2nd Indian-American bids for Republican presidential nomination with culture agenda

worth of $500 million which can fund his campaign.

New York, Feb 22 (IANS) A second Indian-American, Vivek Ramaswamy, has joined the fray for the Republican Party's presidential nomination taking on former President Donald Trump as well as Nikki Haley with a campaign focused on culture wars.

The conservative entrepreneur made the announcement for a longshot bid in a video and on a talk show on Fox News cable channel on Tuesday.

"This isn't just a political campaign; this is a cultural movement to create a new dream for the next generation of Americans" in a nation facing an "identity crisis", he said in his video.

He took on affirmative action, the "woke" left's culture agenda, the burgeoning bureaucracy and the "new culture of fear" that he said has "completely replaced our culture of free speech in America."

Ramaswamy, whose family is from Palakkad in Kerala, is the co-founder of two technology companies and a financial management firm, as well as the founder of a pharmaceutical company, which made him a multimillionaire at age 37. According to Politico, he has a net

Ramaswamy is the fourth Indian-American to make a bid for a presidential nomination, and the third in the Republican Party after former Louisiana Governor Piyush Bobby Jindal, who ran unsuccessfully in 2016, and Haley, who was the first from the community to serve on the US cabinet and is in the 2024 race.

Kamala Harris sought the Democratic nomination for 2020, but dropped out and was picked by President Joe Biden to be the vice president.

Ramaswamy made his mark as a writer of two best-sellers that blasted what he calls the "woke" culture.

He is appealing to the same crowd as Trump that sees the US being undone by liberal policies and the power of what they see as an elite.

"Faith, patriotism and hard work have disappeared, only to be replaced by new secular religions like 'Covidism', 'climatism' and gender ideology," Ramaswamy said in his video. He stressed his opposition to affirmative action programmes for minorities that have some similarities to the reservations in India.

"The American dream means you believe in merit, that you get ahead in this country, not on the colour of your skin, but on the content of your character and your contributions," he said.

He also took on the "cancel culture" that targets people opposing the politically correct dogmas exposing them to media mind which induces stress. Apart from the clean environment, it's really important to prevent your kid from all kinds of germs and infections. My daughter is appearing for 12th boards this year and her big fear was that she will fall sick during exams. To prevent that I clean my house twice a day to be extra careful during the exams to ensure my daughter's environment is germfree."

Ajit Asthana, Principal of a renowned school in Uttar Pradesh and father of two kids, said, "Every child is different and they have their own way of grasping knowledge. So even a slow learner, is still a learner. Be patient and ensure you celebrate every little achievement and unleash innocent joy. The feelgood moments can go a long way in making exams less distressing."

Swati Srivastava, a homemaker from Lucknow said, "The power of soft music is well-established as it affects our emotions and can be an extremely effective stress management tool. Soothing music can slow the pulse and heart rate, lower blood pressure, decrease stress hormone levels, and distract us from our worries. When people are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, there is a tendency to avoid actively listening to music. Perhaps because it feels like a waste of time when there's so much to do and to worry about.

But adding music to our day is a small effort that can produce great rewards since our productivity actually increases when stress is reduced.

So, I have created a playlist on Spotify called Exam Fever with some soothing tunes and songs for my kids."

Deepali Verma, HR professional and mother of a 12-year-old girl, said, "My daughter is very sensitive by nature and easily gets hassled and disturbed even if she senses that we are anxious. So, we try to stay calm around her. Yes, exams can be stressful for the parent, but one needs to stay calm rather than add to the anxiety of an already worried child."

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) attacks and even punitive actions that he called the "culture of fear". Haley, who announced her run for the nomination last week, also had a strong element of opposition to the "woke" culture of what the American right perceives as extreme liberalism on social issues.

Trump, who Ramaswamy says inspired him, ran his presidential campaign on these premises, which have been adopted by other Republicans like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to be the front-runner to challenge the former President.

With Trump and more entrenched Republican expected in the race besides Haley, Ramaswamy told Politico about his maverick campaign, "You know, maybe all of this is illadvised and I'll fall flat on my face."

But he added: "I don't think that's gonna happen."

Paradoxically for a campaign based on culture wars, Ramaswamy said in his video that he is running to be a national unifier to revive "the Pluribus Unum from many, one" which is the American motto found on the national seal.

"I have a dream that we can be one people" although "we have obsessed so much over our diversity and our differences, that we've forgotten all the ways we're really just the same as Americans," he said.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @ arulouis)

Bengaluru, Feb 23 (IANS) About nine in 10 Indian female blue collar employees are confident they receive equal pay, according to a report on Thursday that revealed increased diversity and equal work culture in organizations.

The report, titled 'The Pulse of India's Blue Collar Workforce' by job site Indeed, showed that 93 percent of male employees also agree on pay parity by organizations.

Further, 70 percent of the female employees said they would speak to their boss in the case of disparity in pay with their male counterparts, while 21 per cent said they would leave the job.

"Our data shows that men and women in blue collar are more or less on the same page when it comes to equal pay, importance of equal gender representation and the benefits of it," said Sanjukta Ghosh, Social Impact Manager,

Indeed, in a statement.

A whopping 96 per cent of employees also agree that their company provides additional benefits/support in the form of mental support, financial support, retirement benefits, flexible work etc. About 97 percent of employers think that gender equality is important and are doing their best to improve diversity and fair representation in their organizations. However there are still challenges that prevail. Lack of support systems in place to help women (56 per cent), lack of education about gender equality (53 per cent), and societal views (49 per cent) are the major deterrents to achieving gender equality. The research included 508 employers and 1,001 employees in the blue collar segment. Out of the 1,001 employees in the blue collar segment, 653 were male and 348 were female.

Tips to keep in mind while traveling in extreme conditions

Book your

During hikes, it’s critical to keep yourself hydrated and energised at all times Looking all of these things will make a huge impact. Since trekking in snow can be slick and slushy when the snow is melting, they also give you protection and a better grip on the snow.

For your winter hike, bring snacks

Trekking in the winter and the summer is a totally different experience. It's important to prepare for your hikes in preparation because it might come in handy whenever and wherever you are. Studying a few winter hiking guidelines can help you get ready for any hike you plan to go on while staying warm and safe. Whether you're walking through the snow outside or simply admiring the scenery, this winter hiking advice will surely make your experience enjoyable. All of the factors that contribute to a trek in the great outdoors being secure can be met with the right equipment, tips, clothing, and attitude for winter hiking.

“Cold weather might be a problem on any hiking trip at any time of year, not just in the dead of winter. Depending on your location and the area you're hiking in, you may come across chilly weather at any time of year, which might make your journey uncomfortable or, worst yet, result in a significant injury or disease,” says Gayatri Mohanty. Check the weather and trail conditions in advance

Being aware of the weather is one of the most essential winter hiking tips because it can affect the trail by covering it with new snow, which can be quite confusing while you are hiking. Knowing the weather conditions also makes it easier to avoid hiking when there are strong winds, chances of heavy snowfall, or poor visibility. It is therefore advisable to be aware of the anticipated temperatures and wind speed ahead. You can always hike safely in the snow if you follow our advice.

Maintain Constant Hydration

When trekking in the cold, always make sure you have an insulated bottle and a bottle sleeve with you. If you do this while hiking in bitterly cold weather, the water won't freeze. If you forget to bring an insulated bottle on your trek or don't have one, you can also use a spare sock or wrap the water bottle in a towel to keep it warm and insulated.

Carry the Proper Winter Hiking Equipment

If your upcoming trip includes hiking paths, you must pack the appropriate winter hiking equipment. When hiking, wearing the appropriate shoes, bag, jacket, and even jeans can make a big impact. The most important thing to remember when trekking in the snow is to keep yourself warm. You can begin by donning a base layer, followed by a fleece jacket that serves as your intermediate layer, and finally a jacket or down jacket that will aid in insulation and safeguard your body from the cold. Softshell trousers are typically advised when trekking in the winter because they are great at maintaining body heat at all times and shielding you from severe winds and snow.

Pack extra equipment

A fire starter, first aid kit, pocket knife, emergency blanket, waterproof matches, and a waterproof backpack are a few other items you can bring with you on your trek. Bringing an extra kit on your hike will always come in handy and be beneficial for surviving in adverse weather. When you are trekking in snow,

During your hikes, it's critical to keep yourself hydrated and energised at all times. Your body often needs twice as many calories to stay warm and hydrated while trekking in the winter as it does at other times of the year. In order to keep energised at all times, be sure to pack yourself some meals that are both very nutritional and proteinrich. Organic pumpkin seeds, granola bars, protein bars, and even your own homemade trail mix are all suitable for carrying as cold-weather snacks. Consistently keep your feet warm While snowshoeing, it's crucial to keep your feet warm. Make sure you include several pairs of woolbased hiking socks that will keep moisture off of your damp skin. In the event that it gets wet while you're hiking, it dries rapidly and also aids in heat insulation. When trekking, snow is kept off of your feet at all times by donning hiking boots that go up to the ankle. A pair of gaiters, which save your feet from getting buried in the snow, is another item you can get. As you'll be spending a lot of time in your boots during your winter excursions, it's ideal to wear comfy ones.

Hike during the daytime

When we hike on our trails in the summer, we often try to stay out of the sun. In contrast, hiking in the winter is completely different. To feel the warmth of the sun in the chilly months, we would basically do anything. You'll be able to stay warm and have a better time hiking if you plan your hikes for when the sun is out and blazing brightly in the sky. Due to the drop in temperature in the evening, it is also recommended that you schedule your hikes so that you begin early and finish before the sun sets.

Saudi Tourism Authority on board as an official sponsor for the 2023 edition of the IPL

Saudi Tourism Authority Hits Masterstroke Deal With Milestone Indian Premier League Partnership

To enable more people to tour the world, Booking. com, has included Hindi as a language choice. All Booking.com platforms, including the mobile, web, iOS, and Android apps, will include the Hindi language version, making it accessible to Hindi speakers everywhere. Now, travellers can easily read comprehensive information, discover offers and discounts, view their reservations, manage their accounts, and more. With the addition of Hindi, the platform is now accessible in 46 languages and dialects worldwide, allowing native speakers of those languages to travel and have authentic, local experiences.

With Hindi now available on the Extranet and Pulse app (for iOS and Android), Booking. com accommodation partners will be able to manage all pertinent information about their properties in their native tongue and connect with a much larger audience.

Santosh Kumar, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Indonesia at Booking. com commented, "With the easing of travel restrictions, Indians are keen to travel and explore the world once again. We have also seen that domestic travel in India has been growing year on year. At Booking.com, we are constantly looking for ways to take the friction out of travel.

Integrating the Hindi language on our platform is a great example of how we not only want to enhance the traveler experience but also help our partners connect and unlock a larger travel audience. India is a priority market for us in the Asia Pacific; and I am proud that we can help even more Indian consumers search and book their travels with greater

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has commenced an official partnership with the world’s preeminent Twenty 20 cricket league, the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL). An event to inaugurate the partnership was held in Mumbai, attended by the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jay Shah, Vice President of BCCI, Rajeev Shukla, and Honorary Treasurer of the BCCI, Ashish Shelar, along with representatives from the Saudi Tourism Authority, including Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC.

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority, said, “India and Saudi share a vibrant youth culture, and sport is an ideal platform to engage and inspire young people. Saudi is committed to supporting excellence in the world of sports and inspiring greater participation and improved quality of life among Saudi and global audiences alike. Sport, like tourism, brings people together in harmony and fellowship, bridging cultures and sharing perspectives on the world around us. These values are central to Saudi culture and are championed by young people from all around the world.” Cricket is one of the most popular sports around the world. Through this partnership,

Thehotel industry in India is getting ready for significant changes to meet the evolving and dynamic needs of the modern Indian tourist. The travel industry in India is expected to develop at a rate of 11 to 11.5 percent, reaching a staggering $48 billion in 2020. In order to meet the enormous demand for homestays among foreign and domestic travellers, India needs to add 2.5 million rooms to the homestay market. Travel fans are searching for hassle-free, relaxing vacations that include comfort and convenience. People like vacation spots that are both affordable and close to their homes. The ultimate pleasure of a vacation is the opportunity to relax and revitalise in a place that makes you feel at home.

Unquestionably, one way to serve the expanding travel industry in India is through home stays. As a result of the significant demand in the Indian industry, homestays are offering expanding business opportunities. Both vacationers and homeowners can consider them as a suitable choice.

What’s the hype around a homestay?

A homestay is a private residence that has been transformed by the host into lodging. It includes a variety of extras, such meals, a personal butler, local transportation, and pickups.

Women’s T20 World Cup: Harmanpreet, Jemimah efforts in vain as Australia reach final with a five-run win

Schutt. Smriti Mandhana was rapped on pads in front of stumps while going for a cut-off Ashleigh Gardner. A horrible mix-up saw Yastika Bhatia run out cheaply, leaving India at 28/3.

Qatar Open: Murray cruises into QF after 3-hour marathon win over Zverev

Cape Town, Feb 23 (IANS) A spirited counterattack from captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues went in vain as Australia entered their seventh Women's T20 World Cup final with a five-run win over India in the first semifinal at Newlands Cricket Ground on Thursday. After Australia's big players stepped up to make 172/4, India's top three aggregated only 15 runs among themselves. Harmanpreet and Jemimah rose to the occasion by making 52 and 43 respectively while spearheading the chase with a brilliant 69-run stand off 41 balls.

But the duo falling in 4.2 overs post the ten-over mark meant India could never recover from it and ended up at 167/8 in 20 overs, falling so close yet so far, yet again. India would also look at their sloppy fielding efforts and dropping two crucial chances apart from conceding 61 runs in the last five overs.

In chasing 173, India didn't have a great start in the first four overs. Shafali Verma was trapped lbw while trying to flick off Megan

But Jemimah looked in great touch from the word go, nailing the pull and drive off Ashleigh. Harmanpreet, on the other hand, began with a classy cover drive off Ellyse Perry. With an emphasis to cut down the dot-balls, something which has been a problem area for India, Harmanpreet and Jemimah showed the intent to rotate the strike and looked to get a run off almost every ball.

Harmanpreet went on to smack Jess Jonassen hard over long-on for six and then used Megan's pace to paddle over the keeper for four more. Post bringing fifty of the partnership, Jemimah enthralled everyone with a brace of fours coming through dazzling inside-out drives over extra cover off Georgia Wareham.

After kickstarting the second half of the chase with a gorgeous cover drive off Darcie Brown, Jemimah fell while trying to ramp a short ball over Alyssa Healy's head and gave a thin edge behind to the keeper. Harmanpreet then got a reprieve at 37 when Alyssa dropped the catch while stretching to her right side.

That helped as Harmanpreet beautifully sliced Tahlia McGrath over backward point for four and then cut, and swept off Georgia to get back-to-back boundaries, the second of which got her fifty in the 15th over. But in the same over, Harmanpreet was unfortunately run-out for 52 when her bat got stuck while trying to reach the crease.

Darcie struck in the 17th over when she had Richa Ghosh holing out to deep mid-wicket. Deepti Sharma pulled wide of midwicket off Ashleigh while Sneh Rana brought out a slog-sweep in the gap between deep square leg and deep midwicket off Megan. With 20 needed off the last two overs, Ellyse Perry produced a full-length dive to save a boundary and gave away just two runs off Sneh's batting in a crunch situation. Jess Jonassen then closed the over by having Sneh clean bowled. Ashleigh defended 16 off the final over as Deepti's boundary on the last ball wasn't sufficient to avoid a loss for India.

Brief scores: Australia 172/4 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 53, Meg Lanning 49 not out; Shikha Pandey 2-32, Deepti Sharma 1-30) beat India 167/8 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 52, Jemimah Rodrigues 43; Darcie Brown 2-18, Ashleigh Gardner 2-37) by five runs