The Indian Panorama

Month: October 2015

  • LaSalle14 Hunger Strike enters 11th day | ICE Attempts Forced Deportation

    LaSalle14 Hunger Strike enters 11th day | ICE Attempts Forced Deportation

    DALLAS (TIP): 14 South Asian detainees, from Bangladesh and India (known as the “LaSalle14”) at the LaSalle Detention Center started a hunger strike at breakfast time on October 19. All of the strikers are asylum seekers, and some have been held for up to 2 years.

    On October 28th, ICE attempted a forced deportation of LaSalle14 striker, Harekrushna Patel (A#206-686-481) by pushing him on to a plane back to India where Mr. Patel would have faced immediate danger and risk. Mr. Patel has been in detention for nearly 2 years, and his wife is waiting for him in NYC. Due to the failure of the attempted deportation, Mr. Patel was brought back to the facility and has been moved into medical isolation against his will.

    Last October 28 night, the LaSalle hunger strikers received news about the beginning of a hunger strike by 27 women at the Hutto Detention facility. Upon hearing this news, the LaSalle14 delivered a statement of solidarity which can be heard online at

    The LaSalle14 hunger strike has been in coordination with DRUM – Desis Rising Up & Moving. Director of DRUM, Fahd Ahmed stated “with the series of hunger strikes, and now even communication between the hunger strikers, we can clearly see that this country’s detention policies are in crisis. Can you imagine the conditions that would cause hundreds of detainees in different facilities to put their bodies on the line?”

    Since the last 3 days, ICE officials have been pressuring the strikers to contact the consulates of their home countries, which is alarming since it is these same governments that all the hunger strikers are escaping and seeking asylum from.

    There is an online petition by the Not1More Campaign for the LaSalle14:

    South Asian Asylum Seekers on Hunger Strike Demand End to Deportations, Improved Treatment in Detention

     

  • BARCLAYS NET PROFIT RISES AS NEW CEO APPOINTED

    BARCLAYS NET PROFIT RISES AS NEW CEO APPOINTED

    LONDON (TIP): British lender Barclays, fresh from appointing new chief executive James ‘Jes’ Staley, on Thursday logged rising third-quarter net profit boosted by its investment banking division. The appointment of 58-year-old American investment banker Jes Staley was meanwhile seen as an attempt by the bank to focus anew on its investment arm. Staley is the former chief executive of JP Morgan’s investment bank and currently works for US hedge fund Blue Mountain Capital Management. He will take up the new role from December 1.

    Profit after taxation rose by 10% to £417 million (578 million euros, $638 million) in the three months through September compared with a year earlier, Barclays said in a results statement one day after appointing its new boss.

    Staley has vowed to “preserve and enhance” trust in the lender, whose reputation has been badly damaged by a series of scandals including foreign exchange and Libor interest rate rigging.

    Barclays is meanwhile in the middle of a long-term plan to axe 19,000 jobs in a major restructuring.

    “Today’s results show another quarter of progress in our core businesses alongside the early effects of some of the changes that we are making,” said chairman John McFarlane in Thursday’s statement.

    However, pre-tax profit including restructuring costs fell 10 percent to £1.43 billion in the third quarter. That missed the £1.65-billion average estimate of analysts polled by Barclays.

    The lender was hit by a £290 million-compensation charge to customers related to foreign exchange and £270 million to settle residential mortgage-backed securities claims in the United States.

  • Michelle Obama will travel to Qatar and Jordan next month

    Michelle Obama will travel to Qatar and Jordan next month

    WASHINGTON (TIP): First lady Michelle Obama will travel to Qatar and Jordan in the Middle East next month, the White House has said.

    Her solo overseas visit from November 1 to 7 is part of her ‘Let the Girl Learn campaign’.

    In Doha, Qatar Michelle will deliver remarks at the 2015 World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), addressing an audience of education leaders from the region and around the world about global girls’ education and the Let Girls Learn initiative.

    Since 2009, WISE has brought together leaders annually to explore concrete steps to improve education worldwide. She will also visit service members stationed at Al Udeid Air Base.In Amman, Jordan, the first lady will visit a school constructed with USAID funding and technical support. She will meet with adolescent girls attending the school, deliver remarks and commend Jordan for its generosity and commitment to educating all children living within its borders.

    “Due to the conflict in Syria, many schools in Jordan are educating increasing numbers of Syrian students alongside the children of the Jordanian communities hosting them,” the White House said.

    “Girls in countries affected by conflict are nearly twice as likely to be out of secondary school, and the United States is working closely with Jordan to support this influx through ongoing educational cooperation and assistance,” it said.

    While in Jordan, the first lady will visit Petra — one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world — where she will highlight Jordan’s rich history and cultural heritage.

    (Source : PTI)

  • US fighter jets track drifting military blimp

    MUNCY, PENNSYLVANIA (TIP): An unmanned Army surveillance blimp broke loose from its mooring in Maryland and floated over Pennsylvania for hours on Oct 28 with two fighter jets on its tail, triggering blackouts across the countryside as it dragged its tether across power lines.

    The bulbous, 240-foot helium-filled blimp eventually came down in at least two pieces near Muncy, a small town about 80 miles north of Harrisburg, as people gawked in wonder and disbelief at the big, white, slow-moving craft. No injuries were reported.

    Fitted with sensitive defense technology, the radar-equipped blimp escaped from the military’s Aberdeen Proving Ground around 12:20 p.m. and drifted northward, climbing to about 16,000 feet, authorities said. It covered approximately 150 miles over about 3½ hours. As it floated away, aviation officials feared it would endanger air traffic, and two F-16s were scrambled from a National Guard base in New Jersey to track it. But there was never any intention of shooting it down, said Navy Capt. Scott Miller, a spokesman for the nation’s air defense command.

    The blimp — which cannot be steered remotely — eventually deflated and settled back to Earth on its own, according to Miller. He said there was an auto-deflate device aboard, but it was not deliberately activated, and it is unclear why the craft went limp.

    He said it was also unknown how the blimp broke loose, and an investigation was under way. Residents watched it float silently over the sparsely populated area, its dangling tether taking out power lines.

    Tiffany Slusser Hartkorn saw it fly over her neighborhood on the outskirts of Bloomsburg around 2:15 p.m. and soon disappear from sight.

    “I honestly was worried that there were people in it that would be injured. A neighbor down the road is thinking it knocked down a tree branch and power pole by his house that could’ve potentially destroyed his house,” Hartkorn said.

    Wendy Schafer’s first thought upon seeing the blimp near her job at a spa and salon in Bloomsburg was that a nearby school was conducting an experiment.

    “I had no idea what it was. We lost power at work, so I looked outside and saw the blimp,” Schafer said. “My first thought was Vo-Tech was doing something at the school until my friends tagged on Facebook about the blimp. It was crazy.”

    About 27,000 customers in two counties were left without power, according to electric utility PPL, and Bloomsburg University canceled classes because of the outage. Electricity was restored to most people within a few hours.

    The craft even knocked out power to the State Police barracks at Bloomsburg before settling in a wooded hollow, where it was swiftly cordoned off while military personnel began arriving to retrieve it, State Police Capt. David Young said. He said trees will probably have to be cut down to get it out.

    Miller, the spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said the tail portion broke off and hit the ground about a quarter-mile from the main section. The craft is known as a Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, or JLENS, and can be used to detect hostile missiles and aircraft. Such blimps have been used extensively in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to provide radar surveillance around US bases and other sensitive sites.

    (Source : AP)

  • Six Indian Americans Receive NIH Director’s 2015 New Innovator Awards

    Six Indian Americans Receive NIH Director’s 2015 New Innovator Awards

    NEW YORK (TIP): The National Institutes of Health recently announced the recipients of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator Awards. Six Indian American researchers are amongst the recipients of the Award for 2015. The six Indian Americans include: Sanjay Basu of Stanford University, Karunesh Gangly of University of California at San Francisco, Kamil Godula of University of California at San Diego, Deepika Mohan of University of Pittsburgh, Manu Prakash of Stanford University, and Abhishek Prasad of University of Miami.

    Basu is an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Stanford University. He received his B.S. from MIT, M.Sc. from Oxford, and M.D./Ph.D. from Yale before completing internal medicine residency at UCSF.

    Ganguly is an assistant professor at UCSF and a staff physician in the Neurology and Rehabilitation Service at SFVAMC. He graduated from Stanford University and then received a Ph.D. in neuroscience and a M.D. degree from the University of California, San Diego.

    Godula is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC San Diego. He earned his M.Sc. in organic chemistry at Marquette University and his Ph.D. at Columbia University, working in the area of C-H bond activation.

    Mohan is an assistant professor of critical care medicine and surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. He received a B.A. in religion and political theory from Princeton University in 1997, an M.D. from Emory University in 2001, and an M.P.H. from Columbia University in 2003.

    Prakash is an alum of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He has a Ph.D. in the area of Applied Physics lab from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    Prasad, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami, received his M.S. in biomedical engineering from Louisiana Tech University. He has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey.

  • Attempted Chain Snatching, Shooting Caught on Video in Long Island City, Queens

    Attempted Chain Snatching, Shooting Caught on Video in Long Island City, Queens

    NEW YORK  (TIP): The hunt is on for two men wanted in connection with an attempted robbery and shooting in Queens, the CBS reported.

    The suspects tried to steal a 29-year-old man’s gold chain around 6:20 A.M. Sunday, October 25, on 43rd Avenue in Long Island City. During a struggle, police said one of the suspects took out a gun and shot the victim in the abdomen and thigh.

    A shot was also fired at the victim’s 26-year-old friend, but missed, police said.

    The victim was rushed to a hospital in stable condition.

    The incident was caught on surveillance video, which was released by police.

  • NPZ Law Group, NJ builds a medical clinic for children and mothers in Mumbai

    NPZ Law Group, NJ builds a medical clinic for children and mothers in Mumbai

    EDISON, NJ (TIP): NPZ Law Group, P.C., along with other benefactors, made a financial contribution to help build a brand new medical clinic for children and mothers of the Kalwa slum in Mumbai, India. The group decided that the most befitting way to honor Mr. Michael Phulwani, who is one of the Managing Attorneys at Nachman Phulwani Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group for his professional achievement would be to improve the lives of the Indian
    community which he so proudly and passionately serves.

    Mr. Phulwani was recently recognized by New Jersey Law Journal with the Professional Excellence 2015 Lifetime Achievement Attorney of the Year Award.

    The medical clinic was opened on August 16th, 2015, thanks to financial contributions and the working partnership between Gabriel Project Mumbai and Doctors for You. The Shravan Health Center, which will provide medical services for a community of 120,000 people, including thousands of children and hundreds of prenatal/postnatal women in Kalwa, was named in memory of Shravan Sharma, an 11-year-old boy who died last year due to lack of accessible health care in the slums.

    “This clinic is a life-saving initiative for the children of the Kalwa community who, until now, had no access to basic medical care,” said Jacob Sztokman, founder of Gabriel Project Mumbai that spearheaded the initiative.

    “Shravan’s death was a wake-up call about how many preventable deaths there are among children in the slums. This clinic will be transformative for the entire community, saving lives of children and promoting basic health and medical care.”

  • The Pakistani Shadow on Indo-US Relations

    The Pakistani Shadow on Indo-US Relations

    We should be treating the visits of Pakistani leaders abroad as part of normal diplomacy that all countries engage in. By paying too much attention to them we boost Pakistan’s political importance and diminish our own stature. Unfortunately, we cannot easily ignore the visits of top Pakistani leaders to the US, not because of concerns about what Pakistan may seek but what the US may dispense.

    US policies towards Pakistan have always been a source of serious strategic concern to us. Even with the visible improvement of India-US ties, now elevated to a strategic partnership, we have to be watchful of US dealings with Pakistan and their impact on our security interests. Pakistan has always been, and remains, a US blindspot in its relationship with India.

    This has been proved again with Nawaz Sharif’s just concluded visit to the US. Prior to the visit, US sources leaked to the media that Washington was contemplating some sort of a nuclear deal with Pakistan that would legitimise its nuclear status despite its known proliferation activities, the rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal, its development of tactical nuclear weapons and open threats to use them against India. While Sharif’s visit did not produce such a deal, the US ignored all these Pakistani nuclear provocations and transgressions and preferred to focus self-servingly on the success of the Nuclear Security Summit to be hosted by Obama next year and “welcomed Pakistan’s constructive engagement with the Nuclear Security Summit process and its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international forums”. Obama also noted “Pakistan’s efforts to improve its strategic trade controls and enhance its engagement with multilateral export control regimes”. All these were approving chits of Pakistan’s nuclear policies, unfortunately at the cost of India’s security, given that a day prior to Nawaz Sharif’s Washington visit, the Pakistani Foreign Secretary publicly brandished the tactical nuclear threat to India, spoke of full spectrum deterrence and dismissed any talk of Pakistan accepting any restraint on its nuclear arsenal. The un-named US official’s categorical declaration that the US was not contemplating any 123 type agreement with Pakistan or an NSG exemption has come after Sharif’s visit and in the wake of Pakistani defiance.

    The recognition by Obama and Sharif in their joint statement of their “shared interest in strategic stability in South Asia” is seriously objectionable from our point of view, even if similar language figured in the Obama-Sharif joint statement in 2013. Such a stance is inconsistent with the import of the India-US nuclear deal which was intended to free India from some strategic constraints while also bringing large parts of its nuclear program, present and future, under IAEA safeguards in a bid to restrict its scope. There are no such constraints on China’s nuclear program, or on China’s nuclear cooperation with Pakistan in both civilian and military areas. There can therefore be no strategic stability in South Asia unless China and its cooperation with Pakistan is brought into the equation and India’s strategic needs vis a vis China are recognised. Until the India-US nuclear deal, the US has viewed the nuclear equation in the sub-continent as a purely India-Pakistan affair. Even before India and Pakistan became overtly nuclear the US pressed for “strategic stability” with a view to curbing India’s nuclear program, in the belief that this would deprive Pakistan of the argument that it must match India’s nuclear capabilities to ensure its security.

    The tenacity of such US thinking surfaced during discussions on the “Next Steps in the Strategic Partnership” when the US tried to introduce the concept of strategic stability to offset Pakistani concerns about US tilting in favor of India on strategic matters. Why after the nuclear compromise inherent in the India-US nuclear deal the US continues to stress strategic stability in South Asia and wants all sides to “continuously act with maximum restraint and work jointly toward strengthening strategic stability in South Asia”, is difficult to understand. So is the reference to “the importance of regional balance and stability in South Asia” which unreasonably equates India with Pakistan, including in the sphere of their security interests.

    Even if we ignored the reference to strategic stability in 2013, we have less reason to ignore it today. India and the US have in 2015 greatly widened the scope of their geopolitical engagement by releasing a US-India Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region and upgrading the trilateral India-US-Japan relationship relationship in a certain strategic perspective. In this context it makes little sense for the US to still talk of strategic balancing India and Pakistan. This merely sends confusing signals about the depth of India’s strategic commitment to India.

    Likewise, in January 2015, on the occasion of Obama’s January 2015 visit, the US-India Delhi Declaration of Friendship was issued, which proclaimed a higher level of trust and coordination between the two countries. Furthermore, in the joint statement issued then, Obama and Modi “committed to undertake efforts to make the U.S.-India partnership a defining counterterrorism relationship for the 21st Century by deepening collaboration to combat the full spectrum of terrorist threats”. It “called for eliminating terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupting terrorist networks and their financing, and stopping cross-border movement of terrorists”, besides asking “Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the November 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai to justice”. In September 2015, as part of the inaugural India-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, a U.S.-India Joint Declaration on Combating Terrorism was issued with expansive provisions.

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  • Supreme Court Vs Legislature | Who will Guard the Guards is the Question

    Supreme Court Vs Legislature | Who will Guard the Guards is the Question

    The Supreme Court sent shockwaves down the spine of the elected executive by declaring the 99th constitutional amendment to set up the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) as unconstitutional and void as it “violates the basic structure of the constitution”. This comes from the Constitution Bench with a majority – 4:1 in favor of the rejection of NJAC.

    I agree that with only judges-appointing-judges part it does not leave room for something to be added. As the lone dissenting judge Justice J Chelameswar writes: “There is no accountability in this regard. The records are absolutely beyond the reach of any person including the judges of this Court who are not lucky enough to become the Chief Justice of India. Such a state of affairs does not either enhance the credibility of the institution or is good for the people of this country.” The Supreme Court judges are the guardians of our Constitution. What happens if a Collegium turns rogue? As the Roman poet Juvenal wrote: “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” (“Who will guard the guards?”)

    Now what the basic structure states in layman language. Judges are to be appointed by the President of India after consultation with the Chief Justice of India and what it has become is that the Chief Justice of India will appoint the Judges and the President of India signs the file. It is worth mentioning here that 90% of the Presidents of India come from the Legislature.

    The five-judge Supreme Court’s verdict did raise some questions on the judiciary. The NJAC law was passed with overwhelming majorities in both houses of parliament and by 20 state assemblies clearly showing the will of the elected, though it may not be the will of the people.

    Is the constitution a subject matter of Individual interpretation or is it a rule book in Black penned by the founding leaders of our Country? 

    What triggered curiosity was the passage by Justice Kehar in the Judgment where he wrote, “It is difficult to hold that the wisdom of appointment of judges can be shared with the political executive. In India, the organic development of civil society has not as yet sufficiently evolved. The expectation from the judiciary, to safeguard the rights of the citizens of this country, can only be ensured, by keeping it absolutely insulated and independent, from the other organs of governance.”

    Does this mean we are a backward civil society or that we simply lack wisdom? I agree with the statement and here is why we need to understand how our society votes when it comes to the elected. 70% of the voters base their decision on caste, party or religious views instead of the right candidate. Yes, we get easily fooled and now the elections seem to be about who not to vote for rather than who to vote for and yes, we can vote an anarchist to absolute majority.

    Arun Jaitley states “democracy can’t be the tyranny of the unelected”. In a Facebook post titled “The NJAC Judgement – An Alternative View”  Mr. Jaitley said the opinion of the Supreme Court is final, but not infallible. Let us ask ourselves, the government can make any rule, any law and the statement only shows legislatures’ unfulfilled ambitions. Mr. Jaitley, Democracy cannot be the tyranny of the elected.

    Citing another important reason for striking down the NJAC law was the Emergency of 1975-77, imposed by the then Congress government. The Constitution Bench opined that it is important that the government does not  have any role in the appointment of judges. It was the imposition of Emergency that gave birth to the collegium system.

    Those opposing the Collegium system say that this kind of a system is  unheard of in most parts of the world in which  judges appoint  judges through a selection process.

    Another comment on collegium system by Jailey creates bias. He tried to elegantly create confusion about the appointment of judges in one sentence: “Collegium is like a Gymkhana club in which existing members appoint new members”.

    What was the 99th amendment (NJAC)?The NJAC will have six members: The Chief Justice of India (CJI), two senior most poise judges of the Supreme Court, the Law Minister and two “eminent persons” selected by a panel comprising the CJI, the PM and the Leader of the largest opposition party (LOP). But then came the crunch. Any two of these six members could veto an appointment.

    The judgment made it clear that it was opposed to the Law Minister being a member of the panel, as his very presence would impinge on the principle of the independence of the judiciary and be contrary to the separation of powers. And the presence of the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition in the panel to select the judges was also viewed negatively.

    Then, there is another reason which cannot be ignored. The government is the largest litigant in the country and has the dubious distinction of losing 80% of the cases in the Supreme Court. Government presence and interference could pull strings on judiciary.

    What’s Next?  On November 3, a five-judge Constitution Bench will consider suggestions on improving the Collegium system, and has invited submissions from the government and other stakeholders. The Constitution Bench chose to take this route as it quashed the NJAC and ordered revival of the Collegium system.

    Ruling that the primacy of the judiciary in judges’ appointments was embedded in the basic structure of the Constitution, it said these appointments will continue to be made by the Collegium system in which the CJI will have “the last word”.

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  • INDIA-AFRICA SUMMIT | PM seeks cooperation on climate change, terror

    INDIA-AFRICA SUMMIT | PM seeks cooperation on climate change, terror

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Africa is in the air as New Delhi hosted representatives of countries from the African continent for the third India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) from 26-29 October, 2015.

    Calling India and Africa “the two bright spots of hope and opportunities in the global economy”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the leaders of African nations in Delhi that India and Africa must “speak in one voice” for U.N. reforms.

    “This is a world of free nations and awakened aspirations. Our institutions cannot be representative of our world, if they do not give voice to Africa, with more than a quarter of UN members, or the world’s largest democracy with one-sixth of humanity,” Mr. Modi said.

    India and African nations decided on October 29  to step up cooperation to fight climate change and terrorism, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for partnership in these key areas amid shared concerns about global warming and extremist groups like Boko Haram.

    At the third India-Africa summit in Delhi, visiting leaders backed Modi’s call for a “comprehensive” agreement on climate change at a UN conference to be held in Paris, while the PM pointed out that India and Africa contribute very little to global warming.

    “It is also true that the excess of a few cannot become the burden of many,” he said, hinting that developing nations were made to pay for the share of developed countries in climate change.

    “So, when the world meets in Paris in December, we look to see a comprehensive and concrete outcome that is based on the well established principles in the UN Convention on Climate Change. We will all do our part for it.”

    Delegates from about 190 countries are slated to attend the Paris meet with the aim to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2°C above pre-industrial levels and move the world away from fossil fuels.

    India has opposed the binding nature of the proposed treaty to be implemented from 2020 and repeatedly said only rich countries are required under a previous UN climate convention to reduce carbon emissions.

    “For India, 175 GW of additional renewable energy capacity by 2022 and reduction in emission intensity by 33- 35% by 2030 are just two aspects of our efforts,” the Prime Minister said, adding that India was making “enormous efforts” with its “modest resources” to combat climate change.

    Leaders at the India-Africa summit also agreed to boost cooperation in counter-terrorism and maritime security against the backdrop of the growing menace of outfits like Boko Haram, the terror group based out of north-eastern Nigeria which is a threatening presence in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon.

    “Africa, like the rest of the developing world, has its development challenges. And, like others in the world, it has its own concerns of security and stability, especially from terrorism and extremism,” Modi said. “That is why we wish to deepen our cooperation in maritime security and hydrography, and countering terrorism and extremism; and why we must have a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).”

    The CCIT is a treaty proposed by India which is deadlocked at the United Nations for close to two decades. It aims to criminalize all forms of international terrorism and deny terrorists, their financiers and supporters access to funds, arms and safe havens.

    The participants called on all countries to ensure their territories were not used for cross-border terrorist activities, while acknowledging that the menace of non-state actors, including armed groups, had acquired “a new dimension”.

    “We have excellent defense and security cooperation with many African countries. We have done this bilaterally and through multilateral and regional mechanisms. Closer defense and security cooperation, especially in capability development, will be a key pillar of India-Africa partnership,” said the Prime Minister. “We will intensify our cooperation against terrorism and rally the world to build a common cause against it.”

    “Two-thirds of India and two-thirds of Africa is under the age of 35 years. And, if the future belongs to the youth, then this century is ours to shape and build.”

    The PM spoke at the inaugural session of the IAFS, at the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium in Delhi that has been given a full makeover for the big summit.

    (READ The Full text of PM’s statement on www.theindianpanorama.news/modi )

    Here are 10 key highlights from PM Narendra Modi’s speech at the ceremony:

    1. Financial assistance:

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced concessional credit of $10 million over the next 5 years for Africa. This will be in addition to India’s ongoing credit program. PM also announced a grant assistance of $600 million, which will include India-Africa Development Fund of $100 million and India-Africa Health Fund of $10 million.

    It will also include 50,000 scholarships in India over the next five years. And, it will support the expansion of the Pan Africa E-Network and institutions of skilling, training and learning across Africa.

    India has committed $7.4 billion in concessional credit and$1.2 billion in grants since the first India-Africa Summit in 2008. It is creating 100 capacity building institutions, and developing infrastructure, public transport, clean energy, irrigation, agriculture and manufacturing capacity across Africa.

    read-more

     

     

  • Madeline Singas favors review of town contracting practices

    Madeline Singas favors review of town contracting practices

    MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Harendra Singh seems to have created a commotion in Nassau County. Now the Nassau District Attorney candidate Madeline Singas wants a review of contracting system in Nassau County. Singas said Tuesday, October 27 that if elected, her office would expand its review of Nassau County’s contracting system to include towns and cities to “expose vulnerabilities to corruption.”

    Singas, the Democratic acting district attorney, made the pledge at a Mineola news conference. Singas attacked her Republican opponent, Kate Murray, the Hempstead Town supervisor, accusing her of mismanaging awards for millions of dollars in town contracts.

    Singas stated that  a search of the town’s website yields no information about the town’s requests for proposals — bids that contractors submit to municipalities to be considered for work. The website also does not display information about the town’s procurement process and does not mention bidding opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses, Singas said.

    “Hempstead’s contracting process is a black box and Kate Murray and her political patrons hold the keys,” Singas said.

    Murray said she had “no response” to Singas’ charges but questioned the timing of the news conference: “It’s seven days until the election — sounds a little suspicious and a little political to me.”

    Hempstead Town spokesman Michael Deery said: “We follow all of the proper contracting procedures including competitive bidding and disclosures.” He said the town pays to publish bid requests and contract information in Newsday and industry journals.

    In calling for a review of contracting in Nassau’s three towns and two cities, Singas cited last month’s arrest of Town of Oyster Bay contractor Harendra Singh on bribery charges as a reason a “review must be broadened to the local level.” Singh, a restaurateur, has pleaded not guilty.

    Singas said town contracts are “administered by political donors” to Murray’s campaign. Singas noted state campaign finance reports that show the town’s purchasing director Gary Parisi, and William Rockensies, commissioner of the engineering department, each contributed more than $20,000 to Murray and other GOP campaigns since 2006. Deery did not respond to questions about the allegation, but confirmed Parisi’s and Rockensies’ job titles and said the employees are involved in Hempstead’s contracting process.

  • College Access for All

    College Access for All

    Earlier this week, I announced that starting next school year, all New York City high schools will offer the SAT exam free to 11th-graders. Students will take the SAT during the school day in the spring.

    College Access - Carmen
    As the daughter of immigrants and the first person in my family to go to college, I know how difficult the college process – including taking the SAT exam – can be. But I also know that whether our young people go to college shouldn’t be decided by what neighborhood they live in or what country they or their parents come from.

    That’s why Mayor de Blasio and I are committed to “College Access for All” – improving the college process for all students and families and putting more students on the path to college. Starting next year, the new “SAT School Day” is part of our commitment, and it is going to make a real difference for students and families.

    At a Manhattan high school I visited this week, I spoke to 12th-graders about their experience with the SAT. Isabella was nervous for her SAT exam because she had to travel to an unfamiliar school. Her classmates Sam and Samantha were as worried about paying for the SAT as the actual material on the test. Even students who qualified to take the test for free had to spend time tracking down a fee waiver instead of studying.

    While Isabella, Sam, and Samantha all ended up taking the SAT, many students like them across New York City did not. As we remove the barriers around the SAT, we’ll see more of our talented students taking the exam, as well as students like Isabella, Sam and Samantha more relaxed and better prepared to succeed on their exams.

    By moving the SAT to the regular school day starting next year, we’re also highlighting the importance of college planning and college exams for all students and families. That’s a large part of what SAT School Day and College Access for All are about -reminding all our students that they can pursue college and giving them and their families the support they need to do that.

    Our schools will continue to share information about SAT School Day and College Access for All as we move forward, and I am excited to work with parents as partners as we make these initiatives a reality.

  • Why is Nassau County Executive silent on his Ties with Harendra Singh ?

    Why is Nassau County Executive silent on his Ties with Harendra Singh ?

    Mr. Edward P. Mangano is a nice and  pleasant person. He has a disarming  smile  and a certain amount of warmth even when he meets with strangers which win people instantly. There is no question of anybody not liking him. But that is the exterior of the person. What is Mr. Mangano within?  Well, within, Mr. Mangano seems to be very hard; difficult to penetrate.

    For the last couple of months he has been feeling the heat of major investigations  involving  a politician  who is alleged to have been guilty of corruption. In the case of Dean Skelos, Mr. Mangano’s name came up some time ago. And, now recently, it is  not a politician but a friend because of whom Mr. Mangano is under a cloud. His silence on his ties with Harendra Singh is intriguing.

    There are reports that he may not answer any questions relating to his ties with Harendra Singh. Well, that will do him no good. He must come clean. If he has done nothing  which could hold him legally or morally responsible, he has no fear. But speak he must. His silence will only add to the worst speculation. He is a nice man. Let him know he should not be known in any other manner.

  • Volume 9 Issue 43 | New York Desktop Edition | Oct 30|Newspaper E-Edition

    Volume 9 Issue 43 | New York Desktop Edition | Oct 30|Newspaper E-Edition

    A New Way to Read This Week’s Print Edition

    The Latest from The Indian Panorama | New York Desk

    Reimagined for the Web
    Volume 9 Issue 43 | Desktop Edition | Oct 30

    Resolution – Low | High

    Volume 9 Issue 43 | New York Desktop Edition | Oct 30|Newspaper E-Edition

  • International Film Festival of Manhattan

    International Film Festival of Manhattan

    New York Emmy nominated filmmaker Tirlok Malik was honored with the special Outstanding Achievement in the Multicultural Arts in Acting, Filmmaking, and Immigrant Advocacy at the International Film Festival Manhattan in New York held on October 22, 2015. IFFM shows films, which deal with social issues. The festival has the most diverse selection of world class films and a focus on social issues and advocacy as part of the programming and goals. Malik has made many films starting from Lonely In America, Khushiyaan, On Golden Years and many more. They all deal with the effects of migration in America. Malik has given chances to many new talents in front or behind the camera as well. Tirlok Malik said, “I am happy to be a part of this festival and I feel honored for this awards.”

    Tirlok Malik with awards for the best feature film and for his contribution to Cinema
    Tirlok Malik with awards for the best feature film and for his contribution to Cinema

    There was another award given to Tirlok Malik at the festival by winning the ‘best film award for On Golden Years.’ Luis Pedron, co-founder of the festival, said, “The film On Golden Years deals with social issues of retirement that millions of first generation immigrants face in their lives.” Films from many countries such as Israel, Australia, Philippines, Sweden, Singapore, USA, etc. were shown at IFFM. Tirlok Malik accepted the award on the behalf of the whole team of On Golden Years. Malik said, “It was a team work to make this film.”

    The film On Golden Years is written and directed by New York Emmy nominated filmmaker Tirlok Malik. The film is produced by Golden Movies. The idea of the story is inspired from the book Seeking Roots by Iggy. Iggy Ignatius is also the codirector of the film. The film stars Ranjit Chowdhry, Jyoti Singh, Reeves Lehmann, Shetal Shah, Noor Naghmi, Tirlok Malik Shruti Tewari, Farokh Daruwala, Indu Gajwani, Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja, Lovllien Kaurr, Sandeep Suri, Iggy Igantius, Kamlesh Gupta and many more. The film has been shot at the Indian retirement community Shantiniketan in Florida. Other credits of the film are Director of Photography Christo Bakalov B.A.C., Music by Peter Lobo, Art Direction by Sunita Babber, Editing by Tom Knight and others.

    Some actors in the film "On Golden Years" at the special screening of the film at the Festival on October 25. Seen from L to R: Prof. Indrajit S Saluja, Reeves Lehmann, Indu Gajwani, Luis Pedron, Co-founder& Festival Director of IFFM, Tirlok Malik, Jyoti Singh, Ranjit Chowdhry, Lovllien Kaurr, Sunita Babber
    Some actors in the film “On Golden Years” at the special screening of the film at the Festival on October 25. Seen from L to R: Prof. Indrajit S Saluja, Reeves Lehmann, Indu Gajwani, Luis Pedron, Co-founder& Festival Director of IFFM, Tirlok Malik, Jyoti Singh, Ranjit Chowdhry, Lovllien Kaurr, Sunita Babber

     

    Tirlok Malik has recently launched the website which is the first ever streaming of Indian American movies www.nritvfilmclub.com. The purpose of the website is also promoting the new talents. One can go on the website and become a member. Malik’s dream is to create NRI-wood just like Hollywood and Bollywood. He invites everyone to join his vision.
    www.nritvfilmclub.com.

  • Enforcement Directorate summons Shah Rukh Khan over forex violations in IPL

    Enforcement Directorate summons Shah Rukh Khan over forex violations in IPL

    In a recent development, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has landed himself in trouble for the 3rd time as Enforcement Directorate summoned him over forex violation after it was found that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team shares were undervalued.

    SRK has been served summons by Enforcement Directorate in connection with allegedly irregular sale of shares of Knight Riders Sports Pvt Ltd (KRSPL) to a Mauritius-based company of actor Juhi Chawla’s husband Jay Mehta.

    The case pertains to 2008-09 regarding the share sale of KRSPL owned by Khan’s Red Chillies along with Chawla and her husband.

    “This is the third time that summons have been sent to Khan and we are expecting him anytime soon as his presence is needed for some information that is in his exclusive knowledge,” said ED sources.

    Khan had faced ED once in 2011 when he was questioned about alleged foreign exchange violation of around Rs 100 crore.

    The agency has already recorded the statements of Chawla and Mehta.

    At the time of incorporation in 2008, Red Chillies had 9900 shares of KRSPL. The valuation report, made by ED’s external agency last year, said that when the equity shares of KRSPL were issued to Sea Island Investments, the fair value per equity share of KRSPL should be between Rs 70-86. However, the shares were issued at a value Rs 10 each.

    According to Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), the price of shares issued to persons residing outside India should not be lower than the price worked out under the guidelines set by stock market regulator SEBI, in case of a listed company or on the basis of fair valuation of shares by a chartered accountant as per guidelines of the erstwhile Controller of Capital Issues (CCI).

    When contacted, a spokesman of the actor said “no comments.”

  • Two Indians arrested in New Jersey for conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens

    Two Indians arrested in New Jersey for conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens

    Two Indian-Orgin men, Nileshkumar Patel, 41, and Harsad Mehta, 65, were arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey for conspiring to smuggle people from Thailand to New Jersey, prosecutors said Oct. 22.

    Both were arrested Oct. 21 at Newark Liberty International Airport and were set for an initial appearance before a judge on smuggling and conspiracy charges. Messages left seeking comment from attorneys for the men weren’t immediately returned.

    Patel and Mehta met with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations agent on multiple occasions in Bangkok starting in April 2014 and paid the agent $35,000 to $50,000 to have six Indians smuggled into New Jersey even though they didn’t have legal clearance to come to America, Special Agent Douglas Doherty said in a criminal complaint.

    Patel was involved in all six cases, and Mehta in four, prosecutors said.

    The sting operation began in June 2013 when an HSI investigation revealed a smuggling operation that was “attempting to find methods to illegally smuggle aliens from India to the United States,” Doherty said. The investigation found that the organization recruited Indians and others to pay them to get them to the United States.

    Patel began contacting the undercover agent, whom he believed was a smuggler, telling him he wanted to “discuss sending ‘packages’ to the United States,” Doherty said. Patel later told the agent that he had been smuggling people into the United States since 1998, Doherty said.

    The undercover agent met on various occasions with the men in Bangkok from April 2014 to January 2015, Doherty said. There, prosecutors said, they agreed to pay a $10,000 down payment for each individual with the rest promised to be paid when the people arrived in the U.S.

  • Finally, Facebook to free users from Candy Crush game invites

    Finally, Facebook to free users from Candy Crush game invites

    The days of receiving continuous annoying Candy Crush invites may become a thing of the past, according to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He has promised Facebook users freedom from the annoying Candy Crush game invites.

    Speaking at a Townhall Q&A session at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed: “We are working on a solution to stop receiving Candy Crush requests.”

    “This is where these Q&As are really useful because I actually saw this question because it was the top voted question on the thread,” Zuckerberg said.

    “So I sent a message to the person who runs the team in charge of our developer platform and I said by the time I do this Town Hall Q&A, I think it would be good if we had a solution to this problem.”

    “We hadn’t prioritised shutting that down because we just had other priorities,” he said. “But if this is the top thing that people care about then we’ll prioritise that and we’ll do it. So we’re doing it.”

    Facebook has not yet announced how and when the changes will be made.

    As of now, users can turn off the notifications by going to their notification box and clicking ‘x’ next to the Candy Crush icon when they get a request. However, this only disables the notifications and their friends can still send the invites to play the game.

    This isn’t the only change that has been announced by Facebook lately. Last month, Facebook had come up with ‘reaction emoji’ in place of much demanded ‘Dislike Button.’ The emoji are still being tested in some markets and expected to roll out globally soon.

     

     

  • Indian stand-up comedian Vir Das to debut his show ‘Unbelievablish’ in the US

    Indian stand-up comedian Vir Das to debut his show ‘Unbelievablish’ in the US

    Indian stand-up comedian and actor Vir Das will debut his new show, ‘Unbelievablish’ in the United States, at the popular venue Carolines on Broadway, in New York City, Thursday, November 19, through Sunday, November 22.

    The show has been a roaring success in over 17 cities in India and has toured in Dubai and Singapore.   With over 35,000 tickets sold, it is the largest domestic comedy show tour ever by an Indian comedian.

    Vir’s debut of “Unbelievablish” at Carolines on Broadway will be his first United States tour.

    Vir Das’ performance schedule at Carolines on Broadway is:

    • Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 PM
    • Friday, November 20 at 7:30 PM and 10:00 PM
    • Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 PM and 10:00 PM
    • Sunday, November 22 at 7:30 PM

    Vir Das started his on-screen career in Indian cinema with the hit film “Badmash Company.” Since then, he has been in nearly 10 films, including blockbusters such as “Delhi Belly” and “Revolver Rani.” His comedy career began with his own stand-up comedy late night show, “Ek Rahin Vir,” where he was noticed and was immediately put on the comedic map in India.

  • Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Militant Commander Gunned Down in Kashmir

    Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Militant Commander Gunned Down in Kashmir

    Srinagar: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant Abu Qasim, the mastermind of the Udhampur attack on a BSF bus on August 5 and a most wanted militant commander, has been killed in a gunbattle in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Thursday, Oct 29.

    “Abu Qasim, the operational commander of the LeT, was killed during the night in an ambush by the security forces in Khandaypora village of Kulgam district,” a police officer told IANS here.

    A police official said that the killing of Abu Qasim was a major success for the security forces in their ongoing operations against insurgents in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Security forces laid an ambush following specific information about the movements of the LeT commander.

    “Abu Qasim, whose real name is Abdul Rehman and was a resident of Bahawalpur district of Pakistani Punjab province and was one of the most wanted militants active in Kashmir for the last five years.

    “He was neutralized (killed) by security forces at around 2 a.m. today in Kulgam district and his death is a major blow to separatist insurgency in the state”, said Syed Javaid Mujtaba Gilani, inspector general of police Kashmir zone at a press conference here.

    A resident of Pakistan, Abu Qasim was the mastermind of the Udhampur attack in which two BSF personnel were killed and 11 others injured, he said.

    One terrorist was killed on the spot while another, Naveed was apprehended by villagers and handed over to police after he escaped from the site where the two LeT terrorists had carried out the attack.

    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the case. Naveed and two local accomplices are all currently in a jail in Jammu.

    Giving details of the operation, Gilani said on a specific tip-off a joint team of state police and army’s counter insurgency Rashtriya Rifles launched a cordon and search operation in Khandaypora village of Kulgam district in South Kashmir on Wednesday evening.

    “We had inputs that Abu Qasim may be hiding in Khandaypora village. He tried to break the cordon and was killed in a brief gunfight which lasted for few minutes only.

    “His other accomplice managed to get back due to darkness, but cordon is intact and we are hopeful that we will get him,” the senior police officer said.

    He said Qasim was either directly involved or brain behind the actions carried out by LeT in the last three years in Kashmir division.

    “He was also in a working relationship with other militant organization particularly Hizbul Mujahideen and his death is not only a blow to LeT, but to all such groups in the state”, he added.

    “He (Qasim) was involved in killing of a top counter-insurgency cop, Muhammad Altaf Dar earlier this month and also in August 5 Border Security Force convoy attack at Udhampur.

    “He was also the brain behind the 2013 ambush attack on army convoy at Hyderpora Srinagar in which eight troopers lost their life,” he added.

    Gilani said after the death of Qasim the operational capacity of LeT has been dented to a “large extent” and congratulated security force personal who took part in the gunfight.

    “This is a major success, but we can’t lower our guard till all terrorists are eliminated”.

     

  • A Hotel where people check-in to die

    A Hotel where people check-in to die

    For centuries thousands of elderly Hindus have come to the Indian holy city of Varanasi, also known as Kashi, to break the cycle of death and rebirth and attain “moksha”.

    Sitting on the banks of the Ganges, Mukti Bhavan is a guest house that provides shelter and other necessities to the people who want want to spend their last days in the sacred city.

    What does every Hindu want after death?

    No, it is not heaven but moksha.

    Moksha is the Hindu concept of liberation from the trials and tribulations of life. It is when you give up all materialistic pleasures and become one with your self or the Atman. Though moksha or true liberation can be attained even while living, it is belived that attaining moksha on your death-bed frees you from the cycle of life-and-death and your soul is free ever-after.

    Many Hindus go to different extremes for their Moksha. A dip in the Ganges to wash off your sins is the most popular concept but holy cities in India like Varanasi are filled with devouts asking priests to liberate them. And this one house or hostel: aptly named Mukti Bhavan – gives people just that. Liberation from their life and a promise of Moksha.

    Though it sounds absurd, Mukti Bhavan sees thousands of visitors every year. While there are more visitors in winters when more people die, the number of visitors decreases in summers. The quaint little house is popular for helping the ravaged and lost should attain their final liberation. The priests at the residence help perform rituals and rites that help the dying depart from the Earth in peace.

    But before you kisconstrue things- wait. The house is not a place where people go to commit suicide. Or it is not even a place of mercy killing. Only people right on their death-bed are allowed. They could be ailing due to a disease or they “feel they will die”, they can stay at the house. Hale and hearty people are not allowed to stay at Mukti Bhavan. People who are on their death-bed can check-in to Mukti Bhavan and stay there for 2 weeks. However, if the person does not die within 2 weeks, he/she has to leave Mukti Bhavan and give his/her room to someone else.

    Mukti Bhavan has 12 rooms with a small temple and priest and all facilities for the guests. There are a lot of old people who visit the hostel and stay here. The hostel manager Bhairav Nath Shukla has been in-charge and praying for the salvation of these dying souls for the past 44 years. He lives with his family in the same compound and his family members are used to people dying in their hostel.

    While it is mostly those who have no frieds or family who come here to die, Mukti Bhavan has seen it’s share of deaths. The concept is very similar to the olden days Kashi concept where Hindus, after living the Grihastashrama and Vanaprasha would go to Kashi. When people said they are going to Kashi, it was assumed they would not return as they would spend the remainder of their lives there and die there in hopes of moksha.

    After death, the residents are cremated on the gates or steps alongside the Ganges river, the most well-known being the Manikarnika Ghat.

    Here is a video which highlights the lives of those waiting to attain salvation at Mukti Bhavan.

  • Sureshbhai Patel Said ‘No English’ 5 Times to US Cops before being Assaulted

    Sureshbhai Patel Said ‘No English’ 5 Times to US Cops before being Assaulted

    An Indian grandfather, Sureshbhai Patel, who was visiting his son in Alabama to meet his newly born grandson, was slammed to ground and left paralysed in 101 seconds after encountering the police early this year, a US court has been told.

    The retrial of police officer Eric Parker, accused of violently assaulting the 58-year-old began this week in a federal court in Alabama. The first trial ended early last month with a hung jury, as the jury split 10-2 in favour of acquittal.

    Parker is charged with violating the civil rights of Patel following an encounter in a Madison neighbourhood off County Line Road on February 6.

    The Indian grandfather slammed to the ground by an Alabama police officer last February told him “no English” five times and said “India” three times, according to US prosecutors.

    He also pointed to his son’s home and kept trying to walk officers toward the home, Assistant US Attorney Robert Posey told a Madison jury on Tuesday.

    Two fellow officers involved in the incident testified during a retrial that Sureshbhai Patel did not pose any threat. Sureshbhai Patel presented no threat to police, Madison Police Officer Charles Spence told a Huntsville court Wednesday. “To me, he appeared to be in his 70s.”

    “There was no criminal conduct to document” by Mr Patel and that no reasonable suspicion existed to lay hands on Mr Patel, testified Lt. Clint Harrell, according to local Al.com. “Even if they are accused of something, you still treat them right.”

    Backdrop: The assault of Sureshbhai Patel occurred on February 6, 2015. Patel, a 57-year-old Indian national who was visiting his son in Madison, Alabama, U.S., was seriously injured after being detained by three police officers in a residential neighborhood. Patel had police called on him by a neighborhood resident for alleged suspicious behavior in the neighborhood and did not know how to speak English. There is video footage of the officer slamming Patel to the ground. He had to be hospitalized and is partially paralyzed as a result of the injuries. The incident lead to many accusations by citizens of police brutality and prompted a response from the Indian government. The incident was recorded on film by two police car dashboard cameras.

    Former police officer Eric Parker, who is accused of injuring Patel, was fired from the Madison Police Department and charged with third-degree assault. In March 2015, Parker was charged by the FBI with felony civil rights abuse.

     

  • Women like burqas as they don’t need to wear makeup: Donald Trump

    Women like burqas as they don’t need to wear makeup: Donald Trump

    NEW YORK: In yet another controversial jibe, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has said women in the Islamic world like wearing burqas because it is easier as they do not have to wear makeup.

    During a New Hampshire rally, Trump briefly spoke about his belief that the United States imposes its own version of Western democracy upon cultures that do not necessarily want it.

    Citing failed interventions in Libya and Iraq, Trump suggested it has been futile to try to export “freedom” to Muslim countries.

    “I saw somebody say ‘We want it over there where the women don’t have to wear the you-know-what,’” Trump told the crowd, wiping his hand in front of his face to mimic the look of a burqa.

    “And then I saw women interviewed. They said, ‘We want to wear them, we’ve worn them for thousands of years. Why would anyone tell us not to?’ They want to!” he was quoted as saying by CNN.

    “Fact is, it’s easier. You don’t have to put on makeup. Look how beautiful everyone looks. Wouldn’t it be easier? Right? Wouldn’t that be easy?” the real-estate mogul joked.

    “I tell ya, if I was a woman, I don’t want to. I’d be like, bwah (gesturing the burqa), ‘I’m ready, darling, let’s go.’ It’s true!” he said.

    Trump has a history of making controversial remarks about immigrants and other groups.
    Earlier on in his campaign, Trump had made controversial statements about Mexican immigrants and did not dispute a man’s assertion that US President Barack Obama was a Muslim.
    Last week Trump said the world would be a better place if dictators such as Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi were still in power.

     

  • Edhi Foundation refuses Modi’s Rs-10 mln donation

    Edhi Foundation refuses Modi’s Rs-10 mln donation

    Pakistan’s noted humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi of Edhi Foundation has refused to accept Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s donation of Rs 1 crore to his charity for returning 15-year old deaf and mute girl Geeta to the country.

    Faisal Edhi said that it is against Edhi Foundation’s policy to accept donations from governments. He also said that he will present the organization’s stand in front of the media soon.

    Earlier, Indian PM Modi had thanked Edhi Foundation for their efforts in returning Geeta to the country and had announced contribution of Rs. 1 crore to their foundation.

    “I don’t think any amount of words are enough to thank the Edhi family for taking care of Geeta. They are apostles of kindness and compassion,” Modi tweeted on Monday.

    “What the Edhi family has done is too priceless to be measured but I am happy to announce a contribution of Rs 10 million for their foundation,” said another tweet from PM Modi.

    The Edhi Foundation is a non-profit social welfare NGO in Pakistan, founded by Abdul Sattar Edhi in 1951. He is popularly known as Pakistan’s “Father Teresa”.

    Former Indian Minister and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had likened Bilqees Edhi to the real-life “Bajrangi Bhaijaan’.

    “Abdul Sattar Edhi has thanked PM Modi and politely declined to accept his announced financial help,” Edhi Foundation spokesman Anwar Kazmi was quoted as saying by ‘Dawn’ news.

  • Reel Vs Real 127 Hours – Man survives on ants for six days in Australia

    Reel Vs Real 127 Hours – Man survives on ants for six days in Australia

    PERTH, AUSTRALIA: A man missing for six days in a remote Australian desert in searing heat without water was found Tuesday after surviving by eating black ants, police said.

    Reg Foggerdy, 62, disappeared on October 7 heading to the Shooter’s Shack camp near Laverton in the West Australian Goldfields, some 950 kilometres (600 miles) northeast of Perth, on a hunting trip.

    When he failed to return, family members raised the alarm and a search by police trackers finally found him 15 kilometres from where he went missing.

    Goldfields Police superintendent Andy Greatwood said Foggerdy had been sitting under the same tree for the last two days, with no water during his ordeal.

    “He was eating black ants, that’s how he survived. So, fantastic survival skills by him, and fantastic skills by our trackers who found him in an extremely remote location,” he told the West Australian newspaper.

    “He was extremely dehydrated, a bit delusional, but we’ve administered first aid and rehydrated him and it’s pleasing to say he is now sitting up and talking.

    “It was extremely hot, extremely remote, and most people probably wouldn’t have survived.”

    His relieved wife Arlyn said she cried when she heard the news, delighted he managed to stay alive.

    “How you can survive without water and food is a miracle,” she told ABC radio.

    Foggerdy’s sister Christine Ogden said her brother was an experienced bushman and said she would make sure he was better equipped in the future.

    “I’m going to get him to get a satellite phone,” she told the radio station.