The Indian Panorama

Year: 2013

  • Indian economy to grow 6.1% this year: UN

    Indian economy to grow 6.1% this year: UN

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Indian economy is projected to grow at a slower pace of 6.1% this year even as exports and capital investments are likely to be much better than in 2012, according to the United Nations. The UN has trimmed its growth forecast from 7.2% estimated in June 2012.

    However, the forecast of 6.1% growth for this year is much better than 5.5% expansion seen in 2012, as per the UN ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects 2013’ report. “GDP growth in India will accelerate to 6.1% in 2013 and 6.5% in 2014 as a result of stronger growth of exports and capital investment… Investment demand is expected to respond to a more accommodative monetary policy stance and slightly improved business confidence,” it said. UN ESCAP’s (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) Chief Economist Nagesh Kumar

  • Massacre Of Over 100 Reported In Syria’s Homs

    Massacre Of Over 100 Reported In Syria’s Homs

    BEIRUT (TIP): More than 100 people were shot, stabbed or possibly burned to death by government forces in the Syrian city of Homs, a monitoring group said on January 17, and fierce fighting raged across the country. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said women and children were among the 106 people killed by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad forces who stormed Basatin al-Hasawiya, a poor district on the edge of Homs, on Tuesday. The massacre in the central city came the same day twin explosions killed over 80 people at Aleppo’s university in the north, according to the group.

    Syrian warplanes and troops pursued a countrywide offensive on Thursday, activists and state media said, bombing rebel-held areas and clashing with insurgents who have pushed into cities. Government forces clashed on January 17 with insurgents in the cities of Deraa, Hama, Homs, Aleppo, Damascus and east of Deir al-Zor, the Observatory said. Only the coastal Assad strongholds of Latakia and Tartous were spared violence. Opposition activists said 15 people, including 7 children, were killed when an air strike hit a family home in Husseiniyeh, a suburb on the outskirts of the capital.

    They sent Reuters footage of people dragging the limp bodies of children out of the rubble. In Hama province, the government said it had secured some areas and displaced families were returning to the area of Zor Abi Zaid after armed forces “cleansed the area completely of terrorists”, a term authorities use for the rebels. Activists and Turkish news agencies reported renewed clashes on the Syrian border town of Ras al-Ain, where rebel forces have been fighting armed Kurdish groups for control. The local Turkish Dogan news agency said one man on the Turkish side of the border was wounded by a stray bullet overnight and that schools in the area had been closed due to the clashes on the Syrian side. In the power vacuum, some Kurdish groups are trying to assert control over parts of Syria through fights with rebels and government forces. The Observatory said clashes broke out between Kurdish militants and the Syrian army in Rameilan, a town in the northeast.

    Family Of 17 Reported Killed
    Activists said 17 members of the Khazam family had been killed during Tuesday’s raid on Basatin al- Hasawiya. “The Observatory has the names of 14 members of one family, including three children, and information on other families who were completely killed, including one of 32 people,” Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Observatory, told Reuters. “This needs to be investigated by the United Nations,” said Abdelrahman, a Syrian who has documented human rights violations in Syria since 2006 and now reports on killings by both sides. The United Nations says 60,000 have been killed in the 22-month-old conflict. Several massacres have been reported, most blamed on pro-Assad forces but some also on rebel fighters.

    The town of Houla in Homs province was the scene in May 2011 of the killings of 108 people, including nine children and 34 women, which U.N. monitors blamed on the army and pro-Assad militia. The United Nations sent observers to Syria in April 2011 but after several attacks on their convoys they left in August, complaining both sides had chosen the path of war. Abu Yazen, an opposition activist in Homs, said the rebel Free Syrian Army occasionally entered the farmland of Basatin al-Hasawiya to attack a nearby military academy. “Assad’s forces punish civilians for allowing the rebels to enter the area,” he said. Other activists said the raid was carried out by pro-Assad militia.

    The government and opposition blame each other for two explosions at Aleppo’s university on Tuesday which killed at least 87 people, many of them students attending exams, in the deadliest attack on civilians to hit the commercial hub since rebels laid siege to it over the summer. U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said the attack was “beyond horrific”. “According to eyewitnesses, regime jets launched the strikes,” she said on her Twitter account. Russia, which has backed Assad throughout the revolt both in rhetoric and through its veto of U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning Assad, dismissed suggestions Damascus was behind the explosions. “I cannot imagine any bigger blasphemy,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists during a visit to Tajikistan.

  • Things Never To Say To Your Child

    Things Never To Say To Your Child

    Being a parent is difficult and so is coming off as a proud child. It’s only human to give vent to your rage by using harsh words. However, when the recipient of your outrage is your own child, it might have uncertain and unmanageable repercussions.

    We list some insensitive things that you should avoid saying to your child.

    1)I was much more responsible when I was your age

    Comparing your child and giving him an example of what all you were capable of when you were a kid is the first big mistake parents make. Their irritation stems from ‘expectations’ – expectations of bringing up the ‘perfect’ kid. Try and recall your shortcomings as a child and what all troubles you bothered your parents with. You are the elder one in the relationship hence you ought to know more. A statement such as this will break your child’s confidence.

    2))You always end up taking wrong decisions
    Don’t penalize your kid for being immature. Everyone is allowed to make mistakes and it is in fact a part of the learning process. He might have taken up a field of study that doesn’t interest you or perhaps working with a company that you’re not very proud of, but that doesn’t mean you accuse him of the decisions. Your job as a parent is to guide him, not force him to obey your opinions.

    3)Why can’t you be more like your brother/sister?

    This is once again an unreasonable comparison and a common one at that. Avoid seeding in animosity between your children by comparing their abilities. Doing so may create a fissure between the siblings. You don’t want your kid to harbor negative feelings for you, hence avoid assessing your kids.

    4)Leave me alone!

    Adults have huge responsibilities to take care of, responsibilities that children are innocently oblivious of. And there are times when we want to be left alone too. Kids are incapable of understanding the gravity of such situations. An impatient outburst of ‘Leave me alone!’ can make your child feel neglected, unwanted and depressed at the same time. Show some patience and avoid saying something bad to him.

    5))You should be ashamed of yourself

    This statement is outright harsh and saying such an awful thing to any child is simply ‘bad’. Yes, there are mischievous kids who go about pestering people with a devil-may-care attitude but that does not mean you reprimand him like this. There are better and milder ways to make the child understand the difference between good and bad.

    6)You’re just like your father/mother

    Not all married couples are happy living together and the bitterness in their relationship often translates into exchange of unkind words against each other. Some relationships end in separation too. Either ways, kids are a witness to this mutual hostility and criticism. So when you shower your partner’s animosity on your kid, that’s when he begins to lose respect.

    7)You always find ways to hurt me

    There are times when children hurt their parents’ sentiments by going against their wishes. Most times it is unintentional but there are kids who do so on purpose.

    However, saying something like the above statement would make your child feel guilty about his/her decision. He might comply with your demands to make you happy but you’d be taking away his right to happiness in the long run. Let your children take their own decisions and let them live a guilt-free life.

    8)It’s better to be childless than have a kid like you

    The above statement is mostly an extreme emotional outburst but can have grave consequences on the kid. Unquestionably, it is the most hurtful thing you can ever say to your child. No matter what the crisis is, saying something like this could make you regret for life.

    9)Get rid of the bad company of your friends

    We (read adults) don’t think before making friends. Neither do children. The only difference is that we know how to stay away from bad company and children don’t. Their friends mean the world to them and therefore you cannot just order them to get a new set of ‘good’ friends.

  • Investigating Officer Probing Pakistan Pm Raja Pervez Ashraf Found Dead

    Investigating Officer Probing Pakistan Pm Raja Pervez Ashraf Found Dead

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): A case officer investigating a corruption scandal involving Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf was found dead on Friday in Islamabad, officials said. The Supreme Court on Tuesday demanded Ashraf’s arrest in the long-running case, but anti-corruption watchdog the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told the chief justice on Thursday that it did not yet have enough evidence. Officials said the officer, Kamran Faisal, was found dead in the government hostel where he lived with other colleagues from NAB.

    “He was found dead in his room. He is suspected to have committed suicide. Police have taken the body. A postmortem is being carried out,” a NAB spokesman said. “He was a case officer, an investigations officer in the prime minister’s case. We will share further details when we get them,” the spokesman added. Islamabad police chief Bani Amin confirmed that the body had been found. “We are investigating from different angles… We will establish an opinion after the autopsy,” he said.

  • Car Bomb Targets Afghan Spy Agency In Kabul

    Car Bomb Targets Afghan Spy Agency In Kabul

    KABUL (TIP): A car bomb exploded in front of the gates of the Afghan intelligence agency on Wednesday, Reuters witnesses said, near heavily barricaded government buildings and western embassies. Shopkeepers and passersby were injured in the blast, which took place at noon (0730 GMT), but it was not immediately clear if anyone had been killed. Shattered glass and twisted metal lay scattered in front of the gates of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and gunfire and sirens were heard.

    NDS head Asadullah Khalid narrowly survived a suicide bomber’s assassination attempt last month in a brazen attack that threatened to derail a nascent and already fragile peace process between the Afghan government and the Taliban. When contacted by Reuters, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group was “unaware” of the car bomb. Wednesday’s attack came just days after President Hamid Karzai returned from a trip to Washington, where he discussed the country’s future with U.S. President Barack Obama once most NATO-led troops withdraw as planned by the end of 2014.

    On that trip, Karzai visited Khalid in a US hospital, where he was recovering from the Kabul assassination attempt by a man who had hidden a bomb in his trousers. Violence across the country has been increasing in recent months, sparking concern over how the 350,000- strong Afghan security forces will be able to manage once foreign troops withdraw.

  • Lanka President Sacks First Woman Top Judge Over Graft

    Lanka President Sacks First Woman Top Judge Over Graft

    COLOMBO (TIP): Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Jan 13 sacked the country’s first woman chief justice Shirani Bandarnayake after ratifying her impeachment by parliament which held her guilty of corruption, notwithstanding widespread protests by lawyers and others. The 54-year-old Bandaranayake was served a notice ordering her to quit her post, two days after the parliament overwhelmingly voted to impeach her deepening a standoff between the judiciary and the government. The impeachment of Bandaranayake had earlier been ruled as unconstitutional by courts and a finding by the parliamentary committee that found her “guilty” had been quashed.

    The parliamentary committee on December 8, 2012, had ruled that Bandaranayake was guilty of three of the 14 charges in the impeachment proceedings against her moved by the ruling UPFA coalition legislators. The three charges were of financial impropriety based on non-declaration of assets and conflict of interest in a case involving a failed investment company. She denied all the charges against her. On December 6, she stormed out of the impeachment hearing in parliament, saying she would not be given a fair trial. She also claimed verbal abuse by the government members of the parliamentary panel. On Friday, the House voted 155 to 49 to dismiss Bandaranayake, whose recent rulings had gone against government.

  • Get Rid Of Pimple Marks

    Get Rid Of Pimple Marks

    Keep your skin clear of any make-up and wash your face with water as many times as possible to get rid of pimples. And never pop the pimples as these would lead to scars.

    Pimple marks are the scars that result after an acne breakout. They are often difficult to remove and take time to fade.

    There are commercial and homemade treatment options available. Surface skin blemishes can often be removed by these methods.

    However, if the skin blemishes are deeper, cosmetic procedures may be needed. Some cosmetic procedures are microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser resurfacing. One can try for homemade solutions to get rid of pimples mark. Sandalwood powder paste can be applied on your face to fade marks. Honey is also good for fading marks.

    Apply a small amount of honey on the marks daily. Rinse with water after about five minutes. A milk and oatmeal face mask can also be used to remove scars.

    Apply the mixture for about ten minutes and then rinse. An egg white face mask can also be used to fade marks. Apply only the egg white carefully onto your face. Allow the egg white to dry and rinse with water. Make-up expert Aniruddha Chakladar says, “Neem paste mixed with sandalwood powder is the best way to get rid of pimple scar mark.”

  • Rajapaksa Names His Man As Sri Lanka’s New Chief Justice

    Rajapaksa Names His Man As Sri Lanka’s New Chief Justice

    COLOMBO (TIP): Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Jan 15 appointed his cabinet’s legal adviser as the country’s new chief justice to succeed Shirani Bandaranayake, whose impeachment created much furore both inside and outside the nation. Rajapaksa sworn in new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris to replace Sri Lanka’s first woman chief justice who was impeached by the parliament in a controversial move. Peiris, a British qualified solicitor who retired in 2011 as the Attorney General was serving as the legal advisor to the Cabinet.

    He is being seen as a favourite of the government. Peiris has lobbied for Sri Lanka during the sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council in recent years. He is also supervising the implementations of recommendations by Sri Lanka’s post war reconciliation commission (LLRC). Presidential officials said Peiris took over as the new chief justice today after the sacking of Bandaranayake following a parliamentary ratification last week of the impeachment against her. Bandaranayake’s impeachment came despite the Supreme Court’s ruling of the process against her illegal.

    She had walked out of the parliamentary investigation citing bias. National and international rights groups have severely criticised the government of Sri Lanka over the issue. Rights groups have questioned the legality of the impeachment that has pitted the judiciary against the government. In keeping with the opposition, Civil society think tank, the Centre for Policy Alternatives filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order restraining Peiris from taking office. The legal fraternity was up in arms against the impeachment and had vowed not to cooperate with her successor.

  • Indian NRIs’ Properties Back Home Becoming Targets Of Greedy Relatives And Dubious Developers

    Indian NRIs’ Properties Back Home Becoming Targets Of Greedy Relatives And Dubious Developers

    DUBAI (TIP): Greedy relatives and shady agents are unlawfully grabbing the properties of Indian expatriates living in Dubai. Caught in this miserable scenario, many Indian expatriates in Dubai are seemingly fighting the unending legal battles back home. According to Gulf News, and it is not easy to pay hassle-free frequent visits to India, and go through the notoriously lengthy legal process in the country. Some cannot even put on combat gear as the enemy, in many cases, is there own parents or siblings. According to lawyers, the misuse of power of attorney is rampant across India.

    Invariably, NRI owners top the list of victims. Chokshy, a seasoned lawyer with over 30 years of experience in Gujarat civil courts, said he has seen many NRIs go through bitter experiences where their parents or siblings have grabbed their property. According to the report, the illegal grabbing, occupation or confiscation of properties have long been a pressing issue for Indians residing out of the country, so much so that a US-based Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has demanded the establishment of fast-track courts for speedy disposal of their property disputes.

    The organization said that many USbased NRIs owning houses and land in Kolkata, New Delhi, Punjab and Kerala have been struggling for years to reclaim properties usurped by friends, families or caretakers. The increasing number of illegal and forceful land grabbing cases was also a topic of concern at the recently concluded 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) conducted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs between January 7 and 9 in Kochi, Kerala. According to lawyers in India and the UAE, expatriates are particularly vulnerable to fraudulent elements back home because of time constraints and lack of legal support in fighting their cases.

    NRIs are at a great disadvantage as they reside far away from their home country and civil cases in India can take 15-20 years or even more due to an overloaded judicial system. So alarming is the situation that an army of ‘property managers’ have mushroomed in big cities in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Chennai and Kochi to manage the assets of NRIs, the report added.

  • Indian-Origin Lottery Winner’s Body To Be Exhumed: US Court

    Indian-Origin Lottery Winner’s Body To Be Exhumed: US Court

    NEW YORK (TIP): A US court has given the go-ahead for exhumation of the body of an Indian-origin businessman in Chicago, who died of cyanide poisoning under mysterious circumstances days after he won a US dollar million lottery. Judge Susan Coleman of the Probate Division of the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois approved the Cook County medical examiner’s request to exhume the body of Urooj Khan, 46, who died last July a day after he collected a cheque of $425,000 as his prize money. It was not immediately known how quickly the body would be exhumed, but Coleman’s order called for it “as soon as possible” since Khan’s body was not embalmed before burial. The process of exhumation and autopsy is expected to take place as soon as next week.

    Initially no foul play was suspected in Khan’s death and the medical examiner’s office had initially ruled that Khan had died of natural causes. However at the request of Khan’s relative, the cause of his death was re-examined and new screening results from fluid samples showed that a lethal amount of cyanide was present in Khan’s system. In allowing Khan’s body to be exhumed from a cemetery in Chicago, Coleman said there is “reasonable and sufficient” reason for the Cook County medical examiner to get more forensic samples from Khan’s body.

    The Chicago Tribune reported that no one had objected to exhuming Khan’s body. According to court papers, chief medical examiner Stephen Cina said it was important to exhume Khan’s body “as expeditiously as possible” since Khan’s body was not embalmed. The medical examiner’s office said in court papers it was necessary to do a full autopsy to “further confirm the results of the blood analysis as well as to rule out any other natural causes that might have contributed to or caused Khan’s death.”

  • Obama’s Half-Brother Eyes Kenya Political Role

    Obama’s Half-Brother Eyes Kenya Political Role

    KOGELO (TIP): President Barack Obama’s Kenyan half-brother has launched his own political career by announcing his intention to run for a Kenyan county gubernatorial seat in the upcoming March 4 elections. Malik Obama, 54, who shares a father with the US president, said in an interview late on Wednesday that the achievements of his brother have “inspired and challenged” him to get into active politics in his homeland. “When I look at the success that my brother has had in the US, I feel I would have let down my people if I do not follow in his footsteps and end their suffering through dedicated, honest and focused leadership,” Malik said in his ancestral home of Kogelo in western Kenya. The trained economist said he is the right candidate to deal with the “endless cycle of poverty and unemployment that bedevils my people”.

    “I can confidently say that of all the people who are vying for the position, I am the best placed candidate … by virtue of my second name alone, I have the connections to bring development to Siaya,” he said, referring to his home county 100 km from the lakeside city of Kisumu. Although he says he is charting his own path, Malik Obama is using his now famous second name to try and get an edge over his competitors, who include the younger brother of Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga. In a country polarized by dominant political parties, Malik Obama is running as an independent. He said his links to Washington will help him clinch the seat. “Why would my people settle for a local connection when they have a direct line to the White House,” he said as he weaved his way through a group of supporters, the slogan “Obama here, Obama there” looming on posters.

  • SC restrains trial court from deciding on SIT report on Modi’s role

    SC restrains trial court from deciding on SIT report on Modi’s role

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court on January 17 restrained a special trial court in Ahmedabad from taking its final decision on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report for closing the case against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 others in connection with a 2002 riots incident in which former Congress MP Eshan Jafri was burnt alive by a mob at the Gulberg Housing Society. A three-member Bench headed Justice DK Jain passed the order on a plea by Zakia Jafri, widow of the slain Congress leader, despite objections raised by the Gujarat government. The other members of the Bench were Justices P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam. Zakia has approached the SC seeking copies of the three SIT reports submitted in May and November 2011 and January 2012. The case would be taken up for hearing again on February 7. The SIT, headed by former CBI Director RK Raghavan, had interrogated Modi in the light of an apex court order asking the SIT to conduct a fresh investigation into the February 28, 2002 violence in the Gulberg Society, Ahmedabad.

  • Shed Flab Tone Up In Just 2 Weeks

    Shed Flab Tone Up In Just 2 Weeks

    Do you have an occasion you want to look hot for — a friend’s wedding or a hot date? We ask fitness experts for an exercise and diet plan to help you shed flab and tone up in just two weeks. Losing that extra flab around your waist and toning your body can feel like a challenge, especially when you have no time on your hands to prep yourself up before an occasion. If you’ve been thinking of starving yourself to flaunt that sexy saree, you’re heading the wrong way. We ease out the challenge for you. Follow this two-week exercise and diet routine to make heads turn!

    Kickboxing
    Kickboxing is an excellent way to lose weight from your thighs and butt. Keeping your fists tight, reaching shoulder height at the extension. Keep wrists in line with the rest of your arm. Rotate hips and pivot to protect your knees. Keep your eyes straight and kick. Repeat 20 times.

    Push-ups
    Raise up onto your toes, so you can balance well on your hands and toes. Keep your body in a straight line from head to toe without sagging in the middle or arching your back. Your feet can be close together or a bit wider, depending on what is most comfortable for you.

    “Before you begin any movement, contract your abs and tighten your core by pulling your belly button in. Keep a tight core. Inhale as you slowly bend your elbows and lower yourself until your elbows are at a 90 degree angle. Exhale as you begin pushing back up to the start position,” says fitness expert, Neville Wadia.

    Running
    Running is a great way to not only lose weight, but also tone yourself. The most important piece of equipment you need for running is shoes. Make sure to invest in a good pair of shoes that not only provide comfort but also proper grip while running. Start with a 10 minute brisk walk and alternate 30 seconds of running with one minute of walking. Increase the amount of time you run and decrease the amount of time you spend walking. This will help you to start running for 20 to 30 minutes in another three-four days.

    Squat jump
    “Stand with feet shoulder width apart — arms at side. Start by doing a regular squat and then jump when you rise up reaching for the ceiling. When you land, lower your body back into the squat position. Repeat 10 times,” says Shetty. Says Shah, “During the second week of your exercise routine, make sure to include more of weight training, combined well with cardio training twice a week. This will keep the weight you’ve shed in check and also help you tone faster.”

    Forward plank
    “The forward plank is a full-body exercise for your arms, butt and legs. Start on your knees and place your hands on the floor in front of you. Your arms should be straight and not locked out. Tighten your stomach muscles as you lean forward until your shoulders are directly over your wrists,” says Wadia. Stay in this position by extending your feet straight back with your toes curled and your weight on your feet. Keep your legs and butt muscles tight as you keep your body in a straight line. Make sure to not let your lower back sag and keep your belly button pulled towards your spine throughout the exercise. Repeat 10 times.

    Dynamic lunges
    Stand with both feet together. Take a long step forward with your right leg. Bending the back leg, move your back knee towards the floor — your front knee should not go further forward than your toes. Says Shetty, “Your back knee should go down to an inch off the floor but remember not to touch the ground. In one controlled movement, return your front foot back to the starting position with the other foot.” Repeat 15 times.

    Mountain climbers
    Place your hands on the floor — slightly wider than shoulder width. On your forefeet, position one leg forward bent under your body and extend the other leg back. While holding your upper body in place, alternate your leg positions by pushing your hips up while immediately extending your back leg forward and pulling your rear leg forward under your body, landing on both your forefeet simultaneously.

    Leg raises
    Lie on your back. Keep your lower body back in contact with the floor — keeping your feet and legs together and
    straight. Place both your hands to the sides or under your lower back for support. Lift your legs upward, until they are straight above your hips. Lower down to starting position slowly but do not touch the ground.
    REPEAT 10 TIMES.
    YOUR DIET RULES
    RULE NO 1:
    Be tough. Stay away from nasty fat, excessive salt and simple sugars. This will help you lose weight faster.

    RULE NO 2:
    Have a basic breakfast of complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats to kickstart your metabolism for the day and provide fuel and muscle sustaining nutrients. Says nutritionist Mansi Belani, “Breakfast should be an easy-to prepare meal from a quality protein shake to a bowl of oatmeal, scoop of cottage cheese and fruits.”

    Rule No 3:
    Says Shetty, “Do not let snacks be a substitute for a complete meal. Good snacks are fruits and vegetables, protein energy bars, yoghurt, cottage cheese and light protein drinks.”

    RULE NO 4:
    Excessive sugar plays havoc with our insulin metabolism and this leads to fatigue and fat storage and tends to slacken your exercise routine. RULE NO 5: Eat a small and light snack at least an hour before you start exercising. Says nutritionist, Smruti Gokhale “With protein and complex carbohydrates in your system, you’ll train harder, longer and with more enthusiasm.” Also make sure that you do not eat anything for an hour after your exercise.

    RULE NO 6:
    “An hour after your exercise, have a light meal of protein and plenty of carbs to keep you energised. This meal is necessary to provide the muscle- building materials to repair depleted tissue and begin the process of building new muscles,” says Shetty.

    RULE NO 7:
    Drink lot

  • Delhi Gang-Rape Murder Case Moved To Fast Track Court

    Delhi Gang-Rape Murder Case Moved To Fast Track Court

    DELHI (TIP): The case against five men charged with the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi has been moved to a fast-track court for trial, lawyers for the defendants said Friday, January 18 The case is scheduled to begin Monday, January 21, they said. A sixth suspect will be tried in a youth court if it is confirmed he is a minor.

    In the December 16 incident, passengers and the driver of a bus allegedly attacked the woman and her male companion, raped the woman, robbed them and dumped them by the side of the road. The badly beaten woman was flown to Singapore for treatment after the attack.

    But she did not survive. She died about two weeks later while undergoing treatment. The five men are charged with murder, rape and kidnapping and face death penalty if convicted. A juvenile court is determining the age of a sixth suspect, who has said he is 17, too young to be tried as an adult.

    In view of the public outrage, government of India has pledged to strengthen laws against sexual assaults. The number of reported rapes in India — a country where a cultural stigma keeps many victims from reporting the crime — has increased from 2,487 in 1971 to 24,206 in 2011, according to official figures.

  • Former VJ Sophiya Haque Passes Away In London

    Former VJ Sophiya Haque Passes Away In London

    MUMBAI (TIP): Popular former video jockey (VJ) and actress Sophiya Haque is no more, according to her friends and industry sources. She died in London due to an illness. She passed away in a hospital in London, tweeted former VJ Nikhil Chinappa. She was said to be in her 30s. witter was abuzz with messages on the death of Sophiya, who played the lead role in the 2000 film “Snip!” and was seen in a bit role in Salman Khan’s 2009 blockbuster “Wanted”.

    Sophiya had also been part of international TV series like “House of Anubis”, “Coronation Street” and “Fur TV”. Ex-VJ Sophie Choudry tweeted: “When I moved here, you moved to my city. We barely met but I had great respect for you and your work. RIP Sophiya Haque – artist, iconic VJ, dancer, trendsetter.” “So completely heartbreaking,” wrote Maria Goretti, another popular former VJ who made it big in the 1990s. Composer Vishal Dadlani describes the late actress as a “beautiful spirit”, and posted: “Life is short, so fickle. People, hold your loved ones close, tell them you love them every day.” Actress-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt also mourned Sophiya’s death.

  • SGPC To Participate In The Kumbh Mela

    SGPC To Participate In The Kumbh Mela

    CHANDIGARH (TIP): Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee – the mini parliament of Sikhs – has decided to participate in the Kumbh Mela for the first time, inviting criticism from various quarters, according to a report published in January 13 edition of Times of India. While the decision has apparently been taken at the behest of the top bosses of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), which heads a coalition government in Punjab with the BJP, the SGPC is projecting it as an opportunity to make the Hindus from far-off places aware of Sikhism and the sacrifices made by the Sikh Gurus and the community. The committee has started shortlisting Sikh literature in Hindi that will be available at the mela.

    The decision had been taken at a meeting of the executive committee of SGPC a few days ago. Sources said there was some opposition to the proposal to participate in the Kumbh Mela, the largest gathering of Hindus, when SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar tabled it in the executive meeting. Many members pointed out that the mela had no significance in Sikhism and participation in the religious gathering would send out a wrong signal, especially about the independent identity of the Sikhs.

    Finally, it was decided to put up a stall of literature published by SGPC at the mela. When asked about the reason for the move, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said it provided a large target audience for making people aware about Sikhism. He said SGPC would also hold a photo and literature exhibition and organize a langar. SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh has been sent to Allahabad to coordinate with the authorities. Makkar said he has issued directives to SGPC staff for short-listing the books that give an insight into Sikh history and to make these available in Hindi in good numbers. Slamming the SGPC’s decision, All India Sikh Students Federation president Karnail Singh Peermohammad said this has been done at the behest of RSS and is against the ideals propounded by the first Sikh master, Guru Nanak, and other gurus. “We respect everyone’s beliefs, but participating in the mela does not have any religious importance in Sikhism,” he added.

  • Govt Surprises With Step Forward On Freeing Diesel Prices

    Govt Surprises With Step Forward On Freeing Diesel Prices

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The government gave fuel retailers some leeway on January 17 to raise prices of heavily subsidized diesel, distancing itself from an unpopular policy ahead of elections while trying to revive an economy growing at its slowest pace in a decade. Fuel subsidies are a drain on India’s finances and the government is struggling to bring the deficit within a target of 5.3 per cent of gross domestic product for the financial year ending March. India is the world’s fourth biggest oil importer. The government emphasized that any price rises would be small, raising questions over how much freedom the staterun oil firms will really have. Petrol largely remained under government control after a similar policy was introduced in 2010.

    Oil minister Veerappa Moily said the new system gave oil companies some liberty to set prices, but cautioned that diesel subsidies could not be suddenly ended. “We cannot abruptly put an end to the subsidy or the under-recovery. Looking into all the economic aspects, we have taken the decision to give oil companies the liberty to make small corrections,” he said. Share prices rose sharply in India’s main oil marketing companies, which suffer losses selling fuel below cost. The rupee hit a one-month high, while yields on Indian bonds dropped in a sign the market expects the new policy will result in lower subsidies in the medium-term. The government also loosened a cap introduced in September on the number of subsidized cooking gas cylinders permitted to each household after widespread criticism the quota was unfair on the poor. The cap will now be nine cylinders per year, up from six. That is expected to add 93 billion rupees ($1.70 billion) to the annual subsidy bill, an oil ministry source said.

    Balancing act “This is a brilliant balancing act between politics and economics. This is one step backwards and one step forward,” said NR Bhanumurthy, professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. “While the decision on the LPG cylinder will pacify their political constituency, the decision on diesel sends out a message to the (central bank) that the government is serious about tackling subsidies and controlling the fiscal deficit.” The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has long called on the government to reduce its fiscal deficit, which drives government borrowing and keeps upward pressure on interest rates. The central bank meets on January 29 to set monetary policy and has signaled that it is likely to cut interest rates.

    Ratings agencies had threatened to strip India of its investment-grade credit rating if the government did not take steps to curb the widening fiscal deficit. Finance minister P Chidambaram has vowed that the deficit will not exceed 5.3 per cent of GDP this financial year. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government, which must hold general elections by early next year, is trying to revive Asia’s third largest economy, which is set to grow at 5.7-5.9 per cent this fiscal year, its weakest rate since 2002/03. Singh was the architect of a wave of economic reforms in the 1990s credited with ushering in two decades of fast growth. In a new push since September to liberalize India’s economy, he opened sectors, including retail and aviation, to more overseas investment and cut subsidies on fuel and rail fares.

    EMPHASIS ON “SMALL” India imports 80 per cent of the crude oil it refines into diesel, about 3.7 million barrels per day, and benchmark Brent crude prices were at their highest annual average on record last year at around $111 a barrel, significantly raising its energy bill. Diesel accounts for about 40 per cent of India’s fuel consumption, and the stateowned fuel retailers lose 9.6 rupees (18 US cents) for every litre of diesel sold. Chidambaram said he did not know when, or by how much, diesel prices will be increased but said consumers should not fear big jumps. “I emphasize the word ‘small’. Small corrections from time to time. That I believe the petroleum ministry has allowed the oil companies,” he told reporters.

    Diesel demand has been very resistant to price hikes. A 5 rupee per liter price hike in September was followed by month-onmonth rises in diesel sales. The government liberalized petrol prices in June 2010, but has often prevented costs from being raised to reflect rising oil prices on global markets. Fuel subsidies comprised more than 5 per cent of the government’s budget spending in previous 2011/12 budget. Asked if raising diesel prices would affect this year’s subsidy bill, Chidambaram said the effect was so far unclear. “I am proceeding on the basis that the subsidy bill remains the same. When they will make the small corrections, how much, I cannot say,” he told reporters.

  • Sunny Leone All Set To Do An Action Film

    Sunny Leone All Set To Do An Action Film

    Devang Dholakia will be directing Sunny Leone for his next action film. The erstwhile adult star, who has been seen in films which have used her sex quotient to sell their wares, will be seen in an action mode. The movie’s makers are keen to show a different dimension of the actress as they feel she has the potential to deliver. “Sunny threw a punch in the air when she heard the script. She also tried an aerial kick in glee. She was very excited about the prospect of doing an action film,” Dholakia recalls the actress’ reaction.

    The director, who has made films like Tere Liye among others, says that his venture with Sunny is not like Charlie’s Angels, but is in a genre that is dark and grim as well. Titled Tina and Lolo, the movie is a story of friendship and bonding, with a good dose of action. While she was unavailable for comment, sources close to the actress confirmed that she will be a part of this film. It is learnt that Balaji Motion Pictures has instructed her not to talk about any other project till their film is released.

  • Kerala Fishermen’s Killing: Special Court To Try Italian Naval Guards, SC Says

    Kerala Fishermen’s Killing: Special Court To Try Italian Naval Guards, SC Says

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court has said that the Kerala government or police have no jurisdiction to deal with the case arising from shooting of two Indian fishermen by Italian naval guards. The apex court said on Friday that the shooting of two Indian fishermen by Italian naval guards is a federal crime and hence only the central government can have jurisdiction to deal with the case. The SC also directed the Centre to constitute a special court in consultation with the Chief Justice of India for the trial of the two marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen.

  • Katrina Kaif Bollywood’s Reigning Box Office Queen

    Katrina Kaif Bollywood’s Reigning Box Office Queen

    While there’s no doubting Katrina Kaif being a consistent lucky mascot at the box office, she has also gone on to be the front runner on the popularity charts, beating her contemporaries for 2 consecutive years. Katrina Kaif emerged in the Numero Uno position on esteemed trade magazine Box Office India’s annual report card – that conducted a detailed study on the collections and territory-wise performance of Bollywood’s leading actors.

    Taking an in depth look at various trade centers across the country, Katrina had the highest success ratio in centers like Mumbai, Delhi, UP East Punjab, CP, CI, Rajasthan, Nizam Circuit, Mysore, TNK, West Bengal, Assam and Orissa making her Box Office India’s Best Opening Actress. Confirming the news says editor and trade analyst Vajir Singh , ” Katrina Kaif has unanimously emerged the most successful actress with the figures to prove her standing…

    Her films Ek Tha Tiger and Jab Tak Hain Jaan took a stupendous opening at the box office and reestablished her as Bollywood’s leading lady. ” Not too long ago, Katrina Kaif was also voted the most powerful celebrity endorser ,in a celebrity-brand association recall study conducted by Ormax Media and also ranked the Most Favorite Film Star – Female in the Small Wonders report.

    If that wasn’t all, Katrina had also topped the findings conducted by Airtel Mobitude 2012-continuing to maintain the leading position in the category of images downloaded for the 4th consecutive year. With a success ratio that very few actresses in the industry enjoy with blockbusters like Partner, Welcome, Singh is Kingg, New York, Rajneeti, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Ek Tha Tiger and the recent Jab Tak Hai Jaan , Katrina Kaif will next be seen in Yash Raj’s Dhoom 3 and Fox Star Studios’ Bollywood remake of the 2010 James Mangold action-comedy – Knight and Day.

  • Congress Brainstorming Session Begins In Jaipur

    Congress Brainstorming Session Begins In Jaipur

    JAIPUR (TIP): The Congress appears to have drawn lessons from the Left parties to revive the party organisation at the grassroots level. As its top leaders converge in Jaipur for the two-day Chintan Shivir (brainstorming session) beginning on Friday, the party leaders are all set to recommend changes at the organisational level. The party intends to set up a National Training Centre for its workers. The party sub-committee on organisation has recommended that workers need to be trained properly. It also proposes that Pradesh Congress Committee and District Congress Committee presidents should not contest elections and instead focus solely on organisational work. Sources also confirmed that the party brass feels state and district congress chiefs should be accommodated in high-powered committees so that they do not feel left out from the power structure.

    Another recommendation of the sub-group is that the party must increase its mass contact programmes at block levels so that more and more people join the Congress. It adds that these mass contact programmes should also focus on urban areas apart from the rural centres where the party is strong. In another first, the sub-committee has suggested that disciplinary mechanism must be strengthened and quick action should be taken when leaders and workers indulge in anti-party activities. This proposal has Rahul Gandhi’s stamp who has been advocating the need for a robust mechanism to reward and punish leaders and workers so that discipline can be maintained in the party. The sub-group has also proposed that the party’s campaign committees should be given more time to function, both at central and the state levels, so that elections campaigns can be organised properly.

    It also says that candidates must be chosen in advance and opinions of the workers must be factored in during candidate selection. It also proposes that this process must start at least six months in advance and special attention must be given to ST and SC candidates. The party sub-committee on women has decided to propose gender audit so that the people and the government can come to know as to how ‘gender budget’ is being spent. It will also propose key changes in personal laws with an aim to empower women. A source confirmed that the group will urge the government to make another effort to push the women’s quota Bill in Parliament, apart from ensuring proper implementation of the 30 per cent reservation of seats for women in the party organisation.

  • Bitten By Study Bug, Man Obtains 31 Degrees In Jail

    Bitten By Study Bug, Man Obtains 31 Degrees In Jail

    AHMEDABAD (TIP): For Bhanu Patel, 57, the transformation in prison did not mean keeping his head low and cursing self for the situation he found himself in. Instead, Patel, a doctor by profession, obtained 31 educational qualifications and is all set to enter record books for the ‘Most educational qualifications during imprisonment’. Patel has got certificates from Unique World Records and Asia Book of Records, while Limca Book of Records has confirmed his entry for its 2013 edition. Patel, convicted in 2004 for violation of the then Foreign Exchange Regulation Act ( FERA), was in prison from January 2005 to December 2011.

    “Due to my qualifications, I was given duty at jail dispensary and then at the library at Sabarmati jail. Prison officials soon introduced me to open universities. Due to my proficiency in English, I was given the responsibility to correspond with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU),” says Patel. Since then, there was no looking back. Over next six years, Patel completed courses such as MSc, MCom and BCom apart from several PG diplomas. Looking at his qualifications, BAOU made him a consultant soon after his release. In 2012 assembly elections, Patel perhaps became the first election observer who had served a jail term. Patel is coordinator for BAOU courses taught at 26 centres in state jails and will soon join the teaching staff of the university after clearing the NET.

  • Moview Review-Gangoobai

    Moview Review-Gangoobai

    Cast: Sarita Joshi, Purab Kohli, Mita Vasisht, Raj Zutshi, Nidhi Sunil, Ankita Shrivastava
    Direction: Priya Krishnaswamy
    Genre: Drama Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes

    STORY:
    Gangoobai, a Maid-in-Matheran, has lived a life with simple aspirations, until one day she finds a new purpose of buying a designer sari. She follows her dream to the big city of Mumbai.

    REVIEW:
    Aga Bai! This Gangoobai (Sarita Joshi) is like none other. Picture this. She makes it to the elite guest list at fashion shows (in her bright colored nauvari and tattoo between her brows), she’s styled by Mumbai’s hot-shot design house, and she spiritedly lives up to the city’s bustling night-life. But long before everything turned so ‘hip and happening’, her life was like was any other ordinary tale.

    Gangoo lived in the picturesque hill-station, Matheran, on the outskirts of Mumbai. Widowed early and childless, her life basically comprised of domestic chores in a few houses, her oldie friend Malan, and most importantly, her pet-plants that she nurtured with aai-like affection. In a flash, her life changed forever.

    Gangoo set sight on her memsaab’s daughter’s exquisite gara sari (traditional Parsi sari embroidered with flowers and birds) and at that moment, she made the most ambitious decision of her life – one way or another, she would own a sari like that. Even if her dream cost her an exorbitant amount of Rs. 50,000! Deva re deva! Thereafter, the movie traces Gangoo’s pursuits as she sets off for aamchi Mumbai where she meets with her ‘dream-weavers’ – Daksha ( Mita Vasisht), Waman (Purab Kohli), top model Monisha (Nidhi Sunil)and style-guru Rohan ( Raj Zutshi). In Mumbai, while she fulfils her only dream, she finds simple solutions for all her new big city friends with big problems. With pure goodness, and some preaching and puranpoli, Gangoo wins over the people of this mahanagari. In this tailor-made role, Sarita Joshi shows all the warmth, compassion and disposition that Gangoobai’s character demands.

    The simplicity with which she essays this, along with her altering expressions of wonder and awe, says a lot more than dialogues (in a mix of Marathi and Hindi) and proves her extreme calibre. Priya Krishnaswamy tells a story of simple women with a not-so-simple dream. While her lead actor holds fort, the rest of the cast come up with average performances, leaving bai without much support. The film is 9-yards too long, diluting the essence. Gangoobai doesn’t sweep your heart away, but leaves you with some sweet, feel-good moments.

  • 2 Women From Kerala Fall In Boiling Water In Ajmer Dargah

    2 Women From Kerala Fall In Boiling Water In Ajmer Dargah

    AJMER (TIP): A girl and her mother, both belonging to Kerala, were on January 17 critically injured when they fell into boiling water in a cauldron, known as ‘deg’, in Ajmer dargah in Ajmer, police said. “Sarina (23) and her mother Sulfat (58) fell into the ‘deg’ which is around 7-8 ft deep. Preparations for cooking rice was going on and water was boiling when the incident occurred,” police officer Bhawani Singh said. “Both received critical burn injuries and were rushed to JLN government hospital where their condition is stated to be serious,” he said. He said it was not immediately clear whether they fell accidentally or jumped into it. A big and a small ‘deg’ are installed in the Dargah for cooking of ‘Niaz’ (vegetarian food prepared with rice, ghee, sugar, nuts, saffron) by pilgrims and the women fell into the small ‘deg’ which has a cooking capacity of 2,400 kg.

  • Union Cabinet Recommends President’s Rule In Jharkhand

    Union Cabinet Recommends President’s Rule In Jharkhand

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The government on January 17 decided to recommend to President Pranab Mukherjee to impose central rule in Jharkhand, where chief minister Arjun Munda has resigned after his government was reduced to a minority. The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, discussed the report of Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed who has favoured imposition of President’s rule while keeping the 82- member state Assembly in suspended animation. The Cabinet decided to accept the governor’s recommendation and refer the matter to the President for necessary action, a minister, who attended the meeting, said.

    The governor’s recommendation was made in his second report to the Centre on the political situation in the wake of Munda’s resignation. The chief minister had sought dissolution of the Assembly after ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha withdrew support to his government. Jharkhand, which was created in 2000, has been placed under President’s rule twice. The present political instability erupted on January 8 when BJP’s ruling coalition partner JMM, in a letter to the governor, formally withdrew its support to the 28-monthold government pushing it into a minority. In the Assembly, BJP and JMM have 18 members each. The Munda government had the support of six members of All Jharkhand Students’ Union, two of JD (U), two independents and one nominated member who has voting right in a trial of strength. Opposition Congress has a total of 13 members, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha(P)11 and RJD 5 in the assembly. CPI-ML(L), Marxist Coordination Party, Jharkhand Party (Ekka), Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch and Jai Bharat Samta Party have one member each besides.