Lakhimpur Kheri violence triggers major political storm

VOL. 13 ISSUE NO. 3 07 - 13 OCTOBER 2021 $1 ASIANERAONLINE.COM NEW YORK EDITION

Building Bridges Beyond Boundaries

Lakhimpur Kheri violence triggers major political storm

New Delhi: The Lakhimpur Kheri violence has triggered a major political storm in India as the opposition leaders are raising demand for the removal of Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra.

On October 3, the convoy of Ajay Mishra's son allegedly ran over protesting farmers, kill-ing four. Four more people were

Four farmers were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3 while four others died in subsequent clashes. (File Photo/PTI)

reported dead in the violence that followed.

The Supreme Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file a status report regarding the accused in the Lakhimpur violence case and whether any action had been taken against them. “We need to know who are the accused against whom you

have registered FIR & whether you have arrested them or not,” the court said on Oct 7.

A few hours after the Supreme Court order, the UP police arrested two persons identified as Luvkush Rana and Ashish Pandey, while union minister of state Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra is still untraceable.

UP elections in sight, Opposition ups its ante over Lakhimpur Kheri violence > P11

Pandora Papers expose offshore dealings of super rich > P15

Florida: A federal judge in Texas has blocked the state’s controversial and restrictive new abortion law, which bans the procedure in almost all cases. The judge’s order tempo-rarily freezes the Texas law, which sparked outrage across the country.

The Republican-pushed law, which came into effect on Sept 1, bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected and makes no exceptions for rape or incest.

“This court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an impor-

Federal judge in Texas blocks controversial abortion law

tant right,” US District Judge Robert Pitman said in the Oct 6 ruling.

The White House has said that “the fight has only just begun” after the ruling. The lawsuit was brought by the Biden administration, which has said the restrictions were enacted in defiance of the US Constitution.

The US Supreme Court, which stunned pro-choice campaigners when it refused to block the law, may eventually get to rule on the injunction and the law itself.

us and for our own survival. But how our bodies actually do it had been one of the great mysteries of biology.

The Nobel Prizes, which have been awarded since 1901, recog-nize achievement in literature, science, peace and economics.

Nobel Prize winners in sciences, literature announced > P15

Stockholm: US scientists David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian have won the 2021 prize in Medi-cine or Physiology “for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch”.

Their discoveries have unlocked one of nature’s myster-ies by explaining the molecular basis for sensing heat, cold, and mechanical force, for our abil-ity to feel, interpret and interact with our internal and external environments.

Their findings could lead to new ways of treating pain. Heat, cold and touch are crucial for experiencing the world around

Medicine Nobel goes to US scientists

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed two decades in public office. He became the Gujarat Chief Minister first on October 7, 2001, before taking over as the Prime Minister in 2014. A special drive called “Sewa Aur Samarpan Abhiyan” was launched in September on Modi’s 71st birthday to mark his 20 years in office.

"I had never imagined that I would rise from the post of Chief Minister to the post of Prime Minister (but) on this day, 20 years ago, I got a new respon-sibility to serve the public. My journey of serving the people...

London: The International Consortium of Investigative Jour-nalists (ICIJ) on Oct 3 published the Pandora Papers, one of the biggest leaks in history. It reveals how the rich and powerful have been hiding their investments in mansions, exclusive beachfront property, yachts and other assets for the past quarter of a century.

Explosive details highlight-ing how world leaders, personal-ities and business executives hid $11.3 trillion in more than 29,000 offshore companies in countries or territories with favorable taxation are coming out each day.

South Dakota, the files show, emerged as the US state with the largest number of trusts – a finan-cial mechanism used often to avoid or greatly reduce taxation.

Modi@20

living among the people... was going for many decades earlier but 20 years ago today I got a new responsibility - as the Chief Minister of Gujarat," he said.

Pandora’s box opened

The millions of leaked confidential files linked more than 330 politicians to hidden fortunes worth billions of dollars (Reuters)

2 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM

CONNECT TO CARE:1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355) or visit mentalhealthforall.nyc.gov

No matter who you are. No matter what you need. NYC is here for you.

HealthALLFOR

Mental

H E LP W IT HD E PR E SS I O N

C R I S I SS U PPO RT

24/ 7 CO U N S E LI N G

S U B S TA N C E U S E S E RV I C E S

A N D M O R E

TheSouthAsianTimes.info September 4-10, 2021

ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 3TrI-STATe

New York: US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has expressed solidarity with India and called for strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

Schumer said that the Indian Ameri-cans directly influence and enriches his home state. “Indian American commu-nity embodies what the American dream has always been about, of coming to the country, working hard, and when you work hard you help yourselves, you build

a better life for your children, but you also enrich, New York, and our country.”

Speaking at a virtual summit organ-ized by the US-India Strategic Partner-ship Forum (USISPF) on Sept 30, the top Democratic leader discussed the strategic partnership between the two countries, working with Quad members, strengthen-ing economic ties, immigration and fight-ing terrorism.

“America is a whole lot better off because of the long strong and crucial friendship between India and the United States,” Schumer said, adding that he will use his ‘clout’ to make sure that America and India stay close together.

“We will create new opportunities in this century to prosper together, and that Indian Americans are given the full bene-fits of life in America free of discrimina-tion,” he affirmed.

Touching upon issues like hate and bigotry, Schumer said that discrimina-tion against Indian Americans is still not defeated. “I was so proud to stand arm in arm with the Indian American commu-nity and so many others and I made sure as Majority Leader, to pass the anti-Asian hate crimes bill this year in the Congress. But no matter how you slice it, hate and discrimination or unAmerican bigotry against one is bigotry against all,” Schumer added.

Schumer said that he will continue to forge policies that ensure a rational and steady stream of legal immigration, as well as student visas.

America better off with India’s crucial friendship, says Senator Chuck Schumer

Senator Charles Schumer (Photo: schumer.senate.gov)

America’s largest public library system to eliminate late fees

New York: There will no longer be fines for returning books and other materi-als loaned from New York’s three public library systems, and for all five boroughs, considered the biggest in the US.

The move will allow fairer access to public libraries in New York, with all fines being wiped out on roughly 400,000 accounts, the library said.

Anthony W Marx, president of New York Public Library, issued a state-ment on Oct 5 detailing the changes to books return policy. He said the previous system of library fines was “antiquated” and acted as “barely an incentive”.

Fines were “an ineffective way to encourage patrons to return their books. For those who can afford the fines, they are barely an incentive”, and to "dispro-portionately low-income New York-ers”, he added that fines “become a real barrier to access that we can no longer accept”. “This is a step towards a more equitable society, with more New Yorkers

reading and using libraries, and we are proud to make it happen,” he hoped.

According to the press release, the library branches with the highest percentage of blocked cards were all in low income communities, with 30% of blocked cards belonging to youths aged under 17. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also issued a statement, “Eliminating fines will let us serve even more New Yorkers, allowing them to enjoy all of the resources and programs that public libraries offer to grow and succeed.”

As part of the announcement, librar-ies across New York are holding a week of giveaways and special programs that hopefully will encourage people to return after a pro-longed shut down during Covid.

Similar measures have already been seen in cities such as Dallas, San Fran-cisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Miami-Dade, although New York is the largest library system to remove fines.

New York Public Library: Young people and low income communities set to benefit from removal of fines (Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

New York: The controversial chief of a New York Police Department (NYPD) sergeants’ union has resigned after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided his home and the union headquar-ters. Ed Mullins, the president of the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Associa-tion (SBA), resigned on the request of the union’s board, according to a message it sent to its members.

FBI spokesperson Martin Feely told the Associated Press that agents were “carrying out a law enforcement action in connection with an ongoing investi-gation.” Agents were seen coming out of Mullins’s home in Long Island and the SBA’s headquarters in Manhattan, where they were seen clutching big boxes and black garbage bags.

“The nature and scope of this criminal investigation has yet to be determined,” the SBA message said. “However, it is clear that President Mullins is apparently the target of the federal investigation. We have no reason to believe that any other member of the SBA is involved or targeted in this matter.”

The union also said Mullins was “enti-tled to the presumption of innocence” and asked its members to “withhold judg-ment until all the facts have been estab-lished.”

The union’s day-to-day functioning and the “important business of the SBA” could not be distracted by the “existence

NYPD union chief resigns following FBI raid

of this investigation,” it said. Mullins has courted controversy many times in the past, often the result of his social media use. The former union chief had last year attacked NYPD leadership and the city’s Mayor Bill de Blasio, a frequent source of his anger.

After the FBI raids, De Blasio said Mullins had “dishonored his uniform, his city and his union more times than I can count”. “It was just a matter of time before his endless hatred would catch up with him. That day has come.”

Along with the FBI raids, Mullins is also facing an NYPD enquiry for his posts on social media and violation of NYPD conduct rules. He has openly supported former US president Donald Trump, who he met at the White House in 2020. He also appeared in a TV interview with a QAnon coffee mug in the background.

Ed Mullins has courted controversy many times in the past (Photo: Getty images)

New York: The state's largest health-care provider, Northwell Health, has fired 1,400 employees who refused to get Covid-19 vaccinations, according to spokesman Joe Kemp.

New York's vaccination mandate for healthcare workers went into effect last week. Several other states, including Cali-fornia, have imposed similar measures.

Officials have credited the require-ments with increasing the rate of vaccination, though a small number of employees have decided they would rather lose their jobs than get shots.

Northwell announced its vaccine mandate in August, weeks before the state requirement. The company's mandate extended to both clinical and non-clinical workers.

"Our goal was not to terminate employees," Kemp said. "Our goal was to get people vaccinated." Kemp said the terminations will have no impact on patient care at Northwell's 23 hospitals and other facilities. The fired employees represent a small percentage of North-

Northwell Health has fired 1400 unvaccinated employees after not meeting state guidelines to be inoculated. (Photo courtesy: Northwell Health)

well's workforce of more than 76,000, all of whom are now inoculated.

"Northwell regrets losing any employee under such circumstances," the company said in a statement. "We owe it to our staff, our patients and the commu-nities we serve to be 100 percent vacci-nated against Covid-19."

Northwell Health fires 1400 unvaccinated employees

4 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM TrI-STATe COMMuNITy

Chairman: Mr. Jagadeesan V. Poola

Co-Chair: Mrs. Kanchana Poola

Publisher: Mr. Kamlesh C. Mehta

President & Ceo: Mr. Ginsmon Zacharia

DISCLAIMERViews and opinions expressed by contributing editors/ authors/Writers are not necessarily the views of the asian era, and its publisher, the asian era inc. readers are suggested to discreetly follow their own judgement.

NotICE: the asian era is published weekly by the asian era inc.

PoStMAStER: send all address notices, subscription orders/payments and other inquiries to the asian era, 95 broadway, # 2, hicksville, nY 11801, usa. Copyright and all other rights reserved. no material herein or portions thereof may be reprinted without the consent of the publisher. the views expressed on the opinion pages and in the letters to the editor pages are

managing editor: Kay Abey [email protected]

resident editor: Annie Anuvelil [email protected]

designing: Dani Jose

Printing: Fivestar Printing, New York

Website: www.asianeraonline.come-mail: [email protected]

head offiCe: the asian era inc.95 broadway, # 2, hicksville, nY 11801, usa(m) 516.776.7061/516.395.3764

Published every thursday by: the asian era inc.

those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the asian era. the editor/publisher does not warrant accuracy and cannot be held responsible for the content of the advertisements placed in the publication and/or inaccurate claims, if any, made by the advertisers. advertisements of business or facilities included in this publication do not imply connection or endorsement of these businesses.

World Vegan Vision celebrates Gandhi Jayanti New Jersey: More than 160 people joined to celebrate Languages of India and Gandhi Birth Anniversary at an event organized by World Vegan Vision and the Consulate General of India, New York.

Cultural Consul Vipul Dev represented the consulate of India at the Oct 1 event held at My Home Adult Day care center in Maywood, New Jersey.

H.K. Shah and Malti Shah, the founders of world vegan vision, Padmashree Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Dr. Sudha Parikh and several community leaders were present.

Dr. Shrenik Shah, president of world vegan vision NJ, spoke about Mahatma Gandhi and his influence in leading a healthy lifestyle with a vegan diet.

There were also speeches in Gujarati, Hindi and English, highlighting the life of Mahatma Gandhi.

The sponsors and donors of this program Kenny Desai, Dr. Mukund Thacker and Nimish Patel were honored by the cultural consul and presented with recognition plaques for their support and donation. The support from

Indian American doctors’ association campaigns to prevent suicides

New York: The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) organ-ized a virtual event to educate and inform the general public about suicide prevention and warning signs of suicide.

The webinar conducted by the non-profit is an annual event that takes place in view of the National Suicide Prevention Week in the US. This year's event, "Precision Medi-cine for Mental Health: How to Save and Improve Lives” was organized by AAPI in collaboration with MindX Sciences Inc.

"Millions of Americans consider suicide, make a suicide plan, or attempt suicide every year — especially young Americans for whom suicide is the second leading cause of death," said Dr Ravi Kolli, Pres-ident-Elect of AAPI, who moderated the session, reported The American Bazaar.

New York: Come November, there will be a new retelling of the Mahabharata, the largest epic in the world, produced by Manhattan based performing arts organization, Navatman, Inc.

With this, Navatman, best known for its live theater produc-tions, will be venturing into film making. The 2 hours and 10 minutes long film includes many "firsts" - the first feature film told from the narrative of Indian classical dance and music tradi-

Navatman’s first feature film brings together Indian dance, music and the world’s largest epic

Indo American Seniors Association of Jersey City was also recognized. Pradip Kabaria graciously made available the venue for this event at his adult day care center. The attendees enjoyed a

vegan dinner, while listening to a live music performance. The whole Event was planned and coordinated by World Vegan Vision Public Relations Nitin Vyas and Senior Executive Vinod Shah.

tions, first American/Indian diaspora film interpretation of the Mahabharata, a first feature film of the Mahabharata written solely by female scriptwriters, and a feature film that switches gender roles as actors and actresses.

It is a story that is driven by sounds and images that are not an attempt to assimilate, but a story driven to help create cultural understanding for the next generation of Indians.

As quoted by Sahasra Sambamoorthi, the Artistic Director of Navatman’s Mahabharata, “It is our work to create space in a world that does not acknowledge the Mahabharata as a great piece of literature, a reclamation of a text by those whose heritage revolves around it.”

The film will premiere at a gala event slated to be held at the SVA theater in Manhattan, NYC, on the evening of Nov 6. While this is an exclusive, invite-only event, the general public can access the film online on Navatman’s video rental app. Tickets are currently priced at $49.99 and the video can be rented for 2 days to be watched anytime, anywhere before it expires.

Combining traditional Indian arts with film, this feature is part movie, including spoken word to help audiences under-stand the story, part dance and music using mudras and hand

A still of dancers as ‘apsaras’ in Navatman’s Mahabharata

gestures in place of props and music and character storytell-ing methods from dance to help create emotional understanding of these stories.

In other ways, it is a feature film with its 4K video shots and surround sound, power-ful film editing and meaningful sets across New York and New Jersey.

“It's an incredible feat to have captured a massive story like the Mahabharata like we have. Our artists are not film actors, not theater actors, but professionally trained danc-ers & musicians who are great at their craft. I can proudly say that Navatman self-produced and created this opportunity using its own resources, a feat that will allow dancers and musicians around the world to embolden their cultural and artistic herit-age,” said Sridhar Shanmugam, Co-founder of Navatman.

A still of Kunti & the Pandavas

ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 5TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 14-20, 2021

6 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM NATIONAL COMMuNITy

Indian-American astronaut Raja Chari all set for first spaceflight

Florida: Indian-American astronaut Raja Chari is all set for his first space-flight, with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission preparing to take four astronauts to the International Space Station on a 6-month science mission.

Chari will be the commander of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Crew-3 mission, “responsible for all phases of flight, from launch to re-entry”, NASA said. The other three astronauts accom-panying Chari will be Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron and European Space Agen-cy’s Matthias Maurer.

The mission aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket is sched-uled to launch on Saturday, October 30, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the space agency said.

Chari, who became a NASA astronaut in 2017, will serve as an Expedition 66 flight engineer aboard the International Space Station, according to NASA.

He was born in Milwaukee, to an Indian immigrant father and Iowa native mother, but was raised in Cedar Falls, Iowa, which he considers his hometown.

Raja Chari will be the commander of the Crew Dragon spacecraft scheduled to launch on Oct 30(Photo: Twitter/@Astro_Raja)

Critical to have Indian-Americans at the table: Neera TandenWashington, DC: Neera Tanden, Pres-ident Joe Biden’s senior advisor, would like the diaspora community to play a critical role in the decision making process.

“It is critical to have Indian-Ameri-cans at the table, contributing, involved and engaged in helping make decisions,” she said last week. “Because as many have said before now, if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.”

“So that is why your voices are so important,” Tanden said. “Why is it that your engagement is so important, why is your role here in everything you do is so important.”

Tanden was among leading members of the Indian-American community attending an event hosted by community organization Indiaspora in Washington on Sept 29, the first such gathering since the Covid -19 pandemic hit the country.

Indian American diplomat Atul Keshap, who has just returned from New Delhi after a brief stint as US’ interim Chargé d’ affaires, sees a qualitative improvement in the relationship between the US and India. He recalled that during his first posting in India from 2005 to 2008, they were still trying to convince the Indian people about the value of a strategic partnership between the US and India. Another former diplomat, Nisha Desai Biswal, president of US-India Busi-ness Council believes a Free Trade Agree-ment is the next frontier in the India-US relationship.

“The time has come for us to get seri-ous about where the next frontier is in

US India ties,” said Biswal, who served as assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs under President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017.

Former US Ambassador to India, Rich-ard Verma, said the recent successful visit of Indian Prime Minister Naren-dra Modi shows the new chapter in this important bilateral relationship. “We can’t just let it go waste. We’ve got to all now work on it. The president gave us the roadmap to follow in trade and health and climate and security and, and so much more,” he said. “I’m actually pretty excited about the bilateral ties and even broader on Quadrilateral ties as well.”

Indian-American congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi and Dr Ami Bera, Dr Meena Seshamani, director of center for medicare and Indian ambassador to the US, Taranjit Sandhu, were among those who attended.

Neera Tanden, President Joe Biden’s senior advisor

Shree Saini becomes first Indian-American to win Miss World AmericaLos Angeles: The first Indi-an-American to win the crown of Miss World America 2021, Shree Saini of Washington State, is among the most unique pageant winners to be crowned.

An advocate for heart health, Shree Saini has had a perma-nent pacemaker since she was 12 and overcame a major car accident that left her with burns all over her face. But she rarely if ever lets any of that hold her back or define her. Shree Saini is also trained in journalism from

the University of Washington.According to her website,

Shree "began dancing at age 3, and continued to dance, even after receiving a pacemaker at 12 and being told she could never dance again. To regain her strength, Shree took extra dance classes and danced up to 6 hours a day for years. Shree is trained in ballet en pointe, contemporary, jazz, clogging and she even danced in her college hip hop team." Diana Hayden crowned Shree Saini at the

event, which was held at Miss World America headquarters in Los Angeles. She is also the first Indian-origin contestant to represent America on a global stage.

Right after the crowning moment was over, Shree Saini said in her statement, "I am happy and quite nervous. I can't express my feelings (in words). All the credit goes to my parents, especially my mother because of whose support I am here. Thank you Miss World America for this honour."

"I am the first American of Indian origin and first Asian to be crowned Miss World Amer-ica," Ms Saini wrote on Insta-gram.

"Shree, who is currently Miss World America Washing-ton, also holds the prestigious position of ''MWA National Beauty with a Purpose Ambas-sador'', a position she earned by working tirelessly to help those less fortunate and in need. Among her many accom-plishments, her work has been recognized by UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, Susan G Komen, and many others," the official Insta handle of Miss World America wrote.

Houston post office renamed in honour of slain Sikh cop

Houston: A post office in west Houston has been renamed to honor Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, the Indian-American Sikh police officer who died after being shot multiple times while on duty in the US state of Texas in 2019.

42-year-old Dhaliwal, Harris County sheriff ’s deputy and a father of three, was gunned down during a traffic stop on Sept 27, 2019.

“Our fallen brother deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal was honoured by renaming a postal office in west Harris County in his memory. We are grateful to the Texas delegation, Harris County Commissioners Court, United States Postal Office, & the Sikh community for honouring him,” Harris county sheriff ’s office said in a tweet on Oct 6.

Dhaliwal had made national headlines in 2015 when he became the first police officer in Texas to serve while keeping his Sikh articles of faith, including a turban and beard.

Houston’s Sikh community and local elected officials and members of law enforcement gathered on Oct 5 at a ceremony at 315 Addicks-Howell Road to dedicate the “Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office.”

“I am honoured to play a role in commemorating deputy Dhal-iwal’s remarkable life of selfless service,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, who brought the renaming legislation to the US House of Representatives.

“He represented the very best of our community: he worked for equality, connection, and community through his life of service to others,” Fletcher said.

Harris County sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the “remarkable commemoration” serves as a permanent reminder of Dhaliw-al’s “lasting contributions to our community”.

Father of the slain police officer Pyara Singh Dhali-wal expressed gratitude to the people of Houston for their support.

Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal was gunned down during a traffic stop on Sept 27, 2019

ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 7


ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 9NATIONAL COMMuNITy

Astronaut Sirisha Bandla joins Kalpana Chawla ProjectNew York: As UN celebrates “Women in Space” during World Space Week (Oct 4-10), Indian American astronaut Sirisha Bandla has joined board of advisers of the Kalpana Chawla Project for Innovation, Entrepre-neurism and Space Studies.

The Kalpana Chawla project at the International Space University (ISU) has been estab-lished to honor Dr. Kalpana Chawla, the first woman of Indian descent to go to space, who died in Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. The project is focused on developing strong technical and leadership qualities with talented Indian women.

“I am honored to join the Board of Advisors of the The Kalpana Chawla Project. Dr. Kalpana Chawla was not only a great inspiration for me, but also for millions of other young Indian women and girls,” stated Bandla in an ISU press release.

“This year’s UN World Space Week is particularly relevant because it celebrates the impor-tance of women in space,” added Bandla who flew on the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 mission to become the second India-born woman to go to space.

Born in Guntur, India, Bandla moved to the US, where she even-tually attended university and graduated with a BS in Aeronau-

tical/Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA from George Washington University. She’s the Vice Presi-dent of Government Affairs and Research Operations for Virgin Galactic, where she has worked since 2015.

Bandla also announced the graduation of five top schol-ars from 2021 Space Studies Program (SSP) at the ISU. They are Richal Abhang, Sucheshna Patil, Dr. Saswati Das, Monica Ekal and Dr. Garima Patel. Since 2017, the Dr. KC Scholars has been funding young Indian

women of talent to attend the ISU. There has been a total of 16 KC Scholars to date. The goal is to attract talented Indian women who are postgraduate students with backgrounds in science, medicine, materials, arts, policy, business management, satellite technology, and other space-re-lated areas of focus, who also share Dr. Chawla’s selfless and passionate pursuit of education and excellence, ISU said.

Since its founding in 1987, ISU has graduated more than 5200 students from over 110 countries.

Two Indian American women researchers win 2022 New Horizons ‘Oscars of Science’ San Francisco: Two Indian Ameri-cans, Vedika Khem-ani and Mansi Kasliwal, have been named recipients of the 2022 New Horizons in Phys-ics prize from the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.

The prize is nick-named the “Oscars of Science.” The Breakthrough Prize Foundation’s sponsors include Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google; Face-book founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan; Russian-Israeli entrepreneurs and venture capitalists Yuri and Julia Milner; and Anne Wojcicki, CEO of the personal genomics company 23andMe.

Vedika Khemani, assistant professor of physics at Stanford University, has been named a recipient of the coveted award for her pioneering work involv-ing time crystals.

Mansi Kasliwal, an Astron-omy Professor at the Califor-nia Institute of Technology, has been awarded "for (her) leader-ship in laying foundations for electromagnetic observations of sources of gravitational waves, and leadership in extract-ing rich information from the first observed collision of two neutron stars," according to the award citation.

Two Indian researchers from the University of Cambridge

California: An Indian Amer-ican student at Quarry Lane School in Dublin, California, is one of five winners of the 2021 Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship.

Esha Cyril, a current senior at Quarry Lane and a resident of Pleasanton, is the only high schooler to receive the prestig-ious scholarship, according to a press release.

The Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship aims to develop the next generation of women leaders. The scholar-ship helps close the gender gap in engineering, mobility, and autonomous driving fields by awarding female students inter-ested in pursuing an education and career in those disciplines. Five female STEM students will receive a scholarship of $10,000 each.

The scholarship program also helps funnel more women

into the STEM fields, resulting in a significant impact on the gender gap that still exists today, noted the release.

The participants are high school seniors or undergraduate students who are female, reside in the United States, and wish to pursue a STEM-related field of education.

California high school student wins 2021 Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship

Esha Cyril is the only high schooler to receive the prestigious scholarship

in England also won this year’s prize.

Shankar Balasubramanian, in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, was honored with the Life Sciences prize for developing next generation sequencing technologies, which allowed for immediate identification and characterization of the Covid-19 virus, rapid development of vaccines, and real-time moni-toring of new genetic variants. Balasubramaniam was knighted in 2017.

Suchitra Sebastian, a condensed matter physicist at Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, received a New Horizons Prize in Physics for her work with “high precision electronic and magnetic measurements that have profoundly changed our understanding of high temper-ature superconductors and unconventional insulators,” according to a press release.

UC Davis PhD student among top 50 finalists of Global Student PrizeCalifornia: An Indian Amer-ican 18-year-old Ph.D. student, Tanishq Abraham from UC Davis, California, has been named among the Top 50 final-ists for a $100,000 Global Student Prize.

The international prize is sponsored by the London-based philanthropy organization The Varkey Foundation and the US-based Chegg.org, a philan-thropy division of Chegg. This is the inaugural edition and is the sister prize to the $1 million Global Teacher Prize awarded since 2015.

The 50 Global Student Prize finalists come from 30 coun-tries and range in ages 17 to 30 years old. They were shortlisted from more than 3,500 applicants from 94 countries, according to a press release.

In 2016, after graduating from engineering college, Abraham became the youngest biomedi-cal engineer at 15. Upon hearing the news, Abraham said: “It’s humbling to see that my love for learning and overcoming chal-lenges have inspired others. I am very excited and honored to be one of the Top 50 finalists.”

In the last 10 years, overcom-ing barriers and challenges, Abraham has inspired many around the world through his exemplary educational and scientific achievements at a young age. Recently, a Madras high court judge used Abra-ham’s life story and quoted his TEDx talk given when he was just 9 years old. The judge cited: “People should go to university and college when they are ready, not when they are old enough to go,” in connection with a case for a 16-year-old who was denied entry to a college.

Abraham plans to become a medical doctor as well as a research scientist. His inval-uable contribution to inspir-ing many students globally, in education and in the area of biomedical engineering research at remarkably young age has been recognized by the Global Student Prize selection committee.

At the time of the applica-tion’s deadline (in May 2021), the prize money was $50,000 but it was a pleasant surprise for the finalists during the announcement that the prize was doubled.

“Our finalists this year have a made a huge impact in areas from the environment to equal-ity and justice, from health and wellbeing to education and skills, from youth empower-ment to ending poverty.

We were so inspired by the achievements of these extraor-dinary students throughout the world that applied for the inaugural Global Student Prize that Chegg chose to double the value of the prize to $100,000,” said Lila Thomas, head of Chegg.org.

10 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM AwAreNeSS

Fight climate change. No driving required.

South Asian Times_ClimateBusAd_cmyk10x7.indd 1 8/31/21 1:28 PM

Governor Hochul declares October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month

New York: Governor Kathy Hochul declared October as Domestic Violence Aware-ness Month in New York and announced a $6.5 million anti-vi-olence fund to be used to provide support to survivors of domestic abuse and their families.

Administered by the state Office of Children and Family Services, the $6.5 million will support two initiatives: $4.8 million allocated to 79 service providers statewide to provide housing for domestic violence survivors,while $1.7 million will be allocated to five non-profit organizations that offer domestic violence preven-

tion programs. Governor also directed the state landmarks to be illuminated purple on Oct 1 night to mark the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Additionally, Hochul high-lighted a new Technology Safety and Innovation for Survivors public awareness campaign, which will be coordinated by the state Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV).

Hochul said on Oct 1, “Our systems must evolve and we must continue to offer innova-tive solutions to meet the needs of survivors and families, wher-ever they are.”

OPDV’s new social media campaign will highlight tech-nology’s intersection with domestic violence and spread awareness on the forms of tech-nology-assisted abuse. Later this month, OPDV will also release a new publication to help survi-vors and advocates understand technology-assisted abuse and provide concrete tools and steps to protect privacy and safety in a digital world. The agency also launched its new website.

New York State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline is available 27/7: 800-942-6906 (call), 844-997-2121 (text) or @opdv.ny.gov (chat).

Eye injury prevention month: October 1 - 31New York: Accidental eye injury is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the United States. More than one million people per year are affected by an eye injury and 90% of these injuries could have been prevented had the individ-uals been wearing protective eye wear.

October is observed as Eye Injury Prevention Month across the US, with an aim to raise awareness about the types of eye injury that occur that could be avoided, as well as highlight-ing the need for more people to use protective eye wear appro-priately.

Some facts and tips to protect your eyes:• The leading causes of eye

injuries include sports acci-dents, consumer fireworks, household chemicals and battery acid, as well as work-shop and yard debris.

• Eyes can be damaged by the sun, not just dust, chemicals and foreign bodies.

• Wear safety goggles when working in the workshop or yard, jump-starting your car or working with cleaning or other chemicals.

• Appropriate protective eye wear is classed as eye wear with “ANSI Z87.1” marked on the lens or frame.

• Always wear appropriate protective eyewear during sports and recreational activ-ities.

• In case of a chemical burn to the eye, flush the eye with clean water and seek emer-gency medical treatment immediately.

• Injuries such as cuts, chem-ical burns or foreign bodies stuck in the eye are emergen-cies. No self-treatment, rush to a doctor.In order to ensure healthy

vision, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends frequent, comprehensive eye exams every one or two years to prevent any serious problem. So if you haven’t had an eye exam-ination recently, get one booked today!

ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 11INdIA

US Deputy Secretary of State Sherman holds talks with Foreign Secretary Shringla

New Delhi: US Deputy Secre-tary of State Wendy Sherman and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Oct 6 held

extensive talks covering the situation in Afghanistan, coop-eration under Quad framework and a range of other issues.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman arrived in India on a three-day visit

Sherman arrived here on Oct 5 on a three-day visit, nearly two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with US President Joe Biden in Wash-ington.

“They discussed issues of regional interest, especially the evolving situation in Afghani-stan, as well as developments at the UN. Reiterated commitment for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, including through continued cooperation under the Quad,” MEA spokes-person Arindam Bagchi tweeted after Shringla-Sherman talks.

He said both sides took stock of bilateral issues ranging from Covid-19, security and defence, economic, climate and clean energy and people-to-people linkages.

New Delhi: The Lakhimpur Kheri incident may become a major poll plank in the upcom-ing Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. The State will go to the polls in February-March next year.

While the border areas with Delhi and Haryana remained the active protest region for farmers since it began in August 2020, in Uttar Pradesh it was confined to its western parts. The Opposition, particularly the Congress, is now looking to take it to eastern Uttar Pradesh over the next few months leading to the assembly polls. Farmers and farm laborers dominate the largely rural landscape of Uttar Pradesh. Further penetration of the farm stir may emerge as a bigger factor in UP polls.

Political leaders were denied permission to visit Lakhimpur Kheri. However, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait was allowed to visit the affected families. Tikait and the UP government

New Delhi: One-and-a-half years after India completely suspended tourist visas in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Central government has announced that it will begin issuing visas from October 15.

However, for a month, tourists will be allowed entry into India only on chartered flights. Those wanting to visit India on sched-uled commercial flights would have to wait till November 15, the government said.

“After considering various inputs, the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) has decided to begin granting of fresh Tour-ist Visas for foreigners coming to India through chartered flights with effect from October

New Delhi: Health Ministry has warned people about the threat of Covid-19 resurgence during the coming festival and wedding season, and advised them to avoid crowded places and cele-brate festivals virtually.

Asserting repeatedly that the second wave of the pandemic is not over, the government said that though the situation is plateauing, the country is still reporting as high as 20,000-odd new infections every day.

“We cannot take the current stable situation for granted. We have to be mindful of the fact that the pandemic is going on and can take an untoward turn if we are not careful,” an official said at a joint media briefing on Oct 7. Warning people about the threat of Covid-19 resurgence during the coming festival and wedding season, Health Ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal said, “Please watch your October, November, December.”

He advised people to avoid crowded places and unnecessary travel and to stay home, celebrate festivals virtually and explore online modes of shopping. The government said that Kerala recorded 50 per cent of the total

UP elections in sight, Opposition ups its ante over Lakhimpur Kheri violence

soon reached an agreement for compensation and a probe. CM Yogi may have insulated his government from farmers’ anger. The unresolved issue is that of the continuation of Ajay Misra in the Modi government and action against his son for alleged involvement in the inci-dent.

As the opposition leaders are raising demand for the removal of Ajay Mishra, the minister of state met Union home minis-ter Amit Shah in New Delhi on Oct 6. Ajay Mishra has been claiming that his son was not there in the car which ran over the protesters. He claimed the driver lost the balance after being attacked by stone-pelters and then some protesters came under the car. Later, his driver was lynched

A vehicle set ablaze after violence broke out after farmers agitating were allegedly run over by a vehicle in Lakhimpur Kheri (Photo: PTI)

and the car was set on fire, the minister has claimed.

The FIR has named Ashish Mishra and said that he was driving the car which ran over the protesters. According to the FIR, Ashish also opened fire after getting down from the car and then he went into hiding.

However, a fresh video of the incident suggests that three cars were involved in the Lakhim-pur Kheri violence and those cars were not under any attack. The first car rammed a group of protesters who were walking with flags at an unexpectedly high speed, followed by the two other cars.

The case of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence may not reach its judicial conclusion before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elec-tion but it may have an impact on the polls. The challenge for the BJP is to counter the Oppo-sition’s aim to link the Lakhim-pur Kheri violence to the larger question of farm distress and build a poll campaign on it.

Pandemic restrictions eased, Govt opens India for foreign tourists

15, 2021,” the ministry said in a statement issued on Oct 7. It added that foreign tourists enter-ing India by flights other than chartered aircraft would be able to do so only with effect from November 15 on fresh Tourist Visas.

“All due protocols and norms relating to Covid-19 as notified by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare from time to time, shall be adhered to by the foreign tour-ists, carriers bringing them into India and all other stakeholders at landing stations,” the state-ment said adding that with this, the restrictions placed on visa and international travel stand further eased given the overall Covid-19 situation.

Govt warns people of Covid surge during festival, wedding season

coronavirus cases in the country last week. Kerala has over lakh active cases currently. The figure in four other states –Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur and Megha-laya – is ranging between 10,000 and 50,000. The government said 71% of India’s adult population has received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, while 27 per cent have got both doses.

With 22,431 people testing posi-tive for coronavirus infection in a day, India’s total tally of Covid-19 cases rose to 3,38,94,312, accord-ing to the Union Health Minis-try’s data updated on Oct 7 morn-ing. The death toll climbed to 4,49,856 with 318 fresh fatalities.

All foreign tourists must adhere to Covid-19 protocols and norms notified by health ministry. (Photo courtesy: ANI)

Maskless devotees pay obeisance at the Durgiana temple in large crowds on the first day of the nine-day long Navratri festival, in Amritsar (Courtesy: PTI)


Residents gather next to the debris of their houses that collapsed following an earthquake in the remote mountainous district of Harnai, Paki-stan. (Photo courtesy: AFP/ Getty Images)

SuBCONTINeNT

At least 20 dead after a strong earthquake struck Pakistan

Quetta: At least 20 people were killed and more than 200 injured after a powerful earthquake of 5.9 magnitude hit Pakistan’s southwestern region in the early hours of Thursday, October 7.

Officials fear the death toll could rise as the quake left a trail of destruction in a region filled with mud houses and coal mines, with social media posts from cities including Quetta showing alarmed residents gathering outside homes. At least 100 mud houses collapsed during the earth-

quake, according to local reports. The epicenter of the tremor has been placed in Balochistan province at a depth of about 20km, US Geological Survey data showed, near the town of Harnai.

And while Harnai appears to be the worst-af-fected town in terms of damage, surrounding areas like Quetta, Sibbi, Pishin, Muslim Bagh, Ziarat, Qila Abdullah, Sanjavi, Zhob and Chaman also felt the tremors, said the regional Provincial Disaster Management Authority.

Muhammad Imran, High Commissioner of Bang-

ladesh, honored 10 Indian na-val war veterans from across the country, acknowledging their contribution to the lib-eration of Bangladesh in 1971, at a function hosted onboard Bangladesh Navy warship BNS Somudra Avijan docked at Visakhapatnam on Oct 6.

Bangladesh honors Indian war veterans

Washington: John Sopko, the US special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction, has said that his office would look into allegations that former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani took millions of dollars with him when he left the country.

Ghani has said he left Kabul to prevent blood-shed and denied reports he took large sums of money with him. But speculation

US watchdog to examine allegations Ashraf Ghani fled Afghanistan with money

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani left the country as Taliban entered Kabul

has persisted, and Congress asked Sopko's team to get to the bottom of it.

"We haven't proven that yet. We're looking into that. Actually, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee has asked us to look into that," Sopko told a House of Representatives subcommittee on Oct 7.

Ghani has been bitterly criticized for fleeing as the Islamist Taliban reached the outskirts of Kabul in August.

China to provide 1 million Covid vaccines to Nepal Kathmandu: China has commit-ted to provide medical assistance, 1 million vaccines to Nepal to tackle possible third Covid-19 wave.

China will provide Nepal medical assistance worth $ 775,590 and an additional 1 million Covid-19 vaccines to help the country tackle a possi-ble third wave of the pandemic, Minister of State for Health Umesh Shrestha announced on Oct 7.

The announcement by Shresta came after his meeting with Chinese ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi during which various matters related to health affairs of the country were discussed.

"As a part of its consistent support to Nepal, the Govt. of China will also provide medi-cal assistance worth 5 million RMB equivalent to 92.4 million Nepalese rupees to Nepal to install preventive measures in our health system in a bid to save lives from (possible) the third wave of the pandemic," said Shrestha in a tweet. The additional grant of anti-Covid

vaccine that China will provide is SinoVac, according to the offi-cials at the Ministry of Health and Population.

Of the 1 million doses of Sino-vac, 300,000 will be given to the Nepali Army.

Prior to this, China had provided Verocell vaccines to Nepal and the Nepal government had also purchased the same vaccines from China.

The State Minister also informed that the "China-aided 1.6 million Verocell will arrive in Kathmandu between October 20 to 23."

Umesh Shrestha, Nepal’s minister of state for health

India completes, hands over power transmission line to NepalKathmandu: India has completed and handed over to Nepal a 22KV power trans-mission line, a cross-border economic initiative under India's Neighborhood First policy. The 106-km Koshi Corri-dor transmission line, costing a total of NRs 10.40 billion (USD 86.8 million) is being built under Government of India’s Line of Credit of USD 550 million, extended by the EXIM Bank of India, the Indian Embassy here said in a statement issued on Oct 6.

The package 1 of this project, worth USD 37.3 million, was executed by India’s Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd (KPTL) and handed over to Nepal Elec-tricity Authority after success-ful completion and charging of the line. A function was held on

Oct 6 in Hile area of, Dhankuta Municipality of Nepal to mark the completion of construction of the 220 kv Double Circuit Koshi Corridor power trans-mission line (Inarwa-Basant-pur-Baneshwar-Tumlingtar) and its handover to Nepal Electricity Authority, the statement said.

Once the remaining two pack-ages are completed, the project will ensure smooth power evacuation from the genera-tion projects coming up in the Arun and Tamor river basins, with power output totaling about 2,000 MW. The project was handed over by KPTL and EXIM Bank of India to Manag-ing Director, Nepal Electricity Authority in presence of senior officials of Indian embassy and administration representatives from Dhankuta.

Nepal gets new strategic transmission line with Indian support. (Photo: IANS)


14 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM INTerNATIONAL

Scholz or Laschet, Germany not yet decided on new Chancellor

Berlin: The only certainty so far popped up by the uncharac-teristically fragmented election results in Germany is both Olaf Scholz and Armin Laschet need a coalition to claim the chair Angela Merkel vacates. Whoever reaches the magic 368 number first is to be the new German Chancellor.

After the results were announced, the Christian Demo-cratic Union-Christian social Union (CDU-CSU) Alliance led by Laschet refused to concede defeat to Scholz’s Social Demo-cratic Party (SPD) given the small margin of victory. This has led to both parties heading to the negotiating table with

smaller parties, with both ruling out the possibility of working with the far-right nationalist party, Alternative for Germany (AfD). This is no surprise given that the party has a reputation for embracing racist, Islamopho-bic, xenophobic and Neo-Nazi sentiments.

This leaves with only three possible combinations to successfully form the govern-ment: ‘The Traffic Light Coali-tion’, ‘The Jamaica Coalition’ and ‘The Grand Coalition’.

The Traffic Light Coalition consisting of the SPD, Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens is named so since the party colors make up traffic light

colors. The Greens have already made their preference for a traf-fic light coalition clear, which is not surprising given that both the SPD and the Greens have leftist ideologies and have a lot of common stances. While the FDP do not have major differences socially to the SPD, their differ-ences when it comes to economic policy will prove to be a stum-bling block in negotiations.

Although it is fairly uncer-tain which coalition is likely to form the government, the Traffic Light Coalition is the most likely with Scholz as the next Chancel-lor of Germany.

The Jamaica Coalition is also named after party colors, in this case colors represent the Jamai-can flag. The Greens and the FDP feature in this coalition as well. The FDP has made their preference to form a govern-ment with the CDU-CSU alliance very clear, as they share similar stances on fiscal policy and want to cut down on spending unlike the SPD. The CDU-CSU alliance is attempting to perform a deli-cate balancing act by courting the Greens and suggesting that all spending with regards to the environment will not be counted

as a part of the budget. The idea is that the Greens can increase spending on fighting climate change like they want to, while keeping the budget balanced like the FDP wants to. However, as kingmakers both the FDP and the Greens could be tempted to force major concessions out of a desperate Laschet, who is unpopular among the German public right now.

The odds of the Jamaica Coalition forming the govern-ment are almost as good as that of Traffic Light Coalition. Should this happen, Laschet would be the next Chancellor of Germany.

Though the Grand Coalition, a two-party coalition between the SPD and the CDU-CSU, is the least likely of the three possible

ToTal SeaTS735

CDU/CSl SPD afD fDP left Greens SSW

196 206 83 92 39 118 1

German Federal election 2021

Distribution of seatsPreliminary official result

Olaf Scholz

Armin Laschetcoalitions, it would be a mistake to completely rule it out. In fact, the current Merkel govern-ment in power is a Grand Coali-tion formed in 2017 between the two parties. If against all odds the Grand Coalition forms the Government, then it is anyone’s guess which of the two would get to be Chancellor.

While both Laschet and Scholz have claimed they will form a government by Christ-mas, political commentators have been quick to point out that it is an optimistic target and that negotiations are expected to draw out for longer.

Until then, Germany will remain in the safe hands of Merkel, as she keeps the Chancellorship in a caretaker capacity.

By JoSePh Benno

ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 15INTerNATIONAL

Saudi court upholds 20-year term for critic, draws US rebuke

Washington: A court in Saudi Arabia upheld a 20-year prison term imposed on a Saudi aid worker who had criticized the government on Twitter drawing a rare public rebuke from the US in another sign of tension between the Biden administra-tion and the kingdom. The Oct 6 ruling also upheld a 20-year

travel ban on Abdulrahman al-Sadhan after his release, meaning the 37-year-old would not be truly free until he is in his seventies.

The case has possible links with an FBI investigation and federal case in California against the two men accused of spying on behalf of the kingdom

Abdulrahman al-Sadhan poses with his sister Areej Al Sadhan for graduation in California in 2013. (Photo courtesy: AP)

while working at Twitter with an alleged third accomplice. The men allegedly accessed the user data of over 6,000 Twitter accounts, including nearly three dozen usernames the kingdom had wanted disclosed.

Al-Sadhan's family has said his identity appears to have been among those leaked to Saudi authorities as the person behind an anonymous Arabic Twit-ter account that had amassed a large following and was critical of the government. His case is the latest example of the contin-ued crackdown against those who criticize the Saudi govern-ment and Crown Prince Moham-med bin Salman It also shows the lengths to which the authori-ties have gone to silence them.

The US State Department, which does not often comment on individual cases of Saudi human rights activists, said in a statement on Oct 6 that it was disappointed the original sentence was upheld, saying that “the peaceful exercise of univer-sal rights should never be a punishable offense.”

Nobel Prize winners in sciences, literature announced

Stockholm: The Royal Swed-ish Academy has announced this year’s Nobel Prize winners in Medicine, Physics, Chemis-try and Literature. Tanzanian writer Abdulrazak Gurnah has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature “for works that explore the legacies of imperial-ism on uprooted individuals”.

Berlin: A 100-year-old former concentration camp guard has gone on trial for assisting in the murder of thousands of prison-ers in Berlin during the Second World War.

The centenarian, a member of the Nazi party’s paramilitary SS, is charged with 3,518 counts of accessory to murder after allegedly standing guard in the watchtower at Sachsenhausen concentration camp between 1942 and 1945.

The defendant, named only as Josef S because of German law, has been deemed fit enough to stand trial despite his advanced age, although sessions will be limited to just two and a half hours each day, the Independent reported.

Recent years have seen a spate of charges brought against now extremely elderly former camp guards for crimes against

Japan-born Manabe is senior meteorologist at Prince-ton University in New Jersey. Hasselmann is from Germany and Parisi is from Italy.

Research by Manabe and Hasselmann led to computer models of the Earth's climate that can predict the impact of global warming, winning

Abdulrazak Gurnah, Nobel Literature Prize winner

L-R: Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi, Nobel Prize winners in Physics

Benjamin List (L) and David MacMillan (R), Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry

humanity committed during the Second World War.

A 2011 court ruling paved the way to these final prosecu-tions, stating that even those who contributed indirectly to wartime murders, without pull-ing a trigger or giving an order, could bear criminal responsi-bility.

100-year-old Nazi camp guard goes on trial in Germany

A 100-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard has gone on trial in Germany (Photo courtesy: Reuters)

German-born Benjamin List and Scotland-born David MacMillan were announced as the winners of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on building molecules that are mirror images of one another.

Three scientists Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi were announced as the winners of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work to understand complex systems, such as the Earth's climate.

them one half of the prize money. Parisi found that hidden rules influence the apparently random behavior of solid mate-rials and worked out a way to describe them mathematically.

The prestigious award comes with a gold medal and 10 million Swedish kronor (over $1.14 million). The prize money comes from a bequest left by the prize’s creator, Swedish inven-tor Alfred Nobel, who died in 1895.

London: More than 600 jour-nalists plumbed 11.9 million new records, called the Pandora Papers, which were leaked from 14 financial service providers, from Dubai to Panama. They uncovered secret holdings of politicians, billionaires and business leaders and the actions of professional middlemen who sell tax avoidance and secrecy.

The more than 330 current and former politicians iden-tified as beneficiaries of the secret accounts include Jordan’s King Abdullah II, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Czech Republic Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Kenyan Presi-dent Uhuru Kenyatta, Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso, and associates of both Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.• Days ahead of the Czech

Republic’s October 8-9 parlia-mentary election, the docu-

Pandora Papers expose offshore dealings of super rich

ments allegedly tied the coun-try’s prime minister, Babis, to a secret $22m estate in a hilltop village near Cannes, France.

• The King of Jordan secretly spent more than £70m ($100m) on a property empire in the UK and US.

• The Papers also listed Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and his mother as beneficiaries of a secretive foundation in Panama.

• Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan is not accused of any wrongdoing. But members of his inner circle, including Finance Minis-

Kuala Lumpur: Military-ruled Myanmar could be excluded from this month’s summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) if it refuses to cooperate with the bloc’s special envoy, Malaysia’s foreign minis-ter announced. In August, the 10-member Southeast Asian

Myanmar Junta could be excluded from ASEAN summit: Malaysia

ter Shaukat Fayaz Ahmed Tarin, are accused of hiding millions of dollars in wealth in secret companies or trusts, according to the jour-nalists' findings.

• The data allegedly revealed names of several Indians, including Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Ambani, Vinod Adani, Jackie Shroff, Kiran Mazum-dar-Shaw, Niira Radia and Satish Sharma. The Indian government said a group of investigative agencies will probe into the allegations.

• Tony and Cherie Blair did not have to pay £312,000 in stamp duty when buying a £6.45m London townhouse, the papers exposed. No laws were broken in buying the Harcourt Street office but Mr Blair had previously been critical of tax loopholes, once saying "the tax system is a haven of scams, perks, City deals and profits".

bloc selected Brunei’s Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof as its special envoy to Myanmar, to help solve the political crisis that has followed the military’s seizure of power in February.

But the junta’s marked lack of cooperation with the envoy has prompted Malaysian Foreign

Minister Saifuddin Abdul-lah to suggest that it might be excluded from the summit scheduled for October 26-28. Following a virtual meeting of the 10 ASEAN foreign minis-ters on Oct 4, Saifuddin said in a post on Twitter that Malaysia had expressed its disappoint-ment at the junta’s lack of coop-eration with Erywan.

16 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM BuSINeSS & eCONOMy

Moody's upgrades outlook on India to stable from negativeRatings agency Moody's

Investors Service this week upgraded its outlook

on India to stable from nega-tive, saying downside risks in Asia's third largest economy and its financial institutions have reduced.

"The decision to change the outlook to stable reflects Moody's view that the downside risks from negative feedback between the real economy and financial system are receding," the agency said in a note.

Moody's said India's decision to keep the financial institutions flush with liquidity also reduced the risk to the country from the financial sector. The Indian economy has shown signs of a strong rebound after a second wave of Covid-19 infection killed thousands of people in April and May. Moody’s also affirmed the long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India. The rating outlooks of these banks have also been changed to stable from negative.

“The affirmation of Axis, ICICI, HDFC Bank and SBI's deposit ratings and change in outlook to stable follows the

change in outlook on the sover-eign rating to stable,” Moody’s said in a statement. “The mail previous negative outlook on the sovereign rating drove the negative outlook on these banks, because of strong linkages to the sovereign credit profile.”

The rating agency high-lighted that the affirmation of state-run banks, reflect the fact that despite the significant economic challenges since the onset of the pandemic, their asset quality has only deterio-rated modestly while capital has improved.

“Corporate asset quality has improved as legacy issues have been resolved while deteriora-tion in retail asset quality was relatively moderate,” the agency said. Asset quality will further improve if economic activity continues to normalise.”

The latest move by Moody's supports the government view that India is rebounding at a

pace faster than earlier antic-ipated and doubts about its economic revival have been put to rest.In May, when Covid-19 had ravaged lives and liveli-hood in the Asian country, many were questioning if India still deserved its ‘investment grade’ status. During that time, a spate of economists and ratings agen-cies had downgraded their growth outlook for India.

But now, many economists and the government point towards higher tax collections, strong power consumption and record growth in exports as signs of economic revival, which may get India close to its economic growth target of 10.5% in the current fiscal year.

India's economy grew 20.1% during the April-June period, as against a 24.4% contraction during the same period last year.

Moody's also said it expects the better economic environ-ment will allow for a gradual reduction of the general govern-ment fiscal deficit over the next few years, preventing further deterioration of the country's sovereign credit profile.

India is currently aiming to reduce its fiscal deficit to 6.8% from 9.3% last year.

China’s property crisis worsens

After Chinese real estate giant Evergrande, two more property compa-

nies have missed their debt repayment deadlines, in the latest sign that distress is spreading through the country’s real estate sector.

A credit crunch among Chinese developers could drive a broader crash in a sector that comprises about a quarter of the Chinese economy.

Shenzhen-based prop-erty developer Fantasia Hold-ings Group Co missed a debt payment deadline on Oct 4. Fitch Ratings estimates Fanta-sia has nearly $2 billion of inter-national bond payments to make between now and the end of next year as well as almost $1 billion of local bond payments.

Shanghai-based Sinic Hold-ings became the latest Chinese developer to be downgraded by the global ratings agency. Fitch said it downgraded Sinic after the company said it had missed interest payments and due to uncertainty over a $246m bond repayment due later this month.

Frances Haugen, who worked at Facebook for two years before leaving

in May, testified before a Senate subcommittee on Oct 5, accusing Facebook of harming children, and weakening democracy.

Haugen claimed that the company is aware of how its platforms are used to spread misinformation, hate and violence.

The Wall Street Journal had published a scathing series of reports based on internal docu-ments provided by a whistle-blower. On Oct 3, in an episode of CBS’ ‘60 Minutes’, the whis-tleblower revealed her identity.

Haugen’s revelations are particularly significant as Face-

Facebook whistleblower testifies at Senate hearing

Frances Haugen told lawmakers that Facebook prioritized profits over its users’ safety

book has been under the scan-ner in recent years for not doing enough to prevent hate speech online and to protect the data of its vast user base.

Haugen worked at Facebook for nearly two years as a prod-uct manager in the company’s civic integrity team. Her job was largely focused on tracking the spread of misinformation on the platform and ensuring that the platform was not used to desta-bilize democracy. At the Senate hearing, Haugen accused the giant tech company of pursu-ing profits over safety. She urged stricter government oversight to alleviate the dangers Facebook poses, from harming children to inciting political violence

to fuel misinformation. She accused the company of failing to make changes to Instagram after internal research showed apparent harm to some teens and of being dishonest in its public fight against hate and misinformation.

In 2019, Haugen joined the company’s civic integrity team, which looked at election inter-ference worldwide. The team, however, was disbanded soon after the US presidential elec-tions in 2020.

In her ’60 Minutes’ interview, Haugen said she began to lose faith in Facebook soon after the civic integrity team was disbanded. Its work wasdivided between a number of different departments, Facebook later said. But the company was not doing enough to prevent misin-formation, she contended. “There were conflicts of inter-est between what was good for the public and what was good for Facebook,” she said during the interview. “And Facebook over and over again chose to optimize for its own interests like making more money.”

She accused the social media platform of lying about the amount of progress it has made in combating hate speech online. Haugen went as far as claiming that Facebook was used to plan the Capitol riot on Jan 6, after the company chose to turn off safety systems.

The halted under-construction Evergrande Cultural Tourism City in China's Suzhou city (Photo courtesy: AFP)

Fears of an Evergrande failure caused a sharp rise in borrowing costs for other junk-rated Chinese developers and cast doubt on the health of some smaller Chinese banks.

From once being in the Fortune 500 companies list, Shen-zhen-based Evergrande has now turned to be the world’s most indebted real estate company. Its debts of $305 billion are big enough that a messy collapse could hit property prices. Ever-grande said in a statement that its shares were halted on Oct 4 due to a pending announcement of a possible offer for shares of the company. Rival Hong Kong-listed property company Hopson Development is set to buy a 51% stake in Evergrande Real Estate for around $5bn, accord-ing to Chinese media reports. So far, Beijing has not commented directly on Evergrande's finan-cial problems although the country's central bank and state media have signaled that the government is ready to help protect individual citizens exposed to the property market.

US vows to take all necessary steps to defend itself on China trade

The US has promised a new approach to trade relations

with China, saying it will take “all steps necessary” to protect US interests “to the hilt”.

Trade Representative Kath-erine Tai said she will seek new talks with Beijing over its failure to keep promises made in the first part of a trade deal struck with Donald Trump.

She also did not rule out imposing further trade tariffs. Yet the US will drop a plan

to make China reform its “non-market economy”.

Instead, Ms Tai said America had to become more competitive in the face of China’s growing economic might.

“For too long, China’s lack of adherence to global trading norms has undercut the pros-perity of Americans and others around the world,” she told a briefing in Washington.

“We must defend - to the hilt - our economic interests... That means taking all steps necessary to protect ourselves against the waves of damage inflicted over the years through unfair compe-tition.”

Since 2017, the US and China have imposed tariffs on billions of dollars of each other’s goods after Washington accused Beijing of blocking access to its markets and stealing American intellectual property.

Ambassador Katherine Tai, US Trade Rep-resentative (Photo courtesy: Getty Images)


Amazon has also partnered with companies like Disney and Mattel to bring more content to the

TeChNOLOgy

New Amazon products for kids and elderlyHere’s a glimpse of some of the products and services for kids, fitness enthusiasts and elderly that Amazon announced at its annual fall event last week

Amazon Kids+, Hey DisneyAmazon has added more new content to Amazon Kids+ includ-ing series and games. These include Do Re Mi, Arpo, Super Spy Ryan, Blippie’s Treehouse

Amazon Hey Disney (Image: Amazon)

Amazon GlowA new device, the Glow comes with a screen and a projector built into the device that offers an immer-sive experience for kids. There is an 8-inch LCD screen that will allow kids to watch their parents, teachers and guardians while the projected image below acts as a second interactive screen. The device is also portable and can be picked and placed anywhere to use with any flat surface.

Amazon Glow also supports object scanning to turn pictures and toys into digital elements like stickers and jigsaw puzzles.

Amazon Halo ViewA sequel to Amazon’s Halo, the Halo View comes with a display and comes with 7 days of battery life. It features a number of differ-ent leather, metal and other bands. It will feature a number of health tracking abilities like heart-rate tracking as well as Halo Fitness workout plans and Halo Nutrition personalized meal plan-ner (Both included in the Halo membership).

Alexa TogetherAlexa Together is a service that will let users help aging family members feel more comfort-able living independently. An extension to Care Hub, Alexa Together will bring new features like urgent response, hands-free 24/7 access to a professional emergency help-line and more.

The service will also be compatible with third-party devices that can detect any

and Monkie Kid. After adding support for Shaquille O’Neal and Melissa McCarthy, Amazon is also adding more real-life charac-ters to the Alexa voice assistant. The company will soon offer Hey Disney, which will allow users to interact with their favorite Disney and even Star Wars characters. The assistant will also break in trivia and jokes.

Hey Disney will come to life with Alexa at home and across Walt Disney World Resort hotel rooms.. Amazon also announced a new Echo Show stand with a Mickey Mouse theme.

Amazon Glow (Image: Amazon)

device. Glow will also let kids call pre-selected contacts. The Glow is priced at $249.99.

The Amazon Halo View fitness tracker (Image: Amazon)Amazon Alexa Together (Image: Amazon)

issues at home, like someone falling. Alexa Together will also make help more available when needed, allowing anyone like a caring neighbor to help someone in need. You can also add contacts to a user’s Alexa account so they can call friends and family, hands-free. The subscription price for Together is $19.99 a month.

18 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM eNvIrONMeNT

Massive oil spill off Southern California coast renews calls to ban offshore drillingA leak in an oil pipeline last week-

end caused a spill off the coast of Southern California, sending

about 126,000 gallons of oil into the ocean in one of the worst oil spills in recent California history. The environmental disaster has renewed calls to ban offshore drilling. The federal investigators said on Oct 5 that a ship’s anchor may have hooked, dragged and torn an underwa-ter pipeline off Huntington Beach result-

Workers clean oil from the sand south of the pier in California’s Newport Beach on Oct. 5, 2021. (Photo courtesy: AP)

Workmen using pitchforks, rakes and shovels attempt to clean up oil-soaked straw from the beach at California’s Santa Barbara Harbor on Feb. 7, 1969. The 1969 spill helped spark the modern environmental movement. (Photo courtesy: AP)

Making all Indian cities garbage free, water secureThe initiatives Prime

Minister Narendra Modi has launched to commem-

orate Gandhi Jayanti this year are aimed to address the two main challenges faced by urban India, cleanliness and water scarcity, and to help provide tap water connection in rural areas.

Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0) and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 have

ing in the spill that fouled beaches and a protected marshland, potentially closing them for weeks along with commercial and recreational fishing in a major hit to the local economy.

They also found the pipeline owner didn’t quickly shut down operations after a safety system alerted to a possi-ble spill. Houston-based Amplify Energy Corp. owns the pipeline.Some reports of a possible spill, a petroleum smell and an

oily sheen on the waters off Huntington Beach came in on Oct 1 night, but weren’t corroborated and Amplify Energy didn’t report a spill until the next morning, authorities said. An alarm went off in a company control room at 2:30 a.m. on Oct 2 that pressure had dropped in the pipe-line, indicating a possible leak. However, Amplify waited until 6:01 a.m. to shut down the pipeline and another three hours to notify the US Coast Guard’s National Response Center for oil spills, investigators said.

Meanwhile, Coast Guard officials defended their decision to wait until next morning to investigate a possible spill, first reported some 10 hours earlier, saying they did not have enough corrob-orating evidence and was hindered by darkness and a lack of technology to seek out the spill.

This latest spill has renewed calls to completely ban offshore drilling in California, which has been a leader in restricting offshore oil drilling since the infamous 1969 Santa Barbara spill that sparked the modern environmental move-ment. The state hasn’t issued a new lease in state water in five decades, but drilling from existing platforms continues.

Democratic members of Congress from California aim to bring in a federal legislation to ban all offshore oil drill-ing, but it’s not politically easy. Califor-nia remains the nation’s seventh-larg-est oil producing state, and the industry employs over 150,000 people and the state revenue from oil and gas leases is consid-erable. Moreover, any proposal to further restrict drilling in California is likely to increase demand for imports from Saudi Arabia, Ecuador and other countries. Imports account for more than half the state’s oil use.

Commemorating Gandhi Jayanti: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0 schemes on Oct 1

been designed to realize the aspi-ration to make all cities Garbage Free and Water Secure. These flagship missions signify a step forward towards effectively addressing the challenges of rapidly urbanizing India. It will also help in achieving the targets set under the Sustainable Devel-opment Goals 2030.

Launching the initiatives at a function in New Delhi on Oct 1, the Prime Minister said

that the aim of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 is to make cities garbage-free while the second phase of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation is to make cities water secure. Asserting that cleanliness is not just for a day, fortnight or year, Modi said the mega cleanliness campaign is for everyday and for everyone to take part in it. He called upon all the State Governments and local administrations to actively get back to the cleanliness mission.

In a live interactive event on Oct 2, Modi launched the Jal Jeevan Mission App with the view to improve aware-ness among stakeholders and to facilitate greater transparency and accountability of schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission, envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.

Cloth sheet helps protect Swedish glacier from shrinking

A cloth sheet used to shield part of the Helags glacier in northern Sweden over

the summer saved at least 3.5 meters in height from melting, according to the organizers of a private initiative, the Reuters reported. As Global warming is causing glaciers to shrink all over the world, this cloth exper-iment was performed on the Helags glacier, Sweden's highest mountain south of the Arctic Circle. Covering glaciers to save them from further shrinking has been tested earlier in Italy's Presena, but this is the first time in Scandinavia.

"We covered a small part of the glacier with a wool and corn starch sheet just to see if we could get the snow and ice to melt a little less than normal," co-instigator Erik Huss said. "This sheet actually protected

Team members pose near Helags glacier in Sweden on June 22, with rolls of cloth aimed at covering parts of the glacier

3.5-4 meters from melting." Huss, a communications consultant with a degree in glaciology who had the idea along with Swedish adventurer Oskar Kihlborg, said glaciers were the best gauge of climate change.

"They show exactly how the climate is changing, and also what you can do to protect the environment," he told Reuters.

Huss and his friends hope to reproduce their test on a larger scale than the 40 square meters covered on Helags, and to involve glaciology researchers for a more scientific approach. They are also in talks with the cloth producer about trying to make the material thinner, and so less heavy. Through the project, the initiators hope to raise awareness about the dangers many societies will face if the glaciers disappear.

World airlines commit to 'net zero' CO2 emissions by 2050

The world’s airlines pledged to reach “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050 even

as a trade group forecast profit losses from the pandemic extend-ing into next year.

“For aviation, net zero is a bold, audacious commitment. But it is also a necessity,” Willie Walsh, director general of the

International Air Transport Association (IATA), told top airline executives’ meeting in Boston on Oct 4.

IATA represents 290 member airlines comprising 82% of pre-pandemic global air traffic, and its pledge follows the lead of Europe’s aviation industry which has embraced the Euro-

pean Union’s emissions goals.The new commitment comes

12 years after IATA unveiled its first plan to reduce airline CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. But Walsh told the gathering that the industry must take more forceful action given the urgency of the problem.

ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 19TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 21-27, 2021I ND IA DAY SPEC IAL

20 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM SpOrTS

Yankees are done for the season: New York Yankees lost to Boston Red Sox in an American League-wild card game on Oct 5. A year after base-ball took its postseason into neutral site bubbles to protect against the pandemic, the playoff between the longtime foes saw the biggest crowd at Fenway Park since the 2018 World Series. The Yankees, who lead the majors with 27 World Series championships, have not won it since 2009

Larry Nassar probe: US Justice Department renews inquiry into FBI failures

The Justice Depart-ment has launched a fresh inquiry into the

FBI's botched handling of its sex abuse investigation into disgraced former USA Gymnas-tics doctor Larry Nassar.

"The recently confirmed assistant attorney general for the Criminal Division is currently reviewing this matter, including new information that has come to light,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said, in a testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Oct 5.

“I am deeply sorry that in this case, the victims did not

receive the response or the protection that they deserved,” Monaco said.

Her testimony during a hearing on the renewal of the Violence Against Women’s Act comes a couple of weeks after USA Olympic gymnasts including Simone Biles and McKayla Maroney appeared before the same committee and provided forceful testimony that federal law enforcement and gymnastics officials turned a “blind eye” to the USA Gymnastics team doctor’s sexual abuse of the gymnasts and hundreds of other women.

Larry Nassar during his sentencing hearing in 2018; the former team USA Gymnastics doctor is the main accused in the largest sexual abuse scandal in US sports history

Muhammad Ali sketches fetch knockout prices at NY auction

An auction this week in New York saw art works by boxing legend

Muhammad Ali being sold for more than three times the lower end of estimates.

A boxing sketch in felt pen, called “Sting Like a Bee”, and drawn on paper in 1978 was the most sought-after work among the 26 paintings, drawings and sketches by the former heavy-weight champion that reflected Ali's interest in religion, social justice and his own career.

Ali's passion for art was little known but he liked to sketch as a way of unwinding after a fight or training. His paintings and drawings came from the collec-tion of Rodney Hilton Brown, who worked with Ali on his art. "Sting Like A Bee" was bought

Muhammad Ali, Sting Like a Bee (1978); Ali famously used the phrase to describe his boxing style. (Courtesy of Bonhams New York, collection of Rodney Hilton Brown)

Historic NASCAR Cup Series win for Bubba Wallace

Bubba Wallace’s NASCAR Cup Series victory this week makes him

the first Black driver to win a race in NASCAR's premier series. Though a black driver Wendell Scott won it in 1963, he wasn't declared the victor then. NASCAR awarded Scott the win two years later, but his family never received the trophy he had earned until 2010 – 47 years after the race, and 20 years after Scott had died.

"I never think about those things," Wallace said when asked about his historic achievement on Oct 4. "But when you say it like that, it obviously brings a lot of emotion, a lot of joy to my family, fans, friends. It's pretty damn cool. Just proud to be a winner in the Cup Series."

Wallace won in a car owned by basketball great Michael

Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, who last year partnered to form a new single-car NASCAR Cup Series team with Wallace as the driver. Wallace was thrust into the spotlight last year when his calls for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag – which many Americans see as a symbol of oppression – at all events were

ultimately adopted. A noose, a symbol connected to lynching, found in his garage at Talladega Superspeedway pointed to a racial attack. However, an FBI investigation dismissed off the incident and stated Wallace was not the target of a hate crime. Although the racing world rallied behind him during the incident, Wallace would later come under fire from then US President Donald Trump over the incident.

"This is for all those kids out there who want to have an oppor-tunity in whatever they want to achieve, and be the best at what they want to do," said Wallace after his win. "Stay strong. Stay humble. Stay hungry. There have been plenty of times when I wanted to give up. And you surround yourself with the right people, and it's moments like this that you appreciate."

by a British-based collector of Ali memorabilia, Bonhams auctioneers said. Other buyers were not identified.

The auction fetched a total of $945,524. “Sting Like A Bee” was sold for $425,000 at the NY auction on Oct 5, A 1979 red, white and blue painting on canvas, with the words "I Love You America," sold for $150,000, while a 1967 sketch in felt pen comparing Islam to Christian-ity fetched $24,000.

The former world heav-yweight champion, who announced his conversion to Islam in 1964 after winning the title for the first time when he went by the name Cassius Clay, died in 2016 at age 74 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

Bubba Wallace after his first NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct 4 (Photo courtesy: ESPN/ Getty Images)

Spanish NBA veteran Pau Gasol retires from basketball

Six-time NBA All-Star, Pau Gasol announced his retire-ment from professional

basketball on Oct 5 in Barcelona, ending a 23-year career of which 19 seasons he played for NBA. He won a world championship gold and three Olympic medals with Spain’s national team.

Gasol won two NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, in 2009 and 2010, and averaged 17 points and 9.2 rebounds in 1,226 regu-lar-season games with five NBA teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks. He was the No. 3 pick in the 2001 NBA draft, being selected by Atlanta and traded to Memphis.

His best NBA seasons came as a wingman to Bryant. “I want to make a special mention to Kobe Bryant,” Gasol said during the news conference at Barce-

lona's Liceu theatre. “I’d very much like him to be here, but life is sometimes very unfair. He taught me how to be a better leader, better competitor, what it meant to be a winner.”

“Dear basketball, thank you for everything.” Pau Gasol posted this message and photo on twitter after his retirement announcement.

ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 21FAShION

LET’S KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE AND OUR SCHOOLS COVID-FREE.For more information about COVID-19 vaccines and where to get one, visit nyc.gov/covidvaccine.

YOU ALWAYS KEEP THEM SAFE.WITH VACCINES, THEY’LL BE EVEN SAFER.

Get your child vaccinated for a safe return to school. Children who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 are less likely to get and spread COVID-19.

CHILDREN AGES 12-17 CAN NOW BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

StarS, SonS and daughterSWith the ending of Paris Fashion

Week on Oct 6, all of the four major fashion festivals are over.

In Paris, the cosmetics giant L'Oreal had international stars walking the ramp with the Eiffel Tower forming a stun-ning backdrop. Cameras couldn’t get enough of the new rising stars, children of several former super models, on and off the ramp.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Amber Heard and Helen Mirren walked for the Le Defile L'Oreal Paris show at the Paris Fashion Week

Eve Jobs, Steve Job’s youngest daughter, made

her runway debut in Paris during

Coperni’s Spring/Summer 2022

show

Supermodel Kate Moss’s daughter Lila Grace, who has type 1 diabetes, walked the ramp in Milan displaying her insulin pump making a bold awareness statement

Brooklyn Beckham and fiancée Nicola Peltz attending the Givenchy show in Paris

Georgia May Jagger and Paris Jackson, both models and daughters of music legends, were spotted sitting front row together at Vivienne Westwood’s runway show in Paris


Locations in New York:East Meadow

FlushingForest Hills

HicksvilleManhattan

New Hyde Park

PoughkeepsieScarsdale

Valley Stream

TheSouthAsianTimes.info July 3-9, 2021J U LY 4TH SPEC IAL

ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 23eNTerTAINMeNT

Production workers authorize strike, Hollywood under threat of shutdown

Film and TV production workers’ union in the US overwhelmingly voted

to authorize the first nation-wide industry strike in its 128-year history. 98.68% voted yes, and voter turnout among eligible members was nearly 90%, according to a twitter post on Oct 4 by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which covers camera crews, prop masters, hairdressers and other craft workers.

"The members have spoken loud and clear. Our people have basic human needs like time

for meal breaks, adequate sleep, and a weekend. For those at the bottom of the pay scale, they deserve nothing less than a living wage," it said.

The IATSE, headquar-tered in Manhattan, have been campaigning for some time for better working hours, safer conditions in the workplace and improved worker bene-fits for the craftspeople, techni-cians and laborers. The working conditions at streaming compa-nies like Netflix, Apple and Amazon were cited as the worst.

“I hope that the studios will see and understand the resolve

Crystal Kan, a storyboard artist, draws signs on cars of IATSE union members during a rally in Los Angeles in September. (Getty Images)

Shah Rukh Khan’s son arrested by anti-drugs agency

Aryan Khan, son of movie star Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested by the

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Oct 3 after a raid at a rave party on a cruise. The 23-year-old and seven others have been remanded in custody till Octo-ber 7 by a Mumbai court.

All eight were arrested on October 3 after the anti-drugs agency went undercover and raided a rave party on Saturday evening on the "Cordelia" cruise sailing from Mumbai to Goa.

"Investigation is of prime importance and it needs to be carried out. It benefits both accused and investigator," a judge said while extending their custody.

Aryan Khan was "calm" while his friends Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha broke down when the judge announced the decision.

The raids produced a haul of 13 grams of cocaine, 21 grams of charas, 22 pills of MDMA and 5 grams of MD, the anti-drugs bureau said. The drugs were found hidden in clothes, under-wear and purses, reported news agency Press Trust of India, quoting an unnamed official of the anti-drugs bureau.

The agency told the court that it needed Aryan Khan in custody till Oct 11 to question him. The Narcotics Control

Bureau alleged that the case involves an international drug cartel. Aryan Khan argued that he was a special invitee to the cruise ship and "cannot be roped in with the entire seizure in the case".

He said investigators found nothing in his bag and found 6 gm with Arbaaz Merchant, "a small quantity". He also said the officials had only found chats on his phone and "WhatsApp chats without any recovery" is of no significance.

"One of the grounds for asking my custody is seizure of commercial quantity from other accused. Commercial quan-tity seized from other accused cannot be foisted on me. They are talking about international drug trafficking which is a very serious charge and has to be backed by evidence," said Aryan Khan.

Aryan Khan has been accused of purchase, possession and use of banned substances.

The 47th season of Saturday Night live commenced on

Oct 2 with host Owen Wilson and musical guest Kacey Musgraves. Comedian James Austin Johnson, previously famous for his Donald Trump impersonations, made his debut as Joe Biden. Johnson imitated the 46th president with an uncanny grasp on his speech patterns and body language.

Johnson follows in the foot-steps of his new co-star Moffat, who previously played the Pres-ident after taking over from

Britney Spears is set on her path to freedom follow-ing her father's suspen-

sion as her conservator, a move she requested from a Califor-nia judge after 13 years of being under his control.Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny ruled last week that Britney Spears' father should be suspended as her conservator, describing the

of our members,” IATSE pres-ident Matthew Loeb said in a statement. “The ball is in their court. If they want to avoid a strike, they will return to the bargaining table and make us a reasonable offer.”

Negotiations between the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Televi-sion Producers broke down last month after the IATSE walked away from a deal. The deal would have improved wages and rest periods and included a nearly $400m pension and health plan, the Alliance said accord-ing to BBC reports.

Aryan and Shah Rukh Khan (Photo Courtesy: Instagram/ Shah Rukh Khan)

Britney Spears feeling better after father's conservatorship suspension

children and living a full life. A conservatorship is granted by a court for individuals who are unable to make their own deci-sions, like those with dementia or other mental illnesses. Spears' conservatorship is split into two parts - one for her estate and financial affairs, the other for her as a person. Under this legal agreement, she has not controlled her finances since 2008.

Britney Spears pictured at a film screening in 2019 (Getty Images)

arrangement "toxic". Spears' father, James "Jamie" Spears, filed the petition to dissolve the conservatorship last month after she filed to replace him with a professional conserva-tor. Britney Spears, 39, described her situation as "abusive" in public testimony over the summer, telling the court that she has been prevented from getting married, having more

Although there is change and things to celebrate in my life, I still have a lot of healing to do. Thankfully I have a good support system and am taking time to understand it's ok to slow down and breathe

Saturday Night Live opens season 47 with new Biden impersonator

Owen Wilson hosts the "Saturday Night Live" season opener on Sept 30 (NBC)

From left: Aidy Bryant as Sen Joe Manchin, Cecily Strong as Sen Kyrsten Sinema, Pete Davidson as Andrew Cuomo, James Austin Johnson as President Joe Biden, Alex Moffatt as Sen Chuck Schumer, Ego Nwodim as Rep Ilhan Omar and Melissa Villaseñor as Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez perform at the opening night of Saturday Night Live. (Photo courtesy: NBC)

special guest star Jim Carrey. Others who played Biden on the series include Kevin Nealon, Jason Sudeikis, Woody Harrel-son, and John Mulaney.

24 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM TrAveL

The nation's first nature trail specifically designed to address the sensory needs of those with autism spec-trum disorder and other developmental disabilities

opened last week at Letchworth State Park in western New York State.

"New York State is leading the nation in creating this public trail purposefully designed to bring the benefits of the outdoors to those on the autism disorder spectrum and their families," Governor Kathy Hochul said on Oct 1 while making the announcement.

Located near the park's Humphrey Nature Center with parking, restrooms and Wi-Fi, the ADA-compliant trail was designed with input from Dr. Temple Grandin, a cattle industry expert who was diagnosed with autism in 1950 at the age of two and is now one of the world's most well-known advocates for the autistic community.

"State Parks should be accessible to everyone, and this is a welcoming and inclusive place for an underserved community," Hochul said.

About 1 in 54 children in the US have been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to esti-mates from the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion. ASD is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and soci-oeconomic groups and often has a tremendous impact on parents, siblings, and members of the extended family.

Statistics show that young people with autism spend disproportionate amounts of time indoors, often finding comfort in digital activities which results in social isola-tion. This disconnectedness not only affects individuals

US’s first Autism Nature Trail opens at Letchworth State Park

with ASD but also can affect caregiv-ers and entire families, who can some-times feel uncomfortable in outside settings.

Activities along the Autism Nature Trail support and encourage sensory perception and integration, while also providing enjoyable activities for visitors of all abilities and ages. The stations engage each visitor's senses, using nature and natural materials as the tools for skill-building. The trail is set up to allow for safe social distanc-ing and planned interaction.

ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 25TrAveL

Letchworth State Park, renowned as the "Grand Canyon of the East,"

is one of the most scenically magnificent areas in the eastern US. Visited by nearly one million people annually, readers of USA Today in 2015 voted it the best state park in the United States. Surrounded by lush forests, the Genesee River roars through the gorge over three major water-falls between cliffs as high as 600 feet in some places. The park covers more than 14,000 acres and features 66 miles of hiking trails, as well as trails for horse-back riding, biking, snowmobil-ing, and cross-country skiing.

The new Autism Nature Trail is a one-mile hiking loop that includes eight marked sensory stations, each designed to address a different sensory experience in a safe and supportive envi-ronment. It includes:

• Sensory Station, where a collection of leaves, moss, fossils, animal fur, acorns and other objects are to be touched, handled, and even smelled;

• Sunshine Slope, a gentle maze in an opening that includes a viewing plat-form, three cuddle swings, and an "Alone Zone;"

• Music Circle, where a variety of nature-inspired musical instruments en-courage creativity, either alone or with others;

• Curiosity Corner, an open

Letchworth State Park

Letchworth offers nature, history and performing arts programs, as well as guided walks, tours, a summer lecture series, whitewa-ter rafting, kayaking, a pool for swimming and hot air balloon-ing.

The Humphrey Nature Center offers year-round environmen-tal education opportunities for school groups, scouts, youth organizations, and the general public. Programming and inter-active exhibits highlight the geol-ogy, wildlife, and ecology of the park. The newly opened Autism Nature Trail, the first such initia-tive in the US, is located near the center.

Autism Nature Trail

space with a gliding seat, ant-shaped boulders, and access to a shortcut back to the begin-ning of the trail;

• Reflection Knoll, a quiet point halfway on the trail under a canopy of trees, with etchings of woodland creatures hidden in the boulders;

• Meadow Run and Climb, a place with paths to run, jump and balance along serpentine berms and an obstacle course;

• Design Zone, where visitors can manipulate materials from along the trail into pat-terns and structures;

• Playful Path, a place of twist-

ing paths with different surfaces including coarse gravel, log rounds, and sand;

• The Nook, an area of carefully spaced seating set under a natural canopy;

• The Celebration Station, as the final stop on the trail, this area has a place for visitors to express them-selves through writing and drawing about their experi-ences on the trail.

For more information on the Autism Nature Trail, visit: https://autismnaturetrail.com/

Ph

oto

Cou

rtes

y: w

ww

.flic

kr.

com

26 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM CuLTure

Celebrating Victory of Good over Evil

The festival of Navratri is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in vari-

ous parts of India. Largely, the festi-val of Navratri has a common theme that depicts the victory of Good over Evil through regionally famous epic or legends such as the Ramayana or the Devi Mahatmya.

Theoretically, there are a total of four seasonal Navratras – Sharad, Chaitra, Aashad, and Magh. In practice, Sharad Navratris, is the most signifi-cant one.

The post-monsoon autumn festival is the most important annual festival to Bengali Hindus and a major social and public event in eastern and northeast-ern states of India. Known as Durga Puja, the festival marks the victory of the goddess Durga in the battle against the shape-shifting, deceptive, and powerful buffalo demon Mahishasura.

In the northern and western parts of the country, the festival is synonymous with “Rama Lila” and Dussehra at the end of the Navaratri, when the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Indra-jit are burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil forces.

In southern states, a notable

An elaborately decorated Puja Pandal in Kolkata (Photo Source: flickr)

Rama Lila performance at Delhi’s Ramleela Maidan during pre-Covid days

‘Vidyarambham', the beginning of learning for a child in Kerala

children are formally initiated into the world of letters on Vijayadashami, the culmination of the annual Navratri festi-val.

In Bihar, Durga is worshipped alongside Lakshmi, Saras-wati, Kartikey, and Ganesha. In other parts like Sitamarhi and close to the Nepal border, the spring Navaratri attracts a large Rama Navami fair, which marks the birth of Lord Rama.

Navaratri in Gujarat is one of the state’s main festivals. The traditional celebrations include fasting for a day, or partially fasting each of the nine days by not eating grains or just taking liquid foods, in remembrance of one of nine aspects of Shakti goddess. The prayers are dedicated to a symbolic clay pot called garbo, as a remembrance of the womb of the family and universe. The clay pot is lit, and this is believed to represent the one Atman (soul, self).

In the temples of Goa, on the first day of the Hindu month of Ashwin, a copper pitcher, surrounded by clay, is installed inside the sanctum sanctorum of Devi and Krishna temples, in which nine varieties of food grains are placed. The nine nights are celebrated through devotional songs and religious discourses.

Locally called Dasara, this is the state festival of Karnata-ka. The Mysuru Dasara is famous for its festivities. Another Navaratri tradition in Karnataka has been decorating a part of one’s home with art dolls called Gombe or Bombe.

Garba dancing is a Navaratri tradition in Gujarat

Throughout the ten days of Dasara celebrations, the Mysore Palace is lit up with thousands of lights. (Image: Mysuru Palace Official)

Navaratri celebrations vary across Maharashtra and the specific rites differ between regions, even if they are called the same and dedicated to the same deity. The most common celebration begins on the first day of Navaratri with Ghatast-hapana, which literally means “mounting of a jar”. A lamp is lighted symbolizing knowledge and household prosperity, and kept alight through the nine nights of Navaratri.

Navratri 2021 DateThis year, according to the Hindu calendar, Sharad Navratri will begin on Oct 7 and end on Oct 15.

The final three days — Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami — will begin with Ashtami falling on Oct 13. This is followed by Navami on Oct 14 and Dashami on Oct 15.

Depending on the date and time of the auspicious days, the festival can last eight or nine days. This year, the festival will last 8 days with Tritiya and Chaturthi both falling on October 9.

pan-Hindu tradition during Navaratri is the adoration of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning, music, and arts, through Ayudha Puja. On this day, which typically falls on the ninth day of Navaratri, peace and knowledge is celebrated. Artists to all sorts of tradespeople decorate and worship their tools of trade. Students visit their teachers, express respect, and seek their blessings. In southern-most state of Kerala,



ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 29FOOd

Navratri 2021The Navratri this year is from Oct 7 - 15. We bring you some recipes for the nine

days of revelry and fasting. Though fasting rules vary from community to community, the basic premise is same: the food should be healthy and light. The

preferred ingredients include fresh vegetables and fruits, milk, yogurt and makhanas (fox nuts) and special flours for fasting meals include kuttu atta (buckwheat flour), singhara atta (water chestnut flour), rajgiri atta (amaranth flour), etc. Sendha namak (natural rock salt) is used instead of regular salt, since it is unprocessed.

Kashmiri Mirch Aloo

INGReDIeNtS• 4 medium potatoes – cut into ¼ inch

thick round slices• 4 cups water • ½ tsp coarsely crushed pepper• 1 + ½ tsp hot chili powder • 2 tsp fennel seeds crushed• Salt to taste• 1 tbsp lemon juice• 2+2 tbsp ghee or butter• 1 tbsp juliennes of ginger• Fresh coconut (optional) – thin, long

slices for garnishing• ½ tsp green cardamom powder• Chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)

MetHOD1. Boil sliced potatoes for 5 minutes in 4

cups of water with 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tbsp lemon juice added to it. Remove the potatoes from water and cool them.

2. Heat 2 tbsp of butter/ghee in a frying pan; saute the potatoes till golden. Remove and set aside.

3. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp ghee, add crushed pepper and ginger juliennes; cook till ginger turns a little crisp. Add fennel seeds (coarsely crushed), ½ tsp chili powder and cook for only half minute.

4. Add 4 tbsp water and when the water comes to a boil, add potatoes. (The water will help to uniformly coat the spices on the potatoes). Add salt to taste. Cook for about a minute till dry.

5. Sprinkle ½ tsp green cardamom powder. Garnish with coconut slivers and chopped cilantro.

Makhane Paneer Curry

Vrat ki Roti with Papaya Pineapple ka RaitaINGReDIeNtSFor Vrat ki Roti or Parantha• 1 cup vrat ka atta (singhara,

kuttu or rajgiri atta)• 1 medium potatos – boiled• ½ tsp salt

For Raita• 2 cups yogurt – whisk till smooth• 3 slices of fresh pineapple – chop

and puree with ¼ cup water• 1 tsp sugar• ¼ cup peeled, grated raw papaya

(depending on how thick a raita you want)

• ½ tsp rock salt (kala namak)• 1-2 green chillies – crushed to a paste• ¾ tsp roasted cumin (bhuna jeera)

powder• ½ tsp salt• ¼ cup fresh red pomegranate kernels,

optional

MetHOD1. Boil grated papaya in water till

cooked but still a little crunchy. Cool and squeeze out all the water.

2. Cook pineapple puree with 1 tsp sugar

Kaddu Khus Khus ka Halwa

INGReDIeNtS• 2 kg yellow pumpkin (kaddu)• 8 tbsp poppy seeds (khus khus)• ½ cup sugar, or to taste• Seeds of 6-8 green cardamoms • 1 tbsp saffron – dissolve in 1 tbsp hot

water• ½ cup ghee• 250-300 gm khoya (milk thickened till

dry) – grated• 2 tbsp chironji (calumpang nuts)• 2 tbsp raisins • 1 silver leaf (vark)• a few green pistachios – blanched and

sliced

green chili and ¼ cup chopped corian-der leaves.

2. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan. Add makhanas. Stir fry till golden. Remove, keep aside.

3. In the same pan, roast cashews on medium heat till golden. Keep aside for garnish.

4. Keep aside two pieces of paneer for thickening the gravy. Fry rest of the paneer in the pan to a rich golden color. Remove, keep aside.

5. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a kadhai. Add cumin seeds and fry till it turns golden. Add grated ginger and green chili. Stir fry till ginger turns brown. Add the green paste and stir for 2 minutes on low heat till dry and oil separates. Add milk, stirring contin-uously. Boil. Add salt and pepper. Reduce heat. Add fried paneer. Add the makhanas to the gravy. Crumble 2 pieces of paneer and mix in the gravy. Add fresh coriander leaves. Cook on low heat till the desired consistency is reached.

6. Serve garnished with fried cashews and green chilies.

for about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool.

3. Add papaya, pineapple puree and all the other seasonings to yogurt. Mix well. Add sugar if needed. Chill and serve topped with a few red pome-granate.

4. Grate potato. Mash well and mix with atta. Add salt and make a dough with water. Make 4 balls. Take each ball, place it in-between 2 sheets of plastic paper or a polyethylene bag. Roll out into a slightly thick chappati.

5. Spread little oil on a hot tawa and put chappati on it. Cook both sides and then fry with a little oil or ghee. Serve hot.

MetHOD1. Clean and wash the poppy seeds well.2. Peel & chop pumpkin into small pieces.

Cook it well adding ¼ cup water. 3. Transfer the cooked pumpkin to a

kadhai and mash it. Add the poppy seeds, crushed cardamom seeds and saffron. Cook on medium heat till water evaporates and the pumpkin turns dry.

4. Add the sugar and stir till dry. Keep cooking, stirring continuously, for another 5 minutes.

5. Add ghee and cook for 10 minutes on low heat to get a rich brown color.

6. Add the khoya, raisins and chironji. Mix well.

7. Serve hot garnished with vark & pista-chios.

(Recipes and Photo courtesy: Nita Mehta)

INGReDIeNtS• 1 cup puffed lotus seeds / fox nuts

(makhaanas)• 150 gm Indian cottage cheese

(paneer) – cut into 1” flat pieces and sprinkled with 1 tbsp of any fasting flour

• ½ tsp cumin seeds • ½ tsp salt, or to taste• 1” piece ginger – grated• 1 green chili pepper– chopped• ½ tsp black pepper powder• 1½ cups milk• 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves • 4-5 cashews – split into two

For green paste:• 1 tbsp melon seeds • 3 tbsp green pistachios – blanched

and peeled• 2 green cardamoms – only the seeds• 1 green chili pepper• ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves

MetHOD1. Grind to a paste with a little water:

1 tbsp melon seeds, 3 tbsp green pistachios, 2 green cardamoms, 1

30 The AsiAn erA 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 ASIANerAONLINe.COM FOOd FOr ThOughT

And

y M

arle

tte, u

SA T

oday

Net

wor

k, S

ept 3

0, 2

021

Seven Social Sins

come from within the soul and excitement from serving the needy, from caring for the family, the children, and relatives. Unfortunately, we ignore the spiritual pleasures of life and indulge in the physical pleas-ures.

Knowledge without Charac-ter: Gandhi believed if one is not able to understand one's self, one will not understand the philoso-phy of life too. An education that ignores character-building is an incomplete education.

Commerce without Morality: When profit-making becomes the most important aspect of busi-ness, morals and ethics usually go overboard. Profit supersedes the needs of people.

Science without Humanity: We use science to discover fright-ening weapons of destruction. We obliterate cities and inhabit-ants by pressing a button and not are affected by the destruction because we don't see it.

Worship without Sacrifice: True worship demands that

Wealth without Work: To conserve the resources of the world and share these resources equitably with all so that every-one can aspire to a good stand-ard of living, Gandhi believed people should take only as much as they honestly need. There is enough for everyone's need but not for everyone's greed, Gandhi said.

Pleasure without Conscience: Gandhi believed pleasure must

our prayers translate into into lifestyles. Unless our beliefs are translated into our lives as understanding, compassion, love and appreciation for others, prayers will have no meaning.

Seven Social Sins is a list that Mahatma Gandhi published in his weekly newspaper Young India on October 22, 1925. Mahatma gave this same list, written on a piece of paper, to his grandson Arun Gandhi in 1947

Politics without Principles: Gandhi said politics without truth dictates wrong actions and creates chaos that leads to "passive violence", ‘which fuels the active violence of crime, rebellion, and war.’ He said, "We could work 'til doomsday to achieve peace and would get nowhere as long as we ignore passive violence in our world."

Simple living and high thinkingThe UNGA in 2007 established

October 2 as the Interna-tional Day of Non-Violence to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness".

Non-violence: Gandhi perceived non-violence not just as avoidance of physical violence but also passive violence. He believed that non-violence is the greatest weapon against any brute force.

Simplicity: Gandhi's whole life was an example of simplic-ity. He embodied 'simple living and high thinking' and that was evident by his dress, commit-ment and mannerism. He believed that we should keep and use only what we need and eschew extravagance.

Truth: The concept of truth by Gandhi tells about learn-ing from one’s mistakes. All

our activities should be based on Truth. Without truth, it is impossible to observe any prin-ciples or rules in our life.

Gandhi’s early life was a series of personal struggles to decipher the truth about life's important issues and discover the true way of living. “I have simply tried in my own way to apply the eternal truths to our daily life and problems...I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and non-violence are as old as the hills," according to Gandhi.

In these turbulent times when the world is grappled with so many problems, Gandhian philosophy provides us with practical solutions.

Non Violence Honesty

Anti-racism

Universal Brother-

hood

Self-reliance

Anti-Casteism

Cleanli-ness

Gandhi believed that non-violence is the greatest weapon against any brute force

Some thingSnever change

ASIANerAONLINe.COM 07 - 13 OCTOBer 2021 The AsiAn erA 31TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 21-27, 2021I ND IA DAY SPEC IAL


PAID FOR BY ERIC ADAMS 2021

ERIC ADAMS: BRINGING USTOGETHER. BRINGING NYCBACK FROM CRISIS.

VOTE FOR DEMOCRAT

ERIC ADAMS NOVEMBER 2ND!

GO TO ERICADAMS2021.COM OR SCAN THE QR CODE TO READ MORE ABOUT ERIC’S PLAN FOR NEW YORK!

Lakhimpur Kheri violence triggers major political storm

Documents