The Indian Panorama

Month: May 2014

  • Compound that blocks insulin breakdown boon for diabetics

    Compound that blocks insulin breakdown boon for diabetics

    WASHINGTON (TIP): In a ray of hope for millions of people suffering from type 2 diabetes worldwide, researchers have discovered a molecule that inhibits the breakdown of insulin in mice. The compound blocked a protein called insulindegrading enzyme (IDE) in mice. “If you inhibit the enzyme that breaks down insulin, insulin levels in your body should be higher and your blood glucose should be lower,” said David Liu, a chemical biologist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    Since people with type 2 diabetes tend to have low insulin levels, it could lead to new ways of treating the disease, he noted. IDE has proved difficult to inhibit. Liu, along with his colleague Alan Saghatelian, screened a wide range of molecules that are both stable and specific.

    They then tested the effects of the strongest candidate molecule in lean and obese mice given glucose. As expected, blood sugar levels dropped faster in those that received the inhibitor than in control mice, whether the mice were lean or obese.

    The team also found something surprising: the IDE inhibitor had the opposite effect when the mice were injected with glucose rather than ingesting it. The reason for the different responses could be that IDE also affects two other gut hormones that regulate blood sugar – amylin and glucagon. For example, mice that received the inhibitor had higher levels of glucagon, a hormone that boosts blood sugar levels following glucose injection.

    However, according to Liu, mice that ingest glucose tend to have much higher insulin levels than mice that are injected with it. “You could probably aim for a short lived IDE inhibitor that is taken before a meal,” Liu concluded in the study published in the journal Nature.

  • Now, convert light into matter

    Now, convert light into matter

    LONDON (TIP): Scientists have for the first time discovered a revolutionary technique to turn light into matter, a feat thought impossible when the idea was first theorized 80 years ago. Three physicists at the Imperial College London’s Blackett Physics Laboratory worked out a relatively simple way to physically prove a theory first devised by scientists Breit and Wheeler in 1934.

    Breit and Wheeler suggested that it should be possible to turn light into matter by smashing together only two particles of light (photons), to create an electron and a positron – the simplest method of turning light into matter ever predicted. The calculation was found to be theoretically sound but Breit and Wheeler said that they never expected anybody to physically demonstrate their prediction. It has never been observed in the laboratory and past experiments to test it have required the addition of massive high-energy particles.

    The new research, published in Nature Photonics, shows how Breit and Wheeler’s theory could be proven in practice. This ‘photon-photon collider’, which would convert light directly into matter using technology that is already available, would be a new type of high-energy experiment.

    This physics experiment would recreate a process that was important in the first 100 seconds of the universe and that is also seen in gamma ray bursts. The scientists had been investigating unrelated problems when they realized what they were working on could be applied to the Breit-Wheeler theory. Demonstrating the Breit- Wheeler theory would provide the final jigsaw piece of a puzzle which describes the simplest ways in which light and matter interact.

  • Coming soon, a scan that can identify pedophiles

    Coming soon, a scan that can identify pedophiles

    LONDON (TIP): In what could be the first major leap towards developing the world’s first X Ray scan to identify paedophiles, scientists have now confirmed that the brains of child abusers are abnormally tuned to be attracted to children’s faces.

    Scientists scanned the activity in brains of 56 men, including 24 paedophiles while they were being shown photos of adult men and women and the faces of young boys and girls. In the case of paedophiles, their brains were activated most when they were looking at pictures of children.

    The scientists, led by Dr Jorge Ponseti from Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany wrote in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters “The critical new finding is that face processing is also tuned to face cues revealing the developmental age that is sexually preferred”.

    The study said human faces can motivate nurturing behavior or sexual behavior when adults see a child or an adult face, respectively. “This suggests that face processing is tuned to detecting age cues of sexual maturity to stimulate the appropriate reproductive behavior: either caretaking or mating. In paedophilia, sexual attraction is directed to sexually immature children.

    Therefore, we hypothesized that brain networks that normally are tuned to mature faces of the preferred gender show an abnormal tuning to sexual immature faces in paedophilia. Here, we use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to test directly for the existence of a network which is tuned to face cues of sexual maturity”. “During fMRI, participants sexually attracted to either adults or children were exposed to various face images.

    In individuals attracted to adults, adult faces activated several brain regions significantly more than child faces. These brain regions comprised areas known to be implicated in face processing, and sexual processing, including occipital areas, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and, subcortically, the putamen and nucleus caudatus.

    The same regions were activated in paedophiles, but with a reversed preferential response pattern,” the scientists added. The researchers said that the study for the first time gives the possibility of being able to “diagnose” potential pedophiles at a young age by studying their responses to the faces of adults and children.

  • SAINA NEHWAL’S ANGELS SCRIPT UBER CUP HISTORY

    SAINA NEHWAL’S ANGELS SCRIPT UBER CUP HISTORY

    NEW DELHI (TIP): ‘Raising the bar’ has been Saina Nehwal’s calling card for years. The Hyderabadi diehard and her team of gutsy shuttlers made Uber Cup history on May 22, taking India into the semifinals for the first time in modern era of the tournament with a 3-0 win over Indonesia. India now face Japan – who beat Denmark – in the semifinals to be played at the Siri Fort Complex on Friday.

    The Indian captain paved the way for her team’s triumph, winning the first match against Lindaweni Fanetri. Her understudy , 18-year-old PV Sindhu, survived a scare and an attack of nerves to get the better of Bellartrix Manuputty to make it 2-0. The pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa then gave the finishing touches to a campaign which will be remembered for years.

    Saina came to know about her QF opponents well past midnight on Wednesday. Indonesia and its top singles player Fanetri were not going to give the Indian captain a sleepless night. “Following the victory over Ratchanok Intanon (World No. 4 from Thailand), there was nothing much to think about,” a confident Saina said moments after knocking out Fanetri 21-17, 21-10. The vociferous, partisan crowd realized that history was being created when Sindhu saved two match points in the third game to finally emerge bruised but not beaten.

    She got past Bellartrix Manuputty (world No. 24) 21-16, 10-21, 25-23. Jwala and Ashwini (ranked 36th) punched much above their weights against the ninth ranked Indonesian pair of Greysia Polii/Nitya Krishinda Maheswari to assure India at least a bronze with their 21-18, 21-18 win. Fanetri, ranked 23rd, was off the blocks faster than Saina expected and opened up an eight-point (15-7) lead in the first game.

    The drift was working to Saina’s disadvantage as she failed to control the backline. A couple of simple smashes, which should have been put away , were buried into the net. “I kept my focus and went for the rallies. At one point I stopped looking at the score,” said Saina. She did much more. Reading Fanetri’s game rather astutely , Saina kept spreading the bird all across the court. Fanetri was running ragged. “I could feel she was getting tired,” Saina said.

    In the second singles, Sindhu, untroubled till the quarters, suddenly started erring on the side of caution. Winning the first game, she went into a shell to lose the second against Manuputty , playing with a heavily strapped knee. In the third, when aggression was supposed to be the key word, Sindhu chose to wait for her opponent to make errors and clinched the battle of nerves to make it a sweet success story.

  • Rafael Nadal at crisis point as Novak Djokovic looms

    Rafael Nadal at crisis point as Novak Djokovic looms

    PARIS (TIP): Rafael Nadal targets a ninth French Open title with his lethal clay court game and enduring confidence facing their biggest crisis in a decade. The Spaniard, whose stirring comeback from a seventh-month injury lay-off was one of 2013’s headline acts, boasts a formidable record of eight titles, 59 wins and just one defeat on Roland Garros’s famed crushed red brick.

    But the cracks are beginning to show. With his 28th birthday just around the corner, the world number one has spent the spring strangely disorientated on the same European clay courts where he once conducted business with a deadly if humble precision. His defeat to world number two Novak Djokovic — the man many expect to dethrone him as king of Paris on June 8 – – in Sunday’s Rome Masters final marked the first time since 2004 that he had lost three clay court matches in the same year.

    Nadal, a seven-time Rome champion, was taken to three sets in four of his five matches in the Italian capital. He successfully defended his Madrid Masters title but only after Kei Nishikori, having won the first set of the final, was forced to retire with a back injury. Before that, Nadal was knocked out in the quarterfinals in Barcelona by compatriot Nicolas Almagro and exited the Monte Carlo Masters also at the lasteight stage at the hands of David Ferrer.

    At both those events, Nadal was an eight-time champion. But Nadal is not reaching for the panic button just yet. He still boasts a 13-4 clay court record over Djokovic, including victory in the 2012 Roland Garros final and in the 2013 semifinals where he had trailed 4-2 in the fifth set. “Two weeks ago, my chances to play well in Roland Garros were not very high.

    But I will arrive now more encouraged,” insisted Nadal, who will nevertheless go to Paris with just one European clay court title for the first time in 10 years. Djokovic is the man in ascendancy. The right wrist injury which forced him to miss Madrid was forgotten in his fightback from a set down to beat Nadal in Rome.

    The Serb fired an incredible 46 winners to the Spaniard’s 15 — an almost unheard of brutality on a slow clay court with Djokovic keeping Nadal on the backfoot with his willingness to come to the net and confidence in his ability to hit forehand winners. Djokovic, who still needs a French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, has now beaten Nadal in their last four meetings.

    He has also captured five of the last seven Masters and could reclaim the world top ranking by the end of Roland Garros. “I played with no pain and increased the level of tennis as the week in Rome went on,” said Djokovic, who turns 27 on Thursday. “Winning against Rafa in the final of a big tournament on clay, his preferred surface, is definitely a confidence booster. Experience helped me stay calm and play the right shots at the right time.”

  • Serena peaking in time for French Open, says Evert

    Serena peaking in time for French Open, says Evert

    LONDON (TIP): Serena Williams can match Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slam titles and is favourite to take another step towards that milestone at next week’s French Open, according to fellow American Chris Evert. World No. 1 Williams, 32, has 17 singles majors on her CV and if she retains her French Open title she would join Evert and Martina Navratilova in second place on the list.

    Despite being the wrong side of 30, Evert believes Williams is still improving on clay and is now prioritising Grand Slams rather than playing at full tilt at lower level events. “I think she’s peaked pretty well for the French Open,” seven-time French Open champion Evert said during a conference call organised by broadcaster ESPN who she will be commentating for during Roland Garros. “I think after the last two years of her playing more tennis than she’s ever played, I think she came into this year exhausted. I think her priorities really are the Grand Slams this year.

    She knows what her place in history is now. She’s gunning for those Grand Slam titles.” Williams was totally dominant last year, winning 11 titles including the French Open and the US Open. Last week she warmed up for her defence of the French Open by cruising to the claycourt Italian Open title in Rome, dropping only 22 games in the process.

    “The French seems to be opening up for her. She has an apartment there. She lives there. She practises a lot there. Patrick (Mouratoglou), her coach, is French,” said Evert. “I think this tournament will motivate her. If she’s healthy and fit, she’s got it under control. She’s learned to play on the clay a lot better from Patrick. “She’s improved her defence skills.

    She’s always had the offence skills. She’s more fit. She’s moving better. She is patient with herself.”She doesn’t have to go for the winner on the fourth shot. She can wait eight or nine shots and go for the opening. She’s more intelligent and thinking more clearly on the clay than she ever has.” Evert picked former French champions Li Na and Maria Sharapova as Williams’s main rivals with another former winner Ana Ivanovic, who beat Williams at the Australian Open, back in the frame.”She’s beating some pretty good players,” Evert said. “I like her attitude out there. You can tell she wants it. As far as winning a Grand Slam, I don’t know.

  • 9/11 MUSEUM OFFERS SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF TRAGEDY

    9/11 MUSEUM OFFERS SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF TRAGEDY

    NEW YORK (TIP): The museum devoted to the story of September 11 tells it in victims’ last voicemails, in photos of people falling from the twin towers, in the scream of sirens, in the dust-covered shoes of those who fled the skyscrapers’ collapse, in the wristwatch of one of the airline passengers who confronted the hijackers.

    By turns chilling and heartbreaking, a place of both deathly silence and distressing sounds, the National September 11 Memorial Museum opens this week deep beneath ground zero — 12-and-a-half years after the terrorist attacks.


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    The project was marked by construction problems, financial squabbles and disputes over the appropriate way to honour the nearly 3,000 people killed in New York,Washington and the Pennsylvania countryside. Whatever the challenges in conceiving it, “you won’t walk out of this museum without a feeling that you understand humanity in a deeper way,” museum President Joe Daniels said May 19.


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    The privately operated museum — built along with the memorial plaza above for $700 million in donations and tax dollars — will be dedicated on Thursday with a visit from President Barack Obama and will be open initially to victims’ families, survivors and first responders.


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    It will open to the public on May 21. Charles G Wolf, who lost his wife, Katherine, planned to be at the ceremonial opening. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow, and I’m dreading tomorrow,” he said on Wednesday. “It brings everything up.” Visitors start in an airy pavilion where the rusted tops of two of the World Trade Center’s trident-shaped columns shoot upward.


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    From there, stairs and ramps lead people on an unsettling journey into 9/11. First, a dark corridor is filled with the voices of people remembering the day. Then visitors find themselves looking over a cavernous space, 70 feet below ground, at the last steel column removed during the ground zero cleanup — a totem covered with the numbers of police precincts and firehouses and other messages.


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    Descend farther — past the battered “survivors’ staircase” that hundreds used to escape the burning towers — and there are such artifacts as a mangled piece of the antenna from atop the trade centre and a fire truck with its cab shorn off. And then, through a revolving door, visitors are plunged into the chaos of September 11: fragments of planes, a teddy bear left at the impromptu memorials that arose after the attacks, video of the twin towers collapsing and people running from plumes of dust, footage of an astronaut solemnly describing the smoke plume from high above Earth (“I just wanted the folks to know that their city still looks very beautiful from space,” Frank Culbertson says), and the sounds of emergency radio transmissions and office workers calling loved ones. Sprinkled among stories of heroism are snippets about the hijackers, including photos of all 19 on an inconspicuous panel.

    “I’m still processing” the impact of seeing the museum, said Anthony Garner, who lost his brother Harvey on 9/11 and visited on Wednesday. He said it will show visitors “that they’re in a very sacred place and a very historic place”.

  • HOW THE PARTIES PERFORMED

    HOW THE PARTIES PERFORMED

    HOW THE PARTIES PERFORMED


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  • BIHAR CHIEF MINISTER NITISH KUMAR RESIGNS

    BIHAR CHIEF MINISTER NITISH KUMAR RESIGNS

    PATNA (TIP): A day after his party JD (U)’s poor show in the Lok Sabha elections, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar resigned on Saturday. The JD (U) had managed to get just 2 seats out 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Kumar has submitted his resignation to governor D Y Patil. Kumar’s resignation has come amid reports of dissent in the party following the poor show in the general elections.

    “He has taken responsibility for the loss, we decided to seek a fresh mandate,” JD (U) leader Ali Anwar said. The resignation comes just hours after LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan asserted that the Nitish Kumar government would fall within two to three months and mid-term assembly polls would be held in October-November this year.

    “Nitish Kumar government will not last long,” Paswan said had said on May 16 after results of general elections were announced. “Nitish Kumar should resign soon on moral grounds after the major debacle of his party in the polls,” LJP parliamentary board chairman Chirag Paswan had told media persons.

    The CM’s resignation that was on card since the reports of his party’s near washout started coming on Friday. The CM remained inside his official residence throughout the day and in the evening posted a one line post on Facebook: “I respect the people’s verdict.” BJP leaders who were in highly upbeat mood over the unexpected victory had started demanding CM’s resignation. Sushil Modi said Nitish should quit on moral grounds.

  • Congratulations pour in for Narendra Modi from leaders across the world

    Congratulations pour in for Narendra Modi from leaders across the world

    AHMEDABAD (TIP): Foreign Heads of State and government on May 17 congratulated BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on his party’s victory in the Lok Sabha polls and said they were looking forward to working with him. The leaders who called up Modi included Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and prime ministers of UK, Australia and Israel.

    Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia also sent messages greeting Modi. Congratulating Modi for a “great” victory, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa hoped that India and Sri Lanka will work closely and further strengthen their strong ties. Sharif telephoned Modi and congratulated him on his resounding victory in the general elections, which he said, he followed “closely”.

    He also invited Modi to visit Pakistan in future. British Premier David Cameron while felicitating Modi, said he was looking forward to meet Modi at an early date and extended an invitation to him to visit UK. In his congratulatory message, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot hoped that his country and India will work closely to further strengthen the bilateral ties.

    He further said that he was looking forward to meet Modi during the upcoming G-20 Summit to be held in Australia. The G-20 Summit is scheduled to be held in Brisbane in November. During his telephonic conversation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was looking forward to work with Modi and enhance bilateral cooperation.

    China also said it is willing to work with the new Indian government to take their bilateral strategic partnership to a new height. “China is willing to make joint efforts with new Indian government, maintain high level exchanges, deepen cooperation in all areas and bring China-India strategic partnership to new height,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing in response to a question on BJP’s victory in the elections. Reaching out to Modi in a warm letter, Bangladesh Premier Hasina said that with the kind of people’s mandate given to their respective parties they can work together to take the bilateral relationship to “increasingly greater heights”.

  • Assam CM Tarun Gogoi to resign within a week

    Assam CM Tarun Gogoi to resign within a week

    GUWAHATI (TIP): Attributing a bit of “arrogance and complacency” within himself and the Congress for the party’s poor show in the the Lok Sabha elections in Assam, Tarun Gogoi on Saturday said he would resign with a week as its chief minister. Gogoi, however said, “I will not leave politics and will continue to work for recovering the party from the current position.” He had said yesterday that he would send his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. “When you win three terms as chief minister, some amount of arrogance and complacency set in.

    This was of course the case with me as well as the party. We thought nobody could defeat us. We forgot that we had lost earlier,” Gogoi told a press conference here. Among other reason for Congress drubbing in the polls, he said, “This is the first debacle since I am here. Probably there was a communication gap with the people. Our campaign was probably not up to the mark. Our publicity did not fulfill our agenda.”

    Gogoi also claimed that “Modi’s marketing was very good and in today’s time, marketing is very important”. He congratulated Modi and BJP for their spectacular win and hoped the new government would fulfill the aspirations of the people of the state. “I expect Modi will give new projects and schemes to Assam.

    Also, I hope to get some incentives and concessions as Assam is not a producing state. I hope he will be able to control the rising inflation,” he added. He accepted that he failed to judge the Modi wave and the under current and the party probably failed to communicate with the people who were unhappy with the Congress.

  • Canadian PM congratulates Modi, praises Indian democracy

    Canadian PM congratulates Modi, praises Indian democracy

    OTTAWA (TIP): Congratulating India’s prime ministerelect over his victory, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he is looking forward “to working with Mr. Modi and the new government of India to further strengthen our social and economic partnership to the benefit of our citizens.” In an official statement, he commended “550 million Indian citizens who peacefully exercised their right to vote.

    The unprecedented scale of these elections emphasizes both the vitality and strength of India’s democracy.” Canada, Harper emphasized, “is proud to share with India the values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.” Deepak Obhrai, parliamentary secretary to the foreign minister and for international human rights, congratulated Modi and the BJP on their electoral success.

    “These elections clearly illustrate that Mr. Modi’s message of economic revival resonated with the Indian electorate. Under the leadership of Mr. Modi, India is poised to reach greater heights.” “These elections highlight the maturity and strength of India’s democracy and I can say we rejoice with the people of India as they embark on a new direction under the leadership of Mr. Modi,” Conservative MP Kyle Seeback said in the House of Commons May 16.

    He also referred to Modi’s achievements during his term as chief minister of Gujarat: “As Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Modi made it (Gujarat) one of India’s bestperforming states economically.” Obhrai, an Indo-Canadian, said “our government congratulates Mr. Modi on his win. We look forward to working with Mr. Modi to strengthen the existing social and economic partnership that exists between Canada and India.”

    “A clear majority for the BJP enables the new government to take measures aimed at boosting growth and investment, removing regulatory bottlenecks and restoring fiscal balance. If implemented, these will restore investor confidence and lead to a resurgence of growth creating new opportunities for Canadian business.” said Peter Sutherland, President & CEO of the Canada-India Business Council and former Canadian High Commissioner to India.

    “One of the big criticisms of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was that it delayed the implementation of key reforms, seen by many as key to long-term growth,” this pre-eminent business organization stated. Modi, they noted, refocused the BJP party platform on a commitment to make India “globally competitive” and to reclaim India’s role as a global trading power.

  • KODAIKANAL: THE HILL COUNTRY

    KODAIKANAL: THE HILL COUNTRY

    One of Tamil Nadu’s most picturesque hill stations, Kodaikanal is located at an altitude of 7,200 ft in the Palani hills in the Western Ghats. Comprising of densely wooded jungles, cascading hill slopes, circuitous rivers and green rolling valleys, it is a favourite amidst tourists visiting the country’s south.

    Though a trip to Kodi—as it is popularly referred to—is all about revelling in nature, here are a few things to take in during your time there

    Kukkal Caves
    This is one of the most interesting excursions from Kodaikanal. Located at a distance of about 40 km from the city, the journey will take you through thickly forested areas abounding with orchids and shoal trees.

    Subrahmanya temple
    Also referred to as the Karthikeya temple and the Palani temple, this place of worship is a major draw for tourists. Located about 65 km ahead of Kodaikanal, it is dedicated to Lord Subramanian.

    Bryant Park
    Named, conceptualised and landscaped after the British officer Glenn Bryant back in 1980, Bryant Park is a botanical garden located to the east of the Kodaikanal Lake.

    Berijam Lake
    Although it’s a bit of a trek (20 km) from the heart of Kodaikanal, Berijam lake warrants a visit for its spectacular surroundings and untouched beauty. While its more popular counterpart – the Kodaikanal Lake – is thronged by tourists, this is where you need to go if you prefer places that aren’t crowded and commercial.

    Pillar Rocks
    One of Kodaikanal’s most famous attractions, these three mammoth rock pillars stand shoulder-to-shoulder, looming 400-ft-high in the sky. Affording a bird’s eye view of the surrounding vista, these granite structures are located at a distance of about eight km from the lake tower, and encompass little hidden nooks and crannies within them, which are great to explore.

    Solar Physical Observatory
    It is situated 3.2 kms. from the lake. This observatory was founded in 1989, and it is located at an elevation of 2343 mtrs. This observatory is the highest point in Kodai. Visitors can observe the stars and the planets.

    Coakers Walk
    Er.Coaker identified this hill-edged pathway in 1872. About a kilometre from the lake, Coaker’s Walk runs along a steep slope on the southern side of Kodai. It offers some of the best views of the plains Entry fee is collected here.

    Kurinji Andavar Temple
    Situated 3 kms from the lake, it is a famous shrine dedicated to lord Muruga. This temple is associated with the kurinji flowers that bloom once in 12 years. Kurinji means the hill region in Tamil literature and andavar means god. Therefore Lord Muruga is referred to as the God of the Hill here. From this temple one can have a view of Palani and Vaigai Dam.


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    Telescope House
    Telescope House at Coakers Walk was constructed to enable visitors to have a panoramic view of the valley and nearby towns. A fee is collected to use the telescope.

    Green valley View
    It is located a little over 5 kms from kodaikanal lake and close to the golf club from here,you can get a magnificent view of the vaigai dam below.


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    Moier Point
    Moier Point provides a lovely view of the valley. It is just 3 kms from the Pillar rocks Berijam Lake road.

    Silent Valley View
    Just a little away from the Pillar Rocks and the Berijam Lake Road, is Silent Valley View, which provides a breathtaking view of Silent Valley. Children are advised to walk carefully. Chettiar Park Tucked away in the northeastern corner of the town on the way to Kurinji Andavar temple, the Chettiar park is a charming place.

    Shenbaganur Museum
    The Sacred Heart College maintains this museum. It is a Theological Seminary founded in 1895 and devoted to preserving certain archaeological remains and the flora and fauna of the hills. It houses one of the best Orchidariams in the country. It has over 300 species of exotic orchids are housed here. It is about 5.6 kms the lake. Father Ugarthe, a Spaniard contributed his many private collections to the museum.

    Silver Cascade
    It is 8 kms from Kodai lake. The overflow of Kodai Lake comes down here as a 180 foot high waterfalls. churchThose interested can have a bath here.

    La Saleth Church
    Kodaikanal, the hill country is no exception to this and she too hosts our lady of la saleth shrine possessing the traditional heritage of 150 years and it is one of the two shrines dedicated to our lady of La saleth in the whole world,one in french and the other in kodaikanal. it is near to Coaker’s walk.

  • DREW BARRYMORE BACK IN ACTION

    DREW BARRYMORE BACK IN ACTION

    Actress Drew Barrymore was seen promoting her new movie “Blended” just three weeks after giving birth to daughter Frankie. The 39-year-old was happy to take some out to promote her movie because she feels everyone is doing well and she is proud of the project, reports contactmusic.com.

    “It feels like a miracle and it’s also so awesome I have to say,” said Barrymore on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” Monday. “I feel like I actually have, first of all, I love this movie and I would never not like show up for it and I feel so good and happy. My kid is healthy. I have nothing to complain about. Like, I’m so blessed,” she added.

  • Kutcher-Kunis buy $10 mn love nest

    Kutcher-Kunis buy $10 mn love nest

    Actors and parents-to-be Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have bought a new home at Beverly Hills here. The duo bought a house worth $10 million, which they have planned to turn into a family home, reports contactmusic.com.

    Celebrities Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Ziggy Marley, and Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban will now be called their neighbours. Kunis confirmed her pregnancy during an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” last week.

  • Fading Gigolo

    Fading Gigolo

    Story: When all else fails, what better way to make some money than to turn into the proverbial Don Juan? Accordingly, Fioravante (Turturro) turns into a ladies’ man, ably guided by Murray (Allen) who takes his cut from Murray’s earnings. But soon, there comes a time when love, lust and money all come to a head. Review: Although Fading Gigolo looks every inch like a film Woody Allen could have directed, here, the directorial reins are taken by Turturro who is also in the lead role.

    Accordingly, Allen takes on the garb of a supporting role, with plenty of the kind of humour that you can expect from Woody Allen, as a counterpoint to Turturro’s somewhat more stoic Fioravante. The latter loves books and is a florist. He is, not surprisingly, also hard up on cash and has no long-term plan for life. One fine day, Murray enters the scene with a somewhat indecent proposal that involves a threesome.

    Murray’s oversexed dermatologist Dr Parker (Stone) and her equally oversexed lover Selima (Vergara) could do with a male to spice up their amorous encounters. Murray thinks that Fioravante is the man suitable for the task at hand, who would be right up their alley. But is Fioravante up for the task? This, and Murray playing the improbable pimp, provides for many comic situations that Allen fans will enjoy.

    But Cupid’s arrow might soon hit home when Murray hooks Fioravante up with Avigal (Paradis) who is a widow and seemingly immensely more interesting than Murray’s other paid encounters. The film then takes a slightly different course. It seems like the naughty pimp-gigolo plot gets second shift, with emotions emerging at the fore. Fioravante and Avigal’s equation transcends sexuality and steps into more tender territory.

    The film has plenty of clever humour underscored by a jazzy score throughout. Vergara oozes sex while Sharon Stone is a veteran vixen. On the flip side, Gigolo is pure Woody Allen formula and provides the right amount of gags to keep this sex comedy afloat.

  • THE X-POSE

    THE X-POSE

    STORY: Thrills, chills, scandals surround the murder of a star in the ’60s. Eleven suspects are on the scanner. With cops, black marketers and booming beats, the story ‘falls’ from an almost ‘Teesri Manzil’ style plot. REVIEW: It’s the swinging ‘seX’ties’ (60s) – with an ‘Xtra’ ‘X’ factor. Larger-than- life superstars, bulging bosoms, sensual sins, high-riding hemlines, charisma galore and exciting extra-marital affairs. This is where ‘The X-pose’ unfolds.

    At a glittering after-awards party a top actress, Zara (Sonali), is found dead. “Murder” they said. “Who’s the suspect?” they quizzed. And the music of a rip-roaring era played on. With a line-up of (usual) suspects – Ravi Kumar (Himesh) playing an angry ex- cop turned South actor (with dialogue-baazi like – “Main joh bol deta hoon, wohi script ban jaata hai!”).

    He’s signed up by Bollywood director Subbu Prasad (Ananth) for a film titled ‘Ujjwal Nirmal Sheetal’ (‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’ anybody?), opposite sexy siren Zara, who tries to seduce him out of his puritanical vows. Ravi, however, is madly in love with newbie Chandni (Zoya), who’s being launched in ‘Reena Mera Naam'(remember ‘Johnny Mera Naam’?) and is Zara’s arch rival (cat-fights coming up!). There’s also music composer KD (YoYo) – with a Pran-like-latt, who ‘rips’ rap music, and a host of cagey characters to add intrigue to this conspiracy.

    Ananth’s motley of filmi characters is colourful, comical and hilariously OTT. With razzmatazz, he interestingly draws references from real incidents and real stars. Himesh’s role has a Raaj Kumar hangover; Zoya and Sonali are modelled on Parveen Babi and Zeenat Aman. Irrfan (as narrator) is the blackmarketeer who makes big bucks. This whodunit has more tongue-in-cheek humour than suspense, more ‘laugh’ (with dialogue-baazi) than ‘gasp’ moments. And peppy music packaged in ’60s’ style.

    It’s pacy but the plot unravels stylishly, not intelligently (some suspects don’t have a clear motive for murder). Sonali is stunning and impressive, Zoya makes a pretty picture and Yo Yo is best when he’s grooving. Himesh slips well into his character, with quirkiness and confidence. This is far from a mind-bending thriller, but a decent effort which has some good ‘ol masala to keep you entertained.

  • KANGANA GIVING TOUGH COMPETITION TO SONAM

    KANGANA GIVING TOUGH COMPETITION TO SONAM

    Kangana Ranaut has always been known for her keen sense of style. And after a brief eclipse, the actress has been shining in the success of her recent releases, reclaiming the crown of Bollywood’s sharpest dresser. This, as we can tell you, is not going down well with a certain Ms Kapoor, who has crafted her entire career on her reputation as a stylista, who is yet to earn her acting stripes (remember her squirming on KJo’s couch when asked about if this bothers her?).

    So, sis Rhea, also her personal stylist on most occasions, has been caught in an awkward spot vis a vis Kangy’s team each trying to outwit the other when it comes to grabbing the freshest set from designer collections. Rhea, who is known to take her time to make up her mind about choosing Sonam’s look, is keeping a close tab on Kangana, who we hear, is too fast and furious for the Kapoor sisters.

  • RANVEER SINGH TO GO BALD & LEARN MARATHI FOR ‘BAJIRAO MASTANI’

    RANVEER SINGH TO GO BALD & LEARN MARATHI FOR ‘BAJIRAO MASTANI’

    Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh said in order to portray the character of the historical figure of Bajirao in the upcoming film ‘Bajirao Mastani’, he will get his head tonsured and also learn Marathi. Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘magnum opus’ project ‘Bajirao Mastani’, a tumultuous love story, is finally set to go on floors with rumoured couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone playing the lead roles.

    While Ranveer will play the role of the 18th century Maratha general and statesman Bajirao Peshwa, the project will also have Priyanka Chopra in a key role. Though both Deepika and Priyanka will be a part of the film, it is still not clear who would play the role of Mastani. “Preparations for ‘Bajirao Mastani’ is very intense. I will have to learn Marathi, horse riding, pick up the accent and do a lot of work for the character. I will have to shave off my hair, work on my look and the physical aspect,” Ranveer said.

  • NRIs celebrate Modi victory

    NRIs celebrate Modi victory

    NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY (TIP): NRIs in New York and New Jersey jubilated on the victory of Modi and the BJP in the 2014 elections in India, the results of which came out on May 16th. BJP on its own, bagged 282 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha. Together with its partners in the NDA, it has got a formidable number of 336.


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    Narendra Modi who was named by the BJP as its Prime Ministerial candidate, led a long, tough and determined campaign to dislodge the Congress led UPA government that he ultimately decimated. The large following that Modi has in the Tri- State area of New York,New Jersey and Connecticut broke into spontaneous celebrations of Modi’s victory.


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    While a large number of people gathered at the Times Square to watch live the election results and analysis on Times Now big screen specially put up for the occasion, others, in Jersey City, played Holi to celebrate the occasion. Still others stayed home and celebrated Modi’s victory with friends and local politicians and officials.

    Our photo journalist Mohammad Jaffer captured the momentous jubilations for the readers of The Indian Panorama.We present some of the pictures here.

    Photos/ Mohammad Jaffer, SnapsIndia

  • BJP MAKES INROADS INTO NEW AREAS

    BJP MAKES INROADS INTO NEW AREAS

    The party has increased vote shares in states that are not its strongholds

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Announcing the BJP’s historic victory, party president Rajanth Singh quoted former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous lines, “Andhera Chatega, Suraj Nikalega, Kamal Khilega [the darkness will dissipate, the sun will shine and the lotus will bloom]” and with unmistakable pride added: “Aaj kamal khil chuka hai aur asha ki nayi subah ho gayi hai [the lotus has bloomed and there is a new dawn of hope].”

    What the party has accomplished in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh is not as is its performance in States such as Tamil Nadu (5 per cent of votes polled), Odisha (21 per cent) , Jammu and Kashmir (32 per cent), Assam (36 per cent), and West Bengal (16 per cent). By winning Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time, it has also stormed into the Congress and the National Conference bastion.

    This improved performance in areas that were not BJP strongholds is being attributed to the acceptance of Narendra Modi as a national leader and Prime Minister. “This is the love of the people from across the country that reflects in the increased vote share even in areas like the North East, East and South. Mr. Modi’s leadership converted the mood in these areas to a pro-BJP wave,” said senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad. He said the “political witch-hunt” and “motivated campaigns” against Mr. Modi were not enough to block his ascend.

    “His promise of good governance attracted people to him. He was seen as the embodiment of hope and change.” The BJP’s revised election strategy in the Lok Sabha polls had been to cover the last mile. Extensive campaigns were undertaken in distant parts of the country and people were promised employment, development, security and growth. Separate manifestoes were drafted for each of the North-Eastern States and at rallies in the region Mr. Modi focused on development, protection of border areas, illegal immigration and even the ecology.

    For instance, in Manipur, where the party has a vote share of 11 per cent, construction of arterial roads has been promised, the contentious issue of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 has been touched upon and decentralisation of administration has been spoken of. In West Bengal, between the Left and the Trinamool, it has managed to carve out a space for itself. Here again, the promise is of growth and a better economy.

    The BJP may not have bagged seats, but by securing 16 per cent of the votes it has made a beginning. Similarly, with a vote share of 10 per cent in Kerala, 32 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir, 36 per cent in Assam, 21 per cent in Odisha, eight per cent in Meghalaya and 11 per cent in Manipur, the BJP is no longer confined to the North, West and Central India and is staking its claim as a true national party.

  • Factors that helped BJP and Narendra Modi win Elections

    Factors that helped BJP and Narendra Modi win Elections

    FIXING THE ECONOMY
    India’s once-impressive economic growth, averaging above 8 per cent over the last decade, slowed to below 5 per cent in the last year while inflation rocketed into double digits. The BJP and Narendra Modi maintained a laser focus on the economy throughout the campaign, hammering the Congress party for stalled development projects while touting Modi’s state of Gujarat as a model of success.

    In fact, Gujarat’s growth has been mediocre compared with others of India’s 28 states. But Modi’s message resonated with an electorate aching for change and upward mobility, and India’s corporate leaders backed Modi as a decisive administrator needed to revive industrial growth.

    COMBATING CORRUPTION
    A slew of massive corruption scandals involving public funds and resources battered the Congress-led coalition. Anti-graft protests inspired a fierce anti-incumbency wave among voters and inspired the launch of Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party or AAP. In his campaign, Mr Modi has said he will serve as a “chowkidaar” or watchman, vowing he will expunge corruption from the government and bureaucracy.

    YOUTH
    India’s electorate is particularly young, with half the country’s 81 crore voters under 35 years old and eager to secure employment with promise. Mr Modi has promised to create jobs for them. They are also averse to the political tradition of whipping up communal loyalties to secure votes from certain socio-economic groups, castes or religions.

    TECHNOLOGY
    The BJP and Modi ran a high-adrenalin and tech-savvy campaign that dazzled and engaged voters directly through social media. Modi snapped campaign selfies that went viral and even appeared as a holograph at campaign events. He has tweeted daily for years. By contrast, his main rival from the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, shunned Twitter himself while his party took to the site only this year.

    INFRASTRUCTURE
    India’s crumbling roads and ports, plus lack of adequate electricity supply, were high on the list of problems that make business projects hard to get off the ground. They are also of paramount importance to voters, one-third of whom now live in cities. In Gujarat, Mr Modi made infrastructure improvements a priority, building thousands of kilometers of highways and attracting investment to build up the country’s largest modern port. He promised to bring the same focus if elected prime minister.

  • Humanitarian of the Year Award conferred on philanthropist Peter Bheddah

    Humanitarian of the Year Award conferred on philanthropist Peter Bheddah

    LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): Peter Bheddah, a prominent philanthropist of New York, was honored, on May 8, with the Humanitarian of the Year Award at the 2014 INNkeeper’s Ballat the Uniondale Marriott in Long Island.

    The award was presented by The INN’s Executive Director,Jean Kelly, who said, “We are happy to celebrate the goodness and passion of Peter as he contributes greatly to The INN’sability to continue the mission of service to hungry and homeless Long Islanders.” Peter has been a long-time supporter of the INN and has been instrumental in providing 400,000 meals and truckloads of food through the India Association of Long Island (IALI).

    A record number of more than 650 people attended the glittering event where more than $1.3 million, a record breaking amount was raised during the evening. The INN founded in 1983, is a volunteerbased network of soup kitchens and shelters that serve over 35 communities throughout Long Island. If you would like more informationabout The INN, please visitwww.the-inn.org. Or call The INN at 516 486 8506.

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  • SONIA GANDHI SHOULD CONTINUE TO LEAD CONGRESS FOR SOME TIME: AMARINDER SINGH

    SONIA GANDHI SHOULD CONTINUE TO LEAD CONGRESS FOR SOME TIME: AMARINDER SINGH

    AMRITSAR (TIP): Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh om May 17 said Congress President Sonia Gandhi should continue to lead the party for some time. Singh, who defeated senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, said that there are ups and downs in politics but the party will bounce back. “Absolutely….Mrs Gandhi should carry on (to lead the party) for some time,” he said, when asked whether Mrs Gandhi should continue to lead the party or not.

    “This is not the first time. In 1977 also we were totally defeated. This is part of democarcy. There are ups and downs but we will bounce back like we did in the past,” he said. On the Punjab results in this election, Singh said that AAP has cut into their votes. On his own contest with Jaitley, Singh said, “I feel in my case there is divine intervention.” Criticising Jaitley’s approach, he said that the BJP leader talked about national issues in Amritsar whereas he should have talked about Amritsar first.

  • MANMOHAN SUBMITS HIS RESIGNATION

    MANMOHAN SUBMITS HIS RESIGNATION

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh submitted his resignationon May 17, capping a 10-year tenure of two UPA governments that has been brought to an end by a shattering defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. The 81-year-old Dr. Singh drove to the Rasthrapati Bhavan from his official residence 7, Race Course Road, to submit the resignation of his Council of Ministers. “The President has accepted the resignation of Manmohan Singh and has requested him and his colleagues to continue till the new government is formed,” a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said.

    The Prime Minister and Mukherjee, who had worked in Dr. Singh’s Cabinet as Finance, Defence and External Affairs Minister, exchanged bouquets. Dr. Singh handed over his resignation and the recommendation of the Cabinet for dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha, which is just a formality. After their brief meeting, Mukherjee, in a rare gesture, came to the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan to see off Singh.

    They shook hands for sometime and were seen in an intimate conversation. Singh then also took leave of the Rashtrapati Bhavan officials, including the President’s Secretary Omita Paul.