Winter is Coming! Expert Advice on How to Fight Dry Skin

As the weather gets nippy there is one thing that most of us start dreading about. Chapped lips and dry, flaky skin are a few things most of us hate about winters. Our skin is stripped off moisture and requires additional care. This would not only including treating your skin right during winters but right from the pre-winter season.

According to a renowned beauty expert, Suparna Trikha,  you should be mindful of certain things to ensure healthy, well-hydrated, glowing skin. According to her, hot water baths - though comforting - do more damage to your skin, make sure you moisturize well after taking bath. Go easy on bleaching your skin, it strips your skin off essential oils and moisture. Just because the sun is not that strong during winters, does not mean that you can bask in sun for hours altogether, protecting your skin from harmful UV rays is till important.

Another Delhi based beauty expert Bharti Taneja also shared some pre-winter beauty tips for making your skin look and feel soft.

Opt for creamy products: Pack away those gel-based face washes, creams as well as make-up products and opt for creamy ones. Cream-based products are generally oil-based and hence form a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture during chilly days. These creams deeply moisturise the skin while nourishing it from within.Use sunscreen: Most of us restrict the usage of sunscreens only for summer to protect the skin from tanning and stop using it as soon as the autumn arrives. But not many know that pre-winter sun too can be harmful for the skin. Therefore, it is advisable to apply broad spectrum sunscreen with UV and PA+++ protection in winter on your face and other exposed parts of body. For better protection, make sure you apply the sun protection cream 30 minutes before stepping out of the house.

(Natural Ways to Treat Blackheads and Open Pores)Oil the body: The importance of oiling your body becomes inevitable as the autumn breeze may rob it of its natural moisture as soon as the fall season starts. A 10-minute oiling session before your bath would suffice for the nourishment needs of the skin. So, just catch hold of any baby or olive oil bottle and get started! Performing this on regular basis is sure to keep your skin soft, supple and smooth throughout the winter season.Condition: To keep the lustre of the hair intact, it is good to use a conditioner which has silicone to lock down the outer circle layer and seal in the moisture. You may also try a homemade avocado mask which is perfect for dry and rough hair. For this, mash the flesh of avocado with fork and add extra virgin olive oil to make a mixture. Apply this smooth mixture and wash it off after 30 minutes. This nourishing mask is enriched with essential vitamins, minerals and softening agents for your hair to fight pre-winter harshness with ease.Hydrate: Boost your beauty regimen by drinking lots of water irrespective of the season. It helps your skin stay young and hydrated by flushing out all the toxins of your body. If you are not very happy with the idea of gulping down the cold water, make sure to drink lots of warm or lukewarm water during the day.

(Skin Care Tips for Beauty: In Your 20's​)

Aakriti Mehra, a Delhi based dermatologist further shared skin care tips for the coming winter season.

- It is important to avoid long hot baths, soap should be used sparingly and scrubs should be completely avoided during this season.

- Limit the bath to under 10 minutes, and ensure lukewarm water.

- Substitute soap with moisturizing cleansers or bars, it would not cause damage or dryness to the skin.

- In case of really dry skin, use soap free cleansers for further care.

#Source NDTV

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In India, Remote Villages Hold Fast To Food Traditions

The northeastern Indian region of Meghalaya is rich in native food traditions. Sandwiched between Bangladesh and Bhutan, and with Myanmar to its east, Meghalaya is a lush, hilly area of forests and lakes, with high rainfall, spectacular waterfalls and "living" bridges woven from trees that attract local tourism. Yet many of its villages are remote, with few main roads or other means of access.Their inaccessibility has helped preserve many traditional food customs, from rice growing to beekeeping.Keeping the traditional ways"Our region has been proud to host this year's Indigenous Terra Madre," said Phrang Roy, chairman of the North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS).

The event brought 600 members of international indigenous food-making communities together in the city of Shillong for a five-day meeting. "It offered us a chance to showcase the many foods and traditions of the indigenous Khasi communities that are still well-preserved in Meghalaya and its neighboring region, Nagaland."During the conference, the delegates were invited to visit some of the villages to experience these customs firsthand.In Mosakhia, a village of 94 households in the Jaintia Hills so small it's not on Google maps, a large crowd gathered to greet the visitors. They re-enacted Beh Dienkhlam, a colorful food festival that is usually held in July. During the festival, two life-size oxen effigies are raised on a large wooden platform and carried in increasingly rapid circles as the population rushes behind them, singing and dancing to the accompaniment of loud drumbeats."Its purpose is to drive away epidemics during the rainy growing season," explained H.H. Morhmen, a NESFAS director in that area. "With their brooms the villagers sweep the evil spirits away."A native variety of nutritious brown rice, rymbai, is grown in the small rice terraces around Mosakhia that the villagers harvest in November, the women cutting it and the men threshing it by hand.An ancient method of beekeepingBeekeeper Shahjop Khongiong demonstrated his unusual hives. Made of hollowed-out sections of tree trunks (of dieng maleng or dieng shyrngang wood), the hives are positioned in the surrounding forests and in natural rock crevices. They attract local varieties of yellow or black bees.Khongiong, a cheerful, sprightly 50-something, has been a beekeeper for 37 years but never uses any protection when working with his bee families. He pulled a large chunk of honeycomb from one of the hives barehanded, simply blowing the bees that were on it gently away. The honey was exquisite: With the delicate floral notes of a citrus honey, it maintained its depth and mineral intensity long after it was eaten.
 Only 12 people still continue this ancient method of beekeeping.Fish that's a delicacyNearby, the equally rural village of Umladkhur is reached by a dirt road through rice paddies and forests. Alma Mulat squats outside her house by a hose of clean, running water as she washes a batch of fish. When she's satisfied they're cleanly gutted, she drives a pointed bamboo stake through each fish, attaching them firmly with cane knots. She carries the fish down to the smokehouse behind her dwelling and smokes them for three to four hours using wood from the local otsyiah tree."We call these khabah in our native language," she said, pointing to chunky fish in the carp family. "My grandmother and ancestors did this smoking too, back when our rivers were clean. But 40 years ago surface coal mining began in this area, and our rivers became poisoned and the fish died. Now we buy fish from a nearby region, though the mining has recently been stopped and river life is gradually returning."Smoked fish from this and Thangbuli village are a delicacy in Meghalaya, and Mulat and other women take them to market at Jowai to supplement their families' incomes.Going to marketBack in Shillong, we visit one of India's largest and most fascinating food markets. Built in colonial times, it covers a hill in the town with steep, narrow alleys, each filled with boxed stalls of local produce vendors. They come to a pinnacle in the large, open square at the top where brightly colored foods and fabrics compete for the visitor's eye.The maket -- and the street-food vendors who surround it -- showcase the many local and native plants and grains that contribute to the diets of the people of Meghalaya.

#Source NDTV

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Pecan Nuts: 10 Reasons Why They are Good for You and How to Eat Them

Come the holiday season and pecan pies are a rage. The pecan nuts with their contoured structure, crunchy texture and buttery flavour make for an interesting ingredient to include in a number of dishes, and they look pretty on the plate too. Native to America, these pricey nuts are related to the walnut and grow enclosed in a brownish-red oval shell. Now whether you say pee-can or peh-kahn, they are probably one of the most sought after nuts and can be tossed in just about anything. You can stuff them in peppers with goat cheese or toss them in a salad for some crunch. Pecans pair beautifully with caramel too, so just add a handful on top of a caramel cheesecake for a flavour-packed bite every single time. Or spruce up an ice cream with a splash of bourbon and candied pecans in the summer. You can even add a crumbly pecan topping the next time you bake a coffee cake, or add it to a batch of double chocolate chip cookies.

Nutrition in a Nutshell

According to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, pecans (19 halves, 193 calories per serving) contain more antioxidants than any other tree nut. Pecan nuts in fact rank among the top 15 foods with the highest levels of antioxidants according to the USDA. They are also a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals such as manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium, offering some wonderful health benefits.

Health Benefits of Pecans:

1. Heart Healthy

Pecan nuts contain monounsaturated fats such as oleic acid along with phenolic antioxidants which help reduce the risk of heart disease. According to the National Pecan Shellers Association, adding a handful of pecan nuts in your diet helps decrease LDL i.e. ‘bad cholesterol’ and increase HDL i.e. ‘good cholesterol’, which in turn prevent stroke and coronary artery disease.

2. Improves Digestion

Nutritionist Anshul Jaibharat says, “Since pecan nuts are fiber-packed, they promote colon health and facilitate regular bowel movements. Pecan nuts prevent constipation and reduce the risk of hemorrhoids and colitis by cleaning out the gastrointestinal system.”

3. Helps with Weight Loss

Consuming nuts enhances satiety and increases metabolism, research has indicated that a diet comprising pecan nuts helps in losing weight. The nuts are also very rich sources of several important B-complex groups of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates which together help increase the rate of metabolism.

4. Reduces the Risk of Certain Cancer

Pecan nuts protect the human body from cancer due to the anti-proliferative properties of ellagic acid which inhibit DNA binding of certain carcinogens such as nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. They contain oleic acid, a fatty acid which has been found to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Pecan nuts also reduce the risk of colon cancer since they help clean the gastrointestinal system.

5. Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Pecans are rich in magnesium which is known for its anti-inflammatory benefits. Studies have proved that increased magnesium intake reduces inflammatory indicators in the body, and also reduces inflammation in the arterial walls, thus reducing the risk of arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and other inflammatory ailments.

6. Boosts Immunity

Dr. Manoj K. Ahuja, Healing Touch Hospital, says “Adequate intake of manganese is vital for nerve conduction and brain function, and pecans are a rich source of manganese which is a powerful antioxidant. This trace mineral protects your nerve cells from free-radical damage, thus boosting immunity and protecting the body from diseases, infections, etc.”

Skin Benefits and Hair Benefits of Pecans:

Pecan nuts are an excellent source of vitamin-E, vitamin-A, zinc, folate and phosphorous which play an important role in maintaining good skin. Here are the skin benefits pecan nuts have to offer.

7. Prevents Skin Problems

The toxins inside your body cause breakouts, dullness and excess oil. Pecans are packed with fiber and aid in eliminating these toxins and waste from the body, thereby improving the appearance of your skin. Pecan nuts also contain vitamin A and zinc which help achieve a clear complexion and protect against skin infections.

8. Anti-aging Benefits

Pecan nuts contain numerous antioxidants including ellagic acid, vitamin A and vitamin E which fight and eliminate the free radicals responsible for causing premature skin aging. Thus, pecans can prevent the occurrence of fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation.

9. Stimulates Hair Growth

Pecans are an excellent source of L-arginine, an amino acid which, when applied topically helps treat male pattern baldness as well as encourage the growth of healthy hair. L-arginine helps increase flexibility of the artery walls and makes them less prone to blood clots. This in turn increases the rate of blood flow throughout the body and to the hair roots which is vital for healthy hair growth and scalp.

10. Prevents Hair Loss

Lack of iron in the body leads to anemia which is one of the common causes of hair loss. But pecans are a good source of iron and hence, combat hair loss.

Candied Pecans
We’ve got 1 word for you- addictive. Candied pecans make for a delicious snack and can also be sprinkled over desserts, particularly sundaes and ice creams. Umm, yum!

Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 egg white
1 tsp water
2 cup pecan halves

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Mix sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a bowl.
3. Whisk egg white and water together in a separate bowl until frothy. Toss pecans in the egg white mixture. Then mix sugar mixture into pecan mixture until pecans are evenly coated. Spread coated pecans onto a baking sheet.
4. Bake, but note: Stir every 15 minutes while baking, until the pecans are evenly browned. It could take upto an hour.

Pecan Pie
Recipe by Chef Niru Gupta

This pecan pie recipe features maple syrup and brown sugar, and is sure to draw recipe requests all year round. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

Ingredients:
1/3 cup butter-tightly packed

1/4 cup brown sugar-tightly packed
1/3 cup castor or powdered sugar
3 eggs-slightly beaten
3 Tbsp maple syrup
6 Tbsp milk
120 gm pecans-cut small, saving a few whole for decoration
1 tsp Vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
1 unbaked shell of short crust pastry of 7

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
2. Blend brown sugar and butter and melt in a pan placed over a pan of hot water.
3. Add castor sugar, eggs, maple syrup and milk. Mix well and cook till thickened a bit (all over hot water).
4. Remove from heat and mix in pecans, vanilla and salt.
5. Pour mixture into the unbaked shell and bake for an hour in a pre-heated oven.

#Source NDTV

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Benefits of Multani Mitti for Face and Hair: A Well-Rounded Beauty Regime

As a child I was always intrigued by television ads endorsing beauty products. So much so that I would go up to my father and insist that he gets me those gels and creams which my mother would vehemently brush aside. My mother has been a religious believer of natural ingredients. "Your beauty kit is inside here, here in the kitchen," she would say. I now recollect her saving bits and pieces of tomatoes, cucumber, some lemon juice and use them on her skin. Other than those, there were other herbal ingredients that I could find in her inexpensive, humble vanity box, such as masonry dal powder, besan (gram flour) and sandalwood powder. I didn't realise the power of natural ingredients then, but only now I can see through the commercial facade of beauty industry. Almost all beauty and cosmetic products claim to have natural extracts in their products. If natural is the way to go, why not embrace it in its rawest form? One of the ingredients that still exists in my mother's beauty kit till today is multani mitti. She would simply mix it with rose water, milk and even glycerin and apply it on her face. According to her, there is no better cure for most skin related issues than multani mitti. After trying almost every cosmetic cream on my adamant acne-proned skin, I resorted to applying multani mitti on my face, and it worked like magic!

Also known as fuller's earth, multani mitti has been used to get rid of skin issues and achieve radiant, blemish-free skin since ages in India. It is one of those age-old tips that has been handed over generations. Multani mitti is a great agent to clean, exfoliate and nourish your skin. It has active elements that effectively absorb oil, dirt, sweat and impurities, leaving the skin clean, soft and supple. One of the best things about the ingredient is that you can use it with a host of other ingredients to suit your skin type and achieve desirable results. Our skin experts have shared different ways in which you can make use of fuller's earth and make it an active part of your beauty regime, but before that, here are 10 reasons why you should get some:
Benefits of Multani Mitti

1. Fights acne and pimples2. Removes excess sebum and oil3. Deep cleanses skin removing dirt, sweat and impurities4. Evens out skin tone and brightens complexion5. Treats tanning and pigmentation6. Effective in treating sunburn, skin rashes and infections (multani mitti is an effective cooling agent)7. Can be used in cold compresses to treat skin inflammation and insect bites8. Facilitates blood circulation, leading to radiant, glowing skin9. Fights and helps in keeping away blackheads/whiteheads, blemishes, freckles, pimple/acne spots10. Has antiseptic properties Experts Tips: How to Use Multani MittiFor oily skin:Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj, a Delhi-based skin care expert, recommends multani mitti pack for oily skin. Mix equal quantities of orange peel powder and multani mitti, blend the two together with the help of rosewater, apply on your face, let it dry and wash off. According to Dr. Bharadwaj, using the pack twice a month will help keep excess oil off your face and acne/pimple breakouts in control.

For Dark Circles: Beauty expert Suparna Trikha vouches for fuller's earth's efficacy in treating dark circles. To get rid of dark circles, simply take half a potato and grate it. Mix it with lemon juice, one teaspoon fresh cream and multani mitti. Use this paste on your eyes and leave for twenty minutes. Wash off and see a remarkable difference in your dark circles.Scrub & Exfoliate! If you want to exfoliate your skin, there's nothing better than teaming orange peel, sandalwood powder and multani mitti. You can even add gram flour and basil to the paste and use it for deep cleaning your skin.
Deep Exfoliating Face MaskThis good-for-all-skin-types face mask helps in removing dead skin and dirt off your face. All you need is one tablespoon of lime juice, brown sugar and sabudana and one teaspoon of multani mitti.Directions: Mix sabudana and lime juice and add in a pan, and let it thicken over a low flame. Keep stirring, then take off the gas and let it cool. Now, add sugar and multani mitti, mix well. Massage on your face avoiding eye area and leave it for 10 minutes.

Take a soft towel or washcloth, dampen it in tepid water and clean your face. Finish by washing your face with cool water and applying a moisturizer. You can even use this as a body scrub.

Beyond Beautiful Skin: You can use multani mitti even to apply it on your hair for shiny, healthy locks. Take three tablespoons of multani mitti and mix it with an egg. To this, add amla juice, lemon juice and one tablespoon of beer, mix well. Apply on your hair, leave for about 20 minutes and shampoo.
Tip: Always store fuller's earth away from extreme temperature and moisture, stored in an air-tight container

#Source NDTV

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New Year Resolutions: A 4 Step Guide to Help You Achieve Yours

There is something about New Year and resolutions. Everyone makes them. And unfortunately, more often than not, everyone breaks them. But come next December and we're back to square one. Perhaps it has something to do with the perpetual need of human beings to hope. Without hope, we have nothing. We may know at the back of our mind that it is impossible to lose all our extra flab and get fit and fabulous in 10 days but we still resolve to do that.

We looked at some interesting data worldwide and realized that this is a phenomenon that crosses borders. A research done in America threw up some statistics that could very well have been representative of urban India too.


Rank Top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2015
1          Lose Weight
2          Getting Organized
3          Spend Less, Save More
4          Enjoy Life to the Fullest
5          Staying Fit and Healthy
6          Learn Something Exciting
7          Quit Smoking
8          Help Others in Their Dreams
9          Fall in Love
10           Spend More Time with Family


Getting fit, losing weight and spending more time with loved ones seems to be something we aim to do each year, before we get pulled into the whirlwind of our daily routine. Not surprisingly, the number of people who actually achieved their resolutions was only 8% whereas 24% are never able to successfully achieve what they resolved to on 1st January. (Source: University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology). Everyone seems to want to live a healthier life. Be fitter and stronger. Yet, the toil required for the end result doesn't have many takers. A short term fad diet or a couple of Surya Namaskars are not going to help you achieve your health goals. It takes more than that. It is a mind-set change, a complete overhaul of the way you think and your habits.Regardless of what your resolutions are, here are some tips which may help ensure you achieve them, and not give up mid-way:
 1. Keep them simpleOf course if you wish for world peace, it is not going to happen overnight. Neither is a resolution to change your entire lifestyle overnight. Keep your resolutions simple. Don't create a bucket list of resolutions, just decide on one or two.
 2. Keep them achievableLosing 10kg in 2 weeks may sound like a great idea but it is impractical, unachievable and just pure unhealthy. Keep your resolutions such that you know how to achieve them. Small steps are required to head off on a life-changing journey.


3. Make them easy to measureA tangible resolution will be easier to follow. Something vague like "I want to be happy this year" is not a good idea as you may not know what is your achievement percentage and thus will lead to discontentment. Give yourself a target. A target weight, a target clothes size, or something like I want to spend one hour with my child every evening without any distractions. These are tangible goals.


4. Break it downThe resolution may seem daunting by itself but if you break it down, it suddenly will seem easier to achieve. Write down what steps you need to take daily or weekly to achieve this. Tick off the steps as you progress as a form of self-motivation.  Whatever be your New Year Resolution, if you follow these steps and exercise your will power, there are great chances that you will achieve it. If not, well, there's always next year.

#Source NDTV

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‘I am the brand’

With the slogan “I am the brand”, pharmaceutical company Eskayef organised its annual conference with thousands of its employees on 21 December.
The organisation heads promised to take the organisation’s success a step ahead in the years to come saying that each of its employees is the brand ambassador of the Eskayef, also known as SK+F.
The annual conference was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka.
The chairman and CEO of Transcom Group, Latifur Rahman, said, “No business organisation can sustain without commercial success. It was not an easy way for Eskayef to get there. Eskayef exercised honesty, ethics and morality since it started its journey.  We believe if we can satisfy our customers with the quality of our products, commercial success is a must.”
He announced name of the employees who got promoted this year.
While delivering an inspirational speech, Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman said that most of the organisations of Transcom Group have made their marks with honesty, ethics and morality.
He added Eskayef will keep up with its success in the years to come.
Simin Hossain, the CEO of Eskayef Bangladesh, said that 2015 is a successful year for Eskayef as it bought several new products to the market this year.
The ICCB president Mahbubur Rahman said it is possible to gain commercial success with honesty and ethics. Eskayef and other organisations of Transcom are a glaring example of that.

#Source Prothom-Alo

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Global brands eye Indian fashion market

ndia's burgeoning appetite for foreign brands attracted a string of international brands to establish their presence in the country this year. US apparel retailer GAP, Swedish multinational retail-clothing company H&M, British fashion brands TOPSHOP and TOPMAN and more, available at brick-and-mortar stores or online mediums, are already a hit.
The summer arrival of GAP, which has made inroads into India through a franchise agreement with textile and retail major Arvind Lifetsyle Brands Limited, was much talked about.
Spread over a 10,000 sq ft south Delhi mall, the first flagship store offers Gap for men and women, GapKids, and babyGap. The plans are big as officials hope to open about 40 stores in the next five years and Arvind Lifetsyle Brands Limited expects Rs. 1,000 crore worth of business opportunity from the venture.
"I think our clothes are perfect for Indian summer. It's very easy to wear with a whole lot of linen feel to it," Oliver Kaye, CEO - Gap Business, told IANS.
Arvind Lifestyle Brands Limited also brought American youth brand Aéropostale to India, with a store at a south Delhi mall in November.
Swedish multinational retail clothing company H&M, which is known globally for offering fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way, also opened shop in the country, again at a south Delhi mall.


And then, call it the successful feedback of the first store that within a gap of a month, the brand opened its second store - its largest in the country - at another south Delhi shopping destination.
Expansion plans for the brand include another store in capital suburb Gurgaon, to be followed by outlets in Mumbai and tier-II and tier-III cities.
India is one of the most exciting markets in the world right now, with so much potential within retail, said Janne Einola, country manager, H&M Hennes & Mauritz Retail Private Limited.
"The response to H&M has been fabulous! We are happy that the Indian customers are pleased with our business concept of fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way.
"We see a great potential for further expansion in India, the number and time frame will be determined by real-estate opportunities and retail market development.
"Our expansion strategy is to always open at the best business location. We have proposed to invest up to euro 100 million ($110 million) in the SBRT (Single Brand Retail Trade) application," Einola told IANS.
It was not only through offline stores that many international brands made its India entry this year as many of them chose to be part of the Rs.720 crore worth Indian fashion industry through online mediums.
Handbags from French label Anna Luchini are now available in the Indian market via e-commerce platform Fashionara.com, which has also introduced watches for women from another French label, Christian Lacroix.


Jabong, a leading fashion online retailer in India, has clearly established its dominance in bringing well-curated collections of international fashion labels such as Buggati Shoes, Tom Tailor, NEXT, Misguided, TOPSHOP, TOPMAN, et al in its portfolio this year.
Nils Chrestin, Interim CEO at Jabong and Group CFO of Global Fashion Group, feels that many international brands today are seeking an online presence to explore the diverse Indian market.
"In the last two years, Jabong has facilitated a lot of deals and, as a result, has been able to successfully build an International portfolio," Chrestin told IANS.
Officials of TOPSHOP and TOPMAN had been eyeing India as a feasible market for quite some time before partnering with Jabong. They feel that the country's market demonstrates great opportunity for fashion brands and the Indian customer is very fashion-savvy.
As of now, they are happy with the response from the customers.
"TOPSHOP and TOPMAN are very new to India and after an impactful launch on Jabong in September earlier this year have continued to experience high levels of traffic as well as meeting sales targets.
"Both brands are growing at a rate of 25 percent month on month and contribute substantially to Jabong's international business portfolio. There's a huge appetite for fashion in India which is why so many brands continue to enter the market," the brands' spokesperson told IANS.
Also, six leading South Korean cosmetic companies made their debut in India this year with an array of cosmetic and wellness products. The companies signed a joint venture agreement with an Indian firm for marketing their products first and will eventually make them in India under the 'Make in India' campaign.
The companies are PLK International, Coson Company Limited, Outin Futures Corporation, BCL Cosmetics Company Limited, Kell Cosmetics Company Limited, and Esthetic House Company.

#Source Prothom-Alo

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BB inks deal to facilitate long-term investment

Bangladesh Bank (BB) signed separate agreements with three more private banks on Sunday to facilitate long-term financing under the World Bank-funded Financial Sector Support Project (FSSP), reports news agency UNB.
Under the agreements, the three banks - Jamuna Bank Limited, Pubali Bank Limited and Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited - can go for long-term financing of projects in the country’s manufacturing sector through utilizing this fund.

Executive Director (FSSP) of BB Md. Ahsan Ullah signed the deal separately with the top executives of the 3 banks at a function at the central bank headquarters in the city.
Central Bank deputy governor SK Sur Chowdhury and other top officials from both the sides were present on the occasion.
Earlier, the central bank signed similar participating agreements with sixteen banks which include Mutual Trust Bank Limited, Prime Bank Limited, One Bank Limited, Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited, Eastern Bank Limited, United Commercial Bank Limited, Dhaka Bank Limited, Bank Asia Limited, Social Islami Bank Limited, Export Import Bank of Bangladesh Limited, Dutch Bangla Bank Limited, IFIC Bank Limited, South East Bank Limited, Standard Bank Limited, Trust Bank Limited, and Standard Chartered Bank.
Bangladesh Bank officials said that under FSSP fund, the banks can lend money for ventures in the industrial productive sectors for tenure of 3 to 10 years. The banks will have to pay interest rate between 3.25 per cent and 4.25 per cent to the central bank to use the refinance fund.

#Source Prothom-Alo

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Oil jumps on Middle East tension

Asian shares began their first trading of 2016 on a cautious note on Monday while oil prices jumped 3 percent after Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric spurred regional anger and geopolitical tensions.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was up 0.1 percent, with resource-heavy Australian shares rising 0.6 percent. The MSCI ex-Japan shed nearly 12 percent in 2015.

Japan's Nikkei fell 1 percent, playing catch-up to falls in US stocks in the last two sessions during Japan's market holidays. The Nikkei gained around 9 percent last year.

US stock futures were up 0.3 percent ESc1, in a knee-jerk reaction to the jump in oil prices, rebounding slightly from a one-week low hit on 31 December.

Global oil benchmark Brent futures LCOc1 gained 3.0 percent to $38.40 per barrel, rising as high as $38.46, its highest since early December.

Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric on Saturday. Riyadh cut ties with Iran after protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran.
In the currency market, the safe-haven Swiss franc was bid up, gaining 0.4 percent against the euro to 1.0849 per euro.

The dollar held steady against others for now as investors looked to how much further the US Federal Reserve can raise rates this year after its first rate hike in almost a decade last month.

The euro stood little changed from the end of last year at $1.0851. The dollar fetched 120.31 yen.

An immediate focus will be on business activity surveys on Monday, with concerns about the US and Chinese economies and their policy implications expected to fixate investors again this year.

A private survey at 8.45 pm ET is expected to show China's factory activity contracted for a 10th straight month in December, while a similar look at US manufacturing is expected to show the sector is still in contraction after having hit a 6-1/2-year low in November.

"It was quite unusual for the Fed to raise rates when the ISM is below 50, (which indicates contraction). And we are likely to see another month of contraction. We have to see how long this will continue," said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management.

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Cabinet clears jute bill

The cabinet on Monday gave the final approval to the draft of the Jute Bill, 2016 with a provision of maximum three years' imprisonment or maximum Tk one lakh fine or both for the violation of the law.

The approval was given at the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held at secretariat with prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, cabinet secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the proposed draft law is a modification of the jute ordinance 1962.

He said a specific amount of maximum financial punishment has been incorporated in the draft law that was not specified in the original ordinance.

The cabinet secretary said the draft law was placed before the cabinet in Bangla as per the earlier directive of the Supreme Court for translating all ordinances into Bangla promulgated by martial law regimes.

About the salient features of the draft law, Shafiul Alam said it has 32 sections empowering the government on various issues like producing jute and jute made goods, encouraging and motivating farmers to produce jute, carrying out research and issue licenses for such purposes.

Besides, provisions are also there for empowering the government on the draft of the proposed law to appoint agents and brokers, fix prices, impose development fee and registration of contracts.

According to the section 21 of the draft law, Alam said, the government could punish anyone or organisation for giving false statement or for violation of the law.

The cabinet also approved the proposal of the civil aviation and tourism ministry for signing the air transport agreement between the government of the United States of America and the government of Bangladesh.

The cabinet secretary said the draft agreement has been formulated to fulfill the required aspects of both the countries to conduct flight operations between Bangladesh and the USA.

He said on 15 August 2013, a memorandum of consultation was signed between the two countries and the proposed agreement has been framed in light of that memorandum of consultation.

For flight operations in the USA, Alam said, such bilateral agreement is needed and it has been prepared in line with the rules and regulations of air traffic in America.

Under the agreement, the sabinet secretary said, both the countries would be able to nominate as much as airline operators to operate flights between the two countries as their designated airlines.

He said that the flight operations between the airlines operators of Bangladesh and the USA remained stopped for long and the initiative for resuming that began in 2013 through the signing of a memorandum of consultation.

Ministers and state ministers and secretaries concerned were present.

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Chinese crash triggers market fall

With the Chinese markets crashing -- coupled with disappointing macro-economic data and profit-booking, the Indian equity markets plunged on Monday.

A barometer index of the Indian equity markets provisionally closed the day's trade deep in the red receding by 542 points or 2.07 percent.

Initially, both the bellwether indices of the Indian equity markets opened on a flat note, but soon they plunged deep in the red, following their Asian peers.

Asian bellwethers declined on the back of the Chinese markets' crash which was triggered by a lower-than-expected purchasing managers' index (PMI) data.

The PMI data battered the Chinese Shanghai index which halted trade for the remainder of the day after crashing by seven percent -- leading to the circuit breaker coming into play on the very first day of its operations.

The cascading impact of the falling Chinese markets impacted other regional exchanges, including the Japanese indices which declined by three percent.

In addition, weak domestic PMI data further dented sentiments. This, coupled with lack of participation and recent consolidation at the bellwethers, prompted some investors to book profits.

Besides, investors were seen cautious regarding the upcoming third-quarter earnings season which starts from January 14.

The Indian VIX (volatility index) hovered around 16 percent.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) sank by 542 points, or 2.07 percent.

Similarly, the wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) provisionally closed the day's trade deep in the red. It dived by 173.50 points, or 2.18 percent, at 7,789.70 points.

The Sensex of the S&P BSE, which opened at 26,116.52 points, provisionally closed at 25,618.69 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 542.21 points or 2.07 percent from its previous day's close at 26,160.90 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,116.52 points and a low of 25,596.57 points in intra-day trade.

The Sensex closed the previous session on January 1, up a paltry 43.36 points, or 0.17 percent, while the Nifty inched up by 17 points, or 0.21 percent.
The market breadth was in the favour of the bears -- with 1,597 declines and 1,290 advances.

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Oil prices rise after Saudi cuts ties with Iran

Oil prices rose Monday on Middle East supply risks after Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran.
At about 1230 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in February climbed 30 cents to $37.34 a barrel.
Brent North Sea crude for February won 59 cents to stand at $37.87 a barrel compared with Thursday's close.

Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, noted that "geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are adding to existing volatility in the price of oil".
Tensions between major crude producer Iran and its Sunni Arab neighbours reached new heights Monday as the world's biggest pumper of oil Saudi Arabia and Gulf allies cut or downgraded diplomatic ties with Tehran in a row over the execution of a Shiite cleric.
Angry exchanges following Saudi Arabia's execution Saturday of prominent Shiite cleric and activist Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr erupted into a full-blown diplomatic crisis as Riyadh and then ally Bahrain severed their relations with Tehran.
"Oil started the new year on the mend, as... markets reacted to fears that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East may threaten the supply of oil," said Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG Markets in Singapore.
Despite the rise, Aw said the persistent global crude oversupply would continue to weigh on prices over the longer term.
"Unless we see a convincing drop in oil output from these two nations, and the broader oil-producing community, the supply glut issue will persist, which means oil prices would remain under pressure for a longer period," he told AFP.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, whose 13 members include Saudi and Iran, decided last month against cutting output levels despite a plunge in oil prices -- in a bid to maintain market share faced with competition from North American shale oil output.

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Seat plan for 36th BCS preli published

The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) on Monday published the seat plan for the 36th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) preliminary examinations on its website at www.bpsc.gov.bd <http://www.bpsc.gov.bd>.
According to BPSC, over two lakh candidates will take part in the 36th BCS exams against 2,180 vacancies.
The two-hour preliminary test will be held simultaneously in 161 centres of Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Barisal, Khulna, Sylhet and Rangpur from 9:30am to 11:30am on Friday (8 January).
This year, the use of wrist watch or pocket watch or electronic watch has been banned during the BCS examinations.
The authorities will provide necessary number of wall clocks in the examination halls to check time.
Earlier, the commission banned using calculators during BCS preliminary examinations.


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Frequent green tea consumption may hamper fertility

Are you a green tea lover? Read this carefully as the cup packed with anti-oxidants and other health benefits may adversely affect your fertility and development in case of frequent use, warn researchers.

In experiments over fruit flies, the team from University of California-Irvine discovered that excessive consumption adversely affected development and reproduction in fruit fly populations.

According to them, one should avoid high dose of green tea or any natural product as nutraceuticals such as green tea, while growing in popularity, are largely unregulated.

“While green tea could have health benefits at low doses, our study and others have shown that at high doses, it may have adverse effects,” said Mahtab Jafari, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences.


“Further work is needed to make any definite recommendations but we suggest that green tea should be consumed in moderation,” she added.

For the study, Jafari and colleagues investigated the effects of green tea toxicity on the development and reproduction in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

Embryos and larvae were subjected to various doses of green tea polyphenols.

Larvae exposed to 10 milligrams of green tea were slower to develop, were born smaller and exhibited a dramatic decline in the number of emerged offspring.

Ten milligrams of green tea made the flies more susceptible to starvation and heat stress but protected them against dehydration.

Female offspring showed decreased reproductive output and a 17 percent reduction in lifespan while males were unaffected, the study found.

Ten milligrams of green tea caused morphological abnormalities in reproductive organs such as testicular and ovarian atrophy.

Jafari believes that high doses of green tea may cause “too much” apoptosis or cell death.

Derived from the plant Camellia sinensis, green tea is popular worldwide for its purported brain and heart health and anti-cancer properties.

Jafari noted that in other tests with mice and dogs, green tea compounds in large amounts dramatically reduced body weight and, in mice, negatively affected embryo development.

“We are planning to measure total consumption and identify and quantify the metabolites of natural products in flies,” Jafari pointed out, adding that these experiments will enable us to have a better understanding of toxic doses in humans.

The paper appeared in the Journal of Functional Foods.

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We are quick to blame others

Is your boss quick to blame you when something goes wrong but slow in giving credit for a job well done?

New research from Duke University helps explain why people are biased towards treating negative actions as intentional but positive actions as unintentional.

The researchers found that people use two different mechanisms to judge how intentional an action was.

If the action produced a negative effect, participants were more likely to draw on brain areas involved in processing emotion, in particular, the amygdala.

On the other hand, for positive outcomes people relied less on emotion and more on statistics. That is, they thought about how often people in a particular situation would behave in a similar way.

The team used an example: The CEO knew the plan would harm the environment, but he started the plan solely to increase profits. Did the CEO intentionally harm the environment?

As many as 82 percent responded that the CEO was deliberate.

When the researchers replaced the single word “harm” with “help” in the scenario, however, only 23 percent deemed the CEO’s actions intentional.

“There’s no logical reason why we would call something intentional, just because it causes a bad outcome as opposed to a good outcome,” said corresponding author professor Scott Huettel.

“Intentionality implies purpose on the part of the person, and that should be there for good as much as it is for bad. But it’s not,” Huettel added.

In the example of the CEO who makes a profit and also helps the environment, participants were more likely to say that because CEOs commonly aim to make money; helping the environment was an unintentional side-effect.

The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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