The Indian Panorama

Month: May 2013

  • UPA report card paints rosy picture of govt’s performance

    UPA report card paints rosy picture of govt’s performance

    NEW DELHI: The third year report card of UPA-II projects a rosy picture of the Indian economy claiming steady economic growth, increase in per capita income and growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. The report card presented here today by the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, shows a steep increase of about 55 per cent in FDI from 2010-11 to 2012.

    It claimed that the growth is because the government has liberalised and rationalised FDI policy over the years to make it more investor friendly. FDI is now permitted in limited liability partnerships and up to 100% in single-brand retail trading. During April2011 to February 2012, FDI equity inflows were US $28.40 billion, an increase of 55% over the corresponding period a year ago, the report stated.

    It said Central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) are major drivers of economic growth. In order to accelerate investment, 17 CPSEs have committed to a projected investment of more than Rs 1,30,000 crore in 2012- 2013, the UPA report card claims. On per capita income, the report card said it has increased from Rs 53,331 in 2010-11 toRs 60,972 for 2011-12.

    Regarding country’s economic growth, the average annual growth rate of the economy during 2004-05 to 2011-12 was projected at 8.2 per cent per cent despite the global economic and financial crisis in 2007-09 followed by a slowdown in global economy in 2011-12. It, however, admitted that the expected growth of Indian economy was 6.9 5 per cent during 2011-12 in terms of GDP at factor cost at constant 2004-05 prices. It said the lower growth in this fiscal could be attributed to a slowdown in the global economy and tight monetary policy.

    The report card on the government’s performance, however, could not hide inflation figure which stood at around 9 per cent during 2011. “Headline Wholesale Price Index (WPI) stood at around 9 per cent during 2011. It, however, moderated to 6.9 per cent by March 2012. CPI (Consumer Price index) inflation for major indices fell below 7 per cent in December 2011 and fell further in January-February 2012,” the report card stated.

    It claimed that the high inflation is because of increasing global commodity prices mainly because of persistently high crude petroleum prices. Primary food article inflation has been a cause of serious concern. However, this year average food inflation declined significantly to 7.28 per cent from average levels above 15 per cent in earlier years.

  • Thumping win for SAD-BJP in ZP, Panchayat Samiti polls

    Thumping win for SAD-BJP in ZP, Panchayat Samiti polls

    Chandigarh (TIP): Stamping its supremacy; the Shiromani Akali Dal- BJP combine won 299 out of the 331 seats in the Zila Parishad elections. The compiled list, released today; showed that the SADBJP romped home in as many as 2,122 out of 2,739 results for the Panchayat Samiti elections.

    Information released by the election office said election at Nadhor in Panchayat Samiti, Patti, in Tarn Taran district had been countermanded. The Congress candidate Sukhraj Singh Bhagupur had been murdered during the campaigning. The result of Panchayat Samiti, Moga, has been stayed by the commission as Makhan Singh, an independent candidate, turned out to be a proclaimed offender. His eligibility has been challenged.

    The SAD-BJP combine did particularly well in Amritsar, Ajitgarh, Bathinda, Barnala, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar and Tarn Taran where the party won all parishad seats. The Congress romped home in 26 seats in the state. The remaining six seats were bagged by ‘others’. The Congress won four seats each in Hoshiarpur and J alandhar.

  • 1984 ANTI-SIKH RIOTS CASE: DELHI HIGH COURT TO HEAR SAJJAN KUMAR’S PLEA

    1984 ANTI-SIKH RIOTS CASE: DELHI HIGH COURT TO HEAR SAJJAN KUMAR’S PLEA

    NEW DELHI (TIP)The Delhi High Court will on Friday hear the plea of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar seeking a quashing of charges of murder and rioting against him, framed by a lower court, in connection with a 1984 antiSikh riots case in which six people were killed in Sultanpuri. Last month, high court Justice Suresh Kait had said “further hearing is required” on Kumar’s plea.

    Judgement in the case was reserved by the high court in December last year. A Delhi court had last month acquitted Kumar in connection with another 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. District Judge J.R. Aryan found Kumar not guilty in the case related to the killing of five people in Delhi Cantonment area following the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

    The court had, however, convicted five other accused in the case.Sajjan Kumar was facing trial along with Balwan Khokkar, Mahender Yadav, G irdhari Lal, Kishan Khokkar and Captain Bhagmal for allegedly conspiring and inciting a mob against the Sikh community.

  • India, China vow to end border dispute, sign eight agreements

    India, China vow to end border dispute, sign eight agreements

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Taking stock of “lessons learnt” from the recent stand-off in Ladakh after a Chinese incursion there, India and China decided on further measures for maintaining peace and tranquility along their border. This was disclosed after discussions on “mutual interest and concern” between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, who met here for the second time since Sunday, covering a wide range of issues including boundary dispute, trans-border rivers and trade deficit.

    Addressing a joint press meet, the two leaders acknowledged their talks- first last night and then this morning- had been “candid” and “frank”, a diplomatic aphorism for their forthright discussions. Noting that they “took stock of lessons learnt from the recent incident in the western sector, when existing mechanisms proved their worth”, Singh announced, “We have tasked our special representatives to consider further measures that may be needed to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border.

    “We agreed that our special representatives will meet soon to continue discussions, seeking early agreement on a framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable boundary settlement.” The talks come nearly a month after the 19-km-deep incursion by the Chinese troops in Depsang valley in Ladakh which was resolved only two weeks ago.

    On his part, Li, while admitting that there were “some problems” between the two countries, said, “Both sides believe that, with regard to the boundary question, one that is leftover by history, the two sides have over time established the principles on this question.

    “In the meantime, we have worked together to maintain tranquility and peace on the border,” the Chinese premier said, adding, “We need to confront various issues with a board mind and conduct dialogue on those issues in a mature and sensible way. “We need to appropriately handle our cooperation by maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas and on the trans-border river issues.”

    Prime Minister Singh in his statement said that, “starting yesterday evening, Premier Li and I have had wide-ranging and candid discussions covering all matters of mutual interest and concern”. Singh said he was delighted that there are so many areas of convergence between them and on which there is a great deal of meeting of minds. “Most importantly, we agreed that the relationship between our two countries is of growing significance and essential for our peaceful development and sustained economic growth, as well as for stability and prosperity in our region and the world,” he said.

    Noting that India and China are two civilisational neighbours and have lived in peace through the ages, he said, “We have had our differences … , but over the last 25 years, we have steadily built a mutually beneficial relationship”. “The basis for continued growth and expansion of our ties is peace and tranquility on our borders. While seeking an early resolution of the boundary question, Premier Li and I agreed that this must continue to be preserved,” he said. “I also reiterated to Premier Li India’s concerns about the effects on lower riparians of activities in the upper reaches of our shared rivers,” Singh said, in an apparent reference to China building dams on Brahmaputra river.

    Singh said the mandate of the expert-level mechanism should be expanded to include information sharing on upstream development projects on these rivers. He said he was glad that both sides have agreed to expand cooperation on trans-border rivers. It would also be useful for India and China to collaborate on a better understanding of the stresses of the shared Himalayan ecosystem, he said.

  • Five NYC Libraries to receive $10,000 each for outstanding service

    Five NYC Libraries to receive $10,000 each for outstanding service

    First-Ever NYC Neighborhood Library Awards Calls for Nominations
    NEW YORK, NEW YORK (TIP): The NYC Neighborhood Library Awards is the firstever awards program of its kind and the largest cash prize awarded directly to branch libraries. The awards celebrate the unique ways that local libraries serve NYC’s diverse communities in the 21st century.

    New Yorkers can submit nominations from now until July 1 explaining how their local branch library meets the specific needs of their neighborhood and why it should win $10,000. In 2011, New York City’s public libraries received 40.5 million visits, and library program attendance has increased 40 percent over the last decade (Branches of Opportunity, CUF). Given the changing economic environment, New York City’s libraries are constantly evolving to meet the needs of New Yorkers through new programs, classes, job resources, community events, and more.

    New Yorkers from all five boroughs are encouraged to nominate their local libraries through any of the public libraries’ websites at: www.bklynpubliclibrary.org, www.NYPL.org, and www.QueensLibrary.org. The NYC Neighborhood Library Awards program is an independent awards program sponsored by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, in association with WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show. A review committee will vet the nominations submitted by the public, and a panel of esteemed judges will select five winners.

    The panel of judges will include: the author R.L. Stine; Fatima Shama, NYC Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs; Kurt Andersen, author and host of WNYC’s Studio 360; and Carla Hayden, CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore and former president of the American Library Association (ALA). Winners will be announced in September 2013.

  • USCIS union says it opposes Senate immigration bill

    USCIS union says it opposes Senate immigration bill

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The leader of a union representing 12,000 federal immigration officers said Monday his group is joining a growing list of similar organizations opposed to the sweeping immigration bill crafted by the Gang of Eight lawmakers and under consideration in Congress. Kenneth Palinkas, president of the National Citizenship and Immigration Services Council, said his group was never consulted by the group of bipartisan lawmakers writing the bill, which he claims was written with special interests in mind and fails to address “some of the most serious concerns the USCIS Council has about the current system.”

    Palinkas says the bill doesn’t address the risky pressure put on adjudication officers to rubber stamp applications instead of conducting diligent case reviews, fails to fix the “insurmountable bureaucracy” which often prevents USCIS officers from contacting and coordinating with ICE agents in cases that should have their involvement and doesn’t do enough to address the problem of student visa overstays.

    “We are the very backbone of our nation’s immigration system and will be at the center of implementing any immigration reform,” Palinkas said in a statement obtained by FoxNews.com. Earlier this month, the National ICE Council, which represents more than 7,000 agents, sent a letter to Congress sharply criticizing the legislation and says it will not support it.

    There are three major unions that represent the country’s immigration officers and agents. Members of the Senate’s Gang of Eight spent last week marking up the bill in the Judiciary Committee. On Tuesday, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio seemed to show signs of strain within the group after senators rejected a Republican proposal to require a biometric entry and exit system at ports of entry in the U.S. President Obama has been cautiously optimistic about the Senate’s strategy of a bipartisan approach.

    Things seem to be faring better on the House side. On Thursday, negotiators told reporters that they had reached a tentative agreement but did not disclose details.

  • WHY DO WE LIGHT A LAMP?

    WHY DO WE LIGHT A LAMP?

    In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is maintained continuously (Akhanda Deepa). All auspicious functions commence with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion. Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness, ignorance.

    The Lord is the “Knowledge Principle” (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the Lord himself. Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.

    Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.

    Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray: Deepajyothi parabrahma Deepa sarva tamopahaha Deepena saadhyate saram Sandhyaa deepo namostute I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life.

  • GREATNESS OF THE VEDAS

    GREATNESS OF THE VEDAS

    The glory of the Vedas knows no bounds and it is manifested in the affairs of the world in a manner that defies comparison. Of all the sacred places on earth Kasi comes foremost. When we speak in praise of other hallowed centres, we say that they are equal to Kasi in holiness. From this we know the importance of that city. In the south there is a pilgrim centre which has come to be called “Daksina Kasi (Southern Kasi).

    There is an Uttara Kasi (Northern Kasi) in the Himalaya. Vrddhacalm in Tamil Nadu is also known as “Vrddha Kasi”. In Tirunelveli district (of Tamil Nadu) there is a town called ” Tenkasi” (this also means ” Southern Kasi”). When we speak in praise of a sacred place it is customary to describe it as being “equal to Kasi”. But Kumbhakonam is considered greater than Kasi (” in greatness it weighs one grain more than Kasi”).

    Here is a stanza that speaks of the high place accorded to Kumbhakonam. Anyaksetre krtam papam punyaksetre vinasyati Punyaksetre krtam papam Varanasyam vinasyati Varanasyam krtam papam Kumbhakone vinasyati Kumbhakone krtam papam Kumbhakone vinasyati “The sin committed in any (ordinary) place is washed away in a sacred place. That committed in any sacred place is washed away in Varanasi (that is Kasi). The sin committed in Varanasi is wiped away in Kumbhakonam. And the sin earned in Kumbhakonam, well it is destroyed only in Kumbhakonam. ”

    The glory of Kasi is that all other sacred places are likened to it. Even when a place is said to be superior to Kasi the implication is that Kasi is uniquely great. It has acquired a distinction by being made an object of comparison. A great man has composed a poem on Kasi. ” ksetranam uttamanam api yad upamaya ka pi loke prasastih, ” so it begins. It means: Hindu Dharma 337 “By being likened to it even highly esteemed places become famous- that is Kasi.”

    Similarly, when you speak highly of scared tirthas you liken them to the Ganga or say that they are more holy than that river. We must conclude from the foregoing that Kasi comes first among the sacred places and that the Ganga is the holiest of the tirthas. It is in this way that, when any work is to be extolled, it is said tob e “equal to the Vedas”. The Ramayana is a very famous poetic work. There are many versions of it.

    Take any language in India: the story of Rama will be seen to be a theme in drama, poetry, music, etc, in its literature. The greatness of the Ramayana is such that it is exalted to the position of a Veda. “Vedah Pracetasadasitsaksadramayanatmana. ” The Veda itself was born as Ramayana to Valmiki, the son of Pracetas. The Mahabharatha too is celebrated as a Veda: in fact it is called the fifth Veda (“pancamo Vedah”). Vaisnavas glorify the Tiruvaymozhi as a Veda. It is the work of Nammazhvar, who is also called Sathakopan and Maran. They say: “Maran Sathakopan composed the Tamil Veda.”

    The famous Tamil work on ethics, the Tirukkural, is also called the “Tamil Veda.” During the time of the author of the Kural, Tiruvalluvar, there was the “Kadai Samgam” in Madurai. In that city there was a seat received as a gift from Sundaresvara. Only the worthy could sit on it. The unworthy would be pushed aside. Was such a ting possible? We cannot believe it; but we do believe that when a coin is inserted in a machine we get a ticket.

    [Here the Paramaguru tells the story of Tiruvalluvar and his Kural and how the poets of his time came to regard Tamil as great as Sanskrit since it had now come into possession of a work like Kural which, they said, was equal to the Vedas. This story occurs in Chapter 5, Part Two, and “The Vedas in their Original Form.”] Saivas [in Tamil Nadu] regard the Tiruvacakam as the Tamil Veda. To the Christians in India the Bible is the “Satya – Veda. ” Thus we see that the Vedas have a special place of honour.

    The Vedic river is ageless and it traverses the length and breadth of our land as the very life-blood of our culture. This river should not be allowed to dry up. There is no greater responsibility for a Hindu than that of keeping the Vedas a live and vibrant tradition. The sound of the Vedas must pervade everywhere, must fill all space. The truths enshrined in them must be spread far and wide and the rituals enjoined on us by them must be made to flourish.

    Sufficient it would be if the Vedic dharma remains vigorous and is maintained atleast in our land. If a man’s heart is stout he will survive even if all other parts of his body are afflicted. In the same way, if the Vedas flourish in this land all nations will prosper and live in peace and happiness. This is the prayer of the Vedic dharma.

  • Wedding Anniversary Sentiments of a Young Lady

    Wedding Anniversary Sentiments of a Young Lady

    “Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turns your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement.

    They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around.

    You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colors seem brighter and more brilliant.

    Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you.

    You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you.

    You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.” I AM BLESSED ALL THIS IS TRUE TO MY LIFE. Thank you Karan for being there, holding me on for the past 7 years…….wish us a very happy anniversary…….love u forever.

  • WHY WOMEN EVENTUALLY GO BACK TO BAD BOYS

    WHY WOMEN EVENTUALLY GO BACK TO BAD BOYS

    After getting thrashed by her lover, Rihanna says he’s not a monster. How smart is it to go on with an abusive partner? When she broke up with boyfriend Chris Brown in 2009, saying she had been in an abusive relationship for long, Rihanna made a very important statement: “When I realised that my selfish decision for love could result into some young girl getting killed, I could not be easy with that part.

    I couldn’t be responsible … If Chris never hit me again, who’s to say that their boyfriend won’t … kill these girls”. She urged young girls to not “react out of love”. That was then. Four years later, the Umbrella singer has got back with Brown, saying she missed her “best friend”. The 25-year-old has reacted to criticism saying she believed that Brown needed help. In her seventh studio album Unapologetic, the two crooners have recorded a song titled Nobody’s Business – which is kind of self explanatory.How safe is it to get back with an abusive – it could be mental, physical or even sexual – ex?

    Russian roulette
    It’s a gamble most psychologists say one should avoid. Deepti Makhija who has a practice at Andheri believes, “Expecting a violent partner to change is a false notion. After all, we come from a society where mothers believe in reinforcing negative behaviour among their children.

    If a child hits his/her classmate in school, instead of correcting their child or understanding if there’s a larger issue to be dealt with, mothers say, ‘at least, my child didn’t get hit’.” Psychiatrist Dr Ashit Sheth, who practices at Marine Lines, says a lot of people in abusive relationships tend to ‘romanticise the relationship’ and wonder how it would have turned out had they given it some time and care. Rihanna too, for instance, has been quoted in Rolling Stone magazine saying, “He’s not the monster everybody thinks.

    He’s a good person. He has a fantastic heart. He’s giving and loving. And he’s fun to be around.” She added, “I decided it was more important for me to be happy. I wasn’t going to let anybody’s opinion get in the way of that. Even if it’s a mistake, it’s my mistake. After being tormented for so many years, being angry and dark, I’d rather just live my truth and take the backlash.I can handle it.”

    Living a lie
    Both Makhija and Sheth believe staying in an abusive relationship, or getting back to one is an unhealthy move. “It’s like being put in a miniconcentration camp. Initially, they face fear, anger or resentment but after that, they go through guilt, shame, and feel that something is wrong with them. In these cases women, especially, become too passive to take a decision. Instead, they tend to get used to the abuse,” says Sheth.Makhija says it is also a reflection of low self-esteem.

    “Women who come from abusive homes tend to have esteem issues. If she has seen this sort of behaviour at home, she begins to think ‘abuse’ is normal.” Some victims even see this sort of aggression by a partner as a sign that they are wanted. This again, points out Makhija, mirrors lack of love and attention at home. “The roots can be traced to childhood.” Children, financial insecurities and even social stigma are often cited as reasons for not leaving an abusive relationship.

    Sheth talks about a patient who suffered psychological and physical abuse at home. “Her husband had barred her from communicating with her maternal family because they didn’t show adequate respect to him. Though the woman’s brother and parents encouraged her to leave her husband, she was unwilling because she didn’t want to live the ‘shame of being a divorcee’.”

    It’s complicated
    Rihanna, perhaps defending Brown, said, “We don’t often think of abusive men as victims or people who need help, but that’s really what they are.”

    This may well be true says Sheth. “Sometimes abusive partners may be suffering from genuine disorders like paranoia or schizophrenia, or may have faced a major head injury and are therefore, going through bouts of bad temper. They need to be put on medication and in all my cases I have seen it has shown improvement in their behavior pattern.” Medication like anti-Parkinson and asthmatic drugs make people aggressive; insomnia is another major reason for persistent irritability.

    These “aggressive victims” could also be abusing substances like alcohol or cocaine. Most often, says Sheth, it’s people who show signs of personality disorders – being anti-social to the point of being standoffish (utterly sensitive, self-centered) – who go home and try to control their spouses – or narcissistic personality disorder (full of pride) that bully their partners. “They need serious counseling, but the problem with such cases is that they seldom believe they need help,” says Sheth.

  • HOW TO AVOID A HANGOVER

    HOW TO AVOID A HANGOVER

    Alcohol tends to makes you put on weight and can give you a mind splitting hangover. But if you like to enjoy a drink without getting a hangover here are some tips. Nutritionist Neelanjana Singh with Heinz Nutri Life Clinic from Delhi shares some drinking tips to fight a hangover and reduce the alcohol effects to your body. “Several factors influence the rate at which alcohol is absorbed by the body,” say the nutritionist.

    “The most important factor is the presence of food in the stomach. If there is food in the stomach, the rate at which alcohol will be absorbed will be slower than when one is on an empty stomach. It is always a better idea to consume alcohol after a meal.” It is recommended to eat before you go drinking or eat as you drink to reduce the impact of alcohol on your body. Mixers for drinks too make an important ingredient to fight a hangover.

    “What you mix with the drinks is also a crucial factor influencing absorption. Mixing fruit and vegetable juices is a good idea as it slows down the process of absorption. On the same lines, if one adds sodas or carbonated beverages, the rate of absorption goes up.” Adding a dash a lime is said to slower absorption of alcohol. Lime reduces the impact of alcohol on the liver too.

    “Here is one situation when fat in the diet may not be totally undesirable. As fat tends to stay in the stomach longer than the other nutrients, a snack with adequate fat ought to be taken with the meal,” explains Neelanjana Singh. Consuming a heavy greasy meal helps fight a hangover. “So drink if you must, but stay on course with the above advice.” Alcohol affects the liver and also the skin, heavy consumption of alcohol can cause early aging and make you sluggish. It is important to control alcohol consumption to maintain a healthy life.

  • Soaking up sun may help treat asthma

    Soaking up sun may help treat asthma

    Scientists have suggested that the amount of time that asthma patients spend in the sun may have an impact on their illness. A research team at King’s College London said low levels of vitamin D – made by the body in sunlight – has been linked to a worsening of symptoms. Its latest research shows that the vitamin calms an over-active part of the immune system in asthma, the BBC reported.

    However, treatment of patients with vitamin D has not yet been tested. Prof Catherine Hawrylowicz and her group researched the impact that vitamin D has on a chemical in the body, interleukin-17 – a vital part of the immune system, which helps to ward off infections. But the chemical can cause problems when levels are too high, which has been strongly implicated in asthma.

  • MOVIE REVIEW – I Don’t Luv U

    MOVIE REVIEW – I Don’t Luv U

    Cast: Ruslaan Mumtaz, Chetna Pande
    Direction: Amit Kasaria
    Genre: Romance
    Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes

    STORY: You don’t value ‘true love’ until you lose it. The ‘Facebook’ generation portrayed in the film learns this the hard way. MOVIE REVIEW: Yuvaan (Ruslaan Mumtaz) and his friends have nothing better to do except for looking up girls’ skirts and ogling their cleavage. The boys even scan the ladies and their assets mentally, in order to identify them. Their offensive behaviour takes a backseat when Yuvaan gets attracted to Londonreturned Aayra (Chetna Pande).

    Just when love and commitment are about to happen, an MMS clip changes their life and beliefs forever. While the performances, cinematography, songs, production value are all decent, what disappoints the most is the director’s uncertainty about the topic he wishes to highlight. The need of teenagers to upload everything online, craving for sex early in a relationship, TV news channels and their obsession with TRPs, victims of media’s sensationalism…too many issues have been addressed.

    This mishmash elongates the film, without letting it become as effective as it could have been. The film works fine as a campus romance but that track too gets disrupted by the MMS scandal, which comes painfully late in the movie. Also, the moment you start feeling for the characters, the film enters the ‘media bashing’ phase, thereon entering altogether different territory. The inconsistency concerning the story disappoints. Ruslaan Mumtaz and Emma Watson-esque Chetna Pande are easy on the eyes and act well.

    Ruslaan in particular is impressive in emotional scenes. Hope he gets better films to showcase his talent. We wish his character was defined better. The film has a lot to offer, especially for youngsters but mentions of too many moralistic issues leave you frustrated. The film tries too hard to cater to the young generation and their dilemmas. The narrative keeps beating around the bush for way too long.

  • GUL STILL FITS IN TEENAGE TIME SHORTS

    GUL STILL FITS IN TEENAGE TIME SHORTS

    She is well over 30, but Gul Panag is glad that she can still comfortably slip into a pair of shorts which she used to wear when she was sweet 16. “Found a pair of shorts at parents’ home from when I was 16 (highwaisted and all).

    Still fit in them comfortably,” posted the “Dor” actress on microblogging site Twitter. The former beauty queenturned- actress and adventure enthusiast is fit, and has maintained herself well over the years.

  • CLAUDIA CIESLA’S GERMAN GETAWAY!

    CLAUDIA CIESLA’S GERMAN GETAWAY!

    The famous German beauty is visiting home sweet home. Claudia Ciesla is travelling to Germany to spend some time with family. Away from the Mumbai heat, she will be enjoying the breezy climate of Germany and having great time with her family. “Due to the packed schedules I don’t get much time to be with my family.

    So as and when I get time to squeeze out from my schedule and meet my family, I just snatch the chance and travel home. It’s always fun to meet family and to go around with my sisters. This time I am here for 2 weeks and will continue to have a blast here.” says Claudia.

  • EVA LONGORIA MOCKS WARDROBE MALFUNCTION

    EVA LONGORIA MOCKS WARDROBE MALFUNCTION

    Eva Longoria, who had a major wardrobe malfunction at the Cannes red carpet on Saturday, poked fun at her own embarrassment by flaunting her knickers in a sheer laced see-through dress on Sunday. “Here’s my dress for tonight! No wardrobe malfunctions tonight!!!” the Mirror quoted her as tweeting.

    The 38-year-old actress was left exposed at Cannes, when she lifted her dress off the wet ground to reveal that she wasn’t wearing any underwear.

  • LILO SUED FOR $5 MILLION

    LILO SUED FOR $5 MILLION

    Lindsay Lohan has been sued for 5 million dollars by a clothing company, DNAM The erratic behavior of the actress made it difficult to promote and sell her 6126 leggings line for which the company is demanding 5 million dollars, Radar Online reported. The company’s lawsuit states that Lohan’s leggings suffered in sales because the buyers were reluctant to associate themselves with her drugaddled image.

    However Lohan’s business partner, Kristi Kaylor, has denied any such allegations and said that The DNAM countersuit against 6126 misrepresents the facts. She further said that the company is aware of the fact that it is in breach of the 6126 licensee agreement, and this suit is clearly nothing more than a transparent defense maneuver. She added that DNAM is trying to get out of honoring its financial obligations.

  • MAHABALESHWAR

    MAHABALESHWAR

    SMALL STATION WITH A BIG SECRET
    Forget strawberries. Mahabaleshwar hides a market for brides-to-be among others. The sweating Mumbaikar has a choice of hill stations, but Mahabaleshwar, eight hours away, tops the list for its cheap lodging, bustling marketplace and strawberry fields. Yet, not many know that this evergreen ‘honeymoon’ spot (what with its secluded points and the enduring thrall of pedal boats) is also home to the discerning shopper.Mahabaleshwar is home to a thriving market for forest honey, turmeric and trousseau saris.

    TROUSSEAU IT UP
    Mahabaleshwar has been a secret trousseau shopping destination for a few years. Enterprising boutique owners in Vile Parle and other suburbs, buy saris from here, embellish and sell them at inflated rates. The hill station’s 90-year-old shop Pallod, set up by the Pallod family from Rajasthan, is at the centre of this industry.

    It started off as cloth store, and 20-25 years ago, the second generation of the family started commissioning work (mostly saris) from weavers in Ramnagar (near Benaras), Coimbatore, Arni, Lucknow and Uppada. With no Octroi and low rent, these saris cost a fraction of what they would in a dazzling store on Juhu-Tara road. Darshan Laddha, a young member of the family, travels 10 days each month to visit the weavers, asking for experimentation like tanchoi weave with Kanjeevaram silk, and returns in time to greet the hordes of customers. Then there is that lone Rajasthani shop without a signboard that sells chiffon Leheriya saris for Rs 300! You heard right.

    COMB FOR HONEY
    Villagers and tribals of the forests of the Sahyadri gather honey by smoking the bees out of a hive and squeezing the honey out of the comb. The result is a few dead bees, terminated eggs and a homeless swarm. Enterprises such as Sanjeevan Honey practise a more ethical form of extraction. They promote building the hive in a wooden box, with a sly opening for the bees. The combs are built on trays that slide out. These trays are fitted to an extraction machine (see below) which is hand churned and uses centrifugal force to extract the honey without destroying the combs. The trays go back into the box, and the bees repair cells that may have broken to resume the honey-making process. V R Agarkar, who left Dapoli for the hills of Mahabaleshwar 50 years ago, is happy to give you a tour and explain the honeymaking process. The 72-year-old loves explaining how bees like to keep their comb clean. “If I drop a piece of paper, they’ll shred it and I’ll find it outside the box the next day,” he adds. You’ll usually find him at the stall adjoining Kedar Residency.

    WAI TURMERIC? BECAUSE IT’S GOOD
    Wai is to the south of Mahabaleshwar. It’s the place to buy unadulterated turmeric. In drought-prone Maharashtra, turmeric is a highmaintenance crop. With the Krishna river flowing nearby, about 2,000 to 2,500 hectares of farmland grow the antiseptic root. It is harvested in December, laid out to dry, then polished and ground. By next week, the farmers will start sowing the crop, again. Two to four kilos of wet root yield a kilo of turmeric powder. Most of the crop would be sold to merchants, who would then supply it to the market places of Satara. “In the past few years, the price offered for our crop has fallen, so we have been grinding the turmeric on our own and selling it on the highway,” says Mangal Zamdale, a farmer. Tables set up under flowering Gulmohars that line the Satara highway sell fresh turmeric powder, pickles, and papads. A spicy way to offset the sweetness of the strawberries you’ve eaten, perhaps?

    GOTCHA, MUMBAIKAR
    It is a truth universally accepted that Mahabaleshwar makes leather chappals that populate the shelves of large shoe store chains in Mumbai. However, that is also an assumption that Mahabaleshwar is in no hurry to correct. The fact is that very few workshops in the hill station still produce chappals the Mahabaleshwar way (not to be confused with a Kolhapuri), which is to soak the leather in sea salt to bleach and dehydrate it. The theory is that the leather then absorbs our sweat easily. However, most of what we take back as souvenirs is actually brought in from Dharavi and small-scale industries of Tilak Nagar, Bandra and Santacruz. Yes, Mahabaleshwar is laughing at us. AS Karande of New India Boothouse in Mahabaleshwar, however, still makes the chappals. You can see him at work in his shop. Hemant, Prabhat and Hind shoe marts have workshops, too. To Hemant’s workshop come experienced craftsmen like Nana Kadam, who travels over 35 kilometres one way, every day. He is one of the old hands who knows how to punch in the design that makes a tadgola chappal.

    GETTING THERE
    Mahabaleshwar is 247 km from Mumbai. You can drive down the Satara highway, and hit Wai and Panchgani en route. Buses, private and state-owned also ply regularly. There is a train to Satara, an hour from Mahabaleshwar.

    STAY
    The hill station has enough options for budget stay.

  • NOW, STAY FRESH WITH A FABRIC THAT DRAINS AWAY SWEAT

    NOW, STAY FRESH WITH A FABRIC THAT DRAINS AWAY SWEAT

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Bioengineers at the University of California, Davis, have invented a waterproof fabric that whisks away sweat using microfluidic technology. The new fabric works like human skin, forming excess sweat into droplets that drain away by themselves, said Tingrui Pan, professor of biomedical engineering at the university.

    One area of research in Pan’s Micro-Nano Innovations Laboratory is a field known as microfluidics, which focuses on making ‘lab on a chip’ devices that use tiny channels to manipulate fluids. Pan and his colleagues are developing such systems for applications like medical diagnostic tests. Graduate students Siyuan Xing and Jia Jiang developed a new textile microfluidic platform using hydrophilic (water-attracting) threads stitched into a highly waterrepellent fabric.

    They were able to create patterns of threads that suck droplets of water from one side of the fabric, propel them along the threads and expel them from the other side. “We intentionally did not use any fancy microfabrication techniques so it is compatible with the textile manufacturing process and very easy to scale up,” said Xing. It’s not just that the threads conduct water through capillary action.

    The water-repellent properties of the surrounding fabric also help drive water down the channels. Unlike conventional fabrics, the waterpumping effect keeps working even when the water-conducting fibres are completely saturated, because of the pressure generated by the surface tension of droplets. The rest of the fabric stays completely dry. By adjusting the pattern of water-conducting fibres and how they are stitched on each side of the fabric, the researchers control where sweat is collected and where it drains away on the outside. The innovation is good news for workout enthusiasts, athletes and clothing manufacturers.

  • NOW, ROBOT ACCEPTS OBJECTS FROM PEOPLE IN A NATURAL WAY

    NOW, ROBOT ACCEPTS OBJECTS FROM PEOPLE IN A NATURAL WAY

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Disney researchers have developed a new humanoid robot that is able to recognise when a person is handing them objects and predicting where to make the hand-off. The robot can receive an object handed to it by a person in a natural way, researchers say. Recognising that a person is handing something and predicting where the human plans to make the handoff is difficult for a robot, but the researchers from Disney Research, Pittsburgh and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) solved the problem by using motion capture data with two people to create a database of human motion.

    By rapidly searching the database, the robot can realise what the human is doing and make a reasonable estimate of where he is likely to extend his hand. People handing a coat, a package or a tool to a robot will become commonplace if robots are introduced to the workplace and the home, said Katsu Yamane, senior research scientist. But the technique he developed could apply to any number of situations where a robot needs to synchronise its motion with that of a human, such as in a dance.

    “If a robot just sticks out its hand blindly, or uses motions that look more robotic than human, a person might feel uneasy working with that robot or might question whether it is up to the task,” Yamane said. “We assume human-like motions are more userfriendly because they are familiar,” Yamane said. Human-like motion is often achieved in robots by using motion capture data from people. But that’s usually done in tightly scripted situations, based on a single person’s movements.

    For the general passing scenarios envisioned by Yamane, a sampling of motion from at least two people would be necessary and the robot would have to access that database interactively, so it could adjust its motion as the person handing it a package progressively extended her arm. To enable a robot to access a library of human-tohuman passing motions with the speed necessary for robot-human interaction, the researchers developed a hierarchical data structure.

    Using principal component analysis, the researchers first developed a rough estimate of the distribution of various motion samples. They then grouped samples of similar poses and organized them into a binary-tree structure. With a series of “either/or” decisions, the robot can rapidly search this database, so it can recognize when the person initiates a handing motion and then refine its response as the person follows through.

  • Map signals existence of other universes

    Map signals existence of other universes

    LONDON (TIP): Scientists believe they have for the first time found evidence of the existence of other universes by analyzing data gathered by the European Space Agency’s Planck spacecraft. Theories that our universe could be just one of billions – or perhaps an infinite number – have been discussed for decades but until now, they have not been backed by any evidence. However, a few weeks ago, scientists published a new map of the cosmic microwave background – the ‘radiation’ left behind after the Big Bang that created the universe 13.8 billion years ago.

    The map, based on the Planck’s data, showed anomalies in the background radiation that, some experts say, could only have been caused by the gravitational pull of other universes outside our own. “These anomalies are the first hard evidence for the existence of other universes that we have seen,, ” said Laura Mersini-Houghton , a theoretical physicist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

    Mersini- Houghton and her colleague Richard Holman at Carnegie Mellon University published a series of papers from 2005 onwards predicting what Planck would see. In particular, they claimed that the ancient radiation permeating our universe would show anomalies generated by the pull from other universes . The scientists analyzing the Planck data have now published a paper acknowledging the anomalies exist and cannot be explained by conventional means.

    “It may be that the statistical anomalies described in this paper are a hint of more profound physical phenomena that are yet to be revealed,” it said. Planck gathered radiation from when the universe was just 3,70,000 years old – still glowing from the Big Bang. Planck’s data showed the radiation is stronger in one half of the sky than the other. There is also a large ‘cold’ spot where the temperature is below average.

  • SPOT-FIXING PROBE REACHES DOORSTEP OF BCCI CHIEF’S FAMILY

    SPOT-FIXING PROBE REACHES DOORSTEP OF BCCI CHIEF’S FAMILY

    CHENNAI/MUMBAI (TIP): The IPL fixing scandal has reached the doorstep of Indian cricket’s powerful boss and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) owner N Srinivasan’s family — quite literally. A day after a report about the police investigating Srinivasan’s son-in-law and CSK CEO Gurunath Meiyappan’s phone conversations with Dara Singh’s son Vindu for possible links with a betting syndicate, a fivemember crime branch team from Mumbai arrived in Chennai on May 23 morning to serve summons on Meiyappan.

    They first went to the headquarters of Srinivasan-controlled India Cements, and on finding no one there, stuck a copy of the summons on the door before going to Meiyappan’s home around 2pm to instruct him to present himself before the CB between 11am and 5pm within 24 hours. But with no member of the family available to meet the team, they were initially not let in by the guard; after several phone calls, they were allowed into the compound.

    Rama Subbu, the chief security officer of India Cements, arrived soon thereafter and was seen signing a paper which the officers handed him. Strangely though, on his way out, he denied having received any summons on behalf of Meiyappan. Later in the evening, the crime branch is reported to have received a one-page fax from Meiyappan saying he was out of town and seeking time till Monday, with the assurance that he would appear in person. A top police officer said night that no decision had been taken on whether to allow him the extra time.

    If the police were to reject such a request, which seems unlikely, Meiyappan could be arrested. The whereabouts of the 35-year-old continued to be shrouded in mystery with speculation placing him variously in Kodaikanal (where he has a holiday home), Kolkata (where CSK plays the IPL finals on Sunday against the winners of the Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals match) and Delhi (to prepare his legal defence with top-flight lawyers).

    Nor is there any word as to where the BCCI chief might be although New Delhi was abuzz with rumours that he would leverage his considerable clout to counter what his supporters consider a “politicallymotivated conspiracy to discredit him”. On May 16, the day Sreesanth and his two Rajasthan Royals were arrested, Srinivasan had said, “One or two bad eggs cannot sully the game,” before stating, on further questioning, “I hope nobody else is involved, but if information comes to BCCI, we will act immediately.”

    I was close to Bhajji, Virat: Vindu Dara Singh MUMBAI (TIP): Vindu Dara Singh has told Mumbai police that he knew several players but was close to Virat Kohli, Harbhajan Singh, and Manpreet Gony. Gony, who now plays for Kings XI Punjab, played one-dayers for India while he was with Chennai Super Kings in 2008. Police said they are yet to come across anything that links the three players to Vindu’s betting racket. Vindu also revealed the names of Bollywood celebrities who bet on IPL matches.

    He acted as a middleman, placing bets on their behalf with bookies. He said he came in contact with the betting syndicate several years ago through a friend, Anand Saxena, who introduced him to Ramesh Vyas and Shobhan Mehta, both big bookies. He got to know Sreesanth through Ajit Chandila and some Delhi-based bookies.

  • MORE PLAYERS INVOLVED

    MORE PLAYERS INVOLVED

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Delhi police commissioner Neeraj Kumar has claimed that more players from different IPL teams are involved in the spot-fixing saga that has rocked the entire nation. Kumar said that they have concrete evidence of involvement of more players other than S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, the disgraced trio of Rajasthan Royals, who were arrested in the last week for their alleged role in spot-fixing in IPL 6.

    Meanwhile, Ajit Chandila was allegedly paid Rs 12 lakh by a bookie for spot-fixing in IPL 6 but the attempt to manipulate matches failed as the cricketer could not play many matches, Delhi Police sources claimed. Interestingly, the sources said, Chandila gave three cheques of Rs four lakh each, two of which bounced, after the alleged bookie-cum-fixer Sunil Bhatia insisted on repayment of the money as he did not deliver as promised under the deal.

    The sources also said police has issued Look Out Notices against some persons in connection with the spot-fixing scandal besides asking official broadcaster Setmax to provide raw footage of all matches involving Rajasthan Royals. Investigators claimed that Bhatia paid the money to the off-spinner last year and after he could not act according to the fixers, the player was asked to return the money.

    Chandila, the sources claimed, could play only three to four matches last year and that was why he could not do spot- fixing. Bhatia, they said, wanted Chandila to return the money. The player then gave three cheques of Rs four lakh each to the alleged bookie but the ones dates December 10, 2012 and February 10, 2013 bounced. However, sources said, the third one was encashed and that they have recovered the two bounced cheques from Bhatia. “It was arrested player Babu Rao Yadav who introduced Chandila to Bhatia.

    After getting a hattrick last year, it was clear that he would play more matches. So the bookie approached him this time again,” a senior police official said. On Sreesanth said, the official said, the pacer fought with coach Paddy Upton under the influence of alcohol for not including him in the playing team after the May nine match in which police claimed that he indulged in spot-fixing. “He consumed alcohol and fought with the coach after he was excluded from the team after the May nine match. For this, he was suspended from the team.

    That was why he was not staying in Hotel Trident where players were staying. He separately booked into Hotel Safotil,” the official said.

  • ICC WITHDRAWS UMPIRE ASAD RAUF FROM CHAMPIONS TROPHY

    ICC WITHDRAWS UMPIRE ASAD RAUF FROM CHAMPIONS TROPHY

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The raging spot-fixing saga in the IPL turned murkier with controversial Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf being withdrawn by the ICC from next month’s Champions Trophy in UK for his alleged role in the scandal which is growing bigger by the day. A week after the sensational arrest of India paceman S Sreesanth and two of his Rajasthan Royals team-mates on charges of spot-fixing, Rauf’s pull-out from the June 6-23 Champions Trophy added a new twist to the fast unfolding drama.

    The ICC said in a statement that Rauf has been withdrawn as he was under investigation by the Mumbai Police, thus becoming the first umpire to come under the scanner in the IPL spot-fixing scandal. “The decision has been made after media reports indicated that the umpire was under investigation by Mumbai Police,” the ICC release said.

    Explaining the decision, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “In the wake of reports that the Mumbai Police are conducting an investigation into Asad Rauf’s activities, we feel that it is in Asad’s best interests as well as those of the sport and the event itself, that he is withdrawn from participating in the ICC Champions Trophy.” Rauf has had a history of controversies and only last year a small-time model named Leena Kapoor had accused him of sexually exploiting her for months before refusing to marry her.

    As per the duty schedule of the on-field umpires, Rauf was supposed to officiate in a warm-up match between Australia and West Indies in Cardiff on June 1. In the tournament group league stage, he was supposed to officiate in two matches in Cardiff. The first on June 9 was between Sri Lanka and New Zealand while other was between West Indies and South Africa. In the ongoing IPL, Rauf had on-field umpiring duty in 13 matches, the last one being in the game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in Hyderabad on May 19.

    The three Rajasthan Royals players — Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan — are in police custody while actor Vindu Randhawa, son of the late Dara Singh, has also been arrested by the Mumbai Police in connection with the case along with several other bookies, many of whom have underworld connection. But the BCCI threw its weight behind Srinivasan, saying that it was unfair to implicate his son-in-law of any wrong doing until the investigations are over.

  • Mobile services shut for second day in Pakistan for Li’s visit

    Mobile services shut for second day in Pakistan for Li’s visit

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): Mobile phone services were suspended in the Pakistani capital and nearby Rawalpindi for the second day on may 23 as part of extraordinary security measures put in place to ensure an incident-free visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang here. Officials announced the suspension of cellular services between 1 pm and 5 pm local time in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

    Yesterday, mobile services were suspended in the two cities from 10 am to 1 pm, causing inconvenience to thousands of people. Restrictions on mobile phone services are generally imposed in Pakistan to avert terror attacks as authorities have found that many blasts are triggered through cellphones. Roads in the heart of Islamabad were sealed when Premier Li went to the Parliament to address a special session of the Senate or Upper House. Army helicopters were used for surveillance over the federal capital.

    Several other roads, including those near a five-star hotel where the Chinese leader and his delegation are staying, were also closed. Thousands of police and security personnel have been deployed here as part of the security arrangements for the high-profile visit. The security measures have inconvenienced residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and many people complained of being stuck in traffic snarls for hours in the scorching heat. Islamabad Traffic Police claimed roads were sealed only for VVIP movements and authorities were trying to divert traffic to alternative routes.