Monthly Archives: September 2021

AMU scientist’s discovery can make infertile land cultivable

Agriculture (since June 07th, 2021), Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Green Products, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , , , , ,

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

AMU scientist's discovery can make infertile land cultivable

Aligarh :

A faculty member of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), in association with German researchers, has discovered a new protein in plants that will ‘improve the salt stress tolerance of crops.’

This will enable farm land with high salinity soil amenable to cultivation.

Dr Tariq Aftab, assistant Professor, Department of Botany, AMU, together with other collaborators from Germany, have identified a new protein and named it ‘HvHorcH’.

This protein plays an important role in conferring salt stress tolerance in barley plants. Salt stress tolerance of crop plants is a trait with increasing value for future food production.

According to an official release from AMU, the research work has been carried out at Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben, Germany during the assignment to Dr Aftab as visiting scientist.

After several years of further studies and repeat trials, the report has been published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Dr Aftab said that the identification of this protein will open new horizons in developing stress-resilient crop plants. “Global climate change, which is predicted to be accompanied by prolonged and intensified drought periods, is likely to aggravate this situation even further.

Intensified irrigation attempts to combat drought ultimately increase soil salinity and thus eventually impede farmland cultivation when salinity reaches threshold levels that can no longer be tolerated by crop plants.

“It is therefore an eminent goal for a global sustainable food supply to improve the salt stress tolerance of crop plants in order to push these thresholds of soil salinity upwards so that more farmland with high-salinity soil will still be amenable to agriculture,” he explained.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz / Home> Education / September 26th, 2021

Ali Fazal bags Best Actor nomination at Asia Content Awards by Busan International Film Festival

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, World Opinion, , , ,

UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

As per a statement, Ali bagged the nomination for his role of Ispit Nair in ‘Forget Me Not’, one of the four films in the ‘Ray’ anthology on Netflix.

Bollywood actor Ali Fazal (Photo | PTI)

Mumbai:

Actor Ali Fazal has earned a nomination for Best Actor at the Asia Content Awards by the Busan International Film Festival.

As per a statement, Ali bagged the nomination for his role of Ispit Nair in ‘Forget Me Not’, one of the four films in the ‘Ray’ anthology on Netflix. Directed by Srijith Mukherji, the story is a modern interpretation of Satyajit Ray’s story ‘Bipin Chaudhary Ka Smriti Bhram’.

Excited about the awards, the ‘Fukrey’ star said, “Wow! This was totally unexpected. I am so humbled to receive this nomination and it means a lot to be recognized by ACA. A lot of great content was produced this year in Asia and to land a nomination amongst such an impressive lineup of films and actors is an honour.”

The 3rd Asian Contents Awards (ACA) is run by the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)’s Asian Contents and Film Market (ACFM). The ACA aims to showcase outstanding TV, OTT, and online content from Asia.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Hindi / by ANI / September 29th, 2021

Former Sterling Theatre Owner Abdul Jabbar Passes Away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, , , ,

Mysuru, KARNATAKA :

Mysore/Mysuru:

Alijanab Abdul Jabbar (90), former owner of Sterling Theatre in city and Secretary of Masjid-e-Rahmania at Agrahara, passed away yesterday morning in city.

A PWD Contractor and a resident of Siddapa Square, he leaves behind his children, relatives and friends.

Namaz-e -Janaza was held at Rahmania Masjid in Rahmania Mohalla this morning followed by the burial at the Muslim Burial Grounds on Mysuru-Ooty Road, according to a family sources.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 03rd, 2021

Hundreds march for greener Mangaluru as part of Bearys Group walkathon

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Green Products, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , ,

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA :

Mangaluru :

The ‘Green Walkathon – 2021’ organized by Beary’s Group was initiated in front of Mangala Auditorium of Mangalore University on Saturday September 25 morning.

The Green Walkathon, which is a part of the International Green Week – 2021 that started from in front of the university’s Mangala Auditorium moved towards Beary’s Turning Point at Deralakatte.

Mangalore University vice-chancellor, Dr P Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya, said that the environment will automatically become clean if our minds are clean. “We are following the policy of keeping our lives ahead of nature. For our lives to be saved, nature is very important. Therefore, we should join hands to conserve nature,” he stated.

Speaking after presiding over the programme, Beary’s Group president, Syed Muhammad Beary, felt that there is a need to create awareness to encourage a clean and green city. “Nature offers us several gifts. But it is important what we give in return to nature. We cut down many trees when constructing a house or building but we do not take care to plant a tree. Nature becomes green only if we keep planting the saplings. The walkathon is aimed at creating awareness about love of nature and clean environment,” he stated.

Syed Muhammad Beary said that environment in the world keeps on changing and it has cast grave influence on the hman beings. “Therefore, the humans have to strive to protect our earth. We are nothing in front of nature. We are not bigger than nature. We will survive only if we preserve nature,” he stated.

BIT principal, Dr S I Manzoor Pasha, welcomed, BEADS principal A R Ashok Mendonca, Dr Azuz Mustafa, Venkatesh Pai, Santosh D’Souza, BIT – ECE head of the department, Dr Abdulla Gubbi and others were present.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Mohan Kuthar, Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SP) / September 25th, 2021

AMU Scholar’s Works Cited In Cambridge Publication

Education, Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , ,

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Dr. Faisal Shaan with Prof. S.A. Azmi and Dr. Shravan

Aligarh :

Acknowledging the research credentials and academic potentials of AMU faculty members, a book, “Psychopathology of Rare and Unusual Syndromes”, written by Femi Oyebode and published by Cambridge University Press, UK, has cited two published papers of Dr Faisal Shan, Senior Resident, Department of Psychiatry, JN Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University.

Prof S A Azmi (Chairman, Department of Psychiatry) congratulated Dr Shan for the achievement saying his success is a matter of pride for the department and the university.

source:http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in / IndiaEducationDiary.com / Home> Academics / by India Education Diary / September 23rd, 2021

Sania Mirza-Shuai Zhang win Ostrava Open women’s doubles title

Amazing Feats, Leaders, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , , , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Sania Mirza won her first title of the season as she and her Chinese partner Shuai Zhang (Source: Sania Mirza / Twitter)

Sania Mirza won her first title of the season as she and her Chinese partner Shuai Zhang beat the pair of Kaitlyn Christian and Erin Routliffe in the women’s doubles final of the Ostrava Open on Sunday.

The second seeded Indo-Chinese duo defeated the third seeded pair of American Christian and New Zealander Routliffe 6-3 6-2 in the summit clash in one hour and four minutes.

The 34-year-old Sania and Zhang had defeated the Japanese pair 6-2 7-5 in the semifinals of the WTA 500 event.

It was Sania’s second final of the season, following a runner-up finish at the WTA 250 Cleveland event in the USA last month with Chirstina Mchale.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Sports> Tennis / by PTI / September 27th, 2021

31 Muslims crack UPSC 2020 Civil Services Exam, 03 among top 100

Amazing Feats, Education, Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

INDIA :

In 2019, 42 Muslims had cracked the exam whereas in 2018 just 27 Muslims had made it to the final result.

UPSC Civil Services Result 2020: 

A total of 31 Muslims have cracked the Civil Services Exam (CSE), also known as IAS exam, the result of which was declared late in the night Friday.

This is another dismal performance of Muslim candidates when just 31 Muslims have made to the final list of candidates who will join the civil services cadre.

In 2019, 42 Muslims had cracked the exam whereas in 2018 just 27 Muslims had made it to the final result.

Among the 31 Muslims who cracked the UPSC Civil Services Exam this year 03 – Sadaf Choudhary (rank 23), Faizan Ahmed (rank 58) and Dheenah Dastageer (rank 63), are in top 100 the list of which was released on the official website upsc.gov.in in PDF.

Also among the UPSC toppers are Ria Dabi, sister of 2018 UPSC Civil Service topper, Tina Dabi. Ria Dabi has secured 15th rank in the UPSC 2020 exams.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday declared the results of exams held in 2020. A total of 761 candidates have been recommended by the Union Public Service Commission for appointment in the bureaucracy of the country.

Shubham Kumar, a resident of Katihar district of Bihar, has emerged as the UPSC 2020 topper. Kumar has done civil engineering from IIT Bombay and hails from Katihar in Bihar.

Apart from Shubham, Jagriti Awasthi and Ankita Jain have secured the second and third positions respectively in the Civil Services Examination.

“UPSC 2020 List of Muslim Candidates”

1) Sadaf Choudhary (Rank 23)

2) Faizan Ahmed (Rank 58)

3) Dheenah Dastageer ((Rank 63)

4) Md Manzar Hussain (Rank 125)

5) Shahid Ahmed (Rank 129)

6) Shahansah K S (Rank 142)

7) Mohammad Aaquib (Rank 203)

8) Shahnaz I (Rank 217)

9) Waseem Ahmad Bhat (Rank 225)

10) Bushara Bano (Rank 234)

11) Md Haris Sumair (Rank 270)

12) Altamash Ghazi (Rank 282)

13) Ahmed H.Choudhury (Rank 283)

14 ) Sara Ashraf (Rank 316)

15 ) Mohibullah Ansari (Rank 389)

16) Aneez S (Rank 403)

17) Zeba Khan (Rank 423)

18) Faisal Raza (Rank 447)

19) S Mohammed Yakub (Rank 450)

20) Sabeel Poovakundil (Rank 470)

21) Rehan Khatri (Rank 478)

22) Mohd Javed A (Rank 493)

23) Altap Mahd. Shaikh (Rank 545)

24) Khan Aasim Kifayat (Rank 558)

25) Syed Zahed Ali (Rank 569)

26) Shakeerahmed Tondikhan (Rank 583)

27) Mohamed Riswin (Rank 589)

28) Muhammad Sahid (Rank 597)

29) Iqbal Rasool Dar (Rank 611)

30) Amir Bashir (Rank 625)

31) Majid Iqbal Khan (Rank 738)

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> India> Education & Career / by Ummid.com News Network / September 25th, 2021

Mangaluru: Prepare your taste buds to savour fish chakkuli

Agriculture (since June 07th, 2021), Business & Economy, Karnataka (under research project), Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA :

Mangaluru :

Fish, which usually was found on the table during the dinner or lunch of coastal people has now been presented in the form of a crispy eatable which can become a regular item along with tea. The fish chakkuli (chakli) made by four women has succeeded in winning over the hearts of the fish lovers.

Savitri H S, Shaheeda Begum, Naseema an Harishiya, members of Samagra Sanjeevini self-help group of Layila, Beltangady taluk, have sold about 45 kg fish chakkuli during the last 18 days. They sell four varieties of fish chakkuli, i.e. Palak, pepper, Khara and ordinary (saada). Shaheeda Begum and Naseema said they have prepared products like Koduble, Happalam, Sandige and other products by using fish.

Speaking to Daijiworld.com, Savithri said, “We underwent training from August 23 to 28 at Fisheries College. NABARD, Fisheries College, Bharathiya Vikas Trust, Manipal helped us a lot to take up the manufacturing of fish snacks. From September 1, we started with an investment of Rs 25,000. So far, in the last 22 days, we have prepared around 60 kg fish snacks.”

Savitri said that this value added product can be kept for 45 to 50 days and they do not spoil.

Customers who have purchased the fish snacks said that the chakkuli gives the taste of eating the fish itself.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SP) / September 24th, 2021

Fahadh Faasil-starrer ‘Joji’ wins top honour at Swedish International film fest

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, World Opinion, , ,

KERALA :

“Joji”, which released on Amazon Prime Video, is inspired by Shakespeare’s tragedy “Macbeth” and presents a “twisted version” of the plot.

Fahadh Faasil in ‘Joji’. (Photo | YouTube screengrab)

Mumbai :

Fahadh Faasil’s Malayalam feature film Joji has won the top honour at the Swedish International Film Festival, the actor announced on Thursday, September 23, 2021.

The 39-year-old actor shared the news on Facebook, revealing that the Dileesh Pothan-directed film won the best international feature film award at the film gala.

“Good News from Sweden ! JOJI won The Best International Feature Film Award @ the Swedish International Film Festival (SIFF) 2021,” he posted.

Joji, which released on Amazon Prime Video, is inspired by Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth and presents a “twisted version” of the plot filled with greed, ambition, murder and mystery, set in a plantation family in Kerala.

The crime drama revolves around Faasil’s character Joji, an engineering dropout living with his iron-fisted father and two brothers.

When his father falls ill, Joji looks forward to finally getting his share in the property but his dreams are dashed when his father starts recuperating, forcing him to take an extreme step.

At the time of the film’s release, Faasil told PTI that the movie is not expansive like the source material.

“The film’s narrative is not a direct adaptation of Macbeth. We were deeply inspired by it and we were trying to set something inspired by ‘Macbeth’ in today’s scenario. 

“‘Joji’ is not as large as Macbeth…The drama happens within the family. I thought the emotions of Macbeth were more relative to the story,” Faasil had said.

Joji marked the third directorial collaboration between Pothan and Faasil.

The duo earlier worked on 2016 comedy-drama Maheshinte Prathikaaram and National Award-winning feature Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017).

Faasil will next be seen in Allu Arjun-starrer Pushpa as well as Kamal Haasan-starrer Vikram, also featuring Vijay Sethupathi.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Malayalam / by PTI / September 23rd, 2021

24-year-old from Kerala throws 426 punches in 60 seconds, enters Guinness World Records

Amazing Feats, Sports, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , ,

Kozhikode, KERALA :

How fast can you punch? Well, Rafhan Ummer can punch faster!

Rafhan Ummer

Kochi: 

Rafhan Ummer from Kozhikode recently entered the Guinness World Records for throwing the most full extension strikes on a punching pad. The 24-year-old from Kozhikode swung his fist an amazing 426 times in just 60 seconds, breaking the previous record set by the kickboxer and martial artist Pavel Trusov from Slovakia. His official count was 334.With over eight years of experience in Kung Fu and four in boxing, landing punches is already Rafhan’s cup of tea. 

“My friends noticed how fast I can punch. When I strike, I barely observe my speed, so they took a video and showed me. I heard about full extension punching from them,” says Rafhan. Before applying for the record, Rafhan recorded a 15-second video where he threw over 100 punches in a single go. “That is when we realised that I could break the world record,” he adds.

A professional fitness coach, Rafhan also bagged the India Book of Records five months ago for punching 414 times. A full-extension punch is when you extend your fist and retract it back fully. Keeping the pace and the power of punches intact for a whole minute, right from the beginning till the end was vital for claiming the record, says Rafhan. “There is no specific training for full extension punching.

Along with my daily workout sessions, I used to spare some time to practice it, especially to keep the pace and the power steady. My KungFu master Hamsakoya guided me,” he says. He practised for a month for the record. “Every time I throw a full extension punch, I make sure to not stop until the timer hits one minute,” says Rafhan.

Breath control is yet another important factor to consider while doing full extension punching exercises. “I have been practising breathing exercises, and meditation too. It wasn’t hard for me to achieve ample breath control as I have been exercising since school days,” says Rafhan.

On September 11, at Kozhikode Indoor Stadium, Rafhan set the world record in the presence of Ahmed Devarkovil, Minister of Ports; O Rajagopal, president of District Sports Council; Dr Beena Philip, Kozhikode Mayor; Thottathil Raveendran MLA, and boxing coaches Ramesh Kumar and Rajesh T.


For Rafhan, setting a new world record isn’t the ultimate goal. He aims to throw the most number of punches in a second next and thereby break his idol Bruce Lee’s previous record — nine punches in a second.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Mahima Anna Jacob, Express News Service / September 21st, 2021