The Indian Panorama

Month: September 2016

  • No injury, but PV Sindhu pulls out of Japan Open

    No injury, but PV Sindhu pulls out of Japan Open

    HYDERABAD (TIP): The Olympic silver medallist has pulled out of next week’s Japan Open Super Series. Sindhu was expected to face Olympic gold medallist Carolina Marin in the quarterfinals in Tokyo. The lanky shuttler will also miss the Korea Open Super Series, scheduled to be held from September 27.

    The 21-year-old will be back in action at the Denmark Open Super Series Premier, which begins at Odense on October 18. Disclosing this here, her coach Pullela Gopichand confirmed that Sindhu will not be travelling to Tokyo.

    “She will be back for the Denmark Open. She will also compete in the French Open next month. We had to make some changes in her schedule,” Gopichand said.

    Incidentally, Sindhu had reached the final of the Denmark Open last year. She downed Wang Yihan and Marin before losing to Li Xuerui in the summit clash. That was the best performance by Sindhu in a Super Series event.

    Despite winning two bronze medals at the World Championships and Grand Prix Gold events, a Super Series title has eluded Sindhu so far. Soon after winning the silver at the Olympics, the star shuttler had said that her next goal is to win a Super Series title.After the October Super Series, the World No.10 Indian will also participate in the China Open Premier and Hong Kong Super Series in November. A good show here will help Sindhu to qualify for the Super Series Finals to be held in Dubai in December. Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth are the only Indians who have competed in the year-ending Finals.

    Sindhu started training immediately after arriving from Rio. However, she had to attend many felicitation functions and did not get enough practice in the last one month. Moreover, her coach Gopichand is wary of exposing Sindhu so soon after the Olympics. “I know that there will be a lot of focus on Sindhu now. Other teams will be working on strategies to dominate her. We also should be ready to beat them,” Gopi said.

    In Sindhu’s absence, Kidambi Srikanth will lead the Indian challenge.

    Ajay Jayaram, Sai Praneeth and HS Prannoy are the other Indians in men’s singles.

  • PARTHIV LINGAM

    PARTHIV LINGAM

    Parthiva Linga is the most supreme among all the Shiva-Lingas. All the aspirtions of he deities as well as men are fulfilled by the worship of Parthiv linga. During the era of Satya, jewel was considered to be of prime importance, where as during Tretayuga and Dwaparyuga, gold and mercury had the prime importance respectively. In the present era of Kali, a Parthiva Linga hold this place of honour. The worship of Parthiva Linga begets more virtues than even penance. Just as Ganga among the rivers, Kashi among the sacred places of pilgrimages, Omkar among all the mantras are considered to be superior, In the same way Parthivalinga is considered to the supreme among all the Linga. Worshipping, a Parthiva linga with a ‘Nishkam bhava’ helps a man to attain liberation.” ~ Shiva Purana.

    Parthiva Shivlinga is a Shivlinga made from mud/sand. Parthiv means Earth and worshipping a Parthiv Shivling liberates devotees of all sins committed in birth. Lord Rama worshipped a Parthiva Shivling to seek liberation from Brahmahatyamahapatakam, the sin of killing Ravana who was a Brahman. Parthiva Shivlinga is also known as Saikata Lingam. Parthiva Shivlingas are considered as one of the most auspicious, sacred and divine amongst all Shivlingas. Worshipping of Parthiva Shivlingas leads to liberation from karma and achievement of Moksha. Worshipping a Parthiva Shivlinga also provides relief from malefic Navgraha Dosha and provides peace to soul of ancestors. After bath in the morning, a man should wear a rudraksha garland in his neck and apply bhasma on his forehead. He should then worship the Parthiva Linga. He should chant the various names of Shiva, while worshipping the Parthiva Linga, like Har, Maheshwar, Shambhu, Shoolpani, Mahadev. After worshipping the Parthiva Linga, it should be immersed in the river, Then the mantra – OM NAMAH SHIVAY should be chanted with complete devotion. This is the method which has been described in the Vedas.

    Forms of Shiva

    “In Me the universe had its origin In Me alone the whole subsists In Me it is lost” — Shiva

    The Timeless, it is I Myself Shiva in his ParamShiva state is Swayambhu, which literally means self-manifested, without birth or without origin. Shiva is not born, he manifests on his own. Hence Shiva is not result of Shaktis manifestation. Shiva is birth less, attribute less, formless and he is so because of his own nature, so he is Swayambhu , ????? ??. There is a verse in Vedas singing 3 well known names of God as SHIV, SHANKER, SHAMBHU. One of the verses in Yajurveda invokes God through 6 names including 3 highly popular names,’ Shiv Shanker & Shambhu. Millions of devotees daily chant these names while worshipping God. God has been described in 6 forms.

    1- SHAMBHAV (well being)
    2 –MAYOBHAV(manifested as the forms of delight)
    3 – SHANKER ( creator of well being)
    4 – MAYASKER (creator of delight)
    5 – SHIV (peaceful & unmanifested form of God)
    6 – SHIVTARA ( the form further beyond the Shiva form ).

    Three names of Lord Shiva are always fascinating Svayambhu, Tejaswi and Akshar.

    If you talk of Shiva as one of the Trinity, then these names may not attract you much. When we talk of Lord Shiva, as Param Siva (which is called Mahavishnu by vaishnavas), then the names have great meanings. Shiva is the origin of the universe. It is He who manifests as Ardhanariswara and then Shakti separates from him and the universe starts unfolding. It is then that the trinity is born and then other devas and asuras and all living being takes birth.!

    Achaleshwar Mahadev where Toe mark of Shiva is Worshipped

    Achleshwar Mahadev Temple, Mount Abu Sirohi , Rajasthan where the toe of Lord Shiva is worshipped and a brass Nandi is located there. The temple more than 2500 years old is the only place on earth where the great toe of Lord Shiva is worshiped, that is estimated to be going to the centre of the earth. Near the temple there are three stone buffaloes standing around a pond. It is believed that the Achleshwar temple was built in the 9th century and legend has it that it was built around a toe print of Lord Shiva. Achleshwar contains a natural Shivalinga. It is the proud possessor of the glory of rich mythology, theology, folklore and even history. Miracles happened in its hallowed precincts. Its Nandi, made of an alloy of five different metals, is credited with the marvel of repulsing the Muslim invaders by releasing millions of bumble bees to attack the Muslim marauders!

    The most remarkable fact is that the Shivling placed here changes its color thrice a day. In the morning, it is red; then it changes its color to saffron in the afternoon. And in the evening, the color changes to wheatish. It is said that no one knows how deep the roots of this Shivling are. To find out the same, devotees once dug down the surrounding area deep but even after that they could not reach the other end. And finally the devotees had to call off the excavation process. People believe that the Lord Achaleshwar Maharaj fulfils the wish of every devotee, especially when unmarried boys and girl pray for their successful marriage.

    Lingaraj Temple

    parthiv-lingam-1The Lingaraj Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is said to be known as one of the oldest pilgrimage centers in the city. Located in the midsts of several ancient monuments in Bhubaneswar, the temple sees a large number of religious tourists throughout the year. The shrine’s main deity is known as Lingaraj, which literally translates to the ‘King of Lingas’ in Sanskrit. Apart from the spiritual and devotional significance that this place holds, the architecture displays a work of a genius. The tall rising ‘gopuram’ that overlooks its surrounding scenery, accompanied with intricate craftsmanship, is said to be a common feature of the Kalinga architecture. Around the vicinity of the shrine, there are different gods and goddess of Hinduism. It is supposed to reflect on the importance of each and sends out a universal message of ‘one God in different forms’. Read the article below to know more about the Lingaraj Temple.

  • VICTIM OF HACKS AND SCAMS? THE DOs AND DON’TS OF USING SOCIAL MEDIA & APPS

    VICTIM OF HACKS AND SCAMS? THE DOs AND DON’TS OF USING SOCIAL MEDIA & APPS

    Social networking sites and applications are increasingly becoming a part of our everyday lives. We use them to communicate with people around us, network for jobs, and connect with others with similar interests.

    However, using social networks and apps can be fraught with serious security risks, both for your person and your data.

    Here are some tips to make your social media experience better:-

    Do’s

    • Use a strong password and use privacy settings. Insist your friends do the same.
    • Do not share everything on social media or upload anything you wouldn’t want everyone to see. Make sure only your accepted friends or followers can see what you put up on Facebook and Instagram. On Twitter, share your opinion carefully so as not to hurt others’ sentiments or share something which is radical in nature.
    • Even after taking adequate “precautions”, leaks, hacks, and privacy policy revisions are not unheard of.
    • Don’t assume what you post is secure, despite the settings. Ensure that it is HTTPS protocol when connecting to social networking sites, especially when using public hotspot. Be wary if your social networking service only uses HTTP for login credentials.
    • Whenever possible, organise contacts into “categories”. Most of us do this between friends and family anyway, but from a security standpoint it might also make sense to separate “best friends” from “person I met yesterday afternoon”.
    • Verify friend/follower requests. Most scams start with someone bluffing their way into your friends list. Be sure of who you are sharing your information with. Verify links, attachments, downloads, emails; in short, anything you receive. Set up proper spam filters or report abuse or spam wherever applicable.
    • Even trusted friends could have had their accounts hacked. Don’t wire that “emergency money” until you can voice-verify. Investigate exactly what information any third-party add-ons, games, extensions, etc. will be privy to.
    • Does that poker game actually need access to your contacts list?Read up on the security tips and instructions provided by the social network itself, as well as what trusted security professionals and sources have to say.

    DON’Ts

    • Don’t give away your password or use the same password for any other services.
    • If a leak at Facebook causes your password to become public, you don’t want a hacker being able to use that same password to log into your gmail or Courseworks.
    • Don’t put more information about yourself than is absolutely necessary. Hackers, scammers, stalkers can use that information to do anything from guessing answers to security-questions, to impersonating you when trying to scam another user.
    • On that same note, be careful how much live information you’re putting out there.
    • Don’t advertise when you are going on vacation, when your possessions might be left unattended, or boast about that super expensive thing you just bought.
    • Be aware of auto-geotagging. Some services will automatically tag your status updates with GPS information.
    • If you don’t want everyone to know where you are, make sure your social networking service doesn’t turn on this “feature” for your “convenience” automatically.
    • Everything you post, share or upload stays on in the virtual world, nothing “disappear” from the internet. Even the picture that you deleted from your account is still sitting on Facebook’s server somewhere.
    • In a professional setting, be mindful of inadvertently letting slip sensitive information such as new security software, procedures, that could harm your company or may get you fired!
  • Instagram launches new tool to monitor offensive comments

    Instagram launches new tool to monitor offensive comments

    Instagram, the photo-sharing app owned by Facebook Inc on Monday launched a keyword moderation tool to allow its users to control the comments posted on their pictures.

    The feature allows its users to list words that they consider offensive or inappropriate and then comments with those words would be hidden from the user’s posts.

    Abusive comments and online trolling seen on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Inc have been garnering eyeballs as more celebrities deactivate their accounts as a result of the hate they receive online.

    Recently Twitter permanently suspended a number of user accounts for harassment after the exit of Ghostbusters actor Leslie Jones from the microblogging site as she faced severe abuse and harassment on the platform.

    The new feature from Instagram comes almost a month after pop star Justin Beiber quit the site after threatening to make his account private due to the backlash he received on a picture he posted.

    Instagram already allows its users to delete comments by swiping, reporting inappropriate comments and blocking accounts and now with the new tool users can either use their own curated list of inappropriate words or use the list of default words provided by Instagram to hide them from the comments.

  • Bayer signs deal worth close to $66 billion to buy Monsanto

    Bayer signs deal worth close to $66 billion to buy Monsanto

    Bayer won over Monsanto’s management with a $128 per-share cash offer to acquire the global seed market leader, a person familiar with the matter said, in a move to command more than a quarter of the combined world market for seeds and pesticides.

    Bayer has signed a deal that includes a fee of $2 billion should the transaction fail to get regulatory clearance as planned, the person said. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2017, the source told Reuters on Wednesday.

    Monsanto and Bayer were not immediately available for comment.

    Shares in Bayer extended gains to trade 3 percent higher on the news, outperforming.

    At a total deal value of close to$66 billion – based on 442 million Monsanto shares and the U.S. group’s net debt of $9.3 billion as per end-May – it will be the largest transaction ever involving a German buyer.

    It would trump Daimler’s merger deal with Chrysler in 1998, which valued the U.S. carmaker at more than $40 billion. It will also be the largest all-cash transaction on record, ahead of brewer InBev’s $60.4 billion offer for Anheuser-Busch in 2008.

    The two companies were in talks to sound out ways to combine their businesses as early as March, which culminated in Bayer coming out with an initial$122 per-share takeover proposal in May.

  • SPACECRAFT SENT TO ASTEROID TO TRY AND STOP ARMAGEDDON

    SPACECRAFT SENT TO ASTEROID TO TRY AND STOP ARMAGEDDON

    #Nasa has sent a spacecraft chasing after an unexplored asteroid, in the hope that it might one day keep us from being destroyed.

    The OSIRIS-REx robotic hunter has blasted off to the asteroid Bennu. When it gets there it will scoop up bits of ancient space rock – which could eventually tell us not just about where we came from but whether there is life elsewhere as well.

    But before it helps us find aliens, the craft might help us save ourselves.

    Bennu comes past Earth every six years – and could come so close in 150 years that it hits us. The odds are tiny – less than one-tenth of 1 per cent – but that is still significant.

    And while the rock itself wouldn’t destroy Earth, though could cause huge destruction, there are asteroids flying around

    By sending the craft to Bennu, scientists will be able to learn more about the still somewhat mysterious paths of asteroids, and help them predict when one might collide with us. It might also help them learn more about what to do if one is.

    OSIRIS-REx will hover like a hummingbird over Bennu, according to Lauretta, as the spacecraft’s 10 ft (3m) mechanical arm touches down like a pogo stick on the surface for three to five seconds. Thrusters will shoot out nitrogen gas to stir up the surface, and the loose particles will be sucked up into the device. Spacecraft managers call it “the gentle high five.” They get just three shots at this, before the nitrogen gas runs out and the effort abandoned.

    The team opted for this touch-and-go procedure instead of landing to increase the odds of success. Despite extensive observations of Bennu from ground and space telescopes, no one knows exactly what to expect there, and it could be difficult if not impossible to anchor a spacecraft on the surface, Lauretta said.

    Osiris-Rex’s freed sample container – the same kind used for the comet-dust retrieval – will parachute down with the pristine asteroid treasure in Utah. The mother spacecraft, meanwhile, will continue its orbit of the sun.

    Among the 8,000 Nasa launch guests was the schoolboy who came up with the asteroid’s name for a contest.

    Twelve-year-old Mike Puzio of Greensboro, North Carolina, cheered as he watched his first up-close rocket launch: “It was awesome!”

    “Unbelievable,” added Dr. Larry Puzio, his pediatrician dad.

    The name Bennu comes from the heron of Egyptian mythology. Mike thought OSIRIS-REx looked like a bird, with its twin solar wings and long arm outstretched for a sample grab. And with the spacecraft named after the Egyptian god Osiris, Bennu was an obvious choice, he said.

    OSIRIS-REx is also a Nasa acronym for origins, spectral interpretation, resource identification, security-regolith explorer. The estimated cost of the mission is more than $800m (£603m).

    “Space exploration brings out the best in us,” Nye said shortly before OSIRIS-REx began its journey. “It is an extraordinary use of our intellect and treasure to elevate humankind, to help us know our place in the cosmos.” Source: The Independent

    Space agency starts to unfold

    atlas of 1 billion stars in 3D

    MADRID: If space is the final frontier, it will help to have an accurate map, and the European Space Agency says its mission to chart more than 1 billion stars in the Milky Way is on track for completion in a year’s time.

    The agency released the first data on Wednesday from its ongoing effort to draw the biggest and most precise three-dimensional map of our galaxy.

    Mission manager Fred Jansen told a news conference in Madrid that he is “extremely happy” with the precision of the data gathered so far. It is being distributed among scientists for analysis.

    At the heart of the five-year mission is the 10-meter (33-foot)-wide Gaia spacecraft, which resembles a barrel sitting on a saucer. It carries two telescopes and is orbiting slowly around the sun.

  • How smoking ups heart failure risk

    How smoking ups heart failure risk

    Smoking is associated with thicker heart walls and reduction in the heart’s pumping ability — two factors linked to increased risk of heart failure, a new study warns.

    That smoking is bad for heart has been known for long but the new study, in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Imagin, reveals a clear mechanism by which tobacco may increase the risk of heart failure.

    “These data suggest that smoking can independently lead to thickening of the heart and worsening of heart function, which may lead to a higher risk for heart failure, even in people who don’t have heart attacks,” said lead author of the study Wilson Nadruz Jr from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

    The study, conducted in participants of average age 75.7 and no obvious signs of cardiovascular disease, also found that higher rates of cumulative cigarette exposure — measure of how much and how long people have smoked during their lifetime — were associated with greater heart damage.

    “The more people smoke, the greater the damage to the heart’s structure and function, which reinforces the recommendations stating that smoking is dangerous and should be stopped,” Nadruz Jr said.

    The study examined data from 4,580 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study who underwent an echocardiogram.

    Even after accounting for factors such as age, race, body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes and alcohol consumption, current smokers had thicker heart walls and reduced pumping function, compared with nonsmokers and former smokers.

    “The good news is that former smokers had similar heart structure and function compared with never smokers,” senior study author said Scott Solomon, Professor at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said.

    “This suggests that the potential effects of tobacco on the myocardium might be reversible after smoking cessation,” Solomon noted.

    SMOKING  ATTACKS HEART EVEN

    AFTER ANGIOPLASTY

    Smoking, both active and second-hand

    (“passive”), is estimated to be involved in causing almost one-tenth of cardiovascular disease worldwide. With India at the cusp of a cardiovascular “epidemic”, smoking can however be an avoidable risk factor for heart attacks. Heart attacks result from blockage of coronary arteries which supply the heart muscle. Smoking directly damages the coronary arteries causing “plaques” that block arteries. Significant plaque obstruction of arteries causes anginal chest pain on stress and exertion. Further damage to plaque in arteries lead to sudden clot formation in the small vessels life-threatening heart attacks. Cleaning the clots and fixing the plaques urgently by coronary angioplasty is now the recommended first-line life saving procedure for treating heart attacks.

  • PANCHAKARMA FOR A WEEK MAY REDUCE HEART DISEASE RISK

    PANCHAKARMA FOR A WEEK MAY REDUCE HEART DISEASE RISK

    One week of Panchakarma programme — an Ayurvedic-based well being programme that features a vegetarian diet, meditation, yoga and massages — can lead to measurable decreases in a set of blood-based metabolites associated with inflammation, cholesterol regulation and cardiovascular disease risk, the results of a clinical trial have shown.

    “It appears that a one-week Panchakarma programme can significantly alter the metabolic profile of the person undergoing it,” said senior author Deepak Chopra, Professor at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and a noted proponent of integrative medicine.

    The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, represent an attempt to use metabolic biomarkers to assess the reported health benefits of integrative medicine and holistic practices.

    “As part of our strategy to create a framework for whole systems biology research, our next step will be to correlate these changes with both gene expression and psychological health,” Chopra said.

    The research team from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine noted that alternative and integrative medicine practices, such as meditation and Ayurveda, are extremely popular, but their effects on the human microbiome, genome and physiology are not fully understood.

    “Our programme of research is dedicated to addressing these gaps in the literature,” first author Christine Tara Peterson said.

    “Panchakarma refers to a detoxification and rejuvenation protocol involving massage, herbal therapy and other procedures to help strengthen and rejuvenate the body,” Peterson pointed out.

    The study involved 119 healthy male and female participants between 30 and 80 years of age who stayed at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California.

    Slightly more than half were assigned to the Panchakarma intervention and the remainder to a control group.

    Blood plasma analyses, using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, were taken before and after the six-day testing period.

    he researchers found that in the Panchakarma group there was a measurable decrease in 12 specific cell-membrane chemicals (phosphatidylcholines) correlating with serum cholesterol and inversely related to Type-2 diabetes risk.

    “These phospholipids exert broad effects on pathways related to inflammation and cholesterol metabolism,” Peterson explained.

    “Plasma and serum levels of the metabolites of phosphatidylcholine are highly predictive of cardiovascular disease risk,” Peterson noted.

  • Tumour hardness may develop cancer cells

    Tumour hardness and hypoxia — lack of oxygen at the tumour’s core — trigger a biological switch that causes cancer stem cells to develop, a recent study has found. This biological switch is critical to a tumour’s ability to invade other tissue — a process called metastasis.

    “Our study suggests that to combat cancer, we should be developing treatments that target the stiff, hypoxic regions of tumours. We were surprised to see just how important these two properties in the tumour micro-environment — stiffness and hypoxia — were for regulating cancer stem cells,” said Celeste Nelson, Professor at the Princeton University, in the US. The cancer stem cells that specialise in generating new malignant cells represent only a small proportion of the total cells in a tumour, but researchers believe they play a key role in spreading the disease.

    Using cultures of human breast-cancer cells and mouse mammary-cancer cells, Nelson and her colleagues discovered an association between a protein called integrin-linked kinase and the creation of cancer stem cells. The researchers created a range of human and mouse breast-cancer cultures reflecting different tissue conditions and showed that stiff hypoxic cultures did indeed promote cancer stem cells. But when they eliminated the integrin-linked kinase from those samples, they found that the cancer stem cells stopped forming. Conversely, when they forced abnormal levels of integrin-linked kinase in samples containing softer or less hypoxic tissue, cancer stem cells formed. They also confirmed a significant association between tumour stiffness, integrin-linked kinase and cancer stem cell presence in samples from human breast-cancer patients.

    “We could see tumour cells expressing cancer stem-cell markers and integrin-linked kinase located at regions with high collagen, which is used to estimate stiffness in a tumour,” said Mei-Fong Pang, Researcher at the Princeton University.

    The findings, published in the journal Cancer Research, suggested that stiffness and hypoxia cause integrin-linked kinase to behave abnormally, which in turn triggers cancer stem-cell formation. There are likely other features in tumours that cause cancer stem cells to form, but the findings indicate that stiff, hypoxic conditions and their effects on integrin-linked kinase are two of the most prominent ones.

  • PLUMP UP YOUR LIPS

    PLUMP UP YOUR LIPS

    From using lip-liners, signing up for surgical procedures and employing natural remedies, here’s a roundup on the best ways to plump up your lips for that perfect pucker.

    Many of us have sighed enviously at Angelina Jolie’s pout. Not to mention how Priyanka Chopra’s lips were made for lipstick. In a stark contrast, many of us lesser mortals are reduced to faking that pout so that we may stand out in that group selfie. (Also, considerable time is spent practising it in the mirror). Fuller lips top many girl’s wish list (and every man’s). Blame it on the selfie obsession, or garnering those 1000 likes on social media, but lips are the new eyes. While we agree that a few lucky ladies are blessed with that perfect Cupid’s bow, help is at hand for those who are not.Ranging from simple DIY options, to more long lasting cosmetic ones, there are plenty of ways to owning that luscious pair of lips.

    DRAW THE LINE

    An easy way to enhance one’s lips is to trace within, outside or along the natural lip line. For instance, to create the illusion of a larger upper lip, draw a line slightly above the top lip and exaggerate the Cupid’s bow. The key, however, is do this in a way that your mouth looks natural.Makeup veteran Cherag Bambboat, founder, Magic Makeovers, suggests creating a 3D or ombre lip effect to make lips look plumper. “Start by gently scrubbing the lips with a toothbrush to get rid of dead cells and dryness.Powder the area around the lips to create an even canvas and prevent bleeding. Pick a lip pencil in a shade or two darker than the natural lip colour for the corners and soften the centre with a lighter hue. Blend the colour outwards from the centre using a lip brush.The gradual saturation of colour from light to dark will create an illusion of fullness,” he says.

    GIVE ME THE GLOSS

    A hint of shimmery gloss at the centre of your upper and lower lips will plump your pout in an instant.But even better than glosses are lip plumpers that would make even Megan Fox turn green with envy. Infused with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, cinnamon and peppermint, these magic wands boost the lip’s natural production of collagen, stimulate blood circulation and give the lips an instant plumping effect.

    Note: Most lip plumpers come with a sensation that can go from warm, burning to cool, tingling, so choose your product wisely. Just for the monsoons, it’s always better to play safe and stick to a gooey lip shine that’s long-lasting and is smudge proof.

    CONTOUR IT!

    “Contouring isn’t just for the face.

    With this technique, you can create a faux shadow to make your pout look fuller,” says bridal makeup artist and beauty blogger Akriti Sachdev, founder, Mesmereyes Makeup.

    “Ombre lips the rage this season. Once you’ve created them, dab some contour powder on the Cupid’s bow for that wow-worthy pout,” she advises.Kanishka Ramchandani, beauty blogger, recommends doing a perfectly accentuated and petite `Clara Bow’ by contouring the lips with nude pencil or concealer pen.”Blend it out for an ombre effect, overdraw the lips with a lip liner to create a heart-shaped pout and fill it in; top with a nude shiny lip balm or clear gloss to add dimension. If you’re in a mood to make a bold statement, dab some gold-toned eye shadow or shimmery powder on the top of your lip colour to draw light to the centre of the lips and blend well,” she says.

    FILL ‘EM UP!

    While makeup is a good way to enhance the pout, not all women like to spend hours before the mirror every morning. In such cases, lip fillers are a good idea. “The most commonly used product in lip fillers is hyaluronic acid (HA), a substance that is naturally found in the skin. When injected into the desired area with precision, it gives the lips a fuller appearance. The entire process takes about half an hour and its effects last between nine months to a year, after which your lips return to their original shape. The good thing is, these fillers are non-permanent and can also be removed within a few minutes if you’re not happy with your new look,” says Dr Ashutosh Misra, plastic surgeon. While dermal fillers are temporary, fat grafting is a more permanent surgical method that involves extracting fat from one area of the body and injecting or surgically placing it into the lips. The damage for both procedures could range between Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 depending on the measure of lip augmentation. Lasers, lip lifts and lip plants are other ways to flaunt a luscious pout.

    COLOUR CODE

    The lighter the colour of your lips, the bigger they’ll look. It’s as simple as that. “Always go light. A light natural shade like a nude rose or a warm peach will reflect light and create the illusion of a highlighted lip,” insists Sachdev. Before applying lip colour, create a base by filling the pout with a nude lip liner or a foundation. “While baby pink goes well for a fair skin tone, corals do wonders for a wheatish complexion. Women with a dusky skin tone can take a pick from maroon, aubergine or even bright orange,” says Bammboat.

    GO NATURAL

    Want to make a DIY lip plumper at home? Get your hands on essential oils like cinnamon and pepper mint. Both cinnamon and peppermint are known to stimulate lip capillaries and make them swell slightly. Add a drop of cinnamon or peppermint essential oil to your regular lip balm or petroleum jelly and apply the blend for a fuller pout. The flavours might cause a temporary tingling or burning sensation but it won’t last very long.Exercises like whistling, puckering and grinning not only help to tone up facial muscles, but they also tone the pout in a natural manner. Keep smiling.

  • WOMEN PREFER MEN WITH BEARDS FOR LONG RELATIONSHIPS

    WOMEN PREFER MEN WITH BEARDS FOR LONG RELATIONSHIPS

    Women find men who wear full beards more suitable for long-term relationships, suggests new research.

    Women tend to find beardedness attractive when judging long-term relationships, perhaps as a signal of formidability among males and the potential to provide direct benefits, such as enhanced fertility and survival, to females, the study said.

    “Results showed a significant interaction between beardedness and masculinity on attractiveness ratings,” the study said.

    For the study, Barnaby Dixson from University of Queensland in Australia and his colleagues used computer graphic manipulation to morph male faces varying in facial hair from clean-shaven, light stubble, heavy stubble, and full beards, with additional differences in brow ridge, cheekbones, jawline, and other features so that the same man appeared more or less masculine.

    Stubble was judged as most attractive overall and received higher ratings for short-term relationships than full beards, which were more attractive for long-term relationships.

  • ‘I want Apple’: Myanmar abuzz over end of US sanctions

    ‘I want Apple’: Myanmar abuzz over end of US sanctions

    YANGON (TIP): Myanmar cheered a US promise to end sanctions on Sept 16, with residents in its commercial capital clamouring for American brands while politicians and business moguls heralded a new era of transparency and trade.

    US President Barack Obama vowed to scrap the trade limits during Aung San Suu Kyi’s first visit to the White House since her party took power in March, ending decades of military domination.

    The move marks a milestone in the country’s rapid transformation from an international pariah into Asia’s fastest-growing economy under the leadership of the Nobel laureate.

    But Soe Naung Win, who owns a mobile phone shop in Myanmar’s bustling economic capital of Yangon, had more immediate concerns.

  • Couple uses plastic bag instead of a condom, ends up in hospital

    Couple uses plastic bag instead of a condom, ends up in hospital

    HANOI  (TIP): Two Vietnamese youth have been hospitalized in the country’s capital Hanoi after they sustained injuries while having sex. The reason they sustained those injures: they used a plastic bag for protection instead of a condom.

    The young man and woman were taken to the hospital with genital lesions, abrasions and bleeding. They reportedly used the plastic bag as protection, since they were too shy to go buy condoms.

    The two have been put on antibiotics to control any infection that might arise out of the act, reported Vietnamese newspaper Tuoi Tre.

    Doctors termed the use of the plastic bag as ‘unscientific’ and said the injuries were occurred because the plastic bag was too thick and caused scratches and vaginal tearing. They also said the bags are prone to tearing and do not offer proper protection.

    The incident has raised attention to the attitudes towards safe sex and sex education in Vietnam.

    A recent study by Hanoi Medical University and Hanoi Medical College among 2,700 university students revealed that of the 16 per cent who said they have sex, only a third used condoms the first time. About 25 per cent of the students also said they would be embarrassed to go buy condoms.

  • Seoul goes Gandhi way on North’s test

    Seoul goes Gandhi way on North’s test

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Even as North Korea an nounced the success of its fifth and largest nuclear test, a different kind of movement is shaping up in South Korea.

    A Gandhiji-inspired peace initiative backed by the UN, started by Korean war veteran Han Hee Lee -called the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) -is partnering with youth and women, via the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) and International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), to bring about cessation of war and work out interfaith harmony among followers of all religions.

    Two legal experts from India along with other international experts are involved in this effort: Narinder Singh, chairman, UN International Law Commission and Pravin Parekh, president, Confederation of Indian Bar.

    The HWPL-initiated second Annual Commemoration of World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Summit that is to take place during September 17-20, 2016 in Seoul, will have political and religious leaders and women and youth leaders from around the world.

    Participants will discuss the role of the legal system to resolve religious conflicts and the current role of the United Nations International Court of Justice in resolving armed conflict.

  • German Embassy, consular offices temporarily close in Turkey

    BERLIN (TIP): Germany has temporarily closed its embassy, all other consular offices and a school in Turkey, reportedly due to fears of a possible attack.

    Germany’s Bild newspaper reported today that the move was taken as a precaution after the Foreign Ministry learned of rumoured attacks on consular facilities in Turkey during the Eid al-Adha holiday week.

    The Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the Bild report, but confirmed that its embassy in Ankara and other consular offices were closed to the public during the holiday week of September 12-16.

    (AP)

  • Sully – MOVIE REVIEW

    Sully – MOVIE REVIEW

    sullySTORY: “Brace, brace, brace—head down, stay down!” -This was the message air-hostesses relayed to passengers aboard US Airways flight 1549 moments after it took off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Multiple bird strikes destroyed both engines of that aircraft at only 2800 feet, causing a forced water landing. It is, of course, unprecedented; an incident that pilots aren’t trained for. Tom Hanks is Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, who manages the seemingly impossible. Sully recounts the real events that took place on January 15, 2009. The film also explores the aftermath of the event.

    REVIEW: Early on in the movie, Sully tells his First Officer Jeff Skiles (Eckhart) that although he’s flown a million-odd passengers over a whopping 42 years, he now finds himself being judged for the decision and actions he took in just 208 seconds. It may just as well be though, for Sully’s successful landing of an Airbus A320 on the Hudson River would thereafter be hailed as the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’.

    Despite this film’s fairly brief runtime, Clint Eastwood manages to construct a gripping retelling of this incredible real life story, without losing pace for even a second. Sully comes across as a fascinating character. Interestingly, you might find shades of early Clint Eastwood in his mannerisms, behavior and decision-making. He flies solo, is quietly and calmly confident in his actions and is ethical and decent, placing humanity to the fore. He does what he believes in. Thus, it seems almost incredible that Sully would have to face an investigation regarding his call to land on water rather than head for an emergency airport landing.

    Skiles and Sully form a great team – two men who, as Sully says “do their job”. Both however, have episodes of post-traumatic stress disorder given the harrowing experience they went through with 155 lives on their hands thankfully safe. But it all could have gone wrong so quickly. Sully’s wife Lorrie (Linney) is the former’s rock of support, assuring Sully that her faith in him is as steady as ever.

  • JESSICA ALBA WILL NOW PICK ‘FUN’ MOVIES

    JESSICA ALBA WILL NOW PICK ‘FUN’ MOVIES

    Actress Jessica Alba says she just wants to do movies, which she finds fun to shoot. The 35-year-old ‘Into the Blue’ star said earlier she used to take a more methodical approach while choosing films but now she wants to work in the movies which will be ‘fun’ to shoot, reported Female First.

    “It’s different because, it’s more like, ‘Do you wanna go to Thailand and do a fun action movie with Jason Statham for 10 days?’ And I was like, ‘Cool, yeah, sure!’ But it’s less dramatic. I just did it and it’s just not as serious for me.

    “Before, I was so methodical – I wanted to make sure that it was going to be on a global scale, any movie that I did, and that it was going to be a tentpole franchise and all this stuff. And now, I just want to have fun!,” she said.

  • SCARLETT JOHANSSON REVEALS HOW SHE ‘UNWINDS’ AFTER WORK

    SCARLETT JOHANSSON REVEALS HOW SHE ‘UNWINDS’ AFTER WORK

    Actress Scarlett Johansson has revealed she loves to sing karaoke when she wants to unwind from her career. When she wants to forget about work and her responsibilities as a mother, the 31- year-old actress likes nothing more than singing along to her favourite pop hits, reported Female First.

    Speaking at the premiere of her new movie ‘Sing’ at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, she shared, “I’m a big karaoke fan. (My favourites have got) to be Fleetwood Mac or Billy Joel. I just love it.” The actress also revealed what her favourite party song is, saying, “It’s got to be Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’.

  • KATRINA FETED FOR HER CONTRIBUTION TO BOLLYWOOD

    KATRINA FETED FOR HER CONTRIBUTION TO BOLLYWOOD

    Katrina Kaif will be honoured with the Smita Patil Memorial Award at a glittering Global Awards ceremony, which will be held in the city on September 19.

    Niranjan Hiranandani (Chairman, Priyadarshni Academy) says, “The academy has been giving this distinguished award ever since it was established, and this year, the jury has unanimously nominated Katrina for the Smita Patil Memorial Award for her work in films.” Katrina is not only one of the most successful and popular Bollywood actors but is also considered as one of India’s most attractive celebrities. Nanik Rupani

    (Founder Chairman) adds, “This award goes to her as a recognition to an outstanding individual who has shown excellence in her field.”

    Priyadarshni Academy’s International Awards function is an expression of the academy’s social commitment. It is in sync with the belief that progress for human kind is not possible without commendable efforts of individuals in all spheres of activities and they have to be given due acknowledgement.

  • MY LEGS SELL 12 TO 15 PRODUCTS IN INDIA: PRIYANKA

    MY LEGS SELL 12 TO 15 PRODUCTS IN INDIA: PRIYANKA

    my-legs-sell-12-to-15-products-in-india#Global icon Priyanka Chopra, whose name sells like hot cake, recently opened up about her tomboy-ish days and scarred legs. Speaking on the same in an interview with W magazine, the 34-year-old Desi girl said that she learnt to take care of herself and as a result, her legs now sell almost ’12 or 15 products’ in India.

    “When I was a teenager, I was a tomboy. So I had scars, I was always falling on my knees. They were not the prettiest legs in the world, and then I taught myself how to take care of my body. Anybody can do it if I can. And today my legs sell like 12 or 15 products in my part of the world. Yeah they do,” she said.

    Further speaking about her growing up days, the ‘Bajirao Mastani’ actress said that with years, she has found ‘how to be the best version’ of herself. When PeeCee was further quizzed about her first audition, she said that popular American TV series ‘Quantico’ was her first one.

    “I just think I’ve found how to be the best version of myself, and that took a lot of years. When I was a kid, especially at like 16, it blew my mind that I won Miss India because I was like the gawkiest teenager. I had no self-esteem. I got really bullied when I was in school in America [for three years], so that crushed my spirit a little bit more,” Priyanka explained in the interview.

    “This is going to some really bizarre, but my first audition was Quantico. I became Miss World [in 2000], so then when I was doing movies in India, I was initially cast because I was in this world. And then in my first movie I won lots of awards and so then I never really looked back. But then, of course, everyone auditions here. That was my first and only audition in my life,” said the actress.

    The star who graces the cover of W Magazine, looks mesmerizing in a close up snap, donning a blue outfit, little make-up and sharp eyes. The magazine quotes her as one of the ‘new royals who totally rule,’ alongside international divas such as Elle Fanning, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jodie Foster, Halle Berry, and Irina Shayk and 16 others.

  • Pink – Movie Review

    Pink – Movie Review

    pinkSTORY: Three Delhi girls – Minal (Taapsee), Falak (Kirti) and Andrea (Andrea) – are on the run after one of them escapes a molestation attempt by a pig-headed, powerful guy, Rajveer (Angad). Minal attacks Rajveer with a bottle injuring him grievously. This is just the beginning of their nightmare!

    REVIEW: Pink is a powerful statement on the existing feudal mindset of a majority of India, where men and women are judged by a different yardstick. And if the man happens to be from a powerful family, then the fight for justice is even more skewed.

    As it happens here, Minal, Falak and Andrea, three middle-class normal working girls, are just out for a regular night of fun. Post a rock concert they accept a dinner invitation from Rajveer and two others to a resort in Surajkund. Unfortunately the evening takes an ugly turn for them after a couple of drinks. Andrea finds herself being touched inappropriately by Dumpy (Raashul Tandon) and Rajveer forces himself onto Minal, despite her clearly saying ‘No’ to his advances. In self-defense she picks up a bottle and smashes it on his eye, leaving him bleeding. The girls return to their home hoping the night will just fade away. But their lives are turned into a living hell by the guys who malign and intimidate them in every way possible. The ultimate blow comes when Rajveer uses his powerful connections to file a wrong FIR against the girls labelling them prostitutes.

    When the matter comes up in court with defense lawyer Deepak Sehgall (Amitabh), who has a bipolar disorder, representing the girls, the film takes a dramatic turn. The court-room sequence, which is inspired by Jonathan Kaplan’s The Accused (1988), where the accused Minal is asked scathing questions on her virginity and drinking habits lays bare the double standards of the society we live in. Pink questions the society’s mindset where we think girls with short hemlines and those who enjoy a drink with men are low on morals. It also tells you that whether a woman is a sex-worker, wife or slave, if she says ‘no’ to being touched, then no man has the right to force himself on her. Or outrage her modesty.

    The performances are pitch-perfect with Bachchan leading the way. Creative producer, Shoojit Sircar, who directed (Vicky Donor, Madras Cafe, Piku) makes another valuable addition to his repetoire.

  • SC DROPS SEHAJDHARI CASE AS NEW LAW DENIES VOTING RIGHT

    SC DROPS SEHAJDHARI CASE AS NEW LAW DENIES VOTING RIGHT

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court on September 15 disposed of a petition by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) over Sehajdhari Sikhs’ right to vote in SGPC elections as the case had become irrelevant following a new central law taking away their right.

    A Bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice AM Khanwilkar said there was no point in hearing the case just for the sake of “academic interest.” The SGPC had come to the SC challenging the December 20, 2011, judgment of the Punjab and Haryana Court restoring Sehajdharis’ right to vote.

    The HC had ensured this by quashing the Centre’s October 8, 2003, notification disenfranchising the Sehajdharis. The HC had explained that the Centre could not take away the right, given under the Gurdwara Act 1925, through an official notification.

    In the light of the HC judgment, the Centre got the 1925 Act amended in Parliament and notified the new law on May 5, 2016, denying Sehajdharis the right to vote. Subsequently, the SGPC moved an application in the apex court, pleading for allowing its appeal against the HC verdict on the basis of the new law.

    Arguing for the SGPC, senior counsel AK Ganguly and Satinder Gulati pleaded with the Bench to reinstate the committee elected in the September 18, 2011, SGPC elections. But the court did not pass any order.

    On March 30, 2013, the SC had asked the November 2010 executive committee headed by Avtar Singh Makkar to manage the gurdwaras and other SGPC institutions as the Sehajdharis had not been allowed to participate in the 2011 election of the new Board. The SGPC elections are held once every five years.

    Appearing for Sehajdhari Sikhs Federation (SSF), senior counsel Sushil Jain sought liberty to challenge the validity of the amendment to the Gurdwara Act. The Bench said the SSF was free to do so without the court’s nod.

    In view of the HC verdict and the SC’s September 2011 order, the Centre was reluctant to convene the first meeting of the 170-member SGPC Board and came to the SC seeking its clarification despite notifying the new Board on December 17, 2011.

    The SGPC also approached the apex court, seeking a direction to the Centre to convene the first meeting of the new Board and thereby facilitate election of its office-bearers —president, senior vice-president, junior vice-president, general secretary and 11 executive committee members.

  • Chandigarh Airport embarks on global journey

    Chandigarh Airport embarks on global journey

    CHANDIGARH (TIP): At 5.15pm on Thursday (Sept 15), Chandigarh International Airport actually became international as a flight from Sharjah landed with 128 passengers onboard a 186-seater plane. At 6.35pm, an Air India Express plane carrying 182 passengers to Sharjah departed too, this being the first flight from this airport to a foreign destination.

    Union civil aviation minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju said on the occasion that government-owned carrier Air India will start a flight to Singapore by March.

    Air India chairman Ashwani Lohani added Bangkok to the list.

    These will be thrice a week. Immediately next up, from September 26, IndiGo airlines will start a daily flight between Chandigarh and Dubai.

    In the presence of Punjab chief minister and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal, who led a 40-member trade delegation in the flight to Sharjah, Raju said, “Sky is the limit now for Punjab and all Punjabis putting across the world. In India, civil aviation is the fastest-growing industry at 20% a year.”

    He called the airport “a magnificent gift of the NDA government (at the Centre) to Punjabis settled in different parts of the world as it will enable them to stay well-connected with their roots”.

    Meanwhile, as the airport land falls in Punjab’s Mohali (SAS Nagar), the Badals and also many welcome hoardings called it ‘Mohali international airport’, to which Haryana took umbrage as it is a partner in the project. The airport is eventually expected to be named after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. Raju also said, “The people of the region should not be having any problem if it is called Chandigarh International Airport.”

  • Budget session likely to be advanced to January 24

    Budget session likely to be advanced to January 24

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Budget session of Parliament may be advanced by a month and commence on January 24 and a combined Railway and General Budget may be presented on January 31.

    The Cabinet is expected to give its stamp of approval next week to the proposal for merger of Railway and General Budgets and advancing the date of presentation to late January from late February.

    To get the two GST legislations passed by Parliament for its roll out in April next year, the government may also advance the Winter Session of Parliament to mid-November from the third week of November, sources said.

    Early presentation of the Budget will ensure that all legislative work is completed before the beginning of the new financial year. Usually, the annual budget is presented by the end of February after which it is discussed, the details of the budget are scrutinised by a Parliamentary committee and it is finally passed by mid-May.

    But the financial year ends on March 31 and the government needs funds for various routine expenditure between March and May.

    It is through vote on account that the government gets parliamentary approval to run the country’s routine financial business for a few months, using funds drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India.

  • Maldives’ first democratic president allies with exstrongman

    Maldives’ first democratic president allies with exstrongman

    COLOMBO (TIP): The first democratically elected president of the Maldives said from exile in Britain that he has an agreement with the country’s former strongman to counter the current president, who is increasing his stranglehold on power.

    Speaking to reporters via Skype on Sept 14 night, Mohamed Nasheed answered “Yes” when asked if he has an understanding with his predecessor to be part of his grand opposition coalition formed to unseat President Yameen Abdul Gayoom. He said he doesn’t want to reveal details of the discussions.

    The opposition coalition says it will unseat Yameen through legal means, through an impeachment in Parliament or by having him arrested for corruption, to ensure a free election in 2018. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ruled Maldives for 30 years with tight controls and repeatedly jailed Nasheed, who was then a pro-democracy activist. Facing protests in the last years of his presidency, Maumoon allowed multiparty democracy and oversaw the enactment of a democratic constitution that paved the way for Nasheed’s election in 2008.

    Nasheed said he has decided to forget the past.

    “How can you win the future if you go behind the past?” he said. “So many bad things happened … we go through a lot of experiences and come to an understanding that we can’t always run behind the past.”

    Nasheed’s government lasted only three years before he resigned after losing support from sections of the military and police and the public for detaining a top judge. Nasheed maintained that officials who remained loyal to Maumoon had orchestrated a coup. Maumoon backed his half-brother Yameen in the 2013 presidential election against Nasheed. Maumoon and Yameen have fallen out with each other in recent months.

    Since his election, Yameen has tightened his grip on power and erased many of the country’s democratic gains under Nasheed. Parliament has passed a criminal defamation law with fines and prison terms for journalists and social media users. Gatherings and protests are tightly controlled. Yameen is also accused of using the judiciary, police and bureaucracy to crack down on opponents. At least four top politicians, including Nasheed, have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms on terrorism charges after trials widely criticized for a lack of due process.