The Indian Panorama

Month: June 2015

  • Indian American Community Celebrates 1st Anniversary of BJP led NDA Government

    Indian American Community Celebrates 1st Anniversary of BJP led NDA Government

    FORDS, NJ (TIP): Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences was the chief guest at the event organized by Overseas Friends of BJP (USA) to celebrate the successful completion of one year of BJP led NDA government in India under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Over seven hundred people attended the celebrations at local Royal Albert Palace Hall, in Edison, New Jersey on Tuesday, May 26, 2015. Leaders of several Indian American organizations from New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC metropolitan area have attended the gala event.

    Dr. Harsh Vardhan said it was a privilege to be part of this celebration, has no words to describe the love and enthusiasm of Indian Diaspora, and said that they were more enthusiastic than anyone else to see Narendra Modi as the PM of India. “Modi has become a symbol of aspirations of people of every age group and reached great heights within a span of one year. Modi is a leader who grew from grassroots and in him we have thinking, planning and committed PM who works 365 days a year and elevated India to the center stage of the world”, he said. He said that Prime Minister Modi has not only engaged with neighbors but also engaged with world’s influential countries such as US, Australia, Germany, Japan, Brazil, France, Canada, and China. Moreover, he is the first prime minister to visit Mongolia. He revealed that India has improved its relations with 101 countries within a span of one year and its work during Iraq, Yemen, and Nepal crisis was appreciated world over.

    He cited India’s 7.7 % growth rate, stabilization of inflation after a decade, controlling corruption, and discontinuing 892 British era laws were some of the high lights of Modi government’s achievements within a year. He continued that Modi government has shown sincerity to fight the menace of black money by constituting an SIT within 24 hours of taking oath. His fight against black is showing results with even foreign governments lending support to his initiative.

    He said that over 3.lakh crores of rupees were garnered by transparently auctioning coal blocks in a real-time basis for the first time since Independence

    Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that “Make in India” program was conceived to make India a great competitive manufacturing hub of the world and impart skill development to the nation’s youth. Modi government made changes to pertinent archaic laws to make India a business friendly nation. He gave few examples like Rotavirus vaccine developed in India and recently dedicated to the nation, costs $1 to make in India while it costs $50 in US. Similarly, the Mars Vehicle sent by India was the cheapest possible space technology in the world.

    He illustrated the vision of Modi government with respect Railways, Defense manufacturing, Power and renewable energy, Science and Technologies, and more. He said that India has plans to build the world’s largest telescope and developed technologies to give weather alerts to farmers and fishermen. On the social sector, he praised the grand vision of Prime Minister Modi who initiated “Swatch Bharat” (Hygienic India) Program. Over 5 million toilets were constructed during last one year.

    He said to the thunderous applause that Modi being a visionary even convinced UN, which eventually declared June 21 as Yoga day for the health of the mankind. India has a statesman in Narendra Modi who has touched the hearts of millions after Atal Behari Vajpayee and is bound to take India to glorious heights and make all Indians including Diaspora proud. He gave a PowerPoint presentation illustrating Modi government’s achievement during last one year.

    Earlier, Dr. Harsh Vardhan was accorded a traditional welcome with drums and dancing, garlanding Sardar Patel statues in the premises, and amidst chanting of Vedic mantras by Pandit Praveen Shastri following the lamp lighting ceremony. Led by Mrs. Sita Sharma, Vandemataram was renditioned along with US and India’s national anthems. A brief cultural event was conducted with Ganesh Vandana medley by Manjari Parikh and a patriotic song medley by kids.

    Jayesh Patel, OFBJP Past President has welcomed the audience and said that indeed it was a great day for all volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister of India. Ravi Boodhanuru briefed the audience on OFBJP Nepal Earthquake relief efforts and everyone paid a moment of silence for the Nepal earthquake victims. A video presentation on the achievements of Modi government titled ‘Saal Ek, Shuruat Anek’ was shown that listed the initiatives undertaken under Modiji’s leadership.

    Senator Cory Booker’s message was read followed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s (OFBJP Medical Cell Coordinator) introduction of the chief guest, Dr. Harsh Vardhan. Other eminent leaders who participated during the program includes Dr. Adapa Prasad, Suresh Jani, R.P. Singh, Rakshpal Sood, Dr. Bhayani, H.R. Shah, Bhupendra and several dignitaries from the parivar organizations. Ram Kamath (Zonal General Secretary, OFBJP) was the program emcee. Question and Answer session was conducted Aravind Modini and Krishna Reddy (Treasurer, OFBJP) gave vote of thanks. A sumptuous dinner was provided and the volunteers distributed a handout that listed the achievements of Narendra Modi government and registered people who wanted to contribute to various initiatives of Modi government like Swatch Bharat, Namami Ganga and more.

  • Indian American Community Forms Networking Group

    Indian American Community Forms Networking Group

    NEW YORK (TIP): Indian Business and Technology Opportunities organized a successful meeting of academics, professionals, entrepreneurs and potential investors in Big Data / Analytics at a meeting on May 31st in New York City. With predictions of $125 billion worldwide market for Big Data / Analytics, the Indian American entrepreneurs is strategically well placed to take a share of this market because of the large number of the community involved in maths and statistics, computer software development and other associated technologies such as data generation through internet of things.

    The discussion forum was put together and moderated by Dr. Thomas Abraham, GOPIO Founder and President of Innovative Research and Products. “The Indian American community has a unique advantage because of our professional involved in applied sciences, engineering, IT and analytics, and we need to poll our resources to make advancement in this field,” said Dr. Abraham.

    The program started with an overview on Big Data and Analytics opportunities in the US – India scene by Dr. Abraham Phillips, Analytics Consultant, Saber Cloud Solutions and Adjunct Professor, Rider University, NJ. “Big Data is bigger than Oil ! It is the new wealth!,” said Dr. Phillips.

    Prof. Wullianallur “RP” Raghupathi, Fordham University and Sudsun Consulting, New York spoke on “Big Data Technology Innovation & Transfer; Big Data in Health Care.” The healthcare industry historically has generated large amounts of data, driven by record keeping, compliance & regulatory requirements and patient care.

    “Big data analytics in healthcare is evolving into a promising field for providing insight from very large data sets and improving outcomes while reducing costs. Its potential is great; however there remain challenges to overcome,” Prof. Raghupathi said and concluded saying that “Let the data speak for itself.

    Mr. Terrence Moduthagam, Director, Programmatic Strategy, Starcom MediaVest Group, Div. of Publicis Groupe, New York, spoke on “Big Data for Marketing/Advertising and Other Emerging Applications.” According to Mr. Moduthagam, the discussion forum explored new fields and opportunities in smart application of big data.

    “Leveraging the community’s background and experience will help to surface further and even more disruptive ideas – the possibilities are limitless,” said Mr. Moduthagam. Mr. Prashant Prabhala, VP, Markets & Technology, BNY Mellon, New York covered “Big Data and Real-Time Analytics in Financial Industry.”

    Prabhala said, “Big Data holds incredible potential and possibilities to help in a broad array of use-cases.”

    Dr. Nethra Sambamoorthi, Lead Faculty Member for Masters in Predictive Analytics program, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL who spoke on “Innovations, Training, Industry Collaborations and Investments in the Age of Big Data and Internet of Things.”

    “In India alone, we need to provide quality training for 250,000 data scientists, in the next five years, to serve India, and to fulfill India’s aspirations to serve the world,” said Dr. Sambamoorthi.

    All speakers indicated the shortage of people in Big Data Analytics in the US and India and that if more people are trained in India, there are ample opportunities for them in India as well as in the US. In this regard, Dr. Sambamoorthi has started Institute of Analytics (USA) in New Jersey which will provide Executive Diploma in Business Analytics at the Layola Institute of Business Administration in Chennai with its enrollment starting this year.

    The group decided to launch a networking group in Big Data / Analytics and will meet regularly and plans to organize a major conference in the Fall 2015.

    For more information on the networking group, contact Dr. Thomas Abraham, innoresearch@gmail.com, or
    Call 203-569-7909

  • GOPIO-CT Awards 4 -Year College Scholarship to Priya Gada of Stamford AITE High School

    GOPIO-CT Awards 4 -Year College Scholarship to Priya Gada of Stamford AITE High School

    STAMFORD, CT (TIP): Stamford Dollars for Scholars presented scholarship to 25 high school students on June 1st evening at a ceremony held at the University of Connecticut, Stamford Campus. Attended by Stamford Mayor David Martin and School superintend Winifred Hamilton, the scholarships were sponsored by local business establishments as well as many family foundations.

    Starting this year, GOPIO-CT has also joined as a sponsor and presented a 4-year scholarship of $4,000 to Ms. Priya Gada, a graduate from “The Academy of Information Technology and Engineering” High School in Stamford. Priya is planning to do International Studies in George Washington University, Washington DC. The scholarship was presented by GOPIO-CT President Shelly Nichani and Stamford Dollars for Scholar President Garry Freeman.

    GOPIO-CT Scholarship Committee consisted of Sanjay Santhanam (Chairman), Hari Srinivasan, Joe Simon and Anita Bhat. Priya Easwaran coordinated GOPIO-CT effort with Dollar for Scholars. GOPIO-CT plans to expand the scholarship to other parts of Connecticut in the coming years.

  • Mangano to host Fireworks Show & Concert at Lakeside Theatre

    Mangano to host Fireworks Show & Concert at Lakeside Theatre

    EAST MEADOW, NY (TIP): Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano  announced, May 29, that Nassau County and TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, will celebrate our nation’s independence by presenting a spectacular fireworks show and concert in Eisenhower Park on Saturday, June 27, 2015.

    TD Bank will once again sponsor “Celebrate America” at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park. The fireworks, presented by the world-famous Grucci family, are part of an unforgettable night in Eisenhower Park which kicks off with a performance by Batman’s Third Rail Band, followed by Killer Joe and the Lido Soul Revue.

    “I would like to thank TD Bank for continuing to support this spectacular Independence Day celebration,” said Mangano. “The annual Fireworks Show and Concert here in beautiful Eisenhower Park is a great opportunity for our residents to come out and enjoy an incredible fireworks show and performances by Batman’s Third Rail Band, and Killer Joe and the Lido Soul Revue.”

    The theatre area gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and the fireworks will begin at nightfall (approx. 9:30 p.m.). Tickets are required for admission to the Theatre area and are available beginning June 14th free of charge, at any TD Bank on Long Island, while supplies last. There is no formal seating; visitors should bring blankets or chairs. Space is limited and overflow will be directed to other viewing and parking areas.

    In anticipation of Independence Day, County Executive Mangano and Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter remind residents that fireworks awareness and prevention are important issues to discuss with their families. The possession, use, or sale of fireworks, including sparklers, is a violation of New York State Penal Law, and may be punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony. Parents should talk with their children about the destructive outcomes that can occur from playing with fireworks.

    Fourth of July fireworks, although popular, can be extremely harmful.  Fireworks statistics indicate that:

    • An estimated 9,600 people were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries in the United States, in 2011.
    • Approximately 16% of all consumer fireworks injuries are caused by sparklers burning hands and legs, with the majority of these injuries occurring to young children.
    • Most of these injuries happen at the victims’ homes.
    • Fireworks can cause life threatening residential fires.
    • Children ages 5 to 9 years old have the highest rate of injuries related to fireworks.

    There are many licensed professionals that perform fireworks presentations for the public, such as the “Celebrate America” show at Eisenhower Park. County Executive Mangano and Acting Police Commissioner Krumpter would like to wish the residents of Nassau County a happy and safe July 4th holiday.

  • US lawmakers push for export of natural gas to India

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Influential American lawmakers have pushed for removing of restrictions on export of natural gas to India and sought to implement the civil nuclear deal to meet the country’s ever-growing energy needs.

    Referring to fast tracking of economic reforms and acceleration of development by India, Chairman of powerful House Foreign Relations Committee Ed Royce said nuclear energy is important to have uninterrupted power supply.

    Speaking at a Congressional briefing on India-US nuclear trade organized by the US-India Political Action Committee, Royce and other Congressmen hoped that the remaining hurdles in the implementation of the civil nuclear trade would soon be removed so that the full potential of nuclear energy could be realized by India.

    Congressman Mike Honda exuded confidence about the optimistic future of civil nuclear co-operation.

    The lawmakers also pushed for export of natural gas to India.

    “Export of liquefied natural gas would have a very important impact on India,” said Congressman Ami Bera, the only Indian-American lawmaker in the current Congress.

    Excited about the prospects of increase in energy trade with India, Congressman Pete Olson hoped that before this year end the first ship with American natural gas would be shipped to India.

    Olson said the US has energy and technology to ensure that every Indian has the electricity they need. “I am committed to improve India US relationship,” he said.

    Congressman Ted Poe from Texas also batted for export of natural gas from the US to India.

    Calling for expediting the process of exporting natural gas to India, he said he has introduced legislation in this regard.

    In his remarks, BJP Lok Sabha MP Udit Raj said that the relationship between India and the US is not only important for the two countries, but also for the entire world. Transfer of nuclear technology would help India in many ways, he said.

    Referring to the speeches by US lawmakers, Raj said they are very enthusiastic to strengthen relationship with India. -PTI

  • Pak suffers$107 bn economic losses due to terrorism

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan has suffered at least$107 billion losses due to terrorism plaguing the country for well over a decade, according to official data.

    The data was part of the annual national Economic Survey issued by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on June 4.

    During the last 14 years, the direct and indirect cost incurred by Pakistan due to incidents of terrorism is estimated at $107 billion or Rs 8.7 trillion, according to the survey.

    On the positive side, it showed that terrorism-related losses have come down in the fourth straight year as the security situation improved due to the successive military operations.

    According to the document, the losses fell by about 32 per cent during the first nine months to Rs 457.93 billion ($4.53 billion) than to Rs 681.68 billion ($6.63 billion) in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

    Pakistan’s losses to its economy are calculated by taking into account the loss of lives, economic opportunities and the damage to the country’s infrastructure.

    The Economic Survey is released a day before the national Budget. – PTI

  • Consul General of India assures the Sikh community of due redress of their problems

    Consul General of India assures the Sikh community of due redress of their problems

    RICHMOND HILL, NY (TIP): With a view to reaching the consular services to the doorstep of people, Cox & King organized a Visa Camp, May 31 at Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana in Richmond Hill. A large number of persons seeking visa and passport came forward with their questions and applications. The Cox & King team, led by Ranjeet Singh handles the job efficiently. However, those seeking passport were disappointed, as Cox & King entertained only Visa related issues. Those seeking passport later met with the Consul General Dnyaneshwar M Mulay who gave them a patient hearing.

    Ambassador Mulay advised the Gurdwara management headed by Himat Singh Sarpanch, the President, to forward the cases of the passport seekers  who have faced problems in getting their passport to his office and he will have each case examined on merit.

    Earlier on his arrival at the Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana, Ambassador Mulay was received by President Himat Singh Sarpanch and other members of the management. Welcoming the Consul General, Gurdwara General Secretary Kuldeep Singh praised him for his dedicated work in the service of the community, particularly, the Sikh community.

    Introducing Ambassador Mulay, Prof. Indrajit S Saluja , editor of The Indian Panorama said Mr. Mulay was a descendant of a Bhagat Nam Dev Ji, a great saint whom the Sikhs also revere and whose verses the Sikh Gurus included in  Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the Living Guru of the Sikhs. As such, it was natural that he took deep interest  in the Sikh community. Prof. Saluja also spoke of the problems the Sikh community faced with regard to Consular services. He mentioned, in particular, the community’s problems in getting passport.

    In his speech , Ambassador Mulay repeatedly spoke of his reverence for the Sikh Gurus, Shri  Guru Ganth Sahib and his admiration for the Sikh community who have made great contribution to freedom struggle of India and to  the development of the free India. He said he admired the hardworking Sikh community who brought about prosperity to wherever they went.

    Ambassador Mulay  assured the community of all help and described how he had thrown open the doors of the Consulate to all Indian Americans. He also described the activities which are conducted by the Consulate for and with the community. He invited the gathering to come forward to participate in the Consulate programs aimed at strengthening Indo-US relations, promoting the interests of the Indian American community, and involving the NRIs in the growth and development of India.

    Thanking Ambassador Mulay, President of the Gurdwara Himat Singh Sarpanch said it was an honor to have the Ambassador visit the Gurdwara  and speak candidly with the congregation. He thanked the Consul General for his assurance to look in to the genuine problems of the Sikh community with regard to the passport and visa.

    The founder President of the Gurdwara , Master Mohinder Singh and a former President Raghbir Singh Subhanpur also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the problems the Sikh community faced with regard to obtaining passport and visa.

    It was the first visit by a Consul General of India o a Gurdwara in the last 10 years or so.

  • The Singing Sensation Ms Pooja Enthralls at Vaisakhi Mela

    The Singing Sensation Ms Pooja Enthralls at Vaisakhi Mela

    RICHMOND HILL (NEW YORK (TIP): The Richmond Hill Punjabi Merchants’ Association, with Chairman Jaswinder Singh Johl and President Pritam Singh Gilzian, gave the residents of New York a memorable afternoon of great singing by Punjab’s singing sensation Ms Pooja.

    It was the maiden Vaisakhi Mela of Richmond Hill Punjabi Merchants’ Association at the local Smokey Park which was  the center of attraction. A large number of people from the neighborhood, with Punjabi and Guyanese population gathered to listen to the crooning of Ms.. Pooja.

    Here are some pictures of the memorable event.

    The Singing Sensation Ms Pooja Enthralls at Vaisakhi Mela Image3 The Singing Sensation Ms Pooja Enthralls at Vaisakhi Mela Image2 The Singing Sensation Ms Pooja Enthralls at Vaisakhi Mela Image1

  • CLINTON FOUNDATION RELEASES LIST OF MONEY MAKING SPEECHES

    NEW YORK (TIP): The Clinton Foundation, facing heavy scrutiny of its fund-raising during Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, released on Thursday, May 28, a list of paid speeches by the Clintons that generated at least $12 million for the organization.

    The list shows that Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton turned over to the foundation from $12 million to as much as $26 million in speaking fees.

    The list shows the speeches filled the foundation’s coffers in a range of amounts and over years, with Mr. Clinton giving roughly 70 speeches since 2002, including three that brought in from $500,001 to $1 million.

    Mrs. Clinton, the former secretary of state, gave roughly 15 speeches and Chelsea Clinton gave six, bringing in between $370,000 and $800,000.

    “Like other global charities,” Craig Minassian, a spokesman for the foundation, said on Thursday, “the Clinton Foundation receives support from individuals and organizations across all sectors of society, backgrounds and ideologies because they know our programs are improving the lives of millions of people around the world.”

    He continued: “In addition to the more than 300,000 donors who are all listed on our website, posting these speeches is just another example of how our disclosure policies go above and beyond what’s required of charities.”

    Many of the speeches had previously been reported, such as Mrs. Clinton’s address at Hamilton College, and some drew criticism in the last two years, such as those at public universities that accept taxpayer dollars. She also gave at least two speeches to business groups in China, the list shows.

    Foundation officials said that the charitable contributions were different from the speeches, which are listed as revenue on financial forms because there is no tax deduction credited to the host group.

    Last week Mrs. Clinton released her personal financial disclosure, showing that she and her husband earned more than $25 million from over 100 paid speeches since January 2014.

    Some critics questioned whether the amounts showed she could not relate to average voters in the postrecession economic climate. At the same time, the foundation has been criticized for accepting foreign donations both while Mrs. Clinton was secretary of state and after she left.

  • NYC SUMMER STEM 2015 – Free, full-day, high-quality STEM instruction

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): NYC SUMMER STEM 2015 is  a new citywide program to provide students who just completed grades 2, 7, and 10 with free, full-day, high-quality STEM instruction. SUMMER STEM will serve 1,200 students – 400 from each grade.

    SUMMER STEM is open to all students in 2nd, 7th, and 10th grades who have had at least 90% attendance during this school year and are not required to attend summer school. Applications and the list of SUMMER STEM sites are available online; parents can also get more information and support, including paper applications and applications in languages other than English, by contacting their school’s parent coordinator. Applicants may rank up to two sites on their applications, and will be selected for the program by lottery. All applications must be received by June 15.

    The sessions will run Mondays through Thursdays – from July 6 to July 30 for 2nd graders, and from July 6 to August 6 for 7th and 10th graders. Breakfast and lunch will be served at the program sites.

    For the 2nd grade SUMMER STEM program, the DOE will use the “Engineering is Elementary” curriculum that integrates engineering and technology concepts and skills with science topics. In the 7th and 10th grade programs, students will learn robotics and “Science of Smart Cities,” a program that focuses on the engineering, technology, and science of urban development and sustainability. All SUMMER STEM curricula will involve hands-on learning. In addition, students will have arts and physical education enrichment opportunities.

    SUMMER STEM 2015 was developed in coordination with Microsoft, NYU Polytechnic, the Boston Museum of Science, and the New York Hall of Science.

    More information about the program and a quote on the importance of STEM and summer learning from Chancellor Fariña are available here.

  • China and India Immigrants Becoming US Citizens at High Rate

    China and India Immigrants Becoming US Citizens at High Rate

    For the first time in decades, the number of immigrants coming to the United States from China and India outnumbers those coming from Mexico. It’s a historic shift that has caught the attention of service providers across the country working to help immigrants become U.S. citizens.

    “We’ve seen a huge change in recent immigration,” Jeanne Batalova, senior policy researcher at Migration Policy Institute, told reporters on a national press call Wednesday. The call was hosted by the New Americans Campaign, in collaboration with New America Media and the National Immigration Forum.

    Of 1.2 million recent immigrants who came to the United States in 2013, 147,000 immigrants came from China, the leading country of origin, followed by 129,000 immigrants from India, and then 125,000 immigrants from Mexico.

    Asian Americans also have among the highest naturalization rates in the United States: Less than half of all immigrants in the United States (47 percent) are naturalized U.S. citizens, while the percentage for Asian immigrants is significantly higher, at 59 percent. The proportion of naturalized U.S. citizens is highest for Vietnamese (76 percent) and Taiwanese (74 percent), followed by Filipinos (68 percent), Koreans (59 percent), Chinese (51 percent) and Indians (47 percent).

    These numbers are high despite the fact that some countries, like China, still do not offer dual citizenship. Others, like the Philippines (in 2003) and South Korea (in 2010), have made changes to their dual citizenship requirements.

    Yet even for those who do not have access to dual citizenship, the benefits of U.S. citizenship can be very attractive — including security and protection from deportation, the ability to travel freely, the right to vote and run for political office, and the ability to sponsor a wider range of family members for immigration to the United States.

    Citizenship also brings economic benefits, said Batalova. Studies show that naturalized citizens earn more than non-citizen counterparts, are less likely to be unemployed and are better represented in high-skilled jobs.

    Still, many immigrants face barriers that can prevent them from becoming citizens, such as limited English proficiency or limited income, said Jannette Diep, executive director of Boat People SOS-Houston. Boat People SOS is part of the New Americans Campaign, a national coalition of over 100 organizations that helps immigrants overcome these barriers to make citizenship more accessible. For example, the campaign offers free workshops to help people apply for citizenship, provides English language and civics classes, and helps people apply for fee waivers if they can’t afford the $680 application fee.

    Citizenship is “a very important step for the Asian American community because it allows them to become more integrated in America,” said Diep. “This integration allows the AAPI community to become more visible in U.S. cities, increasingly getting elected to public office.”

    According to a report released last year by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, the number of Asian American public officials has reached historic levels, with more than 4,000 Asian Americans holding public office in 39 states and the federal government.

    For Zen Santos, who came to Los Angeles from the Philippines in 2008, becoming an American citizen allowed her to have a say in the future of her new country.

    “I felt that I lacked something – to be involved, and that is to vote,” Santos told reporters on Wednesday.

    But when Santos lost her job, she found that she couldn’t afford the application fee. That’s when Santos sought help from the Filipino American Service Group, Inc., (FASGI) in Los Angeles, which is part of the New Americans Campaign. The group helped Santos get a fee waiver, and she became a citizen in 2013.

    “I am American now, and I can vote now,” Santos said. “I have to get involved in deciding for this country where I live now.”

    For more information about the New Americans Campaign, go to: newamericanscampaign.org

  • $100 million mosque being built in Washington DC suburb

    $100 million mosque being built in Washington DC suburb

    The Turkish government is building a new $100 million mosque and cultural center in Lanham, Maryland, a suburb of Washington DC to cater to the needs of the city’s large Muslim population.

    Spread over 15 acres, the Turkish American Community Center will have a coffee house for 200 people, 5 gift shops, a cultural center, a 200-seat theater, an exhibition hall, a computer lab, a library, parking for 350 vehicles, a Turkish bath/Hamam, a guest house, a mosque serving 700 people, and residential development for 10 houses. The complex is expected to be complete by April 2015 and the Turkish President is expected to inaugurate the grand facility.

  • Bomb Threats | 5 U.S. Flights Targeted

    Bomb Threats | 5 U.S. Flights Targeted

    At least five flights were targeted by phoned-in bomb threats Tuesday,  June 2, government sources told NBC News. The threats weren’t considered credible.

    Four of the five flights — among them one from San Diego to Philadelphia, one from Los Angeles to Atlanta and one from San Francisco to Chicago — landed safely Tuesday, while the other was still en route to San Francisco from Seoul, South Korea.

    Korean Air Flight 23 from Seoul to San Francisco was still in the air and is scheduled to land Tuesday afternoon.

    The flights that landed safely were US Airways Flight 648 from San Diego to Philadelphia, Delta FLight 55 from Los Angeles to Atlanta, United Flight 995 from San Francisco to Chicago and Volare Flight 939 from Portland, Oregon, to Guadelajara, Mexico.

    At the Philadelphia airport, police with search dogs boarded the threatened US Airways flight, after a threat indicated there were multiple devices aboard Flight 648.

    Airline spokeswoman Victoria Lupica says passengers were taken off the plane and transported to a terminal. They were reunited with their luggage and personal items and were free to go.

  • For International Yoga Day – PM Modi the Show Stopper

    For International Yoga Day – PM Modi the Show Stopper

    A-grade star cast. Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty along with cricketer Virat Kohli and wrestler Sushil Kumar will be the brand ambassadors for Yoga Day on June 21.

    The show stopper at the mega event, however, will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing yoga along with an estimated 35,000 people on Rajpath, the main ceremonial avenue in Delhi that stretches from Rashtrapati Bhawan, the presidential palace, to the majestic India Gate.

    Some of his ministers are expected to join PM Modi. Among those who will also perform yoga exercises along with the PM will be about 10,000 defence and paramilitary personnel, said Sripad Naik, minister for the newly set up AYUSH ministry, which is organising the mega event.
    He said about 15,000 people will be drawn from yoga institutes like that of Baba Ramdev, the yoga teacher.

    Mr Naik said the programme will begin at 7 am on Sunday, June 21 – which has been designated International Day of Yoga by the United Nations after adopting a measure proposed by the Modi government. It will end at 7.35 am.

    Simultaneous yoga programmes will be organised in state capitals and all the 190 Indian missions across the world, the minister said.

    Last year, PM Modi had used his first speech at the UN General Assembly to call for an International Yoga Day to be recognised.

    Yoga lets people “discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature”, PM Modi had said at the time.

    PM Modi is an enthusiastic practitioner of yoga. He says he performs Yoga exercises every day and credits them with giving him energy so he only needs a few hours of sleep each night.

    The Prime Minister had appointed Mr Naik as India’s first minister for AYUSH or Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy to promote yoga and traditional medicines in November, as he embarked on a mission to increase awareness about home-grown health treatments.

  • India & US clear two ground-breaking defence projects

    India & US clear two ground-breaking defence projects

    NEW DELHI: India and the United States have sealed an agreement to jointly develop protective gear for soldiers against biological and chemical warfare, and another on building generators, defence officials said on Wednesday.

    The projects were cleared as US defence secretary Ashton Carter held talks with Indian leaders to expand security ties between the countries that were on opposite sides of the Cold War but have since drawn closer against the rising weight of China.

    The United States has become one of the top sources of weapons for the Indian military, upstaging Russia in recent years, and now under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make-in-India” programme offered joint development and production of military technologies.

    While the two projects approved are modest in scale, India and the United States are also exploring collaboration at the higher end of technology, Carter told reporters.

    “We have big ambitions, and jet engines, aircraft carrier technology are big projects that we’re working very hard on,” he said.

    Carter is due to sign a new 10-year defence cooperation pact with defence minister Manohar Parikkar later on Wednesday that will include cooperation in maritime security, another official said.

    The two countries conduct annual naval exercises in the Indian Ocean where China has made forays in recent years in a sign of its expanding reach.

    Both the project on protective clothing for soldiers as well developing the next generation power source for the battlefield will each have $1 million in funding shared equally by the two sides, a US defence official said.

    “We’ve negotiated texts, we’ve agreed to texts and they’ll be signed into effect at the end of this month. We went from flash to bang, meaning from the joint statement in January to agreed to and signed texts in just under five months,” the official said.

    The other two projects under the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative that Carter himself launched before his elevation as defense secretary relate to Raven mini-UAVs and surveillance modules for the C-130J military transport plane.

    India is also eyeing US aircraft launch technology for a carrier it plans to build to replace an ageing British warship. The two sides have set up a working group to explore cooperation and the defence official said military officials will meet later this month in the United States.

    “We have the pre-eminent aircraft carriers in the world. They are excited about possible collaboration. There are multiple areas of possible collaboration. It’s a huge platform,” the US official said.

  • New York June 5 Print Edition Replica

    New York June 5 Print Edition Replica

    A New Way to Read This Week’s Print Edition

    Reimagined for the Web
    Volume 9 Issue 22

    Desktop Edition

    vol9issue22NY

  • Special Movie Screening of ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ for Arun Jaitley by Javed Akhtar

    Special Movie Screening of ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ for Arun Jaitley by Javed Akhtar

    Veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar has organised a special screening of his daughter Zoya Akhtar’s forthcoming film Dil Dhadakne Do for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Tuesday (June 2) evening.

    “Javed sahab has kept a special screening of Dil Dhadakne Dofor Arun Jaitley,” Ritesh Sidhwani, who co-owns the film’s production banner Excel Entertainment with Javed’s son Farhan, said in a statement.

    The film, which stars Farhan, Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma and Shefali Shah in key roles, is about a dysfunctional Punjabi family and how they discover love and friendship during a cruise across the Mediterranean.

    The actors are on an extensive multi-city tour in places like Kolkata, Indore, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bangalore to promote the highly anticipated film. Dil Dhadakne Do will hit the screens on June 5.

  • Study: Microendoscope could eliminate unneeded biopsies

    Study: Microendoscope could eliminate unneeded biopsies

    By providing real-time histological data to endoscopists, Rice’s microendoscope can help rule out malignancy in cases that would otherwise require a biopsy.

    “While traditional endoscopy can rule out malignancy and eliminate the need for biopsies for some patients, in a significant number of cases the difference between malignant and benign lesions only becomes apparent through a histological analysis,” said study co-author Indian American Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, professor of medicine and gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine and director of Baylor Global Initiatives and the Baylor Global Innovation Center.

    In a clinical study of patients in the United States and China, researchers found that a low-cost, portable, battery-powered microendoscope developed by Rice University bioengineers could eventually eliminate the need for costly biopsies for many patients undergoing standard endoscopic screening for esophageal cancer.

    Rebecca Richards-Kortum with microendoscope for cancer screening

    The research is available online in the journal Gastroenterology and was co-authored by researchers from nearly a dozen institutions that include Rice, Baylor College of Medicine, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the National Cancer Institute.

    The clinical study, which involved 147 U.S. and Chinese patients undergoing examination for potentially malignant squamous cell tumors, explored whether Rice’s low-cost, high-resolution fiber-optic imaging system could reduce the need for unnecessary biopsies when used in combination with a conventional endoscope — the worldwide standard of care for esophageal cancer diagnoses.

    Clinical studies of Rice’s microendoscope are either planned or underway for a dozen types of cancer including cervical, bladder, oral and colon cancers.

    “More than half of cancer deaths today occur in the developing world, often in low-resource areas,” Anandasabapathy said. “The World Health Organization and other important international bodies have called for increased global focus on noncommunicable diseases like cancer, and Rice’s microendoscope is a great example of what the right kind of technology can do to change health care in low-resource countries.”

    Additional study co-authors include Timothy Quang, Dongsuk Shin and Richard Schwarz, all of Rice; James Godbold, Marion-Anna Protano, Michelle Lee, Josephine Mitcham, Erin Moshier, Alexandros Polydorides and Courtney Hudson, all of Mount Sinai Medical Center; Junsheng Cui, Hong Xu, Fan Zhang and Weiran Xum, all of the First Hospital of Jilin University; Guiqi Wang and Liyan Xue of the Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Sanford Dawsey of the National Cancer Institute; Mark Pierce of Rutgers University; Manoop Bhutani of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Neil Parikh of Yale University; and Chin Hur of Massachusetts General Hospital.

    The research was supported by the National Cancer Institute.

    Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, M.D. is a Professor of Medicine in Gastroenterology and Director of Baylor Global Initiatives and the Baylor Global Innovation Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. In her current role, she oversees Baylor’s global programs and affiliations. The Baylor Global Innovation Center seeks to develop novel, environmentally appropriate technologies and approaches to addressing global disease burden. This includes the development and validation of innovative mobile-applications for clinical care, point-of care diagnostic technologies, and portable, low-cost devices for the diagnosis and management of chronic, non-communicable diseases worldwide.

  • Govt.’s ‘khoyapaya’ website to help trace missing children

    Govt.’s ‘khoyapaya’ website to help trace missing children

    With 11 children disappearing every hour in the country, the government will on June 2 roll out a web platform for people to directly report, track and upload information on missing children.

    The web portal will be launched by the Women and Child Development Ministry. It will serve as a platform for people to not only report a missing child but also track the efforts towards his or her recovery.

    The website, www.khoyapaya.gov.in, will answer all queries as to what action is to be taken when a child goes missing.

    A joint initiative of the WCD Ministry and the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, the website will have three sections – ‘My child is missing’, ‘I have sighted a child’ and ‘Search a missing child’.

    The website will also provide links to court orders wherein police have been mandated to register an FIR in the matter of a child gone missing and treat it as either abduction or trafficking unless it is proved otherwise in the investigation.

    “There is always a lack of information as to what can be done when a person loses a child. Since police play a very important role, the website will assist them in taking better help of police,” said a ministry official.

  • Maggi controversy: Bihar Court orders FIR

    Maggi controversy: Bihar Court orders FIR

    In the wake of UP FSDA finding monosodium glutamate and lead in excess of the prescribed limit in the instant noodles, a district court in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur directed the police today to register an First Information Report or FIR against two Nestle officials and film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta, who have featured in the Maggi advertisements and arrest them if required.

    Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ramchandra Prasad directed Kazi Mohammadpur Police Station to register the FIR and investigate the complaint.

    The court also directed the police to make arrests if required in the course of investigation.

    The case has been filed under IPC sections 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 273 (sale of noxious food or drink), 276 (sale of drug as a different drug or preparation) and 420 (cheating and dishonesty).

    The government on Monday had said Maggi brand ambassadors will also be liable for action if the advertisements for the snack are found to be misleading.

    G. Gurucharan, Additional Secretary (Consumer Affairs) had said everybody associated with the “misleading ad” put out on the nutritive value of Maggi Noodles was liable for action under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), but that the final decision will be taken by the courts.

    According to Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, everybody associated with the “misleading ad” put out on the nutritive value of Maggi Noodles was liable for action under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

  • Indian American Team at Rice Univ. Creates Imaging System to Monitor Vital Signs

    Indian American Team at Rice Univ. Creates Imaging System to Monitor Vital Signs

    The Indian American team of Rice graduate student Mayank Kumar and professors Ashok Veeraraghavan and Ashutosh Sabharwal created the touch free video imaging system that will let doctors diagnose patients from a distance with special attention paid to those in low-resource settings.

    The System uses a video camera to monitor the vital signs of patients just by looking at their faces – Innovating system isn’t it.

    The DistancePPG was the result of research from Rice University’s Scalable Health Initiative. It is designed to measure a patient’s pulse and breathing by analysing the changes in skin colour over time.

    Kumar, the project’s lead graduate researcher, said DistancePPG will be particularly helpful to monitor premature infants for whom blood pressure cuffs or wired probes can pose a threat. ‘This story began in 2013 when we visited Texas Children’s Hospital to talk to doctors and get ideas,’ Kumar said.

    ‘Our key finding was that the strength of the skin-colour change signal is different in different regions of the face, so we developed a weighted-averaging algorithm,’ Kumar said. ‘It improved the accuracy of derived vital signs, rapidly expanding the scope, viability, reach and utility of camera-based vital-sign monitoring.’

  • Indian Charged With Visa Fraud in US

    Indian Charged With Visa Fraud in US

    An Indian national claiming to work with a Bollywood company was charged with visa fraud on arrival at a US airport, media reported.

    Sukhpal Veer Singh arrived at Kennedy Airport from Kuwait with a visa issued by the US Embassy in New Delhi that had been revoked last month “due to irregularities in the application”.

    He listed his employer as Seven Star Film Productions, but when pressed by Customs and Border Protection officers, admitted he was unemployed. He is charged with visa fraud, New York Daily News reported.

    An official complaint for visa fraud was filed on Monday at the Brooklyn Federal Court.

    Stating that he was a production manager for Bollywood studio “Seven Star Film Productions”, Singh admitted to Customs and Border Protection officers that it wasn’t true that he was now unemployed.

    In February 2013, an Indian national, Nitinkumar Chandubhai Patel, claiming to be scouting for filming locations for a Bollywood company, was charged with visa fraud at the same airport after discrepancies in his story. He was later found to be a farmer.

  • Indian American Ro Khanna to Contest 2016 US House of Representatives Polls

    Indian American Ro Khanna to Contest 2016 US House of Representatives Polls

    Indian-American Ro Khanna has announced that he will contest for a US House of Representatives seat that represents most of the Silicon Valley in California for a second time after losing out in the 2014 polls by a narrow margin.

    “I am running to represent this community in Congress,” Mr Khanna said yesterday as he announced his bid for the 2016 elections. He lost to veteran Democrat and his own party colleague Mike Honda in his maiden Congressional bid in 2014.

    “I was raised to believe in the American Dream. My parents immigrated to the United States so that my brother and I could have a shot at it through a good education and hard work,” Mr Khanna said.

    “What’s heartbreaking is that today, for the first time, there’s an anxiety about whether that American Dream will exist for the next generation. It’s an anxiety driven by economics. We’re earning less, but working more. The cost of living, especially here in the Bay Area, is through the roof,” he said.Mr Khanna announced that this time too he would be contesting against his own party colleague Honda, who won the 2014 polls by a narrow margin of 3.6 per cent votes. California laws provides for contesting against own party colleague.Mr Honda has accepted the challenge.

    “Mike Honda welcomes the challenge and believes his long history of serving the district honourably and with principle will outweigh the determination of the wealthy interests backing his overly ambitious challenger,” a statement issued by Mr Honda’s office said.

  • Sepp Blatter resigned as FIFA president on Tuesday, four days after being re-elected

    Sepp Blatter resigned as FIFA president on Tuesday, four days after being re-elected

    Sepp Blatter resigned as FIFA president on Tuesday, four days after being re-elected to a fifth term.

    Blatter, 79, announced the decision at a news conference in Zurich, six days after the FBI raided a hotel in Zurich and arrested several FIFA officials.

    He was re-elected after his only rival, Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein withdrew after losing heavily in the first round of voting.

    “FIFA has been my life…what counts most for me is FIFA and football around the world,” Blatter said.

    “An extraordinary congress is to be called to elect my successor as soon as possible.”

     

  • HAB BANK Hosts Customer Appreciation Luncheon for its Jackson Heights Branch

    HAB BANK Hosts Customer Appreciation Luncheon for its Jackson Heights Branch

    JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY (TIP): HAB BANK, nation’s oldest and largest South Asian bank, hosted a luncheon for Jackson Heights Branch customers in Jackson Heights, NY, Wednesday, May 27, 2015. The event was organized in honor of the Bank’s Jackson Heights Branch customers to acknowledge and appreciate their support during the last 25 years.

    Mr. Saleem Iqbal, President & CEO of HAB BANK welcomed invited guests and thanked them for taking the time out, during a weekday, to be at the Customer Appreciation Luncheon. He thanked all guests for their support and business especially during the last one year during which the Branch had to relocate as a result of massive fire in the building, which housed the original branch. Mr. Iqbal, along with members of senior management, gave a standing ovation to the customers for their banking relationship. He renewed the Bank’s commitment to serve growing and vibrant South Asian business community in Jackson Heights. He further said that he is proud of successes and achievements that members of our community have been able to attain.

    Mr. A.G. Abbasi, Chairman of the Board of HAB BANK, was among the attendees. The highlight of the luncheon was the resounding testimonials given by Jackson Heights branch customers who have had banking relationship with HAB for over two decades.

    HAB’s management was in attendance including Rizwan Qureshi, SEVP, Javed Karim, EVP, Zilay Wahidy EVP, Nasir Khan, VP, Kamal Puri, Branch Manager Jackson Heights, Mehmood Syed, Senior Business Development Officer and branch managers of all local branches in tri-state area.

    HAB BANK was founded in 1983 and since its inception, it has played a key role in nurturing and strengthening the South Asian community with branch network located in New York, New Jersey and California. Through the years, the Bank has evolved in response to needs of its customers and maintains a close relationship with the community it serves.

    The Bank’s core products are Commercial Real Estate Mortgages, International Trade Services, US Small Business Loans and a well-designed commercial banking products and services for small to medium sized businesses. The Bank also has a wide range of consumer products and services including personal checking, savings, CDs, and full-service online banking. The Bank is fully committed to remain engaged and pro-active in meeting the banking requirements of its customer and, above all, continues to work towards “Building Relationships”.