'mRNA COVID vaccines caused 74% deaths…': Dr McCullough's chilling revelation at Senate hearing
Show more
Show less
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Business Standard
Aarthi Scans to invest Rs 350 crore, expand strongly in North India by 2030
Chennai-based Aarthi Scans and Labs, a leading diagnostic imaging services provider in South India, is preparing to aggressively expand its presence in the North Indian market. The company plans to add 90 per cent of its upcoming centres in the region by 2030. As part of this expansion, it will invest around Rs 350 crore to increase its total number of branches from 85 to around 150 over the next five years. Now in its 25th year of operations, Aarthi Scans is also planning to launch an initial public offering (IPO) within the next three years. Simultaneously, the company is preparing to foray into the fitness diagnostics segment to cater to a wider audience. 'We are planning our IPO in the next three years. Every year, we are clocking a growth of around 20 per cent. In FY25, our turnover was around Rs 320 crore, which is slated to cross Rs 375 crore during the current financial year,' said V Govindarajan, founder of Aarthi Scans and Labs. The company has set a target of achieving a turnover of Rs 600 crore in the next four to five years. Pan-India footprint with a northern focus Aarthi Scans currently operates 85 branches and 150 collection centres across 18 cities in 11 states, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Gujarat, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Haryana. Around 25 branches are located in Chennai alone, with 18 clustered in and around the city. 'Our aim is to add an average of around 10 branches every year. Within three months, we will be starting operations in Uttar Pradesh as well. Of the total branch expansions in the next five years, 90 per cent will be in North India,' Govindarajan said. From outpatient clinic to diagnostic leader Govindarajan entered the healthcare sector in the late 1980s by starting a small clinic, Aarthi Clinic—named after his daughter—for his doctor wife in Kovilpatti, Tamil Nadu. The family launched a multispeciality hospital in 1995, followed by a foray into diagnostics in 2000 and the opening of its first centre in Chennai's Vadapalani in 2003. Today, Aarthi Scans is managed by a family-run team of radiologists: Prasanna Vignesh, Aarthi Prasanna, and Arunkumar Govindarajan. AI-led transformation and new service verticals Arunkumar, Govindarajan's son, is spearheading the company's technological transformation. From X-rays and CT scans to brain volumetric analysis, the company has adopted artificial intelligence (AI) across several operations. 'AI is making the job of radiologists easier. Globally too, India has adopted AI better than even some developed nations,' said Arunkumar. He added that the company is in the process of launching fitness diagnostics, a fast-growing segment in India. Private equity talks and future outlook Aarthi Scans came into the spotlight in 2022 when reports emerged that Tata Capital Growth Fund, a mid-market private equity fund, was in talks to acquire a minority stake in the company. 'We were in talks with Tata Capital during Covid. We were doing some extremely good business and wanted to rope in a minority investor. Finally, the valuation did not match,' Govindarajan said.
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
85 Palestinians seeking aid killed in Gaza as Israel widens evacuation orders
Gaza saw its deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war as at least 85 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach food on Sunday, the territory's Health Ministry said. Palestinians flee Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Sunday, July 20, 2025, after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders ahead of expected operations in the area.(AP) There was new alarm as Israel's military issued evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, one of the few areas where it has rarely operated with ground troops and where many international organizations trying to distribute aid are located. One group said several offices were told to evacuate immediately. There was no immediate Israeli comment. The largest death toll was in devastated northern Gaza, where living conditions are especially dire. At least 79 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry's records department, told The Associated Press. The U.N. World Food Program said 25 trucks with aid had entered for 'starving communities' when it encountered massive crowds. A U.N. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to comment on the incident to the media, said Israeli forces opened fire toward crowds who tried to take food from the convoy. Footage taken by the U.N. and shared with the AP showed Palestinian men running as automatic gunfire was heard. 'Suddenly, tanks surrounded us and trapped us as gunshots and strikes rained down. We were trapped for around two hours,' said Ehab Al-Zei, who had been waiting for flour and said he hadn't eaten bread in 15 days. He spoke over the din of people carrying the dead and wounded. 'I will never go back again. Let us die of hunger, it's better." Nafiz Al-Najjar, who was injured, said tanks and drones targeted people 'randomly' and he saw his cousin and others shot dead. Israel's military accuses Hamas of creating chaos Israel's military said soldiers shot at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza who posed a threat, and it was aware of some casualties. But it said the numbers reported by officials in Gaza were far higher than its initial investigation found. It accused Hamas militants of creating chaos. More than 150 people were wounded, some in critical condition, hospitals said. Al-Waheidi said Israeli gunfire killed another six Palestinians in the Shakoush area, hundreds of meters (yards) north of a hub of the recently created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.- and Israel-backed group, in the southern city of Rafah. The GHF said it was not aware of any incident near its site. Witnesses and health workers say several hundred people have been killed by Israeli fire while trying to access the group's aid distribution sites. Separately, seven Palestinians were killed while sheltering in tents in Khan Younis in the south, including a 5-year-old boy, according to the Kuwait Specialized Field Hospital, which received the casualties. Evacuation orders cut road across Gaza The new evacuation orders cut access between the central city of Deir al-Balah and Rafah and Khan Younis in the narrow territory. The military also reiterated evacuation orders for northern Gaza. Palestinians were startled to see the orders for parts of Deir al-Balah, a relative haven. "All of Rafah is under evacuation, and now you have decided that half of Deir al-Balah is under evacuation. Where will we move to?' asked resident Hassan Abu Azab, as others piled everything from bedding to live ducks onto carts and other vehicles. Smoke rose in the distance, with blasts and the sound of a siren. The United Nations was in contact with Israeli authorities to clarify whether U.N. facilities in the southwestern part of Deir al-Balah are included in the order, according to a different U.N. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media. The official said that in previous instances, U.N. facilities were spared from such orders. The Medical Aid for Palestinians group said several humanitarian organizations' offices and guesthouses had been 'ordered to evacuate immediately' and nine clinics, including the MAP one, had been forced to shut down. It was not immediately clear what other groups were affected. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee called for people to head to Muwasi, a desolate tent camp with little infrastructure on Gaza's southern coast that Israel's military has designated a humanitarian zone. The announcement came as Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted that expanding Israel's military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas in negotiations. Earlier this month, Israel's military said it controlled more than 65% of Gaza. Palestinian death toll nears 59,000 Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory. Many people have been displaced multiple times. Ambulances in front of three major hospitals in Gaza sounded their alarms simultaneously Sunday in an urgent appeal as hunger grows. The Health Ministry posted pictures on social media of doctors holding signs about malnourished children and the lack of medication. Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 58,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many militants have been killed but says over half of the dead have been women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. The Hostages Family Forum, a grassroots organization that represents many families of hostages, condemned the new evacuation order and demanded that Netanyahu and Israel's military explain what they hope to accomplish in central Gaza. 'Enough! The Israeli people overwhelmingly want an end to the fighting and a comprehensive agreement that will return all of the hostages,' the forum said. On Saturday night, during a weekly protest, tens of thousands marched in Tel Aviv to the branch of the U.S. Embassy, demanding an end to the war.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
12 hours ago
- Business Standard
Blood donation guide: Eligibility, myths, medications, and safety tips
If you're between 18 and 60 years old, weigh at least 45 kg, and have a haemoglobin level above 12.5 grams per decilitre (g/dL), you are eligible to donate blood in India. Men can donate blood every three months, while women should wait four months between donations. However, not everyone qualifies. Dr Amita Mahajan, Senior Consultant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, explained that people with chronic illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and certain infections are typically not eligible. Those on specific medications—such as antibiotics, blood thinners, or chemotherapy drugs—may also need to defer donation. Smokers and those with tattoos can still donate. Just ensure the tattoo was done at a certified centre (or wait one year if it wasn't). Also, avoid alcohol for at least 12 hours before donating. Does blood donation make you weak? This is one of the most common myths. 'There's no weakness. It's only in the mind,' said Dr Krishna Kumar Rai, Head of Emergency Medicine at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad. Dr Amita Mahajan added, 'Your body replenishes the donated blood within days. There's no long-term impact on your strength or immunity.' The key is to stay hydrated, have a light meal beforehand, and avoid strenuous activity for a few hours afterward. Is blood donation safe? Yes, blood donation is completely safe when done at certified blood banks and hospitals. According to Dr Rahul Bhargava, Principal Director at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, donors might feel mild fatigue or light-headedness briefly, but serious complications are extremely rare. Modern practices ensure safety through strict hygiene and single-use sterile needles. For recipients, risks of transfusion-related infections like HIV or Hepatitis have significantly reduced due to advanced screening protocols. Can you donate blood if you are on medication? It depends. Dr Sangeeta Agarwal, Director of Transfusion Medicine at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, said that people taking vitamins or managing controlled blood pressure or diabetes (without insulin) can usually donate. However, if you're on antibiotics, steroids, antidepressants, chemotherapy drugs, or blood thinners, it's best to consult a doctor. Always disclose all medications to the blood bank team during pre-screening—they'll guide you accordingly. Can women safely donate blood? Yes, women can and should donate blood. There are no gender-based restrictions. However, they should avoid donating during menstruation and wait four months between donations. 'Women are often wrongly discouraged from donating blood,' said Dr Rai. 'The truth is, women's bodies are just as capable of handling blood donation as men's.' Can you donate blood after recovering from Covid-19? Yes. If you've recovered from Covid-19 and are feeling well, you are eligible to donate blood. Dr Rai stressed that there is no stigma or risk of transmitting Covid-19 through blood donation. 'If you're fully recovered, you're welcome to donate and save lives,' he said. How should you prepare before donating blood? Here's a simple checklist: Stay well-hydrated Eat light, healthy food about an hour before Avoid alcohol for at least 12 hours prior Skip heavy workouts before and after donation Avoid smoking two hours before and after donating Carry a valid ID and disclose any medications to the medical staff What are the benefits of donating blood? Besides saving lives, blood donation offers emotional and potential health rewards. 'It's like a noble high,' said Dr Rai, who donates every year on his birthday. Some studies suggest that regular donors may enjoy improved heart health and reduced oxidative stress. Above all, it fosters a sense of purpose. 'Every healthy person eligible should donate,' said Dr Sangeeta Agarwal. 'You never know whose life you could save—your friend, a stranger, or a colleague. Blood banks only work when we all pitch in.'
