A health alarm was raised across the United States after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday (April 23) said that they had found fragments of the bird flu virus in a few samples of pasteurised milk in the United States.

A health alarm was raised across the United States after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday (April 23) said that they had found fragments of the bird flu virus in a few samples of pasteurised milk in the United States. Although the agency has maintained that the milk is safe for consumption, it emphasised that it is still waiting for the results of the test to confirm this. The findings of the FDA emerged less than a month after the H5N1 strain of bird flu was discovered for the first time in dairy cows in several states. Since then, the flu has been detected in herds in eight states. Also Read: Experts flag potential Bird Flu epidemic as '100 times worse than Covid' The FDA has been working to investigate the outbreak with the US Department of Agriculture and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Commercial milk supply is safe, says FDA The FDA said that the fragments of the virus were discovered when the pasteurised milk samples were tested. The testing method used is called PCR testing which looks for bits of genetic material. If the result is positive, that doesn't mean they have found a live, infectious virus. Watch: USDA reveals bird flu updates, Cattle movement implicated in bird flu outbreak “Based on available information, pasteurisation is likely to inactivate the virus, however, the process is not expected to remove the presence of viral particles,” said the agency in a release that it plans to make public on Tuesday. “To date, we have seen nothing that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe. Results from multiple studies will be made available in the next few days to weeks,” added the agency. Specifically, the FDA is looking at whether bird flu in cow milk is inactivated by pasteurisation. The findings will be available in the “next few days to weeks,” it stated. The FDA in its testing will use egg inoculation tests, which are seen as the gold standard to determine if a sample is infectious. In this test, they inject a chicken egg with a small amount of infected milk and observe if the active virus starts to replicate. (With inputs from agencies)

FDA traces fragments of bird flu virus in pasteurised milk, detailed report awaited

The US Senate passed legislation which proposed a potential ban on the social media app TikTok in the country if its Chinese owner Bytedance fails to sell its stake.

The US Senate passed legislation which proposed a potential ban on the social media app TikTok in the country if its Chinese owner Bytedance fails to sell its stake. The bill will now reach US President Joe Biden who has vowed to sign it as soon as it is cleared by Congress. The strikes by the Israeli army have intensified across Gaza as the heaviest shelling continued throughout the week. The Israeli army ordered fresh evacuations in the north of the enclave, as it warned the citizens that they were in a "dangerous combat zone". Meanwhile, a Dominica court overturned a ban imposed on consensual same-sex relations in the country. The ban was part of a colonial British-era law, parts of which criminalised same-sex activity that went against the country's constitution. Click on the headlines to read more: US Senate passes bill to ban TikTok if its owner ByteDance fails to sell it The United States Senate passed controversial legislation on Wednesday (April 24) which can lead to the banning of the massively popular social media app TikTok in the country if its Chinese parent company ByteDance doesn't sell its stake. The bill gives six months to TikTok's Chinese owner Bytedance to sell its stake or let the application get banned in the United States. Israel intensifies strikes across Gaza amid new evacuation orders in North The Israeli army intensified its strikes across Gaza on Tuesday (April 23) as it continued to carry out some of the heaviest shelling in weeks. Meanwhile, fresh evacuations were ordered by the army in the north of the enclave, as it warned civilians that they were in a "dangerous combat zone". 'We are showing Putin...,' US Senate clears $95bn aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan The US Senate voted on Tuesday (April 23) to approve $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan — the first two are in a conventional state of war with Russia and Palestinian militant groups, respectively. Taiwan continues to face China's expansionist belligerence amid its consistent assertion that the self-ruled island nation is its own. Big win for LGBTQ+: Dominica court strikes down ban on same sex relations A court in Dominica has overturned a ban on consensual same-sex relations in the Caribbean island nation. The ban was imposed by a colonial British-era law. The Dominica High Court said that parts of the British-era law criminalised same-sex activity and went against the country's constitution. Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv suspends consular services for men

Morning brief: US passes bill to ban TikTok; Israel intensifies strikes in Gaza; and more

The Israeli army intensified its strikes across Gaza on Tuesday (April 23) as it carried out some of the heaviest shelling in weeks. Meanwhile, fresh evacuations were ordered by the army in the north of the enclave, as it warned civilians that they were in a "dangerous combat zone".

The Israeli army intensified its strikes across Gaza on Tuesday (April 23) as it carried out some of the heaviest shelling in weeks. Meanwhile, fresh evacuations were ordered by the army in the north of the enclave, as it warned civilians that they were in a "dangerous combat zone". The residents in central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip also reported strikes by air and shelling from tanks on the ground late on Tuesday (April 23). Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee, in a post on social media platform X, appealed to the residents of four zones in Beit Lahiya, located on the northern edge of Gaza, to shift to two designated areas. He stated that the military "will work with extreme force against terrorist infrastructure and subversive elements" in the region. In a statement, which was issued later on Tuesday (April 23), the military said it "follows international law and takes feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm." Also Read: Satellite photos show extent of damage in Iran during alleged Israeli attack Israel renewed its bombing and shelling of northern Gaza almost four months after its army announced that it was moving down troops there and claimed that Hamas no longer controlled those areas. Israel this month also drew down most of its forces in southern Gaza. The bombardment took place on Tuesday after alerts were sounded regarding incoming rockets in two southern Israeli border towns, even though no casualties were reported. The responsibility for the attacks on Sderot and Nir Am was claimed by the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, which is a group allied to Hamas. Hezbollah launches 'dozens' of rockets at Israel Iran-backed Hezbollah group fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel on Tuesday (April 23) while responding to the killing of two civilians in Lebanon's south in a strike which was blamed on Israel. Israel has been exchanging regular fire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in the south of Lebanon since October. Hezbollah fighters fired "dozens of Katyusha rockets" at northern Israel "as part of the response to the Israeli enemy's attacks on... civilian homes, specifically the horrific massacre in Hanin and the killing and injuring of civilians," said the group in a statement. The local officials and rescuers stated that two members of the same family were killed in an Israeli strike on a house in Hanin, close to the Israeli border. Watch: Israel war: 200 days of perpetual attacks reduce Gaza to wastelands Speaking to AFP, a civil defence source said that "a woman in her 50s and a 12-year-old girl have been killed" in the strike, while many others were injured and admitted to the hospital. The deaths were confirmed by Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) which stated that six others were wounded in the strike. "Enemy warplanes carried out a raid on a two-storey house, firing two air-to-surface missiles and completely destroying it," stated the NNA, further reporting that the building housed "a family that had not left... since Israeli attacks started". (With inputs from agencies)

Israel intensifies strikes across Gaza amid new evacuation orders in North

Tensions escalated across different university campuses in the United States on Tuesday (April 23) as pro-Palestinian protests by angry students led to mass arrests and the closure of classes.

Tensions escalated across different university campuses in the United States on Tuesday (April 23) as pro-Palestinian protests by angry students led to mass arrests and the closure of classes. At Columbia University in New York, from where the protests flared, the students have been appealing to the university to divest from companies "that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine." The protests appeared to be turning violent as New York Police Department (NYPD) officers said students pelted bottles at them and someone even bashed a chair on a police personnel's helmet. Also Read: Pro-Palestine protests rock US schools, teachers stage walkout over mass arrests on campus Speaking to WABC, Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry said, “As you can see, our officers were professional. Looks like they’re getting hurt with bottles, chairs, and so the individual that threw the chair at the officer, we are doing a video compilation, and we’re gonna find you, we’re gonna arrest you for attempted assault. You’re gonna have the full weight of Police Commissioner Caban’s police department coming for you.” On Monday, nearly 120 people were arrested from the private universities, according to NYPD. Meanwhile, Columbia University's president announced a midnight deadline for students and others to reach an agreement regarding dismantling an encampment inside the campus. In a letter, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik said, “The encampment raises serious safety concerns, disrupts campus life, and has created a tense and at times hostile environment for many members of our community. It is essential that we move forward with a plan to dismantle it." “I very much hope these discussions are successful. If they are not, we will have to consider alternative options for clearing the West Lawn and restoring calm to campus so that students can complete the term and graduate,” Shafik added. Trump calls Columbia University's decision to extend remote classes 'a grave mistake' Former US President Donald Trump Tuesday (April 23) said that Columbia University's leadership made a “grave mistake” in making all classes hybrid at its main campus till the spring semester ends. “What's going on with the colleges where they're closing Columbia now? I mean, it's just crazy. Columbia should gain a little strength, and a little courage and keep their school open. It's crazy. Because that means the other side wins,” said Trump. “The people running Columbia have made a grave mistake," he added. University of New Mexico also joins other universities in pro-Palestine demonstration Students, along with the staff and faculty at the University of New Mexico, also began protesting in support of Gaza in a peaceful manner. On Tuesday, "members of our UNM community assembled at the UNM Duck Pond in peaceful protest," said the university in a statement. Watch: US: Jewish students continue to feel targeted A few of them also set up tents and brought sleeping bags, which is in violation of school policy, they said. "Police monitored the situation throughout the evening, without incident, and around midnight advised those who were remaining that their tents needed to be taken down or they would be cited," read the statement. "The tents were eventually taken down, with some people remaining at the duck pond," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Tensions flare across US universities as pro-Palestine protesters clash with police

The state legislators in Tennessee, United States on Tuesday (April 24) passed a bill which allowed teachers and school staff to carry guns inside the school under certain conditions.

The state legislators in Tennessee, United States on Tuesday (April 24) passed a bill which allowed teachers and school staff to carry guns inside the school under certain conditions. The bill authorised a faculty or staff member of a school to carry a concealed handgun. The teachers will have to get an enhanced carry permit and written authorisation from the principal, chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency and superintendent. The teachers will have to go through a complete background check as well as a psychological exam conducted by a Tennessee-licensed healthcare provider. Also Read: Bizarre! Woman says God talked to her via solar eclipse and asked her to shoot at drivers They will also be required to complete 40 hours of basic training in school policing as well as 40 hours of Peace Officer’s Standards and Training commission-approved training, which will be specific to school policing every year at the expense of the educator. Bill faces opposition, people chant "Blood on your hands" After the lawmakers voted on the bill, people present in the room chanted “Blood on your hands.” The bill has now moved to the desk of Republican Gov. Bill Lee. If Lee decides not to use veto, then the bill will turn into a law with or without his signature. The legislation was cleared by the Tennessee House in a 68-28 vote. The Democrats were joined by four Republicans in opposing the measure. The measure was passed earlier this month by the state Senate, which is also controlled by the GOP. Republican state Rep. Ryan Williams on Tuesday said that the bill will increase school safety. "I believe that this is a method by which we can do that because what you're doing is you're creating a deterrent," Williams said on the House floor. Watch: Two officers killed in New York shooting | China keeps key policy rate unchanged Meanwhile, Democratic state Rep. Bo Mitchell protesting against the measure, spoke about the shooting in Covenant School shooting in Nashville last year, in which six people were killed. "This is what we’re going to do. This is our reaction to teachers and children being murdered in a school, our reaction is gonna throw more guns at it. What’s wrong with us?" said Mitchell on the House floor. Tennessee is not the first state where teachers are allowed to carry guns inside school premises. As per the Giffords Law Centre, nearly 26 states have laws which allow school employees or teachers to carry guns on school grounds. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid chants of 'blood on your hands', Tennessee passes bill allowing teachers to carry guns inside schools

Singapore&nbsp;recalled the popular Indian spice brand Everest's Fish Curry Masala after the country's Food Agency (SFA) on Thursday (April 18) highlighted the presence of ethylene oxide at increased levels, which is unsuitable for human consumption.&nbsp;

The SFA stated that ethylene oxide is&nbsp;a pesticide which has not been authorised for its usage in food, even though it can be used in the sterilisation of spices.&nbsp;

"The Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong has issued a notification on the recall of Everest Fish Curry Masala from India due to the presence of ethylene oxide at levels exceeding permissible limits," said the Singapore Food Agency, in a&nbsp;statement.&nbsp;

The importer, Sp Muthiah &amp; Sons Pte. Ltd has been directed by the SFA to start a comprehensive recall of the products.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-allows-workers-to-request-4-day-weeks-and-more-work-from-home-711906">Singapore allows workers to request 4-day weeks and more work from home</a>&nbsp;

While responding to WION, the company said, "Everest is a 50+-year-old reputed brand and all our products go through stringent checks in the factory before despatch. We strictly follow the highest hygiene and food safety standards and norms laid down by the concerned authorities and statutory bodies like the Indian Spice Board, FSSAI and others."&nbsp;

"Before export, every shipment goes through quality inspection by the spice board of India.&nbsp;However, we are awaiting an official communication to understand the issue and our quality control team will look into the matter," it added.&nbsp;

<h2>SFA appeals consumers 'not to' consume Everest&nbsp;Masala&nbsp;</h2>

Ethylene oxide is generally used as a pesticide in the process of fumigating agricultural produce to reduce microbial contamination. However, its usage is strictly prohibited in food products.&nbsp;

"Under Singapore’s Food Regulations, ethylene oxide is allowed to be used in the sterilisation of spices," stated the SFA.

The food agency stated that there is no immediate risk involved in consuming food which contains low levels of ethylene oxide. However, it added that long-term exposure to such chemicals can lead to health issues.

"There is no immediate risk to consumption of food. Therefore, exposure to this substance should be minimised as much as possible," stated the SFA.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | What is Singapore's beef with Indian food?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-what-is-singapores-beef-with-indian-food-692873/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Consumers who have purchased the implicated products are advised not to consume it. Those who have consumed the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice. Consumers may contact their point of purchase for enquiries," the agency further said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Singapore recalled the popular Indian spice brand Everest's Fish Curry Masala after the country's Food Agency (SFA) on Thursday (April 18) highlighted the presence of ethylene oxide at increased levels, which is unsuitable for human consumption.

Singapore recalled the popular Indian spice brand Everest's Fish Curry Masala after the country's Food Agency (SFA) on Thursday (April 18) highlighted the presence of ethylene oxide at increased levels, which is unsuitable for human consumption. The SFA stated that ethylene oxide is a pesticide which has not been authorised for its usage in food, even though it can be used in the sterilisation of spices. "The Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong has issued a notification on the recall of Everest Fish Curry Masala from India due to the presence of ethylene oxide at levels exceeding permissible limits," said the Singapore Food Agency, in a statement. The importer, Sp Muthiah & Sons Pte. Ltd has been directed by the SFA to start a comprehensive recall of the products. Also Read: Singapore allows workers to request 4-day weeks and more work from home While responding to WION, the company said, "Everest is a 50+-year-old reputed brand and all our products go through stringent checks in the factory before despatch. We strictly follow the highest hygiene and food safety standards and norms laid down by the concerned authorities and statutory bodies like the Indian Spice Board, FSSAI and others." "Before export, every shipment goes through quality inspection by the spice board of India. However, we are awaiting an official communication to understand the issue and our quality control team will look into the matter," it added. SFA appeals consumers 'not to' consume Everest Masala Ethylene oxide is generally used as a pesticide in the process of fumigating agricultural produce to reduce microbial contamination. However, its usage is strictly prohibited in food products. "Under Singapore’s Food Regulations, ethylene oxide is allowed to be used in the sterilisation of spices," stated the SFA. The food agency stated that there is no immediate risk involved in consuming food which contains low levels of ethylene oxide. However, it added that long-term exposure to such chemicals can lead to health issues. "There is no immediate risk to consumption of food. Therefore, exposure to this substance should be minimised as much as possible," stated the SFA. Watch: Gravitas | What is Singapore's beef with Indian food? "Consumers who have purchased the implicated products are advised not to consume it. Those who have consumed the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice. Consumers may contact their point of purchase for enquiries," the agency further said. (With inputs from agencies)

Singapore recalls India's Everest Masala, claims it is 'unfit for human consumption'

In a bizarre case, the doctors diagnosed an 18-year-old Chinese girl to be suffering from a “love brain” after she called her boyfriend more than 100 times in one day.

In a bizarre case, the doctors diagnosed an 18-year-old Chinese girl to be suffering from a “love brain” after she called her boyfriend more than 100 times in one day. The girl, who has been nicknamed Xiaoyu, hails from Sichuan province in southwestern China. As reported by Yueniu News, she became so obsessed with her boyfriend that it impacted her mental health severely and made his life also miserable. Doctor at The Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu Du Na said that the worrying behaviour of Xiaoyu started in her first year of university, as reported by South China Morning Post. Obsession with her boyfriend and discovery of love brain Soon after entering college, the girl reportedly developed an intimate relationship with her boyfriend. However, he soon started feeling stifled and uncomfortable after she became dependent on him and asked him to stay with her all the time. She also asked her boyfriend to constantly inform her about his whereabouts and wanted him to reply to her texts at all hours of day and night. Also Read: Athens turns orange! Haze envelops city as Sahara dust storm blocks sunlight “He was expected to reply to her messages immediately,” said Du. In a viral video, Xiaoyu was seen messaging her boyfriend repeatedly and asking him to switch on his WeChat camera. The boyfriend did not respond to her messages, however, the girl went on to make video calls to him which was also ignored by him. Why did her boyfriend call the police? The situation continued to worsen and on one fine day, the girl called her boyfriend more than 100 times, however, he did not respond. She lost her cool, started throwing household objects, and smashed a few in the house. The boyfriend dialled the police who reached the house just when she was threatening to jump from a balcony. Xiaoyu was admitted to the hospital where the doctors found that she was suffering from a borderline personality disorder, colloquially known as “love brain”. Watch: Decoding the new workplace trend: What is dry promotion? According to Du, the condition is likely to coexist with other mental illnesses like depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety. The cause of Xiaoyu’s illness was not disclosed, however, Du said that it was often found in people who did not have a healthy relationship with their parents in their childhood. She added that those who are suffering from the condition mildly can recover on their own once they learn how to manage their emotions. However, those who have extreme symptoms need medical help. (With inputs from agencies) If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata), Parivarthan (Bangalore) +91 76766 02602 WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations

Bizzare! 'Love brain' disorder diagnosed in Chinese girl after she called her boyfriend 100 times a day

The United States Senate passed controversial legislation on Wednesday (April 24) which can lead to the banning of the massively popular social media app TikTok in the country if its China-based parent company ByteDance doesn't sell it.

The United States Senate passed controversial legislation on Wednesday (April 24) which can lead to the banning of the massively popular social media app TikTok in the country if its China-based parent company ByteDance doesn't sell it. The bill will now reach the table of US President Joe Biden who has already said that he will sign it into law as soon as it is cleared by Congress. Once the bill is signed by President Biden, ByteDance will have to get its Chinese officials's approval to complete a forced sale, something which China has vowed to oppose. Also Read: European Union warns of TikTok Lite ban over ‘addictive’ reward-to-watch feature The measure against TikTok was included in the $95 billion worth of foreign aid package which includes military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that has been cleared by the Congress. It received massive support from the lawmakers as 79 Senators voted for it and 18 voted against it. TikTok came under unwanted scrutiny not only because it is addictive for users but also because of its Chinese owner ByteDance. Why does the US Senate want to ban TikTok? The US lawmakers have been pressurising ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok since they fear that TikTok or ByteDance can share data about the users of the United States with the government of China. The chances of TikTok becoming a trove of data of about millions of US users has left lawmakers worried. TikTok, in a statement, said that it is "unfortunate" that lawmakers are "using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually." When does TikTok's endgame clock start? After the bill is signed by Biden, ByteDance will have 270 days to sell TikTok. In this case, if it appears that ByteDance is near divestment at the end of its nine-month period, an additional 90 days can be authorised by the president to finalise the deals. What is the Biden administration's take on the TikTok bill? In a statement, President Biden said that he will approve the bill once it is passed by the Senate. "I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week," said Biden. "The need is urgent: for Ukraine, facing unrelenting bombardment from Russia; for Israel, which just faced unprecedented attacks from Iran; for refugees and those impacted by conflicts and natural disasters around the world, including in Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti; and for our partners seeking security and stability in the Indo-Pacific," he added. Who are the likely buyers of TikTok? Microsoft, Oracle or private equity groups are to be the likely bidders, said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, as reported by CBS News. Meanwhile, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin informed CNBC that he wishes to assemble an investment group to bid for TikTok. Watch: Malaysia urges Meta and TikTok to tackle harmful content on platforms Ives, however, hinted that ByteDance is not likely to sell TikTok with its core algorithms as well as the important software that gives video recommendations to users based on their interests. "The value of TikTok would dramatically change without the algorithms and makes the ultimate sale/divestiture of TikTok a very complex endeavour, with many potential strategic/financial bidders waiting anxiously for this process to kick off," said Ives, in a research note. How will other social media platforms benefit from the ban? If the bill becomes a law, TikTok's rivals like Meta are likely to benefit from it. According to Wedbush Securities analyst, nearly 60 per cent of TikTok users are likely to shift to Meta's Instagram and Facebook if a ban is imposed on TikTok. Google is also likely to benefit from this ban. (With inputs from agencies)

US Senate passes bill to ban TikTok if its owner ByteDance fails to sell it

The Congress went into firefighting mode on Wednesday (April 24) after it landed into trouble because of a remark made by its senior party leader Sam Pitroda over inheritance law.

The Congress went into firefighting mode on Wednesday (April 24) after it landed into trouble because of a remark made by its senior party leader Sam Pitroda over inheritance law. Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda made the controversial remarks while speaking to news agency ANI. "In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has 100 million USD worth of wealth and when he dies he can only transfer probably 45 per cent to his children, 55 per cent is grabbed by the government. That's an interesting law. It says you in your generation, made wealth and you are leaving now, you must leave your wealth for the public, not all of it, half of it, which to me sounds fair," he said. The remarks of Pitroda added fuel to the BJP's allegations that the Opposition party has been sketching a plan for the redistribution of wealth. #WATCH | Chicago, US: Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda says, "...In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million worth of wealth and when he dies he can only transfer probably 45% to his children, 55% is grabbed by the government. That's an… pic.twitter.com/DTJrseebFk — ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024 × Congress tries its best to douse the fire While trying to douse the fire, the Congress distanced itself from Pitroda's remarks and said that it does not reflect the position of the party. Taking to social media, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Sam Pitroda expresses his opinions freely on issues he feels strongly about. Surely, in a democracy, an individual is at liberty to discuss, express, and debate his personal views." "This does not mean that Pitroda's views always reflect the position of the Congress. Sensationalising his comments now and tearing them out of context are deliberate and desperate attempts at diverting attention away from Narenda Modi's malicious and mischievous election campaign; that is anchored ONLY in lies and more lies," Ramesh added. Also Read: PM Modi hits out at Congress, says 'party incapable of contesting on 300 seats in Lok Sabha polls' Meanwhile, Pitroda also clarified that his US inheritance tax had no connection with the Congress manifesto and that his remarks were twisted "to divert attention from what lies PM is spreading about Congress manifesto". "I mentioned inheritance tax in the US only as an example in my normal conversation on TV. Can I not mention facts? I said these are the kind of issues people will have to discuss and debate. This has nothing to do with policy of any party, including Congress. Who said 55% will be taken away? Who said something like this should be done in India? Why is BJP and media in panic?" said Pitroda. BJP's scathing attack on Congress The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a massive attack on Congress over Sam Pitroda’s comments stating that the party has plans to “destroy” the country. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reacting to Pitroda's remarks, said, "Congress says that it will impose an Inheritance Tax, and it will also impose tax on the Inheritance received from parents. The property you have accumulated through your hard work will not be given to your children. The claws of Congress will snatch that too from you...As long as you are alive, Congress will impose higher taxes and when you are no longer alive, it will burden you with Inheritance Tax. Those people who considered the entire Congress party as their ancestral property and handed it over to their children, now do not want Indians to pass on their property to their children." BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya, meanwhile, wrote, "Congress has decided to destroy India. Now, Sam Pitroda advocates 50% inheritance tax for wealth redistribution. This means 50% of whatever we build, with all our hard work and enterprise, will be taken away. 50%, besides all the tax we pay, which too will go up, if the Congress prevails." Watch: Lok Sabha elections 2024: PM Modi takes a dig at Congress, claims party puts itself before Lord Ram Speaking about Congress Sam Pitroda's remark, India's Home Minister Home Minister Amit Shah said, "After Sam Pitroda's remark, Congress party is completely exposed. First of all, mention of 'survey' in their manifesto, Manmohan Singh's old statement which is Congress' legacy - that minorities have the first right over resources of the country, and now Sam Pitroda's remark citing the US that there should be deliberations on the distribution of wealth...Now when PM Modi raised this issue, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and the entire Congress party are on the backfoot that it was never their motive." "But today, Sam Pitroda's statement has made Congress' motive clear before the country. They want to survey the private property of the people of the country, put it in government property and distribute it as per decision during UPA's regime. Congress should either withdraw it from their manifesto or accept that it is indeed their intention...I want people to take Sam Pitroda's statement seriously. Their intention is now in the open, its cognisance should be taken by people," he added. What is Inheritance Tax? There are two types of tax in the United States - estate tax and inheritance tax. There is estate tax in nearly a dozen US states and only six states have inheritance tax. An estate tax is also called the "death" tax. It is a federal tax which the government imposes on property that is transferred after the death of the owner. The estate owes the tax and not the beneficiaries. The federal estate tax ranges between 18 per cent to 40 per cent. The inheritance tax, on the other hand, is levied on someone who has inherited property, money, or other assets in the US. This tax is applicable if a person dies and passes on assets in the states which have an inheritance tax. It does not depend on where the beneficiary is staying. Interestingly, India had an inheritance tax 40 years ago and it was abolished in 1985 during the time of Rajiv Gandhi's government after the then finance minister V P Singh concluded that the tax had not been able to achieve its intended goal. (With inputs from agencies)

Sam Pitroda's inheritance law remark puts Congress on political defence. Here's what THIS tax means

Athens turned orange on Tuesday (April 24) as a rare haze enveloped the Greek capital city due to a Sahara dust storm. Greek authorities warned that sunlight and visibility are likely to be reduced due to dust concentrations, while levels of fine pollution particles can increase and pose health risks.

Athens turned orange on Tuesday (April 24) as a rare haze enveloped the Greek capital city due to a Sahara dust storm. Greek authorities warned that sunlight and visibility are likely to be reduced due to dust concentrations, while levels of fine pollution particles can increase and pose health risks. Athens was not the only city which was covered by the orange haze. Other Greek cities were also covered in clouds of dust which blew from the Sahara. As per the officials, this is one of the worst such sandstorms to have hit the country since 2018. Several regions were smothered by a yellow-orange haze after strong winds blew for days from the south and caused limited visibility. The conditions also prompted warnings of breathing risks from the authorities. Also Read: Greece prepares for ‘population collapse’ amid rising deaths, potentially 1st country to face such crisis Athens Observatory weather research director Kostas Lagouvardos said, “It’s one of the most serious episodes of dust and sand concentrations from the Sahara since March 21-22, 2018, when the clouds invaded the island of Crete in particular." Sahara dust clouds particles to travel to Europe In late March and early April, Greece was struck by Sahara dust clouds which also hit parts of southern France and Switzerland. Every year, the Sahara releases mineral dust of 60 to 200 million tonnes. Even though the largest particles rapidly settle down on earth, the smallest particles are likely to travel thousands of kilometres and may also reach Europe. The Greek weather service stated that it is likely that the skies will become clearer on Wednesday (Apr 24). Unseasonal early wildfires have also been fanned by the strong southerly winds in the past few days in the country’s south. Watch: World marks 54th Earth Day: A call to action against climate change On Tuesday (Apr 23), the fire service stated that a total of 25 wildfires broke out in the past 24 hours across the country. Police have arrested three people on the Aegean Sea resort island of Paros after they were suspected of accidentally starting a scrub blaze on Monday (Apr 22), said the officials. No injuries or significant damage was reported so far and the firefighters quickly contained the fire. Meanwhile, the firefighters also brought under control another blaze which broke out on Crete near a naval base on Tuesday (Apr 23). (With inputs from agencies)

Athens turns orange! Haze envelops city as Sahara dust storm blocks sunlight

4 Magical Techniques To Get Rid Of Chemicals From Artificially Ripened Mangoes

Mangoes are one of the most awaited and popular fruits in summer. Due to such a high demand for the fruit, many times the mango producers use pesticides and chemicals to quickly ripen it and make it fit for sale in the market. Here are four ways to quickly remove these pesticides and chemicals from the fruit.

To remove chemicals from mangoes, one can soak the fruit in salt water for at least 20 minutes and then wash it thoroughly with water.

Soaking mangoes in a bowl of water for 10 minutes after adding two to three tablespoons of white vinegar helps remove all toxins from the fruit.

One can add baking soda to the water and soak the mangoes in the solution for 15 to 20 minutes to remove the chemicals.

Let's say, you don't have time or the required materials to remove chemicals from the fruit. Then, you can simply soak it in water for five minutes, then wash it thoroughly under running water before eating. 

The content provided on the website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.


7 Fruits You Must Never Keep In Refrigerators 

The ripening in Bananas slows down if kept in the refrigerator and can also cause blackened skins and bitter flavours.

Melons if stored at room temperature help save antioxidants in the fruit. Meanwhile, it loses its nutrition if kept inside the refrigerator.

Mangoes when kept in the fridge quickly blacken and get spoiled because of the fruit's sensitivity to Ethylene oxide gas. 

It is best to keep avocados at room temperature till they are ripe and then refrigerate them to extend their shelf life. 

Cucumbers, if over-chilled, can cause watery spots and expedite spoilage. Hence, they should not be kept inside the fridge for more than three days.


Keeping tomatoes inside the fridge results in them becoming mushy and losing flavour. 

The peaches are dehydrated by extended refrigeration and their flavour is diminished. 

7 Fruits You Must Never Keep In Refrigerators

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Prisha

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