The Indian Panorama

Year: 2015

  • NOW, ‘SMART MIRRORS’ THAT LETS YOU VIRTUALLY TRY ON CLOTHES

    NOW, ‘SMART MIRRORS’ THAT LETS YOU VIRTUALLY TRY ON CLOTHES

    WELLINGTON (TIP): New “smart mirrors” have recently been developed that allows people to virtually try on clothes, it has been reported.

    Created by MemoMi, the mirrors allows people to virtually try on clothes, digitally change the colours of the garments and share their choices with friends via email and social media, Stuff.co.nz reported.

    People can even record 7-second videos of themselves and compare them side-by-side so they can see which pair of jeans made their butt look bigger.

    The mirrors are equipped with computer processors and shoppers can use them to set up personal shopping accounts. This way, they can access their purchase history and try-on videos from any personal device remotely.

    Neiman Marcus has entered the future of shopping, installing smart mirrors in three of their departments stores in the US.

  • TOO MANY HOLES IN 2015 ODI WORLD CUP FORMAT

    TOO MANY HOLES IN 2015 ODI WORLD CUP FORMAT

    NEW DELHI (TIP): A close look at the format of the 2015 ODI World Cup shows a series of lacunae. Much of the tournament will be played for largely inconsequential games. That apart, the teams playing the last group games will enjoy unfair advantage over their rivals.

    Here’s a more detailed analysis of the format:.
    How and why the pool stage is of little importance

    The teams are divided into two groups of seven countries each. In Pool A, there’s Australia, England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Scotland. In Pool B, we have South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and UAE. All teams play each other in their respective groups. Four teams from both pools proceed to the quarters.

    Obviously, the tournament has been designed to ensure that the big guns don’t get knocked out early.

    Take India, for instance. Even if the Men in Blue lose three of the six group games to South Africa, Pakistan and West Indies, they can still qualify for the quarters by defeating the minnows: Zimbabwe, UAE and Ireland. The same is true for the other three biggies. An upset can never be ruled out in ODI cricket but can you imagine any of the four minnows totalling more points at the end of the group stage than the Big Boys?

    It’s a similar story in Pool A too. Bangladesh might pull off the odd upset butlack the muscle to finish among the top four. Few would wager a bet on Australia, England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand not making to the next stage. One wonders if the early exit of cash-cow India and Pakistan in 2007 has something to do with this format. The truth is that for the top eight teams, the real tournament begins only at the knock-out stage starting on March 18. That’s almost five weeks after the 2015 ODI World Cup commences on Feb 14. Wow!

    What’s the incentive to win a game or top the group?

    There is one motivation, though, for every team to win every match at the group stage. As per rules, “If a quarterfinal is tied, abandoned or if the match is a no result, then the team that finished in the higher position in the Pool stage shall proceed to the semifinals.” Similarly, “if a semifinal is tied, abandoned or if the match is a no result, then the team that finished higher in the Pool stage shall proceed to the final.”

    The possibility of an abandoned tie cannot be entirely ruled out. In 1992, rain played a key role in South Africa’s tragic exit. A Super Six format after the group stage, as in 1999 and 2003, could have created a far more competitive event.

    Unfair advantage to teams playing last game at the group stage

    Since all teams are not playing the last group game on the same day, it is entirely possible that those playing the last group match can plan who they are going to face. For example, Pakistan are scheduled to play the last match in Group B (Match No. 42) against Ireland. The 1992 champions will know the number of points and run rates of their rivals before they step on the field. It is possible for them to play the game accordingly and choose a rival of their choice in the next stage. At the moment, this seems to be a trivial point. On March 17, it could become a major talking point, if the points tally and run rates of top teams in Group B run close. Football has eliminated such a possibility by playing all last group games together. Cricket is yet to learn.

    The real World Cup begins only in the knock-out stage

    That’s when the first two quarterfinalists meet on March 18 in Sydney. The seven games – four quarters, two semis and one final – played over the next 12 days is all that really matters in terms of consequence. This is a format dark horses will love. The larger question, therefore, is: why such an elaborate tamasha over six weeks?

    Even the football World Cup involving 32 countries and 64 games is held over a month. Why does a World Cup involving just 14 countries and 49 games need six weeks?

  • Roger Federer far from done in Grand Slams: Rivals

    Roger Federer far from done in Grand Slams: Rivals

    MELBOURNE (TIP): Rivals believe Roger Federer can still add another Grand Slam to his record tally after his shock early defeat at the Australian Open.

    The Swiss maestro made his earliest exit from the tournament in 14 years when he suffered a four-set loss to Italian veteran Andreas Seppi in the third round on Friday.

    The defeat meant the 33-year-old star has now not won a major title since Wimbledon in 2012, raising fresh doubts as to whether he can add to his record 17 Grand Slams.

    Federer, the world number two, said there was nothing to read into his latest Grand Slam loss and that he was still feeling fresh and playing at a high level.

    “It’s not like I’m playing shocking or I’m feeling shocking. If I were you, I wouldn’t read very much into that,” he said.

    Seppi had lost all his previous 10 encounters and had only taken one set off the Swiss before dumping him out.

    Britain’s Andy Murray, who has been beaten by Federer in three of his five losing Grand Slams, said his rival still has it in him to win more “If I had to bet I would probably bet that he would win another one,” Murray said.

    “He’s still playing great tennis. But Roger knows more than anyone how difficult these competitions are to win.

    “Obviously, when he was playing at his peak he made it look extremely easy, but it’s not. It’s not an easy thing to do.

    “You can easily lose against guys that are in the top 100 in the world. They’re all very, very good players.

    “Roger was one of the favourites at the start of the event, he’s definitely still got chances to win Grand Slams.”

    Murray was on course to face the second seed in the quarter-finals and shapes as one of the major beneficiaries of his absence.

    He first must get past Bulgarian young gun Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round before a potential quarter-final against Australian youngster Nick Kyrgios or Seppi.

    Kyrgios, 19, who toppled Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon last year, said he had found it difficult to put aside the thought of potentially facing Federer further in the draw before his loss.

    “It’s hard not to think about playing possibly the greatest of all time. Everyone wants to play Roger,” Kyrgios said.

    “I can only dream about what Seppi is feeling to beat him in four sets on Rod Laver. That’s massive for him. But I get to play another great guy that’s been on tour for a long, long time.”

  • Slow-starting SERENA WILLIAMS blazes into Australian Open last 16

    Slow-starting SERENA WILLIAMS blazes into Australian Open last 16

    MELBOURNE (TIPO): Top seed Serena Williams blasted her way into the Australian Open fourth round on January 24, but only after conceding her first set of the tournament to Ukrainian 26th seed Elina Svitolina.

    The American, chasing her sixth Australian title, made a slow start before steamrolling Svitolina 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 to set up a fourth-round clash with dangerous Spanish 24th seed Garbine Muguruza.

    Williams also began sluggishly in her previous match against Russia’s Vera Zvonareva, conceding there were elements of her game “that I really need to improve”.

    In the end, it was the 18-time Grand Slam champion’s big sister Venus who provided the inspiration for her comeback with a back-from-the-dead performance of her own to make the last 16.

    “(Svitolina) kept hitting winners in the first set, there wasn’t much I could do,” Williams said.

    “When in doubt just start running as fast as you can, that’s what Venus always told me.” She said that while playing she kept an eye on a scoreboard showing Venus’ progress in her three-set win over Italy’s Camila Giorgi, drawing motivation from her sister’s advance.

    “(I thought) ‘C’mon Serena, she’s winning, she’s doing so well and I can do better’, you can do it too,” she said.

    “We always motivate each other. I’m so proud of her and we’re so excited.”

    Williams was full of praise for Svitolina, describing the 20-year-old who was playing at Melbourne Park for only the second time as “one to watch”.

    The big-serving youngster caught Williams napping and was soon up two breaks, with the world number one showing the same inaccuracy and unforced errors that dogged her earlier in the tournament.

    She broke back and tried to get herself out of trouble in the next game with an ace but Svitolina refused to be intimidated.

    The pair exchanged breaks again before the Ukrainian served out the set after 36 minutes.

    The American was vastly improved in the second set, blasting down five aces including a 196 kilometres (122mph) thunderbolt, gradually seizing momentum off Svitolina to take it 6-2 after 35 minutes.

    The Ukrainian’s serve began to fall apart with a string of double faults and her resistance finally crumbled in the second game of the third set after losing a 23-shot rally to put Williams up a break.

    Williams then took full control to hold Svitolina to love in the third set.

  • Japan vows not to give up on 2 hostages till the very end

    Japan vows not to give up on 2 hostages till the very end

    TOKYO (TIP): Japan promised on January 23 not to give up “until the very end” on efforts to rescue two Japanese hostages threatened with beheading by Islamic militants demanding a $200 million ransom, after a deadline passed with no word from the captors.

    Militants affiliated with the Islamic State group posted an online warning Friday afternoon that the “countdown has begun” for the extremists to kill 47-year-old Kenji Goto and 42-year-old Haruna Yukawa. The extremists gave Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 72 hours to pay the ransom, and the deadline expired on Friday.

    The posting, which appeared on a forum popular among Islamic State militants and sympathizers, did not show any images of the hostages, who are believed to be held somewhere in Syria.

    Yasuhide Nakayama, a deputy foreign minister sent to Amman, Jordan, said he was working around the clock to coordinate efforts to save the hostages.

    “We will not rule out any possibility, and we are verifying all information thoroughly,” he said. “We will not give up until the very end to rescue the two so we can go home together.”

    Yet, the fate of the two men remained unclear on Saturday.

    Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga was asked about Friday’s message and said Japan was analyzing it.

    “The situation remains severe, but we are doing everything we can to win the release of the two Japanese hostages,” Suga said. He said Japan is using every channel it can find, including local tribal chiefs, to try to reach the captors.

    He said there has been no direct contact with the captors.

    Abe met Friday with his National Security Council on the crisis.

    Japan has scrambled for a way to secure the release of Goto, a journalist, and Yukawa, an adventurer fascinated by war. Japanese diplomats had left Syria as the civil war there escalated, adding to the difficulty of contacting the militants holding the hostages.

    Worshippers at Tokyo’s largest mosque on Friday offered prayers for the two hostages.

    “All Muslims in Japan, we want the Japanese hostages to be saved as soon as possible,” said Sandar Basara, a worker from Turkey.

    Goto’s mother made an appeal for his rescue.

    “Time is running out. Please, Japanese government, save my son’s life,” said Junko Ishido. “My son is not an enemy of the Islamic State.”

    Ishido said she was astonished and angered to learn from her daughter-in-law that Goto had left for Syria less than two weeks after his child was born in October to try to rescue Yukawa.

    Suga said earlier the government had confirmed the identities of the two hostages despite discrepancies in shadows and other details in the ransom video that suggested it might have been altered.

    Japanese officials have not directly said whether they are considering paying any ransom. Japan has joined other major industrial nations in the Group of Seven in opposing ransom payments. U.S. and British officials said they advised against paying.

  • Obama’s visit to India: what’s at stake?

    Obama’s visit to India: what’s at stake?

    U.S. President Obama’s visit to India as the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations underscores the determination of both administrations to revitalise the bilateral relationship. This visit might not be high on deliverables but emphasises the efforts being made to create a common ground for cooperation

     

    President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to India, his second as a serving president, is historic for both its optics and the potential to fast track the slow moving train of India-U.S. relations.

     

    Obama as the chief guest for India’s Republic Day parade-the first U.S. president to be invited for the occasion-has great symbolism. The White House recognised the significance of the first-ever invitation and acted despite difficulties of scheduling. The president’s State of the Union address to the U.S. Congress, typically in the last week of January, was brought forward so Obama could be in New Delhi.

     

    The U.S. establishment rightly determined that accepting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation and clocking this “first” was important. Also important was to reinforce Modi’s bold move-the invitation effectively jettisoned traditional Indian reluctance to go public with the Americans. By honoring the U.S. president thus, the Indian government has taken a step to shed some of the past insecurities to finally catch up with the people.

     

    That’s all for the good. Obama’s visit is also an acknowledgment that the India story is resonating once again in the world and the Americans ought to be in front not behind other countries. The U.S. Administration has responded well to the new energy coming out of official India despite being pulled in different directions by multiple foreign crises. Foreign crises will form a big part of the discussion between Obama and Modi-the turmoil in the Muslim world at large, the rise of ISIS, the recruitment of youth through the internet, the Afghanistan-Pakistan situation and China. All of these point for greater cooperation between the US administration and India.

     

    Secretary of State John Kerry was in India last week-his second visit since Modi became prime minister-to attend the Vibrant Gujarat summit where the U.S. was a partner country for the first time. Kerry’s trip was meant to nail down concrete progress in the India file that can be showcased during Obama’sJanuary 25-26 visit.

     

    It’s worth noting that the Obama Administration has significantly toned down the harsh rhetoric on India’s trade policies. Recognising the progress made recently, the U.S. Trade Representative last month closed its “301 out-of-cycle” review of India’s intellectual property (IP) laws, giving this perennial sword over bilateral relations a rest, even if temporarily. Discussions on contentious issues such as IP are being held in private rather than in the public domain, which has led to an automatic improvement in the atmospherics.

     

    The level of activity between the two governments since Modi became prime minister has gone up by leaps and bounds. Various bilateral groups, which hadn’t met for nearly three years but were always counted as proof that we had a “strong” relationship, have actually been meeting. These include the Trade Policy Forum, the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative and the High Technology Cooperation Group.

     

    Then there are newly established contact groups-one to sort differences on India’s nuclear liability law, an investment forum and an infrastructure platform. The US side is happily surprised at the responsiveness of the Modi government.

     

    Potential areas of progress include a finalised text for a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), an agreement on climate change and a renewal of the Defence Framework Agreement for another 10 years. In addition, India and the US are likely to further enhance their intelligence cooperation but without public pronouncements.

     

    Aligning the needs of the two systems sometimes has proven difficult but what’s different this time is the desire to find solutions. And that is a definite change after losing nearly three years in limbo. The question is how much can India push the United States to change its systems and make exceptions.

     

    The U.S. has its way of negotiating-what it says is normally accepted by other countries. India, which doesn’t fall in an easy category, has its perspective. Its positions are well argued and can’t be easily dismissed. The Americans, often unwilling to change their processes, find it frustrating to have to justify themselves.

     

    it is differences on intellectual property protection or obtaining basic development needs for Indians but also curbing emissions, buying high-end U.S. defence technology but without signing basic agreements the Pentagon requires-every tussle brings out the difference in worldview.

     

    The Americans want India to promise not to use the tool of compulsory license (CL) to force prices of life-saving drugs down except in an emergency. India is unlikely to commit to the demand because no government would give up a policy instrument, especially when it has not abused it. India has used CL only once.

     

    Indian IP laws are TRIPS-compliant under the World Trade Organization rules. In essence, what the U.S. is demanding on behalf of its pharma industry is something that can be described as “TRIPS plus” which would go beyond WTO agreements. More discussions may yield a new fuzzy position but the fundamental Indian stand will likely remain.

     

    Similarly, the requirements of the U.S. system hamper transfer of sensitive U.S. defence technologies to India because New Delhi has refused to sign what Washington calls
    “foundational agreements”. There are at least five but two are seen as key to getting over regulatory hurdles-CISMOA or the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement and LSA or the Logistics Support Agreement.

     

    Even though U.S. officials are “working around them”-as former deputy defence secretary Ash Carter put it-they say life would be a lot simpler if India just signed the agreements which all other U.S. partners have. The flow of defence technology would be a lot smoother.

     

    But New Delhi remains constant in its refusal-it feels it doesn’t need to tie itself down with these agreements, which may allow U.S. an entre it is unwilling to grant as yet.

     

    Another suggestion from Washington is for India to buy more off-the-shelf technology instead of trying to reinvent every wheel and make a quick “qualitative” jump in defence capability. Border security can be improved in new ways with what’s already available on the market.

     

    Whether there are many breakthroughs or none, the fact that Obama and Modi are meeting again within a short span will keep the two systems focused and geared for progress.

     

    (Seema Sirohi is a Washington-based analyst and a frequent contributor to Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. Seema is also on Twitter and her handle is @seemasirohi.

    This feature was written exclusively for Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. It is being republished with permission from Reetika Joshi (joshi.reetika@gatewayhouse.in)

     

    © Copyright 2014 Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. All rights reserved. Any unauthorised copying or reproduction is strictly prohibited.(British English)

  • 2 ARMYMEN TO GET ASHOK CHAKRA ON REPUBLIC DAY

    2 ARMYMEN TO GET ASHOK CHAKRA ON REPUBLIC DAY

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Major Mukund Varadarajan and Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh will be posthumously awarded the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra, during the Republic Day parade this year. Both laid down their lives while fighting heavily-armed terrorists in separate gun-battles in J&K last year.

     

    While the Ashoka Chakra for Major Varadarajan, who himself killed two terrorists before breathing his last, was announced in the Independence Day gallantry awards list last year, sources said Naik Singh’s name will be announced on January 26.

     

    Naik Singh was killed in an intense gunfight with a group of terrorists which was intercepted in the forests at Kalaroos in Kupwara district on August 24 last year. Four of the militants were killed in the encounter due to Naik Singh’s exemplary bravery.

     

    Major Mukund and his “buddy” Sepoy Vikram Singh, in turn, had displayed “raw courage” in cornering three terrorists, who had targeted polling officials in Shopian district of J&K, in a “cement outhouse” at a village on April 25. The two brave soldiers succumbed to injuries while killing the three terrorists in the encounter. Sepoy Singh has been awarded the third-highest gallantry medal, the Shaurya Chakra.

  • AAPI’S 10TH GLOBAL HEALTH SUMMIT IN JAN 2016

    AAPI’S 10TH GLOBAL HEALTH SUMMIT IN JAN 2016

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The 10th edition of the annual Global Healthcare Summit
    (GHS) 2016 organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) will be held at the Maurya Hotel, New Delhi from January 1st to 4th, 2016, Dr. Seema Jain, President-Elect of AAPI, announced during a press conference at the India Habitat Center in New Delhi on January 6th, 2015.

     

    Stating that women are nation-builders, who play a critical role in the growth of each family, Dr. Jain, a Psychiatrist, based in New Jersey told the media persons that focus of GHS2016 will be on women-related issues, seeking to create awareness among women on their role as nation builders and “AAPI will spearhead a campaign to prevent infant and maternal mortality, cardio issues, infection control, and antiboiotics as well as women’s leadership” she said. Lamenting that women who sacrifice everything to raise families often forget to care for themselves, Dr. Jain said,

     

    “AAPI is inviting Priyanka Chopra and any other celebrity who wants to be part of the next GHS in New Delhi and be part of AAPI’s initiatives.”

     

    Among others who had addressed the press conference and made tangible suggestions to work collaboratively between API, Indian Medial Association (IMA), Medical Council of India (MCI) and American Heart Association (AHA) included, John Mainers of AHA, Dr. K Aggarwal of IMA, Dr. Giridhar Giani of MCI, and Dr. Sumit Sena of AIIMS. Anwar Feroz, Honorary Advisor of AAPI, coordinated the media event.

  • A Renewed Push for Elusive Diwali Stamp

    A Renewed Push for Elusive Diwali Stamp

    Congresswoman Maloney calls on President Obama to support Diwali stamp on his upcoming trip to India; announces introduction of congressional resolution in support of stamp

     

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Congresswoman Maloney (NY-12), the Consul General of India in New York Ambassador Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, Chair of the Diwali Stamp Project Ranju Batra, and Chair of the National Advisory Council of South Asian Affairs Ravi Batra on January 16 gathered at the Indian Consulate to encourage the United States Postal Service to issue a postage stamp to commemorate the holiday Diwali. Maloney on Jan 14 wrote to President Obama urging him to support a Diwali stamp when he visits India next week.

     

    “Although Diwali holds a great significance for many Americans and well over a billion people across the globe, the United States Postal Service has still not recognized this beautiful festival of lights with a commemorative stamp, although it has done so for other major religious and cultural holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Eid,” said Congresswoman Maloney. “It is time for the USPS to step up and recognize the importance of this holiday in the lives of many of our citizens by issuing a commemorative stamp. A relatively small action would hold great meaning for millions of people and I think it would be historic if President Obama would announce his support for a Diwali stamp during his upcoming trip to India”

     

    ”Diwali is a festival that is integral to the life of every person of Indian ancestry irrespective of whether the person lives in India or abroad,” said Consul General Mulay. “It bonds together a billion people all over the world who celebrate the uplifting spirit behind the lighting of lamps – Diwali. The Diwali stamp by the United States shall definitely add to the already existing good will and strengthen the relations between our two countries. The laudable effort by Ranju Batra and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, and all others of goodwill supporting this focused effort, is a welcome gesture that is bound to bring cheer to everybody invested in the India-US relationship.”

     

    “We have gathered thousands upon thousands of signatures, letters and petitions, said Ranju Batra. “Apparently, what we have done so far has not been enough to get the Diwali Stamp issued. We are going to continue our efforts, with grassroots’ support, and won’t stop until we get it.”

     

    “USPS can no longer ignore Hinduism and the calls for a Diwali Stamp from the Hindu community and our dear friend and champion, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney,” said Ravi Batra. “This year, the Diwali Stamp will be approved – US Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe has to be reminded that they are currently in violation of a core Constitutional obligation of government – ‘Equal Protection of the Law.’”     

     

    Shiv Dass, President of Jackson Heights Indian Merchants’ Association recalled his effort in 2003 to have a Diwali stamp issued. He said his friend Congressman Joe Crowley had tried to have the stamp issued but the effort proved abortive. He said he was happy that Ranju Batra had revived the demand and Congresswoman Maloney and community leaders were supportive of the demand. He appreciated the  role of Ambassador Mulay in encouraging the community to come together in support of Ranju Batra and Congresswoman Maloney.

     

    On January 14, 2015 Congresswoman Maloney introduced H. Res. 32, urging the USPS to issue a commemorative holiday stamp for Diwali. For several years, Congresswoman Maloney has headed efforts in Congress to push the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) to consider issuing a commemorative Diwali stamp. In 2013, Congresswoman Maloney introduced H.Res. 47, expressing the sense of the U.S. House of Representatives that the CSAC should issue a Diwali stamp. The bill had 46 cosponsors. Maloney wrote letters to the CSAC in 2010 and 2012 requesting the same action.

  • Melville in New York to have $9 million Hindu temple in 2016

    Melville in New York to have $9 million Hindu temple in 2016

    LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): Two-storey BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir complex, currently under construction on a 5-acre plot with cost estimates of $9 million, besides a spacious sanctuary, will also include classrooms. In addition to worship services, it will also offer educational programs, cultural classes and activities, religious lessons, free health clinics, children and youth activities, humanitarian projects, etc., and shall make efforts in social outreach. All its statues were sculpted in India, reports suggest. Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) applauded efforts of BAPS, temple management and volunteers, and area community for realizing this Hindu temple complex.

     

    Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this new temple would help in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism. Originally envisioned in 1988, its Bhumi Pujan ceremony was held on November 11, 2012 and its foundation stone was laid on October 27, 2013. Community leaders associated with raising of this temple include Harshad Bhatt, Girish Patel, etc.

     

    Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), headquartered in Ahmedabad (India), is a socio-spiritual Hindu organization revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in the late 18th century. Its followers take five lifetime vows: No Alcohol, No Addictions, No Adultery, No Meat, No Impurity of body and mind. It envisions “a society whose joy lies in the joy of others”. With Pramukh Swami Maharaj as the current Spiritual Guru, it has over 3,850 centers and over 880 sadhus worldwide.

     

    Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

     

    Melville, an affluent hamlet in Huntington (New York) known to Native Americans as Sunsquams, houses US headquarters of several national/international corporations and hosts operations for various Fortune 500 companies.

  • Nuclear deal stuck on US demand ahead of Obama visit

    Nuclear deal stuck on US demand ahead of Obama visit

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Ahead of US President Barack Obama’s arrival in India, a specific US demand seeking “flag rights in perpetuity” for any material or equipment used in a US-built reactor has thrown, to use an American expression, a monkey wrench into the nuclear contact group meeting underway in London.

     

    The information is  that it is the main sticking point preventing the two sides from announcing successful conclusion of the talks, something which both the sides wanted to achieve as the main takeaway from the visit. This was even as some progress was made over the liability issue.

     

    The talks in London saw the US side insisting on rights to forever monitor use of any material or equipment in a US reactor even if it is sourced from a third country. While MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in a media briefing that progress had been made over the nuclear issue, it is learnt that this one issue was threatening to derail the talks. The negotiating teams have now left it to Obama and Modi to take the final call.

     

    This administrative arrangement which the US has been seeking is based on its reading of the civil nuclear agreement which the two countries had signed. Indian officials told their counterparts in London that it was an extremely intrusive measure and India would never agree to it as it would impinge on its nuclear sovereignty. They cited the example of the nuclear agreement with Canada, which was initially stalled after the US neighbor insisted on similar conditions but finally materialized after concessions made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The Canadian PM acknowledged India’s strong non-proliferation commitments and agreed to inspections only by IAEA.

     

    The Indian side had gone to London hoping that the US officials would also show similar understanding of India’s position and agree to inspections by IAEA only. What India is particularly upset about is that under the arrangement US is seeking, US authorities will have rights to forever monitor uranium, or any other material or equipment, sourced even from a third country like Kazakhstan or Australia if it is used in reactors built by American companies like Westinghouse or GE Hitachi.

     

    As Times of India had reported Tuesday, January 20, the third contact group meeting was the last chance for the 2 countries to find a way to operationalize the nuclear agreement ahead of the Modi-Obama summit by addressing the liability and other issues. But while the US seems to be coming round to the Indian proposal for setting up an insurance pool to provide cover to suppliers, the talks have come unstuck over an administrative issue with neither side relenting. The Indian government is keen to ensure a breakthrough in the contact group meeting as a means to convince the US about its commitment to the civil nuclear deal.

  • Prayer Meeting for Kashmiri Pandits

    Prayer Meeting for Kashmiri Pandits

    NEW YORK (TIP): 19th January – Day of Holocaust of Kashmiri Pandit Exiles- was organized by Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA) Zone 1 Members at Asamai Temple, Hicksville, Long Island, New York on 18 January, 2015. A prayer meeting, audiovisual program and discussion was held to commemorate 25 years of exile of the KP community. It was today in the year 1990 that a campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide against our community was unleashed by the fundamentalist Islamists and Jihadists at the behest of Pakistan. The barbaric annihilation of the peace loving KP community was prompted by the repeated massacres, mayhems, kidnappings, rapes, arsons, forcible occupation of properties, looting, destruction of temples and places of worship.

     

    It is a tragedy that lacs of Kashmiri Pandits became refugees in their own country of origin and birth, contrary to similar practices existing elsewhere in the world. How can we forget those horrendous nights. Wounds are still fresh. We were hounded out of our homes. Our kith and kin slaughtered in the name of religion and an entire community was driven into exile. Dr. Anil Mattoo, Director of KOA Zone 1 and many members addressed the gathering and expressed solidarity with other brethren of the displaced community and hoped that they will be rehabilitated with constitutional guarantees in the land of their forefathers.

     

    We look up to  Narendra Modi with great hope and optimism that our pending rights are restored to us so that our entire community would return to live there on a permanent basis without elements of fear and discrimination. We also exhort the conscience of the progressive, secular elements of the majority community in the valley to help us attain our dream of returning to our homeland and rekindle the spirit  of kashmiriyat.

  • Meet Padma Shri Dr. Dattatreya Nori – Featured Indian American

    Meet Padma Shri Dr. Dattatreya Nori – Featured Indian American

    NEW YORK (TIP): Dr. Dattatreya Nori, an internationally renowned Oncologist is a recipient of one of India’s highest civil awards, “Padma Shri”. The award was announced on the eve of India’s Republic Day, January 26, 2015.

    Government of India recognizes excellence and contributions of Indians within  India and abroad every year on the eve of Republic Day.

    Dr. Nori, Professor and Executive Vice Chairman of the Radiation  Oncology Department at the New York- Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College in New-York City is passionately committed to help the less fortunate.

    Meet Padma Shri Dr. Dattatreya Nori, the renowned Oncologist

    Man does not live by bread alone. What else does one need depends on the thinking of the person.

    To Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori, it is a touch of spirituality that lends strength to him as a medical professional. A derivative of the spirituality that he possesses and practices is the desire to serve and help the less fortunate in society. In Dr. Nori one sees  a glorious combination of material success and spiritual excellence.

    Dattatreya Nori2

    Dr. Nori’s professional excellence and humanitarian approach have endeared him in both USA and India, the country of his origin. Here he is seen sharing lighter moments with President of USA Barack Obama. Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori M.D., FACR, FACRO, is Professor and Executive Vice Chairman of the Radiation Oncology Department at The NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. In addition, Dr. Nori is Chairman of Radiation Oncology at The New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens. He is also the Director of the Cancer Center at the New York Hospital Queens, in which capacity he heads that organization’s cancer program. Dr. Nori completed his undergraduate training at Kurnool Medical College and received his postgraduate medical degree from Osmania University in India. He then joined the staff of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he became Chief of the Brachytherapy Service before accepting the current position as Chairman of Radiation Oncology at Cornell.

     

    Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori, Professor and Executive Vice Chairman of the Radiation Oncology Department at the New York – Presbyterian Hospital / Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City is passionately committed to help the less fortunate. In recognition of  his professional excellence and tremendous contribution, Government of India, on 66th Republic Day of India on the January 26, 2015,  honored Dr. Nori with “Padma Shri”, one of the highest civilian awards of the country.  We, at The Indian Panorama, congratulate Dr. Nori on getting the prestigious award and wish him many more honors in times to come.

    Dr. Nori has an international reputation as a pioneer and authority in radiation oncology and brachytherapy. He was instrumental in introducing the current techniques and clinical concepts of High Dose Rate Brachytherapy for gynecological, genitourinary, thoracic and head and neck tumors. His research also included efforts to improve the outcome for patients with prostate cancer, lung cancer, pancreas, breast and other cancers. Dr. Nori has served as principal investigator for numerous clinical trails sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and has received several national and international awards for his contributions to cancer research, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Alumni Society. He has been called “a recognized leader in his specialty” by the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. 

    Dr. Nori served in the American Cancer Society in various positions including Chairmanship of the Professional Education Committee. The American Cancer Society honored him with their highest prestigious award “Tribute to Life” for his accomplishments in cancer research.

     

    Dattatreya Nori4
    Dr. Nori inaugurated the Brachytherapy Department of Indo-American Cancer Institute

    Dr. Nori has trained more than 150 residents and fellows, some of whom have become Chairman of academic departments in the U.S. Dr. Nori is a Fellow in the American College of Radiology, Fellow in the American College of Radiation Oncology, past President of the American Brachytherapy Society, and a current member of several national and international oncology societies. He is also an Associate Editor of three oncology journals as well as a Visiting Professor to many universities in the U.S. and abroad. He has published three books and more than 200 scientific articles. He has given several prestigious lectureships such as the Probstein Oncology lecture at Washington University in St. Louis. He received a Gold Medal from the Indian Medical Association for his contributions to cancer research and training Indian physicians in the U.S. He also received the Excelsior Award from the Network of Indian Professionals in the United States and many Indian Organizations in the U.S., such as the Nargis Dutt Cancer Foundation and the Federation of Indian Associations have honored him for his contributions to cancer research.

    Dattatreya Nori3 Dattatreya Nori5Dr. Nori has provided technical and scientific help to many cancer centers in India, South America and Israel, and he is also the Founding Member of the Indo-American Cancer Institute for Women and Children, a state-of-the art 250 bed cancer and research institute located in Hyderabad, A.P. which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India in 2001. In addition, Dr. Nori is a Consultant to the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency, advising on the formulation of guidelines for the treatment of cancer in developing countries. In a recent survey conducted by the reputable Castle Connolly Medical Ltd and published in America’s Top Doctors, Dr. Nori has been selected as one of the top doctors in America. In this survey, more than 250,000 leading doctors were asked to name the nation’s best physicians in various specialties -those “to whom you would send members of your family”. The most important criterion for physician selection was excellence in patient care, education, residency, board certification, fellowships, professional reputation, research, hospital affiliation, academic stature and medical school faculty appointment and experience. In a more recent survey done by the most popular woman’s magazine in the U.S., The Ladies’ Home Journal, Dr. Nori has also been named as one of the top doctors in America for the treatment of cancers in women. Dr. Nori was also honored by Senator Jon Corgine, Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Committee and by Council Speaker Gifford Milller for his contributions to cancer research.

    Dattatreya Nori8 Dattatreya Nori7 Dattatreya Nori6Dr. Nori continues to be active as clinician, teacher, researcher and administrator of two large Radiation Oncology Departments and the Cancer Center at New York Hospital Queens.

    As I write his profile here in New York Dr. Nori is away to India  where he is  addressing  a Global Health Summit in Kochi from January 2 to 5. Dr. Nori is there to talk about prevention of Cervical cancer in India. He is there to give out the message that it can be prevented in India just as well as it is prevented in USA. Dr. Nori is a visiting professor to many universities across the globe and is frequently traveling.

     

    In India, which is his country of origin, he has helped set up a number of hospitals. One  such hospital – Indo American Cancer Hospital  with 500 beds is state of the art cancer hospital in Hyderabad. It was founded in 2002 and was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee.

     

    Dr. Nori lives with his wife Subhadra in Scarsdale, New York. His wife is a physician, academician and chairperson of the Department of Rehabilitation at Jacobi Medical Center affiliated with Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. His son, Sateesh and daughter-in- law Joy, are both attorneys and his daughter, Priya and son-in-law Himanshu, are both physicians.

     

  • TEXAS URGES U.S. JUDGE TO DELAY OBAMA IMMIGRATION SHIFT

    TEXAS URGES U.S. JUDGE TO DELAY OBAMA IMMIGRATION SHIFT

    BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS (TIP): Federal immigration officials will be breaking the law if they carry out President Barack Obama’s executive order to let at least 4 million undocumented immigrants stay in the country, attorneys for Texas argued as they urged a U.S. judge to block the policy now while he decides whether it’s legal.

    Texas, joined by half the states, asked U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen at a hearing Thursday, January 15 in Brownsville to block Obama’s immigration policy until they’ve had a chance to fully challenge it in court. Hanen didn’t issue a ruling.

    “The president does not get to decide what the law is,” Andrew Oldham, an attorney for Texas, told Hanen at the hearing.

    Obama’s Nov. 20 order grants quasi-legal status to more than a third of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. Undocumented immigrants must have been in the country for more than five years or have a child who is a U.S. citizen, or have been brought here themselves as children, to qualify for U.S. work permits and be protected from deportation under the new policy. They must also pass a criminal background check.

    Thursday’s hearing follows the Jan. 14 vote in the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives to slash funding for the immigration programs at the heart of Obama’s policy.

    At issue in court is whether the president can “unilaterally suspend federal immigration laws,” create a “massive” bureaucracy and hand out millions of dollars in benefits, and then insulate that decision from review “by any court at any time by calling it executive action,” Oldham said. “States representing half of this country say he cannot.”

    A dozen more U.S. states, in court papers filed last week, urged Hanen, whose courthouse is less than a mile from the Mexican border, to reject attacks on the president’s immigration order. States backing Obama say the policy will benefit the economy, law enforcement and immigrant families.

    Texas filed its case at the state’s southernmost tip, where issues concerning illegal immigration have dominated headlines for more than a year. Brownsville has a front-row seat to the “humanitarian crisis” that has swept more than 1,000 undocumented immigrants a day – many of them unaccompanied children – across its border in the past year, according to the states’ complaint.

    “We’re where the rubber meets the road,” Hanen told lawyers Thursday. “Within a few miles of this courthouse, there are probably thousands of illegal aliens doing nothing more than trying to make a better life for their families.”

    Unless Hanen blocks them, immigration officials will soon begin processing paperwork to protect certain immigrants from deportation and provide them with temporary work permits and some federal benefits including Social Security and Medicare, a process the states say will be tough to stop once it starts.

    “Granting an injunction would preserve the status quo,” Oldham said. “And give 25 states a day in court” before the policy takes effect, he added.

    Texas, which sued the Obama administration on Dec. 3, seeks to overturn the president’s policy, which was made without approval of Congress. The states say Obama violated the Constitution and lacks authority to grant federal benefits to people who enter the country illegally.

    U.S. lawyers on Thursday urged Hanen to deny the states’ bid, arguing that the federal government has broad discretion under the Constitution to “prioritize enforcement resources.”

    “The purpose of this policy is to continue to focus on our priorities, which are to stop border crossings and remove threats to our nation,” Kathleen Hartnett, a Justice Department lawyer, told Hanen.

  • VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA CONFERS PRAVASI BHARATIYA SAMMAN

    VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA CONFERS PRAVASI BHARATIYA SAMMAN

    13th PBD closes with call strengthen links between young Pravasis and Indian youth

    GANDHINAGAR(GUJARAT) (TIP), January 9, 2015: The Vice President of India, Mr. M Hamid Ansari, today felicitated 15 overseas with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards at the Valedictory Session at the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ansari said, “This year is a special one. It coincides with the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s to India from South Africa, following which he took on the mantle of leadership of perhaps greatest non-violent struggle for independence against the colonial yoke. Gandhi ji was also, unquestionably, the greatest Pravasi Bharatiya of all.” He said, “Relationships, even emotional ones, are not a one-way street. The Overseas Indians have expectations aimed at facilitating and intensifying their involvement with India. The Government of India, and the State Governments, have acknowledged the validity of these sentiments and taken or initiated steps to attract, assist and promote a deeper and multifaceted relationship, which is mutually beneficial and long lasting. We in India attach highest importance to issues of interest and concern to the overseas Indians.”

    The Vice President stated, “India today is on the cusp of change, in the process of actualizing the expectations of its vast population for a better life. India aspires for a better place in the comity of nations. Both of these require rapid economic development, accompanied by better educational, health and social parameters. This requires a massive collective effort by all segments of our population. The governments at central and state levels need to provide visionary leadership and are determined to do so.”

    Mr. Ansari added, “In this endeavor, an important role can be and must be played by the Overseas Indians. They have knowledge and resources to reinforce the effort in niche areas; they also have the experience of other lands where similar efforts were pursued successfully. We welcome such initiatives, which will replicate these valuable experiences here and save us from reinventing the wheel.”He said,
    “What then is the challenge before us in this task of linking India more closely with its overseas community? In my view it is to maintain and strengthen the linkages between the next generation of Pravasis and their counterparts in India.

    It is essential that the new generations at both ends continue and strengthen this mutually beneficial bond. The Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas organized on the 7th of January is a good step in the right direction.”

    The recipients of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are Mrs. Mala Mehta, Australia; Mr. Donald Rabindernauth Ramotar, Guyana; Dr. Rajaram Sanjaya, Mexico; Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, New Zealand; Mr. Rajmal Parakh, Oman; Mr. Duraikannu Karunakaran, Seychelles; Mr. Essop Goolam Pahad, South Africa; Mr. Shah Bharatkumar Jayantilal, UAE; Mr. Ashraf Palarakunnummal, UAE; Mr. Mahendra Nanji Mehta, Uganda; Prof. Nathu Ram Puri; Lord Raj Loomba, Britain; Mr. Satyanarayana Nadella; Dr. Lulla Kamlesh, US and Dr. (Mrs.) Nandini Tandon, USA.

  • The Obama Enigma

    The Obama Enigma

    Is it a handicap for a leader to be cerebral? This is a question that admirers of President Barack Obama are asking as they ponder over the remaining two years of his not so successful Presidency.

    And for us in India, the issue is topical too as Obama comes calling at the end of the month to engage with our PM, a very different personality type, as we shall see.

    Obama in 2015 is a different personality than the “Yes, we can” trail-blazer that captivated the world in 2008. He had changed American polity then, by becoming the first ‘black’ President, by transcending the racial prejudice, and in some ways by his sober and ultra- rational approach to divisive issues.

    He was sure-footed in winning the Presidential race, and once in office seemingly resolute to clean up the mess left by his predecessor. However, as the quip goes, the biggest challenges for any leader are the ‘events’ that impinge. Starting with the financial crisis that soon engulfed America in 2008, it has been a difficult ride in one way or the other for Obama.

    As 2015 dawns and as we get ready to receive him, his persona is more of an enigma. In the US, his detractors seem to be more vociferous than his supporters. What are the opponents saying, how fair is the criticism, and delving deeper, are there underlying traits that characterize his functioning?

    Obama is accused by his critics of presiding over an America that is in decline. On the external front, he gets blamed for the continued problems of the US in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan though Obama’s effort has been to gradually disengage from these theatres.

    He is seen as having vacillated with regard to American policies in West Asia, specially Libya, Egypt, and Syria. He is blamed for not being robustly aggressive with Putin’s Russia, an inexorably rising China, or an unbeaten Cuba.

    On all these, if his hawkish opponents on the Republican right accuse him of weakness, his erstwhile liberal supporters believe that he has turned too centrist and has compromised on his core values.

    Internally, Obama is perceived as having accomplished little by not having had the stamina to bring closure to his agenda. The health care reforms that he did bring about have not enjoyed wide support; he failed in efforts to push through immigration reforms or regulate guns; minorities including blacks feel that he has not done much for them.

    While this is the public perception, largely based on prejudices, the reality is different. Compared to the stagflation of 2008, the economy is growing and analysts talk of an American resurgence, supported by its innovation, technological competitiveness, and successes in shale gas.

    Externally, America continues to be a pre-eminent power, though it is more meaningful today to envisage a multi-polar rather than a unipolar world order.

    It will be reasonable then to assess that the doubts and criticism about Obama are more due to partisanship and polarization in American polity than an impartial evaluation of his track record.

    Washington has been deeply divided between Republican conservatives and Democrats with little space for compromise or consensus. This mistrust and hostility has steadily grown worse and for the last six years, Obama’s efforts have been frustrated by a determined opposition in the US Congress.

    Much needed reforms whether on fiscal discipline, balancing the budget, or immigration have been prevented because of the gridlock between the President and the legislative branch.

    There are deeper structural issues in American society and politics that underlie the impasse on many fronts which may continue.

    What could have Obama done in spite of them? It is here, that his Hamlet like personality, a widely held pejorative description, comes into the picture.

    Sympathetic observers of Obama-admirers of his intellectual caliber and enlightened world view -acknowledging his lack of popular support and tangible success, voice the view that there are personality traits that have compounded the predicament that he faces.

    The two aspects often noted are: disengagement from the political process, and the inclination to see many sides of an issue to the point of being indecisive.

    With his professorial intellect, Socratic instinct for debate, and fondness for nuanced positions, Obama is certainly interested in public policy, but is weary of the political process involved in transforming that policy to legislation.

    He has shown a tendency to stay above the fray, is allergic to the give and take and to arrive at unsatisfactory half-solutions that seem inescapable when consensus is impossible.

    As a result, he has been unable to make breakthroughs in some of the areas mentioned. This disinclination has made him an aloof player unable to determine outcomes. Added to this factor is the seeming self- doubt natural in a cerebral figure, but apparently not a virtue in a ruler.

    No doubt, Obama was resolute in a crucial test, the decision to ‘take out’ Osama, but he has shown a sensitivity to see nuance and complexity where it exists as in the case of Syria or Ukraine.

    From what we can fathom so far, Modi, again an extremely intelligent and capable personality, relishes the political process. He does not appear to be troubled by self-doubt or a have a tendency to look over his shoulder.

    For amateur observers like us, the encounter between the two leaders should be as interesting as the engagement between the two countries.

    (The author is a former Ambassador and a visiting Professor)

  • Voting from abroad

    Voting from abroad

    Given the large NRI community dispersed globally, this move will undoubtedly have an impact on the country’s electoral politics in significant ways.The Union government has agreed, “in letter and spirit”, to implement the Supreme Court direction and the Election Commission’s recommendation to allow Non-Resident Indians to vote from overseas through postal ballots. Given the large NRI community dispersed globally, this move will undoubtedly have an impact on the country’s electoral politics in significant ways.

    Parliament passed the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act in 2010 to introduce Section 20A that enables a person who is a citizen of India, and is away from his/ her ordinary residence in India for employment, education or other reasons, to be eligible to be registered as a voter in the constituency mentioned in his/ her Indian passport: before that amendment, only “ordinary residents” could cast their vote.

    Although the 2010 amendment intended to include NRI participation in national politics, Section 20A had required NRIs to be physically present in their respective constituencies at the time of elections. Making it impractical for voters, this requirement defeated the intention of the legislature. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court praying that Section 20A of the Act be read down so as to allow NRIs to vote from abroad without having to be present in India. The petition argued that the provision was in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution to the extent that it impliedly treated persons on a different footing based on economic classifications. The Supreme Court and the government agreed with this contention without hesitation.

    The traditional argument against such external voting has been that only citizens who are present in the territory and affected by the consequences of their vote should be entitled to vote. As per this argument, since NRIs lacked sound knowledge about domestic conditions, they would be irresponsible in their electoral choices. But this argument is fast being disproved by empirical evidence. With the rapid increase in cross-border migrations, the concept of nationhood and political membership is increasingly being decoupled from territorial locations. India’s move towards enabling voting from overseas is an instance of a larger global trend towards increased citizen participation.

    The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an inter-governmental organization, lists different voting methods that can be employed, such as “personal voting”, where voters can cast their vote at diplomatic missions abroad; “postal ballot method”, where votes are sent by regular post; “proxy vote” and “electronic voting”. From amongst these alternatives, the government has decided to employ the postal ballot route that the electoral system already uses for absentee-voters on official duty.

    (The Hindu)

  • America’s most ambitious municipal identification program launched

    America’s most ambitious municipal identification program launched

    IDNYC acceptance by more than 10 financial institutions and the complete package of card benefits, including entertainment and BigAppleRx prescription discounts

    NEW YORK (TIP): Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito launched, January 12, the IDNYC municipal identification program for residents of all five New York City boroughs. The Mayor also announced that the IDNYC card will be accepted as valid primary identification for opening a bank or credit union account at more than 10 financial institutions, and revealed the card’s full suite of benefits.

    “IDNYC is not only a card for all New Yorkers, it is the gateway to City services, the key to opening a bank account or getting a library card, and the ticket to many of our city’s finest cultural institutions. More than that, this card represents who we are: New Yorkers who value equality, opportunity and diversity,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I want to thank Speaker Mark-Viverito and our partners in the Council for their tremendous work and collaboration on this program. Today, we are launching the most ambitious, dynamic and useful municipal ID program in the country, which will have a real and tangible impact on the lives of all New Yorkers.”

    “Time and again, New York City has shown that we are not afraid to lead,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “In launching the IDNYC program, we are living up to our highest ideals about who we are as a city. I’m proud of my colleagues and bill sponsors Immigration Committee Chair Carlos Menchaca and Council Member Daniel Dromm for their support in this process and thank the de Blasio administration for its partnership in making IDNYC a reality for all New Yorkers.”

  • ISIS-inspired plot to attack Capitol foiled, one held

    ISIS-inspired plot to attack Capitol foiled, one held

    WASHINGTON (TIP): A US man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly plotting an attack on Congress inspired by the ISIS jihadis, according to the Justice department and the FBI.

    Christopher Cornell, 20, was taken into custody after he purchased two semi-automatic weapons and 600 rounds of ammunition in the US state of Ohio, according to a criminal complaint.

    The Justice department said he was charged “with attempting to kill officers and employees of the United States” and possession of a firearm to carry out violent acts. According to the complaint, Cornell had opened a Twitter account under the pseudonym Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah, where his posts supported ISIS. The Washington Post said he does not appear to have any formal backing from overseas.

    Rather, according to an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, he indicated that by conducting an attack he would be “fulfilling the directives” of violent jihadis.

    He is accused of sending messages to an informant from the FBI outlining his plans. “I believe that we should just wage jihad under our own orders and plan attacks and everything,” he told the informant, according to the complaint. He also said he planned to launch several attacks and wanted to target US officials in Washington.

    In the fall of last year, an informant began cooperating with the FBI as a way to obtain favourable treatment in an unrelated criminal case and agreed to provide information about a person using the name Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah — Cornell’s alias on Twitter, the Post said.

    “He considered the members of Congress as enemies and that he intended to conduct an attack on the US Capitol,” the complaint said.

    According to the FBI document, he said he planned to “build, plant and detonate pipe bombs at and near the US Capitol, then use firearms to shoot and kill people.”

    Cornell had been under surveillance since August 2014. This week, he allegedly made final plans to go to Washington and set off bombs. The arrest comes in the wake of deadly attacks in Paris last week. Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security applauded the FBI and said it was launching investigations the wider scourge of homegrown terrorism.

  • Kiran Bedi joins BJP with Chief Ministerial ambition

    Kiran Bedi joins BJP with Chief Ministerial ambition

    BJP chief Amit Shah presents a bouquet to Kiran Bedi to welcome her into the party during a press conference in New Delhi.

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Not unexpectedly, former Team Anna member Kiran Bedi on Thursday, January 15, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and laid bare her chief ministerial aspirations before party president Amit Shah as she marked her “40 years of experience in administration” and ability to “extract work” from people.

    Apart from Bedi, other well known women leaders, too, may join the BJP. Former Samajwadi Party MP and actor Jaya Prada and former Aam Aadmi Party leader Shazia Ilmi are in talks to join the BJP.

    Bedi was the first woman IPS officer. She joined the service in 1972. She made a high-profile entry into the BJP in the presence of Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during a press conference at the party’s Ashok Road headquarters.

    While the BJP was reluctant to disclose the seat identified for launching Bedi in the polls, the social activist used her introductory statement to pitch herself as an experienced administrator.

    “I have 40 years of administrative experience, now I am here to present my experience to Delhi,” she told the gathering.

    “I can work and know how to get work done from others. Together we will work and extract work from others as well.”

    The former top cop had met Prime Minister Narendra?Modi along with Shah before becoming a BJP member.

    She said she was inspired by Modi’s leadership qualities which prompted her to take a plunge into politics.

    The anti-corruption crusader stressed she was on a “mission mode” and would work towards a steady, stable and corruption-free government.

    Shah praised Bedi, saying that she would strengthen the BJP’s Delhi unit and offer “constructive contribution” in elections and government formation.

  • Charlie Hebdo sells out as 5 million print run is announced

    Charlie Hebdo sells out as 5 million print run is announced

    Charlie Hebdo is fetching $600 asking prices on eBay as millions hope to get their hands on the commemorative edition, the first to come out after eight staffers and four others were slaughtered.

    PARIS (TIP): A defiant Charlie Hebdo went on sale Wednesday, January 14, in five languages and in more than 20 countries, splashing a cartoon purporting to be Mohammed on its front cover a week after jihadist gunmen stormed the satirical weekly’s offices killing 12 people.

    The newspaper normally prints 60,000 copies a week. This week’s print run will be five million (up from three million announced on Tuesday), distributed over the next two weeks.

    It is a record for any French newspaper, with versions being printed in Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Turkish and English for the first time.

    Across Paris on Wednesday, even at 6am, many shops and kiosks had already sold out.

    At Belleville in Paris’s 19th arrondissement (district), the newspaper kiosk at the metro station had sold its 150 copies within minutes of opening at 6am.

    The paper’s front cover shows a turbaned man (not explicitly the Prophet Mohammed) shedding a tear and declaring that he too “is Charlie” – “Je suis Charlie” was the slogan of a huge outpouring of grief and solidarity in France in the days that followed the attacks. The front-page figure adds that “all is forgiven”.

    Global response

    The global attention following last week’s attacks – which saw another gunman kill four hostages in a Jewish supermarket in Paris -has seen demand for Charlie Hebdo explode as far away as India and Australia.

    While the front page had been widely shared online ahead of publication, many newspapers in both Muslim countries and in the West refrained from printing the cartoon because of blasphemy laws and also sensitivity over reproducing an image of the Prophet, which is considered offensive by Muslims.

    Charlie Hebdo’s front page was not reproduced by the mainstream media in the US, where any kind of religious satire is frowned upon, although the White House reaffirmed its “absolute support [of the] the right of Charlie Hebdo to publish things like this”.

    In Egypt, the chief imam at the al-Azhar mosque, an institution widely-seen as the centre of the Sunni Muslim faith, condemned Charlie Hebdo’s decision to lead its latest issue with a cartoon of the Prophet, calling it an “incitement to hatred”.

    The Dar al-Ifta, which represents Egyptian Muslims, called the new front page a “provocation”, while in Shiite-dominated Iran, conservative news site Tabnak accused Charlie Habdo of “once again insulting the Prophet”.

    Islamophobia and France’s far right
    Paradoxically, Charlie Hebdo is one of France’s loudest voices against racism, whose principal target of abuse has always been France’s far-right National Front (FN, whose founder Jean-Marie Le Pen has been convicted numerous times of racism and anti-Semitism). The FN is widely seen as virulently Islamophobic.

    But the newspaper’s decision in 2006 to re-print cartoons of Mohammed published in Danish daily Jyllands-Posten brought so much ire on Charlie Hebdo that its editors decided to publish regular cartoons lampooning radical Islamists as well as depictions of Mohammed himself, who, in one case, is shown lamenting the difficulty of being “followed by complete idiots”.

    Inevitably, Charlie Hebdo became the focus for widespread disapproval in France’s large Muslim community, and the two French-born gunmen who entered the newspapers offices last Wednesday, murdering 12 people, ran out shouting that they had “avenged the Prophet”.

    The survivors of the attack have defended their caricatures of Islam and Mohammed.

    “The Mohammed we have portrayed is a much nicer character than the version of Mohammed brandished by the attackers,” said one member of the weekly’s editorial staff.

    “And if we can get our ideas read across the world, it is we who are the ultimate winners,” added Charlie Hebdo’s editor-in-chief Gérard Biard.

    On Tuesday, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls set out the government’s updated response to terrorism, following last week’s murderous assault on the magazine and a Jewish supermarket.

    But he insisted that “blasphemy does not feature in the laws of France, and it never will”.

  • DEFENSE CONTRACTOR PLEADS GUILTY IN MASSIVE BRIBERY CASE

    DEFENSE CONTRACTOR PLEADS GUILTY IN MASSIVE BRIBERY CASE

    WASHINGTON (TIP): A Malaysian defense contractor pleaded guilty Thursday, January 15, in a corruption scandal of epic proportions, admitting that he bribed “scores” of U.S. Navy officials with $500,000 in cash, six figures’ worth of sex from prostitutes, lavish hotel stays, spa treatments, Cuban cigars, Kobe beef, Spanish suckling pigs and an array of other luxury goods.

    Leonard Glenn Francis, a businessman who charmed a generation of Navy officers while resupplying their ships in Asia, admitted in federal court in San Diego to presiding over a decade-long corruption scheme involving his Singapore-based firm, Glenn Defense Marine Asia. The investigation has steadily escalated into the biggest corruption case in the Navy’s history, with Francis admitting that he bilked the service out of tens of millions of dollars by overcharging for food, fuel and basic services. Five current and former Navy officials have pleaded guilty so far, and prosecutors have made it clear they are targeting others. The Navy has also stripped security clearances from two admirals, including the chief of naval intelligence, for their alleged involvement with Francis, although they have not been charged with a crime. Known in Navy circles as “Fat Leonard” for his girth, Francis, 50, agreed to forfeit $35 million in ill-gotten proceeds and could face up to 25 years in prison. But the most severe impact may turn out to be the blow to the Navy’s reputation, given the array of evidence that so many officers were corrupted so easily by a foreign defense contractor.

    “It is astounding that Leonard Francis was able to purchase the integrity of Navy officials by offering them meaningless material possessions and the satisfaction of selfish indulgences,” said Laura Duffy, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California, whose office has led the investigation. “In sacrificing their honor,these officers helped Francis defraud their country out of tens of millions of dollars. Now they will be held to account.” The criminal investigation has spanned eight states and eight Asian countries, with more than 100 law enforcement agents involved, court records show. In his plea agreement, Francis admitted that he and his firm defrauded the Navy by overcharging for hundreds of Asian port visits by U.S. ships and submarines. To ensure he didn’t get caught, he plied Navy officials with an array of temptations, including lavish meals, “top-shelf” alcohol, designer handbags, fountain pens, ornamental swords, computers, furniture and handmade ship models.

    Federal prosecutors disclosed Thursday that Francis has provided evidence against two more Navy officials who have yet to be charged: a lieutenant commander and a contract specialist whose names have not been made public. The unnamed contract specialist, a female civilian official based in Singapore for 20 years, was given a bottomless travel expense account, which she used to visit Bali, Bangkok, Dubai, Turkey and Greece, according to Francis’s plea agreement. In exchange, she worked as a mole for Glenn Defense Marine, handing over proprietary contracting information and advocating on the firm’s behalf. The scandal erupted into public view in September 2013, when federal agents lured Francis to a San Diego hotel and arrested him in a sting operation. The Navy says that it began scrutinizing Francis in May 2010 but that he was repeatedly able to thwart criminal investigators by bribing a senior agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, who fed him sensitive files and helped to cover his tracks.

    Although Francis initially fought the charges against him, he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in recent weeks.”Today Mr. Leonard Francis has taken accountability for his actions. He looks forward to a brighter future,” said Ethan M. Posner, one of his attorneys. Navy leaders have condemned the unethical behavior of officers involved in the case and have acknowledged that the scandal could grow even worse. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has pledged to set up a special disciplinary process, led by a four-star admiral, to review allegations against Navy personnel who avoid federal criminal charges but may have run afoul of ethical regulations. “The Navy holds its personnel to the highest standards and those who fall short are held accountable,” Rear Adm. Dawn Cutler, a Navy spokeswoman, said in a statement. “NCIS uncovered the criminal activity associated with this case and continues to cooperate with the Justice Department.”

    Hours before Francis pleaded guilty Thursday, federal prosecutors won another conviction when a Navy captain, Daniel Dusek, admitted to disclosing military secrets to Francis and his firm in exchange for prostitutes, cash, and visits to luxury hotels in Hawaii, Hong Kong and the Philippines. According to a copy of his plea agreement, Dusek provided classified information about Navy ship schedules dozens of times to Glenn Defense Marine, which held contracts worth more than $200 million to supply Navy vessels throughout Asia. Dusek’s attorney, Douglas L. Applegate, did not respond to a phone call seeking comment. The Navy announced in October 2013 that it had relieved Dusek of command of the Bonhomme Richard for his alleged involvement in the scandal, but his appearance in court Thursday was the first sign that he had been under criminal investigation. According to court records, in October 2010, Dusek persuaded the Navy to send an aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, and its strike group to visit a port in Malaysia that was largely controlled by Glenn Defense Marine. As a result, the company was able to easily inflate invoices and overcharge the Navy for a variety of services. Dusek, then working as deputy director of operations for the 7th Fleet, provided the contractor with classified information about ship movements on dozens of occasions, further aiding the company in its scheme to gouge the Navy during port visits, the records show. Francis prized the arrangement so much that he called Dusek “a golden asset” in an email to another company executive, noting that he could “drive the big decks” – or aircraft carriers – “into our fat revenue” ports,” according to the records

    (Source: The Washington Post)

  • Counterterror snooping foiled US Capitol bomb plot: John Boehner

    Counterterror snooping foiled US Capitol bomb plot: John Boehner

    HERSHEY (TIP): A recently uncovered jihadist-inspired plot by a young American to massacre lawmakers in the US Capitol was discovered thanks to the government’s controversial surveillance programs, House Speaker John Boehner claimed on January 15.

    “We would never have known about this had it not been for the FISA program and our ability to collect information on people who pose an imminent threat,” Boehner told reporters.

    The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows US spy agencies to conduct electronic espionage internationally as well as on Americans suspected of involvement in terror-related activities.

    It has been embroiled in controversy following revelations in 2013 about the extent of US dragnet surveillance including bulk collection of data on Americans.

    “Our government does not spy on Americans unless there are Americans who are doing things that frankly tip off our law enforcement officials to an imminent threat,” Boehner said at a Republican retreat in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

    “And it was our law enforcement officials and those programs that helped us stop this person before he committed a heinous crime in our nation’s capital.”

    Boehner did not explain what FISA provisions helped foil the plot, saying “we’ll let the whole story roll out.”

    His abridged account differs from public statements by the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation, which announced Wednesday that an FBI informant and the suspect’s public Twitter account were key to the man’s arrest.

    The Justice Department announced that Ohio man Christopher Cornell, 20, was charged with attempted murder of US officers and employees and possessing a firearm to carry out violent acts.

    It said Cornell this week allegedly made final plans to go to Washington and set off bombs, having purchased two semiautomatic rifles and 600 rounds of ammunition before he was arrested by FBI agents, according to the affidavit. The complaint said Cornell had opened a Twitter account under the pseudonym Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah, and posted messages supporting Islamic State militants.

    “It was far more than just that,” Boehner stressed about the social media connection, without providing details.

    In August, Cornell was approached by an FBI informant, and the suspect told him that he “considered the members of Congress as enemies and that he intended to conduct an attack on the US Capitol,” the complaint said.

    The FBI said he planned to “build, plant and detonate pipe bombs at and near the US Capitol, then use firearms to shoot and kill employees and officials.”

    In June 2013, former national security contractor Edward Snowden revealed the extent to which the National Security Agency scoops up Americans’ telephone data, triggering surveillance reform efforts that are ongoing.

    Boehner’s remarks should buttress arguments of some lawmakers opposed to any major NSA overhaul.
    Critics have deemed FISA, amended after the 9/11 attacks of 2001, too permissive.

    Some of its most controversial elements expire in June, setting up an opportunity for Congress to amend, renew or repeal the legislation.

    The Capitol plot, and last week’s indictment of a bartender who threatened to kill Boehner, has elevated security awareness in Washington.

    Law enforcement “told us on day one it was the most highly targeted terrorist spot in the world, and we’re seeing that play out,” Congressman Jason Chaffetz told reporters.

  • US UNVEILS NEW TRAVEL AND TRADE RULES ON CUBA

    US UNVEILS NEW TRAVEL AND TRADE RULES ON CUBA

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The United States rolled out a sweeping set of measures on January 15 to significantly ease the half-century-old embargo against Cuba, opening up the country to expanded travel, trade and financial activities.

    Defying hardline critics in Congress, President Barack Obama made good on a commitment he made a month ago to begin loosening some US economic sanctions against the communist-ruled island as part of an effort to end decades of hostility.

    The treasury and commerce departments issued a package of new rules that will allow US exports of telecommunications, agricultural and construction equipment, permit expanded travel to Cuba and authorize some kinds of banking relations.

    It was the first tangible US step to implement the changes Obama pledged on December 17 when he and Cuban President Raul Castro announced plans to restore diplomatic relations between the old Cold War foes.

    “Today’s announcement takes us one step closer to replacing out-of-date policies that were not working and puts in place a policy that helps promote political and economic freedom for the Cuban people,” US treasury secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement. The new regulations, which take effect on Friday, will allow Americans to travel to Cuba for any of a dozen specific reasons, including family visits, education and religion, without first obtaining a special license from the US government, as was the case.

    Though general tourism will still be banned, those US travelers who do visit will be allowed to bring back small amounts of the Cuban cigars that are highly rated by aficionados.

  • Duo completes toughest rock climb using just hands and feet

    Duo completes toughest rock climb using just hands and feet

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Two American climbers have become the first men in history to free-climb the south-eastern face of El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park, considered the world’s toughest rock climb. Tommy Caldwell, 36, and his climbing partner 30-year-old Kevin Jorgesen completed their ascent of the mountain’s so-called “Dawn Wall” shortly before 3.30 on Wednesday afternoon, after a 19-day free-climb, meaning ropes are used only to break a climber’s fall, not to assist in their ascent.

    The pair were met at the summit by a crowd of around 40 family and friends who had trekked the long way round: an eight-mile trail up the back side of El Capitan. Since the mountain was first scaled by climbers in 1958, others have ascended by several dozen routes. But until now, none had succeeded in defeating the Dawn Wall, a baby-smooth, approximately 900-metre sheer granite rock-face, so named because it catches the day’s first rays of sunlight.

    “It’s the hardest rock climb in the world,” said Leo Houlding, who became the first British climber to complete a free ascent of “El Cap” in 2012. Speaking to The Independent after Caldwell and Jorgesen began their climb on December 27, Houlding explained: “You break a cliff like this into pitches, which are basically rope lengths. This is 30 climbs, one on top of the other. Ten of them are world-class standard and two are as hard as anything anywhere.”

    For the past three weeks, Caldwell and Jorgeson have spent their nights in tents suspended some 350 metres up the wall. After free-climbing each day’s pitches, they used ropes to return to the base campn, and then to rappel back to the last point of the ascent. According to The New York Times, Caldwell began planning the climb almost a decade ago, several years after severing his left finger in a DIY accident – an injury he feared would end his climbing career. In 2000, the Colorado native made news when he and three fellow climbers were kidnapped by militants during a climbing trip in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The group’s ordeal ended six days later, when Caldwell pushed their armed guard over a cliff.