UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS PULWAMA ATTACK

EDISON, NJ (TIP): Padma ShriH R Shah, chairman and CEO ofleading South Asian Americanchannel TV Asia, has been awardedan honorary doctorate by DeshBhagat University in Punjab, Indiaon Feb 14. Mr Shah was recognizedfor his services as an IndianAmerican entrepreneur, aturnaround specialist,philanthropist and an endearingcommunity leader. He was the chiefguest at the university's annualevent, along with Pawan KumarChamling, Chief Minister ofSikkim, who also received anhonorary doctorate and was thekeynote speaker.

contd on page 7

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UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS PULWAMA ATTACK

Sources at the UN said the UNSC statement was released after prolonged Security Council negotiations.

UNITED NATIONS (TIP): The UnitedNations Security Council (UNSC) onThursday, February 21, issued astatementcondemning the Pulwamaattack and underlining the need to holdthose responsible, accountable.Significantly Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)has been named on the statement ashaving taken responsibility for the attack.

"The members of the Security Councilcondemned in the strongest terms theheinous and cowardly suicide bombing inJammu and Kashmir, which resulted inover 40 Indian paramilitary forces dead

and dozens wounded on February 14, 2019,for which Jaish-e-Mohammed hasclaimed responsibility," the statementsaid.

Sources at the UN said the UNSCstatement was released after prolongedSecurity Council negotiations. China hadwanted additional time to think itthrough as it had some concerns, theysaid. France is also working, in parallel,to sanction JeM chief Masood Azhar atthe UNSC. Similar action against Azharin 2017 was blocked by China

contd on page 32

TV Asia Chairman Padma Shri H R Shah awarded honorarydoctorate by Desh Bhagat University in Punjab, India

Padma Shri H R Shah, TV Asia chairman and CEO, center, receiving thehonorary doctorate from Desh Bhagat University Chancellor Dr Zora Singh,right; Pawan Kumar Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim, center right; and

Pro Chancellor Tajinder Kaur, left.

Mueller could submitreport to Attorney-General next week

WASHINGTON (TIP): The U.S.Department of Justice mayannounce as early as next week thatSpecial Counsel Robert Mueller hasgiven the Attorney-General hisreport on the federal Russiainvestigation, CNN said onWednesday, February 20, citingunnamed sources.

contd on page 32

Pak bans Hafiz Saeed-led JuD and its charity

ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistanon Thursday, February 21, bannedthe 2008 Mumbai attackmastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamat-ud-Dawa and its charity wingFalah-e-Insaniat Foundation,

contd on Page 32

Special CounselRobert Muelleris believed to

be closinginvestigation in

to Russianinterference in

2016 USelections.

Mumbai attack mastermind HafizSaeed - File photo

Sadhguru calls upon youth tosee danger to world fromgrowing population and

inequal distribution of wealth

BOSTON (TIP): "One of the biggest problems in theworld is migration. It's estimated nearly 1.5 billion peoplewill migrate in next 5 to 10 years' time. What is thesolution for this? The problem is - nearly 80% of theworld's investment goes to cities.

contd on Page 32

Sadhguru at "Youth and Truth with Sadhguru" sessionwith student panelists at the India Conference on Feb 17.

2 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019NY/NJ/CT

New Jersey TeenCrowned Miss India USA

Miss India USA 2019 Kim Kumari (center) with, Mrs. India USA Vidhi Dave (right) and Miss TeenIndia USA Esha Kode Photo / courtesy Friday Films

FORDS,NJ (TIP): Kim Kumari, anEighteen-year-old from New Jersey, wascrowned Miss India USA 2019 and Vidhi Daveof Connecticut as Mrs. India USA at the 37thannual beauty and talent pageant organizedby New York-based India Festival Committeeand chaired by Neelam and DharmatmaSaran. The event was held Feb. 17 at RoyalAlbert's Palace in Fords, New Jersey. RenukaJoseph of New York and Aanchal Shah ofFlorida were declared first and secondrunners-up respectively. Esha Kode from NewJersey was crowned Miss Teen India USA.

Two Georgia girls - Aishwarya Vallem and

Tanvi Gujral were declared first and secondrunner-ups. Kumari also received the BestTalent Award for her performance of Lavni(Maharashtra folk dance) with a fusion ofBhangra. Dave, who holds a degree in DataScience from Harvard, is a project manager.Kumari and Dave will represent the U.S. inthe Miss and Mrs. India Worldwide 2019 to beheld in Mumbai in September.

Bollywood actress Meenakshi Seshadri,who was one of judges at the pageant, waspresented with a Lifetime AchievementAward for her contribution to Indian cinemaand performing arts.

The NRI Communitycondemns terroristattack in Pulwama

EDISON, NJ (TIP): "The cowardly attackby Islamic terrorists backed by Pakistan hasstunned our Global NRI community which isdeeply saddened by the dastardly attack onIndia's CRPF personnel in the Jammu andKashmir state of India", said Harinder SinghPanaser, Chair, Global India Trade andCultural Council.

Mr Panasercoordinated a conversationbetween the NRI community from USA andMajor General Dilawar Singh from India inwhich NRI community, filled with patriotismtook a vow to give all support to India needs

to fight back.Global NRI Community team members

included Krishna Reddy, Kalpana Shukla (OFBJP) Vilas Reddy, (Telugu Association) DevKarlekar ( Hindu Organization) , GayatriJoshi, a Community activist, NJ.MrHarinder Panaser (Harry), a social activistand Chair, Global India Trade, Rajyalakshmi(Om Kriya Yog & World NRI Association)Pramod Bhagat (India World Foundation,USA), Raj Mittal ( Hindi USA), Sunit Shukla,Vasant Naik ( Marathi Mandal), ManakKabra and others.

3THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 NY/NJ/CT

Long Island’s Indian community condemnsKashmir attack, commits funds for CRPF martyrsHICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): A score and more

Indian American community organizationsand media groups held a meeting on Feb 17 tocondemn the Pakistan abetted terror attack inKashmir and to raise funds for the families ofthe 41 CRPF jawans martyred in that attack.

Despite a short notice, over 250 peopleincluding some eminent Indian Americansattended the solemn event at Antun's by Minar,which was initiated by Kamlesh Mehta,Chairman and Publisher of The South AsianTimes. It was put together by Jasbir Jay Singh,President of IDP (India Day Parade) USA andMukesh Modi, also of IDPUSA.

While all the speakers condemned thedastardly suicide attack and blamed Pakistanfor continuing to foment trouble in the Valley,suggestions for how India should respondranged from surgical strikes to lobbying the USto declare Pakistan as state sponsor of terror,to revoking Article 370 giving special status toKashmir. The Indian community and theirleaders were also exhorted to approach USSenators and Congress members to isolatePakistan diplomatically.

The Indian Consulate was represented byDeputy Consul General Shatrughan Sinha. Inhis stately speech, he read out names of themartyred CRPF jawans and also the statementof support from the White House. He assuredthe audience that the Indian government isaware of the grief, sorrow and anger amongIndians and NRIs following the Pulwamaattack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi haspromised adequate response, for which alloptions are on the table, he added.

Eminent attorney Ravi Batra said India is onthe way to becoming world power like Americaso that nobody dare launch a terror attack. Hesuggested Pakistan's ex-sportstar PM ImranKhan should step up and make India and theUS less unhappy by making reparations -setting aside a corpus to help the families ofCRPF martyrs. He wished there were a 'killswitch' on the internet to stop the incubation ofterrorists.

Chintu Patel, co-chairman of AmnealPharmaceuticals, said provocations byPakistan have crossed a level and now Indiahas to attack the situation from all angles,military as well as financially squeezing andisolating Islamabad diplomatically. Hesuggested the community should also highlighthe issue in the US media.

Kamlesh Mehta in his speech emphasized onthe need to find permanent solution for thefestering problem in Kashmir caused by cross-border terrorism. More pertinent to theoccasion, he made an appeal to raise and sendfunds for the families of martyrs.

Large donors who made pledges at the eventincluded NRI Foundation headed by DeepakKavadia, Ravi Batra, Chintu Patel, and TheSouth Asian Times. Kavadia suggested peoplecan also donate by going to the Bharat Ke Veerwebsite.

Chintu Patel, along with support fromKamlesh Mehta and Jagdish Sewhani,announced setting up a foundation to helpIndian armed forces on a regular basis.

Prof Indrajit Saluja, Publisher-Editor of TheIndian Panorama, said that for the woundsPakistan has inflicted, there needs to be aheroic response now from India.

Indian Overseas Congress President ShudhJasuja invoked Guru Gobind Singh and saidtime of picking up the sword has come, and badactors need to be eliminated for good.

Sunil Hali, Publisher of The Indian Express- North American Edition, in an emotionaltone said he wished India could target theterror masterminds in Pakistan the wayOsama bin Laden was killed by US Seals. He

also opined that if thousands of crores ofrupees in aid India gives to Kashmir is stopped,they will come to their senses.

Ashok Vyas recited his powerful poem on thesubject and read out a message from ParikhWorldwide Media's Chairman, Dr SudhirParikh.

FIA's new President Alok Kumar also spokeand informed the gathering of a CandlelightVigil on Feb 21 at Royal Albert's Palace inFords, NJ.

Jagdish Sewhani, president of the AmericanIndia Public Affairs Committee, informed of ademonstration soon outside Pakistanconsulate in New York to condemn thePulwama attack. He said the ecosystem thatsupports Islamabad's evil intentions has to bedestroyed.

Speakers at the Antun's event includedVikas Dhall, President of Plainview gurdwara,Indu Jaiswal, Chairperson of Indian AmericanForum, V. Nagendra Gupta, Veer Mukhi ofArya Samaj of Long Island, and Ashok Kumarof Telugu Literary and Cultural Association.Participating organizations included IALI,RANA, New York Tamil Sangam, NDMF andIndian Diamond and Colorstone Association.Supportive media organizations included TVAsia, South Asian Insider and HumHindustani.

Jasbir Jay Singh called to stage and thankedhis IDPUSA team for helping organize theevent. Antun's by Minar was thanked formaking the hall available for the meeting.

(Based on a Press Release issued by Jay Jasbir Singh)

"All options are on the table", said theDeputy Consul General Shatrughan Sinha atthe condolence meeting organized by the IDP

USA under the stewardship of Jay JasbirSingh

A view of the gathering

The organizers and the speakers at the condolence meeting, with the Deputy Consul GeneralShatrughan Sinha

Center for Community and Ethnic Media at the Craig NewmarkGraduate School of Journalism organizes ethnic media meeting with

NYC agencies and departmentsNEW YORK CITY (TIP): The Craig

Newmark Graduate School of Journalismorganized a Media Sustainability Conferenceon February 14.

Around 45 representatives from as manypublications met with representatives of 12City Agencies to introduce their publicationsto them.

This three-hour event with city agencies anddepartments offered an opportunity toconnect with representatives of different cityagencies and departments. The meetingprovided a opportunity to community andethnic media to engage with city agencies andask their representatives questions related totheir media outreach and ad campaigns.

The 12 city agencies included Department ofHealth and Mental Hygiene, Mayor's Office of

Immigrant Affairs, Department of Buildings,Housing Authority (NYCHA), Commission onHuman Rights, Department of ConsumerAffairs, Emergency Management (formerlythe Office of Emergency Management orOEM), Administration for Children's Services,Department for the Aging, Mayor's Office ofSustainability, Department of Education, andHealth and Hospitals Corporation.

Mr. Jehangir Khattak, Co-Director, Centerfor Community and Ethnic Media at the CraigNewmark Graduate School of Journalism andhis colleagues made it a great experience formedia representatives.

Mr. Jehangir Khattak, Co-Director, Center forCommunity and Ethnic Media, Craig NewmarkGraduate School of Journalism gives remarks

Indian-American Doctor in FloridaConvicted of Health Care Fraud

STUART, FL(TIP): An Indian-Americandoctor was convicted by a federal jury ofcommitting repeated acts of health care fraudout of her practice in Stuart, Florida.

Sheetal Kanar Kumar, M.D., 48, wasarraigned on twenty-six counts of health carefraud. According to the indictment, Dr.Kumar owned and operated the medicalpractice Advanced Healthcare for Women inStuart, Florida. She was an obstetrician andgynecologist licensed to practice medicine.She also provided medical services treatingincontinence. From at least as early asJanuary 2014, until July 2017, Dr. Kumarsubmitted or caused the fraudulentsubmission of claims to Medicare, Medicaid and private insurancecompanies. The fraudulent claims sought money for specific health carebenefits, items, and services that were not provided as billed. As a resultof such false and fraudulent claims, Medicare, Medicaid and privateinsurance companies, made payments in the approximate amount of$926,802. Dr. Kumar was found guilty by a jury of committing twenty-threecounts of health care fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 19,2019.

Indian origin Sikh Store Clerk attackedin Marysville

CommunityCondemns theIslamophobicattack

SACRAMENTO (TIP):

The Sacramento Valleyoffice of the Council onA m e r i c a n - I s l a m i cRelations (CAIR-SV) andits allies from the Sikhcommunity condemned an attack on an Indian American store clerk inMarysville, Calif., that police are calling a hate crime. The victim, who isa clerk at a 7-Eleven, reported that on Feb 13, when he tried to confront acustomer who attempted to leave without paying for his coffee, the patronthrew the coffee on the clerk and punched the clerk in the face.

Later in the day, another assault was reported to police. Policeresponded and spoke with the suspect, John Crain, who admitted toattacking the clerk and that he "hated Muslims" and believed that the clerkwas Muslim.CBS13 said it confirmed that the clerk is Sikh.

(Read full story on www.theindianpanorama.news)

4 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019INDIANS ABROAD

Indian American RajSubramaniam namedPresident and ChiefOperating Officer ofFedEx Corporation

MEMPHIS(TIP): FedEx Corp.announced Feb 14 that RajSubramaniam has been appointedpresident and chief operating officer,effective March 1. This appointmentfollows David J. Bronczek's personaldecision to retire as president and chiefoperating officer and from the Board.

Subramaniam will continue to serveas president and CEO of FedEx Expressand will also serve as co-president andco-CEO of FedEx Services.Subramaniam has been with FedEx formore than 27 years and has held variousexecutive level positions in severaloperating companies and internationalregions. He began his career inMemphis and subsequently moved toHong Kong, where he oversawmarketing and customer service for theAsia Pacific region. Subramaniam thentook over as president of FedEx Expressin Canada before moving back to theU.S. as senior vice president ofinternational marketing. He was thenpromoted to executive vice president ofmarketing in 2013 at FedEx Services,prior to being named executive vicepresident and chief marketing andcommunications officer at FedExCorporation in 2017.

"On behalf of the Board andmanagement team, we recognize Davefor his years of service to FedEx. FedExhas a deep bench of talent, and I amconfident that the transition will beseamless," said Frederick W. Smith,chairman and chief executive officer,FedEx Corporation. "Raj has significantexperience in many areas of ourportfolio, which will be vital as he stepsinto this position."

Subramaniam has been with FedExfor more than 27 years and has heldvarious executive level positions inseveral of their operating companiesand international regions. He began hiscareer in Memphis and subsequentlymoved to Hong Kong, where he oversawmarketing and customer service for theAsia Pacific region. Subramaniam thentook over as president of FedEx Expressin Canada before moving back to theU.S. as senior vice president ofinternational marketing. He was thenpromoted to executive vice president ofmarketing in 2013 at FedEx Services,prior to being named executive vicepresident and chief marketing andcommunications officer at FedExCorporation in 2017.

Subramaniam has been with FedEx formore than 27 years

Indian American named Chief Product Officer of Yelp

NEW YORK (TIP): Indian AmericanVivek Patel has been named the newlycreated role of Chief Product Officer by Yelp.Patel has a record of significantaccomplishment in product development andmanagement and extensive industryexperience, including spending nearly 10years leading Yelp's product efforts. He mostrecently led the successful integration ofYelp's consumer- and business-focusedproduct efforts to drive user growth andmaximize the Company's revenue generation.

"Over the 14 years since our founding, Yelphas created the leading local internetdestination for consumers with the help of astrong and dedicated team," said JeremyStoppelman, co-founder and CEO of Yelp."Our business-facing products are a centralcomponent of Yelp's overall strategy. Duringhis tenure at Yelp, Vivek has played anintegral role in accelerating thediversification of our business products andenhancing our go-to-market strategies,specifically through the development of keyproducts such as our self-serve platform,Request-A-Quote and Yelp Reservations, andthe integration of Yelp's partnership withGrubHub. Our products have been vital tocreating revenue-generation opportunities by

allowing business owners to access ourengaged consumer base and by forgingdeeper relationships with our consumersthrough our transactions business. Theseproducts are the core of our long-termgrowth strategy, and we are thrilled to haveVivek lead us as we continue working toexecute on that strategy."

"I am honored to take on this important

responsibility to help support and drive theCompany's product strategy moving forward.Growing up with and working alongside afamily of restaurateurs and small-businessowners has provided me not only withfirsthand knowledge of the complexities ofthis industry, but also a deep and personalconnection to Yelp's business owners and anunderstanding of products that serve themeffectively," said Patel. "Yelp's products are asignificant part of our growth opportunity,and I am excited to continue workingalongside our incredible team to unlock morevalue for consumers, advertisers andbusiness owners, and achieve our fullpotential as a business."

During his career at Yelp, Patel managedthe business products team, which, under hisleadership, grew Yelp's advertising productsfrom $25 million to nearly $1 billion inrevenue. Patel also served as Yelp's Head ofBusiness Products from 2011 to 2016, duringwhich he led the development of thecompany's self-serve advertising platform,business-owner mobile app, Request-A-Quoteand integration of Yelp Reservations andYelp Waitlist. Patel also led the integration ofseveral Yelp-acquired products andbusinesses.

Vivek Patel takes on expanded role focusedon driving user growth and monetization

Indian American Appointed to UCIEndowed Chair in Sikh Studies

SACRAMENTO (TIP): UCI assistant professor ofanthropology Anneeth Kaur Hundle has been recently named theDhan Kaur Sahota Presidential Chair in Sikh Studies at theUniversity of California, Irvine School of Social Sciences. The $2million endowed chair - housed in the Department of

Anthropology - was created in2017 with a $1.5 million gift fromDrs. Harvinder and AshaSahota and $500,000 from the UCPresidential Match for EndowedChairs program.

"With the establishment ofthis endowed chair, we hopemembers of the UCI communitywill deepen their understandingof Sikh religion and culture bylearning the vibrant traditions,many contributions in worldhistory and American society,"said cardiologist HarvinderSahota. "We are particularlykeen to ensure UCI students areaware of the religion'scommitment to equality andsocial justice."

As chair and UCI assistant professor of anthropology, Hundlewill contribute to the study of the Sikh religion and culture inglobal, comparative, cross-racial and religious communityframeworks. She will teach courses and develop researchprograms to increase understanding of immigrant incorporationand civil rights issues affecting Sikhs in the U.S.

"I am honored to be the first person named to this chair andappreciate the support of the Sahotas, Dean Maurer and mycolleagues here at UCI in anthropology and other departments,"Hundle said. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to build on myexisting expertise and advance Sikh studies scholarly research inlocal, transnational and global contexts, and I look forward topromoting cross-religious, -ethnic and -racial communityoutreach and engagement via Sikh studies and anthropology withthis position."

Hundle joined UCI in January from UC Merced, where she wasan assistant professor of anthropology and associated facultywith the critical race & ethnic studies program. Her currentresearch explores the politics of race, gender, citizenship anddecolonization in Uganda after the expulsion of the racializedAsian community in 1972. Her research and writing have beenfunded by the National Science Foundation, the Wenner-GrenFoundation and multiple UC awards, including the UC President'sFaculty Research Fellowship. (Source - UCI News)

As chair and UCI assistantprofessor of anthropology,

Hundle will contribute to thestudy of the Sikh religion and

culture

Dr. Kumar was foundguilty by a jury of

committing twenty-threecounts of health care

fraud

John Crain admitted to attacking the 7-Elevenclerk

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Program is a win-win for NYC: provides job opportunities for low-income families&means highly-qualified teachers to work with children in Head Start

NEW YORK, NY(TIP): On Feb 21, , the NYC Administrationfor Children's Services (ACS) and CUNY School of ProfessionalStudies (CUNY SPS) announced that nearly 50 parents of childrenenrolled in ACS Head Start have earned their Child DevelopmentAssociate (CDA) Certificate through a program launched by theCity in 2016, allowing them to work with children in theEarlyLearn Early Head Start and Head Start programs. TheCertificate program is fully funded by ACS and other partners and can be used towards securingemployment in the early childhood field and obtaining an undergraduate college degree, whichsome parents have gone on to accomplish.

"Who knows our children in Head Start better than the parents of children in Head Start? At ACS,we're committed to empowering families by providing them the resources and support they need tothrive. That's why, in 2016, ACS and CUNY launched a win-win initiative that would open doors forlow-income families, all while providing additional highly-qualified teachers to work with our littleones. I'm so proud that, because of this program, nearly 50 parents have earned their certificate andcan go on to working in Head Start sites or earning their college degree," said ACS CommissionerDavid A. Hansell. Read full story at www.theindianpanorama.news

Two indicted in connection withalleged Multi-Million Dollarbribery of Indian officials

NEW JERSEY (TIP): A federal grand jury returned anindictment Feb 14 against the former president and theformer chief legal officer of Cognizant TechnologySolutions Corporation, a publicly traded Fortune 200technology services company based in Teaneck, NewJersey, in connection with an alleged foreign briberyscheme.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of theJustice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. AttorneyCraig Carpenito of the District of New Jersey and SpecialAgent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie of the FBI Newark FieldOffice made the announcement.

Gordon Coburn, 55, of Beaver Creek, Colorado, andSteven Schwartz, 51, of Greenwich, Connecticut, werecharged in a 12-count indictment with one count ofconspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act(FCPA), three counts of violating the FCPA, seven counts offalsifying books and records, and one count ofcircumventing and failing to implement internalaccounting controls. The charges stem from an allegedscheme to bribe one or more government officials in Indiato ensure the issuance of a construction permit necessaryto complete the development of an office campus that wouldsupport thousands of employees and become one ofCognizant's largest facilities in India.

According to the indictment, in or about April 2014,Coburn and Schwartz allegedly authorized an unlawfulpayment of approximately $2 million to one or more foreigngovernment officials in India to secure and obtain anecessary permit to open a new office campus. To concealCognizant's involvement in the scheme, Coburn, Schwartzand others allegedly agreed that a third-party constructioncompany would obtain the permit by making the illegalbribe payment and that Cognizant would reimburse theconstruction company through phony constructioninvoices at the end of the project. The indictment furtheralleges that in or about late June 2014, after the co-conspirators had agreed that the construction companywould make the bribe payment on behalf of Cognizant, theconstruction company secured the necessary governmentorder for Cognizant to obtain the permit, allowingCognizant to complete the development of the officecampus and avoid millions of dollars in costs. Months later,the co-conspirators are alleged to have knowingly causedCognizant to funnel over $2 million to the constructioncompany disguised as payment for cost overruns on theoffice campus when they knew that the actual purpose ofthe payment was to reimburse the construction companyfor the bribe payment. According to the indictment, asCoburn, Schwartz and others had previously agreed, theyhid the bribe reimbursement payment within a series ofline items in a construction change order request to be paidto the construction company, thereby concealing the truenature and purpose of the reimbursement, falsifyingCognizant's books and records, and circumventing andfailing to implement its internal controls. (Source: DOJ)

New York City Health DepartmentLaunches Graphic New

Anti-Smoking Media Campaign Smoking kills about 12,000 New Yorkers every year. Type 2 diabetes,

liver cancer and colorectal cancer are all caused by smokingNEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): The

Health Department , on February 20,launched "Smoking = Suffering," a newcampaign that highlights three morereasons to quit smoking: diabetes,colorectal cancer and liver cancer.

Tobacco continues to be a leadingcause of preventable death in New YorkCity, killing an estimated 12,000 peopleannually. Although adult smoking ratesin New York City declined from 21.5percent in 2002 to 13.4 percent in 2017,there are still almost 900,000 adult NewYorkers who smoke. Cigarettes are theonly consumer products that - when usedas intended - kill up to half of people whouse them long-term.

The media campaign begins February20 and will run through March 7 on TV,social media and radio. The campaignalso kicks off a special free nicotinepatch and lozenge giveaway to help NewYorkers quit smoking. To enroll in thegiveaway or talk to a quit coach, visitnysmokefree.com or call 1-866-NY-QUITS(1-866-697-8487). The program is

conducted in partnership with the NewYork State Smokers' Quitline.

"Quitting smoking is the mostimportant step New Yorkers can take toimprove their health," said HealthCommissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. "Youmay know that smoking can lead to lungcancer and heart attacks, but it can alsocause many other heath conditions,including diabetes, colorectal cancer andliver cancer. I encourage all New Yorkerswho smoke to contact the Quitline."

Using counseling and cessationmedications, such as nicotine patchesand lozenges, can double the chances ofquitting successfully. Eligible enrolleesin the giveaway will receive a supply ofnicotine patches, lozenges and acoaching guide. New Yorkers can alsotalk to their health care provider aboutmedication and counseling options. Mosthealth insurance plans, includingMedicaid, cover services to help you quit.

Read full story atwww.theindianpanorama.news

From Wednesday,February 20 throughThursday, March 7,

New Yorkers who wanthelp to quit smoking

can apply for freenicotine patches andlozenges by visitingnysmokefree.com or

calling 1-866-NY-QUITS

MORE THAN $4 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENTBY CANDIDATES VYING FOR THE OPEN SEAT

OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The race

for public advocate is already the mostexpensive special election in New YorkCity's history - and candidates are justgetting started.

More than $4 million has been spentby candidates vying for the open seat,according to the latest data availablefrom the New York City Campaign

Finance Board. That figure is expectedto skyrocket between now and the Feb.26 election as the remaining candidateshave some $2 million in their combinedwar chests.

Councilman Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn) outspent all othercandidates through Feb. 11, the latestdate covered in the CFB's most recent

reporting period. The campaign hasdoled out more than $767,000 on therace, including $280,000 in TV adplacements.

The only other candidate who hasspent more than even $20,000 on TVspots is Assemblyman Michael Blake(D-Bronx), who put up $200,000 acrosstwo separate TV ad buys this month.

7THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 NY/NJ/CT

contd from page 1Dressed in ceremonial robes, Mr Shah

accepted the honorary degree fromChancellor Dr Zora Singh, Pro ChancellorTajinder Kaur and Vice Chancellor DrVirinder Singh. The award was presented bySikkim Chief Minister Pawan KumarChamling.

In receiving the honorary doctorate, MrShah was cited for his selfless services for thecause of humanity. "It is your multi-facetedpersonality, exceptional vison, deepcommitment toward culture, literature,political philosophy and educational activitiesthat are an inspiration to the younggeneration," the university said.

Among others who also received thehonorary doctorate at the event, includedBharat Ratna and former President of IndiaPranab Mukherjee (In absentia); Dr HuzaifaKhorakiwala, CEO of Wockhardt Foundation;V R Shankara, president and general counselof Hindalco Industries; conservationist SantBalbir Singh Seechewal; actress Priti Sapru;Lov Verma, former health minister; and LtGen. Shokin Chauhan. The Chancellor'sDistinguished Leadership Award were givento: R S Basnet, principal secretary of Assam;Shrabani Patnaik; Mata Jarnail Kaur; DrVikas Jindal; Dr Naresh Mittal ofDhanwantry Ayurvedic College; Dr S P Singh,chairman of Apex Group, Dubai; Prof R PKaushik and Binay Kumar.

As chairman & CEO of TV Asia Group, MrShah heads a veritable powerhouse of severalbusiness verticals spanning the media andentertainment landscape in North America,with presence in the television, OTT, IPTV,radio, print, digital, ecommerce and eventsmarketplace.

Mr Shah is the first NRI to own and operatea 24/7 TV station, TV Asia, launched in 1993by legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, in theUnited States, Canada and the Caribbean. Heis credited with pioneering Indian televisionand entertainment in the Western

hemisphere. Using mass media as his tool ofinfluence and with 38 news bureaus in NorthAmerica currently, his vision is to expand to60 news bureaus across the world. This, hebelieves, will serve his mission to preserve,support and promote Indian heritage forpresent and future generations of the IndianDiaspora settled across the globe, making TVAsia the "voice and mirror of the community."TV Asia has long been known as the Indiancommunity's "Home Away from Home." Thechannel works closely with Indian Consulatesin the US in their outreach programs for theIndian American community.

For over 35 years, Mr Shah has generouslygiven his time, energy and resources as apillar of the Indian American community,always supporting various social work,cultural, educational and related activities inthe US and India. He has been a majorsupporter and has given strong backing tomany worthy causes.

He is the chairman and trustee ofBharatiya Vidya Bhawan USA, the worldfamous institute of Indian culture, literature,education, music and the arts. The Bhawanhas dedicated an auditorium, "RomantiAuditorium," in memory of his late daughter.In 2017, Mr Shah received the Padma Shri, oneof Indian government's highest civilianawards.

He also received the prestigious Ellis IslandMedal of Honor in 2005. The award isbestowed only on those who displaysignificant contributions to their owncommunities and to the United States at large.The US House of Representatives and theSenate both unanimously passed resolutionssanctioning the Ellis Island Medals of Honor.Each honoree is listed in the CongressionalRecord. Additionally, Mr Shah is the recipientof numerous community and business awardsin the US as well as India.

During the 4-hour long convocation at DeshBhagat University, around 1,200 studentsreceived degrees, diplomas and medals in

various courses, including, AgricultureSciences, Animation, Applied Sciences, Art &Craft and Fashion Technology, Ayurveda,Commerce, Computer Sciences, Education,Engineering, Hospitality and Tourism, HotelManagement, Languages, Management,Media, Nursing, Performing Arts, PhysicalEducation and Social Sciences. The universityoffers more than 150 graduate andundergraduate courses and has an enrollmentof over 8,000 students.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Shah extendedhis sincere appreciation for Chancellor DrZora Singh and his staff and the meaningfulwork the university was pursuing. "Icommend Dr Zora Singh for his vision andleadership in steering the university with newideas while being socially responsible andgiving the students a great educationalplatform," he noted.

Mr Shah touched upon how India'seconomic development and transformationwas intrinsically linked to education, skilling,entrepreneurship, research and innovation. "Iam very happy to read the vision of theuniversity which is in line with the same," hesaid. He underlined the pivotal roleeducational institutions played in impartingsocially responsible perspective to thestudents. "I appreciate the role of theUniversity and its faculty for imparting the'Education for Life' and not education forliving only," he said to a thundering applause.

He noted the graduating students willalways remain "stars" with theircontributions to their families, society and thenation. He also underscored the importance offamilies and parents who have alwayssacrificed for their children's education.

In a heart-to-heart with the graduatingstudents, Mr Shah said that while convocationsignified the culmination of the phase offormal education, it also symbolized thebeginning of a new journey. "Today'sceremony is also called 'Commencement' and Itake it as a Commencement of lifelong

learning," he concluded.On the sidelines of the convocation, Mr

Shah discussed with Chief MinisterChamling about the need to promote Sikkimtourism to the Indian Diaspora in the US aswell as across the world. Mr Shah also spokewith Dr. Jagannath Patnaik, Vice Chancellorof ICFAI University, Sikkim, aboutcollaborating with American universities forexchange of programs, research and facultydevelopment.

In his meeting with Desh Bhagat UniversityChancellor Dr Zora Singh, Mr Shah discussedhow the university should look into transferof courses and credits for students from USeducational institutions.

About Desh Bhagat University.

Desh Bhagat University (DBU) located atAmloh, Punjab has been established underPunjab Governments' Desh Bhagat UniversityAct, 2012. DBU has its four campuses in India- at Amloh, Shri Muktsar Sahib, Moga andChandigarh and an international campus inKenya.

Desh Bhagat University, Amloh came intoexistenceunder the guidance of Sardar LalSingh, a freedom fighter.

The university offers more than 350 coursesin almost 50 various streams atundergraduate, graduate, post-graduate anddoctorate level. It is affiliated with UGC, AIU,NCTE, PCI, COA, and BCI. As for ranking, itstands 2nd amongst all State PrivateUniversities of Punjab.

TV Asia Chairman Padma Shri H R Shah awarded honorary doctorateby Desh Bhagat University in Punjab, India

Guest Comment

Saudi Crown Prince's visit:The lure of geo-economics

vs 'brotherly love'

The times have changed. Till recently,Saudi Arabia would go along withvitriolic Pakistani resolutions on

Kashmir at the Organisation of IslamicCooperation (OIC). Visiting Saudi ArabianCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman'scommiserations over the Pulwama attack fellshort of expectations. Some renitence isunderstandable - Pakistan army serves asRiyadh's Praetorian Guard, there are 20 lakhPakistanis in Saudi Arabia, and for decades, theUS-Saudi-Pakistan troika has acted in closeconcert to superimpose its foreign policy on theregion. Nor do the Saudis have very clean hands,having involved themselves in backing non-state actors, from Afghanistan to Syria.

Despite these constraints, India's success inbreaking into the Saudi security calculus islaudable: there is an offer for real-timeintelligence sharing, which was recently inevidence when Riyadh deported half a dozenLashkar-e-Taiba suspects along with theprospect of a partnership in maritime securitythat matches with India's desire to keep amilitary eye on its sea lanes of communicationcarrying bulk of its energy supplies. But moreimportant is the move towards erecting formalstructures for interaction on anti-terrorism andinvestment.

India has played its cards well to elicit a shiftin the Saudi approach which could haveimplications for Pakistani behavior, thoughRiyadh also stands diminished after itsstalemate against the resource-strappedHouthis and the clumsy murder of a journalistin Turkey. But the catalyst may have been geo-economics. Mohammed has set his country onthe path of modernization- women can nowdrive; female preachers are encouraged, and theSaudis are raring to enter downstream areas inpetroleum overseas. India is among the eightcountries identified for an expanding economicfootprint with talk of $100 billion in investment.The Crown Prince also advised the Pakistanisabout the need to gain from India's economicresurgence, provided they had a 'great leader'.The Saudis have come a long way. They not justcondemned the Pulwama attack, but alsodenounced it. The lure of the market seems to betriumphing over brotherly love.

(Tribune, India)

The US has recommended that India mustget rid of Jaish-e-Mohammed andLashkar-e-Taiba thru surgical strikes. It isimplied that once India decides, both theU.S. and India would jointly formulatemilitary strategy and execute it.

Pakistan sponsored Jaish-e-Mohammed,a terrorist organization, killed 41Indian para military personnel on

February 14th. Immediately upon hearing thenews, a chain of successive events took placein Washington D.C. The Secretary of Stateand the National Security Adviser issuedstatements of strongest support to India. Thiswas followed by discussion on the situation inthe U.S. Senate and the U.S. House ofRepresentatives. All important and leadingsenators and congressmen/womencondemned Pakistan and extended politicalsupport to India. The Chief of the US CentralCommand, General Joseph Votel gave hisassessment to the Congress and offeredsupport to India.

The US has recommended that India mustget rid of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba thru surgical strikes. It is implied thatonce India decides, both the U.S. and Indiawould jointly formulate military strategy andexecute it. Indian Ambassador Shringla said:"The designation of India as a Major DefensePartner was also codified into law by the USCongress in the National DefenseAuthorization Act of 2017, thanks to theunstinted support of the members of theIndia Caucus."

President Trump has been demanding thatPakistan dismantle all terror cells and

organizations inside Pakistan. He is the firstUS President to cancel military aid toPakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan ofPakistan has been wanting to meet PresidentTrump to seek support for loans from theI.M.F. President Trump has told him thatunless he gets rid of all terror outfits andterrorists from Pakistan, he would notsupport Pakistan's request.

Pakistan was defeated by India in threeconventional wars. India defeated Pakistan inits third war and Pakistan lost East Pakistan.Since then, Pakistan has been using thehomegrown terrorist organizations, such asJaish-e-Mohammed; Lashkar-e-Taiba; andothers as proxy to fight India. This resulted inattacks on the Indian Parliament, , New Delhishopping mall, and the City of Mumbai thatkilled 165 Indians and foreigners.

Pakistan is controlled by its military andthe I.S.I., its intelligence agency. The militaryhas selected its Prime Minister and thereforethe Parliament is a joke. Because India so farhas not retaliated, Pakistan has taken

advantage and continues to use the terroriststo attack India.

India's new Ambassador to the U.S.A.,Harsh Vardhan Shringla after presenting hiscredentials to President Trump was given themost enthusiastic reception at the CapitolHill. This was attended by more senators andcongressmen/women than ever before. Thegrand reception given to AmbassadorShringla is a reflection of India-US relations,with India now branded as "CLOSEST ALLY".The chain of events in Washington afterPakistan's attack in Kashmir reinforcesPresident Trump's new policy towards SouthAsia. India should be pleased because the"CLOSEST ALLY" status has bipartisansupport. It is time for India to take fulladvantage of the US support and draw up aplan to end the scourge of terrorism frominside Pakistan.

(The author, in the U.S. for 65 years, lives inScarsdale, N.Y. He is a Senior Adviser to

Imagindia Institute, New Delhi, a think tank.He can be reached at [email protected])

8 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019EDITORIAL

AS I SEE IT

US regards India as the ‘Closest Ally’ & willbe ready to support its war on terrorism

By Ven Parameswaran

It is for India to take advantage of a sea of US goodwill

Tricolor draped coffins of CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack,during wreath laying ceremony at the CRPF camp in Budgam on Friday, February 15

Photo / Courtesy PTI

Readers Write

"Fire & Fury" Trump nominated by Abe for Nobel Peace Prize

Iapplaud and join PM Shinzo Abe, whose nation saw North Korean ICBM rockets flyoverJapan, to nominate President Donald J. Trump for the Nobel Peace prize. Unlike priorpresidents who could deliberate into inaction, President Trump charged in with "Fire &

Fury" and "Little Rocket Man" and promised devastation of DPRK and Chairman Kim jongUn. The rest, as they say is history as the North Korean Missiles have stopped flying.

While it isn't easy to always agree with Trump's "ways & means", his foreign policy goalsare more often than not - dead on. Credit the disturbed Deep State has a hard timecomprehending, let alone supporting.

The Arab Spring was started by a male Street Vendor in Tunisia after he was insulted bya female cop, and after unsuccessfully trying his best to protest, he self-immolated. Trumpgave voice to the overwhelming number of unhappy and angry hardworking Americans whofeel they and their children had been dealt out of the American Dream by lobbyists andSpecial Interests (who created the most unnecessary and corrupt 4Trillion dollar TARP as areward to those who had then just destroyed America's pensions & 401Ks in 2007).

Trump is the updated version of Teddy Roosevelt, as he changed "walk softly and carry abig stick" to "walk loudly and carry a big stick!" In today's noise-filled life, Trump has cutthrough the status quo with his unending Tweet-storms, disrupted geopolitics, and madeAmerica stronger and safer, even if not liked as much as before. The British Empire's biggestempire-building asset - "it's been decided" - no matter if right or wrong - it was followedthrough as 'it's been decided." Trump is a 'decider" and the American Empire is on the marchto greater peace & security."

Ravi Batra Esq. ([email protected]), New York

Letter to Editor

Mea Culpa Dear Editor:Re the recent piece of mine on Gurduara Troubles in Glen Cove, New York that you kindly

published in the Indian Panorama just days ago.True that it was not the first of my opinions on our dysfunctional gurduara management,

but very deliberately and carefully in the past I NEVER identified by name any of thepersons involved in any altercations. Why? Because shaming people was never my intentNOR is it now. The note that you published under my name identified some of theresponsible people and that created unforeseen problems. This note was NEVER intendedfor publication and general distribution. It was intended for only a limited audience to spurthem to use discretion and good sense in an effort towards working for an amicableresolution for the greater good.

For this reason I had NOT submitted this note to you for publication. Apparently,someone from one side or the other, sent it to you perhaps hoping to shame people into bettersense. Unfortunately shaming did what it usually does - it makes them aggressively self-defensive. I witnessed firsthand the unfortunate result today. At an unrelated functionloyalist of both sides accosted me. They were offended for having been named in print. Inthe melee, the intent of my piece was lost. My theme was that the gurduara is not meant todivide our community into "Friends and Foes" but to create an ambience where wetransform a divided people into collaborators and allies that work towards the common goodof the community despite our differences.

The public shaming from seeing their names in print very likely kills any incentive forpeace and for that I offer regrets -- a sincere Mea Culpa.

I.J. Singh, ([email protected])North Bellmore, New York

February 18, 2019

9THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 PERSPECTIVE

By Harjap Singh Aujla

Air Canada ignoring its Punjabi Customer BaseNo Flights from Vancouver & Toronto to Amritsar

As the number of Punjabisswelled to over a million in

Canada. Air Canada decided tostart Toronto – New Delhi flighton all seven days of the week.

Who advised Air Canada to takethis decision is not known. The

fact remains that more than 80%load of Air Canada

Toronto – New Delhi flight

originates from areas aroundAmritsar International Airport.

Long ago, Air Canada could shunAmritsar Airport on the grounds

that Amritsar had no five starhotel. Now both Taj Swarna andHyatt Regency are truly 5 starhotels. There are other hotels

also almost in the same category.Now Air Canada has no excuse to

shun Amritsar InternationalAirport. This airport has a 12001

foot long runway, which wasrecently strengthened to takeheaviest planes. There are at

least 15 fully functional parkingspots for planes and the finesttaxi-ways. This airport has the

latest instrument landing systemILS CAT 3, which enables planes

to land with 50 meter visibilityand take off with 125 meter

visibility. Now all flights comingfrom Europe and North Americacan land at Amritsar during poor

visibility at New Delhi Airport.

It is the paramount duty of all modes oftransportation, including the railways,airways and road transportation to serve

the customers as conveniently as possible.Punjabis are settled in Canada since early1900s. They started with a few hundredlanding in small numbers in Vancouver areaprior to World War I and their numbers keptswelling in later years. Most of them werefrom the districts of Lyallpur, Montgomery,Lahore, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpurand Kapurthala. After the 1947 partition ofPunjab, most of the immigrants fromLahore, Lyallpur and Montgomery moved tothe districts of Ferozepur, Amritsar,Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Ludhiana,Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. All this area isserved by Amritsar Airport, the oldest inEast Punjab, in operation since 1944.

After independence of India, theCanadian immigration laws were made moreliberal and during the 1950s, the numbers ofPunjabis swelled to over 100000 in whole ofCanada, most of them were clustered aroundthe city of Vancouver in the BritishColumbia Province. When air travel picked

up steam, during the 1960s, the OntarioProvince, which was geographically closerto the United Kingdom and India, startedgetting more Punjabi immigrants fromGreat Britain and the Indian Punjab.Toronto, being the largest city in Canada andits surrounding areas started getting bulk ofthe immigrants of Punjabi origin both fromEngland and India. Vancouver got most ofthe rest.

When I reached the USA in 1980, thenumber of Indian Punjabis in Canada hadexceeded half a million, the majority ofthem were in British Columbia. Ontario hadthe second biggest concentration, followedby Alberta and Quebec. Air India, in abusiness savvy decision, around early yearsof 2000s, decided to fly to Toronto. Theyalready had a service from Amritsar toBirmingham. It was wiser on their part toextend the Air India service to Toronto. Fora few years the Amritsar – Birmingham –Toronto service of Air India was runningwith a load factor of 80 to 90%. Very high forAir India compared to other flights.Turkmenistan Airlines also had a successfuloperation between Birmingham – Ashgabat– Amritsar and they were running in decentprofit.

Sensing success of Amritsar –Birmingham – Toronto service of Air India,a newly emerging company Jet Airways alsostarted a six days per week service toLondon (Heathrow). It was also runningwith a passenger load of 80 % to 90%. AirIndia had three slots per day (21 slots perweek) at the most sought after HeathrowAirport in metropolitan London. They wereoperating one flight every day from Bombayand New Delhi to London. For quite sometime, their third slot was not being used.Heathrow, being too much in demand,decided to cancel the third slot. Air India did

not want to lose this costly slot. So theydecided to skip Birmingham and route theirToronto flight through London Heathrow.This move temporarily reduced the load ofJet Airways. In a jiffy, Jet Airways decided tocancel their Amritsar – London operation.After sometime, GMR built a new terminalat New Delhi Airport called T-3. SomehowAir India decided to fly first thrice weeklyfrom New Delhi via London to Toronto andsubsequently they started New Delhi –London – Toronto daily flight. Changing gearquickly, they started flying on Amritsar –New Delhi – London route daily andcommenced a new service to Toronto fromNew Delhi. Subsequently Amritsar wasdropped from the route to the dismay of allPunjabis.

As the number of Punjabis swelled to overa million in Canada. Air Canada decided tostart Toronto – New Delhi flight on all sevendays of the week. Whoadvised AirCanada tot a k e

this decision is not known. The fact remainsthat more than 80% load of Air CanadaToronto – New Delhi flight originates fromareas around Amritsar InternationalAirport. Long ago, Air Canada could shunAmritsar Airport on the grounds thatAmritsar had no five star hotel. Now bothTaj Swarna and Hyatt Regency are truly 5star hotels. There are other hotels alsoalmost in the same category. Now AirCanada has no excuse to shun AmritsarInternational Airport. This airport has a12001 foot long runway, which was recentlystrengthened to take heaviest planes. Thereare at least 15 fully functional parking spotsfor planes and the finest taxi-ways. Thisairport has the latest instrument landingsystem ILS CAT 3, which enables planes toland with 50 meter visibility and take offwith 125 meter visibility. Now all flightscoming from Europe and North America canland at Amritsar during poor visibility atNew Delhi Airport.

Of late Air Canada has started anothernon-stop service from Vancouver to NewDelhi. For this flight too, 80 to 90% loadcomes from Amritsar region. Who advisedAir Canada to take this step beats myimagination? More over Amritsar is thehome to the most sacred shrine of the Sikhcommunity, the Golden Temple, where everyPunjabi likes to bow his/her head on arrivalas well as at the time of departure. Thingshave changed for the better at AmritsarInternational Airport.

Amritsar is very well connected to theMiddle – East. There are three daily flightsto Dubai and one to Doha. Amritsar hasthree flights per/day to Mumbai, whichconnect Amritsar to Manchester (UK) too.Birmingham is served thrice a week fromAmritsar by Air India and four times a weekby Turkmenistan Airlines. The European

community had barred Turkmenistan fromoperations over the European Union. Butthey have hired other planes to continuetheir operations unhindered.

The Punjabi diaspora living in all majorcities of Australia, including Sydney,Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast, Adelaide andBrisbane is served very well by oneSingapore based Scoot Airlines and twoKuala Lumpur based companies MalindoAirlines and Air Asia X. They pick uppassengers daily from Amritsar and transferthem to the Australian flights. Scoot nowserves Auckland in New Zealand too.Similarly all the Pacific rim countries areserved by flights from Kuala Lumpur andSingapore. Now the Punjabi originpassengers bound for South East Asiancountries andA u s t r a l i a / N e wZealand do not

have to travel to New Delhi for seven to eighthours by cars and buses.

The story of Canada is totally perplexing.This great nation has the largest contingentof high level elected officials of Punjabiorigin, including MPs. Tanmanjeet SinghDhesi, the member of parliament fromSlough (London) is single-handedly toilinghard to connect London with Amritsar. Butnone from the nearly two dozen MPs ofCanada is even making a well meaningattempt to directly connect Punjabi diasporaliving in Canada with AmritsarInternational Airport.

All that the diaspora wants is direct AirCanada flights from Vancouver to Amritsarand from Toronto to Amritsar. Can't theyhold meetings with Air Canada to exertpressure to start these flights. We have veryfine hotels in Amritsar at half the pricescompared to New Delhi and Mumbai.Amritsar has been adjudged as the fastestgrowing large airport in India for the year2018.

The “Amritsar Vikas Manch” and itsoffshoot “Fly-Amritsar Initiative”spearheaded by Professor Mohan Singh andassisted by Manjit Singh Saini, KulwantSingh Ankhi, Charanjit Singh Gumtala, Er.D.S. Kohli, Sameep Singh Gumtala, YogeshKamra and Michael Raul among others havelaunched a signature campaign to connecttwo major cities of Canada and London (UK)with Amritsar by direct flights. Thiscampaign is in full steam, already about20000 signatures have been obtained. It willbe submitted to Air Canada and otherorganizations for action. Hopefullysomething positive will emerge.

(The author can be reached [email protected])

Air Canada loses heavy revenue in notoperating on Vancouver/ Toronto-Amritsar

route

10 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019SOUTH ASIA

British aide toMalaysian ex-PM

charged with moneylaundering: Report

KUALA LUMPUR (TIP): Malaysianauthorities charged Paul Stadlen, a Britishnational who had worked for disgracedformer prime minister Najib Razak as amedia adviser, with two counts of moneylaundering, state news agency Bernamareported on Wednesday. Najib was oustedin a general election last year amidwidespread public anger over amultibillion-dollar graft scandal at statefund 1Malaysia Development Berhad(1MDB). Malaysian anti-graftinvestigators issued a notice in Novembercalling for Stadlen, whose whereabouts areunknown, to assist in its 1MDB probe.Malaysian media reports say he fled thecountry shortly after Najib’s shock defeatin the May 9 election.

Stadlen was charged in absentia onWednesday with laundering a total of 14.3million ringgit ($3.5 million) that wereproceeds from illegal activities and hadbeen deposited in the client account of alaw firm that prosecutors claimed receivedmoney from Najib. Stadlen was accused ofordering the sum to be transferred fromthe account to several companies andindividuals between June 2014 and August2015, Bernama said, citing charge sheetsfiled at a Kuala Lumpur court. (Reuters)

Bangladesh shuts20,000 websites in

anti-porn ‘war’ DHAKA (TIP): : Bangladesh

authorities have blocked almost 20,000websites as part of an anti-pornography“war”, a minister said Tuesday. Internetproviders in the conservative Muslim-majority nation took down pornographyand gambling websites in the past weekunder orders from thetelecommunications regulator. AFP

Protests in Nepal aftersatirical song taken off Web

KATHMANDU (TIP): The suddenwithdrawal of a popular song — full ofsatire aimed at corruption and highlyplaced public figures — from YouTube andother social media by its creator,apparently under political pressure, hassparked a spate of protests across thecountry and among the Nepali diaspora.

“Lutna sake loot kanchha, lutna sakeloot, aru deshma paidaina, Nepal ma chhachhut,” (Loot whatever you can, as you cando that in Nepal) is a popular song byPashupati Sharma. It disappeared fromsocial media abruptly on Saturday night,with a note from Sharma that while hewould make certain changes in thewording, he would not surrender his rightas a Nepali citizen to raise his voiceagainst corruption and wrong-doers.

As reports about the song’s withdrawalbegan coming up, an avalanche ofsupport for the singer, and the right toprotest against the government, havedominated public discourse. As protestsagainst the ban began pouring in, KiranPoudel, senior vice-chairman of theNepal Yuba Sangh, a youth frontaffiliated to the ruling Nepal CommunistParty, issued a general appeal to all toboycott Sharma, alleging that he hasinsulted the country’s President andtried to project Communist rule as “therule of Yamaraj (the god of death)”. (TheIndian Express)

70 killed in major Bangladesh fireAmong victims, five children, nine women I Blaze started from chemical warehouse

DHAKA (TIP): A fire ravished adjoiningapartment buildings and chemicalwarehouses in a historic part of theBangladesh capital Dhaka, killing at least 70persons and injuring several others.

Officials said the fire broke out at achemical warehouse on the ground floor of afour-storey building named Hazi WahedMansion behind a mosque in Old Dhaka’scongested Chawkbazar area on Wednesdaynight and the flames then quickly spreadthrough four other buildings nearby,including a community centre where awedding party was on.

“The salvage campaign is ending here,”mayor of Dhaka (South) Sayeed Khokon said.

Fire officials said the blaze had claimed 70lives so far.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials said thefire spread rapidly due to the multiplechemical godowns that were situated in thearea.

Fire service control room spokesmanKamrul Ahsan confirmed the death toll to be70 while state-run Dhaka Medical CollegeHospital’s director Brigadier General AKMNasiruddin said bodies were kept at theirdisposal. Nasiruddin, however, feared that thetoll may rise as several people were beingtreated at the facility with critical burninjuries.

Khokon called off the rescue operationaround 12.10 pm after nearly 14 hours ofefforts. Two-hundred firefighters from 37units doused the blaze, making their way tothe scene through narrow lanes with fireengines. “Some of the bodies were burnedvery badly, difficult to be identified... of thevictims, five are children and nine women,” adoctor said.

Bangladesh’s fire service chief Ali Ahmedsaid the blaze may have started with a gascylinder before quickly spreading through thebuilding where chemicals were stored.

“The flames raced through four adjoiningbuildings, which were also used as chemicalwarehouses.,” he said. — Reuters/PTI

Historic Chawkbazar The fire broke out at a chemical warehouse

on the ground floor of a five-storey buildingnamed Hazi Wahed Mansion behind a mosquein Old Dhaka’s congested Chawkbazar area

Chawkbazar is one of the most importantareas in Old Dhaka, a historic districtestablished about 400 years ago during theMughal dynasty

It is a hub of chemical businesses and localperfume factories

Gas cylinder to blame?The blaze may have started with a gas

cylinder before quickly spreading through the

building where chemicals were stored.There was a traffic jam when the fire broke

out.TV images showed the main gate of one of

the buildings was locked, leaving its residentstrapped which made escape difficult

Govt to provide reliefThe district administration will provide

20,000 taka (US$ 238) to the victims’ familiesfor burial

Past incidentsIn 2012, a fire in a garments factory on the

outskirts of Dhaka killed 117 persons andinjured more than 200

In 2010 in Nimtoli in Dhaka, a fire broke outin a chemical warehouse that killed morethan 120 persons. (Reuters/PTI)

Firefighters and local people help in dousing the fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh. AP

Pakistan gifted gold-plated assaultrifle to Saudi Crown Prince

ISLAMABAD (TIP): At a time whenPakistan is under immense global pressure onterrorism, the country's cash-strappedgovernment has gifted Saudi Crown PrinceMohammad bin Salman a gold-plated assaultrifle, a media report said.

The unusual gift for a visiting foreigndignitary was presented to Mohammadduring his first official visit to Islamabad.

The News International reported thatPakistan's Senate delegation called on theCrown Prince at the Prime Minister's Housewhere Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani giftedhim a portrait and a gold-plated gun.

The Prince is also Saudi Arabia's defenceminister. In a similar gesture from the cash-rich kingdom in January, Saudi Prince FahdBin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, also theTabuk Governor, presented a gift of 'goldKalashnikov' and bullets to Prime MinisterKhan at the Prime Minister's Office here.

Khan had thanked him for the gold-platedRussian gun.

The Saudi Crown Prince's just-concludedhigh-profile visit to Islamabad came in themidst of heightened tensions between Indiaand Pakistan following one of the worst terrorattacks in Jammu and Kashmir in which 40CRPF soldiers were killed. The attack wascarried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad. The international community

led by the US has pressed Pakistan to denysafe haven to terror groups operating form itssoil and bring the perpetrators of thePulwama attack to justice. Pakistan and SaudiArabia on Sunday signed a slew of investmentagreements worth USD 20 billion which will

provide a welcome relief to the teeteringeconomy of the cash-strapped Pakistan.

Pakistan is negotiating with theInternational Monetary Fund a multi-billionbailout package to overcome the country'sfinancial instability. (PTI)


Father slams Kamala Harris

over pot-smoking joke

WASHINGTON (TIP): US Democraticpresidential candidate Senator KamalaHarris, who is of Indian and Jamaicandescent, has been slammed by her father forsaying that she smoked marijuana in heryounger years and supports it becominglegalized.

Donald Harris, an economics professor atStanford University, claimed his daughterwas playing "identity politics" and addedthat she was harming her family'sJamaican ancestors, the media reported onWednesday. "My dear departedgrandmothers Â… as well as my deceasedparents, must be turning in their graveright now to see their family's name,reputation and proud Jamaican identitybeing connected, in any way, jokingly or notwith the fraudulent stereotype of a pot-smoking joy seeker and in the pursuit ofidentity politics," he said . (Source: IANS)

U.S. to leave 200troops in Syria as

"peacekeepinggroup": White

HouseWASHINGTON (TIP): The Trump

administration will leave 200 US troops inSyria to act as a "small peacekeepinggroup", the White House has announcedfollowing President Donald Trump's orderfor a "full" withdrawal of the Americanmilitary from the war-torn country.

The White House announced the decisionon Thursday , February 21, after Mr. Trumpspoke with Turkish President Recep TayyipErdogan over the phone.

"A small peacekeeping group of about 200will remain in Syria for a period of time,"White House Press Secretary SarahSanders said in a statement after the callbetween the two leaders.

In December, Mr. Trump abruptlydeclared victory against the Islamic State(ISIS) in Iraq and Syria and announced thatthe more than 2,000 US troops in Syriawould be withdrawn immediately.

12 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019US

WASHINGTON (TIP): On February 20, the U.S. Department of theTreasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified Indiannational Jasmeet Hakimzada as a Significant Foreign NarcoticsTrafficker pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act(Kingpin Act). OFAC also designated two Indian nationals and fourentities registered in India or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) thatform part of the narcotics trafficking organization run by JasmeetHakimzada. As a result, any assets in the United States or in thepossession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported toOFAC. OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S.persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve anyproperty or interests in property of blocked persons.

"Jasmeet Hakimzada's global drug trafficking and moneylaundering network has been involved in smuggling heroin andsynthetic opioids around the world," said Sigal Mandelker, UnderSecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "This action is aresult of years of effort with our U.S. and foreign partners to disruptthe activities of this significant narcotics trafficking organization. Weare leveraging extensive international partnerships to deploy amultilayered, coordinated approach to secure our borders and denynarcotics traffickers access to the United States."

Indian narcotics trafficker Jasmeet Hakimzada, who resides in theUAE, runs a global drug trafficking network that smuggles heroin,cocaine, ephedrine, ketamine, and synthetic opioids into the UnitedStates, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Since at least2008, Jasmeet Hakimzada has laundered hundreds of millions ofdollars of illicit proceeds using his UAE-based company MaiwandGeneral Trading Company LLC through financial institutions in theUnited States, Brazil, India, Panama, the UAE, and the UK.

OFAC also designated two individuals who also reside in the UAE,for their roles in Jasmeet Hakimzada's criminal organization:Harmohan Hakimzada, Jasmeet's father, is his primary partner in thedrug trafficking and money laundering operation; and Eljeet Kaur,

Jasmeet's mother, who serves as an officer in two front companies inIndia.

The four entities designated today include three entities based inIndia - Maiwand Exim Private Limited, Maiwand Tobacco Limited,and Maiwand Beverages Limited - and UAE-based Maiwand GeneralTrading Company LLC, which operates as a front for an array of illicitactivities to include shipping narcotics and illegal pharmaceuticals aswell as laundering large sums of narcotics proceeds.

On April 5, 2017, a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for theMiddle District of Tennessee indicted Jasmeet Hakimzada on 46counts of drug trafficking and money laundering. Over the course ofthree years from 2014 through 2016, Homeland Security Investigations(HSI) conducted an extensive investigation into Jasmeet Hakimzada'sglobal narcotics and money laundering operation uncovering dozensof drug trafficking and money laundering-related transactionstransiting the United States involving numerous U.S. banks, as well asdrug shipments directly to the United States using commercialinternational courier services. (Source: DOJ)

Indian narcotics trafficker Jasmeet Hakimzada resides in the UAE

US Treasury Sanctions Indian Narcotics TraffickerJasmeet Hakimzada and his Network

Senate confirms William Barr as attorney general

WASHINGTON (TIP): With a 54-45 vote,the Senate on Thursday, February 14,confirmed William Barr as Attorney General .

This will be Barr's second tour as attorneygeneral; he led the Justice Department duringthe George H.W. Bush administration.

Barr's nomination last year marked anunusual return to politics for the 68-year-old.

An old guard conservative, Barr has heldmany of Washington's most influential legalperches, including a stint as the head of theJustice Department's Office of Legal Counsel,where he helped shape legal opinions thatinfluenced White House policy and action.

After Bush's re-election defeat, Barr leftgovernment service for lucrative positions inthe private sector, becoming the generalcounsel of Verizon up until 2008 and servingon the board of Time Warner, CNN's formerparent company, through last year.

In his confirmation hearing last month,Barr pointed to this distance from theWashington career ladder as one of thereasons he decided to take the job.

"I feel I'm in a position in life where I can dothe right thing and not really care about theconsequences in the sense that I can truly beindependent," Barr said.

MUELLER INVESTIGATION: Barr'sclaim of independence did little to assuageSenate Democrats skeptical of his potentialhandling of the looming conclusion ofMueller's investigation.

In their rejection, many Democrats havepointed to a 19-page memo Barr wrote andsent to senior White House and JusticeDepartment officials last year that criticizedan element of the special counsel probe.

"We must be clear-eyed about the momentour country is facing and the AttorneyGeneral's important role in ensuring theintegrity of our democratic institutions," Sen.Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, said

in a statement Wednesday announcing his novote.

IMMIGRATION: Barr has a reputation asa hardliner on immigration and crime.

His plans to build a barrier along the US-Mexico border in 1992 will ring familiar in anadministration currently engaged in afunding fight for a wall to stop an influx ofillegal immigration, and in his confirmationhearing last month, Barr aligned himselfwith the President's views on border security.

Barr's stance on criminal justice, however,appear to have evolved since he endorsed aJustice Department publication titled "TheCase for More Incarceration" in 1992, whenviolent crime rates hit record highs in thecountry.

Pressed by Democrats at his confirmationhearing last month, Barr said, "I don't thinkcomparing the policies that were in effect in1992 to the situation now is really fair," andtold senators that he would carry out a newlypassed bipartisan sentencing reform bill.

"I think the time was right to take stock andmake changes to our penal system based oncurrent experience, so I have no problem withthe approach of reforming the sentencing

structure and I will faithfully enforce thatlaw," Barr said.

CYBER SECURITY: Barr will face a newlandscape of challenges in his second turn atJustice, including foreign threats and cybercrimes that were not on the department'sradar, or even physical possibilities, in theearly 1990s.

Chinese state-sponsored hacking andintellectual property theft are now top ofmind for the Department of Justice, andfederal prosecutors have brought a number ofcases against Chinese nationals - and thatcountry's biggest telecommunicationsmanufacturer - in recent months.

"The primary rival of the United States isChina. I think Russia is half the size it waswhen we were facing them at the peak of theCold War. Their economy's long-termprognosis is nowhere near China's," Barrtestified last month.

Barr has also set his sights on Americantechnology companies and told senators at hisconfirmation hearing that he would use theJustice Department's antitrust division toexplore questions around competition inSilicon Valley.

Barr agreed to return to the JusticeDepartment out of a sense of "patriotism" andhe will likely aim to helm the department in away that restores some normalcy after aperiod of criticism from the President and hisallies, his friends say.

"This is a person who has a specialcommitment to making sure that the JusticeDepartment is really seen in a great light,"said Paul McNulty, a former deputy attorneygeneral who was Barr's top deputy for policyand communications. "He'd really want hislegacy on a second time around at DOJ to bethat he made the department stronger,because it's that special to him." (Source:CNN)

Barr returns for the second time as AttorneyGeneral

Senator Kamala Harris

13THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 US

Indian American LawFirm Executive gets 7years Imprisonment

for FraudATLANTA (TIP): A Federal Judge

has sentenced Indian American AshaR. Maurya, former controller in a nowdefunct law firm, to seven years inprison, and three years of supervisedrelease for participating in a fraudscheme. Her co-conspirator Nathan E.Hardwick IV, an Atlanta real estateattorney, has been sentenced to 15years in federal prison fororchestrating a scheme to defraud hislaw firm out of millions ofdollars.Maurya was also ordered toforfeit $900,000 in criminal proceeds.Their restitution hearing is scheduledfor May 9, 2019.

According to U.S. Attorney Byung J."BJay" Pak, the charges and otherinformation presented in court:Hardwick and Asha R. Maurya engagedin a scheme to defraud MHSLAW, Inc.and its subsidiaries, Morris HardwickSchneider, LLC, and LandCastle Title,LLC, (collectively referred to as"MHS"). MHS owned and operated a lawfirm that specialized in residential realestate closings and foreclosures, and itran a title business. MHS employedapproximately 800 people in 16 states.Hardwick was the managing partner ofthe law firm and the CEO of the titlebusiness. He also ran the law firm'sclosing division, which was based inAtlanta. Maurya managed MHS'saccounting operations underHardwick's supervision and control.

In early 2007, Hardwick and his lawpartners sold off part of theirbusiness, and Hardwick pocketedapproximately $11.8 million. Hardwickquickly squandered that money,however, and by the end of 2010 wasbroke and deeply in debt.

From January 2011 through August2014, Hardwick siphoned off more than$26 million from MHS's accounts to payhis personal debts and expenses and tofinance his extravagant lifestyle. Morethan $19 million of that was clientmoney that was stolen from MHS'sattorney trust accounts. Hardwickspent approximately $18.5 million ofthe fraud proceeds on gambling,private jets, and more than 50 differentsocial companions.

MHS's audited financial statementsshowed that the firm's combined netincome from 2011 through 2013 wasapproximately $10 million. During thatsame three-year period, however,Hardwick took more than $20 millionout of the firm's accounts.

Both Hardwick and Maurya madenumerous false statements toHardwick's law partners concerningthe amount of money that Hardwickwas taking out of the firm. Hardwickand Maurya conspired to cover-up thefraud.

WASHINGTON (TIP): U.S. Rep. GraceMeng (D-NY) announced that she willreintroduce a resolution in the House ofRepresentatives that aims to promoteInternational Mother Language Day in theUnited States. February 21 was declared as theInternational Mother Language Day at theinitiative of Bangladesh.

International Mother Language Day wasestablished in 1999 by the United NationsEducational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization (UNESCO) to increaseawareness of linguistic diversity andmultilingualism. The United Nations hasbeen observing the day since 2000 to promotelinguistic and cultural diversity andmultilingualism. Although the holiday iscelebrated across the globe, it holds specialsignificance to Bangladesh and those ofBangladeshi descent. The observance date

was chosen to commemorate the day in 1952 inBangladesh where students dieddemonstrating for recognition of Bengali as anational language of Pakistan. Dhaka, nowthe Capital of Bangladesh, was thencontrolled by Pakistan.

"I am proud to once again introduce thisimportant resolution and I urge all of myCongressional colleagues to support it," saidMeng. "Passage of this measure would go along way towards making more Americansaware of what International MotherLanguage Day is about. It would also helpincrease the number of people who observethe holiday in the U.S., and increaseawareness of its significance to Bangladeshand those of Bangladeshi descent. I lookforward to my measure moving through theHouse."

Meng plans to reintroduce her measure endFebruary. It would support the goals andideals of International Mother Language Day,and encourage people in the U.S. to observe itwith appropriate ceremonies, programs andactivities. Meng has sponsored the resolutionduring the past three sessions of Congress.

February 21 was declared as the InternationalMother Language Day at the initiative of

Bangladesh

Number of people with Master's andPh.D. Degrees doubles since 2000

About 13.1 Percent Have a Master's, Professional Degree or DoctorateWASHINGTON (TIP): The educational

level of American adults is on the rise as morecollege graduates go on to earn master's,professional and doctoral degrees, says a USCensus report dated February 21. .

Since 2000, the number of people age 25 andover whose highest degree was a master's hasdoubled to 21 million. The number of doctoraldegree holders has more than doubled to 4.5million.

Now, about 13.1 percent of U.S. adults havean advanced degree, up from 8.6 percent in2000.

These findings come from the U.S. CensusBureau's Educational Attainment in theUnited States: 2018 table package that usesdata from the Current Population SurveyAnnual Social and Economic Supplement.

It examines the educational attainment ofadults age 25 and older by demographic andsocial characteristics, such as age, sex, raceand Hispanic origin, nativity and disabilitystatus.

In 2017, on average a person with anadvanced degree earned 3.7 times as much asa high school dropout.

The tables show, among other things, that

women make up a smaller share of highschool dropouts than men, the share ofAsians with advanced degrees is growing andthat recent immigrants are more likely to goto college than earlier immigrants or native-born. They also clearly show a rise in thenumber of college graduates who haveadvanced degrees. In 2000, one-third of peoplewith at least a bachelor's degree hadcompleted an advanced degree. By 2018, 37percent had done so.

In 2017, on average a person with anadvanced degree earned 3.7 times as much asa high school dropout.

Some HighlightsThe percentage of people age 25 and over

who had completed less than a high schooldiploma or equivalent was higher for men

(10.6 percent) than for women (9.8 percent).Between 2000 and 2018, the percentage of

people 25 years and older who had completeda bachelor's degree or higher increased by 9percentage points, from 25.6 percent to 35.0percent.

Among Asians ages 25 to 29 in 2018, almost7 in 10 (69.5 percent) had a bachelor's or higherdegree. Five years earlier (in 2013), thebachelor's degree attainment rate for thisgroup was 59 percent.

Recent immigrants to the United Stateswere more likely to have a college educationthan earlier immigrants or the native born.

Among immigrants who have arrived since2000, 38.8 percent have a bachelor's degree orhigher, compared with 35.2 percent of thenative-born. Among earlier immigrants, therate of college education was lower - for thosewho arrived in the 1990s, it was 31.3 percent.

Naturalized citizens were among thegroups with high levels of college attainment- 38.4 percent had a bachelor's degree orhigher.

The children of immigrants were alsolikely to have a bachelor's degree (39.6percent).

Congresswoman Grace Meng to Reintroduce MeasurePromoting International Mother Language Day

PHILADELPHIA (TIP): PrimeHealthcare Services and CEO Dr. Prem Reddyhave agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle falseclaims act allegations, U.S. Attorney WilliamM. McSwain announced.

He would pay the United States $1.25million to settle allegations that two Primehospitals in Pennsylvania - RoxboroughMemorial Hospital in Philadelphia andLower Bucks Hospital in Bristol - knowinglysubmitted false claims to Medicare byengaging in the following conduct: (1)admitting patients to the hospital forovernight stays who required only less costly,outpatient care and (2) billing for moreexpensive patient diagnoses than the patientshad (the latter practice known as "up-coding").

"We are committed to ensuring thathospitals, companies that own and operate

them, and their executives appropriately billMedicare," said U.S. Attorney McSwain."Charging the government for more costlyservices than what the patient actually needsand billing the government for more seriousdiagnoses than what the patient actually hasis a waste of taxpayer dollars. Those whoengage in these practices will be heldaccountable."

Headquartered in Ontario, California,Prime is one of the largest hospital systemsin the nation, with 45 acute-care hospitalslocated in 14 states. Prime acquiredRoxborough Memorial Hospital on February22, 2012, and Lower Bucks Hospital onOctober 3, 2012.

The Settlement resolves allegations thatPrime submitted or caused the submission offraudulent claims to Medicare. Specifically,from the date that Prime acquired

Roxborough and Lower Bucks throughSeptember 30, 2013, under Primemanagement, Roxborough and Lower Buckshospitals admitted emergency roomMedicare patients for costly and medicallyunnecessary one- and two-day overnighthospital stays, instead of treating the patientsin less costly outpatient service or keepingthem under observation. In addition, fromthe dates of acquisition through December31, 2014, the hospitals upcoded inpatientdiagnoses (i.e., billed Medicare for moreserious medical conditions than the patientsactually had) to increase Medicare payments.

As part of a separate lawsuit in the CentralDistrict of California, Prime and Dr. Reddypaid the United States $65 million dollars inAugust 2018 to settle similar Medicare fraudallegations arising out of 14 Prime hospitalsin California.

Indian American to Pay $1.25 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

14 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 INDIA

Free air travel forparamilitary forcesposted in J&K

NEW DELHI (TIP): All paramilitarypersonnel deployed in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) will now be entitled to takecommercial flights to either join duty or goon leave.

In an order issued on Thursday, theMinistry of Home Affairs (MHA) said it has“approved the entitlement of air travel onDelhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu sectors to allthe personnel of the Central Armed PoliceForces (CAPFs)”. This includes theirjourney for joining duty, transfer, tour orgoing on leave, it said.

The CRPF, however, clarified that convoymovement would continue to transportlogistics and personnel as and whenrequired, with adequate security measures.

The order comes a week after the attackon a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, in which 40security personnel were killed. The convoywas on its way from Jammu to Srinagar.Many of those killed were returning afterleave.

Sources said questions were raised as towhy the troops were not allowed to travel byair so that the risk and threat of travellingon road, in large convoys in the Valley, iseliminated.

MHA officials said that till now, this airtravel facility was only available to officersin the rank of Inspectors and above. Asenior official said all CAPF personnel willnow be able to book tickets on regularcommercial flights and claimreimbursement from their organisation orforce for travel to and from Kashmir.

Court adjourns hearingin Sunanda Pushkardeath case till March 7

NEW DELHI (TIP): A Delhi court onThursday beganhearing the SunandaPushkar death case.Sunanda Pushkar’shusband andCongress MP ShashiTharoor, who hasbeen accused ofabetting her suicide,was present in the court. The courtadjourned the matter till March 7 forfurther hearing.

The police asked the court for 10 days’time to argue on charges against ShashiTharoor. While, Tharoor’s lawyer VikasPahwa said that they have filed revisionpetition for non compliance of evidenceunder section 207 of the CrPC (supply theaccused of copy of police report and otherdocuments) as the documents provided bythe prosecution to them have somediscrepancies.

Shashi Tharoor has been charged undersections 498-A (husband or his relativesubjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 ofthe Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in asuite of a luxury hotel in the city on thenight of January 17, 2014. The couple werestaying in the hotel as the official bungalowof Tharoor was being renovated at thattime. Earlier this month, a Delhi court hadsent the Sunanda Pushkar death case toSessions court for further proceedings.

Additional Chief MetropolitanMagistrate Samar Vishal sent the case toAdditional Sessions Judge Arun Bhardwajsince the offence under Section 306(abetment of suicide) of the IPC.

India will stop share of its waterflowing into Pakistan: Gadkari

NEW DELHI (TIP): India has decided tostop the flow of its share of water to Pakistanfrom rivers under the Indus Water Treaty, amove seen as an immediate fallout of deadlyterrorist attack that killed 40 paramilitarypersonnel in south Kashmir.

Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkaritweeted to convey the decision of thegovernment to stop India's share of watergoing to Pakistan.

But the actual implementation of thedecision may take up to six years as dams ashigh as 100 metres will have to be built to stopsuch flow, officials said insisting it decisionwas in no way a violation of the Treaty andwas only aimed at getting the rightful due topeople of the country.

Under the Indus Water Treaty signed in1960, the waters of the western rivers -- theIndus, Jhelum, and Chenab -- was given toPakistan and those of the eastern rivers -- theRavi, Beas, and Sutlej -- to India.

India's share of water from Ravi, Beas andSutlej rivers came to 33 million acres feet(MAF). While about 95 per cent of the waterwas being used in the country after theconstruction of three main dams across therivers, close to 5 per cent water or 1.6 MAFwould flow to Pakistan.

To gain access to this water, India is nowbuilding more dams which will be completedin six years, officials said.

Another official said the decision was takentwo months back.

Water to Pakistan from the three rivers hasbeen flowing for 60 years while the countryneeds the same to meet needs of its citizens,they said insisting stopping of its share ofwater from going to Pakistan is in no way aviolation of the Treaty.

"Under the leadership of Hon'ble PM Sri@narendramodi ji, Our Govt. has decided tostop our share of water which used to flow toPakistan. We will divert water from Easternrivers and supply it to our people in Jammuand Kashmir and Punjab," Gadkari said in a

tweet. He further said, "The construction ofdam has started at Shahpur- Kandi on Raviriver. Moreover, UJH project will store ourshare of water for use in J&K and the balancewater will flow from 2nd Ravi-BEAS Link toprovide water to other basin states."

Gadkari's tweets have come barely a weekafter the gruesome Pulwama terror attack onFebruary 14 in which as many as 40 CRFPpersonnel were martyred when a terroristrammed an explosives laden vehicle into a buscarrying them. New Delhi believes the attackwas planned and supported by elements inPakistan. Following the attack, thegovernment revoked the Most FavouredNation (MFN) status given to Pakistan andalso imposed 200 per cent customs duty on allgoods imported from the neighbouringcountry.

"We have started the work of purification ofriver Yamuna ... After the formation of Indiaand Pakistan, Pakistan got three rivers, andIndia got three rivers. The rightful water ofour three rivers was flowing to Pakistan. Now

we will build three projects on them, and diverthe water to river Yamuna," Gadkari has saidyesterday at Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh whileaddressing a public rally.

The Union Cabinet in December hadapproved the Shahpurkandi dam project onthe Ravi river in Punjab, a move that wasintended to help India arrest its share ofwater flowing into Pakistan.

For this, a central assistance of Rs 485.38crore for irrigation component over five yearsfrom 2018-19 to 2022-23 was also announced.

The Indus Waters Treaty was signedbetween India and Pakistan in 1960 forsharing of Indus waters. According to theTreaty, India got the full rights for utilisationof waters of the three eastern rivers -- Ravi,Beas and Satluj. "Some of the water of theRavi river at present is going waste throughthe Madhopur Headworks downstream toPakistan. Implementation of the projectwould minimise such wastage of water," thegovernment has said in a statement.

Source: PTI

India to expedite 3 projects to stop its share of Indus waters from flowing into Pakistan.

BSP to contest 38 LSseats, SP 37 in UP

LUCKNOW (TIP): The Bahujan SamajParty will contest 38 Lok Sabha seats inUttar Pradesh while the Samajwadi Partywould field candidates in 37constituencies in the upcomingparliamentary polls.

A release signed by BSP chiefMayawati and SP president AkhileshYadav listed the name of theconstituencies that the two parties aregoing to contest in the Lok Sabha polls aspart of their alliance for the Lok Sabhaelections. The 37 seats in the SP quotainclude Kairana, Moradabad, Sambhal,Rampur, Mainpuri, Firozabad, Badaun,Bareilly, Lucknow, Etawah, Kanpur,Kannauj, Jhansi, Banda, Allahabad,Kaushambi, Phulpur, Faizabad, Gonda,Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Varanasi, andMirzapur.

The BSP will contest from Saharanpur,Bijnor, Nagina, Aligarh, Agra, FatehpurSikri, Dhaurahara, Sitapur, Sultanpur,Pratapgarh, Kaiserganj, Basti, Salempur,Jaunpur, Bhadohi and Deoria, amongother constituencies.

The two parties announced a tie-up for

the parliamentary elections last month.The BSP and the SP had then decided toput up candidates on equal number ofseats. But the release signed by the twoparty chiefs named one less constituencyfor the Samajwadi Party. The RashtriyaLok Dal (RLD), which had been in talks tojoin the opposition alliance in UttarPradesh, is expected to be given threeseats.

At the time of announcing their electiontie-up, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav hadsaid that the alliance would not field anycandidate at Amethi and Rae Bareliparliamentary constituencies, representedby Congress president Rahul Gandhi andUPA chairperson Sonia Gandhirespectively. Akhilesh Yadav had laterreasoned that they hadn’t kept theCongress out in the cold because it wasleaving two seats for them. Mayawati hadearlier explained that one issue withgetting the Congress on board was that theparty had “no real vote transfer”. Congressleaders have indicated that the otherreason, probably had something to do withthe number of seats the party wanted.

SC to consider pleasagainst Rafale verdict

NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court said it wouldconsider hearing petitions seeking review of its verdictdismissing petitions demanding a probe into allegedirregularities in procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jetsfrom France under an inter-governmental agreement(IGA).

In a relief to the Modi government, the top court had onDecember 14 dismissed petitions seeking probe into India-France deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets — atwin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft(MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace companyDassault Aviation — holding there was no commercialfavouritism. There was no occasion to “really doubt thedecision making process” warranting setting aside of thecontract, it had said. Lawyer Prashant Bhushan todayrequested a Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoito consider the submission that his review petition and anapplication seeking perjury prosecution of somegovernment officials for “misleading” the court duringearlier hearings be listed urgently.

SC holds Anil Ambaniguilty of contempt inEricsson case, told toclear dues in 4 weeks

NEW DELHI (TIP): The SupremeCourt on Wednesday held industrialistAnil Ambani guilty of contempt in a casefiled by telecom equipment makerEricsson. The court slapped a fine of Rs 1crore on three Reliance Group companies- RCom, Reliance Telecom Ltd andReliance Infratel Ltd - in the case. TheSwedish telecom equipment maker hadcomplained that RelianceCommunications had not paid up asordered by the court earlier.

The apex court directed Anil Ambanito pay the dues of Rs 453 crore in fourweeks failing which he will be sentencedto three-month jail term. An amount of118 crore is already deposited with theregistry. The court directed this amountto be released immediately.

The court observed that RCom had nointention to pay and had “willfully” notpaid Ericsson the due amount. Anapology by RCom was also rejected by thetop court.

Earlier, a bench of Justices RFNariman and Vineet Saran on February13 reserved its judgment when EricssonIndia had alleged that the Reliance Grouphas money to invest in the Rafale jet dealbut they were unable to clear its dues ofRs 550 crore. The Anil Ambani-ledcompany denied the charge.

Anil Ambani had told the SupremeCourt that has entered insolvencyproceedings due to failure of RelianceCommunications (RCom) assets sale dealwith Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio.He argued that he is not in control of thefunds.

Modi arrives in SouthKorea on two-day visitto bolster ties

SEOL (TIP): Prime Minister NarendraModi arrived here Thursday on a two-dayvisit to strengthen India’s strategic ties withSouth Korea and seek to enhance bilateralcooperation in diverse areas, includingtrade and investment. Ahead of his visit, theprime minister described South Korea as animportant partner for India’s key initiativessuch as ‘Make in India’, and said as fellowdemocracies the two countries share valuesand vision for regional and global peace.

Modi is visiting South Korea on theinvitation of President Moon Jae-in. This ishis second visit to the Republic of Koreasince 2015 and second summit meeting withPresident Moon Jae-in.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of ExternalAffairs Raveesh Kumar said the visit wouldstrengthen India’s special strategicpartnership with South Korea and adddynamism to the Look East Policy. Duringthe visit, Prime Minister Modi will havebilateral and business engagements, unveila bust of Mahatma Gandhi and accept theSeoul Peace Prize conferred upon him,Kumar said in a tweet. Earlier in hisdeparture statement, Modi said his visit isreflective of the importance “we both attachto our relationship”. “We regard theRepublic of Korea as a valued friend, anation with which we have a SpecialStrategic Partnership. As fellowdemocracies, India and the ROK haveshared values and a shared vision forregional and global peace,” the primeminister said.

15THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 INDIA

After Maharashtra, TN, BJP eyespoll alliances in Kerala, Andhra

LOK SABHA POLLS 2019

NEW DELHI (TIP): Internal assessments that predicted a toughcontest in the Hindi heartland, which it swept in 2014; a desire to retainthe party’s base in the west; and the compulsion to make inroads intonew territories have prompted the Bharatiya Janata Party to seal pre-poll alliances with existing and new partners, senior leaders of theparty said on condition of anonymity.

The BJP’s focus will now shift to working out the fine-print ofagreements in Bihar, Maharashtra and Tami Nadu; ironing outdifferences in the Northeast; and prospecting for possible pre-and post-poll alliances in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, the BJP leaders added.

“Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have become a tight contest against aunited opposition. We needed to firm up alliances,” one of the BJPleaders said. “We ceded space to allies such as the Janata Dal (United),buried differences with the Shiv Sena, and kept our ambitions undercheck in Tamil Nadu to forge alliances that can help us return topower.” The Bihar deal is the oldest, and was struck in December 2018.The BJP’s deals with the Sena in Maharashtra and the AIADMK inTamil Nadu were finalised earlier this week.

The BJP has now turned its attention to other states.“Our alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab remains

intact and there is no major issue over number of seats we willcontest,” the BJP leader added. Of the 13 Lok Sabha seats of Punjab,the Akalis got 10 to contest in the last election and the BJP 3. “Thenumbers will remain the same,” a second BJP leader said. The partymay also cede a seat or two to alliance partners in Jharkhand, whereall opposition parties have joined hands, the second leader added.

The BJP’s Kerala unit is in talks with the Bharatiya Dharma JanaSena, an outfit with following among the OBC Ezhava community.“They want about half a dozen seats and discussions are on,” a thirdBJP? leader said. “The BJP may also support a couple of independentcandidates in the state.” Kerala has 20 Lok Sabha seats and despite

fielding candidates in 18 in the last parliamentary election, the partycould not win even a single seat .

The BJP continues to flirt with actor-politician Pawan Kalyan (ofthe Jana Sena) in Andhra Pradesh, but he continues to remain non-commital. The party has, meanwhile, suffered a setback in the North-east with the Asom Gana Parishad walking out of the NationalDemocratic Alliance over the citizenship amendment bill, whichintends to grant citizenship to non-Muslims from Pakistan,Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The BJP was relieved after the BodoPeople’s Front, another ally from Assam, decided to remain with theNDA, but 11 other regional parties gave it the jitters by openly opposingthe proposed law.

The BJP alliance with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and the AIADMK inTamil Nadu were finalised earlier this week. The Bihar deal is the

oldest, and was struck in December 2018.

Terrorism ‘common concern’, says Saudi Crown Prince after

talks with PM ModiNEW DELHI (TIP): Terrorism and

extremism are "common concerns" and SaudiArabia will extend all cooperation to Indiaand other countries in the region to deal withthem, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed binSalman said on Wednesday after holdingextensive talks with Prime Minister NarendraModi.

While the two leaders in their respectivepress statements after their meeting did notmention Pakistan, top officials in the Ministryof External Affairs later said Pakistan'scomplicity in the Pulwama terror strike wasunderlined during their parleys where theyalso condemned the terrorist attack by thePakistan-based JeM in "strongest" possibleterms.

The meeting took place two days after theinfluential Arab leader concluded a highprofile visit to Islamabad, and in the backdropof escalating tension between India andPakistan in the aftermath of the Pulwamaterror attack in which 40 CRPF personnelwere killed by a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicidebomber.

In his statement, Modi called the attack a"cruel symbol" of the scourge of terrorismand sought punishment for terrorists andtheir backers.

The crown prince, however, did not mentionthe Pulwama strike in his remarks.

Asserting that close contact between peopleof Saudi and India was a "living bridge" forthe two countries, Modi also welcomed the

Crown Prince's announcement of a potentialinvestment of USD 100 billion in India inareas like energy, refining, petrochemicals,infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturingetc. Briefing reporters on the Saudi CrownPrince's visit and issues discussed during hismeeting with Modi, T S Tirumurti, Secretary(ER) in Ministry of External Affairs said theyalso underlined the importance ofcomprehensive sanctioning of not just terrororganisations, but also terrorists by theUnited Nations, in an apparent reference toNew Delhi's demand for JeM head Massod

Azhar's listing by the global body.The reference to the listing issue assumes

significance as in a joint statement, Pakistanand Saudi Arabia on Monday called foravoiding "politicisation" of the UN listingregime, at a time India is stepping up efforts tobrand the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group'schief Masood Azhar a global terrorist.

In an interview to PTI, Foreign MinisterAdel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir on Wednesday saidany terrorist or anyone who supports andfinances terrorism must be proscribed by theUnited Nations. Source: PTI

16 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019FEATURE

InterFaith Event HonoringHolocaust Day of Remembrance

By Mabel Pais

The Sheen CenterThe Sheen Center for Thought& Culture(www.sheencenter.org),located in NoHo, is a NewYork City arts center thatpresents a vibrant mix oftheater, film, music, poetry, artand talk events featuringartists and thought leadersand special talk eventstackling topical nationalthemes including race, faith,the disabled, and more. A project of the Archdioceseof New York, The SheenCenter serves all New Yorkersby presenting performancesand artists that reflect the true,the good, and the beautiful.Named for the late ArchbishopFulton J. Sheen, bestremembered as aninspirational author, radio hostand two-time Emmy Award-winning television personality,The Sheen Center reflects hismodern-day approach tocontemporary topics.The Sheen Center is a state-of-the-art theater complex thatincludes the 270-seat off-Broadway Loreto Theater,equipped with five-camerahigh-definition TV and live-stream capability and a multi-track recording studio; the 80-seat off-off-Broadway BlackBox Theater; four rehearsalstudios; and an art gallery. Formore information about SheenCenter, visitwww.SheenCenter.org.

"My story offers a uniquelypowerful reminder of howpoisonous hatred can be, and themiraculous strength inbred inthose committed to survive." "On October 3rd 2011 at 8:30 AM,during the High Holy Days of theJewish New Year, I walked intoBlock 24 at the Auschwitzconcentration camp in Oswiecim,Poland."

-Allen Hershkowitz, author

On International Holocaust Day ofRemembrance, January 27, 2019 at 3 p.m.the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street, NYC)

presented "Finding My Father's Auschwitz Files," a special eventcommemorating the day.

On International Holocaust Day of Remembrance, the anniversary ofthe liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, Dr. Allen Hershkowitz andspecial guests including Gina Sharpe, co-founder and former GuidingTeacher of the New York Insight Meditation Center, actress Zelda Adams,Bishop Victor A. Brown, Senior Pastor of Mt. Sinai United ChristianChurch in Staten Island, and Holocaust survivor Ann Jaffe read fromHershkowitz's amazing memoir, "Finding My Father's Auschwitz File."

Fr. Brian McWeeney, Director of the Office of Ecumenical andInterreligious Affairs at the Archdiocese of New York, opened theprogram on behalf of The Sheen Center.

After the reading, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President ofthe New York Board of Rabbis, moderated an interfaith conversationabout the lasting impact of the Holocaust, including current awarenessand prevention of genocide, with Dr. Hershkowitz, Ms. Jaffe, Ms. Sharpe,and Imam Dr. Tahir Kukaj, Vice President of the Albanian IslamicCultural Center in Staten Island.

"On October 3rd 2011 at 8:30 AM, during the High Holy Days of theJewish New Year, I walked into Block 24 at the Auschwitz concentrationcamp in Oswiecim, Poland."

So begins Dr. Allen Hershkowitz's memoir of searching for his father'shistory in the concentration camps at the hands of the Nazis. This multi-racial, multi-denominational, multi-generational event started with areading of the memoir and finished with an interfaith conversation aboutthe Holocaust and its reverberations today.

"My story offers a uniquely powerful reminder of how poisonous hatredcan be, and the miraculous strength inbred in those committed to survive."

"Hate crimes have risen for the past four years and in 2017, the last yearfor which complete data exists, there was a 57 percent jump in anti-Semiticcrimes in the U.S.. Sadly, racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic hate crimesare on the rise worldwide," said Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, author of thememoir 'Finding My Father's Auschwitz File.' "January 27th, InternationalHolocaust Remembrance Day, offers a timely opportunity to gather andreflect on our common humanity, to emphasize that people of good willhear the cries of the world. My book documents the story of my parents'persecution by Nazi murderers, the slaughter of their first three children,

their first spouses, their parents and relatives,simply because they were Jewish."

"International Holocaust Day of Remembrancemarks the anniversary of the liberation of theNazi concentration camps," said William SpencerReilly, Executive Director of The Sheen Center."This is a day when all people of all faiths reflecton one of the darkest chapters in human history,look to the future in our common hope to make theworld a better place, and celebrate the humanspirit of survival and perseverance. Allen'sremarkable and personal story of piecing togetherhis parents' history in the camps is something weare proud to share."

Dr. Hershkowitz learned little from his parentsabout their past. It was not until he uncovered hisfather's Auschwitz file that he recognized how farfrom understanding their history he was. Hisfather's life, as well as the life of his mother, was amiraculous drama. In October 2011, with the

hundredth anniversary of his father's birth approaching -- he was bornDecember 12, 1912 -- Hershkowitz decided it was time to visit Auschwitz. Hetook a detour on his way home from Portugal for the High Holy Days andfinally went to Auschwitz and found that his father's file had miraculouslysurvived the Nazis' burning of inmate records before they abandoned thecamp.

Copies of the book are available at Shakespeare and Company bookstoreat 939 Lexington Avenue, New York or online at www.shakeandco.com.

About Allen Hershkowitz

Dr. Allen Hershkowitz is an environmental scientist, visionary, activist,writer, lecturer and strategic sustainability advisor.

He was the Director of three of the Natural Resources Defense Council(NRDC)'s influential projects: the Sports and Entertainment GreeningProject, the Solid Waste Project and the Paper Industry Project. Throughthe years, he has championed systemic change on critical issues rangingfrom sustainable development and recycling to forestry, paper industryimpacts, mountaintop coal mining, waste incineration, and medicalwastes. Hershkowitz, between 1988 and 2014, for 26 years, served as aSenior Scientist at the NRDC helping it grow into one of the mostinfluential and largest environmental organizations in the world being theforce behind some of the organization's most effective and visibleinitiatives. Dr. Hershkowitz is a leader in the movement to makeenvironmental responsibility understandable and achievable for everyindividual and institution - an accomplishment that earned him the name"The Godfather of Greening" by Yoga + Joyful Living Magazine in 2009.According to Greenwire, he "has long been among the most visibleactivists in the nation."

He is Founding Director of Sport and Sustainability International, aninternational coalition of hundreds of sports teams, leagues and venuescommitted to using the market and cultural influence of the sportsindustry to protect the conditions that make life on Earth possible. Earlier,he co-founded and served as President of the USA-based Green SportsAlliance.

He also co-founded the Broadway Green Alliance and theEnvironmental Paper Network.

(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, Spirituality, the Arts & Entertainment,and Health & Wellness)

Author Allen Hershkowitz, His father Leon'sAuschwitz file

Photo /Courtesy, The Sheen Center

(Left to right): Ann Jaffe, Gina Sharpe, Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, ZeldaAdams, Bishop Victor A. Brown read from the book. On screen

(background) Allen Hershkowitz's parents, Helen and LeonHerszkowicz


(Left to right) Ann Jaffe, Bishop Victor A. Brown, Zelda Adams, ShiraAdler, Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, Gina Sharpe, Imam Dr. Tahir Kukaj, Rev.

Brian E. McWeeney, and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik


17THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 PROFILE

Nature, Creativity and technology - withCreative Consultant Shahar Elroy

By Ashok Vyas

Thinking, feelingand working withone's medium to

creatively expressoneself may be alonely act but it is

enchanting for thewhole world. Shekeenly works forpreserving innersilence and thatgets reflected onher photographs

and graphicdesigns. When you

talk to creativeconsultant ShaharElroy, you realize,for someone, who

is creative at heart,all situations and

circumstances areinvitation to

connect with one'sinner beauty and

joy.

Creatively Life is a flow. Mother naturegives us resources and inspiration tobeautiful this flow. How this

inexhaustible beauty is being acknowledged,respected and shared by modern man? Wequestion the role of technology and blame itfor causing distance among human beings. Weoften hear people blame technology for all thedistractions that are a part of their day to daylife. Is it possible to find harmony? Harmony isattained through becoming aware of the inneruniverse. Artist look at their creativeexpressions as a way of attaining and sharingthis sense of harmony and beauty.

Shahar Elroy, Undergraduate in fashiondesign from Shenkar College of Engineeringand Design in TelAviv, Israel discovered herlove for nature at an early age. She fondlyremembers those days, when she would walkbarefoot. There were all kinds of trees andanimals on her way to school. Little did sheknew that the wordless relationship with cats,dogs and chickens would increase hersensitivity towards nature. She is passionateabout mother nature, loves to make her art asa potent statement for protectingenvironment. Growing up in small village ofIsrael, she loved the opportunity of pluckingfruits directly from the tree and eating themwith a sense of total freedom.

Shahar became aware of the technical toolsavailable to her for creative expression at hercollege, but even within the walls ofclassroom, it was her fascination for nature.She found herself consciously searching fornatural fabrics and indirectly workingtowards sustainable healthy planet in her ownway.

She feels, creativity and love for mothernature evolved simultaneously in her. Thisyoung creative consultant from Israelappreciates the role of formal education inshowing her the way to infuse life into herideas. She looks at technology as partner inher creative expressions.

The prestigious Diesel Award was givento her in recognition of her unique way oftaking up the creative challenge. She waspassionate about coming up with somethingnew, which meant lot of thinking,experiments and sleepless nights for nearly amonth. Diesel Award meant an invitation toparticipate in Milan Fashion Week, visitheadquarter of the company and she also gother job offer.

The presence of vibrant fashion designersaround her, passion to offer something newlead her to form her own company. Thisopened another path for creatively payingattention to branding, logo making,strategically thinking about reaching out topotential customers.

Shahar has developed a meditative way ofapproaching every task that results into subtleand graceful designs. Photography became herpassion and a way to escape from the noise ofwork.

She also found herself taking interest,learning and applying the skillset of graphicdesigning to promote her own company.

She enjoyed the process of branding andmarketing too, which meant, not saying no theopportunity of helping others in developingtheir brands and marketing strategies.

It is interesting to note, in this digital era,Shahar prefers to use camera with film,though it is becoming more and more difficultto get the films and there are few places left fordeveloping the film. Why? She feels scarcityleads to optimum thinking. So, where you haveonly 36 snaps that can be taken through yourfilm, you would pay more attention to the

composition, colors, frame andgenerally be more respectful to the objective ofcapturing a moment.

There could be many arguments againstthis approach but Shahar's journey as acreative consultant is rooted in her beingrespectful to nature, medium of herexpression and her inner core values. Shemakes a clear distinction between creatingsomething for her own inner calling andcreating brand, logo, marketing strategy for areal estate company. In the later, she prefers tobe a very good listener in the first phase, hercreative output works in alignment with the

aspiration of the client.This requires staying focused and doing

away with distractions. Shahar has developedher routine for sustaining her stay in thecreative zone, which includes yoga,meditation, reading and long walks. She alsoconsiders drawing and photography as hermode of connecting with the tranquility.These routines help her stay in harmony, italso results into her ability to think innovativeideas and come up with new concepts.

She has visited several countries, but Indiawas so fascinating that she extended her stayin India from two weeks to six weeks. Sheloved the fact that so many languages arespoken, so many colors are there, and differentways of practicing religion was alsofascinating for her, not surprising, she also fellin love with Indian food.

She loved the experience of riding bicycle inJaisalmer, Rajasthan. She witnessedhardships of people's life style and wondered,what is it that keeps them happy and smilingin the face of adversities.

Thinking, feeling and working with one'smedium to creatively express oneself may be a

lonely act but it is enchanting for the wholeworld. She keenly works for preserving innersilence and that gets reflected on herphotographs and graphic designs. When youtalk to creative consultant Shahar Elroy, yourealize, for someone, who is creative at heart,all situations and circumstances are invitationto connect with one's inner beauty and joy.

(Poet, author and founder of "Insight forCreativity LLC' , Ashok Vyas has connected

with Indian American Community for over twodecades as anchor and program director with

ITVGold) (An Insight feature)

Shahar Elroy enjoys the Indian Thali

Shahar Elroy's clicks in India

I DON’T WANT TO BESINGLE NOW: KATRINA

KIARA ADVANIRECEIVES THE‘EMERGING STAR OFTHE YEAR’ AWARD

Acknowledging her achievements of thepast year, Bollywood actress KiaraAdvani was presented ‘The Emerging

Star Of The Year Award’ at the AsiavisionAwards 2018 as a token of love andappreciation.

Kiara Advani had a good run at the boxoffice last year 2018 and had even tastedsuccess with two hits down south.

The gala night saw A-list celebrities fromSouth Cinema and Bollywood industry underone roof. Right from Ranveer Singh toAyushmann Khurrana to other celebritiesfrom down south, the evening was a starryaffair.

Kiara, who is hopping between shoots fortwo of her upcoming films, also made it for theaward. She was thrilled to receive the title of‘Emerging Star Of The Year’, and said, “I amextremely humbled to be receiving theprestigious title. It's overwhelming when yourhard work is loved and acknowledged and thisonly motivated me to work harder and promiseto live up to the honour.”

Kiara is currently shooting for ‘Good News’alongside Diljit Dosanjh, Akshay Kumar andKareena Kapoor Khan and for ‘Kabir Singh’opposite Shahid Kapoor, where Kiara will beseen in a de-glam avatar.

Ever since she parted ways withRanbir Kapoor in 2016, KatrinaKaif has been "as single as one

can possibly be". However, she is hopingto change that this year and find her MrRight.

In a recent interview, Katrina wasasked about the things that she wantedthis year. "A boyfriend. I don't want to besingle now," was one of the things shewished for.

Katrina revealed that she has neverreally dated anyone and has only had"heavy, intense, all-or-nothingrelationships". It was during aconversation with a friend that sherealised that she has never reallyexperienced going on casual dates. "Idon't know if I will be able to do that,"she said.

While Katrina is not opposed to theidea of dating, she does not think thatshe is meant for it. "If you're not thatperson, who is like that, then it's tough,right?" she said.

According to the actress, she was "assingle as one can possibly be". "There isno more single than this right now," shesaid.

Katrina was also asked what wasimportant for her in a relationship. "Themost important thing which I believenow is you have to maintain your senseof individuality and still have yoursense of who you are, apart from yourpartner," she said.

On the work front, Katrina iscurrently shooting for Ali Abbas Zafar'sBharat, in which she is paired oppositeSalman Khan. The period drama alsofeatures Disha Patani, Nora Fatehi,Tabu and Sunil Grover in key roles.

Bharat is an official remake of theKorean film, Ode To My Father, anddepicts the history of India through thelife of an ordinary man. It is scheduledto open in theatres on Eid this year.

18 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 BOLLYWOOD

Sanjay Kapoor’s daughter Shanayato make her Bollywood debut in

cousin Janhvi Kapoor’s next

As more and more star kids maketheir foray into Bollywood, next inline is actor Sanjay Kapoor’s

daughter Shanaya Kapoor. It was revealedthat the 19-year-old would be making herdebut as an assistant director and hasalready flown to Lucknow to begin work ona film. According to a report in MumbaiMirror, Shanaya is assisting on the film –the Gunjan Saxena biopic starring hercousin Janhvi Kapoor. She will be learningthe ropes of filmmaking before her bigacting debut in 2020.

A source said in the report, “The teamwill be shooting in Lucknow for the nexttwo weeks before moving to other locations.While Shanaya has made up her mind aboutbeing an actress, her parents wanted her toexperience life behind the scenes first. Shehad been making regular rounds of KaranJohar’s Andheri office to work on theproject.”The film is being directed by

debutant Sharan Sharma, who assistedKaran Johar on 2016 film Ae Dil HaiMushkil. Janhvi will be playing Gunjan,one of the first Indian female helicopterpilots and the first woman to be honouredwith the Shaurya Chakra, who hadevacuated soldiers injured in the 1999Kargil War.

A few days ago, Sanjay had broken thenews on the social media by sharing athrowback picture of the father-daughterposing together, with the caption, “All thebest Shanaya #newbeginnings#newjourney.”

Her mother Maheep Kapoor had alsoshared a picture and a message that read,“My baby’s gone to Lucknow for 2 weeks#MissYouAlready #AssistantDirectorsLife#LoveYou @shanayakapoor02#ProudMama.” Neerja actor Sonam Kapoorwas the first among the Kapoor cousins tomake her acting debut. Source: HT

KATY PERRY’S ENGAGEMENT RINGFROM ORLANDO BLOOM HAS A

LINK TO PRINCESS DIANA

DARREN CRISS MARRIESGIRLFRIEND MIA SWIER

Darren Criss, the Emmy and the GoldenGlobe-winning star of 'American CrimeStory: The Assassination of Gianni

Versace', has tied the knot with his longtimegirlfriend Mia Swier. The 32-year-old star andSwier got married on Saturday at the Ace Hotelin New Orleans.

The wedding was attended by many of Criss'fellow 'Glee' alums, including Lea Michele, JohnStamos, Chord Overstreet and Harry Shum Jr.

The actor had announced his engagement toSwier in January 2018.

"Mia and I have had seven and a half years offun, wacky, wonderful, CRAZY adventurestogether. And I'm happy to announce that we'rekicking those adventures up a notch.

"We're going for it. To boldly go where neitherof us have gone before. Engage," he had postedon Instagram.

Besides his successful Hollywood career,Criss co-owns a Hollywood piano bar, calledTram Stamp Granny's, with Swier.

Richard Gere, 69, welcomes baby boy

with 35-year-old wifeAlejandra Silva

Richard Gere, 69, and his wifeAlejandra Silva, 35, have welcomedtheir first bundle of joy, a baby boy. A

representative for the actor confirmed thehappy news to the media. The boy, whosename has not been revealed yet, was bornlast week in New York.

Although Gere and Silva both havechildren from their previous marriages,this is their first child together. While Gerehas an 19-year-old son, Homer, with ex-wifeCasey Lowell, Silva has a six-year-old son,Albert, from her previous marriage toGovind Friedland.

Gere and Silva got married in April last

year after being in a relationship for overthree years. Although they are familyfriends and have known each other for overa decade, they reconnected through acommon friend in 2014 and instantly hit itoff.

The couple announced the news of Silva'spregnancy with an Instagram post inSeptember, in which the Dalai Lama wasseen blessing her baby bump. "A veryspecial moment just a few minutes ago...Getting blessings for our precious to come,"she captioned the now-deleted post. "Wecouldn't announce it before telling HH DalaiLama," she added.

19THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 HOLLYWOOD

Singer-actor Mandy Moore has opened upabout her former marriage to musicianRyan Adams calling it 'an entirely

unhealthy dynamic'. During an appearance onthe episode of Marc Maron show, Moore saidshe was 'sad and lonely'.

"I was living my life for him. It (was) anentirely unhealthy dynamic. I had no sense ofself. I felt like I was drowning. It was sountenable and unsustainable and it was solonely. I was so sad," Moore, 34, said.

The interview comes in light of the recentarticle in which Adams was accused of sexualmisconduct and emotional abuse by multiple

women, including Moore.She added that pressure from Adams led to

her working less."I got married in 2009, and that's when

things really quieted down for me. I would dolittle jobs. It's not like I completely stoppedworking. I would do things here or there, butit would become abundantly clear while I wasworking, things would fall completely apart athome.

"I couldn't do my job because there was aconstant stream of trying to pay attention tothis person who needed me and wouldn't letme do anything else." Source: PTI

MANDY MOORE ON HER MARRIAGE TORYAN ADAMS: I WAS LONELY WITH HIM

It's only right that Katy Perry,a woman who wore a meme-able dress to the Grammys

and rode into her Super Bowlhalftime performance on a giantlion, receive an engagement ringthat matches her fun andunexpected style. Orlando Bloom,her new fiancé, nailed thechallenge.

The Lord of the Rings alumproposed to the pop star onValentine's Day with a unique(and sizable) flower-shaped ring,featuring a deep pink centerstone embraced by a ring of eightsmaller diamonds. Perry andBloom both flaunted the rock onInstagram this morning.

Because the couple's selfie isthe only public picture we have ofthe ring, it's hard to distinguishits exact features. There'sspeculation as to whether therosy middle gem is a ruby, pinkdiamond, or pink sapphire, andtherefore various experts areprojecting different estimates forits possible value. Kathryn

Money of Brilliant Earth tellsTown & Country the ring couldcost between $25,000 and $50,000 ifthe middle stone is a ruby, whileAndrew Brown, president of WPDiamonds, tells E! News the ringcould be worth $5 million.

The exact price tag remainsunconfirmed, but we do know thering's structure has a royalconnection. Perry's piece ofjewelry is known as a clusterring, according to StephenFeuerman of NYC jewelerStephen Russell, whichspecializes in period jewelry.

The design came into stylearound 1900, but resurged inpopularity after Prince Charlesproposed to Princess Diana witha sapphire cluster ring withsurrounding diamonds in 1981.

"Lady Di really brought themback into fashion when Charlesgave her one," Feuerman tellsBAZAAR.com. (Prince Williamlater used the same ring topropose to Kate Middleton in2010.)

20 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019ADVERTISEMENT


Indian Origin GasStation Clerk shot

dead in Florida

TAMPA (TIP): Kotha Goverdhan Reddy,a native from Telangana was allegedlyshot dead by unidentified gunmen inFlorida on Feb 19. He worked as a clerk ata gas station located near the Pensacolaarea of the city. He came to Florida sixyears ago. News agency ANI reported thatthe victim is survived by his wife and twoteenager daughters who stay in villageRaheem Khan Pet in Telangana's YadadriBhongir district.

"We received information that onTuesday late night, two persons bargedinto the gas station store where Goverdhanwas alone and opened fire on him,"Madhusudan Reddy, the brother of thevictim, told ANI. "The local authorities aresuspecting that the two unidentified menwho shot Goverdhan would be robbers.Exactly we don't know the reason why theassailants had killed my brother... We arewaiting for details," he was further quotedby ANI.

The Pensacola police said that based onCCTV footage, they identified at leastthree people who were involved in thecrime and arrested them.

South Korea retractsguidelines on look-

alike K-pop starsSEOUL (TIP): Government guidelines

aimed at promoting more diversity inSouth Korea's K-pop world have beenwithdrawn after critics said theyamounted to state censorship of abooming industry.

The guidelines issued last weekcomplained that K-pop stars looked tooalike, saying "the problem of ... uniformityamong singers is serious", and noting mostidols were thin and wore identical make-up and skimpy outfits.

South Korea's K-pop world is a multi-billion-dollar business, but so too is theplastic surgery industry in the image-obsessed country, and tens of thousands ofpeople go under the knife every year inpursuit of the perfect look.

The guidelines from the ministry ofgender equality drew criticism online --and also from a lawmaker who said it wasreminiscent of censorship during thecountry's period of authoritariangovernment which ended in 1980s.

Demanding the state apologises,Lawmaker Ha Tae-keung said theguidelines were a "totalitarian andunconstitutional idea".

In a survey of teenagers last year, nearly70 per cent said the idea of trying tobecome a celebrity in the entertainmentindustry had crossed their mind.

The ministry alluded to the impact TVcelebrities have on young people in theguidelines. "Overt concerns for how oneshould look on TV has a negative impactnot only on adults, but also on teenagersand children," it said. AFP

22 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019WORLD

Kotha Goverdhan Reddy, a native fromTelangana was allegedly shot dead by

unidentified gunmen in Florida

China’s desire for close Iran ties unchanged, Xi says ahead

of Saudi Prince’s visit

Former New Zealand PM denieswriting article in China’s official paper

BEIJING (TIP): China’s desire to developclose ties with Iran will remain unchanged,regardless of the international situation,President Xi Jinping told the Speaker of Iran’sParliament, ahead of Thursday’s visit toBeijing by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince.

China has traditionally played little role inMiddle East conflicts or diplomacy, despiterelying on the region for oil, with Iran itsfourth largest supplier last year, but has beentrying to raise its profile, especially in theArab world.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman visited Beijingin 2017, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammedbin Salman arrives on Thursday for a two-dayvisit.

However, China has had to walk a fine line,as it also has close ties with Saudi Arabia’sregional foe, Iran.

Meeting Iranian Parliament Speaker AliLarijani on Wednesday, Xi said the twocountries had a long friendship and sharedlong-tested mutual trust, according to aChinese foreign ministry statement issued onThursday.

“No matter how the international andregional situation changes, China’s resolve todevelop a comprehensive strategicpartnership with Iran will remainunchanged,” it paraphrased Xi as saying.

China and Iran should further deepenstrategic mutual trust and continue to supporteach other on core interests and major

concerns, Xi added.China advocates cooperation among

international and regional parties to swiftlyput the Middle East on the road of stabilityand development, he said.

“We support Iran in playing a constructiverole in maintaining regional peace andstability and are willing to closelycommunicate and coordinate on regionalissues,” Xi added.

In Beijing, Larijani has been accompaniedby Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and ForeignMinister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who met hisChinese counterpart on Tuesday.

Washington’s major European alliesopposed a decision last year by U.S. PresidentDonald Trump to abandon the Iran nucleardeal that included China and Russia, and liftedinternational sanctions on Iran, in return forcurbs on its nuclear programme. Reuters

WELLINGTON (TIP): New Zealand’sformer prime minister has denied writingan article attributed to her by the officialnewspaper of China’s ruling communistparty that praised the Asian giant’seconomic development at a time ofstrained ties.

The first-person opinion piece,headlined “We need to learn to listen toChina”, was published under JennyShipley’s name on the website of thePeople’s Daily on Monday. It had becomeits top-read English-language story byThursday.

“It is important for the foreign ministerand prime minister and others tounderstand that I would never think ofgetting into a public situation like this, atsuch an important time for New Zealand’srelationship,” Shipley told the NewZealand Herald newspaper. She said shehad not been aware of the piece.

Shipley, who is the chairwoman of theNew Zealand subsidiary of ChinaConstruction Bank, did not respond toReuters’ request for comment onThursday.

The People’s Daily, which published aChinese version in the newspaper’s mainedition on Jan. 23, said it was looking intothe matter and declined furtherimmediate comment.

The item drew a backlash from ForeignMinister Winston Peters, who told RadioNew Zealand on Wednesday its timing was“very unwise”.

An intelligence agency decision inNovember that rejected participation byChinese technology giant Huawei in NewZealand’s 5G network has left politiciansand foreign policy analysts worried aboutrelations with one of New Zealand’s keytrading partners.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s firstvisit to Beijing has faced schedulingissues and China last week postponed theNew Zealand launch of a major tourismcampaign. Shipley said she had beeninterviewed by a Chinese newspaper in

December for a feature article that hadalready been published, the New ZealandHerald said. An article with comments ontopics similar to those in Monday’s pieceran last month on the website of theChina Daily, a separate state-runnewspaper, but was couched in the thirdperson and put Shipley’s comments inquotation marks.

Shipley was New Zealand’s first femaleprime minister and led the country from1997 to 1999 as head of the centre-rightNational Party. Reuters

23THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 WORLD

‘Concrete measures’ onsex abuse must: PopeVATICAN CIT (TIP): Pope Francis

opened on Thursday a landmark summitat the Vatican on fighting child sex abuse,saying that the world expected “concretemeasures” on tackling paedophilia in theCatholic Church.

The pontiff will dedicate the next threeand a half days to discussing the Church’sresponse to child abuse by members of theclergy with bishops from around theworld. “The Holy people of God arewatching and waiting not for simple andobvious condemnations, but concrete andefficient measures,” he said as the summitopened, the first of its kind.

The pope is aiming to tackle thecontinuing scandal, which again hit theChurch in 2018 in countries across theglobe, including Chile, Germany and theUnited States. —AFP

Mongolia shuts KFCafter dozenshospitalised

ULAANBAATAR (TIP): Mongolianauthorities have temporarily closed allKFC restaurants in the country after morethan 200 customers suffered foodpoisoning symptoms and dozens werehospitalised.

The first cases emerged earlier thismonth, with 16 persons showingsymptoms of food poisoning, includingdiarrhoea, vomiting and high fever aftereating at the fried chicken franchise.Ulaanbaatar’s Metropolitan ProfessionalInspection Department said 247 similarcases had been reported and 42 people hadbeen hospitalised. AFP

Huawei’s founder saysworld can’t live

without it BEIJING (TIP): The founder of

Chinese telecom giant Huawei has hit backat the US efforts to blacklist the company,saying defiantly that the world cannot dowithout Huawei and its “more advanced”technology. “There’s no way the US cancrush us,” Ren Zhengfei said in aninterview with the BBC.

“The world cannot leave us because weare more advanced.” Ren (74), alsodenounced as “politically motivated” theDecember arrest of his daughter, HuaweiChief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou,who is accused of violating US sanctionsagainst Iran. AFP

‘Suicide bomber who killed27 members of Iran’s

Guards was Pakistani’GENEVA (TIP): The man who carried

out a suicide bombing which killed 27members of Iran’s elite RevolutionaryGuards near the border with Pakistan lastweek was Pakistani, a seniorRevolutionary Guards commander said onTuesday, according to the Tasnim newsagency.

One other member of the militant cellthat planned the attack was also aPakistani citizen, the head of the Guards’ground forces, Brigadier GeneralMohammad Pakpour said.Iran hasrepeatedly blamed Pakistan for shelteringmilitants connected with attacks in theborder area, although Tuesday’s remarksappear to be the first time Tehran has saidPakistani citizens were directly involvedin the attack. (Reuters)

UK strips teen of citizenship, Begumhad joined IS in Syria

Currently in a refugee camp, she describes move as ‘unjust’LONDON (TIP) Britain stripped a teenager

who travelled to join Islamic State of hercitizenship on security grounds, triggering arow over the ramifications of leaving a 19-year-old mother with a jihadist fighter’s childto fend for herself in a war zone.

The fate of Shamima Begum, who wasfound in a detention camp in Syria last week,has illustrated the ethical, legal and securityconundrum that governments face whendealing with the families of militants whoswore to destroy the West.

With Islamic State depleted and Kurdish-ledmilitia poised to seize the group’s last holdoutin eastern Syria, Western capitals are tryingto work out what to do with battle-hardenedforeign jihadist fighters, and their wives andchildren.

Begum, who gave birth to a son at theweekend, prompted a public backlash inBritain by appearing unrepentant aboutseeing severed heads and even claiming the2017 Manchester suicide attack was justified.

Begum, who is currently in a Syrianrefugee camp, described the move as “unjust”.“I am not that shocked but I am a bit shocked.It’s a bit upsetting and frustrating. I feel likeit’s a bit unjust on me and my son,” she told‘ITV News’ channel from the camp.

Begum claimed that she was being treatedharshly because “I was on the news four yearsago”, saying that she heard of “other peoplebeing sent back to Britain”. “I don’t knowwhy my case is any different,” she added.

She had pleaded to be repatriated back toher family in London and said that she wasnot a threat. But ITV News published aFebruary 19 letter from the interior ministryto her mother that said Home Secretary Sajid

Javid had taken the decision to depriveBegum of her British citizenship.

The letter asked Begum’s mother to informher daughter of the decision and set out theappeal process. When asked about thedecision, a spokesman said Javid’s prioritywas “the safety and security of Britain andthe people who live here”.

Begum was one of three outwardly

studious schoolgirls who slipped away fromtheir lives in London’s Bethnal Green area inFebruary 2015 to fly to Turkey and then overthe border into the cauldron of the Syriancivil war. — Agencies

Labour questions govt move The government’s move to strip Begum ofher citizenship has been attacked by theOpposition Labour Party, with shadowhome secretary Diane Abbott calling it afailure of security obligations and breachof human rights law

“If the government is proposing to makeShamima Begum stateless it is not just abreach of international human rights lawbut is a failure to meet our securityobligations to the internationalcommunity,” Diane Abbott, Labourspokeswoman on home issues

Under the 1981 British Nationality Act, theUK home secretary has the power todeprive a person of their citizenship ifsatisfied that it would be “conducive tothe public good” and they would notbecome stateless as a result

Meanwhile, an e-petition started lastweek since Begum's case hit the headlineshas attracted nearly 45,000 signaturescalling for preventing her return to the UK

Putin warns new missiles couldtarget ‘decision-making centres’

MOSCOW (TIP): President Vladimir Putinon Wednesday said Russia would have todeploy missiles targeting “decision-makingcentres” if Washington sends missiles toEurope.

The announcement comes after the US saidit would withdraw from a key Cold War-eraarms treaty over what it said were Russianviolations, prompting a mirror move fromMoscow.

“Russia does not intend to be the first todeploy such missiles in Europe,” Putin saidduring an annual state of the nation address.

“If (the US) develops and deploys them inEurope... this will dramatically exacerbate theinternational security situation, creatingserious threats to Russia,” he said.

“I’m saying this clearly and openly, Russiawill be forced to deploy weapons that can beused... against the decision-making centresthat are behind the missiles systems whichthreaten us.”

He earlier accused Washington of using“far-fetched accusations” to withdraw fromthe Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF)agreement.

Putin said he understood concerns aboutthe bilateral deal, namely that other countriescould continue to develop weapons that arebanned for the US and Russia.

“The current state of affairs of courseraises questions,” he told the audience of

lawmakers and celebrities.“Our American partners should have been

honest... and not use far-fetched accusationsagainst Russia to justify their unilateralwithdrawal from the treaty,” he added.

The United States has repeatedly accusedRussia of violating the INF by developingbanned weapons and this month PresidentDonald Trump said Washington was startinga process to withdraw from the treaty.

In a tit-for-tat move, Putin said Moscow was

also leaving the treaty and beginning work onnew types of weapons that would breach theagreement.

Many analysts say abandoning the treatyeffectively signalled the start of a new armsrace.

The INF deal was signed in 1987 by then USPresident Ronald Reagan and Soviet leaderMikhail Gorbachev and resolved a crisis overSoviet nuclear-tipped ballistic missilestargeting Western capitals. — AFP

Love that lasts is the result ofpartners embedding themselves ineach other’s brains in a positive

way. Memory circuits and pleasure getall wound up together so that the otherperson becomes integral to the verystructure of your brain, and you becomepart of the structure of theirs. Here'smore on what happens to your brainwhen you're in love.

Take your partner's breath awayDo something amazingly thoughtful

and out of the ordinary and try toincorporate an element of surprise to it:a loving note tucked into a pocket. Aspecial dinner on an otherwise ordinarynight. A playlist made up with hisfavorite songs. These thoughtful acts willembed you in your partner's memory.

Do something special Call them every day just to touch base

for a few minutes. Make their favoritemeal once a week. Once they begin toexpect these things, you will always beclose to their awareness.

Engage in lots of eye contactNew couples seem to do this naturally,

but don’t drop this strong bondingbehavior just because the relationshiphas progressed. This is one way to keepthe "romance alive", as they say, and isespecially powerful when making love.

Teach your partner what you likeLikewise, making you happy will

make your partner feel good. Andresearch shows that the sexual pleasureof one partner increases the pleasure ofthe other partner.

Do something edgyIf you get your partner’s heart rate up,

they may associate the feeling ofexcitement with you and may developmore powerful feelings for you. Going ona roller-coaster ride, taking a balloontrip, shooting the rapids—anything witha touch of danger to it—can make themfall more deeply in love with you.

Do something great for someoneyour partner loves

If you show kindness and love forsomeone they love, you'll earn majorpoints. When you enter a relationship,you also enter a relationship with alltheir family and friends. Show them thatthe people who are important to themare important to you.

Summarize and immortalize loving moments

Don’t be afraid to give voice to your

love. Tell them how you feel. Write aloving note or poem. Lovers have beendoing this from the beginning of timebecause it works.

Boost the love chemicalsThere are many brain chemicals that

go into the feeling of love andattachment. Oxytocin is known as thebonding, trust, and cuddle hormone.Oxytocin is enhanced by watchingromantic movies together, holdinghands, cuddling, and long, loving eyecontact. (And kissing, which has abunch of other health benefits!)Women usually have more oxytocinthan men, but according to one study, aman’s level of oxytocin goes up 500percent after making love. Being toobusy to make love pushes couplesapart.

WAYS TO MAKE ANYRELATIONSHIP LAST

Bengali FishFingers

Apopular and easy to make Bengali styleappetizer/snack. These fish fingers are well suitedfor any occasion, party or can also be served as an

evening snack.

IngredientsWhite Fish Fillets - 300 gms, skinless, boneless, Eggs - 2,

Fennel Seeds - 1 tsp, Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp, Mustard Seeds - 1tsp, Nigella Seeds - 1 tsp, Fenugreek Seeds (Methi) - 1/2 tsp,Maida - 1 1/2 tblsp, Besan Flour - 1/2 tblsp, Red ChilliPowder - 1 tsp, Garlic - 3 cloves, crushed, Ginger - 1 inchpiece, grated, Oil as required, Breadcrumbs - 1 to 2 cups,Coriander Leaves - handful, chopped, Salt as per taste

MethodCombine the cumin seeds, fennel seeds, mustard seeds,nigella seeds and methi in a mixer jar. Grind themtogether and transfer to a bowl.Add the maida, besan,red chilli powder, garlic, coriander leaves, ginger andenough salt. Beat the eggs in a bowl and add to theflour. Gently whisk until combined.Chop the fish filletsinto small bite-sized pieces or strips. Heat oil in a deepfrying pan. Dip the fish fillets into the batter andremove. Allow any excess to drip off and dredge it inthe breadcrumbs, coating it fully. Gently slide theminto the hot oil and fry until cooked through or crispand golden brown.

Cardamom butter chickenIngredients

2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped, thumb-sized piece ginger,2 green chillies, chopped (leave seeds in if you like it hot),small bunch coriander, leaves picked, stalks roughly chopped,3 tbsp ghee, 2 onions, 2 tsp each turmeric, garam masala andground cumin, 1 tsp ground fenugreek, 4 chicken breasts, cutinto 2½ cm cubes, 4 cloves, 12 cardamom pods, seedsremoved, 1 cinnamon stick, 400g can tomato, 150ml potyogurt, 50ml double cream.

Method Place the garlic, ginger, chillies and coriander stalks in the

small bowl of a food processor with a good pinch of salt, andblend to a fine paste – or grind to a paste using a pestle andmortar. Heat 2 tbsp of the ghee or oil in a large pan, add theonions and cook slowly for 15-20 mins until golden andcaramelised. Tip in the garlic-ginger paste, turn up the heatand cook for a further 5 mins. Add the ground spices and cookfor 2 mins more until fragrant. Scoop the spicy onion mixtureout of the pan into a bowl.

Add the remaining ghee or oil to the pan and cook thechicken over a medium-high heat until browned all over. Tipinto a bowl, cover and set aside. Return the onion mixture tothe pan along with the whole spices, tomatoes and a can fullof water (400ml). Bring to the boil, then cover and simmergently for 40 mins. Return the chicken to the pan and cook,uncovered, for a further 10 mins until the sauce hasthickened and the chicken is cooked through. Stir in theyogurt and cream, season well and scatter with corianderleaves. Serve with chapatis and rice.

FOOD CORNER

24 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 WOMEN

Castor oil pack for gentle detox,pain and inflammation

Abottle of organic castor oil, non-organic oils maycontain residues of pesticides and chemicals used tocultivate it. The toxins will be absorbed from the oil to

the body.Get your hot water bottle or heating pad/ water bottle ready.Take a piece of flannel and place it in the bowl or glass

container and pour enough castor oil over it to soak it (makesure it’s saturated, but it doesn’t need to be dripping in oil).

Place an old towel on a flat surface (either a couch, bed or thefloor). For added protection, you can put down a garbage bagunderneath the towel so that your bed or couch won’t getstained from any oil that may escape from the plastic cover.

Place the saturated flannel over the affected area of yourbody and cover the pack with plastic.

Place the heating pad or hot water bottle over the pack,cover with a towel and let it sit on the treated area such as theliver for at least 30-60 minutes. During this time you can rest,read a book, listen to music, meditate, or do your healingaffirmations. If treating the liver, you can lie on the right sideover the pack.

When the time is up, remove the pack and clean the areawith water and a bit of baking soda to get the stickiness off.

You can keep the pack for reuse for a few months), stored ina plastic bag in a cool place. Just add another 2-3 tablespoons ofcastor oil for the next session.

It is recommended to have having 2-3 castor oil packs perweek for liver detox over 2-3 weeks but if you have time for

more (to do them daily), that would greatly enhance healingand repair. To boost the liver detox have 1 tablespoon of oliveoil just before you apply the pack.

If you’d like to watch how to make and apply castor pack,here is a great YouTube video that shows how to do it.

Contraindications and cautionsCastor oil packs should not be used over open wounds or

ulcers, during pregnancy or heavy menstrual bleeding, or overareas of malignancy, numbness or weakness.

The above material is for informational and educationalpurposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for medicaladvice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with yourdoctor to learn if castor oil packs are appropriate for you.

DR. SATISH AND GITANJLI ANAND DDRR.. SSAATTIISSHH AANNAANNDD

FFoorrmmeerr CChhaaiirrmmaann,, BBooaarrdd ooffTTrruusstteeeess,, AAAAPPII NNaattiioonnaall

EE--MMaaiill::ssaannaannddmmdd@@ggmmaaiill..ccoomm

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FFoorrmmeerr PPrreessiiddeenntt,, IInnddiiaaAAssssoocciiaattiioonn ooff LLoonngg IIssllaanndd((IIAALLII))

EE--mmaaiill::ggiittaannjjlliiaannaanndd@@ggmmaaiill..ccoomm

PPAAGGEE SSPPOONNSSOORREEDD BBYY

Antibiotics cancause seizures,

deliriumCommon antibiotics may be linked to a serious

disruption in brain function, called delirium, andother brain problems, researchers including one of

Indian-origin have claimed. Delirium causes mentalconfusion that may be accompanied by hallucinations andagitation. Medications are often the cause of delirium, butantibiotics are not necessarily the first medications doctorsmay suspect.

“People who have delirium are more likely to have othercomplications, go into a nursing home instead of going homeafter being in the hospital and are more likely to die thanpeople who do not develop delirium,” said ShamikBhattacharyya, of Harvard Medical School and Brigham andWomen’s Hospital in Boston. “Any efforts we can make tohelp identify the cause of delirium have the potential to begreatly beneficial,” said Bhattacharyya.

For the study, researchers reviewed all available scientificreports and found case reports on 391 patients, over sevendecades, who were given antibiotics and later developeddelirium and other brain problems. A total of 54 differentantibiotics were involved, from 12 different classes ofantibiotics ranging from commonly used antibiotics such assulfonamides and ciprofloxacin to intravenous antibioticssuch as cefepime and penicillin.

About 47% had delusions or hallucinations, 14% hadseizures, 15% had involuntary muscle twitching and 5% hadloss of control of body movements. EEG, a test that detectselectrical activity in the brain, was abnormal in 70% of thecases.

As many as 25% of the people who developed delirium hadkidney failure. The researchers identified three types ofdelirium and other brain problems related to antibiotics.

Type 1 was characterised by seizures and most oftenassociated with penicillin and cephalosporins. Type 2 wasmarked by symptoms of psychosis and associated withprocaine penicillin, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones andmacrolides. Both Type 1 and Type 2 had a quick onset ofsymptoms, within days. Once antibiotics were stopped,symptoms also stopped within days.

Type 3 was characterised by abnormal brain scans andimpaired muscle coordination and other signs of braindysfunction, and was only associated with the drugmetronidazole.

NEW DRUG MAY HELPDELAY AGEING IN

HUMANSResearchers, including one of

Indian origin, have developed apromising drug that significantly

increases muscle size, strength andmetabolic state in aged mice, and mayhelp delay ageing process in humans.

As we age, our bodies increasinglylose the ability to repair and rebuilddegenerating skeletal muscles, saidresearchers from the University ofTexas Medical Branch (UTMB) in theUS.

Beginning around age 35, musclemass, strength and function continuallydecline as we get older, according to thestudy published in BiochemicalPharmacology.

This can dramatically limit the abilityof older adults to live fully active andindependent lives.

"There are no treatments currentlyavailable to delay, arrest or reverse age-related muscle degeneration," saidHarshini Neelakantan, a researchscientist at UTMB.

"These initial results support thedevelopment of an innovative drugtreatment that has the potential to helpthe elderly to become fitter, faster andstronger, thus enabling them to livemore active and independent lives asthey age," Neelakantan said.

"We identified a protein in musclestem cells that appears to be responsiblefor their age-related dysfunction, andthen developed a small molecule drugthat limits the effects of this protein,"said Stanley Watowich, an associateprofessor at UTMB.

"By resetting muscle stem cells to amore youthful state, we were able torejuvenate them so that they could moreeffectively repair muscle tissues,"Watowich said.

In the study, aged mice with a muscleinjury were treated with either the drugor a placebo. Following seven days ofdrug treatment, researchers found thatthe aged mice that received the drug hadmore functional muscle stem cells that

were actively repairing the injuredmuscle.

In the treated group, muscle fibre sizedoubled, and muscle strength increasedby 70 per cent, compared with the

placebo group.In addition, the blood chemistry of the

drug-treated and untreated mice wassimilar, suggesting no adverse drugeffects were occurring. Source: PTI

Green tea helps you fight arthritisHere’s to green tea once again. A compound found in

green tea may help combat joint pain, inflammationand tissue damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis,

researchers, including those from India, have claimed.Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating autoimmune disorder

that mostly affects the small joints of the hands and feet. Itcauses painful swelling that progresses into cartilage damage,bone erosion and joint deformity.

“Existing drugs for rheumatoid arthritis are expensive,immunosuppressive and sometimes unsuitable for long-termuse,” said Salahuddin Ahmed,lead researcher on the projectfrom Washington State University (WSU) in Spokane.

His team evaluated a phytochemical called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is a molecule with anti-inflammatoryproperties found in green tea.

The study suggests that EGCG has high potential as atreatment for rheumatoid arthritis because of how effectivelythe molecule blocks the effects of the disease without blockingother cellular functions. “This study has opened the field ofresearch into using EGCG for targeting TAK1 -- an importantsignalling protein -- through which proinflammatory

cytokines transmit their signals to cause inflammation andtissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis,” said Ahmed.

The researchers, including Anil Singh and Sadiq Umar fromWSU, confirmed their findings in a pre-clinical animal modelof human rheumatoid arthritis, where they observed thatankle swelling in animals given EGCG in a 10-day treatmentplan was markedly reduced.

25THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 HEALTH

WHAT CAUSES AGEING?Ageing is caused by a complex interplay between genes and environment. Bothexternal environment, things like diet, exercise, stress and infection, and theenvironment of each cell, things like oxidative stress and epigenetic changes(changes in marks on DNA) affect how our cells, and therefore how our whole bodyages.

DNA inside our cells is constantly being damaged. This is normally repaired by ‘inhouse’ DNA repair mechanisms. But these mechanisms become less effective aswe age.

Telomeres are the regions at the end of chromosomes. They comprise repeatedDNA sequences that protect the important DNA from being chopped off each timeDNA is copied so the cell can divide and reproduce.

Epigenetic alterations are reversible marks on DNA that do not change the DNAsequence. These include DNA methylation, post-translation histone modification,and chromatin remodelling. Epigenetic marks change as we age.

Proteins in our cells are constantly being recycled. Old damaged proteins areremoved, and new proteins are made to replace them. If this system doesn’t work,there is an accumulation of damaged proteins in cell.

AMERICA’S FIRST SOCIALMEDIA NETWORKS REVEALED

Long before the advent of Facebook, Instagram andSnapchat, early Mississippian Mound cultures inAmerica's southern Appalachian Mountains shared

artistic trends and technologies across regional networksthat functioned in similar ways as modern social media,according to a study.

The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences, suggest that strong socialconnections between common people have always played animportant role in helping societies guard themselves againstthe vagaries of unpredictable leaders and ruling classes.

"Just as we have our own networks of 'friends' and'followers' on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, societiesthat existed in North America between 1,200 and 350 yearsago had their own information sharing networks," said JacobLulewicz, lecturer at the Washington University in the US.

"Our study found a way to reconstruct these indigenouscommunication networks," he said in a statement.

"Our analysis shows how these networks laid thegroundwork for Native American political systems thatbegan developing as far back as 600 AD," Lulewicz said.

The study utilises sophisticated social network analysis tomap social and political connections that helped unite friendsand families in dozens of Native American villages wellbefore the arrival of European explorers.

The findings are based on a messaging archive that ispreserved not in bytes, but in bits of pottery sherdsunearthed over many years in archaeology digs at dozens ofMississippian culture sites scattered across southernAppalachia.

INSTAGRAM TESTING DONATIONSTICKER ON STORIES

Facebook-owned photo-messaging app Instagram isreportedly testing a donation sticker on its Storiesfeature that would offer fundraising and donation tools

for charity or personal reasons."Instagram is working on 'Donation' sticker. It lets users

start fundraisers for their favorite non-profits," tipster JaneManchun Wong tweeted on Monday.

Facebook has been hosting such fundraising tools since2015 and it recently dropped fees associated with thosedonations. "Over the past few years, Instagram has beenexperimenting with what payments would look like on theplatform, but it has so far only released test features to allowselect users to book spa appointments and restaurantreservations," The Verge reported.

Instagram has also been developing a standalone app forshopping indicating the possibility for paymentfunctionalities to also exist on Stories, the media hasreported.

Since Instagram has not offcially addressed the subject asyet, whether or not donation sticker rolls out to the publicstill remains unclear. Source: IANS

26 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 SCIENCE AND TECH

MASSIVE MOUNTAINS DISCOVERED UNDER

EARTH’S CRUSTScientists have discovered massive

mountains in the Earth’s mantle,an advance that may change our

understanding of how the planet wasformed.

Most school children learn that theEarth has three layers: a crust, mantleand core, which is subdivided into aninner and outer core.

While that is not wrong, it does leaveout several other layers that scientistshave identified within the Earth.

In a study published in the journalScience, scientists used data from anenormous earthquake in Bolivia to findmountains and other topography on alayer located 660 kilometers straightdown, which separates the upper andlower mantle.

Lacking a formal name for this layer,the researchers simply call it “the 660-km boundary.”

To peer deep into the Earth, scientistsfrom the Princeton University in the USand the Institute of Geodesy andGeophysics in China, used the mostpowerful waves on the planet, which aregenerated by massive earthquakes.

Data from earthquakes that aremagnitude 7.0 or higher send out

shockwaves in all directions that cantravel through the core to the other sideof the planet—and back again.

For this study, the key data came fromwaves picked up after a magnitude 8.2earthquake—the second-largest deepearthquake ever recorded—that shookBolivia in 1994. Scientists used powerfulcomputers to simulate the complicatedbehaviour of scattering waves in thedeep Earth. The technology depends ona fundamental property of waves: their

ability to bend and bounce.Just as light waves can bounce

(reflect) off a mirror or bend (refract)when passing through a prism,earthquake waves travel straightthrough homogenous rocks but reflect orrefract when they encounter anyboundary or roughness. “We know thatalmost all objects have surfaceroughness and therefore scatter light,”said Wenbo Wu, who was at Princeton atthe time of the study. Source: PTI

YouTube revamps Strike rules,intensifies punitive action

Google-owned video sharingplatform YouTube has revampedits community guidelines and after

almost a decade, updated its Strike rules."Starting February 25, all channels will

receive a one-time warning the first timethey post content that crosses the line,with no penalties to their channel exceptfor the removal of that content," theYouTube team wrote in a blog-post onTuesday.

Under the new guidelines and Strikerules, the first strike would result in a one-week freeze on the ability to upload anynew content to YouTube, including livestreaming. The second strike in any 90-dayperiod will result in a two-week freeze andthe third strike would result in channeltermination.

Moreover, the platform is expanding itspolicy resources aiming to provide moredetails about what behaviour could resultin a strike. "We always want to make it

clear why a strike occurred, hence we'remaking our email and desktopnotifications clearer to provide moredetails on which policy was violated," thepost said.

YouTube is also adding new mobile andin-product notifications to highlightimportant information on strikes.

"Our strikes system is an important wayfor us to help creators and artistsunderstand when they've crossed the lineby uploading content that underminesthat goal. We'll build on this and all theprogress we've made over the last year bycontinuing to consult with you as westrengthen enforcement and update ourpolicies," the post added.

Copyright strikes will continue to beissued when YouTube receives legalrequests from rights holders, will not offera warning strike and follow the company'sseparate penalty system detailed on thecopyright strike page. Source: IANS

WhatsApp’s buglets anyone bypassFace ID, Touch IDlock on iPhones

WhatsApp recently rolled outlong-awaited biometricsupport for iPhone users.

The feature allows users to addanother layer of privacy by addingTouch ID or Face ID lock. WhatsApp’snew feature is now facing a critical bugin less than a few weeks of its roll out.

According to a Reddit threat, thebug allows anyone to bypass theadditional security layer when usingthe WhatsApp share shortcut on anyother application. The bug works whenusers have set authentication kick-intime to after in minute, after 15minutes and after 1 hour.

The feature works perfectly when auser has set the kick-in time to“immediately.” In simpler terms,WhatsApp does not show theadditional security layer when usingthe sharing extension, reportedGadgets360. “While transitioning tothe next screen, you observe that noFaceID or TouchID verification takesplace if an option other than“Immediately” was set previously.Now just exit out to the iOS HomeScreen. (If in some cases, it asks forFaceID or TouchID verification, justcancel it and try clicking on WhatsAppicon in the iOS Share Sheet again).”

CENTRE CLEARS PLAN TOINFUSE RS 48,000 CRORE IN 12 STATE-OWNED BANKS

NEW DELHI (TIP): The finance ministry Wednesdayannounced to pump in Rs 48,239 crore in 12 public sectorbanks in this fiscal to help them maintain regulatory capitalrequirements and finance growth plans.

Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar said that thegovernment will infuse Rs 9,086 crore in Corporation Bankand Rs 6,896 crore in Allahabad Bank -- the two “better-performing” banks currently under the Prompt CorrectiveAction (PCA) supervision of the RBI.

Further, Rs 4,638 crore and Rs 205 crore will be provided toBank of India and Bank of Maharashtra. These banks haverecently come out of the regulatory supervisory frameworkPCA of the RBI.

Kumar further said Punjab National Bank will get Rs 5,908crore, Union Bank of India Rs 4,112 crore, Andhra Bank Rs3,256 crore and Syndicate Bank Rs 1,603 crore.

The government will pump in Rs 12,535 crore in four otherbanks under PCA -- Central Bank of India, United Bank, UCOBank and Indian Overseas Bank. The government inDecember had infused Rs 28,615 crore into seven public sectorbanks (PSBs) through recapitalisation bonds.

GOOGLE TO ACQUIRE DATAMIGRATION COMPANY ‘ALOOMA’

Alphabet Inc’s Google said on Tuesday it will buy datamigration company Alooma, as part of efforts tocatch up with bigger cloud service rivals Amazon.com

Inc and Microsoft Corp.Google trails Amazon and Microsoft in the fast-growing

business of helping companies move to the cloud, withGoogle Cloud holding 8.5 % of worldwide cloud market shareat the end of 2018, according to Canalys.

Amazon Web Services had a 31.7 % share and MicrosoftAzure 16.8 % during the same period, the market researchfirm said.

Google in November hired former Oracle Corp producthead Thomas Kurian as the chief executive officer of thecloud division.

Headquartered in Redwood City, California, Alooma helpsenterprise companies streamline database migration in thecloud with a tool that enables moving data from multiplesources to a single data warehouse.

The company has raised about $15 million from investorsincluding leading venture funds such as Sequoia Capital andLightspeed, according to Crunchbase. Google did not discloseterms of the deal. Source: Reuters

Venezuelan oil finds home inIndia as US shuns shipmentsIndia is feasting on Venezuelan oil,

after the U.S. imposed a de facto banon crude imports from the Latin

American nation.While flows to the U.S. came to a halt,

India became the No. 1 buyer ofVenezuelan crude in the first half ofFebruary, with imports jumping 66percent to 620,000 barrels a day. Indianrefiners Reliance Industries Ltd andNayara Energy Ltd, which is backed byRosneft Oil Co PJSC, are driving theboost.

Still, Venezuelan crude exports haveplunged since U.S. President DonaldTrump ratcheted up sanctions againstthe country’s oil company. Shipments ofoil, the commodity that bankrolls theregime of embattled president NicolasMaduro, fell to 1.12 million barrels dailyin the first half of February, down 9.2percent compared with the same periodin January. No U.S.-bound vessels haveleft Venezuelan ports in that time.

Seven Venezuelan oil-laden vesselsloaded for U.S. refiners Valero EnergyCorp and Chevron Corp have beenstranded since sanctions wereannounced on Jan. 28, as state-owned

Petroleos de Venezuela SA demandsupfront payment for the cargoes.

Meanwhile, shipments to long-timeally China, which is struggling to recover

at least $50 billion it loaned to Venezuelaover the past 12 years, have slowed down.Imports fell by 50 percent to 120,000barrels daily. Source: Bloomberg

27THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 BIZ AND FINANCE

Bitcoin gets a delayed boost afterJPMorgan embraces cryptocurrenciesBitcoin is approaching $4,000 for the first time since the

start of the year, as the largest cryptocurrency gets adelayed boost from the announcement last week that

JPMorgan has developed a prototype digital coin that it plansto use to speed up payments between corporate customers.

“What some people have pointed to is that because they’reusing distributed ledger technology and they’re calling it acryptocurrency, that could have a positive effect on theindustry,” said Mati Greenspan, senior market analyst ateToro in Tel Aviv.

Greenspan credited a jump in Ethereum over the weekendtied to the production of coins for helping to create anoptimistic environment that pushed most crypto prices higher.Ether rose 17 % Monday, and was up 3.6 % to around $146 as of10:30 a.m. in New York. Bitcoin climbed as much as 3.1 %Tuesday to $3,970.

At least one measure followed by technical analysts suggestsBitcoin has more room to run, with the digital token in a solidbuy trend for the first time since mid-December.

In addition, the VERA Convergence Divergence indicatorturned positive today for the first time in over two months,

indicating this rally may take Bitcoin over the heavily resisted$4,000 level. The last time Bitcoin triggered a buy signal itgained $1,100 over the next 10 days. Source: Bloomberg

Seven Venezuelan oil-laden vessels loaded for U.S. refiners have been stranded sincesanctions were announced on Jan. 28, as state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA

demands upfront payment for the cargoes.

Samsung launches folding smartphone, first 5G handset

Samsung on Wednesday unveiled asmartphone that folds open to be atablet, becoming the first major

manufacturer to offer the feature as itstrives to stoke excitement in a slumpingmarket.

The South Korean giant also appearedto get the jump on rivals by announcingthe first smartphone for fifth-generation--or 5G--wireless networks, whilestepping up its efforts in artificialintelligence and wearables.

The Galaxy Fold, unveiled at a SanFrancisco event, serves as a smartphonewith a 4.6-inch display and opens like abook to become a 7.3-inch tablet.

“We are giving you a device that

doesn’t just define a new category, itdefies category,” said Samsung’s JustinDenison at the event. The Fold will beavailable from April 26 starting at USD1,980, the company said. The launchcomes as the smartphone marketexperiences its worst-ever decline withconsumers keeping devices longer andwaiting for new innovations.

Samsung made the announcement onthe home turf of rival Apple, with thetwo giants battling in the premiumsegment of the market.

Denison touted the Fold as “a one-of-a-kind luxury device” and boasted that itlet three apps operate simultaneously onits large screen.

28 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019ASTROLOGY

W E E K LY H O R O S C O P EFEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2019

ARIESFinances are in focus - particularly in buying,selling, brokerage and trade related activities.Also loans, contracts, tenders. But expenses,perhaps taxes will be rather heavy. This mayalso be because of a fair amount ofentertaining. Ganesha says, there's a playfulquality to the year and you'll enjoy out forsome fun. Do some gardening. Have a backyardbarbecue. Take a child on a day trip. Enjoysports, or visit the seashore.

TAURUSYou will be suffused and over-powered withlove also patriotic love for your country. Youwill be going around with your head in theclouds, full of fantasies and sentimentality.Taureans are known to be dreamy to the pointof being reckless. So it's good to keep your feetfirmly on the ground. The moon lights up yourprivate sector and brings secrets to light. Keepprivate what you want to stay that way. Don'tmake promises. Do what you must to promotebetter health

GEMINIYou will be extremely work-oriented. If ingovernment service or in the corporate world,there are great chances of a move up theladder. Health will, however, pose a fewproblems, now and in the coming weeks, too.Ganesha advises you that since Geminis areoften delicate and also neglectful so, CARE ISMUST. Matters of the heart strike a seriousnote. Don't obsess or tread where youshouldn't. Avoid argumentative people on theon the job. If a health concern is on your mind,it's time to make a plan.

CANCERYou will extend yourself in many directions.Primarily work but also wining and dining,entertaining and interfacing with people. Youwill display much charm and sensitivity in allyou say and do. Once again, I must point outthat health care is a must. Cancer is a sign thatdoes not provide much stamina. The fantasypull is strong. Not everyone is facing up toreality. Health and job, issues can bring onsome stress. Opinions can widely differ. Don'texpect perfection. Caution is the way!

LEOMars and Venus and the moon connectbeautifully to endow you with money and forceand the comforts of home. It's an ideal time tobe outgoing and extroverted, pleasing othersas well as yourself. Those connected with artor earning by it will prosper. Worksatisfactions will be couple with good money. Itsounds a good deal, doesn't it? Something thatseems so right brings feelings of self-satisfaction. You're in charge. Sell your ideasand folks will listen. A domestic situation orhome life in general feels very comfortable.

VIRGOYou will have much to do withdependents(even pets and servants),colleagues, projects and the work front ingeneral. This is a definite trend for the month.However, work will be coupled with plenty offun, so you will work and play equallysuccessfully. It's kind of Ganesha, isn't it? Workand business affairs proceed smoothly. Apartner has an idea that doesn't work for you atfirst. Think it over. The year has nice romancepotential. A social evening at home is fine.

LIBRAYou will be in an emotional treadmill. Journeysand contacts are important, along withcollaborations, import-export, higher studiesabroad or negotiations with foreigners. Awedding, engagement, love affairs is also likely.A notable quarter for the multitude ofpossibilities it offers. I forgot to add socialservice and care for others on this list! Acreative touch in your work is noticed. A partyis fun. Some will be just as happy with only onespecial person. Conversation reveals importantideas. A little self-indulgence is okay.

SCORPIOThe moon energizes the human relationshipangle. The trend for engagement/marriagebecomes stronger now. Also, much moreinterfacing with the public, and you could gainmuch from this, if you do it with sincerity andcaring. Ganesha says Keep your nose to thegrindstone and play it safe where businessinterests, career, and your reputation areconcerned.

SAGITTARIUSBuying, selling, trade, brokerage, will gave youmuch gain. Extra attention will be required forthe home/office/shop. Also likely is theacquiring of a vehicle, or comfort and luxurygoods that make for better living. You mayeven visit auctions and flea markets to pick upattractive bargains. You're best off keeping alow profile. Be discreet guard against someonewho wants to blow your cover or ferretout asecret. Restrain that tendency to be blunt andup front.

CAPRICORNSaturn brings the world to your heart. Unionsand separations will occur, and you maybecome a news worthy person yourself. Peoplefrom distant lands will play an important rolein your life. Films and Television may haveopenings for you. You have to cash in on thepossibilities that lie before you once again.Your personal magnetism is amped up, makingit possible to get what you want, as others fallprey to your charm. Watch out for someonewho has his/her own agenda and plays on yourvanity.

AQUARIUSYou will make that extra effort to get fame,recognition, glory. It's going to be hard work(it's never easy, believe me!). But you'll getthere in the end. Ganesha advises you, inmodern American parlance, to step on the gas.With the Moon in Cancer you can further yourposition in the world by taking into accountother people's feelings, Charm and diplomacycount as much now as skill and talent. Takesomeone to lunch.

PISCESIt's a time to be alert and active enough tosnatch the opportunities for advancementthat come your way. Recognition and rewards,both here and abroad, are yours for thetaking, and take them you will, in yourpresent frame of mind. Finances and wealthwill be important. There is a possibility ofgood news and interesting or surprisingevents, which help further your hopes andwishes. Much is learned now throughfriendly, social channels.

Shree Ganeshaya Namah

Bejan Daruwalla is world's most famousastrologertoday. He appears regularly onworld wide TV shows. Bejan who has been aprofessor in English, hasauthored a numberof books on astrology. India'sPrime MinisterNarendra Modi , on March 29, 2012,lunchedone of Bejan's books, '2012- End oftheWorld? Bejan contributes to a number ofjournals andnewspapers in many parts of theworld which includeBerkley Communications(London) Times of India(Delhi, Mumbai,Kolkata, Chennai) and The IndianPanorama (New York and Texas). Bejan'spredictionshave mostly been correct andpeople the world overrely on his predictions.

Bejan Daruwalla is available for astrological

consultations. He can be reached at

[email protected] and on phone

011-91-8141234275www.bejandaruwalla.com

Agni, the god of Fire, is one of the mostprominent of the deities of the Vedas.With the single exception of Indra,

more hymns are addressed to Angi than to anyother deity. To this day, Agni forms a part ofmany rites-of-passage ceremonies for Hindus,including birth, marriage and death.

The Origin & Appearance of AgniIn legend, various accounts are given of the

origin of Agni. By one account, he is said to bea son of Dyaus and Prithivi. Another versionsays he is the son of Brahma, namedAbhimani. By yet another account he isreckoned amongst the children of Kasyapaand Aditi, and hence is one of the Adityas. Inthe later writings, he is described as a son ofAngiras, king of the Pitris (fathers ofmankind), and the authorship of severalhymns is ascribed to him.

In artwork, Agni is represented as a redman, having three legs and seven arms, darkeyes, eyebrows and hair. He rides on a ram,wears a poita (Brahmanical thread), and agarland of fruit. Flames of fire issue from hismouth, and seven streams of glory radiatefrom his body.

It is hard to overestimate the importance ofAgni in Hindu religious practice and belief.

The Many Hues of AgniAgni is an immortal who has taken up his

abode with mortals as their guest. He is thedomestic priest who rises before the dawn; heembodies a purified and intensified form ofthe sacrificial duties assigned to varioushuman functionaries.

Agni is the most divine of the sages and isintimately acquainted with all the forms ofworship. He is the wise director and theprotector of all ceremonies, who enables mento serve the gods in a correct and acceptablemanner.

He is a swift messenger moving betweenheaven and earth, commissioned both by godsand men to maintain their mutualcommunication. He both communicates to theimmortals the hymns and offerings of earthlyworshippers, and also brings the immortalsdown from the skies to the place of sacrifice.He accompanies the gods when they visit theearth and shares in the reverence andadoration they receive. He makes humanofferings tangible; without him, the godsexperience no satisfaction.

The Uniqueness of AgniAgni is the lord, protector, and king of men.

He is the lord of the house, dwelling in everyabode. He is a guest in every home; he despisesno man and he lives in every family. He istherefore considered as a mediator betweengods and men and a witness of their actions.To the present day, Agni is worshiped and hisblessing sought on all solemn occasions,including birth, marriage, and death.

In the old hymns, Agni is said to dwell in thetwo pieces of wood which produce fire whenrubbed together--the living being that springsout of dry, dead wood. As the poet says, as soonas he is born the child begins to consume hisparents. Agni's growth is seen as a marvel,since he is born to a mother who cannotnourish him, but instead receives hisnourishment from offerings of clarifiedbutter poured into this mouth.

The Might of AgniThe highest divine functions are ascribed to

Agni. Although in some accounts he depictedas the son of heaven and earth, in others he issaid to have to have formed heaven and earthand all that flies or walks, stands or moves.Agni formed the sun and adorned the heavens

with stars. Men tremble at his mighty deeds,and his edicts cannot be resisted. Earth,heaven, and all things obey his commands. Allthe gods fear and do homage to Agni. Heknows the secrets of mortals and hears allinvocations addressed to him.

Why do Hindus Worship Agni?The worshippers of Agni will prosper, be

wealthy and live long. Agni will watch with athousand eyes over the man who brings himfood and nourishes him with offerings. Nomortal enemy can gain mastery over theperson who sacrifices to Agni. Agni alsoconfers immortality. In a funeral hymn, Agniis asked to use his heat to warm the unborn(immortal) part of the deceased and to carry itto the world of the righteous.

Agni carries men across calamities, as aship over the sea. He commands all the richesin earth and heaven and therefore is invokedfor riches, food, deliverance and all otherforms of temporal good. He also forgives anysins that may have been committed throughfolly. All gods are said to be included withinAgni; he surrounds them as thecircumference of a wheel does the spokes.

Agni in Hindu Scriptures & Epics

Agni appears in many epic Vedic hymns. In a celebrated hymn of the Rig-Veda, Indra

and the other gods are called upon to destroythe Kravyads (the flesh-eaters), or Rakshas,enemies of the gods. But Agni himself is aKravyad, and as such he takes an entirelydifferent character. In this hymn, Agni existsin a form as hideous as the beings he has beencalled upon to devour. Nevertheless, hesharpens his two iron tusks, puts his enemiesinto his mouth and devours them. He heats theedges of his shafts and sends them into thehearts of the Rakshas.

In the Mahabharata, Agni is exhausted by

devouring too many offerings and wishes torestore his strength by consuming the wholeKhandava forest. Initially, Indra preventsAgni from doing this, once Agni obtains theassistance of Krishna and Arjuna, he bafflesIndra, and accomplished his goal.

According to the Ramayana, in order toassist Vishnu, when Agni is incarnate asRama, he becomes the father of Nila by amonkey mother.

Finally, in Vishnu Purana, Agni marriesSwaha, by whom he has three sons: Pavaka,Pavamana, and Suchi.

The Seven Names of AgniAgni has many names: Vahni (who receives

the hom, or burnt sacrifice); Vitihotra, (whosanctifies the worshipper); Dhananjaya (whoconquers riches); Jivalana (who burns);Dhumketu (whose sign is smoke);Chhagaratha (who rides on a ram); Saptajihva(who has seven tongues).

AGNI: THE HINDU FIRE GOD

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29THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 SPIRITUALITY

30 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019MISCELLANY

Me and My God: Guru Nanak EnlightenedMe on the Walls of Separation

By Harbans Lal, Ph.D. D.Litt. (Hons).

To date, we areamong the oceansof knowledge that

religion andscience have

amassed in frontof us. It is becauseof that expansionin the knowledgethat we also seemto be at the verge

of really seeingGod. It is in the

vortex of thatknowledge by

which Icomprehend Nanaktelling me that thereality of creation

is the home inwhich God lives,manifested, and

revealed.

Five hundred fiftyyears ago, in 1469,Guru Nanakappeared on thisearth. With him, hebrought the DivineWisdom to shine onthis earth. Henamed it "Gurmat."Whereas Gurmatshowed us, God, italso pointed out twowalls or prevailingdeceptions thatkeep us separatedfrom God. Thesewalls of separationare harder thansteel to break.

It was during a study circle at theGurdwara of the Medical CollegeAmritsar in 1951 or so that Dr. Harbhajan

Singh asked this question, "Will the predictedexpansion of knowledge in science hurt orhelp the spread of Sikhism worldwide?"Putting it another way, will scientists beattracted to Sikhi or they will begin ignoringit.

The late Dr. Harbhajan Singh was theProfessor of Surgery, and the Study Circle wasa regular weekly feature of the Gurdwara.

My answer was that, undoubtedly, theexpansion of knowledge about the universeand the natural laws would help Sikhi toattract more adherents.

My answer was considered so startling thatit was reported by the major Sikh newspaperof the day because most people in those daysbelieved that modern science and educationwould drive people towards atheism andagnosticism. Moreover, the Sikh youth, inparticular, will be impacted adversely; theywill abandon Sikhism. So much so that manyparents would not send their children tocollege for fear of their abandoning Sikhi.

Guru Nanak and the Expanse of KnowledgeSince the days of those Amritsar study

circles, our knowledge of the creations hasexpanded substantially; billions of Galaxies,new worlds in Blackhole, intelligence in thebrain and heart cells, on and on. I have been inthe thick of it. I obtained my doctorate inBiomedical Sciences, and since then I pursuedthe scientific discoveries as my profession aswell as my pastime.

Further, I was born in the house of GuruNanak. That is a story in itself that Ipublished elsewhere (Sikh Review). Here Imust acknowledge that I am one of many whois and had been overwhelmingly grateful to beblessed with the association of Guru Nanakfor the past 550 years. It makes me humbleevery day as I appreciate intriguing Guru

Wisdom ever. To date, we are among theoceans of knowledge that religion and sciencehave amassed in front of us. It is because ofthat expansion in the knowledge that we alsoseem to be at the verge of really seeing God. Itis in the vortex of that knowledge by which Icomprehend Nanak telling me that the realityof creation is the home in which God lives,manifested, and revealed.

gur imil nfnk Tfkuru jfqf ] jil Qil mhIailpUrn ibDfqf SGGS p. 739

Meeting the Guru, Says Nanak, nowcomprehended my Icon of Worship. I see ThePerfect Architect of Creations pervading andpermeating the water, the land, and the sky.

Nanak invented an icon in which heembedded the implication of the above verse.We exhibit it prominently in all our religiousplaces and at homes. It is ?- EkOnkaar. Itliterally means, One Reality manifested in allcreations.

Walls Between Me and My GodFive hundred fifty years ago, in 1469, Guru

Nanak appeared on this earth. With him, hebrought the Divine Wisdom to shine on thisearth. He named it "Gurmat." WhereasGurmat showed us, God, it also pointed outtwo walls or prevailing deceptions that keepus separated from God. These walls ofseparation are harder than steel to break.

Wall of NarcissismNarcissism or egotism closes the human

mind so that we think that we know it all andwe are the center of everything. As saidDeepak Chopra, "the ego is not who you reallyare. The ego is your Self-image; it is yoursocial mask; it is the role you are playing.Your social mask thrives on approval. It wantscontrol, and it is sustained by power becauseit lives in fear". Thus, our narcissism becomesa wall between us and our Creator.

To learn more on ego, I may direct you toread Dr. IJ Singh ( http://www.sikhnet.com/news/little-ego-may-be-good-thing ). Here Iemphasize that narcissism is a wall thatseparates us from our Creator. Guru told us ofthis wall as the following verse.

Dn ipr kf iek hI sMig vfsf ivic hAumY BIiqkrfrI SGGS, p.1263

The soul-bride and the Divine spouse livetogether as one, but there is a hard wall ofegotism standing between them. The closed-mindedness barricades the path to reach theCreator even when He is manifested in thecreation around us.

Walls of Religiosities Invented byProfessional Clergy

Although not intended by the founders ofvarious religions, definitely not by theFounders of Sikhi, the professional clergieshave attained a status of God's ambassadorsor agents in every religion. In Sikhism, theyare known as Baba, Bhai, Granthi, Saint, etc.Invariably, they are ill-educated. They bringinto the religion, worst kind of religiosity.

These clergies scare the congregations intomodes of worshiping the SABD Guru as theSABD was a human deity. For example, theyinvoke their deity with a variety of tastyfoods, expensive clothing, and currency. Theiranthropomorphic Guru needs heating andcooling of the room, expensive bedding, andrestriction on access. Some ban the Guru fromtraveling overseas. Some are known toprescribe specific language to communicate,discuss, or do vichaar. Similarly, somepromote specific dress culture that is ethnicand not universally adaptable.

The Guru condemned such inroads ofreligiosity in the harshest language. Let mecite a few examples of Guru's disapproval;SGGS says:

vys kry kurUip kulKxI min KotY kUiVafir ] iprkY BfxY nf clY hukmu kry gfvfir SGGS p.89

She may wear good clothes, but the bride isstill ugly and rude when her mind is false andimpure. When the spouse does not walk inharmony with the Will of the God spouse, it isfoolish to ask for favors.

kir pMjIru KvfieE cor ] Ehu jnim n mrY rysfkq Zor SGGS, p. 1136

You prepare sweet treats and feed them toyour stone god. God is not born, and He doesnot die, you foolish, faithless cynic!

pMizq mulfˆ jo iliK dIaf ] Cfiz cly hm kCU nlIaf SGGS, p.1159

Whatever the Pandit and the Mullan havewritten (the path of religiosity), I haveabandoned all of that; I have not taken any ofit.

(Send all communications toHarbans Lal,Ph.D.; D.Litt (Hons), Professor Emeritus &

Chairman, Dept of Pharmacology &Neurosciences, University of North Texas

Health Science Center.Professor Emeritus,Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India.President, Academy of Guru Granth Studies)

web:https://seekingwisdomblog.wordpress.com

email: [email protected]

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UN Security Councilcondemns...

(India had moved the 1267 SanctionsCommittee to ban Azhar twice before in 2009and 2016). On Tuesday, UN Secretary GeneralAntónio Guterres had called on India andPakistan to defuse tensions and for"meaningful mutual engagement."

Condemning terrorism in all its forms asone of the most serious threats tointernational peace, the UNSC offered itscondolences to those impacted by the attack.

"The members of the Security Councilexpressed their deepest sympathy andcondolences to the families of the victims, aswell as to the Indian people and thegovernment of India and wished a speedyand full recovery to those who were injured,"the statement said.

In what appears to be a thinly veiledreference to Pakistan, the Council has askedcountries to cooperate actively with theGovernment of India.

"The members of the Security Councilunderlined the need to hold perpetrators,organizers, financiers and sponsors of thesereprehensible acts of terrorism accountableand bring them to justice, and urged allStates, in accordance with their obligations

under international law and relevantSecurity Council resolutions, to cooperateactively with the Government of India andall other relevant authorities in this regard,"the statement read.

"The members of the Security Councilreiterated that any acts of terrorism arecriminal and unjustifiable, regardless oftheir motivation, wherever, whenever and bywhomsoever committed. They reaffirmed theneed for all States to combat by all means, inaccordance with the Charter of the UnitedNations and other obligations underinternational law, including internationalhuman rights law, international refugee lawand international humanitarian law, threatsto international peace and security caused byterrorist acts," it said.

Mueller could submitreport to...

After the expected announcement, U.S.Attorney General William Barr will reviewMr. Mueller's findings and submit his ownsummary to Congress, CNN reported.Democrats have been concerned that Mr.Barr, who has discretion over what isultimately made public, will choose to limitdisclosure.

Under Special Counsel regulations, Mr.Mueller must submit a confidential report to

the Attorney-General. Mr. Barr, in turn, isrequired to provide information on thereport to the judiciary committees ofCongress.

Pak bans Hafiz Saeed-led JuD...

amid intense global pressure to rein in themilitant groups following the Pulwamaterror attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans.

A spokesman of the Interior Ministry saidthe decision to ban these groups was takenduring a meeting of the National SecurityCommittee (NSC) chaired by Prime MinisterImran Khan at his office on Thursday.

"It was decided during the meeting toaccelerate action against proscribedorganizations," the spokesperson said in astatement.

"It was further decided that Jamat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation benotified as proscribed organizations by theMinistry of Interior," he added.

Earlier, the two outfits were kept on thewatchlist of the interior ministry.

According to officials, JuD's networkincludes 300 seminaries and schools,hospitals, a publishing house and ambulanceservice. The two groups have about 50,000volunteers and hundreds of other paidworkers.

The JuD is believed to be the frontorganization for the LeT which is responsiblefor carrying out the Mumbai attack thatkilled 166 people. It has been declared as aforeign terrorist organization by the US inJune 2014.

The US Department of the Treasury hasdesignated its chief Saeed as a SpeciallyDesignated Global Terrorist, and the US,since 2012, has offered a USD 10 millionreward for information that brings Saeed tojustice.

Saeed was listed under UN SecurityCouncil Resolution 1267 in December 2008.He was released from house arrest inPakistan in November 2017.

The NSC meeting also reviewed theNational Action Plan against terrorism indetail. Services chiefs and key ministerswere in attendance.

"We need to move to ensure that militancyand extremism are rooted from the societyand the State never becomes hostage toextremists," Khan said as he directed boththe interior ministry and the securityinstitutions to immediately accelerateactions on ground. (Source: PTI)

Sadhguru calls uponyouth to...

We have to create business friendlyenvironment for all. We have to invest invarious areas and create livelihood", saidSadhguru on February 17, at the 16th editionof India Conference, one of the largeststudent-run conferences focusing on India inthe USA. It is jointly organized by students ofHarvard Business School and HarvardKennedy School.

One of the most enlightened persons ofour time, Sadhguru said population growthand inequal distribution of wealth must leadto migration, and no walls or barriers couldstop the influx.

Sadhguru answered questions frompanelists and the audience on a number ofissues at the session "Youth and Truth withSadhguru.

Asked to comment on the subject of rape,Sadhguru said, "We have to deal with it in asensible way. This is not a social issue - it's ahuman issue. This debate has to come".

On democracy in America, Sadhguru saidhe believed there is no democracy in theUnited States. "It's feudalism", he said. "Myfather was a Republican so am I. Same forthe Democrats. How is it democracy? Everycitizen has the right to express own opinion.I don't want to take any political side. If oneindividual can move million votes - thatmeans we are going back to feudalism notdemocracy. The idea of democracy and secretballot is that every person will decide onhis/her own and cast the vote. Political partymembership should be taken away. Politicalparties should not enroll members becausepeople are voting for you without looking atwhat you have done. Every five years we mustevaluate what politicians have done - should Igive them another chance or not. I supportthis party and I will vote for them withoutjudging their work - this is feudalism. Thisdestroys fundamental democratic fabric".

On the issue of marriage and relationshipbetween man and woman, husband and wife,Sadhguru quipped; "Be it marketplace ormarriage - for any relationship to sustain ithas to be beneficial for both parties. Unless itbenefits both, the business won't last long".

The India Conference is one of the largeststudent-run conferences focusing on India inthe USA. It is jointly organized by students ofHarvard Business School and HarvardKennedy School. The 16th edition of theConference was organized on February 16thand February 17th, 2019 in Boston. The themewas 'India at an inflection point'.

A statement on the conference said, "At the16th edition of India Conference at Harvard,we aim to bring together India's thoughtleaders for a weekend of discussions andbrainstorming sessions to unravel theexciting opportunities that lay ahead for ourcountry. The conference has a strong legacyof bringing together politicians, businessleaders, entertainment professionals, publicintellectuals, spiritual leaders, governmentofficials, philanthropists, and many otherleaders to meaningfully discuss key issues,solutions and opportunities in the context ofIndia's path to global leadership.

"This conference will bring togethergreat business leaders, entertainmentprofessionals, government officials,philanthropists and many other leaders toengage in conversation about India's pathto global leadership.In the past, we havebeen fortunate to host Amartya Sen, OmarAbdullah, Azim Premji, Kamal Hassan,Ravish Kumar, Karan Johar, andSabyasachi Mukherjee among many otherinfluential speakers. Our 2018 conferencehad over 1000 attendees and was aresounding success".

The 2019 conference was no less star-studded and was very well attended. The 2 -day conference witnessed the presence ofdozens of intellectuals and social activistsfrom India and the US who dealt with dozensof issues. The young students deservehighest appreciation for organizing a greatIndia conference, with the theme "India at aninflection point".

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Color / Condition: Silver / Very Good

Reserve Price: US$ 10,000.00

INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE ARRANGED ON ANY WORKING DAY BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND 6PM.

Please contact Mr. Mahendra KumarChaudhary at 212-490-9660 Ext.237

to schedule the visit."Offer with contact details should reach theMission of India at the address below latest

by 08 March 2019 in a sealed envelopesuperscribed "BID FOR CADILLAC XTS SEDAN

Address: Head of ChanceryPermanent Mission of India toUnited Nations 235 East, 43rdStreet, New York, NY - 10017

Rishikesh, situated in the foothills ofHimalayas on the banks of River Gangain Northern India, is undoubtedly one of

the best places to find quick relaxation fromthe mundane life. Located about 43 km awayfrom Dehradun, Rishikesh is a hub of Yoga,meditation and spirituality. The place isfrequented by many international travellersand pilgrims. Rishikesh has also become apopular destination for white water rafting,attracting tourists from both India and abroad.It is also a center for hiking, backpacking,camping, rock climbing, rappelling, kayakingand bungee jumping. No doubt, it has becomeone stop destination for everyone seekingpeace, fun and enjoyment. Besides these, thereare 5 things about Rishikesh that you neverknew.

NEERGARH FALLSRishikhesh is the home to many lesser-

known waterfalls and the beauty of thesehidden treasures is that one has to take a trekof few Kilometres to reach the falls. If you wishto spend some quality time with your familyand friends amidst nature-rich environs, youcan definitely plan a waterfall trekking inRishikesh. The trekking to Neergadh Waterfallstarts 3 km away from Laxman Jhula on theBadrinath Highway. It is one of the mostfrequented waterfalls as it is easiest to access.Visit Neergarh Waterfall just after monsoonseason and you will witness water cascadingthousands of feet from the mountain top. Thereare small pools along the hike where a hikercan sit and enjoy the serenity of falls, whilesoaking the tired feet. You can also considertaking a dip into the pool of fresh water.Trekking through Neergarh waterfall andpassing by shallow pool will give you a feel andtouch of what the state of Uttarakhand is allabout. The best thing about this adventureactivity is that it does not require any specialskill to trek, owning to easy path and can beundertaken by people from all age group.Vendors are also available here to sell thebeverages, which will cost slightly higher but acup of tea in hand will be a good idea to enjoythe surreal beauty of the place.

NEELKANTH TEMPLENeelkanth temple is one of the most sacred

places of worship for Hindus. It is situated on ahill above Swargashram and located at adistance of 32 km from Rishikhesh. Neelkanthtemple is considered to be an apt example ofcomplete natural hill heaven that lies adjacentto mountain ranges of Nar-Narayan. Owing toits raw beauty & religious significance, boththe devotees and nature lovers visit the placeround the year. The way to the temple is quiteexhilarating. There are steep & narrow roadstaking above the hill, which will add the extraspice of adventure amidst the beauty. There isriver flowing on one side and mountain terrainis on the other side. Road is very curvy andnarrow with steep slopes.

TREKKING Trekking is all about reconnecting yourself

with nature and exploring the wonders of theHimalayas. For adventure enthusiasts, it is amuch sought after option to escape the dailymundane life to find themselves in the lap ofnature. Walking through verdant landscape,lush greenery and waterfall, and breathing infresh air really prove to be a refreshingexperience. Located in the lap of the ShivalikHimalayas, the picturesque town ofRishikhesh offers a host of scenic locales fortrekkers. It gives the trekker a chance towitness the outstanding scenery of flowerygreen meadows, dense forests, fascinating localcommunities and astounding landscape of theeastern part of the Garhwal Himalayanranges. There are all sorts of treks availablenear Rishikhesh, which can be categorised intoeasy, moderate and hard treks. Small treks canbe done in the adjoining villages and waterfallswhile longer treks can be taken in near-bymountains. Few famous treks which can be

taken near Rishikhesh are Neer Garh waterfalltrek, Kunjapuri trek, Neelkanth Temple Trek,and Jhilmil Gufa Trek. Longer treks whichserve route from Rishikhesh are Gomukh(Gaumukh) Trek, Valley of flower Trek,Tungnath-Chandrasheela Trek, Deoria TaalTrek, Hemkund sahib trek, Kuari Pass Trekand Roop Kund Trek.

DEVPRAYAGIn Sanskrit, prayag means 'confluence' and

Devprayag stands for 'holy confluence'.Devprayag is the confluence of two holy riversAlaknanda and Bhagirathi to form Ganga.According to religious scriptures, Devprayag isone of the five important holy confluences.Rivers like Bhagirathi, Alaknanda & themythological river Saraswati (flowingunderground) meet to from the River Ganga.River Bhagirathi originates from Gangotri andAlaknanda originates from Badrinath, both ofwhich are considered sacred destinations forHindus across the world. Devprayag is the lastprayag of River Alaknanda. Religiously, thesite is very sacred and holds immensesignificance among the Hindu followers. It isbelieved that Lord Rama and the KingDushratha did penance here. There is anancient temple of Raghunathji built above theconfluence with massive rocks. It is believedthat the temple was built more than tenthousand years ago. There is a small waterspring called Baitalshila, which is believed tohave powers to cure leprosy. Devprayag is alsohugely blessed with divine natural beauty andshowers tourists with its serenity. The place isaccessible throughout the year and can bevisited anytime. .

RAJAJI NATIONAL PARKRajaji National Park is known for its pristine

scenic beauty and rich bio-diversity. A paradisefor nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts,Rajaji National Park or Chilla Park is just 25km away from Rishikhesh. A normal safari byjeep usually takes 3 to 4 hours to complete the36 km stretch of safari range and costs aroundRs. 1200-1500 per person. It is carried out twicein a day; at 7 am in the morning and around 2pm in the afternoon. Rajaji National Park ishome to Asian elephants, deers, birds, tigers(only few), and antelopes such as the Nilgai,langoors etc. This park is the first stagingground for the migratory birds when theycross Himalayas to enter India.

RISHIKESH: THE ‘YOGACAPITAL OF WORLD’

33THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 TRAVEL

34 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 SPORTS

INDIA EVES LOOK TODOMINATE ENGLAND AFTERSUCCESS IN NEW ZEALAND

MUMBAI (TIP): Indian women will plunge into thethree-game ODI rubber against England eves here on Fridaywith their confidence bolstered by their recent 2-1 seriesvictory against New Zealand in the latter’s backyard.

With it being a short series, the outfit that wins theopening game, will be at a big advantage going into the nexttwo clashes with all of them to be played at the WankhedeStadium as part of the ICC Championship.

The hosts cannot afford to take England lightly, as thevisiting team boasts of some big names in women’s cricket.

Opener Smriti Mandhana, who amassed 196 runsincluding a hundred and a 90 in New Zealand, will be a keyplayer with the bat for the Indian women’s team.

There are others too such as the experienced captainMithali Raj, the first woman cricketer to appear in 200 ODIs.

However, the hosts will miss the aggressive HarmanpreetKaur, who was ruled out of the entire series with an ankleinjury and has been replaced byHarleen Deol.

Then there is also the young Jemimah Rodrigues to shoreup the home teams batting.

It would be interesting to see whether Rodrigues orPunam Raut, who played her last ODI against Sri Lanka inSeptember 2018, gets a look in.

The Mithali Raj-led team has had middle-order issues inthe past and newly-appointed coach W V Raman would bekeen to sort them as quickly as possible.

But the hosts would not have an easy outing facing theEnglish attack.

The Indian bowling has an all-round look with the paceattack being led by veteran Jhulan Goswami and alsocomprising the likes of Shikha Pandey and Mansi Joshi.

With spin being a key element on Indian wickets, the roleof slow bowlers Deepti Sharma, Ekta Bisth and PoonavYadav in the middle overs would be crucial.

England eves, on the other hand, are a force to reckonwith in the 50-over format. They have experiencedcampaigners in the top-order such as Danni Wyatt (746 runsin 61 matches) and 28-year-old Heather Knight.

Heather, with 2,331 runs to her credit in 86 ODIs, displayedgood form in the practice game against the Board PresidentsXI and showed her anchoring capabilities.

With all-rounders like Sophie Ecceclestone, experiencedpacer Anya Shrubsole and accurate medium pacer NatSciver in the reckoning, England has the bowling attack totrouble the hosts.

Anya would also take confidence from her four wickethaul in the warm-up game.

Teams (From):Mithali Raj (Captain), Jhulan Goswami,Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma,Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), R Kalpana (wicket-keeper),Mona Meshram, Ekta Bisht, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, PoonamYadav, Shikha Pandey, Mansi Joshi, Punam Raut, HarleenDeol.

England women: Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt,Kate Cross, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, GeorgiaElwiss, Alex Hartley, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, LauraMarsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor(wicketkeeper), Lauren Winfield and Danni Wyatt.

IPL: BCCI announcesschedule for 2 weeks, CSK

to play RCB in openerNEW DELHI (TIP): Defending

champions Chennai Super Kings willtake on Royal Challengers Bangalore inthe opening encounter of the 12th IndianPremier League for which a provisionaltwo-week schedule was announced bythe BCCI on Tuesday.

The opening game has been scheduledfor March 23 in Chennai, the BCCIannounced in its schedule comprising 17games.

The IPL will be off to an earlier-than-usual start this year owing to thegeneral elections, dates of which are yetto be announced. Any change in theprovisional itinerary—from March 23 toApril 5 — will be revised accordingly.

“These are still subject to theannouncement of the Lok Sabha 2019election dates. Once these have beenreleased, the BCCI will address anyissues with the first two weeks and willalso prepare a schedule for theremainder of the season working withthe local authorities around the pollingdates,” read an official statement fromthe IPL.

On March 24, Kolkata Knight Riderswill host Sunrisers Hyderabad in theafternoon encounter of a double headerin which Mumbai Indians will take onDelhi Capitals in Mumbai.

Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjabwill meet each other in Jaipur tocomplete the first round of games.

A total of 17 matches will be playedduring this two-week phase across the 8home venues of the respectivefranchises.

All teams will play a minimum of fourgames with Delhi Capitals and RCBcompeting in five matches each duringthis time. Every side will play a

minimum of two home and two awaymatches except for Delhi and RCB.

While Delhi will compete in threehome games, RCB will play an equalnumber of away encounters.

While the weekends will have double-headers but the schedule doesn’t clarifywhether the BCCI will continue with theusual 4 pm (afternoon) and 8 pm(evening) format or there will be achange in timing.

Itinerary March 23: CSK vs RCB (Chennai) March 24: KKR vs Sunrisers

Hyderabad (Kolkata, Afternoon)Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals(Mumbai, Evening

March 25: Rajasthan Royals vsKXIP (Jaipur)

March 26: Delhi Capitals vs CSK

(Delhi) March 27: KKR vs KXIP (Kolkata) March 28: RCB vs MI (Bengaluru) March 29: Sunrisers vs Rajasthan

Royals (Hyderabad) March 30: KXIP vs MI (Mohali,

Afternoon) Delhi Capitals vs KKR(Delhi, Evening)

March 31: Sunrisers Hyderabad vsRCB (Hyderabad, Afternoon) CSKvs Rajasthan Royals (Chennai,Evening)

April 1: KXIP vs Delhi Capitals(Mohali)

April 2: Rajasthan Royals vs RCB(Jaipur)

April 3: MI vs CSK (Mumbai) April 4: Delhi Capitals vs

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Delhi) April 5: RCB vs KKR (Bengaluru).

Source: PTI

ICC Test Rankings: Virat Kohli, India maintain top ranking

After dominating England in thefirst Test, West Indies captainJason Holder rose to the number

1 ranking in the list of Test all-rounders.The other notable improvements in therankings include the Australian trio ofPat Cummins, Travis Head and MarnusLabuschagne, along with the Windies’Kemar Roach, Roston Chase and ShaneDowrich.

Indian captain Virat Kohli continuesto maintain his hold as the number 1ranked Test batsman in the world. As faras the team rankings are concerned, theIndian team with 116 points remain thenumber 1 side in the world followed bySouth Africa which has 110 points.

The highlight of the week was Windiescaptain Jason Holder, whose superbmaiden double century paved the way forWest Indies crushing win over Englandby 381 runs. “It’s been a while since I’vebeen playing Test cricket and it’s reallygood to come back in the game like this. Iput a lot of hard work in just to get back

to full fitness,” Holder said after thematch. “It’s difficult to explain (hiscelebrations after reaching 200). A bit ofemotion getting out. I’ve had a lot bottle

up for a long time and I had the momentthere to express myself a little bit. It’sreally pleasing to know I can bat a wholesessions,” he added.


36 THE INDIAN PANORAMAFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019ADVERTISEMENT

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