text:
Author: Eystein Sverre Husebye x
Sort by RelevanceAuthor A - ZAuthor Z - AArticle A - ZArticle Z - ADate - Old to RecentDate - Recent to Old
CYP21A2 polymorphisms in patients with autoimmune Addison's disease, and linkage disequilibrium to HLA risk alleles
Ingeborg Brønstad, Beate Skinningsrud, Eirik Bratland, Kristian Løvås, Dag Undlien, Eystein Sverre Husebye, and Anette Susanne Bøe Wolff
Steroid 21-hydroxylase, encoded by CYP21A2, is the major autoantigen in autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD). CYP21A2 is located in the region of the HLA complex on chromosome 6p21.3, which harbours several risk alleles for AAD. The objective was to investigate whether CYP21A2 gene variants confer risk of AAD independently of other risk alleles in the HLA loci.
DNA samples from 381 Norwegian patients with AAD and 340 healthy controls (HC) previously genotyped for the HLA-A, -B, -DRB1, and -DQB1 and MICA loci were used for genotyping of CYP21A2.
Genotyping of CYP21A2 was carried out by direct sequencing. Linkage of CYP21A2 to the HLA loci was assessed using UNPHASED version 3.0.10 and PHASE version 2.1.
Heterozygotes of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs397515394, rs6467, rs6474, rs76565726 and rs6473 were detected significantly more frequently in AAD patients compared with HC (P<0.005), but all SNPs were in a linkage disequilibrium (LD) with high-risk HLA–DRB1 haplotypes. rs6472C protected against AAD (odds ratio=0.15, 95% CI (0.08–0.30), P=3.8×10−10). This SNP was not in an LD with HLA loci (P=0.02), but did not increase protection when considering the effect of HLA–DRB1 alleles. Mutations causing congenital adrenal hyperplasia were found in heterozygosity in <1.5% of the cases in both groups.
Genetic variants of CYP21A2 associated to AAD are in LD with the main AAD risk locus HLA-DRB1, and CYP21A2 does not constitute an independent susceptibility locus.
Vitamin D status and pathway genes in five European autoimmune Addison's disease cohorts
Marissa Penna-Martinez, Gesine Meyer, Anette Bøe Wolff, Beate Skinningsrud, Corrado Betterle, Alberto Falorni, William Er Ollier, Dag Undlien, Eystein Sverre Husebye, Simon H S Pearce, Anna L Mitchell, and Klaus Badenhoop
While vitamin D regulates immune cells, little is known about it in autoimmune Addison´s disease (AAD). We investigated the vitamin D status in AAD patients from five European populations to assess its deficiency. In addition, we studied two case-control cohorts for vitamin D metabolism and pathway genes.
A total of 1028 patients with AAD from Germany (n=239), Italy (n=328), Norway (n=378), UK (n=44) and Poland (n=39) and 679 controls from Germany (n=301) and Norway (n=378) were studied for 25(OH)D3 (primary objective). Secondary objectives (1,25(OH)2D3 and pathway genes) were examined in case-controls from Germany and Norway correlating 25(OH)D3 and single nucleotide polymorphisms within genes encoding the vitamin D receptor (VDR), 1-α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1); 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) and vitamin D binding protein (GC/DBP).
Vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D3 10-20 ng/ml) was highly prevalent in AAD patients (34-57%), 5-22% were severely deficient (<10 ng/ml), 28-38% insufficient (20-30 ng/ml) and only 7-14% sufficient (>30 ng/ml). Lower 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were observed both in Norwegian and German AAD (p = 0.03/0.003 and p = 1 x 10-5/< 1 x 10-7, respectively) the former was associated with CYP2R1 (rs1553006) genotype G. Whereas controls achieved sufficient median 25(OH)D3 in summers (21.4 to 21.9 ng/ml), AAD patients remained largely deficient (18.0 to 21.2 ng/ml) and synthesize less 1,25(OH)2D3.
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent in AAD patients. The vitamin D status of AAD may be influenced by genetic factors and suggests individual vitamin D requirements throughout the year.


Performance tags -- who's running the show?
We describe a pilot study which specifically examines the prevalence and characteristics of performance tags on several sites. Identifying post-coordination of tags as a useful step in the study of this phenomenon, as well as other approaches to leveraging tags based on text and/or sentiment analysis, we demonstrate an approach to automation of this process, postcoordinating (segmenting) terms by means of a probabilistic model based around Markov chains. The effectiveness of this approach to parsing is evaluated with respect to the wide range of constructions visible on various services. Several candidate approaches for the latter stages of automated classification are identified.


To ensure that your special event is everything you've ever dreamed of, we here at 3Ten Events Inc. have put together our 6 A's to event venue selection. Whether planning a corporate event, fundraiser, meeting, launch party, or celebration, these tips might help find that ideal venue.
Affordability – You of course want to make sure that you stay within your budget when planning your event. This is why affordability is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a venue.
Amenities – Another thing to consider is the amenities that are included with the event space. Does the location offer your guests adequate restroom facilities? Is there a sound system, or audio visual equipment available for you to use? Do they provide valet parking service? All of these factors can play a role in deciding which venue you choose for your event.
Appetizing – One of the biggest factors of any unforgettable event is the cuisine. If the venue you are considering will also be catering, then you'll undoubtedly need to sample the menu before signing that contract. Most venues that provide catering encourage potential clients to come in for a tasting. So, it's best to take advantage of this sampling before making a final decision.
Accessibility – For venue selection, you also want to take into account the accessibility. Is the location easy for your guests to get to? Is there adequate parking? Is the event space accessible for guests with disabilities? Does it accommodate easy loading and unloading for event vendors? All these are extremely important factors to consider before making a choice.
Amiability – It is good to determine ahead of making a final decision whether or not the management and staff at the venue are pleasant, and easy to work with. You should visit the location to meet the managers and staff members. This will help you determine if the venue personnel are right for you.
Ambiance – When choosing the perfect event venue, you also need to think about the ambiance of the space, and whether or not it fits the image you envision. If the atmosphere of the space does not have the look and feel you need, then you may want to consider another location for your event.
Does your event space meet all 6 A's? If you need help finding a venue or planning your event, then contact us at info@3teneventsinc.com or call (888) 709-5813.


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Bike Lanes Needed (part 2)
In light of the City of Pasadena's proposed new bike plan, here is the next in my series of articles on areas of Pasadena that need more protection for bicyclists.
Last month I posted a story calling for bike lanes on the northern approach to the Metro Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line station in Pasadena. The area south of the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line station is, if anything, even more difficult for cyclists to navigate safely, with high speed traffic and very little room on the shoulder of the road. Transportation planners often refer to the "last-mile" problem, that is, the problem of how to get people from a transit stop to that last mile to work or home. Integrating bicycles with transit is an ideal solution, but if the routes around transit centers are not bicycle friendly, that integration cannot occur. If bicycle infrastructure is properly integrated with mass transit, however, it enables many more people who live or work within a 2-mile radius of light rail stations to leave their cars at home.
As currently configured, the southern approaches to the Sierra Madre Villa Metro station cannot be considered bike-friendly, limiting its usefulness for bike commuters who live to the south of the station. Moreover, the lack of bike lanes places many of the businesses and shops on nearby Colorado Blvd in east Pasadena out of reach for all but the most intrepid (or desperate) bicyclists.
Looking north on Sierra Madre Villa at entrance to Pasadena Gold Line station.
In the first photo, we see the Sierra Madre Villa entrance to the Metro station, looking north. A cyclist approaching the entrance from the south (effectively the only direct approach, since the 210 freeway cuts off all other approaches from the south) must either ride in the street dangerously close to heavy traffic moving at 35-40 mph, or ride on the sidewalk. A cyclist exiting the Metro station here and heading south on Sierra Madre Villa would also have to ride on the sidewalk to avoid crossing 4 lanes of traffic to get to the southbound side of Sierra Madre Villa.
Riding on the sidewalk is not illegal in Pasadena, but neither is it always safe. First, drivers pulling in or out of driveways are not looking for cyclists on the sidewalk, creating a danger zone at every driveway. Second, where the 210 freeway overpass crosses Sierra Madre Villa, there are freeway on- and off-ramps that cyclists must cross and, as with driveways, motorists are not looking for cyclists at these crossing points. Third, intersections are particularly dangerous for cyclists riding the sidewalk, especially from cars making turns across the cyclist's path. In 2011, cyclist Alan Deane, was killed in Pasadena when he was riding in the crosswalk at an intersection on Colorado Blvd. In such cases, cars making turns often do not look for cyclists riding from the sidewalk into the intersection, even though the cyclist may be riding legally. Fourth, the sidewalks here are relatively narrow, especially under the freeway, and it forces pedestrians and cyclists to share a narrow strip of concrete, making it more dangerous for pedestrians. Forcing bicyclists to use sidewalks is a poor substitute for bike-friendly infrastructure.
Bicyclists on Colorado Blvd near Pasadena's Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line station are forced to ride in the danger zone between parked cars and heavy traffic or "take the lane." All but the bravest retreat to the sidewalk.
In the second photo, we see the view of Colorado Blvd. looking east towards Sierra Madre Villa. Here, cyclists who ride on the road, as is their legal right, would be pinched between fast-moving, heavy traffic and parked cars along the curb. Cyclists who want to bike to work or shop along this stretch of Colorado Blvd. face a decision to brave the white-knuckle ride on the street or ride on the sidewalk. Needless to say, most choose the sidewalk.
Under the city's proposed bike plan, neither Sierra Madre Villa nor Colorado Blvd. are slated for any bikeway upgrades, without which bicycle access to the Gold Line station from the south will remain problematic. As a result, bicycle ridership in that part of Pasadena most likely will not increase from its current anemic levels, and transit ridership will not grow as much as it otherwise could. Colorado Blvd. is wide enough for bike lanes, but it would probably require the elimination of curbside automobile parking to open up space for bike lanes. Doing so would be politically difficult, but would improve safety and provide much-needed bike access to a key commercial district and the key Metro station in east Pasadena. When we decide that the safety of bicycle commuters is at least as important as a curbside spot for parked cars, then we will have made real progress.
Posted in bike-friendly infrastructure, bikes and public transit, multimodal commuting and tagged bike commuters, Pasadena bike plan, sierra madre villa, transportation, transportation planners, travel
One thought on "Bike Lanes Needed (part 2)"
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
Center Court Events
WSPTL
WSPTL-Women Rules and Procedures
WESTCHESTER SPRING PLATFORM TENNIS LEAGUE - WOMEN RULES
The mission of the WSPTL is to promote and grow the sport of platform tennis.
JOINING THE LEAGUE
A team may apply to enter the WSPTL by emailing the administator. As this is a new league, our best efforts will be made to group similar teams. Participation and sign up may dictate this as well.
There is a $150 for each team participating in the league due before playing their first match. They can sign up at www.cceventsinfo.com.
1. All division matches will be played on Tuesday mornings beginning at 10 am. Match schedules will be determined before the start of each session. Make-up matches should be played as quickly as possible.
2. Each match will play three sets. A 12-point tiebreaker will be played in any set reaching 6-6 (Rule 30).
3. Each team shall furnish six different players filling the three matches. A player may play in only one scheduled WSPTL match in any given week. If a club has multiple teams and a match is rescheduled, a player may only play for one of their club's teams for that scheduled match, regardless of when individual division match is actually played. No player may play for more than one of their club's division teams per scheduled match.
4. Each team must have a minimum of 8 registered players.
4a. Club members and municipal team players will abide by the eligibility rules of their specific site (i.e. memberships, residency requirements, and town permits, etc.). Most municipal facilities have residency requirements and those rules must be followed. A guest of a club member may not play as a guest for a team. Team captains are responsible for player eligibility. A player may only play for one club during the season.
5. Rosters will be open for players to be added. This a growing league and we want to encourage growth so new players/members may be added throughout the season.
6. The score must be submitted to the WSPTL website by end of the next day.
7. The host team must provide new Masters, Viking, Wilson platform tennis balls, as well as practice balls and drinking water for each court during the match. Beverages and snacks are also appreciated.
MATCH PROCEDURES
8. Teams will field their strongest line up in order of ability or previous APTA play during the season. No stacking. A player may play two line positions up or down in the line up from where she last played (includes make-up matches), and a pair of players may only move up or down one spot from where they last played (no matter how many weeks have passed since their last pairing), keeping in mind that the strongest players should not be playing lower positions to stack the line up. Captains must ensure that matches are played "best against best." All players must be in good standing with their club/facility.
9. Timing of Matches and Split Courts:
a. When fewer than three courts are available, the home team captain must inform visiting team captain of split courts at least 2 days before the match.
b. The visiting team captain may determine order of play through Monday preceding the match. If the visiting captain has not given the order of play, the home team captain may dictate order of play and must inform visiting team captain by noon the day of the match.
c. Please keep in mind that we are all in this to play, a bit of leniency is encouraged, but these rules do stand in place when issues arise.
10. In the case of doubtful weather, captains must contact each other by 4pm on the day of the match to make the decision whether matches will be played. Once a decision has been made, it is final. Please make every effort to play matches, however, use good judgment concerning players' safety.
11. If matches are cancelled due to weather, matches should be rescheduled at a mutually agreed upon time. Once captains both agree on a make-up date, that new date is fixed and should not be changed for any reason. Matches can be scheduled individually if other options are not available.
12. If a match has begun and is postponed or delayed, it will resume with the same players, in the same positions, and with the same score from when play was interrupted.
13. A match is considered ended when the players shake hands and leave the court.
SCORING PROCEDURES
14. The host team captain should post the scores to www.wsptl.tenniscores.com by the end of the day following the match. In the case of make-up or incomplete matches, captains should enter the scores as they are played and then contact the administrator to enter the dates, scores and names for the remaining matches not played on the originally scheduled date. Failure to enter scores in a timely manner could lead to a penalty point.
15. The opposing captain has 48 hours after the scores are entered to verify the scores on-line, or the scores will stand as entered by the host captain.
16. The opposing captain may report errors in the scores posted on line by emailing the administrator.
17. When entering scores for a make-up match, enter the date the match was played in the NOTES section on the score sheet.
DELAYS, INJURIES, DEFAULTS AND PROTESTS
18. If there is a default known in advance, the opposing captain should be notified the night before a match, but must be notified by 5pm the afternoon of the match in order to avoid a penalty point. The default will take place on court 3 and the rest of the players will move up in the lineup. The score should be recorded 6-0, 6-0, as a DEFAULT and no individual names should be entered. ** If a team defaults a court the night before a match that is then cancelled due to weather or school delays the following day, all 3 courts should be rescheduled.
19. If a player does not show up within 15 minutes of the starting time, one set is defaulted. Matches held up by 25 minutes or more will be defaulted. Scores will be awarded to the team ready to play and on time. The score should be recorded 6-0, 6-0, as a DEFAULT and no individual names should be entered. A 10 minute grace period will be granted for injuries (i.e. falling down, player hit by a ball or racket, etc.). If a player needs special attention (i.e. ice pack or taping), make sure the opposing team is fully aware of the incident and ensures all discussions are in public view. If the injured player has not recovered after 10 minutes, the team with the injured player must "withdraw" and the match is awarded to the opposing team. Select winner by "RETIRED." Record whatever set or game scores were at the time of injury.
20. Any player who goes on the court must be prepared to remain until completion of the match. If a player leaves, the scores are recorded "as is" when the match "ended." Select winner by "FORFEIT." The forfeiting team loses the match.
21. If there has been an unavoidable delay and play starts late, both teams must play until the match is completed.
22. We reserve the right to penalize teams or players for poor sportsmanship as well as teams that have used excessive or last minute defaults or inappropriately placed players to affect the outcome of the season.
23. If a team wants to protest a match, the team's captain must do so within 24 hours following the match, by contacting the Administrator. Information will be gathered and a decision will be made. Please remember decisions will be made fairly and in the best interest of the league and future play.
24. From the beginning of the match, play must be continuous. Attempts to stall or extend rest periods for the purpose of recovering from a loss of a physical condition are illegal.
25. Intentional distractions that interfere with your opponents' concentration or effort to play the ball are against the rules.
26. Coaching during warm up and matches is prohibited. Spectators should not interfere with or offer any assistance with the conduct of matches.
27. Cell phones and all electronic communication devices are prohibited.
END OF SEASON
28. In event of a tie score at the end of a session, the tie break system is as follows: highest total points, head-to-head match score, winner of total sets during the session, and then winner of total games won during the session.
29. At the end of the season, division standings are determined by the total number of points earned by each team. Each team can earn up to 3 points each match. At the completion of each session, the league director will decide if teams will shift up or down before the next season. The top scoring team in each division will be the division winner.
30. APTA 12 POINT TIE-BREAK
At six games all, the players continue to serve in order and from the same end as before. The server of the first point of the tie-breaker will serve only one point, to the ad court. Each player will then, in normal service rotation, serve twice; first to the deuce court then to the ad court. The single point served by the initial server of the tie-breaker results in an immediate change of ends, and teams will continue to change ends in the normal pattern as if the server had served an entire game. First team to win 7 points wins the set, although if it be 6 points all, a team must win the tiebreaker by a margin of two points. The set shall be scored 7-6. The team receiving serve for the first point of the tiebreaker shall begin serving the next set from the opposite side from which it received the first point. The teams shall change ends after the first game.
31. APTA rules shall govern all matches, unless otherwise stated in these rules.
32. Double hits are illegal. Carries, as long as it is one stroke are legal.
33. Foot faults: Can and should be called during a match as long as a warning was given first. Not during play or during warm up, but at the change of sides.
34. Proper etiquette and sportsmanship is highly encouraged.
35. Let: A let serve is played.
36. Fault or Out: If there is a disagreement between the receiving partners whether the service is good or out, a "let" should be played, regardless of whether the serve was returned in or out of play. Also, if during play, a player makes an "out" call on a ball which the player could otherwise return, play should stop. If the partner disagrees with her partner and believes the ball was in, a "let" should be played.
37. Questions, concerns or problems should be directed to the Administrator.
Questions? Email Nick Bergman at ccevents203@gmail.com


text:
Q: Format a telephone number in an INPUT on the fly I'm looking for a function that will reformat a telephone number as the person is typing it in so it will come out as: (212) 477-1000
I found a snippet and created a function that will take the value and reformat it. Does anyone know of another snippet that will format 2124771000 as the person types it in "on the fly"?

<input value="2124771000" type=text id="DPRnumber">

$('#DPRnumber').on('click', 'input', function(e){

    $(".phone").text(function(i, text) {
        text = text.replace(/(\d{3})(\d{3})(\d{4})/, "($1) $2-$3");
        return text;
    });
}

A: I know its long but It works really well.
<script language="javascript">
var zChar = new Array(' ', '(', ')', '-', '.');
var maxphonelength = 14;
var phonevalue1;
var phonevalue2;
var cursorposition;

function ParseForNumber1(object){
  phonevalue1 = ParseChar(object.value, zChar);
}

function ParseForNumber2(object){
phonevalue2 = ParseChar(object.value, zChar);
}

function backspacerUP(object,e) {
  if(e){
    e = e
  } else {
 e = window.event
  }
  if(e.which){
    var keycode = e.which
  } else {
    var keycode = e.keyCode
  }

  ParseForNumber1(object)

  if(keycode >= 48){
    ValidatePhone(object)
  }
}

function backspacerDOWN(object,e) {
 if(e){
 e = e
 } else {
  e = window.event
 }
 if(e.which){
  var keycode = e.which
 } else {
   var keycode = e.keyCode
  }
  ParseForNumber2(object)
}

function GetCursorPosition(){

 var t1 = phonevalue1;
    var t2 = phonevalue2;
 var bool = false
  for (i=0; i<t1.length; i++)
  {
   if (t1.substring(i,1) != t2.substring(i,1)) {
  if(!bool) {
     cursorposition=i
    window.status=cursorposition
      bool=true
     }
   }
  }
}

function ValidatePhone(object){

  var p = phonevalue1

  p = p.replace(/[^\d]*/gi,"")

  if (p.length < 3) {
    object.value=p
  } else if(p.length==3){
pp=p;
d4=p.indexOf('(')
d5=p.indexOf(')')
if(d4==-1){
  pp="("+pp;
}
if(d5==-1){
  pp=pp+")";
}
object.value = pp;
  } else if(p.length>3 && p.length < 7){
p ="(" + p;
l30=p.length;
p30=p.substring(0,4);
p30=p30+") "

p31=p.substring(4,l30);
pp=p30+p31;

object.value = pp;

 } else if(p.length >= 7){
p ="(" + p;
l30=p.length;
p30=p.substring(0,4);
p30=p30+") "

p31=p.substring(4,l30);
pp=p30+p31;

l40 = pp.length;
p40 = pp.substring(0,9);
p40 = p40 + "-"

p41 = pp.substring(9,l40);
ppp = p40 + p41;

object.value = ppp.substring(0, maxphonelength);
  }

  GetCursorPosition()

  if(cursorposition >= 0){
if (cursorposition == 0) {
  cursorposition = 2
} else if (cursorposition <= 2) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition + 1
} else if (cursorposition <= 4) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition + 3
} else if (cursorposition == 5) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition + 3
} else if (cursorposition == 6) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition + 3
} else if (cursorposition == 7) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition + 4
} else if (cursorposition == 8) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition + 4
  e1=object.value.indexOf(')')
  e2=object.value.indexOf('-')
  if (e1>-1 && e2>-1){
    if (e2-e1 == 4) {
      cursorposition = cursorposition - 1
    }
  }
} else if (cursorposition == 9) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition + 4
} else if (cursorposition < 11) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition + 3
} else if (cursorposition == 11) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition + 1
} else if (cursorposition == 12) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition + 1
} else if (cursorposition >= 13) {
  cursorposition = cursorposition
}

var txtRange = object.createTextRange();
txtRange.moveStart( "character", cursorposition);
txtRange.moveEnd( "character", cursorposition - object.value.length);
txtRange.select();
 }

}

function ParseChar(sStr, sChar)
{

  if (sChar.length == null)
   {
    zChar = new Array(sChar);
  }
    else zChar = sChar;

  for (i=0; i<zChar.length; i++)
  {
  sNewStr = "";

  var iStart = 0;
  var iEnd = sStr.indexOf(sChar[i]);

  while (iEnd != -1)
  {
    sNewStr += sStr.substring(iStart, iEnd);
    iStart = iEnd + 1;
    iEnd = sStr.indexOf(sChar[i], iStart);
    }
    sNewStr += sStr.substring(sStr.lastIndexOf(sChar[i]) + 1, sStr.length);

    sStr = sNewStr;
  }

  return sNewStr;
}
</script>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


You have reached this article in search for the one stop solution to know how to Download WhatsApp Messenger on your Android, iPad and PC/Mac devices here. We have written this article for our readers to understand about the WhatsApp Download procedure for these devices and also the use of the online web services of the application itself.
WhatsApp is a worldwide recognized application for the mobile devices and now can be used on PCs too for communication and social networking among personalized space. The whole world is familiar with the app but we are here to explain it out clearly to all our readers through the amazing features and provisions of the WhatsApp application.
If you wish to get the WhatsApp download for your Android, iPad or PCs then this article is the best guide for you to follow.
When WhatsApp APK application emerged in the Android market it created the buzz among users that spread its aspiration throughout the world like fire on hay. The enormous number of Android users can't be easily challenged and knowing this, the app was deemed as the best fit app to grow in the Android market.
The WhatsApp Messenger for Android is continually and periodically upgrading to match its user's needs and they surely have been stable enough to acquire such a great number of downloads among the Android device users. In our article, we have provided the latest version of WhatsApp APK file for Android users to download for free.
Supports Android OS version 2.0 and any version above.
Data plan for device network is necessary.
Does not support tablet devices.
File size is about 31.6MB and version 2.16.351 compatible with Android 2.3.4 and above.
Allow the download to complete and then select "finish" at the end of the download.
Now, you have to change some settings of the Android device in order to run the APK file for installation.
Tick mark the checkbox provided there. If it is already having the tick mark then proceed without changes.
Now your Android device is configured for the APK file setup.
Locate the WhatsApp APK file and click on it. This will run its setup.
Next, select "Install" option and wait for the installation to complete.
After Installation is complete, select "open" or "finish" option as per your choice.
This way you will successfully download and install the WhatsApp Application on your Android device. By following these steps and this link we have given, our readers can easily download the App and use it on their Android devices for free.
At times, third party WhatsApp APK authorization on some Android devices may fail. Users may encounter errors like "Parse error" or "error while parsing package" or similar to these. This error will not allow that particular APK file to install on the user's device. So, we have another official method in line to help you out of this.
WhatsApp is available in the Google Play Store for all Android users for free. The Google Play Store is the biggest App market for Android users to get all the apps they desire. We will provide the steps for our readers to easily navigate through the Google Play Store and get the WhatsApp download App on their Android mobile phones.
On your Android device, go to Google Play Store App and launch it.
Make sure you are using an updated version of the Play Store otherwise you may face parse error again.
You have to enter your Google account credentials or create a new Gmail Account to sync the App Store with your Android device.
After completing the account linking process, the App Store will load to its home screen.
On the search bar at the top of the screen, type in "WhatsApp Messenger" and tap search.
Various results with the same name will pop up but you will select the original and updated version with highest ratings and most number of downloads.
Click "Install" when the description page loads.
Authenticate the Google Play Store to download and install the WhatsApp App on your Android device.
Allow the installation to complete and then exit the Google Play Store application.
Launch the WhatsApp and enter your phone number with the pin code.
Finally, verify your number on your device and set your profile as you want.
That's it! This is all that you need to do to complete the downloading and installing process of the WhatsApp Downloaded App. Try out any of the two methods that we have explained and start enjoying the free services provided by the App on your Android device.
We will not certainly leave our iOS users aside as this app had emerged for the first time in the iOS platform devices. It survived several months in the Beta stage and was then launched in the App Store on the iPhone/iPad. The WhatsApp App is available on the iTunes Store for Apple users ever since.
WhatsApp is free for all users right now but will soon line up at $0.99 in the iTunes Store. Till now all subscription for the app is free and runs on trial version valid for the whole year. WhatsApp download for iPhone/iPad is compatible with iOS 7 or higher version. Developers recommend the use of latest version of iTunes and iOS which is available for your iPhone device.
On your iPhone device, go to iTunes App Store and launch it.
Make sure you have linked your Apple ID with the iTunes to use the App Store services and make the purchases.
When the App Store loads, search for "WhatsApp messenger" in the iTunes App Store.
Several results may appear but you have to select the latest version with highest ratings.
You can directly use the link given below to reach the exact download page on your device's iTunes.
Enter the "GET" tab to display the App's description.
Tap on "Install" option to initiate the installation process.
Allow the authorization message from iTunes Account to purchase the WhatsApp Download.
Then wait for the installation procedure to complete.
Finally, on successful installation of the WhatsApp App, users can use the services for free easily. Similar to the process for Android users, the App requires phone number verification and profile setup from iPhone users as well.
Chatting on the mobile devices seems to be pretty fun but users can also opt to use the WhatsApp Application on their PCs. Yes, friends! Users can also use the app on their PCs to enhance their chatting experience. Also, users can send images and files that are stored on the PC storage, which is quite large compared to mobile device storages.
WhatsApp's latest version requires Windows 7 or higher version OS.
3G/4G or broadband internet connection.
2GB RAM of the processor.
About 100MB free space to avoid system lags.
One more important thing needed for running WhatsApp on the PC is an Android Emulator. To run any Android based application on the PC we require an Android Emulator in the PC. This is a Software application that runs Android APK files and installs the apps on the PCs.
There are various Android emulators in the market these days. If you already have one, then good for you but if you do not have one, then follow the link given below to download the Bluestacks App for your PC.
Download the WhatsApp APK file for Android devices from the links given in the above respective section.
Locate the APK file on your PC and open it with Bluestacks App.
The file will run its setup and the App will install on the Bluestacks app.
Finally, you will be able to see the app's icon on your PC through the Bluestacks app. It means that whenever you wish to launch the App on your PC you must use the Bluestacks application to do this. This is the easiest way to the Whatsapp Download and installation process complete on your PC devices.
WhatsApp is undoubtedly the most wanted and used application, as it handles around 64bilion messages in a day. This is tough for any app-based system to navigate. Just as we can use the App on the PCs, similarly we can use it on the Mac device too. WhatsApp is also applicable and compatible with the Mac OS. The WhatsApp iOS App is available for Mac OS download for free through the web.
WhatsApp dmg file for installation.
To get the app on Mac devices, we have two methods in line for our readers. You can try either of them to successfully download and install the WhatsApp on your Mac device. There is one way, of using the older Bluestacks version or different emulators for the process, or another way is to use the official dmg file released by the WhatsApp for Mac OS devices.
After downloading this file drag the file to the Applications folder and let the Mac OS system install it like any other apps.
Create your account and then search for WhatsApp on the Bluestacks search bar.
Allow download of the file and install it through the Bluestacks application.
This way you will be able to get the WhatsApp Download App on your Mac device. As we said, Bluestacks is no longer responding well to the Mac OS system and hence you may have to find an alternative Android emulator for Mac OS or you can use this official method to get the app on your Mac OS device.
Next, under the download for PC option, you will see the option for "Mac OS" devices.
Click on the option "Download for Mac OS X 10.9 and higher" and the download will initiate.
After the download is complete, unzip the file and allow its setup to run.
To install it on your Mac OS select the option and drag the dmg file icon of WhatsApp to the Application folder and allow the installation to begin.
Finally, the app will be ready for use on your Mac through its official website. Hence, you have seen a couple of ways to get the WhatsApp Download for Mac OS devices. Try these out and hopefully one of them will definitely work for your Mac OS.
We know that the app is compatible with so many devices and OS platforms. With the Windows phones too, the app is experiencing some ups and downs. It was announced that WhatsApp Download is not going to work with the Windows 7 device from 2016 onwards.
The user should have Windows 8 version or higher.
You require an active and decent internet connection for WhatsApp Download.
First of all, you must have a Microsoft Account on your Windows Phone to allow the app store access for getting the WhatsApp Download App.
Select the "Microsoft" option under add accounts tab.
You can either create a new account or sign in using your ready-made account.
Complete the procedure by filling appropriate details until the final account setup is ready.
Verify your new account and allow it to sync with your Windows phone.
Then, Launch the Windows App Market on your device.
Select the "Install" or "Get the App" option when the app's page loads.
Allow authentication to download the app on the Windows phone.
Allow the download and install to complete successfully.
Finally, you have the WhatsApp download done on your Windows Phone. After all this, you will have to provide your phone number and verify it for the regular use of the app on your Windows Phone.
WhatsApp Web Messenger service was introduced in 2015 to support the user's account from his/her computer instead of the app on mobile devices. Mostly synchronization of the data and backup storage is done using the WhatsApp web Messengerservice. Due to platform limitations, the Web service does not support iPhone devices.
Using the WhatsApp Web, users can manage their messages and account details on their computer and mobile device as well. This means that does not link with another different account for a single user. It links the same mobile Account but allows access on the computer device at the same time without losing access on the mobile device.
Users must be active user or atleast have an account of WhatsApp on their Mobile device.
Decent internet connection for continuous access to data throughout the sync procedure.
Update your Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera browsers on your computer.
You will reach the QR code screen on your computer and then wait there.
On your Mobile device in which you are using the WhatsApp Download App, launch it and go to "menu" options and you will find the "WhatsApp Web Messenger" option in some menu. The location is different for different devices as shown in the picture above.
Now scan the QR code on the computer screen using the mobile device after selecting the appropriate option.
Raise your mobile camera to scan the QR code on the computer screen.
The system will automatically scan and identify the device.
Finally, the WhatsApp Web Messenger service is ready and you can now monitor the messages and manage your app Account on your computer. You can log out of the Web service anytime and continue using your mobile Whatsapp application as usual.
Many people have already gone through the steps that we are going to discuss now. It is our obligation to explain the Sign-up and Account verification steps so that readers who are new to this app can easily get through the process without difficulty.
Make sure you have a valid SMS plan and incoming calls feature on the sim, using which you are creating the WhatsApp account.
Users cannot use a number that they do not use or do not have access to.
Always have a working internet plan for successfully completing the verification and setup process.
Launch the WhatsApp Android App on your mobile or PC device.
You will see the page to enter your mobile number in the gaps provided. The country code selection tab is available for you to refer and select accordingly.
Enter the country code on the left and number on the right.
Tap next and wait till the verification message enters your inbox.
You will be directed to the page where you have to enter the confirmation code.
A six (6) digit verification code will be sent by SMS to you in a matter of minutes.
WhatsApp will try to automatically detect the message sent to your device.
Enter the code manually if it cannot detect automatically.
In case you timed out or did not receive the message in time, then you can opt for the verification code on call.
Select the appropriate option to receive a call from the system and revert the code to you through the code.
Enter the correct code and let the system authenticate the code.
On successful verification of the code, your WhatsApp account will be ready.
You can upload a profile picture, name and status line of your choice as the initial profile setup.
Select next and allow the app to setup accordingly. Your contact on the device will be scanned and automatically WhatsApp will detect existing contacts to chat with. In case your verification process fails one time, switch off your phone and then restart it. Then again go for the same process to get it correct this time.
In this section of the article, we will brief our readers with the steps to send text messages and various media files like audio, video, pictures, documents etc. Also, users can use the new feature to send locations to contacts. There are some simple and some tricky ways to send the media files as we have discussed here.
Text Messages: open any chat and on tap on the text box open the virtual device keyboard. Type in the message that you wish to send and then hit the send button which is right next to the text box. The users can send texts of any length. There is an emoticon option to open up the emoticons that can be used to decorate your message. Users can send the emoticons of their choice like any text messages.
Select the documents option in the media menu of the App.
Select the file that you wish to send when the list appears.
All PDF, XLS, DOC, PPT files can be sent and received through this option.
A preview will appear and finally select send option.
Audio: For this option select the appropriate "Audio" option in the menu. A new screen with all the music files in the device will load up. The user can play the song before sending to verify the file and then finally hit send.
Images/Videos: Select the "Gallery" option to choose between video files or images. The folders and files will be sorted according to file location and user will select the desired choice from the icons. Finally, hit send and allow the upload to complete.
Location: A new feature in WhatsApp is that users can send their location or any other location using the maps that can be sync with its 'location' feature. Select the option and then on the map, tap the location to send to your desired contact.
Open the chat with whom you want to share a contact and select the 'contact' option to open the contact list of your device first.
Then choose the contact whose information you want to send.
Finally, hit "send" to transfer the contact information.
So, now you can get started with the chatting experience and easily send different media files by following these few simple steps. You can also easily forward one's images or media files simply by selecting the file, then click forward option and select the contact to which you want to forward the media file. In the next section of the article, we will describe the alternatives to the WhatsApp Download in the market.
Apart from WhatsApp, there are several competitive apps that have similar features. Due to the merger of the app with Facebook officials, many system changes have come about and people are not really happy with this. So, for some reasons more, users can opt for Alternatives of the app.
Compatible with a large variety of OS devices out there, this app is able to send and receive text and media messages over its platform for free. Its users do not have to provide their mobile numbers but just have to sign up with an account and unique username to use the service. The app also does not feature the calling tool yet but is quite efficient for messaging. Additionally, Kik messenger is the world's first messaging app with an in-built browser for its users.
Line Messenger is the strongest competitor of the WhatsApp Android App. It offers its users with text and media messaging, video and voice calling through its network. Additionally, in Line messenger users can send different stickers to their contacts to convey some message and add creativity. Line App is available on Android, iOS, OS X, Blackberry, Windows phone & Windows PC.
This app is another similar app which is closely comparative to the WhatsApp. Reviews claim that telegram is a replica of the WhatsApp Download app with respect to the features, yet the former is creating a difference with new developments. WhatsApp users had to shift to Telegram when its servers did not work. Eventually, due to the shift itself, the new Telegram user's became permanent users of it. If you are looking for a decent alternative then Telegram App is the right choice for you. Telegram is also available on Android, iOS, and PCs.
This app allows messaging and calling features through the internet on its platform. Users can engage in chats and calls with people on their contact lists and can also make new friends. This is also a trending and amazing alternative app to the WhatsApp Download. Tango allows upto 300 people group chats so the user can easily find and know more people through chats. Furthermore, Tango has inbuilt gaming options to keep its users entertained.
The prodigy of the social networking sites arrives with its app as an alternative here to the WhatsApp download App. Facebook users can easily chat and share media files through the Facebook Messenger App. The user does not have to create different logins as the app uses the Facebook account credentials. This helps users to chat with their Facebook contacts whose numbers they do not even have.
There are several more alternatives to the WhatsApp Download in the market like WeChat, KakaoTalk Messenger, Viber, Skype, etc. Our readers can use these alternatives or search more from the internet and get them. Next, we will see some hidden features of the WhatsApp application on your devices.
The known features that we will discuss are officially explained and used by all users across the world, but there are several tricks or hidden features in the WhatsApp Android App which are applicable in some devices. We are going to disclose these hidden tools or features in the App here.
From there, users can control the auto-download feature for different media messages when connected to different network connections. The user can also switch the "Low data usage" option on to revert less data consumption while attending WhatsApp calls.
long press on the message that you want to star.
The message will highlight and new options will emerge on the top of the screen.
Select the star looking icon to mark the message.
You will see a small star on the message.
To view the starred messages simply click on the name of the chat and scroll down to see all the starred messages in the information.
So, these were some of the hidden and confusing features that might be useful to our readers while using the WhatsApp App. With time, the app's developers are bringing in more features with each update so keep reading for more information on the internet to find out about them.
WhatsApp Messenger is a tool for communication and sharing media over its platform from one user to one or several users at a time. When introduced in the market, it rocked the world and people became its fans. A worldwide spread of news and promotion of the app gave it the most number of downloads when the app was acquired by Facebook as on the 19th Feb. 2014.
The free application's statistics shows that around 2013, about 200 million users were active participants and by the year 2016 about 1 billion active accounts emerged. So, the growth and usage of this app are tremendous as the statistics show. To back this information, we are going to discuss the functions and features offered by the WhatsApp App to its users. We do get an awesome option of WhatsApp Plus APK which provides an edge over other features of the regular app.
It is a revolutionary text chatting app for users.
Every user has free access to its service and they can use the app whenever they want with data connectivity.
To use the services, the user must register his/her valid mobile number. Upon verification of the number, the user can set up his/her profile with a 'Profile picture', 'name' and also provide a phrase or statement as their 'status'.
The WhatsApp 'Dp', name and status can be changed anytime by the user without losing their account details.
Accounts can also be re-initiated on another device provided the verification is done properly.
The App will sync the user's device for contacts with registered WhatsApp accounts and update the 'Contacts' list in the app for the user to chat with valid account members.
It has various inbuilt fonts that users can change by using different typing codes on their text box.
Addition to the texts, users can send different emoticons from the menu. The app presents unique emoticons and categorization for them too. Users can combine texts and emoticons to sway their messages in stylish and unique manner.
There is a "Last seen" feature in WhatsApp that displays the last opened time of the App on the user's device. This feature has developed through stages and can be personalized as to the fact that people can show the "Last seen" or not and whom to show and whom to not.
It offers 'End-to-end encryption' of the messages and items that users send over its platform. This is a security measure undertaken by the developers to keep the real messages hidden and cannot be decrypted by any service in between. Only the sender and recipient can see the message over the whole network medium.
Users can send images to other WhatsApp user(s) from the device storage or by using the device camera.
It is also compatible to send audio and video media files through the app. Users can send audio files or music files of different formats like m4a, mp3, opus, wav, etc. For Video files 3gp, mp4, MOV, etc formats are applicable.
The new feature of WhatsApp Download App is it allows users to send documents through its platform now. Documents and files with formats like pdf, Xls, doc, etc can be sent via the app now with the new support.
It has various security and privacy features like block option. The users can block any unknown or inappropriate user from sending messages to him/her by adding the user to "block user". The system will block the person's messages (text and media) from the user.
Users can create groups by accumulating contacts of different users and the messages sent in the group can be viewed by all members of the group. The user creating the group is the admin of the particular group and he/she can assign more admins too from the members of the group.
Using the broadcast feature, one user can send a common text to several chosen users at the same time without personally sending to each user. Messages like "Happy New Year" or "Merry Christmas", etc can be sent using this Broadcast feature to several contacts at the same time.
These are some basic features of the WhatsApp Download App. Its users understand that there is quite more than the features mentioned here. Nevertheless, these features will guide any new user to go through the app smoothly and understand them within no time.
In conclusion to the article here. We hope all our reader have now understood the procedures to Download WhatsApp on Android, iPad, and PC devices. We would like to thank our readers for completing this detailed article. If you have any query or wish to send your feedback then write to us at Whatsuply.


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Interview Wednesday: Sheela Chari on Vanished
Please welcome Sheela Chari, debut novelist and author of the middle grade mystery Vanished just out from Hyperion. From Kirkus Reviews: Chari, in her debut novel, strikes the right note with this engaging, intricate story that spans generations and two countries.
[Uma] I was thrilled when I first heard about Vanished, because I've long been calling for South Asian American fiction for young readers in which culture and social issues do not in themselves constitute the story. Here you have mystery, music, school friendships, honesty and self-awareness all converging in a most engaging novel. What made you pull together these particular elements?
[Sheela] Uma, thanks so much for having me on your blog! Vanished started off as a birthday present to my niece, whose name is Neela, just like the heroine. I had forgotten to mail her a present, so I started writing a story about her. The real Neela also played the veena, so I wrote about her and her instrument. I wanted to make the whole thing a fun mystery for her to read, so I asked myself, what would happen if Neela's veena disappeared? How would she get it back?
That was how the book started, but as I continued, I began to seriously imagine the story not just as a birthday present for Neela, but as a real, legitimate novel for kids. At first I wondered, could I really write about an ancient, stringed instrument from India?
No one knew what a veena was, or what it sounded like. More importantly, could I write about Neela and her instrument in a way that would interest kids? But once I started asking these questions, I found that they became easy to answer. I began to see that Vanished was not just a writing challenge, but that it became the kind of book that was important for me to write.
Master veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh and
veena. Source: www.veenaijayanthi.org
[Uma] It's true that few people in the US are familiar with the instrument. (Note: Here on Jayanthi Kumaresh's web site you can listen to samples of the veena's evocative voice.) By that same token I'll bet you didn't see much of yourself and your background reflected in books you read as a child. Care to comment on that?
[Sheela] Throughout my childhood, I had grown up on mystery and adventure novels. My favorites were books like A Wrinkle in Time and The Secret Garden. But as an Indian child living in the United States, I had never read a book about a person like me. By the time I was an adult, there were several good books out there about self-identity and the challenges of living between two cultures, or else there were books set in India. But what I wanted to see were mysteries and adventure stories about Indian Americans who were out there experiencing life and solving mysteries, similar to their American peers. I wanted to write something fun and exciting that the real-life Neela could read and still say yes, this could happen to me.
That's how Vanished came into being: partly through happy circumstance, partly through deliberate contemplation. As for the other elements – music has always been a very important part of my life. I was trained as a violinist from an early age, and I still play. It seemed only natural to write about something I felt deeply about. And if you think about it, music is truly the universal language that people can converge upon, regardless of their social or cultural backgrounds.
[Uma] For the purpose of this blog, I define an insider narrative as one set within a cultural group or geographical setting of which the writer has personal experience. One of the things I love about Vanished is how you draw those links between Boston and India, mirroring aspects of both realities, but in ways that blur the boundaries. Thus we have an American veena player, dragon motifs that cross many cultural boundaries, classical south Indian music tradition, and an Indian-American protagonist trying to be herself. What were the delights and the challenges of writing from such perspectives of hybridity and flux?
[Sheela] I'm not sure I set out to write with these hybridizations in mind. I do think I was concerned with balance, so as I wrote, I thought about the people the fictional Neela might interact with in her life – and then I tried to make them interesting! I wanted to make sure different types of people came into her life – young and old, male and female, Indian and not, and from different cultural backgrounds and cities around the world. I wanted anyone reading the book to find some part of the story relatable to them.
Church door, model for interior art. Arlington MA
Beyond that, I think a lot of the composites were a result of me being both Indian and American, and having a "dual insider perspective," if I can play a little off your term! I was born in Bangalore, India, but grew up mostly in America. I was raised in a fairly traditional household. My parents brought up my brother and me vegetarian, we observed religious festivals regularly, and we spoke a mixture of Tamil, Kannada, and English in the home. But outside the home, my school friends were all American. I listened to rock music, then later to Western classical music. I dressed and spoke like everyone I knew in school, and never thought of myself as being different. It was only after I went to college and met other Indians, as well as people from all around the world, that I began to get a sense of my own heritage and background – when I saw it reflected in others! So I guess that's a lengthy explanation of why my personality and upbringing have made me a blend of East and West, and why it would be inevitable that these two halves would appear in my writing.
[Uma] You use images of objects with delicacy, so that their occurrence and recurrence not only create visual echoes, but convey to the reader a sense of Neela's growth over the course of the book--the snapping string, the dragons of course, and others. Were you aware of these as you wrote or was their placement intuitive, or a bit of both? Tell me about the importance of physical objects to you in this story.
[Sheela] Objects are important in that they carry meaning with them, both as the writer might intend, as well as what the reader associates with them. If you look more closely at the veena and wyvern for example, you will find that they carry interesting dichotomies. In the Author Notes section of my book, I talk about how in Indian Hindu mythology, the veena is both the instrument of Saraswati, the goddess of learning, as well as Ravana, the arch-villain in The Ramayana (a religious text). Likewise, the wyvern (the dragon that appears in Vanished) is also a symbol of valor and strength in medieval history, as well as one of pestilence and revenge. I didn't go looking for these qualities. But interestingly, as I dug deeper into my story and did more research, I discovered that these objects "resonated" in unexpected, meaningful ways.
It's interesting how you observed the appearances of the objects throughout --– I would say it was intuitive to the writing of the story. However, the veena was the most important object of all, not just because the mystery was constructed around its disappearance, but because the instrument represents the desire to own and covet it. At the heart of the novel is the issue of wanting what you can't have, and how different characters deal with it.
[Uma] Vanished contains moral ambiguity in the person of good people who make poor decisions, past and present. Without giving anything away, I want to comment in particular on the wonderful turning point in which Neela herself makes a single decision that seems to right everyone else's mistakes as well as her own. Can you talk about how you arrived at the very interesting ethical through-line of this novel?
[Sheela] I know exactly which scene you're talking about! And I must say that this scene, which takes place towards the end of the novel, is one of the earliest ones I saw in my mind. It was the scene that I was working towards as I wrote the novel.
[Uma] That's interesting. It shows, I think. Sometimes those ideas that first grab us have great tensile strength, and can pull a whole story toward them.
[Sheela] I think for many writers, we have such a scene on our horizon – it might be at the very end, or somewhere in the middle, it might be the scene where something important is revealed, or by which the main character undergoes a crucial moment of change. Whatever it is, it's the reason we're writing the book. This scene where Neela makes her decision was important to me because that was how I saw her becoming a better person, and the chance to be a real musician at last. Her quest throughout isn't just to find the lost veena, but to find her reason for playing music, that would sustain her in the long run, and help her overcome her fear of performing.
[Uma] And finally, you catch the vulnerability of preteens deftly and with humor: Neela's stage fright, Matt's hesitation when he talks about his music, Pavi and her swimming, and other instances. How did you go about tapping the emotional lives of your characters?
[Sheela] Good question! I can only say that I had a lovely stroke of luck in having so many kids in my life – my own two daughters, as well as my nieces and nephew. Neela was also someone I knew from the time she was a baby, and I have watched her grow, talked to her at length, and know her like my own child.
But I think the truth is that like many children's writers, I write from the memory of being a young person. One of the reasons I write middle grade is that its age group is the part of my childhood I so distinctly remember… it's the voice that comes most naturally to me.
[Uma] And it speaks naturally in this very interesting first novel. Congratulations, Sheela.
The Kidlitosphere Interview Wednesday portal this week is Anastasia Suen's Chapter Book of the Day. Scroll down to the end of Anastasia's post to see the roundup.
Posted by Uma Krishnaswami at 6:35 AM
Labels: Boston, Indian American, insider narrative, middle grade, music, mystery, Sheela Chari, veena
Anonymous Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 2:48:00 PM MDT
Thanks for this interview, Uma, and for your post from yesterday. I'm thinking a lot about cultural authenticity right now and what constitutes an "outsider" or an "insider." The main man in my childhood was Puerto Rican, and for many reasons I've usually felt like an outsider in the places I've found myself.
So do I have a right to write from the POV of an angry Puerta Rican foster girl? I was never that, but the voice sprang so naturally to my mind from the mixed spanish and english I heard in my childhood and my feelings of being outside and other.
Uma Krishnaswami Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 6:32:00 PM MDT
Pam, that's a great question: do I have a right to write from the POV of an angry Puerta Rican foster girl?
Ten years ago I would have argued against it, but I think things have changed.
I think that you could, if you did the work you needed to do to make that voice credible on the page, and if you approached the work with humility but resisted exoticizing the character. That's a hard combination to pull off but it can be done. I guess my sense is that if fiction writing anyway is all smoke and mirrors, then the writer makes choices. When we're writing in a cultural context we just need to be keenly aware of the effects of those choices.
Anonymous Friday, July 29, 2011 at 10:03:00 AM MDT
That's a great point. Sometimes even people who obviously mean well exoticize or romanticize some aspect of a character outside of their personal experience. Anyway, great things to put in the pipe. Thanks!
Uma Krishnaswami Friday, July 29, 2011 at 10:19:00 AM MDT
Exactly, and that's the thing that always rings so false to the insider reader. That's always my concern. For centuries the assumption, to be plain about it, was that stories about brown and black kids were written by white writers, to be read by white kids. Today that's a false assumption and yet its traces can be found in texts published even now, in our time.
Laura Monday, August 1, 2011 at 6:35:00 AM MDT
Great interview! Can't wait to read VANISHED!
Anonymous Friday, August 5, 2011 at 5:22:00 AM MDT
Thank you for having me, Uma. This was a fun and thought-provoking interview to do.
Culture, Craft, and Fictional Worlds
Connections: Washington Post blog on Potter, VCFA ...
Interview Wednesday: Stacy Whitman of Tu Books, a ...
Interview follow-up: Beyond Lucky by Sarah Aronson...
Interview Wednesday: Beyond Lucky by Sarah Aronson...


Though I left JCK Las Vegas feeling like I hadn't quite seen enough (that's always how it goes, isn't it?), my phone's lack of memory and fat camera roll beg to differ. I need to make room for the upcoming Fourth of July festivities so that I can delight my Instagram followers with amateur photos of fireworks and barbecue (obviously, you're so excited for this), so let's take one last look at these shots from the show floor. Oh, and in case you missed it during the show, I spotted quite a few beauties that I shared on the JCK magazine Instagram account—if you aren't already following us, please do!
Under the list of most wonderfully whimsical finds, these earrings from Lord Jewelry. They've got the two-tone look, the antique vibe, feathers, and a well-dressed head. I'm in love.
Speaking of winged things, this collection from Supreme Jewelry was all about the butterflies. I love the hoops—a floaty twist on the popular silhouette that I can't imagine ever getting tiresome.
We interrupt our regularly scheduled jewelry program for this view from a glass elevator, on its way up to Rivea restaurant at the Delano. The food was good, the company was greater, and you can't beat the views!
Oh, VTse, how good you are at making earrings that I just can't seem to live without. This pair of multicolor sapphire shoulder dusters, in particular, were perfectly swingy and oh so luxe. Dreamy, yes?
Can we talk about how awesome Johanna Brierley's jewelry line is? The designer casts each piece from "lucky stones"—pieces found on the beach with natural holes, where the holes are believed to be symbols of good luck. And you'd be lucky indeed, to wear these pieces. I started mentally adding at least a dozen pieces to my collection the moment I saw them.
What were your highlights from the show? Favorite new finds? I'd love to hear all about it!


Linda Grace is the Intake Coordinator for Diagnostic Services at The Southfield Center for Development. Linda is responsible for answering initial questions to schedule your appointment. Prior to joining the Southfield Center in 2009, Linda worked as an Account Executive for various clothing and accessories manufacturers in New York and Texas for over 10 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Rhode Island.


U21 is currently exploring global opportunities for our students which can be accessed virtually. We recognise that for many students, it is difficult or impossible to manage global travel alongside studying and we intend to develop opportunities that still offer a truly globalised student experience at home.
Is your institution already running a successful project? Are you a student who would be interested in a global opportunity?
If you have an idea or suggestion for the kind of opportunities and projects we could undertake, we would like to hear it!


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Alexei Navalny's Case Matters to the Kremlin
The global call for an objective investigation that will inevitably establish facts into the alleged "poisoning" of opposition leader and a Russian citizen, Alexei Navalny, in August has started yielding results. President Vladimir Putin has decided, as the first step, to set up an independent committee to investigate the cruel and inhumane attempt on his life.
As globally known, Navalny is a Russian opposition politician and anti-corruption activist. He came to international prominence by organizing demonstrations and running for political office, advocating against corruption in Russia and contributing to public discussions on reforms that could help Putin's government.
He fell ill on a domestic flight last month and was treated in a Siberian hospital, and later evacuated to Berlin. Germany has said that toxicology tests conducted by its armed forces found "unequivocal evidence" that Navalny had been poisoned with Novichok, the substance used in the 2018 attack Skripal family, on a former Russian double agent and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury.
Navalny's case undoubtedly bears similarities to other poisoning incidents in the political history of Russia. There are many ordinary Russians, who believe that the world must know the truth about this brazen attempt on the life of a Russian opposition leader. In addition, it would clear the air, or instead to have an increasingly tainted image.
In an interview with the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte made by Di Claudio Cerasa from an Italian media, Il Foglio, on September 10, 2020, focused on Alexei Navalny.
"Navalny? The German position coincides with the Italian one. Recovery? We will start with the Commission's recommendations. Oppositions? My invitation to dialogue is always valid. School? There are reasons to be optimistic." Interview with the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, the headline reads and here translated into English.
The Head of the Government chooses to speak on an important issue that has nothing to do with economic dossiers or with the future of the government, but with a delicate issue of a diplomatic and geopolitical nature. The theme is this: but exactly, where does Italy stand on the Alexei Navalny case? Alexei Navalny, as you know, is one of the most prominent opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin and was taken to Germany to be treated after being poisoned in Russia.
The German government said it had acquired "no doubt" evidence that Navalny was poisoned. Angela Merkel herself said she "condemned this attack in the most severe way" and has asked the Russian government "to urgently clarify because there are questions that only the Russian government can and must answer. The world is waiting for explanations."
It was revealed that investigators found a new, more lethal variant of Novichok on Navalny's hands and water bottle: for this reason, investigators believe that the perpetrators of the attack are Russian services authorized by the Kremlin. Up to now, we point out to Conte, the government has chosen to handle the issue with great caution – even too much. But in this conversation with Il Foglio, the prime minister puts aside a little diplomacy and agrees to answer a specific question, according to the published article.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has told Italy's prime minister that he would set up a committee to investigate the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Giuseppe Conte quoted on as saying on September 10.
"President Putin has assured me (in a recent conversation) that Russia intends to clear up what has happened, and told me that he would set up a committee of inquiry and was ready to collaborate with the German authorities," Italy's Conte told the newspaper Il Foglio in the interview. "Collaboration is the best way to prevent this dramatic event from negatively affecting relations between the EU and Russia," Conte added.
The Italian prime minister also highlighted the importance of Russian-EU cooperation in investigating the incident with Navalny. According to him, this cooperation could prevent a negative fallout for relations between Russia and the European Union. Like all European partners, Italy believes that it is necessary to fully clarify the details of this incident and find those behind it.
This step taken by the Kremlin could scale down escalating tensions between European Union members, especially, Germany and Russia. It tension relating Navalny threatens to cause lasting damage to diplomatic relations and the economies of both countries, and as a whole the European Union.
Over the ongoing situation, among others, relating to Navalny, European Union has threatened more sanctions against Russia. What is really at stake here also is the Nord Stream-2. This pipeline is expected to provide Europe with a sustainable gas supply while providing Russia with more direct access to the European gas market.
The Nord Stream-2 is a pipeline project slated to transport natural gas from eastern Russia to northern Germany, where it would link up with infrastructure that carries fuel to Western Europe. It would run 1,200 kilometers, mostly under the Baltic Sea along the existing Nord Stream pipeline – hence the name Nord Stream 2.
Commenting on the health condition of Alexey Navalny, State Duma Chairman, Viacheslav Volodin, expressed his gratitude to "the pilots who had immediately reacted to the extraordinary situation when the passenger had felt worse and took a decision to land in Omsk."
He also added: "It is very good that Angela Merkel decided to help and provided assistance to Alexey Navalny. I would like to believe that she would have done the same if any other citizen of the Russian Federation, and not just a radical dissident, had got in such situation. It is important to note the professional actions of doctors, not only at the regional, but also at the federal level, who immediately began resuscitation and held consultations. It is important that all patients should be treated equally."
"We need to comprehensively study what exactly happened. The State Duma Committee on Security will be instructed to analyze the details of the situation to find out if it had been an attempt of foreign states to cause harm to health of a Russian citizen to escalate tensions in Russia, as well as to prepare new allegations against our country," said the Chairman of the State Duma.
On September 9, in connection with the demarche undertaken by the Group of Seven on the Alexei Navalny case, the Foreign Ministry has issued the following statement. Russia insists that Germany provide data on Alexei Navalny's medical examination, including the results of the biochemical tests, as per the official request for legal assistance submitted by the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation on August 27. Berlin has not been willing to respond to our repeated requests in a prompt and constructive manner.
"Without the above-mentioned information, the Russian law enforcement agencies are unable to engage all the necessary procedural mechanisms in order to establish the circumstances of the incident. Meanwhile, the frenzy that is being stirred up around this case is only growing," according to the statement posted to its official website.
"We note that Russian doctors proposed establishing close dialogue with their German colleagues in order to discuss the available data on Alexei Navalny's health that is held in Russia and in Germany. Unfortunately, the German side has been thwarting this process," it further said.
The unconstructive approach by the German authorities is accompanied by groundless accusations against Russia. The massive misinformation campaign that has been unleashed clearly demonstrates that the primary objective pursued by its masterminds is to mobilize support for sanctions, rather than to care for Alexei Navalny's health or establish the true reasons for his admission to hospital, it concluded.
Russia has different relations with individual member states of the European Union. But, all the members unite around policies either for or against Russia. Since 2014 annexation of Crimea, for example, the EU has collectively imposed sanctions initially involving visa bans and freeze of assets of 170 individuals and 44 entities involved in these operations. The EU sanctions have been extended and are in force until 2020.
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MD Africa Editor Kester Kenn Klomegah is an independent researcher and writer on African affairs in the EurAsian region and former Soviet republics. He wrote previously for African Press Agency, African Executive and Inter Press Service. Earlier, he had worked for The Moscow Times, a reputable English newspaper. Klomegah taught part-time at the Moscow Institute of Modern Journalism. He studied international journalism and mass communication, and later spent a year at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. He co-authored a book "AIDS/HIV and Men: Taking Risk or Taking Responsibility" published by the London-based Panos Institute. In 2004 and again in 2009, he won the Golden Word Prize for a series of analytical articles on Russia's economic cooperation with African countries.
Dawn of great power competition in South Caucasus
How Crimea Strengthened Russia's Eurasian Identity
More about how democracy should be elected -Interview with Tannisha Avarrsekar
Flames of Globalization in the Temple of Democracy
Marko Krunic
While the west imagined Crimea was just a territorial dispute that had got out of hand and its annexation a move forced on Putin to salvage something from the ruins of his Ukrainian policy, the Chinese saw it as the moment Russia flipped from being a Eurocentric power to a Eurasian one. The bridge that connected mainland Russia to Crimea which cost $3,69 bln and stretched for 19km symbolized the fact that this was not just a buffer zone but sacred territory and there was no going back as its unity with Russia was eternal. A massive new mega church the resurrection to honour Crimea's return to the motherland. Leading Siloviki from the power ministries such as defence minister Sergei Shoygu was pictured in a mosaic to show that the days of Russian were over and that the security services were once again watching over Russia and ensuring that the enemies encircling it were kept at bay .The temporal and the sacral under Putin were once again in harmony after decades of being at odds with one another.
The idea that Russia through Eurasia was coming back to itself was a perennial topic of influential nationalists .The infatuation with the west was over and Russians were once again appreciating that being different did not mean inferior. For example Dmitry Rogozhin the head of Russia's space agency commented that "in space one must not run after beautiful goods with wonderful labels under the music of Bowie, but one must lean first and foremost on well functioning systems." The excellence of Russia's high performance sectors should energize the low expectation culture that bedevilled many Eurasian projects . So for example regarding the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe bridge which was built to accommodate 300,000 vehicles and had a load capacity of 4 million tonnes prime minister Mikhail Misushtin on its commemoration wanted to know "what it was like working with Chinese partners" on the project. Like the Chinese Russians should not tolerate excuses for shoddy work and should not look at the Crimea annexation as an exception but a rule. Not as a one off event with a short lived effect that disappeared once the euphoria ended but something to be harnessed permanently so it could be applied on an industrial scale across multiple sectors.
Eurasian road
Russia had proved in Crimea that it had an edge in cyber technology in particular and could act unilaterally to defend its interests. But it was working at razor thin margins and stretching them to the limits so it could only be sustained for a short time. It was much more effective combined with a partner China that had spare capacity and an abundance of riches and did not have to work fast in case it used up all its resources too quickly. It only needed to employ a fraction of their strength and allow the Russians to spread the burden with the Chinese. Where they could concentrate on upgrading their labour and production capacity without the pressure of bringing immediate results. So whereas the Blagoveshchensk- Heihe bridge was a "difficult object because the weather did not allow us to work in the snow, the access road was snowed over" the barriers were " quickly pushed them to one side". And apart from Vant all the material was sourced from Russian factories. So "we ordered different products from Omsk, Tomsk – at various factories."
As new technology became available the costs and risks of operating in the region would fall to acceptable limits and allow it to "reach central Russian living standards." Its mass introduction would have a dramatic effect so that Siberia and companies like SIBUR would "have highly efficient and competitive production which would strengthen its position not only in the domestic market but in the world." It could then pave the way for "thousands of high technology work places, transport and social infrastructure." This would have a "multiplying effect" on the economy there. And in the case of joint projects such as the Amur gas processing plant the goal was "in the area of metal construction, building material, laboratory and tele mechanical equipment it would be 100% localized." The problem was to keep as much production as possible within the region and not allow it to move across the border while engaging with the Chinese to the maximum extent. And that any gains in efficiency brought about by digitalization would not come at the expense of hollowing out of the local economy and turn it into a hub for low grade goods.
Regional Dynamo
The Chinese would not be allowed to capture the regional market but it would not done in a way that would discriminate against Chinese companies and deter them from trading. The Russian attitude was that it would be scrupulous in respecting Chinese economic interests and would not disrupt the level playing fields to gain an unfair advantage. They might look to tweak the relationship a bit but not undermine the general direction of travel. The Chinese would continue to enjoy a privileged status within the Russian far east just as minority autonomous regions enjoyed a privileged position within the Federation. This allowed them to champion the cause of engagement with China by presenting it as a Eurasian enclave which shared as much with China as it did with Russia. So the Governor of the Jewish autonomous province Rostislav Goldstein extolling the opening of the bridge between Nizhneleninsko and Tsunyan looked forward to the time where "in the territories around the bridge industrial parks should appear which could produce additional value. And then we need to learn to produce our own products." He added that "there is an idea now unrealized that we could get permission to create a cross border territory where Russian companies could learn from Chinese comrades." So in the enterprise of Vostochny port for example "very attractive conditions of work were established." And thus "decent pay, social guarantees, comfortable and secure conditions for production" would develop "team building". And the benefits would be shared by "colleagues and members of their family who had access to health resorts, nurseries and convalescence centres."
The degree of political closeness did not heavily influence Chinese economic decision making. It did not mean that because a country had friendly relations with China business opportunities would automatically follow. For the Chinese geopolitical considerations were much less important than economic opportunities .They viewed Eurasia in pragmatic rather than hard line ideological terms so that even if they shared the same authoritarian leanings the most important factor was economic competence. A country was judged by its economic fitness rather than its political compatibility. The departure from liberal norms was minimal and the extent of their ambitions was confined to working within the system and adapting it to its needs rather than replacing it with a new order based around Moscow and Beijing . The Chinese approach was subtle and multidimensional helping reinterpret the Russian state as a conservative bulwark at its core with distinct, complementary regional particularities open to prevailing global influences.
How to strengthen the unity of the people of Russia?
Andrei Torin
The significance of the recent changes to the Russian Constitution, and topical issues of interethnic relations were the centerpiece of an online international conference held at the Moscow headquarters of the Public Chamber of Russia.
Opening the conference, "We are the multinational people of the Russian Federation: unity in diversity," the chairman of the Public Chamber's Commission and member of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations, Vladimir Zorin, described the period when the Constitution was adopted as very difficult and characterized by an active development of new concepts and approaches pertaining to interethnic relations. The 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, then one of the world's two superpowers, brought about a flurry of serious problems, many of ethno-political nature, which rippled out into the outside world. These included a resurgence of national and cultural self-awareness of Russia's many peoples, a religious revival, the exacerbation of old and the emergence of new ethno-political conflicts, and finally, the growth of ethnic and ethno-confessional separatism, which sometimes degenerated into open terrorism. All this threatened the very existence of the Russian Federation as a sovereign state. Russia was forced to make a swift transition from the Soviet to what was then perceived as a liberal-democratic model of "minimal state," paying an enormous socio-economic and political price for that changeover, which ignored Russia's traditional values and historical continuity and, at the end of the day, proved largely counterproductive. And all this time, sociologists and politicians alike have been searching for the optimal way of establishing Russia's statehood and for an ideological doctrine that would be consistent with this country's traditional values.
The Constitution, adopted on December 12, 1993, contained a number of innovations that laid the foundations for a new society. In its original version, it made no mention of the country's ethnic and state makeup, as well as of differentiation between the subjects of the Russian Federation along ethnic-state, administrative-territorial and ethno-territorial lines. Neither did it provide the right or the procedure for their exit from the federation. Thus, the people's right to self-determination is clearly interpreted as self-determination within Russia.
The Constitution allows broader legal regulation of ethnic-related processes, and of ethnic and civil identification at the personal, regional and national levels. In keeping with Section 2 of Article 26 of the Constitution, people are free to determine and indicate their nationality, and no one can be forced to either determine of indicate his or her nationality.
"The amendments proposed in the course of the discussion of the results of the nationwide vote on July 1, 2020, enlarged on these approaches. As a result, in recent years, the ethno-cultural sovereignty of the Russian Federation has been restored, with the state focusing once again on issues of an ethno-political nature," Zorin concluded.
The head of the General Secretariat of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly, Svetlana Smirnova, noted that on the basis of the proposed constitutional changes, work is already underway to enshrine them in the law.
"This conference was on the list of events that are part of our program and were approved by the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs. This year is the first time that our federal and national-territorial cultural autonomies and associations have had the opportunity to hold events with the Agency's support. Our main goal is to further improve the mechanisms for strengthening the civic unity of the Russian nation, preserve and develop ethno-cultural and linguistic diversity, popularize the spiritual and moral values of the peoples of Russia in accordance with the amendments to the Constitution," Smirnova noted.
One of the most important constitutional amendments makes it incumbent on the Russian Federation to help compatriots living abroad exercise their rights to protect their interests and preserve their Russian and cultural identity. The state safeguards the cultural identity of all peoples and ethnic communities, guarantees the preservation of the country's ethno-cultural and linguistic diversity. This is not just a declaration. According to the State Ethnic Policy Strategy of the Russian Federation, adopted in 2012, there are people of 193 nationalities now living in the Russian Federation and speaking 277 languages and dialects. At the same time, 87 languages are used in the system of education. By the time the amended version of the Strategy was adopted six years later, their number had already risen to 105. This requires additional efforts and financing needed to write new textbooks and train school and university teachers, and the Russian state is ready to foot the bill.
"In our country, as one of the world's most multi-ethnic and multilingual states, issues of ethnic policy are of particular relevance," said Anna Kotova, State Secretary – Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs.
Leokadia Drobizheva, who heads the Center for the Study of Interethnic Relations at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Sociology, emphasized the all-importance for any country of the concept of "consent" that was added to the text of the State Ethnic Policy Strategy in 2012. Without this, it is impossible to implement either economic or cultural plans.
"This concept meant not just good relations between people, but also trust and the ability to coordinate their interests and settle disputes," she explained.
According to the results of a sociological survey published by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) and the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), the indicator of trust in Russian society is constantly fluctuating, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. And still, apart from their desire to survive, our people also demonstrated a an acute sense of compatibility and a desire to help each other, especially in multiethnic places like Astrakhan region, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Yakutia and Karelia. The respondents named family, work and material wellbeing as their main values. They also mentioned equality of all people before the law, justice, equal opportunities for education and work, as well as the right for paid vacations among the goals that need to be achieved to maintain unity. Thus, the concept of "consent," introduced into the Strategy, is provided with the most important social functions for a person, which also pertains to interethnic relations in Russia.
"Currently, only 4 percent of our citizens have experienced prejudice based on their ethnicity and race. However, the actual percentage of such attitudes is higher and varies depending on the situation in the region, with 78-80 percent of those polled saying that they do not experience any negativity. On the other hand, we know that such problems arise regularly and need to be taken into account in order to ensure effective prevention of extremism. First of all, we are talking about the observance of a citizen's constitutional rights. One's nationality should not impede employment or career growth, and this is something about 40 percent of respondents are concerned about. The situation in Bashkiria, Yakutia and Tatarstan deserves special attention and here we have no reason for complacence," Drobizheva noted.
In turn, the concept of "consent" is directly related to Russian identity. Even though Russian citizens are primarily concerned about their material wellbeing, it is equally important that they feel themselves as being one people. According to data released by VTsIOM, before the pandemic struck, 90 percent of those surveyed identified themselves as Russian citizens. This is a very high percentage, of course. However, Russian citizens differ in their perception of national identity. While some of them associate themselves primarily with a single state, the majority associate themselves with the legal field they live in. At the same time, when it comes to history and culture, just under 50 percent of respondents said that besides unifying tendencies there are also separatist tendencies there, depending on the region.
"This area deserves close and delicate attention," Leokadia Drobizheva concluded.
From our partner International Affairs
Russia took a stance on friendship with China
Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
Russia proved its sincere friendship with China by canceling its Summit meeting with India, on charges of its too much pro-American policies.
Russia and India signed a treaty of Strategic friendship in the year 2000. Russian helped India in many aspects, including market access, economic assistance, technology transfer, and defense cooperation. In fact, the Indian defense Industry was based on Russian technical assistance. Russian was extending its full diplomatic and political support under this agreement.
Since signing the strategic agreement, there was a summit meeting every year without any disruption for consecutive 19 years. But this year, the meeting was postponed a couple of times and finally canceled.
The political gurus foresee a severe rift in Russia-India relations. Not only different interests but opposite interests, which might lead to further consequences shortly.
India was developing its relations with America rapidly. India hired politicians, senators, Congress members, and media houses for lobbying inside America to promote Indian narrative and importance among the US-Administration. Gradually, India convinced US-Administration and developed close relations. Signing as A major Defense Partner and series of strategic agreements with the US, BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement)being the last in sequence, has completed the close alliance between the US and India.
Indian role in Asia-Pacific Alliance and the US, Australia, and Japan is evident that Indian interests have aligned with America entirely. The alliance is to encircle China, counter China, and resist the Chinese rise. Whereas Russian interests are opposite, it cooperates with China, supports China, and maintains peace and security in the region and globally.
Russian interests and Indian interests were in a direct collision. Russia has declared its relations with China more strategic, and any country wanted to harm China, Russia feels its obligation to cut ties with them.
It was Russian who made it possible that India joined SCO. But now, many member countries in SCO doubt Indian role in SCO, as Indian interests coincide with America rather than SCO. Some member countries may ask for banning Indian presence in SCO, as it concerns the organization's security and privacy.
India is also a member of BRICS, where Russia and China are also present. If India keeps opposing China and its mega initiatives BRI and keeps its border disputes with China, it might become very uncomfortable to keep its membership.
India might be wanted to play smartly, getting benefits from Russia while silently serving American interests. It might not work anymore. India needs to make its mind-set, either to be sincere in SCO, BRICS, relations with Russia and China, etc., and declare its straightforward policy. Keep its feet on two boats, going in opposite directions, may fail.
Many countries in the world are declared to be on the American block, and it is accepted. There is no harm to be in any club. But the problem with India is to be in two blocks simultaneously. It creates many suspicions.
Recently, Russia is in close relations with Pakistan, Turkey, and Iraan, while India has rivalries with all of them. It will also be difficult for Russia to maintains good relations with India while developing ties with Indian adversaries. Indian role in Afghanistan is also against the interests of Russia. Russian supports peace and stability in Afghanistan, whereas India opposes it. In geopolitics, Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey are emerging a block, where India is the adversary to all of them.
Speaking via video link to the Russian international affairs council, a state-run think tank, recently Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while referring to the Quad group, said Western countries were trying to weaken India's close ties and Russia.
Russian Ambassador to India, Nikolai Kudashiv, proposed a Eurasian treaty in the Indian Ocean — so it is crucial to understand what Russia has in common with the Quad Group.
"The United States and Russia are at odds with each other. The United States is in the Quad. In this way, India will become part of the 'anti-Russia' tent. The Russian Navy in the Indo-Pacific could be in danger.
Tensions between India and China in the Ladakh region have been high since May this year. When things got worse, it was in Russia that Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with the Chinese Defence Minister. Many experts believe that Russia has acted as a mediator between the two countries at the behest of India. Russia had also played a similar role during the Doklam conflict. Some experts believe that it is immoral for India to be part of an "anti-China group" even when the border dispute between India and China continues, and Russia is playing a mediating role.