Irrfan Khan Promotes His Recent Hollywood Take Inferno in Singapore; Film to Get Its First Premier in Florence

Mumbai: Bollywood star Irrfan Khan will meet Tom Hanks in Singapore and will walk on the red carpet there. The duo got together for the promotions of Hanks’ upcoming film Inferno. On Tuesday, ‘the starts added a dash of action and thrill’ at the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands resort, Singapore.

On the other hand, it was only on Wednesday, when the Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, who also directed all three films of Dan Brown, said at the event in Singapore, that the Inferno team will stage its premiere at Italy’s Florence city. “I’m happy to say it is in beautiful Florence in Italy,” Howard said noting that the city is perfectly appropriate as it is a ‘centerpiece of the movie.’ Sources said that Inferno will release its premiere show at October 2, this year.

Inferno is the third book of Dan Brown’s series that started with The Da Vinci Code, the religious-themed-mystery novel. Inferno will have Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Irrfan Khan and Ben Foster in lead roles. The movies’ names and symbols are referred to Dante’s 14th century trilogy Divine Comedy. Inferno is the first of the trilogy which describes the nine circles of suffering in hell.

Indian Workers are Ready to Work in Less Payment If the Job Is ‘Ideal’

New Delhi: In a recent survey, it was disclosed that Indian office employees are more likely to work for an ‘ideal’ job even if they are paid less. Also, if compared to US and UK employees, the Indian employees are more flexible and positive at their workplaces, too.

The survey, named as ‘Work In Progress,’ even showed that 98 percent of employees said that they won’t leave their job even if wins the lottery. The survey also asserted that the office workers in India love their jobs and their access to office-provided technologies which lead them to make top contributors in the workplace. This is equal to their overall job satisfaction, which is paired with different types of perks and smart office designs.

Around 68 percent of Indian workers in the survey asserted that they enjoy doing multiple jobs not only for extra payments, but also to acquire new skills. Some have even predicted multiple jobs as a future of the concept of work in coming times. 

As EXIN Times sources has said, the survey has pointed out few relevant attributes of work satisfaction and employee norms in India. According to the survey, expectations and priorities among the employees have changed and are evolving dramatically, ‘largely owing to rapid influx of millennial into the workforce, changing work-life pattern, and rising employee aspirations.’

The changes in the employee expectation norms are very likely to change the employer’s attributes too. it is expected that the employers in future will give access to advanced technologies in workplaces. This will increase production and is likely to inspire the employees at the workplace.

India May Join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Within A Year - Secretary-General

Beijing:  India is likely to attain full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) within a year, Secretary-General of the six-member political, economic and military alliance led by China and Russia has said.

“For almost a year, we held consultations with top representatives from India. To become a full member of the SCO, the applicant states should adopt all the documents in accordance with the procedures in this country,” Rashid Alimov, the Secretary-General, said yesterday at the SCO headquarters in Beijing. “Keeping all the required documentation in mind, a concrete date cannot be set in this regard. It may take six months or a year,” Alimov said.

At the Tashkent summit on June 23-24, India will inch a step closer to obtaining full SCO membership, with the signing of a memorandum on the commitments of applicant states.

While China may be blocking India’s bid to join the coveted NSG club, the prospect of its neighbour joining the six-member SCO, often touted as a counterweight to Western alliances, seems promising to the Secretary-General.

India, which has observer status, applied in 2014 for SCO membership, that is expected to allow the country greater access to energy resources in Central Asia and more say in key security initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region.

The SCO summit held in Ufa in Russia last year approved inclusion of India and Pakistan to the list. Calling both India and Pakistan countries with “deep history”, Alimov said that the decision to include both nations was a well-thought-out one. India and Pakistan are expected to be elevated as regular members.

The SCO currently has six member states — China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, with Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as observers, and Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka as dialogue partners.

Assam All Set to Offer Free of Cost Education to Underprivileged Students

Guwahati: Last week, the Assam government has announced a proposal that said that students who come from underprivileged and poor families will receive free study at school, colleges and universities. The state government said that students from families with less than one lakh annual income are eligible to secure free study scheme of the government.

According to the EXIN Times sources, the underprivileged students will receive free of cost education in government colleges, higher secondary schools and diploma polytechnic institutions from this year. Following the announcement by the newly elected state ministry, state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that Assam has became a trendsetter and became the first state of the nation to give free higher education to the students.

“Free education is offered by several states in primary and secondary level but as far as I know, we have become the first to give this in higher secondary and above level,” Sharma added.

The Education Ministry of Assam has asserted that they will introduce the benefit to the first batch of this year who will take admission in the coming month. The ministry will also continue the privilege to the next coming years where the students do not have to pay a penny for admission fee or tuition fee. The state government said complete free study will also incorporate zero payment to other fee like sports or library for underprivileged students.

Reports are that the students willing to take free education privileges from the government have to submit salary certificates or salary slips of their parents. For non-working parents, a certificate from the circle officer will have equivalent assessment.

According to EXIN Times correspondent, the Assamese State Government is targeting 52,000 to 60,000 students will take admissions to higher secondary schools, colleges and in polytechnic colleges in this session. “The state government will reimburse the educational institutes the loss they incur while admitting such students within two months after they submit the statements to directorate of higher education,” an official said. he also added that for the first year the state will have an additional cost of Rs. 70 crore which will increase in the coming years.  

Big B Unveils Teaching App ‘Robomate’

Mumbai: On Sunday, megastar Amitabh Bachchan became a part of launching an education app in Mumbai, which deals with augmented reality. The app, named as Robomate, is a teaching application stuffed with latest technology and other technical innovations of augmented reality. The 73-year-old Bachchan was accompanied with the chairman and director of MT Educare during the launch on stage.

Robomate is designed by MT Educare and claims that it is the first of its kind and is curriculum based. Following the app-launch program, Big B has stated education as the fourth most important need in a person’s life after food, clothing and shelter. Addressing the students and teachers present in the app-launch program, he also asserted that education cannot be stolen or reduced while the other.

“I have seen the importance of education right from my childhood. My parents used to believe that education is that investment whose profits are acquired till the end of life. I believe that to live a normal life if a person, apart from food, clothing and shelter, needs something the most then that is education,” he noted.

Reports are to ensure his speech perfectly matches with the presentation of the app, the veteran megastar practiced late at night before the life presentation and performance. 

Anil Kumble Races For Indian Cricket Coach: BCCI

New Delhi: Former bowling-great Anil Kumble is one among the 57 applicants who have applied for the post of Indian cricket team’s coach. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received as many as 57 applications from people interested to grab the high profile post coach, but the board has not revealed the names. In a press release on Sunday, BCCI said that the list of applicants also include names of overseas candidates.

However, the board has agreed that there is Kumble’s name in the list. “Yes, Kumble has applied for the post and probably is the biggest name doing the rounds. His name in the mix makes it very interesting,” BCCI told in the press release. Compared to the former players who are among the aspirants, Kumble towers over the rest, based on his ‘cricketing stature.’

Anil Kumble is also the greatest match-winning bowler of Indian cricket team in all forms who played 956 international wickets- 619 in test matches and 337 in ODIs. He also became the captain of the Indian test cricket team in 2007 and holds the record of being the only leg spinner who have became skipper if the national team.

In the press release, BCCI officials clarified Kumble’s credentials as a coach of the Indian cricket team. Reports are that BCCI has showcased Kumble’s experience as a mentor in two IPL team- Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. “Mentors are basically extension of coaches and no one can doubt Anil’s knowledge of the game. He has a towering personality and every member of this current team has huge respect for him,” the official added.

Euro 2016: Italy Beats Belgium; Spain Defeats Czech Republic; Ireland & Sweden Split Points

Paris: Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle sparked wild celebrations by Italy after scoring the goals in a 2-0 win over world number two side Belgium in their opening 2016 Euro match.

Defending champions Spain, seeking an unprecedented third triumph, also started with a hard fought 1-0 win over Czech Republic. Zlatani Ibrahimovic’s Sweden and Irish Republic drew 1-1. Belgium’s Red Devils were punished by a ruthless Italian performance despite dominating for long spells of the Group E clash in Lyon.

Belgium now face a crucial clash with Ireland on Saturday in Bordeaux if they are to avoid an embarrassing early exit.

Spain’s quest to win an unprecedented third consecutive European championship got off to a winning start as Barcelona defender Gerard Pique overcame dogged Czech defence to seal a 1-0 win in Toulouse.

Pique, a target of abuse from Spain fans this season due to unflattering comments about Barca’s rivals Real Madrid, was the unlikely hero as he powered home man-of-the-match Andres Iniesta’s cross at the far post three minutes from time.

Ireland and Sweden remain in the fight to make the last 16 after Ciaran Clark’s own goal cancelled out Wes Hoolahan’s brilliant finish for the Irish in Paris. Hoolahan met Seamus Coleman’s flighted ball with a controlled first-time strike three minutes into the second-half at the Stade de France to give Ireland a lead they fully deserved.However, having been kept quiet for long spells by the Irish defence, Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic created the equaliser in the 71st minute when his cutback was turned into his own net by Aston Villa defender Clark.