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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2014)
U.S.A. October 6, 2014 THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 7 Obama hosts India’s Modi for White House visit WARMING UP RELATIONS. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives a speech during a re- ception by the Indian community in honor of his visit to the United States at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Thousands of Indian Americans flocked to Madison Square Garden for a rare chance to see the new leader of the world’s largest democracy. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) relationship has been rockier, with Washington frustrated by India’s failure to open its economy to more foreign investment and address complaints over intellectual property violations. A landmark civil nuclear agreement exists between the two countries, but Indian liability legislation has kept U.S. companies from capitalizing on the deal. Further fraying relations was the arrest and strip search last year in New York of an Indian diplomat on visa fraud charges. A major aspect of last week’s visit was the chance for Obama and Modi to begin building rapport, administration officials said. Obama was among the first western leaders to telephone Modi with con- gratulations after his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party swept into power after May’s landslide vote. The visit also is a victory lap of sorts for Modi, a former tea seller. “He’s gone in just a matter of a few months from persona non grata to person of honor to be received warmly in the Oval Office,” said Milan Vaishnav, who studies South Asia at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank. Associated Press writers Muneeza Naqvi in New Delhi and Matthew Pennington in New York contributed to this report. By Josh Lederman and Darlene Superville The Associated Press ASHINGTON — Once shunned by the United States, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode a wave of enthusiasm and popular support to the White House, where he kicked off a two-day visit with President Barack Obama. The two leaders sought to put a brave face on the relationship despite widespread concerns that U.S.-India ties have frayed in recent years. Modi’s visit started with a private dinner with Obama on September 29, the day after thousands of Indian Americans flocked to New York’s Madison Square Garden for a rare chance to see the new leader of the world’s largest democracy. The dazzling Bollywood-style dancers and dozens of U.S. lawmakers that took part in that event highlighted the rock star welcome Modi enjoyed on his first official visit to the U.S. since being elected in May. It wasn’t always so. When Modi requested a visa to visit the United States nearly a decade ago, Washington said no. That rejection came three years after religious riots killed more than 1,000 Muslims in the state of Gujarat, where Modi was the top elected official. Another potential wrinkle in Modi’s visit: A human-rights group is offering $10,000 to anyone who can serve Modi with a summons issued by a federal court in New York to respond to a lawsuit the group filed accusing him of serious abuses. The lawsuit is on behalf of two unnamed survivors of the violence. Modi has denied involvement in the violence and India’s Supreme Court has said there was no case to bring against him. As a head of state, Modi has immunity from lawsuits in U.S. courts. And White House officials said they W doubted the issue would cloud the visit. “Whether it’s security and counter- terrorism or strengthening the economy or a host of other regional issues, there is a broad framework where India and the U.S. work closely together to advance our shared interests,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. Obama and Modi broke the ice over dinner as they sought to reinvigorate soured relations between the countries. There was one small issue: Modi is fasting to honor the Hindu goddess Durga and is consuming only water or lemon- flavored water. The White House said Modi’s dietary needs were accommodated, but offered no details. Obama’s courtship of Modi continued the next day with an Oval Office meeting, marking a rare second day of attention from Obama. During the talks, Obama and Modi focused on economic growth and cooperation on security, clean energy, q Goodbye 300? World Bowling eyes radical changes Continued from page 2 climaxes.” Hoffman said the changes would likely face the most opposition from the 10 or 15 players who are at the top of the world standings, since the system is working for them the way it is. But he added that he thinks major changes are required to attract spectators and sponsors and win the backing of the International Olympic Committee. “I think we will see change,” he said. “I think the industry in general knows the need for change so that we are more relevant on popular culture again.” Mike Seymour, an Australian who is the World Tenpin Bowling Association’s vice president, said a working group is scheduled to make four or five proposals at an executive board meeting in December in Abu Dhabi. Seymour said top-level bowling could q Mary Kom draws crowds even in faraway venues Continued from page 3 that I have. I’m also clear about one fact — never take anyone lightly. In boxing, one loss means you are out, so every bout has to be taken seriously,” she added. Shagun Saxena, 31, who was among the many Indian expatriates at the Seonhak Stadium, shouted “We love you Mary” as the boxer fought it out in the ring. “There are other Indian boxers too, who are good too,” said Saxena. “But I loved the movie made on her and feel her popularity has increased several-fold after that. We’ve all come here to see her.” Editor’s note: Mary Kom won the boxing gold medal at the competition in Incheon. soon start to look more like tennis. With each game shorter, finals could be played in a best-out-of-three format. But he acknowledged that, even for supporters of the overhaul, letting go of the magical 300 is hard to imagine. “Maybe for the average league-type player a few more years down the track, if the 30-point strike system has been established and proven, that might take over,” he said. “I don’t like banishing the old 300. I’m a traditionalist and I’ve been around for a long time in this sport. I can’t see it being banished forever, maybe just a change at the top end.” climate change, and other issues, the White House said. They also addressed regional concerns, including Afghanistan, where the U.S. is wrapping up its 13-year military involvement, and Syria and Iraq, where the U.S. is ramping up its military engagement as Obama builds an inter- national coalition to target Islamic State militants operating in both countries. Obama visited India in 2010 and held up the U.S.-India relationship as the “defin- ing partnership” of the 21st century. But the relationship has been lukewarm at best. While military cooperation and U.S. defense sales have grown, the economic q PM Modi proposes International Yoga Day UNITED NATIONS (AP) — India’s prime minister is proposing a new addition to the lengthy list of annual U.N. observances: World Yoga Day. In his speech to the U.N. General As- sembly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extolled the therapeutic powers of yoga and said it could help tackle global problems. Modi told delegates that yoga could “bring a change in our lifestyle and create awareness in us, and it can help in fighting against climate change.” The Indian leader has a reputation as an ascetic. He was in the midst of a nine-day fast dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga. The U.N. already has 118 awareness- raising days of observance. September 27 was World Tourism Day. Among others in the calendar: the International Day of Happiness, World Soil Day, International Mother Earth Day, and International Jazz Day. TALKING STORY IN ASIAN AMERICA n Polo Polo’s “Talking Story” column will return soon. q On this tennis court, a different kind of love game Continued from page 6 my serve, but that was the last thing I was thinking about. Everyone on our court turned to watch what was happening on the other court, and they started cheering on Ethan and Savannah, too. I was watching a group of grown men cheer on kids they had never met before, giving up their time to give these kids a chance to play — and they relished every moment of it. Needless to say, I was more than a little choked up. After the match, after I was packed up and ready to go, I turned to the group and said, “Thanks, guys, for doing that. I tried teaching them how to play tennis, but they never seemed interested. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you just did.” They smiled and said it was nothing. But they’re wrong. It wasn’t nothing. For me, what I saw that night — well, it just meant everything. Affordable Quality Retirement Living for Seniors 62 years and older Alberta Simmons Plaza 6611 NE Martin Luther King Blvd Portland, Oregon 97211 503 . 240 . 4198 . One–Bedroom Apartments with Full Sized Kitchens and Living Areas . 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