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VOL 21, No. 1111

January 8, 2016

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PUNISH PATHANKOT GUILTY, U.S. TELLS PAK

WASHINGTON: The US has said it expects Pakistan to act in bringing to justice the perpetrators of the Pathankot attack and asked Islamabad to live up to its pledge that it will not "discriminate" among terror groups.

"The government of Pakistan has spoken very powerfully to this and it's certainly our expectation that they'll treat this exactly the way they've said they would," State Department Spokesman John Kirby said on the attack by Pakistani terrorists on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.

Kirby's remarks came hours after Pakistan said it is working on the "leads" provided by India on this attack.

Kirby said the US has for a long time talked about the continued safe haven issues there between Afghanistan and Pakistan and certainly between India and Pakistan.

"We're mindful that there remain some safe havens that we obviously want to see cleared out. And we continue to engage with the government of Pakistan to that end. And again, I would point you back to what the government of Pakistan itself has said and acknowledged that it's not going to discriminate among terrorist groups and it will continue to take the fight (to them)," Kirby said.

Details on page 5

Details on page 50

Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar

Parrikar admits some gaps in security Details on page 9

50 NRI heart specialists to visit Gujarat Details on page 16

45 Indians in Forbes list of achievers Details on page 12

HSBC cuts ties with UK Islamic charity

100 Pakistanis have joined Islamic State

Details on page 36

Details on page 11

Indian-origin cancer doc in UK knighted

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29 Classifieds ------------------------- 48

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Community Post -------------- 16-22 Date Book -------------------------- 47

INDIA POST SURVEY

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HealthScience Post --------- 32-35

This week’s question

Horoscope ------------------------- 14 Immigration Post ------------- 44-46

Should India call off talks with Pakistan?

Life Style ----------------------- 50-52 Philosophy ------------------------- 53

Last week’s result

Modi visit to Pak will bring fruit?

YES 43%

NO 57%

Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4

TAJ WELCOMES PRAVASIS: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav poses with members of the Indian Diaspora at the Taj Mahal in Agra on January 5. Delighted at the response, the Chief Minister promised to hold a UP Pravasi Diwas every year. (Details on page 11)

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t was supposed to allow for a low thermostat setting between Indo-Pak relations this New Year, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Lahore to wish birthday boy Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistani Prime Minister, predictably did not go down well with the elements of terror in Pakistan as also with the hardliners (and ironically, the Congress Party) in India.

Pundits of the Fourth Estate were still punching out opinions from their armchairs on how "surprised" they were by Modi's bold and brash gesture with some even expressing "concern" that he could have been killed during his stunt, when the terror industry thriving along the northern borders of India owing its allegiance to Pakistan, has struck again with impunity.

So, it is kind of becoming predictable that every time India (literally) goes out of its way to extend the hand of peace towards Pakistan, it is hailed by the United Nations and the United States, met with opposition by Opposition parties within India, and responded to with violence by what are notoriously referred to as non-state actors in Pakistan.

While that may be predictable and therefore possible to be tackled by the Indian security forces, what is really sad is the extremely frustrating rhetoric spewed on the world by the mainstream Indian media. Routinely enough they start baying for scuttling of peace talks between India and Pakistan without a deeper thought or a new, pragmatic line of thinking.

So saturated is the Indian media's agenda that one is inclined to put them to be in cahoots with the mercenary industry that thrives on conflict.

Of course there are those "informed" bloggers who caution that the antiIndia attacks that invariably follow peace efforts are anything but knee-jerk.

Particularly, some think the Pathankot air base attacks earlier this week were planned months in advance.

So how does one achieve peace? Even if one were to dismiss Modi's performance as merely one for a "positive headline" and to gain the "noble statesman" label internationally, it is better than simply making statements that don't make it to the headlines.

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Ego hassle Priyanka and Freida got into a sort of ego battle when they recently attended an international event in Washington

Cover Story: Punish guilty The US has said it expects Pakistan to act in bringing to justice the perpetrators of the Pathankot attack

Community: NRI docs for Gujarat Over 50 top heart specialists of Indian Diaspora will be traveling to Gujarat to perform surgeries at Sathya Sai hospital

Entry denied The US has conveyed that the decision to deny entry to Indian students was based on the immigration assessment

Life style: Bolly newcomers Bollywood has many surprises in store with an array of star kids and other fresh faces set to make their debut

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Terror funding UK-based banking giant HSBC has ended its links with Britain's biggest Muslim charity over fears of terror funding.

Bikaner The city of Bikaner, or the country of wild bushes, creates miracles smack in the middle of the dry arid land mass

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US ask Pak to punish Pathankot guilty WASHINGTON: The US has said it expects Pakistan to act in bringing to justice the perpetrators of the Pathankot attack and asked Islamabad to live up to its pledge that it will not "discriminate" among terror groups.

the "leads" provided by India on this attack.

Kirby said the US has for a long time talked about the continued safe haven issues there between Afghanistan and Pakistan and certainly between India and Paki-

State Department Spokesman John Kirby

"The government of Pakistan has spoken very powerfully to this and it's certainly our expectation that they'll treat this exactly the way they've said they would," State Department Spokesman John Kirby said on the attack by Pakistani terrorists on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.

Kirby's remarks came hours after Pakistan said it is working on

stan.

"We're mindful that there remain some safe havens that we obviously want to see cleared out.

And we continue to engage with the government of Pakistan to that end. And again, I would point you back to what the government of Pakistan itself has said and acknowledged that it's not going to discriminate among terrorist

groups and it will continue to take the fight (to them)," Kirby said.

The Pakistani government, the Pakistani people very much understand the threat here, he observed.

"What we want and what we continue to say we want and will continue to work for is increased cooperation, communication, coordination, increased informationsharing and increased efforts against what we all believe is a shared challenge in the region," Kirby said.

"We want to see the government of Pakistan continue to press the fight against terrorists, all terrorists, and to meet their own expectations that they're not going to discriminate among groups.

They've said that themselves, and our expectation is that they'll live up to that pledge," he said.

Describing terrorism as a "shared challenge" in South Asia, the US official also asked all countries in the region to work together to disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks and bring to justice the perpetrators of the Pathankot terrorist attack.

"We urge all the countries in the region to work together to disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks and to bring to justice the perpetrators of this particular attack. I would note that the government of Pakistan, also publicly

Warmer ties in interests of India, Pak: US WASHINGTON: As uncertainty prevailed over Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan in the wake of Pathankot terror strike, the US has said "warmer" ties would be in the interest of the two nations, but it is for their leaders to decide their national interest.

"The United States certainly believes that warmer relations and more cooperation between the government of India and the government of Pakistan would be in the interests of both countries.

But ultimately, the leaders of those countries will have to decide for themselves," the White House Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, told reporters at his daily news conference.

Earnest was responding to questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Lahore and the terror strike at the Pathankot air base, which appeared to have originated from Pakistan.

An element of uncertainty prevailed over Foreign Secretarylevel talks with Pakistan amid indications that these may be deferred in the wake of the terror at-

tack.

"Obviously the leaders of both countries are gonna have to decide for themselves what they believe is in the interests of their citizens," Earnest said.

Jaishankar was scheduled to

‘The government of Pakistan has their own interest in trying to fight extremism and fight terrorist organizations that are operating inside their own country’ hold discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry to chalk out a roadmap to carry forward the engagement under the newly-announced "Bilateral Comprehensive Dialogue".

However, official sources said the government was "mulling options" with regard to the Islamabad meeting.

Responding to another ques-

tion, Earnest said that it is in the interest of Pakistan to take actions against terrorist groups.

"The government of Pakistan has their own interest in trying to fight extremism and fight terrorist organizations that are operating inside their own country," he said, adding that the US has offered its support to the Pakistani government.

"We obviously want to help them particularly in light of that terrible terrorist incident where we saw an extremist organization carry out an attack against an elementary school inside Pakistan.

That was a little over a year ago, I believe," he said, referring to horrific Taliban attack on a Peshawar school.

"That was I think was a rather vivid illustration for people who don't closely follow this issue that citizens in Pakistan and the Pakistani government have their own vested interest in trying to deal with terrorist organizations that are attempting to operate inside the country, and the United States obviously strongly supports the Pakistan government as they do that," he said.-PTI

and privately condemned this recent attack on the Indian air base.

Kirby said the US is encouraged by the government of Pakistan condemning this attack, and the statement that they have made about not discriminating among groups.

"As we've said before, this is an issue that, as are so many issues between India and Pakistan, we want to see them work out bilaterally," Kirby said, adding that normalization of relations between India and Pakistan remains vital to the security and economic prosperity of the entire region.

"We strongly encourage the governments of both India and

said.

The government of Pakistan has said publicly and privately that it is not going to discriminate among terrorist groups as part of its counter-terrorism operation, the US official said.

"So this is a shared challenge that we all face in the region and we in the United States want everybody to treat it as a shared challenge," Kirby said, adding that the US has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Punjab's Pathankot.

"We extend our condolences to all the victims and their families," he said.

SWAT team during an encounter between the security forces and terrorists at the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on January 2

Pakistan to remain steadfast in their commitment to a more secure and prosperous future for both our countries and for their region," Kirby said.

"We have been clear with the highest levels of the government of Pakistan that it must continue to target all militant groups," he

"We recognize there's more everybody can do, not just Pakistan but every nation can do because it is a shared challenge and it's a challenge, as you well know, that doesn't necessarily observe borders and boundaries. So it's something that everybody can attack more," Kirby added. -PTI

'FS talks decision after Pathankot operations' NEW DELHI: India will decide on going ahead with the foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan scheduled later this month only after operations to flush out terrorists from the IAF base at Pathankot are over, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said.

"I think let the operations get over and it is only then government takes a view on such matters," he told reporters after the National Security Council meeting presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the terror attack among other issues.

Jaitley was asked about the impact of the terror attack on the planned Indo-Pak talks.

Asked about the identify of the terrorists, he said, "I think we are at a stage where operation is still on (and) therefore it is not proper for me to say anything more than

that."

Jaitley said combing operations take time as the Base is a large complex with a 24-km long circumference.

Security forces managed to confine the terrorists to a limited area and have been successful in containing any damage to the strategic assets at the Air base, he said, adding the combing operation is taking long because there could be explosives.

Stating that security forces took prompt action, Jaitley said terrorists had come with the main objective of damaging strategic assets at Pathankot Air base.

"These were well trained terrorists and part of a suicide squad.

When such kind of Fidayeen attack takes place it has potential to cause huge damage.

Cont’d on page 6

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Pathankot attack: NIA registers 3 cases NEW DELHI: The NIA has registered three cases to probe the conspiracy behind the strike at the IAF base in Pathankot in Punjab believed to have been carried out

by Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The cases were initially registered by local police stations in Pathankot that were transferred and handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a central probe agency that was set up after the audacious 26/11 Mumbai terror strike to probe all terror cases in the country.

The first case pertains to Superintendent of Police Salwant Singh's abduction and the second that of killing of taxi driver Ikagar Singh. Both the cases were registered at Narot Jaimal Singh Police Station in Pathankot district.

The third and the main case, registered at Police Station Division No. 2 Pathankot, relates to the terrorist attack on the Air Force Station at Pathankot.

A 20-member team of NIA led by

an Inspector General-rank officer has been camping at Pathankot since January 2 to supervise the ongoing investigations.

ing Officer of the case.

The NIA registered the case under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities

The NIA will take over the evidence and custody of the bodies of terrorists once the Army and NSG give clearance that the

NSGs Maj Gen Dushyant Singh and Air Officer Commodore (AOC) JS Dhamoon addressing a press conference regarding their operations against militants at Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on January 4

An officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police has been appointed as the Chief Investigat-

Prevention Act and Arms Act against unknown persons, official sources said.

Pathankot operation is over, the sources said.

The mandate of the NIA probe

will include entry of the militants into India, killing of taxi driver Ikagar Singh, kidnapping of Superintendent of Police-rank officer of Punjab Police, who was later released and entry into the IAF campus, the sources said.

The sources said the investigators will also try and ascertain the conspiracy that was hatched on Pakistani soil by the terrorists and if possible find out the state and non-state actors in that country.

The NIA may also question or seek custodial interrogation of sacked IAF personnel Ranjith KK, a Leading Air Craftman (LAC) with IAF posted at Bhatinda, who was arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly supplying information to ISI, they said.

The Pathankot IAF facility, located near the border with Pakistan, is the base of MiG-21 fighter planes and MI-25 attack helicopters of Air Force.

India recently gifted four such choppers to Afghanistan last month. -PTI

Pak working on 'leads' Pak handler pulled up terror group provided by India ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is working on the "leads" provided

by India on the terror attack on the IAF base in Pathankot, the Foreign Office said in a statement whose tone was conciliatory.

Extending Pakistan's deepest condolences to the Government and people of India on the "unfortunate terrorist incident" in Pathankot, a statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "We understand the pain of many families who have lost their dear ones in this tragedy, as Pakistan itself is a major victim of terrorism."

Noting that the terror attack that left seven security personnel dead has been categorically condemned by Pakistan, the spokesperson said, "In line with Pakistan s commitment to effectively counter and eradicate terrorism, the Government is in touch with the Indian government and is working on the leads provided by it."

The statement, however, did not give details of the "leads" provided by India.

It also said that India and Pakistan should remain "committed" to a sustained dialogue process.

"Living in the same region and with a common history, the two countries should remain committed to a sustained dialogue process," it said, adding, "The chal-

lenge of terrorism calls for strengthening our resolve to a cooperative approach."

An element of uncertainty has crept in over Foreign Secretarylevel talks with Pakistan amid indications that these may be deferred in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack.

In New Delhi, there was no official comment on the Pakistani statement nor was there any official indication as to through which channel the "leads" have been provided to Pakistan.

However, reports, not officially confirmed, said that National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval had provided to Pakistani authorities the details like the Pakistani numbers which the attackers had called and their intercepts. -PTI

NEW DELHI: The terrorists who attacked the IAF base in Pathankot came in groups of four and two and the bigger group was ticked off by their Pakistani handler as to why they have fallen behind in reaching the target when their accomplices had already entered the complex.

Official sources while giving this information said two gunmen from the group of six Pakistani terrorists might have entered Pathankot air base in Punjab before a state Police SP was kidnapped by them and much before an alert was sounded about their presence in the area.

There is "high probability" that at least two terrorists have entered the Indian Air Force base before Punjab Police SP Salwinder Singh, his jeweller friend Rajesh Verma and Singh's cook was kidnapped along with an SUV on

December 31, the sources said.

Verma, whose throat was slit but survived, told his interrogators that he had heard the four

The handler apparently ticked off the four terrorists saying why they could not enter the air base earlier terrorists, who boarded the vehicle after hijacking it, talking to their handlers, believed to be in Pakistan.

The handler apparently ticked off the four terrorists saying why they could not enter the air base

as two other terrorists have already reached the target to carry out the attack.

The four terrorists told their handlers that they were on their way but could not reach the base as there were several police pickets on the way, according to details of investigations.

There is also possibility of these four terrorists entered the Pathankot air base on the morning of January 1, much before an alarm was sounded in the area to secure all vital installations later in the evening of that day, sources said.

The hijacked vehicle was also found near the air base.

Crucial hours were lost in verifying the Punjab Police SP's claims that he was kidnapped along with two others by the terrorists.

Cont’d on page 9

'FS talks decision after Pathankot operations' Cont’d from page 5

Army personnel carry the mortal remains of Lt Col Niranjan Kumar as his body reached Palakkad in Kerala on January 4. Kumar, a member of the National Security Guards Bomb Disposal Squad, lost his life while defusing a grenade at the scene of a terror attack in Pathankot

The complex is very big. The circumference of airbase is 24 kms therefore combing operation is also taking time," he said.

Security forces confined them where they had initially entered which is far away from the strategic location, he said adding four

bodies of terrorists have been taken in possession and the "process is on for two more bodies."

The Minister said the objective of security forces was to ensure no damage is caused to the strategic location, and "our security forces were completely successful in doing so." -PTI

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Blast near Indian Consulate in Jalalabad KABUL/NEW DELHI: An explosion took place 400 meters away from the Indian Consulate in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city, two days after the country's mission was attacked by terrorists in

Mazar-e-Sharif.

However, official sources in New Delhi said the reports suggested that the mission was not the target of the blast.

"The Indian Consulate was not

Foreign security forces walk at the site of a suicide attack near a compound belonging to foreigners in Kabul, Afghanistan, January 4

the target," a source said dismissing reports that the explosion was targeted at the Indian mission.

"Pakistan Consul General's house in Jalalabad was closer to the blast site than the Indian mission which was 400 meters away," the source said.

An intense 25-hour gun-battle between security forces and terrorists outside the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif came to end with the killing of all the attackers who attempted to storm the Mission building.

While three of the attackers were killed in the gunfight earlier, the remaining were neutralized by the night.

A group of terrorists had attacked the Consulate on Sunday Jan 3 night with the aim of storming the building but their plan was thwarted by the security forces. PTI

'Pathankot, Mazar-e-Sharif reminders of terror threat' WASHINGTON: The terrorist attacks on the IAF base in Pathankot and the Indian Consulate in Afghanistan's Mazar-eSharif city are stark reminders of the challenges posed by terrorism in the region, a top US lawmaker has said.

"I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks on India's Pathankot military base as well as on the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan," Congressman Brad Sherman, 61, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Com-

‘I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks on India's Pathankot military base as well as on the Indian Consulate’ mittee, said here.

"There is speculation that these attacks might be in reaction to positive outcomes from Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's recent visits (to) Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.

Sherman strongly encouraged the governments in the region to make every effort to find the terrorists who carried out these attacks and bring them to justice.

"These attacks are a stark reminder of the ongoing danger ter-

rorism poses throughout much of the world. The United States should continue to assist these governments and ensure they can combat this scourge," Sherman added.

An intense 25-hour gun-battle between security forces and terrorists outside the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif has come to an end with the killing of all the attackers who attempted to storm

the Mission building.

Heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists attempted to storm the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot. The attackers were believed to have infiltrated from Pakistan and there was speculation that they may belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad headed by Maulana Masood Azhar of the Kandahar hijack episode. -PTI

Guns fall silent at Pathankot air base PATHANKOT: Guns fell silent at the air base here even as the operation against terrorists entered its fourth day with security personnel engaged in search and combing operations to sanities the installation.

Defense sources said that the firing at the air force base in Punjab ceased after the attack that began in the wee hours on Saturday Jan 2.

Security forces personnel on alert near the Indian Air Force base that was attacked by militants

However, search and combing operations are on to ensure that the defense installation is properly secured and sanitized, they added.

Security forces had killed two more Pakistani terrorists inside the Pathankot air base with the government saying that six attackers had thus been neutralized. However, it was not clear whether all

India to share call details of terrorists with Pak NEW DELHI: Details of phone call records of terrorists, who attacked the Pathankot air base, mobile numbers of their handlers based in Pakistan and proof that they came from across the border are expected to be shared with the neighboring

country when officials of the two sides meet in near future.

Government officials said that whenever the two sides meet, be it at the Foreign Secretary-level or in National Security Advisorlevel, all proof of Pakistani links

Security personnel during their operation against the militants at the Indian Air Force base

the intruders who attacked the base have been eliminated.

Following a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that the bodies of four terrorists have been recovered and those of the remaining two would be found.

The number of intruders had been put at six by officials and the

of the terrorists would be given for action.

The call details of the phone used by the terrorists, number of their handler in Pakistan would certainly be shared with the neighboring country in the next available opportunity for taking action against them, officials said.

The terrorist had snatched at least four mobile phones after hijacking the vehicle of Punjab Police SP Salwinder Singh, his jeweler friend Rajesh Verma and Singh's cook and at least two of these phones were used to call their handlers in Pakistan.

The infiltrators also used two Pakistani SIMs to call their handlers, suspected to be based in Bahawalpur in Pakistan Punjab.

Security agencies are also trying to find out the antecedents of the terrorists who were killed in the operations. -PTI

figures given by Jaitley implied that all of them have been eliminated. However, none in the government was prepared to say that no more terrorists were inside the base or that the operation was over.

Combing and search operations will continue till "we are able to fully render the base safe", NSG IG Maj Gen Dushant Singh had said.

Jaitley, who had attended the NSC meeting along with senior Cabinet colleagues Sushma Swaraj and Manohar Parrikar, had said that all the assets at the base were safe.

Security forces were able to confine the terrorists to the point at which they had intruded and held them at a "reasonable distance" from where the assets were located, the senior minister had added.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the Pathankot attack as well as the strike on the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan, both probably originating in Pakistan, indications were that the scheduled visit by Foreign Secretary Jaishankar to Islamabad for talks will be put off.

It is likely that the National Security Advisors of the two countries may have an urgent meeting in the next few days after which a call would be taken on the Foreign Secretary-level talks. -PTI

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China says attack aimed at disrupting ties BEIJING: Condemning the terror attack on the Pathankot air force base, China has said it may have been launched "intentionally" to disrupt the momentum in Indo-Pak ties, which have shown "signs of improvement".

"We condemn this attack...At this juncture this attack might have been launched intentionally to disrupt this momentum (in Indo-Pak ties). Many media reports have such doubts...," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here replying to a question on the attack.

Noting that there were "signs of improvement" in India-Pakistan relations, which is welcomed by all sides, Hua also

hoped that the two countries should continue the talks despite the attack.

Hua Chunying

"India and Pakistan are important countries in South Asia. The

improvement of relations between the two countries is of paramount importance to regional peace and stability.

China hopes that India and Pakistan can enhance their cooperation and dialogue regardless of these disruptions," she said.

"Some media reports commented that the meeting between Indian and Pakistan leaders was very successful," Hua said, apparently referring to meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore.

"We believe that India and Pakistan should work together to maintain positive momentum. We condemn all forms of terrorism and we believe all sides should enhance dialogue and cooperation to combat all forms of terrorism," she said.-PTI

Parrikar admits some gaps in security PATHANKOT: Defense minister Manohar Parrikar on Jan 5 admitted to "some gaps" that led to the terror attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot in which all the six infiltrators, who used some "Pakistan- made" equipment, have been killed.

Addressing a news conference after a visit to the forward base,

"I see some gaps. But I do not think there is any compromise on security". Once the investigations are over, things will become clear, he said, adding every security detail cannot be discussed and keep something for investigation.

Parrikar said that he was worried as to how the terrorists had managed to come inside the base which has a perimeter of 24 kms and is located in an area of about 2,000 acres.

Asked about the Pakistani connection, he said there are indications that some of this equipment is made in Pakistan.

Parrikar said except the Garud commando, no one else was killed in direct operaDefense Minister Manohar Parrikar with Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Arup Raha and tion. "Five DeArmy Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag addressing the media regarding the military operations fense Securiuty at Pathankot airbase on January 5 Corps personnel died behe said the terrorists were neutralHe said the terrorists were car- cause more of a bad luck. One of ized in an operation that lasted for rying 40-50 kgs of bullets, mortars, them Jagdish Chandra virtually more than 36 hours but combing which were fired from modified grappled with the terrorist before operations were still on.

Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher, killing him," he said hailing them "There is no suspected terror- besides some magazines. as martyrs who made their suist inside right now. (still) I will not Replying to questions, he said preme sacrifice.-PTI give a negative report till the combing operations are over," he said in reply to questions.

Parrikar announced that all those seven security personnel killed during the attack will be treated as martyrs that will entitle them to all the benefits available to "battle casualty" like in war-like situation.

Daughters of martyr Sanjeevan Singh Rana, who was killed in terrorist attack in Pathankot, wail during his funeral at his native village Siyunh near Shahpur in Himachal Pradesh on January 4

FS-level talks may be put off NEW DELHI: An element of uncertainty prevailed over the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan amid indications that these may be deferred in the wake of the terror strike at the Pathankot air base.

A clear indication that the government was "mulling options" came from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who said, after a meeting of National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that India would take a view on the talks after the operation in Pathankot was over.

Given the anger in India over the terror strike which appeared to have originated from Pakistan, the view here is that the situation here needs to be reassessed before Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar travels to Islamabad which he was scheduled to do on January 14.

It is possible that the National

Security Advisors of the two countries who have been tasked with focusing on issue of terrorism, may meet urgently to discuss the aftermath of the Pathankot attack as also the strike on Indian Consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan. The talks between Foreign Secretaries may follow.

Jaishankar was scheduled to hold discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry to chalk out a roadmap to carry forward the engagement under the newly- announced "Bilateral Comprehensive Dialogue".

However, official sources said the government was "mulling options" with regard to the Islamabad meeting.

When asked about the impact of the terror attack on the January 15 Indo-Pak talks, Jaitley said, "I think let the operations get over and it is only then government takes a view on such matters."-PTI

Pak handler pulled up terror group Cont’d from page 6

Sources said that police officers whom the SP had informed about the terrorists initially did not take him seriously due to his "dubious past", thus leading to some crucial hours being lost.

Sources said that immediately after the alarm was sounded, security at all vital installations, including the Pathankot air base, was enhanced to the highest level to make it difficult for the terrorists to mount an attack.

Security agencies believe there were six terrorists and they were

divided into two groups -- one of 4 and the other with 2 members.

The top security brass of the government knew by January one that Pathankot air base would be the target of the terrorists, who were still at large and steps were taken immediately to beef up security.

First priority for the government was to secure the assets parked in the technical area and a NSG team comprising about 160 commandos was dispatched and they were deployed along with other special forces to guard the assets in the inner periphery. -PTI

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Delhi Police Commissioner's call for alert NEW DELHI: Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi has said the national capital has always been on high alert but refrained from disclosing details about the presence of terrorists of any particular outfit unless they are arrested.

"People in Delhi must be aware that a terrorist can be living and operating from their next door...

Terrorists can sneak into Delhi any day. Delhi has always been, it is and shall always be a target for terrorists," Bassi said at the annual conference of Delhi Police.

When asked specifically about the presence of two Jaish-eMohammad key members in Delhi and the reports surrounding the fact, Bassi said: "I will never share specific inputs about presence of terrorists from any particular outfit.

I will share details only when we arrest any of them, otherwise not."

"However, if people become alert following certain media reports, it is a totally acceptable situation for me," he said.

Delhi Police had arrested six alleged terrorists in 2015, which include operatives of al Qaeda in Indian sub-continent (AQIS), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), police records reveal.

"We are always in touch with

central intelligence agencies and enhancing our counter terrorism mechanism at the local police level. Today, we have built enough capacity in every district to counter any form of emergency," he said.

Two Jaish-e-Mohammed mili-

Bassi appealed to citizens to be vigilant.

"Citizens' vigil against suspicious persons/objects/ activities is vital to counter terrorism. Report anything amiss no. 100 or helpline 1090," he tweeted.

According to a senior police Security personnel during their operation against the militants at the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on January 4

All the assets & personnel at air base safe

Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi

tants were suspected to have sneaked into the national capital and planning high-profile attacks, including taking hostages, following which security was stepped up in the city, a day after the Pathankot Air Base strike by the same Pakistan-based outfit.

Delhi Police received specific intelligence input about the presence of militants, following which

official, Bassi held a meeting with its top brass and the department sought help of central paramilitary forces in providing security, especially around vital installations in the city.

In 2015, Special Cell of Delhi Police had registered FIR in connection with LeT operatives and modules recruiting for ISIS from the national capital. -PTI

Memorial to be built for slain Commando AMBALA: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has met the family of Garud Commando Gursewak Singh who was killed in Pathankot terror attack, promising a job to one member and a memorial for the slain soldier.

Khattar along with Health Min-

ister Anil Vij, who represents Ambala Cantt assembly constituency, reached Gursewak's native Garnala village here. He expressed his condolence to the bereaved family.

The Chief Minister assured Gursewak's father Sucha Singh that a job would be provided to

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar consoles the father of Commando of Indian Air Force Gurusewak Singh at his native village Garnala in Ambala on January 5

any one member of the family.

He also said that a memorial would be set up.

Khattar said that Haryana and the entire country were proud of the "supreme sacrifice" by 25year-old Gursewak.

He noted that Gursewak came from a family which has a tradition of making contribution to the defense forces as his elder brother Hardeep Singh is in the Army while father Sucha Singh too is an ex-serviceman.

Khattar assured Gursewak's father that the entire country was with them in this hour of grief.

Gursewak had married in November last year.

When reporters asked him about Pathankot terror incident, Khattar said that India was all for peace, "but there are some elements who are against peace initiatives we make and they keep fomenting trouble".-PTI

PATHANKOT: Combing and search operations were going on in Pathankot air base and the operation will continue till "we are able to fully render the base safe", NSG IG Maj Gen Dushant Singh said.

In the wake of the Pathankot attack as well as the strike on the Indian consulate in Mazar-eSharif in Afghanistan, both probably originating in Pakistan, indications were that the scheduled visit by Foreign Secretary Jaishankar to Islamabad for talks will be put off.

It is likely that National Security Advisors of the two countries may have an urgent meeting in the next few days after which a call would be taken on the Foreign Secretary-level talks.

Curiously, the United Jehad Council (UJC), an umbrella organization of about a dozen Kashmiri militant outfits, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Pathankot air base.

The statement is seen in India as an attempt to show that Kashmiri insurgents were responsible and not militants originating from Pakistan. UJC comprises mostly the militant outfits active in Jammu and Kashmir and headed

by Syed Salauddin, who is based in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, briefing the media, Maj Gen Singh said in Pathankot that security forces including the NSG and Army have deployed major combat elements along with medical and administrative support.

Similarly Air Force has deployed all its assets - aviation, surveillance, guards in this particular operation, he said adding that the police and the intelligence agencies are also working in sync to make the operation successful.

"As I highlighted earlier, given the magnitude of the operation of the air base, the operation will continue to be concluded till we are able to fully render safe the base.-PTI

Time for Modi to focus on India: Sena MUMBAI: Lashing out at the Centre in the wake of the Pathankot terror strike, the Shiv Sena has said it had warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to trust Pakistan and that time has now come for him to focus on India rather than trying to unite the world.

The attack has proven that our borders are not safe, India's internal security is in shambles and the only national work being done is giving condolences to the martyred on social networking sites, the Sena said in a hard-hitting editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"Seven of our soldiers get martyred in return of a cup of tea

with Nawaz Sharif...The incident has proven that our borders are not safe and our internal security is in shambles.

With the lives of six terrorists, Pakistan has managed to finish India's self-respect," it said.

Further hitting out at the government, the ruling alliance partner said, "The Prime Minister was in Lahore only last week as a guest of his counterpart Nawaz Sharif. At that time, we had warned him not to trust Pakistan."

"See how we have been betrayed today. If Pakistan wants to improve relations with India, they should immediately hand over Jaish-eMohammed's Maulana Masood Azhar to India," it said. -PTI

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UP Pravasi Diwas gets an impressive start AGRA, Uttar Pradesh: The Uttar Pradesh government rolled out a red carpet welcome to some 250-odd members of the Indian Diaspora on Dec 4 in the Taj city as the first-ever 'UP Pravasi Diwas' took off to an impressive start.

Addressing the NRIs and PIOs, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the meet was a beginning of a never-ending dialogue between them and the state government and assured them of all help.

He said that the whole idea behind the UP Pravasi Diwas was to reconnect the Diaspora with their roots in the state and work on a common and meaningful dialogue of development of the state.

"I am overjoyed to see such large number of NRIs here and must admit that the gathering has exceeded my expectation," he added.

Announcing that the event would now be an annual affair,

100 Pakistanis have joined Islamic State LAHORE: About 100 Paki- Middle Eastern terrorist group in stanis, including women, have Pakistan. traveled to Syria and Iraq to join Rana Sanaullah said top ISIS the Islamic State since the rise of operatives were among those arthe dreaded terror group in the rested, including Islamabad chief Middle East, a minister in the pro- Amir Mansoor, his deputy vincial Punjab government said Abdullah Mansoori and chief for here.

Sindh province Umer Kathio.

"Some 100 Pakistanis includPakistan has officially denied ing women have left the country the presence of ISIS in the counfor Syria and Iraq to join the ISIS try, but secretly it has been neusince the rise of the militant group tralizing militants who have either in the Middle East," Punjab prov- shifted their allegiance from the ince Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Taliban to the ISIS or have shown said. inclination to support the group.

"The government is doing its best to stop the recruitment for the ISIS," the minister said, The law enforcement adding that eight activists of the group were agencies arrested over 40 arrested from Sialkot people, including women, district of Punjab and they are still associated over their alleged with the Jamaat-udlinkage to ISIS Dawah.

He said the government would not let the ISIS to have their foothold in PaMeanwhile, Lahore police arkistan. rested three recruiters of ISIS from Earlier, the law enforcement Sham Nagar. agencies arrested over 40 people, A police source said the law including women, over their al- enforcement agencies raided a leged linkage to ISIS. house in Sham Nagar and arrested The arrests were made during Dr Usman Malik, Ahsan Siddique a series of raids by counter-ter- and one unidentified man and rerorism officials to nab the alleged covered hate literature, propasupporters and activists of the ganda material and a laptop.-PTI

UN chief condemns Mazar attack UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the terror attack on the Indian Consulate in the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif and underlined the need to protect diplomatic posts, his spokesperson said.

"On the attack on Mazar-e-

Sharif, obviously, it is an attack we condemn. Especially in light of what we've said, an attack on a diplomatic outpost - that needs to be protected," Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told PTI when asked to comment on the terror attack on the Indian Consulate.PTI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav honouring singer Alka Bhatnagar during the UP Pravasi Divas celebrations in Agra on January 4

Akhilesh Yadav said that only the venues will change and would rotate among the major cities of the state. "We are here not only to welcome you in the Taj city but also to make you partners as the

state endeavors to get its rightful place in the country," he added to a round of applause.

Earlier, Prisons Minister Balwant Singh Ramuwalia, who coordinated the NRI Diwas,

heaped praise on Akhilesh Yadav, saying that it was for the first time that a chief minister of Uttar Pradesh had thought about the descendants of people who lived in the state many centuries ago.

Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan detailed various infrastructure and development projects undertaken by the state government and said that the state was undergoing a never before turnaround.

Later 16 eminent people with roots in Uttar Pradesh and now living abroad were given the 'UP Ratna' awards by the chief minister and his wife, Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav, while 13 MoUs were also signed at the event.

Also present during the event, among others, were members of Bollywood that included film directors Sudhir Mishra, Muzaffar Ali, veteran actor Sanjay Khan and Zayed Khan.-Agencies

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45 Indians in Forbes list of achievers NEW YORK: Forty five Indians and Indian-origin people have made it to Forbes' annual list of achievers under the age of 30 who are "changing the rules of the game or creating entirely new playbooks" across varied fields.

The Forbes fifth annual '30 Under 30' list features 600 women and men, who are America's "most important young entrepreneurs, creative leaders and brightest stars" and are "changing the world" across 20 varied sectors such as consumer technology, education, media, manufacturing and industry, law and policy, social entrepreneurs, science and art and science.

"In the past, youth was a handicap to professional success.

Getting older meant more resources, more knowledge, more money. No more. Those who grew up in the tech age have way bigger ambitions perfectly suited to the dynamic, entrepreneurial and impatient digital world they grew up in.

If you want to change the world, being under 30 is now an advantage," Forbes said.

In the consumer tech segment is 22-year-old Ritesh Agarwal, the

founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, billed to be the Airbnb of India.

"In a country that lacks a steady supply of budget hotel chains, Oyo has developed a network of 2,200 small hotels in 100 cities across India," Forbes said.

Others in the field are 28-year old Gagan Biyani and Neeraj

Those who grew up in the tech age have way bigger ambitions perfectly suited to the dynamic, entrepreneurial and impatient digital world they grew up in Berry who co-founded Sprig, a mobile app that lets one find and order healthy meals and have them delivered quickly and 25year-old Karishma Shah, the youngest hire at Alphabet's Google X so-called moonshot factory, where the search giant places

"smart people to come up with farout technologies that can be applied to world's big problems."

In the Hollywood and entertainment field is 27-year-old Canadian Lily Singh, writer-comedian and "part of a new generation of stars that has used YouTube to gain a following".

Among the persons of Indianorigin Nila Das, 27, is Vice President at Citigroup and is a mortgage bond trader running the bank's secondary trading in agency collateralized mortgage obligations, overseeing billions of dollars in volume each day.

The others making a mark in finance are 29-year-old Divya Nettimi, an investment analyst at Viking Global Investors, who comanaged Harvard Business School's Alpha Fund while getting her MBA, 29-year-old Vikas Patel, a senior analyst at hedge fund Millennium Management and 29year-old Neel Rai an investment analyst at Caxton Associates where he is part of a three-person team managing USD 600 million portfolio at pioneering macro hedge fund.

In the venture capital segment, notable persons of Indian-origin

are 26-year-old Vishal Lugani, a senior associate at Greycroft Partners, and 27-year-old Amit Mukherjee, senior associate at New Enterprise Associates.

Media stars include 27-yearold Nisha Chittal, manager of social media and community at MSNBC and Ashish Patel, 29, se-

Leading the manufacturing segment is 28-yearold Sampriti Bhattacharyya, an MIT grad student who has developed underwater drones nior vice president of Social Media at NowThis Media.

Leading the manufacturing segment is 28-year-old Sampriti Bhattacharyya, an MIT grad student who has developed underwater drones that are capable of autonomously communicating

and working together to scan the ocean to look for lost planes, or measure oil spills or radiation under the sea and 29-year-old Saagar Govil, CEO of Cemtrex which produces environmental products and electronics solutions.

Among the social entrepreneurs is 28-year-old Anoop Jain, Founding Director of Sanitation and Health Rights in India, which builds toilets, collects human waste and uses methane coming off that excrement to create clean water.

In the law and policy field are 26year-old Ashish Kumbhat, a monetary policy expert in the Federal Reserve Board, 27-year-old Dipayan Ghosh, privacy and public policy advisor at Facebook and 28-year-old Anisha Singh, the former lead of the international policy division of United Sikhs, where she founded national antibullying campaign and won a historic case against US Army requiring religious accommodation on behalf of a 19-year-old Sikh who'd been rejected from ROTC programs.

In the science field is 29-year old Sanjam Garg, assistant professor, at University of California Berkeley. -PTI

Pollutants in Delhi's air on higher side Indian-origin triple murderer wins UK prison claim

NEW DELHI: Pollutants in Delhi's air remained consistently on the higher side, plunging it to 'severe' category at times, which saw a spike from around 8 AM, when the 'odd-even' restrictions began, amid the presence of smog.

Weather experts said the gains of lesser cars on the city's roads seemed to have no immediate impact on pollution levels due to variations of weather conditions, calm wind movement and a fall in

Central Delhi and other areas not bordering NCR towns continue to show improvement in air quality.

It has also undertaken the study of PM 1 in Delhi's air, particles which are finer than PM 2.5 and PM 10, whose results would be made public after January 15, at the end of the enforcement period of the pilot scheme.

The hourly update of System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR)

day time temperature.

The Delhi government, however, maintained that analysis of data collected by mobile units of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee at 15 locations shows that

showed an upward trend of PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration since morning. At 7 pm, PM 2.5 was at 266 micrograms per cubic meter.

Mandir Marg, R K Puram, Anand Vihar and IHBAS stations

of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had air quality in the severe category. Severe category is declared when PM 2.5 crosses 250 micrograms per cubic meter while anything between 120-25 is regarded as 'very poor'.

"The situation would remain similar till at least January 9 due to variations owing to the presence of two sets of Western Disturbances. The wind intensity has also come down significantly. The chill will be back only after January 9," Airport MeT incharge R K Jenamani said.

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in its analysis, observed that the pollution levels had severely violated the prescribed limits.

"Analyzing the trends between December 24 to January 3, PM 2.5 concentrations have increased by 72-176 per cent at the four stations.

However, this is mainly due to reduced wind speeds during the period," the green body said.

It said an immediate assessment of the impact of the oddeven scheme that came into force on January 1 was not possible considering the impact of sources other than emissions from cars and meteorological influences. -PTI

LONDON: An Indian-origin is a good advertisement for the man serving three life sentences civil justice system of this counin a UK prison for three murders try. has won 1,000 pounds compen"I am satisfied that the damage sation from the UK's Ministry of to the CDs must have been caused Justice (MoJ) after a judge ruled by the deliberate act of one or more that a guard squirted shampoo on prison officers." his CDs during a prison transfer.

Thakrar had complained that in Kevan Thakrar, who was found the course of being moved prisguilty over six years ago of killing ons his stereo was broken, a numthree drug dealers, was awarded ber of CDs were damaged beyond more than 800 pounds by the same judge in April 2014 after items ‘I am satisfied that the including his nose hair damage to the CDs must clippers were damaged in jail. have been caused by the The ruling at Milton Keynes County Court deliberate act of one or is the result of a claim more prison officers’ made by the 27-year-old in 2013, when he was a prisoner at HMP Woodhill in repair and four of his books were south east England. lost, The Independent reported.

"He appears to be intelligent A Prison Service spokesperson and articulate and has been able said, "We are currently considerto advance his claim in writing ing this judgment and whether through the County Court," in his there are grounds to lodge an apjudgment published on New peal.

Year's Eve, District Judge Neil "We robustly defend claims Hickman said. made against the Prison Service Indeed, some would say that where evidence allows, and have the fact that a claim of this kind managed to successfully defend can be dealt with at modest cost two thirds of prisoner claims over through the County Court system the last three years." -PTI

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Israel city roundabout honors Gandhi KIRYAT GAT, Israel: The first roundabout honoring Mahatma Gandhi has been inaugurated here, celebrating 60 years of this Israeli town's establishment.

"It is a symbol of the warm friendship enjoyed between the people of India and Israel and the two countries politically. It is a proud moment for us to be honor-

2,000 Indians from the Bene Israel community living here.

"It is a happy day for all of us because the Mahatma has arrived at our home," Dayana Nagaonkar, a local resident said in Hindi and Marathi addressing the gathering at a function at the local municipality.

The plaque placed at the round-

"Mahatma Gandhi has a special place in the hearts of Indians but it is a matter of great honor and pride to see him being honored this way here," Sarkar said ing a leader whose message remains relevant till today," the Mayor of Kiryat Gat, Aviram Dahari, said.

Calling upon local students gathered at the ceremony to learn from the great Indian leader, Dahari said it is also an "educational initiative for local children to learn about other cultures and their greats".

Kiryat Gat is a small township in the south of Israel with about

about has been an initiative of a local Indian resident, Roger Judah, whose contribution was applauded by all the participants.

"It is the first of its kind and certainly a proud moment for all of us", Judah said.

Israel has a street named after Indian great Rabindranath Tagore in Tel Aviv but it is the first time that something in the country has been named after father of the nation.

"Political and spiritual leader who led the Indian independence movement in its struggle against the British empire became a symbol of tolerance and resolving conflicts non-violently. Inspired many freedom and human rights fighters throughout the world," the plaque placed at the roundabout reads in English and Hebrew.

India's Ambassador to Israel, Jaideep Sarkar, called it a "memorable" day.

"Mahatma Gandhi has a special place in the hearts of Indians but it is a matter of great honor and pride to see him being honored this way here," Sarkar said.

Drawing parallels between Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian envoy pointed out that when he visited the hut of the Israeli leader in Sde Boker he was surprised to see Gandhi's photo as the only one hanging on the wall.

He also pointed out Gandhi's close association with the Jewish community in South Africa and their influence on him.

Hundreds of Indians from all over Israel gathered to participate in the ceremony. -PTI

Briton denies murdering Indianorigin woman LONDON: A 35-year-old man in the UK denied the charges of murdering an Indian-origin woman whom he met online

through a dating website.

Miles Donnelly alias Miles Ryan pleaded not guilty to the murder of Usha Patel, who was

repeatedly stabbed and strangled to death in October last year. He will stand trial at the Old Bailey court in London from February 15.

Donnelly, who was also accused of attacking a second woman Rosie Ferringo soon after Patel's murder was arrested after Scotland Yard launched a manhunt to nab Patel's killer.

44-year-old Patel was found dead at her home at Cricklewood in north-west London while her five-year-old autistic son was in another room.

Patel is believed to have met her alleged killer online on a dating site and arranged meetings thereafter, Metropolitan police said.

Her neighbors said she had lived at the property for about nine years with her son, who was completely dependent on her due to his condition.

Post-mortem reports revealed that she died of stab wounds and asphyxiation.

Donelly has been remanded in custody until the start of the trial next month. -PTI

Make this a century of dialogue: Dalai Lama NEW DELHI: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has termed as "unthinkable" the killings in the name of religion and in national interest and asked the world to resolve conflicts through talks and make the 21st century a century of dialogue.

He also asked the world to work on ways to reduce and finally

it incredulous that different faiths continued to coexist in harmony in the country.

"India should take more active role to show that different religions can survive together," he said, adding India is one of the few countries in the world that has been able to maintain its tradition of cultural harmony over

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani seeks blessings of The Dalai Lama at a function to commemorate the Tibetan spiritual leaders 80th year, in New Delhi on January 4

eliminate the killings in the name of religion and in national interest.

The Dalai Lama reiterated his three commitments that he had pledged to follow until death and urged others to do likewise, which include three commitments of compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline; promotion of religious harmony and understanding among the world's major religious traditions besides commitment to work to preserve Tibet's Buddhist ecology and culture of peace and non-violence to promote human values.

"Killing in the name of religion and in national interest is unthinkable. we have to work how to reduce and finally eliminate this. We should solve conflicts through talks and respect other peoples' interests.... The 21st century should be the century of dialogue," he said while addressing a gathering to commemorate his 80th birth anniversary here.

The Tibetan leader who has been living in exile in Dharamshala spoke about how people outside India often found

1,000 years.

He also asked the younger generation to read and learn about the tradition and history of India to keep them alive.

Stating that major part of his life was spent in India, Dalai Lama appreciated India's friendship, which he said has come through decades and therefore felt "honored".

Without mentioning the recent incidents of "intolerance" in India, he said "some miscreants must be there" but 90-95 per cent of Indian population carry the tradition of religious harmony.

The Tibetan spiritual leader was felicitated for his 80th birth anniversary by friends and admirers spanning leaders from different political parties besides a galaxy of thinkers, writers, actors and other walks of life from across the world.

The celebration held here for the spiritual leader, who had turned 80 last July, was also marked by a special musical tribute by sarod virtuoso Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan. -PTI

Horoscope

14 India Post

January 8, 2016

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aving almost every thing and things going right way, you may still feel little uneasy and lack the real motivation. You have to overcome it quick and just look at what you got and feel content. People in business will experience better sales. Quick thinking and action will help make money through stocks also.

H

oney will come but will be hard to hold.

Loan application will be approved with added conditions.

A government agency giving run around in the past, will ease off their requirements and you will start to see the light at the end of tunnel. It is favorable week for those looking for a change in career.

N

Jan 8th - Jan 14th 2016

M

S

ome of you may finally decide to move on in life and start looking for another job, within and even outside state of current residence. Money wise you will stay comfortable.

You may call and old confidant for advice and guidance on career related matter. It will be an excellent week for people in food business.

O

bstacles will cause some frustration. You will travel to another state to attend an important meeting. You may also make final payment on a short term loan or credit card. Home remedy will be enough to resolve health issues. You may be slowly working on taxes also. You will do some serious cleaning inside and outside home.

ew strategy will be helpful in turning things around for your benefit. You will be able to prove your point and reap rich rewards money wise.

Spouse will be little stressed out for no visible reason. You will continue your search for another location and may fill up some kind of applications in a hurry this week.

T

here is absolutely no harm in being ambitious as long it does not turn into greed. Avoid initiating a legal case just to harass some one who could not fulfill his commitment. You will continue to make slow and steady progress as far as money is concerned.

You may be traveling to a comparatively warmer area.

W

Y

Y

ou will be selected among number of applicants for the prestigious job. People in business will continue to gain an edge over their competitors with the new strategy. Help will come from totally unexpected place. Just do not stretch your limits and avoid making any big financial commitments during the week.

Y

E

elp will come from unexpected place. An incidence which will make you unhappy will prove to be a blessing in disguise the very next day. You should not not change your travel plans and proceed with positive attitude. Email or letter you mail out will bring positive response. An electric item will need to be replaced.

ou will have better control over things in life and will be able to take all decisions with a cool and rational mind. Any changes in career at this point will be a blessing in disguise.

New contract will relieve you of previous tension.

You may arrange a small get together at your place and invite few close friends.

ou will lay your hands on some real easy money this week. A big refund or payment will also come via mail. Just do not involve your self in other people's problems. Keep working on your plans as ultimate success is just few weeks away. Some of you may start looking for a better place to move this coming summer.

xcellent week for people in marketing and sales. This is the right time to approach boss or a government agency to seek big favors. Its high time that you should throw all your fears out and implement your plans. You may receive some money though small amount through a legal process. Trip will be very fruitful.

ith new strategy, you will be able to turn things around in your favor all of a sudden. Some one creating problems will quit the scene. You may one more time put your needs aside and help a needy sibling or a friend. You will be studying some very useful material. You may start your search for another location to move.

H

January 8, 2016

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India Post 15

Desi News Swamy re-elected head of Tamil Sangam India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Prakash M Swamy has been re-elected President of America Tamil Sangam for

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

16 India Post

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Boston Indians welcome New Year at Shiva Temple

January 8, 2016

Details on page 22

50 NRI heart specialists to operate in Gujarat hospitals SUDHIR VYAS

Prakash M Swamy

the years 2016 and 2017. The other office bearers elected are: John Joseph - Executive Vice President, Calai Chandra and Oomen Koshy - Vice Presidents, Jaya Sundaram Secretary; P Saravana Kumar Joint Secretary and Sriram Elango - Treasurer.

Committee members will be announced soon says a press release from America Tamil Sangam.

Front view of Sri Sathya Sai hospital in Rajkot

Rep. Duckworth helps fight childhood hunger HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) spent her New Year's Eve with serviceminded Eighth District residents volunteering in their fight against global child hunger.

They assembled packages of nutritionally-enriched dry meals to be used by international charities and service organizations to feed starving, malnourished children for as long as 7 months per package.

Details on page 18

Hyderabadi 'Angrez' team attracts crowd A.Q. SIDDIQUI India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The Hyderabadi Angrez team pulled a massive crowd at Chicago's Devon Ave for the first free live Indian comedy show, "Hungama".

The fans of Mast Ali, popularly known as Salim Pheku, and Aziz Naser crammed every available space on North Shore Banquet Hall on Tuesday 29th evening.

Details on page 20

their own equipment and we will make sure that these equipments are made available to them when they land here".

From the United States, Dr Nilesh Patel, top cardio thoracic surgeon and pioneer in blood-less heart surgery along with Dr Mahesh Ghayal and Dr Yatish Merchant will be giving their voluntary services at these hospitals. An advisory board is being set up here in the United States which will scrutinize the list of Indian origin doctors who would be providing their services to the Sri Sathya Sai hospital.

Manoj Bhimani, Managing Trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Besides that hospital several other doctors have also shown their willtime in April 2016.

Talking to this correspondent, ingness to offer their services to Managing Trustee Manoj Bhimani the hospital and the management said one operating room and one is looking into how their expertise Cath lab would be kept exclusively could be utilized, Bhimani said.

Some of the prominent doctors for these NRI doctors and would meet all the US standards. "The from United Kingdom like Dr equipments would be latest and Chandrashekhar have been reguhave state-of-the-art technology so larly visiting the Rajkot hospital that they could perform the same and performing almost 10 surgercomplicated surgeries that they ies a day and giving a new life to the needy patients. "They would have been doing here in the US." According to Bhimani, "some also be doing the same, and someof the doctors also prefer to bring times more complicated surgeries EDISON, NJ: Over 50 top heart specialists of Indian origin from all over the world will be traveling to Rajkot and Ahmedabad to perform surgeries at the Sathya Sai heart hospital in these two cities. They would initially go to Rajkot and then travel to Ahmedabad when the super specialty heart hospital for children is inaugurated some-

in Ahmedabad when that facility is inaugurated", Bhimani added.

Recently in Rajkot, the Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital celebrated late Sri Sathya Sai Baba's 86th birthday with a difference.

Cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr Varsha Shah performed 11 openheart surgeries at the hospital to mark the occasion.

The new venture in Ahmedabad includes a charitable hospital dedicated to pediatric heart patients, with Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital set to foray into Ahmedabad by March of 2016.The 250-bed hospital is being designed by architect and Cept University president Bimal Patel and will be inaugurated in

March, to meet the deadline.

"The four-storey hospital in Ahmedabad is being constructed on 30,000 square yard land. It will have nine cardiac specialists on board, of which six are surgeons," said Bhimani. The hospital will have four operation theatres with angiography and angioplasty facilities. The Ahmedabad hospital will also have 20- bed ICCU. It will also house eight wards with 20 beds each, an out patient department having capacity of 300 patients and all medical facilities like Echo cardiogram, ECG, X-ray, TMT, pathology and blood bank.

"Our motto is 'Dil without Bill' the term coined by late President A P J Abdul Kalam, and it's aimed

Two container loads of the most modern equipment befitting US standards has already been shipped from here, while one more will be sent out this month and another one will be shipped in March, to meet the deadline.

March 2016. The construction work is presently underway at Kashindra village near Bakrol circle Two container loads of the most modern equipment befitting US standards has already been shipped from here, while one more will be sent out this month and another one will be shipped in

to serve poorest of the poor in the country. "The hospital in Rajkot was set up in the year 2000 in keeping with Sathya Sai Baba's teaching that in a spirit of dedication to Sathya Sai Baba, doctors, nurses, technicians and administrators adopt a value-based approach towards patients.

Cont’d on page 19

January 8, 2016

Community Across America

India Post 17

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An Ambassador serves delightful Pak 'Halwa' PM SWAMI

NEW YORK: 'Why would Zia want to climb five floors of a hotel? Why did someone think Zia could fix his TV? Was Zia practicing Urine therapy? What did Christopher Lee and Alyque Padamsee have in common?

sightful portrayal of Zia ul Haq's rule in Pakistan. Ambassador Prabhu Dayal shares his recollections of that period and keeps you laughing throughout his account of the bumpy ride of Pakistan's domestic politics and its relationship with India.

He tells you how a Sahiwal cow was brought into the equation, and where an elephant comes in.

He says, "The past, the present and the future are in one continuous motion.

Ambassador Prabhu Dayal Whatever I witnessed in Ambassador Prabhu Dayal, Pakistan during Zia's rule extends who had a highly successful dip- its long shadow not only over the lomatic career as Indian Consul present times but will do so well General in New York for five years, into the future also". He poses the has penned all his memories of his ultimate question whether the two posting in Pakistan and aptly South Asian giants can live as named the book as 'Karachi friends, offering his own suggesHalwa'. tions.

Karachi Halwa is witty but inAmbassador Dayal was an il-

lustrious officer of the Indian Foreign Service with a career spanning 37 years. He was Consul General, New York from 2008 until his retirement in 2013-ranking next in seniority to the Ambassador.

'Karachi Halwa' is published in

“Whatever I witnessed in Pakistan during Zia's rule extends its long shadow not only over the present times but will do so well into the future also".

India by Zorba Books and Kindle books are available online at Amazon. The hard copy version is being sold at a moderate price of Rs.199 on Amazon.in and Flipkart.

It is also available on uRead.com, which will deliver it worldwide.

In his prologue, Prabhu Dayal says: "My diplomatic career has

taken me to several continents, but also from there! Finally, he agreed I must admit that in no country did to let me pay, as long as I would I feel such an overpowering sense of a common heritage as I did in Pakistan. In both countries, the issues in focus are the ones which divide us. "I found that there was something rather unique about the experience of living amidst my colonial cousins. The warmth and affection which I often received was very moving, and on many occasions remain etched in my memory".

Dayal recalls in his book: "One occasion that I remember fondly was when I wanted to buy a camel-skin lamp and found a shop which had just what I wanted. As I was paying the bill, the elderly shop keeper someCover of the book 'Karachi Halwa' how figured out that I was from India, and asked me as to which city did I hail from. accept two lamps for the price of When I told him that I was from one".

Allahabad, he refused to take any Cont’d on page 22 money from me as his wife was

18 India Post

Community Across America

January 8, 2016

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Consular Gala showcases Chicago's prominence KEERTHI RAVOORI

CHICAGO : The Chicago Consular Corps held a grand gala recently hosted by the Chicago Sister Cities International and World Business Chicago at the Chicago Hilton Towers in Chicago that attracted the attendance of the international guests, 85 foreign and honorary Consulates in Chicago besides leaders from the business, civic and cultural communities.

The glittering gala was marked by elegance with high-profile presence of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Ms. Amy Rule. Dean of the Consular Corps of Chicago Patricia Maza-Pittsford and Mr. Philip Pittsford were the chief guests while the Global Citizen Award was presented to W. James McNerney, Jr. Chairman of the Boeing Company.

Indian Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed outlined his efforts in garnering valuable scholarships for young students through the Chicago Consular Corps scholarship programs. Dr Sayeed was appreciated for

Smita Shah, Chair, Chicago-Delhi Sister-City Relations Committee, Ambassador Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Mrs Farha Sayeed and Mr. Niranjan Shah at the Consular Gala

his active involvement in other Chicago Consular Corps initiatives including International Peace Day, CPR Demonstrations with Chicago Medical Society, etc.

Smita Shah, Chair of the Delhi-Chicago Sister Cities Committee International, said the Gala fostered a unique opportunity to bring together Consul Generals based in Chicago to help forge a more meaningful relationship between the global corporate leaders and the consulates to focus on profound humanitarian issues Niranjan Shah, a community leader, in his remark observed that Chicago continues to showcase the finest band of the diplomatic corps and their efforts to interconnect Chicago and the world.

The generous proceeds of the gala have been earmarked to support the work of Chicago Sister Cities International, World Business Chicago and fund Chicago Consular Corps scholarships to the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Rep. Duckworth helps fight childhood hunger HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) spent her New Year's Eve with service-minded Eighth District residents volunteering in their fight against glo-

bal child hunger.

They assembled packages of nutritionally-enriched dry meals to be used by international charities and service organizations

to feed starving, malnourished children for as long as 7 months per package.

The event was organized by national non-profit Feed My Starving Children, are attached.

"No child should ever go to sleep hungry or malnourished, and I am humbled to join so many selfless individuals spending their New Year's Eve giving a little back and helping fight childhood hunger," said Congresswoman Duckworth.

Most recently, the Congresswoman

helped distribute turkey dinners in advance of Thanksgiving in November to less fortunate families at Schaumburg's Church of the Holy Spirit Food Pantry.

Congresswoman Duckworth is a champion of volunteer and community service and has been a strong advocate for food security and anti-hunger initiatives. Her family relied on food stamps and school lunches to help get through a difficult period after her father lost his job.

Congresswoman Duckworth helping feeding hungry children

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Ringing in New Year with Ramayan Path Asian Media USA

CHICAGO IL: Devotees at Hari Om Mandir , Medinah, a northwest suburb of Chicago, rang in the New Year, with "Akhand Ramayan Path" on Thursday, December 31 a with all the members of the Board, along with devotees,

joining in a formal Pooja and other rituals performed by the Temple Priests.

At Midnight, 12 O'clock, a big group of devotees rang in the New Year 2016, amidst chanting of Prayers, Bhajans, Ram Dhun and ringing of bells. Devotees took turns in reading the Holy

50 NRI heart specialists to operate in Gujarat hospitals Cont’d from page 16

Many cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, physicians and Sai devotees have rendered voluntary services to the hospital,'' Bhimani said.

The hospital provides services free of cost, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Patients from across the country come to the hospital for heart-related dis-

tem which we have in place. We also give one month's medical supplies to the patients after the surgery and afterward we monitor it through the local medical centers who help the patients in need. In Gujarat we have 48 such medical centers which are actively associated with us."

When asked about the concept of conducting free heart sur-

is far more than the operating capacity of all the hospitals put together. So it is not that we are taking anybody's business". Besides that our management is not top-heavy thereby reducing the overhead expenses, he added.

"Besides, the hospital organizes mega free medical heart checkup camps every year in the state. More than 5,000 people are

A typical ward at the upcoming pediatric heart patients hospital in the outskirts of Ahmedabad

eases. "While 784 heart surgeries were performed at the Rajkot hospital in 2014 that number jumped to over 900 in 2015. Our main aim is to serve the poor and provide them with the best treatment related to heart problems, free of cost. Medical service is not a saleable commodity and a patient is not a customer,'' he said.

The hospital will not only take care of patients but their attendants as well. Only one family member or relative will allowed with the patient in hospital. In case there are more than one member, they will be provided accommodation at a dormitory free of cost.

In reply to a question about post-operative care, Bhimani said "we do follow- up care after every surgery for almost a year through a strong monitoring sys-

geries which otherwise would cost around Rs. 300,000 and how the Sri Sathya Sai hospital could do it free of cost, Bhimani said, "we survive on donations by the community, the people and even the people who benefited from our services and were now able to donate after recovering from their heart ailment." The only criterion for assessing services at hospital is that the patient's monthly family income should be less than Rs 15,000.

On the question about jealously creeping into the business as other hospitals are doing expensive heart surgeries and Sri Sathya Sai hospital doing the same surgery free of cost, Bhimani said, "there is a very wide gap between the demand and supply.

The number of patients needing medical care for heart ailment

checked during these camps and those found with ailments are referred to the hospital in Rajkot.

Sathya Baba wished that this model of heart hospital to be replicated in the country to reach out to as many poor people as possible,'' Bhimani said.

In the past 15 years, the Rajkot hospital has conducted more than 18,000 open heart surgeries free of cost and examined over 10 lakh patients in OPD section.

Bhimani said their main objective is to cover rural India as people still do not have access to any specialized healthcare. According to a recent study by Registrar General of India (RGI) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), about 25% of deaths in age group of 25 and 69 years occur because of heart disease.

Volunteers and devotees serving food at New Year celebrations

Book. At 11 am on Friday, January 1, the Ramayan Path was completed after 24 hours. People sang and danced with Joy to celebrate the auspicious start of the New Year.

The Mandir was beautifully decorated with flowers, lights, buntings, banners etc. to usher in a New Year of peace and prosperity.

A grand lunch was served by the Temple and people exchanged greetings, good wishes, embraced each other to seek blessings and prayed for the wellbeing of all mankind.

It was also a day of administrative activity. The two Boards Executive Board (EB) and Board of Trustees (BOT) - that run the show all year round were introduced to the general congregation. It was time to honor and acknowledge the services of outgoing Members who have completed their term, and welcome

aboard New Members, who will be taking charge and serving the community in 2016.

This year, Vipan Wadhera was introduced as the New President of the EB, who took charge from the outgoing President, Indrajit Sarkar. Similarly, Ayodhya Salwan, completed his term & handed over the charge to the New Chairman of the BOT, Satpal Salwan. Plaques were awarded to the outgoing Office Bearers: Ayodhia Salwan, Mohan Karamchandani, Amar Singla, Mrs. Nirmal Bagga, Sham Taxali, Indrajit Sarkar and Mrs. Usha Verma, for their services to the Temple and Community at large.

New Members - Mrs. Shubh Sharma, Jeetu Patel, Chandru Bhojwani, Upma Hardy and Krishan Tejpal were also introduced to the public and given a warm welcome.

Cont’d on page 22

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Community Across America

January 8, 2016

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Hyderabadi 'Angrez' team attracts huge crowd A.Q. SIDDIQUI India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The Hyderabadi Angrez team pulled a massive crowd at Chicago's Devon Ave for the first free live Indian comedy show, "Hungama".

The fans of Mast Ali, popularly

value time and work hard here in a disciplined manner that is far from what we assume back home".

Aziz Naser's entry itself was shrouded in a comedy item as he entered speaking on his cell phone to someone in India and asking him in a typical Hyderabadi style to disconnect the line as he

Aziz Naser's entry itself was shrouded in a comedy item as he entered speaking on his cell phone to someone in India and asking him in a typical Hyderabadi style to disconnect the line as he was on stage in a live show. known as Salim Pheku, and Aziz Naser crammed every available space on North Shore Banquet Hall on Tuesday 29th evening. It was a working day night, yet the crowd was unprecedented. Many

was on stage in a live show. His item on Hindi dialect spoken in different parts of India was hilarious.

The comedy duo won the hearts of Chicago Indian commuIftekhar Shareef, the host, introducing Comedy stars to audience

nity. Many Pakistani American families were also seen among the audience. The show also had singers, Bollywood numbers, music, fun and dance items usually added in a live entertainment show.

Many in audience wondered why the well known stars' show was for free. An entrance fee could have helped the visiting stars.

The movie, "Angrez", the first full length feature film in a Deccan Urdu-Hindi dialect, was released

Comedy stars Naser and Masti Ali

watched the show from the open doors and hallways leading to the stairs. Many families returned as they could not find space.

Iftekhar Shareef, the main host and a senior leader, was the man behind the show. He briefly introduced the team of famous movie Angrez. Shareef thanked Mukkaram Khan and Data Darbar Restaurant and others for their cooperation in hosting the event.

Mast Ali and Aziz Naser won applause from the spectators for their live comedy performances.

In a lighter vein, Mast Ali praised the working culture of Indian community in America. He admitted that what he witnessed in Chicago was far from what he heard for Indians in America. As he cut a comedy item for "making money", he ended saying, "you A section of the audience

in 2005 and it was hit for its simple charm of Hyderabadi language.

The movie ran in theatres for 250 days. The team has since created a Deccani film industry in Hyderabad. They produced many other comedy hit movies, released in theatres and on video. They were visiting Chicago for promotion of their new film Dawat e Shaadi to be released soon in theaters under RajShree Production banner.

Many Pakistani American families were also seen among the audience. The show also had singers, Bollywood numbers, music, fun and dance items usually added in a live entertainment show.

January 8, 2016

Community Across America www.indiapost.com

Some of the religious leaders and others who participated in this Service, from left to right, are: ElizaBeth Webb Beyer, James Kosko, Monique Jacobs, Brian E. Melendez, Kaitie R. Lighthart, Shelley L. Fisher, Rieko Shimbo, Rajan Zed, Abdul Raheem Barghouti, Jim R. Eaglesmith, Cathy Riordan and Matthew T. Fisher.

New Year welcomed with multifaith prayers India Post News Service

NEVADA: In a remarkable interfaith gesture, various religions got together in Reno (Nevada) to celebrate the ringing in of the New Year at midnight and sending a message of unity to the world.

Coordinated by religious leader Rajan Zed, standing room only "Multi-faith New Year's Eve Service" hosted by Reno Buddhist Center included Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha'i and Native American prayers.

Religious leaders who prayed included United Church of Christ pastor James Kosko, Abdul Raheem Barghouti of Muslim community, Buddhist priests Matthew T. Fisher and Shelley L. Fisher, Jewish rabbi ElizaBeth Webb Beyer, Hindu leader Rajan Zed, Monique Jacobs of Roman Catholic Diocese, Baha'i teacher Kaitie R. Lighthart and American Indian spirituality scholar Brian E. Melendez.

In addition, Taiko drumming ensemble Tsurunokai Taiko directed by Rieko Shimbo delivered Japanese festival piece Chichibu Yatai-bayashi; Jim R. Eaglesmith sang multi-faith musical medley; Spirit Singers headed by Leslie Alice Fudge performed "Dona NobisPacem"; while Laurie Martin lead a team of drummers.

There was no "cover charge" for this Service where all were welcome and which ended with drum beats and ringing of bells.

Guests signed a banner with a pledge for peace, love and unity in 2016.

"Despite our different faith traditions, diverse religions coming together in prayer and community sent a message of love, hope and harmony for 2016 world," said Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, addressing the gathering.

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Community Across America

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January 8, 2016

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Boston Indians welcome New Year at Shiva Temple GEETHA PATEIL

BOSTON: There are numerous Indian New Year days that are celebrated in various regions at various times of the year, but welcoming New Year's Day according to the Gregorian calendar (January 1) is one of the most popular occasions. And Indians all over USA along with the growth of the western culture across the globe, cannot be an exception Different Indian communities of Greater Boston Land gathered in the Shivalaya Temple of Medford on January 1 to welcome the New Year with their humble prayers to bring happiness, prosperity and peace in the world.

The Temple was open for the whole day and made it very convenient for the devotees to have

Lord Shiva and deities at the Shivalaya temple in Boston

Darshan and Archanas of their favorite deities anytime on this special day. President Vijay Kumar Selhi organized special Samohik

Pujas and Archanas on this occasion in the morning.

Many families came to celebrate this festive occasion with their

loved ones and in large gatherings.

The devotees, especially ladies and children, wore traditional Indian colorful dresses and participated with utmost religious fervor in the prayers, singing bhajans and Maha Mangalarati. Before Aarti, children sang Gayatri Mantra with full dedication.

The Temple arranged a social feast comprising different Indian traditional sweets, snacks, dry fruits along with hot tea and coffee for all the devotees throughout the day. At this hour, people greeted and wished each other a 'Happy New Year.'

Temple priest Pandit Jay Narayana Badal greeted the devotees with a big smile and tirelessly

performed everyone's Archana with great religious zeal and piety.

He prayed and blessed all devotees for a prosperous New Year filled with joys, happiness, afflu-

The Temple arranged a social feast comprising different Indian traditional sweets, snacks, dry fruits along with hot tea and coffee ence, success, and peace.

Sudershan Sharma thanked the devotees for their participation and making the event a grand success.

Devotees doing Aarti

Ringing in New Year with Ramayan Path Cont’d from page 19

Every first Saturday of the month, a Mata Ki Chowki is held in the HOM, where devotees sing

bhajans/bhents in praise of Mata Vaishno Devi. This year, the Chowki was held in continuation of the New Year celebrations.

On Saturday, the 2nd of Jan,

Hari Om Temple recgonition of devotees who helped Mandir to grow

devotees again got together to seek blessings from Maa Durga.

People in large numbers, gathered once again to make this a special occasion of fun, festivity and joy.

May the New Year 2016 bring peace & prosperity for all!

Executive Board: Vipan Wadhera; President, Anil Saxena; Vice President, Anita Rawal; Secretary, Gopal Tiwari; Treasurer, Jeetu Patel; Special Events, Aarti Singla; Inside Property Management, Ramesh Bhardwaj; Outside Property Management, Ashok Sharma; Publication, Shubh Sharma; Food & Prasad.

Board of Trustees: Sat P. Salwan; Chairman, Krishan Tejpal; Vice Chairman, Naveen Paul; Secretary, Ram Verma; Mahendra Thakkar; Subhash Sharma; Chandru Bhojwani and Upma Hardy Priests: Pt. Dinesh Kumar and Pt. Raghuvir Dave.

Children singing Gayatri Mantra

An Ambassador serves delightful Pak 'Halwa' Cont’d from page 17

"During my stay in Karachi, I met several people who were the very embodiment of sophistication and refinement. Remnants of the legendary 'Nawabi' era, they were a charming blend of wealth and culture - poignant reminders of an age that was fast receding into the past, he said.

"Again, there were also many enchanting evenings which I spent at spell-binding concerts of Pakistani maestros or attending mushairas (Urdu poetic symposia) graced by the participation of renowned Pakistani poets. I felt truly enriched by such cultural fiestas.

"Then there were those equally enjoyable evenings which I spent just relaxing in the company of a few close Pakistani friends. These occasions gave me the opportunity to savor the best of Karachi humor, always original though at times, somewhat cynical.

"These and many other memories fill me with sweetness even today. On the other hand, I was often witness to that unabashed lying and duplicity which Pakistani leaders have developed into a fine art. Their pronouncements were often at such variance with ground realities that they were difficult to digest."

January 8, 2016

India Post 23 www.indiapost.com

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January 8, 2016

Perspective

January 8, 2015

India Post 25

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Creeping shadow of Daesh in Pak Punjab

O

n November 30, 2015, after a heavy exchange of fire, the Security Forces (SFs) killed at least four al Qaeda terrorists at Wador, within the limits of Gadani Police Station in Dera Ghazi Khan District. However, an al Qaeda 'commander' Shoaib Cheema and his accomplice Hanif Muhammad managed to escape from the encounter site. According to Police sources, the terrorists had entered Punjab via Balochistan and had planned to launch major terrorist activities in the Punjab Province.

On November 25, 2015, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) founder Haroon Bhatti and three of his accomplices were killed in a midnight raid jointly conducted by the CounterTerrorism Department (CTD) and Police in the Badami Bagh area of the provincial capital, Lahore.

Bhatti's slain accomplices were identified as, Omair Nadeem, Omair Hassan and Noman Yasin. Three Policemen were also injured in the gunfight.

On October 22, 2015, the Police had brought Bhatti and four of his associates back to Pakistan, from Dubai, with the help of Interpol. According to official sources, Bhatti was accompanying the Police and CTD personnel to an abandoned factory where LeJ terrorists were hiding.

On reaching the location, the terrorists hiding inside the factory allegedly opened fire, killing Bhatti and the three others. Later, an unnamed senior Police official admitted that the killings were staged by the authorities. In an interview to The Guardian a Lahore-based Police official, on condition of anonymity, admitted, "This had to be done to maintain peace in the Province. No one would have given evidence against them because witnesses would be brutally targeted. You can't allow terrorists to carry on their attacks just because you don't have any proof against them."

Bhatti, one of the founding members of LeJ, was accused of involvement in over two dozen terrorist attacks. Significantly, Bhatti was a close aide of former LeJ chief Malik Ishaq, who was killed in a similar exchange of fire with the Police on July 29, 2015, along with his two sons Usman and Haq Nawaz, and another 11 accomplices. The Police had then claimed that Ishaq had attempted to escape from their custody.

AMBREEN AGHA

On November 26, 2015, SFs arrested nine LeJ terrorists from the F a r o o q - e - A z a m Madrassa(seminary) in the Cantonment area of Lahore. According to an unnamed senior CTD official a huge quantity of hate material was recovered from the seminary which was involved in vari-

under NAP. An official also claimed that CTD had arrested 5,812 terrorists and their collaborators from different cities of Punjab in intelligence-based operations, averting major acts of terrorism. Of them, 1,265 were arrested in Bahawalpur District, 1,040 in Gujranwala District, 1,008

Pakistanis arrested for links with Daesh

ous terrorist incidents and was the last stronghold of the LeJ in Lahore. The CTD official stated that the seminary was sealed under the National Action Plan (NAP).

Federal Minister of the Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had told the National Assembly on November 11, 2015, that a total of 102 seminaries had been sealed in the country for fanning extremism since the implementation of NAP on December 24, 2014. Of these, he disclosed, 87 madrassas were closed in Sindh; 13 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; and two in Punjab where a number of students were found in contact with banned groups. The total number of seminaries sealed in Punjab now stands at three.

According to data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), 165 persons have been killed in terrorism related incidents in the current year in Punjab (all data till December 6, 2015). Of these 90 were civilians, 66 terrorists and nine SF personnel. In the corresponding period in 2014, a total of 171 persons had been killed, including 129 civilians, 22 terrorists and 20 SF personnel.

With fatalities among civilians and SFs dropping considerably, the Province has experienced some respite from terror, even as a significant number of terrorists has been eliminated.

Data provided by the Provincial Home Department on November 24, 2015, stated that at least 48 terrorists, 17 of them 'high profile', had been killed by the CTD

in Rawalpindi District, 810 in Sargodha District and 233 in Lahore District.

Law enforcement agencies have succeeded to some degree in minimizing the threats from domestically oriented terror outfits such as LeJ and the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP), but the emergence of Islamic State (IS, also known as Daesh) has introduced new complexities in the profile of terrorism in Punjab.

Daesh is looking to expand its jihad by seeking allegiance from domestically oriented outfits like TTP, Jundullah, and others, who are currently under pressure from the Pakistani security establishment, and has launched a sustained and intensive campaign through the Internet. The campaign is securing particular resonance among increasingly disoriented domestic formations, which have suffered mounting losses over the past year.

Specifically, since the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb in the North Waziristan Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on June 15, 2014, Pakistani SFs have killed at least 4,481 terrorists, almost all of them belonging to domestically oriented terror formations.

Notably, on July 6, 2014, a lesser known Punjab-based terror outfit, Tehreek-e-Khilafat-o-Jihad (Movement for Caliphate and Jihad), an offshoot of the TTP, had declared: "From today, Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi shall consider Tehreek-e-Khilafat and Jihad

mujahideen fighters of Pakistan as one of the arrows among his arrows which he has kept for his bow. We are praying from the almighty Allah to give us chance in our lives to see the expansion of Islamic State boundaries toward the Subcontinent and Khurasan region in order to hoist the flag of Islamic State here."

T h r e e months after threatening "worst attacks" in Islamabad and Lahore, the then TTP 'spokesman' Shahidullah Shahid, in a 16minute online video released on October 4, 2014, had pledged allegiance to IS, along with dozens of other terrorists. On June 15, 2014, following the launch of Operation Zarb-eAzb, Shahidullah Shahid had threatened the political elites of Punjab with "retaliatory activities

by Mujahideen".

Hardening in his resolve against the Punjab establishment and subsequently "extending full support" to the IS, Shahid, in his October 4, 2014 message to Daesh had proclaimed, "Oh our brothers we are proud

of his death he had assumed the title of 'commander' of Daesh in Afghanistan. The drone strike was confirmed by Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Home Department, citing Intelligence reports, on November 27, 2015, alerted Police and other agencies in the Province that Daesh had planned attacks on civil and military targets. The Punjab Government's alert mentioned that Daesh-affiliated terrorists were out to strike Army vehicles moving on the Jalalpur Jattan Road and Police patrols on the Grand Trunk Road in Gujrat District.

The intelligence report also claimed that a group of five terrorists had reached Lahore, and had planned to storm private establishments. According to an unnamed intelligence official, their likely targets included minorities and foreigners. Earlier, on October 15, 2015, the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif, during his visit to the Royal United Services Institute in London, had declared, "Daesh is a bigger threat than al Qaeda."

Further, on August 18, 2015, posters signed by Daesh were seen on the walls of schools in the Phugla, Fazla Kachh and Barthi areas of Dera Ghazi Khan District. The posters carried messages against co-education. Earlier, on July 4, 2015, Law Enforcement Agencies had arrested three suspected terrorists affiliated with Daesh, from Lahore and had

According to data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), 165 persons have been killed in terrorism related incidents in the current year in Punjab (all data till December 6, 2015). Of these 90 were civilians, 66 terrorists and nine SF personnel. of you in your victories. We are with you in your happiness and your sorrow. In these troubled days, we call for your patience and stability, especially now that all your enemies are united against you. Please put all your rivalries behind you. All Muslims in the world have great expectations from you‌we are with you; we will provide you with fighters and with every possible support."

Shahid was sacked from TTP after pledging allegiance to IS and was killed, along with five other terrorists, in a United States (US) drone strike in the Achin District of Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan on July 7, 2015. At the time

recovered laptops confirming their links with Daesh leaders, maps of sensitive buildings in Punjab and hate literature. According to Police sources, two of the suspects, identified as Asmatullah and Abdur Rehman, hailed from Afghanistan while the third, Muhammad Ibrahim, was from Pakistan's Punjab Province.

Again, on January 21, 2015, intelligence sources had confirmed the arrest of a local Daesh 'commander', identified as Yousuf alSalafi, and two accomplices, Qari Tayyab and Dr. Fahad, involved in recruiting and sending fighters to Syria from Lahore.

Cont’d on page 26

26

Perspective

India Post

January 8, 2015

www.indiapost.com

What are prospects of a Pak-US nuke deal?

URMI TAT

T

he South Asian region has become the focus of global politics, with the proliferation of unaccountable non-state actors, corruption of civilian institutions and the prevailing atmosphere of mutual suspicion between India and Pakistan.

The possession of nuclear weapons by non-NPT states like India and Pakistan has been cause for further concern due to apprehensions of nuclear accidents, potential for misuse of nuclear material and an inexhaustible arms race. Unlike the US-India civilian nuclear deal, no concrete civilian nuclear agreement has been reached between the US and Pakistan.

However, recent diplomatic visits between the US and Pakistan administrations and commitments towards increasing nuclear cooperation have given rise to speculation regarding a potential agreement. The report formulated by Toby Dalton and Michael Krepon of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Stimson Center respectively, is the latest in a series of suggestions that could be followed in chalking out a nuclear trajectory between the US and Pakistan. Considering the in-

fluence and stature of the authors in the US strategic community, the report constitutes an insight into the line of thinking followed by policy-makers.

Following the line of action suggested by Mark Fitzpatrick, in his book Overcoming Pakistan's

highly unlikely for Pakistan, which lacks the commercial leverage that resulted in a nuclear deal for India," and goes on to suggest compromises that it needs to make in order to be 'mainstreamed'.

The question thus remains, whether the recommendations are

Premier Nawaz Sharif with Barack Obama

Nuclear Dangers (2014), the Carnegie-Stimson report seeks to 'normalize' Pakistan into the nuclear mainstream. However, it recognizes that "a commercial pathway to being mainstreamed into the global nuclear order is

feasible and contribute to alleviating the precarious security dilemma in the region.

Recommendations of the Carnegie-Stimson Report The key motive of the report

Creeping shadow of Daesh in Pak Punjab Cont’d from page 25

According an unnamed intelligence source, "al-Salafi is a Pakistani Syrian who reached Pakistan through Turkey five months ago.

He crossed into Turkey from Syria and was caught there. Somehow he managed to escape and reached Pakistan to establish IS." Al-Salafi had further revealed that one of his accomplices, Tayyab, was a prayer leader in Lahore and was involved in recruiting Pakistanis and sending them to fight alongside Daesh in Syria on a charge of about USD 600 per recruit.

However, despite the acknowledgment of the Daesh presence by the CoAS, backed by various intelligence reports, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, demonstrating the political elite's persistent

state of denial, brushed off the threat alert as being "a routine matter", arguing: "There is no existence of Daesh in Pakistan, especially in Punjab‌ There are some trouble-

makers belonging to banned outfits and the Government is making efforts to eliminate these criminals". A year earlier, the Federal Minister of Interior

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, in a similar note, had ruled out the existence of Daesh in the country on November 10, 2014, asserting, "No organisation of this name exists in Pakistan."

The war against terrorism, domestic and international, is contingent upon political consensus, political will, and consistency of action. Unless there is a military and political consensus on the continuum of Islamist terrorist formations operating in Pakistan, including both domestically and outward oriented groupings, and the existence of, and creeping threat posed by, Daesh, gains against a limited group of terrorist outfits will easily be frittered away.

Crucially, if elements within the leadership continue to ignore the warning signs, Daesh is more likely to gain a foothold and wreak havoc in the Punjab Province, and in Pakistan at large.

The writer is Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management

remains to 'mainstream' Pakistan into a global nuclear regime, which otherwise remains glaring and inconspicuous with its absence. It remains an affront to the credibility of the global order if it cannot reign in Pakistan, a defeat it has already suffered with its inability to bring India within its fold.

The premise of the recommendations offered by the report is its projection that in the next five to ten years Pakistan could have a nuclear arsenal not only twice the size of India's but also larger than those of the UK, China, and France, giving it the third-largest arsenal behind the US and Russia.

Since no accurate account of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is available, this projection that lends urgency to the report, has been labeled as a 'sensational speculation' by the Center for International and Strategic Studies, Islamabad, and hailed similarly by the Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad.

The report recommends five changes to the direction of Pakistan's nuclear policy: A shift

The recommendations of the report leave the impression that Pakistan is indebted to the international community and that it is ready to make heavy-handed compromises. The proposition to lift the veto on FMCT negotiations is considered unfair in the light of the fact that India has not been asked to stop the production of fissile material. The NSG waiver granted to India due to its nuclear deal with the US has in fact allowed it to obtain uranium from the international market.

This proposition is considered 'purposefully discriminatory' especially when India has been offered advanced nuclear technologies and systems that could equally undermine the stability of the region. The unilateral concessions that the report demands reflects a lack of understanding of the geo-strategic scenario that affects Pakistan's deterrence posture.

Its need for a nuclear agreement is premised not only on socio-economic and technological needs but also political needs. Pakistan is wary of India's potential entry into the NSG and its subsequent ability to veto Pakistan's prospects of an entry into the elite group but it will not oblige to a deal that makes it psychologically weaker to India in its own perception.

Given the South Asian context,

Pakistan is wary of India's potential entry into the NSG and its subsequent ability to veto Pakistan's prospects of an entry into the elite group but it will not oblige to a deal that makes it psychologically weaker to India in its own perception. from "full spectrum" to "strategic" deterrence (i.e. possessing capabilities to deter only the worst cases. Strategic deterrence is an alternative future envisioned by the report, which requires a limitation of Pakistan's nuclear policy, thus allowing redirection of spending to civilian and military concerns); commitment to a "recessed deterrence posture" and limitation of production of short-range delivery vehicles and tactical nuclear weapons; lifting of Pakistan's veto on Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) negotiations and reduction of fissile material production; separation of civilian and military nuclear facilities; signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty without waiting for India.

Feasibility and Implications of the Report

it remains necessary to reign in unaccountable actors but the very word 'mainstreaming' highlights an assimilationist strategy towards Pakistan's entry into the global nuclear order. The key intention of the Carnegie-Stimson report is to strengthen the global nuclear regimes such as the NPT by affecting a compromise on the part of Pakistan.

As long as policy proposals continue to ignore the context of indigenous actors, it will continue to be discriminatory and ineffective. Pakistan's need for nuclear sufficiency and sustainability makes cooperation beyond China, necessary. Whether the CarnegieStimson report provides the matrix to achieve this however, remains disputed.

The writer is Research Intern, IPCS

January 8, 2016

www.indiapost.com

India Post 27

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Gerua: Dilwale 2 Agar Tum Saath Ho: Tamasha 3 Matargashti: Tamasha 4 Deewani Mastani: Bajirao Mastani 28 India Post

www.indiapost.com

January 8, 2016

5 Tumhe Apna Banane Ka : Hate Story 3

S

ome months ago actresses Priyanka Chopra and Freida Pinto extended their support for the cause of women empowerment. The global beauties collaborated to produce a film titled 'Girl Rising - Woh Padhegi, Woh Udegi'.

Both the ladies seemed to have a good time and were friendly with each other.

However, things may not be hunky dory anymore. According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, Priyanka and Freida got into a sort of ego battle when they recently attended an international event in Washington DC. Priyanka was reportedly upset that Freida's name featured above hers in the invite. Not just this, Freida was referred to as the 'host' of the event while the 'Bajirao Mastani' actress was relegated as the 'co-host'. This did not go down well with Pee Cee who is a bigger star in India.

The Bollywood star confronted the organizers about this, but they maintained that Freida was a bigger name in the US and stood their ground.

Ultimately, Priyanka had to grin and bear it with the 'Slumdog Millionaire' actress and get on with the function.

They were polite with each other throughout the event though.

6 Pinga : Bajirao Mastani 7 Prem Ratan Dhan Payo : PRDP 8 Heer Toh Badi Sad Hai : Tamasha 9 Malhari : Bajirao Mastani 10 Prem Leela : PRDP

F

T

he teaser of Maneesh Sharma's next, 'Fan' star ring Shah Rukh Khan, has already won the hearts of fans across the country. King Khan dons a very different appearance in the film as Gaurav, who resembles the film star Aryan (played by SRK ).

Asked whether he hopes to sweep all the awards, Shah Rukh jokingly said, "I am just waiting for the National award as I have decided to retire after getting one."

Shah Rukh Khan says playing a superstar and his young look-alike admirer in Fan was physically draining but a "very interesting and schizophrenic" experience. Shah Rukh, who finished shooting the Yash Raj film that is currently on its extensive post-production, says it was tough to transform himself into a 24-year-old person every day with the help of prosthetics.

"Physically, it was extremely challenging to become 24. The prosthetics took about four hours... The guy is a lookalike of someone who he loves. His story is a lot similar like mine. He follows the star as he feels the star is from Delhi and he can also be like his idol some day. But the story is different... To capture all that was very interesting and schizophrenic. I just hope that I have turned it out just okay," Shah Rukh said.

SRK says as far as the role of superstar Aryan Khanna is concerned, it is a milder version of his public persona.

ormer lovers Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone may blaze the silver screen once again in Rajkumar Hirani's biopic of Sanjay Dutt, if reports are to be believed.

The 'PK' director is quite excited about the project as it would be the first time he would be working on a biopic. Hirani and Sanjay have known each other for years and the director wanted to capture all the moments of Sanjay's life, the known and unknown sides of him.

Kangana Ranaut is being considered for the role of Sanjay Dutt's wife Manyata. Now there's a report that strongly suggests that Deepika will also come on board for the project.

Sanjay Dutt has seen a lot of controversies in his life from his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts and his affairs. It will focus on Sanjay Dutt's other relationships - with sister Priya Dutt, wife Manyata and late wife Richa Sharma.

Deepika's role in the film will reportedly be a mix of Richa Sharma and T i n a Ambani, while Kareena is likely to play the role of his sister Priya.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan may play the role of Sanjay Dutt's father late actor Sunil Dutt.

Bollywood

January 8, 2016

India Post 29

www.indiapost.com

Shera has been Salman Khan's bodyguard for decades and keeping his promise to Shera, Salman Khan launched his son Tiger.

Tiger has joined the team of 'Sultan'.

O

ver the years, Salman Khan has played Godfather to many in the industry and how he could not do favor to the person who safeguards him round the clock. Yes, you guessed it right. Salman Khan has given bodyguard Shera's son 'Ticket to Bollywood'.

Shera has been Salman Khan's bodyguard for decades and keeping his promise to Shera, Salman Khan launched his son Tiger. Tiger has joined the team of 'Sultan'.

During the promotions of 'Bodyguard', Salman Khan said that his role in the film is influenced by his bodyguard Shera. An emotional Shera told media how Salman had promised to launch his son Tiger in Bollywood.

A source "He's joined as an assistant director. It's how most actors also start off. From Hrithik Roshan to Ranbir Kapoor and Varun Dhawan to Sooraj Pancholi. They all started like that. For most newcomers, it's the ideal approach to building a career in Bollywood.

Because one learns a lot on the sets. And who better than Salman to be around? With bhaijaan around, the boy will get groomed properly for whatever he chooses to do in the filmmaking business," the source added.

"If my cleavage is visible, it does not mean I am giving consent, it does not mean I am "asking for it." I am more than my breasts and it is unfair to let them define me."

I believe one film can change everything for an actor.

See how Kangana's (Ranaut) fortune changed post Queen (2014). But overall, the year has been very positive

I

Recently, Pooja Bedi's daughter Alia Ebrahim posted few sizzling pictures of her on instagram account and surprisingly, things turned ugly when a the blog site introduced Alia to the world. Following the post, Alia Ebrahim received lots of negative comments directed towards her and she gave a befitting reply to her haters.

She writes, "I came across a very nice post by Miss Malini that featured me. Everything within the post was very respectful and well said. And the caption to it on facebook said "Hi Bollywood‌ are you looking at this?" When I read the comments, my smile faded away. All anyone spoke about was how I was barely wearing any clothes, how I was just another "randi," that "taking my clothes off" just made me an unworthy slut. That I was "porn ready," not "bollywood ready" and of course the perennial "Indian girls like this are ruining our culture."

I took a deep breath and went back to doing what I was doing.

My plan was to ignore it like I ignored everything else that brought even an ounce of negativity into my life. But this annoyed me and refused to budge from the back of my mind."

t wouldn't be wrong to say that this year has been a defining one for Ayushmann Khurrana. After being lauded for his performance in his debut film, Vicky Donor (2012), the actor only did two movies over the next few years. But both of them failed to impress the moviegoers. Then, Dum Laga Ke Haisha (DLKH) gave his career a new lease of life.

While his first release of 2015, Hawaizaada, didn't fare well at the box office, DLKH made up for it as it released just 27 days later and went on to become a sleeper hit.

"That unsure phase lasted only for 27 days. I was really nervous and anxious. I didn't know what would happen, as we didn't have enough time for the promotions of DLKH. I thought there should have been a gap of a couple of months between both the films, but Aditya Chopra (producer) sir was convinced about the release date," says Ayushmann.

He adds that he learnt a lot during those 27 days. "They taught me that anything can happen in the industry. That phase made me realize that you are known for your last film and your next movie. I believe one film can change everything for an actor.

See how Kangana's (Ranaut) fortune changed post Queen (2014). But overall, the year has been very positive," says the actor.

Realty Tidbits

Govt clears bids for Navi Mumbai airport MUMBAI: The government has given an in-principle approval for financial bids or request for proposals (RPF) for the much-delayed Rs 15,000-crore Navi Mumbai International airport.

At a meeting held with the authorities of the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) in New Delhi, the aviation ministry gave its in-principle approval for the RFPs which will be soon shared with the four bidders shortlisted for the project, according to official sources.

CIDCO had invited the global tenders for request for qualification (RFQ) on February 5, 2014. It received nine bids out of which four have been shortlisted.

The four companies include GMR Group, the GVK-led MIAL (which has the first right of refusal), Hiranandani Developers along with Zurich Airport and Mia Infrastructure with Tata Realty and Infrastructure.

The bidders will have to submit the financial bids by April end, and the developer is expected to be selected later within 2-3 months, a CIDCO official said. -PTI

Historic LA building to become hip hotel LOS ANGELES: A British firm that spent $30 million on a crumbling but historic building in downtown Los Angeles plans to transform it into a hip hotel, according to a real estate brokerage.

The purchase by Hoxton is the latest bet that the neighborhood's renewal is luring tourists and not just business travelers, the Los Angeles Times reported. ``Downtown is thriving and international companies are all taking note,'' said Sara Lo, a senior manager specializing in the hospitality business at consulting and accounting firm Ernst & Young.

The 1920s-era building at 11th Street and Broadway has been empty since the mid- to late 1990s.

JLL, the brokerage involved in the purchase, said Hoxton is planning a hotel but declined to give additional details. A representative from Hoxton owner Ennismore of London declined to comment on the deal.

Downtown has transformed in recent years, with a growing number of dining and nightlife options.

The hotel market is strong - with a 77 percent occupancy rate that beats the 75 percent average for the nation's top 25 markets, Lo said. A total of 4,000 hotel rooms are being built or are planned for downtown, with a quarter of those being boutique projects, she said. -AP

Real Estate 30 India Post

www.indiapost.com

January 8, 2016

Sarah Palin selling Arizona home PHOENIX: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is selling a home that she bought four years ago in Arizona.

Palin is asking $2.5 million for the six-bedroom, 7,900square-foot home in Scottsdale.

It sits on a 5-acre compound that includes a six-car garage, pool, full-length basketball court and putting green. Real estate agent Richard Barker said he's selling the home on behalf of Palin and her husband.-AP

Realty sector eyes New Year to end multi-year slowdown NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: With a multi-year slowdown continuing in 2015 despite abundant supply and fall in prices, the real estate market is desperately looking for a recovery in the New Year when a new law is also expected to herald the much-needed transparency and accountability in the sector.

Experts said the housing sales have remained flat this year despite 15-20 per cent fall in prices and multiple interest rate cuts, while a glut continued in the market because of investors still sitting on old inventories.

Property developers and consultants hope that the new real estate law will see the light of day in 2016 and bring in the muchneeded efficiency, transparency and accountability into this sector.

The proposed law, which was recently cleared by the Cabinet and would now go to Parliament for approval, can boost customers' confidence, which has dented a lot because of delays of up to 5

years in delivery of projects forcing buyers to protest on streets and even go to courts.

Housing sales, which stood at 1.75 lakh units during last year in

this year.

Launches of new homes reduced drastically this year, still over 6 lakh housing units remain unsold in eight big cities, accord-

the primary markets of seven major cities, are likely to be around same level in 2015, property consultant JLL said, adding that sales were marginally down to 1.16 lakh units in the first nine months of

ing to Knight Frank India.

Developers tried their best to boost sales by offering apartments, on both offline and online platforms, at discount laced with freebies and easier payment plans,

but potential buyers chose to wait for further correction in housing prices.

However, realtors are confident of turnaround in 2016, banking on the RBI's move to reduce key interest rate by 125 basis points and the government's steps like easing of FDI rules and launch of Housing for All and Smart Cities schemes that could provide new growth opportunity for the sector.

"We started this year on a very bad note. But the end was much better than the beginning in terms of housing sales. Overall, sales remained almost same as 2014," realtors' body CREDAI President Getamber Anand said.

He said the housing prices have gone down by an average 15-20 per cent in last 18 months. On outlook, Anand said: "There will be a constant steady increase in sales volume and veCont’d on page 31 locity.

New norms for public issue of REITs NEW DELHI: To provide new avenues for raising funds, capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Thursday proposed fresh norms for the public issue of real estate investment trusts (REITs), including cap of 75% allocation to institutional buyers.

Sebi said the proposed norms for the public issuance of REITs relate to appointment of merchant bankers, disclosures in the offer documents and filing of draft papers, keeping them in the public domain for at least 21 days.

For an issue made through the book building process or otherwise, the allocation in the public issue should be maximum 75% to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) and at least 25% to other investors, Sebi said. The investment manager can allocate up to 60% of the portion available for allocation to QIBs to anchor investors, subject to certain condi-

tions. An anchor investor should make an application for at least Rs.10 crore in the public issue and allocation to such investors should be on a discretionary basis, and

public. The issue would need to be opened after at least three working days from the date of filing the offer document with Sebi. Besides, the issue would need to be kept

subject to the minimum of two investors for allocation up to Rs.250 crore and five such investors for over Rs.250 crore.

Issuing the draft paper, Sebi said that REITs will need to deposit, before the opening of subscription, and keep deposited with the stock exchange, an amount calculated at the rate of 0.5% of the amount of units offered for subscription to the

open for at least three working days but not more than 30 days. The investment manager may issue advertisements for issue opening and closing advertisements, Sebi said.

The final norms would be put in place after taking into account public comments, which have been invited till 15 January. The regulator also said that any public communication including adver-

tisement, publicity material and research reports concerned with the issue should not contain any matter extraneous to the contents of the offer document.

Sebi said that no REITs can make a public issue of units if it or any of its sponsors, investment manager or trustee is debarred from accessing the capital market by Sebi.

Besides, public issue can't be launched if REIT is in default of payment of distributions to the unit holders in accordance with Sebi norms for a period of more than six months. No person connected with the issue can offer any direct or indirect incentive "in any manner, whether in cash or kind or services or otherwise to any person for making an application for allotment of units".

However, this would not apply to fees or commission for services rendered in relation to the issue.-PTI

Real Estate Post

January 8, 2016

India Post 31

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Chennai allots houses to people who lost them CHENNAI: Setting in motion the process of resettling people who had lost their hutments in areas, including the banks of River Adyar here in recent floods, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has issued orders allotting houses for them.

The government has also announced that families that relocate would get an allowance of Rs 5000 towards shifting expenses.

Also, a monthly sustenance dole of Rs 2,500 for a year, job training for youth and recruitment camps for them will be held to help young men and women in families that had lost their houses.

She issued the orders allocating the houses to five beneficiaries at the Secretariat here as a token of allotment of 10,000 houses at Okkiam Thuraipakkam and Perumbakkam here.

The present allotment was for those who had lost their hutments along River Adyar in recent floods.

The construction work of 10,000 houses is complete and it was done through the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, an official release here said.

Jayalalithaa had announced permanent houses for those liv-

ing along Adyar and Cooum rivers and Buckingham Canal. The initiative was also intended to facilitate free flow of rain water in such waterways.

She had announced building 50,000 houses under the 'Housing for All Scheme' and 50,000 houses through the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board.

TNSCB, in the first phase, has

power supply, drinking water, sewage connections, roads and storm water drain, school, healthcare centre and bus facilities, the release added.

The government said those shifting to the new area would be provided food and drinking water for the first three days.

Also, effecting change of address in ration cards, enrolling stu-

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa

completed building 10,000 houses and it has all facilities including

dents in schools would be done immediately. -PTI

US pending home sales slipped in Nov WASHINGTON: Fewer people signed contracts to purchase homes in November, as the real estate market appears to have cooled after sales gains for much of 2015.

The National Association of Realtors said that its seasonally adjusted pending home sales index fell 0.9 percent to 106.9 last month. It was the lowest reading in 10 months. Still, the index has risen 2.7 percent from a year ago.

Steady hiring and low mortgage

rates lifted home sales for much of this year. But the pace of buying slowed after the end of the summer, with inventories tight and home values rising faster than incomes. Signed contracts last month fell in the Northeast and West market, while rising slightly in the Midwest and South.

Pending sales are a barometer of future purchases. A lag of a month or two usually exists between a contract and a completed sale.

The decline in contracts oc-

curred as finalized sales are slowing.

The Realtors say that sales of existing homes tumbled 10.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.76 million. The decrease largely stemmed from the introduction new mortgage rules that increased the amount of time needed to complete a sale.

Yet home sales are on track to rise roughly 5 percent for the entire year to 5.25 million. That figure would be 25 percent below the bubble-era sales of 7.1 million in 2005.

The limited supplies are pushing up prices as buyers are chasing a narrow inventory of properties. The number of listings on the market has dropped 1.9 percent from a year ago, according to the Realtors. The tight inventory has fueled sales price increases of 6 percent this year to a median of $220,700 - with prices rising at more than double the pace of average hourly earnings. -AP

Realty sector eyes New Year to end multi-year slowdown Cont’d from page 30

has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

On legal front, the year 2015 saw realty major DLF getting a major relief after the Securities Appellate Tribunal passed a 'majority order' quashing the threeyear market ban imposed on the realty giant by regulator Sebi, even as the Presiding Officer dissented.

However, market regulator Sebi slapped fines totaling Rs 86 crore on DLF, its top executives, their family members and various other related entities for entering into "sham transactions" to mislead IPO investors about eight years ago.

Meanwhile, the government rationalized capital gain tax regime for the sponsors of newlycreated business structures REITs and INViTs o give a fillip to the investments in realty and infrastructure sectors.

It also exempted the levy of minimum alternate tax (MAT) on gains and losses arising from ex-

We can hope for very robust 2016".

DLF's CEO Rajeev Talwar said: "With banks passing on the interest rate cuts in the form of reduction in home loan rates, we are already seeing signs of buyers coming back to the sector. As the impact of these measures unfolds, we expect buyers to make a comeback to the property market in 2016".

The year 2015 did not bring the hoped-for growth in housing segment but the silver lining is that the bad days seem to have bottomed out, JLL India Chairman and Country Head Anuj Puri said.

Stating that sales have picked up in some cities, he said: "2016 may well bring an end to the long and painful journey this sector has had, and signal an upward growth trajectory".

Unlike housing, the office and retail segments performed better and reported higher leasing numbers against 2014.

With developers facing severe li- Market regulator Sebi quidity crunch due to slow sales, there slapped fines totaling Rs 86 has been sharp crore on DLF, its top execujump in private equity investment in tives, their family members the realty sector to and various other related over Rs 18,000 entities for entering into crore.

According to "sham transactions" to misproperty consult- lead IPO investors about ant Cushman & Wakefield, the PE eight years ago. investments in real estate was up by 84 per cent to Rs 18,300 crore in Janu- change of shares with the units ary-September of calendar year of a business trust REIT or InvIT. 2015, the highest since 2008.

The liability under MAT would Among the big-ticket deals, arise only on actual transfer of DLF sold 50 per cent stake each in such units. two upcoming projects in Delhi for Yet, developers did not come nearly to Rs 2,000 crore to forward to launch the REITs to Singapore's sovereign wealth fund raise funds by listing their rentGIC. It announced sale of its cin- yielding commercial assets on ema business to PVR for about Rs stock exchanges.

500 crore.

Through the year, the real esGodrej Properties sold 4.35 lakh tate regulatory bill could not be sq ft of commercial space at BKC passed much to the disappointin Mumbai to healthcare products ment of consumers. major Abbott for Rs 1,480 crore, Realtors kept opposing the bill while Piramal Realty raised Rs with demand that the government 2,700 crore from Warburg Pincus authorities, which give sanctions and Goldman Sachs. for development of the projects, Realty portal Housing.Com re- should be brought under the mained in news throughout the ambit of law. year. After much drama, Last month, the government Housing.Com board on July 1 relaxed the foreign direct investsacked co-founder and then CEO ment (FDI) norms in construction Rahul Yadav, saying that his be- sector by removing two major havior towards investors and me- conditions related to minimum dia was not "befitting" of a CEO. built up area as well as capital reIt appointed Rishabh Gupta quirement. It also eased rules for was appointed as interim CEO in foreign investors to exit and reJuly. Last month, Jason Kothari patriate their investments. -PTI

„ Health

Line

ACLU sues California health care system REDDING, Calif.: The American Civil Liberties Union is suing a California health care system on behalf of Physicians for Reproductive Health and a pregnant woman denied a tubal ligation because of the hospital's religious principles.

The Sacramento Bee reports that the lawsuit was filed against Dignity Health. The hospital system owns Mercy Medical Center in Redding, where 33-year-old Rebecca Chamorro was denied the sterilization procedure in January.

She is one of three Redding women who contacted the ACLU about tubal ligation requests being refused at the hospital.

San Francisco-based Dignity Health officials declined to discuss the lawsuit. In a statement, they said they do not generally provide sterilization services at their Catholic facilities.

Dignity Health owns 32 hospitals in the state. More than half are affiliated with the Catholic Church. -AP

„ Maine drug overdoses reaching record AUGUSTA, Maine: Maine Attorney General Janet Mills says the state remains on a record pace for drug overdoses.

Declaring that Maine's ``opioid epidemic continues to rage,'' Mills said that new figures for the first nine months of the year indicate the number of drug overdoses stood at 174. She says that puts the state on pace to finish the year with between 230 to 240 deaths, surpassing last year's record of 208.

Mill said she's heartened by the response from state leaders who

want to solve the problem of deaths fueled by heroin, Fentanyl and other opioids.

Gov. Paul LePage has asked lawmakers to make a bill to fund more drug agents their top priority. -AP

Health Science

7,700 Alaskans have enrolled in Medicaid

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Details on Page 35

14-year-old receives first 3-D printed nose in US NEW YORK: A 14-year-old boy has become the first patient in the US to undergo a successful nose transplant using 3D printing technology after his face was disfigured when he fell on a live power line.

Reconstructive surgery on the human nose is not uncommon, but until now, doctors in the US had not been able to replicate and restore the body part to its full functionality.

Dallan Jennet, a 14-year-old boy from the Marshall Islands, a country that lies near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, is the first patient in the US to undergo a procedure that did just that, Fox News reported.

Jennet's face became disfigured when he fell onto a live power line aged 9. Earlier this year he flew to New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, in New York City, to undergo multiple surgeries that would restore his sense of smell and taste.

"The procedure is akin to a 'nose transplant' in that we were able to replace the nose with a

functional implant," lead physician Tal Dagan, associate adjunct surgeon, said in a Mount Sinai blog post.

"This procedure may be a breakthrough in facial reconstruction because the patient will never have

early 2015, took place in the Marshall Islands, where doctors input expanders under the remaining skin of his nose to make room for the reconstructed body part.

Benicia, California-based nonprofit Canvasback Missions Inc,

Dallan Jennet (L), a 14-year-old boy from the Marshall Islands, is the first patient in the US to undergo this procedure.

to deal with the standard issues of transplantation, such as tissue rejection or a lifetime of immunosuppressive therapies," he said.

Jennet's first procedure, in

an organization that provides health care and health education to the Pacific Islands, funded Jennet and his mother's travel and medical expenses to New York.

To carry out the subsequent surgeries, Dagan and Dr Grigoriy Mashkevich, assistant professor of Otolaryngology, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Mount Sinai, collaborated with Oxford Performance Materials Inc, a Windsor, Connecticut-based 3-D printing company.

The team created Jennet's 3-D nose graft by replicating the structure of his family's noses.

For the first 16-hour operation in New York, doctors used a laser-based technology to analyze his skin.

They then harvested blood vessels and tissues from the boy's thigh, removed excess scar tissue, inserted the graft, and reconstructed the skin over the 3-D implant. They carried out four more surgeries, and Jennet attended follow-up appointments between June and October.

The surgeries were successful, and doctors said the 3-D printed implant will grow with him - preventing the need for additional reconstructive procedures. -PTI

Indian-origin cancer researcher knighted LONDON: A top Indian-origin cancer research expert has been conferred Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for being "hugely influential" in his work on prevention and treatment of cancer, according to the annual New Year's Honors list released in London.

Harpal Singh Kumar, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK (CRUK), has been honored for services to cancer research and being "hugely influential in promoting research into the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and cancer care."

"CRUK's income and research spend are at an all-time high.

Under his leadership, it has been instrumental in pushing the government to take further measures to reduce smoking and to ban sun-beds for under-18s," Kumar's citation reads.

"He also chaired the Indepen-

dent Cancer Taskforce and the field of financial inclusion and authored the NHS Cancer Strat- Raminder Singh Ranger, chairman egy 'Achieving World Class Can- of Sun Mark Ltd, is awarded a cer Outcomes. A Strategy for England 2015-20', published in July 2015," it said.

Kumar leads this year's honors list of Indian-origin names, covering fields of entrepreneurship, financial services and community service.

"He has been instrumental in setting up the Francis Crick Institute as a world-leading centre of biomedical research and innovation," the citation Harpal Singh Kumar, who is the chief executive added. of Cancer Research UK has been honored with Samir Desai, foundera Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. CEO of Funding Circle, receives a Commander of the CBE for services to business and Most Excellent Order of the Brit- community cohesion.

Among the Officer of the Most ish Empire (CBE) for his work in

Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) list are Kala Patel, managing director of Kiddycare Ltd Nurseries, for services to childcare business and Daljit Lally, deputy chief executive of Northumberland Country Council, for services to integrated care.

A British Empire Medal has been awarded to Aatin Ashok Anadkat, managing director of Hotel Maiyango in Leicester, for services to entrepreneurship.

The largest Indian-origin representation is among the list of Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) which include Rekha Mehr, founder of Indian sweets inspired bakery Pistachio Rose, for services to entrepreneurship and enterprise; Ayesha Hazarika, chief of staff to the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party, for political service. -PTI

January 8, 2016

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Midnight snacks may impair memory LOS ANGELES: Frequent late-night kitchen raids for snacks may impair your memory and learning skills, according to a new study which found that the habit could alter the brain's physiology.

Eating at times normally reserved for sleep causes a deficiency in the type of learning and memory controlled by the hippocampal area of the brain, researchers said.

"We have provided the first evidence that taking regular meals at the wrong time of day has far-reaching effects for learning and memory," said Dawn Loh from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The team tested the ability of mice to recognize a novel object. Mice regularly fed during their sleep-time were significantly less able to recall the object.

Long-term memory was also dramatically reduced, demonstrated during a fear conditioning experiment.

Both long-term memory and the ability

to recognize a novel object are governed However, this effect was reduced when by the hippocampus. food was made available to mice during a The hippocampus plays an important six-hour window in the middle of their norrole in our ability to ass o c i a t e senses and emotional experiences with memory and our ability to organize and store new memories.

During an experience, nerve impulses are activated along Eating at the wrong time also disrupts sleep patterns specific pathways and, if we repeat the experience, the mal sleep time instead of a six-hour daysame pathways increase in strength. time window when the mice were active.

Some genes involved in both the circadian clock and in learning and memory are regulated by a protein called CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein).

When CREB is less active, it decreases memory, and may play a role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

In the mice fed at the wrong time, the

Liquid salts could make drugs more effective LOS ANGELES: Formulating drugs as liquid salts may help reduce the toxicity of some topical drugs, while also making them more effective, scientists including one of Indian-origin have found.

Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in US have demonstrated a novel formulation of propranolol as a liquid salt which enables delivery through skin with reduced toxicity.

Skin toxicity remains a major challenge in the design and use of new topical drug

the liquid salts shield the drug charge, which further reduces drug-induced toxicity.

"Propranolol is positively charged which is a likely source of its toxicity. Shielding of this charge by association with a counter species in the liquid salt reduces its toxicity. These findings are broadly applicable to many charged drugs," said study senior author Samir Mitragotri, from UCSB. Previous studies have shown how liquid salts may enhance drug transport through the skin; however, this is the first study that reports the design of liquid salts to minimize skin toxicity.

Such formulations can increase the spectrum of drugs that can be safely delivered via a transdermal patch.

"An ideal drug liquid salt would need to permeate through the skin as an associated Many topical drugs, and most solvents used to deliver them, can be ion pair. Eventually, toxic to the skin, but new research suggests formulating topical however, the drug and drugs as liquid salts can minimize toxicity. the counter ion must dissociate in blood to preserve drug's theraformulations.

Many drugs must be dissolved in or- peutic efficacy," said co-first author ganic solvents which are typically toxic to Michael Zakrewsky.

"We show that these attributes can be the skin. In addition, many drugs such as balanced through careful selection of propranolol itself show dose-dependent counter ions," said Mr Zakrewsky. skin toxicity.

"This technology presents an exciting Formulating drugs as liquid salt mitigates both sources of toxicity. Given their fluid new, patient compliant solution for treating nature, liquid salts eliminate the necessity diseases," he said.

The research was published in the jourof organic solvents.

In addition, counter ions used to form nal Technology. -PTI

total activity of CREB throughout the hippocampus was significantly reduced, with the strongest effects in the day.

However, the master pacemaker of the circadian system, the suprachiasmatic nucleus located in the hypothalamus, is unaffected.

This leads to desynchrony between the clocks in the different brain regions (misalignment), which the researchers suggest underlies the memory impairment.

"Modern schedules can lead us to eat around the clock so it is important to understand how the timing of food can impact cogitation" said Christopher Colwell from UCLA. "For the first time, we have shown that simply adjusting the time when food is made available alters the molecular clock in the hippocampus and can alter the cognitive performance of mice," Mr Colwell said.

Eating at the wrong time also disrupted sleep patterns. It resulted in the loss of the normal day/night difference in the amount of sleep although the total time spent asleep over 24 hours was not changed.

Sleep became fragmented, with the mice grabbing more short naps throughout the day and night.

The study was published in the journal eLife. -PTI

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New app may help diagnose autism WASHINGTON: Scientists have developed a new smartphone application that may screen for symptoms of autism by reading children's facial expressions for emotional cues.

"Not only could the app be used to learn more about childhood autism, it could possibly reveal signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) in warfighters - conditions that often have subtle symptoms and are difficult to diagnose," said Predrag Neskovic, from US Office of Naval Research (ONR)'s Math-

ematical Data Science program.

The app, called "Autism and Beyond," was developed by researchers and software developers at Duke University and the

Duke Medical Centre in US. "Autism & Beyond" has children complete a series of questionnaires and watch short videos designed to make them smile, laugh and be surprised.

Parents or caregivers use a smartphone's user-facing "selfie" camera to record children's facial movements for evaluation by doctors, researchers and software.

The app's core technical component is a complex mathematical algorithm that automatically maps key landmarks on children's faces and assesses emotional responses based on movements of

facial muscles.

"We analyze the video to track position and movement of the head and face, including the lips, eyes and nose - all of which indi-

cate emotions," said Guillermo Sapiro, a professor at Duke University, who developed the algorithm.

"For example, while watching stimuli like a funny video, does the child smile, look towards the caregiver or ask the caregiver to view the video as well? We study all of that. Lack of emotion and social sharing are possible characteristics of childhood autism," said Mr Sapiro.

Mr Sapiro stresses the app is not a self-diagnosis resource, but is intended to serve as a potential screening tool for autism and other developmental challenges, and encourage users to contact a physician for specialized testing.

Once the autism studies are complete, Mr Sapiro hopes to eventually expand and tailor the app to conditions suffered by war-fighters, including PTSD, TBI and depression.

As with autism, facial expressions can indicate the presence of such disorders. For example, many individuals suffering from PTSD or depression smile often, but their grins tend to be forced and short.

Improved analysis of such facial expressions could lead to more accurate diagnoses by doctors and, consequently, enhanced treatment options for military personnel and veterans. -PTI

Health officials give water quality tips MONTGOMERY, Ala.: Public health officials are offering safety tips to people who use septic tanks and wells after recent floods.

Alabama Department of Public Health officials said in a statement that septic tank users should try limiting water usage and consider having

their tanks pumped to alleviate potential performance issues.

Officials say slowly draining sinks and toilets and sewage becoming visible outside the home are signs that a septic system isn't functioning properly.

Public health officials say floods can also increase the po-

tential risk of contamination to well water and people who use private wells should test their water before consuming it or giving it to pets.

Officials say anyone unsure of their water quality should get sample kits from local and state health departments and boil water for one minute. -AP

NY to have world's first kosher medical pot ALBANY, N.Y.: A medical marijuana company in New York says it will soon offer the world's first kosher medical pot.

Vireo Health says its non-smokable medical cannabis products have been certified as conforming to the Jewish dietary law by the Orthodox Union.

Vireo says it's the first time a

medical cannabis product has been deemed kosher.

Inspectors from the Orthodox Union made the determination after visiting Vireo's facilities to ensure the plant was grown and processed in keeping with kosher standards.

An executive at Vireo says the certification will help the company

serve patients in New York's Jewish population, the nation's largest.

The company is one of five selected by the state to provide non-smokable medical marijuana products to patients with certain qualifying conditions. The program is slated to start next month.

-AP

2 out of 3 docs feel unsafe in hospitals NEW DELHI: Two out of three doctors do not feel safe in hospitals, says a recent survey conducted following a rise in incidents of their being manhandled by patients and their relatives.

The survey covered 2,000 doctors across several states and was routed through the Curofy app that has become popular among medical practitioners as a platform for exchange of cases, discussions and information updation.

42 per cent of the doctors said they have themselves been a victim of violence by patients' attendants. Contrary to the popular notion, monetary issues and doctor's fault fall among the least likely reasons for such violence against doctors.

Emotional outbursts after negative patient outcome ranked among the highest reasons for violence at 66 per cent.

Violent and drunk attendants formed a sizable, one-fourth, of such incidents.

The Curofy survey also tried to find possible ways to stop violence against doctors and asked them which one intervention would make them feel safe at the hospital.

"Around 49 per cent doctors surveyed favored having presence of either rapid action units or police booths within hospital premises, while around 25 per cent said having armed security guards in hospitals should be made a must.

"About 22 per cent suggested installation of CCTV cameras at

key points and a few doctors even suggested that they must have access to pepper sprays in case the need be," said Nipun Goyal, Co-founder of Curofy.

It is interesting to note that this survey comes at a time when national data of similar sort has shown that nearly 75 per cent doctors in India have faced some form of violence at work in the last 5 years.

"The results highlight a very

Emotional outbursts after negative patient outcome ranked among the highest reasons for violence at 66 per cent. sad state of Indian medical system. They certainly reflect the need for doctors to feel secure at work under any circumstances," said Goyal.

When asked, a doctor at AIIMS said, "If the docs are looking after the patients, then who's looking after the doctors."

Another said, "Strict laws on the lines of one relating to assault on police personnel should be made for tackling violence against doctors. Adequate protection should be provided at every healthcare setup," he added. -PTI

Lawsuit over Medicaid reimbursement cuts IDAHO FALLS, Idaho: Eight medical care providers and two developmentally disabled patients have filed a lawsuit against Idaho seeking to halt a plan to

The lawsuit seeks to have the cuts, set to take effect in February, be prevented until a decision is made on the potential rule-making violation.

cut Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-home care for the developmentally disabled.

The Post Register reports that the lawsuit contends the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare didn't go through the proper rule-making procedure before announcing the cuts.

The lawsuit seeks to have the cuts, set to take effect in February, be prevented until a decision is made on the potential rule-making violation.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says it doesn't comment on pending litigation. -AP

January 8, 2016

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7,700 Alaskans have enrolled in Medicaid JUNEAU, Alaska: About 7,700 people care services for low-income Alaskans, inhave enrolled in Medicaid since the state cluding children, pregnant women, the eldexpanded the program on Sept. 1 to cover erly and people with disabilities. more lower-income Alaskans, a state health Expansion extended coverage to adults department official said. between 19 and 64 who are not pregnant, The agency appears on track with pro- disabled or caring for children and who earn jections that a total of about 20,100 newly up to 138 percent of the federal poverty eligible people would enroll in Medicaid level. For single Alaskans, that's an income during the first year of expansion, Chris of as much as $20,314 a year, and for marAshenbrenner, Medicaid program coordi- ried couples, it's $27,490 a year. nator for the health department, said.

Last summer, Gov. Bill Walker decided A study commissioned by the depart- to expand Medicaid on his own after legment estimated that about 42,000 people islators delayed the issue for further rewould be eligible for Medicaid under expansion but only about 20,100 would enroll the Expansion extended coverage to first year. adults between 19 and 64 who Ashenbrenner said enrollment in the first half of the year are not pregnant, disabled or is expected to be more robust caring for children and who earn due to pent-up demand for health care. She said open enup to 138 percent of the federal rollment periods through the poverty level. federally facilitated health insurance marketplace also bring in new Medicaid applications since the system can make a Med- view. Questions had been raised about icaid-eligibility determination or refer cases whether the system could handle thouto the state for a determination. sands of new recipients and there were In November alone, when the latest open concerns with the costs of the program enrollment period opened, there were nearly overall.

7,000 applications for Medicaid, though it Administration officials have acknowlwasn't immediately clear how many of those edged the current Medicaid program is not might fall into the expansion population or sustainable but see expansion as a way to would qualify for Medicaid for other rea- leverage federal dollars to help contain and sons, Ashenbrenner said. curb program costs.

The department is working through a A lawsuit filed by the Legislative Council backlog of applications that might take until challenging Walker's actions is pending in spring, she said. state court. Walker has cited expansion as a Medicaid provides health and long-term success of his first year in office. -AP

Dead orca could be part of imperiled pod SEATTLE: A baby orca that washed up dead on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, appeared to have an infection, but an examination has not revealed an obvious cause of death, an official with Fisheries and Oceans Canada said.

Scientists also must wait for DNA test results to conclude whether the orca found belonged to the endangered population of killer whales that frequents Puget Sound waters, said Paul Cottrell, a marine mammal coordinator with the Canadian agency.

The closely watched southern resident killer whales have experienced a baby boom, with eight new calves born in the past year, raising hopes for the population that now numbers 84.

It doesn't appear that the orca is one of the Puget Sound killer whales based on a photograph of the animal's eye patch, said Dave Ellifrit, a research associate with the Center for Whale Research. Each orca is identified by unique black and white markings near their eyes or variations in their fin shapes.

A surfer discovered the 340-pound female calf on Dec. 23 in a remote location near Barkley Sound, south of Ucluelet, Cottrell said. A necropsy was performed two days later after the orca was taken to

Abbotsford.

The whale was just over 7 feet long and was ``pretty beat up,'' Cottrell said. It could be several months old.

Tests on tissue samples could provide more answers about why the calf died, Cottrell said. ``It's obviously a big deal, and we want

A surfer discovered the 340-pound female calf on Dec. 23 in a remote location near Barkley Sound, south of Ucluelet, Cottrell said. to know what happened,'' he said.

There were a lot of transient killer whales in the area, suggesting that it could be a transient orca, Cottrell said. DNA tests will determine what population to which the orca belonged.

Transient killer whales typically eat marine mammals and travel in smaller groups than Puget Sound orcas, which primarily eat salmon and live in complex family groups. -AP

Tech News India-China ties better but complex: envoy BEIJING: Ties between India and China are set for a "very active" year with likely visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping to each other's country even as the relationship remains complex due to the unresolved boundary dispute, the Indian envoy here has said.

India's outgoing envoy Ashok K Kantha, who will be retiring on January 6, said 2016 will be marked by high level visits as Modi is expected to visit China to take part in G-20 summit to be held in east China's Hangzhou city while Xi may visit India to participate in the BRICS summit.

"2016 will be a very active year with two big visits at the highest level. China is hosting G20 summit at Hangzhou and India will host the BRICS leaders' meeting.

Top leaders are expected to attend the summits," Kantha, who will be succeeded by Indian Ambassador to Germany Vijay Keshav Gokhale, told the Indian media here.

The expected high-level trips come in the backdrop of highly successful visits of Xi to India in 2014 and Modi to Beijing last year, reflecting the buoyant state of ties which have seen all round development of cooperation in the last few years including in security and defense areas besides trade and investment, Kantha said.

Last year was also marked by high levels visits. Besides Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited China while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley visited Hong Kong.-PTI

Ratan Tata invests in pet care portal DogSpot.in NEW DELHI: Top industrialist Ratan Tata has invested in pet care portal DogSpot.in, continuing the slew of investments he has made in various startups globally.

However, the value of the investment was not disclosed.

"Ratan Tata has invested an undisclosed amount in DogSpot.in. Ronnie Screwala also invested in this round along with a few new and existing investors," DogSpot.in co-founder and CEO Rana Atheya said.

The other investors in this round include Ashok Mittal, Rishi Parti, Dheeraj Jain and Abhijeet Pai. "The investment by Mr Tata is an endorsement of the long held belief by us and our investors that the Indian pet care sector is going through a phase of huge growth and transformation.� -PTI

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Govt examining black money report NEW DELHI: Reports on quantum of black money stashed in India and abroad are under examination of the government, about a year and a half after submission, the Finance Ministry has said.

The previous UPA government had in March 2011 commissioned studies,

by Delhi-based National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), and National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM) at Faridabad, on estimation of unaccounted income or wealth both inside and outside the country.-PTI

HSBC cuts ties with UK Islamic charity over 'terror' fears LONDON: UK-based banking giant HSBC has ended its links with Britain's biggest governmentfunded Muslim charity allegedly over fears of terror funding.

The bank had taken the decision to cut ties with Islamic Relief a year ago amid concerns that cash for aid could end up with terrorist groups abroad, 'The Sunday Times' reported.

The decision, which has not been made public before, has upset the charity that receives millions of pounds from the UK's Department for International Development (DfID).

Islamic Relief says HSBC's stance led to delays in buying tents for survivors of the Nepal earthquake last year.

HSBC has halted services for other Muslim groups in the past, but Islamic Relief - which operates in more than 40 countries - is the most high-profile to be affected.

Imran Madden, Islamic Relief's UK director, said discussions took place with HSBC in 2014 in which "the bank felt it difficult to continue its relationship with us due to the nature of our work".

Madden told the newspaper:

"They invited us to end the relationship which we did at the end of the year. We were and remain extremely surprised by HSBC's stance.

"Islamic Relief's mission is to alleviate poverty and suffering where most needed and that means

tinue to be trusted to deliver aid in such places by governments and by other financial institutions."

The charity was set up in 1984, and from 2012-14 received about 4 million pounds from DfID's aid budget including funds to educate children affected by the Syrian war.

we are committed to operating in complex conflicts where proscribed organizations are sometimes active.

"It appears that this is deemed a risk too far by HSBC, but we con-

DfID said funding was subject to "rigorous checks".

A source close to the charity told the 'Times', its problems with HSBC stem from its work in the Middle East, including projects in

Gaza and Syria.

The Israeli government had banned Islamic Relief from the West Bank in 2014, accusing it of funneling money to Hamas, which Israel, the US and EU regard as a terrorist group. The charity denies the claim and said an independent audit found no evidence to support it a view shared by the DEC and DfID. The charity, which spent more than 70 million pounds in 2014, still banks with other major British banks Barclays and NatWest, according to its accounts.

HSBC said: "Whenever we review a customer relationship, we gather information from a wide range of sources and take a number of factors into consideration.

"For a business customer these factors would typically include the type of activities the business is involved in, the jurisdictions in which it operates and the products and services it uses.

"Although we can't always be specific about why we decide to close an account, a decision of this kind is never taken lightly and is never due to the customer's race or religion." -PTI

Oil prices rise after Saudi cuts ties with Iran SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose in Asia after crude kingpin Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran following a row over Tehran's execution of a Shiite cleric.

Saudi Arabia announced the decision a day after protesters ransacked its embassy in Tehran over the execution of a Shiite cleric.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Iranian diplomats had 48 hours to leave the kingdom and Iran's supreme leader said Saudi Arabia would face "quick consequences" for executing the cleric.

Fearing further upheaval in the already volatile Middle East, the United States has urged re-

gional leaders to take measures to soothe tensions.

fears that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East may threaten the

"Oil started the new year on the mend, as Asian markets reacted to

supply of oil," said Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG Markets in

Singapore.

Despite the rise, Aw said however that the persistent global crude oversupply will continue to weigh down on prices over the longer term.

"Unless we see a convincing drop in oil output from these two nations, and the broader oil producing community, the supply glut issue will persist, which means oil prices would remain under pressure for a longer period," he said.

Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which last month decided against cutting output levels despite a plunge in oil prices. Iran is also a key OPEC member. -AFP

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Develop tech for engines, automakers told NEW DELHI: Calling upon automakers to develop homegrown technologies to build environment-friendly car engines un-

der the Make in India drive, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said encouraging such endeavors will help them save on huge royalty

Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari

Tata Steel's Scotland workers get new package LONDON: A number of key employees at Indian steel giant Tata Steel's two Scottish plants on the verge of closure will be retained on a 60 per cent salary as part of a new 195,000-pounds government support package, the Scottish government has announced.

Britain's biggest steelmaker had announced last year that Dalzell and Clydebridge plants in Lanarkshire region would be mothballed, resulting in 270 job losses, while blaming the closure

on a flood of cheap imports from China, a strong pound and high electricity costs.

Scotland's business minister Fergus Ewing announced the package, saying the government's move was a positive development in the quest to save some of those jobs and secure a future for Scottish steel.

Besides receiving 60 per cent of their gross salary, the retained staff will also receive training to ensure the plants can reopen quickly should production resume. The number of what it termed as 'key' staff was, however,

not specified.

"It is critical for any new commercial operator intending on restarting production at Dalzell and Clydebridge to be able to get the mothballed plants quickly up and running again after a period of inactivity.

"So we have agreed to work with the existing management and trade unions to retain and develop the nucleus of a manufacturing team," Ewing said.

"That will be attractive to prospective buyers who seek the knowledge and insight to maximize the productive capability of the sites," he added.

But the Opposition Labor member of Scottish Parliament, James Kelly, warned: "The 195,000 pounds will provide limited support to retain the skills of key staff and support infrastructure at the plants.

"The SNP (Scottish National Party) government has previously made optimistic noises about finding a buyer. A more substantial support package is needed to attract a potential buyer."

Meanwhile, Tata Steel has been in exclusive talks to sell its European Long Products business to venture capital firm, Greybull Capital.

The business includes the Dalzell plant in Motherwell and Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang areas of Scotland. -PTI

costs.

"Even today despite more than 90 per cent indigenization some of our car manufactures have been paying royalties for technology of over Rs 4,000 crore every year.

They will not be required to do so if they develop indigenous technologies," Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari told PTI. The automakers should encourage indigenous technologies under Make in India drive, the minister said while stressing that nation is battling with the problem of pollution and this could be their contribution to check it.

Citing example of Brazil, he said, "Flex fuel is available for all major brands, whether Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Honda or Hyundai.

Flex engine is there. In the same

tank you can use petrol and ethanol."

"Why can't the automobile manufacturers here get indigenous technologies?" he wondered, asserting that such an initiative would not only reduce pollution but would help in diversification of agriculture.

"Agriculture economy is facing lots of problems...thousands of our farmers are committing suicide. We will definitely encourage

Congress blames NDA for GST delay

diversification of agriculture towards energy, power and bio-plastics which in turn would strengthen the hands of poor farmers," he said.

He said ethanol could be manufactured from a wide variety of crop yields right from sugarcane to wheat and rice.

Promotion to biofuel could cut on huge crude import bill which is to the tune of Rs 8 lakh crore per annum, he said and added this would not only boost the economy but also curb pollution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a public rally at Noida

NEW DELHI: Blaming NDA's 'stubborn and unbending' attitude for the GST logjam, Congress has said the ball was in the government's court even as it targeted the ruling dispensation over the handling of economy, which the party claimed was "stuck in a groove".

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said 2015 has ended on a "somber and subdued note" and many promises of the government - more jobs, greater investment and quicker infrastructure development - have not materialized "...The economy is stuck in a groove," he said.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC, the senior Congress leader said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Congress President and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to a meeting, where they gave their three precise objections on the GST bill.

"What did the Prime Minister say ... we will come back to you after reflecting within the government. That's almost a month now.

We have not received the written response of the government or the revised formulation of the government on the three principal objections".

He said the ball is entirely in the government's court and it is for them to come back and "tell us whether they are accepting our objection (on GST bill), whether they are revising formulation, whether they are amending sections".-PTI

on December 31 had also appealed to farmers of Uttar Pradesh to switch to ethanol production in case of surplus sugar production so that they not only earn profit but also contribute to minimize vehicular pollution.

Gadkari said if such biofuel friendly vehicles would be available, it would help farmers.

At the same time he said the government focus was also on electric vehicles and ISRO scien-

Promotion to biofuel could cut on huge crude import bill which is to the tune of Rs 8 lakh crore per annum, he said and added this would not only boost the economy but also curb pollution. tists have already developed indigenous lithium ion battery at a mere Rs 5 lakh in comparison to imported Rs 55 lakh to power buses.

"We plan to convert 1.5 lakh state transport corporation buses into electric buses... We have already gifted one such bus to Parliament. Many Indian companies have shown interest in developing the retrofit solutions under Make in India drive for diesel to electric conversion," he said.

He added one such bus will save the environment 48,000 kg of CO2 on an annual basis. -PTI

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Modi calls for self-reliance in defense manufacturing TUMAKURU, Karnataka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a strong pitch for India's selfreliance in defense production, saying it has to be ensured that the weaponry and equipment its soldiers carry should be "the best in the world".

"If India has to be self-reliant in the area of security, we have to make our own weapons," he said.

"Indian Armed Forces are ready to make any sacrifice for the country and are second to none. But the time has come now to ensure that the weapons and equipment they carry and use are also the best in the world," he said addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for a Rs 5,000 crore greenfield helicopter project of HAL at Biderhalla Kaval in the district.

The Prime Minister said imported weapons were expensive and India had to spend huge sums of money for defense acquisition.

"We import weapons from other countries to equip our armed forces. India not only spends crores of rupees but also gets relatively not so latest technology," he said.

To address the problem, Modi said, before striking a deal for import of weaponry India was now buying only a part of the order directly from the manufacturers and

what has been ordered only if it is made in India," he said.

"Indian Armed Forces should be second to none. Its weaponry has to be second to none," he said.

production, Modi said he wanted the first totally indigenously produced helicopter to lift-off from the facility by 2018.

"I have another dream that within

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the foundation stone laying ceremony for HAL's Helicopter Factory, at Tumakuru, Karnataka on January 3. Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, Union Minister for Defence Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah and other dignitaries are also seen

for the rest it was insisting on manufacturing it in the country.

"We say we will buy the rest of

Describing the HAL helicopter project as a new effort towards making India self-reliant in defense

15 years of that lift off, 600 helicopters made here reach the Armed Forces, to the government for the

benefit of the country," he said.

He said the project is expected to bring in huge investments to Tumakuru district and generate 4000 jobs directly or indirectly.

"What is being set up here is no ordinary factory and very soon this district is going to come on the world map," Modi said.

The helicopter facility, for which Karnataka government has allotted 610 acres, will house composite parts manufacturing unit and helicopter transmission manufacturing unit. HAL will also build an integrated township.

To begin with, HAL expects light utility helicopter to fly out from this facility once the plant gets ready.

Advanced light helicopter Dhruv, multi-role new generation helicopter in 5.5 tonne weight class, indigenously designed and developed by HAL, will also be made at the facility.

According to HAL Chairman and Managing Director Suvarna Raju, the facility, which will produce three to 10-tonne class helicopters, will boost to the country's aviation capability in the helicopter segment. -PTI

Industry must join research Govt focusing on R&D in railways: Prabhu in India: Rao MYSURU: Noting that the industry was yet to contribute a significant amount on research in the country, eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna awardee C N R Rao has said at least 30-40 per cent of the share of scientific work must be borne by the industry.

Addressing the 103rd Indian Science Congress, Rao said with the right investment from both industry and government, dedicated hard work of the scientific community and a society with scientific temper, nothing can prevent India from being on top of the world in about 10-15 years.

Noting that all the money for science and technology comes from government, he said "our industry is yet to contribute a significant amount on research."

"We cannot go on blaming the government asking them for more money or land... At least 30-40 per cent of the share of scientific work in India must be borne by industry," he added.

Delivering Bharat Ratna Sir M Vishveshwarya lecture on 'Doing Science in India' at the event after the inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said no democratic country of the size of India has ever faced the challenges of India, but we can still do it.

C N R Rao

"In spite of a large number of institutions, India is not doing as well in terms of the amount of scientific research that comes out of the country," he said as he expressed worry about its quality.

Rao said India will have to first

invest in education to improve the quality of research in the country.

"Our investment in education is just 2 per cent of the GDP of which hardly 0.4 per cent is for higher education...," he said.

"Unless we improve our science and technology institutions how can we ever come up with startup companies, innovations. All those have to come from these institutions."

Stating that he represented "small science", Rao complained that most of the money for science in the country goes to "big science", referring to atomic energy and space science. "...I appeal to our Prime Minister, appeal to our Finance Minister, unless you support small science in India, I don't see how India will prosper...," he said.

He said, "...15 to 20 years if we don't progress and get on to the top of the world we will lose, because world will change. So we have to do it soon." -PTI

JAMMU: Railway Minister "Economy was in shambles, inSuresh Prabhu has voiced confi- flation was high, growth was down, dence that railways would help but after Narendra Modi took over, push India's GDP by 2.5 per cent he brought the country out of the in the coming years, asserting that economic mess," he said.

Narendra Modi government was "The world is now looking forespecially focusing on research ward to invest in our country. We and development works so that need investment from other counthe transporter acts as a growth tries to not only build infrastrucengine. ture but also to help eradicate povEarlier, little effort was made in the field of research and develop- "In the coming years the ment in the railways.

However, the NDA gov- railway will contribute 2.5 ernment has signed per cent to the GDP agreements with 14 countries including Ja- growth in the country," pan and Korea to un- Prabhu said. dertake research and development works, the minister said at a function at Jammu railway station. erty.

"In the coming years the railForeign investment in China way will contribute 2.5 per cent to helped eradicate its poverty," he the GDP growth in the country," said.

Prabhu said.

He said that the growth of InHe said that Prime Minister dia under Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi and Finance Min- Modi has surpassed the growth ister Arun Jaitley helped revive the of China. economy of the country.

"After Narendra Modi took "One-and-a-half years ago the over as Prime Minister, India has economic situation of the country surpassed the growth of China. In was in a mess and the world had our country, foreign direct investlost faith and was not ready to in- ment (FDI) has increased as comvest in the country. pared to China," Prabhu said.-PTI

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China lands 'test flight' on disputed island BEIJING: China has for the first time landed a plane on an artificial island it has built in a contested part of the strategic South China Sea, prompting Vietnam to accuse Beijing of "serious infringement" of its sovereignty.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China conducted a "test flight" to check whether the airfield facilities met the standards for civil aviation.

Hua said the test flight was civilian in nature, adding that the "relevant activity falls completely within China's sovereignty".

"China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters. China will not accept the unfounded accusation from the Vietnamese side," she said, referring to the Spratly Islands by their Chinese name.

China said it has complete sovereignty over Fiery Cross Reef and had used a civilian plane to test the airstrip.

The South China Sea is rich in natural resources. It is also a major shipping lane. Over half of the world's commercial shipping

passes through the Indo-Pacific waterways including one-third of the world s liquefied natural gas.

China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, resulting in overlapping claims with several other Asian nations like Vietnam and the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

They accuse China of illegally reclaiming land in contested areas

In Hanoi, the foreign ministry said it has handed a protest note to China's embassy and asked Beijing not to repeat the action.

It described the flight "a serious infringement of the sovereignty of Vietnam on the Spratly archipelago".

Meanwhile, the United States has said it was concerned that the flight had exacerbated tensions.

to create artificial islands with facilities that could potentially be for military use.

The Vietnamese foreign ministry said the airfield was built illegally on a part of the Spratly archipelago that lies within its territory.

Pooja Jhunjhunwala, a spokeswoman for the US State Department, said there was "a pressing need for claimants to publicly commit to a reciprocal halt to further land reclamation, construction of new facilities, and militarization of disputed features".-PTI

China's 2nd aircraft carrier to focus on military ops BEIJING: China's second air- needs a second carrier, as the craft carrier, which is now under country is seeking to improve its construction, will focus more on defense systems and safeguard military operations training and national interests. technological experiments to im"The PLA needs at least three prove its defense systems as the aircraft carriers. When it does, one 2.3 million strong PLA undergoes can be on duty, one can train permassive revamp. sonnel, and the third can receive "This aircraft carrier will have maintenance," he said. different missions than those for China's second aircraft carrier the Liaoning (the country's first is under construction in the aircraft carrier)," said Senior Captain Zhang Junshe with the The new carrier has been People's Liberation Army Naval Military designed in China and will Studies Research Insti- have a displacement of tute.

50,000 metric tons & a con"We use the (the first carrier) Liaoning to ventional power system test the reliability and compatibility of systems on carriers, and to train per- coastal city of Dalian, Liaoning sonnel. The second carrier will province, Defense Ministry mainly do what a genuine aircraft spokesman Yang Yujun told mecarrier is supposed to do: running dia last week. combat patrols and delivering huThe new carrier has been demanitarian aid. Liaoning, which signed in China and will have a was refurbished after its hull was displacement of 50,000 metric bought from Ukraine, is in opera- tons, a conventional power systion since 2013," Zhang was tem, and will carry domestically quoted as saying by the official developed J-15 fighter jets and People's Liberation Army Daily. other ship-borne aircraft, Yang Zhang said China urgently said.-PTI

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he deserts fascinate from a distance but it is only the true lovers of sun and sand who make it their homes and create miracles smack in the middle of the dry arid land mass. The city of Bikaner narrates a similar tale of hardship and bravery of the founder, Rao Bikaji, a descendant of Rao Jodhaji.

Bikaner city was founded in 1488 from Jangaldesh or the country of wild bushes. It has been almost 550 years since its inception and the city has spread across the desert and has also acquired expertise viz, camel breeding and dry irrigation which is unique to it. Bikaner city alongwith its rocky scrubland, is located on an elevated plain in the desert. The old city is encompassed by a long embattlement wall which intermittently breaks to give way to five huge gates. Now a major trade center for wool, building stones, carpets, blankets, salt and grain, Bikaner has emerged as

January 8, 2016

the lifeline of the state.

The handicraft industry of Bikaner and especially the ivory and lacquer ware articles are exquisite. The city acquires a yellowish red hue from the presence of various red and yellow sandstone buildings. The fortified town has a medieval charm about it which oozes from every street traversed by the tourists.

Bikaner is renowned for the innovative idea of the filter (intricately carved Jharokas) specially created to provide

the womenfolk with a window to view the proceedings outside whilst being hidden.

Apart from the regular tourism features associated with the desert, Bikaner boasts of a unique thriving market of various Rajasthani art forms. The taste buds can be satiated with a wide assortment of Bhujias, Rasgullas, Papad and Thandai. The Usta art of miniature paintings and gold embossing which is undertaken upon the ceilings, walls, pillars of buildings as well as wooden & glass items and ivory is a specialty of Bikaner.

Tourist Attractions Gajner Palace: The Royal family of Bikaner has created many architectural marvels in Bikaner. The Gajner Palace, often remembered as 'a jewel in Thar desert', was conceptualized as a summer resort for the royal families.

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Centennial seen as chance to boost parks WASHINGTON: Under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the nation prepared for the 50th birthday of the National Park Service with a spending splurge that refurbished Independence Hall in Philadelphia and helped complete the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway.

Next year, the world-famous system turns 100 and the celebration will be far more modest.

The Obama administration and Republican lawmakers have vastly different ideas about what to do.

Both parties agree that the country's national parks and historic sites could use some sprucing up. Their shared goal is to use the centennial to improve trails, visitor centers, campgrounds and other park features that need maintenance work.

The question is how much of a dent Congress will make in a system-wide maintenance backlog with an estimated $11.5 billion price tag.

President Barack Obama has recommended spending an additional $1.5 billion on the parks over a three-year period. Republican leaders in Congress have a smaller birthday present in mind.

Just the fact they are open to greater investment, though, is being viewed as a promising first step by some Democrats.

Areas of agreement include lifting the price of the $10 lifetime park pass for seniors to $80 and enacting a lodging tax for those who stay overnight, though how much and whether it should apply to

campers as well as hotel guests, will have to be worked out in the months ahead.

The administration and lawmakers are also looking to use some of the additional federal dollars to leverage private-sector donations and endowments.

Committee.

Democrats say Congress has simply failed to make the national parks a priority. The budget over the past five years has been largely flat, increasing from $3.16 billion to $3.24 billion, though Congress did just boost spending by

Throngs of tourists have been showing up in big numbers at national parks, including Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, pictured above.

Lawmakers go into the debate with different views on why the parks system is failing to keep up with basic maintenance. Republicans point to Congress's appetite for adding new units to the parks system, diluting the pot of federal dollars into ever-smaller slices. ``It's fun and sexy to add a new unit to the Park Service. It's not fun or sexy to talk about fixing a sewer system,'' said Rep. Rob Bishop, the Republican chairman of the House Natural Resources

more than $200 million in this year's budget.

Complaints about the backlog extend decades. For instance, President George W. Bush noted during a 2001 speech at Everglades National Park that ``many parks lack the resources they need for basic care and maintenance.''

He promised to restore and renew America's national parks. At the time, the maintenance backlog stood at about $5.5 billion. The September 11 terror attacks would

soon upend the nation's spending priorities though.

Most of the nation's 409 park units have a piece of the backlog.

Alcatraz, the former federal prison in California, has crumbling walls and deteriorated windows. ``The walls leak, concrete falls off the building, rust jacking is causing the building to move and crack...,'' the National Park Service said in a report to Congress this past year detailing its budget requests.

Mammoth Cave in Kentucky needs to have dirt trails replaced for safety reasons. ``Without this project the park may have to severely curtail visitor access to Mammoth Cave and eliminate significant visitor experiences,'' the Park Service said.

And a historic hotel at Glacier National Park needs a new fire sprinkler system and other work. ``Failure to rehabilitate this building will pose serious health and life safety threats to park visitors and park and concession employees,'' the Park Service wrote.

Congress is just beginning to take a closer look at the administration's request for more money and the debate will extend well into 2016. In a recent hearing, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, called the backlog a travesty, but she said that spending $1.5 billion without identifying how most of that money would be raised was troubling. Other Republicans agreed.

Meanwhile, draft legislation that Bishop is putting together provides too little help, Democratic lawmakers said when reviewing it. ``Making a dent in the maintenance backlog is going to require a significant investment,'' said Democratic Rep. Niki Tsongas of Massachusetts. ``New revenue generated by fees will not solve this problem.''

Lawmakers from both parties are interested in using federal dollars to generate more private sector investments in the parks. They want to follow the model of a program called the Centennial Challenge in which the federal government spent $10 million and other groups and individuals pitched in about $16 million.

Obama has upped the ante, calling for federal spending of up to $100 million over each of the next three years to be matched with private contributions from individuals, foundations or businesses. ``It's essential the federal government have skin in the game. The first question I get from prospective donors: Is the Park Service invested?'' said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, a charity that raises money for park improvements.

The big-ticket item in Obama's request is $900 million that would address non-transportation infrastructure. Roads and bridges make up about half of the maintenance backlog, and administration officials will use the recently passed highway bill to direct more money there. -AP

Large national parks hit visitation records FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.: Many of the country's most prominent national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Zion, set new visitation records in 2015 and are bracing for what could be an even busier new year.

The National Park Service celebrates its 100th birthday in 2016 and has been urging Americans to rediscover the country's scenic wonders or find new parks to visit through marketing campaigns that include giving free passes to every fourth-grader and their families.

So the attendance records could be short lived, with even bigger crowds expected next year. ``Everybody's getting psyched and ready for it,'' Yellowstone spokeswoman Sandra SnellDobert said. ``We want people to have a good experience when it comes to our national parks. We're trying to keep that wonderful experience while managing large

numbers of people.''

Overall visitation to national parks is on track to hit 300 million in 2015, besting last year's all-time high of nearly 293 million. Absent December totals, Grand Canyon in northern Arizona hit almost 5.3 million visits. Zion in Utah is over 3.5 million. Yellowstone, which stretches into Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, is nearing 4.1 million.

Yosemite in California is about 220,000 visits shy of the 1996

record - 4.2 million - with November and December still left to count.

The past year has meant some adjusting for parks as they manage the crowds. Yosemite lowered the entrance fees during the late fall and winter partly to encourage visitors to consider times other than the busy summer. Zion extended its shuttle bus service when the parking lots became too full for people to access the canyon. It

Visitors at Tunnel View, like Kaori Nishimura and Eriko Kuboi, from Japan, center enjoy the views of Yosemite National Park, Calif.

also brought in interns to help study peak times.

The Grand Canyon opened up its residential and employee entrance at the South Rim to those who already had passes over holiday weekends and plans to do the same in 2016. It's also ramped up hiring for entrance gate employees but will move them around jobs so they don't get burned out, said Grand Canyon revenue and fee business manager Marlon Avantyr. ``We survived this year pretty much unscathed, just tired, but in a good way,'' he said. ``We have a good plan and a good idea of what to expect, so we're hoping to stay ahead of the curve.''

More signs around national parks will help direct traffic and officials plan to use social media to help visitors better plan their trips. Park officials say they'll rely more on seasonal workers, interns and volunteers who might sug-

gest less-busy areas to visit or alternate times. The Park Service's fiscal year 2016 budget includes $8 million for seasonal employees during the centennial, the agency said.

Some decisions on crowd-management will be made on the fly, said Zion spokeswoman Aly Baltrus. ``We're constantly looking for what's needed,'' she said. ``But at this point we don't have an influx of funds, so we're rearranging things as best as we can.''

At nearly 2,000 square miles, the Grand Canyon has plenty of room for visitors to branch out for river trips, backcountry hikes and to dozens of lookout points.

However, the South Rim remains the most popular tourist spot. Just this year, the park proposed charging at least $5 for day hikes beyond 5 miles on major trails from the north and south rims to ease congestion. -AP

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Junagarh Fort: The famous fort of Junagarh was constructed by Raja Rai Singh in 1593. The fort is one of its kind with a strong, innovative and formidable structure which is encircled by a water moat which is believed to have bred crocodiles in the past. An amazing network of havelis with courtyards and balconies, watch towers, armory and halls, the fort exudes an aura of red sandstone (Dulmera) and marble. The grand fort has a long rampart which is almost 1000m long and is studded with

37 bastions and two entrances.

Lallgarh Palace: The Lallgarh Palace named after Maharaj Lal Singh is an architectural marvel in red sandstone, dedicated by his loving son, Maharaja Ganga Singh. The palace has been tastefully designed and decorated with liberal help from the British designer Col Swinton Jacob.

Sadul Singh Museum: The Sadul Singh Museum covering the entire first floor of the Lalgarh Palace is dedicated to the lives and exploits of three successive kings of Bikaner, Maharaja Ganga Singh, Sadul Singh and Karni Singh. The Museum depicts these three kings and their passions through numerous artifacts, dis-

plays as well as photographs and life size paintings in more than 20 rooms. The royal family of Bikaner

still resides in one part of the palace.

Jain Temple: One of the dis-

tinct monuments of Bikaner is the famous Jain temple dedicated to the 5th Tirthankar of the Jain religion, Shri Sumati Nath ji. The temple constructed in the 15th century is one of the o l d e s t shrines in the area.

Karni M a t a Te m p l e : One of its kind, the

Karni Mata temple at Deshnoke is world famous for its, hold your breath, rat worship. Thousands of black, grey as well as the special white rats (kaba) reside within the shrine premises. The temple is 600 years old and it is widely believed that feeding the rats at this temple and getting touched by them would bring good fortune.

Kote Gate: The chronic shopaholic never misses the whiff of local market food stuff and the bylanes which are hidden from the world, carving out magnificent masterpieces for

throwaway prices. The Kote gate in Bikaner is one such place which is full of surprises for the ardent shopper. Being a part of history has endowed Bikaner with numerous art forms and handicraft artisans who produce creative wonders relentlessly.

Station Road: Bikaner's dusty streets and rustic bylanes are replete with numerous shops and small time vendors ready to sell their wares for a price. What is required is little bit of bargaining ability and a lot of patience, of course alongwith some money.

The Station Road market is one such fabulous place where it is possible to acquire embroidered footwear (jootis), local fabrics, leather goods and wood as well as traditional artifacts.

Best time to visit: Generally Bikaner has both extreme climates, hot and cool. The best season to visit this place is between October to March.

How to reach

By Train: Bikaner railway station is well connected to the cities of Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Kalka and Bhatinda. Bikaner Express and Bikaner Mail are commonly preferred trains.

By Air: The nearest airport to Bikaner is Jodhpur, which is 250 km away. This is a domestic airport, connecting to metros in India and some few other cities in North.

By Bus: Plenty of bus services are available from Bikaner to Delhi, Jodhpur, Agra, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Udaipur and Kota.

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Tourist arrivals up, earnings went down NEW DELHI: With 113 countries availing e-visa facility, Tourism Ministry boasted of attracting over 8 lakh foreign tourists in 2015.

Despite the number of inbound tourists going up steadily in 2015, Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma attracted attention for not so positive reasons as the development over Dadri incident and Nehru Memorial kept him busy for a considerable period.

There were about 8.15 lakh foreign tourists till November as against 7.65 lakh for the corresponding period last year, a growth of 6.5 per cent.

However, foreign exchange earnings from tourism witnessed a decline. Government earned Rs 11,610 crore forex till November as against Rs 12,988 crore for the same period last year, a decrease

of 10.6 per cent.

"The perception about tourism in India in the world scenario

changed in the last year and the positive results are expected to be fructified in the coming days with

More European tourists visiting Kerala THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tourist arrivals from Europe have registered a remarkable 4.8 per cent increase in 'God's Own Country' Kerala during the year till October despite the Eurozone recovery losing steam.

A total of 4,20,247 European travelers arrived in the state between January and October this year as against 4,01,063 during the whole of last year amid many West European countries struggling to protect their economies in the aftermath of the Greek debt crisis and the downturn in China, an official release said here.

"Europe remains the number one traditional market for Kerala while we have been able to create strong markets in several countries abroad along with finding new ones," state Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar said in the release.

"This is evident from the fact that more tourists from European countries have visited our state so far this year compared to last year in spite of their economies encountering hurdles in a full recovery," he said.

More tourists continued to arrive in Kerala last year even from countries like Italy, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Germany, whose less than expected economic growth is worrying financial analysts.

"The tourism industry in our state, which has been built over the last many decades by the strong commitment of the govern-

ments, the participation of the common people and the lasting will of the private sector, will always strive harder to achieve higher growth," the Minister said.

The marketing campaign by Kerala Tourism over the years to create a spread of strong markets while continuing to explore new markets has significantly contributed to the situation where there was no over dependence on any particular country.

As per the statistics pertaining to this year, arrivals from Europe showed an overall inc r e a s e across the continent with United Kingdom, the state's number one market, accounting for 1,25,795 tourists this year as against 1,19,605 in the whole of last year, it said.

The number of tourists who visited the state from France and Germany stood at 75,216 and 61,962 respectively till October compared to 73,368 and 59,225 last year.

From Italy, one of the countries affected by sluggish economic recovery, 20,489 tourists have vis-

ited the state up to October against 19,740 last year.

Even from countries like Spain, severely affected by the financial meltdown, the number of visitors to the state so far this year has been more than last year's, at 9,912 compared to 9,411 in 2014, the release said.

Traditional attractions like Ayurveda and the backwaters

have remained popular among foreign tourists, especially those from Europe, while new tourism products like Village Life Experience have been attracting more and more visitors to the state.

The marketing campaigns by Kerala Tourism in countries like Belgium besides the UK and Germany are expected to be significant in boosting foreign tourist arrivals from Europe in the coming years, the release added. -PTI

a significant rise in the inbound tourists to various destinations in the country," Sharma told PTI. He said a new tourism policy aiming at robust growth in the sector is likely to be unfolded shortly.

"We are in the process of finalization of the policy and it will be out soon. Aim is to make robust growth in the sector expanding the horizon," he said, adding "our aim is to attract one per cent share of world tourist arrivals."

On the culture front, he said, "We tried to showcase India's rich heritage and culture to the international audience."

Defending the change of director in Nehru Memorial, he said, "There were some irregularities committed by the previous government and we tried to set it right.

"The previous government ap-

pointed a person on a holiday on May 14. The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cleared the file 48 hours before he demitted office.

Why didn't they complete this exercise a month before demitting office," he asked, adding, "The irregularity has been done by the Congress."

Rangarajan resigned on September 17 and the government accepted his resignation.

On controversies like Dadri and returning of awards by writers and artistes, Sharma blamed his political rivals for engineering these before Bihar elections. "Now with elections over, these things are also over. So all these things were done by them before Bihar polls."

He said 113 countries have got e-visa facilities and the number will reach 150 shortly. -PTI

Gujarat announces tourism calendar PANAJI: The Gujarat government has announced their tourism calendar for 2016 with several events like Rann Utsav, international kite festival and Vibrant Gujarat Travel Mart being in the offer for tourists.

"With the onset of holiday season, Gujarat tourism is setting up a red carpet for tourists from all over India," Chairman, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat, Kamlesh Patel told a press conference here.

Patel said Rann Utsav which began on November 18 this year will culminate in February, 2016.

The festival has been the winner of the National Tourism award

by Union Ministry of Tourism.

"The arid land of Kutch blossoms into a magical world during the Rann Utsav. The specially set up tents give an unusual experience of staying in the wilderness while enjoying the cozy comforts of a star hotel," he said.

"It is a unique experience. Tourists can explore, embroidery and handicrafts villages in the vicinity and other interesting sightseeing

places," he added.

The international kite festival is scheduled on January 14, 2016 on the festival of 'Makar Sankranti'.

"It is one of the most colorful events in Gujarat. The sky around cities like Ahmedabad is filled with colorful kites all around. Over 100 international kitists from more than 24 countries, spanning all continents are this year taking part in the event," Patel said.

He said the state government and Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd, in association with FICCI, are organizing Vibrant Gujarat International Travel Mart (VGITM), a global travel exposition from February 19-21, 2016 in Gandhinagar to promote tourism in the state.

"The exposition is designed to facilitate business interactions among travel professionals from Gujarat and across the world, thereby unleashing significant business opportunities between Gujarat-based travel fraternity and International travel trade," Patel added. -PTI

In Brief Pak singer Sami gets Indian citizenship NEW DELHI: Pakistani singer Adnan Sami has been granted Indian citizenship with effect from January 1 following his request to the Centre to legalize his status in the country on humanitarian grounds.

Sami was on a three-month visa extension which was given to him on October 6 by the Ministry.

The 46-year-old singer, who has made India his second home for the past few years, had made a representation to the Home Ministry on May 26 this year requesting his stay in India on humanitarian grounds.

Lahore-born Sami had first arrived in India on March 13, 2001 on a visitor's visa with the validity of one year which was issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

His visa was extended from time to time. His Pakistani passport issued on May 27, 2010 expired on May 26, 2015 and his passport was not renewed by the Pakistan government which led him to approach the Indian government with the request to legalize his stay in India on humanitarian grounds.

Sami's two songs from the album, 'Kabhi To Nazar Milao' and 'Lift Karaa De', whose music video starred actor Govinda, were a sensation in the early 2000s.

This year the singer tasted success after his song 'Bhar do jholi meri' in Salman Khan-starrer 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' was a smash hit. -PTI

„ Omaha's Little Italy area gets new life OMAHA, Neb.: A redevelopment project would bring 19 new town houses to Omaha's Little Italy neighborhood, an urban corridor where new residences, restaurants and other businesses have replaced unkempt lots and boarded-up structures.

New development now dots the old neighborhood. The changes excite some residents of the old neighborhood, though other longtime residents aren't so sure. ``You can't imagine how thrilled I am to see my neighborhood come alive again,'' said Nancy Calinger, who raised a family there and sold the town house parcel to the developer.

Her parents, Salvatore and Maria D'Agosta, migrated from Sicily and joined fellow immigrants in the hilly neighborhood just blocks west of the Missouri River.

The newcomers worked for the railroads, ran bakeries and pizzerias, and opened small businesses that catered to their ethnic community. -AP

Immigration

'Affluenza' teen held at Mexican holding center

44 India Post

www.indiapost.com

January 8, 2016

Details on page 46

US cites immigration assessment, India tells it to honor visas NEW DELHI: The US has conveyed that the decision to deny entry to Indian students was not because of black-listing of two California-based institutions but based on the immigration assessment of individuals even as India asserted that American authorities need to honor visas issued by them.

The Indian reaction came after more Indians travelling on business/tourism/work visas have been deported recently.

In a fresh advisory, External Affairs Ministry here said according to the US Government, the deported persons had presented information to the border patrol agent which was inconsistent with their visa status.

In continuation of December 23 advisory in connection with denial of entry by the US to Indian students having valid student visas to pursue studies in educational institutions - Silicon Valley University at San Jose and Northwestern Polytechnic University, Fremont - the ministry noted that there have been more cases of deportation of Indians.

Subsequently, there have been further cases of denial of entry to

Indian students holding valid visas to pursue studies in other US educational institutions, it said, adding some Indian nationals travelling on business/tourism/ work visas have also been deported.

"The US Government has conveyed that the decision to deny entry to these students is not be-

cause of the corresponding institutions being 'black-listed' but based on the assessment made by the US immigration authorities of individual applicants.

"According to the US Government, the deported persons had presented information to the border patrol agent which was inconsistent with their visa status," the

Apart from travel documents, the students should also carry all required documentation regarding their study plans, housing, financial support, health care arrangements etc.

ministry said while noting that India continues to remain closely engaged with the US Government on this subject.

"We have strongly emphasized the need for the US authorities to honor the visas issued by their own Embassy/Consulates," it added.

Meanwhile, the ministry reiterated that all Indian students seeking admission in US educational institutions should do due diligence to ensure that the institutions to which they are seeking admission have proper authorization and capacities.

Apart from travel documents, the students should also carry all required documentation regarding their study plans, housing, financial support, health care arrangements etc. and be prepared for admission (entry to the US) interviews with US immigration officials, it said.

Similarly, all Indian nationals travelling to the US on other visas are also advised to carry the necessary supporting documentations regarding place of stay, financial support, medical arrangements, sponsorship details etc, the advisory added. -PTI

Texas against unblocking of Obama plan SAN ANTONIO: Texas has asked the U.S. Supreme Court not to review a lower court's decision blocking President Barack Obama's plan to spare millions of immigrants from deportation.

A 42-page brief by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton claims the president's plan to protect millions of immigrants bypasses constitutional authority and established federal laws. A coalition of 26 states, led by Texas, argues that the Obama administration also failed to provide them the notice and opportunity for comment that should have been required before such a major policy change.

At issue is the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Parents of Americans pro-

gram, announced in November 2014 that calls for shielding from deportation and giving work per-

mits to as many as 5 million immigrants, most of whom are the parents of U.S. citizens and lawful

US President Barack Obama

permanent residents.

The states argue in the brief that the ``lawful presence'' granted to immigrants under the program has significant cost repercussions for them, including increased ``healthcare, law-enforcement, and education expenditures.''

Under DAPA immigrants would be eligible to apply for driver's licenses, Social Security, Earned Income Tax Credit, unemployment insurance, Medicare and other benefits. The states claim that as ``one of the largest changes in immigration policy in our Nation's history,'' the plan required notice and comment from stakeholders, including the states, that did not occur.

Cont'd on Page 46

Immigration Post

January 8, 2016

India Post 45

www.indiapost.com

Bringing laughs to raging immigration debate NEW YORK: Let's get one thing straight: Donald Trump is not a consultant to "Bordertown."

To be sure, this new Fox animated comedy does target issues like immigration, the drug war and the embattled American Dream.

But it's been in development since 2007, long before the furor sparked

by Trump upon his entry last June into the presidential race.

The series' premiere deals with a toughest-in-the-nation anti-immigration bill passed by Mexifornia, the U.S. desert community where "Bordertown" is set.

The second episode, airing Jan. 10, is about the construction of a border wall meant to protect Mexifornia from undesirables from down Mexico way.

"It's about time we did something about immigration! The Southwest belongs to retired art teachers and meth-lab entrepreneurs," roars Bud Buckwald, a dunderheaded Border Patrol guard who fears his American Dream is slipping away in an America where

ethnic minorities are projected to become the majority within a few years.

After all, next door to Bud and his family reside the Gonzalezes, whose genial patriarch, Ernesto, has a thriving landscape business after less than a decade settled in the U.S. According to creator Mark Hentemann, "Bordertown" began as a modern-day update of Archie Bunker, the apoplectic working man from the pioneering 1970s sitcom "All in the Family." Like Archie, Bud is "a white guy who feels he's losing his place in the world. He's contrasted with an immigrant who's building a life for himself in the United States."

Growing up in Cleveland, Hentemann was inculcated with a version of the immigration story by his father.

"Every time he had a glass of wine, he would tell my siblings and me how his dad came over from Germany in the '20s with nothing, seeking a better life, working three

jobs," Hentemann recalls. "It was his way to communicate the values he wanted us to embrace, and not take for granted what we have.

Donald Trump

"Every family has their immigration story somewhere back through the decades," he says.

Minnesota expected to get more refugees MINNEAPOLIS: Minnesota is expected to get more refugees in 2016 than it has in any year in the past decade.

The increase is a ripple effect of the migration wave sweeping the Middle East and Europe, the Star Tribune reports.

The federal government is aiming to admit 15,000 more refugees

next year on top of the 70,000 typically accepted due to the Obama administration committing to aid Syrian refugees. Now, Minnesota is gearing up for more refugees.

Resettlement groups expect the mix of refugees' nationalities to remain mostly the same in Minne-

sota. In the fiscal year that ended in September, about 45 percent of refugees were from Somalia, and about 40 percent were Karen refugees from Myanmar.

Minnesota resettled nine Syrians this year, and hasn't heard that more will arrive. ``The reality is that it is unlikely many Syrian refugees will come to

Minnesota, since refugees most often resettle where there is an established community,'' said Bob Oehrig, executive director of resettlement group Arrive Ministries.

Officials at some agencies say it makes sense to continue to fo-

"That's what compelled me to write about this. This show seemed to be an opportunity to do a smart cultural satire."

cus on nationalities that have a large presence in Minnesota. ``If you don't resettle them here, many of them make their way here within weeks of getting resettled in another state,'' said Jane Graupman, executive director of the International Institute of Minnesota. ``All of that uprooting is not good for anyone.''

The number of refugees coming to Minnesota fell in the late 2000s, but has rebounded. There were 2,338 refugees in the last fiscal year, about 60 more than in the previous year. The state remains near the top in the U.S. for refugee resettlement - measured as a share of state population.

Agencies in the Twin Cities area anticipate further increases this fiscal year. Some have agreed to raise arrival numbers of refugees as much as 20 percent, though others say they plan to keep growth to a minimum amid concerns over a drop in the supply of affordable housing.

A gradual decrease in arrivals from Myanmar is expected in the coming years, with the country considered stable enough to halt new refugee registrations. -AP

Even as the broader themes felt second nature to him, Hentemann did not wish to perpetuate stereotypes, so he brought in a team that included Latino writers.

Among them: Lalo Alcaraz, creator of the Latino comic strip, "La Cucaracha," who brings to the show informed details (like Latino men's huge belt buckles and the practice of Christmas lights strewn year-round outside Latino homes).

He regards the show's characters not as stereotypes, but as archetypes.

"My own dad was a gardener and I gardened with him on Saturdays," says Alcaraz. "My mother cleaned houses for middle-class white people in San Diego. I'm from that background."

Alcaraz went on to earn a master's degree in architecture at the University of California at Berkeley, where he found his comic voice reflecting his experience growing up.

Now he describes the arrival of

"Bordertown" - framing the immigrant experience in terms he was born to lampoon - as "Kismet for me, man! The stars aligned!"

Alcaraz co-wrote the "Borderwall" episode with Hentemann more than a year ago.

Their hero, Bud, proposes the wall be paid for with confiscated drug money. But it works too well, destroying the local economy and leaving Bud jobless.

"At the time I remember worrying that all the furor over border walls had kind of faded," says Hentemann. "Was this going to feel old hat when we aired it? Then a few months later Donald Trump announced his candidacy and brought it roaring back into the national conversation."

"He went even further than WE did," adds Alcaraz with a laugh.

"He said, 'The MEXICANS are gonna pay for MY border wall!'"

Reflecting his recent stint running "Family Guy" (and the role of "Family Guy" mastermind Seth MacFarlane as an executive producer), Hentemann's new show takes plenty of shots at pop culture, including Bud's 5-year-old daughter (a chubby beauty-pageant veteran who picks up where Honey Boo Boo left off) as well as the threat of interplanetary aliens, visions of the Virgin Mary, Philip Seymour Hoffman's drug overdose and the WNBA. (Voice talent includes "Family Guy" star Alex Borstein along with Hank Azaria of "The Simpsons" and Judah Friedlander of "30 Rock.")

But "Bordertown" aims to dig deeper than "Family Guy" and the equal-opportunity offensive that propels it.

"I'm excited about the potential of a show like 'Bordertown,'" says Hentemann. "At its best, it could break new ground as a relevant satire in the way that 'All in the Family' did." With or without Donald Trump's inspiration. -AP

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Immigration Post

46 India Post

January 8, 2016

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'Affluenza' teen held at Mexican holding center MEXICO CITY: A Texas teen known for using an "affluenza" defense in a fatal drunken-driving accident is being held at a Mexico City immigration detention center in one of the capital's poorest areas, where he will likely spend weeks, if not months, as he appeals deportation.

A Mexican immigration official said a judge has agreed to hear arguments on the affluent young man's appeal, a process that could take weeks or months. The official

constantly filming in most area other than the common bathrooms.

Armed guards are posted at the outside gates and walls.

Along with three meals per day, Couch will have access to watch TV or movies in one of the Spartan common rooms, or go to an outside patio where there is a basketball court and small soccer pitch.

He will have unlimited access to telephones, and access to medical, dental and psychological care.

However, the Mexico City holding center has been the subject of complaints in the past, especially by detainees held there for extended periods of time. Detainees have complained about the quality of the food and harsh discipline.

The teen's mother, Tonya Couch, was jailed in Los Angeles after being deported from Mexico.

Authorities believe Ethan Couch, who received only probation for the wreck that killed four people, fled to Mexico A woman walks past the compound of the Agujas immigration detention center, with his mother in Novemwhere U.S. fugitive Ethan Couth is being detained in Mexico City. ber as prosecutors investigated whether he had spoke on condition of anonymity Couch will sleep on a cot or violated that probation. because he or she was not autho- bunk in a semi-open bedroom Both were taken into custody rized to be quoted by name. shared with two or three other de- after authorities said a phone call In the meantime, Ethan Couch tainees. Unarmed immigration for pizza led to their capture in the is being held at the Agujas immi- guards patrol the unit, and a Mexican resort city of Puerto gration detention center, where the closed-circuit camera system is Vallarta. -AP official said he will have no special privileges such as the ones high profile criminals can sometimes buy in Mexican prisons.

Couch's wealthy upbringing may not prepare him for the center's common sleeping areas and bathrooms, and concrete wash basins for hand-washing clothes.

The white-washed, highfenced facility usually houses several dozen immigrants, mainly Central Americans.

Texas against unblocking of Obama plan Cont'd from Page 44

``The president alone does not have the authority to grant millions of illegal immigrants a host of benefits - like Social Security and Medicare - which should be reserved for lawful citizens,'' Paxton said in a statement.

The court's current timeframe could allow arguments to be held in April and a decision to be issued two months later. If the justices rule for the administration, Obama would have roughly seven months in office to implement his plan.

Obama said last year that the plan would allow people who have been in the United States more than five years and who have chil-

dren who are in the country legally to ``come out of the shadows and get right with the law.''

The states that challenged the plan have won every round in court so far. Most recently, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for them on Nov. 9.

Paxton's brief says the program represents the type of ``crucial change'' in immigration policy that ``could be created only by Congress.''

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr. said in a subsequent court filing that allowing those rulings to stand would force millions of people ``to continue to work off the books, without the option of lawful employment to provide for their families.''

Paxton's brief says the program represents the type of ``crucial change'' in immigration policy that ``could be created only by Congress.''

Obama said he was spurred to act because Congress failed to pass comprehensive immigration legislation. An earlier program that is not being challenged, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, shields immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. -AP

Trump comments could bias jurors NEW YORK: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's call for a ban on Muslim immigration into the United States will make it difficult to find unbiased jurors for the trial of a man accused of supporting al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the man's lawyer is arguing in court papers.

Minh Quang Pham is expected to go on trial in federal court in Manhattan in February. The Vietnamese man has pleaded not guilty to supporting al-Qaida.

But Pham's attorney is asking a judge to allow additional questioning of potential jurors, arguing that recent terrorist attacks in the U.S. and Paris and Trump's statements calling for a ban on Muslim immigration into the U.S. will make it difficult to find unbiased prospects. ``His statements have become a rallying cry inciting public fear of Muslims and the desire to ostracize and marginalize the followers of Islam,'' attorney Bobbi

Sternheim said of Trump in court papers. ``The defense believes that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to seat a truly impartial New York City jury in the current climate of Islamophobia and hatred of Muslims.''

Sternheim is asking the judge to allow lawyers in the case to conduct additional questioning of prospective jurors to help in ``rooting out prejudice and bias'' among the jury pool. Typically, defense attorneys and prosecutors propose questions to the judge, who handles the questioning.

Authorities allege Pham traveled from the United Kingdom to Yemen in 2010 and received training from the extremist group. Pham was arrested at Heathrow International Airport when he returned in July 2011 from a six-month trip to Yemen, where prosecutors say he pledged his support to high-level members of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and vowed to fight for jihad. -AP

An Indian Muslim wears a mask of US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and holds placards during a protest against Trump in Bangalore, India on Dec. 17

Omaha's Little Italy area gets new life OMAHA, Neb.: A redevelopment project would bring 19 new town houses to Omaha's Little Italy neighborhood, an urban corridor where new residences, restaurants and other businesses have replaced unkempt lots and boarded-up structures.

New development now dots the old neighborhood. The changes excite some residents of the old neighborhood, though other longtime residents aren't so sure. ``You can't imagine how thrilled I am to see my neighborhood come alive again,'' said Nancy Calinger, who raised a family there and sold the town house

parcel to the developer.

Her parents, Salvatore and Maria D'Agosta, migrated from Sicily and joined fellow immigrants in the hilly neighborhood just blocks west of the Missouri River.

The newcomers worked for the railroads, ran bakeries and pizzerias, and opened small businesses that catered to their ethnic community.

Across a street from the $7 million Avanti town house project site is a future public market in an old streetcar barn. The new Blue Barn Theatre sits nearby, as does the Boxcar 10 building, which contains luxury apartments and a pizza parlor. -AP

Datebook

January 8, 2016

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming Sat, Jan 30 • Dance Pe. Chance Venue: State Theatre, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Time: 8:00 pm

Sat, Jan 9 • Desi Saturdays New Yorks Weekly Saturday Night Desi Party Featuring Complimentary Admission & Open Bar at Lexicon NYC

Sun, Jan 31

Venue: Lexicon, 226 E 54th St, New York,

• 2016 Pongal Vizhaa and Chennai Fundraiser

NY 10022

Venue: Melvin H. Kreps Middle School,, 5

Contact: 917-975-9144

Time : 10:00 pm

Kent Lane, Hightstown, NJ 08520 Time: 2:30 pm

Sat, Jan 23

Sun, Feb 28

• Desi Saturdays New Yorks Weekly Saturday Night Desi Party

• NJTS 2016 Annual Membership

Venue: Lexicon, 226 E 54th St, New York,

Venue: New jersey Tamil Sangam, 30 Gin-

NY 10022

ger Dr, NJ 08837

Time : 09:00 pm

Time : 9:00 pm

Contact 9084251603

Fri, Jan 8 • Open Mic Karaoke - Happy New Year 2016

India Post 47

CHICAGO

Upcoming Sat, Jan 23 • M. M. Keeravani Live In Concert - Bay Area

Venue: Vara Indian Cuisine, 250 E Java Dr, Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Time: 07:30 pm

Venue: City National Civic - San Jose, 135

Sat, Jan 9 • Chhello Divas (Hilarious

Contact: 4087186678

Gujarati Movie Chhello Divas) Venue: Serra Theatres, 200 Serra Way #37, Milpitas, Ca 95035 Time: 5:00 pm

Sun, Jan 10 • I-CODA Yoga Venue: International Centers of Divine Avakening, Amigo Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 91335 Time: 9:00 am Contact: 310-497-1899

Sun, Jan 16 • LOHRI, A festival of warmth and love.

Venue: Centerville Community Center, 3335 Country Dr, Fremont, CA 94536 Time: 7:30 pm Contact: 408-422-8585

Sun, Jan 17 • Kite Flying - Uttarayan 2016 Venue: San Jose City College Football Stadium, 2100 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 Time: 11:00 am Contact: 408-586-0006

Sat, Jan 23 • Natsamrat – Marathi Film Venue: Serra Theatres, 200 Serra Way #37, Milpitas, Ca 95035 Time: 2:00 pm

West San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95113 Time: 06:00 pm

Sat, Jan 23 • Dance Basanti Dance Party in SF Venue: Cosmo Lounge, 440 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 925-261-8682

ATLANTA Upcoming Sun, Jan 10 • Telugu Content 2015-16 in Houston Venue: Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, 10098 Synott Rd, Houston, TX 77498 Time: 3:00 pm Contact: 713-206-8737

Sat, Jan 30 • Keeravani - Live in Concert in Houston Venue: Cullen Performance Hall, 4800 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77004 Time: 6:00 pm

Sun, Jan 31 • Gujarati Comedy Natak GOLMAAL Venue: Atlanta Event Hall, 3750 Venture Drive, Duluth, GA 30096 Time: 06:00 pm

ILLINOIS Upcoming 1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Swami Ishatmananda • Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy of life Venue: Public Library-95th Street 3015 Cedar Glade Rd Naperville IL 60564 Time: 1st friday of every month 7-8 pm Contact: 630-637-0662

• India Eternal: From the Vedic Age to the Present Venue: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago 10915 N. Main Street Glendale Heights, IL 60139 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 630-655-8822

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48

January 8, 2016

Philosophy

January 8, 2016

India Post 49

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C

omfort is no test of truth; on the contrary, truth is often far from being "comfortable". If one intends to really find truth, one must not cling to comfort. It is hard to let all go, but the Jnani must do it. He must become pure, kill out all desires and cease to identify himself with the body. Then and then only, the higher truth can shine in his soul.

Sacrifice is necessary and this immolation of the lower self is the underlying truth that has made sacrifice a part of all religions. All the propitiatory offerings to the gods were but dimly understood types of the only sacrifice that is of any real value, the surrender of the apparent self, through which alone we can realize the higher Self, the Atman.

The Jnani must not try to preserve the body, nor even wish to do so. He must be strong and follow truth, though the universe fall.

Those who follow "fads" can never do this. It is a life-work, nay, the work of a hundred lives!

Only the few dare to realize the God within, to renounce heaven and Personal God and all hope of reward. A firm will is needed to do this; to be vacillating is a sign of tremendous weakness. Man always is perfect, or he never could become so; but he had to realize it.

If man were bound by external causes, he could only be mortal.

CHARLES F. LUTES

T

he year after Maharishi founded the Spiritual Regeneration Movement in 1958, he was in Kashmir. He said he came in contact with Durga Bhagwati, (a form of the Divine Mother) also known as Bhawani "Luka Pavani" she is termed in the transcript - and pleaded with her to alleviate the misery of mankind.

At first she said no, help for humanity was not to come from her, for humanity was doomed to suffer increasingly due to how poorly and badly many people behaved. But after some more pleading on his part she understandingly encouraged him to gather lights to avoid impending darkness for a period of up to a few thousand years.

Maharishi wanted all TM-ers to know what Bhawani alerted him to around ten o'clock that morning, after he had got a pandit to sing praises for her outside the locked temple gate.

Maharishi could not get in and got no response from the goddess at first as he stood by the gate.

However, he started to talk of suffering humanity, and then she responded, "Is it not right to be safe behind the lock and not allow the

Immortality can only be true of the unconditioned. Nothing can act on the Atman - the idea is pure delusion; but man must identify himself with that, not with body or mind. Let him know that he is the witness of the universe, then he can enjoy the beauty of the wonderful panorama passing before him.

Let him even tell himself, "I am the universe, I am Brahman."

When man really identifies himself

tions are visible, so when man rises high enough, he will not see good and evil people."

"Once the pot is burned, no more can it be shaped; so with the mind that has once touched the Lord and has had a baptism of fire, no more can it be changed."

Philosophy in Sanskrit means "clear vision", and religion is practical philosophy. Mere theoretic, speculative philosophy is not much regarded in India. There is

The latter say, "Behind all this nature is something that is free; and finding that which is beyond all law gets us freedom; and freedom is salvation."

Dualism is only one phase, Advaitism goes to the ultimate. To become pure is the shortest path to freedom. Only that is ours which we earn. No authority can save us, no beliefs. If there is a God, all can find Him. No one needs to be told it is warm; each one can discover

Cling not to comfort if you must find Truth All the propitiatory offerings to the gods were but dimly understood types of the only sacrifice that is of any real value, the surrender of the apparent self, through which alone we can Swami Vivekananda

realize the higher Self, the Atman.

with the One, the Atman, everything is possible to him and all matter becomes his servant. As Shri Ramakrishna has said: After the butter is churned, it can be put in water or milk and will never mix with either; so when man has once realized the Self, he can no more be contaminated by the world.

"From a balloon, no minor distinc-

no church, no creed, no dogma.

The two great divisions are the "Dvaitists" and the "Advaitists".

The former say, "The way to salvation is through the mercy of God; the law of causation, once set in motion, can never be broken; only God, who is not bound by this law, by His mercy helps us to break it".

it for himself. So it should be with God. He should be a fact in the consciousness of all men.

Excerpted from 'Discourses on Jnana-Yoga' contained in The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Volume 8. The 152nd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda will be celebrated on January 12.

misery to come in, eh?"

She went on to tell him she maintained and secured the time cycle itself, and now the time cycle demanded that people suffered: "This is the time for the people to suffer." Her key concern was to maintain the time cycle.

Maharishi, however, said she was almighty and could do some-

mons had a very mighty and farreaching wrong influence, making others happier for a while a wrong way - to be followed by sufferings. So what she had done in the old times was needed, she confirmed. She also told that little heart demons cause wrongdoings and wrong influences.

Maharishi: "What made me

Indian culture. Communication with Braham [i.e. Brahman] . . .direct communication with Absolute Consciousness . . . direct communication with . . . the world of Gods . . . forces of nature [and] "something on the on the Eternal level" . . . This is the spirit of India."

Maharishi concluded that TM gives easy access to the life of

When Mahesh Yogi talked to Divine Mother cess to the life of Brahman, and that it is very fortunate that the TM work is recognized on the celestial field too, on that Divine level.

Mahesh Yogi

happy was the support and the acceptance of the S!R!M! (Spiritual Regeneration Movement) from that Divine level" [p. 5]. "Raise the level of consciousness . . . that is the way!" [p. 6] "This conversation lays open the whole situation." [p. 7] The situation: Our efforts for a few thousand years may alleviate much. And "the central point of

Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving? Show me your feet.

Are they wounded in service? Show me your heart.

Have you left a place for divine love?

-Fulton J. Sheen There is a divine purpose behind everything - and therefore a divine presence in everything.

-Neale Donald Walsch Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise man to the Divine.

-Ludwig van Beethoven It is well to think well; it is divine to act well.

-Horace Mann

Maharishi concluded that TM gives easy ac-

thing for people too. Bhawani told him that morning that it was evening, and perfection had gone, so people had to suffer. [p. 4] He did not take a no for a no, but said "No, no" and "You should do something", and reminded her that she had killed mighty demons in the past.

She agreed, adding she had killed them because those rich de-

Hypnotism is trespass into the territory of another's consciousness. Its temporary phenomena have nothing in common with the miracles performed by men of divine realization.

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Dilip Kumar- Saira Banu's grandniece Sayesha Saigal

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Anil Kapoor's son Harshvardhan

JP Dutta's daughter Nidhi

MUMBAI: Bollywood has many surprises in store for the audience in 2016, with an array of star kids and other fresh faces set to make their debut.

Anil Kapoor's son Harshvardhan, Dilip Kumar- Saira Banu's grand-niece Sayesha Saigal and filmmaker JP Dutta's daughter Nidhi, will make their foray in acting.

Harshvardhan, brother of actress Sonam Kapoor will kickstart his film career with director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's love story "Mirzya". He has earlier worked as an assistant director with filmmaker Anurag Kashyap.

"Mirzya" will also feature newcomer Saiyami Kher, the granddaughter of yesteryear actress Usha Kiran and niece of actress Tanvi Azmi. An ex-Miss India, she has previously worked in Telugu film "Rey".

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who has given a dream start to the career of actresses like Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone, will be seen opposite three

newcomers in his upcoming two films "Fan" and "Raees".

Popular face of Pakistani entertainment industry, Mahira Khan will be making her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh in "Raees".

In Maneesh Sharma's "Fan", the 50year-old actor will share screen space with debutantes Waluscha De Sousa and Shriya Pilgaonkar, daughter of Marathi actor Sachin.

Another Pakistani face, Mawra Hocane, will try her luck in Bollywood with "Sanam Teri Kasam". She is a VJ and has acted on TV shows like "Aahista Aahista" and "Nikhar Gaye Gulab Sare".

Sayesha Saigal, grand-niece of legendary actor Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu, will be seen opposite Ajay Devgn in the Diwali-release "Shivaay". She made her acting debut with Telugu movie "Akhil: The Power of Jua".

Nidhi, daughter of veteran filmmaker J P Dutta and yesteryear actress Bindiya

Goswami, will make her debut in "Jee Bhar Ke Jee Le" opposite Ajit Sodhi, son of another yesteryear actress Nafisa Ali. Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker's next "Mohenjo-Daro" will see former beauty pageant contestant Pooja Hegde making her Bollywood debut opposite Hrithik Roshan.

Pooja started her acting career with the Tamil superhero film "Mugamoodi" in 2012 and has featured in Telugu films like "Oka Laila Kosam" and "Mukunda".

Apart from this, famous Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh will be seen in Abhishek Chaubey's "Udta Punjab" as a policeman opposite Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana's brother Aparshakti will star in Aamir Khan's "Dangal," while boxer Ritika Singh will make her acting debut opposite R Madhavan in the upcoming bilingual sports-drama "Saala Khadoos". PTI

January 8, 2016

India Post 51 www.indiapost.com

4 top Bollywood actors in 2015 MUMBAI: They not only laughed their ways to the box office, but also impressed with their stellar performances. Here are the actors who made 2015 their own.

Chocolate-boy image started to irritate me: Varun Dhawan Not many actors can boast of

Varun Dhawan

ABCD 2. He says that he wanted to prove that "dancing in India is not just limited to 'latkas' and 'jhatkas'". Finally, he ended the year with a big-budget project, also starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Kriti Sanon. "I wanted to do a comedy, and I was happy that I got a chance to do one with one of the biggest directors in Bollywood - Rohit Shetty," says Varun.

Still have butterflies in my stomach: Deepika Padukone It won't be wrong to say that Deepika Padukone is unstoppable. After starring in four of the highest-grossing films of 2013, the actor tasted success yet again in 2014 with Happy New Year. And 2015 has been no different for her.

Deepika was not only part of grossers like Piku and Bajirao Mastani, but was also lauded for her stellar performances in the two films.

"It (success) has been driven purely by my passion for my work. I still have butterflies in my stomach when I read interesting scripts, and I get

five hit films in three years. But Varun Dhawan, who made his acting debut with film-maker Karan Johar's Student Of The Year (2012), has managed to achieve this feat.

This year, too, the young actor maintained his success ratio, even though he experimented with varied roles.

The 28-year-old started 2015 on a high note with Badlapur, in which he was seen in an all-new avatar. Ditching his boy-next-door image, the actor essayed a character that was dark and intense. "My last release in 2014 was Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, and everyone had labeled me a chocolate boy. Somewhere, that had started to irritate me. So, Badlapur was my way of changing that image," says Varun.

Just a few months later, the actor transformed himself into a dancer in director Remo D'Souza's

Deepika Padukone

nervous when I read a difficult part, because I don't know how I

Salman Khan

am going to take that on," says the actor, adding, "I am in that phase [of my career], where I am excited about the work that I have done, but I feel I have a lot more to give."

In 2016, Deepika has a lot more in her kitty, but she refuses to let any pressure hamper her spirit.

"When you are working on a film, it's important to feel light and as if you are starting afresh. I hope I never get too bogged down by expectations," she says.

On the personal front, she also showed courage, and spoke about battling depression in an interview to HT CafĂŠ. She even started a foundation that aims to help people deal with the condition.

Salman Khan reign continues Salman Khan continued his reign over the box office in 2015, with two of his films becoming the biggest blockbusters of the year.

Ever since Dabangg (2010) released, Salman has been riding the success wave. So, while 2014 saw him deliver hits such as Jai Ho and Kick, Salman ruled the roost in

2015 with grossers like Bajrangi Bhaijaan (BB) and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.

The superstar points out that at this stage of his career, he does not sign a film to please others.

"Now, I don't want to do movies just for the sake of doing them.

Earlier, when my dates were available, I used to think, 'Let's do a film.' Once I also considered a project, thinking, 'I should do the film else my friendship will get ruined.' But now, things aren't like that," says Salman, who also turned producer in 2015 with BB, before launching Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty in his home production, Hero.

Grateful for the good things: Irrfan Khan 2015 has been a great year for Irrfan Khan, not only because his films were successful commercially, "but also on the experience front". His chemistry with Deepika Padukone in director Shoojit Sircar's Piku was really appreciated.

On the other hand, his effortless

acting in the Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-starrer Jazbaa, his earnest portrayal of a cop in Talvar, and his impressive act in Qissa, earned him acclaim. Not only in India, Irrfan also made an impact in Hollywood with pivotal roles in The Amazing Spider-Man and Jurassic World.

"The opportunity to work on different genres provided me with some variation and versatility.

Also, working on Jurassic World, which is one of my favorite franchises, was a great experience. I'm thankful to everyone who contributed to my career in 2015. I'm gratified for the good things. The fame and name I've earned on the international arena was a process of consistent hard work and determination," says Irrfan.

In 2016, he is looking forward to two more international films - The Song Of Scorpions and director Ron Howard's American thriller Inferno, which is based on Dan Brown's novel by the same name. In the film, he will share screen space with Tom Hanks. -Courtesy HT

Irrfan Khan

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January 8, 2016 www.indiapost.com

Krushna replaces Kapil comedy show

P

opular comedian cum actor Krushna Abhishek has stepped into the shoes of Kapil Sharma. The makers of Colors have roped in Krushna Abhishek as the host of the popular comic show 'Comedy Nights with Kapil'.

Recently, Kapil Sharma confirmed reports of opting out of the Comedy Nights over his dissatisfaction with the channel for launching the new show Comedy Nights Bachao on the same lines.

"Yes, it's true. We told them we would go off air in December, but since they didn't have a replacement ready, they requested us to continue till January 17. We started on a good note and put in immense hard work to maintain the quality," Kapil had told TOI. Few years back, Krushna Abhishek had refused to appear on 'Comedy Nights with Kapil' as he feared he wouldn't get room on the show. "He called me on his show many times, but I didn't go because I don't want to perform

as one of those. I don't want to be one of the characters. I need

Kapil Sharma

space," Krushna had said that time in an interview.

According to the latest buzz ,Kapil Sharma has planned to move his show to a rival channel.

Comedy Nights Bachao was to be named Roast initially, but ended up being a clone of Comedy Nights With Kapil with almost same name, same air time and same celebrity guests, much to the dismay of Kapil Sharma and his team.

Kapil says, "We have been successfully entertaining the audience for the past three years with our content. But when our show became a habit for the viewers, they introduced another one on similar lines. Celebrities who readily agreed to come on our show were told that they will have to make an appearance on the other show as well. I understand the pressure on the channel to work towards making their shows a hit, but not at the cost of sabotaging an established one. They told us

Asha Parekh lobbied for Padma Bhushan: Gadkari NAGPUR: Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said that veteran Bollywood actress Asha Parekh had approached him seeking recommendation for Padma Bhushan award and that many others have been "chasing" him as they want the highest civilian honors.

He said giving away Padma awards has become a "headache" these days.

"Asha Parekh had come to me seeking recommendation for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award, saying that she was en-

Asha Parekh

titled to it," Gadkari said at a function here.

The Minister said that he was being "chased" for such recommendations. "(We) receive so many letters for (recommending) Padmashree and Padma Bhushan. I have sent around thousand recommendations until now. So many people now want Padmashree and Padma Bhushan.

"One actress met me, she has turned old...Asha Parekh.

She came to meet me in Mumbai. The lift to my residence was not working, she climbed up 12 floors, I felt very bad. I asked her why she took the trouble.

"She said I have received Padmashree Nitinji, now I want Padma Bhushan. I said you have received Padmashree, it is like Padma Bhushan (only). She said 'no'. She said she has done so many films. Asha Parekh is a big name truly but somewhere she felt that she should get Padma Bhushan."

The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civil-

edy experiments failed miserably.

They introduced a Krushna new show in the Abhishek time slot vacated by us when we went weekly from bi weekly. It's perfectly fine to launch new shows, but no two programs should have similar content and celebrities. I have great respect for people heading the channel. How ever, I don't want to be part of the crowd and hence, I decided to call it a day," he added.

However, now we hear that the show will be taken over by Star Netthat their comedy slot is working work. The legalities and all the in the weekend, which doesn't other modalities are reportedly seem true as their previous com- being worked out.

Jennifer Lopez bruised by dresses Jennifer Lopez

Nitin Gadkari

ian award after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and comes before the Padmashree.

Gadkari claimed that Parekh had told him that she was entitled for the Padma Bhushan due to her massive contribution in Indian film industry.

Parekh, 73, was honored with Padmashree in 1992, and Lifetime Achievement award in 2014.

She was one of the top stars in Hindi films from 1959 to 1973 and had worked with all top heroes of her time including Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Rajesh Khanna and others.-PTI

LONDON: Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez had "scratches and bruises everywhere" after her 10 outfit changes at the American Music Awards (AMAs).

The "On the Floor" hitmaker, 46, dropped jaws with her seethrough gowns, skintight catsuits and cleavage-baring frocks when she hosted the show in Los Angeles two months ago, reported Femalefirst.

"I had scratches and bruises everywhere from trying on so much stuff," she said.

But, despite the injuries she sustained, the curvaceous actress knew she had to make an impact with her raunchy fashion sense and provocative dance moves because she couldn't rely on her comedy factor to get her through.

"I'm not going to try to be a comedian. I'm just going to play to my strengths. I'm a singer, I'm a dancer and I'm a performer. I've always wanted to be a singer and a dancer and an actress since I was very young. -PTI "I'm not going to try to be a comedian. I'm just going to play to my strengths. I'm a singer, I'm a dancer and I'm a performer.�

January 8, 2016

India Post 53 www.indiapost.com

Nicotine patches to help quit smoking CONCORD, N.H.: New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services is offering free nicotine replacement therapy in the form of a patch to residents who want to quit smoking or chewing tobacco.

The offering is part of a statewide media campaign called Tips

from Former Smokers. The campaign was created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to encourage smokers to quit. It features people who are suffering negative health consequences from using tobacco who share their tips to prevent young people from ever us-

Researchers are now calling for greater regulation of which nicotine products can be sold over the counter

ing tobacco and to help motivate others to quit tobacco use. ``We hope that the Tips ads will motivate people to make a quit plan for the New Year,'' said Marcella Bobinsky, acting director of the department's Division of Public Health Services.

The department is offering free nicotine replacement patches to residents who are ready to quit in 30 days.

Residents must be at least 18 and be willing to participate in free telephone counseling. They also must be screened for safe use of the patch. ``Quitting with both counseling and nicotine replacement therapy will increase the odds of a successful quit,'' Bobinsky said.

Residents can receive the patch by calling the NH Tobacco Helpline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visiting www.TryToStopNH.org . -AP

Oscars compared to New Year's Eve LOS ANGELES: Chris Rock stars in the first promo for the 2016 Oscars and the comedian has com-

Rock also shared the video on his Twitter profile, where he continued to joke about the night,

Chris Rock

pared the ceremony to New Year's Eve. Rock, who is hosting the Academy award this year, debuted the funny promo, reported Entertainment Weekly.

"Much like New Year's Eve, it'll be a night that ends with a lot of drunk, disappointed people swearing they'll do better next year," Rock shared in the short clip.

writing: "There will always be 3 constants. Death, taxes and the Oscars. Hope all 3 don't happen to me this year."

The comedian was officially confirmed as the host of the 2016 Academy Awards ceremony for a second time back in October, and previous host Ricky Gervais reacted to the news by reaching out to Rock on social media to offer to

share some of his leftover "offensive material".

Meanwhile, Rock was making his own headlines this week as he responded to Jennifer Lawrence's wage gap essay with the suggestion she'd have "more to complain about if she were black".

The 2016 Oscar nominations will be announced on January 14, before the ceremony airs on February 28 on ABC in the US, broadcasting live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. PTI

"Much like New Year's Eve, it'll be a night that ends with a lot of drunk, disappointed people swearing they'll do better next year," Rock shared in the short clip.

Kendall and Harry Styles are reunited

R

eality TV star Kris Jenner is reportedly glad her daughter Kendall has rekindled her relationship with Harry Styles.

The 60-year-old matriarch is said be thrilled the 20-year-old is back with the One Direction star, 21, because he makes her really happy, reported HollywoodLife.

"Kris is just over the moon about her daughter's reunion with Harry. She always knew he was the one for her. Kris adores Harry and

has never seen Kendall happier.

Call it a mother's instinct, but Kris knew the two would get back together one day."

The couple, who first started dating at the beginning of 2013 before things fizzled out, first sparked rumors they were romancing again earlier last week when they were spotted sharing a passionate smooch on a luxurious boat in the Caribbean island of Anguilla on New Year's Eve.AP

Kris Jenner and Harry Styles

Kunal Kapoor to stage play in US

R

ang De Basanti' fame ac tor Kunal Kapoor's play 'Ek Punjab Yeh Bhi' will soon jet off to a tour of the US, Canada and Pakistan. The actor is happy with the appreciation, and looks forward to enthralling international audiences.

Kunal recently wowed the Indian audiences with his performance in the play, which is inspired

by Ali Akbar Natiq's Urdu short stories at the Prithvi Theatre Festival earlier this month.

The production is expected to leave for the foreign tour in April or May next year.

Kunal Kapoor

"We put a lot of passion and hard work into this, and I'm really happy with how people have reacted to it.

We have had number of offers to tour other cities and countries and I am really looking forward to that," Kunal said in a statement.

Meanwhile, back on the home turf, Kunal will also start shooting for his first action movie down south soon.

Kunal recently wowed the Indian audiences with his performance in the play, which is inspired by Ali Akbar Natiq's Urdu short stories at the Prithvi Theatre Festival earlier this month

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Madhesi demands in Nepal: Is there an end in sight?

T

he Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minis ter of Nepal Kamal Thapa has officially informed the Indian Minister of External Affairs that the Nepalese Cabinet has taken some important decisions to address and resolve demands regarding the Constitution raised by Madhes-based parties.

The emergency cabinet meeting of the ruling alliance of three political parties of Nepal endorsed a three-point 'roadmap' for the resolution of the crisis. The Government of India "welcomed these developments" as "positive steps" that helped "create the basis for a resolution of the current impasse."

This is the first political initiative Delhi has welcomed in Nepal post the promulgation of the Constitution. While welcoming the development, India has urged all Nepalese political parties to demonstrate the necessary "flexibility and maturity."

Madhesi Demands and the 'Roadmap' Madhesis, who have been agitating for an 'inclusive constitution' for the past four months, have blocked the entry of fuel and other essential supplies to Kathmandu. This has incited antiIndia and anti-Madhes sentiments among the hill people, stoked by high-pitched political propaganda.

They have been demanding the implementation of the past agreements signed between the Government of Nepal and Madhesi parties in 2007 and 2008 in the country's new Constitution.

Although some of the points from the past agreements have been included in the Constitution, the four major points - electoral constituencies based on population, proportional representation of Madhesi in government bodies, autonomous identity-based provincial demarcation, and equal citizenship provision for women marrying Nepali men - have been rejected.

Thapa had discussed the 'roadmap' with the Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj in early December during his Delhi visit.

India shared the 'roadmap' with the leaders of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), which comprises of four major Madhesi parties: the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist ForumNepal, Mahanta Thakur-led Terai Madhes Democratic party, Rajendra Mahato-led Sadbhawana

PRAMOD JAISWAL

Party and Mahendra Raya Yadavled Terai Madhes Sadbhawana Party. The UDMF leaders were also invited to New Delhi to discuss the issue.

Kamal Thapa's 'roadmap' commits the passage of two amendments tabled by the Nepali Congress. The amendments would include the term 'proportional inclusion' in all the state organs, and guarantee constituencies based on population as proposed by the Madhesi parties.

On the issues of delineating the federal boundaries, the 'roadmap' proposed a political mechanism that would revise the boundaries based on expert opinion and peoples' sentiments within a threemonth time frame. However, the leaders of the UDMF see three major flaws with the 'roadmap'.

First, the two amendments tabled in the parliament are vague; it does not replicate the language of the interim constitution, nor does it guarantee the constituencies based on population.

The growing instability and radicalization in Madhesis will have direct implications for the peace and security of India.

There will be accentuated cross-border crimes such as arms smuggling, fake currency trade, human trafficking, as well as terrorist activities through the 1800 km long open border between the two countries.

The enhanced tension would invite the role and attention of other players such as the EU, the US, China and Pakistan. These will have far deeper and lasting implications for India's security.

India has been a part of all the major political transformations in Nepal, be it 1950, 1990 or 2006. India was also witness to the agreement of 2008 signed between the agitating Madhesis and the Government of Nepal.

India must not shy away from its responsibilities now. It could work to create a favorable environment where the legitimate and previously agreed to demands of

Madhesis protesting in Nepal

It is also silent on the issues of inclusion, while the Madhesis wants only marginalized groups to be eligible for reservation benefits.

Second, the Madhesi leaders seek "immediate commitment" on the demarcation of federal boundaries, and third, the issue of citizenship is not addressed. Hence, they have publicly denounced the 'roadmap'.

Implications for India Analysts state that if the legitimate demands of the Madhesis are not addressed through peaceful means, it is likely to have three possible consequences: one, loss of faith in the non-violent movement would radicalize the youth of Terai and direct their energies towards armed action; two, the separatists' agenda will gain traction, leading to the demand for a separate nation and not just an autonomous province as it stands now, and three, evolution of communal violence between the Pahadis and the Madhesis.

the Madhesis are met, which can eventually create conditions for peace in Nepal as well as on the Indo-Nepalese border.

Protests have intensified in the past couple of days as the state has begun to repress the peaceful agitation mounted by the Madhesis, by arresting their district level leaders.

The people of Madhes are highly determined and dedicated to achieving success for their movement, called the "aar ya paar ki ladai." The signing of any unacceptable deal by the leaders of UDMF will not halt the protests or end the blockade.

People have continued to protest for more than four months in the winter even though more than 55 have been brutally killed. The government's decision of overcoming this problem through the use of force will only make the situation worse.

The writer is Senior Research Officer, IPCS

India Post Dual policy

I

t is easy to get carried away by revenge rhetoric as espoused by the likes of Shiv Sena. This process of revenge and calling off of talks following a terror strike has been going on for some time as a predictable cycle. It is the response the terrorists and their minders want. They want to disrupt any attempt at peaceful relations between India and Pakistan and they have been successful every time. They used Kargil to stymie the bold initiative of Atal Behari Vajapyee to visit Pakistan.

An equally bold gesture by Prime Minister Modi to stopover in Lahore after his visit to Afghanistan was bound to invite a similar mischief from across the border. It is a good guess that the Indians this time were expecting such a desperate move. The simultaneous attempt to raid the Indian Consulate in Mazar e Sharif in Afghanistan is part of the same script by the same perpetrators.

Although seven security personnel died in the Pathankot attack, it must be admitted that a bigger tragedy has been averted by the alert Indian forces. Reports say the six terrorists were carrying over 50 kgs of ammunition, which speaks of their resolve for a longer fight. There was no casualty at the Mazar e Sharif attempt proving that the Afghan forces were also prepared this time. It has also been mentioned that the initial attempt at the Consulate was repulsed by the brave ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) men who had been stationed there for the protection of the Consulate.

Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said security forces in Pathankot had done an excellent job "containing these highly motivated terrorists". No military hardware was damaged and all assets, including strategic, and the families, were secured.

Considering this, the need is to confront Pakistani leaders with details of Pakistani hand in these two evil acts. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who called up Modi regarding the terror attack, assured him that his government would take prompt and decisive action against the terrorists. But here arises the difficult part. PM Sharif is only now learning to live with General Sharif.

There is little doubt that the masterminds of such attacks are in the Pakistani army. Will Sharif be able to persuade the more powerful Sharif to desist? The last time he tried to do so he was sent into exile. So he is being cautious this time. It is doubtful he will be able to deliver. In the latest example of his bowing to the Army dictates, he had to replace his civil National Security Advisor with a retired General sent by the other Sharif.

Just like previous times, it would be foolhardy to believe Pakistan will take any action against the creators and minders of these terrorists. And calling off of talks and sulking is also not a solution for India. There is need to adopt a new approach. Curiously, it has been provided by a Bangladeshi journalist writing in Times of India. He has recommended a dual policy.

It is well known there is a large section of people in Pakistan who want to live in peace with India. This may include even its Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif. But there are also the Army types and the TV haranguers who would only like to disrupt any such moves and keep tensions high. Sudhir Bhaumik of bdnews24.com writes: "Much as India should continue to engage with saner elements in Pakistan, we need a dual policy of simultaneously paying back the Pakistani military in the same coin."

He cites RAW's legendry B Raman as saying in his book "Kaoboys of RAW" that India's secret counter-offensive in Sindh in the late 1980s managed to force Pakistan to call off its hostility in India Punjab. Similar secret ventures inside Pakistan will force their arrogant Army to lick its wounds. The bon homie and trade with the civilian elements can meanwhile be encouraged.

January 8, 2016

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