Actor Christian Bale, who played Batman in the famous Christopher Nolan series, has said that he not a fan of the superhero genre.

The 43-year-old actor starred as the iconic caped crusader in Nolan’s “Batman Begins”, “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises”.

During an interview on MTV’s ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast, Bale said he has not seen the performance of Ben Affleck as Batman but will certainly see it at some point.

“I have not seen (Ben Affleck’s Batman). Yes I’m interested (in seeing it), my son seemed like he was really interested but then I realised he just wanted to see the trailer. I tend to go see films that (my kids) want to see,” Bale said.

“I have to confess I’m not a huge superhero film fan.

People seem surprised at that, I don’t know why. I’ve not seen any of the ‘Avengers’ films or any of those films at all. I hear they’re very good, but I’m quite happy just hearing they’re very good,” he added.

Bale also confirmed the reports that he was approached for a role in “Solo: A Star Wars Story” that ultimately went to Woody Harrelson.

“Yes, (it was) very tempting. I not only love the films going back to my childhood but also have a very long relationship with Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall because they did ‘Empire of the Sun’ many years back. There was discussion, (and) I hope there will be future discussions,” Bale said.

Tamil movie actor Rajinikanth, who recently announced his political plunge, on Wednesday met DMK President M.Karunanidhi to seek his blessings.

Speaking to reporters here after meeting Karunanidhi, he said he had informed the DMK patriarch about his starting a political party and got his blessings.

The actor said he greeted Karunanidhi for the New Year and also enquired about his health.

On December 31, 2017, Rajinikanth had announced his plans to float a political party and follow spiritual politics.

Speaking to reporters, DMK leader M.K.Stalin termed the meeting between his father and the actor as nothing surprising.

Stalin said Rajinikanth had requested a meeting with Karunanidhi and as per the tradition of this land, his request was acceded to.

He added that Rajinikanth also met Dayalu Ammal, Karunanidhi’s wife.

According to Stalin, even DMDK leader A. Vijayakant had sought Karunanidhi’s blessings when he floated his party.

He said support for Rajinikanth’s party would be decided at the time of elections.

The DMK leader, citing the view that Rajinikanth has been asked to float a political party to wipe out the Dravidian parties, asserted that the Dravidian culture cannot be wiped out of this land.

Jammu on Thursday recorded the coldest night of the season at 2.7 degrees Celsius as the cold wave intensified further in Jammu and Kashmir.

“There is no immediate relief in sight for at least another two to three days,” a Met official said.

Foggy mornings have been adding to the chill in Jammu city over the last four days.

Heavy fog lead to poor visibility disrupting flight operations at the Jammu airport on Wednesday till late afternoon. No flight landed there during that time.

The lowest temperature in the state was minus 20 in Kargil. Leh town recorded minus 14.2.

The minimum temperature was minus 3.9 in Srinagar, minus 4.5 in Pahalgam and minus six in Gulmarg.

In the Jammu region, the Mata Vaishno Devi base camp town of Katra recorded five, Batote 2.1, Bannihil minus 1.6, Bhaderwah minus 0.3 and Udhampur 1.3 degrees Celsius.

India Test opener Murali Vijay on Wednesday said he wants to play his ‘A’ game in the upcoming match against South Africa here on Friday.

Vijay also said he is in positive frame of mind for the match and not taking any sort of stress.

“I just want to go out there and whatever is thrown at me, I just want to play my ‘A’ game and do well for my country,” Vijay told reporters after the practice session here.

“I don’t want to think too much about what will happen in a couple days’ time. I just want to prepare myself and be in a confident state of mind, which I am at the moment,” he added.

Despite the conditions and pitch favouring the fast bowlers, the Tamil Nadu batsman said the role of spinners will also be important.

“It is actually a very, very important role because you have to support the fast bowlers as well. If you can bowl the spinners in the game, they can come in big time and get a couple of wickets here and there, so it will be a great help for us,” he said.

The right-hand opener revealed that this time he has done his homework better than the last time when he toured here.

“I am preparing myself to be a little more open-minded than I was last time. You cannot have a set pattern you cannot go into a Test thinking that you are going to leave so many balls. You also have to be in a frame of mind to score runs,” Vijay said.

Commenting on the pitch, Vijay said: “It is quite green. I don’t know how it is going to behave on day one. For an opening batsman, the swing is more difficult to face than bounce. Personally, I think I am able to manage bounce more. If the ball swings around, it is difficult for any batsman to keep his shape.”

The Sri Lankan Navy today arrested 13 Tamil Nadu fishermen for allegedly fishing in their territorial waters off Katchatheevu islet.

They also damaged a few boats and fishing equipment belonging to others using iron rods, before chasing them away.

Assistant Director of Fisheries, A Manikandan said, more than 2,000 fishermen from Thangachimadam had ventured into the sea yesterday in 523 boats and were fishing near Katchatheevu when the Lankan naval men came to the spot and arrested 13 fishermen.

They also snapped the fishing nets of 50 boats and damaged some boats using iron rods, he said.

The arrested fishermen were taken to Kangesanthurai port along with two boats.

On December 31, 13 fishermen from this island town were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing near Neduntheevu close to the island nation’s coast.

A total of 89 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry had been released by Sri Lankan authorities last year.

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday successfully thwarted an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) by killing a militant who was trying to intrude into India.

According to reports, the incident took place in the morning in Arnia area of RS Pura sector of Jammu and Kashmir when Indian troops observed movement of two to three people along the border.

The troopers opened fire resulting in the death of one of the intruders while the others managed to escape.

This comes a day after a BSF head constable was killed by Pakistan Rangers indiscriminately targeting Indian posts in the Samba sector.

On Wednesday, Pakistan Rangers opened sniper fire at Indian positions at 4.15 pm injuring a head constable identified as RP Hazara, who was a resident of Tamara in Murshidabad, West Bengal.

The BSF also destroyed two Pakistani posts in retaliation to the killing of its jawan in the unprovoked firing.

West Indies cricket coach Stuart Law has defended out-of-form batsman Chris Gayle, saying critics who suggest his international career may be over “write him off at your peril.”

The 38-year-old Gayle scored only 38 runs in four innings on the West Indies’ disastrous tour to New Zealand which ended yesterday with a 119-run loss in the third Twenty20 international.

The tourists lost the two-match Test series 2-0, the three-match one-day series 3-0 and the Twenty20 2-0 with one match washed out.

Gayle looked largely disinterested, missing one of the one-day matches with a reported virus. He was out for a duck in his latest innings on Wednesday, throwing up his gloves to defend himself against a relatively innocuous short-pitched ball from Tim Southee.

Gayle came to New Zealand immediately after scoring 146 from 69 balls for the Rangpur Riders in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League, after which he proclaimed himself the best T20 batsman in world cricket.

His subsequent performances in New Zealand led to speculation he may soon retire from international cricket to continue his career in more lucrative professional leagues.

But Law said Gayle still has much to offer the West Indies.

“Right now it probably doesn’t look like it but there’s plenty of cricket left in the big man,” Law said. “He can destroy any attack, it doesn’t have to be a minnow.

“He’s central to the way this dressing room ticks and commands a lot of respect. He’s just got to start performing in the middle again.

“He didn’t click in this series. He had a viral infection in the one-dayers and, while T20 is probably his best format, he didn’t get the starts he wanted. He’s played this game long enough. He knows how to do it. He was pretty good in England a few months ago.”

Law said the West Indies’ form in New Zealand was disappointing but was due in part to the absence of a number of senior players who were key contributors to the team’s win in the World T20 two years ago.

“It was a pretty disappointing tour,” Law said. “New Zealand played good, disciplined cricket but we fell short.

“We need to do a lot of hard work, planning and understanding. That means some soul-searching by looking in the mirror and asking if we gave it everything to change a game, get into a game and win a game.”

Injured Japanese star Kei Nishikori pulled out of the Australian Open on Thursday, while Novak Djokovic says he will test his problem elbow at an exhibition before deciding whether to play.

Asian number one Nishikori has not played competitively since last August after suffering a torn tendon in his right wrist during a practice session at Cincinnati.

He said he still wasn’t ready for a gruelling Grand Slam campaign.

“I am very sorry to announce that I will miss the Aussie Open this year,” he said on his website of the opening major of the year, starting in Melbourne on January 15.

“The Aussie Open is my favourite Slam … it’s my ‘home’ Slam,” he added.

“It’s the Slam that takes incredible care of the players and their teams, and it hurts that I will have to miss it this year.

“My rehab is going well but I am just not ready 100 percent to come back yet in best of five set matches.”

Nishikori is not the only leading player struggling with injury, with a who’s who of the top names in the game battling to be fit for Melbourne Park.

Former world number one Djokovic hasn’t played since a right elbow issue forced him to quit Wimbledon in the quarter-finals in July.

He has already cancelled scheduled appearances at an exhibition in Abu Dhabi and the Qatar Open, and said he will test the injury next week at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne and a Tie Break Tens tournament in the same city.

“Novak is travelling to Australia where he will take part in two exhibition tournaments,” said a statement on 12-time Grand Slam winner’s website early today.

“After the two events, the decision will be made about his participation at the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, where ‘Nole’ has been crowned champion six times.”

– Writing on wall –

===================

Another former number one, Andy Murray, is also struggling and withdrew from this week’s Brisbane International as he works to overcome a right hip injury which has sidelined him since Wimbledon.

The Scot raised the prospect this week of surgery, but still holds out hope of playing in Melbourne, saying he will decide by the weekend whether to stay in Australia or fly home.

Also returning from injury but set to play at the Grand Slam are Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic.

World number one Rafael Nadal, the reigning French Open and US Open champion, pulled out of Brisbane with a knee injury, but the Spaniard has said he still intends to be on court at the Australian Open.

The writing was on the wall for Nishikori, who also withdrew from Brisbane.

The 28-year-old, who reached a career high world number four in 2015, said in November he had chosen rehabilitation over surgery to repair the damage and was targeting a return to action in Australia.

His no-show is a major blow for the popular Japanese player, who concluded his 2017 season with a 30-13 match record.

The winner of 11 ATP Tour titles, he made the fourth round of the Australian Open last year, losing in five sets to eventual champion Roger Federer, who, aged 36, is one of the few top names to be fully fit.

The key Indian equity indices on Thursday were trading higher soon after opening.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex), was trading 69.56 points or 0.21 per cent higher soon after opening.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 6.25 points or 0.06 per cent higher at 10,449.45 points.

The Sensex of the BSE, which opened at 33,912.49 points, was trading at 33,862.94 points (at 9.18 a.m.), higher 69.56 points or 0.21 per cent from the previous day’s close at 33,793.38 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 33,916.75 points and a low of 33,847.51 points in the trade so far.

On the penultimate day of Parliament’s winter session, the showdown between the government and opposition over the Triple Talaq Bill is likely to continue in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday with both sides refusing to budge.

As soon as the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 was tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday, the house witnessed noisy scenes as a united opposition led by the Congress demanded that the bill be sent to a Select Committee.

The government however, was against any climbdown on the bill that also provides for maintenance for victims of triple talaq and custody of children resulting in a stalemate which triggered a fierce slugfest forcing the house to be adjourned for the day.

On Thursday, when the upper house reconvenes at 11 am, it’s likely that the legislation which was passed in the Lok Sabha last week, could be put to a vote over disagreement relating to the clause providing for a three-year jail term for Muslim men.

While, opposition leaders are claiming that an isolated BJP is in no position to stop them from moving a resolution seeking the legislation be sent to a select committee.

And if the bill is indeed sent to a select committee by the Rajya Sabha, it will not get passed in the current winter session, which ends on Friday.

With no solution in sight, the fate of the crucial bill and millions of Muslim women hangs in balance.

The rupee weakened by 8 paise to trade at 63.61 against the US dollar in opening session on Thursday due to increased demand for the American currency from importers.

The dollar’s gains against major world currencies after a strong US manufacturing data also impacted the rupee sentiment, a currency dealer said.

On Wednesday, the rupee had retreated from its multi-year high and ended marginally lower by 5 paise at 63.53 against the US currency.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex recovered by 123.37 points, or 0.36 per cent, at 33,916.75 in early trade on Thursday.

The sentencing of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in a case of fodder scam is likely to take place on Thursday, a day after a special CBI court in Ranchi deferred the pronouncement of the quantum of punishment.

The special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge Shivpal Singh delayed the sentencing of the former Bihar chief minister along with 15 others due to a condolence meet for an advocate which was held in the court premises in the afternoon.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief, who was lodged in the Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi after being convicted on December 23, was brought to the court in the morning on Wednesday and was present inside when the hearing was on.

He was taken away at around 12 noon.

Lalu’s lawyer had on Tuesday said that they would urge the court for minimum punishment owing to the RJD chief’s age.

Lalu is likely to get three to seven years’ punishment, as per reports. If he is awarded three years’ sentence, he will be able to get bail soon.

His co-accused and former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra was let off in the case pertaining to embezzlement of over Rs. 85 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury between 1991 and 1994.

A total of 17 accused including Lalu were pronounced guilty by the court while six were let off.

The RJD chief has already been convicted in another fodder scam case that cost him his Lok Sabha seat and disqualified him from contesting elections. Both Lalu and Jagannath Mishra are out on bail in the case.

Hearing in the multi-million fodder scam case was completed on December 13 in a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court of Ranchi.

In all, there were 34 accused in the case, out of which 11 died during the course of the trial, while one turned CBI approver and admitted the crime.

Infosys CEO Salil Parekh will be paid a fixed salary of Rs 6.5 crores and would be eligible for variable pay of Rs 9.75 crores at the end of the 2018-2019 fiscal year, according to a top company executive.

“Infosys CEO Salil Parekh will be paid a fixed salary of Rs 6.5 crores. He would be eligible for variable pay of Rs 9.75 crores at the end of the fiscal year,” independent board member at Infosys Kiran Mazumdar Shaw told PTI here.

Former CEO Vishal Sikka earned USD 6.75 million in FY17 much to disliking of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy.

Wipro CEO Abidali Neemuchwala is getting a bit over USD 2 million.

Shaw, who is part of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC), said Parekh will also receive Rs 3.25 crores in restricted stock units.

“He will also get Rs 13 crores in annual performance equity grants,” she said.

Parekh will also get a one-time equity grant of Rs 9.75 crores, Shaw said.

The stock compensation will vest at different points over Parekh’s term. He has been appointed for a 5-year term,

Parekh’s employment contract also comes with a non- compete clause, Shaw said.

Parekh’s contract also specifies the amount he will be paid should he fail to meet minimum performance targets, company said in a postal ballot, Shaw said.

The company said in a postal ballot that Parekh will not work with named competitors for six months from the day he leaves the company.

He will also not work with or for a client to whom he has rendered service for the last 12 months, Infosys said.

The Jihadis are spreading chilling selfies of a man brandishing the Islamic State (IS) logo while posing on New York City streets, according to new reports.

The photos were spotted in pro-Islamic State channels on instant messaging app Telegram, according to terror watchdog group Memri.

One shows a man wearing an IS-branded scarf over his face outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art – and right near an New York Police Department (NYPD) security camera. Pedestrians can be seen walking by on the snow-dusted street, New York Post reported.

Another is of someone holding a smartphone with the terror group’s logo on its screen in front of the World Trade Centre. The phone-holder appears to be standing near the corner of Houston Street and the West Side Highway.

The NYPD said it was aware of the images and is investigating, but “at this time there are no credible threats related to New York City”.

The department would not answer questions about whether it was looking at security footage or what else it was doing to establish whether there was a credible threat, the Post said.

Police see these kinds of photos all the time and they often end up being fakes, law enforcement sources said.

The photos come just weeks after an IS-inspired bomber tried to blow himself up at the Port Authority Bus Terminal during rush hour.

Suspect Akayed Ullah told investigators that he was radicalised through online propaganda.

The White House has questioned the mental health of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after his repeated threats to the US that he has “nuclear button on his desk.”

“I think the President and the people of this country should be concerned about the mental fitness of the leader of North Korea. He’s made repeated threats. He’s tested missiles time and time again for years,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference.

Sanders was responding to questions on Trump’s nuclear button tweet, after which some political analysts in the US have been questioning his mental fitness.

“This is a President who’s not going to cower down and he’s not going to be weak, and is going to make sure that he does what he’s promised to do, and that’s stand up and protect the American people,” Sanders said.

A day earlier, Trump, responding to the latest rhetoric of North Korean leader Kim Jong un, said that he too has a nuclear button which is not only much bigger and powerful, but also works.

“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un had said that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.”

“Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!” Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Trump was apparently responding to a statement of Kim Jong Un that North Korea is a now a nuclear country and that he has a nuclear button at his desk.

“The US should know that the button for nuclear weapons is on my table. The entire area of the US mainland is within our nuclear strike range. The US can never start a war against me and our country,” he said in a televised address to the nation.

“We need to mass-produce nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles and accelerate their deployment,” the North Korean leader had said.

Trump is concerned about the continued threats that this individual has made towards the US and others, Sanders said.

Trump is not going to allow him to continue doing that without saying something and standing up for the people of the country, the White House spokesperson said.

Sanders told reporters that it’s extremely clear what Trump’s position is.

“Our position on North Korea hasn’t changed since the beginning. This is a President who is committed to protecting Americans and protecting the people of this country, and he’s not going to back down from that,” she said.

The white House defended Trump’s tweet.

“Has there been any consideration that tweets like the one on North Korea actually don’t advance the agenda, meaning working with other partners in the region?” she was asked.

“I think what didn’t help was the complacency and the silence of the previous administration. This is a President who leads through strength, and he’s going to do that and he’s going to focus on everything that he can do in order to keep Americans safe, and he’s not going to be pushed around by the leader of North Korea,” Sanders said.

America’s policy with North Korea has not changed, she asserted.

“We’re fully committed to continuing to apply maximum pressure and working with all of our partners in the region including South Korea, who we have a better relationship now than ever before. We’re going to keep working with them and keep pushing forward, and hopefully North Korea will start making better decisions, Sanders said.

The White House Press Secretary refuted allegations that by his tweet, Trump was taunting the North Korean leader.

“I don’t think that it’s taunting to stand up for the people of this country. I think what’s dangerous is to ignore the continued threats, “she said.

“If the previous administration had done anything and dealt with North Korea, dealt with Iran, instead of sitting by and doing nothing, we wouldn’t have to clean up their mess now,” she added.

Israeli Knesset (parliament) vote on the “unified Jerusalem law” breaches the international resolutions relating to the disputed city, spokesman for Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

“The vote violates the international legitimacy on Jerusalem as a city under occupation,” Xinhua quoted ministry’s spokesman Ahmed Abu Zaid as saying.

He added that the bill stands as an obstacle against the Palestinian-Israeli peace process as well as reaching a just solution to the prolonged conflict.

On Monday, Israeli Knesset approved the “unified Jerusalem” bill provided for separating Palestinian neighbourhoods from Jerusalem.

It requires the approval of 80 of its members for any decision to hand over parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinian authority in the future.

The Knesset approval came a day after Israel’s ruling Likud party overwhelmingly approved a draft resolution that calls on Israeli lawmakers to agree on annexing Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, which was officially condemned by the Palestinians.