NEW DELHI (TIP):
AIADMK leader Muniswamy Thambidurai was on August 13 unanimously elected Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, a post he had held 29 years ago as a first-term member. Life also came a full circle for the Congress which in 1985 had a brute majority of over 400 members in the 543- member Lok Sabha and had denied the post of deputy speaker to the single largest opposition party – TDP. On Wednesday, the 329-member NDA, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, denied the key post to the Congress, which is the largest party in opposition with 44 members.
BJD leader Bhratruhari Mahtab did not miss out the opportunity to cite this coincidence. “Things change, yet they do not change. In 1985, the ruling party had 400 plus members and the deputy speaker’s post had gone to the second largest party in the Opposition, as has happened now,” he said. The AIADMK, with 37 MPs, is the third largest party in the Lok Sabha.
The 67- year-old Thambidurai’s skills of handling the Lok Sabha members were put to test on Wednesday evening when he was in the chair as the House discussed measures to tackle incidents of communal violence in the country. Home Minister Rajnath Singh moved the motion to elect Thambidurai as Deputy Speaker and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj seconded him.
Month: August 2014
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AIADMK’s Thambidurai elected Lok Sabha deputy speaker
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NORTH TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS DON’T EXPECT BIG IMPACT FROM IMMIGRANT CHILDREN
DALLAS (TIP):
It is time to think of schools. As the start of school nears, it’s difficult for most districts to prepare for a possible influx of immigrant children because of so much uncertainty as to where they will end up, officials said. North Texas schools are unlikely to see as many as initially expected. That is partly because a proposal to house nearly 2,000 in Dallas County was scrapped and partly because many children moving out of temporary immigration shelters are being resettled with family members across the country.
David Anderson, general counsel for the Texas Education Agency, recently told legislators that school officials don’t know how many children are in federal custody or how many will be released to sponsors or guardians in Texas, making those students eligible to attend public school. “We just don’t know those numbers,” he said. “We will either be surprised or not.” About 63,000 unaccompanied immigrant children have fled to the United States – mostly through Texas – since Oct. 1. A majority have come from Central America.
Catholic Charities of Dallas estimates that about 4,000 children have settled in North Texas this year. Anderson noted that federal constraints discourage school districts from asking students their immigration status because doing so could be considered illegal. On Tuesday, the TEA passed along to Texas school districts federal guidance about dealing with immigrant children, as well as potential resources. Federal officials reminded school officials in May that practices that “chill or discourage” children from enrolling based on their immigration status are against federal law requiring districts to provide all children with equal access to education. So school districts that are likely to enroll such students are doing what they can to be ready to serve such students just in case.
The Fort Worth and Dallas districts already have refugee services in place because they annually serve hundreds of such children. Fort Worth officials said they are in constant communication with agencies that provide services to the unaccompanied children, such as Catholic Charities, to monitor where the kids are resettled. So far, most going through those programs are moving to other parts of the country, with only a handful enrolling in Fort Worth, said Michael Steinert, executive director of student support services. “It’s not going to be this huge influx that many were thinking initially when the news of this started,” he said. “But ultimately, we don’t know how many.”
The Dallas school district hasn’t seen a noticeable increase in immigrant children either, said spokesman Andre Riley. But the district’s Refugee Intake Center is prepared to help such students, connecting them to services for tutoring, clothing and more. “We’re going to educate any student that comes through our doors,” Riley said. “We already have strong systems in place by virtue of being a big urban district and located where we are.” Anderson told legislators that smaller districts could be hit hardest because they don’t have such infrastructure in place.
If they suddenly see such students arriving, districts will have to work fast to hire some of the most difficult staffers to find – bilingual teachers and counselors. Anderson said Texas could absorb most of the educational costs for 25,000 to 27,000 such students with the current appropriations in the state budget. And some federal dollars might arrive through programs for helping poor or homeless children. But it would probably take time for districts to get reimbursed, he said. -
Possible UFO over Houston
HOUSTON (TIP):
Pictures posted online of a bright object over the skies of Houston Monday, August 11 night have attracted attention from around the world. Now new video shows bright lights Monday night over southeast Houston. Video shot by Houston-based musician Andrew Pena shows bright lights in the skies as he drove along the Gulf Freeway near Edgebrook about 8:05 p.m. At the top of the screen, you could see bright-colored lights that appear to go in and out.
Pena told Local 2 that he did not know he had captured more than just lightning until after he shot the video of the bright lights. Still images posted on Twitter Monday night amazed people around the world. One man from the United Kingdom emailed Local 2 claiming the photos could have been altered because he said it contains two different qualities of pixilation in the images or could have been a reflection in the lens.
He included an illustration with his email. Other viewers thought it could have been an unmanned drone with lots of blinking lights. No one is quite sure of what to make of the latest video. They are bright lights sure to bring more bright ideas of what was captured. -
Texas teen makes Wal-Mart his home for 2 days:
Store’s security questioned
DALLAS (TIP): A runaway Texas teenager ate, slept and changed clothes for two days, undetected inside a 24-hour Wal-Mart near Dallas, according to police and news reports. The 14-year-old boy had set up two hideouts at the 200,000-square-foot Supercenter in Corsicana – one behind baby strollers, the other behind the paper towels and toilet paper, KTVT-TV reported. He had apparently lived there since fleeing his aunt’s house July 28 while his parents were away.
His parents told police their son had run away before, hiding in other businesses, abandoned buildings and creek beds. To avoid detection, he changed clothes every few hours and wore diapers rather than use the restrooms, employees said. He even snagged a pet goldfish.
Late the night of July 30, store employees called police after finding the teen, who was not identified. “We just didn’t have any knowledge that this child was missing, and certainly not in one of our stores,” Wal- Mart spokesman Brian Nick reportedly told police and media. Some shoppers questioned the store’s security. -
In lawsuit against Texas law, judge explores how far is too far to travel for an abortion
AUSTIN (TIP):
A federal judge presiding over a lawsuit against new Texas abortion restrictions says he has a problem with anyone traveling 150 miles for medical care if the procedure could be done closer. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel on Wednesday, August 13, didn’t issue a ruling following closing arguments in a trial challenging a Texas law that would ban abortions at more than dozen clinics starting Sept.
1. But Yeakel honed in on the question of how far is too far for a woman to obtain the constitutional right of ending a pregnancy. The law requires all Texas abortion facilities to meet more stringent hospital-style operational standards. That would eliminate all abortion providers in the western half of the state.A ruling is expected in the coming weeks. -
Teeyan da Mela: Festival for women
A Colorful and Enchanting Teeyan Da Mela organized by Hasda Punjab
For those of you who don’t know, teeyan da mela celebrates womanhood. It is an event in the Indian month of Saavan, corresponding to July/August when there are rains when women of all ages get together to welcome the month of rains with song and dance and have a good time together. It is an important part of the Punjabi tradition. A large number of songs have been created to celebrate this festival for women.
In Dallas, two prominent Punjabi organizations recently celebrated with great enthusiasm the event in which large number of women participated. We bring reports here of the two entertaining events from our correspondents Harjeet Singh Dhesi and Amarjeet Singh Dhillon.
Women engaged in household activities
DALLAS (TIP): The local Plano Civic Center was full of activity when the local Punjabi Organization Hasda Punjab celebrated Punjab’s rural festival for women- Teeyan da mela. A large number of women of all ages gathered to sing folk songs associated with the festival and dance to abandon. The cadence of music filled the ears of the listeners who could not help participating in the festivity.
Women in colorful attire created an illusion of a rainbow on earth. The most attractive part of the celebrations was a Gidha dance performance by women. Gidha is a folk dance of Punjab which is performed by a group of women to a set of boliyan- lyrics- depicting the rural life and feelings of love. Time seemed to stop when women performed the Gidha dance. The event became the more enjoyable with the presence at the celebration of the famous singer from Punjab, Satwinder Lovely, who enthralled the audience with her melodious singing.
A group of women sing and dance at the mela
No cultural or social event can be possible to be organized without the support from sponsors. The generous co-operation and support for the event came from a number or organizations and individuals which include Manpreet Walia, Haslet Punjabi Youth, Abbas Insurance Jaspreet Kaur, Surjit Singh Oklahoma, Gursewak Singh, Roger Singh, Hardeep Singh and a few others. (Harjeet Singh Dhesi can be reached at 972-900-4880. Email: dhesiharry@yahoo.com) -
Teeyan da Mela showcases rich Punjabi culture
Amarjit Dhillon
DALLAS (TIP):
Teeyan da Mela organized by Punjabi Cultural Association of North Texas (PCANT) here created a sort of history when a record breaking number of people participated in it. The colorful event held at Roma Palace, Garland showcased the rich cultural heritage of Punjab. Young and old women, dressed in colorful traditional Punjabi dresses which included suits of different designs and lahangas of various kinds spilled colors of Punjab and Punjabiat. Jeeni Mann from Dallas sang a devotional song (shabad) to kick off the colorful event.
Miss Punjaban, Mrs. Punjaban and Ma Punjaban amongst others
The masters of ceremony Roshni Kataria and Kulwant Kaur Sandhu invited various Gidha teams to perform. Each team gave a great performance, to the delight and joy of the large audience. In addition, three competitions were held at the mela (festival) which included Miss Punjaban, Mrs. Punjaban and Mother Punjaban. Roop Kamal won the title of Miss Punjaban while the title of Mrs. Punjaban went to Kirandeep Dhindsa. The Ma Punjaban (Mother Punjaban) title was annexed by Kuldeep Kaur Hothi of Dallas.
Enjoying themselves with abandon
The Judges- Harjinder Johl, Harinder Badian and Simar Uppal were unanimous in their choice of awardees. The organizers had made superb arrangements for refreshments which included the famous Punjabi Jalebi and Pakorhe, among others, and the gathered audience enjoyed the hospitality to the full. Manpreet Singh Walia was the grand sponsor of the event.
Others who sponsored the event included Guru Ravidass Society, Jassi and Lali Toor, and Harjit Singh Buttar. The media sponsors included Radio Vasda Rahe Punjab, Punjabi Media Group and Fun Asia. A vote of thanks was proposed by Asha Badhan, Surjeet Mandera, Harjinder Johl, Kulwant Sandhu and Roshni Kataria.
(Amarjit Dhillon can be reached at 972-375-8628. email: ranglapunjabdallas@hotmail.com) -
Tiny gold particles shown to kill deadly brain cancer in new study
NEW DELHI (TIP): Scientists at the University of Cambridge have been successful in treating a deadly and common type of brain cancer using tiny gold particles. The ground-breaking technique could eventually be used to treat glioblastomamultiforme (GBM), which is the most common and aggressive brain tumor in adults, and notoriously difficult to treat.
Many sufferers die within a few months of diagnosis, and just six in every 100 patients with the condition are alive after five years, a University statement said. “The combined therapy that we have devised appears to be incredibly effective in the live cell culture,” said Professor Welland, professor of nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge, who led the research.
“This is not a cure, but it does demonstrate what nanotechnology can achieve in fighting these aggressive cancers. By combining this strategy with cancer cell-targeting materials, we should be able to develop a therapy for glioblastoma and other challenging cancers in the future.”” The research involved building nanoparticles of gold with a conventional chemotherapy drug cisplatin attached.
These were released into tumor cells that had been taken from glioblastoma patients and grown in the lab. Once the gold nanoparticles entered the cancer cells they were exposed to radiotherapy. This caused the gold to release electrons which damaged the cancer cell’s DNA and its overall structure, thereby enhancing the impact of the chemotherapy drug. The process was so effective that 20 days later, the cell culture showed no evidence of any revival, suggesting that the tumor cells had been destroyed, the University statement said. While further work needs to be done before the same technology can be used to treat people with glioblastoma, the results offer a highly promising foundation for future therapies.
Importantly, the research was carried out on cell lines derived directly from glioblastoma patients, enabling the team to test the approach on evolving, drug-resistant tumors. Their work is reported in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal, Nanoscale. “We need to be able to hit the cancer cells directly with more than one treatment at the same time,” Dr Colin Watts consultant neurosurgeon at the university said. “This is important because some cancer cells are more resistant to one type of treatment than another.
Nanotechnology provides the opportunity to give the cancer cells this ‘double whammy’ and open up new treatment options in the future.” The researchers believe that similar models could eventually be used to treat other types of challenging cancers. First, however, the method itself needs to be turned into an applicable treatment for GBM patients. This process, which will be the focus of much of the group’s forthcoming research, will necessarily involve extensive trials.
Sonali Setua, a PhD student who worked on the project, said: “It was hugely satisfying to chase such a challenging goal and to be able to target and destroy these aggressive cancer cells. This finding has enormous potential to be tested in a clinical trial in the near future and developed into a novel treatment to overcome therapeutic resistance of glioblastoma.” -
SCIENTISTS CREATE BIO BATTERIES WHICH CAN BE CHARGED WITH HUMAN SWEAT
LONDON (TIP): You may soon be able to charge your phone with your sweat. For the first time ever, scientists have found away to make human sweat power your small electronic devices. Researchers have designed a sensor in the form of a temporary tattoo that can both monitor a person’s progress during exercise and produce power from their perspiration.
The device works by detecting and responding to lactate, which is naturally present in sweat. Scientists have created a sweat-powered bio battery. Batteries produce energy by passing current, in the form of electrons, from an anode to a cathode. In this case, the anode contained the enzyme that removes electrons from lactate, and the cathode contained a molecule that accepts the electrons.
When 15 volunteers wore the tattoo bio batteries while exercising on a stationary bike, they produced different amounts of power. Interestingly, people who were less fit (exercising fewer than once a week) produced more power than those who were moderately fit (exercising one to three times per week). Enthusiasts who worked out more than three times per week produced the least amount of power. The researchers say that this is probably because the lessfit people became fatigued sooner, causing glycolysis to kick in earlier, forming more lactate.
The maximum amount of energy produced by a person in the low-fitness group was 70 microWatts per cm2 of skin. Wenzhao Jia from University of California San Diego said: “The current produced is not that high, but we are working on enhancing it so that eventually we could power some small electronic devices.
Right now, we can get a maximum of 70 microWatts per cm2, but our electrodes are only 2 by 3 millimeters in size and generate about 4 microWatts – a bit small to generate enough power to run a watch, for example, which requires at least 10 microWatts. So besides working to get higher power, we also need to leverage electronics to store the generated current and make it sufficient for these requirements.” “Lactate is a very important indicator of how you are doing during exercise,” says Jia. In general, the more intense the exercise, the more lactate the body produces. During strenuous physical activity, the body needs to generate more energy, so it activates a process called glycolysis.
Glycolysis produces energy and lactate, the latter of which scientists can detect in the blood. Professional athletes monitor their lactate levels during performance testing as a way to evaluate their fitness and training program. In addition, doctors measure lactate during exercise testing of patients for conditions marked by abnormally high lactate levels, such as heart or lung disease. Currently, lactate testing is inconvenient and intrusive because blood samples must be collected from the person at different times during the exercise regime and then analyzed.
Jia therefore have developed a faster, easier and more comfortable way to measure lactate during exercise. They imprinted a flexible lactate sensor onto temporary tattoo paper. The sensor contained an enzyme that strips electrons from lactate, generating a weak electrical current. The researchers applied the tattoo to the upper arms of 10 healthy volunteers. Then the team measured the electrical current produced as the volunteers exercised at increasing resistance levels on a stationary bicycle for 30 minutes. In this way, they could continuously monitor sweat lactate levels over time and with changes in exercise intensity. -
Farthest stars in Milky Way are two Red Giants
NEW DELHI (TIP): Astronomers have discovered two Red Giant stars at the very outskirts of the Milky Way, in a lonely and unexplored region of space. One of them is 890,000 light years from Earth in the constellation Pisces while the other is about 780,000 light-years distant in the constellation Gemini and more than a million lightyears from the other star.
At these distances both the stars easily become the most distant stars found in our Milky Way. The previous record holder was only 500,000 light years from Earth “They’re the most distant stars that we’ve ever seen in our Milky Way,” says John Bochanski of Haverford College, the astronomer who found them, quoted by Scientific American magazine.
The finding appears in the July 20 issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Bochanski and his team drawn from Harvard, Boston University and Michigan State University in the US and the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute in the Netherlands, started off with seven million stars and using various kinds of measuring instruments whittled it down to 404 M-type stars.
After getting spectra from a group of this stars theyfound that most were red dwarfs but five of them were red giants. Of these, only two were dim, indicating that they were very far from Earth. These lonely stars present a riddle for astronomers. There brightness suggests that they are M-type stars containing metals.
But such stars have never been found at such great distances. Usually, stars in the Milky Way’s halo, that is, the envelope of ancient stars that surround the galaxy’s main disk, have much less heavier elements and cannot become an M-type red giant. Scientists are speculating about how these red giants came to be patrolling the perimeter of The Milky way in their lonely orbits at such a great distance from the galactic center. One theory is that they drifted in from a neighboring galaxy.
There are two dozen galaxies that orbit the Milky Way and two of the closest ones, called the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, have many stars like these M-type red giants. But if that happened then such a galaxy should be bright enough to be visible. It is possible that the original home galaxy of these two is so diffuse that we can’t see it or it may even have disintegrated. -
Roger Federer advances with milestone Masters match win
CINCINNATI (TIP): Roger Federer became the first man to win 300 matches at the ATP Masters 1000 level, beating Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-2 on August 12 in Cincinnati. The victory in just over two hours put the 33-year-old world number three into the third round of his final tune-up tournament for the US Open.
The Swiss great, who had notched his 200th Masters match win against Lleyton Hewitt at Cincinnati five years ago, arrived at the tournament he has won five times off a runner-up finish to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Toronto. He delivered a dominant third set to finally subdue the 46th-ranked Pospisil, who was a finalist last month in Washington.
He stretched his career record over the Canadian to 3-0. “It’s a nice round number,” said Federer of his most recent achievement, “I’ve had some more important ones than the one today, but nevertheless it’s nice to reach such milestones. “I was one of those guys who struggled early on in the Masters 1000. I know how hard it is to win all these matches because it’s always against top 50 players, if not top 20, if not top 10. “From that standpoint, I’m obviously happy that it is at 300, it’s nice.” After taking the first set in the tiebreaker, Federer was broken in the 12th game of the second as the challenger forced a deciding set.
But Federer powered through the third, breaking his opponent twice on the way to victory and finishing with 23 winners and 21 unforced errors, with six aces along the way. “The transition (from one event to the next) is always a tough one,” said Federer, “We don’t have enough days. “You can’t expect too much, we just hope to get through the first match in tough conditions.” While Federer safely followed top seed Novak Djokovic into the third round, three of the men’s top nine were toppled.
Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun stunned Czech fourth seed Tomas Berdych 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 while Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz upset number seven Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 — four days after the Bulgarian played a semifinal in Toronto. American Steve Johnson stopped ninth seed Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-4. Number five Milos Raonic was untroubled by wild card Robby Ginepri 6-2, 6-2. Sixth seed David Ferrer fought through three tiebreakers to beat German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4), and eighth-seeded Andy Murray advanced with a smooth, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Portugal’s Joao Sousa. Murray, who lifted the Cincinnati trophy in 2008 and 2011, is searching for his first title since winning Wimbledon 13 months ago.
Since returning in January from back surgery, Murray has enjoyed only modest results, with his best 2014 showings semifinals at Roland Garros and Acapulco. Both of the Scot’s Cincinnati titles came in finals against Djokovic, who has won every Masters 1000 title save this one. Murray improved to 3-0 over the 37thranked Souza, never trailing in the match that lasted 71 minutes. He handed Souza his 21st loss of the season in either the first or second round, advancing on his first match point when Souza sent a service return long.
Murray broke Souza three times, and fired 16 winners matched by 16 unforced errors. “I got the win and that’s the most important thing,” Murray said. “Conditions are completely different here to Toronto. But I hit the ball well from the back of the court today. I was able to control the ball well.” Number 11 American John Isner beat Australian Marinko Matosevic 6-3, 7-6 (7/1), Fabio Fognini, seeded 15th, dispatched Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-4 while number 16 Spaniard Tommy Robredo beat Sam Querrey 6-2, 6-4.Women’s top seed Serena Williams advanced on cue, downing Australian Samantha Stosur 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (9/7), but third-seeded Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova stumbled out of the gate.
Ukrainian teenager Elina Svitolina toppled the Czech 6-2, 7-6 (7/2). The defeat comes on the heels of Kvitova’s third-round exit at Montreal in another blow to her build-up to the US Open — the last Grand Slam of the year that starts on August 25 at Flushing Meadows. Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard was another casualty, falling to Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets. -
AAP ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE
New cracks in AAP as Shanti Bhushan takes on Kejriwal
NEW DELHI (TIP) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) confronted a new installment of its intense internal battle August 13 after one of its founder members, Shanti Bhushan, went public with his criticism of party chief Arvind Kejriwal. Bhushan told a TV channel on Wednesday, August 13: “Arvind (Kejriwal) is a great leader and a great campaigner, but in my opinion he lacks organizational ability.
He does not have the kind of competence which can spread the message of the party all over India, which can quickly create elected structures of the party which nobody will be able to blame.” In a detailed critique, he also criticized Kejriwal for abruptly resigning as Delhi chief minister after 49 days without consulting anyone, calling it “a sign of political immaturity”. AAP rebutted that Bhushan was “apparently unhappy” at the party’s decision to not contest the Haryana polls.
“Bhushan has access to everyone in the party and his colleagues expect him to raise any issue which he considers important, with them, as a senior. It is unfortunate that he has aired his views publicly,” the party said in a statement. The 88-year-old former law minister remained silent today, while his son Prashant Bhushan, a close aide of Kejriwal, distanced himself from the comments.
“This is his personal view. It would have been better if he had discussed it with party members,” Bhushan said, siding with the party. Kejriwal has been facing increasingly sharp and unsparing attacks on his leadership since the party’s abysmal performance in the national election undid its spectacular debut in the Delhi polls in December. AAP contested over 300 seats but won just four seats in Punjab.
Many in the party believe Kejriwal’s high profile contest against Narendra Modi in Varanasi compromised AAP’s national poll campaign. Soon after the verdict, Shazia Ilmi, a prominent AAP leader, quit citing lack of inner democracy. In June, Yogendra Yadav, another founder member, wrote in an email to AAP members: “Arvind is turning into a personality cult that can damage an organization and the leader himself.” The party later insisted that it was united. -
IOA, OCA want Indian cricket teams at Asian Games
NEW DELH (TIP)I: With only a day remaining to send entries for the Incheon Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) as well as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday said they would make a last-ditch effort to ensure the Indian cricket teams’ participation at the Games. The Board of Control for Cricket in India did not field both the men’s and women’s cricket teams at the Guangzhou Games four years ago and it is unlikely they would send teams to the Incheon Games starting next month.
But the Indian Olympic bosses are optimistic that they might be able to convince BCCI in time. “The deadline for sending entries is August 15. I will talk to BCCI bosses tomorrow and request them to send the teams to Incheon. From an Indian fan’s point of view, the cricket team’s participation would make the Games more attractive,” IOC secretary general Rajeev Mehta told TOI. “If they can, we have a good chance to add to our medals tally there,” he added.
According to a list on the Asian Cricket Council website, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the two Test-playing nations which will feature in the men’s competition to be played in the Twenty20 format. If India were to send a team, it would be a second-string side as the Incheon dates (Sep 19-Oct 4) clash with Champions League T20 (Sep 13-Oct 4) where four IPL teams will figure.
The women’s team for the event includes Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. “The OCA has always insisted on including cricket in the Games. China are playing cricket so are some other countries. So if India can field their teams, it would help the game popularise in the region,” OCA secretary general Randhir Singh said. “I feel they should send their full-strength teams as the Asian Games is a major event for the region.
I think IOA should convince the BCCI as well as the International Cricket Council (ICC) to make India play,” he added. ICC president N Srinivasan has already made it clear that there was reluctance on part of many cricket boards on joining the Olympic bandwagon. -
Sushil Kumar likely to skip World Championship, Asian Games
NEW DELHI (TIP): His eyes firmly trained on the 2016 Rio Games, two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, in all probability, will skip the upcoming World Championship as well as the Asian Games slated to be held next month, as he now wants to win a gold in the biggest sporting event.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) today announced the squad for the Asian Games, which did not feature Sushil’s name, and said it will finalise the team for the FILA World Wrestling Championship to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from September 8 to 14 in a couple of days. “Sushil has informed us about his unwillingness to compete in either of the two upcoming tournaments as he wants to only focus on the 2016 Olympics,” a top WFI official said on condition of anonymity. For the Asiad, to be held in Incheon, South Korea from September 19, Narsingh Pancham Yadav has replaced Sushil in the 74kg freestyle event, while Praveen Rana (70kg) is the only addition to the team that represented India at the recently-concluded Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The 33-year-old Sushil had won a bronze in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, before doing one better four years later at the London Games, winning a silver medal and earning an iconic status. Unlike in the Commonwealth Games, there will be greco- roman category in the Asian Games. The women’s team trials for the two big tournaments will be held in Lucknow tomorrow. In Sushil’s absence, London Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, who had also won a gold in Glasgow, will lead the seven-member freestyle team, which also includes Amit Kumar (57kg), Bajrang (61kg) among others.
The greco-roman team also comprises seven grapplers. Asian Games squad: Freestyle: Amit Kumar (57kg), Bajrang (61kg), Yogeshwar Dutt (65kg), Praveen Rana (70kg), Narsingh Pancham Yadav (74kg), Pawan Kumar (86kg) and Satywart Kadian (97kg). Greco Roman: Ravinder Singh (59kg), Sandeep Yadav (66kg), K K Yadav (71 kg), Gurpreet Singh (75kg), Harpreet Singh (80kg), Manoj Kumar (85kg) and Hardeep (98kg). -
Hagel calls for US, Japan, India alliance
NEW DELHI (TIP):
The US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, on August 9, proposed a trilateral military alliance involving India, Japan and the US, while advising New Delhi that it does not have to choose between Beijing and Washington, but continue to work with both. Hagel who ended his three-day visit to India by proposing the alliance, said “as US and Indian security interests converge, so should our partnerships with other nations”.
“The United States and India should consider expanding their security cooperation with Japan … We should elevate our trilateral defense cooperation”, Hagel said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been votary of such an alliance which could turn out to be the most powerful outside the US-led NATO.
China, which has tense relations with Japan since the World War-II (1939-1945), in the past has protested against such a grouping. In May last year, the Communist Party-run Global Times newspaper reported “India gets close to Japan at its own peril”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit Tokyo at this month-end. Hagel was delivering a lecture, “achieving the potential of the US-India strategic partnership”, to mark 25 years of think-tank Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
He chose to strike a balance in its strategy to bring India and Japan closer. “India need not choose between the closer partnership with America and the improved ties with China,” Hagel advised. In strategic circles, this is being seen as the US understanding India’s point of view which does not see a conflict with China – both nations share a 3,488-km disputed boundary called the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Hagel went on to highlight that China can work “cooperatively” with both India and the US.
“In our relations with Beijing, both Delhi and Washington seek to manage competition but avoid the traps of rivalry. We will continue to seek a stable and peaceful order in which China is a fellow trustee”, Hagel said, probably fully knowing that his words are bound to resonate loudly in Beijing, Tokyo and Moscow – the last one being India’s trusted allay for five decades. Addressing the issue of the hydrocarbon rich disputed South China Sea, Hagel was candid “We ( India and US ) have a shared interest in maritime security across the region, including at the global crossroads of the South China Sea.
We also have a shared stake in the security of global energy and natural resource supplies”. China has claimed total sovereignty over the South China Sea and consequently sole rights over the hydrocarbons under the seabed. Indian has gas-oil block off the coast of Vietnam in the same sea and most of its east bound trade passes through these waters. The dispute is pending in the United Nations.
Hagel reiterated the promise to cooperate with India in co-production, co-development, and freer exchange of technology under the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), saying: “The DTTI now has on the table over a dozen cooperative proposals which would transfer significant qualitative capability, technology, and production knowhow”. -
Entertainment
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Tamannaah, Sonu Sood, Krushna,
Prakash Raj and Junior – the wonder dog
Direction: Sajid-Farhad
Genre: Comedy
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutesStory: Akhil Lokhande, the illegitimate son of a Bangkok billionaire, finds out that his inheritance has been willed to a dog, Entertainment. And there are also other baddies playing dogs-in-the-manger.
Review: Entertainment tells you the story of how one Daddy’s Najayaz Aulad (illegitimate child), abbreviated in the film as DNA, stumbles upon the fact that he is actually a poor Mumbai boy born to a billionaire from Bangkok. His father, Pannalal Johri (Dalip Tahil in a garlanded photo-frame on the wall), has bequeathed his wealth to his pet dog Entertainment (Junior), because he could not in his life-time locate his real son, Akhil Lokhande (Akshay Kumar).
After a romantic interlude with his girlfriend Saakshi (Tamannaah) in Mumbai, Akhil flies to Bangkok. His best friend Jugnu (Krushna, good comic-tuning) and he make grand plans to get rid of the dog, who stands between him and his billions.
But the canine is nobody’s fool. Man and beast find ways to outsmart each other and when they can’t kill each other, they join forces. Here, a fresh set of villains, Prakash Raj and Sonu Sood, named Karan-Arjun (there are many stereotypes), are introduced. They, too, are eyeing the same pile of wealth.
So now, Akhil and Entertainment have to get the better of the baddies. Debutant-directors Sajid-Farhad, who have the dubious distinction of having written very successful Bollywood no-brainers like the Golmaal series, Dhamaal, and Housefull 2, and who have salvaged themselves to a degree by writing the Singham films, could have salvaged their first directorial venture by keeping it tight, despite the stereotypes. However, because the jokes are repetitive by nature, the LOL (laugh-out-loud) moments are few and far between.
The dialogue, which uses Bollywood actordirector names like, “I so Rajani-can’t”, does get guffaws. But for the most part, the humor is for the child in you. Akshay Kumar is in top form. Having done a multitude of masala movies, he’s become a khiladi. His bonding with the dog (especially in comic scenes) has those ‘oh-so-cute’ moments. The golden retriever is not a wonderful actor; but his eyes can melt your heart. -
Pakistan Celebrates Independence Day amidst political protests & fears of coup
ISLAMABAD (TIP): Dark clouds of political unrest hung over the solemn celebrations of Independence of Pakistan on Thursday, August 14. President Mamnoon Hussain said the country was in a state of war and terrorism was being spread in the country under a conspiracy.
There were rumors afloat that Pakistan might witness a coup on the independence day. However, nothing has gone amiss except that both Imran Khan and Qadri have determinedly voiced their opposition to Nawaz Sharif government which they want to be out. Khan and Qadri will hold the march today, which is Pakistan’s independence day, to demand Sharif’s resignation and seek fresh elections. Both Khan and Qadri, who led mass demonstrations in Islamabad early last year to urge electoral reform, allege that the May 2013 general election, which brought Sharif to power, was rigged.
In his special message to the nation in a ceremony held at the President House, President Mamnoon Hussain emphasised the importance of harmony in order to resolve the political turmoil prevailing in the country. Mamnoon said the army was fighting for the stability and security of the country and its efforts were commendable, adding that the nation should provide support to the army in this hour of need. The president also referred to those displaced due to the military operation in North Waziristan and said the government was working to root out terrorism from the country.
On the occasion of Independence Day, the president recalled the great sacrifices rendered by martyrs. The president hoisted the national flag at the ceremony. He was flanked by Prime Minister Nawaz and army chief Raheel Sharif. Earlier, at the Independence Day ceremony in the Parliament House, the prime minister congratulated the nation and said no harm should befall the continuation of democracy in the country.
The premier also paid rich tribute to the martyrs of the independence movement. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited Allama Iqbal’s tomb and hoisted the national flag. Sharif paid his respects to the martyrs of the independence movement and said the nation was still economically dependent. The Punjab chief minister said we had buried Allama Iqbal but had failed to carry his legacy forward. -
BIPASHA BASU: THE INDUSTRY CAN MAKE YOU INSECURE
Model-turned actress Bipasha Basu feels that the competition in filmdom is so cut throat that a feeling of insecurity creeps in. “This industry can make you insecure because it’s do or die for you all the time,” the actress told media. “If you are enjoying it, I know it’s rare, like me, you kind of sail through your 14 years peacefully.
You never know that much time has passed. Also, I am one of the lucky ones who doesn’t have an agenda,” added the 35-year-old. When it comes to her career, Bipasha, who entered filmdom with 2001 hit Ajnabee, has worked in various genres like action thrillers Dhoom and Race, comedy No Entry and off beat drama Corporate and Lamhaa. However, off late she mostly featured in horror films like Aatma and Raaz 3. In fact, her next releases is also horror drama Creature 3D.
When asked about the same, she said:” I have done all kind of films. It’s not that I have done only horror films, but yes if you compare it with other actresses’, maybe I have done a lot more horror film. “It’s just that I want to be part of films that I enjoy genre is irrespective. I love films that entertain, allow me to perform and offer me author driven role.” She is also shooting for director Bhushan Patel’s Alone, which is also a horror drama. ” ‘Alone’ is a supernatural film, but it has got so many layers to it. It’s extremely intense romantic film. It’s a multilayered role. I am happy with the way work is happening. It’s all going really well,” said Bipasha. -
Euro mixed in Asia
TOKYO (TIP):
The euro was mixed in Asia Thursday, August 14, as investors awaited second-quarter eurozone growth figures. In midday Tokyo trading, the European single currency weakened to $1.3357 from $1.3363 in New York, while it rose to 137.07 yen from 136.89 yen.
The dollar — which has initially weakened in New York on stagnant US retail sales for July — strengthened to 102.58 yen from 102.43 yen. Trading volume was muted with many market players away for Japan’s traditional mid-summer holiday. Investors were focusing on a likely poor report for eurozone economic growth due later Thursday. Growth in the 18-member bloc was expected to stabilize around 0.2 percent quarter-on-quarter, Credit Agricole said, but concerns about Germany, Europe’s top economy, could boost speculation about further easing measures from the European Central Bank (ECB).
The ECB is expected to move again on its monetary policy, after taking unprecedented easing measures in the face of deflation fears. On the other hand, the US Federal Reserve, which has been pulling back on its own stimulus, was seen as likely to hike interest rates sooner than expected as the world’s number one economy recovers. Despite its falls in recent weeks, the euro was still a sell, Credit Agricole said. Dollar-yen rates hardly reacted to Japanese data that showed core machinery orders — a leading index of corporate capital spending — rose a weaker-than-expected 8.8 percent in June, after plunging 19.5 percent in May. -
KANGANA RANAUT: YOU’LL SEE A LOT OF VARIETY FROM ME
After delivering films as varied as ‘Queen’and ‘Revolver Rani’ back-to-back, actress Kangana Ranaut says the audience can expect more variety from her performances in her upcoming movies. “I’m playing very interesting characters now.
I’m doing a love story directed by Nikhil Advani, it’s a different character, then I will be seen in Tanu Weds Manu 2, a film with Sai Kabir – it’s a good line-up. You’ll see a lot of variety from me,” Kangana said during a recent appearance at a fashion gala here. he National Award winning actress took to the ramp at the just concluded BMW India Bridal Fashion Week (IBFW) here in a creation by Suneet Varma, one of the country’s pioneering designers.
While Kangana was impressed with his designs, Varma felt that when the actress ties the knot, the classic red will suit her the best as a bride. “I think Kangana is a very gutsy and fashion forward thinking actress. I think she has been able to find a very important relevant and current niche that many actress haven’t been able to do. She also represents an Indian woman with lot of power. So red is the colour for her (when she marries),” he said. -
KATIE PRICE’S LIFE TO BE MADE INTO FILM?
Former model Katie Price is reportedly in talks with Hollywood executives about turning her life story into a movie. The three-times married former glamour model, who gave birth to her fifth child last week, is reportedly in talks with US publishers Simon and Schuster to adapt her autobiographies for the big screen. According to a source, the ups and downs in her life, which have included current spouse Kieran Hayler cheating on her with two friends, will make for fascinating viewing, reports contactmusic.com. “Katie’s been through a hell of a lot in her thirty six years, but she was clever to document it all down in her books,” said a source. “They’re always great sellers and now they can form the basis for a film of her life. The publishers think there will be a great appetite to watch a dramatization of Katie’s crazy life and they’re so keen to get her on board, they’re talking about a hefty pay cheque to go with it,” the source added.
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MILA KUNIS TAGGED AS MOST STYLISH PREGNANT WOMAN
Actress Mila Kunis’s pregnancy wear is so stylish that she is tagged as the most stylish pregnant woman. The yummy mummy-to-be put her stylish foot forward when she stepped out here Saturday in a white blouse and shorts showing off her growing baby bump, reports mirror.co.uk This is her first child with fiance Ashton Kutcher, but it is not known exactly when it is due, because the two are keeping mum over it. But they are super excited about finally welcoming their baby.
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LINDSAY LOHAN EYES BRITISH REALITY SHOW
Pop star Lindsay Lohan wants to guest star on “The Only Way is Essex” as she is obsessed with the British reality show. The “Canyons” actress, who was recently romantically linked with former “TOWIE” star Tom Kilbey, is said to be keen to land a cameo on the British reality show because she is a huge fan and watches every episode on YouTube, reportscontactmusic.com. ”Lindsay’s obsessed with all things Essex and she’s watched every episode of ‘TOWIE’ on YouTube. It’s like her new fix. She’s been telling anyone who’ll listen that she’d love to guest star in a few episodes and has even asked her management to set up a meeting with the producers,” said a source.
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Guardians of the Galaxy
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Lee Pace,
Bradley Cooper, Benicio Del Toro, Vin Diesel, Glenn Close,
Josh Brolin, John C. Reilly, Karen Gillian, Rob Zombie,
Stan Lee
Direction: James Gunn
Genre: Action
Duration: 2 hours 1 minuteStory: A bounty hunter finds himself pursued by powerful enemies after he steals an orb. Realising that the orb can be deadly in the wrong hands, he forms a team with four other dodgy individuals, all united by a common cause – to keep the orb (and what it contains) from the wrong hands.
Review: Marvel’s latest offering is quite unlike any in its genre. Apart from wit, guile, strength and a gift for being resourceful, these Guardians are quite the underdogs.
Peter Quill (Pratt) is the aforementioned bounty hunter and the villains – Ronan (Pace) and his lord Thanos (Brolin) – want the orb for what it contains. Thanos sends the chartreuse-coloured Gamora (Saldana) to planet Xandar to steal it from Quill, but their ensuing tussle on the street attracts the attention of a genetically engineered raccoon, Rocket (Cooper) and his tree-mutant companion Groot (Diesel).
The subsequent melee lands the bunch in a galactic prison called The Kyln, where they meet the muscular Drax (Bautista) who takes everything literally. Post-prison break, Quill, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot (vocabulary limited to “I am Groot”) form a hesitant alliance, the aim being to keep the orb from Ronan and Gamora’s half-sister Nebula’s (Gillan) grasp and then sell it.
From Xandar to the Kyln, the action shifts to Knowhere, an interstellar trade station shaped like a gigantic alien-like head. Although a team, Gunn gives each Guardian a wellthought- out personality. Refreshingly innovative, delightfully quirky, very well-made and even boundarybending, the humour keeps rolling with laser-blast frequency in this wildly imaginative and thoroughly entertaining film.
The screenplay is tighter than a racetrack with hairpin turns, but the narrative does have a few fissures. Despite these chinks, the charming performances, strange characters (don’t miss Del Toro as The Collector), spaceships and of course, the 70s soundtrack (a highlight by itself) make this one a heck of an intergalactic romp. Don’t miss Stan Lee’s customary cameo and in case you’re new to Marvel film lore, stay past the end credits roll. -
BJP, Congress working on deal over Insurance Bill
NEW DELHI (TIP):
Tensions between BJP and Congress over the Insurance (Amendment) Bill appear to be thawing, with both sides seeking to negotiate a deal where the government will agree for the reforms legislation to be sent to a select committee in exchange of an assurance for its passage at the beginning of the winter session. Sources said the government has veered round to accept the demand for sending the bill to a select committee on the condition that the panel finishes its scrutiny in a time-bound manner and, more important, speedily enough for the bill to be brought to Rajya Sabha at the outset of the winter session.
Congress sources confirmed that negotiations are on between the two sides, and strongly indicated that the party will allow the bill smooth passage if the government drops the amendment which seeks to explicitly enlarge the definition of “foreign investment” to include foreign institutional investors. Although the Insurance Act does not bar FIIs from investing in insurance companies and, thus, the amendment proposed by the Modi government merely carries forward the current policy, Congress does not agree.
“This amounts to a substantive amendment,” said a Congress source familiar with details of the parleys. He also said all other amendments being insisted on by the opposition were “technical” in nature. Significantly, he said the issue of who should head the select committee was negotiation, reflecting a degree of flexibility which augurs well for passage of the long-pending legislation during the current year.
Government may be keen to have a BJP MP as the head of the committee in order to ensure that the legislation is readied in time to be moved in Rajya Sabha. Sources also said back channel negotiations were on with others in the opposition in order to get them to relent on their opposition to the insurance bill. A government source said some regional players appeared “ready to be persuaded”.
Government’s failure to get the insurance legislation passed was a setback for the BJP as the party was keen to display its reform intent as well as its capacity to deliver. However, government managers feel an understanding with Congress for passage of the bill in the winter session will repair the damage substantially. Whether they will be able to implement what is being called Plan B will be clear if they succeed in carrying through the amendments to three labour laws.
