NEW DELHI: The selection committee of the Indian men’s hockey team decided to rest skipper Sardar Singh and ace drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh from the 18-member national squad led by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh , which will take part in the FIH Champions Trophy in London from June 10-17.
It will be India’s last tournament before the Rio Olympics and the move to rest Sardar is keeping in mind the decision to rest some of the seniors in order to keep them fresh for the quadrennial extravaganza.
“It was pre-decided that Sardar will be rested for the Champions Trophy as he has been playing non-stop for quite some time. He played in the Azlan Shah where Sreejesh was rested. Here Sreejesh is leading the side and Sardar gets much-needed rest,” Hockey India president Narinder Batra told PTI on Tuesday.
“It also means that the coach ( Roelant Oltmans ) can check out a few youngsters and analyse what’s best possible combination we can have,” Batra added.
SV Sunil will be Sreejesh’s deputy in the squad which also has seasoned first team players like VR Ragunath, Kothajit Singh, SK Uthappa, Akashdeep Singh to name a few.
Defender Harmanpreet Singh, one of the outstanding performers from the team’s silver medal winning Azlan Shah Cup team, finds himself retained in the squad, and is joined by his junior colleagues, Harjeet Singh and Goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya, who will be a back up to Sreejesh in the squad.
Speaking after the squad announcement, Sreejesh said, “At the Champions Trophy, our aim will be to put in a class performance and finish as high as we can. Finishing with a medal at the tournament, will give us a lot of confidence going into the Olympics.”
Chief coach Oltmans also echoed the same sentiments saying, “It is important that we approach the tournament, not just with a view to winning it, but also to execute our tactics well, and learn from past mistakes and keep evolving. This will ensure, that as a team we are prime placed when we reach Rio, physically, mentally and tactically.”
When a new government takes over, people have a lot of expectations. The government’s success is measured in terms of initiatives it has taken to permanently alter the fundamentals in social, political and intellectual domains.
Seeds of such changes are mostly sown in the first year of the assumption of power. Narasimha Rao ushered in economic reform by de-licensing industries in his first budget presentation, the results of which were far-reaching. Rajiv Gandhi brought in Sam Pitroda and created C-Dot. The present telecom revolution owes a lot to that initiative of Rajiv Gandhi. Barack Obama reached out to Muslims by giving a speech at Al-Azhar University, clearly making a policy statement that the US was no longer interested in continuing Bush’s foreign policy while hinting at the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Narendra Modi is completing two years in the government and without any exception, making efforts which have the potential to permanently change the fundamentals of the Indian system and its value structures.
The social system’s liberal tradition has been confronted with the one-dimensional behavior pattern led by RSS’s ideological zealots. The killing of Akhlaq in Dadri by BJP leaders because of his alleged eating habits is symptomatic of that assertion. Beef has been banned in Maharashtra despite protests by minority communities. The Kerala House in Delhi, which has been serving beef for decades, was raided by the Delhi police. Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar has advocated that girls should not wear jeans. “Love Jihad” and “Ghar Wapsi” are excuses to stop Hindus and Muslims from inter-mingling. Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan have been hounded for statements on intolerance.
Activists Kalburgi and Pansare were killed by people who could not tolerate them speaking their minds. The social atmosphere has been so vitiated that the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has publicly prodded the government many times about its responsibilities, but without any substantive results.
On the political front, the Modi government has been ruthlessly pursuing the agenda of making India “Congress mukt (free)”, or rather, devoid of any opposition whatsoever. Two Congress governments were toppled without any constitutional validity. The Supreme Court still has to decide about the Arunachal case, but its decision on Uttarakhand is a slap on the face of the Modi government and a warning for any future misdemeanors. But the simple fact that such attempts were made despite protests from all corners is proof that other opposition-led states will bear the wrath of the Modi government in days to come.
The Modi government has been rigorous in its pursuit of denigrating Nehru, not just as an individual, but also in the context of his legacy. Modi knows that the Congress derives its ideological sustenance and legitimacy from Nehru and his liberal thoughts. To permanently discredit the Congress, Nehru’s legacy has to be discredited. The legends of Subhas Chandra Bose, Vallabhbhai Patel, Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh are being resurrected in an attempt to diminish the historical contributions of Nehru and erase him from the collective consciousness. The Rajasthan government has tried to remove Nehru from its school curriculum. The chairman of the Nehru museum has been replaced by a Nehru baiter.
Modi also knows that one liberal political discourse should not be replaced with another. So along with the Congress, other liberal political formations also have to suffer. Therefore, the Arvind Kejriwal government and its leaders are targeted by central agencies because the Aam Aadmi Party brand has the power to grow into a national alternative. A very powerful Chief Minister confided in me that the plan was that by 2019, many senior leaders of opposition parties would be in jail and there would be no opposition to Modi.
The JNU episode is probably the most important indicator that the third sector I spoke of – the intellectual domain – has to make way for the militant right. Let’s not forget that Modi is not an ordinary politician. He represents the historical ideological ambition of the RSS which wants to create militant Hinduism, take revenge for the past and to establish the rule of the “pure” Hindu Race. The RSS was born in 1925 as a revolt to the Gandhian philosophy which it perceived as making Hindus weak, and the reason for civilizational dominance of other faiths over Hindus. But after independence, the Gandhian discourse was replaced by the Left ideology thanks to Nehru and that dominatedoverwhelmingly till India was opened to the world market in 1991.
Such was the dominance of the Left in the academic and intellectual universe in India that the RSS was relegated to the margins. JNU or Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi was the epitome of the Left’s intellectual prevalence. To establish Hindutva ideology, that has to be discredited, broken and replaced. The RSS and the BJP did not mince words in calling Left intellectuals “anti-nationals”, accusing them of colluding with terrorists, and describing universities like JNU and Jadavpur inBengal as dens of terrorists. These varsities are the knowledge leaders of the country, and very highly rated globally. They have to be demolished in order to stitch a new intellectual paradigm. Kanhaiya got caught in that cross fire. He is an accident of history.
Many argue that Modi has not fulfilled the promises he made during the 2014 elections. That kind of yardstick is applied to measure the success and failure of mere mortals. Modi is not one. He thinks he is a special child of history with a civilizational project. Those who thought that he would change the course of the economy are disappointed. Despite India being the fastest-growing economy, job growth is at its lowest in the last six years, eight core industries are shrinking, inflation is down but export figures are discouraging, the rupee is highly stressed, and social conflict is growing. The Jat and Patidar movements have been examples of civil unrest, but the Modi government is oblivious. Modi is busy laying the foundations of a new ideological edifice. In communist parlance, once the base is solidified, the super structure will take care of itself.
Two years of Modi in government tell a singular story which looks strange and intimidating to many, but for his supporters and ideological friends he is doing a good job. Paul Eldridge, famous writer, said, “Man is ready to die for an idea, provided that idea is not quite clear.” There were many, other than his ideological friends, who were willing to die for Modi in 2014; for them he was a refreshing idea. For many of them, that idea is now losing its sheen. Or maybe the idea is getting clearer.
(Ashutosh, a well-knownjournalist, joined the Aam Aadmi Party in January 2014.)
Thursday’s assembly election results reveal an unmistakable trend: the BJP has expanded its footprint to Assam, while the Congress is on the retreat.
After the Delhi and Bihar setbacks the Modi-Amit Shah duo has regained legitimacy for their autocratic leadership. A further debilitated Congress will add to the worries of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. For the leadership the challenge in UP and Punjab next year becomes more crucial.
Despite odds, Mamata Banerjee and Jayalalithaa have regained power, beating anti-incumbency. For the CPM the loss is humiliating. The Left had compromised on its ideology and slept with an enemy. After MGR, Jayalalithaa becomes the second Tamil Nadu leader to occupy the CM’s chair twice consecutively.
For Tarun Gogoi, however, anti-incumbency was too strong. A fourth term as Chief Minister was an uphill task. Kerala has kept the tradition of voting out a ruling party. The state is set to witness a leadership tussle between the old war-horse, VS Achuthanandan, who has scripted the LDF victory, and Pinarayi Vijayan, the preferred choice of the party rank and file. Puducherry is a small consolation prize for the DMK-Congress combine. Voter behavior defies logic. People ignore issues analysts tend to flag. Price rise was nowhere on the agenda. Nor unemployment. Corruption also seems to be an elite concern. Mamata Banerjee faced two scams: first Saradha in which poor villagers lost their savings in a Ponzi scheme, and then Narda, in which ministers and leaders of the Trinamool Congress were caught on camera accepting bribes. In Tamil Nadu the People’s Welfare Front (PWF) alliance tried to emerge as an alternative to the two “poisonous plants” – DMK and AIADMK – accusing them of making Tamil Nadu one of the most corrupt states. Yet voters did not buy the argument. Corruption figured in the mainstream media in Kerala. Yet despite his taint-free image, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy lost his job.
Personalities matter prominently in polls. The BJP grabbed Assam by presenting Union Sports Minister and former Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Sarbananda Sonowal as the chief ministerial face apart from tying with the AGP and the Bodo People’s Front. Cashing in on an anti-incumbency wave against Tarun Gogoi, the party also fanned the divisive anti-foreigner sentiment to its advantage. Maybe a younger CM face could have helped the Congress retain power. In West Bengal the election revolved around one personality: that of Mamata. It was to be her win, or her defeat. The Congress and the Left had no matching leader of stature and mass appeal. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya is a tired old horse unfit for a fierce race. Dubbed a party of oldies, the CPM and its ideology don’t seem to enthuse young Bengalis. In Tamil Nadu Karunanidhi’s age mattered as also his son, Stalin’s unreliability. In Kerala a 93-year-old veteran has got the comrades back in power. Badal can draw solace from him as Sukhbir can learn from Stalin’s mistakes.
Local factors play a significant role. In Tamil Nadu the November floods’ mishandling did not spoil Jayalalithaa’s victory chances. Surprisingly, prohibition became a key issue -not unemployment, not a stagnant economy, not even an empty treasury and ballooning debt. Few discussed how liberal freebies they promise would be funded if prohibition is introduced. To woo women all parties promised to shut liquor shops, even though distilleries are run by AIADMK and DMK activists. In Kerala the UDF’s decision to stop liquor sales attracted women voters, but not enough to make it a win at the hustings. Chief Minister Chandy had focused on urban development, infrastructure and kick-started Kochi Metro. Yet all this did not get him a second term. On the other hand, under Didi development has suffered in West Bengal. The state has faced a slow industrial and agricultural growth and poor employment generation. There was a rise of “syndicates”, equivalent of the contract system run by CPM goons. But her pro-poor image, personal integrity and welfare programs like ‘Khadya Saathi’, ‘Konyashree’ and ‘Sabuj Saathi’ won her peasantry support and rural votes apart from the urban middle class.
If a party wins, its dirty past gets white-washed. Jayalalithaa’s arrogance and inaccessibility, and Trinamool Congress leaders’ corruption are forgotten and forgiven. A winner is asked no questions. A loser, however, gets advice from all – do introspection, rectify mistakes. The Congress has become a party of part-timers from select, comfortably placed families who refuse to go out in the village and listen to people. It lost going solo (Assam) and also lost with alliances (West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala). The BJP has clever, focused, whole-time drivers with not many diversions. They know, and play, every trick of the trade.
NEW YORK (TIP): Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has appreciated US move on Puerto Rico’s debt crisis. He said in a statement to The Indian Panorama, May 19:”After more than a year of negotiation and advocacy by my office and many others, I am pleased to see an important first step between the White House and Congress on the future fiscal health of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, H.R. 5278, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA).
“This bipartisan compromise, while certainly not perfect, is a tremendous step forward and offers many of the solutions that I and others have been advocating for. Although access to bankruptcy courts would have been preferred, we are encouraged by the bill’s provision to allow Puerto Rico to reduce repayments to creditors. However, the process for appointing members of the proposed control board must ensure that the individuals selected protect the best interests of the Puerto Rican government and its people.
“There is still much work needed to be done by Congress to update and revise the Puerto Rican economic regulatory framework. Health care must be delivered more effectively, import costs reduced and infrastructure investments made so that Puerto Rico has greener energy solutions and is prepared for the dramatic changes already being produced by climate change.
“I thank the White House and Congress for taking the concerns of the Puerto Rican government, its citizens and their advocates on the mainland seriously and working towards this agreement. I especially want to thank those who have worked assiduously on this compromise, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand; and Reps. Nydia Velázquez, Jose Serrano and Luis Gutiérrez.”
The Borough President added: “The people of Puerto Rico are American citizens, and they deserve the same rights and protections as their countrymen.”
I was in High School around 1985–questioning and looking. I was looking for meaning of life. Somehow when there is meaning quest, it turns to a spiritual path. Perhaps, it is with unknown that spirituality deals with. I was told by a pious Sikh woman to go and meet a Nirankari Bana. His name was Baba Hardev Singh. He was the head of Nirankari Satsang. Nirankar means without a form. That is an attribute of God. I liked it. Because, I used to read in the books that God is supreme and unlimited. Inspired I took a bus from Janakpuri towards North Delhi, this is where he used to live. It was an old home, with some people coming in and out. I stood there in the verandah kind of an enclosure of his home. Someone came out and said Baba Jee is inside and he is calling for you. I met him. He had big eyes, soft and laughing. He said it would be difficult to reason out with a jawaan insaan, because jawani has a tendency to reject anything that does not go with it. He laughed. I told him, as I was fearless, “Aap bhe to thahar gaye” [despite jawani, you are resolved too]. Baba jee was happy with that retort. And he kindly pointed out that, not there, not outside, that Nirankara is here, everywhere, here inside you. “Nirankaar is not with just no forms, but it is with or without forms, it is all manifestation including unmanifested one.” His wife came out to be next to Baba jee. She was a very kind and a beautiful lady. I was given tea by her. She seemed puzzled by all these questions and statement, but she told Baba jee to be nice to me. She was motherly. I respected Mata Jee intervention, but I was not discomforted by Baba Jee narration of Nirankaar.
Fortunately that day, he had his big satsang on the border Delhi towards GT Road. Both Baba Jee and Mata Jee invited me to come to the sammellan. When we got out of the car and walked towards the Sammellan, Mata Jee tripped. Mata Jee had red color shoes, with little heels. At that point, I saw the tremendous love Baba Jee had for Mata Jee. He held her and was so pained by the fall. But in few seconds, it was all normal again. But this incident left a big impression on my mind. I felt Baba Jee was not only spiritual, he loved his wife immensely and lived life fully on both levels, extraordinary and ordinary. And they were a beautiful couple. Satsang that followed was a sea of humanity, people came from all over the country and were taken care of with food, water and shade.
It pained to see his departure, a couple of days back. My heart reaches out to Mata Jee and the family. But Baba Jee true to his words, exited from limited to unlimited, manifested to unmanifested–the Nirankaar and Nirankaari stayed put. Nothing has changed, forms were never important–Dhan Nirankar!
HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): Harendra Singh’s lenders have demanded that the town pay more than $14.6 million after Singh defaulted on loans guaranteed by the town of Oyster Bay, according to media reports.
Town of Oyster Bay has been facing a lot of heat after the Harendra Singh’s indictment last year and the troubles only seems to be growing as Oyster Bay’s credit rating has dropped to junk status after a decade of deficits, weak fiscal management and growing debt.
The Recovery – In three separate letters dated Feb. 26, representatives with the lending company wrote, “Phoenix Life hereby demands payment from the Town of Oyster Bay.”
In one of the letters, the attorney and the chief investment forofficer subsidiaries of Connecticut-based The Phoenix Companies demanded payment of $9.1 million for money loaned to SRB Concession Inc., which runs Tobay Beach, and $5.4 million for money loaned to S.R.B. Convention & Catering Corp. which runs the Woodlands catering hall at the town golf course. In 2014, the town board extended the concessions agreements with the Singh companies to 2065 and 2070. Singh sold his shares in the companies to outside investors, but his wife Ruby retains controlling ownership.
Singh on Sept. 9 was charged in federal court with 13 felony counts including bribing an Oyster Bay official to obtain $20 million in loan guarantees. He has pleaded not guilty.
A spokesperson for the town says it is not responsible for repaying the loans and has questioned the legality of the guarantees, but legal experts disagree.
A town spokesperson told News 12 that Oyster Bay officials are currently in settlement negotiations with the lender and new investors. The goal is to avoid a lawsuit and “amicably resolve all issues.” Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto said Wednesday, May 18, that “a lot has occurred” since the letters were sent and referred questions to the town’s outside legal counsel, Jonathan Pickhardt, at Manhattan-based Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. “Phoenix was in discussion before and after the date of these notices with the investors at the SRB entities,” Pickhardt said Wednesday. “There certainly have been no legal claims that have been filed, seeking to have any court involvement in this.”
“It continues to be the town’s position that these amendments were not properly authorized, they’re not enforceable,” he said.
NEW DELHI (TIP): The lotus bloomed in Assam for the first time as the BJP stormed to power, trouncing a 15-year-old Congress government on May 19 (Thursday) and two women chief ministers – Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal and J Jayalalithaa of Tamil Nadu – overcame anti-incumbency to register impressive victories.
The Congress’ electoral downslide continued as its scandal-tainted coalition government lost to the Left in Kerala. The party which has lost six state elections since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, however, picked up a consolation prize of sorts in Puducherry by defeating the regional All India NR Congress (AINRC). Broadly speaking, across five states, the Congress is looking to be a big loser, the BJP looks set to be a big gainer and the Left appears it will be left about even.
Mamata Banerjee’s TMC sweeped West Bengal despite being closely associated with two big corruption scandals, the Narada and the Sarada scams. The TMC has won 177 seats of the 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal. Including those wins, the TMC is leading in 212 seats. The Left’s alliance with the Congress was seen for what it exactly was – opportunism. The alliance has won a mere 60 seats and is ahead in 13, which puts it ahead in a paltry 73 seats.
The Left-Congress combine’s projected chief minister Surjya Kant Mishra has actually lost his Narayangarh seat for the first time since 1991. Mishra was seen as one of the architects of the Congress-CPM alliance. The Left’s loss was the BJP’s gain. It has actually won 3 seats here and is ahead in 2 – in 2011 it didn’t win a single seat. Its vote share has actually gone up to 10% from 4% in the 2011 Assembly polls.
Tamil Nadu: A vote against nepotism
As for J Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK, it didn’t just buck incumbency, it made history by being the first party since 1984 to win two consecutive terms in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK has won 92 seats and is ahead in 40 seats, giving it an unassailable lead of 132 seats. The DMK won 67 seats and was leading in 32 seats, putting it ahead in 99 seats.
Jayalalithaa decided to go it alone while the DMK tied up with the Congress. In the end, though, the people of Tamil Nadu showed decisively how fed up they are of opportunism and more so, that that they’ve had just about enough of DMK supremo K Karunanidhi and his nepotism toward his large extended family.
Assam: A vote against arrogance
Assam threw out the three-term Congress government giving way to the BJP, that’s set to emerge a clear winner. This result can hardly be called anti-incumbency considering the BJP -registering its first footprint in the Northeast – has won in 67 seats and is ahead in 18 seats, thus putting it ahead in a whopping 84 of 126 seats. Consider this – in the last Assam Assembly elections, the BJP and its allies won just 27 seats.
The BJP’s decision to field Sarabananda Sonowal as the chief ministerial candidate marked a big strategic shift for the party. The BJP has come to believe it lost last November’s Assembly elections in Bihar because it ignored strong local leaders. Its gambit worked. The three-time Congress CM Tarun Gogoi paid a price for his arrogance and his nepotism lost him a major ally, Himanta Biswa Sarna. When Gogoi introduced his son Gaurav to politics he alienated a big section of the Congress unit in Assam.
Kerala: A Left Surge
Kerala was, in fact, the only state where corruption and anti-incumbency played a role. The opposition CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) won a cool 85 of 140 seats leaving the corruption-tainted incumbent, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) eating humble pie with a mere 46 seats.
The BJP, here, got its first seat ever, O Rajagopal, the first BJP MLA in Kerala. The UDF was plagued by the bar bribery scam, the solar scam and an alleged sex scandal. It gave several tarnished candidates tickets in the election and is beset with factionalism. As well, despite what people within the CPM might think, VS Achuthanandan remains a huge draw.
Puducherry: Consolation Prize for Cong, DMK
And last but not least, in tiny Puducherry, the final results showed the Congress-DMK alliance winning the day, beating the incumbent All India NR Congress (AINRC). You could say this was a consolation prize for the Congress and the DMK – the latter having lost in Tamil Nadu and the Congress having been convincingly thrown out of Assam.
Lucky pollsters?
This time around, the pollsters didn’t have to hang their heads in shame like they had to after the Bihar assembly elections last November. The results of the five states’ Assembly polls were largely in line with Monday’s exit polls.
CAIRO (TIP): A massive search was underway on Friday, May 20, for the wreckage of an EgyptAir plane en route from Paris to Cairo that crashed into the Mediterranean Sea with 66 people on board, with authorities saying the incident was likely a terror attack.
The search for EgyptAir Flight 804 was ongoing after reports that the plane’s wreckage had been found turned out to be false, prompting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to demand an “intensified search”. There were no signs of survivors after the Airbus A320 “swerved and then plunged” into the Mediterranean. The plane, on its fifth journey of the day, was travelling at 37,000 feet when it disappeared from radar. It had made a stop in Tunisia before flying to Paris.
The Egyptian navy, air force and army are searching the sea to the north of Egypt’s coast, with French, Greek, British and US support. The plane made “sudden swerves” before dropping off radar over the Mediterranean, Greek defense minister Panos Kammenos said. It made a 90-degree turn left, and then dropped from 37,000 feet to 15,000 feet before swerving 360 degrees right.
The plane was carrying 56 passengers and 10 crew: two cockpit crew, five cabin crew and three security personnel.
EgyptAir said two babies and one child were on board. Among the passengers were 30 Egyptians, 15 French, two Iraqis, and one person each from the UK, Belgium, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Chad, Portugal, Algeria and Canada.
The airline said captain Mohamed Said Shoukair had 6,275 flying hours, including 2,101 on the A320; while the copilot, Mohamed Mamdouh Ahmed, had 2,766. The plane was manufactured in 2003. EgyptAir initially said that Egyptian Foreign Ministry has “confirmed finding the wreckage” but later withdrew the claim. EgyptAir’s vice-chairman Ahmed Adel told CNN that when searchers got close to debris found in the Mediterranean Sea they realized it did not come from the missing airliner. “We stand corrected on finding the wreckage because what we identified is not a part of our plane. So the search and rescue is still going on,” Adel said.
He added that maintenance checks on the plane had been done on time and “no snags were reported”. In a statement issued by Sisi’s office, he also ordered an investigative committee formed by the civil aviation ministry to immediately start probing the causes of the plane’s disappearance. He ordered the civil aviation ministry, the army’s search and rescue center, the navy, and air force to take all necessary measures to locate debris from the jet.
Egyptian Civil Aviation Minister Sharif Fathi said technical failures and terror each are possible explanations.
“But if you analyses this situation properly, the possibility of having a different action aboard, of having a terror attack, is higher than having a technical problem,” Fathi said.
French-Egyptian cooperation
Three French investigators and a technical expert from Airbus arrived at Cairo International Airport early Friday morning to help investigate the fate of a missing EgyptAir plane that disappeared on Thursday, airport sources said.
The French investigators are part of the French civil aviation ministry’s office of investigations and analysis, the sources said.
France is participating in an Egypt-led investigative committee as it is the country where the plane was manufactured and the one with the second-most number of passengers on board.
The incident brought back horrors of the bombing of a Russian passenger jet by the Islamic State over Egypt last October that killed all 224 people on board. (Source: Agencies)
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World’s largest cargo aircraft, Antonov AN -225 Mriya — or the Dream, made its first landing in India at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on Friday, May 13, 2016
Community Affairs Bureau of New York Police Department on May 17 organized the Immigrants Outreach Appreciation event at New York Historical Society Museum in Central Park in New York City.
On the occasion, 20 immigrants were awarded Immigrant Outreach Appreciation for their services to community.
One of them was Harpreet Singh Toor, Chairman, Public Policy & External Affairs, The Sikh Cultural Society, Inc. who has been in to community service for a long time. Toor is also Anchor/Producer of the program -American Vision – at a Punjabi Television Channel Jus Broadcasting.
Reshma Saujani, an American lawyer and politician (D) speaking at South Asians for Hillary Clinton for President at Curry On Restaurant in Jersey City on 17th May, 2016.
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Mayor de Blasio and Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau met, May 17, at City Hall to discuss their shared priorities and the international partnership between the global capitals.
Both mayors agreed on the importance of sharing information and knowledge in order to provide the best opportunities, quality of life and social services to local communities worldwide. Among the topics discussed were affordable housing, education, access to technology, equity, transparency and open government.
Mayor de Blasio spoke to the importance for people to see that government is working for them. In NYC, he offered the examples of Universal Pre-K and Paid Sick Leave legislation. The two also discussed the City’s IDNYC municipal ID program.
NEW DELHI (TIP): Debut author Punam Chadha-Joseph launched her maiden book of poems titled ‘The Soulful Seeker’ published by Om Books International. The book was unveiled in the presence of celebrated personalities from various walks of life- Anil Kapoor, Kabir Bedi, Sabbas Joseph and among others.
Adding soul to the launch event, beautifully orchestrated acts and recitals by renowned personalities and friends of the author, Anil Kapoor, Kabir Bedi, Yuri Suri, Maya Sami, Vivienne Pocha accompanied by the brilliant pianist composer Merlyn D’Souza brought alive the experience that Punam Chadha-Joseph’s soulful book of poems has to offer.
Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor recited the excerpts of ‘Ageing’ from the book, showing us a side we don’t often get a glimpse of among the glamour and glitz he embodies. Commenting on her book, Author Punam Chadha Joseph said, “I always had a flair for writing, especially poems, but I just needed time to pen down my thoughts based on all that life has to offer. My book of poems is inspired by real life experiences, so every person will surely relate to it as it holds up a mirror to everyday life and human emotions. I hope my poems strike a personal chord with everyone who reads it.”
Lending her own personal touch, Punam has incorporated many of her sketches in The Soulful Seeker, including the very striking visual on the cover. And the graphic sketches that set the mood for each section of poems, titles of which are: Soul & Self, Love & Longing, Family & Friends, Fears & Frustrations, Happiness & Hope, Despondency & Despair, Ache & Acceptance, Questions & Queries, Benevolence & Belief, Dreams & Desires and Frivolous & Fun.
About The BOOK: The Soulful Seeker
Price- Rs. 295, Pages- 252, Published by Om Books International
The Soulful Seeker is a collection of the author’s thoughts, emotions and feelings written over a period of time and written to appeal to readers across the globe.
While some poems are light and joyful, others are more intense and soul-searching. Like a true artist, Punam has dived into her personal experiences and boldly shared and exposed her internal conflicts and angst. Throughout the book there is a very positive message of acceptance and a constant yearning and desire to achieve dreams. Every reader will undoubtedly identify and connect with the author.
Punam Chadha-Joseph
About the Author: Punam Chadha-Joseph
After completing her Bachelor’s in Economics (Honours) from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, Punam Chadha-Joseph joined the prestigious Oberoi School of Hotel Management in Delhi to do her post-graduation. This was followed by a 5-year stint in Food and Beverage and Sales and Marketing at the Hotel Oberoi Towers in Mumbai.
Her journey then took her to the world of Advertising in Account Management, where she spent several years with top agencies like Lintas and Mudra, spearheading campaigns for many prestigious brands.
In the course of her work-life, she met her husband Sabbas Joseph, the Founder-Director of Wizcraft, India’s pioneer Event Management agency. She is the mother of a 21-year-old son Rohan, and a 17-year-old daughter Rhea, both of whom are currently pursuing their academic careers.
Punam is a lover of the arts and has also tried her hand at a successful business of artifacts, called ‘Artifactors’. Her other passions include reading, writing poetry, travelling, hand-crafting Jewelry and sewing.
While her travels have taken her too, many different and exotic parts of the world, she continues to live and enjoy her life in Mumbai. Her poems however reflect thoughts and emotions that are universal in nature and can appeal to readers across the globe. Soon planning to come to USA for Press Conferences.
‘The Soulful Seeker’ is her first book of poems, and she is ready with another one, especially written for children, based on appreciating and saving the environment. Sketching being a new hobby, she has incorporated many of her sketches in The Soulful Seeker, including the very striking visual on the cover.
Of all the threats to global security and peace, the most dangerous is the proliferation and potential use of nuclear weapons. That’s why, seven years ago in Prague, I committed the United States to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and to seeking a world without them. This vision builds on the policies of presidents before me, Democrat and Republican, including Ronald Reagan, who said “we seek the total elimination one day of nuclear weapons from the face of the Earth.”
Thursday in Washington, I’ll welcome more than 50 world leaders to our fourth Nuclear Security Summit to advance a central pillar of our Prague Agenda: preventing terrorists from obtaining and using a nuclear weapon. We’ll review our progress, such as successfully ridding more than a dozen countries of highly enriched uranium and plutonium. Nations, including the United States, will make new commitments, and we’ll continue strengthening the international treaties and institutions that underpin nuclear security.
Given the continued threat posed by organizations such as the terrorist group we call ISIL, or ISIS, we’ll also join allies and partners in reviewing our counterterrorism efforts, to prevent the world’s most dangerous networks from obtaining the world’s most dangerous weapons.
Beyond preventing nuclear terrorism, we’ve made important progress toward the broader vision I outlined in Prague.
First, we’re taking concrete steps toward a world without nuclear weapons. The United States and Russia remain on track to meet our New START Treaty obligations so that by 2018 the number of deployed American and Russian nuclear warheads will be at their lowest levels since the 1950s. Even as the United States maintains a safe, secure and effective nuclear arsenal to deter any adversary and ensure the security of our allies, I’ve reduced the number and role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy. I also have ruled out developing new nuclear warheads and narrowed the contingencies under which the United States would ever use or threaten to use nuclear weapons.
Second, we’re strengthening the global regime – including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – that prevents the spread of nuclear weapons. We’ve succeeded in uniting the international community against the spread of nuclear weapons, notably in Iran. A nuclear-armed Iran would have constituted an unacceptable threat to our national security and that of our allies and partners. It could have triggered a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and begun to unravel the global nonproliferation regime.
After Iran initially rejected a diplomatic solution, the United States mobilized the international community to impose sanctions on Iran, demonstrating that nations that fail to meet their nuclear obligations will face consequences. After intense negotiations, Iran agreed to a nuclear deal that closes every single one of its paths to a nuclear weapon, and Iran is now being subjected to the most comprehensive inspection regimen ever negotiated to monitor a nuclear program. In other words, under this deal, the world has prevented yet another nation from getting a nuclear bomb. And we’ll remain vigilant to ensure that Iran fulfills its commitments.
Third, we’re pursuing a new framework for civil nuclear cooperation so countries that meet their responsibilities can have access to peaceful nuclear energy. The international fuel bank that I called for seven years ago is now being built in Kazakhstan. With it, countries will be able to realize the energy they seek without enriching uranium, which could be at risk of diversion or theft.
Our progress notwithstanding, I’m the first to acknowledge that we still have unfinished business. Given its violations of the INF Treaty, we continue to call on Russia to comply fully with its obligations. Along with our military leadership, I continue to believe that our massive Cold War nuclear arsenal is poorly suited to today’s threats. The United States and Russia – which together hold more than 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons – should negotiate to reduce our stockpiles further.
The international community must remain united in the face of North Korea’s continued provocations, including its recent nuclear test and missile launches. The additional sanctions recently imposed on Pyongyang by the United Nations Security Council show that violations have consequences. The United States will continue working with allies and partners for the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner.
More broadly, the security of the world demands that nations – including the United States – ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and conclude a new treaty to end the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons once and for all.
I said in Prague that achieving the security and peace of a world without nuclear weapons will not happen quickly, perhaps not in my lifetime. But we have begun. As the only nation ever to use nuclear weapons, the United States has a moral obligation to continue to lead the way in eliminating them. Still, no one nation can realize this vision alone. It must be the work of the world.
We’re clear-eyed about the high hurdles ahead, but I believe that we must never resign ourselves to the fatalism that the spread of nuclear weapons is inevitable. Even as we deal with the realities of the world as it is, we must continue to strive for our vision of the world as it ought to be.
United States and Great Britain have a Special Relationship that transcends leaders, rhetoric and time.
Donald Trump has announced an intention to bar Muslims from the United States, with some exceptions, including for the new mayor of London. Both prime minister David Cameron and mayor Khan have objected to the Muslim Ban. Donald Trump has taken umbrage from their opposition, and declared a desire to keep a grudge.
I suggest instead of grudges, High Tea between Sadiq Kahn & Donald Trump will serve to restore decorum in the comity of nations and respect between the faiths.”
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The Consulate General of India, supported by US-India Business Council in association with the Consulate General of Korea organized an event- ‘The Young Professionals Forum’ at the Consulate of India in New York on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 to provide a forum for thought-provoking presentations, engaged discussions and networking.
Ms. Priyanka Chowdhury performing Bharatnatyam
Rami Seo, a world class gayaguemist, gives a performance of traditional Korean music
Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das welcoming the gathering
The event was attended by a large number of professionals from both the communities, including the Consul Generals – Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das and Ambassador Gheewhan Kim amongst other prominent members of the entrepreneurial world.
The evening began with a documentary ‘A Perfect Match’ about Indian and Korean partnerships. This was followed by welcoming remarks delivered by Consul Generals of both countries. Both Consul Generals showed enthusiasm to build strong ties and strategic partnership which has been initiated by their Governments.
To highlight the rich cultural heritage of both countries, Bharatnatyam was performed by Ms. Priyanka Chowdhury and Korean Traditional Music was presented by Rami Seo, a world class gayaguemist and team.
Keynote speakers, Mr. Sonny Khurana, Founder President & CEO of iTech and Mr. Khee Lee, Founding Partner at LH2 Ventures, spoke about their journey from their homeland and how they overcame all odds to make their journey successful.
The evening ended with open discussions followed by closing remarks by both Consul Generals.
OTTAWA (TIP): Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has formally apologized in the House of Commons for the Komagata Maru incident in 1914, in which hundreds of Sikh, Muslim and Hindu passengers were denied entry to Canada and forced to return to an uncertain and ultimately violent fate in India.
On May 23, 1914, a steamship arrived in Vancouver. The 376 passengers had hopes for a new life in Canada, were of Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu origin. They were denied entry into Canada due to the laws in existence. On May 18, 2016, the Canadian PM delivered a formal apology in the House of Commons, in front of descendants of those directly affected by the incident.
Opposition Leader Rona Ambrose, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, BQ Leader Rheal Fortin and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May also rose to add their voices to the apology and to offer their own remarks.
“Canada does not bear alone the responsibility for every tragic mistake that occurred with the Komagata Maru and its passengers, but Canada’s government was without question responsible for the laws that prevented these passengers from immigrating peacefully and securely, for that, and for every regrettable consequence that followed, we, are, sorry,” Trudeau said.
Here is the text of Prime Minister Trudeau’s apology in the House of Commons.
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by acknowledging the hard work done by many of my colleagues. From my own caucus, I’d like to thank the members from Surrey-Newton and Winnipeg North for their tireless advocacy. They have petitioned the Canadian government for years to make the apology that will be made today. I thank them for their commitment to this cause.
“From the Opposition benches, special mention must be made of the members from Calgary Heritage, Calgary Midnapore and the former member for Surrey North. Each deserves recognition for the work they have done to seek resolution for victims and their families.
“As do the many organisations that have sought the same, in particular, the Professor Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation.
“Mr. Speaker, today I rise in this House to offer an apology on behalf of the government of Canada, for our role in the Komagata Maru incident.
“More than a century ago, a great injustice took place. On May 23, 1914, a steamship sailed into Burrard Inlet in Vancouver. On board were 376 passengers of Sikh, Muslim and Hindu origin. Those passengers, like millions of immigrants to Canada since, came seeking better lives for their families. Greater opportunities. A chance to contribute to their new home.
The Komagata Maru was forced to return to India where some of the passengers were killed in a clash with police.
“Those passengers chose Canada. And when they arrived here, they were rejected.
“Mr. Speaker, Canada cannot solely be blamed for every tragic mistake that occurred with the Komagata Maru and its passengers. But Canada’s government was, without question, responsible for the laws that prevented these passengers from immigrating peacefully and securely.
“For that, and for every regrettable consequence that followed, we are sorry. … I apologise, first and foremost, to the victims of the incident.
“No words can fully erase the pain and suffering they experienced. Regrettably, the passage of time means that none are alive to hear our apology today.
“Still, we offer it, fully and sincerely. For our indifference to your plight. For our failure to recognise all that you had to offer. For the laws that discriminated against you, so senselessly. And for not formally apologising sooner. For all these things, we are truly sorry.
“I also wish to apologise to the descendants of the passengers of the Komagata Maru, including those who are here with us here today. We can never know what your lives would have been like had your relatives been welcomed to Canada.
“The ways in which your lives would have been different. The ways in which Canada would have been enriched. Those possibilities are lost to history.
“For that — and to you — we apologise. Just as we apologise for past wrongs, so too must we commit ourselves to positive action — to learning from the mistakes of the past, and to making sure that we never repeat them. That is the unique promise and potential of Canada. …
“Mr. Speaker, before I finish, I would like to acknowledge one more member who has helped to bring the Komagata Maru incident to our national attention — the Minister of National Defence. Before entering political life, the Minister was the commanding officer of the British Columbia Regiment Duke of Connaught’s Own — the same regiment that once forced out the Komagata Maru. A century ago, the Minister’s family might well have been turned away from Canada. Today, the minister sits beside us, here, in this House.
“In a House that includes immigrants. That includes the daughters and sons — the granddaughters and grandsons — of immigrants. The very makeup of this House should remind all of us that when we have the choice between opening our arms to those in need or closing our hearts to them, we must always choose the more compassionate path.
“When we see injustice, we must speak up, and attempt to make things right. When we make mistakes, we must apologise, and recommit ourselves to doing better.
“Mr. Speaker, Canada is a country unlike any other. We are blessed to call it home. Let us always endeavour to do better, and to be better. Let us do that in honour of the victims of the Komagata Maru incident, and every courageous person who leaves behind family and familiar things, to bring to Canada the very best of who they are.
CHICAGO: The second International Day of Yoga will be celebrated by the Consulate General of India in collaboration with the City of Sandwich on 25th June, 2016 at Timber creek Inn, 3300 Drew Ave, Sandwich, Illinois. In this connection, the kick off ceremony of 2nd International of Yoga Day was celebrated on 17th May, 2016 in the Consulate premises.
The Hon’ble Mayor of city of Sandwich, Rick Olson, attended the ceremony with the representatives of City of Sandwich including Mr. Jim Teckenbrock, Executive Director, Sandwich Economic Development Corporation, Mr. Cort Carlson, Executive Director, Aurora Area Convention and visitor’s Bureau and Chief of Police of city of Sandwich, Jim Bianci. The ceremony was also attended by different community organizations, established yoga and spiritual centers and members of the Media. O.P. Meena, Consul, welcomed the guests. The ceremony started with screening of extracts of Messages of Prime Minister of India, EAM & Minister [IC] derived from Common Yoga Protocol 2016.
During kick off ceremony, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General, addressed the gathering & shared information with participants on celebration of 2nd International Yoga Day.
The following are the important details.
Second International Yoga Day celebrations in US Mid-west is from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM on Saturday, June 25th, 2016 at Timber Creek Inn, 3300 Drew Ave, Sandwich, Illinois.
Participating Organizations:
The Art of living Foundation, Isha Foundation, Brahma Kumaris Meditation Centers, SEWA International, Science of Spirituality, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Yog Sadhan Ashram, Sahaj Yoga Ashram, Temple of Harmony, Swami Sahajananda, Balaji Temple, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, American Association of Retired Asians (AARA) and Metropolitan American Federation of Seniors [MAFS]
The following events would be organized as part of the Second International Yoga Day:
Book Exhibition: A special book exhibition on Yoga will be exhibited on the occasion.
Photo exhibition: Selected photographs on Yoga will be displayed Screening of the documentary films
Common Yoga Protocol / demonstration of Common Asanas and
Breathing Techniques by The Art of Living Foundation.
Guided Meditation Workshop & Children’s Activiti ties by the Brahm Kumaris Meditation Center
Surya Namaskar Demonstration by the Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh
Talk on the science of Kriya Yoga and meditation by Swami Sahajananda
Surat Shabd:’Yoga An Ageless Technique’ by The Science of Spirituality
Hath Yoga posture & Cleansing demonstration by Yog Sadhan Ashram
Cyclic Meditation Workshop (Stop Diabetes Movement) by SEWA International
Chair Yoga demonstration for seniors by American Association of Retired Asians (AARA)
Last year, several organizations in different parts of the US-Midwest are also anticipated to organize series of activities to mark the International Yoga Day.
The Consulate is expecting the participation of several local dignitaries and elected officials in the inaugural ceremony of the International Yoga Day. The City of Sandwich has declared its support to the celebrations and would be issuing a special proclamation declaring the Day by the city as International Yoga Day.
Consul General appreciated willingness of the Mayor of City of Sandwich and thanked for taking initiative to collaborate with Consulate for celebration of 2nd International Yoga Day in the City of Sandwich. Consul General also appreciated Mr. Deepak Kant Vyas, Chairman & CEO, Red berry for offering the venue, Timber Creek Inn, for celebration of 2nd International Yoga Day event free of cost.
The Consul General concluded the Meeting and urged all the Community organizations and Media partners to extend whole-hearted support in celebrating the Second International Day of Yoga in a befitting manner not only in the City of Sandwich but in the entire US Midwest.
(Photographs and Press release by: Asian Media USA)
WASHINGTON (TIP): Hours after the White House announced a final rule that will change overtime protection so that it covers millions more Americans, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) vowed to fight it. But just months ago, Ryan was calling for the very sort of raises that the new rule will ensure.
After Ryan was elected to the Speaker position in October last year, he gave a speech outlining the challenges he hopes to address in the role. First on the list was the financial struggles American workers face.
“Here’s the problem. They’re working hard. They’re paying a lot. They are trying to do right by their families. And they are going nowhere fast,” he said. “They never get a raise. They never get a break… They are working harder than ever to get ahead. Yet they are falling further behind.”
This is the very problem that the Obama administration has said it wants to address by updating the overtime rule. Because the threshold that currently stands at $23,660 — meaning anyone earning less than that it is owed time and a half for working more than 40 hours a week — hasn’t been updated since 1975, the number of salaried workers who were guaranteed extra pay for extra work has dropped from 12 million to 3.5 million.
The new rule, when it goes into effect in December, will increase that threshold to $47,476. The administration has estimated that 4.2 million workers will become newly eligible for extra pay, leading to a $12 billion increase in wages over the next decade. The other option employers have is to cut down the ever-expanding workweek back to 40 hours and give workers more time.
That doesn’t work for Ryan, however. In a statement he released on Wednesday, he argued that the overtime rule “hurts the very people it alleges to help” because employers will eliminate salaried jobs. “We are committed to fighting this rule and the many others that would be an absolute disaster for our economy,” he said.
The administration argues the opposite. In announcing the final change, Vice President Joe Biden explained, “More than four million workers are either going to get paid more or get their time back to raise their family, go to school like so many of them are, or retrain to get a better job.”
Research even indicates that the overtime rule can prod employers to add jobs, not eliminate them, so as to add extra help that can keep current employees’ hours below 40 a week. Both the Economic Policy Institute and Goldman Sachs have estimated it could lead to the addition of 120,000 jobs.
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): San Francisco’s police chief, Greg Suhr, resigned under pressure from the city’s mayor on May 19, just hours after an officer’s fatal shooting a black woman sparked new outrage in a city whose storybook beauty has been overshadowed recently by high-profile police killings.
The police department and Suhr have faced mounting criticism and protests for months in the wake of some police killings and a scandal over racist text messages sent by police officers.
“I have previously expressed confidence in Chief Suhr because I know he agrees with and understands the need for reform,” Mayor Ed Lee told reporters at a press conference in City Hall. “But following this morning’s officer-involved shooting and my meeting with Chief Suhr this afternoon, today I have arrived at a different conclusion to the question of how best to move forward.”
San Francisco Police spokeswoman officer Grace Gatpandan said she could not comment on Suhr’s resignation and said the mayor’s statement was all the office could provide.
Lee named Toney Chaplin, a deputy chief of police and head of the professional standards and principled policing bureau at the department, as acting police chief. Chaplin is African-American. Hours earlier, Suhr told reporters that around 9:45am two officers approached a 27-year-old woman as she sat in a car that had been reported as stolen. Suhr said he did not know whether the woman was armed.
The woman tried to drive off, crashing into another vehicle fewer than 100 feet away. She was shot by one of the officers, a sergeant, after refusing to comply with their orders, Suhr said. She later died at an area hospital.
Suhr said the officers had not been interviewed. The two officers and the woman have not been identified. The use of lethal force by US police, against African-Americans and other minorities, has been the focus of nationwide protests since mid-2014. Thursday’s shooting occurred in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood, where in December police fatally shot a black man who was a suspect in a stabbing. Police said then that 26-year-old Mario Woods, whose family has sued the city, was holding a knife and refused to drop it. Bystander video of that shooting, which went viral after being published online, showed Woods being gunned down in a hail of bullets by officers. Following that shooting and amid escalating protests, the city and the US Department of Justice launched a collaborative review of the police department in February, which critics said fell short of a civil rights investigation. (Reuters)
TOKYO (TIP): A group representing Japanese survivors of US atomic bombings has asked US President Barack Obama to hear their stories and apologize when he visit Hiroshima .
Two leaders of the Tokyo-based nationwide group said Thursday many survivors want an apology though they avoided an outright demand for one.
US atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the World War II killed more than 200,000 people and nearly destroyed the cities.
WASHINGTON/BEIJING (TIP): Beijing demanded an end to US surveillance near China on Thursday after two of its fighter jets carried out what the Pentagon said was an “unsafe” intercept of a US military reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea .
The incident, likely to increase tension in and around the contested waterway, took place in international airspace on Tuesday as the plane carried out “a routine US patrol,” a Pentagon statement said.
A US defense official said two Chinese J-11 fighter jets flew within 50 feet (15 meters) of the US EP-3 aircraft. The official said the incident took place east of Hainan island.
“Initial reports characterized the incident as unsafe,” the Pentagon statement said.
“It must be pointed out that US military planes frequently carry out reconnaissance in Chinese coastal waters, seriously endangering Chinese maritime security,” China’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei Hong told reporters.
“We demand that the United States immediately cease this type of close reconnaissance activity to avoid having this sort of incident happening again,” Hong said.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, he described the Pentagon statement as “not true” and said the actions of the Chinese aircraft were “completely in keeping with safety and professional standards.”
“They maintained safe behavior and did not engage in any dangerous action,” Hong said.
The encounter comes a week after China scrambled fighter jets as a US Navy ship sailed close to a disputed reef in the South China Sea.
Another Chinese intercept took place in 2014 when a Chinese fighter pilot flew acrobatic maneuvers around a US spy plane.
The intercept occurred days before President Barack Obama travels to parts of Asia from May 21-28, including a Group of Seven summit in Japan and his first trip to Vietnam.
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims.
Washington has accused Beijing of militarizing the South China Sea after creating artificial islands, while Beijing, in turn, has criticized increased US naval patrols and exercises in Asia.
The Pentagon statement said the Department of Defense was addressing the issue through military and diplomatic channels.
China’s defense ministry said in a fax that it was looking into reports on the incident.
“Dangerous intercepts”
In 2015, the United States and China announced agreements on a military hotline and rules of behavior to govern air-to-air encounters called the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES).
“This is exactly the type of irresponsible and dangerous intercepts that the air-to-air annex to CUES is supposed to prevent,” said Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank.
Poling said either some part of China’s air force “hadn’t gotten the message,” or it was meant as a signal of displeasure with recent US freedom of navigation actions in the South China Sea.
“If the latter, it would be very disappointing to find China sacrificing the CUES annex for political gamesmanship.”
Zhang Baohui, a security expert at Hong Kong’s Lingnan University, said he believed the encounter highlighted the limitation of CUES, and shows that Chinese pilots would still fly close to US surveillance planes if needed.
“Frankly, we’re always going to see these kinds of incidents as China will always put the priority on national security over something like CUES whenever it feels its interests are directly threatened,” he said.
The encounter took place in international airspace about 100 nautical miles south of mainland China and about 50 nautical miles east of Hainan island, a Pentagon spokesman said in a statement issued later on Thursday.
Regional military attaches and experts say the southern Chinese coast is a military area of increasing sensitivity for Beijing.
Its submarine bases on Hainan are home to an expanding fleet of nuclear-armed submarines and a big target for on-going Western surveillance operations.
The Guangdong coast is also believed to be home to some of China’s most advanced missiles, including the DF-21D anti-ship weapon.
The Pentagon last month called on China to reaffirm it has no plans to deploy military aircraft in the Spratly Islands after China used a military plane to evacuate sick workers from Fiery Cross Reef, where it has built a 9,800-foot (3,000 meter) runway.
In April 2001, an intercept of a US spy plane by a Chinese fighter jet resulted in a collision that killed the Chinese pilot and forced the American plane to make an emergency landing at a base on Hainan.
The 24 US air crew members were held for 11 days until Washington apologized for the incident. That encounter soured US-Chinese relations in the early days of President George W Bush’s first administration.
Last month, the Pentagon said that Russia had intercepted a US Air Force aircraft over the Baltic Sea in an “unsafe and unprofessional” way.
DUBAI (TIP): A woman was fined and ordered to be deported from the United Arab Emirates for breaching her husband’s privacy by checking his cell phone to see if he was cheating on her, Gulf News reported on May 18.
The unnamed Arab expatriate was fined 150,000 dirhams ($40,843) by the criminal court in the emirate of Ajman, the English-language newspaper said.
Her lawyer told the paper she had accused her husband of having an affair. She admitted she had accessed his phone without his permission and transferred photos to her device, the lawyer added. The husband lodged a complaint with the court which convicted her on Thursday last week under a cybercrime law which penalises “the invasion of privacy of another person” using information technology, the paper said. It said the couple were in their 30s but gave no other information.
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