The Indian Panorama

Year: 2017

  • AMAZON INVESTS OVER RS 2,000 CR IN INDIA BIZ

    AMAZON INVESTS OVER RS 2,000 CR IN INDIA BIZ

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Global e-tailing giant Amazon has invested over Rs 2,000 crore (over $310 million) in India in the past two months as it looks to consolidate its position in the country and fend off local rivals like Flipkart.

    The US-based firm pumped in Rs 1,680 crore in June into its online marketplace business in India, while Rs 341 crore was invested in the preceding month in the wholesale business. As per regulatory filings with the Corporate Affairs Ministry, Amazon Corporate Holdings and Amazon.com.incs has made these investments in the two Indian entities.

    The capital infusion will also provide more arsenal to the Indian entity that has been aggressively investing in expanding infrastructure and adding solutions to enhance consumer and seller experience. Last year, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos had committed investments to the tune of $5 billion into the Indian market. Estimates suggest that the company has already invested over $2 billion in the last few quarters in the Indian market.

    Amazon India, which has recently completed four years of operations, has been directing its investments towards building warehouses, strengthening logistics and increasing product assortment.

    Besides, money is also being invested in marketing and promotions as the company looks to bring more consumers into shopping online on its platform. Bezos, as part of investor calls, has highlighted the importance of the Indian market to its operations on multiple occasions and has assured that the company will continue to invest in India. When contacted, an Amazon India spokesperson said: “We remain committed to our India business with a long-term perspective to make e commerce a habit for Indian customers and invest in the necessary technology and infrastructure to grow the entire ecosystem.”

    With Tiger Global-backed Flipkart raising $1.4 billion earlier this year, the competition is intense and the rivals are already believed to be gearing up for the festive season. Amazon has invested Rs 341 crore in Amazon Wholesale India, the wholesale B2B arm of Amazon India.

    The company has also made an additional investment of Rs 1,680 crore in its India unit as it looks to further strengthen operations in the booming e commerce market. Source: PTI

  • Foods that improve eyesight

    Foods that improve eyesight

    While it is a known fact that carrots are excellent for your eyes, there are other foods as well that are known to protect eyesight and promote eye health. Include the following food items in your diet…

    Dark, leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, iceberg lettuce, kale, etc contain a lot of antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin that lower your chances of developing macular degeneration and cataracts.

    While there are several people who are against consumption of eggs, when eaten in moderation, these can actually be beneficial for health. The yolk present in eggs contains lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc, which lower your chances of developing macular degeneration.

    Consume citrusy fruits such as grapefruit, tangerine, oranges, lemons, sweet lime etc, which are packed with vitamin C, known to lower your risk of developing cataracts.

    Consuming a handful of almonds daily will help slow down macular degeneration thanks to the vitamin E present in them. Tuck into fish like mackerel, tuna, salmon, etc, which are packed with fatty acids that protect your eyes. Some studies also say that regularly consuming oysters is said to improve eyesight. Corn contains lutein and zeaxanthin, excellent for your eyes.

  • ARE FIDGET SPINNERS THERAPY OR DISTRACTION?

    ARE FIDGET SPINNERS THERAPY OR DISTRACTION?

    The newest toy addiction, fidget spinners, have made their way into the fingertips of many youngsters and adults too. These are devices that are portable enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Fidget spinners contain weighted propellers which allow you to spin it for several seconds. They are known to reduce stress and anxiety, not only in children but also in adults. However, in recent times, a lot has been spoken about this tiny toy – its benefits and disadvantages.

    Why is it believed to help autistic kids?

    When in application, the fidget spinner spins around and creates a hypnotic effect. This is meant to relieve stress and anxiety as your brain is involved in a manner, which provides you comfort in stressful situations. Therefore, when an autistic child plays with a fidget spinner, the brain of the child is believed to release happy or stress relieving hormones. The continuous movement of the gadget helps in keeping the child focussed on one activity which involves a great deal of concentration.

    “A fidget spinner is a normal toy that parents can give to a child who is restless as it will help calm the child. There is nothing in a fidget spinner which makes it ‘special’ for an autistic child,” says Merry Barua, founder, Action for Autism. Merry also talks about how fidget spinners being sold in the name of ‘special toys for autistic kids’ is nothing but a marketing gimmick. However, she does add that while it can help pacify a child with special needs, it is wrong to call a fidget spinner a toy for autistic kids.

    Are fidget spinners really for autism and ADHD?

    Fidget spinners, according to popular opinion, are meant to provide a pleasing sensory experience. Though no study confirms its effect on those suffering with autism and ADHD.While a lot of research has gone into finding out howca simple fidget spinner can help with neurological disorders, a documented study is yet to be published by any reputed institute.

    A recent research by John Hopkins University cleared some air on its medical use. The research says as follows:c”These were never made as a medical aid or medical device,cand these claims come from smart marketing on the internet.”

    Consequently, it is safe to say that fidget spinners came in as a marketing gimmick more than anything else. It is common for children to get addicted to a new toy and take it with them wherever they go. Fidget spinners provide the child with stress management as it helps distracting themcwhen in a confused or stressed situation.

    More than a game, a distraction?

    Many schools and institutes have dissed the fidget spinner as a distraction more than anything else. This is because once the user starts spinning the little device, due to the sensory experience that it provides, he or she can go on for hours together.

    Work place stress buster?

    Just like for children, a fidget spinner works as a stress buster for working millennials as well. This is because, when a person is playing with fidget spinner while working, their concentration is at its peak. This helps them focus on one point or the piece of work they are currently working on. When sitting on your desk, working on ten different things at the same time, a fidget spinner can help provide one point of concentration that helps busting stress.

  • WEIGHT LOSS MISTAKES YOU’RE MAKING WHILE AT WORK

    WEIGHT LOSS MISTAKES YOU’RE MAKING WHILE AT WORK

    Starting a weight loss programme is easy, but following it up with your busy work schedule is not. Especially with a sedentary lifestyle, it is often difficult to keep a track of what goes inside your tummy. Birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, farewells – we are all part of celebrations while sitting on our desk and answering our emails simultaneously. However, these small nooks end up hurting our weight loss regime in a major way. Here are some common mistakes which we all make while at work:

    Skipping breakfast

    There is a reason why skipping breakfast is considered to be a sin. Skipping breakfast is a mistake which needs to be rectified. When we sleep at night, our body repairs itself. This is the reason why our body is generally hungry in the morning. If we do not feed our body anything at this time, we are not only slowing our metabolism but also heading towards weight gain more than anything else. Therefore, skipping breakfast is not the wisest decision.

    Obliging co-workers

    One bite of chocolate from your work buddy or one slice of pizza because everyone in the team wants to order pizza can hamper your weight loss more than you think. It may look like a small quantity initially, but small quantities can add up to large ones and hence show on your weighing scale. Your solution: say NO!

    Eating on your desk

    Getting a boiled vegetable salad with dal prepared by your mother will not help if you are eating on your desk. While eating on your desk not only resonates inactivity but also, you’re not burning calories. Taking out 20 minutes for lunch may seem difficult on busy days, but make sure you make your desk a no-lunch zone. Take your lunch box to the cafeteria or any setting which is away from your desk. This will help you in two ways: firstly, you get a break and secondly, your food is being digested simultaneously and hence you’re burning calories.

    Stress is eating you up

    Stress is eating you up: Work stress can often get to the best of us. Late working hours, long meeting hours, desk jobs which require mental calmness can lead us to eating foods all the time. This happens because your body requires fuel to work and concentrate. Involuntarily our hands start reaching out for anything and everything that we see when we face mental pressure and stress. At such times, we often forget to drink even water. Here’s help. You can try two things: firstly, start with keeping a bottle of water with you always and secondly, keep healthy snack nibbles like dry fruits or gur (sugarcane), which are instant energy-providers.

    Unhealthy snacks

    That vending machine in your office pantry maybe stocked up with all your favourites and may seem like the ideal choice at certain times, but snacking on unhealthy foods can hurt you more than you think. You may consider burning calories next day in the gym, but eating unhealthy snacks everyday can hurt you in the long run as this can lead to weight loss plateau. Solution: Bring your home cooked snacks. This will help you because you will not munch on unhealthy snacks after a long meeting or a very tiring task.

    Source: TOI

  • PUNJABI CREAMY CHICKEN – FOOD CORNER

    PUNJABI CREAMY CHICKEN – FOOD CORNER

    INGREDIENTS

    1 kilograms washed & dried chicken boneless, 1/4 tablespoon ginger, 2 green chilli, 1/2 teaspoon powdered black pepper, 2 finely chopped onion, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder

    For Garnishing

    1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves 2 sprigs crushed lightly mint

    For The Main Dish

    100 gm fresh cream

    For Toppings

    1 tablespoon sliced & slit almonds

    Method

    ? To make this creamy chicken recipe, take a pan and heat a little oil in it on moderate flame. Put ginger, garlic and green chillies in it and saute till they become golden brown. Then add chopped onions to it and saute till they turn light pink.

    Now add the washed chicken and cook for around 10 minutes. Add salt, black pepper powder and garam masala to the chicken, and cook till it is cooked or has turned golden.

    Once the chicken is tender, go ahead and add the fresh cream. Mix well, cover and cook for around 6-10 minutes. When it’s almost cooked, add kasoori methi powder and cover it for about 2 more minutes.

    Your creamy chicken is prepared. Garnish it with almonds and lightly crushed mint leaves.

    Serve it hot with butter naan or stuffed naan along with raita of your choice!

  • ANTI-AGEING TIPS AND TRICKS

    ANTI-AGEING TIPS AND TRICKS

    Nothing signals the end of the carefree days of youth than the appearance of the early signs of ageing. The first fine lines and the first grey hair all serve to remind us that the glory days of our easy-going beauty routines are over. After a certain age, you just cannot afford to go out without sunscreen or be careless with your health without the effects showing up on your face and body. Eating healthy, exercising, eliminating stress, sleeping well and, of course, genetics, will all determine how fast you will show your age. But there are certain time-tested natural therapies that will help you care for your skin and hair and, maintain a basic level of health and vitality.We got some of India’s top beauty experts to share their formulae with us.

    Back to the basics

    One way in which you can increase the potency of these remedies is by supplementing them with a clean lifestyle. According to Suparna Trikha, director, Suparna Herbs, a company that manufactures natural skin and hair products, “Ageing is a state of mind. You can be young at 90 or look haggard at 19. Lifestyles and our changing temperaments and tempers are responsible for early ageing.” The beauty guru advocates some simple changes that will make all the difference.

    STOP WORRYING: “I see people worry all the time! Stop it because it will only give you more wrinkles and lines. If you have a problem without a solution, sleep over it.”
    DESTRESS: “Most people spend a majority of their time doing things they don’t want to. To stay young, you should make the time to do something you enjoy at least four times a week. Play, follow a dream, listen to music, meditate, read a book or exercise.” Avoid luxury: “Too much luxury can be stifling. For instance, avoid air-conditioning as it completely ruins the skin. Breathe fresh air and let your skin hydrate naturally.”
    STAY TRUE TO NATURE: “Walk outdoors, eat lunch under the open sky whenever you can, and meditate and exercise in the fresh air. Just being with nature calms the mind and eases tension.”
    EAT FRESH: “Have healthy eating options for every meal and add plenty of fresh fruits, salads, dry fruits, greens and lean meats to your diet.”
    LAUGH: “We don’t laugh often and enough! Try to spend time with people who make you happy.”
    DRINK UP: “I call water ambrosia for the skin. No matter what your skin type is, water will keep you hydrated and younger-looking. It helps flush out toxins from the body and cleanses the skin like nothing else.”

    Boost your reserves

    According to Bharti Taneja, founder-director of the Alps Beauty Group, as one gets older, the skin naturally becomes less elastic and more fragile. Decreased production of natural oils dries the skin and makes it appear more wrinkled. Fat in the deeper layers of the skin diminishes and this causes loose, saggy skin and more pronounced lines and crevices. She advocates a good skincare regimen to look young.

    CLEANSING: “First thing in the morning, wash your face with a deep-pore, soap-free and non-foaming cleanser, as the foaming ones tend to leave the skin drier. Take a little on your palm and massage your face for two to three minutes.Wash off with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel.”
    TONING: “A toner is a liquid meant to close open pores while cleansing. Toning firms up the skin and should follow every cleansing ritual. You can also try making a homemade toner by boiling tulsi, neem and mint leaves together in a litre of water till half of it evaporates. Store and apply whenever needed.”

    Source: Femina

  • THE ART OF FINDING LOST THINGS

    THE ART OF FINDING LOST THINGS

    PRINCIPLES OF FINDING LOST OBJECTS

    1. Don’t look for it.

    2. It’s not lost – you are.

    3. Remember the three C’s: be comfortable, calm and confident.

    4. Its where it’s supposed to be.

    5. Domestic drift. If an object is missing from its designated space, it’s probably where it was last used.

     

    Lost your house keys? Can’t find your specs? Your daughter can’t find her favourite doll? Try some findology to prevent losing things around the house. According to Findologist Michael Solomon, author of How to Find Lost Objects: “Don’t get frantic and keep searching around.

    There are no missing objects, only unsystematic searches and clutter.” Solomon says if everything is in its place, nothing will be lost. Meaning: design spaces for specific things. So, your keys, spectacles, mobile, its charger and all thingamajigs must have designated spaces – and then consistently put the objects there.

    Clutter begone

    While designing a house, it’s important to keep it free of clutter. Because amid clutter, things become invisible and virtually unfindable. Solomon says, “Keys are among the most common objects we lose. And a missing set of keys can bring our day to a sudden and infuriating halt.” But if you have lost something key, the big tip to finding it is to remain calm. “The moment you calm down, the lost object shows up,” he says.

    Solomon says that there’s also “The Camouflage Effect” – a common situation in which your missing object is where you thought it was, or where you remember last having seen it. But it has become hidden from view, due to some other object having been inadvertently placed on top of it. The way out: look underneath things.

    Make up for lost time

    The basic reason people should use findology while designing houses is to stop wasting time that goes in looking for things. Interior designer Namita Sharma says, “People want specific corners in cupboards for placement of things in the kitchen and bedrooms.” In smart houses, Sharma mentions that they try to create uncluttered spaces where there’s no scope for an object just disappearing. Her take: “Lost keys, books, eyeglasses, jewellery, many times simply vanish and resurface after years. We want to reduce the frustration and trauma.”

  • THE BIG SICK Movie Review

    THE BIG SICK Movie Review

    CAST: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Anupam Kher, Ray Romano and Holly Hunter

    DIRECTION: Michael Showalter

    GENRE: Romantic Comedy

    DURATION: 2 hours 10 minutes

    STORY

    Kumail Nanjiani(Kumail Nanjiani) is a Pakistani cab driver and an aspiring comedian who is instantly drawn to American student Emily Gordon(Zoe Kazan) who he bumps into at a bar in Chicago. But, his parents want him to be a good Muslim and marry a Pakistani. And therein lies the conflict or at least some of it …

    REVIEW

    Michael Showalter’s drama is based on the real-life romantic track of the protagonist (Kumail who plays himself) and the gori he ultimately marries. And the script (co-written by Kumail and Emily) has many laugh-out-loud moments. Their initial dates, where the couple talks of keeping it casual are fun to watch. As is the scene in which you’re introduced to Kumail’s family. The banter at Nanjianis’ suburban Chicago home with his parents Azmat (Anupam Kher) and Sharmeen (Zenobia Shroff), is delightful. Like most immigrants, they’ve made America their home, but Pakistan still resides in their hearts. Typically they encourage their son to pray to Allah and even organize a daily parade of eligible young Pakistani-American women for him to choose his bride from.

    Kumail who fears that he’ll be osctracised doesn’t tell his parents about his American girlfriend. Nor does he give in to Emily’s request of having dinner with her parents—Terry (Ray Romano) and Beth (Holly Hunter) who are visiting from North Carolina.This is when Emily decides to call off their relationship.

    But fate wills otherwise. When she lands up in hospital, Kumail who takes charge of the situation also comes to terms with how deeply he cares for her.

    Self-deprecatory humour keeps the mood alive through and through. Be it a mention of the ISIS or Terry’s wish to talk with a Muslim about the 9/11 attacks, everything provides a `good’ laugh. Kumail’s cowardice in not telling his parents that he is dating a non-Muslim and his initial terse interactions with Emily’s parents in the hospital are both funny and emotional.

    As far as performances go, Ray and Holly lead the way; Anupam Kher is adept and Kumail with his mostly-comic expressions passes muster. The film lacks the vitality of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and other such romcoms. It could also do with a 10-minute shorter run. But there is no taking away from the fact that this smart comedy is an ideal monsoon getaway.

  • GWYNETH PALTROW CREATES AN UPROAR WITH NEIGHBOURS’

    GWYNETH PALTROW CREATES AN UPROAR WITH NEIGHBOURS’

    Actress Gwyneth Paltrows plan to build a 14,000 sq ft mansion in Montecito, California, has not gone down well with her neighbours.

    “She’s created an uproar with neighbours on all three sides,” Andrew Rice, a spokesman for one neighbour, Michael MacElhenny, told an online portal.

    The neighbours say the new building is too big, too tall and incompatible with the adjacent houses, and it blocks their views. Rice said Paltrow – who has owned properties in Amagansett, London, Malibu, California, and Los Angeles’ Brentwood area, where a complaint was filed against her for erecting an oversized nine-foot gate – has left “a trail of tears” on two continents.

    “Michael and the other neighbours have tried to work with her, and they’ve gotten nowhere,” Rice said. The Montecito Board of Architectural Review voted in favour of the plans last month when her architect claimed the house had been lowered eight feet. Rice said the real shrinkage was just one foot and that the project was moving forward to the next step based on incorrect information, the portal reported.

    Source: IANS

  • ALICIA VIKANDER SAYS ROMANCE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MARRIAGE

    ALICIA VIKANDER SAYS ROMANCE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MARRIAGE

    Actress Alicia Vikander said she does not relate with the idea of marriage and romance is more important for her. The ‘Light Between Oceans’ star, who is dating actor Michael Fassbender, said she is not in a hurry to walk down the aisle with her partner.

    “My parents were divorced when I was three months old and my father is happily married to his fourth wife, so marriage as an idea has never meant that much.” “For me, the word family means everything, that’s the true connection. And I think it’s better to come up with your own romantic ideas because that’s what will give you wonderful memories,” Vikander said.

  • MOM Movie review

    MOM Movie review

    CAST: Sridevi, Akshaye Khanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Adnan Siddiqui, Abhimanyu Singh, Sajal Ali

    DIRECTION: Ravi Udyawar

    GENRE: Thriller

    DURATION: 2 hours 27 minutes

    STORY

    The bliss of a biology teacher’s family life in Delhi is shattered when her daughter, Arya (Sajal Ali) is physically assaulted by Jagan (Abhimanyu Singh) and gang. Does Devki Sabarwal (Sridevi) wait for the law to take its course? Or does Devki become Maa Durga and hunt down the perpetrators of the crime?

    REVIEW

    Mom reminds you for the umpteenth time that we’re in Nirbhaya country. Like other films on the same subject, debutant Ravi Udyawar’s emotional thriller tells you that India, or should that be New Delhi specifically, isn’t safe enough for women, especially young girls. And its relevance makes it an important watch.

    There’s a lot packed in here. To begin with, the film dwells on the dynamics of a teenager’s standoffish relationship with her stepmom. This entire track is beautifully handled. Then again, it is post the teenager’s abduction and assault when the film reveals its true facet.

    To say anything more on the actual plot is to risk spoiling its surprises. Instead, it would suffice to say that when the avenging mother is joined by an inconsequential-looking private detective, DK (Nawazuddin), the screen ride becomes edgier and more exciting.

    There’s also a tough-as-nails cop, Francis (Akshaye), who stays close on the heels of the vigilantes, adding gusto to proceedings. At times, there is that sense of deja vu that you experience because most parents looking- for-a-missing-teen movies follow certain set devices. But this one still manages to stay ahead with some interesting twists and turns.

    However, it is in the graph and the strength of Sridevi’s character wherein the victory of this script lies. In her 300th landmark movie (coincidentally produced by her husband Boney Kapoor) Sri demonstrates why she is the high-priestess of desi cinema. Here she turns in a captivating performance; happiness, helplessness, vendetta and victory, she walks you through the entire gamut of emotions with panache. Supporting her ably is her onscreen husband Anand (Adnan), who plays the polished gent with flair. Nawazuddin, with his quirks and one-liners, turns in a class act and Akshaye Khanna, who is in terrific form here, forces you to ponder why he takes such long matinee breaks.

    Dew fresh Sajal Ali, who seems to have grown up watching Kareena Kapoor films, seems like a clone of the senior actor. But this is not to take away from her otherwise adept performance. A R Rahman’s background score adds the required chills without distracting and Anay Goswamy’s camera lingers as lovingly on the actors’ faces as it does on the snow-capped peaks.

     

  • BOLLYWOOD’S HIGHEST EARNING CELEBS

    BOLLYWOOD’S HIGHEST EARNING CELEBS

    Reports had once claimed ‘Bajirao Mastani’ actress Deepika Padukone has charged a whopping Rs 12 crore for the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film ‘Padmavati’.

    However, it was said to be justified due to her extremely demanding shooting schedule which kept her off the hook from signing other projects. According to the latest report in Mumbai Mirror, the actress who made her Hollywood film debut with ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’, was approached by a filmmaker for a project featuring a leading Khan and one more heroine. However, DP stuck to her fixed fee of Rs 12 crore and is in no mood to bring it down in the near future.

    Yes, this has happened! Our desi girl has slayed with her impeccable performances overseas and is now featured in the Forbes highest paid television actresses in the world after starring in American TV crime drama ‘Quantico’. No brownie points for guessing that we are indeed talking about Priyanka Chopra. Now according to recent reports, PeeCee is the highest paid television actress worldwide withan earnings of $11 million. Her earnings are from the TV series and her pay check from ‘Baywatch’. While that is a huge amount to wrap our heads around, the former Miss World has also managed to beat her international desi competitor Deepika Padukone in this race. DP’s earnings are revealed to be $10 million from her Bollywood movies as well as her Hollywood debut film, ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’. Now will this create further rift between the once BFFs of Btown?

    Only time would tell!

  • RADHIKA APTE’S PHOBIA TO GET SEQUEL

    RADHIKA APTE’S PHOBIA TO GET SEQUEL

    Radhika Apte might be just a few movies old in Bollywood, but with her stellar performances and strong screen presence, Radhika has made her mark in the cinema industry.

    Her critically acclaimed film ‘Phobia’ that spoke about a woman who has a rare phenomenon of a disease called agoraphobia, where a person faces an extreme or irrational fear of open or public places, is said to be getting a sequel. Since Bollywood is suddenly all about the biopics and sequels, this is a great time to venture into something like this and making a follow-up of a movie which doesn’t fall under the commercial category.

    As per reports in a leading daily, the makers of ‘Phobia’ are keen on making the sequel a big budget one with a leading star. Apparently, the makers will touch upon the subject of Aviophobia (fear of flying) in ‘Phobia 2’.

    Since ‘Phobia’ had Radhika Apte playing the protagonist, as per reports, the sequel will have a male lead. ” I am doing Phobia 2, but this time it’s with a male lead. The script demanded a male lead. The film was critically acclaimed and it made to the list of top ten films of 2016. So, we want to get someone who can pull off that kind of performance ,” Viki Rajani of production house Next Gen Films Pvt Ltd told a leading newswire.

    The makers have reportedly locked in the script and the movie is said to go on floors soon. ” There will supporting actors as it’s on a flight and about phobia of flying, ” Viki said.

  • DJOKOVIC BREEZES IN WIMBLEDON HEAT

    DJOKOVIC BREEZES IN WIMBLEDON HEAT

    LONDON (TIP): Novak Djokovic raced into the Wimbledon third round for the ninth year running, with a 6-2 6-2 6-1 drubbing of tournament debutant Adam Pavlasek on a sweltering Court One.

    The three-time champion pinned his Czech opponent behind the baseline with unerring groundstrokes off both wings, moving him from side to side and forcing error after error.

    Pavlasek was playing his childhood idol and the 22-year-old, ranked 136, appeared overawed by the occasion. He rarely tested the Serbian second seed, who is looking to salvage his season after losing his Australian and French Open crowns.

    Djokovic will next play Latvian Ernests Gulbis who beat Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro 6-4 6-4 7-6(3). German 27th seed Mischa Zverev beat Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin 6-1 6-2 2-6 3-6 6-4 after an intense battle that lasted over three hours.

    In the women’s draw, American Coco Vandeweghe beat German Tatjana Maria 6-4 6-2 in their second-round match. Svetlana Kuznetsova needed just over an hour to book a spot in the third round, beating fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-0 7-5.

  • All eyes on Cricket Advisory Committee now for Coach Selection

    All eyes on Cricket Advisory Committee now for Coach Selection

    MUMBAI (TIP): As the clock begins to tick away for the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) to zero in on Team India’s new coach, a question – better asked sooner than later – has become the talking point.

    How exactly do the members of this committee propose to recuse themselves from any potential conflict in settling for who they think will be a suitable candidate for the position of the national coach? To be fair, there’s no conflict to mention in definitive terms. Yet, as the word itself (conflict) continues to trigger panic in the country’s cricketing fraternity these days, there’ll be questions asked and answers will have to be given if there is lack of clarity.

    To date, the CAC has not gone into the details of why they chose Anil Kumble over Ravi Shastri in 2016, knowing the latter’s contribution and who the team wanted. “If details are not given, people will speculate. Was there board politics involved? Was there an ego issue between individuals?

    Was there a serious conflict of interest? And when answers to such things come out from unexpected places, they end up giving way to all kinds of controversies,” say those tracking developments from close quarters. Shastri and Kumble, both, lived up to their roles impressively, but it is not the ability of the candidates that is coming in to question. Instead, it is the ability of the CAC to do the right thing that went unanswered last year and once again comes under the scanner.

  • VIRAT KOHLI LEADS INDIA TO 3-1 SERIES WIN OVER WEST INDIES

    VIRAT KOHLI LEADS INDIA TO 3-1 SERIES WIN OVER WEST INDIES

    KINGSTON (TIP): Skipper Virat Kohli led from the front with a fluent century as India today wrapped up the five-match series 3-1 with a convincing eight wicket win over West Indies, here on July 6.

    Asked to bowl, comeback man Mohammed Shami bagged four wickets as an under-fire India produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict West Indies to a modest 205 for nine.

    Playing only his second ODI after a long injury lay-off, Shami picked up four wickets giving 48 runs from his 10 overs to pull West Indies back.

    Besides Shami, Umesh Yadav gave him ample support from the other end and returned with impressive figures of three for 53. For West Indies, Shai Hope topscored with a patient 51 off 98 balls during which he hit just five boundaries,while his brother Kyle made 46 off 50 deliveries with nine fours to his credit.

    Later chasing the total, India hardly faced any trouble as Kohli (111 not out) and ever-consistent Ajinkya Rahane (39 off 51) shared 79 runs for the second wicket in 17.5 overs to set the platform for the comfortable win.

    Virat Kohli lets out a roar after getting to his 28th ODI ton, West Indies v India, 5th ODI, Kingston. Pic courtesy: AFP

    Today’s match was a test of character for Kohli and his men after the unexpected 11 run loss against the hosts in the low scoring fourth ODI in Antigua.

    But Kohli meant business as he anchored India’s chase with his 28th ODI century that came off 115 balls balls and was studded with 12 fours and two sixes Besides the early dismissal of Shikhar Dhawan, the Indians were in complete control of the chase.

    In the pursuit of the target, India lost Dhawan in the last delivery of the opening over, caught by Evin Lewis off Alzarri Joseph.

    But thereafter, it was Kohli and Rahane’s show as the duo dominated the proceedings with consummate ease. While ever-consistent Rahane played the second fiddle, Kohli played with aggression from the onset.

    But Rahane was unlucky to miss out on his fifth consecutive half-century of the series as he was dismissed Devendra Bishoo adjudged LBW in the 19th over. He struck five boundaries during his knock.

    But Kohli played a chanceless knock and dictated the terms. He showed his class and brought up his 28th ODI century, a record 18th while chasing, with a boundary of Kesrick Williams.

    Together with Dinesh Karthik (50 not off 52 balls), Kohli stitched unbeaten 122 runs for the third wicket to take India home with 79 balls to spare.

    Earlier opting to bat,West Indies made a decent start before the hosts lost their first wicket in the ninth over when Lewis (9) was caught by India skipper Kohli off the Hardik Pandya’s (1/27) second delivery of the innings.

    Hope brothers, Kyle and Shai then shared 37 runs off 45 balls for the second wicket before Umesh struck twin blows in consecutive balls to peg West Indies back. Kyle, who was looking good, struck Umesh for two consecutive boundaries in the 16th over but in search of one too many he perished, picking out Dhawan at midwicket while trying to attempt for an ambitious pull.

    Umesh then had Roston Chase LBW for a duck with a full and straight delivery in the next ball. The batsman went for the review but to no avail with West Indies slumping to 76 for three by the end of the 16th over.

    Shai and Jason Mohammed (16) then stitched 39 for the fourth wicket before Kedar Jadhav (1/13) struck with his golden arm, dismissing the latter with a straight forward return catch.

    Young Shai held one end up and and played with caution to notch up his second half-century of the series in the 38th over. Together with skipper Jason Holder, Shai added 48 runs for the fifth wicket to keep West Indies’ innings afloat. While Shai played with caution, Holder was aggressive from the onset and piled up his 36 runs off just 34 balls with the help of four boundaries and one six.

    But an irresponsible shot led to Holder’s dismissal as he was holed out to Dhawan at long-on to hand Shami his first wicket. An over later Shami struck again when he dismissed Shai with the set batsman attempting an ambitious shot and Ajinkya Rahane did the rest by latching on to an outstanding running catch at midwicket. Shami again struck in his next over removing Ashley Nurse, who chipped one straight to Kuldeep Yadav at short midwicket.

    Shami also accounted for Devendra Bishoo, caugh by Dhoni behind the stumps. Rovman Powell (31 off 32 balls) played a good hand towards the end to get West Indies past the 200-run mark.

    Source: PTI

  • Chinese aircraft carrier sails into Hong Kong on maiden visit

    Chinese aircraft carrier sails into Hong Kong on maiden visit

    “I think Liaoning’s visit definitely gives the central government a chance to display its military power. It’s quite a positive and smart strategy to step up publicity overall,” said Sean Moran, a tourist from the United States, as the ship passed behind him on a blustery morning.

    HONG KONG (TIP): China’s first aircraft carrier sailed into Hong Kong waters on Friday in the latest show of the country’s growing military might at a time of heightened regional tensions.

    Tourists and residents gathered early to catch a glimpse of the massive carrier on its maiden visit to Hong Kong, part of celebrations marking 20 years since the handover of the city from British to Chinese rule.

    The Liaoning was accompanied by several other naval ships from its strike group, with jet fighters and helicopters visible on the flight deck alongside hundreds of crew dressed in white uniforms.

    “The Liaoning’s visit shows that China is a militarily superior country,” said Jack Chan, a retired businessman, who was watching the aircraft carrier from an oceanfront park.

    Thousands of Hong Kong residents queued for hours on Monday, many unsuccessfully, for 2,000 tickets allowing access to the vessel this weekend. Even though the former Russian naval ship remains a training vessel for China’s rapidly modernizing navy, its missions through tense regional seas have been closely followed in Hong Kong, which is more used to hosting US carriers and other foreign warships.

    “I think Liaoning’s visit definitely gives the central government a chance to display its military power. It’s quite a positive and smart strategy to step up publicity overall,” said Sean Moran, a tourist from the United States, as the ship passed behind him on a blustery morning.

    US consulate officials said that they have yet to be invited on board the Liaoning. The US navy often hosts the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on ships visiting Hong Kong, sometimes flying local military chiefs to aircraft carriers.

    The Liaoning’s most recent drills at the weekend included operations in the Taiwan Strait that were closely monitored by Taiwan’s military given recent tensions with Beijing, which regards the island as a breakaway province.

    With its Soviet-era takeoff ramp distinguishing it from the ordinary Hong Kong traffic of container ships and bulk cargo vessels, the 55,000-tonne Liaoning steamed down the congested East Lamma channel shortly after dawn. Significantly smaller than the US carriers that have long stopped in Hong Kong, the Liaoning started life as one of the Soviet Union’s last carriers under construction, before being sold by Ukraine as a stripped down hulk to private Chinese interests in 1998.

    The vessel was later refitted in a northern Chinese shipyard in what was seen by foreign military analysts as a key early test of China’s naval modernization.

    The Liaoning began sea trials as China’s first aircraft carrier in 2011 and has more recently conducted fully integrated drills with its complement of J-15 jet fighters and a variety of support ships. (Reuters)

  • Saudi Arabia chief foreign promoter of Islamist extremism in UK: Report

    Saudi Arabia chief foreign promoter of Islamist extremism in UK: Report

    LONDON (TIP): Oil-rich Saudi Arabia is the chief foreign promoter of Islamist extremism in the UK, a new report has claimed, asserting that a “clear and growing link” can be drawn between overseas money and the recent wave of attacks in Britain and Europe.

    The Henry Jackson Society, a foreign affairs think-tank, called for a public inquiry into the role of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations, BBC reported.

    The think-tank said there was a “clear and growing link” between Islamist organisations in receipt of overseas funds, hate preachers and Jihadist groups promoting violence.

    However, the UK’s Saudi Arabian embassy says the claims are “categorically false”. Ministers are under pressure to publish a report on UK- based Islamist groups.

    The Home Office report into the existence and influence of Jihadist organisations, commissioned by former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015, has reportedly yet to be completed amid questions as to whether it will ever be published.

    Critics have suggested it could make uncomfortable reading for the government, which has close and longstanding diplomatic, security and economic links with the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia.

    Today’s report says a number of Gulf nations, as well as Iran, are providing financial support to mosques and Islamic educational institutions which have played host to extremist preachers and been linked to the spread of extremist material.

    At the top of the list, the report claims, is Saudi Arabia. It alleges individuals and foundations have been heavily involved in exporting what it calls “an illiberal, bigoted Wahhabi ideology”, quoting a number of examples.

    In a minority of cases, the report alleges institutions in the UK that receive Saudi funding are run directly from Saudi Arabia, although in most instances the money appears to “simply buy foreign donors’ influence”.

    In a statement, the Saudi embassy here said any accusations that the Kingdom had radicalised “a small number of individuals are baseless and lack credible evidence”.

    And it pointed out that the country has itself been subject to numerous attacks by al-Qaeda and so-called Islamic State.

    It added: “We do not and will not condone the actions or ideology of violent extremism and we will not rest until these deviants and their organisations are destroyed.”

    The report’s release comes at a time when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt are all accusing Qatar of supporting extremism – a charge the report says is hypocritical. Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Cairo to discuss possible further sanctions on Qatar, while the Qatari foreign minister will be making his own country’s case at a press conference in London.

    Endorsing the report, Labour MP Dan Jarvis said it shed light on “very worrying” links between Saudi Arabia and the funding of extremism and he called for the government to release its report on foreign funding. (PTI)

  • In media blitz Beijing says Delhi’s stand is groundless

    In media blitz Beijing says Delhi’s stand is groundless

    NEW DELHI (TIP): As the Doklam standoff enters its fourth week, the Chinese embassy here has launched a media blitz to drive home its point that India’s position on the issue is “groundless”. After its late night statement on Mansarovar Yatra on July 6, the embassy came up with a video in which it sought to explain that it was India that was trying to change the status quo in the region as Doklam+ belonged to China.

    “As far as solution is concerned, the Indian troops must pull back to Indian side of the boundary unconditionally and immediately. This is the precondition for any meaningful dialogue between China and India+ ,” Li Ya, the political counsellor with the embassy, said in the video. “We have strong evidence to prove that Doklam belongs to China.

    Doklam has always been the traditional pasture for Chinese border inhabitants. Archives of Xi Zang Autonomous Region still retain some receipts of the grass tax paid by Bhutanese herdsmen. Today, the Chinese border troops still patrol there and the herdsmen graze their livestock there, and production and living facilities have been built there,” he said.

    Li accused India of crossing a delimited boundary and entering another country’s territory in the name of security concerns, adding that this won’t be acceptable to any sovereign state. Li, who claimed that he had first-hand knowledge of the area, said that based on his knowledge and work “for the past decade”, India’s “position is groundless”.

    (PTI)

  • Keep EU doors open to Britain says German Finance Minister and IMF chief

    Keep EU doors open to Britain says German Finance Minister and IMF chief

    HAMBURG (TIP): The European Union should keep its doors open to Britain if it wants to change its mind about leaving the bloc, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said on July 6.

    Speaking at an event ahead of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Schaeuble said it was not up to him to advise the British to change their decision, but added: “If Britain were to move in this direction, the door would be open, even after Brexit.” Lagarde said the Brexit decision should not be made irreversible, adding the EU and Britain must continue to cooperate closely.

    Lagarde also noted there were global challenges which demanded more global cooperation but also other challenges that needed regional cooperation. For his part, Schaeuble said the United States would not remain the strongest power if it takes a “Just America” line. (Reuters)

  • Officials say 76 police officers hurt in clashes with anti-G20 protesters

    Officials say 76 police officers hurt in clashes with anti-G20 protesters

    HAMBURG (TIP): At least 76 police officers were hurt on Thursday in clashes with anti-G20 protesters in Hamburg, German authorities said, as a demonstration dubbed “Welcome to Hell” erupted in violence shortly after it began.

    “Police are still being attacked,” said a spokesman for Hamburg’s police force, adding that most of the officers hurt sustained light injuries.

    Demonstrations turned violent late Thursday, as German police clashed with a group of masked anti-capitalist activists hurling bottles and stones.

    What should have been a peaceful march by around 12,000 people in Hamburg protesting against globalisation was halted as police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse around 1,000 far-left militants.

    Police called with loudspeakers on protestors to remove their masks but this was ignored and after more objects were thrown, authorities decided to separate them from the other protestors, police said on Twitter.

    “Unfortunately it has come to the first clashes. We are implementing corresponding measures,” read another tweet.

    Protesters were seen scrambling to leave the scene, while others defiantly stood in the way of water cannon trucks as they moved in surrounded by riot police with helmets and batons.

    Police tweeted a photo of a car and flames and said shop windows were smashed. The main “Welcome to Hell” march was then called off but thousands of people remained as night fell and demonstrators engaged in smaller skirmishes in the back streets of Germany’s second city, AFP correspondents said.

    Up to 100,000 demonstrators are expected before and during the two-day Group of 20 meeting gathering Trump, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping of China starting on Friday.

    There were 20,000 police on standby together with armoured vehicles, helicopters and surveillance drones. A holding centre for detainees has been set up in a former hardware store with space for 400 people.

    “War, climate change, exploitation are the result of the capitalist system that the G20 stands for and which 20,000 police are here to defend,” demonstrator Georg Ismail told AFP.

    Major events like the G20 have in recent years usually been held in remote locations, but Germany was forced by its logistical demands to host it in a large city with a big venue and dozens of hotels.

    Hamburg is desperate to avoid a rerun of the kind of major clashes seen at the 2001 G8 summit in Genoa or the Frankfurt opening of the new European Central Bank building in 2015.

    In Hamburg, some 30 demonstrations have been announced, organised by anti-globalisation activists and environmentalists, trade unions, students and Church groups.

    “Welcome to Hell” organiser Andreas Blechschmidt said the motto is “a combative message… but it’s also meant to symbolise that G20 policies worldwide are responsible for hellish conditions like hunger, war and the climate disaster”.

    The main focus of attention inside the G20 venue on the first day of the summit on Friday will be Trump’s first face-to-face meeting with Putin. Speaking in the Polish capital earlier on Thursday in front of 10,000 people, Trump didn’t mince his words about Moscow.

    “We urge Russia to cease its destabilising activities in Ukraine and elsewhere, and its support for hostile regimes — including Syria and Iran — and to instead join the community of responsible nations in our fight against common enemies and in defence of civilisation itself,” he said.

    Arriving in Hamburg later Thursday, Trump headed to talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has vowed to defend the 2015 Paris climate accord despite the US leader’s decision to withdraw.

    Merkel said before meeting the US president that Trump was facing isolation within the G20 over the issue — one of several topics where the new US leader is likely to clash with his fellow leaders. (Reuters)

  • Cyprus reunification talks collapse UN chief very sorry

    Cyprus reunification talks collapse UN chief very sorry

    CRANS-MONTANA (TIP): Talks to reunify the divided island of Cyprus collapsed in the early hours of July 7, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said after a stormy final session.

    “I’m very sorry to tell you that despite the very strong commitment and engagement of all the delegations and different parties … the conference on Cyprus was closed without an agreement being reached,” he told a news conference.

    The collapse marked a dramatic culmination of more than two years of a process thought to be the most promising since the island was split more than 40 years ago.

    Guterres had flown in on Thursday to press Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to seal a deal reuniting the east Mediterranean island, while U.S. Vice President Mike Pence had phoned to urge them to “seize this historic opportunity”.

    Diplomatic efforts to reunite Cyprus have failed since the island was riven in a 1974 Turkish army invasion triggered by a coup by Greek Cypriots seeking union with Greece.

    The week of talks in the Swiss Alps, hailed by the United Nations as “the best chance” for a deal, ground to a halt as the two sides failed to overcome final obstacles.

    Diplomats said Turkey had appeared to be offering little to Greek Cypriots wanting a full withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island, although the Greek Cypriots had indicated readiness to make concessions on Turkish Cypriot demands for a rotating presidency, the other key issue.

    Guterres finally called a halt at 2am after a session marred by yelling and drama, a source close to the negotiations said.

    “Unfortunately… an agreement was not possible, and the conference was closed without the possibility to bring a solution to this dramatic and longlasting problem,” Guterres said.

    “That doesn’t mean that other initiatives cannot be developed in order to address the Cyprus problem,” he added.

    He declined to elaborate on what exactly had caused the talks to collapse, but said there was still a wide gap between the two delegations on a number of questions. Greek Cypriots, who are due to launch a gas drill off the island in coming weeks that Turkey opposes, pointed the finger of blame at the Turkish Cypriot side.

    Nicos Christodoulides, spokesman for the Greek Cypriot government, said Turkey had refused to relinquish its intervention rights on Cyprus or the presence of troops on the island.

    “Tonight’s development is in no way positive, but it is not the end of the road either,” he said. Guterres, who began his role in January by announcing a “surge of diplomacy for peace”, is known for his energy and drive.

    But he appeared tired and downcast as he announced the collapse of the talks to a handful of journalists at an impromptu news conference that lasted only three and a half minutes.

    Diplomats say that Cyprus should be much simpler to resolve than many other situations where the United Nations hopes for peace, such as the bloody and complex wars in Syria, Yemen, Ukraine, South Sudan, Libya, or the Korean peninsula.

    Success in the Cyprus talks would have given Guterres a high profile at the G20 talks in Hamburg, where he is due on Friday, and where he will meet US President Donald Trump, who has promised to cut the US share of UN funding (Reuters)

  • 10 injured as volcano erupts on Indonesia’s main Java island

    10 injured as volcano erupts on Indonesia’s main Java island

    JAKARTA (TIP): A volcano popular with tourists erupted Sunday on Indonesia’s main island of Java, injuring 10 people, an official said.Sileri Crater at Dieng Plateau spewed cold lava, mud and ash as high as 50 meters (164 feet) into the sky when it erupted, said National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

    He said the sudden eruption occurred at around 11:30am, when there were about 17 visitors around the crater. Ten people were injured and were being treated at a hospital.

    Soldiers and police officers were dispatched to the scene, while local residents and visitors were asked to evacuate the area in case of further eruptions, Nugroho said.

    Sileri is the most active and dangerous among some 10 craters at Dieng Plateau. Its most recent eruption was in 2009, when it unleashed volcanic materials up to 200 meters (656 feet) high and triggered the creation of three new craters. (AP)

  • Ten killed and dozens hurt in Bangladesh garment factory blast

    Ten killed and dozens hurt in Bangladesh garment factory blast

    DHAKA (TIP): A boiler has exploded at a Bangladeshi garment factory killing 10 people and injuring dozens, fire officials said on July 2, the latest mishap to hit one of the world’s biggest garment producers.

    The accident happened late on Monday at a plant of Multifabs Limited, a Bangladeshi company on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka, a fire official said.

    The firm supplies knitted apparel to clients in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Russia, Spain, Netherlands and Britain, including to Littlewoods, one of Britain’s oldest retail brands, according to its website.

    “Nine people were killed in the blast and one died in hospital,” fire service official Palash Chandra Modak said. The company said the plant was functioning well and the boiler had just been serviced.

    “This was an accident. Everything was fine,” Mahiuddin Faruqui, company chairman and managing director told Reuters. “The boiler was running well. After servicing when workers were trying to restart it, it went off.” Bangladesh’s garment-making industry, the biggest in the world after China’s, employs four million people and generates 80 percent of its export earnings.

    Multifabs started operating in 1992, and reached $70 million in exports in 2016, supplying European brands such as fashion chain Lindex, which is part of Finnish retailer Stockmann and Aldi, Faruqui said. (Reuters)

  • Sale of weapons to India would undermine strategic balance says Pak

    Sale of weapons to India would undermine strategic balance says Pak

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan on Thursday expressed concern over the reported sale of advanced weapons to India by some countries, saying it would undermine the strategic balance in the region.

    “Pakistan will continue to raise its voice at the international fora which should objectively assess its actions and policies towards South Asian region,” Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said at his weekly media briefing.

    His comments came amid reports that the US has cleared the sale of predator Guardian drones to India. Zakaria said Pakistan was alive toward the issue of its national security which would be safeguarded at every cost.

    He also rejected allegations about presence of the Haqqani network in Pakistan and said that it was just “rhetoric” and effort to shift blame on his country.

    “The killing of a number of commanders of Haqqani network in Afghanistan clearly indicate that the group is based in Afghanistan and not operating from Pakistan,” he said. He also claimed that in Pakistan there was no organised presence of any terror outfit like the Taliban, Jamaat-ul Ahrar, IS and Al-Qaeda.

    Zakaria said that during the visit of the US delegation headed by Senator John McCain, matters pertaining to Afghanistan were discussed.

    He repeated Pakistan’s support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. He alleged that New Delhi was against peace in the war-torn country.

    The spokesperson also said that there are reports of Indian forces using ammunition containing chemical agents and precursors in Kashmir. “We call upon the international community, particularly, relevant International organizations to initiate investigations into these reports,” he added. (PTI)