The Indian Panorama

Month: June 2015

  • The Ukraine imbroglio

    The G-7 nations put on a brave face against Russia at a summit held this week in the Bavarian Alps and decided to continue their sanctions against President Vladimir Putin for what they called his war in Ukraine. U.S. President Barack Obama in fact accused Mr. Putin of “wrecking his country in pursuit of a wrong-headed desire to recreate the glories of the Soviet empire”. Russia countered by warning that it would prolong its own counter-sanctions, indicating there would not be any change in its Ukraine policy. While all this is happening, a fresh outbreak of violence between government troops and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine is threatening to derail a tenuous ceasefire. Ukraine is paying a heavy price for this stand-off. It has lost Crimea to Russia, is fighting a deadly civil war in the east, and its economy is in a state of collapse, it having contracted by nearly 18 per cent in the first quarter of 2015.

    The real crisis of Ukraine is that it is caught in a game of one-upmanship between the West and Russia. The West wants to punish Russia for its annexation of Crimea and for helping separatists in eastern Ukraine. Moscow, on the other hand, sees Western involvement in the ouster of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych, and seems determined to resist the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s outreach to its backyard. If the West’s real intention is to get Russia to change its policy towards Ukraine, it should rethink its sanctions regime, which has been demonstrably ineffective over the past 15 months. Supporters of the sanctions might argue that those worked in the case of Iran and might work in Russia’s case as well. But Russia is not Iran. It is a geopolitical giant, a former superpower and a huge country that still has substantial leveraging power in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Given the way policy-making works in the Kremlin, it is illogical to believe that any kind of coercion would work against Mr. Putin. Besides, there is little to suggest that the Western policy of isolating Russia is working at all. More than a year after Russia was suspended from the G-8 following its annexation of Crimea, the leading powers still need Russia to deal with pressing global issues ranging from the Iranian nuclear talks to the Syrian civil war. So a more pragmatic approach would be to start a diplomatic engagement in a mutually conducive environment. The inept handling by both sides of what was a domestic issue in Ukraine has turned it into a regional problem. Left unchecked, the problem could well turn into a war. It is high time the West and Moscow set aside rhetoric and started addressing the problem directly.

  • Suit Boot Ki Sarkar Versus Soojh Boojh Ki Sarkar

    Suit Boot Ki Sarkar Versus Soojh Boojh Ki Sarkar

    NEW DELHI (TIP): After his return from the nearly two-month-long political sabbatical on April 16, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has been unsparing in his attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government over issues concerning farmers, landless laborers, netizens, middle-class home buyers, fishermen, ex-servicemen, Dalits and now sanitation workers.

     

    This appears clearly to be part of a grand strategy to reach out to different sections, that once comprised the support base of the Congress but which gradually shifted their loyalties to different parties, in a desperate bid to revive the party’s sagging fortunes after its worst ever electoral defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

     

    In the case of striking sanitation workers in Delhi, Gandhi attacked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had eaten into the Congress vote-bank in the assembly elections early this year. The Congress is desperately seeking to regain its space in Delhi from the AAP.

     

    The new-found aggression by taking different communities into account has given a fresh lease of life to the Congress after a series of electoral setbacks. It appears to have regained some ground at least in Parliament where its aggressive tone on various issues, especially plight of farmers and the land acquisition bill, has put the BJP-led government on the defensive.

     

    While Congress president Sonia Gandhi had led the Opposition from the front in the first part of the budget session, the second half saw a combative Rahul launch stinging attacks on the Modi government.

     

    The Congress has already launched a countrywide agitation against the NDA government’s policies on farm, land and labor reforms, issues the party hopes will help reconnect with its eroding traditional support base. The party has maintained its opposition to the land bill was non-negotiable and it would go to any extent to ensure it is withdrawn and provisions of the original UPA law restored. It has vowed to champion the cause of tribals and forest dwellers both in Parliament and on the streets.

    Rahul, too, has plunged headlong into the battle since his return with a countrywide padyatra that he launched from Vidarbha in Maharashtra on April 30 to support the cause.

     

    His advocating net neutrality was seen as an attempt at an image makeover as Rahul had so far chosen to stay away from all forms of

    social media. Similarly, after the middle class completely deserted the Congress, Rahul’s assurance to fight for their cause is clearly an attempt to seek rapprochement. Sonia had on many occasions in the past stressed the need to address the aspirations of the middle class.

     

    The Dalit outreach has been planned in order to win back the support of the community which has shifted its allegiance to the Bahujan Samaj Party for years now. However, a major chunk of the Dalit vote bank both in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar gravitated towards the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. A buoyed BJP is now eyeing Bihar, where assembly elections are due in September-October this year, and has stepped up its efforts to woo the Dalit and Mahadalit communities.

     

    Also, Rahul’s repeated “suit-boot ki sarkar” barbs at the Modi government has prompted many senior ministers to return the fire. Finance minister Arun Jaitley hit back, saying there is a “difference between a national duty and disappearance for a jaunt” and that theirs is a “soojh-boojh ki sarkar” (a wise government).

  • Chinese Hack Database-Security Compromised

    Chinese Hack Database-Security Compromised

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The Chinese breach of the Office of Personnel Management network was wider than first acknowledged, and officials said Friday, June 12, that a database holding sensitive security clearance information on millions of federal employees and contractors also was compromised.

    The announcement of the hack of the security-clearance database comes a week after OPM disclosed that another personnel system had been compromised. The discovery of the first breach led investigators to find the second — all part of one campaign by the Chinese, U.S. officials say, evidently to obtain information valuable to counter­espionage.

    In an announcement, OPM said that investigators concluded this week with “a high degree of confidence” that the agency’s systems containing information related to the background investigations of “current, former and prospective” federal employees, and others for whom a background check was conducted, were breached.

    OPM is assessing how many people were affected, spokesman Samuel Schumach said. “Once we have conclusive information about the breach, we will announce a notification plan for individuals whose information is determined to have been compromised,” he said.

     

    China has dismissed the hacking allegations, with a Foreign Ministry spokesman last week calling them “irresponsible and unscientific.”

    What complicates this case is that unlike many other Chinese breaches­ of U.S. networks, the OPM hacks do not involve theft of commercial secrets. Last year, the United States indicted five Chinese military officials on charges of commercial cyber­espionage. With traditional espionage, the options are fewer.

    “You’re not going to start a shooting war over this,” a former intelligence official said. “We need to improve our ­defenses. We also want to go on the offense.”

    Offensive actions might include directing a U.S. agency to locate the servers holding the stolen data and deleting or altering the data, the former official said.

    The administration timed its announcement last week of the initial OPM breach to comply with its own policy, as reflected in proposed legislation, to notify individuals of a breach within 30 days of concluding that there is a “reasonable basis to believe” that personal information has been compromised, the first U.S. official said.

    Although the breach was discovered in April, it was not until early May that investigators determined that employees’ personal data probably was taken. That led to the announcement last week even though, the official said, the investigation was not complete.

    During a briefing for congressional staff last week, Ann Barron-DiCamillo, a senior DHS official, tried to explain the delay in alerting employees to the breach. “It takes time to do the forensics and to understand what’s happened, and even to understand what data, if any, has been exposed,” she said, according to notes taken by a congressional aide.

    The breach, she said, took place in December. “It took awhile to pinpoint what actually went out the door because it happened six months ago,” she said.

  • ‘The Challenge of Journalism is to Survive in the Pressure Cooker of Plutocracy’

    ‘The Challenge of Journalism is to Survive in the Pressure Cooker of Plutocracy’

    Thank you for allowing me to share this evening with you. I’m delighted to meet these exceptional journalists whose achievements you honor with the Helen Bernstein Book Award.

    What happens to a society fed a diet of rushed, re-purposed, thinly reported “content?” Or “branded content” that is really merchandising — propaganda — posing as journalism? But I gulped when [New York Public Library President] Tony Marx asked me to talk about the challenges facing journalism today and gave me 10 to 15 minutes to do so. I seriously thought of taking a powder. Those challenges to journalism are so well identified, so mournfully lamented, and so passionately debated that I wonder if the subject isn’t exhausted. Or if we aren’t exhausted from hearing about it. I wouldn’t presume to speak for journalism or for other journalists or for any journalist except myself. Ted Gup, who teaches journalism at Emerson and Boston College, once bemoaned the tendency to lump all of us under the term “media.” As if everyone with a pen, a microphone, a camera (today, a laptop or smartphone) – or just a loud voice – were all one and the same. I consider myself a journalist. But so does James O’Keefe. Matt Drudge is not E.J. Dionne. The National Review is not The Guardian, or Reuters The Huffington Post. Ann Coulter doesn’t speak for Katrina Vanden Heuvel, or Rush Limbaugh for Ira Glass. Yet we are all “media” and as Ted Gup says, “the media” speaks for us all.

    So I was just about to email Tony to say, “Sorry, you don’t want someone from the Jurassic era to talk about what’s happening to journalism in the digital era,” when I remembered one of my favorite stories about the late humorist Robert Benchley. He arrived for his final exam in international law at Harvard to find that the test consisted of one instruction: “Discuss the international fisheries problem in respect to hatcheries protocol and dragnet and procedure as it affects (a) the point of view of the United States and (b) the point of view of Great Britain.” Benchley was desperate but he was also honest, and he wrote: “I know nothing about the point of view of Great Britain in the arbitration of the international fisheries problem, and nothing about the point of view of the United States. I shall therefore discuss the question from the point of view of the fish.”

    So shall I, briefly. One small fish in the vast ocean of media.

    I look at your honorees this evening and realize they have already won one of the biggest prizes in journalism — support from venerable institutions: The New Yorker, The New York Times, NPR, The Wall Street Journal and The Christian Science Monitor. These esteemed news organizations paid — yes, you heard me, paid — them to report and to report painstakingly, intrepidly, often at great risk. Your honorees then took time — money buys time, perhaps its most valuable purchase — to craft the exquisite writing that transports us, their readers, to distant places – China, Afghanistan, the Great Barrier Reef, even that murky hotbed of conspiracy and secession known as Texas.

    And after we read these stories, when we put down our Kindles and iPads, or — what’s that other device called? Oh yes – when we put down our books – we emerge with a different take on a slice of reality, a more precise insight into some of the forces changing our world.

    Although they were indeed paid for their work, I’m sure that’s not what drove them to spend months based in Beijing, Kabul and Dallas. Their passion was to go find the story, dig up the facts and follow the trail around every bend in the road until they had the evidence. But to do this — to find what’s been overlooked, or forgotten, or hidden; to put their skill and talent and curiosity to work on behalf of their readers — us — they needed funding. It’s an old story: When our oldest son turned 16 he asked for a raise in his allowance, I said: “Don’t you know there are some things more important than money?” And he answered: “Sure, Dad, but it takes money to date them.” Democracy needs journalists, but it takes money to support them. Yet if present trends continue, Elizabeth Kolbert may well have to update her book with a new chapter on how the dinosaurs of journalism went extinct in the Great Age of Disruption.

    You may have read that two Pulitzer Prize winners this year had already left the profession by the time the prize was announced. One had investigated corruption in a tiny, cash-strapped school district for The Daily Breeze of Torrance, California. His story led to changes in California state law. He left journalism for a public relations job that would make it easier to pay his rent. The other helped document domestic violence in South Carolina, which forced the issue onto the state legislative agenda. She left the Charleston Post and Courier for PR, too.

    These are but two of thousands. And we are left to wonder what will happen when the old business models no longer support reporters at local news outlets? There’s an ecosystem out there and if the smaller fish die out, eventually the bigger fish will be malnourished, too.

    A few examples: The New York Times reporter who rattled the city this month with her report on the awful conditions for nail salon workers was given a month just to see whether it was a story, and a year to conduct her investigation. Money bought time. She began, with the help of six translators, by reading several years of back issues of the foreign language press in this country… and began to understand the scope of the problem. She took up her reporting from there. Big fish, like The New York Times, can amplify the work of the foreign language press and wake the rest of us up.

    A free press, you see, doesn’t operate for free at all. Fearless journalism requires a steady stream of independent income. It was the publisher of the Bergen Record, a family-owned paper in New Jersey who got a call from an acquaintance about an unusual traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge. The editor assigned their traffic reporter to investigate. (Can you believe? They had a traffic reporter!) The reporter who covered the Port Authority for the Record joined in and discovered a staggering abuse of power by Governor Chris Christie’s minions. WNYC Radio picked up the story and doggedly stuck to it, helped give it a larger audience and broadened its scope to a pattern of political malfeasance that resulted in high-profile resignations and criminal investigations into the Port Authority. Quite a one-two punch: WNYC won a Peabody Award, the Record won a Polk.

    A Boston Phoenix reporter broke the story about sexual abuse within the city’s Catholic Church nine months before the Boston Globe picked up the thread. The Globe intensified the reporting and gave the story national and international reach. The Boston Phoenix, alas, died from financial malnutrition in 2013 after 47 years in business.

  • Blast convict Bhullar shifted to Amritsar jail from Tihar

    Blast convict Bhullar shifted to Amritsar jail from Tihar

    AMRITSAR (TIP): Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, a convict in the 1993 Delhi bomb blast case, was admitted, June 12, to the psychiatry ward of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH) here after he was shifted to Amritsar Central Jail from Tihar Jail in Delhi amid tight security.

     

    Tight security arrangements were in place outside his hospital room where he was lodged. Central Jail Superintendent RK Sharma said a three-member medical board would examine the medical history of the convict.

     

    The board concluded that his mental health does not allow him to be kept behind  bars and, therefore, he was referred to the GNDH.  Before Bhullar was admitted to the hospital, a medical team headed by Dr PD Garg, head of psychiatry department, examined him.

     

    They went through his previous medical record and the treatment he was getting during his imprisonment in Tihar Jail. Dr Garg said he was suffering from acute schizophrenia and also having  suicidal tendencies besides hypertension. He said a medical board would be constituted to examine mental health of the patient on a daily basis.

     

    “We will keep him here for at least two weeks. His stay would be extended depending upon his mental condition,” he said.

     

    Bhullar has been allotted a separate air conditioned room in the psychiatry ward of the hospital, which is located on the first floor of Swami Vivekanand De-addiction and Treatment Centre. A television set has been installed in his room which has a single bed and attached washroom facility.

     

    The centre had turned into a fortress before his arrival. A large number of policemen were deputed outside the centre and the passage inside. Nobody was allowed inside the premises where a large number of his supporters and members of radical Sikh organizations flocked to meet him.

     

    Earlier, he arrived at the jail in an ambulance amid tight security and escorted by the vehicles of Punjab police and Delhi police.

     

    Bhullar was in Tihar Jail for the past two decades following his conviction in the 1993 Delhi bomb blast case. This death sentence, scheduled on August 25, 2001, was commuted to life imprisonment by the apex court. His wife Navneet Kaur had demanded his shifting to Amritsar in view of his poor health. The Delhi government led by Aam Aadmi Party had cleared the request for Bhullar’s transfer.

  • Modi@365: Perception over reality!

    Acche din

    One year ago there was a tsunami of promises and dreams by the BJP before the elections. But once the BJP came to power it forgot everything. “Since then there has been a complete reversal of the promised policies and programs”, said Anand Sharma, former minister and spokesperson for the Congress party.

     

    On the other side of the political spectrum, Arun Jaitley, the Finance Minister claimed that “Modi restored the dignity of the Prime Minister which had disappeared during the previous regime and he has convinced the countryman that authority of the Prime Minister is supreme in every decision-making”.

     

    One year into the NDA rule led by BJP, a non-partisan group also argued that that BJP rule was not a disaster as some had predicted or a resounding success as their party faithful proclaims. The truth may lie somewhere between.

     

    During a recent interview, one of the esteemed anchors of an Indian TV network operating in the U.S. asked me whether I was impressed with the ‘Jan DhanYojana’ program the Prime Minister has initiated, which has already created a whopping14 Crore new accounts. Of course, it is impressive statistics; however, the trouble with that simple assumption is that it is just half of the story. As many as 24 Crore people had already had signed up for the ‘Zero frills bank account’ prior to the present government which renamed the existing program as ‘Jan DhanYojana’.

     

    It is said that imitation is the best form of flattery and for the Congress leaders; it must be redemption time as the Modi Government continues with many of their initiated plans, only under a different banner. Giving a little credit to the UPA would have gone a long way towards creating unity and purpose across the aisle. The larger question one needs to ponder here is whether the whole campaign about “achche din aa gaya” is mere sloganeering or based on facts and figures.

     

    At the outset, the BJP’s charges about Congress obstructing its legislative agenda is laughable, as the BJP has opposed everything from Indo-US Civil Nuclear Treaty to Insurance Bill and FDI in multi-brand retail to name a few. They have so vehemently raised all the roadblocks in their power to derail the previous administration’s efforts. Since they have succeeded now in passing 50 some Bills in its first year, Congress cannot pose as large an obstruction as the BJP touts.

     

    If one examines the economic indicators, Modi’s economy was sluggish to say the least in spite of having the good fortune of low crude oil prices. Growth in 8 core industrial sectors was mere 3.5%, and exports contracted by 11.19% to 23.88 billion compared to 26.89 billion in the same month of 2014. Although Modi promised 10 crore jobs in 5 years, if the April-June job growth of 1.17 lakhs is correct, that dream is quite far-fetched. If the inflation is contained as it is claimed, it is largely due to the decline in oil prices. Yet, food items such as Milk and pulses show a steady increase in prices while no savings from the oil have been passed on to the consumers.

     

     

    While the economic conditions largely remain intact for ordinary citizens, Modi’s government has slashed social spending by Rs. 1,75,122 crores in one year alone, undermining the very concept of inclusive and equitable development. All sectors including Agriculture, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Panchayat Raj, Women and Child development and Education suffered cuts including UPA’s flagship program for the rural poor called MGNREGA.

     

    After soaring through the political landscape by accusing the Congress of corruption at high places, BJP has done very little to allay the concerns of the ordinary citizens on this count. 30 per cent of the Council of Ministers have criminal charges pending against them. These include attempted murder, accusations of rape, inciting communal disharmony and electoral violations.

     

    What happened to the promise of transparency and clean governance? “Whenever the PM sees an institution that is constitutional, that people have faith in, he wants to end it as he wants all power with himself and corporates”, said Mrs. Gandhi, President of Congress party in a rare intervention in a parliament session. She was indeed referring to the power grab by the PMO and alleged undermining of popular institution such as RTI (Right to Information Act)’ by keeping the leading position (CIC) vacant.

     

    Former Defence Minister A. K. Antony, who is known for his integrity, has accused the NDA government of “neglecting national security, ignoring security lapses and ultimately compromised national security”. He questioned the wisdom of surrendering Rs. 29000 crores from the current budget cycle while slashing the manpower by half of the “Mountain Strike Corps” which was created to face increased Chinese buildup. He also faulted the Modi government of dragging its feet on the One-Rank – One pension scheme that should have been effective from April 2014.

     

    Prime Minister Modi has been widely acclaimed for his successful foreign travels. Previous Prime Ministers have done the same without this much pomp and ceremony. At the end of the day, one would have to ask ‘where is the beef’? The purchase of Rafael jets from France is surrounded by hypocrisy and double talk! The ‘Make in India’ slogan was given away to make in France, eliminating the public sector HAL probably for the sake of a future tie-up with preferred corporations!

     

    On his visit to Korea, the Prime Minister declared that Indians were ashamed of their nationality until he became prime minister! I do not know about you; as for me, I was always proud of my motherland yet willing to see its problems and shortcomings from a resolution perspective. The efforts of Non-Resident Indians over last three decades have contributed so much to the transformation of the world in the field of Technology, Science and Medicine, earning the respect for mother India, particularly from the people from the west. It is sad to see any politician taking away the fruits of their hard labor!

     

    Finally, is what we see with this government is perception or reality? About five years ago, the campaign of the ‘Gujarat Model’ has surfaced building up the image of Modi who is said to have transformed Gujarat into a modern miracle. Today, the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) report, which was published recently, tore apart the tall claims of the state government led by former the Chief Minister Narendra Modi, particularly in terms of agricultural growth, social indicators, as well as public spending on social infrastructure, fiscal discipline, right to education, and law and order. Gujarat is ranked 12 among states for its Human Development Index, and has a permanent underclass mainly consisting of minorities. Unless the citizen on the street is vigilant, he may be once again swallowed up by the ongoing hoopla of an imaginary world! When it comes to ‘achche din’ let reality be real!

     

  • Scientific Academic Research Foundation Awards for Excellence

    NEW YORK (TIP): The Scientific Academic Research Foundation has announced its inaugural Awards for Excellence to recognize individuals of Indian origin based in the United States who have achieved outstanding professional work and research in the field of medicine.

     

    Winners of Awards of Excellence will be honored at a Gala event at the Pierre Hotel, Fifth Avenue/East 61st Street, New York City, on August 14, 2015 with the presence of government officials, distinguished leaders of academia as well as corporate CEOs.

     

    Nomination deadline is July 15, 2015. See http://SARF-Foundation.org for details. Applicants should meet requirements to enter the competition.

     

    SARF is actively seeking key supporters to make the Gala dinner a success and build a future for the Awards for Excellence in the field of medicine. All inquiries should be directed to info@SARF-Foundation.org

     

    A panel of renowned judges in the field of medicine and health will select the winners.

     

    SARF is established by physicians of Indian origin based in the United States to pursue excellence in medicine and support key academic and research initiatives. It aims at establishing a robust, credible process of recognizing significant contributions by individuals of Indian origin.

     

    SARF Award Categories:

    1. Lifetime Excellence Research and Innovation recognizes an individual for significant contributions to advocacy in medicine, clinical practice or surgical process.
    2. Excellence in Leadership – Young Physician Award recognizes two exceptional medical residents/fellows for medical practice with influence on health care.
    3. Excellence in Global Health recognizes a physician for medical work affecting people around the world.
    4. Physician of the Year recognizes a physician for work in community service, proven leadership and who demonstrates compassion and sensitivity.
    5. Hall of Fame recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to health care.
    6. Excellence in Hospital/Health System Management recognizes an individual for exceptional leadership to improve outcomes, patient safety and quality of care.
    7. Excellence in Pharmaceutical/Medical Device Research and Innovation recognizes a C-suite leader in pharmaceutical, device or health technology with impact on treating diseases.
    8. Excellence in Delivering Quality and Cost Effective Pharmaceutical Alternatives recognizes a C-suite leader in a pharmaceutical or health technology company with impact on utilizing disruptive innovation and breakthrough on expensive treatment/management options and cost reduction.

     

     

  • All set for celebration of International Day of Yoga

    All set for celebration of International Day of Yoga

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP):”Our aim is to make Yoga the mantra of our time”, said Consul General Dnyaneshwar Mulay at the meeting, June 12, to review the preparations for celebrating the International Day of Yoga on June 21.

     

    “The Indian Consulate has taken the lead to bring together a lot many Indian American organizations, Americans and people from various communities to celebrate the day in the true spirit of “Yoga” – the union.”

     

    Ambassador Mulay said, “177 countries co-sponsored the United Nations resolution to declare International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21st every year” which was being celebrated in 191 countries across the world. He also gave out the news that the New York State will celebrate Indian Heritage Month in August when India will be celebrating its Independence.

     

    The meeting was attended by a number of organizations which are involved in organizing Yoga camps in and around New York. These included Art of Living, represented by Ruchika Lal; Global Citizens’ Forum, represented by Dr. B.K. Modi; Tech Mahindra, represented by Ram Chatty; Overseas Volunteers for a Better India (OVBI), represented by Anil Sharma; Hindu Temple Society of North America, represented by Indira Narasimharajan and a few others. Each of the organizing groups briefed the gathering which included local media, about the preparations they had made.

     

    The Deputy Consul General Manoj Mohapatra informed about the visits by India’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on June 17th and 18th, and by the Maharashtra Chief Minister later in month. He also announced that the Foreign Affairs Minister of India, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj will be attending the celebrations of IDY in New York as a representative of government of India.

     

    Mr. Mohapatra also outlined the proposal to have the media persons transported to various yoga locations. This is something new which was appreciated by the media present at the meeting.

     

    Earlier, the Consul General listed some major yoga locations. The day (June 21) will start with International Day of Yoga being celebrated at the United Nations. The second major event will be at the Times Square. The third is the Yoga camp at the Hindu Temple in Flushing. And to cap it all, at the Lincoln Center which is being organized by The Art of Living Foundation.

     

    The Indian Consulate released a press note saying ,” Following the resolution, with the support of Tech Mahindra, the Indian Consulate in New York intends to bring together a large number of diverse Indian-American Communities and institutions for celebrating the first International Day of Yoga (IDY) in a befitting manner in and around New York on 21 June, 2015. Tech Mahindra, a leader in digital transformation, consulting and business reengineering, is the technology partner for the IDY.  The company has been extensively involved in making the iYoga Day and corresponding events across the country successful and impactful.  Besides the Consulate, they also directly support the IDY events at Airports in New York, Lincoln Center and Boston.

     

    “To represent the Government of India, a high-level delegation led by Minister for External Affairs Smt. Sushma Swaraj would be visiting New York from June 20-22, 2015. Besides her participation in the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations in the morning on June 21st, she is expected to participate in the Annual Event of Yoga (Summer Solstice) by Time Square Alliance (Venue: Time Square) from 1230-1300 hrs; Lecture and Demonstration of Yoga at Hindu Temple Society of North American (Venue: Ganesh Temple) from 1530 -1600 hrs and Yoga – A new dimension with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Art of Living Foundation) & Dr. B. K. Modi (Global Citizen Forum) [Venue: Lincoln Centre] from 1900-1930 hours. Details of the major events are given on the backside.

     

    “In its resolution, the UNGA recognised that Yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being and wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practicing Yoga for the health of the world population. Yoga also brings harmony in all walks of life and thus, is known for disease prevention, health promotion and management of many lifestyle-related disorders. Keeping these in mind, the Government of India has adopted IDY Logos and a Common Yoga Protocol, a booklet intended to give a brief overview about Yoga and Yogic practices in order to orient the readers towards comprehensive health for an individual and the community. The details are available on www.indiacgny.org”.

  • City and Ethnic and Community Media need to come closer

    City and Ethnic and Community Media need to come closer

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): A 5 member panel of representatives of ethnic and community media  interacted  with communications directors of City Council members at a  panel  discussion organized by Juana Ponce de Leon, Director of Media Diversity Relations, Office of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito on June 1.

    A view of the Communications Directors present at the conference
    A view of the Communications Directors present at the conference

    The panel included  Javier Castano , Director, Queens Laino,  Prof. Indrajit S Saluja , Editor, The Indian Panorama, Isseu Diouf Campbell, Communications & Media Consultant and Founder of  Afrikanpot.com, Anthony Advincula  from  New American Media, and Lotus Chan from Sing Tao Daily. Around 25 of the 51 Communications Director participated.

    Speaking of the objective of the panel discussion, Juana who moderated said there was a need   for newspaper editors and communications directors to understand each other’s needs and get to know what each expected of the other.  It was necessary, she said, to build a closer relationship between the City through the  communications directors and the newspapers.

    While  each of the panelists presented his/ her  perspective, the panelists also took questions  from the communications directors. The broader consensus was that the City and the ethnic and community media needed to work in closer cooperation.

    Directors of communication were requested to send in information on a regular basis, preferably in the  language of the newspaper to which the information was being sent

    Speaking about the contribution of these papers, a panelist, Prof. Saluja  said: “There are around 350 ethnic and community newspapers in scores of languages which reach out to millions of immigrants living in New York City. The City school system claims that 182 languages are spoken in the City schools. The ethnic and community media reaches out to 37% population of New York which has an immigrant population of 1.4 to 1.8 million. They have little or no English. The only source of information for them is their language newspaper. They depend on ethnic and community newspapers to get to know of what is happening here and “back home”. It is these newspapers which carry to these millions the policies and programs of New York City and the multiple administration agencies and keep them informed on various political, social, economic and cultural issues. Exercising great influence over the minds of their readers, they help them form healthy opinions. And, yet there was a  disconnect between the City and the ethnic media.  The City spent in 2013, $18 million on advertisements and 82% of it went to mainstream media, numbering just a few. Imagine, 350 small ethnic and community publications got a meager 18%. Here is the disconnect. It must end.”

  • Sikh Group Sues Facebook for Banning Website in India

    Sikh Group Sues Facebook for Banning Website in India

    NEW YORK (TIP): A U.S.-based Sikh advocacy group has filed suit against Facebook, accusing the social media giant of blocking access to its Facebook page in India and raising concerns over the company’s censorship policies.

    Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a non-profit organization with offices in New York City that advocates for issues important to members of the Sikh religious tradition, filed suit in California federal court this week requesting that a judge force Facebook to stop blocking its website in India and release all its communications with national Indian officials. The complaint alleges that the company illegally restricted access to SFJ’s page, presumably at the request of the Indian government, who disagrees with the group’s controversial activism. Among other things, the website criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and campaigned against “forced conversions of Christians and Muslims to Hinduism,” an unsettling practice that has been reported to occur throughout India at the hands of Hindu nationalists.

    “In or around the first week of May 1, 2015, the plaintiff learnt the contents of the Plaintiff’s Facebook Page … were blocked completely in India without notice, reason, explanation, or proper and lawful cause,” the complaint, which was provided to Think Progress, read. The group’s lawyer reportedly sent Facebook a cease and desist letter asking for access to the be restored, but only received an automated response.

    “Blocking of SFJ’s page for exposing India with regard to the plight of religious minorities and advocating Sikh referendum in Punjab, Facebook Inc. violates section 2000a of 42 U.S. Code which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race or national origin,” the complaint argued.

    The lawsuit, which also sought compensatory and punitive damages, is unusual in that it challenges Facebook here in the United States, where free speech laws are well protected. But the digital juggernaut has long endured harsh criticism for helping foreign governments silence free expression. Free speech advocates have blasted Facebook for banning the pages of political rock bands in Pakistan at the urging of government censors, and opposition leaders in Russia lashed out at the company after it removed a website dedicated to organizing a protest against President Vladimir V. Putin in December of last year.

    Facebook has seen a rapid increase in requests to limit content all over the world, but India appears to be the worst offender: the company’s own Global Government Requests Report listed it as the top country asking for webpage takedowns from July to December 2014, with Facebook ultimately restricting 5,832 “pieces of content” on behalf of the Indian government. Although the report did not detail the reasoning for each request, Facebook hinted that many of the inquiries were related to religious issues.

    “We restricted access in India to content reported primarily by law enforcement agencies and the India Computer Emergency Response Team within the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology including anti-religious content and hate speech that could cause unrest and disharmony,” Facebook’s report reads.

    Indeed, while India’s Supreme Court recently struck down a law that allowed the government to jail citizens for posting “controversial” comments on social media, faith remains an especially inflammatory subject in the subcontinent. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian groups have long clashed with each other and local authorities in various parts of the country, but the arrival of new political leadership may be escalating tensions: Prime Minister Modi, a hardline Hindu nationalist elected last year, has been accused by various groups — including SFJ — of doing little to stop sectarian riots that led to the deaths of more than a thousand Muslims in 2002.

    “Since the election of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India in May 2014, religious minorities especially Christians, Muslims and Sikhs are under increased attacks from the Hindu supremacist groups closely aligned with the ruling party of India,” SFJ’s complaint read.

  • ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’ – First Look with Images

    ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’ – First Look with Images

    Kung Fu Panda 3 enlists the original characters from the past hit films, with all Furious Five kung fu warriors returning: Angelina Jolie as Tigress, Jackie Chan as Monkey,Seth Rogen as Mantis, David Cross as Crane and Lucy Liu as Viper. Warrior trainer Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) returns as well.

    For two Kung Fu Panda animated movies, portly Po has believed all his bear kin were in panda heaven. That he was the lone survivor.

    But Kung Fu Panda 3 proves Po wrong. The new film (opening Jan. 29, 2016) is Panda-palooza.

    “There is great joy,” says Jack Black, the voice of Po. “Lo and behold, there’s a secret panda village. There’s intense rejoicing as I am reunited with my people.”

    Po has a chance run-in with his long-lost panda father Li (Bryan Cranston), who brings Po back to an enclave where the pandas have been living since a fierce panda attack alluded to in DreamWorks Animation’s 2011 hit Kung Fu Panda 2.

    “There are even cute baby pandas,” says Black. “Those guys are going to be the life of the party, for sure.”

     

    kung fu panda 3 image 3
    Mei Mei, voiced by Rebel Wilson, makes a powerful appearance in “Kung Fu Panda 3.” Says Black, “She’s super into ribbon dancing and a funny, creative panda.”
    kung fu panda 3 image 2
    Po meets his long-lost panda father Li (Bryan Cranston, on right) in “Kung Fu Panda 3.” Says Jack Black, “Li is the master of chilling, of having fun.”
    kung fu panda 3 image 1
    Kung Fu Panda Po (center) finds out he’s not the only panda alive in “Kung Fu Panda 3.” In fact, it’s Panda-polooza as he hangs out in the cool springs. “There’s intense rejoicing, I’m reunited with my people,” says Jack Black, who voices Po.
  • Just in – after Maggi – Starbucks blacklisted, HUL to pull out Knorr

    Just in – after Maggi – Starbucks blacklisted, HUL to pull out Knorr

    Global coffee chain Starbucks, which operates its cafes in India in partnership with Tatas, has been blacklisted by Central food safety regulator FSSAI after risk assessment, while Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has decided to recall its Chinese range of ‘Knorr’ instant noodles from the market, pending product approval from FSSAI.

     

    Starbucks, without affecting its operations despite the ban,  said it is “diligently working with FSSAI” to provide information regarding pending applications. The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had rejected applications submitted by Tata Starbucks for a total of 32 products in April.

     

    These rejected products include coffee frappucino, vanilla syrup and hazelnut flavoured syrups, which are still sold at the cafe chain’s outlet in the heart of the capital. When asked for comments, Tata Starbucks CEO Avani Davda said, “We are diligently working with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to provide the technical information relating to our pending applications that they have requested.”

     

    The FSSAI list also includes Special K Red Berries cereal from Kellogg’s, ready-to-eat chicken items from Venky’s etc. When contacted Kellogg India spokesperson said, “This product has not been launched in Indian market and will be available only once the approval is received from the authority.”

     

    HUL, on the other hand, said it had submitted an application with FSSAI for product approval for the Knorr Chinese range of instant noodles in February 2015 and the same was pending approval.
  • Pakistan reacts to Indian Might in Myanmar

    Pakistan reacts to Indian Might in Myanmar

    ISLAMABAD: In a strong reaction, Pakistan on Wednesday warned India not to mistake it for Myanmar. Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan made the statement in response to the Indian operation against militants in Myanmar and minister of state for information Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s stand on Wednesday that India will strike at a place and at a time of its choosing against all countries, including Pakistan, and groups harbouring “terror intent.”
     
    Mr Nisar emphasised that those who harboured bad intentions towards Pakistan should open their eyes and ears. “Pakistan Army is fully capable of responding to any adventurism,” he said.
     
    The Pakistan minister’s comments came as the country’s top military leadership on Wednesday agreed to thwart all Indian efforts to destabilise it. The decision was taken at the Formation Commanders’ Conference, in which the military leadership of Pakistan vowed to defend the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty at all costs.
     
    “A befitting reply will be given to any offensive against Pakistan,” said a statement issued by the Inter-services Public Relations. Nobody will be allowed to cast an “evil eye” on Pakistan, the statement added. Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan will take all possible steps to “expose” India’s role in the breakup of East Pakistan in 1971 and its threat to destabilise Pakistan through terrorism.
  • F1 visa Students maybe able to work in USA for upto 6 years under OPT

    F1 visa Students maybe able to work in USA for upto 6 years under OPT

    Update : F1 Visa | OPT STEM |Court Says USCIS Rule Allowing 17-Month STEM Extension Is Revoked — Read more – Stay has been put in place until February 12, 2016

    Earlier Update:

    [vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][td_block_trending_now style=”style2″ tag_slug=”immigration” sort=”popular” limit=”5″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

    Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering revising regulations that would allow Foreign Students on F1 visas to work in the United States for upto SIX YEARS Jobs/Employment under the Optimal Practical Training Program.

    In the United States, the F visas are a type of non-immigrant student visa that allows foreigners to pursue education (academic studies and/or language training programs) in the United States. F-1 students must maintain a full course of study.

    Optional Practical Training and Curricular Practical Training are two employment options available to students on an F1 student visa.

    OPT is a 12-month period after graduation in which students may work in a field related to their study,and find an H-1B sponsor. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics students are eligible for an additional 17-month extension.

    CPT allows students to work up to 20 hours a week in a field related to their studies while still attending school.

    Currently, the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows Foreign Students to work in the U.S. in their field of study for 12 months after graduation.

    Foreign Graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs can request an additional work authorization for between 17 and 29 months.

    ICE officials briefed Senate Judiciary Committee staff in late May about proposed regulation affecting foreign students.

    The regulation would:

    • Allow foreign students with degrees in STEM fields to receive up to two 24-month extensions beyond the original 12-month period provided under OPT regulations; and
    • Authorize foreign graduates of non-STEM U.S. degree programs to receive the 24-month extension of the OPT period, even if the STEM degree upon which the extension is based is an earlier degree and not for the program from which the student is currently.

    DHS proposes to give same level benefit to F1 visa students that are given to H1-B visa holders.

    [crp]

  • Shah rukh Khan enters Caribbean Premier League buys Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel

    Shah rukh Khan enters Caribbean Premier League buys Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel

    Bollywood star and owner of Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders, Shah Rukh Khan, has purchased Caribbean Premier League team Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel.
    SRK can expect to be in illustrious company shortly, with Hollywood actors Gerard Butler and Mark Wahlberg owning the Jamaica Tallawahs and the Barbados Tridents respectively in the CPL.
    The Tridents are skippered by West Indies and Mumbai ace Kieron Pollard while the explosive Chris Gayle skippers the side from Jamaica.
    Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd, the company that Khan co-owns with his wife, and KKR co-owners Jay Mehta and his wife and former Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla, have acquired a stake in the Trinidad based franchise.
    The upcoming edition of the CPL will run between June 20 and July 26 this year. The actor has become the first person to own an IPL team as well as an overseas franchise. Khan was overjoyed with his latest acquisition.
    He said: “This is in line with our vision to expand globally. We are thrilled to become a part of the cricketing tradition of Trinidad and Tobago.”
    The actor added that he had been thrilled with the passion for cricket in this part of the world and especially with the success of the CPL.
    The business model of his IPL team, KKR has been immensely successful. The side have won the IPL on two occasions already – 2012 and 2014, and are the most valuable franchise in the IPL with a brand value of over 500 crore Rupees.
    Venky Mysore, who is the man behind the success of the KKR in recent years said that the two time IPL champions were one of the most well managed teams in the IPL and that the management were keen to bring their experience to the CPL with the same goals in mind.
    A significant portion of the population of Trinidad & Tobago comprises of people of Indian origin while the US city of Miami is only an hour away by flight. If the side are now able to attract such spectators to the stadium, it will be a major win-win for Khan as well as Indian cricket fans in the West.
  • Kareena Kapoor Khan on a roll in 2015

    Kareena Kapoor Khan on a roll in 2015

    She may have missed out on an array of successful projects in the past but from the looks of the line-up of her upcoming film, you’re sure to agree that Kareena Kapoor Khan is in no mood to miss out on good content anymore. On one hand she has a commercial whopper like Bajrangi Bhaijaan opposite Salman Khan and on the other she’s tapping into the dark side playing a schizophrenic in Rajkumar Gupta’s next. Further more, she plays a doctor in Udta Punjab, a film that taps into the prevalent drug culture in Punjab. She’s also playing a hard-core aggressive career woman in R Balki’s next while Arjun Kapoor is the stay home husband who becomes an overnight success on the Internet. Mrs Khan sure has her hands full this year.

    Welcome back Mrs. Khan.

  • ‘Drishyam’: Ajay Devgn says “After a long time I heard a great script “

    ‘Drishyam’: Ajay Devgn says “After a long time I heard a great script “

    Actor Ajay Devgn, one of the most versatile actors of Bollywood, will be seen playing a cable operator in the much-awaited film ‘Drishyam’.

    When asked Ajay Devgn about why he chose to do this film he said, “‘Drishyam’ is not a No-brainer. I did ‘Drishyam’ as after a long time I heard a great script, hats off to the original writer for having written it the way he has. It’s the first time I heard a script and immediately said, ‘Okay done’.”

    “It took me 30 seconds to decide whether I should do a ‘Zakhm’ or not, as in 30 seconds, Bhatt sahab narrated me the idea and I could see the emotion on his face and I said, ‘Done’. I am doing it.’ I have not heard anything like that. That’s what I found in ‘Drishyam’ after a long time, the script, the sensibilities, and the intelligence and keeping all that in mind, it is completely an edge of-the-seat commercial thriller.”

    Directed by Nishikant Kamat ‘Drishyam’ also features Tabu, Shriya Saran, and Rajat Kapoor among others. The film is scheduled to release on July 31.

  • ‘Brothers’ – Trailer a hit; Akshay and Sidharth look promising

    ‘Brothers’ – Trailer a hit; Akshay and Sidharth look promising

    Producer Karan Johar released the much-anticipated trailer of ‘Brothers’ starring Akshay Kumar, Sidharth Malhotra, Jacqueline Fernandez and Jackie Shroff, on Wednesday.

    Directed by Karan Malhotra, the film is an official Hindi adaptation of the Hollywood film ‘Warriors’ and tells the story of two estranged brothers.

    The film is slated to release on August 14.

    Bollywood celebs give a thumbs-up to ‘Brothers’ trailer

    Here’s what they tweeted:

    Riteish Deshmukh: Rename it – BLOCKBUSTERS @karanjohar @akshaykumar @S1dharthM @Brothers2015 @DharmaMovies

    Arjun Rampal: Killer trailer of Brothers, this one gotta watch,congrats to the team. @karanjohar @akshaykumar Sidharth

    And yes @Asli_Jacqueline u look fab in it too.

    Rana Daggubati: @karanjohar @akshaykumar @S1dharthM @Brothers2015 @DharmaMovies Fantastic Trailer !!!

    Sanjay Gupta: BROTHERS trailer is this year’s best so far. O U T S T A N D I N G.

    Nikhil Advani: Outstanding! Congrats #KaranMalhotra @karanjohar @akshaykumar #SiddharthMalhotra #Brothers

    Karan Tacker: @nickadvani @karanjohar @akshaykumar outstanding trailer! Looking forward!

    Sujoy Ghosh: how good is @Asli_Jacqueline in that Brothers trailer

    Punit Malhotra: This promo packs a SOLID PUNCH!!! @karanjohar @akshaykumar @S1dharthM @Brothers2015 @DharmaMovies @karanmalhotra21

    Milap Zaveri: Must say that @karanmalhotra21 has BRILLIANT command over emotions and action! He is the heart and soul of #Brothers for sure!

    Manish Paul: @akshaykumar @Brothers2015 sir awesome!!!!!!!!!all d best

  • USA and Canada gets ready to welcome Comedy Nights with Kapil

    USA and Canada gets ready to welcome Comedy Nights with Kapil

    After putting up a grand show in Dubai last year, the popular show is all set to shoot episodes in North America.

    The small screen’s popular Kapil Sharma took to twitter to share the news with his fans abroad. ”Coming to USA and Canada with my galatfamily…” Kapil tweeted.

    Tickets for the live show will go on sale soon, the comedy star informed. The show, which has become one of the biggest platforms for promoting movies, will be travelling to various cities like Atlanta, New Jersey, New York, Toronto, Houston, San Jose and Vancouver.

    Along with Kapil, popular characters of the show- Gutthi, Palak, Pinky, Daadi, Manju and Raju will also entertain the audience. This is the second overseas outing for the comedy show.

    Well, lets get ready to get laughing and rolling.

  • Upset Salman Khan tells fans to stop or he would QUIT Twitter

    Upset Salman Khan tells fans to stop or he would QUIT Twitter

    The Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor expressed his anger through a series of tweets last night warning fans that he’ll be off Twitter if they don’t stop fighting. He said in his tweets, “Messed up fighting over yr hero’s vit each other. make this journey beautiful, dint sign up fr this ugly twitter war n not a part of it . Continue it n I vil b off twitter. Came here to spread love, share sm thoughts hv fun vit fans not for them to insult my fraternity. Hut.”

    He further asked his fans to stop using foul and abusive language for anyone, especially anyone from within the film fraternity and show some respect for other artists. He also requested fans to spread love and not hatred. This is what his next few tweets read…


     

    The actor does seem upset. Warning to quit Twitter thrice in a night does not seem normal, does it? Hope all fans will learn something from this and be nice to Twitter too.

  • Indian Woman With Tuberculosis Sets Off Scare in 3 US States

    Indian Woman With Tuberculosis Sets Off Scare in 3 US States

    An Indian woman with a rare deadly form of tuberculosis has created a health scare in three states in the US where authorities are tracking down hundreds of people who may have been in her contact during her visit.

    [quote_center]”THE PATIENT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE NIH VIA SPECIAL AIR AND GROUND AMBULANCES.[/quote_center]

    She has an extremely hard-to-treat form of tuberculosis is being treated at the National Institutes of Health outside Washington, D.C., and federal and state officials are now tracking down hundreds of people who may have been in contact with her.

    The woman, who arrived in Chicago from India on April 4 and travelled by car to visit relatives in Illinois, Tennessee and Missouri, is now being treated at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

    She is suffering from a rare drug-resistant form of the disease, known as XDR-TB, which is immune to most Tuberculosis drugs, The New York times reported.

    The unidentified woman is in an isolation room designed for patients with dangerous respiratory infections, according to the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    The CDC today described her condition as stable.

    Health officials in Illinois were working with the CDC to find people with whom the woman may have had prolonged direct contact, in close quarters.

    Health officials say the risk to the public is low. TB is not as contagious as the flu or measles. But people who had long periods of close contact with the patient, like the relatives with whom she stayed, are at risk.

    For people who were on the flight with the woman, the odds of catching TB are low but not zero. The CDC said that it will obtain the flight manifest for the woman’s trip from India and notify passengers who may have been exposed.

    Based on her medical history and molecular testing, she was diagnosed with XDR TB, it reported.

    She was initially placed in respiratory isolation at a suburban Chicago hospital and later transported by air ambulance to the NIH Clinical Center.

    Globally, nine million people contracted TB in 2013, and one and a half million died from it, according to the World Health Organization.

  • Indian Scientist Builds New Tool Which Can Predict Solar Storms a Day in Advance

    Indian Scientist Builds New Tool Which Can Predict Solar Storms a Day in Advance

    An Indian-origin scientist has built a novel tool that can predict large solar storms more than 24 hours in advance and save systems on the Earth from the coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

    Developed by Neel Savani, visiting researcher at Imperial College London and space scientist at NASA, the new measurement and modelling tool takes a closer look at where mass ejections originate from on the Sun and makes use of a range of observatories to track and model the evolution of the cloud.

    Large magnetic storms from the Sun, which affect technologies such as GPS and utility grids, could soon be predicted more than 24 hours in advance.

    Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are eruptions of gas and magnetised material from the Sun that have the potential to wreak havoc on satellites and Earth-bound technologies, disrupting radio transmissions and causing transformer blowouts and blackouts.

    These mass ejections can cause problems with GPS technology – used by all kinds of vehicles, from cars to oil tankers to tractors. For example, they can affect the ability of aircraft systems to judge precisely a plane’s distance from the ground for landing, leading to planes being unable to land for up to an hour.

    Currently, satellites can only tell with any certainty the orientation of a mass ejection’s magnetic field when it is relatively close to the Earth, giving just 30-60 minutes’ notice.
    These mass ejections can cause problems with GPS technology – used by all kinds of vehicles, from cars to aircraft systems.

    “As we become more entwined with technology, disruption from large space weather events affects our daily lives more and more. Breaking through that 24-hour barrier to prediction is crucial for dealing efficiently with any potential problems before they arise,” Dr Savani explained.

    Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are eruptions of gas and magnetised material from the Sun that have the potential to wreak havoc on satellites and Earth-bound technologies, disrupting radio transmissions and causing transformer blowouts and blackouts.

    Dr Savani and colleagues have tested the model on eight previous mass ejections, with the results showing great promise at improving the current forecasting system for large Earth-directed Solar storms.

    Previously, forecasts relied on measuring the initial CME eruption but were not efficient modelling what happened between this and the cloud’s arrival at the Earth.

    If further testing at NASA supports these initial results, the system could soon be used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US and the Meteorological Office in the UK for geomagnetic storm predictions.

    The paper appeared in the journal Space Weather.

  • Google apologizes for PM Modi’s image in ‘Top 10 criminals’ search

    Google apologizes for PM Modi’s image in ‘Top 10 criminals’ search

    NEW DELHI: Internet giant Google has apologized “for any confusion or misunderstanding” caused after PM Narendra Modi’s images started appearing in image search results for query on “Top 10 criminals in India”.

    “These results trouble us and are not reflective of the opinions of Google. Sometimes, the way images are described on the internet can yield surprising results to specific queries. We apologize for any confusion or misunderstanding this has caused. We’re continually working to improve our algorithms to prevent unexpected results like this,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.

    Google said that results to the query “top 10 criminals in India” was due to a British daily which had an image of Modi and erroneous
    metadata.

  • Indian American Bela Bajaria Promoted to Universal TV President

    Indian American Bela Bajaria Promoted to Universal TV President

    Indian American Bela Bajaria has been promoted to president of Universal Television as NBC makes changes to its programming department.

    Bajaria had been exec VP of Universal TV since joining the Peacock in 2011. The promotion is a recognition of her success in revitalizing NBC’s revamped production operation. She was given a mandate to beef up its creative roster and sell shows to outside networks as well as deliver new shows to NBC. Bajaria, who had a long run at CBS before moving to NBC, is known to be a rising star in the NBC Universal exec ranks.

    “Bela has done an incredible job of starting a studio from scratch three years ago and launching a series of hits on programming services ranging from NBC and Fox to A&E and Netflix,” said NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt. “This business is very important to the overall performance at NBC Entertainment.”

  • Stanford engineer Manu Prakash develop a computer that operates on water droplets

    Stanford engineer Manu Prakash develop a computer that operates on water droplets

    Indian American engineer Manu Prakash, an assistant professor of bioengineering at Stanford, and his students have developed a synchronous computer that operates using the unique physics of moving water droplets.

    The computer is nearly a decade in the making, incubated from an idea that struck Prakash when he was a graduate student. The work combines his expertise in manipulating droplet fluid dynamics with a fundamental element of computer science – an operating clock.

    “In this work, we finally demonstrate a synchronous, universal droplet logic and control,” Prakash said.

    “We already have digital computers to process information. Our goal is not to compete with electronic computers or to operate word processors on this,” Prakash said. “Our goal is to build a completely new class of computers that can precisely control and manipulate physical matter. Imagine if when you run a set of computations that not only information is processed but physical matter is algorithmically manipulated as well. We have just made this possible at the mesoscale.”

    The ability to precisely control droplets using fluidic computation could have a number of applications in high-throughput biology and chemistry, and possibly new applications in scalable digital manufacturing.

    The results are published in the current edition of Nature Physics.