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VOL 21, No. 1126

April 29, 2016

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Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak

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Clinton aide slams Trump for mocking Indians

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VOL 21, No. 1126

April 29, 2016

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Periodical Postage

PAK TOLD NOT TO BE IN DENIAL ON TERROR

Prakash Javadekar signing the Paris Agreement on climate change, at U.N. headquarters

India signs climate pact at United Nations Details on page 26

India bans import of milk from China Details on page 5

Details on page 7

Top Senators seek push to Indo-US ties

Protest over Hindu chants by white woman

Details on page 7 Details on page 6

JeM constructing massive new madrassa in Pak Details on page 6

Moon Khan case exposes electoral flaws

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

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INDIA POST SURVEY survey@indiapost.com This week’s question

Pakistan uses Kashmir issue to divert attention?

Last week’s result

Can Mehbooba control Kashmir valley separatists?

YES 48%

NO 52%

POSING & POSTURES: India’s Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry at a meeting at South Block in New Delhi on April 26

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan indulged in some plain speaking on bilateral issues with the neighboring country being firmly asked not to be in denial over the impact of terrorism on bilateral ties while Pakistan harped on Kashmir terming it as the core issue.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry met for nearly 90 minutes during which sticky issues including probe into Pathankot

terror attack, 26/11 trial and Samjhauta Express blast investigations figured.

The meeting between Jaishankar and Chaudhry, who is primarily here to attend the 'Heart of Asia' conference, a regional summit in Delhi about Afghanistan, was the first formal interaction since their scheduled talks were deferred in the wake of the Pathankot attack in January.

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Community Post -------------- 16-25 Date Book -------------------------- 55 Edit Page --------------------------- 54 HealthScience Post --------- 44-47 Horoscope ------------------------- 42 Immigration Post ------------- 34-35 Life Style ----------------------- 50-53 Philosophy ------------------------- 49 Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 30-32 TechBiz Post ------------------- 12-15 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 36-39

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his one keeps coming back like a bad penny - the Kohinoor… no, not the much claimed diamond, but the issue of India trying to get it back from the United Kingdom that is.

So as it does from time to time, there is talk once again in India - on online forums as much as on the raucous television media - on why the UK should not just be decent about it and hand over to India the diamond that sits resplendently in the Queen Mother's crown displayed in the Tower of London.

Responding to a related law suit last week, in a bid to rest it, the India government said the Kohinoor was a 'gift' to the Queen and hence should not ask to take it back.

So call it a spoil of war or a gift, the contentious diamond did change a lot of hands from, as some Indians believe, Surya the Sun God who called it the 'Syamantak' to Jambavan (the bear king) to Lord Krishna till it reached the mortal hands of the Kakatiya kings to that of the marauding Mughals to Kashmir's Maharaja Ranjit Singh who ended the baton's relay by (grudgingly, no doubt) giving it to the British who were smart enough to take it home for good. Now, that could easily be a 5,000 year journey and belongs in what is called by modern society as 'history'. It's just that nobody goes to war the way they used to in the epics or good old days. The post World War II era ended all snatch and loot games of emperors of yore.

Of course India needs to keep at it because there's always Pakistan to lay its claim on at least some of the things that belonged in undivided India, which include the Kohinoor.

For whatever the symbolism was worth, remember that Indian guy who bought the East India Company some years back? Well, you never know, someday a rich Indian may 'economically conquer' Britain and regain the Kohinoor as a trade deal.

In the meanwhile, Indians in London would do better if they stopped spitting paan on its royal streets. Really.

Romesh K Japra rkjapra@indiapost.com

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: 23 kisses The first poster of upcoming film 'Befikre' shows the lead actors Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor in a passionate lip-lock.

Cover Story: Denial on terrorism At the Foreign Secretary talks, India tells Pakistan not to be in denial over the impact of terrorism on ties

Community: Sulabh technology Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak tells Stanford University audience how his Sulabh tech has raised status of untouchables in India

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Immigration: Divided Court The Supreme Court is divided over President Obama's immigration programs that could affect millions of people

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Praise from China China has complimented India for "doing a good job" in maintaining an impressive growth rate & is keen to invest more

Sonamarg Sonamarg, a town surrounded by breathtaking glaciers and serene lakes, is flower-laden meadow in the Himalayas

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Pak told not to be in denial on terror NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan indulged in some plain speaking on bilateral issues with the neighboring country being firmly asked not to be in denial over the impact of terrorism on bilateral ties while Pakistan harped on Kash-

"a core issue that requires a just solution," India's Foreign Secretary emphasized the need for early and visible progress on the Pathankot terrorist attack investigation as well as the Mumbai case trial in Pakistan. He also brought

impunity," a statement by the External Affairs Ministry said after the talks.

On its part, the Pakistani statement said Chaudhry brought up the issue of Kashmir emphasizing that it remained the "core issue

scored Pakistan's commitment to have friendly relations with all its neighbors/India. All outstanding issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute were discussed."

Describing the discussions as "frank and constructive", India

suspects of the Samjhauta Express blasts."

"The Foreign Secretary further pointed out that, despite repeated requests India has not shared investigation reports in which 42 Pakistanis had lost

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs V K Singh with Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Afghan Dy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai at senior officials’ meeting of the Heart of Asia Process in New Delhi on April 26

mir terming it as the core issue.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry met for nearly 90 minutes during which sticky issues including probe into Pathankot terror attack, 26/11 trial and Samjhauta Express blast investigations figured.

The meeting between Jaishankar and Chaudhry, who is primarily here to attend the 'Heart of Asia' conference, a regional summit in Delhi about Afghanistan, was the first formal interaction since their scheduled talks were deferred in the wake of the Pathankot attack in January.

During the meeting, India raised the issue of "abduction" of former Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, saying he has been taken to Pakistan, and sought immediate consular access. This is for the first time India has categorically said Jadhav was abducted.

However, in its statement, Pakistan said it has raised "capturing" of Jadhav and expressed serious concern over RAW's alleged involvement in subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi, a charge which was strongly rebutted by India.

Sources say Mr Jaishankar asked acerbically "Which spy agency would put their agent in the field with their own passport, and without a visa?" Mr Jadhav, according to Pakistan, was found with a valid Indian passport issued in a fake name and with a visa for Iran.

While the Pakistan statement described Jammu and Kashmir as

up the listing of JeM leader Masood Azhar in the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee.

"Foreign Secretary Jaishankar clearly conveyed that Pakistan cannot be in denial on the impact

that requires a just solution in accordance with UNSC resolutions and wishes of Kashmiri people."

Interestingly, the Pakistani side released the talking points while the meeting between the two for-

Sources say Mr Jaishankar asked acerbically "Which spy agency would put their agent in the field with their own passport, and without a visa?" Mr Jadhav, according to Pakistan, was found with a valid Indian passport issued in a fake name and with a visa for Iran of terrorism on the bilateral relationship. Terrorist groups based in Pakistan targeting India must not be allowed to operate with

eign secretaries was still on. The statement by Pakistan also said, "In line with our PM's vision of peaceful neighborhood, FS under-

said humanitarian issues including those pertaining to fishermen and prisoners, and people to people contacts including religious tourism were also covered.

"The two Foreign Secretaries exchanged ideas on taking the relationship forward and agreed to remain in touch," the MEA said.

According to Pakistan High Commission, Chaudhry also expressed serious concern over RAW's alleged involvement in subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi. The allegations were firmly rebutted by Jaishankar.

On Samjhauta Express blast, Chaudhry conveyed concerns "over efforts by Indian authorities for the release of the prime

their lives "He also conveyed concern over the environment being created in India for the release of the prime suspects of the Samjhauta Express blasts," the Pakistan High Commission said.

The Pakistan High Commission said Chaudhry expressed confidence that building on the goodwill generated by the recent high level contacts, the two countries should remain committed to a sustained, meaningful and comprehensive dialogue process.

In this spirit, the Foreign Secretary underscored the need for early commencement of comprehensive dialogue for which the Indian Foreign Secretary's visit to Pakistan is due, it said.-PTI

India bans import of milk, some phones from China NEW DELHI: India has banned import of milk and milk products, certain mobile phones and a few other items from China after find-

ing them sub-standard or not following security codes.

Commerce Minister Nirmala

Sitharaman said in Lok Sabha that India banned import of milk and milk products from China as their quality was unacceptable.

Sitharaman said some mobile phones, which do not carry International Mobile Station Equipment Identity number or other security features, and some steel products have also been banned from importing from China.

"Complete ban of import from any country is not possible now due to WTO rules even if we have

problems diplomatically, territorially or militarily," she said.

The Minister said India's trade deficit with China stood at USD 48.68 billion during 201516 (April-February) and the total bilateral trade was USD 65.16 billion during the period.

"Increasing trade deficit with China can be attributed primarily to the fact that Chinese exports to India rely strongly on manufactured items to meet the demand of fast expanding sectors like telecom and power, while India's exports to China are characterized by primary and intermediate products," she said. -PTI

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Protest over Hindu chants by white woman NEW YORK: A group of students at an Ivy League University near here protested a performance by one of its white graduates, accusing her of "cultural appropriation" as she performed Hindu music and meditation at an event on campus.

15 students protested outside Carrie Grossman's performance last week titled 'An Evening of

As she began describing her experience with Hindu chanting, the students questioned her on her appropriation of Hindu culture.

"How does your whiteness impact how you engage with these cultures?" one student asked.

Another student said that Grossman's website used "disturbing and appropriative language" because it says that she

As she began describing her experience with Hindu chanting, the students questioned her on her appropriation of Hindu culture.

"How does your whiteness impact how you engage with these cultures?" one student asked Devotional Music' of Hindu chants, questioning her on whether her performance constituted cultural appropriation, a report in the university paper The Brown Daily Herald said.

The performance had been advertised as an "intimate evening of inquiry, music and meditation" on a Facebook post of the event.

Grossman tried to respond to the protestors saying she had discovered chanting on a visit to India and had "found (chanting) very powerful and very healing," the report said.

"enjoys... pretending to be a Vedic priestess."

Before Grossman's performance, student leaders of the Contemplative Studies Departmental Undergraduate Group (DUG) had said in an opening statement regarding the protesters that "We see ourselves, as well as anyone that engages in the fruits and perils of globalization that are running their course, as responsible for a constant and critical examination of our behaviors, beliefs and attitudes," the report said.

The DUG leaders also said that while they had planned the event with good intentions, they "humbly acknowledge that those intentions do not preclude harm and hurt that we may have inflicted."

The student protestors, who continued asking questions while Grossman performed, were told by audience members to be quiet and some even told the protestors to leave.

The students were "asked to leave by the deans or to stay if we wanted" due to their constant questions, a student protestor Sohum Chokshi said in a Facebook message.

As Chokshi exited, he announced that the protesters would hold their own 'kirtan' outside the room.

After her performance, Grossman and several members of the audience joined the protesters outside the hall for a questionand-answer session.

"What is your working definition of cultural appropriation?" an Indian-origin student Aanchal Saraf said to which Grossman replied that she defined it as using elements of other cultures "in your own way."

Later, Grossman apologized for not understanding the consequences of her action or the offence that they would cause.

Saraf responded, "You saying

Carrie Grossman

that it wasn't intended to be harmful doesn't make it an apology."

Saraf said Grossman should use her "privilege to make structural change. You as a white per-

son are protected," Saraf said adding that she wanted Grossman to leave with that message because "that's what radical love looks like." -PTI

JeM constructing massive new madrassa in Pak ISLAMABAD: Jaish-eMohammad terror group is constructing a massive new madrassa, spread over about 10 acres outside garrison city of Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province, extending its reach in the country despite a ban by the UN and the US. JeM, led by India's one of the most wanted terrorists Masood

seminary. Residents and a member of the group said there hadn't been any crackdown even after India accused Jaish of being behind a cross-border attack in January," the Wall Street Journal reported.

A sign outside the JeM complex in central Bahawalpur says it houses a madrassa "under the guidance" of Azhar, who has writ-

‘While there seems to be an increasing recognition that the India-focused groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad represent real risks to Pakistan itself, it is not clear that anyone has settled on whether or how to address them,’ Azhar, has ties to al Qaeda and the group continues to operate openly at its base in Bahawalpur, which is also headquarters of the Pakistani army's XXXI Corps.

"On a recent visit, a bearded gunman lounged by the entrance of Jaish-e-Mohammad s fourstory compound downtown, which also houses an affiliated

ten a four-volume treatise on jihad, it said.

"Outside town, an even bigger Jaish installation is under construction, spread over at least 10 acres just off a highway. A new madrassa, crowned with white domes, loomed over the surrounding farmland," the paper reported.

A cleric affiliated with JeM told the Journal, "We don t hide who we are. We are a jihadist group."

Punjab, home to more than half of Pakistan's population, has seen a far more low-key approach to fighting extremists, run largely by the provincial police.

"Operations are only against those that shoot the police or army," Riaz Husain Pirzada, minister of federal-provincial coordination and a member of parliament from Bahawalpur, was quoted as saying by the Journal.

It said Pakistan's military spokesman did not respond to repeated requests to comment. A security official said the authorities would confront "all militants in time."

Citing a retired senior security official in Punjab, the Journal said members of domestically focused militant groups in the province are taking shelter with JeM and Lashkar-e-Taiba to escape counter-terrorism operations.

"While there seems to be an increasing recognition that the India-focused groups - Lashkare-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad represent real risks to Pakistan it-

self, it is not clear that anyone has settled on whether or how to address them," the paper quoted an unnamed Western diplomat as saying.

The JeM cleric said his group

security personnel were killed. It has given Pakistan "leads" connecting JeM to the attack and sought strong action against the group.

Pakistan had assured India that

Masood Azhar

opposes attacks in Pakistan. "We carry out attacks against the infidel in their country," he added.

India has blamed JeM for the January 2 attack on a key air force base in Pathankot in which seven

it was "tracing and sealing" the JeM offices, which has been banned in Pakistan since 2002 and is also labeled a terrorist organization by the US. The UN had banned JeM in 2001. -PTI

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Clinton aide slams Trump for mocking Indians WASHINGTON: Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign has slammed Republican frontrunner Donald Trump for

mocking an Indian call centre worker during an election rally, saying it shows disrespect towards the community and is re-

Hillary Clinton

flective of his divisive rhetoric.

"Donald Trump mocking Indian workers is just typical of his disrespect that he has shown to groups across the spectrum," said John Podesta, chairman of the Clinton Campaign.

"He has run a campaign of bigotry and division. I think that's quite dangerous for the country when you think about the fact that you need friends, allies. The kind of campaign he is running breeds disrespect across the globe and breeds division and danger here at home," he told reporters in Germantown, Maryland after formally launching 'Indian- Americans for Hillary', an effort by the community to rally behind the Democratic presidential front runner.

Podesta was reacting to Trump's apparent use of a fake Indian accent to mock a call centre representative in India during a campaign rally in Delaware.

The real estate tycoon said that he called up his credit card company to find out whether their

customer support is based in the US or overseas.

At the same time, he described India as a great place, asserting that he is not angry with Indian leaders.

Meanwhile, an Indian-American entrepreneur also hit out at

is part of the newly launched 'Indian-Americans for Hillary'.

He also disagreed with the remarks of Republican Governor from Maine, Paul LePage, who had said that Indian workers are "worst" and "hardest" to understand.

‘He has run a campaign of bigotry and division. I think that's quite dangerous for the country when you think about the fact that you need friends, allies. The kind of campaign he is running breeds disrespect across the globe’ Trump, calling his comments "demeaning".

"When Donald Trump fakes the accent of an Indian at the help desk, it is demeaning and demonizing to me personally," said Frank Islam, a top Indian-American bundler in the Clinton campaign who has helped raised more than USD 100,000 for her.

A resident of Maryland, Islam

"I do not know, where he got that impression. I consider IndianAmericans very hard working and they aim high," he said.

"I consider Indian-Americans to be thoughtful, constructing, hardworking and resilient. So I do not agree with him," Islam said, adding that the community played a key role in strengthening the country. -PTI

Top Senators seek push to Indo-US ties WASHINGTON: Observing that the bilateral trade between India and the US has plateaued, two top American Senators called for jump-starting the economic ties by fast-tracking bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with special emphasis in the defense sector.

Speaking at the launch of India-US Trade Initiative by Atlantic Council, a top US think-tank, American Senators John Cornyn and Mark Warner called for a special focus in the defense sector and new areas for co-development and co-production.

"We can do a lot better. The defense industry can be and should be a major piece for this...especially for security and economic reasons," Cornyn said

in his address.

Cornyn along with Warner are the Co-Chairs of the Senate India Caucus, which is the only India specific caucus in the US Senate.

Noting that India-US bilateral trade has plateaued now, Cornyn called for taking up steps and initiatives that kick start the bilateral trade.

One of them, he said is the US working to make India a member of APEC. A legislation in this regard is pending in the US Senate and the House of Representatives.

In his address, Senator Warner called for a focused approach in the defense sector.

Praising the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), a

Senator Mark Warner

brainchild of the Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter in his previous capacity at the Pentagon,

changes in its policies to attract foreign direct investment, which has paid huge dividends in the

"The amount of bilateral visits (in recent months) in the defense sector is very encouraging," he said as he identified armed drones, aircraft and missile systems as areas for co-development and co-production in the defense sectors Warner called for new areas for co-development and co-production.

"The amount of bilateral visits (in recent months) in the defense sector is very encouraging," he said as he identified armed drones, aircraft and missile systems as areas for co-development and coproduction in the defense sectors.

Measures like this he said would help achieve the goal of USD 500 billion in bilateral trade, which has been set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama.

Speaking on the occasion, India's Ambassador to the US, Arun K Singh, identified digital economy as one of the most important area of co-operation between India and the US. India, he said, is on a massive infrastructure modernization drive and has made appropriate

last two years.

The Atlantic Council US-India Trade Initiative aims to generate American support for continued economic engagement in India and to forge collaboration on is-

sues of trade and commerce, a media release said.

In an effort to leverage, sustain and promote the positive developments in trade relations between the two countries, the initiative will develop policy briefs and strategy papers, convene USIndia trade workshops, and host a flagship US-India Trade Conference with policymakers, practitioners and private-sector leaders, it said.

The initiative will address seven of the most crucial areas of the US-India trade relationship, including smart cities, infrastructure, defense, financial institutions, insurance, trade agreements, and intellectual property rights, the Council said. -PTI

Senator John Cornyn

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India decries 'undemocratic' global governance UNITED NATIONS: India has said persisting "undemocratic systems" of international governance are creating hindrances for effective participation of developing countries in global decisionmaking processes, as it expressed disappointment that its repeated calls for a conducive environment has met with resistance.

"The global development divide of today can trace its origins in an array of historical injustices that have somehow never completely disappeared from the equation," Permanent Representative of India to the UN in Geneva Ajit Kumar said at a session of the Working Group on the Right to Development.

Kumar said the global divide is "evident" today in the "persisting undemocratic systems" of international governance where effective participation of developing countries in international decisionmaking is paved with all kinds of obstacles.

"In this regard, our repeated calls for a conducive international environment as well attempts towards greater acceptance and

operationalisation of the right to development at the international level have only yielded disappointment and resistance," he said.

Kumar called for "strong political will" and "genuine commit-

Ajit Kumar

ment" of the international community to make the right to development a "working reality".

Kumar stressed that the challenge of guaranteeing human rights becomes nearly impossible to tackle in the face of unmet human needs.

"There seems to be a tacit acknowledgement of this fact in the plethora of internationally agreed declarations, resolutions, decisions and norms on the issue of right to development, however, when it comes to allocation of adequate time and resources to this issue, our collective Endeavour at the various UN fora leaves much to be desired," he said.

The deliberations in all multilateral fora as well decades of experience of the ground realities have established that any lasting progress towards fulfilling the right to development require equitable economic relations and a favorable economic environment at the international level, apart from the national level policies.

He reiterated the centrality of the right to development in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, saying this would require mainstreaming of the right to development in the policies and operational activities of the UN and its various agencies, funds and programs. -PTI

US challenges India, China on navigation WASHINGTON: The US mili- restriction on foreign aircraft flytary conducted "freedom of navi- ing through an Air Defense Idengation" operations against 13 tification Zone (ADIZ) without the countries last year, including In- intent to enter national airspace; dia and China, according to an domestic law criminalizing survey annual Pentagon report. activity by foreign entities in the In the report for the period Oc- EEZ; prior permission required for tober 1, 2014 to September 30, innocent passage of foreign mili2015, the Pentagon said it exer- tary ships through the territorial cised its right of freedom of navi- seas (TTS). gation multiple times against In 2014, the US had challenged China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, the While China claims that the Philippines and VietUS is unnecessarily targeting nam.

However, it did not it, the Pentagon says it congive any further details ducts freedom of navigation in its two-page report.

The US military car- operations around the world ried out single operations against Argentina, Nicaragua and Taiwan, the territorial claims of 18 countries inreport said. cluding India, China and Brazil.

"Prior consent required for miliWhile China claims that the US tary exercises or maneuvers in the is unnecessarily targeting it, the EEZ (exclusive economic zone)," Pentagon says it conducts freethe Pentagon report said on In- dom of navigation operations dia. around the world.

On China, it said excessive Such operations involve sendmaritime claims included exces- ing navy ships and military aircraft sive straight baselines; jurisdic- into areas where other countries tion over airspace above the EEZ, have tried to limit access. -PTI

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Japan to declassify 2 crucial Netaji files NEW DELHI: Two crucial files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose will be declassified

by Japan this year-end, but the country has given no assurance regarding three more such files in its custody, the government says.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told Lok Sabha that

sify the remaining three files too," he said during Question Hour.

Rijiju said two files relating to Netaji which were with the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs continue to be missing and efforts were on to trace them.

While the file, which was with

While Austria, Russia and the United States have conveyed to the Indian government that they do not have any file or document relating to Netaji, the United Kingdom said that all 62 files under their possession were given to British Library and are available for public these five files, which are with Japan, could be "crucial" to resolve the mystery over the fate of Bose.

"Japan has conveyed to us that they will declassify two of the five files by the end of this year but no commitment has been given to the rest of the three files. But we are hopeful that they will declas-

the PMO, related to bringing back the ashes believed to be of Netaji from Renkoji temple in Japan to India and installation of his statue at Red Fort, the file which was with the MHA too related to the ashes, he said, adding efforts were on to find these two files.

Rijiju said India has ap-

proached a number of countries to retrieve any documents related to Netaji and they have responded to the requests.

While Austria, Russia and the United States have conveyed to the Indian government that they do not have any file or document relating to Netaji, the United Kingdom said that all 62 files under their possession were given to British Library and are available for public.

Germany too has said that the files relating to Netaji were archived after declassifying them, he said.

Rijiju said the first two inquiry commissions had suggested that Bose died in a plane crash in Taihoku (now Taipei) on August 18, 1945, but the Mukherjee commission had rejected the conclusions of the previous two inquiry commissions.

"We are not in a position to say actually what had happened to Netaji," he said.

The Minister said around 150

Netaji files have been declassified so far and were available online, while 25 more files each are being uploaded online every month.

In October last year, Prime Min-

ance 70 years ago remains a mystery.

While two commissions of inquiry had concluded that Netaji had died in a plane crash in Taipei

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

ister Narendra Modi had met the family members of Netaji and announced that the government would declassify the files relating to the leader whose disappear-

on August 18, 1945, a third probe panel, headed by Justice M K Mukherjee, had contested it and suggested that no such air crash had taken place. -PTI

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India's aid to Nepal dwindles, China major donor KATHMANDU: India's aid to Nepal has dwindled by over 50 per cent in the last five years to USD 22 million while China's assistance to the land-locked nation doubled, a Nepalese Finance Ministry report says, amid Nepal's deepening ties with the Communist giant.

Chinese aid of USD 37.94 million was disbursed in the 12month period in 2014-2015 which made it the fourth largest bilateral donor to Nepal behind the UK, the US and Japan, according to Nepal's Development Cooperation Report 2014-15.

Switzerland was the fifth largest donor.

India's actual disbursement of aid to Nepal in the financial year 2010-11 was USD 50,728,502. In 2011-12, it was USD 50,620,749 and in 2012-13 it rose to USD 63,813,269.

In 2013-14, the Indian aid, however, fell to USD 47,796,349 and it dwindled to USD 22,227,306 in 2014-15, the report said.

On the other hand, China's aid to Nepal has been steadily growing from USD 18,843,988 in 201011 to USD 28,344,923 in 2011-12 and USD 34,120,033 in 2012-13.

The financial help again grew to USD 41,381,522 in 2013-14 and stood at USD 37,948,75 in 201415.

sistance (ODA) contribution was USD 1020.75 million (90 per cent) and INGO contribution was USD 116.89 million (10 per cent).

File photo of Nepal earthquake in 2015

The volume of aid disbursement in FY 2014-15 reached a total of USD 1.13 billion of which Overall Official Development As-

Despite the devastating earthquake in April 2015, the level of ODA disbursement stood at almost the similar level as compared

Rajan tells realtors to reduce prices MUMBAI: Having cut the interest rates, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan has put the onus on real estate developers, asking them to reduce prices to encourage more people to buy properties.

Rajan's remarks also come against the backdrop of low demand for housing projects leaving developers with unsold inventories.

"I am hopeful that as interest rates come down, there will be more credit and buying. And I am also hopeful that prices adjust in a way that encourage people to buy," Rajan said while delivering the Y B Chavan Memorial Lecture here.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has lowered rates by 1.5 per cent cumulatively since January last year and earlier this month the policy rate was cut by 0.25 per cent to 6.5 per cent -- its lowest level in more than five years.

More than half of the rate cuts have been passed on by the banks to consumers.

"My sense is that there is a little bit of everything that needs to happen" for the revival in the real estate sector, Rajan said.

"There is an issue of certainly how they see the housing market and how they see prices. There has to be an adjustment so that

to the previous fiscal year (USD 1.03 billion in FY 2013-14), the report said.

Of the total disbursement of

more people want to go and buy," he noted.

According to Rajan, apart from interest rates, measures such as including affordable housing loans under the priority sector lending requirements makes him

(as) also on transparency on land acquisition, on transparency on construction and on sales," he emphasized.

Further, Rajan said more transparency in such matters would enable financiers to better track

Raghuram Rajan

confident to say that worries on the financing side are taken care of.

When it comes to finance to developers, Rajan pitched for more transparency on the borrower's side.

"We need action on real side

flow of funds, which project was being funded by who and who all were the other financiers.

Construction of every kind, including houses and roads, is a big source of growth especially for a developing economy like ours, he added. -PTI

ODA, about 45 per cent was provided by multilateral donors, while nearly 55 per cent came from bilateral donors, it said.

The top five bilateral development partners for the FY 2014-15 were the UK (USD 168.07 million), USAID (USD 132.37 million), Japan (USD 39.87 million), China (USD 37.95 million) and Switzerland (USD 32.47 million).

The top 5 bilateral development partners contributed approximately 40 per cent of the total ODA disbursements.

The report noted that the trend of ODA shows disbursed over the last 5 years from top development partners indicates that the disbursement from the World Bank Group, ADB, India, Japan and EU has declined, the Finance Ministry report said.

Nepal has been receiving development assistances for more than six decades and aid continues to play an important role in the socio-economic development of the country, it added.

ODA represents in average about 20 per cent of the national budget over the last 5 years. The estimated GDP for FY 2014-15 was USD 21.2 billion whereas the total government expenditure was estimated to be about USD 6.2 billion which is about 29.1 per cent of GDP. -PTI

Sikh politician in Pak killed by Hindu rival PESHAWAR: A prominent Singh's killing with help of his Sikh politician in Pakistan who friend Muhammad Alam, formerwas gunned down recently was nazim from Shangla. Alam fixed his killed by contract killers hired by killing plan with Saeed Jan and his miffed Hindu rival after he promised Rs one million for killfailed to secure a ticket for elec- ing and Rs two lakh were paid in tions, police said days after Paki- advance. stani Taliban claimed responsibil"Saeed Jan hired Mukhtar and ity for the murder.

Behroz Khan and sent them Baldev Kumar, a Swat district councilor Kumar hired contract killers and minority leader of Imran Khan-led Paki- by promising them Rs one stan Tehreek-e-Insaf million. He was miffed after (PTI), was arrested by the police for his alleged being overlooked for the role in the murder of Dr ticket which was given to Sardar Sooran Singh, Singh who was comparaalso of the same party.

52-year-old Singh tively new entrant was the Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Buner's Pir Baba for targeting him.

Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Minority Mukhtar and Behroz Khan atAffairs. tacked Sooran Singh at his doorKumar hired contract killers by step in the Pir Baba area of Buner promising them Rs one million. He after returning from a funeral," the was miffed after being overlooked police officer said. for the ticket which was given to He said that soon after the Singh who was comparatively murder, police received informanew entrant to the PTI, Deputy tion and arrested the attackers.

Inspector General (DIG) During interrogation, the accused Malakand Division Azad Khan confessed to have killed Singh in said at a press conference. lieu of money, saying they were "Baldev Kumar planned hired by Saeed Jan.-PTI

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CRWC constructs toilets in Uttarkashi schools

India Post News Service

UTTARKASHI, Uttarakhand: Under the Prime Minister's Swachh Bharat Mission, the Central Railside Warehouse Company Limited (CRWC) identified a school in a village of the State of Uttarakhand, still lacking basic sanitation facilities.

It initiated construction of

toilets and urinal with wash facility in two government schools of Sald and Thati-Dhanari (Uttarkashi) with the help of implementing agency- Plan India.

Yatin K.Patel, Dy. GM Logistics Operations Marketing (LOM), handed over the infrastructure created to help students, especially girls, by giv-

ing them a cleaner and safer environment. The ceremony was marked by a ribbon cutting and handing over of the infrastructure.

The school students and management thanked CRWC for its endeavour and promised to use the facility, maintain it and imbibe the value of a "Swachh SochSwachh Bharat" in their lives.

SWORDSMANSHIP: Sikhs playing gatka (ancient martial art) during a religious procession outside the Golden Temple on the eve of 395th Birth Anniversary of the ninth Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur ji in Amritsar on April 26

CSIR to start incubation centers in 30 labs NEW DELHI: To promote Start (CFTRI) Mysuru, Indian Institute ups and commercially exploit tech- of Chemical Biology (IICB)nologies developed in its labora- Kolkata, Central Leather Research tories, India's premier science in- Institute (CLRI)-Chennai, Central stitution CSIR has decided to Institute of Medicinal and Arostart incubation centers in over 30 matic Plants (CiMap)-Lucknow, different labs across the country. National Metallurgical Laboratory The decision on this was taken (NML)-Jamshepur, Institute of at a meeting of the Directors of Microbial Technology (IMTEC)Council for Scientific and Indus- Chandigarh while preparations trial Research (CSIR) held here re- are on to extend it other labs. cently.

CSIR has also identified around The CSIR has over 38 laboratories across the country doing re- The CSIR has over 38 labosearch on an array of topics ranging from ratories across the country medicines to leather in- doing research on an array dustry and from marine of topics ranging from mediresearch to farm techcines to leather industry and nologies.

"At the CSIR, we de- from marine research to velop different technologies and take farm technologies patent for it. But then it has to be taken forward to a larger "150 low-hanging fruits" which inaudience. So we have decided to clude commercial exploitation of have incubation centers in our technologies like facilitating adlaboratories that will help Start vanced clinical trials of TB vacups. cine, taking forward certain drugs "If one looks at Start ups, the for large scale use, hybrid solar maximum emphasis is given to IT and wind generation equipment Start ups. The focus of these in- all developed in CSIR laboratocubation centers will be to encour- ries. age Start ups in other fields and The CSIR also has a corpus also take technology to the fund of Rs 700 crore earned masses," said Girish Sahni, Direc- through the money it gets from tor General of the CSIR. licensing of different technoloThe CSIR currently has some gies to private companies.

38-odd labs.

"Further, we are planning to Incubation centers have al- take help of different government ready been opened in last six agencies and take this fund to the months at the Central Food Tech- tune to Rs 1000 crore," Sahni nological Research Institute added. -PTI

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Row over Salman as Olympic team ambassador NEW DELHI: Bollywood star Salman Khan's appointment as goodwill ambassador of India's contingent for the upcoming Rio Olympics drew mixed responses even as noted scriptwriter Salim Khan defended his son.

what is the problem," Hema told reporters when asked to comment on Salman's appointment.

Asked about his alleged involvement in the hit-and-run case in Mumbai, she said that episode was a "section of his life...his

the Indian Film Industry and that too the largest in the world.

"The same industry which resurrected you from fading away in oblivion." Vij said wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt should have been made the brand ambassador.-PTI

Salman Khan with India players and IOA president in New Delhi on April 24

As a debate raged over the appointment, BJP MP and yesteryear actress Hema Malini supported the decision of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), saying Salman's popularity is being utilized for a good cause.

However, another BJP leader and Haryana Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij disapproved of the decision. Vij said "filmy hero" will not bring medals for the country.

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar saw nothing wrong in Salman's appointment as Indian

popularity has to be utilized for a good cause."

Salim took to Twitter to support his son, who plays a wrestler in his upcoming film "Sultan", while also taking potshots at Milkha Singh.

"Salman Khan may not have competed but is an A level swimmer cyclist and weight lifter...

Sportsmen are performing because of sports lovers like us," Salim, 80, wrote.

50-year-old Khan's appointment has been criticized by some

Salim took to Twitter to support his son, who plays a wrestler in his upcoming film "Sultan", while also taking potshots at Milkha Singh.

"Salman Khan may not have competed but is an A level swimmer cyclist and weight lifter...

Sportsmen are performing because of sports lovers like us," contingent's brand ambassador for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

"Why not?", he asked in response to a query on the matter.

Union Minister of State for Sports Sarbananda Sonowal said sentiments of sportspersons who are opposed to Salman's appointment has been conveyed to the IOA. At the same time, the ministry encourages prominent figures from different walks of life to encourage sports in the country, he said.

"People love him so much. So if he is the brand ambassador,

top sportspersons, including star wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and sprint legend Milkha Singh who have questioned IOA's decision to go with the superstar over a sportsperson.

Milkha, whose life was turned into a blockbuster film "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", had said that sports personalities like PT Usha should have been considered by IOA instead of importing "a person from Bollywood."

Reacting to this Salim said, "Milkhaji it is not Bollywood, it is

Pact signed on e-billing for air navigation NEW DELHI: State-owned Air- a decade long association of inports Authority of India (AAI) and voicing and collection, Suresh global airlines body International said adding during this period the Air Transport Association (IATA) system has been augmented in have joined hands to provide a such a way that it has become a comprehensive e-billing solution robust and unique as at present to air navigation and airports ser- there is no other comprehensive vices provider.

The e-billing offers a suite of services includThe e-billing offers a ing data gathering, einvoicing and collec- suite of services including tion of tariff from airdata gathering, e-invoicing lines.

A Memorandum of and collection of tariff Understanding (MoU) between the AAI and from airlines IATA in this regard was signed during the strategic level meeting on making a e-billing system available for data collaborative effort, Airports Au- gathering, invoicing and collecthority of India said in a release. tion in one system.

Manfred Blondeel, Director Blondeel said that considering IATA, Enhancement & Financing AAI's expertise in data gathering services and Anil Gupta, General and IATA's expertise in collection Manager- Business Development of invoices through BSP & ICH at AAI inked the pact in the pres- the collaboration between the two ence of AAI member of Finance S would be a milestone for the gloSuresh and Rajesh Bhandari Ex- bal aviation fraternity who now ecutive Director (Finance), the re- has a tested and effective Comlease said. prehensive business solution. AAI and IATA have more than PTI

VVIP chopper scam: BJP targets Sonia Gandhi NEW DELHI: BJP used the conviction of Italian officials linked to the VVIP chopper scam to target Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and asked the then defense minister A K Antony to name the party leaders allegedly involved in the scandal.

The party wanted to know who were the bribetakers after those who gave the bribe were convicted by an Italian court.

BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi should come out with a clarification over the alleged mention of her name in the Italian court's order.

"Her government was the champion of corruption. She must issue a clarification over the mention of her name by the court," he said.

Addressing a press conference, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Antony had in March 2013 said corruption had taken place in the purchase of VVIP choppers and that bribe had been taken. He asked Antony to come clean on it.

"Bribe-givers have been convicted. Why are bribe-takers silent? Antony should answer if leaders of Congress are involved in it or not. Are they from your party or not? Please come out clean," he said.

Sonia Gandhi

He said the treasury benches will use the issue to attack Congress in Parliament. The chopper scam is not an isolated case of graft and "corruption is the byword of UPA-I and UPA-II".

Prasad said THE attack on

Congress was only the "first chapter" as top BJP leaders, including its chief Amit Shah and Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu, huddled together to mull over their next move.

The top BJP leaders, sources said, deliberated on various issues and fine tuned their strategy to attack the main opposition party during Parliament session.

Quoting from the Italian court's order Prasad said, "There was reasonable belief that corruption had taken place and it was validly proven that 10-15 million dollars made way to Indian officials".

Prasad accused the UPA government of stalling the CBI probe into the chopper scam, claiming that it did not let the investigation agency examine the then national security adviser M K Narayanan and SPG chief B V Wanchoo and that they were quizzed only after the NDA came to power.-PTI

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Tech News India-born Reuben brothers top UK rich list LONDON: Britain's annual rich list has a distinctly Indian flavor with two India-born brothers Reuben and the Hindujas - grabbing the top two slots as some of the UK's super-rich suffered the

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DGCA mulls easing aircraft import norms NEW DELHI: Domestic airlines might soon be allowed to import aircraft that are up to 18 years old, with aviation watchdog DGCA proposing to ease the norms as government looks to boost regional air connectivity.

Currently, local carriers are not allowed to import aircraft that are more than 15 years old.

For making the relaxation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed changes to a more than two-decade old regulatory framework pertaining to aircraft imports.-PTI

China commends India's GDP growth; says keen to invest more worst hammering of their fortunes following the steel industry crisis.

Mumbai-born tycoons David and Simon Reuben have topped 'The Sunday Times' Rich List 2016 with a fortune of 13.1 billion pounds, followed by the Hinduja brothers at 13 billion pounds.

The Reubens were born in India to a wealthy Iraqi-Jewish family before moving to Britain in the 1950's and made their fortune in metals and property.

This year they have increased their fortune by 3.4 billion pounds to jump to the top slot from last year's fifth position.-PTI

Vijay Mallya appears on UK electoral rolls LONDON: Indian liquor baron Vijay Mallya, whose Kingfisher Airlines has been accused of having defaulted on loans of over Rs 9,400 crore and faces legal proceedings, appears on the electoral rolls in the UK with his country home in Britain as his recorded address, a media report said here.

The 60-year-old, who strongly rejects any suggestion of wrong-

doing and denies that he has deliberately absconded from India, has been living at a three-storey mansion called Ladywalk in the village of Tewin in Hertfordshire, just over a one-hour drive north of London.

According to 'The Sunday Times', Mallya confirmed that "my official address in the UK is at Ladywalk", adding that he had supplied this information to the Indian authorities. The 11.5-millionpound mansion was bought from the father of British Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton by a company with offshore links.-PTI

MOSCOW: China has complimented India for "doing a good job" in maintaining an impressive growth rate despite a global slowdown and is keen on working together to push for reforms in the international financial system to offset the inherent weaknesses.

Stating that his country was keen to ramp up investments in India, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the two major emerging economies can contribute significantly in helping the world economy by keeping up their growth momentum.

"First of all, we both need to grow our own national economies.

On this front, we want to commend India for doing a good job in promoting economic growth," Wang told PTI here.

Wang, who was here to attend Foreign Ministers' meeting of RIC (Russia, India, China) grouping, further said reform of global financial system is key to protect the interest of developing countries and for recovery of the world economy.

"We need to join hands in playing a positive role in improving the global economic and financial governance because that will help protect the interests of the developing countries. It will also help the world economy to embark on a path of strong recovery," Wang said.

He said China was "optimistic" about the prospect of deeper relationship between the two countries.

"Of course, we will be happy to invest more in India. There is no doubt about it," he added.

After witnessing nearly three decades of close to double-digit growth, China has seen a decline in its growth rate, making room for India to replace it as the fastest-growing major economy of the world.

However, Chinese economy remains much bigger than that of India in terms of the overall size.

China clocked 6.9 per cent growth in 2015 when India is estimated to have grown by 7.3 per cent. The IMF has projected Indian economy to grow at 7.5 per cent in 2016 and 2017.

The Chinese Foreign Minister

also said his government was "looking forward" to President

velopment agenda.

We are deepening our coopera-

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

Pranab Mukherjee's upcoming visit to China.

"China, India relations are advancing very rapidly. We have similar positions on major international issues because we are major developing countries. And we both put economic development at the centre of our national de-

tion," Wang said.

Mukherjee will travel to China next month, setting off a series of high-level visits as the two countries seek to deepen their engagements despite irritants in ties over issues like Beijing blocking India's bid to get a UN ban on JeM head Masood Azhar.

Dates for the visit have not been announced yet.

Mukherjee is expected to visit Beijing and Chinese industrial city of Guangzhou which has stronger trade links with India.

This will be a reciprocal visit after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited India in 2014. It will be followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Chinese city of Hangzhou to attend the G20 leaders summit in September.

Sino-India trade ties have expanded significantly in the last few years. The bilateral trade volume was USD 70.4 billion last year.

"In September this year, China will host the G-20 summit and India is an important member of that organization. So we stand ready to work with India more closely to ensure the success of the G-20 summit," Wang said.

On RIC, Wang said the three countries together account for over 40 per cent of world's population and they should step up strategic cooperation and work together to maintain world peace and stability.

"Our three countries need to shoulder more of our common responsibilities," he said.-PTI

Air India grappling with Dreamliner woes NEW DELHI: Facing frequent technical problems in its Dreamliner fleet, Air India has found itself in a spot as absence of contractual provisions is hindering the national carrier's efforts to get financial compensation from aircraft maker Boeing.

Air India, which is working on efforts to turnaround its fortunes, has been grappling with technical glitches and other malfunction with the "game-changer" Dreamliner aircraft since their induction in the fleet over three year ago.

The every now and then glitches have forced the national carrier to ground Boeing 787-800 planes on multiple occasions, which has resulted in long flight delays and significant loss of rev-

enue.

Last month alone, at least two Dreamliners were grounded by the airline, one in Paris and another in Kolkata, in the wake of technical problems.

A senior Air India official said many rounds of discussions have taken place with respect to seeking compensation from Boeing but efforts have not been successful so far.

"There is no provision for (financial) compensation with re-

spect to technical problems in Dreamliner under the agreement signed with Boeing," the official said.

The absence of such a provision in the contract is hindering the possibility of getting compensated for the technical glitches but still efforts are being made in this regard, he noted.

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French concern over India's nuclear-liability law NEW DELHI: A month after India and France signed an agreement to take forward a deal to supply six nuclear reactors for Jaitapur plant, French firm EDF has said concern over India's liability law still remains and that it will give a fresh pricing proposal for these units.

The fresh techno-commercial proposal will also take into account India's concern over high per unit tariff, French government officials said.

"EDF has raised concerns about

might, apart from this Act, be instituted against such operator."

Last month, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) had signed an agreement for building six European Pressurised Reactors (EPR) as against the earlier proposal of two such reactors.

The delay in the project, which was first signed in 2008, and concern over India's liability law came in the wake of nuclear firms Areva and EDF merging their reactor businesses into a joint venture controlled by EDF, as part of a

"Things are unclear over how much insurance cover does the supplier have to take. There is still a lot of ambiguity in this," the French official said. The French government officials said the liability issue is still "manageable" but pricing still remains a major hurdle. the Right to Recourse pertaining to Clause 17 (a), (b) and (c) and Clause 46 of the Civil Liability Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act 2010.

"The French feel that there is a lot of ambiguity in Clause 46 and there is fear in the minds of suppliers. We have raised this issue both with NPCIL and the Department of Atomic Energy," said a French official.

Clause 46 of the CLND Act says, "The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other law for the time being in force, and nothing contained herein shall exempt the operator from any proceedings which

broad restructuring last year.

In 2014, the US too had raised similar concerns about Clause 46 in particular.

Following this, just before President Barack Obama's visit to the country, India announced plans to build a Nuclear Insurance Pool to address the issue.

In April last year, Areva had also signed an agreement with NPCIL to expedite the program.

"Things are unclear over how much insurance cover does the supplier have to take. There is still a lot of ambiguity in this," the French official said.

The French government offi-

cials said the liability issue is still "manageable" but pricing still remains a major hurdle.

While the cost of the electricity generated by Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) Units I and II hovers between Rs 3 to 3.50 per unit, for JNPP, it is expected to be Rs 9.14 per unit.

India is not ready to go beyond Rs 6.50 per unit.

"After an agreement for signing six units was signed last month, a change in the calculations altogether has to be done.

We had signed a pre-engineering agreement with Larsen and Toubro for two reactors as a part of the indigenization process. Now even that will change and so will the cost factor. A fresh proposal will be submitted by EDF to NPCIL in June-July.

"Before that the two sides will have to agree on different technocommercial variables including the rate of interest at which the loan will be offered to the NPCIL for building the reactor," another French government official said.

Even eight years after the signing of the nuclear cooperation deal between France and India, there is yet to be any visible progress on the ground.

After the Indo-French nuclear cooperation agreement in 2008, NPCIL, with the help of AREVA, was to construct six reactors of 1650 MW each.

Upon completion, JNPP will produce the maximum amount of energy among the nuclear power plants in the country.-PTI

350 exhibitors likely at Smart Cities expo NEW DELHI: Over 350 exhibitors from 50 countries are likely to converge at a three-day expo to showcase their capabilities for building smart cities in India.

Being organized by Exhibitions India Group (EIG), the second edition of the 'Smart Cities India 2016' expo will be held at Pragati Maidan in India's capital New Delhi from May 11 to 13.

"We have received an incredible response from countries and companies to participate in the expo, clearly demonstrating international interest towards the Smart Cities mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," EIG Chairman Prem Behl said in a release.

The event will witness exhibi-

tion and conference covering various segments including waste and water management, smart environment, urban planning, green buildings, smart transport, IT and communications, e-governance, safety

and security, smart manufacturing, and disaster management.

The expo has the support of 10 central ministries and a host of international associations, the release said.-PTI

India ratifies WTO's trade facilitation agreement GENEVA: India has said it has effective cooperation between formally ratified the WTO's trade customs and other appropriate facilitation agreement, which aims authorities on trade facilitation and at easing customs procedures to customs compliance issues. boost commerce.

It further contains provisions Commerce and Industry Min- for technical assistance and caister Nirmala Sitharaman said that pacity building in this area. the move would supplement The TFA will come into force India's ongoing reforms to bring once two-thirds of WTO members in simplification and enhanced formally accept the Agreement. transparency in cross border trade India is the 76th WTO member in goods. to accept the TFA. India's WTO ambassador The WTO in a statement said Anjali Prasad has handed over the that on March 18, India submitted instrument of acceptance to WTO Director-General Roberto Azev do.

"I am very pleased to receive India's instrument of ratification," Azev do said.

He said that India is one of the most dynamic economies in the world and has become a top recipient of foreign investment.

"Ratifying the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala will help India further boost Sitharaman economic growth by reducing trade costs and supporting its in- its "Category A notification" to tegration into the global the WTO indicating which provieconomy," he added. sions of the TFA it intends to Concluded at the WTO's 2013 implement upon entry into force Bali Ministerial Conference, the of the Agreement.

TFA contains provisions for expeAccording to a WTO report, diting the movement, release and implementation of the TFA has the clearance of goods, including potential to increase global mergoods in transit. chandise exports by up to USD 1 It also sets out measures for trillion per annum.-PTI

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AI focus on higher revenues, not trimming staff NEW DELHI: Seeking a turnaround in its fortunes, Air India is looking to augment revenues rather than trim staff expenses even as it battles tough market conditions and financial woes.

The national carrier, which is surviving on a staggered Rs 30,000 crore bailout package, has around 19,000 employees, including over

1,500 pilots and about 6,000 people on contract.

A senior official said the airline is looking at various options to increase revenues and that there are no plans to cut down costs related to staff.

"Air India's staff is around 12 per cent of the total expenses...It might be an easy way to slash expenditure by withdrawing or doing away with certain perks given to employees but that will not help in the long-term," he noted.

The Government-owned airline's annual wage bill stood at

Rs 3,100 crore in the 2014-15 fiscal as against Rs 3,600 crore in FY 2011-12 by abolishing productivity-linked incentives as per the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) guidelines.

Significantly, the carrier had early last year announced a slew of cost-cutting measures including reduction in reimbursables by

10 per cent and abolition of posts from non-operational areas besides other measures to rein in the spending and return to breakeven.

The use of expensive hotels or five-star hotels for stay during travel or holding events has been restricted unless it is unavoidable and the budget for such activities has been reduced by 10 per cent as part of the measures...These cost-cutting measures are part of a two-pronged drive to speed up our return to the break-even status," Air India had said.

The sale and lease back of aircraft would be a good option that would help in better revenue management. Besides, the focus is on flying more number of people, introducing new routes, improving efficiency and services, the official said.

Sale-leaseback is an arrangement in which an owner sells an asset to a leasing firm and, at the same time, leases it (as a lessee) on a long-term basis to retain exclusive possession and use. This frees capital tied up in a fixed asset, while the lender obtains a guaranteed lease.

Currently all its 21 Dreamliner Boeing 787-800 planes in its fleet are operating under the sale and lease back arrangement.

Buoyed by substantial improving in operational performance, Air India expects to have an operational profit of Rs 8 crore in the financial year ended March 31, 2016.

It would also be the first time since the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines that the national carrier would be reporting an operating profit.

The airline was expected to trim its losses by around 40 per cent to Rs 3,529.80 crore in the last financial year.

"Air India is expected to earn operating profit of Rs 8 crore as compared to the operating loss of Rs 2,636.18 crore in the previous year. This is the first time that the company is going to achieve operating profit since its merger in 2007-08," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma had informed Parliament last month.-PTI

Changi proposal on airports termed unviable NEW DELHI: Union Minister Mahesh Sharma has said efforts are being made to work out "mutually acceptable" terms for AAI and Singapore's Changi Airport with respect to operating Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports.

The latest development comes after Airports Authority of India's (AAI) terminated discussions following its assessment that the Changi Airport's proposal would not be commercially viable.

The proposal to have Changi Airport to operate and maintain Ahmedabad and Jaipur aerodromes was mooted d u r i n g Modi's visit to Singapore in November 2015.

"We have conveyed (to Changi Airport) that their terms and conditions are not favorable.

We have asked them to make the conditions mutually acceptable," Sharma, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, has said.

He said AAI would go ahead only if the proposal is "suitable" and in case that does not materialize, then an alternative would be looked at.

According to sources, Changi Airport was allegedly demanding a very high share in revenues from the two airports which was not acceptable to AAI. With regard to Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports, AAI had inked a

memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) during Modi's visit to the island nation.

In January, the Union Cabinet had also given its ex-post facto approval to the MoU. Earlier this month, an AAI official said it could not reach "mutually agreeable terms" with the Changi Airport on the proposal.

SCE had nominated Changi Airport for the proposed project.

Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd runs the

Changi airport in Singapore.

Under the MoU, both parties were to cooperate in planning and development of Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports besides other aspects including traffic and commercial development, service quality and operations and management.

Globally, limited O&M (Operation & Maintenance) contract models are prevalent for the entire airport operations, the statement said, adding the AAI has no previous experience in awarding O&M contract model of terminal buildings to other entities.-PTI

UK defends 25 pc stake in Tata Steel LONDON: The UK government's plans to offer a support package to save Tata Steel's UK operations will meet European Union (EU) rules on state aid, Business Secretary Sajid Javid said here, insisting any deal would not be a bailout or nationalization.

Javid had pledged to take a stake of up to 25 per cent in Tata Steel's Port Talbot steelworks in south Wales, as well as to inject up to 1 billion pounds of taxpayer loans, in an effort to attract a buyer.

Dismissing talk of part-nationalization which may fall foul of EU rules, Javid told 'The Sunday Times' in an interview: "It will all be compatible with state aid...government can provide financing as long as it's on commercial terms.

"I don't envisage having to apply for any exemption or approval

from state aid. Whatever we've got in mind is compliant. It's not a bailout; it's not nationalization.

Working within that framework we can see success at the end of

Sajid Javid

the road."

"In situations like these nationalization is rarely the answer. The

British steel industry would be in much worse shape had it not been privatized in the first place," said Javid, who had rushed to Mumbai earlier this month to talk to Tata Steel officials to find a way out of the crisis and save up to 10,000 jobs in the steel sector.

The newspaper quoted sources to say the government's decision to back Port Talbot was taken by British Prime Minister David Cameron with an eye on the in-out European Union referendum.

It is believed that Cameron may be gambling that the European Commission may allow its bending of state aid rules if it helps to keep Britain within the union.

But Javid insisted: "This has got nothing to do with June 23. I don't think the referendum

changes things one way or the other."

The fate of Britain's steel industry has become a hugely significant and divisive issue, on which 15,000 jobs and 25,000 in the wider

port all its steel.

"For any economy the size of Britain, given our manufacturing base, given aerospace and automotive, these are industries that, one way or the other, rely on steel."

The Tata Group had announced last month that it would quit Britain's steel industry entirely, putting the Port Talbot steelworks up for sale as well as its vast Scunthorpe plant, which has since been acquired by Greybull Capital. supply chain hang.

Javid said: "There's every reason to think that steel can be a viable business in Europe for commercial operators. It's an important industry economically. I wouldn't want to think that one day Britain becomes a country that has to im-

The Tata Group had announced last month that it would quit Britain's steel industry entirely, putting the Port Talbot steelworks up for sale as well as its vast Scunthorpe plant, which has since been acquired by Greybull Capital.-PTI

TechBiz Post

April 29, 2016

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US to buy heavy water from Iran WASHINGTON: The US has said it would buy 32 metric tonnes of Iranian heavy water, a key component in atomic-weapons development, worth USD 8.6 million to help Tehran meet its obligations under the landmark nuclear deal signed last year.

The US does not produce heavy water on its own and so far has been buying this from Canada and India. The heavy water would be resold domestically for research and other purposes.

"The US Government, via the Department of Energy, is making a license purchase of 32 metric tonnes of heavy water from a subsidiary of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran," State Department Spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said.

"This heavy water will fulfill a substantial portion of the US domestic demand this year for industry and domestic research applications," she said.

Under last year's landmark nuclear deal signed between Iran, the US and five other world powers, Iran is responsible for reducing its stock of heavy water.

Noting that this material is not radioactive and does not present

safety concerns, she said this transaction provides US industry with a critical product while also enabling Iran to sell some of its excess heavy water as contemplated in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iran's compliance with the JCPOA meant this material had already been removed from Iran,

ensuring it would not be used to support the development of a nuclear weapon, Trudeau said.

"Our purchase of the heavy water means it will instead be used for critically important research in non-nuclear industrial requirements here in the US," she said.

The US expects the heavy water

Tripura to supply more power to Bangladesh AGARTALA: Tripura government has agreed to a proposal to supply additional 100 MW power to Bangladesh, but with a condition that the Centre would continue a steady flow of gas to 101 MW thermal power project in Sipahijala district, Tripura Power Minister Manik Dey has said.

R e c e n t l y, Bangladesh had written to the Government of India about its requirement of additional 100 MW power from Tripura and the ministry of power wanted the opinion of the state government.

"We are also interested to supply additional 100 MW of power to our neighbor. We can give them the entire production of the 101 MW gas based thermal power project at Monarchak in Sipahijala district. If the Government of India can ensure steady flow of supply of gas to

the project. We have intimated our opinion to the central government," state Power Minister told reporters here.

The Monarchak project is owned by North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), a state owned power company which made an agreement to sell the entire production to Tripura.

The project is now ready for commercial run if natural gas is supplied.

During trial run gas was supplied

by ONGC, which has huge recoverable reserve in the state.

A double circuit transmission line from Sryamaninagar here to Comilla district in Bangladesh covering 47 km was erected by the Government of India, through which 100 MW power is being supplied from Tripura's 726 MW gas based thermal power project in Gomati district since March 23.-PTI

will be delivered to the US in the coming week, initially stored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and then resold at commercially reasonable prices to domestic commercial and research buyers, Trudeau said.

The heavy water is used in the development, production, and sale of compounds used in chemistry, biomedical and diagnostic re-

search, environmental analysts, and physics.

Trudeau said the US was under no obligation to purchase heavy water from Iran, nor it is obligated to do so in the future, but the JCPOA required Iran to reduce its heavy water inventory below the 130 metric tonne limit.-PTI

Indian varsity MoU with Frost & Sullivan KOLKATA: West Bengalbased self financed The Neotia University (TNU) has signed an MoU with Frost & Sullivan Inc to collaborate in setting up biotechnology parks in India and developing entrepreneurship.

University vice-chancellor A S Kolaskar said the biotechnology parks will be set up in states like West Bengal and Rajasthan and impart unique entrepreneurship program.

TNU, set up last year, has a strong biotechnology human resources development program, while Frost & Sullivan Inc has expertise in planning and developing biotechnology parks in countries outside India.

"Both will work together with the state and central government's department of biotechnology to not only establish biotechnology parks but to create industry specific and industry ready human resources," Kolaskar said. Global president of Frost and Sullivian Inc, Aroop Zutshi in a statement said F&S has signed the MoU with TNU because it is able to take fast innovative decisions and have the potential to become tomorrow s Stanford, MIT, and Harvard.-PTI

RIL posts biggest quarterly profit in 8 years NEW DELHI: Reliance Industries has reported its highest quarterly net profit in over eight years as fall in oil prices boosted refining and petrochem margins, helping the company post a 16 per cent jump in earnings for the threemonth period ended March 31.

Consolidated net profit in January-March at Rs 7,398 crore or Rs 25.1 a share was 15.9 per cent higher than Rs 6,381 crore or Rs 21.7 per share profit a year ago.

Standalone net profit was 17.25 per cent higher at Rs 7,320 crore.

This is the highest quarterly net profit for RIL since it clocked Rs 8,079 crore net profit in the third quarter of 2007-08.

RIL, operator of the world's biggest oil-refinery complex, earned USD 10.8 for turning every barrel of crude oil into fuel in the fourth quarter of 2015-16 compared with a gross refining margin of USD 10.1 per barrel a year ago. The GRM outperformed Singapore benchmark by USD 3.1 a barrel.

Sales, however, dropped 12 per

cent to Rs 64,569 crore in JanuaryMarch.

The company posted a record annual net profit at Rs 27,630 crore or Rs 93.1 per share in 2015-16, up 17.2 per cent over Rs 23,566 crore, or Rs 80.1 a share.

Turnover was, however, down 23.8 per cent to Rs 2,96,091 crore on lower oil prices.

RIL Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani said the much-talked about 4G telecom and high-speed broadband services will be launched this year. But he did not give a specific date.

"The commercial roll-out of Jio services this year will digitally enable a billion Indians and propel growth for India and Reliance," he said.-PTI

Air India grappling with Dreamliner woes Cont’d from page 12

these planes.

TDR is the ratio of the number of flights delayed due to technical faults to the total number of flights, expressed as a percentage.

These snags were related to software glitches and a few others such as windshield cracks, valve failure, oil loss and TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) failure, Sharma said earlier.

Interestingly, the national carrier's engineering union has

Air India has already inducted 21 Dreamliners in its fleet and six more are to be delivered to it by August 2018.

Though the airline management had also considered options such as replacing the remaining six planes with five latest version (B 787-900) aircraft, the proposal did not find favor with its board.

Significantly, the Governmentrun airline has also been forced to take the delivery of three B 777-300ER The national carrier's engiplanes, which it wanted neering union has been to cancel earlier due to the absence of "cancel- vocal on the issue and last lation" clause in the pur- year had urged the manchase agreement with agement to defer deliveries the US aircraft maker.

After initially defer- of the remaining aircraft ring the delivery of these planes, Air India now plan to induct them in the fleet next been vocal on the issue and last year had urged the management year.

Minister of State for Civil Avia- to defer deliveries of the remaintion Mahesh Sharma had last year ing aircraft till Boeing addresses said that the Technical Dispatch the technical issues.

The union had also called upon Reliability (TDR) of Air India's Dreamliner fleet was lower than the Air India management to seek average TDR due to frequent compensation for the adverse imglitches in the aircraft while admit- pact on the carrier's on-time perting that there have been techni- formance due to grounding of the cal delays on account of snags in planes.-PTI

Desi News IAMA & IAMACF hold charity fundraising gala CHRIS ZALA & ASIAN MEDIA USA

CHICAGO: A front ranking Indian American organization of professionals, the Indian American Medical Association (IAMA) of Illinois, together with the Indian American Medication Association Charitable Foundation (IAMACF) held their Semi-Annual Meeting and Annual Charity Fundraising Gala on Saturday, April 16, at the Waterford Banquet Hall in Elmhurst. Attended by members, Chicago businessmen and elites, the event was a big success.

Details on page 18

Bhubaneswar sister city event at Cupertino India Post News Service

CUPERTINO: Bhubaneswar Sister City Initiative (CBSCI) organized a dinner event with city officials and community to share its projects together with cuisine from the east and collaborative dance performances at Cupertino City Hall on April 22.

The event was attended by Cupertino Mayor Barry Chang, Vice Mayor Savita Vaidhyanathan, Cupertino Council members Gilbert Wong, Rod Sinks, Darcy Paul, former Mayor Orrin Mahoney and representatives from other sister cities Copertino, Italy and Hsinchu, Taiwan, Toyokawa, Japan, Cupertino Rotary, SFO India Vice Consul K Venkata Ramana, Cupertino Chamber of Commerce CEO Anjali Kausar, TiECon 2016 Convener BJ Arun, Chandru Bhambhra and other community leaders.

Details on page 19

Karnataki concert celebrates Indian heritage GEETHA PATIL

BOSTON: A free Felicitation Concert was arranged by the Karnatic Hindustani Music Circle (KHMC) to celebrate its 20thanniversary at Arthur Clark Government Building, Waltham, MA on Saturday, April 23.

As part of their anniversary celebrations, they honored the founders of KHMC, Smt. Durga Krishnan, Dr. Suresh Mathur and Preeti Chakravarthi for their vigorous service and enthusiastic leadership over the years towards spreading and preserving of the Indian classical music treasure in the New England (NE) community.

Details on page 20

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

16 India Post

Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy to perform for Sankara

April 29, 2016

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Details on page 21

Spearheading cleanliness, Sulabh has raised status of untouchables H.N. VERMA

STANFORD, CA: The Sulabh Shauchalaya technology initiated in 1970 is now close to fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi's dream of eliminating manual cleaning of human excreta and improving the sewage system in India.

This was explained to a select audience here by visiting Founder of Sulabh Sanitation Movement, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak. Dr. Pathak was invited for a conversation on "Diversity and Inclusive Development: The Sulabh Approach" by Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) of the Stanford School of Medicine.

In this dialogue, CCARE's Founder and Director, Dr. James Doty, asked Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak about his life's work and what role compassion may have played. An hour-long dialogue followed, ending with questions from the audience.

Dr Pathak explained that the Sulabh Technology 'two-pit-pourflush' has proven scientifically appropriate, economically affordable and culturally acceptable.

While Gandhiji's political dream of independence of India was realized with agitations, efforts, and sufferings of patriots, and which on international plane influenced U.S. leaders like the late Dr. King and others, Pathak said he was proud of spearheading the cleanliness program of Mahatmaji. It was also heartening that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken up the Swacchta Abhiyan in full swing on a national scale.

The Sulabh International social service organization based in New Delhi is engaged in a multipronged program to improve the arduous sanitation jobs in the country's rural and urban areas as also helping several other countries solve their sanitation problems. In fact, Sulabh was helping the socially and economically disadvantaged groups, common women, ethnic minorities, handicapped and disabled and socially neglected sections like widows. A social sensitivity is a prerequisite to understand the nurturing diversity and taking effective measures

to uplift people in distress.

Overcoming the sanitation problem requires a change in the mindset. India cannot progress if

lic and private sectors. We have to also know the subtle biases or prejudices of dominant groups who cause discrimination, which

of untouchables by application of technology and innovation of cultural reforms and social solidarity. To achieve this it was nec-

Dr. James Doty, Director of CCARE, Stanford University, in conversation with Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak.

it holds back the progress of its marginalized communities - Dalits, Adivasis, Backward classes, common men and women who constitute 70 per cent of its population.

The problem of inclusion in India thus assumes a gigantic proportion.

Despite the constitutional pro-

also generates anger and resistance from entrenched groups.

Sulabh has contributed to the cause of a reformed and rejuvenated India through liberation of a large number of scavenging Dalits and their inclusion within the national mainstream. Likewise the toilets, bio-gas plants and

Dr Pathak said he realized that social and sanitation issues were interlinked and innovated the compost toilet. As a result the upper caste people have started shedding caste bias and practices. Bringing upper caste people to sanitary work is also doing away with prejudices. visions of reservations in Government employment, the overall condition of marginalized communities has not recorded the expected improvement. Economic backwardness is rampant in all social groups. The pool of potential candidates in employment positions also keeps increasing. This requires a deeper look in both pub-

other sanitary measures are means to realize Gandhiji's dream.

It needs to be realized that dirty work like cleaning commode does not make the worker dirty. Changing this outlook is a challenging task.

Sulabh has taken up this challenge. Sulabh has jolted people's conscience and raised the status

essary to eliminate bucket latrines that dehumanized occupations.

Dr Pathak said he realized that social and sanitation issues were interlinked and innovated the compost toilet. As a result the upper caste people have started shedding caste bias and practices. Bringing upper caste people to sanitary work is also doing away with prejudices. The restoration of dignity and human rights has taken the shape of a reformist movement. Political democracy is meaningless without social democracy, Dr Pathak added.

CCARE regularly organizes public talks/lectures, scientific conferences, events, research meetings and film screenings aimed at promoting the science of compassion. James Doty, MD is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University and the Director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University School of Medicine.

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BAPS Mandir celebrates Swaminarayan Jayanti India Post News Service

CHINO HILLS, CA: The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, CA celebrated the 235th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, a celebration referred to as Swaminarayan Jayanti by the devotees of BAPS. According to the Hindu calendar, this day also celebrates the birth of Bhagwan Shri Ram. This year's celebration centered on the theme of "Shanti through Samjan," imparting knowledge on how to attain elevated levels of peace through spiritual understanding.

The Swaminarayan Jayanti celebrations were organized by local youth volunteers with much zeal and devotion.

Children and youth dedicated weeks leading up to the celebrations to organize a heartfelt production. With classical devotional songs and dance, they illustrated examples of staunch devotees from Bhagwan Swaminarayan's time through to modern day who never faltered from their spiri-

tual path despite countless hardships in their lives.

Skits were performed reflecting on Bhagwan Shri Ram's spiritual attainment, which allowed him to remain at peace even during his fourteen years of exile. Citing examples of historical devotees, the program highlighted how a spiritual aspirant can thrive in his/her day-to-day life as well as spiritual journey. The performances relayed that one's spiritual journey can begin at any stage in one's life and that age and gender are certainly no barriers in this path.

The theme also took the audience through five types of

samjan (understanding): Atma vichar, Sarvoparipana vichar, Sarva karta-harta vichar, Prapti-mahima vichar, and Rajipa vichar. These thoughts extol the idea of gaining true, spiritual understanding through realizing one's self as the Atma, knowing the glory of attaining Parabrahma, the all-doer, and leading a life in accordance with Parabrahma's wishes and commands. These thoughts provide practical ways on thriving in one's spiritual journey.

Swaminarayan Jayanti also carried a much greater significance in the lives of the devotees who had fasted for the whole day in honor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Bhagwan Shri Ram. Many had chanted dhun for hours at length to offer their devotion and engage their senses in

Parabrahma.

The Swaminarayan Jayanti program connected with the members of the audience to bring them together to commemorate the birth and legacy of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

Today, the continuation of this journey is seen through His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who tirelessly inspires his devotees to lead a life infused with spirituality and greater purpose.

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IAMA & IAMACF hold charity fundraising gala CHRIS ZALA & ASIAN MEDIA USA

CHICAGO: A front ranking Indian American organization of professionals, the Indian American Medical Association (IAMA) of Illinois, together with the Indian American Medication Association Charitable Foundation (IAMACF) held their SemiAnnual Meeting and Annual Charity Fundraising Gala on Saturday, April 16, at the Waterford Banquet Hall in Elmhurst.

Attended by members, Chicago businessmen and elites, the event was a big success.

With 300 plus donors and supporters extending their patronage, the Charity Gala helped raise funds for its free community health clinic, located at 2645 W. Peterson Avenue in Chicago.

For over 20 years, the IAMACF health clinic has been providing free primary care, lab testing and limited pharmaceutical services to about 3000 patients per year. This year's gala was emceed by Ravi Baichwal, Television Anchor for ABC Chanel 7 News and keynoted by Dr. Jay Bhatt, Chief Health Officer at Illinois Health and Hospital Association.

"The people we treat at the clinic are low income individuals, who represent a host of immigrant and refugee communities who have no health insurance or are under-insured with no other healthcare facility nearby that they can turn to for free, walkin health care. We're it I'm afraid," said Dr. Rambha Radhakrishnan, IAMACF's Volun-

Indian American Medical Association of Illinois [IAMA] Executive Board

teer Medical Director.

"This year, we were very fortunate to have gala sponsors like Wealth Management Network, Seasons Hospice and Medstar Laboratory. We were also very fortunate to have received a $250K commitment last year, by Dr. Ashok Ray" said Dr. Annita John, IAMACF's Board Chair.

Currently, the clinic is in need of volunteer physicians for some of its Sunday clinic sessions in 2016, which are typically from 10am to 2pm, said Medical Director Dr. Radhakrishnan.

This year's IAMACF Community Service

Award was given to Dr. Ashley Spielburg, Associate Professor of Optometry at the Illinois Eye Institute, who has been perform-

ing free eye exams on diabetic patients one Saturday every month for the last four years at the IAMACF Clinic.

Indian American Medication Association Charitable Foundation [IAMACF] Executive Board

Hawaii seeks sister city ties with Goa India Post News Service

Democrat, signed this resolution in the first reading after it was introduced in the Senate on January 29, 2016. Indian community, local residents, students, teachers, professors, interfaith leaders and diverse business

HAWAII: Indian-American Friendship Council (IAFC) Hawaii chapter Coordinator, Dr. Raj Kumar, took initiatives in getting Resolutions SCR 20 and HCR 26 to establish a Sister-State Relationship between Hawaii, United States of America and Goa, India, introduced in the Twenty Eighth Legislative session, December 2015.

L-R: Nathan Miyaki Office Staff of Congresswoman Gabbard; Milton Kwock The resoManager of DEBDT; Ashley Kaono Office Staff of Congresswoman Gabbard; lution was inSenator Brickwood Galuteria; Dr. Raj Kumar President IAFC-Hawaii Chapter; Senator Kalani English; Madana Sundari and Debbie Young GIIP members, and troduced by Senator Kaiali'I Kahele Senator Brian Taniguchi in the Senate and Representative Ken Ito, groups submitted testimonials in support Chair of the Veteran, Military and Interna- of this important resolution. Expectations are that the resolution will sail through the tional Affairs (VMI) in the House.

All the 25 Senators, both Republican and legislatures without much ado.

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Bhubaneswar sister city event at Cupertino executive committee present at this event included Mahesh Pakala, Mahesh Nihalani, Rishi Chopra and Reena Rao. The event was sponsored by Janya Ham and supported by an active team of volunteers: Namita Sripathi, Pradeep Joshi, Debashis Patnala Rao, Vivek Tummalapalli. CBSCI is supported

by Guru Shraddha, Indradhanush and Sangeet Dhwani.

The evening opened with the santoor performance of Ustad

Arshad Syed, accompanied by Shonali Srivastava on tabla. Odissi artiste Niharika Mohanty and Kuchipudi artiste Madhuri Kishore enthralled the audience with their perfect blend of two different dance forms.

The committee is planning to have an Odissi Workshop with Guru Sujata Mahapatra. Also a student exchange program and dance performance by students/ groups visiting from Bhubaneswar.

Moon Khan case exposes flaws of election authority SURENDRA ULLAL

CUPERTINO: Bhubaneswar Sister City Initiative (CBSCI) organized a dinner event with city

City Hall on April 22.

The event was attended by Cupertino Mayor Barry Chang, Vice Mayor Savita Vaidhyanathan, Cupertino Council members Gil-

officials and community to share its projects together with cuisine from the east and collaborative dance performances at Cupertino

bert Wong, Rod Sinks, Darcy Paul, former Mayor Orrin Mahoney and representatives from other sister cities Copertino, Italy and

India Post News Service

Hsinchu, Taiwan, Toyokawa, Japan, Cupertino Rotary, SFO India Vice Consul K Venkata Ramana, Cupertino Chamber of Commerce CEO Anjali Kausar, TiECon 2016 Convener BJ Arun, Chandru Bhambhra and other community leaders.

Cupertino's sister city partnerships have proven very successful in fostering educational, technical, economic and cultural exchanges. Over the years, there have been many delegations visiting both the cities as well as many local students participated in annual student exchange programs.

Apart from producing broad community benefit and creating an atmosphere in which international economic development and trade would be developed and strengthened, this program also fosters an environment in which community partnerships can be established to creatively learn, work and solve problems together.

CBSCI is one of the latest additions to Cupertino's sister city organizations. To date the organization has organized annual events, trips to Bhubaneswar by Cupertino Mayor and Rotary and booths at the City's Fall Festival, etc.

The CBSCI

CHICAGO: The saga of Moon gotiated agreement to recount the Khan's election for DuPage ballots.

County Recorder can be written In the court, the opponent side like a review of a suspense thriller. projected the recounting would Since the infamous election de- take a week or two and the county bacle occurred in 2000 in the Gore would incur a lot of expenses due vs. Bush presidential election, to extra wages of the staff and the probably nobody heard this kind charges of transportation of balof negative narrative on US elec- lots. tions.

Luckily, when the recounting When Khan filed his required started on April 21, the new votes signatures for the position of for Khan started bursting out like DuPage County Recorder as a pop corns. Within a few hours, the Democratic Party candidate in required votes were ready to deOctober 2015, his Republican Party opponent challenged his signatures on insubstantial Luckily, when the recounting grounds. Since the re- started on April 21, the new buttal process of the challenge was complex votes for Khan started burstand expensive, Khan ing out like pop corns. Within decided not to waste a few hours, the required time and money and withdrew his nomina- votes were ready to declare tion.

Khan a winner.

Because Khan had tremendous support in the community, he decided to run clare Khan a winner. as a write-in candidate. In this pro"This sends a strong message: cess, his name would not be on Democracy works, but you have ballot; voters have to write his to believe in it and you have to name - a difficult endeavor. work hard at it. Trust but verify," Surprisingly, Khan got thou- Khan said. sands of votes in the primary elecReacting to the news of the retion held on March 15. For several counting of Khan's votes, his son, weeks, the DuPage County Elec- Shaan, aptly delineated his tion Commission kept Khan's re- father's trait of perseverance: sult ambiguous. Later, strangely, "One thing I have learned from it did not declare him a winner. my father is the power of resil"This was one of the darkest ience. Speak as if your words dechapters in the recent American serve to be heard. Walk with the history of elections," Khan said. authority of the entire Earth be"However, I had full faith in the neath your feet. And if you ever judicial system of our great coun- feel your rights being infringed try." upon, do not relent until your reFormer York Township Trustee, lentlessness is acknowledged and Khan contacted legal experts, you earn your right." community leaders and the press, In the last one month, more than and all encouraged him to sue the a dozen articles have been written County election authorities. on Khan's case. Numerous prestiWith Media picking up the trail, gious blogs devoted to voting the election authorities cooperated rights ran comments from hunwith the court and accepted a ne- dreds of people.

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Karnataki concert celebrates Indian heritage GEETHA PATIL

A section of the audience

BOSTON: A free Felicitation Concert was arranged by the Karnatic Hindustani Music Circle (KHMC) to celebrate its 20thanniversary at Arthur Clark Government Building, Waltham, MA on Saturday, April 23.

As part of their anniversary celebrations, they honored the founders of KHMC, Smt. Durga Krishnan, Dr. Suresh Mathur and Preeti Chakravarthi for their vig-

members. Hundreds of audience dressed in the traditional Indian costumes gathered in the Hall to relish the delicacy of both Indian classical music systems.

• The first segment of the concert in Carnatic style was led by Uma Sankar, Bhuvana Ganesh, and Valli Bhamidipatti and their team of students. They were accompanied by senior artists such as KVS Vinayon Tabla and

Muthuswamy Dikshithar with both Carnatic and Hindustani lyrics. This song mostly encompassed simple melodies inspired

by Scots and Irish tunes. The song being based on simple melodies with entirely Indian lyrics made the artists and audience to sing the song with full chorus.

• Phil Kaplan on Violin and Sujeet Phanse on Flute presented an elegant Hindustani instrumen-

teams offered audience another delightful performance. Preeti Chakravarthi on Harmonium, Rajesh Pai on Tabla, Sujeet Phanse on Flute were well known artists of this area.

Smt. Durga Krishnan, Dr. Suresh Mathur and Preeti Chakravarthi were honored with bouquet and plaque for teaching, preserving, and bringing together the Karnatic and Hindustani musical heritage

to bring the Hindustani and the Carnatic music communities together in providing a forum for the practitioners of these two music systems through concerts, seminars, literature, recordings, and class room teaching.

Mali Santhanakrishnan, on behalf of the executive committee of the KHMC, proposed vote of thanks. He acknowledged the contributions of musicians. He ex-

Artists performing at Karnataki music concert

orous service and enthusiastic leadership over the years towards spreading and preserving of the Indian classical music treasure in the New England (NE) community.

A group of prominent Hindustani and Carnatic artists from NE area paid their respectful musical tribute to the founding

Mridanga Vidwansars Kanjira and Morsing. This team presented a melodious music piece to the audience to enjoy.

• The second sector of the concert presented an interactive session between the artists and audience. Shuchita Rao and Uma Sankar sang the Nottuswaram of

tal experience to the audience.

They were just watching the mastery of coordination and a high quality performance of these artists.

• Vaishnavi Kondapalli along with senior singers namely Shuchita Rao, Swati Panda, Pradeep Shukla, and their student

in NE area. Smt. DurgaJi said that it is indispensable to create interest in younger generation for Indian classical music and pass this rich heritage to our youngsters. Dr. Mathur stated that all music systems have only one language that gives happiness to listeners. It is in this context that there is a need

pressed his gratitude for all the volunteers who supported the event with their time and services.

Lastly, he recognized with due respect the organizers namely Jayanthi Ghatraju, Praveena Naduthota and Jyothi Sharma and thanked them generously for their meticulous work.

April 29, 2016

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Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy to perform for Sankara India Post News Service

SAN JOSE, CA: Sankara Eye Foundation, a non-profit organization headquartered in Silicon Valley, is organizing one of its biggest fundraisers in five cities across the United States. The talented trio of musicians Shankar, Ehsaan, and Loy from the Indian movie industry will be performing live on April 29 in San Jose, April 30 in Seattle, WA, May 6 in Dallas, TX, May 7 in Austin, TX, and May 14 in Newark, NJ. The concerts are special because they are going to pay tributes to legends, R.D Burman and S.D Burman, and Siddhartha Mahadevan, son of Shankar Mahadevan will be performing with them for the first time. It

is going to be a beautiful confluence of the old and the new, of legends and of young stars.

As a Non- Profit, Sankara Eye Foundation has been around for more than 15 years and is working towards eradicating curable blindness in India. An impressive 80:20 free to paid patients ratio defines the working model of the organization. It is no mean feat to have successfully completed more than 1.4 million eye surgeries already.

The charity navigator has repeatedly given the organization top rating of four stars. Funds raised through these events are utilized towards construction of state of the art hospitals across various states in India, to conduct free eye camps in rural areas, free eye surgeries for the less fortunate, and to maintain these hospitals.

Join the cause and help them reach their goal of Vision 20/20 by the year 2020.

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Sai Rainbow & Sai Palki Utsav celebrated

Sai Palki

SURESH BODIWALA Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Shri Dwarkamai celebrated the 10th Anniversary of Shri Dwarkamai Sai Rainbow and Sai Palki Utsav on Saturday April 16 at Margaret Mead Jr. High School in Elk Grove Village, a northwest Chicago suburb. The event was attended by hundreds of devotees from different walks of life, with their families and friends.

Dwarkamai Chicago Sai Palki started 10 years ago in Chicago land .Hari Prasad and Sai Roopa, the two devotees, had a vision to spread the teaching of Shirdi Sai Baba in the Chicago area. Through their hard work, commitment and sacrifice, they have grown the Sai Palki spiritual journey from a few houses over one week to hundreds of houses over several months covering Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin area. So many volunteers dedicate their time and effort to make Sai Palki successful every year.

The program started with singing the Indian National Anthem by all Dwarkamai kids. A spectacular Cultural Program was organized between 9:00 am to 11:00 am. An

Invocation Dance, "Pushpanjali", was followed by a vocal performance in praise of Lord Ganesha.

A Kuchipudi dance on Lord Ganesha was the next attraction.

A gripping dance performance Attractive stalls on clothing, on Lord Shiva song, a semi classi- jewelry, real estate and Shri cal Kuchipudi Dance on Goddess Dwarkamai were put up at the Lalitha Devi, a classical fusion venue, which not only added to dance based on Hanuman Chalisa, the beauty of the event but also a devotional dance, "Kathak Teen attracted the attention of the devoTaal", in praise of Lord Krishna, a tees. fusion dance medley on Lord Shri Dwarkamai is dedicated to Shiva and Lord Shri Rama were organizing events and conducting followed by the Grand Finale of the Cultural Program consisting of a Dwarkamai Chicago Sai Palki dance medley presented by all the devo- started 10 years ago in Chitees of Shirdi Sai Baba, cago land .Hari Prasad and dedicated to Lord Shiva Sai Roopa, the two devotees, and Shirdi Sai Baba.

The Sai Palki had a vision to spread the Darshan and Procession took place from teaching of Shirdi Sai Baba in 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. It the Chicago area. consisted of taking the Shri Sai Baba Palki (palanquin) with the picture of Shri activities directed towards perShirdi Sai around the school gym sonal spiritual development of the area accompanied by singing of community based on Shri Shirdi Sai hymns, chanting, dancing and philosophy. The operations include spiritual merriment in the form of a running centers of spiritual excelreligious procession. lence, lectures by Vedic scholars, The event concluded with the health and wellness professionals, Aarti and Bhandara (Maha Prasad) meditation sessions, yoga, and kids' between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm. enrichment activities.

Devotees and performing artists at the 10th Anniversary of Shri Dwarkamai Sai Rainbow and Sai Palki Utsav

Cultural performances by local artists

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Utah varsity begins yoga teachers training India Post News Service

UTAH: A new yoga studies and teacher training program has been launched by Utah State University (USU), a highly respected and recognized public research university in Logan, for the fall session 2016.

The new program moves yoga out of the gym and into the classroom. This new Yoga Studies and Teacher Training Program offers an integrated approach with a curriculum of yoga history, literature, philosophy and practice; and claims to be committed to offering students an in-depth understanding of yoga, rooted in the teachings of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Similar universitybased programs are said to be rare. USU currently offers 14 yoga classes through campus recreation, which are said to fill up quickly.

Its Learning Objectives include: yoga as a physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and ethical discipline and active discussion and study of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita. Camille Litalien and Emily Perry are co-directors of USU yoga studies Welcoming this move on the part of the University, Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said this should provide an opportunity to students to study multi-faceted yoga. He urged other US and Canadian universities to offer yoga study programs.

Zed mentioned that yoga, referred as "a living fossil", was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization.

Chishti honored by Bazm-eIttehad of Jeddah SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Bazm-e-Ittehad, Jeddah, has presented its prestigious "Salar-E-Millat Adabi Award 2016" to Hasan Chishti, a distinguished literary figure hailing from Osmania and now settled in Chicago. The award was given to

Hasan Chishti

Chisti for supporting and advancing the cause of Urdu language and tradition throughout his admirable career starting in Hyderabad and spreading in Saudi Arabia and USA. The award was given at a largely attended mushaira in Jeddah on 7th April. The award was bestowed on him in absentia as he could not attend the function.

This award to Hasan Chishti is a continuation of many recognitions and honors he has received.

Cont’d on page 25

Yoga craze across USA

Yoga , although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all.According to US National Institute of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe

deeply, and get rid of stress.

A recently released "2016 Yoga in America Study", reveals that close to 37 million Americans (which included many celebrities) now practice yoga, and yoga is strongly correlated with having a positive self image. Yoga was

the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche, Zed added.

Founded in 1888, female majority USU's Mission includes "cultivating diversity of thought and culture". Stan L. Albrecht is the President.

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Earth Day celebrations begin with Gayatri Mantra HARISH RAO

Religious leaders participating in Earth Day event (L-R): Rigoberto Ruano Mireles, Harriet Kathryn Stewart, Roya Galata, Justin R. Zuniga, Omar A. Palmer, Rajan Zed, Shelley L. Fisher, Donald W. Watts, Daniel R. Sanchez, Sumayya U. Beekun, Ryan J. Earl.

NEVADA: A multi-faith invocation opened the 25th "Earth Day" celebrations in Nevada on April 24 with chanting of Gayatri Mantra, considered the most sacred mantra of Hinduism.

Religious leaders who prayed included Rigoberto Ruano Mireles (Roman Catholic), Sumayya U. Beekun (Muslim), Rajan Zed (Hindu), Shelley L. Fisher (Buddhist), Daniel R. Sanchez (Jewish), Omar A. Palmer (Seventh-Day Adventist), Donald W. Watts and Ryan J. Earl (Mormons), Roya Galata (Baha'i), Harriet Kathryn Stewart (Pagan) and Justin R.

Zuniga (Native American) Rajan Zed directed this special multi-faith invocation which in-

and Native American prayers focused on healthier environment and respecting the nature of the

Quoting ancient scriptures, Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism and who recited Gayatri Mantra, pointed out: "We may believe in different religions, yet we share the same home-our Earth. We must learn to happily progress or miserably perish together.� cluded Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha'i, Pagan

in Reno's about 40-acres Idlewild Park reportedly attracted thousands of people from all over the region in Nevada and nearby California.

Dozens of non-profit groups participated in this event, which included few hundred exhibits, various workshops, interactive activities, stages with live entertainment, arts and crafts, food and drinks, games and prizes. Various themed areas formed part of the celebrations. Philosophy behind the "Earth Day" celebrations in-

cludes respect-protect-exploreengage in the Nature of the planet.

Organizers included Anastacia Sullivan and Heather Howell.

Quoting ancient scriptures, Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism and who recited Gayatri Mantra, pointed out: "We may believe in different religions, yet we share the same home-our Earth. We must learn to happily progress or miserably perish together. For man can live individually but can only survive collectively".

planet we live on.

This annual all-day free event

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Macy's sensational styles for Superhero Moms India Post News Service

NEW YORK: For all the superhero moms in your life, Macy's has extra special gifts that go above and beyond this Mother's Day. Moms come to the rescue every day, so we should show appreciation through a wide assortment of stylish finds in fashion, accessories, beauty and more.

In addition, from now through May 31, 10 percent of the purchase price of select merchandise from the Thalia Sodi Collection will benefit the March of Dimes and its mission to fight premature birth and other serious infant health problems.

"With everything moms do for us, they are our superheroes and we want to help celebrate them in an exceptional way," said Kathy Hilt, senior vice president of My Stylist@Macy's. "Her favorite brands can be found at Macy's and our vast assortment of beautiful gifts will have her feeling even more special this year. We are also proud to offer a selection of jewelry and apparel that will help aid the March of Dimes and its incredible mission."

Macy's is the ultimate destination for finding Mom that perfect gift for Mother's Day. For every personality and style, Macy's offers an extraordinary selection of items to make her feel super. You can take her accessories game to the next level with a chic and colorful pebble crossbody bag from Coach.

She'll be ready for work and thinking of you with the Michael Michael Kors flap card wallet and charm. Adorn her in classic and timeless TruMiracle 14k white or yellow gold diamond studs or Belle de Mer cultured freshwater pearls. For the active mom who is always on the go, keep her moving in style with Skechers athletic

shoes and a sleek Nike training tank top.

For the restful beauty sleep she deserves, a Charter Club pajama set with cozy slippers and a Martha Stewart memory foam pillow will do just the trick. Treat her with the luxurious scent of a pre-

Hasan Chishti appreciated the efforts of Bazm-e-Ittehad to bring Urdu lovers on a common platform, forgetting their differences.

He also thanked Ahmaduddin Owaisi, President, and all the members of the Bazm for this award.

Born in Hyderabad, India, Hasan Chishti obtained his B.A. degree from Osmania University and served the same university in various capacities for about 27 years. After his retirement in 1978

shine" and "Time Flies" watches are bright accessories for any time of day.

Take the guesswork out of finding that special something for Mom with My Stylist@Macy's, a free personal shopping service with no minimum to buy and ex-

perts who will help you find the perfect gift. If you don't have enough time to shop for Mom this year, treat her to a Macy's gift card along with scheduling an appointment with My Stylist@Macy's, which provides two gifts in one.

PG&E No. 2 utility among Best Corporate Citizens India Post News Service

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has again been named to the 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by Corporate Responsibility (CR) Magazine.

PG&E earned the No. 2 position among utility companies, and was ranked 39th overall, up from 58th place in 2015.

"We're honored to be recognized for our commitment to help create a clean energy economy through sustainable business practices. Earning a position on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens list for a second year in a row is a reflection of our efforts to protect the environment, promote high standards for diversity and inclusion, and build a better California for our customers and communities," said PG&E Corporation Chairman and CEO Tony Earley.

Companies that made the 100 Best Corporate Citizens list were evaluated on 260 data points across seven categories: environment, climate change, employee relations, governance, philanthropy/community support, human rights and financial performance. Those selected successfully demonstrated, through publicly available data, their robust efforts to drive disclosure, policy and performance in these categories. PG&E ranked among the top five companies in employee rela-

Chishti honored by Bazme-Ittehad of Jeddah Cont’d from page 22

mium perfume like Chanel No. 5. The Maison Jules Mommy & Me lace fit and flare dresses are a fun and fashionable way for mothers and daughters to match. And for the fanciful mom with an eclectic and quirky style, Kate Spade New York "Hello Sun-

he was associated with King Abdul Aziz University for one year, after which he held an executive post in a Saudi-owned company for about eight years.

In 1986 he migrated to Chicago and worked for a reputed real estate company, Khan & Associates, and also Pentagon Industries for about five years. In 1991, he started his own business with his sons Javeed and Wajid, both computer engineers. He is happily married to Zeenath Hasan for 57 years.

tions; among the top 10 companies in environment and philanthropy; and ranked 11th in climate change.

"Congratulations to those honored on this year's 100 Best Corporate Citizens list for their commitment to corporate responsibility. This annual list is the only ranking that doesn't rely on self-reporting. Each year, we measure the most transparent companies who report on their responsible practices. Our goal is to advance corporate accountability and responsibility," said CEO of CR Maga-

zine and SharedXpertise, Elliot Clark.

PG&E is committed to doing even more to achieve a low-carbon economy and preserve a healthy planet for future generations, including: • Delivering some of the nation's cleanest energy with nearly 55 percent of our electricity coming from sources that produce zero greenhouse gases, including nuclear, hydro and renewable • Using state-of-the-art detection technology to find and eliminate methane leaks in our natural

gas distribution system • Connecting more rooftop solar and doing it faster than any utility in the nation • Exploring solutions such as large-scale battery banks and compressed air storage systems to smooth natural cycles of sun and wind power • Investing $100 million over the next five years to electrify our vehicle fleet.

• Convening a new external Sustainability Advisory Council to help guide our sustainability efforts.

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India signs climate pact along with 170 states UNITED NATIONS: India has signed the historic Paris climate agreement here along with more than 170 nations, marking a significant step that has brought together developing and developed nations for beginning work on cutting down greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar signed the agreement in the UN General Assembly hall at a high-level ceremony hosted

by UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon. The ceremony was attended by heads of government, ministers, corporate leaders and artists.

"This is a moment in history.

Today you are signing a new covenant with the future," Ban said, adding that, "We are in a race against time."

The opening ceremony included music from students of New York's Julliard School and a short video bringing the "gavel moment" from Paris to the signature ceremony.

At 175 nations, the signing ceremony for the climate agreement set the record for the most countries to sign an international agreement on one day, previously set in 1982, when 119 countries signed the Law of the Sea Convention.

The signing is the first step toward ensuring that the agreement comes into force as soon as possible.

After the signing, countries must take the further national (or domestic) step of accepting or ratifying the agreement.

The agreement can enter into force 30 days after at least 55 Parties to the UNFCCC, accounting for at least 55 per cent of global

emissions, ratify the agreement. of the steps we are taking" like relentless carbon emissions. We India has maintained that the taxing oil, cess on coal and em- are much cleaner at our developburden of fighting climate change phasis on alternative renewable ment stages as compared to those cannot be put on the shoulders energy, he had said. of the developed world," he said, of the poor after decades of in"We are conscious of our re- adding that the developed world dustrial development by the rich sponsibilities," he said. "behaved irresponsibly" and the nations.

It has announced plans to quadruple its renewable power capacity to 175 gigawatts by 2022 as part of the government's plan to supply electricity to every household.

India seeks to add 100 gigawatts of photovoltaic capacity, 60 gigawatts of wind power, 10 gigawatts of biomass and five gigawatts of hydro projects.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in an address to a citybased think tank earlier this week, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar signs the Paris Agreement on climate change, at U.N. headquarters. had said that notin New York on April 22 withstanding its development need, India is completely committed to A day before the signing cer- developing nations are suffering. protecting the climate. emony, Javadekar had said that India, which along with the "The level of development we India has come to New York for United States and China, is world's have reached is far, still the hard signing the Paris agreement with top greenhouse gas emitter, has reality is we have a lot of distance "full confidence that ultimately maintained that its energy needs to cover. the collective wisdom will prevail will be enormous going forward We need more housing, power, and all countries - developed and as it needs to lift millions out of toilets, roads and factories. developing - will do their bit." poverty, develop its infrastructure Therefore our requirements of He said that every climate ac- and provide basic amenities like fuel is certainly going to increase. tion has a "cost" and developed toilets, affordable houses and exNotwithstanding that our own nations are asking the develop- pand public transport. standards of protecting the envi- ing world to pay that cost.

About 13 countries, mostly ronment are very rigid," Jaitley "The developed world has Small Island Developing States, had said. caused the climate change of to- are expected to deposit their in"There is a method in each one day because of their 100 years of struments of ratification immedi-

ately after signing the agreement.

The signature ceremony is a legal formality, with only Heads of State or Government, foreign ministers, or other representatives with "formal powers" from their governments signing the agreement.

In the agreement, all countries agreed to work to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The signing ceremony coincided with the International Mother Earth Day and in his message on the day, Ban said the Paris accord, in conjunction with the Agenda for Sustainable Development, holds the power to transform the world.

There is only one original copy of the agreement - it contains the full text of the agreement in the six official languages of the United Nations - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

There is a page for each of the 197 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Each nation signed the agreement while seated at a table on a specially constructed stage in the UNGA hall.

French President Francois Hollande began the signing ceremony.

Speaking at a press conference, David Nabarro, the SecretaryGeneral's Special Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, told reporters that the signing of the Paris Agreement is crucial because achieving progress in relation to climate change is central to the broader effort of achieving the SDGs.-PTI

India seeks time to implement climate pact NEW YORK: India has sought time to implement the Paris climate agreement, saying it should not be done in "haste" and all countries should be allowed to follow their national processes.

"A debate about early entry into force of the Paris Agreement is unfortunate. Early ratification can be understood, but it will take time as per the national processes of approval," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said at the Major Economies Forum Meeting here.

"We should not make haste because Paris Agreement is to be implemented post 2020. There is enough time for ratification and all countries should be allowed

to follow their national processes," he said.

According to reports, the US and China are leading a push to bring the Paris climate accord into force much faster aided by a typographical glitch in the text of the agreement.

"Paris agreement is a historical achievement for mankind. All countries should implement it in letter and spirit. After signing of Paris agreement, developed world needs to immediately ratify the Kyoto Protocol second commitment period and should present enhanced pre-2020 actions," he said.

The minister also urged developed nations to announce their "enhanced" pre-2020 climate action plans and undertake the "ur-

gent" task of mobilizing USD 100 billion, lack of which will hamper implementation of nationally determined contributions of developing countries.

“After signing of Paris agreement, developed world needs to immediately ratify the Kyoto Protocol second commitment period and should present enhanced pre-2020 actions"

"The second urgent task to be done is Mobilization of USD 100 billion. Without this crucial mobilization, many of the developing countries cannot implement their nationally determined contributions," Javadekar said.

He said the need of the hour is to lay out the complete institutional mechanism for building up on the Paris accord.

"The plan to work for the first meeting of Ad hoc group on Paris Agreement (APA) and additional works by Subsidiary Body for Implementation and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBI/SBSTA)...should be prepared in consultation with all stake holders as issues covered under these bodes have a direct

bearing on the Provisions of the Paris Agreement. There is a need for coherence between COP, APA, SBI, SBSTA and other institutions," he said.

Observing that India has led from the front as far as pre-2020 action is concerned, he said that though it is not mandated to take pre-2020 actions as per Kyoto Protocol, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has showcased to the world that if there is political will, there is a way.

"India has shown its leadership by action. It is now actions of developed countries which will be watched by the world against the backdrop of India's proactive achievements," he said. -PTI

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'Focus on ensuring climate 'No turf wars with govt on climate change' justice to poor' UNITED NATIONS: India, which signed the landmark Paris climate change agreement along with 170 other nations, said the world community's action plan to implement the agreement should focus on ensuring climate justice to the world's poor and bringing sustainability in consumption.

"On this Earth Day, we have made History. As many as 171 countries have signed the Paris agreement. It is the triumph of collective wisdom," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in his statement to the world body on the high-level signing ceremony here.

Javadekar said the agreement explicitly highlights the benefits of sustainable lifestyle and consumption and warned that the extravagant lifestyle of some countries would render the planet unsustainable.

"If we continue with an extravagant lifestyle in the same way what we experience in many countries, earth will become unsustainable. So we must bring sustainability in consumption as our priority goals," he said, adding that the international community has to take care of the only planet the human race has.

"If we continue with unsustainable consumption, we would require three planets, and we don't have them. We have only one planet. There is only one Mother earth and we must take care of it," he said.

Javadekar stressed that there is an impetus for operationalising the vision of 'Climate Justice' as enshrined in the Preamble of the Paris Agreement.

"Climate justice is justice to the poorer sections, the four billion poor of the world and justice for the developing world. We have to chalk out our action plan to implement the Paris agreement," he

national agreement on a single day.

Adopted in Paris by the 196 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at a

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Minister of State (IC) for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar in a meeting on the sidelines of Signing Ceremony for the Paris Agreement on climate change, in New York on April 22

conference known as (COP21) last December, the agreement's objective is to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius.

It will enter into force 30 days after at least 55 countries, accounting for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, deposit their instruments of ratification.

Javadekar asserted that apart from the ratification of the Paris agreement, the ratification of the

Highlighting the steps India has taken towards its commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions, he said India will reduce its emission intensity by 35 per cent by 2030 and build 40% capacity for power generation from non-fossil fuels. said, focusing on climate justice and sustainability.

As many as 175 world leaders signed the Paris Agreement at UN Headquarters, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon describing the day as an "historic" one since this was by far the largest number of countries ever to sign an inter-

have to cooperate on clean actions, saying "competitiveness concerns should not overshadow our common resolve to build a sustainable future."

second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol is also urgent and needs to be done immediately.

"Developed world must take enhanced targets and declare them as soon as possible for 20162020. There cannot be 'action holiday' of five years," he said.

He pointed out that countries

Highlighting the steps India has taken towards its commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions, he said India will reduce its emission intensity by 35 per cent by 2030 and build 40% capacity for power generation from non-fossil fuels.

It is also creating additional carbon sink of 2.5 billion tonnes through various modes of afforestation and heavily invest in reducing its vulnerability and enhancing adaptation to Climate Change.

"This is part of our INDCs and we take this very seriously," he said.

Javadekar informed the world body that India has already "started on the road" to achieve its commitments, including taxing coal at the rate of USD 6 per tonne and using the money in investments in clean environment.

"If the world follows India's example" by taxing coal "it will generate the elusive USD 100 billion much early, and more easily," that is required for the climate fund.

India has also undertaken a huge renewable energy program of 175 GW and has already achieved 40 GW.-PTI

NEW YORK: Mahindra Group is tasked with rescuing the coal Chairman Anand Mahindra said industry while the other is tasked there is "unity" in the Indian gov- with putting a tax on that reernment for moving towards the source. goal of tackling climate change He cited Goyal's call for 100 and he does not see any "turf per cent electric vehicles in India war" but a clear agenda that en- and said the minister is "very foergy and development are impor- cused" on getting technology to tant. produce clean coal.

"This is one time when I would "I don't see any turf wars in say the government is pulling its weight as far He cited Goyal's call for as this movement (of tackling climate 100 per cent electric vechange) is concerned," hicles in India and said the Mahindra told PTI after minister is "very focused" addressing world leaders, civil society and on getting technology to businesses at the high- produce clean coal. level signing ceremony of the Paris climate change agree- this administration. I see a clear ment at the UN. agenda that energy is important, In a singular honor, Mahindra development is important. I see a was the sole representative from lot of unity in terms of moving the corporate world to deliver towards this goal of controlling opening remarks at the ceremony. climate change," he said.

Mahindra said Power MinisHe emphasized that the induster Piyush Goyal and Environ- try in India now has to come toment Minister Prakash Javadekar gether and form a coalition to help "theoretically should be at oppo- the government in tackling the site ends of the pole" since one problem of climate change.-PTI

Anand Mahindra invokes 'manthan' on climate deal UNITED NATIONS: Invoking the Indian mythological story of the great "manthan", Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said the world's transition to a greener way of life is happening through the Paris climate agreement that was struck after much churning.

Addressing world leaders from

lem and it is up to us to help mitigate it. It is also an opportunity because this mitigation gives business a chance to redeem itself from the trust deficit it has been facing after the 2008 Occupy Wall Street movement," Mahindra said.

Mahindra was the sole representative from the corporate world to address the high-level signing ceremony and was among the dignitaries, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, French P r e s i d e n t F r a n c o i s Hollande, President of the General A s s e m b l y Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra Mogens Lykketoft and UN Messenthe iconic green lectern of the UN ger of Peace Oscar-winner General Assembly hall here on the Leonardo DiCaprio, who delivopening ceremony of the signing ered opening remarks. of the Paris Climate Change agreeInvoking the story of the ment, Mahindra said the occasion "manthan", the great churning of provides corporations the first the cosmic ocean, Mahindra said step towards "visibly integrating wonderful things emerged at the our interests with the interests of end of the joint enterprise from the the future of the planet. churned ocean such as 'Lakshmi', "It is a responsibility because the Goddess of wealth and 'Amrit', we have contributed to the prob- the nectar of eternal life.-PTI

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Kar Gayi Chull : Kapoor & Sons 2 Sab Tera: Baaghi 3 High Heels Te Nachche: Ki & Ka 28 India Post

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April 29, 2016

4 Jabra Fan: Fan 5 Bol Do Na Zara: Azhar 6 Ji Huzoori : Ki & Ka 7 Bolna: Kapoor & Sons 8 Most Wanted Munda : Ki & Ka 9 Let's Talk About Love : Baaghi 10 Buddhu Sa Mann : Kapoor & Sons

R T

he first poster of upcoming film 'Befikre' was a hot one which had the lead actors Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor in a passionate lip-lock. While the first look set the temperatures soaring, the whole film might set the screen on fire as there are reportedly more such passionate and intense scenes.

According to a report in Bollywood Life, Ranveer and Vaani will be seen kissing for as many as 23 times in the movie. It seems the

duo is set make a new record beating Mallika Sherawat's much-hyped 17 kisses in 2003 film 'Khwahish'. Rumors are also doing the rounds that Ranveer will bare it all for the movie.

'Befikre' is the story of a couple who meet in Paris and get to know each other. After a series of fights, they realize they can't do without each other. The incidents and events that they are caught in form a significant part of the film's story.

The film is Aditya Chopra's fourth directorial venture after a gap of almost seven years.

V

arun just wrapped up the shoot for 'Dishoom', wherein he is paired with John Abraham in a parallel lead; however it is learnt that Varun is not keen on playing parallel leads anymore.

Since the beginning of his acting career, Varun has bagged most multi-star projects and they have worked for him as well. From his debut 'Student of the Year' where he was paired with Sidharth Kapoor to his recent hit 'Dilwale' where he played the parallel lead and younger brother to Shah Rukh Khan, Varun has done a lot of multi-starrers.

It is also said that, the decision of going solo was triggered by a recent blockbuster that he was a part of, wherein the final cut did not have a lot of his shots which amounted to more than 60 days of shooting and two songs as well. The next big thing after 'Dishoom' is the 'Judwaa' sequel that the senior Dhawan is directing.

adhika Apte who was last seen in movies like 'Badlapur', 'Manjhi: The Mountain Man' and 'Hunterr' and has been appreciated by critics for her choice of roles, will now been seen playing the character of a person who has Agoraphobia or panic disorder.

This psychological thriller is directed by Pawan Kripalani and is about a woman who suffers from this disorder. According to health experts, people suffering from this disorder are scared of open or public spaces.

It has been reported that the actress has taken up this role so as to create an awareness about this disorder and has also acted in a special digital series for which she has already shot for about 10-12 videos.

This psychological thriller is directed

by Pawan Kripalani and is about a woman who suffers from this disorder

Bollywood

April 29, 2016

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D

ev Patel, who shot to fame with Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire', will be next seen playing the lead in 'The Man Who Knew Infinity', a film based on the life of mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan.

Though Patel is being lauded for his performance in the film, Dev actually is bad at math!

Confirming the same, Dev admitted that while shooting the film, the makers had got a mathematician named Ken Ono on the sets to break down complex mathematical formulas for Dev. The actor quipped that despite the help of Ono, he did not understand most of what was being explained to him and that there was a quite a lot of acting required so as to cover up his mathematical inabilities.

For those who do not know this, Ken Ono is a Japanese-American mathematician who specializes in number theory.

The film slated to release in English and Tamil, is written and directed by Matthew Brown and also stars Jeremy Irons, Devika Bhise, Stephen Fry, Toby Jones and Arundhati Nag.

Dev admitted that while shooting the film, the makers had got a mathematician named Ken Ono on the sets to break down complex mathematical formulas for Dev

I

n their upcoming film 'Baar baar Dekho', the lead pair Sidharth Malhotra and Katrina Kaif share a sizzling chemistry. At a recent event Sidharth was quoted saying that the film spans the life of a person from the age of 18 to 60. However he denies that it is based on time travel. In fact, he also mentioned that it is not science fiction; it is a different kind of a love story with interesting twists, wherein the universe dishes out options for the lovers to do something other than usual.

The 31-year old actor, who was recently busy shooting for the film in his hometown Delhi, took to an image sharing site to post a picture of him outside Humayun's Tomb, while he was tripping around his city. 'Baar Baar Dekho' is a romantic drama directed

by Nitya Mehra.

In fact, he also mentioned that it is not science fiction; it is a different kind of a love story with interesting twists

T

he 'Gangs of Wasseypur' girl, who is known for essaying a few choice roles was recently in Jodhpur. And no, it was no vacation. Huma was filming alongside British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha for an upcoming British-Indian historical drama.

And her tryst with the Brit crew left her much impressed. Says Huma, "One thing we need to learn from the west is how professional they are about their work. A 7.30 am call time means just that. That's something we need to imbibe from them." And it's not that she's glorifying them. Instead, Huma feels that the western filmmakers too can learn a bit from their Indian counterparts, "People in west need to learn from us how we work on our stories."

In India, we have become very lazy. Everything happens slowly and as per God's will. A 9 am call time means we start working at whatever time we wish," says Huma.

India Post 29

Realty Tidbits

MGM Growth raises more than $1B in IPO NEW YORK: MGM Growth Properties has raised $1.05 billion in its initial public offering.

The real estate investment trust priced 50 million shares at $21 per share, at the high end of its target range. It offered underwriters the option to buy up to 7.5 million additional shares.

Shares jumped 4.8 percent to close at $22.01. Its stock is trading under the ticker symbol ``MGP'' on the New York Stock Exchange.

The warm reception could be a sign the IPO market is improving.

The first quarter of 2016 was the worst period for IPOs since the depths of the financial crisis, according research firm Renaissance Capital. Only 11 IPOs have priced this year, down 74 percent from last year.

But Renaissance says there is a backlog of companies waiting to file.

MGM Growth Properties, which had been a subsidiary of MGM Resorts International, is based in Las Vegas. It invests in casinos and resorts. -AP

Brooklyn's tallest tower plan approved NEW YORK: The New York City has approved a proposal for a 1,000-foot skyscraper in Brooklyn.

The tower would be nearly twice as tall as any other building in the borough.

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the proposal for the 73story apartment tower.

The design by SHoP Architects calls for 500 units and a tapered and hexagonal form clad in bronze and black metal fins.

The New York Times says the tower will be built on a portion of the neighboring Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn, a city landmark.

That allows the project about 300,000-square-feet of air rights.

Because the 1908 bank is a landmark, developers needed city approval to alter the bank, which will house new shops. -AP

Real Estate 30 India Post

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April 29, 2016

Vermont homelessness down 28 percent SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt.: Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says homelessness in the state is down 28 percent in the last year and he's working to ensure even more people have homes. Shumlin signed an executive order to increase access to affordable housing by ensuring that owners of housing that receive state funds make available at least 15 percent of their of housing units to Vermonters experiencing homelessness. -AP

Top builders participate in 'Gruhapravesh' show by IndiaProperty.com India Post News Service

SANTA CLARA, CA: After a string of successful property shows across India, IndiaProperty.com flagship property show Gruhapravesh, tour of the US kick-started at Santa Clara convention center on August 23 and 24. Top builders from all over India participated at this event, showcasing around 80 new projects across all segments. This edition of Gruhapravesh in Santa Clara showcased properties like plots, apartments, and independent villas starting from INR 2 lakh to INR 5 crore.

Gruhapravesh by IndiaProperty.com is a series of property fairs bringing property seekers and builders face to face to enable a fair discussion and transparent flow of thoughts. It is India's foremost and the longest

running series of on-the-ground and virtual property shows. The

hosted in 20 cities worldwide, 60+ shows in 3 years, 6 lakh customer

expo creates a platform for real estate industry leaders and home finance institutions to share their viewpoint and get the pulse of their potential customers by meeting them directly. It has been

base and over 1890 spot booking and over 8000+ projects showcased.

According to Srinivas Varma of IndiaProperty.com, "We have seen a huge demand and interest by the

NRI clientele in the Indian real estate market. The market has seen a slump in the recent past and is said to stabilize soon. This is the right time to invest as the prices are relatively low. The falling Indian rupee has also fueled this interest over the years. With the event centered around four major cities in the US, with a huge Indian population, we expect an outstanding response at Gruhapravesh 2016."

India Property Online Pvt. Ltd. is the country's leading portal in the online real estate space.

Launched in 2006, IndiaProperty.com offers one-stop property marketing solutions serving builders, real estate agents and home owners to sell or rent their properties, while offering a feature rich interface for property buyers to search and identify properties that match their requirement.

Wallis ranch preview event April 30 in Dublin India Post News Service

DUBLIN, CA: It's time to say hello to Wallis Ranch, a new gated master-planned community by Trumark Communities coming to Dublin. Come out to the special preview event on Saturday, April 30 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm to meet the builders and tour and learn more about the eight new neighborhoods while enjoying creative treats and arts and crafts.

With walking and hiking trails, resort-style amenities, a pool and fitness center and a great school district, you'll see why Wallis

Ranch will be a place to grow your legacy.

Wallis Ranch is a secluded world with eight neighborhoods that create a unique opportunity.

4,317 square feet with two to six bedrooms and two-and-one-half to five baths. From attached townhome-style condominium and courtyard-style homes to

Wallis Ranch is a secluded world with eight neighborhoods that create a unique opportunity. Where trees line the streets and community means family Where trees line the streets and community means family, 806 new homes will reflect old dreams and new ideas, spanning from 1,514 to

single-family residences, each collection will be connected to the land and the people who live on it.

Winding down the road at

Wallis Ranch will be like finding your place at home and in the world. Antone Pavilion will draw you in to fresh experiences.

Tassajara Creek will bring out the beauty in nature, and parks and trails will make room to spread out, connecting you to the community's core. At the heart of the community, Kindred House will bring resort-style amenities from a pool, spa and gourmet kitchen to a fitness room, terrace and playground, so you can follow hello wherever it takes you.

Cont’d on page 32

Real Estate Post

April 29, 2016

India Post 31

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Residential demand driven by end-users MUMBAI: Nearly 97 per cent of the demand for residential units during the January-March quarter of 2015-16 came from end-users, a survey said.

The survey by real estate portal PropTiger, titled Realty Decoded, said the share of end-users in total demand is seeing a continuous increase, with the fig-

from this segment, the downside on both sales and prices, if any, is expected to be limited from here on," said the company's Business Head (Consulting and Data Insights) Anurag Jhanwar.

The study covered nine key cities - Mumbai, Pune, Noida, Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and

ure standing at 77 per cent in first quarter of the previous fiscal.

"Affordability and end use are going to define rules of the game.

The market is seeing a fundamental shift with end users emerging as the key buyer segment across all cities.

"Given the price sensitive behavior and demand for real use

Ahmedabad.

However, sales during the quarter declined to 51,000 units over October-December 2015.

"In the four previous quarters, sales have hovered in the range of 49,000-57,000 units. However, the pace of decline, at four per cent over previous quarter, has come down to one of the lowest in the

past nine quarters," the report said.

Hyderabad was the only city to show a sales increase during the January-March period, growing 5 per cent over the same quarter previous year. All other cities witnessed sales declines of 4-44 per cent from fourth quarter of 201415.

"Hyderabad also recorded an annual residential price appreciation of six per cent, closely followed by Ahmedabad with a price appreciation of five per cent. Over the past 11 quarters, Hyderabad has seen a price appreciation of 15 per cent, while Bengaluru has been a close second with a 13 per cent increase during the period," Jhanwar said.

The report indicates that the ongoing lull in the residential market is reflected in a continuous fall in launches and absorption, affecting stakeholder sentiment.

"The sector is also grappling with a slow inventory movement....Launch of new projects has declined 14 per cent from the previous quarter and 51 per cent compared with the same period the previous year - all cities have seen decline in new launches, indicating a reduction in the activity levels across primary residential markets," Jhanwar added. -PTI

Under 35s forced to delay home ownership WASHINGTON: Short of savings and burdened by debt, America's millennials are struggling to afford their first homes in the face of sharply higher prices in many of the most desirable cities.

Surveys show that most Americans under 35 lack adequate savings for down payments. The result is that many will likely be forced to delay home ownership and to absorb significant debt loads if they do eventually buy.

Steadily rising home values in recent years have eclipsed pay increases, making it especially difficult to buy in major growth areas for jobs, such as San Francisco, Denver and Seattle.

Nationally, 37 percent of millennial renters have saved nothing at all for a down payment, according to a survey of 30,000 rent-

ers released by Apartment List, a company specializing in rental home searches. At the same time, 79 percent of millennial renters say they aspire to own a home, illustrating a troublesome gap between expectations and financial realities.

Even those diligent enough to set aside money are still short the

cash to buy a home.

Among larger metro areas, millennial renters who are saving have put aside an average of just $5,830.

This marks less than one-fifth the savings needed for the typical 20 percent down payment on a starter home costing $175,000.

Cont’d on page 32

Guj provided affordable houses to 5 lakh VADODARA: Gujarat Chief ment has introduced significant Minister Anandiben Patel has said provisions and initiatives like the state government has pro- Mukhyamantri Gruh Yojana to vided affordable houses to achieve this target," she said. around five lakh people in the last According to the Chief Mintwo years. ister, Gujarat is one of the most Patel allocated houses to developed states in the country 1,092 beneficiaries of housing schemes of the Gujarat Housing Board, and also laid foundation stones for 6 developm e n t a l projects of t h e Va d o d a r a Municipal Corporation Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel here.

"Gujarat will lead the country to achieve and is consistently striving to the Centre's flagship initiative - achieve new benchmarks.

Housing for All-2022 by provid"The state government has ing affordable houses to the taken enormous efforts to simneedy and poor people," she plify the complicated procedures said. for maintaining land records and "We have provided good records of rights, through quality affordable houses to five digitisation," she said. lakh people in the last two years.

Gujarat Finance Minister "It is the responsibility of the Saurabh Patel, Gujarat Housing state to ensure that poor should Board chairman Vivek Bhat, MP get houses at affordable rates Ranjanben Bhatt were present on and therefore the state govern- the occasion. -PTI

US home construction tumbled in March WASHINGTON: Construction of new homes fell in March by the largest amount in five months, with weakness in all regions of the country except the Northeast.

Home construction dropped 8.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.09 million units, the Commerce Department reported. It was the third decline in the past four months and left construction at its slowest point since October.

Applications for permits to build new homes, a good indicator of future activity, dropped 7.7 percent in March to an annual rate of 1.09 million units.

Construction activity has been volatile this year, dropping in January and March but posting a 6.9 percent rise in February. Housing construction has been helping fuel the overall economy, and economists expect the sector to rebound in the coming months.

Construction of single-family homes declined 9.2 percent in March to a seasonally adjusted 764,000. Apartment construction was down 7.9 percent to a rate of 325,000 units.

The overall drop of 8.8 percent was the biggest one-month decline since a fall of 11.3 percent in October.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index was unchanged at a reading of 58 in April, reflecting an overall optimistic outlook for new homes as the industry heads into the all-important spring sales season.

By region of the country, construction jumped 61.3 percent in the Northeast in March, following a big drop in February. Sales were down in all other areas, led by a 25.4 percent fall in the Midwest, a 15.7 percent drop in the West and an 8.4 percent decline in the South. -AP

Real Estate Post

32 India Post

April 29, 2016

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Developers pull plug on Maui project WAILUKU, Hawaii: Developers have withdrawn plans to build 1,500 homes in a west Maui community, a decision that comes months after state officials rejected the project's environmental assessment.

Project developer Bill Frampton informed the state Land Use Commission of his decision in an April 4 letter. He noted that the project, which has been in the works since 2005, had become ``extremely expensive,'' The Maui News reports.

Frampton said pulling the plug on the proposed Olowalu Town was very difficult and is ``very unfortunate'' for Maui families. The development included 750 affordable homes as well as stores, schools and parks. It would have been built on about 636 acres of agricultural land.

The project had been included in urban and rural growth boundaries by the General Plan Advisory Committee, the Maui Planning Commission and the Maui County

Council in 2012. ``We believed there was an opportunity to demonstrate how we are capable of changing the way in which Maui has been developed for too long, especially as we have watched the destructive pattern of senseless urban and suburban sprawl grow outwards,'' said Frampton.

Albert Perez, executive director of Maui Tomorrow, which opposed the project, said the development was inappropriate for the area. ``The community really came out,'' Perez said of those who spoke against the proposal during meetings before the Land Use Commission.

Frampton said previously that

Project developer Bill Frampton informed the state Land Use Commission of his decision in an April 4 letter. He noted that the project, which has been in the works since 2005, had become ``extremely expensive,'' The Maui News reports.

Plans for the development had been put on hold in December after the commission turned down the environmental impact statement. Officials cited shortfalls with information regarding potential impacts on traffic, cultural resources and archaeological sites.

plans were developed through a community-based process initiated in 2005 with residents from all over Maui. He also said developers would have made protecting reefs a priority and planned to eliminate dangerous traffic conditions. -AP

Under 35s forced to delay home ownership Cont’d from page 31

The lack of savings raises doubts about whether the under35 crowd will also delay marriage and children, said Andrew Woo, a data scientist at Apartment List.

One possibility - already evident in some markets - is that first-time buyers are making smaller down payments and paying mortgage insurance or slightly higher interest rates on mortgages. Excess housing debt roughly a decade ago inflated a housing bubble and then triggered a market crash that led to the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression more than 80 years ago. ``A lot of millennials are not saving enough for a 20 percent down payment for a home,'' Woo said. ``What does that do for our financial system - especially since we had the financial crisis less than 10 years ago? Are we willing to let homebuyers be highly leveraged like they were before?''

Millennials not only entered a job market still healing from the

downturn but arrived with high student debt burdens, with averages approaching $30,000. Fiftythree percent of homebuyers under 35 last year said that student loans had delayed their purchases, according to a survey released last month by the National Association of Realtors.

Based on home prices, many

Some buyers are pursuing alternatives that allow substantially lower down payments. Programs such as Fannie Mae's HomeReady let buyers put down as little as 3 percent. millennials won't be able to buy homes in the next five years with their accumulated savings. Assuming a 20 percent down payment, it would take 20.5 years in

San Francisco, 11.4 years in Denver, 8.2 years in Seattle and seven years in the Boston area.

Not all areas were so out of reach. In such metro areas as Philadelphia, St. Louis and Cincinnati, the required savings for those who have put aside money would take less than two years.

Some buyers are pursuing alternatives that allow substantially lower down payments. Programs such as Fannie Mae's HomeReady let buyers put down as little as 3 percent. But only buyers who earn less than 80 percent of a metro area's median income are eligible.

The program has aided firsttime buyers in places such as Washington, D.C., where millennial renters with savings are still almost nine years shy, on average, of having enough money for a 20 percent down payment on a starter home in the region. ``It's just absolutely critical people either wouldn't be able to secure a good rate or able to buy altogether,'' said David Toaff, a loan officer at First Home Mortgage in Bethesda, Maryland. -AP

Weaker section houses allowed more area CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief would facilitate construction of Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has ten lakh new houses in the state. announced increase in the area of He directed to conduct a physihouses constructed for Economi- cal survey in the state so as to cally Weaker Sections (EWS) un- ascertain the number of families der various housing schemes from 30 square meters of carpet area to 50 square meters of covered area.

Khattar announced this while presiding over a meeting on Housingfor-All scheme here.

He said that a 30 square meter house is too small for a family and therefore, the houses meant for EWS category Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar should have at least 50 square meters covered area so and existing houses in both uras to provide them a comfortable ban and rural areas. He also diaccommodation. rected preparation of a list of those He also issued directions for families which are either living in preparation of an action plan to kutcha or dilapidated houses so analyze the market rate of prop- that they could be brought under erty and accordingly fix prices of Housing for All scheme and prohouses constructed for people vided residential accommodations belonging to EWS, Low Income at hygienic places.

Group (LIG) and Below Poverty As per census 2011, there are Line (BPL). He said the flats of over 47.06 lakh houses in the EWS and BPL Category which are state. These include over 29.61 lying unoccupied should be lakh in rural areas and over 17.45 made open for sale so that the crore in urban areas. It was inneedy could purchase them, an formed in the meeting that under official release quoting him said. the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Khattar directed that no house (PMAY), all the 4041 statutory constructed by any government towns in the country with focus agency should be left unoccu- on 500 Class-I cities would be covpied. The state government ered in three phases. -PTI

Wallis ranch preview event April 30 in Dublin Cont’d from page 30

Plus, Green Bushel will help you rediscover nature with a seasonal fruit stand, garden, planters and orchard. At Wallis Ranch, each day tells the story of creating a place to be as grand as your dreams.

In the heart of Dublin, this new community is a making its mark.

Wallis Ranch is one of the first master-planned communities to use recycled water to irrigate all front yards and open spaces, sav-

A sought-after Bay Area location means exceptional conveniences, excellent schools

ing approximately 4.8 million gallons of water a year and showing just how far green living can go.

In addition, this environmentally conscious community also houses preserved trees, protected streams and 35 acres of open space.

Plus, a sought-after Bay Area location means exceptional conveniences, excellent schools and a short commute to jobs, businesses and recreation.

The entrance to the preview event will be at the corner of Tassajara Road and Quarry Lane School/Rutherford Drive. Wallis Ranch is located at Tassajara Road and Wallis Ranch Drive, Dublin, California 94568. To learn more, please visit WallisRanch.com.

April 29, 2016

www.indiapost.com

India Post 33

In Brief Lawyer gets 30 days for forging document SEATTLE: A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorney was sentenced to 30 days in jail for forging a document to make it look like a Mexican man who wanted to stay in the United States was not eligible to do so.

Jonathan M. Love was also sentenced to 100 hours of community service, must resign his law license and must pay Ignacio Lanuza $12,000 in restitution, Seattlepi.com reported.

Love, 58, previously pleaded guilty to a federal deprivation of rights misdemeanor charge, acknowledging he used his position to deprive Lanuza of due process.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says Lanuza was stopped by an ICE officer in 2008, and ICE started removal proceedings.

Love was assigned the case in 2009 and submitted a document to the Immigration Court that he said was signed by Lanuza in 2000.

Prosecutors say Love doctored the date to make Lanuza ineligible to have his removal cancelled.

Lanuza should have been eligible to contest his deportation because he had been living in the United States for over 10 years, showed good moral character and had a family made up of U.S. citizens. Love's forgery was meant to make it appear as though Lanuza hadn't been in the United States for 10 years and was therefore ineligible for deportation relief.

The motive for Love's actions remains unclear. He said in court he didn't know why he did it. -AP

„

Chinese woman gets home confinement

PITTSBURGH: A Chinese woman who admitted to conspiring to have other women take college admissions examinations so she could attend Virginia Tech has been sentenced to six months of home detention.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports the sentence was handed down against 22-year-old Yue Zou in Pittsburgh federal court. She pleaded guilty in October to participating in a conspiracy that had people in China make phony passports for two women who took tests while pretending to be Zou. Court documents indicate that Virginia Tech has expelled Zou and immigration officials have notified her that she'll face deportation proceedings.

She was one of 15 people indicted in the conspiracy. At least two others have pleaded guilty or been convicted in the conspiracy. -AP

Immigration

Defying Guv, Nebraska allows licenses for immigrants

34 India Post

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April 29, 2016

Details on page 35

Supreme Court seems divided over Obama immigration actions WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court appeared divided between its liberal and conservative justices over President Barack Obama's immigration programs that could affect millions of people who are in the country illegally.

The administration's best hope for a favorable ruling after 90 minutes of arguments at the high court appeared to rest with Chief Justice John Roberts. Roberts asked questions suggesting he could side with the administration if there were a small change in the proposed programs.

The administration is asking the justices to allow it to put in place two programs that could shield roughly 4 million people from deportation and make them eligible to work in the United States.

Texas is leading 26 states dominated by Republicans in challenging the programs that Obama announced in 2014 and that have been put on hold by lower courts.

The programs would apply to parents whose children are citizens or are living in the country legally. Eligibility also would be expanded for the president's 2012

effort that applies to people who were brought here illegally as children. More than 700,000 people have taken advantage of that earlier program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The new program for parents, known as De-

Institute.

The fate of the programs could hang on a two-word phrase the administration used to describe the status of immigrants under the programs - lawful presence. Texas and congressional Republicans

Supporters of fair immigration reform gather in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, as the court takes an important dispute over immigration that could affect millions of people who are living in the country illegally.

ferred Action for Parents of Americans, and the expanded program for children could reach as many as 4 million people, according to the nonpartisan Migration Policy

who back the state say the phrase is important because it gives the immigrants more rights than federal law allows.

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli

Jr. told the justices that they could get rid of that phrase and essentially leave the programs unchanged. ``If the court wants to put a red pencil through it, that's totally fine,'' Verrilli said.

Later in the arguments, Roberts sounded interested in that idea, asking lawyer Erin Murphy if the court could, in fact, just ``cross it out.''

Murphy, representing House Republicans, said it wasn't that simple.

If the court is split ideologically, the case could end in a 4-4 tie following Justice Antonin Scalia's death in February. That would leave the programs in limbo, almost certainly through the end of Obama's presidency.

Both sides acknowledge that the outcome of the presidential election could determine the programs' fates, even if the Supreme Court rules for the administration.

Republican candidates have pledged to roll back Obama's actions, and Republican candidate Donald Trump has proposed deporting the roughly 11 million people who are living in the U.S. Cont'd on Page 35 illegally.

Immigrant kids sent to adults lacking status LOS ANGELES: The vast majority of immigrant children who arrive alone at the U.S. border are placed by the government with adults who are in the country illegally, federal data reviewed by The Associated Press show.

The government has long said that it places the children with family and friends regardless of immigration status. But since more children began arriving on the border in 2014, officials have not revealed how often those sponsors had legal papers.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the Department of Health and Human Services provided data showing that 80 percent of the 71,000 mostly Central American children placed between February 2014 and September 2015 were

sent to sponsors who were not here legally.

Another 6 percent were placed with adults who had temporary protected status, a U.S. government program that has let some Central American citizens stay and

work in the country legally for more than a decade. Four percent were sponsored by American citizens and 1 percent by immigrants facing deportation proceedings.

Many of the others were placed with sponsors who had other

Immigrants from El Salvador who entered the country illegally walk to a bus after they were released from a family detention center in San Antonio, Texas. The vast majority of immigrant children who arrive alone at the U.S. border are placed by the government with adults who are in the country illegally

forms of legal status or who have filed immigration applications.

Tens of thousands of children from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras began arriving on the border in Texas in 2014, overwhelming border officials, overflowing government shelters and further backlogging the country's immigration courts.

Once apprehended by border agents, the children were placed in the care of Health and Human Services in line with U.S. law until caseworkers could screen and select suitable sponsors to care for them.

Republican lawmakers have blamed the border influx on Obama administration policies they say encourage kids to leave their countries and come here.

Cont'd on Page 35

Immigration Post

April 29, 2016

India Post 35

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Defying Guv, Nebraska allows Immigrant kids sent to adults lacking status licenses for immigrants LINCOLN, Neb.: Nebraska will ences, open letters and personal couldn't get licensed in Nebraska. allow thousands of immigrants phone calls to senators.

"Council Bluffs (Iowa) ought to brought to the U.S. illegally as The bill's sponsor, Democratic be down here opposing this bill," children to work in at least 170 pro- Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha, said Seiler said. "They're the beneficiafessions that require state licenses the law's intent is to keep edu- ries of our stupidity." including health care and educa- cated youth in Nebraska so they Opponents countered that the tion after lawmakers overrode con- can contribute to the economy. measure condones the actions of servative Republican Gov. Pete The bill divided Republican parents who came to the country Ricketts' veto of the measure. lawmakers, pitting staunch oppo- illegally with their children.

Senators took the vote on the nents of illegal immigration "No president can simply prolast day of their legislative session, against those who cast it as a busi- claim that there is a consensus on five days after Ricketts called an issue or deadlock on an it unfair to immigrants who issue and then proceed to followed the legal pathway to take matters into their own citizenship. Young immigrants hands," said Republican and other supporters erupted Sen. Lydia Brasch, the in applause from the gallery daughter of Ukrainian imof the chamber following the migrants.

31-13 vote.

After the vote, Ricketts The new law applies to imsaid he believes most Nemigrants who received lawful braska residents oppose status under President Barack giving professional liObama's executive action in censes to the immigrants.

2012 that allowed them to stay.

"Certainly I had made Democrat Chuck Hassebrook, left, and Nebraska had nearly 5,200 my opposition to this bill Republican Pete Ricketts are vying to succeed youths who qualified as of Deknown to individual senaDave Heineman as Nebraska governor. cember, according to the lattors," he said. "I think the est data from U.S. Citizenship and ness opportunity. senators ought to be talking to Immigration Services.

"To me, it's baffling that we their constituents as well.

Supporters touted the Nebraska would not support these young The legislation won support plan as a way to fill jobs in a state people," said Republican Sen. from an array of business and reliwith an unemployment rate of only Kathy Campbell. gious groups, the Nebraska Cattle3 percent and a skilled worker Republican Sen. Les Seiler said men Association and Omaha shortage in fields such as manu- he came to support the bill after Mayor Jean Stothert. The new law facturing and nursing. Ricketts learning that some immigrant applies to at least 170 professions, referred to the proposal as an "am- youths in Omaha were getting from electricians and pharmacists nesty bill" and tried to pressure educated in Omaha and taking to tattoo artists and mixed martial lawmakers with press confer- their skills to Iowa because they artists. -AP

Supreme Court seems divided over Obama immigration actions Cont'd from Page 34

As arguments began, hundreds of pro-immigration demonstrators filled the sidewalk in front of the court and spilled into the street, leading police to close the road to traffic. Demonstrators held signs that read ``Keep Families Together'' and chanted ``Si se puede,'' which is Spanish for ``Yes we can.'' ``We are here to tell them this is our home and we are not going anywhere,'' said Cristina Jimenez, director of United We Dream, a group that advocates for immigrant families.

A small group of demonstrators opposing Obama's action held signs saying the president had overstepped his authority.

The high court is expected to decide by late June whether the efforts can move forward in the waning months of Obama's presidency, amid a presidential campaign that has been marked by harsh Republican rhetoric over

immigration.

Republican governors and members of Congress have argued that Obama doesn't have the

The challenged programs do not offer blanket protection, but depend on caseby-case reviews. The protection from deportation also would be temporary, for three years. power to effectively change immigration law. When he announced the measures 17 months ago, Obama said he was acting under his own authority because Congress had failed to overhaul the immigration system. The Senate

had passed legislation on a bipartisan vote, but House Republicans refused to put the matter to a vote.

The administration and immigration advocates say the immigration orders are neither unprecedented nor even unusual. Rather, they say, Obama's programs build on past efforts by Democratic and Republican administrations to use discretion in deciding whom to deport.

The administration and its supporters said the challenged programs do not offer blanket protection, but depend on case-by-case reviews. The protection from deportation also would be temporary, for three years.

Another 16 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia said they would reap billions of dollars in additional taxes and would see other benefits, including increasing trust between immigrant communities and police, if the programs are allowed to take effect. -AP

Cont'd from Page 34

They say releasing unaccompanied children to sponsors who lack legal papers encourages illegal immigration and reduces the chances the children will attend deportation hearings in immigration court.

Immigrant advocates say the minors are fleeing violence and should be granted asylum. The top priority for children, they say, is to be placed with parents or close relatives so they can get on stable footing in the U.S. Any effort to deport sponsors might spook them from coming forward and put the children at risk.

Immigration status is not a factor in determining whether someone can sponsor a child. But sponsors are asked their status, and those in the country illegally must provide a backup plan to care for the children if they are deported.

U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican, said he was not surprised by the data. He blamed current policies for the surge on the border, but did not say whether placing children with sponsors who are here illegally created any additional problems. ``Since the president refuses to enforce our immigration laws, unlawful immigrants in the United States consistently pay criminal organizations along the border thousands of dollars to smuggle their family members into the United States,'' he said in a statement.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California and a Judiciary Committee member, said the government is required to find a safe home and guardian for children.

Immigration status shouldn't matter, she said. ``If you were here as a legal resident or a U.S. citizen, you would petition for your child,'' she said.

``Their only route is political asylum. It is not the visa system.''

During the 20-month period covered by the data, more than half of unaccompanied children were released to a parent. Many others were placed with siblings, aunts and uncles.

Potential sponsors must provide proof of identity and their relationship to the child and undergo screening and background checks. In some cases, the department's Office of Refugee Resettlement conducts a home study to determine if the placement is safe.

The office has collected information about sponsors' immigra-

``The safety and well-being of every child in our care is of paramount importance at every stage,'' the statement said. tion status since at least 2005, the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement. Sponsors who are not the children's parents also are fingerprinted. ``The safety and well-being of every child in our care is of paramount importance at every stage,'' the statement said.

The statistics were culled from a database created in January 2014, according to the department.

Geyso Lemus from El Salvador said she didn't know what would happen to her 10-year-old son when he landed at a shelter in Illinois in 2014 because she didn't have legal papers, but a government social worker quickly put her at ease. -AP

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36 India Post

S

onamarg or Sonmarg, located at a hefty altitude of 2,740 m above sea level, literally means 'Meadow of Gold'. The picturesque natural beauty of the region brought this name to Sonamarg. Sonamarg, a town surrounded by breathtaking glaciers and serene lakes, is a snow covered beautiful flowerladen meadow in the majestic Hi-

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malayan mountain region.

Sonamarg in the Kashmir valley is the gateway to Ladakh and situated just before the Zojii La pass.

Located 87 km from Srinagar, the place is renowned for trekking and hiking trails. The snow clad peaks in the Himalaya and the undulated hilly mountainous regions are suitable for all types of trekking expeditions. Sonamarg is the base camp for many trekking expeditions. The

major treks passing through various mountain lakes such as Gangabal, Vishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Kishansar has its base at Sonamarg. The trekking routes offer all types of challenges, from mild to most hard. The pleasant climate with mild summer and cold

April 29, 2016

winter make this place an ideal location for trekkers to explore natural beauty and challenging treks.

This enchanting scenic place is amazing with many mind blowing attractions. Nilagrad, a colony of the Baltics, is a picturesque location where a small stream splashes

into the River Sindhu or Indus.

Sonamarg is the home of many beautiful and serene lakes. Various mountain lakes such as Gangabal, Vishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Kishansar are situated in and around Sonamarg.

Cont’d on page 39

April 29, 2016

Travel & Hospitality Post

India Post 37

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Udaipur and Goa hot favorites for Indians MUMBAI: Indians continue to give top preference to Udaipur when it comes to vacationing and have also shown their likings for Colva in Goa as a tourist destination this summer, according to a report.

"Every summer season brings with it a new and fresh travel experience, catapulted by the latest travel trends. This year, within India Udaipur continues to be the most preferred destination. Colva in Goa is the emerging destination for Indian travelers this year," according to a summer trends report

by Hotels.com.

The report is based on searches on Hotels.com from January 1March 31 for bookings for April and May. When it comes to travelling international, Indians love to bathe

in the sun and clear blue water while travelling to Pattaya in Bangkok or the tropical Maldives, and to go shopping in effervescent Singapore.

this year, it added.

Paris (France), New York (US), Seychelles, and Bahamas are the other non-Asian popular destinations.

Patong in Bangkok is the emerging destination that has captured the interest of Indians

The report revealed that Indian travelers want to forge deeper connections to the people, traditions and customs of the places they are visiting, and these experiences add a meaningful and memorable component to a vacation.

"This summer should see an increased number of people travelling to new and unexplored destinations, especially in Europe and the US," Hotels.com Senior Marketing Manager, India, Amit Agarwal told PTI here.

The die-hard travelers are hungry for vacations to places where not many people have charted before, he added. -PTI

Goa expects a flood of tourists this summer PANAJI: After a not-so-impressive foreign tourist season, Goa's tourism industry is now looking forward to the upcoming summer vacation as it expects a reversal of fortunes with arrival of more domestic travelers.

"The (foreign) tourist season was not that good. In fact, foreign tourists went back a month in advance. Now, hopes are on domestic arrivals which usually soar during these school vacations," Domnick Pereira, who runs guesthouses in Baga and Calangute, told PTI. Unlike foreigners, domestic tourists don't opt for a long stay at this beach destination, but they contribute reasonably to the state tourism industry, which of late has fallen on hard days, Pereira added.

The Goa tourism department believes that this time there is more in store for domestic tourists as far as activities are concerned, both on

and off the coast, providing "a dream vacation" for the travelers.

"This summer, Goa is one of the most desirable holiday destinations as activities on and off the coastline are an added attraction to vacation packages for domestic and foreign tourists," Director of Tourism Sanjeev Gauns Dessai told PTI. According to Gaurish Dhond, former president, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, occupancy in hotels is down till now, but more tourists are expected to come to the state this summer vacation.

Dhond, however, remains a bit circumspect due to the damage to the states reputation caused by the recent taxi strike.

The foreign tourist season in Goa had been curtailed by a month as foreign visitors almost deserted the beaches and flew out, which had forced the industry to wind up its activities.

Goa has positioned itself as one of the beach hotspots in the world, with Colva, Candolim, Baga, Morjim, Calangute and Palolem, among others, carving a niche for themselves. -PTI

12 per cent growth in foreign tourist arrivals NEW DELHI: Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) to India recorded a growth of over 12 per cent in March over the same period last year, while foreign exchange earnings (FEEs) registered a jump of 17.8 per cent, government has said.

As many as 8.17 lakh footfalls were witnessed in March as compared to 7.29 lakh during the corresponding month last year, registering a growth of 12.1 per cent, a

cent), the US (11.84 per cent), Germany (3.74 per cent), Canada (3.57 per cent), Sri Lanka (3.48 per cent) and Malaysia (3.45 per cent).

The share of Russian Federation was 3.19 per cent, while that of China and France 2.92 per cent each, Australia 2.83 per cent, Japan 2.43 per cent, Nepal 1.72 per cent, Singapore 1.67 per cent and Thailand 1.60 per cent.

FEEs during March 2016 were

statement said.

FTAs during January-March this year were 25.08 lakh, demonstrating a growth of 10 per cent over 22.81 lakh in the corresponding period last year.

Among the top 15 source countries, Bangladesh accounted for the highest share of tourist arrivals in March with 14.07 per cent, followed by the UK (13.16 per

Rs 13,115 crore as compared to Rs 11,133 crore in the same month last year, recording a growth of 17.8 per cent.

During January-March 2016, the FEEs from tourism in rupee terms recorded a growth of 15.9 per cent at Rs 40,411 crore as compared to Rs 34,875 crore in the corresponding period in 2015, the statement said. -PTI

Malaysia introduces e-visa for Indians MUMBAI: The Malaysian government recently introduced the Electronic Travel Authorization Visa (e-visa) for a short visit to the country.

At this point in time, the e-visa facility is available to Indians residing in India only and is valid for a single journey stay of maximum 30 days in Malaysia for tourism purposes, Tourism Malaysia said in a release issued here.

The Malaysia e-visa will cost Rs 2,710 and can be obtained within 24-48 hours with a validity of 3 months.

Tourism Malaysia is an agency under Malaysia Tourism and Culture Ministry.

India is a significant contributor to the tourism economy of Malaysia and ranks sixth as a source market globally.

Last year as many as 7,22,141 Indian tourists visited the country.

"We are always trying to make travel to Malaysia as convenient as it can get and the introduction of e-visa is a major step in that direction," said Mohd Hafiz, Director Tourism Malaysia in Mumbai.

"We are confident that with this ease in visa process more and more Indians will consider Malaysia as a destination of choice for their next holiday," Hafiz added. -PTI

38 India Post

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April 29, 2016

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Goa looks at medical tourism to boost footfalls PANAJI: After beaches and hinterland, Goa government is now looking at promoting medical tourism, encashing on the state-of-theart healthcare facilities in the state.

"Medical tourism is an upcoming tourism segment as several super specialty medical facilities are being opened up in the state both by the government and private sector," Director of Tourism Sanjiv Gauns Dessai told PTI. "World-class medical facilities, trained professionals and top quality infrastructure - all this makes Goa the place for medical tourism.

The modern medical institutions set up in Goa regularly promote medical tourism and wellness packages. Even the government-run Goa Medical College, offers specialized treatments that attracts patients from all over the world," he added.

According to Dessai the government ensures that top-class medical facilities and doctors are brought to the state and all credentials are verified and examined before any institution opens up for medical treatments to tourists or

general public.

The director said the department has now laid special focus

pitals that provide modern facilities and in-patient care and service at par with international stan-

"Goa's health sector has been keeping pace with scientific advances to meet the needs of international tourists.�

Sanjiv Gauns Dessai

on this segment, which has the potential to increase the footfalls by considerable numbers.

"Goa's health sector has been keeping pace with scientific advances to meet the needs of international tourists. The ambitious healthcare program identifies hos-

dards," he said.

The officer also said the state is poised to become wellness destination.

"One can now choose from many healthcare packages such as dentistry, cardiac care, cosmetic surgery, yoga, complete body

Vrindavan gets facelift to attract more tourists MATHURA: A plan to boost the tourism potential of Vrindavan and develop it into a model city has received a green signal with authorities clearing a detailed project report worth Rs 515 crore.

Pradeep Bhatnagar, commissioner of Agra division, gave clearance to DPR during a meeting with slight amendments to it.

"Now the focus would be on Vrindavan to make it a model city," Mathura Vrindaban Development Authority Secretary B B Singh said.

The initial thrust would be on alternate routes connecting

Vrindavan and National Highway (NH 2), solid waste management, underground power supply and others.

"While 39 crores would be spent on Garud Govind Sunarakh highway, the road leading to 100 bed hospital from Rukmini Vihar parking would also be given a facelift," he said.

"The committee has also given its nod to Yamuna's river front development by irrigation department," he said, adding establishment of three ATM RO plants, construction of Jan Suvidha Kendra on Parikrama

road among others are also on the cards.

District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar said, "Making of Vrindavan into a model city would ultimately boost tourism and employment and with more facilities, tourists proceeding to Agra to see Taj Mahal might be attracted to Vrindavan as well".

"The developmental work would now be done in a planned way without affecting the soul of the pilgrim city. Mathura Vrindavan Development Authority would now coordinate the work and different government departments would come under one umbrella," he added. -PTI

heath profile, women's health plan, cancer profile, ayurvedic, homeopathic and others," he added.

While the state has been attracting investment in the medical tourism sector, Malaysia's alternative healthcare centre Chadsha Tri Health is the latest entrant.

"Goa offers certain lifestyle to

its inhabitants and travelers. That makes this place the best choice for medical tourism destination and for the investors like us to put in their resources," said Benjamin Patrick, Founder and Managing Director, Chadsha Tri Health which has recently opened its facility in the state. -PTI

Carnival ships may delay Cuba cruise MIAMI: Faced with protests, political pressure and a lawsuit, Carnival Corp. has announced it will allow Cuban-born passengers to book cruises to the island but will delay the trips if Cuba does not change its policy barring nationals from returning by sea.

Carnival CEO Arnold Donald said in a written statement that the cruise line is continuing negotiations with Cuba aimed at resolving the issue prior to a scheduled May 1 cruise by its Fathom brand from Miami to Cuba - the first such sail in more than 50 years that is part of the ongoing thaw in U.S.Cuba relations.

The 704-passenger Adonia plans to sail every other week to three Cuban ports: Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. ``We want everyone to be able to go to Cuba with us,'' Donald said. ``We remain excited about this historic opportunity to give our guests an extraordinary vacation experience in Cuba.''

The decision follows protests

by Cuban-Americans outside Carnival's headquarters in the suburb of Doral. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez - who was born in Cuba - also suggested in a letter that Carnival might be violating the county's human rights ordinance by discriminating against a specific class of people.

In addition, two Cuban-Americans who were prevented from buying tickets on the May 1 cruise because they were born in Cuba filed a potential class-action civil rights lawsuit in Miami federal

court. And Secretary of State John Kerry said during a visit to Miami that Cuba should change its policy and that Carnival nevertheless should allow anyone to travel on its ships.

Cuba does permit Cuban-born

Carnival CEO Arnold Donald

people to arrive by air to the island. Donald said Carnival was continuing discussions so that travel on its ships would ``be on a level playing field'' with airlines and air charters. ``Again, we remain confident that we will reach a positive outcome and we continue to work full speed ahead in preparing for our every-other-week sailings from Port Miami to Cuba,'' he said.

Carnival, the world's largest cruise line, operates 10 cruise brands around the world with 100 ships that visit some 700 ports, according to the company statement. -AP

April 29, 2016

Travel & Hospitality Post

India Post

39

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Cont’d from page 36

Vishansar, located at an amazing altitude of 4,084 m above sea level, is a scenic eye catching lake in Sonamarg. The crystal clear water of the lake with ice flakes all through is an appealing view from the top of Sonamarg. The gorgeous views of this lake can be experienced from Nichnai Pass.

Trekking freaks can get into their

lakes in Sonamarg. Surrounded by dense alpines, the place offers cool and pleasant atmosphere. The lake is popular for trout fishing while people also enjoy other water activities here.

Nilagrad River: Situated 6 km from Sonamarg is the Nilagrad River, a major attraction known for its reddish water. According to the locals, the water has curative power

Krishnasar Lake

trek to this lake from Sonamarg.

Krishnasar Lake, at a height of 3,801m above sea level, is popular for fishing especially for trout.

Tourist Attractions: Krishnasar Lake: Located at a height of 3801 m above sea level, it is one of the most mesmerizing Thajiwas Glacier

for various diseases and many people visit this place every Sunday to bath in the river.

Thajiwas Glacier: Sonamarg offers many adventurous routes with amazing green water and frozen lakes around and Thajiwas glacier is a one such major tourist attraction in the region. Located 7

km from Sonamarg, it is an ideal spot for enjoying a sledge ride on the snow even in mid-summer. The nearby area is perfect camping site too.

Vishansar Lake: Perched at a height of 3710 m above sea level, Vishansar Lake lies around 35 km from Shitkadi, Sonmarg. With a length of a kilometer and a width of 0.6 km, this charming lake is among the visitors' delight in Sonmarg. The spectacular surrounding with snow covered mountains and meadows around with alpine flowers make it a heaven for trekkers and adventure lovers. Besides, the lake is home to different species of fish.

Zoji-La Pass: About 20 km east of Sonamarg is Zoji-la pass, the gateway to the Ladakh plateau.

Situated at a height of about 3,528 m above sea level, the pass connects Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, Kashmir Valley to its south and Ladakh to its North. It is an ideal spot to enjoy the scenic beauty.

Gangabal Trek: Gangabal Lake, also known as Harmuk Ganga at a height of 3570 m above sea level is a popular attraction in Sonamarg. It is considered a sacred place by Hindus. Also a popular spot for rainbow trout fishing, the lake can be reached from Sonamarg via Krishnasar and Vishansar, after an enjoyable trek through enchanting scenery.

Trekking: The Sonamarg region is renowned for trekking and hiking trails. The snow clad peaks in the Himalaya and the undulated hilly mountainous regions are suitable for all types of trekking expeditions. Sonamarg is the base camp for many trekking expeditions.

White River Rafting: Sonamarg provides white river rafting for adventure lovers. The river Sindhu or Indus has various stretches of wild water where one can enjoy the thrilling sport of rafting. One can even go for a long rafting expedition starting from

Baltal and ending at Shutkari Bridge at Sonamarg. With variety of stretches available, one is sure to have a pleasure rafting trip, whether it be a novice, adventure seeker or experienced rafter.

from Sonamarg. One can reach Sonamarg from railway station by taking taxis or buses.

By Air: The nearest airport to Sonamarg is located at Srinagar, at a distance of 70 kms. Srinagar is air connected to Delhi with regu-

Nilagrad River

Best time to visit Sonamarg experiences cool climatic conditions to snow covered chilly periods but the best season to visit is from April to October.

How to reach

By Train: The nearest major railhead is at Udhampur and Jammu, which is 246 km and 301 kms away White River Rafting

lar flights.

By Bus: Sonamarg is connected by Jammu and Kashmir state owned road transport corporation buses. Sonamarg is well connected to Jammu (60 km) and Srinagar (70 km) by buses. Special luxurious buses are also available from Jammu and Srinagar to Sonamarg.

40 India Post

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April 29, 2016

April 29, 2016

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India Post 41

Horoscope

42 India Post

April 29, 2016

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April 29th - May 5th2016 Please send your birthday, place of birth and time, so I can give you your zodiac sign, according to Vedic astrology. Send to Jaysastrology@gmail.com

H

ave patience, avoid haste, conflicts, risky behavior including unnecessary driving. Avoid involvement in vices and speculation, playing stock market.

People living in foreign land likely to have good opportunities. Trips for pleasure can be planned. Take care of your health, debts, and disputes. Delay and obstructions in income upto Aug, 2016.

rofessional matters and gains through investments are likely. Exercise patience, avoid conficting situations and take care of health. Child may bring happiness. People living in foreign land week is good and dealing in foreign land.

Gains from self efforts. Students week is good appearing for exams. This week brings good news for bachelors.

A

void haste, conflicts, speculation, risky behavior and unnecessary driving. Take a leadership position and reach out to authority figures. Professional matters are likely to face rough weather. Child may need help in education. New business ventures and relationships and health may face problems handle with patience. Some gains are likely through real estate.

void speculation and haste, sudden developments are likely to disturb you. exercise patience, avoid haste and unnecessary driving. Patience is your mantra.

For people living in foreign land week if difficult. look after your children, investments and properties. Manage debts with income and conflicts with friends. Take care of your health and finances. Mental peace disturbed with partner causing expenses.

P

A

N

ew business developments are likely. Good for people living in foreign land or dealing with foreign land. Exercise patience avoid haste and risky behavior and unnecessary driving due to bad transit. Benefits from real estate income is likely. Will pursue or crave learning new things. Week is good for students and women. Focus on spiritual progress contact with religious leader.

P

rofessional matters may face obstructions, be careful to avoid accidents.

Sudden health problems and conflicts continue to disturb you and make the week difficult. Hold off on new ventures and property dealings. Mental stress is likely to continue.

Take care of your health.

Handle obstructions and relationship matters with care.

Avoid haste, unnecessary driving/travel.

T

eek brings good news for the family. Child may bring some happy news.

Professional matters and status may face some conflicts be patience and take care avoid conflict at work. additional income is likely thru new business opportunities. Week is difficult for those who are in foreign lands, work with patience. Those appearing in a selection process may get some good news.

W

hose looking for jobs this week is helpful. Avoid unnecessary haste and driving. Job and professional matters will be okay. Good to invest in long term assets.

Additional income is likely.

Incidence of difficulties is indicated for those who are in foreign land till Sep 2016.

Work with patience. Take care of health and relationship matters. Immune disorder is likely.

T

rofessional matters encounter sudden conflicts and false allegations in workplace, be patience and stay calm. Take care of your health. Avoid risky and aggressive behavior and haste up to august 2016. Some sudden developments are likely to disturb your income. Silence is golden for you. Manage disputes, debts, fire, and theft is vigilant.

P

he week is good for students, women and for those who are looking for marriage. Some incidence of setback is likely. Avoid haste, handle with patience.

Some good developments are likely in job and status.

Some additional income is likely. Some new rewarding business opportunity is likely.

Make good decisions and focus on property matters.

Focus on marriage and business partnerships.

P

B

ay attention on your spiritual life. Some additional income is likely. Professional status matters stay focused as conflicts may arise. Avoid speculation during this week. Be patience with ups and downs this week. Be careful with new ventures in business may result in losses. Long distance journey with your children. Focus on creativity, luxuries and the fine healing and performing arts.

e patient dealing with disputes, debts, fire, theft and accident at work.

Have patience with short lived setbacks, obstructions with your wealth, status and family life. Progress in relationship matters. Spouse likely to face health concerns. Best to avoid unnecessary journey.

Manage persisting difficulties with patience. Sudden financial gain is likely. Speak up with confidence but avoid dispute.

This weekly horoscope is more focused and accurate as it is based on ascending signs. The ascending sign is worked out on the basis of your date, time and place of birth.

The predictions elsewhere are based on your Sun sign or Moon sign. The Sun remains in one sign of zodiac for one month whereas the Moon remains in one sign for about 60 hours. What is important is the ascending sign, which changes every couple of hours. That is how this site offers you more focused predictions.

JATIN P - ACHARYA MIHIR • JAYSASTROLOGY@GMAIL.COM • 630-675-7148

April 29, 2016

India Post 43 www.indiapost.com

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„ Health

Line

Pact for skill development in health sector NEW DELHI: Industry chamber PHDCCI and Public Health Foundation of India have signed a five-year pact for launching a joint program to organize skill development workshops for healthcare professionals.

Country-wide initiatives would be undertaken to conduct training workshops for industry, government and MNCs on important public health issues, with a special focus on non communicable diseases, PHDCCI said in a statement.

Pointing out the major constraints faced by healthcare professionals, the chamber emphasized that this sector is suffering with overworked professionals as there is a severe shortage of staff.

The skill development workshops can be used across India to scale up and get this workforce to be competent in the healthcare space, it said.

Stressing on the need to upgrade skills in the sector, K Srinath Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) said that in spite of notable progress and many positive developments, deficiencies in human resources both in terms of skills and numbers continue to pose a challenge for healthcare sector.

"The MoU will aim and work to develop and conduct training workshops for healthcare professionals on chronic diseases across India and to develop and facilitate worksite wellness programs with Corporate Social Responsibility heads, particularly for the prevention of non communicable diseases," it said. -PTI

„ Wide procedure cost disparities in Maine YARMOUTH, Maine: A study released by a conservative advocacy group has shown wide disparities in what Maine providers charge for the same medical procedures.

The Maine Heritage Policy Center's study found significant differences in charges for common procedures. A blood test for electrolytes ranged from $33 to $111.

A knee replacement ranged from around $27,000 to $50,000.

The report compares prices at 33 hospitals across the state.

An analyst at the nonprofit says patients are often unaware of price differences and unmotivated to seek affordable care. The center's CEO says the solution is to provide incentives to consumers to compare costs and shop around for the best deal. -AP

Health Science

Medicare aims to foster critical care talks with doctors

44 India Post

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April 29, 2016

Details on Page 39

Bakersfield & Los Angeles are the nation's most polluted FRESNO, Calif.: Millions of Californians live in places with dirty air, according to an annual report card that ranks two major urban areas in the state as the nation's most polluted.

Bakersfield tops the list for having the most unhealthy days from airborne particles spewed by highway traffic, diesel trucks, farm equipment and fireplaces, the American Lung Association's State of the Air 2016 report says.

Los Angeles remains the nation's leader in harmful ozone pollution from car tailpipes emitting smog, the report says.

Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks, lead to lung cancer and cause premature death. ``California is making tremendous progress,'' said Bonnie Holmes-Gen, senior director of air quality and climate change at the American Lung Association in California. ``But we have a lot more work to do.''

Eight out of 10 Californians 32 million people - live in counties with unhealthy levels of ozone or

particle pollution some time during the year, says the report, using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data for three years ending in 2014.

Salinas was the lone California

Hawaii. Salinas likely benefits from coastal breezes, the association said.

California cities improving air quality were El Centro, Sacramento and Visalia, each reporting

Los Angeles remains the nation's leader in harmful ozone pollution from car tailpipes emitting smog, according to an annual report card from the American Lung Association.

community on a short list of cities across the nation reporting no days of unhealthy air quality. The others were: Burlington, Vermont; Elmira, New York; and Honolulu,

the fewest unhealthy ozone days since the report was first issued in 2004.

Los Angeles remains the city with the worst ozone pollution,

but the report said the nation's second-largest city also achieved its best overall air quality score of all those years.

Bakersfield and several Central Valley communities are fighting the bowl-shaped topography hemmed in by mountain ranges.

Drought and high temperatures have made the air even more stagnant in recent years, association representatives said.

Seyed Sadredin is in charge of cleaning the air as executive director and air pollution control officer for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. He said the report doesn't consider the great strides the region has already made.

Local businesses have spent $40 billion since 1992 when the district was formed to modernize and cut air pollution. Pollutants that form ozone and particulate matter have been reduced by 80 percent since 1980 levels, he said. ``We've thrown the kitchen sink at the problem,'' Sadredin said. ``The standards are very tight, and we have a lot of work ahead of us.'' -AP

System identifies people by their 'brainprints' NEW YORK: Scientists have developed a new system that can identify people using their brain waves or 'brainprint' with 100 per cent accuracy, an advance that may be useful in highsecurity applications.

Researchers at Binghamton University in US recorded the brain activity of 50 people wearing an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset while they looked at a series of 500 images designed specifically to elicit unique responses from person to person - e.g. a slice of pizza, a boat, or the word "conundrum."

They found that participants' brains reacted differently to each image, enough that a computer system was able to identify each volunteer's 'brainprint' with 100 per cent accuracy.

"When you take hundreds of

these images, where every person is going to feel differently about each individual one, then you can be really accurate in identifying which person it was who looked

According to Laszlo, brain biometrics are appealing because they are cancellable and cannot be stolen by malicious means the way a finger or retina can.

The results suggest that brainwaves could be used by security systems to verify a person's identity.

"If someone's fingerprint is stolen, that person can't just grow a new finger to replace the compromised fingerprint - the fingerprint for that person is compromised forever," said Sarah Laszlo, assistant professor of psycholLaszlo. ogy at Binghamton University, places an EEG "In the unlikely headset on a research participant. event that attackers at them just by their brain activ- were actually able to steal a ity," said Assistant Professor Sa- brainprint from an authorized user, rah Laszlo. the authorized user could then 're-

set' their brainprint," Laszlo said.

Zhanpeng Jin, assistant professor at Binghamton University, does not see this as the kind of system that would be massproduced for low security applications, but it could have important security applications.

"We tend to see the applications of this system as being more along the lines of high-security physical locations, like the Pentagon or Air Force Labs, where there aren't that many users that are authorized to enter, and those users don't need to constantly be authorizing the way that a consumer might need to authorize into their phone or computer," Jin said.

The study was published in The IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security journal. -PTI

April 29, 2016

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Zika's threat to pregnant women explained WASHINGTON: Zika may stand convicted of causing devastating birth defects but there still are lots of questions about how much of a threat the virus poses to pregnant women, and what to do about it.

The main advice for pregnant women here is to avoid travel to Zika-affected parts of Latin America or the Caribbean.

Here are some questions and answers about what experts know, and need to learn, as the first mosquito-borne virus known to cause birth defects spreads.

Q: Just what birth defects can Zika cause?

A: Zika had been considered a nuisance virus until a massive outbreak began last year in Brazil and doctors there reported babies being born with unusually small heads, called microcephaly. Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Zika was indeed the culprit and that it caused a particularly severe form of microcephaly, with serious underlying brain damage, as well as other brain-related abnormalities.

Studies increasingly show Zika gets into a fetus' developing brain and kills cells, or stops them from growing further, and even can kill the fetus. But even if the brain seemed to be developing normally, still other studies have found stillbirths, poor fetal growth and other problems.

Q: If a mother-to-be becomes infected,

how likely is her baby to be harmed?

A: No one knows yet. One modeling study of an outbreak in French Polynesia suggested 1 percent of babies born to women infected during the first trimester alone would have microcephaly. In another study, ultrasound exams spotted some sort

especially vulnerable, because that's when organs develop. But the brain continues to grow throughout pregnancy and some studies have found signs of trouble even if infection occurred much later.

Q: Can the fetus be harmed even if the mother didn't know she was infected?

A: Again, that's not clear. Most adults report either mild or no symptoms from Zika, but it could just be that they didn't notice.

Q: Then how would pregnant women know if they'd been infected?

A pregnant woman gets an ultrasound at the Guatemalan Social Security A: AnyInstitute in Guatemala City. Guatemala increased the monitoring of pregnant women because of the risk of infection by Zika virus. one who did travel to of abnormality, not just microcephaly, in Zika-affected areas should tell their docnearly 30 percent of women who had Zika tors, who can order the appropriate testing during pregnancy. Studies better designed to help determine their risk. There is no to answer that question are under way now. treatment for Zika, but those who were inQ: Does it matter when during preg- fected may need ultrasound exams to check nancy the mother is infected? how the fetus is developing.

A: Specialists think the first trimester is Q: Are mosquitoes the only risk?

Toddlers with sweet tooth may gain weight WASHINGTON: Parents, take note!

Toddlers who prefer sweet foods over salty snacks, even after a full meal, may be more likely to gain unhealthy weight, a new study has found.

"Eating in the absence of hunger is as-

sociated with being overweight among older children, but this is the first time we've seen this link in children as young as toddlerhood," said Julie C Lumeng, from University of Michigan's C S Mott

Children's Hospital.

"We found that toddlers' eating sweet, but not salty, tasty foods after they already ate a filling meal puts children at a greater risk of weight gain," Lumeng said.

For the study, researchers asked 209 low-income mothers to have each child fast for one hour, then eat a substantial lunch.

Toddlers were then presented with a tray of sweet treats like chocolate chip cookies and salty snacks like potato chips. They were allowed to eat as much as they wanted.

Children between one and three years old who ate more desserts and who became upset when the food was removed experienced gradual increases in body fat by the time they were 33 months old. Those who picked the salty foods did not.

"The tendency to eat when you're not hungry increases with age and could have lifelong implications for weight gain," said Lumeng.

"We need to explore ways to target this drive to eat before children even turn three," she said.

The study was published in the journal Pediatrics. -PTI

A: They're the main way Zika spreads, and the reason for CDC's advice for women who are pregnant or attempting conception not to travel to Zika-affected areas. But the virus can be spread through sexual intercourse, too, as it lasts longer in semen than in blood. So if a man is exposed while his partner is pregnant, the CDC advises abstaining or using condoms until the baby is born.

Q: Is there any risk to future pregnancies if a non-pregnant woman is infected?

A: The CDC says women who traveled to a Zika-affected area or who became infected should wait eight weeks before attempting conception. She may be advised to wait longer if the father-to-be also was exposed or infected.

Q: Do officials expect widespread outbreaks in the U.S.?

A: No, but they do expect local clusters of cases - just like has happened in previous years with a Zika relative named dengue fever that's spread by the same mosquito.

Q: Are there risks beyond to a developing fetus?

A: Zika also has been linked to a nerve disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome that can be triggered by various infections, and there have been occasional reports of other neurological problems. Researchers need to explore those further. -AP

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Piramal Group launches Chemicals in soap, nail polish lead to obesity mobile health project VIJAYAWADA: A mobile health project to provide medical services to the poor in villages of Andhra Pradesh has been launched.

"Chandranna Sanchar Chikitsa", started by Piramal Swasthya and supported by the state Government, was launched by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at a function here.

Naidu flagged off 275 mobile medical units, provided by the trust, equipped with basic medical equipment and also teams of healthcare professionals.

These mobile units will travel to villages in the state everyday to provide health services to the poor who are unable to get qualitative medical aid, Piramal Swasthya said in a statement.

The project will focus on maternal health, medical issues related to neonatal, infants, repro-

ductive health and contraceptive services and management of chronic communicable diseases.

Basic OPD, management of com-

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu

mon non-communicable diseases

and mental illness, dental & eye care and geriatric care, among others, too will be covered, it said.

More than 300 doctors and 900 paramedics, trained in clinical domain and IT, have been drafted for the project to deliver the services in villages, the statement said.

Anand Piramal, Executive Director, Piramal Group and member of Governing Board of Piramal Swasthya, said, "Only 30 per cent Indians have access to modern healthcare. Our foundation's vision is to deliver healthcare using technology, healthcare workers and with Government support.

"We are privileged to partner with the government of Andhra Pradesh to provide high quality healthcare at significant scale to the people of the State." -PTI

Effective malaria treatment a step closer WASHINGTON: Scientists have found that resistance to a key anti-malarial drug cannot be passed on by mosquitoes, a breakthrough that could drastically improve the way we battle the disease.

The discovery could potentially shut down the avenue for mass drug resistance to spread, making malaria treatment significantly more effective for the 3.2 billion people at risk, researchers said.

The international research project was led by the University of Melbourne and focused on the drug atovaquone.

Atovaquone was introduced in 2000 and is safe for pregnant women and children, so it is one of the few anti-malarials that can be used in mass administration approaches, researchers said.

It was largely phased out of use because resistance was initially observed.

The study shows that although some malaria parasites had developed a genetic mutation that protected them against the drug in early life, the mutation eventually killed the parasites by stopping production of an essen-

tial type of energy as they grew.

Geoff McFadden and Dean Goodman described it a 'genetic trap' that could prove to be a significant step forward in the antimalaria fight.

The pair, along with collaborator Vanessa Mollard, led a team investigating the evolution and life cycle of the malaria parasite for the past six years.

how it eventually kills them in the mosquito, providing new targets for the development of drugs," Mr McFadden said.

"So the development of drug resistance may not be a major problem if the resistance cannot spread, meaning the drug atovaquone could be more widely used in malaria control," he said.

The researchers studied a model strain of rodent malaria and a deadly strain of human ma"It is very rewarding that our laria to confirm the resistant parasites could fascination with basic biolnot be spread by mosogy has produced such quitoes, thereby preventing the re-infecsignificant results, said retion of humans. searchers.

"It is very rewarding that our fascination with basic biology "These results are very excit- has produced such significant reing because the spread of drug sults, said researchers. resistance is currently destroying "We are the first group to folour ability to control malaria," said low the drug resistant malaria paraMr McFadden, from the School site through its entire life cycle to of Biosciences at the University understand what happens after of Melbourne. drug resistance initially develops "We now understand the par- and whether they pass on resisticular genetic mutation that gave tance," they said. rise to drug resistance in some The study was published in malaria parasite populations and the journal Science. -PTI

WASHINGTON: Exposure to chemicals found in everyday products like plastics, soap or nail polish may affect the amount of fat stored in the body, a new study has claimed.

Phthalates are chemicals that give plastic its bendy stretch.

However, research shows that these chemicals could be harming people's health.

"Phthalate exposure can be closely associated with the rise of different types of disease development," said the study's lead author Lei Yin, from the University of Georgia (UGA).

Because levels of phthalates were found in human fluids in previous studies, the researchers wanted to see if a specific phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) had an effect on the accumulation of fat in cells.

The researchers used mouse cells to create in vitro models to analyze how exposure to BBP affected the way oils and fats, known as lipids, accumulated within the cells.

"Obesity is one of the big issues in humans now, and of course genetic components can contribute to the development of obesity," said Xiaozhong Yu, an assistant professor at UGA. "However, environmental exposure may also contribute to obesity," said Yu. Some phthalates have proven to cause reproductive toxicity at high levels of exposure, but the link between low-level exposure and BBP hadn't yet been thoroughly explored, Yin said.

"It could be that some chemicals at a very low dose and over a long period time, which is known as chronic exposure, can cause more harmful diseases or effects,"

she said.

The researchers quantified lipid droplet accumulation using traditional staining approaches, in which the cells are stained and therefore can be visually assessed under a microscope, and a newer approach called cellomics high-content analysis.

This high-content screening uses "image processing algorithms, computer machine learning and can measure the multiple parameters in a fast and objective way," Yin said.

The results of BBP's effects were compared with bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental endocrine disruptor that is known for its role in adipogenesis, or how

fat cells develop.

BBP caused a response in the cells that is similar to BPA. Both chemicals prompt the accumulation of lipid droplets. However, the droplets from BBP-treated cells were larger, something that suggests BBP exposure may lead to obesity.

Although the findings cannot be directly generalized to the human population, they do give an indication of a possible link between exposure to BBP and obesity, something that could affect human health.

The findings were published in the journal Toxicology in Vitro. -PTI

Foundation created to serve health care needs BUCKHANNON, W.Va.: A religious organization has created a foundation to serve health care needs throughout West Virginia.

The Exponent Telegram reports that the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, Queen of Apostles Province, created the Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon to serve healthcare-related needs in Barbour, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur and Webster counties.

The foundation will provide

grant funding for various qualified organizations through its annual grant award process. The foundation will focus its funding awards on areas including health and wellness, leadership development, lifestyle education and spiritual care.

Gail Borgmeyer, provincial for the Queen of Apostles Province, says the foundation will continue the organization's dedicated care for the community. -AP

April 29, 2016

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Medicare aims to foster critical care talks with doctors Medicare wants more doctors and patients to talk about the tough care decisions that must be made if a person becomes seriously ill or incapacitated.

The federal entity, which covers health care for people over age 65, has started reimbursing doctors for having face-to-face, advance care planning discussions about a patient's treatment preferences should they become unable to speak for themselves.

Only 17 percent of adults say they have had these discussions with a health care provider, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. Here's what you need to know.

WILL EVERYONE HAVE COVERAGE NOW? That can still depend on the insurer. If you don't have Medicare, check before scheduling an appointment specifically for one of these discussions.

If there is no coverage, doctors may cut you a discount to have the talk. A half an hour of a doctor's time could cost you $125 or more, depending on where you live. But don't think a lack of coverage means you can't talk to your doctor.

Doctors have been reimbursed for years for discussing treatment options with patients during the course of care or an office visit. Some have done it without reimbursement.

By offering reimbursement specifically for this discussion, the government aims to encourage more of these conversations to take place. This might make it easier for more people to have the conversation with their doctors if they are not facing a terminal illness.

WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS TALK?

The range of patients isn't limited to the elderly or people with a serious condition.

These voluntary discussions can be crucial if someone later winds up critically injured from a car accident and unable to communicate.

Even healthy younger adults should think about an advance care plan, according to said Dr. Peter Hollmann, chief medical officer of University Medicine in Rhode

ders was widely discredited. But the counseling still stirs concern among some rightto-life advocates that it could be used to nudge patients into forgoing life-saving treatment and cannot be adequately monitored for bias.

ARE THESE THE DISCUSSIONS THAT STIRRED CONCERN THAT THEY WOULD LEAD TO FEDERAL `DEATH

WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER TALKING TO MY PHYSICIAN? Write an advance directive.

This documents in your own words instructions about future medical care. That means you won't have to depend on your doctor being present in an emergency and having notes from your discussion.

Advance directives don't expire, so patients don't have to worry about writing one too soon. But people should periodically review them to make sure they still reflect their wishes, said John Mastrojohn III, executive vice president with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. ``They basically remain in effect until you change it,'' he said.

These are legal documents, and their form can vary by state. You won't need a lawyer to complete one, but you may need a witness or notary to sign it.

Mastrojohn's organization offers a website with links to copies of each state's advance directive form: http://bit.ly/ 1cgFdvW. -AP

The conversation may involve how you would want to be treated if you have a terminal illness. That could include exploring whether you would want a ventilator or CPR performed in certain situations. It also could include talking about nutrition and whether you want treatment that's focused on comfort or prolonging your life.

Island. ``The odds of you needing it tomorrow are very, very small, but they're not zero,'' he said.

These discussions can last a half an hour or more and may require another visit.

WHAT WILL THESE DISCUSSIONS INVOLVE? There's no set format for how they unfold. Hollmann says they should largely be directed by the patient.

The conversation may involve how you would want to be treated if you have a terminal illness. That could include exploring whether you would want a ventilator or CPR performed in certain situations. It also could include talking about nutrition and whether you want treatment that's focused on comfort or prolonging your life.

Your doctor will probably want to discuss who you have chosen to act as your

Large insurers leaving Arizona health care PHOENIX: One of Arizona's largest health care insurers is leaving the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace, a move that would reduce or eliminate options in rural counties.

UnitedHealthcare told state officials that it won't sell individual plans to residents next year, the Arizona Republic reported.

The losses are ``not really something that are sustainable,'' according to Jeff Stelnik, Blue Cross Blue Shield senior vice president of strategy. ``We have to look county by county and make sure it makes sense to offer a product going forward,'' he said.

The exit of both companies could leave residents in some rural counties without a way to get subsidized health insurance. ``The smaller overall market size and shorter-term, higher-risk profile within this market segment continue to suggest we cannot broadly serve it on an effective and sustained basis,'' said UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley in an earnings conference call. ``Next year, we will remain in only a hand-

health care representative in case you become incapacitated and need someone to make decisions based on your wishes.

Think carefully about the spouse, family member or close friend you select for this role and make sure they know your wishes.

ful of states, and we will not carry financial exposure from exchanges into 2017.''

Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare's All Savers are the only marketplace options in eight Arizona counties where more than 30,000 people chose a plan.

The Arizona Department of Insurance says insurers must file proposals for their 2017 plans by May 11. ``My concern is that rural Arizona is left with too few choices,'' said Kim VanPelt of Vitalyst Health Foundation. -AP

PANELS'?

Yes. More than six years ago, a provision for Medicare to cover this sort of counseling, which includes discussing end-of-life care, touched off an uproar that threatened President Obama's still-developing health care overhaul.

Former Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin's accusation that voluntary counseling could lead to government-sponsored ``death panels'' dictating the fate of frail el-

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Philosophy

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P

hysical pain and psychologi cal suffering are two differ ent things, although they may seem to be related.

If you are hit accidentally by a falling object, the resulting injury and subsequent pain cannot be said to have a psychological cause. Such pain needs to be dealt with appropriately at a physical level, such as resting, going to the doctor, taking an aspirin or whatever.

However, psychological suffering may cause contractions in the body which over a long period of time may turn into chronic pain. In this case, although steps may be taken to alleviate the physical pain, its real cause will be whatever it is that is causing the psychological suffering that is at its origin.

If we trace psychological suffering back to its origin we find that it is always caused by the belief and feeling that what we are is a limited and located entity that resides in the body and that is the body.

If we are suffering then the apparent 'I' is very much present. This apparent 'I' is the cause of the suffering.

However, if as this apparent 'I' we superimpose ideas upon our self such as "trying implies a doing, which implies a separate person doing something, and that separate person doesn't exist in the first place" we deprive our-

M

ahavira's teaching be gins with three things.

First, we must have 'Right Faith', we must believe in truth. Second, we must have the 'Right Knowledge'; we must study to understand what life is all about.

Third, we must follow 'Right Conduct', the conduct which our faith and knowledge show us to be correct. These are the 'three jewels' of Jainism.

'Right Faith' is perhaps the hardest of all. Nobody can tell us what we can believe, but we can look at the message of Mahavira and believe that he really did know what he was talking about and that his message makes sense.

Mahavira's message contains the basis of 'Right Knowledge'.

Life is a puzzle. Where did we come from before birth? Where do we go after death? Nobody's life is completely and totally happy, but why do some people have lives of great misery and others have much joy?

Mahavira teaches us that this is not the result of the whims of some distant god. Each one of us is what we have made ourselves by our actions in this life and in previous lives. Every individual (and not only humans, but animals and plants) is basically a pure spirit

selves of the one thing we can do in relation to our suffering which is to explore it.

If we know that 'that separate person doesn't exist' we would not be suffering. We cannot be suffering and claim to know that the 'separate person doesn't exist.'

These two positions are mutually exclusive.

In this case the belief that the 'separate person doesn't exist,' is simply a belief and non-duality is simply a new religion to which

feeling that what you are is a personal, limited, located entity.

Making a cup of tea, walking up a mountain, brushing one's teeth, driving a car, going for a jog, learning to play a musical instrument, etc. etc. are all activities (doing) many of which require effort (trying) but it is quite possible to undertake all such activities, in fact all activities, without there being any sense of being a separate entity.

The reason you feel stuck is

sponse is grace. Why dictate that grace should only come in the form of surrender or acceptance?

I would suggest that you ask yourself very simply and honestly who is this one that is suffering? This one that we consider ourselves to be is the one that is seeing these words. It is 'I' that is seeing these words and experiencing whatever else is appearing in the mind, body and world.

Turn your attention towards

Suffering caused by belief 'we are a limited entity' If we trace psychological suffering back to its origin we find that it is always caused by the belief and feeling that what we are is a limited and located entity that resides in the body Rupert Spira

and that is the body.

we have ascribed.

However, suffering is much stronger than the belief that 'the separate person doesn't exist' and, as a result, we end up frustrated at best or, in more extreme cases, angry and despairing.

We are suffering and we have denied ourselves the way out.

So my suggestion would be to see clearly that the suffering you feel is based on a deep belief and

because you are suffering and you have deprived yourself of the possibility of alleviating this suffering by a superficial belief in non-duality.

You say, "It seems to be only a matter of grace for surrender or acceptance to occur." It is true that everything is a matter of grace. Your impulse to ask this question is grace. Your desire to do something is grace. This re-

this one. Try to find it. Do you find it in the body, in the head, behind the eyes seeing, in the chest feeling? No! Although it is undeniably present and knowing, that one that we call 'I' cannot be located anywhere as an object.

Excerpted from rupertspira.com. Rupert Spira is an English studio potter and also a spiritual writer and teacher in the branch of Non Duality.

or soul (jiva is the Jain word for it) which is capable of complete knowledge and complete freedom.

But by our actions and thoughts we have, as it were, covered this pure spirit with the gross material of karma which obscures our knowledge and limits our freedom and ties us down to one life after another.

miseries of karma.

So we come to 'Right Conduct'.

Strength of passions is the worst thing, passions of violence and desire and possession. The most important principle which runs through the whole of Mahavira's attitude of life is ahimsa. This is usually translated as 'non-violence', but it goes beyond that

fully followed, have two results.

Firstly, they produce a better society for every creature to live in, and secondly, they enable the individual to improve his or her own inner feelings and character. So, following on from ahimsa, we are taught to be truthful and honest, to create both individuals and a society in which lies and theft,

Violent thoughts as harmful as violent deeds or soul which is capable of complete our actions and thoughts we have covered Lord Mahavira

and really means the greatest possible kindness to all living things. This is the first and fundamental rule which we should try to follow, to get rid of violence in all our actions and even in our thoughts. Yes, in our thoughts as well, for violent thoughts can be potentially as harmful as violent deeds.

Mahavira's teachings, if faith-

People are satisfied to judge things by their own narrow experience, never knowing of the wide world outside.

Spilt water will not return to the tray (A separated couple can never go back to as it was) One who chases after two hares won't catch even one. Continuance (also) is power/strength.

An apprentice near a temple will recite the scriptures untaught.

A monk for (just) three days (Giving up at the first sign of difficulty)

knowledge and complete freedom. But by

We want to know the way in which we can get rid of the restrictions of karma and gain the state of complete knowledge and glorious freedom which is known as moksa or nirvana. Although this may be a very long, very slow process for most of us, over countless lives, Mahavira teaches us how to make a start in freeing ourselves from the restrictions and

Stepping into a melon field, standing under a plum tree (such behavior causes misunderstanding that you want to steal those fruits); implying that you must avoid actions which could be taken on a bad faith.

Stumbling seven times but recovering in eighth (perseverance better than defeat)

Every individual is basically a pure spirit

this pure spirit

Japanese wisdom

and general insecurity, are absent. Lies and theft are the result of our passions and possessiveness. True peace and harmony in society and in the individual are possible only if we can restrain our passions and desires.

Excerpted from jainworld.com.

The 1417th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira was observed on April 19.

Giving birth to a baby is easier than worrying about it. (Fear is greater than the danger.)

After the rain, earth hardens. (After a storm, things will stand on more solid ground than they did before)

Insure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs

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Azhar chronicles the life and times of the former Indian Cricket Captain, through his colourful journey.

T

he 'Azhar' film is based on the life of one of the most celebrated and controversial cricketers in India's history, Mohammad Azharuddin. It is releasing on 13th May. Azhar chronicles the life and times of the former Indian Cricket Captain, through his colourful journey. From international cricketing successes to controversial detours in his personal life, Azhar is the story of a fallen hero. The film is based on incidents and facts in the life of Mohammad Azharuddin, who in the 1990s became one

of India's most controversial sportsmen. From setting world records that are yet to be broken, to getting embroiled in the first ever match fixing scandal the country witnessed, the film traces Azhar's insurmountable highs and his tremendous lows.

Azhar stars Emraan Hashmi, credited with both critical and commercial acclaim in a career spanning over a decade, who powerfully essays the role of Mohammad Azharuddin. He is joined onscreen by a stellar cast comprising Prachi Desai, who portrays the role of 'Naureen', the first wife of

Azharuddin and Nargis Fakhri as Sangeeta Bijlani, the second wife of Azharuddin. The film is produced by Balaji Motion Pictures and Sony Pictures Networks' and directed by Tony D'Souza, an award winning American novelist and journalist.

The film begins with Azhar as a young child from a middle class home in Hyderabad who dreams of becoming a cricketer and captures his entry on sheer merit in the professional arena of Indian cricket as a teenager. Cont'd on Page 53

April 29, 2016

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Elite athletes talk Olympics & motherhood NEW YORK: Training for the Olympics is hard work, but doing it while getting into shape after giving birth, then juggling little kids, is good as gold.

In the lead-up to the Rio de Janeiro Games starting Aug. 5 and Sept. 7 for the Paralympics we asked three Team USA hopefuls who also happen to be moms how they're doing it all: MELISSA STOCKWELL She was the first female soldier in U.S. history to lose a limb in active combat. Just three weeks after deploying to Baghdad in 2004, a blast from a roadside bomb struck her Humvee, leaving her without her left leg above the knee.

Since, Stockwell has triumphed as a competitive athlete and motivational speaker. She first went to the Paralympics in 2008, competing in three swimming events and carrying the American flag during the closing ceremony. After Beijing, she turned to the paratriathlon, a combination of swimming, cycling and running, and is a three-time world champion. She'll compete again in Rio after the sport was recognized as a Paralympic event for the first time.

Stockwell, 36, calls her 14month-old son, Dallas Patrick, among her greatest accomplishments. ``Everything I do, I do for him,'' she said. ``Every time I'm training or doing anything he's always the first one I'm thinking about.''

Getting back into shape after giving birth in November 2014 wasn't easy, nor was her pregnancy. Her leg swelled while pregnant and she wasn't able to wear the special prosthetic she uses to run and bike. ``I ended up having a C-section. Training was very slow at the start. I wondered if I'd ever get to be as fast as I was,'' Stockwell said from Chicago, where she lives with Dallas and husband Brian Tolsma. ``It was almost harder to get back into competitive shape after having my son than it was to learn to walk after I lost my leg.''

Gearing up for Rio has meant

time away from the family, including a trip to Australia just three months after Dallas was born. ``It's a lot of time away from him, a lot of sacrifice that my husband and son make,'' Stockwell said. ``I just really want it to all pay off in the end.''

CANDACE PARKER She has two Olympic gold medals already as a member of the U.S. women's basketball team. And unbeknownst to this 2008 WNBA top draft pick - she plays for the Los Angeles Sparks - Parker com-

other one because I know for a fact it wouldn't be that easy.''

Parker's husband, former NBA player Sheldon Williams, picks up the slack at home while mom competes and trains. As for Lailaa, she's been going to games since she was six weeks old and handles hours-long plane flights like a pro.

Dad also used to play in China and mom in Russia during the off season. ``She's just like, whatever, where are we going now? I don't think she really, truly remembers London, when she came down on

Alysia Montano poses with her daughter, Linnea Dori. Some who follow women's track know Montano as the Flyer Flower, for the bit of colorful flora she tucks in her hair when competing.

peted in Beijing while pregnant.

Her pregnancy was a breeze, she said from Los Angeles, and her 6-year-old, Lailaa Nicole Williams, is a world-class traveler.

Lailaa joined Mom at the London games and watched as she helped Team USA to her second gold medal. The first-grader would be there in Rio as well if Olympic trip No. 3 materializes. ``When I was 23 I had her. I had just finished my first year in the WNBA and I trained from the very moment I found out I was pregnant, up until two days before I delivered her,'' said Parker, now 29. ``Then I started working out two weeks after I had her, so I was psycho, trying to get back on the court,'' she laughed. ``I was young and dumb. She was a super easy pregnancy. I'm scared to have an-

the court after we won, but this time she should,'' Parker said.

Long and lean, Lailaa's not particularly interested in her parents' chosen sport. ``She's more into dancing and ballet,'' Parker said. ``But she's very athletic. We do go out and shoot hoops but by no means am I going to push her into doing basketball. I'm kind of just letting her find her passion.''

ALYSIA MONTANO Some who follow women's track know her as the Flyer Flower, for the bit of colorful flora she tucks in her hair when competing. Others may remember 2014, when she decided to take advantage of her qualifying standard in the 800 meter and enter the outdoor U.S. championships while 34 weeks

pregnant.

The idea: To just have some fun while advocating for women to get off the couch and move around during pregnancy. The goal: Not to get lapped during the two-lap race.

Montano was successful on both counts and has since proudly brought her 20-month-old daughter, Linnea Dori, to practices and events, tucking flowers into her little girl's hair as well while chatting with the media. ``She doesn't get what I do but she knows Mama's running and loves it,'' said Montano, who's training to qualify in the 800 meter in Rio. ``I have so many clips of her cheering me on. She screams, `Go Mama, go Mama!' every time I run. She does warm-ups with me and copies my movements.''

In terms of her sport, Linnea offers Mom endless inspiration. ``I really feel like she brought me back to life in my career. She's given me a greater purpose beyond running two laps around the

track,'' said Montano, who lives in Berkeley, California, with Linnea and husband Louis Montano.

Montano claimed her first indoor championship in the 600 meter just six months after giving birth last year. By that March, she was anchoring the 4-by-800 meter relay team during worlds, helping the team to an American record with the fastest split of the competition with a time of 1:58.90.

If she qualifies for Rio, Linnea will most likely be along for the ride. Mom would compete around the time of her second birthday in August.

And, yes, she'll have a flower in her hair and high hopes of not only winning but showing her child the way. ``I want her to come into her own and just be her own person, but at the same time I recognize that I am her mother,'' Montano said. ``I want her to be able to look up to me and say, `My mom is so strong. I want to be strong like my mom.''' -AP

52 India Post

April 29, 2016 www.indiapost.com

Pollution impact on monuments slow but long lasting NEW DELHI: While human life has perennially been under threat of pollution, monuments haven't been spared either and are being adversely impacted by contaminated air, experts say.

Among the most evident symptoms of an affected monument, particularly those built in white marble or limestone is the gradual yellowing of the walls, similar to what has been happening to the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, generated

the Lotus Temple, which in the present day, stands amidst alarming traffic chaos and is subjected to vehicular emissions which may have been contributing towards the graying of the monument.

The structure which is the last of the seven Bahai's temples in the world, is made of porous Pentelikon marbles that was used to construct ancient monuments in Greece.

Academic, activist and writer Sohail Hashmi says that to realize the harm met out to the monu-

by vehicles and industries, react with air moisture to form acids that eat into the marble resulting in change of color and even corrosion.

The latest casualty in Delhi is

ments on an elementary level, all one has to do is to rub a wet handkerchief on the wall of the monument.

"A black, grimy muck comes off. But, it is not just dust. It is the

unburnt fuel from the vehicles and the sulphur fumes from the industry. These get into the cracks and get accumulated over time. The acid rain seeps in and damages the monuments," says Hashmi.

"The white limestone doors in Red Fort that were revived in 2010 during the Commonwealth Games have become yellow in about 6 years. This is what pollution does," he says. According to a previous statement by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the damage done by pollution is "irreversible" and only further damage can be restrained.

Meanwhile, the odd-even scheme, launched by the Delhi government appears to have come as a relief to the historical structures, with results of having reduced not just the traffic congestion, but also pollutants in the air.

"The impact of pollution on monuments is very slow and long lasting. The luster goes away and their life reduces. To protect them in the long run, a lot of efforts have to be taken," says Kapil Mishra, Delhi Minister for Tourism. Art Consultant and cultural theorist Alka Pande, says "there is scant we can do about it."

She says that pollution is only an inevitable but unfortunate consequence of the development that India is asking for.

Jennifer Aniston is 'Most Beautiful Woman' NEW YORK: She'll be there for you. People Magazine has named Jennifer Aniston its ``World's Most Beautiful Woman'' of 2016.

The 47-year-old actress graces the cover of People's 27th annual ``World's Most Beautiful'' double issue. ``I thought, `Oh my God,''' Aniston tells People in the cover story upon hearing the news. ``There was this sort of very excited, teenage-y kind of moment.''

The actress, who gained fame as Rachel on ``Friends,'' also tells the magazine that she's learned to embrace her appearance over the years, and feels her best when she's healthy and strong. She says she became motivated to take care of her-

self early in her career, when her agent told her she didn't get a

part because she was too chubby. ``It's funny, it's a really quick transition from, not a care, and now all of a sudden, we've got to really be mindful of what we put inside our bodies,'' she says. ``And how we sleep and take care of ourselves.

You can get away with a lot in your 20s.''

A s k e d what she has learned to accept over the years about her appearance, the actress replies laughingly: ``Well, I've never loved my butt.

It's sort of a thing. I used to have a bubble butt and was teased.

Now people are paying money to get things injected.'' -AP

"What can we do? We can't take them (monuments) and place them in a vacuum. Pollution is part of the process of development. It is an underside of development."

We can try and clean the environment which of course is being done by Chief Minister Kejriwal.

But what else do we do? All we can do is look at sustainable development. It (Odd-Even scheme) does work in the way that it does reduce the traffic. But how much

needs to be substituted with an efficient public transport."

"At least 10,000-15,000 buses must be available at all times," he says.

Other initiatives being taken by the Delhi government towards the preservation of national heritage include the revival of over 200 historical sites and creating awareness about safeguarding it through the medium of education in schools.

pollution it reduces, I don't know," says Pande.

While Hashmi says he is "in principle in support of anything that helps to reduce pollution," it is essentially the reduction of private transport on the road that will be able to make a difference.

He does not dismiss the Delhi government's initiative but says that to make it more effective, a sustained "plan" is required where in "the private transport

"We are working with INTACH for it. We have revived sites like the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. There are about 200 monuments that we are looking to revive. It will take some time but we are working on it. There is also a plan, beginning with the reopening of schools in July, where we will be introducing awareness about heritage and monuments in government schools," says Mishra. -PTI

Madonna enjoys Kabbalah session with son LONDON: Queen of Pop Madonna recently attended a Kabbalah session with her son Rocco in London following their reconciliation.

The 57-year-old singer and Rocco, 15, recently reunited in London for the first time since he fled her "Rebel Heart" world tour to live with his father Guy Ritchie in the English capital, reported

Sun online.

"Madonna has relied heavily on Kabbalah to get her through this tough time. It's great that Rocco is open to coming to the centre with her. There had been rumors her strict Kabbalah lifestyle was a reason they fell out. If so, it's a big deal for him to join her there on his Friday night," a source said. -PTI

Queen of Pop Madonna recently attended a Kabbalah session with her son Rocco in London

April 29, 2016

India Post 53 www.indiapost.com

Lone female line worker explains her journey KOKOMO, Ind.: Growing up with a ``mad scientist'' as a father, Karrie Welker began bucking stereotypes from a young age, falling in love with electricity as girls her age were starting down far different, and more expected, roads.

Not surprisingly, Welker's road led to a unique position, one not often traveled by her female counterparts. And it's a position she hopes to open to more women like herself, a line of work she says they simply don't think about join-

restoring electrical service, most often during inclement weather or following an accident that has destroyed a power line. Duke Energy supplies electrical service to 69 Indiana counties, according to a press release.

That isn't to say, however, that she hasn't already experienced the oddities that come with being a woman in a field long dominated by men. ``Sometimes it's a freak show, because everybody looks twice,''

``Sometimes it's a freak show, because everybody looks twice,'' she said. ``I know I'm not a freak show, I know it's more because it's an oddity, but that's how it feels sometimes. ``I don't like being the center of attention, so I probably picked the wrong thing to do'' ing.

It is that position - an apprentice line worker for Duke Energy's Kokomo branch - that has reinvigorated Welker and brought her back to her roots, where she confronts electricity daily and solves the physical puzzles she's always enjoyed.

In fact, Welker, 41, is soon to be the only active female line worker employed by Duke Energy in Indiana. Currently, she is a second-year apprentice, nearly halfway through the process that will make her a fully qualified line worker.

In part, line workers are responsible for building, maintaining and

she said. ``I know I'm not a freak show, I know it's more because it's an oddity, but that's how it feels sometimes. ``I don't like being the center of attention, so I probably picked the wrong thing to do,'' added Welker, laughing.

However, it is those double takes, those obvious looks of doubt that have motivated Welker to be at the top of her field and show her co-workers that the job is, in fact, a gender neutral one. ``Determination, the more people tell me, `This is a man's field, how are you going to do it?' the more determined I am to do the best I can so they respect me for doing

a good job,'' she said. ``And not the only woman in a class of 180. just because I'm a woman, the ``I got there early enough I company wants me to do well, so thought I could get a seat high in they're going to push me through. the corner, but the room was alI want the guys to know I'm try- ready full. ing.'' ``I walked in and of course evAfter taking some ``basic elec- erybody just looks at me, and I felt tricity classes'' directly out of high like I was going to throw up. I just school in an attempt to continue kind of smiled and looked for an her adolescent hobby, Welker's life empty chair.'' took an extended detour, which As the classes began and the included five years as an employee hands-on work started, Welker at BioLife and 15 years at a dental says she was widely accepted as lab. an important, and talented, memIt was about three years ago, ber of the team - even if the men though, that Welker heard about sometimes did offer to carry her the Southeast Lineman Training Center in Georgia, and saw the opportunity to cure her professional unhappiness.

While she had in the past tried unsuccessful to apply at Duke, Welker was finally seeing the door open.

There was only one obvious hurdle - Welker didn't even know if the school accepted women.

After learning SLTC would make special accommodations, Welker traveled to Georgia, ready to delve back into an area Duke Energy Lineman Karrie Welker, who is in her second year of apprenticeship, works she already knew well.

Her initial experience, with 7200 volt lines as her and the crew she is with change a utility pole and add a however, would be differtransformer for new service near Sharpsville, ent from that of her classIndiana. mates. ``It was very intimidating. The bags. first day I walked into the room ``It was very sweet, but I said, full of guys, one big gymnasium `No, I want to carry my own bag,''' room,'' explained Welker, who was she said. ``I think that's the only way they treated me different, was to be respectful that I was a woman in that way, to hold the door for me as we were going

Azhar - story of a fallen hero Cont'd from Page 50

Drawing parallels with his personal and professional life, we are introduced to a young and shy Azhar whose arranged marriage with Naureen throws light on his private world that was forever closed to the media and the public glare.

His rise as the captain of Indian cricket team shows us the metamorphoses of the man who enjoys a flamboyant life style and has become accustomed to the adulation of fans and the media. At this point, Sangeeta enters the scene.

Azhar's eventual marriage with the actress changes his life forever.

Even as Azhar is set to create a record of having played 100 test matches, the biggest twist in his career comes when he is accused of being involved in the match fixing scandal. The first ever controversy of this magnitude, witnessed

by the country, cuts short his career bringing him much shame and ignominy.

From being labelled a living legend, Azhar becomes an accused.

How that change happens and what Azhar goes through when faced with life-damning allega-

tions, form the crux of the story.

Though the film is not a biopic, for the first time, Azhar, the film, provides us with the inner view of a much publicized life and times, of the cricketing hero who fell from grace and changed the gentleman's game forever.

had classes at the community college right after high school about electricity that this would have stood out to me, but it didn't. I don't know if it was mentioned at that time.''

And while Welker doesn't believe the line worker community is consciously holding a stereotype in place, she does see the physical aspect of the job possibly driving some woman away from the profession. ``They're crazy, or I'm crazy,'' she said, laughing again. ``It is an extremely physical job; you're climbing up and down off trucks, you're climbing poles, you're lifting very heavy objects. You have to keep control of heavy wire as you're untying it or moving it. ``And I don't know of many women that are as physical as I am.''

Even with that said, Welker is sure to point out that any woman interested in the position's physicality is equally qualified as the men applying, a fact she has proven since her career began in Georgia. ``Any stereotypes that someone might have, I'm happy to squash them and explain how, while it's still physical, it's not impossible.''

To help promote that fact, Welker believes further female participation in job fairs or female pictures on promotional material could help raise the number of female line workers.

She also sees the opportunities for schools and other educators to increase their focus on females, similar to a man in Texas who started a line worker school and has been traveling to high schools

After completing school and being hired at Duke, Welker has seen much of that same respect, but she does wonder why more women aren't working by her side. One explanation she has found is that women simply aren't aware of the opportunity. through the line. Just nice little things, gestures.''

After completing school and being hired at Duke, Welker has seen much of that same respect, but she does wonder why more women aren't working by her side.

One explanation she has found is that women simply aren't aware of the opportunity. Another is the aspect of electricity, which she says keeps both men and women away from position. ``Somebody mentioned it to me, or I would never have thought about working on power lines,'' she said. ``I would think when I

and various locations to recruit women.

One of his tactics, in fact, is to give interested women Welker's phone number. And while she hasn't yet received a call, she is eager to promote the profession to young women. ``If any girl had come to talk to me, we could go out to some pole, and just step on the pole, not climb the pole or anything, just feel it and see if that's anything that (they would) be comfortable with,'' she said. ``And I would just explain the different things that you do.'' -AP

54

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It is advantage BJP in Assam with 85% voting

India Post

WASBIR HUSSAIN

T

he Assam Assembly elections witnessed an unprecedented polling with the turnout touching almost 85 per cent. This has been the highest-ever polling in any form of election in the state. Which party comes to win when the results are announced on 19 May is a different story, but if the catch-word of 'parivartan' or change that did the rounds across the length and breadth of the state of 32 million people is anything to go by, it has been a vote for a new Assam.

Hundreds of voters, including a large number of youth, both before and during polling days, told local news channels they are seeking 'parivartan' for 'unnayan' or a change for development. It would be right to say that the campaign for 'parivartan' was led solely by the young voters whose decision to vote for change could have actually influenced the voting behavior of the elders.

Even during the 1985 Assem-

Now, the big question this time is - will the BJP and its allies, riding on the high voter turnout, manage to oust the Congress that has been in power for 15 years in Assam without a break?

Firstly, what must be noted is that this has been the toughest election in Assam in 30 years, an election that is being fought primarily by two national political parties - the Congress and the BJP. Secondly, this has also been among the most bitterly contested elections where political opponents took recourse to a language never heard in the state's political or social arena ever.

The BJP, for instance, has been going around with slogans saying 'Aibar Axomot Khilonjiar Sorkar' (This time, a Government by the indigenous people of Assam). It is not clear if the BJP meant to suggest that the governments headed by Tarun Gogoi, and former chief ministers like Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Sarat

People queued up since early morning to cast their vote for the second phase of Assam elections in Guwahati on April 11

bly polls, held in the wake of the mass anti-foreigner uprising and signing of the historic Assam Accord, the polling percentage was a little more than 79.

If the high turnout in 1985 managed to oust the Congress and usher in the then fledgling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) to power, the high turnout in 2001 (75.05 per cent) once again brought in the Congress.

It was a vote for continuity in 2006 (75.77 per cent polling) and 2011 (75.92 per cent turnout), one of the reasons for which perhaps was the absence of a truly viable alternative to the Congress.

The AGP was weak and the BJP was struggling with its tally down from 10 seats in the Assembly in 2006 to five in 2011.

Chandra Sinha were not governments by 'khilonjias' or natives.

Confronted, BJP leaders tried to explain saying they were only cautioning the people to ensure a government is not formed by those who are not of Indian origin. They obviously meant people elected out of votes of Muslim settlers who largely inhabit the 'chars' or the riverine areas along the Brahmaputra, mainly in the western, northern and parts of central Assam.

In fact, Bengali-speaking Muslim settlers dominate the election results in around 30 of Assam's 126 Assembly constituencies.

These votes have largely been shared by the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), formed by Maulana

Badruddin Ajmal, a perfume baron, in 2005. It would, however, be incorrect to dub every Bengalispeaking Muslim settler an illegal migrant or 'Bangladeshis', as they are bracketed as by many.

There is no denying the fact that illegal migration from Bangladesh is a live issue in Assam even today, 30 years after the Assam Accord.

That agreement had set 25 March 1971 as the cut-off date for detection and expulsion of illegal migrants, meaning anyone found to have migrated to Assam (India, for that matter) before this date would be regarded as an Indian national.

During every election since 1985, political parties have invoked this issue, like the BJP this time saying it would give the people a government by the indigenous people of Assam. The BJP promised to 'seal' the IndiaBangladesh border to stop further influx, a pledge made by parties of different hues all these years.

It may theoretically be possible to 'seal' the border and halt further influx, but without an agreement with Dhaka, it appears impossible to deport those declared by the Indian legal system as illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

Dhaka has not recognized that such a problem exists, and no political party active in Assam has addressed this issue.

If the BJP harped on the migration issue, aside from its promise of 'vikas' or development, the Congress went all out in accusing the BJP of dividing the society in Assam on communal lines.

This was the BJP's first-ever real power grab attempt in Assam, a quest that started after the party managed to win seven of the state's 14 Lok Sabha seats in 2014.

The target seemed real after Congress heavyweight Himanta Biswa Sharma defected to the BJP in August last year along with nine other Congress MLAs. The BJP recognized Himanta Biswa as a poll-winning strategist and made him the convener of the party's election campaign committee.

He proved his worth by mobilizing the people and parties, and even in his solo rallies, people came out in large numbers. From the mood on the ground, it is advantage BJP, although the resilient Congress cannot be wished away.

The writer is Executive Director, Centre for Development & Peace Studies, Guwahati, & Visiting Fellow, IPCS

PM versus Army A

new attempt is being made in Pakistan to undermine the government of Nawaz Sharif. The opportunity it seems has arrived in the form of the Panama papers leak which has linked Sharif's family with offshore wealth. To prepare the ground for needling the Prime Minister, the powerful Army recently sacked six highranking Pakistani army officers, including a lieutenant-general and major-general, amid corruption allegations.

This unprecedented move came two days after the head of the army, Gen Raheel Sharif, said corruption had to be uprooted to fight terrorism. It is well known that deep corruption runs within the Pak army itself. The sacking has been timed not only to increase pressure on Mr Sharif but also deflect growing references to corruption within the military.

The second flank in this attack on Nawaz Sharif is his old foe, the ex-cricketer Imran Khan who heads the Tehrik-e-Insaf party.

This will also be his second attempt to unseat the PM. In 2014 he staged protests in Islamabad for months over alleged electoral fraud but ultimately the protests fizzled out. He has threatened now to call new demonstrations for Sharif's resignation, saying the prime minister has lost the "moral authority to rule".

The last time also he had the support of the Army. And once again the two seem to be uniting for their common purpose. The Army is also against the peace overtures that Sharif occasionally makes towards India.

Although Sharif has denied any wrongdoing and ordered a probe, he has also sought to wriggle out by the old route - raise temperature on Kashmir in order to take away focus from the Panama Papers. This is what the visiting Foreign Secretary of Pakistan did during his talks in New Delhi with his counterpart, S Jaishankar.

Even while the meeting between the two foreign secretaries was still on, the Pakistani side tried to score a point by issuing a statement on Kashmir saying it remained the "core issue that requires a just solution in accordance with UNSC resolutions and wishes of Kashmiri people."

Pakistan has always tried to use Kashmir as a diversionary tactics to divert attention from the woes at home, which to any outsider, are many. If Kashmir fires are kept burning, those closer home may escape notice of the outside world. As for the home constituency, their welfare has been the least concern of all the Pakistani governments till date.

Relations between the Pakistani Army and the Pakistani government have never been good. Now in the changed international scenario, it is not possible for an Army takeover like before, but the Pakistan Army continues to enjoy extraordinary power without responsibility. Still it is not satisfied and continues its attempts to destabilse the government.

Former Ambassador to Pakistan G. Parthasarthy has described the souring relations between the Prime Minister and the Army Chief as "The worst-kept secret." He goes on to add: "Ever since 'Indian spy' Kulbhushan Jadhav appeared on Pakistan television screens in Pakistani military custody, the Generals in Rawalpindi have been jumping around excitedly, to get India condemned, for allegedly backing terrorism in Pakistan‌ In attempting to do so, they have shot themselves in the foot all too often."

At the Delhi meeting, Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar commenting on the "Indian spy" story being splashed in Pakistan, remarked "Which spy agency would put their agent in the field with their own passport, and without a visa?" Mr Jadhav, according to Pakistan, was found with a valid Indian passport issued in a fake name and with a visa for Iran. To get to the truth about this allegation, India had asked for consular access to Jadhav, but, as expected, it was refused. Because the cooked up story will then be exposed as a stratagem to deny any closer investigation of the Pathankot attack masterminds. With the PM in the dock, the Army it seems is again having a field day.

Datebook

April 29, 2016

NEW JERSEY Upcoming Sat, Apr 30 • Bollywood Dance Festival 11th NAACH Revolution Venue: Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving St, Rahway, NJ 07065 Time: 04:00 pm

Sat, Apr 30 • Spandana Ugadi Sambaralu Venue: Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, 268 South Finley Avenue, Bernards, NJ 07920 Time: 02:00 pm

Sat, May 14 • Hindi Drama Chanakya New Jersey Venue: RITZ Theartre, 1148 E Jersey St, Elizabeth, NJ 07201 Time : 8:00 pm

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Upcoming

Sat, Apr 30 • BIGGEST Bollywood Party with DJ Notorious Venue: PRANNA, NYC, 79 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016 Time : 10:00 pm

Sun, Apr 30 • Voice of Bay Area Junior Singing Competition Grand Finale Venue: Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA

Fri, May 13

95054

• Indian Speed Dating In NYC | Special Desi Valentine Event

Time: 6:00 pm

Venue: Maple / Aspen Club, 157 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036 Time : 06:00 pm Contact: 6465438127

Sat, May 21 • Desi Saturdays New Yorks Weekly Saturday Night Venue: LEXICON, 226 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022 Time : 9:30 pm

India Post 55

CHICAGO

Upcoming Sat, May 7 • Marathi Movie - Sairat (With English Subtitles) Venue: Serra Theaters, 200 Serra Way, Milpitas, CA 95035 Time: 02:00 pm Contact: 650-670-6665

Contact: 510-648-0596

Sun, Apr 30 • A Morning Sitar Concert By Nayan Ghosh Venue: Sai Temple Auditorium, 1221 California Circle, Milpitas, CA 95035 Time: 10:30 am

Thu, May 5 • TiECon Global attendees Bus Tour to SF City Venue: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, 5101 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054 Time: 10:30 am

Sat, May 7 • Raaga Lahari Thaman Live in Concert Venue: Pavilion Hall (Indoor), Santa Clara County Fair Grounds, 344 Tully Road, San Jose, CA 95111 Time: 7:00 pm

Sat, May 7 • Spandana Volleyball Event 2016 Venue: Windemere Ranch Middle School Soccer Field, 11611 East Branch Parkway, San Ramon, CA 94582 Time: 10:00 am

Fri, May 13 • Geet Ramayan By Sridhar Phadke Venue: Jain Temple Auditorium, 722 S. Main Street, Milpitas, CA 95035 Time: 07:30 pm

ATLANTA Upcoming Sat, Apr 30 • Colors Of Rainbow With Dhoop Chaoon Venue: Berkmar High School, 405 Pleasant Hill Road, Lilburn, GA 30047 Time: 07:00 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

Sat, May 14 • Splendor of the Indian Ragas

Swami Ishatmananda

Venue: Speakers Auditorium, Student Center East, Georgia State University, 55 Gilmer Street Southeast, Atlanta, GA Time: 4:00 pm

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

Sat, May 28 • Bappi Lahri: The Legend Live In Atlanta Venue: Atlanta Event Hall, 3750 Venture Dr, Duluth, GA 30096 Time: 8:00 pm

• Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy of life

• 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

56 India Post

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April 29, 2016