Monthly Archives: July 2021

Q: One trip to the bathroom during a night out at a pub inevitably leads to another and another and another. Is breaking the seala real thing?

A: Lets start with a basic fact when it comes to drinking: What goes in eventually comes out.

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So when youre tipping back glasses of your favorite adult beverage well, you can only hold in so much. Your bodys reservoir is a pear-sized bladder, after all, not a 5-gallon bucket. Eventually, you have to empty.

The question, though, is when? This is where the myth about a biological barrier known as the seal enters the discussion.

The legendary seal is celebrated as a water-tight cap that locks down your bladder. When fully intact, it keeps you from heading to the bathroom to pee. (This ensures that you never miss any fun.)

So what happens when you break that so-called seal and answer natures call? Well, youve now opened the floodgates and can expect to spend the rest of the night making tracks to the restroom.

In the neon glow of a weekend night, the logic behind this theory seems pretty solid. It doesnt hold up quite as well under closer (and sober) examination.

Drinking mass quantities of any liquid will inevitably send you to the bathroom, but beer, booze and wine amplify the effect. The reason? Alcohol is a diuretic, which in the simplest of terms increases the production of urine.

Breaking it down more, alcohol suppresses the release of an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) called vasopressin. This ADH tells your kidneys to absorb guzzled fluids and distribute to the rest of your body.

But when your brain slows down ADH production during happy hour, the drinks passing by your lips take a more direct route to your bladder. Your bladder only holds about 300 to 400 milliliters of fluid, which is roughly 12 ounces.

It doesnt take long to exceed your bladders capacity. Pressure builds at this point, resulting in the urge to pee. Alcohol also can irritate your bladder, increasing the feeling that you need to tinkle.

So why does it seem like your first bathroom break opens the door to so many return trips? Thats just your body catching up with all the drinks youve tipped back during the evening. (Remember the formula: Fluid in = fluid out.)

Holding back on bathroom visits isnt a good idea, either. Repeatedly preventing the natural flow of things can lead to broader issues, such as urinary tract infections.

If you want to go to the bathroom less during a night out, theres only one proven way to reduce your trips: drink less. Otherwise, listen to your body and empty your tank before any awkward dancing starts.

Because, to be clear, there is no seal that youre protecting.

Urologist Petar Bajic, MD

See the rest here:

Is Breaking the Seal a Real Thing When Drinking Alcohol? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

In the height of summer, strawberries ripen quickly, and often go soft and unpalatable. At this stage, before they turn mouldy, they are perfect for fermenting, not least because these are signs that the process has already begun. Lacto-fermented berries keep in the fridge for at least a month and are delicious on pancakes, waffles, granola or as a condiment for savoury dishes. To make them, pack ripe berries into a clean jar and stir in a tablespoon of raw honey for every 100g fruit. Top with a little water to cover, seal and leave at room temperature and out of direct sunlight for one to two days, stirring three times a day, until the fruit starts to bubble and turns effervescent. Blend or leave whole, then seal and store in the fridge.

Kvass is another great way to preserve fruit. This ancient Baltic beverage is traditionally made with bread and sometimes flavoured with berries, apples and raisins. My simplified, gluten-free version makes a delightful fizzy drink thats similar to kombucha or water kefir.

Unlike kombucha and water kefir, no special ingredients are required to make this kvass; all you need is a little time and patience. Strawberries make a wonderfully pink kvass, but any soft fruit, or combination of fruits, will also work. Because of the high yeast content in fruit, mould can form on the surface while youre making this, so, prevent this from happening, and to aid fermentation, agitate and renew the surface by stirring it vigorously a few times every day.

Chlorine can inhibit fermentation, so, if possible, dechlorinate the water by pouring it into a wide-mouthed jar up to 24 hours ahead of making your kvass. After fermentation, the mushy fruit solids strained from the liquid can be saved and enjoyed as a puree on porridge, pancakes or waffles.

Enjoy this spritzy and nutritious drink as it is or over ice with a wedge of lime and sprig of mint for extra aroma.

Makes 1 cup

Strawberries or other berries tbsp honey or maple syrup, per 100g fruit1 pinch sea salt, per 100g fruit250ml water, per 100g fruit

To serve (optional)Ice, a lime wedge and/or a mint sprig

Multiply the quantity of honey, salt and water depending on how many berries you have to use up.

Put everything in a suitably sized clean jar or jars, then seal, shake and put out of direct sunlight, and leave to ferment, stirring the mix vigorously two or three times a day. After several days, when the berries look cooked and the mixture has turned darker and effervescent, strain into bottles and seal. Leave for two more days, until the kvass becomes more bubbly (fermentation times will vary depending on your room temperature). Prevent the bottles becoming too carbonated (and so at risk of exploding), by opening them every day and letting any excess gas escape. Once ready, consume or store in the fridge.

Go here to read the rest:

How to turn past-their-best summer berries into a refreshing drink recipe - The Guardian

On Saturday, CNNs Jim Acosta did a segment about ex-president Donald Trumps schedule of appearances, including his speech scheduled for tomorrow at CPAC Texas, over a banner that said Trump is pretending hes still president.

Hide the flags, said Acosta to begin his remarks, as he showed clips of Trump hugging the American flag at previous CPAC appearances. Before continuing he reacted to his own clips saying So disturbing.

Now the same man who gripped the Stars and Stripes wont let go of something else: the idea that hes still president, said Acosta. Describing the scene of Trumps presser earlier this week, Acosta said it looks like some kind of POTUS Potemkin village with Trump as pretender in chief.

Acosta went over a number of Trumps recent appearances before returning to focus on Trumps CPAC speech tomorrow. He showed a clip of himself with ACUs Matt Schlapp to emphasize that the CPAC crowd doesnt believe the election was fairly won but Joe Biden, and then professionally added makes my brain hurt after watching the clip. I too often feel like my brain hurts after watching an Acosta clip.

After the clip of his interview, Acosta brought up a remark he made on his eponymous show a few weeks ago. A couple of weeks ago I compared Trumps comeback tour to the circus, full of sideshow acts and clowns. I later got an email from an expert on the circus industry, he said. This person pointed out that comparison actually was not fair. Because unlike the chaos of Trump world, a circus is carefully composed and organized.

Thats a great point, said Acosta. Comparing Trump to a clown is most definitely an insult to clowns. Hes more like one of those mask-hating customers at the grocery store. Youve seen them. A Karen, or whatever the name would be in Trumps case. You can almost hear him saying, I want to talk to the manager about the election, I want to talk to the manager of Twitter or Facebook.'

And the American people are kind of like the store manager. They have to explain, well sir, you lied about the election, you incited an insurrection. Youre going to have to leave the store or were calling security,' Acosta concluded. Please take your fake White House seal, and go play president somewhere else.'

Watch the clip above, via CNN.

Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com

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Acosta on Trump Appearing at CPAC: 'Take Your Fake White House Seal and Go Play President Somewhere Else - Mediaite

With the Fourth of July behind us, there is still plenty of summer left. If youre in need of some ideas to keep the kids busy, EMCL is the place for you.

We are constantly adding new titles weekly to our collections. We have books, e-books, DVDs, CD-books, magazines, launchpads (for kids and adults) and Story Time activity bags, for starters.

If you havent heard, we also have mobile hotspots, Xcel Energy power meters, a wide variety of cake pans, childrens puppets, craft bags and Colorado State Park backpacks available for check out.

We have just added the following board games to be checked out for three weeks: Jenga, Connect 4 and Trouble.

If you decide to visit us, we have a variety of other items that can be checked out, but they must stay on the library grounds. These include: sports balls, ball hop, checkers, chess pieces, sewing machines, phone chargers and laptops.

If the kids get antsy, we have a lovely childrens playground to run off some of that extra energy.

You can also take a Story Walk with them as well. The Story Walk begins at the front left hand entrance of the library and the story takes you around the library park and finishes by the childrens playground.

So, we hope we have piqued your interest and we would love to see you come and visit us soon.

Mark your calendars tentatively for the Community Barb-a-que located here at the library parking lot. The Brush Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the event on Tuesday, July 27, beginning at 5 p.m. There will be live music, food and drinks provided by our local businesses and there will be no charge for this event. Feel free to bring lawn chairs or blankets, as there will be limited seating. If you have further questions please call the Brush Chamber office at 970-842-2666.

Please stop in and join the gang for Story Time every Wednesday and Friday beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays and 10:15 a.m. on Fridays. Christy and Tammy have wonderful stories, songs and crafts ready for our 3- to 5-year-olds. Younger children may join as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

Come join us on Wednesday, July 14, at 3 p.m. for our Summer Reading program. This week Kristine Keegan will be showing us techniques to use for decorating cupcakes and cookies. Then everyone will get a chance to utilize those skills on their own creations.

CampNaNoWriMo will meet again this Thursday, July 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This month Megan is focusing this time period on dedicated writing. Please stop in if youre interested in joining our writing group or wondering what the group is about.

Our Tween & Teen Book and Movie Club will be getting together on Friday, July 16, at 2:00 p.m. This week our group will be challenging their skills by playing Book Trivia. We hope you come and join us. Teens going into the sixth through 12th grades may participate.

Genealogy will meet on Monday, July 19, at 6 p.m. This month the group will focus on researching your World War II ancestors, as well as on the home front and post-war years.

On Tuesday, July 27, at 6 p.m. our Shelf Indulgence adult reading book club will meet to share their ideas on this months read, entitled Year of Yes, by Shonda Rhimes.

This weeks staff pick is by two popular authors who have once again collaborated to make a fast-paced thriller you wont be able to put down. The Presidents Daughter was written by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. Here is a synopsis of their latest novel:

Matthew Keating, a one-time Navy SEAL and a past president has always defended his family as staunchly as he has his country. Now those defenses are under attack. A madman abducts Keatings teenage daughter, Melanie turning every parents deepest fear into a matter of national security. As the world watches in real time, Keating embarks on a one-man special-ops mission that tests his strengths: as a leader, a warrior, and a father.

This weekly article is written by staff at the East Morgan County Library in Brush.

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East Morgan County Library News: Collection is full of items of all kinds for check out - Fort Morgan Times

Donald C. Pritchett grew up in Sanford but moved to DeLand with his fiance in 2017. Coming from a family where almost everyone had served in the military, Donald knew at an early age that he was going to join the Army one day.

My dad was in the Army, his dad was a Navy SEAL, and his dad was a Marine Corps veteran that was in World War II, Pritchett. My entire family enlisted, so it just seemed like the right thing to do.

While in the Army, Donald Pritchett traveled all over the world and learned to keep an open mind. He also learned that no matter where you go, you can always make a new friend.

When I was stationed in Afghanistan, I realized that a lot of people go over there expecting to meet a lot of bad people, Pritchett said. But thats not true; when I was there, I met some of the nicest people Ive ever known.

Pritchett highly recommends joining the service to young people today, citing it as a great place to start out, learn some core values and skills, and meet people that youll be friends with for the rest of your life.

Now, Pritchett runs a publication, Neighbors of South DeLand and Victoria Park, and loves living in DeLand. The more I learned about the neighborhood, and the more people I got to meet, made me really enjoy living here, and Ill probably never leave, he said.

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'Wherever you go, you can make a friend' | Hometown Heroes 2021 | beacononlinenews.com - The West Volusia Beacon

Great white shark populations are increasing, say researchers. And that's very good for our oceans.

This morning just before 6 a.m. Eastern Time, a 13-foot adult male great white shark named Breton was detected off the southern tip of New Jersey near Delaware Bay. Weighing in at over 1,400 pounds, Breton was last detected five days ago off the coast of North Carolina and has traveled over 100 miles in the past three days. Last night, just before 11 p.m. ET, a 6-foot-7-inch juvenile great white named Monomoy turned up in the northern reaches of the Gulf of Maine. And not even a half hour earlier, a 9-foot-8-inch sub-adult great white named Cabot was swimming miles off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. These are just three of the roughly 70 sharks currently being tracked via small electronic transmitters by OCEARCH, a research organization that collects and shares real-time data through its popular shark-tracking app.

A recent uptick in shark encounters is not a figment of an overactive imagination. Sightings of great white sharks as well as biting incidents have been making headlines on both U.S. coasts recently. Two weeks ago, a popular beach on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was temporarily closed to swimmers after a beachgoer shot a video of a great white shark coming within just a few yards of shore to hunt and devour a seal. And on the west coast, a white shark bit a man in the leg as he swam off Grey Whale Cove State Beach, about 18 miles south of San Francisco, and another bit a 15-year-old Boy Scout while he kayaked off Catalina Island in Southern California.

This is summertime, and this is when people get bitten, says Bob Hueter, chief scientist at OCEARCH. The first thing to remember is that the ocean is a wild place. Its only logical that there are more shark encounters when people flock to oceans, he says, just as you would expect more bear encounters when summer attendance rises at national parks.

Yet when white sharks bite humans, insist researchers, its virtually always a case of mistaken identity. The typical scenario there is that a surfer or swimmer is bitten by a great white shark thats immature, thats a juvenile. These are small white sharks, maybe about six feet long, says Hueter. Those animals still have not learned whats suitable, and they will bite and release.

Statistically, human encounters with sharks are incredibly rare. Recognize that you face much greater risks you when you go swimming in the ocean from things like undertows and rip currents and lightning, which kill more people than sharks ever do, says Hueter. And its not a close call. Beachgoers are more than 100 times more likely to drown at the beach than be killed by a shark, according to statistics kept by the University of Floridas International Shark Attack Files.

So why is the publics fear of sharks so out of whack with the actual threat? We tend to fixate on these low-probability events, says Greg Skomal, a senior fisheries biologist at theMassachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries whose research has featured on theDiscovery Channels Shark Weekspecials. I always ask folks to think of risk in the context of whats real and whats probable.

Skomal, who has been studying great white sharks in the waters off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, for more than 30 years, notes that while estimating the great white shark population is notoriously difficult, it appears that more of these big fish are living in our oceans today than in recent decades. These are highly migratory animals covering a very broad area, he says. The white shark population appeared to decline in the 70s, the 80s, into the 90s. And then, thanks to protections put in place in the late 90s, it appears to be recovering.

Skomals research is used by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, whose Sharktivity app tracks great white sharks tagged off of Cape Cod. Tagging and tracking sharks helps researchers understand how and when sharks feed, reproduce and migrate, which in turn is crucial to learning how humans and sharks can co-exist.

What youre looking for is patterns, says Skomal, who is working toward one day being able to create a probability map of where great white sharks are most likely to appear by analyzing how patterns of environmental conditions time of day, turbidity of the water, water temperature, and other various weather conditions correlate with shark sightings.

If you can establish those statistical relationships, that allows you to forecast moving forward, says Skomal. So, youll be able to say that, given the conditions of today, the likelihood of a white shark being in this area during this these times is quite high. And you can actually put a number to that in terms of probability. Thats the goal.

In the meantime, Skomal hopes people wont let galeophobia an irrational fear of sharks ruin a trip to the beach. People are just inherently afraid of sharks but the first thing people should realize is that the risk of shark bites is not the same everywhere you go.

Common-sense risk assessment includes knowing what kind of sharks, if any, are known to swim nearby. I always think that it's important to educate yourself as to what species might be in the area, says Skomal. But if theres no documented shark attack in an area, the real-world probability of being bitten is extremely low.

The simplest way to avoid shark encounters, say researchers, is to stay out of the food chain. That requires being mindful of natural surroundings to minimize the chance that a shark might confuse you with prey. For example, if you see seabirds diving, it could be a sign that there is a large school of fish in the area, which in turn can attract sharks. If you see fish jumping, it could also be a sign that a shark is in the area. Likewise, say experts, dont swim or surf near fishing areas and piers, since bait or a struggling fish can attract sharks.

Most of all, steer clear of one of the great whites all-time favorite snacks. If youre foolish enough to go swimming among a group of seals frolicking in the shallows, then youre putting yourself at risk, says Hueter. Theres no question about that.

Thats because sharks are both opportunistic and highly capable of learning, says Skomal. If you're coming to New England as a big white shark, youre quickly going to learn that New England has a summertime when you have access to a really robust food source in seals. And while seals spend most of their time on land, they eventually need to head into the water to feed. Once a great white locks in on its prey, it will be ruthlessly single-focused, says Hueter. It will try to pin a seal down and go right up on the beach if it has to.

If youre concerned about sharks, stay shallow, don't go too far from shore and don't swim alone, advises Skomal. Those are also the top shark-avoiding tips from the University of Florida, which notes that sharks most often bite lone individuals.

Other tips include removing shiny jewelry before entering the water. The reflected light looks like shining fish scales, says the University of Floridas tip sheet.

Shark advisories are common on Cape Cod beaches. (Photo by John Greim)

Researchers hope that their work will help educate the public about the critical role sharks play in keeping oceans healthy and balanced.

Remember, sharks are not the interlopers. Were the interlopers, says Hueter. We should celebrate the fact that these sharks are coming back. This is a very good thing.

Read more from the original source:

Great White Sightings Are Up But You Can Avoid A Shark Attack With Common Sense, Say Experts - Forbes

THREE friends who set themselves the gruelling challenge of running 48 miles in 48 hours around their County Durham hometown set off on their first of 12 runs this morning.

The trio will together run four miles, every four hours, for 48 hours, around the streets of Sedgefield in what will be a punishing test of their stamina, strength and endurance, both physically and mentally.

Catherine Sutcliffe, Jo Bowman and Kate Stanley are running to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer, in memory of Kates father David Bowman who died of the so-called Silent Killer ten years ago at 67-years-old.

The womens challenge has garnered the support of their childrens two local schools, with teachers from Wynyard Church of England Primary School and Sedgefield Primary School set to join them on one of the runs.

Year three pupils, including Kates son James, will also get involved.

Jo, from St Edmunds Manor, Sedgefield, said: The support has been incredible, with teachers and friends wanting to join us on some of the runs, and donations from people who have been affected by pancreatic cancer in their own lives.

Some 10,300 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year; 28 new cases each day. It is known as the silent killer because it is extremely hard to spot, meaning 80 percent of cases are diagnosed at a late stage, when the cancer is too advanced to treat successfully.

Kates father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2011 and died just four weeks later in the February.

No sooner had the hospital doctor uttered the words, than it started to show its true colours. With ferocious speed, it took every ounce of his strength and ravaged his body, said the mother-of-four from Church View, Sedgefield.

Within 14 days, he was bedbound; within 20, he couldnt eat; on day 28, he died in my mothers arms early one morning while I lay in the bed next door and wept. He was robbed of his golden years of retirement and grandchildren.

She said research into the disease has been underfunded for decades, receiving only three per cent of the UK cancer research budget.

Funding is paramount to support research into early diagnostic tools, so that those who face pancreatic cancer in the future have a chance against this deadly disease, said Kate, 40.

The three women, who will run 12 four-mile runs, finishing with their final run at 5am on Friday, have already raised more than 2,700 for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

The gruelling 4x4x48 challenge was inspired by ex-Navy Seal and ultramarathon runner David Goggins and aims to push challengers to the limits by running around the clock with little chance of rest and recovery.

Catherine, from the Meadows, Sedgefield, said: It wouldnt be a challenge worth doing if it didnt push us to the max.

"We have trained hard over the past few months, clocking up hundreds of miles in our legs, but Id be lying if I said we werent nervous.

To support the women and donate visit justgiving.com/48in48forCancer and follow 48 in 48 for Cancer on Instagram and Facebook.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054

Continued here:

County Durham women on 4x4x48 run to beat pancreatic cancer - The Northern Echo

We discuss Indias trade exposure to Iran and prospects for an import-export rebound in light of US-Iran detente, full operations of Chabahar port, and the changing situation in Afghanistan. A new bilateral preferential trade treaty has also gone through several rounds of negotiations, and would boost India-Iran trade flows, diversify the trade basket beyond energy assets, and bolster regional commercial linkages and investments in connectivity infrastructure.

Irans vast untapped hydrocarbon reserves and Indias ever-growing energy consumption form the basis of India-Iran economic cooperation. However, the two countries are also invested in strengthening their regional connectivity infrastructure to bolster trade and commerce.

With the changing situation in Afghanistan, India and Iran find themselves at an opportune moment to explore the convergence of their mutual interests.

Irans geographical location offers India a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia through the India-invested Chabahar Port as well as access to global markets in Europe and Russia via the International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC). These infrastructural linkages hold key to expanding trade and investment prospects in the region, including between India and Iran.

India-Iran bilateral trade registered 23.7 percent growth in the financial year 2018-19 (FY19), peaking at US$17.03 billion with mineral oil and fuel claiming the lions share in Indian imports, accounting for US$12.3 billion. However, this trend has reversed since May 2019, following the lapse of the oil sanction waiver granted to India by the US. In FY20, bilateral trade stood at US$4.77 billion.

This extended period of no crude oil sale from Iran to India led to the depletion of rupee reserves in UCO bank and IDBI bank, the only two legal lenders facilitating rupee trade with Iran, thereby further reducing the volume of exports from India to Iran. Indias overall exports to Iranfell by 42 percent in 2020from 2019 to US$2.2 billion, thelowest in over a decade. Thefall is continuing in 2021,and in January this year, exports more than halved from a year ago, to reachUS$100.20 million. Exporters are apprehensive due to depleting rupee reserves and the consequent delay in payments.

However, with a change in US leadership, prospects for economic engagement with Iran look promising. The new Biden administration is expected to follow a pragmatic approach towards Iran and the possibility of easing US sanctions is not all that far off. The US stance of negotiating its re-entry into the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018, reflects Bidens facilitative, outward looking approach moves away from Trumps protectionist, inward looking approach.

India stands to benefit from this new approach, as India is Irans second largest trade partner for oil, after China. Deeper economic engagement with Iran is crucial for Indias energy security. In fact, as per reporting in Reuters, India hopes the thaw in US-Iran relations will enable it to move forward on US$500 million worth investments.

On July 8, Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar travelled to Tehran to call on the Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi, a month before he assumed office. The visit was made enroute Jaishankars visit to Moscow for bilateral talks between July 7-9. Just last weekend, Tehran invited India to Raisis official swearing-in ceremony on August 5.

Negotiations for an India-Iran bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) are ongoing (five rounds have already been held as of June 2021), with a focus on diversifying the bilateral trade basket to include manufacturing, services, and light engineering items. The PTA, which is expected to materialize soon, will allow the two countries to cut tariffs on each others products. Since Iran is not a World Trade Organization (WTO) signatory, there is no obligation to keep the tariff rates within a specific threshold as prescribed by the WTO.

Major Indian exports to Iran include semi/wholly milled rice, black tea, fertilizers, organic/inorganic/agro chemicals, machinery and instruments, metals, primary and semi-finished iron and steel, pharmaceutical and fine chemicals, processed minerals, polyester yarn and woven fabrics, and rubber manufactured products.

India caters to more than one-third of Irans demand for sugar and rice. Iran imported around 700,000 tons of basmati rice from India during the first quarter of 2020. Other agricultural exports to Iran include barley, sesamum seeds, cane sugar, and oil cake etc. In FY19, Indias export basket to Iran was valued at US$3.5 billion and in the first 10 months of FY20, this value stood at US$2.8 billion.

Other potential items that can enhance Indian exports to Iran are machinery and instruments, electrical, electronic equipment, vehicles other than railway, tramway, plastics and plastic articles, optical, photo and technical apparatus, pharmaceutical products, animal vegetable fats and oil, ceramic products and pearls, and precious stones.

Major Indian imports from Iran include crude oil, inorganic/organic chemicals, fertilizers, plastic and articles, glass and glassware, natural or cultured pearls, precious or semiprecious stones, leather, etc. Agricultural imports from Iran comprise of almonds, pistachios, dates, and saffron, etc. In FY19, imports from Iran amounted to US$13.5 billion. In the first 10 months of FY20 (April 2019-January 2020), this value dropped to US$1.35 billion. The main reason for this drastic fall was no import of crude oil from Iran since May 2019.

In the period between June 1990 to March 2021, the cumulative Indian foreign direct investment (FDI) in Iran stood at US$5,750.20 million. Large Indian companies, such as ESSAR, OVL, and Tata Steel, etc., have a presence in Iran. (Comparatively, Iranian cumulative FDI into India from 1997 to 2019 stood at just US$905.62 million.)

Irans vast gas, oil, and hydrocarbon reserves as well as its strategic location makes it an attractive destination for India.

The recent US$400 billion deal between Iran and China to develop Irans infrastructure and energy in lieu of continual and discounted oil supply to China irked India and may incentivize New Delhi to be more aggressive in its pursuit of trade and commerce relations with Tehran.

Pure rhetoric will not stand for much in the region, and businesses should pay attention to the presence of new regional stakeholders with the departure of US-led NATO in Afghanistan. China is expected to join Russia as a security provider, but India could further its economic and developmental goals through reinforcing infrastructure and easing trade flows via tariff and non-tariff relaxations. This makes sense in light of New Delhis own reservations on the Belt and Road Initiative and Pakistan (CPEC) versus desire to improve the scope of India-Iran economic and trade cooperation.

This is why India has heavily invested in the Chabahar port of Iran, which will provide it with sea-land access to Afghanistan and Central Asia through Iran, bypassing Pakistan. This investment is key to Indias strategic ambitions in the region, be it accessing the rich mineral reservoirs of Central Asia or accessing the tactically important Afghanistan in asserting Indias role in the security and development of the region.

Recently, India also proposed for the inclusion of Chabahar port in the multimodal INSTC project. Proposed by India, Russia, and Iran in 2000, the INSTC now enjoys the support of 10 other Central Asian countries. It envisions a 7,200 km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road for freight transport, aiming to cut carriage costs by about 30 percent and transit time from 40 days to about 20 days.

India has been developing two terminals at the Chabahar port, including the Shahid Beheshti complex. Under an agreement with Iran, India will run the terminal for 10 years. Back in December 2018, an Indian company, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), took over the ports operations.

As of December 2020, the port has handled 1.75 million tons (MT) of bulk cargo and more than 13,000 TEUs of container cargo, as reported by WION media. India has used the port to send 75,000 million tons of wheat to Afghanistan in 2020 as part of humanitarian aid during the pandemic. India has also supplied 20,000 liters of the pesticide Malathion 96 ULV to Iran via the Chabahar port to help the country curb its desert locust outbreak.

Media reports from March quoted Indias ports and shipping minister Mansukh Mandaviya, saying that the port would commence full operations by May. Speaking to Reuters, Mandaviya said that Chabahar port had handled 123 vessels and 1.8 MT of bulk and general cargoes from February 2019 to January 2021. Moreover, India has agreed to provide six cranes and other equipment worth US$85 million to equip and operationalize the Shahid Beheshti terminal.

Finally, India also wants to set up an around 600 km railway line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, which is the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchestan in Iran and is close to the Afghan border. The undertaking is expected to cost US$1.6 billion.

About Us

India Briefing is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in Delhi and Mumbai. Readers may write to india@dezshira.com for more support on doing business in in India.

We also maintain offices or have alliance partners assisting foreign investors in Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Italy, Germany, and the United States, in addition to practices in Bangladesh and Russia.

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Opportunities in India's Trade and Investment with Iran - India Briefing

FAIRFIELD, N.J. (PRWEB) July 14, 2021

Keypoint Intelligence, the worlds leading independent provider of testing services and analytical information to the document imaging industry, today announced its BLI Summer 2021 Pick Award recipients in the A4 category. Awarded twice annually for office equipment, Picks acknowledge the products that gave the best performances in Keypoint Intelligence lab testing in the previous six months.

The BLI Summer 2021 A4 Pick Awards go to the following exceptional devices*:

Canon MAXIFY GX6020/GX7020Outstanding SOHO Color Inkjet All-in-One

Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5100 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer SeriesOutstanding Personal Color Inkjet All-in-One

HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M480fOutstanding Color MFP for Small Workgroups

HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP M578 SeriesOutstanding Color MFP for Mid-Size Workgroups

HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M455dnOutstanding Color Printer for Small Workgroups

HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M555 SeriesOutstanding Color Printer for Mid-Size Workgroups

HP Color LaserJet Managed E45028dnOutstanding MPS-Ready Color Printer for Small Workgroups

HP Color LaserJet Managed MFP E47528fOutstanding MPS-Ready Color MFP for Small Workgroups

HP LaserJet Enterprise MFP M430fOutstanding MFP for Mid-Size Workgroups

HP LaserJet Enterprise M406dnOutstanding Printer for Mid-Size Workgroups

HP LaserJet Managed E40040dnOutstanding MPS-Ready Printer for Mid-Size Workgroups

HP LaserJet Managed MFP E42540fOutstanding MPS-Ready MFP for Mid-Size Workgroups

*Not all products are sold in all regions.

CANON RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING SOHO OFFERINGSCanon offers an unbeatable value to small and home office environments with its MAXIFY GX6020/GX7020 devices, said Kaitlin Shaw, Associate Director of A4 Hardware at Keypoint Intelligence. They deliver standout user-friendliness and image quality. The devices high-yield MegaTank design contributes to their extremely low total cost of ownership, as well as their low user intervention rates. Intuitive touchscreens and print drivers, simple routine maintenance procedures, and flexible mobile support boost productivity even more. And to top it all off, the devices vibrant color output can help marketing materials stand out from the crowd.

EPSON TAKES HOME A WIN IN THE HOME OFFICE CATEGORYThe Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5100 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer Series offers low-volume environments strong performance and impressive usability, said Kaitlin Shaw, Associate Director of A4 Hardware at Keypoint Intelligence. Thanks to its cartridge-free ink tank system that includes up to two years of ink in the box, total cost of ownership is significantly lower than the average of competitive models. Flawless reliability, strong user-friendliness, and a low user intervention rate means users will have more time for the most important tasks. Flexible mobile and cloud support make it easy and convenient for users to print and scan no matter where they are. Our lab technicians were also impressed with how vivid and consistent the devices color output was.

HP WINS BIG IN THE SMB SEGMENTHP has been recognized for its impressive variety of outstanding devices for small to mid-size workgroups, including several MPS-ready devices, said Kaitlin Shaw, Associate Director of A4 Hardware at Keypoint Intelligence. The top-notch performance, usability, and functionality that weve come to expect from HP is showcased in all of the winning models: flawless reliability, along with comprehensive security capabilities and robust feature sets. All the winning devices are powered by HP FutureSmart Enterprise firmware and support HP JetAdvantage Security Manager, which have both passed our Security Validation Testing program. The models also delivered fast print speeds and offer strong user-friendliness. Whats more, the devices support a wide range of mobile options that make it easy for workers to continue staying productive even when theyre on the go. Plus, they all offer integration with numerous software applications that can help businesses save even more time and money.

ABOUT KEYPOINT INTELLIGENCEFor 60 years, clients in the digital imaging industry have relied on Keypoint Intelligence for independent hands-on testing, lab data, and extensive market research to drive their product and sales success. Keypoint Intelligence has been recognized as the industrys most trusted resource for unbiased information, analysis, and awards due to decades of analyst experience. Customers have harnessed this mission-critical knowledge for strategic decision-making, daily sales enablement, and operational excellence to improve business goals and increase bottom lines. With a central focus on clients, Keypoint Intelligence continues to evolve as the industry changes by expanding offerings and updating methods, while intimately understanding and serving manufacturers, channels, and their customers transformation in the digital printing and imaging sector.

ABOUT BLI OFFICE HARDWARE PICK AWARDSBuyers Lab Picks stand alone in the industry and are hard-earned awards as they are based on rigorous testing, including an extensive durability assessment and evaluation of key attributes such as usability, image quality, and value. Each product that passes its lab test earns the Highly Recommended or Recommended Seal and a Certificate of Reliability, with the best performers qualifying as Pick contenders.

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CONTACTDeanna Flanick+1 973-797-2145deanna.flanick@keypointintelligence.com

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Keypoint Intelligence Awards Canon, Epson, and HP with BLI Summer 2021 A4 Picks - PR Web