The Indian Panorama

Month: July 2013

  • POPPING A PILL CAN CHANGE YOUR TASTE IN MEN

    POPPING A PILL CAN CHANGE YOUR TASTE IN MEN

    Three truths about the oral contraceptive, including how they change your preference in men (only soft-faced dudes welcome) Popping ‘the pill’ to skip pregnancy may leave you with more than you bargained for — like a modified taste in men. Birth control or oral contraceptive pills, a new study in Scotland reveals, could alter a woman’s preference for a male partner.

    The pill leaves women, it seems, attracted to men with feminine facial features over those with macho angular faces. Of the two studies in the research, one asked 55 heterosexual women to change the digital images of male faces until they settled on a face they liked to pick for a short-term relationship and another for a longterm. After the exercise, 18 of the 55 women took birth control pills. Three months later, all took the test again. Those on the pill chose men with more feminine faces, determined by cheekbone prominence, jaw structure and face width.

    To see if the ‘digital’ results withstood the vagaries of reality, the researchers met 170 heterosexual couples, half of who had met while the woman was on the pill. The researchers took photos of the men, digitally altered them to make them look more or less masculine, and made volunteers (men and women) look at the original and altered pictures and rate them on masculinity. Women on the pill, were found to have had male partners with more feminine faces.

    Pregnant-like on the pill
    Dr S M Bandukwala, consulting physician and diabetologist at LH Hiranandani Hospital, says, it’s not surprising. Women on the pill seem to react to male partners in the same way pregnant women would, opting for gentle supporters over aggressive enforcers. And it’s the handiwork of hormones. Oestrogen and progesterone are the two primary hormones at work in women, and there’s a complex interplay between the two during pregnancy.

    A woman gets pregnant when the male sperm fertilises an egg released from her ovary. This egg attaches to her uterus, where it receives nourishment and develops into a foetus. It’s the hormones that control ovulation or the process of the egg releasing from the ovary, and prepare the body to nurture the fertilised egg. When contraceptives are at work, they suppress the functions of the master endocrine glands — hypothalamus and pituitary gland — which regulate the secretion of hormones, says Dr Uddhav Raj, gynaecological endoscopic and pelvic oncosurgeon. “As more such hormones are released inxto the system, this sends a signal of a pregnancy-like state in the body. So, women on the pill are hormonally similar to pregnant women.”

    Mood swings are for real
    A shift in mental make-up caused by hormones also plays a key part in women picking soft-featured partners. “Female hormones induce not only physiological, but psychological changes too. That’s why, prolonged use of hormonefluctuating oral contraceptives, can cause mood swings. It’s the inability to deal with these effectively that leaves women emotionally vulnerable. It would make matters worse if a brusque partner brushes her off. A mild-mannered consoling nurturer would offer the right support.”

    Side line side-effects
    While the pill is known to cause nausea, headaches, and weight gain, studies establish a connect between its overuse and increased incidence of breast and ovarian cancer. “Several misconceptions surround the pill — breakout of skin disease and trouble conceiving once you are off. As long as they are taken under medical advice, its side-effects are not worrisome,” says Dr Raj.

  • MANIPUR – A Jewel Of India

    MANIPUR – A Jewel Of India

    Manipur, a little Shangarila located in North-East India, is a Jewel of India. This little corner is a paradise on Earth where Mother Nature has been extra generous in her bounty. Least touched and least discovered Manipur promises to be the great tourist discovery of the 21st century. An oval shaped valley surrounded by blue green hills, rich in art and tradition has inspired description such as the Switzerland of the East? with its cascading rapids, tripling rivers, varieties of flowers, exotic blooms and lakes.

    The people of Manipur include Meitei, Nagas, Kuki-Chin-Mizo and Gorkhas groups and Muslims and other colourful communities which have lived in complete harmony for centuries. These are the people whose folklore, myths and legends, dances, indigenous games and martial arts, exotic handlooms and handicrafts are invested with the mystique of nature and an indefatigable Joie de vivre.

    Shaheed Minar
    The indomitable spirit of the patriotic Meitei and tribal martyrs, who sacrificed their lives while fighting the British in 1891, is commemorated by this tall Minar at Bir Tikendrajit Park in the heart of Imphal city.

    Khwairamband Bazar/ Ima Market
    A unique all women’s market, having 3,000 or more “Imas” or mothers who run the stalls. It is splited into two sections on either side of a road. Vegetables, fruits, fishes and household groceries are sold on one side and exquisite handlooms and household tools on the other.

    Kangla
    The centre of Manipur’s power till 1891, the historical embodiment of Manipur Rulers and the people of Manipur, Kangla have a significant place in the heart and mind of the people of Manipur Govindajee temple, outer and inner moat and other relics are perfect reflections of the rich art and culture of Manipur and her civilization.

    Shree Shree Govindajee Temple
    A historic Vaishnavite centre, adjoining Manipur’s former Maharajas’ Royal Palace, the Govindajee temple is one of the most attractive sights for the tourists. Twin domes, a paved courtyard, and a large raised congregation hall form a perfect backdrop for priests who descend the steps, to accept offerings from devotees in the courtyard. The shrines of Lord Krishna and Balaram and Jagannath flank the two sides of the presiding deity. Early hours Prayer (Aarti) is a must for devoted followers, exudingspiritual fervour and ecstasy.

    Manipur State Museum
    This interesting Museum near the Polo Ground has a fairly good collection and display of Manipur’s tribal heritage and a collection of portraits of Manipur’s former rulers. Particularly interesting items are costumes, arms & ammunitions, relics and historical documents.

    War Cemetery
    Commemorating the memories of the British and Indian soldiers who died during the World War II, these War Cemeteries are managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Serene are well maintained, the War Cemetery carries little stone markers and bronze plaques recording the sacrifice of those gallant soldiers.

    Manipur Zoological Garden
    Manipur Zoological Garden at Iroisemba is only 6 kms. on the Imphal-Kangchup Road at the foot of the pine growing hillocks . Here apart from various endangered species, tourists can have an opportunity to see the graceful brow antlered deer (Sangai), one of the rarest & endangered species in the world, in sylvan surroundings.

    Loukoi Pat
    This tiny lake located near the Tiddim Road on N.H. 150 at Bishnupur is a retreat for visitors from within and outside the state. Boating facilities and the scenic beauty of the place is able to mesmerise the visitors.

    Khonghampat Orchidarium
    10 kms. from Imphal on National Highway No. 39 is the Central Orchidarium which covers 200 acres and houses over 110 rare varieties of orchids, which include dozens of endemic species. The peak blooming season is March- April.

    Bishnupur
    27 kms. from Imphal on the Tiddim Road, is a picturesque town situated at the foot hills that rolls down to the valley. The 15th century Vishnu Temple built of peculiarly small bricks supposedly of Chinese influence during the reign of King Kiyamba is of a historical importance. Bishnupur is also famous for its chiselled stoneware.

    Red Hill (Lokpaching)
    Red Hill is a hillock about 16 kms. from Imphal on Tiddim Road (NH – 150). It is a thrilling spot where the British and the Japanese fought a fierce battle during World War II. War Veterans had constructed “India Peace Memorial” a monument in memory of Japanese soldiers who died in the battle. It is a place of pilgrimage for Japanese tourists.

    Sadu Chiru Waterfall
    About 20 Kms. from Imphal beside the Tiddim Road (NH150) is a picturesque site famous for its perennial Water Fall in a scenic foot hill. There are three waterfall spots. This is a newly open tourist spot.

    Kangchup
    16 kms. from Imphal towards west, is a health resort on the hills over-looking the Manipur valley. The scenery is picturesque and worth seeing. With the construction of Singda Dam here, the place has become one of the important picnic spots.

    Loktak Lake
    48 Kms. from Imphal, is the largest fresh water lake in the North East Region. From the Tourist Bunglow set atop Sendra Island, visitors get a bird’s eye view of life on the Lake small islands that are actually floating weeds on which the Lake-dwellers live in the backdrop of the shimmering blue water of the Lake, labyrinthine boat routes and colourful water plants. The Sendra Tourist Home with an attached Cafeteria is an ideal tourist spot. Boating and other water sports are organised here in Takmu Water Sports Complex.

    Moirang
    45 kms. from Imphal, and situated near the Loktak lake, this town is one of the main centres of early Meitei folk culture with the ancient temple of the pre-hindu deity, Lord Thangjing, situated here. In the month of May, men and women, dressed in colourful traditional costumes sing and dance in honour of the Lord at the Moirang “Lai Haraoba” which is a ritual dance festival held every year.

    This town also has a special place in the history of the Indian Freedom struggle. It was at Moirang that the flag of the Indian National Army was first unfurled on April 14, 1944. The INA Museum containing letters, photographs, badges of ranks and other memorabilia reminds the visitors of the noble sacrifices made by the INA under the charismatic leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

    Keibul Lamjao National Park
    The only floating National Park in the world, on the Loktak Lake is the last natural habitat of the Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii) the dancing deer of Manipur. A glimpse of the deer in this unique wetland ecosystem is a must for any wildlife enthusiast. Other wildlife to mention a few are: Hog deer, Otter and a host of water fowls and migratory birds can also be sighted during November to March. The forest Department of Manipur maintains watch towers and two rest houses within the park.

    Khongjom War Memorial
    Khongjom War Memorial, 36 kms. from Imphal on the Indo-Myanmar road is a major historical place. It was here that Major General Paona Brajabashi, one of the great warriors of Manipur proved his valor against the superior might of the invading British Army in 1891. The hillock at the foot of which he laid down his life in defence of his motherland, is reminiscent of the past heroic deeds of Manipuri warriors. A war memorial has been constructed on the top of Kheba hill; and Khongjom day is celebrated every year on 23rd April.

  • Ford’s Project B562 To Make India A Compact Car Global Production Base

    Ford’s Project B562 To Make India A Compact Car Global Production Base

    MUMBAI (TIP): US carmaker Ford Motor Company is making India as a compact car global production base once its Sanand plant in Gujarat comes on stream in 2014, under a project codenamed B562 that may spawn three different compact cars from the same platform. The move is part of Ford’s larger global production restructuring plan which places greater responsibility on India versus its other base in Europe and across the world. Four people close to the development said, a project codenamed B562 is currently under development.

    A small hatchback, a sub-4 metre sedan and a midsize compact sedan are being considered to be rolled out over the next two three years. The development work of hatchback and mid-size compact sedan is gathering speed, however sub-4 metre sedan is still at a consideration stage, said people in the know of the development. Underlining the growing significance of India as a base Alan Mulally, Global CEO of Ford Motor Company in a recent media interaction in India said, “The demand is dramatically down for cars in Europe, like it was in United States.

    So we are moving production, consolidating our facilities, but at the same time, we are accelerating the new vehicles. Customers want value, so it is going to take us a couple of years to finish that restructuring, we are doing the right thing for the customers and right thing for Ford,” The hatchback may be placed alongside the existing Figo, the sub-4 metre sedan if given a go ahead will take on Maruti SuzukiBSE -3.00 % Dzire and Honda Amaze and the mid-size compact sedan will replace Fiesta classic.

    Globally the hatchback is expected to replace the Ka small car, people close to the company told ET. “The company plans to produce over 2,00,000 cars on B562 platform by 2015-16 and over 30-50% is planned to be exported to the overseas markets over a period of time. The company tested the overseas markets with Figo, they now plan to aggressively expand exports with the EcoSport and with the B562 cars, the company intends to make the best use of its competitive production base in India,” said one of the four people cited above on condition on anonymity.

    When contacted, Ford India’s spokesperson said, “We would not speculate about our future product strategy and business operations. Ford India’s product-led transformation continues with the introduction of the EcoSport and currently we have a laser sharp focus to deliver it for our customers.” While the company terms EcoSport as a game changer, people involved with the company believe, the B562 is a even bigger deal.

    “The cars are being developed with an aim of garnering profits quicker than some of the earlier projects. In terms of volumes, the platform will deliver largest volumes for Ford India going ahead and is expected to come with a localisation level of over 90%.” According to V G Ramakrishnan, MD, Frost & Sullivan, South Asia, a big exports push helps Ford in not only getting the pricing right for the domestic market like it did with EcoSport, but it helps the company democratize some of the high end technology at affordable price.

  • Govt To Fund Start-Ups In Electronics Space

    Govt To Fund Start-Ups In Electronics Space

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Government will soon unveil guidelines for financially supporting start-ups in the field of electronics. It may chip in with 15-25 per cent of the total investment for such projects through fund managers including banks or any large IT company. “This will be the first time in the country when we will have a system by which the Government can effectively stimulate the private sector in R&D work, because we have one of the lowest intensities of R&D relative to the GDP (less than 1 per cent),” a senior official at the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) told Business Line.

    Mission mode
    Once the guidelines are finalised, the Government will also fix its return on investment (at around 5 per cent). A high-level committee under the chairmanship of R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government, is working on preparing the guidelines. This will be part of the National Electronics Mission under the National Policy on Electronics 2012, and the investments will be routed through the Government’s ‘Electronic Development Fund’ scheme, which aims to invest $2 billion (around Rs 12,000 crore) by 2020, the official said.

    “We expect additional mobilisation of around Rs 30,000 crore — to be raised from the industry by 2020. The industry is nascent right now, so we expect it to start slowly and invest around Rs 50 crore or Rs 100 crore to start with,” he said. There are many small companies in India which are on the verge of shutting down . The proposed initiative will help such companies survive , he said.

    The official said the Government is also open to working with Nasscom to support the start-ups. He said even though institutions such as the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing , and the IITs are doing their bit it may not be sufficient. “We need to plant thousands of trees; out of which only a few may survive, but one or two that do survive will give sufficient returns; and that is what venture capitalists do,” he said.

    Under the NPE, the Government is hoping the electronics sector will achieve a turnover of around $400 billion by 2020. This involves investment of around $100 billion. It will also help employ around 28 million people by 2020. The policy includes achieving a turnover of $55 billion for the chip design and embedded software industry, and $80 billion of exports in the sector. Over 200 electronic manufacturing clusters are also proposed to be set up.

  • Arcelormittal Gets 2,000 Acres To Set Up Steel Plant In Bellary

    Arcelormittal Gets 2,000 Acres To Set Up Steel Plant In Bellary

    BANGALORE (TIP): The Karnataka government has handed over 2,000 acres at Kuditini in the Bellary district to global steel giant ArcelorMittal to set up a six-million tonne-per-annum (mtpa) plant. The company had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government to set up the plant at an investment of Rs 30,000 crore. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said at a meeting of global investors in June 2010, the government had approved the company’s proposal for 4,800 acres to set up a steel plant.

    So far, the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board has acquired 2,000 acres and handed over the land to the company. Replying to a question from Shivalingegowda K M in the legislative assembly on Tuesday, the chief minister clarified the proposal to acquire land for South Korean steel major Posco was dropped, following resistance from farmers and religious heads in Gadag district. In 2010, Posco had signed an MoU with the state government to set up a six-mtpa steel plant at a cost of Rs 32,300 crore.

    Recently, the company announced it had withdrawn its proposal, following delay in land acquisition. Subsequently, ArcelorMittal also announced the withdrawal of its proposal to set up a steel plant in Odisha. Siddaramaiah said so far, the government had handed over 1,274.53 acres to industries that had signed MoUs at the investors’ meeting in 2010 (excluding ArcelorMittal) and 794.45 acres to those that had signed such pacts at a similar meeting in 2012.

    Of the companies that had signed MoUs in 2010, 22 had commenced manufacturing, while nine companies that had signed pacts with the state government in 2012 had started manufacturing, he added. He said so far, Rs 18,061 crore committed in 2010 and Rs 3,363 crore committed in 2012 had been invested in the state. Major companies to have invested in the state are Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (Rs 15,798 crore), Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (Rs 1,350 crore), J K Tyre & Industries (Rs 476 crore), Jindal Aluminium (Rs 370 crore), Starragheckert Machine Tools (Rs 215 crore), Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (Rs 250 crore), Aradya Steel (Rs 427 crore) and Shahi Exports (Rs 533 crore).

  • Indian Auto Components Industry May Invest Around Rs 70 Billion Over The Next Three Years: ICRA

    Indian Auto Components Industry May Invest Around Rs 70 Billion Over The Next Three Years: ICRA

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Indian auto components industry may invest around Rs 70 billion over the next three years on new projects, according to a study by ICRA. Automobile manufacturers such as Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki and Ford, plans to establish greenfield facilities in Gujarat, encouraging auto component makers to invest around these facilities. “The above greenfield investments may entail total investments of Rs 7,000 crore to be incurred by auto component manufacturers over the next three years,” highlighted ICRA.

    “Over the near term, the trepidation of auto part makers arising from dull automobile demand is likely to remain…the profitability of auto component manufacturers may be hit harder due to their smaller scale of operations and limited operational and financial flexibility,” as per the study. However, over the medium term factors such as growing thrust on localisation and expanding business in new geographies should allow the industry to grow at a relatively faster pace than the auto OEM segment, the study added.

  • Why Meditation?

    Why Meditation?

    Every human being in this world aspires for peace and happiness. Happiness and peace have less to do with gross objects; they refer to states of mind. Moreover, there is another kind of experience, which is the highest and is independent of worldly objects and senses. It is called Bliss. This bliss is one thing for which a person should practice meditation.

    Bliss or super sensuous joy enables a person to break the shackles of otherwise die-hard habits and addictions. For, it is so rewarding and ennobling an experience that nothing demoniacal can stand in it’s way. Yoga enables man to have deep relaxation also. It does this in two ways. Firstly a person who practices meditation or a yogi does not have worries, fears or spoilt relations. Secondly, he feels detached from the world and from situations. This relaxation makes him calm and enables him to take decisions without any tension, undue haste or pressure.

    Further, yoga or meditation brings about behavioral transformation of man without any therapy. The thoughts made in meditation work like mental surgery. Positive virtues are implanted in him in place of negative traits. His outlook now changes and so, bad habits now loosen their grip on him. His energy is now used for constructive and useful work. This brings about an overall enhancement in his personality. His shyness is now replaced by a feeling of confidence. From a dull, dreary and stiff person, he now becomes a man of sociable and charming manners.

    All of these go a long way in improving relationship with others. He can now put up with all sorts of people and remain unprovoked. He now does not mind small things and laughs sway certain things instead of taking uncompromising and tough positions, so that he has health, happiness and a pleasing nature. Another thing Yoga also enables a person is to experience the heavenly love, which comes only from God as the soul’s Mother- Father, Friend, Savior and ‘Sweet Heart’.

    This love plays such a melody on the strings of one’s mind that one really feels enraptured. It can be better experienced than said. Last but not the least, Raja yoga enables a person to control his mind and to have an economy of thoughts. One is now freed from purposeless and negative thoughts. In a word, it can be said that meditation brings about fulfillment in man’s life.

    You can say that with the practice of meditation, a person will be in harmony with nature, at peace with his own self, in concord with others and in unison with the Creator. His mind is not in conflict with his intellect nor his actions disturb nature nor contravene injunctions of God.

  • WHAT IS MIND

    WHAT IS MIND

    This world will soon become a better place to live in and will soon have the Golden Age or the era of peace and purity if man realises the self as distinct from the body, practises soulconsciousness and, on that basis, adopts motto of World Brotherhood.In order to end the Iron Age, the society has to understand that the root cause of all sufferings and troubles in the world is that man has gradually come to identify himself with the body.

    Today, little does he realise, and much less does he practise the truth that, in this body which is made of inert matter, dwells a conscient and immortal entity – the eternal spark of life and light, called the soul. The body is like a temple and the soul is like the flame of light or like the deity in a temple. The body is like a car and the soul like its driver. The body is an assemblage of instruments in the shape of various organs – whereas the soul is its user.

    The body and the brain are like a computer whereas the soul it is that programmes it and uses it. The body is not for its own sake but for a conscient user, called the soul. The soul is like a micro-star. It abides in the body, midway between the eye-brows, where a devout in India apply Tilak – a sacred mark. Here, it is connected with the brain and the nervous system.

    The soul has three intrinsic abilities which the body or anything else, made of matter, does not possess. These are (1) the ability to think or wish or will, (2) the ability to judge, understand or investigate and (3) the ability to retain impressions of past thoughts in the form of attitudes, moods or habits. The first of these is known as Mind, the second as Intellect and the third as Samskãras, Resolves or the Latencies.

    It is these abilities which distinguish one man from another and determine the mental and moral state of a person. One who is given to violence and other evils is known as a sinner, the other who makes efforts to purify his thoughts, judgment and resolves is known as a ‘Mahãtma’ or ‘an elevated soul’ whereas the one who has completely divinised himself, is called a devãtma or a deity.

    It should thus be clearly borne in mind that it is the soul that suffers or enjoys because of its bad or good actions, for mind is not an entity separate from the soul; rather, it is the name given to the manifestation of soul’s consciousness.

  • POOR SLEEP ACCELERATES SKIN AGEING

    POOR SLEEP ACCELERATES SKIN AGEING

    Anew study has found that sleep quality impacts skin function and ageing. The recently completed study by physician-scientists at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center, commissioned by Estee Lauder, demonstrated that poor sleepers had increased signs of skin ageing and slower recovery from a variety of environmental stressors, such as disruption of the skin barrier or ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

    Poor sleepers also had worse assessment of their own skin and facial appearance. “Our study is the first to conclusively demonstrate that inadequate sleep is correlated with reduced skin health and accelerates skin ageing. Sleep deprived women show signs of premature skin ageing and a decrease in their skin’s ability to recover after sun exposure,” Primary Investigator Elma Baron, MD, Director of the Skin Study Center at UH Case Medical Center and Associate Professor of Dermatology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, said.

    “Insufficient sleep has become a worldwide epidemic. While chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to medical problems such as obesity, diabetes, cancer and immune deficiency, its effects on skin function have previously been unknown,” she said. Skin functions as an important barrier from external stressors such as environmental toxins and sun-induced DNA damage.

    The research team set out to determine if skin function and appearance is also impacted by sleep quality, which is vital to the growth and renewal of the body’s immune and physiological systems. The researchers found that good quality sleepers recovered more efficiently from stressors to the skin. Recovery from sunburn was more sluggish in poor quality sleepers, with erythema (redness) remaining higher over 72 hours, indicating that inflammation is less efficiently resolved.

    A Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) test was used at various time points to determine the ability of the skin to serve as an effective barrier against moisture loss. In measurements 72 hours after a skin barrier stressor (tapestripping), the recovery of good quality sleepers was 30 percent higher than poor quality sleepers (14 per cent vs. -6 percent) demonstrating that they repair the damage more quickly.

    Additionally, poor quality sleepers were significantly more likely to have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI). For example, 23 per cent of good quality sleepers were obese compared to 44 per cent of poor quality sleepers. Not surprisingly, self perception of attractiveness was significantly better in good quality sleepers (mean score of 21 on self evaluation) vs. poor quality sleepers (mean score of 18).

  • Ways You’re Hurting Your Back

    Ways You’re Hurting Your Back

    For days you’re back has felt sore and stiff and you’re not sure why? You haven’t done anything out of the ordinary, nor are you suffering from any injuries. And yet, here you are, wincing in pain with every step you take and trying everything you can to find some relief. Back pain isn’t always caused by a dramatic injury. In fact, the vast majority of back pain is caused by every day activities; things that you’d never think could cause any type of discomfort. From a violent sneeze to lugging an oversized designer bag, you just might be contributing to your own pain and may not even be aware.

    Ah-Choo!
    Most of the time, a sneeze is just a sneeze. You sneeze, blow your nose and move on. But sometimes, the sudden, extreme motion of a sneeze can actually cause the joints in the spine to shift, jam or otherwise move, causing pain. In fact, if one or more of your discs are already on the verge of herniating, an especially explosive sneeze can cause the disc to slip, resulting in extreme pain. The flutter created around the spine from a forceful sneeze can also cause back spasms and other discomforts. If you ever feel a sudden pain in your spine after sneezing, make an appointment to see your doctor to rule out a potentially serious condition. There have been reported cases of serious injuries and even paralysis, caused by a simple sneeze.

    Repetitive motion
    When you think of repetitive motion injuries, you think of carpal tunnel syndrome, an inflammation of the nerves and tendons in the arms caused by repetitive tasks like typing or using a computer mouse. However, repetitive motion can also cause back pain. For example, a worker packing boxes in a factory might experience back pain from constant lifting and bending motions, or a landscaper might feel stiffness and pain from lugging heavy equipment all day or bending to weed out flower beds.

    The key to avoiding these types of injuries is to change positions frequently. Also, make an effort to avoid repeating the same motions in the same way for an extended period. If possible, ask your employer to perform an ergonomic evaluation of your workstation, and make adjustments to ensure that your body is supported and you can go about your routine without harming yourself in any way.

    Not enough movement
    While repetitive motion is a major cause of back pain and discomfort, so is a sedentary lifestyle. The longer you sit still, the more likely the fluid surrounding the joints of your spine will stiffen and you’ll experience discomfort. Attempt to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, and if you have to spend hours at your desk, take frequent breaks to stretch and loosen your muscles and joints. You’ll experience far less pain and stiffness in your back.

    Sleep
    Tucking in for the night is supposed to relax and rejuvenate you—but if your mattress is in poor shape, your pillow is old (or you have too many pillows) or your position isn’t right, you could wake up feeling less than refreshed and might even experience some pain and discomfort. If your mattress is lumpy, saggy, too firm or too soft, it is not supporting your spine and your body will not be able to enjoy a restful slumber.

    Your mattress is supposed to support your body so your muscles can relax, but if you’re constantly adjusting to get comfortable, your muscles stay tight and engaged—and you’ll wake up feeling stiff and achy all over. Likewise, if your pillow does not provide adequate support to your head and neck, your back will hurt in the morning. Ideally, you should sleep on a firm but comfortable mattress, on your side or back with pillows especially designed to suit your particular sleeping position.

  • OOPS! JENNIFER ANISTON FORGETS INNERWEAR

    OOPS! JENNIFER ANISTON FORGETS INNERWEAR

    Actress Jennifer Aniston was spotted moving around freely on the sets of her upcoming film “Squirrels to the Nuts”, without her brassiere. The 44-year-old was seen sporting a short brown wig for her role as a therapist in the film, reports thesun.co.uk. But perhaps during a break from a shot, she was seen strolling around in a pair of shorts, a casual t-shirt and sans the innerwear.

    Later, she got into a little black dress, and she teamed it up with flip flops on the sets here. The actress was then joined on set by co-star Owen Wilson. “Squirrels to the Nuts” is about a married Broadway director who falls for a prostitute-turnedactress and works to help her advance her career.

  • KERRY KATONA LANDS MARILYN MONROE ROLE IN NEW MUSICAL

    KERRY KATONA LANDS MARILYN MONROE ROLE IN NEW MUSICAL

    Kerry Katona is all set to portray iconic actress Marilyn Monroe, in an upcoming stage show ‘Norma Jeane The Musical’. The new show, which is written by Belvedere Pashun, revolves around Monroe”s life. Pashun said that he needed an actor of huge talent, personality and experience and Katona was at the top of the writer’s list, the BBC reported. The director, who also penned ‘WAG! The Musical’, asserted that the show would change the shape of people’s perceptions of Monroe.

    The former ‘Atomic Kitten’ star, who recently declared her bankruptcy, said that she was thrilled to have been given this opportunity to play one of the world’s biggest female icons. She insisted that she couldn’t wait to get to work. Katona added that has always aimed for a successful career in drama and this role is a challenge, but she is going to grab it both hands. Katona’s first performance will be at an industry-only audience in central London on 22 September

  • MOVIE REVIEW – Red 2

    MOVIE REVIEW – Red 2

    Cast: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Anthony Hopkins,
    Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren,
    Byung-hun Lee
    Direction: Dean Parisot
    Genre: Action
    Duration: 1 hour 56 minutes
    Story: Retired black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses teams up with his fellow agents in a quest to locate a missing and deadly nuclear device. Movie Review: The idea of retired CIA operatives (read: killers) being pressed back into service in the face of mortal danger isn’t new. In this case, the fun lies in the execution. And with the kind of multifaceted cast that this film has, there’s bound to be some surprises.

    Frank (Willis) has settled down with Sarah ( Mary- Louise Parker, from the first part of *Red*) into a somewhat humdrum routine. It turns out that Frank and his former eccentric and intelligent partner Marvin Boggs (Malkovich, excellent) helped smuggle a nuclear device called ‘Nightshade’ (a metal briefcase containing a nuclear bomb) into Russia during the Cold War.

    Boggs subsequently faked his own death to get off the espionage radar, until the present day. The US government decides that they want the device and declare Boggs, Frank and Sarah to be terrorists. And so, the chase begins. Russian agent Katja (Zeta-Jones), who also happens to be Frank’s past paramour, is after Nightshade too. The Pentagon enlists MI6 agent Victoria ( Helen Mirren) and hit-man Han Cho Bai ( Byung-hun Lee) to locate them.

    It turns into a pan-European chase. Only Edward Bailey (Hopkins, totally on point), the scientist who created Nightshade, can help them find it. Juxtaposed in the midst of all this action are Frank and Sarah’s relationship issues. And even in the midst of all the action, there’s never a missed opportunity for the couple to receive relationship advice from anyone, be it the bumbling Boggs, Han of the furious fisticuffs or even cold-blooded Victoria.

    There are some tantalizing twists and turns that keep you looking forward to what happens next. Willis does his action-comedy routine adroitly. With nicely-timed sequences stitched together and gags galore, the humour in the film positively crackles! Or, as Bailey often says, “Jolly good!”

  • I’M NOT A PORN STAR: POONAM PANDEY

    I’M NOT A PORN STAR: POONAM PANDEY

    Controversy queen Poonam Pandey, ready for her Bollywood innings with bold project ” Nasha”, is fed up of being compared to Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone. “I am tired of this comparison. I don’t know why people compare me with Sunny Leone. I’m here to act and you will see me acting in the film. There are intimate scenes in the film, but there is also a love story. I’m not a porn star.

    Please don’t compare me with Sunny Leone,” Poonam said. Poonam, who grabbed headlines during the 2011 Cricket World Cup when she offered to go nude before Team India if they won the trophy, is confident that audiences will be satisfied with her performance in “Nasha”.

    “So far people have only seen my bold pictures, now they will see me acting in ‘Nasha’, and I assure they will be completely satisfied with my performance in the film,” added the young actress, who keeps her fans abreast with her daily activities through online networking platforms. Directed by Amit Saxena, “Nasha” features debutant Shivam opposite Poonam Pandey. The film is produced by Surender Suneja and Aditya Bhatia under the banner of Eagle Home Entertainment. The film is

  • NARGIS FAKHRI UPSET ABOUT LINK-UP RUMOURS

    NARGIS FAKHRI UPSET ABOUT LINK-UP RUMOURS

    Model-turned-actress Nargis Fakhri, who made her Bollywood debut with “Rockstar”, has been more in news for her alleged affairs than work which she says is very upsetting. After the release of “Rockstar” (2011), Nargis did not take up any movie but still remained in the limelight for her link up rumours with Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Uday Chopra and businessman Ness Wadia.

    Though she says its upsetting, the 33-year-old has decided to take such things with a pinch of salt. “Its (rumors) not true and it makes things worse. Its upsetting and unfortunate. It was sad. I stopped reading newspapers. I started questioning other stories… All of it is true or not. I started going crazy. But I am no more sad now.

    I have learnt to understand that is the way it is. You can’t stop it. You either cry over or not,” Nargis said in an interview. Nargis feels everyone here (in the industry) knows how things are. She will be seen next in Shoojit Sircar’s “Madras Cafe”, where she

  • MOVIE REVIEW – Ramaiya Vastavaiya

    MOVIE REVIEW – Ramaiya Vastavaiya

    Cast: Girish Kumar, Shruti Haasan, Sonu Sood,
    Randhir Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Poonam Dhillon
    Direction: Prabhudheva
    Genre: Romance
    Duration: 2 hours 28 minutes
    Story: A NRI boy falls in love with gaon-ki-girl, their families oppose, but he labours to win them over. Movie Review: Welcome to Animal Farm. With ample chicks, hens, horns; many ‘murgas’, mulgis, mummyjis and baaratis. Add to this rustic beauty some colours of harvest, village belles, jadoo ki jhappi (read: item number by Jacqueline Fernandez) and of course, amidst it all – blooming romance in fields of gold.

    In pure Prabhudheva style – with spoonfuls of desi ghee! Ram (Girish), billionaire baap (Randhir) ka beta from Australia, lands in India for a wedding, where he’s stunned to see lovely ladies bedecked in salwar-kamzeez and sarees (Whaaat? Kis khet ki mooli hai yeh?!). He falls in love with the bride’s best friend, the simple gaonki- chori, Sona (Shruti). She’s forced to leave him, but Ram follows her to the village and swears to win over her bhaiya, the proud kisaan, Raghuvir (Sonu).

    The billion-dollar-baby turns desi-cool – He ploughs, milks the cows (even puts them on a diet), and does a ‘shitload’ of work (with gobar, ghaas, et al). The film (remake of Prabhudheva’s debut directorial Telugu film) isn’t ripe with any newness – in story or direction. In fact, it discernibly replants stories from the 80’s-90’s era (remember: ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, ‘Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’), with cliches, a banal plot, an field-full of supporting cast (of which Kapoor and Khanna are underused but good) and a budding lead pair.

    Debutant Girish makes a splash of an entry (surfing in blue seas, ‘Bond’ babes take a bow), and dances with flair. His overly exuberant performance seems flaky in the first half. Later, when he turns from a cool to kisaan, he breaks loose and performs a tad better. Shruti looks the desi beauty; her performance is not striking, yet likeable. Sonu is the best of the ‘crop’, his years of labour as an actor shows.

    There are few good laughs, doses of sweetness and fresh melodies (Sachin-Jigar), but sadly even that is mowed down by heightened histrionics, routine dialogues and a trite tale. This one’s like a pretty field decked up in celebration, but with no real harvest to show.

  • Unfazed Sen Says He Won’t Budge On Modi

    Unfazed Sen Says He Won’t Budge On Modi

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra’s demand for stripping economist Amartya Sen of the Bharat Ratna on July 25 triggered a slugfest with the Congress attacking the BJP. However, an unfazed Dr. Sen stuck to his views that he did not want Narendra Modi as Prime Minister and said he would not “surrender his right to speak his mind” as an individual just because he was a Bharat Ratna.

    He said his reservations were over Gujarat Chief Minister and not the BJP. “Do I regret my views on Modi.? No. By getting Bharat Ratna, I do not lose my right to speak my views as an individual. It is my right to speak up. I thought it was my duty to stand and speak up for the majority. I got Bharat Ratna but…,” the noted economist said as a controversy raged on Mr. Mitra’s demand that the NDA, which conferred Bharat Ratna on him, should take it away if it was voted to power. “Bharat Ratna is a jewel of the whole country.

    No BR should speak for or against any party or leader. Sen should join Congress political team,” Mr. Mitra had said on Twitter. BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Bharat Ratna debate was unfortunate. She and another senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi said it was Mr. Mitra’s personal opinion. Another leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said Dr. Sen’s views on Modi were not acceptable.

    The Congress attacked the BJP for its “fascist mentality“. Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari hit out at the BJP for its attack on Dr. Sen saying it was .“regrettable” that the BJP resorted not only to the “ignominy” of asking Dr. Sen to return the Bharat Ratna, something that happened for the first time, but some of its spokespersons also sought return of his Nobel prize. “What kind of mentality is this.? What is this if not fascism.? That either you are with us or against us and if you are against us, return the Bharat Ratna.

    What wrong Amartya Sen has done? Does the BJP believe in the freedom of expression?. This is a big blow to the right to express, write and speak,” Tewari said. He said while Gujarat Chief Minister gave statements daily and the party defends defended his right to speak, “they think the voice of others should be muzzled.”. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde also disapproved of the demand and said Dr. Sen’s views on Modi were “correct”. Dr. Sen said it was unfortunate that such a demand had come forth and termed it as a “personal” view of Mr. Mitra. “Chandan Mitra may not know that the Bharat Ratna was given to me by the BJP-led government and was handed to me by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

    If Mr Vajpayee wants me to return it, I will certainly return it,” he said.He added that during the NDA rule, he has had a lot of discussion with leaders like L.K. Advani, Yashwant Sinha, Jaswant Singh and Arun Jaitley. Sen said he believed in individual liberty and minority rights. “Protection of minority rights and individual liberty depends on support of the majority. It is the duty of the majority to make sure violations do not take place. I am making a simple point. It would be unfortunate if a Prime Minister has to carry a load,” he said in an apparent reference to Mr. Modi’s handling 2002 riots.

  • FULL MEAL FOR RS 5?

    FULL MEAL FOR RS 5?

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Either our politicians are not in touch with reality or food prices have come down drastically for a privileged few in the country. A day after Congress spokesperson Raj Babbar said it was possible to have a full meal for Rs12 in Mumbai, his colleague, Rajya Sabha MP Rashid Masood, on July 25 created a stir by claiming one can eat well for Rs 5 in the Jama Masjid area of Delhi.

    Almost turning out to be a competition among Congress leaders to quote the minimum possible rate in which one can have a sumptuous meal, UPA ally Farooq Abdullah made an even more frivolous remark, saying Re1 was enough to survive for a day. Masood was defending the Planning Commission’s assessment that anyone who spends more than Rs33.33 a day in urban areas and Rs27.20 a day in rural areas is above the poverty line.

    Babbar came up with the Rs12 figure after being told that a thaali at the Congress headquarters costs Rs62. People were quick to dismiss his outrageous statement, pointing out that even a cutting chai costs Rs5 and vada pav Rs10. Restaurant owners in Delhi laughed at Masood’s assertion that one could eat well for Rs5. Mohammd Salman, owner of Mehboob and Zubairi hotels in Nizamuddin Basti, said devotees who wish to feed beggars have to pay Rs20-25 for two rotis and curry. “He must be quoting two-decade-old prices. A roti costs Rs3.

    He has no idea of the prices of flour and raw material,” Salman said. Ever since the Planning Commission declared that poverty in the country has fallen to 22 per cent in 2011-12 from 37 per cent in 2004-05, Congress leaders have been lauding the party for its achievements. The government, however, is being asked why is the Food Security Bill touted as a game-changer for 67 per cent people of the country if poverty levels have gone down.

  • Batla House Encounter: Indian Mujahideen Convicted

    Batla House Encounter: Indian Mujahideen Convicted

    NEW DELHI (TIP): A Delhi court on June 25 ruled that the 2008 Batla House encounter was genuine and pronounced Shahzad Ahmad, the lone suspect arrested in the case, guilty of murdering inspector Mohan Chand Sharma. Additional sessions judge Rajender Kumar Shastri pronounced Shahzad guilty of criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder of other police officials who were part of the raiding team, firing at the police team and of obstructing public servants from discharging their duty.

    The court will pronounce Shahzad’s punishment on July 29. On September 19, 2008, an encounter took place at L-18 Batla House in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar between a raiding team of Delhi police special cell and suspected IM operatives. Six days before the encounter, serial bomb blasts had rocked Delhi, killing 26 and injuring 133. The police had reached Batla House on a tip-off that some suspected militants involved in the blasts were holed up there.

    During the face-off, two of the occupants, Atif Ameen and Mohammed Sajid, were killed, while Mohammed Saif surrendered. Shahzad and another accused, Junaid, now a proclaimed offender, escaped. While Shahzad was arrested on January 1, 2010, Junaid is still at large. Sharma, a decorated police officer, lost his life in the crossfire. While convicting Shahzad, the court relied mainly on testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, including six eyewitnesses who were a part of the police raiding team, the circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution, the ballistic report that said the bullets were first fired at the police, and MC Sharma’s postmortem report.

  • MPS DISOWN LETTER TO OBAMA ON MODI VISA

    MPS DISOWN LETTER TO OBAMA ON MODI VISA

    NEW DELHI (TIP): A controversy broke out on July 24 over a letter, said to have been written to the United States President Barack Obama by 64 Members of Parliament, urging him to adhere to the current policy of denying visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Many parliamentarians claim that their signatures on the letter were forged. For instance, M.P. Achutan, a CPI MP, and Sitaram Yechury of the CPI(M) have denied signing any letter to the U.S. President.

    The letter is being seen as an instrument to blunt the effort of BJP president Rajnath Singh, who is now in the U.S., to persuade Washington to lift the ban on Mr. Modi’s travel there. The U.S. has denied Modi a visa, citing “the violation of religious freedoms’’ in the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat during his first term as Chief Minister.While BJP MP from Jharkhand, Sudarshan Bhagat, wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, seeking a probe into alleged forgery of signatures, the main Opposition party found fault with the Congress, accusing it to be behind the entire “letter affair’’ and demanded a probe.

    However, Independent MP Mohammad Adeeb, who is stated to have taken the initiative for the anti-Modi campaign, has vouched for the authenticity of the letter. Stating that he welcomed an inquiry, he said, “Anyone found guilty of cheating colleagues should be punished and removed from Parliament.’’ Adeeb maintained that by re-sending the letter to the White House, he hoped to stultify the effort of the BJP chief to lobby for an end to the ban on Modi’s travel to America.

    BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said since many MPs denied writing such a letter, it was important to catch those who forged signatures. Denial by some MPs of having written to Mr. Obama showed that this was a “clear conspiracy of the dirty tricks department of the Congress.’’ He demanded a thorough probe.

  • BJP Wave In MP, Party On A Comeback In Rajasthan, UP

    BJP Wave In MP, Party On A Comeback In Rajasthan, UP

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The northern states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh present a very contrasting picture when it comes to the political battle.While Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are basically a twohorse race with the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) being the rivals, in Uttar Pradesh, which sends the largest number of MPs to the Lok Sabha, it is a four-cornered fight in most of the seats.

    According to the CSDSCNN- IBN Election Tracker survey, the BJP has a lot to cheer as the party is expected to give a tough fight to the Congress in Rajasthan to consolidate its position in Madhya Pradesh. Whereas in Uttar Pradesh, the party is on a comeback trail and is likely to bag the largest number of seats. The Congress, inspite of being in power in Rajasthan, is expected to do badly while in Madhya Pradesh it is being swept away by the BJP tide.

    Uttar Pradesh presents a very interesting picture with the two regional forces – the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) – not on a strong wicket with the Congress most likely ending fourth as the survey reveals that the grand old party of India is unable to repeat its good show of 2009 elections. The BJP has been on resurgences in all the three states and a good show by the party is likely to propel it closure to power at the Centre after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

  • Arun Nehru, Former Union Minister, Dies

    Arun Nehru, Former Union Minister, Dies

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Arun Nehru, former union minister and powerful figure during the prime ministership of Rajiv Gandhi, passed away on July 25 night after prolonged illness. Nehru, 69, a cousin of Rajiv Gandhi and minister for internal security in his government, died in a hospital in Gurgaon, according to family sources. Nehru had been admitted to the Fortis hospital in Gurgaon 18 days ago and passed away at 10.47pm on Tuesday.

    He is survived by his wife Subhadra and two daughters. Lucknow-born Nehru was a three-time Lok Sabha member. Nehru had a successful career in the corporate world before joining politics in the early 1980s. When Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister in 1984, he was his close adviser and minister of state for internal security. However, he fell out with Rajiv later. Nehru was accused by the CBI of causing a loss to the exchequer in a pistol deal with Czechoslovakia in 1988 during his tenure as minister of state.

    The Supreme Court had recently stayed the proceedings in the case. Nehru moved out of the family home in Allahabad at an early age and studied at the La Martinere Boys College in Lucknow. At the age of 20, he began a successful career in the corporate world, which he gave up 17 years later when Indira Gandhi asked him to join politics. Nehru was then the president of the Jenson and Nicholson group of companies. Lord Swraj Paul, who had known Nehru closely for several decades, mourned his death and said he was a very warm person and a loyal friend.

    “He was a wonderful human being. My heart goes to the family in this hour of grief,” he said. Janata Dal (U) leader Sharad Yadav described Arun Nehru as a “leader with political maturity” who played a key role in formation of the Janata Dal government.

  • Mechanism To Prevent Face-Offs Between India And China Soon, Says AK Antony

    Mechanism To Prevent Face-Offs Between India And China Soon, Says AK Antony

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India and China are trying to develop effective mechanisms to prevent the “embarrassing” face-offs between their troops along the “disputed” points of the Line of Actual Control, defence minister AK Antony said. Terming the 21-day stand-off between the two sides in Depsang valley in Daulat Beg Oldi area as an “unusual” incident, the defence minister said the two countries will meet soon in Beijing to discuss issues and try to find a solution for such “unpleasant incidents”.

    Till the final settlement of the border issue, we are trying to find out more effective mechanisms to prevent occasional incidents. There are many points in the LAC that are disputed and they are patrolled by both sides. So, sometimes it leads to some faceoff,” he told reporters on the 14th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. The minister was asked to comment on the rising incursions by the Chinese troops into the Indian territory along the LAC in Ladakh and Northeastern sectors.

    Antony said, “There are disputed points where both sides are going there which sometimes causes some embarrassing situations.” He said after the Depsang incident in April, India and China had “free and frank” talks and “we are trying to have more border personnel meeting places and have more effective mechanisms to prevent such unpleasant incidents.” “On the one side, both sides are trying to find a long term solution to the long pending border dispute.

    Till that time, our aim is to maintain peace and tranquillity at the border,” Antony said. On the recent third meeting of the Joint Working Group between the two sides, the Minister said free and frank discussions were held between both sides. “We are going to have another round of this meeting in Beijing soon on this issue. So, I think we will be able to find out a solutions to such unpleasant incidents on the border,” he said.

    In the recent past, there have been several incidents of incursions in Ladakh sector where Chinese troops have entered well within Indian side and stayed there for long hours before returning to their areas. In one such incident, Chinese troops had entered Chumar area in Ladakh on July 16-17 on horses and ponies and demanded that Indian troops leave the area staking claim over it. In the last two weeks, there have been at least five incursions in the area and around 150 incidents in the last seven months.

    Meanwhile, commenting on the alleged “mistreatment” of armed forces personnel and the lack of accommodation for them, Antony said though the situation had improved in comparison with past but “a lot was still required to be done”. “Under the married accommodation project, nearly 1.99 lakh houses are to be built for forces. Out of that, 50 per cent has been completed,” he said. On the rank pay issue of the forces, the defence minister said the government has referred it to the Attorney General for his “final advise” on the matter.

  • I-T Raids On Private Medical, Engg Colleges Across Andhra

    I-T Raids On Private Medical, Engg Colleges Across Andhra

    HYDERABAD/ VISAKHAPATNAM: Income-tax sleuths on July 25 launched a massive crackdown on private medical and engineering colleges across Andhra Pradesh in the wake of allegations that they were selling management quote seats at princely rates of anywhere between Rs 45 lakh and Rs 1.2 crore. Sources from the department confirmed that several crores were seized from these institutions during the day-long search operation that is likely to go on through the weekend.

    The list of colleges that came under the I-T scanner on Day 1 includes GSL Medical College (Rajahmundry), Chalmeda Anand Rao Medical College (Karimnagar), Santhiram Medical College (Nandyal), NRI Institute of Medical Sciences (Visakhapatnam) and Konaseema Medical College (Amalapuram). The total money recovered, by the end of the operation, is expected to run into hundreds of crores, officials indicated as searches were also conducted at Godavari Institute of Engineering and Technology and other colleges belonging to the Chaitanya group across Rajahmundry, Kakinada and Vizag. Apart from college premises, I-T sleuths simultaneously swooped down even on the residences of some senior officials associated with these institutions.

    “In fact, we seized around Rs 10 crore from the Chalmeda Anand Rao Medical College chairman’s house in Hyderabad alone,” said an official part of the search team that began its operations at 7 am on Thursday. The residence of one of the members of the NRI Institute management at Ocean View layout on the posh beach road in Vizag too was searched. Apart from cash, bundles of important documents were also seized by the search team, led by IRS officers P Satya Prashant, deputy director of I-T and B V Rao, additional director of I-T (both from the Investigation wing), which is in the process of analyzing the same.

    When contacted, tax officials confirmed the statewide operation was launched following credible information about these colleges stashing huge amounts of donation/capitation fee collected for MBBS, PG medical and engineering seats.

  • Ex-Gujarat Ranji Player Is Skipper Of Us National Team

    Ex-Gujarat Ranji Player Is Skipper Of Us National Team

    AHMEDABAD (TIP): Former Gujarat Ranji player Timil Patel has been appointed captain of US’s national cricket team for a series against Canada for the Auty Cup. The 29-year-old Amdavadi leg-spinner emigrated to the US with his family in 2010 after playing 38 first class games for Gujarat. He made his international debut for the US on November 14, 2012, against Canada in the previous edition of the Auty Cup played in Florida.

    “It is an honour to lead the US team,” Timil said on the phone from Canada. “We have young and talented players who have been performing consistently at the club level. Hopefully, we can bring positive results in the upcoming series.” Both the US and Canadian teams are dominated by migrants from the Indian subcontinent. Timil made his debut for Gujarat in 2002 and was part of the team for the next seven years.

    His last game was a Ranji Trophy match against Himachal Pradesh in Surat in 2009. Since settling down in Los Angeles, he has played for the Southern California Cricket Association. He has also played two T20 internationals against Canada and was made the stand-in captain in the first Twenty20 after skipper Steven Taylor suffered an injury.