The Indian Panorama

Year: 2015

  • CANADA PM DELAYED RESETTLEMENT OF SYRIANS, SAYS REPORT

    CANADA PM DELAYED RESETTLEMENT OF SYRIANS, SAYS REPORT

    OTTAWA (TIP): Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s political rivals pounced on news Oct 8 that he interfered with the resettlement of Syrian refugees, bringing the issue of migrants back to life in Canadian legislative elections.

    The Globe and Mail reported that the prime minister’s office had directed immigration officials to temporarily halt processing Syrian refugee claims several months ago, effectively delaying their resettlement in Canada.

    The claims were to be vetted and approved by Harper, meaning fewer cases were ready for sponsorship when Canadians came forward in large numbers following the drowning of three-year-old Alan Kurdi in August, the newspaper said.

    Liberal leader Justin Trudeau on Thursday called the government’s actions “irresponsible,” saying it was an unacceptable “interference with important processes where lives are at stake.”

    Thomas Mulcair, leader of the New Democrats, said that the affair showed “abject behavior by Stephen Harper.”

    “It is a shame on Canada. And Stephen Harper should apologize and remove those restrictions now,” he added.

    The rerouted process was in place for several weeks, the newspaper said. At the same time, the prime minister’s office also ordered an audit of all UN-referred asylum seekers in 2014 and 2015.

    Harper faced strong criticism earlier in the campaign for not doing more for migrants, as a crisis unfolded in Europe with a record influx of people fleeing war in Syria.

    Canada’s election is scheduled for October 19.

    The prime minister’s office and immigration officials were not immediately available for comment Octobner 8, 2015.

    Chris Day, spokesman for immigration minister Chris Alexander, however, told the Globe and Mail the processing of claims resumed after a review to ensure that “procedures were adequate to identify those vulnerable persons in most need of protection while screening out threats to Canada.”

    The Tories last month committed to accepting 10,000 refugees within one year by simplifying and speeding up the application process, while stressing the key to ending the crisis was to defeat the Islamic State group.

  • Russia denies US claim that four Syria-bound missiles crashed in Iran

    Russia denies US claim that four Syria-bound missiles crashed in Iran

    MOSCOW (TIP): Russia’s defence ministry denied a claim by a US official October 8 that four Syria-bound Russian cruise missiles fired from the Caspian Sea had crashed in Iran. “Any professional knows that during these operations we always fix the target before and after impact. All our cruise missiles hit their target,” ministry spokesman General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

    The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the missiles landed in Iran on Wednesday, confirming a story first reported by CNN. But he did not provide details about where they might have landed or whether they caused any damage.

    Nor would the official say exactly what type of cruise missiles went down, except to say that they were among a salvo fired from Russian warships in the Caspian. “In contrast to CNN we do not refer to anonymous sources but we show the path of our missiles and their targets practically in real time,” Konashenkov said.

    The Russian defence ministry posted a graphic on its website on October 7 showing 26 missiles overflying Iran and Iraq before striking inside Syria. Russia has been conducting air strikes in Syria in defence of the embattled regime of President Bashar al-Assad since September 30. The missile launches were in support of a major ground offensive by the Syrian army on several fronts in the war-torn country’s west.

  • UN AID CHIEF DEMANDS PROBE OF YEMEN WEDDING BOMBING

    UN AID CHIEF DEMANDS PROBE OF YEMEN WEDDING BOMBING

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP): The top United Nations aid official has called for a swift investigation of a suspected Saudi-led air strike that killed dozens of people at a wedding in Yemen.

    Stephen O’Brien, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, yesterday said he was “deeply disturbed” by the news that civilians had been killed in Wednesday evening’s bombing.

    “I call for a swift, transparent and impartial investigation into this incident,” O’Brien said in a statement.

    “Real accountability for parties to conflict, whether they are states or non-state groups, is urgently needed, to ensure that the commitment under international law to protect civilians is meaningful,” he added.

    O’Brien quoted Yemen’s ministry of public health as saying that at least 47 people were killed and 35 were injured, among them many women and children, in the strike.

    Medical sources confirmed at least 28 deaths to AFP.

    The raid hit a house where dozens of people were celebrating in the town of Sanban in Dhamar province, 100 kilometers south of the capital Sanaa, residents said.

    It was the second alleged air strike by the Saudi-led coalition on a Yemeni wedding party in just over a week.

    But the coalition, under mounting criticism over the civilian death toll of its bombing campaign against Iran-backed Shiite rebels, denied any involvement in the latest attack.

    O’Brien noted that 4,500 civilians have been killed or injured since the Saudi-led coalition began air strikes against rebels in Yemen in March.

    “That is more than in any country or crisis in the world during the same period,” he noted.

    The strongly-worded statement underscored that the sides have a responsibility under international law to avoid damage to homes and other civilian structures.

  • WHY SEX LOSES ITS STEAM IN COUPLES

    WHY SEX LOSES ITS STEAM IN COUPLES

    If you are married and find that the interest in sex is on the decline, don’t be surprised.

    According to a new study, frequent arguments and domestic fights — and not children — are behind a decrease in bedroom action among couples in just 12 months of living together.

    The situation, however, may change as they begin communicating and understand their sexual preferences in the due course of time.

    “We found a positive development of sexual satisfaction in the first year of a relationship, followed by a steady decline,” said study author Claudia Schmiedeberg from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany.

    For the results, some 3,000 participants in the age group 25-41 answered a survey on bedroom behaviour titled “Does Sexual Satisfaction Change With Relationship Duration?”

    Surprisingly, children did not appear to have much effect on the sex life, the authors said.

    “We analysed how sexual satisfaction changes over the course of a relationship using three waves of the German Family Panel study,” Schmiedeberg said.

    The team focused the analyses on young and middle-aged heterosexual individuals in committed relationships.

    “Moreover, we found significant effects for the control variables of health status, intimacy in couple communication and conflict style, as expected,” the authors noted.

  • Can pill replace exercise?

    Can pill replace exercise?

    Not a fan of gymming? Then, you may be happy to know that scientists may be one step closer to developing a pill that delivers the same health benefits as a work out.

    Everyone knows that exercise improves health, and ongoing research continues to uncover increasingly detailed information on its benefits for metabolism, circulation, and improved functioning of organs such as the heart, brain, and liver.

    With this knowledge in hand, scientists may be better equipped to develop “exercise pills” that could mimic at least some of the beneficial effects of physical exercise on the body, but a review of current development efforts ponders whether such pills will achieve their potential therapeutic impact, at least in the near future.

    Researchers have recognised the need for exercise pills for some time and this is an achievable goal based on their improved understanding of the molecular targets of physical exercise, says co-author Ismail Laher of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

    Several laboratories are developing exercise pills, which at this early stage are being tested in animals to primarily target skeletal muscle performance and improve strength and energy use–essentially producing stronger and faster muscles. But of course the benefits of exercise are far greater than its effects on only muscles.

    Clearly people derive many other rewarding experiences from exercise, such as increased cognitive function, bone strength, and improved cardiovascular function, says Laher, adding that it is unrealistic to expect that exercise pills will fully be able to substitute for physical exercise at least not in the immediate future.

    While exercise pills may provide some benefits for people in the general population, they might be especially helpful for those who are unable to exercise for a variety of reasons, as the review by Laher and his coauthor Shunchang Li notes.

    Much more research is needed to fully understand the side effects of candidate exercise pills, in addition to determining their optimal dosages, and the potential for misuse in humans and animals (e.g., races).

    Laher added that they are at the early stages of this exciting new field. Further development of exercise pills that act in combination may be more effective than single compounds. Researchers just don’t know anything about their long-term use in humans yet.

  • FOODS TO HELP YOU SLEEP BETTER

    FOODS TO HELP YOU SLEEP BETTER

    A healthy diet not only provides us the energy to get through the day, but also affects our sleep. So, if you are one of those whom sleep evades, then rather than relying on sleeping pills, incorporate these food items in your diet and sleep healthy.

    Include fish in your diet

    Fish has many health -benefits, but did you know that it also contains Vitamin B6, which is essential in the creation of melatonin and serotonin, which help control your sleep cycles. Eating fish such as salmon and tuna help increase their levels.

    Soothing honey

    Honey contains an ideal ratio of fructose and -glucose, which are required to support the liver, as it works non-stop during sleep. The glucose in the honey indicates the brain to stop producing the -chemical orexin — which is known to trigger alertness.

    Tart cherries all the way

    They are one of the few -natural sources of melatonin. Include them in your diet and sleep peacefully. A -combination of melatonin and anthocyanin in tart -cherries induces sleep. It also improves your sleep quality, says Parul Khurana, -nutritionist.

    Chamomile tea

    After a busy day, there is nothing like Chamomile tea to calm you down to sleep. It is a natural sleep aid. Chamomile tea contains -theanine, which relaxes the body and induces sleep, says Khurana.

    Banana power

    Eating bananas can also help you sleep like a baby. Bananas are rich in -magnesium, potassium and calcium. All of three nutrients together act as muscle relaxers, says nutritionist Shilpa Mittal. They are also known to cure restless leg syndrome and are also effective in treating insomnia.

    Fruity cereals

    Opt for whole grain high rich cereals before night time. It contains proteins and carbohydrates in the right amount, and proteins and carbs -contain tryptophan. Tryptophan is a natural -sedative and induces sleepiness. Half a bowl of cereal before bedtime is ideal, says nutritionist Divya Gandhi.

    Walnuts and almonds

    Munch your way to sleep by gorging on walnuts and almonds. They are rich in -proteins, which contain -theanine and serotonin. Light on the stomach, -walnuts and Almonds helps you sleep -faster, says Gandhi.

  • Nasa captures Pluto’s moon Charon in stunning detail

    Nasa captures Pluto’s moon Charon in stunning detail

    Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft has returned the best colour and the highest resolution images yet of Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, which show a surprisingly complex and violent history.

    The image combines blue, red and infrared images taken by the spacecraft’s Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC); the colours are processed to best highlight the variation of surface properties across Charon.

    Charon’s colour palette is not as diverse as Pluto’s; most striking is the reddish north polar region, informally named Mordor Macula, Nasa said.

    Charon is 1,214 kilometres across. The image resolves details as small as 2.9 kilometers.

    At half the diameter of Pluto, Charon is the largest satellite relative to its planet in the solar system.

    Charon’s cratered uplands at the top are broken by series of canyons, and replaced on the bottom by the rolling plains of the informally named Vulcan Planum.

    The scene covers Charon’s width of 1,214 kilometres and resolves details as small as 0.8 kilometres.

    Another image shows the details of a belt of fractures and canyons just north of the moon’s equator.

    This great canyon system stretches more than 1,600 kilometres across the entire face of Charon and likely around onto Charon’s far side.

  • NASA TESTS HEAT SHIELD FOR FUTURE MARS MISSIONS

    NASA TESTS HEAT SHIELD FOR FUTURE MARS MISSIONS

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Researchers at Nasa have successfully tested an umbrella-like heat shield made of carbon fabric that could protect future Mars exploration vehicles from extreme heat when entering the red planet’s atmosphere.

    As Nasa missions to Mars progress with science and complex human exploration missions, spacecrafts will require larger heat shields to protect against the extreme heat of entering a planet’s atmosphere and decelerating at a safe altitude in the thin Martian atmosphere, the US space agency said.

    Today’s rockets have limited space to accommodate spacecraft and their heat shields.

    However, engineers at Nasa’s Ames Research Centre may have a solution —Adaptive Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT).

    ADEPT is a mechanically-deployable heat shield concept using carbon fabric— a flexible heat shield that expands to “open” like an umbrella.

    Ames’ engineers have successfully completed heating simulation testing of an ADEPT model under conditions akin to entering the Martian atmosphere.

    The test used a blast of hot air from a 21 inches diameter nozzle to simulate a bow shock wave in front of a 2 m wide ADEPT shield, which was attached to a water—cooled support arm.

    During the tests, temperatures on the shield reached 1,700 degrees Celsius while bluish streaks streamed away as a special resin—infused protective coating ablated from the stitching.

    Extensive instrumentation and imaging products from the test will be used to validate how materials respond to the testing conditions, and thermo—structural design codes.

    The testing approach demonstrated with this test will enable future, more extensive testing of the ADEPT configuration — towards possible future use of the system on missions bigger than anything NASA’s ever flown.

    The ADEPT project is led by Nasa’s Ames Research Centre, with contributions from multiple other Nasa centres.

  • TWITTER ROLLS MOMENTS, A FEATURE THAT SHOWCASES DAY’S BEST TWEETS

    TWITTER ROLLS MOMENTS, A FEATURE THAT SHOWCASES DAY’S BEST TWEETS

    Twitter Inc rolled out its much-anticipated “Project Lightning” on Tuesday, a feature that shows users the site’s best tweets and content as curated by a Twitter team.

    The feature, introduced a day after Twitter announced interim Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey would stay on permanently, is one of a slate of projects under Dorsey that aims to ramp up Twitter’s waning user engagement and growth.

    When users open the Twitter app on their mobile phones, they will see a lightening bolt tab that opens up a list of “moments.” An unknown number of employees curate the day’s best tweets – such as interactions between celebrities or the most shared news stories and photos – so that users can find them even if they do not follow certain accounts.

    Twitter also organizes moments by category, such as sports or entertainment.

    The microblogging service has long been criticized for being confusing to use and difficult for users to find popular content. Although more than 1 billion people have tried Twitter, the site has 316 million users worldwide, compared with Facebook Inc’s 1.5 billion and Instagram’s 400 million.

    Since Dorsey, widely heralded as a product visionary, assumed the interim chief executive officer job in July, Twitter has rolled out a number of updates and features that make it easier for users to locate the most interesting content.For example, Twitter recently introduced a “buy now” button that allows users to make purchases directly through Twitter.

    “Our work forward is to make Twitter easy to understand by anyone in the world, and give more utility to the people who love to use it daily,” Dorsey tweeted Monday after announcing he would serve as the company’s permanent CEO.

    Investors and analysts cheered Dorsey’s return, with shares rising as much as 6 percent on Monday. They have pointed to increased product rollouts since he took the helm in July – specifically citing Project Lightening – and said that what Twitter needs most to succeed is a regular slate of new features to simplify the site and keep users engaged.

  • Experts to hold space drill to save Earth

    Experts to hold space drill to save Earth

    Scientists are to send two spacecraft to knock an asteroid off course, as part of a test to block such rocks in future, which may threaten humanity.

    The joint US-European Aida (Asteroid Deflection & Assessment) mission will send a small spacecraft to crash into the egg-shaped rock, known as Didymoon.Though the asteroid is too small to pose any threat, the mission will be an important test if we do eventually come at risk of civilisation being wiped out by a space rock.

    The missions are set to be launched in October 2020 and are expected to reach Didymoon by May 2022. Nasa will send one craft in the mission, known as Double Asteroid Redirection Test (Dart), which will fire a probe to smack into the rock and see if it can throw it off course.

    Besides the nudging probe, scientists will send another spacecraft -the Europe an Space Agency’s Asteroid Impact Mission (Aim)–that will fly around Didymoon watching the effect of the Dart mission, as well as measuring the asteroid’s mass and density , and putting a small lander on the asteroid itself to look at its insides.

    “To protect Earth from potentially hazardous impacts, we need to understand asteroids much better–what they are made of, their structure, origins and how they respond to collisions,” said Dr Patrick Michel, lead investigator for the European Space Agency half of the mission.

    “Aida will be the first mission to study an asteroid bi nary system, as well as the first to test whether we can deflect an asteroid through an impact with a spacecraft.The European part of the mission will study the structure of Didymoon and the orbit and rotation of the binary system, providing clues to its origin and evolution,” Michel said. “Asteroids represent different stages in the rocky road to planetary formation, so they offer fascinating snapshots into the solar system’s history ,” he added.

  • UV light-enabled catheter to fix holes in heart without operation

    UV light-enabled catheter to fix holes in heart without operation

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Researchers have designed a specialised catheter for fixing holes in the heart using a biodegradable adhesive and patch, eliminating the need for open heart surgery.

    Pedro delNido, contributing author on the study, said, “This method also avoids suturing into the heart tissue, because we’re just gluing something to it,” said delNido.

    Catheterisations are preferable to open heart surgery because they don’t require stopping the heart, putting the patient on bypass, and cutting into the heart.

    Their newly designed catheter device utilises UV light technology, and can be used to place the patch in a beating heart. The catheter is inserted through a vein in the neck or groin and directed to the defect within the heart.

    Once in place, the clinician opens two positioning balloons: one around the front end of the catheter, and one on the other side of the heart wall.

    The clinician then deploys the patch and turns on the catheter’s UV light. The light reflects off of the balloon’s interior and activates the patch’s adhesive coating. As the glue cures, pressure from the positioning balloons on either side of the patch help secure it in place. Finally, both balloons are deflated and the catheter is withdrawn.

    Over time, normal tissue growth resumes.

  • NAVARATRI: 9 DIVINE NIGHTS

    NAVARATRI: 9 DIVINE NIGHTS

    Nava-ratri literally means “nine nights.” This festival is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter.

    Significance 

    During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as “Durga,” which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as “Devi” (goddess) or “Shakti” (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It is always there.

    Why Worship the Mother Goddess?

    We think this energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. “Why mother; why not father?”, you may ask. Let me just say that we believe that God’s glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best be depicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look upon God as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because we believe that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute.

    Why Twice a Year?

    Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because:

    • We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.
    • Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine power to bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.

    Nine Nights & Days

    Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine
    nights.

  • DURGA ASHTAMI

    DURGA ASHTAMI

    Celebrated during the time of Durga Navaratri is the famous and a significant Hindu festival called Durga Ashtami. This festival is celebrated as a memory of the day where Durga came out victorious over the demon buffalo, Mahishasura. Devotees of Durga recite many mantras of Durga on this auspicious day and seek for her blessings.

    Mahishasuramardhini the other name of Durga, and also Durgashtami is also known as Mahashtami which is one of the important days of Durga puja where several people carry out fasting on this day. Astra puja, a ritual of worshipping the weapons of the Great Goddess Durga is carried out on this day. The day is also called as Virashtami, on account of this there are many shows put on for the display of martial arts and use of arms.

    During the period of British Raj in Bengal, the gradual increase in the importance of Durga Puja started. She had also become the icon of Indian independence movement since Hindu reformists resembled Durga with India. For this matter of fact a tradition of Baroyari or community puja became famous in the 1st quarter of the 20th century. Durga Puja stood one amongst the largely celebrated festivals in the entire world soon after the Independence.

    Mahishasuramardhini’ which is a radio famous programme since 1950s starts off the mood of the Durga Puja. This programme used to be aired live before but now a recorded version is broadcasted. In this programme late Birendra Krishna Bhadra, and also late Pankaj Kumar Mullick’s recorded voice of enchanting the hymns of the scriptures from Chandi or Devi Mahatmyam is listended by traditional Bengalis waking up early in the morning at 4. This programme is aired on All India Radio on the day of Mahalaya.

    Durga Puja is a festival which is also said to be the festival of Good Winning over Bad, Ma Durga winning over Mahishasura. Durgashtami day overlaps with the next day to end with a Sandhi Puja, puja performed for the overlapping of Durgashtami with Mahanavami.

    Goddess Durga is the mother of the universe and believed to be the power behind the work of creation, preservation, and destruction of the world. Since time immemorial she has been worshipped as the supreme power of the Supreme Being and has been mentioned in many scriptures – Yajur Veda, Vajasaneyi Samhita and Taittareya Brahman.

    The Meaning of Durga

    The word “Durga” in Sanskrit means a fort, or a place which is difficult to overrun. Another meaning of “Durga” is “Durgatinashini,” which literally translates into “the one who eliminates sufferings.” Thus, Hindus believe that goddess Durga protects her devotees from the evils of the world and at the same time removes their miseries.

    The Many Forms of Durga

    There are many incarnations of Durga: Kali, Bhagvati, Bhavani, Ambika, Lalita, Gauri, Kandalini, Java, Rajeswari, et al.

    Durga incarnated as the united power of all divine beings, who offered her the required physical attributes and weapons to kill the demon “Mahishasur”. Her nine appellations are Skondamata, Kusumanda, Shailaputri, Kaalratri, Brahmacharini, Maha Gauri, Katyayani, Chandraghanta and Siddhidatri.

    Durga’s Many Arms

    Durga is depicted as having eight or ten hands. These represent eight quadrants or ten directions in Hinduism. This suggests that she protects the devotees from all directions.

    Durga’s Three Eyes

    Like Shiva, Mother Durga is also referred to as “Triyambake” meaning the three eyed Goddess. The left eye represents desire (the moon), the right eye represents action (the sun), and the central eye knowledge (fire).

    Durga’s Vehicle – the Lion

    The lion represents power, will and determination. Mother Durga riding the lion symbolises her mastery over all these qualities. This suggests to the devotee that one has to possess all these qualities to get over the demon of ego.

  • I’M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT GETTING PAID LESS: KAREENA KAPOOR

    I’M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT GETTING PAID LESS: KAREENA KAPOOR

    KAREENA KAPOORKareena Kapoor Khan has been one of the most popular actors in Bollywood for over a decade now. She says that, even today, she is as passionate about her work as she was when she was a newcomer, because cinema is her greatest passion. She made her debut at the age of 20 (with Refugee, 2000), and till date has starred in around 50 films. Yet, she shows no signs of slowing down.

    “I want to act all my life. It’s something that I do and love. I just want to try out different things. I’m glad that I am in a position to choose. I’m happy because my journey in the industry has been amazing so far. I enjoy what I do and I’m very passionate about it. Even 25 years down the line, I want to give an interview and say that there’s still something that I haven’t done; that there’s that one movie I can still do,” says Kareena.

    “A hue and cry is raised on the disparity between the pay cheques of male and female stars in Bollywood, and so many figures go around. But I’ve never had an issue. I’m not complaining about the fact that I’m not paid well. I don’t know what others get, but I know what I get paid, and the fact is, I’m very happy with that,” she adds.

  • Deepika Padukone: Launches her NGO “Live Love Laugh”

    Deepika Padukone: Launches her NGO “Live Love Laugh”

    Deepika Padukone has now taken a step further to help people battle depression and has raised the importance of spreading awareness about mental health at the launch of her NGO here.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday launched Deepika’s NGO “Live Love Laugh”, which will deal with the issue of mental health.

    Famous and Top Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone had faced depression in the past. She had decided during the drepression that he will form the foundation to help the people get out of depression.

    She thinks that depression is a major health issue in the country today which needs to be addressed.

    “We need to stigmatize mental illness and spread awareness about mental health. I know in the current scenario we lead stressful lives but you have to keep reminding yourself that it is important to live, love and laugh. After all that is what life is all about,” Deepika said during the launch.

    “Most importantly for people like me who have had an experience with anxiety and depression, I think it is important to know that there is hope,” she added.

    Deepika also talked about her depression and how her parents and loved ones helped her.

    Talking about the depression of her elder daughter, Deepika’s mother Ujjala Padukone said: “I detected the symptoms in Deepika and I thought it may be due to some boyfriend issue. But then I knew the depression is due to mental and physical stress and we realized that we should take help from a psychiatrist”.

    Deepika’s father Prakash Padukone added: “I was worried about the health of my daughter and we wanted her to be fine”.

    The Piku star agreed that depression has changed her.

    “A lot of experiences we go through in life makes you learn something and it makes you into a better person,” she said.

  • KANGANA RANAUT, IRRFAN KHAN TO WORK IN BEGUM AKHTAR BIOPIC

    KANGANA RANAUT, IRRFAN KHAN TO WORK IN BEGUM AKHTAR BIOPIC

    Biopics are definitely ruling Bollywood trends these days. After releasing his biopic on painter Raja Ravi Varma (Rang Rasiya), Ketan Mehta has now announced a film on renowned ghazal and thumri singer Begum Akhtar, Ae Mohabbat. While Irrfan Khan has been roped in for the film, the female lead is yet to be finalised. Kangana Ranaut is one of the top contenders for the role. Shri Anup Jalota Productions and Ae Mohabbat Productions on Tuesday announced the film on the life and times of Begum Akhtar, also the recipient of Padmabhushan and an icon of Indian classical music. Directed by noted filmmaker Ketan Mehta, the film will have actor Irrfan Khan in the main lead with Oscar winner AR Rahman giving the music of the film.

    Although the female lead if yet to be finalised but Kangana might end up doing the project.“We are trying to get Kangana Ranaut to play one of the stages of Begum Akhatar in the film. We have grown up listening to and idolising Begum Akhtar. I have been wanting to initiate such project and a tie up with Ae Mohabbat Productions and associating with Rita Ganguly who knew her personally, is a real blessing,” he added.

  • THE MARTIAN | MOVIE REVIEW

    THE MARTIAN | MOVIE REVIEW

    STORY: While the Ares 3 crew led by Commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain) is out collecting samples from the Martian surface, a sudden windstorm wreaks havoc, sweeping astronaut/ botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon) away. This causes his mates to leave him behind on the desolate planet and begin their journey back to Earth, assuming he must have been killed by falling debris. Turns out, Watney is injured and stranded alone on the red planet, struggling to survive with limited resources at his disposal. He strangely hopes that he may live till NASA initiates their next mission to Mars, years later.

    MOVIE REVIEW: Back on earth, NASA too reports about Watney’s death and declares that the mission was aborted. Shocked to know later that he’s alive, they contemplate a rescue plan but as Watney puts it, ‘Space does not cooperate’. Does he make it?

    The Martian is an extraordinary tale of Watney’s extreme optimism, courage, determination and most importantly, ingenuity. Of course there are creative liberties but based on Andy Weir’s novel, the film is a fictional tale that’s fascinating and plausible. From Watney trying to grow potatoes and make water on Martian soil to fixing his blown up HAB (Habitation Module) by a plastic tarp and duct tape, or wandering around the Martian surface and establishing contact with folks back home — a brilliantly witty Matt Damon drags you along with him, to his hostile world of loneliness and uncertainty. His one-liners and crackling self talk saves the film from turning sluggish and generic in portions.

    The cinematography, 3D and special effects are equally commendable. Mars’ mountainous terrain in various hues of orange looks absolutely stunning.

    While The Martian is not an edge-of-the-seat thriller like Gravity, it is gripping nonetheless and strikes an enjoyable balance between entertainment and science. Scott’s understated drama inspires you to solve your problems instead of mulling over them.

    In Watney’s iconic style, it’s about ‘scienceing the sh** out of” your nightmares. His unflinching determination and persistence to survive is a story you don’t want to miss. Go for it.

  • REESE WITHERSPOON TO RECEIVE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE AWARD

    REESE WITHERSPOON TO RECEIVE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE AWARD

    Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon will be be honoured by The American Cinematheque with its annual award, on October 30 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

    Witherspoon, 39, was most recently Oscar-nominated for lead actress in 201’s Wild, which was produced by her Pacific Standard production company.

    “Reese Witherspoon’s career is a perfect example of an actress flourishing in today’s world. She achieved commercial success early in comedies like ‘Election’, ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and then added major critical success to her resume with movies such as ‘Walk the Line’ for which she received the Academy award for best actress,” said Rick Nicita, American Cinematheque chairman.

    “She has refused to be limited to only certain types of roles and has continued to impress with her varied choices, ranging from smaller roles in dramas such as ‘Mud’ to a tour-de-force, Oscar-nominated performance last year in ‘Wild’. She is an active and successful movie producer who is moving her career forward both behind and in front of the camera. The most appropriate role for Reese Witherspoon today is role model.”

    The annual gala is a major fundraiser for the American Cinematheque and honours actors in mid-career who are making significant contributions to the film biz. Matthew McConaughey was last year s honoree, reported Variety.

  • JENNIFER ANISTON STARS IN FUNNY NEW EMIRATES COMMERCIAL

    JENNIFER ANISTON STARS IN FUNNY NEW EMIRATES COMMERCIAL

    Jennifer Aniston has starred in a fun newly-released commercial of international carrier Emirates Airline that shows her wearing only a white bathrobe.

    While Aniston, 46, knows all about the jet-set lifestyle in real life, the “Friends” alum gets a glimpse or nightmare of what it’s like to be stuck in coach, reported People magazine.

    “Hi, I’m looking for the shower?” she tells the flight crew, who could only offer a bag of peanuts and hot towel.

    “Emirates planes have showers and they have bars,” Aniston retorts with a loofah back scrubber brush and toiletry bag in hand.

    But it was only a case of night terrors. The star wakes up in her reclining bed-like seat with her iPad propped by her side.

    Aniston reportedly signed a USD 5 million contract with Emirates in August, and will appear in TV and print ads.

  • TALVAR | Movie Review

    TALVAR | Movie Review

    STORY: Teenager Shruti Tandon and domestic help Khempal are murdered – but who did it? And while the truth unravels, what else gets slashed?

    TALVARMOVIE REVIEW: Straight away, Talvar is super-sharp, a sword swipe at Bollywood’s song-and-dance, mehendi-fuelled escapism. Inspired by 2008’s Aarushi Talwar double murder case, for which Aarushi’s parents are serving a life-term, Talvar takes reality head on -and turns it on its head.

    In neatly separated segments, Talvar presents contrasting views on who killed Shruti Tandon and Khempal. Was it Shruti’s outraged parents? Khempal’s outrageous friends? Or did botched investigations butcher Shruti and Khempal, even after they were slain?

    Talvar gets your mind ticking along the murders’ mysteries while it moves your heart at two lives – and one truth – lost.

    The acting is superb. Irrfan absolutely smashes it as Central Department of Investigation (CDI) officer Ashwin Kumar, whose sharp intelligence, dark humour and melting tenderness towards his wife Reema (luminous Tabu) light up every frame. Irrfan displays whiplash-like control, casually drawling to a dim-witted cop, “Agli baar koi khoon bhara haath chor jaye, toh dhyan dijiyega…” As bumbling Inspector Dhaniram, whose laziness extends to overlooking a rotting corpse, Gajraj Rao presents a perfect paan-chewing foil, dismissing a blood-stained sheet with, “Tumhari chadar hai, locker mein daal do, hamein kya?”

    While the screen crackles between Irrfan and Gajraj, Konkona and Neeraj play the Tandons as a muted pair -whose acting changes subtly as murderers, then victims. Neeraj’s eyes speak while with flashing malevolence, Konkona hisses to her husband, “Chalo, rona shuru karna hai!” The acting’s further enlivened by creepy Kanhaiya (Sumit Gulati), whose slyness adds shades of grey to this hair-raising tale.

    With layers of truth and lies, TV reporters shrieking, “Yahi hai woh ghar!”, hazy narco-tests and back-stabbing office politics, Talvar’s frames are relentless, edgy portraits. Pankaj Kumar captures dusty suburbia and the tension of a tight little flat, intercut with heart-rending shots – the cheery sparklers of a Delhi baraat -that emphasise the grimness of the Tandons’ lives. Taut editing (Sreekar Prasad) is excellent while Vishal Bhardwaj’s writing haunts, cluttered with facts, buzzing with theories – yet, strangely stark.

    Talvar’s compared to Rashomon but while that wandered through forests of fantasy, Talvar boldly tackles reality. It offers totally different takes on two murders. But it is unambiguous about a third – fairness, slashed to pieces by incompetence and callous crassness.

    In wiping away stains from the sword of justice, Talvar shines.

  • Audi reports best ever September sales

    Audi reports best ever September sales

    MUNICH (TIP): German automaker Audi AG sold 170,900 cars in September, a year-on-year increase of 6.8 percent, marking the company’s best September sales figures ever, the firm said.

    A total of around 1,347,950 Audi cars have so far been delivered to customers since the start of the year, representing an increase of 3.8 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Ingolstadt-based company.

    “In light of the difficult market situation in important regions, we view our sales performance in the third quarter positively,” Xinhua quoted said Luca de Meo, member of the board of management for sales and marketing, as saying.

    He added that Audi intends to launch another 15 new or updated models on the global markets by the middle of next year, which will further boost sales.

  • AXIS BANK ADDS MOBILITY TO CORPORATE BANKING

    AXIS BANK ADDS MOBILITY TO CORPORATE BANKING

    MUMBAI (TIP): Axis Bank has become the first lender to offer corporates a mobile-based solution that fully integrates with the company’s own back-end computer networks. This offering, aimed at beefing up the bank’s transaction banking platform, frees senior executives from the office and allows them to undertake authorizations on the go.

    The application would allow a treasury head to move money into liquid mutual fund schemes instantly without losing a day. It can allow authorized personnel to approve transactions even when they are travelling. Speaking to ToI, V Srinivasan, executive director in charge of corporate banking said “We have been very strong in the transaction banking space and we are trying to make sure that we stay ahead of the pack and gain market share”. He added that the bank ranked number three in current account balances despite being only the eighth largest in overall balance sheet. The comprehensive suite of mobile and tablet based solutions for corporates encompasses the entire gamut of transaction banking products and services.

    According to Srinivasan while banks have been offering mobile banking for corporates this is the first time that there is a solution which integrates with the corporates Enterprise Resource Planning software.

    He said that with the increase in the number of payment platforms including NEFT (national electronic funds transfer) and IMPS (Immediate Payment System) corporates now needed to take decision almost immediately to use their funds more efficiently. For instance if money comes into the corporate’s account at 1pm the treasury head can move it instantly into a liquid scheme and benefit from the returns for one additional day.

  • US VOLKSWAGEN CHIEF ADMITS KNEW OF EMISSIONS PROBLEM IN 2014

    US VOLKSWAGEN CHIEF ADMITS KNEW OF EMISSIONS PROBLEM IN 2014

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Volkswagen’s US chief revealed he knew more than a year ago that the group’s cars possibly breached pollution rules, as he prepared to apologize Thursday before Congress over the massive scandal.

    In testimony released ahead of his hearing before a Congressional committee, Michael Horn offered a “sincere apology” over Volkswagen’s use of a software designed to cheat pollution tests.

    The German auto giant has sunk into the deepest crisis of its history after revealing that it equipped 11 million of its vehicles worldwide with software that switches the engine to
    a low-emissions mode during tests.

    The so-called defeat devices then turn off pollution controls when the vehicle is on the road, allowing it to spew out harmful levels of toxic gases.

    The shocking revelations have wiped more than 40 percent off Volkswagen’s market capitalization, but the direct and indirect costs are still incalculable as the company risks fines in several countries and possible damages from customers’ lawsuits.

    Horn said he learnt in early 2014 of “a possible emissions non-compliance”, after researchers at the University of West Virginia found that VW cars it tested were releasing up to 40 times as much nitrogen oxide as was legally permissible.

    He said he was told by his staff then that US authorities could conduct tests for so-called “defeat devices”, which switches the car to a low emissions mode when cars are undergoing tests.

    The US boss for Volkswagen said he was informed later that year that technical teams had a plan to bring the vehicles into compliance, and that they were working with the authorities on the process.

    Volkswagen finally admitted to US regulators in September this year that hidden software installed in certain diesel vehicles “could recognize whether a vehicle was being operated in a test laboratory or on the road,” Horn said.

    Admitting that the company had “broken the trust of our customers, dealerships, and employees, as well as the public and regulators,” Horn vowed to hold those responsible accountable.

    Separately, VW Korea President Thomas Kuehl was also due to be grilled in the South Korean parliament Thursday afternoon, according to state broadcaster KBS.

    “I sincerely apologize over betraying customers’ trust”, Volkswagen Korea President Thomas Kuehl said in a newspaper advertisement in South Korea.

    At home in Germany, Volkswagen’s new chief Matthias Mueller has said four employees have been suspended over the deception, adding however that he did not believe that top management could have been aware of the scam.

    Mueller said in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that “four people, including three responsible directors on different levels of the development of Volkswagen engines,” had been suspended over the deception, adding that “others were already on partial retirement”.

    He said however that the development of an engine is “a complex process” but that these were tasks in which “a director is not directly involved”.

    “Do you really think that a boss would have the time to be concerned about the details of engine software?” he said.

    Claims emerged in media reports Thursday that the group had not only deliberately fitted the cars sold on the US market with the defeat devices, but had also intentionally sought to cheat tests in Europe by doing so with vehicles sold on the continent.

    “In Europe too, Volkswagen effectively cheated on emissions in a systematic manner,” newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung claimed, citing its own research in collaboration with public broadcasters NDR and WDR.

    It added that “without the cheating software, the affected cars would not have been authorised under the Euro 5 emissions regulation”.

    The car group, which submitted its plans and timetable to bring vehicles to compliance to German authorities Wednesday, is planning to begin recalling affected vehicles from January.

    But it admitted that it would only be able to complete the refitting by the end of next year.

    The group has set aside 6.5 billion euros in the third quarter over the affair, but that was only the estimated sum to cover repairs of affected vehicles. The cost of fines and potential damages arising from lawsuits is hard to calculate.

    In the United States alone, Volkswagen faces up to $18 billion in fines from the Environmental Protection Agency, plus potential payouts from class action lawsuits and penalties from other regulators.

    Asked about the looming fines, Mueller said, however: “Think about this: no one died from this, our cars were and are safe.”

  • AVOID BREAST CANCER RISK

    AVOID BREAST CANCER RISK

    Breast cancer can be avoided if you follow a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercising regularly, proper diet, avoiding junk food and other unhealthy vices. We chalk out nine everyday habits that will help you avoid breast cancer completely.

    Keep a tab on your weight

    Women are more inclined to get breast cancer after they hit menopause. Generally, at this time in their lives, they tend to ignore themselves completely and as a result, put on a lot of weight. So if you want to avoid getting breast cancer, maintain a healthy weight in your late 40s (preferably a body-mass index under 25).

    Add greens and fruits to your diet

    While junk food certainly seems appetising, your bad calorie count increases. So ditch the fast food and focus on healthy food. Include more raw veggies and fruits in your diet to boost antioxidants and keep disease away.

    Wear the right bra size

    An ill-fitting garment is not only unattractive but also risky. Wear the right bra, which allows your skin to breathe.

    Self-examination

    You know your body like nobody else, so always check for any swellings, dimples on your breast. Women should examine their breasts regularly.

    You can be susceptible to breast cancer if your family has a history of breast cancer. So check your families medical history, 10 per cent of all breast cancers in the world are genetically transferred.

    Ditch the alcohol

    Alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Women should limit their intake to not more than one drink per day. It is often the unrestrained copious amount that causes trouble regardless of the type of alcohol.

    Kick that butt

    Smoking is associated with more than one type of cancer; cancer risk posed by smoking is real for both women and men.

    Breast-feed your child

    Women who breast-feed their babies for at least a year in total have a reduced risk of developing breast cancer later on in life. Breast-feeding, temporarily reduces a woman’s estrogen levels.

    A regular check-up after the age of 30 is important; it’s pertinent that you know what your body is going through and how well you can take care of it. Regular mammography and sonography should be a part of your check-up routine

  • What All the pre-poll surveys say about Bihar elections

    What All the pre-poll surveys say about Bihar elections

    NEW DELHI (TIP): In exactly a month’s time it will become clear who will rule Bihar for the next five years. The five-phase voting in the state starts from October 12 and ends on November 5 followed by counting on 8.

    Screen Shot 2015-10-11 at 3.48.18 PMWhile much is at stake for the Bharatiya Janata Party, which won a massive mandate in Lok Sabha election, to prove its mettle in the state Assembly polls, it is a do or die battle for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United.

    To take on the BJP, the JDU, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress are jointly contesting the polls as the ‘Mahagatbandhan’.

    In the run up to the elections, here is the list of all opinion polls by different newspapers and channels that have been conducted for Bihar till now. While other have also given the seats, CSDS only came out with the vote share.