Author: Rasmita Jena

On Sunday, December 8, a young Thai pop singer named Ping Chayada sadly passed away at the age of 20. She had been experiencing pain in her neck and shoulders and sought help through massage therapy.

In her last message to her 22,000 followers, Ping explained that her first massage felt fine. However, after going back for more sessions, she started feeling much worse. After one massage where her neck was twisted, she had awful pain that made it hard to lie down. Ping loved massages and thought the pain was normal. After seeing a different therapist who pressed too hard, her condition got worse, causing swelling and bruising.

Eventually, Ping started to feel electric shocks in her fingers and noticed that her right arm was getting weak. She wrote, “I want to leave this as a lesson for anyone who really likes massage. I will recover. I’m in so much pain. I want to work now. But now I’m just waiting for the right time.”

Over the following weeks, Ping’s health got worse, leading to her hospitalization on November 6. She was diagnosed with septicemia (blood poisoning), which caused her death. The local health chief announced that an autopsy would reveal the exact cause. All seven massage therapists at the place where she received treatment were licensed, and an investigation is ongoing to ensure that they followed proper Thai massage techniques.

The Risks of Massage Therapy

While massages usually have very low risks, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says there have been rare cases of serious problems, like blood clots or nerve injuries. These are more likely with deep tissue massages or for older people.

Dr. Thiravat Hemachudha, an expert at Rangsit University, warned that neck massages could be dangerous and even lead to paralysis. He mentioned a study by 177 American neurologists, who found 55 patients aged 21 to 60 who became paralyzed after neck therapy. Dr. Thiravat explained that neck massages could affect blood flow to the brain and that he has treated patients who believed neck tilting would make their muscles stronger.

Washington: Tulsi Gabbard, chosen by President Donald Trump to be the Director of National Intelligence, met important Senators at Capitol Hill to discuss her nomination. Gabbard, 43, who is Hindu-American and served as a Democrat representative for Hawaii for eight years, expressed full support for Trump’s views on Syria after recent events in the country. Many experts and lawmakers are cautious about her views on Syria, especially since she visited Bashar Assad in 2017, who was recently removed from power.

If her nomination is approved by the Senate, she would be the first Hindu American to lead the U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and FBI. Gabbard met with Senators like Mike Rounds, James Lankford, and Lindsey Graham, who praised her leadership. Senator Rounds described their meeting as excellent, and Gabbard thanked him for his time.

Senator Rand Paul congratulated her, recognizing her military service and commitment to American rights. Senator Lindsey Graham acknowledged their differences in foreign policy but called her smart and capable. Senator Eric Schmitt commented that Gabbard brings a fresh perspective to Washington, which could be beneficial.

Gabbard, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve with three deployments, represented Hawaii in Congress for eight years and has held several important positions. She made history in 2018, being the first Hindu to swear into the U.S. House of Representatives using the Bhagavad Gita.

She was born in American Samoa and is proud of her Hindu roots, but she is not of Indian descent. Gabbard’s spiritual background comes from the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya, a tradition promoting Vaishnava teachings. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was established after the September 11 attacks to manage the country’s intelligence agencies and advise the president on security matters.

Donald Trump has always known how to grab attention. Now that he is running for president again, he is combining his political life with selling products. Trump is promoting things like perfumes, watches, sneakers, and even digital trading cards, all linked to his brand.

Recently, he shared a photo with Jill Biden, the First Lady, to promote his new line of Trump perfumes called “Fight, Fight, Fight.” He said these perfumes represent winning and make great Christmas gifts. He even joked that they are “a fragrance your enemies can’t resist!”

Unlike his 2016 campaign, when his sons tried to run the family business separately, Trump is now directly involved in selling products. He is taking advantage of the excitement from his election win, offering fun products like $299 “Trump Crypto President” sneakers and $119 “Victory” cologne. There’s not much information on where these items are made, and once you buy, you can’t return them.

In the past, many of Trump’s products were made in countries like India, Mexico, and China, which went against his policy of encouraging American-made goods. These days, Trump creates licenses for companies to use his name, allowing them to sell products and pay him royalties.

His 2023 financial report shows earnings from a book related to his son and from a Bible endorsed by a country singer. Recently, some companies selling Trump products have been set up in Wyoming to keep their owners’ names private. This raises questions about where the money is going and how it may influence Trump, especially as he spends time at Mar-a-Lago.

With all these new products coming out, people wonder if Trump will continue to sell items that link to big moments in his presidency. It seems like he’s in a hurry to make money off these opportunities, ignoring past norms and traditions.