The Indian Panorama

Month: September 2016

  • Pak Army chief meets top commanders; reviews army preparedness

    Pak Army chief meets top commanders; reviews army preparedness

    Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif today met his top commanders and said the military was “watchful” towards the security imperatives of the country in the wake of “hostile narrative” by India after terrorists killed 18 Indian soldiers in Kashmir.

    The Corps Commanders Conference – held in Rawalpindi and chaired by Gen Sharif – reviewed external and internal security situation and operational preparedness of the army, the army said in a statement.

    “Taking note of a hostile narrative being propagated by India, COAS (Gen Sharif) said that we are fully cognizant and closely watching the latest happenings in the region and their impact on the security of Pakistan,” the statement said.

    “Armed forces of Pakistan are fully prepared to respond to entire spectrum of direct and indirect threat,” he said, expressing his satisfaction over operational preparedness of the army.

    “Pakistans armed forces together with our resilient nation have surmounted every challenge and will thwart any sinister design against integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan in future as well,” Gen Sharif said during the meeting.

    Heavily-armed militants stormed a battalion headquarters of the Indian Army in North Kashmirs Uri town in the wee hours yesterday, killing 18 jawans and injuring 19 others in the attack in which all four terrorists were neutralised.

    Indias DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh has said all the four killed militants were foreign terrorists and had carried with them items which had Pakistani markings and that initial reports indicated that they belonged to Pakistan-based Jaish-E-Mohammed terrorist group.

  • UN holds first-ever summit on refugees and migrants

    UN holds first-ever summit on refugees and migrants

    UNITED NATIONS: The issue of what to do about the world’s 65.3 million displaced people takes center stage at the United Nations General Assembly when leaders from around the globe converge on New York for the first-ever summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants.

    With more people forced to flee their homes than at any time since World War II, leaders and diplomats are expected to approve a document aimed at unifying the UN’s 193 member states behind a more coordinated approach that protects the human rights of refugees and migrants.

    “It’s very interesting because if we are able to translate that paper into a response in which many actors are going to participate, we will solve a lot of problems in emergency responses and in long-term refugee situations like the Syrian situation,” Fillipo Grandi, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees told reporters.

    That may prove an uphill struggle, however, as the document is not legally binding and comes at a time that refugees and migrants have become a divisive issue in Europe and the United States.

    A number of countries rejected an earlier draft of the agreement that called on nations to resettle 10 percent of the refugee population each year, something that has led a number of human rights groups to criticize the document as a missed opportunity.

    The US and a number of other countries also objected to language in the original draft that said children should never be detained, so the agreement now says children should seldom, if ever, be detained.

    Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, whose report on refugees and migrants laid the basis for the summit document, said he was aware of the criticism from non-governmental groups.

    “While we all wish it could be a stronger outcome document … all 193 member states had to agree on their commitment. As you will see, my report was a strong one,” Ban said. “I hope that, as the two compacts are adopted over the coming year and a half, some stronger language and commitment and elements from the report will reappear in the course of this negotiation,”.

    First-ever summit on refugees and migrants: Facts

    When and where? The Summit is an all day event on Monday 19 September 2016 at the UNHQ in New York.

    Who is organizing? The High Level summit is being organized by the President of the General Assembly on behalf of Member States.

    In January 2016, the Secretary-General appointed a Special Adviser, Karen AbuZayd, to work with United Nations entities and undertake consultations with Member States and other relevant stakeholders in the lead up to the Summit.

    Participation The Summit will be attended by heads of state and government, Ministers, and leaders from the UN System, civil society, private sector, international organizations, academia, and beyond in alignment with the General Assembly resolution establishing the summit’s modalities.

    Background The UN General Assembly decided to convene a high-level plenary meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants on the 19 September 2016 and requesting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to prepare a report with recommendations on the issue.

    – With inputs from www.refugeesmigrants.un.org

  • #URIATTACK – World Reacts

    #URIATTACK – World Reacts

    Sep 18, The United Kingdom in strong words today condemned the terrorist attack on J&K’s Uri which claimed the lives of 20 soldiers and injured 27 and came out in support of India.

    “I offer my deepest condolences to the victims and their families and friends. The UK condemns all forms of terrorism, and stands shoulder to shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism, and in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” stated Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary in a statement.

    US strongly condemns terrorist attack

    The United States condemned the terrorist attack at the Army administrative base in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri which killed 17 soldiers.

    “The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir during the early morning of September 18,” read the statement.

    The US came out in support of India stating, “The United States is committed to our strong partnership with the Indian government to combat terrorism”.

    “We extend our condolences to the victims and their families,” the State Department Spokesman John Kirby said.

    Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to India Richard Verma also tweeted condemning the attack.

    Heavily armed terrorists today stormed a battalion headquarters of the Army in North Kashmir’s Uri town, killing 17 jawans and injuring 19 others. Four terrorists were killed by the security forces. Combing operations are underway at the base.

  • UN Secy Gen Ban Ki-moon condemns Uri attack

    UN Secy Gen Ban Ki-moon condemns Uri attack

    United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the terrorist attack on Uri in Jammu & Kashmir.

    The response comes in the middle of the 71st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York.

    A statement issued by the United Nations stated, “The Secretary-General condemns today’s militant attack in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. He expresses his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives and to the Government of India. He wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. The Secretary-General hopes that the perpetrators of this crime will be identified and brought to justice.”

    smoke-rises-from-the-uri-brigade-camp-during-the-september-18-2016-terror-attackuri-attack-uri-terror-attack-uri-jawans-killed-uri-jawans-uri-jawansThe attack has claimed the lives of 18 soldiers and injured 19 others.

    The attack stared at 4:30 am September 18.

     

  • #Uri attack:Punjab traders talk of severing trade ties with Pak

    #Uri attack:Punjab traders talk of severing trade ties with Pak

    Chandigarh, Sep 19 (TIP) Punjab traders dealing in import and export of goods with Pakistan today sought a fitting reply in the aftermath of Uri attack, threatening to end Rs 3,000 crore worth of trade with the neighbouring country for the “heinous act”.

    “Time has come for India to take strict and swift action against Pakistan which is responsible for the Uri terror attack that left our several soldiers dead,” Amritsar-based trader and President of Federation of Dry Fruit and Haryana Commercial Association, Anil Mehra, told PTI today.

    “The Modi government should suspend all sorts of ties with Pakistan in response to the terror attack unleashed on Indian soil,” Mehra suggested.

    Noting that there is a great amount of anger against this terror attack, which left 18 soldiers dead, Mehra said traders in Punjab are ready to end trade ties with Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah land route.

    “We urge the Centre to even stop trade with Pakistan through Attar-Wagah land route. We are ready for ending trade ties with the neighbouring country, which is responsible for such an attack. For us, the country comes first and then comes trade. We will do something else for our livelihood,” said Mehra.

    Traders asserted that it is Pakistan which is the most dependent on India for import of goods like vegetables, including tomatoes, ginger, garlic and spices, cotton yarn and the like.

    Pakistan exports cement, gypsum and dry fruits to the country via the Attari-Wagah land route.

    “If we today stop sending tomatoes which has been the major export item to Pakistan, they will face immense shortage of this perishable commodity. Moreover, if we do not import dates from Pakistan, they will not find buyers for this,” he added.

    Traders further said Pakistan had not even allowed export of onions to India last year when the country was facing shortage. India then imported onions from Afghanistan.

    Pakistan allows import of 137 items from India through Attari-Wagah.

    As per estimates, the total volume of trade between the two nations via Attari-Wagah is estimated at Rs 3,000 crore per annum.

    India and Pakistan had resumed cross-border movement of trucks in October 2007 after a gap of sixty years from Attari check post at Amritsar in India to Wagah border in Pakistan.

    An integrated check-post was set up on the Attari-Wagah border in 2012 at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore for smooth movement of traffic.

  • Explosion rattles #Chelsea neighborhood of #Manhattan, NYC

    Explosion rattles #Chelsea neighborhood of #Manhattan, NYC

    A loud explosion has shaken the busy Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, injuring 29 people on Sep 17.

    “Explosion happened at roughly 8.30pm on 23rd street between 6th and 7th avenues,” in Manhattan, police spokesman J. Peter Donald tweeted. “Several injured transported to area hospitals.”

    Speaking to the press late Saturday evening following an explosion on 23rd Street in Manhattan’s Chelsea district, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the “serious” incident had left a “significant” number of injuries.

    “Tonight, New York City experienced a very bad incident,” de Blasio told reporters near the scene in Chelsea. “We have no credible and specific threat at this moment.”

    De Blasio said the blast was an intentional act, but added that at the moment there was no evidence of a connection to terrorism or to a pipe bomb explosion in New Jersey earlier in the day.

    New York Police Commissioner Jimmy O’Neill said the exact cause of the explosion – which left 29 people injured – had not yet been determined and that officers are investigating a second device found a few blocks away.

    The New York Fire Department said that 24 people were taken to hospital. One person is reportedly in critical condition after suffering a puncture wound. The other injuries are said to be just scrapes and bruises.

    An unnamed law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the second device appeared to be a pressure cooker wired to a mobile phone. The officer could not confirm whether the devices are related.

    New York City Police advised motorists in the area that they should “expect extensive traffic delays and emergency personnel in the area of 23rd Street and 7th Avenue” due to police activity there. They also asked the public to avoid the area.

    The blast is believed to have come from a large plastic trash bin on 23rd Street, a major east-west route in the fashionable downtown neighborhood of Chelsea. A gas explosion has been ruled out.

    Earlier in the day the Semper Five charity run in the US state of New Jersey was called off after a pipe bomb exploded close to the route.

    As a precaution, New York Police Department said it had increased security across some parts of the city.

    Police responded to the explosions

    The US presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, responded to news of the explosion.

    “Boy we are living in a time – we better get very tough, folks,” said Trump. “It’s a terrible thing that’s going on in our world, in our country and we are going to get tough and smart and vigilant.”

    Clinton stressed that it is was important to wait for more information on the explosion before making conclusions. “I think it is important to know the facts about any incidents like this,” the democratic candidate said. “That is why it is critical to support the first responders, the investigators who are looking into it, trying to determine what happened.”

  • Indian-Origin British Lawmaker Wins ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’

    Indian-Origin British Lawmaker Wins ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’

    A 78-year-old Indian-origin British obstetrician and member of the UK Parliament has been honoured by a leading publishing group for his work in the medical profession and being incredible role model for social justice, equality and those less fortunate.

    Lord Narendra Babubhai Patel was given the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ during the Asian Achievers Awards last night for his work in the medical profession and public life in Britain over the years.

    Other winners included Mr Selva Pankaj, CEO of Regent Group – a London-based education skills and training development group; Ms Manjit Gill, CEO of Binti, a social enterprise that works for women’s causes in India and Africa; and Paralympian Mr Ryan Raghoo, a long jumper who suffers from cerebral palsy.

    “This is a celebration of the enormous contribution British Asian make to our country. We see their success in sports, in enterprise and running of multi-million-pound businesses, media, public services and our Armed Forces,” British Prime Minister Theresa May said in her message issued for the awards night.

    “This is a real honour. It feels like the bigger the award, the less deserving we may be,” said Mr Patel, member of the House of Lords who also serves as Chancellor of the University of Dundee.

    The Asian Achievers Awards are organised by Asian Business Publications Limited (ABPL) every year to honour British Asian achievements across different fields. This year, the occasion coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

    “It is a very special day for Prime Minister Modi, whose birthday has already begun in India. We send him our best wishes,” said Mr C B Patel, publisher and editor of of ABPL Group.

    “As in years gone by, the winners this year are exemplary individuals who not only have excelled in their chosen professions, but also are incredible role models who work for social justice, equality and those less fortunate,” he said.

    The event raised 180,000 pounds (USD 2.34 lakh) through a live auction for its charity partner, Indian Ocean Disaster Relief, set up after the 2004 Tsunami to provide immediate relief and long-term projects in case of natural disasters.

    Over 650 people including business tycoons, entrepreneurs, MPs and the uniformed services, attended the awards now in its 16th year.

    Celebrity guests included cricket legend and former England captain Mike Gatting and West Indies cricketer Gordon Greenidge.

  • Ex-Soldier Jailed For Racially Abusing Sikh Neighbours In UK

    Ex-Soldier Jailed For Racially Abusing Sikh Neighbours In UK

    A 51-year-old former British soldier has been jailed for 10 months for racially abusing his women Sikh neighbours by calling them “ISIS slags” and “dirty Pakis”.

    Christopher Blurton was found guilty at Derby Crown Court after he was charged with racially aggravated harassment against two women neighbours in Manchester Street, Derby. He has been jailed for 10 months, Derby Telegraph reported.

    The abusive man sent the two Sikh women a note whinging about the state of their garden, in which he claimed they were members of ISIS, it said.

    Blurton initially denied racially aggravated harassment between June 28 and August 19 last year but was found guilty on Friday.

    “You frightened these two young women. They felt that they needed to move out. Your criminal record shows that you have resorted to violence in the past and had committed offences when drunk,” Recorder Adrian Redgrave said while sentencing Blurton.

    Blurton acted in that way towards the women because they were Asian, he added.

    The court heard the victims moved into the home in 2014 but the problems began in June last year and lasted around two months.

    Blurton hurled abuse from his yard and his home, yelling “dirty Pakis”, “ISIS slags” and threatening to “slice them up”.

    “(It) will be quiet and then we would hear racist remarks such as hope the dirty Pakis die,” a neighbour said. But he claimed he was just shouting at his TV and a probation officer said he would drink five times a week.

  • Indian-Origin South African Is Head Of Global Blood Service

    Indian-Origin South African Is Head Of Global Blood Service

    JOHANNESBURG: An Indian-origin South African has become the first person from the African continent to head a global organisation of medicine professionals working for the safety of blood transfusion worldwide.

    Ravi Reddy, currently the Chief Operations Officer of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), will head the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT), headquartered in Amsterdam.

    Although Reddy has been credited with transforming the safety of blood donation and transfer in South Africa with its very high incidence of HIV/AIDS, he has insisted that this was a team effort by the staff of SANBS.

    He he has served in various capacities for more than three decades after starting out as a volunteer at the age of 16 at SANBS. He subsequently qualified as a medical technologist with an MBA from the University of Natal in South Africa. SANBS lauded Reddy’s appointment as a particularly significant one.

    “Mr Reddy has played a key role in South Africa’s high level of blood safety,” said Raju from SANBS, who earlier this year said in a TV interview that there had been only one confirmed case of HIV caused by blood transfusion out of nine million units of blood donated in the past decade.

    In 2004, there was a huge outcry when it emerged that blood donated by the majority Black community in South Africa was being discarded due to the risk associated with the high incidence of HIV/AIDS in that community.

    Reddy had spearheaded a campaign to ensure stringent testing and also education among donors to turn this around. He cited the highly-respected international status of SANBS as having contributed largely to his appointment.

    “I would not have been considered for this position if it were not for SANBS’ professionalism and reputation for excellence,” Reddy said, adding that receiving this vote of confidence from his peers internationally was humbling.

    He represented the African region on the board of the ISBT between 2006 and 2012, and is also a member of the Working Party on Transfusion and Transmissible Infections. He has presented and published a large number of scientific papers. The ISBT, now with 100 member countries, was established in 1935 as a platform for exchanging knowledge and advancing the blood-transfusion practice.

  • Uri attack: India to declare Pakistan state sponsor of terror, may launch punitive strikes

    Uri attack: India to declare Pakistan state sponsor of terror, may launch punitive strikes

    Hardening its stance on terrorism in the wake of Sunday’s attack on an Indian Army base in Uri, India is actively considering imposition of material damage on Pakistan. There may even be a punitive strike in response to ceasefire violations and infiltration.

    Based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, NSA Ajit Doval and Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh sat down together in South Block to discuss the ground operations that can be launched by the Army Special Forces.

    Highly placed sources in the national security apparatus confirmed that very soon results on ground would be seen and felt but no loud announcements would be made.

    The PM held several meetings in the morning today with the Cabinet Committee for Security attended by all top ministers including home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley and NSA which discussed all diplomatic and offensive options.

    Talking about the measures deliberated upon at the meeting, top sources in the government told India Today that diplomatic talks with Pakistan may now be off the table. There may not be any dossier diplomacy.

    Sources also said PM Modi has given his nod to diplomatically isolate Pakistan at every international grouping in the wake of the Uri attack.

    MoS Defence Subhash Bhamre has attacked Pakistan army and said that it is to be blamed for Uri attacks. He said, “Jaish-e-Mohammad couldn’t have operated without Pakistan army’s support.”

    He said, “We will call for diplomatic isolation of Pakistan on international stage.”

    The action plan is as follows:

    1. Declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terror

    2. Scale down diplomatic ties with Pakistan

    3. Scale down economic ties with Pakistan

    4. Punish Pakistan along the LoC for infiltration and ceasefire violation

    5. There is likely to be bombing of Pakistani posts along the LoC, but not immediately

    The government feels all political parties are united on teaching Pakistan a lesson. Hence, executing the plan to make Pakistan bleed may not be a hindrance, the sources said.

    “DEFENCE, INTERNAL SECURITY TOP PRIORITY”

    Defence and internal security will be top priority of the government. The Pakistani posts that aid infiltration will be punished.

    The Ministry of Home Affairs will strengthen internal security grid across Jammu and Kashmir for operations to be carried out. In fact, the government will launch a simultaneous diplomatic and economic offensive against Pakistan.

    Deliberations also took place on India declaring Pakistan a terror sponsor state. India will work on UN and other world bodies to declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terror.

    These options are at a discussion stage. A final decision is likely to be taken very shortly, the sources said.

  • Marine charity race cancelled in New Jersey after pipe bomb explodes along route

    Marine charity race cancelled in New Jersey after pipe bomb explodes along route

    A pipe bomb has exploded on the route of a road race in the US state of New Jersey, Sep 17, forcing the event to be cancelled but causing no injuries.

    The bomb had been placed in a rubbish bin along the route of the 5km Semper Five run in Seaside Park and The blast occurred at about 09:30 local time.

    The participants would have been in the area but the race had been delayed because of an unattended bag.

    The charity race, in its third year, is in aid of Marines and sailors and this year attracted thousands of runners.

    NBC reported that a second device had been found. Ocean County sheriffs said that 30 homes near the site of the explosion were evacuated.

    New Jersey State Police later said that no further explosive devices had been found, although officers “rendered safe” items in another rubbish bin, without giving further details.

    Attorney General Christopher Porrino said: “We are grateful that nobody was injured, but this is a serious act of violence against the people of New Jersey. We will not rest until we find the person or persons responsible.”

    Three people were killed and 260 injured when bombs exploded at the finishing line of the Boston Marathon in 2013.

  • Media outraged after Trump tricks them into covering his event

    Media outraged after Trump tricks them into covering his event

    Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has outraged the media after he duped them into broadcasting an infomercial for his new hotel on the pretext of a “major announcement” to get more than 20 minutes of free air-time yesterday Sep 16.

    Not only CNN but also all the major networks showed Trumps event at his newly inaugurated Trump International Hotel in Washington DC as pro-Trump military members started speaking.

    Ahead of the event, Trump had hyped over Fox News that he would be making a major announcement about the birther controversy of the US President, Barack Obama.

    All the news networks – CNN, MSNBC, and Fox – started carrying the event live.

    They kept on waiting for 20 minutes waiting for Trump to speak on the birther controversy.

    It was not before 20 minutes that the news networks apparently realised that they have been taken for a ride once again.

    “We got played, again, by the Trump campaign, which is what they do,” CNN’s chief national correspondent John King said after the news channel showed live the GOP nominee for nearly 20 minutes waiting for the major announcement coming from Trump.

    “He got a live event broadcast for some 20 minutes,” King said.

    Trump is known for spending less money on television advertisements, while his opponents Hillary Clinton is spending a huge sum of money.

    About five minutes after that Trump took the podium to speak four short statements.

    “Hillary Clinton in her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. I finished it. President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period. Now we all want to get back to making America strong and great again,” he said.

    “We all got rickrolled and played,” rued Jake Tapper of the CNN.

    “It is insulting what he just did,” Congressman Gregory Meeks told the CNN.

    “And he has done it time and time and time again, which tries to divide us as a nation. Its like he thinks that its a game, youre playing a TV show,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Trump campaign prevented editorial access to his tour of the hotel. In protest television reporters erased the video of his hotel tour.

    The Washington Post slammed news channels for showing this event live.

    “While they waited, and waited, Trump provided what amounted to a campaign infomercial and shamelessly promoted his new Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington,” the daily said.

    “This is a campaign and a candidate that completely understands how the press works or doesnt work and exploits the blatant weaknesses of political journalism,” said Dan Gillmor, a media scholar at Arizona State University.

    On Twitter he called this episode “universal sewer dwelling” for cable news.

     

     

  • Obama to address UNGA on Tuesday

    Obama to address UNGA on Tuesday

    US President Barack Obama will address the UN General Assembly for the eighth and last time on Tuesday during which he will review some of the trends that have been shaping the international order for many years, his close aide has said.

    Obama leaves Washington DC for New York on Sunday morning for his last time attending the annual General Assembly Session as the US President.

    “I think with respect to the speech, what he will want to do is step back and review some of the progress thats been made over the last eight years, but also review some of the trends that have been shaping our international order for many years and that have led up to a really critical moment as the international community responds to a range of different crises,” Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters during a conference call.

    Giving a preview of his speech, Rhodes said Obama would likely offer his thoughts in this final forum to address the entire world about the types of approaches that they need to take as a national community to deal with a myriad of challenges.

    Obama will also talk about “how we can ensure that were continuing to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth; how we are promoting the type of inclusive governance that both respects the rights of individuals around the world, but also facilitate to the many challenges that we face — governance obviously being a critical component of what is needed to deal with issues in the Middle East and North Africa — and then discuss the type of international cooperation were seeking to build,” Rhodes said.

    “I think Paris is a good model for that in that it involves nearly every country in the world stepping forward and making commitments to work together to deal with the global challenge. I think the President will discuss how we can apply international cooperation to deal with the many issues that are shaping this period in time,” Rhodes said.

  • Modi takes blessings of mother on 66th birthday

    Modi takes blessings of mother on 66th birthday

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited his mother Hiraba here and took her blessings on his 66th birthday.

    Modi reached the residence of his brother Pankaj Modi in Raysan area of state capital here, where his 97-year-old mother is staying.

    The Prime Minister sought her blessings and spend around 25 minutes with her. He later drove off to Raj Bhavan where he is put up during his visit.

    Born on September 17, 1950, Modi turned 66 today. He is here to spend his birthday between tribal and Divyangs (differently abled).

    He will travel to Limkheda of Dahod and inaugurate many schemes for development of this tribal district later in the day.

    Later in the afternoon he would go to Navsari where he is scheduled to take part in a function where aid would be distributed to the differently-abled persons.

  • Closely monitoring situation in Karachi: US

    Closely monitoring situation in Karachi: US

    Washington, Sep 17 (TIP) The US is closely monitoring the current situation in Karachi, where political party MQM is facing a crackdown after its former self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain in London delivered an anti-Pakistan speech and asked his workers to launch attack on media, an official has said.

    “Were monitoring those events very closely,” State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters yesterday when asked about the arrests of the leaders of Mutthaida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the biggest party in Karachi.

    “Were aware that Pakistan security forces have arrested some MQM members allegedly involved in violent protests and that these operations have included the closure and the demolition of offices deemed to have been illegally constructed,” Kirby said.

    Responding to a question, he said the US routinely communicates with Pakistani about issues like this.

     

  • Three south Asians score Congressional fellowship

    Three south Asians score Congressional fellowship

    Houston, Sep 16 (PTI) Three South Asian-Americans are among the five 2016-2017 fellows chosen by the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies (APAIC) and will serve the US Congress.

    According to a release, the APAIC fellows began working in the offices of US Senators and Representatives of both parties last week.

    Adi
    Adi

    The South Asian fellows include Adi Sathi placed in the office of the most senior Republican Senator Orrin Hatch; Saif Inam with Rep. Grace Meng; and Tejeswara Reddy with senior Democratic Rep. Mike Honda of California.

    The Congressional Fellowship Programmes mission is to connect talented Asian-American students and young professionals from around the country to public policy and leadership opportunities in Washington, DC.

    Sathi, 25, has served as a statewide vice chair of the Michigan Republican Party since February 2015. For his work in this capacity, he was recognised on Newsmaxs list of 30 Most Influential Republicans under 30 in January.

    Sathi has Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Michigan.

    Inam received the APAIC Fellowship because of his extensive Capitol Hill experience. He has interned in the House and Senate, in Washington, D.C. and the district office, as well as in an advocacy role off the Hill. He also worked as a legal intern at the Department of Interior.

    A native of Atlanta, Inam has a bachelors degree in Business Economics and Public Policy from The George Washington University and a law degree from Georgia State University.

    tej2
    Tejeswara Reddy

    Reddy, who was born in India, grew up in Portland, Oregon and has lived in India, China, and Greece. These experiences combined with his professional trajectory has enabled him to bring collaborative and cross-sectoral thinking to public policy problems, APAICS release said.

  • Suicide bomber kills 28 at mosque in northwest Pakistan

    Suicide bomber kills 28 at mosque in northwest Pakistan

    Peshawar, Sep 16 (PTI) At least 28 people, including five children, were killed and 30 others injured when a Taliban suicide bomber shouting Allahu Akbar blew himself up inside a mosque packed with worshippers for Friday prayers in Mohmand Agency in Pakistans restive northwest tribal region,

    The attacker blew himself when the prayers were in progress at the mosque in the Anbar tehsil of the agency bordering Afghanistan.

    “A suicide bomber was in the mosque. He shouted Allahu Akbar and blew himself up,” Assistant Political Agent Naveed Akbar told reporters.

    Jamat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, today claimed responsibility for the attack.

    He said that Friday prayers were being offered around 2 PM when the powerful blast took place.

    At least 28 people, including five children, were killed in the attack and 30 others injured, Pakistani media reported, citing officials.

    “Many people were gathered inside the mosque when a suicide bomber blew himself up,” an eyewitness said.

    Rescue teams and police rushed to the spot. The bodies and the injured are being shifted to local hospitals for medical treatment.

    Injured were also taken to hospitals in Bajaur Agency, Charsadda and Peshawar for treatment.

    There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Pakistani Taliban routinely targets courts, schools and mosques.

    Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the blast.

    “The cowardly attacks by terrorists cannot shatter the governments resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country,” he said in a statement.

    The attack came on a day when Sharif vowed to continue the war against militancy and terrorism till elimination of the last terrorist.

    During a meeting with Army chief General Raheel Sharif today, the prime minister expressed the resolve to continue the war against terrorism and militancy.

    The army had launched operation Zarb-e-Azb in June 2014 to flush out militant bases in the northwestern tribal areas.

     

  • Trump owes Obama an apology: Clinton

    Trump owes Obama an apology: Clinton

    Washington, Sep 16 (TIP): Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, owes an apology to the US President Barack Obama for lying about the latters place of birth, his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton demanded today ramping up the attack on the real estate mogul.

    “Barack Obama was born in America, plain and simple, and Donald Trump owes him and the American people an apology,” Clinton said.

    Moments later Trump said that Obama was born in the US, but did not say anything about the apology.

    The White House said the US President does not care about the apology.

    The Democratic Party also demanded an apology from Trump on this issue.

    At a morning event, Clinton alleged that for five years Trump had led the birther movement to delegitimise the first black president.

    “His campaign was founded on this outrageous lie. There is no erasing it in history. Just yesterday, Trump again refused to say with his own words that the president was born in the United States,” she said.

    Trump, she alleged, “is feeding into the worst impulses, the bigotry and bias that lurks” in the country.

    “There is no new Donald Trump. There never will be. Trump looks at President Obama after eight years as our president, he still doesnt see him as an American,” she said.

    “Think of how dangerous that is. Imagine a person in the Oval Office who traffics in conspiracy theories and refuses to let them go, no matter what the facts are. Imagine a President who sees someone who doesnt look like him and doesnt agree with him and thinks that person must not be a real American. Trump is unfit to be president of the US,” Clinton said amidst applause from the audience.

    “We cannot become insensitive to what he says and what he stirs up. We cant just accept this. Weve got to stand up to it. If we dont, it wont stop. In addition to the President, Trump looks at a distinguished federal judge born in Indiana and he sees a Mexican, not an American,” she alleged.

    “He looks at a Gold Star family and sees them as Muslims, not patriotic Americans. He looks at women and decides how our looks rate on a scale of one to ten. I look at America, I see everyone. I see our great diversity which is one of our core strengths, not our burden. We know who Donald Trump is. Now its time for our country to show who we are and reject his divisive vision,” Clinton said.

  • Air India Doubles Its San Francisco-Delhi Non-Stop Flight Services

    Air India Doubles Its San Francisco-Delhi Non-Stop Flight Services

    Air India announced that it will be increasing its non-stop service between San Francisco and Delhi – India’s Capital – from three to six flights a week, starting November 21, 2016.

    The Boeing 777-200LR flights will depart every day except Tuesday. The flying time is 16 hours and 15 minutes – a full 3½ hours faster than any other airline.

    The non-stop flights depart San Francisco at 10:30 AM and arrive in Delhi at 4:15 PM the next day. Departures from Delhi are at 2:35 AM, and the arrival time in San Francisco is 6:00 AM the same day.

    For passengers traveling beyond Delhi, Air India also offers the fastest connections from San Francisco to major cities across India, including Bangalore, Mumbai, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune and more.

    Like Air India’s non-stop flights from New York, Newark, and Chicago, the San Francisco-Delhi flights feature First, Business, and Economy Class and a choice of Continental or Indian cuisine served in the gracious style that is distinctly Indian.

    “Fueled by the significantly shorter flying time, our non-stop San Francisco-Delhi service was an immediate success when it launched last December,” said Ms. Vandana Sharma, Air India’s Regional Manager-Americas.

    “The three additional weekly fights are a response to the steadily increasing popularity of the service among the Indo-American communities on the west coast, and the convenience of our seamless connecting service to all the other major cities across India, many with customs and immigration formalities at the final destination.”

    For more information on Air India’s San Francisco-Delhi service, and reservations, contact your travel agent or call 1-800-223-7776.

    About Air India
    Air India, India’s national airline, has been in operation since 1932. Today, the airline serves 35 international destinations on four continents, and 66 cities across India. The airline’s fleet of 118 aircraft, including B787 Dreamliners and B777LR’s and ER’s, is one of the world’s youngest. Air India is also a member of the Star Alliance. For more information about the airline, visit www.airindia.in.

  • A CM shouldn’t be arrogant, Akhilesh needs more experience: Shivpal

    A CM shouldn’t be arrogant, Akhilesh needs more experience: Shivpal

    Amidst the Yadav family feud, Uttar Pradesh Samajwadi Party President Shivpal Yadav has commented on his nephew Akhilesh Yadav, saying that a Chief Minister should not be arrogant.

    Akhilesh Yadav, on Friday, restored all the portfolios that were withdrawn from Shivpal earlier this week.

    “I have seen many chief ministers in the state. Most turn arrogant and develop a massive ego. I have learnt a lot from Netaji (Mulayam). Akhilesh too should learn from him and me as well. Akhilesh needs more experience,” says Shivpal.

    Shivpal had earlier resigned from his position as party chief and as minister earlier as a feud erupted when he replaced Akhilesh as party chief.

    “The responsibility given to me is huge. I need to work harder as elections are near,” he said after being reinstated as party chief.

    When asked about Akhilesh’s demand for authority to take a call on ticket distribution, Shivpal said, “How elections are fought are the prerogative of the party chief and Netaji (Mulayam) will decide on ticket distribution”.

    When inquired about Amar Singh’s role in the Yadav clan unrest, he said, “Amar Singh can never cause any harm to our family. Outsiders are with Netaji and also with Akhilesh. There are some ministers in his cabinet who are outsiders and do no work.”

    Shivpal further added that he supports Akhilesh’s position as Chief Minister, even if the ruling party returns after 2017 UP Assembly elections.

    Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav will deliver a final call to put all questions to rest on Saturday.

  • Dengue Bites Vidya Balan; BMC blames Neighbor Shahid Kapoor, Served Notice

    Dengue Bites Vidya Balan; BMC blames Neighbor Shahid Kapoor, Served Notice

    VIDYA BALANBollywood actress Vidya Balan is the new victim of the Dengue outbreak. The actress was diagnosed with the disease on Friday.

    The BMC has sent a notice to actor Shahid Kapoor, who lives close to Balan on Juhu Tara road, and another neighbour to prevent the breeding of vestor for the disease, the Aedes Aegypti species of mosquito.

    While surveying Kapoor’s home, the BMC found the species breeding inside the actor’s swimming pool. Kapoor has received a notice under section 382 of the BMC Act to prevent the breeding of the mosquito, which probably bit Balan, who lives only two floors above.

    Besides attracting mosquitoes, allowing stagnant water also brings a fine of Rs 10,000 with it under the BMC act.

    Ever since the Dengue outbreak, over 1500 people have been admitted in hospitals and many have died from the ailment.

  • PM Modi’s 8 Foot Tall Birthday Cake Attempts To Break World Record

    PM Modi’s 8 Foot Tall Birthday Cake Attempts To Break World Record

    On the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on Saturday, Atul bakery, a Surat-based bakery has created an world’s biggest cake measuring eight feet high!

    The cake weights up to 3750 kg was made in collaboration with Shakti Foundation, an NGO working for the empowerment of rural women.

    The cake will be cut by girls coming from various tribal areas and distributed amongst them and others.

    The cake honours thhe Prime Minister’s ‘Beti Padhao-Beti Bachao’ campaign and is all set to break the Guiness World Record for the biggest cake.

    The present record is held by a six feet tall cake attributed to the MTR Rzeszow International Fair in Rzeszow, Poland.

    The cake was prepared by a team of 20 chefs and is made in the flavour of choco-berry. The entire pyramid is made with over 10,000 blocks and later neatly stacked together.

  • Wrestler Sakshi Malik enters top-5 in world rankings

    Wrestler Sakshi Malik enters top-5 in world rankings

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Riding on her bronze medal finish at the Rio Olympic Games, Sakshi Malik entered the top-five in the latest UWW (United World Wrestling) rankings, rising to a career-best 4th position in women’s 58kg category.

    Previously unranked, Sakshi, who became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal, claimed the position in the latest list.

    Another Indian woman wrestler -Vinesh Phogat – who made an exit in the quarterfinals after a knee injury during the Olympics, climbed up two places to 11th position in the 48kg category.

    In the men’s freestyle category, Sandeep Tomar and Bajrang Punia were the only Indians to make it to the top-20 list.

    Sandeep, who bowed out of the Olympics after losing his bout in the initial round, is currently placed at 15th position in the 57kg category, while Bajrang is ranked 18th in 61kg weight division.

  • FOR INDIA, IT WILL BE 500 NOT OUT AT GREEN PARK

    FOR INDIA, IT WILL BE 500 NOT OUT AT GREEN PARK

    KANPUR (TIP): The Green Park stadium – which has not hosted a Test match in seven years – will become part of cricketing history when it hosts the opening Test against New Zealand from September 22. The Test will be India’s 500th since the journey began at Lord’s against England on June 25, 1932. The Green Park last hosted a Test in 2009, when India played Sri Lanka. To mark the occasion, the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has decided to honour some former Indian captains during the game.

    The Green Park – although not in the same league as some other illustrious Test venues in India – has scripted its own memorable story over the years. Among the many games it has hosted are the 1959 Test against Richie Benaud’s Australia – when off-spinner Jasu Patel bagged 14 wickets to fashion a 119-win run for the hosts – and the 1983 Test against West Indies. After India had snatched the World Cup away from the West Indies, Clive Lloyd and his boys were on a revenge mission. A little bit of grass on the pitch was enough for the dangerous duo of Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding to blast the Indians away and register an innings-and-83-run win. Old-timers will remember Sunil Gavaskar losing his bat while defending a Marshall snorter in this game.

    Hosting its maiden Test against England way back in 1945, the ground has had a roller-coaster ride over the years. Once in the big leagues one of the five permanent Test centres of the country, the stadium has steadily fallen off the radar since 1974-75, when Chinnaswamy stadium, Bangalore was chosen to host West Indies instead of Green Park.

    GREEN PARK BY NUMBERS

    21 Test matches played India won 6, lost 3, drawn 12
    1st Test: India vs England; January 12-14, 1952
    1st ball faced: Pankaj Roy
    1st ball bowled: Brian Statham
    1st wicket to fall: Vinoo Mankad
    Last Test played: India vs Sri Lanka from Nov 24-27, 2009

  • I can’t wait to celebrate Rio success in India with family, friends: Deepa Malik

    I can’t wait to celebrate Rio success in India with family, friends: Deepa Malik

    If it is said that women juggle different roles with ease, it is absolutely right in the case of Deepa Malik – a wife, mother, biker, swimmer, motivational speaker, and now, a silver medalist in shot put at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, Brazil. All this, in spite of being a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair since surgeries to remove a tumour, 15 years ago. A day after she scripted history in Rio, she interacted with us and opened up about her path to success at the Paralympic Games, motivations, plans ahead and more. Excerpts…

    I still cannot believe it. To become the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic medal is an honour and it is something I will cherish for the rest of my life. I hope my journey and the medal can serve as an inspiration for differently abled Indian women to break out from their social boundaries and pursue their dreams.

    I remember that when I was first diagnosed with a tumour, people thought I would be restricted to my house throughout my life with others looking after my daily needs. But I wanted to break out from that mould and took to sports – swimming, motorsports and eventually javelin and shot put. My performance was good in the lead up to the Games, but I wanted to leave a mark and not just come here to compete and go back home. So, I put even more effort into my training, performed my personal best at the trials in July and bettered that here in Rio.

    My family first – my two daughters who have always stood by me, my husband who quit his job to travel with me for competitions. It would not have been possible without their support. Then my strength and conditioning coach Vaibhav Sirohi, who worked round the clock to help me get fitter and stronger. Finally, I would like to thank the Sports Authority of India for funding my training in the lead up to the Games, and of course the GoSports Foundation team for always being there for me and for funding my international competition in the US earlier this year and also facilitating my strength and conditioning coach Vaibhav’s travel to Rio to be with me ahead of my event.

    I trained in Delhi at Siri Fort with my strength and conditioning coach. Suggestions of training abroad was often offered to me but I preferred to stay in India to train in a familiar environment where I was more comfortable. You don’t always need to go abroad to train to achieve something great. What is important is to plan your preparations the right way, and I think my performance in Rio proved that.

    When people around you are supporting and cooperative, everything becomes easier. My family understands the challenges. I always try and work around my schedules. Being a biker has always been my passion. The athlete part is probably the most challenging, but the rewards (like the one in Rio) make it all worth it.

    Without doubt. You always gain strength from adversity and I think I did that as well. The tumour and the subsequent surgeries forced me to reconsider my life’s goals and inspired me to venture on a new path of self- exploration and excellence.

    Nothing much for now. I just cannot wait to get back to India to be with my family and friends and celebrate the success at the Paralympic Games.

    The government, through the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), funded my preparations here in India. They have offered a lot of support this time. But the support needs to continue in a planned and sustained manner. The next major event is the World Championships in 2017. What needs to be done is to implement developmental programmes specifically for para sports, including investing in infrastructure to ensure that the support reaches a wider group of athletes. (PTI)