Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<keyword id="6355460" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi">Holi</keyword> or the Festival of Colours is just around the corner, all set to usher in a colourful spring after the austere winter and promising to bring the colour of joy and passion in our humdrum life. But before you start preparing for the traditional colour splash, have you got all the ingredients to make it a green Holi? <keyword id="2132784" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-colours-industry">Holi colours industry</keyword> was pegged to <keyword id="30450" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Touch">touch</keyword> Rs 4,500 crore in 2012-13, according to an analysis by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (<keyword id="6355988" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Assocham">Assocham</keyword>), and the numbers are sure to go up this year. Interestingly, the <keyword id="47445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-market">Indian market</keyword> has also witnessed a growing demand for hazard-free herbal colours. The market for <keyword id="2132783" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Herbal-dyes">herbal dyes</keyword> is estimated to be growing at 30-40% annually although the products are a bit expensive. 
 While a chemical-free colour plunge is the most desirable and eco-friendly way of celebrating Holi, you must walk through the market once to find out what’s in store. Broadly speaking, you will find three types of <keyword id="586078" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="chemical-colours">chemical colours</keyword> here – powders, pastes and wets or liquid ones. Most of these are chemical/synthetic dyes, containing substances such as <keyword id="2132786" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Oxides">oxides</keyword>, <keyword id="6395221" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="heavy-metals">heavy metals</keyword> (lead, chromium, nickel and cadmium), <keyword id="1322867" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="acids">acids</keyword>, <keyword id="2132787" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Alkalis">alkalis</keyword>, <keyword id="2132789" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Powdered-glass">powdered glass</keyword> and <keyword id="2132788" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mica-dust">mica dust</keyword> – all supremely harmful for your skin, hair and eyes. 
 The powders mostly have <keyword id="2132790" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Toxic-colorants">toxic colorants</keyword> and an asbestos/silica base; the pastes have a mix of toxic compounds and inferior quality oils and water colours include strong alkalis. No wonder we get itches, rashes, redness and swelling after a thorough colour soak, a colour-filled balloon attack or a terrific <keyword id="2132798" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pitchkari">pitchkari</keyword> fight. Also, darker shades like red, blue and green have high levels of chemicals, metal oxides and industrial dyes, which are used to provide thick texture. Shiny colours can also contain powdered glass. 
 
10 chemical colours that can harm you 
If you revel in rainbow hues and mostly buy synthetic colours, here’s a harm list for your ready reference. 
 
1. Abeer/Gulal: Popularly believed to be the least harmful of all chemical colours, this one contains a whole lot of mica dust that can cause <keyword id="100486" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Skin-irritation">skin irritation</keyword> and other infections. This <keyword id="2132796" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Powder-colour">powder colour</keyword> is available in many hues including red, pink, green, yellow and magenta. 
 
2. Red &amp; pink: These colours have mercuric oxide and rhodamine B; both can cause <keyword id="1654686" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="eye-irritation">eye irritation</keyword>, <keyword id="28956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="skin-cancer">skin cancer</keyword> and more. 
 
3. Blue: Has <keyword id="890372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prussian-blue">Prussian blue</keyword> that may cause contract dermatitis. 
 
4. Green: Contains copper carbonate/copper sulphate; this may cause severe eye <keyword id="6450271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="allergy">allergy</keyword> or even temporary blindness. 
 
5. Yellow: Features auramine, which may cause eye and skin allergy, as well as respiratory and <keyword id="2132814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Digestive-tract-irritation">digestive tract irritation</keyword>. 
 
6. Orange: Contains chromium Iodide, which is toxic to blood and liver. 
 
7. Violet: Has methyl violet; this can be carcinogenic and may cause severe eye irritation. 
 
8. Purple: Contains chromium iodide; this can also be carcinogenic and may cause <keyword id="6465125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="asthma">asthma</keyword> or allergy. 
 
9. Silver: One of the components is aluminum bromide and it is also known to be carcinogenic. 
 
10. Black: Contains lead oxide, which may cause renal failure and learning disabilities in the long run. 
 
 
 
Go ‘natural’ to stay safe You can either buy herbal dyes or use home-made colours, which are clinically safe and totally <keyword id="6356826" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="environment">environment</keyword> friendly. The herbal variant is now easily available in the market and uses components such as flour, henna or arrowroot powder as base, and vegetable dyes to add colour. But before buying them, make sure they are non-carcinogenic, lead-free and lab-tested for safety. 
 You can also prepare <keyword id="583108" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-colours">Holi colours</keyword> at home as you get some excellent colorants from certain flowers and plants. All you need to do is dry and powder them or soak/boil them in water. Add a little scented oil and eco-friendly Holi colours will be ready for use. Take a look at the 8 exotic colours you can prepare at home. 
 
1. <keyword id="2132779" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ruby-Red">Ruby Red</keyword>: Prepare red sandalwood powder/paste or mix it in plenty of water and boil for <keyword id="2132794" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Liquid-colour">liquid colour</keyword>. You can also crush dry red hibiscus flowers and boil it in water. Peels of red <keyword id="92372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Pomegranates">pomegranates</keyword> or twigs of madar tree produce a vibrant red when boiled in water. Otherwise, put carrot or tomato juice in plenty of water to take the stickiness out and use it. 
 
2. <keyword id="2132806" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Turmeric-yellow">Turmeric Yellow</keyword>: This one is the easiest to make. Mix turmeric or haldi powder with double the amount of besan to prepare a vivid yellow powder. Flowers like marigold and yellow chrysanthemums can also be dried and crushed to obtain different shades of yellow. To produce liquid colours, mix any of these powders in plenty of water and boil it. 
 
3. Profound Pink/Magnificent Magenta: Soak sliced beetroot in lots of water for 12 hours or so before using the liquid. 
 
4. Sunny Orange: Put tesu or palash flowers (flame of the forest) in water and soak overnight. Or boil them in water for a vibrant yellow-orange shade. 
 
5. Emerald Green: Dried and powdered henna leaves will work best. For wet colour, soak the henna leaves overnight or prepare a paste of spinach/coriander/mint, and mix it in water. 
 
6. Turquoise Blue: Jacaranda and blue hibiscus flowers can be dried, powdered and used. 
 
7. Dark Brown: Boil tea leaves or coffee powder. Let it cool before using. 
 
8. Charcoal Black: Boil dried amla in an iron vessel and leave it overnight. Mix with water and use. 
 
3 tips for a ‘safe’ Holi 
1. Say ‘no’ to colours: Especially pastes and liquid colours, as these tend to stain the skin deeper and last longer. Avoid colours altogether if you are suffering from asthma, eye or <keyword id="624291" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Skin-infections">skin infections</keyword>, or any other chronic disease. 
 
2. Cover yourself well: The more you do that, the less exposed you will be to harmful chemicals. Wear full-sleeve dresses and don a pair of sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes. Apply baby oil, cream or waterproof <keyword id="74032" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sunscreen">sunscreen</keyword> lotion on your skin – so that the stains will get off easily. 
 
3. See your doctor: Don’t neglect post-Holi syndromes like skin or eye irritation. A mild anti-allergic and soothing skin lotion should be able to fix it, but severe allergy, <keyword id="2132809" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chemical-burn">chemical burn</keyword> or <keyword id="2132810" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Retinal-damage">retinal damage</keyword> cannot be ruled out either. See your doctor as soon as you can and start proper treatment. 
 
Image credit: Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Usher In The Festival
Of Colours; Gear Up For A Chemical-free Holi

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The conflict with Hamas that began October 7 will have widespread financial implications for Israel. </li><li>A top Israeli economist said a recession in Israel is likely, and Fitch put the country's credit rating on watch for downgrade. </li></ul>Tensions in the Middle East have continued to escalate since the Palestinian militant group Hamas killed 1,400 people in its attack on Israel on October 7. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-warns-israel-dont-make-same-mistakes-sept-11-hamas-2023-10?_gl=1*bmvcfe*_ga*MjA5NTAyMzYyOS4xNjYyNDcwMDc5*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY5NzcyNzAzMS4xMzY4LjEuMTY5NzcyNzA0Mi40OS4wLjA.">President Joe Biden visited Tel Aviv</a> on Wednesday, Israeli ground troops have started to take positions near the Gaza border, and military strategists have forecasted a looming, extended conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/etf/israel-hamas-war-day-13---netanyahu-s-long-war-alert-egypt-opens-aid-path-to-gaza-biden-considers-10b-support-1032721069">cautioned</a> on Thursday that the conflict will be a "long war."<h3>Recession risk</h3>The near- and long-term impact on Israel's economy remains in question, especially as more than a quarter-million reservists from Israel's Defense Forces have left their jobs to prepare for war. The majority of them are under 40 years old, and comprise a key demographic in the country's technology sector, which accounts for about a fifth of Israel's gross domestic product.Economist Joseph Zeira, a former professor at Hebrew University and the author of "The Israeli Economy: A Story of Success and Costs," said the economic impact of something like this is "immediate."Zeira told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/19/israel-recession-likely-as-war-drags-on-economist-says.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told CNBC</a> that a recession appears almost certain as the country gears up for war, tourism drops, and productivity declines as a result of large-scale mobilization. <h3>Credit risk</h3>On Tuesday, Fitch Ratings placed Israel's sovereign debt rating on watch for downgrade, pointing to the potential for the conflict to expand with multiple actors, such as other militant groups and Iran, as well as the risk of large-scale military confrontations. The consequences of such an escalation, the agency said, could result in a negative ratings action, and a sizable financial drain stemming from higher spending and lower tax collection. "While not our base case, such large-scale escalation, in addition to human loss, could result in significant additional military spending, destruction of infrastructure, sustained change in consumer and investment sentiment and thus lead to a large deterioration of Israel's credit metrics," Fitch said in a statement. <h3>Currency risk</h3>On October 9, two days after Hamas' initial attack, the Bank of Israel sold off $30 billion in foreign reserves in a bid to prevent its currency from falling against the dollar.Yet in less than two weeks, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/israel-hamas-war-shekel-dollar-currency-central-bank-foreign-reserves-2023-10">Israel's shekel has weakened about 4.8%</a> to hit multi-year lows against the dollar. Traders have been ramping up <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/israel-hamas-war-palestine-shekel-dollar-dominance-currencies-dedollarization-investing-2023-10">short bets against the currency</a> to the highest level since January 2022, according to Deutsche Bank.The central bank, then, is facing the dual pressures of stimulating the economy by slashing interest rates, while also needing to prop up its currency. <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/dfbcb4d3-bbf9-42f1-9303-f92b01536855" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Financial Times</a> reported Tuesday that Bank of Israel deputy governor Andrew Abir said policymakers would prioritize stabilizing the currency over growth."We need to see a de-escalation in the conflict or a surprise rate hike from the central bank for the currency to rise," currency analyst Lee Hardman of MUFG Bank said, per the FT.

From a likely recession to a weakening shekel, here's how the conflict with Hamas is impacting Israel's economy and markets

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6355882" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="israel" source="Orion">Israel</keyword>'s central bank added <keyword id="12305409" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="yuan" source="Orion">yuan</keyword> to its reserve holdings for the first time ever.</li><li>Previously, the bank only held US dollars, euros, and the British pound. </li></ul>Israel's central bank will add Chinese yuan while slashing its <keyword id="11931694" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dollar" source="Orion">dollar</keyword> and euro holdings in a move to diversify its reserve allocations and lengthen its investment horizon, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-20/israel-adds-yuan-to-206-billion-reserves-in-philosophy-change">Bloomberg</a> reported. "We need to look at the need to earn a return on the reserves that will cover the costs of the liability," Deputy Governor of the Bank of Israel, Andrew Abir, said in an interview.In addition to the yuan, the bank will also add the Canadian and Australian dollars, signaling a shift in the bank's "whole investment guidelines and philosophy," Abir said. Previously, the bank only held US dollars, euros, and the British pound. Israel's reserves stockpile will surpass $200 billion for the first time. Moving forward, the yuan will take up 2% of the bank's reserves, and both the Canadian and Australian <keyword id="11931696" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="currencies" source="Orion">currencies</keyword> will have 3.5% each, according to the bank's annual report. The new additions means the euro's share will fall from 30% to 20%, and the dollar will account for 61%, down from 66.5%. According to the International Monetary Fund, the dollar's share of total global currency reserves has fallen to its lowest point in over two decades, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/dollar-yuan-china-russia-saudi-arabia-reserve-currency-oil-deal-2022-3">sparking speculation over the rise of China's yuan</a>. <keyword id="11892748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword> has long pushed for the yuan to supplant the dollar as the go-to reserve currency. The weaponization of the US currency against Russia's financial institutions means a sea change could be coming, experts say. The effectiveness of the West's sanctions against Russia has provided a wake-up call for countries seeking to reduce their exposure to the dollar, economist Aleksandar Tomic <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/dollar-yuan-china-russia-saudi-arabia-reserve-currency-oil-deal-2022-3">previously told Insider</a>. But for China's yuan to gain much further, other nations would have to lose trust in the US economy and gain trust in China's monetary authorities. "Challenges to the dollar have come before, but none have taken hold because when things turn volatile, the US tends to be stable, so the dollar persists," Tomic said.

Israel adds China's yuan for the first time ever while cutting its dollar holdings in biggest currency reshuffle in a decade

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6355882" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="israel" source="Orion">Israel</keyword>'s <keyword id="11964297" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="central-bank" source="Orion">central bank</keyword> is adding more <keyword id="12480394" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="equities" source="Orion">equities</keyword> and high-yield corporate bonds to its portfolio. </li><li>"We have a broader set of currencies, and we're also going into a broader set of instruments," Governor Amir Yaron said Thursday.</li></ul>After adding <keyword id="11892748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword>'s <keyword id="12305409" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="yuan" source="Orion">yuan</keyword> to its holdings for the first time ever in April, Israel's central bank will further diversify its reserves to include more equities and high-yield corporate bonds, according to Governor Amir Yaron."We have a broader set of currencies, and we're also going into a broader set of instruments," Yaron said Thursday in an interview with <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-02/after-yuan-bank-of-israel-to-invest-in-riskier-bonds-equities?srnd=markets-vp">Bloomberg</a>. "It's part of our way of enhancing the overall return on these reserves as we're looking at the medium-run outlook for the return on our investments."The shift into more equities and riskier assets is part of the bank's biggest portfolio reshuffle in a decade and an evolving investment "philosophy." Before, the bank only held US dollars, euros, and the British pound. But in April, it <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/dollar-vs-yuan-israel-central-bank-chinese-currency-holdings-reserves-2022-4">slashed its dollar and euro holdings while adding the yuan</a>, as well as the Canadian and Australian currencies and the Japanese yen. The changes come as Israel aims to lengthen its investment horizon and generate greater returns on its roughly $200 billion foreign-exchange stockpiles. "We need to look at the need to earn a return on the reserves that will cover the costs of the liability," Deputy Governor of the <keyword id="14099445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bank-of-israel" source="Orion">Bank of Israel</keyword>, Andrew Abir, said in an <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/dollar-vs-yuan-israel-central-bank-chinese-currency-holdings-reserves-2022-4">April interview</a>.Now, about 2% of the bank's reserves are allocated to the yuan, and the Canadian and Australian currencies will have about 3.5% each, according to the bank's annual report. The euro's share dipped from 30% to 20%, and the <keyword id="11931694" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dollar" source="Orion">dollar</keyword> accounts for 61%, down from 66.5%. The International Monetary Fund reported earlier this year that the dollar's share of total global <keyword id="12055585" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="currency" source="Orion">currency</keyword> reserves has dropped to its lowest point in over two decades, which has spurred <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/dollar-yuan-china-russia-saudi-arabia-reserve-currency-oil-deal-2022-3?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets">speculation over the rise of the yuan</a>.But experts say the global economy would have to simultaneously lose faith in the dollar while gaining trust in China's monetary policy for any significant change to global reserve to occur."Challenges to the dollar have come before, but none have taken hold because when things turn volatile, the US tends to be stable, so the dollar persists," economist Aleksandar Tomic previously told Insider.

Israel will buy riskier assets for its reserves after adding China's yuan and cutting dollar holdings in its biggest portfolio reshuffle in a decade

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The body of a 16-year-old Iranian girl was stolen and buried by security forces, <a href="https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5508/">sources told the BBC.</a></li><li>She went missing after protesting in Iran, and sources said her body was buried before the family could do it.</li></ul>Security forces in Iran stole the body of a 16-year-old girl and buried her before her family had a chance to do so, sources close to her family told the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-63128510">BBC</a>. Nika Shakarami took part in the widespread protests against the Iranian government's treatment of women, which were sparked by the death of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-woman-arrested-morality-police-over-hijab-wearing-dies-suspiciously-2022-9?r=US&amp;IR=T">Mahsa Amini who passed away in Iranian custody</a> after she was arrested by Iran's Islamic morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly.Shakarami went missing 10 days after she took parts in protests in Iran's capital, Tehran, on September 20, the BBC reported.The last message she sent was to a friend, saying she was being chased by security forces, the BBC reported.Her aunt, Atash Shakarami, told the BBC that they then later found her body in a detention center morgue. The family had a plan to bury her body on her 17th birthday in her father's hometown of Khorramabad, West Iran.However, before they were able to do this, her body was taken and buried in a cemetery in the village of Veysian, a source close to the family told the BBC.The BBC noted that authorities in Iran have previously stolen peoples' bodies in order to convince their families to stay silent about protests.Iranian security forces told Atash they would kill her if anyone in her family took part in protests, a source told the BBC.A video posted by the organization Iran Human Rights shows the mother of Shakarami describing her as a martyr. Atash has been vocal about her niece's death and burial on social media, and she has since been arrested, sources told the BBC. According to nonprofit Iran Human Rights, at least 154 people — including children — have been killed in the protests. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, <a href="https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5508/">described</a> this as "crimes against humanity."Despite a mounting death toll, the resistance against the government shows little sign of stopping. People have torched <a href="https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/09/22/Iran-Protesters-torch-police-stations-vehicles-amid-unrest-over-Mahsa-Amini-s-death">police stations</a> and <a href="https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/on-camera-iranian-women-chop-off-hair-and-burn-hijabs-to-protest-against-islamic-regime-death-of-22-year-old-mahsa-amini">women</a> <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/09/22/why-iranian-women-are-burning-their-hijabs">have burnt their headscarves</a> in displays of resistance.Experts on Iran told <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-protests-mahsa-amini-trajectory-revolution-experts-say-2022-9">Insider's Joshua Zitser that</a> the deadly protests show the population's will for another revolution, which last happened in 1979.But he said protesters face significant hurdles in accomplishing such a feat.Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of nonprofit the Center for Human Rights in Iran, told Insider that "The protests are in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, but the demands being put forward by protesters are for broader social and political change and freedoms.He said that "literally half of the country feels discriminated against and wants to put an end to it, and the government violence imposed by the hijab restrictions, particularly in the last few months, has really made women of Iran reach a boiling point."Around the world, people are showing solidarity with women in Iran, with Iraqi-born Swedish Member of European Parliament Abir Al-Sahlani cutting her hair in an impassioned speech on Tuesday.She said that "until Iran is free, our fury will be bigger than the oppressors. Until the women of Iran are free we are going to stand with you," <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/swedish-mep-cuts-hair-during-speech-solidarity-with-iranian-women-2022-10-05/">per Reuters. </a>

Iranian authorities stole a 16-year-old protester's body and secretly buried her while threatening her family, report says

New Delhi, Rajshree Saraf, 24, recently shifted to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a creative technologist. She has never been away from home, not even once. This year, due to international travel limitations and the alarming rise in the Covid-19 cases, she will spend her <keyword id="188" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diwali">Diwali</keyword> away from her family and friends in Kolkata. "My friends have a ritual to organise a cards party every Diwali and we spend hours playing games, drinking and chatting. Thanks to <keyword id="790242" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="WhatsApp">WhatsApp</keyword> video calls, this Diwali will be no different for me. In fact, I am also planning to create some personalised Diwali stickers on WhatsApp that I can share with my friends," Saraf told IANS. The story of working professionals Bani Singh, 29 and Abir Kapur, also 29, who just tied the knot is similar. Abir works in financial services in Hong Kong and came to Delhi for his wedding, just before Diwali. With Bani still figuring her citizenship situation amid Abir's work commitments, the newly-weds' first Diwali will be on WhatsApp. "It is our first Diwali together and we haven't stopped discussing our virtual plans. Abir created a WhatsApp group in which we post pictures, videos and send voice notes to each other so that we feel connected and together on our first Diwali as a couple," they informed. For 400 million users in India, WhatsApp video calls are the easiest medium to connect to their loved ones in the festive season especially in the social distancing days. Family group video calls are also growing as WhatsApp has doubled the number of participants in a video or voice call from four to eight people at a time on its platform. People on average are spending over 15 billion minutes talking each day on WhatsApp calls. Captain Pankaj Bahukhandi, 57, serves as a Master Mariner for a shipping company. Being away for the latter part of the year, he will not be able to spend Diwali with his family in Dehradun. "Like every other time, we will speak on WhatsApp calls and share pictures, videos and voice notes on our family WhatsApp group so that I feel emotionally connected with my family amid the festivities," he said. "One app that we are the most comfortable using is WhatsApp. It is so easy to make calls and send pictures. We also put WhatsApp status for our grandkids on their birthdays," added Rajdeep Tewari and Sandhya Tewari, grandparents to four children, who are working professionals in different countries in the world.

How whatsApp video calls are connecting Indians this Diwali

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11894021" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="apple" source="Orion">Apple</keyword>'s new $19 microfiber polishing cloth is back-ordered past Christmas.</li><li>That may seem like a high price for a piece of fabric, but experts say it's part of a <keyword id="11893563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="strategy" source="Orion">strategy</keyword>.</li></ul>Apple used to include things like this for free with its products.Buy an iMac or an iPad or even some iPhones and you would get a small swatch of microfiber cloth embossed with a tidy little Apple logo.This fall, Apple introduced its accessory <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-polishing-cloth-19-dollars-2021-10">Polishing Cloth</a> for cleaning "any Apple display, including nano-texture glass, safely and effectively."Priced at $19 each, the product has become such a hit that Apple's softest stocking stuffer won't be available until mid-January. Over on eBay, vendors are listing the cloths for <a href="https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&amp;_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&amp;_nkw=Apple+polishing+cloth&amp;_sacat=0">three to four times</a> the original retail price – and people are buying them. While some people might think that $19 is a bit expensive for a product that you can often find elsewhere for a fraction of the price, if not for free, it turns out that the price itself is an important part of what is driving the popularity of the item.Indeed, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-19-is-apples-favorite-price-for-accessories-11637686800">The Wall Street Journal</a> tallied 18 Apple-branded accessories for sale on the company's website that ring up just shy of a pair of Hamiltons. As with the cloth, many items like headphones and charging adapters were once included with more expensive tech devices.It's worth noting that Apple <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-polishing-cloth-nano-texture-glass-screens">strongly recommends</a> using this cloth to clean the screen of the $6,000 nano-texture glass <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?platform=browser&amp;postSource=bi%7C616ed8bcff46755c000b6e45&amp;sc=false&amp;type=LINK-WITH-REVIEW-SLASH-OUT&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fpro-display-xdr%2F&amp;sessionid=1638208420102yr5rl14z" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noindex noopener sponsored">Pro Display XDR</a> or <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?platform=browser&amp;postSource=bi%7C616ed8bcff46755c000b6e45&amp;sc=false&amp;type=LINK-WITH-REVIEW-SLASH-OUT&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fimac-27%2F&amp;sessionid=16382084201023pkwusdr" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noindex noopener sponsored">27-inch iMacs</a> with the optional $500 nano-texture glass upgrade, and does include it with those products.The tech-repairs website iFixit even did <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/54122/macbook-pro-2021-teardown">a "teardown" of the cloth</a>, putting the fabric under a literal microscope to examine the difference between its fibers and a conventional offering. Although the material has the same suede-like texture as the iPad Smart Cover, the site gave the product a zero out of 10 for repairability. There are really two <keyword id="6354839" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="marketing" source="Orion">marketing</keyword> strategies at work, both of which have been carefully cultivated by retailers for decades, which Apple has perfected, the Journal reported.The first is "charm <keyword id="12635451" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pricing" source="Orion">pricing</keyword>," or the practice of ending prices in the number 9, which gives buyers the feeling that they are getting a good value.Practically every Apple product from a Mac Pro desktop to a USB power adapter ends with the number 9. Even the cheapest Apple-branded accessory — a 3.5mm headphone adapter — costs $9.The second is signaling, or the suggestion that these are premium products, since they cost more than average competing alternatives."Apple wants to make sure that their consumers constantly feel nice," e-commerce consultant Abir Syed told the Journal. Paying a little extra makes them "feel fancy," he said.Syed said that the $19 price point for the Polishing Cloth gives Apple both the charm-pricing benefits and signals that it is a top-tier product.Gene Munster, a VC with Loup Ventures, also told the Journal that shoppers are less likely to fret about low double-digit prices in a shopping cart that can easily top four figures."When you go below $20, those people don't think twice about it, even if [the item] could be competitively priced at $1," he said.It's not likely that Apple expected its Polishing Cloth to go viral the way it did, but the pricing strategy the company uses for all of its products may have turned this particular bit of fabric into a meme of the company's relationship with its unusually devoted customers.

The pricing of Apple's back-ordered $19 polishing cloth is part of a strategy that experts say makes shoppers 'feel fancy'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A seven-year-old boy named Tariq has become known as the "Corn Kid" all over the internet. </li><li>Tariq spoke about how much he loves corn in an interview on a web series called "Recess Therapy." </li></ul>A seven-year-old boy named Tariq became one of the most talked about kids on the internet when he launched into an impassioned discussion about why he loves corn. In the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VbZE6YhjKk">video</a>, posted on August 4 by an Instagram-based childrens' interview show called <a href="https://www.instagram.com/recess_therapy/?hl=en">"Recess Therapy,"</a> Tariq described corn as a "big lump with knobs," saying, "I can't imagine a more beautiful thing," before smiling and inviting viewers to "have a corntastic day." The internet quickly fell in love with Tariq's enthusiasm and witty remarks about the vegetable, causing the video to go hugely viral overnight on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cg14y_1Ilq0/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, where it currently has 27 million views on "Recess Therapy's" page.A musicalized version of the audio then <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/It's-Corn-7133362813254388523">blew up on TikTok</a>, where it's been used in over 900,000 videos. Tariq is now a full-blown internet megastar, giving interviews with US <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uobUY0SdGw">talk shows</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN0Ahhdg1kc">news organizations,</a> while also getting the chance to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mrbeast/video/7139911008767724846?_r=1&amp;_t=8VVu411DqB0&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7139911008767724846">meet and film</a> with America's biggest YouTuber <a href="https://www.insider.com/mrbeast-100-million-youtube-subscribers-reaction-livestream-2022-7">MrBeast</a>. His family also set up a temporary account for him on <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cameo.com%2Fcornkid">Cameo</a> — a platform where celebrities record personalized messages to fans in exchange for a fee — with prices starting at $145, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-25/corn-kid-song-becomes-tiktok-sensation-just-as-supply-fears-grow?leadSource=uverify%20wall">according to Bloomberg</a>. To top it all off, Tariq was honored with the <a href="https://twitter.com/southdakota/status/1566190295741521921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1566190295741521921%7Ctwgr%5E4fb034313e2eedbf2574df47cc3c54c20dc6f845%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffpost.com%2Fentry%2Ftiktok-corn-kid-honored-new-title_n_631829eee4b082746bd9c5e6">title of "Corn-bassador"</a> in the state of South Dakota. Julian Shapiro-Barnum, the host of "Recess Therapy," told Insider he discovered Tariq when he was filming interviews in Brooklyn, New York for his show, which revolves around asking young children for their opinions on various topics. He had no idea that his innocuous questions would propel Tariq to such an explosive level of fame. <h2>The 'Corn Kid' became a viral hit at a moment the video's creator least expected </h2>Shapiro-Barnum told Insider he usually picks a specific theme for each of his "Recess Therapy" episodes, such as asking kids to explain complex concepts like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qSffXkFAHLU">love</a>. He said his filming crew stumbled across Tariq on a summer day just before he was about to go on a week-long vacation. "We were really wiped out because it was so hot. And we didn't know if we had it in ourselves to do a full episode that day, so we thought, 'What if we just like play it really loosey-goosey and just ask kids what their favorite things are?'"As he was looking around for kids to interview, he spotted Tariq, who was eating corn at the time, so he asked the seven-year-old for his opinion on the vegetable. According to Shapiro-Barnum, Tariq was very forthcoming with his answers from the get-go. "He just launched himself into this whole video that we now know and love. It really came out of nowhere," he said.Tariq offered an extensive explanation of how corn "tasted good" and when he "tried it with butter everything changed." Shapiro-Barnum went on to ask Tariq what other things he liked, at which point Tariq listed a few games he enjoyed, before quickly circling back to discuss his love of corn again. "It's corn!" he screamed, before the video cut to a clip of him biting into the vegetable. After filming the interview, Shapiro-Barnum, who said he was amused by Tariq's answers and thought they would make good material for his show, flew Madrid on vacation, where he didn't have phone service. When he found WiFi in a coffee shop, he posted Tariq's interview on his show's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VbZE6YhjKk">social</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cg14y_1Ilq0/?hl=en">media</a> accounts. The next time he found an internet connection a few days later, he said his phone "exploded" with messages and notifications as the video went viral on Instagram. He spent the rest of his trip wondering whether he should come home early. "It was a funny mix of me truly trying to take time off and really being absorbed in what was going on with the video. I care so deeply about how the videos are doing so it is impossible for me to fully disconnect from them, especially when they are being circulated as much as this one," he told Insider. <h2>Going viral has allowed both 'Recess Therapy' and Tariq to have a moment in the spotlight</h2>Tariq's interview blew up on TikTok when a band called The Gregory Brothers, who specialize in comedy music, turned soundbites from the clip into a full-length song, which they posted on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_caMQpiwiaU">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@schmoyoho/video/7133362838424341803?is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7133362838424341803&amp;mode=desktop&amp;refer=embed&amp;referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insider.com%2F&amp;referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insider.com%2Fpost%2Fpreview%3Fpost_id%3D6324836baca7611a861aeb6a&amp;referer_video_id=7133362838424341803">TikTok</a> in late August.TikTok users began creating <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@brookieandjessie/video/7137011789870517510?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;q=its%20corn&amp;t=1663337387943">dances</a> and comedic videos involving ears of corn as the song became more and more well-known. Soon, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nandosuk/video/7135472602453118214?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;q=its%20corn&amp;t=1663337387943">brands</a> were using the sound to promote their own products, by captioning their videos, "For me, I really like corn," (a phrase said by Tariq in the interview) and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@united/video/7135197061267328299?is_from_webapp=v1&amp;item_id=7135197061267328299&amp;refer=embed&amp;referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fizea.com%2F&amp;referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fizea.com%2Fresources%2Fhow-brands-can-participate-in-cornkid-tiktok-trend%2F&amp;referer_video_id=7135197061267328299">replacing</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@barrettplasticsurgery/video/7138197583956151595?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;q=for%20me%20i%20really%20like&amp;t=1663337653605">the</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@urbantandoorbristol/video/7138443250255383814?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;q=for%20me%20i%20really%20like&amp;t=1663337653605">word</a> "corn" with the name of the company's product. Celebrities including <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinbacon/video/7139186979517877546?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;q=itscorn&amp;t=1663245454164">Kevin Bacon</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleytisdale/video/7135560566415953198?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;q=its%20corn%20ashley%20tisdale&amp;t=1663245585234">Ashley Tisdale</a> also made use of the audio by singing along to the song on their accounts. Shapiro-Barnum has had several brushes with virality in the past, for example, when his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CUvgvN-pnbc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading">interview</a> with a young girl gushing about an upcoming "My Little Pony" movie became a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7082840934597102379">viral TikTok sound</a> back in April, or when a young boy telling him about his love of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UZRVDLBJlg8">komodo dragons</a> went viral on <a href="https://twitter.com/yeetnpark/status/1469624465562681348">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@demotivateur_fr/video/7125729793311640838?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;q=komodo%20dragon%20kid&amp;t=1663255467244">TikTok</a>. The Gregory Brothers <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_caMQpiwiaU">gave "Recess Therapy" full credits</a> underneath their now-viral remix of Tariq's interview, but that hasn't always been the case."I think it's really easy for original content to get lost in the shuffle and for something to become a trend while becoming divorced from where it originally came," he told Insider. Most of all, Shapiro-Barnum is happy that his interview was able to give Tariq new opportunities for exposure, telling Insider he feels like a "proud mom" who helped facilitate his big break. "It brings me so much joy that this interview took off in such a large way," he said, adding, "Tariq's family have also handled it all with so much grace. They've really given him a good few weeks of unadulterated freedom with exploring all of the joys and benefits of going viral." <a href="https://www.insider.com/culture">For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.</a>

A 7-year-old boy became a viral sensation thanks to his love of corn. The creator who discovered him shares the unexpected story behind the video.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Freelancers and small business owners are smart to look ahead and get their accounting in shape well before <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/tax-day-2020">Tax Day 2020</a>.</li><li>To make <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-file-taxes-tax-return-instructions">filing taxes</a> easier, accountants recommend building smart bookkeeping practices into your everyday processes, and putting aside money for taxes sooner rather than later.</li><li>This post has been reviewed for accuracy by Thomas C. Corley, CPA.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yourmoney?utm_source=bullet">Read more personal finance coverage</a>.</li></ul>Managing finances and taxes comes with a learning curve for just about anyone, and freelancing seems to come with its own set of rules. From navigating quarterly tax estimates to setting up an LLC, there's a lot to think about when you set out to work for yourself.If you're new to the freelancing world or you're just looking for some expert tips on improving your financial well-being come tax season, we asked accountants for the best tax advice they can give freelancers to make life a little easier.<h2>1. Use a simple spreadsheet for bookkeeping</h2>If the process of bookkeeping feels so burdensome that you avoid it until the end of the year, try using a simple spreadsheet system instead. "A simple spreadsheet detailing your monthly income and expenses is perfect for freelancers," says CPA Alexis Krystina of <a href="https://alexiskrystina.com/advanceaccounting/">Advance Accounting</a>. "This gives you all the information you need as a business owner to understand the health of your company, it makes filing taxes a breeze, and the best part - it's easy to maintain."<h2>2. Create standard operating procedures for bookkeeping</h2>Without specific procedures to update your bookkeeping every month, you'll not only be overwhelmed when tax season comes - you may have to pay more taxes. "Treat your accounting procedures the same way that you do with your sales or marketing procedures, and stay consistent with it," says Krystina. "Write down your processes, and pick a day every month to perform the tasks."<h2>3. Create a system for managing receipts</h2>Since many purchases are tax-deductible, it's important to keep track of your receipts. But managing all your expenses amidst the daily chaos of running a business isn't necessarily easy. CPA <a href="https://doyouevenblog.com/">Pete McPherson</a> recommends choosing an expense or accounting tool that also offers a smartphone app (such as Freshbooks, Quickbooks, or Wave) where you can quickly snap photos of receipts when you receive them. You can also create a dedicated folder in your email inbox where you forward electronic receipts. Then, once a month, forward these emails to your accounting software. "Creating these small systems can save you hours in the long run, and make it much more seamless if you do simply hand over your finances to your CPA," says McPherson.<h2>4. Plan for your retirement</h2>Just because you're self-employed doesn't mean you shouldn't invest in your future. Your pathway might be less clear cut than a W-2 worker with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-in-a-401k-for-retirement">ready access to a 401(k)</a> or other employer-provided plan, but freelancers still have the ability to set aside money in tax-advantaged ways, according to CPA <a href="https://youngandtheinvested.com/">Riley Adams</a>."One route available to anyone with earned income is the individual retirement account. In 2019, a person may contribute up to $6,000 of their earned income," Adams says. "This account can be <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-savings-accounts-traditional-roth-ira-401k-comparison">either a traditional IRA</a> with tax-deferred income placed into an account and taxes levied on the capital gains when sold in retirement or a Roth IRA where taxes are paid upfront and the contributions grow tax-free."If you're age 50 or older, you are eligible to contribute $7,000 a year, or an additional $1,000, to an IRA.<h2>5. Set aside self-employment taxes in a separate account</h2>Brendan Willman, a CPA with <a href="http://granadatax.com/">Granada Tax</a>, says self-employment taxes are the biggest surprise for new freelancers. Freelancers pay 15.3% on the first $132,900 to cover their Social Security and Medicare taxes. "A portion of the taxes is deductible, so I recommend that freelancers set aside 10% of their net income (gross income minus profit margin) in a separate account to ensure they always have enough in reserve to pay their self-employment taxes on a quarterly basis."A good place to keep the money you set aside for self-employment taxes could be a high-yield savings account, which is just as liquid as a regular savings account but earns up to 2% interest on your savings.<h2>6. Budget for federal, state, and local income taxes</h2>Since your taxes won't be automatically deducted from your paychecks, make a priority of budgeting for what you'll owe. Willmann recommends calculating the percentage of all taxes due, multiplying the aggregate percentage by your expected net income, and setting aside that amount along with your self-employment taxes in a separate account. <h2>7. Pay yourself periodically from a separate business account</h2>Once you have an adequate amount set aside for taxes, distribute funds from your business checking account to your personal account on a periodic basis. "Freelancers often struggle with adjusting to volatile income, but if distributions to your personal checking account are a set amount and done at regular intervals, your personal finances may be largely unaffected," says Willmann.<h2>8. Get a business credit card</h2>As a freelancer you want to maximize earnings by spending as many hours as possible on billable activities, and minimizing unbillable administrative work. "Having a separate credit card for all your business expenses will make it far simpler to isolate and identify all your business expenses, not only for your own profitability analysis, but for taking deductions at tax time," says CPA <a href="https://upcounting.com/">Abir Syed</a>. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-small-business-credit-card" rel="nofollow">See Business Insider's picks for the best small business credit cards »</a><h2>9. Use a time-tracking software</h2>Even if you mostly work on fixed price projects (rather than billable hours), Syed suggests using a seamless time-tracking software like Clockify.me, which can easily show you how much time different types of projects take. It will also allow you to isolate the time you spend on areas like administrative tasks, client communication, or business development. "The more precise this data, the better, because you may think a particular type of project may seem more profitable until you realize how much additional client communication it requires, or how much more time you have to spend to acquire that business," says Syed. "Having a more granular sense of your profitability, rather than just looking at it overall, can help you focus your time where you'll get the most bank for your buck."<ul class="read-more-links"><li>More <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/tax-day-2020">tax day</a> coverage:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-are-taxes-due-tax-filing-deadline-2019-1">When are taxes due?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-file-taxes-tax-return-instructions">How to file taxes for 2019</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-a-tax-credit-definition-explainer">What is a tax credit?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hr-block-vs-turbo-tax-2018-1">H&amp;R Block vs. TurboTax</a></li></ul>Personal Finance Insider offers tools and calculators to help you make smart decisions with your money. We do not give investment advice or encourage you to buy or sell stocks or other financial products. What you decide to do with your money is up to you. If you take action based on one of the recommendations listed in the calculator, we get a small share of the revenue from our commerce partners.

9 smart pieces of advice accountants give freelancers and creatives to make tax season easier

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Shutterstock</div></div></div>The <keyword id="79969" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="insider">INSIDER</keyword> Summary:• There are actions you can take to make a canceled flight less problematic • Stay calm, ask your airline to rebook you, ask about accommodations, and request an amenity kit if you checked baggage All travelers dread it - the announcement that their flight has been canceled.Fortunately, there are some actions you can take to ensure that the cancellation doesn't completely ruin your travel plans.We took a look at one <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-tips-for-getting-the-best-outcome-when-your-flight-is-canceled">Quora thread</a>, asking "What are some tips for getting the best outcome when your flight is canceled?"Quora user and United million mile flyer <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Stephanie-Vardavas">Stephanie Vardavas</a> had some great tips. Here's what she suggests:<h3>Immediately call your airline and ask them to rebook you onto another flight.</h3><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/passengers-wait-as-they-are-left-stranded-as-heavy-fog-news-photo/130982419">ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images</a> </div></div></div>Vardavas says this is the "number one most important thing you can do." She says that you won't be charged a fee for the rebooking, and that the quicker you call, the more likely you are to get a relatively good seat on a flight that works for your schedule.Vardavas also advises confirming your seat assignment while on the call since a last-minute booking usually means very few window and aisle seats will be open. And no one likes being stuck in the middle.<h3>Know that if your flight is canceled because of issues with the airplane equipment, you might be entitled to an accommodation voucher.</h3><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abir82/4017736357/">Abir Anwar / Flickr</a></div></div></div>According to Vardavas, if your flight is canceled due to weather issues, the airline doesn't owe you anything. But, if the cancellation has something to do with the airline or airplane, you should inquire about meal and accommodation vouchers. If the cancellation leads to an overnight delay for you, your airline should provide you with a hotel room for that night.If you end up on a shuttle to an airport hotel, Vardavas says to make sure to get a seat near the front of the bus so that you can check in before all the other stranded passengers who will also be staying at that hotel. Vardavas also says to ask - while you're checking in - if you need a reservation for a shuttle ride to the airport the next morning. Making a reservation that evening will allow you to avoid panic in the morning when you're trying to catch your flight.<h3>If you've checked baggage and are delayed overnight, ask for an amenity kit.</h3><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/15216811@N06/9478328175/">N i c o l a / Flickr</a></div></div></div>Cancellations are always easier to handle if you only have carry-on bags. But if that's not the case, the airline will reroute your checked baggage to your destination - it just might not arrive at the same time you do, at which point the airline will deliver your bags to you at no cost. Make sure to keep your baggage receipt until you receive your luggage.Vardavas says that if you're stranded overnight, and you have your toiletries in your checked baggage, you can go to the airline's baggage service office (located near baggage claim) and ask for an amenity kit. According to Vardavas, these handy kits contain the essentials: a toothbrush, toothpaste, a sleep mask, lip balm, ear plugs, lotion, etc.<h3>Stay calm and be nice to those working for the airlines.</h3><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/deltanewshub/28301620363/">Delta News Hub / Flickr</a></div></div></div>Flight cancellations are frustrating, especially if you need to be somewhere. However, as Vardavas says, it's not the fault of your gate attendant, flight attendant, or pretty much anyone else working for the airline. So don't take it out on them. Instead remain calm and be friendly - this is your best bet for getting rebooked onto another flight and getting to your destination as soon as possible. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/beauty-guru-rocks-rainbow-lip-colors-2016-10">This beauty guru can pull off any lip color</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="E1ZG11NjE6IM-AkO5IEQkXAWtUDTFf8J" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

 What to do when your flight is canceled 

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div><a href=" http://images.newscred.com/9aa8265fee113f5a1f87cf5657fb342b?width=700&amp;height=393">Anwar Amro/AFP </a></div>At 40 years of age, Abir Ramadan joined the all-female unit of <keyword id="6354913" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Syria">Syria</keyword>'s new paramilitary force, pledging loyalty to Bashar al-Assad in the armed struggle against those seeking to topple the president.
Dressed in camouflage, she marches at a stadium in the central city of Homs, raising her fist and chanting "Allah, Suriya, Bashar wa bas" (God, Syria, Bashar — that's it), the rallying cry of the embattled leader's supporters.
The stadium's entrances are guarded by <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword> armed with Kalashnikovs, while others search cars at a checkpoint. They present themselves as "fedayat", which in Arabic literally means those who sacrifice themselves for a cause.
"My husband encouraged me to get involved and I liked the idea. I introduced myself to the recruitment centre and was easily accepted," explains the "fedaya" Abir, who has kept her day job as a technician in a radiology laboratory.
"Before I did not know how to handle a gun and I did not dare stay at home alone for fear of being attacked. I wanted to learn and to help. I volunteered because my country is suffering," she says.
The first women's unit of the National Defence Forces in Syria, founded in the central city of Homs, has 450 fighters from 18 to 50 years of age.
Nada Jahjah, a retired commander who oversees the training, says Homs was chosen "due to the tragic circumstances experienced by the city".
"This is not a normal war, it looks nothing like the October (1973 war against Israel). It is not the enemy we knew. This time the enemy is from our family, our neighbours and neighbouring countries supplying arms and spreading fundamentalist thinking. They kill and slay Syrians. This is a savage war," she says.
Since the outbreak of peaceful anti-regime protests in March 2011, Syrian authorities have dismissed the revolt as a foreign-funded conspiracy and referred to opposition activists and armed rebels alike as Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorists.
The director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told <keyword id="68053" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="AFP">AFP</keyword> the regime has created a paramilitary force to supplement the army in its fight against the rebels.
Dubbed the "capital of the revolution" by the opposition, Homs has been at the forefront of the uprising.
It was the first to pay dearly when Assad's war machine unleashed its firepower on rebel-held areas, retaking a large part of the city.
This industrial heartland is also a diverse centre of 1.5 million people, Sunnis, Christians and Alawites, whose sectarian fault lines have become entrenched with time.
In this charged environment, none of the combatants revealed where she lives, because pro- and anti-regime fighters use captives' ID cards to figure out their sectarian identities.
Sunnis, who represent 80 percent of the population, largely support the revolt, while 10 percent of the population are Alawites like President Assad, and the Christians at five percent mostly back the regime.
"The training includes shooting Kalashnikovs, machine guns, handling grenades, attacking opposition checkpoints, controlling our checkpoints, conducting raids and courses on <keyword id="6359526" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Military">military</keyword> tactics," says commander Jahjah.
The force is voluntary and the fedayat serve four-hour shifts in the morning from or in the afternoon to permit the women to carry on with their normal profession.
Etidal Hamad, a 34-year-old government employee and mother of three girls, says while her husband also encouraged her, her primary motivation to sign up three months ago was "a desire to support the army and defend the fatherland".
In the stadium parade that marks the end of the training, the women shout at the top of their lungs: "With our blood and our souls, we sacrifice ourselves for you, O Bashar!"
<div class="nc_footer">
Copyright (2013) AFP. All rights reserved.
</div>

Inside The All-Female Unit Of Syria's Paramilitary Force

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"></div></div>The speech that Benjamin Netanyahu will give in front of Congress on Tuesday has already created a number of problems that the Israeli prime minister would never have had to deal with had he simply declined House speaker John Boehner's invitation to address a joint session.It has created a raft of issues on both sides of the US-Israel relationship, problems that were the sole creation of the speaking gig itself.Critics allege that Netanyahu is using plaint US Republicans to <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/1/21/7866089/netanyahu-boehner-congress">undermine a sitting president's foreign policy</a>. Others allege that Boehner is trying to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/israel-is-now-a-political-wedge-issue-in-the-us-2015-2">give Netanyahu a high-profile campaign stop</a> in the hopes that one of Obama's most eloquent public adversaries remains in power after Israel's upcoming elections.The White House views the speech as an unforgivable escalation of an already fraught relationship between US and Israeli leaders. Whether this crisis was the creation of the White House or Netanyahu is almost besides the point. Damage has already been done: Intelligence sharing is <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/US-Israel-intel-cooperation-on-Irans-nuclear-program-has-been-stopped-Ch-10-reports-392708">reportedly being curtailed</a>, and Netanyahu has been snubbed by President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State John Kerry, the last of whom is scheduled to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif <a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-zarif-begin-new-nuclear-talks/2664989.html">the same day as Netanyahu's speech</a>.Tomorrow's speech makes little sense on the face of it, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/raphael-ahren-netanyahus-speech-to-congress-is-enormous-gamble-2015-3">as The Times of Israel's Raphael Ahren notes</a>, it isn't clear exactly what Israel gains from Netanyahu's gambit, or even how the address could conceivably alter the course of the Iranian nuclear standoff. But the speech makes its own kind of sense in light of Netanyahu's record as prime minister. He has switched positions on virtually every major security-related issue he's faced - except for the one he'll be speaking about to Congress.Netanyahu was first elected prime minister in 1996, when Israelis were already wary of whether they would see a peace dividend for the Oslo Accords, signed three years earlier.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Netanyahu attempted to assuage right-wing fears over what the accords would mean for Israel's national identity and strategic depth, most notably by reversing his predecessor Shimon Peres's decision and opening a controversial tunnel running along the base of the Temple Mount in 1996, sparking deadly rioting.But Netanyahu also signed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_Concerning_the_Redeployment_in_Hebron">1997 Hebron Protocol</a>, an agreement that required Israel to redeploy its military forces in the namesake West Bank city, which is widely regarded as the second-holiest place in Judaism. Netanyahu's triangulation continued during his second stint as prime minister, which began in 2009. His government has authorized thousands of new residential units in West Bank communities, and provocatively <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/10/world/middleeast/10biden.html">announced new building licenses</a> during a US vice presidential visit to Jerusalem in 2010.At the same time, Netanyahu eventually agreed to <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/netanyahu-declares-10-month-settlement-freeze-to-restart-peace-talks-1.3435">the first West Bank construction freeze in Israel's history</a> as a precondition for entering proximity talks with the Palestinians in 2009 - talks that went nowhere.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Netanyahu has been cagey in committing his government to a "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggesting he would only agree to the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/world/middleeast/15mideast.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0">existence of a de-militarized Palestinian</a> state that agreed to Israeli annexation of certain sections of the West Bank. But his government agreed to release <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/israel-frees-more-palestinian-prisoners/2013/12/30/4c3bd7fc-7189-11e3-bc6b-712d770c3715_story.html">scores of high-value Palestinian prisoners</a> just to sustain peace talks in 2013 and the following year - once again providing a concession to the Palestinians just to enter into fruitless peace talks.The Israeli prime minister <a href="http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-liberman-splits-likud-yisrael-beitenu-partnership-1000952301">allowed a rival center-right faction to leave his Likud Party</a> and <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Netanyahu-fires-Deputy-Defense-Minister-Danon-who-was-highly-critical-of-Gaza-strategy-362930">fired a deputy defense minister</a> rather than order a full-scale military operation against Hamas over the summer, only committing to a large-scale operation <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.603472">after a multiday rocket bombardment</a> on Israel's densely populated coastal plane. He also authorized the release of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilad_Shalit_prisoner_exchange">1,027 prisoners</a> to secure the freedom of Hamas hostage Gilad Shalit.Netanyahu has often sparred with Turkey but caved to longstanding US and Turkish demands to <a href="http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/22/17416275-israels-netanyahu-apologizes-to-turkey-over-deadly-flotilla-raid?lite">apologize for an Israeli commando raid</a> that killed nine Turkish citizens attempting to infiltrate the Gaza Strip <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/What-is-the-IHH">on behalf of a Hamas-linked charity</a>. <h3>One priority</h3>Netanyahu has a highly oppositional relationship with Obama, but has eventually accommodated nearly all of the US president's demands, from the Turkey apology to the settlement freeze to entering into negotiations with the Palestinians to refraining from launching bombing runs on Iran's nuclear program.Just about the only constant in Netanyahu's career has been his full-throated opposition to Iran's nuclear ambitions. He raised warnings about Iran's nuclear infrastructure <a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/03/02/brief-history-netanyahu-crying-wolf-iranian-nuclear-bomb/">as early as 1995</a>, and warned in 2009 that Tehran was <a href="http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/02/09TELAVIV457.html">one or two years away</a> from being able to build a nuclear weapon. Later, Netanyahu's rhetoric on the Iranian program helped keep up pressure on Tehran by appearing to push the US toward a more assertive role in penalizing the country for the growth of its illicit nuclear program. The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, who is a persistent critic of Israel's prime minister, credited him with playing the bad cop to Obama, <a href="have%20accomplished%20something%20extraordinary%20together%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years.">writing in 2012</a> that the leaders "have accomplished something extraordinary together over the past two years."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Netanyahu's consistency on the issue stems from a longstanding sense that a nuclear Iran is the only actor that can threaten Israel's existence. Over the past 60 years, Israel has defeated a series of conventional and unconventional military threats to the state's existence.Netanyahu reasons that a nuclear Iran would put the military force most threatening to Israel - Lebanese Hezbollah, the Iranian-supported Shi'ite terrorist group - under Tehran's nuclear umbrella, amounting to a security and political challenge categorically different from anything Israel has faced up to this point.Netanyahu believes that it is his historic duty to do everything in his power to prevent Iran from even putting itself in a position to acquire a nuclear weapon. He does not want to go down at the prime minister that fumbled the issue that he's personally deemed most pressing to the survival of the world's only Jewish state.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>If Tuesday's speech backfires it won't be the only time that this sense of responsibility has led the Israeli prime minister astray. Netanyahu's <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/27/us-un-assembly-israel-iran-idUSBRE88Q0GI20120927">cartoon bomb stunt</a> at the UN in 2012 galvanized <keyword id="6356001" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> opposition to Iran's nuclear program. But it undermined Israel's position by communicating the country's exact weaponization breakout red lines to Tehran - limits on highly enriched uranium accumulation that Iran has been careful not to surpass.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>But Netanyahu's mistakes were made out of an unerring sense of mission. And at this point, the leader who is arguably most responsible for putting the Iranian nuclear program on the international agenda believes that the situation is dire enough to warrant a move as risky as the Congressional speech.Iran is the issue Netanyahu cares most about and by far the issue on which he's been the most resistant to compromise. If tomorrow's speech turns out to be a mistake, it will be one made in good faith - and out of intense and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/status-of-iran-nuclear-negotiations-2015-2">arguably</a> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-is-reportedly-willing-to-make-another-huge-nuclear-concession-to-iran-2015-2">warranted</a> concern over where the negotiating process with Tehran is heading. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trailer-point-and-shoot-documentary-libyan-revolution-2015-2">This 26-year-old from Baltimore took a 35,000-mile road trip and ended up fighting in the Libyan revolution</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="szNGZoczpV6FOp_YiVp_j5fNW4DvFIZ8" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

You Searched For "Abir" and got 12 results

Usher In The Festival Of Colours; Gear Up For A Chemical-free Holi

Sanghamitra Mandal

From a likely recession to a weakening shekel, here's how the conflict with Hamas is impacting Israel's economy and markets

Phil Rosen

Israel adds China's yuan for the first time ever while cutting its dollar holdings in biggest currency reshuffle in a decade

Phil Rosen

Israel will buy riskier assets for its reserves after adding China's yuan and cutting dollar holdings in its biggest portfolio reshuffle in a decade

Phil Rosen

Iranian authorities stole a 16-year-old protester's body and secretly buried her while threatening her family, report says

Bethany Dawson

How whatsApp video calls are connecting Indians this Diwali

BI India Bureau

The pricing of Apple's back-ordered $19 polishing cloth is part of a strategy that experts say makes shoppers 'feel fancy'

Dominick Reuter

A 7-year-old boy became a viral sensation thanks to his love of corn. The creator who discovered him shares the unexpected story behind the video.

Charissa Cheong

9 smart pieces of advice accountants give freelancers and creatives to make tax season easier

Ashley Abramson,Ashley Abrams…

What to do when your flight is canceled

Sarah Schmalbruch

Inside The All-Female Unit Of Syria's Paramilitary Force

Agence France Presse

Netanyahu is taking a huge risk speaking to Congress, but he only cares about one thing

Armin Rosen

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides