VOL 14 ISSUE 2 ● NEW YORK / DALLAS ● JAN 10 - 16, 2020 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 www.theindianpanorama.news Internet fundamental right, says Supreme Court of India J&K told to review within a week all curbs imposed after Aug 5 Will bring out a profusely illustrated special edition to mark India's 71st NEW DELHI (TIP) The Supreme Republic Day. Articles and Court on Friday, January 10, asked the advertisements may please be emailed to [email protected] by J-K administration to review all orders January 20, 2020. of suspension of the Internet. The court said the right to access the Internet is a fundamental right under US House votes to Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, subject to reasonable restrictions under curb Trump's ability Article 19(2). to take military Trade and commerce through the Internet is protected under Article action against Iran 19(1)(g) of the Constitution which guarantees the fundamental right to trade, business, occupation or profession, it said. On prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, the court said it could not be used as a tool to suppress difference of opinion. Kashmiri journalists display laptops and placards during a protest demanding restoration of contd on page 32 internet service, in Srinagar on November 12, 2019. File photo Iraq asks U.S. for team US President Donald Trump said "I don't Trump admin hits Iran with new have to"when asked whether he would of delegates to prepare seek congressional approval for more military action against Iran. sanctions, targets 8 officials involved in troop pullout Nearly 5,200 U.S. soldiers are WASHINGTON (TIP): US ‘destabilizing activities’ stationed at bases across Iraq lawmakers concerned about rushing to war with Iran adopted a measure As long as Iran's outlaw Iraq's caretaker prime on Thursday, January 9, aimed at ways continue, we will minister Abdel Mahdi has requested US reining in President Donald Trump's continue to impose sanctions," Secretary of Secretary of State ability to take military action against State Mike Pompeo said Mike Pompeo to send the Islamic republic. as he announced the delegates to Iraq to set The resolution was introduced by measures along with the mechanisms to Democrats after Trump's order to kill Secretary of the implement Parliament's decision an Iranian commander and Treasury Steven Mnuchin at a press for the secure retaliatory missile strikes by Tehran conference. withdrawal of (foreign) dramatically escalated tensions and forces from Iraq." Photo / Courtesy Adam raised fears of a devastating war Edelman between the two foes. WASHINGTON (TIP): Iraq's The mostly symbolic but politically WASHINGTON (TIP): Iran launched sectors, including its largest steel and caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi charged vote, 224 to 194, was largely more than two dozen ballistic missiles iron manufacturers. The administration has asked the United States to send a along party lines, with three Tuesday night targeting Iraqi military also is issuing sanctions against eight delegation to Baghdad to begin members of Trump's Republican bases hosting U.S. and coalition forces in Iranian officials involved in preparing for a troop pullout, his office Party joining Democrats in response to the U.S. drone strike that "destabilizing activities" as well as the said on Friday, January 10. approving the measure demanding killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani ballistic missile attack on Iraqi airbases, In a phone call late on Thursday, the President not engage in military last week. Pompeo and Mnuchin said the Pompeo said. "The president has been January 9 with U.S. Secretary of State action against Iran unless authorized sanctions would target individuals very clear: We will continue to apply Mike Pompeo, Mr. Abdel Mahdi by Congress. contd on Page 32 involved in Iran's construction, economic sanctions until Iran stops "requested that delegates be sent to Iraq manufacturing, textile and mining contd on page 32 contd on page 32 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 2 RETROSPECT FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 Ace Photographer Jay Mandal Captures Memorable Events in 2019 Ace photographer Jay Mandal, a globetrotting the bicycle tour. The mode of transportation Here is a look back at selected events in photojournalist, in mid 70s, took a challenging has changed. Now he flies between 2019 at the United Nations, the task, circumnavigating the world on a bicycle. destinations across the world. His passion for Consulate General of India, New York and Spent 17years, logged 387000 kms through photography seems to intensify with each some Mixed Events 154 nations. His journey has not ended with passing day. At the United Nations THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 RETROSPECT 3 At the Consulate General of India

Mixed Events

ALL PICS / JAY MANDAL ON ASSIGNMENT THE INDIAN PANORAMA 4 INDIANS ABROAD FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

Indian American Durga Agrawal Appointed to Nita Ambani Becomes First Indian University of Houston System Board of Elected to Board of MET Museum Regents NEW YORK (TIP): Educationist, philanthropist, and businesswoman Nita Ambani has been named an Honorary Trustee of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, as was announced Nov 12 by Daniel Brodsky, the Museum's Chairman. Mrs. Ambani's election took place at the November 12 meeting of the Board. Mr. Brodsky commented: "Mrs. Ambani's commitment to The Met and to preserving and promoting India's art and culture is truly exceptional. Her support has an enormous impact on the Museum's ability to study and display art from every corner of the world. It is a pleasure to welcome Nita Ambani to the Durga D. Agrawal is the founding Board." president of the IACCGH and India House, Nita Ambani is the Founder and Inc. Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, AUSTIN, TX(TIP): Texas Governor an Indian philanthropic organization Nita Ambani, Daniel Brodsky, Chairman of the Board, Daniel Weiss, President & CEO, and Max Hollein, Director, on the occasion of Ambani's election to the Board of Trustees Greg Abbott has reappointed Durga that has supported The Met since 2016, Agrawal, Ph.D. to the University of beginning with the exhibition Nasreen Ambani at The Met Winter Party, an Mrs. Ambani has impacted the lives of Houston (UH) System Board of Mohamedi. That presentation was the event celebrating the achievements of more than 34 million people across India Regents for terms set to expire August first museum retrospective of the artist's those who foster greater diversity and through the organization's initiatives in 31, 2025. work in the United States and was also inclusion in the world of art. Generous rural transformation; health; education; Durga Agrawalof Houston is the one of The Met Breuer's inaugural with her time and expertise, Mrs. sports for development; disaster president and CEO of Piping exhibitions. In 2017, the Reliance Ambani is also a member of The Met's response; arts, culture and heritage; and Technology and Products. He Foundation committed to support International Council. urban renewal. The Foundation's currently serves as the chair of the UH exhibitions that explore and celebrate Mrs. Ambani is especially committed education program pays special attention System Board of Regents Endowment the arts of India. The first exhibition to to preserving and promoting India's art, to gender equity to increase much- Committee. He is a member of the benefit from this gift was Modernism on culture, and heritage. Reliance needed opportunities for girls and young National Society of Professional the Ganges: Raghubir Singh Photographs Foundation has sponsored key cultural women. The Foundation's Dhirubhai Engineers, Texas Society of (October 11, 2017-January 2, 2018), events such as The Elephanta Festival, Ambani Scholarship has so far provided Professional Engineers, and the followed by Phenomenal Nature: and Abbaji, the annual concert of master financial support to 12,000 students to Expansion Joint Manufacturers Mrinalini Mukherjee (June 4-September musician Ustad Zakir Hussain, among pursue graduation in any institution of Association Management Committee 29, 2019), which marked the first the many efforts to recognize the cultural their choice-nearly half of these and a former member of the Industry comprehensive display of Mukherjee's legends of India and ensure their scholarships are given to girls. Trade Advisory Committee and the work in the United States. Other relevance to a younger generation. In its In 2017, Mrs. Ambani received the Texas Higher Education Coordinating exhibitions that will benefit from this initiatives to advance knowledge of prestigious Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Board. Additionally, he is member of sponsorship include the upcoming Tree Indian arts internationally, the Award from the President of India for the the UH Engineering Leadership Board, and Serpent: Early Buddhist Art in India, Foundation has supported not only the work of Reliance Foundation in the area UH Advisory Board, and India House, 200 B.C.-A.D. 400, opening November 10, series of exhibitions at The Met but also of sports for development. In 2016, Forbes Inc. He also serves as an advisor and 2020, at The Met Fifth Avenue, along with presentations such as Gates of the Lord: listed Mrs. Ambani as one of the 50 most past president of the Indo-American exhibitions that will cover such topics as The Tradition of Krishna Paintings at powerful businesswomen in Asia. She is Chamber of Commerce of Greater 17th-century Mughal art and the Art Institute of Chicago. a member of the International Olympic Houston, director for the Agrawal contemporary Indian sculpture. In her role as Founder and Committee and is the first Indian woman Association of America, and as a In 2017, the Museum honored Mrs. Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, to serve in that role. volunteer for the M.D. Anderson Board of Visitors. Durga D. Agrawal is the founding president of the IACCGH and India Indian American CEO of Self-Storage Firm House, Inc. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Friedman Industries. Dr. Agrawal was selected as the 2001 Receives Entrepreneur Award U.S. Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Texas by the U.S. Small ATLANTA (TIP): Rajen Sheth, The received from my parents, the support of Business Administration; chosen as CEO and founder of Boardwalk investors, many of whom are TiE the Entrepreneur of the Year by the Development Group LLC, a private- charter members, and to the TiE Atlanta Asian Chamber of Commerce of equity investment company focused on organization," Sheth said. "Without TiE, Houston in 2006; and awarded the self-storage, received a "2019 Top I would never have had the guts to Texas Industrial Engineering Lifetime Entrepreneur Award" recently from the become an entrepreneur." Achievement Award in 2010. He is a Atlanta chapter of TiE (The IndUS Sheth has 15 years of experience as an member of the University of Houston's Entrepreneurs) Global, which supports owner and manager of commercial real Industrial Engineering Advisory entrepreneurs through funding, estate assets. In 2007, he founded Board and Cullen College of mentoring and networking. ValueSpace Storage Fund I, a self-storage Engineering Leadership Board. Dr. The TiE awards are based on a investment fund focused on acquiring Agrawal was also appointed to the company's culture, innovation, existing storage assets in Metro Atlanta. Texas Higher Education Coordinating leadership, profitability, revenue growth The brand was sold in 2015 to SecurCare Board by Governor Rick Perry in and sustainability. To be considered, Self Storage, a participating regional August of 2009. recipients must have been in business operator of National Storage Affiliates Dr. Agrawal received a Bachelor's since 2015 and earned a minimum Trust, a self-administered and -managed degree in Mechanical Engineering revenue of $2 million, but no more than real estate trust headquartered in from the University of Delhi, India, $100 million, according to a press release. Greenwood, Colo. and Master's and Doctorate degree in "I am truly honored to be awarded TiE Sheth has 15 years of experience as an Industrial Engineering from the Atlanta's 'Top Entrepreneurs Award.' I owner and manager of commercial real University of Houston. owe this award to the encouragement I estate assets THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 5 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 6 NY/NJ/CT FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

Mayor de Blasio Administration secures Four Indian Americans among 19 nearly $500,000 in Restitution for 4,500 alleged child predators arrested in Home Health Aides New settlements part of Department of Consumer and ‘Operation Open Door’ in New Jersey Worker Protection's major TRENTON (TIP): New Jersey investigation into industry Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, compliance with the New York Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. City Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Chief of Detectives NEW YORK (TIP): Mayor Bill de John W. Fodor, New Jersey State Police Blasio and Department of Consumer Colonel Patrick J. Callahan and Division and Worker Protection (DCWP) of Criminal Justice Director Veronica Commissioner Lorelei Salas on Allende announced the arrests of 19 January 9 announced settlement alleged child predators including four agreements with 11 home care Indians in "Operation Open Door". agencies to resolve violations of the 1. THEY ARE: DuraikandanMurugan, New York City Paid Safe and Sick 40 of Jasper, Indiana (14) Murugan is Leave Law that had previously been unemployed. Charges are 2nd degree filed at the Office of Administrative Luring, 2nd degree Attempted Sexual Trials and Hearings (OATH). The Assault, and 3rd degree Attempted settlements require the agencies to pay Endangering the Welfare of a Child. nearly $450,000 in restitution to more 2. Nimeshbha Patel, 48 of Piscataway, than 4,100 home health aides. These N.J. (14) Patel is a retail worker. settlements also require the agencies Charges are 2nd degree Luring, 2nd to pay nearly $122,000 in civil penalties, degree Attempted Sexual Assault and identify and implement a compliance 3rd degree Attempted Endangering officer, train managerial staff, and post the Welfare of a Child. and distribute the Notice of Employee 3. Niraj Patel, 46 of Somerset, N.J. (14) Rights to all employees. Patel is a printer. Charges are 2nd The cases are part of DCWP's major degree Luring, 2nd degree Attempted proactive enforcement initiative to Sexual Assault and 3rd degree examine the industry's compliance Attempted Endangering the Welfare with the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave of a Child. Law, wage and hour requirements, and 4. Naveen Thangaraj, 36 of Edison, N.J. other workplace standards. As a result (14) Thangaraj is a system engineer. of the investigation, DCWP has now Charges are 2nd degree Luring and entered into settlement agreements 2nd degree Attempted Sexual with 32 agencies. These settlements Assault. require the agencies to pay a total of Prosecutor Robertson stated that nearly $500,000 in restitution to more "Operation Open Door" was a multi- began, the undercover officers clearly undercover houses from Pennsylvania. than 4,500 workers, pay $145,000 in civil agency undercover operation that sought identified themselves as underage girls Two of the defendants lived out-of-state and penalties, and comply with the Law individuals using social media or boys. Despite that information, the were in New Jersey for work when they going forward. applications to lure underage girls and defendants engaged the "children" in decided to travel to meet with a "child' for "In New York City,we fight to protect boys for sexual activity.These "underage conversations about sex and made sex. The defendants are variously charged all workers, regardless of whether children" were actually undercover law arrangements to meet the "children" for with first-degree promoting prostitution of they work in an office or in someone's enforcement officers who are specially sex. Most defendants were arrested when a child under the age of 18, second-degree home," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. trained members of the New Jersey they arrived at one of two residences in luring, second-degree attempted sexual "Home health care workers are vital to Internet Crimes Against Children Somerset County,where they expected to assault of a minor, third-degree attempted ensuring our loved ones are cared for, (ICAC) Task Force. The defendants find their victims home alone. endangering the welfare by debauching the and they are equally as deserving of arrested in this operation-initiated The arrests in "Operation Open Door" morals of a child, and third-degree attempt Paid Safe and Sick Leave. To any contact based on profiles posted by the were made over a six-day period from to promote obscene material to a child. The company in New York City that thinks undercover law enforcement officers on October 23 through October 28. One defendants will be prosecuted by the they can get away with withholding social media platforms. Once chatting defendant travelled to one of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. workers' rights and violating our laws: we will hold you accountable." "We want to make it clear to home NYCEDC and New Lab Launch 2020 Edition of Circular City to care agencies across the city that lack Accelerate New York's Sustainability Vision of compliance with the law will not be tolerated," said DCWP Commissioner In this expanded edition of the program, City's transition to a circular economy facing New York City. We are excited to Lorelei Salas. "Home care workers are startups will apply technologies to reuse and the future of energy efficiency in the see how the new solutions emerging and recycle resources, eliminate waste, vital workers who care for our loved and improve energy efficiency through built environment. The call to action for from the 2020 Circular City Program can ones, and we will continue working to pilots across New York City startups is to apply for the opportunity to benefit all New Yorkers." ensure that this rapidly growing BROOKLYN, NY (TIP): New York pilot their products or technologies in "New Lab's unique model for bringing industry is held accountable for past City Economic Development real urban environments to help New together frontier tech startups, local violations and comes into compliance Corporation (NYCEDC) and New Lab York City work toward a more government stakeholders, academic going forward. We urge any worker announced Jan 9 the launch of the 2020 sustainable, equitable, and accessible institutions, and private sector investors who believes they have been treated edition of the Circular City program to future. "Innovation and the growing tech is a powerful platform for addressing unjustly to reach out to us so we can test and pilot solutions designed to sector are key not only to New York critical real-world urban challenges," take the necessary steps to help protect address the increasingly complex and City's economy, but also to our efforts to said New Lab CEO Shaun Stewart. "The their rights under the Paid Safe and urgent challenges facing cities. New Lab stop climate change and safeguard the 2020 edition of Circular City will build Sick Leave Law and connect them to and NYCEDC partnered to create the environment," said NYCEDC President on the success of our initial program, other resources." Urban Tech Hub in 2017 and the Circular and CEO, James Patchett. "The Circular exploring new solutions for meeting New Read full story at City represents a key part of the vision City program shows what can happen York City's broader sustainability goals." www.theindianpanorama.news to make New York City a global leader in when the private and public sector team Read full story at urban innovation. up with civic groups and academic www.theindianpanorama.news This year, the focus is on New York experts to tackle the biggest challenges THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 NY/NJ/CT 7

Indian American Stony Brook Is Going to Flow with Doctor in Tamil in Near Future NJ Charged NEW YORK (TIP): "The Future of with Selling Tamil Studies" was the topic of a two- day symposium recently held by the Prescriptions for College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University that culminated with Opioid Pain Pills the launch of a search for an endowed TRENTON, NJ (TIP): New professor in Tamil. Featuring scholars Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. and experts in practice, language, Grewal and the Office of the history and culture from around the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) world, the interdisciplinary symposium announced that a Passaic County offered an in-depth discussion of how doctor was charged with selling studying the ancient yet still relevant prescriptions for highly addictive Tamil language and its art and prescription painkillers without a literature offers scholars insights into legitimate medical purpose. humankind's earliest worldview, Dr. Mahesh Mehta, 65, who providing context for our life today and practices family medicine in our collective, global future. Paterson, was indicted on a charge Made possible through The of second-degree unlawful Anandavalli and Dr. G. Swaminathan dispensing of controlled dangerous Endowed Research Professorship in substances. The indictment was Tamil Fund - generously established by handed up by a state Grand Jury in Dr. Bala and Prabha Swaminathan in Trenton. CAS Interim Dean Nicole Sampson with Bala and Prabha Swaminathan honor of Bala's mother and father - the Mehta allegedly sold symposium opened with a local group integrates folk arts performance with interdisciplinary, scholarly research prescriptions for Percocet, a of Tamil drummers, followed by a social analysis, micro-economic collaborations. The professorship aligns Schedule II opioid pain medication. preview film screening of Sakthi sustainability, self-esteem and with the forthcoming Globalization Second-degree crimes carry a Vibrations, an ethnomusicological community development. Studies and International Relations BA sentence of five to 10 years in state documentary produced and directed by Creating the Anandavalli and Dr. G. launching in Fall 2020, designed to prison and a criminal fine of up to Zoe Sherinian, University of Swaminathan Endowed Research educate leaders in globalization issues, $150,000. Oklahoma. The participatory Professorship in Tamil at SBU was a international service, diplomacy and Deputy Attorney General ethnomusicological documentary, natural step in the Swaminathan's' quest activism. The program will also prepare Fernando D. Maldonado presented which will debut at the Sundance Film to help sustain the Tamil language and students to pursue graduate study in a the case to the grand jury. Detective Festival in January 2020, reveals and culture; they purposefully established wide variety of fields, from diplomacy Celeste Dowd coordinated the analyzes Sakthi's outstanding model for the professorship in the College of Arts and consulting to research journalism investigation. Dalit women's development that and Sciences to leverage and social entrepreneurship. Indian American Con Artist Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Brokers TRENTON, NJ (TIP): A New Jersey consumers as well." Diamond Freight Solutions - contracted man of Indian origin was sentenced to "I commend the attorneys and with the freight broker to ship goods prison last month for orchestrating an detectives in our Financial & Cyber from California to New Jersey, and elaborate shipping scam by which he Crimes Bureau who exposed this another one of their companies - PRP defrauded five freight brokers out of elaborate scheme and secured this Enterprises - responded to the internet $2.6 million. The defendant fled the sentence," said Director Veronica job notice posted by the broker and was country and was a fugitive for eight Allende of the Division of Criminal hired as the freight carrier that moved years after being indicted in 2011, but he Justice. "We will continue to use our the goods. The brokers were unaware of returned in July 2019 and surrendered expertise to aggressively prosecute the connection between the companies. to the Division of Criminal Justice. financial fraud and seek restitution for Because of the line of credit, the broker Rajendra Patel, 62, who previously victims." would pay PRP before the broker was resided in Jersey City, N.J., was Freight brokerage companies are paid paid by Prime Time or Diamond sentenced seven years in state prison by a fee for serving as "middlemen" Freight. Superior Court Judge Mitzy Galis- between companies that need freight Patel and his alleged co-conspirators Rajendra Patel, 62, who previously resided in Jersey City, N.J., was sentenced seven years Menendez in Hudson County. Patel moved and carriers that agree to move initially gained the confidence of the in state prison pleaded guilty on Aug. 9, 2019 to second- the freight. They arrange for shipment brokers and built up a line of credit by degree theft by deception. He must pay of goods, collect payment from the moving some actual freight using Part of the money paid to PRP by the full restitution to the victims. company shipping the goods, and pay independent drivers and major freight five freight brokers was transferred Deputy Attorney General Thomas the carrier that moves the goods. Such carriers. But PRP eventually stopped through a series of transactions to Prime Huynh prosecuted the case and handled brokers will extend credit to companies moving actual freight, while Time and Diamond Freight and the sentencing for the Division of that regularly ship goods through them. continuing to submit and be paid for ultimately used by those companies to, in Criminal Justice Financial & Cyber Patel ran a scam, similar to what is fictitious invoices with falsified essence, pay the brokers with their own Crimes Bureau. known as a "bust out," in which he built supporting documentation. Prime money. However, ultimately, Prime Time "Thanks to the work of our up a line of credit with the brokers and Time and Diamond Freight contracted and Diamond Freight failed to pay prosecutors and detectives, this then used that credit to defraud the with the brokers for a total of 1,217 $2,630,613 that they owed to the five longtime fugitive is going to prison for brokers. It is alleged that two co- shipments. The defendants allegedly freight brokers. The brokers paid perpetrating a multimillion-dollar fraud conspirators who remain fugitives laundered the illicit proceeds through approximately $3.9 million to PRP. They scheme targeting the freight industry," assisted Patel. a complex scheme involving moving received only about $2.1 million in said Attorney General Grewal. "Con What was unusual about this scheme money between the companies and payments from Prime Time and artists like this defendant harm honest was that the defendants engaged in making payments to relatives and Diamond Freight out of the total of business operators and impose huge transactions in which one of their other individuals to whom they had about $4.7 million which the two costs which ultimately impact companies - Prime Time Freight or ties. companies owed under their contracts. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 8 EDITORIAL FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 AS I SEE IT

By Patrick J. Buchanan If Baghdad Wants Us Out, Let’s Go!

ifteen years after the U.S. invaded "Perhaps, rather than Iraq to turn Saddam Hussein's sending troops into Fdictatorship into a beacon of Iraq and Kuwait to democracy, Iraq's Parliament, amid shouts of "Death to America!" voted to expel all defend U.S. troops U.S. troops from the country. already there, we Though nonbinding, the expulsion vote should accede to the came after mobs trashed the U.S. embassy local nationalist in an assault that recalled Tehran 1979. demands, start What provoked Iraq's Parliament into bringing our troops demanding the ouster of all U.S. home, and let troops? Iranians, Iraqis, First, the five December U.S. strikes on Libyans, Syrians, Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces in retaliation for a dozen Kataib Hezbollah Yemenis and Afghans rocket attacks on U.S. bases, which killed a settle their quarrels." contractor and wounded four U.S. soldiers. Then came President Donald Trump's decision to launch a drone-strike and kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad International Airport. Killed in the same strike was the Shiite Iraqi leader of Kataib Hezbollah. During his return flight to Washington unwanted by the Iraqi Parliament majority, United States, but to direct the passions of Iran does not want war with the United Sunday, Trump warned Iraq: Follow the acting prime minister, and much of the the moment toward forcing an expulsion of States. And Trump wants no war with Iran. through on your demand that all U.S. troops Shiite majority, remain safely inside the the Americans from the Middle East, But Iran made a mistake in its get out, and we will insist that Baghdad capital city of Baghdad or the country? beginning with their ouster from Iraq. extrapolation from that truth. repay the money we just spent on a major What a difference a presidential Thus, Tehran has signaled that its Assuming that because Trump did not air base. retaliation, its revenge for the death of want war, he would recoil from a fight, Moreover,said Trump, if Iraqis expel U.S. decision can make. Soleimani, a military man, will be Soleimani believed he could kill Americans troops, then we will impose upon them Two months ago, crowds were in the proportionate. Tehran is telegraphing an with impunity, as long as his fingerprints "sanctions like they've never seen before, streets of Iraq protesting Iran's dominance attack on the U.S. military. Hassan were not on the murder weapon. ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look of their politics. Crowds were in the streets Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah in Killing Soleimani was just. But what is somewhat tame." of Iran cursing that regime for Lebanon, has called on his followers not to just is not always wise. Where do we stand now in Iraq? squandering the nation's resources on attack innocent Americans in the region Yet, his killing restores Trump's imperial adventures in Iraq, Syria, but to zero in on U.S. military targets. credibility as a Jacksonian who avoids wars Though Sunnis and Kurds abstained, the Lebanon, Yemen. Things were going Oddly, what the America-haters of the but who, wounded, will stab the enemy who Iraqi parliament has voted to expel all our America's way. Middle East seek is what Soleimani wanted, cut him. Trump has a red line. It is not troops. The State Department has urged Now it is the Americans who are the and what Trump promised in his campaign shooting at American drones but shooting U.S. civilians to flee Iraq. 82nd Airborne of 2016 - an end to U.S. involvement in the at American soldiers, the drawing of units have moved into the region to protect targets of protests. forever wars of the Middle East. American blood. the U.S. embassy. U.S. troops fighting ISIS Over three days, crowds numbering in Perhaps, rather than sending troops into The message the rulers of Iran should alongside Iraqi troops have separated the hundreds of thousands and even Iraq and Kuwait to defend U.S. troops have received. themselves and stood down. In Iraq, the war millions have packed Iraqi and Iranian already there, we should accede to the local If they retaliate for Soleimani by killing on terrorism is on hold. streets and squares to pay tribute to nationalist demands, start bringing our American soldiers, diplomats or civilians, Across the Middle East, U.S. diplomats, Soleimani and to curse the Americans who troops home, and let Iranians, Iraqis, using either Iranian troops or proxy soldiers and civilians are on alert. The killed him. Libyans, Syrians, Yemenis and Afghans militias, Trump will retaliate against Iran acting prime minister of Iraq, in an echo of As emotions are running high and settle their quarrels. itself. Otherwise, "Come Home, America," Tehran and radical Shiites, is demanding America's friends in the region are mute, Despite the rage in Iran over the killing of George McGovern's slogan from the 1972 that all 5,200 U.S. soldiers in Iraq depart. the twin goals of Iran and its militia allies Soleimani, the political imperatives that presidential campaign, has rarely seemed How can our troops, detested by the PMF appear clear: existed before last Friday's drone strike more relevant. militias and their thousands of fighters, Tehran wants to avoid a war with the remain. (Source: Buchanan.org) GUEST COMMENT Eloquently reticent: On validity of J&K curbs While ruling against indefinite Internet bans, SC fails to decide on actions. It fails to hold the government to free speech as well as for trade and character. Having rejected the the validity of J&K curbs account for the manner in which it commerce is constitutionally protected. It government's stand that it could not f enunciating the law and laying down exercised its powers. It states also lays down that any reasonable produce all the orders on the restrictions norms for the exercise of executive categorically that an indefinite ban on the restriction on fundamental rights, be it an imposed since August 4, 2019, the court Ipower were the only functions of a Internet is impermissible, but fails to Internet ban or a Section 144 order, will fails to strike them down on that ground. constitutional court, the Supreme Court's direct the restoration of services. When it have to survive the test of proportionality, After all, it concurrently says every order verdict on the prolonged lockdown in says Section 144 of the Code of Criminal that is, the restriction should be imposing a restriction should state the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is indeed Procedure "cannot be used as a tool to proportionate to the necessity for such a reason, the exigency that necessitated it admirable. However, the apex court is also prevent the legitimate expression of measure. At the same time, it cautions and the features that make it clear that it a court of justice, one duty-bound to opinion or grievance or exercise of any against the "excessive utility" of the is the least intrusive measure. The enforce fundamental rights. It cannot democratic rights", it makes a comment proportionality doctrine in matters of absence of such order in the public limit itself to opinions on the extent to worthy of being treasured in these times national security.Of great value to future domain is evidence that the state failed to which those rights can be restricted. It of frequent resort to that section. Yet, the challenges to executive action is the demonstrate its necessity. It is a sign of has to give effect to the principles it court does not go beyond directing the principle that there can be no 'secret the success of the 'national security' enunciates and rule whether the state authorities to review all their orders and orders'. The government is bound to narrative that undergirds the violated the fundamental rights of its restrictions forthwith. publish all orders it passes regarding government's position on J&K that an citizens. The disappointing aspect of the There are indeed valuable takeaways such restrictions so that they can be apex court judgment in a fundamental verdict is the court's failure to give a from the judgment. A key holding is that challenged in a court of law.It is here that rights case appears to have the character ruling on the validity of the government's the use of the Internet as a medium for the verdict acquires another unusual of an advisory opinion. (The Hindu) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 PERSPECTIVE 9 India As A Leading Power

he University of Chicago historian William McNeil has acute. described the nature of power and its relationship with China is probably in the second phase going to the third Tnotions of fairness and ethics in the following words: "It phase. In some areas it may well be in the third phase such as seems unlikely that recent and prospective enlargement of AI or quantum computing among others. By Sandeep Chakravorty human capacities to organize and exert power will be Where is India? In my personal view, I think India is mostly permanently arrested by scruples against its use. Power in in the first phase while we have our centers of excellence in the short ingests weaker centers of power or stimulates its rival second phase be it in our space programme, computing, centers of power to strengthen themselves. nuclear technology among others. Our aspiration is to This fact has dominated the whole history of mankind. This graduate comprehensively to the second phase and have our represents the realist school of international relations where presence felt in the third phase. any ethical anchor is dispensable but does reflect current Geopolitical factors favor the emergence of India as a geopolitical reality substantially. In aspiring to be a leading leading center of power, co-existing, collaborating and power India too is placing its bet on sinews of power, current competing with other major powers. India's Indo-Pacific vision and prospective. exemplifies its ambition of being a "leading power". At the In India's case the likelihood of being 'ingested' by a more Shangri-La Dialogue in 2018 Indian Prime Minister Narendra powerful entity can be rejected. The question is whether India Modi said the "destiny of the world will be deeply influenced can be or is stimulated to emerge as a center of power. by the course of developments in the Indo-Pacific region". "We are at a rare Sheer numbers alone elevate the importance of the Indo- moment, at a specific Pacific and its influence across the world. It is now home to more than 65% of the world's population who collectively juncture in history, produce more than 60% of global GDP. Over half the world's when I feel the trade passes through this region, and it hosts the fastest- growing armada of naval fleets along with seven nuclear conditions are powers. This region will also have a disproportionately high propitious for India to contribution to global growth in the decades ahead and will therefore script the new terms of trade, financial flows and emerge as a leading investments, growth, humanitarian assistance, peace and security. power. India has already China, which was the first mover, now finds itself having to been a leading power of deal with pushback of several kinds to its own expansive plans. There is little doubt that new pathways to a new order needs to sorts for quite a while. McNeil has described how such a transference of power may be discovered soon. With our size, take place from an established to an aspiring one: "No India accepts this reality and is willing to embrace greater population can overtake or surpass the rest of the world responsibility in anchoring a "rules-based democratic order" population, GDP in PPP without using the most efficient and powerful instruments in the region. India's geostrategic vision for the Indo-Pacific is terms and also in dollar known anywhere on earth, and by definition such instruments unique. We are against pitting against any country or are located at the world centers of wealth and power- wherever participate in zero-sum competitions "between free and terms, we have they may be. Thus, any geographical displacement of world repressive visions of world order". We also do not accept significant power leadership must be prefaced by successful borrowing from propositions which creates perverse dependencies through previously established centers of the highest prevailing skills. economic statecraft and military coercion in a manner better projection capability in We have several examples of this from history. The Roman suited to the Cold War era. empire borrowed heavily from the Greek civilization and our immediate region, culture in its march towards pre-eminence. During the pursuit some nuclear capability, of dominance the Arabs borrowed heavily from the Indians, Chinese, Central Asians and Persians, particularly in impressive space mathematics, astronomy and medical science. The numerals capability, an that are commonly known as Arabic numerals are in fact of Indian origin. increasingly influential In more contemporary times we have seen US building its 35 million and more strengths on the basis of skills and technology originating in Europe. The Meiji restoration of Japan is yet another example. strong Diaspora, it can But the most recent example is a spectacular one, i.e. of China. In its 4 decades of opening up it has soaked in Western hardly be denied that knowledge and technology not unlike a giant sponge. During India is not a leading this time it has been a student and a good apprentice. It has bided its time. power. But more has to In McNeil's terms, a geographical displacement of power Instead, India is positioning itself to take a different path - be done, particularly in from the trans-Atlantic to the trans-Pacific is happening with one that does not see the world in binaries, bifurcated between China at the center of power. The most obvious and partners and allies on one side, and competitors and improving the lives of consequential manifestation of the shift in power from the adversaries on the other. India offers an opportunity for our people and West to the East is the geopolitical competition between the engagement and dialogue to all states, big and small, United States and its challenger China. While the US remains democratic and authoritarian, advanced or developing. providing services for the predominant power, China is obviously not satisfied with The new vision moves away from conceptions of non- the status quo and intends to displace the US from its alignment or strategic autonomy, tools of foreign policy that the global good and to preeminent position. may have outlived their corresponding geopolitical utility. the global commons. Let us try to understand how the displacement of When Prime Minister Modi stated that "the Indo-Pacific region is not a limited club of members", he signaled India's intention But transformation of power happens: to lead a new configuration of states, guided by communities India is on and we have 1) Countries borrow knowledge systems and advanced that yearn for development, markets that require connectivity technologies from apex centers and adopt them. and nations that seek security.Despite its aversion of alliances, to work on this 2) this is followed by a phase of assimilation, mastering and India is a keen player in the evolving security architecture in assiduously". internalizing of borrowed technologies and knowledge Asia. The new American focus on Indo-Pacific has brought systems. India at the center. 3) the emerging center of power is able to generate new To put in place a vision that shapes the region and attracts knowledge and technologies in a relatively autonomous others, India needs to script its own expectations from four key manner. relationships i.e. with China, US, India's Neighbors and the This is when the displacement of power becomes a reality Global Institutional Networks. and contestation between the established center of power and CONTD ON PAGE 10 the emerging or emergent center of power begins to become THE INDIAN PANORAMA 10 PERSPECTIVE FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

CONTD FROM PAGE 9 support for India all over the world. In Soft Power The Asian story cannot be scripted by China alone, I daresay we have a big advantage over several whether it is on infrastructure connectivity or world powers. Our challenge of course is our managing security disputes. The economic prosperity ability or inability to monetize it to the advantage of the region will be implicated by the strength of the of our peoples as efforts are sporadic and India-China partnership. It is in this context that the insufficient. engagements with China embodying the Wuhan and the ● The scenario that will emerge as this Malappuram spirit need to be seen. transformation is underway is illuminating. In The US is a key partner and will be instrumental in economic power there are or will be only two making India a $ 5 Tn economy. There is enormous countries ahead of us i.e. US and China and there ballast, momentum and dynamism in this relationship, are much ahead so we are not in competition. In and this will be the key to India's emergence as a fact, with the US our aspiration is to work closely leading power. I will not get into details of the with the US to achieve our ambitions as there are transformation that has taken place in our relationship remarkable coincidence of values and views on in the last two decades. Suffice to say it is a mature how we see the world. Russia, and Japan are relationship bringing benefits to the people of both witnessing demographic decline and Europe, too, countries. 3rd largest economy in the next 5 years. is a fast ageing continent. Africa, the LAC, ASEAN ● There is a willingness to make difficult choices- and are competition but may lack India's depth of demonetization, GST, IBC, corporate tax strength in terms of economy, market size, reduction, ambitious social sector spending, demography, technological and innovation Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Universal Health Care prowess. for 500 Mn Indians under the Ayushman Bharat ● In the ultimate analysis it is how the country program, Housing For All, Electricity for All, concerned grows strong internally and is thus Connecting All villages, Financial Inclusion as enabled to project its strength externally that part of the Jan Dhan Program among others ( matters. How this happens and how it is done has India's Finance Minister recently said in New York to be discussed ad nauseum everywhere. It is like that the huge mandate given to the Government being on a cycle. We need to keep pedaling for not provided the basis to the government to make deep stalling and falling down. There is no leading from and far reaching economic reforms. A bold step behind. Even so, it is merely the beginning of a was taken in terms of reducing corporate taxation decadal journey, which will see India shoulder the India is actively engaging with its neighbors and to 15% for new companies which is the lowest in expectations that befit the world's largest except for Pakistan, India is now scripting new chapters the world). democratic economy. in cooperation with all of them. A good example is the ● Frontal attack on corruption in high places, transformation in India-Bangladesh ties, of which I reduction in mega scams. speak from personal experience. ● Demographic Dividend: in 2020, the average age in Our multilateral engagement is also vigorous with India will be 29 years old (compared to 37 in China) the global institutional framework. So, while we will be - patient for getting a permanent seat at the UN Security ● Making India a compliant society - making India Council, our participation in other forums be it G-20, an honest country. BRICS, SCO or IBSA is active and purposeful. A ● Cleaning up the banks, balance sheets, saying no particularly appealing product of our multilateral to crony capitalism. engagement is India's leadership in the Paris Climate ● A problem-solving approach of the Government. Change Accord and the setting up of the International Bringing closure to issues, Ayodhya verdict, Solar Alliance. changing the narrative and trying out a new The world has a stake in India fulfilling its immense development-oriented approach in Kashmir potential. This needs to be critically leveraged to encourage a critical mass of capital and technology to flow into India to accelerate the Indian growth. As a vibrant and pluralist democracy, India shares political values of its more powerful partners and this is an advantage. The cosmopolitan temperament of India's people and their ability to handle immense diversity and adversity are unparalleled civilizational assets in Conclusion dealing with a globalizing world. After independence India had the choice to be We are at a rare moment, at a specific juncture in satisfied with economic progress and leave its security history, when I feel the conditions are propitious for questions to be addressed by other major powers. India to emerge as a leading power. India has already Countries like Australia, Canada and Japan followed been a leading power of sorts for quite a while. With our this model. India could not accept this for the simple size, population, GDP in PPP terms and also in dollar reason that its economic, political and security terms, we have significant power projection capability Military: interests are a function of its unique history,geography, in our immediate region, some nuclear capability, ● Strong military, third largest in manpower, strong polity and society. India's ambitions of shaping the impressive space capability, an increasingly influential in defense acquisitions, creating relationships international order to its own advantage are driven by 35 million and more strong Diaspora, it can hardly be with major powers such as the US. Has power the desire to transform India into a modern country denied that India is not a leading power. But more has to projection capabilities in HADR roles. The 2004 and abolish poverty,hunger and illiteracy.The strategic be done, particularly in improving the lives of our Tsunami was a good example. elite sees foreign policy primarily in light of domestic people and providing services for the global good and to Technology: priorities. the global commons. But transformation of India is on India, as a rising power, has a different set of and we have to work on this assiduously. ● India has been a target of technology denial interests, capabilities and strategic culture from other Let us see what could be, inter alia, the factors regimes such as NSG, MTCR, Australia Group and major powers. Former National Security Advisor Wassenaar Arrangements. We have now become Shivshankar Menon summarizes the Indian way of in the transformation of India: signatory to all except NSG. India is now in a more conducting foreign policy "as a combination of ● Ruling political dispensation enjoys comfortable position with respect to accessing strategic boldness in conception and tactical caution in unprecedented political capital. technologies. Greater IPR protection also implementation, by a fundamentally realistic approach ● Strong, charismatic, focused leadership. Absence available. masked by normative rhetoric, by comfort in a plural of dissidence which used to plague previous ● Domestic Technology and Innovation is being and diverse world and by a consciousness of India's governments. given impetus. There are several pioneering destiny as a great power". Till the time India becomes a ● Ambitious goal setting: making India a $5 Tn initiatives in place and India's world ranking in great power, the world will see an India focused on economy in the next five years, 100 million toilets innovation is rising. increasing its power as well as taking more by 2019, drinking water to all homes in next 5 Soft Power: responsibilities globally. years, all homes electrified by 2019. (The author is an Indian diplomat, currently Consul General of Economy ● India has unparalleled soft power attributes. India in New York) Whether it is Yoga, Indian Cinema, Music, ● India is a $ 3tn economy and about to become the Cuisine. It generates tremendous goodwill and THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 SOUTH ASIA 11

16 killed in Pak Hell and ice water: Glacier melt mosque blast KARACHI (TIP): A powerful blast threatens Pakistan’s future at a mosque during January 10 evening prayers killed at least 16 persons, SHISPER GLACIER (PAKISTAN) including an Imam and a senior police (TIP): The villagers of Hassanabad live officer, and left 20 others injured in in constant fear. Above them the vast Pakistan's restive Balochistan Shisper glacier dominates the landscape: province, three days after a bomb A river of jagged black ice moving explosion claimed two lives in Quetta. towards them at as much as four metres The nature of the explosion, during per day. Maghrib prayers in Ghousabad Climate change is causing most neighbourhood, was not immediately glaciers worldwide to shrink, but due to a known, Dawn newspaper reported. meteorological anomaly this is one of a Deputy Superintendent of Police few in the Karakoram mountain range in (DSP) Amanullah was among the 16 northern Pakistan that are surging. people killed in the incident, Quetta This means hundreds of tonnes of ice Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul and debris are pushing down the valley at Razzaq Cheema said. ten times the normal rate or more, According to some media reports, threatening the safety of the people and the slain police officer was the likely homes below. target. “People’s lives, properties and animals Last month, unidentified gunmen are in danger,” warns villager Basir Ali. killed the DSP's son in Quetta, The Flash floods caused by glacial lakes, ice Express Tribune reported. Twenty and rock falls, and a lack of clean and others were also injured in the blast, accessible water are all serious risks for the report said. those close to its path. Law enforcement agencies have “When a glacial lake bursts there is an cordoned off the area to investigate the enormous amount of not only ice, water tributaries. according to the UN, and agriculture is incident. and debris that falls through, but also Their access to the water is governed by dependent on irrigation from the river, The mosque in a densely-populated mud and this has devastating effects, it the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which aims which heavily relies on meltwater from Pashtun-majority area was being basically destroys everything that comes for fair usage. the ice sheets. searched by the bomb disposal squad in its way,” said Ignacio Artaza of UNDP The Karakoram, which contains some With its surging population experts and security personnel. Meanwhile, an Pakistan. of the world’s tallest mountains including warn the nation faces “absolute water emergency has been declared at all But repercussions of the Shisper K2, is just one of the mountain ranges scarcity” by 2025, with the loss of the hospitals in the area. — PTI glacier surge extend far beyond its path: that criss-cross the Hindu Kush- Himalayan glaciers a key threat. The mighty Indus river is reliant on Himalayan region. While scientists cite climate change 2 pilots killed in Afghan seasonal melt for more than half of its Sometimes called The Third Pole, the and topography,it’s not clear exactly what military chopper crash flow and changes in Pakistan’s ice fields region holds more ice than anywhere causes the Karakoram anomaly where affect this. other than the Arctic or Antartica. glaciers are surging and in some cases KABUL (TIP): Two military pilots That has implications not just for those But a third of the glaciers here are growing. But many say these changes will were killed on Wednesday when their living in its basin, but for the whole expected to melt by 2100, endangering the also impact the Indus because they alter Mi35 helicopter crashed in the western nation, which relies on it for much of its lives of hundreds of millions, according meltwater patterns, causing flash Afghan province of Farah due to a food. Shifting water levels also have to this year’s Hindu Kush-Himalaya flooding or water shortages that are technical fault, the defence ministry implications for the fragile relationship Assessment Report. difficult to predict and manage. said. They had been delivering between nuclear-armed neighbours Rising in Tibet, the Indus crosses “The Shisper glacier is increasing its supplies to Afghan security forces in Pakistan and India. Already ranked through India and Pakistan fed by a length and width, furthermore it is also the area, it said in a statement. In a among the planet’s most water-stressed multitude of tributaries before it reaches moving downhill,” explained Shehzad separate incident, the ministry said a nations according to the World Resources the Arabian Sea. The waterway’s basin Baig of the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Mi17 helicopter had made an Institute, both need the Indus and its produces 90 per cent of Pakistan’s food, Management Authority.AFP "emergency landing" in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia, also as a result of a technical fault, but said Arrest warrant issued against Bangladesh’s 1st nobody had been hurt.— Reuters Imran to visit Kuala Hindu Chief Justice for alleged graft Lumpur to placate Malaysia DHAKA (TIP): An arrest warrant was described all the 11 to be “fugitives”. It home, but “interrogation is not a ISLAMABAD (TIP): Prime issued against Bangladesh’s first Hindu alleged that Sinha and 10 others mandatory provision for investigations”. Minister Imran Khan will be travelling chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha on embezzling 40 million taka from the In his autobiography “A Broken to Malaysia this month to placate charges of embezzling 40 million taka, Farmers Bank, which was later renamed Dream: Rule of Law, Human Rights and Kuala Lumpur after Pakistan skipped court officials said on Sunday. as the Padma Bank Limited, Pal said. Democracy”, Sinha said he was forced to a summit of Muslim nations Sinha, 68, who lives in the US, has been The development came nearly three resign in 2017 following intimidation and reportedly under pressure from Saudi described as a “fugitive” by the Anti- months after the ACC said it found threats, drawing a sharp reaction from Arabia, according to a media report. Corruption Commission (ACC) in its evidence of fraud involving transactions Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who Khan had confirmed Pakistan's charge sheet. of 40 million taka borrowed with fake accused some anti-government participation in the December 19-21 Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of Dhaka’s documents by two businessmen from the newspapers of backing him. summit hosted by Malaysian Prime Senior Special Judges’ Court took bank while the amount was deposited in In a media interview after the book Minister Mahathir Mohamad, but cognizance of the graft charges brought Sinha’s account. Sinha, who is said to launch in Washington, Sinha urged skipped the event at the 11th hour due against Sinha and 10 others by the ACC. have sought asylum in the US, served as India to support the rule of law and to pressure exerted by Saudi Arabia “The judge ordered his (Sinha’s) arrest the 21st Chief Justice of Bangladesh democracy in Bangladesh, calling the and the United Arab Emirates - key along with 10 others as the ACC accused from January, 2015, to November, 2017. incumbent Awami League government financial backers of the cash-strapped him of misappropriating and laundering The case came days after Sinha’s as an “autocratic” one. Sinha, country.The summit in Kuala Lumpur about 4 crore taka (USD 4,71,993) in 2016,” newly-launched autobiography brought Bangladesh’s first Chief Justice from the was seen by Saudis as an attempt to public prosecutor Taposh Kumar Pal told him in political spotlight over two years minority Hindu community, alleged that create a new bloc in the Muslim world reporters. The rest of the accused are after he was forced to quit amid a row he was forced to resign because he that could become an alternative to the former senior officials of the Farmers with the government. opposed Bangladesh’s incumbent dysfunctional Organisation of Islamic Bank, including its ex-managing The ACC earlier said if required it “undemocratic” and “authoritarian” Cooperation (OIC) led by the Gulf director. The ACC in its charge sheet would quiz Sinha by bringing him back regime. PTI Kingdom.— PTI THE INDIAN PANORAMA 12 US FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 Direct deposit fastest way to receive federal tax refund

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U.S. Census Bureau Launches Senator Liu Votes to Strengthen and First 2020 Census Ads Expand New Yorkers' Voting Rights ALBANY, NY (TIP): Senator Liu, WASHINGTON (TIP): The U.S. together with the Senate Majority Census Bureau launched its first set of Conference, passed major legislation advertisements for the 2020 Census in that will build on the historic voting Alaska ahead of the kickoff to the 2020 reforms passed under the Senate Census in remote Alaska in January Democratic Majority during the 2019 2020. The advertisements will inform Legislative Session. The bills passed on those living in approximately 220 Jan 9th will expand voting rights in New Alaska Native villages that a census York and empower more voters to get to taker will soon visit their home to the polls. count them in the 2020 Census. For the "Voting is everyone's civic duty, and rest of Alaska, and the rest of the today we expand upon the progress we "Voting is everyone's civic duty, and today we expand upon the progress we made last country,the 2020 Census begins in mid- made last year in making voting easier year in making voting easier and more March. and more accessible for New Yorkers. accessible for New Yorkers", said John Liu. On January 21, the count officially These commonsense reforms will allow begins in Toksook Bay, an Alaska takers going door-to-door is critically voters to readily exercise this not be drawn partly on or off a college Native village located on the Bering important. By responding to the fundamental freedom and participate in campus. It also requires a polling Sea west of Bethel. Locally hired census, you can help shape your our democracy," Senator Liu said. "As location on the grounds of the college census takers get a head start in rural village's future for the next decade." public servants, it is our responsibility or university when there are 300 Alaska when the ground is frozen, The Census Bureau has long been to empower more eligible New Yorkers to registered voters or more on the allowing for easier access to remote planning the most robust marketing and exercise their right to vote. The campus. villages. outreach effort in Census history for the legislation we advanced builds on the ● Ensuring Access to Early Voting for This will be the first time the Census 2020 Census. The newly released historic progress we made last year in New York's Population Centers: This Bureau has aired ads targeted at advertisements are part of the Census reforming our electoral system. I will bill, S.6754A, sponsored by Senator remote Alaska audiences for a Bureau's $500 million communications continue my efforts to empower eligible Neil Breslin requires that in each decennial census. Aimed primarily at campaign to increase awareness and New Yorkers to have their voices heard," county, the municipality with the reaching Alaska Native people, the participation in the 2020 Census. Senator Liu added. largest population contain at least advertising creative includes full-page In January, paid advertising in The additional voting reforms one early voting location. print ads, commercial signage, support of the 2020 Census will begin ● Voter Notifications: This bill, S.6805, posters, radio ads and digital content. running in the rest of the country in passed by the Senate Democratic sponsored by Senator ZellnorMyrie "We are working hard with state and print and digital outlets, on television Majority includes: authorizes state and local tribal leaders as well as community and radio, on billboards, and at transit ● Automatic Voter Registration (AVR): transportation departments to organizations to make sure that the stations. The integrated campaign will This bill, S.6457B, sponsored by provide important voting Alaska Native population and feature advertising in 13 languages Deputy Majority Leader Michael registration and Election Day everyone in Alaska - no matter where and be in market from January Gianaris, creates a system of information on message signs on they live - receive information about through June. For more information, automatic voter registration (AVR) highways. the 2020 Census and why it is so visit the Census Bureau's 2020 Census within designated agency ● Early Voting on Long Island: This bill, important to be counted," said Census Paid Media Campaign. applications at the Departments of S.6922, sponsored by Senator Anna Bureau Director Steven Dillingham. Most households in the United States Health and Motor Vehicles. Kaplan will require that each town "Residents of remote Alaskan villages will start receiving invitations by mail ● College or University Provided and city on Long Island have at least have limited internet connectivity and to respond to the 2020 Census in mid- Polling Place: This bill, S.4378, one early voting polling location. no at-home mail delivery, so March. For more information, visit sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker, (Read full story on conducting the count with census 2020census.gov. provides that election districts shall www.theindianpanorama.news) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 US 13

Indian American MIT Eye Foundation of America with Goutami Economist's Endeavor for More Efficient Eye institute Rajahmundry Gifts Retinal Kidney-Donation Camera to Rotary Club of Calcutta System Dr. VK Raju emphasizes the need to prevent childhood blindness

Agarwal joined the MIT faculty in 2014 and began publishing papers on a range of topics

BOSTON (TIP): For Optimizing kidney donation, MIT economist Nikhil Agarwal analyzes the efficiency of markets that match suppliers and consumers but don't use prices. In the last year, a new method he and some colleagues formulated for a more efficient kidney-donation system has been approved for implementation by the Alliance for Paired Donation, the second-largest platform for such transplants in the U.S. Currently there are about 800 kidney exchange Dr. VK Raju, founder and president of the Eye Foundation of America speaking at the transplants in the U.S. annually; by centennial celebrations of Rotary Club of Agarwal's estimation, a more efficient Calcutta exchange market could increase that number by 30 to 60 percent. In a series of papers examining the inefficiencies of kidney transplant systems in the U.S., Agarwal and a variety of co-authors looked at the numbers and came back with solutions. One major source of inefficiency, Agarwal has discovered, is a lack of scale. Bigger networks of hospitals could better match donors and recipients. Right now, 62 percent of kidney donor-and-recipient pairings consist of patients at the same hospitals; that number would be lower in a more efficient system. One reason for this: Donors and recipients must have matching blood types. People with type O blood can donate kidneys across blood types, but they can only receive kidneys from other type O people. Due to the timing of when people enter kidney markets, a bigger network is more efficient in this regard. In single-hospital networks, 22.8 percent of type O donors give a kidney to a non-type O recipient (for whom other donors Dr. VK Raju, VV KumarSecretary and chief operating officer of Goutami Eye Institute, and Mr. Shiva Kumar, ROP Technician with Goutami Eye might be found), while in the biggest Institutegifting the Retinal camera to Rotary Club of Calcutta. U.S. kidney network, just 6.5 percent KOLKATA (TIP): Rotary Club of premature in India annually. gratitude to the Eye Foundation of do, meaning its type O participants are Calcutta at its centennial celebrations ROP is a leading cause of preventable America and Goutami Eye Institute connecting more optimally. from December 31, 2019 to January 2, infant blindness in India. Incidence of and said the gift of retinal camera will Agarwal's research also suggests 2020 received a unique gift from US based ROP is increasing in India due to greatly help in carrying out that hospitals tend to be very Eye Foundation of America and its improved neonatal survival. diagnostics for appropriate treatment concerned about the financial and Rajahmundry, India basedGoutami Eye Presenting the gift of Retinal Camera of retinopathy. Mr. Roychoudhary was administrative costs they incur while Institute on the first day of the year 2020. to Rotary Club of Calcutta, founder and joined by the Centennial celebrations handling the transplant process - The Retinal camera screens president of the Eye Foundation of committee chair Mr. Saumen Ray and although such costs are small premature baby for retinopathy. America Dr. VK Raju said he hopes the others while Dr. VK Raju was joined by compared to the overall social value of Retinopathy of prematurity is a vaso- retinal camera will help the eye Mr. VV Kumar, Secretary and chief transplants. Well-crafted subsidies and proliferative disorder of the retinal surgeons offer appropriate treatment of operating officer of Goutami Eye mandates, as he has detailed, can help blood vessels of premature infants. retinopathy, Institute and Mr. Shiva Kumar, ROP address this particular problem. World Health Organization 2012 report Accepting the gift, Club president Technician with Goutami Eye (Source: MIT News) says that 3.5 million infants are born PurnenduRoychowdhury expressedhis Institute. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 14 INDIA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 INDIAN GOVT CONSIDERING DOMICILE RIGHTS FOR J&K Delhi Police identifies JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, 8 others as suspects in JNU violence

NEW DELHI (TIP): The Delhi Police on Friday said it has identified nine people, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh, as suspects in the JNU violence case. Most of the other people SRINAGAR (TIP): To protect the domicile rights of identified so far by the police are the People of Jammu and Kashmir, the Central members of Left-wing students Government is considering to give other states like organisations. domicile benefits to people living in the Union Addressing a press conference, DCP Territories. (crime) Joy Tirkey disclosed nine names Senior Home Ministry official claimed that Jammu and also released their photographs. and Kashmir administration and Ministry of Home "Unfortunately the CCTV footages Affairs (MHA) are considering a proposal regarding were not available to us as the server framing rules to protect domicile rights in Jammu room was vandalised a day before. We and Kashmir. have identified some people based on “We are examining whether a Union Territory can viral videos and other investigations," issue the rules and Himachal and Uttrakhand type of Joy Tirkey said. restrictions on the purchase of land to protect DCP Tirkey said the police have not domicile rights,” a senior MHA official claimed. detained anyone so far. "We will serve Sources from the MHA also claimed that the notices to the identified people and ask DCP (Crime) Joy Tirkey releases photographs of suspects in JNU violence as Delhi government may also give some benefits in them about their presence during the Police PRO MS Randhawa (R) looks on, during a press conference in New Delhi. government jobs to locals. violence," he said. “It is unclear that who will frame the rules, whether He, however, said more names may be were injured in the violence that marred Sucheta Talukdar, School of Social it will be through MHA of UT can frame it. Also, the revealed in subsequent press the Jawaharlal Nehru University when a Science government is yet to decide the number of years conferences as investigation proceeds. mob of several masked people stormed Priya Ranjan, School of Language required to live in Jammu and Kashmir to get Meanwhile, responding to the into hostels in JNU and attacked and Cultural Studies domicile status,” they said. development, JNUSU president Aishe students and teachers with rods, sticks Vaskar Vijay Once the government will finalise the rules of Ghosh said, "Delhi Police can do their and stones. According to the Delhi Police, most of domicile status, locals and people who lived in Jammu inquiry. I also have evidence to show The students so far identified as them are members of Left-wing and Kashmir for a long time will be able to get benefits how I was attacked." suspects by the Delhi Police which it students' organisations. of different schemes from Jobs and land purchases. The names disclosed today by the claims were involved in Sunday's Delhi Police PRO, MS Randhawa said, It is expected that the government will frame the police are of those it suspects were violence are: "The investigation regarding the rules to give domicile rights in the next few months, involved in the violence at Periyar Aishe Ghosh, JNUSU president criminal cases filed in connection with they added. Hostel on Sunday afternoon. However, Vikas Patel, MA Korean Studies the JNU violence incident is being In Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, there is a the police did not give much information Pankaj Mishra, School of Social carried out by the Crime Branch. But it restriction on purchasing land. In these states, one whether they have identified any of the Science has been observed that a lot of has to get a domicile certificate to get benefits from masked people who attacked students Chunchun Kumar, former JNU misinformation related to these cases is various government schemes and to purchase and teachers at JNU on Sunday evening. student being circulated." agriculture land. In the violence that took in the Yogendra Bhardwaj, PhD Sanskirt The Delhi Police, however, did not evening, Aishe Ghosh suffered head Dolan Samanata, School of Social take questions from the media during Foreign envoys conclude injuries. Nearly 30 students and teachers Science the press conference. Jammu and Kashmir visit Govt warned of spike in violence CITIZENSHIP ACT in J&K, no troop withdrawal COMES INTO EFFECT New Delhi (TIP): The government is gearing up for a hot NEW DELHI (TIP): The contentious summer in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The government has Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 that grants been warned by security agencies of a possible spike in citizenship on the basis of religion came into violence after the meeting of the Financial Action Task Force force on Friday. (FATF) concludes. Pakistan is in the Grey list of the FATF for In a gazette notification, the Union home money laundering and terror financing. ministry said the act under which non-Muslim Agencies are apprehensive that there will be fresh attempts refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and 15 Foreign envoy poses for a photograph on the banks of to push in terrorists especially those from Afghanistan who Afghanistan will be given Indian citizenship, Dal Lake during their visit to Srinagar on January 9, are not only well-trained but battle-hardened as well. will come into force from January 10. “There are very credible inputs about terrorists from “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub- SRINAGAR (TIP): The 16-member delegation of Afghanistan trying to infiltrate March onwards and the area section (2) of the section 1 of the Citizenship foreign envoys concluded their two-day visit to of infiltration may not be limited to J&K only and could take (Amendment) Act, 2019 (47 of 2019), the Central Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, reported IANS. place through areas such as Punjab and Rajasthan as well,” a government hereby appoints the 10th day of On Friday, they met representatives of the civil senior ministry of home affairs (MHA) official said on January, 2020, as the date on which the societies and political groups in Jammu. condition of anonymity. provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” The delegation also went to the Jagti Migrant In addition, there are about 350 and 400 terrorists already the notification said. Township for the Kashmiri Pandits, 20 km from in the valley, according to estimates of the Multi-Agency The CAA was passed by parliament on Jammu, to meet members of community. Centre (MAC), a platform headed by the Intelligence Bureau December 11 last year. The Kashmiri Pandits briefed the delegation about which collates, evaluates and shares information among Critics say that the Act is discriminatory and the terror in Kashmir and problems that they were users. violates Article 14 of the Constitution, however, facing since their enforced migration from the valley To address the possible threat, MHA decided against PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have on in early 1990s. On Thursday, the delegation met with pulling out any more troops. several occasions underlined that it only member of civil societies and some journalists in The Jammu and Kashmir security grid was strengthened provides a refuge to the six communities who Srinagar. They were also given briefing about the with nearly 850 companies of paramilitary forces – each have faced religious persecution in the three security situation by the Army at the Corp company comprising 100 men – apart from the military and countries mentioned above. Amid raging headquarters in Srinagar. police prior to August 5, when Parliament passes laws and protests across the country over the Act, the This was the second foreign delegation visiting the resolutions to bifurcate the state into two Union territories home minister made it clear that the government valley after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. and scrapped constitutional provisions that gave the region won’t move back even an inch on the Act. The This visit was arranged by the government as well special status. Of the 850, only about 100 companies have been government has been saying that the minority like the previous delegation of Members of European withdrawn since. groups from the three countries have no other Parliament in October, facilitated by an NGO, This summer, at least 700 companies of the paramilitary option but to come India when they face religious reported IANS. forces will continue to be positioned in J&K. Source: HT persecution there. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 INDIA 15

SC stays NCLAT order restoring India’s curb on import may raise Cyrus Mistry as executive palm oil prices, hit trade chairman of Tata Group NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court on NEW DELHI (TIP): India, the Friday said there were world’s biggest importer of edible “basic errors" in the oils, has curbed inbound shipments National Company Law of palmolein or palm oil, whose Appellate Tribunal main exporter is Malaysia, a move (NCLAT)’s observations that can alter global trade in these and stayed the tribunal’s items and can stoke inflation. order reinstating Cyrus According to people aware of the Mistry as executive developments, the decision was chairman of Tata Sons. aimed at squeezing key supplier “Our first impression is Malaysia because of Prime not good about the order of Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s the tribunal," said a bench headed by Chief Justice criticism of a new citizenship law S.A. Bobde. “The tribunal granted the prayer which and New Delhi’s actions in Kashmir, was not prayed for." people familiar with developments The bench, also comprising justices B.R. Gavai and said on Thursday. Surya Kant, said the matter needs to be heard in On January 8, the directorate detail, and issued notices to Cyrus Investments Pvt. general of foreign trade, the Ltd and Mistry for a hearing after four weeks. country’s foreign trade regulator, prime minister,” said an official India imports more than nine Last month, NCLAT said that Mistry was illegally had issued a notification, amending who declined to be named. million tonnes of palm oil every year, ousted in October 2016 at the behest of Ratan Tata, the foreign trade policy and putting External affairs ministry mainly from Indonesia and the chairman-emeritus of the group, and that the three categories of refined palm oil spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told a Malaysia, the two biggest exporters. actions were “oppressive" for minority shareholders. from “free” to “restricted”. This regular news briefing on Thursday The import of crude edible oil in fact It also restrained Tata and his representatives from means that while there is no ban on the new notification was product- had a negative growth of 14.17% in taking any decision that would require a majority imports, importers have to apply for specific and not country-specific. 2018-19 over 2017-18 and negative vote on the board of Tata Sons. licences for importing palm oil, “Imports are decided by two factors growth of 18.82% in 2019-20 (April to As part of its order, the tribunal had ruled that the which will be first vetted by DGFT – commercial decisions and trade September) as compared to the appointment of Natarajan Chandrasekaran as authorities. policy...Certain procedures will be corresponding period of the chairman of Tata Sons in early 2017 and the This is a classic case of a non- put in place, and imports of palm oil previous year, the data show. subsequent transition from a publicly-held company tariff barrier to free trade, which are not prohibited,” he said. In 2016-17, crude palm oil import to a private entity were also illegal. It further ordered follows India’s deep resentment of Indian importers will now from Malaysia stood at 1.9 million that Tata Sons be restored as a public company to what it sees as “undue interference” naturally look at substitute tonne, while in 2017-18, inbound give minority shareholders more autonomy to sell by a foreign country in its internal markets, such as Indonesia, Nepal, shipments were 1.7 million tonne. their shares. political matters. Ukraine and Argentina, a second Indian authorities and traders are “Despite our repeated efforts to official said. looking for quick substitutes, Cong, BJP’s incomes surged convey to Malaysia it shouldn’t Nepal, however, has expressed without which prices of edible oils interfere in these matters, their concerns because it is a major can see an upswing. ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls prime minister has continued to refiner of Malaysian palm oil, which “Indonesia is ready to sell us and speak on these issues. It is it exports to India. The country’s fill the gap of palm oil. If Indonesia surprising this has continued even total import of crude edible oils was can ramp up its exports, then there after members of the Malaysian 12.4 million tonne in 2018-19 valued at will be no problem. Otherwise, prices government have spoken out Rs 8,227 million, according to official could go up,” said Mayur Raheja, an against the position taken by their figures. Indore-based trader. Source: HT Govt appoints 2 joint secretaries, NEW DELHI (TIP): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress saw the highest annual 13 deputies to assist CDS growth in their incomes in financial year 2018-19 ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, according to NEW DELHI (TIP): The newly- financial audit reports filed by the parties with the created department of military Election Commission of India (ECI) and figures from affairs, headed by the chief of their previous audit reports compiled by election defence staff (CDS), will be staffed watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms. with two joint secretaries, 13 deputy The BJP reported an income of Rs 2410 crore in secretaries and 25 under secretaries, 2018-19, nearly 135% more than its income in the a government official said on previous financial year. The Congress reported Rs 918 condition of anonymity, adding that crore of income in 2018-19, which is 361% more than the officers would be a mix of its income in the previous financial year. The income civilians and uniformed personnel. of both the parties in 2018-19 was the highest they The new department, under CDS received in 18 years for which the data is available and General Bipin Rawat, is an addition this was the highest annual growth in their incomes to the four existing verticals in the in this period. defence ministry: the departments of The figures suggest that the Congress party, which defence, defence production, defence had been reporting a drop in its annual incomes for research and development, and ex- has set a June 30 deadline for the One of the key objectives behind four consecutive years, recovered on this front. Not service welfare. As CDS, Rawat is the proposal to be submitted. In the last so-called jointmanship is the only did its income rise in absolute terms but its share principal military adviser to the few days, he held series of meetings setting up of joint or theatre in income received by the two parties also rose for the defence minister on all matters with important functionaries of the commands for the best use of first time after falling for five consecutive years. The related to the tri-services. defence ministry and the three military resources to fight future Congress had a majority share in the income of the He took over as the country’s first services exploring ways to bring in battles. While the army and the two parties up to 2012-13. Its share fell below 50% in CDS on December 31. inter-service synergy and jointness navy have been open to the idea, the 2013-14 and then dropped every year,reaching just 16% In his first official directive after in a time bound manner. Indian Air Force has concerns in 2017-18. It has now grown to 28% in 2018-19. taking over as CDS, Rawat last week The government expects the CDS about theaterisation. Electoral bonds, which allow anonymous donations asked top officials of Headquarters to bring about jointness among the The new department will also to political parties, were among the largest sources of Integrated Defence Staff to prepare a three services within three years. work towards promoting the use of income for these two parties. More than 60% of the proposal to create an Air Defence He is expected to prepare an indigenous equipment by the BJP’s income came through electoral bonds, a total of command to enhance military annual report for the defence services at a time when the armed about Rs 1451 crore. The Congress received Rs 383 synergy and optimally utilise the minister on achievements in forces are heavily dependent on crore through this instrument, comprising nearly resources of the armed forces. Rawat improving jointness. imported military hardware. 42% of its total income. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 16 MLK FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 ‘The Strategic King: MLK’s Visionary Leadership’ Celebrated By Mabel Pais As the Apollo kicks-off this new decade, it will continue to uplift and celebrate bold “leaders such as Dr. King, whose lasting influence and significance still remain"- Jonelle Procope, President and CEO, Apollo Theater Leadership is as much about strategy as it is about inspiration." "King's impressive “command of these strategic leadership disciplines led to truly historic success and made him the transformational leader we celebrate today."-Jami Floyd, WNYC Radio Host The Apollo Theater and WNYC Announce the 14th Annual Dr. The Apollo Theater (Inside) Photo / apollotheater.org Martin Luther King, Jr. Day About WNYC Celebration With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, "THE STRATEGIC KING: MLK'S VISIONARY WNYC is New York's public radio station, broadcasting LEADERSHIP" and streaming award-winning journalism, Dr. ML King with President LB Johnson Photo / wnyc.org Co-Hosted by WNYC's BRIAN LEHRER and JAMI groundbreaking audio programming, and essential talk FLOYD With WQXR's TERRANCE McKNIGHT as Master For the first time since its inception, this year's event radio to the city and beyond. WNYC is a leading member of Ceremonies will take place one week before the Dr. Martin Luther station of NPR and also broadcasts programs from the Guests Include the Honorable John Lewis (D-GA), The King, Jr. national holiday, and will be recorded for BBC World Service, along with a roster of WNYC- Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart, Artist Carrie Mae national broadcast to over 300 stations on NPR's 1A on the produced local programs that champion the stories and Weems, and former Representative Bakari Sellers actual holiday, Monday, January 20. Locally in New York, spirit of New York City and the surrounding region. Co-Presented by The March on Washington Film Festival Sunday, January 12, 2020, 3PM -5PM WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show will air the special on From its state-of-the-art studios, WNYC is reshaping Event to be recorded for broadcast on NPR's 1A, airing Monday, January 20, 2020, as well. audio for a new generation of listeners, producing some on Monday, January 20, 2020 "This year's Uptown Hall partnership with WNYC of the most-loved nationally-syndicated public radio NYC and the Apollo Theater will present explores a different more in-depth view of Dr. King, and programs including "Radiolab," "On the Media," "The WNYC's 14th Annual Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. gives us a chance to take a deeper dive into the political Takeaway," and "Snap Judgment." WNYC broadcasts on WDay celebration, "The Strategic King: MLK's and media strategies that helped shape the core of the 93.9 FM and AM 820 to listeners in New York and the tri- Visionary Leadership", aspart of the Apollo's Uptown Civil Rights Movement. As the Apollo kicks-off this new state area, and is available to audiences everywhere at Hall series, on Sunday, January 12 at 3pm. decade, it will continue to uplift and celebrate bold WNYC.org, the WNYC app and through major digital Hosted by WNYC's Peabody Award-winning host Brian leaders such as Dr. King, whose lasting influence and radio services, all made possible through the generous Lehrer and All Things Considered host Jami Floyd, this significance still remain," said Jonelle Procope, President support of its members, donors and sponsors. annual gathering convenes artists and activists, and CEO, Apollo Theater. About Apollo Theater journalists and change-makers to deeply engage with Dr. "Dr. King often gets celebrated for his high ideals - as he King's legacy and how his actions and teachings speak to should be - but at this moment of renewed activism for The legendary Apollo Theater - the soul of American and inform the social justice matters of our own time. equality and social justice, it's also good to recognize his culture - plays a vital role in cultivating emerging artists This year's event, "The Strategic King: MLK's practical side," said Brian Lehrer. "We can learn today and launching legends. Since its founding, the Apollo has Visionary Leadership," will focus on Dr. King and his from how he organized for change, and how the strategic served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst colleagues' skillful use of the media and politically King had success. for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world. strategic tactics to influence politicians and helped pass To that end, we're thrilled to have the mix of long-time With music at its core, the Apollo's programming extends key legislation in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. movement leaders and younger activists that we do, and to dance, theater, spoken word, and more. This includes The event will consider how those strategies continue to excited to bring it to a national audience via our special programs such as the blockbuster concert "Bruno inform and inspire contemporary social justice colleagues at NPR and 1A." Mars Live at the Apollo,""100: The Apollo Celebrates Ella," movements, especially as some of those very protections "Leadership is as much about strategy as it is about the annual "Africa Now! Festival," and the New York are under attack today. inspiration," said Jami Floyd. "Dr. King anticipated the premiere of the opera "We Shall Not Be Moved." The Apollo Featured guests include: strategies needed to bring about change. He employed is a performing arts presenting organization that also powerful unconventional tactics to challenge the status produces festivals and large-scale dance and music works o Herb Boyd - Journalist, educator, and author quo. By recognizing and interpreting political organized around a set of core initiatives that celebrate and o Taylor Branch - Pulitzer Prize-winning author and undercurrents, moral awakenings in the North, and extend the Apollo's legacy through a contemporary lens; historian changing social mores -especially among younger global festivals including the "Women of the World (WOW) o Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas - Dean, Episcopal Americans - King strategically set out to redirect Festival and Breakin' Convention," international and U.S.- Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary political forces at local and national levels. based artist presentations focused on a specific theme; and o Jonathan Capehart - Washington Post Opinion Writer Whether Marching on Selma or composing his Letter Special Projects, multidisciplinary collaborations with o Dorothy Butler Gilliam - journalist Mary-Pat Hector - from a Birmingham Jail, Dr. King was driven by an partner organizations. National Youth Director for National Action Network uncompromising vision of social justice, he always Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in o Khalil Gibran Muhammad - Professor of History, approached tactical decisions with a seasoned eye for 1934, the Apollo Theater has served as a testing ground Race, and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School risks, unintended consequences, and symbolic value. for new artists working across a variety of art forms and and the Radcliffe Institute King's impressive command of these strategic has ushered in the emergence of many new musical o Rashad Robinson - President of Color Of Change leadership disciplines led to truly historic success and genres-including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, o Bakari Sellers - Former South Carolina State made him the transformational leader we celebrate soul, and hip-hop. Among the countless legendary Representative, attorney, political commentator and today." performers who launched their careers at the Apollo are politician "The Strategic King: MLK's Visionary Leadership" is D'Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly,Miri Ben Ari, The program will be complemented by music and free and open to the public, but RSVPs are mandatory at: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James special spoken-word performances by artist and apollotheater.org/uptownhall. Brown, Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight, Luther MacArthur Fellow Carrie Mae Weems, Pulitzer Prize- Request Tickets now. The event presented in Vandross, and Stevie Wonder; and the Apollo's forward- winner and U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey, and collaboration with the March on Washington Film looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy. playwright and producer Jessica Care Moore. WQXR's Festival. (Mabel Pais writes on Spirituality, Social Issues, the Arts and Terrance McKnight will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Entertainment, and Health & Wellness) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 17 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 18 BOLLYWOOD FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 DON'T REMEMBER A LIFE WHEN I HAVE BEEN OUT OF LOVE, SAYS KANGANA here is finally a man in Bollywood who inspired TKangana Ranaut to settle down in marriage, and he is married! Before you jump to conclusions that Kangana has found the man of her dreams, let us Salman Khan’s next titled clarify: Kangana was merely talking about filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari, Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali who is the husband of Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, who has directed her ollywood superstar Salman Khan, upcoming film, Panga. who is basking in the success of "Undeniably,I have always felt it is BDabangg 3, has booked the Eid 2021 difficult to find someone who will be slot. The actor on Friday announced his on the same level. However, after new film titled Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali, having met Nitesh Tiwari, and which will be helmed by Farhad Samjhi noticing them so amicable and and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. loving in their marriage, my Salman tweeted, “Announcing my next opinion on marriage has changed. film… KABHI EID KABHI DIWALI …. He supports his wife so STORY & PRODUCED BY SAJID wholeheartedly. Marriage seems NADIADWALA …DIRECTED by possible to me now," Kangana told FARHAD SAMJI…EID 2021 … Deccan Chronicle, reports #SajidNadiadwala @NGEMovies filmibeat.com. @farhad_samji @WardaNadiadwala Kangana also revealed how her @SKFilmsOfficial” dream man should be. "He should be This year, fans of Dabangg Khan will someone more intelligent, beautiful get to watch him in Prabhudheva’s (handsome), and more talented than Radhe. Also starring Disha Patani, me," she declared, adding that she Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff, the does "have a romantic side". film will be produced by Sohail Khan, "I don't remember a life when I Atul Agnihotri and Salman Khan. have been out of love. I have had bad Farhad Samjhi has earlier directed and experiences with love, but I move on written Akshay Kumar starrer Housefull quickly," she said. 4. He is currently working on Akshay’s Uh...huh! Wedding bells around Bachchan Pandey which will be out in the corner, Kangana?! theaters on Christmas 2020. ISHAAN KHATTER ON WHY IT WAS ‘EASY’ ROMANCING TABU IN A SUITABLE BOY shaan Khatter, who will be seen playing Maan Kapoor, who is Iinfatuated with a courtesan named Saeeda Bai (played by Tabu) in Mira Nair's A Suitable Boy, says that was "easy" for him to romance Tabu on screen. During an episode of Neha Dhupia's talk show No Filter Neha, Ishaan was asked if it was easy romancing the veteran JAWAANI JAANEMAN: SAIF actress on screen, to which he replied by saying, "Because that IS BACK TO DOING WHAT person is Tabu, it really does half the job for you. The 24-year-old actor HE DOES BEST added, "I have said this before and I he trailer of Saif Ali Khan starrer Jawaani have said this in Dhadak as well, it Jaaneman is out, and it looks like Saif is back to is always easy for me to play the Tdoing what he does best – playing the man-child. besotted lover. Because she's The trailer introduces us to Saif ’s character who mesmerising, she is and especially appears to hop from party to party and dresses like he in this character. I am really excited is in his 20s. Amid all this partying, he is introduced to for people to see Saaeda Bai," news Ghalib's poetry," IANS quoted series. The web-series will be a 21-year-old woman who is, in fact, his daughter. agency IANS stated. Ishaan as saying. distributed by BBC Studios. Debutante Alaya F has Saif as her father and Tabu as The Beyond the Clouds actor The series will be shot across a A Suitable Boy is based on her mother in the film. Tabu plays a carefree woman added that he has a nickname for variety of locations in India, Vikram Seth's novel of the same who is simply nonchalant about everything. the AndhaDhun actress. "It is including Lucknow and name. It showcases the stories of The trailer also features appearances by Kubbra Sait, Tabasco. Tabasco for Tabassum. I Maheshwar. The series also features four families, set in post- Farida Jalal, Kumud Mishra and Kiku Sharda. Jawaani came up with it. She's mirchi," said accomplished actors like Randeep independence era. The story is Jaaneman seems like a coming-of-age film, but this Ishaan. When asked what he would Hooda, Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, centered around Rupa Mehra, who, time it’s not centred around a 20-something person but like to gift her, Ishaan said, "My Namit Das, Gagan Dev Riar, Danesh during the process of finding a a grown man. heart! I would like to gift her. I think Razvi, Mikhail Sen, Mahira Kakkar, suitable boy for her 19-year-old The trailer features the remix version of Saif Ali I am very much in possession of my Vijay Varma and Vijay Raaz. Tanya daughter Lata, embarks on a Khan’s hit number “Ole Ole” and also a remixed heart. I would gift her a book of Maniktala will play Lata in the journey of self-discovery. version of Jazzy B’s song “Jinhe Mera Dil Luteya”. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 HOLLYWOOD 19 WE’RE ON THE RIGHT PATH, SAYS SALMA HAYEK ON WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD ctress Salma Hayek is very hopeful about the future for women in Justin Bieber diagnosed AHollywood. She said that the women in the industry are on the right path and are not with Lyme disease going to stop. "What I can tell you is that a lot more inger Justin Bieber has revealed he women are directing and acting and writing was recently diagnosed with Lyme and producing. And there are a lot more Sdisease and a "serious case" of movies made about women and for women chronic mono, something he said, will be because the audience was neglected," Hayek explored further in his upcoming told variety.com at the premiere of her new docuseries. comedy "Like a Boss" in New York on Tuesday The singer, who was on a hiatus for five night. years, confirmed the news on Wednesday "We're on the right path. And we're not on Instagram, where he shared a photo of going to stop," Hayek added. an article about his health. The Oscar nominee was joined by her co- Justin, 25, called out trolls for jumping stars Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne. the gun about how he "looks" these days. "Like a Boss" follows best friends Mia and "While a lot of people kept saying Justin Mel who join forces to run their own boutique Bieber looks like sh**, on meth etc. they cosmetics company. When the prospect of a failed to realise I've been recently big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the diagnosed with Lyme disease, not only beauty industry tempts them, their lifelong that but had a serious case of chronic bond - and their business - is put in jeopardy. mono which affected my, skin, brain She said: "For once this is a movie that is function, energy, and overall health," he not about a woman looking for a man or wrote in the picture's caption. needing a man. I hope that a lot of people go to Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, see it because the more that they see movies which leads to redness on the skin in about women, the more that it empowers addition to fever, headache and tiredness. women." "These things will be explained further The comedy comes on the heels of a banner in a docu series I'm putting on YouTube year in cinema that featured female shortly. You can learn all that I've been protagonists in films like "Little Women" and battling and OVERCOMING!!" the singer "Captain Marvel." added. COLIN FARRELL TO PLAY PENGUIN IN THE BATMAN

CHESTER BENNINGTON’S

irector Matt Reeves recently Kyle/Catwoman, Paul Dano as Edward confirmed that Colin Farrell will Nashton/The Riddler, John Turturro as WIDOW TALINDA REMARRIES Dbe playing Oswald Cobblepot aka Carmine Falcone, Penguin in The Batman. Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner ate Linkin Park’s frontman Bennington, son Tyler and twins Lilly Rumours of Farrell being involved in Gordon, and Andy Serkis as Alfred Chester Bennington’s widow and Lila, were among the wedding party the film have been floating around since Pennyworth. LTalinda has reportedly remarried, guests as well as friends and other family November last year. Reeves took to Danny DeVito is the last actor to have two years after his death. members. Sources say Bennington’s Twitter where he shared a gif of Farrell played the Penguin on the big screen, in Talinda, 42, announced she was family are reportedly happy for Talinda and captioned it: “Wait, is that you, Tim Burton’s 1992 film Batman engaged to Los Angeles County fire- and Fredman’s new chapter as husband Oz?” Returns. Robin Lord Taylor, who was fighter Michael Fredman in September and wife, and believe he’s had a positive Farrell joins the cast that already has recently seen in the second season of last year, five months after he proposed. impact on the children. The wedding Robert Pattinson as Batman/Bruce You, played Penguin in Fox’s series The duo tied the knot in Hawaii. Talinda comes two years after Bennington, 41, Wayne, Zoe Kravitz as Selina Gotham. and the three children she shared with committed suicide on July 20, 2017. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 20 THEATER FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 Astrophysicist Tyson Unravels Mysteries of Universe By Mabel Pais "The most popular scientist in the world." - Sunday Times (UK) "Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive" - People Magazine (2000)

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson unravels the mysteries of the universe in a cosmically entertaining evening At NJPAC on January 16, Neil deGrasse Tyson Photo/ courtesy NJPAC

2020 at 7:30 p.m. Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid Choice awards, as well as a dozen other industry "13123 Tyson." On the lighter side, Tyson was voted recognitions. he New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) "Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive" by 'People Magazine' in 'COSMOS: Possible Worlds' will translate the presents An Evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson 2000. revelations of science into a lavishly transporting Ton Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. In 2001, he was appointed by President Bush to serve experience, taking audiences on a series of spiritual Certain things in life we know for sure: The sun will on a 12-member commission that studied the Future of voyages of exploration. rise every morning. The stars will shine at night. And the U.S. Aerospace Industry. In 2004, Tyson was once Neil deGrasse Tyson, born and raised in New York astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will return to again appointed by President Bush to serve on a 9- City, was educated in the public schools clear through NJPAC to unravel the mysteries of the universe in this member commission on the Implementation of the his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. cosmically entertaining evening. United States Space Exploration Policy.And in 2006, the Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics from Harvard Currently the head of NYC's Hayden Planetarium, Dr. head of NASA appointed Tyson to serve on its University and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia Tyson will fill you with wonder (and laughter) with his prestigious Advisory Council, which will help guide University. unique insights into space and science. Have a question NASA through its perennial need to fit its ambitious To learn more about Neil deGrasse Tyson, visit about how the world works? He just might answer it in vision into its restricted budget. https://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson the interactive Q&A session. For five seasons, beginning in the fall of 2006, Tyson Tickets About Neil deGrasse Tyson appeared as the on-camera host of PBS-NOVA's spinoff program "NOVA ScienceNOW," which is an accessible For Tickets to see Neil deGrasse Tyson visit He is considered "The most popular scientist in the look at the frontier of all the science that shapes the NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office or call 888.GO. world" by 'The Sunday Times.' understanding of our place in the universe. NJPAC (888.466.5722). What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit During the summer of 2009 Tyson identified a stable NJPAC within the universe? How does the universe fit within of professional standup comedians to assist his effort in us? Today, few of us have time to contemplate the bringing science to commercial radio with the NSF- The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), cosmos. 'Astrophysics for People in a Hurry' will reveal funded pilot program 'StarTalk.' Now also a popular located in downtown Newark, N.J., has the most diverse just what you need to be fluent and ready for the next Podcast, and a limited-run Television Series on the programming and audience of any performing arts cosmic headlines: from the Big Bang to black holes, National Geographic Channel, 'StarTalk' combines center in the country, and is the artistic, cultural, from quarks to quantum mechanics, and from the celebrity guests with informative yet playful banter. educational and civic center of New Jersey - where search for planets to the search for life in the universe. The target audience is all those people who never great performances and events enhance and transform A New York Times best-selling author, Neil deGrasse thought they would, or could, like science. In its first lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities Tyson has written most recently 'Letters from an year on television it was nominated for a Best together, providing access to all and showcasing the Astrophysicist.' Other titles are 'Death by Black Hole,' Informational Programming Emmy. state's and the world's best artists while acting as a 'Space Chronicles,' 'Welcome to the Universe,' The 'StarTalk' network bridges the intersection leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. 'Astrophysics for People in a Hurry,' and 'Accessory To between science, pop culture, and comedy with clarity, Through its extensive Arts Education programs, War,' of which he is co-author, besides dozens of humor, and passion. 'StarTalk' Radio, was the first NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and professional publications. popular commercial radio program devoted to arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 9 Tyson is the fifth head of the world-renowned Hayden astronomy,physics, and everything else about life in the million visitors (including over 1.7 million children and Planetarium in New York City and the first occupant of universe. Emmy-nominated 'StarTalk' TV, on the families) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures its Frederick P. Rose Directorship. He is also a research National Geographic Channel, was the first late-night meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its associate of the Department of Astrophysics at the talk show focused on science. constituents. American Museum of Natural History. Tyson's Recently Tyson served as Executive Editor and on Get Social! Follow NJPAC Online: professional research interests are broad, but include camera Host & Narrator for 'Cosmos: A SpaceTime Website: http://www.njpac.org/ star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies, and the Odyssey,' the 21st century continuation of Carl Sagan's Twitter: @NJPAC structure of our Milky Way. landmark television series. The show began in March Hashtag: #NJPAC Tyson is the recipient of twenty honorary doctorates 2014 and ran thirteen episodes in primetime on the FOX Facebook: facebook.com/NJPAC and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the network, and appeared in 181 countries in 45 languages YouTube: NJPACtv highest award given by NASA to a non-government around the world on the National Geographic Channels. (Mabel Pais writes on the Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, citizen. His contributions to the public appreciation of "Cosmos," which is also available on DVD and BluRay, Social Issues, and Health & Wellness) the cosmos have been recognized by the International won four Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, two Critics THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 NY/NJ/CT 21 Consulate General of India, New York Recognizes Community leaders at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Honorees with Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty, Consul General of India in New York at PBD celebrations on January 9 at the Indian Consulate, New York

NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The from the states under its jurisdiction. jurisdiction also got a fair them to continue their best efforts to Consulate General of India in New York Even though the lion's share went to New representation. promote better relations between India organized the PBD here on January 9 York and New jersey States, other States Ambassador Chakravorty lauded the and the United States. and recognized a few community leaders in New York Consulate General's role of Indian Americans and exhorted THE INDIAN PANORAMA 22 WORLD FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

Prince Harry, Meghan to step back as ‘senior’ Iran says it ‘unintentionally’ shot royals LONDON (TIP): Britain's Prince down Ukrainian jetliner Harry and his wife Meghan will step back as senior members of the royal TEHRAN (TIP): Iran announced on family and spend more time in North Saturday that its military America, the couple said in a historic “unintentionally” shot down the statement January 18. Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier "We intend to step back as 'senior' this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the members of the royal family and work government had repeatedly denied to become financially independent, Western accusations that it was while continuing to fully support Her responsible. Majesty The Queen," they said in a The plane was shot down early on statement released by Buckingham Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a Palace. ballistic missile attack on two military "After many months of reflection bases housing US troops in Iraq in and internal discussions, we have retaliation for the killing of Iranian Gen chosen to make a transition this year Qassem Soleimani in an American in starting to carve out a progressive airstrike in Baghdad. No one was new role within this institution," they wounded in the attack on the bases. added. "We now plan to balance our A military statement carried by state time between the UK and North media said the plane was mistaken for a America." The shock news follows a “hostile target” after it turned towards a turbulent year for the royal family. “sensitive military centre” of the The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Revolutionary Guard. spent Christmas in Canada after The military was at its “highest level speaking of the pressure of being in of readiness”, it said, amid the victims were Iranians or Iranian- with a surface-to-air missile, a the spotlight following their wedding heightened tensions with the United Canadians, and the crash came just conclusion supported by videos of the and son Archie's birth in May. States. weeks after authorities quashed incident. They had previously announced “In such a condition, because of nationwide protests ignited by a hike in The plane, en route to the Ukrainian they would miss Christmas with human error and in an unintentional gasoline prices. capital of Kiev, was carrying 167 Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the way, the flight was hit,” the statement “A sad day,” Iran’s Foreign Minister passengers and nine crew members from royal family. — AFP said. It apologised for the disaster and Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. several countries, including 82 Iranians, said it would upgrade its systems to “Human error at time of crisis caused by at least 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, After slapping incident, prevent future tragedies. US adventurism led to disaster. Our according to officials. The Canadian pope kisses nun who It also said those responsible for the profound regrets, apologies and government had earlier lowered the strike on the plane would be prosecuted. condolences to our people, to the families nation’s death toll from 63. vows not to bite Iran’s acknowledgement of of all victims, and to other affected “This is the right step for the Iranian VATICAN CITY (TIP): Pope responsibility for the crash was likely to nations.” government to admit responsibility, and Francis, who last month angrily inflame public sentiment against The jetliner, a Boeing 737 operated by it gives people a step towards closure slapped the hand of a woman who authorities after Iranians had rallied Ukrainian International Airlines, went with this admission,” said Payman yanked him toward her, gave a light- around their leaders in the wake of down on the outskirts of Tehran shortly Parseyan, a prominent Iranian- hearted reaction more typical of his Soleimani’s killing. after taking off from Imam Khomeini Canadian in western Canada who lost a papacy on Wednesday when a nun The general was seen as a national International Airport. number of friends in the crash. asked him for a kiss. He said yes, icon, and hundreds of thousands of Iran had denied for several days that a “I think the investigation would have although only after she promised not Iranians had turned out for funeral missile caused the crash. But then the disclosed it whether they admitted it or to bite him. The good-natured processions across the country. US and Canada, citing intelligence, said not. This will give them an opportunity exchange took place at the start of But the vast majority of the plane they believed Iran shot down the aircraft to save face.” AP Francis' weekly general audience. As he was walking into the large hall where thousands of people were waiting, an excited nun asked if he Iranian missile brought down Ukrainian would kiss her, shouting in Italian "Bacio, Papa!" (A kiss, pope!) Francis responded: "Oh, (but) you bite!", airliner, says Canada PM Justin Trudeau prompting laughter from the people. Reuters OTTAWA (TIP): Prime Minister as Canada’s own intelligence, Trudeau Iran’s foreign ministry earlier invited Justin Trudeau on Thursday said said the plane appeared to have been hit the US plane maker Boeing to Facebook, eBay to multiple intelligence sources indicated by an Iranian surface-to-air (SAM) “participate” in the inquiry. tackle fake reviews that Iran shot down the Ukrainian missile. The flight went down in the dark just airliner after it took off from Tehran, “We know this may have been minutes after takeoff, with no radio better killing all 176 on board, including 63 unintentional. Canadians have message from the pilot to indicate LONDON (TIP): Facebook and eBay Canadians. questions, and they deserve answers,” distress, according to the Iranian Civil have promised to better identify, probe Trudeau’s comments came as video Trudeau told reporters. Aviation Organisation. and respond to fake and misleading emerged that appeared to show the He was backed by other Western It was carrying 82 Iranians, 63 reviews, Britain's Competition and moment the airliner was hit. leaders, including British Prime Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, Markets Authority (CMA) said on That and other footage posted on social Minister Boris Johnson, who said four Afghans, three Germans and three Wednesday after pressing the online media increasingly pointed to a mounting evidence supported a missile Britons. With tensions high between the platforms to tackle the issue. Customer catastrophic mistake by Tehran’s air strike, which “may well have been United States and Iran, the disaster reviews have become an integral part defence batteries in bringing down unintentional”. US President Donald unfolded just hours after Tehran of online shopping on several websites Ukraine International Airlines Flight Trump indicated that Washington launched ballistic missiles towards and apps but the regulator has PS752 early on Wednesday. officials believed the Kiev-bound Boeing bases in Iraq housing US troops. expressed concerns that some The video, which The New York Times 737 was struck by one or more Iranian Iran retaliated for the January 3 US comments may not be genuine. said it verified, shows a fast-moving missiles before it ditched and exploded drone strike in Baghdad that killed a top Facebook has removed 188 groups and object rising at an angle into the sky outside Tehran. Iranian general. The Iranian disabled 24 user accounts whilst eBay before a bright flash is seen, which dims The US National Transportation government said the missile strike has permanently banned 140 users and then continues moving forward. Safety Board on Thursday night said it scenario made “no sense”; however, since the summer, according to the Several seconds later an explosion is had received formal notification of the arguing that several internal and CMA. Reuters heard. crash from Iran and would send a international flights had been sharing Citing information from allies as well representative to join the crash probe. approximately the same airspace. AFP THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 WORLD 23

Amid spat with China, Britain lawmakers finally clear Indonesia deploys warships to patrol islands historic Brexit deal JAKARTA (TIP): Indonesia has deployed fighter jets and warships to LONDON (TIP): Britain's parliament patrol islands near the disputed South finally approved Brexit on Thursday, China Sea, the military said allowing it to become the first country to Wednesday, escalating tensions with leave the European Union by the end of Beijing after a diplomatic spat over this month, ending years of arguments "trespassing" Chinese vessels. that toppled two governments and President Joko Widodo also headed divided a nation. Wednesday to the fishing-rich waters The House of Commons erupted in around the Natuna islands, which cheers after MPs ratified Prime Minister border the South China Sea, most of Boris Johnson's divorce deal with which is claimed by China despite Brussels 330 votes to 231, drawing a line competing claims from other under an extraordinary era of political Southeast Asian nations including drama and chaos. Vietnam, the Philippines and For much of the time since the 2016 Malaysia. Brexit referendum, lawmakers have The Indonesian military said it had been at each others' throats over how, deployed eight warships and four jet when or even if Britain should leave its fighters ahead of Widodo's visit in an closest trading partners after nearly 50 apparent bid to assert its sovereignty years. over the region. Some viewed Brexit with horror, "I have said many times Natuna is fearing that it stripped them of their with which to push it through. will have delivered on the PM's our sovereign territory," Widodo told European identities and turned Britain MPs gave their initial blessing to the commitment to get Brexit done," a reporters. into an insular, less important nation. EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill before government spokesman said, echoing "There is nothing to be debated...I Others embraced it with fervour, Christmas, and the government set aside Johnson's election mantra. hope this is clear." A Chinese coast viewing it as a chance to "take back just three days this week for detailed How Britons view it guard vessel was spotted in Indonesia's control" from officials in Brussels and scrutiny of the complex text. exclusive economic zone Wednesday, see Britain regain some of its past But few MPs even bothered to turn up For much of the time since the 2016 the government said. might. Businesses and governments in on Tuesday and Wednesday, with both Brexit referendum, lawmakers have "We have deployed eight warships," Europe, puzzled by Britain's struggles sessions ending early, while the been at each others' throats over how, said Navy spokesman Fajar Tri over what they viewed as a self-inflicted government easily saw off opposition when or even if Britain should leave its Rohadi. The air force said fighter jets wound, hoped that Brexit could still attempts to amend the text. The closest trading partners after nearly 50 had also been deployed. "(But) our somehow be undone. momentous day on which Johnson years Some viewed Brexit with horror, personnel have been told that we are But Johnson's comprehensive victory effectively gets permission to abandon fearing that it stripped them of their not going to make provocations but in last month's general election brought the European integration project was all European identities and turned Britain rather protect our territory," said Air an abrupt end to the turmoil, giving his but ignored in Thursday's media. "We into an insular, less important nation. — Commodore Ronny Irianto Moningka. Conservatives a parliamentary majority will be leaving the EU on January 31. We AFP AFP Australia bushfire crisis: 24 killed, over 6 million hectares of land burned MELBOURNE (TIP): Australia’s Victoria’s emergency management raging bushfire crisis, one of the worst commissioner Crisp said that in the in its history,has killed 24 people, burned state, 244 homes were lost or damaged over six million hectares of land, and another 400 ‘significant’ structures reduced to ashes hundreds of homes and impacted. pushed many species towards extinction, “We know those numbers will grow,” officials said on Thursday. he said. Authorities on Thursday issued fresh Meanwhile in New South Wales, state warnings and evacuation orders in the premier Gladys Berejiklian announced country’s southeast as hot and windy an additional 1 billion Australian dollar conditions threatened to regenerate over the next two years into bushfire huge bushfires. management and recovery for rebuilding Around 23 fires were still burning in and rehabilitating the fire ravaged zones. Victoria, according the state’s This season saw the worst damages emergency management commissioner across the state with almost 2000 homes Andrew Crisp. damaged so far and 20 deaths. Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews Berejiklian said the new funding on Thursday announced extending would prioritise infrastructure repair state’s first-ever state of disaster ahead and help stimulate fire-ravaged NSW of “significant fire activity” forecast for communities. the next two days. “The bushfire season is far from over “We have forecast conditions of but we know how important it is for extreme danger, very significant fire means it is appropriate that we continue There was a possibility of another communities to start the recovery activity is likely off the back of a hot day the state of disaster,” Andrews said. round of dry lightning and a wind process where possible,” Berejiklian said today, a hot day tomorrow and a change There will be messages going out to change which could trigger fires across in a statement. She said the funding was not coming through in the east of the communities in the fire zone on the state from Friday. on top of 231 million dollar already state until late afternoon tomorrow and Thursday and those messages will “This is a really significant challenge committed to disaster assistance in the northern part of the state not until indicate to people that they are in the fire for us. We don’t underestimate it. We funding. In its latest tweet, NSW Rural the evening on Saturday,” he said. zone and that if they can leave, they don’t lightly extend the state of disaster. fire services said: “Over 2,500 firefighters “This means that we have every reason should leave, the Premier of Victoria We have done it because we believe that in the field, prepare for worsening to believe there will be significant fire said, adding that “we will not be able to it will save lives and that, after all, is the conditions Friday. Currently 122 bush & activity over the next 48 hours and that guarantee their safety”. most important thing,” Andrews said. grass fires, half uncontained”. PTI THE INDIAN PANORAMA 24 WOMEN FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 FOOD CORNER WAYS TO INSTANTLY EGG FRIED RICE Ingredients MAKEOVER A ROOM Basmati Rice - 2 cups, Eggs - 10, Onions - 2, Spring Onions - 1 bunch, Beans - 10, Carrot - 2, Choose some new Capsicum - 2, Cabbage - 100 gms, Pepper Powder - 1/2 window treatments tblsp, Green Chillies - 2, Tomato Puree - 2 to 3 tblsp (or as required), Ajinomoto - 3 tsp (optional), Soy Sauce - 4 Tired curtains and blinds tblsp, Salt as per taste, Oil - 3 tblsp, Coriander Leaves - instantly let a room down. While few, chopped they can be expensive to replace, it’s worth the investment as they add Method value to a home. If you’re on a Pressure cook the rice until 1 whistle and remove. budget, there are many readymade Chop all the vegetables finely and keep aside. options that can be used cleverly Grind together the green chillies and mix well 2 and positioned correctly to make a tblsp water. space feel bigger and brighter. Heat oil in a pan. While window treatments aren’t Saute the onions for a minute. normally focal points and are Add the chopped vegetables one by one and cook generally kept neutral, adding a for a minute or two. decorative trim, tassel or fabric Add the green chilli paste and tomato puree. Add panel to plain curtains can work salt and ajinomoto. wonders. Mix well and add soy sauce. Break the eggs into the pan and stir-fry for 3 to 4 Add interest to minutes. your entranceway Add the cooked rice and mix until all ingredients and new. A coat of paint can Depending on the style of your are combined. The entryway is a makeover transform a bathroom, too. home, buy either a random Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve. opportunity that’s often overlooked. assortment of frames in different This space is the first and Update your cushions shapes and sizes, or the same sometimes only part of your home For instant gratification, switch frames for a polished look. Gallery visitors see. Add a potted plant, buy out the throw pillows in your living walls are a great talking point when some nice house numbers and get a room or family room. Try adding a people come to visit, and can be new doormat. Instantly your round cushion to the mix and play updated over time with new entrance will feel more polished and with different sizes, patterns and pictures and prints. welcoming. colours. Getting new cushions is the quickest and most cost-effective Choose the right lighting Spruce up the bathroom makeover trick for your living space Good lighting can truly bring a Bathrooms can get dirty and and will automatically change the room to life. A poorly lit room looks dingy quite quickly. The fastest way appearance of the room. small, dark and cramped; while a to spruce up this space is to give it a brightly lit room appears open, airy thorough cleaning. Once the room Create a gallery wall and welcoming. The key is to layer is clean, identify any outdated Have a spare blank wall in your light at different levels. knobs, light fixtures, faucets, home that you’re not sure what to Strategically place a couple of tall shower curtains or vanities. By do with? Consider creating a gallery floor lamps in dark corners and simply changing out one or two of wall of framed prints, your fave watch your room come alive. If your the most outdated items, you can holiday snaps or treasured pictures budget allows, replace any outdated make your bathroom look modern of family and friends. ceiling fixtures with modern lights. WHY YOU SHOULD GET A BODY TREATMENT AT THE SPA ody treatments are essentially a slather you with mud, algae, or seaweed facial for your whole body and and wrap you in a thermal blanket. This Bleave your skin feeling velvety is a "detoxifying" treatment that smooth and soft. The idea behind a body stimulates your metabolic system, treatment is that it is just as important to speeding its ability to carry away waste cleanse, exfoliate, and hydrate the skin products. If the product is a cream or on your body as it is the skin of your lotion, it's a "hydrating" treatment face. This wellness procedure is good for A body wrap can also be a wrapping your body no matter what time of year, treatment used to treat cellulite. It but it can especially be helpful in the sometimes has a diuretic effect that aids winter as it moisturizes skin when it is in temporary weight reduction. typically dry and flaky. What to Do After a Body Treatment Your skin may be a bit tender after a Body Scrubs body treatment—especially if it involved The most popular body treatment is a a deep body scrub. However, it is body scrub, sometimes called a body perfectly fine to shower after a body polish, salt glow or sea-salt scrub. This is treatment as long as you remember to an exfoliating treatment that takes place lather your body with soap, then gently on a massage table covered with a sheet rub your washcloth or loofa in circles to and a large, thin piece of plastic. You will remove any dead skin or leftover lotion. either be asked to remove all your clothing or may be given disposable Benefits of Body Treatments underwear to cover parts of your body. Body treatments may help prevent As you lay on your stomach, the massage wrinkles, decrease cellulite, and slow therapist rubs a mixture of sea salt, oil, physical signs of aging, leaving your and aromatics (like lemon) into your skin looking fresher and younger. skin. This exfoliates the skin and leaves Seaweed, salt, mud, charcoal, and it feeling fresh and soft. to have both. Various essential oils or afterward. mineral wraps are also excellent Once your whole body is scrubbed, scrub materials are used. You might get ingredients to exfoliate your skin and which takes maybe 10 or 15 minutes, you an orange blossom/peppermint salt glow Body Masks and Wraps remove toxins. As with other spa shower it all off without soap, leaving a or a cucumber salt glow, or a body scrubs A body mask and body wrap often services, body treatments help with your nice coating of oil. It's an invigorating done with coffee grounds, finely ground takes place after a scrub. After rinsing mental health too as they reduce stress, treatment, and it's a good idea to get your pecan shells or Napa Valley grape seeds. off the salt and returning to the soothe tired muscles, and relax both your scrub before your message if you choose Sometimes a hydrating lotion is applied treatment table, the aesthetician will body and mind. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 HEALTH 25 SMOKING MAY COST YOU YOUR MENTAL HEALTH here is no denying the fact that cigarette smoking Taddiction can be quite dangerous. Not only can it cause respiratory issues, heart-related problems, and cancers, but a recent study has revealed that it might result in poor mental health as well. Yes, you read that right! According to a study,published in the journal PLOS ONE, the research team from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, University of Belgrade WOMEN ARE LIKELY TO HAVE and University of Pristina together, surveyed more than 2,000 students MORE POOR SEXUAL HEALTH enrolled at Serbian universities with differing socio-political and THAN MEN, STUDY CLAIMS economic environments. The findings of the study revealed ust like hair care and skin care, it is important to that students who smoked had rates look after your sexual health too. This goes for all of clinical depression, which were Jthe ladies in the house, especially. two to three times higher than their the University of Pristina, 14% of “I urge universities to advocate According to a study, published in the journal BMC non-smoking peers. smokers suffered from depression for their students’ health by Public Health, poor sexual health is more common in “Our study adds to the growing as opposed to the 4% of their non- creating ‘Smoke-Free Campuses’ women and affects them in more diverse ways than body of evidence that smoking and smoking peers. that not only ban smoking on men. depression are closely linked,” The numbers were 19% to 11%, campus but tobacco advertising, The study participants included 12,132 people, both while it may be too early to say that respectively at the Belgrade too,” Levine said. men and women. The researchers found out that 47.5% smoking causes depression, tobacco University. “Combined with policies that of women and 17% of men in the UK reported poor does appear to have an adverse Further, irrespective of their prevent, screen and treat mental sexual health. effect on our mental health,” said economic or socio-political health problems, including “Sexual health is an umbrella term that covers study lead author Hagai Levine at backgrounds, students who smoked addiction, these steps would go a several different health risks, such as sexually Hebrew University of Jerusalem in also had lower mental health scores long way towards combating the transmitted infections (STIs), unplanned pregnancy, Israel. and higher rates of depressive harmful effects that smoking has on sexual function problems and sexual coercion,” said As per the findings of the study, symptoms compared to non- our physical and mental states,” study lead author Alison Parkes from the University of specifically from the researchers at smoking students. Levine added. Glasgow in the UK. “A greater understanding of how these risks are patterned across the population is needed to improve the targeting and delivery of sexual health KETONE DRINKS MIGHT HELP KEEP programmes,” Parkes added. To better understand the situation, the researchers investigated patterns of sexual health markers, such YOUR DIABETES IN CHECK: STUDY as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexual function problems, in 12,132 sexually active men and women, aged 16-74 from England, Scotland and Wales, veryday lifestyle habits have who were interviewed between 2010 and 2012. led to an increase in number Other than this, the associations of sexual health Eof diabetes and pre-diabetes with socio-demographic, health and lifestyle patients across the globe. characteristics, as well as with satisfaction or distress With more people looking out for with a person’s sex life were also examined. ways to control blood sugar, a recent As part of the findings of the study, the researchers study, published in the American identified sexual health classes, four of which were Journal of Clinical Nutrition, common to both men and women. suggests that ketone monoester Good Sexual Health (83% of men, 52% of drinks–a new food supplement–may women)Wary Risk-takers (4% of men, 2% of help to it. women)Unwary Risk-takers (4% of men, 7% of “There is mounting evidence that women)Sexual Function Problems (9% of men, 7% of a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet is women) very effective in controlling blood Two additional sexual health classes were identified sugar and even reversing type-2 in women only; a low sexual interest class, which diabetes,” said study lead author included 29% of women and a highly vulnerable class, Jonathan Little, associate professor reporting a range of adverse experiences across all at University of British Columbia markers of sexual health, which included 2% of in Canada. women. “We wanted to know what would happen if artificial ketones were given to those with obesity and at PAGE SPONSORED BY risk for type-2 diabetes but who haven’t been dieting,” Little added. DR. SATISH AND GITANJLI ANAND When the body is unable to control the level of sugar in the DR. SATISH ANAND blood due to defects in the Former Chairman, Board of functioning of a hormone called Trustees, AAPI National insulin, it is called type-2 diabetes. E-Mail: “While type-2 diabetes can be 30 minutes, they were then asked to no changes to their insulin,” Little [email protected] controlled with medications or drink a fluid containing 75 grams of explained. injectable insulin, many people are sugar while blood samples were “It demonstrates that these looking for options that don’t taken. supplements may have real GITANJLI ANAND require taking pills every day or “It turns out that the ketone drink potential as a valuable tool for those Former President, India that are less invasive,” Little added. seemed to launch participants into with type-2 diabetes,” he said. Association of Long Island For the analysis, the researchers a sort of pseudo-ketogenic state The researchers conclude that the (IALI) asked 15 people to consume a ketone where they were better able to long-term effects of consuming E-mail: drink after fasting overnight. After control their blood sugar levels with ketones are still unknown. [email protected] THE INDIAN PANORAMA 26 SCIENCE & TECH FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 GOOGLE REMOVES OVER 1,700 APPS AFFECTED BY JOKER MALWARE FROM PLAY STORE oogle back last year removed 24 apps infected with the G‘Joker‘ malware from its Play Store. The apps before being GOOGLE PIXEL 4 USERS removed had amassed over 5,00,000 downloads. At the time Google did COMPLAIN OF FACE UNLOCK not details what the malware did. Now, the company has opened up a FAILURE ISSUES bit and provided us with more oogle Pixel 4 users seem to be facing issues with details regarding it. Face Unlock, wherein the phone isn’t It claims that the ‘Joker’ malware Grecognising their faces. For some users, a is a harmful “large-scale billing notification to re-register their face is appearing even fraud family“, which tried a lot to with their face data already enrolled. People took to get past the company’s security Google Forum as well as Reddit to complain about the walls and charge users unethically. Face Unlock issue on Pixel 4. The malware started back in 2017, A Reddit user said that the Face Unlock on his Pixel where it indulged in SMS fraud. 4 stopped working suddenly. He wasn’t also able to After Google restricted use of SMS delete his face unlock data in Settings as he kept permission, it moved to toll billing getting the message that read, “Cannot verify face.” fraud. Google in a blog post, claims Some users also got a message, “Can’t verify face. that the Joker malware family has standard crypto libraries, custom- clean apps and after being Hardware not available.” used every cloaking and implemented encryption confirmed added the malicious code For others, the issue appeared after the January obfuscation technique to go algorithms, some obfuscation via an update. At times there are 23 security update. In this case, the user kept getting a undetected. methods utilizing JavaScript in different apps being uploaded to the message after the update that face unlock might stop Under the toll billing fraud, the WebViews and several Play Store under this malware working and re-enrollment was needed. However, Face family made the user visit a URL to commercially available packers to family, whereas, sometimes there Unlock didn’t work even after the user re-enrolled face complete billing and enter their go undetected. Moreover, the are no apps being uploaded for data. The message, “Can’t verify face. Try Again,” was phone number. It used injected malware affected apps had fake weeks. Google says it has detected displayed. clicks, custom HTML parsers and contact information and the billing and removed 1,700 unique apps from Doing a factory reset seems to have worked out for SMS receivers to automate the process started even without the the malware family on its Play some users, however, Face Unlock continued to show billing process without the user user confirming it. Google stated Store, even before being error for others even after a factory reset. The issue noticing. It has also tried using that these apps were uploaded as downloaded by a single user. doesn’t seem to have resolved also after resetting the smartphone in safe mode. Features that make Telegram FACEBOOK ROLLS OUT DESKTOP more interesting than WhatsApp elegram is an online messaging app similar to REDESIGN FOR SOME USERS, WhatsApp. Users can send text messages and Tmedia files through this app. Telegram is cloud- based and claims that it prioritizes security and speed. It was launched in 2003 and has around 200 million active BROADER RELEASE SOON monthly users. We take a look at five features that are available on acebook has started to roll out Telegram, but not on WhatsApp. its new desktop design for a Fsmall percentage of users, Dark Mode according to a CNET report. The Telegram offers two types of dark modes on its mobile redesign, which was announced at app -- night and tinted night. The app automatically the Facebook F8 annual developer switches to the dark mode if the phone is put on the conference last year in April, will be same, else the user can also independently switch the released for more users broadly interface theme to night mode or tinted night mode. before spring. The interface in night mode appears in black colour.In Facebook is calling the redesign the tinted night mode, the interface can be seen in a dark “The New Facebook” and users will tinted shade of the colour chosen. have the option to choose between In order to enable the dark mode on Telegram, follow white and bright color backgrounds these steps: for the Facebook desktop site or a Open Telegram app, Tap on the Settings icon, Go to dark-mode background under the Appearance, Select between night or tinted night mode. redesign. Facebook is said to be collecting feedback on the new Secret Chat features and there’s also the option There is a separate Secret Chat section on Telegram, of switching back to the older which as the company claims leaves no trace on its design as well. servers. The user can set self-destruct timers on Facebook’s new design is messages that range from one second to one week. The supposed to be simpler, faster, more messages sent on a secret chat cannot be forwarded. If a immersive. It puts communities at screenshot of the chat is taken then a notification will the center and also makes it easier pop in the chat window. To chat in the secret chat mode, for users to find the features that following steps need to be followed: Open Telegram App, they might be interested in. At the · Select the person with whom you want to chat, · After time of the launch, Facebook said the chat window opens, click on the name banner of the that the new desktop site will be individuals or friends rather than a placed across all its products recipient, A dropdown will appear, choose the ‘i’ icon, rolled out in the next few months. public space. The desktop revamp including Instagram and Info page will open, tap on ‘start secret chat’, · You will Prior to this, Facebook will be on similar lines, which will WhatsApp. The new logo is be taken on a new chat window where a ‘lock’ symbol can redesigned its mobile app with a retain some of the features of the supposed to distinguish Facebook be seen before the name of the recipient, which means focus on Groups, as the company mobile app as well. the company from the Facebook app that the message you will send or receive in that window believes that they are more of a Facebook recently unveiled its and also make it clear which will be in the secret chat mode. private space for like-minded new company logo, which has been products come from Facebook. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 BIZ & FINANCE 27 ED attaches assets worth Rs 78 crore of Chanda Kochhar, her husband NEW DELHI (TIP): The Enforcement Directorate BOEING SUPPLIER TO LAY OFF (ED) on Friday turned up the heat on former ICICI Bank CEO and managing director Chanda Kochhar, 2800 EMPLOYEES IN NEW attaching moveable and immovable assets belonging to her and her husband, Deepak Kochhar. With the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation RISK FOR 737 MAX FUTURE (CBI) accusing Kochhar of money laundering, oeing Co.’s largest supplier for the grounded 737 receiving illegal gratification, cheating and criminal Max is laying off 2,800 employees, potentially conspiracy when she was at the helm of affairs at the Bcomplicating the future of the planemaker’s private bank, the spotlight has increasingly been on best-selling jetliner. financial crimes involving top executives of banks. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. said the job cuts The ED has now provisionally attached a flat, land, are needed to reduce costs as Boeing prepares to halt cash, plant and machinery of Windfarm Projects output of the Max indefinitely. Once Boeing located in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, worth Rs 78.15 production starts up again, production of the Max will crore, which were “in possession of accused Chanda probably be lower than in 2019, Spirit said by email Kochhar, Deepak Kochhar and the companies owned Friday. and controlled by Deepak Kochhar, under the Spirit’s move signals that the company,which makes Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, (PMLA) in 70% of the narrow-body jet’s structure, expects a the ICICI Bank loan case", the probe agency said on lengthy suspension in production. The supplier had Friday. continued to make parts for the aircraft after a global “ED had initiated the investigation under the PMLA, flying ban began in March after two fatal crashes. on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI, for alleged Spirit currently has 100 Max shipsets in storage. illegal sanctioning of loans amounting to Rs 1,875 crore The layoffs indicate the worsening impact of the to Videocon group of companies. Investigations agency added. grounding on the US economy as well complications revealed that loans were refinanced and new loans While Kochhar was quizzed several times by the ED that will face Boeing as it looks to restart production aggregating to Rs 1,730 crore was sanctioned to M/s last year, the agency also questioned her husband amid the tightest US job market in decades. The Videocon Industries Ltd, and its group companies. Deepak Kochhar and Videocon Group managing planemaker had held Spirit to the pre-crash These loans became non-performing assets (NPA) for director Venugopal Dhoot as part of the investigations production rate until December, when it decided to ICICI Bank on 30.06.2017," the ED said in a statement. in the ICICI Bank-Videocon loan case. shut down the final assembly line with more than 400 The probe agency added that further investigations Last March, the ED carried out searches at the undelivered jets in storage and no clear timeline for revealed that ?64 crore, out of the loan of Rs 300 crore residence of Kochhar. gaining clearance to resume flights. sanctioned by a committee headed by Chanda Kochhar In January 2019, the CBI also booked Deepak Kochhar to Videocon International Electronics Ltd, was and Dhoot for criminal conspiracy and cheating. Singh brothers stole funds over transferred to Nupower Renewables Pvt. Ltd. The CBI had started a preliminary inquiry against “Investigation also revealed that Chanda Kochhar Deepak Kochhar and Dhoot in March 2018 to investigate eight years: ED’s charge sheet and her family acquired the apartment at Mumbai, irregularities in the Rs 40,000-crore loan made by a owned by one of the Videocon group companies, by consortium of lenders to the Videocon group. It pointed NEW DELHI (TIP): The Enforcement Directorate way of acquiring that company through her family to an alleged conflict of interest in a Rs 3,250-crore loan on Friday filed a charge sheet against Fortis trust at a nominal price by creating book entries," the made to the Videocon group by ICICI Bank. Healthcare founders Shivinder Mohan Singh and Malvinder Mohan Singh alleging that the brothers used two sets of “conduit companies” to funnel funds from finance company Religare Finvest Ltd over a INDIA’S GROWTH PROJECTED TO ‘DECELERATE’ span of eight years, two investigating officials said. A large part of this money was used to buy property and there was no intention of repaying the money , they TO 5% IN 2019-2020: WORLD BANK added. WASHINGTON (TIP): The World Bank has projected The agency has accused the brothers of money a five per cent growth rate for India in the 2019-2020 laundering. Apart from the Singh brothers, the agency fiscal, but said it was likely to recover to 5.8 per cent in has named Sunil Godhwani, ex-Chairman and the following financial year. The growth rate for managing director (CMD) of Religare Enterprises Ltd Bangladesh has been projected to remain above seven (REL) and holding company RHC Holdings Pvt Ltd in per cent through the forecast horizon and, in Pakistan, its charge sheet. it is projected to languish at three per cent or less Special ED Prosecutor Nitesh Rana informed the through 2020 as macroeconomic stabilisation efforts court that there was systematic layering and weigh on economic activity, the bank said in its latest evergreening of loans processed under the CLB edition of the Global Economic Prospects. (corporate loan book) portfolio of Religare Finvest to “In India, where weakness in credit from non-bank make sure these were not categorized as non- financial companies is expected to linger, growth is performing assets (NPAs). The court took cognizance projected to slow to five per cent in fiscal year 2019/20, of the charge sheet and asked that all accused be which ends March 31, and recover to 5.8 per cent the produced before it on January 20. following fiscal year,” the World Bank said on The agency has claimed that out of a total of Rs Wednesday. 47,968 crore of loans given to 115 companies by The global economic growth is forecast to edge up to Religare, Rs 2,036.69 crore was moved to 19 companies, 2.5 per cent in 2020 as investment and trade gradually Pazarbasioglu, said. which defaulted. Most of these funds were used for the recover from last year’s significant weakness, but “Steps to improve the business climate, the rule of personal gain of the Singhs, the charge sheet claims. downward risks persist, it said. law, debt management, and productivity can help The US’ growth is forecast to slow to 1.8 per cent this achieve sustained growth,” Pazarbasioglu said. year, reflecting the negative impact of earlier tariff In the report’s India section, the World Bank said increases and elevated uncertainty. The Euro area’s tighter credit conditions in the non-banking sector are growth is projected to slip to a downwardly revised one contributing to a substantial weakening of the per cent in 2020 amid weak industrial activity, the bank domestic demand in the country. said in the report. “In India, activity was constrained by insufficient “With the growth in emerging and developing credit availability, as well as by subdued private economies likely to remain slow, policymakers should consumption,” the report stated. seize the opportunity to undertake structural reforms The bank said the regional growth in South Asia is that boost broad-based growth, which is essential to expected to pick up gradually, to six per cent in 2022, on poverty reduction,” World Bank Group Vice President the assumption of a modest rebound in domestic for Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions, Ceyla demand. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 28 ASTROLOGY FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

Shree Ganeshaya Namah

Bejan Daruwalla is world's most famous astrologertoday. He appears regularly on world wide TV shows. Bejan who has been a professor in English, hasauthored a number of books on astrology. India'sPrime Minister Narendra Modi , on March 29, 2012,lunched one of Bejan's books, '2012- End of theWorld? Bejan contributes to a number of journals andnewspapers in many parts of the world which includeBerkley Communications Bejan Daruwalla is available for astrological (London) Times of India(Delhi, Mumbai, consultations. He can be reached at Kolkata, Chennai) and The IndianPanorama ( [email protected] and on phone New York and Texas). Bejan's predictionshave mostly been correct and 011-91-8141234275 people the world overrely on his predictions. www.bejandaruwalla.com

The Indian Panorama brings you Weekly and Birthday Horoscope from the World's most trusted astrologer Bejan Daruwalla. Latest correct prediction: Modi's historic victory Weekly Horoscope January 13 - January 19, 2020 ARIES: Ganesha says there is a lot of LEO: You may be pushed and you have your SAGITTARIUS: You grow in leaps and buying and selling. You have decided to make back to all but you come out firing with all bounds and revel in the unique bonding it your home and personal life as positive as guns blazing like a shootout at the OK Corral. offers so effortlessly and marvellously. You are possible. You may take to Feng Shui and This can also be a time of restlessness; you romantic and charming, with dollops of sex Vaastu seriously and make the necessary want to do big things and feel that you are not appeal. Conquests are easy. But this time there alterations and changes or simply make your being given the opportunity. Your success may will also be a new, spiritual dimension to the home more comfortable and elegant. Many breed enemies and there will be roadblocks relationship which will be altogether different people will drop in too and this is the time for placed on your path. Ganesha wants you to from all that you have ever experienced in the festivities. You may also go away on holiday. compromise and take a middle path and to not past. TAURUS: You think of the past and all its get arrogant. CAPRICORN: Your mind wanders off in happy times. School friends drop in or VIRGO: This is a good time for expansion. different directions like a puppy that has lost connect with you on the net. This is the time With a little fine-tuning and a little care and its leash. You may become involved in for social networking as near and dear ones restraint, you can convert this into an excellent unrealistic schemes as you could be blinded from all over the world tweet in to say 'hi'. period. You can be very successful by extreme optimism. You may want to gamble You love all the camaraderie and bonhomie. professionally. There is sustained growth and and take risks but please remember that Ganesha is happy for you. Your mind shifts to many fruitful contacts made. This is a speculationscould leave you bankrupt. This is work-related issues and you ink new projects. particularly good time for dropping the solo a huge risk; gambling can also lead to major GEMINI: You are in luck and receive moves and to get into partnership mode which profits and you know it. assistance from a lot of people. You are more will be mutually beneficial. AQUARIUS: You are goaded on by the profit self-sufficient now and slog away. There is LIBRA: In your personal life, you may become motive. Ask Ganesha for help if you may! If some tension too and you will have to watch romantically involved with a business associate you are keenon this, go ahead and take bold your health. Take care not to get too indulgent or colleague. This is a good phase to solve all steps with calculated risks. You may also find and try to bring about some discipline into pending domestic and work-related issues. it difficult to distinguish between the real and your life. You are burning the candle at both Litigation, if any, will be in your favour and old the ideal. This is an extremely spiritual ends. The right diet, workouts, maybe even a medical problems may find a solution. If not influence and you look for escapes from the short stint at a spa or health resort can work cured, the problem will be arrested and you will real world. You could also get obsessed with its magic. have to learn to live with it. Just remember that abstract speculations or high ideals that are CANCER: There is restructuring and what cannot be cured will have to be endured. difficult to actualise. progress in all your endeavours. Ganesha SCORPIO: There is love and passion in the PISCES: You live in fantasy, in a dream wishes you well. There is stability and air. You will fall headlong for someone you world. This is okay once in a while as long as progress now. You are energetic, optimistic have just met. A marriage or intimate the implications are not detrimental. There and confident and the mood is upbeat. You relationship should work better than usual will soon be a reality check and you will get are all geared up to take on new challenges now. You and your partner will help each other back to good old terra firma. Ganesha will and work wonders. You are filled with grow in every way and will make it a profitable ensure that. It is also not in your enthusiasm and zeal as several time- alliance. This will be a beautiful relationship temperament to be far removed from reality consuming projects may be coming to a head with great scope for self-expression and for too long. There are many influences the same time. individual freedom. beckoning you now.

Birthday Horoscope January 13 - January 19, 2020

Jan 13:Ganesha says joining forces with Jan 15:The Moon is good for romance and doing what feels old, familiar, reliable, and others, particularly those who make you feel friendship and could spell a fresh and exciting traditional. An intimate gathering feels better stable and grounded, should be on the agenda start, but one is initially disruptive, too. A break than a crowd. with the past paves the way for something today. Some variation on a teacher / student Jan 18:If you want to spare yourself new. disappointment, don't get lost in unrealistic dynamic will play out. Jan 16:The work scene gets mixed reviews. expectations for others and yourself and what Jan 14:If you're not dealing with some There's a possibility of good teamwork early, you can accomplish. emergency this morning, the sense of urgency but then, regarding this and other issues, the Jan 19:A new job assignment or work that you or others have about activities will reliability factor is absent, and distractions development can seem like a dream come true. abound. make it seem like there is. It would be better if Unlike yesterday, job inspirations and Jan 17:Faithful friends are a source of much aspirations new should heeded. everyone could just calm down. satisfaction. There's comfort to be derived from THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 SPIRITUALITY 29

anesha is one of the most distinctive Hindu deities with his Glarge elephant head and pot- bellied human body. He plays a dual role of a supreme being powerful enough to GANESHA: THE REMOVER remove obstacles and ensure success or create obstructions for those whose ambition has become destructive. Ganesha is an archetype who you OF OBSTACLES might call upon when you’re about to embark on a new endeavor. As the knuckles. Ganesha took his original Remover of Obstacles and the god of form. Agasthiar was saddened that he success, Ganesha is honored throughout had tried to strike Lord Ganesha. He Indian and in Hindu cultures, at both started striking his forehead with his secular and religious ceremonies. When knuckles. Ganesha stopped him & someone launches a new business or granted that everybody who worshipped moves into a new home, for example, the him in this manner would be blessed elephant-headed god is invoked to bless with wisdom. the venture. Another version of the same story - Revered for his cleverness and Ponni, as Cauvery was originally called, wisdom, Ganesha is also known as the was disrespectful to Agasthiar when he patron of letters and learning. Ganesha came down south. To teach her a lesson, is the scribe who wrote down the Agasthiar imprisoned the entire river in legendary Indian epic the Mahabharata, his kamandalam. dictated to him by the ancient sage Ganesha on sage Narada's request Vyasa, according to some scholars of came in the form of a crow and toppled Hindu literature. It is said that Ganesha the kamandalam & set the river free. agreed to transcribe the epic only if Ponni was then given a new name, Vyasa would recite the poem without Cauvery (Kaveri). pausing. In many depictions of Ganesha, he is Story of Gajamugasuran shown holding a broken tusk in his lower There was an asura called right hand like a pen, perhaps Gajamugasuran. He did deep penance symbolizing the sacrifice he made in and worshipped Lord Siva, who granted feverishly writing the Mahabharata. him several boons, by which he became Another interpretation of the broken extremely powerful. He put the Devas tusk is that it’s a symbol of the truth that and rishis to great trouble. He forced the outward imperfections have nothing to Devas to do 1008 Thoeppukaranams in do with inner perfection. the morning, 1008 in the afternoon and Ganesha is typically the first deity 1008 in the evening. (Thoepukaranam contacted in prayers in Hinduism. Those means to sit down and stand up holding who seek wisdom and prosperity often one's ears with crossed hands, left ear call for him. with right hand & right ear with left hand). The Story of Ganesha The Devas prayed to Lord Siva to The Hindu tradition contains many rescue them from this evil asura. Lord different versions of Ganesha’s origins. Siva sent Lord Vinayaga to overcome Some stories say that Ganesha was born Gajamugasuran. Vinayagar went with with an elephant head. Most say that he several weapons such as bow & arrow, was born with a human head that was sword, axe, etc. However, since later replaced with the elephant head. Gajamugasuran had been granted the In one version of the story, Ganesha’s boon that he be destroyed by no weapon, mother, the goddess Parvati, created none of these weapons used by Lord Ganesha from the dirt off her body while Vinayaga were effective. Vinayagar she was bathing. She then had Ganesha Seeking wisdom before making a But soon, Lord Varuna in fear of broke off his right tusk and used it to guard the entrance to her bathroom. big decision such as deciding Surapaduman did not shower rains & kill Gajamugasuran. Gajamugasuran When her husband, Shiva, came home, whether to leave a job or change Indran's garden & in fact the whole land still rushed at Vinayaga in the form of a he was angry that a stranger blocked his careers. suffered from lack of water. Sage mooshikam (small mouse). Vinayagar access and cut off Ganesha’s head in a fit Any situation where an obstacle is Narada, told Indran of the river crushed the ego and vanity of of rage. Parvati was struck with grief, preventing you from success. Cauvery that Lord Siva had once filled Gajamugasuran and sat on the and to console her, Shiva restored Cultivating a peaceful household. in Agasthiar's kamandalam. Indran mooshikam. The humbled Ganesha to life, giving him an elephant Ganesha is loving and polite, yet prayed to Lord Ganesha for his help. Gajamugasuran bowed before head. strong. Ganesha took the form of a crow & sat Vinayagar, who accepted the on Agasthiar's kamandalam & toppled mooshikam as his vahana. The Vahana of Ganesha Agasthyar it. Agasthiar lifted his hands to shoo off Lord Vinayaka is the source of Everything in the universe is created During the wedding of Siva with the crow. River Cauvery, took it as a everlasting wisdom. He crushed ego and by one infinite, divine consciousness Parvathi in the Mount Kailas, the entire signal for her & began to flow. vanity and reduced it to the size of a known as Brahman. It’s why Hindus see population, Devas and Rishis had The crow took the form of a small boy. mooshikam and used it as his vahana. divinity in all living creatures, including gathered & hence the Northern land Agasthiar started chasing the boy Lord Vinayagar can be pleased by doing animals. As a result, deities are dipped down, unable to bear the weight. trying to strike him on his head with his Thoepukaranam. associated with a particular animal or Lord Siva asked Sage Agasthiar to go to bird that acts as a vehicle—or vahana— the Podhigai ranges in the Southern land PAGE SPONSORED BY to transport the gods and goddesses in order to balance the weight. (Agasthiar wherever they need to go. was very short in stature but his might ARISH K. SAHANI Ganesha’s vahana is a mouse, which was so great). Agasthiar was sad that he he rides. The mouse is an extension of could not stay & witness the Lord's Serving Since 1972 Ganesha’s powers. It can gnaw through wedding. Siva granted that he would still Please Call or Write for Your Insurance Needs all barriers and it can slide into crevices be able to see the wedding from the South. too tiny for Ganesha to enter. Together From within his matted locks, he took Arish K Sahani (Father) the elephant deity and his vahana ensure river Cauvery & filled it in Agasthiar's that obstacles of all sizes can be kamandalam (spouted pot), bidding Shiv Sahani (Son) removed. Cauvery to flow wherever Agasthiar pointed. Agasthiar reached the south & Priya Sahani Sood (Daughter) Inspiration from Ganesha travelled to various Siva Sthalams. When you’re setting goals or seeking Surapaduman was an asura, who had 7 1 8 - 2 7 1 - 1 9 0 6 wisdom as you pursue them—call upon immense power. Indra had run away in [email protected] Ganesha as your guide. Ganesha can be fear from his Indralogam, reached especially helpful for: Sirgazhi in the southern regios of India “If Hindus don’t maintain Hinduism, who shall save it?” Any big or small endeavor in which & prayed to Lord Siva. He created a you want to succeed. beautiful garden & worshipped Lord “If India’s own children don't cling to their faith, who shall guard it?” Writing and artistic projects. Siva with the flowers from his garden. “Indians alone can save India, and India and Hinduism are one.” THE INDIAN PANORAMA 30 FEATURE FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 LOHRI: THE BONFIRE FESTIVAL ike most other festivals in India, Lohri is also related to the agricultural activities of the Lfarmers. It marks the harvesting season in Punjab and the end of the winter season. Lohri usually falls on the last day of the month of Paush, a day known as Makar Sankranti in most parts of the country. According to the English calendar, Lohri falls on 13th January every year. Preparation to celebrate Lohri begins way before the actual festival day. Right through the winter days, village women and children collect dry twigs and branches to make a huge bonfire on the day of Lohri-the bigger the better. On the day of the festival, with the setting of the sun, the bonfire is lit with people singing and dancing to the tune of Lohri songs. The munching of seasonal goodies like popcorn, reori, peanuts and sugar cane forms an integral part of the celebration. Fistfuls of these goodies also find their way into the fire, as an offering to the Sun God, the giver of all life. Interestingly, the next day of Lohri is known as Maghi, a day that signifies the beginning of the month Lohri Rituals of Magh. songs. According to common belief, this is an auspicious day Lohri is primarily the harvest festival of the Doing this they also collect firewood and money for to take holy dip and give away charity. Kheer is Punjabis. the bonfire that is scheduled on the night of Lohri. On prepared in sugar cane juice to mark the day. This festival denotes the harvesting of the Rabi the special day, offerings of phulley (popcorn), crops and hence all the farmers get together in moongphali (peanuts) and rewri (a sweet delicacy made The First Lohri order to thank god for giving them such a out of jaggery and sesame seed) are offered to the fire. Lohri, the bonfire harvest festival of Punjab wonderful harvest. The men and women go round the fire and bow before it celebrated in the month of Magh, is symbolic of new The rituals related to Lohri symbolize the in reverence. Lohri holds special importance when beginnings. The first time Lohris are especially attachment of the people with Mother Nature. A there is a special occasion in the family like marriage celebrated with pomp and grandeur. Friends and few days before the festival, youngsters get or childbirth. relatives gather around the fire and perform Gidda and together in groups and go round their localities Bhangra to the beat of Dhol, the drums of Punjab. singing folk songs. Lohri Legends Doing this they also collect firewood and money Like all Indian festivals, Lohri also has some legends The First Lohri of a Bride for the bonfire that is scheduled on the night of and lore attached to it. The celebration takes place in the in-law’s house Lohri. On the special day, offerings of phulley One of the many interesting legends has it that in a with a grand feast for family and friends. (popcorn), moongphali (peanuts) and rewri (a place that lies between Gujaranwala and Sialkot, there The bride dresses in traditional attire with solah sweet delicacy made out of jaggery and sesame was a thick forest known as Rakh. The forest was the sringar, 16 things that a bride generally wears. seed) are offered to the fire home of Dulla Bhatti, a dacoit who was considered as The new bride and groom sit in a central place The men and women go round the fire and bow the Robin Hood of Punjab. This brave and generous together as people approach them with wishes and before it in reverence. Lohri holds special man was always helpful to the needy. gifts. importance when there is a special occasion in the During the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, a The parents-in-law present the bride with new family like marriage or childbirth. jealous Hindu spread a rumour that his niece was very clothes and jewellery. beautiful and would do credit to the Muslim harem. On Lohri Traditions hearing this, the Mughal officers wanted to carry her The First Lohri of a New-born Lohri is primarily the harvest festival of the off forcibly.The girl’s father was extremely worried and The first Lohri of a new-born is of immense Punjabis. This festival denotes the harvesting of the sought the protection of Dulla Bhatti. Dulla at once got significance where the family and friends participate to Rabi crops and hence all the farmers get together in her married to a young Hindu boy at a simple ceremony bless the child with a prosperous and a healthy future. order to thank god for giving them such a wonderful in the forest. He lit the sacred fire in keeping with the Many conduct an elaborate get-together at the paternal harvest. Hindu custom. home, where invitation cards are sent in advance. The rituals related to Lohri symbolize the attachment Since there was no priest to chant the holy mantras, Family and friends bring along gifts for the child as well of the people with Mother Nature. he broke into a hilarious song composed extempore to as the new mother. The maternal and paternal A few days before the festival, youngsters get together add cheer to the occasion. This song is sung even today grandparents shower the child with gifts. in groups and go round their localities singing folk on the occasion. Makar Sankranti akar Sankranti is one of the most for Pratyaksha-Brahman - the manifest auspicious day for the Hindus, God, who symbolizes, the one, non-dual, Mand is celebrated in almost all self-effulgent, glorious divinity blessing parts of the country in myriad cultural one & all tirelessly. Sun is the one who forms, with great devotion, fervor & transcends time and also the one who gaiety.Lakhs of people take a dip in places rotates the proverbial Wheel of Time. The like Ganga Sagar & Prayag and pray to famous Gayatri Mantra is directed to Sun Lord Sun. It is celebrated with pomp in God to bless them with intelligence & southern parts of the country as Pongal, wisdom. Sun not only represents God but and in Punjab is celebrated as Lohri & also stands for an embodiment of Maghi. Gujarati's not only look knowledge & wisdom. reverentially up to the sun, but also offer thousands of their colorful oblations in The Sikh Festival: Maghi the form of beautiful kites all over the Maghi is the occassion when Sikhs skyline. They may be trying to reach upto commemorate the sacrifice of forty Sikhs, their glorious God or bring about greater who fought for Guru Gobindh Singh Ji. primarily the festival at Muktsar, a 1705. The bodies were cremated the proximity with the one who represents the Maghi, Makara Sankranti, the first day district town of the Punjab, in following day,the first of Magh (hence the best. It is a day for which Bhishma of the month of Magh. The eve of Maghi commemoration of the heroic fight of the name of the festival), which now falls Pitamah kept waiting to leave his mortal is the common Indian festival of Lohri Chali Mukte, literally, the Forty Liberated usually on the 13th of January. Following coil. when bonfires are lit in Hindu homes to Ones, who laid down their lives warding the custom of the Sikhs to observe their Makar Sankranti is the day when the greet the birth of sons in the families and off an attack by an imperial army anniversaries of happy and tragic events glorious Sun-God of Hindus begins its alms are distributed. In the morning, marching in pursuit of Guru Gobind alike, Maghi is celebrated with end-to-end ascendancy and entry into the Northern people go out for an early-hour dip in Singh. The action took place near a pool of recital of the Guru Granth Sahib and Hemisphere. Sun for the Hindus stands nearby tanks. For Sikhs, Maghi means water, Khidrane di Dhab, on 29 December religious divans in almost all gurdwaras. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 CLASSIFIEDS 31

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CONTD FROM PAGE 1 various examinations," she said. Trump admin hits Iran with new... A journalist in Srinagar, who did not wish to be Internet fundamental right... identified, said the Supreme Court had rightly terrorist activities and commits to never having It said the administration could not refuse to produce observed that Internet access is a fundamental right nuclear weapons," Mnuchin said. the orders issued after scrapping of Article 370. which could not be curtailed and expressed the hope Trump, in a statement delivered after Mnuchin The Bench headed by Justice NV Ramana said the that services to media houses would be restored so and Pompeo spoke, said the sanctions "will have a test of proportionality needed to be satisfied. The they could operate freely. "This is what we had been major impact on the Iranian economy" and that freedom could be restricted only after relevant factors saying all along. The Supreme Court has rightly they "will remain until the Iranian regime were considered and only if there were no other slammed the government. We now hope the services, changes its behavior. " options. The apex court ordered forthwith review of especially to media houses, will be resumed soon and "The United States will continue to counter the orders suspending the Internet in Jammu and Kashmir, better sense prevails so that the services are not Iranian regime's destructive and destabilizing saying such suspension could not be for an unlimited disrupted for so long in future," the journalist said. behavior," Trump said. period. It could only be for a limited period and was Historic judgment, this time court did not come Trump said Thursday that Soleimani had been subject to judicial review, it added. under any pressure: Azad on SC's J-K ruling plotting attacks on multiple embassies and Internet suspension without a particular duration Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday suggested the Iranian commander had been and indefinitely is a violation of the Telecom Rules, the hailed the Supreme Court order on Jammu and planning specifically to blow up the U.S. Embassy top court said. It ordered the J-K administration to Kashmir, saying the government had tried to mislead in Baghdad. He specified in a Fox News interview produce all orders invoking Section 144 of the CrPC. the people and this time the apex court did not come released Friday that four embassies were targeted While issuing restrictive orders under Section 144, a under any pressure. "We welcome this judgment. This for attack. magistrate should apply his/her mind and apply is the first time the SC has talked about how people of Earlier this week, Pompeo said classified U.S. doctrine of proportionality to strike a balance between J-K feel. I would like to thank the SC for a very intelligence showed that Soleimani had been danger to national security and liberty of citizens. historic decision and the people from across the involved in planning an imminent attack on Repetitive orders under Section 144 without assigning country were waiting for it, especially the people of Americans. reasons and without being based on material facts JK," he said. (Agencies) Pressed Friday for more details about those would violate citizens' right to various freedoms, the claims, Pompeo said, "We had specific court noted. SC's observations on Internet access US House votes to curb information on an imminent threat, and those happy news, say people in Kashmir Valley The Supreme Trump's... threats included attacks on U.S. embassies … Court's observation on Friday that access to the period, full stop." Internet is a fundamental right has come as happy news Among them was Matt Gaetz, one of Trump's "I don't know completely which minute, we for people in the Kashmir Valley with many expressing staunchest supporters in Congress who noted in a didn't know exactly which day it would've been the hope that services will be resumed soon. floor speech that the measure did not criticizeTrump executed," Pompeo said. "But it was very clear: Internet access was snapped five months ago when but said that "engaging in another forever war in the Qassem Soleimani himself was plotting a broad, Jammu and Kashmir's special status was revoked and Middle East would be the wrong decision". large-scale attack against American interests, and the state bifurcated into union territories, Jammu and "If the members of our armed services have the those attacks were imminent - against American Kashmir, and Ladakh. courage to go and fight and die in these wars, as facilities, including American embassies, A SIGH OF RELIEF IN THE VALLEY : The Congress we ought to have the courage to vote for military bases, American facilities throughout Supreme Court's ruling asking the Jammu and them or against them," Gaetz said. the region." Kashmir administration to review within a week all As lawmakers launched a scalding day-long debate "This was going to happen," he continued. "We orders imposing curbs in the union territory and over presidential authority, Trump insisted he needed would have been culpably negligent had we not saying that internet access is a fundamental right no one's blessing to launch attacks, essentially recommended to the president to take this action under Article 19 of the Constitution led to a sigh of scorning existing legal requirements for consulting against Qassem Soleimani." (Source: NBC News) relief in the Valley. with Congress. "It is a piece of very happy news for us, a huge relief, "I don't have to," Trump said when asked whether he Iraq asks U.S. for team of... as the Internet has been suspended for over five months would seek congressional approval for more military to set the mechanisms to implement now.We really hope that services will be resumed soon," action against Iran. Parliament's decision for the secure withdrawal of said Ishtiyaq Ahmad, a businessman in Lal Chowk area "And you shouldn't have to," he added, "because you (foreign) forces from Iraq." of the city. He said trade and business had been badly have to make split-second decisions sometimes". Some 5,200 U.S. soldiers are stationed at bases affected since August 5 when authorities cut all Trump signaled on Wednesday he was stepping back across Iraq to support local troops preventing a Internet services in the Valley. from the brink of war with Iran after a US drone resurgence of the Islamic State group. "Every sector has been badly affected. This has been strike that killed commander Qasem Soleimani was They make up the bulk of a broader U.S.-led the worst phase for business in the Valley. The Internet followed by Iranian missile volleys against bases coalition, invited by the Iraqi government in 2014 is a basic tool on which everyone, especially people housing American forces in Iraq. to help combat the jihadists. Their deployment associated with business, depend. We have struggled a But on Thursday he fought back against criticism was based on an executive-to-executive agreement lot without Internet services," Ahmad said. that he'd ordered the killing, risking all-out conflict, never ratified by Iraq's Parliament. Another businessman associated with the tourism without real justification. But on Sunday, Iraq's Parliament voted in sector in the Valley is hoping the Internet-dependent At a re-election campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio, favorof rescinding that invitation and ousting all business will get a fillip. Trump insisted, without providing any evidence, that foreign troops. "This will give a boost to the sector which is highly Soleimani was "actively planning new attacks", The following day, U.S. commanders sent a letter dependent on the Internet. Everything in the sector including against US embassies, "and we stopped him to their counterparts in Baghdad saying they were depends wholly on Internet services, from ticketing cold". He ridiculed his Democratic opponents in preparing for "movement out of Iraq". enquiries to reservations. Congress, calling them insulting names and claimed The letter said the coalition would "be "Tourists also were wary of the suspension of the that if he had consulted with them, they would have repositioning forces over the course of the coming services and showed little interest in visiting the leaked the secret operation to the "fake news". "You days and weeks to prepare for onward movement". Valley. We are hopeful that this will give a fillip to should get permission from Congress," he said The Pentagon said the letter was a draft sent by tourism," he said. Afreen Mushtaq, a student living on mockingly to mimic the Democratic speaker of the mistake, but Mr. Abdel Mahdi disputed that the outskirts of the city, said the student community House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. account, saying his office had received signed and had suffered the most and the apex court's criticism of But Democrats, and some Republicans, have translated copies. He has demanded clarification the Internet ban, though late, is a breath of fresh air. expressed deep skepticism about the administration's from Washington of its intentions, while the U.S.- "The Internet should have been restored long ago. rationale for Soleimani's killing, and are demanding led coalition said on Thursday that it too was We have been deprived of the services for far too long. Congress reassert its power over a commander-in- seeking clarity on the legal ramifications of It has affected our education. It has especially affected chief's use of American military might against Parliament's vote. those who had to seek admissions and to take part in another nation. (Source: AFP) (Source: AFP) THE INDIAN PANORAMA PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER: Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja Mohammad Shahzad, Zia Khan DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: Ashishpal Singh Bureau Chief Phone: 972-330-3139 VICE PRESIDENT: Chitagam Saluja Nisha Rani CHANDIGARH: Manjit Sidhu E-mail [email protected]; Phone: 646-247-9458 CHIEF EDITOR: Prof Indrajit S. Saluja Vaaho Photographers LUDHIANA: A.S. Arora, R.P.Sharma www.theindianpanorama.news ASSISTANT EDITOR: Bidisha Roy Vijay Shah -Photo Journalist. Published by Prof. Indrajit Saluja GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Om Parkash Malik DISTRIBUTOR : Sukhwinder Singh The Indian Panorama DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATION: Gauri Beri CORRESPONDENTS : P.O. Box No. 190067, South Richmond Hill, NY 11419, DISCLAIMER CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: SACRAMENTO: Parminder S. Aujla Tel: 646-247-9458 The Indian Panorama assumes no responsibility for the Baldev Singh / BJ Videos NEW YORK : Chitagam Email: [email protected] claims made in advertisements. We only sell space. Views published in the newspaper are those of the authors and do Gunjesh Desai / Masala Junction FRESNO: Tarlochan Singh DALLAS EDITION not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper. All rights Jay Mandal, DALLAS: Harjit Dhesi, Amarjit Dhillon P.O. BOX 121695, ARLINGTON, TX 76012 are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without Mohammad Jaffer/ SnapsIndia OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS Lovllien Kaurr, VP & Bureau Chief permission in writing from The Indian Panorama is prohibited. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 TRAVEL 33 JODHPUR: GATEWAY TO THAR

lso known as the "The Blue City", "Sun City" and "Gateway to Thar", AJodhpur is famous for its Mehrangarh fort, blue houses, temples, sweets and snacks. Apart from the fort, there are multiple temples, lakes, shopping streets that are like a mirage from a bygone era. The former capital of Marwar, Jodhpur is one of the most enchanting cities of Rajasthan, with its mighty Mehrangarh fort overlooking the city. The city is called the Blue City as it looks completely blue in colour from an aerial view because of its blue walls and blue houses. Nearby Jaswant Tada and Umaid Bhawan Palace are also among the top attractions in Jodhpur. However, the magic lies in the old city itself with hundreds of shops, guesthouses, eating joints and vendors make it a chirpy bustling city, especially near the landmark clock tower and Sardar Market. Seen in the backdrop of the movie, The Dark Knight Rises, Jodhpur attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. Jodhpur is conveniently located in the centre of Rajasthan making it easier for people visiting Jodhpur to explore other destinations of the state.

Places to Visit In Jodhpur Mehrangarh was made where it is at Udai Mandir present. Arna Jharna Udai Mandir is an architectural beauty. If you are an appreciator of Arna-Jharna is a unique to approach architectural brilliance and quality then to the way museums should be. Instead of this place is for you. Half of the temple being enclosed in a box, it enjoys the entrance gate is made from the carved open space of the desert. Here you learn sandstone (Jodhpur is the hub of by exploring and enjoying with visuals. sandstone). The main temple stands on a Mehrangarh Fort huge raised platform and is supported by 102 pillars. Mehrangarh Fort of Jodhpur is one of Inside Udai Mandir there are beautiful the largest and most popular forts in wall paintings with 84 Yogasanas and the India. The fort is located at the centre of pictures of Nath Yogis made up with the city and appears to command gold. Jodhpur. Every visit to Mehrangarh is as The temple has a Garbh Griha. The exciting as before. upper portion of the Garbh Griha is kept Jaswant Thada covered with cloth and is surrounded by gold pots. The gold polishing in Udai Jaswant Thada lies to the left of the Mandir still has its original shine and Mehrangarh fort complex. It is a royal quality. memorial made up of white marble and Siddhanth Shiv Temple wonderful architecture piece of art. Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park Siddhanth Shiv temple is situated between Takhat Sagar hills and Kalyana Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park was Lake. Its way is on Chopasani Road and it created in 2006 and is situated next to is about 10 Kms away from Jodhpur. You Mehrangarh Fort. can reach the temple only after crossing There are plants in this park that are the hundreds of stairs made up by adapted to growing in arid, rocky areas cutting rocks. of the Thar Desert. Once upon a time the place, exactly Rao Jodha Park is open throughout the where the temple now stands, was year from 9 AM to 5:15 PM every day. completely a deserted area. Ram Dwara Siddhanth Shiv temple is believed to be built by GauriShanker (also called This is a temple of great Hindu god Nepali Baba, his real name was Veetragi and leader of the epic Ramayana 'Shree Narain Swami) himself by cutting Ram'. It is located in the Chandpole (near stones. Soorsagar) of Jodhpur. Here the sages He was a handicapped saint who had preach and practice principles of Hindu only four fingers in each of his hand and Dharma. foot. Umaid Bhawan Palace Masuriya Hill Garden Ghanta Ghar or Clock Tower classic silver and gold jewelry. Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the Sachiya Mata Temple Masuria hill garden is located on the world's largest private residences. Taj Ghanta Ghar also known as the clock Masuria hills of Jodhpur. It has the Hotels manage a part of the palace. tower. Beside the tower, there in the The Sachiya Mata Temple is located in Asia's largest TV tower in it. It is green It was named after Maharaja Umaid Sardar Market that is trusted by Osian, near Jodhpur. Osian is 60-65 kms lush garden with full and clear view of Singh, grandfather of the present tourists for shopping. From this market, from Jodhpur. In this Temple mother Jodhpur. Earlier Mehrangarh fort was Maharaja Gaj Singh II, this monument you can purchase Rajasthani textiles, goddess Sachiya is worshipped by many proposed to be made on Masuria hills but has 347 rooms and serves as the principal clay articles, miniature camels and castes living in Rajasthan, Madhya due to lack of water (at that time) residence of the Jodhpur royal family. elephants, marble inlay work and Pradesh, and North India. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 34 SPORTS FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

Virat Kohli shatters Ricky India beat SL by 78 runs in Ponting’s world record PUNE (TIP): Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli is no stranger to breaking records in the 3rd T20I to secure series 2-0 shortest format of the sport and the right-hander added another major accolade to his name during the PUNE (TIP): After losing the toss, 3rd T20I encounter against Sri Lanka in Pune on India skipper Virat Kohli spoke Friday. Kohli became the second Indian cricketer to about the need to do well after complete 11,000 international runs as skipper - a feat batting first. The reason was India’s achieved only by MS Dhoni. Overall, he became the dismal record while defending. From sixth international skipper to reach the mark. the start of 2019 till before this Kohli reached the milestone in the 13th over after match, India had won just three and taking a single off Lakshan Sandakan. lost five while bowling second. On Kohli also became the fastest captain to reach the Friday however, that wasn’t the case milestone as he was able to achieve the feat in 169 as India rode early strikes by Jasprit matches (196 innings). Kohli beat former Australia Bumrah, Shardul Thakur and captain Ricky Ponting, who had taken 252 innings to Navdeep Saini to record a achieve the same. Kohli is also the first to reach 11000 comprehensive 78-run win over Sri international runs as captain under 200 innings. The Lanka and clinch the three match other captains to have achieved this unique T20I series 2-0. distinction and scored over 11,000 international runs Chasing a target of 202, Sri are Stephen Fleming, MS Dhoni, Allan Border, and Lanka’s chase was effectively over in Graeme Smith. the Powerplay after being reduced to Ponting’s tally of 15.440 runs came in 324 matches, 31/4. Their demise started in the Smith’s 14,878 runs came in 286 matches, Fleming’s very first over when left-hander 11,561 runs came in 303 matches, Dhoni’s 11,207 runs Danushka Gunathilaka (1) became relatively easier with dew partner continued with both came in 332 matches and Border’s 11,062 runs came in attempted a pull off a Bumrah short and spinners finding it difficult to matching each other shot for shot. 271 matches. delivery, the ball landing safely in grip the ball. But Mathews got Dhawan got a reprieve in the second the hands of Washington Sundar at carried away after hitting Sundar for over and then just took off, looking mid-on. His opening partner a six off the first ball of 12th over, much more assertive than he was in Avishka Fernando (9) perished in holing out at mid-on a ball later. That the Indore game. He matched Rahul’s the next over, hitting straight at ended any hope Sri Lanka had drives and punches with his own Shreyas Iyer standing at covers off harboured of mounting a dramatic array of flicks and pulls. They the bowling of Thakur. Oshada comeback. The batsmen who stitched a 97-run partnership for the Fernando (2) was run out in the followed didn’t put up much of a opening wicket, providing the launch fourth over following a mix up while fight as their innings was folded in pad for India to post huge total. Kusal Perera (7) couldn’t keep out a 15.5 overs. Dhawan holed out at mid-wicket peach of a yorker from the ever- Saini was India’s most successful soon after reaching his half-century. improving Saini. bowler with figures of three for 28 The 36-ball 52 knock was laced with A 68-run stand for the fifth wicket while Sundar and Thakur took two seven boundaries and one six and between Angelo Mathews (31) and wickets each. Earlier, the duel couldn’t have come at a better time Dhananjaya de Silva (57) briefly between Shikhar Dhawan and KL for Dhawan, who is returning from raised Sri Lanka hopes as batting Rahul to be Rohit Sharma’s opening an injury. Rani Rampal among top 25 athletes nominated for World Athlete award By Prabhjot Singh 1.52,865 votes. CHANDIGARH (TIP): Hockey girls "We at Hockey India are elated by the from Shahabad Markanda in Haryana news of Rani being nominated for the have done enough to bring this small World Games Athlete of the Year 2019. township on National Highway 1 on the She indeed is a huge inspiration to many world horizon. This small town has in the country and has produced more international woman made her own mark in hockey players than any other single the sport. We are very town in the country. Now is the time for proud of her Rani Rampal, captain of Indian women's achievements and hockey team, to shower more praise on contribution to her hometown as she has been named women's among World's top 25 athletes in run for hockey in the World Athlete award. India. We Rani, who helped India qualify for the hope this 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with a face- nomination saving goal against the USA in the comes as an Olympic Qualifier at Bhubaneshwar late inspiration to last year is all set to lead the country in many other the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. After aspiring players being nominated, Rani has to get more who wish to public votes than any of her rivals to emulate Rani's earn the prestigious award. success. We urge Meanwhile, Hockey India on Friday all hockey fans to congratulated Rani on being nominated vote for Rani and for The World Games Athlete of the Year continue to support 2019. This will be the 6th edition of the Rani and the IWGA initiative that recognizes and Rani Rampal of Shahabad Markanda may well bag the World Athlete award. Indian Women's honorsan athlete or a team for their Team as they outstanding performance in 2019, or for Federations and in Rani's case, the FIH Games. prepare for the 2020 their social commitment or particularly has recommended her name for the Last year, the Acrobatic Gymnastics Tokyo Olympics," fair behavior. award for her outstanding performance couple Mariia Chernova and Georgii stated Mohd. The 25 athletes nominated for this and her ability to lead by example. She Pataraia (Russia) won the title with Mushtaque Ahmad, award from 25 sports have been was instrumental in India qualifying for 159,348 votes, just ahead of American President Hockey recommended by their International the first time in back-to-back Olympic Powerlifter Jennifer Thompson with India. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 ADVERTISEMENT 35 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 36 ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020