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Bored in Quarantine? Catch these iconic movies and TV shows shot at the Empire State Building

Over the years, The Empire State Building, the 102-story skyscraper in New York City, has stood strong, serving as an international symbol of luxury, elegance, romance, hope, and unity. Today, after featuring in multiple movies and television shows across genres, the landmark has gained a special place in the multiverse of pop-culture. Becoming an iconic destination through cinematic history, lets reminiscence these moments through the films that have struck a chord with our hearts over the years.

1.     King Kong (1933)

The Sci-Fi horror that marked as a turning point in the history of American Cinema, will forever hold one of the world’s most iconic scenes. The scene that followed King Kong, the 86-year-old giant ape, as he climbed up the Empire State Building, and roars as he reaches the very top is one of these most magnificent and dynamic moments of Cinema. A scene that was far ahead of its time has now become one of the Empire State Building’s most prestigious moments.

2.     Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

A romantic comedy that follows a little boy who tried to find his mother through the radio, ends up finding the love of his father’s life. The most heart-warming scene from this movie is the moment the two are about to meet. A moment that has everyone teary-eyed with their hearts full of joy, is shot with the romantic view from the Empire State Building.

3.     Elf (2003)

Another iconic movie that makes a comeback every Christmas, Elf, a fantasy comedy also found its way to filming in the Empire State Building. The scene leading up to the climax, where Elf finally gets to meet his father is shot in the Fifth Avenue lobby of the Empire State Building. A simple, yet comic scene, holds the viewers’ hearts till this day.

4.     Gossip Girl (2007-20012)

The drama series that won hearts across the globe, for everything from its characters to costumes, story and locations, also found its way to the Empire State Building for one it’s most climactic scenes. At the back of the tower’s elegant view and its notion for all things love, Gossip Girl’s most romantic scene was shot at the Empire State Building.

5.     Oblivion (2013)

This action-adventure film that goes back and forth in time captures some of its most picturesque scenes at the Empire State Building. From its dynamic view to its futuristic deconstruction, the Empire State Building holds an iconic position in the Tom Cruise and Andrea Riseborough film.

Stay home, stay safe, and enjoy hours of action, romance and comedy with these movies. Interested in what other films and TV shows were shot at ESB?

 Visit https://www.esbnyc.com/pr-pop-culture/tv-movies 

Izhaar is excited to announce the launch of Izhaar Junior

Izhaar is proud to announce the launch of the new ‘Izhaar Junior’ page as part of the ongoing evolution of our company’s brand. ‘Izhaar Junior’ is your one stop shop destination for all your baby gifts and announcements. The arrival of precious little one embarks the beginning of new life and happiness is bound to be shared with a loved one. ‘Izhaar Junior’ collection ensure that these are merely not just invitations but a memory that will stay forever, thus each element of the creations are handcrafted with best quality and with utility quotient attached.

‘Izhaar Junior’ brand aims to spread bliss among your friends and family, deciphering your jubilance in lovable welcome. We comprehend the excellence of the day and so we ensure all your guests are enlightened with your happiness and warmth. With Sheen of Silver and glam of gold, Izhaar Junior collection is meant to shine just like the beauty of a princess who has just arrived. To bring out the richness that this collection embodies club it up with our premium Indian Sweets, nuts & cookies.

Practo Insights: 350% rise in Pediatric Queries Impact of Delayed Vaccination- Concern among Indian Parents

With 472 million children, India has the largest child population in the world with a birth cohort of 2.8 crore per year. In the times of social distancing, telemedicine has emerged as the preferred means of seeking quality healthcare, especially for children. Shweta, a working mother, while juggling between work and home, prefers to consult her pediatrician on Practo over a video or voice call to seek advice on vaccination and other issues for her 2-year-old.

Vaccinations play a vital part in a child’s health routine and while various regular immunization programs have been impacted, any subsequent delay of a vaccine dose may impact the overall vaccination cycle.

This makes the child susceptible to a disease which they would otherwise be protected from, if vaccinated as per the World Health Organization’s 2020 campaign for the World Immunization Week 2020 – #VaccineWorks for All. Hence, it is important for parents to consult doctors who can guide them on the next steps on vaccination.

Not just vaccinations or corona-virus symptoms, tele medicine is also helping parents by addressing their common queries related to routine check-ups, precautionary measures, diagnosis and treatment of pre-existing medical problems — all from the comfort of their homes.

According to Practo Health Insights:

  • Online queries for Pediatrics on Practo’s eConsult platform witnessed a growth of 350% since March 1st
  • Pediatrics is the fastest growing speciality on Practo’s telemedicine platform
  • Top queries discussed were Cough and cold in babies, impact of delayed vaccination, fever and headache in toddlers and motion problems during summer
  • Most common queries on vaccination include BCG vaccination, Painless vaccination for infants, Impact of delay on administering influenza vaccine, Missed PCV vaccination cycle, and typhoid vaccination for affected children during lock-down
  • People in the age group of 31-40 top the chart, accounting for almost 50% of all pediatric queries

○     This is closely followed by people in the age group of 21-30 and people aged 60 and above

  • 67% of all pediatrics-related consults come from men, while 33% were from women
  • Among women, pediatrics grew more than 150% in both metros and tier 2+ cities
  • Most of the queries related to pediatrics were from Bangalore, followed by Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, Chennai, and Mumbai
  • Tier 2+ cities where most of the queries came from are Chandigarh, Patna, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Indore

Dr Alexander Kuruvilla, Chief Healthcare Strategy Officer, Practo, said, “In the current times of social distancing and lockdown, it is important that we choose platforms that help us manage our health from home rather than visiting hospitals. Telemedicine is the best way for a preliminary check-up or a follow-up consultation, especially for children and infants, as even the smallest of symptoms can cause immense worry to the parents. Seeking timely medical help in such situations is a must. Parents residing in any corner of the country can clarify their queries with the best pediatricians available on our platform, 24*7. We are continuously working towards providing parents non-stop access to verified doctors and will introduce more initiatives in the coming days to ensure that.”

“Telemedicine is a great way to respond to parents who have questions around issues like feeding, vaccinations, minor issues or their child’s behavior—issues that really matter to parents but, because of lock-down, may have had to wait to be addressed if not for telemedicine. If their kids are due for vaccinations, they should as a first step consult a doctor online and check with them on the best possible ways to get it done on time. To avoid the delay, home vaccination is being offered. But parents should be very cautious before opting for it as reaction to vaccines can become serious and it will be difficult to treat such emergencies during home administration. More importantly, it is vital that parents are well-informed in order to take the right decision for their infants, because every vaccine contributes to their overall healthy well-being,” says Dr Prashanth S Urs, HOD, Sr Consultant Neonatologist and Pediatrician, Department of Neonatology, Apollo Hospital, Bangalore.

Health & Safety Campaign

The Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB), together with the State Tourism Agency (STA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in cooperation with Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AQTA), has announced the launch of an innovative program called SAHMAN (Sanitation and Hygiene Methods and Norms).

“SAHMAN,” meaning “immaculateness” in Azerbaijani, is a nationwide campaign set to transform Azerbaijan’s existing health, safety and hygiene standards. Supported by the UNWTO, it also reaffirms the country’s commitment towards providing a world-class tourism destination for its citizens and future visitors alike in the post-pandemic world. ATB is finalizing talks with international firm PwC to audit and certify these standards.

As part of the countrywide measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, SAHMAN is founded upon safety, transparency, social responsibility and inclusivity. The programme will adopt a holistic approach to fuel innovation across the tourism industry, ensuring the involvement of all relevant public and private partners, and the safety of those working in the sector. It will culminate with the launch of Azerbaijan’s Domestic Tourism Campaign this summer.

Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism Board commented, “The current global pandemic has brought to light the need to reassess and enhance our standards across the industry. The SAHMAN programme calls upon all stakeholders in Azerbaijan to adopt even better practices in their businesses in the interest of safeguarding public health and supporting the regrowth of the industry. With this long-term shift in behaviour, we aim to ensure that these higher standards will be upheld beyond the current crisis.”

To launch the campaign, ATB and STA have partnered with the Azerbaijan Hotel Association (AHA), Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AQTA), regional municipalities and DMOs, with plans to also invite other government sectors to commit to maintaining top-quality standards across the country. The programme will focus on accommodation, F&B and touristic transportation providers – three key aspects of the tourism value chain.

Stakeholders will be expected to commit to sector-specific checklists introducing initiatives such as mandatory precautionary measures, safe distancing, disinfection, quarantine areas, cleaning methodology, and more. Participants will be supported and incentivised through three primary support programmes – Training, Amenities and Promotion – all of which will be financed by the STA. Implementation will be carried out in four phases, by: enrolling on the programme through www.sahman.az; participating in online and onsite trainings and certification; labelling; and validation.

PwC will lead the audit and certification process. Commenting on this campaign, Movlan Pashayev, Country Managing Partner of PwC Azerbaijan said, “This crisis has presented unprecedented challenges for the world, yet it is also a good opportunity to accelerate the transformation of many industries. PwC is looking forward to playing a pivotal role in assisting ATB to roll out this new campaign and contributing to the tourism and hospitality sectors in Azerbaijan.”

The programme guidelines will continue to evolve, based on recommendations and regulations set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), whose agenda includes adapting best-in-class practices across global industry players. These guidelines will be communicated to participating partners by ATB in a number of ways, including educational materials, trained ambassadors, online platforms (e.g. webinars), a dedicated website and social media.

“ATB is working to provide innovative solutions to support the industry through this challenging time. It is our endeavour to bolster public confidence in local Azerbaijani businesses, with a view to reviving the economy as we prepare to launch our domestic tourism campaign, hopefully by this summer. When the world is ready to travel again, we will be ready and waiting,” added Florian.

Pollution, poor air increase severity of COVID-19 cases, confirms WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognized the link between poor air quality and severity of the current Coronavirus pandemic, while talking to a news publication.

Dr. Maria Neira, Director, Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of Health Department (PHE) at the WHO, confirmed this link to the BBC News in an interview. She said that countries with high pollution levels, like those in Latin America, Africa and Asia, need to ramp up their CODID-19 operations. People in these countries typically suffer from pollution-related conditions and have developed a severe form of the COVID-19 disease.

“We will map the most polluted cities based on our database to support national authorities in these regions so that they can prepare their epidemic response plan accordingly,” Dr Neira said.

While medical professionals say that it’s still too early to have a conclusive link, the statement matches many research items imploring the need to examine air quality with the current COVID-19 crisis.

“Air quality, especially indoor air quality, governs our risk levels for the Coronavirus. A poor air quality (Air Quality Index PM 2.5) would heighten existing difficulties, especially for COVID positive cases. Sanitised, ventilated spaces also add to safe living conditions for everyone, whether at homes or outside”, explained Mansoor Ali, Research Analyst and Indoor Air Quality Expert and founder of AMFAH India.

Ali, the founder of AMFAH India, holds 20 years of industry experience in air treatment products. He is one of the first movers in the Air Treatment category and had predicted the global Coronavirus pandemic back in February, on his Twitter handle.

Apart from this link, Ali has been expressing the importance of maintaining ideal relative humidity (RH) levels at 40-60 RH to prevent transmission of the virus and deactivate surface-based contamination.

India and US to form the new Allied Forces in the war against COVID-19

Even as rising COVID-19 numbers add fuel to anxiety, the indefatigable human spirit is looking for ways to move on to the LWC (Living with Covid) phase of world history. A high-level digital conclave comprising of some of the keenest minds deliberated on the opportunity for Indo-US Trade Cooperation post-COVID19.

Organized by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce along with Forbes India, the panel comprised of Suresh Prabhu, former Commerce, Industry and Civil aviation minister, Lt General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, India’s Sherpa to G20 and the Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir, Dr Ajit Ranade, President and Chief Economist of the Aditya Birla Group and Naushad Panjwani, Regional President, IACC West India Council. Brian Carvalho, Editor, Forbes magazine, moderated the discussion.

The panelists discussed the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the Indian and global economy, impending sectoral changes, Indo-US trade ties and the way forward. They deliberated on the various options and routes by which India and the US could come out of the current recessionary strains on the economy and forge new paths going forward.

Appreciating the alacrity with which India responded to the Covid-19 crisis, Lt General (Retd) Ata Hasnain said, “India has handled the Covid-19 pandemic with an appreciable balance between public health, economic and social harmony. In the international strategic domain, the post-pandemic factors which would dictate global recovery will be medical research cooperation, economic stabilization and the overcoming of international trust deficit.”

Pointing the way forward for India as it battles and recuperates from the crisis, Dr Ajit Ranade, Chief Economist of the Aditya Birla Group said “Sectors like healthcare and pharma will become more prominent. In India, public health spending will go up considerably and many new ways of conducting business will come up.”

The group foresaw opportunities for a new realm of Indo-US trade and economic collaborations. “The methods of wealth creation for a nation have evolved from conquering to colonization to cartels to the competition. The way forward now is collaboration. Here, India and USA are perfect partners”, said Naushad Panjwani, Regional President, IACC West India Council.

Former Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said, “Now, India and USA need to not only continue investing in each other’s countries but also invest and operate projects in other countries jointly.”

Dr Ranade joined in and added that he saw scope for greater collaboration between Indian and American companies in vaccines and medical research.

 

(The Chamber has over 2300 members from all over the country in diverse sectors. IACC has the privilege of working closely with the US embassy and the Indian government providing feedback and recommendations on various issues and also giving an opportunity to its members to interact with senior officials from both the governments regularly).

Art From Heart

Online Art Exhibition in aid of Covid 19 victims

Apr 27th – 30th, 2020, ONLINE @ The Lexicon Art Gallery

Exhibition                : Art From Heart

Gallery                            : The Lexicon Art Gallery

Venue                       : Online @ The Lexican Art Gallery  

Date                         : Apr 27th to 30th,  2020 

Art From Heart  : ART is coming forward to aid Covid 19 victims

”Art From Heart”, an online art exhibition being organized by Delhi based, The Lexicon Art Gallery in association with Round Table India from Apr.27-30, 2020, aims to raise funds for the people affected by Coronavirus.

Over 35 Artists from all over India are participating in the exhibition wherein part of the sale proceeds will go towards the cause. Some pf the participating artists include Jagannath Paul, Madhuri Bhaduri, Swati Pasari, Om Swami, Laxman Aley, Umakant Kanade, Dinkar Jadhav, Subrata Das & Anand Panchal.