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August 2014

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Raja natwarlal

Raja Natwarlal kiss may be snipped: Humaima Malick

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CONTENTS

Indian times

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indiantimes

5a ne

ws Soon you may la nd in jail... ws Fash ion in Hi-F 11a ne i societies ... ws Raja Natarwarla 14a ne l kiss may ws Soon be... y ou may be 17a N a llowed to.. EWS Mod . i works for a neighbou 18a T rhood... ECHNOLO G Y M IT finger d 21a evices r televIsio ead... n The retu 22a r n o f daughters Food & W ... ine Fillet Steak with 23a Tr Garlic... avel JHANSI...

August 2014

INDIAN TIMES

9a ne

SIDE A

SIDE B

tric... 4b omen cen w in t c a l to 8b D Kajo O O W Y urns”... L t L re BO m a ingh 10b .. VIEW “S E R P IE s death for. e V c ra b MO m e ingh Ranbir S ce’ 14b D O O W Y About dan d a BOLL ‘M w ie v Re 15b ... OD Music O W Y L L pted before O ri B c s s a w Dog’s role ... D O O W Y g to get 18b L n L BO ryi t re People a y... 19b red the wa a Bollywood le c s r te e sis . 20b My brav t in Dosti.. e e Sports m n ta is d Pak .. India an s t uty guide. 22b a e b por S ’s n e om pregnant w e h T h t l hea

Melbourne Office

Indian Times

Postal add: P.O. Box 9251, South Yarra VIC 3141 Phone: 13000 22225 Mobile: 0433 676 636 (Formal Melbourne City Newspaper weekly and Computer Traders Newspaper weekly).

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Disclaimer: Indian Times and web indian-times.com.au due care in the preparation of the publication but is not responsible or liable for any mistake, omissions or misprints. Indian Times prints advertisements provided to the publisher, but gives no warranty and makes no representation as to the truth or accuracy of any description and accepts no liability for any loss suffered by any person who relies on any statement contained herein. Indian Times reserves the right to refuse, abbreviate or delete any advertisement at any time. Advertisements are responsible for advertising copy by virtue of the Trades Practices Act and advertisements are published in good faith. All logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Images are for illustrative purposes only.

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US set to woo India with classified info, intel swap

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s part of a deepening cooperation on defence, the United States has offered to create institutionalised links between its military intelligence and India’s and is willing to share classified information on the region, including Afghanistan-Pakistan and China. While the full scope of the offer will be made by US defence secretary Charles ‘Chuck’ Hagel during his three-day visit to India next week, secretary of state John Kerry hinted about the proposal to defence minister Arun Jaitley in their

August 2014 Edition

meeting last Thursday. Hagel arrives on August 7 evening and leaves on August 9 after meeting Jaitley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national security advisor Ajit Doval and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, who is the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. US diplomatic sources said Hagel will aim to take defence cooperation beyond military hardware sales and transfer of technology under the so-called Defence Technology Initiative (DTI) to joint manufacturing of weapon systems in India under

the 49% FDI route announced by Jaitley in the budget. US under secretary of acquisition, technology and logistics, Frank Kendall, the principal interlocutor for the DTI, is accompanying Hagel and will hold a meeting with Doval. Talks will cover the situation in the Af-Pak region and the rise of fundamentalist forces like ISIS in West Asia as well as a possible deal on purchase of some 3,000 advanced military vehicles that US troops plan to leave in Afghanistan after withdrawal this year.

The Americans are also willing to deepen service-to-service engagements with advanced and multilateral military exercises as well as to strengthen Indian capabilities on the borders. On the agenda will be the purchase by India of six more C-17 heavy lift aircraft, 10 Chinook CH 77 heavy lift helicopters, 22 Apache Longbow attack helicopters and 200 Honeywell engines for upgradation of the Jaguar fighter fleet. US military sources said, Washington was also willing to look at the advanced surveillance

requirement for Indian troops manning the 4,088-km Line of Actual Control (LAC), high-speed interceptor boats for patrolling the disputed Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh as well as lowlevel radars to plug gaps in air defence. South Block officials said both countries need to get into joint development and manufacturing of military systems, which would create jobs and nullify the possibility of Washington blocking the sale of spares in the event of any disagreement.

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Soon you may land in jail for beating child

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arents, guardians and schools teachers may very soon face a maximum of five years in jail for beating a child, or verbally abusing him or inflicting any other form of corporal punishment. Similarly, ragging a fresher or junior in college may also fetch a maximum of three years in prison, if the government has

August 2014 Edition

its way in replacing the Juvenile Justice Act of 2000 with a new law that has various new provisions for specific Acts. The draft Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014 seeks to introduce an array of special provisions in laws, aiming at children’s rights and incorporating various international

obligations and covenants into the legal framework. The new proposed law, about which Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi informed the Lok Sabha Draft Bill proposes jail for beating, abusing child on Friday, has already been circulated for interministerial consultation. It makes

corporal punishment an offence under a new provision in the Act. After the Cabinet’s approval, the Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament. The term “corporal punishment” shall include physical punishment as well as verbal abuses by any person and if a juvenile court holds such a person or institution guilty, it

may hand out a jail term extending up to six months along with fine for the first offence and a maximum of three years on second and subsequent conviction. “In case the corporal punishment has caused grievous hurt or severe mental trauma to the child, the person having committed the offence shall be liable, for rigorous imprisonment of three years and fine of rupees fifty thousand, and for subsequent conviction, imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine of rupees one lakh or both,” the draft states. If passed by both Houses of Parliament, the new law will include India among the list of around 40 countries across the world which have absolutely prohibited corporal punishments and have made it a penal offence. Another provision in the proposed law seeks to make ragging a penal offence, punishable up to three years in jail if the acts of ragging have not only generated a sense of embarrassment for the victim but also caused grievous physical or mental injuries. Expulsion of the perpetrator has been made mandatory. Not only the students but also the managements of colleges and institutions have been made completely accountable under the proposed law.

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Delhi Police’s 1093 helpline a hit from Chennai to Agra

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he Delhi Police’s ‘1093’ helpline began as a social experiment in desperate times. Now it seems to have become an effective distress management system within months – arousing the interest of several state police chiefs one after the

other. This helpline was initially meant to cater solely to complaints from people of northeast Indian-origin in Delhi. Now, it unofficially caters to five different cities in the national capital region (NCR) despite what many describe as a mere skeletal

infra-structure. It was launched in the wake of the Nido Tania murder case earlier this year. Inf act, Delhi Police’s Whatsapp and Facebook account is being approached by complainants of northeast Indian-origin from Chennai to Agra, according to of-

ficial police records. “We receive complaints ranging from eve-teasing to dark spots and from those alleging cyber-stalking to attempt to murder on the helpline,” said a police officer. “The helpline is not technically equipped to receive calls originating from beyond the NCR; but, in roughly a month, more than eleven calls from five cities around Delhi have been received from northeastern persons and forwarded to the local police for action.” According to official records, over a 100 complaints were received by the Delhi Police’s special cell for the protection of northeast people through Whatsapp, Facebook and via email. These originated from locations in Agra, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Gurgaon, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Meerut, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Dehradun among others. What seems to have added to its popularity is a recent case in which a Gurgaon-based couple from Manipur turned to the helpline for help when their attempt at reporting an attempt to murder to the local police failed. “Since the incident, Nazneen Bhasin, an IPS who is the NE nodal officer at Gurgaon and Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria took personal interest to implement the pattern of the Delhi Police helpline,” said another officer.

“In a recent meeting at the MHA, the Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai Police showed genuine interest in adopting the model during the MHA Committee interaction too.” Ironically, the Bezbaruah committee which had been constituted by the MHA to make recommendations about the safety of northeastern people in Indian metros had recommended that 1093 be allowed to go national. However, according to many activists associated with it, much more attention needs to be paid to the helpline’s infrastructure which currently consists of a handful of computers and two to three personnel. “It has the potential to do a lot of good as experience and statistics have shown but a lot still needs to be done,” said Dr. Alana Golmei, an activist. “It is a concept that has been welcomed by one and all and should be allowed to operate like the Delhi Police Control Room with its own dedicated servers, vehicles and personnel. ” David Boyes Akham, who had been consulted for the Bezbaruah report said, “The helpline was an experiment which had proved its merit. The fact that more and more people from the northeast are turning to it for help means that it could do wonders at the national level.”

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News 7a Biometric machines soon at railway station to rein in touts indiantimes

Photo source: PTI

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n its latest attempt to curb touts, the reservation centre at the Pune railway station will soon install biometric systems that will help the authorities to keep unauthorised ticket ‘agents’ at bay. The move comes after several efforts to curb the menace, such as installing CCTV cameras and changing the booking timings failed to rein in touts. According to Divisional Railway Manager (Pune) Suneet Sharma the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) at Pune Station will get two biometric machines which will keep a tab on multiple visits from the same person. “In this system, the ticket buyer has to give a thumb impression before entering the reservation counters. After one places the finger on the machine, it will generate a token that has to be taken to the booking window for issuance of the ticket. Once the person’s identity is registered in the system, he/she will not be allowed to book ticket from the PRS more than twice in day. Thus we have joined two techniques – issuance of tokens to avoid crowding at windows and keeping biometric data of visitors,” said Sharma. Sharma said the move would go a long way in curbing the tout menace. “At present, we don’t have any effective mechanism to see if a single person is visiting the reservation centre multiple times a day or a week. Once the biometric system is in place, we could monitor the visi-

tors and their frequency and thus check the suspiciously frequent visitors,” said Sharma. He said the two biometric machines will be installed at the main gate of the PCR building. “The tenders will be given out this month and the machines will be installed within two months,” added Sharma. Previously, the railway administration had tried to curb the touts by installing the CCTV cameras inside the reservation centre. The idea was to keep a tab on the frequent visitors by checking the CCTV footage during the busy hours. The move, however, failed to have any impact as there were only two CCTV cameras which failed to cover the entire row of over a dozen ticket windows. Later, the administration mooted another plan of installing additional cameras so that each and every window could be covered. This plan remains to be implemented. Another attempt to curb the touts, which was implemented nationwide by the Railways, was a change in the Tatkal booking timings from 8 am-10 am slot to 10 am to 12 pm. This also failed to have the desired impact. Although the Western Railway had announced that it would install biometric machines at the reservation counters in Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the project has failed to take off. The only station in the country to that has working biometic system is Jabalpur Station near Bhopal.

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August 2014 Edition

orja foundation is a recent developed nongovernment organization working on a mission to support children, youth , senior citizens specially from punjabi background in Melbourne. Oorja Foundation is working on various community based issues like inter generational problems, depression, social isolation, family violence and child abuse. Apart from supporting these community issues we are largely focused on conducting program’s, projects which will help our community to move out and develop a common base where we all can sit by breaking our social gaps developed between our community. One such initiative started is conducting of “punjabi Cultural group” every fortnightly on Fridays in Craigieburn global learning centre. This project is providing a common platform to all age groups of punjabi community to interact, communicate, involve and develop activities like dancing, singing, discussions mainly based on punjabi culture and tradition. This group is open to all and commits to narrow down our social gaps where grand parents, parents and children all are gathering to nourish our society with planned set of activities like movies, drawing , singing, story

telling to learn and share our experiences among all! www.indian-times.com.au



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Sukhbir again urges Centre to intervene in HSGMC issue

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oming out in support of senior IPS officer Sunil Paraskar, who has been accused of rape by a 26-year-old model, the Shiv Sena on Saturday triggered a fresh controversy claiming it has become a “fashion in hi-fi societies to create a flutter by crying rape”. “What is the background of this model? After having a relationship for so long, how did the rape happen suddenly? Such doubts arise in the minds of people, but strangely not for the police. In this case, the rape complaint was filed six months later. Does it take six months to realise that a rape has occurred?” an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana said on Saturday. “Cases of charging men with molestation and rape in hi-fi societies to create hype is on a rise now. It has almost become a fashion. After so many years of service in the police force, one model now charges DIG Sunil Paraskar with rape and in one night, he becomes a villain. Such accusations have become good weapons to seek personal revenge,” the editorial says. “Rape is a brutal thing. However, there are some women who, by exploiting their womenhood, make false accusations, forcing all women to come under the scanner,” it says. The editorial also took exception

to the alleged media trial against Paraskar, who is a DIG-level officer. “In such incidents, truth comes out when it has to. However, the hounding of the accused and the media trial that happens in such cases makes you cringe,” it says. Paraskar, a Maharashtrian by birth, had entered the police through the state police service before being elevated to the IPS cadre. Aditya Thackeray, chief of the Yuva Sena, also weighed in for the officer, saying a media trial should not be carried out. “The editorial is a comprehensive argument on why ‘rape’, although one of the worst crimes, should be carefully tried in courts, not in the media,” Aditya tweeted. He claimed a media trial in such cases had led to families being broken and people trying to commit suicide. The Shiv Sena’s stand drew fire from other political parties in the state. “It is a highly sensitive matter. Political parties should refrain from making statements on such cases,” NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said. Meanwhile, Paraskar refused to undergo a polygraph (lie-detector) test even as the complainant agreed for it. Advocate Rizwan Merchant, who is representing Paraskar, said Saturday that he had declined

to undergo the test on medical grounds. “My client has had a bypass surgery and will have to stop his medication to undergo the test, which is not good for his health. Also, it is a fundamental right of every citizen to not give evidence against himself.” The complainant’s lawyer, advocate Chitra Salunke, said her client had on Friday offered to undergo the test. “We wrote to the police saying my client would undergo the test as she had nothing to hide. We have received a response from the police Saturday, saying they don’t mind conducting the test on my client if she is willing,” said Salunke. Following the model’s complaint, Paraskar was booked under IPC Sections 376(2)(rape by a police officer), 376 C (intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home, etc) and 354 (D) (stalking) at Malwani Police Station on July 23. The 57-year-old DIG (Protection of Civil Rights Units) is at present posted at Maharashtra Police Headquarters here. Investigators have identified two places – a bungalow in Madh Island in suburban Mumbai and a flat in neighbouring Navi Mumbai – where the alleged incidents took place. The DIG, granted interim protection from arrest till August 5 by a court here, has been questioned twice so far.

Photo source: PTI

Photo source: PTI

‘Fashion in hi-fi societies to create flutter’: Sena on rape

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unjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal has once again urged the Centre to act in the wake of “threatening statements” issued by leaders of ad hoc Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC). “Centre should take suitable steps to prevent the atmosphere from vitiating further as HSGMC leaders are issuing threatening statements,” he said. Sukhbir alleged that the Congresssponsored provocation was self-indicative of the fact that HSGMC leaders believed in confrontation and wanted to disrupt peace and tranquility in Sikh shrines of Haryana. Answering a query pertaining to regularization of unauthorized colonies, post property related legislation of 1995, Sukhbir said that all no objection certificates (NOCs) had been issued to plot holders who had applied

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for regularization as per policy guidelines issued by the government. “The remaining plot holders have been advised to make 100% payment required for regularization, besides clearing discrepancies in their papers so that NOCs could be issued to them at the earliest,” he said. Talking about assembly byelections at Patiala (Urban) and Talwandi Sabo to be held on August 21, the deputy CM reiterated that that SAD-BJP would contest on development plank and emerge victorious on both seats. Commenting on Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Jagmeet Singh Brar’s statement on Sonia Gandhi, Sukhbir said that it would be better if the Congress president and her son Rahul Gandhi go on permanent leave. “Two years is less, they should go on a permanent break,” said Badal.

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here is a general expectation that, while the World Trade Organisation (WTO) vacations in August, Indian and United States negotiators will work out food subsidy compromise language by September. “We should get some stronger language by then,” said Pradeep Mehta, trade specialist and head of advocacy group CUTS International. India has two aces up its sleeve. One, the US Trade Representative’s (USTR’s) office is desperate to complete the trade facilitation agreement (TFA). The TFA is a personal goal of the US’s trade representative Michael Froman, according to diplomatic sources. Giving India the language it wants will be a small price for finishing what is almost the last major WTO agreement that Washington has any stake in. Two, US President Barack Obama wants a productive summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September. This means the White House will be pushing hard for the issue to be settled before the summit takes place. “The USTR dislikes India intensely” and would not be averse to trade sanctions against India, said a state department source. However, Obama has other fish to fry with Modi and is expected to override Froman. Indian officials say Modi “took

the Americans to a higher level in his talks with US secretary of state] John Kerry” and made Washington see the WTO as an irritant that should not define a much larger relationship. The nature of the compromise language is uncertain. A background briefing by the state department’s South Asia point person, Nisha Biswal, spoke of Modi wanting “some degree of simultaneity of having TFA and food security issues move forward together.” Indian officials also speak of negotiating a food security pact in lockstep with the finish of the TFA. Countries like Japan and Australia have reportedly talked about going ahead with an agreement signed by everyone except India and its three supporters. But this would require a herculean diplomatic task to get the other 149 countries on board. It would also require the backing of the largest trading nations — the US and the European Union in particular. It would be much easier to get a food security compromise worked out. The TFA debacle is not causing much sleep loss among trade experts. The history of international trade negotiations is one of endless delays and failed deadlines. The real WTO issue that India needs to focus on is growing disinterest in the WTO process by Western nations. “The US and the European Union

Photo source: PTI

India to work out food subsidy compromise language by Sept

are only interested in the TFA and the environmental services agreement,” says T Vishwanathan, trade advisor for Apeejay-SLG. “Once they’ve pocketed them, they will bid the WTO goodbye.” Mehta agreed

that “the TFA is the last thing the US wants from India at the WTO. We aren’t part of the environmental services agreement.” The WTO, in other words, will find its 20-year old rule-book be-

coming reduced to a fossil. The future means of world trade will be decided in alternative fora like the Trans-Pacific Partnership which India does not even qualify to join.

Photo source: PTI

MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT

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he Government will not proceed with the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (the Act). Over the last five months, the Government has undertaken a comprehensive process of community consultation. We wanted to hear from all stakeholders and all sections of the Australian community on this issue. We have listened to what you had to say and the Government will not repeal sections 18B, 18C, 18D and 18E of the Act. At a time when the threat to Australia from extremists is real and growing, we must focus on the things that unite us as Australians. Everyone needs to be part of ‘Team Australia’. The Government’s proposals to August 2014 Edition

change section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act had become a needless complication. I don’t want to do anything that puts our national unity at risk at this time and so those proposals are now off the table. This is a call that I have made. It is a leadership call that I have made after discussion with the Cabinet today. In the end, leadership is about preserving national unity on the essentials and that is why I have taken this decision. Since 1788, Australia has been an immigrant society. Successive waves of newcomers eager for a better life have enriched our culture. We have found unity in our diversity and strength in our differences. www.indian-times.com.au


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Raja Natwarlal kiss may be snipped in Pak: Humaima Malick

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akistani actress Humaima Malick, who has a few intimate scenes with Emraan Hashmi in her debut Hindi film Raja Natwarlal, says, she isn’t worried about the reaction back home in Pakistan. The 26-year-old actress, whose Pakistani film Bol was released in India in 2011, says she was initially apprehensive about kissing on-screen. “I have never kissed on-screen so I wasn’t prepared at all. I was nervous on the day we were to shoot the kissing scene. It felt very mechanical. Thankfully, it went really well,” Humaima said in an interview here. ”But Emraan made me comfortable as he is an expert in kissing. People love him for this and he doesn’t make it look vulgar. The kissing scene may be deleted in Pakistan. In the film there is no sex scene put in forcefully. It’s been shot sensibly, which will not look vulgar,” she added. Humaima says she isn’t worried much about the backlash in Pakistan about the kissing scene. “I made myself strong with the thought that talent has no religion. It was just a role. I have made my country proud as I was nominated for Best Actress for Bol across several countries and won award at the London Asian Film Festival,” she said. “I am sure that people in Pakistan will support me. There will be people who will criticise me, but if I take them seriously, I won’t be able to do a lot of things in my career,” said Humaima, adding she won’t be seen wearing a bikini on-screen. Back home in Pakistan, Humaima is happy with the response the trailer of Raja Natwarlal has received. “People have loved the trailer of the film. Emraan has a huge fan following in Pakistan. People back home feel that he is a Pakistani because of his name. I am a top actress and the highest paid actress in Pakistan. I am sure people will come to watch both of us and appreciate our work,” she added.

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o, what makes an Indian an Indian? Or to put it another way, what turns an Indian into a foreigner? Or, for that matter, what turns a foreigner into an Indian? I only ask because, as I sit down to write this, a controversy has broken out about whether Sania Mirza deserves to be appointed brand ambassador of the newly minted state of Telangana. In case you have been living on a desert island for the past decade or so, Sania Mirza is In-

dia’s first bonafide female tennis star, who, at the peak of her playing form, had a world ranking of 27 in singles and five in doubles. In the course of her chequered career, she met, fell in love with, and married a Test cricketer called Shoaib Malik (and the two appear to be living happily ever after, thank you very much). So, nobody should have been too surprised when K Chandrasekhar Rao, the chief minister of Telangana, held a ceremony to appoint Sania as Telangana’s brand ambassador. After all, she is the pride and joy of Hyderabad, where her family have lived for generations (since 1908, since you ask). What better brand ambassador could a state possibly have than a local girl who became an international star through a combination of sheer talent, hard work, and a ferocious desire to succeed? Ah, but here’s the rub. You remember the husband I mentioned, don’t you? A decent sort of chap who plays cricket rather well. The problem is that he plays cricket for Pakistan. And even though the couple currently lives in Dubai, Shoaib is a Pakistani citizen. Cue, angry BJP legislators like K Laxman queuing up to denounce the decision to appoint Sania the brand ambassador of Telengana. How could the state government possibly give the gig to a woman who is the ‘daughterin-law of Pakistan’? Never mind that Sania has retained her Indian citizenship, still plays for India, and has announced proudly, “I am an Indian, who will remain an Indian till the end of my life.” But for sexist, misogynist, traditionalists like the BJP member and others of his ilk, a woman is defined by the man she weds. Once she is married, she takes on the identity and nationality of her husband, and ceases to be herself, or even a person in her own right. Sania married a Pakistani; so, she is Pakistan’s daughter-in-law. Ergo, even if she is still an Indian passport holder, she can no longer call herself an Indian. That’s how the argument goes… at least that’s how it goes until the woman in question is So-

Photo source: PTI

Identity crisis: Who is an Indian?

nia Gandhi. Then, the argument is turned right on its head. Like Sania, Sonia too met a man of a different nationality, fell in love and got married. She left her native Italy at the age of 22 to come and live with her husband, Rajiv, whom she married in 1968. So, she has now spent 46 years in India as opposed to the 22 she spent in Italy. She took on Indian nationality in 1983 so she has been a citizen of this country for more than 30 years. And even after her husband was brutally assassinated in 1991, she chose to stay on in India, which she regarded as her natural home. So, by any reckoning, if anyone has earned the right to be referred to as ‘India’s daughter-inlaw’ it is Sonia Gandhi. And yet, when it comes to being counted as Indian, she still doesn’t quite cut it. Her ‘foreign origin’ is like the proverbial Damocles sword hanging over her head. Which brings me back to my original question. Who is an Indian? And who is not? And on what basis is that decision made? Well, if you ask me, it all comes down to one word:

choice. If you choose to be Indian, no matter where you were born, where you currently live, or whom you are married to, then you are an Indian. If you choose not to be Indian, no matter if you were born in India, are married to an Indian, and live in India, well then, you are not an Indian. It really is as simple as that. That is what the ‘idea of India’ is all about. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen may have lived almost his entire adult life abroad, may be married to a foreigner, but still holds on to his Indian passport. So he indubitably is an Indian. Ditto steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, who lives and does business abroad but has refused to give up his Indian passport. The late K R Narayanan may have married a

Burmese lady while still in the foreign service, but that didn’t prevent him from becoming the President of India. But while we have no problem with identifying these men as Indian, women often encounter a grey area when it comes to establishing their identity and their nationality. Which brings us back to where we started: why this fuss about Sania and Sonia? And why the double standards? Is it because the patriarchy is unwilling to grant these women – and others like them – what men take for granted: the freedom to choose? It should be up to a woman to decide which country she wishes to belong to: the one she was born in or the one she married into. And it is for us to respect that choice.

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August 2014 Edition

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Soon you may be allowed to drive at 100km per hour

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he government is all set to revise the maximum speed limit of each category of vehicles plying on the roads across the country. While cars will be allowed to ply at 100 km per hour, the maximum speed

limit for goods vehicles will be 80 km. Motor cycles will also be allowed to ply at 80 kmph against the earlier norm of 50 kmph. The speed limit of Quadricycles, a new category of vehicles, is also set to be fixed at 70 kmph.

Back in 1989, when the road transport and highways ministry had last notified speed limits, highway development had not taken off. The revision in speed limits after over two decades is being done considering improved

network of highways across the country, say experts. The need to rationalize the speed limit was felt way back in 2006-07 and a committee was set up to revise the norms. “We had recommended that there cannot

be multiple speed limits on the same lane of a highway for different categories of vehicle. There has to be compatibility. While the Central government can fix maximum speed limit, it’s the responsibility of local agencies and NHAI to ensure that there is no such conflicting speed on the same carriageway,” said Rohit Baluja, a road safety expert and a member of the panel. He added that motorcycles were banned on expressways because of the speed limit of 50 kmph. Baluja said there was also a recommendation that there should be separate speed limit for vehicles plying in urban areas. Sources said while earlier the speed limit was based on vehicle type, this time the new norm is based on the seating capacity of all such vehicles. For example, a passenger vehicle that can accommodate nine passengers besides the driver will be allowed to ply at 80 kmph. But a passenger vehicle with less than eight seating capacity can speed up to 100 kmph after the fresh notification is out. “It’s up to the state governments and local authorities including police to notify the speed limit for vehicles plying on state highways, city and on rural roads,” said a road transport ministry official.

Australia shifts 157 Lankan refugees to South Pacific island

August 2014 Edition

Photo source: PTI

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he Australian government transferred overnight the 157 asylum seekers, a majority of whom are Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from India, to a detention centre in Nauru, a south Pacific island country, for offshore processing, after the immigrants refused to meet Indian consular officials, minister for immigration and border protection Scott Morrison said. The refugees illegally set sail from Puducherry, 160km from Chennai in June, to reach Australian shores. Taking a hard line to prevent “people smuggling ventures”, all 157 were transferred to detention centre in Curtin last week. Morrison expressed disappointment that after having had access to their legal representatives on July 29, all 157 chose not to talk to Indian consular officials. “The Australian Government created a rare opportunity with the Government of India for many of the 157 people who were on that voyage from India, including 50 children, to go back to where they had been living in safety in India, where they have family and friends, rather than go to Nauru,” Morrison said in a statement. Left with no option, the Australian government made arrangements to transfer all detainees at Curtin to Nauru at the first available opportunity for offshore processing, consistent with government policy under Operation Sovereign Borders. Morrison said these transfers

were undertaken overnight on three separate flights and all 157 have now arrived in Nauru. All detainees, previously living in India would now be unable to take advantage of the humanitarian offer being made by the Indian Government. “The Tony Abbott Government will always do all within our powers to prevent people smuggling

ventures getting to Australia,” Morrison said, recalling that the latest venture was one of its kind in the last seven months. That is in stark contrast to the more than two hundred that occurred over the same time period last year. PUCL national general secretary Dr V Suresh said it was disappointing and disheartening

to see the anti-humanitarian response of the Australian government to the plight of the Sri Lankan Tamils. “It is to escape a hopeless situation in India, many of these people are desperately trying to go to other countries like Australia. The Australian government should reconsider and grant asylum to these people and not play

diplomatic football with them or pass the buck,” he said. PUCL has been for the last five years, engaging with several consulates of western nations arguing that while India has given the Lankan Tamils safety and housing, there was absolutely no future for them in terms of a better livelihood.

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Photo source: PTI

Rank never retires, officer does: Army

ong after an officer retires, or even expires, he is still known by his rank.

Supporting the view that ‘the rank never retires, the officer does, the Army has issued in-

structions that aim to immortalize the rank. With a view to remove any con-

fusion among the retired Army personnel regarding the use of word ‘retired’, the Army headquarters has clarified that instead of prefixing the word ‘Retd.’ to an officer’s name, now his address would have the suffix ‘Retd.’ “Of late it has been observed that retired officers are mentioning the word ‘Retd’ after their rank which is incorrect. Ranks of service officers are granted by the President of India and valid not only during their lifetime but also after their demise. The privilege is only given to service officers,” read the circular issued by the directorate general of staff duties department of Army General Service (GS) branch. The circular, issued on July 21 by the Army has informed all the officers, “the correct form of mentioning Retd is Brigadier ABC (Retd) not Brig (Retd) ABC”. The letter issued by Colonel J S Bindra, director staff duties-I on behalf of deputy chief of Army staff has been issued for circulation on the places, which are largely visited by the ex-servicemen so that they can start the new practice. The Army officers are entitled to retain their rank before their name by virtue of Article 18 of the Constitution, according to which the military ranks can be

retained and used by the military personnel with their name. According to veteran soldiers, it is for the first time that the Army authorities have issued such ccircular regarding the usage of the word ‘retired’. War veteran and one of the founders of Army’s special forces, Col K D Pathak (Retd) said that circular would certainly remove confusion among the veterans. “Rank never retires, it is an officer that retires. The army should have issued such circulars much earlier,” says the veteran soldier. Former commander of Army’s Northern and Central commands, Lt Gen H S Panag (Retd) said that it was a contentious issue among the retired officer about the proper way of using the work retired and circular would certainly remove the confusion. However, eminent veteran and former Army Commander Western Command, Lt Gen P N Hoon (Retd) is of the view that the word retired should not be used by the officers either prefix or suffix. “Rank is earned by an officer and like the civilian awardees of Padam Bhushan do not write retired after the honour, why should Army officers write retired after their rank or name,” Hoon added.

Like it or not, you just can’t do without English

August 2014 Edition

Photo source: PTI

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he CSAT imbroglio has willy-nilly stirred up divisive language passions, and political brinkmanship. Some argue for more importance to Indian languages, others for embracing English, seeing it as a global lingua franca. India isn’t unique in having many languages. Indonesia has 706 compared to India’s 406. China has 298, Russia has 105. Tiny Cameroon has 280. What makes India unique is the number of people speaking different languages within the country. In most other countries, one language dominates. In China, nearly 93% of its 1.3 billion speak Chinese, in one of its variants. Same is the case with German, French, or Japanese — they’re spoken by a majority of the population. Most of the Third World has local languages, and often, a national language borrowed from colonial times. India has large numbers of people with diverse first languages. Hindi is spoken by over 420 million making it the country’s largest language, not the majority one. Some languages spoken by large numbers include Bangla by over 80 million, Telugu by 74 million, Tamil by over 60 million. These figures, from Census 2001, (the 2011 figures haven’t been released) give an idea of the complex language issues. What does this imply for governance? The local administration must be well versed in the local language so there’s a bridge between people and those administering. It means all languages need the opportunity to flourish through state encouragement, and promoting regional language speakers into administration. This must be balanced with the reality of contemporary times — increasingly,

English has become the language of choice for international business. This is because of history and the economic power that resides in AngloSaxon countries. English is the world’s third mostspoken language with 335 million primary speakers in 99 countries. Chinese is the most spoken with 1,197 million speakers in 33 countries, followed by Spanish by 414 million in 31 countries. But English is now the second language for 505 million more people, apart from the 335 million primary speakers. The IT revolution has boosted the status of English. A reported 45% of web-pages are in English. Finnish telecom major Nokia and German softwarecompany SAP use English as official language. English learning is seen as a way of moving up. A British Council study estimates that by 2020, 2 billion people will study English. Even in China, with a highly-developed language, more people are studying English than in any country , and 100,000 native English speakers are teaching there. While some solution will be found for CSAT, more important is to improve language teaching in schools.

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Celebration Of Independence Day In India 15 August 2014 I ndia celebrates her 68th Independence Day on 15 August 2014. India attained independence from the British rule on 15 August 1947.

Celebration Of Independence Day In India

Independence day is celebrated as a national holiday in India. The celebrations start off with the Prime Minister hoisting the national flag at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi, India’s capital and the firing of 21 gunshots, in honor of the occasion.This is followed by his nationally broadcast Independence speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Prior to this, on the eve of independence day, the President of India, delivers “The Address To The Nation” speech. This is telecast nationally and broadcast on the radio too. During his speech the Prime Minister focusses on the achievement of the government during the past year, mentions the issues that still need to be addressed and calls upon for further developmental efforts. Tributes are paid to the leaders of the freedom struggle. The Indian national anthem - Jana Gana Mana - is sung. March past follows the speech with the division of the Indian Army leading and followed by the para military forces. Paraders and pageants which relive the events of the freedom struggle as well as the cultural traditions follow. All state capitals hold events on similar lines with the Chief Ministers of the respective states unfurling the national flag followed by the ritualistic parades and pageants. Schools & colleges also hold these flag hoisting ceremonies followed by the singing of the national anthem, which is then followed by holding of cultural events. Important government buildings are adorned with strings of lights and the Indian tricolor - the national flag can be seen fluttering proudly from many houses and buildings as well. Another interesting feature of the celebrations is the kite flying events that are held all over the country. The sky, on this day, is dotted with kites of various colors, shapes and sizes with many tricolored kites are seen flying.

India’s First Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru India’s first prime minister in his unique historical speech on 15 August 1947 said, “ Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes when we will

August 2014 Edition

redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which but comes rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation long suppressed, finds utterance. We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.” How true and prophetic those words were.

The Indian Freedom Struggle (1857-1947) The Indian freedom struggle has a history of almost 100 years. It started with the Indian mutiny of 1857 which led to the end of the East India company’s rule, the formation of the Indian National Congress, the Jalianwala Bagh massacre, the non Cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, the Simon commission, the Civil disobedience movement and finally the Quit India movement started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 followed by the partition of India by carving a separate state for the Muslims, called Pakistan. This struggle for independence was a long and ardous battle during which 2 weapons were used; Truth Non violence.

What do people do?

Independence Day is a day when people in India pay homage to their leaders and those who fought for India’s freedom in the past. The period leading up to Independence Day is a time when major government buildings are illuminated with strings of lights and the tricolor flutters from homes and other buildings. Broadcast, print and online media may have special contests, programs, and articles to promote the day. Movies about India’s freedom fighters are also shown on television. The president delivers the ‘”Address to the Nation” on the eve of Independence Day. India’s prime minister unfurls India’s flag and holds a speech at the Red Fort in Old Dehli. Flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs are held in the state capitals and often involve many schools and organizations. Many people spend the day with family members or close friends. They may eat a picnic in a park or private garden, go to a film or eat lunch or dinner at home or in a restaurant. Other people go kite flying or sing or listen to patriotic songs.

Public life

Independence Day is a gazetted holiday in India on August 15 each year. National, state and local government offices, post offices and banks are closed on this day. Stores and other businesses and organizations may be closed or have reduced opening hours. Public transport is usually unaffected as many locals travel for celebrations but there may be heavy traffic and increased security in areas where there are celebrations. Independence Day flag raising ceremonies may cause some disruption to traffic, particularly in Dehli and capital cities in India’s states.

Background

The struggle for India’s Independence began in 1857 with the Sepoy Mutiny in Meerut. Later, in the 20th century, the Indian National Congress and other political organizations, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, launched a countrywide independence movement. Colonial powers were transferred to India on August 15, 1947. The Constituent Assembly, to who power was to be transferred, met to celebrate India’s independence at 11pm on August 14, 1947. India gained its liberty and became a free country at midnight between August 14 and August 15, 1947. It was then that the free India’s first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru gave his famous “Tryst with Destiny” speech. People across India are reminded of the meaning of this event - that it marked the start of a new era of deliverance from the British colonialism that took place in India for more than 200 years.

Symbols

The sport of kite flying symbolizes Independence Day. The skies are dotted with countless kites flown from rooftops and fields to symbolize India’s free spirit of India. Kites of various styles, sizes and shades, including the tricolor are available in the marketplaces. The Red Fort in Dehli is also an important Independence Day symbol in India as it is where Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru unveiled India’s flag on August 15, 1947. India’s national flag is a horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of the flag’s width to its length is two to three. A navy-blue wheel in the center of the white band represents the chakra. Its design is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the white band’s width and it has 24 spokes.

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distinctive feature about Narendra Modi’s reign in power so far has been his government’s focus on the South Asian neighbourhood. The prime minister heads for a landmark visit to Nepal on Sunday after choosing Bhutan as his first port of call. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj has been to both Dhaka and Kathmandu. Mr Modi’s endeavour stems in part from a need to undo the disarray in neighbourhood policy seen during the UPA’s later years. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made progress with Pakistan when he had the space to but his declining authority in UPA 2 made progress elsewhere difficult. But it’s worth noting that Mr Singh did not have a congenial climate to work with. Domestic politicians like West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tended to interfere in foreign policy, as she did when stalling the Teesta water sharing agreement with Bangladesh. UPA 2 also coincided with considerable flux in the region. Pakistan under Asif Ali Zardari’s regime was in perpetual domestic ferment, which was followed by a long election process. Nepal battled an extended constitutional crisis while Bangladesh saw months of unrest. Mr Modi clearly senses an opportunity in the relatively settled climate he encounters. Nepal has a stable government, Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina is back in power while Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif has a strong mandate even if he has the Pakistan Army and raging insurgencies to contend with. Improved circumstances alone do not account for change of policy though. There is now certainly a measure of executive direction towards the neighbourhood that was missing in recent years. The NDA government believes that improved

August 2014 Edition

Photo source: PTI

Modi works for a neighbourhood that embraces India A

South Asian connectivity can drive stability and growth. The neighbours are crucial for the Indian economy. Nepal can be a key resource for hydropower, which India desperately needs. Transit rights through Bangladesh can transform connections to the North-East and beyond to Myanmar and China. More land-based trade with Pakistan will benefit cash-strapped Indian

Punjab. A neighbourhood that embraces India is also a strategic counter to China, which is keen on developing strong ties with South Asia. Mr Modi has importantly signalled — both to neighbours and his own bureaucracy — that he will pay attention to this dossier during his tenure. Success will not be easy as stakeholders will resist change when they can.

Progress will depend on Mr Modi’s ability to decide on thorny political questions quickly, his reining in of the bureaucracy’s conservative instincts and delivering India’s commitments on time — particularly on infrastructure projects that the neighbours are keen on. Symbolism and persistence need to go together.

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technology

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cientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing an audio reading device to be worn on the index finger of people whose vision is impaired, giving them affordable and immediate access to printed words. The so-called FingerReader, a prototype produced by a 3-D printer, fits like a ring on the user’s finger, equipped with a small camera

that scans text. A synthesized voice reads words aloud, quickly translating books, restaurant menus and other needed materials for daily living, especially away from home or office. Reading is as easy as pointing the finger at text. Special software tracks the finger movement, identifies words and processes the information. The device has vibration motors that alert readers when they

stray from the script, said Roy Shilkrot, who is developing the device at the MIT Media Lab. For Jerry Berrier, 62, who was born blind, the promise of the FingerReader is its portability and offer of real-time functionality at school, a doctor’s office and restaurants. “When I go to the doctor’s office, there may be forms that I wanna read before I sign them,” Berrier said. He said there are other optical character recognition devices on the market for those with vision impairments, but none that he knows of that will read in real time. Berrier manages training and evaluation for a federal program that distributes technology to low-income people in Massachusetts and Rhode Island who have lost their sight and hearing. He works from the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts. “Everywhere we go, for folks who are sighted, there are things that inform us about the products that we are about to interact with. I wanna be able to interact with those same products, regardless of how I have to do it,” Berrier said. Pattie Maes, an MIT professor who founded and leads the Fluid Interfaces research group developing

Photo source: PTI

How tech innovation was used for mass killing during WWI

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he conflict’s start on July 28, 1914, signaled the beginning of a new era in high-tech warfare, which included fighter aircraft, tanks, chemical weapons, and flamethrowers. Imagine what it would feel being a ground soldier who’d never heard of tanks and suddenly seeing a massive armored beast rolling over a ridge and heading straight for you. Combatants in World War I confronted that very real and frightening scenario. “If you were in battle and saw a tank coming over the hill, you’d think ‘what on earth is that?’” says Matthew Butson, vice president of Getty Images’ Hulton Archive, which houses an extensive WWI archival project. “It’s like us watching ‘Star Wars,’ and saying, ‘good god, what the hell is that?’” Tanks are just one of many techfocused innovations that were invented during WWI -- a war in which 16 million people died as battle changed from hand-to-hand and cavalry combat to modern warfare. Along with tanks, WWI also saw the first use of fighting planes, chemical weapons, long-

August 2014 Edition

range missiles, and more. This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the beginning of WWI, and though thousands of books have been written about the Great War, readily accessible images have been scant. This is changing, however. Global digital media company Getty Images has been working over the past couple of years to preserve, digitize, and put online tens of thousands of WWI images, which can now be seen in its Hulton Archive. The archive’s WWI photos show many aspects of the war, including the most notorious showdowns; civilians on the home front; and life in the trenches. But some of the most fascinating images are of the new innovations that appeared on the battlefields. “The First World War stuff was just unbelievable,” Butson says. “It was an absolute war of extremes as far as how warfare was conducted.” The grainy black-and-white photos show scenes of tiny airplanes locked in spiraling aerial combat; soldiers running through giant white clouds of gas; and flame-

throwers shooting blasts of fire and black smoke. One image shows an aircraft flying only a few feet above the surface of the water and dropping a torpedo as a way to launch it. “Torpedoes couldn’t be launched from ships because they couldn’t figure out how to propel them,” Butson says, “so they dropped them from aircraft.” Along with the hightech photos, the Hulton Archive also has images of the rudimentary side of the war. Pictures show soldiers with gas masks that aren’t much more than nose plugs, and suits of armor that look like something out of the movie “Mad Max.” One picture shows a small army of soldiers lined up in the woods ready to head into battle on bicycles. Tech innovation during WWI surely increased casualties with bombs; long-range and mechanized firepower; and enhanced communications strategies. But the way generals orchestrated the war was also key to the staggering body count, says Butson, with waves of soldiers being sent “over the top” of the trenches only to be gunned down. Though weaponry was cutting-edge, strategy hadn’t caught up -- with horrifying consequences. The massive Hulton Archive now has 85 million images within 1,500 collections -- a handful of which include WWI images -- yet, less than 1 percent of the archive has been digitized. With its digitization push, Getty Images hopes to capture history and make sure these images are saved and preserved. “It tells a story, it’s documentary evidence of a time or an event,” Butson says. “Even if the image is rubbish, it’s amazing it’s survived for a century. We can learn more about history by revisiting history.”

the prototype, says the FingerReader is like “reading with the tip of your finger and it’s a lot more flexible, a lot more immediate than any solution that they have right now.” Developing the gadget has taken three years of software coding, experimenting with various designs and working on feedback from a test group of visually impaired people. Much work remains before it is ready for the market, Shilkrot said, including making it work on cellphones. Shilkrot said developers believe they will be able to affordably market the FingerReader but he could not yet estimate a price. The potential market includes some of the 11.2 million people in the United States with vision impairment, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Current technology used in homes and offices offers cumbersome scanners that must process the desired script before it can be read aloud by character-recognition software installed on a computer or smartphone, Shilkrot said. The FingerReader would not replace Braille - the system of raised dots that form words, interpreted by touch. Instead, Shilkrot said, the new device would enable users to access a vast number of books and

other materials that are not currently available in Braille. Developers had to overcome unusual challenges to help people with visual impairments move their reading fingers along a straight line of printed text that they could not see. Users also had to be alerted at the beginning and end of the reading material. Their solutions? Audio cues in the software that processes information from the FingerReader and vibration motors in the ring. The FingerReader can read papers, books, magazines, newspapers, computer screens and other devices, but it has problems with text on a touch screen, said Shilkrot. That’s because touching the screen with the tip of the finger would move text around, producing unintended results. Disabling the touch-screen function eliminates the problem, he said. Berrier said affordable pricing could make the FingerReader a key tool to help people with vision impairment integrate into the modern information economy. “Any tool that we can get that gives us better access to printed material helps us to live fuller, richer, more productive lives, Berrier said.

Your smartphone will soon analyze your DNA

Photo source: PTI

Photo source: PTI

MIT finger device reads to the blind in real time

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esearchers are developing new display sensors for smartphones that will read the user’s spit to not only detect the body temperature, but also analyze the DNA. Researchers from Polytechnique Montreal and Gorilla Glass manufacturer Corning, who are currently working together, claimed that the sensors would be embedded within the smartphone’s display, allowing the users to take their temperature, assess blood levels (if diabetic) and work alongside platforms such as Apple’s HomeKit to give provide more information about their health, Mashable reported. The research team has also created what it calls the first laser-

written light-guiding systems that could pioneer these advancements and shot lasers into glass to create pathways that transmit data in the form of small beams of light, as the waveguides act as tunnels that channel light, similar to how electronic wires convey electrical signals. Corning said that by adding these waveguides to mobile phones and adding a readable code, it opens up opportunities for manufacturers to get creative. The researchers added that while waveguides aren’t new, its new approach created by the team are 10 times better at minimizing such loss than previous ones made with lasers.

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ndia has more multimillionaires than Australia, Russia and France. The latest wealth index by New World Wealth that looks at multimillionaires — an individual with net assets of at least $10 million — has ranked India eighth in the global rich list, below countries such as the US, China, Germany and the UK but above Singapore and Canada. India is home to 14,800 multimillionaires. Mumbai is home to the highest number of them — 2,700, as many as that in Munich. Mumbai is the only Indian entry in the top 30 cities for multimillionaires. Hong Kong is the city with

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he government on Tuesday said that it would provide special assistance package, including higher subsidy on seeds, to areas affected by drought in view of a shortfall in monsoon rains. It, however, made it clear that no state has, so far, announced drought. Speaking about measures to deal with possible drought, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said, “The government proposes to have a special assistance package to areas affected by drought... The proposal will be placed before the Cabinet”. Replying to a discussion on the “flood and drought situation in

the country” in Lok Sabha, Singh said subsidy on diesel would be extended in areas where the rainfall has been less than 50%. Besides, the subsidy on seeds would be increased by 50% in areas where sowing has started but has been affected by sparse rains, he added. In case drought is announced in any state, Singh said the government has proposed a Rs 700-crore scheme to rejuvenate horticulture crops and another Rs 100-crore programme for increasing fodder production. About agricultural crop insurance scheme, the minister said a meeting of state agriculture secretaries has been convened next week to discuss it.

India-Myanmar meet on joint power project

ndia and Myanmar have decided to shape up the proposed joint-venture thermal power project in Myanmar’s Sagaing region, boosting the bilateral ties of the two neighboring countries. A joint meeting to this effect was held on Monday in the office of Tamu township military headquarters in Myanmar, about 5 Km from Manipur’s border town Moreh, a source said. The gateway to southeast Asia and a focal point of India’s ambitious ‘Look East Policy’, Moreh has witnessed rapid progress of the economic development projects since the past few years. If the power project is successfully implemented, India would provide financial assistance and the required equipment for it, while Myanmar would offer the required land, the source added. Manipur commerce and industry minister Govindas Konthoujam and Indian consulate general in Mandalay, N Nandakumar represented India, while union minister U Khin Maung Soe of the ministry of electric power, Sagaing region, led the Myanmar delegation at the meeting. U Khin Maung, who was enthusiastic in setting up the power project, said he would discuss the matter with his country’s top leaders and inform the same to India. Minister Govindas urged the Myanmarese

August 2014 Edition

Photo source: PTI

I

the largest number of multi-millionaires (15,400), followed by New York (14,300), London (9,700), Moscow (7,600), Los Angeles (7,400) and Singapore (6,600). As far as countries are concerned, the US tops the list with 183,500 people worth over $10 million, followed by China (26,600), Germany (25,400), UK (21,700), Japan (21,000), Switzerland (18,300) and Hong Kong (15,400). Over the past 10 years, millionaire and multimillionaire numbers have grown at vastly different rates. Millionaire numbers worldwide have gone up by 58% during this period, whilst multi-millionaire

numbers have gone up by 71%. There are currently just over 13 million millionaires in the world (as of June 2014). Approximately 495,000 of these individuals can be classified as multi-millionaires. When it comes to millionaires, the US tops the list followed by Japan and the UK. China and India are both significantly lower on this list than they are on the multi-millionaire list. Russia, which ranks ninth in the world for multimillionaires, only ranks 18th in the world for millionaires. “The higher growth of multimillionaires can be put down to a number of factors including: a widening wealth gap at the topend, a rising rate of conversion of millionaires into multi-millionaires and strong growth in countries that have a high multi-millionaire to millionaire ratio (the likes of Russia and India),” the report says. In terms of regional performance, South America was the stand-out, with multi-millionaire growth of 265% over the 10-year period. Other top performers included Australasia (182% growth) and Africa (142% growth). In terms of country performance, major countries that registered 200% plus growth included Russia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Angola. All are emerging markets. Australia was the top performing developed market with growth of just over 190%

No drought yet, but battle plan ready

Photo source: PTI

Photo source: PTI

India ranked No. 8 on global list of multimillionaires

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delegates to extend support to the construction of the proposed Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Moreh aimed at boosting the ongoing commercial activities in Myanmar. On Govindas’ appeal to release six Manipuris, who were apprehended by Myanmar Army, the neighboring coun-

try’s delegates dropped positive hints, stating that the issue of releasing the captives would be considered. Power officials, trade and chamber of commerce unit leaders both the countries attended the meeting. Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who

addressed the meeting titled “Region Investment and Business Conclave” in the Sagaing region in May this year, had called upon Indian investors not to think for India alone but also Myanmar so that the two countries could co-exist. Ibobi Singh suggested that in-

vestment in the Sagaing region is very much possible in power sector by generating power in the thermal power plants, agroindustries. He suggested setting up of educational institutions and hospitals during the conclave attended by hordes of Indian businessmen.

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20a

indiantimes

It’s pretty clear that Apple is winning the war with Samsung

f there’s one thing that’s clear today, it’s that Apple has been completely right in its smartphone strategy so far. While there were many people (including people who work for Business Insider) shrieking that Apple was going to get knocked flat by Samsung and Android, it’s looking increasingly like that’s not going to happen. Samsung delivered a rough earnings report this quarter. For the third straight quarter it posted a drop in operating income. This time, operating profit dropped 25% on a yearover-year business. It was dragged down by the mobile business which actually saw profits drop 30% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period, Apple’s operating income was up 12%. Apple doesn’t break out its iPhone line in terms of operating profit, but iPhone sales were up 9%. It gets worse for Samsung. Its market share slid to 25.2% of the

smartphone market for Q2, down from 32.5% last year in the second quarter. Apple’s market share slid as well, but by a smaller amount, going to 11.9%, down from 13.4%. Reuters reports, “Samsung was the only major manufacturer to report a drop in absolute number of shipments” during the quarter. So, what’s eating Samsung? It’s fighting, and losing, two battles. At the high end it’s competing with Apple. Apple isn’t going anywhere. It remains strong thanks to a sterling brand, high-quality phones, and iOS, the best mobile operating system in the world. At the low-end of the market it’s competing with upstarts like Chinese phone maker Xiaomi, and an army of Android phone makers that use Android. There’s little reason for a consumer to pay a premium for Samsung phones instead of a Samsung clone. This is all instructive when thinking about Apple and what it should

do in the future. While there are people pushing Apple to lower prices on the iPhone, it seems like Apple is doing the exact right thing by keeping its phones priced at a premium. It has expensive, new high-end phones that generate healthy sales and profits. They also establish Apple as a premium phone maker. Apple isn’t ignoring the low-end of the market, though. It sells older iPhones at lower prices. Those phones are doing very well and it’s reflected in the company’s earnings. The danger for Apple is that it whiffs on the next wave of mobile users who are coming from emerging markets. But in the last two earnings calls Apple has made it clear that it’s doing well in those places despite selling relatively expensive phones. Sales in the Greater China region were up 28% on a yearover-year basis last quarter. On the earnings call, CEO Tim Cook said

Photo source: PTI

I

News

sales in Brazil, Russia, India, and China (the BRIC countries) were up 55% on a year-over-year basis. On Apple’s March quarter earnings call, Cook said, through the first half of fiscal 2014, iPhone sales in Brazil were up 61%, in Russia up 97%, in Turkey up 56%, in India up 55%, and in Vietnam they were up 262%. Cook pointed out that these are not “historic strongholds” for

Apple. Looking at those numbers, and comparing them to where Samsung is at, it’s hard to argue that Apple is making a mistake with the iPhone business. Apple was right to ignore the pundits calling for a lower cost phone last year. And if it ignores them again this year, it will probably be the right call once again.

Photo source: PTI

Britain may review visa policy affecting Indian students: Deputy PM

B

ritain may soon review its immigration policy that has hindered thousands of Indian students from heading to its world renowned universities. King maker and deputy Prime Minister of Britain Nick Clegg will push the government to review its visa policy, if his India visit later this month convinces him that the “reservation of Indian students are genuine”. In his first exclusive interview with an Indian newspaper, Clegg who will lead the largest British trade delegation to Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore after the formation of the new Indian government said that he will be visiting Delhi University and meeting students “to understand first-hand the reservations they have over Britain’s new student visa policy”. He said in the exclusive interview that, “During my trip to India later this month, I will meet Indian stu-

August 2014 Edition

dents to discuss and hear for myself their reservations against the visa policy. I will not hesitate to initiate a review of the policy and bring in further changes if need be. Education is a top priority sector during my visit to India. My delegation will include a large contingent from the education sector.” Britain has seen a massive 25% drop in the number of Indian students coming to study in its universities. Latest migration figures show that the number of Indian students dropped from 17,271 to 13,608 in one year at the end of December 2013 with 63% of Indian students who are already here saying UK was “not welcoming”. Around £17 billion is generated each year by universities in UK, £10 billion of which comes from overseas students through their fees and expenditure. This has taken a massive hit with more Indian stu-

dents heading to Australia, Canada and Germany instead of UK for education. Clegg who is head of Britain’s Liberal Democrats since 2007 added that 84% of student applications from India have a favourable response while 90% of overall Indian applications get a visa. “I will try and dispel any misgivings that Indian students have. One of the myths is that that somehow we have stopped any ability to work after you’ve graduated in the UK. That’s actually not the case. What we have said is as long as you earn a certain graduate salary, a certain minimum; you are welcome to work here after graduating. In fact, students earning over the required salary can work for three years after graduating with the option of working a further three years. That’s considerably longer actually than the previous postgraduate work rules.” By 2024, one in every three

outbound higher education students across the globe is expected to be from India and China. By 2024, it is expected that there will be 3.85 million outbound mobile higher education students globally. India and China will contribute 35% of global growth during this period. Indian students will be the second highest chunk with 3.76 lakh of them travelling to enrol in foreign universities. According to Clegg, “There is no numerical limit to Indian students wanting to come to study here. There is a long, long tradition of outstandingly bright young Indians coming to study in our outstanding British universities. We want to see more of that, not less. I think Britain is enriched, India is enriched and I think our relationship is enriched by having talented, bright people going in both directions in order to study in our great universities.” Clegg’s frank admission comes days after Scotland said in an exclusive interview that it will re-introduce post study work visa for Indian students if it gains independence from UK in the historic referendum. A historic referendum on September 18 will see Scotland vote on “Should Scotland be an independent country?” Scotland’s minister for external affairs and international development Humza Yousaf said Scotland will allow Indian students to work at least for two years after they finish their education degree in Scotland. Yousaf said that ever since UK changed its immigration policy and ended its post-study work route for international students, Scotland has seen a 51% dip in Indian students enrolling to Scottish universities. At present, over 2000 Indian students study across Scotland. “Scotland has seen a massive fall in Indian students coming here to study just because of the new

UK regulations. What is the point of attracting the best and brightest students to Scotland to study and not reap its benefits by asking them to leave immediately. We will allow Indian students to stay and work after getting their degree,” Yousaf added. The British parliament recently debated how UK faces a serious realistic threat of losing out on Indian students to Canada and Australia as the present government is sending out a negative message. The highly prominent PIO in UK Lord Karan Faridoon Bilimoria — the first Zoroastrian Parsi to sit in the House of Lords told the house that while other western countries were making hay with foreign students, UK was making it difficult for them to study there. He said, “In Canada, the government aims to double the number of international students by 2022, raising the total to 450,000 yearly. In Australia, more than 74,000 student visa applications were lodged in the September 2013 quarter, 7.1% higher than the same period in 2012 and the highest for this quarter in the past four years. In France, the government have moved to simplify the visa application process and to double the number of Indian students studying at French universities.” Lord Bilimoria added, “Intake of postgraduate students from India at its institutions dropped by 21% in 2011-12, with a further drop of 18% in 2012-13. Meanwhile, postgraduate student numbers to the US increased by 40% in 2013. Visas granted to Indian students across all levels in Australia have risen by 22% in the past year, following the introduction of a more open immigration policy, and visas granted to Indian students in Canada rose by 8% in 2012.”

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TELEVISION

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The return of the daughters on television

Photo source: PTI

indiantimes

I

t’s a known fact that Indian television loves joint families. But what do makers do when there’s a saturation of saas-

bahu sagas, a trend that was heralded by Kyunki…Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi? Or when they realise that the audience might

be tiring of watching mothers-inlaw and daughters-in-law fight in a constant tug of war. They bring in the daughter-themed stories.

So we saw a string of shows like Kanyadaan, Kahin Toh Hoga, Beityaaan, Behenien, Kasamh Se and Maayka, among others.

Not surprisingly, it was again Ekta Kapoor leading the pack (she had the most hit shows featuring multiple daughters in one family). Of course, that theme, too, faded away for a bit, replaced by rural themes. But now, the daughters seem to be on a comeback path. It’s sisters boom again with shows such as Shastri Sisters and Nisha Aur Uske Cousins, which are ready to start airing. Along the same lines, of course, back in 1997, we all fell in love with a show called Amanat, which starred Gracy Singh. It told the story of seven sisters, each with her peculiarities and problems. The one thing common, however, to all such soaps is that they look to cater to women, and feature large families. It’s a fail-safe product, since in smaller towns, the concept of joint families is still relatable. Such shows make for dramatic tear-jerkers. Then, you just need to keep throwing in the obvious ingredients — weddings, a few different families and their problems, different backgrounds — so there’s enough scope for some kind of conflict. Of course, having a lot of characters also gives the director a lot of options. Increase someone’s role to get 10 episodes out of it, or cut someone’s role down when needed. Basically, anything that will help increase the ratings. And right now, it’s the daughters who are promising to drive them up.

No more TV for Puja aka Parvati of Mahadev Gutthi returns as Kapil’s

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uja Banerjee, who recently got evicted from the seventh edition of dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’ will be eyeing Bollywood and won’t take up any TV shows for the time being. “I’ve had a beautiful journey in Jhalak and got to learn so many new things. But now I just want to relax and do nothing at the moment. I’ll take a break and spend some time with myself because the Jhalak hangover will take sometime to get away. I am not really looking at doing any TV shows at the moment. I just want to focus on my career in Bollywood,” said the actress. When asked whether she regrets with the decision of quitting Mahadev for Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the actress, avers, “There is always a risk factor involved in whatever you do in life. I was not able to manage

August 2014 Edition

both the shows simultaneously and I didn’t want my work to suffer. I was lucky that the Mahadev team was very co-operative and they adjusted for me and they let me go.” The young and bubbly actress, who is known for playing the role of Parvati in Devon Ke Dev Mahadev was mostly seen in danger zone during her stint on the dance. However, the actress is happy that people got to know her as Puja. “Before Jhalak.. people knew me as Parvati but am glad that I also got a chance to show the real me on the show. Though the journey was short but it was an enriching experience. I will miss the Jhalak stage, all the three judges and the contestants. I entered the show as non- dancer and I can proudly say that I’ve become a better dancer,” Puja concluded.

Photo source: PTI

Photo source: PTI

father-in-law

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fter much ado, actor-comedian, Sunil Grover will finally be seen back on his friend Kapil Sharma’s television show on Saturday. However, this time round the 36-year-old is not reprising his famous girlie act of Gutthi but is making a comeback as Kapil aka Bitto Sharma’s father-in-law. “Sunil will be seen as the obnoxious father-in-law and Bittu will keep ridiculing him in his quintessential manner. However, this time it’s Manju’s aka Sumona Chakravarty’s turn to even the score with Bitto with her father by her side.

He’ll do insufferable things like keeping his torn slippers inside his bag and throwing it at Bittoo,” says a source close to the show. Sunil had quit the show last year due to monetary issues and had joined hands with actor-comedian Manish Paul to start a new costume drama on a rival channel. Unfortunately that show failed to impress the audience and was taken off air within few weeks. Ever since there was speculation whether Sunil will come back to his original hit. “He shot with Bua, Dadi, Bittu and Manju on Wednesday night,” adds the source.

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Food & Wine

indiantimes

Paneer Capsicum Sabji Fillet steak with garlic The best way to eat a great quality cut of steak is with minimal garnish. Here's a simple recipe

Ingredients • 1 (about 2kg) beef fillet, trimmed and tied if necessary • 60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil

• 2-3 heads large garlic, cloves peeled • 5-6 fresh bay leaves

Method:

Season fillet generously all over with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and place in a large heavy-based cast iron casserole or heavy saute pan large enough to accommodate the meat. Drizzle with oil, add bay leaves and garlic, cover and marinate for 30 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Place pan over medium-high heat and cook, turning beef regularly, until garlic is caramelised and tender. Remove garlic with a slotted spoon and set aside. Continue cooking meat for 15-20 minutes or until browned and cooked to your liking. Return garlic to pan, cover loosely with foil and remove from heat. Rest beef for at least 30 minutes. To serve, slice beef thinly and arrange on a platter with caramelised garlic and blue cheese.

Photo source: PTI

Drug Abuse & Addiction

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ome people are able to use recreational or prescription drugs without ever experiencing negative consequences or addiction. For many others, substance use can cause problems at work, home, school, and in relationships, leaving you feeling isolated, helpless, or ashamed. If you’re worried about your own or a friend or family member’s drug use, it’s important to know that help is available. Learning about the nature of drug abuse and addiction—how it develops, what it looks like, and why it can have such a powerful hold—will

August 2014 Edition

give you a better understanding of the problem and how to best deal with it. People experiment with drugs for many different reasons. Many first try drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it, or in an effort to improve athletic performance or ease another problem, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Use doesn’t automatically lead to abuse, and there is no specific level at which drug use moves from casual to problematic. It varies by individual. Drug abuse and addiction is less about the amount of substance consumed or

the frequency, and more to do with the consequences of drug use. No matter how often or how little you’re consuming, if your drug use is causing problems in your life—at work, school, home, or in your relationships—you likely have a drug abuse or addiction problem. Addiction is a complex disorder characterized by compulsive drug use. While each drug produces different physical effects, all abused substances share one thing in common: repeated use can alter the way the brain looks and functions. Taking a recreational drug

causes a surge in levels of dopamine in your brain, which trigger feelings of pleasure. Your brain remembers these feelings and wants them repeated. If you become addicted, the substance takes on the same significance as other survival behaviors, such as eating and drinking. Changes in your brain interfere with your ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control your behavior, and feel normal without drugs. Whether you’re addicted to inhalants, heroin, Xanax, speed, or Vicodin, the uncontrollable craving to use grows more important than anything else, including family, friends, career, and even your own health and happiness. The urge to use is so strong that your mind finds many ways to deny or rationalize the addiction. You may drastically underestimate the quantity of drugs you’re taking, how much it impacts your life, and the level of control you have over your drug use. People who experiment with drugs continue to use them because the substance either makes them feel good, or stops them from feeling bad. In many cases, however, there is a fine line between regular use and drug abuse and addiction. Very few addicts are able to recognize when they have crossed that line. While frequency or the amount of drugs consumed don’t in themselves constitute drug abuse or addiction, they can often be indicators of drug-related problems. Problems can sometimes sneak up on you, as your drug use gradually increases over time. Smoking a joint with friends at the weekend, or taking ecstasy

at a rave, or cocaine at an occasional party, for example, can change to using drugs a couple of days a week, then every day. Gradually, getting and using the drug becomes more and more important to you. If the drug fulfills a valuable need, you may find yourself increasingly relying on it. For example, you may take drugs to calm you if you feel anxious or stressed, energize you if you feel depressed, or make you more confident in social situations if you normally feel shy. Or you may have started using prescription drugs to cope with panic attacks or relieve chronic pain, for example. Until you find alternative, healthier methods for overcoming these problems, your drug use will likely continue. Similarly, if you use drugs to fill a void in your life, you’re more at risk of crossing the line from casual use to drug abuse and addiction. To maintain healthy balance in your life, you need to have other positive experiences, to feel good in your life aside from any drug use. As drug abuse takes hold, you may miss or frequently be late for work or school, your job performance may progressively deteriorate, and you start to neglect social or family obligations. Your ability to stop using is eventually compromised. What began as a voluntary choice has turned into a physical and psychological need. The good news is that with the right treatment and support, you can counteract the disruptive effects of drug use and regain control of your life. The first obstacle is to recognize and admit you have a problem, or listen to loved ones who are often better able to see the negative effects drug use is having on your life.

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travel

indiantimes

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Photo source: PTI

Welcome to JHANSI J

hansi is not only the most important city in Bundelkhand region but also one of the most important in entire Uttar Pradesh. The city has lots of historical, cultural and heritage value attached to it. The city has actually become synonymous to the Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai and the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The city is known for its resistance against the British in 1857. In fact, wherever you go in the city, you will find some or other place or monument that reminds of the bloodbath of 1857.

Photo source: PTI

Photo source: PTI

Photo source: PTI

About

Jhansi city, situated between the rivers Pahunj and Betwa is a symbol of bravery, courage and self respect. It is said that in ancient times Jhansi was a part of the regions Chedi Rashtra, Jejak Bhukit, Jajhoti and Bundelkhand. Jhansi was a stronghold of the Chandela kings. Balwant Nagar was the name of this place. But in 11th. century Jhansi lost its importance. In 17th. century under Raja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha Jhansi again rose to prominence. Raja Bir Singh Deo had good relations with the mughal emperor Jehangir. In 1613 Raja Bir Singh Deo constructed the Jhansi fort. He died in 1627. After his death his son Juhar Singh succeeded him. Maharaja Chattrasal Bundela of Panna was a good administrator and a brave warrior. In 1729 Mohammed Khan Bangash attacked Chattrasal. Peshwa Baji Rao(I ) helped Maharaja Chattrasal and defeated mughal army. As a mark of gratitude Maharaja Chattrasal offered a part of his state to Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao(I). Jhansi was also included in this part.

Excursions Around Jhansi

There are quite a few excursion destinations around Jhansi. These excursion spots have historical and heritage value attached to them. Nearly all these sites are in a range of 70-80 Kilometers from Jhansi and that is why you need not stay there for the night. Following are some of the major excursions around Jhansi: Chitrakoot: -This religious town falls between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and is famous because it was home to Tulsi Das, the composer of Ramcharitmanas. The town that is situated amidst hills boasts of several temples and relics related to the life and times of Lord Rama. Notable among these are Sphatik Shila, Hanuman Dhara, Ram Ghat and Janki Kund. Barua Sagar: -Barua Sagar is located just 24 kilometers from the city of Jhansi. This otherwise sleepy village rose to prominence because of some of the historical events that marked this place in 18th century. Barua Sagar is a spot where the local Budels took on the mighty Maratha Empire in the year 1744 A.D. Parichha -Parichha that is situated 25 odd kilometers from Jhansi is an interesting excursion location around Jhansi. The place is famous for a dam that has been built on the Betwa River. The area is rich in scenic beauty. A good sighting spot from the dam gives a marvelous view of Betwa River and its reservoir. The reservoir is ideal for water sports such as white water surfing.

Jhansi Museum

The Jhansi museum is located in the historical Jhansi Fort. It is a not-to-be-missed tourist destination in Jhansi. The museum not only gives an insight in to the history and heritage of Jhansi but also throws light on the history and culture of the Bundelkhand region. It is an important source to know about the life and times of the Chandela rulers. The Jhansi Museum houses weapons, statues, dresses and photographs that belong to the Chandela dynasty. The museum also houses a separate picture gallery that is dedicated to the life and times of Gupta Kings. In fact, the picture gallery of the Gupta period is one of the highlights of this museum. Apart from that, the museum also treasures numerous terracotta structures, bronze statues, manuscripts, paintings and coins. There is a separate gallery for weapons too, which has impressive collections of weaponry and arsenals used by Chandela, Bundelas and the British rulers. some of the weapons used by the Rani of Jhansi and other fighters during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 are also kept here.

Jhansi Weather

Jhansi is situated in the North-Central India and thus experiences a climate that ranges from warm subtropical to Semi-arid in nature. The city witnesses a chilly but dry winters that persists from December to February. The maximum temperature remains around 24째C where as the minimum hovers in the range of 3-4째C. The city experience very little of fog but one can find a layer of smog in late winters. Summers in Jhansi are hot and humid with mercury rising up to 45째C in daytime. Evenings are relatively cooler. Hot dry winds called Loo blow during the summer. These can prove fatal at times Due to its location in a semi-arid region of Bundelkhand, Jhansi receives about 50 cm of annual rainfall mostly from the Southwest monsoon winds between July and September.

Photo source: PTI

How to Reach Jhansi

August 2014 Edition

By Air: The nearest airport from Jhansi is Gwalior that is at the distance of 100 kilometers from the city. It is well connected to cities like Delhi, Varanasi, Mumbai and Bangalore etc. Nearly all the major Public as well as private carriers offers their service to and from the city of Agra. By Rail : Jhansi is well connected to the major cities of India. Jhansi Cantonment Railway Station is the main Railway station in the city. Regular expresses as well as super-fast trains are available to destinations like Delhi, Varanasi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai and Kolkata. Book the tickets in advance to avoid rush. By Road: Jhansi is well connected to the cities like Mathura, Delhi, Chandigarh, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, Chitrakoot, etc. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation plies several buses to these cities. Various privately run luxury buses are also available. Jhansi falls on National Highway No. 25 and 26 that in turn are linked by a good network of roads.

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Ajay Devgan in animated avatar for Singham Returns

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4b Bollywood

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ctress Kajol, who was last seen in Karan Johar’s 2010 movie ‘My Name Is Khan’, will be making a comeback with a womancentric film to be produced by her husband actor Ajay Devgn. ”Kajol will be doing a film this year. It will hopefully go on floors

from October end. It will be produced by me and directed by (ad filmmaker) Ram Madhvani,” Ajay told . When asked about reports that the film will be a mature love story, Ajay said, “We cannot reveal the subject. It is a woman-centric film. We are looking for a hero. I would only

be producing the film... I won’t be part of it.” Earlier, actress Sridevi had made a comeback with woman-centric film ‘English Vinglish’ which turned out to be a huge hit. Actress Rani Mukerji will also be seen in a film, titled ‘Mardaani’, which is centred around a woman.

Sridevi to play stepmom in her next film

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

Kajol to act in woman-centric film

indiantimes

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he ultimate screen diva Sridevi whozse comeback film English Vinglish was a spectacular critical and commercial success is all set to do her next Hindi film. And we can now tell you that it is going to be a mother-daughter story...a stepmother-stepdaughter story which Sridevi starts shooting for in January 2015. Boney is understandably excited about the project. “It’s the story of the stormy relationship between a woman and her 18year old stepdaughter. We will be casting a new girl as Sri’s daughter.” Says Boney, “I’ve been on the

look-out for a subject for Sri for a very long time. Nothing seemed to be right. She has played everything that she could possibly play. I had to find something unusual for her. I think I’ve found the right subject.” The hunt is on for an 18-year old girl to play Sridevi’s daughter. Before Sridevi starts her husband’s production in January 2015, she will complete a Tamil film starting in November where she plays a queen. Directed by Chimbu Devan the film would also feature Tamil superstar Vijay and Kannada star Sudeep.

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he trailer of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s biopic on pugilist Mary Kom was released just a few days ago, but the Olympic ­medal-winning Indian boxer watched the film before the release of the promo. She watched it with her ­husband, Onler Kom, at

August 2014 Edition

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

Mary Kom gets nostalgic over biopic

Bhansali’s office recently and got very emotional. Mary liked the way Priyanka Chopra has pulled off the role and immediately called the actor and conveyed her ­appreciation. In fact, she got so emotional that her voice choked while

t­alking. The boxer says, “While ­watching the movie, I could recall all the ­difficulties I had faced and the hard work I had put in to make it. I got ­nostalgic and that made me emotional. Priyanka has done a great job. She looked like a boxer, and I know she has put in a lot of

effort,” says Mary. Priyanka, too, could not hold back her emotions. “Mary had just seen the film, and let’s just say that there were tears at both ends. That nod of approval was gratifying, since it was coming from Mary ­herself,” says Priyanka.

Apparently, Zoya Akhtar, the director of the actor’s next, was around when Priyanka got the call, since they were filming together in Turkey. The source says, “She too expressed her happiness and ­applauded the effort the actor has put in the film.”

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5b

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his is possibly that one time when you will watch B-town’s beloved quizmaster, Karan Johar, shoot from the hip, but not from his comfortable cockpit. The new show Look Who’s Talking With Niranjan, hosted by screenwriter and lyricist Niranjan Iyengar, will see Karan for the first time speak about his love life, which has been under the radar of a lot of watchful eyes. “I’ve tried everything to find that special someone, but cannot put myself out there,” KJo told Niranjan on the show. Moving beyond his love life to one of his most controversial friendships, that with Shah Rukh Khan, Karan said their friendship has been through a lot, just like seasons where after a good summer, they’ve had their fair share of harsh weather as well. However, it’s still the one friendship he is confident

August 2014 Edition

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Love, friendship aur dhoka... Karan Johar reveals all

of. He even added that the people “close” to him are the ones responsible for trying to break these ties. Karan also spoke about how there have been times when he has appreciated the work of others and stood quietly for them to reciprocate and say good words about his work too, but in vain. Earlier, such an occurrence would have taken a toll on him, but he reveals that today he won’t give such a response much thought. Sharing his experience, Niranjan said, “Shooting for the Karan episode was a bit scary because he is my close friend, besides being a super adept TV show host. But my fears were unfounded because he took it upon himself to make the episode witty, emotional and very honest! I love the way this show is turning out... My guests are all being very forthcoming about making it fun and insightful at the same time.”

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astrology

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Monthly Astrology - August 2014 Aries – Mesha

You will have success in academic persuits and some of cherished desires will be fulfilled. You will have good prosperity in professional sphere and will lead a peaceful and happy family- life. You will form new friendships and will become increasingly popular. You may remain obsessed with speculations which will be greatly disliked by your near and dear ones. For your romantic inclinations you might earn the displeasure of some females who may try to create problems for you. Taurus – Vrushabha You will become very courageous and will conquer your enemies. You will be victorious in conflicts. By putting forward your endeavours in a proper manner and by facing situations with confidence, you will make excellent progress in your professional sphere and will have boosted earnings. You will receive favours from authorities and form new relationships. You will become very popular in your circle of acquaintances and your social status will be considerably improved. Gemini – Mithuna

You will become a busy person during this month. You will have some long distance travels and will have correspondences or consultations with many people. A number of short journeys you may also have. Your family members health-condition may

keep you anxious. But your spouse and children will keep you happy and cheerful. You will spend a good part of your time in informal studies and also enjoy sports activities or mettings with friends and relatives. Cancer – Kataka You may become virtuous and talented, wealthy and famous. However tt may however affect the health. Though a member of your family may not remain in good health. You will improve your position by being industrious and through the assistance of influential persons. You may suffer losses because of theft and as a result of actions of enemic people for which you are to remain careful and cautious. You may have some gains through your writings and by offering consultations or advices. Leo – Simha

You will get an attractive youthful appearance and you will be endowed with an inquisitive intellect. You will be studious, intelligent, quick and restless. You will be fond of writing much and will have many long and short distance journeys. Socially you will be very popular and enjoy your time merrily. You should try to concentrate more and engage yourself in some creative endeavours which will bring in success and honour for you. Virgo – Kanya

Your popularity will be at it’s peak and you will wield much influence and in social circles too you will turn heads and become a centre of attraction. You will form many new friendships or relationships and win admirers. Your family-life will be very peaceful and happy. Your sweetheart will be very affectionate and loving. Some of your achievements could become a source of pride. There might be some auspicious celebrations in the family. Libra – Tula You will win the appreciation of your superiors and will be favoured with a lucrative promotion. Your name and fame will be widespread and your social popularity will considerably increase. You will form new relationships and have many admirers in your friends’ circle . You may have new acquisitions which will improve your life-style. Your family-life will be a little problematic as you may become unhappy and may remain anxious on account of some matters.

remaining in the pink of their health. Time is favourable for forming new relationships, improve the existing ones and also for socializing. Your name and fame will be widespread and popularity will also increase considerably. Sagittarius – Dhanu

Your earnings will improve and you will have gains from various sources. You may be benefited by receiving a windfall quite unexpectedly. You will form new friendships and will become very popular in your friends’ circle. Some of your ambitions may be realised and you may have new acquisitions that will add to your comfort. You will lead a prosperous and happy family-life; there could be a celebration in the family. The performance of your educational activities, will instil a sense of pride and joy in your mind. You may spend a lot for having some renovations done to your house-building. Your mother or a family member may suffer from some minor ailments. Capricorn – Makara

Scorpio – Vruschika

You will have all round success and prosperity in all areas of life. You will gain favours from your superiors and have betterment in career; your earnings will increase and you will have gains from various other sources. A distant journey may prove to be fruitful. Your family-life will be peaceful and comfortable with all it’s members very cordially disposed to one another and

This is a good position for gains through creative writings and by utilising acquired knowledge in a special field. You will be very fortunate and will receive special favours from the authorities. You will be successful in all your endeavours and rise to a powerful and lucrative position. Some of your cherished desires will be fulfilled and you may have new acquisitions. Your family-life will be happy with comfort-

Readers please note that the below predictions are given according to North Indian tradition of Hindu Vedic Astrological methods, using your Lagna as the base. able surroundings and socially you will gain more popularity. Your relationships with relatives and friends will become more cordial. You will be a centre of attraction in social gatherings.

Aquarius – Kumbha

You will be very fortunate and will receive special favours from the authorities. You will be successful in all your endeavours and rise to a powerful and lucrative position. Some of your cherished desires will be fulfilled and you may have new acquisitions. Your family-life will be happy with comfortable surroundings and socially you will gain more popularity. Your relationships with relatives and friends will become more cordial. You will be a centre of attraction in social gatherings.

Pisces - Meena

You may have problems either with your You will have a pleasant time to enjoy the luxury and comforts of life. You may have some costly acquisitions which will increase your satisfaction and raise your social status. All your efforts during the period will bear fruit and contribute to your progress. But you should take every possible care for avoiding quarrels and conflicts. You should take more care of your health as if you suffer from cold or some other obstructive ailments which might lead to complications if neglected. Hence health needs much more care and you should be very cautious while driving. If you wish to know the difference between Eastern & Western Astrology you are invited to visit http://jyotisha.00it.com/Difference.htm

Monthly Predictions for August 2014 By Lakshman Abeykoon - Noble Park, VIC 3174 - Phone (03) 9548 1613 - http://jyotisha.00it.com

POOR, BUT RICH

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f we lift our intelligence above the sphere of worldly limitations, we can become wealthy. When we look around us, we cannot help but notice how everyone has something to complain about: lack of wealth, lack of comfort, lack of kindness — besides several other complaints. Everywhere, there are heartbreaks and disappointments. In the Quran, this is expressed by the saying,‘God alone is rich; everyone else is poor’. People may live in palaces or may enjoy wealth and fame, but no matter what they possess, they are still

August 2014 Edition

poor. How is this possible? What does it mean? Only one thing can explain this situation, and that is limitation. This one word explains the reason for the gradations — from king to pauper; from the very great, to the most insignificant. There is the limitation of poor physical health and of mental power, the limitation of wealth, and so forth. Nothing but limitation explains the real cause of all these grievous things. The seer or thinker may well find it amusing to watch how the whole world is busy from morning till night, in body as well

as in mind, with everyone trying to get relief from this poverty, trying to overcome all the things one complains about, trying to gain the means of overcoming those conditions of poverty. Yet, in spite of all their striving, people remain poor. The objects they desire are limited, but their own desires are unlimited; in any case, limited objects can never satisfy limitless desires. There is a Hindi poem which, roughly translated, says, ‘What if you have ten lakhs, or twenty, or fifty, or a hundred, you will still want a thousand; if you obtained them, you would still want more.’ Even if you owned the whole world, your desires would not come to an end. The reason for this is that man’s desire remains much greater, vaster and wider than every object that can be desired, and since the one who desires does not know his own value, nor the value of the objects sought by him, he remains in a perpetual state of poverty. This poverty degrades his life. A Persian poet once said,“ Though I see myself in the greatest and highest and most perfect being, yet I find myself in poverty, limitation, and distress. The reason for this is just my own ignorance of myself, of my true self. It is the delusion of the limitation of life.” While so many people are

constantly striving to get relief from this limitation called poverty, the Sufi strives to overcome the source of poverty hidden within the life of everyone. The source of this poverty is limitation, and he breaks this limitation by raising his light. In the Bible, we are advised to raise that light which, so far, we have hidden under a bushel. When we raise the light, we remove poverty. But how do we raise the light? What do we see with this light when it has been raised? The answer is that intelligence is light. Raise intelligence, because, when intelligence experiences life through the medium of the body and mind, then it remains limited. If we reflect that this body and this mind occupy two different planes, then we will understand that there is more limitation on the one than on the other. For example, if we want to go to a particular street or a place with our body, it will take a certain time, but if we go there in our mind, we can get there instantly. It may take much time and effort to accomplish something in the physical world, but it takes less time and effort to accomplish it when we work mentally. When the intelligence works through the mind, less effort and time are required, whereas when it works through the physical body,

more time and effort are needed. This is because the physical world has more limitations and the mental world has fewer. So, when intelligence can be raised above and beyond the mental world, we gain interest on all planes of existence. There is a greater playground for the intelligence there. Two of the principle sources of pleasure in the physical world are good food and bodily comfort, yet one single beautiful thought or one charming mental image may provide more pleasure and joy than all the beauty in the physical world. So, we can see that when we raise intelligence from the physical place, and then even higher, we will come to a state of realization where we see that life is not really limited at all; that it, too, is unlimited. It is when our experience is confined to the lower phases of existence that we find our life is limited. Herein lies life’s tragedy. So, if we want to see people happy, full of joy and peace, and generous minded, we will find them among the people who do not care for the world and its spirit; here we will find those who are kings in themselves. In the east, they are called dervishes, faqirs and sanyasins. All these people have lifted their intelligence above the sphere of limitation.

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Bollywood 7b Salman Khan: No formula to guarantee super-hit movies

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crores, Rs 400 crores and even Rs 500 crores. But then the films are big disasters,” Khan said while talking to reporters here through a video link from India. The 48-year old superstar, who was accompanied by his Kick costar Jacqueline Fernandez and author Chetan Bhagat, said till the time a movie is released and reaches the audiences, “there is

no guarantee of any movie being a super-duper hit or a flop. “There is no formula. The best of the directors have failed miserably, the best producers, actors who have given hit after hit and feel that (their movie) is going to be the biggest film but those films have not done well,” he said. The Dabbang star feels the success of a film depends on the first day

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

Arjun Kapoor to promote Kabaddi through his film Tevar

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n Tevar, Arjun Kapoor plays a kabaddi player. Arjun’s father Boney confirms the game of kabaddi plays a very big hand in Tevar and that the film’s team, Arjun included, are planning to promote the game in a big way. Says Boney, “Kabbadi is our national game. And I am happy and honoured to have made a film where kabbadi plays a very important part. My son Arjun Kapoor has taken part in a couple of major kabaddi matches in the film and we certainly intend to highlight the game in our publicity.”

August 2014 Edition

Boney feels the time is right for a film that champions kabbadi. “The Kabbadi League is happening. There is an upsurge of interest in the game. And my son Arjun is very good at the game.” Boney says Tevar has been easy to shoot. “My films in the past like Prem and Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja have taken years to complete. We started Tevar on January 19, 2014 and we are releasing on December 5, 2014 in spite of busy stars like Sonakshi Sinha and Arjun Kapoor in the cast.”

reaction of the audience. “That is it. No amount of us promoting the movie (can make the movie a hit).” Khan said filmmakers cannot predict whether a movie will touch Rs 300 crores or Rs 400 crores. ”It does not make any sense to me at all. How can you predict the amount of people who will go

and watch the film,” he said, adding, “We all want make to make a Sholay or a Mughal-e-Azam.” When asked if filmmakers should also focus on content of the movies instead of targetting hundred crore-plus revenues, Khan agreed saying, “till the time you do not concentrate on content, you cannot achieve those numbers.”

T-Series acquires music rights of Khoobsurat

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

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uperstar Salman Khan, whose movies have repeatedly grossed over Rs 100 crores, says there is no formula of making super-hit and money-minting movies and filmmakers should also focus on content. “When people talk about numbers, they are very generous and say this movie will cross Rs 300

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hushan Kumar’s T-Series has acquired the music rights of Disney’s first Hindi film Khoobsurat co produced by Anil Kapoor Film Company starring Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan. A remake of the 1980’s Khoobsurat starring Rekha and Rakesh Roshan, Sonam stars opposite Pakistani actor Fawad Khan who makes his Bollywood film debut in this modern romantic comedy. The film is directed by Shashanka Ghosh and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapoor (Disney) and

Rhea Kapoor & Anil Kapoor (Anil Kapoor Films Company). The movie releasing on September 19, has music composed by Sneha Khanwalkar who last worked on the music for Gangs of Wasseypur (Part 1 and 2). Bhushan Kumar on his first association with Walt Disney Studios and Anil Kapoor Film Company says, “I am glad that Disney’s first Hindi film co produced by Anil Kapoor Film Company music right is acquired by T-Series. I am looking forward to associate with them for their future projects too.”

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8b

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Singham Returns

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ingham Returns movie is going to hit the big screens starring Ajay Devgn (Bajirao Singham), Kareena Kapoor Khan (Avni), Amol Gupte, Anupam Kher, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Dayanand Shetty, Zakir Hussain, Ajaz Khan, Vineet Sharma, Daya Chetty and few more. Singham Returns (2014) is the mutual production of Reliance Entertainment, Ajay Devgn and Rohit Shetty. Rohit Shetty has given the direction. Sajid and Farhad joined to write the story by Rohit Shetty of Singham Returns (2014). The screenplay has done by Yunus Sajawal. The cinematography has done by Dudley and the editing by Steven Bernard. The music of Singham Returns movie has composed by Ankit Tiwari, Meet Bros Anjjan and Jeet Gannguli. The production companies for the Singham Returns (2014) are Ajay Devgn Films and Rohit Shetty Productions. The distribution rights have given to Reliance Entertainment. Singham Returns (2014) is the

return of the evil confronting the power of goodness. The spirituous, strong and sturdy cop inspector Bajirao Singham has to fight against the every possible corrupt politician and man in force to clear the dirt of evil from his country. The blasting return of cop inspector Bajirao Singham is going to give toughest time to the evil forces. Nothing can stand in the way of inspector Bajirao Singham’s determination and bravery. In the midst of bullets and bombardment, the funky, spunky and gorgeous Avni happens to be cool sensation bringing romance and fun with her witty nature. The official trailer of Singham Returns movie made its fans to wait too much. The official trailer of Singham Returns (2014) took a long time to reveal the hints of this thriller but it has successfully won the attention and admiration. The official trailer of Singham Returns (2014) is studded with thunderous statements appearing with the highly blasting

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

Director: Rohit Shetty Producer: Ajay Devgn, Rohit Shetty Cast: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Amol Gupte

scenes. The mighty appearance of Ajay Devgn brings a stunning feeling of power and force. Ajay Devgn has appeared beating the evil with a great strength. The trailer progresses showing up dreadful fights along with the loveliest appearances of Kareena Kapoor Khan. Kareena

Kapoor Khan is looking simply the best as usual with a funky character doing crazy stuff all around. If you have not seen official trailer of Singham Returns movie yet then do not make it more late and get the chance to adding up your curiosity regarding watching Singham Returns (2014).

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ox office queen of the year, Alia Bhatt (who has given the two of the biggest hits of 2014 -- Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya and 2 States) confidently walked the three-ramp set-up in a lehenga as heavy as over 20 kg, for ace designer Manish Malhotra’s show at the Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers India Couture Week. Alia, however, said she was nervous as she’s usually clumsy. “I get very nervous. I am not the best walker. I am a very clumsy human being, I fall (while) standing, so walking on the ramp wearing (an outfit of) almost 25 kg and high heels, looking good, posing and smiling while people are clapping...I think it’s nerve wrecking, but I think it’s the best two minutes,” Alia told reporters here post the show. With minimalist make-up, a roughly done-up hairdo and no jewellery, Alia carried the red bridal wear couture outfit, adorned by vintage gold embroidery, with aplomb Saturday night. Adding more Bollywood flavour on the ramp was Aashiqui 2 actor Aditya Roy Kapur, while off the stage and in the audience were names like Urmila Matondkar and Huma Qureshi. Alia is fresh out of tasting success

August 2014 Edition

with her latest Hindi film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, in which her character is hell-bent on getting a lehenga worn by Kareena Kapoor in a film. Here, she was happy that in real life, she was getting a chance to walk for Malhotra, who is one of Bollywood’s favourite designers and has been responsible to lend a makeover to many of Hindi cinema’s heroines. “I think when you’re walking in a Manish Malhotra outfit, it’s a big day. It’s a special day. I was telling someone that I am very happy that my film has done well, but I’m happier to be walking for Manish. It’s a great achievement,” Alia said. She also recalled a time when she was in the audience for a Manish Malhotra show. “I was here two years back and Katrina (Kaif) was walking the ramp. I was sitting in the audience with Karan (Johar) and was thinking, ‘How do people walk?’ “I remember Katrina was sitting and her outfit looked heavy. I had no idea then how heavy it was but when you walk yourself, you realise how heavy it is. But it’s beautiful, I loved it,” she added.

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

I’m a very clumsy human being: Alia Bhatt

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10b

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Ranveer Singh embraces death for Deepika Padukone

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anveer Singh is one of those rare breeds who wouldn’t mind taking extreme measures when it comes to love, including laying down his life at the feet of his beloved-even if it is just for a film scene. The actor was apparently dying to die for his ladylove Deepika Padukone so much so that he

urged director Homi Adajania to cast him in the role of her dead husband in Finding Fanny. And he didn’t charge a single penny for this special appearance. The prospect of spending some quality time with Deepika in Goa, where the film was being shot, was incentive enough for Ranveer. And the actor ended

up spending a week in the hippie land with Arjun Kapoor and Deepika, although he was required for was just half a day of shoot. Elaborating how Ranveer landed the role, Homi told Mirror, “I was telling Ranveer the story of Finding Fanny and he suddenly said that he wanted to play Gabo.

He was laughing but at the same time, was dead serious. I told him that I’d need him in Goa for half a day’s shoot. However, we had so much fun there, that he ended up staying for over a week!” So, was it Deepika who convinced Homi to cast Ranveer? “No,” quipped the director, “ Deepika had nothing to do with it.

She isn’t the kind of person who’d ever mix friendship and profession.” Homi is now looking forward to working with Ranveer in a fullfledged role. “His energy is infectious and with the right kind of subject, I know we’ll be able to create magic on screen,” he asserts.

Imran Khan and Kangana Ranaut pair up for the first time

August 2014 Edition

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

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fter producing path-breaking films - A Wednesday, Dev D, Barfi and Kai Po Che, to name a few - UTV Motion Pictures’ next, KattiBatti, is a unique love story about new-age relationships. Directed by Nikhil Advani, it will see Imran Khan and KanganaRanaut pairing up for the first time. The director says the script, written by debutant Anshul Singhal, was locked and worked on by the studio’s creative team for a year. And then began the search for the perfect cast. “We wanted actors who would justify the script. I’m elated by the lead pair, as it has been a dream to work with Kangana - despite such a good body of work, she still brings humility to her craft. Imran, on the other hand, lends a fresh approach.” Imran, who plays Maddy in the film, says, “I have worked with UTV on successful films like Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, I Hate Luv Storys, Delhi Belly and Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu. Hope the magic is recreated this time as well.” Kangana, who will be seen as Payal, adds, “It is a beautiful story woven around the battle of the sexes. It will change the perspective of love stories in Bollywood. My association with this film corporation goes back to Life In A Metro and Fashion, two of my most memorable films.” Siddharth Roy Kapur, managing director, Disney India, says, “Katti

Batti is a love story steeped in the culture and language of today’s relationships. We wanted to en-

sure that the script gets the right director and a cast that can justify the two real, funny and layered

lead characters. We are thrilled to have Nikhil, Imran and Kangana on board.”

The film will go on the floors later this year and is scheduled for a worldwide release in 2015.

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12b

Bollywood

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Eventograph photographs from latest B-Town Events

Parineeti Chopra at International Indian Achievers Awards 2014

Poonam Dhillon at International Indian Achievers Awards 2014

Sumeet Tappoo and Amy Billimoria at The Victorian Secrets Album Launch

Mika Singh and Dilbagh Singh at The Victorian Secrets Album Launch

August 2014 Edition

Shatrughan Sinha and Dharmendra at International Indian Achievers Awards 2014

Priyanka Chopra at Mary Kom Trailer Launch

Darshan Kumar at Mary Kom Trailer Launch

Lisa Mallik at The Victorian Secrets Album Launch

Kiara Advani at International Indian Achievers Awards 2014

Vinit Kakkar at The Victorian Secrets Album Launch

Tanisha Singh at The Victorian Secrets Album Launch

Kajol at GJEPC Charity Event

Tushar Kalia and Krystle D’souza at IIAA Rehearsals

Ayushmann Khurrana at IIAA Rehearsals

Boman Irni at GJEPC Charity Event

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13b

Eventograph photographs from latest B-Town Events

Kangana Ranaut at Vogue Beauty Awards 2014

Parineeti Chopra at Vogue Beauty Awards 2014

Shilpa Shetty at Vogue Beauty Awards 2014

Kunal Deshmukh at Raja Natwarlal Trailer Launch

Humaima Malick at Raja Natwarlal Trailer Launch

Rhea Kapoor at Khoobsurat Trailer Launch

August 2014 Edition

Ileana D’Cruz at Vogue Beauty Awards 2014

Emraan Hashmi at Raja Natwarlal Trailer Launch

Fawad Khan at Khoobsurat Trailer Launch

Sonam Kapoor at Khoobsurat Trailer Launch

Siddharth Roy Kapur at Raja Natwarlal Trailer Launch

Shashanka Ghosh at Khoobsurat Trailer Launch

Amitabh Bachchan at Polio Free India Function

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14b

Bollywood

indiantimes

bollywood music Music Review :

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he lead track, ‘Ishq Da Bukhar’ (Krishna Beura, Amrit Maghera, who is the leading lady of the film) is as trite as can be, but the soulful tenor and the fact that it could have sounded novel 15 years ago makes it the only remotely passable track on the score. One interesting line is found even in the lyrics - ‘Teri gall sunte hi lagge gungi duniya’ though the rest of the words and music (both by Vidyadhar Bhave) have nothing really appealing about them. ‘Party Is Going Mad’ (written, composed and sung by Siddharth Haldipur and Sangeet Haldipur) sounds like an off-colour Honey Singh, and co-singers Divya Kumar and Vidyadhar Bhave) pitch in their bits. But the saving-grace of this track is that the sound is well-managed for this level and genre of unoriginality. The high-pitched ‘Kahaan Hai Khuda’ (Subhash Pradhan) is composed by Saahil Prem, the hero of the film, and written by Manoj Yadav. The lyrics are so predictable that anyone can write such sentences ending with khafaa hai / khataa hai / juda hai and so on. The singer tries his best to be an apt mix of Arijit Singh, Atif Aslam and Ankit Tiwari and is made to put it all the vocal nuances (read gimmicks) we hear ad infinitum in such tracks. The relentless strumming of the guitar also gets at you despite its inoffensiveness; such is the done-to-death quality of this song. This angst-ridden litany actually gets two more versions - a gimmicky Dubstep by Vidyad-

Mad About Dance

har Bhave and a Remix version, also by the same singer. While the former adds some gimmicky orchestration and amps up the octaves with some more angst in the words and the music (including a rock-guitar), the remix concerns itself with some

fast beats and a part bass, part screechy rendition. The remaining song, completely cacophonous, is another cliched, utterly predictable number called ‘Punjabi Mundeya’ sung by Ravindra Upadhyay and Li’l Shorty (the initial rap). And

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. Mahatma Gandhi

"1( 'PUP Aishwariya Rai’s photo taken by Guruswamy at Taj Palace New Delhi, 1994

August 2014 Edition

Still Photography for all events including weddings, corporate functions, outdoor events and much more. CONTACT: Guruswamy Mob: 0406 820 413

(35 years experienced photographer)

Upadhyay clones Sukhwinder Singh as if there is no tomorrow. The music by Dr. Zeus and the lyrics by Vijay Singh Shekhawat are pure mediocrity. Overall: Why are such ‘items’ consid-

ered as recordable music that can be actually heard in films and consumed by the people? No matter what the situations needed by way of songs, this is cliched stuff that cannot be really considered even remotely danceable.

Latest Latest TopTen Ten Top Music Music #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10

Samjhawan Jumme Ki Raat Yaar Naa Miley Galliyan Hangover Aaj Phir Saturday Saturday Johnny Johnny Banjaara Muskurane

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania Kick Kick Ek Villain Kick Hate Story 2 Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania Entertainment Ek Villain Citylights www.indian-times.com.au


Bollywood

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Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

Dog’s role was scripted before Akshay Kumar’s character

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he dog’s role was scripted before Akshay’s (Kumar) character. When we narrated the story to him, Akshay quipped, ‘Entertainment’ is your directorial debut and you’re taking such a big panga with me,’” Sajid laughs. Farhad, the other half of the duo Sajid-Farhad, says that they were indeed taking a panga, given that they were terrified of canines. “But a five-day sequence with 60 dogs of different breeds, brought in to stage a mock fight with Akshay, banished our fears. This film

was our Khatron Ke Khiladi,” he chuckles. The upcoming comic caper revolves around a man struggling for two square meals, till one day he becomes a millionaire thanks to a rich daddy in Bangkok. “Since the film is set in the Thai capital, we went looking for our dog there and came across this camp which housed a 100 of them in the heart of the city. Owners leave their pets there for three to six months to be schooled,” informs Sajid who along with Farhad, checked out 60 dogs before both agreed that their first choice was their best choice.

That’s how Junior came into the picture. What set the golden retriever apart was his ‘human’ face which projected real emotions and his camera friendly nature, thanks to the advertisements he had done earlier.The duo gave Junior’s Thai trainer, Lark, a list of stunts, when they were in Bangkok for the recce and Junior was ready by the time they started filming. As Lark does not speak English, it was SajidFarhad who explained the training process to Mirror. “He was trained with a simple

green tennis ball. It could make Junior look up, glance sideways and follow the movement of the bouncing ball with his eyes,” marvels Farhad, remembering how perfectly he carried off the scene where both Akshay and he warily circle each other with anger in their eyes. Still it took the four-legged actor four days to get acclimatised to the sets. On the fifth day, Sajid-Farhad decided to give Junior a break and shot with Akshay and Dalip Tahil instead. “But he was impatient to face the camera and every time we called ‘action’, he would come jumping into the frame,” recalls Farhad. Junior was every inch the star and was pampered to the hilt. Producer Ramesh Taurani, a dog lover himself, rented out a centrally air-conditioned mansion for his ‘hero’, so he could keep his cool. “He was called Junior but he was the senior-most member of the crew who had two attendants, his trainer, a vet and a good-looking nurse at his service 24x7,” laughs Sajid. “The actors, including Akshay, Tamanna (Bhatia), Johnny bhai (Lever) and Mithunda (Chakrabort)y rehearsed their scenes before Junior was called on the sets so he didn’t have to wait.” For a scene Junior had to climb down from the terrace, using passing vehicles as a ladder. His trainer dressed in blue (so

that he could be edited out later) accompanied him to ensure he was not injured. And once he landed on the street below, he got a welcome kiss from two beautiful ladies which made the rest of the crew rather jealous. To ensure that the dog was not overworked, they got a duplicate called Litchi who did all the running, jumping and on one occasion when Junior was unwell, even gave a frontal shot. “They look like twins and I can confidently say that no one will be able to spot the difference,” Sajid says. Junior also has a girlfriend in the film called Po Chai whom the unit fondly rechristened Kai Po Che. A silky ball of white fur, she is a belly dancer who wowed Akshay with an exhibition of her killer moves. The unit made sure to take every permission and precaution while shooting with the dogs. Their working style so impressed Union Cabinet Minister Maneka Gandhi when she came for the trailer launch, that she urged the director duo to use Indian breeds next time. “The message of our film is love your pet and it will entertain you for life. If it is a dog it will be a loyal friend too. If after seeing the film even one person adopts a dog, our mission will be fulfilled,” asserts Farhad who along with Sajid is now trying to persuade their respective families to let them bring a dog home.

beating the local Chinese romance “No Zuo No Die”. With weekend admissions at 267,000, ‘Dhoom:3′ takes a flying start and is on target to become the biggest Indian film in China.

Starring Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Abhishek Bachchan andUday Chopra, the is directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, who coscripted with producer and YRF boss Aditya Chopra.

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

‘Dhoom: 3′ enters Chinese top 10 char t

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ollywood superhit ‘Dhoom: 3′, which reportedly opened on 2,000 screens in 400 Chinese cities, has entered the Chinese top ten chart. After storming the Turkish box

August 2014 Edition

office and becoming the only Indian film to get to the Turkish Top 10, “Dhoom:3”, Yash Raj Films (YRF) offering, has now entered the Chinese Top 10 Charts at number 9, said a statement from the film’s

production house. Released 25th July, “Dhoom:3”, which became the first Indian film to get widest release ever in China, came in with an impressive $1.35 million for the three-day weekend,


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indiantimes

Photo source: PTI

Air India may tweak daily Australia route

es. In August 2013, it had launched a daily service connecting Delhi with Sydney and Melbourne in

a single trip. Now, the airline would operate separate flights to Sydney and Melbourne, with reduced frequency. It is planning to change the schedule of its Delhi-Moscow flight from the winter season to

offer better connections to Russian passengers travelling to Bangkok and Australia. The Delhi-Moscow flight was launched two weeks ago. It saw 20-40 per cent occupancy. According to Air India sourc-

Photo source: PTI

Walkers say no to more bikes on footpaths

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ictoria Walks and blindness advocates are alarmed that VicRoads new Cycling Road Rules Survey1 includes options for more cyclists on footpaths. Walking and cycling are not a good mix for our most vulnerable walkers. In a survey of 1128 seniors, 39 per cent said bikes on shared paths were a constraint to their walking. A Vision Australia study of walkers with vision impairment found 24 per cent of collisions and near collisions were with cyclists. Cyclists do not necessarily slow down when they share a path with pedestrians. A NSW study found that the average speed of cyclists on footpaths was 21 km/h, the same speed as on local roads. Cycling advocates want to increase the age for footpath cycling to 16 August 2014 Edition

from the current 12 years. Letting teenagers ride on footpaths might make some parents feel better, but it won’t make their kids safer. International studies show that cyclists have a 1.8 to 16 times higher risk of injury on footpaths than on roads. From a motorist perspective, imagine a 15 year old racing along a footpath while someone is backing out of their driveway. What driver wants to be responsible for a teenager lying seriously injured on a footpath? Our footpaths are critical for many seniors, children, families and the disabled to get around. It is paramount that people are safe and feel safe when walking, without having to worry about being hit by a cyclist.

es, the management has been reviewing all loss-making routes after instructions from the board. Air India has been able to improve its market share on the Australia route and it recently dispatched a team to the coun-

India seen offering new iron ore market to Australian producers

Photo source: PTI

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ir India is planning to tweak its daily service to Australia, to cut loss-

try to intensify sales efforts. But the route is not generating profits. The cumulative loss on the Delhi-Australia route till May was Rs 80 crore. Four days a week, it flies Delhi-Sydney-Melbourne and thrice a week it flies Delhi-MelbourneSydney flight in a triangular route. The Sydney-Melbourne flight is 90 minutes and Air India is not allowed to sell seats on Australian domestic routes. Most bookings are for the first point in Australia. An Air India source said: “The airline is unable to charge a premium for its final destination in Australia. We made our fares competitive, and our yields were hit. Occupancy on this route is 65-70 per cent, below the breakeven load factor.” A spokesperson did not respond to an email. Singapore Airlines is the market leader on the India-Australia route. Air India also faces competition from Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, China Southern Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Emirates. Traffic between India and Australia has been growing at 10 per cent annually for three years. Previous year, 875,000 people flew between the two, while 360,000 travelled between Delhi and Australia, said a source.

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ndia may become a key future customer for iron ore producers in Australia as its steel industry grows and the nation seeks to raise living standards, according to Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. “India will be an incredibly important market for us,” Fortescue chief executive officer (CEO) Nev Power said in an interview in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. “We see the steel industry in India developing along the coastal seaboards, in the same way that we are seeing that transition in China.” India may become a net importer of iron ore this year with steel makers including JSW Steel Ltd, the nation’s third-largest producer, buying as much as 15 million tonnes from abroad, the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries said on 30 July . Local supplies of the steel-making ingredient in India, once the world’s third-largest exporter, have been restricted amid curbs on mining in some areas. Efforts to improve living standards in India and also in nations across South Asia and North Africa will need “urbanization and industrialization and therefore steel”, Power said. “There are 3.5 billion people living in the world’s developing economies right there in this region, two or three weeks sailing time

from the Pilbara.” Atlas Iron Ltd, a producer with mines in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, made its first shipment to India in May and has staff visiting the country to develop ties to potential customers, managing director Ken Brinsden said. “We all got caught by surprise back in 2003 and 2004 by China,” Brinsden said in an interview in Kalgoorlie. “One of the lessons I hope we have learned is that we should keep an eye on places like India, where you have got the potential for massive growth in urbanization.” An increase in iron ore imports to India this year may prove to be temporary, according to Ivan Szpakowski, a Shanghai- based commodity analyst at Citigroup Inc. “India is not transitioning to becoming a structural importer of iron ore,” Szpakowski said on Tuesday by phone. Iron ore prices, which rose in July for the second consecutive month, will rise above $100 a tonne by the end of the year as Chinese domestic producers reduce or halt output, Fortescue’s Power said. Ore with 62% content delivered to Tianjin port in China rose 0.2% to $95.40 a dry tonne on Monday, according to The Steel Index Ltd.

www.indian-times.com.au


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Southbank and CBD Population Soars as Melbournians Seek an Inner-City Lifestyle Find out for yourself at EPIC Southbank Apartments Open House

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MEDIA RELEASE

elbourne is a dynamic global city that is experiencing the largest population growth of any capital city in Australia. Although the broader metropolitan area has been growing steadily for some time, the most noticeable recent population growth has been in the inner-city areas of the CBD and Southbank. The Melbourne CBD now has the fastest growing population of any area in Australia with Southbank close behind. So what is drawing people to live in Southbank and the CBD in record numbers? People from all around Victoria, interstate and overseas are being drawn to the city by the excellent array of lifestyle, education and employment opportunities available in Melbourne’s vibrant city centre. The city has proved to have a resilient economy and an enviable lifestyle. This is helped by a competitive and successful business environment, its thriving arts and cultural scene, exceptional food and wine, world-class education, exciting sports and entertainment, and reliable infrastructure. Southbank itself has Crown, the Arts Centre and National Gallery of Victoria, the Recital Centre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Southbank Promenade and the beautiful Botanical Gardens. Those of you thinking of following the bright lights to the CBD or Southbank to live, or perhaps just wanting to own a piece of it, might be interested in attending the EPIC Southbank Apartments Open House Weekend. A variety of apartments in the recently completed building are now available for sale or rent and award winning Melbourne developer Central Equity is inviting people from all across Melbourne to come and experience EPIC for themselves. Visitors to EPIC can sample free

gourmet food, enjoy barista fresh coffee and inspect a range of apartments in a brand new “sky-high display village”! Take in the views and see all that Melbourne and Southbank have to offer. Apartments feature exceptional attention to detail and the latest in quality fixtures and fittings. Floor to ceiling windows and contemporary colour schemes provide bright, light filled living areas. Balconies and terraces afford lucky residents an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine. The building

also includes high speed NBN intenet access, a luxurious entry foyer with concierge services, Tennis court, pool and gym. Whether you are thinking of renting or buying there is a range of apartments that will suit your needs. EPIC Apartments are located at 118 Kavanagh Street (cnr Balston Street) Southbank. Open Monday through Friday 9am – 6pm and 10 – 5pm Saturday and Sundays

Visit epicsouthbank.com or call 1800 44 55 20 for more info.

Kriti Sanon likely to star opposite Sidharth Malhotra

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

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August 2014 Edition

riti Sanon, who made her Bollywood debut alongside Tiger Shroff recently in Heropanti, might star as the leading lady in Vikramaditya Motwane’s next film, which also features Sidharth Malhotra. A source reveals, “Sidharth had already been confirmed for the role. The makers were looking for a fresh pairing, and hence approached Kriti. She had her first meeting with Vikramaditya two weeks ago. They have met since then to discuss the script, her role and the possible dates for shooting.” Although the two are keen on working with each other, nothing has been confirmed yet. The source adds, “The details still need to be worked out. If Kriti gives her nod, the film will go on the floors only after she and Sidharth finish their current projects.” While he is working on a movie with Karan Johar’s banner, she is busy with her next opposite Akshay Kumar. “Post her confirmation, they will also need to undergo workshops,” says the source.


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Bollywood

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Rajesh Khanna’s ‘live-in partner’ Anita to get will-related documents

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

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n relief for Anita Advani - who claimed to be the live-in partner of late superstar Rajesh Khanna — the Bombay High Court has directed that documents pertaining to Khanna’s will related proceedings be provided to Advani. Justice R D Dhanuka, while dismissing a challenge filed by Khanna’s elder daughter Twinkle, observed that no right was being created in favour of Advani and only the documents were being provided at this stage. The court further restricted Advani from using the documents for any purpose other than that stated by her, and has directed her to not give them to anyone else. Advani had stated that she intends to challenge the ratification of Khanna’s will by the high court in favour of Khanna’s daughters. Khanna died on July 2012 after prolonged illness a month after he made a will, which ratified by the High Court in October that year. The court, while allowing that Advani be given the documents, observed that if Advani finally challenges the will-related proceedings, the Khanna family will get a chance to defend themselves, therefore there was no problem in providing her with a copy of the documents. Twinkle had challenged the order passed in February this year by the HC’s Commissioner for Taking Accounts. On Twinkle’s behalf, senior advocate Janak Dwarkadas and advocate Bi-

rendra Saraf had submitted that the concerned authority should have issued notices to the family members before passing an order in Advani’s favour. Justice Dhanuka, however, ruled that the provision under which the copies of documents

were sought did not bind the concerned authority to issue a notice to the family. The authority only had to be satisfied there was tangible reason for seeking the papers. Advocate Manohar Shetty, representing Advani, submitted

that she was a live-in partner of Khanna and that Khanna had told her on various occasions that she would be a beneficiary in his will. He alleged that family members had indulged in fraud related to the will. After the judgment, Saraf

sought a stay, saying the family intended to “take the matter further”. Shetty submitted the family was already in the process of disposing off assets acquired through the will. Justice Dhanuka then turned down Saraf’s request for a stay.

Picture source: lightscamerabollywood

‘People are trying to get me married since 12 years’

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hen Bipasha Basu recently walked the Delhi ramp dressed like the traditional Indian bride, she knew that wedding questions would inevitably follow. While one would expect questions like, ‘where’s your groom’ and ‘what’s the wedding date’ to be annoying, Bipasha’s real wor-

August 2014 Edition

ry was that, thanks to the many rumours about her wedding over the years, no one will take her seriously when she actually decides to tie the knot! In a chat with DT, Bipasha spoke about her desire to make her own wedding announcement and her anger on the concept of fat being sexy.

”I was actually prepared for the same wedding questions, and honestly, they don’t bother me that much anymore. People in the industry and those around me have been trying to get me married since the last 12 years. There’s some or the other rumour every day. I am the kind of person who’ll come forward and

announce whatever there is to announce and not keep things hidden. I would love to share details about my marriage when I decide to marry. Right now, I think, because all these reports have been coming out for years, no one will take me seriously when I actually decide to tie the knot. I would love to be a Bengali

bride and dress in beautiful and elaborate costumes. These are things that I am looking forward to and no amount of rumours and predictions will change that.” ”I have come to realize this and that’s what I tell everyone also, that there is no substitute to being fit. Whatever happens, however busy you are, you’ve got to take out time for yourself. The focus should be on being healthy - looking good is just a bonus. The concept of fitness and size is really skewed in India. The term size zero is used so casually by people and it’s such a misinterpreted concept here. Size zero is that of international models who have tiny body frames. In India, if anyone loses weight, you call them size zero. That is not how it is. These days, people have this new thought process where we’re saying things like fat is the new sexy. That is so wrong and we shouldn’t even be encouraging something like that. Fat is not sexy.” Bipasha was last seen in the film Humshakals, but the actress had distanced herself from the project in the run-up to its release. She says, “I have two new projects to look forward to and I am focused on those. To those who say they I’m missing from the public eye, I have two new projects coming up and my commercials and events. So I’m right here. Humshakals is something that I just don’t want to talk about. There is nothing left to say about any of it. I am just glad that I took a stand on that.”

www.indian-times.com.au


sports

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ho knows better than Ronaldo, the original phenomenon, about an injury and how to come out of it and rule the world? Neymar’s broken vertebra has turned the World Cup on its head, literally. Neymar is well and recovering, but the football carnival will not be same without the 22-yearold’s enigmatic presence. The injury has hurt Neymar but Juan Zuniga’s knee has wounded the world. Talking to the media at the Maracana press centre, Ronaldo did not hide his anguish over Neymar’s unfortunate end of journey in this Cup. He called the challenge “highly violent” and added, “There was an intention by the Colombia player to actually cause some harm.” Brazil, as a nation, woke up on Saturday struggling to come to terms with fact that Neymar won’t have any part to play in their quest for the Hexa. It came as a national disaster. The president tweeted her support and anxiety as did the whole world. Television channels ran a 24x7 coverage with news, views and analysis of the in jury. People at the restau rents and elevators only talked about the injury and nodded their heads in despair and disgust.

But Ronaldo, who let the nation down in France (1998) and took it to dizzying heights four years later with a stupendous performance to give Brazil its fifth world title, confirmed that the Selecao are still the favourites in the semifinal against Germany. Ronaldo dismantled Germany in the 2002 final at Yokohama scoring two past Oliver Kahn, the best goalkeeper at that time. “I think, Brazil are still the favourites and at all times against any national team in the world. I believe in the Selecao.” Perhaps, Ronaldo’s faith stems from the presence of Luis Felipe Scolari at the helm. Ronaldo missed the whole of the South American qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup, had a career-threatening injury and underwent a major knee surgery. Still Scolari picked him to lead Brazil’s attack, and what a way he responded! He scored eight and none of the goals came from headers. In fact, none of Brazil’s 15 goals in their entire sevenmatch campaign came from headers. But that was a team with more accomplished personnel in the attack with Rivaldo and Ronaldinho excelling in support. On Tuesday at Belo Horizonte, Brazil are also going to miss their captain Thiago Silva, who has been

Photo source: PTI

My brave sisters cleared the path for me: Vinesh Phogat

booked. Still Ronaldo, Zico in his column and Pele expressed a deep-seated hope that Brazil will pull through. They all referred to Pele’s injury that cut short his 1962 World Cup crusade. “Brazil still went on

to win,” Ronaldo said. The Brazilian was not the only one to condemn Zuniga’s act. Germany’s World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthaus (1990) added his voice to the growing criticism of the Colombian. Mat-

thaus said: “No German fan or player is happy about Neymar being injured. The spirit of fair play does not allow for that and we are here to play against the best players in the world.

Babita, Yogeshwar bring smiles back to Indian camp

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ike Sushil Kumar the other day, Yogeshwar Dutt wasted no time. Cheered on by the double Olympic medallist, Yogeshwar - an Olympic medallist himself raced to gold against Canada’s Jevon Balfour in his new weight category, 65kg. The bout lasted less than two minutes and it reaffirmed India’s domination in the wrestling arena at the CWG where two gold medals, one sil-

August 2014 Edition

ver and a bronze came its way on Thurs day . As Yogeshwar leapt over the audience barriers and rushed up the aisle to hug his long-time training partner Sushil, he remarked on the controversy over the selection of some wrestlers picked by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) without a selection trial. “The controversy (over our selection) was uncalled for,” said

Yogeshwar, “We showed that we are a good team. We could have won two gold medals. Thursday’s performance followed a disappointing day in office when four Indian wrestlers lost all the four finals on Wednesday. India finished the wrestling event with 13 medals including five gold medals, six silvers and two bronzes, second to Canada’s haul of 6 golds. Though India bettered the

Delhi Games haul of 12 medals, lost all the four finals on Wednesday. India finished the wrestling event with 13 medals including five gold medals, six silver sand two bronze, second to Canada’s haul of 6 gold. Though India bettered the Delhi Games haul of 12 medals, Indian wrestlers had won a gold more in 2010. Earlier, continuing in the now impressive Phogat Family Girls tradition, Babita Rani won the

first gold of the day in the women’s 55kg category. Babita, who had won a silver in Delhi 2010 in 51kg, was contesting in her sister Geeta’s event. Last edition’s winner Geeta could not make it to the Games due to injury. Babita did not disappoint anyone by coming up with a clinical performance to win her final against Brittanee Laverduire of Canada. Showing her experience, Babita was in no hurry to finish things off quickly as she grappled patiently to accumulate points. The 24-year-old was placed comfortably throughout her bout and successfully warded off a late challenge from her 32-yearold rival. Vinesh, a cousin of Geeta and Babita, had also won a gold medal for India on the first day of competition in wrestling. “I am happy that we will be taking back home two gold medals. I was a little apprehensive since we lost all the finals yesterday. I am happy that my gold can offer some consolation,” continued Babita. Geetika Jakhar was the lone Indian to lose her final on Thursday as she was beaten by the faster and slippery Canadian Danielle Lappage 7-0 in the 63kg. Later, Pawan Kumar won a bronze medal beating Muhammad Inam in the 86kg. The scores were tied at 6-6 but as the Indian managed to take the last two points.

www.indian-times.com.au


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sports

indiantimes

India and Pakistan meet in Dosti Cup

Members of IC14 India v Pakistan Game steering committee

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he 2014 AFL International Cup clash between Pakistan and India on Saturday August 16 has been hailed the Dosti (Friendship) Cup. The sporting rivalry between Pakistan and India – usually waged on the cricket field or hockey pitch – is as fierce as any around the globe and makes Carlton v Collingwood

look like a match between two old friends. The clash is one of the highlights of the 2014 AFL International Cup (August 9-23) and will be the first ever Australian Football meeting between the two countries. While the skills of both sides may be still developing, a huge crowd is expected to attend the game,

scheduled for 4.00pm at Highgate Reserve, Craigieburn, which will directly follow the Essendon v Richmond Peter Jackson VFL match. Both Essendon FC and Richmond Fc have strong ties with the Indian community but it’s the Tigers’ colours that the team’s players will wear during the tournament.

The Pakistan side will wear a traditional green strip and are known as the Shaheens, which is the Persian word for Falcons. While India has competed at the International Cup in previous years, this is the first time Pakistan will be represented. To celebrate this historic match, dignitaries from both country’s consulates and leaders of both communities have been invited to attend. The day will also see Pakistani and Indian food on offer and include dancing, and an exhibition Kabaddi match (traditional sub-continent sport that involves aspects of wrestling). AFL Victoria engagement manager Xavier Moloney said the International Cup match was another example of how football can break down barriers between cultures. “To have a Pakistan v India game as part of the International Cup is really exciting and is part of an overall push from AFL Victoria to introduce the game to culturally diverse sections of Melbourne.” “We’ve had in a place a steering committee for a few months now with members representing Richmond FC, Essendon FC, the AFL, AFL Victoria and members of the Indian and Pakistani communities, to make sure the event is a success.

“The support of Essendon FC and Richmond FC in this venture has been fantastic with both clubs embracing the chance to engage with the multicultural community.” AFL Victoria Multicultural Coordinator Kashif Bouns, who was also the founder of the Pakistan team, said both sides would be desperate for victory. “The Dosti Cup is about bringing the Indian and Pakistani communities together and generating positive relationships through football but victory is still vet much the aim for both sides,” Bouns said. “Growing up in Pakistan, when we played India in anything it was always a huge event, where people would take the day off to stay home and watch whatever sport was on offer. “Hopefully we will have a large crowd in attendance at Highgate Reserve on August 16 and throughout the International Cup at all of Pakistan’s and India’s games.” Twenty five teams, 18 men’s and seven women’s, will take part in the 2014 version of the AFL International Cup, the fifth time the competition has been held. The majority of games will take place at Royal Park in Carlton before the men’s Grand Final is fought out at the MCG on Saturday August 23.

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egendary Australian hockey player Jamie Dwyer is all set to call time on his illustrious career within next two months, ruling out any possibility of representing the ‘Kookaburras’ in their Champions Trophy defence in India later this year. Asked if the Indian hockey lovers would see him in action in December, Dwyer said from Perth, “No I don’t think I am going to play in the Champions Trophy (in December this year). There are very mild chances of that. I am undecided at the moment (whether to retire from international hockey). I will make a decision in the next two months.” The 35th edition of prestigious FIH Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy will be held in Bhubaneswar, India from December 13 to 21 this year. Dwyer said that he would be present during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro albeit in a different avatar. “You will see me there (in Rio Olympics) but I guess not as a player. I am going to play the rest of the year with my club in the Australian Hockey League and then the Hockey India League early next year and then see what happens,” he said. Three-time Olympian Dwyer has been an integral part of Australian hockey team since making his debut in 2001. In his 13-year-old illustrious career, Dwyer has achieved every possible recognition and medals, which includes two world titles, an Olympic gold, three Commonwealth Games gold and six consecutive Champions Trophy titles. Dwyer still has hunger for the game, but with age catching up he doesn’t

August 2014 Edition

believe he will be able to sustain the rigours of international hockey for long. The 35-year-old five-time world hockey player of the year winner said he is contended with the way his career has spanned so far. “I feel I don’t have anything more to achieve in hockey. But it would have been nice to win a couple more gold medals at the Olympics. I have been in three Olympics and got a medal from each one is really a good achievement,” Dwyer said. “I am very happy with my career. If I do retire I will be very satisfied that’s for sure.” Despite ageing, Dwyer is still going strong in the hockey turf, a proof of which was visible in this year’s World Cup at The Hague where he scored a goal in Australia’s 6-1 win over Netherlands in the final. Asked about the mantra behind his longevity, the former Australia captain said:”I think it’s just really hard work. I have always been talented on the ball but I had to work hard to keep myself fit. Exercising, healthy eating and disciplined life.” Dwyer said post retirement he wants to get involved into coaching. He aready has some coaching experience with junior boys team at the YMCC Coastal City Hockey Club and Joondalup Lakers Hockey Club. “Definitely, I have plans to come into coaching. I love hockey so I want to remain involved. So coaching is something I am looking forward to after my career,” he signed off.

Photo source: PTI

Planning to call it quits within next two months: Dwyer

Jamie Dwyer still has hunger for the game, but with age catching up he doesn't believe he will be able to sustain the rigours of international hockey for long. www.indian-times.com.au


health

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RHEUMATOID ARTHIRITS (RA): AYURVEDA Dr. C.R.S. Kumar Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints (Deformity). It can affect any joint, but specifically common in smaller joints and the lining of joints or lining of internal organs will get inflamed. Women are more susceptible than men, often starts between ages 25 and 55. Rheumatoid arthritis in Ayurveda is called as “Ama vata”. In Ayurvedic Medicine there is very detailed description about the disease process (etio-pathology) and its treatment methods. The treatment methods include internal medication such as herbal preparations as well as external treatments such as abhyanga (Ayurvedic rejuvenation treatment), swedam (fomentation) etc. In Ayurveda it is mentioned as, “Sa Kashtaha Sarvarogaanaam yadaa prakupito Bhavet | Hastha paada shiro gulpha trika jaanu uru sandhishu || Karoti sarujam shopham yatra doshaha prapadyate | Sa desho rujate atyatham vyaviddha iva vrishchkaihi ||“ This means “the disease Amavata (Rheumatoid arthritis) is a chronic disease, if it becomes chronic the joints (Snadhi) of hands (Hastha), legs (Paada), ankle and elbow joint (Gulpha), Low back (Trika), Knee joint (Jaanu) and Hip joint (Uru) will get inflamed and painful. Moreover, the pain resembles the pain of “scorpion sting”.

According to Modern medicine the exact cause is not yet known, whereas, according to Ayurveda the cause is well explained. The disease is mainly due to the formation of “AMA”. It will not only affect the joints but also spreads all over the body through srotas (Channels) and obstructs the channels which in turn reduce the flow of nourishment to the body tissues. Due to which the immune levels and appetite reduce in the body. The main reasons for the formation of AMA in the body are, consumption of opposite foods, persevered foods, food items cooked one day before, poor digestive fire, sedentary life styles and imbalance in the DOSHAS (Humors). According to Modern Medicine, in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually inflamed in a symmetrical pattern (both sides of the body affected). The small joints of both the hands and wrists are often involved. Simple tasks of daily living, such as turning door knobs and opening jars, can become difficult during flares. Also during flares, joints frequently become red, swollen, painful, and tender. This occurs because the lining tissue of the joint (synovium) becomes inflamed, resulting in the production of excessive joint fluid (synovial fluid). The synovium also thickens with inflammation (synovitis). The small joints of the feet are the commonly involved parts in the body; especially the muscle and joint stiffness are usually most notable in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Chronic inflammation can cause damage to body tissues, including cartilage and bone. This leads to a loss of cartilage

and erosion and weakness of the bones as well as the muscles, resulting in joint deformity, destruction, and loss of function. According to Ayurveda the signs and symptoms include such as, Manya prishta kati jaanu trika sandheenvikunchayan | Sashabdaha srastagaatrashcha aamavaataha sauchyate || “ This means the joints of neck (manya) , back (prishta) , hip (kati) , knee (jaanu), sacral region (trika) and other joints get inflamed. The joint movements are often accompanied with sounds. This disease which also makes body weak is known as amavata . Systemic symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis Include, Angamarda aruchi trishna aalasyam gouravam jwaraha | Apaakaha shoonataangaanam amavatasya laxanam || This means “the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are 1. Body pain (angamarda) 2. Distaste to food (aruchi) 3. Thirst. (trishna) 4. Malaise. (aalasya) 5. Fever. (jwara) 6. Indigestion. (apaaka) 7. Weakness (shoonata) Ayurvedic treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis involves both external and internal medicines. The main treatment is done to reduce the AMA by stimulating the digestive fire. Appetizers and carminatives mentioned in Ayurveda as well as Vata pacifying drugs are highly essential in reducing the pain and intensity of Rheumatoid Arthritis. The external treatments such as abhyanga with rooksha swedam

Caffeine may worsen hot flashes, night sweats

are highly beneficial. Ayurvedic tips for the prevention. · Avoid curds, fish, milk, urad dal, jaggery, and constipating food. · Consume horse gram, ginger, bitter gourd, drum sticks. · Remove the sprouts (which will be present inside garlic cloves) of garlic by splitting, Soak these garlic in buttermilk over night. Next day morning wash the garlic with plain water. ground this garlic to thin paste. Consume 1/2 tea spoon of this paste with warm water every day morning in empty stomach.

· Always use hot water to bathe and to drink. · Avoid cold breeze. · Do not consume opposite foods. · Empty bowels regularly. · Do not control natural urges. · Avoid late nights and afternoon naps. You may ask your personal query to Dr Kumar via Email drkumar@jeevahealth.com.au or by phone 0402 282 745/ 03 9440 5091 or 02 6156 0618 regarding any of your health problems. You will be offered authentic Ayurvedic information and an opinion, as to what best can be done pertaining to your ailment.

AYURVEDA Melbourne CBD, Surrey Hills & Canberra

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cientists have found an association between caffeine intake and more bothersome hot flashes and night sweats in post-menopausal women. The study by Mayo Clinic researchers in the US also showed an association between caffeine intake and fewer problems with mood, memory and concentration in perimenopausal women, possibly because caffeine is known to enhance arousal, mood and attention. The findings of this largest study to date on caffeine and menopausal symptoms will be published in the journal Menopause. For the study, researchers conducted a survey using the Menopause Health Questionnaire, a comprehensive assessment of menopause-related health

August 2014 Edition

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Live life...Naturally

information that includes personal habits and ratings of menopausal symptom presence and severity. Questionnaires were completed by 2,507 consecutive women who presented with menopausal concerns at the Women’s Health Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester between July 25, 2005, and July 25, 2011. Data from 1,806 women who met all inclusion criteria ! were analysed. Menopausal symptom ratings were compared between caffeine users and non-users. ”While these findings are preliminary, our study suggests that limiting caffeine intake may be useful for those postmenopausal women who have bothersome hot flashes and night sweats,” said Stephanie Faubion.

Specialized treatments available for: • Arthritis • Psoriasis • Erectile Dysfunction • Premature ejaculation • Impotency • Depression • Anxiety • Knee pain • Back pain/sciatica • UTI • PMS • Pregnancy care • Weight loss • Paralysis • Haemorrhoids • Fistula-In-Ano • & various ailments

Dr. Kumar CRS BAMS (Gold Medallist), MPH(Deakin), MHP(Deakin). Principal Ayurvedic Physician and Panchakarma Specialist Jeeva Health

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Homeopathy Consultations Remedial Massage

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indiantimes

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hat you need to know about skin care and makeup during preg-

nancy. You’ve found out that a baby is on its way and you can’t contain the excitement. But what about your makeup and skin care regime for the crucial months ahead? Pregnancy infuses a natural glow to a woman’s skin. The woman’s nails get stronger and her hair is thicker and longer. As for external enhancements through cosmetics, there is the question of safety. Patch test first: Since your body is going through rapid and intense changes in these nine months, allergies and sensitivities might occur that didn’t exist earlier. So, the general rule for beauty products is to do a patch test first. There are many options out there in the market that are safe and natural. Keep hydrated: Drink plenty of water through the day and keep moisturising your skin at regular intervals. A woman’s skin stretches during pregnancy and keeping yourself hydrated improves the elasticity of your skin. It can reduce itching and the appearance of stretch marks. Know the ingredients: It is essential to know what really went into that moisturiser you are rubbing on your belly. Your best bet are cosmetics that have the least number of ingredients and mostly

the ones easy to pronounce. If you don’t trust store-bought concoctions, make your own. If you plan to breastfeed your child, be careful about what you plan to apply around the bust area. Go natural: The boom of organic and natural beauty products deems well for pregnant ladies. You might like them so much they may become your staples for life. Products that contain ylang ylang, tea tree oil, chamomile and citrus are all great for the skin and safe for pregnant women. Nail art and care: A mani-pedi is non-toxic for expectant mothers. It’s safe to get your nails done when you are pregnant since the polish is on your nails, and is not going to be absorbed into your skin. What might not work in your favour is the environment of the nail salon or beauty parlour. Make sure it is ventilated well so the fumes — those coming from all corners of the salon where the therapists are giving beauty treatments — don’t affect you. Nail paint tips Use chemical-free nail polish. Top-notch nail paint brands these days are making nail paint that is generally free of dye and harmful chemicals. Look for nail paint that is ‘3-free’ —without dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde — or ‘5-free’ — additionally free of formaldehyde resin and camphor. Take your own manicure set

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The pregnant woman’s beauty guide

to the salon. It’s hygienic and sanitary. You won’t have to worry about fungus or infections from the instruments. Pamper yourself. Pregnancy — especially during the last few months when you can barely do any chores — is the time to enjoy

a mani-pedi for the sheer joy of it. What not to do Avoid products that contain rosemary, jasmine and cinnamon. Although they are all natural ingredients, they are also known to increase blood pressure and could lead to early contractions.

Ironically, they might work in your favour during the last few months of pregnancy if you want to speed up the process naturally. Don’t wax during pregnancy since your skin is too sensitive. Stay away from anything that contains synthetic fragrances.

Photo source: PTI

Legalising sex work would slash HIV toll

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crapping laws that ban sex work would slash the number of HIV infections over the next decade, according to a study presented at the world AIDS forum. Female sex work is one of the big vectors of the world HIV pandemic, sometimes being the bridge between infected drug users and heterosexual men who

August 2014 Edition

buy sex from them. But policymakers have squabbled about how best to deal with the question. They have wrestled with initiatives such as outreach programmes to promote condom use and widen access to HIV drugs, changing policing practices or making laws softer or harsher. Yet there is little agreement about which policies work best in

reducing the HIV risk, both for sex workers and their clients. Seeking an answer, researchers reporting at the 20th International AIDS Conference said they made a mathematical model based on grassroots data from a range of countries. Legalisation best option Of all the main policy options, decriminalisation was by far the

most effective, they found. By practising their trade legally, female sex workers were likelier to get advice about safe sex, use condoms and gain access to drugs that suppress the AIDS virus. They also became less exposed to sexual violence from police and more able to refuse demands for unprotected sex from customers -both of which are risks for spreading the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). “Decriminalisation of sex work would have the greatest effect on the course of HIV epidemics across all settings, averting 33-46 percent of HIV infections in the next decade,” according to the study, which also appeared in an online issue published by The Lancet. Other methods could be useful, too, depending on the location. In Kenya, for instance, if badlyinfected sex workers were given access to virus-suppressing drugs, this would help to reduce new cases of HIV by more than a third over the next decade. The researchers, led by Kate Shannon of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, acknowledged they had blanks in their database. To build their model, they trawled through 204 studies in peer-reviewed journals, only 87 of which had useful data. Most of these published investigations were conducted in Asia.

Very few took place in sub-Saharan Africa, Russia and eastern Europe, where HIV transmission through sex work is a huge problem. A 2012 investigation in 50 lowand middle-income countries found that nearly 12 percent of sex workers there had HIV. They were more than 13 times likelier to have the AIDS virus than counterparts in the general population. Countries where more than 50 percent of sex workers have HIV are all south of the Sahara, and 92 percent of all AIDS-related deaths attributed to sex work occur among African women, according to new research. Separately, a commentary carried by The Lancet poured cold water on the so-called Swedish model for sex workers, which is gaining favour in parts of Europe. In Sweden sex workers are not criminalised, but those who buy services from them or who profit from them -- customers and pimps -- are. Supporters say the policy discourages trafficking. But such claims are “unsubstantiated,” the commentary said. “Anti-trafficking advocates contend that criminalisation drives the sex industry even more underground, which results in significantly lower chances of identifying individuals who have been trafficked.”

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Women with gene variant ‘more prone to heart disease’

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istorically, say the Western researchers, heart disease was assumed to be a male disease. Evidence has shown, though, that post-menopausal women are just as likely to develop heart disease as men but are less likely to be properly diagnosed. The new study identifies a common gene variant in women that

increases their chance of aging high blood pressure - the greatest risk factor for heart attack and stroke. When functioning normally, the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 30 (GPER) - which is activated by estrogen - relaxes the blood vessels, lowering blood pressure. The study finds that women who have a form of GPER that does

not function correctly increases their risk of developing high blood pressure. By comparing patients referred to a tertiary care clinic at London Health Sciences Centre, the researchers found that women, but not men, carrying the GPER variant had higher blood pressure. Also, in a “hard-to-treat blood pressure clinic,” where lead author

Dr. Ross Feldman is a physician, almost half of the attending women expressed the variant gene. Dr. Feldman and colleagues also found that twice as many women carried the gene than men with blood pressure that was difficult to treat. “This is one step in understanding the effects of estrogen on heart disease, and understanding why

some women are more prone to heart attack and stroke than others,” Dr. Feldman says. “Our work is a step forward in developing approaches to treating heart disease in this under-appreciated group of patients.” ”Although the risks and benefits of routine screening for depression are still unclear, our study suggests that young women may benefit for special consideration. Unfortunately, this group has largely been understudied before.” Also in June, the American Heart Association issued a statement emphasizing that it is because of gender-specific research that diagnosis of coronary heart disease in women has become more accurate. The symptoms of coronary heart disease, for instance, are broader in women than they are in men something that was not previously well understood. In women with heart disease, pain may not be located in the chest, and the patterns and distribution of pain symptoms may be different from symptoms typically experienced by men. Microvascular disease - a nonobstructive form of coronary heart disease where the arteries spasm and block the flow of blood to the heart - has also been shown to be more common in women.

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August 2014 Edition

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herapies aimed at areas of the brain responsible for memory and learning could lead to better treatment of obesity and dementia, says a study. “This is a novel way for health care providers who treat people with weight problems and for researchers who study dementia to think about obesity and cognitive decline,” said professor Terry Davidson from the American University in the US. Researchers reviewed findings linking obesity with cognitive decline, including the “vicious cycle” model, which explains how weight-challenged individuals who suffer from particular kinds of cognitive impairment are more susceptible to overeating. It is widely accepted that over consumption of dietary fats, sugar and sweeteners

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Brain next frontier to treat obesity

can cause obesity. These types of dietary factors are also linked to cognitive dysfunction. Experiments in rats by the researchers showed that over consumption of foods high in saturated fats and simple carbohydrates can damage or change the bloodbrain barrier, the tight network of blood vessels protecting the brain and substrates for cognition. Certain kinds of dementia are known to arise from the breakdown in these brain substrates. “Treating obesity successfully may also reduce the incidence of dementia, because the deterioration in the brain is often produced by the same diets that promote obesity,” concluded the study that appeared in the journal Physiology & Behavior.

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