The Indian Panorama

Year: 2015

  • Indian American Judge Amul Thapar honored with NAPABA Trailblazer Award

    Indian American Judge Amul Thapar honored with NAPABA Trailblazer Award

    Indian American judge Amul Thapar has been honored with the National Asia Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award. He will be honoured at a NAPABA convention in New Orleans on November 6.

    NAPABA, in a statement released on October 8, congratulated the recipients for paving the way for the advancement of other Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys.

    “NAPABA recognises the demonstrated vision, courage and tenacity, and made substantial and lasting contributions to the APA legal profession, as well as to the broader APA community,” the statement said.

    Mr Thapar became first South Asian American Article III judge in the US when country’s senate appointed him in 2007. For the post, former US President George W. Bush nominated him to the US district court.

    Thapar was previously the U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Kentucky, during which time he was appointed to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. He also chaired the committee’s controlled substances and asset forfeiture subcommittee.

    Born in Detroit, Mich., Thapar earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston College and his juris doctor degree from U.C. Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law.

  • Animated Superhero Movie on Hindu Deities | Indian American Director Sanjay Patel

    Animated Superhero Movie on Hindu Deities | Indian American Director Sanjay Patel

    An Indian American animator is debuting as a director with his short animated film based on Hindu Dieties, a media report said. “Sanjay’s Super Team”, the first Pixar film on Hindu deities and the first Pixar toon by an Indian-origin director, is a short superhero movie that will be attached to Pixar’s another animated film “The Good Dinosaur”.

    The seven-minute short is based on director Sanjay Patel’s own childhood — specifically the culture clash he experienced with his devout father growing up in San Bernadino, California. “Every morning my dad worshipped his gods and his shrine, and I worshipped mine in mine — which was the TV,” Patel told Yahoo Movies during a recent phone interview. And that’s exactly how the short starts out, with little Sanjay watching his favorite cartoon, the fictional Super Team.

    Working as an animator with Pixar since 1996, Sanjay Patel made his first project that revolves around Hindu deities who are like avengers, Variety.com news portal reported on Tuesday.

     

    Mr Patel’s film revolves around a little Hindu boy who prefers cartoons of superheroes while his father wants him to join the morning prayers, the report said.

    One day, the boy sees Vishnu, Hanuman and Durga as the avengers who save him from a problem.

    While he was researching about the characters of Hindu mythology from the comic books of Amar Chitra Katha (Immortal Picture Tales), he did not actually draw according to them, he said.

    Mr Patel said the story of the film is as much about Sanjay’s relationship with his father.

    “I was a late bloomer in my parents’ culture,” he said, adding that after working for 10 years at Pixar he discovered Indian art and mythology.

    “It helped me understand why my parents said ‘Sita Ram’ when I sneezed,” Mr Patel joked.

    Mr Patel has worked as an animator on films like “Monsters Inc.”, “Ratatouille”, “Cars”, “Monsters University”, “Toy Story 2” and “The Incredibles”, and has been a story-boarder on the latter two films.

  • Salman Khan’s Sultan Vs Aamir Khan’s Dangal?

    Salman Khan’s Sultan Vs Aamir Khan’s Dangal?

    They’re both playing wrestlers in their next films. Buddies Aamir Khan and Salman Khan are getting ready to wrestle with their souls and soul brothers in Nitesh Tiwary’s Dangal and Ali Abbas Zafar’s Sultan, respectively.

    Salman Khan and Aamir Khan’s friendship hit a rough patch ever since the Dabangg Khan signed on for YRF’s Sultan.

    But now that the two first look posters of the respective films are out, fans have picked their favorite – Salman Khan 

    Winning by a huge margin, Salman Khan’s Sultan look has beaten Aamir’s Dangal look. Seems Salman is a better bet at playing a wrestler.

    Buddies

    The first look of Sultan that’s just out shows Salman with close-cropped hair and a moustache, looking defiantly from a titled angle at the camera. This is not the nice guy we saw in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and we will soon see in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. This guy is mean and filled with secret angst about his past that threatens to burst open at the seams.

    But there is a difference. While Aamir has chosen to pile on loads of lard to look like an aging pehelwaan with two grown-up daughters, Salman has decided to make the character look fab without the flab.

    383670-sultan-crop

     

  • Shiv Sainiks blacken Sudheendra Kulkarni’s face over Kasuri’s book launch in Mumbai

    Shiv Sainiks blacken Sudheendra Kulkarni’s face over Kasuri’s book launch in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sainiks poured black paint on Sudheendra Kulkarni, former aide of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani, in Mumbai on Monday morning, Oct 12, in protest against the launch of former Pakistan foreign minister Kurshid Mahmud Kasuri’s book ‘Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove: An Insider’s Account of Pakistan’s Foreign Relations’ that Kulkarni organised, embarrassing the BJP-led state government.

    Sudheendra Kulkarni, the chairman of the Observer Research Foundation was dragged out of his car by 7 men near his residence and verbally abused before his face and head were blackened by Shiv Shainiks.

    Kulkarni refused to be cowed down and addressed a press conference with Kasuri where both condemned the attack.

    News reports quoted Kulkarni as saying that he was attacked by members of the Shiv Sena, which has opposed the event and has threatened to disrupt it.
    former BJP ideologue Sudheendra Kulkarni, with face blackened by Sena activists, and former Pak foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri at the latter’s book release function in Mumbai_0_0

     

    Meanwhile, reacting to the ink attack on Kulkarni, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said “smearing ink is a very mild form of democratic protest.”

    “We don’t know if ink or tar was smeared. Nobody can foretell how public anger will explode,” Raut said

    Kulkarni had met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Oct 11, but said that he did not get any assurances from him. He was reported to have said that the event would go on despite the threat.

    On Oct 12, two Sainiks were arrested. who dragged Kulkarni out of his car near his residence and verbally abused him before pouring black oil paint on his head.

     

  • Daryl Rand Leads Business Women Delegation To India

    Daryl Rand Leads Business Women Delegation To India

    Daryl Harrison Rand, President and CEO of HarrisonRand, a northern New Jersey based advertising and marketing agency, will lead a delegation of businesswomen from New Jersey and New York to India as part of the “Friends of India” Mission, the sixth of its kind, beginning October 23, 2015.

    As former president of the New York Chapter of the International Advertising Association and the IAA World Board, Rand observed that very few women ever got the chance to attend world congresses or participate in global organizations.

    “I wanted to give women an opportunity to have conversations on a global basis,” Rand said.

    The chance would present itself to Rand in the form of an annual themed event she was planning for the IAA.

    “I was introduced to a group of women that would help me mount an authentic Indian ball at the Pierre,” Rand said.

    “When the party was over, the relationship began.”

    As part of the sixth “Friends of India” Mission, prominent businesswomen will travel to Jaipur, Delhi and Agra to continue to establish and build relationships with similar-minded Indian women entrepreneurs and mission participants.

    This year’s delegation is distinguished by some of the region’s most senior businesswomen, including: Dr. Sue Henderson, President of New Jersey City University; Linda Bowden, New Jersey Regional President of PNC Bank; and Ilene Jablonski, Vice President of Marketing, Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, along with other senior professionals representing a diverse roster of disciplines.

    Supporting Rand’s delegation is the U.S. State Department, Office of Global Women’s Issues; the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry; the Confederation of Indian Industry and Consul General Mulay and the Indian Consulate in New York. Additional dialogue regarding the delegation’s commitment to women’s empowerment and gender parity has been initiated with the World Economic Forum.

    “It is a privilege to lead this delegation of talented business leaders,” stated Rand. “Each delegate is a distinguished member of their sector and is eager to exchange their experience and know-how with their Indian counterparts. We are expecting significant outcomes from this initiative.”

    The Missions are a product of Rand’s vision to form linkages between American businesswomen and their Indian counterparts, with a focus on entrepreneurship, culture, education, business strategy, and government relations. This concept dates back 10 years and has hosted 90 women who have participated. Children’s Hope India, Inc., a philanthropic organization dedicated to women’s and children’s issues, and the Taj Hotels have lent their support to the biannual Missions.

     

  • Philanthropist Frank Islam asks Indian Americans to Invest in Education in India

    Philanthropist Frank Islam asks Indian Americans to Invest in Education in India

    Entrepreneur and philanthropist Frank Islam would like fellow Indian-Americans to make a strategic investment in education in India as it is the great equalizer and opportunity creator.

    “Supporting educational institutions is one of our highest priorities because education is the key to opportunity and the bridge to the future,” he said during the Second American Bazaar Philanthropy Dialogue and Dinner, organised by an ethnic publication here.

    Dozens of prominent philanthropists, nonprofits, stakeholders and leaders from the South Asian and Indian American philanthropic community attended the dialogue to brainstorm giving.

    Lata Krishnan chair of the American India Foundation delivered the 2nd American Bazaar Philanthropy lecture.

    “While education is important in America, the needs are even greater in India and that is why I am supporting initiatives in India,” Islam said.

    “My intent is to use education as a tool to improve the socio-economic status of the underprivileged in India. My desire is those who benefit will in turn contribute towards social, political, and economic development in India,” he added.

    Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, born Islam, has announced a $2 million donation to his alma mater, Aligarh Muslim University, which “shaped my history and my journey and determined my destiny,” for building the Frank and Debbie Islam School of Management.

    The school, Islam said will place emphasis on entrepreneurship and preparing the students at AMU to become entrepreneurial leaders and engage in economic development activities that will create jobs and opportunities for thousands of people throughout India.

    “We see our contribution not as a charity but as an investment that will yield exponential returns,” he said.

    “We not only support AMU, but also give to other educational institutions as well here in US and in India,” said Islam who was presented the American Philanthropy award for his pioneering efforts in the fields of education arts and culture.

    Receiving the award from Arun M. Kumar, US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, Islam told fellow Indian-Americans that they had done well in the US and now it was their turn to do good in India.

    “Let us together change the face of India. One family, one village and one life at a time,” he said. “Let us extend our hope, our help, and our hand so that we can together change the face of the world.”

    Apart from AMU, Islam has made major gifts and supported scholarships at his alma mater in the US, the University of Colorado at Boulder and his wife Debbie Driesman’s alma mater in Canada, Western University among others.

    Underlining the importance of strategic philanthropy, Islam said: “I invest in education and promotion of the arts because these are two of those critical areas. I refer them as pivot points -areas that can be leveraged to build a bigger and better future for all.”

    “Education is a pivot point because it is the great equaliser and opportunity creator,” he said. “Art is also a pivot point because it educates and advances social causes. Art and culture transcend all boundaries.”

    Islam has also given $1 million to the US Institute of Peace, an organization devoted to nonviolent prevention and mitigation of conflict around the globe, “because it’s very much engaged in curbing violent extremism.”

    “In addition they are engaged to make the transition to peaceful and stable democracy,” he said.

  • @twitter to cut 8% of its workforce in an organizational restructuring

    @twitter to cut 8% of its workforce in an organizational restructuring

     Twitter announced today, Oct 13, that it was laying off some of its work force, to cut costs while it tries to find ways to attract new users.

    The cuts are one of the first major moves by Jack Dorsey, the Twitter co-founder who was named chief executive of the social media company last week. The social network has announced that it’s axing up to 336 jobs, or about 8 percent of its total headcount.

    Dorsey argues that the move is necessary for a “streamlined” roadmap where Twitter focuses on fewer but bigger features, such as Moments. Most of the cuts will affect the engineering division, he says, since the company believes that a “smaller and nimbler” coding group would be more effective.

    Twitter also said that revenue and adjusted profit for the third quarter would be at or above its previous forecasts. The high end of the company’s previous forecast predicted revenue of $560 million and adjusted earnings of $115 million.

    Twitter said it would provide “generous” exit packages to those who lose their jobs. It intends to take a pretax charge of $5 million to $15 million in the fourth quarter in connection with the layoffs.

  • DHS proposes New STEM OPT Extension Rule | F-1 Visa Update | Complete Update

    DHS proposes New STEM OPT Extension Rule | F-1 Visa Update | Complete Update

    There has been so much of news and confusion around the 17 month OPT STEM extension cancellation by US District court.

    Finally, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent its proposed regulation on the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) early October 2015.

    A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is expected in the coming days or weeks, followed by a comment period of at least 30 days.

    UPDATE: F-1 Visa : OPT STEM EXTENSION INCREASE TO 24 Months : DHS PROPOSES NEW RULE- READ NOW

    Although the contents of the proposed regulation are unknown at this time, the regulation is expected to

    1) re-authorize the STEM OPT program, and

    2) provide additional benefits in line with the President’s executive action strategy released last Fall which may include a longer STEM OPT period and an expanded list of eligible degree programs.

    Neither H-1B nor OPT is an immigrant visa—these programs are designed for people who want to return home eventually. But they’ve still been controversial, and some see H-1B especially as helping foreigners take American jobs.

    The number of international students in the U.S. hit a record high in 2014, with more than 880,000 students. As college students worry about choosing their majors and finding jobs for after graduation this fall, the stakes are especially high for international students.

    OPT lets international students with a U.S. student visa work for 12 months at jobs or paid internships that relate to what they studied without needing to apply for a work visa. What is OPT  – OPT stands for Optional Practical Training and it lets F1 students to work in US after their graduation ( or before) for 12 months. OPT is given to anyone who completes a degree like Bachelors, MS, MBA, or PhD from US Universities.  Also, if the degree you get falls under STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics ) category, the F1 student can apply for a 17 month extension of the OPT. This extension rule was passed by USCIS in April of 2008.

    The new regulation is expected to re-authorize the STEM OPT program.  In addition, it is believed the new regulation could increase the STEM OPT extension period, expand the list of degree programs eligible for the benefit, and expand and clarify cap-gap protection for F-1 visa holders awaiting a change of status to H-1B.  The rule is also expected to require degree-granting schools to ensure that there is a direct relationship between an F-1 student’s degree and his or her proposed STEM OPT employment.

    Timeline of Proposed Regulation – DHS proposed news regulation on the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program just in time – Big Relief for International Students on F1 Visa

    Working backwards from the required effective date of February 12, 2016, then the first timeframe to take account of is the mandatory 60-day delay between the publication of the final rule and the effective date. Because the rule is a “significant rule” within the meaning of Executive Order 12866, a minimum 60-day delay between final publication and effective date is imposed. As such, to be effective on February 12, 2016, when the court’s order invalidates the STEM OPT rule, the final replacement rule must be published no later than December 14, 2015.

    To publish a final rule by December 14, a proposed rule should be published at least 60 days before that date. The 60-day timeframe is set by the APA, which requires that any proposed rule be released with at least 30 days for comment from the public. After the comment period, the agency will need time to evaluate and analyze the comments – at least 30 days – before publishing the final rule. So, the draft rule should be published no later than October 15.

    This deadline has been met by the DHS.

    OMB has now has a maximum of 90-120 days to review the proposed rule.  OMB will then either recommend changes to the rule or clear the rule for publication. Once the rule is published, individuals and organizations will have an opportunity to provide feedback during a comment period.  Comment periods typically last between 30-60 days.

    Recent Changes to STEM OPT Program

    U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelleon (D.C.) on Wednesday, August 12, said the 2008 Department of Homeland Security rule that allows certain F-1 visa students with math and science-related degrees to have an additional 17 months of training in the U.S. is deficient because it wasn’t subjected to public notice and comment, but she allowed it to stay in place temporarily till Feb 2016..

    The lawsuit sought to prevent foreign students from having an opportunity to gain practical experience in the U.S. following their full-time course of study.

    The Court invalidated a 2008 U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule which permits an F-1 student to receive up to a seventeen (17) month extension of their Optional Practical Training (OPT) on top of the twelve (12) months previously authorized (for a maximum of twenty-nine months), if their field of study is in a designated as a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) field and the employer is registered in the E-Verify Program.

    The Court’s decision is based on the allegation that DHS did not lawfully issue the 2008 rule because DHS failed to provide the public with notice and an opportunity to comment in advance of issuing it – what is often commonly referred to as the normal “rule-making procedure”. DHS explained, at the time, that the STEM OPT extension was necessary because it would benefit the economy by reducing the disruption to U.S. high-tech employers that occurred when these F-1 STEM-degree graduates reached the end of their twelve-month OPT and their employers could not receive an H-1B classification for them to remain in the U.S. as highly-skilled workers because of the numerical limitations placed on H-1B visa numbers.

    Interestingly, the Court found that the substance of the rule itself was not unreasonable. The Court spoke specifically to the procedure DHS followed to issue the 2008 rule. In addition, the Court invalidated DHS’ later modifications of the rule that expanded the list of designated fields of study. The Court stayed its order until early-2016 to allow DHS to correct its procedural mistake. As many are aware, in November 2014, President Obama announced new policies and regulations to support U.S. high-skilled businesses and workers. Part of that initiative is directed at the development of regulations for notice and comment to expand the degree programs eligible for OPT and to extend the length and use of OPT while “ensuring that OPT employment is consistent with U.S. labor market protections to safeguard the interests of U.S. workers in related fields.”

    The “ripple effect” of the Court’s Order in Washtech is likely to be the impetus of the Administration to issue proposed regulations for notice and comment. The “soon to be issued” proposed regulations will likely be more expansive and will benefit foreign students as well as U.S. employers and all workers.

    STEM extension was created in 2008 to help F-1 students who were not selected in the H-1B lottery by allowing them to continue on OPT until they could try for the H-1B again the following year. The DHS estimated in 2008 that there were about 70,000 F-1 visa students on optional practical training, or OPT, and that one-third had earned degrees in a science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, field, according to Judge Huvelle. And while the agency had not disclosed the current number of immigrants taking advantage of the extension, she had no doubt that vacating the rule would force “thousands of foreign students with work authorizations to scramble” to leave the country, she added, citing DHS’ opposition brief.“The court sees no way of immediately restoring the pre-2008 status quo without causing substantial hardship for foreign students and a major labor disruption for the technology sector,” the judge said. “As such, the court will order that the 2008 Rule — and its subsequent amendments — be vacated, but it will order that the vacatur be stayed.”Judge Huvelle did, however, disagree with the union’s argument there was not enough evidence to show that Congress was aware of DHS’ interpretation of F-1, saying in light of Congress’ broad delegation of authority to the agency to regulate the duration of a nonimmigrant’s stay and Congress’ acquiescence in DHS’ long-standing reading of F-1, the DHS’ interpretation was not unreasonable.

  • India hold New Zealand to 1-1 draw, win series 2-1

    India hold New Zealand to 1-1 draw, win series 2-1

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India eked out a 1-1 draw against New Zealand in the final hockey Test to pocket the four-match series 2-1 in Christchurch. After a goalless opening two quarters, Nick Ross broke the deadlock for New Zealand in the 41st minute.

    But the hosts’ joy was shortlived as India equalised two minutes later through a field goal from SV Sunil (43rd). The first quarter of the game witnessed a series of attacks from the Indians, who dominated the entire session.

    Without wasting much time, skipper Sardar Singh broke into the hosts defence from the right flank but his attack was stopped by New Zealand’s Alex Shaw. Indian men’s hockey bounced back strongly and defeated New Zealand 3-1 in the second Test in Christchurch to level the four-match series 1-1 in their ongoing tour to the Kiwi land.

    India continued their attacking game in the second quarter but Dharamvir Singh’s brilliant try was blocked by an alert New Zealand goalkeeper. New Zealand, on the other hand, depended mainly on counter attacks but failed to break the agile Indian defence.

  • FIFA red cards Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini; Issa Hayatou gets interim charge

    FIFA red cards Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini; Issa Hayatou gets interim charge

    ZURICH (TIP): The leadership of world football’s governing body plunged into chaos on Thursday, as three of the game’s most powerful figures, including FIFA president, Sepp Blatter were suspended amid an investigation by the Swiss authorities into suspected corruption.

    In addition to Blatter, Michel Platini, who is a FIFA vice president and the head of European soccer’s governing body, and FIFA’s secretary general, Jerome Valcke, who was already on disciplinary leave, were “provisionally banned” from the sport. The suspensions take effect immediately.

    “The grounds for these decisions are the investigations that are being carried out by the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee,” FIFA said in a statement.

    FIFA will now be run by an interim president, Issa Hayatou, who is the Cameroonian leader of African soccer’s governing body and the most senior FIFA vice president. Hayatou, however, was reprimanded in 2011 by the International Olympics Committee’s ethics commission after he admitted to receiving payments from a marketing company, which was, in the commission’s view, a conflict of interest. Hayatou said that
    “extraordinary circumstances” led to his elevation in power and promised that he would not seek the FIFA presidency permanently in February. “I myself will not be a candidate for that position,” he said.

    It was not immediately clear how Thursday’s suspensions will affect the upcoming special presidential election. Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan, who lost to Blatter in May’s election, replaced Platini as the odds-on favourite to be the next president by several bookmakers.

    A fourth executive, the former FIFA vice president Chung Mong-joon, was barred for six years and fined 100,000 Swiss francs, or about $103,000, on Thursday. Chung, a South Korean billionaire whose family heads the Hyundai conglomerate, had, like Platini, been a candidate to replace Blatter. But he has been found guilty of infringing FIFA’s ethics code in connection with the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

    Platini, who had been seen as the favourite to replace Blatter, filed his paperwork to officially become a candidate earlier Thursday but it is unclear whether he will be permitted to stand. The sanctions for all four men were imposed by FIFA’s independent ethics committee. Richard Cullen and Lorenz Erni, lawyers for Blatter, released a statement shortly after the punishments were announced criticizing the process by which the ethics committee reached its decision and promising to contest it.

    The suspensions for Blatter, Platini and Valcke can be renewed for an additional 45 days after the initial 90, and it is believed that they will require a complete separation from FIFA, where Blatter has worked in various roles since 1975. In a statement, FIFA said that Blatter “is not allowed to represent FIFA in any capacity, act on the organization’s behalf, or communicate to media or other stakeholders as a FIFA representative.” According to a person close to Mr. Blatter, the president may dispute whether that prohibits him from going to his office each day.

    The suspensions leave FIFA and UEFA in disarray. David Gill and Wolfgang Niersbach, members of FIFA’s executive committee, called for an emergency meeting. All 54 member nations of UEFA are also expected to have their own summit possibly next week.

  • Pepsi to withdraw IPL sponsorship: Report

    Pepsi to withdraw IPL sponsorship: Report

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Global beverage giant PepsiCo has reportedly informed the BCCI that it does not want to continue to sponsor the controversy-hit Indian Premier League (IPL), according to The Indian Express.

    The daily quoted an unnamed IPL source as saying that PepsiCo, who in November 2012 had acquired the title rights for the IPL for approximately $71 million (Rs 396 crore) across a five-year period leading upto 2017 – almost double the original title sponsorship deal of 2008 – had intended to withdraw from the league in 2014 after the spot-fixing scandal broke a year earlier, but were persuaded otherwise.

    “Last season, Pepsi wanted to withdraw, especially in the aftermath of the spot-fixing case but the BCCI managed to convince it to stick on for another year. However, this time it was firm that it will not continue its association with the IPL, more so after the Lodha Committee recommended the suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. The conflict of interest issues also had an impact,” The Indian Express quoted the source as saying.

    According to the report, PepsiCo has informed Sundar Raman, the IPL’s COO, that it intends to withdraw and that Raman has informed Shashank Manohar, the newly elected BCCI president, about their decision.

    It is believed that the BCCI will discuss the issue during its working committee meeting in Mumbai on October 18.

  • Singh Is Bliing | Movie Review

    Singh Is Bliing | Movie Review

    STORY: Flaunting wacky clothes, bright turbans and cool sunglasses, the ever happy and popular munda – an adorable Raftaar Singh (Akshay Kumar), is a no do-gooder in the eyes of his disciplined father (Yograj Singh) as he’s jobless. He is thus sent off to Goa from Punjab, hoping he’ll find ways to fend for himself. In Goa Raftaar bumps into Sara (Amy Jackson), daughter of a Romanian don (Kunal Kapoor) and falls in love but she is being chased by a psycho drug lord Mark (Kay Kay Menon). Do Raftaar and Sara live happily ever after?

    Singh is Bling
    Singh is Bling

    REVIEW: Since Raftaar cannot speak English and Amy, Hindi, they seek the help of a translator Emily (Lara Dutta). Chaos ensues when Sara provokes the supposedly dangerous goons (Murli Sharma, Kay Kay), who seek revenge.

    Like Singh is Kinng (2008), SIB too revolves around how the central character (Akshay) gets embroiled in a battle with the criminals, while safeguarding his lady love.

    Don’t go expecting logic in the story, as this is a quirky comedy that solely relies on superstar Akshay’s swag to keep you entertained. Amy Jackson is a revelation as she plays her feisty character well and so do the supporting actors. However, it is Akshay, who makes you giggle. Be it by his innocence, seasoned comic timing or bizarre fashion sense – Akki steals the show, hands down.

    Lara goes a tad OTT with her funny expressions but manages to garner a few smiles nonetheless. Kay Kay plays the Prakash Raj-esque comic villain, who keeps mouthing, “I am good.” He really is.

    After a hilarious first half, a few inconsequential scenes and random songs follow but Prabhudheva smartly reverses the gender roles of his lead cast, thus adding some novelty to the proceedings. Amy is the femme fatale, who convincingly kicks ass, while Akshay unlike his studly image, is the one, who gets beaten-up quite often. Fortunately, Amy’s voice has neither been dubbed, nor has she been forced to speak Hindi.

    This Singh is silly but cute and endearing. Do not miss his starry entry on the beats of a foot-tapping bhangra number Tung Tung Baje… Akshay Kumar, you are the dude.

  • Jazbaa – Movie Review

    Jazbaa – Movie Review

    Movie Rating 1/5

    Waste of Time and Money

    Rai is screaming and screeching her way through the film desperate for a comeback

    Sanjay Gupta’s Jazbaa has been the talk of the town since quite some time now. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has received a grand welcome at the box office, as her comeback film “Jazbaa” has opened to good occupancy.

    “Jazbaa”, which is a remake of South Korean film “Seven Days”, is directed by Sanjay Gupta and features Aishwarya Rai, Irrfan Khan, Shabana Azmi, Jackie Shroff, Siddhanth Kapoor and Priya Banerjee in important roles.

    jazbaaSTORY: Anuradha Varma (Aishwarya), a reputed criminal lawyer, agrees to defend a convicted felon to save her missing daughter. What follows is a moral and social dilemma between the hardened lawyer and the hapless mother.

    REVIEW: Aishwarya goes for the jugular in this crime thriller. Inspired by the South Korean thriller Seven Days, Jazbaa revolves around a divorced lawyer, who dotes on her pre-teen daughter. With a 100 per cent success track record, she knows how to get any criminal ‘justice’. However, her world crumbles when her daughter goes missing. The kidnapper makes it clear that he is not interested in money. Rather, he tells her that the only way she will ever see her child again is to free a felon (Chandan) who faces rape and murder charges.

    Enters Inspector Yohan(Irrfan), a decorated but suspended police officer, whose heart beats for this lady-lawyer. He accompanies her on her mission to ferret out missed clues and check out alibis.

    Together, they meet the young murdered victim’s mother (Shabana Azmi). They befriend her to learn more about her daughter’s rape and brutilisation. As she fills them in with details of the gruesome act, Ash is tormented that she is actually fighting to free an animal! However, her maternal instincts overpower all sense of right and wrong. Into this mayhem comes a politician (Jackie Shroff), who is hiding a drug-addict son (Siddhant Kapoor). Fingers now point in yet another direction. As Ash attempts to piece the jigsaw puzzle together, the film takes some sharp curves and ends in a nail-biting climax.

    Gupta, known to be sounder with technique than story-telling (many of his films have been foreign inspirations), has got it right this time.

    Jazbaa’s narrative has pace and power. From screeching car sequences to emotionally-charged showdowns between his accomplished lead cast; the film throbs. Which is not to say that there are no flaws. The green hue overshadows Mumbai’s skyline. Aishwarya is rusty at the start but eventually takes charge of the dual aspects of her character. Once in the groove, her eyes breathe fire. Irrfan breezes past with clap-trap Kamlesh Pandey dialogues, such as –Mohabbat hai is liye jaane de raha hoon, zidd hoti toh baahon mein hoti. Shabana is flawless. Aishwarya has made a judicious screen choice after that five-year hiatus!

  • Hillary Clinton proposes plan to hold Wall Street accountable

    Hillary Clinton proposes plan to hold Wall Street accountable

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Leading Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has proposed measures including new taxes for trading to hold Wall Street accountable and reduce risk of the failure of big banks and investor firms.

    “The bottom line is that we can never allow what happened in 2008 to happen again. Just as important, we have to encourage Wall Street to live up to its proper role in our economy — helping Main Street grow and prosper,” Clinton wrote in an op-ed as she rolled out her new set of proposals.

    “I will propose a new fee on risk that would discourage the type of excessive leverage and short-term borrowing that could spark another crisis,” she said, adding that her plan would give regulators the authority they need to reorganise, downsize or even break apart any financial institution that is too large and risky to be managed effectively.

    “It is a comprehensive and flexible approach. It allows regulators to adapt to changing markets and help ensure that large financial firms never pose a danger to our entire economy,” she said.

    Clinton said it is time for more accountability on Wall Street.

    Stories of misconduct in the financial industry are shocking – like HSBC allowing drug cartels to launder money or five major banks pleading guilty to felony charges for conspiring to manipulate currency exchange rates, she said.

    This is criminal behavior, yet the individuals responsible often get off with limited consequences — or none at all. “I want to change that,” she said.

    Following her announcement, The Wall Street Journal said the proposed tax on excessive order cancellations could increase costs, cause market problems.

    “We don’t yet know how good or bad this idea could be,” said James Angel, a professor at Georgetown University who studies markets.

    “If it’s a small fee used for regulatory purposes, then it could be helpful. If it’s more than that, it could end up costing investors more money in a lot of ways,” he told The Wall Street Journal.

    By focusing on cancellations, Clinton runs the risk of hampering an important function of trading firms called market making, according to some market observers, the daily noted.

    Bill Harts, spokesman for the high-frequency trading group Modern Markets Initiative, said taxes on trading firms will only “end up costing investors more” because market-makers would have to widen their spreads to accommodate the added cost.

    Widening the spread means increasing the difference between offered buy and sell order, which would make it more expensive for buyers and sellers of stocks, Harts said.

    However, Joseph Saluzzi from Themis Trading said Clinton’s proposal — if designed correctly — could reduce some of the “noise” in the markets.

    “You’re not going to fix things with a tax, but there should be a fee that helps distribute the costs more fairly and reduces manipulative activity,” he told Journal.

  • US mulls sailing near disputed South China Sea islands: Pentagon official

    US mulls sailing near disputed South China Sea islands: Pentagon official

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The United States is considering sailing warships close to China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea to signal it does not recognize Chinese territorial claims over the area, a US defense official said on October 8.

    The Financial Times newspaper cited a senior US official as saying US ships would sail within 12-nautical-mile zones, that China claims as territory around islands it has built in the Spratly chain, within the next two weeks.

    The Navy Times quoted US officials as saying the action could take place “within days,” but awaited final approval from the Obama administration.

    A US defense official declined to confirm that any decision had been made, but referred to remarks in congressional testimony last month by US Assistant Defense Secretary David Shear, that “all options are on the table.”

    “We are looking at this,” the official said, on condition of anonymity.

    US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said last month, in reference to China’s South China Sea claims, that the United States would “fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, as US forces do all over the world.”

    The White House declined to comment on potential classified naval operations.

    In May, the Chinese navy issued eight warnings to the crew of a US P8-A Poseidon surveillance aircraft when it conducted flights near China’s artificial islands, according to CNN, which was aboard the US aircraft.

    China watching closely

    Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing on Thursday that China was paying attention to the reports of impending US naval action, and that it and the United States have maintained “extremely thorough communication” on the South China Sea issue.

    “I believe the US side is extremely clear about China’s relevant principled stance,” she said. “We hope the US side can objectively and fairly view the current situation in the South China Sea, and with China, genuinely play a constructive role in safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

    US President Barack Obama said he told Chinese President Xi Jinping he had
    “significant concerns” about the islands when Xi made his first state visit to Washington late in September.

  • McCarthy Quits Speaker Race leaving House Republicans Shell shocked

    McCarthy Quits Speaker Race leaving House Republicans Shell shocked

    WASHINGTON (TIP): House Republicans were shell shocked on Thursday, October 8, when California Representative Kevin McCarthy, the favorite to succeed retiring House Speaker John Boehner, dropped out of the race in a surprise that adds to concerns about the party’s ability to govern effectively, news reports said.

    McCarthy, the No. 2 Republican in the House, faced opposition from more conservative lawmakers who now could be emboldened to take a more confrontational approach toward Democratic President Barack Obama on legislation and policy.

    McCarthy’s decision leaves House Republicans without a leader at a time when they face difficult decisions about the spending and national debt that could threaten the country’s ability to pay its bills and keep its government running.

    Florida Rep. Daniel Webster, who is seeking the speaker’s post himself, told CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer,” he was “shocked” at the announcement, saying McCarthy seemed excited about running not long before.

    “I don’t know why he dropped out, because we just had a member session where all the members came together and he and myself and the other two candidates were there, Kevin was there,” Webster said. “And he was passionate about it. This was just an hour and a half before he announced he wasn’t going to do it.”

    Even under the leadership of Boehner, who relied on McCarthy as an ally, Republicans stumbled into a 16-day government shutdown in 2013 and brought the country to the brink of default in 2011, leading to the United States’ first-ever debt rating downgrade.

    The next speaker will have to answer to a newly assertive conservative wing at a time when the party is trying to appeal to a broad swath of voters in the campaign for the November 2016 presidential elections.

    In several closed-door meetings this week, McCarthy told lawmakers he would not be like Boehner, some lawmakers said afterward, but few seem to have found this convincing.

    Boehner, who announced Sept. 25 that he would step down at the end of October, said on Thursday that he would stay on the job until a replacement is elected.

    Both the secret-ballot vote to nominate a Republican candidate for speaker and the full House vote, which was set for Oct. 30, have been postponed until further notice.

    House Republicans’ inability to merely pick a leader comes after Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, also a Republican, had gone to great lengths all year to demonstrate that their party can effectively run Congress.

    “If we are going to unite and be strong, we need a new face to help do that,” McCarthy told reporters. He said he would stay on in his current post as majority leader.

    McCarthy’s ability to effectively communicate Republican initiatives was called into question last week when he made a connection between a special House committee investigating a 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s falling public opinion poll numbers.

    One possible successor to Boehner, Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan, said he was not interested in becoming speaker. The party’s 2012 vice presidential nominee is widely admired among Republicans but said he wanted to remain as chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.

    The two lawmakers who had challenged McCarthy for the post, Representatives Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Daniel Webster of Florida, said they were still in the race.

    “It was just absolutely stunning what happened,” Chaffetz said. “I don’t know if I am the right person. I put my name in the hat because I do want to unite this party internally.” Webster said he expected other candidates to enter the contest.

    The Republicans were tossed into upheaval just a few weeks before the United States is due to reach the limits of its borrowing authority. The Treasury department has estimated that the United States will hit its$18 trillion debt cap around Nov. 5, and the White House urged Congress to raise the limit before then to avoid a possible default.

    Lawmakers are also struggling with Obama on spending levels before government funding runs out on Dec. 11.

    White House spokesman Josh Earnest said there had been several instances in the past few years in which a Republican-dominated House of Representatives has managed to raise the debt ceiling without political brinkmanship.

    “And we’re hopeful that in spite of this chaos, that Republicans and Democrats in the House will do the same thing again,” Earnest said at a news briefing.

    McCarthy was elected to Congress from California in 2006 and had been one of Boehner’s lieutenants in House Republican leadership since 2011. He has been majority leader since August 2014.

    Webster had drawn the backing of the House Freedom Caucus, a bloc of about 40 conservatives. These Tea Party-aligned members noted that Webster, 66, led efforts that “empowered” individual lawmakers while he was speaker of the Florida House from 1996 to 1998.

  • BJP MLAs IN J&K ASSEMBLY THRASH LEGISLATOR WHO HOSTED ‘BEEF PARTY’

    BJP MLAs IN J&K ASSEMBLY THRASH LEGISLATOR WHO HOSTED ‘BEEF PARTY’

    SRINAGAR (TIP): BJP legislators thrashed an independent MLA for hosting a beef party as the Jammu and Kashmir assembly grounded on October 8 opposition-backed bills aiming to overthrow a decades-old ban on cattle meat in the state.

    Lawmakers from the ruling party threw kicks and punches at Engineer Rashid a day after he reportedly served beef kebabs and patties on the lawns of the state legislators’ hostel in protest against the prohibition on cow slaughter that has triggered debates and communal concerns in parts of the country.

    Rashid said he didn’t wish to offend anyone and hadn’t broken any rules as the Supreme Court this week suspended the colonial-era beef ban under the state’s Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) for two months after separate wings of the J&K high court gave conflicting orders on the issue.

    “Nearly six to eight BJP members grabbed me and kicked and punched me,” the MLA told the media. “Is this democratic behaviour? And you expect separatists to join this assembly.”

    The Langate legislator has been in the news for leading protests against the ban and also courted controversy this month when he demanded that the remains of terrorist Afzal Guru, who was executed for his involvement in the 2001 Parliament attack, be returned to his family in the Valley.

    Amid the uproar, separate opposition bills seeking amendments to the RPC to decriminalise cattle slaughter were not taken up by the assembly on Thursday despite being listed for discussion, prompting criticism from the National Conference, Left and Congress leaders.

    Speaker Kavinder Gupta adjourned the House for the day at 1.30 pm, the schedule followed in the assembly during the current session, despite opposition leaders seeking more time to discuss the issue.

    “It seems that you have already decided to adjourn the house as the chief minister has left the House,” an angry Omar Abdullah, NC leader and former chief minister, told the Speaker. “This seems to be a way to save their chairs.

    This government is hiding behind you.”

    The beef ban controversy has emerged as a nettlesome test for the ideologically divergent PDP and BJP that tied up to form the J&K government this year after voters delivered a fractured mandate.

    “You cannot manhandle an MLA,” said chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of the PDP as he condemned the attack on Rashid.

    The incident comes against the backdrop of a raging debate across the country over cow slaughter with hardline Hindu organisations pushing for a nationwide ban and minority groups resisting the move. Last week, a mob dragged a Muslim man out of his home in an Uttar Pradesh village and bludgeoned him to death with sticks and stones over suspicions that he butchered a calf.

    The beef row snowballed in Jammu and Kashmir after a division bench of the high court instructed authorities to strictly implement the ban, an order that drew sharp reactions from separatists and several minority groups who called it “interference in religious affairs” and sought revocation of the law.

    The laws governing slaughter of cows, bullocks and buffaloes vary from state to state. Jammu and Kashmir has a 10-year jail term for flouting the ban, while many northeastern states are allowing slaughter of all three.

  • Indian maid’s hand chopped off in Saudi, govt calls it unacceptable

    Indian maid’s hand chopped off in Saudi, govt calls it unacceptable

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The family of a 55-year-old Indian woman, working as a domestic help in Saudi Arabia, has alleged her right hand was chopped off by her employer, with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on October 8 describing the assault as “unacceptable”.

    Kashturi Munirathinam’s hand was allegedly chopped off on the intervening night of September 29-30 when she tried to escape harassment and torture, said her sister S Vijayakumari.

    Chopping of hand of Indian lady – We are very much disturbed over the brutal manner in which Indian lady has been treated in Saudi Arabia. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) October 9, 2015

    Seeking help to bring Munirathinam back from Saudi Arabia, her family has sent representations to the state and Central governments. DMK MP Kanimozhi has sent a letter to Swaraj seeking her help.

    On Friday, Swaraj tweeted the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia was in touch with Munirathinam.

    “Chopping of hand of Indian lady – We are very much disturbed over the brutal manner in which Indian lady has been treated in Saudi Arabia,” she tweeted. “This is unacceptable. We have taken this up with Saudi authorities.”

    This is unacceptable. We have taken this up with Saudi authorities. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) October 9, 2015

    Vijayakumari said Munirathinam went to Saudi Arabia to work as a domestic help three months ago.

    “When she tried to escape harassment and torture, her right hand was chopped off by the woman employer. She fell down and sustained serious spinal injuries,” Vijayakumari said.

    “Kasturi’s employer was angered after she apprised local officials about the harassment she was facing there, she was not even provided food.”

    The family learnt about the incident from “agents who sent her to Saudi”, Vijayakumari said

    “She has now been hospitalised in Riyadh and is in a serious condition, our appeal is please bring her back home immediately and help in her treatment,” she said.

    While Munirathinam’s sister lives in Chennai, her family is in Moongilarei village of Vellore district in Tamil Nadu.

    In her letter to Swaraj, Kanimozhi said Munirathinam’s condition was deteriorating. “Steps should be taken to bring home Kasturi as soon as possible, I appeal on behalf of the victim’s family,” she wrote.

  • INDIA VOICES CONCERN OVER REPORTS OF US-PAK NUCLEAR DEAL

    INDIA VOICES CONCERN OVER REPORTS OF US-PAK NUCLEAR DEAL

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India on October 8 voiced concern over reports of the US mulling a nuclear deal with Pakistan on the lines of Indo-US pact and cited Pakistan’s nuclear proliferation record to oppose it.

    “We have seen these reports and it is not for the first time this issue has surfaced. Whosoever is examining that particular dossier should be well aware of Pakistan’s track record in the area of proliferation. And when India got this particular deal it was on the basis of our own impeccable non-proliferation track record. That is the reason US gave us 123 agreement in 2005 and that is why we got a NSG waiver in 2008. Pakistan’s track record is completely different so we hope that will taken into account in making any such decision,” spokesperson in the external affairs ministry Vikas Swarup said, in an apparent reference to Pakistan and North Korea’s nuclear arms program.

    According to reports, North Korea obtained “many of the designs for gas centrifuges and much of the machinery” required to make highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons from Pakistan, which in return got ballistic-missile parts from North Korea. Ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s visit to the US this month, a report in The Washington Post said the US is negotiating a pact on new limits on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and delivery systems, a deal that might lead to an agreement similar to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. “Pakistan has been asked to consider what are described as ‘brackets’,” the report quoted a source familiar with the talks between the two countries as saying. To a separate query on whether Pakistan had asked India for a meeting between the two foreign ministers along with the meeting of their NSAs as was proposed by India on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the spokesperson said, “Yes. There was an issue of sequencing… We are committed to the Ufa understandings.

    “The understandings are very clear and that is two (Indo-Pak) National Security Advisors are to meet to discuss all issues connected to terrorism. The DG BSF and the Pak Rangers and the DGMOs are to meet to sort out the issues on the border. The firings and disturbance on the border… “And we have told that we are ready for the NSA-level dialogue. Last time Pakistan walked out of it… but we are committed to this understanding,” he said, adding where was a meeting between the foreign ministers as part of the agenda and understanding.

  • Bihar Polls – ‘Litti pe Charcha’ in Times Square – Advantage BJP

    Bihar Polls – ‘Litti pe Charcha’ in Times Square – Advantage BJP

    Several members of the Indian community gathered at the Times Square in New York to hold discussions about the upcoming Bihar elections and voice their expectations from a future government over improving the economic and employment scenario in the state.

    Dubbed as ‘Litti Pe Charcha’, named after a popular dish in Bihar and in a similar vein to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Chai Pe Charcha’, the discussion brought together over 200 members of the Indian community in the iconic tourist destination yesterday to talk about the elections and send a message to the youth in the state to exercise their right to vote.

    The discussion centered around key issues impacting Bihar such as unemployment, corruption, education, poverty, migration, health, law and order and agriculture.

    Representing ‘Vote For India’ Manik Tyagi said Indians in the US are concerned over the situation in Bihar and the lack of employment even as the youth is willing to return to the state if the security situation and investment climate improves.

    Anil Sharma, who represented HiPac, a large group of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) youth, talked about the underutilisation of human resources in Bihar.

    Others participating in the discussions said that the election is crucial for the state’s future growth and economic development.

    Similar gatherings have been planned across the US.

    Voicing their support for a BJP-led government in the state, some participants said Bihar should leverage PM Modi’s leadership and focus on economic development.

  • BJP urges EC to withdraw FIR against Amit Shah

    BJP urges EC to withdraw FIR against Amit Shah

    NEW DELHI (TIP): BJP on Oct 8 approached the Election Commission seeking immediate withdrawal of an FIR against party chief Amit Shah for his “Chara chor” (fodder thief) remark against RJD chief Lalu Prasad and demanded action against officials working “under pressure” of the state government. A delegation of party leaders, led by Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu, drew EC’s attention to the alleged hate speeches of Prasad and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and sought strong action against them for their remarks.

    “In Bihar, an unnecessary FIR has been registered against BJP President Amit Shah. We feel it is done under pressure from the local government.

    “An FIR has been registered against the president of a national party. It is very objectionable. We have brought it to the notice of EC and put forth the facts and requested EC that they should hold an immediate inquiry and this FIR should be withdrawn,” Naidu told reporters.

  • 27 years later, SC awards US citizen Rs 2 crore in accident case

    27 years later, SC awards US citizen Rs 2 crore in accident case

    NEW DELHI (TIP): It has been a long legal battle for an American citizen— 27 years to be precise — to get compensation for being severely injured in a road accident in 1988 near Jaipur while participating in a peace march.

    Putting to an end to the battle fought by the activist’s mother in various courts in India, the Supreme Court earlier this week awarded a compensation of around Rs 1.17 crore along with interest of 6% to be paid by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation whose bus had hit him. The rate of interest is to be paid from the date of filing the claim and the total amount may add up to more than Rs 2 crore.

    A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R K Agrawal quantified the loss caused to him and his mother due to accident in terms of US dollars and converted it into Indian rupees on the basis of exchange rate prevailing at the time of accident. The court turned down the plea of the corporation that loss should not be gauged in dollars. Alexix Sonier, the American citizen, was participating in a ‘Peace March’ on January 8, 1988 along with the citizens of various other countries from Ahmedabad to Rajghat, in New Delhi. A speeding bus of Rajasthan Corporation had hit me while he was on his way along with other activists near Jaipur.

    He was severely injured in the accident and slipped into coma. He was taken to Sawai Man Singh Hospital. Three surgical operations were performed on him but he did not regain consciousness and he was shifted to Ahmedabad hospital.

  • Vyapam scam: CBI sends 3 hard disks to CFSL for cloning

    Vyapam scam: CBI sends 3 hard disks to CFSL for cloning

    BHOPAL (TIP) : Three hard disks seized from Nitin Mohindra’s computers – considered crucial, but controversial, evidence in the Vyapam scam investigations – has been sent for cloning to central forensic science laboratory (CIFSL) Hyderabad by CBI.

    “CIFSL lab will be preparing copies and clones of three hard-disks in next few days,” CBI has said in its status report submitted before the Supreme Court on Thursday morning. Court will hear this report on Friday.

    Self-styled cyber forensic expert Prashant Pandey and former chief minister Digvijay Singh had submitted in court a document that purportedly mentions “CM” against the name of as many as 48 of the 131 illegal appointees.

    They claimed the document was the original excel-sheet from the computer hard disk of Nitin Mohindra, the main accused in the Vyapam, known as Vyapam scandal. The word “CM” written against candidates who benefitted from illegalities is understood to be a reference to the person who recommended them.

  • Deepavali Festival organized by AIA-NY Chapter

    Deepavali Festival organized by AIA-NY Chapter

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The Association of Indians in America, NY Chapter (AIA-NY) hosted its 28th Annual Deepavali Festival at the South Street Seaport on Sunday October 4th from 12 noon till 7pm, culminating with a spectacular display of Fireworks co-sponsored by Air India and Toyota.

    The event was attended by a wide array of people from all over the tri state area of different walks of life, age groups and backgrounds.

    Deepavali, meaning ‘A row of lamps’ is also popularly known as Diwali, or ‘Festival of Lights’. It signifies the triumph of ‘Good over Evil’.

    The AIA-NY attempts to bridge the gap in the community with events as Deepavali and brings the community together. The festival was a full day celebration with numerous corporate booths, food & clothing vendors, performances and activities for the entire family including a live grand display of fireworks.

    The theme for the Festival this year was “Empowerment of Youth”. Towards that objective, “Naach Inferno”, a successful new attraction to the Festival in 2014, an inter-collegiate dance competition took place again this year. Colleges and Universities such as Adelphi, City University of New York, Columbia, Pace and Stony Brook participated. Stony Brook University went on to win the grand prize and a special segment on Star Plus TV, one of India’s most popular television networks. The audience also got to learn numerous Bollywood dance moves as the dancers of SHIAMAK USA involved everyone in a Participatory Dance at the end of the festival. “AIA’s goal to incorporate more young adults into the mainstream activities of the community was accomplished,” says Sunil Modi, President (AIA-NY).

    Authentic Indian cuisine, a holistic Health Fair, unforgettable performances by our local performing arts schools, in addition to a splendor showcase of Indian culture, arts, crafts, jewelry, traditional clothes along with were only some of the highlights this year. Corporate Sponsors such as Toyota, Urban Food Bazaar, PepsiCo, McDonalds, New York Life and many more were present. Television partners that showcased the festival included Sony TV, TV Asia, ITV, Jus Punjabi and Star Plus. The evening was indeed a memorable one for all. The grand finale of the festival was the display of live Fireworks over the East River, enthralling thousands of New Yorkers.

    Spectacular Fireworks at Deepavali Festival
    Spectacular Fireworks at Deepavali Festival

    The Association of Indians in America (AIA) is the oldest not-for-profit organization of Asian Indians in America founded on August 20, 1967. It is the grassroots national organization of Asian immigrants in the United States. With chapters and membership spread across the United States of America, AIA represents the hopes and aspirations of those immigrants who are united by their common bond of Indian Heritage and American Commitment.

    For more information on future events, Deepavali 2016 or simply just to be involved, visit www.theaiany.org and Like on Facebook – theaiany.

  • EU referendum: Three of UK’s biggest donors to bankroll ‘out’ campaign

    EU referendum: Three of UK’s biggest donors to bankroll ‘out’ campaign

    ENGLAND (TIP): Three of the biggest political donors in Britain are to bankroll the campaign to pull the country out of the European Union, it will be announced.

    Peter Cruddas, who has given the Tories over £1.2 million will join Labour’s largest individual donor John Mills and Stuart Wheeler who bankrolled Ukip as joint treasurers of the cross party ‘leave’ campaign.

    Together the three have a net wealth of over £1 billion and have donated around £3 million to political causes.

    The campaign is also being backed by the mobile phone billionaire John Caudwell who founded Phones 4u and who helped bankroll the ‘No to AV’ campaign.

    Other rich backers who will be announced on 9 October include the banker Alexander Hoare whose family is worth over £300 million and the Christopher Foyle the Chairman of Foyles bookshops.

    Sources in the campaign said they expected to raise at least £13 million in the run-up to the official referendum campaign when donations become regulated by the Electoral Commission. This is on top of the £7 million that the campaign will be allowed to spend during the official campaign period.

    Under Electoral Commission rules the ‘leave’ campaign will not have to declare any donations they receive before the referendum bill is passed into law -allowing the campaign to amass a secret war chest of undeclared funding.

    The launch of the ‘leave’ campaign on 9 October comes amid growing nervousness among prominent pro-EU campaigners that they are facing an uphill struggle to persuade undecided voters to back Britain’s continued membership of the EU.

    A poll last month found that the ‘remain’ campaign has just a 3% lead while another recent study found undecided voters were much more attracted to the messages of the ‘leave’ campaign.

    A new poll by ICM for the ‘leave’ campaign released on 9 October found 54 per cent of the public are either in favour of leaving or dislike the EU but might vote to stay because they are worried about living standards.

    To address this the ‘leave’ camp intend to concentrate their efforts on highlighting the £350 million a week they say the UK save by not contributing to the EU and the economic potential for the country of being free of European regulations.