The Indian Panorama

Month: March 2018

  • Indian architect and educator Balkrishna Doshi is 2018 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize

    Indian architect and educator Balkrishna Doshi is 2018 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize

    CHICAGO (TIP): Legendary Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi won the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which honors a living architect who has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture.

    The award, established by the Pritzker family of Chicago, is awarded each year to a legendary architect and is dubbed as “architecture’s Nobel”, the biggest honor for those working in this profession. The winners of the coveted award are architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of talent, vision, and commitment.

    Doshi, 90, was born in Pune, India, to a family that had a history of furniture trade for two generations. He joined the Sir J.J. School of Architecture Bombay (Mumbai) in 1947 – the year India got its independence, to study architecture. The institute is the oldest and one of the foremost institutions for architecture in India.

    With a dream of joining the Royal Institute of British Architects, he sailed to London and later to Paris to work with Le Corbusier.

    Later he returned to India to oversee some of Le Corbusier’s projects in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad, which include the Mill Owner’s Association Building (Ahmedabad, 1954) and Shodhan House (Ahmedabad, 1956), among others.

    Doshi also worked with Louis Kahn as an associate to build the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and later started his own architectural firm by the name Vastushilpa with just two architects, which is now renamed as Vastushilpa Consultants. The firm now has five partners and sixty employees and has completed over 100 projects.

    “My works are an extension of my life, philosophy and dreams trying to create treasury of the architectural spirit. I owe this prestigious prize to my guru, Le Corbusier. His teachings led me to question identity and compelled me to discover new regionally adopted contemporary expression for a sustainable holistic habitat,” Doshi said after he won the prize.

    “Professor Doshi has said that ‘Design converts shelters into homes, housing into communities, and cities into magnets of opportunities,” the Pritzker jury said. “The life’s work of Balkrishna Doshi truly underscores the mission of the Prize—demonstrating the art of architecture and an invaluable service to humanity. I am honored to present the 40th anniversary of this award to an architect who has contributed more than 60 years of service to us all.”

    Doshi has been recognized both within India and internationally. He is the recipient of the Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters of France (2011); Global Award for Lifetime Achievement for Sustainable Architecture, Institut Francais d’Architecture, Paris (2007); Prime Minister’s National Award for Excellence in Urban Planning and Design, India (2000); Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1993-1995) for Aranya Community Housing; Gold Medal, Academy of Architecture of France (1988); Gold Medal, Indian Institute of Architects (1988); and Padma Shree National Award, Government of India (1976).

    Doshi is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Indian Institute of Architects, and an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He served on the Pritzker Prize Jury from 2005 to 2007, and on selection committees for the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

    He has been a visiting professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign; Rice University, Houston; Washington University in St. Louis; and University of Hong Kong, among others, and has lectured at prestigious schools and institutions throughout the world.

    Doshi was a member of the International Committee for preparing the International Charter on the Education of Architects, sponsored by International Union of Architects in association with UNESCO (1995), and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Pennsylvania, United States (1990) and McGill University, Canada (2005).

     

  • Uplift Humanity and Zee TV to host event SHAKTI in New York City on April 14

    Uplift Humanity and Zee TV to host event SHAKTI in New York City on April 14

    New York (TIP): Uplift Humanity and Zee TV are organizing the event SHAKTI in New York City on April 14 at Manhattan’s Distilled Lounge to celebrate the organization’s success in providing education to 1,000 children in India.

    Uplift Humanity is a New York based non-profit that works to eradicate educational inequalities in India through various programs. It  has contributed over 250,000 hours of volunteer work in the country.

    With training programs in four Indian cities: Gujarat, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, the group boasts itself of being one of the youngest teams in the non-profit arena with the average age of an employee being just 26.

    “I think that we have one of the most amazing teams here at Uplift,” said Founder and CEO of Uplift Humanity Anish Patel in a press statement. “Our team comes from such global and diverse backgrounds that it enables us to develop effective state-of-the-art curriculums.”

    Founded in 2010, the organization has sent more than 500 volunteers from the US till date to perform various training and educational programs in India. These volunteers, mostly teenagers, work in three programs, Summer Program, Academic Program and Health and Wellness Program. The group focuses on providing skills, for instance, behavioral, employment and language, to juveniles and orphans to enable them to become good citizens and productive workforce.

    “In fact, just within 5 months of us implementing our Academic Program curriculum, we’re seeing results: students are now actually starting to speak English,” Patel added.

    Volunteering students, who are enrolled in a high school or a college, apply for a program through an elaborate application process detailing the dates, location, and activities. The selected applicants then plan their traveling from the US to India, either through Uplift Humanity or independently. Transportation within India, food, and housing are then provided by the organization at a cost.

    The upcoming event is being co-hosted by Zee TV. The attendees will be served food and drinks.

     

     

  • Love jihad row: Supreme Court restores Hadiya’s marriage

    Love jihad row: Supreme Court restores Hadiya’s marriage

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court (SC) on March 8 restored the marriage between Akhila aka Hadiya and Shafin Jahan – a couple at the centre of a ‘love jihad’ row – but made it clear that the NIA can continue with its probe to find out if any criminality was involved in the wedlock.

    Setting aside the May 24, 2017 judgment of the Kerala HC which quashed the marriage, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said Hadiya is “free to pursue her future endeavors according to law” and no court can interfere in the marriage between two consenting adults.

    But the bench, which took the NIA probe report into record, added: “We clarify that the investigations in respect of any matter of criminality may continue in accordance with law.”

    The judges, acting on a petition filed by Jahan challenging the HC order, said they were reviving the marriage convinced after the interaction with Hadiya on November 27 last year in open courtroom during which she admitted the marriage and indicated that she had exercised her free consent.

    The Kerala HC had observed that Hadiya seemed to be mentally indoctrinated and needed her parents’ involvement in order to make such an important decision.

    It also found merit in her father KM Asokan’s statement that his daughter had been recruited by Islamic State’s mission in Syria and Jahan was “only a stooge who had been assigned to play the role of going through a marriage ceremony”.

    The father and the NIA raised this argument in the SC too. Significantly, the HC had also directed ‘comprehensive’ investigation into cases of ‘love jihad’ and has incidents of forced conversion probed thoroughly.

    Asokan and NIA vehemently argued that the marriage was part of a well-oiled machinery prevailing in Kerala to indoctrinate vulnerable youth to embrace Islam and lure them away to countries like Syria but the bench was not inclined to accept the argument and said “when two consenting adults marry we cannot get into correctness, justness.. its not fair”.

    “Shafin Jahan is a radicalised man, a stooge of the ISIS who was trying to wean away Hadiya to Syria under the pretext of marriage which is only a guise to take her away from the jurisdiction of her parents and any court,” Shyam Diwan, senior advocate who appeared for Asokan told the SC.

    The order also came on a day when Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh for NIA said that it had issued look-out circulars for two witnesses F Musthafa and S Shahana who “initiated” Hadiya into Islam.

    Singh urged the court not to take the case lightly saying it was “not a one-off case, there was a common pattern and modus operandi for luring vulnerable girls to convert to Islam by feigning love and the same group of people, who have been identified by the NIA, was behind it”.

    The NIA referred to “psychological kidnapping” too and said that an indoctrinated person like Hadiya may be incapable of giving free consent. Singh said: “Investigation is almost complete except two persons who left abroad.

    The CJI retorted: “you can continue with your investigation, lodge FIRs, make arrests, do whatever you want . But we cannot touch the marriage. If the marriage is a disguise to commit an offence then you can proceed against the offender”.

  • CBI registers fresh Rs 321-crore fraud case against Nirav Modi

    CBI registers fresh Rs 321-crore fraud case against Nirav Modi

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The CBI on March 8 said it has registered a fresh case against diamantaire Nirav Modi for causing a loss of Rs 321 crore to Punjab National Bank (PNB) by availing different credit facilities between 2013 and 2017.

    According to a Central Bureau of Investigation official, the case was registered following a fresh complaint.

    Former finance president of Nirav Modi’s Firestar Diamonds International Ltd Vipul Ambani, chief finance officer Ravi Gupta, other directors and officials, and unidentified public servants of the bank were also named in the complaint, he said. This is the second CBI case in which Nirav has been named.

    After months of debate around exempting sanitary napkins from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) net, the government today chose the occasion of International Women’s Day to launch centrally-sourced and distributed low cost biodegradable sanitary pads for anyone who would care to use.

    The bank alleged that during its internal investigation, it had spotted circular transactions between the Nirav promoted partnership firms — Solar Exports, Stellar Diamonds and Diamond R Us — and Firestar group.

    The head office of the bank had declared the accounts of Firestar Diamonds and Firestar International as fraud and reported it to the RBI on Sunday, it said.

    Nirav, along with uncle Mehul Choksi of Gitanjali Group, has been accused of defrauding the PNB of Rs 12,600 crore, with Rs 1,300 crore being added to the fraud kitty on February 26.

    Source: IANS

  • Sufi singer Pyare Lal Wadali dies of cardiac arrest

    Sufi singer Pyare Lal Wadali dies of cardiac arrest

    AMRITSAR (TIP): Ustad Pyarelal Wadali, younger brother of Ustad Puran Chand Wadali died in Amritsar on March 9 morning. He was 75.

    He breathed his last at Fortis Escorts Hospital in Amritsar where he was admitted on Thursday.

    Wadali Brothers, who hail from a village near Amritsar, are famous for their Punjabi Sufi music.

    The duo began performing at Harballah temple in Jalandhar. They are adept in various styles of singing including Kaafian, ghazal and bhajan.

    The Wadali Brothers, famous for their Bollywood songs such as Aye Rangrez Mere (Tanu Weds Manu; 2011) and Ik Tu Hi Tu Hi (Mausam; 2011), have carried on the legacy of famous saint poets such as Bulle Shah, Kabir, Amir Khusro and Surdas for years.

  • Chandrababu Naidu’ TDP exits Modi govt but not NDA

    Chandrababu Naidu’ TDP exits Modi govt but not NDA

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by N Chandrababu Naidu, on March 8 pulled out of the Narendra Modi government, with two of its minister in the Union Cabinet tendering their resignations. TDP’s exit from the Narendra Modi-led central government came as a result of the Centre’s refusal to grant Andhra Pradesh a special category status.

    However, a split within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre was averted for now, with the party deciding to remain in the alliance, a move many view as TDP’s attempt to keep the window for rapprochement open.

    Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences Y S Chowdary, the two TDP ministers in the Modi government, met the prime minister on Thursday evening and tendered their letters of resignation. However, as of the time this report was filed, there had been no official word on whether the resignation letters were forwarded to President Ram Nath Kovind for acceptance. This has also set off speculations that backchannel talks could still be taking place to iron out differences.

    The Union ministers’ resignation came after a 20-minute talk between the TDP boss and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Prime Minister Modi. Apparently, the conversation was not successful in removing the irritants plaguing the TDP’s ties with the BJP-led government at the Centre.

    In a tit-for-tat response, the two BJP ministers in the Andhra Pradesh government – K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao – also quit.

    While speaking to the media after tendering his resignation letter, Raju said the TDP would continue to be part of the NDA. Chowdary, for his part, said the issue of a special-category status was very emotive for Andhra Pradesh and that the Centre had not addressed it.

    He added that the special package put forth by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was not adequate.

    Government sources have ruled out the possibility of any compromise on N Chandrababu Naidu’s demand for giving Andhra Pradesh a special-category status. In off-the-record briefings, BJP leaders said granting a special-category status to the state was impossible after the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission were accepted.

    The party’s leadership added that doing so would also open a Pandora’s Box, with states like Punjab, Bihar and Odisha also demanding a similar treatment.

  • IALI Celebrates Rang Birangi Holi – the festival of colors in traditional style

    IALI Celebrates Rang Birangi Holi – the festival of colors in traditional style

    HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): India Association of Long Island (IALI) celebrated Holi at Cotillion Restaurant on Friday March 2, 2018. This Holi function was organized by the IALI’s Women’s Forum group which is chaired by Mrs. Veena Lamba, Co-Chaired by Mrs. Lalita Mansukhani and Mrs. Shalini Pawa and Committee members Ms. Rizwana Malik, Mrs Rachna Shahdadpuri and Mrs. Ravi Kanta Dutta.

    Holi is the festival of Colors. It signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring with Spring Crops, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships.

    The event which had an overwhelming turnout in-spite of a nasty Nor’easter winter storm – was celebrated in a very traditional style, with lots of fun and gaiety. The guests arrived dressed in traditional colorful clothing and were welcomed with Gulal Teeka, offering of Jalebies and Gunjias, followed by Thandai drink and a sumptuous buffet.

    The program started by the Women’s Forum Chair Mrs. Veena Lamba introducing her team and was followed by President Mrs. Gunjan Rastogi’s speech on Holi celebration.  They together emceed the program with entertaining introductions to program with kavita and sher-o-shayari.

    A wonderful cultural program was presented for this special day of festival of colors, singing of Rajasthani and Bollywood Holi songs by many renowned artists like Mrs. Anuradha Khanna, Mrs. Jyoti Gupta, Mr. Amit Malhotra and DJ Royal. A beautiful colorful traditional Ghoomar dance was performed by ‘Ghoomar Divas’ by Mrs. Neelam Modi and her team. The cultural program concluded with a special surprise Holi dance performance by current President Mrs. Gunjan Rastogi which was received with a thunderous applause. All guests enjoyed dancing to the Holi and popular songs spun by DJ Royal.

  • AAPI to donate funds towards Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America

    AAPI to donate funds towards Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America

    CHICAGO,IL (TIP):  “American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the most dynamic and ethnic organization representing more than 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, while officially launching a campaign against Leukemia and Lymphomas, is donating a large sum of money to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America on March 10th during the annual AAPI Spring Governing Body meeting at the Freemont Marriott Silicon Valley, Fremont, CA,” declared Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI.

    “Continuing with supporting noble causes, AAPI, the largest ethnic association representing the physicians of Indian origin in the USA, has taken on yet another cause to promote through its active support in educating people about the deadly disease around the world,” Dr. Vinod Shah, a past president of AAPI, and a well-known philanthropist, said. Dr. Shah has agreed to match the money being provided by AAPI, thus doubling the donation through AAPI at this special event.

    “Manushi Chillar Miss World 2017, will be present at the ceremony, during which AAPI will hand over the check to representatives from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America,” Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect of AAPI, said. “Manushi, hailing from a family of doctors and scientists, an aspiring gynecologist and cardiac surgeon Manushi Chillar has agreed to be the Brand Ambassador of AAPI for creating awareness about the deadly diseases, Leukemia and Lymphoma.”

    The beauty queen believes that being brought up in Delhi, has given her the confidence and power to fight all odds and win the competition. “I am blessed to have got this opportunity, and I want to give my best. I have decided to take a year’s break from my medical studies and my college is very supportive,” says Chillar.

    These days, Chillar is even seen showing her full support and involvement in spreading awareness about menstrual and feminine hygiene through her pet project ‘Shakti’. She has been emphasizing on the need for educating the rural mass on the issue and has been a passionate advocate on why it is important for a woman to use a sanitary napkin.

    The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a 501-charitable organization, founded in 1949, is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services.

    The Governing Body meeting in san Francisco from March 9th to 11th will be composed of the Executive Committee, Members of the Board of Trustees, Chairs of all the Standing Committees, Chair of the Convention Committee as defined in Section 4.3 and the Presidents of all dues paid/paying member organizations.

    “Coming from a nation that has given much to the world, today physicians of Indian origin have become a powerful influence in medicine across the world. Nowhere is their authority more keenly felt than in the United States, where Indians make up the largest non-Caucasian segment of the American medical community,” Dr. Samadder said.  “The overrepresentation of Indians in the field of medicine is striking – in practical terms, one out of seven doctors in the United States is of Indian Heritage. We provide medical care to over 40 million of US population, caring for one in every seven patients in the nation. There are 150 AAPI Chapters across the nation and it has an ever-growing membership of Indian American Physicians,” he reported.

    AAPI is an umbrella organization representing dozens of local chapters, specialty societies and alumni organizations. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, AAPI represents the interests of over nearly 100,000 physicians, medical students and residents of Indian heritage in the United States. It is the largest ethnic medical organization in the nation. For more details, please visit:  www.aapiusa.org

     

  • Dromm, Asian American Service Providers and Advocates Host 8th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration in Elmhurst, Queens

    Dromm, Asian American Service Providers and Advocates Host 8th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration in Elmhurst, Queens

    ELMHURST NY (TIP): NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm and co-sponsors EmblemHealth, MetroPlus and the Coalition for Chinese Children and Families (CACF) ushered in the Year of the Dog at the 8th Annual Lunar New Year celebration at St. James’s Episcopal Church, Elmhurst. The event featured a Chinese calligraphy demonstration, traditional Korean drumming, traditional Chinese dance, traditional Vietnamese music, music and dance numbers by PS 7, PS 13 and IS 5 students, free face paintings, a dog puppet workshop for children, and lion dancing.  It also included a resource fair with representation from nearly 30 local civic groups, social service providers, and city agencies.

    “Now in its 8th year, my annual Lunar New Year celebration is becoming a time-honored tradition in Elmhurst,” said NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Elmhurst, Jackson Heights).  “For Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese people around the world, Lunar New Year is a time for friends, family and celebration.  As a Council Member representing one of the largest and most diverse Asian American communities in the city, I am pleased to have founded this event that allows us to usher in the new year together as one neighborhood.”

    Dromm first established the event in 2011 to create an opportunity for the Asian American communities of Elmhurst to increase their visibility and celebrate their cultural pride while sowing the seeds for future organizing.  The Elmhurst celebration has steadily grown over the years and is now among the neighborhood’s most cherished events.

  • Air India announces flights to Israel over Saudi Arabia

    Air India announces flights to Israel over Saudi Arabia

    NEW YORK (TIP): Saudi Arabia has given Air India approval to fly through its airspace on flights between Israel and India, an airlines spokesperson tells The Times of Israel.

    The agreement would shorten the current flight path by some two hours and mark a significant achievement as Jerusalem attempts to upgrade its relationship with Riyadh.

    The 7-hour 10-minute flight between Tel Aviv and Mumbai will launch March 22.

    Air India says it will operate the flight three times a week.

  • Dr. Jagdish Gupta-led new Executive Committee 2018 of AAPI-QLI inaugurated

    Dr. Jagdish Gupta-led new Executive Committee 2018 of AAPI-QLI inaugurated

    (Long Island, NY – February 28, 2018) During a solemn ceremony that was attended by over 250 physicians and community leaders, Dr. Jagdish Gupta and his new executive committee members assumed charge of AAPIQLI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin of Queens and Long Island) at the popular Akbar Restaurant in Garden City, Long Island, NY on February 9th.

    Dr. Ajay K. Lodha, past President of AAPI-QLI and national AAPI, was elected unanimously as the Chair, BOT of AAPIQLI in a subsequent meeting on Feb. 16th,2018. Dr. Lodha assumed charge as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the inaugural event.

    Dr. Lodha called upon the AAPI members to “stand united, in order to be able to fight for our rights,” while pointing to the fact that Indian American Physicians service every 7th patient in the nation and contribute immensely to the healthcare industry in the nation.

    As the participants at the event cheered, the outgoing President of AAPI-QLI, Dr. Rakesh Dua, whose term ended after serving as the association through a memorable and eventful year, passed on the gavel to Dr. Jagdish K Gupta, a practicing Gastroenterologist, serving the community for over 40 years.

    Inaugural address by Dr. Jagdish K Gupta (President AAPIQLI)

    Along with Dr. Gupta, other members of the Executive Committee 2018, were administered the oath of office included, Dr. Himanshu Pandya, President Elect; Dr. Raj Bhayani, Vice President; Dr. Abhay Malhotra, Secretary; and Dr. Vinod Jayam, Treasurer.  Ten prominent physicians were inducted as Members at Large of the Governing Body. The Organization is ably guided by 15 members, constituting Board of Trustees and Five Advisory Board Members from the community.

    In his inaugural address as the incoming President, Dr. Jagdish Gupta, President-Elect of AAPI QLI, announced the exciting new programs for the members in the year 2018 under his new leadership. “We want to continue to be the most vibrant, transformative and politically active Chapter among all AAPI chapters in the nation,” he said.

    Dr. Jagdish K Gupta (President AAPIQLI) 5th from Left, Dr. Ajay K. Lodha (Chairman of Board) 3rd from right.

    AAPIQLI, one of the largest chapter of National AAPI, has been serving 800 members physicians since 1995, providing continuing medical education, and discussing the state of the art topics in healthcare, wealth management and practice management.  Dr Vajinath Chakote, Chairman of the Nominating & Election Committee, declared the results of 23rd AAPI-QLI Executive Committee for 2018.

    The Mission of AAPI Queens and Long Island has been to represent the interests of all physicians of Indian Origin in the area including providing Continuous Medical Education (CME) and engaging in charitable activities for the benefit of our community at large. Since its inception there was a strong alliance with and support from National AAPI.

    Dr. Jagdish K Gupta (Current President), Dr. Ajay K Lodha (Current Chairman BOT), Dr. Tarun Wasil (Past Chairman of BOT)

    AAPI QLI grew rapidly in membership and was well accepted by all other local and national professional organizations. From the very beginning the leadership put heavy emphasis on transparency and the democratic process, which is the main ingredient for its enormous success. AAPI of Queens and Long Island currently represents 660 active physicians and donates more than $60,000 annually for charitable purposes. It is also one of the largest chapters of National AAPI.

    During the colorful event, AAPI-QLI pledged to donate funds to several community Organizations, including Governor Cuomo Puerto Rico Relief and Rebuilding Fund to alleviate devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, International Nutrition Network (INN) which serves free meals and operates 10 Soup Kitchens in 14 location across Long Island, ROTACARE which provides free medical, dental, pharmacy and other behavioral health services to low income people, Sankara Nethralaya & Eye Foundation, providing world class free tertiary eye care and helping eradicate blindness in India and many other cultural and religious community Organization.

  • Trump denies adult star affair allegation

    Trump denies adult star affair allegation

    WASHINGTON (TIP): US President Donald Trump has denied accusations by a porn star that he had sexual encounters with her, the White House said on Thursday, March 8, a day after she sued him to invalidate a deal that prevented her from discussing the alleged relationship. Stephanie Clifford, who is known as Stormy Daniels in the adult film industry, filed a lawsuit in a California State court on Tuesday.

    “The President has denied the allegations against him and again this case has already been won in arbitration,” the White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference.

    The former adult film actress has sued Donald Trump, claiming that his lawyer forced her to sign a statement in 2016 to stop her from going public about her alleged relationship with the then Republican-presidential candidate. Stephanie Clifford filed a lawsuit in a California State court. The lawsuit alleges that she was paid $130,000 by Michael Cohen, Trump’s personal lawyer, to not to go public with her alleged sexual encounters with Trump when he was the then presidential candidate.

  • Trump’s economic adviser quits over tariffs

    Trump’s economic adviser quits over tariffs

    Gary Cohn, architect of tax reforms, differed with President on trade policies

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Gary Cohn, the top economic adviser to US President Donald Trump and a voice for Wall Street in the White House, resigned on March 7, in yet another jolt to the embattled White House that has seen a series of high-profile departures.

    Cohn, 57, who is a former Goldman Sach executive, resigned as the White House National Economic Council director over differences with the Trump’s trade policies, including a move to impose a hefty 25 per cent tariff on the import of steel and 10 per cent on aluminium.

    White House officials said the tariffs dispute contributed to Cohn’s decision to leave but that it was not the sole reason. For several weeks, Cohn had been discussing with the President that it was nearing time for him to transition out. His departure date is to be determined but will be a few weeks from now, a White House official said.

    “Gary has been my chief economic adviser and did a superb job in driving our agenda, helping to deliver historic tax cuts and reforms and unleashing the American economy once again. He is a rare talent, and I thank him for his dedicated service to the American people,” Trump said.  He tweeted that he “will be making a decision soon” on replacing Cohn. Administration officials said Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council, and conservative commentator Larry Kudlow were the “top two candidates” for the job.

    During his stay at the White House, Cohn led coordination of Trump’s pro-growth domestic and global economic policy agenda, including the passage of historic tax cuts and reforms in December 2017. “It has been an honor to serve my country and enact pro-growth economic policies to benefit the Americans. I am grateful to the President for giving me this opportunity,” Cohn said.  — Agencies

    Trump threatens to tax European cars

    Donald Trump on Tuesday, March 6,  threatened to slap a 25% tax on import of cars from Europe if the EU retaliated on its decision to impose import tariffs on steel and aluminium

    Swedish PM Stefan Lofven during his meeting with Trump had conveyed the message of the EU president that if the US put tariffs on steel and aluminum, they will slap back with punitive tariffs on bourbon, jeans and motorcycles

    They can do whatever they’d like, but if they do that, we put 25% tax on their cars, and believe me, they won’t be doing it long, Trump said.

     

  • March 9 New York & Dallas Print Editions

    March 9 New York & Dallas Print Editions

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  • Florida passes Bill to restrict guns, minimum age to buy firearms raised to 21

    Florida passes Bill to restrict guns, minimum age to buy firearms raised to 21

    MIAMI (TIP): The US state of Florida, scene of America’s latest school shooting, has passed Bill that raises the minimum age to buy firearms to 21 while funding a program that allows some teachers and school employees to be armed.

    The “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act,” which takes its name from February 14 massacre in which 17 persons, including 14 students were killed, passed the legislature’s lower house a day after clearing the senate.

    It will now be sent to Governor Rick Scott to sign. The Republican has not indicated whether he would veto the law, but he has previously expressed opposition to US President Donald Trump’s call to arm teachers.

    America’s long moribund gun control debate was revived by survivors of the Parkland shooting, who a day after their school was attacked launched the “Never Again” movement demanding legislative action.

    The Bill raises the minimum age to purchase all firearms from 18 to 21, a move opposed by the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group, bans modification devices that make a semi-automatic weapon fully automatic, and increases mental health funding.

    It also includes a voluntary “guardian program” named after Coach Aaron Feis who was slain in the Parkland attack, which is intended to “aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises” by allowing some school employees to be armed.

    The program is mainly aimed at staff such as coaches and school personnel, with teachers eligible if they have military or law enforcement experience. Bringing more guns into school has been a controversial idea, but lawmakers defended the Bill.

    Meanwhile, Democrat legislators said the guardian program was a “poison pill” in a law otherwise taking necessary steps towards gun control. African-American representatives also expressed fears that arming black school employees could leave them vulnerable to being mistaken for attackers by police arriving on the scene of a mass shooting.

    However, the Bill does not ban the sale of the AR-15 assault rifle-the weapon used by Nikolas Cruz-one of activists’ key demands.

    The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act

    Imposes a three-day waiting period for the purchase of all firearms, not just handguns, or until a background check is completed, whichever is longer

    Raises the minimum legal age to purchase a rifle or shotgun to 21 from 18. Federal law already prohibits anyone under 21 from buying a handgun

    Outlaws bump stocks, which enable a semi-automatic weapon to be fired as an automatic weapon. Such devices were used in a mass shooting in Las Vegas last year

    Allows local sheriff’s departments to establish a “guardian program” in which school personnel can be permitted to voluntarily carry a gun on the job

    Allows police to temporarily seize firearms from someone who has been taken into custody for an involuntary mental examination under Florida’s so-called Baker Act statute

    Prohibits anyone from owning or possessing a firearm who has been judged mentally incompetent or has been committed to a mental institution, until a court rules otherwise

  • Amazon removes Lord Ganesha stockings after Hindu protest

    Amazon removes Lord Ganesha stockings after Hindu protest

    NEVADA (TIP): World’s largest online retailer Amazon.com withdrew stockings carrying image of Hindu deity Lord Ganesha from its website within two days after upset Hindus protested, calling it “highly inappropriate”.

    Three stockings carrying images of Lord Ganesha, which were selling at Amazon.com from $9.69 to $16.30, do not show up anymore.

    Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who spearheaded the protest urging for immediate withdrawal of these objectionable products, in a statement in Nevada, thanked Amazon.com for understanding the concerns of Hindu community which thought image of Lord Ganesha on such a product was highly insensitive.

    Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, however, pointed out that a formal apology from Amazon.com President Jeffrey P. Bezos to the upset Hindu community was still due, as this was not the first time for the company to offer such products which were deemed offensive by Hindu devotees.

    Rajan Zed suggested that Amazon.com and other companies should send their senior executives for training in religious and cultural sensitivity so that they had an understanding of the feelings of customers and communities when introducing new products or launching advertising campaigns.

    Zed had said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to cover your feet and legs or touch with your feet and legs. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or symbols or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the faithful.

    Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed had indicated.

    Zed had stated that such trivialization of Lord Ganesha was disturbing to the Hindus world over. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the followers, Zed added.

    Hindus have protested and contacted Amazon.com many times in the past over what they felt was trivialization of Hindu deities on various products sold on its website and had been mostly successful in persuading the company to remove those.

    In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

    Amazon.com, Inc., a Fortune 500 company founded in 1994, and headquartered in Seattle, claims to offer earth’s biggest selection.

  • United States Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi urges Chicagoans to vote for Illinois primary election

    United States Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi urges Chicagoans to vote for Illinois primary election

    “As I have said many times, if you don’t have a seat at the table, then you are on the menu. Registering to vote and voting ensures at your voice is heard and you have a proverbial seat at the table when important decisions are made affecting you.”

    CHICAGO, IL(TIP): A Press Conference for media was held on behalf of United States Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, at Mysore Woodlands on 2548 W. Devon Ave. Chicago, IL. At this press conference Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi covered a wide range of significant topics including his legislative accomplishments, future legislation agenda and other relevant current topics.

    Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois has urged suburban Chicago residents to vote for Illinois primary election.

    “Indian-Americans and all suburban Chicago residents must register to vote to allow their voices to be heard,” he said and added, “As I have said many times, if you don’t have a seat at the table, then you are on the menu. Registering to vote and voting ensures that your voice is heard, and you have a proverbial seat at the table when important decisions are made affecting you.”

    Volunteers and friends of Krishnamoorthi helped register voters at the Itasca temple last week. The efforts at the event will be replicated by him elsewhere to help increase the number of registered voters in the Indian-American community.

    Fund Raising Efforts

    Meanwhile, Raja Krishnamoorthi continued his incredible fundraising success by bringing in more than $650,000 in the 4th quarter of 2017.

    The first-term Member of Congress from the 8th District of Illinois that includes Chicago’s west and northwest suburbs has more than $3.31 million cash on hand to begin his re-election campaign as of the end of the fourth fundraising quarter that ended December 31.

    United States Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi

    “My constituents sent me to Washington to work every day on growing and strengthening the middle class, and that’s what we’ve done,” Krishnamoorthi said. “These resources will help us amplify that message to continue our important work in Congress. Krishnamoorthi and Republican Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania are the two lead sponsors of bipartisan legislation that passed the House of Representatives unanimously to improve career and technical education, as well as to help give Americans the skills they need to compete for in-demand jobs.

    The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2353) reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and is the first major overhaul of the program since 2006.

    “As President Trump said in his State of the Union speech, career and technical education is going to be a critical part of our country’s economy, and this legislation will help strengthen and modernize it,” Krishnamoorthi said. “The bill works to close the skills gap by pairing businesses and educators together to establish training programs to prepare students for in-demand careers.” The son of immigrants, Krishnamoorthi was elected to Congress in November 2016 with nearly 60 percent of the vote against his Republican opponent.

    (Photographs and Press release by Asian Media USA)

                

  • Hindus term Holi shoes launched by Pharrell Williams & Adidas as “inappropriate”

    Hindus term Holi shoes launched by Pharrell Williams & Adidas as “inappropriate”

    DALLAS (TIP): Hindus feel that Holi footwear collaboratively launched by American singer Pharrell Williams and multinational sportswear corporation Adidas is trivialization of traditions-concepts-symbols-beliefs of Hinduism.

    Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement urged Pharrell Williams and Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted to rename their Holi shoes which many Hindus felt were highly insensitive as religious festival of Holi was linked to various deities; and offer formal apology.

    Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that Pharrell Williams and Adidas should have done some homework before taking Hinduism concepts frivolously and using these to make a fashion statement and sell shoes for mercantile greed, some of which contain leather.

    Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed noted.

    Improper usage of Hinduism concepts or symbols or imagery for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it might be painful to many devotees. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt many followers, Zed added.

    Twelve Holi shoes, ranging between $95 and $250, appear on Adidas website; five of which are “coming soon”, six are “new” and one is “sold out”. General release date is March 16, while pre-release was on March two. Adidas states: “inspired by a Hindu festival, artist Pharrell Williams designs these shoes”. Adidas describes Holi as ancient spiritual festival.

    Joie de vivre festival of Holi welcomes the beginning of spring and starts about ten days before the full moon of Phalguna. The ceremonies include the lighting of the bonfires, during which all evils are symbolically burnt. Holi also commemorates the frolics of youthful Lord Krishna; celebrates the death of demoness Putana, burning of demoness Holika, and destruction of Kama by Shiva. Holi fell on March two this year.

    Adidas, headquartered in Herzogenaurach (Germany) and whose history goes back to 1924, claims to “produce more than 850 million product units every year”. “Creating the New” is its 2020 strategy. Adidas—Pharrell Williams collaboration is said to be in its fourth year.

  • Trump announces new trade tariff plans, Faces Opposition within and without

    Trump announces new trade tariff plans, Faces Opposition within and without

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Republicans on Capitol Hill reacted angrily to President Donald Trump’s announcement Thursday, March 8, that he is going forward with new tariffs on steel and aluminum, arguing that the move will harm the economy and that it threatens to start a broader trade war.

    WASHINGTON — Republicans on Capitol Hill reacted angrily to President Donald Trump’s announcement Thursday that he is going forward with new tariffs on steel and aluminum, arguing that the move will harm the economy and that it threatens to start a broader trade war.

    And while there are limits to what they can do to stop it, members are contemplating measures that could block the president from fully implementing his proposal.

    “I don’t think Republicans will put up with this, and I personally believe that we may be able to stop it in the Congress,” Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said.

    Sen. Hatch: Trump has ‘been misled’ over tariffs 1:07

    The president announced a 10 percent tax on imported aluminum and a 25 percent tax on imported steel, carving out exceptions for imports from Canada and Mexico. But those exemptions weren’t enough to placate congressional Republicans who have traditionally opposed protectionist action on trade.

    GOP leaders had lobbied the White House from moving forward, writing letters, speaking out in the media and through outreach to the president and his advisers.

    During a conference call between White House officials and GOP Hill staffers Thursday, administration representatives requested favorable comments from members on the president’s plan, a suggestion that the staff in one office laughed at, according to a Republican aide.

    In a rare rebuke of the president, Republicans are vowing to continue challenging him in ways that could result in either new legislation or support for expected legal challenges to the move.

    “I disagree with this action and fear its unintended consequences,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said. “There are unquestionably bad trade practices by nations like China, but the better approach is targeted enforcement against those practices.”

    Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the exemptions for Canada and Mexico are not enough.

    “Members of the Senate, myself included, are concerned about the scope of the proposed tariffs on steel and aluminum and their impact on American citizens and businesses, including many I represent in Kentucky,” McConnell said.

    And, outside, EU talked tough. “If Donald Trump puts in place the measures this evening, we have a whole arsenal at our disposal with which to respond,” European Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said.

    Counter-measures would include European tariffs on US oranges, tobacco and bourbon, he said, adding that some products under consideration for an EU riposte were largely produced in constituencies controlled by Trump’s Republicans. “We want Congress to understand that this would be a lose-lose situation,” Moscovici told BFM TV.

    The EU is by far the biggest trading partner of the United States by value and, after China, member states have together the biggest trade surplus with the country. Once approved by Trump, the tariffs would go into effect after two months.

    In Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said history showed that trade wars were not the correct way to resolve problems. “Especially given today’s globalization, choosing a trade war is a mistaken prescription. The outcome will only be harmful,” he said on the sidelines of an annual meeting of China’s Parliament.

  • Former Nassau County Executive Mangano’s Trial to begin on schedule

    Former Nassau County Executive Mangano’s Trial to begin on schedule

    CENTRAL ISLIP, NY (TIP): Newsday reported March 8 that despite a late turnover of text messages recovered from the star witness against former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and former Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, a federal judge said Thursday, March 8, the corruption trial is on schedule to begin next week.

    Jury selection will take a day to complete on Monday and opening statements will be Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack said.

    Testimony is scheduled to begin Wednesday, most likely with the key witness in the case, restaurateur Harendra Singh, who has pleaded guilty to bribing Mangano and Venditto.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Treinis Gatz said she expected Singh to be on the stand for two days on direct examination, before the defense cross-examines him the following week.

    Mangano has been charged with conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and extortion. His wife, Linda, has been charged with making false statements, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Venditto is charged with conspiracy, bribery, securities fraud, wire fraud, making false statements and obstruction of justice.

    All three have pleaded not guilty and will stand trial together.

  • US Navy veteran pleads guilty to killing Indian techie in Kansas

    US Navy veteran pleads guilty to killing Indian techie in Kansas

    WASHINGTON (TIP): A US Navy veteran, on March 7, pleaded guilty to the murder of Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla in a racially motivated hate crime at a bar in Kansas City last year that raised fears of growing intolerance in America following President Donald Trump’s tough rhetoric on immigration.

    Adam Purinton, 52, pleaded guilty before a Kansas court. He was charged with first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla, 32, and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shootings of his friend, Alok Madasani, and a bystander, who chased Purinton after he fled the Austin’s Bar and Grill in Olathe city on February 22 last year.

    Purinton, yelled, “Get out of my country”, before shooting Kuchibhotla, who later died from injuries sustained in the attack. Kuchibhotla and Madasani worked as engineers at Garmin, a tech company that makes GPS devices.

    Kuchibhotla’s widow Sunayana Dumala welcomed the guilty plea. “Today’s guilty verdict will not bring back my Srinu, but it will send a strong message that hate is never acceptable,” she said.

    Purinton sentencing is scheduled for May 4.

    Prosecutors alleged Purinton committed offences after substantial planning and premeditation, attempted to kill more than one person in a single criminal episode.

    (Source:PTI)

  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announces $170 Million for women’s empowerment

    Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announces $170 Million for women’s empowerment

    WASHINGTON (TIP): On the eve of International Women’s Day, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a USD 170 million project aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment in four countries, including in India.

    Announced on Tuesday, March 6, the investments focused in India, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will target four key priorities — advancing gender equality, spreading digital financial inclusion, increasing job opportunities, and supporting the agricultural sector and women’s support groups.

    “One of the most profound ways a woman can make life better for herself and her family is to take control of her economic future,” said Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

    “When women have money in their hands and the authority to choose how to spend it, they grow in confidence and power. They change the unwritten rules that say women are lesser than men,” she said in a statement.

    The investments will build on the foundation’s previous financial commitments to advance progress on gender equality, including USD 80 million for gender data, advocacy and accountability, of which USD 20 million was dedicated to supporting women’s movements, a statement said.

    According to the foundation, the data show that when a woman has the option of working outside the home and access to financial services to participate in the formal economy, families break the cycle of poverty and national GDPs rise.

    When women have access to financial resources such as cash or mobile money, the ability to control those resources and the ability to make decisions that affect her, and her family’s future, women are empowered in ways beyond economics, it said.

    The investments will not only help better understand what works to ensure women are able to fully participate in economies, but also dismantle the barriers that have held women back for far too long, said Sarah Hendriks, director, gender equality at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

    “Our strategy is aimed at giving more women and girls the economic opportunities they need to engage as equals in society,” Hendriks said.

    International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year. It commemorates the movement for women’s rights.

    (Source: PTI)

  • Trump agrees to meet North Korea’s Kim

    Trump agrees to meet North Korea’s Kim

    WASHINGTON (TIP): US President Donald Trump has agreed to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by May, a top South Korean official announced on Friday, March 9, even as the White House said the two leaders would meet “at a place and time to be determined”.

    South Korean National Security Adviser Chung Eui-Yong, who led his country’s delegation to Pyongyang for talks with the North Korean leaders, made the announcement at the White House hours after he briefed Trump and his national security team.

    Reading from a prepared statement, Chung said the North Korean leader has expressed his “eagerness to meet with President Trump as soon as possible.”

    Chung attributed the North Korean turnaround to Trump’s leadership and his maximum pressure policy together with international solidarity.

    In his meeting with the North Korean leader, Chung said Trump is committed to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

    “Kim pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests. He understands that the routine joint military exercises between the Republic of Korea and the United States must continue. He expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible,” he said.

    “President Trump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong-un by May to achieve permanent denuclearization. The Republic of Korea, along with the United States, Japan, and our many partners around the world, remain fully and resolutely committed to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” Chung said.

    “Along with Trump, we are optimistic about continuing a diplomatic process to test the possibility of a peaceful resolution,” he said.

    “The Republic of Korea, the United States, and our partners stand together in insisting that we not repeat the mistakes of the past, and that the pressure will continue until North Korea matches its words with concrete actions,” the South Korean national security adviser said.

    Reacting to the announcement White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said, “President Trump greatly appreciates the nice words of the South Korean delegation and President Moon. He will accept the invitation to meet with Kim Jong Un at a place and time to be determined.”She added that the sanctions on the reclusive nation must remain.

    “We look forward to the denuclearization of North Korea. In the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain,” Sanders said.

    According to a senior administration official, Trump may meet the North Korean leader in couple of months.

    Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Kim’s desire to talk shows sanctions the administration has implemented are starting to work.

    “We can pursue more diplomacy, as we keep applying pressure ounce by ounce. Remember, North Korean regimes have repeatedly used talks and empty promises to extract concessions and buy time,” he said.

    “North Korea uses this to advance its nuclear and missile programs. We’ve got to break this cycle. The United States and South Korea must stand shoulder-to-shoulder in applying the sustained pressure needed to peacefully end this threat. And Beijing must do its part,” Royce said.

    (Source: PTI)

  • Trump’s warning shot: Protectionism can unleash a global trade war

    Trump’s warning shot: Protectionism can unleash a global trade war

    US President Donald Trump appeared to be at his wits’ end when he made a rash comment after his chief economic adviser Gary Cohn put in his papers: “Will be making a decision soon on the appointment of new chief economic advisor. Many people wanting the job — will choose wisely!” It is both a confession of his poor judgment and a desire to have a yes-man. This is an ominous sign of rising protectionism that threatens to disrupt global trade. Although, China appears to be in the President Trump’s direct firing line, India needs to be prepared for collateral damage. The signs are there when the US President in an emotional outburst hauled up India for high import duties on the iconic Harley-Davidson motorbike despite its “insignificant” contribution in the total bilateral trade. Indeed, jingoism in any form is irrational.

    President Trump’s protectionism may, however, hamper the American economy the most. In a last-ditch effort, adviser Cohn tried to make Trump understand that undue tariff protection to domestic steel and aluminum makers would hurt upstream manufacturers like cars and cans. It is unfortunate that the US, which once championed free trade ring-fenced by WTO, is resorting to unilateral trading barriers instead of sharpening the competitiveness of the domestic industry. Apparently under pressure, India has already started importing energy all the way from America, which makes little commercial sense, especially when such resources are freely available in the neighborhood. Indian airlines have placed orders worth several billions of dollars to purchase more than 300 American aircraft.

    President Trump’s decision to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports is primarily targeted at Canada and China but the impact will be felt by steel and aluminum producers across the world. The decision has the seeds to unleash a global trade war as the US imports steel from more than 100 countries. China has already communicated that it would retaliate if its interests were harmed. For Indian manufacturers, it is the time to become more competitive. Once the US market gets closed, Chinese exporters would turn towards India in a big way.

    (Tribune, India)

  • Weekly Horoscope March 12 – March 18, 2018

    Weekly Horoscope March 12 – March 18, 2018

    By Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla
    Contact: +91 8141234275

    Aries: Aries is active, energetic, excitable and impulsive,optimistic, and open to change and new experiences. Your magical birthstones are coral and diamonds that attract love, financial success, and bring luck in new ventures. Red, scarlet and carmine are your colors, and geranium is your flower. Iron and steel are your metals, and you incense associations are honeysuckle and musk. The direction most beneficial to you is the east, and you will benefit from the use of candles

    Taurus: Taurus is quite affectionate, patient, stable, determined and practical, stubborn, and resistant to change. Turquoise and emerald will protect you against infidelity and deceit, ensure loyalty, and improve memory, pale blue, yellow, pink and pale green are your colors, and your flower is violet. Copper is your metal, and seeds and stones are your natural symbols. The direction most beneficial to you is the south, and your incense association is frankincense.

    Gemini: Gemini is lively, energetic, versatile and intellectual, lives primarily in the mind rather than the emotions, and is extremely adaptable to new situations. Your magical birthstones are emerald and agate, which will protect you from deception and falsehood; and bestow eloquence (especially in declarations of love). Yellow, slate grey and spotted mixtures are your colors, and your flower is lavender. Your natural symbol is feathers and mercury is your metal. The direction most beneficial to you is the west and your incense is jasmine.

    Cancer: Cancer is receptive, sensitive and imaginative, sympathetic, kind, emotional and active, and shrewd with an intuitive mind. Pearl will change bad fortune into good and discord to harmony for you, and brings support from influential people. Your colors are shooting white, opal, iridescent silvery hues, smoky grey, sea green and blue, and your metal is silver. Not surprisingly shells are your natural symbol. Your flower is lily, incense association is patchouli, and the direction most beneficial to you is the north.

    Leo: Leo is enthusiastic, powerful, expansive and creative, generous and extravagant. Not surprisingly, gold is your metal, flame is your natural symbol, sunflower is your flower, and your colors are orange, gold, rich shades of yellow and brown. Rubies will protect you against physical injury and ensure faithfulness and will bring you serenity. A rose incense will greatly benefit you and the direction beneficial to you is the eats.

    Virgo: Virgo is reserved, modest, practical, discriminating and industrious, analytical and painstaking, seeking to know and understand. Emerald and sapphire bring you tranquility of mind and protect against illness. Shades of green, dark brown, slate and spotted patterns work best for you, as the metal mercury. Pansies are your flower, and your incense is myrrh. The south is most beneficial for you, and grains and seeds are your natural symbols.

    Libra: Libra is active, artistic, easygoing, peaceable, diplomatic, polished and very socially inclined, and prizes beauty and harmony. Opal, your magical birthstone, brings financial success, frees you from jealousy and greed and imparts clear sight. Surround yourself with roses, gladioli and other fragment flowers. Your colors are blue and white, metal is cooper and most beneficial direction is west. Firangipani is your incense association.

    Scorpio: Scorpio is imaginative, passionate and emotional, subtle and persistent, intense, obstinate and unyielding. Coral and topaz, your magical birthstones, release your occult powers and bring serenity, and also protect from enemies and illness, and your metal is plutonium. Dark red, maroon, crimson and colors of smoky cloud formations are your colors, and the rhododendron is your flower. Sandalwood is your association and the direction most beneficial to you is the north.

    Sagittarius: Sagittarius is energetic, ambitious, generous, freedom – loving, and a seeker of challenge, open to new ideas and exploration. Topaz and turquoise, your magical birthstones, attract love and protect from hard. Your colors are rich purple, violet and indigo, the dandelion is your flower. Tin is your metal and sword, your magical tool! Your most beneficial direction is the east, and pine is your incense of choice.

    Capricorn: Capricorn is sure – footed, reserved, acquisitive, cautious, disciplined and determined, and seeks security. Your colors are dark grey, dark green, black, dark brown and indigo, and magical birthstone is the garnet that attracts popularity, high esteem and true love. Lead is your metal and your magical tool is spade. Your flower is ivy, though your incense association is lotus. Your most beneficial direction is south.

    Aquarius: Aquarius is assertive, independent, progressive, analytical, original and inventive and has strong dislikes and firm opinions. Your magical birthstone, amethyst, brings faithfulness in love and bestows on you the gift of prescience. Aquamarine, turquoise and electric blue are your colors, uranium is your metal. Your flower is the orchid, while license association is vanilla. Your most favorable direction is the west, and chimes are your magical tool.

    Pisces: Pisces is receptive, intuitive and emotional, imaginative, romantic impressionable and mystical, adaptable, and very changeable. Cats eye and aquamarine, your magical birthstones, magnify occult powers and bring serenity of mind. Mauve, purple, violet, sea green and silver are your colors, while platinum is your metal. Your magical tool is a mirror and beneficial direction is north. White poppies are your flower, while your incense association is copal.