NEW DELHI - Seizing on their personal bond, President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday they had made progress on nuclear cooperation and climate change, with Obama declaring a "breakthrough understanding" in efforts to free U.S. investment in nuclear energy development in India. Obama and Modi expressed hope that a landmark 2008 nuclear agreement between the U.S. and India could begin to bear fruit. "We are committed to moving towards full implementation and this is an important step that shows how we can work together to elevate our relationship," Obama said. Earlier, India's recently-elected leader greeted Obama with a hug. The two countries have been at an impasse over U.S. insistence on tracking fissile material it supplies to India and over Indian liability provisions that have discouraged U.S. firms from capitalizing on a 2008 civil nuclear agreement between the U.S. and India. "In our judgment, the Indians have moved sufficiently on these issues to give us assurances that the issues are resolved," said Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser. In a joint appearance following meetings, both men went out of their way to illustrate how their personal chemistry was yielding progress on various fronts, from … Continue reading →

New Delhi, Jan 25: Chemistry between US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very much evident today with the Indian leader calling him by his first name more than once during their joint media interaction. Obama displaying similar camaraderie in turn addressed the Indian leader as Modi and referred to their personal relationship which they had been able to build in a very brief amount of time. He told the media curious about the one-on-one talks they had in lawns of Hyderabad House, that the two leaders among other things compared how much sleep each of them gets. It turns out Modi is getting much less sleep than me. Of course, that is because he is still new. After he has been doing it for about six years, may be he will be able to get an extra hour, the US leader joked, triggering smiles all around. Modi said he believed that relations between countries depend less on full stops and commas on papers and more on relations between leaders. How much they know each other, how is their chemistry, these are very important. Barack and me have forged a friendship. There is openness with which … Continue reading →

In "I Am Michael," a drama based on Benoit Denizet-Lewis's 2011 New York Times article "My Ex-Gay Friend," James Franco plays the part of Michael Glatze, the ex-gay friend in question. The film, which premiered Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival, is a sensitive, complicated and provocative story about a prominent gay activist who, in just a few years, denounces his homosexuality. Michael's transformation is not played for a surprise in the movie. Justin Kelly's film opens with a buttoned-up Michael telling a terrified young man that homosexuality is immoral, before abruptly jumping back in time to show Michael in his activist days (and, in fact, at a raucous rave, where Franco says he was almost blinded by green glitter). At the heart of the story is the relationship with his longtime boyfriend, Bennett (Zachary Quinto). The two have an easy, intimate and wholly lived-in chemistry when portraying Michael and Bennett as a happy couple. But the actors, who look so comfortable together on screen weren't even acquaintances in real life prior to the film. "We met through the process of getting ready to shoot the movie," said Quinto on Sunday. "For me it was just a really clear entry … Continue reading →

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the chemistry he shared with US President Barack Obama is what bring the two peoples of India and USA together and help them forge better ties. "It is about chemistry of leaders. Our personal chemistry matters. We can talk over phone. We have forged a friendship. We even shared joke and share a lot together. The two peoples of the countries also thus come closer," said Modi. Later Obama said the visit of Modi to USA had caused great excitement and in a brief time he became friends with Modi and was moved by his energy level. He said both have shared values like their beliefs in freedom and dignity and so the friendship reflects the values of the peoples of two nations. "I am excited about the PM's energy and ambitions about this country," said Obama adding that their affection can be translated into action. On a jocular vein he said he discussed with Modi how much of sleep they both get and perhaps Modi is getting even less sleep. Earlier, Narendra Modi with visiting US President Barack Obama by his side on Sunday after their meeting said the civil nuclear deal … Continue reading →