Yoga can cure every disease, but don`t universalis

Yoga therapy can cure every disease and disorder, even cancer, says a Delhi-based yoga therapist but warns against the mass teaching of yoga - including popular pranayams like kapalbhati and anulom vilom - saying they "can cause complications".

"Yoga cannot be universalised...like prescribing a paracetamol tablet," says Subhash Sharma, a yoga therapist who spent 19 years in a gurukul in Rajasthan and is also a post-graduate from the Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.

Sharma told: "People have different physiologies and each person`s response to yoga is individualistic. Therefore, there can`t be standardisation of yoga for any particular disorder."

Sharma, who describes himself as a pioneering yoga therapist and runs a busy practice in south Delhi, says even a step-by-step book on yoga can be "fatal".

Bhastrika, a popular yogic pranayam that many people do while following an expert on television, can cause asthma, warns Sharma.

"In bhastrika pranayam you pump the lungs. It can hyperventilate the lungs and people can develop asthma."

Another popular pranayam, kapalbhati, is "dangerous, especially for women", he warns.

"If kapalbhati is done without `bandhas`, or shutting the anus and vagina, then the pressure will fall on the visceral organs (internal organs) and they will be pushed downwards. Women can develop uterus prolapse (where the uterus can sag from its normal position)."

Each of Sharma`s patients is given yoga therapy keeping in mind their body type and problem. The patient`s response is monitored closely and changes are made accordingly.

Anulom vilom, perceived to be a simple pranayam in which you breathe in through one nostril and breathe out though the other, is also not advisable for all, he says.

"When we force in air from one nostril and exhale from the other, it upsets the respiratory centre of the brain which controls breathing," he says, adding, "Lots of precautions should be taken before going in for anulom vilom."

Sharma has crowds of people coming to him with all kinds of problems, ranging from arthritis, asthma and blood pressure to cancer and even cases of muscular dystrophy. Sharma says he has cured many cancer cases, including blood cancer, brain cancer and breast cancer.

He recounted the case of a British woman with brain cancer who had undergone surgery and been given three months to live. "It is four years since she has been cured," he said.

Among his many patients is Priya Narayanan, a patient of multiple sclerosis, an auto immune disorder. Priya, a trained Carnatic singer, was doing her PhD in chemistry around 20 years ago when she noticed she was losing the use of her muscles. Many rounds of doctors and hospitals later, and with no hope left, she arrived last year at Sharma`s clinic.

"Priya has begun to show some control over her muscles," her mother Veda Narayanan told.

According to Sharma, Priya, who cannot walk without help, will be able to walk on her own in three years.

He says true yoga can be practised only by yogis who live aloof from society. Normal, social human beings running the material race suffer from psychosomatic disorders and diseases - and for them therapeutic yoga is the only answer, he says.

Sharma is keen that the Indian government "amalgamate the study of yoga with the study of human physiology - to develop yoga therapists".

"The government should teach yoga and medicine together, and create yoga doctors," he says.

SRK and Sanjay Dutt to come together in KJo’s next movie

The two heavyweights of Bollywood are all set for rock the show on-screen. If reports are to be believed, Shah Rukh Khan and Sanjay Dutt might come together for ‘Agneepath’ director Karan Malhotra’s next.

Buzz has it that Malhotra is keen to make a sequel to 2012 blockbuster ‘Agneepath’ and for the same he is interested to cast SRK and Sanju.

Talking to daily, Karan Malhotra said, “All I can say at the moment is that I do have a film in mind and it’s not a sequel or a remake. As soon as I have a clearer picture I will first tell my producer Karan Johar about it, then share it with the world.”

Dharma Productions have reportedly indicated that the filmmaker’s next project would be a rugged action film with ‘tailor-made’ roles for Dutt and SRK.

While the two actors have been very friendly off screen, it would be interesting to see full-fledged roles in a flick!

Pakistan PM Gilani: “China’s enemy is our enemy”

Pakistan and China moved a notch higher than their “time-tested” and “all-weather” friendship status after Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani declared that “China’s enemy is our enemy”.

“China’s friend is our friend, and China’s enemy is our enemy. We consider China’s security as our own security,” The Express Tribune quoted Gilani, as saying in a meeting with China’s Executive Vice Premier Li Keqiang at the State Guest House on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia.

Keqiang reciprocated Gilani’s sentiments by saying: “No matter what changes take place at the international level, we will uphold Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said. “China supports Pakistan’s role in regional and international affairs.”

China’s reiteration of support for Pakistan’s territorial integrity came after US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives seeking independence for the insurgency-hit Balochistan.

Gilani said Pakistan gives high importance to the security of Chinese citizens on its soil, and added that he was personally monitoring the process to provide them extensive protection.

He added Pakistan realises the importance of maintaining a working engagement with the United States but would not compromise its sovereignty and national dignity.

He was referring to his meeting with the US President Barack Obama in Seoul, where he told him that Pakistan’s Parliament would set the contours of future ties with the US.

Bollywood star Imran, Deepika named worst actors at Golden Kela Awards

Imran Khan was named the Worst Actor and Deepika Padukone the Worst Actress at the fourth annual Golden Kela Awards, a spin-off of Hollywood's Razzies awards, which recognises the worst in cinema.

While Imran won the award for Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Deepika was given the award for her performance in Prakash Jha's Aarakshan.

Shah Rukh Khan's sci-fi film RA.One walked away with two trophies for Worst Film and Worst Director for Anubhav Sinha.

The award for the Most Atrocious Lyrics went to Amitabh Bhattacharyya for Pyar do pyar lo (Thank You), Jigar ka tukda (Ladies vs Ricky Bahl), and Mutton song (Luv Ka The End). Teri meri from Bodyguard was named Most Irritating Song.

Prateik was given the for Worst Supporting Actor award for Dum Maaro Dum and Aarakshan.

A special Platinum Kela award was however given to filmmaker Kanti Shah for excellence in cinema.

Actor Pankaj Kapoor's maiden directorial venture Mausam got the Bawra Ho Gaya Ke Award, while Chirag Paswan won the Worst Debutante for Miley Na Miley Hum, and Esha Deol won the award for the Worst Attempt at a Comeback for Tell Me O Kkhuda.

The Lajja Award for worst treatment of a serious issue went to Aarakshan and Pritam was awarded the Bas Kijiye Bohut Ho Gaya Award.

However, there was a special category of 'Anti-Kela' awards for the films that were the saving graces of 2011.

The recipients were Yeh Saali Zindagi, Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster, Shaitan and Shor in the City

"I think Sudhir should be the one accepting this. I'm quite honored and amused to accept this award. It is good to see this movie getting some recognition. And you guys obviously have a great choice," said an ecstatic Arunoday Singh, on receiving the award for Yeh Saali Zindagi.

Anna Hazare: My fight against corruption will continue

Re-emphasizing his determination to wipe out corruption nationally, anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare has said his battle will continue.

Talking to media here, Hazare said nepotism in public life has left the general public discontented.

"I am fighting against the same cause (corruption), they (central government) are a corrupt government and they have troubled the life of the people, and have made their lives difficult. I can't do much, but fighting and following in the footsteps of Lord Ram, and my fight would continue till we end corruption," he added.

Hazare has warned that he will start another anti-corruption movement for the passage of a strong Lokpal Bill before the 2014 general elections.

Hazare has been at loggerheads with the government over the Ombudsman Bill. He has observed four fasts to pressure the administration to take action against the corrupt.

Global trade bodies warn PM Manmohan Singh of tax plan impact

International trade associations representing more than 250,000 companies have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh criticising new taxation proposals and warning that investment plans by overseas companies could be reconsidered.

India's budget last month outlined proposals that would allow authorities to make retroactive tax claims on overseas deals and bring in new anti-tax-avoidance measures, moves that have been criticised for further denting investor sentiment towards India.

"The sudden and unprecedented move in the Bill has undermined confidence in the policies of the Government of India toward foreign investment and taxation and has called into question the very rule of law, due process, and fair treatment in India," seven global trade bodies said in a letter to Singh.

"This is now prompting a widespread reconsideration of the costs and benefits of investing in India," continued the letter, signed by bodies including the U.S.-based Business Roundtable, the Confederation of British Industry and the Japan Foreign Trade Council.

A long-running tax struggle between London-listed Vodafone Group Plc , India's largest overseas investor, and the government, has come to symbolize the perils to foreign investors in the country.

Vodafone won a five-year legal battle in January when the Supreme Court dismissed a $2.2 billion tax demand from authorities over the British company's acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd's <0013.HK> Indian mobile assets in 2007.

That ruling was hailed by business groups as victory for clarity in India's investment climate, which has suffered due to policy paralysis, regulatory uncertainty and widespread corruption allegations against the government.

But a proposal in the recent budget to retroactively impose tax on deals conducted overseas where the underlying asset is located in India would amend 50-year-old-tax laws and allow New Delhi to pursue tax on long-concluded transactions.

"Some of our member companies had already begun reevaluating their investments in India due to increasing levels of controversy and uncertainty regarding taxation in recent years," the letter said.

Vodafone said last week it was considering a number of actions after the proposal, which it said was "grossly unjust".

The tax proposal, if written into law, could also affect Kraft Foods Inc's 2010 acquisition of Cadbury's Indian business and deals involving Indian assets sold by AT&T Inc and SABMiller Plc's purchase of Fosters.

In the letter, also sent to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the trade bodies said a plan to expand the definition of "royalty" retrospectively to 1976 would affect companies such as Ericsson.

"There appears to be an assumption, often expressed by Indian tax authorities, that India's ability to attract foreign investment is not affected by its taxation policies and practices. This simply is not the case," the letter continued.

"India will lose significant ground as a destination for international investment if it fails to align itself with policy and practice around the world," it said.

Sluggish investment is partly to blame for slowing growth in Asia's third-largest economy, which grew at just 6.1 percent in the December quarter, the weakest in nearly three years.

Unpaid employees of KFA wants RCB players to boycott IPL

The unpaid employees of Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) on today pleaded to the players of the United Breweries group-funded Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB) team to boycott the forthcoming Indian Premier League matches.

Reportedly, the employees of the beleaguered airlines have not received their salaries since December 2011 and hence want the RCB players to support them by not participating in the mega event.

United Breweries is the parent company that is funding the Royal Challenger team.

According to reports, KFA has agreed to pay its junior staff by April 4 and the pilots and engineers by April 9.

On Monday, a section of the airlines’ pilots are also meeting in Delhi.

IPL clash gets bigger as Bollywood enters the picture

Finally, the big Bollywood is ready to face off with the IPL. A slew of exciting movies by prominent production houses, with an estimated Rs 175-200 crore riding on them, will be released between April 4 and May 27 when the IPL's fifth edition takes place.

The big and medium budget movies slated for release during this period include Sajid Nadiadwala's " Housefull 2", Priyadarshan's " Tezz" starring Ajay Devgan, Mukesh Bhatt's "Jannat 2", Vikram Bhatt's 3D film "Dangerous Ishhq", Yash Raj Films's "Ishaqzaade" and Viacom 18 Motion Picture's action-thriller "Department". Besides, some small-budget films will also hit theaters the same time.

Trade analyst Komal Nahta says that while the IPL was a novel concept in the first few years, now the feeling is that the real excitement is only during the last few days of the finals. "Hence, filmmakers are confident of releasing their films during this period," says Nahta.

Moreover, the film industry has grown confident in the last two years with quite a few movies crossing the Rs 100 crore mark, says Rakesh Jariwala of Ernst & Young's entertainment division. In fact, Bollywood now believes it can even use the IPL as a platform to market its films, he adds.

During the first three IPL seasons, multiplex capacity utilization dipped. The event was dubbed as "a black window" where few big distributors dared release their films. Some exhibitors, in fact, preferred to project the IPL games rather than show a movie. The tide turned with IPL 4 when the T20 league's TAM ratings showed a dip. Last year, over 20 films were released during the period, including low-budget hits like "Stanley Ka Dabba".

Producer-director Mahesh Bhatt says, "We locked horns with IPL 1 with the release of Jannat in 2008. There's no change now as Jannat 2 releases as per schedule. Let's see who entertains better."

Oil higher in Asia trade on Chinese demand hopes

Oil was higher in Asian trade today after figures showing a rise in manufacturing activity in China, the world's largest energy user, analysts said.

New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in May, gained 33 cents to USD 103.35 per barrel while Brent North Sea crude for May settlement was up 44 cents at USD 123.32.

Official data released yesterday showed China's manufacturing activity rose to the highest level in a year in March, energising oil prices, analysts said.

"China's manufacturing data helped edge up oil prices with hopes of strengthening demand (from the world's second biggest economy), said Justin Harper, market strategist at IG Markets Singapore.

The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said Sunday the official purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 53.1 from 51 in February, helped by an increase in new orders.

It marked the fourth consecutive month of expansion for manufacturing activity. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 suggests contraction.

Tensions between the West and major crude producer Iran continue to lend support to oil prices as investors fret over possible supply disruptions from the Islamic republic.

The two sides are at odds over Iran's nuclear programme which Tehran has said is for civilian purposes but the United States and its allies believe the country is working towards nuclear weapons capability.

Iran has previously threatened to shut the strategic Strait of Hormuz -- a conduit for a fifth of global oil supply -- if it is hit by further sanctions from the West.

Jagan defends land allotments done by YSR Govt

 Maintaining that Y S Rajasekhar Reddy's regime made land allotments for employment generation purposes, Kadapa MP Jaganmohan Reddy has asked why the CBI did not look into the allotment of lands made during the previous TDP rule.

Reacting to the CBI chargesheet filed in the illegal assets case involving him, Jagan, while speaking at his 'Odarpu Yatra' here last night, defended the land allotments during his late father's regime.

"The lands were allotted to private companies in backward Mahaboobnagar and Medak districts to generate large scale employment," he said.

"Why the CBI cannot see the land allocation in the heart of Hyderabad made by TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu at throw away prices and also during the present Congress government," he asked.

Meanwhile, unfazed by the developments in the case involving him, Jagan is going ahead with campaign in Assembly segments where bypolls will be held.

He is scheduled to tour Narsapuram and Polavaram constituencies in West Godavari district from today. These two assembly seats are among the 17 constituencies where the by-elections are due.

The bypolls in 16 of the 17 seats are necessitated by the disqualification of Congress MLAs who switched loyalty to Jagan and voted against the Congress government in a floor test held in December last year, while another MLA quit in support of Kadapa MP.

32 people killed in Russian plane crashes in Siberia

At least 32 people were killed and 11 survivors have been taken to hospital, Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said on Monday. 

The ATR 72, a twin-engine, turbo-prop plane, with 43 people aboard, crashed some 30-35 km (18-22 miles) from the western Siberian city of Tyumen, Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said. 

The mid-range plane belonging to Russian airline UTair crashed after taking off from Tyumen on a flight to Surgut, an oil town further north in Siberia. 

There were 39 passengers and four crew on board, according to preliminary information, Andrianova said.

Injured survivors were flown to hospital by helicopter after the plane caught fire following the crash, the cause of which was not immediately known, Russian news agencies reported. 

UTair has three ATR-72 craft made by the French-Italian manufacturer ATR, according to the airline's website. 

ATR is an equal partnership between two major European aeronautics players, Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, and EADS. 

The crash was the deadliest air disaster in Russia since a Yak-42 plane crashed into a riverbank near the city of Yaroslavl after takeoff on September 07, 2011, killing 44 people and wiping out the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team. 

President Dmitry Medvedev called for a reduction in the number of Russian airlines and improvements in crew training after that crash, which followed a June crash that killed 47 people including a navigator who had been drinking. 

Poonam Pandey upset over morphed nude image

The girl who thrives on shooting from the mouth statements, and uploading her bedroom antics videos seems to have turned a new leaf.

Post the morphed picture brouhaha in Kolkata that brought the city of Joy to a standstill, strip queen Poonam says she doesn't want unwanted controversies in her life. Poonam recently posted on Twitter saying, "I am really shocked and hurt over the incident in Kolkata, a fan made stupid morphed pic of mine was published by mistake on a News Paper.

Tweet Hearts and all my Fans round d World I do appreciate ur Love towards me but such edited/Morphed pix really hurt me. Please keep me away from any such unwanted controversies which could hurt one's sentiments."

The model's nude morphed picture is circulating on web, made by one of her fans, which showed a morphed image of a Pakistani cricketer bowing before the portrait of a Sachin Tendulkar and a nude Poonam. But this didn't go well with Kolkata citizens when an English daily published the morphed picture.

Suu Kyi says: she hoped it will mark the beginning of a new era

 Aung San Suu Kyi claimed victory on Monday in Myanmar's historic by-election, saying she hoped it will mark the beginning of a new era for the long-repressed country.

Suu Kyi spoke to thousands of cheering supporters who gathered outside her opposition party headquarters a day after her party claimed she had won a Parliamentary seat in the closely watched vote.

"The success we are having is the success of the people," Suu Kyi said. "It is not so much our triumph as a triumph of the people who have decided that they have to be involved in the political process in this country."

"We hope this will be the beginning of a new era," she said, as supporters chanted her name and thrust their hands into the air to flash "V'' for victory signs.

The election sets the stage for the former political prisoner to take public office for the first time and lead a small bloc of opposition lawmakers in Myanmar's military-dominated Parliament.

Official results are expected within the next few days.

If confirmed, the victory would mark a major milestone in the Southeast Asian nation that is emerging from a ruthless era of military rule and also an astonishing reversal of fortune for a woman who became one of the world's most prominent prisoners of conscience.

The former junta had kept Suu Kyi imprisoned in her lakeside home for the better part of two decades. When she was finally released in late 2010, just after a general election that was deemed neither free nor fair, few could have imagined she would so quickly make the leap from democracy advocate to elected official — opening the way for a potential presidential run in 2015.

Tatra trucks deal: CBI is set to grill Vectra chief today

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to grill Vectra Group chief Ravi Rishi once again on Monday in connection with the alleged bribery allegations made by Army Chief General VK Singh.

The central probe agency has questioned Vectra chief earlier in connection with the case.

The CBI has also issued a lookout notice against the British citizen to bar him from leaving the country. The probe agency has also confiscated his passport and alerted all airports and exit points to ensure that he does not leave the country.

The CBI in its First Information Report (FIR), registered earlier this week, had named Rishi, a London-based businessman who along with the Vectra Group also has majority stake in Tatra trucks, a Czech manufacturer.

The defence deal related to the sale of 7000 trucks to the Army came under scanner after Army chief General VK Singh had alleged that he was offered a Rs 14 crore bribe to clear a file related to purchase of trucks.

The CBI had on Friday raided Tatra offices in Bangalore and Delhi in search of evidence.

Public sector unit BEML buys Tatra parts from Vectra and assembles trucks in Bangalore that were then sold to the Army.

General VK Singh on Saturday named retired Lt General Tejinder Singh in his complaint to the CBI. He had earlier claimed that a lobbyist, who had "just" retired, offered him a bribe for clearing "sub-standard" vehicles and he had informed the Defence Minister about it. The Ministry had then recommended a CBI probe into the allegation made by the Army chief.

In view of the claims made by the Army Chief, the CBI may also question retired Lt General Tejinder Singh in connection with the case.

However, retired Lt General Tejinder Singh has refuted the allegations and filed a defamation suit against the Army Chief and four other officers.

FSL report awaited in defence official’s death case

Three days since the mysterious deaths of Defence Ministry official Kumar Yashkar Sinha and his wife Archana Sharma, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) is expected to handover its crucial report to Delhi Police on Monday.

The FSL report is expected to throw new light on the mysterious death of the 42-year-old Deputy Director at the Ministry's Directorate General of Medical Services and his 34-year-old wife, who was a trained classical dancer.

The two were found dead in their official flat in Hudco Place in Defence Colony on Friday.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police PS Kushwah told reporters that they were "waiting for the FSL report on the evidence collected from the spot" where the bodies were found.

According to Pushkar Sinha, brother of slain defence ministry official, Yashkar went to meet him in Lucknow last week and discussed the enormous work pressure on him.

He even met his sister a day before his death.

On Saturday, Delhi Police found a hand-written note wrapped in a 'green envelope' in Sinha’s home during investigation in which he had mentioned the names of two Army officers who were allegedly 'behind the work pressure'.

According to the sources, the two suspected officials of Defence Ministry can be summoned for questioning.

So far, the relatives of Yashkar have maintained that the couple was happily married and they enjoyed healthy relationship. So, marital discord cannot be ruled out.

The relatives of the deceased couple alleged that there could be a conspiracy behind the deaths.

Delhi Police on Sunday questioned an official of ADG rank in defence ministry to get more details on the content of the 'note' that is very crucial to crack the case of mysterious deaths.

The initial reports suggested that Yashkar first strangulated his wife and then immolated himself. But, the recently found note indicates something fishy in the case.

The couple was married for seven years and had no children.

The incident was reported to police by neighbours when they saw smoke coming out from the couple’s flat.