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Plasma Therapy: A Safe and Effective Treatment for COVID-19

INDIA: Plasma therapy, also known as convalescent plasma therapy, is a medical treatment that uses the antibodies found in the blood of COVID-19 patients who have recovered from the infection to help fight the virus in sick individuals. 

Use of Plasma therapy in COVID-19 treatment

The treatment involves collecting the blood plasma from recovered patients and transfusing it into patients who are currently suffering from the virus.

The theory behind plasma therapy is that the antibodies found in the plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients can help boost the immune systems of sick individuals and help them fight off the virus. 

Plasma therapy has been used for decades to treat various diseases, including hepatitis, rabies, and Ebola.

Plasma therapy has shown some promising results in the treatment of COVID-19. In a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, researchers found that convalescent plasma therapy effectively reduced the severity and duration of the illness in COVID-19 patients. 

Study also claim that the treatment was most effective when given early in the course of the illness.

Despite these promising results, plasma therapy is not a cure-all for COVID-19. The treatment requires more research to fully determine its effectiveness in battling the pandemic once and for all. 

In addition, some potential risks associated with the treatment include allergic reactions and the transmission of infectious diseases.

One of the main challenges with plasma therapy is finding enough recovered COVID-19 patients to donate their plasma. 

To be eligible to donate plasma, individuals must have recovered from the virus and have high antibodies in their blood. Finding enough donors can be difficult, especially in areas where the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is low.

Another challenge with plasma therapy is that it is relatively time-consuming and labour-intensive. Collecting plasma from recovered patients requires specialized equipment and trained personnel. 

The plasma must also be carefully screened and tested before its transfusion to sick patients.

Despite these challenges, plasma therapy remains a promising treatment option for COVID-19. Researchers and medical professionals worldwide are continuing to study the effectiveness of the treatment and working to identify ways to make it more widely available.

In conclusion, plasma therapy is a medical treatment that uses the antibodies found in the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients to help fight the virus in sick individuals. While the treatment has shown some promising results, it is still in the experimental stage, and more research is needed to determine its effectiveness. 

Challenges such as finding enough donors and the labour-intensive nature of the treatment process have made it challenging to make plasma therapy widely available.

However, researchers and medical professionals are continuing to study the treatment and work to overcome these challenges to find a successful treatment for COVID-19.

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Ferrari Revs up for 2023 F1 Season with New Car Launch Date

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Italy: On Thursday, Ferrari announced that its 2023 F1 season challenger, Project 675, will be revealed on 14th February.

The Ferrari car launch will take place one day after a presentation by Aston Martin, the team that was the first to announce its plans for the launch last week.

Ferrari gears up for new car launch for upcoming F1 season

A brief statement from Ferrari read, “Ferrari’s 2023 car will be launched on St. Valentine’s Day, making 14th February next year a special day for lovers…of the Scuderia.”

The announcement by Ferrari adds that their car, which will compete in the 73rd season of the F1 World Championship, will go by project number 675 until its official name reveal, set for a later date.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will lead the charge for Ferrari in the 2023 season, the third year in a row.

Frederic Vasseur, who will take over as Ferrari team principal on 9th January following Mattia Binotto’s resignation after the 2022 season, will lead the car unveiling ceremony.

Vasseur will lead a Ferrari team looking to continue its recent upward trajectory after Leclerc’s victory in Bahrain last season ended a two-and-a-half-year winless streak.

As a result of Ferrari’s inability to sustain a title challenge against Red Bull from its early-season pace, 2022 was a year of missed opportunities. After the Austrian Grand Prix in July, Ferrari didn’t win a race, but it managed to stay in second place in the constructors’ championship, ahead of Mercedes by a slender margin.

The Ferrari car for next year is said to have focused on two key areas where the team thought it lost to Red Bull in 2022. According to rumours, Ferrari has increased its top speed and aerodynamic efficiency while improving tyre management and degradation, the key areas where the team was caught lacking as it tried to keep up with Red Bull.

Ferrari will launch its car nine days before the start of F1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit from 23 to 25th February. The season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix will take place on the 5th of March.

Also Read: Aston Martin Becomes the First F1 Team to Confirm the 2023 Car Launch

Italy: Lamborghini Helps Transport Kidneys for Transplant in a Race against Time

ITALY: Lamborghini gave the Italian State Police a Huracan in May 2014, and three years later, it gave the same generous gift again. Two kidneys were recently delivered to patients in hospitals hundreds of miles away by this second vehicle, completing a critical mission. 

Lamborghini Huracan V10 becomes an unlikely hero in organ transplant missions

On their official social media channels, the local authorities posted images showing how the police and medical personnel made the most of the supercar’s limited cargo space.

The naturally aspirated V10 supercar began its journey from Padua in northern Italy and travelled approximately 168 kilometres (104 miles) to deliver one kidney to a Modena hospital. The Huracan went on to Rome, the capital city of Italy, where a second patient was awaiting a kidney transplant. As a result, it covered an additional 401 kilometres.

The images shared on social media demonstrate how a refrigerated box with two kidneys can fit in even a tiny trunk like the Huracan’s, which has a volume of just 3.5 cubic feet, or 100 litres. 

It’s reassuring to see that the mid-engined supercar is being used as intended when Lamborghini donated it a few years ago.

In 2017, Lamborghini gave the Italy state police two Huracans. Both cars have LED flashing lights, sirens, and the typical blue and white livery of the Italian police.

The car also has a radio, tablet, and computer that are typical of those used by police. However, the refrigerated organ transplant box, made precisely to fit the trunk, is one of the unique additions to the Huracans. 

The supercars even have a defibrillator and recording equipment with video cameras to keep an eye on what the police are doing.

The kidney transport mission was not the first time the Lamborghini Huracan “Polizia” had been used. In November 2020, the Italian police used the 610 horsepower V10 supercar to deliver a kidney to a Padua hospital, and that mission was just as successful as this one. 

The Huracan reportedly delivered the kidney from Rome in less than two hours at a speed of 325 kmph. In order to put things in perspective, the same task would have taken at least four hours for a speeding ambulance.

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“You are no longer the BCCI president”: Sunil Gavaskar Takes a Dig at Sourav Ganguly

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INDIA: Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly are undoubtedly two of Indian cricket’s greatest legends. The iconic opening batsmen have 10,000 runs in ODIs and Tests and, coincidentally, even share the same initials.

Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar made a double century in their 99th Test match, respectively. Gavaskar scored 236 against West Indies in 1983 and set his career-high Test score.

Twenty-four years later, Ganguly recorded his first and only Test double-century, scoring 239 in Bengaluru against Pakistan.

Interestingly, both Ganguly and Gavaskar are avid fans of football. In 2014, Sourav Ganguly was one of the founding members of Atletico de Kolkata. He also played a crucial role during the merger with Mohun Bagan.

On the other hand, Gavaskar claims he has always been a big Arsenal fan. Arsenal is an EPL team. The former India captain is more of an admirer than a fan, but Gavaskar has always admired two of Arsenal FC’s greatest legends.

Gavaskar, while speaking on “The Extra Innings Show” on a media channel ahead of the second Test match between India and Bangladesh, said that he had been an Arsenal supporter even though he stepped short of calling himself a fan.

He reminisced that he used to mock his son, a Manchester United supporter, who would ask him to name four players from the Arsenal team.

Gavaskar would respond by naming Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, and Arsene Wenger, who he felt had an uncanny resemblance to his hero ML Jaisimha. Gavaskar added that he admired watching Henry and had also received a signed shirt from Henry.

Bergkamp, who played for the Gunners, scored 120 goals in 423 games and will go down as a legend of all time in Gunner’s history.

Henry comes in a close second with 228 goals across all matches between 1999 and 2007. Many football fans regard Henry as one of the greatest strikers of all time.

As Arsenal’s all-time leading goal scorer, he has won two FA Cups. He has won the same number of EPL titles with the Gunners. He also featured in the Arsenal team during its invincible 2003-04 Premier League season campaign.

After that, unexpectedly, Gavaskar turned his attention to Ganguly, another football fan. He said the former BCCI president had the shirt that the former Arsenal captain had signed and promised to get it back during India vs. Sri Lanka series that starts next month.

Gavaskar asked Sourav Ganguly if he still had that shirt. He said he is coming to Kolkata for the 2nd ODI match between India and Sri Lanka on the twelfth of January. He said, “You are no longer the president,” before adding that Ganguly would have more spare time.

Gavaskar added, “Please find that shirt Henry signed for me and give it to me when I go there on the 12th.”

Also Read: A Peek at Pioneer of New-Age Indian Cricket Sourav Ganguly’s Life as He Turns 50 Today

InSight Mission’s End Marks a New Beginning for NASA’s Mars Exploration

INDIA: NASA’s Mars InSight mission made history by successfully landing on the surface of the Red Planet. The spacecraft touched down on November 26, 2018, after a six-month journey through space.

NASA InSight mission aimed to deep dive in the mysteries of Mars

The mission of Mars InSight was to study the deep interior of Mars to understand how it and other rocky planets formed and evolved. The spacecraft boasts a suite of sophisticated instruments, including a seismometer to detect “Marsquakes”.

A heat flow probe to measure the planet’s internal temperature, and a weather station to monitor the planet’s atmospheric conditions are also encased in it, which were crucial to accomplish its mission objectives.

One of the key objectives of the Mars InSight mission was to determine the size and structure of the Martian core, mantle, and crust. This information helped scientists understand the planet’s history and evolution and the processes that shaped it over time.

In addition to studying the interior of Mars, the InSight mission also collected data on the planet’s surface and atmosphere. The mission has been critical information to help scientists understand the current conditions on Mars and how they may have changed over time.

The Mars InSight mission is a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). The spacecraft was built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base on May 5, 2018.

The successful landing of the Mars InSight spacecraft was a significant milestone for NASA and a testament to the ingenuity and hard work of the agency’s scientists and engineers.

It is also a significant achievement for the international scientific community, as it marks the first time a spacecraft has successfully landed on Mars since the Curiosity rover in 2012.

NASA expected the Mars InSight mission’s initial mission life to last at least two years. During that time, the spacecraft would transmit valuable data back to Earth for analysis.

However, NASA was able to extend InSight’s mission period by two more years thanks to intelligent energy and power management techniques by mission control. 

The NASA Mars InSight mission recently radioed its final message from the Red Planet, where it bid adieu. The lander was running out of power due to the accumulation of dust on its solar panels. The layer of Martian dust was preventing the lander from harvesting solar energy.

The findings from this mission helped scientists better understand the history and evolution of Mars, as well as the processes that shaped it over time.

Overall, the Mars InSight mission is a significant step forward in our understanding of the Red Planet and will provide invaluable insights into the early history of our solar system.

It is a testament to the spirit of exploration and the boundless curiosity of the human race. It will undoubtedly inspire future generations to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Also Read: NASA Clicks Stunning Images of Mars Showcasing Craters with Mysterious Deposits

Bugatti Profilée: Where Luxury Meets Performance in a One-of-a-kind Package

GERMANY: Throughout its lifetime, the Chiron, like the Veyron before it, Bugatti has produced numerous special editions of its cars, and the Profilée should be one of them. 

The company had planned a limited edition for the Profilée; however, despite filling each of the 500 build slots, it’ll eventually be a one-off car from the Bugatti stable. 

The Molsheimers knew they couldn’t make any more, but they kept working on it until Bugatti finished it. In the end, Europe gave it only one kind of approval.

Bugatti kick started the work on Chiron in 2020

In response to customer requests for a less radical version of the Pur Sport, Bugatti began work on the Chiron Profilée in the fall of 2020. 

https://twitter.com/Bugatti/status/1605189539558871042

A more subtle aero piece replaces the massive rear wing to keep the hypercar on the road at its maximum speed of 380 km/h.

At the front, the Profilée gets larger air intakes than the “entry-level” Chiron and a more prominent horseshoe grille to send more air into the radiators. A redesigned splitter improves airflow while also increasing downforce at the front axle.

The one-of-a-kind hypercar was painted by Bugatti in an exclusive Argent Atlantique colour, with exposed carbon fibre and a lower body tint of Bleu Royal Carbon. 

Photo Credit: Twitter/Bugatti

The wheels of the Profilée are also unique as no other Chiron and are painted in Le Patron to match the lower body. Cleaned aluminium highlights adjust the outward progressions.

Mechanically, the Pur Sport’s suspension springs are 10% stiffer, and the rear axle has a 50% more negative chamber for improved cornering traction. According to Bugatti, these modifications have not compromised Chiron’s renowned high level of comfort. 

The quad-turbo W16 8.0-litre engine produces a massive 1,479 horsepower in the Profilée, which is significantly less than the 1,578 HP produced by other models like the Centodieci and Super Sport 300+.

The Bugatti Chiron Profilée is one of the fastest production cars ever, going from 100 km/h in 2.3 seconds and 0 to 200 km/h in 5.5 seconds. 

The Pur Sport’s maximum speed, which is “only” 350 km/h, is 30 km/h lower than the Profilée’s top speed. Compared to the Chiron Sport, the transmission ratios have been reduced by 15% since the Pur Sport forms its basis.

After using more than 2,500 meters of leather strips, the posh cabin is the first Chiron to have a woven leather finish. With a quilting pattern resembling an “air parade,” the seats are covered in Gris Rafale and Deep Blue leather. 

To showcase the Profilée script, Bugatti updated the centre console with a black anodized frame inlay.

The vehicle will be sold at an auction on February 1, 2023, and Bugatti promises that a charitable organization will receive a portion of the proceeds from the auction.

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The Battle of Sarikamish: The Turning Point of World War I

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RUSSIA: The Battle of Sarikamish was a military conflict between the Russian and Ottoman Empires during World War I. 

The war occurred in the winter of 1914-1915 in Sarikamish, now situated in north-eastern Turkey.

The conflict began when the Ottoman Empire declared war on the Russian Empire in November 1914, and the Russians responded by invading the Ottoman Empire through the Caucasus region.

The Battle of Sarikamish was a critical turning point in the conflict, which resulted in a decisive victory for the Russian Empire.

On December 22nd, 1914, the Russian army, led by Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich launched a major offensive against the Ottoman forces, which Enver Pasha led. 

The Russian army pushed the Ottoman forces back and captured Sarikamish, allowing them to advance deeper into Ottoman territory.

However, the Russian victory came at a heavy cost, as the harsh winter conditions and poor planning led to significant losses on both sides. 

The Battle of Sarikamish is considered one of the bloodiest and most costly conflicts of World War I, with estimates of total casualties ranging from 70,000 to 130,000.

The Russian army was able to take advantage of the cold weather, using their experience fighting in the harsh Russian winter to their advantage. 

The inadequately equipped Ottoman army for the cold aided the Russian army. Many Ottoman soldiers suffered from frostbite and other cold-related injuries.

A significant portion of the Ottoman army could not survive the extreme conditions of the Allahuekber Mountains. According to historical data, around 25,000 Ottoman soldiers froze to death even before the war had started.

Despite the Russian victory, the conflict continued to rage for several months, with both sides suffering heavy losses. 

The Battle of Sarikamish played a significant role in shaping the outcome of World War I. It remains a significant and tragic chapter in the history of Russia and the Ottoman Empire.

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Winter Solstice: Shortest Day of the Year Brings Longest Nights

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INDIA: The winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, is upon us once again. 

This astronomical event, which marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere, occurs when the sun shines directly overhead on the Tropic of Capricorn.

The countries in the northern hemisphere are at their farthest from the sun due to the rotation around the sun and its polar tilt of 23.5 degrees.

The people in the northern hemisphere witness a southward shift in the path of the sun throughout the day, and the opposite is true for the people in the southern hemisphere.

The sun moves from the northern to the southern hemisphere and back again because of this phenomenon, which causes the seasons to change.

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the longest night of the year and the shortest day, with the sun rising later and setting earlier than any other day. This year, the winter solstice will occur on December 22nd at 9:32 a.m. IST.

The winter solstice has been celebrated by many cultures throughout history and is still observed by some today. In ancient Rome, it was celebrated as the festival of Saturnalia, which was a time of feasting and gift-giving. 

In ancient Egypt, the winter solstice marked the birth of the sun god Ra and was celebrated with a festival called the Festival of Ra.

In many cultures it is also associated with the return of the sun and the promise of longer days to come. 

In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the turning point towards spring and the return of longer, warmer days. This is why many cultures, including the ancient Celts and Native Americans, celebrated the winter solstice as a time of renewal and hope.

Today, the winter solstice is still celebrated by many people around the world. In the United States, it is often marked with celebrations such as the lighting of the Yule log, the decoration of Christmas trees, and the exchange of gifts. 

In many other parts of the world, the winter solstice is also celebrated with festivals, bonfires, and other traditions.

In addition to its cultural and spiritual significance, the winter solstice is also an important event for scientists and astronomers.

The winter solstice is used to mark the beginning of winter and to calculate the length of the seasons. It is also used to study the earth’s tilt on its axis and the movements of the sun and other celestial bodies.

So, as we bid farewell to the longest night of the year and welcome the return of the sun, let us take a moment to appreciate the winter solstice and all that it represents. 

Whether you are celebrating with friends and family or simply enjoying the beauty of the winter season, the winter solstice is a time to embrace the darkness and look forward to the light and warmth of the coming year.

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Vogue’s Controversial Cover Featuring Kelly Piquet Sparks Debate Among F1 Enthusiasts

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UNITED KINGDOM: Motorsport enthusiasts have engaged in a heated debate in response to a recent issue of Vogue that features Kelly Piquet, Max Verstappen’s girlfriend.

Kelly Piquet, Nelson Piquet’s daughter, features on the front page behind a racing helmet on the cover page of the Dutch edition of Vogue.

Nelson Piquet was an F1 driver who came under fire recently after videos emerged of him making racist and homophobic comments on seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton and inciting violence against the Brazilian presidency elect.

Piquet and Verstappen have been spotted together in the F1 paddock since 2021, soon after she split from former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, with whom she has a daughter, Penelope.

Kelly Piquet’s cover triggers controversy over misrepresentation of women in racing

For the Dutch edition of the famous fashion magazine Vogue, Kelly Piquet poses in full driver’s gear, with a catchline which says “Pole Position,” an attempt seen by many as promoting women in motorsports.

She discussed how she could allow Max Verstappen, a two-time world champion, to continue with his hectic schedule while simultaneously achieving her own career objectives.

However, Kelly Piquet’s role as “Women in Motorsports” is limited to being present in the paddock and cheering for her partner, Max Verstappen, while happening to be born into a family with a history in F1 through her father and brother, Nelson Piquet Jr.

Many fans across social media platforms felt that the fashion magazine should have roped in an actual female driver to do the coverage. Vogue had the choice to celebrate Hannah Schmitz, Red Bull Racing’s head of strategy, who has repeatedly received acclaim for having played a crucial role in many Red Bull race wins.

The featuring of Kelly Piquet continues to perpetuate that the source of attention to women in motorsports is either attractiveness or through their famous male partners rather than the achievements of actual female racers.

F1 enthusiasts on Twitter added, it makes no sense why Vogue did not highlight women who are involved directly with motorsports. There is no shortage of exciting women’s talent in motorsports.

Iron Dames is one such group of women which would have been a perfect fit for the theme. It is a project headed by Deborah Mayer, a driver and President of FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission. 

Susie Wolff is a former British racer who has succeeded in DTM and even participated in one practice session for Williams Racing in 2014. In 2018, she switched roles to lead the Venturi Rokit Formula-E team to a second-place finish in the drivers’ championship in the 2020-2021 season.

The drivers in W-Series are another noteworthy candidate who could have suited the theme with their youth and richly-talented driver line-ups. It truly is appalling that the role of women in F1 and motorsports has been minimized to that of being girlfriends and daughters to famous F1 drivers.

Kelly Piquet’s feature in the magazine highlighted the issue of women in motorsports, which led a Twitter user to compile a thread of praiseworthy women involved in motorsports in some capacity. 

Despite the criticism, many have defended the magazine. A few feel that Kelly’s feature has nothing to do with the theme of women in motorsports, while others felt she is involved in F1 as she offers “mental support” to her partner, Max Verstappen.

Interestingly, her brother, Nelson Piquet Jr., is known for his involvement in the “Crashgate” scandal rather than his exploits on the track. He had crashed his car deliberately during the 2008 Singapore GP, which helped his Renault teammate, Fernando Alonso, to win the race.

Also Read: F1 Academy Announces 5 Teams Competing for the All-women Series for 3 Years

India Announces Acquisition of Pralay Missile Following Successful Agni-V Test

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INDIA: The “Pralay” ballistic missile, capable of hitting targets within a range of 150 to 500 kilometres, will be acquired by the Indian armed forces just a few days after its successful test of the nuclear-capable Agni-V missile. 

The development occurred after India completed two successful tests of the Pralay missile in December 2021.

Since then, the forces have been working toward acquiring the missile and incorporating it into India’s armed forces.

It is important to note that India successfully tested the Agni-V ballistic missile, which has a range of more than 5500 kilometres, on Thursday, December 15. 

Indian soldiers are engaged in a heated standoff with their Chinese counterparts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the same time that the acquisition of the ballistic missile known as “Pralay” and the testing of Agni-V are taking place.

Indian forces will have an advantage over adversaries along the border once it introduces the “Pralay” missile. 

A solid propellant rocket motor powers the Pralay missile and boasts other new technologies that will significantly assist Indian forces during the conflict in border areas. The “Pralay” missile’s range of 150 to 500 kilometres can deter aggressive tactics of the PLA.

The Pralay missile, a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile, has integrated avionics and cutting-edge navigation.

According to reports, the advanced missile’s design apparently allows it to defeat interceptor missiles. 

After achieving a specific range in mid-air, it can also alter its course. The missile can also completely decimate high-value targets like the enemy’s air defence sites.

India successfully completed the Agni-V ballistic missile’s night trials on December 15 with a range of more than 5500 kilometres. 

The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) developed the missile in-house.

A defence facility tested the Pralay missile from Abdul Kalam Island, situated off the coast of Odisha.

The defence industry sources claim that the test aims to test the missile’s new, lighter-than-before technology and equipment.

The trial has demonstrated that, if necessary, the defence forces can extend the range of the Agni-V missile.

Since the army can launch it using a “MIRV” (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle), a ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads, the Agni-V nuclear-capable missile is a potent addition to India’s defence arsenal.

India will benefit significantly from Agni-V’s MIRV capability of deterrence.

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