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Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue

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Civic Theatres Toronto presents the glitter and sparkle of Bollywood with the Canadian premiere of Taj Express, at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Theatre November 23 – December 1, 2019. Tickets go on sale to the public this Friday, January 18, 10AM and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca, by phone, or in person at select Civic Theatres Toronto box offices.

Set to an unforgettable soundtrack featuring the songs of Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) Taj Express explodes with the sounds of India and captures the vibrant, expressive spirit of the world of Bollywood movies that have been entertaining billions of people for generations. Through a fusion of film, dance, and music, this dazzling international sensation takes audiences on a live cinematic journey through modern Indian culture and society. The production is a high energy celebration of new India’s pop music, Bollywood culture, and deep traditions featuring colorful costumes, joyful dance, and thrilling live music.

Featuring a cast of 26 and 3 on-stage musicians, Taj Express is full of high-energy music and sensational dance scenes. Continue reading “Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue”

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‘2019’ is the ASEAN India- Year of Tourism

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Tourism Minister of India co-chairs the 7th ASEAN-India Tourism Ministers meeting at  Ha Long City, Viet Nam

India’s Union Minister for Tourism, Shri. K. J. Alphons attended the Seventh Meeting of Tourism Ministers of ASEAN and India held in Ha Long City, Viet Nam today.               Shri. K J Alphons co-chaired the Tourism Ministers’ meeting with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien. The Ministers’ meeting noted the strengthened tourism performance of ASEAN and India in 2018 with preliminary numbers of  139.5 million tourist arrivals to ASEAN and India in the year with an increase of   7.4 per cent as compared to the previous year.

During the meeting, the Ministers welcomed the decisions of the ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit held on 15 November 2018 in Singapore. As a follow up to the Summit, the Ministers launched the ASEAN-India Tourism Cooperation Year 2019, and looked forward to enhancing cooperation with a view to increasing two-way tourist visits and promoting greater people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN and India. Earlier, during the ASEAN – India Commemorative Summit in January 2018, the Prime Minister of India had proposed designating the year 2019 as ASEAN-India Tourism Year. This was also discussed during the 20th ASEAN-India Tourism Working Group meeting in Thailand, and it was decided to prepare a calendar of activities commemorating the ASEAN – India Year of Tourism. The Ministry of Tourism has prepared and shared a calendar including various events for celebrating tourism year. Continue reading “‘2019’ is the ASEAN India- Year of Tourism”

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Vision Exchange: Perspectives from India to Canada

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The Art Museum at the University of Toronto Presents Vision Exchange : Perspectives from India to Canada
February 2 – March 23, 2019

The Art Museum at the University of Toronto is pleased to present Vision Exchange: Perspectives from India to Canada from February 2 – March 23, 2019 at the University of Toronto Art Centre. Vision Exchange presents the work for 20 internationally recognized artists based in India and Canada.

Vision Exchange includes works by Ashim Ahluwalia, Sarindar Dhaliwal, Atul Dodiya, Gauri Gill, Tanya Goel, Shilpa Gupta, Sunil Gupta, Jitish Kallat, Reena Saini Kallat, Amar Kanwar, Bharti Kher, Divya Mehra, Akbar Padamsee, Jagdeep Raina, Raqs Media Collective, Dayanita Singh, Umrao Singh-Sher-Gil, Vivan Sundaram, Thukral + Tagra, and Rajesh Vangad.

Highlights include: the cartographer’s mistake by Sarindar Dhaliwal, where the artist renders a map of the Indian subcontinent using marigolds to indicate the lines of Partition. Dhaliwal’s use of marigolds to depict the borders and territories of her native land lends a curative gesture to the otherwise destructive consequences of this history; and Points of Departure by Bharti Kher, a framed series where the artist uses bindis, paper and maps, each of which date to around the time of Partition, 1947. Swirling with vibrancy, the historical implications of these documents are thrust into an engagement with present-day geographies, planetary migrations and border politics. Continue reading “Vision Exchange: Perspectives from India to Canada”

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RIU Hotels & Resorts is coming to Canada

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RIU Hotels & Resorts has announced the construction of a hotel in its Riu Plaza urban line, in Toronto, the largest city in Canada and the cultural, business and financial centre of the country. The Spanish company intends to invest around 100 million dollars in the project, that will establish the first RIU hotel in Canada and will add continuity to the hotel company’s plan to expand into the world’s great cities.

The project, designed in a sophisticated avant-garde style, as a part of the Riu Plaza line, is now near the end of the design phase and is set to open in 2021. The building, a newly-built modern tower block, will be located in the city’s financial district and is mixed use. RIU’s investment in the part intended for the hotel will have 350 rooms, meeting rooms, a gym, bar and restaurant; while the upper floors will be for residential use.

Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, has made it clear that the opening of the first hotel in Toronto “is a big step forward in our commitment to expanding the Riu Plaza hotel line in the world’s key cities, establishing the RIU brand beyond more traditional vacation destinations. We hope this hotel attracts RIU customers around the world to discover the city of Toronto with us, and also hope that the loyal customers we have in Canada decide to discover our urban product. This project means a new drive to raise awareness of our brand within and beyond the country.” Continue reading “RIU Hotels & Resorts is coming to Canada”

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JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa reinvents fine-dining restaurant with Trabocchi’s new locally-inspired dining concept

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Michelin-starred Chef and Restaurateur, Fabio Trabocchi to Unveil Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia, an Exclusive Epicurean Experience at JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

“We are delighted to welcome Fabio Trabocchi to JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa and are excited to lead our guests through a dynamic culinary journey with the unveiling of Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia,” said Mitzi Gaskins, Vice President & Global Brand Leader, JW Marriott. “Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia will feature a vibrant menu thoughtfully curated by Trabocchi, with cuisines deeply rooted in traditional flavors from Italy and the Adriatic.”

Nestled inside JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, the city’s premier hotel that enjoys a splendid location on Venice’s private island, Isola delle Rose, Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia will incorporate culinary highlights from the celebrated menu of Trabocchi’s existing Michelin-starred restaurant, Fiola DC. Continue reading “JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa reinvents fine-dining restaurant with Trabocchi’s new locally-inspired dining concept”

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India, a bright spot in global economy

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Right time for foreign investors to tap the huge potential; World community must chalk out strategy to extradite economic fugitives

The Vice President of India Shri M Venkaiah Naidu said that a steady growth rate of almost 7% coupled with a series of reforms made India, the most favourite destination for investments in the world. Shri Naidu said that it was the right time for foreign investors to tap the huge potential offered by India in various sectors from real estate to healthcare.

Shri Naidu said that government’s initiatives and reforms helped India achieve 11th rank in the Global FDI confidence index 2018. Referring to a report by UBS, he said that the annual FDI inflows would rise to $ 75 billion over the next five year and added India with its growth momentum would soon become $5 trillion economy.

Describing India as a bright spot in the world economy, he said India would continue to be the fastest growing major economy in the world, quoting the World Bank’s latest forecast. It said the GDP is expected to grow at 7.3 per cent this fiscal year and at 7.5 per cent in the following two years.

Shri Naidu said that the robustness of India’s institutions, resilience of its policy frameworks, the reforms initiated by the government and the responsiveness of Industry bodies such as CII have insulated its economy from stagnation and helped in achieving the dual distinction of being a stable democracy and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Continue reading “India, a bright spot in global economy”

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Federal Tax Changes coming into effect in the New Year

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Ms. Ruby Sahota, Member of Parliament for Brampton North, wants to share information about new tax  changes at the federal level that will positively affect our
middle class and those working hard to join it. These changes include:

-Decreasing the Small Business Tax rate from 10% to 9% which will provide up to $7500 in
savings for small business owners a year. When we formed government the small business tax was
11.5%; now it is one of the lowest small business tax rates in the world. Small businesses make up
98% of all Canadian businesses and employ 8 million hard working Canadians.

-Changing the Canada Pension Plan premium from 4.95% to 5.1% on earning between $3,500 and
$57,400. These enhancements will increase the maximum CPP retirement benefit by about 50%
for those who make enhanced contributions for 40 years, supporting Canadians as the cost of
living increases.

-Decreasing Employment Insurance premiums from $1.66 to $1.62 per $100 of insurable earnings.
-Increasing the Canada Workers Benefit for lower income workers, which helps low income
earners stay employed as experts say that more than half of all Canadians who live in poverty are
working. Continue reading “Federal Tax Changes coming into effect in the New Year”

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The World’s First War Took Place in India, Says New Book

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Genetic evidence shows the Biblical Hebrews came to the Middle East from India

The World’s First War was the historic event that inspired the Biblical story of Eden and that war took place in India nearly 6,000 years ago, according to a new book by a Toronto based Jewish author Barry Brown. Brown, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated Canadian journalist, says the First War was the epic Battle of Kurukshetra as described in the Mahabharata. When it was over, four million warriors were dead and Ancient India’s history vanished for 2,500 years until the time of Buddha (c 600 BC).

In his book ‘Humanity – The World before Religion, War and Inequality, Brown claims the 6,000 year old Biblical tale of Eden and Ancient India’s story of the Kurukshetra War both refer to the same event – the world’s First War and the end of ‘Generation Eden’ – human history before war.”

Most people assume humans have fought wars over land and resources for as long as humans have walked the Earth. But that assumption is wrong, according to the widely-praised book.

The history that connects the end of Ancient India with the start of the Jewish Bible flows through the Indo-Afro-European people known as the Hebrews. According to India’s text, after the war, the remaining members of its Royal Family, known as the Yadavas, begin to migrate westward from Eastern India. Continue reading “The World’s First War Took Place in India, Says New Book”

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AKSHAY KUMAR & ROHIT SHETTY TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ‘SOORYAVANSHI’

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Akshay Kumar and Rohit Shetty are teaming up for the first time. Another cop franchise from the Singham and Simmba director, the new film, titled Sooryavanshi, will feature the megastar Akshay Kumar as an ATS (Anti-Terrorist Squad) officer.

Glimpses of his character have already been seen in the end credits of the Ranveer Singh-starrer Simmba and the blockbuster director also announced that the action drama will release later this year. Perfect way to get the fans excited!

Before starting filming for Sooryavanshi, the Gold actor has pending shoot for two films — Mission Mangal and Good News. Filming for the super cop action-drama Sooryavanshi is likely to commence this year.

Both Rohit Shettyand Akshay Kumar are known to finish their projects in record time. So, it won’t be surprising if their maiden collaboration is also ready in time for a release this year.

 Akshay Kumar will be next seen in Kesari in March. He also has the fourth installment of comedy franchise Housefull in the pipeline.

Rohit Shetty’s Simmba, which stars Ranveer Singh in the title role, has a special appearance by Ajay Devgn in his Bajirao Singham avatar. In addition, there was another guest appearance, just when it seemed like the end credits will start rolling, Akshay Kumar’s voice boomed. Continue reading “AKSHAY KUMAR & ROHIT SHETTY TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ‘SOORYAVANSHI’”

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“Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul.”

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Hosted by Tyler  Perry, the one-of-a-kind concert will feature exciting and moving performances of Aretha’s legendary hits; Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Celine Dion,  Patti LaBelle and artists  will pay tribute to Aretha Franklin in a 2019 concert to be televised by CBS on Jan 13th.

 The Recording Academy™, AEG Ehrlich Ventures, Clive Davis, and CBS will pay tribute to the legendary career of 18-time GRAMMY®winner and 2008 MusiCares® Person of the Year honoree Aretha Franklin by presenting “Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul.” Performing songs from her legendary repertoire are GRAMMY winners Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Alessia Cara, Kelly Clarkson, Common, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Patti LaBelle, and BeBe Winans as well as current GRAMMY nominees Brandi Carlile, Chloe X Halle, H.E.R., Janelle Monáe, and SZA. Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry will host the unforgettable night.

The live concert will tape Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, at 6 p.m. PT at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The special will be broadcast later in 2019 on the CBS Television Network. Continue reading ““Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul.””