VOL 6 ISSUE 10 ● DALLAS ● MARCH 16 - MARCH 22, 2018 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 www.theindianpanorama.news MUELLER SUBPOENAS TRUMP ORGANIZATION FOR Trump ousts Secretary of State Rex DOCUMENTS IN RUSSIA PROBE Tillerson, brings in Mike Pompeo Special WASHINGTON (TIP): President Trump counsel Robert has removed Rex Tillerson as secretary of Mueller, the state and replaced him with current CIA man in charge Director Mike Pompeo, after months of of Russia speculation surrounding Tillerson's role in Investigation the Trump administration, a fact Tillerson only learned was official when the announcement was made on Tuesday, March 13 morning. Mr. Trump announced the news of WASHINGTON (TIP): Special counsel Robert Mueller has Tillerson's ouster on Twitter, thanking him subpoenaed the Trump Organization for business documents, for his service. The Washington Post first CNN reported, quoting a source, on March 15. reported news of Tillerson's firing, shortly The New York Times, which first reported the development, before the president's tweet. Mike Pompeo, said the subpoena included documents related to Russia. The Director of the CIA, will become our new reports mark the first publicly known time that Mueller has Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! RexTillerson (left)is replaced with Mike Pompeo, the 6th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (right) Tillerson pic courtesy CBS. Pompeo / official portrait contd on page 32 contd on page 32 Trump has decided to remove his national security UK snaps diplomatic ties with Russia: 23 Russian adviser, says Washington Post officials told to leave in a week Trump has complained that H.R. McMaster, a three-star Army British PM May says Moscow behind murderous bid general, is too rigid and that his briefings go on too long and seem irrelevant, the Post reported. LONDON (TIP): British Prime Minister Theresa May, on March 14, held Russia WASHINGTON (TIP): U.S. responsible for the nerve agent attack President Donald Trump has decided against a former Russian spy and his to replace his national security daughter as she expelled 23 Russian adviser, H.R. McMaster, but the move diplomats and suspended high-level is not expected to be made bilateral contact. immediately, the Washington Post Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, reported on Thursday, March 15. and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found Citing five people with knowledge of collapsed after being poisoned last week. the plans, the Post said Trump was Both remain in a serious condition along British Prime Minister Theresa May said on considering several possible with a police officer who came in contact Wednesday, March 14, she had come to the replacements, including former U.S. with the same substance. conclusion that Russia was culpable for the H.R. McMaster (screenshot)/Photo of Donald Trump Ambassador to the United Nations Russia denies being involved in the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal Screenshot Flicker photo John Bolton and Keith Kellogg, the attempted murder of the former spy and his daughter. "The Russian state was culpable of the chief of staff of the National Security attempted murder" of spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, May told lawmakers. She said Council. On Tuesday, Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the president has Britain will suspend high-level bilateral contact contd on page 32 contd on page 32 Euless middle school signs agreement with Delhi Public School Texas chemical plant explosion leaves in India 1 person missing, another injured A North Texas school has found a way to CRESSON, TX (TIP): Firefighters work with campus some 8,000 miles away. say an explosion occurred at a EULESS, TX (TIP): Central Junior High in Euless last week chemical plant in Hood County, signed a memorandum of understanding with Delhi Public School Texas, CBS Dallas-Fort Worth in India. The arrangement will help Central students who are reported, March 15. One person was studying Hindi learn more about life in India. missing, and another was badly Dr. Jyoti Gupta, principal of Delhi Public School in Ghaziabad, burned in the blast, which occurred came to Central on Wednesday, March 14, to sign the agreement. at Tri-Chem Industries. Her school is known as an innovative campus providing a quality The family of Dillon Mitchell, a 27- education for students in India. Like the Hurst-Euless-Bedford year-old man who works at the plant, school district, Delhi Public School offers an International says he is the employee that remains Baccalaureate program. missing at the site. They also say he A delegation from the North Texas school district visited the "saw sparks" before the explosion Indian school in November. The school is northeast of New Delhi occurred. in Uttar Pradesh. At least four ambulances This new effort is an example of HEB ISD's commitment to responded to the scene. Authorities offering students a global education. The district is one of the few are advising the public to go to a in Texas to offer Hindi, Arabic and Chinese classes in middle hospital if they came into contact County and Highway 171 in Cresson. The Fort Worth Fire Department is school. with smoke from the explosion. Cresson Mayor Bob Cornett said sending 10 units to the scene for fire Bhavani Parpai, the district's former global initiatives The incident occurred in the city of the liquid chemical plant and hazardous materials support. coordinator, said in an earlier interview: "We wanted to give the Cresson. Billowing smoke from the manufactures products like soap and No evacuations have been students two more years to set a strong foundation through high fire forced the Texas Department of acid. He said there has been a reported. school." Public Safety (DPS) to close part of massive fire department response to The cause of the explosion is being To learn more about HEB ISD, visit hebisd.edu. southbound Highway 377 in Hood the explosion. investigated. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 2 INDIANS ABROAD FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 Indian American Renu Khator Awarded for her Role in Indian American Ram Villivalam Mentoring Professionals in US running for Illinois state Senate CHICAGO(TIP): Indian American, former congressional aide Ram Villivalam is challenging 20-year incumbent Ira Silverstein in the next week's Democratic primary for the Illinois state Senate 8th district. If he wins, Villivalam will be the first Indian American elected to the Illinois statehouse. The primary will be held on March 20, next Tuesday. The 8th Senate district has the highest concentration of Asian Americans in Illinois. It includes 21 Chicago neighborhoods, among them, all of Devon Ave.'s business district - which is known as a "Little India" - and the suburbs of Lincolnwood, Skokie, Morton Grove, Niles, Des Plaines and Glenview. If he wins, Villivalam will be the first Indian American elected to the Illinois statehouse. Villivalam, whose parents immigrated American Council of Education (ACE) on March 12th from India in the 1970s, believes Illinois while raising them for millionaires and Prior to that, Villivalam was the awarded Indian American Renu Khator with the 2018 needs more diversity in government and a billionaires, reducing gun violence, Outreach Director for Rep. Brad Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor new generation of elected officials like equitably funding public schools, and Schneider, D-IL, where he signed people Award during its 100th Annual Meeting. him to lead on challenging issues it faces ending discrimination based on race, up for the Affordable Care Act and put on at the moment. gender and religion. job fairs. HOUSTON (TIP): A top Indian American woman Villivalam was born and raised on the He pointed out that, his opponent, Villivalam said he has built a broad academic, Renu Khator, has been awarded by American Northwest side of Chicago, where he Silverstein, was reprimanded by an coalition of support, including from four Council in Education for her role as a mentoring continues to live. The area is part of the independent inspector general for members of the Illinois' Democratic professional. 8th district. violating the legislative ethics act and congressional delegation - Rep. Raja Ms. Khator, 62, Chancellor of University of Houston "As the son of Indian immigrants who behaving in a manner "unbecoming of a Krishnamoorthi, Jan Schakowsky, Mike System and President of University of Houston (UH), came to this country to seek out a better legislator." Quigley and Brad Schneider. He also has awarded the 2018 Council of Fellows/Fidelity quality of life and opportunities for their The taxpayers of the 8th state Senate the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune, Investments Mentor Award during the opening plenary children, I feel the responsibility to step district deserve a senator who is solely Chicago Sun-Times, and the Indo- of American Council in Education's 100th annual forward and speak out on the important focused on effective representation, he American Democratic Organization. meeting. issues that working and middle-class said. The candidate said he has both the These elected officials and organizations The award is bestowed annually to acknowledge the families are experiencing every day," said advocacy and legislative experience to trust his to be the effective, proactive, and substantial role of mentors in the success of the Villivalam. make progress on his agenda in truly progressive our community council's fellows program participants. He added that his parents, who were Springfield. deserves, said Villivalam. Ms. Khator, who was born in Uttar Pradesh and professionals in India, had to work His experience includes working as a "As I knock on doors to speak with educated at the University of Kanpur, is the UH System's minimum wage jobs before going back to legislative coordinator for the Service voters about the challenging issues we first woman chancellor, UH's first foreign-born school. They retired with a combined 50 Employees International Union (SEIU), face, I hear the frustration people have president, and the first ever Indian immigrant to lead a years in public service. where he fought to protect home care for with business as usual in Springfield," he comprehensive research university in the US. Villivalam said, based on his own seniors and people with disabilities, child said. "Voters want a change. We can't Ms Khator assumed her current post in January 2008. family's experience, he believes in care for working families, and Medicaid expect different results if we keep sending She now oversees a four-university system that serves lowering taxes for middle-class families for those in need. the same people down there." nearly 71,000 students. Indian Origin Jay Shetty Goes Indian American Nikesh Patel sentenced to 25 years for fraud to US for Potentially Path- ORLANDO (TIP): Indian American, Bank, Beach Business Bank and Comerica Nikesh Patel has been slapped with a 25- Bank. He has also been involved in breaking Autism Treatment year jail term after he was found restaurant businesses, including part impersonating as a bank executive to fund ownership of downtown Orlando's Mingos. his escape to Ecuador to evade a conviction There are also reports that Patel was a for swindling $179 million worth of fake spendthrift who had an addiction to latest loans to a Milwaukee investment firm. luxury cars. As per reports, the According to the Justice Department, prosecutors made the court aware that he Nikesh Patel was the CEO of First Farmers owned a Rolls Royce, a Lamborghini and Financial LLC from 2012 to 2014, during Judge Kocoras announced his 25-years other high-end cars. which the company sold close to $179 prison sentence calling him "a certain He also reportedly wore custom-made million worth fabricated loan to a diabolical genius" jewels and flew around the world in private Milwaukee investment firm and $20 any effort to repay the defrauded; instead, jets with Panama being his favorite million to another investment firm based he spent huge amounts on luxury trips and holyday getaway where he "blew off steam" in Tennessee. hosted a $30,000 birthday celebration for at brothels, according to the prosecutor. Court documents state that during the his one-year-old daughter. An influential political donor, Patel period of defrauding, Patel created false He funded his trips and expensive events funded Florida Gov. Rick Scott and documents in favor of his company to by once again involving in a swindle, Florida's Republican Party during his submit before the Milwaukee investment posing as a VP of Banco do Brasil. Using a prime years, and both gave all of Patel's firm showing that his company had lent con name "Ron Elias," he sold more than donations to charity after the FBI booked Jay will be in the US for the treatment for a week money to borrowers in Florida and $19 million bogus loans to different him for fraud. Georgia. investors in Iowa. Hundreds of public school districts, LONDON (TIP): Jay Shetty, a seven-year-old Indian He also made false claims that a portion To add authenticity to his illicit deals, parks departments and other public origin, suffers from a debilitating form of cerebral palsy of the loans were guaranteed by the federal Patel created a phony website and sent entities, including Illinois Metropolitan and autism since he was a baby, which means he cannot government. emails to convince the victims that his Investment Fund, became the victims of walk, talk or sit up unaided. He left with his family for In October 2014, Patel, 30, who had then loans were legitimate. Patel's bogus loans, which had taxpayer the US on March 11th for a revolutionary treatment that launched a hotel redevelopment company, 'There's a certain diabolical genius to dollars invested in Pennant through has the potential to improve the quality of his life and Alena Hospitality, was arrested by federal what he did here," Judge Charles Kocoras management funds. According to reports, give hope to others with neurological disorders. authorities on fraud charges. said at sentencing. after Judge Kocoras announced his 25- He is now set to undergo a pioneering clinical trial at He pleaded guilty in 2015 but requested "It's a little insulting," Kocoras said years prison sentence calling him "a Duke University Medical Centre in North Carolina, to allow him to remain free on bail till his adding that "His (US) citizenship was the certain diabolical genius," a sobbing Patel which relies on the infusion of his younger brother's sentencing so that he would help gift of his birth, yet he's so quick to throw reportedly told the court that "Greed and umbilical cord blood frozen at birth. "After a lot of authorities recover funds to repay his it away because he doesn't want to face the selfishness may have a short-term benefit, research on stem cells, we had decided before I got victims. piper." but in the long run it only hurts those contd on page 13 Patel deceived the court by not making Patel is a former executive of Fifth Third closest to you." (Source: DOJ) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 ADVERTISEMENT 3 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 4 US FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 AAPI Legislative Day on April 12th

WASHINGTON DC (TIP): The growing their aspirations in professional and residency positions in 1997, it is time for influence of doctors of Indian heritage is community affairs. The Executive Committee Congress to act NOW to remedy this critical evident, as increasingly physicians of Indian is working hard to ensure active participation situation. AAPI believes that all Americans origin hold critical positions in the of young physicians, increasing membership, have the right to see a physician." healthcare, academic, research and and enabling AAPI's voice to be heard in the AAPI Legislative Co-Chair, Dr. Sampat administrative positions across the nation. corridors of power, and thus taking AAPI to Shivangi, pointed to some of the other With their hard work, dedication, compassion, new heights." initiatives that are being presented to the and skills, they have thus carved an enviable There are many issues affecting our Congressmen. "They include: Lowering the niche in the American medical community. community. An important debate is about the Cost of Prescription Drugs; Immigration AAPI's role has come to be recognized as vital merits of doing away with the individual Reform: H-1 and J-1 visas are used by many among members and among lawmakers. mandate. "As Congress has now passed a Indian American physicians, playing an In this context, as the nation continues to be repeal of this part of the Affordable Care Act, important role in providing critical health divided on the health reforms, AAPI's which takes place in 2019, what does this mean care across the country. Combined with the legislative day planned for next month on for the average physician practice if patients Green Card backlog consisting of more than 4 capitol and is expected to be addressed by drop their health care coverage and how will million people, AAPI members are very dozens of US lawmakers from both the major this impact premiums?" Dr. Naresh Parikh, concerned about the impact immigration parties, comes to be a vital part of AAPI's President-Elect of AAPI, asks. reform will have on the Indian American growing influence and having its united voice "Now is the time to ensure our voices are community." heard in the corridors of power. "We are heard on these vital issues. Additionally,those Dr. Samadder pointed to Medicare and excited to announce that our next Legislative with good contacts with their own Medicaid Reimbursements. He said, "These Day is on April 12th on capitol Hill in congressman, should reach out to his/her programs have not kept up with the cost of :"We are excited to announce that our next Washington, DC," said Dr. Gautam Samadder, office and ask them to join us at our program care and the growing populations utilizing Legislative Day is on April 12th on capitol Hill President of AAPI. in the Rayburn Building, banquet room B-338, them. It is critical that Congress review in Washington, DC," said Dr. Gautam "Our daytime program begins at 09:00 am between 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. If your reimbursement schedules; otherwise, patients Samadder, President of AAPI and will include lunch on the Capitol in the congressman would like to speak, we can may not be able to find a physician in their million people. Because the percentage of Rayburn Building. We will conclude in the arrange their participation," Dr. Ashok Jain, community who accepts Medicare and/or baby-boomer generation doctors (55 and older) afternoon, giving participants the BOT chair, said. Medicaid patients. rose from 27 percent to 34 percent during this opportunity to meet their own Congressman According to AAPI Legislative Chairman, AAPI has been urging the Congress to enact time, the Association of American Medical on their own time. That evening, we are Dr. Vinod K. Shah, AAPI's legislative Tort Reform: In order to reduce the practice of Colleges (AAMC) predicts that America will planning for a reception and dinner with initiatives for 2017-18 include, addressing defensive medicine, bring down the overall need 90,000 physicians by 2020, Dr. Ashok Jain, several dignitaries at the Indian Embassy," Physician Shortage, and urged the Congress cost of health care, and limit the number of said, the number of physicians needed by 2025 summarized, Dr. Samadder. to increase Residency Positions across USA. meritless lawsuits, tort reform will bring according to the AAMC will reach a Describing that AAPI is a non-political "Our nation is currently experiencing a fairness into the court system and better staggering 130,000. One way to address this umbrella organization which has nearly 90 physician shortage, which will be exacerbated serve both the doctor and patient shortage is to increase medical school class local chapters, specialty societies and alumni by retiring baby boomers. The result of such a communities. sizes to meet this future health care need. This organizations. Almost 10%-12% of medical shortage may affect thousands of patients' issue is vital as it pertains to health care students entering US schools are of Indian access to a physician, and ultimately the AAPI supports federal and state legislation reform, as more physicians will be needed to origin. AAPI represents the interests of over health care they need. The only way to that places effective caps on non-economic provide quality health care to our nation's 60,000 physicians and 25,000 medical students address this future crisis is to increase the damages, limits the use of joint-and-several uninsured patients. and residents of Indian heritage in the United number of residency positions available for liability, provides physicians with flexibility "In order to raise our voices together and to States, Dr. Samadder, a prominent physician future physicians to get trained, so that our to negotiate settlements with medical have our voices heard on Capitol, Hill, we look with decades of service to the country, said, nation can effectively manage the need for insurers and further limits the statute of forward to seeing you on Capitol Hill on "The mission AAPI, the largest ethnic increased patient care. Increasing the size of limitations for filing medical malpractice Thursday, April 12th, for our Legislative Day," organization of physicians, is to provide a medical school classes is not enough. There claims. Dr. Samadder added. For more information forum to facilitate and enable Indian must be a simultaneous increase in the size of Pointing out that from 1980-2005, while on AAPI and its programs and initiatives, American physicians to excel at inpatient residency positions to train these future medical school enrollment remained flat, the please visit: www.aapiusa.org care, teaching and research, and to pursue doctors. As Congress capped the number of U.S. population increased by more than 70 (Based on a Press Release) Hindus commend Emory University for Ramayana exhibition curated by students ATLANTA (TIP): "Tell the Whole Story from Beginning to End:" The Ramayana in Indian Painting- exhibition has been launched at Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University (Carlos Museum), which will continue till May 20. Claimed to be first-of-its kind art exhibit which was curated, organized and researched exclusively by Emory students; uniting artwork and classwork; in the class "The Art of an Hindu Epic"; which was taught by professors Ellen Gough and Marko Geslani from Emory's Department of Religion. The paintings in this exhibition are University in Atlanta (Georgia), one of the reportedly dated between the 17th and 19th The paintings in this exhibition are reportedly dated world's leading research universities, was centuries, including "The Coronation of founded by Methodists (university maintains Rama" (1840). Students included Darby Caso, between the 17th and 19th centuries, including "The a formal affiliation with the United Methodist Parth Goyal, Kristin Kimberlain, Saayli Coronation of Rama" (1840). Students included Darby Church) in 1836. It serves about 15,252 Kokitkar, Marshall Kupka-Moore, Elizabeth students with about $5.4 billion annual Muse, Thomas Shen, Tarun Swaminathan; Caso, Parth Goyal, Kristin Kimberlain, Saayli Kokitkar, operating budget and has been ranked among most of whom had little background in art Marshall Kupka-Moore, Elizabeth Muse, Thomas Shen, top in most beautiful campuses and happiest history; reports suggest. Tarun Swaminathan; most of whom had little background colleges. Dr. Claire E. Sterk is the President, Hindu statesman Rajan Zedcommended while Robert C. Goddard III is its Trustees Emory University for highlighting Hindu in art history; reports suggest. Chair. heritage through Ramayana exhibition. Hinduism, third largest religion of the Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal focused classes and exhibitions, thus sharing Carlos Museum, founded in 1919, "collects, world, has about 1.1 billion adherents and Society of Hinduism, urged major rich philosophy-concepts-symbols-traditions- preserves, exhibits, and interprets art and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There universities of the world; including Harvard, art of this oldest religion with the rest of the artifacts from antiquity to the present". Its are about three million Hindus in USA. Oxford, Stanford, Cambridge, Princeton, UC world. If they needed any assistance, he or collections include some 17,000 artifacts. Ramayana, a narrative poem of about 25,000 Berkeley, Yale, Columbia, Toronto, Tokyo, other Hindu scholars would gladly help, Zed Bonnie Speed is the Director. slokas beginning in BCE period is divided into Melbourne, etc.; to frequently offer Hinduism added. Internationally recognized Emory seven kandas. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 US 5 TRIBUTE TRUMP SETS NOV 11 ASDATE FOR MILITARY PARADE No Heavy Tanks, but heavy air component STAR SCIENTIST WASHINGTON (TIP): President Trump is believed to have decided on the date of his Parade. HAWKING It is Nov 11 or Veteran's Day. However, according to a Pentagon memo, the spectacle won't include JOINS THE STARS tanks, to "minimize the damage done to local President Trump wants a military parade infrastructure," Al which outshines all parades and displays the Jazeera reported. might of USA Trump asked the Pentagon to plan a parade in February after he visited France in July for Bastille Day festivities. Per the Pentagon memo, which released on Friday, March 9, the parade will travel from the White House to the Capitol in Washington D.C. Instead of tanks, the show will end with a "heavy air component," which will incorporate older aircraft. While the memo didn't reveal the parade's cost, it did mention that it will "highlight the evolution of women veterans from separate formations in World War II to today's integrated formations." Military parades are unusual in America; the last time we had one was in D.C. in 1991, after the Gulf War. That parade cost $8 million and would cost considerably more today. According to White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, Trump's goal is to have "a celebration" of the military. People have criticized Trump for the idea, comparing the parade to those that occur in China and North Korea. And speaking of North Korea: A couple of days after news broke that Stephen Hawking died Wednesday, March 14, at the age of 76 from complications due to amyotrophic lateral Trump wanted to plan a military parade, Kim Jong-Un executed his own sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease on Feb. 8, the eve of the opening ceremony of South Korea's Winter Olympics. Kim's celebration included troops, missiles, and tanks, the erhaps by now, Stephen Hawking, who spent a lifetime studying physics and cosmology, has already entirety of which traveled to Kim II Sung Square in a large unlocked the mysteries of the universe. That is, if we go by the theory of God's existence and the common choreographed military display. An estimated 50,000 people assembled P belief that we get to meet the Creator after death. Or, perhaps, he's nothing now, after having lived for 76 to watch the parade, 13,000 of which were troops. years. That is, if we go by Stephen Hawking's conviction that the brain is akin to a computer and you just cease to exist when its parts fail. There is no heaven or afterlife. So, how did the universe come into being? Professor Hawking believed: "Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something." Both points of view are contd from page 4 unsubstantiated. The curiosity to fathom the depth of the universe has been eternal: where do we come from? It is this quest to know why the universe is as it is and why it exists that had led Hawking to trailblazing Indian Origin Jay Shetty Goes to... breakthroughs in the deep dark world of the cosmos. He earned a name for himself in the scientific community that often regarded him in the same league as Newton and Einstein. This distinction came from the British pregnant with Kairav, our younger son, that we would save our child's professor's theoretical prediction that black holes are not so dense that things cannot escape their gravity, thus cord blood. Then towards the end of the pregnancy in 2015, I got in touch debunking the earlier theory on these objects. Scientists christened the thermal radiations theoretically with Duke University and they were planning on doing a sibling cord emanating from the black holes as "Hawking radiation". To explain the origins of the world, the physicist blood therapy trial", said Jay's mother Shilpa. worked on uniting two theories: theory of relativity (the nature of space and time) and quantum theory (how She and husband Raj had the umbilical cord blood of their younger the smallest particles in the universe behave). The common man connected with Hawking's book, A Brief child frozen and stored by UK-based blood bank Cells4Life. History of Time (1988), that delves into the ways of the space without jargon. It is an enduring bestseller. Umbilical cord blood is rich in a kind of stem cell that can, in theory, Hawking became a star, with the brilliance of his mind that dazzled, more so because it incredibly overcame help heal most parts of the body, either by stimulating growth or by a debilitating progressing disease; one that left him wheelchair-bound and paralyzed for most of his life. A true transforming into the required type of mature cell. tribute to the genius who pushed the limits of widely accepted truths about our universe as also the daunting These can then be put back into the body, even many years later. It diagnosis would be to follow his advocacy: use technology towards a more equitable world order. Meanwhile, the relies on a close tissue match for the recipient, to lower the odds of the eternal question remains: Where do we come from? (Tribune, India) body rejecting it. When the Shettys contacted Duke University, they were told that Kairav's blood was a match for Jay's raising the prospect of the UK's first such sibling cord blood therapy on Jay. Mohajirs welcome India's statement in UN Human Stem cell is a cure for some and improvement for all, so we are pretty sure it will definitely have some improvement in Jay's life, said Shilpa. rights session: Nadeem Nusrat The family from Maharashtra, who have been based in London for over 15 years, are determined not to be put off by some dissenting voices WASHINGTON DC (TIP): community while highlighting Karachi ' Campaign has been within the medical community who cast doubts on the rare procedure. Mohajirs have welcomed India's persecution of ethnic groups in drawing world's attention towards According to Shilpa, because it is not an invasive therapy , they want statement in United Nations human Pakistan. More than 25,000 innocent the state atrocities of Pakistan on to go into it with a positive nothing to lose attitude. rights session on state atrocities Mohajirs have been brutally killed Mohajirs, Balochs, Pashtuns and It is in its early stages and it has always been the norm that people committed by Pakistan in Sindh, in Army and para military other religious minorities. will doubt treatments which have not been proved yet. But stem cells in Baluchistan and KPK. This was said operations in Karachi since 1992. Nusrat said that ' Free Karachi ' general after years of proven research are known to have the ability to in a statement sent to The Indian Enforced disappearances, team is approaching international reach the damaged organ and regenerate new cells, she said. Panorama on March by Nadeem abductions and extra judicial community, lawmakers, decision Claudia Rees, Operations Director at Cells4Life, describes the Nusrat, Spokesperson of ' Free killings are on the rise in Pakistan's making bodies, human rights procedure as a cutting-edge treatment , considered a cornerstone of a Karachi ' Campaign and former port city of Karachi since the latest groups and is getting tremendous relatively new area of science known as regenerative medicine. Convener of MQM. phase of operation in 2013. support from all quarters. Stem cells and cord blood have already been used to cure diseases Nadeem Nusrat said that the Highlighting the issue of Nadeem Nusrat urged all the such as leukemia, lymphoma and testicular cancer; in the near future it inclusion of the name of Sindh in terrorism, Mr. Nusrat said that major regional powers of South is likely that these treatments will provide hope for common and often India's statement on human rights religious extremism, fanaticism Asia and international powers to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer's and violations is an important and and terrorism is being nourished by put pressure on Pakistan to end diabetes, said Rees. encouraging development for 70 the state of Pakistan which has put crimes against humanity in Jay will be in the US for the treatment for a week and undergo million Mohajirs. peace and security of the region at Karachi and urban centers of Sindh rehabilitation in the UK after the cord blood transfusion procedure. The The people of Karachi and Urban stake. Pakistani soil has been used along with Balochistan, KPK and family have managed to raise nearly 26,000 pounds through fundraising Sindh are grateful to Indian to plan and launch major terror FATA. to assist with the massive costs involved. government for raising voice on the attacks in the region. The providers ' Free Karachi ' Campaign was Jay cannot express and communicate much but we are pretty sure he plight of Mohajirs in Pakistan. and facilitators of terror launched on January 15th on the knows what's going on as he is pretty bright. Nusrat further said that Sindh, sanctuaries in Pakistan must be eve of Martin Luther King Day to Kairav is two and half, so doesn't know much. But he knows a lot of especially Karachi and Urban hold accountable by United Nations raise global awareness on human travelling revolves around Jay for therapies. So, he is used to it, said centers of Sindh province had been and all peace-loving Nations. rights violations in Karachi and their mother, who believes even a small improvement in Jay's quality of neglected previously by world He further added that ' Free Urban Sindh. life as a result of the therapy would be a success story for their family. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 6 INDIA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 RAHUL MAY UNVEIL BLUEPRINT UTTAR PRADESH BY-ELECTION FOR CONGRESS REVIVAL AT THREE-DAY PLENARY Samajwadi Party wins Yogi

NEW DELHI (TIP): Is the Congress ready to shed its status quoist tag and take hard Adityanath’s Gorakhpur, UP CM decisions as it prepares to fight a rampant BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections? The answer may lie in Rahul says result ‘unexpected’ Gandhi’s choice of candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha LUCKNOW (TIP): Delivering a major home in the bypolls. elections. blow to the BJP, the Samajwadi Party SPs Pravin Nishad defeated Upendra Selecting the “right” won Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha Dutt Shukla of the BJP by 21,961 votes in candidates for the Rajya seats in Uttar Pradesh by-election. Gorakhpur, a seat which had been with Sabha elections was a key test Samajwadi Party's Nagendra Pratap the BJP since 1989. Nagendra Pratap for the 47-year Gandhi, who took over the reins of the grand Singh Patel defeated BJP's Kaushlendra Singh Patel of SP cornered the Phulpur old party from his mother Sonia Gandhi two months ago . Singh Patel by 59,613 votes in Phulpur. In seat, drubbing the saffron partys Gandhi nominated local leaders as the party’s candidates, Yogi Adityanath's bastion, SP's Praveen Kaushalendra Singh Patel by 59,460 votes. ignoring, in the process, some well-entrenched Congressmen. Kumar Nishad defeated BJP's Upendra As the results of the two by-election The move has rekindled hopes among Congress workers that Dutt Shukla by 21000 votes. were declared yesterday, Adityanath said Gandhi may be willing to take tough decisions in the party’s Gorakhpur and Phulpur are high- there was a "lesson" to be learnt from the interest. profile constituencies as both the seats outcome, and cited over-confidence and Sonia Gandhi would try not to antagonise the “Delhi were represented by BJP's firebrand the inability to understand the coterie” and at times ignore the aspirations of regional leader and current UP Chief Minister implications of the pact between SP and leaders. Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief BSP as the prime reasons for the BJPs “Rahulji’s decision to field local leaders in Rajya Sabha Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya elections were held this year has sounded defeat. elections has gone down well within the rank and file. It respectively. Adityanath represented alarm bells in the party in Uttar Pradesh UP Congress spokesperson Ashok marks a significant shift in the party’s policies when it comes Gorakhpur five times in the Lok Sabha, ahead of the 2019 Parliamentary polls, Singh told PTI the outcome had to rewarding hard working local workers,” senior Congress and it went vacant in 2017 when he was while stoking speculation about the brightened the prospects of the leader from Bihar Kishore Kumar Jha said. elected to UP Assembly to take over as Opposition stitching an alliance together formation of a "maha gathbandhan" “I am confident this will also check the growth of the Chief Minister of the state. to take the BJP on after tasting success in (grand alliance) ahead of the 2019 polls to paratroopers and opportunists who seek all the benefits and In 2014, BJP had won both the seats the recent bypolls. defeat the saffron party. then desert the party at critical times. The move will also with over 3 lakh vote margin. In The BJP failed to break the jinx of "We will ponder seriously about a encourage regional leaders to put in more effort on the Gorakhpur, BJP's Yogi Adityanath had repeated failures in Parliamentary by- larger alliance keeping the next Lok ground and work for the party’s revival across the country,” defeated SP's Rajmati Nishad by 31,2783 elections in 2018 when it was defeated Sabha polls in mind," he said. he added. votes. And in Phulpur, BJP's Keshav yesterday in Gorakhpur, the bastion of The Congress had contested the 2017 Commenting on Rahul’s style of functioning, Sonia Prasad Maurya defeated SP's Dharam Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and UP Assembly polls jointly with the SP Gandhi said last week at an event that every person has a Raj Singh Patel by 3,08,308 votes. Phulpur, earlier held by deputy Chief and might want to tackle the polls particular style of working. Source: HT However, currently the BJP is trailing Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. together next year, too, another senior on both the seats. Ten candidates are in The ruling partys candidates in the party leader told PTI, requesting that he Media should not act like popes fray from Gorakhpur and 22 candidates two constituencies lost to the Samajwadi not be named. contested from Phulpur. Party (SP), triggering a debate on The outcome of the March 11 bypolls sitting on pulpit delivering ALARM BELLS IN BJP whether political outfits opposed to the has sparked talk in political circles about BJP could forge a mega alliance before a continuing pact between the SP and the sermons: CJI Dipak Misra The defeat of the Bharatiya Janata the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. BSP -- once bitter critics in Uttar Party in all six Lok Sabha seats where by- The SP, supported by the BSP, romped Pradesh. NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court today heard a petition filed by journalist Rohini Singh for the news website The Wire seeking quashing of the defamation proceedings against the website initiated by Jay Shah. During the hearing the court called for greater YSR Congress gives notice for responsibility from the press and media. The case pertains to an article published by the website against Jay Shah, son of BJP president Amit Shah. The article raised questions on the no-confidence motion against govt disproportionate rise of Jay Shah's company's income in the past two years. NEW DELHI (TIP): For the first time The defamation case is currently pending at a in its term, the Narendra Modi magistrate court. government may face a no-confidence The Supreme Court has not technically granted a stay motion on the floor of the house. as Jay Shah's lawyers assured the court that they won't Andhra Pradesh’s YSR Congress Party proceed with the case at the magistrate court till the led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, has given a Supreme Court is seized of the matter. The case is due to notice to move a no-confidence motion be next heard on April 12. against the government in the Lok Sabha During the hearing Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra over the issue of not giving the so-called said that a section of the media and especially "some “special category” status to his state. But electronic media channels" have become "popes sitting before any vote takes place, the notice TDP leaders hold placards and shout slogans demanding special status for Andhra on pulpit delivering sermons". needs the support of 50 MPs ‘in an orderly Pradesh, during the ongoing budget session at Parliament House in New Delhi. The court said it did not wish to name the channels but house’. It is not clear the notice will get motion. Later, Andhra Pradesh chief Parliament might adjourn sine die early their conduct has been against the culture of journalism. that. minister N Chandrababu Naidu too said in the wake of disruptions. With a comfortable majority in the the TDP would support the no-confidence It has also suggested that its MPs will CBI registers fresh case related house, the government is safe and will motion. quit from Lok Sabha at the end of the cruise through, even if the motion is “We will support a no-confidence session if the demands are not met. to Rs 9 cr fraud at PNB branch admitted. The move is however expected motion, whoever moves it. We will be The budget session is scheduled to end to hasten the exit of The Telugu Desam ready for that and our 16-17 MPs will fully on April 6. The Congress, with 48 MPs, and NEW DELHI (TIP): The CBI has registered a fresh case Party (TDP), which pulled its ministers support that. We will cooperate with the Trinamool Congress, with 34, were yet relating to “fraudulent” issuance of Rs 9 crore of LoUs to out of the Bharatiya Janata Party led whoever fights for the state’s rights,” to take a call on the no-confidence motion Chandri Papers and Allied Products by PNB’s Brady House government, from National Democratic Naidu told the state assembly,according to late on Thursday. “We will firm up our branch, at the centre of a storm over a similar fraud by Alliance. The YSRCP has nine MPs, but PTI. YSRCP MP YV Subba Reddy strategy by Friday morning,” Congress’ jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. four have defected, leaving it with an submitted a notice with the Lok Sabha chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Retired PNB employee Gokulnath Shetty and single- effective strength of five; the TDP has 16 secretariat, desiring to move a no Surjewala said. A TMC leader said the window operator at the branch, Manoj Kharat, who are MPs, and it can’t risk not supporting a confidence motion on Friday. Reddy has YSRCP had not reached out to the party facing the CBI probe in the Modi-Choksi case, had been motion that purportedly has the state’s also written a letter seeking support from yet. The Biju Janata Dal is unlikely to booked by the agency in the fresh FIR registered by it, the best interests in mind. all non-NDA parties. The party initially support the notice. A party leader said, “It officials said. The agency had also named the company and TDP MP Thota Narasimham told PTI planned to the motion on March 21, but is for a parochial issue. We may not its directors as accused in the case, they said. that the party will also support the advanced it amid apprehension that support it.” THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 INDIA 7 PAK CALLS ENVOY HOME, Kejriwal apologises to Majithia over INDIA SAYS ROUTINE

NEW DELHI (TIP): The bickering between India and drugs charge; AAP’s Punjab leaders Pakistan over alleged harassment of each other’s diplomats took a new turn after Islamabad called its High term it ‘meek surrender’ Commissioner home for NEW DELHI (TIP): Delhi Chief consultations, which was termed Minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 15 by India as “routine” and apologised to former Punjab minister “normal”. Bikram Singh Majithia for making Pakistan said it has called "unfounded" allegations against him home its envoy Sohail Mahmood over his involvement in the illegal drug for consultations after repeated Sohail Mahmood trade. incidents of “harassment” of its Majithia, a senior Shiromani Akali diplomatic staff in New Delhi. Dal leader, had filed a criminal External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar defamation case against Kejriwal and said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was also two other AAP leaders for allegedly facing a “litany of issues” that have not been resolved for "tarnishing" his reputation by levelling several months. "false, baseless and malicious charges". “It is pretty normal and routine for any country to call its Following the apology, Majithia has envoy for consultations,” Kumar said. Source: PTI decided to withdraw the court case against him. Arvind Kejriwal Bikram Singh Majithia DHINAKARAN NAMES PARTY However, the "meek surrender" drew flak from AAP Punjab unit leaders who multi-million rupee drug racket. as Kejriwal has sought apology. I have AFTER JAYALALITHAA termed Kejriwal's step a "letdown". Majithia, who was once probed by the asked my counsels to withdraw the AAP leaders in New Delhi, however, ED in connection with the alleged Rs defamation case. Person makes mistake MADURAI (TIP): Rebel said the move was to shed court cases, in 6,000 crore money laundering drugs and with the grace of God, if I have the AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran which the party convenor finds himself racket case, had often been at the ability to forgive and I will forgive," the on March 15 floated a new mired, and hinted that a similar course receiving end of Kejriwal's ire during the SAD leader said. political party — Amma Makkal could be adopted in the defamation case AAP convenor's rallies in Punjab in the Majithia had filed a defamation case Munnetra Kazhagam — named filed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. run-up to the Assembly election last year. against Kejriwal and Ashish Khetan in after late Tamil Nadu CM J Kejriwal apology Drug abuse was a major issue in the May 2015. Jayalalithaa. high-octane Punjab Assembly elections "I had said from the beginning that “From today, we will function "In the recent past, I made certain last year and Kejriwal, who was leading either he will say sorry or he will go to with a name to retrieve the great statements and allegations against you the AAP charge, accused Majithia, then a jail. Sending someone to jail is not my movement of AIADMK from the regarding your alleged involvement in minister in the state government, of intention," he asserted. betrayers,” Dhinakaran told a drug trade. These statements became a being involved in narcotics trade. It is indeed a historical moment that a gathering on the occasion, challenging the ruling political issue. Now I have learnt that Majithia had denied the charges sitting chief minister has submitted a dispensation in the state. Dhinakaran and his followers often allegations are unfounded," Kejriwal against him. written apology in court withdrawing all use the word “betrayers” to refer to the ruling AIADMK in said in a letter addressed to Majithia. In May 2016, he filed a criminal statements he made against me,"said Tamil Nadu, led by CM K Palaniswami and his deputy, O "I hereby withdraw all my statements defamation case against Kejriwal, Sanjay Majithia. Panneerselvam. The party’s name roughly translates to and allegations made against you and Singh and Ashish Khaitan. The SAD leader said although it was “Amma’s party for people’s development”. apologies for the same," the Aam Aadmi Majithia said Kejriwal, Singh and "very torturous journey" for him as he Source: PTI Party (AAP) chief said. Khaitan have "made it a habit" to target battled the allegations. "The AAP, The damage caused to your esteem, their political opponents by resorting to however, did not benefit as their Judgement in fourth fodder the hurt caused to you, your family, statements "filled with lies with the sole candidate lost his security forfeited in friends, well-wishers, followers and the motive of hoodwinking the people". my constitutency," he said. scam against Lalu deferred loss caused to you is regretted, he said. "I will not let anyone besmirch my and Majithia said the entire controversy Former Punjab minister Majithia family's honour. Anyone doing so will had taken a toll on his mother because RANCHI (TIP): The judgement in the fourth case of claimed he was grateful that truth had have to face the consequences. I am she could not understand this kind of multi-crore fodder scam against former Bihar chief won and Kejriwal had realized his determined to make them face trial and politics. ministers Lalu Yadav and Jagannath Mishra was deferred on mistake. Since the AAP leader had be punished for their misdeeds," the "My wife also went through a difficult March 15 by a CBI special court after the RJD leader's counsel "tendered his apology", he did not want minister had said. phase, I thank the almighty that this filed a plea. to pursue the defamation case filed Majithia 'accepts' Kejriwal's apology chapter has ended and truth has No date has been fixed yet for the pronouncement of against him, Majithia said. prevailed," he said, adding, "If my two judgement in the case which is related to fraudulent Accusing Majithia of playing with the Talking to reporters, Majithia said he little kids were asked in school that your withdrawal of Rs. 3.13 crore from Dumka Treasury. youth of Punjab by "unleashing narco- had accepted the apology. father does such things, you can imagine Special CBI Judge Shiv Pal Singh put off the judgement in terrorism in the state," Kejriwal had "I thank Kejriwal for showing what could have been my position. What view of the counsel for Lalu Yadav on Wednesday filing a once declared that he would "drag" the greatness in seeking apology for his answer I could have given to them." AAP petition under 319 CrPC, asking that the then three officials then Punjab cabinet minister "by his remarks made against me. I have told my leader Ashish Khetan had apologized as of the Accountant General of Office in the 1990s be made a collar" to jail for his alleged role in a lawyers that from our side, this case ends well, he added. party to the case under 319 CrPC. Two more Bills passed in Lok Sabha amid din

NEW DELHI (TIP): The Lok Sabha (LS) The LS had also passed three Bills – on March 15 passed two Bills on minority Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill 2010, educational institutions and energy Employees State Insurance (Amendment) conservation without discussion amid Bill 2009 and the Clinical Establishment ruckus over Trinamool Congress MP Sudip (Registration and Regulation) Bill 2010 – Bandopadhyay’s allegedly un-parliamentary without discussion on Monday,as the MPs of remarks against Basudeb Acharya of the the AIADMK and other opposition parties CPI (M). created ruckus over alleged corruption in With the protesting leftist MPs staging a allocation of 2G Spectrum. sit-in-demonstration in the well of the “This is murder of democracy,” the BJP House and demanding apology from MPs, led by Gopinath Munde and Shah Bandopadhyay; the National Commission Nawaz Hussain, shouted slogans as the Bills for Minority Educational Institutions on minority educational institution and (Amendment) 2009 and Energy energy conservation were passed without Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2010 were discussion on Tuesday. put to vote and passed. The BJP MPs Speaker Meira Kumar requested the Left protested the way the Bills were passed MPs to maintain order in the House, but without any discussion. they did not relent. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 8 EDITORIAL FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 GUEST AS I SEE IT COMMENT Democracy put to test: Change in Rex Tillerson sacking: Rexit and beyond paradigms of contemporary polity More proof that propriety, protocol, punditry “The debate now veers around the reliability of the EVMs. Would they be the determinant no longer hold sway in the U.S. of victory rather than public's will? Two recent books and a Belfer Center, Harvard administration Kennedy School, report on the risks to democratic elections of cyber attacks and ven by his standards for unexpected information operations raise some uncomfortable questions. How Democracies Die by diktats, U.S. President Donald Trump's By KC Singh Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt and People v. Democracy by Yascha Mounk debate the Edecision to fire his Secretary of State, direction of democracy globally. The lessons apply to India under Modi". Rex Tillerson, and replace him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo, came out of the blue. hile Prime Minister Narendra Modi Mr. Tillerson, who was the CEO of ExxonMobil accompanied visiting French Corporation before taking up the role, did not WPresident Emmanuel Macron on the agree with Mr. Trump on fundamental policy Ganges at Varanasi, at times hand-in-hand, for matters, the President said. This is widely seen an iconic view of the Ghats, India hovered over as an allusion to Mr. Tillerson's preference, multiple domestic inflexion points. While contra-Trump, for diplomacy as a means of agreements were signed with France for defusing the North Korean crisis. Also implied strategic engagement, either by "reciprocal was a widening chasm between the two men on logistics" to enable mutual utilization of the merits of the Iran nuclear deal. With Mr. military facilities in the Indian Ocean or by Tillerson's departure, the number of senior advancing opaque defense purchases like the officials exiting the Trump administration after Rafale deal, or the kick-starting of the stalled a little more than a year has reached at least 24. giant nuclear project at Jataipur, promising Less than a week before the long-rumored untested EPR design reactors; farmers "Rexit", White House Chief Economic Adviser marched, many barefooted and hungry,towards Gary Cohn, formerly a Wall Street banker, quit the center of India's financial capital Mumbai. People's voice In India, as across the world, democracy as a concept is losing favor. his post over his opposition to Mr. Trump's Rural India, where still a majority of Indian proposal to levy hefty steel and aluminum voters reside, was signaling that India could not subtler. The elected leader debases state casting. One, is optical scanners (OS), where tariffs. And, less than a week before Mr. Cohn, become a great power by lopsided growth and institutions by weakening the judiciary,putting voters cast a ballot by traditional pen and paper, White House Communications Director Hope mere promises of achhe din. compliant appointees in control of the Election or electronic ballot marking device, and then, Hicks resigned after admitting to a The Modi government has, at best, just a year Commission, handing over investigative the ballot is run through scanning machines. Congressional panel investigating Russian left or less, if early Lok Sabha elections are held, agencies to reliable and ruthless protégés for Thus, while an electronic tabulation is retained influence on the 2016 election that she had in tandem with the crucial state elections, due targeting businessmen and opposition figures, in the machine, so are the original paper ballots occasionally told "white lies" on Mr. Trump's by December, in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh emasculates Parliament by negating its checks as physical record for subsequent audit or vote behalf. Rumors now swirl that National and Chhattisgarh, where the BJP faces anti- and balances. Intelligence agencies are co-opted verification. Two, is direct recording electronic Security Adviser H.R. McMaster may also soon incumbency. But the Modi slogan of a or devalued, as Trump does regularly, and (DRE), as is done in India with option, as now be ousted. The question at this point is: does the corruption-free India is no longer paraded. The media bought or bludgeoned into submission. proposed, of voter-verified paper audit trail existing coterie of senior White House officials Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi duo fleeing after The Mounk book explores flagging interest in (VVPAT). The problem is that the test audit of enjoy the confidence of their President to a swindling Punjab National Bank of over Rs democracy amongst youth and the millennials. VVPATs by the Election Commission is of small sufficient magnitude as to ensure that policies 13,000 crore have dented the government's While 71 per cent of those born in the 1930s in samples and in a few constituencies. can be executed in a meaningful way? reputation. A photo of Nirav amid top Indian Europe and the US value living in a democracy, The Belfer report concludes that "voting In one sense, there does not appear to be businessman with PM Modi, and a video with only 29 per cent of those born in the 1980s are so machines can be compromised via physical cause for alarm over the incessant departures prominent jewelers where the PM identifies inclined. In fact, a quarter of the millennials tampering (including using removable media) from the White House. It is quite possible that "Mehul Bhai" by name while speaking, are seen think democracy is a bad way to run a nation. In or through external connectivity (e.g. WiFi)". It Mr. Trump has used his first year in office to as clues to their coziness with the regime. polls in India, there is a tendency to favor recommends that the OS method is safer than consolidate his vision and attract the right The BJP's poor performance in the recent authoritarian rulers, something that feeds the DRE machines, including with VVPATs. talent to realize his governance paradigm, bypolls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and even Modi's persona as a leader unmatched by his This is a matter that needs debate in India, as a essentially rooted in a nationalistic, or Uttar Pradesh fuel the debate that the re- peers. Social media algorithms entrap users in second time, after Indira Gandhi in the 1970s, a "America First", world view. Take the case of election of Modi, taken as a given months ago, vacuum chambers of similar prejudices and powerful Prime Minister is bending institutions Mr. Pompeo: he is far more aligned with Mr. may no longer be certain. The debate now veers thus curtail debate. The leaders use the reach of to his own will. Therefore, the integrity of the Trump's hawkish approach towards the Kim around the reliability of the EVMs. Would they Twitter and Facebook to perpetuate their electoral process needs to be not only Jong-un regime than Mr.Tillerson was. There is be the determinant of victory rather than skewed thoughts and browbeat opponents safeguarded against the slightest doubt, but also a case to be made that Mr. Trump's hardline public's will? Two recent books and a Belfer directly, or by their armies of bots. President done so publicly. stance is what is ultimately bringing the North Center, Harvard Kennedy School, report on the Donald Trump routinely terms independent The next year is critical for Indian Koreans to the negotiating table. Mr. Tillerson, risks to democratic elections of cyber attacks news outlets as "fake news". A former Indian democracy, as indeed the idea of India as insistent on talks, was likely to have been an and information operations raise some Army Chief, and now minister of state in the enshrined in the Constitution. While in 1975-77, impediment to this strategy. The deeper uncomfortable questions. How Democracies Die Modi government, coined the phrase when the Emergency was declared, the world message is that the liberal order of the Obama by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt and "presstitutes". As Rudyard Kipling wrote: "For was still mired in Cold War and democratic rule years is gone. Propriety, protocol and punditry People v. Democracy by Yascha Mounk debate the colonel's lady and Judy O'Grady, Are sisters had not flowered globally. Now even the US and no longer hold sway - Mr. Trump had no quarrel the direction of democracy globally.The lessons under their skins". It seems so are the new breed its Western allies are casting doubts on the with Mr. Tillerson over the Secretary leaving apply to India under Modi. of populist, rabble-rousing politicians across all efficacy of its functioning. President Xi Jinping numerous senior State Department posts Levitsky-Ziblatt argue that in the 21st century continents. having seized almost total power from the party vacant, but only cared about the top diplomat's democracies are endangered, not so much by The Belfer report is more worrisome as it and the military posits the Chinese model of concurrence with his strategy. The President military coups, like in the 20th century South reflects a debate in India that the AamAadmi economic success via authoritarian structures. will likely apply this principle - and find himself Asia, or by younger hereditary rulers in the Party initiated but was ignored - the possibility Can India keep the flame of democracy and the right people - in other policy areas as well, Gulf or by clerical rule (supreme leader in of integrity of EVMs being compromised - and liberalism alive in Asia as a counterpoint? That such as trade and immigration. Nations that Iran), but the election of populist autocrats. The thus the electoral process itself getting is the drama that is about to unfold in coming engage with America may glean valuable playbook is old, as Mussolini and Hitler also highjacked by the ruling party. In the US, the year. lessons from this churn. took the electoral route, albeit laced with threat states have greater control over the electoral (The author is a former Secretary, Ministry of of street violence, but the methodology is now process, but two methods are used for vote (The Hindu) External Affairs) THE INDIAN PANORAMA PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER: Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja Mohammad Shahzad, Zia Khan DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: Ashishpal Singh E-mail [email protected]; Phone: 646-247-9458 VICE PRESIDENT: Chitagam Saluja Nisha Rani CHANDIGARH: Manjit Sidhu www.theindianpanorama.news CHIEF EDITOR: Prof Indrajit S. Saluja Vaaho Photographers LUDHIANA: A.S. Arora, R.P.Sharma Published by Prof. Indrajit Saluja ASSISTANT EDITOR: Bidisha Roy Vijay Shah -Photo Journalist. GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Om Parkash Malik DISTRIBUTOR : Sukhwinder Singh The Indian Panorama DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATION: Gauri Beri CORRESPONDENTS : P.O. 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THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 PERESPECTIVE 9 THE FRENCH CONNECTIONS The Macron visit underlined the growing strategic convergence that draws India and France together ith French President Emmanuel Macron's recent visit to India, the WIndia-France Strategic Partnership launched in 1998 seems finally to have come of age. In these two decades, both sides have gradually enhanced cooperation in diverse By Rakesh Sood fields covering civil nuclear, defense, space, counter-terrorism, education, research and development in science and technology, culture, urban development, climate change, trade and economics and people-to-people contacts. The slew of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding signed, the detailed 'joint statement' and accompanying 'vision statements' on cooperation in space and The slew of the Indian Ocean Region, the boat ride in Varanasi, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warmly reciprocated diplohugs The diplohug. Indian Prime bilateral indicate that the relationship has received a Minister hugs Modi hugs French momentum that gives it critical mass and President Emmanuel Macron agreements and greater coherence. “ A shared worldview by political considerations. The ambitious presence in Oman (Duqm) and Seychelles memoranda of As a country that has prided itself on its offset target of 50% (nearly ?25,000 crore), (Assumption Island). 'exceptionalism', France has always been properly implemented, can help in building up The agreement on the industrial way sympathetic to similar Indian claims based on India's budding aerospace industry. forward between NPCIL and EdF affirms that understanding its ancient civilization. This is why both In the nuclear field, an agreement was work at Jaitapur will commence before the countries were quick to voice support for signed about a decade ago for building six EPR end of 2018. Equally significant are the two global multi-polarity once the Cold War ended. nuclear power reactors with a total capacity of agreements signed between EdF and other signed, the detailed French discomfort with the U.S.'s unipolar 9.6 GW for which negotiations have been French entities and L&T and Reliance, moment in the 1990s was evident when it ongoing between the Nuclear Power respectively, reflecting the engagement of 'joint statement' and described it as a 'hyperpower'. Corporation of India (NPCIL) and Areva, and Indian industry. Defense cooperation with France began in the now EdF. Terror strikes in France in recent Trade has grown in recent years but at $10 1950s when India acquired the Ouragan aircraft years by home-grown terrorists have enlarged billion is half of the trade with Germany. The accompanying and continued with the Mystères, Jaguar the scope of counter-terrorism cooperation to signing of nearly $16 billion worth of (Anglo-French), Mirage 2000, Alizè planes and include cyber security and discussions on agreements at the business summit indicates the Alouette helicopter. Joint naval exercises, radicalization. that private sectors in both countries are 'vision statements' later christened Varuna, date back to 1983. Even though these areas provided a robust beginning to take notice. There are nearly 1,000 Cooperation in the space sector has basis for engagement, it remained primarily at French companies present in India including on cooperation in continued since the 1960s when France helped a government-to-government level. In recent 39 of the CAC 40 while over a hundred Indian India set up the Sriharikota launch site, years, it was clear that for a wider partnership, businesses have established a presence in followed by liquid engine development and strengthening business-to-business and France. In the past, Indian companies saw the space and the hosting of payloads. Today, it is a relationship people-to-people relationships was essential. U.K. as the entry point for Europe; now with of near equals and the 'vision statement' refers Climate change and renewable energy Brexit approaching, Mr. Macron has cleverly to world class joint missions for space resources, particularly solar, soon emerged as pitched that India should look at France as its Indian Ocean situational awareness, high resolution earth a new plank, reflected in the multilateral entry point for Europe and Francophonie! The observation missions with applications in initiative of the International Solar Alliance. flagship program of Smart Cities in which Region, the boat meteorology, oceanography and cartography. Another area identified was urban planning France is focusing on Chandigarh, Nagpur and Inter-planetary exploration and space and management of services like housing, Puducherry is taking shape as more than half transportation systems are cutting edge transport, water, sanitation, etc. using the the business agreements signed related to ride in Varanasi, and science and technology areas that have also public private partnership model which the electric mobility, water supply, waste been identified. French have employed successfully. Mr. management and smart grids. Yet the Cold War imposed limitations on the Macron's visit has enabled progress to be Educational links Prime Minister partnership. After the Cold War, France registered across a variety of sectors decided that its preferred partner in the including the strategic partnership areas. Potentially, the most significant was the Narendra Modi's Indian Ocean Region would be India. In There has been a growing convergence of focus on youth and student exchanges. January 1998, President Jacques Chirac interests in maritime cooperation. Like India, Currently about 2,500 Indians go to France declared that India's exclusion from the global France has expressed concern about China's annually to pursue higher education, warmly reciprocated nuclear order was an anomaly that needed to growing presence in the Indian Ocean Region. compared to more than 250,000 from China. A be rectified. After the nuclear tests in May 1998 French overseas territories in the Indian and target has been set to raise it to 10,000 by 2020. when India declared itself a nuclear weapon the Pacific Oceans provide it with the second The agreement on mutual recognition of diplohugs indicate state, France was the first major power to open largest exclusive economic zone globally.It has academic degrees and the follow-on dialogue and displayed a far greater long maintained bases in Reunion Islands and Knowledge Summit, where 14 MoUs between that the relationship understanding of India's security Djibouti and established one in Abu Dhabi in educational and scientific institutions were compulsions compared to other countries. It 2009. This regional dimension is reflected in signed, is a welcome move. was the first P-5 country to support India's the Vision Statement on cooperation in the Tourism is another area that has received has received a claim for a permanent seat in an expanded and Indian Ocean Region. attention. A target of a million Indian tourists reformed UN Security Council. The signing of MoUs regarding the and 335,000 French tourists has been set for Building a partnership provision of reciprocal logistics support to 2020. Given that France receives over 80 momentum that each other's armed forces, exchange and million tourists a year and India around nine With the establishment of a Strategic reciprocal protection of classified information million, these targets may seem modest but gives it critical mass Dialogue, cooperation in defense, civil nuclear, and developing shared space studies and reflect that while there are only about 20 space, intelligence sharing, and counter- assets for maritime awareness provide the flights a week between India and France, there terrorism has grown. An agreement for basis on which to strengthen joint naval are four times as many to Germany and 10 and greater building six Scorpène submarines in India exercises. With the U.S., naval cooperation has times as many to the U.K. with French help was signed in 2005. Similarly, been easier with the Pacific Command which The Strategic Partnership has already technology sharing, and acquisitions of short covers China and the region up to the Bay of created a solid foundation; other aspects have coherence", says range missiles and radar equipment were Bengal but more difficult with the Central now received the much needed focus and with concluded. Joint exercises between the air Command which covers western Indian Ocean proper implementation, it can add to the the author. forces and the armies were instituted in 2003 and the Arabian Sea because of Central growing strategic convergence that draws and 2011, respectively. The government-to- Command's privileged relationship with India and France together. government agreement for 36 Rafale aircraft, Pakistan. Therefore, strengthening (The author is a former Ambassador to France salvaged out of the prolonged negotiations for cooperation with France, particularly in the and currently Distinguished Fellow at the the original 126 which were at an impasse, was western Indian Ocean Region makes eminent Observer Research Foundation. E-mail: as much driven by technical requirements as strategic sense even as India develops its [email protected]) THE INDIAN PANORAMA 10 WORLD FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 UK, US, France, Germany jointly condemn chemical attack on ex-spy Theresa May visits city where LONDON (TIP): The leaders of France, Germany, Britain and the United States issued a joint statement on Russian double agent was poisoned Thursday condemning a chemical attack on a Russian former double agent in England and blaming Moscow for it. SALISBURY (TIP): British Prime Moscow has denied any responsibility for the attack on Minister Theresa May visited Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Britain has expelled Salisbury on March 15, the elegant 23 Russian diplomats, and Moscow is expected to retaliate. cathedral city which became the "We, the leaders of France, Germany, the United States unlikely backdrop to a chemical attack and the United Kingdom, abhor the attack that took place against a Russian former double agent against Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, UK, on 4 this month. March 2018," the statement said. Dominated by its 13th Century "This use of a military-grade nerve agent, of a type cathedral with England's highest spire, developed by Russia, constitutes the first offensive use of a Salisbury has witnessed dramatic nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War. scenes since the attack as soldiers in "It is an assault on UK sovereignty and any such use by a chemical suits and gas masks conduct State party is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons forensic searches. Convention and a breach of international law. It threatens Dozens of passersby and the security of us all." schoolchildren crowded outside the The four nations called on Russia to provide full and city's Guildhall to get a view of May as complete disclosure of its Novichok nerve agent she met emergency service workers, programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of police and local politicians. Chemical Weapons (Reuters) Most locals who have spoken to reporters have welcomed her tough Slovak Prime Minister Fico stance against Russia in the affair but some worry about the effect on tourism health, then there's a little bit, then it's around, but she hasn't," said Samantha resigns, successor named and possible lingering health dangers. 'make sure you wash everything'." Smith, 22 who works for a product Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter FALLING TRADE design firm in Salisbury. BRATISLAVA (TIP): Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico Yulia, 33, were found unconscious on a May said her visit was to thank resigned on March 15 after more than two weeks of political bench outside a shopping centre on Several local traders have noticed a emergency and health services and turmoil and public protests sparked by the murder of an March 4 after being exposed to what the drop in custom since the incident and reassure the public about their safety. investigative journalist in late February. British authorities have identified as a May made a point of meeting some of "It's been great to meet some tourists President Andrej Kiska accepted Fico's resignation at a military-grade, Soviet era Novichok them. here in Salisbury, people coming to ceremony and mandated his deputy, Peter Pellegrini, to nerve agent. They remain critically ill She visited a small clothes boutique, Salisbury, still enjoying this great city," form a new government. (Reuters) in hospital. speaking to shop owner Sarah Haydon, she said. The pair had visited a pizzeria and a who welcomed her arrival. Sergei Skripal, a former colonel in China ramps up security pub before collapsing and although "We just need people to come back to Russia's GRU military intelligence officials have said there is no public the city," Haydon told reporters after service, betrayed dozens of Russian presence in Tajikistan: Report health danger, they have advised May had left. "I love the city and we spies to British intelligence before he anyone who was in the vicinity to wash should promote that the city is fine." was arrested in Moscow in 2004. BEIJING (TIP): An independent think tank says China's their clothes and clean all jewellery, May has blamed President Vladimir He was given a lengthy jail term in military is ramping up its security presence in Tajikistan mobile phones and spectacles with Putin for the attack and on Wednesday 2006 but was released four years later with troop deployments amid fears that militants based in antiseptic wipes. announced Britain would expel 23 as part of a swap for 10 Russian spies nearby Afghanistan could strike at western China. "I don't think these things can ever be Russian diplomats she said were caught in the United States. The International Crisis Group said in a report investigated quickly, but there's sort of intelligence agents. Russia denies any Since arriving in Britain, he had Wednesday that China has deployed soldiers and built a mixed messages," said Tommy Roberts, involvement. lived modestly in Salisbury, keeping "counter-terrorism center" in Tajikistan near the three-way 50, who runs a nearby bar and hotel. "I was surprised at how tough she's out of the spotlight until earlier this border of Tajikistan, China and Afghanistan. "First there is no risk to the public been. I though she might pussyfoot month. (Reuters) China has repeatedly warned about ethnic Uighur militants who have left their homeland in western China to join extremist groups such as the Turkistan Islamic Party,a predominantly Uighur group that has bases in Syria and Afghanistan and is allied with al-Qaida and the Taliban. German President Steinmeier to The Chinese defense ministry did not immediately respond to a fax seeking comment. (AP) Turkey raps European visit India from March 22 NEW DELHI (TIP): German Parliament over call to halt Afrin President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will visit India from March 22 to 25 with an offensive in Syria aim to strengthen bilateral ties. It will be his first visit to India as the ANKARA (TIP): Turkey slammed a motion approved by German President. the European Parliament on March 15 that calls for a halt to "The visit is significant as it will be Ankara's military offensive in northern Syria's Afrin the President's first visit after the new region, saying it demonstrated "clear support" for militants. German government was sworn in The non-binding motion also urges Turkey to remove its yesterday," External Affairs Ministry troops from Afrin, where Ankara is targeting the Syrian Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. Kurdish YPG militia in an offensive launched nearly two Apart from his engagements here, months ago. The Parliament's motion stressed "the need to Steinmeier, who will be accompanied by focus on defeating the U.N.-listed terrorist organisations", a a delegation of top German reference to Islamic State and other militant Islamist businessmen and indologists, will visit groups operating in Syria. Turkey considers the YPG a Varanasi and Chennai. terrorist organisation that is a Syrian extension of the He had visited India several times in outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged his former capacity as the Foreign a three-decade against the Turkish state. The PKK is Minister and Vice Chancellor of deemed a terrorist organisation by the European Union and Germany. the United States as well as by Turkey. The last German President to visit "The latest decision is the most visionless decision the India was Joachim Gauck in February a statement. Germany is India's largest was USD 18.76 billion. In 2016-17, India European Parliament has taken in recent years... Calling on 2014. trading partner in Europe and the sixth exported goods worth USD 7.18 billion to Turkey to withdraw its troops is a clear support for "India's relationship with Germany is largest trading partner in the world. Germany and imported goods worth terrorist organisations," Turkey's minister for EU affairs, amongst our foremost relations, India was ranked 24th in Germany's USD 11.58 billion. Omer Celik, told reporters. Turkish President Tayyip bilaterally and in global context. After global trade. "India's current priorities Germany is the 7th largest foreign Erdogan also dismissed the motion. "Don't get your hopes having established strategic partnership in most areas match with German direct investor in India and the up, we will not leave there until the job is done. The since 2000, successive governments on expertise, such as renewable energy, cumulative German FDI in India from European Parliament has nothing to say to Turkey and the two sides have endeavoured to skills development, smart city,water and April 2000 to December 2017 is USD 10.71 whatever it has to say on this issue will go through one ear broaden and deepen this relationship," waste management," the MEA said. billion or 2.91 per cent of total FDI, and out the other," he said. (Reuters) the Ministry of External Affairs said in In 2016-17, the bilateral trade turnover according to official figures. (PTI) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 WORLD 11 Saudi Arabia crown prince says Vladimir Putin rides ‘Russia First’ will develop nuclear bomb if wave towards election victory Iran does

MOSCOW/YEKATERINBURG: RIYADH (TIP): Saudi Arabia will develop a nuclear (TIP)) - Russian voters are set to propel bomb if its arch-rival Iran does so, the kingdom’s 32-year- Vladimir Putin to another term as old crown prince said in a preview of a television interview president in an election on Sunday, released on Thursday. giving him credit for standing up for “Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear Russia against Western governments bomb, but without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear that view him as a dangerous autocrat. bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible,” Prince Opinion polls show Putin, 65, with a Mohammed bin Salman told CBS in an interview that will commanding election lead, all but air on Sunday. guaranteeing him another term that will The kingdom, locked in a tussle for influence with Iran take him to nearly a quarter century in across the Middle East and beyond, is stepping up plans to power — a longevity among Kremlin develop a nuclear energy capability as part of a reform leaders second only to Josef Stalin. plan led by Prince Mohammed to reduce the economy’s The only thing that could dampen dependence on oil. Putin's poll triumph is if voter apathy at The United States, South Korea, Russia, France and a predictable contest leads to a low China are bidding on a multi-billion dollar tender to build turnout, or if the minority of Russians Saudi Arabia’s first two nuclear reactors. who vocally oppose him take to the The world’s top oil exporter has previously said it wants streets to protest against what they see elected president in 2000, support of 69 followers over official corruption, is nuclear technology only for peaceful uses but has left as an undemocratic farce. percent. His nearest rival Pavel pushing an election boycott. unclear whether it also wants to enrich uranium to In an election campaign where Putin Grudinin, the Communist Party's "Our boycott campaign is working," he produce nuclear fuel, a process which can also be used in has benefited from glowing coverage on candidate, is on just 7 percent. said this week. As evidence, Navalny the production of atomic weapons. mainstream television, he has cast Another candidate, Ksenia Sobchak, a pointed to a drive by officials to The government approved a national policy for its himself as the only person who can TV presenter and family friend of Putin, encourage people to turn out to vote by atomic energy program on Tuesday, including limiting all defend Russia's national interests in a has upended expectations by robustly offering discounted food at polling nuclear activities to peaceful purposes, within the limits hostile world. criticising the Kremlin, but she has only stations. He also said state officials were defined by international treaties. "We will withstand this onslaught," 2 percent support, the same survey applying pressure on civil servants and Reactors need uranium enriched to around five percent Svetlana Andrus, a ribbon round her showed. students to vote. purity but the same technology in this process can also be neck in the colours of the Russian flag, Kremlin officials acknowledge that BURDENS OF OFFICE used to enrich the heavy metal to a higher, weapons-grade said during a rally in Moscow in support Putin's dominance could turn people off level. This has been at the heart of Western and regional of Putin. "We will support our country voting. A low turnout would dent his Though winning another term is concerns over the nuclear work of Iran, Saudi Arabia’s and Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin)." legitimacy within the ruling elite, virtually assured, governing Russia for arch-rival which enriches uranium domestically. (Reuters) Putin's supporters point to Russia's founded in part on his ability to another six years will throw up plentiful military intervention in Syria and its command popular support. challenges. Iran and Russia sign deal to annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region In Yekaterinburg, an industrial city in Buffeted by lower oil prices and the in 2014 as proof of his patriotic the Ural mountains, unemployed 38- effect of Western sanctions, Russia's develop two oilfields - Iranian credentials. They say US and European year-old Sergei Khaziev described the gross domestic product expanded by sanctions imposed over the Ukraine election as a "circus performance which only 1.5 percent last year, well below the state TV crisis are a price worth paying. for some reason is described as robust growth Russians had come to A row with Britain over allegations elections... I won't turn out this time." expect in the earlier years of Putin's BEIRUT (TIP): Iran and Russia signed a deal on the Kremlin used a nerve agent to poison The first politician in years to rule. Wednesday to develop two oilfields in Iran, according to a Russian double agent in a sleepy challenge the Kremlin's grip on power, Putin has spoken of the need to revive Iranian state TV. English town — denied by Moscow — Alexei Navalny, is not on the ballot. He economic growth but the steps that The National Iranian Oil Company signed a deal with has not dented his standing. was barred because of a corruption many economists prescribe - especially Russia's Zarubezhneft to develop the fields, according to BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN conviction he says was fabricated by the shrinking the state's role in the economy SHANA, the news site of the Iranian oil ministry. Kremlin. - are resisted by those in the president's The Aban and Paydar-e Gharb fields are both in western A March 9 survey by state-run pollster Navalny, who uses social media to circle who owe their status and wealth to Iran and jointly owned by Iran and Iraq, according to VTsIOM gave Putin, who was first whip up anger among his mainly young the state (Reuters) SHANA. Their combined oil output is currently 36,000 barrels per day. The 10-year agreement is intended to boost the production of the fields to 48,000 bpd. The fields are Wang Yang elected chief of China’s expected to produce 67 million barrels of oil during the ten years, SHANA reported. Zarubezhneft has an 80 percent share in the deal and its Iranian partner, Dana Energy, the remaining 20 percent. top political advisory body The cost of developing the fields is estimated at $674 million, with an additional $68 million in indirect costs, BEIJING (TIP): Vice Premier Wang to the powerful Standing Committee, according to SHANA. (Reuters) Yang was on March 14 elected as the which rules China, were part of what chairman of China's political advisory was previously stated to be collective South Korea fuel oil imports body - the National Committee of the leadership system. Chinese People's Political Consultative However, CPC's leadership soar as coal, nuclear plants shut Conference (CPPCC). orientation has changed this month The CPPCC is largely a ceremonial with elevation of Xi as the core leader by SINGAPORE/SEOUL (TIP): South Korea’s move to body of over 2,100 members who the CPC, making him a leader ranked shut coal-fired generators to control air pollution at the included film star Jackie Chan. It meets above others in the party. same time as nuclear reactors are going into scheduled annually once along with the rubber- Xi further consolidated his hold on maintenance is resulting in surging fuel oil imports, as stamp parliament, the National People's March 11 when the NPC ratified a utilities burn the dirty feedstock to meet power demand. Congress (NPC). Both are currently constitutional amendment to remove South Korea’s trade ministry said in February it would under session. two-term limit for the president. suspend five coal-fired power plants, with a combined Wang, 63, was elected to the powerful This made Xi as the only leader after capacity of 2.32 gigawatts (GW), from March to June, part seven member Standing Committee of party founder Chairman Mao Zedong to of a broad campaign to reduce pollution. the ruling Communist Party of China continue as China's leader for life. That plan may backfire, at least in the short-term. A cold (CPC) during the once-in-a-five-year Wang's appointment to head the winter has raised power and heating demand, forcing Congress of the party last October advisory body was seen as further utilities to burn more fuel oil in order to meet demand. apparently with the support of the consolidation of power by Xi in CPC's A by-product of the crude oil refining process, fuel oil’s group belonging to former Chinese hierarchy. biggest use ahead of power generation is as a shipping fuel. President Hu Jintao. NPC is set to ratify the names of all “In the near-term, fuel oil imports will increase to make Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, 64, who member Han Zheng, 63, is reported to top positions in the next few days. up for the shortfall in coal-fired generation capacity,” said is ranked second in the leadership have been backed by another former While Xi was expected to remain head Pat Markey,managing director of consultancy Sierra Vista hierarchy after President Xi Jinping, too president, Jiang Zemin, 91. of the CPC, the military and presidency, Resources. Fuel oil imports by power producers into Asia’s belonged to Hu's group of Chinese Both Hu and Jiang retired but Premier Li who maintained a low profile fourth largest economy have jumped to 200,000 tonnes in Communist Youth League. continue to have support base in CPC. in the last five years was expected to March so far, up from 92,000 tonnes in February,tender data Another Standing Committee Li, Wang and Han who were all elected retain his post. (PTI) compiled by Reuters showed. (Reuters) THE INDIAN PANORAMA 12 BOLLYWOOD FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 RICHA CHADHA TO PLAY ADULT FILM STAR SHAKEELA IN BIOPIC

PARINEETI CHOPRA REFUTES CLAIMS OF SIGNING HOUSEFULL 4 ollywood actor Parineeti Chopra has put an end to the speculations doing rounds Bthat she will be a part of the next instalment in the Housefull franchise, Housefull 4. In her tweet, the Ishaqzaade star rebuked the tabloid which released the story speculating her involvement in the movie and tagged its Twitter handle. ctor Richa Chadha will play the and will chronicle the life of Shakeela fanfare as a woman which back then was The 29-year-old actress’ official spokesperson role of real-life adult film star who entered the film business at the age unheard of," said a spokesperson for also negated the claims, “Parineeti Chopra A Shakeela in her biopic which will of 16 and traces her life journey from Richa. hasn’t been approached for Housefull 4. So the be directed by Indrajit Lankesh. there. "The film's script was exciting and is a rumours doing the rounds are absolutely Shakeela is one of the biggest stars of "The film is the story of Shakeela, one great story to tell and the story will make untrue”. the 90s from Kerala and has acted in of the most famous actors from for a great watch for the audience. The Despite the mix-up, Parineeti has a good line- several adult films in languages spanning Malayalam cinema from the 90s who rose preparations will begin soon and the film up of films in her future. She will be soon seen Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. to a spectacular amount of fame. Her fans should be going on floors in end April or in Namaste England, Sandeep Aur Pinky The film will go on floors next month were spread across Asia and she earned May," he added. Source: PTI Faraar, and Kesari in the near future. Source: ANI JACQUELINE FERNANDEZ LEARNS MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FOR RACE 3 Sonam Kapoor’s ‘The Zoya

ollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez is going through an Factor’ to release in April Bextensive training in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to shoot action sequences in ctress Sonam Kapoor-starrer 'The Zoya her upcoming film Race 3, opposite Salman Factor' is scheduled to release on April 5 Khan. Anext year. The project will also feature Talking about her training, her fitness Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan. trainer Kuldeep Sashi said: “Jacqueline is The two actors will be seen together for the someone who has an athletic body type, so screen adaptation of Anuja Chauhan's best-selling she does not require any special regime to novel by the same name. Sonam announced the tone up herself. However, as a requirement news on Twitter on Tuesday along with a to her character, she is undergoing photoshoot image. extensive MMA training, focusing towards "Super happy to be a part of this unique story kicking and punching.” 'The Zoya Factor' an adaptation of Anuja “The action sequences that Jacqueline Chauhan's bestseller. Releasing on April 5, 2019! has to perform are very demanding. They Directed by Abhishek Sharma, co-starring require application of the right Dulquer, Fox Star Hindi, Adlabs Films," she posted. techniques. As she has never performed In the photograph shared by Sonam, she and hand-to-hand combat or martial arts action sequences she has to deliver Dulquer are posing with a copy of the novel with before, getting the style and techniques onscreen.” the name of their characters mentioned on it. right is our only focus.” The upcoming schedule of the film will Dulquer also shared the image with the caption" Her diet has also changed. Kuldeep said: be shot in mid-March in Abu Dhabi. "Now this one is really special for me! Introducing “There has been a lot of additions to Race 3, being produced by Salman Khan 'The Zoya Factor', a movie based on Anuja Jacqueline’s diet. She is consuming more and directed by Remo D’Souza, is slated to Chauhan's bestseller. calories these days owing to the extensive release on June 15. Source: IANS Source: IANS THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 HOLLYWOOD 13 MILEY CYRUS SUED FOR $300 MILLION FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING ‘WE CAN'T STOP’ iley Cyrus was sued for $300 million on Tuesday by a Jamaican Msongwriter who said the pop singer's 2013 smash "We Can't Stop" closely resembles a song he recorded 25 years earlier, and that she is infringing his copyright. Michael May, who performs as Flourgon, said his 1988 song "We Run Things" has been "a favourite for lovers of reggae music worldwide" since reaching No. 1 in his home country, and that about 50 percent of MICHELLE COLLINS HATES "We Can't Stop" comes from him. He accused Cyrus and her label RCA BEING CALLED COUGAR Records, owned by Sony Corp, of misappropriating his material, including ritish actress Michelle Collins, 56, said the phrase "We run things. Things no run she hates being labelled a 'cougar' over we," which she sings as "We run things. Bher relationship with Mike Davison, who Things don't run we." is 22 years her junior and is tagged her 'toyboy'. Representatives for Cyrus, 25, did not Collins has been dating Davison, 34, for over immediately respond to requests for five years. comment. A spokeswoman for Sony did not Reportedly, she expressed his angst to Daily immediately respond to a similar request. Star about it. May said he sought to protect his work She said: "Mike is 22 years younger than me last year with the US Copyright Office, and and I'm regarded as a predator. It drives me in November won "formal copyright mad. People call him my toyboy beau. He's protection" for all musical arrangements in nearly 35, for God's sake. He turned to me the "We Run Things." other day and said, 'Surely I'm not still your He said Cyrus' song "owes the basis of its toyboy, am I?' chart-topping popularity to and its highly- "I laugh about it now but it is annoying. And I lucrative success to plaintiff May's hate that word cougar. I can't stand it. I find it so protected, unique, creative and original demeaning. A cougar is a predator going around content." looking for young flesh. I'm certainly not like The Kingston, Jamaica resident is also that. But then, women are judged far more seeking a halt to further sales and harshly than men. And, funnily enough, often performances of "We Can't Stop," according by other women. to his complaint filed with the US District "If people think I look old enough to be his Court in Manhattan. mum then let them! There's nothing I can do While the complaint did not specify about it. It's one of the downsides, I suppose, of damages, May's lawyers in a press being in the public eye." statement described it as a $300 million Collins also questioned the double standards case. Hot 100 in August 2013. of a high-profile copyright case over its when it comes to age-gap relationships, saying "We Can't Stop," from Cyrus' album It was kept from the top by Robin resemblance to a 1977 Marvin Gaye song. that no one questions when the man is older "Bangerz," peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Thicke's "Blurred Lines," itself the subject Source: Reuters than the woman. Source: IANS IT DRIVES ME NUTS WHEN PEOPLE Cameron Diaz not retiring TELL ME TO RELAX: ANGELINA JOLIE ctor Angelina Jolie said she does not take time out to relax and gets irritated when from acting Apeople ask her to do so. The 42-year-old actor-director said many ctress Cameron Diaz is not mothers, like her, "find pleasure" in being on retiring from the world of their toes most of the time. Aacting. "I really don't (relax). I'm one of those people. It The news was confirmed by a drives me nuts when people tell me to relax. I publication which had taken her think a lot of moms don't really rest. And spokesperson's interview earlier. somehow we find a real pleasure in that. In an interview, Diaz's "I mean, even if I try to take a bath, I'll end up spokesperson Selma Blair had with at least two of my kids in there with me, joked that Diaz was done with which is lovely. I wouldn't trade it at all," Jolie acting. It was taken seriously by told HELLO! magazine. many as Diaz has not been seen in The actor said, as a parent, she believes a single movie in the last five empathy is the most important lesson that needs years, reports metro.co.uk. to be taught to children. Blair made a clarification about "To value others. If you live life and walk her statement via a tweet. around thinking of yourself and your own needs The post read: "Breaking news. and desires then not only is it a selfish life, but it Guys please, I was making a joke ends up being quite an unhappy life, I imagine. "If you can value others, I think things in an interview. Cameron Diaz is And that's where everything goes wrong. The naturally balance out in your own life. When you not retiring from anything. And wars and hostility, the ugliness and inhumanity don't live with ignorant perceptions and that for more breaking news -- I am in this world comes from this lack of being able smallness, you open up in a beautiful way," she now retiring from being Cameron to have real empathy for someone else. said. Source: PTI Diaz's spokesperson." THE INDIAN PANORAMA 14 SOUTH ASIA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 Chahbahar and Gawadar are sister CHINA GIVES RS 48 MILLION ports: Pakistan ASSISTANCE TO NEPAL ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan today said Chahbahar and Gawadar are sister ports and KATHMANDU (TIP): China today agreed complement each other in promoting future to provide Rs 48 billion assistance to Nepal for trade, transit and connectivity. development, including post-disaster recovery Chahbahar, the port in the Sistan- plan for the strategic Tatopani border point Balochistan province on the energy-rich that was damaged in a devastating nation's southern coast is easily accessible earthquake in 2015. from India's western coast and is China and Nepal have been stepping up increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's efforts to improve road connectivity while Gwadar Port, which is being developed with speeding up plans to build a railway line Chinese investment and is located at distance connecting to Nepal's border after a Transit of around 80 kms from Chabahar. Trade Treaty was signed in 2016 with Beijing. Foreign Office spokesman Dr Muhammad The Government of China has agreed to Faisal said Chahbahar and Gawadar are extend the assistance to Nepal for the projects sister ports and complement each other in on post-disaster recovery for Tatopani border promoting future trade, transit and point, the hospital reconstruction in connectivity. Sindhupalchowk and reconstruction of Jiri "Our Minister of Maritime Affairs Secondary School, the Nepal's Ministry of participated in the inauguration of a part of Finance said in a statement. the Chabahar port. We will continue to work The Tatopani border point, a major trade with Iran for deepening connectivity route between Nepal and China, has remained between the two ports," he said. closed since the 2015 earthquake, that killed The spokesman also said Iranian Foreign nearly 9,000 people and injured nearly 22,000, Minister, who visited Islamabad this week, after it suffered massive damage. discussed the idea of Iran's participation in Since Tatopani could not function, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. (PTI) Kerung port, also known as Rasuwagadhi, has governments. the building and establishment of protection been in operation for the cross border trading "I am confident that the economic measures, so that trade clearance capabilities Pakistani court charges and tourism. cooperation between Nepal and China will would be improved. The project includes repairing of buildings, help especially to overcome our In Sindhupalchowk, a middle-sized hospital deputy minister for establishing protection measures to prevent infrastructure bottleneck and improve equipped with facilities like 39 beds capacity from secondary disasters, including debris connectivity," Adhikari said. would be constructed and the school insulting judges flow and landslide, and improving trade "The Chinese government has been making reconstruction is aimed at recovering and clearance capabilities. positive effort to reopen the Tatopani port. We improving school facilities and functions. ISLAMABAD (TIP): A Pakistani court The Chinese government has pledged to will carry out work of disaster treatment and Post earthquake, China had pledged to help has charged the country's deputy interior provide Nepalese Rupees 48 billion in grants road repair on the Chinese side. Considering Nepal with post-disaster reconstruction in minister with insulting judges and set a for the purpose and an agreement was signed the construction of border inspection station, five areas - infrastructure, livelihood recovery hearing date for his testimony later this was signed today, the Ministry said in a both the countries have been discussing in hilly regions, cultural heritage renovation, month. The official, Talal Chaudhry, pleaded statement. reconstruction of the border bridge," Yu was capacity building of disaster prevention and not guilty during an appearance before the Finance Secretary Shankar Prasad quoted as saying by China's state-run Xinhua health. court on Thursday. Adhikari and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal news agency. Till now, 22 China-Aid projects have been Chaudhry is alleged to have insulted Yu Hong signed the agreements on behalf of For the resumption of the border point, the already initiated and are in the process of judges in a speech he made after the judiciary the government of Nepal and the Chinese budget would be used for the renovation of implementation. (PTI) disqualified former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office last July. The court set a hearing for March 27 for Sri Lanka lifts ban on Bidya Devi Bhandari Bangladesh court Chaudhry to testify. Sharif, dismissed for concealing financial assets abroad, has also Facebook after re-elected President sentences 39 ruling party criticized judges but his criticism has not led to any indictment so far. He is currently assurance from social of Nepal activists to death facing trial on corruption charges. The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicted another KATHMANDU: Nepal's first woman DHAKA (TIP): A court in southeastern official, Minister for Privatization Danyal media giant president Bidya Devi Bhandari was on Bangladesh today sentenced to death 39 activists Aziz, in a contempt case for making critical COLOMBO (TIP): The Sri Lankan Tuesday re-elected for a second term in of the ruling Awami League for brutally killing a speeches against judges. (PTI) government today lifted a week-long ban on office. fellow local level party leader four years ago. access to the Facebook, after officials from Incumbent President Bhandari Ekramul Haque, the upazila Awami League 7 killed in blast near the US social media giant agreed to step up defeated Nepali Congress leader Kumari president, was hacked, shot and burnt alive by efforts to remove hate speech posted on its Laxmi Rai with an overwhelming miscreants inside his car in broad daylight in Sharif's residence in platform during the anti-Muslim violence in majority in the presidential election. Feni town's Academy area on May 20, 2014. Kandy district. Bhandari, 56, won since her "The court handed down the death penalty to Pakistan The government imposed a state of nomination was backed by the ruling 39 people in this single case," a prosecutor told emergency March 6 and blocked Facebook, Left alliance of the CPN-UML and CPN PTI over telephone from Feni. LAHORE (TIP): A powerful blast tonight WhatsApp and other social media sites (Maoist Centre), the Sanghiya "All the convicts were local leaders and near the residence of Pakistan's ousted following anti-Muslim violence in the Samajbadi Forum-Nepal and other activists of Awami League," he added. prime minister Nawaz Sharif here killed at island's central hills Kandy and Ampara fringe parties. He said the district judge's court, however, least seven persons, including three districts. She became Nepal's first woman acquitted 16 people, one being a local leader of policemen. The blast took place close to a It restricted the use of social media after president in 2015. the main opposition BNP, though initially he police check post, a few kilometers from the police claimed that they were being used to With 148 lawmakers in the Federal appeared to be the prime accused in the case. palatial residence of the Sharif family and spread hatred against the minority Parliament and 243 in Provincial Haque's brother Rezaul Haque Jasim had filed close to the congregation of the Tableeghi community. Assemblies, the CPN-UML commands a the murder case accusing BNP leader Minar and Jamaat. "Seven persons have been killed in The nationwide restrictions, however, on total vote of 23,356. 30-35 unidentified people. the blast. Some seven policemen among the image and video sharing on messaging apps CPN (Maoist Centre) has 65 A total of 44 arrests were made over the years 20 or so suffered injuries. The condition of WhatsApp and Viber were lifted yesterday. lawmakers in parliament and 108 in and 15 of them confessed in court. (PTI) four policemen is stated to be critical," President Maithripala Sirisena ordered provincial assemblies, which account No need to extend 'State of Rescue 1122 spokesman Jam Sajjad told PTI. the telecom regulator to lift the ban following for 10,319 votes. He said the Rescue ambulances are talks between the government, led by his The Nepali Congress, which has 76 Emergency' in Lanka: Govt shifting the injured to the Sharif medical Secretary and head of the seats in parliament and 113 in provincial COLOMBO (TIP): The Sri Lankan complex and other nearby hospitals. Telecommunications Regulatory assemblies, has a total vote of 11,428. government is unlikely to extend the 10-day Deputy Inspector General Police Lahore Commission Austin Fernando and Facebook As Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal nationwide state of emergency imposed after Dr Haider Ashraf told reporters that three officials here. and other fringe parties also deciding to communal riots erupted in Kandy district, as no policemen were among the dead. "The "My secretary has discussed with officials support Bhandari, she could easily fresh incidents of violence has been reported condition of some policemen is critical," he of Facebook, who have agreed that its garner 26,921 votes for her re-election. from anywhere in the country, the new Law and said. "It is not confirmed yet whether it was a platform will not be used for spreading hate An electoral college, including Order Minister has said. suicide blast or planted device," he said, speech and inciting violence," the president, members of parliament and provincial Also, the government said that the restriction adding "police personnel" were the target of who is currently touring Japan, said on assemblies, will vote in the election. on the use of social media, including the the blast. (PTI) Twitter. (PTI) (PTI) Facebook would lifted by Friday. (PTI) THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 TRAVEL 15

xploring the rare wildlife in Indian woods has its own glee. From the regal beasts to Ethe sweet chirping avifauna, the verdant beauty of this glorious country embraces everything that can rejuvenate and galvanise the senses of a nature aficionado. The national EXPLORE THE parks in India are certainly wonderful for wildlife buffs to scout the engrossing exquisiteness of nature. All the protected regions in the country have beautiful vistas to offer. However, some of these WILDLIFE KINGDOM protected areas are bejewelled with a number of inimitable features that make them unique. Here are some unique national parks of India that are popular among wildlife enthusiasts and nature buffs. HEMIS NATIONAL PARK This high altitude national park is located in eastern Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. The north of this protected area is enclosed by the banks of the Indus River. The area is an abode to an immense population of snow leopards. It does not receive heavy amount of precipitation; therefore, the flora present in the park comprises arid woods of juniper, birch, fir, and Populus-Salix. Apart from snow leopards, the flora includes bharal, argali, Asiatic ibex, Eurasian brown bear, Tibetan wolf, red fox, etc. The Hemis National Park is the second largest contiguous protected region of the country after the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. The park incorporates a trekking route that is one of the prime attractions for tourists. The factor that draws wildlife lovers the most is the sight of snow leopards. There are around 200 snow leopards in the region and witnessing them amid the fascinating snowy panorama gives great pleasure. SUNDARBANS NATIONAL PARK The Sundarbans National Park is a national JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK park, biosphere reserve and tiger reserve located Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest in West Bengal. The park is a part of Sundarban national park in India and was established in woods, extended on the Ganges Delta. The 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the mangrove woods cover the delta and make it endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in Nainital look verdant. The main attraction of this park is district of Uttarakhand and was named after the dense population of tigers. Apart from tigers Jim Corbett who played a key role in its that can be witnessed here, the park is also home establishment. The park was the first to come to fishing cat, macaque, leopard, Indian grey under the Project Tiger initiative. mongoose, wild boar, jungle cat, fox, pangolin, The park has sub-Himalayan belt chital, flying fox, etc. geographical and ecological characteristics. An Sundarban is one of the largest reserves for ecotourism destination, it contains 488 different tigers, boasting around 400 tigers. In 2012, the species of plants and a diverse variety of fauna. camera traps in the park snapped the picture of The increase in tourist activities, among other an unknown animal. It was a never-seen-before problems, continues to present a serious cat in Sundarbans. This cat was smaller than a challenge to the park's ecological balance. leopard and bigger than a wild cat. Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Tourism activity KEIBUL LAMJAO is only allowed in selected areas of Corbett Tiger Located in the beautiful state of Manipur, the Reserve so that people get an opportunity to see Keibul Lamjao National Park stretches over 40 its splendid landscape and the diverse wildlife. sq km of floating vegetation. Other than the rich In recent years the number of people coming topography and foliage, a major attraction that here has increased dramatically.Presently,every entices nature lovers to the park is Loktak Lake. season more than 70,000 visitors come to the It is the largest freshwater lake in the country. park. The park also embraces an immense assortment Corbett National Park comprises 520.8 km2 of exotic fauna species. The area is the preferred (201.1 sq mi) area of hills, riverine belts, marshy abode of the brow-antlered deer. The Keibul depressions, grasslands and a large lake. The Lamjao National Park is considered unique as it elevation ranges from 1,300 to 4,000 ft (400 to 1,220 is the only floating sanctuary in the world. The m). Winter nights are cold but the days are park has a 1.5-metre deep vegetation, which bright and sunny. It rains from July to keeps floating, and this floating foliage is known September. as phumdi. Dense moist deciduous forest mainly consists of sal, haldu, peepal, rohini and mango trees. MARINE NATIONAL PARK Forest covers almost 73% of the park, 10% of the The Marine National Park is located seawards area consists of grasslands. It houses around 110 from the southern coastline of the Gulf of tree species, 50 species of mammals, 580 bird Kutch. It spreads over an area of 458 sq km, and species and 25 reptile species. comprises a group of 42 islands. Few of the popular islands among them are Poshitra, KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK Pirotan, Karubhar and Narara. The exotic Kaziranga National Park is a national park in wildlife of the national park attracts every the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of nature admirer. The fauna that can be witnessed Assam, India. The sanctuary, which hosts two- It comprises 1,651 adult rhinos (663 male, 802 are Kaziranga is recognized as an Important Bird in the park includes coral lichen, sea slug, thirds of the world's great one-horned females, 186 unsexed); 294 sub-adults (90 males, Area by BirdLife International for conservation painted storks, shelled molluscs, etc. This rhinoceroses, is a World Heritage Site. 114 females, 90 unsexed); 251 juveniles and 205 of avifaunal species. When compared with other national park is the first marine wildlife According to the census held in March 2015, cubs. Kaziranga is home to the highest density of protected areas in India, Kaziranga has achieved sanctuary and the first marine national park in which was jointly conducted by the Forest tigers among protected areas in the world, and notable success in wildlife conservation. Located India. The impressive sea creatures such as Department of the Government of Assam and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. The park is on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya jellyfish, octopus and sea cucumber make the some recognized wildlife NGOs, the rhino home to large breeding populations of biodiversity hotspot, the park combines high trip to the park unique and gratifying. population in Kaziranga National Park is 2,401. elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. species diversity and visibility. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 16 WOMEN FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 IT’S OKAY TO BE A LITTLE SELFISH IN LOVE ove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,it does not boast, it is not Lproud..." We’ve all heard this reading before. It is one of the most common quotes on love we often hear: "Love is patient, love is kind." Is it as true as we’ve been led to believe? Is love all of these things? Not really. Love can be impatient. Love can be jealous. Love is beautiful, but love is not How to wake up perfect. I believe love is self-seeking; love is selfish. When you love someone, you want that person to love you and only you, to with glowing skin love you fiercely and to stay forever. That sounds selfish to me. There's good Remove all that makeup selfish, and there's also too much selfish, so how do we learn what selfish should Yes, we know you have heard it before, but do you always look like? you need this, but I need something enough to admit that. remove all your makeup before you go to bed? Sleeping with SELFISH DOES NOT MEAN different." You may need to compromise. Selfish is not to be used as an excuse. makeup on your face will clog up your pores and it will cause Sometimes, you're with someone who "I need to be selfish today" should not acne and blemishes. You can’t even think of waking up to EVERYTHING IS ABOUT YOU needs very different things than you do. be a phrase used to get out of things or glowing skin, if you went to bed with your makeup still on. When you love someone or you're in a You must never ignore your own needs excuse bad behavior. Exfoliate regularly relationship with someone, you commit or give up something you need in order We cannot use selfishness when we to that person, and all of the hardships to accommodate someone else. feel like being lazy or don’t want to stick Regular exfoliation is one of the keys to glowing clear skin; that come with commitment. Other If there cannot be compromise, there to a commitment we made. If we are sick it removes dead skin cells from the surface of your skin and things can come first, but they cannot cannot be love. We cannot be completely or desperately need a mental health day, it will help to keep the pores in your skin clear. How often you always come first. There has to be a selfless. We need a little selfish in our we get to be selfish because that’s not an exfoliate will depend on your own skin type, but usually, balance. lives, too. excuse; it’s necessary. three times a week will be enough. Exfoliating your skin You have to evenly distribute your Selfish is knowing when it’s too much. Using selfish as an excuse devalues it. should make it feel soft and smooth, not sore. If your skin selfishness and selflessness when you This person lives far away and the It turns it back into the horrible trait starts to get red and sore, you are exfoliating too much. have someone who is depending on you distance is weighing down on you. This people make it out to be. Don’t taint the Wash your face both in the morning and at night to do this. You can be career-focused, but person does not value sex in a word, and try to be honorable in your you cannot be career-consumed. Careers relationship in the same way you do and selfishness. According to one survey, only around fifty percent of are important, but so is love, and a cannot give you what you need. This SELFISH IS KNOWING WHEN, women actually wash their face often enough. Wash your face balance needs to be struck between the person loves you more than you know at night, to remove any makeup residue that may be left, and two. how to love in return. MAYBE, IT ISN’T LOVE first thing in the morning, to clean up any excess oil and Love your career the way you love Selfish is knowing that sometimes, If you know you can’t see yourself sweat that may have accumulated on your skin overnight. your partner; both need a lot of there are things on which we just can’t with someone forever, for whatever the This regular routine will help you wake up with fresh and attention, but sometimes, they need compromise. We need to take care of reason may be, don’t let him or her stay. clear skin every morning. space in order to continue loving you ourselves, too. The things that have Don’t be that kind of selfish. Drink a glass of water before you go to bed back. always been important to us are If you can’t see a forever, please, let CAREER COMES FIRST ALWAYS important for a reason. We cannot give that person go go. You do get dehydrated when you sleep, and that can show those up. Everyone will see selfish the way they on your skin. Drink a glass of water before you go to bed and Selfish is not always putting someone If it’s too much, we need to want to. They will justify their that will help keep you hydrated through the night. Proper else's needs before your own. accept that. We can’t keep going if it’s selfishness away; be aware of it. Be hydration is more important for healthy looking, glowing The person you are with is so bringing us down. Someone can be so conscious of the way you are being skin than you might think. If you do become dehydrated, one important, but so are you. Occasionally, important to us, but not right for us, and selfish. Do not let it overcome you, but do of the very first things you will notice is that your skin loses you need to be able to say, "Hey, I know we need to know when to be selfish not let it leave you completely, either. some of its colour and life. FOOD CORNER MALAI KOFTA PANEER BESAN CHILLA Ingredients Ingredients 1 Cup Besan, 1/2 tsp Salt, 1 4 Large Potatoes, boiled, 250 Gram Paneer (cottage cheese), 50 tsp Black Pepper, 1 Onion, Gram Maida, 1 Tbsp Coriander leaves (chopped), 3 Onion, 1 chopped, 1/2 Cup Paneer, Tbsp Ginger-garlic paste, 2 Tomatoes, 200 Ml Malai or cream, 2 grated, 1 Tomato, 2 Green Tbsp Raisins and cashew nuts, 50 Gram Cashew nuts paste, 1/2 Chillies, 1/2 tsp Ajwain, 1/2 tsp Haldi, 1/2 tsp Red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp Kitchen king Cup Coriander Leaves, 1 Cup masala, 1 Tbsp Kasuri methi (dry fenugreek), To taste Salt, 1 Water. Tbsp Sugar Method Method Take besan in a bowl, add salt, black pepper, onion, Refrigerate the boiled potatoes for 4 to 6 hours as this Fry some onion, ginger-garlic paste and tomato paste. grated paneer, tomato, green chillies, ajwain and makes it easy to cook koftas. Mix the cashew nut paste with 2 tablespoon of warm milk coriander leaves. Mash the boiled potatoes and paneer along with maida. and pour it into the paste. Whisk all the ingredients together in the bowl along with The mix should not be too hard or too soft. Add salt, Except for kasuri methi, add all the dry masala into the water to make a mixture. chopped coriander leaves and mix well. paste and saute till the oil separates itself. Add more water to make its consistency light. Cut the raisins and cashew nuts into very small pieces Add half a cup of water and simmer the gravy till it's and add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar to the mix. done. Now take a pan and put some amount of the besan mixture to pan fry it. Heat up the oil for deep frying. Add cream/malai along with a tablespoon of sugar and Fry till it turns solid, crispy and golden brown. Roll out the balls from the dough you prepared and stuff kasuri methi. the dry fruit mix in the center.6.Fry the koftas and if they Simmer the gravy till the oil starts separating and once Put some grated paneer, onion, black pepper and break in hot oil then dust them with dry maida before it's done, put the fried koftas into the gravy. coriander leaves over. putting them in. Serve hot with chapatis. Fold it and serve hot with red chilli chutney. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 HEALTH & FITNESS 17 SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY 36 NEW GENES THAT PLAY A ROLE IN CARDIAC DISEASE esearchers have identified 36 new genes that plays a causal role in Rcardiac hypertrophy -- abnormal thickening of the heart muscle -- which can lead to heart failure. “This is an exciting direction for personalised medicine, and also for identifying genes LOW-DOSE ‘TRIPLE PILL’ and therapeutic targets for complex diseases that involve many genes,” said LOWERS BLOOD co-author of the study Alain Karma, professor at the Northeastern University. According to the Centres for PRESSURE BETTER Disease Control and Prevention, one in MELBOURNE (TIP): Triple pill' - a drug combining doses four deaths in the US each year are due of three blood pressure-lowering medications - can to heart disease. significantly increase the number of patients reaching their “The framework described in the healthy BP targets, a study has found. paper can also be used to predict Despite the availability of effective blood pressure- whether individuals suffering from a lowering drugs, high blood pressure remains a major particular disease will respond to a problem around the world, researchers said. given drug treatment,” said lead author Effectively treating high blood pressure can help to Marc Santolini, a postdoctoral research prevent heart attacks, strokes and kidney problems. associate at Centre for Complex Network Globally, however, many people with high blood pressure Research. For the study,published in the same strain and gave one of them a receive no treatment, and only about a third of those who are journal npj Systems Biology, the stressor drug that induces heart failure. They mentioned that one of them is treated achieve recommended reductions in blood pressure. researchers took an entirely different They then compared the stressed known as a transcription factor, Achieving desired reductions in blood pressure often approach -- using the Hybrid Mouse mouse’s gene expression with its non- meaning it controls the expression of requires treatment with more than one medication, which Diversity Panel, a collection of 100 stressed twin. Since the mice have the many other genes. They confirmed the increases the complexity of treatment, and patients often genetically different strains of mice that same genome, they were able to pinpoint gene’s role by using molecular biology have difficulty adhering to regimens that involve taking can be used to analyse the genetic and individual genes that changed techniques to silence it and observe the multiple pills every day. environmental factors underlying expression as a direct result of the heart resulting changes of expression. They "Most people - 70 per cent - reached blood pressure targets complex traits. Within each strain, the stressor. Among the identified 36 such found the transcription factor gene was with the Triple Pill," said Ruth Webster, from the University mice are inbred, making them all genes, many of these genes were directly connected to a whole network of of New South Wales in Australia. identical twins on a genetic level. previously unknown to be implicated in proteins known to play a role in cardiac "The benefits were seen straight away and maintained Researchers took two mice from the heart failure, the researcher said. hypertrophy. Source: IANS until six months, whereas with usual care control rates were 55 per cent at six months and even lower earlier in the trial," said Webster. mokers are at a greater risk of "Based on our findings, we conclude that this new method hearing loss, according to a of using blood pressure-lowering drugs was more effective S study. Smoking linked with and just as safe as current approaches," she said. The research was conducted on over The study was the first large trial designed to test the 50,000 participants over a span of theory that starting treatment with low doses of three drugs eight years. Researchers analysed increased risk of hearing loss could achieve better blood pressure control compared with data from annual health checkups, usual care and that combining these drugs in a single pill which included audio testing would make it easier both for doctors to prescribe treatment performed by a technician and a and for patients to adhere to it. health-related lifestyle questionnaire The trial conducted in Sri Lanka enrolled 700 patients completed by each participant. whose average age was 56 years, 58 per cent of whom were They examined the effects of women. smoking status (current, former, and Over half (59 per cent) were receiving no treatment for never), the number of cigarettes high blood pressure before they enrolled in the trial. In smoked per day, and the duration of addition to high blood pressure, 32 per cent of participants smoking cessation on the extent of had diabetes or chronic kidney disease. hearing loss. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either the While the association between combination pill or usual care. The Triple Pill consisted of smoking and high-frequency hearing the blood pressure medications telmisartan (20 mg), loss was stronger than that of low- amlodipine (2.5 mg) and chlorthalidone (12.5 mg). frequency hearing loss, the risk of These medications use different mechanisms to reduce both high- and low-frequency hearing blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels, so the heart loss increased with cigarette does not need to pump as hard to send blood throughout the consumption. The increased risk of body. Source: PTI hearing loss decreased within 5 years after quitting smoking. “With a large sample size, long PAGE SPONSORED BY follow-up period, and objective assessment of hearing loss, our study DR. SATISH AND GITANJLI ANAND provides strong evidence that smoking is an independent risk factor DR. SATISH ANAND of hearing loss,” said the study’s lead Former Chairman, Board of author Dr. Huanhuan Hu of Japan’s Trustees, AAPI National National Center for Global Health and E-Mail: Medicine. [email protected] “These results provide strong evidence to support that smoking is a causal factor for hearing loss and Research. Decreased risk of heart related GITANJLI ANAND emphasize the need for tobacco Benefits of kicking the butt problems Former President, India control to prevent or delay the Lowering risk of Age-related Association of Long Island development of hearing loss.” The Cutting down on risk of skin Macular Degeneration (IALI) study has been published in the diseases Getting back your virility E-mail: journal Nicotine and Tobacco Healthier lungs Stronger bones [email protected] THE INDIAN PANORAMA 18 SCIENCE & TECH FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 NASA’S HUBBLE FINDS ‘RELIC GALAXY’ NEAR MILKY WAY GOOGLE SAID TO PRIORITISE STORIES FOR PAPERS’ PAYING SUBSCRIBERS

oogle users who subscribe to newspapers will find articles Gfrom those publications appearing higher in their search results, part of the tech giant’s efforts to help media companies find and retain paying LONDON (TIP): Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, readers, according to people familiar astronomers have unearthed a "relic galaxy" in the Milky with the matter. Way's backyard. The Alphabet unit will also begin The galaxy NGC 1277 lies near the centre of the Perseus sharing search data that show who’s cluster of over 1,000 galaxies located 240 million light-years most likely to buy a subscription, said away. the people, who asked to be anonymous The findings, published in the journal Nature, showed that because they weren’t authorized to the relic galaxy has twice as many stars as our Milky Way, speak publicly.Google executives plan to but physically it is as small as one quarter the size of our disclose specific details at an event in galaxy. New York on March 20, according to the Essentially, NGC 1277 is in a state of "arrested people. Google declined to comment. development". The moves could help publishers Further, the scientists found that NGC 1277 does not have better target potential digital the same kinds of globular clusters that other large galaxies subscribers and keep the ones they’ve have. already got by highlighting stories from While massive galaxies tend to have both metal-poor the outlets they’re paying for. The (appearing blue) and metal-rich (appearing red) globular initiative marks the latest olive branch clusters, NGC 1277 is almost entirely lacking in blue globular from Silicon Valley in its evolving clusters. relationship with media companies. This suggests that NGC 1277 never grew further by Several publishers, including the Wall gobbling up surrounding galaxies. Street Journal, New York Times and the "I've been studying globular clusters in galaxies for a long Washington Post, are focusing on getting time, and this is the first time I've ever seen this," said readers to pay for their content as it Michael Beasley, of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias becomes more difficult to support at the University of La Laguna, Spain. newsrooms with advertising revenue. NGC 1277 started its life with a bang long ago, ferociously Many have been pushing Google and churning out stars 1,000 times faster than seen in our own Facebook for new tools to drive Milky Way today. subscriptions, arguing they should help But it abruptly went quiescent as the baby boomer stars support trusted journalism at a time aged and grew ever redder. when their platforms have been Click Free” policy that led some media The company revealed that the images The very rare and odd assemblage of stars has remained exploited to publish fake news. outlets with strict online paywalls to searched using Google will now include essentially unchanged for the past 10 billion years, scientists Facebook recently made major appear lower in search results. Now, captions in bold along with the title of said. changes to its News Feed algorithm that instead of requiring publishers with the web page. The company said in a In addition, NGC 1277 also has a central black hole that is are expected to shrink publishers’ paywalls to provide at least three free blog post, "This extra piece of much more massive than it should be for a galaxy of that online audiences. But it’s helping articles per day, media companies can information gives you more context so size. publishers in other ways. In October, the decide how many articles to let Google you can easily find out what the image is This reinforces the scenario that the supermassive black company began a test to support users read without paying. about and whether the website would hole and dense hub of the galaxy grew simultaneously, but paywalls in Instant Articles, letting contain more relevant content for your the galaxy's stellar population stopped growing and publishers process payments directly Google image search is needs.” expanding because it was starved of outside material, the and keep all of the revenue. In February, changing on your phone The image results offer visual study showed. Facebook announced a program to help Search giant Google has rolled out a confirmation that the search result is While Hubble has spotted relic galaxies before, but this metro papers build subscriptions. new update to its mobile search. The accurate and the caption provides one is by far the closest. Apple, meanwhile, bought Texture, a company is adding captions to images to additional context to the search. For "We can explore such original galaxies in full detail and digital magazine service, this week in give them more context. After the update example, users can also learn that this probe the conditions of the early universe," said Ignacio what the company said was a sign that the image searches done on fruit is called carambola or starfruit, Trujillo, from the varsity. it’s committed to supporting quality smartphones on Google will offer users and that it’s popular in China. This also For the study, the team started looking for "arrested journalism. better visual discovery with added helps you choose the result page to click development" galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Last year, Google changed its “First context. and explore further. found 50 candidate massive compact galaxies. Source: IANS Robot solves Rubik’s cube in 0.38 seconds BOSTON (TIP): Scientists have created a robot that has possibly set a new world record by solving the Rubik's cube in 0.38 A robot that can solve a Rubik's cube puzzle in 0.38 seconds seconds. has been developed by two researchers in the US. The The current Guinness World Record for a Rubik's cube solved current world record is 0.637 seconds, which was set by by a robot is 0.637 seconds. The robot was built by Ben Katz, a student at Massachusetts German engineer Albert Beer and his robot Sub1 Reloaded. Institute of Technology (MIT) and software developer Jared Di Carlo, who posted the video of the robot in action. as well as actually moving the cube. The motion time is about 335 "The machine can definitely go faster, but the tuning process is millisecond, and the remaining time is that of image acquisition really time consuming since debugging needs to be done with the and computation. The robot had difficulty identifying the high speed camera, and mistakes often break the cube or blow up difference between the red and orange sides of the cube, so the the transistor," Katz wrote in the blog post. researchers blackened the orange squares with a marker pen. "We noticed that all of the fast Rubik's Cube solvers were using "For the time being, Jared and I have both lost interest in stepper motors and thought that we could do better if we used playing the tuning game, but we might come back to it eventually better motors," Di Carlo wrote in a separate blog post. and shave off another 100 ms or so," Katz said. The 0.38 seconds starts from the moment the keypress is As of now, the record has not been independently verified by registered on the computer, to when the last face is flipped, Katz Guinness, so the title for the fastest robot to solve a Rubik's Cube said in his blog. It includes image capture and computation time, remains with 'Sub1 Reloaded' built by Albert Beer of Germany. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 BIZ & FINANCE 19 World Bank report projects India’s FY19 GDP growth at 7.3%

NEW DELHI (TIP): The World Bank on March 14 projected India’s GDP growth at 7.3% for the next financial year, and accelerate further to 7.5%, in 2019-20. The World Bank’s biannual publication, India Development Update: INFOSYS APPROVES UP TO India’s Growth Story, expects the economy to clock a growth rate of 6.7% RS 13,000 CR BUYBACK OFFER in the current fiscal ending March 31. MUMBAI (TIP): The Infosys Board on Saturday The report, however, observed that a announced a share buyback programme of up to Rs 13,000 growth of over 8% will require crore, a day after Vishal Sikka resigned as chief executive “continued reform and a widening of after a long-running feud with the company’s founders. their scope” aimed at resolving issues The Bengaluru-headquartered Infosys, India’s second related to credit and investment, and biggest IT firm, said it would buy back shares up to Rs 13,000 enhancing competitiveness of exports. crore at a fixed price of Rs 1,150 each. The company plans to “The Indian economy is likely to buy back 113 million shares, or 4.92% of its equity capital, recover from the impact of moneycontrol.com reported. demonetisation and the GST, and growth The free fall in Infosys stock had erased Rs 27,000 crore of should revert slowly to a level consistent shareholder value on Friday as investors dumped the stock with its proximate factors -- that is, to short run. The Economic Survey tabled in and headed for the exit doors. The fall in the scrip had topped about 7.5% a year,” the report said. India’s economic growth had slipped Parliament has projected a growth rate 10% and broke the lower circuit, which stopped the trade of In November 2016, the government to a three year low of 5.7% in April-June of 7 to 7.5% in the 2018-19 financial year. Infy shares on the exchange briefly. had scrapped high value currency notes quarter of the current fiscal, though it The World Bank report further said The company said given the significant shareholding of of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in a bid to check recovered in the subsequent quarters. that accelerating the growth rate will the US residents by way of ADS’ and equity shares, it was black money, among others. The economy is expected to grow at also require continued integration into necessary to obtain exemptive relief from the American Later, India implemented its biggest 6.6% in the current fiscal ending March global economy. market regulator US SEC on certain aspects of the tender indirect tax reform -- Goods and Services 31, as per the second advanced estimates It pitches for making growth more offer procedures. Tax (GST). of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), inclusive and enhancing the This is due to conflicting regulatory requirements between Both of these initiatives had impacted compared to 7.1% in 2016-17. The earlier effectiveness of the Indian public sector. Indian and US laws for tender offer buybacks and the same the economic activities in the country in estimate was 6.5%. Source: PTI has been obtained, Infosys explained. The share buyback — the first in the company’s 36-year history — has been a long-standing demand by some of the FRANCE TO SUE founders and high-profile former executives, who have been GOOGLE, APPLE FOR Trump blocks pushing Infosys to return surplus capital to its shareholders. While Pravin Rao, currently chief operating officer, has been named interim CEO, Sikka will become executive vice- ‘ABUSIVE’ PRACTICES chairman and will be paid $1 in annual salary.Sikka will help the company search a new MD and CEO and the deadline has Broadcom’s $117-bn bid been set for March 31, 2018. PROPOSAL TO SELL 51% to buy Qualcomm STAKE OF AIR INDIA

WASHINGTON (TIP): US Limited took control of the San Diego- NEW DELHI (TIP): A proposal to revive Air India by President Donald Trump blocked an based Qualcomm it “might take action selling 51 percent stake within five years might be on the unsolicited $117-billion that threatens to impair cards. As per sources, the talks are at an initial stage between takeover bid of the national security of interested parties and the finance ministry as well as prime American chipmaker the US”. minister’s office PARIS (TIP): France will take legal action Qualcomm by As such, Broadcom The former carrier has undergone the woes facing against Google and Apple for “abusive Singapore-based rival and Qualcomm “shall cutthroat competition from domestic airlines and burdened business practices”, Finance Minister Bruno Broadcom citing immediately and by a debt of $7 billion that has been unprofitable since 2007. Le Maire said today as transatlantic ties national security permanently abandon In the past six years $3.6 billion have been contributed threaten to be riven by a trade war. reasons, scuttling what the proposed takeover”, Indian taxpayers following a bailout plan. “I believe in an economy based on justice would have been the Trump ordered. The finance ministry would only be announcing the offer and I will take Google and Apple before the biggest technology “The proposed after all detailed discussions have been conducted to ensure Paris Commercial Court for abusive business deal ever amid takeover of Qualcomm there are takers for the offer. practices” against French start-ups, Le Maire concerns that it would by the Purchaser is The Air India share has declined to 14 percent in the local said on RTL radio. allow China to take the lead in the prohibited, and any substantially market while a decade ago it was 35 percent. He said startups face conditions imposed booming chip market. equivalent merger, acquisition, or on them when selling their apps on Google Trump, in his executive order, said takeover, whether effected directly or India, Germany collaborate to and Apple which “also gather data” and “both there is “credible evidence” that leads indirectly, is also prohibited,” Trump can unilaterally modify contracts.” The him to believe that if Broadcom said in the executive order. Source: PTI develop infra worth 1 lakh crore minister said the situation is unacceptable. “I consider that Google and Apple, as NEW DELHI (TIP): India looks poised to augment its powerful as they are, shouldn’t treat our Google to ban ads promoting cryptocurrency infrastructure by collaborating with Germany for projects startups and our developers in the way they worth Rs 1 lakh crore, Union Transport Minister Nitin do today,” said Le Maire. oogle will ban online largest web-ad sellers out of reach of Gadkari said. The action against the firms comes as US advertisements promoting the nascent digital-currency sector. Gadkari met with a German delegation led by Transport President Donald Trump has moved towards Gcryptocurrencies and initial Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency Minister Alexander Dobrindt and had a detailed discussion imposing a 25% tariff on imported steel and coin offerings starting in June, part of by market value, pared an advance of on developing infrastructure for port rail connectivity for 10% tariff on import of aluminium. It is a broader crackdown on the about 2% after Google’s efficient cargo release and reduction of logistics cost. unclear if European nations will obtain marketing of a new breed of high- announcement, trading little changed “We have sought Germany’s co-operation to sync up our waivers, with Trump having singled out the risk financial products. at $9,099 as of 1:04 p.m. in Hong Kong. ports with railway connectivity through projects worth Rs EU as treating the US badly in trade ties and Alphabet Inc.’s Google announced Rival coins Ripple and Ether also 1lakh crore which will be undertaken by Indian Port Rail threatening to tax cars as well. the decision Wednesday night in an pared gains. Corporation Ltd (IPRCL),” Gadkari said. Le Maire has previously threatened to tax update to its policy, which says it will The internet-search giant is also The development came after a pact between German the two firms based on their sales in France, begin to block ads for restricting ads for financial products Railways Deutsche Bahn (DB) and IPRCL during the denouncing the legal strategies they use to “cryptocurrencies and related including binary options, a risky Maritime India Summit held earlier this year for carrying pay taxes at lower rates in other EU content.” Facebook Inc. took a similar derivative with an all-or-nothing out 22 different projects under the Union Government’s countries. Source: AFP step in January, leaving the two payoff. esteemed Sagarmaala Project. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 20 MISCELLANY FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 Indian Overseas Congress, USA condemns vandalizing of statues Upset Hindus seek apology as in India Brooklyn’s Etsy sells Ganesh Flip Flops NEW YORK (TIP): The IOC Vice Chairman George Abraham, in a statement to after removing Ganesh Toilet Seat The Indian Panorama said that the Indian Overseas NEW YORK (TIP): Upset Hindus are urging Brooklyn (New York) headquartered e- Congress strongly commerce company Etsy, Inc. for immediate withdrawal of flip-flops carrying image of condemned the vandalizing of Hindu deity Lord Ganesh; calling it highly inappropriate. statues in India. In July last, Etsy withdrew toilet seat carrying image of Lord Ganesh from its website "We strongly condemn the within less than two hours after a protest spearheaded by Hindu statesman Rajan Zed on widespread vandalizing of this product, which Hindus thought was highly insensitive. statues across India to score Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduismsaid that Etsy should have cheap political points thereby been enlightened by now that Lord Ganesh was highly revered in Hinduism and was exacerbating tension between meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to adorn one's feet. Hindus IOC Vice Chairman George communities and political considered it a sacrilege to trample his image under one's feet. Inappropriate usage of Abraham released to The parties' said George Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the Indian Panorama a resolution Abraham, Vice-Chairman of devotees. condemning vandalizing of the Indian Overseas Congress, Rajan Zed also urged Etsy and its CEO Josh Silverman to offer a formal apology, besides statues in India USA. 'attacking and defacing withdrawing Ganesh Flip Flops. statues of Indian icons such Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion as Mahatma Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, and Periyar adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols Ramasamy is a symptom of growing intolerance in the of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Zed noted. society that is anathema to the basic tenets of the Rajan Zed further said that such trivialization of Hindu deities was disturbing to the democratic tradition' Mr. Abraham added. IOC also Hindus world over. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody condemns the destruction of statues in Tripura and West else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the Bengal and calls for the peaceful transition of power after followers, Zed added. an election. Is offering products like Ganesh Flip Flops really matches Etsy's belief that "the power of "Undoubtedly, under BJP rule, a climate of division and business can create a better world", its claim to "Keep Commerce Human" and its stated Mission intolerance has been fostered for political gains. It is to be "to reimagine commerce in ways that build a more fulfilling and lasting world"? Zed asks. noted that these acts of vandalism are primarily directed at Rajan Zed suggested that Etsy and other companies should send their senior executives for figures mostly revered by Dalits, whom some of the BJP training in religious and cultural sensitivity so that they had an understanding of the feelings supporters disdain. Emboldened by the BJP victory in of customers and communities when introducing new products or launching advertising Tripura, the vandals appeared to have destroyed the statue campaigns. of a Lenin and ransacked the offices of the Communist Item description of Ganesh Flip Flops states: "Traditionally, Ganesh is thought to provide Party of India. While BJP is trying to woo the Dalits with prosperity, fortune and success. He is the Lord of Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles of their 'Hindu card' strategy, the true color of their attitude both material & spiritual kinds… Stand out from the crowd in these cute flip flops!" It sells for towards them is quite evident with their destructive and $25.00. Etsy, founded in 2005 in an apartment in Brooklyn and now headquartered in its Dumbo polarizing actions. neighborhood with additional offices in France, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, "We welcome the statement by the Prime Minister Ireland, San Francisco (California), Hudson (New York); describes itself as "a global Ganesh Flip Flops at Etsy condemning these pernicious acts by a few and call upon creative commerce platform". It claims to have had annual gross merchandise sales of $3.25B in 2017. the authorities to bring those who are responsible for to In Hinduism, Lord Ganesh is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of swift justice". any major undertaking. There are about three million Hindus in USA. contd from page 1 Mueller subpoenas Trump... Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit the UK. The Prime Minister announced that Britain will expel 23 Trump ousts Secretary of State... demanded documents related to President Donald Trump's Russian diplomats, saying they have one week to leave the UK. businesses. She identified those diplomats as "undeclared intelligence Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will The subpoena is a sign that the Mueller investigation officers", BBC reported. become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so continues to pick up steam, even as Trump decries remaining Moscow, which had been given an ultimatum to provide a chosen. Congratulations to all! questions about potential coordination between his associates "credible response" over how a Russian-made nerve agent came - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018 and Russia and denies any wrongdoing. Trump has said he would to be used on British soil, had warned of "an equal and opposite As Mr. Trump departed for a California trip Tuesday, view any investigation of his or his family's personal finances reaction" against any UK reprisals. March 13 morning, he told reporters that he and Tillerson that didn't involve Russia as a "violation" by Mueller that crosses The reprisals follow days of diplomacy since May first "disagree on things," and he singled out the Iran nuclear deal a red line. informed Parliament that there was enough evidence to as an issue. CNN reported in January that the company had voluntarily conclude that it is "highly likely" that Russia is behind the "Rex and I have been talking about this for a long time. We got provided documents on a range of events, conversations and poisoning of Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury on March 4. along actually quite well, but we disagreed on things," he said. meetings from Trump's real estate business to Mueller and "Russia's record of conducting state-sponsored "When you look at the Iran deal -- I think it's terrible. I guess he congressional investigators, according to three people familiar assassinations; and our assessment that Russia views some thought it was OK. I wanted to either break it or do something. with the matter. It will be interesting to watch how Trump reacts defectors as legitimate targets for assassinations; the And he felt a little bit differently. So we were not really thinking to this move of Mueller. government has concluded that it is highly likely that Russia the same." was responsible for the act against Sergei and Yulia Skripal," Mr. Trump released a statement shortly before leaving for his Trump has decided to remove... she had said. trip to California saying he was "proud" to nominate Pompeo to "It was an indiscriminate and reckless act against the United replace Tillerson. signaled in recent days that a shake-up at the top levels of his Kingdom, putting the lives of innocent civilians at risk. And we "His experience in the military, Congress, and as leader of administration was not over. "I'm really at a point where we're will not tolerate such a brazen attempt to murder innocent the CIA have prepared him well for his new role and I urge his getting very close to having the Cabinet and other things that I civilians on our soil," she added, giving Moscow a Tuesday swift confirmation," said Mr. Trump in a statement. He added, want," Trump told reporters after Tillerson was fired. midnight deadline to respond on the circumstances " want to thank Rex Tillerson for his service. A great deal has McMaster is not expected to be ousted immediately, the Post surrounding the attack. been accomplished over the last fourteen months, and I wish reported. Trump is willing to take his time making the change to Downing Street said the British prime minister received the him and his family well." According to the White House, Gina avoid humiliating McMaster and carefully choose a strong backing of Trump, who agreed in a phone call that Moscow Haspel, the Deputy Director of the CIA, will be nominated to replacement, the Post said. "must provide unambiguous answers as to how this nerve agent replace Director Pompeo. If confirmed, she would become the Trump never personally gelled with McMaster and the came to be used". Skripal was convicted of treason in 2006 and CIA's first female director. She was only recently named President recently told White House Chief of Staff John Kelly jailed for 13 years for selling secrets to MI6, which had deputy director. that he wanted McMaster replaced, according to the Post. recruited him in the 1990s. Pompeo said in a statement of the president's decision, "If Trump has complained that McMaster, a three-star Army Meanwhile, France and Germany have also held Russia confirmed, I look forward to guiding the world's finest diplomatic general, is too rigid and that his briefings go on too long and seem responsible for the murderous attempt in London. corps in formulating and executing the President's foreign irrelevant, the Post reported. McMaster is Trump's second policy." national security adviser, succeeding Michael Flynn who was Mangano, Linda, Venditto Trial... He added, "In my time as Director of the Central Intelligence dismissed a year ago for misleading Vice President Mike Pence Agency, I have worked alongside many remarkable Foreign about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United It is learnt prosecutors have a long list of witnesses which Service officers and Department of State leaders serving here in States. includes a former Nassau County employee close to the United States and on the very edge of freedom. I know I will Mangano who frequently organized fundraisers for learn from them and, as President Trump set out in his State of UK snaps diplomatic ties with... Mangano. the Union Address, work hard to ensure that "our nation will Between 2010 and last December, Mangano held the forever be safe and strong and proud and mighty and free." with Russia and revoke an invitation to Russian Foreign highest elected position in Nassau County. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 ASTROLOGY 21

Shree Ganeshaya Namah

Bejan Daruwalla is world's most famous astrologertoday. He appears regularly on world wide TV shows. Bejan who has been a professor in English, hasauthored a number of books on astrology. India'sPrime Minister Narendra Modi , on March 29, 2012,lunched one of Bejan's books, '2012- End of theWorld? Bejan contributes to a number of journals andnewspapers in many parts of the world which includeBerkley Communications (London) Times of India(Delhi, Mumbai, Bejan Daruwalla is available for astrological Kolkata, Chennai) and The IndianPanorama ( consultations. He can be reached at New York and Texas). Bejan's [email protected] predictionshave mostly been correct and and on phone 011-91-8141234275 people the world overrely on his predictions. www.bejandaruwalla.com WEEKLY HOROSCOPE MARCH 19 - MARCH 25, 2018 Aries: Leo: Sagittarius: Ganesha says as the period dawns, your You have been devoting to much of your You have an inherent edge in communicating attention will be drawn towards laying strong energies to work and this has been causing with people and so any relationship issues with foundations for your finances. Though you are difficulties in your relationships. You are children / family elders / siblings can be sorted in a stable financial position, you realize that benefitted too as improved ties and bonds give out by talking. Friends are the source of fun you need to make more money and make your you great joy and harmony. Besides your close and frolic and you will enjoy partying virtually family more secure. Dig the well before you family, you show interest in the activities of all period. You manage to give equal and need the water - this proverb could aptly your local community and even volunteer to quality time to both your career and your describe your mindset as you explore help out. There could be collaborations with children. Spirituality and religious matters investment options that will give you lucrative international partners / job opportunities in a also interest you. returns. multi - national company, and your reputation at work receives a huge boost. You earn Capricorn: Taurus: applause and are the toast of all. The Moon gives you significant gains especially You continue to make determined efforts Virgo: in relationships. The trend of the past period towards strengthening your financial position continues, and you put in dedicated efforts in all and explore every investment opportunity. You Your natural inclination is towards spirituality your projects and initiatives. The focus has are generally restless and are always on the and you involve yourself in studying the shifted from work to home and this requires lookout for action of some kind. Travelling for scriptures / visiting holy and sacred shrines / detailed planning. All issues related to the home work / higher studies / business is a possibility meditation / chanting. Finances continue to and highlighted; from restorations / renovations this period. You are always open to learning occupy your attention but Ganesha advises you / additions to investments in property, land, new strategies that could help you in your to stay alert in all money matters. This is the leases and loans. Tact and diplomacy are career and yet also indulge in play in equal right time for parking your money in safe and required to tackle awkward issues and to resolve measure. Your industrious, result-oriented stable investments and not risking or them to everyone's satisfaction. nature finds approval from your boss. squandering it away in get-rich-quick schemes. Aquarius: Gemini: Libra: The 3 Cs - contacts, communications and You have been involved, till now, in seriously You are on a high as you involve the 3 Cs - correspondence - are this period's theme and and conservatively building your family's nest- communication, contacts and correspondence - there will be a flurry of letters, e-mails, SMS as egg. You have been a responsible child / parent to take your career / business up the next rung well as travel and trips. You will be in touch / spouse / friend / employee and have won of success. Your stupendous inter-personal with the world and there will be many new kudos for your cool, caring and calm nature. skills attract attention and just dividends. You work projects. A personal situation / work Now, at this phase, you could feel an upsurge of could be tempted to venture into risky issues could put you in a dilemma, but you emotional energy which could cause territory; the indications are all there and you manage to come through unstuck with some restlessness and loneliness. You may indulge in will have to control yourself. Ganesha advises deft maneuvering. There is a good chance to disruptive and decadent behavior and shock caution in money matters, love affairs and in meet up with extended family and friends in your loved ones. over-indulgence. religious functions / family, get-togethers / Cancer: Scorpio: celebrations. Pisces: Your reckless behavior is under control as you Money matters continue to demand attention. knuckle down to the sedate job of making a But along with that, friends / loved ones / You have continued to work hard and diligently living and creating wealth. You are interested extended family demand your attention and even in the midst of all the interpersonal right now in fulfilling your professional and you do not hold back as you respond. You drama in your private life, winning approval personal obligations. You determinedly slog overextend yourself to bring peace and with your superiors. Your reputation will soar. away at your routine chores, commitments. harmony in all your relationships, both Prestige, promotions and pelf are the results of There could be some problems at work which professional and personal, and the results are your own hard work and dedication and you you will have to resolve, and accusations from spectacular. Ganesha blesses you with happy deserve it. As your self - esteem and self - the home front of being a workaholic could bonding. You have pleasurable moments with confidence, along with your social standing, cause added stress. It will be a good idea to find your lover and, if a parent, great times with soar you manage to, thankfully, retain your a balance and spend more time with your your kids. helpful and gracious attitude with all and family / loved ones. sundry irrespective of their status in life. THE INDIAN PANORAMA 22 SPORTS FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018

T20 TRI-SERIES Rohit hammers 89, takes India into final

COLOMBO (TIP): India’s stand-in captain Washington Sundar relishing Rohit Sharma returned to form with a fine 89 challenge of bowling in to set up a 17-run victory over Bangladesh on powerplays March 14 and reach the final of the T20 tri- series. Washington Sundar’s performance in the Leading the side in the absence of rested powerplay during the Nidahas Trophy 2018 regular skipper Virat Kohli, opening batsman tri-series has been phenomenal. The 18-year- Rohit hit five fours and an equal number of old Tamil Nadu offspinner displayed his skill sixes in his 61-ball knock to guide India to 176/3 yet again as he picked up three wickets and conceded just 22 runs to set-up India’s 17-run in their 20 overs. win over Bangladesh and qualify for the Bangladesh, who also lost their first match of Nidahas Trophy 2018 tri-series final. Speaking the tournament to India, managed 159/6 in after the end of the match, Sundar said he is reply. The winner of Friday’s match between fortunate to have this skill and approach in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will meet India in this crucial period. “I have to admit I am the final on Sunday. fortunate to have this skill (bowling in Off-spinner Washington Sundar ran through powerplay). It is more of reading the the Bangladesh top order with the new ball, batsmen’s mind in the powerplays,” Sundar taking three wickets in his first spell of three said. “Every six balls, they will be looking to overs. The 18-year-old finished with 3/22, his hit you at least for a four and six. It is important to read the mind. I myself am a best figures in the format. batsman to an extent; I can suspect what he Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was also is thinking and where he is going to hit me,” economical in his four-over spell of 1/21. South Africa, was 21 and he opted to be partnership of 102 with Suresh Raina, who fell he added. The youngster picked up the Former captain Mushfiqur Rahim notched watchful at the start of his innings after India to Rubel in the final over of the innings after a wickets of Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das and up his second consecutive fifty but his 72 not were asked to bat. He added 70 with Shikhar 30-ball 47. The 30-year-old Rohit, who has two Soumya Sarkar to wreck Bangladesh’s top out in 55 balls was not enough. Dhawan for the opening wicket before the hundreds in the shortest format of the game, order and despite Mushfiqur Rahim’s late Rohit’s highest score in his previous six T20 latter was bowled by paceman Rubel Hossain was run out on the final ball of the innings. blitz, Mahmudullah’s side suffered their matches, including the three-match series in for 35. Rohit then had another fruitful Source: Reuters seventh-straight Twenty20 loss against India. LIONEL MESSI REACHES 100 Kagiso Rabada to appeal guilty verdict CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GOALS AS FC and keep series hopes alive BARCELONA CRUSH CHELSEA FC

CAPE TOWN (TIP): Kagiso Rabada is appealing the guilty verdict handed to him by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching their code of conduct in a last-ditch bid to be able to play in the rest of the gripping test series against Australia. Fast bowler Rabada was found guilty of “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player” after leaning with his shoulder into Steve Smith when he dismissed the Australia captain in the first innings of South Africa’s six wicket win in the second test in Port Elizabeth. The result levelled the four- match series at 1-1. The 22-year-old, who took 11-150 in the game, was fined 50 percent of his match fee and given three demerit points, which took him past the tally of eight that triggers an automatic two- game suspension. “ICC confirms that Kagiso Rabada has appealed against the BARCELONA (TIP): Lionel Messi scored two brilliant level two breach following the incident with Steve Smith goals and created another for Ousmane Dembele as Barcelona during the Port Elizabeth Test. ICC will now appoint a Judicial thrashed Chelsea 3-0 on March 14 to reach the Champions Commissioner at the earliest opportunity and hearing details League quarter-finals 4-1 on aggregate. will be confirmed in due course,” the governing body said on Messi opened the scoring after two minutes and eight Wednesday. seconds, the quickest goal of his career, slipping the ball The ICC have 48 hours to appoint a commissioner and a through Thibaut Courtois’ legs from a tight angle. hearing will be heard within a seven day period. Rabada will The Argentine forward created the second with a blistering remain suspended unless the commissioner takes a decision to run from the halfway line which left three Chelsea defenders allow him to play in the third test in Cape Town starting on stumbling in his wake, before squaring the ball for Ousmane March 22. Dembele to rifle home his first goal for the club. Although there was contact made with Smith, Rabada Marcos Alonso hit the post and Olivier Giroud was maintains that it was accidental and at the time he was not unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty for a tangle with even aware he had brushed against his opponent. Gerard Pique as Chelsea tried to launch a comeback, before “If I knew I did it deliberately, I wouldn’t have gone to Messi killed the tie with his 100th Champions League goal. contest (the charge),” Rabada told reporters after the game. “I “To have Messi in the team is a luxury, he’s such a good didn’t even feel contact in that moment because I was so player that in any move he can create danger against you,” pumped up.” Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said. Smith has suggested the Australian team wanted Rabada to “Our attacking play goes through him and any move is play the remainder of the series as the seamer rose to the top improved by his touch.” of the test bowling rankings following his performance in Port Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said his side needed a Elizabeth. perfect display to progress but they started disastrously at a “He’s a world class bowler and you always want to come up packed Nou Camp when Luis Suarez teed up Messi, who against the best, that’s for sure,” Smith said. “He’s right up Kagiso Rabada was found guilty of squeezed a low strike through the legs of Courtois from a tight there. He’s unbelievable the way he’s been bowling. ‘inappropriate and deliberate physical angle. The visitors responded well with Giroud and Willian, “If he’s there, he’s there... if he’s not, he’s not. It’s our job to contact with a player’ after leaning with who scored in the 1-1 first-leg draw at Stamford Bridge, try and play some better cricket.” particularly bright in attack. ut a mistake from Cesc Fabregas Rabada is the fifth player to be punished by the ICC in what his shoulder into Steve Smith when he on the halfway line allowed Messi to break in again after 20 has been a tempestuous test series so far along with dismissed the Australia captain in the minutes and the number 10 left the Chelsea backline in tatters Australians David Warner, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Marsh, first innings of South Africa’s six wicket to set up the second goal, expertly finished by Dembele. and South African Quinton de Kock. Source: Reuters win in the second test in Port Elizabeth Source: Reuters THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 SPIRITUALITY 23 CHAITRA NAVRATRI: NINE NIGHTS OF THE DIVINE FEMININE

avratri is a Hindu festivals that is dedicated to the worship of Goddess This year, Chaitra Navratri will begin from March 18 and go on till NDurga and her nine divine avatars for a period of nine days. Some of you would be 26th. Chaitra Navratri is celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra that surprised to know that there are 4 Navratri in a year but only two of them Chaitra Navratri falls at cusp of spring and summer and Sharad Navratri are celebrated widely across the country.This year Chaitra Navratri would begin from 18th March and go on till 26th March. Chaitra Navratri is celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra that falls usually around March and April. The period of nine days of Navratri is considered to be very holy for Hindus, an they do all that they can to appease their beloved deity.People wake up and bathe early morning and pray to the Goddess. They perform special poojas and havans to welcome Goddess Durga to take shelter in their homes. Offerings in terms of delicious bhog, fruits and flowers are also made to the deity. Devotees also observe ritualistic fasts as a mark of showing their devotion for the goddess. Both Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri fall around two major seasonal change of the year. Chaitra Navratri marks transition from spring to summer, while Sharad Navratra falls around October-November marking the beginning of winter. During this time our immunities are most vulnerable and one is more prone to encounter a host of sickness and disease. Bingeing ion oily, sugary or very heavy food could further take its toll on our dipping immunity levels, which is why it is advisable to eat light and clean. By fasting or eating sattvik food you are allowing your body to detox and fortify from within. Around Navratri several delicious preparations like Kuttu Ki Puri, Singhade Ka Halwa, Singhare Ke Pakore, Sabudana Vadaand Sabudana Khichdi gain immense popularity amongst those who are fasting. Along with the special vrat ka khana, people also tend to load up on fruits and milk to keep themselves energized through the day. During this period, the nine forms of Durga are worshipped. Here’s taking a look at the This form of Durga is believed to be the one peaceful and calm. The ‘extremely white’ significance of each of her avatars: that eliminates darkness from the world with goddess is depicted in idols as such and is her smile. Each idol of goddess Durga in this shown as wearing white clothes, mounted on a Shailputri form is therefore carved with a smile on her bull. Maha Gauri is worshiped on the eighth Shailputri, in Sanskrit means 'daughter of face. On the fourth day of Navratri, devotees day of Navratri. the mountains'. This form is the first one worship this manifestation of Maa Durga. among the nine forms of the goddess and Siddhidatri Shailputri is worshipped as the absolute form Skanda Mata On the last day of Navratri, the form of Mother Nature. During the festival of This form of the goddess is always Siddhidatri of goddess Durga is worshipped. Navratri, the goddess is portrayed with a half- accompanied by an infant form of Lord This is the form that is known for her wish- moon on her forehead, a trident in her right Skanda or Kartikeya. The goddess is fulfilling capabilities and the goddess is hand along with a lotus in her left hand. She is portrayed with having four arms and three believed to possess several types of healing seen mounted on the back of a bull. eyes. She is presented as sitting on a lotus and powers. The first day of Navratri is marked for the is worshiped on the fifth day of Navratri. worship of Shailputri. Katyayani PAGE SPONSORED BY Brahmacharini This incarnation of goddess Durga is the ARISH K. SAHANI The ‘charming’ form of Durga, the idol of epitome of love and anger and the idols Brahmacharini is presented to her having this form are portrayed as having four Serving Since 1972 worshipers with a Kamandal in her left hand arms and three eyes and are mounted on a Please Call or Write for Your Insurance Needs and jap mala in her right hand. lion. The sixth day of Navratri is dedicated to Brahmacharini, the unmarried form of the Katyayani form of goddess Durga. Arish K Sahani (Father) Goddess is worshipped on the second day of Navratri and is mostly known as the Kalratri Shiv Sahani (Son) personification of love and loyalty. This form of the goddess is famous in ancient Hindu literature as being the most Priya Sahani Sood (Daughter) Chandraghanta violent one. Worshipped on the seventh day, Adorned with a bell shaped like a crescent this is the form that evokes fear in a devotee's 7 1 8 - 2 7 1 - 1 9 0 6 moon in her hand, this form of Maa Durga is mind. Kalratri is believed to be the destroyer [email protected] responsible for restoring justice and dharma of all demonic powers, i.e. kaal. in the world. On the third day of Navratri, Maha Gauri ‘If Hindus don’t maintain Hinduism, who shall save it? If India’s own goddess Chandraghanta is worshipped. children don’t cling to their faith, who shall guard it? Indian alone can Diametrically opposite to Kalratri, this Kushmanda form of the goddess Durga is intelligent, save India, and India and Hinduism are one.’ THE INDIAN PANORAMA 24 ADVERTISEMENT FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018