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Nikki Haley says she will vote for Trump Details on page 6

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NIA to probe international links of SIMI Details on page 11

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VOL 22, No. 1153

November 4, 2016

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Periodical Postage

OBAMA BACKS RAJA & BERA IN POLL

WA S H I N G T O N : Making a rarest of the rare appearance in a video commercial, US President Barack Obama has endorsed "good friend" Indian-American Raja Krishnamoorthi for the US Congress from a Congressional district in Chicago suburb.

Obama also said in a statement that he is "proud to endorse Dr Ami Bera for the United States House of Representatives. In Congress, Ami has had my back as we've worked to make the country stronger, safer, and fairer for California families and now I have his back," he added.

In the short video backing Raja, Obama says, ""Hi, this is Barack Obama asking you to vote for my good friend Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress."

In the video, President describes Krishnamoorthi as a "good friend" who helped him "develop ideas for building an economy that works for everyone" when he ran for the US Senate.

Details on page 5

Obama lights Diwali Diya at White House Details on page 16

Pak SC orders probe against PM Sharif Details on page 9

Pak intellectuals regret support to extremism Details on page 9

Pakistan to pull out 4 more embassy officials Details on page 9

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29 Classifieds ------------------------- 48 Community Post -------------- 16-24 Date Book -------------------------- 50 Edit Page --------------------------- 54 HealthScience Post --------- 34-36 Horoscope ------------------------- 15 Immigration Post ------------- 51-53 Life Style ----------------------- 30-33 Philosophy ------------------------- 49

WORLD BODY LIT UP: Diwali was commemorated for the first time at the United Nations as the world body's imposing headquarters was lit up in bright hues and the words 'Happy Diwali' along with the image of a traditional diya. (Details on page 8)

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 37-39 TechBiz Post ------------------- 44-47 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43

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or the last week this election season I'll allow myself to talk campaign.

And in any case, by the time you read this we will have been done with campaigning, a remainder of a toxic democracy as it were. Electoral politics this time around has generated so much venom that something tells me we haven't breathed the last of this bad air.

Controversies seems to just keep coming, even as early voters are walking towards their polling booths, and the rest of us are bracing for the day of truth.

How is 'Email' still a thing, I don't understand.

Anyway, conspiracy theories of who is trying to derail Hillary Clinton's run for President aside, I don't think a fresh dump of incriminating emails will have an adverse impact on her supporters much as a dozen more women coming out accusing Donald Trump of having groped them. And the undecideds, well, I don't think they hate either candidate any more or less than they already do.

Never in the history of American elections has there been this level of 'outsider' interference what with Russia and Wiki leaks and Donald Trump messing with what would otherwise have been a staid blue shade of an outcome.

Actually I don't care anymore who wins because as with any political leader anywhere in the world, neither Clinton nor Trump is equipped to deal with the world of realities, let alone the real issues plaguing America. So while common folks continue to dodge the bullets of unemployment, relative poverty, gun violence, prejudice, corporate greed, and climate change, it will be politics as usual in Washington DC. Trump or Clinton , surely it will not be the end of the world - though there is a distinct possibility of the end of some part of the world at least if Trump wins the power to push the button - how bad can it be for the rest of us.

To get through these last couple of days before I cast my vote, I have decided to block the news channels from my cable TV. You should try that too. And then go vote. For America.

Romesh K Japra rkjapra@gmail.com

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Female Aamir?

Given her penchant for doing quality cinema, many believe Vidya Balan has a lot in common with Aamir Khan.

Cover Story: Obama backs Raja & Bera Obama has endorsed "good friend" Indian-American Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress and Dr Ami Bera for the House

Community: Obama lights Diya Barack Obama has the kept up the tradition that he set six years ago by celebrating Diwali at White House

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Immigration: Refugees turn candidates 33 year-old Somali-American Ilhan Omar and 27-year-old Afghan-American Ahmad Rafah have entered the political fray

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Life style: Plenty to scarcity The rolling lush beauty of Pithoragarh district camouflages an ugly side, the water woes faced by villages in summers.

Techbiz: Trump cites India If a large country like India can manage a growth rate of 8% then why can't America, asks Trump

Travel: Murudeshwar, Karnataka Murudeshwar is sanctified by a piece of the Pranalinga of Mahabaleshwara and has some beautiful carvings and statues.

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Obama backs Raja & Bera in poll WASHINGTON: Making a rarest of the rare appearance in a video commercial, US President Barack Obama has endorsed "good friend" Indian-American Raja Krishnamoorthi for the US Congress from a Congressional

Barack Obama

district in Chicago suburb.

Obama also said in a statement that he is "proud to endorse Dr Ami Bera for the United States House of Representatives. In Congress, Ami has had my back as we've worked to make the country stronger, safer, and fairer for California families and now I have

his back," he added.

In the short video backing Raja, Obama says, ""Hi, this is Barack Obama asking you to vote for my good friend Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress."

In the video, President describes Krishnamoorthi as a "good friend" who helped him "develop ideas for building an economy that works for everyone" when he ran for the US Senate.

Having won the Democratic Party's Congressional primary in Illinois, Krishnamoorthi, 42, now faces Peter DiCianni of the Republican Party.

"When I ran for the US Senate, Raja helped me develop ideas for building an economy that works for everyone. Now Raja s plans will help small businesses grow,

raise wages, and help families pay for college. The polls are open now, so don't waste a minute. Vote Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress," Obama said.

The 30-second video shows one of the pictures of Obama at Krishnamoorthi's home having Indian food at a dinner.

Busy campaigning in his district Krishnamoorthi told PTI in an interview that economy is the main issue in his district along with education, social security and healthcare.

This is Krishnamoorthi s second attempt to enter the US House of Representative. He was defeated in the Democratic primary in 2012.

Obama has also recorded a phone call to reach out all the households in his Congressional district, he said.

Based on the feedback that he has been receiving from the ground, Krishnamoorthi said people are "horrified" with the prospect that Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, could be the president of the US. Krishnamoorthi said Trump is a dangerous and divisive candidate who has no place in the White House.

Ind-Ams raise $10 mln for Clinton Campaign WASHINGTON: Indian-Americans are believed to have raised at least USD 10 million towards the election campaign to elect Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as the next president of the US. At least two of the IndianAmericans, philanthropist Frank Islam from Maryland and Shefali Razdan Duggal from California, alone have helped raising a million dollar each for the presiden-

or raised USD 100,000 or more for Hillary for America, the Hillary Victory Fund, and/or the Hillary Action Fund since the launch of this historic campaign on April 12, 2015.

Among those listed in the latest list of Hillblazers released by the Clinton Campaign are more than 30 Indian Americans, each of them raising a minimum of USD 100,000.

However, these Indian-Americans are reported to have raised

While there is no compilation of fund raising figures based on ethnicity, multiple sources said that they estimate the conservative amount of money raised by Indian-Americans for Clinton is at least USD 10 million tial campaign of the former First Lady and the secretary of state, campaign insiders told PTI. Notably the Hillary Campaign does not give details of the major fundraisers and the amount of money raised by them.

It does have a group called 'Hillblazers' which has list of individuals who have contributed and/

much more than that, campaign insiders said.

For instance, Ajay and Vinita Bhutoria from San Francisco is understood to have contributed or raised more than USD 500,000 for the Hillary Campaign.

Among other Indian-American Hillblazers as released by the Hillary Campaign are Monica

Arora and Raj Goyle from New York, Raj Fernando from Chicago, Mahinder Tak from Maryland, Seema R Hingorani from New York, Shekar Narshiman from Virginia, Kamil and Talat Hasan from California.

While there is no compilation of fund raising figures based on ethnicity, multiple sources said that they estimate the conservative amount of money raised by Indian-Americans for Clinton is at least USD 10 million.

It is also believed that IndianAmericans are only second highest fund raiser after the powerful and influential Israeli American community.

Among other Indian-Americans who figure in Hillblazers are Shradha Agarwal from Chicago, Ankit N Desai from Washington DC, Aashish and Dinyar Devitre from New York, Sanjay Govil from Maryland, Maneesh K Goyal from New York, Margaret and Shashikant Gupta from Virginia; Amrita and Ashok Mahbubani from Alabama, Deven J Parekh from New York, and Reshma M Saujani from New York.

Cont’d on page 6

Big boost for Ami Bera Indian-American Ami Bera received a big boost to his campaign after he was endorsed by President Barack Obama.

"I'm proud to endorse Dr Ami Bera for the United States House of Representatives. In Congress,

class, and knows we need to build on the economic progress that workers and businesses have made in recent years. Ami has stood with me as we work to keep our country safe, defend a woman's right to choose, protect Social Security and Medicare, and

"Ami is a fighter for the middle class, and knows we need to build on the economic progress that workers and businesses have made in recent years. Ami has stood with me as we work to keep our country safe, defend a woman's right to choose, protect Social Security and Medicare, and make college more affordable Ami has had my back as we've worked to make the country stronger, safer, and fairer for California families and now I have his back," Obama said in a statement.

"Ami is a fighter for the middle

make college more affordable. I've counted on Ami, and Californians can, too," Obama said in his rare endorsement. Bera said he is honored to receive the endorsement of Obama.-PTI

Bera expects more Ind-Ams in next Congress WASHINGTON: With his victory almost certain following a rare endorsement by US President Barack Obama, Indian-American Ami Bera hopes he would be joined by at least one or a few other community members in the US Congress next year.

Bera, the only elected Indian American in the current Congress, is seeking re-election from a challenging Congressional district in California for the third consecutive term.

He has identified two others Raja Krishnamoorthi from Chicago and Pramila Jayapal from Seattle - as the most likely candidates to be elected to the US House of Representatives.

"We are gearing up the opportunity to welcome at least one, may be two or three other Indian Americans to the Congress," Bera told PTI in an interview.

"I mean Raja Krishnamoorthi in Chicago, certainly Kamala Harris would be the first Indian-American Senator and may be Pramila Jayapal from Seattle. I think this could be a better year for Indian Americans," Bera said.

Political pundits have favored Krishnamoorthi and Jayapal to win the House of Representatives elections in the November 8 gen-

eral elections.

Latest polls suggest that Harris has increased her lead over her nearest rival.

Bera, 51, is facing a challenge from Republican Scott Jones, who was elected as Sheriff of the Sac-

Ami Bera

ramento County in 2010 and then reelected in 2014.

In both the previous two elections in 2012 and 2014, he was declared elected only after recounting of votes.

Only the third-ever Indian American to have been elected to the House of Representatives after Dalip Singh Saund in 1950 and Bobby Jindal in 2000s, Bera made his maiden entry into the House of Representatives by defeating incumbent Dan Lungren by a little over 9,000 votes.-PTI

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Clinton best bet for Indian- Nikki Haley says she will vote for Trump Americans: Frank Islam WASHINGTON: Hillary Clinton is the best bet for the Indian community in the US, Indiaborn American entrepreneur Frank

"Many of us are raising money for the campaign. I believe nearly a dozen Indian-Americans have raised significant dollars for the

Frank Islam

Islam said here, asserting that the recent outreach by her Republican rival Donald Trump will do very little to impress the influential Indian-Americans.

"I believe she (Clinton) is the only safe bet for Indian Americans, Americans and the world. Her opponent is a risky bet in that he has no real track record of experience or expertise in public policy, government and international relations," Islam, a philanthropist and top Indian-American fund raiser for the Clinton Campaign, told PTI. Among one of the top bundler's for Clinton, Islam said a number of Indian-Americans are playing key roles in her campaign in different capacities.

secretary's historic campaign," said Islam, who is also a member of Clinton's finance committee and has himself donated one million dollars to the campaign.

He is also participating on a

ment where he has experience and expertise.

"The overriding issue out of the box must be what to do to address the populist outcry in both parties to ensure that the US is a fair place for individuals on all rungs of the socioeconomic ladder," he said.

Responding to a question on US-India relations, Islam said most Indian-Americans expect the next president to take the ties between the two nations to the next level.

"They want the US to build on the commitments that Clinton made to India when she was Secretary of State and President Barack Obama's vision of India and the US being 'indispensable partners' in the future," he said.

When asked about the impact of Trump's recent address to an Indian-American charity event in New Jersey and his daughter-in-law attending a Diwali event in a Virginia Hindu temple, he said this is unlikely to have much of an impact.

When asked about the impact of Trump's recent address to an Indian-American charity event in New Jersey and his daughter-inlaw attending a Diwali event in a Virginia Hindu temple, he said this is unlikely to have much of an impact South Asian work group and is providing input to the campaign on issues and areas such as small business and economic develop-

"I believe his recent outreach will do very little to move the needle among Indian-American voters," Islam said.

"Trump has participated in an event hosted by the Republican Hindu Coalition and he is now running ads speaking in Hindi.

But, I think that is too little too late," he said.

A recent survey showed that 67 per cent of Indian- Americans would vote for Clinton, whereas a mere seven per cent supported Trump.

In comparison, 16 per cent Indian-Americans had supported Romney in 2012, he noted.

"The bottom line for me personally is that none of my IndianAmerican acquaintances (Muslim or Hindu) have expressed a willingness to vote for Trump. He has very high 79 per cent unfavorable rating among Indian-Americans," he said.

"I firmly believe that Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric may be attracting some Indian-Americans, but it is also repelling most IndianAmericans," Islam said. -PTI

WASHINGTON: South Carolina's Indian-American Governor Nikki Haley has said this year's US presidential election has turned her stomach upside down as she is not happy with either of the choices for the president, but she still plans to vote for Republican nominee Donald Trump.

"This election has turned my stomach upside down. It has been embarrassing for both parties.

It's not something that the country deserves, but it's what we've got," a disappointed Haley said.

"This is no longer a choice for me on personalities, because I'm not a fan other either one. What it is about is policy," the 44-year-old said.

Haley said she would vote for Trump even though she disagrees with him on many issues and finds his remarks on rigging of elections "irresponsible".

"The best person based on the policies and dealing with things like Obamacare still is Donald Trump. That doesn't mean it's an easy vote, but it does mean I'm watching out for the people of South Carolina and that's who I

will be voting for on November 8," Haley told reporters at a news conference in Columbia, South Carolina.

During the primaries, Haley had endorsed Marco Rubio and she has been very critical of the policies and statements of

Nikki Haley

Trump.

"Eighteen months of seeing where everyone's trying to see how they can one-up someone on story that has nothing to do related to the policies of the people of this country and so I think what I look forward to is us moving on past two weeks, dealing with whatever the results are, and moving forward," she added. -PTI

Ind-Ams raise $10 mln for Clinton Campaign Cont’d from page 5

Radhika Shah from Silicon Valley, Rishi Shah and Smita Shah from Chicago; Kabir and Noreen Shahani from Seattle, M Osman Siddique from Virginia, Amy Singh from Chicago, Smita Singh from San Francisco; Pradeep and Ranjana Sinha from Atlanta have also raised a minimum of USD 100,000 for the Hillary Campaign.

In addition to these recognized Hiillblazers, several thousand Indian-Americans have contributed to the Clinton Campaign either though fundraisers at a much smaller scale or through online.

While there is no official compilation of funds raised by IndianAmericans, one can definitely be sure that it can not be less than USD 10 million, a campaign insider said, adding that it could touch even USD 15 million or more.

The Trump Campaign, according to informed sources, lags far behind when it comes to the In-

dian-Americans raising money for the Republican candidate.

Chicago-based Shalabh Kumar claims that he has given or raised more than USD 1 million to the Trump campaign and this is the highest fund raiser for the Trump Campaign. OpenSecrets, a nonprofit body which compiles all the fund-raising figures, indicates that the actual amount donated by Kumar could be less.

In its latest report, OpenSecrets said Kumar in all has made USD 220,100 for the Republican National Committee in July. He also made a personal donation of USD 5400 to Donald Trump Campaign the same day on July 1, 2016.

Except for Kumar, not many Indian-Americans have opened up their wallet for the Trump, who has made an unprecedented effort to reach out to the Indian-American community.

The Trump Campaign has refused to release the list of its bundlers. -PTI

November 4, 2016

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First ever Diwali celebration at UN UNITED NATIONS: A Diwali diya was lit at the UN headquarters for the first time amid a celebration of Indian culture and heritage as the festival continued to light up the world body.

UN General Assembly President Peter Thomson lit the traditional lamp at a ceremony here to celebrate Diwali at the UN Secretariat.

"The #Diwali Diya is lighted @UN for 1st time. Thank you Ambassador Thomson for your open embrace of multiculturalism," India's Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.

The Diwali celebrations at the UN included Indian dance and music performances as traditional Indian fare was served for UN diplomats and officials.

"India Artists performing Fusion Dance on the occasion of Diwali," India's mission to the UN tweeted along with a video of the dance performance.

Diwali was commemorated for the first time at the United Nations, as the world body's imposing headquarters was lit up especially on the occasion of the Indian festival of lights.

Indian Americans and supporters pose before the lit up United Nations building on the occasion of Diwali

The UN's facade was lit in bright hues and the words 'Happy Diwali' along with the image of a traditional diya (lamp) projected

onto the building. The image was displayed from October 29-31.

It is for the first time that the Indian festival of lights has been

Trump lifts Modi’s slogan WASHINGTON: In a bid to woo Indian-Americans, Donald Trump has borrowed from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's winning slogan of the 2014 general elections as the Republican presidential nominee is seen in a TV ad

baar, Modi Sarkaar".

Indian-Americans are traditionally supporters of the Democratic Party and Trump's move is seen as an effort to make a dent in this vote bank.

The billionaire is seen in the 30-

saying "Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar".

This is the first time that a US presidential candidate has specifically targeted the Indian-American vote bank.

The new advertisement shows the 70-year-old reality TV star adapting BJP's catchy election slogan of the 2014 polls "Ab Ki

second video saying, "Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar".

"It's running on 20 channels," Shalabh Kumar, chairman of the Indian American Advisory Council of Donald J Trump for President, said.

The commercial, which ranges from 20 seconds to 50 seconds in different variants, is being run 20

times a day on these IndianAmerican channels.

It concludes with "I am Donald Trump and I approve this message" and carries excerpts of his remarks from his recent address to the Republican Hindu Coalition charity events in New Jersey.

In between his remarks, images of Prime Minister Modi pop in.

In this election cycle, Trump has made an unprecedented effort to reach out to the Indian-American community. He is the first presidential nominee to address an Indian-American event.

This week, his daughter-in-law Lara Trump celebrated Diwali at a Hindu Temple in Ashburn Virginia, a key swing State.

Kumar, who has been instrumental in both the commercial ad and New Jersey, did not say how much money the campaign is spending in running these advertisements on Indian channels in the US. "Democrats talk good about India. Republicans do good about India," Sekhar Tiwari, a long-time Republican supporter, said. -PTI

celebrated at the UN after it was recognized by the world body.

"Happy Diwali! @UN celebrates Diwali for 1st time. Thank

you for this initiative," Akbaruddin had tweeted.

The UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution in December 2014 that acknowledged the "significance of Diwali".

Noting that the festival is observed in many UN member states, the resolution had called on UN bodies to avoid holding meetings on Diwali, declaring it a no-meeting day.

From 2016 onwards, Diwali was made an optional holiday for the UN, India's Permanent Mission to the UN said in a special video message.

Thomson had also tweeted a picture of the UN building lit up in bright blue for Diwali and said, "Light over darkness, hope over despair, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil - the UN lights up. Happy Diwali!"

City residents had flocked to the UN headquarters in large numbers to take a photo of the first-ever such projection on the building. Earlier this year in June, the UN building was lit up on the occasion of the International Yoga Day, with images of Yoga postures projected on the imposing headquarters. -PTI

Hindu temples, homes vandalized in B'desh DHAKA: At least 15 Hindu on his Facebook account sparktemples were vandalized in central ing the outrage was also arrested Bangladesh as a Facebook post over causing the unrest, Rahman deemed offensive to Islam sparked said. massive outrage in the Muslim"The situation has calmed majority nation, prompting au- down as leaders of Muslim and thorities to take legal action.

Hindu communities and civil soTemples in Brahmanbarhia ciety figures jointly staged a peace district's Nasirnagar were vandal- rally at Nasirnagar calling for reized and over 100 houses of Hin- straints," the district police chief dus in the area were looted, spark- said. ing panic in the minority commuPolice and residents in the nity. After the mayhem for hours, two temples in adjacent Habiganj's "The situation has calmed Madhabpur also came down as leaders of Muslim under attack, police and and Hindu communities and witnesses said.

Police said there civil society figures jointly were no major casualstaged a peace rally ties but several priests of the temples suffered minor injuries. They added that neighborhood earlier said the sonine arrests have been made in the cial media post sparked the outcase. rage when six temples and some "We have arrested nine per- 20 Hindu houses in the neighborsons so far finding their direct hood were raided. links to the attacks as the authori"We immediately sent police in ties of these temples filed two riot gears to the scenes of the viocases," Brahmanbaria police su- lence and quelled the situation perintendent Mizanur Rahman dispersing the mob," a police oftold PTI over phone. ficer of the nearby police station A Hindu youth who allegedly told reporters.

Cont’d on page 11 posted the 'blasphemous' content

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Pak SC orders probe against PM Sharif ISLAMABAD: In a jolt to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Supreme Court has ordered a probe into the Panama Papers scandal involving corrup-

government and petitioners to present their Terms of Reference (ToR) for the probe panel.

The court will decide to harmonize the ToR if the parties could

Nawaz Sharif

tion allegations against the family of the beleaguered premier.

The Supreme Court heard several identical petitions by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and others to investigate charges of corruption against Sharif and his relatives after the Panama Papers released earlier this year showed his family owning offshore companies and assets.

The larger five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan conducted the hearing in the presence of several cabinet ministers, lawyers of petitioners, senior PTI leaders and media.

The apex court said it was ready to appoint a probe commission headed by a judge and armed with powers of the Supreme Court.

The court also ordered the

not come up with the agreed set of ToR. The court also expressed willingness to hold hearings on a daily basis.

However, the court did not ban the protest by PTI in Islamabad.

But it advised the government and opposition to show restraint.

struggle against corruption.

"Go home and rest," Khan told supporters, "You have to return to Islamabad to celebrate thanksgiving at Parade Ground."

"I am elated that the investigation into Nawaz Sharif's (alleged corruption) will begin."

PTI had announced the rally in Islamabad to force Sharif to resign for a fair probe into the scandal.

According to the Panama Papers, three of Sharif's four children - Maryam, Hasan and Hussain were owners of offshore companies and "were owners or had the right to authorize transactions for several companies."

Sharif and his family have dismissed the allegations of money laundering and denied any wrongdoing but the opposition is demanding an independent probe.

Meanwhile, the government has taken elaborate measures to foil the protest and any effort to lockdown the capital as PTI chief Khan has threatened in several speeches.

All entry points to the capital are being monitored and scores of PTI workers have been arrested.

According to the Panama Papers, three of Sharif's four children - Maryam, Hasan and Hussain were owners of offshore companies and "were owners or had the right to authorize transactions for several companies."

Reacting to the court's ruling, PTI chief Khan said the planned anti-government rally will now be marked as a day of thanksgiving in Islamabad.

Addressing a press conference outside Bani Gala, Khan thanked those who were part of his

Last night a major rally led by chief minister of KhyberPakhtunkhwa was teargassed and forced to return.

The PTI is in power in KP and hopes for a major influx of youth from the province to boost the strength of the protest.-PTI

Pak suspends license for airing Indian content ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's media regulatory authority has suspended the license of US-based Nickelodeon channel for airing cartoons dubbed in Hindi, days after it decided to enforce a complete ban on Indian TV and radio contents amid Indo-Pak tensions.

The electronic media watchdog announced that the license was suspended over violation of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) direc-

tives, the Dawn newspaper reported along with a copy of the statement.

The authority had announced on October 19 that any satellite channel or those with landing rights would face bans over screening of Indian content, in order to enforce a complete ban on Indian TV and radio contents.

The statement issued by PEMRA said that all distribution networks have been informed

about the suspension of Nickelodeon channels. The decision will come into effect immediately, the report said.

ARY Communications is the channel's landing rights holder in Pakistan.

The move is largely seen as a tit-for-tat move after a similar action by some channels and the entertainment industry in India against Pakistani content and artists, it said.-PTI

Pak intellectuals regret support to extremism LONDON: Pakistan faces the human rights". risk of global isolation because of Pakistan ranks 147 out of 188 widespread obscurantism, its sup- countries in UN's Human Develport to extremism and disregard opment Index and 143 out of 144 for human rights, according to in World Economic Forum's Genprominent Pakistani intellectuals der Gap report, it noted. and rights activists.

It is the world's sixth largest They made the proclamation country by population with the while participating in a conference world's sixth largest military but on 'The Future of Pakistan' orga- its economy is 26th in the world nized under the banner of South by size of GDP on PPP basis and Asians Against Terrorism and for 42nd in nominal terms.

Human Rights (SAATH), co"It is sad and disconcerting hosted by US-based columnist that instead of dealing with these Mohammad Taqi and former Pakistan envoy to the US Husain It noted that instead of facHaqqani.

The gathering was ing harsh realities, the Pakiarranged away from Pa- stani people are fed a kistan because of the steady diet of conspiracy threats to the security of free thinkers in the theories and exaggerated country. threats to national security Participants ex- from other nations and pressed grave concern on Pakistan's current trajectory, militarization of state issues with the help of fresh ideas and society, shrinking space for espoused by broad- minded Pakiliberal ideas and pluralism, con- stanis, the Pakistani state tends stant threats to democracy and to appease religious extremists, threats to NGOs and individuals, continues to propagate religious as well as the inability of major extremism and allows it to freely political parties to prioritize pro- spread in society and persistently tection of human rights and so- misinforms the people of Pakistan cial justice. about the realities of our counIn the 'London Declaration for try," the declaration said.

Pakistani Pluralism', the particiIt noted that instead of facing pants agreed that, "Pakistan faces harsh realities, the Pakistani people the risk of global isolation be- are fed a steady diet of conspiracy cause of widespread obscu- theories and exaggerated threats rantism, official support for ex- to national security from other natremism and general disregard for tions and countries.-PTI

Pakistan to pull out 4 more embassy officials ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is considering pulling out from India four officers posted at its High Commission in New Delhi, days after India declared one Pakistani official persona non-grata for espionage activities, a media report said here.

"This is under consideration.

A final decision would be taken shortly," a source at the Foreign Office was quoted as saying by Dawn News.

The names of the officers commercial counselor Syed Furrukh Habib and first secretaries Khadim Hussain, Mudassir Cheema and Shahid Iqbal - were made public after a recorded statement of High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar was released to the media, the report said.

Akhtar was expelled from India after being declared 'persona

non-grata'.

Akhtar told Dawn News that he had given the statement under duress.

In a tit-for-tat action, Pakistan had also declared an Indian High Commission official as persona non-grata after New Delhi's action against Akhtar following Indian police's busting of an ISI-run spy ring.

Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the Pakistan High Commission and had diplomatic immunity, was procuring critical details including those about deployment of BSF personnel along the Indo-Pak border from two other accomplices who were arrested in Delhi.

Akhtar and two others - identified as Subhash Jangir and Maulana Ramzan - were picked up from Delhi Zoo.-PTI

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Patel forgot family for the sake of nation: PM NEW DELHI: Sardar everyone, he added. ting out at critics.

Vallabhbhai Patel neither did any"I am surprised that some "If we present these examples thing for his family nor has his people ask who am I to celebrate to the current generation, we can family taken a "copyright" over the jayanti of Sardar Patel. But say - it is alright there is family him, Prime Minister but pay some attention to Narendra Modi said as he the country also," he said emphasized on highlighttaking a swipe at dynasty ing contributions of such politics. great men before future Some people were so generations. great, he said, that atSpeaking at an event tempts were made to make where he inaugurated a their contributions forgotdigital exhibition on the life ten for 70 years but these of Patel on his 141st birth met with no success. anniversary, he said a counTerming Patel as a vitry as diverse as India cansionary, Modi said that he not run if we focus on our had brought in a proposal divisions and not live by for 33 per cent women's the mantra of oneness. reservation as Ahmedabad "When we talk about municipality chief. unity, the message is clear, that He said that most states I am a BJP 'wallah' but Sardar were in favor of Patel and Patel was from Congress and not Jawaharlal Nehru to still we are celebrating this head the government afjayanti with the same pomp ter independence. He and fervor," Modi said. added that Sardar however Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the He said in the times of accepted Gandhiji's every great man there are gathering at the inauguration of the digital exhibition - wishes after which Nehru “Uniting India: Sardar Patel�, on the occasion of different ideas and debates headed the government.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, in New Delhi on October 31 associated with them but In a lighter vein, he said the succeeding generations don't Sardar was such a person whose perhaps being a Gujarati himself have the right to use contributions family has not taken any copy- Gandhi did not want to pick anand achievements of great men to right. And anyways in public life, other Gujarati. create divisions. he did not do anything for his famSpeaking about Patel's sacriThe attempt should be to find ily. Whatever he did, was as duty fice in the present context, he said things from their lives which bind for the country," Modi said hit- people won't even give up the

SMILE PLEASE: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi visiting the Nandan Van Jungle Safari, at Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh on November 1

Remain united to make India strong: PM NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon the people to make India a "powerful and strong nation" even as he cautioned them against divisive forces.

Modi paid rich tributes Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel while speaking at a function to mark India's first home minister's birth anniversary, which is celebrated as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas'.

"When we travel by train from

Kashmir to Kanyakumari, we do not need any visa or permit, we do not pay any tax when we pass through all the states that fall on the route. It is because of one man, Sardar Patel, who united all states of this country. Patel united this country with his political will," Modi said before flagging of the 'Run for Unity'.

"Don't you think that India should be more powerful and strong? The first condition for that

to happen is 'unity'.

There should be no discrimination on the basis of caste or creed, village and city," Modi said.

He asked the people to be vigilant against elements trying to divide the society.

The Prime Minister said he was dedicating to the nation a digital museum in the national capital in the memory of Patel, who will always be remembered as an 'Iron man'.-PTI

chairmanship of a municipality.

Earlier in the day, Modi paid floral tributes to Patel at his statue in the heart of national capital at Patel Chowk here.

"I bow to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary. We recall his rich contribution to India," he said.

In his speech digital exhibition event, Modi also emphasized on

it as our heritage and percolate to further generations," he said.

Modi credited to Patel's stature that rulers of hundreds of princely states got convinced to merge in India.

There is a traditional rivalry between Patels and Kshatriyas in Gujarat but even Kshatriya royals agreed with Patel, he said highlighting the spirit of unity.

Modi also said people should be made aware of the contributions of people in freedom struggle. It was more a struggle of the people, than that of the leaders and the contribution of these people should be highlighted the role of lives of people like Patel in inspiring people to stay united.

"We are watching it everyday and sometimes it appears as if we are looking for ways to diverge.

As if we are sitting with binoculars seeking things which can create divisions. A country so filled with diversities cannot run like this. We will have to live by the mantra of oneness. And inculcate

Modi also said people should be made aware of the contributions of people in freedom struggle. It was more a struggle of the people, than that of the leaders and the contribution of these people should be highlighted.

He said museums would be created in each state to bring forth the contributions of the tribals in the freedom struggle.-PTI

Sharif pursuing Modi's interests: Imran ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan has accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of pursuing his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's interests in Pakistan as the government cracked down on the cricketer-turnedpolitician's supporters with police arresting over 100 of them. " W h e n Nawaz Sharif went to London for whatever kind of surgery, he on the hospital bed first telephoned Modi instead of his mother or children," Imran told a press conference outside his Bani Gala residence here, referring to Sharif's open heart surgery at a London hospital in May. "Nawaz is following Modi's 'interests' in Pakistan. Nawaz is behind the security leaks story which defamed the armed forces.

Actually his and Modi's agenda is same," the Pakistan Tahreek-iInsaf Chairman said.

Imran asserted that "everybody knows" that sacked Infor-

mation Minister Pervaiz Rashid cannot leak sensitive information to the media on his own.

Sharif had sacked Rashid over the recent "leaked" media report about a rift between the civilian

Imran Khan

and military leaderships on support to militancy.

"Rashid is a darbari (courtier) and he did what Nawaz told him to do so," Imran said.

"The whole state machinery is being used to save a corrupt Prime Minister. I will not accept a 'suspect' as Prime Minister of Pakistan. As long as I am alive I will go after Nawaz Sharif's corruption," the 64-year-old leader said.PTI

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NIA to probe SIMI's international links BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said an NIA probe will be conducted into the prison break here to trace the possible international links of the eight SIMI activists killed in a police encounter hours after they escaped from Central Jail.

Also, the state government will carry out a separate investigation into the matter.

"Taking the entire incident seriously, we have taken a decision for a probe by former DGP Nandan Dubey into it," Chouhan told reporters here.

"A decision will (thereafter) be taken according to the findings.

For this criminal negligence, if needed we will dismiss (the official or officials)," he said.

"Besides, I had a talk with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh because these terrorists have links not only in the state but in India and the world,"

Chouhan said.

Central Jail Superintendent, "Therefore, this is not a case Deputy Jail Superintendent and pertaining to the state. I spoke to Assistant Jail Superintendent," Rajnath Singh and he also agreed that this incident should be probed

by NIA to expose the entire links behind it," the Chief Minister added.

Soon after the jail break in the wee Shivraj Singh Chouhan hours, four officers including the Prison DIG were sus- he added. pended.

"Furthermore MP Prison Addi"The escape of terrorists from tional Director General (ADG) has a jail is a serious matter. That is been attached to the police headwhy we have taken a decision to quarters," Chouhan said. suspend MP Prison Deputy InHe said that ADG of MP Spespector General (DIG), Bhopal cial Task Force, Sudhir Sahi has

PM speaks of lessening load on judiciary NEW DELHI: Terming government as the "biggest litigant", Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said there is a need to lessen the load on the judiciary which spends its maximum time in tackling cases where the government is a party.

He also pitched for an All India Judicial Service on the lines of Indian Administrative Service.

Addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of the Delhi High Court here, Modi said the government is the "biggest litigant".

"The judiciary spends its maximum time on us. Us does not mean Modi, but the government," he said.

The Prime Minister said the load on the judiciary can be reduced if cases are filed after taking a considered view.

He said if a teacher approaches court over a service matter and wins, then the judgment should be used as a yardstick to extend the benefit to thousands of others to reduce litigation at a later stage.

Though there are no concrete figures, government is party to at least 46 per cent of the court cases ranging from service matters to indirect taxes.

While the Centre has so far failed to finalize the litigation policy, several states have gone ahead with their respective policies based on the 2010 draft of the Law Ministry.

The draft litigation policy, which is being fine-tuned keeping in view the latest trends, makes it clear that the mindset that

matters should be left to the courts for a final decision, should to be discarded.

Recalling the role Sardar Patel on his birth anniversary on the formation of an All-India Civil Service, Modi said its officers work as a bridge between the Centre and the states in implementing policies.

He said due to the training, an IAS posted in a district thinks on

bate is the essence of democracy.

The chief justices' conferences in 1961, 1963 and 1965 favored creation of an AIJS, but the proposal had to be shelved after some states and HCs opposed it.

Subsequently, the Constitution was amended in 1977 to provide for an AIJS under Article 312. The proposal was again floated by the UPA government in 2012 when it got it vetted by a committee of secretaries and prepared a Cabinet note. But the draft bill was shelved after opposition from HC chief justices who felt it to be an infringement of their rights.

AIJS is an attempt to ensure t h a t younger Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the 50th anniverjudges are sary function of establishment of the High Court of Delhi, in New Delhi on October 31 promoted to the SC national lines. and HCs. He said though "controverModi also called for imparting sial", the issue of an All-India Ju- training to young people in law dicial Service should also be de- universities in drafting laws, which bated. he said can "narrow down" scope Against the backdrop of oppo- of discrimination and interpretasition to the idea by some states tion. However, he said the scope and high courts, Modi said de- cannot be reduced to zero.-PTI

been given the charge of Prison ADG. The Chief Minister also congratulated Bhopal Police as well as the citizens for their swift action.

"The moment we got the information, our police swung into action. Police, with the support of public for which I congratulate them, got to know their location and tracked them down and killed them in an encounter," he said.

When he was asked how long did the encounter last between SIMI and police, Chouhan said the officials on the spot will come forth with the details later.

IG Yogesh Choudhary said the fleeing SIMI activists had weapons in possession and opened fire when confronted and the police fired in retaliation.

On where the SIMI activists got their arms, the Chief Minister re-

fused to comment and only offered a "Thank you".

According to police, all the eight SIMI activists were killed by Bhopal Police at Malikheda on the city outskirts.

The undertrials escaped around 2-3 AM after killing a jail security guard by scaling the prison wall with the help of bed sheets.

The activists were identified as - Amzad, Zakir Hussain Sadiq, Mohammad Salik, Mujeeb Shaikh, Mehbood Guddu, Mohammad Kalid Ahmed, Aqeel and Majid.

The Union Home Ministry is open to conducting a probe through NIA as announced by Chouhan, sources said.

They said when a formal request comes from the state government, a decision will be taken for instituting the investigation to clear doubts, if any. -PTI

Hindu temples, homes vandalized in B'desh Cont’d from page 9

Paramilitary Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in Nasirnagar and Madhabpur Upazila headquarters along with the Rapid Action Battalion, police and Armed Police Battalion, bdnews24.com reported.

The district's Deputy Commissioner Rezwanur Rahman and Superintendent of Police Rahman inspected the area later in the afternoon.

Locals said it all started with a Facebook post by one Rasraj Das from Harinberh village under Haripur Union Parishad. Police detained Rasraj immediately after the allegation of blasphemy had surfaced against him. He was sent to jail following a court order, according to Rahman.

A report in local daily Daily Star said about 500 anonymous people were sued in the two cases while another media report suggested the number of Hindu houses that came under attack was 100.

The Daily Star report, quoting Abdul Karim, assistant superintendent of Brahmanbaria police (sadar circle), said 15 people were detained so far in connection with the incident and several identified.

Protests against Rasraj's post were called under the banner of 'Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat' in Habiganj district headquarters and Nasirnagar. Demonstrations were also announced in Habiganj's

Madhabpur.

A group of madrasa students demonstrated on the premises of Brahmanbarhia Press Club while hundreds of people blocked Sarail-Nasirnagar-Lakhai road by torching tyres.

The incident sparked panic in the minority community.

Yesterday's attack was carried out in a style followed by the attackers of Buddhist community in Cox's Bazar in 2012 on a similar allegation of disrespect towards Islam through a Facebook post.

Nasirnagar Upazila Parishad Vice-Chairman Anjan Deb said, "The situation is apparently calm now but the Hindu community is still panicked."

Madhabpur Upazila Puja Udjapon Committee chief Sunil Das said the members of the religious minority community were pained by the attack, which was carried out a day after Kali Puja.

Deputy Commissioner Rezwanur told reporters that those responsible for the attack would get 'exemplary' punishment after investigation.

SP Mizanur blamed Jamaat-eIslami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir for the attack.

"The opportunist quarter carried out this attack to embarrass the government. Those behind it will be found out and dealt with in a tough manner," he said. -PTI

More top stories on pages 25-26

12

India Post

SATYAGRAH SOULS Indian Americans Making A Difference

November 4, 2016

www.indiapost.com

S

ATYAGRAH SOULS is a monthly political series presented by Silicon Valley's community leader, Saratoga Councilmember Rishi Kumar, in highlighting the community involvement and success of Indian Americans in the United States. This series seeks to inspire us in giving back to our local community.

We Indian Americans are going through a transitional evolution, as we get entrenched in a new world, embracing new culture, exerting zealous work ethics, supporting the American economy as entrepreneurs, high tech geeks, doctors, lawyers and more. We are definitely imposing the

positive intentions and good citizen values upon this fantastic country and making a huge impact.

But can our involvement run a bit deeper with issues near and dear to our hearts, perhaps within our local city, or with the local public school that our children attend?

Do we sometimes hear our conscience imploring, "Am I doing enough?" Yes we can get involved just a bit more, push our comfort zone and enhance the learning and impact our involvement. Our involvement can simply start with developing a healthy curiosity in our local community, instead of being 'busy' bystanders.

Start young, take risks - it is OK to fail

M

R tell us how does it feel like to finally find yourself in the midst of a Diwali and post offices are handing out fabulous Diwali stamps. Who'd a thunk it?

This was a big win for the community.

The project was a 15 year effort where many different folks had tried their best but had not seen success. We helped bring this across the goal line so it felt really good!

Now we have to get the word out to the 3 million strong Indian American community so that they can use the stamps during the Diwali and holiday season. The link to buy the stamp on-line can be found at http:/ /www.diwalistamp.com How difficult or easy was to make this happen? Would you recommend your readers to embark on similar purposes? What is the advice?

This was a three year effort! It involved so many activities. The first was to ask President Obama in person, and he was very enthusiastic and committed. We then

Unveiling of the Diwali Stamp in NYC - with Sanjeev Joshipura (Indiaspora)

walked the halls of Congress. This was a time-consuming undertaking. I made sev-

With Commerce Secretary Pritzker in New Delhi with Indiaspora Delegation - Aug 2016

Once we get involved, we will quickly discover, how easy it is for us to make progressive change happen and how receptive everyone around is, to leverage our skills for it.

There are leaders waiting to be discovered, why not "me", by taking that first step?

The give-back experience can be freeing, energizing - personally rewarding and transformative at the same time. There are many who have made their mark in doing just that. With this monthly series, we want to highlight these SatyAgrah souls who are showing us the path. Here is a SatyaGrah soul, who has found the calling:

A MONTHLY POLITICAL SERIES - BY RISHI KUMAR

Software expert working to unite Indian-Americans M

.R. Rangaswami is a software executive, investor, entrepreneur, corporate eco-strategy expert, community builder and philanthropist. Recognized as a software business expert, he participated in the rapid expansion of the accelerate sustainable business innoSilicon Valley software industry during vation by creating the best neutral space his tenure as an executive at both large for senior business leaders to strategize and small software companies. In 1997, and exchange best-practice insights. he co-founded Sand Hill Group one of Members represent 20 industries and the earliest have com"angel" inbined revvestment enues exfirms and ceeding $3 was featured trillion. on the front In 2012 page of the M.R. founded Wall Street Indiaspora Journal. He (a non-profit) produced the in 2012 to prestigious unite Indian Enterprise Americans and Software and to transconferences form their that were success into held in Silimeaningful con Valley. impact in InHe was also dia and on listed on the the global F o r b e s stage.

"Midas" list of Indiaspora investors. acts as a cataM.R. is the M.R. Rangaswami in front of the Gandhi statue in DC lyst to transpublisher of form the sucSandHill.com a leading website for encess of Indian Americans into meaningful trepreneurs, VCs and CIOs. impact in India and on the global stage.

In 2007, M.R. embarked on a new By sharing insight, hosting events and conventure as the founder of the Corporate necting people, Indiaspora aims to unite Eco Forum, an invitation-only memberthe professionally, geographically and reship organization for Global 500 comligiously diverse Indian American companies that demonstrates a serious community toward collective action. Indiaspora mitment to environment as a business is committed to supporting the Indian strategy issue. CEF's mission is to help American community at all levels

eral trips to DC, and the HAF (Hindu American Foundation) partnered with us in this effort. We also co-hosted a Diwali in DC event at the Library of Congress where 50 senators and congressmen came to celebrate Diwali with us last year, along with

1,200 Indian Americans from DC and surrounding states.

The community also made hundreds of calls to their senators and congressional representatives.

Cont’ d on page 13

SATYAGRAH SOULS Indian Americans Making A Difference

November 4, 2016

India Post

13

www.indiapost.com

Start young, take risks - it is OK to fail Cont’ d from page 12

And the biggest action was to get thousands of people to write letters and postcards to the USPS urging them to release a stamp. The USPS gets 4,000 requests a year

different kind of trail, walk through our readers on some key components of your success?

My path has been non-traditional for sure. I am an entrepreneur at heart and so I am curious about new ideas and on what impact they will make.

I always try to learn about the industry from experts and people in the know.

I get these individuals as advisors or partners. I look to make an impact and when I start something whether it is in tech, sustainability or in the non-profit space I also make a 10-year commitment. It always takes more time than you think.

Hosting Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi at his home for dinner

and only approves 25 - daunting odds indeed. According to postal officials, the thing that clinched the deal was the outpouring of letters they received.

Being from the Bay area I am an optimist and used to taking risks finally on October 5th the stamp became a reality!

I think this win could motivate other efforts - maybe in school districts where there is a major Indian population we can see if Diwali could be a holiday.

MR, as a high-tech executive, to angle investor, to an activist and founder of a non-profit blazing a

can make things happen. We have had three amazing annual forums, taken delegations to India and held major events like Diwali in DC and now the upcoming Indiaspora Ball for the next President in DC. What are the key Indian American issues you are seeking to address over the next few years?

We need more Indian Americans in Congress - we could actually have 1% next year with Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Ro Khanna being elected. We will also have representation in the US Senate with Kamala Harris.

We need more people on the next administration to continue the

With Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his wife Elaine Chao in DC

Parting advice for the young reader who reads your profile

Why Indiaspora?

What prompted you? What are some of the highlights over the last

few years?

We have always seen great stats about Indian Americans - 3 million strong, 1% of the population, highest earning demographics etc. but we don't have the political or social clout. I discussed and strategized forming an organization with my nephew, late Dr. Srinivas Aravamudan, who was the Dean of Humanities at Duke University. The result was Indiaspora, an "uber" organization that connects people in different professions (doctors, lawyers, techies, politicians, academics and artists) throughout the US and India. We now have a powerful network that

Hosting spiritual leader Dada Vaswani along with Rajan Navani (Indiaspora Board Member)

Moderating session with AG Kamala Harris at Indian American fundraiser

trend of President Obama - this means lobbying with the transition team of both candidates.

And we need our people engaged in their local communities.

We need to foster a strong relationship with India and most importantly we need to give back more!

Do you see the Asian American community or the Indian American community in particular engaged with local and national issues? If not, what is holding them back? Is it important for them to engage?

We are a young community and we need to learn and mature. Look at how well the Jewish Americans have done - we can certainly learn a lot from them. We are starting to get more visibly involved in politics and public service. We need more successes and examples to inspire the next generation.

Indians have been notorious for photo ops with political leaders but not asking for anything. We do have a list of issues that we can discuss - immigration, taxes, education. So the next time you go to a fundraiser please be vocal.

Learn to ask for what is due to you.

and has this flaming desire to make it like "MR did"?

Start young, take risks - it is ok to fail. Though it is hard to do, jump back up and try again! It is better than not trying.

Hosting US Ambassador to India Richard Verma at his home

MR thank you! We wish you success with all future endeavors. ******* Dear Readers, Do you have a story to share? We invite you to introduce us to folks in your community who are making a difference - we would love to profile

them. Are there similar stories you are familiar with locally. The ones who helped address a simple issue in the community to make life a bit better. Perhaps someone you know decided to make a run for school board, was appointed to the planning commission. Provide us your insights on Indian Americans locally and nationally who are making things happen. These perspectives will help construct roadmaps for our community to empower ourselves, to hopefully ignite a desire in all of us to represent our local communities as doers, leaders, establish and entrench ourselves in this glorious country of America and help make it a better place

******* ABOUT RISHI: Rishi is an elected city councilmember in Saratoga, CA and politically active in the state of California, he continues to follow his passion for community service, seeking to provide services to his constituents cheaper, faster and better, seeking to truly make a difference.

Rishi has community outreach and engagement a key focus for his political leadership. As Saratoga's community organizer, Rishi is host of many community events in Saratoga, many of which are free and always inclusive usually addressing a need or a cause.

Rishi's day job is as a Silicon Valley hi-tech executive but his zeal for community service effervescent. Rishi is also the President of the Bay Area Indian American Democratic Club (www.baiadc.org) whose charter is to further the interests and values of Indian Americans, work towards political empowerment and advance ethical standards in the political system. You can reach him via his website www.RishiKumar.com.

November 4, 2016

14 India Post www.indiapost.com

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Horoscope

November 4, 2016

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Nov 4th - Nov 10 th 2016 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

he professional matters look better. Some of you may be promoted/rewarded.

Some additional expenses are likely. Those who are appearing in selections may get good results. Stay away from manipulations also people trying to take advantage of you.

It is better to avoid new ventures. The child may bring some happy news. The week is good for students. Some journey may be seen.

T

P

rofessional matters need care, avoid conflicts and confrontations at work. Those of you who have strong birth planets may get promotion. Some gains are likely in property matters. Better to avoid unnecessary driving, and avoid risky behavior. Work with patience. Take care of relationship matters. The transit planetary influences caused by Rahu/Ketu are difficult for those whose ascending degree is around 15 degress.

T

he professional matters are looking up this week.

Some obstructions and concerns and delays continue.

Do not plan journey during this week. The students need more efforts. The health of father needs extra care pay attention. It is better to avoid haste and conflicts. Avoid unnecessary driving and take care of your health. Patience is the Mantra for you up to September 2017.

he professional matters face some stress, handle situations with patience and avoid conflict. The business income is likely to be delayed. Social interaction and communication is disturbed. Take care of your health, be vigiliant and see doctor if required. Focus on your children they may brings some concerns. Avoid conflicting situations during 2016, and take due care of your health.

T

he professional matters look better. The time is good for those who are in the field of communications, teaching, politics and international trading. Students and those who are appearing in selections have better chances of success. Some new rewarding opportunities are likely. Continue to perform peace making remedies for your functional malefic planets Moon, Rahu and Ketu.

T

he professional matters face problems. The mental peace and patience help in managing professional matters. Stay away from manipulations, and people trying to take advantage of you basically cheating on you. Some additional expenses are likely to happen. Silence is golden for you. Better to avoid conflicts.

Continue to perform peace making remedies for your functional malefic planets Mars.

T

T

T

he professional matters look better. With patience you are likely to be able to manage things. Keep new ventures pending. Avoid manipulations. Handle relationship matters with patience. Child may need help.

Avoid haste, conflicts, speculation, aggressive behaviour and unnecessary driving.

Enemies are likely to trouble, so avoid people you know can cause harm to you.

T

T

T

T

he professional matters are generally ok but may develop some conflicts/concerns. Some obstructions and conflicts, in general including relationship matters, are also seen. Remedy is have patience and avoid conflicts. Take care of your health if its time for a physical get one. Financial position is ok.

Take care and better to avoid unnecessary driving, avoid risky behavior be safe.

he professional matters look better, but some concerns are seen. Work with patience and things remain manageable. Keep new ventures pending., don't start new relationships and busineses.

The health of family needs attention, get physical if required.

The week may involve some additional expenses. Avoid haste, aggressive behaviour, conflicts, unnecessary expenses and driving/travel.

he professional matters need care. Some additional expenses are likely.

Some stress on income is seen. Child may bring happiness. The new business opportunities should be put on hold up to January, 2017.

The week is good for students. Avoid speculation, no stock markets or gambling.

Always invest in safe assets.

Patience is the best medicine up to January, 2017.

he professional matters look better. The new opportunities should be properly examined. Delays and obstructions are likely in the sources of income. Manage obstructions with patience. It is better to avoid manipulations. Handle relationship matters with care. The transit planetary influences caused by Rahu/Ketu are difficult for those whose ascending degree is around 15

he professional matters look better. The incidence of conflicts continues. Take care of your and spouse's health. It is better to avoid driving. Manage things with patience. Continue to perform peace making remedies for your functional malefic planets Sun, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. Strengthen your birth planets through a Special Power Kavach as transit weakness of planets can bring sudden mishaps.

This weekly horoscope is more focused and accurate as these are based on ascending signs. The ascending sign is worked out on the basis of your date, time and place of birth. You will find the predictions at other places 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 54 hours. It 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

Desi News Aurora steals limelight celebrating Diwali

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

ASHOK EASWARAN

AURORA: More than 5500 people attended the Diwali celebration organized by the Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board (IACOAB) of the City of Aurora at the Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora on October 22.

Outgoing Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner was honored at the event which was also attended by US Congressman Bill Foster and other elected officials. The evening began with the lighting of the traditional lamp and recitation of the Gayatri Mantra.

Details on page 18

Studio Nafisa hosts art competition MADHU PATEL

AURORA: Studio Nafisa in Aurora organized an art show - the Art competition "Festival of Lights" on October 22 as part of Diwali celebrations. The theme was in alignment with Aurora being the 'City of Lights' and just like Diwali, other following festivals of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa too involve celebration of life and lights.

This community celebration event was open to all children in Aurora, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Wheaton, Lisle and Oswego with Free participation. All supplies were provided.

Over 100 children with ages ranging from 4 years to 16 years participated. They drew on their inspiration from any one or more festivals to draw, sketch or paint a Visual Art and be recognized for their creativity and talent. All children displayed phenomenal creativity and excitement in their artwork.

Details on page 19

Community Reception reposes faith in Raja India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Indian Americans evince brimming optimism as they await for the defining moment in the political history to see their own Raja Krishnamoorthi emerge victorious as the United States Congressman representing not just the 8th Congressional district but the entire Indian American diaspora , The march for the Congressional seat gathered momentum just days away from the elections, November 8.

Details on page 20

16 India Post

www.indiapost.com

Seniors celebrate Annual Program with dance & music

November 4, 2016

Details on page 23

Obama keeps up tradition of Diwali by lighting Diya at White House NEELA PANDYA

WASHINGTON DC: US President Barack Obama can claim many firsts while being at the highest helm of office in the country but to many Indian Americans, his being the first US president to celebrate Diwali personally at the White House in 2009 could crown above them all.

Barack Obama has the kept up the tradition that he set six years ago this year too by celebrating Diwali by lighting the first-ever diya in the Oval Office of the White House and expressing the hope that his successors would continue the tradition.

"I was proud to be the first President to host a Diwali celebration at the White House in 2009, and Michelle and I will never forget how the people of India welcomed us with open arms and hearts and danced with us in Mumbai on Diwali," Obama said.

"This year, I was honored to kindle the first-ever diya in the Oval Office - a lamp that symbolizes how darkness will always be overcome by light. It is a tradition that I hope future Presidents will continue," Obama said on the White House Facebook page, which became viral on the

President Obama lighting a Diya at White House to mark celebration of the Indian festival of Diwali

social media.

"On behalf of the entire Obama family, I wish you and your loved ones peace and happiness on this Diwali.

As Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists light the diya, we recognize that this holiday rejoices in the triumph of good over evil

Hillary greets Indian American community D

emocratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who has a large fan following in the IndianAmerican community, greeted

Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains across the world on the occasion of Diwali.

"On Sunday, nearly a billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists around the world - including more than two million Americans - will celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. For members of these faiths, lighting the lamp (the diya) is a reminder that light prevails over darkness, knowledge Hillary over ignorance, and good Clinton over evil," Clinton said.

and knowledge over ignorance," said the US President.

"It also speaks to a broader truth about our shared American experience. It's a reminder of what's possible when we see beyond the differences that too often divide us. It's a reflection of the hopes and dreams that bind

us together," he said.

Obama said that it is time to renew collective obligation to deepen those bonds, to stand in each other's shoes and see the world through each other's eyes, and to embrace each other as brothers and sisters - and as fellow Americans.

Happy Diwali wishes from Donald Trump U

S Presidential candidate Donald Trump won hearts and minds of Indian Americans wishing them happy Diwali in Hindi.

The Republican Party presidential candidate's campaign has

Donald Trump

released a new video that begins with Trump's campaign wishing people on the occasion of Diwali, one of the biggest festivals in India. The video also uses some moments from his recent appearance on "Humanity Against Terror" charity concert in New Jersey, where he talked about India and his love for Hindus.

Trump said India is a "great friend" of the United States, and that he has many good friends in India. "If I am elected President, the Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House, that I can guarantee you," he said.

November 4, 2016

Community Across America

India Post 17

www.indiapost.com

Tulsi Gabbard greets Vatican greetings for Diwali Indians on Diwali T C

ongresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has sent greetings to Indians on the occasion of Diwali with the following message: "As we celebrate Diwali, we reflect on the victory of light over darkness, hope over despair and

Tulsi Gabbard

righteousness over wrong. This year, we have something else very special to celebrate "It is important to understand that when we come together with

respect and aloha, we can transcend sectarianism, divisiveness, and hatred.

"As we light the lamps on Diwali, celebrating the return of Lord Ramachandra after his long exile, we can simultaneously light the lamp of love for God within our hearts, inviting Him in as we would a dear friend or an honored guest.

"When we worship God in this way, by holding Him in the core of our hearts, our love for Him grows and simultaneously, our love for others begins to flourish. This love for God, other people, and Mother Earth is the true illumination that we celebrate on Diwali - the true victory of light and love over the darkness of hatred and despair.

"On this special celebration, I wish you and your family a wonderful Diwali. & New Year."

he Vatican greetings for Diwali titled 'Christians and Hindus: Promoting hope among families' were signed by the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal JeanLouis Tauran It underlined at length strengthening of the family values and reads as follows: "On behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, we offer our best wishes as you celebrate Deepavali on 30 October 2016.

May your celebrations around the world deepen your familial bonds, and bring joy and peace to your homes and communities.

"The health of society depends on our familial bonds and yet we know that today the very notion of family is being undermined by a climate that relativizes its essential significance and value. So too, family life is often disrupted by harsh realities such as conflicts, poverty and migration, which have become all too commonplace throughout the world."

"There are, however, strong signs of renewed hope due to the witness of those who hold fervently to the enduring importance

of marriage and family life for the wellbeing of each person and society as a whole. With this abiding respect for the family, and keenly aware of the global challenges daily confronting us, we wish to offer a reflection on how we, Christians and Hindus together, can promote hope in families, thus making our society ever more humane."

We know that the family is

good, even in the face of adversity.

Such an education in hope encourages the young themselves to reach out, in charity and service, to others in need, and so become a light for those in darkness."

"As Christians and Hindus, may we join all people of goodwill in supporting marriage and family life, and inspiring families to be schools of hope. May we bring hope's light to every corner of our

"humanity's first school" and that parents are the "primary and principal" educators of their children. It is especially important, therefore, that parents, together with the wider community, instill in their children a sense of hope by guiding them towards a better future and the pursuit of the

world, offering consolation and strength to all in need."

The Vatican message was welcomed by all Indians across the world but a feeling persisted that the message would have gotten added strength and importance if it was signed by the Pope himself.

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November 4, 2016

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Aurora steals limelight celebrating Diwali ASHOK EASWARAN

Aurora team with city dignitaries - Standing: Anu Setty, Sharon Garcia, Niveditta Ahuja, Congressman Bill Foster, Indian Consul General O.P Meena, CEO Siva Siavanathan, Mayor Tom Weisner, Commander Keith Cross, Mrs. Marilyn Weisner, Oak Brook Mayor Dr. Gopal Lalmalani, Aurora Alderman Juany Garza, Aurora Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns, State Rep Stephanie Kifowit, Aurora Alderman Mike Saville, Aurora Alderman Ted Mesiacos, Aurora Alderman Rick Mervine, Roopa Anjanappa.

Sitting: Event EMCEE Jassi Parmar (Desi Junction), Chairman Gautam Bhatia, Sanjeev Pandey, Prasad Garkhedkar, Vice-Chairman Shabbir Shikora, Treasurer Kunal Majmundar, Sandeep Londhe, Girish Kapur, Ashok Easwaran, Dy Chief of Staff to Aurora Mayor Rick Guzman. Secretary Deepak Mehta.

AURORA: More than 5500 people attended the Diwali celebration organized by

the Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board (IACOAB) of the City of

Aurora at the Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora on October 22.

Outgoing Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner was honored at the event which was also attended by US Congressman Bill Foster and other elected officials. The evening began with the lighting of the traditional

lamp and recitation of the Gayatri Mantra.

The cultural programs included the Varkatunda(an Odissi dance) Bollywood dances and bhangra. Stalls with Indian cuisine, apparel and craft were popular with the visitors. The event ended with a spectacular fireworks display.

Akshagana (act - BhasmasuraMohini) - Adithya Seetharam & Anupama Mangalavede: Bolly Mix - Midwest Edge Dance Academy - Michelle Murnen

Bolly Medley - Bollywood Rhythms - Bhagya Nages: Bhangra Rhythms and Grace Dance Studio - Shalini Dixit

November 4, 2016

Community Across America

India Post 19

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Studio Nafisa hosts art competition MADHU PATEL

A group of participating children

Studio Nafisa Diwali Art Competition entries

AURORA: Studio Nafisa in Aurora organized an art show - the Art competition "Festival of Lights" on October 22 as part of Diwali celebrations. The theme was in alignment with Aurora being the 'City of Lights' and just like Diwali, other following festivals of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa too involve celebration of life and lights.

This community celebration event was open to all children in Aurora, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Wheaton, Lisle and Oswego with

Free participation. All supplies were provided.

Over 100 children with ages ranging from 4 years to 16 years participated. They drew on their inspiration from any one or more festivals to draw, sketch or paint a Visual Art and be recognized for their creativity and talent. All children displayed phenomenal creativity and excitement in their artwork.

The art works were very elegantly mounted in gallery format for the visitors to see. The compe-

tition was judged by educators, artists and city of Aurora representatives.

Ms. Stephanie Kifowit was Guest of Honor during the award and prize distribution ceremony.

She awarded each participant a certificate from Illinois State Assembly.

Stephanie Kifowit would be displaying art work created by students of Studio Nafisa in her office to encourage visual arts and creativity. Nafisa also emphasized the importance of Drawing for Vi-

sual communication, Design thinking and problem solving.

Studio Nafisa awarded prizes to top three talents in each category as recommended by the art competition judges.

Prize recipients for Age group 4-10 were - Anandita Gadgil, Komal Das, Siri Mutalik-Desai.

Age group 11-16 - Preeta Swaminathan, Aakanksha Shripal, Rishita Korapati.

Studio Nafisa has also arranged for five entries to be displayed in 'Winter Garden of Youth Art' show

at Aurora Public Art Commission Gallery from December 2 to February 21 to promote visual arts and to recognize the talent among the community.

During the art competition and the art exhibition, Studio Nafisa also conducted a food donation drive. It will donate the collection along with its additional contribution to local charity Hesed House whose mission is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and give people the chance to hope again.

Naperville community hosts Open Forum for candidates ASHFAQ SYED

NAPERVILLE: Moin Haque, a well-known businessman from Naperville, and his better half, Saima Haque, organized a dinner at their residence in White Eagle on October 21 with the objective of bringing a large group of AsianAmerican community leaders and Illinois State Representatives and other elected officials as well as candidates running for local office under one roof.

The purpose of this "Dialogue for Democracy" was to understand each other's perspectives and also to find ways and means to ensure that democratic institutions in the US are led by the silent majority.

Moin in his opening statement emphasized that the Changes could only take place through education, diplomacy and legislation and organizing political events which have a lasting impact and can persuade and influence the policy makers to change and implement the laws in the best interest of common people.

Representative 'Lou' Lang, who

has been representing the 16th District of Illinois since 1987 and currently serves as House Deputy Majority Leader, said that "we have the best elected officials and candidates representing the state

While he is concerned about the broader welfare of people, irrespective of their religion, race, color or social background, he is keenly interested in knowing the unique aspirations of each and

ties to voice their concerns about hate crimes not only to their community leaders but also to elected officials, in order to strengthen the Government in putting an end to the hate crimes

Naperville Asian Americans at the Open Forum with elected officials and candidates

and Stephanie Kifowit is one of the outstanding persons who works with me in the house and for the community".

every community, including those of the Asian-Americans.

Representative Lang called upon different minority communi-

Stephanie A. Kifowit, who represents the 84th District of Illinois State, said that a small number of people, who represent a tiny mi-

nority, are creating divisiveness in society thereby eroding the freedom of religion, freedom to associate, and freedom to enjoy life all attributes which make the US a great Nation.

She advised talented people from different communities to join the political system of our Nation as their political career and contribute to it. "Otherwise, those candidates who have a view to serving their vested interests, will dominate and control this important organ of the society "Representative" Linda Chapa Lavia, said that the cultural, religious, ethnic, gender, social, economic, linguistic, and racial diversity is the hallmark of the US society. "The networking among different sections of society results in better communication and strengthens democratic institutions". Chapa Lavia applauded the work done by Stephanie and urge all the community members to support her in all future endeavors.

Cont’d on page 20

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Community Across America

November 4, 2016

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Community Reception reposes faith in Raja India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Indian Americans evince brimming optimism as they await for the defining moment in the political history to see their own Raja Krishnamoorthi emerge victorious as the United States Congressman representing not just the 8th Congressional district but the entire Indian American diaspora , The march for the Congressional seat gathered momentum just days away from the elections, November 8. This was articulated by a legion of Chicago leaders at the Community Reception hosted at Maharaja India Restaurant in Rosemont, IL on October 24.

With the current trajectory of the Congressional race looking increasingly reassuring, Raja Krishnamoorthi remains the most widely acknowledged candidate to have received a widespread mainstream newspapers ringing endorsements hailing him as the "best candidate hands down" and extoling him for his "enthusiastic grasp on issues" advancing "working families agenda." With President Obama joining to give a testimonial push on TV, it augurs well for him to cross the finish line in the national elections The principal hosts

Raja Krishnamoorthi with the hosts and supporters

on to deliver a passionate impromptu address on his progressive vision igniting fervor among Indian Americans who are energized to propel him to a place in

Raja Krishnamoorthi thanked the host of community, organizational, business and grassroot level leaders gathered at the event and assured them of his undying devotion to represent them and added saying "when I go to the Congress, you go with me" amidst sustained applause.

Hanumanth Reddy, Iftekhar Shareef, Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, Agnihotri and Ajeet Singh joined the lamp lighting ceremony and observed that the lighting of the lamp symbolizes invocation of an auspicious outcome in the elections.

Raja Krishnamoorthi in his rare departure shifting from the standards electoral stump speech went

the US Congress. Raja connected intimately with each attendee and addressed them with great clarity and unmistakable conviction addressing a wide range of issues affecting the nation.

Raja elaborated on his legislative priorities that include shoring up Social Security, Medicare, raising the minimum wage nationally, making college more affordable,

creating jobs, improving economy, reforming immigration system, improving American infrastructure among some major issues. Raja also addressed businessmen and their causes and allayed fears on harsh regulations and untenable tax burdens.

Raja Krishnamoorthi thanked the host of community, organizational, business and grassroot level leaders gathered at the event and assured them of his undying devotion to represent them and added saying "when I go to the Congress, you go with me" amidst sustained applause.

Iftekhar Shareef, co-host, introducing Raja, emphatically laid out the vision of Raja and said Raja represents the hopes of not just the diverse electorate of his congressional district but the entire Indian Diaspora and added Raja will remain a tremendous force in the U.S. Congress in taking the lead in formulating policies and legislations that elevate every American. Shareef said under the congressional leadership of Raja a new vibrant chapter in Indo US relations is envisaged.

Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, CoHost, in his welcome remarks reiterated that Raja Krishnamoorthi when elected will embark enthusiastically on driving his legislative agenda that seeks to uplift the lives of the working families.

Proposing a vote of thanks, Sanhita Agnihotri, Poonam GuptaKrishnan, Nazneen Hashmi, Shirley Kalvakota, and Mrs. Inder Gauri presented a flower bouquet

to Raja. Some of the well-known attendees at the reception included Dr. Sriram Sonty, Babu [Marsha] Patel, Inder Gauri, Jitendra Digvanker, Harish

Kolasani, John Trivedi, Dr. Hyder Mohhamned, Cecil Joseph, Satish Dadepogu, Baba Daljit Singh, Mitul Patel, Azhar Sidique and Emmanuel Neela.

Naperville community hosts Open Forum for candidates Cont’d from page 19

Linda Holmes, IL State Senator, 42nd District who was one of the guest speakers at the event said that we represent the community and we always speak to our community to know their concern and what is most important to them, as we represent them in our district.

She appreciated the support Asian American community has provided to Stephanie and urged all to keep supporting her to re-elect as state Representative once again.

Tony Michelassi, DuPage County Board member, District 5, Regina Brent, Moon Khan, candidate for DuPage County Recorder and Linda Chapa LaVia, who is running for the mayoral office in Aurora spoke and urged the Asian community to support them in their endeavors.

Shoaib Khadri, a local community leader highlighted some main issues faced by the community expressing a major concern about the recent division along racial and religious lines. He further said that

all sections of society, including the Asian-Americans, have a significant stake in the results of these elections. He added that different community organizations should line up interactive sessions between the community members and elected officials to ensure better understanding of each other's vision, perspectives, and aspirations.

"We are all Americans, irrespective of the ancestral countries to which we belonged, and it is our duty to play a proactive role in the functioning of democratic institutions", said Imtiaz Rehman, a local entrepreneur and community leader.

The floor was then opened for a Q&A session that was moderated by Shafeek Abooubaker, a local community leader.

Imtiaz Rehman, conducted the proceeding of the evening professionally and proposed vote of thanks.

The Illinois State Representatives, Community leaders, and the participants unanimously thanked Moin Haque and Saima Haque for hosting the evening.

Community Across America

November 4, 2016

India Post 21

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Gurudwara hosts US Congressional candidates SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Sikh Religious Society, Palatine hosted and co-sponsored along with Non-Partisan Forum the immigrant communities suburban candidates Town Hall, a non-partisan candidates forum for the 8th U.S. Congressional District on October 26 to address immigrant issues in the Chicago suburbs. The general elections are on November 8.

The Non-Partisan Forum to understand the candidates policies and positions was sponsored

by Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Chicago, Centro de Information, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Northern Alliance For Immigrants, South Asian American Policy and Research Institute, and the Sikh Religious Society.

The forum co-sponsoring organizations were coordinated by Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Chicago, and Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

Gurudwara Town Hall meet attendees

dians at that time.

The forum was moderated by Rajinder Singh Mago, Public and Media Relations Coordinator, for the Sikh Religious Society."When the candidates on television or radio are discussing immigration

Immigrant and refugee leaders from Asian American and Latino communities asked the candidates critical questions related to immigration reform, healthcare, the economy, voting rights, women's rights, gun violence and many more.

The 8th District Congressional candidates Raja Krishnamoorthi (D) and Pete Dicianni (R) were invited to face the community, Republican candidate Pete Decianni did not appear at the fo-

issues, they are talking about our communities and our lives. This is why these face to face town hall meetings are so important for us," said Rajinder Singh Mago, "for Sikhs equality, social justice, and

Rajinder Singh Mago addressing the meet

rum or sent a surrogate. So all the questions were directed to and answered by Raja Krishnamoorthi.

It was announced that Decianni will have a separate town hall with the community.

The forum was attended by more than 100 diverse people despite a historic World Series Baseball game being played between Chicago Cubs and Cleveland In-

undocumented immigrants, 275,000 of which are in Cook and the collar counties like Du Page, Lake, Kane and others.

Immigrant and refugee leaders from Asian American and Latino communities asked the candidates critical questions related to immigration reform, healthcare, the economy, voting rights, women's rights, gun violence and many more.

Tejas Shah representing SAAPRI asked the question about H1-B Employment visas; Jason Cortez a high school student asked about Deportations and Pathway to Citizenship; Irene Sohn from a Korean American organization asked a question about Family Unification visas; Chin from Laotian community asked about refugee and asylees; Jasvir Kaur Singh of Sikh community

Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Congressional candidate attending the meet

protecting the unprotected are part of our faith," he added.

The immigrant population in the west and northwest suburbs of Chicago is on the rise, with new immigrants often bypassing cities and settling directly in the suburbs. Illinois is a state with a large and powerful immigrant population. There are over 1.8 million immigrants including over 500,000

asked about his (Raja's) position on hate crimes; Adrian Gonzalez asked about health coverage access to undocumented and uninsured; Mario Contreras of Northern Alliance For Immigrants asked a question about rising cost of university education and student debt relief; Bill Davis brought up the gun violence and gun control issue; and Van asked about the

voting rights. Few general questions were also asked by the audience at large.

The final question was put up

by Aida Palma during the closing ceremonies that if Raja

Krishnamoorthi wins this election, will he meet with this group again after he has been in the office 100 days, and the answer was "Yes".

The event ended partaking Langar (community kitchen meal).

Community Across America

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November 4, 2016

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USPAACC re-launch reception under new leader ASHFAQ SYED

CHICAGO: The US Pan AsianAmerican Chamber of Commerce Educational Foundation (USPAACC) Midwest Regional Chapter hosted a special re-launch reception on October 25 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. The event was attended by many corporate executives, State and local Government officials, AsianAmerican and small and minority business leaders and non-profit organization leaders. The objective of the event was to promote awareness about USPAACC's mission, vision, goals, and activities.

Susan Au Allen, President & CEO of USPAACC stated "Since 1984, USPAACC has been providing a unified platform to speak about their dreams and aspirations, raise their collective visibility, and address the challenges many of them still face in their quest to succeed in the mainstream". Susan then introduced Krishna Bansal, the new President of USPAACC-Midwest, a successful entrepreneur.

"Asian-Americans are now the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States, even exceeding the Hispanic population, according to the latest U.S. Census. More important, Asian American-owned businesses are strong job creators

in the Midwest. They provide more jobs than businesses owned by any other minority ethnic group. Our Vision is to be the premier educational, training, and networking organization that connects business to business to government, and opens doors to contract, professional and educa-

small and minority business community", said Krishna Bansal.

"USPAACC pledges to continue to be the single unified voice for equal opportunity for AsianAmerican businesses and to collaborate with other large, medium, and small businesses for mutuallybeneficial relationships in the do-

including Perry Mehta (Michigan), Vice President Finance & Treasurer, Elizabeth Tran (Wisconsin), Vice President Programs & Secretary, Tom Lutz(Minnesota), Senior Vice President and CPO of US Bank, Rona Fourte (Illinois), Director of Supplier Diversity for Walgreens, Ruby McCleary (Illi-

tional opportunities to AsianAmericans and their partners in Fortune corporations, Government, nonprofit organizations and

mestic and global economy", Bansal added.

Bansal introduced his new board members for the Midwest

nois), Director of Supplier Diversity with United Airlines, KC Sukumar (Minnesota), Founder of TAJ Technologies, and Reshma

Sambare (Michigan), Attorney at Miller Canfield.

"Illinois is an incredibly diverse State and Governor Rauner's administration is committed to increase the participation of AsianAmericans", said Hardik Bhatt, Secretary-Designate, Department of Innovation and Technology & CIO, State of Illinois. Secretary Bhatt, who was the highest ranking Asian member of Governor Rauner's cabinet, explained how he has been playing the role to transform the State into a smart State.

Other prominent guest speakers included Tom Lutz, Senior Vice President & CPO of US Bank and Gina Oka Attorney, Department of Procurement Services, City of Chicago. The event was also attended by executives/officials from UPS, JP Morgan Chase, Supervalu, US Bank, United Airlines, Walgreens, State of Illinois, Cook County, and many more. The evening was a tremendous success and garnered renewed interest and participation from the audience.

Illinois is home to one of the most vibrant Asian-American communities in the country. There are approximately 5.6% AsianAmericans currently living in the area (% of metropolitan area's total population), which grew 47% in the past decade.

Seniors outing by Sikh Outreach SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Sikh Outreach Society took Senior Citizens to Chicago Botanic Garden, on Saturday October 22. It was a beautiful day to enjoy the natural surroundings.

The Event started with a picnic at the Garden and introductions.

The seniors went on a tram ride around the Garden then walked around or sat and watched the various gardens, including the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden.

The purpose of the event was to get seniors out of their mundane setting and connect with others.

After the event, the seniors shared their thoughts about the event, about life and recited poetry to inspire one another. Sikh Outreach Society encourages seniors to talk about their issues and that no one should suffer silently and alone. Before they departed, they all had questions for the organizers, "When do we meet next, please inform us."

The event was organized by Jasvir Kaur Singh, Gurpreet Kaur Singh and Thakar S Basati. Volunteers included Paramvir Kaur and Bundna Kaur.

Seniors enjoying Botanic Garden outing trip

Community Across America

November 4, 2016

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CHICAGO: Indian Seniors of Chicago celebrated their Annual Program for the benefit of members and Indian community at Manav Seva Mandir, Benselville, a north side suburb of Chicago, on Sunday 23 October with over 500 members and guests attending.

The start was with Hirabhai Patel welcoming all and pointing out that a variety of programs were arranged for the evening but mainly with melodious singing and music from Musical Group and party as an additional attraction .

Arvindbhai Kotak invited Dr. Anantbhai Rawal, Smt Nalini Shah and Smt. Janakbala Shah on stage for Deep Pragatya. Then Kantibhai Patel invited Chief Guest Chhotalal Patel, Special Guests Mafatbhai Patel, Dr. Chittranjan Patel, Dahyabhai Prajapati, Dr Ashok Shah, Pradip Patel, Rajubhai Chauhan and President Dr. Narsinhbhai Patel on stage.

Priest Anantbhai Rawal recited slokas for Deep Pragatya ceremony and urged all the guests to light the Deep Pragatya. After the Deep Pragatya ceremony a group photo of guests was taken.

The first item of Swagat Geet of 'Jyoti Kalash Chhalke' was performed in the form of dance by Pika Munsi and Swapna Shashidharan.

The second item was 'Shree Ganeshy Dheemahi' in the form of dance by Kshama Shah, Susan Abraham and Anupama

Seniors celebrate Annual Program with dance & music JAYANTI OJHA

Deep Pragtya by Hirabhai Patel, Dr. Narsinhbhai Patel, Dayabhai Prajapati, Rajubhai Chauhan, Pradip Patel, Dr. Ashok Shah, Dr.Chitranjan Patel, Chhotubhai Patel, Mafatbhai Patel, Kantibhai Patel and Arvind Kotak. Pics Jayanti Ojha

flowers bouquets. President Dr. Narsinhbhai Patel gave a talk on activities of Indian Seniors of Chicago. Chhotalal Patel touched on subject related to seniors. A group photo was taken. Then Sponsors

Shree Ganeshy Dheemahi performed by Kashma Shah, Susan Abraham, Anupama Mangalvedhe

Mangalvedhe. The third item was a dance based on a song 'Tuhi Mere Mandir Tuhimeri Puja' presented by Hema Shastri. It was followed by Solo Acting on a song 'Hum kale hain to kya hua dilwale hain' by Bhupendra Suthar, Hema Shastri and Anjana Desai.

Hirabhai Patel invited chief guests who were greeted with

were honored with rose flowers

by Dahyabhai Prajapati.

TV Asia Vandanaji was greeted with flowers bouquet. Naresh Dekhtawala greeted all the members of Musical Group.

Bipin Shah gave vote of thanks.Everybody enjoyed the celebration and appreciated the whole program.

Members and guests enjoying the program

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Community Across America

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November 4, 2016

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Hindu temples and homes vandalized in Bangladesh

Abu Dhabi's 1st Hindu temple in a year

HARISH RAO

HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: Reports about widespread vandalizing of Hindu temples and houses in in Bangladesh during Diwali festival have sent a wave of shock and resentment among all Indian Americans in this country.

A local representative of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said more than fifteen temples were ransacked by a rioting mob of hundreds of men, injuring at least 150 people on the day of Kali Puja, the Bengali traditional observance during the Hindu festival of Diwali. Other media said that about a dozen Hindu temples and hundreds of homes were vandalized; dozens were beaten, resulting in injuries; and valuables were looted in a daytime attack of few hours in which the assailants ran amok through eight Hindu neighborhoods. A temple in Habiganj district was also said to be attacked.

Bangladesh police authorities named several Islamist groups operating in Bangladesh as the main culprits for instigating the violence, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Hafezati-Islam. Local police said they have apprehended Rasraj Das, who allegedly created the Facebook post in

question and whose death was demanded by Islamists in the region.

Nand Kapur, former president of Association of Indians in America, strongly condemned the looting and damaging of Hindu homes and temples and made a strong pitch for international condemnation of this type of nefarious activity on the part of religious fanatics and anti social elements.

Madhu Patel, founder president of NRI Press Club, asked the Bangladesh government to take strong action against those responsible for the attacks. He wanted the sane elements in the world to unite and fight this type of internal terrorism too Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism said that it was shocking for the worldwide Hindus to observe the hardworking, harmonious and peaceful Bangladesh Hindu community (who reportedly made up about 8-9% of the country's population) receiving such signals of hatred and intimidation. Bangladeshi Hindus had made lot of contributions to the nation and society, Zed noted.

Zed urged President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of People's Republic of Bangladesh to take this issue seri-

ously and urgently and launch swift action to put an end to such crimes and make sure that such incidents did not happen in the future.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) was shocked by the news of rioting in Brahmanbaria, in the eastern part of Bangladesh, instigated by an alleged Facebook post that reportedly mocked an Islamic pilgrimage site.

Jay Kansara, HAF Director of Government Relations, observed that "Religious violence in Bangladesh seemed to have recently subsided due to the efforts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government in cracking down on terrorists and extremists in the aftermath of the Dhaka cafe attack. However, it is now apparent that the government must renew its vigilance and should direct its current investigation towards apprehending the perpetrators of such mass rioting, instead of focusing on the individual who created the Facebook post."

HAF has extensively documented religious violence and discrimination against the Hindu minority in Bangladesh in its annual human rights report.

CHICAGO: Hindus across the world are looking forward to the first Hindu temple of Abu Dhabi, which is slated to open for devotees within a year.

To be reportedly built on about 20,000 square meters of government donated land in Al Wathba, about 27 kilometers from Abu Dhabi city, it will be the largest in United Arab Emirates when completed.

Besides a sanctum containing murtis of various deities, a garden and waterfront is also planned. Presently, Abu Dhabi Hindus travel to Dubai, over 150 kilometers away, for worship services, reports suggest.

Welcoming is development, Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism stated that in view of their considerable numbers all over the world; various national governments should step forward and respond to the requirements of its Hindu residents to help raise a temple for rituals, quiet reflection, festivals and spiritual exercise; which

would help in their personal growth.

He noted that it would be a step in the positive direction signaling inclusivity and freedom of religion. It was important to meet the spiritual needs of Hindu residents.

Moreover, governments should

Aarti at Middle East Hindu Temple

actively promote interfaith understanding.

Madhu Patel, president of NRI Press Club, observed that religious tolerance is a must for establishing harmony in a society and it should be a cardinal principle of any government that aims at a peaceful and prosperous society.

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November 4, 2016

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India, China hold 'constructive' talks on NSG BEIJING/NEW DELHI: India and China held "substantive and constructive" discussions on India's bid for NSG membership during the second round of talks between their top nuclear experts in Beijing.

Following the first such meeting in New Delhi on September 13, India and China continued their discussions on the NSG issue in Beijing when JS (Disarmament and International Security) Amandeep Singh Gill met Director General of Department of Arms Control Wang Qun, sources said.

"The talks were substantive and constructive. The engagement

will continue as per the directive of the leadership," sources said.

During the talks, India once again asserted to the Chinese side that its implementation of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) principles was "second to none".

The talks come ahead of a possible informal consultations in next two months on India's membership in a NSG panel, headed by Argentine Ambassador Rafael Grossi.

In the June Plenary of NSG in Seoul, despite strong American support, China stonewalled India's bid to get entry into the group on the grounds that it was a not a signatory to the NPT.

Wang, who was the Chief negotiator for China in the South Korea meet, had told reporters that signing of the NPT "is a must",

ternational community.

Wang had also warned "if exceptions are allowed here or there on the question of NPT, the inter-

China also pointed out that the issue of the non-NPT states' participation in the NSG raises new questions for the Group under the new circumstances, and the crux of the above question is how to address the gap between the existing policies and practices of the non-NPT states maintaining that the rule has not been set by China but by the in-

national non-proliferation regime will collapse altogether".

China has been maintaining that the question of the non-NPT states' participation is, in essence, a multilateral issue, and can only be subject to multilateral solution by the Group.

China also pointed out that the issue of the non-NPT states' participation in the NSG raises new questions for the Group under the new circumstances, and the crux of the above question is how to address the gap between the existing policies and practices of the non-NPT states and the existing international non-proliferation rules and norms based on the NPT as the cornerstone. -PTI

US Kerala Centre to honor 5 Sino-Indian troops to improve relations on LAC Indian Americans WASHINGTON: The Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Centre will honor five Indian-American Malayalees for their outstanding achievements and service to the society.

"Kerala Centre has been honoring outstanding achievers since 1991 and every year we invite nominations and the committee has to make a unanimous choice for a candidate in a category to be selected to receive the award and this year is no different from previous years in terms of their achievements," said Kerala Centre board member and trustee Thomas Abraham.

The honorees will be honored at the Kerala Centre's 23rd Annual Awards Banquet on November 5 in New York.

The honorees include Department of Commerce Assistant Sec-

retary for Global Markets and Director General of the US and Foreign Commercial Service Arun M Kumar, who leads the trade and investment promotion efforts of the US Government and Ram Menon, a Partner at KPMG for corporate leadership.

Other honorees include Jay Radhakrishnan, professor of

at Ohio State University in Applied Sciences and Manohar Thomas, a Malayalam writer and community activist who has been very active for over 30 years in promoting Malayalam language and literature of Kerala in US for Promoting Literary Work and Community Service.

Kerala Centre president

"Kerala Centre has been honoring outstanding achievers since 1991 and every year we invite nominations and the committee has to make a unanimous choice for a candidate Medicine at Columbia University and Clinical Chief of the Nephrology Division at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in Medicine, T V RajanBabu, Professor and Kimberly Chair in Chemistry

Thambi Thalappillil said the Centre had recognized 131 achievers in the last 23 years who have continued to become bigger achievers and contributors to the society. -PTI

JAMMU: The armies of Indian and China have expressed mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at the functional level along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

The Indian Army and the PLA held a ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) on the Indian side at Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in the Eastern Ladakh, a spokesman of Army's Northern Command said.

He said that the Indian delegations were led by Brigadier RS Raman and Brigadier Vijayant Yadav whereas the Chinese delegations were led by Senior Colonel Fan Jun and Colonel Huang Xiua Hu, respectively.

"The ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting was marked by a cultural program showcasing vibrant Indian culture and traditional grandeur. In the true spirit

of the festival, a fireworks display was also organized which was highly appreciated by the Chinese delegations," he said.

He said that the celebration commenced with saluting the Indian flag by both the delegations members, followed by the ceremonial address by both delegation leaders.

"In addition to exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks, both delegations expressed mutual desire of maintaining and further improving relations at functional level along the LAC," the spokesman said.

He said that both the delegations interacted in a friendly and cordial environment. "The delegations parted amidst bonds of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC," he said. -PTI

'No viable roadmap without Kashmiri Pandits' JAMMU: Asserting that Kashmiri Pandits are a key stakeholder in Kashmir issue, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said no viable road-map is possible without involvement of the community.

"Kashmiri Pandits resolved the problems of India in the past and if there is any Kashmir problem, it will be resolved by Kashmiri Pandits only," Singh said as he cited the Shimla Agreement and noted that "Indira Gandhi, P N Koul, P N Haksar and D P Dhar" shared the same roots.

Referring to the current un-

rest in the Valley, Singh said after the outbreak of militancy, Kashmiri Pandits teaching fraternity were forced to migrate which led to closure of schools and quality of education fell in the Valley and now "they are burning schools".

He questioned why the community was being "kept out" from any talks on the future on Kashmir.

"It is neither good for the state nor for the country," he said.

"We have to fight it strongly.

We should assert that Kashmiri Pandits are essential stakeholders in any future road-map on Kash-

mir and no future road-map on Kashmir is viable without taking into account the future of the Kashmiri Pandits," he added.

He said after the exodus of the community, the post-1990 generation in Kashmir "is a major challenge for India and government

and society" as "they do not know what is India".

"As an educated society and intellectual community, it is challenge for you. People are resorting to politics over it.

We have to fight it strongly," the Minister of State in Prime

He questioned why the community was being "kept out" from any talks on the future on Kashmir. "It is neither good for the state nor for the country," he said.

"We have to fight it strongly

Minister's Office said.

Singh, who is an MP from Udhampur, was speaking after giving away awards to teenagers from the community during a talent search contest 'Kashir Kalakar.' The contest was organized by Athrot led by veteran Kashmiri actors Kanwal Peshin and singer Ravi Bhan and Pradeep Pandita.

"The intellectual and academics of the community need to create new literature," he said and criticized the "award wapasi" campaign by authors and artistes over alleged intolerance in the country.-PTI

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Rolls Royce paid 10 mn pounds to Indian agent LONDON/NEW DELHI: British defense major Rolls Royce made 'secret payments' of around 10 million pounds to an Indian defense agent that may have helped the company to win a big contract for engines on Hawk aircrafts used by the Indian Air Force, a media report said here.

The person who is alleged to have received the secret payment of over 10 million pounds was arms dealer Sudhir Choudhrie, BBC reported.

The arms dealer, who is on the Indian government's blacklist of people suspected of "corrupt or irregular practice" is now settled in London.

The blacklist warns government officials and ministers to be extra cautious while dealing with people and companies on the list.

The report also quoted Choudhrie's lawyer as saying that his client has never paid bribes to Indian government officials or acted as an illegal middleman in defense

92-yr-old Indian wins gold in Aus race walk PERTH: In a first, a 92-yearold Indian Navy veteran has won a gold medal in a 5,000metres race walk at the World Masters Athletics Championships being held here.

Commodore V Sriramulu (Retd), a veteran settled in Visakhapatnam, has won the Gold Medal in the Race Walk event in the age group of 90-95 years.

He is also participating in two other race walks - one of 10 kms and another of 20 kms. -PTI

deals.

Choudhrie also serves as an adviser on India to the Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron and his family.

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce said it was

"fully co-operating with the authorities" and "cannot comment on ongoing investigations".

Hawk aircrafts are used by the Indian Air Force for training purposes. -PTI

Killer of Indian sentenced after 18 years Commodore V Sriramulu (Retd)

LONDON: A Scottish national has been previously tried for Chhokar's murder in sentenced to life in jail for the murder of an 1999, but was cleared of the charge.

Indian-origin man 18 years ago.

"It is plain that your only purpose was Surjit Singh Chhokar is considered one violence and you must have had a knife to of Scotland's most high profile murder vic- hand. You inflicted three stab wounds on tims whose killing set a precedent as among his body in the most despicable and cowthe first cases to be re-tried after the aboli- ardly manner. Now many years later you tion of the country's double jeopardy laws. are here to answer for your crime," the judge His killer, 48-year-old Ronnie Coulter, will said. serve a life sentence after being convicted He praised what he called "the quiet digby a majority jury verdict of stabbing 32- nity" of the Chhokar family who had enyear-old Chhokar to death in Wishaw, dured an 18-year wait for justice.

North Lanarkshire, on November 4, 1998.

Speaking outside court, Chhokar family Coulter was told he must serve a mini- lawyer Aamer Anwar said, "In the 18 years mum of 19 years and eight months behind it took to prove Ronnie Coulter's guilt, he bars before he is eligible to apply for pa- has never shown a shred of remorse or sorrole, the BBC reported. row. Surjit Singh Chhokar was not his only Jailing him at the High Court in Glasgow, victim. His two parents, a sister, two young judge Lord Matthews said, "Chhokar was children and his partner Liz had their lives the victim of an ambush which "In the 18 years it took to prove Ronnie cost him his life.

The jury ac- Coulter's guilt, he has never shown a shred of cepted you remorse or sorrow. Surjit Singh Chhokar was were responsible for his not his only victim. His two parents, a sister, brutal murder two young children and his partner Liz had over the theft of their lives devastated, but today the pres100.70 pounds Giro.

You ence of justice has finally given Surjit's family chose to in- peace" volve yourself.

The evidence showed that what happened devastated, but today the presence of juswas not on the spur of the moment". tice has finally given Surjit's family peace".

Lord Matthews said that on the night of Detective Chief Superintendent Clark the murder, Coulter had travelled to Cuzen, who led the new investigation into Overtown with his nephew Andrew Coulter the murder, said, "I hope today's sentence and a friend, David Montgomery, to meet gives some closure to the family and again, Chhokar after a row over a stolen 100-pound I would like to thank them for their courage cheque. and dignity throughout".

After an altercation, Chhokar collapsed Coulter was convicted by a majority verin front of his partner Liz Bryce. He was dict earlier this month following a four-week stabbed three times in the chest and one of trial at the Glasgow High Court. the blows pierced his heart, resulting in his It was only the second time in Scottish death from massive blood loss. legal history that an accused had been tried The court also heard how Coulter was twice for the same crime. -PTI

November 4, 2016

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India Post 27

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil 2 Besabriyaan: M.S. Dhoni 3 Channa Mereya: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil 28 India Post

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November 4, 2016

4 Tere Sang Yaara: Rustom 5 Bulleya: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

W

hile actresses are often compared to their female counterparts, Vidya Balan finds herself pitted against the Khans. Given her penchant for doing quality cinema, many even believe that she has a lot in common with Aamir Khan. When asked about her thoughts on the comparison and the 'female Aamir Khan' tag at the trailer launch of her upcoming film, 'Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh', the actress was all praise for Mr Perfectionist.

She clarified, "Jis din meri films bhi unki filmon ke tarah business karegi (laughs), phir main manungi that I am female Aamir. It's a huge compliment when someone says that. But it's far from true. He has been working for many years now, and knows a lot about filmmaking and marketing. In fact, he is almost a marketing guru. I have never worked with him, but I have a long way to go."

Asked why she hasn't teamed up with the Khans yet, she explained, "Firstly, I didn't have the opportunity and I don't put my hands on anyone's shoulder to stand tall. I like to stand on my own feet. I feel very proud about that."

6 Kaun Tujhe : M.S. Dhoni 7 Toota Jo Kabhi Tara: A Flying Jatt 8 Bolo Har Har : Shivaay 9 Jab Tak : M.S. Dhoni 10 Jaago : Rock On 2

S He never imagined that one day he would be paired opposite her.

E

ver since the trailer of 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' (ADHM) released, film buffs can't stop raving about Ranbir Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's sizzling chemistry.

However, few people know that the duo first met when Ranbir was assisting his father, Rishi Kapoor, on 'Aa Ab Laut Chalen' (1999).

Ranbir, who was a teenager back then, was mesmerized by Aishwarya's beauty.

He never imagined that one day he would be paired opposite her.

A s o u r c e close to the actor told a leading daily that though Aishwarya was senior to him, the duo got along like a house on fire during the making of 'Aa Ab Laut Chalen'. They remained friends over the years.

When Ranbir learnt that he would share screen space with Ash, he was elated.

onakshi Sinha is looking leaner these days. The actress, who has knocked off a few extra kilos, shared the secret of her fab figure with BT. It's so simple, you'll be surprised.

"I just stopped eating junk," she says, adding, "When I started shooting for Noor, I stopped working out because of the hectic schedule. So, I decided to approach food in a different way. I do gorge on my mom's delicious food, but when it starts showing on the body, I stop."

The actress has often been written about for her

weight.

When asked if nasty comments triggered her weight-loss move, she says, "I block negative energy, I don't assign importance to irrelevant opinions."

Bollywood

November 4, 2016

India Post 29

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"I don't want to depend on fame...One day it should not be my need. I would want myself to be free from this need,"

I

rrfan Khan, who has carved a niche for himself in India as well as in foreign cinema, says he needs fame to spread his stories around the world, but doesn't want it to become his need.

"I don't want to depend on fame...One day it should not be my need. I would want myself to be free from this need," said Irrfan Khan in an interview.

Asked if he is free from the urge to get famous, he said "No, I am not away from that need right now.

I do need acknowledgment because I have stories to share with the audience.

The actor says he wants to reach that point when he need not care about anything else other than the story.

"Given a choice at one point of time, I don't want to care whether it is reaching or not. If I want to do a story, I will do the story and just be happy by the process and forget about it," he said.

F

ilmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has roped in Aditi Rao Hydari for the role of Ranveer's character Alaudin Khilji's favorite begum (wife) Kamla Devi, in the period film.

History has it that Alaudin Khilji's army invaded Gujarat in 1297 and captured queen Kamla Devi, wife of king Karandev II, who later married the Sultan.

'Padmavati,' played by Deepika Padukone, is based on Rani Padmavati of Chittor and wife of king Rawal Ratan Singh. Sultan Alauddin Khilji was so besotted by her beauty and intellect that he attacked the kingdom to claim her. The movie is about Padmavati's courage and sacrifice and how she saves her honor.

'Padmavati,' played by Deepika Padukone, is based on Rani Padmavati of Chittor and wife of king Rawal Ratan Singh

F

ilmmakers Abbas Mustan are planning to team up with their Ajnabee star Akshay Kumar once again. It was due to Abbas Mustan that Akshay got the nick name of Khiladi Kumar.

The duo directed the 49year-old star in 1992 hit film Khiladi. They later teamed up for Ajnabee and Aitraaz and both did well commercially.

"We did three films together and all were different from each other. We plan to work together. We are working on something," the duo said.

They are also looking forward to the release of their next film Machine that marks the acting debut of Abbas's son Mustafa in Bollywood as an actor. The romantic thriller also stars Kiara Advani in the lead.

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November 4, 2016

Once upon a time: A stream which is no longer alive

N

ASHIM CHOUDHURY

ot long ago, Pithoragarh district in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand was fed by a network of perennial springs locally called chasmas. It was a well-integrated natural system on which the people depended round the year. All that is changing now and water stress during summer months has become common for the far-flung villages.

A visit to the Gorang Valley, some 10 km from Pithoragarh town, was revealing. The valley, drawing its name from horses that once grazed on its sloping meadows, is still beautiful although much of the old forest

cover has given way to farming and other human incursions. The rolling lush beauty camouflages an ugly side, the water woes faced by villages in summers.

Nakina village on the right flank of Gorang valley is 6-7 km from Chandak, where the valley begins and winds down for a further 15 km. The Gorang valley has 53 springs. During peak summers, many of them are reduced to a mere trickle or dry up completely. The drive to Nakina passes through thick forests of oak, pine and some rhododendron.

Water crisis Jagdamba Prasad, chief of Nakina's vil-

lage council, and a few women residents recount that water crisis they face every summer. "In summers all our seven springs dry up. Our whole day is spent in collecting water. Water for washing and bathing becomes a luxury," the women say. While half of the villagers go to the river about a kilometer away, the other half goes to the next village that has a spring 2 km away. Summers are backbreaking for the women and girls as they have the basic responsibility for fetching water.

Nakina now has some 50 households, down from about 200 about a decade ago.

The rest, leaving behind their homes and land, have fled to greener pastures. Yet the summer water crisis in

Efforts of watershed management are being made at Digtoli village. -Pic Vikram Singh Negi

The women of Nakina village relate their water woes. -Pic Vikram Singh Negi

Nakina has only worsened over the years.

Nobody knows why exactly despite the lush surrounding forests. A few handpumps in the village would be a great boon, but drilling machines cannot be transported down to these hilly villages.

Reviving the springs The GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable development (GBPIHESD) and its civil society partners have started working with the villagers, making efforts to revive the springs.

Like Nakina, Digtoli village, situated behind the steep mountain towering above Nakina, faces a similar problem. From the road above Nakina, it is a 15 minute drive to Digtoli past a majestic 300 year old oak tree that once identified the village from distant mountains.

Digtoli also offers a panoramic view of the Himalayan range, and the Nanda Devi and Panchachuli peaks.

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November 4, 2016

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Priyanka bags 'Breakout Style Icon' award

P

riyanka Chopra was honored with the 'Breakout Style Icon' award at the Instyle Awards at the Getty Center in Los Angeles on October 25.

The 'Quantico' actress looked gorgeous in a teal and black asymmetrical outfit by Haider Ackermann.

R&B superstar Usher presented the award to Priyanka and was all praise for the actress. He said, "This is a woman who has it all. She is intelligent, down-toearth, quick-witted, and has a genu-

ine personal style. To me, I consider that a quadruple threat."

"But most importantly, Priyanka is a role model for women all over the world. For young women in India, she is an iconic symbolization of power and strength," the singer said while presenting the award.

Talking about her style statement, Priyanka said, "I don't think that in the last one year I suddenly become more stylish, no. I am not someone who is like, 'I want to break the internet with what I am wearing!' I don't think like that. I

wear what I feel, and I need to feel my best in what I wear. I decide on my clothes based on that."

"I've had lot of great reviews for what I wear but I really don't wear my clothes for that reason. I pick outfits to feel the best that I can feel and I think that's the only way to wear clothes. You can't overthink it," she was quoted as saying.

Priyanka took to her Instagram account and thanked the fashion and celebrity magazine. She posted a picture of her trophy and

the invite, and wrote, "Thank you @instylemagazine for the honor.

To be part of such August company was amazing. Lovely evening! @danasupnick @anjulaacharia @cristinaehrlich @kevinmichaelericson @irfan525."

Priyanka, who is already ruling the American television with her thriller series 'Quantico 2', will make her Hollywood debut with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron starrer 'Baywatch' slated to release in May next year.

MAMI Festival

'The Cinema Travellers' wins two awards MUMBAI: The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival concluded in a glitzy ceremony at Bandra's Rang Mandir auditorium. After showcasing over 180 films from as

very memorable reunion of the cast and crew of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander.

The dates for MAMI 2017 were also announced. It will take place

Filmmaker Kabir Khan hands out the Young Critics Choice award to Amit Madhesiya and Shirley Abraham for 'The Cinema Travellers.'

many as 70 countries, the eightday festival came to a close.

The ceremony, hosted by Vickey Kaushal and Shweta Tripathi of Masaan, was attended by directors like Vishal Bhardwaj, Rajkumar Hirani, Kabir Khan, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, actresses Sonam Kapoor and Richa Chadha besides several others.

Undoubtedly, the stars of the night were Anupama Chopra, Kiran Rao, and Smriti Kiran, the three women who painstakingly put the festival together, sourcing films from across the globe, arranging carefully planned masterclasses, besides hosting a number of other sessions, and one

from October 12 to October 19.

Here is a list of those who took home the big prizes.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION Golden Gateway Award - David Chou's Diamond Island.

Silver Gateway Award - Ralitza Petrova's Godless.

The Jury Grand Prize Natalia Almada's Everything Else.

Special Mention for Political Commitment of the Film - When Two Worlds Collide.

The Special Mention Macarena Arias's Alba.

INDIA GOLD Golden Gateway Award Haobam Paban Kumar's The Lady of the Lake.

Silver Gateway Award - Satish Babusenan and Santosh

Babusenan's The Narrow Path.

Jury Grand Prize - Aicheng Jai Dohutia's The Hidden Corner.

Special Mention - Deepak Sampat for Rohit Mittal's Autohead Special Mention - Shirley Abraham and Amit Madhesiya's Cinema Travellers.

DIMENSIONS MUMBAI Golden Gateway Award Santosh Ganpat Kamble for Mumbai's Mahuwa.

Silver Gateway Award - Tabu Kaariya's Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh. Special Mention (Dimensions Mumbai) Award - Yashwardhan Goswami's Bombai.

HALF TICKET Golden Gateway Award (Feature) - Laha Mebow's Hang in There, Kids!

The Silver Gateway Award (Feature) - Evi Goldbrunner and Joachim Dollhopf's At Eye Level.

Cont'd on Page 32

India Gold jury members Mychael Danna and Stephanie Zacharek at Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival

Sonam Kapoor at the closing ceremony of Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival

32 India Post

November 4, 2016 www.indiapost.com

'Growing up I was used to being called fat'

A

s a child, my body was similar to a lot of my South Asian friends: I was skinny, flat-chested and uncomfortably hairy. I never considered myself to be "too skinny," but I remember being reminded (read: judged) by South Asian aunties, including my mom of course, of how I looked.

I had no curves as an awkward pre-teen. I was told I wouldn't look good in a saree and at a time when Bollywood stars weren't super thin, I didn't feel like I would grow into what I thought was a "normal" body of an Indian woman.

The words "fat" and "skinny" were thrown around my community like "hello" and "goodbye."

It wasn't considered rude to call someone fat, it wasn't awkward to tell someone they gained weight to their face; and instead of focusing on eating healthily or exercising, I would hear people suggest skipping meals and fad diets like it was a one-stop easy fix.

As a child of immigrants being raised with these values, I believed this was how South Asians -- and the rest of Toronto -- talked about bodies.

The first time I really gained weight was in sixth grade and I was over 100 pounds. It was the first time I was aware of my body. I noticed my pants no longer fit, my stomach grew and I wasn't flat chested anymore. In seventh grade, I took a family trip to India and my weight was the hot topic.

ARTI PATEL

Family members I hadn't seen in years commented on how "fat" I had become; and when I walked into stores to buy sarees or lenghas, store owners told my mom it wouldn't look good on me or fit. It was blunt, but it was normal.

It was the first time the atten-

up getting really sick, so sick that I lost about 20 pounds. At that time, I was grateful, even though I spent weeks puking and feeling like shit. It was stupid, but I thought being sick was the best thing that could've happened to my body.

I came back to Toronto with a

Arti in grade 8

tion directed at my body hurt me. I started noticing the weight of my friends, and like a jerk, I thought skinnier was more attractive. I began carefully looking at the bodies of my favorite singers at the time, like Britney Spears or members of the Spice Girls, and I told myself, at age 13, I had to be skinny again.

During my time in India, I ended

new body and a new mindset -this was the new me and I would never be mocked for the size of my body again.

But as years went on, I had fully outgrown my teenage frame, my body looked like a woman's body and I was a lot more aware of my self-esteem. I got more familiar with the Canadian way of talking about weight and although

'The Cinema Travellers' wins two awards Cont'd from Page 31

Special mention (Feature) Manas Mukul Pal's Colors of Innocence.

The Golden Gateway Award (Short) - Vincent Patar and Stephane Aubier's A Town Called Panic: Back to School.'

The Silver Gateway Award (Short) - Nina Sabnani's We Make

(L-R) Christian Louboutin, Katrina Kaif, Karan Johar, Prabal Gurung

Images.

Special Mention (Short) - Pedro Paulo De Andrade's The Best Sound in the World.

OTHER AWARDS OxfamAward for Best Film on Gender Equality - Alankrita Shrivastava's Lipstick Under my Burkha Mastercard Best India Female Filmmaker 2016 Award - Konkona

Sensharma for A Death in the Gunj.

Audience Choice Award - The Salesman by Asghar Farhadi.

Young Critics Choice Award Shirley Abraham and Amit Madhesiya's Cinema Travellers.

BOOK AWARDS Special Mention for Excellence in Writing on Cinema (Hindi) Naye Daur Ka Naya Cinema by Priyadarshan.

Special Mention for Excellence in Writing on Cinema (English) Kanan Devi: The First Superstar of Indian Cinema by Mekhala Sengupta Excellence in Writing on Cinema Award (Hindi) - Bhartiye Cinema Ka Itihas by Anil Bhargava.

Excellence in writing on Cinema Award (English) - The World of Hrishikesh Mukherjeeby Jai Arun Singh.

women are judged, shamed and ridiculed for not looking a certain way all the time, I had learned weight was not something you brought up in conversation, and describing people as "fat" or "huge" were just plain mean.

Accepting my body was a process, there was no easy fix, and even today I don't always feel perfectly content when I look in the mirror. It took a stupid liquid diet, a ton of reading on body image and a lot of body-positive friends to change my views on what I considered beautiful. I had great high school teacher who really opened my mind up about unrealistic beauty standards and fat shaming and I stopped thinking about weight, listening to rude brown aunties and was just comfortable in my own skin.

But at home, however, weight is still talked about the same, but the reasons I had to lose weight or maintain it was starting to change. Losing weight or staying skinny or having fairer skin, wasn't about body confidence, but rather about finding a husband.

I remember toxic conversations when brown aunties would talk about how "fat" women have to

home and collapsed on the floor of my room in exhaustion. I was wearing tight gym clothes and was sweaty, yet how I looked was not important.

I was still sitting on the floor when my mom came into my room and the first comment she made was about my weight. She said that personal training was a waste of money (I had a trainer last summer for six months) and that I wasn't losing any weight.

I stared at her, breathing heavily from this insane 10,000 step walk I just conquered, and told her off, for the first time, since I was a kid. I told her to get out of my room, to stop talking about my weight and to never mention how I looked or the gym ever again. My friends laughed when I told them about the incident, telling me it was the nicest way of telling someone off, but that's just me.

My mother didn't say anything, but I knew she felt terrible.

It has only been a few weeks and although we don't talk about it or feelings (again, this is typical in South Asian cultures), I noticed she has tried harder to not make comments about my body. Even if she slips sometimes, I know she

I stared at her, breathing heavily from this insane 10,000 step walk I just conquered, and told her off, for the first time, since I was a kid. I told her to get out of my room, to stop talking about my weight and to never mention how I looked or the gym ever again. settle for uglier men and if I wasn't careful, I would end up with an older man. Skinny wasn't only beautiful, it was more likely to end in a marriage, too.

I am 27 today, single and the heaviest I've ever been at a size 10. I don't consider myself "fat" or "plus-size," I actually hate using these words to describe a person's body, unless people are comfortable or own these labels.

When I tell some of my friends how my mom, for example, obsesses over the "perfect body," a lot of them wonder why I don't just tell her off. I am not a very upfront person and for most of my life, I just took it. I knew this was just the typical South Asian way of thinking and although it was frustrating at times, I knew I couldn't change people's values, but the best thing I could do was be comfortable and confident with myself.

I recently got into going on long walks in my neighborhood with a friend and a few weeks ago, after taking a three-hour walk I had come

isn't trying to hurt me, or ever really was.

I have come to realize that the ideal South Asian body type does not exist. It doesn't matter what size you are, someone in the community will try to find a way to bring you down. But here's the thing, there is nothing wrong with being fat, skinny or whatever other label you identify with.

When I see my young nieces, I sometimes wonder how they feel about their bodies when older aunties are around them. The way some South Asians talk about weight isn't going to change anytime soon, but the best thing any of us who've felt frustrated, embarrassed, or yes, even "fat," can do is to not let their words get to us.

It's easier said than done, especially when the voices are loud and constant, but acceptance must begin with ourselves.

Arti Patel is an editor at the Huffington Post Canada covering lifestyle and viral content. Reprinted from The Huffington Post

November 4, 2016

India Post 33 www.indiapost.com

Deepika does everything 'from the heart'

D

eepika, who is set to start shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next movie, Padmavati, talks about her career, her personal life and more.

In a couple of weeks, you will complete nine years in Bollywood‌ I don't feel like it has been nine years at all. I feel like there is so much to do and so much to learn.

I don't think I have had the time to sit down and think about it and to reflect on everything that has happened. I am someone who always looks ahead. I live in the present.

Whether it's bad or good, I rarely look back. Nine years is nothing. I feel like I have just started out, and have a lot more to give. It's an extremely exciting time to be an actor.

You are among the world's highest-paid actresses (as per a Forbes list)‌ I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my name in the list, but I think it's an achievement not just for me but for all the women (out there). In fact, I look at it as an achievement for women from the film industry as well as other professions. It's not like my focus was on being the highestpaid actress; that has never been my motivation. But, in the process of following my heart and doing what I love, if something like this happens along the

way, it's rewarding.

Your personal life is always in the news. Of late, there have been multiple stories - from your marriage plans to your break-up with alleged boyfriend Ranveer Singh.

How do you take it?

I don't, because there is nothing to 'take'. I have understood it (the speculations) well enough to know what I should absorb and what I shouldn't. After a point, one becomes completely immune to these things. You can only do things that are in your control.

Certain things are a given when you are in this industry. I am sure there are certain advantages and disadvantages of being in this industry. And this is one of the things one has to deal with, and that's totally fine. The ups, the positives, and the love we get is way too much for us to get bogged down by the speculations or the negativity.

Canada, to shoot for my Hollywood film. So, I was away for four months, as I completed that in a start-to-finish schedule. After my return, I have been exploring different scripts for a while now. I have finally locked a movie, which I start filming for in a few days.

Do you find any difference in the way Hollywood and Bollywood function?

No, I will admit that I was nervous before I left (for Toronto) about the fact that I was going to work in a completely new environment, and moving out of my comfort zone especially since all this while, I was familiar with the work culture, the people and the working style of only Bollywood. But within a couple of days, I felt completely at ease.

It seems that, of late, you have been MIA (missing In Action).

No, I'm very much here.

Post Bajirao Mastani (2015), I immediately left for To r o n t o ,

Your last film was Bajirao Mastani. Your next film XXX: Return of Xander will release after a gap of over a year. Do such things bother you?

Never. I don't think there is any kind of strategy that one can put behind creative work. They (working on a movie creatively and working out its release date) are two different things. Everything that I have done in my life comes from my heart and my instincts. I believe everything happens for a reason, so there must be one reason why things have played out the way they have.

-Courtesy Hindustan Times

Gorang Valley battles water woes as perennial springs retreat Efforts of watershed management are being made at Digtoli village. Pic Vikram Singh Negi Opposite Digtoli, clambering uphill one can see troughs dug and saplings planted along the hillside to reduce rainwater runoff and reduce soil erosion through plantations. Digtoli's 70-odd households scattered among the slopes depend on 13 springs. In peak summers most of them dry up, except one downhill, which is called Shivalaya. Without water peak summers are difficult to endure. P.C Patni, an old villager, says, "There have been minor changes since the water conservation efforts have begun. People are now also contemplating rainwater harvesting at the individual level.'"

years, and how far we have come in terms of content and technical expertise.

You never lose sleep on such things, despite the competition?

In 2013, I had four films releasing, but I didn't plan that. Similarly, if there's only one film that is meant to release in a year, that's also fine. I always look at it in a positive way, and tell myself, "That's just the way it was meant to be". I look forward to 2017, in which two amazing films are set to come out. They are completely different and my characters are entirely disparate. Hopefully, they will turn out the way I hope they shall.

How did you get over

From plenty to scarcity Cont'd from Page 30

that nervousness?

The working style in the west is almost the same. It took me a couple of days to get used to the new faces, but other than that, the processes are pretty similar. I feel extremely proud of the Indian film industry, how much we have achieved in the past couple of

Slow trickle The idea of conserving water is slowly trickling down. Yogesh Barola, a young geologist working in the area, says how the current spring and watershed management efforts will take time to make a visible impact. Reacting to skepticism, he says, "It is a precise science, geological and hydrological mapping that feed into spring recharging efforts. New oak plantations will also augment water conservation efforts." Oaks, locally called banj, are known to conserve water.

Circumventing Digtoli, there's a steep climb over the village past the local primary school. On reaching further up, one notices gashes and trenches dug up along the slope. These have been made for directing rainwater into large

troughs or dug wells that store water and recharge the groundwater. The collected water also quenches the thirst of cattle and horses grazing on the hill slopes.

After more climbing one reaches a cusp, a meadow called the Antola depression. Nakina's Jagdamba Prasad is waiting here. The former army man shows an artificial embankment dug up by people from his village. "It was voluntary work done over several weeks," he says.

The district administration has promised to release some funds for the work, he adds.

Eventual recharge The embankment will store a considerable amount of water that will eventually recharge some 2025 springs that serve five villages on either side of the so-called water tower. But it will not help reach

the springs of Nakina whose people have dug the trench.

For them, on the upper reaches of the depression, Prasad shows another artificial embankment built by the villagers. Rain-fed, this resulting lake will in subsequent years feed the springs in Nakina and nearby Bhurmuni villages.

It could be a long parched wait in summers, as long as 7-8 years, says Rajesh Joshi, lead scientist

"The soil here is porous, so water does not stand for very long; it seeps down.

Small changes are already visible� from GBPIHESD who is overseeing the spring shed management.

"The soil here is porous, so water does not stand for very long; it seeps down. Small changes are already visible, though, like there is reduced soil erosion along the drainage channel. Less erosion will mean lesser chances of the road being blocked by landslides," he

says.

To speed up the spring recharging efforts, Ranbeer Rawal, senior scientist of the Almora-based GBPIHESD says, "We have shared our spring shed management plans with various line departments. We offer scientific inputs and linkages to various government departments for a holistic approach."

Women pressure But the bulk of the pressure to get the work going comes from the community itself particularly the women, who have formed self-help groups. "We approach the officials from time to time. They listen to us. We are hopeful our water problem in summers will be solved. Yes, the wait might be a little long," says Gita Joshi, 37, a resident of Nakina village.

But Prasad, now into his eighties, has little patience. "Between April and June, life becomes hell here. The government should lift water from the river through a pump, at least during the summer months," he says.

Ashim Choudhury is a Delhibased writer. This article first appeared in 'Village Square'

„ Health

Line

Pregnancy may up stroke risk in the young NEW YORK: Pregnancy may increase the risk of strokes in younger women, but not in older women expecting a baby, a new study has found.

Pregnancy-associated stroke occurs in an estimated 34 out of 100,000 women, researchers said.

Previous studies have suggested that the risk of pregnancyassociated stroke is higher in older women than in younger women.

"The incidence of pregnancyassociated strokes is rising, and that could be explained by the fact that more women are delaying childbearing until they are older, when the overall risk of stroke is higher," said Joshua Z Willey, assistant professor at Columbia University Medical Centre in the US. "However, very few studies have compared the incidence of stroke in pregnant and non-pregnant women who are the same age," said Willey.

For the study, researchers accumulated and examined data from women who were hospitalized for stroke between 2003 and 2012.

Out of these 19,146 women, age 12 to 55 years, 797 (4.2 per cent) were pregnant or had just given birth.

Researchers found that the overall incidence of stroke during or soon after pregnancy increased with age (46.9 per 100,000 in women age 45 to 55 versus 14 per 100,000 in women age 12 to 24). -PTI

„ LA settles with hospital over patient dumping LOS ANGELES: A hospital will pay $450,000 to settle a lawsuit by the city of Los Angeles contending it dumped a homeless woman with schizophrenia on Skid Row. Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced the settlement more than a year after his office sued Gardens Regional Hospital and Medical Center.

The suit claimed the 38-yearold woman was wearing paper hospital garb and had no phone, ID, money or medication when she was left at a downtown shelter in September 2014.

The suit said the hospital improperly discharged the same woman at least five times.

The hospital has since filed for bankruptcy. It did not comment on the settlement. City News Service reports the hospital will pay the $450,000 in civil penalties once a court approves its sale. -AP

Health Science 34 India Post

www.indiapost.com

November 4, 2016

Even low physical fitness can prevent risk Details on Page 36

Trump, GOP look to 'Obamacare' report as comeback lifeline DORAL, Florida: Suddenly armed with fresh political ammunition, Donald Trump and anxious Republicans across the nation seized on spiking health care costs in a final-days effort to spark election momentum.

The Republican presidential nominee, trekking across must-win Florida, insisted ``Obamacare is just blowing up'' after the government projected sharp cost increases for President Barack Obama's signature health care law.

Democrat Hillary Clinton, fighting to block Trump in the same battleground state, has vowed to preserve insurance for the millions of Americans covered under the law, but her team described the cost surge as a ``big concern.''

Trump closed out the day by casting the government's projections about the health care law in personal terms. ``It's killing our businesses. It's killing our small businesses. And it's killing individuals,'' Trump told supporters at an evening rally in Tallahassee, without presenting evidence to back up his assertions.

While the health care law has provided coverage to millions previously uninsured, it has also increased costs and regulatory bur-

dens for businesses, particularly medium-sized to large companies.

But small businesses are exempt from its requirement to cover fulltime employees or face fines.

The renewed emphasis on health care gave battered Republican House and Senate candidates a brief respite from months

ing to ask Congress to put a bill on my desk getting rid of this disastrous law,'' a fiery Trump told thousands of voters gathered at an airport along the Interstate 4 corridor.

Blessed with an unexpected political gift, however, it's unclear whether Trump will be able to capi-

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump poses for photographs during an campaign event with employees at Trump National Doral in Miami.

of painful questions about their presidential nominee, who has questioned the integrity of the U.S. election system while facing personal allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. ``My first day in office I'm go-

talize. ``He could make this race for the last two weeks a referendum on Obamacare. But of course he won't do that,'' said former Ted Cruz strategist Chris Wilson. ``It's just a matter of him swatting at flies instead of having a coherent

and consistent message.''

Indeed, Trump has struggled to stay focused on the traditional issues throughout his outsider candidacy. He opened by promoting one of his Florida golf resorts, highlighting the extraordinary intersection between his business and political interests. ``We're at Trump National Doral. And it's one of the great places on earth,'' Trump said during a visit to his golf club. He encouraged his employees to praise him at the microphone and said many of them are having ``tremendous problems with Obamacare.''

The Doral general manager later clarified that 95 percent of the club's employees are on company-provided insurance.

The Department of Health and Human Services reported that premiums will go up sharply next year under the federal health care program, and many consumers will have just one choice for their insurer. Before federal subsidies, premiums for a midlevel benchmark plan will increase an average of 25 percent across the 39 states served by the federally run online market. Some states will see much bigger jumps, others less.

Cont'd on Page 36

Retirement issue: AIIMS for rotating headship NEW DELHI: The Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIIMS) has said the institute's governing body's proposal to raise the retirement age for faculty to 67 years, should be implemented only after the introduction of "rotating headship" for various departments.

The decision to raise the retirement age of the faculty at the premier institute was taken on October 21 in a meeting of the institute's governing body chaired by Union Health Minister J P Nadda.

The FAIIMS held a meeting on the matter this evening at the campus and discussed it.

"Regarding the decision of the administration to increase the age

of superannuation from 65 to 67 years, majority of faculty in general body expressed their strong opinion that the age should be increased only with implementation of rotating headship for the respective department," the

should be a rotation for the post of the head of the department and it should not be held by the one holding it now.

According to the FAIIMS, the rotating headship policy has been already "approved by the govern-

FAIIMS said in a statement.

The association said that even if the retirement age of the faculty members has to be raised, there

ing body" of the institute in 2012 which must be implemented "without any further delay".

"A few young faculty members

disapproved increase in superannuation age," the statement said.

The Resident Doctor's Association (RDA) of the institution has, meanwhile, written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing "strong opposition" to the institute's proposal to increase the age of retirement for teaching faculty.

Sources said one of the factors for the decision of increasing the age was to address the shortage of doctors at the institute.

"The initiation of this process is for favoring few hand count numbers of seniors faculties who are going to retire soon," the RDA alleged. -PTI

November 4, 2016

Health Science Post

India Post 35

www.indiapost.com

Yoga may help fight back pain in astronauts LOS ANGELES: Yoga may help fight spinal stiffness and reduced mobility suffered by astronauts during prolonged spaceflight, a new study on NASA crew members suggests.

While astronauts on long space missions do not experience a change in spinal disc height, the muscles supporting the spine weaken.

The study by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine in the US provides new insights into the elevated rates of back pain and disc disease associated with prolonged spaceflight.

"These findings run counter to the current scientific thinking about the effects of microgravity on disc swelling," said Douglas Chang, associate professor at UC San Diego Health, and first author of the study.

The findings suggest possible preventive steps to reduce the spinal effects of spaceflight. Core-strengthening exercises, like those recommended for patients with back pain on Earth, might be a useful addition to the astronaut exercise training pro-

gram, Chang said.

He also said yoga might be another promising approach, especially for addressing spinal stiffness and reduced mobility.

"It is information like this that could pro-

vide helpful information needed to support

Indians take twice the salt recommended NEW DELHI: Indians are consuming more than double the recommended amount of salt by WHO in their diets, thus putting themselves at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and early deaths, a study has claimed.

The study conducted by George Institute for Global Health said the average daily salt intake of Indians above 19 years, was found to be 10.98 grams against the WHO recommendation of 5 grams per day.

It said the salt consumption was higher in southern and eastern states of India.

Tripura topped the list with an average daily salt intake of around 14 grams, almost three times the recommendation by World Health Organization (WHO).

"Over the past 30 years, the average Indian diet has been transformed. The Indians are eating less pulses, fruits and vegetables and more processed and fast food.

"As a result, their diets are now full of salt, sugar and harmful fats which are driving up rates of high blood pressure, obesity and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes," Claire Johnson, lead author of the study said.

With salt being a major contributing factor to high blood pressure, a leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the study highlights the need for urgent action to reduce salt consumption in the country.

The study found that there was no difference in salt consumption between urban and rural areas, while it emphasized that urban population eat less processed foods, but they consume more salted pickled products.

CVD is the leading cause of mortality in India leading to some 2.3 million deaths

each year, a quarter of which are attributed to high blood pressure, the WHO said.

By 2030, the number of people suffering from high blood pressure in India is set to nearly double to 213 million.

"The scale of the crisis facing India is hard to contemplate. We are talking about millions of people dying each year due to unhealthy diets and lifestyles," said Johnson.

The George Institute for Global Health is at present working with the Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC) and de-

Their diets are now full of salt, sugar and harmful fats which are driving up rates of high blood pressure, obesity and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes velop the evidence for a national salt reduction program.

Vivek Jha, Executive Director of the institute, said India has to ramp up its efforts to meet the WHO target of a 30 per cent reduction in salt consumption by 2025.

"We need a country wide educational program teaching people what to eat and how to reduce salt in their diets. It can be done but it needs investment. It needs to be made a priority given the rising levels of CVD and high blood pressure cases in India.

"We also need to work with the food industry and encourage them to reduce salt levels in processed foods," he said. -PTI

longer space missions, such as a manned mission to Mars," said Chang.

Six NASA crew members were studied before and after spending four to seven months in microgravity on the International

Space Station (ISS).

Each astronaut had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of their spines before their mission, immediately after their return to Earth and again one to two months later.

The researchers' goal was to understand factors affecting lumbar spine strength and low back pain during long-duration spaceflight, as well as the spine's response after returning to Earth gravity.

Back pain is common during prolonged missions, with more than half of crew members reporting spinal pain.

Astronauts are also at increased risk of spinal disc herniation in the months after returning from spaceflight - about four times higher than in matched controls.

Back issues in astronauts are accompanied by a roughly two-inch increase in body height, thought to result from spinal unloading (lack of weight carried by the lower back) and other body changes related to microgravity.

The MRI scans showed significant weakening of paraspinal lean muscle mass during the astronauts' time in space.

The functional cross-sectional area of the paraspinal muscles decreased by an average of 19 per cent from preflight to immediate post-flight scans.

A month or two later, only about twothirds of the reduction had recovered.

There was an even more dramatic reduction in the functional cross-sectional area of the paraspinal muscles relative to total paraspinal cross-sectional area.

The ratio of lean muscle decreased from 86 per cent preflight to 72 per cent immediately post-flight.

The study was published in the journal Spine. -PTI

36 India Post

Health Science Post

November 4, 2016

www.indiapost.com

Punjab to procure cervical Even low physical fitness cancer vaccine can prevent risk CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government will soon sign a MoU with UNICEF to procure 40,000 anti-Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines to check the spread of cervical cancer in the state.

This was decided at a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Punjab will launch a free vaccination program to "eradicate" the "curse" of cervical cancer after the MoU is inked. Procurement of vaccines will be done in multiple phases, an official release said.

"The chief minister gave his nod to the department of Health and Family Welfare to sign the MoU with UNICEF," it said, adding he assured regular flow of funds to implement this mega vaccination project.

Badal stressed on a mass-media campaign to create awareness on prevention and cure of cervical cancer among people.

"A technical group headed by state health and family welfare advisor, Dr K K Talwar, has recommended that around 10,000 girls, between ages 9 to 13 years, studying in Class 6 at government schools in Mansa and Bathinda districts will be vaccinated in the first phase," Principal Secretary health, Vini Mahajan said.

Incidence of cervical cancer is second highest in Punjab after breast cancer. Mansa and Bhatinda districts have the highest in-

cidence of the disease, the release said.

"The first phase will start in November.

Around 20,000 doses will be administered.

The rest 2 lakh girls, studying in government and private schools or drop outs, will be covered in subsequent phases," it said, adding doses will be given at community health centers, and sub-divisional and district hospitals.

"Planning and finance departments have given their concurrence to carry out this mass vaccination program to eradicate the curse of cervix cancer," Mahajan said.

She informed the CM that cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women in India.

Globally an estimated 2.5 lakh women die of cancer annually and India is the fourth largest contributor with 67,000 deaths.

She clarified," Since this imported vaccine was already available in the open market, most affluent families had administered requisite doses to their daughters as a preventive measure."

According to National Centre for Disease Informatics Research and National Cancer Registry Program reports, incidence of cervical cancer is highest in Bhatinda at 17.5 followed by Mansa 17.3. -PTI

TORONTO: Even low physical fitness, up to 20 per cent below the average for healthy people, is sufficient to prevent risk factors like diabetes, hypertension and obesity that affect people with cardiovascular disease, a new study has claimed.

"This is great news for people with heart disease who have difficulty adhering to a regular - mainly aerobic - exercise program," said Daniel Curnier, a professor at the University of Montreal (UdeM) in Canada, who led the study.

"Small improvements in their fitness level are enough. You don't have to be a great athlete to benefit from these effects," said

Curnier.

"We know from many studies that good physical fitness reduces cardiovascular mortality, and that physical activity has a positive impact on cardiovascular risk factors following a rehab program," said Maxime Caru, a doctoral student in human kinetics at UdeM and lead author of the study.

To measure the impact of physical fitness on heart disease risk factors, the researchers selected 205 men and 44 women with heart disease, including coronary artery disease, stroke, congestive heart failure and heart valve disease, and had them

undergo a cycle ergometer (stationary bike) stress test to determine their fitness level.

The results showed that normal physical fitness, even up to 20 per cent below the population average, is sufficient to have a preventive effect on five of the eight risk factors affecting people with cardiovascular disease - abdominal circumference, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and excess weight.

Normal physical fitness means having the physical fitness of a person of the same weight, height, sex and age, and who is disease-free.

The easiest way to achieve this is to follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization - 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, researchers said.

Depression is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease because cardiac patients who have experienced a depressive episode have recurring heart problems.

The results of the study have demonstrated the importance of a good fitness level, before and after a heart attack, to produce the preventive effect on depression.

The study sheds new light on the overall role of physical fitness in the development of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with cardiovascular disease.

However, the researchers stress the importance for cardiac patients to consult their doctor before embarking on an exercise program and to consult a kinesiologist.

The study appears in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention. -PTI

Trump, GOP look to 'Obamacare' report as comeback lifeline Cont'd from Page 34

Republicans have been fighting the president's health care law since 2010 with little political success. Yet in a campaign dominated by Trump's controversies, vulnerable Republicans across the nation are eager to latch onto a familiar conservative cause.

Several Republicans in difficult races leapt at the rate hike, including Sens. Kelly Ayotte in New Hampshire and Roy Blunt in Missouri. Fighting a challenge from New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan, Ayotte's campaign asked, ``Will Hassan continue to stand in lock-step with Hillary Clinton and her party in support of the failing law?''

Clinton did not address the cost surges during a rally on the Broward College campus in Coconut Creek.

On Obamacare, Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri conceded that ``cost controls are a big concern for Hillary Clinton.''

She said the Democratic presidential nominee has a plan to lower insurance costs, ``both through the public option and a Medicare buy-in.'' She warned that Trump's plan would strip insurance from roughly 20 million Americans who now benefit.

Trump, who must win the battleground state to have any chance at the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, appeared at three campaign events, his third straight day in the state. Clinton, who can win the presidency with or without Florida, made one appearance on the first day of a two-day swing.

While the candidates sparred, hundreds of thousands of Floridians were voting.-AP

Realty Tidbits

More contracts in Sept to buy homes WASHINGTON: More people signed contracts to purchase homes in September, an increase that likely points to rising sales in the closing months of 2016.

The National Association of Realtors said that its seasonally adjusted pending home sales index rose 1.5 percent last month to 110.

Pending sales rose in the South and West in September, while slumping in the colder parts of the country: the Northeast and Midwest.

Pending sales contracts are a barometer of future purchases. A sale is typically completed a month or two after a contract is signed.

Sales of existing homes have improved for much of this year.

Completed sales rose 3.2 percent between August and September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.47 million, the Realtors said.

But stronger growth in sales is hindered by a dwindling supply of listings. Steady hiring and low mortgage rates have encouraged more Americans to search for homes to buy, but their options are increasingly limited.

The supply of available homes stood at 2.04 million units, down 6.8 percent from a year ago. Tight inventories drove the median price of existing homes up 5.6 percent from a year ago to $234,200. -AP

Average housing prices up 7.3 percent

NEW DELHI: Housing prices increased by an average 7.3 per cent during April-June period of this fiscal in major cities after moderating for last four consecutive quarters, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

RBI released the quarterly House Price Index (HPI) for first quarter of 2016-17.

"All-India HPI (base 201011=100) has sequentially increased by 5.5 per cent to 231.1 in Q1 of 2016-17 from 219.1 in Q4 of 201516. All cities witnessed HPI increase in Q1 of 2016-17," RBI said in a statement.

The index recorded annual increase of 7.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2016-17 after moderation over four consecutive quarters from 17.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2014-15 to 3.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015-16.

On an annual basis, Chennai witnessed maximum increase of 23.9 in the first quarter of 2016-17; whereas Jaipur witnessed maximum contraction (-4.4 per cent).

On a sequential basis, Kochi recorded highest increase in housing price index of 17.6 per cent; whereas Jaipur recorded the lowest increase of 0.6 per cent. -PTI

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Jolie, Pitt sell home for $4.9 million LOS ANGELES: Former power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have sold their New Orleans home for USD 4.9 million. The property was purchased by the exes back in 2007 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina for USD 3.5 million shortly after creating the Make It Right Foundation, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The organization was established with an aim to boost real estate development. The property over 7,500-square-feet has three stories. The house comprises five bedrooms, three full bathrooms and two half-bathrooms. -PTI

Fielding at Wallis Ranch invites you to year-end sales event India Post News Service

DUBLIN, CA: Find yourself in the home you've always wanted at Fielding at Wallis Ranch in Dublin by Trumark Homes.

Fielding's Big Home Big Deal yearend sales event lets you save up to $50,000 on select quick-close single-family detached homes boasting open floor plans, 10-foothigh ceilings and picturesque outdoor spaces, according to a press release by Trumark Homes.

It welcomes you to visit today and see how Fielding embraces your kind of personal spaces for living and growing.

The release says, "New singlefamily homes at Fielding invite you to break away from it all. Four impressive two-story floor plans with optional bedrooms and lofts provide the space you need, offering designs that range from 1,809 to 2,685 square feet and feature up to five bedrooms and three baths.

For private outdoor living, select plans offer optional covered patios, while two-car garages, inviting interiors and flexible designs provide the utmost convenience

and comfort. Fielding is priced from the high $900,000s.

"Perfectly suited for familyfriendly living, Fielding offers a host of exceptional features and

cabinetry. Great rooms with oversized windows make space for quiet nights at home or entertaining with family and friends. Plus, additional features include a

Save up to $50,000 on quick-close homes* at Fielding at Wallis Ranch each with great features and amenities surrounded by community and nature in Dublin.

amenities. Gourmet kitchens become culinary retreats with premium Whirlpool® stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and striking Shaker-style

tankless water heater, ample prewiring throughout and electric vehicle conduits in each garage.

"In the heart of Dublin, Wallis Ranch is an exceptional master-

planned community with eight neighborhoods and sought-after amenities that create a unique opportunity. Where trees line the streets and community means family, 806 new homes will reflect old dreams and new ideas, spanning from 1,514 to 4,317 square feet with two to six bedrooms and two to five-and-one-half baths. From attached townhome-style condominiums and courtyard-style homes to single-family residences, each collection will be connected to the land and the people who live on it.

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

Wallis Ranch is located at 4201 Wallis Ranch Drive, Dublin, California 94568. To learn more, please visit LiveFielding.com or call (408) 209-6306 for more. *Up to $50,000 savings applies to unsold Phase 1, plan 1 lots only, lots 90, 105 and 106.

Homes must be under contract by November 15, 2016 and close escrow by December 31, 2016.

Bosch ready to tap Smart Cities space BENGALURU: German auto components major Bosch is all set to tap the opportunities to be generated by the government's Smart Cities initiative, a top official has said.

"We expect the RFPs (request for proposals) to be released in next few months time and when they come, we would definitely participate in the tender process to tap the opportunities expected to be generated by the Smart Cities initiative launched by the union government," Bosch India Smart City Head Dhiraj Wali told PTI here.

India plans to have 100 such cities by 2022. Sixty have been chosen, including 20 in January and 13 in May. The remaining will be picked by 2018.

Meant to change the way urban India lives, smart cities will

enjoy uninterrupted power and water supply, internet connectivity, e-governance along with quality infrastructure.

Wali, however, said Bosch will not focus on all the 100 cities, but on 10 to 11 sites, including Chennai and Bengaluru.

nouncement of the actual tenders and contracts, has chalked out smart city solutions, focusing on intelligent traffic management, transport system, parking management and citizen safety and security, Wali said.

"For instance, the pilot project

"We have not focused ourselves on all cities, but identified some cities. For example we are focusing on six cities in Karnataka.

We are also focusing on Pune, Coimbatore, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Kochi. Right now, we are focusing on ten to eleven cities," he said.

The company, before the an-

is ready and has been implemented in Bengaluru," he said.

Wali said the company is not a novice in building smart cities.

"Bosch is not new in the smart city domain. We have been doing projects worldwide at various places. We have done a pilot in Monaco, Singapore, a city in Austria, Stuttgart in Germany

and few other places," he said.

However, these solutions may not work in India as the country has problems in variance with other countries round the globe, Wali said.

Bosch has also been in touch with the government to identify problem areas, Wali said.

A smart city is an urban region that is highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure, sustainable real estate, communications and market viability.

It is a city where information technology is the principal infrastructure and the basis for providing essential services to residents. There are many technological platforms involved, including but not limited to automated sensor networks and data centers. -PTI

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Few leasehold owners renew licenses MUMBAI: Nearly a month after the government issued notices to 691 owners of leasehold lands in the city asking them to renew their expired lease agreements, just over 40 people have approached the Collector's office, officials said.

ing a formula for such a transfer.

An official from the Collector's office said it received over 150 calls inquiring about procedure of renewal of lease, but only 41 lease-holders had turned up as of October 28.

There are over 1,300 leasehold

"We have formed a special cell to handle leased property renewal cases. The lease of many properties expired as long as 25 years back, but they are yet to renew their licenses. Only if they ask for more time we will consider it," she said.

The government is working on ways to convert leased land parcels in the city into free-hold, which would enable it to sell such lands and generate revenue. A committee headed by Revenue Department Principal Secretary Manukamar Srivastava is finaliz-

plots in the island city, mostly in south Mumbai, of which the lease of 691 has expired.

In the suburbs, lease of 150 plots is due to be renewed.

The Mumbai city Collector's office had issued a notice on October 2 which said the lease must

be renewed by November 1.

Collector Ashwini Joshi said her office will consider extension of the deadline only if lease-holders requested.

"We have formed a special cell to handle leased property renewal cases. The lease of many properties expired as long as 25 years back, but they are yet to renew their licenses. Only if they ask for more time we will consider it," she said.

A senior official said display boards would be put up on leasehold premises, so that if a housing society has been constructed on the land, residents would know that it is a leasehold land and they are supposed to renew the lease.

"The government is not against renewal of lease, but also wants to claim ownership and collect revenue if the property has been sub-leased or transferred to some other name," the official said. -PTI

GMR in race for Greece airport project HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: Infrastructure major GMR Group along with Greece-based GEK Terna has bid for around 850 million Euro airport project in Greece.

GMR Airports and GEK Terna have bid for the development, operations and management of the new international airport of Heraklion at Crete Island.

In a release, GMR Infrastructure said, "It is understood that this is the sole bid for this concession". Upon award, GMR Airports would be the airport operator for this project, it added.

"The project is a concession

agreement that concerns the study, construction and management of the new international airport of Crete (biggest island in Greece) and of all the necessary road connections. The construction cost is estimated by the Greek ministry of Infrastructure at around 850 million euro," a spokesperson of GEK Terna told PTI. Heraklion airport, located in Crete and the second largest in Greece, is facing capacity constraint.

According to the release, Heraklion aerodrome would be closed once the new airport is op-

erational.

"The scope of the project involves design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the airport for a concession period of 35 years," it added.

A GMR Airports spokesperson said the bid submission is in line with the group's asset light growth strategy "with value build up from this project coming to GMR more from leveraging the airport platform, leading to enhanced revenue based services, than just equity".

Currently, GMR operates airports in the national capital and Hyderabad apart from bagging the right to develop and operate Mopa aerodrome in Goa. Besides, GMR Infrastructure in partnership with Megawide Construction Corp is developing Mactan Cebu international airport in the Philippines.

GEK Terna Group was formed through the merger of GEK and Terna, two of the largest construction companies in Greece. It is now one of the leading Groups in Greece combining expertise in the areas of construction, energy production, concessions, mining and real estate. -PTI

Plan for takeover of derelict properties MCCOMB, Miss.: It's been more than six months since Selectman Donovan Hill first proposed allowing McComb residents to buy blighted properties for little money but the city board has voted to enact the plan.

Hill brought the idea to the board in March after seeing it introduced in Jackson. Its intention was to improve the safety and appearance of neighborhoods and to add revenue-producing properties to the tax rolls.

The Enterprise-Journal reports parcels will cost between $10 and $250, depending on the buyer's proximity to the property - next door, on the same block or elsewhere in the city - and whether it is only a vacant lot or has a structure on it.

Terms of the purchase will include a requirement that the new owner clean up the property and complete a rehabilitation or development plan.

Hill's proposal has come up for board discussion several times but met resistance by some selectmen because of the perceived difficulty and expense of transferring ownership of properties to the city, which would be necessary before it could sell them.

When the city receives com-

when owners do not respond that the properties move to the city board for action.

Selectmen can then vote to have the properties cleared of debris or, in some cases, to demolish derelict structures on the lots. The city contracts an outside firm to do the work, usually at a cost of around $2,000 per parcel.

A lien is then placed on the property to cover the city's cost.

Support for Hill's program grew after a recent meeting at which board attorney Wayne Dowdy explained that it was feasible. Additional expenses would be incurred for the required legal filings but otherwise it will be possible for the city to take possession of the properties.

Walter Temple, McComb's director of Zoning, Inspections and Permits, said that more than 100 properties are in limbo between the attachment of a lien and city ownership.

Hill's ordinance passed by a 51 vote, with Selectman Michael Cameron opposing.

The board will now review the list of properties that would qualify for the program and decide which to offer for sale.

Mayor Whitney Rawlings said it was not ideal to spend several

plaints about a property's appearance or when city employees see derelict lots, citations can be issued. They are mailed to the owners at addresses on record in the county assessor's office. It is only

thousand dollars to clean a property and put a lien on it, only to sell it for far less, ``but if it means the neighborhood is improving and the grass is being cut, then I think it's a good deal.'' -AP

Lawyer jailed for loan scheme fraud TRENTON, N.J.: State authorities say a lawyer who conspired to steal more than $800,000 by using stolen or fictitious identities to file fraudulent mortgage loan applications is now headed to prison.

Michael Palmer received a fouryear sentence and also must pay restitution for any losses not yet recovered by his victims. The 57year-old Clifton man, who had a law practice in Passaic, also surrendered his law license.

Palmer had pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to commit theft by deception and money laundering.

He admitted defrauding lenders in connection with $481,903 mortgage loan for a residential property in Elizabeth and another mortgage loan for $319,113 for a residential property in Passaic. Palmer conspired with other defendants in the two fraudulent real estate sales that induced the lenders to make the loans. -AP

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Stunning new homes at Mission Heights India Post News Service

I

f you are a homebuyer who wants the very best - the best performing schools, the most luxurious home, and the most beautiful setting, then Mission Heights by Robson Homes will be a dream fulfilled. The custom collection of stunning new homes in Fremont's acclaimed Mission School District celebrates its Grand Opening on November 12th weekend. Model homes will be open for tours and a new release of homes will be available, according to a press release by Robson Homes.

Nestled into the rolling Mission foothills, with views of the entire Bay Area, Mission Heights is an enclave of uniquely luxurious homes. Four multi-generational floor plans range from approximately 2,685 to over 3,400 square feet, with 4 to 5 bedrooms, up to 4.5 bathrooms and amazing living and entertaining spaces, including great rooms, first floor bedroom suites, lofts and covered loggias.

With expansive home sites, unparalleled city and hillside views and prices from the $2 millions, Mission Heights offers a luxury value that is unmatched anywhere in the Bay Area.

Additionally, Fremont's Mission District boasts some of the best performing schools in the entire state of California,

Auction of Trump's boyhood home postponed NEW YORK: Will Donald Trump's first boyhood home in New York City be worth more, or less, after the election?

The people trying to sell the charming, Tudor-style home in a leafy section of Queens cancelled their plan to auction it off on the same night Trump was to face Hillary Clinton in a presidential debate.

Paramount Realty USA, which had arranged the auction at a Manhattan hotel, said it may try again after the election. ``Because the auction was getting so much press coverage a lot of bidders were contacting the firm to ask for more time to look at the property,'' said Stina Dakers, a spokeswoman for Paramount, which coordinated the auction along with listing broker Leffey Real Estate.

Trump lived in the home - built in 1940 by his developer father - until he was 4 years old, when the family moved to another house in the same community, also built by his dad.

A slate path leads up to the brick-and-stucco home that has five bedrooms, 4 and a half baths, an enclosed rear porch and a detached, 2-car garage. Today, the 3,600-squarefoot house also features a finished basement with a second kitchen.

The house is located in Queens' Jamaica Estates section, an upper middle class enclave of one-family Tudor, Victorian and Colonial style homes. It was developed at the turn of the 20th century as an affluent community with hilly and winding streets with names like Aberdeen and Avon that boasted easy access to midtown Manhattan.

It was nearly all-white in Trump's boyhood days, but today it's a community that includes ``all backgrounds and ethnicities,'' said Misha Haghani, co-founder of Paramount Realty, which is coordinating the auction with Leffey Real Estate.

The billionaire Republican presidential nominee once recalled in an interview that ``parts of Queens were rough'' but Jamaica Estates offered ``an oasis.''

An email request for comment from the Trump Organization was not immediately returned.

Over the summer, the house was listed on the market for $1.6 million, and later reduced to $1.39 million.

While there were some offers, the owners decided ``to auction it and let buyers tell them what it's worth,'' said Haghani. ``It allows them to control the timeline.''

In recent weeks there were about 40 houses on the market in Jamaica Estates with the median price of $1.7 million, said Haghani. -AP

and Mission Heights offers the opportunity to own a new home in this renowned school attendance area. The community is served

by Joshua Chadbourne Elementary School, Hopkins Junior High School, and Mission San Jose High School.

Visit the builder's website at www.RobsonHomes.com for more information on the new neighborhood. Beginning November 12th, the sales office and model homes will be open from 10am to 5pm daily.

Use the address 42232 Mission Blvd. on GPS for directions.

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urudeshwar, the pilgrimage paradise and a scenic holy place, has recently shot into prominence as one of the loveliest spots in Karnataka. The tiny town of Murudeshwar, home to a huge Shiva temple, is also home to a sizable Muslim and Christian population. This is really a secular village and people of this small town live in harmony. The

www.indiapost.com place is sanctified by a piece of the Pranalinga of Mahabaleshwara and has some beautiful carvings and statues.

One can enter Murudeshwar from the Bhatkal-Honnavar National Highway through a specially erected big entrance decorated with intricate carvings.

Murudeshwar symbolizes the past glory of Hinduism. It is centered on the splendid Murudeshwar temple atop a hillock overlooking the Arabian Sea.

November 4, 2016

Bounded by the shimmering sea and rolling hills, Murudeshwar is the sort of place which makes you contemplate about life and what it means to you.

The sea is an intrinsic part of the temple scape at Murudeshwar.

The sea surrounds the temple towering on the small hill called Kanduka Giri on three sides. A huge 15 m statue of Shiva towers over the town and has an overwhelming presence. The statue, which is only a couple of years old,

is in a complex, which encompasses the 500-year-old Shiva temple.

One is greeted with the bewitching beauty of the surroundings as one reaches the top of the hillock. The vast stretches of silvery sands with the Sahyadri mountains framed into the background, the coconut trees dancing to

the tunes of the billows, rose of boats dancing and drifting towards the shore, the sun looking like a ball of fire just before the sunset and then sinking into the sea - all weave a magic spell and make the viewers forget themselves.

There is also a huge fort behind the temple believed to be renovated by Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore.

Tourist Attractions Murudeshwar Beach: Murudeshwar Beach, with the Arabian Sea roaring on the west and a serene river on the east, is a secluded beach and a popular attraction. Visitors can enjoy a pretty good bath in the Arabian Sea here.

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Tourism overtakes dairy as NZ top earner WELLINGTON, New Zealand: In New Zealand there are twice as many cows as people, but it's the hobbits that are really making hay.

According to figures released here, tourism has overtaken dairy as the nation's top earner of overseas dollars. And tourism officials say the success of the fantasy movie trilogy ``The Hobbit'' has helped.

The dairy industry is struggling to recover from a slump in prices, while a record 3.4 million visitors arrived in New Zealand in the year ending September. The Pacific nation is particularly popular among tourists from Australia, China and the U.S. Spending by international tourists was up by 20 percent in the year ending March when compared with the previous year, according to Statistics New Zealand. That follows a 17 percent rise the year before.

Kevin Bowler, the chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, said people were drawn to New Zealand by its spectacular landscapes and its outdoor lifestyle. The hobbit movies showcased some of that scenery and were heavily marketed overseas. ``The result was a heck of a lot of interest in New Zealand,'' he said.

One survey showed 16 percent of tourists cited the movies as influential in their initial interest in New Zealand.

Directed by Peter Jackson, ``The Hobbit'' trilogy built on the success of his earlier,

critically acclaimed trilogy, ``The Lord of the Rings.'' The six movies earned a total of nearly $6 billion at the box office.

Tourists are drawn to New Zealand by its spectacular landscapes. The Hobbit movies have showcased some of that scenery and were heavily marketed overseas. "The result was a heck of a lot of interest in New Zealand," said the chief executive of Tourism New Zealand.

Bowler said planned increases in flights from the U.S. and growing economies in Asia boded well for the future. The challenge, he said, would be providing enough accommodation and ensuring tourists can savor their individual experiences.

The industry got another boost this week when ``Lonely Planet'' named the relatively

Russia mulling e-visas for Indian tourists MOSCOW: Russia is considering the launch of e-visas for Indian tourists and direct flights between Mumbai and Moscow as part of its aggressive measures to woo Indian travelers to the country, famous for its rich cultural heritage, ornate cathedrals and subtropical beaches.

"We are planning to start offering e-visas to the Indian tourists to ease travel norms for those visiting our country," Valery Korvokin, Head of International Department of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism, told PTI here on the World Tourism Day.

"We are pursuing the e-visa issue with our foreign ministry. We expect a positive development on this important matter in the next few months," Korvokin said.

Out of the 18 million outbound Indian tourists, nearly 30,000 visit Russia annually.

"We are working on increasing the visibility of Russia in Indian media and TV. We are also working with our University officials to formulate Indian tourist friendly measures," Korvokin said.

Also in the offing are direct flights from

unknown Taranaki region as a place to visit in 2017. The travel guide noted an offbeat gallery there dedicated to the late artist Len

Mumbai to Moscow and St Petersburg.

"A decision on this issue is also expected soon," he said.

The Agency is also planning a certification/recognition course for Indian tour operators, specializing in Russian tours, he said.

The Agency's Deputy Head Sergey Korneev said Russian tourism authorities are also looking at measures like increasing the number of English/Hindi translators for Indian tourists, considering that language is perhaps the biggest impediment for travelers from the sub-continent.

"Russia is hosting the 2018 FIFA world cup and can be a big draw for Indian tourists, as football craze is catching on in India," he said.

During this period, Indian tour operators can plan FIFA special packages, he added.

With India's outbound tourism growing faster than China, the South Asian giant is an obvious target for Russian tourism promoters, said Paresh Navani, managing partner of the Russian Information Centre.

"Russia has a lot to offer to Indian tourists, besides the beautiful nature and cultural heritage. Indians should visit Russia and experience the warmth of the Russian 'chai' (tea) and Russian people," Navani said. -PTI

Lye. John Matthews, who chairs the Len Lye Foundation, said he was ``surprised and

delighted'' with the inclusion.

But while tourism is booming, income from dairy products has fallen by 22 percent over the past two years, Statistics New Zealand says.

Dairy farmer Jessie Chan-Dorman, who runs 950 cows on her farm near Christchurch, said most dairy farmers have been losing money in recent years as prices for milk powder have hit record lows.

That's due to softening demand in China for premium infant formula coupled with a glut in the worldwide supply.

Prices have begun rising again but ChanDorman said she remains cautious about whether that will last. It will take several years for most farmers to recover their losses, but she said she hopes many built more resilient businesses as a result.

Some farmers are cashing in on the tourism boom by offering home stays or hunting trips.

New Zealanders have long been outnumbered by their farm animals. With a population of 4.7 million people, the nation is also home to 29 million sheep and 10 million cows.

And zero hobbits, of course, unless you count those on the big screen. -AP

Big rise in travel searches to Bhutan NEW DELHI: With an increasing number of Indians opting for visa friendly destinations, Bhutan seems to be on top of people's checklist, recording a 136.18 per cent increase in travel searches, according to a new study.

The survey by Skyscanner has taken into account the travel queries made by over 50 million monthly visitors to reveal the visafriendly destinations favored by Indian passport holders in the first half of 2016.

According to it, destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles in the Asian and Indian Ocean

neighborhood have benefited from "drastic increases" in flight searches when compared with the same period in 2015.

"Neighboring Bhutan has witnessed a whopping increase of 136 per cent in travel searches since last year owing to its no prior visa policy for citizens of India.

"Long-time favorite, Thailand takes the lion's share of Indian searches in the first half of 2016 with 38 per cent of Indian travelers looking for a visa-friendly getaway

opting for Thailand," the study said.

Seychelles where Indian travelers are granted a visa-on-arrival - recorded a 23 per cent soar in searches year over year, the largest increase among Indian Ocean destinations.

Flight searches to Mauritius and Maldives, which both allow Indian travelers a 90-day visa free stay, have jumped 19 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

"In a short span of time, the repertoire of countries providing visa-friendly travel to Indians has grown immensely, giving more options to people to explore international destinations.

It comes as no surprise we are seeing visafriendly destinations grow in popularity," Reshmi Roy, Growth Manager at Skyscanner said.

Indonesia is also one of the popular alternatives with a 16 per cent spike in searches.

"Our data shows flight searches for Indonesia from across Indian have soared, thanks to its recently relaxed visa policy that now allows Indian passport holders a visa-free stay of 30 days," the study said.

Another destination that is a trending city for Indian travelers is Macau which has out-performed the all-time favorite Hong Kong.

"Perhaps benefiting from the 'James Bond' effect or a 30-day visa-exemption, Macau has witnessed an increase of 17 per cent in travel searches," the survey said. -PTI

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The giant Shiva statue is the major attraction. On one side of the beach, one can see there are plentiful burka-clad women with their husbands and children enjoying an evening breath of air, while on the other side of the beach, one can see a group of nuns taking a walk, enjoying the seldom available solitude.

A marvelous chance of getting photographs with the huge statue in the background is in offing for nature beauty lovers.

Murudeshwar offers you the magnificent natural views, sun, sand, diving and a secular beach and calm private village! One can come down to Murudeshwar beach for a great view of the sunset.

Netrani Island (Pigeon Island):

Locally known as Netragudo, the Netrani Island is an excellent picnic spot off Bhaktal coast. The Indian Navy often uses this island for target practices. Besides them, the only inhabitants of the island are wild goats. To get there, one has to hire a fishing trawler from Bhatkal or Honawar.

The leeward of the island, a seamount supporting a soil layer overgrown with trees and plants, looks like a cake with its vertical sides topped by a gentle sloping plateau. There exists a subterranean cave with openings in the south and north above the high water mark.

The island is enveloped by untamed growth of trees and climbing the steep hill is not that easy.

The ruins of a temple, a Roman Catholic church and a mosque

show the ancient past of the island. The place looks like a botanist's paradise and at night, it is a still world from a city dweller's point of view. Really a remarkable place to visit!

Murudeshwar Temple: Murudeshwar Temple, guarded by structures of two full sized elephants in concrete, is one of the

at Gokarana. It swayed in to land on the mount known as `Kanduka Parvata'. The temple, presently renovated, has many striking carvings and statues that date back to a few centuries.

The two inscriptions found in the ancient temple reveal the reasons behind the construction of Nandi Mantapa, assumed to be in

Bhatkal was an important seaport and therefore a great hub of commerce. Presently the entire town is in ruins except for some small temples covered with copper and stone.

Best time to visit: Murudeshwar can be visited any time in a year except the Monsoon season. Best time is October to

main attractions in Murudeshwar town. Lots of devotees visit here to offer prayers. The temple, with central deity as a Linga, is believed to have formed when Ravana flung the cloth covering the atmatlinga

1542 AD and also shed lights on the Devaraya II Raj of Vijayanagar.

The temple with Chalukya and Kadamba sculptures in the Dravidian style shows medieval grace and charm and overlooks

May.

majestically the Arabian Sea. Bhatkal: Bhatkal, which was invaded by the Chola King during the 10th century, is the port town close to Murudeshwar, basic origin of the Nawayath Muslim community. Soloesvara Temple, one of the oldest temples in the region, was built in reminiscence of the invasion.

In Bhatkal, music and dance makes a part of life and receives equal importance as formal education. Most of the temples seen here were built between 1543 and 1567 AD.

Mumbai stop at Murudeshwara.

Mangalore is a major railway junction, which is connected to all major cities in India.

By Air: Mangalore International Airport is the nearest which is 154 km away from Murudeshwar.

It is well connected to other Indian cities and abroad.

By Bus: Murudeshwar is well connected with bus services from other cities. Private deluxe bus services are available from Bangalore to Murudeshwar (480 km) up to Honnavar, which is nearly 20 km away.

How to reach

By Train: Nearest railway station is Murudeshwar. Only some trains from Mangalore and

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Golden Temple area getting a facelift AMRITSAR: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has said the facelift to a street around the Golden Temple would be "instrumental" in boosting tourism in the holy city.

He claimed new entrance gate and

Golden Temple plaza has given a new look to the city while maintaining its age old traditional grandeur.

Addressing a gathering at the entrance plaza of Darbar Sahib, Badal said it goes to the "credit" of SAD-BJP government which

undertook "momentous task" to preserve the glorious cultural heritage of Punjab.

"Concerted efforts of the state government in this regard, were to perpetuate the glorious and rich legacy of our great culture especially among the younger generations so as to enable them to connect with their roots," he said.

The Chief Minister also announced to construct "magnificent gates" on all the ways leading to the Darbar Sahib.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and Punjab BJP unit chief Vijay Sampla said the beautification project of Amritsar has "further propelled" the tourism potential of the holy city. -PTI

Yankee, WGBH launching new travel show BOSTON: Yankee magazine and Boston's public television station, WGBH, are teaming up to launch a new travel and lifestyles show exploring New England. ``Weekends With Yankee'' is set to premiere nationwide on public television stations in April 2017.

The two media companies say filming will get underway later this month on 13 weekly half-hour episodes.

The producers say the documentary series will take viewers on ``an insider's exploration'' from cities to far-flung countryside across the six-state region, which is a top destination for tourists from around the world. They say it will focus on unique attractions and

``the hidden New England that only locals know.''

Emmy Award-winning TV travel host Richard Wiese will host the show, joined by Amy Traverso, a senior food editor at Dublin, New Hampshire-based Yankee.

Traverso will share the recipes and flavors that spice the region's food and dining scene. ```Weekends With Yankee' will capture the region's sights, scenes, sounds and tastes,'' said Laurie Donnelly, director of lifestyle programming at WGBH Studio Six, in a statement. ``WGBH is delighted to be collaborating with Yankee on this news series, guaranteed to appeal to audiences across America.''

Yankee publisher Brook Holmberg said the 81-year-old magazine is excited to venture into television and share ``our insider's guide to New England with viewers from coast to coast.''

WGBH is the nation's largest producer of public broadcasting programs for TV and online, including ``Frontline,'' ``NOVA,'' ``American Experience,'' ``Masterpiece'' and ``Antiques Roadshow.'' Wiese hosts the ``Born to Explore'' travel show, which debuted in 2011.

The series will give Boston-area viewers another taste of New England travel and food. The longstanding and popular show, ``Chronicle,'' airs weeknights on WCVB-TV. -AP

Kerala to set up 'Responsible Tourism' THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala government is getting ready to set up a Responsible Tourism Mission with an aim to expand its ambitious responsible tourism program.

State Tourism Minister A C Moideen informed the State Assembly that the initiative is being implemented in seven destinations across the state and would be extended in other select locations.

"Seeking to expand the Responsible Tourism program across the state, a Responsible

Tourism Mission will be launched. At present, the initiative is being implemented in Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Vythiri, Ambalavayal, Kumbalangi and Bekal," he said during Question Hour.

Besides this, the program has also started being implemented at the project site of Muziris, an ambitious heritage project of the state government, he said.

Detailing various tourism development initiatives of the government, the minister also said a

five star hotel in high range Munnar and a three-star hotel each in Kozhikode and Muzhappilangadu and 15 cottages in Ponmudi here are under plans. An ambitious initiative of the state Tourism Department, Responsible Tourism has introduced tourists to the lifestyle of local communities.

Besides ensuring quality tourism experience to holidayers, the initiative has helped financially empower local people by creating jobs. -PTI

Air India to launch services to Tehran NEW DELHI: Air India Express (AIE) plans to roll out its flight service to Iranian capital Tehran from here, starting next summers Most of the issues pertaining to the launch have been sorted out and the airline is now in the process of finalizing a General Sales Agent (GSA) and cargo handling firm for this purpose, Air India Express Chief Executive Officer K Shyamsunder said here.

"We are hopeful of getting things done (the launch of flight) around summers," he said.

Shyamsunder said that though he was expecting the new flight to

bound for destinations such as Goa. Code sharing allows an airline to book its passengers on its partner carriers and provide seamless transport to destinations where it has no presence.

The Kochi-headquartered airline at present operates 475 services per week to 13 international airports across the Gulf and Southeast Asia. As many as 236 of the 435 services of AIE are operated to and from Kerala.

AIE has a fleet of 22 Boeing 737 planes with 17 of them owned and rest five on lease

commence from March-April next year.

The proposed flight would be operated three times a week, he said adding that his airline may also enter into a code share pact with Air India for its proposed Tehran flight to facilitate a seamless travel to Iranian passengers

At the same time, AIE parent Air India is likely to write to Exim Bank of US soon, informing the bank of its decision to operate the Tehran flight. Air India planes are financed through a loan from Exim Bank and this is required as Iran was under global sanctions till recently. -PTI

UK go-ahead to expanding Heathrow airport LONDON: Britain's government has given the go-ahead to expand London's Heathrow airport despite concerns about air pollution, noise and the destruction of homes in the capital's densely populated western neighborhoods.

The Department for Transport said in a statement that the decision ``underlines its commitment to keeping the U.K. open for business now and in the future and as a hub for tourism and trade.''

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling says: ``The step that government is taking today is truly momentous. I am proud that after years of discussion and delay this government is taking decisive action to secure the U.K.'s place in the global aviation market.''

The decision is only the first step, though. The government's recommendation will be studied further and Parliament will vote in about a year. -AP

Tech News Sun TV to operate 5 Radio channels NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting ministry has given permission to a company related to the Sun TV Network to operate five channels that they had bagged in e-auction in the first batch of Private FM Phase III expansion last year.

It is learnt that South Asia FM, which had bid for five channels, has been given clearance by the I&B ministry.

Earlier, as the Ministry of Home Ministry had not provided the mandatory security clearance to the company, the permissions had been held up.

Red FM COO Nisha Narayanan confirmed the development and said that permissions have been granted by the ministry for five radio channels which will now come up in Chandigarh, Patna, Amritsar, Surat and Jammu. -PTI

AutoNation to sell its own parts DETROIT: The largest auto dealership chain in the U.S. is expanding into stand-alone used car sales centers and will even sell its own automotive replacement parts.

Florida-based AutoNation announced the changes at Fort Lauderdale. It's looking for growth opportunities now that U.S. newcar sales have flattened and prices are starting to fall.

The company said it has identified 25 sites in its existing markets to set up the free-standing used car stores. The sites will compete directly with the CarMax used car chain. Five will open next year.

AutoNation started selling its own maintenance and repair parts during the summer with the introduction of AutoNation-brand batteries.

The company also plans to run regional vehicle auctions and add 18 collision repair centers nationwide.

Also during the summer, the chain launched a one price sales strategy that includes centralized pricing and used-car appraisals.

The single-price strategy will give buyers a transparent and stressfree experience, the company says.

The news came as the 371-store chain reported third-quarter earnings of $107.3 million, missing Wall Street's expectations.

The company said it had net income of $1.05 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and to account for discontinued operations, came to $1.11 per share.-AP

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Solar project completed at GM's plant WARREN, Mich.: General Motors and DTE Energy have unveiled a recently completed power solar array at the automaker's Warren Transmission plant in suburban Detroit.

Officials say the 900-kilowatt solar array is the largest on a GM site in the state. It has more than 2,800 panels and is installed on four acres.

Detroit-based DTE now has 28 solar arrays in Michigan. The utility has three additional large-scale solar arrays under construction in Detroit and Lapeer.

DTE Vice President of Business and Development Irene Dimitry says the utility has made $2 billion in investments in solar and wind power since 2008. GM has said it is committed to meet the electricity needs of its global operations with 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. -AP

Trump cites India's economic rise as he pledges 4% growth for US WASHINGTON: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has blamed outgoing President Barack Obama for a slow economic growth of the US, saying if a large country like India can manage a growth rate of eight per cent then why America cannot do it.

"Last quarter we were at one per cent. Our job numbers last week were horrible. They were

per cent growth rate for the US. "New growth numbers just released... put the average growth rate for this year at a disastrous 1.5 per cent. If China goes down to 7 or 8 per cent GDP, you know it's like a national catastrophe.

"China is at 7 per cent. And China's not happy. So we're at around 1 per cent and we just keep going along, just keep going along

"We will also stand up to Chinese currency manipulation and we will stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We will become a rich nation again, but to be a rich nation, we must also be a safe na-

ber of Syrian refugees flowing into our country.

That's over the Obama numbers, and those are thousands and thousands of people. A Trump administration will suspend the

"They say it's hard because we're a large county. Well, India is a much larger country and they're at 8 per cent," he said hours after latest figures said the American economy grew 2.9 per cent at an annual rate anemic, as the expression goes.

Obama is the first president in modern history not to have a single year of three per cent growth," Trump said at an election rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.

"They say it's hard because we're a large county. Well, India is a much larger country and they're at 8 per cent," he said hours after latest figures said the American economy grew 2.9 per cent at an annual rate in the third quarter of 2016.

If elected, Trump assured a four

losing our jobs to Mexico and every other place.

47 million Americans are on food stamps, and 45 million people are living in poverty," he said.

The New York-based real estate mogul said he has proposed a contract with the American voter which will end corruption and give government back to its people.

"I want the entire corrupt Washington establishment to hear and heed the words ... if we win on November 8, we are going to Washington DC. We are going to drain the swamp," he said.

Donald Trump

tion," he said.

Alleging that his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton "unleashed ISIS onto the world" which has spread into the US, Trump claimed that at present there 1,000 open ISIS probes across the country, "more than at any time that we've ever had".

"Now, Hillary wants to increase by 550 per cent the massive num-

Syrian refugee program," he said.

"We will help them will safe havens and we'll get other countries over there, like the Gulf states who have nothing but money, we have USD 20 trillion in debt. We'll get them to pay, they gotta do their share. We'll lead it, we'll help, they'll pay, but you know what? We can't let people into this country that we don't know," he said. -PTI

India abstains from nuclear ban vote UNITED NATIONS: A UN General Assembly committee has adopted a resolution to launch negotiations next year on a new treaty outlawing nuclear weapons, even as India abstained saying it is not convinced the move can lead to a comprehensive instrument on nuclear disarmament.

The General Assembly's First Committee, which deals with disarmament and international security, adopted the draft resolution on nuclear disarmament negotiations.

Through the resolution, the General Assembly would reiterate that the universal objective of tak-

ing forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations remains the achievement and maintenance of a world without nuclear weapons.

The resolution emphasizes the importance of addressing issues related to nuclear weapons in a

comprehensive, inclusive, interactive and constructive manner, for the advancement of multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations.

It also decided to convene in 2017 a United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding in-

strument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination.

The resolution was adopted with 123 votes in favor, 38 against and 16 abstentions.

Permanent Representative of India to the Conference on Disarmament DB Venkatesh Varma said India has been "constrained" to abstain on the resolution and it is "not convinced" that the proposed conference in 2017 "can address the longstanding expectation of the international community for a comprehensive instrument on nuclear disarmament.

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Vistara crosses 3 mn passenger mark NEW DELHI: Tata-SIA run Vistara has crossed the 3-million passenger mark in less than two years of its launching services in the rapidly growing domestic aviation market.

Sons and Singapore Airlines, Vistara had commenced its flight services in January 2015.

The landmark passenger was gifted with a courtesy upgrade to Vistara's Business Class cabin on

The 3 millionth passengers, Abhinav Adhikari, flew on the airline's Kolkata-Delhi route, Vistara said in a release.

A joint venture between Tata

his flight to Delhi, the airline said.

The Delhi headquartered airline currently enjoys 2.5 per cent market share.

"It (flying three million passen-

gers) is a significant milestone...

This milestone celebration could not have been timely, as it is taking place just before Diwali," Vistara Chief Executive Officer Phee Teik Yeoh said.

The airline had taken almost one year's time to achieve the one million passenger mark.

Vistara had flown 2 million customers by June 2016, and added another million within just four months, the release said.

Domestic air passenger traffic has been growing at over 20 per cent for more than a year and global airlines grouping International Air Transport Association has projected that India would add 322 million more passengers in the total of 442 million passengers by 2035.

The airline today operates over 515 flights per week from 18 domestic airports with a fleet of 13 Airbus A320 planes. -PTI

Call for vibrant, progressive North East ITANAGAR: The new economic model of Prime Minister Narenda Modi is to make entrepreneurship a reality as it has become a fundamental for growth, observed Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Delivering his keynote address in the two-day conclave of Young Leaders Connect (YLC) with the

Rajeev Chandrasekhar

IT connects 15,000 Kerala schools on wiki THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: IT@School, a Kerala government initiative to impart IT education in schools, is bringing in 'School Wiki' on the lines of Wikipedia, with an aim to promote knowledge generation and sharing among school students and teachers in the state.

Made entirely in Malayalam, School Wiki features a unique content collection jointly undertaken by the students and teachers in 15,000 schools from class 1 to 12 in the State, besides alumni and public.

By logging into School Wiki, all schools would be able to key in and update basic elementary details as well as their historical references, a release said.

Schools can also upload details such as infrastructure data, renowned alumni, school websites, school map, blogs, various clubs and forums, class magazines, supporting images and videos in School Wiki.

The platform also hosts various educational contents prepared by

students, as well as teaching materials collaboratively developed by the teacher communities.

Apart from these contents, analytical Malayalam language projects such as "School Patram [School Newsletter]", "Nadodi Vijnanakoshan [Local Encylcopedia] "and "Ente Nadu [My Village]" would also feature in the portal.

The geographical details of every school locality in the State can be made available through School Wiki.

Launched on November 1, 2009, School Wiki was inactive after two years of its inception.

This prompted IT@School to revive the portal with much needed

modifications, amply supported by Wikipedia members.

School Wiki has been prepared using Wikemedia Foundation's Wikemedia software.

School Wiki has been designed in such a way that schools can register into the portal using their school codes and upload contents in their respective space provided under their district.

"Awards would be given to those schools that make use of and maintain School Wiki in the most effective manner," state Education Minister Prof C Raveendranath said.

"IT@School Project has made arrangements for specific training for teachers and students for using School Wiki and identify and assign district level admins for data accuracy and modifications and provide necessary support," K Anvar Sadath, Executive Director of IT@School Project, said.

School Wiki is expected to turn out to be the largest and most comprehensive Malayalam educational database over the internet.

-PTI

theme 'Start-up North East, StandUp North East', the MP said in the changing nature of economy, deficit states have to reinvent their economy model.

Chandrasekhar said a vibrant and progressive North East was

important for India and therefore, there was significant motivation to develop the region.

Stating that politics of the region should move into politics of economy, he suggested the lawmakers of the region to approach the Centre for a special funding pattern for the entrepreneurs of the North Eastern states.

Emphasizing on good connectivity, the MP said without connectivity there would be no growth in entrepreneurship in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the North East was lagging behind due to lack of adequate knowledge and skill, despite having immense potential and urged the Centre for special attention to the region as per the Act East Policy.

Meghalaya MP Conrad Sangma in his deliberation termed entrepreneurship as a culture which needs to be developed in the North East.-PTI

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Mistry counters Tatas' claim on Welspun buy MUMBAI: Stepping up his attack on the Tata Group in general and Ratan Tata in particular, ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry has denied group's claim that the board was not properly consulted on Tata Power's purchase of Welpsun Power in June.

"It is surprising that Ratan Tata has sought to justify Monday's conduct by making vague public statements that are contrary to his knowledge and contrary to the records of the Tata Group. Tata sources said the trustees of Tata Trusts were not kept informed about the transaction with Welspun Power," Mistry said in a statement.

He said that all the board notes were shared with Tata in his capacity as the chairman emeritus of the group.

Presenting his side of the facts, Mistry said in the early part of 2016, Tata Power had made a presentation to Tata Sons that a significant focus area would be the renewables sector. And this was appreciated by the Tata Sons board.

"On May 31, 2016, a note was circulated to the board of Tata Sons and to Tata providing information about the proposed Welspun transaction, and asking them if they needed any further information.

"The only board member to reply was Vijay Singh, a nominee

director of Tata Trusts on the Tata Sons board, who appreciated the plan. And with no other view having been expressed, Tata Power executed the agreement on June 12, 2016," Mistry said.

Mistry further claimed that even after the conclusion of the deal for a Rs 10,000 crore, a series of discussions took place in the

Cyrus Mistry

presence of Tata, and trustee NA Soonawala.

"These discussions included much more detailed interaction with the merchant bankers to the transaction. Soonawala had strong views on how this listed operating company must structure

its transaction and proceeded to have further meetings with the merchant banker," he said.

Since shareholder nod was needed to arrange the funds for the transaction, the deal was discussed again at the Tata Sons board.

"On June 30, 2016, Anil Sardana, CEO of Tata Power, made a detailed presentation to the Tata Sons board. The discussion covered all aspects of the transaction including the structure and the Tata Sons board unanimously approved the transaction," Mistry claimed in the statement.

The minutes record that Nitin Nohria and Vijay Singh "after discussing the proposal with Tata and Soonawala", while reiterating their view that the proposal should have come to the trustees earlier, approved the transaction.

"Therefore, to even suggest that the Tata Sons board including the nominee directors of the Tata Trusts had not been ad-

Ford's profit falls on recall, truck launch DEARBORN, Mich.: Troubles in Ford Motor Co.'s home market including slowing U.S. sales, a massive recall and the difficult launch of new heavy-duty pickups - are hurting the company's bottom line.

Ford said its net income plunged 56 percent to $957 million in the third quarter. The earnings, of 24 cents per share, compared to earnings of 55 cents per share in the July-September period a year ago.

Dearborn-based Ford beat Wall Street's expectations, with adjusted earnings of 26 cents per share; analysts polled by FactSet had forecast 20 cents. But that didn't do much to offset concerns that Ford is headed for a rough patch. The company has already announced temporary plant shutdowns in North America this month to curb production, and plans more actions in the fourth quarter. ``I would call our approach re-

alism. Not optimism, not pessimism. Realism,'' CEO Mark Fields said in a conference call with analysts. ``We don't see a recession on the horizon but we see a marketplace that, from a cycle standpoint, has matured.''

North America, with its recordsetting U.S. sales and love affair with profitable SUVs and pickups,

has been Ford's cash cow in recent years. Ford earned a record $10.8 billion pretax profit in 2015; $9.3 billion of that came from North America.

But after an unprecedented sixyear climb, U.S. sales are peaking.

Ford's North American sales were down 11 percent in the quarter, and

revenue dropped 8 percent. Next week, Ford will temporarily cut one of three shifts in Kansas City, Missouri, making the F-150 pickup, America's best-selling vehicle. ``What's happening to the company is really about what's happening in North America,'' Ford Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks said.

And it's likely to keep happening. Ford still expects a full-year pretax profit of $10.2 billion, but that's down from its initial forecast of $10.8 billion. Ford has said its profits will likely fall next year before rebounding in 2018.

Ford's shares fell 13 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $11.75 in midday trading. Its shares are down almost 22 percent over the past year. ``As much as it's not fair, investor sentiment is not favorable on (automakers) these days despite fairly strong results,'' Barclay's analyst Brian Johnson wrote in a note to investors.-AP

equately informed is contrary to the factual record," he concluded.

Hitting out at Cyrus Mistry for making 'unsubstantiated claims and malicious allegations', Tata Sons had said the former chairman was fully empowered to lead the group and its companies but had

"overwhelmingly" lost the confidence of board members.

The promoter company of the major Tata group companies also alleged that Mistry's tenure was marked by repeated departures from the culture and ethos of the group. -PTI

Tata Cap rebuts Mistry on loan to Siva NEW DELHI: Tata Capital has said the Rs 200-crore loan to two firms of Siva group was sanctioned by a panel of its Board and due processes were followed, rebutting ousted Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry's allegation that it was given on the "strong advice" of an executive trustee.

Tata Capital further said the facility was settled in June 2014 and due disclosures were made in the audited financial statements of the company.

"Tata Capital Financial Services Ltd (TCFSL) had extended Secured Term Loans to Siva Industries and Holdings Limited (SIHL) and Siva Ventures Limited (SVL) aggregating Rs 200 crore. The facility was sanctioned by the Investment Credit Committee of the Board," the company said in a statement.

It further said: "Due internal processes as applicable for sanctions of loans of such nature and value were followed.

The facility had a security cover significantly in excess of the loans granted and was backed by a personal guarantee of C Sivasankaran."

Mistry, in his letter to the board of Tata Sons a day after he was sacked as the Chairman had written that "Tata Capital had a book that required significant clean up on account of bad loans to the infrastructure sector".

He had alleged that "the loan to Siva was under the strong advice of Executive Trustee Venkatraman which had since turned into a nonperforming asset. All of this resulted in Tata Capital to recognize an abnormal rise of NPAs." Sacked unceremoniously, a "shocked" Mistry had leveled a series of allegations against Ratan Tata and contended that he was pushed in to a position of "lame duck" chairman and changes in decision making process created alternate power centers in Tata Group. -PTI

India abstains from nuclear ban vote He said continued dialogue and consultation is necessary to bridge the current divides on nuclear disarmament which remain "deep and substantive".

"India attaches the highest priority to nuclear disarmament and shares with the co-sponsors the widely felt frustration that the international community has not been able to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations.

We also share the deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons," Varma said in the explanation of vote.

He said India did not participate in the open-ended working group

which met in Geneva during 2016 and so it reserves its position on its report and the recommendations.

"India has supported the commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a Comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Convention, which in addition to prohibition and elimination also includes verification. International verification would be essential to the global elimination of nuclear weapons, just as it has been in the case of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Progress on nuclear disarmament in the CD should remain an international priority," he said.

India has asserted that there is no question of it joining the NonProliferation Treaty as a nonnuclear weapon State. -PTI

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Sale or no sale, changes could come to Twitter NEW YORK: Sale or no sale, Twitter users are bound to see changes as the beleaguered communications service tries to broaden its appeal to more people and advertisers.

A new owner could clean up Twitter and curb some of the nastiness that's become synonymous with it.

Or perhaps a new owner would just show more ads. Or let it languish while it mines the best of what Twitter now has into its existing products and services.

All of this is speculation, of course, and there might not even be a new owner. Twitter's stock has plunged after rumored bidders are, well, rumored to be no longer interested. The company announced that it would cut 9 percent of its workforce globally as its revenue growth slowed.

While adjusted earnings beat Wall Street expectations, it reported a loss of almost $103 million before one-time charges and costs are removed.

A new parent - whether that's Google (huh?), Salesforce (who?) or Disney (hmm...) - could inject fresh life into a 10-year-old company that's never turned a profit and remains confounding to many people. Of course, none of these potential suitors have acknowl-

edged interest in Twitter, let alone their plans for it. Even if Twitter stays independent, drastic changes to its service might just be what Twitter needs to be competitive with Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

How might it change?

TWITTER BECOMES MORE LIKE ITS NEW OWNER Facebook's absorption of Instagram and WhatsApp in recent years could offer clues. Both services have kept separate identities, to an extent, and have experienced user growth. But slowly, they are acquiring Facebook-like features. For example, Instagram no longer presents feeds chronologically; they are now sorted much like Facebook's news feed, using some secret formula known only to Facebook.

Though the change has turned off some early Instagram users, its user base has soared, to 500 million as of June. That's nearly 200 million more than Twitter, even though Instagram is three years younger. As Instagram gets more users and a mainstream appeal, its

content has diluted somewhat.

But many of the street photographers, graffiti artists and tween mini-celebrities who made Instagram what it is are still there maybe just harder to find.

STAYS THE SAME BUT WITH MOREADS Twitter has never turned a profit, and whoever buys it will need to fix this. That means boosting the user base, so advertisers would follow. That also could mean better targeting, so that ad rates go up.

Google, anyone? The search giant is the leader in online ads.

Imagine what its might and muscle could do to Twitter's ad business.

YouTube hardly had any ads when Google bought it; now, ads are so prevalent that YouTube is able to charge $10 a month for an ad-free version called Red. Instagram has also inserted ads into users' feeds of perfectly composed snapshots featuring everything from cappuccino foam to seafoam. It started out slowly with a carefully curated ad here and there, but today you're not likely to avoid ads when opening the app.

A TOOL FOR BRANDS, NOT REVOLUTION Jonathan Cowperthwait, a Twitter user since 2008, said he'd be worried if Google bought Twitter because the online search giant ``is the worst'' at social services that aim to foster online interactions, beyond email. Its Google Plus service never took off; Orkut and Dodgeball closed.

Cowperthwait said that rather than let Twitter live independently,

Google might ``try to shoehorn it back into their own social product.''

Salesforce, a company that provides internet services to businesses, has also been mentioned as a contender, leading to a lot of head-scratching among users.

Would Twitter become a business product, used for customer service and marketing instead of revolutions, neo-Nazi memes and political outbursts? ``Salesforce is a very technology-driven company,'' eMarketer analyst Debra Aho Williamson said. ``It seems they would want (Twitter) mostly for the data that Twitter has.''

THE LITTLE BIRD FALLS OUT OF THE NEST Remember MySpace? It was -

SILENCE! Walt Disney's reputation as a squeaky-clean, family-friendly company is perhaps the clearest antithesis to Twitter's soul, as many users see it - even though Disney is much bigger than Mickey Mouse and owns ABC, Marvel and the ``Star Wars'' franchise, among other properties. ``My chief fear is that Disney will wield Twitter as one large PR machine to prop up their image and squash dissent,'' said Timothy Hayes, an Ohio State University student who says he fell in love with Twitter in high school. ``The Mouse is not above silencing (its) opponents.''

Some users, on the other hand, might welcome some thorough housecleaning that goes beyond

``My chief fear is that Disney will wield Twitter as one large PR machine to prop up their image and squash dissent,'' said Timothy Hayes, an Ohio State University student who says he fell in love with Twitter in high school. the - social network before Facebook came along. News Corp., the stodgy media conglomerate, bought it for $580 million in 2005. But users started falling off as MySpace failed to keep up with Facebook's speedy innovations.

After layoffs and failed relaunches, News Corp. sold the fallen giant for $35 million in 2011, and that was just about the end of it.

It's not unthinkable that Twitter could suffer the same fate under a big media company.

the steps Twitter is currently taking to curb abuse and nasty behavior on its service. One Twitter user, New York attorney Danny Mann, says that while Google has improved YouTube ``in ways that were unimaginable at the time,'' he finds many of his fellow YouTube users difficult to deal with. In this sense, it's possible that even with Google's weight behind it, the abusive and nasty nature of many Twitter comments would remain as is. -AP

EU, Canada sign long-delayed trade deal BRUSSELS: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Union leaders have finally signed a landmark trade deal seven years in the making, after it was nearly being torpedoed by a small region of Belgium.

The ceremony in Brussels had been pushed back after Frenchspeaking Wallonia, with just 3.6 million people, initially vetoed an agreement affecting more than 500 million Europeans and 35 million Canadians.

Cheers and applause erupted as Trudeau signed the pact alongside EU President Donald Tusk, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.

Protesters earlier burst through riot police lines and hurled red paint at the European Union's headquarters, while activists banged drums and chanted slogans against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

"Well done, well done," Trudeau said as he hugged and kissed Tusk and Juncker on his arrival amid tight security.

"Things were difficult but we managed to succeed in the end."

"What patience," replied Juncker, adding: "This is an important day for the EU and for Canada too because we are setting an international standard that will have to be followed by others."

The start of the summit was further delayed when Trudeau's

plane was briefly forced to turn back due to mechanical problems, capping two weeks of chaos over what was meant to be a symbolic

sign-off.

CETA removes 99 per cent of customs duties between the two sides, linking the single EU mar-

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau poses with European Council President Donald Tusk, left, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on October 30

ket with the world's 10th largest economy.

The Belgian drama had sparked dire warnings for the EU's credibility as a trading partner as it wrestles with Britain's shock vote to leave, a huge migration crisis and the threat of a resurgent Russia.

After years of negotiations the deal almost collapsed, with Trudeau only agreeing to fly to Brussels after Wallonia finally agreed to join the rest of Belgium and the other 27 EU member states in approving the deal.

The pact required all EU member states to endorse it and in some cases such as Belgium's for regional governments to agree too, giving tiny Wallonia an effective veto.-AFP

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MATRIMONIALS BRIDE-GROOM WANTED

BRIDE WANTED Chicago based Gujarati Shah/Patel doctor parents invite correspondence from parents of Jain/ Vaishnav/ Leuva Patel well educated US Greencard holder or Citizen daughter for their India born British Citizen, American Green card holder son.

He is MBA/ 38years/5'7" working as General Manager in Pharmaceutical company in London, UK, divorcee with one son (Custody of son with ex wife).

Please send biodata with full picture to dr. Shailendrashah@gmail.com and Vivshahmib@gmail.com or contact by phone at 708-366-1933 He is visiting Chicago for two weeks on October 24th.

Philosophy

November 4, 2016

India Post 49

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Page Sponsored by Sahanis SUNYATA (ALFRED EMMANUEL SORENSEN)

I

ntuition comes from a cosmic thought. Intuition is the action of the man HimSelf. It is the direct action. Knowledge is of the world, while intuitive wisdom is of the soul (or Self), of the whole, integral psyche. The real intelligence is the collaboration of the mind and the intuitive psyche. After the opening of the third (intuitive) eye, the mind functions in cooperation with the intuition. With the closing down of the third eye, the mind has "become a mass of facets."

The facets are the movements of the mind under sway of "want."

In that state of mind, rather than one clear mirror of intuition, the mind is broken up into many small mirrors. Desire should be for the use of the mind; it should not drive the mind. Desire should be born of instinct and intuition. "Need" is simple necessity, being right desire, as distinguished from "want" that is for the unnecessary, being wrong desire.

Man is powerless against his own intuition, whether that intuition functions or whether it does not. Intuition is the action of God, of the unitive self. Be simple. Be natural, spontaneous and ego-free.

The art of living is by intuition.

You cannot do it because you have not developed your intuition, not awared, trained and tested it. If you had developed your intuition as much as you had developed your BENTINHO MASSARO

I

n recent months I have been privy to the corruption of this world's incompetent, selfish, and abusive leadership, and the atrocities they commit on a daily basis, often leading back hundreds, sometimes thousands of years - but reaching an all time high in the past several decades.

Practically everything we see out there is a front, a game intended for us to be seen. As human minds, we are living in a matrix of control and delusion. That's why it is becoming increasingly more important for the many to WAKE UP and enlighten themselves not only on the truth of what's going on, but more importantly: we need to educate the people on the nature of Consciousness, the truth of our being, and the innate beauty and abundance of our Soul.

My Challenge Something I'm ever challenged with in my 'position' as a teacher/ leader in my own way, is to be aware of the mess and the horrors, yet to not be consumed by them vibrationally for longer than is necessary for me to 'get it' (the negative side's motives, and the victim's

mind, you would have found your soul (in self-experiencing). In developing your mind, you have made your effortful desires a temporary success, but at what cost!

Instead of sacrificing your effortful desires - "wants" - to your intuition, you have sacrificed intuition to your wants.

Take away the obstacles and there is always a flow from the cosmic. Action should proceed from the source and be spontaneous action. You people do it the wrong way around. You must quiet the mind (and the desireful, willful egoji). Be Still to practice intuitive, whole and direct percep-

both instinct and intuition. Do away with choice (effortful desire) and let the intuition decide, i.e., let intuition be the guide.

Choose without "want." Be choice-free and your choice freeness will liberate your intuition, which at present is stifled by your wants. Do not try. Eliminate effort.

Effortful choice has "want" in it and "want" in whatever high a plane it is, always fetters the soul.

Religion is that which is opposite of the mind. The mind as such is incapable of spiritual discernment. The fountain is in the individual spontaneity. Live intuitively and you are religious. A

only along the gentler path, the path of non-resistance, non-aggression. Mind takes you along the ways of chaos, aggression and misunderstanding. If you become mind-free, the chaos ceases.

The mind is like a locust, eating up the finer qualities of the human. The action of that mind should be to reflect purely that which comes through the intuition. Intuition is to be felt, not pondered. The mind is the "slayer of the Real" (it blurs and falsifies).

Your intuitional faculty cannot be concentrated. It is already concentrated. It is charged from the cosmic.

The art of living is by intuition The real intelligence is the collaboration of the mind and the intuitive psyche. After the opening of the third (intuitive) eye, the mind funcSunyata (Alfred Emmanuel Sorensen)

tions in cooperation with the intuition.

tion. Spontaneity does not come from the mind.

The mind is always circulating, but intuition feels. Instinct is for the protection of the animal in man whereas intuition, the feeling principle, is for the protection of the psyche, the soul of man.

Stop egotism and you liberate

religious man, especially, should not conform to any standard except that sanctioned by his intuition.

There is not attachment apart from mind. Permit the dissolving to take place. It is so simple to the intuitional, so difficult to the dissolving mind. Intuition guides you

Give yourself a chance egoji. It is the Internal Ruler, your own immortal Self. Everything else is mortal, is ever changing forms and phenomena.

Excerpted from 'Dancing with the Void". The 126th birth anniversary of Sunyata was observed on Oct 27.

side experience) and understand and feel compassion for all parties involved.

If I am to do my part as a leader of a New Earth by 2035 well, I cannot allow myself to dwell on the wrongdoings and seeming unfairness of those whose currently failing regime still to this day organizes and abuses the many.

When I learn new facts of what has been secretly happening behind the scenes of what is sup-

have been or still are experiencing.

Being exposed to the nature of our controlling bodies and agencies posing as our saviors and safe-keepers while raping our civilization in secret, fills me with many perspectives, ranging from brief and momentary outrage and disbelief, to compassion, tears and profound love and gratitude/respect for all victims, and ultimately to compassion and love for the perpetrators at a deeper level of

of this global corruption, I am left feeling more compassion for All That Is, less ability to position myself firmly in one perspective of 'for or against', and gradually develop an ever bigger, more complete picture of The One's Infinite Creation by no longer holding on to bias. After all, what do I know?

I have to accept the will of All That Is. All has to be included in my view as equally valid if I wish to be transcendent and powerful in

Great suffering requires great compassion ling bodies and agencies posing as our saviors and safe-keepers while raping our civili-

posed to be our governing body our parental system looking out for the greater good - I take a little bit of time to engage in that information so fully and without fear or hesitation, so that it can rip my little world apart for a moment and show me the reality of what many people

their being as well. But most of all it fills me with inspiration to find out how I can continue to contribute to transform this collective into the world that truly every living being deserves it to be: Happy, friendly, loving, abundant, free.

Each time I learn of new layers

I am not a Hindu, nor a Muslim am I! I am this body, a play of five elements; a drama of the spirit dancing with joy and sorrow.

Look at you, you madman!

Screaming you are thirsty and dying in a desert, when all around you there is nothing but water!

A drop melting into the sea, everyone can see. But the sea absorbed in a drop - A rare one can follow!

My body is flooded with the flame of Love. My soul lives in a furnace of bliss.

Love's fragrance. Fills my mouth, and fans through all things with each outbreath.

Admire the diamond that can bear the hits of a hammer. Many deceptive preachers, when critically examined, turn out to be false.

Don't open your diamonds in a vegetable market. Tie them in bundle and keep them in your heart, and go your own way.

Being exposed to the nature of our control-

zation in secret, fills me with compassion

Kabir quotes

Bentinho Massaro

my service to others.

Excerpted from bentinhomassaro.com. Bentinho, 28, grew up in Holland, and had his enlightenment experience in India. Starting teaching at 18, he is today an internationally recognized spiritual teacher.

I went looking for Him and lost myself; The drop merged with the Sea Who can find it now? Looking and looking for Him I lost myself; The Sea merged with the drop Who can find it now?

Insure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs

Datebook

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NEW JERSEY Upcoming

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Upcoming

Fri, Nov 4

Sat, Nov 5

Sat, Nov 5

• Diwali Gala

• Indian Classical Vocal Concert By Pradnya Jadhav

• Mika Singh Live In Concert Bay Area

Venue: Thomas Erben Gallery NY, 526 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001 Time : 6:00 pm

Venue: City National Civic, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113 Time: 6:30 pm

Sun, Nov 13 • Bollywood Explosion Mast with Esha Deol and Team

Sat, Nov 12 • Kavita Krishnamurthy & The Andaaz Band - Diwali Celebration 2016

Venue: Sterling Gardens, 227 Freneau Avenue, Matawan, NJ 07747 Time : 7:30 pm Contact: 732-986-4011

Fri, Nov 4 •Bollywood Themed Diwali Venue: Royal Albert Palace, 1050 King Georges Post Rd, Edison, NJ 08837 Time: 06:00 pm Contact: 8622627564

Fri, Nov 25 • Qawwali Night with Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad Venue: Edison Hotel, 3050 Woodbridge Ave, Edison, NJ 08837 Time: 08:00 pm

Venue: York College, 94-20 Guy R Brewer Boulevard, NY 11451 Time: 06:30 pm

Sat, Nov 19 • DesiParty Featuring Bollywood Beats By Dj Harsh & Dj Amit Venue: LEXICON, 226 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022 Time : 10:00 pm

Venue: Jackson Theater - CA, 4400 Day School Pl, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Time: 5:00 pm

Sat, Nov 12 • Mast Magan... a musical jamboree! with Chinmayi Sripaada Venue: Jubilee Center San Jose, 105 Nortech Parkway, San Jose, CA 95134 Time: 6:00 pm

Sun, Nov 13 • Cultural Extravaganza Venue: ACordova High School, 2239 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 Time: 4:00 pm

Sat, Nov 19 • Carry on Kesar Gujarati Film : Featuring Supriya Pathak and Darshan Jariwala Venue: Serra Theatres, 200 Serra Way #37, Milpitas, Ca 95035 Time: 5:00 pm

CHICAGO

Upcoming

ILLINOIS Upcoming

Fri, Nov 04 • A Tribute to Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan performance

by Rizwaan Muazzam Ali Khan LIVE in Concert

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's

Venue: MThe Meadows Club, 2950 W.Golf Rd Rolling Meadows, Chicago , IL 60008 Time: 08:00 pm

Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807

Fri, Nov 18 • Armaan Malik live in Concert – CHICAGO Venue: Copernicus Center, 5216 West Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630 Time : 6:00 pm

ATLANTA Upcoming Tue, Nov 22 • Thanksgiving tour to New York City, Penn, and Washinghton DC

Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes

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: College Park, Norcross Global Mall, Atlanta, GA, 5288 Riverdale Road, Atlanta, GA 30349 Time: 1:00 pm

Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Sat, Nov 26 • Wrong Side Raju

• Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy of life

Venue: Movie 12, 3750 Venture Drive, Duluth, GA 30096 Time: 4:00 pm Contact: 404-934-9991

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

Sun, Nov 20 • Table Tennis Tournament

Sat, Dec 31 • Hawaiian style Grand New Year Party 2017

Venue: TBD, 900-924 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 Time: 10:00 am

Venue: Skyland 540 Access Rd, Cumming, GA 30041 Time: 8:00 pm

Swami Ishatmananda

• 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

In Brief Anti-immigrant graffiti in Spanish school WINDSOR, Calif.: A Spanishlanguage school in Sonoma County has been vandalized with graffiti criticizing immigrants and referencing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that Cali Calmecac Language Academy Principal Jeanne Acuna says a custodian found the graffiti. The messages covered buildings, walls, doors and garbage can lids and had messages such as ``build the wall higher,'' and Trump's name.

The school, in the community of Windsor, is a dual immersion program which teaches in both Spanish and English. Acuna says about 75 percent of the students are Latino. -AP

„ Syria refugees get aid with debit card BAR ELIAS, Lebanon: International agencies in Lebanon have begun distributing aid to Syrian refugees through a single debit card.

The card is meant to simplify aid delivery and give refugees more choices. It is valid for five years, a reflection of the protracted Syria conflict that has displaced millions.

The card replaces separate distributions for food, cash and winter aid, also by debit card. Contributors include the World Food Program, the U.N. refugee agency and the Lebanon Cash Consortium, an aid alliance that offers $175 a month in ``unconditional'' cash to the most vulnerable. -AP

„ Immigrant ID revisions raise new concerns SANTA FE, N.M.: New Mexico officials are running into criticism as they try to implement revisions to New Mexico's immigrant driver's license law.

Advocates for vulnerable populations such as the homeless and victims of domestic violence say proposed regulations unnecessarily tighten documentation requirements for basic identification cards that poor, displaced people can use to secure jobs or apply for government health benefits.

The Department of Taxation and Revenue is collecting public comments on its plan to implement a new law that puts New Mexico in compliance with tougher federal identification requirements for driver's licenses, while extending driving privileges to immigrants in the country illegally. -AP

Immigration

Somali refugees honor father's artistic legacy

51 India Post

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November 4, 2016

Details on page 53

Two Muslim refugees turn American political candidates

T

he best revenge against Donald Trump stoking the flames of hate against Muslims would be to see his campaign collapse in November while the two Muslim refugees running for office win. That may very well happen.

In Minnesota, there's 33 yearold Somali-American Ilhan Omar, the Democratic nominee for state representative in district 60B. And in California, there's 27-year-old Afghan-American Ahmad Rafah, who is seeking a seat on the Santa Clara City Council.

In a time when Trump spews hate about immigrants and claims Muslim refugees are a "Trojan Horse" plotting to destroy our nation, both of these candidates make no bones about the fact that they are Muslims and came to this country as refugees.

Rafah's website states, in bold print: "I was born in a refugee camp during my parents' escape from war torn Afghanistan."

And Omar's campaign bio ex-

plains, "Born in Somalia, Ilhan and her family fled the country's civil war when she was eight. The family spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the United States."

Despite Trump's lies, these are what Muslim refugees actually look like. They didn't come to America to destroy it, they came

I feel the same. I was born in the United States, but I'm the son of a Palestinian Muslim refugee.

During this election cycle, I have reflected several times on what would have happened if Trump had been president when my father was trying to immigrate to America. Would my father have been allowed in? Would he have

He noticed that "no one looked like me, no one else was Muslim, and definitely no one had the name Ahmad." He added, "I wanted to become more active in politics so that our community's voice would be represented." to escape the horrors of war in the hopes of raising their families in a safe place that offers opportunities. Rafah summed up well what so many refugees feel, "We truly appreciate being here in America and appreciate that the United States accepted me and my family."

even wanted to come here given Trump's hateful words about Muslims? And in turn, what would my life been like if I had been raised in the West Bank, where freedom of movement as well as dreams of a better life are limited by Israeli military checkpoints and a sense of powerlessness?

While neither Omar nor Rafah have run for office before, neither are new to American politics.

Rafah worked for Rep. Mike Honda as a tech and business policy adviser and liaison to Santa Clara. Omar recently served as a senior policy aide to a Minneapolis City Council member.

Rafah, like so many Muslims in America, wanted to become a doctor. He was accepted to medical school. But after he became active in community events, he noticed that "no one looked like me, no one else was Muslim, and definitely no one had the name Ahmad." He added, "I wanted to become more active in politics so that our community's voice would be represented."

But he's also running for another reason. He explained that as a kid growing up in San Diego, which is more conservative than Santa Clara, where he now lives, the toughest day of school was the first one.

Cont'd on Page 53

Immigration status barrier for some students SANTA FE, N.M.: Some students say they're losing out despite a New Mexico law that allows them in-state tuition at public colleges or universities and state-funded financial aid regardless of their immigration status.

The law has been in effect for 11 years but New Mexico's public universities and colleges operate independently from one another and their policies regarding immigrant students vary.

New Mexico Highlands University imposes some of the toughest barriers, according to interviews conducted by The Santa Fe New Mexican with students and school officials from around the state.

The interviews also indicate some of the problems students encounter may be largely because staff members aren't informed about the law. ``Sometimes front-line people are not trained in this,'' said Armando Bustamante, a student program specialist at the Univer-

sity of New Mexico who helps immigrant students navigate the system.

Bustamante said another problem is that the state Higher Education Department lets each institution interpret the law however it wants. ``The issue with the law is that it's a simple, two-paragraph law

that has no implementation policies,'' he said.

Higher Education Department spokesman Robert McEntyre said schools set their own enrollment policies, but they must follow state and federal immigration laws.

When Hali Calzadillas Andujo applied to Highlands in May 2015,

Western New Mexico University student Grecia Rivas works in a computer lab on campus in Silver City, N.M. The University in recent months has launched an aggressive campaign aimed at attracting students like Rivas, high-achieving immigrants living in the country illegally but who have been granted temporary status under the Obama Administration.

she didn't think her immigration status would be an issue.

Calzadillas was able to enroll and receive in-state tuition, like other New Mexico students. But when she filled out the university's general scholarship application, her lack of legal residency became a problem. The application only gave her the option of stating whether she was a citizen or a legal permanent resident.

She told Highlands' financial aid staff that she had a work permit through the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. The Obama administration adopted a policy in 2012 that granted temporary permission to live and work in the U.S. to young people brought to the country as children and who were living here illegally but who meet certain criteria.

Cont'd on Page 53

Immigration Post

52 India Post

November 4, 2016

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Refugees share their joys, foibles & discoveries MISSOULA, Mont.: Gilbert Hategeka laughed as he told the story of himself.

The heating unit in his new home in Missoula was quiet when Hategeka, his wife and their four young sons moved in after spending most of the previous 18 years in a refugee camp in Uganda, reported the Missoulian. ``I saw the heater but it wasn't on, wasn't working,'' Hategeka said through a Swahili-speaking interpreter. ``After about five days it just turned on and started vibrating. It vibrated the whole house.''

Hategeka did what he and his wife, Chantal Nyiramanza, are schooled to do in case of emergency as they settle into unfathomably different lives. ``I called the police,'' he said. ``We talk about the fire alarms, so I think we got confused,'' said Molly Short Carr, executive director of Missoula's International Rescue Committee resettlement office.

Refrigerators vs. freezers. Cars everywhere. Credit cards. Electric stoves, after a lifetime of cooking with wood over an open fire. Water that comes from a tap rather than a river two-thirds of a mile away from your shack in the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, a sprawling tent and hut city of 22,000 provided by the Ugandan government.

Kyangwali is across immense Lake Albert (think the length of Flathead Lake times four) from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Hategeka, 31, and Nyiramanza were born and from which they fled separately with their families in 1998, victims of the Second Congo War. Welcome to their new world, Missoula.

As their sons ages 2 to 10 scribbled with crayons and played in a corner, Hategeka and Nyiramanza sat for another new experience - an American newspaper interview.

They were joined at the IRC office in west Missoula by Hategeka's cousin, Joseph Bazungu; his wife Vanis Nyiraburanga, and their 15-yearold daughter Sifa. All those surnames that sound strange to the

had to walk everywhere, but here we can catch a bus and it's easy and it's free,'' Nyiramanza said as she kept an eye on her boys. ``The second thing is even without knowing us everyone is very kind and welcoming to us, and I just want to say thank you.''

The two families live a couple of miles apart on the south side of the Clark Fork River, and they arrived a couple of weeks apart, the third and fifth to reach Missoula.

Two Congolese families stand together for a photo outside IRC offices in Missoula. Fathers Joseph Bazunga and Gilbrt Hategeka spent 18 year in a refugee camp in Uganda. Their children were born there.

ears of Americans are normal for Africans, where wives and children don't assume the names of their husbands and fathers, Carr said.

The nine Congolese in the small conference room accounted for one-third of those who've touched down in Missoula since Aug. 18, under the auspices of the IRC. The sight of snow in the valley earlier in the day was the first in their lives. That may explain their use of a new-found skill, catching the bus to the meeting place. ``The first thing I'd say to Missoula is that in the camp we

Carr was at the Missoula airport when Hategeka's family of six arrived in late September. So was Bazungu, who'd lived near his cousin's family in Uganda but didn't know if he'd ever see them again when he left the camp earlier in the month en route to America.

Carr showed the families a video she'd shot on her phone as the two men reunited - hugging only after they danced a revolving-door dance at the airport.

They talked about the stores of Missoula - so much fruit, so many vegetables and, most wondrous of

Immigrants watch presidential election closely ST. PAUL, Minn.: Many of Minnesota's hundreds of thousands of immigrants are closely watching this year's presidential election as the two major-party candidates have contrasting stances on immigration.

Republican candidate Donald Trump has called for mass deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and stricter rules for handling refugees, while Democratic Hillary Clinton wants to overhaul immigration laws to include a path to citizenship.

Latino businessman and Trump supporter Rick Aguilar from St. Paul said he believes Trump initially spoke too harshly and

broadly about immigrants, but that he agrees with his border security concern. ``You know people are saying, `He's going to build a wall.' No, no, no,'' Aguilar told MPR News. ``He's going to extend and make it more effective. Not build a wall.

The wall is already there.''

St. Paul resident Jose Gonzalez, who was born in Mexico and became a U.S. citizen 30 years ago, said he agrees with Clinton and believes citizenship must be accessible and affordable. ``If you don't have a criminal record, you've been paying taxes for the past 20 years, you've been doing other things in the commu-

nity, I think you should be able to put in an application for citizenship, even though maybe the way you got here wasn't following the correct process,'' Gonzalez said.

U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that foreign-born residents make up just over 7 percent of Minnesota's population, and data from the Pew Research Center shows the state has an estimated 95,000 undocumented immigrants.

John Keller, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, said many of the state's business, labor and faith groups have been working to help the state's immigrants and to improve federal immigration policy. -AP

all, so much meat. ``We're used to chasing it around,'' Nyiramanza quipped through interpreter Peter McDonough, a University of Montana instructor who is steeped in Swahili after 3 1/2 years in the Peace Corps in Tanzania.

As is the case with all the families who've arrived from East Africa refugee camps so far, these two are Christian, and specifically Baptist. ``We've been to four different churches so far to just have them check them out,'' noted Lila Cleminshaw of Missoula, who's part of the five-person family mentor team helping Joseph, Vanis and Sifa assimilate into Missoula life.

They all are singers, Lila said, and Sifa is excited - if apprehensive - about joining the Big Sky High choir when she begins the first formal classroom education in her 15 years.

Like her parents, Sifa was open to sharing her thoughts on her new home, where she's glad there's a bus system so she doesn't have to depend on cars to get around town.

She's anxious to learn ``American'' English and aspires to become a teacher. ``English here is different than the English in camp, so the way I learned in Uganda is very different from what I'm hearing now,'' she said.

Already a boy from another Congolese family is on the Big Sky soccer team, and he reportedly scored two goals in a recent game, McDonough said.

Most if not all the Congolese men in town are soccer players and have jumped into organized leagues. The soccer pitch in an African refugee camp is a busy

Hategeka and Nyiramanza are of school age but can't start classes until the necessary paperwork and immunizations are complete.

It'll be awhile, if ever, before their horror stories of fleeing war in the DRC are told.

For now the learning curve is steep under the auspices of the IRC, which is in charge of the families for the first 90 days, and the gentle guidance of the mentor teams from Soft Landing Missoula. ``The first thing I noticed in coming to Missoula is that there's law and order, in the sense that things run in an orderly fashion,'' Bazungu said. ``If you're crossing the street, cars stop for you. Everyone follows the rules. That was a good surprise.'' ``A thing that was really surprising for us was someone took us to get bikes for free,'' his wife Vanis said. ``It was a big deal in helping us be independent and to have our own transportation and not to depend on everyone else.''

In a contentious election year, when refugee resettlement in Montana and across the nation is an explosive issue, the Congolese families have been spared the vitriol. ``It's been kind of amazing actually,'' Cleminshaw said. ``When they're out shopping or at the bus stop people are happy to have them here.'' ``I haven't had anybody give me feedback that they've had anything negative, and they're pretty vocal,'' Carr said. ``They tell me the volunteers as well as the refugees.''

For perhaps the first time the Congolese families have goals and dreams, modest as they may seem. ``First it is to learn English and

``The first thing I noticed in coming to Missoula is that there's law and order, in the sense that things run in an orderly fashion,'' Bazungu said. ``If you're crossing the street, cars stop for you. Everyone follows the rules. That was a good surprise.'' place, said Carr. ``Life in refugee camps is at best monotonous,'' she said. ``They don't have computers or the internet, TV or video games like we do.''

Bazungu is happy to put all that behind him. ``It was a terrible life,'' he said of Kyangwali. ``Difficult to get food, difficult to get clothing,'' Hategeka said.

The two men are looking for jobs in Missoula. Their wives start work at a local hotel. Two sons of

to learn it well,'' Hategeka said. ``Second is to get work. And to have friends and build a community.''

And, he added with a big grin, ``to learn to drive a car.''

The resettlement effort Missoula's third since the late 1970s - is in its infant stages, but those working to assimilate the newcomers say the day will arrive when they won't be known as ``refugees'' any longer.

That day they'll be called Missoulians. -AP

Immigration Post

November 4, 2016

India Post 53

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Somali refugees honor father's artistic legacy SHEBOYGAN, Wis.: A family of Somali refugees settling in Sheboygan look to honor their father's legacy through art.

The family of seven is one of thousands that have fled Somalia after years of drought and conflict have resulted in what has been called the ``worst humanitarian crisis in the world today'' by the UN Refugee Agency, The Sheboygan Press reported.

Their own story took a dark turn in 2009 when al-Shabab gunmen forced their way into the family's Mogadishu home and killed their father, an art teacher and co-founder of Picasso Art School in Somalia, and four children for practicing art. The terrorist group had sent warnings to the father telling him to close the school prior to the attack.

Now settled in Sheboygan, the entire family continues their father's craft. Their cramped, northside home is filled with drawings and paintings completed by the family in their first two weeks in Sheboygan.

Mohammed, step-father to the five siblings and co-founder of the art school in Somalia, often used his

work to comment on the political situation in Somalia, but more recently has used his newfound hope in America as inspiration - proudly displaying his new paintings of Albert Einstein and a bald eagle.

His step-son, Abdulfatah, completed a pencil portrait of Abraham Lincoln over the course of one night after a moment of inspiration. ``The kids, the step-father, the mother and the sister are all artists,'' Fatmeh Farhud, a volunteer helping the family get settled, said. ``They had an art school in Somalia and used to teach art in Somalia.''

After the attack in Somalia, the family crossed the boarder into Ethiopia and stayed at a refugee camp, where they supplemented their rations by painting signs and posters for the UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency).

In 2014, one of the siblings, Abdulrahim, won first prize in the UNHCR Somalia World Refugee Day art competition for a painting on the theme of `My Somalia,' which depicted UNHCR's support to refugees.

They continue to hone their craft in Sheboygan - but are running low on supplies. Financial

assistance from Catholic Charities and other organizations are used for food and rent, so the family's art supplies have quickly been depleted. ``One thing that would be a blessing to them would be art supplies,'' Adam Steinbock, an associate pastor at Crossroads Community Church, said. The church has started a fund for refugees.

A family of Somali refugees with a passion and talent for art have relocated to Sheboygan. With their basic needs met, the family is asking for art supplies to continue their craft.

``They have some stuff, but it's pretty basic. The whole family is

Immigration status barrier for some students Cont'd from Page 51

Calzadillas, 22, said she gave up trying to explain that state law allowed her to apply for any statefunded scholarships the school offered. No one would process her scholarship application. She pays her $5,000-a-year tuition out of pocket.

Calzadillas said she feels cheated. ``I have a 4.0 GPA,'' said the second-year student at the university's Santa Fe campus. ``I'm a good student, so I was hoping to get some sort of scholarship.''

Montse Oceguera, 23, a Highlands student at the school's Albuquerque campus, had a similar experience. ``I remember being on my porch at night crying because I had no idea how I was going to pay for school,'' she said.

Oceguera is now working toward a master's degree in social work. A friend gave her a $2,000 loan to help her cover tuition for her first semester. Eventually, the state Children, Youth and Families Department gave her a $10,000 stipend to pay for the last two semesters of her undergraduate degree. After she completes her master's degree, she will work for

the agency as part of the stipend requirements.

Highlands spokesman Sean Weaver said the university doesn't have specific enrollment policies regarding immigrant students. It should be following the

NMSU also started a program this year that offers students from Mexico a lower tuition rate than the out-of-state rate. state law, he said, but there's no designated office or staff member to ensure that happens.

Still, Weaver said he was surprised to hear that Highlands students were having trouble with their immigration status, and he said all scholarship applications should be processed.

Highlands isn't the only school where immigrant students encounter confusion about the state law. The University of New Mexico and New

artists and art supplies is something they are really looking for.''

One of the siblings, Abdulfatah, who enrolled as a junior at Sheboygan's South High School last week, said he hopes to help others by selling his art work. ``I want to do my best work. I want to keep improving and be a famous artist,'' he said."I want to get a big pocketbook from my art-

Mexico State University both have programs designed to ease the enrollment process for immigrant students, but a study last year showed that some staff members at each school were still misinformed.

Laura Gutierrez Spencer, director of an NMSU program that helps low-income and first-generation college students, said the university processes all scholarship applications, regardless of a student's immigration status. If the student isn't a citizen or legal permanent resident, she said, the university makes sure he or she is only considered for statefunded scholarships, rather than federally funded aid.

NMSU also started a program this year that offers students from Mexico a lower tuition rate than the out-of-state rate.

At Western New Mexico University in Silver City, DACA students from Arizona, Colorado and El Paso, Texas, can qualify for in-state tuition even before they are considered state residents.

New Mexico is one of 18 states that allow all residents, regardless of immigration status, to pay instate tuition. -AP

work, and I want to use it to help refugees.''

Art supplies are not the only

need for the family. Abdulfatah said he is already freezing - and the space heater in their home is not working, so as the days grow colder, the family will be looking for winter clothing. ``My hand is very cold even now when I go outside,'' Abdulfatah said. ``When I leave the home, I feel like my hand is ice.'' ``I don't want more snow,'' he laughed.

The seven relocated to Sheboygan with the hope of a better life and education. The siblings already started school last week, and they are picking up English more and more every day, but there are still challenges to overcome.

The financial assistance the family receives is meant to be short term and, within a year, they hope to find jobs and be self sufficient. ``They are good, hard working folks,'' Steinbock said. ``They are folks that are going to get jobs and provide for their families. They just need help getting started.''

The Somali family is one of several refugee families that have relocated to Sheboygan in recent months - and more are on the way.

-AP

Two Muslim refugees turn American political candidates Cont'd from Page 51

"That's the day when teachers would mangle my name and the other students would laugh and mock me," he told me. And of course, being in middle school there when 9/11 happened didn't play well with his classmates, who would taunt him about his religion and ethnicity.

"By running for office and hopefully winning, my hope is that no one laughs at or bullies the next Ahmad because that name is now more familiar," he said.

Both candidates have received broad support from their local Muslim communities. Jaylani Hussein, the head of the Council on American Islamic Relations' Minnesota chapter, called Omar "an inspiration to members of our community to not only vote but to become active in politics."

Rafah told me he's received campaign contributions from "Muslims across America I have never even met." He added, "They understand the significance of our voice being heard in American politics-especially given Trump's divisive words." A silver lining to Trump's demonization of Muslims has been to finally wake up many in our community about the need to be engaged politically.

Of course, neither is running as a Muslim. Rather, both are running campaigns grounded in progressive agendas predicated on standing up for all Americans, regardless of faith or lack thereof.

As Omar put it, "I work for equality and I work to make sure our systems are just for all of us."

Omar, running as a Democrat in an overwhelmingly Democratic district, is expected to make history as the first Muslim refugee elected to political office.

Rafah is facing a more challenging landscape in his non-partisan race. He's seeking to unseat an incumbent and has been dogged by trolls online and even a nasty, arguably bigoted campaign flier claiming he's raising "dark money" from sinister sources. And incredibly, while Santa Clara is a majority minority city, as Rafah explained, only one minority candidate has been elected to the Santa Clara City Council in 150 years.

Win or lose, the political prospects for Omar and Rafah after Election Day are far brighter than those of Trump, who will soon be nothing more than a garbage fire receding in the rearview mirror as our nation moves on.

-Courtesy thedailybeast.com

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November 4, 2016

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Pakistan is reaping the whirlwind in Balochistan

India Post

TUSHAR RANJAN MOHANTY

A

t least 61 Security Force (SF) personnel were killed, and another 164 were injured as terrorists stormed the New Sariab Police Training College (PTC), some 13 kilometers from Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, in the night of October 24.

Between October 14, 2016 and October 24, 2016, the Province has recorded 68 SF fatalities. There has been a rise in violence against Security Force (SF) personnel in Balochistan since the beginning of the current year.

According to partial data compiled by the Institute for Conflict Management (ICM), Balochistan has recorded at least 145 SF fatalities between January and October 2016, as against 82 such fatalities during the corresponding period of 2015, an increase of 76.82 per cent.

Though the number of civilian fatalities in 2016, till end-October, stood at 191, down from 247 through 2015, extra judicial killings

by State agencies and their proxies in Southern Balochistan re-

1,092 in the North - remain 'unattributed'. A large proportion of the 'unattributed' fatalities, particularly in the Southern region, are believed to be the result of enforced disappearances carried out by state agencies, or by their proxies, prominently including the Te h r e e k - e - N a f a z - e - A m a n Balochistan (TNAB, Movement for the Restoration of Peace, Balochistan). The large number of unattributed civilian fatalities strengthens the widespread conviction that Security Agencies engage in "kill and dump" operations against local Baloch dissidents, a reality that Pakistan's Supreme Court has clearly recognized.

While the SFs are engaged in a systematic campaign of extermination of ethnic Baloch people through enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, which continue unabated in the southern Districts of Balochistan, they are, in turn, frequently targeted by Islamist terrorist formations such as TTP and LeJ in the northern

Islamabad deploys disproportionate and lawless force to suppress all Baloch dissidence, including political activists raising genuine grievances, despite the fact that the Forces engaged in the 'fight against terror' have lost far more personnel mained rampant.

Through 2016, at least 191 civilians were killed in Balochistan, of which some 86 were attributable to one or other militant outfit. The remaining 105 'unattributed' fatalities are overwhelmingly the work of the State apparatus and its surrogates.

Of the 3,758 civilian fatalities recorded in Balochistan since 2004 [data till October 30, 2016], at least 999 civilian killings are attributable to one or other militant outfit. Of these, 361 civilian killings (205 in the South and 156 in the North) have been claimed by Baloch separatist formations, while Islamist and sectarian extremist formations - primarily LeJ, TTP and Ahrar-ul-Hind (Liberators of India) - claimed responsibility for another 638 civilian killings, 631 in the North (mostly in and around Quetta) and seven in the South. The 363 civilian killings attributed to Baloch formations include at least 155 Punjabi settlers since 2006.

The remaining 2,759 civilian fatalities - 1,667 in the South and

Districts.

Though the number of incidents of attacks on SFs declined to 35 in 2016, in comparison to 55 the previous year, their lethality and intensity can be assessed by the October 24attack at the Quetta PTC. After the attack of the night of October 24 at the PTC, the Balochistan Government seems to have lost faith in the capacity of Federal Forces, and had demanded the restoration of pre-1958 powers under the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) to curb crimes and prevent acts of terror in the Province.

"The provincial administration has no legal powers in Balochistan that has become a war zone (sic)," Home Secretary Mohammad Akbar told a meeting of the Senate's Functional Committee on Human Rights, adding, "Balochistan has become a cocktail of insurgencies, religious extremism and other criminal activities. We cannot hide that the system has failed in Balochistan.

SFs in Balochistan have been

reaping what they had sown over past decades. The TTP and LeJ are both products of the sustained strategy of State supported terrorism, now gone rogue at the margins.

While some feeble and fitful efforts are directed against Islamist terrorist formations in Balochistan, this strategy continues to provide spaces to Taliban and al Qaeda related formations which are hosted in the Province and directed against Afghanistan, and that are ideologically indistinguishable from the Pakistan-directed 'renegade' groupings.

On the other hand, overwhelming and indiscriminate force is deployed against the Baloch separatists in the south of the Province, where gross human right violations and forced disappearances are endemic.

Islamabad deploys disproportionate and lawless force to suppress all Baloch dissidence, including political activists raising genuine grievances, despite the fact that the Forces engaged in the 'fight against terror' have lost far more personnel to Islamist groupings in the north than to Baloch insurgents in the south.

On August 30,2016, on the occasion of the International Day for Enforced Disappearance, consequently, the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) once again invited the attention of political parties, human rights organizations, the judiciary and the international community, urging them to investigate the "catastrophic human rights abuses in Balochistan," '' Balochistan has, over the past months, secured somewhat greater attention at international fora than was the case in the past, but there appears to be little possibility of any measurable impact of such limited initiatives on the bloodied ground of the Province.

Indeed, Pakistan continues to find willing dupes in the international community and the comity of nations, who are eager to go along with Islamabad's twisted narrative that the country is a 'victim of terrorism', suppressing the increasingly obvious reality that this is a terrorism created and sustained against others by the Pakistani State, and that its domestic outbursts are nothing more than a 'blowback' of its own continuing global malfeasance.

The writer is Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

Crisis galore

I

t is being predicted that something significant is going to happen in Pakistan in this month of November. In spite of desper ate attempts to keep the focus of its people and the world on the turmoil it has been able to create in Kashmir, the chickens are coming home to roost. There was recently a terrorist attack on a police training academy in Baluchistan and popular opinion was being asked to believe it had been engineered by India.

In fact all its recent woes after the surgical strike on terrorist launching pads in Occupied Kashmir are being blamed on India which they say is trying to turn the attention of the world away from the "freedom struggle" of the people in Kashmir.

However Pakistan is said to be facing an internal assault on three fronts this month. First is the invasion of the capital Islamabad by former cricket captain turned politician Imran Khan's party together with some other disgruntled elements who are protesting to force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign over the corruption allegations against him as revealed in the Panama papers. Imran Khan had tried a similar protest in 2014 also which turned out to be a damp squib.

This time once again he thinks the time is ripe for him to strike while the iron is hot in the form of the weakness of the Prime Minister in the context of the corruption allegations against him.

Imran Khan has appealed to the masses to help him bring change to ensure a better life and system of governance in the country.

But he is unable to convince the people that he would rid them of all the social and political malaises that afflict the country. He will certainly be able to bring riots and chaos in Islamabad, if not in the entire country.

The second problem that Pakistan faces is the imminent retirement of Army Chief Raheel Sharif. He is said to be more popular than his namesake PM for his strong measures to control some of the terrorist activity aimed at Pakistan from within the country.

However he is strongly opposed to any reconciliation with India which the other Sharif is keen on in spite of his anti-India noises aimed to please his constituency.

The PM is on the verge of deciding on the Army Chief's successor even as there is a strong pressure on him to give an extension to Raheel Sharif. Although the Army Sharif has declared he is not interested in an extension, he has created uncomfortable situations for the PM to indicate his ouster could be costly.

He has made the information minister resign for leaking a confidential meeting between the Government and spy agency ISI's chief wherein ministers claimed the army was protecting the terrorists against which the government wants to act. It was also revealed at this meeting that China had also indicated that it was not going to continuously clamp hold on the UN move to impose a ban on terrorist leader Masood Azhar.

All this when leaked to the press supposedly brought a bad name to the Army. The Army has retaliated by forcing the government to disown the story and also sack a minister responsible for the leak. The Army chief is also secretly backing Imran Khan's agitation to discomfit the government.

The confrontation with the Army is thus going to continue for the government whether it gives an extension to Raheel Sharif or appoints a successor. Because a successor will also continue to toe the hard army line.

Another crisis is that till recently Pakistan was used to India not reacting militarily to its acts of adventure in Kashmir as well as on the mainland India. With Modi at the helm this is no longer the case and Pakistan can expect as much in retaliation, if not more, if it persists with using jihadis to create mischief.

November 4, 2016

www.indiapost.com

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56 India Post

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November 4, 2016