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VOL 22, No. 1158

December 9, 2016

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TECH GIANTS TO CURB TERROR CONTENT

WASHINGTON: In a significant move, the world's leading tech companies have joined hands to prevent the spread of terrorist content on the internet amid pressure from world governments.

Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and YouTube said they will set up a shared database to help them track and remove "violent terrorist imagery or terrorist recruitment videos."

The database will contain the digital "fingerprints" of

the images and videos, allowing the tech firms to identify potential terrorist content more efficiently, the companies said in a statement, CNN reported.

The internet giants have been battling the spread across the internet of content linked to terrorist organizations.

Supporters of the militant group Islamic State (IS) have proved particularly adept at using social media for propaganda and recruitment.

Jayalalitha was to come for FOG 2017 Details on page 8

McMaster to replace Gov. Nikki Haley Details on page 5

Details on page 5

Indian-origin man stabs wife to death

Details on page 25

UAE-Indian wins Children's Peace Prize

Details on page 25

Russia protests cash shortage for diplomats

Details on page 5

New currency of Rs 5.7 crore seized

Details on page 25

CONTENTS

Details on page 44

Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29 Classifieds ------------------------- 52

INDIA POST SURVEY

Community Post -------------- 16-22

survey@indiapost.com

Edit Page --------------------------- 54

This week’s question

HealthScience Post --------- 34-38

Date Book -------------------------- 39

Horoscope ------------------------- 48

Was Jayalalitha the tallest among CMs?

Immigration Post ------------- 11-15 Life Style ----------------------- 30-33

Last week’s result

Will US weaken under Trump as world power?

YES 47%

NO 53%

Philosophy ------------------------- 53

SUPER STAR, SUPER POLITICIAN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying his last respects to Tamil Nadu’s former Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall in Chennai on December 6. (Details on page 6)

Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 50-51 TechBiz Post ------------------- 44-47 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

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n the mediated world that we live in today, drama has come to be an essential part of leadership what with real time politics drawing more television ratings than any reality show. For the 24/7 show runners who call themselves journalists, catch-phrase coverage of political hijinks seems to be the easier way out than to attempt digging deeper for perspectives.

So one has to stretch and strain one's brain to see a different dimension to personalities like Donald Trump and Narendra Modi.

Well, life as we knew it until about a month ago is rapidly changing and so has it for the people of India. As you already know, Modi's dramatic decision to demonetize India's top currency bills has, in one sweeping shot, impacted practically every Indian like no other government initiative has done in recent history.

So what is a well-intentioned leader to do in a country like India where illgotten wealth plays a vulgar tango with abject poverty, and scruples are sacrificed much like animals in a slaughter house (pardon the emotion) than go for a big strike, even if the very people you are trying to protect become collateral damage as an immediate fallout. I am not the one standing in the seemingly endless lines outside banks and ATMs across India to draw money just to go about my day-to-day life, so I won't even say I understand, but eventually the chaos will subside and a new normal will soon emerge.

The real crooks, though impacted, will have gotten away with hardly any cuts or bruises; there will be those that needlessly suffered, some deservedly so, and there will be those that have already found newer forms of jugaad to beat the new challenge. But what Prime Minister Modi has done has not just shaken his country's core, it has set in motion a worldwide debate on individual's right to monetary independence, on the imminent fall of dominant currencies and on cashless societies of the future.

Whatever else Modi may or may not be, he is a man on a mission. And for good measure, he is indeed the (Time's) 'Person of the Year'.

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Older girlfriend Katrina Kaif was the first choice for 'Half Girlfriend' but she declined saying she might look older than Arjun Kapoor.

Cover Story: Terror content The world's leading tech companies have joined hands to prevent the spread of terrorist content on the internet

Community: Constitution Day The second Constitution Day was solemnly celebrated at the premises of the Consulate General of India in Chicago

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Immigration: Treatment of Muslims The Somali-born student who carried out a car-and-knife attack at Ohio University stewed over the treatment of Muslims

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Life style: First Family Shah Rukh Khan, wife Gauri and children Aryan, Suhana and AbRam in the same frame is an iconic picture for fans

Techbiz: Cleaner economy Finance Minister Arun Jaitley says demonetization along with GST will help create a larger and cleaner economy.

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Tech giants to curb terror content WASHINGTON: In a significant move, the world's leading tech companies have joined hands to prevent the spread of terrorist content on the internet amid pressure from world governments.

Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and YouTube said they will set up a shared database to help them track and remove "violent terrorist imagery or terrorist recruitment

videos."

The database will contain the digital "fingerprints" of the images and videos, allowing the tech firms to identify potential terrorist content more efficiently, the

companies said in a statement, CNN reported.

The internet giants have been battling the spread across the internet of content linked to ter-

rorist organizations.

Supporters of the militant group Islamic State (IS) have proved particularly adept at using social media for propaganda and recruitment.

Executives from top tech companies met with US government officials in January to talk about how terrorists are using social media to recruit attackers. In August, Twitter said it had suspended hundreds of thousands of accounts for promoting terrorism.

Such suspensions have drawn angry reactions from some users, including threats by IS supporters against the founders of Twitter and Facebook.

The Obama administration said in July that Twitter traffic for IS has declined significantly over the previous two years.

The tech firms have the challenge of balancing freedom of expression with preventing illegal activity and respecting users' pri-

vacy. They also face the potentially contentious task of determining what constitutes terrorist content.

The announcement from the four companies came hours after they were singled out by European officials for not removing hate

The tech firms will start the terrorist content database with the digital fingerprints of "the most extreme and egregious terrorist images and videos we have removed from our services," they said.

Fingerprints for offending con-

Executives from top tech companies met with US government officials in January to talk about how terrorists are using social media to recruit attackers. In August, Twitter said it had suspended hundreds of thousands of accounts for promoting terrorism speech from their platforms fast enough.

The European Commission found that only 40 per cent of hate speech published on the firms' platforms was reviewed within 24 hours.

tent found on one company's platform can be added so that the other participants can check if it's been posted on theirs as well.

More companies could become involved in the database in the future, the statement said. -PTI

UAE-based Indian wins Children's Peace Prize THE HAGUE: A 16-year-old Indian environmental activist based in the UAE has won this year's prestigious International Children's Peace Prize for her fight for climate justice and combating environmental degradation.

Kehkashan Basu was presented the award by Bangladesh's

year from environment-related diseases and many more suffer deeply from environmental issues.

"It is a great achievement for such a young person to already have such reach and impact with her important message," Yunus said.

"A healthy environment is es-

Kehkashan Basu

Nobel peace laureate Mohammad Yunus at a glittering ceremony in The Hague.

Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts for economic and social development, underlined the urgency and importance of Kehkashan's work, as more than three million children under the age of five die every

sential for the survival, wellbeing and development of children, and therefore it is a precondition for the realization of the rights of the child.

Kehkashan teaches us that we all have a responsibility to work towards a sustainable future," he said.

After receiving the prize, Basu

said she would "keep campaigning to encourage children and adults to create a more sustainable future".

"I call upon everyone to think of how they can contribute to the preservation of the environment...Time is not on our side we have to act now, or we will have polar bears under palm trees," she said.

When Kehkashan was eight, she started educating neighbors on the importance of saving the environment. She planted her first tree and brought together children to collect and recycle waste, according to KidsRights Foundation that has instituted the award.

She founded her organization Green Hope at the age of twelve, through which she has initiated countless cleanup operations and awareness campaigns.

Kehkashan then became the youngest ever Global Coordinator for the Major Group for Children and Youth of the United Nations Environmental Program.

Green Hope has become an international organization with activities in more than ten countries and over a thousand young volunteers.

Basu was nominated for the Children's Peace Prize by her father and was selected for the award from among 120 nominees from 49 countries.

The International Children's Peace Prize is an initiative of Marc Dullaert, Chairman and Founder of the Dutch KidsRights Foundation,

and is awarded annually to a child, anywhere in the world, for his or her dedication to children's rights.

The winner receives the statuette 'Nkosi', which shows how a child sets the world in motion. .

The winner also receives a study and care grant and a worldwide platform to promote his or her ideals and causes to the benefit of children's rights.

Furthermore, a project fund of

100,000 euros is invested by KidsRights in projects that are closely connected to the winners' area of work in the country of the winner.

The school girl won because she had proved her ability to start a movement with real impact, said Dullaert. The Amsterdam-based global children's aid group runs the award program, which started in 2005.-PTI

McMaster to replace Gov. Nikki Haley COLUMBIA, S.C.: Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster has enlisted help in taking over as governor if the U.S. Senate confirms Gov.

Henry McMaster

Nikki Haley as President-elect Donald Trump's pick for United Nations ambassador.

McMaster's office said in a release he's asked longtime GOP adviser Ed McMullen and real estate developer Bill Stern to help with the transition.

McMullen led Trump's campaign in South Carolina and is a vice chairman of the committee planning Trump's inauguration.

Stern, the longtime former chairman of the State Ports Authority, also was a leader in Trump's campaign.

McMaster was the nation's first statewide officeholder to endorse Trump, whose pick for U.N. ambassador gives McMaster a job he's long wanted. The state's former GOP chairman and twoterm attorney general lost to Haley in the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary. -AP

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Feisty leader who dominated TN politics CHENNAI: Jayalalithaa, tinsel town heroine who practiced politics on her own terms to remain one of the main poles of Tamil Nadu politics for three decades, was a feisty leader with a lot of grit and determination staging remarkable comebacks despite setbacks on account of corruption cases.

A teen starlet, who acted with the who's who of Tamil cinema in the sixties and seventies, Jayalalitha went on to become a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, effortlessly inheriting the mantle of her mentor and superstar MGR. Practitioner of adulatory politics, she has often been criticized for the public display of unswerving loyalty of her senior leaders and cadre, but nothing deterred her from what she sought to achieve in her own way.

Born in a Brahmin family in Mysore in Karnataka, Jayalalitha quite often had the better of her arch-rival M Karunanidhi, a stalwart and one of the earliest products of the Dravidian movement that was founded on an anti-Brahmin platform.

After her formal initiation into the politics in 1982 when she was inducted into the AIADMK, she displayed enormous political skills in shouldering the task of running the party after the death of M G Ramachandran in 1987.

68-year-old Jayalalithaa had to quit twice over corruption cases, but managed to stage dramatic comebacks on both occasions.

While the journey of actor Jayalalithaa started in 1965 in 'Vennira Aadai,' (The White Dress), she assumed her political avatar in 1982 after MGR made her

A sea of crowd during the funeral procession of Tamil Nadu’s former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in Chennai on December 6

the Propaganda Secretary the next year.

The charismatic actor-politician was made a Rajya Sabha member in 1984 by Ramachandran, with whom she had paired in 28 films, and led the party's charge in the 1984 Assembly and Lok Sabha polls when he could not go on a campaign trail following illness.

But her moment of reckoning came a few years later when

PM pays tributes to Jayalalithaa CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa who passed away on Monday night.

Flanked by Governor Vidyasagar Rao, Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu and P. N. Radhakrishnan and others, Modi placed a wreath on the body which was lying in state at Rajaji Hall.

Clad in white, an emotional Modi, who enjoyed a good personal equation with the late AIADMK leader, consoled Chief Minister O Panneerselvam

who broke down.

Modi also spoke to Jayalalithaa's close confidante Sasikala.

Earlier, the Prime Minister, who arrived here by a special flight, was received at the airport

by Governor Vidyasagar Rao. He subsequently boarded a helicopter to INS Adayar en route to Rajaji Hall.

In a series of tweets earlier, the Prime Minister had said he was "deeply saddened at the passing away of Selvi Jayalalithaa. Her demise has left a huge void in Indian politics."-PTI

Ramachandran died in 1987, with AIADMK at crossroads.

The leader was humiliated as MGR's body was lying in state in the heritage Rajaji Hall when a DMK leader tried to push her from the rostrum.

She faced intense and protracted struggle to eventually head the AIADMK overcoming the animosity of rival camps led by the leaders like senior minister in the MGR cabinet R M Veerappan.

AIADMK split into two factions then, famously called AIADMK (J) and AIADMK (Ja) after Jayalalithaa and Janaki, wife of Ramachandran.

Jayalalithaa successfully contested the Tamil Nadu Assembly election in 1989 from Bodinayakkanur and became the first woman Leader of Opposition in the House.

This period saw some challenges in her political and personal life, with Jayalalithaa alleging she was harassed and attacked by ruling DMK in the House even as she met with a deadly accident.

She unified AIADMK in 1990 which had split following the death of Ramachandran and led her party to a superb victory in 1991 with a massive majority.

However, the five-year period turned out to be her undoing as corruption charges, display of

pomp during her foster son's marriage and non-performance led to her defeat in the 1996 elections at the hands of arch rival DMK. Soon after, a slew of cases including the disproportionate assets case were filed against her.

She had to quit twice following court cases, once in 2001 and later in 2014.

For nearly six months, starting September 2001 she was out of office after she was unseated by Supreme Court vis-a-vis electoral disqualification in the TANSI

and the second time after her conviction in 2014.

But Jayalalitha took legal recourse to stage terrific comebacks on both the occasions.

Altogether, she was sworn in as CM five times-1991-96, MaySept 2001, 2002-06, 2011-14, 201516.

Hailed as 'Puratchi Thalaivi' (Revolutionary Leader), Jayalalithaa proved wrong all calculations of DMK retaining power in 2011 when she led her party to a fantastic victory by

Born in a Brahmin family in Mysore in Karnataka, Jayalalitha quite often had the better of her arch-rival M Karunanidhi, a stalwart and one of the earliest products of the Dravidian movement that was founded on an anti-Brahmin platform case.

Between September 29, 2014, and May 22, 2015, she was out of office again after she was disqualified as a legislator and consequently lost chief ministership following her conviction in a graft case by a trial court in Bengaluru which was later set aside by Karnataka High Court.

Twice she went to jail, once after the DMK government registered a corruption case in 1996

forming a rainbow coalition comprising DMDK and Left parties.

She retained power in 2016, scripting history after three decades to ensure that a party won a successive term.

Jayalalithaa is credited with introducing innovative schemes and projects, including 69 per cent reservation in education and employment, freebies and a host of brand Amma initiatives like water, cement and subsidized canteens.-PTI

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Jayalalitha was to come for FOG 2017 India Post News Service

FREMONT, CA: Community leaders in America have reacted with shock at the untimely demise of the popular and dynamic leader of Tamil Nadu - nay the

that cannot be filled. We will miss a dynamic and charismatic leader.

We were fortunate to award her as "People's leader" in Festival of Globe, 2016. We were looking forward to have her gracious presence in Silicon Valley during

articulate, and culturally sensitive.

While she had her detractors, the intensity of devotion to her among the people of Tamil Nadu is indication of how well she connected with the people."

the late Chief Minister is that she was a survivor in the harsh world of politics, that, too, in the 80s and 90s in Tamil Nadu, when there was much more sexism to contend with. She initiated numerous schemes for women and

way that very few people do, as someone else has commented.

She related to the poor and less fortunate sections of society and that is what we all can emulate.

"Above all, she lived. As a top student, famous actress and

children and this will be one of the strong points of her legacy.

As a convent educated (in India, convent schools are some of the most reputed), articulate woman who was a top student, a part of me and maybe every upper middle class, educated Indian woman identifies with her. She managed to win the hearts of people in a

then a politician, leader and legend, she has blazed many career paths and touched the lives of millions. Even her critics and haters would agree - she could certainly not be brushed off."

Ramana Annamraju, CEO, Bricks for Beauty, said, "She was a lioness and true feminist of Indian politics."

"A void in Tamil Nadu politics that cannot be filled. We will miss a dynamic and charismatic leader. We were fortunate to award her as "People's leader" in Festival of Globe, 2016 whole of India - J Jayalalithaa, who was an inspiration for many here even though operating thousands of miles away.

Summing up the feelings of many, Dr Romesh Japra, Chairman, FIA & Publisher, India Post newsweekly, said in a message, "A void in Tamil Nadu politics

FOG 25th anniversary in 2017, but I am sure she will be blessing us from heaven."

Anu Natarajan, Former Vice Mayor, City of Fremont, said, "I have always admired Jayalalitha for thriving as a strong woman in the world of Indian politics. She is someone who was well read,

Abu Khan, California Coordinator of AIADMK said, "Iron lady of Tamil politics and an inspiration to all women politicians. We will miss such a talented, courageous and able administrator."

Lakshmi Iyer, Coordinator, FOG, said, "What I admire about

Jayalalithaa remembered as dynamic, popular NEW DELHI: Leaders across the political spectrum have paid glowing tributes to late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, describing her as a "towering figure" in Indian politics.

Lauding the leadership qualities and administrative abilities of Jayalalithaa as "outstanding", Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that as leader of

"She was a towering figure in our national and political life who won admiration across the political spectrum for the intrepid spirit with which she faced the ups and downs of her life in politics, for her commitment to the people of her state and her dedication to the honor of India," she said.

In her condolence message, Sonia said Jayalalithaa lived her

"She was a towering figure in our national and political life who won admiration across the political spectrum for the intrepid spirit with which she faced the ups and downs of her life in politics, for her commitment to the people of her state and her dedication to the honor of India," AIADMK and as a four-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa had a "unique and deep empathy with the needs and hope of people".

"Congress Party, my family and I personally share the grief and pain of the people of Tamil Nadu and her devoted supporters in AIADMK, who have lost their beloved Amma."

entire life with the same indomitable courage with which she battled her last illness.

"Whether it was her welfare schemes for the rural and urban poor or her swift measures in the aftermath of Tsunami or her vision for TN's industrial development, her leadership qualities and administrative abilities were truly outstanding," she said.

Condoling her demise, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said, "We lost a great leader.

Women, farmers, fishermen and the marginalized dreamt through her eyes. We will miss Jayalalithaa ji, Amma to millions".

Mourning the demise of his Tamil Nadu counterpart, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced one-day state mourning in the state as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

In a condolence message, Kumar said Jayalalithaa's demise has caused an irreparable loss in the fields of politics, society and art and culture not only in the state of Tamil Nadu, but the entire country.

Paying rich tributes to Jayalalithaa, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad described her as a propoor, popular, bold and result-oriented leader of the country.

"Deeply saddened to hear demise of #Amma, a Pro-poor, Popular, Bold, Strong and result oriented Leader of country.

Truly u wil be dearly missed," he said in a post on Twitter.

"My sincere prayers and thoughts are with people of Tamil Nadu, well wishers and family.

#Amma did a lot for marginalized, farmers and poor. RIP," he said in another post.

"Sincerely and humbly request people of AIADMK and Tamil Nadu to bear this huge loss with courage. #Jayalalithaa has left a huge blank in politics," the RJD supremo said.

In her condolence message, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti described

power and carved a special niche for herself in the politics," he said, recalling that the former film actor was referred as "the queen of Tamil cinema".

Delhi's Lt Governor Najeeb Jung said in his condolence message that Jayalalithaa was an extraordinary politician with exceptional administrative skills.

"She was one of the greatest

Paying rich tributes to Jayalalithaa, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad described her as a pro-poor, popular, bold and result-oriented leader of the country. "Sincerely and humbly request people of AIADMK and Tamil Nadu to bear this huge loss with courage Jayalalithaa as a "mass leader who fought for her people".

She said the late leader was one of the learned politicians of the country. Expressing grief, BJP veteran L K Advani said Jayalalithaa was a dominant political personality from Tamil Nadu and a very popular and dynamic leader of the poor and downtrodden.

"She had tremendous will

political leaders of contemporary India and was a source of inspiration to many. In her sad demise, India has lost a unique leader, who touched the lives of millions of people. She was an extraordinary politician with exceptional administrative skills and immense following, which made her a distinct leader in Indian politics."-PTI

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OPS breaks down as PM pays tributes CHENNAI: An inconsolable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O

Panneerselvam hugged Narendra Modi emotionally on a couple of

occasions as the Prime Minister approached the casket containing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi consoles O Panneerselvam while pays his last respects to Tamil Nadu’s former Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall in Chennai on December 6

OPS, Jayalalithaa's trusted Man Friday CHENNAI: A trusted lieutenant and staunch loyalist of Jayalalithaa, O Panneerselvam, who became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the third time, faces the challenge of keeping the AIADMK together as it tries to reinvent itself without the charismatic party supremo.

A tea vendor-turned-politician,

O Panneerselvam

65-year-old Panneerselvam, popularly known as OPS, was late Jayalalithaa's Man Friday and twice helmed the state after she was convicted in graft cases.

A grim-faced Panneerselvam, who was also seen sporting a beard, was sworn in by Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao at the Raj Bhavan here amidst a pall of gloom, shortly after Jayalalithaa's death. Panneerselvam took oath as CM with a photo of Jayalalithaa in his pocket.

Panneerselvam has prostrated

before Jayalalithaa, deified her and wept for her. He also meticulously followed her orders, coordinated with bureaucrats and proved himself a mature leader and team player - qualities that worked for the unassuming Theni chieftain when he was made caretaker CM twice - in September 2011 and again in September 2014.

He belongs to the d o m i n a n t Mudukulathor community and has risen from humble origins, having run a tea stall at his home town Periyakulam which is still being operated by his family.

A first-time Minister in 2001 after his election to the Assembly, he was vested with the key Revenue department

by Jayalalithaa, indicating her confidence in him.

In 2011, in a further endorsement of her trust, Jayalalithaa allocated the major departments of Finance and PWD to Panneerselvam.

Even when in the Opposition, Panneerselvam was the 'No.2', (Deputy Leader of AIADMK Legislature party) from 2001-06 and he was considered Jayalalithaa's trusted lieutenant in the party rankings.

Panneerselvam always came across as an affable man and enjoyed respect, cutting across party lines.;

Jayalalithaa's body to pay his last Panneerselvam again broke down respects. and the Prime Minister hugged The atmosphere was sur- him, asking him to control his emocharged as Modi, amid tight se- tions. curity, walked into Rajaji Hall, A huge posse of security perwhere the AIADMK supremo's sonnel, including black cat combody was lying in state. mandos, were on alert as the Prime As he walked towards Minister passed through the huge Panneerselvam after placing a wreath near the body, the latter A huge posse of security broke down and personnel, including black hugged him. Modi affectionately patted him, cat commandos, were on suggesting that he be alert as the Prime Minister strong.

As Modi walked passed through back to his vehicle, Panneerselvam again hugged him crowd that had converged at the with tears in his eyes.

Rajaji Hall.

Earlier, the Prime Minister conModi was also seen requestsoled Jayalalithaa's close confi- ing people not to take photos on dante Sasikala, who was crying. their mobile phones as he greeted Even at that time, them with folded hands. -PTI

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Film stars condole Jaya's demise CHENNAI: Stars from both Bollywood and southern cinema including names like Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and music maestro A R Rahman have mourned the death of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa while remembering her as a "charismatic leader" who had great connect with people.

Jayalalithaa, an actress-turnedpolitician, hospitalized since September 22, suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday Dec 4 and passed away late on Monday night in Chennai at the age of 68.

Taking to Twitter, the stars expressed their grief over the passing away of the politician.

"Not just Tamil Nadu but entire India is suffering because of the loss of its brave daughter. I pray to Almighty for our beloved CM's soul to rest in peace,"

Rajinikanth tweeted.

"Jayalalitha ji the only CM of a State that celebrated 100 years of Indian Cinema... From all regions...

Most admirable. Deeply grieved at the passing of Jayalalita ji... A strong woman," Bachchan wrote.

SRK tweeted, "Sad to hear of the passing away of

Jayalalithaaji... May her soul rest in peace."

Calling Jayalalithaa, people's leader, veteran actor Anupam Kher tweeted, "Deeply saddened by the passing away of the charismatic leader of the masses Jayalalitha ji. May God rest her soul in peace."

Oscar-winner Rahman wrote, "Respect and condolences to all the people who love Puratchi Thalaivi Jayalalitha... We will miss her forever."

Veteran writer Javed Akhtar said, "A charismatic leader, who had an unbelievable connect with her people has passed away. My deepest condolences to all her followers."

Tamil star Ajith Kumar remembered Jayalalithaa as a charismatic leader.

"Rest in peace madam, one of our most charismatic, bold and brave leader in Indian political history ever!!," he wrote.

Veteran actor Dharmendra, who worked with Jayalalithaa in "Izzat", her debut in Hindi cinema, said he was shocked to hear the news of her passing away.

"It is shocking for me because

she was my co-star in 'Izzat' in 1968. We were on outdoors together for almost one and a half months in Kulu-Manali. Those were good times. She was a lovely person and very cordial. She often cooked south Indian food for me. She was a great human being," Dharmendra said.

Actress-turned-politician Hema Malini said Jayalalithaa's demise was a huge loss as people loved and admired her.

"V upset to hear abt Jayalalitha's passing away. She was strong, had tremendous will power & carved a special niche for herself in politics.

"Tamil Nadu admired & adored her as did people all over India.

She was a much respected leader, who held her own in a world of men. RIP Jaya! (sic)," Hema Malini wrote. -PTI

Sasikala stands beside Jayalalithaa's casket CHENNAI: Clad in a black saree, a somber-looking Sasikala Natarajan, who remained a wall of support for Jayalalithaa through thick and thin, remained beside the casket of the departed leader as people filed past it paying their homage.

Intermittently standing up and touching Jayalalithaa's face, which was kept in state at Rajaji Hall, Sasikala looked lost even as she acknowledged the condolences of visitors.

Jayalalithaa's demise is seen as a personal loss for the 59year-old Sasikala who was probably one of the few occupants of the Chief Minister's Veda Nilayam residence at Poes Garden besides assistants and officials.

Ever since Jayalalithaa was hospitalized on September 22, Sasikala remained with her, giving the ailing AIADMK supremo much needed emotional support.

The relationship between the two had kicked up many a storm during Jayalalithaa's three decades of political career with some blaming her proximity to Sasikala for the AIADMK's electoral defeats on some occasions.

Both were accused in the infa-

mous disproportionate assets case and were convicted by a trial court in Bengaluru, though the Karnataka High court later reversed the lower court order.

Incidentally, Jayalalithaa had twice fallen out with Sasikala a few years ago for alleged anti-party

activities.

She and some of her family members had been expelled from the party and asked to vacate Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence. However, the separation between the two was short-lived as they patched up in no time.

Sasikala then continued to accompany Jayalalithaa at various functions including the latter's election campaigns in her special vehicle, earning the sobriquet of 'Jayalalithaa's shadow' by detractors.-PTI

More top stories on pages 24-26

In Brief Utah lawyers step up to defend refugees SALT LAKE CITY: Pointing to increased reports of bullying and harassment of refugees, a group of Utah lawyers is offering to defend the community in court and educate people about their rights.

Attorney James McConkie said about 50 lawyers have volunteered to work with Muslim and other refugees pro-bono.

He says the Refugee Justice League of Utah is designed to let newcomers know they are welcome following talk from Presidentelect Donald Trump and his advisers about a refugee ban or registry.

Community leader Noor UlHasan says she's been told about problems like a girl being bullied about her headscarf at school and a man yelling at a woman on the street to go home.

The group will accept complaints and reach out to refugees who may come from repressive backgrounds and be unaware of their U.S. rights. -AP

„ Bumper crop of traffic tickets on border DALLAS: A new border security approach promoted by the Texas Department of Public Safety has yielded at least one result - a bumper crop of traffic tickets.

An analysis by The Dallas Morning News found that traffic stops in Starr and Hidalgo counties on the Texas-Mexico border accounted for nearly 8 percent of all traffic tickets issued in Texas in September.

That result comes as the state Department of Public Safety is preparing to ask the Texas Legislature for an unprecedented $1.1 billion in border security funding for the next two years.-AP

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COLUMBUS, Ohio: A Somaliborn student who carried out a carand-knife attack at Ohio State University stewed over the treatment of Muslims while apparently staying under the radar of federal law enforcement, underscoring the difficulty authorities face in identifying and stopping lone wolves bent on violence.

Abdul Razak Ali Artan was not known to FBI counterterrorism authorities before the rampage, which ended with him shot to death by police and 11 people injured, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

That's in contrast to several other recent attacks, including those in New York City; Orlando, Florida; and Garland, Texas, in which those blamed for the violence had previously come to the attention of federal agents.

Law enforcement officials have not identified a motive for the Ohio State violence but have suggested terrorism as a possibility.

FBI agents continued to search Artan's apartment for clues, but California U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he had seen no evidence Artan was directed by or was in communica-

And Facebook posts that were apparently written shortly before the attack and came to light afterward show Artan nursed grievances against the U.S. He railed against U.S. intervention in Muslim lands and warned, ``If you want us Muslims to stop carrying out lone wolf attacks, then make peace'' with the Islamic State group. ``America! Stop interfering with other countries, especially the Muslim Ummah. We are not weak. We are not weak, remember that,'' he wrote, using the Arabic term for the world's Muslim community.

He also warned that other Muslims are in sleeper cells, ``waiting for a signal. I am warning you Oh America!''

The posts were recounted by a law enforcement official who was briefed on the investigation but wasn't authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A self-described Islamic State news agency called Artan ``a soldier of the Islamic State'' who ``car-

Details on Page 13

the acts of violence.

Artan's social media rants seemed at odds with the portrait of the young man painted by neighbors and acquaintances.

Jack Ouham, owner of a market

Abdul Razak Ali Artan

near the home on the outskirts of Columbus where Artan lived with his parents and siblings, saw him almost every day when he stopped in for snacks but never alcohol or cigarettes.

He was never angry, Ouham said. ``Very nice guy,'' he said.

Artan graduated with honors from Columbus State Community College last May, earning an associate of arts degree. A video of his graduation ceremony shows

A law enforcement official said Artan came to the U.S. in 2014 as the child of a refugee. Artan had been living in Pakistan from 2007 to 2014. It's not uncommon for refugees to go to a third-party country before being permanently resettled.

Federal and local authorities have been grappling with the pervasiveness of Islamic State group propaganda. FBI Director James Comey said in May that there were ``north of 1,000'' cases in which agents were trying to evaluate a subject's level of radicalization and potential for violence.

Authorities will no doubt look to see if they missed any red flags that could have placed Artan under investigation.

Several acts of jihadist-inspired violence in the past two years have involved people known to the FBI. The FBI investigated Omar Mateen, the gunman in the Orlando nightclub attack in June, for 10 months in 2013 after he boasted of mutual acquaintances with the Boston Marathon bombers and said things to co-workers that suggested he had radical, violent intentions. Agents found nothing to justify continued scrutiny and closed the matter but looked into him again the next year as part of a separate investigation into a suicide bomber who attended the same Florida mosque.

The FBI investigated Omar Mateen, the gunman in the Orlando nightclub attack in June, for 10 months in 2013 after he boasted of mutual acquaintances with the Boston Marathon bombers and said things to co-workers that suggested he had radical, violent intentions

Rehearing on illegal's disability benefits

„

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Ohio varsity attacker stewed over treatment of Muslims

„

DOVER, Del.: A state panel erred in concluding that a woman who was injured on the job remained entitled to disability benefits because she is in the country illegally and has been unable to find other work, the Delaware Supreme Court said. A three-judge panel declared that a person's status as a worker living in the country illegally is not relevant.

December 9, 2016

New Zealand cuts study visas for Indians

Post-doctorate student Karly Grice holds a flower while she attends a vigil

tion with any overseas terror organization.

The mode of attack - plowing a car into civilians, then slashing victims with a butcher knife - was in keeping with the recommended tactics of jihadist propaganda.

ried out the operation in response to calls to target citizens of international coalition countries.'' The Islamic State group has described other attackers around the world as it's ``soldiers'' without specifically claiming to have organized

him jumping and spinning on stage and smiling broadly, drawing laughs, cheers and smiles from graduates and faculty members.

The school said he had no behavioral or disciplinary problems while he was there from the fall of 2014 until this past summer.

He started at Ohio State in August as a business student studying logistics management.

Federal authorities in 2014 looked into Ahmad Khan Rahimi after he was accused of stabbing a relative and his father expressed concerns he might be a terrorist.

The FBI said it found nothing tying Rahimi to terrorism and closed its review. Rahimi was charged with setting off bombs in New York and New Jersey in September; he has pleaded not guilty.-AP

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India citizen guilty of terrorism conspiracy RENO, Nev.: A citizen of India who received asylum in the U.S. and lived in northern Nevada has pleaded guilty to conspiring to plot a terror strike in the Punjab region of his home country on the border with Pakistan, federal law enforcement officials said.

Balwinder Singh, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks in Reno to conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists, a felony that could get him up to 15 years in federal prison and deportation following his release. His sentencing was set for Feb. 27.

Singh's defense attorney, Michael Kennedy, noted the plea deal depends on Hicks' approval and the dismissal of an indictment that could have gotten Singh life in U.S. federal prison.

The indictment accused Singh of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, four counts of falsifying an immigration document, immigration fraud and unlawful production of an identification document. ``Mr. Singh is pleased that the

indictment, if this is accepted, will be dismissed and that the lesser charge puts this behind him,'' Kennedy said.

The defense attorney noted that a clause in the plea agreement would allow Singh to ask to be sent to a third country, not India, under the U.S. Convention Against

Balwinder Singh

Torture.

U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden in Nevada, FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Rouse in Las Vegas and top U.S. Justice Department national security prosecutor Mary

McCord said in a statement that Singh pleaded guilty to planning to send a terrorist operative to India in the fall of 2013 to commit a terror attack - ``likely an assassination or maiming of an Indian governmental official.''

The final target was to be determined after the operative arrived in South Asia, the statement said.

Singh, who officials say also uses the names Baljit Singh, Jhajj, Happy and Possi, has been in federal custody since his arrest in December 2013 in Reno.

Authorities said at the time that his arrest disrupted a plot by the Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Zindabad Force, two terror groups that want an independent Sikh state in the Khalistan region.

His indictment alleged that the conspiracy began before November 1997; that Singh obtained asylum in San Francisco using a false identity; and that he acquired false identification documents in the U.S. to enable him to elude Indian authorities when traveling to his home country.

Singh also was accused of telephoning and wiring money to coconspirators in India for the purchase of weapons and of traveling to Pakistan, India and other countries for meetings to plan terrorist acts.

In 1999, Singh applied for and later obtained a permanent resident card in the U.S., the indictment said.

Singh was accused of provid-

Khalsa International as a terrorist organization, and the European Union designated the Khalistan Zindabad Force as a terror group.

It suggested that U.S. authorities were listening to telephone conversations in January 2012 when Singh allegedly talked about delivering ammunition and when Singh told an unidentified man to get him weapons or explosives.

Investigators also apparently

His indictment alleged that the conspiracy began before November 1997; that Singh obtained asylum in San Francisco using a false identity; and that he acquired false identification documents in the U.S. to enable him to elude Indian authorities when traveling ing funding and materials including night-vision goggles that authorities found during the arrest of a would-be attacker boarding a Dec. 9, 2013, flight from San Francisco International Airport to Bangkok.

The indictment said U.S. State Department listed the Babbar

listened to telephone conversations in May 2012, when Singh allegedly provided instructions to an unidentified man about making an explosive device.

The FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force in northern Nevada was credited with investigating the case. -AP

Somali American helping teens go to college SEATTLE: People often gape openly at Ahlaam Ibraahim. Covered from head to foot in a hijab, the college freshman and daughter of Somali immigrants has grown accustomed to stares from fellow students on the University of Washington campus, just as she did at Rainier Beach High School when she enrolled there four years ago.

But in her entrepreneurial spirit,

our parents have been telling us they came to this country for an education,'' said Ahlaam, whose father drives a cab and mother stays at home caring for four younger children.

Her drive to reach out and organize when many kids are more interested in their social calendars was no surprise to Rainier Beach teacher Colin Pierce. He described Ahlaam as an uncanny mix of

Her drive to reach out and organize when many kids are more interested in their social calendars was no surprise to Rainier Beach teacher Colin Pierce. He described Ahlaam as an uncanny mix of wonkish activism and teen girlhood Ahlaam, 18, is as American as they come, reported the Seattle Times.

This fall, the double major in business and education put her ambition to work by creating a group to help other East African high-school kids navigate the application-andfinancial-aid gauntlet.

Most of the 50 young men and women who have come to early meetings of Educating the Horn will be, like Ahlaam, the first in their families to go to college. ``Ever since we're young kids,

wonkish activism and teen girlhood. ``She is definitely a mover and shaker, with an incredible sense of how you mobilize people,'' Pierce said. ``I could see her becoming a politician.''

The election of Donald Trump to the presidency, after a campaign driven in part by anti-immigrant rhetoric, caused only a momentary blip for Ahlaam. ``I woke up at 3 a.m. and lay there staring up at the sky, think-

ing about how my life's going to change,'' she said. ``I was scared for my safety - a lot of people felt that way. But Donald Trump affected so many minority groups that it gave us a connection, which makes us powerful.''

Born in Seattle, Ahlaam spent her elementary years in Islamic schools. Rainier Beach was her first experience with public education, and initially, it shocked her.

Casual attitudes toward authority, free-form cursing, disrespect for elders - all of it left Ahlaam speechless.

Yet Beach's small size also fostered a sense of family and encouraged her to take a full slate of International Baccalaureate courses. Last spring she learned that she'd earned a full scholarship to the UW. Only later did she realize how unusual that was. ``Not a lot of people who look like me are getting these scholarships, or even applying for them,'' she said. ``So I want them to know, `If Ahlaam can do it, so can I.'?"

On Nov. 26 at East African Community Services, Educating the Horn held a meeting designed as a submission party to help students fill out paperwork, edit college essays and learn of scholarship opportunities.-AP

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Rhodes Scholar to study Bond hearings for detained immigrants? mass migrations DENVER: A former Colorado high school student is headed to the University of Oxford after winning a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to study mass migrations caused by world turmoil.

Hannah Carrese said the current definition of a refugee is outdated in the 21st century because

tral America.

Carrese said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press that when she gets to Oxford next year she plans to look for ways to provide aid so people won't have to flee their homes and find new policies for countries to deal with mass influxes of refugees.

Carrese said people often criticize the United States over its immigration policies and deportation of undocumented immigrants, mostly Hispanics. But she said the United States is better than other countries because it provides paths to citizenship for people who qualify international agreements apply to individuals fleeing violence or persecution, and not mass migrations from places like Syria, Honduras, El Salvador and North Africa.

Carrese worked with refugees from Bhutan while she was in high school in Colorado Springs, and then went to Mexico to work with refugees fleeing violence in Cen-

``These people don't fit the international definition of a refugee, but they're still fleeing violence,'' said Carrese, who graduated from Yale University in May. She said under current rules, individuals must show they need refuge in another country because of persecution for race, religion, ethnicity, political affiliation or that

they are a member of a persecuted social group. ``Now people are fleeing entire states in masses,'' she said, and countries around the globe have limited resources to deal with their problems.

Carrese said people often criticize the United States over its immigration policies and deportation of undocumented immigrants, mostly Hispanics. But she said the United States is better than other countries because it provides paths to citizenship for people who qualify.

She said people often are not aware of violence and discrimination in places like Bhutan, where Hindus are fleeing the Buddhist government, and places like Israel where the government is struggling to cope with large numbers of people from Ethiopia and Eritrea.

She said countries have dealt with immigrants for centuries, but the pace has escalated over the past decade, requiring new standards and policies to deal with them.-AP

Rehearing on illegal's disability benefits DOVER, Del.: A state panel erred in concluding that a woman who was injured on the job remained entitled to disability benefits because she is in the country illegally and has been unable to find other work, the Delaware Supreme Court said.

A three-judge panel declared that a person's status as a worker living in the country illegally is not relevant in determining whether she is presumed to be a ``displaced worker.''

After being paid various periods of total disability, Guardado returned to work until undergoing surgery in 2014. A doctor cleared her to return to work less than two months later, and the company subsequently sought to terminate her disability benefits.

The Industrial Accident Board denied the company's petition last year, saying Guardado, while physically capable of working, was a ``displaced worker'' solely because of her immigration status, and that

Delaware courts have defined a displaced worker as someone who is so disabled by a compensable injury that he or she will no longer be employed regularly in any wellknown branch of the competitive labor market The justices reversed a Superior Court ruling that upheld the state Industrial Accident Board's determination last year in favor of Magdalena Guardado. The Superior Court was ordered to remand the case to the IAB for a new hearing.

Guardado injured her left wrist in 2010 while working at Roos Foods, a cheese company that ceased operations in 2014 following a listeria outbreak and suspension of its food facility registration.

the company's labor market survey had not shown there were jobs within Guardado's reach.

Delaware courts have defined a displaced worker as someone who is so disabled by a compensable injury that he or she will no longer be employed regularly in any well-known branch of the competitive labor market and will require a specially created job to be steadily employed. In deciding whether a worker is displaced, officials consider medical and physi-

cal facts as well as other factors, including age, education and experience. ``We have concluded that an undocumented worker's immigration status is not relevant to determining whether she is a prima facie displaced worker, but it is a relevant factor to be considered in determining whether she is an actually displaced worker,'' Justice James Vaughn Jr. wrote in the court's opinion.

At the same time, the justices said that if a claimant is successful in establishing that she is a displaced worker, the employer's burden of showing that regular jobs within her capabilities are available must take into account her living in the country illegally Vaughn noted that Roos had argued that it's impossible to present evidence that a worker living in the county illegally can obtain employment because that would require presenting affidavits from employers willing to acknowledge that they would commit an illegal act by hiring someone living in the country illegally. ``Although we understand this fear, we do not believe it is warranted,'' Vaughn wrote. ``The uncomfortable reality that gives rise to societal debate is that there are large numbers of undocumented workers in our midst.�-AP

WASHINGTON: A seemingly victed of possession of a condivided Supreme Court has tried trolled substance and driving a to figure out whether the govern- stolen vehicle, according to the ment can detain immigrants indefi- appeals court. He spent no time in nitely without providing hearings jail for the criminal convictions. in which they could argue for their In another case, an Ethiopian release. asylum-seeker was kept in detenThe justices heard argument in tion partly because a DHS officer a class-action lawsuit brought by wrongly labeled him a Somali, acimmigrants who spent long peri- cording to the American Civil Libods behind bars, including many erties Union, which is representwho are legal residents of the ing the immigrants.

United States or are seeking asyThe 9th Circuit ruled that immilum. grants generally should get bond The issue for the court is whether people the government has de- The 9th Circuit ruled that tained while it is consid- immigrants generally should ering deporting them can make their case to a get bond hearings after six judge that they should months in detention, and be released.

The case pits the then every six months if they Obama administration continue to be held against immigration advocates, and the court hearing comes as President-elect hearings after six months in detenDonald Trump has said he will tion, and then every six months if step up deportations. they continue to be held. The govThe San Francisco-based 9th ernment must show why they US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled should remain locked up, the court for the immigrants, including Mexi- said. can immigrant Alejandro Justice Stephen Breyer, voicing Rodriguez, who was detained for a sentiment that appeared to be more than three years without a shared by other liberal justices, bond hearing. expressed astonishment that the Rodriguez is a legal US resident provisions of immigration law at who was brought to the country issue would allow someone reas an infant. The Homeland Secu- leased after a hypothetical fourrity Department detained him when year prison term to be held the it began deportation proceedings same amount of time by US immibecause Rodriguez had been con- gration authorities. -AP

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New Zealand cuts study visas for Indians MELBOURNE: Tightening its visa rules, New Zealand has issued half as many new study visas to Indian students in the past five months as in the same period last year, turning down too many potential students from India.

with too little money to support themselves and too little English to study here, New Zealand's public broadcaster Radio New Zealand reported.

Auckland International Education Group, which represents 16

"It's a wider-sweeping broom that is starting to block students for, from what we can see, no reason whatsoever. Students that would have previously been given visas are being declined," he said Between the start of July and the end of October, the country approved 3,102 visas, just 48 per cent of the 6,462 approved in the same period last year.

The fall was due to tighter rules for, and monitoring of, study visa applications from India because too many students were arriving

private tertiary institutions, said the government had gone too far.

The group's spokesman Paul Chalmers said Immigration New Zealand's Mumbai office was turning down too many potential students.

"It's a matter of loosening up in Mumbai and saying this is now a

catastrophic collapse," he said.

"Rather than just trying to cut the shonky providers out of the market and the poor students who are filling in application forms incorrectly, they need to see if we can improve visa approval rates," Chalmers said.

He said the government was right to tighten English language requirements, but in some cases it was not clear why students were being refused visas.

"It's a wider-sweeping broom that is starting to block students for, from what we can see, no reason whatsoever. Students that would have previously been given visas are being declined," he said.

Richard Goodall, international education spokesperson of Independent Tertiary Education New Zealand (ITENZ), said good institutions would cope with the fall in enrolments from India, but oth-

Protesters disrupt Aussie Parl over refugees CANBERRA, Australia: Rowdy protesters demonstrating against Australia's treatment of asylum seekers disrupted Parliament, some gluing their hands to a railing before security officers finally wrested them out.

Around 30 demonstrators shouting from a public gallery drowned out the House of Representatives, where lawmakers had gathered for a combative, daily 90minute session in which opposi-

by boat. Security officers forced them into a lift and sent them to the building's basement. ``We are here today because your policies are breaking our hearts,'' one protester said.

Australia has deterred refugees from coming by boat from Indonesian ports by refusing to ever resettle them. Australia sends boat arrivals to camps in the Pacific island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea, where they face un-

Around 20 protesters linked arms in a public area of Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on November 30

tion legislators question government ministers about their portfolios.

Speaker Tony Smith adjourned the sitting after the first question for 40 minutes while security officers regained order.

Another 20 protesters linked arms in a public area at the center of Parliament House, demanding that Australia resettle refugees who attempt to reach its shores

certain futures.

The disruption came as Parliament considers reducing public access to the building because of the security threat posed by extremists.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and other government lawmakers left the chamber during the suspension, while most of the opposition Labor Party remained throughout.

``The reason the Labor Party stayed in here today is because we will never give in to those who wish to shut this Parliament down,'' opposition leader Bill Shorten-AP

Guatemala woman dies in ICE custody ELOY, Ariz.: A woman from Guatemala died while in immigration detention in Arizona, marking the third in-custody death nationwide for Immigration and Customs Enforcement since Oct 1.

ICE announced that 36year-old Raquel Calderon de Hildago died at a hospital near the Eloy Detention Center after suffering a series of seizures.

She was transferred to ICE custody Nov. 23, six days after the Border Patrol apprehended her. ICE says she was awaiting removal to her home country.

Immigration activists have been critical of the Eloy Detention Center over its conditions, which they say have led to the deaths of 15 people since 2004.

The center is run by a private prison operator. ICE has said its facilities are thoroughly inspected to ensure that people are in a safe environment. -AP

ers might go out of business.

ITENZ represents several hundred private tertiary institutions.

Goodall said the number of visa approvals was lower, but the caliber of students was higher.

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce said the lower number of new visa approvals was likely to continue for a while. He said Immigration New Zealand was not being too tough.

"Don't forget we were focus-

ing on the things that are important for students to succeed here in terms of their English-language capability and their ability to support themselves financially when they're in New Zealand.

"So I make no apology for making sure that those things are followed up on and the declarations students make are correct," Goodall said, adding that a correction to the Indian market was needed. -PTI

Trump remarks judge to retire SAN ANTONIO: A federal magistrate judge in San Antonio who told people at a citizenship swearing-in ceremony that they ``need to go to another country'' if they object to Donald Trump's presidency now plans to retire next year.

The San Antonio ExpressNews reports that U.S. Magistrate Judge John Primomo disclosed his plans in a letter to Western District federal judges

and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The district judges have barred Primomo from presiding over future naturalization ceremonies.

Primomo has said he wasn't trying to tell the new Americans at the ceremony to leave if they didn't like Trump. He said and his words were meant to be unifying and respectful of the presidency, not political. He added he didn't vote for Trump.-AP

Immigrant can withdraw admission of guilt CLEVELAND: The Ohio Supreme Court says an immigrant charged with stealing an $80 battery charger can withdraw his admission of guilt because the trial court didn't warn him it could lead to deportation.

The 4-3 ruling said a state court should have warned the Cleveland man that admitting guilt to enter a pretrial diversion program could hinder attempts at U.S. citizenship. He's been in the United States legally since

2002.

Issa Kona pleaded not guilty to robbery charges in 2006, then was allowed to apply for diversion and have the charges dismissed after admitting guilt in Cuyahoga County. He unsuccessfully tried to reverse that admission after learning it could affect his immigration status.

A county prosecutor's spokesman says the charges will be dismissed once the case is returned there.-AP

Activists want Tampa to become 'sanctuary city' TAMPA, Fla: A few dozen activists delivered a letter to Tampa City Hall asking Mayor Bob Buckhorn to designate Tampa a ``sanctuary city,'' a jurisdiction where local law enforcement doesn't cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

City spokeswoman Ashley Bauman said Mayor Buckhorn was

in New York on a media tour promoting the city. Bauman said that the mayor was made aware of the request and will consider it.

During a news conference, activists said they are concerned that President-elect Donald Trump has said he would deport some undocumented immigrants.AP

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Professors seek immigrant student protections ALBUQUERQUE, NM: A group of professors at the largest university in the nation's most Hispanic state are asking for more pro-

tainty from immigrant students who are living in the country illegally but have temporary protective status.

Donald Trump massive rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico

tection of immigrant students joining a movement of campuses around the country.

Professors and instructors at the University of New Mexico delivered a letter to the school's president, Bob Frank, amid uncer-

Chicano studies professor Irene Vasquez said the goal was to declare the University of New Mexico and its satellite campuses a ``sanctuary university'' following the election of Republican Donald Trump.

``It's so important now to gather and show our solidarity,'' Vasquez said. Like sanctuary cities, sanctuary universities would limit the use of student data and citizen status to federal authorities.

Advocates say the students are scared of being deported after Trump's election as since he previously said he wanted a ``deportation force'' to remove immigrants living in the country illegally. He also has promised to reverse an executive order by President Barack Obama that gave immigrant students temporary protective status.

The University of New Mexico has long allowed immigrant students who are living in the country illegally to attend at in-state tuition rates.

Frank, who accepted the letter in his office, said university lawyers are looking into a ``sanctuary'' designation, and he will present their finds to the school's board of regents.

3 girls charged with hate crime in train BOSTON: Authorities in Massachusetts say three 15-year-old girls are facing hate crime charges after they allegedly assaulted a woman who they thought was an immigrant on a commuter train this month.

Suffolk County prosecutors say the Boston teens were all charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and a civil rights violation causing injury.

They have been arraigned and released to their parents.

Prosecutors say the 49-year-old victim boarded a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

train on Nov. 7. Authorities say the teens verbally harassed the vic-

tim, mocked her accent and one

teen ``repeatedly punched'' and hit the woman with a cellphone when she tried to move seats.

T h e office says a witness reported the incident to transit police.

T h e teens are due back in court Nov. 30.-AP

Teacher asks student if she is 'illegal'

More than 200K left NJ last year

CLIFTON, Va.: Amother is calling for her daughter's Fairfax County high school English teacher to be suspended after the educator asked the girl whether she is an illegal immigrant.

Kelly Valero tells WUSA-TV that her daughter, who is Hispanic, wrote an essay in her Centreville High School class responding to President-elect Donald Trump's victory. The girl wrote she is upset because she thinks Trump will try to deport

TRENTON, NJ: Census data show 227,000 residents put New Jersey in their rearview mirrors last year and mostly headed to Pennsylvania or New York.

The state lost 17,000 more people than it gained, but the loss in population was tempered by a gain of more than 62,000 immigrants, mainly from Asia.

NJ.com reports the 2015 American Community Survey found most of the New Jerseyans who left headed to Pennsylvania or New York.-AP

her family.

Valero says the unidentified teacher wrote on the essay ``If I may ask, Are you legal or illegal? ... I hope you get to stay!'' Valero called the comment hurtful.

Fairfax County Public Schools said in a statement that the teacher's comment was ``inappropriate'' and school administrators have addressed the matter. Officials declined to discuss any possible disciplinary action. -AP

``We are beginning to do research on it,'' said Frank told faculty and immigrant students. ``In the interim, we are very much committed to your safety.''

The move comes as university professors, instructors and students around the country are organizing petitions and letter writing campaigns to college adminis-

trators asking them to declare their campuses ``sanctuary universities'' for immigrant students.

Latino professors and students at the University of Houston, for example, are gathering signatures for a letter to University of Houston System President and Chancellor Renu Khator seeking a sanctuary designation.-AP

Texas rejects antiHispanic studies book AUSTIN, Texas: The Texas Board of Education has unanimously rejected a Mexican-American studies textbook that experts say is rife with factual errors and anti-Hispanic bias.

The vote means the book titled ``Mexican American Heritage'' can't be used to teach Texas public high school students.

Two years ago, the Republicancontrolled board refused to create a full Mexican-American studies course for the state. Instead, it asked publishers to submit pro-

posed ethnic studies textbooks which high schools could use to create their own courses.

The only Mexican-American studies book submitted was the one rejected. Academics and activists highlighted dozens of inaccuracies and stereotypes in the book, including that Mexican immigrants were ``lazy.''

Cynthia Dunbar, a former conservative board member whose company published the book, threatened that legal action could follow if it was rejected.-AP

Sheriff's major charged with faking citizenship NASHVILLE, Tenn: A Tennessee sheriff's major is charged with lying about being a U.S. citizen on his job application, then denying it when he later applied for citizenship.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith announced charges against 47-year-old Terry McBurney of Murfreesboro.

A news release says McBurney was born in Ireland and wasn't a U.S. citizen, but claimed it in his 2010 job application documents.

It says McBurney in January was promoted to major, a position requiring U.S. citizenship. It says while he was seeking citizenship, McBurney denied previously claiming U.S. citizenship.

He became a citizen in February. He faces up to 40 years in prison for unlawful procurement of citizenship, false statement about naturalization under oath and wire fraud. He faces a $250,000 fine for each charge. He could lose his citizenship.-AP

Archbishop addresses immigrant fears SANTA FE, NM: Santa Fe Roman Catholic Archbishop John Wester is addressing the fears that have emerged among immigrants since Election Day. Wester says he knows there are people within the archdiocese who are fearful of what may happen to them if the incoming Trump administration repeals, as promised on the campaign trail, an Obama ad-

ministration program that allows immigrants brought to the country illegally as children to avoid deportation and get work permits.

He announced in a statement that the diocese will support and advocate for immigrants in the church, saying many fled persecution, poverty and violence in their countries to come to the United States.-AP

Desi News Dr. Manu Vora appointed on Fulbright Roster SURESH SHAH

CHICAGO: Indian chemical engineer and community activist Dr. Manu Vora has been selected on a Fulbright Specialist Roster.

The appointment is for a fiveyear term from 2016 to 2021. This program is managed by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Institute of International Education's Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). The Roster is a list of all candidates who are eligible to be matched with incoming project requests from overseas academic institutions for Fulbright Specialists.

Highly educated Dr. Manu Vora is the Chairman and President of Business Excellence, a global quality management firm and has under his belt over 41 years of leadership experience guiding even Fortune 500 companies.

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

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Munish drive to stop donations to AAP Details on page 22

December 9, 2016

Indian Consulate in Chicago celebrates Constitution Day SURENDRA ULLAL

Details on page 18

Parina Mehrotra honored with humanitarian award SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Mrs. Parina Mehrotra, Vice-President of Geeta Mandir, Winnetka, a suburb of Chicago and a Sunday School teacher at the Hindu Temples for the last 20 years, was honored by Asian Chronicle USA TV Channel with the Asian American Humanitarian Award 2016 and President Barack Obama's Gold Volunteer Service Medal of Honor.

The award ceremony took place on Nov. 20 at a dinner banquet at Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Schiller Park, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.

Details on page 18

Purohits re-launch India TV Hindi A.Q. SIDDIQUI India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Midwest's popular Hindi TV channel, "India TV" that has successfully combined entertainment and South Asian community news around Chicago since 1998, will beam soon on prime time through Comcast digital Ch 113.

This was announced at a press conference by its anchor Mina Purohit and producer Kishore Purohit in Chicago this week.

Details on page 21

A group of attendees with Indian CG and Consulate officials at the Indian Consulate

CHICAGO: The second Constitution Day or 'Samvidhan Diwas' was solemnly celebrated at the premises of the Consulate General of India in Chicago on Friday November 25. The day commemorates adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, considered as the chief architect of the Constitution of India, served as the Chairman of the 389-member Drafting Committee of the Constitution and played a pioneering role in the finalization of Constitution of India.

Last year, a National Committee under the Chairmanship of MPM Modi took a decision to celebrate "Constitution Day" every year as part of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Indian CG Dr. Ausaf Sayeed outlined the significance of the 'Constitution Day' and recalled the pioneering work done by the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar in drafting the Constitution of India.

CG also emphasized that the

Constitution of India does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, creed, sex or any other ground. It is the duty of every citizen of India, therefore, to uphold the Constitution

was screened to showcase his contribution in drafting the Constitution and upliftment of the downtrodden and oppressed sections of Society. An exhibition of photographs on Dr. Ambedkar

the Indian Diaspora was also briefed about the upcoming events of the Consulate as well as 14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention to be held in Bengaluru from 7th-9th January,

Photo exhibition of Dr BR Ambedkar's life and contributions

both in its letter and spirit. The Consul General also read out the Preamble of the Constitution of India.

During the program, a film on the life and times of Dr. Ambedkar

was also organized as part of the celebration.

The event was attended by a cross-section of prominent Indian-Americans residing in Chicagoland. On this occasion,

2017. The PIOs/OCIs were encouraged to register and participate in the 14th PBD Convention in large numbers.

Consul O.P Meena proposed a vote of thanks.

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Kanti Patel elected new FIA President HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: Kanti Patel, has been unanimously elected as President of Federation of Indian Associations (FIA-Chicago) 2017-2018 at the general body meeting held on Sunday November 19 at North shore Banquets in Chicago.

FIA-Chicago has now reached a new milestone in mobilizing 60 community organizations under its umbrella - thus surpassing all the records hitherto established since 1980.

The executive board for the year 2017-18 is as follows: Sanhita Agnihotri as Executive Vice President; Ajeet Singh, Veenod Patel & Sateeshan Nair as Vice Presidents; Chirayu Parikh as Secretary; Ravi Harsoor as Treasurer; Ami Mehta

FIA Chicago newly elected Executive Board and the Trustees seen at the General Body Meeting

as Joint Secretary and Hafsa Afham as Joint Treasurer.

Kanti N. Patel as PresidentElect expressed thanks to the FIA

members for placing trust in his leadership and assured that he

was committed to reenergizing FIA to its glory and restoring its premier value in the Indian American community. He was optimistic given the energized spirit permeating in FIA. The annual elections were conducted by Election Committee consisting of Satish Gabhawala, Kanti S. Patel and Anil Pillai who diligently worked to ensure the elections were conducted consistent with the provisions of the byelaws and certified the elections.

The new FIA Executive Board will take oath of office on the occasion of the celebration of India's Republic Day scheduled to be held on January 27, 2017 at Shalimar Banquets in Villa Park, IL.

HP & India Today honor Ekal Foundation PRAKASH WAGHMARE

E

nergized by its exemplary success in providing lit eracy and integrated development in villages across India, "Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation", two years back, introduced an innovative digitized supplement to rural life to speed up its integration into the mainstream. This was never before conceived, leave alone an adopted approach to affect rural life.

Recently, Ekal was honored with the "Digital Trailblazer Award" at the Digital Conclave organized by 'Hewlett Packard' in association with 'India Today Gr.' for this unique initiative. The event was held at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Ranchi, Jharkhand on October 2. Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das presented the award to Lalan Kumar Sharma, Program Director of 'Ekal

Gramotthan' (village renaissance).

Several luminaries attended the event, including C.P Singh, the Minister for Urban Development, Sunil Barnwal, Secretary, Information Technology, Jharkhand state, Vivek Modwal, Country Manager Hewlett Packard and Aradhna Patnaik, Secretary Education and Human Resource Development.

The award by Hewlett Packard and India Today is a great testament to the impact Ekal is creating in rural India.

Recently, Ekal had another occasion to put a feather in its cap of achievements. On Dec. 2, the USIndia Chamber of Commerce of Dallas/Fort Worth, TX conferred 'Leadership in Community Service Award' on "Ekal Vidyalaya" at their annual Award Banquet. Dr Robert Kaplan, President and CEO of Federal Reserve bank of Dallas was the keynote speaker and Anupam Ray, Consul General of India (Houston) was the Chief Guest.

According to Kaplan Fruitwala, a member of Ekal 'Board of Directors' and Regional President of South-West region, 'this Award is given after a rigorous and competitive evaluation process with regards to consistency, achievements and contributions to Society and Ekal is very grateful that 'US-India Chamber of Commerce' has recognized Ekal's efforts".

Last month also saw 'Better Business Bureau' (BBB) putting a seal of approval on 'Ekal' as the member of 'Wise Giving Alliance', a select group of honorable prestigious organizations for public charity.

Ekal, a non-profit organization, runs single teacher schools in over 54,000 rural remote villages that benefit 1.5 million young children - more than half of which are girls.

today. Through 'Ekal-On-Wheels', a mobile computer training lab, Ekal imparts digital literacy to 5,000 students each year.

By next year, there would be

Recently, Ekal had another occasion to put a feather in its cap of achievements. On Dec. 2, the US-India Chamber of Commerce of Dallas/Fort Worth, TX conferred 'Leadership in Community Service Award' on "Ekal Vidyalaya" at their annual Award Banquet According to Mohan Wanchoo, who has pledged $200,000 per year for several years, 'Digital-Ekal' works on many different levels and is a lightning rod to change the 'face of villages' as we know them

nine such computer-fitted vans making rounds of villages making 45,000 students computer-literate, each year.

Cont’d on page 20

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Dr. Manu Vora appointed on Fulbright Roster SURESH SHAH

CHICAGO: Indian chemical en- to be matched with incoming gineer and community activist Dr. project requests from overseas Manu Vora has been selected on a academic institutions for Fulbright Specialist Roster.

Fulbright Specialists.

The apHighly pointment is educated for a five-year Dr. Manu term from Vora is the 2016 to 2021.

Chairman This program and Presiis managed by dent of the U.S. DeBusiness partment of Excellence, State's Bua global reau of Educaquality tional and manageCultural Afment firm fairs (ECA) and has unand the Instider his belt tute of Interover 41 national years of Dr Manu Vora Education's leadership Council experience for International Exchange of guiding even Fortune 500 compaScholars (CIES). The Roster is a list nies. of all candidates who are eligible Manu holds an MBA with Mar-

keting Management from the Keller Graduate School of Management in Chicago, M.S. & Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, and B.S. in Chemical Engineering with Honors from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi in India.

He received the "Distinguished Alumnus Award" in 2015 from BHU (his alma mater). He has published over 60 articles in professional journals. As an ASQ Influential Voice, he has written 50 blogs. In 2005, he authored "Managing Human Capital" chapter in the Six Sigma for Transactions and

Service book published by McGraw-Hill.

In1989, he established the Blind Foundation for India (BFI) to serve 15 million visually impaired people in India. The BFI team has raised over $4 million to support over one million people in India for their eyesight checkups.

Parina Mehrotra honored with humanitarian award SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Mrs. Parina Mehrotra, Vice-President of Geeta Mandir, Winnetka, a suburb of Chicago and a Sunday School teacher at the Hindu Temples for the last 20 years, was honored by Asian Chronicle USA TV Channel with the Asian American Humanitarian Award 2016 and President Barack Obama's Gold Volunteer Service Medal of Honor.

The award ceremony took place on Nov. 20 at a dinner banquet at Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Schiller Park, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.

Parina Mehrotra was awarded with a plaque, presidential service medal and a lapel pin by Secretary of State of Illinois Jesse White.

Besides Secretary of State, Counsel General of Korea in Chicago Jong-Kook Lee, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and nearly 300 guests, mostly Asian Americans of Chicago, attended the event.

After the welcome remarks, the program started with a tribute by Rajinder Singh Mago to Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikh faith, in celebration of his 547th birth anniversary being celebrated in Chicago area that day.

Parina Mehrotra with her award

Rajinder Singh Mago addressing the gathering

The program included musical entertainment. Parina Mehrotra rendered a Punjabi song and her

talented son Sohum Mehrotra sang an English song.She has also received recognition awards from the Punjabi cultural society of Chicago for singing and promoting Punjabi folk songs.

Master of Ceremonies Ms. Lourdes Mon observed that Perina promotes spirituality in Chicagoland through teaching human values, meditation, and yoga. She is the vice-president of Geeta Mandir, an organization that spreads the message of oneness, love, and respect.

Parina with Bachelor's degree in Education, and a Master's degree in English Literature under her belt, received her inspiration from her grandparents who lived and

selflessly served for 30 years in an ashram in Vrindavan, considered among the holiest lands of Lord Krishna. At the ashram she served food to thousands, and provided elementary education to the young children of poor and needy.

She provided basic medical assistance to widows at the Vrindavan Widows Ashram. At an early age she founded a primary school to provide free-of-charge education to children of poor and down-trodden communities from the rural areas in Indore, India.

Students were also provided free school supplies and transportation to school.

Cont’d on page 19

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Protest over Barbie-fication of Lord Krishna India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles gallery displaying iconic Ken doll as Lord Krishna in their current "Plastic Religion" exhibition has dismayed Indian Americans across the country; many deeming it highly inappropriate.

"Plastic Religion" exhibition includes this Ken doll as Lord Krishna, at La Luz de Jesus Gal-

lery in Los Angeles by Argentine artists, Marianela Perelli and Pool Paolini, scheduled from December 2 to December 31, 2016 Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, joined by Sohan Joshi a former chief of National Federation of Indian Associations and Nand Kapur of Association of Indians in America, have taken strong exception to blatant disregard of Indian senti-

ment and have urged the gallery management to withdraw Barbieized Lord Krishna from the exhibition as it trivialized the highly revered deity of Hinduism.

As Ken is trademarked by

Rajan Zed further said that Hindus welcomed the art world to immerse in Hinduism but taking it seriously and respectfully and not for refashioning Hinduism concepts and symbols for personal

Concern over Keith Ellison bid for DNC Chair NEELA PANDYA

WASHINGTON, DC: Indian Americans across the country joined by NRI Press Club ,Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and many local bodies, have expressed their concern along with prominent human and civil rights organizations over the bid by Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) to head the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Rep. Ellison's decade long leg-

Keith Ellison

islative activism against India, cosponsoring resolutions, congressional letters and statements impacted on the interests of Indian Americans and also gave a platform to certain activists previously accused of Hindu phobia.

In 2012 and 2013, Ellison joined Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) in introduc-

ing two failed pieces of legislation, H.Res 569 and H.Res. 417.

Both H.Res. 417 and H.Res. 569 selectively highlighted riots that disproportionately impacted Muslims in India more than a decade previously, but noticeably failed to acknowledge or condemn the ethnic cleansing of Hindus in Jammu & Kashmir, cross-border Islamist terrorist attacks on India, or the status of Hindu refugee populations in India that fled persecution in neighboring Muslim-majority countries.

Both ignored the fact that 80 percent of attacks that occurred in India since 2012 had been carried out by the Indian Mujahideen, an Islamist terrorist group banned by the US and India. H.Res 417 was also criticized by observers for its poorly thoughtthrough attempt to interfere with pending national elections in India, and for calling on India to create unconstitutional extrajudicial tribunals solely comprising representatives of minority communities to prosecute members of the majority Hindu community.

Cont’d on page 20

Parina Mehrotra honored with humanitarian award Cont’d from page 18

Parina's goal in life is to practice, preserve and promote peace, love and unity through selfless service around the world. The Asian Humanitarian Award is given annually by the Asian

Chronicle TV channel to individuals and families which are cohesive role models for others to emulate, extend numerous civic and community services here and/or in their native countries, and they impact the positive image of Asians in America.

Barbie in the garb of Lord Krishna

Mattel, Inc.; Rajan also urged the intervention of Christopher A. Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer of Mattel, which was named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies".

agendas. Barbie-fication of Lord Krishna was simply improper and out of place.

Lord Krishna is the eighth avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu and subject of major Hindu scrip-

tures such as the Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord) and BhagavadPurana. There are about three million Hindus in USA and moksh (liberation) is the ultimate goal of Hinduism which is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents.

La Luz de Jesus Gallery, established in 1986, claims to be "One of the most important, ground-breaking galleries in LA". Billy Shire and Matt Kennedy are the Proprietor and Director respectively.

Ken (Kenneth Carson), a Mattel toy doll launched in 1961 is said to be the fictional boyfriend of toy doll Barbie. Headquartered in El Segundo, Mattel claims to be "worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products".

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AT&T among best workplaces for diversity India Post News Service

DALLAS: Global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work™ and Fortune has named AT&T one of the 2016 Best Workplaces for Diversity.

AT&T ranked #39 on the list, which is based on employees' assessments of workplace fairness, opportunities for training, and access to senior leadership, among other factors.

Workplaces that prize diversity and inclusiveness aren't just good

for specific classes of workers. Organizations create winning workplaces by promoting environments that are great for all employees, according to research Great Place to Work conducted to compile the list. The 50 companies on the 2016 Best Workplaces for Diversity list average 24% higher year-overyear revenue growth than other Great Place to WorkCertifiedTM workplaces that didn't earn a spot on the ranking.

"A diverse workforce isn't just

the right thing, it's good for business," said Cynt Marshall, senior vice president of human resources and chief diversity officer. "We are committed to creating a truly inclusive environment at AT&T. That commitment starts at the top with our chairman and continues with meaningful diversity and inclusion programs."

"We congratulate this year's winners for showing that diverse workplaces are good for ALL employees," said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. "Bottom line? Our research shows that the most inclusive workplaces enjoy significantly higher revenue growth than less-inclusive workplaces - evidence that these orga-

HP & India Today honor Ekal Foundation

nizations are cultivating the full human potential of all their people."

Great Place to Work published other Best Workplaces for Diversity lists. These include the Best Workplaces for Latinos, the Best Workplaces for Asian Americans,

and the Best Workplaces for African Americans. AT&T also ranked #10 on the African American list.

Great Place to Work also produced a report with survey data and workforce practices to help other workplaces become more inclusive.

Concern over Keith Ellison bid for DNC Chair Cont’d from page 19

Cont’d from page 17

They make use of spoken tutorials techniques, specially developed by IIT Bombay. Another initiative of Digital-Ekal is 'Lok-Vidya' or educating a common man. It provides practical information on vast number of topics related to indigenous conditions so as to improve personal health or crop output.

To support and increase this vast number of digital transactions, Ekal has erected several Internet Towers where power is provided by solar-panels. 'Tablet-Computer' pilot program is under way in some of the villages where teachers make use of 'Tablets' loaded with educational material.

According to Dr. Shubhangi Thakur, President of 'Health Foundation for Rural India' (another wing of 'Ekal Vidyalaya'), for next year, 'Tele-Medicine', that remotely digitally diagnosis most common ailments, is under consideration, with help from 'John Hopkins University', Baltimore, USA. There is also a proposal to put the impover-

ished farmers directly in closer contact with the market-place through digital technology.

Hampered by unsanitary conditions and lack of awareness about personal hygiene, proper healthcare in all its form is a dis-

Village folks are also being trained to conserve clean water and observe cleanliness in daily functionality. For this to become a way of life, habit-changing infrastructure is being vigorously promoted with necessary tools

Village folks are also being trained to conserve clean water and observe cleanliness in daily functionality. For this to become a way of life, habit-changing infrastructure is being vigorously promoted with necessary tools for their success tant call in rural life. Inspired by PM Modi's 'Swachchh Bharat' (Clean India) clarion call, Ekal has embarked on clean environment campaigns in several villages where the focus is on awareness and accountability of one's actions.

Himanshu Shah, CEO of 'Shah Capital', who has pledged $100,000 per year for several years, is spearheading these efforts.

for their success. In short, 'Ekal' is expanding its horizon beyond basic education, healthcare or village-development. With generous support from masses, it wants to play a major role molding the character of the nation itself. Kindly join and help Ekal through www.ekal.org.

The writer is "EVF", National Committee (Chairperson) on PR/ Media-affairs

ateness of the hearing.

Undeterred, Ellison earned a rebuke earlier this year from the Indian government, and many Indian Americans, after he again joined Pitts in alleging that attacks against Indian minorities were increasing. India's external affairs ministry (counterpart to the US State Department) reacted in a rare public statement calling the letter inaccurate on facts and "unfortu-

Ellison further failed to support initiatives, including H.Res. 396 and a Congressional letter to Secretary Kerry, to protect the human rights of Hindus and other minorities in countries, such as Bangladesh and Pakistan.

"Congressman Ellison has a troubling track record of selective human rights activism in the context of South Asia," said Samir Kalra. "Though Mr. Ellison demon- He is glaringly silent as to strates a determined focus on India, he is glar- the plight of Hindu and other ingly silent as to the plight of Hindu and minorities in Jammu & other minorities in Kashmir, Pakistan, and Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan, and Bangladesh Bangladesh who face institutionalized hurdles, as well as social terror and violence on a nate." daily basis."

"Surveys confirm that nearly 65 In April of 2014, just a week percent of Indian Americans are before elections were held in In- registered or lean Democrat, so dia, Ellison and Pitts hosted a Con- leadership of the DNC is a matter gressional hearing critical of India. of great importance in further enThe hearing was panned, as it ap- gaging the community," added peared as if some within Congress Suhag Shukla, HAF's Executive were attempting, for a second time, Director. "Mr. Ellison's record on to influence elections in the India over the last decade raises world's largest democracy. many concerns, but we believe The timing of the hearing, and that beginning a constructive diaits anti-India views, prompted oth- logue between the Indian and ers, including Reps. Tulsi Gabbard Hindu American communities and (D-HI) and Brad Sherman (D-CA), Mr. Ellison are important first steps to state for the record their seri- in realizing unity and inclusivity ous concerns about the appropri- urgently needed today."

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Purohits re-launch India TV Hindi A.Q. SIDDIQUI India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Midwest's popular Hindi TV channel, "India TV" that has successfully combined entertainment and South Asian community news around Chicago since 1998, will beam soon on prime time through Comcast digital Ch 113.

This was announced at a press conference by its anchor Mina Purohit and producer Kishore Purohit in Chicago this week. The press conference was held at Viceroy Restaurant on Devon Avenue. All Indian and Pakistani media persons were invited for the press conference.

While Kishore Purohit briefly spoke about the re-launch of the popular TV show, anchor Mina Purohit announced that the New Year 2017 will bring back India TV to all South Asian homes through Comcast ch 113 every Friday and Sunday at 9 pm. She said that timings were finalized after carefully reviewing the community's leisure time for entertainment

India TV rejuvenated team

show was most popular for its segments on Sanskriti and Saptahikee.

"So here we come, "she said enthusiastically, "Entertainment, news, community corner, Bollywood Mehfil, Karaoke, star of the week and Geet Gaata Chal."

Mina said that new ideas were adopted for the forthcoming shows. There will be a "Desi View" talk show, and segments for community discussion and family enter-

Anchor Meena Purohit and Producer Kishore Purohit with their two colleagues

on weekends.

Mina said the popular show that had beamed 1675 shows earlier, was shelved as she was busy producing a Gujarati fea-

ture film. However, she remained nostalgic for the most popular community show in Midwest and has been getting prompts from many circles for its revival. India TV

tainment. Mina informed that "Desi View" host panel will have well-known community activist Usha Kumaria. Among others, Ashima Washington and Pratibha Jairath will also be among the hosts.

Pratibha Jairath is also a singer and is associated with Bollywood entertainment.

India TV will be relayed from first week of January 2017 every Friday and Sunday at 9 pm. Tune for it on Comcast ch 113.

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Pharmacists hold annual Diwali party SURESH BODIWALA

CHICAGO: The Association of Indian Pharmacists in America (AIPHA) organized its Annual Diwali Party on Sunday, November 20 at the Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows. It was attended by members and invited guests.

The program was highly successful with Master of Ceremonies for the occasion Tushar Mehta kicking off the program welcoming everyone to the gala. One minute of silence was observed in memory of Usha Bhatt, mother of Harish Bhatt, president AIPHA. "This organization has been around for over 25 years. Thanks to AIPHA Board members, their families, our sponsors, advertisers, guests and members who have made today's program highly successful," said Tushar Mehta, AIPHA Board of Director.

Sponsors of AIPHA Annual Diwali Party were Cardinal Drugs, HD Smith Drugs and McKesson Drugs.

Legendary genius Madan Mohan Kohli's life and music were explored in a spectacular musical narrative "Betaab Dil," presented

by Madan Kulkarni of Dhrishti Arts & Niche Entertainment. A dream line up of performers led by Vibhavari Joshi along with Rafi Habib and Dhawal Chandwadkar presented gems from Madanji's creations accompanied by an accomplished orchestra with live narration by noted theater personality Salim Arif, directed by Milind Oak and conceived by Madan Kulkarni.

AIPHA, a national organization founded in 1985 by 20 members, has over 453 members today dedicated to increasing cultural awareness and promoting diversity

A section of attendees at the AIPHA Diwali meet

Betab Dil presentation by Drishti entertained and highlighted the AIPHA meet

through various pharmaceutical services, promotional, and social events. The student chapter of

AIPHA at the University of Illinois-College of Pharmacy was established in 1996. AIPHA's most

important mission is to promote representation of Indo-American practicing pharmacists and stu-

dent pharmacists in various professional and socio-cultural activities.

Munish drive to stop donations to AAP India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Dr. Munish Raizada - a suspended member and ex coconvener of NRI cell of Aam Aadmi Party - has launched a No List: No Donation Campaign against AAP. He had written an open letter to Aam Aadmi Party on Nov 26 (Foundation Day) urging them to put all the donors' lists on the official website of the party. He had given them a week's time. It may be known that since June 2016 AAP has removed the names of the donors from its website.

Raizada says that AAP came into being with a promise of showing 100 % transparency in its financial transactions. It made a commitment to the public: "Ev-

ery single rupee donated to the party will be published on the website immediately along with the details of the donor. Every expense done by the party will also be published on the

website." (link from AAP website) Raizada says that rather than sticking to its core principles, the party has hidden the donation details from its website in the

Arvind Kejriwal with AAP leaders

guise of opposition targeting its donors. He has rejected this political excuse by the party and has urged AAP to walk the talk.

Since the party has failed to show its donations in a week period, Raizada has started an online pledge via Change.org. He is asking the public to take this pledge: I take a pledge NOT to donate to Aam Aadmi Party UNTIL it starts making its donations public.

The pledge can be accessed via: h t t p s : / / w w w. c h a n g e . o r g / p / aam-aadmi-party-takea-pledge-not-to-donate-to-aam-aadmi-

party-aap-unless-it-makes-donor-list-public To intensify the stir, Raizada has launched a website www.NoListNoDonation.com.

Raizada says that his team will take the Satyagraha to the public in form of ground campaign after December 20. The manual pledge forms signed by thousands of people in India will be then delivered to the office of Aam Aadmi Party by hand.

Raizada says that lack of transparency in political funding leads to corruption, favoritism and nepotism. A party that was created to make India corruption free has now started compromising with righteousness. He hoped that his Satyagraha will pressurize his party to do the course correction.

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Dr. Manu Vora delivers course at IIT, Varanasi FRANK FERNANDEZ India Post News Service

VARANASI: India-born quality award winning engineer and

approved by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India (GOI).

This year the GOI is spending Rs. 35 crores to import faculty

Dr Manu Vora

community activist, Dr. Manu Vora delivered a management excellence course recently at his alma mater, IIT (BHU), Varanasi.

Called "Project Management for Organizational Excellence", a Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN) Course, it was

from around the world at Centrallyrun educational institutes. The 30hour course delivered over 10 days was video recorded and will be offered as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) going forward. The Project Management skill is absolutely critical in all

domains for successful project execution.

Dr. Manu Vora, graduate in chemical engineering with Honors from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi in India, is Chairman and President of Business Excellence, Inc., a global quality management firm. He has over 41 years of leadership experience and has guided Fortune 500 companies with US Baldrige Performance Excellence Award assessment.

Manu holds an MBA with Marketing Management from the Keller Graduate School of Management in Chicago, M.S. & Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, For over 23 years, as an Adjunct Professor, he has taught Operations Management courses at various business schools globally. He is affiliated with over 80 educational institutions around the world. He is listed in "Who's Who in the World", "Who's Who in America", "Who's Who in the Midwest", "Who's Who in Science and Engineering", "Who's Who in Finance and Business", and "American Men and Women of Science".

'Demonetization changed rules for all parties' NEW DELHI: Demonetization has "changed the rules of the game" for all parties as black money will now be out of elections, BJP President Amit Shah has said and asserted that the upcoming UP Assembly polls will be contested on performance and not on politics of caste and nepotism.

Shah also hit out at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has criticized demonetization, saying that despite being an economist, he had brought the growth rate down "from 8 per cent to 4 per cent" while a "chaiwallah" PM has again raised it to 7.6 per cent.

Speaking at a program 'Agenda Aaj Tak', the BJP chief said that people were supporting the Centre's demonetization move and it has also "changed the rules of the game by dealing a blow to black money" which was used in

elections.

"If it causes problems, it will cause problems for all political parties. It will be a level playing field. We want that black money is removed from the system, it is

Amit Shah

they who don't want it," Shah said.

Responding to a question about BSP chief Mayawati calling demonetization as financial emergency, Shah responded with a jibe

saying it was definitely so for her party.

"In the upcoming UP elections, the politics of caste, the politics of nepotism will be coming to an end and the politics of performance will take centre-stage," he said.

Hitting out at political rivals, Shah said that till November 8, they were asking "what are you doing on black money and now they are saying why are you taking action against black money".

He claimed that post demonetization black money will not survive, because if is left in homes it will become junk and if it comes to banks it will become part of the system and will be taxable.-PTI

'Vibrant Gujarat connecting India to world' PRAKASH M SWAMY

GANDHINAGAR: Having successfully organized seven constructive summits, Government of Gujarat, as part of its journey towards sustainable long-term growth and inclusive development, is organizing the 8th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit from the 10th to 13th of January 2017 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The central focus of

Bharat Lal

potential partners to explore opportunities of collaboration and partnership networking forums to foster interaction between stakeholders through B2B and B2G meetings in an exhibition spread over 1,25,000 sq.mts with exclusive demo sessions showcasing the latest trends and technology, products and services across sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Global Trade Show in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister and MOS (Independent Charge), Commerce & Industries Nirmala Seetharaman.

There will be a Global CEO Roundtable chaired by PM Modi with Select 50 top CEOs. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 is receiving tremendous response in the US, members of a high level state delegation said after meeting senior government officials and CEOs of top tech companies here.

Underlining the rapid economic development that is taking place under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lal referred to Gujarat as being the driving engine of Indian growth.

"The state accounts for 19 per cent of industrial output, 41 per cent of cargo exports and 10 per cent of India's manufacturing industries," he said, adding that Gujarat ranked number one in "ease of doing business".

The US has agreed to be a partner country in the next edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, the brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in January 2017.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha

the Summit is Sustainable Economic and Social Development.

"Vibrant Gujarat is connecting India to the world," says Resident Commissioner of Gujarat in New Delhi Bharat Lal. He told this correspondent that the objective of Vibrant Gujarat is "to interact with government officials and the business community during this road show in Canada and USA, to attract investors, scientists and entrepreneurs from all over the world to come to Gujarat and participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017," he said.

"Vibrant Gujarat is the biggest platform for enabling business in India. In the post GST (Goods and Services Tax Bill) scenario, when India becomes 'One Nation - One Market', Gujarat holds a unique distinction with favorable geographical location, state-of-the-art in- The central focus of the frastructure and sound Summit is Sustainable policies," he added.

The Vibrant Gujarat Economic and Social Global Summit, which started in 2003 to re- Development kindle the pace of investments in the state, has since Desai Biswal had conveyed this established itself as one of the to Bharat Lal. Biswal recently met most important international busi- with a Gujarat delegation, led by ness events in the country, Bharat Resident Commissioner Bharat Lal, who was accompanied by InLal says.

Far from the regional invest- dian Charge d'Affairs Ambassament fair that characterized the dor Taranjit Singh Sandhu in first Summit in 2003, the biennial Washington.

She announced US' intent to Summit has today become a unique forum for exchanging participate as a Partner Country ideas, sharing knowledge, net- in the 2017 Vibrant Gujarat Global working, exploring business op- Summit, the government of portunities and signing coopera- Gujarat's biennial investors' sumtion agreements and partnerships, mit that brings together global while setting the policy agenda for business leaders, investors, cormeeting some of the current glo- porations, thought leaders, and policymakers. US Secretary of bal challenges.

The Summit provides platform State John Kerry had attended the for SMEs to connect globally with last Vibrant Gujarat Summit.

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Top UN Environmental Award for Mumbai lawyer NEW DELHI: Indian lawyer Afroz Shah has been announced as one of the winners of the United Nations' top environmental accolade, the Champions of the Earth award, for his efforts in launching what has become the world's largest beach clean-up in

of volunteers he's inspired, is a wonderful example of citizen action and reminds the rest of the world that even the most ambitious, global agreements are only as good as the individual action and determination that brings them to life.

Champion of the Earth from India Afroz Shah (right) cleaning Versova beach in Mumbai with UNEP Executive Director Erik Solheim

Mumbai.

Awarded in the category of Action and Inspiration, Mr. Shah is being recognised for inspiring hundreds of volunteers over the past year to help rid Mumbai's Versova Beach of 4,000 tons of plastic, glass and filth that had built up on the sand.

Head of UN Environment Erik Solheim, who joined Mr. Shah for a day collecting waste from the beach in October, said: "Mr. Shah's efforts, and the hundreds

"His outstanding leadership is drawing global attention to the devastating impacts of marine litter."

In October 2015, Mr. Shah and his 84-year-old neighbour Harbanash Mathur, since deceased, decided they had to do something drastic to reclaim the beach from the rubbish that had overwhelmed it. So they rolled up their sleeves and began the seemingly impossible task of clearing the 2.5 kilometre strand. The litter,

including plastic bags, cement sacks, glass bottles, pieces of clothing, and shoes, covered every inch of sand and measured shoulder height in places.

Mr. Shah said: "This award is in honour of the hundreds of volunteers who have joined me over the past year to clean up our beach and ocean. I am an ocean lover and feel that we owe a duty to our ocean to make it free of plastic.

"I just hope this is the beginning for coastal communities across India and the world - we have to win the fight against marine dumping and that involves getting our hands dirty. We humans need to reignite our bond with the ocean and we don't have to wait for anybody else to help us do that."

Mr. Shah rallied residents and fisherfolk in the area by knocking on doors and explaining the damage marine litter causes. In just over a year, what began as a twoperson crusade has mushroomed into a 1,500-strong operation of community volunteers of all ages and walks of life to make their beach, mangroves and ocean healthier and safer for humans and marine species alike.

Mr. Solheim added: "Together volunteers have laboured under the baking Indian sun for eight hours a day every weekend, using diggers, trucks and their bare hands to remove 4,000 tons of plastic from their beach. In doing so, they are sending a strong signal to political authorities that

Russia protests cash shortage for diplomats NEW DELHI: Russia has strongly protested with India on cash shortage affecting the working of its Mission after demonetization, and wants a quick resolution of the issue, failing which it may explore other options including summoning Indian diplomat in Moscow.

In a letter, Russian Ambassador Alaxander Kadakin has raised the issue of diplomats not being able to withdraw enough money hampering the normal functioning of the mission and sought intervention of the External Affairs Ministry so that the withdrawal restrictions for diplomatic staff are lifted.

"We are awaiting a reply from the MEA and hope that this is resolved quickly. Otherwise, we will be forced to explore other options which may include raising the issue in Moscow with your Embassy by summoning Indian Min-

ister Counselor," a senior Russian embassy official said here.

Other options may also include restriction on the cash withdrawals for Indian diplomats posted in Russia, the official indicated.

other countries like Ukraine and Kazakhstan have also protested to the ministry.

After the demonetization last month, MEA had said it has approached Department of Eco-

There are approximately 200 staffers in Russian mission here. Earlier, the Dean of Diplomatic Corps had also raised the issue, complaining about the problems There are approximately 200 staffers in Russian mission here.

Earlier, the Dean of Diplomatic Corps had also raised the issue, complaining about the problems faced by the missions.

It is also understood that some

nomic Affairs over three or four types of requests including those related to maintaining sufficient flow of funds to diplomatic missions following the demonetization and was awaiting a decision from it. -PTI

they should enact policies that reduce the influx of plastic into the oceans."

Each year, people around the world produce nearly 300 million tons of plastic and a similar amount of plastic waste. Of that, as much as 13 million tons finds its way into our oceans. It is as if we were dumping two garbage trucks of plastic into the ocean every minute. The plastic wreaks havoc on our fisheries, marine ecosystems and economies, costing up to $13 billion per year in environmental damage.

ment, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment.

Since being founded twelve years ago, the awards have recognized 78 laureates - ranging from leaders of nations to grassroots activists - in the categories of policy, science, business and civil society.

Mr. Shah joins Jose Sarukhan Kermez, Mexican research biologist (Life-time Achievement); Rwandan President, Paul Kagame (Policy Leadership); Moroccan

Mr. Shah said: "This award is in honour of the hundreds of volunteers who have joined me over the past year to clean up our beach and ocean. I am an ocean lover and feel that we owe a duty to our ocean to make it free of plastic�

Mr. Shah plans to expand his group's operation to prevent rubbish from washing down the local creek and onto the beach. He also wants to clean-up the coastline's litter-choked mangrove forests, which act as a vital natural defence against storm surges, and to inspire similar groups across India and the rest of the world to launch their own clean-up movements.

About Champions of the Earth The annual Champions of the Earth prize is awarded to outstanding leaders from govern-

Sustainable Energy Agency, Masen (Entrepreneurial Vision); and Leyla Acaroglu, Australian sustainability innovator (Science and Innovation); and a posthumous Action and Inspiration award for Berta CĂĄceres, Honduran rights campaigner killed in March 2016.

The awards will be given out as part of a high-level reception hosted by the Government of Mexico at the 13th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cancun, December 2, 2016.

Indian-origin man stabs wife to death NEW YORK: A 50-year-old Indian-origin man has been charged with murder for stabbing his wife to death on a street here after an argument.

Prem Rampersaud, who lives in Guyana, is temporarily residing with a friend in Queens.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said that he has been charged with murder in the multiple stabbing death of his wife Rajwantie Baldeo, 46, on the streets in Queens, just after midnight.

"This was an especially violent crime in which the defendant is accused of viciously taking the life of the woman he purportedly loved by repeatedly stabbing her following a heated verbal argument. If convicted, her brutal and

senseless death merits serious punishment," Brown said in a statement.

Rampersaud is being held pending arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on charges of seconddegree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

According to the c h a r g e s , Rampersaud met his wife as she finished work at a restaurant at approximately twelve midnight on December 5. It is alleged that they got into an argument and Rampersaud stabbed Baldeo multiple times in the body, fatally wounding her.

Baldeo was taken to a local Queens hospital where she was pronounced dead. -PTI

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Brother, cousin charged for killing Pak star LAHORE: The brother and cousin of Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch were among three persons charged by a court in Punjab province for her murder in July, an 'honor killing' incident that shocked the Muslim-majority country.

co-accused, Zafar Hussain Khosa, has been declared an absconder by the court.

Police claimed that Waseem had made a confession of killing her sister in the presence of an area magistrate. But the counsel for the accused denied any such

Police claimed that Waseem had made a confession of killing her sister in the presence of an area magistrate. But the counsel for the accused denied any such confession Additional District and Sessions Judge Saeed Ahmad Raza of the district court in Multan city indicted the three accused Qandeel's brother Waseem, her cousin Haq Nawaz and taxi driver Abdul Basit.

However, the suspects denied committing the crime. The fourth

confession.

The court fixed December 8 as the next date of hearing while issuing directions to the witnesses to appear before it. On the other hand, Lahore High Court, Multan bench, granted bail to driver Abdul Basit.

25-year-old Qandeel was

found strangled in her house in Multan, some 350km from Lahore, on July 16. Her father had alleged that she was killed by her younger brother, Waseem, in the name of honor.

Waseem had confessed to having killed his sister 'in the name of honor'.

In his confession video, Waseem expressed no regret in killing his sister. "I am proud of what I did. I drugged her first then I killed her. She was bringing dishonor to our family," Waseem said.

Qandeel rose to fame due to her bold videos and pictures many considered as 'obscene' she posted on her Facebook account.

Honor killing is common in Pakistan and every year hundreds of women are killed by male relatives for allegedly dishonoring the family.

In October Pakistan Parliament passed a bill seeking to curb murders in the name of honor. -PTI

Adani mine work in Australia by mid-2017 MELBOURNE: Indian energy giant Adani has said it will start construction work at the 21.7 billion dollars Carmichael mine in Australia by the middle of next year and vowed to give priority to local workers at the controversy-hit project, which is expected to generate some 10,000 jobs.

"We want to start construction in the middle of next year," Adani Australia chief executive

jor project."

"Adani is committed to remaining engaged in the development of the indigenous and regional communities as demonstrated in this announcement," Adani said.

"Adani group is committed to nation building projects in the energy and infrastructure space which will create thousands of jobs in regional Queensland and alleviate millions in India of poverty," he added.

Adani's efforts to build one of the world's largest coal mine project in Australia's Queensland state has been hampered time and again since its launch six years ago Jeyakumar Janakaraj told reporters after a meeting between Queensland state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and group chairman Gautam Adani in the city of Townsville.

The two discussed regional project centers as well as progress on the mine and associated infrastructure.

Palaszczuk said, "I have got an ironclad guarantee from Mr Adani that there will be no 457 visas as part of the workforce for this ma-

The announcement came a day after Adani secured the final approval for a permanent rail line for the project despite protests from green groups.

Adani's efforts to build one of the world's largest coal mine project in Australia's Queensland state has been hampered time and again since its launch six years ago.

"There will be early works we plan to start in the quarter of JuneJuly and we would want to start the main works from the last quar-

ter of the year," Janakaraj said, adding that it was a significant day for the company, with the mine "back on track".

"We have gone through processes, through difficult situations but this has been resolved with a lot of resolve in terms of the government and stakeholders who have been involved," he said.

Adani also announced that it will set up regional centers for providing vital support services for the project and associated infrastructure and headquarters for its rail and port operations.

Janakaraj said Townsville would become Adani mining's regional headquarters, while the Mackay-Bowen area would become the regional headquarters for its rail and port operations.

The company said its shift to the regional Queensland centers would allow it to more directly harness the skills and enthusiasm of the local industries, local communities and workforce. .

Janakaraj said, "This is a significant commitment by Adani to regional Queensland where the Carmichael mine and associated projects will generate 10,000 jobs directly and indirectly, and I am pleased that each of the regional centers will benefit from the Carmichael projects." -PTI

SRK bags Kids' Icon of the year award MUMBAI: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan won the 'Kids' Ikon of the Year' award while Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt were voted as the best pair at the Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards.

Shah Rukh won the Kids' Ikon of the Year award while "Sultan"

Shah Rukh Khan

won in the Best Film category.

Superstar Salman Khan bagged the Best Actor (Male) award and Deepika Padukone was named the Best Actress (Female) award.

The Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards 2016 honors the best in entertainment across film and television.

At the event, Sidharth Malhotra-Katrina Kaif's hit number "Kala Chashma" from the film "Baar Baar Dekho" was voted by children as the best song.

Actor Tiger Shroff was voted as the dancing star of the year and Varun Dhawan won the best entertainer of the year award. Varun and Alia also won the 'Kamaal Ki Jodi' award.

"I am so happy to be part of Kid's choice awards which is the only award show of its kind centered around kids and their choices. The energy and the entertainment at the awards was intense and being surrounded and cheered by kids while performing is an unforgettable experience," Alia said.

Varun said, "I have performed at various award shows but Kid's choice awards will always hold a special place in my heart. It was an incredible experience for me performing with the kids. The energy that they bring is infectious and I totally enjoyed every bit of being part of this extravaganza," he said.

The best TV character (Male) award was given to Kapil Sharma while Disha Vakani (Daya) won the best TV character (female) award for "Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah".

Bhavya Gandhi as Tappu for "Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah" was handed over the best child entertainer award and best TV Show award went to "Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah".

The popular cartoon show "Motu Patlu" was declared the best show on a kids channel in the country, with Motu winning the best Indian cartoon character of the year award.-PTI

Shah Rukh misses his childhood MUMBAI: He has achieved immense success and popularity, but superstar Shah Rukh Khan now misses his childhood days.

"When I was young I used to miss my adulthood and now I miss my childhood," Shah Rukh told reporters at the Nickelodeon Kids' awards here.

The 51-year-old actor revealed that he watches cartoon shows at night when he is free.

"Unfortunately, when we were growing up, there were not many cartoon channels so we

did not get to see so many shows.

Now, in the night, I at times watch stuff from pre-recorded DVDs," he said on sidelines of the awards show.

"It's my favorite awards show as I watch lot of stuff on Nickelodeon. I have children of all ages, so I have been seeing it over the years. I enjoy coming here," he said.

Shah Rukh was keen to get his three-year-old son Abram for the award ceremony, but he had slept early. -PTI

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TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

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1 Channa Mereya: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil 2 Nashe Si Chadh Gayi: Befikre 3 Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil 4 Kaun Tujhe : M.S. Dhoni 5 The Breakup Song: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil 6 Ude Dil Befikre: Befkire 7 Love You Zindagi: Dear Zindagi 8 Besabriyaan: M.S. Dhoni 9 Haanikaarak Bapu : Dangal 10 Bulleya: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

December 9, 2016

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stranged couple Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan, who had been married for 18 years, have attended a counseling session (a mandatory procedure for divorce) at the Bandra Family Court. After a six-month 'cooling-off' period, their divorce matter will be up for hearing on May 11 next year.

The duo will meet in the judge's chamber after which their affidavits will be submitted, verified and the divorce by mutual consent is expected to be granted on the same day. According to a source, "During the counseling session, Malaika and Arbaaz spent a few hours talking to the judge, and then the marriage counselor joined in towards the end. Usually a couple is asked to reconsider their decision before they part ways. They are also questioned about why they wish to separate, if they're doing it on their own will and what would be the monetary and other terms of divorce.

atrina Kaif was the first choice for 'Half Girlfriend', which is an adaptation of the Chetan Bhagat novel by the same name and stars Arjun Kapoor in the male lead. However, when things did not work out with the 'Baar Baar Dekho' actress, director Mohit Suri got Shraddha Kapoor on board.

While Katrina really liked the script, it was something else that discouraged her from signing on the dotted line.

According to reports, Kat told Mohit Suri that he should cast another actress as she wouldn't fit the role of a college-going girl, which is the requisite of the script. She also mentioned that she might look older than Arjun. The director was quite impressed by her honesty and respected her decision. He then went on to sign Shraddha as the female lead for the romcom. However, Mohit did mention to Katrina that he hopes to collaborate with her on a project soon.

P

riyanka Chopra was recently nominated for the People's Choice Awards for her performance in the popular thriller 'Quantico'. Not to mention, she also produced three regional language films back home in India, thus making her foothold strong here.

Interestingly, it was 16 years back on this day that PeeCee began her journey towards stardom. After all, it was on Nov 30 in 2000 that the then-18-year-old Priyanka became the fifth Indian woman to win the Miss World pageant.

The 'Quantico' star got nostalgic about her Miss World journey.

PeeCee took to Twitter to share the video of her crowning moment, captioning it, "Wow... 18 year old me with no idea of what I was getting into... But what a ride it's been. Thank you all. #missworld2000".

December 9, 2016

Bollywood

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W

e all know that Ranveer Singh was all set to play the role of a rapper in Zoya Akhtar's upcoming film, 'Gully Boy'. The film is about the lives of street rappers from Mumbai's chawls and ghettos.

If reports are to be believed, Ranveer is no longer a part of the project as the dates are clashing with Shimit Amin's next, so he had to opt out. If sources are to be believed, the filmmakers are now approaching Varun Dhawan to step into Ranveer's shoes.

According to sources Ranveer has loved the subject, but finally had to let go. He tried his best to work out the dates for Zoya's film for the last three months, but Amin's romantic drama produced by YRF begins shooting next year and is a romantic drama.

The female lead of the film is a newcomer.

S

onakshi Sinha agrees that actors are always under pressure to sign a film. However, she says that unless they are fully convinced by the script, they don't have to agree to do the film. In a recent interview with a daily, She said, "It is very important (for actors) to learn to say no to a script that's offered to them. No one can dictate them or force them into saying yes to a film.

Everybody has a right to choose what they want to do. If one person doesn't feel like working on a particular project, it's their call. You can't call someone arrogant because they said no to it."

She says that the time she has spent in the industry has taught her how to say no to projects she doesn't like, "Yes, there have been films....where you felt as if they weren't the right films to do.

But they all are part of a learning curve. If you have taken up a job, good or bad, you have to do it. I make it a point to work hard and do my best. Once it's done, it's in the past and then you have to let it go," she concludes.

aiyami Kher, whose debut film 'Mirzya' failed to work at the box office, says what matters the most to her is that people liked her work in the Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directorial. Along with Saiyami, actor-producer Anil Kapoor's son Harshvardhan made his debut in the film, a take on the tragic love story of Mirza-Sahiban.

Saiyami says in an interview, "We had put our hard work in the film for two years and the reason I took the project was because I liked the script and not because I had an expectation that it will enter the Rs 100-crore club.

What matters to me is that people liked our work."

"People still ask me if I will be seen sharing screen space with Harshvardhan again, which is an accomplishment."

Asked about her dream directors she wants to work with, she said, "My list is long as I admire the work of so many directors. Be it Sriram Raghavan ji or Zoya Akhtar, I want to work with all, and I hope to live this dream soon."

What matters to me is that people liked our work." "People still ask me if I will be seen sharing screen space with Harshvardhan again, which is an accomplishment

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He has been outspoken about his love for wife Gauri and often given us a glimpse of his fatherly side.

S

hah Rukh Khan, wife Gauri and children Aryan, Suhana and AbRam in the same frame sure calls for celebration by their fans. It is for the first time that we have seen the family together in the same pic with AbRam in tow. The picture is going viral on social media already and no surprise there.

SRK is a goal setter when it comes to keeping up with relationships.

The actor balances his work, fans and family really well. He has been outspoken about his love for wife Gauri and often given us a glimpse of his fatherly side. Even in his interviews, he cannot stop talking about his kids and the fact that they have grown up so fast or how he loves to spend time with his bundle of joy, AbRam. And how can we forget the moment when on Republic Day this year, he wished his fans through an Instagram post, proudly showing off his kids' creativity. His two elder kids Aryan and Suhaana are now grown up and total head turners and Papa Khan loves talking about their achievements.

Raees has already created buzz in the market for its arrival but this picture of Shah Rukh Khan's family has set Twitter on fire - making us forget about the film.

Unlike other family pictures of SRK, this image has something about it that makes us happy and it is none other than the newest member of Khan family, AbRam. And what also makes this picture different is the fact that this is for the first time that AbRam has appeared in a family picture.

While earlier it was just the couple Shah Rukh and Gauri - who were the hotness quotient of the portrait, this time we can't take our eyes of Suhana and Aryan who look extremely stylish and Bollywood ready. And of course, the cute AbRam looks like a teddy.

-Courtesy Indian Express

December 9, 2016

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Yuvraj's wife Hazel gets a new name

Y

She is now Gurbasant Kaur

uvraj Singh and Hazel Keech's first wedding took place according to Sikh rituals in Chandigarh (two more followed: in Goa and Delhi).

In the middle of this hectic schedule, it has come to light that Hazel Keech's name has been changed. She has been christened Gurbasant Kaur after the couple's wedding at the Dera of Baba Ram Singh, about 40 km from Chandigarh. According to reports, the change caught people's attention when Balvinder Singh, who performed the rituals, addressed Hazel as Gurbasant Kaur during the wedding ceremony.

Yuvraj and his mother Shabnam are ardent followers of Baba Ram Singh, who reportedly suggested Hazel's name change.

Though Yuvraj and his mother are followers of Singh, the cricketer's father Yograj Singh gave a miss to the wedding in Chandigarh as he didn't want it to take place at the Dera. Yograj Singh did attend other festivities including the cocktail party in

Chandigarh.

But, for those who have known Hazel for a long time, her changed name might come as a surprise as she was the one who raised her voice against racial discrimination based on her name just a few months back. An

Oxford University invites Shah Rukh

S

hah Rukh Khan finally has things turning out well for him. After his last two films Dilwale and Fan failed to impress cinefans much, his latest Dear Zindagi came with all the luck for him. SRK is in news one more time

Victoria's Secret rocks Paris with $3M bra PARIS: The laciest, if not raciest, catwalk event of the year - aka, the Victoria's Secret fashion show - was taking place in Paris on Nov 30 night. Among the highlights: performances by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, as well as a $3 million Fantasy bra modeled by Jasmine

chestra playing softly from inside a huge Arc de Triomphe structure.

As the show began, red neon lights filled the catwalk and the calm was broken by bold rock music and cheering crowds.

Swedish model Elsa Hosk strutted out in a cropped bustier, en-

off in flight, sporting a cape with an Aztec-pattern that billowed as she walked.

Lady Gaga gave a rousing performance of ``Million Reasons,'' kissing Hadid's mother, reality TV star Yolanda Hadid, in her front row seat as she ended her perforand for a good reason. No wonder he ended up partying at Salman Khan's residence and Salman returned the favor by revealing the first look of SRK's next directed

by Imtiaz Ali and also starring Anushka Sharma. And before his fans could breathe, King Khan got an invite from the Oxford University!

Shah Rukh has been receiving enormous appreciation for his

Tookes. Here's a behind-thescenes look: SEEING RED The show, in the huge steeland-glass atrium of Paris' Grand Palais, opened with a string or-

veloped in a three-dimensional red Chinese dragon; Kendall Jenner in blood red - wore thigh-high boots, a long-line plunging bra and suede angel wing and Gigi Hadid looked like she would take

mance. (Before the show, Gaga treated her Instagram followers to a photo of herself in silver Victoria's Secret underwear).

Cont'd on Page 32

employee of a money transfer company had refused to offer her services as Hazel's name sounded un-Indian to him. Even Yuvraj supported her then and tweeted, "We all are human beings. Is that not enough? Racial discrimination will not be tolerated."

special cameo in Gauri Shinde's Dear Zindagi, opposite Alia Bhatt.

Even the section of movie goers who prefer SRK in a non-glamorous character, previous such films being Swades and Chak De India, are all agog over his role of a psychiatrist-cum- life guide. Amid the numerous messages the superstar was getting on the social media, one caught the attention of everyone. It was a tweet straight from the principal of LMH College at the Oxford University.

Alan Rusbridger has invited Shah Rukh to deliver a speech at the Lady Margaret Hall of the University.

A reply from SRK is awaited.

Shah Rukh has delivered inspirational talks at several colleges and global platforms. In the past, the Badshah of Bollywood had spoken at the Yale University when he got the Chubb fellowship there in 2012. He was given the Order of the Arts and Literature by the French government for his 'exceptional career', apart from an honorary doctorate in arts and culture by Britain's University of Bedfordshire. Oxford will just be another feather in Shah Rukh Khan's big hat.

32 India Post

December 9, 2016 www.indiapost.com

Ranveer's turn to mock the fashionista S

onam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone's camaraderie on 'Koffee With Karan 3' was the talk of the town, when the duo took digs at several others, especially Deepika's ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor. However, things have not been rosy between the two actors thereafter.

Sonam has nearly made it a habit of taking jibes at Deepika, from her fashion sense to her Hollywood debut. Now, it was the turn of Deepika's boyfriend Ranveer Singh to mock the fashionista.

At a recent episode of 'Koffee with Karan 5', host Karan Johar made his guests Ranveer and Ranbir Kapoor imitate Alia Bhatt and Sonam. While Ranbir chose to pretend like Alia, the 'Bajirao Mastani' actor mimicked Sonam.

While pretending like Sonam, Ranveer made a case for winning the best actress award for 'Neerja' over Alia in 'Udta Punjab'.

"I was really claustrophobic in that plane, they should give it to me just for that suffering. I mean, I was wearing one uniform in that whole film," Ranveer quipped, taking a dig at Sonam's love for

Ranveer Singh

Victoria's Secret rocks Paris with $3M bra Cont'd from Page 31

Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor with Karan Johar at Koffee with Karan

fashionable clothes and being a fashionista.

Sonam portrayed the role of the 23-year-old brave-heart airhostess who sacrificed her life to save the passengers of hijacked flight, in the biopic by Ram

Madhvani. The actress has been praised for her acting skills in the film.

Incidentally, Ranveer is also Sonam's second cousin, but the two have never been particularly close.

Randeep's nostalgia among schoolmates A

fter 24 years, Randeep Hooda returned to his alma mater, Motilal Nehru School of Sports Rai, 20 miles from Delhi, and discovered that at least 25 of his classmates, from a class of around 40, as well as some seniors and juniors, had gone into the army and a few of them were martyrs.

"Ravinder Chikkara who used to run the hardest in cross-country races before running out of breath, killed seven terrorists during the Kargil war before taking his last breath. Sandeep Palarwal was a MIG fighter pilot who died during a flying exercise. There are several others who are commanding officers in the army today, including Brigadier Ravinder Khatri, who was my sister Anjali Hooda Sanghwan's classmate. He was at the reunion too," he informs, admitting that some of his seniors, including his house captain, Satish Singroha, had beat him black and blue for turning up a minute late or answering back.

"Ravinder was unapologetic about it, pointing out that I was too hot-headed and high and needed a hammering, the discipline having made me a better person."

Randeep admits that it was this school that has made him the man he is today. Even his inspiration to become an actor came from seeing his sister on stage. "She bagged a best actress award and I thought if she can do it, so can I," laughs the actor, pointing out that he spent most of his time in school

Randeep Hooda

either riding or acting and at 40, he's fortunate to be still doing that.

He roamed the stables, went into the auditorium and on the stage, visited the open-air theatre and posed for photographs all

day with his classmates, teachers and the students. He also visited the school infirmary and realized that this was where he had given some of his best performances while trying to convince the doctors that he was too unwell to attend classes or sports sessions.

"I was scared of going back to school, not wanting to be treated as special among all these special persons. I'm glad that I did.

It was a humbling experience. My best f r i e n d , Sandeep Punia, was not there so the reunion was incomplete, but I faced the angels and demons of my childhood and it was a cathartic experience," he smiles, confiding that he also met his school sweetheart, Charlene Shackleton, a former beauty queen, and spent time chatting with her husband and kids.

ago. ``What am I scared of? I twisted my ankle and kind of broke my foot in the rehearsal three years ago.

So I'm always scared of the high heels (that might make) me miss this amazing show,'' she said.

SECURITY TIGHT Hours before the show began, hundreds of meters in the area around Paris' Grand Palais and the Champs ElysĂŠes avenue were in near lock-down, barricaded with passing tourists and fashionistas alike getting frisked.

Bomb squad dogs sniffed out every single bag that entered the Grand Palais where the fashion show took place.

Paris remains in a state of emergency following last November's Paris attacks at a concert hall and various spots around the capital.

Bruno Mars, using the catwalk as his stage, had guests jumping up and down in a funky performance of ``24K Magic.'' $3 MILLION FANTASY BRA The Victoria's Secret Fantasy bra the 25-year-old Tookes was selected to wear is considered the piece de resistance of the brand's runway display.

The bra, glimmering with thousands of gemstones, was presented like crown jewels ahead of the show. An incredible work of art, it was designed by Eddie Borgo and hand-crafted over 700 hours with gems from jeweler AWMouzannar. ``It is so beautiful. It's covered in white diamonds and emeralds and it has about 9,000 gemstones.

It cost $3 million - so stunning,'' gushed Tookes backstage while she was having Bomb squad dogs sniffed her hair done. out every single bag that Tookes said the garment was constructed on a mold entered the Grand Palais of her upper body, literally where the fashion show made to measure.

While the bra may be took place perfect for the runway presentation, Tookes joked she probably wouldn't want to go for CITY OFANGELS a jog in it, given its weight.

The Angels, as Victoria's Secret ``It's very heavy; it weighs more top models are known, have taken than 450 karats. It weighs down Paris - and their Instagram acon my shoulders a little bit, but it's counts - by storm since flying into so worth it,'' she said, cheekily the City of Light. adding: ``I might jog out of this Led by Alessandra Ambrosio, show with it though.'' the troupe posed for photos outEVEN VICTORIA'S SECRET side the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday MODELS GET NERVOUS morning as gob-smacked tourists Brazilian beauty Lais Ribeiro stopped to take in the incredible physically jumped when a loud- views, which included the monuspeaker bellowed there was just ment. one hour until show time.

Josephine Skriver, Adriana ``Butterflies just came stronger Lima, Lily Donaldson, Elsa Hosk, in my stomach. I'm getting very, Lily Aldridge and Jasmine Tookes very excited,'' Ribeiro, 26, told The wore assorted Angels T-shirts and Associated Press. skinny, figure-hugging black Ribeiro knows more than most jeans. about the hidden dangers in a But the fun continued online, show such as this, where models with Lima posting a from-behind in towering heels can injure them- shot of her and Martha Hunt wearselves. She hurt her foot as a ing thigh-high boots during the Victoria's Secret Angel three years show's preparations.-AP

December 9, 2016

India Post 33 www.indiapost.com

Amy Jackson inspired

by Akshay fitness

Akshay kumar with Amy Jackson

MUMBAI: For actress Amy Jackson, when it comes to fitness her "2.0" co-star Akshay Kumar is an inspiration and among the actresses she thinks Deepika Padukone has a great body.

"I think Akshay Kumar has sustained that (fitness) since the time he has started in the industry. It is not that he became an actor and then got a good body. He lives by that mantra. His action sequences are best in Bollywood," Amy told reporters here at the launch of a health magazine.

The 24-year-old actress, who had worked with Akshay in "Singh is Bliing" says he is a huge inspiration.

"He (Akshay) is a big inspiration, he is great at action, stunts.

We did martial arts training.

Among ladies I think Deepika Padukone is good, her body is great, she is always keeping fit.

May be Jacqueline Fernandez also, as she incorporates dancing and pilates," she added.

The "Freaky Ali" actress is travelling most of the time and hence tries to keep her training to minimum.

"As I travel a lot I keep it (training) minimal but effective, sleep is vital," she added. -PTI

Crack in Earth's magnetic shield detected OOTY, TN: The world's largest The burst occurred when a gi- kilometers, which acts as the first and most sensitive cosmic ray ant cloud of plasma ejected from line of defense, shielding us from monitor, located in India, has re- the solar corona, and moving with the continuous flow of solar and corded a burst of galactic cosmic a speed of about 2.5 million kilo- galactic cosmic rays, thus prorays that indicates a crack in the meters per hour struck our planet, tecting life on our planet from Earth's magnetic shield, according causing a severe compression of these high intensity energetic rato scientists.

Earth's magnetosphere from 11 to diations.

The burst occurred when a gi- 4 times the radius of Earth.

Numerical simulations perant cloud of formed by the plasma ejected GRAPES-3 researchThe burst occurred when a giant from the solar coers, including Pravata rona struck Earth K Mohanty, indicate cloud of plasma ejected from the at a very high that the Earth's magsolar corona, and moving with a speed speed causing netic shield tempomassive comrarily cracked due to of about 2.5 million kilometers per pression of the the occurrence of magEarth's magnetonetic reconnection, alhour struck our planet sphere and triglowing the lower engering a severe geomagnetic It triggered a severe geomag- ergy galactic cosmic ray particles storm. netic storm that generated aurora to enter our atmosphere.

The GRAPES-3 muon telescope borealis and radio signal blackEarth's magnetic field bent located at Tata Institute of Funda- outs in many high latitude coun- these particles about 180 degree, mental Research's Cosmic Ray tries, according to the study pub- from the day-side to the night-side Laboratory in Ooty in Tamil Nadu lished in the journal Physical Re- of the Earth where it was detected recorded a burst of galactic cos- view Letters this week. as a burst by the GRAPES-3 muon mic rays of about 20 GeV last year Earth's magnetosphere ex- telescope around mid-night on 22 lasting for two hours. tends over a radius of a million June 2015.-PTI

Sidharth Malhotra beaten up and bruised H

is kabhi-on-kabhi-off relationship with fellow student Alia Bhatt often keeps him in the news. But there's more to Sidharth Malhotra than just that. The actor opened up about the adrenaline rush he gets from action scenes and the controversy over 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' (ADHM). Excerpts...

You have been seen, but not heard much lately...

For the past few months, I've been shooting for the Bang Bang sequel. We're more than 50 per cent through with it. I've also been occupied with other professional commitments. That's why you've not heard much from me.

Will you be matching Hrithik Roshan's daredevilry in the first installment?

We've done plenty of gritty action, but I call it a popcorn film

When will you start the remake of 'Ittefaq' with Sonakshi Sinha?

Hopefully early next year. I'm excited about it because we haven't seen a murder mystery in a long time. Also, it feels great to know that I've been chosen to recreate the magic of Rajesh Khanna and Nanda's edge-of-the-seat thriller. We've reworked the script to suit the current times, but kept the essence intact.

You had collaborated with Fawad Khan in 'Kapoor & Sons'.

However, your mentor Karan Johar's 'ADHM' ran into trouble for starring him. How do you perceive the episode?

What baffled me was that art was targeted before trade and other ties. Should it not have been the other way round? In the future too, people have to take into account the time when a film went

For the past few months, I've been shooting for the Bang Bang sequel.

We're more than 50 per cent through with it. I've also been occupied with other professional commitments

Sidharth Malhotra

because it's pure entertainment from the first frame to the last. I trained with Cyril Raffaelli who has been the action director for Hollywood hits, including 'The Transporter' series. He's a French guy and extremely talented. We did a lot of hand-to-hand combat. I was beaten up and bruised so many times while shooting the action scenes.

on floors. They should have just enjoyed a romantic film during Diwali. It's only fair that a love story, which has nothing to do with the nation's politics, be allowed to release without a hiccup.

I'm sure people would have taken the movement more seriously had it started with other aspects and not art and culture.

-Courtesy TOI

„ Health

Line

Apollo subsidiary sells 29% to World Bank arm NEW DELHI: Apollo Hospitals says its clinics subsidiary Apollo Health and Lifestyle has raised Rs 450 crore by selling 29 per cent equity stake to World Banks arm IFC, to fund its growth plans.

Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd (AHLL) has received "investments of Rs 450 crore from International Finance Corporation (IFC) and IFC Asset Management Company.

The investment will fuel AHLLs expansion plans", Apollo Hospitals Enterprise said in a BSE filing.

It further said: "IFC along with its associated entity has made a primary equity infusion of Rs 450 crore thereby acquiring 29.03 per cent stake in Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd." AHLL currently operates multispecialty clinics, dental centers, diagnostics, diabetes clinics, dialysis, women and children hospitals (cradle), fertility centers and surgical centers across the country, with presence in 17 states and over 400 touch points.

"AHL will use IFCs equity investment to expand its network of clinics, cradles and diagnostics centers across India," the company said.-PTI

Health Science

check sex determination tests

34 India Post

www.indiapost.com

December 9, 2016

Details on Page 38

Trump nominates Ind-Am Seema Verma to top administration post WASHINGTON: US Presidentelect Donald Trump has nominated an Indian-American woman to a top administration position, making her in charge of a federal agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services.

"I am pleased to nominate (Dr) Seema Verma to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare

she said.

Verma currently is the President, CEO and founder of SVC, Inc, a national health policy consulting company.

Based in Indianapolis, Verma has supported Indiana through development of the historic program since its inception in 2007, from development of the enabling

Woman shot; baby delivered

by C-section VISALIA, CA: A pregnant woman was fatally shot at a busy Central California intersection, but her baby was saved after doctors delivered the boy by emergency C-section, authorities said.

Vanessa Oviedo, 27, was shot in the head in an apparent gangrelated shooting in Visalia, the Fresno Bee reported.

The child is healthy and in stable condition, Visalia Police Lt. Brian Winter said.

Oviedo, who was 35 weeks pregnant, was shot in a drive-by shooting near Ben Maddox Way and Houston Avenue in Visalia.

The driver, Andrew Aguirre, 23, was shot on the leg, Winter said.

Oviedo and Aguirre were travelling with three other people, including an 11-month-old child, when occupants of another car opened fire on them. Aguirre then drove to Kaweah Delta Medical Center, he said.

Oviedo was reported as a woman in delivery, but when medics said she had gunshot wounds and no pulse, Dr. Renee DeNolf, a second-year resident, and Dr. Steven Warrington jumped into action to save the baby. Doctors had 30 seconds to perform the Csection, emergency room physician Greggory Shubert said.-AP

Haryana to

Seema Verma

and Medicaid Services," Trump said in a statement.

The announcement came along with Trump's nomination of Congressman Tom Price as his Health and Human Services Secretary.

A leading expert in the country on Medicare and Medicaid, Verma would serve as Administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"She has decades of experience advising on Medicare and Medicaid policy and helping states navigate our complicated systems. Together, Chairman Price and Seema Verma are the dream team that will transform our healthcare system for the benefit of all Americans," Trump said.

"I am honored to be nominated

by President-elect Trump today," said Verma, who met Trump in New York last week. "I look forward to helping him tackle our nation's daunting healthcare problems in a responsible and sustainable way,"

legislation, negotiating the financing plan with the state's hospital association, developing the federal waiver, supporting federal negotiations and leading the implementation of the program, including the operational design.

For more than 20 years, she has worked extensively on a variety of policy and strategic projects involving Medicaid, insurance, and public health, working with Governors' offices, state medicaid agencies, state health departments, state departments of insurance, as well as the federal government, private companies and foundations.

"Verma has extensive experience redesigning Medicaid programs in several states. Verma is the architect of the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), the nation's first consumer directed Medicaid program under Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana and then-Governor Pence's HIP 2.0 waiver pro-

posal," said the presidential transition team.

Verma received her Master's degree in Public Health, with a concentration in health policy and management from Johns Hopkins University, and her Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from the University of Maryland.

She served as the state of Indiana's health reform lead following the passage of Obamacare in 2010.

Republicans praised her nomination, but supporters of the current health care law were less pleased. They oppose requirements that poor people pay for medical care, which is included in the Medicaid policy adopted in Indiana and is up for consideration by other Republican-led states. ``We're really concerned,'' said Judith Solomon, vice president for health policy at the liberal Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

Prior to Pence, Verma was a consultant to former Republican Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who pushed for a precursor to Pence's current Medicaid plan.

Her firm, SVC Inc., has been paid more than $6.6 million by the state of Indiana since 2011 for her consulting work, according to records.

In a 2008 blog post on the website HealthAffairs, co-

The nomination, if approved, would give Verma a significant voice in the policies Trump's presidential administration chooses to pursue if he makes good on a campaign promise to repeal and replace the ACA. Under Pence, Indiana accepted federal money made available for low-income heath care under Obama's law. But the state only took the money after the Obama administration agreed to an added twist: requiring poor people to pay nominal fees for the care they receive. Those who don't keep up on monthly payments, which can be as low as $4, aren't eligible for as many services.

In most states, the poor are not required to pay such fees. The Indiana program has extended health care benefits to more than 300,000 people in the state.

In Kentucky, where Verma consulted for Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, the state has requested federal permission to require people on the state's Medicaid plan to pay monthly premiums, have a job or volunteer for a charity to remain eligible for health benefits.

Pence has said that requiring the poor to make payments for Medicaid means they are taking personal responsibility and have ``skin in the game.''

But some Republicans in his

"I am honored to be nominated by Presidentelect Trump today," said Verma, who met Trump in New York last week. "I look forward to helping him tackle our nation's daunting healthcare problems in a responsible and sustainable way" authored with a Daniels' administration official, Verma outlined a philosophy that ``melds two themes of American society that typically collide in our health care system, rugged individualism and the Judeo Christian ethic.''

Indiana's Medicaid program ``combines these diametrically opposed themes by promoting personal responsibility while providing subsidized health protection to those who can least afford it,'' she wrote.

home state disagreed. Republican Indiana state Rep. Ed Clere, former chairman of a health care committee in the state's General Assembly, said requirements other than fees, such as quitting smoking or taking steps to improve personal health, also demonstrate ``personal responsibility'' and could be more cost effective in the long run. ``In my experience there was an unwillingness to expand the conversation beyond financial participation,'' Clere said.-PTI, AP

December 9, 2016

Health Science Post

India Post 35

www.indiapost.com

Gender inequality behind Rs 1 cr health insurance mental health problems policy planned LONDON: Gender inequality and social exclusion are the primary factors driving mental health problems in Uttarakhand, with people from socially oppressed castes two or three times more likely to be depressed, researchers including those from India claim.

A survey published in the BMJ Open of nearly 1,000 households of Uttarakhand showed that six per cent of adults were identified as depressed.

People were two or three times more likely to be depressed if they were from the most socially oppressed castes, had taken a recent loan, lived in poor quality housing or had not completed primary school.

Researchers from Umea University in Sweden focused over the last four years on

However, people also described experiences of belonging, social support, and social participation.

People with friends or family members experiencing mental distress as well as those who believed that mentally distressed people can recover were more willing to be socially close to them.

The communities in research are characterized by complicated relationships between mental health and social inequalities such as gender, poverty, class, caste and education.

Gender inequality is one of the most significant social factors impacting mental health competency as it leads to a heavier load in caregiving, impoverishment and experiences of violence for "The research shows how people with mental w o m e n caregivers, redistress, caregivers and community memsearchers said. bers together find coping strategies despite "Bringing together the many obstacles and few resources. Amidst findings from the shadows there are patches of light," this research, I Mathias said picture community mental how communities in the states of health competence using the picture of a Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh can pro- tree, where all parts are organically conmote, prevent, treat and advocate for men- nected," said Mathias. tal health.

"The roots are the many social factors "I was surprised to find such a strong affecting mental health. The trunk connects relationship between social disadvantage these with four branches: access to care, and mental illness," said Kaaren Mathias, a knowledge, safe social spaces and partnermental health program manager with the ships for action," she said.

Emmanuel Hospital Association in India.

"The research shows how people with Further qualitative studies showed that mental distress, caregivers and community nearly all people with mental distress had members together find coping strategies experienced social exclusion and many had despite many obstacles and few resources. experienced economic, verbal and physical Amidst the shadows there are patches of violence. light," Mathias said. -PTI

Govt urged to procure & distribute generic drugs NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel has Ministry of Health on "procurement of alloasked the Health Ministry to take immedi- pathic drugs in CGHS" in its 52nd report ate measures for complete shift towards said that it "regrets" to note that in spite of procurement and distribution of generic lapse of six years, no concrete system has drugs under Central Government Health been put in place to effectively deal with Scheme (CGHS). the issue of complete switch towards geThe panel also asked the Ministry to neric medicines. make "earnest" efforts for finalization of "The committee recommends that the rates of proposed 1165 drugs for inclusion Health Ministry should take immediate necin the generic formulary.

It "regrets" to note that in spite of lapse of six The parliamentary com- years, no concrete system has been put in mittee also asked the Min- place to effectively deal with the issue of istry to establish an effective complete switch towards generic medicines centralized mechanism to periodically monitor the qual- essary measures in consultation with other ity of generic drugs to provide good qual- stakeholders for complete shift towards the ity generic drugs throughout the country procurement and distribution of generic while asserting that international benchmark drugs. should be followed.

Cont’d on page 37 The Public Accounts Committee of the

COIMBATORE: Public sector New India Assurance Company Ltd has said it has formulated a health insurance scheme for high net-worth individuals with sum insured up to Rs one crore and was awaiting IRDA's approval for the launch.

The new product would have advance features and the sum insured could go up as high as Rs one crore and the approval of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority was expected in one month, New India Assurance Chairman-cum-Managing Director G Srinivasan told reporters here.

"The sum insured on this new product could go up to Rs one crore and will include many advanced features, besides having complete protection to policy holders and family, in any eventuality," he said.

Apart from this, the company had also made changes to its Mediclaim 2012 product by removing some of the deficiencies, he said.

"This is expected to be rolled out in three to four months and the improved product is

also awaiting the IRDA approval," said Srinivasan, who is here for the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the company's Coimbatore Regional office.

On the company's performance, he said it had set a target of Rs.21,000 crore as premium collection this year as against Rs.18,431 crore in 2015-16.

As on October 30, the company had already made a premium collection of Rs. 13,000 crore, an increase of 25 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year,

he said.

With a market share of 17 per cent in the country, the company had issued 2.5 crore policies covering 35 crore people, with a claim settlement rate of 96 per cent, he said.

On the impact of demonetization on premium payments, Srinivasan said initially there was a drop from cash payers, "but now it is made good and business is normal. -PTI

36 India Post

Health Science Post

December 9, 2016

www.indiapost.com

Racquet sports better for longer life: Study LONDON: Activities like tennis, swimming and aerobics have emerged as better sports for a longer and healthier life than football and jogging, according to a new study.

Researchers of Oxford University found that people who played racquet sports such as tennis, squash or badminton slashed their risk of dying from heart disease and stroke by 56 per cent.

Swimming cut the risk by 41 per cent and aerobics by 36 per cent. No such benefits were seen in people who listed football, rugby or running as their main exercise.

"We think racquet sports not only offer the usual physiological benefits but also offer additional mental health and social benefits perhaps unique to these sports, Charlie Foster, associate professor of Physical Activity and Population Health at Oxford University said.

"We had a younger group of team sports players and runners and we may not have enough deaths to see a difference at this point in time, another five years and

we will know with more precision," he said.

"One theory might be the team players struggle to graduate to new sports or activities once they stop playing, so they lose

nal of Sports Medicine this week and conducted by scientists from the UK, Finland and Austria, followed more than 80,000 people for an average of nine years to find out if certain sports protected them against early death.

It found that people who play team sports when younger often do not move onto a new sport once their teams disband for family, or injury reasons.

They become spectators rather than participants in their chosen activity.

"There is a certain age limit to how well you can play football or rugby, or go running, to get the needed health benefits.

People tend to move on from team sports to other forms of exercise when they get a bit older and their knees wear out. You can't store the benefits of sport done in your youth," Foster said.

The researchers believe that some sports, such as running or football, may also be affected by seasonality or weather which means participants do not keep them up all year round, which limits their long-term benefits.

"These findings demonstrate that participation in specific sports may have significant benefits for public health, the authors of the study said. -PTI

Religious leaders join clean India campaign the benefits of their active younger days," he added.

The study, published in the British Jour-

NEW DELHI: With the aim to achieve cleaner India, religious and spiritual heads of different faiths have joined hands to fight global climate change and clean up the Ganges along with other rivers.

The campaign "WASH" is a cleanliness drive to ensure access to clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

The initiative taken under the leadership of inter-faith leader Swami Chidanand Saraswati focuses on achieving peace and environmental protection and start a sanitation revolution in the country.

"Sanitation and meditation should go together. To achieve a cleaner India, we have to not only sanities our surroundings but our minds too.

Different religions and faiths along with stake holders and Swami civil society, we all have to come together to put our heart and soul in achieving a cleaner India," Saraswati said.

He has implemented several critical programs such as Namame Ganga (Clean Ganga), Swachh Bharat (Clean India) and Swachhta Kranti (Clean Revolution). He is also the co-founder of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA).

At the recently concluded Ujjain Kumbha Mela, the alliance worked to sensitize people about sanitation and repercussions of bad environment especially on the health of children.

"On World Toilet Day a huge crowd including youth and many leaders from different communities pledged for clean en-

vironment and proper sanitation. It's time that we should move from building temples to more and more toilets," Saraswati said.

For Saraswati, Ganga is not a religious topic but lifeline for millions of citizens in the country.

"River Ganga is not a religious topic but the very lifeline of millions of people and our heritage. When we talk about Ganga we are actually talking about mostly all the rivers in the country and the deteriorating conditions of most of these rivers. Health,

Chidanand Saraswati

hygiene and harmony all should go together for a changed India," he said.

To induce and spur growth, the drive is supporting technology and several other innovations.

"Socio-economic development has to happen from bottom-of-the-pyramid population. We along with spiritual leaders from all across the world have created a new term for us - RSR - Religious Social Responsibility.

"It is amazing how our Prime Minister spoke vigilantly about cleanliness from Red Fort and actually started a campaign to make people aware of the initiatives and how we all can come together to achieve this dream," Saraswati said.-PTI

December 9, 2016

Health Science Post

India Post 37

www.indiapost.com

Zika no longer a world health emergency GENEVA: The World Health Organization has announced that the Zika virus outbreak, linked to deformations in babies' heads and brains, no longer poses a world public health emergency, though it warned the epidemic remains a challenge.

Brazil, the epicenter of the outbreak, has however refused to downgrade the risk, while experts swiftly lashed out against the world health body's decision.

"The Zika virus remains a highly significant and long term problem, but it is not any more a public health emergency of international concern," the world health body's emergency commit-

tee chair Dr David Heymann said.

While Zika causes only mild symptoms in most people, pregnant women with the virus risk giving birth to babies with microcephaly - a deformation that leads to abnormally small brains and heads.

It can also cause rare adult-onset neurological problems such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which can result in paralysis and even death.

In the outbreak that began in mid-2015, more than 1.5 million people have been infected with Zika, mainly in Brazil, and more than 1,600 babies have been born with microcephaly since last year,

according to the WHO. The UN's global health agency declared the Zika epidemic a global health emergency in February 2016.

$200,000 settlement for shackling pregnant inmate PHOENIX: An Arizona sheriff's office known for its tough treatment of inmates has agreed to a $200,000 settlement of a lawsuit that alleged an inmate's rights were violated when she was restrained before and after she gave birth to her son at a hospital.

The deal reached to settle the lawsuit by Miriam MendiolaMartinez against Sheriff Joe Arpaio came nearly three weeks before the case was scheduled for a jury trial.

As part of the settlement, Arpaio agreed to prohibit officers from restraining inmates while they're in labor and for the two weeks after they deliver their children, said Joy Bertrand, MendiolaMartinez's attorney.

Officers also will undergo training on the dangers of placing pregnant women in restraints. ``Miriam's intent has always been to change the policy and to make sure other women weren't treated the way she was treated,'' Bertrand said.

A medical expert for MendiolaMartinez said restraints at any point during pregnancies or during postpartum recovery pose risks of tripping for women and could cause injuries as they move their bodies around to ease the pain of contractions.

Michele Iafrate, a lawyer representing Arpaio, said in a statement that the sheriff's office changed its policies to comply with a 2012 Arizona law that deals with handling pregnant inmates.

The law says jail officers can't use restraints on inmates who are in labor or going through postpartum recovery, unless the medical staff requests them or officers determine that the prisoner presents

a problem.

Other states such as Massachusetts, California and New York have passed laws in the past restricting the use of restraints on pregnant inmates.

Last year, lawmakers in New York clarified the state's 2009 prohibition on shackling pregnant inmates after sponsors of the measure said some guards were still illegally restraining them. The law permits only wrist restraints in front when the woman poses an immediate risk of serious injury to herself or others and can't otherwise be restrained.

The resolution of MendiolaMartinez's case came during the

tached to it, the lawsuit states.

She also contends that two days after giving birth, she was bound at her hands and ankles and forced to walk through the hospital where she was chained to other prisoners for transport back to jail.

Her lawsuit was thrown out in January 2014, but a federal appeals court reinstated it two months ago.

The appeals court ruled that a reasonable jury could conclude that Arpaio's office exposed Mendiola-Martinez to harm by restraining her and that officers were deliberately indifferent to the risk.

The appeals court said it was up

Last year, lawmakers in New York clarified the state's 2009 prohibition on shackling pregnant inmates after sponsors of the measure said some guards were still illegally restraining them. The law permits only wrist restraints in front when the woman poses an immediate risk of serious injury to herself final weeks of Arpaio's 24-year tenure. Arpaio, who became popular with voters for jailing inmates in tents and dressing them in pink underwear, was defeated two weeks ago by retired Phoenix police Sgt. Paul Penzone.

A day before giving birth in 2009, the lawsuit says, MendiolaMartinez was handcuffed in an ambulance as she was taken to a medical center after she started experiencing contractions.

Mendiola-Martinez wasn't restrained during her C-section. But after giving birth, she was brought to a recovery room and had to wear a leg restraint with a chain at-

to a jury to decide whether the risk was justified.

Mendiola-Martinez was arrested in October 2009 on a felony identification-theft charge. She is a citizen of Mexico who wasn't authorized to be in the United States and was accused of working under another person's name.

Eventually, she pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit forgery, was given credit for 62 days that she had already served in jail and was put on probation.

Though the lawsuit targeted the agency's treatment of MendiolaMartinez, the settlement will be paid by Maricopa County.-AP

Researchers earlier this year warned that at least 2.6 billion people, over a third of the global population, live in parts of Africa,

Asia and the Pacific where Zika could gain a new foothold, with 1.2 billion at risk in India alone.

Brazil has said it would continue to treat the outbreak as an emergency.

"We will maintain the emergency (status) in Brazil until we are completely tranquil about the situation," Health Minister Ricardo Barros told journalists.

In most cases worldwide, people have been infected with the virus by mosquitoes, though some have contracted the disease through sexual contact.

The WHO was careful not to dismiss the risk still posed by the virus, which has been detected in 73 countries worldwide, mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"We are not downgrading the importance of Zika, in fact by placing this as a longer term of program of work, we're sending the message that Zika is here to stay and WHO's response is here to stay in a very robust manner," said Dr Peter Salama, director of the agency's health emergencies program.-AFP

Govt urged to procure & distribute generic drugs Cont’d from page 35

"The committee regrets to note that in spite of lapse of six years since the Minister's statement, no concrete system has been put in place as yet to effectively deal with the issue of complete switch over towards generic medicines," the committee said.

The committee also took "serious" note of the failure of the Health Ministry to apprise it on the findings of the committee set up under DG (Health Services) and action taken by the Ministry.

"As regards the current status

"The Ministry should also establish an effective centralized mechanism to periodically monitor the quality of generic drugs so as to provide good quality generic drugs throughout the country. International benchmark may also be followed in this regard," the panel chaired by K V Thomas, said in its report.

The committee noted that in September 2010, the Health Ministry while approving the revised formulary of branded drugs had directed for complete shift towards The committee also took generic drugs within one year both in pre- "serious" note of the failure scriptions and supplies.

Noticing that there of the Health Ministry to had not been tangible apprise it on the findings of progress in the procurement and distribution of the committee generic drugs, the committee in its 22nd report had asked the Health Ministry to of finalization of the rates of procontinue with appropriate correc- posed 1165 drugs for inclusion in tive action taken in coordination the generic formulary, the Miniswith CGHS Wellness centers to try submitted that technical evalueffectively implement the long term ation of the tenders floated is unmeasures for complete shift to- der consideration and tenders for wards generic drugs.

374 molecules are due for open"The committee is unhappy to ing. note that the replies of the Minis"The committee feel that in ortry do not mention about steps der to augment the procurement taken on these aspects. Rather of generic drugs, Ministry should they have expressed that it might take earnest efforts for finalization take some time before beneficia- of rates of drugs and apprise the ries and doctors are persuaded to committee of the same within two depend largely on generic medi- months of the presentation of the cines. report," the committee said.-PTI

Health Science Post

38 India Post

December 9, 2016

www.indiapost.com

Aging America may raise dementia rate CHICAGO: New research documents another decline in dementia rates but experts say the rising numbers of older Americans may halt that trend unless better ways are found to keep brains healthy.

The study shows the rate of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in adults aged 65 and up dropped to about 9 percent in 2012 from nearly 12 percent in 2000, continuing a decline noted in earlier research.

Older adults with the most schooling had the lowest dementia rates, and the average education level increased during the study years.

Alzheimer's is the most com-

dementia or other illness.

The dementia rate declined amid a rise in diabetes and heart disease. Both increase risks for Alzheimer's and other dementias but the researchers say better treatment for both diseases may explain the results.

Obesity rates also increased, while dementia was most common among underweight adults. Previous research has shown weight loss may precede dementia by several years and that late-life obesity may be healthier than being underweight. But a journal editorial says more research is needed to determine whether excess pounds in older age somehow

Previous studies have found less dementia in highly educated people, but it isn't known whether education somehow protects the brain from dementia or if it helps people compensate for brain changes linked with Alzheimer's or other dementias mon form of dementia, which can also be caused by strokes, Parkinson's disease and other conditions.

Led by University of Michigan researchers, the study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The National Institute on Aging paid for the research.

THE STUDY Researchers analyzed nationally representative government surveys of about 10,500 older adults in both years, including some living in nursing homes.

They were interviewed and given mental tests by phone or in person; spouses or relatives responded for those impaired by

protect the brain.

AGING NUMBERS Dementia was most common in the oldest adults; in 2012 almost 30 percent of adults aged 85 and up were afflicted versus just 3 percent of those 65-74.

The number of adults aged 85 and older is rapidly rising and expected to triple by mid-century.

John Haaga, director of the National Institute on Aging's behavior and social research division, said dementia rates would have to decline much more sharply than they have to counteract that trend.

The Alzheimer's Association estimates that about 5 million people aged 65 and older have

Ninth polio-like case confirmed SEATTLE: Health officials say a boy in Spokane County is the ninth person in Washington with a confirmed case of a rare syndrome that causes varying degrees of paralysis.

Multiple news outlets reported that the boy under age 10 has acute flaccid myelitis, also known as AFM. The syndrome affects the spinal cord, resulting in arm or leg weakness or paralysis.

The other children found to

have the syndrome this fall range in age from 3 to 14 and come from King, Pierce, Snohomish, Whatcom and Franklin counties.

The Seattle Times reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with local health officials to investigate the uncommon cluster of cases in the state.

Scientists at the CDC are working to determine the exact cause of AFM. -AP

Alzheimer's, and that is expected to rise to almost 14 million by 2050.

EDUCATION'S ROLE The average education level climbed during the study. About 45 percent of older adults had at least 13 years of education in 2012, versus about 33 percent in 2000.

Previous studies have found less dementia in highly educated people, but it isn't known whether education somehow protects the brain from dementia or if it helps people compensate for brain changes linked with Alzheimer's or other dementias.

Studies on brain-training exercises have had conflicting results.

BOTTOM LINE Haaga said more research is needed to explain the educationdementia link and to explore potential treatments that mimic the effects of education to stave off dementia. Meantime, experts say there are ways to help keep your brain healthy. That includes avoiding smoking, eating healthy foods and getting plenty of exercise. Experts also advise staying mentally active - take a class, learn a new skill or hobby. `'There is reason to hope that you're not doomed if you didn't get massive education early in life,'' Haaga said.-AP

Lead, heavy metals found in soft drinks NEW DELHI: Lead and other heavy metals like Cadmium and Chromium have been found in the samples of five different soft drinks manufactured by two major multinational companies in India, Rajya Sabha was informed.

“Samples of five different cold drinks – Sprite, Mountain Dew, 7UP, Pepsi and Coca Cola – were

ment commissioned study by the Drug Technical Advisory Board had found five different toxins in aerated drinks produced by two major multinational companies in India.

Giving details of the study conducted by Kolkata-based All India Institute of Hygine and Public Health (AIIH&PH), Kulaste said

selected by the stratified sampling method and the samples were submitted to National Test House (in Kolkata) for testing,” Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste said in a written reply.

Apart from lead, other heavy metals like Cadmium and Chromium were also found in the samples (due to leaching of toxins from the bottles in which they were packaged), he said replying to a question on whether the govern-

that the AIIH&PH had entered into a pact with the National Test House (NTH) for testing and estimation.

According to reports, in April last year, the Health Ministry is learnt to have directed the AIIH&PH to conduct a study on leaching of toxins from PET bottles, used for packaging pharmaceutical preparations, cold drinks, alcohol, juices and other beverages.-PTI

Haryana to check sex determination tests CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Government has decided to take more stringent measures to curb the menace of sex determination after a discussion with officials of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

"Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has appreciated the efforts of all Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and health department officials for the strict implementation of the PCPNDT Act and the MTP Act, which has resulted in improvement of sex ratio," Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Gupta said after the meeting with the officials through video-conferencing in Kaithal district.

He discussed plans with the officials to better the implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act under the 'Beti Bachao-Beti

Padhao' campaign.

"During the Haryana Swarna Jayanti Utsav function in Gurugram on November 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appreciated Haryana for the good work done under Beti Bachao-

load data by the 15th of every month.

"The ideal sex ratio should be 950 females per 1,000 males.

Therefore officials of each district should make efforts to achieve this target," Gupta said.

In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, work is in progress of collecting village and municipal area-wise data of sex ratio in Jind and Panipat districts under a pilot project which would be made online soon Beti Padhao campaign," he said.

In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, work is in progress of collecting village and municipal area-wise data of sex ratio in Jind and Panipat districts under a pilot project which would be made online soon, Gupta said.

He directed the officials to up-

The state government has been running a special campaign since May 2015 for strict implementation of the Acts, he said.

It was informed that recently the Delhi Government had assured the Haryana chief minister of its full support in improving sex ratio and eliminating female feticide.-PTI

Datebook

December 9, 2016

India Post 39

www.indiapost.com

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

CHICAGO

Upcoming

Upcoming

ILLINOIS

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Fri, Dec 09 • Junoon Dance Company and Learn Bhangra App Presents: BHANGRA WORKSHOP

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's

Venue: Junoon Dance Company,804 East Nerge Road, ROSELLE, IL Time: 07:00 pm

Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807

Sat, Dec 10 • Sur Sargam Parthiv Gohil Bollywood Musical Share Venue: NJPAC,1 Center St, NEWARK, NJ Time: 6:00 pm

Sun, Dec 11 • Desi Winter Mela 2016 Venue: E Hotel Banquet & Conference Center,3050 Woodbridge Avenue, EDISON, NJ Time: 01:00 pm

Sun, Dec 11 • Indian Crossword League (IXL) 2016 Venue: Hickory Corner Branch (Library), 138 Hickory Corner Rd, East Windsor, NJ 08520,138 Hickory Corner Road, HIGHTSTOWN, NJ Time: 02:00 pm

Sun, Dec 11 • The Biggest HOLI Party in New York City Venue: Stage48,605 West 48th Street, NEW YORK, NY Time : 12:00 pm

Sat, Dec 17 • Indian Classical Kathak Dance Workshop with Shivani Badgi Venue: Gibney Dance Studios ,280 Broadway, NEW YORK, NY Time : 12:00 pm

Sat, Dec 17 • Swayamvar - Indian Singles Event Venue: Nirvana,346 Lexington Avenue, NEW YORK, NY Time : 06:00 pm

Sat, Dec 10 • Bollywood Nights - Leena's Bday Bash Venue: M Asian Fusion Restaurant,98 South Second Street, SAN JOSE, CA Time: 10:00 pm

Sat, Dec 10 • Outsourced Comedy Tour Venue: JJ Blues ,3449 Stevens Creek Boulevard, SAN JOSE, CA Time: 7:00 pm

Sat, Dec 17 • Chicago’s musicians pay tribute to M. S. Subbulakshmi

Sat, Dec 10 • Mr. and Mrs. Punjabi USA Pag-

Venue: Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel,128 West 1st Street, ELMHURST, IL Time: 7:30 pm

2016 _ Stand Up Comedy

eant 2016 Venue: Golden Peakock Banquet,24989 Santa Clara Street, HAYWARD, CA Time: 7:00 pm

Wed, Dec 14 • Mind and Meditation Venue: Fremont Art of Living Center,555 Mowry Ave, FREMONT, CA Time: 07:30 pm

Sat, Dec 17 • LOV- KUSH RAMAYAN CONTEST & MSMT KID'S FANCY DRESS COMPETITION Venue: Shiv Durga Temple of Bay Area,1170 Kern Avenue, SUNNYVALE, CA Time: 11:00 am

Sat, Dec 17 •Yogic Breath Venue: Village Square Library, San Jose,4001 Evergreen Village Square, SAN JOSE, CA Time: 4:00 pm

ATLANTA Upcoming Thu, Dec 29 • WWE Live - PHILIPS ARENA - Atlanta Venue: PHILIPS ARENA ,1 Philips Drive, ATLANTA, GA Time: 7:30 pm

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: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Swami Ishatmananda Sat, Dec 31 • New Year Eve in Duluth Venue: Poona Restaurant,3665 Club Drive, DULUTH, GA Time: 7:00 pm

Sat, Dec 31 • Hawaiian style Grand New Year Party 2017 Venue: Skyland 540 Access Rd, Cumming, GA 30041 Time: 8:00 pm

• Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy of life Venue: Public Library-95th Street 3015 Cedar Glade Rd Naperville IL 60564 Time: 1st friday of every month 7-8 pm Contact: 630-637-0662

• India Eternal: From the Vedic Age to the Present Venue: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago 10915 N. Main Street Glendale Heights, IL 60139 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 630-655-8822

40 India Post

www.indiapost.com

December 9, 2016

If finest temples and impressive customs inspire you, then Dwarka in the State of Gujarat would be an apt location for you.

Myths that suffuse the whole vibes of Dwarka portray the magical glory of an ethnic city.

A

great devout centre with much mythological rel evance, Dwarka is the epitome of spiritual enlight enment. To the devotee, Dwarka is synonymous with Lord Krishna and this sleepy locale has gained high accolades as the gateway to the much cherished salvation. As per the Scriptures, Dwarka is one of the holy spots that bestow deliverance since it was here that Lord Krishna had established his earthly kingdom.

A bevy of lovely temples that display flamboyant structural designs and marvelous architecture are the signature destinations in Dwarka. These lovely shrines reveal the city's feted association with Lord Krishna and indeed a visit to these holy spots would be an invigorat-

ing experience to all. Legend has it that after the death of Krishna, Dwarka city submerged in the water, devastating

Apart from the tranquil ambiance of the holy shrines, Dwarka offers some of the appealing beaches, where the glittering waters and the warm weather tempts the beholder with its inherent charm

the entire Yadava clan. Recent excavations have proved the existence of well-planned cities on the shores of the river Gomati, which testifies this legendary belief.

Apart from the tranquil ambiance of the holy shrines, Dwarka offers some of the appealing beaches, where the glittering waters and the warm weather tempts the beholder with its inherent charm.

Shopping is an inevitable pastime in this historic city. A variety of shops that supply excellent Gujarati artifacts on a comparatively good price would be the sweet reminders of your trip.

Cont’d on page 42

December 9, 2016

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New visa to attract foreigners, boost trade NEW DELHI: Aiming to attract more tourists and boost trade, government has approved a new liberalized visa policy that includes long-term multiple-entry comprehensive visa by merging tourist, business, medical and conference visas into one.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also decided to extend the e-Tourists Visa to eight more countries, taking the total number of countries which are under cover the scheme to 158.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for liberalization, simplification and rationalization of the existing visa regime in India and incremental changes in the visa policy decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs in consultation with various stakeholders, an official statement said.

The approval will facilitate entry of foreigners for tourism, business and medical purposes. This is expected to stimulate economic growth, increase earnings from export of services like tourism, medical value

travel and travel on account of business and to make Skill India, Digital India, Make in India and other such flagship initiatives of the government successful.

This will also considerably ease the travel of foreigners to India for the above-mentioned legitimate purposes, the release said.

Tourists, businessmen or people coming for treatment or to attend conferences or even for film shoots will be covered under the new category of visa, which was first mooted by the Commerce Ministry following a suggestion by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) to boost services trade.

The long-term, multiple-entry visa will be given up to 10 years but under this category the visitor will not be allowed to work or stay permanently, a government official said.

Except those covered under 10 year travel and trade visa policy, citizens of other countries would be offered five year multiple visa for travel and trade.

As per the proposal, if a foreigner is

granted long-term, multiple-entry non-working or non-permanent stay visa and his or

her stay is restricted to 60 days on a visit, the government may waive the visa fee as well.

However, the visitors have to give biometric details and fulfill certain security obligations, the official said.

The plan is part of the Commerce Ministry's initiatives to boost India's services trade.

India is said to be missing out on a huge opportunity worth about USD 80 billion annually in terms of attracting foreigners and foreign exchange.

Medical tourism in India alone is estimated at USD 3 billion and projected to grow to USD 78 billion by 2020.

Foreign patients travelling to India for medical treatment in 2012, 2013 and 2014 stood at 1,71,021, 2,36,898, and 1,84,298 respectively.

Small countries like Thailand attract millions of people whereas tourists flow in India is far less. -PTI

Yatra.com brings voice-enabled search 86% rise in e-visa tourists NEW DELHI: Online travel solutions provider Yatra.com has introduced a voice-enabled search and booking app, which allows customers to explore various flight options using the microphone of a smartphone instead of its keyboard.

Yatra has introduced voice search to revolutionize and simplify the user experience while booking domestic and international flights, the company said in a release.

"Over the last 18 months, we have seen a significant increase in searches and bookings via mobiles and hence the introduction of a feature like voice search to make it easier for the mobile user to search and book flights.

"We think it will play a transformational role in the way flight bookings are made," Yatra.com Chief Operating Officer for B2B Sharat Dhall said.

With smartphone prices crashing and penetration increasing rapidly, the Indian traveler of today is very comfortable making flight bookings via their mobile and the voice search feature will go a long way in making the experience a very easy and seamless one, the company said.

For search and booking, one simply needs to tap on the microphone icon appearing at the top right on his or her mobile phone and speak out the travel details, it said, adding that on doing so, the

flight results with all the options would appear instantly.

Voice search is particularly useful for long queries that would otherwise require plenty of details to be typed in, such as number of travelers, number of adults or children, among others, the release said.

According to Yatra, one of the features of the app is that popular holidays are synchronized into it, so one can search for a particular flight gives instantly all the available flight options.

"Voice searches on search engines are already over 20 per cent of all mobile searches and continue to grow everyday.

At Yatra, we have always been at the forefront of technology innovation in the online travel space and the addition of voice

search is in line with our Endeavour to improve user experience and create happy travelers," Dhall said. -PTI

in month of Oct NEW DELHI: Over 1 lakh tourists arrived in India on e-tourist visa in October, registering a whopping growth of 86.4 per cent over the corresponding month last year.

The UK continues to occupy the top slot among the countries availing the e-tourist visa facility, followed by the US and France.

"A total of 1,05,268 foreign tourists arrived in October 2016 on e-tourist visa as compared to 56,477 during the month of October 2015, registering a growth of 86.4 per cent," an official release said.

Launched on November 27, 2014, the facility was available for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 airports in India till February 25.

It was extended for citizens of 37 more countries from February 26.

Among the top 10 source countries availing the facility in October, the UK share was maximum at 22.9 per cent, followed by the US (12.1 per cent), France (6.6 per cent), China (5.8 per cent) and Russia (5.6 per cent).

The share of Germany was 5.5 per cent, while that of Australia (4.5 per cent), Canada (3.6 per cent), Spain (2.3 per cent) and the Netherlands (2.1 per cent).

"This high growth may be attributed to

introduction of e-tourist visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 113 countries," the release said.

During January-October 2016, a total of 7,80,570 tourist arrived on e-tourist visa as compared to 2,58,182 during the corresponding period last year, recording a growth of 202.3 per cent.

Among the top 10 airports, where tourists availing online facility arrived, during the last month, the New Delhi Airport share was highest with 51.67 per cent, followed

by Mumbai Airport (18.65 per cent), Dabolim (Goa) Airport (6.20 per cent), Bengaluru Airport (5.18 per cent) and Chennai Airport (4.97 per cent).

The share of Kochi Airport was 3.15 per cent, while that of Amritsar Airport 2.42 per cent, Hyderabad Airport 2.18 per cent, Kolkata Airport 2.08 per cent and Trivandrum Airport 1.28 per cent.-PTI

42 India Post

Travel & Hospitality Post

December 9, 2016

www.indiapost.com Cont’d from page 40

Steeped in the richness of a mythological and legendary past, today's Dwarka is a fast emerging city that expands it horizons in almost every field. In Dwarka, one can expect the freshness and serenity of a devout location and the sizzles of a typical Indian city. Dwarka would be a nice destination for the enthusiastic ones and those who treasure the magnificence of a holy place.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS Dwarkadeesh Temple: A temple belonging to the Chalukya style of art, Dwarakadeesh temple possesses a long history of 2500 years. As the name suggests the presiding deity is none other than Lord Krishna. It is indeed a monument with superb artistic expressions. A five storied main shrine supported by 60 roof columns is the main attraction of this grand structure. Lord Krishna in his black idol appears so beautiful and appealing that the devotee feels the presence of the Lord before him.

Other shrines are dedicated to Sathybhama Devi, Subhadra, Balarama and Revathy, Jambavathi Devi, Vasudeva, Rukmini Devi and Devaki. Rich carvings and complicated structural designs of the temple amuse each visitor with its elegant appeal.

Gita Mandir: A marvelous and spectacular shrine on the western part of the city, the Gita Mandir tries to project the values of the sacred book Bhagavad Gita. This marble structure is a marvel in terms of artistic expression and at the same time it imparts a serenity to all those who delve into its holy premises.

Gomati Ghat: As per the Scriptures, River Gomati is none other than the sacred Ganges, which descended from heaven. As the reservoir of various myths this river hosts so many shrines and ghats where the devotees often do various rituals. Of all the holy spots beside the river, Gomati Kund happens to be the most sought after destination of the religious minded since it was here that the Lord himself had served the hot tempered Durvasa. The popular belief is that a mere visit to this saintly place would liberate the devotee from all their sins.

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga: Situated in the outskirts of Dwaraka, Nageshwar Temple or Nagnath Temple is one of the prominent Shiva shrines in India and this temple represents the removal of evil forces from earth. As one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, this shrine houses a curious myth about its origin.

Rukmini Mandir: Though a small structure, Rukmini Mandir is an important shrine and it is dedicated to the most beloved consort of Krishna, Devi Rukmini. A masterpiece in artistic terms, this temple makes the beholder spell-

DWARKA

Where Lord Krishna established his earthly kingdom Beyt Dwarka: Believed to be the residence of Lord Krishna and his family, Beyt Dwarka is one of the landmark sites in Dwarka. It is believed that Lord Krishna ruled the city from here. It is also believed that Lord Vishnu chose this spot to kill the demon Shankhasura and the place has also got other soubriquet, Bet Shankhoddar. To add glamour to these mythical stories, Beyt Dwarka now houses a host of prominent shrines that allures the devotees with its exquisite serenity.

Best time to visit Dwarka has a pleasant temperate climate all through the year. But the best time to visit is during the months from October to June.

bound. Its highly embellished walls and rich carvings are simply superb. The rich paintings in the walls of this 12th century temple portray Rukmini's pastimes with her husband.

How to reach

By Train: Dwarka railway station in the AhmedabadOkha rail route is connected to other major railway stations. Tourists can take trains from Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore.

By Air: The closest domestic airport to Dwarka is located at Jamnagar, which is about 137 km away. There are regular flights from Jamnagar to Mumbai International Airport.

By Bus: Gujarat state road transport buses connect Dwarka with all major cities in the State.

Luxury coach tourist buses are also available.

December 9, 2016

Travel & Hospitality Post

India Post

43

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Sarajevo hotel offers taste of life in war SARAJEVO, BosniaHerzegovina: A hostel in Bosnia is offering visitors a unique experience: the opportunity to live like civilians in a war zone.

But at the Sarajevo War Hostel, guests have the luxury of knowing they won't be killed, starved or lose family or friends. And unlike the Sarajevans who actually endured the 1992-95 war, the visitors

ing bombs outside. A tape of the bombs plays all night long.

In a makeshift bunker and by candlelight, the hostel owner, Zero One, 25, shares with guests his childhood memories of wartime and the postwar era, and tells them how wars can influence people's lives forever. His birth name is Arijan Kurbasic, but he calls himself Zero One, the wartime code

Bosnian Arian Kurbasic, center, the owner of the War Hostel in Sarajevo with his guests from the U.S., in the replica of an underground wood bunker built in the hostel basement

can leave any time.

Those who check in to the War Hostel are greeted by the owner wearing a helmet and a flak jacket.

They get to sleep in rooms with just one bulb on the ceiling, running on a car battery. The plastic sheets on the windows are just like the ones the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees handed out to Sarajevans so they

name used by his father, who was a soldier in the Bosnian Army. The code name conceals his ethnic background. ``I just want to be identified as a human being as this was the most important thing to be during the war. Either you are one or you are not,'' he explained. ``Zero One I chose to honor my father.''

The war unfolded after Yugo-

I can read a textbook all I want, but most of that information escapes from the mind immediately. But when I come here and I see people who talk about their experiences, that makes it real, that makes me want to learn about it, to try to help, try to love.'' could replace window glass shattered by bombs.

At night, they use candles to move around the hostel and to read by. The walls are plastered with wartime newspaper articles most of them from The Associated Press - depicting the daily struggle in besieged Sarajevo.

At the War Hostel, visitors quickly discover it is one thing to watch people surviving wars on TV. But it is really something else to spend the night on a sponge mattress on the floor, covered with military blankets, and in the darkness listen to the sound of explod-

slavia fell apart and its republics declared independence one after the other. Nationalist politicians were determined to divide the new country of Bosnia and Herzegovina along ethnic lines and pitted the country's Muslim Bosniaks, Roman Catholic Croats and Christian Orthodox Serbs against each other.

However, Sarajevo, as well as other parts of Bosnia, were ethnically diverse and many locals rejected the nationalist plans - for which they paid a high price. The Serb siege of Sarajevo went on for 46 months - precisely 1,425 days -

longer than the siege of Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, during World War II. Sarajevo's 380,000 people were left without food, electricity, water or heating, as they hid from snipers and the average 330 shells a day that smashed into the city.

Over 100,000 people were killed during the Bosnian war, 11,541 of them in Sarajevo.

Guests appreciate the intensity of the hostel simulation. ``The best way to learn about something is usually experience,'' said Andrew Burns, 21, a hostel guest from the U.S. ``It provides emotions behind events. I can read a textbook all I want, but most of that information escapes from the mind immediately. But when I come here and I see people who talk about their experiences, that makes it real, that makes me want to learn about it, to try to help, try to love.''

Zero One also offers guests a chance to watch documentaries about the siege, and can organize tours of the city's war sites, like the front lines and a tunnel Sarajevans dug under the airport runway to connect the city with the outside world.-AP

Adventure park at Garden of Five Senses NEW DELHI: Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra has inaugurated an adventure park developed by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development (DTTDC) over 22 acres at Garden of Five

as a blessing for people of Delhi and will provide children with space to play and get enthralled with adventure activities. It will also act as a catalyst to promote Garden of Five Senses as an eco-

Senses in Said-ul-Ajaib Village.

The sprawling park, close to Saket Metro station, will have facilities of paint ball, rock climbing wall, zip line, Burma bridge, commando net, running bungee, Sumo wrestling, Zorbing, air rifle shooting, archery among other sports.

"This Adventure Park came up

friendly project and bring more families to spend their time in the Garden," Mishra said while inaugurating the park.

Besides the entry tickets to the Garden of Five Senses, the visitors will have to pay Rs 100 to Rs 120 for different adventure activities, said a senior Tourism department official.-PTI

Florida sees record tourism numbers

Goa turns majority services cashless

JACKSONVILLE, Fla: Tourists continued to pour into Florida throughout the summer and early fall despite fears that visitors would shun the state in the aftermath of a mass shooting and warnings that pregnant women should avoid Miami due to the Zika virus.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced that 85 million tourists visited the state during the first nine months of 2016. That's the highest nine-month total ever, on a pace to set a record total for the year.

Scott highlighted the numbers during a visit to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, where he touted the work of Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketing arm, during a year where Americans and foreigners saw troubling headlines from Florida.

In June, Omar Mateen went on a rampage inside the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando where he killed 49 people and injured more than 50 others. -AP

PANAJI: As Goa works its way underway with leading service towards becoming India's first providers so that it can be accashless society, the state tourism cepted as another mode of cashdepartment has shifted majority of less payments. its services on cashless payment "To further this process, the facilities. launch of the new e-commerce "Whether hotel reservations, portal and mobile app in February package tours, cruise rides or any this year has provided a foolproof other tourism service, the Goa platform for e-business and cashTourism Development Corporation has introduced systems that The GTDC is also working to have facilitated cash- introduce pay wallets and less transactions, both online and offline," talks are underway with GTDC Chairman Nilesh leading service providers so Cabral said here.

"Cashless facility is that it can be accepted made possible by GTDC through online web portal, less transactions, also bringing booking of services and products other tourism stakeholders into the through mobile app available on cashless circuit," Cabral said. iOS and android platform at GTDC As per GTDCs records, cashresidencies and restaurants less transactions to the tune of Rs through point-of-sale (POS) ma- 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh are executed chines, thus enabling a 360 degree daily for various services provided approach to the new cashless sys- by the corporation, which is in tem," he said. addition to cashless transactions The GTDC is also working to recorded on its e-commerce portal introduce pay wallets and talks are and mobile app, he said.-PTI

Tech News RuPay card usage jumps 118 pc MUMBAI: RuPay card usage jumped by over 118.6 per cent in the week following demonetization that took effect from November 8 mid-night while the overall debit and credit card transactions recorded an increase of 70.5 per cent.

According to RBI data, the usage of RuPay card at POS terminals soared by as much as 200.6 per cent to 46.6 lakh transactions during November 9-15. This compares with 15.5 lakh swipes during November 1-8.

RBI said a total of 65.6 lakh transactions were recorded through RuPay cards during November 9-15. This includes 19 lakh spendings through e-commerce platforms.

Further, 1.58 crore Mastercard debit cards were used during the period, up 76.84 per cent over November 1-8. Mastercard credit card transactions went up by about 24 per cent to 57.31 lakh.

In the case of Visa, the increase in debit and pre-paid transactions stood at 93 per cent while for the credit card segment, it was 42 per cent during November 1 and 8.

Taking all Rupay, Mastercard and Visa together, the total transactions were up at 3,39,60,329 during November 9-15, from 1,99,19,176 on November 1-8, an increase of 70.49 per cent.

RuPay payment gateway has been developed by India while Mastercard and Visa are foreign companies.-PTI

'Jindal ancillary industries can create 50K jobs' BHUBANESWAR: More than 50,000 jobs can be created by developing ancillary industries of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) plant at Angul in Odisha for which over Rs 35,000 crore has already been invested, company chairman Naveen Jindal has said.

"JSPL has invested about Rs 35,000 crore in Odisha and has created employment for about 30,000 people. At Angul, it has already set up a 2 MTPA steel plant and more investments are in process to complete the 6 MTPA plant," Jindal said at the Make in Odisha Conclave.

"We are already making in Odisha. The Coal Gasification Technology adopted by JSPL can be used in making several products which will help in creating more downstream industries. More than 50,000 jobs can be created by developing Ancillary Industries of JSPL's plant at Angul," he said.-PTI

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December 9, 2016

India projected to grow 7.6 per cent: UN UNITED NATIONS: India's economy is projected to grow at 7.6 per cent in 2017 as investment regains momentum and manufacturing base strengthens on the back of structural reforms in the country, a UN study said, crediting India and China for steady growth of the Asia-Pacific region.

"India's economy is projected to sustain a 7.6 per cent growth rate in both fiscal years 2016-17 and 2017-18," according to the year-end update of the flagship report Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific 2016 of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). -PTI

Demonetization, GST to create larger, cleaner economy: Jaitley NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said demonetization may impact growth "for a quarter or so" but this disruption will not last too long and the move along with GST will help create a larger and cleaner economy.

"I have least doubt in my mind that (one year from now) you will have a bigger economy, higher GDP, cleaner GDP. You will have a higher tax base and more money in banks, and probably interest rates will be more reasonable.

Therefore, all these collectively could contribute a lot as far as GDP is concerned," he said at the HT Leadership Summit.

Both the economy and social system will see a major transformation after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) post demonetization.

"I personally believe that once the demonetization process is complete and the GST is implemented, it's going to hugely im-

pact India's businesses and also the Indian way of life.

"You will have more of digitized expenditures, you will have a taxa-

is being captured," he said.

As far as the negative impact of demonetization is concerned, Jaitley said, "When you switch

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

tion system far more efficient, which is extremely difficult to evade, where each limb of the transaction

over, it creates disruption. I don't see disruption lasting too long.

You may see the impact for a quar-

ter or so. Then when you look at next 12-15 quarters, it's certainly going to benefit."

Citing a few economic trends post demonetization, the Minister said rabi sowing this season has been higher than last year, while auto sales were a mixed bag.

"Of course, you will have some disruption created because of the switchover, in the long run, advantages are going to be huge as far as the relative cost of disruption is concerned," Jaitley said.

Speaking about the various advantages of the demonetization, the Finance Minister said, it could lead to reduction in interest rates.

"Rates will now hopefully at some stage come down. With more money in the taxation system, our base itself increases," he said.

As far as inflow from demonetization is concerned, he said it would come from many sources including higher tax penalty to be levied on unaccounted money.-PTI

New currency of Rs 5.7 crore seized NEW DELHI: The biggestever seizure of cash in new currency has grown to over Rs 5 crore even as the Income Tax department said it detected unaccounted income worth Rs 152 crore after it conducted searches in a dozen premises in Bengaluru and other locations.

I-T officials said the cash found, after searches on the premises of two engineers working with the state government, and two contractors has risen to Rs 5.7 crore and these notes are in the denomination of the newly introduced currency of Rs 2000.

"Total admission of unaccounted income by the group stands at Rs 152 crore. Investigations are on," they said.

They added the department also recovered 7 kg bullion and jewellery weighing 9 kg, worth Rs 5 crore, after these operations.

"About 90 lakh has been found in the old demonetized

currency. In addition, several property documents were also found and seized," they said.

A team of over 50 I-T sleuths and police personnel had launched operations to search premises in Bengaluru, Chennai and Erode

notes and bullion are learnt to have been obtained by exchange of demonetized notes by payment of commission of an engineer and a contractor."

The tax sleuths had also seized some notes of Rs 100, demonetized

(Tamil Nadu).

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the policy-making body of the tax department, had said in a statement that: "the new

notes of Rs 500 and a few gold biscuits during the operation, they said, adding the department had to call in note counting machines and additional staff to ascertain

the value of the cash.

What had surprised the tax authorities is the sheer amount of new currency stashed by these individuals at a time when new notes are not available to the common public which is queuing up to withdraw even small amounts from their accounts.

"Rs 5.7 crore is the highest seizure of the new currency in the country post the currency ban on November 8. Some entry operators and bankers are under the scanner. Such volume of new currency cannot be obtained without connivance of bank officials," a senior I-T department official said.

The department has also found a number of identity cards of various individuals from the searched premises which could have been used to illegally change the old currency with new ones.-PTI

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Large volumes of cash source of corruption: PM NEW DELHI: Contending that large volumes of liquid cash are a big source of corruption and black money, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to the people to "lead the change" towards

"In 21st century India, there is no place for corruption. Corruption slows down growth and takes a toll on the dreams of the poor, neo-middle class and middle class," he wrote in an article posted

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

cashless transactions to lay the strong foundations of an India where there is no place for such malaise.

27 senior PSU banks officials suspended NEW DELHI: In a major crackdown on bank employees involved in irregularities post demonetization, as many as 27 senior officials of various public sector banks have been suspended and six others transferred to check corrupt practices.

The suspensions come amid reports of Income Tax authorities conducting search and seizure in many places, including one at Bengaluru where Rs 5.7 crore cash in new currency notes was recovered from two businessmen.

Some cases have come to notice of officials involved in carrying out transactions which were irregular and violative of RBI's instructions, the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

"Action has been taken in such cases and 27 officials of various public sector banks have been placed under suspension and six officials have been transferred to non-sensitive posts," it said.

It also cautioned that while all efforts are being made to facilitate genuine transactions, "illegalities will not be tolerated and appropriate action will be taken against individuals involved in irregular and unauthorized activities".-PTI

on Linkedin.com.

"Large volumes of liquid cash are a big source of corruption and black money," he said while refer-

ring to his "historic" decision on November 8 to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes with an aim of ending corruption and black money.

Asserting that in 21st century India, there is no place for corruption, Modi said, "Corruption slows down growth and takes a toll on the dreams of the poor, neo-middle class and middle class."

In this context, he referred to his pitch for cashless transactions.

"I urge all of you, particularly my young friends to lead the change and inspire others to turn towards cashless transactions.

This will set the strong foundations of an India where there is no place for corruption and black money," the Prime Minister said.

"Today we live in an era of mobile banking and mobile wallets.

Ordering food, buying and selling furniture, ordering a taxi...all of this and lot more is possible through your mobiles. Technology has brought speed and convenience

FM cites compulsion to roll out GST NEW DELHI: Citing constituSo, if as on September 16, 2017, tional compulsion, Finance Min- there is no GST, then there is no ister Arun Jaitley has sought to taxation in the country, he readrive home the point that the soned.

Goods and Services Tax has to roll "So, you have a constitutional out before September 16 next year compulsion to have a Goods and as the existing indirect taxes will Services Tax in place before Sepcome to an end by then and it tember 16 (2017), otherwise the would not be possible to run the country doesn't run, and the tax is country without revenue collec- absolutely essential. Therefore, tion. our intention is it gets impleHe made a pitch for widening mented from April 1, 2017, that was the tax base, saying efforts are on the original intention," he said. to make taxation process far simJaitley made the point that pler and make rates more reasonable.

For instance, he Jaitley made the point that said, the GST Council is states should not oppose deliberating on ways to reduce the taxation pro- every reform for the sake of cess, including assessopposition because that ment by tax officials.

"Today, each person makes investors wary gets assessed thrice, in each of the three taxations (including VAT and central states should not oppose every excise). Now, you will only be as- reform for the sake of opposition sessed once and what one author- because that makes investors wary. ity assesses, others will have to "The states must welcome the accept that assessment," he said. decision and I can only tell you, if Terming GST as a game some states are seen as opposing changer, Jaitley said: "The Con- every reform, then investors in the stitution does not permit delay in country and the ones coming from GST implementation. The govern- outside, must decide which are the ment notified GST on September states they want to invest in," he 16 and the constitutional amend- cautioned. ment itself says the current indi"So, if your state is seen on the rect tax system can continue for wrong side of the reform, then inone year, after which the GST has vestors are going to be very wary to come." of those states."-PTI

short term pain for long term gain. in our lives," he added.

Along with the article, he I am happy to see that the people posted pictorial references to cash- of India are bearing temporary difficulties for the long term gain of less options like credit cards.

"I am sure most of you are us- the nation."

The Prime Minister said over ing cards and e-wallets regularly but I thought I must share with the last few days, he had opportuyou ways through which in- nities to travel to rural as well as creased cashless transactions are urban areas in Uttar Pradesh, possible," he said.

Modi said the November 8 decision of- "In 21st century India, there fered "a unique oppor- is no place for corruption. tunity" for small traders, Corruption slows down growth who have a central role in the economic trans- and takes a toll on the dreams formation of India. of the poor, neo- middle "Today, our trading community has a his- class and middle class" toric chance to upgrade themselves and embrace more Karnataka, Goa and Punjab. technology, which will bring "Wherever I went, I asked the people - should corruption and greater prosperity," he said.

He said when he made the an- black money be eliminated? nouncement, he was aware that Should the poor, neo-middle and the people of India "will face in- middle class get their due? The convenience but I had requested answer I got everywhere was a the people of India to bear this resounding yes!"-PTI

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Bizman declares Rs 13,860 cr under IDS AHMEDABAD: City-based property dealer Mahesh Shah, who made a sensational claim that he was used as a front to declare Rs 13,860 crore under the Income

Mahesh Shah

Declaration Scheme (IDS), is being interrogating by senior I-T personnel.

"Shah's statement has been recorded partially. During the inter-

rogation, he was provided adequate rest looking at his medical condition. As per his request, the process of recording his statement will continue," said Director of Investigations in I-T department P C Mody.

Shah shot into limelight after he declared Rs 13,860 crore under the IDS, which closed on September 30.

He was picked up from the office of a regional channel for questioning.

Shah, who went missing after I-T department searched his residence a few days back, appeared in the studio of a local news channel for an interview. Later, he was taken away by

I-T officials from there.

During the interview, Shah claimed he made the declaration out of compulsion and for commission.

"The amount of Rs 13,860 crore I declared under IDS was not mine, will tell the names of those behind it before Income Tax officials.... I will disclose everything soon. I have committed a mistake but I will reveal everything soon," Shah said.

Meanwhile, apprehending possible threat to his life, city police deployed two guards outside his residence in Satellite area.

"As per the instructions we have received from senior officials, we have deployed two guards outside his residence for protection of Shah and his family," said Satellite police inspector M U Mashi.

Commenting on the issue, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja stated that truth will eventually come out.

"I am confident that truth will come out during the investigation

by I-T department," said Jadeja.

During his interview to news channel, Shah refused to reveal name of persons who allegedly used him as a front to declare the whopping amount, saying that he would do that only in front of I-T officials.

The Gujarat businessman claimed he has not done anything

on premises of his Chartered Accountant firm Apaji Amin & Co. Shah was missing from the day searches were carried out at his premises. He was supposed to pay Rs 1,560 crore, which is 25 per cent of 45 per cent tax on the disclosed amount, as the first installment. Though November 30 was the last date, he failed to deposit

Shah was missing from the day searches were carried out at his premises. He was supposed to pay Rs 1,560 crore, which is 25 per cent of 45 per cent tax on the disclosed amount, as the first installment wrong and was ready to reveal everything.

Income Tax searches were conducted at the office and residential premises of Shah on November 29, 30 and December 1 after he failed to pay first installment of tax on the declaration of Rs 13,860 crore.

I-T sleuths also swooped down

the installment with I-T department.

When I-T department conducted an inquiry, they started doubting Shah's capacity to pay the installment by the due date.

Thus by November 28, I-T department cancelled his IDS Form-2 and initiated search operations the next day.-PTI

Trump warns US companies Undisclosed Rs 1.64 cr in Jan Dhan accounts relocating abroad WASHINGTON: US Presidentelect Donald Trump has warned US companies of "consequences" if they relocate abroad and promised to slash tax from 35 per cent to 15 per cent to make America attractive for businesses.

"Companies are not going to leave the US any more without consequences. Not going to happen. It's not going to happen, I'll tell you right now," Trump said as he visited a plant of leading air conditioning manufacturer Carrier in Indiana where he announced that he has struck a deal with the company to change their plan to relocate to Mexico and saved more than 1,100 jobs in the process.

Trump said he called the top leadership of Carrier to make the deal happen.

"We're losing so much. So one of the things we're doing to keep them is we're going to lowering our business tax from 35 per cent, hopefully down to 15 per cent, which would take us from the highesttaxed national virtually in the world - this is terrible for business - to one of the lower taxed.

Not the lowest yet, but one of the lower taxed," he said.

During the presidential campaign, the Republican billionaire had threatened to slap tariffs on

firms quit America for places like Mexico, China and India where labor costs are cheaper. It became a repeated refrain of his victorious campaign.

"I just want to let all of the other companies know that we're going to do great things for business.

There's no reason for them to leave anymore because your taxes are

Donald Trump

going to be at the very, very low end, and your unnecessary regulations are going to be gone," he said assuring companies that the US would be a business friendly destination.

Trump also blamed people from Middle East 'pouring in the US. "People are pouring in from re-

gions of the Middle East.

We have no idea who they are, where they come from, what they're thinking and we're going to stop that dead, cold flat," he said.

Trump insisted that his administration will build the wall across the Mexico border.

"We're going to build the wall.

People are saying: Do you think Trump's going to build the wall?

Trust me, we're going to build a wall. And by the way, people are going to come through that wall.

We're going to have doors in that wall, but they're going to come through legally," he said.

"People are going to come through on worker permits to work the fields. We're going to have a lot of people are going to come through. But it's going to be done through a legal process," he asserted.-PTI

NEW DELHI: The Income Tax statement said, adding that Rs 40 department has found "various in- lakh has been seized from one consistencies" in cash deposits in such account in Bihar.

Jan Dhan accounts and detected Undisclosed income so deabout Rs 1.64 crore deposited by tected will be brought to tax as per persons who have never filed re- the provisions of the Income Tax turns as their income shown is be- Act, 1961, apart from other actions low the taxable limit.

"Investigations being conducted by the Income Tax Department across India into the sudden surge in cash deposits in Jandhan accounts have The money has been deposited revealed variby persons who have never filed ous inconsistencies," a Fireturns, with their income being nance Minisbelow the taxable limits try statement said.

Undisclosed money worth depending upon the outcome of about Rs 1.64 crore has already investigations, it said. been found in Jan Dhan accounts, "The Central Board of Direct it said.

Taxes (CBDT), once again urges The money has been deposited the account holders not to conby persons who have never filed sent to any kind of misuse of their returns, with their income being accounts which would expose below the taxable limits, it added. them to the dangers of being held The money has been detected responsible for the tax evasion by at Kolkata, Midnapore, Ara unscrupulous elements," said the (Bihar), Kochi and Varanasi, the statement.-PTI

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Chitra Ramkrishna quits as NSE CEO MUMBAI: In a surprise move, Chitra Ramkrishna has quit as Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange with immediate effect presumably over differences with some board members, after having served the premier course for over two decades since its inception.

who rose through the ranks to head the exchange and was part of the team that set up NSE in 1992.

The exit of 52-year-old Ramkrishna, one of the few women executives heading a leading exchange globally, also comes at a time when NSE has been in focus over a new regulatory framework

Chitra Ramkrishna

While the exchange cited "personal reasons" for her departure, sources said the exchange veteran decided to leave - months ahead of its proposed IPO - following differences with some board members.

Senior executive J Ravichandran has been given the interim charge till the NSE board, headed by former Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla, finds a fulltime replacement for Ramkrishna,

for high frequency trades and colocation facilities, which some believe give undue advantage to some brokers and traders.

Her tenure was scheduled to end in March 2018. She took charge as Managing Director and CEO in April 2013 when she succeeded Ravi Narain, who was also part of the first leadership team of the exchange.

Currently, Narain is the Vice

Chairman of NSE. Sources said Ramkrishna decided to leave with immediate effect despite requests by the NSE board to stay on for some more time for transition.

Sebi is keeping a close watch on the developments at the NSE, sources said. The bourse would require the regulator's approval for top level appointments.

NSE's initial public offer is being keenly awaited in the market as one of the biggest IPOs in recent times. Rival BSE is also in the process of launching its initial share sale.

For going public, NSE has been pitching for self-listing or oversight by an independent entity and not a rival exchange in case of cross-listing. Besides, NSE also proposed overseas listing of its shares. In a release, NSE said its board of directors has accepted the resignation of Ramkrishna.

She "tendered her resignation due to personal reasons and expressed her desire to step down with immediate effect. The board, while accepting her request, appreciated her sterling contribution to the growth of the organization over the long years that she had been associated with it," the release said.

NSE said the board has also decided to immediately start the process for selection of a new Managing Director and CEO and has set up a selection committee for this purpose.-PTI

SoftBank to surpass $10 bn commitment to India NEW DELHI: Having made multi-million dollar bets on Indian startups like Snapdeal and Ola, SoftBank exudes confidence in "surpassing" its stated USD 10 billion investment commitment in India as it looks for newer opportunities in the country.

SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son, who called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "India has the best opportunity" given the democratic form of governance, huge population base and rapid pace of adoption of new technologies.

"This is the country with such a large population, this is a country which is a democracy, many of you speak English, this is the country where I think new tech-

nology is going to happen and new excitement is coming...this is the country where I am very much interested in investing," Son said at the HT Leadership Summit here.

He added that the Japanese conglomerate has already invested USD 2 billion in India in the last few years.

The company, in 2014, had committed to investing USD 10 billion in 10 years in India. "...I am a man to keep my words... We have already invested USD 2 billion in the last couple of years. Eight more years to go. I am going to surpass my word on the commitment," he said.

Son said SoftBank, which teamed up with Saudi Arabia last month for a USD 100 billion tech-

nology fund, has already received commitment of over USD 70 billion for the fund.

"I am just looking for opportunities (in India) to make those investments. I think we will find enough opportunities.

I have already said that we are committing to make lots of investments in solar power generation in India and we have lots of internet related companies that we have invested in India and we will continue to expand on that," he added.

The high-profile businessman made headlines earlier this year when he decided to continue as the head of SoftBank instead of handing over the baton to Indiaborn Nikesh Arora.-PTI

Pak says trade regime with India unchanged ISLAMABAD: Trade with In- cal textile industry. dia remains unchanged despite The meeting was informed that tensions in the bilateral ties, the local textile industry was in a Pakistan's Commerce Minister dilapidated condition and its exKhurram Dastgir has said, amid ports were on the decline due to a reports that a huge quantity of number of issues including high Indian raw cotton had been put prices of gas and electricity, high on hold at Karachi Port. tariffs on import of input materiDastgir made the remarks at the als for industries, lack of progress Senate Standing Committee on on restructuring of bank loans Textile Industry in response to a and failure to revive sick units. question raised by Committee Dastgir said the government Chairman Senator Mohsin Aziz, who said a huge quantity of In- The meeting was informed dian raw cotton had that the local textile industry been put on hold at was in a dilapidated condiKarachi Port, state-run Associated Press of Pa- tion and its exports were on kistan reported. the decline due to a Responding to the question, Dastgir had number of issues said that the government has not issued any notifica- was committed to resolve all the tion in this regard. genuine issues of the textile indusHowever, he said the govern- trialists and it had already met a ment has put restriction of import- number of their demands including 500,000 cotton bales in a year ing provision of uninterrupted through Wagah border while there electricity and gas to the industry. was no such restriction on It was decided that a meeting Karachi port. would be held in Karachi to rePakistan this year surpassed solve the issue of banking sector Bangladesh to become India's top with the textile industry in which cotton buyer. representatives from the textile inAziz said the government dustry, the State Bank of Pakistan, should instead ban value-added National Bank of Pakistan and products from the neighboring private banks would be invited.country in a bid to protect the lo- PTI

Kotak Mahindra Bank sharpens digital mode KOLKATA: Private sector Kotak Mahindra Bank has been putting a big thrust on digital banking channels post demonetization.

"Our focus is on multiple digital assets. In our bank, the digital banking adoption rate is 35 per cent, which is pretty high among the industry," chief digital officer of Kotak Mahindra Bank Deepak Sharma has said.

He said presently, the bank is offering three digital modes, namely, mobile banking, offline mobile banking and United Payments Interface (UPI) KayPay. "We are also planning to launch USSD payment mechanism by which customers will

be able to make payments from any feature phones and there is no need for any data connectivity," Sharma told PTI on the sidelines of the Infocom seminar here.

Sharma said 55 per cent of the offline transactions were through digital mode, out of which close to 60 per cent were from mobile.

After demonetization, the adoption rate of mobile app has doubled, he added.-PTI

Horoscope

48 India Post

December 9, 2016

www.indiapost.com

Dec 9th - Dec 15th 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

T

he professional matters at work are smooth.

Those looking for promotions/ recognition may be delayed.

The students needs to focus more and be alert. The health of father needs extra care. It is better to avoid haste and conflicts. Avoid unnecessary driving, risky activities and take care of your health. Patience is the Mantra for you up to September 2017.

ome of you may get opportunity for travel.Those who are looking for marriage may get good proposal.

Those who are in international trading may get good opportunities.The business income is likely to pick up.Social interaction and communication is reduced.

Health of the parents needs care. Avoid conflicting situations up to February 2017, and take care of your health.

T

he professional matters f a c e obstructions.Manage obstructions and conflicts with patience. Keep new ventures pending.Avoid manipulations.

Some of you may plan a journey.Child may need help.

Avoid haste, speculation, aggressive behaviour and unnecessary driving. Enemies are likely to trouble. Conflicts will put you to harm. Romance will not lead.

he professional matters are fine. Those who have strong planets in their birth charts may get a promotion or recognition. Child needs extra care focus on their needs. Some losses and extra expenses are likely. It is better to avoid unnecessary driving, risky activites being at wrong places at wrong time. Can pursue further in relationship. Enjoy time with family.

S

T

P

he professional matters look just focus on work.

The promotion is likely if birth planets are strong. Some additional expenses are likely that are unexpected. Stay away from manipulations, or getting cheated by other people. It is better to avoid new ventures, can lead to losses. The child may need help. Avoid getting emotionally attached in your relationship at present.

T

rofessional matters look better.Those of you who have strong birth planets may get promotion. Some gains are likely in property matters.

Better to avoid unnecessary driving. Expect obstruction and delay in income. Can also have friction with older sibling and friends. Look after parents health. Problems with family assets and avoid conflict and confrontation with husband or wife.

he professional matters look good, enjoy work.

Some of you are likely to be promoted. Avoid haste and conflicts.Students and those who are appearing in selections have better chance of success. The transit planetary influences caused by Rahu/Ketu are difficult for those whose ascending degree is around 12 or some planet is around 12 degree in odd signs.

T

he professional matters look good.The mental peace and patience help in managing the situation. Stay away from manipulations.

Some additional expenses are likely.Silence is golden for you. Better to avoid conflicts.

The transit planetary influences caused by Rahu/Ketu are difficult for those whose ascending degree is around 12 or some planet is around 12 degree in odd signs.

T

T

T

P

T

he professional matters look better, just stay focused. Work with patience and avoid conflicts. Keep new ventures pending, as it can lead to losses of project.

Your health needs proper attention, get physical check if required. The week may involve some additional expenses. Avoid haste, aggressive behaviour, conflicts, unnecessary expenses and driving/travel.

rofessional matters look better.Those who are appearing in selections have a fairly good chance of success.Additional expenses are likely.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.

Always invest in safe assets.Patience is the best medicine up to January, 2017.

he professional matters look ok.Delays are likely in the sources of income.Manage obstructions with patience.It is better to avoid manipulations and unnecessary driving.Focus on children. Avoid people trying to take advantage of you.

Short temper due to weak mars avoid getting in conflict with partner. Focus on fathers health. Obstructions and setbacks and delay in income.

he professional matters look ok.Some additional expenses are likely.Some business related journey is seen. Your health is vulnerable, take care.It is better to avoid driving.Manage things with patience. If you have abdominal or chest problems see doctor and get check up.

You can start a new project or relationship. Setbacks and obstructions in income are seen.

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

December 9, 2016

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Realty Tidbits

Pending home sales nudged upward in Oct WASHINGTON: The number of Americans who signed contracts to purchase homes edged up slightly in October, a sign that the housing market remains on sure footing after solid price and sales gains this year.

The National Association of Realtors says that its seasonally adjusted pending home sales index rose 0.1 percent to 110. Pending sales improved in the Northeast, Midwest and West, while falling in the South.

Many of the contracts were signed when 30-year mortgage rates were averaging less than 3.5 percent, close to a historic low. In the weeks since the presidential election, average rates have jumped above 4 percent, making it costlier to buy a home.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that applications for both new home loans and refinanced loans dropped over the past week.

Pending sales contracts are a barometer of future purchases. A sale is typically completed a month or two after a contract is signed.

Over the past 12 months, sales of existing homes have climbed 5.9 percent to an annual rate of 5.6 million. The increased demand has done little to bring more sellers into the market. Sales listings have fallen 4.3 percent over the past year to 2.02 million homes. The shortage has pushed up the median sales price of existing homes 6 percent from a year ago to $232,200.-AP

Home prices surpass prerecession peak WASHINGTON: U.S. home prices have fully recovered from their steep plunge during the housing bust and Great Recession, according to a private measure.

The Standard & Poor's CoreLogic Case-Shiller national home price index is slightly above the peak it set in July 2006, after rising 5.5 percent in September from a year earlier. The milestone comes after more than four years of steady gains.

Still, prices have not fully recovered in many cities and other gauges show that home prices remain below their peaks.

Steady job gains and low mortgage rates have encouraged more Americans to buy homes. Yet the supply of available properties has dwindled, setting off bidding wars and pushing up prices at a rapid pace.-AP

Real Estate 50 India Post

www.indiapost.com

December 9, 2016

Missoula modular homes from oilfields MISSOULA, Mont: Modular homes that are left over from the boom in the Bakken oilfields will soon be helping house people in Missoula.

The Missoulian reports that Missoula nonprofit Homeword has acquired 10 of the small units that were originally meant for oil workers and will be offering them as affordable housing.

Homeword executive director Andrea Davis says she is excited to provide small homes to low-income residents.-AP

Twice as many new houses needed to keep pace with demand HOLDEN LEWIS

W

e need more houses. It's going to take a long time until we have

enough.

Check out what happened during and after the housing bust that began in 2008: Single-family house construction cratered. House completions have recovered a bit since 2011, but they're barely above the depths of the 1982 recession.

A tale of 2 booms OK, fine, so the average for the last 50 years is 1.4 million permits.

But that doesn't take population booms into account. When you look at the graph above, you can see the effect of the postwar baby boom. Building permits rose abruptly beginning in 1971, when the 1st Baby Boomers turned 25.

There was a recession, and then building permits zoomed upward again and peaked in 1978, when the oldest Boomers were 32.

Now the Millennials are aging into the home buying years. The Millennials' peak birth year was 1990, when 4.18 million children were born in the United States. In a few years, huge numbers of them will want to buy brand-new houses. They're having children later than the Boomers did, so their peak home buying years will be later in life, too.

"If we assume that the housing stock is in balance with households and needs, then we should be seeing new construction deliver the units necessary to house the new households being formed and to replace housing stock lost (lost to disaster, dilapidation or teardowns and re-development)," Smoke wrote.

He continued: "Last year, we saw a net increase of 1,358,000 households. … We only completed 968,000 homes. We don't have a corresponding exact figure for housing stock loss, but a conservative estimate is that 300,000 homes were lost last year. That would mean that the net addition to the housing stock was less than half of what the increase in households warranted."

That's 1 of the reasons that rents and home prices are rising

fast in a lot of metro areas.

"We need more construction to keep pace with demand, but if we don't see it, rents and prices will continue to rise," Smoke said.

"Eventually that leads to declin-

metro areas that need the most new houses.

10 markets with biggest shortages 1. New York (218,541 permits required)

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors: "Without the expected pickup in building as job gains rose in recent years, new and existing inventory has shrunk, prices have

ing affordability that could dampen job and household growth."

Places with acute shortages The National Association of Realtors has been pounding the table recently about the slow pace of home construction. This week the association released a list of the top 10 metro areas with the biggest need for single-family housing starts. It began with the

2. Dallas (132,482 permits required) 3. San Francisco (127,412 permits required) 4. Miami (118,937 permits required) 5. Chicago (94,457 permits required) 6. Atlanta (93,627 permits required) 7. Seattle (73,135 permits required) 8. San Jose, California (69,042 permits required) 9. Denver (67,403 permits required) 10. San Diego (55,825 permits re-

shot up and affordability has eroded despite mortgage rates at or near historic lows."

Not enough construction workers The construction industry says it faces 2 main problems: A lack of buildable lots (often made worse by strict zoning and building codes) and a dearth of construction workers.

In a paper called "Where Did All the Construction Workers Go?," a pair of Census researchers said last year that 60% of construction workers displaced by the housing bust were employed by other industries or had stopped working by 2013. Meanwhile, during the downturn, construction companies were slow to hire younger workers ages 19 to 24.

"One reason for this decline could be unwillingness by construction companies to train relatively young workers relative to other industries in the economy," wrote Hubert Janicki and Erika McEntarfer. "Another reason for this decline could be unwillingness to hire or work for short-duration contract jobs."

In a paper called "Where Did All the Construction Workers Go?," a pair of Census researchers said last year that 60% of construction workers displaced by the housing bust were employed by other industries or had stopped working by 2013 premise that, historically, 1 house is built for every 1.6 jobs created.

Then the association looked at job creation in 171 metro areas from 2013 through 2015. Finally, it calculated how many houses would have to be built in each metro area to get back to that ratio of 1 new house for every 1.6 new jobs.

Then it came up with a list of the

quired) I have quibbles with this there's no room to build single-family houses in New York City, and having spent most of my childhood in an apartment in Fort Worth, I think the Metroplex has more apartment complexes than other places I've lived. But I agree with the broader point made by

Cont’d on page 51

Real Estate Post

December 9, 2016

India Post 51

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Housing demand at 4.2 mn in top 8 cities MUMBAI: Total demand for urban housing is estimated at 4.2 million units during the period 2016-2020 across the top eight cities, according to a report.

Existing under-construction

and planned supply of 1.0 million housing units by private developers is expected to be delivered across top eight cities during the said period, said the report released by Cushman & Wakefield

and GRI. Delhi-NCR (NCT, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida) continues to garner the highest proportion of demand of 24 per cent at around 1 million units by

the end of 2020, said the report titled "Revitalizing Indian Real Estate: A new era of growth & investment".

LIG (low income group) housing, below Rs 15 lakh, is the most

under-serviced segment. While the LIG is likely to generate demand of about 1.98 million units by 2020, supply by private developers is going to be barely 25,000 units.

Similarly, though the MIG or middle income group (Rs 15-70 lakh) accounts for 63 per cent of the total housing supply across eight cities between 2016 and 2020 at 647,000 units, the demand is estimated to be a much higher at 14,57,000 units, it said.

"At the ground level, despite demand grossly outstripping supply, there is a considerable proportion of unsold inventory in the MIG and HIG (high income group) categories, which are not absorbed as these properties are unable to demonstrate value for their buyers. Such units fall out of preference either on account of higherthan-expected prices or due to locations.

"Lack of funds and high land and development costs are the primary reasons for developers not

opting for smaller sized units closer to city centers as profitability drastically reduces," Cushman & Wakefield India Managing Director Anshul Jain said.

Despite encouragements from

luxury housing. This is expected to propel developers to recalibrate their plans to suit the high demand segments of affordable housing, Jain said.

Delhi-NCR is expected to have

"At the ground level, despite demand grossly outstripping supply, there is a considerable proportion of unsold inventory in the MIG and HIG (high income group) categories, which are not absorbed as these properties are unable to demonstrate value for their buyers the Government through taxation and funding relief, under the Housing for All 2022 vision, top cities of India have not seen a significant shift in supply for reduced sized apartments within the MIG or LIG, he said.

Further, the move to demonetize large currencies in order to crack down on black money could further temper demand for HIG and

the highest demand in all the three segments in the period 2016-2020.

Mumbai is expected to follow Delhi-NCR in terms of housing demand. However, a majority of the supply is likely to cater to the HIG, followed by the MIG and LIG. Amongst all the eight cities, developers are likely to launch the highest number of units for the LIG in Kolkata, it added. -PTI

Largest group of new South Gloster corridor remains homes in Detroit economic hub

DETROIT: Work is set to start dents. But like other parts of Deon a 410-unit residential develop- troit it succumbed to abandonment considered the largest group ment and blight as hundreds of of new homes in Detroit in de- thousands of people left for the cades. suburbs beginning in the 1950s.

City Modern is expected to apMany of the original homes and peal to people seeking to move Victorian-style mansions have close to Detroit's popular down- long since crumbled and were torn town where professional sports down. But one mansion was renoteams and other entertainment, vated last year and three others restaurants and cultural attractions will get makeovers as part of City are located.

Modern.

The project's price tag is more Karissa Holmes, 32, has lived than $100 million. It will feature in Brush Park since 2012 and said townhomes, duplexes, carriage homes and apartments in 20 build- Many of the original homes ings on 8.4 acres of land in Detroit's historic and Victorian-style manBrush Park. Just over sions have long since 300 units will be leased.

The rest will be for sale. crumbled and were torn The community is intended to be high-den- down. But one mansion was sity and walkable. Pubrenovated last year lic spaces will be connected by landscaped pathways. smaller developments already Crews will break ground within have started nearby, but City Moda week on one of the new build- ern ``is a game changer.'' ings. Some units are expected to The corporate attorney is a be completed by early 2018. member of the Brush Park Com``Another day, another major munity Development Corp. step forward for Detroit,'' Mayor ``The task we're charged with Mike Duggan said at a ceremony is kind of facilitating development where details of the project were in our neighborhoods,'' she said. released. ``I always knew Brush Park was Brush Park is one of Detroit's going to be a popular place beoldest neighborhoods and more cause of its location. There's althan a century ago was home to ways that `if you build it, they will some of the city's wealthiest resi- come' attitude.''-AP

TUPELO, Miss: On a recent weekday night, the drive-through line at the newly opened Dairy Queen snaked its way around the building, the parking lot and onto South Gloster Street.

But a 15- to 20-minute wait for Oreo Blizzards was worth it for Jeanne Carson and her son, Michael. ``We've been waiting for years for another Dairy Queen to open in Tupelo, and to have them open down here instead of up there is great,'' she said. ``Up there'' would be North Gloster Street, particularly the Barnes Crossing shopping district that includes The Mall at Barnes Crossing and a handful of other shopping centers.

The area has become synonymous with retailing and congested traffic, to the chagrin of other areas of the All-America City that say they, too, are an important part of the economic engine. ``I like to see more businesses on South Gloster,'' Carson said. ``Not everything has to go to Barnes Crossing.''

Rudy Dossett Jr. couldn't agree more. More than a decade ago, the owner of the Dossett Big 4 automobile dealership, along with several other business and community leaders put together the South Gloster Area Property Owners Association to help promote the area. Its slogan was, ``South Gloster is alive.''

The group eventually morphed into the South Gloster Business Association, but meetings became sporadic over the years and the group has all but fizzled.

However, that doesn't mean

move, but we're as busy as I've seen it in quite some time,'' Dossett said. ``Try to pull out of our parking lot and take a left on a Friday night. It's not happening.''

While Dossett's example is an-

The area has become synonymous with retailing and congested traffic, to the chagrin of other areas of the All-America City that say they, too, are an important part of the economic engine Dossett and other business owners aren't concerned about the perception that the area is dying, with the migration of some businesses north. ``Sure, we've had one dealership move and another about to

ecdotal, there is substance to his argument that South Gloster is alive and well. Since January of last year, 74 new construction permits valued at nearly $33 million have been issued along the South Gloster corridor.-AP

Twice as many new houses needed to keep pace with demand Cont’d from page 50

Whatever the reason, it means fewer young workers gained experience in the industry. That's not going to end well.

Youngest and oldest counties Speaking of age, the Census put out a list of the nation's counties with the youngest and oldest median ages. Unsurprisingly, the oldest county - by far - is in Florida.

It's Sumter County, home of a fastgrowing city-slash-retirement community called The Villages.

Returning home from a trip to the mountains a few years ago, I rode my motorcycle through The Villages. The traffic was as bad as Atlanta's, except the drivers were older. I have avoided riding or driving through The Villages ever since.

-Courtesy Bankrate

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Philosophy

December 9, 2016

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M

emory is an undeniable experience to the ordinary man. Unless there is a permanent principle equally connected with the past, the present and the future, the functions of memory, recognition and hope are impossible.

So memory helps us to prove the existence of such a permanent principle behind our mental activities.

Therefore let us discuss memory here, conceding the existence of the world, gross as well as subtle.

Memory functions by way of remembering past thoughts, activities and events. It is clearly a function of the mind. To justify its reality, it must satisfy two conditions. It must first be proved to have been present at the time of the thought referred to and must have known or witnessed it. And secondly, it must also be present at the time of the act of remembrance.

That memory is present when it appears is admitted. Memory, which is itself a thought form, cannot exist along with another thought; since you can never have two thoughts simultaneously.

Therefore, memory by itself cannot recall a past thought.

A thought can be recalled only by that principle which perceived it at the time of its occurrence. Therefore, the 'I'-principle alone can recall a thought at any point of time.

That principle - because it always knows the mental activities OSHO RAJNEESH

M

isery has many things to give to you which happiness cannot give. On the contrary, happiness takes away many things from you. Happiness takes all that you have ever had, all that you have ever been; happiness destroys you.

Misery nourishes your ego, and happiness is basically a state of egolessness. That is the problem, the very crux of the problem.

That's why people find it very difficult to be happy.

That's why millions of people in the world have to live in misery, have decided to live in misery. It gives you a very, very crystallized ego. Miserable, you are. Happy, you are not. In misery: crystallization; in happiness you become diffused.

If this is understood then things become very clear. Misery makes you special. Happiness is a universal phenomenon; there is nothing special about it. Trees are happy and animals are happy and birds are happy. The whole existence is happy, except man. Being miserable, man becomes very special, extraordinary.

Misery makes you capable of attracting people's attention.

is the changeless witness. It can never cease to be a witness at any time. Recalling a past thought is a function different from the act of witnessing. That activity can never be attributed to the 'I'-principle. Then the question arises: how is a past thought remembered?

Well, there is an usurper in the picture. Just as he usurps the existence aspect, consciousness aspect and happiness aspect of the real 'I'principle, and claims them to himself in his own activities in the relative sphere, he also claims the witnessing function to be his.

Does he not say 'I think', 'I feel',

ego itself is a compound of Consciousness and body - gross or subtle. That makes it possible for the ego to steal the characteristics of the real 'I'-principle to some extent.

Thus the ego remembers a past thought. When he so remembers, the real 'I'- principle stands behind, witnessing that mentation of memory also. One thing has to be particularly borne in mind in this context. Memory helps us to see the witnessing principle. But we have no right now to go into a discussion relating to memory, the thought recollected and other things relevant to that thought,

principle standing behind every mental activity, witnessing it. Because there is the possibility of confusion arising out of the function of memory, its function was taken up and discussed at this length; so that he who wishes to get established as the witness may not have any difficulty.

Whatever is perceived can be explained only in terms of the instruments used for the purpose of that perception. So their findings cannot be final. When, however, you withdraw to the 'I'-principle, or Consciousness, and examine the thing through it, the thing is found to be Consciousness or the

Ego steals characteristics of the real 'I'-principle

Atmananda Krishna Menon

The 'I'-principle alone can recall a thought at any point of time. That principle - because it always knows the mental activities - is the changeless witness. It can never cease to be a witness at any time

'I perceive', 'I do', and along with these functions does he not also say 'I know'? The usurper is the ego.

Because of the identification of the real 'I'-principle with body, senses and mind, he can very well play the role of the real 'I'-principle in his daily activities. Further the

because we concede the existence of all things in the relative world.

The point at issue is how is it possible for the memory to recall past thoughts. Leave other things out of consideration for the present. The point is only to prove that there is a certain permanent

'I'-principle. An instrument can never be the Absolute.

Excerpted from Notes on Spiritual Discourses of Shri Atmananda taken by Nitya Tripta.

The 133rd birth anniversary of Shri Atmananda will be observed on December 8

Whenever you are miserable you are attended to, sympathized with, loved. Everybody starts taking care of you. Who wants to hurt a miserable person? Who is jealous of a miserable person? Who wants to be antagonistic to a miserable person? That would be too mean.

The miserable person is cared for, loved, attended to. There is great investment in misery. If the wife is not miserable the husband simply tends to forget her. If she is

you, to solace you, to console you. When you are happy, the same friends become jealous of you. When you are really happy, you will find the whole world has turned against you.

Nobody likes a happy person, because the happy person hurts the egos of the others. The others start feeling, "So you have become happy and we are still crawling in darkness, misery and hell.

How dare you be happy when we

able, you are part of a crowd. Do you know what happiness is? Is it Hindu, Christian, Mohammedan?

Happiness is simply happiness. One is transported into another world. One is no longer part of the world the human mind has created, one is no longer part of the past, of the ugly history. One is no more part of time at all. When you are really happy, blissful, time disappears, space disappears.

I have put duality away. I have seen the two worlds are one.

-Rumi Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and ugly in us but to hide our own emptiness.

The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there.

-Eric Hoffer To arrive at being everything, desire to be nothing.

-St. John of the Cross

Out beyond the ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there.

-Rumi Thou are the seer of thyself.

-Srimad Bhagavatam

If you are happy, the whole world turns against you

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark.

The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

-Plato

Nobody likes a happy person, because the happy person hurts the egos of the others.

The others start feeling, "So you have become happy and we are still crawling in darkness, misery and hell. How dare you be happy

Everything must be lost so that the soul can stand alone in unhampered nothingness.

-Meister Eckhart

miserable the husband cannot afford to neglect her. If the husband is miserable the whole family, the wife, the children, are around him, worried about him; it gives great comfort. One feels one is not alone, one has a family, friends.

When you are ill, depressed, in misery, friends come to visit

all are in such misery!"

And of course the world consists of miserable people, and nobody is courageous enough to let the whole world go against him; it is too dangerous, too risky. It is better to cling to misery, it keeps you a part of the crowd. Happy, and you are an individual; miser-

Osho Rajneesh

When you are blissful you start moving into the transcendental. It is not social, it is not traditional, it has nothing to do with human mind at all.

Excerpted from Osho, The Book of Wisdom, Talk #4. The 85th birth anniversary of Osho Rajneesh will be observed on December 11.

I am a little pencil in God's hand. He does the writing.

The pencil has nothing to do with it.

-Mother Teresa

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A little window of opportunity for Nawaz Sharif SARRAL SHARMA

T

he successful transition of power to Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa as the new Chief of the Army Staff will boost the confidence of Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government which has seen many ups and downs in its relations with the military in the last three years. The new army chief will take at least two to three months to settle in, to make new appointments and to build his new team.

During that period, Sharif will have the window of opportunity to assert a bit more on crucial issues such as improving relations

the Federally Administered Tribal Agency region; monitoring the separatist activities in Balochistan and Sindh provinces; helping the Sharif government in its efforts to mainstream FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before the 2018 elections; resumption of peace talks with the Taliban along with countries including China and Russia.

Presently, India and Pakistan are fighting a limited tactical battle along the LoC and the International Border (IB) with regular incidents of cross-border firing. In such a scenario, Gen Bajwa's foremost priority would be to either continue the present status quo along the border or consider a possible shift in the Pakistan Army's Kashmir policy.

Having spent a considerable part of his military service in the Rawalpindibased 10 Corps that is responsible for guarding the LoC, it is expected that Gen Bajwa would try to use his organizational experience to influence the Sharif government's Kashmir-centric India policy.

It is a wait-andwatch situation for India. The future of Pakistan’s outgoing army chief general Raheel Sharif (right) hands over a ceremonial baton to any dialogue prohis successor General Qamar Javed Bajwa during the Change of Command ceremony in Rawalpindi cess between India and Pakistan is with India. However, it is expected stan over the situation in Afghani- heavily dependent on the civilthat this time around, Sharif will stan and Kashmir. He initiated military relations in Pakistan. With be cautiously treading the path of Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North the considerably weak Opposition restarting any dialogue process Waziristan in 2014, which is still and the change in military leaderwith India. ongoing, to target the Tehrik-e- ship, Sharif has a plausible chance This is because even one wrong Taliban (TTP) operatives; and the to consolidate his influence in the decision would eventually give Karachi operation against local domestic arena. leeway to the new army chief to criminal syndicates, etc. to imIn order to do that, Sharif will dominate both domestic and inter- prove the overall security environ- direct his ministers and diplomatic national policies. advisors to continue to internament in Pakistan.

Sharif is likely to have an upper During his tenure, the India- tionalize the Kashmir issue. hand in the coming months as far Pakistan bilateral witnessed nuAlso, it is important to underas relations with India are con- merous highs and lows, beginning stand that the Pakistani military's cerned. He is expected to move from Sharif's visit to India and institutional thinking is unlikely to towards resuming the dialogue Modi's visit to Lahore, the change in the near future. Gen process with India.

Pathankot and Uri attacks, and fi- Bajwa might consider targeting It appears that he has already nally, the surgical strikes across terror groups such as Lashkar-emade the first move in that direc- the Line of Control (LoC).

Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed tion by sending Adviser on ForThe new COAS will take some (JeM), or the Haqqani Network eign Affairs, Sartaz Aziz to the time to draw the roadmap for next under international pressure. But Heart of Asia (HoA) conference three years. His strategic priorities Pakistan is likely to continue its in Amritsar, India. are expected to include the current orientation of supporting The army chief's succession clampdown on home-grown certain non-state actors and conmay not immediately bring about groups - such as Lashkar-e- currently, playing the nuclear card a major policy change in Pakistan Jhangvi (LeJ), Jamaat-ul-Ahrar - as a deterrence policy against Inbut it could still have important affiliated to the Islamic State (IS); dia. implications on India and Pakistan continuing military operations The writer is Researcher, IReS, relations. against Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) in IPCS The change may also hamper Sharif's efforts to normalize relations with India like it has done in the past. Institutionally, it is Rawalpindi that is in the driver's seat vis-a-vis prioritizing the strategic outlook in Pakistan.

The three main strategic considerations of the army are internal security apparatus, the situation in Afghanistan, and the Kashmir-centric India policy.

The army's strategic outlook changes according to the domestic, regional and geo-political situation.

Gen Raheel Sharif prioritized the internal security situation in Paki-

India Post Hot or cold?

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he recently retired Army Chief of Pakistan, General Raheel Sharif is considered to be a hawk where relations with India are concerned. However, he has not always been so bent on harming India.

If Pakistani columnist Khaled Ahmed is to be believed, in March 2016 General Sharif informed India of "a possible (Pakistan-based) 26/11-style fidayeen assault on religious sites and processions in Gujarat during Maha Shivratri celebrations". He had earlier taken Jaish leader Masood Azhar into custody after a terrorist attack on India's airbase in Pathankot.

However the local rebellion in Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul's young commander in chief Burhan Wani was too much of a temptation not to exploit. This was a now or never opportunity.

Respectable columnists in Pakistan seemed to heave a sigh of relief proclaiming that at least this time Pakistan's mujahedeen and the ISI were not involved and it was purely a local uprising against Indian rule. But this was far from the truth and Pakistani deep state was deeply involved stoking the separatists and also shoring them up with money and material.

At the recent Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar, Afghanistan President lashed out at Pakistan and accused it of harboring Taliban masterminds and reiterated before a full house of foreign delegates that had it not been for Islamabad's duplicity, the Taliban wouldn't last even a month. He quoted a top Taliban leader as saying if they did not have sanctuary in Pakistan, they would not last a month." In words that leave no space for ambiguity, Ghani rejected Pakistan's $500 million pledge to "rebuild Afghanistan" and asked its foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz to instead use the money to "check extremism" on its soil.

Addressing the same conference, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lashed out at Pakistan without naming it. "We must counter terrorists and their masters. We must demonstrate strong collective will to defeat terror networks that cause bloodshed and spread fear. Silence and inaction on terror in Afghanistan and the region will only embolden terrorists and masters and those who fund them," he warned.

It is certain that all this will have no effect on Pakistan and it will carry on nurturing terrorists, jehadis or mujahideens, call them whatever you will. In fact the more Pakistan is condemned the more it feels necessary to reply with violence, led by the warped vision of the Generals. The surgical strikes did create some uncertainty in their minds but the new normal of exchanges from both sides is much bloodier.

The Indian Express has in an editorial advised India to be far more vigorous in its engagement of Pakistan's civil society, "rather than unite the entire country behind the Generals through mindless hawkishness." Nirupama Subramanian of the same paper, writing a review of the book 'Deadly Impasse: Indo-Pakistani Relations at the Dawn of a New Century' by Sumit Ganguly, contends that India should not dismiss the Pakistani civil society as too insignificant.

Praising its conduct, she says it "takes many more risks than its Indian counterparts, is more self-critical, and more questioning of the certainties it is handed out than Indian civil society is about India."

She quotes Pakistan's former ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani as telling her that one reason for this "deadly impasse" is that Indians and Pakistanis are trapped in "circular arguments" on just about every contentious issue between them. He argued that it was time for India to recognize itself as the bigger country. With that would come the courage to stop harping on reciprocity, and the confidence to reach out to civil society, politicians and business lobbies in Pakistan.

India has taken rather the opposite route of banning even film stars and technicians from Pakistan from working in Bollywood.

This seems to be the easiest way and most visible method of retaliation, which doesn't behove a mature society like India.

December 9, 2016

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December 9, 2016