraborty-

Today marks two days before the Prize Fight, and you could cut the anticipation on both sides with a knife. On your right, we have a big hulking bear, a former heavyweight champ, is known to flail around and meander, especially if gasping for breath. On your left is the contender who has never been to a big game like this before, but is known for a sharp uppercut that forced others on the mat. The two have not met before, but tens of millions are going to be glued to their idiot boxes, and all other screens; stakes could not be higher for both.

I am not talking about the Alvarez v. Benavidez big fight, still three weeks away. I am talking about something far more consequential — the US Presidential Debate on Sep 10 in Philadelphia, the only one currently scheduled for the two candidates.

In preparation, Harris is reported to have gone into “full Lee Strasberg method-acting mode”, with an adviser “not just playing Donald J. Trump but inhabiting him, wearing a boxy suit and a long tie”. Trump’s preparation sessions have nobody playing Ms. Harris, as off-the-cuff as Trump is wont to do, “are pointedly called not ‘debate prep’ but ‘policy time’, meant to refresh him on his record”. One thing common between the two is the realization that this debate could be as game-changing as the previous debate between Trump and Biden was. It is also understood that in that event Trump came out ahead only because Biden’s horrendous show laid bare the lie that he still had it in him to be leader of the free world for four more years.

Going into the debate, I cannot help but notice how similar the two candidates are, really!

Both are “Movement Candidates”. As I have noted repeatedly on these pages, Donald Trump became a frontman for the anguish of a ‘silent majority’ who were brooding against cultural elites. Despite what mainstream media says, these are not boorish misogynistic anti-immigrant racist antisemitic bigot deplorables — strains of each do exist on either side of the aisle — but “normie” folks who (mostly) work with their hands, take care of family, participate in their community and churches /synagogues /temples /mosques. On the flip side, Kamala Harris claims a natural focal point for women who are suddenly bereft of reproductive freedom, especially in states where ‘pro-life’ zealots have been too quick to extend turf-war. Moreover, the US never has a woman President, and only one person of color ever behind the Resolute Desk, there is a palpable excitement at the possibility of crossing the Rubicon of aspirations as a nation.

Both candidates are beholden to 2020. Trump cannot stop talking about the ‘injustice’ done to him in the 2020 elections, an election that he still claims to have won, promises revenge on individuals, many of them lifelong Republicans, who question that. He lives in a soapbox where fealty to him starts with a swearing of oath to Trump the 46th President that never was. Harris will not be here were it not for Biden to pick her as his vice-presidential nominee, by herself she has not won a single primary — or any election outside of her home state of California. Not only that, she needs the Biden coalition to deliver for her; it is noteworthy that as a person of color she is polling worse among minorities than Biden. You may not live in the past, but both these candidates wish they did.

Yet, both present themselves as “new wine in an old bottle.” Trump is a better-known commodity, his personal fallibility either endears him to his base, or infuriates sizable others. Trump will be a change from the current administration, for better or for worse. Will he be a change from the 1.0 version we saw four years back? Will he be more disciplined and measured? Will he bring in a team that are sworn to the sword as Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” promises to do? Even if Harris was “the last person in the room” when policy decisions of the Biden-Harris administration are made, considerable effort is underway to paint her as the ‘change candidate’. She most certainly represents more energy, and physical vitality, but that simply means she is decades younger than one she replaced. As I have noted on these pages, a President Harris will find it impossible to deliver on her core promise — overturning Dobbs, and codifying Roe. Consequently, she will be beholden to the progressive wing of her party.

It is more likely that the 2.0 versions of both will bring out the worst elements of their 1.0 release. Touché!

Both candidates have done serious belly-flops and cartwheels on key issues recently. Harris follows the script, literally, and avoids extempore conversations as much as possible, given that she is also gullible to weaving a word-salad that belies her poor grasp of issues. That is not unexpected, since she is reinventing herself from a darling of the left-wing — she averred to pretty much every one of their idiocy and provocation in her own 2020 run — to a more centrist avatar. Her reinvention is never complete if she cannot disavow, without explanation, may I add, or do a complete cartwheel on issues of import. Not that Trump is much better. Trump is known for his word-weaves — linguist John McWhorter of Columbia recently found a pattern that does convey a message if you are in the know — that leaves most observers agape with wonder, and he has not changed on that. That said, even Trump has been finding himself in serious jam when talking about the fallout of the overturning of Roe, for which he claimed credit.

Both are light on policy details. It is expected of Harris, given the bedrock of her candidacy is her reintroduction as a change-agent, though not overtly contradicting policy decisions taken by an administration where she is the second-in-command. Harris prefers to live in a bubble of ‘vibe’, in ‘joy’, and in denial of positions she had taken before. Trump has always lived in a bubble where he is the best, brightest, mostest, and the god-like superman. Giving policy details was never his cup of tea, and as ‘movement candidate du jour’ he lives in his own cocoon of ‘feelings’, and ‘strength’. Given how both have turned on a dime on policies, I am not expecting them to duke it out with the audience as to how the sausage gets made.

Cage-match as it is, I will be surprised if the blow-by-blow recount is different from what is already expected. That Kamala will flourish in her prosecutorial persona. That she will try and goad out the worst of Trump. That she will block and avoid with prepared oratorical flourish any reference to her past positions. That Trump will lose poise within minutes and come out swinging extempore. That in his attempt to tower over Harris, Trump will let his word-weave reek in derision and personal invectives. That Trump will do an inadequate job at the debate, and, at least from the point of the debate, Harris will come out far ahead.

As it stands today, the two candidates are in a statistical tie on a national basis. I consider the outcome of the debate — a known unknown – already baked in. To me, the prize-fight will confirm the narrative I have watched develop ad-nauseum on all screens. On the left is a candidate decked in hoopla, but nothing more, she is beckoned by Oprah in her trademark carnival-barker role, and a who’s who of cultural / academic / intellectual celebrities and their ilk. On your right is a candidate who is adept at bringing out the cringe as if it is a garland of glory, as if that is his wonder-weapon, and because he gets away with it. Yet, despite many differences in appearance, they are very similar.

America deserves better than hoopla and cringe – a wish-list for some other time. But this Tuesday, I will bring popcorn to the cage-match. Hope you join me.

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

Night owls — people who are habitually active or wakeful at night — tend to have a higher body mass index (BMI), larger waists, and more hidden body fat and thus are almost 50% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) than those who go to bed earlier, a new research revealed on Monday, September 9.

Previous studies have indicated that late chronotype — people who prefer to go to bed late and wake up late — live an unhealthy lifestyle, and are at higher risk of obesity and metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes.

The new study showed that a late chronotype had a 46% higher risk of developing diabetes, which suggests that the increased risk of T2D can’t be explained by lifestyle alone.

“We believe that other mechanisms are also at play,” said lead researcher Dr. Jeroen van der Velde, from Leiden University Medical Centre, in the Netherlands. “A likely explanation is that the circadian rhythm or body clock in late chronotypes is out of sync with the work and social schedules followed by society. This can lead to circadian misalignment, which we know can lead to metabolic disturbances and ultimately type 2 diabetes.”

To explore, the team studied the association between sleep timing, diabetes, and body fat distribution in more than 5,000 individuals who were divided into three groups: early chronotype (20%), late chronotype (20%), and intermediate chronotype (60%).

The team measured all participants’ BMI and waist circumference, while visceral fat and liver fat were measured in 1,526 participants, using MRI scans and MR spectroscopy, respectively.

About 225 were diagnosed with diabetes after a follow-up of 6.6 years.

Late chronotypes were found to be at higher risk of developing diabetes, had a 0.7 kg/m2 higher BMI, 1.9 cm larger waist circumference, 7 cm2 more visceral fat, and 14% higher liver fat content, compared with those with an intermediate chronotype.

More visceral fat and liver fat were responsible for making people with a late chronotype to be at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, van der Velde said.

The findings will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid, Spain (September 9-13).

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

The US Department of State is partnering with the India Semiconductor Mission of the Union Electronics and IT Ministry to explore opportunities for growing and diversifying the global semiconductor ecosystem under the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, created by the CHIPS Act of 2022.

This partnership aims to create a more resilient, secure, and sustainable global semiconductor value chain.

Speaking at the event, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Trade Policy and Negotiations, Robert Garverick, from the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB), said, “The Department of State is partnering with the Government of India to explore opportunities to grow and diversify the global semiconductor ecosystem under the International Technology Security and Innovation Fund. President Biden signed the CHIPS Act in the US two years ago, establishing the ITSI Fund to promote the development of a secure global semiconductor supply chain and telecommunications networks.”

The initial phase includes a comprehensive assessment of India’s existing semiconductor ecosystem and regulatory framework, as well as workforce and infrastructure needs.

He also said, “Insights gained from this review will serve as the foundation for potential joint initiatives to strengthen this critical sector. The US and India are key partners in ensuring that the global semiconductor supply chain keeps pace with the ongoing global digital transformation. Our cooperation underscores the potential to expand the Indian semiconductor industry to benefit both nations and much of the rest of the world. Our global partnership will extend to supply chain logistics.”

The US Department of State anticipates that key Indian stakeholders, including state governments, educational institutions, research centres, and private companies, will participate in this analysis, which will be steered by the India Semiconductor Mission.

Akash Tripathi, CEO of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), stated, “To extend our partnership with the US, we are announcing that we will be engaging in and conducting a study with them to access the ITSI Fund. The US needs to study the entire ecosystem to understand the gaps and needs of the semiconductor industry in India. We are happy to partner with them in facilitating this study. We intend to complete the study in the next couple of months so that we can access the ITSI Fund and further boost our semiconductor ecosystem in its entirety.”

In August 2022, US President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS Act, a US law that allocated new funding to boost domestic manufacturing and research of semiconductors in the United States.

The CHIPS Act also created the ITSI Fund, which provides the US Department of State with USD 500 million (USD 100 million per year over five years, starting in Fiscal Year 2023) to promote the development and adoption of secure and trusted telecommunications technologies, secure semiconductor supply chains, and other programmes and initiatives with US allies and partners.

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

Criticizing the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said that his role as the opposition leader is to inject the value of love, respect, and humility in Indian politics.

Gandhi was speaking at an Indian diaspora event organized in Dallas, Texas. The ex-Wayanad MP said that even though he understands that his responsibility is to hold the government accountable at all times, opposing the government in parliament and not letting them run a “dictatorship”, but his actual role is “broader” and “simpler” than that.

“I’d like to tell you that I believe my role is injecting the values of love, respect and humility in Indian politics. I think what is missing in our political system and across parties is love, respect and humility,” Gandhi told the Indian diaspora members in Dallas.

On Sunday, Gandhi made his first visit to the US as the LoP, as he also interacted with students from the University of Texas and is also scheduled to meet US lawmakers during the course of his trip.

His last trip to the US was on May 30, 2023, when he interacted with the Indian diaspora and others.

Gandhi’s visit is crucial as it comes months ahead of the US presidential elections, where Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is pitted against her Republican rival and former President Donald Trump. His visit will wrap up ahead of crucial Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Maharashtra.

The Congress chief has assumed the constitutional post of LoP for the first time in his political career after the Congress won 99 out of 543 seats in the 18th Lok Sabha elections that concluded on June 4, 2024. While addressing the diaspora members, Gandhi laid out what his achievements would be in the next five years.

“If you were to ask me, five years from now, do you consider yourself successful? I would look at these three things. I would say, Have I helped bring the idea of love into the forefront of Indian politics? Have I helped make politicians and others and myself in particular, more humble? Have I increased the respect that people have, that Indian people have with each other? Those would be the values that I would be thinking about,” Gandhi further added.

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

US Vice-President and Democrat nominee Kamala Harris and former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump go into their first debate on September 10 tied in a national poll of likely voters by The New York Times and Siena College published Sunday, September 8.

Trump leads Harris (48% against 47%) in the poll, which has an error margin of 3%.

The race remains largely unchanged, the New York Times reported from July, when Harris took over the Democratic ticket from President Joe Biden, citing a poll it had published then.

Trump “may have had a rough month following the president’s departure and amid the burst of excitement that the vice-president brought to the Democratic ticket”, the report said, adding, “the poll suggests his support remains remarkably resilient”.

The race is similarly tied in the seven battleground states surveyed by the New York Times with Harris either ahead of Trump or tied — Wisconsin (50% – 47%), Michigan (49% – 47%), Pennsylvania (49% – 48%), Nevada (48% – 48%), Arizona (48% – 48%), Georgia (48% – 48%) and North Carolina (48% – 48%).

The vice-president leads the former president 48.1% to 46.7% in the average of national polls computed by RealClearPolitics and 47.3% to 44.2% in the weighted average of national poll by FiveThirtyEight.

Harris and Trump hold their first presidential debate on Tuesday in Philadelphia. There are no other debates on the schedule so far, so this may be the first and only debate this cycle.

With early polling starting in many states this month and less than 60 days left until the close of casting of votes either by mail or in person on November 5, neither candidate has the luxury of time to reverse a setback. That will be especially so for Harris, who faces her most significant test yet of this race on Tuesday.

Harris understands the stakes and has gone off the campaign trail largely and has been in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, since Thursday, preparing for the debate.

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

Congress leader Sam Pitroda, while addressing the Indian diaspora in Texas, said that his party’s and India’s Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, has a vision contrary to what BJP promotes, and that he is not a “Pappu”.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) has a vision contrary to what BJP promotes by spending crores of rupees. I must tell you, he is no Pappu. He is highly educated, well-read, a strategist with deep thinking on any subject and sometimes it is not very easy to understand him,” Pitroda said.

Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress, Pitroda said that Gandhian thoughts, inclusion and diversity were at the core of his (Pitroda’s) learning.

“Going to school in early fifties, Gandhian thoughts were the core of our learning. Inclusion, diversity, these were not just the words, this is what we lived by and when I begin to see changes in our society which attack the basic fabric, I worry about it. So the idea… is to make sure that we respect our people irrespective of the race, religion, language, state. We create (the) same opportunities for everybody, we provide dignity to labor and these are the issues that Rahul Gandhi is championing, and that makes me very happy,” he said.

Pitroda said that Gandhi’s agenda is to celebrate diversity.

“Rahul Gandhi has a different agenda which is more focused on something that we have been trying to address for a long time but have not been able to quite address well and that is inclusion, celebration of diversity..,” he said.

Pitroda explained that democracy is not that simple and cannot be taken for granted.

“Democracy is not that simple… Democracy requires work from (a) large number of people like us. We can’t take it for granted because there are people who are focused on hijacking democracy. We have seen it in many countries… At the time of independence, there was this fervor about independence movement and the leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose were very clear of the kind of nation they wanted to build. Everyone understood what freedom meant and the opportunities free India would create… I want you to join Indian Overseas Congress, improve quality of our activities, quantity of our members and bring in more diverse group of people,” he said.

Pitroda said, “When Rahul Gandhi was here last time visiting us at a major meeting in New York, there was a demand for him to come to Dallas and he promised them that during my next trip I will come to Dallas and he is keeping his promise. He walks the talk, and I am delighted that from his busy schedule he could take three days off to come visit us where he is spending a day here and two days in Washington, DC.”

Talking about IOC, he said, “Indian Overseas Congress is part of the Indian National Congress looking after all of the global party initiatives. We are in 32 countries and our job is to get people to understand what our party stands for, what we believe in and align forces of all kinds of democratic initiatives. We have been at this for a while now, we are in 32 countries and our job is to increase our membership, improve our events and activities and get more people working towards protecting our democracy.”

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, one of the top hospitals in America with more than 790 beds, and a premier teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, have found that measuring three independent biological markers in a blood sample can better predict the risk of major cardiovascular risk over the next three decades than measuring only one.

A study of 27,939 healthy American women presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in London and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a single measure of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and lipoprotein(a), a genetically determined lipid fraction, significantly predicted cardiovascular risk over an unprecedented 30-year follow-up period.

“Doctors cannot treat what they don’t measure,” said lead author Paul Ridker, MD, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who presented the findings at ESC Congress 2024. “To provide the best care for our patients, we need universal screening for inflammation, cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a), and we need it now. By doing this we can target our treatments to the specific biological needs of individual patients, fulfilling our longstanding hope to provide truly personalized preventive care.”

The research team analyzed data from the Women’s Health Study (WHS), funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) through research grants to preventive cardiology investigators in the Division of Preventive Medicine at the Brigham. The landmark trial began in 1993 and has followed female health professionals aged 45 years and older ever since. Women had their hsCRP, LDL-C, and Lp(a) levels tested in a blood sample obtained when they enrolled in the WHS. The primary endpoint of the study was the first major adverse cardiovascular event–heart attack, coronary revascularization, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes.

To assess each marker as well as the combined effect of having elevated levels of two or all three, the research team divided participants into five quintiles, ranging from those with the highest to the lowest levels of the markers. Researchers found that compared to women with the lowest levels of individual markers, women with the highest levels of hsCRP had a 70% greater risk of a major cardiovascular event. Women with the highest levels of LDL-C had a 36% greater risk, and women with the highest levels of Lp(a) had a 33% greater risk. While hsCRP was the strongest of the three biomarkers, all mattered greatly. Women who had elevated levels of all three markers were 2.6 times more likely to have a major adverse cardiovascular event. This association was even stronger for stroke–women with the most elevated levels were 3.7 times more likely to have a stroke over the next 30 years.

“These data should be a wake-up call for women,” said co-author Julie Buring, ScD, principal investigator of the WHS and an epidemiologist in the Brigham’s Division of Preventive Medicine. “Waiting until women are in their 60s and 70s to initiate heart attack and stroke prevention is a prescription for failure.”

Each of the three risk factors is modifiable with a combination of lifestyle changes and drug therapy. Multiple randomized trials have demonstrated that lowering cholesterol and lowering inflammation both significantly reduce risks of heart attack and stroke. Further, several new drugs that markedly reduce Lp(a) as well as second-generation anti-inflammatory agents are being tested to see if they too can lower rates of clinical events.

The new data strongly support earlier and more aggressive use of targeted preventive interventions, particularly among women for whom cardiovascular disease remains underdiagnosed and undertreated.

“While we still need to focus on lifestyle essentials like diet, exercise, and smoking cessation, the future of prevention will include combination therapies that target inflammation and Lp(a) in addition to cholesterol,” said Ridker.