The Indian Panorama

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  • USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for Some Categories of Applicants Seeking H-1B Visas

    USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for Some Categories of Applicants Seeking H-1B Visas

    WASHINGTON TIP: — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resumed premium processing today for all H-1B visa petitions subject to the Fiscal Year year (FY) 2018 cap. The FY 2018 cap has been set at 65,000 visas. Premium processing has also resumed for the annual 20,000 additional petitions that are set aside to hire workers with a U.S. master’s degree or higher educational degree.

    H-1B visas provide skilled workers for a wide range of specialty occupations, including information technology, academic research, and accounting. When a petitioner requests the agency’s premium processing service, USCIS guarantees a 15-day processing time. If the 15- calendar day processing time is not met, the agency will refund the petitioner’s premium processing service fee and continue with expedited processing of the application. This service is only available for pending petitions, not new submissions, since USCIS received enough petitions in April to meet the FY 2018 cap.

    In addition to today’s resumption of premium processing for H-1B visa petitions subject to the FY 2018 cap, USCIS previously resumed premium processing H-1B petitions filed on behalf of physicians under the Conrad 30 waiver program, as well as interested government agency waivers and for certain H-1B petitions that are not subject to the cap. Premium processing remains temporarily suspended for all other H-1B petitions, such as extensions of stay.

    USCIS plans to resume premium processing for all other remaining H‑1B petitions not subject to the FY 2018 cap, as agency workloads permit. However, remaining petitioners may submit a request to expedite their application if they meet the specific agency criteria. USCIS reviews all expedite requests on a case-by-case basis, and requests are granted at the discretion of the office leadership.

    USCIS will release future announcements when we begin accepting premium processing for other H-1B petitions, not subject to the FY 2018 cap.

    Source:  uscis.gov

     

  • U.S. energy department taps an Indian American MSU scholar for $750,000 Early Career Award

    U.S. energy department taps an Indian American MSU scholar for $750,000 Early Career Award

    Mississippi TIP : A Mississippi State assistant professor of chemical engineering is receiving a prestigious early career research award, along with $750,000 in research funding, from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

    Neeraj Rai is one of only 59 scientists in the U.S. selected for the award. His current research project is one of 38 selected for funding from academic institutions nationwide and is titled “Probing Condensed-Phase Structure and Dynamics in Hierarchical Zeolites and Nanosheets for Catalytic Upgradation of Biomass.” The funding award is to support research expenses over a five-year period.

    Rai’s research goal is to develop advanced computational frameworks for understanding chemical and physical processes at the molecular level and to design novel materials for meeting the nation’s future energy needs. Students in his research group will simulate biomass conversion for establishing design principles for developing efficient catalysts and processes that convert lignin and cellulose into chemicals, fuels and other renewable and sustainable materials that benefit society.

    His recognition marks the first DOE early career research award at Mississippi State University.

    “Dr. Rai’s research expertise in molecular-level chemical processes has several broad impacts to our society. I am proud to see his transformative work recognized with such a prestigious award,” said Jason Keith, dean and professor of the Bagley College.

    Rai said current chemical processes have been designed and perfected over the last century primarily to process hydrocarbon based feedstock.

    “However, it is a significant challenge to convert biomass into fuels and chemicals due to significant oxygen content. So, we have to create new technologies that are efficient and economically viable to convert complex biomass into carbon neutral products,” Rai explained.

    Before joining MSU, Rai was a postdoctoral research associate at the Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation, a DOE Energy Frontier Research Center at the University of Delaware. He also conducted postdoctoral research in the chemical and biomolecular engineering department at the University of Notre Dame. He obtained his doctoral degree in chemical physics from the University of Minnesota, and his bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Karnataka Regional Engineering College, presently known as the National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, India.

    MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.

     

  • Sushma Swaraj Holds Trilateral Talks With US, Japan Counterparts in New York

    Sushma Swaraj Holds Trilateral Talks With US, Japan Counterparts in New York

    New York TIP: India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had a Ministerial Trilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Kono in New York on Sept 18. On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly here, the three top diplomats also exchanged views on maritime security, connectivity and proliferation issues.

    “The ministers emphasised the need for ensuring freedom of navigation, respect for international law and peaceful resolution of disputes,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

    “On connectivity initiatives, the importance of basing them on universally recognised international norms, prudent financing and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity was underlined,” Kumar said in a statement.

    China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region.

    China claims sovereignty over all of South China Sea. However, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims.

    India and China last month ended a 73-day standoff in Doklam area of the Sikkim sector that was triggered by China’s move to build a road in the border area.

    Ms.Swaraj also deplored North Korea’s recent actions and stated that its proliferation linkages must be explored and those involved be held accountable, Kumar said.

    Tensions have dramatically risen on the Korean peninsula after North Korea early this month conducted its biggest nuclear test, which its state-run KCNA news agency described it as a hydrogen bomb.

    The three ministers directed their senior officials to explore practical steps to enhance cooperation, he said at the conclusion of the meeting.

    Sushma Swaraj arrived in New York early on Monday to attend the 72nd annual session of the UN General Assembly. She is scheduled to address the United Nations on September 23.

    During her week-long stay here, she is likely to hold between 15-20 bilateral meetings in addition to several multilateral and trilateral meetings.

  • Indian American girl makes it to US army

    Indian American girl makes it to US army

    18-year-old Sukhleen inducted as private after combat training

    KAPURTHALA (TIP): Less than a year after moving to the US with her family, 18-year-old Begowal girl Sukhleen Dhillon has been inducted as a private in the army, according to a September 16 Tribune report filed by Aparna Banerji.

    Sukhleen’s father, Jatinder Singh Mintu, who is on a visit to Kapurthala these days, proudly shows the certificate issued by the Fort Jackson Army Training Camp in July. It reads: “This certificate is presented to Pvt Dhillon Sukhleen Kaur, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, for successful completion of basic combat training.”

    Sukhleen is part of a company of 450 young recruits training in Georgia. She is the only Indian girl cadet among them, while there are several Indian men.

    Speaking to The Tribune from Georgia, she said, “It’s special to have come this far. I have handled tricky weapons and walked over 10 miles carrying weights of more than 30 pounds. It feels nice to make my parents and country proud.” She is keen on becoming a lieutenant.

    Jatinder, accompanied by his brother Kulwinderjit Singh, said, “Sukhleen initially felt lonely in the US. She then started following army aspirants on the internet. Soon, she surprised us by saying that she wanted to join the US army.”

    Jatinder, who is in the construction business, admitted that the family once had doubts whether she would be able to train so hard. “During a training session, she suffered a fracture. We got worried and thought of calling her back. But she stayed put and said the injury would heal soon. We realized that she would pursue her dream at any cost,” said the Kapurthala native, whose grandfather and paternal uncles served in the Indian Army.

    Sukhleen studied at Begowal till Class VI and then moved to Amritsar after her mother, Balbir Kaur, got a job as a school principal there. She studied in the holy city till Class XII before shifting to the US last year. She wants her brother, Arshdeep, to join the army as well.

  • Dhawan to miss first three ODIs against Australia

    Dhawan to miss first three ODIs against Australia

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India opener Shikhar Dhawan has been released from the team for the first three ODIs against Australia to attend to his wife, who is unwell.

    “Team India opener Shikhar Dhawan has requested to be released from the team for the first three ODIs of the Paytm Australia tour of India, 2017, to attend to his wife, who is unwell,” a BCCI release stated.

    The Senior Selection Committee has decided not to name any replacement for Dhawan for the first three matches.

    During the last series against Sri Lanka also, Dhawan had left after the One-day Internationals as his mother was unwell at that time.

    The India team for first three ODIs against Australia: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami. Source: PTI

  • Pak celebrates international revival with victory

    Pak celebrates international revival with victory

    LAHORE (TIP): Pakistan took a giant step towards reviving international cricket at home with a 20-run victory over the World XI in a match before excited crowds amid tight security.

    The T20 match, accorded international status by the International Cricket Council, is only the second time Pakistan has hosted an international match since militants attacked the bus of the visiting Sri Lankan team in March 2009, killing eight people and injuring seven players and staff.

    Long before the match started, around 9,000 police officers and paramilitary forces were deployed to the area, cordoning off the team hotels and stadium.

    But the large security presence did little to temper the enthusiasm of fans in the cricketmad country.

    Pakistan, sent into bat by World XI skipper Faf du Plessis, notched 197/5 with Babar Azam hitting a rapid 52-ball 86.

    His career-best T20 score had 10 boundaries and two sixes. Azam added 122 for the second wicket with Ahmed Shehzad (39) as Pakistan built on the loss of opener Fakhar Zaman for eight.

    Shoaib Malik smashed a 20-ball 38 with two sixes and four boundaries to give the final touches to the innings.

    The World XI started off well with Tamim Iqbal hitting 18 with three boundaries and Hashim Amla smashing three boundaries and a six in his 17-ball 26 but left-arm pacer

    Rumman Raees dismissed both in the same over to put the brakes on their innings.

    Skipper Faf du Plessis hit four boundaries and a six while Darren Sammy smashed three sixes — both scoring 29 — but were unable to see their team through.

    For Pakistan, paceman Sohail Khan and leg-spinner Shadab Khan finished with two wickets apiece. Source: AFP

  • VIRAT IS A BETTER ODI BATSMAN, SMITH AHEAD IN TESTS: CLARKE

    VIRAT IS A BETTER ODI BATSMAN, SMITH AHEAD IN TESTS: CLARKE

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are on even keel as far as leadership qualities are concerned, feels former Australia skipper Michael Clarke even though he rates the Indian captain as a slightly better ODI batsman.

    Asked who is a better batsman and leader among the two contemporary greats, Clarke observed: “Virat is a better ODI batsman but just about that. Smith perhaps is better in longer format.”

    “In terms of captaincy, both are equal and they are improving. At the moment, Virat is on top as his team is winning. But again, irrespective of the number of runs you score, what matters is whether your team is winning matches or not,” said Clarke, who is here as a TV expert for the upcoming five-match ODI series.

    Harbhajan Singh, during the last Test series, had stirred the hornet’s nest by terming the Australian side as the weakest ever to tour India and even predicting a 4-0 whitewash. Australia eventually did much better to lose 1-2.

    Clarke was asked the same question about whether this side, led by Smith, is the weakest to tour India, considering it did not even qualify for the Champions Trophy semi-final.

    Clarke’s sense of humour came to the fore as he came up with a cheeky response.

    “I am silly but I am not that silly to give you a front- page headline for tomorrow’s newspaper!” he answered with a wry smile as everyone had a good laugh.

    On a serious note, he said: “Obviously, this is an opportunity for this Australian side to translate their potential into consistent performance. This team needs to back its talent as there’s enough talent in the squad.”

    The Indian team has played an aggressive brand of cricket and Clarke did find certain similarities between the two sides led by Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli.

    “I think there are similarities. Sourav Ganguly deserves a lot of credit for the environment he created. He never took a backseat. MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble and Kohli have all done it in their own ways. The current Indian team is led by an aggressive skipper who does not want to lose,” Clarke said during a promotional event.

    Clarke said premier fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who are currently recuperating from injuries, would be missed by Australia.

    The incentive, according to the former skipper, should be a 4-1 win which could put Australia on top of the ICC ODI rankings.

    “A carrot right there for Smith and the boys because if they win 4-1 then they become the No.1 side again.”

    “The support staff has to work out the way they wish to play. Whether they want to play an aggressive brand of cricket or wish to hold back and play the full quota of overs.

    “We still have some way to go before the 2019 World Cup, but honestly we have not won as much as we would like,” Clarke replied when asked about the brand of cricket, he is expecting from the Aussies.

    Most of the Australian players are part of the Indian Premier League which makes it easier for them to adapt to the conditions.

    “The experience of playing in India makes it all the more easier for the Aussies. India is like a second home for these guys as they have played in the IPL. They know the conditions and the opposition so there can’t be any excuse,” Clarke signed off.

    Source:PTI

  • Suzuki to pump in fresh investment of Rs 3,800 cr in Gujarat

    Suzuki to pump in fresh investment of Rs 3,800 cr in Gujarat

    GANDHINAGAR (TIP): Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp on Thursday announced fresh investments of around Rs 3,800 crore in Gujarat to add a third car production plant.

    The company along with its partners Toshiba and Denso will also invest around Rs 1,150 crore for a new unit to produce lithium ion batteries.

    The new investment in enhancing capacity of the Hansalpur plant will take the company’s total investment in the facility to around Rs 13,400 crore, where it has already put in Rs 9,600 crore on two plants along with another engine and transmission production unit.

    The Hansalpur-based plant is Suzuki Motor Corp’s first wholly-owned unit in India.

    Announcing the fresh investments, Suzuki Motor Corp (SMC) Chairman Osamu Suzuki said the company will invest Rs 3,800 crore on the third plant which will have a production capacity of 2.5 lakh units annually.

    When the third plant starts functioning fully, the SMC’s Gujarat plant will have a total capacity of 7.5 lakh units per annum. He, however, did not elaborate on the time for commissioning of the third plant.

    The first two plants also have capacity of 2.5 lakh units per annum, while the engine and transmission unit has a capacity to produce 5 lakh units a year. The overall production capacity of SMC along with its Indian arm, Maruti Suzuki’s two plants in Haryana will increase to 22.5 lakh units annually.

    Currently, the first plant at Hansalpur produces premium hatchback Baleno.

    The second plant along with the engine and transmission units is expected to go on stream in 2019.

    He said with the new investment, the company’s Hansalpur facility will will help in generating employment for 10,000 people, including suppliers. “We will also construct a hospital and school near Hanslapur facility,” he added.

    Last week Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R C Bhargava had stated that SMC was also considering setting up a fourth production line of 2.5 lakh units at Hansalpur plant to take its total capacity to a million units.

    Suzuki said as part of strategy for adapting to new technologies, SMC along with its partners Toshiba and Denso will invest USD 180 million (around Rs 1,151 crore) to manufacture lithium ion batteries.

    The batteries will be used for “hybrid vehicles manufactured in India and export these genuinely manufactured in India vehicles to international market”, Suzuki said.

    The plant is expected to be operational from 2020, he said adding, “We plan to continue with our efforts to promote make-in-India program further”.

    Last year, SMC had joined hands with Toshiba Corporation and Denso to set up a plant in India to produce lithium ion batteries.

    The three Japanese entities inked an agreement to form a joint venture to tap growing popularity for electric vehicles in India and supply lithium-ion battery packs in the country. Source: PTI

  • GOLD RETAKES RS 31,000 LEVEL ON DEMAND PUSH, SOARS RS 650

    GOLD RETAKES RS 31,000 LEVEL ON DEMAND PUSH, SOARS RS 650

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Gold on Sept 14 took strength from a positive trend overseas by surging Rs 650 per 10 grams to seize the Rs 31,000 level, driven up by fresh local buying.

    But silver fell sharply by Rs 350 to Rs 41,500 per kg, mainly due to softening demand by industrial units and coin makers. Tension still brews on the Korean front as North Korea is digging in its heels over the UN resolution and the sanction over its most powerful nuclear test, analysts said.

    Any major uncertainty, according to experts, is directly proportional to the appeal of safe haven assets. Simply put, the higher the turmoil, the greater the risk aversion, which pushes investors more towards safe asset classes, including gold.

    Bullion traders said robust demand from local jewellers as well as retailers too fed the rally in gold prices.

    Globally, gold rose by 0.08 per cent to USD 1,323.60 an ounce after hitting a two-week low of USD 1,318.96. Silver too edged up 0.03 per cent to USD 17.75 an ounce in Singapore.

    In the national capital, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity surged Rs 650 each to Rs 31,000 and Rs 30,850 per 10 grams, respectively. The precious metal had lost Rs 650 in the last two days.

    Sovereign continued to be traded at the previous level of Rs 24,700 per piece of eight grams.

    In contrast, silver ready dropped Rs 350 to Rs 41,500 per kg and weekly-based delivery cracked below the 41,000 mark by sliding Rs 370 to Rs 40,930 per kg.

    Silver coins, however, held steady at Rs 74,000 for buying and Rs 75,000 for selling of 100 pieces. Source: PTI

  • VW RECALLS 4.86 MN VEHICLES IN CHINA OVER AIRBAG CONCERNS

    VW RECALLS 4.86 MN VEHICLES IN CHINA OVER AIRBAG CONCERNS

    The announcement came just 10 days after VW and its local partners agreed to recall 1.82 million vehicles owing to a faulty fuel pump

    BEIJING (TIP): Volkswagen will recall almost five million vehicles in China over airbag concerns, Chinese authorities said on Thursday, dealing a new blow to the German automaker in the world’s largest car market.

    VW and its joint ventures with Chinese partners FAW and SAIC will start withdrawing 4.86 million vehicles fitted with potentially faulty airbags made by Japan’s bankrupt airbag giant Takata from March 2018, according to China’s top consumer watchdog.

    The announcement came just 10 days after VW and its local partners agreed to recall 1.82 million vehicles owing to a faulty fuel pump.

    In March Volkswagen recalled nearly 6,80,000 premium Audi cars in China over defects in coolant pumps that could lead to engine fires, and another 572,000 due to potential problems arising from leaks in the panoramic sunroof.

    The latest recall involves vehicles made between 2005 and 2017, according to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

    Of the vehicles being recalled, more than 4.7 million units were made in Chinese factories and 103,573 are imports.

    Takatahas recalled some 100 million airbags produced for some of the largest automakers, including about 70 million in the US, due to the risk that they could improperly inflate and rupture, potentially firing deadly shrapnel at the occupants.

    The defect has been linked to 16 deaths and scores of injuries worldwide. China is a crucial market for VW, which sold nearly four million vehicles in the world’s biggest auto market last years.

    VW is still trying to recover from the controversy after it admitted in 2015 to equipping its diesel cars with defeat devices to evade emissions tests.

    The company pleaded guilty in March to charges stemming from “dieselgate” and agreed to pay $4.3 billion in penalties—on top of $17.5 billion in civil settlements.

    Volkswagen still faces legal challenges in Germany and worldwide, and has so far set aside more than 22 billion euros ($24.4 billion) to cover costs. Experts estimate the final bill from the scandal could be even higher.

    Source: AFP

  • MOVIE REVIEW – THE NUT JOB 2: NUTTY BY NATURE

    MOVIE REVIEW – THE NUT JOB 2: NUTTY BY NATURE

    Story

    A bunch of squirrels influenced by the leader of the pack, Surly, are used to leading an easy-lazy life in the lush green Liberty Park. They happily invade an out of business nut shop and feed themselves without making an effort to go look for food. But their luck runs out as the shop explodes and their home (the park) gets destroyed, thanks to a corrupt mayor, who sees more profit in an amusement park replacing the garden. Can the fluffy gang survive?

    Review

    This survival tale has its share of cute moments and inspiring life lessons but it strictly caters to the younger audience. At a time when most Hollywood animation studios are making films that appeal to all age groups, this one seems a tad dated in terms of its narrative approach and presentation. ‘There is no substitute for hard work’ is the point that the makers strive to drive home.

    They harp on it endlessly, making it all too preachy eventually. The animals are adorable but the portrayal of humans is juvenile and one-sided. If the mayor wasn’t evil enough, you have his destructive, control freak daughter, who sneers at everything that moves. Their collective hatred and attack on the animals seem uncalled for beyond a point.

    Also, the film fails to offer a spectacular visual experience, which could have probably enhanced an enormously cliched and predictable plot. To cut to the chase, this one’s a forgettable sequel, which has its moments but not enough to deserve a big screen viewing, unless you are obsessed with talkative squirrels.

  • KENDALL JENNER SUED OVER T-SHIRTS AGAIN

    KENDALL JENNER SUED OVER T-SHIRTS AGAIN

    Another photographer has sued model Kendall Jenners company Kendall Jenner Inc over the controversial t-shirt line, which featured photographs of musical icons with their own likenesses superimposed.

    According to a report, photographer Al Pereira has filed a lawsuit against Kendall Jenner Inc, claiming she had no right to use an image he shot of Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G. and Redman in the collection.

    Kendall and her sister Kylie had pulled the $125 t-shirts from sale earlier this year after photographer Michael Miller took legal action against the sisters for using his images without permission, and planned to sue for any profits they made from the garments during the short time they were on sale.

    However, the brand officials had said the copyright infringement lawsuit was “baseless” because they obtained the shirts with the rapper’s image from a company that had a valid license to sell them. They then said that they had only sold two of the garments before pulling the stock from sale. Source: IANS

  • WITHERSPOON SLAMS HOLLYWOOD FOR SEXISM

    WITHERSPOON SLAMS HOLLYWOOD FOR SEXISM

    Actor-producer Reese Witherspoon slammed sexism prevalent in Hollywood, saying big studios are uninterested in making films with ‘female-driven material’.

    The 41-year-old actor said she had a tough time finding a distributor for her film ‘Gone Girl’ initially, but things smoothened after the book became a bestseller. “I’ve also had studio heads say to me, ‘We don’t want to make biopics about women,’ or more simply, ‘We’re not interested in female-driven material’.”

    “My first go-round as a producer with ‘Gone Girl’? Every studio passed but one. When the book hit number one on the best seller lists, it was a different story,” Witherspoon said.

    The ‘Big Little Lies’ actor recalled a conversation she had with Mindy Kaling on racism in the industry.

    Another thing I think about a lot is how it feels to be a minority woman in America, so rarely seeing yourself onscreen, and it’s unconscionable.

    When I asked Mindy Kaling, ‘Don’t you ever get exhausted by always having to create your own roles?’ she said, ‘Reese, I’ve never had anything that I didn’t create for myself.’”

    “I thought, Wow, I feel like a jerk for asking that; I used to have parts that just showed up for me. I can’t imagine how hard it is to write your own parts and simultaneously have to change people’s perceptions of what a woman of colour is in today’s society,” she said.

    Actors such as Jeesica Chastain, Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis and Emma Watson, among others have recently spoken up about facing sexism in Hollywood.

    Source: PTI

  • MOVIE REVIEW – POSTER BOYS

    MOVIE REVIEW – POSTER BOYS

    CAST: Bobby Deol, Sunny Deol, Shreyas Talpade, Sonali Kulkarni

    DIRECTION: Shreyas Talpade

    GENRE: Drama

    DURATION: 2 hours 11 minutes

    STORY

    Set in a North Indian village, three distinct men – local goon Arjun (Shreyas), retired army officer Jagawar Chaudhry (Sunny) and school teacher Vinay (Bobby) are shocked to find themselves becoming the ‘poster boys’ of male sterilisation after their pictures randomly appear on a public service ad promoting vasectomy. They are soon subjected to public shaming.

    The three embark on a mission to fight the system that wrongly pronounced them ‘sterile’ without their consent or knowledge. The film is a Hindi remake of Sameer Patil’s 2014 Marathi film Poshter Boyz.

    REVIEW

    The best part about Shreyas Talpade’s unsuspecting debut film as a director is the fact that he doesn’t try too hard to make his characters look or sound funny. They are just common people stuck in an uncommon situation and must deal with it. Their ways to prove their innocence are as ineffective but that makes you identify with their trauma. What’s also refreshing is Shreyas’ decision to not follow the ‘Bollywood comedy’ template by making his sensitive subject seem frivolous. Of course there are enough silly metaphors that refer to the male reproductive tract but those can be overlooked, given the significance and sensitivity he lends to the topic otherwise.

    Credit also goes to the writers for localising the Hindi adaptation and comic punches well. But what pleasantly surprises you the most is the hilarious Deol brothers jugalbandi in a never-seen-before comic avatar. Shreyas extracts the best out of them and it is their comic timing and odd tributes to each other’s previous hit films that amuse you the most. Ashwini Kalsekar and Talpade’s sidekicks too deserve a special mention for cracking some quirky one liners.

    This dramedy that revolves around men who unknowingly promote ‘Bina taka nasbandi operation’ is a light-hearted and clever take on the population problem that plagues our nation.

  • TISCA CHOPRA: THERE IS NO STAR FROM INDIA IN HOLLYWOOD

    TISCA CHOPRA: THERE IS NO STAR FROM INDIA IN HOLLYWOOD

    Contrary to the perception that Indians are making their presence felt in Hollywood, actor Tisca Chopra says “we have not yet begun in the West”.

    The 43-year-old actor says only two Indian artistes – Priyanka Chopra and Irrfan Khan – have managed to be consistent in Hollywood, which is not enough to assure India’s place in the international cinema.

    In an interview, Tisca says, “We are such a huge country and if one or two people are working in international projects, it doesn’t make a difference. They are cast here and there when an Asian face is needed.

    “I feel only Priyanka Chopra and Irrfan have managed to work consistently in the West. Apart from them, I don’t think anyone else is doing anything significant. There is no star from India in Hollywood.”

    The actor says India may be a huge market for filmmakers and actors in the West in terms of making money, but they are still not attracted to the content of the movies made here.

    “We are far from making our place in global film market. Chinese, Korean, Iranian and Turkish films have set markets for themselves in the West. Source: PTI

  • KANGANA: EVEN IF MY JOURNEY ENDS NOW, I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE

    KANGANA: EVEN IF MY JOURNEY ENDS NOW, I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE

    Her over a decade-long journey in Bollywood has seen many a triumph, including her three National awards, and Kangana Ranaut said if her career ends now, she has nothing to lose as she has a huge success story for the rest of her life.

    Kangana, who made her film debut in 2006 with ‘Gangster’, said during her journey in the film industry, she has been able to discover herself and conquer her fears. Kangana in an interview said, “I have acted upon my fears when I was struggling and trying to discover myself, who I am. But now I feel extremely satisfied with my discovery about myself, my inherent nature, about who I am as a woman and what my tendencies and capabilities are. I left home with none of the knowledge when I was 15 but at the age of 30 I know a lot about me.

    “And there is a sense of accomplishment, I am a threetime National Award winner, I have shattered box office records. Even if my journey ends here right now right, I have nothing to lose. I still have a huge success story in every which ways for the rest of my life.”

    Kangana, 31, fails to understand why she should be fearful about anything in life as she is not scared of anyone.

    On if she fears not getting work, the actor said she has already achieved more than what she had set out for. “Why should I be fearful now? When I left home I wanted to be independent, now I am a megastar, I am a household name, I am a woman who knows herself which was the biggest challenge for me. If I am going to be fearful now, I am going to be fearful my entire life.”

    Kangana is not worried about her career ending in Bollywood and said she has complete faith in her abilities and knows that she can try her hand in some other profession.

    “What is it that this industry can give me? This industry can only take from me, it cannot give me anything. If my journey ends here, then too bad. If it continues, then good for them. I will do something else in some other field. I have a lot of faith in my abilities and I am not scared. I am not  enamoured by this world and no one can pull my spirit down.” Source: PTI

  • Pakistan poll panel issues arrest warrant for Imran Khan

    Pakistan poll panel issues arrest warrant for Imran Khan

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan’s election commission has issued a bailable arrest warrant against cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan for repeatedly failing to appear before it in a contempt case.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan was hearing a case against 64-year-old Khan filed by a dissident from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and one of the founding members Akbar S Babar.

    The ECP ordered the party chief to appear before the court on September 25.

    The counsel for Khan, Babar Awan, argued that the party chief was abroad and had returned to the country just an hour ago.

    On this, the counsel for the petitioner argued that the ECP’s orders have been violated.

    “Had he (Imran Khan) respected the institutions, he would have been present here,” said the counsel, asking the commission to continue with the regular proceeding.

    Following this, the ECP reserved its judgement in the contempt case and issued bailable arrest warrants against Khan, and ordered him to appear before the court on September 25.

    The ECP in its order said that Khan should submit surety bond of Rs 100,000 until September 25 to avoid arrest and also appear on September 25 for hearing in person.

    Last month, the ECP had issued a second show-cause notice to Khan after he failed to reply to the earlier notice regarding the contempt of court proceedings against him.

    Khan had initially challenged maintainability of the contempt petition and raised objections over ECP’s jurisdiction to initiate contempt proceedings against him; the commission, however, declared on August 10 that it had the legal right to hear the contempt case.

    It had then issued a formal show-cause notice to him, asking him to submit a reply by August 23.

    Khan had accused the ECP of being biased in the foreign funding case following which his counsel had tendered an apology with the commission. (PTI)

  • Rohingya Hindus too fleeing to Bangladesh

    Rohingya Hindus too fleeing to Bangladesh

    KUTUPALANG, UKHIA (BANGLADESH) (TIP): Akhira Dhar sits in stony silence in one corner of the makeshift camp for Rohingya refugees.

    Her glazed eyes have a blank stare that seems oblivious of the bustle in the camp as a fresh wave of refugees arrive, carrying with them scars and hopes. It takes a long time for Akhira to return to the present. But the horrors of the recent past have simply overwhelmed her.

    In the past week, Akhira has seen her husband and in-laws being hacked to death. Masked men armed with guns and machetes beheaded them after they looted everything the villagers had. That they were Hindus, minorities among the Rohingyas, didn’t matter. In the Rakhine state, violence and persecution obliterated religious boundaries. Hindu women were raped and killed before their villages were burnt.

    At Fakir Bazar, the village where Akhira was married into barely a year ago, the masked men did not spare a single male member. The blood and gore that she witnessed still numbs her. “Hadi felay (They kill everyone),” she murmurs. How she, carrying a fourmonth life in her womb, managed the crossing across the hilly terrain and jungle tracts braving wild animals is difficult to comprehend but she did finally make it to Merinja opposite Naikhong Chari in Chittagong. Here, she is now housed in Hindupara, a Hindu settlement within the Kutupalang Camp.

    Rikha Dhar, another refugee in Hindupara, recounted how her husband who had a gold shop in Myanmar’s Fakir Bazar was tortured by masked men till he disclosed where he had hidden the jewellery. Once he did though, they slit his throat. “My husband told them about the jewellery when they threatened to kill our children. They then took him blindfolded towards the hills. When we were fleeing, we found his blood-soaked body along with hundreds of others,” she recalled. The masked men, survivors are convinced, are not the armed forces as they speak the Rakhine dialect. These men, with their faces hidden, had spread a reign of terror in villages with Hindu settlements.

    The gun-toting masked men came one Thursday afternoon and drove us into our homes. For the next six days, they did not allow anyone to come out. On the seventh day, when they had gone to a nearby village, we fled for our lives,” said Bijay Ram, a Rohingya Hindu who managed to escape along with 120 more families from Oti Roah village in Myanmar. While trekking through the jungle, they found Akhira, Rikha and six other women with children. (TNN)

  • Rift in family over Sharif’s successor as brother, nephew distance themselves

    Rift in family over Sharif’s successor as brother, nephew distance themselves

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): The sequence of events that followed the disqualification of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif from office by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case has exposed a rift within the Sharif family and the ruling PML-N over the question of who will be the successor of the ousted premier.

    The by-election for a National Assembly seat in Lahore, that fell vacant with Sharif becoming ineligible to remain a legislator, has brought in the open the split in the party between his daughter, Maryum, and his younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif, who is currently the CM of Punjab.

    Knowing the delicacy of the power struggle, Nawaz, after his ouster, had announced his younger brother to be his successor but to be a PM, Shahbaz had to be elected to the National Assembly. As a stop-gap measure, Shahid Abbasi was announced PM. Sharif also launched his daughter to be his unofficial political strategist and spokesperson while delaying the announcement of the name of the candidate who would contest the by-election.

    PML-N veterans loyal to Shahbaz had privately said that it was just impossible that elder Sharif would bring his younger brother as PM. Ahead of announcing that his wife Kulsoom Nawaz would contest the by-election, it had almost become clear that Abbasi would remain a “permanent PM” till the next polls.

    “By announcing Khaqan Abbasi first as the country’s interim PM and then permanent, Nawaz Sharif has successfully denied control of PML-N to his younger brother till next election in mid-2018,” said analyst Nusrat Javed.

    Meanwhile, Nawaz picked Maryum to lead her mother’s election campaign, depriving his nephew, Hamza Shahbaz, from the job.

    Nevertheless, Shahbaz and his son Hamza, have distanced themselves from campaigning of Kulsoom Nawaz. They are currently in London and will return once the election is over. While both father and son have refrained from expressing their grievances in public, ex-home minister and Shahbaz’s close friend, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, has been doing the job.

    Nisar recently said Maryum could not be accepted as party leader. “Maryam should only be considered as the daughter of Nawaz Sharif,” he said, adding that Maryum had a long way to go in order to prove herself as a leader.

    (PTI)

  • MASTERMIND OF AMARNATH ATTACK KILLED IN SRINAGAR

    MASTERMIND OF AMARNATH ATTACK KILLED IN SRINAGAR

    SRINAGAR (TIP): The state police, the Army and the CRPF, in a joint operation, killed Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Abu Ismail, the mastermind of the Amarnath yatra attack, and his accomplice on the outskirts of Srinagar on September 14.

    Around 4.15 pm, the two terrorists hiding in the area were killed in a “very brief and crisp encounter”, Kashmir’s Inspector General of Police Muneer Khan said. “They were identified as Abu Ismail from Pakistan and Abu Qasim, known as Chota Qasim, also from Pakistan,” he added.

    On July 10, militants had attacked a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims near Batingoo Anantnag, leaving eight passengers dead and 19 injured, triggering outrage across the country. Terming the attack “un-Islamic”, Lashkar had denied any role, but the J&K Police claimed to have arrested two persons who had “helped” the three militants led by Ismail to carry out the attack.

    “The mastermind has been killed but two militants, one a foreigner, are at large,” Khan said. The GOC of Army’s counter-insurgency unit in south Kashmir, Maj Gen BS Raju, said Ismail’s killing was a huge setback to LeT.

  • CHIDAMBARAM’S SON REFUSES TO APPEAR BEFORE CBI

    CHIDAMBARAM’S SON REFUSES TO APPEAR BEFORE CBI

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Karti Chidambaram refused to appear before the CBI in the Aircel-Maxis case, his lawyer said.

    The agency had called Karti for questioning today in connection with the foreign investment clearance given in 2006 in the Aircel-Maxis deal when his father P Chidambaram was the Finance Minister.

    Karti, through his lawyer, has refused to appear before the agency saying a special court had discharged all the accused in the matter. “All proceedings connected with the said (case)… were also terminated,” the response said.

    “The response has been received by the CBI today at 10.30 am through a courier service. The response has also been sent through fax and email,” Karti’s lawyer Arun Natarajan said.

    It said after the discharge of the accused and “termination” of the proceedings, the CBI will not have jurisdiction to issue a summons in connection with the said case.

    According to the CBI chargesheet submitted in a special court, Mauritius-based M/s Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd. a subsidiary of Maxis, had sought approval for an investment of $800 million in Aircel.

    The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs was competent to grant the approval. “However, the approval was granted by the then Finance Minister. Further investigation is being carried out into the circumstances of the FIPB approval granted by the then finance minister. The related issues are also being investigated,” the agency had said in 2014. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy claimed that the former Finance Minister had given FIPB clearance to a deal that should have been referred to the CCEA, headed by the Prime Minister, as it alone was empowered to clear foreign investments of over Rs 600 crore. Source: PTI

  • India, Pak begin high-level talks on Indus Waters Treaty

    India, Pak begin high-level talks on Indus Waters Treaty

    The World Bank-brokered water talks with Pakistan are taking place over Thursday and Friday, in Washington DC. Since the Pathankot and Uri attacks last year, Delhi has discouraged any kind of dialogue unless cross-border terrorism comes to an end.

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India and Pakistan have submitted themselves to the World Bank for the second time in two months, to help resolve a dispute over their respective interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty, signalling a softening of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tough line on Pakistan. The presence of Deepak Mittal, joint secretary in charge of the Pakistan desk in the Ministry of External Affairs, in the delegation led by Water Resources Secretary Amarjit Singh is significant.

    The World Bank-brokered water talks with Pakistan are taking place over Thursday and Friday, in Washington DC.

    Since the Pathankot and Uri attacks last year, Delhi has discouraged any kind of dialogue unless cross-border terrorism comes to an end. Reacting to India’s participation in the talks, Bimal Patel, member of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and Law Commission, told The Indian Express that he “doesn’t know what the government’s intention is, but it is uncalled for to participate in such meetings to perpetuate a third party role”.

    Patel said he was speaking in his personal capacity. The five-member NSAB is led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. “I don’t know why we are going to the World Bank. We should not go to the World Bank. I fail to understand why they (the government) are doing this, inviting the World Bank to play a role which should not be there,” said Patel. The dispute is over the construction of two hydroelectric plants on the Kishenganga (330 MW) and Ratle (850 MW) tributaries of the Jhelum and Chenab respectively. Pakistan complained that India was violating the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, signed under the aegis of the World Bank, because it was given unrestricted use of the waters of the two “Western Rivers” in the Indus system under the treaty.

    But the treaty also allows other “uses”, including the construction of hydroelectric plants. India has taken this to mean that it can not only construct the Kishen ganga and Ratle dams, but also several other projects, such as the 1000 MW Pakal Dul, 120 MW Miyar and 48 MW Lower Kalnai on various tributaries of the Chenab. Pakistan objected and asked the World Bank to set up a Court of Arbitration; as the upper riparian state, India was not adhering to its treaty obligations, Pakistan said. India, meanwhile, requested the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert to look into the matter.

    Asked about the Bank’s role in the India-Pakistan talks and what it expected from them, Bank spokesperson Elena Karaban told The Indian Express: “The meetings between India and Pakistan on the technical issues of the Indus Waters Treaty are taking place in Washington, DC on September 14-15. These meetings are a continuation of a discussion on how to safeguard the treaty for the benefit of the people in both countries.”

    Delhi’s decision to drop its earlier objections and agree to participate in a Bank-brokered dialogue with Pakistan in August in Washington DC surprised all sides. Senior Bank officials even complimented both delegations for displaying a new spirit of “goodwill and cooperation”.

    Deepak Mittal, the MEA official, was present in those talks as well. His participation in this second round is being seen by all sides as a signal that the Modi government is softening its position on Pakistan.

    Source: The Indian Express

  • CBSE FOR PSYCHOMETRIC TEST OF ALL SCHOOL STAFF

    CBSE FOR PSYCHOMETRIC TEST OF ALL SCHOOL STAFF

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Placing the onus on schools for the safety of students on their premises, the Central Board of Secondary Education today issued new security-related guidelines that included a psychometric test for the teaching and non-teaching staff.

    Psychometric tests are used to measure an individual’s mental capabilities and behavioural style. The tests are designed to measure a candidate’s suitability for a role based on the required personality characteristics and aptitude.

    The evaluation is done by a professional psychologist.

    The Board has asked schools to complete the evaluation process within two months and implement the other guidelines, failing which they would face derecognition.

    The directive comes amid increased concerns about the

    safety of students on school premises following the killing of

    a seven-year-old boy in a Gurugram school and the rape of a five-year-old girl by a peon in Delhi. “Such verification and evaluation for non-teaching staff such as bus drivers, conductors, peon, and other support staff may be done very carefully. Source: PTI

  • India rushes relief materials for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

    India rushes relief materials for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India on Thursday rushed 53 tonnes of relief materials to Bangladesh and pledged all help to Dhaka in tackling the humanitarian crisis after nearly 400,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees fled to the country from Myanmar following the ethnic violence in the Buddhist-majority nation.

    “Operation Insaniyat: High Commission handed over 1st consignment humanitarian assistance by India to Bangladesh,” the Indian mission here tweeted.

    The first Indian consignment comes days after Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi Syed Muazzem Ali met Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar last week and briefed him about the problems faced by Dhaka due to the influx of the refugees. “India stands ready to provide any assistance required by Government of Bangladesh in this hour of need,” an Indian External Affairs Ministry statement said on Thursday. It said New Delhi always responded readily and swiftly to any crisis in Bangladesh, in keeping with the close ties of friendship between the peoples of the two countries. “In response to the humanitarian crisis being faced on account of the large influx of refugees into Bangladesh, Government of India has decided to extend assistance to Bangladesh,” the ministry said. The relief material consists of items required urgently by the affected people, namely rice, pulses, sugar, salt, cooking oil, tea, ready to eat noodles, biscuits, mosquito nets, tents etc. Source: PTI

  • UK’s serious fraud office starts probe into laundering by Mallya

    UK’s serious fraud office starts probe into laundering by Mallya

    NEW DELHI (TIP): In a major development that may spell more trouble for controversial businessman Vijay Mallya, Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is conducting a probe against the liquor baron for alleged “money laundering” in UK and beyond.

    Top sources said that British investigators are probing alleged use of several companies for laundering money from India to UK through a circuitous route and a complex web of companies, and further to Switzerland and other countries.

    In fact, sources said, SFO has already collected substantial information about Mallya’s movable and immovable assets, his investment and shares in various companies in the UK and bank account details. The financial investigation agency decided to initiate an independent probe against Mallya to examine whether the alleged money laundering involved British companies linked to him.

    The UK authorities have informed India about its independent ‘formal’ probe against Mallya while seeking details of alleged money laundering and assets abroad from CBI and ED.

    Government sources say the SFO action should strengthen India’s extradition case against Mallya, presently being heard in Westminster Court. To enable extradition of Vijay Mallya from London, a ‘dual criminality’ clause of his illegal activities has to be established according to the extradition treaty between two countries. The clause demands cheating of public banks in India by Mallya, and subsequent, money laundering has to be proved a ‘crime’ in the eye of British law as well. Source: TOI