NEW YORK • WASHINGTON D.C. • CHICAGO • ATLANTA • CALIFORNIA VOL 26, No. 1367 December 18, 2020 50¢ Periodical Postage CHINA SPIES 2M Chinese Communist Party agents embedded around the world

Consul General Amit Kumar Opportunities of doing business in India Bipin Rawat

Details on page 17 ‘Every nation will prepare Biden's challenge: for its security’ Building Cabinet Details on page 7 that meets all goals

Details on page 6 ‘Govt intentions clear, farmers Young scientist will find way’

Gitanjali, TIME's Details on page 7 Kid of the Year

Details on page 8 CONTENTS

Bollywood ------26 Classifieds ------28 Community Post ------17-23 Edit Page ------31 NEW DELHI/CANBERRA: In a explosive data leak, million CCP members, has their party position, birth- Horoscope ------29 This week’s question around two million Chinese Communist Party (CCP) date, national ID number and ethnicity. Immigration Post ------9 Will Amit Shah be able to sort members who got secretly embedded in some of the Among the companies mentioned in the list are Life Style ------14-15 out farmers' issues? Philosophy/Perspective ------30 world's biggest companies, banks, media groups, uni- manufacturers such as Boeing and Volkswagen, phar- Last week’s result Info/Highlights ------4 versities and government agencies, have been ex- maceutical companies like Pfizer and AstraZeneca, Real Estate ------24-25 Do you think Sonia or Rahul Gandhi will step down? posed. and banks like ANZ and HSBC. As per the documents, TechBiz Post ------10-11 'The Australian' newspaper obtained the leaked around 600 people at HSBC, Standard Chartered Travel & Hospitality Post ------16 YES 53% NO 47% database which apart from the names of around two banks are CCP members. Details on page 5 Wellness Post ------12-13 2 India Post December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com December 18, 2020 India Post 3 www.indiapost.com 4 India Post December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com

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www.indiapost.com The Weekly Newspaper Serving Indians Worldwide Mission Statement Romesh & Sunita Japra Publishers To empower the Indian Diaspora and make their voice strong and effective in countries of their adoption. RJ Media conglomerate Rajesh Verma Co-Publisher offers a credible, professional and complete package of news, opinion, entertainment, networking and information. Vikram Paul President Krishan Sharma Mg Director & Joint Editor Naresh Sodhi General Manager HIGHLIGHTS Amit Saini IT Director Deexa Khanduri Sub Editor Ghanshyam Bisht Supervisor Graphics Bollywood: Lifestyle:

SAN FRANCISCO & Ranveer celebrates 10 years 81% women want control SILICON VALLEY Vidya Sethuraman Bureau Chief On 10 years in Bollywood, actor Ranveer Shaadi.com conducted a study,which Vijay Thapar CPRO & Advertising Singh said, "I am working towards revealed that 81 per cent women want Kiran Pandey Director, WellnessPost leaving behind a legacy, a filmography to be more independent and take con- Vinita Thapar Marketing Deepak Chhabra Promotions that I can be proud of". trol of their own matchmaking process. Ritu Maheshwari Director Promotions 26 14 Sudesh Kumari Correspondent

LOS ANGELES Mrs Shashi Trivedi Bureau Chief Cover Story: Techbiz:

CHICAGO CHINA SPIES Tesla to shut down for 18 days Ramesh Soparawala Resident Editor In an explosive data leak, around 2M Carmaker Tesla will shut down produc- A Q Siddiqui Correspondent CCP members secretly embedded in tion for its Model S and Model X vehicles ST. LOUIS some of the world's biggest companies at its Fremont, Ca -based factory for 18 Ashwin Patel Correspondent and government agencies, exposed. 5 days, beginning Dec. 24. 10 NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY Pinky Kaur Bureau Chief Srirekha N. Chakravarty Correspondent Nikita Japra Correspondent Community: Travel: Sukhvinder Saini Circulation Doing Business in India Chilika BOSTON Gope Gidwani Bureau Chief Indian CG Amit Kumar delivered a Key- Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon note address in Automation Alley's vir- in India and also the second largest salt- CANADA tual conference on "Opportunities and water lagoon in the world after the New Paras Nehra Correspondent Challenges of Doing Business in India". 17 Caledonian barrier reef. 16 NEW DELHI Lakshay Sharma Web Developer

MUMBAI Immigration: Wellness: Nidhi Soparawala Correspondent Frank Fernandes Correspondent US settles claim for discrimination UN chief's 'moral obligation'

VADODARA, GUJARAT The US Dept. of Justice has signed a I intend to receive the vaccine in what- Vaidehi Patel Correspondent settlement with a IT staffing and recruit- ever the situation that will be justified Priyanka Shah Correspondent ing company in TX for discriminating for that. And, obviously, I will have no PUNJAB against domestic workers. 9 doubt in doing it publicly, Guterres said. 12 Raman Nehra Bureau Chief Jaswant Singh Gandam Correspondent INFO-CENTER Business Partner India: CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS PHOENIX DUO MATRIX 1860 Mowry Ave # 200 Fremont, CA 94538 COMMUNICATIONS Tel: 510-396-9140 • Fax: 510-790-2806 • e-mail: [email protected] PRIVATE LIMITED S-1/A, 3rd Floor, Arjun Nagar, E-SUBSCRIPTION& EDITORIAL: Vidya Sethuraman: Tel: 510-491-4867 • e-mail: [email protected] Safdarjung Enclave Extension, ADVERTISEMENT: Naresh Sodhi: Tel: 510-938-8667 • e-mail: [email protected] I Graphics Inquiry: E-mail: [email protected] New Delhi -110029, INDIA T: +91 11 46068685, +91 11 41006051 INDIA CORPORATE OFFICE • E: [email protected] • W: www.phoenixduomatrix.com 230-A, 3rd Floor, Jin Kushal Suri Complex (Opp NDSE Part-II) New Delhi - 110049 • Tel: 11-26257769 • E-mail:[email protected] For advertisement rates call the office nearest to you: India Sales Offices: India Post Copyright©1994 RJ Media Inc, ISSN 1084-3868, is published weekly for SAN FRANCISCO & SILICON VALLEY NEW DELHI PUNJAB $30 for 52 issues yearly by India Post, 1860 1860 Mowry Ave # 200 Fremont, CA 94538 Chandrika Malikarya Amardeep Singh Mowry Ave Ste 200, Fremont, CA 94538- Naresh Sodhi: 510-938-8667 • e-mail: [email protected] Sr. Manager - Sales & Business Development Manager - Business Development 1730. Application to mail at Periodicals M: +91 8373929895 M: +91 8527456807 postage prices is pending at Fremont, Vidya Sethuraman: 510-491-4867 • e-mail: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] California and additional mailing offices. LOS ANGELES CHICAGO BANGALORE POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 16224 Alpine Pl. La Mirada, CA 90638 2543 W Devon Ave Chicago IL 60659 Gowtham Sivanandam Advertorials & Event Team India: India Post, 1860 Mowry Ave Ste 200, Tel: 562-441-5511, Tel: 773-973-7394; Fax: 773-973-7396; Sr. Manager Business Development Fremont, CA 94538-1730. [email protected] Email: [email protected] M: +91 9880535664 Deepti Dogra E: [email protected] Assistant Manager DISCLAIMER NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY India Post Editorial and Content Support assumes all advertisers to be Tel: 510-938-8667 • e-mail: [email protected] MUMBAI/AHMEDABAD [email protected] reliable and responsible for all liability M: +91 9560750802 for their claimers For editorial, contact: [email protected] December 18, 2020 Cover/Top Stories India Post 5 www.indiapost.com CHINA SPIES 2M Chinese Communist Party agents embedded around the world

NEW DELHI/CANBERRA: In a explosive data leak, around two million Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members who got secretly embedded in some of the world's biggest companies, banks, media groups, uni- versities and government agencies, have been ex- posed. 'The Australian' newspaper obtained the leaked database which apart from the names of around two million CCP members, has their party position, birth- date, national ID number and ethnicity. Among the companies mentioned in the list are manufacturers such as Boeing and Volkswagen, phar- maceutical companies like Pfizer and AstraZeneca, and banks like ANZ and HSBC. As per the documents, around 600 people at HSBC, Standard Chartered banks are CCP members. "It is believed to be the first leak of its kind in the Around 79,000 CCP branches have been set up in- Shanghai in 2016 by Chinese dissidents, who used it world," The Australian journalist and Sky News host side western companies where members, if called on, for counterintelligence purposes. It was later leaked Sharri Markson said. "What's amazing about this data- are answerable directly to the Communist Party and to the international bipartisan group the Inter-Parlia- base is not just that it exposes people who are mem- President Xi himself, the reports said. mentary Alliance on China, before being sent to the bers of the Communist Party, and who are now living "It is also going to embarrass some global compa- international consortium of four media organizations- and working all over the world, from Australia to the nies who appear to have no plan in place to protect -The Australian, the UK's Mail on Sunday, Belgium's De US to the UK, but it's amazing because it lifts the lid on their intellectual property from theft, from economic Standaard and a Swedish editor. how the party operates under President and Chairman espionage," Markson said. The Australian did not name the individual mem- Xi Jinping," she added. The data was reportedly extracted from a server in bers on the list, only the companies they work for. IANS

Every nation will prepare for ensuring its security: Bipin Rawat

KOLKATA: Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin occasion as the Chief Guest. Rear Admiral VK Saxena, The ceremony was conducted in true maritime tra- Rawat has said that every nation will continue to pre- IN (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, Vice ditions with the application of vermillion, breaking pare for ensuring its security based on their strate- Admiral AK Jain, Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Naval of coconut on the ship's bow and chanting of Vedic gic interest. Command, Lt Gen Anil Chouhan, Army Commander, mantras, according to an official release. "We are in a standoff situation in Ladakh and Eastern Command and other Senior Officials of GRSE, The contract for construction of three Stealth based on that there is some development activity Frigates under Project 17A is which has been ongoing in Tibet Autonomous Re- the largest ever order gion of China. Every nation will continue to prepare awarded to the shipyard by for ensuring its security based on their strategic in- the Ministry of Defense with a terest," said Rawat in Kolkata while speaking at the value of over Rs 19,293 crores. launch of the first project 17-A Frigate Warship from P17A ships will be the most GRSE Yard. "I wish to assure you that we are fully pre- advanced state-of-the-art pared for any eventuality that we may be faced Guided Missile Frigates, 149 m with," he added. long, with a displacement of "China's attempt to change the status quo on Line approximately 6670 T and hav- of Actual Control along the northern border amidst ing an advanced CODOG Pro- COVID-19 pandemic necessities high-level prepara- pulsion system enabling tion on land, sea and air. I am fully confident that In- speed of over 28 knots. These dian Armed Forces will leave no stone unturned to complex weapon platforms safeguard our frontiers be it at land, air or ocean," are equipped with a powerful said Rawat. weapon and sensor package Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Lim- capable of neutralizing threats ited (GRSE), Kolkata, accomplished a key milestone in all three dimensions, Air, in Project 17A on Monday 14 December, with the Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat addresses during the launch of Project 17A Surface and Sub-surface. Pic ANI launch of the first of three Stealth Frigates, "Himgiri" Stealth Frigate ‘INS Himgiri‘, in Kolkata on December 14. General Bipin Rawat, Chief at 1:30 PM. of Defense Staff during his Upholding the best of maritime traditions, the and Indian Navy and a host of other dignitaries were speech appreciated GRSE's service to the nation ship was "Launched" by Madhulika Rawat, wife of present at the occasion. having acquired vast knowledge and expertise in General Bipin Rawat, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, The Launch symbolizes the birth of the ship as she design and production of complex battle-ready VSM, ADC, Chief of Defense Staff who graced the makes her first contact with water and is floated out. warships and for having delivered 105 warships.ANI 6 India Post Top Stories December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com Biden's challenge: Building Cabinet that meets all his goals

WASHINGTON: Shortly after Presi- Vilsack has been criticized for the fir- dent-elect Joe Biden's victory last ing of department official Shirley month, Cabinet hopeful Marcia Fudge Sherrod, who is Black, during his last pointedly noted that Black people are stint at the USDA, a move he later apolo- often typecast into positions such as gized for. housing secretary. NAACP President Derrick Johnson Biden announced Fudge, a promi- warned Biden that the Vilsack selection nent Black congresswoman from Ohio, could hurt Black turnout in the critical was his nominee for that very role. She Georgia contests. was introduced alongside Biden's pick Vilsack could have a disastrous effect for the job she initially sought, head of on voters in the state of Georgia, NAACP the Agriculture Department. That went President Derrick Johnson told Biden instead to Tom Vilsack, a 70-year-old during the meeting, which was private. white man who already spent eight Audio was leaked to The Intercept, years in the position during the Obama which released excerpts. administration. Biden bristled at such concern, say- Those nominations highlight the ing, Let's get something straight, you competing priorities Biden is facing as shouldn't be upset. What I've done so far he fills out the top ranks of his adminis- is more than what anyone else has done tration. He's pledged to nominate the this far, he added. I mean what I say. The most diverse Cabinet in history and re- president-elect has several more Cabi- store experience at beleaguered fed- net posts to fill, and has made history eral agencies. He's seeking to reward with some of his early selections. loyalists who have stood with him He nominated retired Army Gen. throughout his lengthy career and give Lloyd Austin to be the first Black person opportunities to new voices in the to lead the Pentagon, while picking Cali- Democratic Party. fornia Attorney General Xavier Becerra Joe Biden Each of his nominees has to win con- to be the first Latino to lead the Health firmation in a narrowly divided Senate and Human Services Department. His BIDEN IS FACING A DECISION ON ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT that could be controlled by Republi- nominee for U.S. trade envoy, Katherine cans, depending on who wins two run- Tai, was born in Connecticut to Taiwan- WILL COME UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY FROM BLACK LEADERS, off races in Georgia next month. The ese parents. WHO WANT SOMEONE WITH A BACKGROUND IN CIVIL RIGHTS GOP has barely acknowledged Biden's But those choices were announced victory so the cooperation of its sena- after African Americans, Latinos and ADVOCACY, AND REPUBLICANS WHO ARE DEMANDING tors in the confirmation process is far Asian Americans in Congress voiced POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE AS BIDEN'S SON, HUNTER, FACES from certain. concerns that their perspectives may There's a lot of pressure, and part of not be fully represented in the new ad- A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO HIS FINANCES the reason you saw such big turnout is ministration. Some nominees will face that people are eager for change from other hurdles, most notably Austin who retary position. California Rep. Judy Chu, ment experience is paramount at a the Trump years, said Democratic strat- needs a waiver to fill the civilian role the chair of the Congressional Asian Pa- time when the country is facing a his- egist Karen Finney. That creates a lot of leading the Pentagon. That's a step cific American Caucus, said she sug- toric pandemic and economic uncer- high expectations." some Democrats have historically op- gested senior roles for Asian Americans tainty. But other Democrats are urging The challenge won't get easier. Biden posed. during the campaign and transition, him to blend those familiar faces with is facing a decision on attorney general Biden could further diversify his Cabi- only for action to come at the last newer voices. that will come under intense scrutiny net by picking Rep. Deb Haaland of minute. We have some people who've been from Black leaders, who want someone New Mexico as the first Native Ameri- We tried to work collaboratively dur- in the Cabinet before -- there's a role for with a background in civil rights advo- can interior secretary, giving her au- ing the campaign, Chu said. That's why those people, especially in a crisis like cacy, and Republicans who are demand- thority over a powerful agency that we are worried. One prominent feature this, they have the knowledge -- but it's ing political independence as Biden's oversees the nation's tribes. But doing of Biden's picks so far: deep ties to the important to be adding voices and lift- son, Hunter, faces a federal investiga- so would further erode the razor thin Obama administration. That includes ing up the next generation of leaders, tion into his finances. Democratic majority in the House, ex-White House chief of staff Denis said Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif. Some of those tensions emerged last something Biden can ill afford consid- McDonough as secretary of the Depart- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D- week during a meeting between Biden ering the party's tenuous standing in ment of Veterans Affairs and former U.N. N.Y., also voiced concern that there was and civil rights leaders who pressed the the Senate. ambassador and national security ad- no cohesive vision emerging from incoming president to diversify his There's particular frustration that, viser Susan Rice as director of the White Biden's slate of advisers. AP Cabinet and warned about the Vilsack until Tai's nomination, there was no one House Domestic Policy Council. pick in particular. of Asian descent in a Cabinet-level sec- Biden's team has said long govern- December 18, 2020 Top Stories India Post 7 www.indiapost.com Govt intentions clear, farm leaders will find way: Tomar

NEW DELHI: Union Agriculture Minis- and will do it further. I hope there will ter Narendra Singh Tomar has said he is be a solution." confident of a consensus between the Confident of finding solutions to the government and protesting farmers on problems of the farmers and ending the the issue of the new agricultural laws agitation soon, Tomar said that the gov- and that the farmer protest movement ernment is ready to renegotiate with would end soon. the farmer leaders and when the "real He said that only the "real farmer farmer leaders" come forward in the leaders" will come forward and find a talks, they will find avenues for solu- way out. The intentions and policy of the tions. government are correct and if the real Listing the benefits to the farmers leaders of the farmers come to the fore from the new agricultural laws imple- then the solution of the issue will come, mented by the Centre, he said, "The Tomar said. new laws provide farmers the freedom He said that there are some people to sell their crops anywhere in the coun- who are obstructing the path to a solu- try at the desired price. They guarantee tion and do not want them to reach a payment of prices within 3 days. The law decision, but the real farmer leaders provides that the farmers sitting at will surely find a way out. His direct ref- home get a nationwide price." erence was towards the opposition po- Tomar said that if there is no tax on litical parties. farmers' purchase of crops, they will Tomar said in an exclusive interview also get the benefit because they will to IANS that "It is on the minds of some get higher prices due to no tax. people that all three laws should be Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar Describing the specialty of the con- withdrawn so they are not allowing a In relation to these talks, Tomar an- ers are also right, so there should be no tract farming law, he said that this law decision to be reached." swered IANS questions saying, "There is doubt in the minds of the farmers. only allows the contract of the crop and In addition to the Ministry of Agricul- not a single person among the farmer Asked about the obstacles faced by the law has a provision to fix the price ture, Tomar, who handles the Ministry of representatives in the true sense who the Modi government for the reforms before sowing the crop. He said that Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and can say that he alone can talk about the initiated in the field of agriculture due this law will attract farmers to cultivate Food Processing Industries, has led four farmers and the new laws. Wherever to the protest of farmers against the expensive crops and use technology, as of the five rounds of talks with farmer there are objections, issues should be new agriculture laws, he said, "When well as cultivate according to global representatives. Apart from this, he was discussed with the government." such new reforms are done then doubts standards, their products will be used also present during the meeting of The Union Agriculture Minister said certainly arise in the minds of some in food processing, and it will definitely farmer leaders on December 8 with that the policy of the government is people, but I believe that the govern- benefit the farmers and their produce Union Home Minister Amit Shah. right, the intention is right and the lead- ment has tried to remove the doubts They will get reasonable and remunera- tive prices. The minister clarified that the appre- hension on farmers' land under the new Over 100 from IIT-Madras test positive for laws is baseless. Clarifying the provision for settle- ment of disputes, he said that in case of COVID-19, institute shuts down any dispute, it will be settled within 30 days at the SDM level and its appeal can CHENNAI: The Indian Institute of Medicine and Research as per the direc- accommodated in nine hostels. go up to the Collector. Technology-Madras here has been hit tive of Chief Minister K Palaniswami and "Classes are being held online," she Farmers have been camping since by the coronavirus outbreak with over they are all doing well," he told report- said. November 26 on the borders of Delhi. 100 people, a majority of them stu- ers here. Radhakrishnan said though the re- dents, testing positive for the conta- A spokesperson for the institute said sults showed a 20 per cent positivity Leaders of agitating farmer organiza- gion, a top health official said on Mon- all departments and labs have been rate, there was no need for concern as tions want repeal of the three new laws day 14 December. shut and as of now only about 700 stu- measures including aggressive con- implemented by the Centre - the Farm- A total of 104 students and others dents, mostly research scholars were tact testing are in place as per the pro- ers Produce Trade and Commerce (Pro- have contracted the disease and all tocol. motion and Facilitation) Act 2020, the were doing well in a hospital, Tamil Later, the top Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Nadu Health Secretary J official said he Price Assurance and Agricultural Services Radhakrishnan said, allaying fears of was now visiting Agreement Act 2020, and the Essential further spread the IIT-M campus Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020. Of the 444 samples lifted till date, for inspection They are adamant their demands 104 have tested positive for COVID- and those being while the government has offered to 19, he said, adding from December 1 treated at the amend these laws and is trying to con- to 12, samples from the institute turn- hospital.Health vince the farmers for this. ing positive steadily increased from a officials have also Meanwhile, leaders of some other few to 33 specimens today. inspected the farmers groups of Punjab, Haryana and "All of them are being treated at campus, he said. Uttarakhand also met the Union Agricul- the King's Institute of Preventive PTI ture Minister and assured their support on all the three farm laws. IANS 8 India Post Top Stories December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com

TIME's Kid of the Year Gitanjali focuses on Pakistan suffering because effective COVID-19 vaccine distribution of 'fake, incompetent and illegitimate' government NEW YORK: Young Indian-American scientist The youngster, who through her work is an inspira- Gitanjali Rao, TIME magazine's first-ever 'Kid of the tion for many, counted her parents - Bharathi and Ram LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairper- Year', has said she is brainstorming about solutions for Rao - and the family as her "biggest inspirations". son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari slammed the Prime the effective vaccine distribution to address a press- Rao said she had always received an incredible Minister Imran Khan government during the sixth ing challenge posed by the coronavirus, and has set amount of support from her parents. Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally, say- her sights on preventing future pandemics. "If I wanted to play a certain sport, learn something ing that the country is suffering because of the In an interview with PTI, the 15-year-old inventor new, I had all the resources in front of me, she said. "fake, incompetent and illegitimate government." said she was focused on using technological Addressing the gathering at Lahore's Minar-i- tools to offer solutions for vaccine distribution, a Pakistan, Bilawal recalled that his grandfather challenge that confronts the world grappling Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had founded the party in with the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Punjab. PPP workers in Lahore, Bilawal said, went Rao was named by TIME magazine this month through torture but continued to support democ- as the first-ever 'Kid of the Year' for her "aston- racy, Dawn reported. He said he accepted neither ishing work using technology to tackle issues the Prime Minister nor his Chief Minister. He in- ranging from contaminated drinking water to sisted that the PDM's "war is not for power but for opioid addiction and cyberbullying". She was the rights" of the people. selected among over 5,000 nominees for the Imran Khan became the prime minister with the honor. help of "selectors," The Express Tribune quoted "I definitely do want to look at the pandemic. Bilawal as saying. The next biggest problem we're going to face is People of Karachi and Lahore are demanding vaccine distribution and prioritization. So I'm the release of Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif looking at my potential data and analytics ap- and PPP leader Khurshid Shah from illegal impris- proach towards that," Rao said. onment, he added. "But I think the next biggest problem that I'll Bilawal said the time for dialogue has gone and probably look towards solving is preventing future Gitanjali Rao now the establishment has to listen to the de- pandemics from happening because I think it's mands of masses. "The time for a long march to- safe to assume that this isn't the last one and we prob- Rao recalled how her mother brought nearly a wards Islamabad has arrived and we will force ably will have another one before 100 years," she said. dozen books for her in third grade on clouds when Imran Khan to resign," he said. Rao says she is still at a "brainstorming and observ- she wanted to learn about the subject. "Dialogue can only be held after the removal of ing" phase but is looking at the whole idea of vaccine "Experiences like that are what changed my life for- dummy prime minister [Imran Khan]," said Bilawal. distribution and how widespread it needs to be. ever, having that support and being able to do what I Similarly, it is PPP Chairperson Bilawal's first ap- "Also, how important it is because everybody needs love without any backlash," she said. pearance at a political gathering at Minar-i-Paki- to receive this vaccine. So I'm looking at how we can Rao said she was also "truly inspired" by scientists stan. His late mother, former prime minister use predictive analytics and data models in order to and inventors who go beyond themselves and inno- Benazir Bhutto, held a historic public meeting at create a plan of how vaccine distribution will roll out," vate for positive change, particularly Jonas Salk, who Minar-i-Pakistan in 1986. ANI she said. invented the polio vaccine and never patented it. TIME had said in its profile that "exceptional leader- "He never claimed it as his own because he wanted ship" is what made the brilliant Rao stand out for the it to be something that everyone could use, and I re- UK foreign secretary honor. ally aspire to be that selfless and put others before "Rao not only researches scientific tools such as ar- me," Rao said. arrives in India for tificial intelligence and carbon nanotube sensor tech- The young scientist, who has been featured in nology and applies them to problems she sees in ev- Forbes list of 30 Under 30 achievers, was named four-day visit eryday life, like cyberbullying and water contamina- America's Top Young Scientist and is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, NEW DELHI: United Kingdom Foreign Secretary and Mathematics) pro- Dominic Raab arrives in India on a four-day visit during Rao was named by TIME magazine this month as the moter, wants to see more which he will hold talks with External Affairs Minister S first-ever 'Kid of the Year' for her "astonishing work using young girls being given Jaishankar on bilateral, regional, and international is- opportunities to study sues of mutual interest, Ministry of External Affairs an- technology to tackle issues ranging from contaminated drinking and work in the field. nounced. water to opioid addiction and cyberbullying" "I think another thing is He will also have official meetings with the Minister just showing them role of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash models in the field and I Javadekar, and the Minister of Education, Ramesh tion. She also shows other kids how to tap into their honestly aspire to be one of them, she said, adding Pokhriyal. The ministry said that Raab's visit will pave curiosity, aspiring to create a generation of innova- that when she was in second grade, she did not know the way for further strengthening of the partnership tors," it said. females could be scientists. across trade, defense, climate, migration and mobility, Rao said it was very "exciting" to be named Kid of "I didn't know it was possible because everybody I education, and health sectors in the post-Covid, post- the Year "but more than that it's honoring and hum- had seen in the media and learned about was a male. Brexit context. "Dominic Raab will pay an official visit bling to be that face of Generation Z as well as have I was excited personally to learn that a girl could be a to India from December 14 to 17. Raab will hold talks the opportunity to be featured on the cover of TIME scientist who is almost problematic because I was with Minister of External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam among so many other fantastic people. I'm so beyond able to learn about that but what if people didn't have Jaishankar on December 15, 2020, on bilateral, re- humbled and I'm just excited to see where this keeps that inspiration, didn't have that opportunity for gional, and international issues of mutual interest," the going". growth. PTI ministry said in a statement. ANI In Brief Employers, no matter their size UK Home Secretary and no matter their meets with exiled industry, cannot Hong Kong activist Immigration limit employment LONDON: Britain's Home opportunities only to Secretary has met with exiled temporary visa Hong Kong pro-democracy ac- holders tivist Nathan Law to discuss December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com India Post 9 the situation in the Chinese territory as well as new British immigration policies intended to help people wishing to US settles claim against IT Company for leave the city amid concerns about Beijing's tightening grip. Priti Patel was the first Brit- discrimination against American workers ish Cabinet minister to meet WASHINGTON: The US De- Civil Rights Division. sion will act to protect them or technical expertise. The US with Law, who fled his home- partment of Justice has an- Our message is clear: if em- under the Immigration and Na- issues up to 85,000 H-1B visas town before a warrant for his nounced that it has signed a ployers discriminate in adver- tionality Act, he said. each year. Usually, they're is- arrest was issued by Beijing. settlement agreement with an tising, recruiting, or hiring H-1B visa is a non-immigrant sued for three years and re- The United Kingdom will stand IT staffing and recruiting com- against US workers by illegally visa that allows American com- newable. Most of the nearly by the people of Hong Kong and pany based in Texas for rou- 600,000 H-1B visa holders are keep our promise to protect and tinely discriminating against from India and China. uphold their freedoms, Patel said domestic workers in favor of The Department of Justice in a statement after the meeting temporary work visas, includ- said that this is the 11th settle- on 9 December. ing the H-1B. ment by the Civil Rights Divi- Britain announced in July The Justice Department has sion under its 2017 Protecting that it would offer a special alleged that Ikon Systems rou- US Workers Initiative, which is route to citizenship for up to 3 tinely discriminated against aimed at targeting, investigat- million Hong Kongers eligible the US workers by posting job ing, and taking enforcement for the British National Over- advertisements specifying a actions against companies that seas passport. preference for applicants with discriminate against US work- Authorities stressed that temporary work visas, and that ers in favor of temporary visa Britain would uphold its his- the company failed to consider workers. toric duty to the former British at least one US citizen appli- Investigations against Ikon colony after Beijing imposed a cant who applied to a discrimi- preferring temporary visa panies to employ foreign began after a US citizen filed a sweeping new national secu- natory advertisement. holders, the Justice workers in specialty occupa- discrimination complaint with rity law in the city. Employers, no matter their Department's Civil Rights Divi- tions that require theoretical the Civil Rights Division. PTI Activists, former lawmakers size and no matter their indus- and a media tycoon have been try, cannot limit employment arrested under the law, which opportunities only to tempo- critics say is the boldest move rary visa holders. When em- yet by Beijing to crack down Over 80 M people forcibly displaced globally, ployers post job advertise- on the civil liberties promised ments that discriminate to Hong Kong when it returned COVID worsened crisis: UN against US workers, they vio- to Chinese rule in 1997. late the Immigration and Na- UNITED NATIONS: More total included 45.7 million in- lion) and Myanmar (1 mil- People from Hong Kong cur- tionality Act's (INA) citizenship- than 80 million people were ternally displaced people lion). Turkey hosts the largest rently can come to the UK for status discrimination provi- forcibly displaced world- (IDPs), 29.6 million refugees number of refugees, with six months without a visa. Un- sion, said Assistant Attorney wide as of mid-2020, with and others forcibly displaced 3.6 million people. Colombia der the new policy. AP General Eric Dreiband of the existing and new conflicts as outside their country, and 4.2 is second with 1.8 million, in- well as the COVID-19 pan- million asylum seekers. cluding Venezuelans dis- demic dramatically affecting Existing and new conflicts placed abroad. their lives this year, a UN re- and the novel coronavirus have The agency noted that for PRADEEP ROY-SINGH port has said. dramatically affected their lives people forced to flee, COVID- B.A. LL.B. M.B.A. J.D. According to its report on in 2020, the UN agency said. 19 became an additional pro- Attorney-at-Law trends in global forced dis- An estimated 30 34 million tection and livelihoods crisis Former Assistant State’s Attorney placement released on (38-43 per cent) of the 79.5 on top of the global public Wednesday (9 Dec.) in Geneva, million forcibly displaced per- health emergency.

1 Civil & Criminal Litigation The UN Refugee Agency sons are children below 18 The virus has disrupted 1 Felonies, Misdemeanors, Inc DUI UNHCR estimates that global years of age (end-2019). every aspect of human life 1 Personal Injury, Business, Divorce etc. forced displacement sur- More than two thirds of all and severely worsened ex- 1 Property Tax for Commercial Properties passed 80 million at mid-year. refugees under UNHCR's man- isting challenges for the At the beginning of this date and Venezuelans dis- forcibly displaced and state- http://www.proy-singh.com year it said that about 79.5 placed abroad came from just less, UNHCR said, adding million people had been five countries - as of mid-2020- that some of the measures 2335 W. Devon Ave., Suite 204, forced from their homes due Syria (6.6 million), Venezuela to curb the spread of COVID- Chicago, IL 60659 Tel: 773-381-1820 to persecution, conflict, and (3.7 million), Afghanistan (2.7 19 made it harder for refu- human rights violations. This million), South Sudan (2.3 mil- gees to reach safety. PTI Tech News UK, EU agree extra mile'' deadline for post-Brexit deal talks NAA finds McDonald's franchisee guilty of LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European profiteering Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have agreed to go TechBiz the "extra mile" in their pursuit of a post-Brexit trade agreement after they spoke, which was seen a hard deadline for the pro- NEW DELHI: The National longed UK-EU negotiations. Anti-Profiteering Authority Both sides are hoping for a last-minute "eleventh-hour" com- (NAA) has found Hardcastle promise in order to have arrangements in place before the Brexit Restaurants, a franchisee of 10 India Post www.indiapost.com December 18, 2020 transition period ends on December 31. PTI fast food chain McDonald's, guilty of not passing on GST rate cut benefits of over Rs 7.49 crore to consumers. Tesla to shut down Model S and X Hardcastle Restaurants was operating quick service restau- rants under the brand name McDonald's in the western and production for 18 days southern regions of India. In its final order on the mat- SAN FRANCISCO: Electric ter given on December 9, the carmaker Tesla will shut down NAA has held that Hardcastle production for its Model S and Restaurants had resorted to Model X vehicles at its Fremont profiteering by charging more (California)-based factory for price for some of its products 18 days, beginning December even though GST on it reduced 24. from 18 per cent of 5 per cent According to an internal without input tax credit (ITC) memo accessed by CNBC, with effect from November 15, workers on those production 2017. lines will get a week's pay and The NAA has also directed some will get paid holidays. the restaurant to reduce prices Employees were told they of all impacted products com- were being "given a full week mensurately in respect of of pay for the forced time off, which profiteering had been but were encouraged to seek computed, keeping in view the shifts working for, or even vol- reduced rate of tax and the unteering in, other parts of the benefit of ITC which has been business for the remaining un- availed. paid days," the report said. workers can volunteer to help Model S and X vehicles, deliv- fornia 'complacent'. It also directed Hardcastle The shutdown of the Model with delivery of vehicles to ering 15,200 of them. Tesla is building its next fac- to deposit 50 per cent of the S and X lines suggests that the customers while production is In a separate email to em- tory in Austin, Texas and Musk profiteered amount of Rs 7.49 high demand does not extend on hold. ployees, Elon Musk said that has threatened to move the crore in the Central Consumer to these older models. In the third quarter of 2020 demand for Tesla vehicles has production out of California. Welfare Fund and balance 50 "It's not clear what Tesla in- that ended on September 30, been "quite a bit higher than The move to Texas makes per cent on consumer welfare tends to do with its Model S Tesla produced 145,000 ve- production this quarter." sense for him, as it has no state funds of 10 states where sup- and X lines during the holiday hicles and delivered 139,300. After spending his most life income tax while California has plies by Hardcastle resulted in shutdown". Of that number, Tesla pro- in California, Musk has finally the highest tax regime in the profiteering. IANS The memo also says the duced just under 17,000 relocated to Texas, calling Cali- country. IANS

Industrial parks conversion into IT parks to further boost Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Despite the IT presence in Hyderabad was Gachibowli clusters in western recent years that few compa- government support for the economic slowdown caused confined to Madhapur and part of the city and it is only in nies started their operations in conversion. by the Covid-19 pandemic, the east. The IT towers will come Telangana is focusing on ex- The state government has up in industrial parks at pansion of information tech- now drawn up ambitious plans Balanagar, Kukatpally, Moula nology sector to further to take the IT growth to all cor- Ali, Mallapur, Patancheru, strengthen its standing as a ners of the city. Katedan and Sanatnagar, cov- leading global technology Under the GRID (Growth in ering all corners of the city destination. Dispersion) policy of the state excluding the west. It is not only setting up IT government, as many as 11 in- This followed the parks in tier-II cities but also dustrial parks within Outer government's order to all within Hyderabad, it is tak- Ring Road (ORR) limits will soon polluting industries within ing up initiatives to ensure be converted into IT parks. This the ORR to shift outside it. expansion of the sector in all week, the authorities issued Non-polluting industries corners of the city. detailed guidelines pertaining were also given the option to For over two decades, the to the zones, incentives and shift. IANS December 18, 2020 TechBiz Post India Post 11 www.indiapost.com Ericsson claims Samsung violated Tech Briefs contractual commitments on 5G Reddit acquires short-video SAN FRANCISCO: Swedish Ericsson alleged that the South stitute, Ericsson claimed in the telecom gear maker Ericsson Korean tech giant failed to ad- complaint. making platform Dubsmash has accused Samsung of violat- here to the fair, reasonable, and "The application of the NEW DELHI: Popular online der-represented creators, ing contractual commitments non-discriminatory (FRAND) FRAND commitment in this in- discussion platform Reddit while Reddit fosters a sense by failing to adhere to various terms and conditions. stance is in relation to various has acquired short-form of community and belong- licensing patent agreements Samsung's FRAND commit- global cross-licenses that video social platform ing across thousands of dif- cover both parties' patents for Dubsmash for an undisclosed ferent topics and passions," 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular sum. he added. standards," reports ZDNet. While Dubsmash will main- The company said it will "Samsung's breach has tain its own platform and integrate Dubsmash's inno- caused Ericsson to suffer ac- brand, Reddit aims to bring vative video creation tools tual damages, such as the teams together to com- into Reddit, which will em- Ericsson's costs and expenses bine the unique creator ex- power Reddit's own cre- in pursuing futile negotiations perience of Dubsmash with ators to express themselves with Samsung in an amount to its own community growth in original and authentic be determined at trial. In addi- engine. ways. tion, Ericsson is further entitled Dubsmash's entire team - About 25 per cent of all to obtain specific performance - including the three co- Black teens in the US are on under French law," the lawsuit founders, Suchit Dash, Jonas Dubsmash, and females rep- read. Druppel and Tim Specht -- resent 70 per cent of users. Samsung was yet to react on will join Reddit. About 30 per cent of users the Ericsson lawsuit. "Both Reddit and log in every day to create The Swedish company said Dubsmash share a deep- video content, indicating a ranging from 2G to 5G. ment is a contract between it is seeking to attain a declara- rooted respect for how high level of retention and In a lawsuit filed at District Samsung and European Tele- tion that it has complied with communities come to- engagement. Court in Texas in the US, communications Standards In- its FRAND commitment, and gether," Steve Huffman, CEO, Dubsmash enables more that Samsung has not. Reddit, said in a statement. than one billion video views With several of the licensing "Dubsmash elevates un- per month. IANS Hope to have serious discussions on trade deals set to expire next year issues with Biden administration: Jaishankar and negotiations still ongoing, Ericsson said the payment of IP NEW DELHI: There was a "There was a fairly serious Robots can encourage people royalties may be delayed. fairly serious negotiation be- negotiation between our "In the event of delayed roy- tween India and the Trump ad- government and the Trump to take greater risks alty payments and the poten- ministration on resolving the administration on resolving tial costs of litigation, Ericsson LONDON: Even as the scale points to the possibility of us- outstanding trade issues as the outstanding trade issues. I predicted its operating in- of interaction between hu- ing robots and AI in preventive well as to clinch a trade deal, think the general thinking on come could decline by SEK 1- mans and technology in- programmes, such as anti- External Affairs Minister S both sides was 'let's deal with creases, a new research has smoking campaigns in schools, Jaishankar said while hoping to differences before we think of 1.5 billion per quarter from 2021 onwards". shown that people tend to and with hard to reach popula- have talks over it something big- take more risks when prod- tions, such as addicts." with the Biden ger'," he said. Samsung is currently one of the leading 5G players in the ded by a robot. This research involved 180 dispensation. The external af- The research, published in undergraduate students tak- world. The external fairs minister said the journal Cyberpsychology, ing the Balloon Analogue Risk Samsung Electronics domi- affairs minister a lot of discus- Behavior, and Social Network- Task (BART), a computer as- nated the 5G-smartphone mar- said the focus of sions had taken ing, showed that robots can sessment that asks partici- ket in Western Europe in the the talks was to place over the encourage people to take pants to press the spacebar first half of the year. address the "dif- proposed deal. greater risks in a simulated on a keyboard to inflate a bal- According to market re- ferences" before "For a variety gambling scenario than they loon displayed on the screen. moving towards of reasons, they search firm Strategy Analytics, External Affairs Minister would if there was nothing With each press of the Samsung captured an 88 per "something big- S Jaishankar didn't close it to influence their spacebar, the balloon inflates cent market share of all 5G ger". out. I can tell you behaviours. slightly, and 1 penny is smartphones shipped in West- Participating in an interac- on our side, we were dead The researcher now be- added to the player's "tem- ern Europe in the first six tive session at the annual gen- serious. We wanted to deal lieve that further studies are porary money bank". months of the year. eral meeting of industry body with those issues because we needed to see whether The balloons can explode "Samsung today is the clear FICCI, Jaishankar said the US thought there was something similar results would randomly, meaning the 5G leader across Western Eu- economy was largely a much bigger that was in emerge from human inter- player loses any money they rope, due to a strong portfolio "complementary" one and store for the relationship. But action with other artificial have won for that balloon that there was no fundamen- it didn't happen. And often of premium Android models, intelligence (AI) systems, and they have the option to tal clash of interests" be- when it comes to trade discus- such as the Galaxy S20 5G and such as digital assistants or "cash-in" before this hap- tween the two sides though sions (they) are like business A90 5G," said Ken Hyers, a di- on-screen avatars. pens and move on to the there are some areas of over- discussions between two gov- rector at Strategy Analytics. "On the other hand, our data next balloon. IANS lap. ernments," he said. PTI IANS Health Line

Britons with serious allergies warned against vaccine

LONDON: The UK's medical regulator has advised that any- One can be said to be perfectly healthy in body and mind only if no part of the body or mind makes itself felt. A part one who has a history of signifi- makes itself felt only when there is something wrong with it. You know that you have a head only when it aches. Sri Atmananda (1883 - 1959) cant allergic reactions to medi- cines, food or vaccines should 12 India Post www.indiapost.com December 18, 2020 not receive the Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine currently in use in the country, according to UN chief says will take COVID-19 vaccine media reports. The precautionary advice by the country's Medicines and publicly, calls it his 'moral obligation' Healthcare products Regula- tory Agency (MHRA) came a UNITED NATIONS: UN Secre- spreading... there is no risk of Most African countries lack not properly supported, we day after two National Health tary-General Antonio Guterres spreading the disease. So, vac- the financing to adequately re- will not be able to fight the Service staff members experi- has said that he intends to take cination is for me a moral obli- spond to the crisis, due in part pandemic anywhere effec- enced allergic reactions after the COVID-19 vaccine when it gation in relation to all of us, he to declining demand and tively. being vaccinated, Xinhua news becomes available and he will said. prices of their commodity ex- He said the only way to en- agency quoted a Sky News re- do so publicly, asserting that His remarks came during ports, he said. sure that the vaccines reach port as saying. vaccination for him is a moral the hybrid press conference In response to a question Africa timely is to make sure The MHRA's advisory said obligation" towards the whole that the COVAX initiative is fi- that any person with a signifi- community. nanced and gets the USD 4.2 cant allergic reaction to a vac- Of course, I intend to receive [billion] it needs in the next cine, medicine or food, such as the vaccine when it becomes two months to make sure that previous history of anaphylac- available for me in whatever vaccines approved by the toid reaction, or those who the situation that will be justi- World Health Organization can have been advised to carry an fied for that. And, obviously, I be distributed in Africa sooner adrenaline autoinjector, should will have no doubt in doing it rather than later. not receive the Pfizer/ publicly, Guterres said on 9 De- COVAX is a global initiative BioNtech vaccine, CNN re- cember. aimed at working with vac- ported. The 71-year-old UN chief cine manufacturers to provide It added that vaccines was responding to a question countries worldwide equi- "should only be carried out in during a press briefing at the table access to safe and effec- facilities where resuscitation UN Headquarters on whether tive vaccines, once they are li- measures are available". he would publicly take the Antonio Guterres censed and approved. "We are fully investigating COVID-19 vaccine when it's Guterres said there is an the two reports that have been available to him. with Chairperson of the African that while floodgates to enormous effort by several reported to us as a matter of I encourage everybody that Union Commission Moussa Faki COVID-19 vaccines are open- countries to ensure vaccines priority," an MHRA spokesper- has access to the vaccine to be Mahamat following the Fourth ing in rich countries, Africa for their own populations. son said. vaccinated, because it is a ser- UN-AU Annual Conference. might not begin to see vac- But COVAX is working hard. "Once all the information vice, not only that we provide Guterres reiterated his call cines until the second quarter There are several vaccines in has been reviewed we will to ourselves. Each one of us for a COVID-19 vaccine to be a of 2021, he said: It's true we the pipeline for COVAX, and it communicate updated ad- being vaccinated provides a global public good available to are seeing vaccine national- is perfectly possible to deliver vice." IANS service to the whole commu- everywhere and particularly, ism moving with full speed. if the financing is guaranteed, nity because we are no longer available in Africa. He added that if Africa is he said. PTI

Bill and Melinda Gates call for collaboration, continued innovation to overcome COVID challenges he Bill & Melinda Gates "Everyone, everywhere de- contribution to the COVID-19 re- years. This funding will support scale and deliver, to ensure T Foundation today an- serves to benefit from the sci- sponse to date, builds on the continued innovation to de- there are many options that nounced it will commit an ad- ence developed in 2020," said partnerships and expertise it velop tests, treatments, and are less expensive and can ditional 250 million to sup- Melinda Gates, co-chair of the has established over the last 20 vaccines that are easier to be used in different settings. port the research, develop- Gates Foundation. "We are confi- Today's commitment will ment, and equitable delivery dent that the world will get bet- also support the delivery of of lifesaving tools in the glo- ter in 2021, but whether it gets new COVID-19 tests, treat- bal effort against COVID-19. better for everyone depends on ments, and vaccines, par- Marking the end of a year fo- the actions of the world's lead- ticularly in low- and middle- cused on the scientific break- ers and their commitment to income countries. Getting throughs needed to end the deliver tests, treatments, and these innovations to where pandemic, the foundation vaccines to the people who they are needed will require calls for global commitments need them, no matter where the same level of planning, to making these innovations they live or how much money urgency, and collaboration it available in 2021 to everyone they have." Today's commitment, took to develop them. who needs them. the foundation's largest single Bill & Melinda Gates PTI/PRNewswire December 18, 2020 Wellness Post India Post 13 www.indiapost.com India's first mRNA vaccine receives NYC announces timeline for Covid-19 vaccines' arrival NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has approval for clinical trials announced that the Covid-19 vaccine produced by NEW DELHI: The Central Drugs Standard Control tions and accessed by IANS showed. Pfizer is expected to arrive as early as December Organisation has permitted Pune-based Gennova "After detailed deliberation, the committee recom- 15 and that by Moderna by December 22. Biopharmaceuticals to conduct Phase 1/2 clinical tri- mended for grant of permission to conduct Phase 1/2 "Priority will be given to frontline medical work- als, along with animal toxicity data, for its mRNA Covid- clinical trial subject to the condition that the interim ers and nursing homes," Xinhua news agency 19 vaccine candidate. results of Phase 1 study shall be submitted to the quoted the Mayor as saying on Twitter recently. It is India's first messenger RNA (mRNA) Covid vac- committee before proceeding to the next phase," the "A vaccine is on the horizon. Don't give up now. cine candidate. Globally, US-based pharma giant Pfizer document read. We have to work together to keep these numbers The Department of Biotechnology had down," he added. earlier said it has provided seed funding The Mayor said that NYC's Covid-19 infection for the development of Gennova's novel rate on a seven-day average went down to 4.81 self-amplifying mRNA-based vaccine can- per cent on Wednesday (9 Dec.), compared with didate for Covid-19. 4.94 per cent one day earlier. Gennova has developed its mRNA vac- The Mayor also vowed not to let people of privi- cine candidate (HGCO19) in collaboration lege "jump the line" and get vaccinated ahead of with HDT Biotech Corporation, US. The priority groups like people in nursing homes, firm earlier said that the vaccine demon- health care workers and first responders. strated safety, immunogenicity, "Their time will come," he said at a press confer- neutralizationof antibody activity in the ence. "We've got to protect those who serve us and rodent and non-human primate models. those who are most vulnerable, and we will en- "DBT-BIRAC has facilitated the estab- force that rigorously." Inc. has developed its mRNA vaccine. lishment of the first-of-its-kind mRNA-based vaccine A panel meeting of the US Centers for Disease The permission was granted after the Subject ex- manufacturing platform in India. DBT has provided seed Control and Prevention (CDC) decided that pert Committee (SEC) for vaccines recommended for funding for the development of Gennova's novel self- healthcare personnel and residents of long-term grant of permission in a review meeting on Wednes- amplifying mRNA-based vaccine candidate for COVID- care facilities will be the first groups to receive day (9 Dec.), a document carrying the recommenda- 19," the DBT had said in a statement earlier. IANS Covid-19 vaccines across the country. IANS 14 India Post www.indiapost.com December 18, 2020

atchmaking is deep rooted in India's culture, whether it is a distant relative or the neigh Mborhood aunty, everyone is trying to find the perfect match for the suitable single in their social circles. But this process of matchmaking puts a lot of pressure on the singles/unmarried persons and their family. To understand the extent of this pressure, Shaadi.com conducted a study to delve deeper into partner through a traditional setup. When asked about Commenting on the findings of the study, Adhish the mindset of Indian women towards matchmaking. the most annoying part of extended family getting in- Zaveri, Senior Director - Marketing, Shaadi.com said: The study revealed that 81 per cent women want to volved, 45 per cent women said that 'they think they "The singles of today are very clear on what they want be more independent and take control of their own know who is right for me'. from their future life partners. Traditional matchmaking process. With most of the respondents aged between 25 to matchmaking unfortunately allows little room for their This is primarily because of the pressures in tradi- 34, the study reflects the evolving mindset of women, individual preferences and creates an environment of tional matchmaking. One third of the respondents of who are looking for options that give them and their pressure, limited privacy, and an unnecessary sense of the study said they have experienced pressure to get parents control. To avoid the external pressure faced urgency. At Shaadi.com, we're giving the singles & married when the extended family is involved. The through traditional matchmaking, 85 per cent women their families the power of choice, privacy and time study also found that 54 per cent women experience prefer online matchmaking platforms because it is without feeling pressured by pados waley Sharmaji or lack of privacy when it comes to choosing their life easier to make their own decision. door ke Mausaji." IANSlife

Diana Penty is sure of what she won't wear at her wedding MUMBAI: Actress Diana Penty is pretty sure about then can I have a good time. I don't want to be tug- what she will not wear on her wedding day. She also ging at my outfit and, by the end of it, feel my body gave a hint of where she would like her destination hurt because of how heavy it is! I really don't want to wedding to be held. be in that position!" Diana said in an interview to "Wedding outfits are absolutely stunning and gor- Femina Brides. geous, but they are also so heavy. I have made a men- She also expressed her desire to be surrounded by tal note to never wear something too heavy. It is defi- the mountains for her destination wedding, because nitely going to be something light, easy and com- her big day has to be held in a place filled with tran- fortable. Comfort for me is everything because only quility. IANS December 18, 2020 India Post 15

www.indiapost.com your toes toward you in dorsiflexion. Keep the movement from the ankle joints.

DHANURASANA: Dhanurasana is a backward bend, also known as the bow pose. Not only does help to effectively open the spine, but also improves respiration and di- gestion. It stretches open the body, releasing all stiffness and tightness. It helps to create suppleness in the spine and freeness in the breath. Method: Lie down in a prone position with your belly rested on the mat. Bend your PUJA GUPTA this early morning on an empty stom- inhale & exhale active. knees and grab the outer sides of ach. Avoid during pregnancy, menstrua- Practice this early morning on your feet. Using the strength of NEW DELHI: As winter comes along, tion and in case of high BP. an empty stomach. Avoid during your legs, pull your chest up, lifting the air gets crisp and dry. That has a di- pregnancy, menstruation and in it off the mat. Remember to not rect effect on the metabolic function- BHASTRIKA: case of high BP. pull your feet down to the hips. ing of the body. Yoga and Ayurveda Similar to Kapalbhati, the practice of Keep moving the legs strongly advocate adapting to the Bhastrika is done with active inhalation SUKSHMA VYAYAM: back and create the expan- changing seasons; hence it becomes & exhalation. It raises the heat in the These are gentle sion in the chest. When important to make the necessary movements done to you are done, slowly re- changes to your diet and exer- lubricate and mobi- lease the feet and cise. Start your day with a warm lize joints. Espe- rest on the mat. Nishtha Bijlani, a Mumbai glass of water. This helps to cially helpful Avoid: If you based certified Yoga Expert sug- in cold dry have a back or gests different ways to deal with aid the sluggish digestion weather knee injury. the winter chills: when the 3. Eat warm 1. Start your day with a warm during the winters and joints stiffen foods glass of water. This helps to aid helps clear the bowels up. Practice This is the the sluggish digestion during the of Sukshma Vyayam takes just 10-15 min season to have warm soups and meals. winters and helps clear the bow- effectively and it has the power to unblock the Choose to eat light home cooked meals els effectively. stagnant flow of energy in our joints. It instead of heavy dense foods. As the di- 2. Practice the Yogic Kriyas as sharpens the senses, refreshes the gestion tends to get sluggish during hereunder: body and helps clear the toxin build up. mind and redirects life back in. winters, it's best to eat early dinners It gives great power to the lungs and Some movements that you can do: and keep the heaviest meal for lunch KAPALBHATI: leaves one feeling light and relaxed. Neck movement: Simply move the when the sun is the strongest. Kapalbhati is also known as the Method: neck in all 4 directions: up, down, left, Our bodies follow a circadian rhythm, breath of fire. It increases the Agni or Begin in a comfortable seated posi- right and back to center. which moves as per the sun. Hence, the fire element in the body. It improves the Wrist rotation: Make a fist, extend digestive power is the strongest at functioning of the digestive and respi- your hands forward at shoulder noon. Stay away from cold salads, fro- ratory systems. With regular practice, height. Make outer circles with zen meals and raw food. Include spices, it helps cleanse the frontal lobes of your wrists followed by inner nuts, ghee and honey. the lungs, releases toxins and circles. As the season changes, so shall our drains the sinus beds. Point & flex the feet: Can be routine. This winter remember to keep Method: done standing or seated with legs yourself warm, nourished and active Sit on the mat in a cross-leg stretched open. Point your toes for- with these simple changes to the position or on a chair with ward in plantar flexion and then turn lifestyle. IANSlife your back upright. The fo- cus is on active exhalation. The inhalation is passive. Keep the eyes and mouth closed as you start the first round with 20 active ex- halations. Release the breath actively through tion on the the nose and belly. There will be a sound mat or chair. Along with the breath we that accompanies your exhalation. You will create a downward pulling action will notice the belly naturally pump in- with the hands. On inhale take your ward with every exhalation. Avoid tens- hands up and on exhale, make a fist to ing the face and the rest of the body. pull down. Continue this up-down ac- You can gradually increase to 50 tion with the hands coordinating with strokes of breath and more. Practice the breath. Remember to keep both the 16 India Post www.indiapost.com December 18, 2020

world's largest breeding colo- tem with large fishery re- nies of Flamingos. t a distance of 44 km sources. It sustains more than Being richly famous for the from Puri, Chilika Lake is 150,000 fisher folk living in 132 presence of aquatic wildlife, A Asia's biggest inland villages on the shore and Is- Chilika Lake sanctuary also saltwater lagoon situated near lands. In 1981, Chilika Lake was houses Irrawaddy dolphins Satapada in Odisha. Located at designated the first Indian wet- which are different from the the mouth of land of international impor- other dolphins as their color the Daya River, tance under the Ramsar Con- and dorsal fin being less promi- Chilika Lake is vention. nent. Apart from the avifaunal the largest The lake also acts as one of species, the region also high- coastal lagoon in the most supportive ecosys- lights varied wild animals such India and also the second larg- tems in the name of Chilika Lake as Blackbuck, Golden Jackals, est saltwater lagoon in the Sanctuary. It is the largest win- Spotted Deer and Hyenas. world after the New Caledonian tering ground for migratory Chilika Lake Sanctuary is favor- barrier reef in New Caledonia. birds on the Indian sub conti- ably known for its dynamic sun- The lake is studded with nent. Birds from the Caspian rise and sunset views. One of small islands including the most Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and the most famous tourist attrac- charming Honeymoon Island other remote parts of Russia, tions near Chilika Wildlife Sanc- and the Breakfast Island. Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, tuary is Kalijai Temple, devoted Spreads across 1,100 sq. km, Central and Southeast Asia, to Goddess Kalijai. Makar the pear-shaped lake extends Ladakh and Himalayas come Sankranti is celebrated with from Bhusandpur in Puri dis- here. White bellied sea eagles, great pomp and cheer at the trict in the North to Rambha- Graylag Geese, Purple temple that attracts numerous Malud in Ganjam district in the Moorhen, Jacana, Herons and travelers & devotees. South, separated from the Bay Flamingos are among the many www.orissatourism.org of Bengal by a 60 km long nar- species, which make the lake a For detailed story visit row strip of marshy islands and bird watcher's delight. Chilika www.indiapost.com sand flats. The lake is an ecosys- in fact, is home to one of the

For detailed story visit www.indiapost.com Desi News Durham's Birthday, Yoga fabric co. Spoon celebration by COMMUNITY flower asked Indian Seniors to withdraw JAYANTI OZA CHICAGO: The General ACROSS AMERICA Gods' napkins Meeting of Indian Seniors of Chicago was held on Saturday, December 12, 2020 via Zoom December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com India Post 17 Details on page 20 Video Conferencing with close to 150 members partici- pating in it. The entire program was successfully managed by Shri Opportunities and Challenges of Hirabhai Patel. It started with the President Dr. Narasimhabhai Patel and the Doing Business in India Coordinator Dilipbhai Patel giving instructions regarding BABU TANGEWALA the management of the meet- CHICAGO: Indian Consul Gen- ergy in strengthening US-India pacted bilateral trade as it re- tive (self-reliant India) intro- ing and its outcome eral Amit Kumar delivered a Key- trade ties. Consul General in- duced by 25% in the first half duced by the Government of Mrs. Hemaben Shastri re- note address in Automation formed that the bilateral coop- of 2020 compared to the pre- India. India should be seen as a cited Sarva Dharma Prarthana, Alley's virtual conference on " eration between India and US vious year. The bilateral trade dependable partner in global Bhupendra Suthar and Mrs. Opportunities and Challenges of markets. India has the poten- Gitaben Suthar recited Shri Doing Business in India" held on tial, strength and capability. Hanuman Chalisa. Dilipbhai December 10, 2020. Taking forward the process of Patel presented a video show- The conference aimed at structural reforms of the last ing the skills of young children. discussing trade and invest- six years, Government has em- ment opportunities in India barked on the path of bold ho- Details on page 18 and prospects for US compa- listic reforms and new initia- nies in India. Audience in- tives. It is opening up sectors LA-County support cluded high-tech manufactur- like defense, coal and mineral programs for Small ing companies that would be mining, space, atomic energy, part of the Automation Alley's power distribution, social infra- Business in pandemic next trade mission to India in structure sectors to name a VIDYA SETHURAMAN April 2021. The trade mission few. In fact, FDI norms have India Post News Service will travel to New Delhi, Consul General Amit Kumar been liberalized across 21 sec- mall businesses are the life Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and tors. Government has unveiled Sblood of the U.S. economy: Chennai. Companies that will is not limited to a few sectors with the United States has a new National Education they create two-thirds of net be participating in the trade but in fact it is broad-based grown at over 10% annually in Policy, supply chain reforms for new jobs and drive U.S. inno- mission will be from Aerospace/ and multi-sectoral. The grow- the last decade reaching al- agriculture, rational tax system, vation and competitiveness. defense, Automotive, Advanced ing engagement in important most 150 billion dollars in labor reforms, simple and clear Small businesses account for Manufacturing (with a focus on sectors such as defense, en- 2019. laws, etc. These reforms are nearly half of all private sec- industry 4.0), IT/ICT, Environ- ergy, trade and investment, India has invested close to people-centric and will spur tor jobs in the U.S. and a ma- mental and pollution control cyber-security, education, sci- 22 billion dollars in USA creat- business and generate em- jority of new jobs, but many technologies and Medical and ence & technology, space ing more than 125,000 jobs ployment. do not expect to survive the healthcare sectors. technology, health and agricul- and adding value and innova- Consul General also said pandemic. In Los Angeles The event was opened by ture has steadily reinforced the tion to the US economy. Consul that US-India economic and County, about 15,000 small Noel H. Nevshehir, Director of India US relations in the past General mentioned that India commercial partnership is ro- businesses have permanently International Business Services bust and has a promising fu- closed their doors as a result and Global Strategic Partner- The trade mission will travel to New Delhi, ture and now is the best time of COVID-19, according to ships, Automation Alley-Troy, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Chennai. Compa- to invest in strengthening this WDACS. LA County officials Michigan, acknowledging partnership. working on the frontlines de- presence of dignitaries in the nies that will be participating in the trade mission The other speakers were scribed their work and of- event. Empathizing on the will be from Aerospace/defense, Automotive Ms. SupriyaKanetkar and Ms. fered recommendations on growth of Indian economy He SushamaKanetkar, Directors, Dec 10 EMS briefing. referred to the Moody's, report SRK and Associates-Bengaluru, where India's GDP is projected two decades. remains global in its outlook India. The duo gave an over-

Details on page 22 to grow 5.8% in 2021 as it He said that the pandemic and therefore is focused on view of the current business emerges from the pandemic may have exposed the fault- scaling up its national capaci- environment in India, how and to the World Bank report of lines associated with the cur- ties by increasing the competi- Covid has impacted Indian The Race 2020 highlighting India's jump rent global supply chains but tiveness and quality of Indian economy, what are the antici- Gap In 2020 by 14 spots this year (from 77 at the same time it has also un- manufacturing, creating an en- pated market opportunities to 63) in ease of doing busi- derscored the need for resil- abling business environment, for Michigan exporters in India Elections ness among 190 countries. ient and reliable partnerships improving our skill sets and in 2021 and how to access In his keynote CG Kumar which can withstand shocks better integration with global those opportunities. Details on page 23 lauded Automation Alley for and uncertainties. The Pan- value chains. This is the vision directing their efforts and en- demic has negatively im- of Atmanirbhar Bharat initia- Cont’d on page 23 18 India Post Community Across America December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com Birthday, Yoga and Entertainment celebration by Indian Seniors JAYANTI OZA CHICAGO: The General Meeting of In- book of values for life. Gita highlights culture and the knowledge to stay con- taken by the seniors for strengthening dian Seniors of Chicago was held on Sat- the belief that God is always with us and nected with God. In Gita, Lord Krishna the bones of the body. He said that get- urday, December 12, 2020 via Zoom has inspires all sections of the society, says that karma is only your Right, not ting adequate amount of calcium, vita- Video Conferencing with close to 150 min D, nutritious food, adequate sleep members participating in it. strengthens the bones of the body. The entire program was successfully Blood pressure and sugar should be managed by Shri Hirabhai Patel. It measured regularly and great care started with the President Dr. should be taken while climbing or de- Narasimhabhai Patel and the Coordina- scending stairs. tor Dilipbhai Patel giving instructions Dilipbhai showed a video showing regarding the management of the the friendship between different ani- meeting and its outcome mals, which was very exciting. Mrs. Hemaben Shastri recited Sarva Executive member Nareshbhai Dharma Prarthana, Bhupendra Suthar Dekhtawala invited the artists to start and Mrs. Gitaben Suthar recited Shri the entertainment program. Hirabhai Hanuman Chalisa. Dilipbhai Patel pre- Patel 'Zara Samne To Aavo', Ranjitbhai sented a video showing the skills of Bharucha 'Ansu Bhari He Zindagi Ki young children. Rahe', Shantilal Topiwala 'Tarome Sajke Ashwinbhai Seth gave a speech on Apne Surajse Dekho Dharti Chali Milne', the occasion of Geeta Jayanti observing Arvindbhai Kotak 'Mera Naam Raju', that the Gita sung by Lord Krishna is a A group of seniors at Virtual meeting Nareshbhai and Mrs. Rohiniben Dekhtawala sang songs from various the outcome. Hindi films like 'Milte Hi Aankhe Mil Mrs. Bhanumatiben Mehta explained Gaya Deewana Kisi Ka', Anilbhai Desai the meaning of Hatha Yoga. 'H' means sang 'Aayena Balam Kya Karun Sajni'. sun, gives heat. 'Th' means the moon, C.V. Desai informed members that which gives coolness. Thus yoga is nec- the vaccination for the corona virus will essary to achieve the required heat and begin shortly. Initially health care work- coolness in the body. When the body ers, seniors living in nursing homes will feels restless and one gets depressed, be vaccinated in that order. the process of breathing spreads en- Arvindbhai Patel gave necessary in- ergy in the body. She demonstrated formation on how to maintain different yoga Postures (asanas) to the partici- plants in winter. pating seniors How to increase the President Narasimhabhai Patel an- oxygen level nounced the sad demise of Shri in the body, for blood cir- Mrs. Hemaben Shastri recited Sarva culation and for the well- Dharma Prarthana, Bhupendra Suthar and being of the body, demon- Mrs. Gitaben Suthar recited Shri Hanuman strations were Chalisa. Dilipbhai Patel presented a video made of Kapalbhati, showing the skills of young children Anulom- Vilom, Brahmani Tratak, Stretching etc. with an Natubhai Patel, former President and appeal to the seniors to do regular current Trustee of Manav Seva Mandir yoga. and asked the members to observe two Shri Bhupendrabhai Suthar an- minutes of silence with a prayer for the nounced the names of the members soul of Sadagat. whose birthdays fell in the month of Nareshbhai Dekhtawala gave vote of December. Arvindbhai Kotak sang thanks to members who participated in Happy Birthday to You Seniors and en- the entertainment program. At the end, tertained them by telling funny jokes. Narasimhabhai Patel appealed all to Shivabhai Patel described many make suggestions about the program wonders of nature under the category and concluded the meeting by asking 'Like to know'. He gave detailed infor- them to stay safe, stay at home, be care- mation on what precautions should be ful during corona. December 18, 2020 Community Across America India Post 19 www.indiapost.com Keeping LA housed in the Pandemic County offers help With Eviction, Foreclosure, Dispute Resolution and Homelessness Prevention

VIDYA SETHURAMAN pets - if related to COVID-19. If you alternative. We offer free mediation worsen in the coming weeks, with India Post News Service need assistance in figuring which pro- services, both community and court- hospitalization numbers expected to ith a looming eviction crisis in tection covers your residence, our connected, to the residents and busi- continue rising in response to the re- Los Angeles County and counselors can help you, said Dana. nesses of Los Angeles County, said cent spike in case numbers. But Wacross the country amid the This is a rent deferral and not a waiver. Maritza. You can call 818) 705-1090 for there's still a path to preventing hos- economic downturn caused by the pan- You will be given 6 - 12 months to pay assistance. Emilio Salas, Acting Execu- pitals from becoming overwhelmed -- demic, County officials explained the the rent. Work with your landlords and tive, LA County Development Author- if residents commit to infection-con- services and resources for tenants fac- try to pay what you can, this will ease ity, spoke on homelessness preven- trol measures and public health re- ing eviction, homeowners facing fore- the burden. Dana strongly encour- tion. The COVID situation will likely strictions. closure, and people needing shelter in ages tenants to visit Stay Housed LA, the EMS conference call on Dec 7. This where LA County tenants can learn rent crisis is particularly acute in Los about their rights and request repre- Angeles and other high-cost cities, sentation from the county's legal aid where a lack of affordable housing and organizations. Renters can also con- the economic slowdown from COVID- nect to services on the program's 19 intersect to threaten the stability of website, StayHousedLA.org. many households, said Dana Pratt. Azusena Favela, Deputy Director, Chief of Tenant Protections at the Department of Consumer and Busi- LA County Department of Consumer ness Affairs, spoke on foreclosure pre- and Business Affairs (DCBA). "Even be- vention. Under the moratorium, di- fore the pandemic, L.A. renters, espe- rect mortgage servicers are required cially low-income renters, were strug- to halt all new foreclosure actions and gling," said Dana. She pointed out a suspend any that are in progress for UCLA study which estimates 365,000 FHA-insured single-family properties. rented households in the LA region It also stops evictions from these who don't have an adult who is either properties. Property owners should employed or have sufficient income contact their lenders and talk about the relief pro- Nearly all of these tenants are gram associ- ated with vulnerable to eviction, especially in COVID 19 communities with large percentages of hardships. We have counse- low-income people of color. She spoke at lors who help length on the eviction moratorium the owners through the whole pro- to pay rent, this is alarming and rent cess. You call at 833-238-4450, added stabilization ordinances and other Favela. Home is an emotion, so please measures are much needed, added don't go the extreme step of foreclo- Dana. Nearly all of these tenants are sure or selling it for cash. Please call vulnerable to eviction, especially in our department and we will walk you communities with large percentages through the process, said Favela. of low-income people of color. She Maritza Gutierrez, Chief, Mediation spoke at length on the eviction mora- & Counseling Division, Department of torium. Consumer & Business Affairs, spoke on The Los Angeles County Temporary dispute resolution. The Los Angeles Eviction Moratorium, effective March County Dispute Resolution Program 4, 2020, through January 31, 2021*, provides County residents with an al- unless repealed or extended by the ternative to resolve disputes without Los Angeles County Board of Supervi- having to engage with the formal ju- sors, places a Countywide ban on evic- dicial system. tions for residential and commercial Trained mediators help disputants tenants, including mobile home space resolve their differences quickly, with- renters. Under the County's Morato- out the added cost of time and money rium, tenants may not be evicted for required for a full formal court pro- COVID-19 related nonpayment of ceeding. It is a confidential process rent, as well as no-fault reasons, nui- and if you want to settle a dispute sance, or unauthorized occupants or outside of court, mediation is a great 20 India Post Community Across America December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com Durham's fabric co. Spoonflower Persecution of Hindus in South, asked to withdraw Gods' napkins Southeast Asia highlighted MADHU PATEL CHICAGO: Indian Americans across ness of religious appropriation, sacri- India Post News Service of their temples. the country has asked Durham (North lege, and ridiculing entire communities. WASHINGTON DC: To mark the 70th At the same time, 2019-2020 in Sri Carolina) headquartered "world's larg- It was deeply trivializing of immensely anniversary of Human Rights Day, com- Lanka was marked by political turmoil, est custom fabric, wallpaper and home venerated Hindu gods and goddesses memorating the adoption of the Uni- terrorism, riots, and religiously moti- decor digital marketplace" for immedi- like Shiva, Krishna, Lakshmi, Ganesh, versal Declaration of Human Rights, a vated violence. Government authorities ate withdrawal of napkins carrying im- Murugan, Kali, Hanuman, etc., to be dis- report, highlighting persecution of Hin- continued to discriminate against reli- ages of various Hindu deities. played on napkins. dus in the countries of Afghanistan, Ma- gious minorities and did not adequately The protest, campaign is Hinduism is the oldest and laysia, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan was re- respond to or prevent religious vio- led by Rajan Zed, the Presi- third largest religion of the world leased by Hindu American Foundation. lence or harassment by non-state actors. dent of Universal Society of with about 1.2 billion adherents Samir Kalra, the HAF Managing Direc- The government has also failed to take Hinduism, who pitched that and a rich philosophical tor and author of the report said, "The any steps towards accountability or Hindu deities (Shiva, Krishna, thought and it should not be Declaration defines many of the basic post-conflict justice for war crimes Lakshmi, Ganesh, Murugan, taken frivolously. Symbols of civil, social, political, cultural, and reli- committed against the primarily Hindu Kali, Hanuman, etc.) are any faith, larger or smaller, gious rights that comprise the founda- Tamil minority during the decades long highly revered in Hinduism should not be mishandled. tion of modern international human civil war. meant to be worshipped in Trivialization of Hindu dei- rights law." Beyond these countries, the Founda- temples or home shrines ties id disturbing to the In Afghanistan, the plight of minori- tion has been documenting human and not for wiping mouth/ Hindus world over, he ob- ties and for mercantile greed. Any served women con- Inappropriate usage of sacred dei- Spoonflower, report- tinued to In Afghanistan, the plight of minorities ties or concepts or symbols or icons edly established in 2008 and worsen, as and women continued to worsen, as these for commercial or other agenda could with offices in Durham and Berlin (Ger- these vulner- notbe okay as it hurt the devotees. many), claims to be "a global market- able groups vulnerable groups remained marginalized and "Global marketplace" like place connecting makers and consum- remained Spoonflower should not be in the busi- ers with artists worldwide". marginalized subjected to violence, discriminatory laws and subjected to violence, discriminatory laws, and social preju- rights violations against Hindus and dice and harassment. 2020 saw most of other minorities in several other coun- the remaining Hindu and Sikh commu- tries and regions around the world. nity flee for safety in India, after being This past October, HAF released its targeted by a gruesome ISIS attack annual report on Pakistan, and plans to early in the year. release additional reports in 2021. Similarly, ethnic and religious divides Earlier this week, Pakistan was desig- have increased in Malaysia under the nated a Country of Particular Concern current reign of the National Alliance (CPC) by the US State Department for and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yasin, the third straight year for its "system- with the government expanding re- atic, ongoing, [and] egregious violations strictions on religious freedom, speech, of religious freedom" against its reli- and civil liberties. The Indian Hindu gious minorities including Hindus, Sikhs, population further faces systemic insti- Christians, Ahmadiyya Muslims, and Shia tutional discrimination and destruction Muslims. Areas high in delinquent property taxes lose residents & face most violent crime SURENDRA ULLAL CHICAGO: Treasurer Maria Pappas re- 23,969 violent crimes in 2019 took leased a study showing that the areas place in the top 13 wards with the most in Cook County where delinquent prop- properties offered at the Scavenger erties are losing population, experienc- Sale. Twelve of those thirteen wards ing larger property tax increases, and also lost population. confronting high levels of violent crime. • The top 16 suburbs with the most All of this drives down the number of properties offered at the Scavenger bids at the Scavenger Sale auction. Sale also lost population. In those sub- The study looked at the properties in urbs, taxes rose 183% on properties of- Chicago wards and suburbs that were fered at the Scavenger Sale, compared offered at the seven Scavenger Sales with an 83% increase on all properties held from 2007 to 2019. The 60-page in those suburbs. study found: • In Chicago, 11,955 (50%) of the Cont’d on page 21 December 18, 2020 Community Across America India Post 21 www.indiapost.com Webinar on Kashmir Realities

India Post News Service last 30 years, but they are still refugees tives that include: Domicile Act, Scrap- President of Global Solace, an (NGO) WASHINGTON DC: An educational in their own country. ping of Roshni Act, and Land Law and is also the National General Secre- webinar program on 'Kashmir: Ground Lalit Ambardar, a Building Design Changes and expressed his opinion tary of Vishwa Kashmiri Samaj. He spoke Realities & Core Concerns' was co-spon- Consultant, a TV and Current Affairs where will these Acts lead them. very elaborately on the conditions of sored by Panun Kashmir, World Hindu Commentator, and one of the most Dr. Girdari Bhan who has been living refugee camp dwellers in general and Council of America (VHPA), Hindu Policy sought-after political program panelists in the United Kingdom for many de- their struggles described what the con- Research and Advocacy Collective of Indian media spoke on the Post Ar- cades, worked for the at National cerns of Kashmiri Hindus and lastly (HinduPACT) and Hindu Media Bureau ticle 370 Abrogation situation by high- Health Service, associated with the talked about their hope for their future (HMB) on Sunday morning, December lighting the state of terrorist activities Kashmiri Pandit Association UK, the generations. 13, 2020. and the level of Religious Fundamental- Indo-European Kashmir Forum and with Dr. Ajay Chrangoo, the Chairman of The distinguished panelists deliv- ism in Kashmir and the Jihad aspect of the Jammu-Kashmir Study Circle, UK Panun Kashmir, a political movement of ered their thought-provoking speeches militant Islam in global context. delivered his speech on the situations Kashmiri Pandits founded as a result of on the various aspects of the ground Sushil Pandit, Co-Founder, Roots in of Kashmiri Hindus from an outsider the forced exodus and genocide of Hin- realities and core concerns of the Hindu Kashmir (RIK) an initiative to raise pub- perspective and shared his impressions dus in Kashmir, in 1990s, a political ana- community after their Exodus from lyst on J&K affairs and a freelance writer Kashmiri. The distinguished panelists delivered their on human rights & terrorism spoke on References were made to a series of the need to recognize the rights of the anti-Hindu programs and attacks that thought-provoking speeches on the various aspects of aborigines of Kashmir, he talked about took place shortly after the inception of the ground realities and core concerns of the Hindu the aspirations of the Kashmiri Hindu the Muslim-dominated insurgency in community and shared his vision for a Jammu and Kashmir in 1989, which community after their Exodus from Kashmiri permanent settlement of Kashmiri Hin- eventually forced the native Kashmiri dus back in Kashmir. Hindu Pundits and other ethnic minori- Moderator, Sanjay Kaul introduced ties out of the Kashmir Valley. Live tele- each panelist to the audiences with cast on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter lic awareness on reclaiming roots that of the survival efforts of Kashmiri com- their brief bio sketch and managed the made it possible for thousands to at- identify Kashmiri Pandits, a well-known munity after its exodus from Kashmir program very meticulously. He thanked tend this program as audience and historian and Kashmir activist and a and what have been achieved by them all the panelists for their inspiring and make it a successful event. scholar of the Kashmir conflict in India so far. informative speeches and members of This webinar was started with Kiran and one of the most sought-after politi- Pintoo-ji Pandita, a ground zero the audience for their active participa- Wattal lighting the ceremonial lamp cal program panelists of Indian media Socio-Cultural Activist originally from tion. He thanked his team of organizing and Kanwal Peshin reciting a prayer. The and a guest speaker on the subject of Kashmir, at present, he is based in Jagti volunteers namely Lakshmi Kaul, Ajay speech by the first panelist, Dr Kashmir, narrated very lucidly his under- Refugee Camp located near Nagrota, Shah, Janamjay Shishupal & Uphaar Agnishekhar, a writer, historian, and po- standing of Government of India's initia- Jammu. Currently, he is serving as the Kotru for their support. litical activist focused on his assessment of the political situation in Jammu &Kashmir, what has changed and where are they are headed. He said that few things happened sporadically in the

Areas high in delinquent property taxes lose residents & face most violent crime Cont’d from page 20 • Out of the 145,030 times that a property was offered at the Scavenger Sale, the taxes were sold to private buyersonly8,449 times (5.8%). "By the time of the Scavenger Sale, my office has already collected more than 99.77 percent of property taxes," Pappas said. "The goal of the Scavenger Sale is not to collect delinquent taxes, but to find new owners and get the properties back on the tax rolls." "The General Assembly created the Scavenger Sale in 1939," she added. "Now, it's time for the Legislature to re- visit the Scavenger Sale process." Held every two years, the Scavenger Sale of- fers to investors and developers proper- ties that have three or more years of de- linquent taxes. Cont’d on page 22 22 India Post Community Across America December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com LA-County support programs for Small Business in pandemic VIDYA SETHURAMAN ness owners, non-profits, workers, com- company could find customers for its couraged to contact LAEDC directly at India Post News Service mercial landlords and commercial ten- products or its services in federal, state [email protected]. mall businesses are the lifeblood ants in this unprecedented time. We and local governments. Find PTAC at: Safer at Work LA will also rely on of the U.S. economy: they create have received 33,000 calls and over https://dcba.lacounty.gov/ptac/; or by trusted community members to use Stwo-thirds of net new jobs and 2300 emails in multiple languages with phone: (323) 881-3694 their social networks to drive a commu- drive U.S. innovation and competitive- English, Spanish and Korean being the Sarah Fisher, Economic Justice & nity level approach that hinges on all of ness. Small businesses account for popular ones. Since most of their busi- Community Partnerships Manager, our shared responsibility during this nearly half of all private sector jobs in ness revenues have spiraled down- Department of Workforce Develop- pandemic. With this community sup- the U.S. and a majority of new jobs, but ward, we get calls on the funding re- ment, Aging and Community Services, port, creative public art inspired by the many do not expect to survive the pan- sources available followed by questions discussed the county's Safer at Work rich tradition of historic Los Angeles demic. In Los Angeles County, about on eviction, rent moratorium and re- campaign. Los Angeles County sign making will be visible in local 15,000 small businesses have perma- opening strategies. The PPE Unite pro- launched a "Safer at Work LA" campaign neighborhoods to encourage all of LA nently closed their doors as a result of gram is a joint effort to give small busi- to boost awareness of public health or- County residents to do their part. COVID-19, according to WDACS. LA ness owners and their employees ac- ders and support essential workers Alisa Shudofsky, Director, Pro Bono County officials working on the cess to much-needed personal protec- who don't have the luxury of staying Programs, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, frontlines described their work and of- tive gear. This public and private part- home. The Safer at Work LA campaign is anonprofit legal aid agency specializing fered recommendations on Dec 10 EMS nership program creates access to PPE, a critical reminder that worksites and in workplace legal rights, discussed briefing. promotes PPE use, and provides addi- businesses, as well as custom- Carl Kemp, Environmental Health tional resources for businesses. We pro- ers and employees, must col- Public Affairs Manager, Department of vide a 30-day supply of free Personal lectively work together to slow the spread of COVID-19 LA-County disaster help center was launched in March and in the workplace. Safer at Work L.A. uses a three-prong open from Mon - Fri. They provide assistance to business approach to provide support to employers, staff, and cus- owners, non-profits, workers, commercial landlords and tomers. First, Safer at Work commercial tenants in this unprecedented time provides employers with in- formation and resources to help them create a safer work environment. Public. Protective Equipment to keep your Second, the campaign pro- Health, discussed COVID-19 Safety business compliant and employees vides staff with information and re- employer-employee relations in small Compliance Certificate Program for safe. We need to work together to safely sources to help them protect them- business. She cited recent studies find- businesses. Business owners can take reopen our local economy for the health selves, fellow staff and customers. Third, ing that among shuttered businesses, this training to receive a COVID-19 of our businesses and the general pub- Safer at Work gives customers pointers "there's been a 40% drop in black- Safety Compliance Certificate to be lic, added Ernesto. Any business can on how to stay safe while shopping. So owned businesses, a 32% drop in placed at all public entrances to their reach the disaster help center at 833 far, 59 cities, 8 business chambers, and Latinx-owned businesses and also sig- facility. This certificate acknowledges 238 4450. 61 businesses have agreed to cham- nificant drops in immigrant and female- that their facility is following all the re- Bobadilla also highlighted the Pro- pion the Safer at Work campaign. Re- owned businesses. "So we stepped up quired Public Health COVID-19 Proto- curement Technical Assistance Center, sources can be accessed on the our efforts to do outreach to these small cols. It is a 37-minute video covering which can help COVID-impacted busi- campaign's website, SaferAtWork.LA, as businesses to help them get up on their safety protocols and guidelines tai- nesses find new opportunities through well as the Los Angeles County Disaster feet, stay on their feet, find the assis- lored to specific business types and in- contracting directly with the govern- Center helpline (1-833-877-8008). Busi- tance that they need from a legal per- cludes a brief survey. Employees can ment. Through this program, he said, a nesses in need of consulting are en- spective," Shudofsky said. also watch this training to learn more about the Protocols and the steps their employers must take to offer required workplace protections. The COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certificate is not re- Areas high in delinquent property taxes lose quired, but it is recommended. To limit the spread of COVID-19 within the residents & face most violent crime workplace and community, we need the public, all business owners, and commu- Cont’d from page 21 • Twenty-nine suburbs with a Black due after the Scavenger Sale, unlike nity organizations to support the modi- population of at least 40 percent ac- private buyers. fied operations of businesses and pub- The study also found: counted for 20,366 (79%) of the • Of those properties, the Land Bank lic spaces to make them as safe as pos- • Just 51,320 properties have been 25,590 suburban properties offered has returned 8,886 properties from sible during this pandemic, said Carl. offered at the seven Scavenger Sales at a Scavenger Sale. the 2015 and 2017 Scavenger Sales. Ernesto Bobadilla, Consumer & Busi- since 2007 as some properties were of- • Cook County Land Bank Authority • The Land Bank's practice of bid- ness Affairs Specialist, Department of fered multiple times. has submitted no-cash bids on 22,786 ding, returning, and then re-bidding on Consumer & Business Affairs, discussed • Of the 51,320 properties, 25,601 properties at three sales since 2015. properties prevents any other inter- resources available to small businesses (50%) are vacant lots. When a government agency places a ested party from bidding on the prop- through the Dept.of Small Business. • Majority Black wards accounted for no-cash bid it acts as a tax buyer, ex- erty at both future annual or Scavenger LA-County disaster help center was 21,533 (84%) of the 25,730 Chicago cept it is not required to pay anything Sales. Of the 9,190 properties it sought launched in March and open from Mon properties offered at a Scavenger toward the delinquent taxes and is in 2019, 3,653 (39.7%) were properties - Fri. They provide assistance to busi- Sale. not required to pay taxes that come it had previously returned. December 18, 2020 Community Across America India Post 23 www.indiapost.com Next year's property Tax - Download The Race Gap In 2020 from cookcountytreasurer.com MADHU PATEL Elections CHICAGO: Next year's First by following these steps: Installment Cook County prop- • Select the blue box la- VIDYA SETHURAMAN aren't as firm in their support numbers show how deeply po- erty tax bills are available at beled "Pay Online for Free" India Post News Service of Trump as their husbands and larized American politics has cookcountytreasurer.com so • Enter your address or 14- he highest turnout elec- brothers and uncles are," become. that property owners can digit Property Index Number tion in 120 years in the Hochschild said. These women Davin Phoenix, a political sci- make payments before the (PIN) TUnited States showed a are Christians and feel like a entist at the University of Cali- end of this year or plan their fi- • There is no fee if you pay clear race gap: minority group and that life is fornia at Irvine said that the nances for 2021, indicted Trea- from your bank account Majority of people of color rigged against them. And media and public officials treat surer Maria Pappas here The Treasurer's Office ac- voted for Biden, while three watching television reinforces different groups inequitably The First Installment Tax Year cepts partial payments. out of five whites preferred that feeling. They feel left out based on the airing of their 2020, which is 55 percent of However, all First Install- Donald Trump. White women and hence thought voting for grievances. His research the previous year's total tax, is ment Tax Year 2020 taxes moved slightly towards the the incumbent will help them. showed not only are people of due March 2, 2021. However, must be paid by May 3, President, according to exit They feel people of color are color expressing less anger the Cook County Board last 2021, to avoid a late charge polling, while women of color raising and they are declining. but also that anger is not moti- week waived late charges of 1.5 percent per month turned out in high numbers to Exit polls showed 3 out of 5 vating their political behavior through May 3, 2021. mandated by Illinois law. reject the incumbent. white voters picked Trump in as much as it is for white Ameri- "People need more time to You can also use EMS called on experts who the 2020 Election. Voters were cans. Whites vote more, donate pay. That's the bottom line," cookcountytreasurer.com have looked into voter ?s moti- disproportionately white and to candidates, canvas for can- Pappas said. "By posting the to: bills to my website now, prop- • Search $76 million in erty owners can start thinking available refunds about how to pay their bills for • Check if you are missing 2021, which is going to be a out on $46 million in prop- hard year for many, many erty tax exemptions, which people." lower your tax bill You can download your tax • Read the Pappas Study, a bill or make a payment by visit- 20-year history of Cook County ing cookcountytreasurer.com property taxes.

Opportunities and Challenges of vations to understand this gap older. "Life isn't better for didates, and contact elected Doing Business in India and its implications for the fu- them four years later but they officials more. Phoenix said ture in their call on Dec 11. are still voting for him," that Blacks, Latin and Asian Cont’d from page 17 He also shared the experience Arlie Russell Hochschild is Hochschild said. If you add the Americans are more likely to of doing business in India from Professor Emerita at U.C. 85 million Americans who did protest and boycott. He said Rophin Paul, Executive Vice USA. He spoke about the move- Berkeley's Department of Soci- not cast a ballot to the total whites that didn't vote or may President at PARI Robotics in ment of goods and personnel ology said that the women she vote count, it turns out Biden have been sitting on the fence his address informed that Pari between the two countries. talked to stood by their men got 33% of the eligible voters in 2016, were angry enough in Robotics which was the first In- In the end Jacob Schroeder, and voted for Trump. "They and Trump got 31%. These 2020 to vote for Trump. dian international company in International Trade Develop- the Michigan region and today ment Manager, Michigan Eco- has over 1200 employees nomic Development Corpora- worldwide is now a global tion (MEDC) elaborated on company with head office in how MEDC supports compa- India and wholly owned sub- nies in Michigan for their over- sidiaries in the USA and Europe. seas business and on. Realty Tidbits Honolulu home prices pushed up by higher bids from buyers

Albuquerque plans Details on page 33 to turn old hospital Real Estate into shelter

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.: City officials are planning to buy a former Albuquerque hospital and turn it into a homeless shelter and services hub. 24 India Post www.indiapost.com December 18, 2020 Mayor Tim Keller said the city is working to purchase the former Lovelace hospital al- though the price wasn't imme- Property rights of a Hindu daughter diately disclosed. Keller told the Albuquerque Journal that the property under the Hindu Succession Act 2005 would provide emergency BALWANT JAIN shelter beds, an around-the- n a landmark judgment, on clock drop-off site for first re- August 11, 2020, the Su- sponders and a home for on- preme Court has held that site medical and behavioral I daughters will have coparce- health services. nary rights on their father's New Mexico currently is property, even if the latter died leasing 360,000 square feet of before the Hindu Succession the facility as a COVID-19 (Amendment) Act, 2005, be- emergency hospital and Keller came effective. The SC's observa- says the city's purchase would tion came, while clearing the air not disrupt that. on conflicting decisions given by The building has some other courts in India in the past. existing tenants, which Keller The top court in August said brings ongoing lease rev- 2020 further extended the enue. Albuquerque currently is scope of the 2005 law, to cases providing emergency shelter where the father was not alive for about 630 people. AP on the date when the Act was introduced. In effect, the SC or- der by a three-judge bench changed the rights of daugh- were called members. All the the right of maintenance as Registration of makes the 2005 amendment ters in the property of the pa- coparceners are members but well as to get a share in the retrospective. rental HUF. vice-versa is not true. property of the HUF, if the housing at 9-year "The provisions contained in The rights of coparceners property were partitioned af- high in Mumbai substituted Section 6 of the Property rights of a daughter and members in the property ter her marriage. As only a co- Hindu Succession Act, confer before 2005 of the HUF are different. parcener was entitled to be- NEW DELHI: The registration status of coparcener (equal The Hindu property act rec- Coparceners have the right to come the Karta of the HUF, the of residential properties in shareholders while inheriting ognizes the concept of HUF, ask for partition of the prop- female members were not en- Mumbai during November properties) on the daughter which means a family of per- erty and to get the shares. titled to become a Karta of the rose 67 per cent year-on-year born before or after the sons who are lineally de- Members of the HUF, like HUF and manage its affairs. to 9,301 units on higher festive amendment, in the same man- scended from a common an- daughters and mothers, had demand and reduction in ner as sons, with same rights cestor and related with each the right of maintenance from Daughter's right to property stamp duty by the and liabilities. Since the right in other by birth or marriage. The HUF property, as well as to get after 2005 Maharashtra government, ac- coparcenary is by birth, it is not people who are so descended a share in the property of the Section 6 of the Hindu Suc- cording to Knight Frank. necessary that the father of the cession Act, 1956, which deals "At 9,301 units registered in coparcener should be living as with coparcener's right in the November 2020, the residen- on September 9, 2005 (the HUF property, was amended in tial sector of Mumbai recorded date when the law came into 2005 w.e.f. September 9, 2005. the highest-ever registrations force)," the bench ruled. With this amendment, daugh- in the month of November in The top court, however, said ters have been put at par with the past nine years," Knight that a registered settlement or sons, as far as coparcenary Frank India said in a statement. partition suit decreed prior to rights in HUF property are con- The registrations in Novem- December 20, 2004 will not be cerned. Consequently, the ber 2020 jumped 17 per cent reopened, in a move to stop re- daughter gets all the rights at- month-on-month (m-o-m) and opening of earlier settlements. tached with coparcenary, in- 67 per cent year-on-year. cluding the right to ask for par- Knight Frank India CMD Hindu Succession from commons ancestors, HUF as and when partition of tition of the property and to Shishir Baijal said, "Limited (Amendment) Act, 2005 were divided in two parts. In the HUF took place. Upon mar- become a Karta of the HUF. period stamp duty cut con- The Hindu Succession Act is the first category are riage, the daughter would www.housing.com tinues to remain the biggest applicable to Hindus, Jains, coparceners. Only males were cease to be a member of the catalyst for residential sales Sikhs and Buddhists. The recognized as coparceners of HUF of the father and would For detailed story visit in Mumbai. PTI amendment drastically the HUF and all the females thus, no longer be entitled to www.indiapost.com December 18, 2020 Real Estate Post India Post 25 www.indiapost.com Honolulu home prices pushed up by higher bids from buyers

HONOLULU: Higher bids have helped increase the median resale price of single-family homes on Oahu in November, with twice as many sales above the original asking price than during the previous year. Sales data released by the Honolulu Board of Realtors has indicated the new median high of $872,500 was nearly a 10% increase over the $794,750 reached in November 2019, The Hono- lulu Star-Advertiser reported. The new price mark was also the second highest ever behind the record of $880,000 set in September. The figures showed sales of Oahu single-fam- ily homes increased in November by 5.6% to 338, compared to 320 in the same month last year. Most current sales are at the high end, with 80% of last month's sales involving houses What is a real estate priced at $700,000 or more. brokerage?

SUNITA MISHRA

Buyers and sellers need a common platform, to ini- In India, you can get into this highly competitive tiate a home purchase or sale. The same is true for field without any certification. However, achieving suc- landlords and tenants, who want to rent properties. cess here would prove to be a tough task, unless you The business of real estate brokerage came into be- have excellent communication skills and solid knowl- ing, to act as that common platform for all the parties edge of the real estate market dynamics in the area mentioned above. Traditionally, individual realtors or you are operating. agents helped the buyers and sellers (or landlords Services offered by real estate brokerage firms and and tenants) to get in touch with each other. Later on, agents the business also saw the emergence of mega bro- There are a host of services that brokers and bro- kerage firms, as the Indian housing market started to kerage firms supply. These include: The median time between listing and sale of see unprecedented growth from the 1990s, with the Property listings for sale or purchase properties was 10 days. economic liberalization. Listings for renting Honolulu Board of Realtors President Tricia Today, there are a large number of real estate bro- Home sales and purchase Nekota called the trend a ``seemingly new nor- kerage firms in India, including Housing.com, that ca- Home renting mal of buyers entering bids tens of thousands ter to every need of buyers, sellers, landlords and ten- Site visits of dollars over asking price.'' ants in various residential and rental markets. These Assistance with home loans ``We are experiencing a fast-paced market firms have, in fact, been instrumental in enabling Assistance with property registration, etc. with properties flying off the market in a mere home sales during the Coronavirus-induced phased While full-stack brokerage firms like Housing.com matter of days, especially single-family homes lockdown period in India, when most transactions provide all of these services using one platform, indi- and townhouses,'' Nekota said. took place online. vidual brokers focus on specific offerings, focusing on The housing market has been fueled in part Licensing and training for real estate brokerage in specific neighborhoods. by low interest rates on mortgages. Nekota said India Brokerage commission in India versus the west the high demand is keeping Oahu's real estate Unlike the west where the property brokerage In the residential segment, brokerage firms and market ``strong and steady throughout the pub- business is highly evolved, the real estate brokerage property agents typically ask for 2% of the transaction lic health crisis.'' market in India is still developing. This is why agents value as the brokerage charge. The charges are much The median resale price of condominiums seldom opt for formal training, to enter into the bro- higher in the commercial realty brokerage business. rose to $420,000 last month, an increase of 1.2% kerage business, which is a precondition in the west, It is worth mentioning here that when compared compared with November 2019, when the fig- where all brokers have to undergo training and pass a to the trends seen in more mature markets like the ure was $415,000. certificate program, before they are allowed to liaison US, property brokerage charges are quite low in India. Total resales of condominiums declined by for a buyer or a seller client. Brokers in the US, for ex- In the west, brokers typically ask for 6%-7% of the 6% to 407 last month, compared to 434 in the ample, have to invest time and money to get a real transaction value as the brokerage fee or commission. same month the previous year. AP estate license. www.housing.com TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Taaron Ke Shehar: Taaron Ke Shehar Naach Meri Rani 26 India Post www.indiapost.com December 18, 2020 2 Naach Meri Rani: 3 Teri Aankhon Mein: Teri Aankhon Mein s he completed 10 years in 4 BurjKhalifa: Laxmii Bollywood, actor Ranveer 5 Care Ni Karda: Chhalaang Singh elaborated on his vision A 6 Baby Girl: Baby Girl and said he wants to leave a legacy Dil Chahte Ho behind. 7 Dil Chahte Ho: Laxmii The 'Simmba' actor said, "Every day I 8 BamBholle: am working towards leaving behind a 9 Aabaad Barbaad : Ludo legacy, a filmography that I can be 10 Ae Mere Dil: Ae Mere Dil proud of. I want to make a significant contribution to the arts and inspire other artists, the same way my senior artists have inspired me," he said. "I want to be remembered as a thor- ough entertainer, as a versatile actor, someone whose body of work consti- tutes some of the best cinema of our country," the 35-year-old actor said. Ranveer had made his Bollywood debut with Yash Raj Films' 'Band BaajaBaaraat.' Throughout the course of his 10- year-long career in the film industry, he has starred in several blockbuster hits like 'Gully Boy,' 'BeiraMustang,' 'Gundy,' The 38-year-old actor, 'Looter,' and others. ANI whose father had served in the Indian Army, took to Instagram to share the pic- ture of "little Priyanka" dressed in the uniform. She penned down a note sharing that the picture is a part of her upcoming book and also expressed how her father has al- ways been her ctor Nushrat Bharucha is not a huge horror fan, but has to "idol." Awatch a few in the line of work. She says she has found a tech- "#TBT to little nique to help her sleep after catching up on scary movies. Priyanka. This is a She is set to headline the horror film, "Chhorii", for which photo from the the actress seems to be preparing in full swing. album in my "For me watching a horror film is like one of those upcoming cheap thrills, which I know I'll not be able to get book. I through, but I still would want to, and go down that used to road anyway. I keep hiding behind my shawl, or love follow- cover my face with something when some eerie ing my dad around the part comes because I just can't see it. But I have to house dressed in his watch it because I need to know how it ends or how the mystery solved. This is very important for Army uniform. I wanted to me to get out of the theatre in peace," she said. grow up and be exactly She shared: "When I'm at like him. He was my idol," home, I ask my mom or the 'Baywatch' actor my friend to sleep with me, wrote. or if I'm shooting outdoors, I'd "My dad encouraged call my hairstylist and ask my sense of adven- her to spend the night ture. Even as a with me. I'm that scared." little Nushrratt said: "I have a girl..."I was three-hour meditation always out sound track that I play to get exploring, look- me to sleep somehow and just re- lax. IANS ing for adventure, trying to uncover something new. My December 18, 2020 India Post 27 www.indiapost.com

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www.indiapost.com December 18, 2020 Horoscope India Post 29 www.indiapost.com Your Weekly Future by VANEET SHARMA DEC 18TH to DEC 24TH 2020

MAR 21 to APRIL 20 JUN 21 to JULY 22 SEP 23 to OCT 22 DEC 22 to JAN 19

he circumstances his week shall be his week shall he planetary tran T and situations T excellent in all T prove to be T sit in the be- in the beginning of respects. In the begin- excellent for all areas ginning of the week is the week shall make ning of the week you of life and you shall be showing enough you feel very low and shall get good results focusing on your per- gains and increased depressed. You shall start feeling better in areas like education and emotional sonality development. You shall leave no inflow of money whereas the mid of the from 18th December. You are likely to relations. You shall be getting tremen- stone unturned in taking care of your week indicates increased expenses, earn recognition for your work and there dous public support for getting your family, relatives, friends and social life. gains from outer connections and some onwards there shall be continuous im- tasks accomplished. You shall do well in Your confidence level shall be at its maxi- extra expenses on get together, parties provement in work area. By the end of competition also. Apart from that specu- mum. In this whole week you shall re- and journeys. You shall work with care- the week You shall be able to accomplish lative activities might bring in gains. The main very busy in settling your issues free approach and that shall help you do desired tasks. You are advised to keep latter half of the week is favorable for and fortunately you shall be able to ac- better to fight with your difficulties and your patience intact. getting support of partners and spouse. complish all tasks. tensions with full strength.

APRIL 21 to MAY 20 JULY 23 to AUG 22 OCT 23 to NOV 22 JAN 20 to FEB 19

he planetary tran lanetary transit indi- n this week in spite ou are destined to T sit indicates P cates few tensions on I of your in- Y earn lot of re- that you shall enjoy the first two days of the creased expenses and spect and recognition good harmony and week however; domes- financial issues you along with tremen- understanding with tic atmosphere shall be shall enjoy life. You dous support of se- your partners and spouse. Love life shall fully pleasing. The remaining part of the would remain tension free most of the niors because of your administrative skills. be perfect. Your artistic abilities shall get week indicates good luck from children, times. Your health conditions shall remain Your brightness and success is shining in displayed. The health won't remain education and travel. You are likely to average. Your schedule shall remain busy the graph of success especially at work good on 18th, 19th & 20th or else you take interest not only in entertainment because of which tensions won't affect place. You shall be having some hidden might suffer from problems related to activities but also plan to flourish your you much but you are advised to look talent which would help you do better mood swings. The last two days of the business by some speculative activities. after your health. In the mid of the week from the beginning of the week. Although week are good for going on journeys. Your marketing strategies shall be at its you shall get recognition at work place you are a slow starter but you don't take You shall be participating in some so- best and your talent of resourcefulness and you will devote enough time to rec- much time in catching the pace after you cial activity too. shall work for you. tify family related issues. get to know the success formula.

MAY 21 to JUN 20 AUG 23 to SEP 22 NOV 23 to DEC 21 FEB 20 to MAR 20

ou shall be getting he beginning of here shall be lot of lthough your des Y mixed results T the week shall T tensions in the A tiny is with in the first half of the be excellent for your beginning of the you from the begin- week. Although sup- social life. You would week. Your expenses ning of the week and port of spouse and consolidate your rela- might go uncontrolled the mid of the week partners shall be available but financially tions with your kith and kin. In the mid of however from the mid of the week your shall be good to earn more gains too but ups and downs are indicated which might the week you shall go through lot of men- confidence shall start getting retrieved. your obstacles shall not stop chasing give more tensions. You are advised to be tal stress and some domestic issues shall Instead of making investment it shall be you. You might have to suffer because of more cautious on last two days of the test your patience. Apart from this there better to focus on planning because in lack of patience and physical weakness week as you are likely to spoil your state is some indication of becoming victim of that way you are already at right track and or else because of some bitterness in re- of mind and happiness by getting into some element of melancholy. You shall good full proof planning shall certainly lationship however the final impact of unnecessary arguments out of frustration. start recovering from your problems in give good results for the rectification of obstacles and bitterness won't be much The increased stress and trivial health re- the last two days of the week which issues related to arrangement of funds at your work area but it might appear lated tensions are also indicated. would restore your confidence fully. and there can be sudden financial gains. slightly intolerable.

Kindly read the predictions from your ascendant sign. If you do not know your ascendant sign then read the VANEET same from Moon sign. If Moon sign is also not known then read it from the Zodiac sign. The ascendant sign which is SHARMA calculated from the birth details viz. date, month, year, time & place of birth gives 85 % accurate predictions. The 510-648-4899 accuracy of predictions from Moon sign get limited to only 50 %. The predictions from Zodiac sign are only 25 % “Felicitated and accurate. In nutshell the predictions from ascendant sign are most accurate. In getting personality analysis the traits honored by then President of India Shri given by ascendant sign are 100 % accurate and that is the essence of Vedic Astrology. Pranab Mukherjee" 30 India Post OP-ED December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com Philosophy

EKNATH EASWARAN giving that we receive; It is in pardon- India should create a corpus for ing that we are pardoned; It is in dying he method of meditation I teach in- to self that we are born to eternal life." post-COVID South Asia rebuilding Tvolves sitting quietly with eyes One reason this kind of training is CMDE C UDAY BHASKAR (RETD) closed and going slowly, in the mind, so effective is that it uses the same ope has been kindled that a early 2020 as a dangerous public through the words of an inspirational machinery that gives the mind its im- vaccine to prevent further health challenge, the pandemic panic passage that appeals to you deeply. It mense power. For meditation to work, spread of the COVID-19 pan- that ensued was understandable. might be a prayer, or a poem from one H you don't have to reason over, reflect demic is likely to be introduced soon The rapidity with which the virus of the great mystics, or a piece of scrip- on, question, or answer the words you and this is cause for guarded cheer in could spread and the fact that it had ture from any of the world's religions. are meditating on - in fact, if you do, an otherwise blighted year. This is also no antidote induced a certain policy This method has several direct ef- you are letting the mind do its own an opportune time to review the paralysis. fects on the quality of thinking. To be- thing again, letting it produce what- South Asian experience in dealing The immediate response was a gin with, it gives the mind's machinery ever it wants. Instead, all you have to with the pandemic. draconian lockdown with tragic con- better raw material. When you sit qui- do is try to give complete attention to India had crossed a critical bench- sequences - particularly for the larger etly every morning with your eyes one word at a time, and bring the mark in relation to the pandemic on demography of South Asia with its closed, concentrating completely on mind back when it wanders. December 1 when the death rate per low per capita income and related words that embody your highest ide- If you are giving a word your best million population crossed 100. This human security indicators. Economic als, you are giving your mind thoughts attention, its meaning cannot help figure is much lower than that of the activity came to an abrupt halt and of the purest quality to work with dur- sinking in. Anything else actually keeps USA which was till Dec 8 was at 878 the policy dilemma was how to ing the day. the meaning from penetrating. If this deaths per million. Currently occupy- regulate the normal rhythms of ev- A perfect example is the opening of sounds easy, try it. The whole factory ing the second position in the global eryday life such that public health the Buddha's Twin Verses, taken from will rebel. For a long, long time you will COVID ladder after the USA, India is was not endangered, even while al- the Dhammapada: "All that we are is feed the words in and the machines expected to cross the 10 million mark lowing for the limited activity that the result of what we have thought: will spit them right back at you. by mid-December. allowed the citizen a modicum of lim- ited normalcy. India and its neighbors Consequently the GDP growth Between two breaths is The comparison with the rest of rates of most states took a beating South and Southeast Asia indicates and the pattern that emerges glo- the moment of happening that India has not been as effective as bally and in South Asia is instructive. its regional neighbors in dealing with Among the major economies, it is only Those whose minds are shaped the pandemic since the lockdown of China that has registered an esti- late March. Other South Asian states mated positive tick of 1.9 percent by selfless thoughts give joy GDP growth for India had crossed a critical the blighted Eknath Easwaran when they speak or act benchmark in relation to the pandemic on 2020 COVID year. In contrast seven we are formed and molded by our The mind will insist on producing December 1 when the death rate per major nations all thoughts. Those whose minds are its own things, thinking its own million population crossed 100 recorded a nega- shaped by selfish thoughts cause mis- thoughts: everything from little dis- tive GDP shrink- ery when they speak or act. Sorrows tractions (such as what you need to do have managed to keep their total age as follows: USA minus 4.3 percent; roll over them as the wheels of a cart that day) up to major crises, when you number of COVID cases and deaths at Japan 5.3; France and UK both 9.8; Ger- follow the hooves of the bullock that cannot get the mind out of a vicious a much lower levels. many 6; India 10.3 and Russia 4.1. draws it." circle of hostility or craving. To focus If total COVID deaths per million All that we are is the result of what on the words of the Buddha or Saint are taken as a metric, the descending COVID impact and India's poor eco- we have thought: we are formed and Francis, you need to slow down the order is India 102; Maldives 86; Nepal nomic growth rate molded by our thoughts. Those whose frantic pace of the thinking process so 56; Bangladesh 42; Pakistan 38; Sri However, in South Asia, Bangladesh minds are shaped by selfless thoughts that you can pay attention to one Lanka 7; and Bhutan is at zero. No registered a commendable +3.8 per- give joy when they speak or act. Joy thought at a time. single reason can be advanced at this cent GDP growth rate with Pakistan follows them like a shadow that never Excerpted from 'Conquest Of Mind'. stage for this variation and due credit also staying above the median at 0.4, leaves them." The 110th birth anniversary of Eknath must be given to the political leader- while Sri Lanka with its otherwise ro- When it comes to substituting high Easwaran is being observed on De- ship and public health officials of bust human security indicators were quality for low, however, no passage cember 17 those countries that have kept the at -4.6 percent. In summary, despite could improve on the inspiring prayer negative fall-out to as minimum a the political resolve exuded by the of Saint Francis of Assisi: "Lord, make level as they could. Narendra Modi government in deal- me an instrument of thy peace. Where 50 SPIRITUAL APPETIZERS The total COVID death toll on Dec 8 ing with the pandemic that led to a there is hatred, let me sow love; Where Vinod Dhawan which varies by the day is as follows: massive disruption among the unor- there is injury, pardon; Where there is “It’s a lovely book. It feels en- India - 141,344; Pakistan 8,487; ganized labor sector of India, the doubt, faith; Where there is despair, ergetically clear and light. It’s Bangladesh 6906; Nepal 1637; Sri scorecard for Delhi in relation to hu- hope; Where there is despair, hope; easy to read, dip in and out and Lanka 142; and Maldives 47. And to man security and macro-economic Where there is darkness, light; Where most importantly it offers infor- place these numbers in context, the management are not flattering. there is sadness, joy. mation without fluff! Blessings global death toll is over 1.55 million South Asia Monitor "O Divine Master, grant that I may not on this project.” Jac O’Keeffe fatalities. so much seek to be consoled as to con- For detailed story visit Spirituality teacher based in When it was first recognized in sole, To be understood as to under- USA. www.indiapost.com stand, To be loved as to love; For it is in Available on AMAZON, FLIPKART Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal to the author December 18, 2020 OP-ED India Post 31 www.indiapost.com

CLIMATE CHANGE he COVID-19 pandemic has destroyed lives, livelihoods and Teconomies but has not slowed down climate-change, which presents ever-growing threats to the planet and people's health, jobs and safety. The stakes could not be higher: the science shows temperatures are in record-breaking territory, greenhouse gas lev- els are mounting, sea level is rising, and natural disasters are getting much worse. As the world confronts the pandemic and embarks on Lamenting "injustice" needs recovery, there is growing recognition that recovery must be a path- way to a green and sustainable economy that produces jobs and prosperity, reduces emissions, and builds resilience. to get the facts straight On the 5th anniversary of the Paris agreement, the United Na- tions, the United Kingdom and France co-hosted the 2020 Climate MADHU PATEL Ambition Summit in partnership with Chile and Italy. World leaders he "Indian American Mus- sonalities like Sarwanand Kaul in the world, after Indonesia. from government, business and civil society had convened online. lim Council" has sud Premi, veteran poet. Hundreds Most of them live peacefully, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also invited to address Tdenly found a voice after of Kashmiri Hindu women have not even aware of the terrible the Summit. Their task: Make ambitious new commitments to the election of Prime Minister been kidnapped, raped and "oppressions" that the coun- achieve the Paris Agreement on climate change. Narendra Modi, stressing re- murdered according to the cil is blaming on the Hindu Mr. Modi reiterated that even though India is historically amongst peatedly in press releases data of international organiza- majority. low contributors of carbon dioxide emissions thus not responsible about the "continuing oppres- tions. Members of the council, for climate change, but, as a responsible nation, has joined hands with sion" of Muslims in India. None of these facts seem to who seem to prefer the cloak other nations to address the issues by delivering on its promises. For an organization whose merit even a passing mention of anonymity would be well President elect Joe Biden in his written statement sent shortly slogan appears to be "peace in the press notes of the coun- advised to get their facts before the virtual gathering stated that US will reaffirm and join Paris agreement on Climate Change on day one of his presidency. and pluralism" the office bear- cil!! right before making wild Human life on earth greatly depends on the forests, the earth ers of the council seem to be India is perhaps the only charges against the Hindus of soil, the sub-terrain microbes, the rivers, all of which sustain our lives blissfully unaware of the inher- country in the world where the India, who have a time hon- and well-being. Any imbalance of these will be disastrous to hu- ent contradiction in their 80 percent Hindu population ored tradition of co-existing man existence. motto. have been repeatedly sub- peacefully with members of "Fortunately, there are always things that we can do to fight other religions. against climate change", said Dr Adrian Ruben, a leading environ- While loudly lamenting the "injustice" to "It is unfortunate that the mental advocate on climate change. Muslim council members are Indian Muslims, the council has intentionally Saving the environment starts with us, and it is our responsibility hell bent on promoting bo- to act against these terrible changes to preserve the planet for fu- ignored the 600,000 Hindu Kashmiri Pandits killed gus issues, making a scape- ture generations. goat of India's peaceful Hindu We can start with the following immediately: in Kashmir since 1990. These include several community," points out 1. Make Your Commute Green notable Kashmir personalities Harish Ro of Chicago." Vehicle emission is one of the major contributors of green house "I will give one advice to gases. Taking public transportation to work is a great way to cut out the council office bearers - emissions. Riding your bike to work is also a great workout. For the last quarter of a cen- jected to tyranny of the worst apnegirabhanmeinbhidekho- 2. Be More Conservative with Energy Usage tury the largest number of ter- kind by Muslim invaders begin- introspect first. Which is the Make sure to turn off lights and unplug devices that you are not rorist attacks throughout the ning with Mahmud of Ghazni religious affiliation of an over- using when you are done with them. Replace your light bulbs with world, most certainly in Eu- who looted and destroyed the whelmingly large number of energy-efficient LED light bulbs to help you save electricity too. rope, are either by Islamic ter- Somnath temple repeatedly. terrorists in the last 20 3. Get Active and Vote rorists or those claiming to be Others Muslim rulers be- years?" observed Arvind Patel Voting the right people into office will help pass legislation that in sympathy with the goals of longing to the Khalji and of Chicago allows us to fight against these corporations that are mainly to terrorist's organizations, some Tughlaq dynasties were Mahmood Khan of Chicago blame for climate change. of them state sponsored in the equally murderous and de- said, "instead of washing 4. Recycle Middle East. structive to a 5000 year old dirty linen in public in a for- Recycling is a cost-effective and eco-friendly process that elimi- While loudly lamenting the civilization. In fact the Tughlaq eign land, the council should nates waste and doesn't emit greenhouse gasses into the environ- ment. Be sure to collect your discarded paper, glass, plastic, and elec- "injustice" to Indian Muslims, dynasty has the distinction of reach out to prominent In- tronics, for your local recycling center. the council has intentionally ig- having murdered in cold dian leaders and attempt to 5. Encourage and plant trees nored the 600,000 Hindu blood 12,000 Hindu ascetics. solve the issues through a You can help protect the planet by educating others to and plant Kashmiri Pandits killed in Kash- It is worth pointing out spirit of give and take, instead trees, and spread awareness about renewable energy. mir since 1990. These include that India has the second of making sensationalist alle- After all, every small drop of water together adds up to make the several notable Kashmir per- largest population of Muslims gations for cheap publicity." oceans and every little effort we make can help us mitigate the Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal to the author Climate Change crisis. 32 India Post December 18, 2020 www.indiapost.com December 18, 2020 India Post 33 www.indiapost.com