The Indian Panorama

Month: September 2017

  • DEEPIKA PADUKONE IS NOT YET OVER WITH ‘PADMAVATI’ SHOOT

    DEEPIKA PADUKONE IS NOT YET OVER WITH ‘PADMAVATI’ SHOOT

    No, Deepika Padukone is not yet over with the shooting of her upcoming Sanjay Leela Bhansali film ‘Padmavati.’

    Earlier in the day, it was reported that the Mastani of Bollywood has wrapped up the shooting for her upcoming movie.

    A spokesperson of the movie has rubbished all such reports and clarified , “the reports are completely untrue. All the primary cast members of the movie still have a few scenes to shoot for.”

    The spokesperson labeled all such rumours as speculative and baseless. For the uninitiated, it was reported that

    “Deepika has wrapped filming for her part. The actress has reserved additional three to five days for any patchwork if required. Patch work will be shot only after Ranveer and Shahid have finished shooting their respective portions”.

    ‘Padmavati’ is an upcoming Indian period drama film jointly produced by Bhansali Productions and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures.

    The film features Deepika as Rani Padmini, alongside Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji and Shahid Kapoor as Rana Rawal Ratan Singh.

    Source: ANI

  • MOVIE REVIEW : A GENTLEMAN

    MOVIE REVIEW : A GENTLEMAN

    CAST: Sidharth Malhotra, Jacqueline Fernandez, Hussain Dalal, Darshan Kumar, Suniel Shetty
    DIRECTION: Raj & DK
    GENRE: Action Comedy
    DURATION: 2 hours 12 minutes

    STORY

    Gaurav is a strait-laced techie who has picket-fence dreams of a wife, two kids and a dog; Rishi kills for a living in the seedy lanes of south-east Asian cities. How will their paths cross?

    REVIEW

    A Gentleman is a lazy title for this action-comedy, which is an improvement on the leave-your-brains-at-home genre that we have been (just as) lazily lapping up.

    Directors Raj & DK introduce the two Sidharths with light humour and low-key intrigue. Gaurav is a good boy with slicked-back hair, tucked-in shirt, a safe mini-van and a big house. He’s passively wooing Kavya (Jacqueline).

    Rishi enters the scene jumping off a railing and knocking a security guard unconscious; he’s a rough, risk-taking contract killer for Unit X headed by Colonel (Suniel Shetty), but he’s a goon with a golden heart who has had enough.

    A Gentleman has a lot of moving parts; it cuts between the two Sidharths with some thrill and a dose of dry humour in the first half. Special points must be given out for not resorting to slapstick or physical comedy. The connection between the two — a smoothly executed sequence halfway through the movie — is the highlight.

    The directors could have easily used the big suspense as the climax, however, they take a chance by making it their story’s interval.

    But the downside of that risky reveal is that the intrigue is sucked out of the movie. The second half steadily declines into the usual action fare with stolen hard drives, close-quarter combats and heists in big glass buildings. However, the action sequences will keep you hooked.

    The film’s lead pair will also keep your eyes on the screen. Sidharth plays the two parts with distinctive skills and puts his charm to good use. Jacqueline’s sincerity is palpable and she makes for a breezy addition here. Hussain Dalal provides comic relief and Darshan Kumar’s one-tone villainous act is satisfactory.

    The film would have been a perfect entertainer had it held its cards closer to its chest. However, it still has plenty bang for your buck.

  • DEMO, GST DRAG GROWTH TO THREE-YEAR LOW

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Unable to recover from frequent policy disruptions, which started with demonetisation last November to Goods and Services Tax (GST) destocking and the new real estate law among others, India’s economic growth dropped to a three-year low of 5.7 per cent in April- June and in the process falling below China’s growth rate.

    This is much lower than the revised growth of 7.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2016-17. Even on a sequential basis, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was 6.1 per cent in the preceding quarter.

    Following the abysmal numbers, several analysts and brokerages said they would revise downwards the full-year numbers for GDP forecast.

    Crisil said for fiscal 2018, it was in the process of revising down its GDP growth forecast of 7.4 per cent. Part two of the Economic Survey has already warned that reaching the upper end of the 6.5-7.5 per cent GDP forecast would be difficult.

    Ever since the shock decision of demonetisation, the economy, which was already sluggish, has slumped further as businesses and consumers are adjusting to new disruptions, which at least in the short term are hurting growth.

    Given the latest RBI figures, stating that only Rs 16,000 crore worth of scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes did not return to the system, the amount gained is miniscule compared to a much higher loss due to a hit in economic activity caused due to the note ban.

    So while there was a fading impact of demonetisation left to be absorbed by industry, especially the informal sector, the fresh uncertainty came in the form of GST, which has been rolled nationwide as the indirect tax system.

    Manufacturing has been worst hit in the first quarter of 2017-18 as the GST implementation from July 1 led to destocking of inventories much in advance. Manufacturing fell sharply in the quarter from 10.7 per cent to 1.2 per cent with the predominant pressure coming from the private sector small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) segment.

    Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the 5.7 pc GDP growth in Q1 was a matter of concern. Manufacturing was down due to GST impact on destocking and with GST implemented, the curve could turn for better, he added.Crisil Research said in a note that the government had also revised down gross value added (GVA) growth for the fourth quarter of last fiscal by 50 basis points (bps) to 5.6 per cent, suggesting that the impact of demonetisation on the economy was more than earlier estimated. Source: The Tribune

  • Modi’s $87 billion river-linking project set to take off as floods hit India

    Modi’s $87 billion river-linking project set to take off as floods hit India

    NEW DELHI (TIP): After years of foot-dragging, India will begin work in around a month on an $87 billion scheme to connect some of the country’s biggest rivers, government sources say, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi bets on the ambitious project to end deadly floods and droughts.

    The mammoth plan entails linking nearly 60 rivers, including the mighty Ganges, which the government hopes will cut farmers’ dependence on fickle monsoon rains by bringing millions of hectares of cultivatable land under irrigation.

    In recent weeks, some parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal have been hit by the worst monsoon floods in years, following two years of poor rainfall.

    Modi has personally pushed through clearances for the first phase of the project – which would also generate thousands of megawatts of electricity – the sources say, despite opposition from environmentalists, tiger lovers and a former royal family.

    That will involve construction of a dam on the Ken river, also known as the Karnavati, in north-central India and a 22- km (14-mile) canal connecting it to the shallow Betwa.

    Both rivers flow through vast swathes of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the prime minister hopes the Ken-Betwa scheme will set a template for other proposed river interlinking projects, one of the sources said.

    “We have got clearances in record time, with the last round of clearances coming in only this year,” Sanjeev Balyan, the junior water resources minister, told Reuters. “The Ken- Betwa interlinking tops the priority list of the government.”

    Government officials say diverting water from bounteous rivers such as the Ganges, Godavari and Mahanadi to sparse waterways by building a clutch of dams and a network of canals is the only solution to floods and droughts.

    But some experts say India would be better off investing in water conservation and better farm practices. Environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts have also warned of ecological damage.

    The 425-km (265-mile) Ken flows through a tiger reserve nestled in a verdant valley. The government plans to clear out 6.5 percent of the forest reserve to build the dam, relocating nearly 2,000 families from 10 remote villages.

    Around half a dozen clearances, including on environmental and forest protection, have been obtained for the scheme to link the Ken and Betwa, according to two sources and documents seen by Reuters.

    Modi’s cabinet is likely to give its final go-ahead for the project within a couple of weeks, sources say, after which he will flag off construction at the site about 805 km (500 miles) from New Delhi, currently marked only by rows of red concrete slabs placed on the ground.

    Source: Reuters

  • Bofors: SC to hear plea challenging dropping of charges against Hindujas

    Bofors: SC to hear plea challenging dropping of charges against Hindujas

    NEW DELHI (TIP): In a fresh turn of events, the Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal filed by BJP leader Ajay Kumar Agarwal challenging a 2005 Delhi High Court order quashing charges against Europe-based industrialists–the Hinduja brothers–in the politically sensitive Bofors pay-off scam case.

    A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said it would list the appeal for hearing in the week commencing October 30.

    The order came on an interim application filed by Agarwal seeking early hearing and adjudication of the appeal filed against the Delhi High Court order in the Rs 64-crore scam case.

    The CBI, which investigated the scam, had not filed any appeal in the top court against the quashing of charges against certain accused within the stipulated 90- day period.

    Agarwal, in his personal capacity, filed the appeal which was admitted by the apex court on October 18, 2005.

    The Rs 1,437-crore deal between India and the Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors for the supply of 400 155mm Howitzer guns for the Indian Army was sealed on March 24, 1986. The Swedish Radio had on April 16, 1987 claimed that the company had paid bribes to top Indian politicians and defence personnel.

    The CBI had on January 22, 1990 registered the FIR for the alleged offence of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery under the Indian Penal Code and other sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Martin Ardbo, the then President of AB Bofors, alleged middleman Win Chadda and the Hinduja brothers.

    The CBI had alleged that certain public servants and private people in India and abroad had entered into a criminal conspiracy between 1982 and 1987 in pursuance of which the offences of bribery, corruption, cheating and forgery were committed.

    The first chargesheet in the case was filed on October 22, 1999 against Chadda, Ottavio Quattrocchi, then Defence Secretary SK Bhatnagar, Ardbo and the Bofors company. A supplementary chargesheet against the Hinduja brothers was filed on October 9, 2000.

    A special CBI court in Delhi had on March 4, 2011, discharged Quattrocchi from the case saying the country could not afford to spend hard-earned money on his extradition which had already cost Rs 250 crore. Source: PTI

  • Arms sale to Pakistan has strings

    Arms sale to Pakistan has strings

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The Trump administration notified Congress on August 30 that it was putting $255 million in military assistance to Pakistan into the equivalent of an escrow account that Islamabad can only access if it does more to crack down on internal terror networks launching attacks on neighboring Afghanistan.

    The dueling messages sent to Pakistan — promising aid but attaching strings if the country’s counter terror efforts fall short — are part of an increasingly confrontational turn in an alliance that has long been strained.

    The United States has provided Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid since 2002. But the annual funding has declined in recent years as Washington became increasingly disenchanted with Pakistan’s quiet support for the Haqqani network and the Taliban, whose attacks have been responsible for the deaths of US troops in Afghanistan.

    Still, US officials have long recognized that Pakistan has tried to crack down on terror groups, and plays an important role in facilitating supply shipments to the US military in Afghanistan.

    Last week, in announcing his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, President Donald Trump excoriated Pakistan.

    “We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond,” Trump said.

    He added: “We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately.”

    State Department officials said that Trump’s promised changes would bring explicit conditions on military aid. Once Pakistan more aggressively pursues the Taliban and Haqqani network, the aid will be released — a determination to be made by Secretary of State Rex W Tillerson, officials said.

    Last week, Tillerson suggested that the United States’ patience with Pakistan was nearing a breaking point.

    “We’re going to be conditioning our support for Pakistan and our relationship with them on them delivering results in this area,” Tillerson said. Critics of US aid to Pakistan said the administration was still not being tough enough. “I would have preferred that the money just disappeared,” said C Christine Fair, an associate professor at Georgetown University. “But if they’re going to do this, they should have said Pakistan can’t buy strategic weapons that could be used to attack India, such as F-16s.”

    The $255 million in military assistance was the largest portion of $1.1 billion in aid authorized by Congress in 2016 that also included money for counternarcotics operations and health initiatives. If the State Department had failed to notify Congress in the next few weeks of its intention to spend the money, it would have been returned to the US Treasury.

    Rather than lose such a carrot, Trump administration officials said they wanted to use the money as incentive for Pakistan to change its behavior. By effectively putting the funds into escrow, the Trump administration also allows its own ongoing review of its policy toward Pakistan to continue unaffected by aid concerns, officials said Wednesday. (AP)

  • Pervez Musharraf declared fugitive in ex-Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto’s murder trial

    Pervez Musharraf declared fugitive in ex-Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto’s murder trial

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf was on August 31 declared a proclaimed offender by a special anti-terrorism court which sentenced two senior police officers to 17 years in jail in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, nearly 10 years after her assassination.

    Bhutto, a two-time prime minister, was killed in a gun and bomb attack in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh during an election campaign rally on December 27, 2007. She was 54.

    The case was registered soon after the assassination and the trial went through many ups and down until concluded yesterday in Rawalpindi.

    Judge Asghar Khan announced the verdict in court, where former Rawalpindi CPO Saud Aziz and former Rawal Town SP Khurram Shahzad — suspects out on bail — were also present.

    Aziz and Shahzad were sentenced to 17 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh each.

    While five other accused have been acquitted, former president Musharraf has been declared a proclaimed offender, with an order to seize his property. (PTI)

  • Vegetarian Vision Convention on September 9 and 10 in New York

    Vegetarian Vision Convention on September 9 and 10 in New York

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Vegetarian Vision, a 501 (C ) Non-Profit Organization, will have a 2-day Health and Wellness EXPO to celebrate its 25th anniversary – International Vegetarian Convention at the Penn Plaza Pavilion (401 Seventh Ave. at 33 St., NYC) on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10, 2017. The weekend will highlight Food for medicine – Health Talks by over 50 renowned speakers, compassion, healthy living and will feature non-stop food, fun, fitness, and wellness. The family-friendly festivities will include demonstrations, classes, tastings, fashion show, pageant, kids’ activities, youth activities and live cultural performances, beginning at 10 AM daily. Tickets are $15 for one day and $25 for the weekend. Additional information can be found on their website at www.vegetarianvision.org.

    During the two-day event, renowned celebrities, dignitaries and political leaders will be on hand to celebrate all things vegetarian. An expected 100+ merchants and vendors will be on site to introduce guests to the pleasure of vegetarianism. Over couple dozen food vendors will serve up plant-based, vegetarian and vegan fare from around the globe. Indian, Chinese Japanese, Indonesian, French, Kosher and American chefs will conduct cooking demonstrations and offer tasty samples throughout the day and adults will also be able to taste various vegan wines from a variety of purveyors while children enjoy various activities in the “Kids’ Corner.”

  • Koo visits South Asian Council for Social Services Summer Youth Leadership Program

    Koo visits South Asian Council for Social Services Summer Youth Leadership Program

    CM Koo and Sudha Acharya at the first S. Asian food pantry in NYC. CM Koo contributed funding to the pantry in the latest budget cycle
  • NY City Health Department warns of spread of sexually transmitted infections

    NY City Health Department warns of spread of sexually transmitted infections

    To prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections, Health Department recommends condom use and regular testing; syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The Health Department released, August 31, new data showing that rates of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea continue to increase, mirroring national trends over the past three years. From 2015 to 2016, New York City rates of syphilis increased by 27 percent; rates of gonorrhea rose by 13 percent; and rates of chlamydia increased by 6 percent. The vast majority of syphilis and most gonorrhea cases are among men, particularly men who have sex with other men, while women continue to have the highest rates of chlamydia. These increases are related to many factors, including more New Yorkers being tested with improved techniques.

    As part of the Health Department’s efforts to address the increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a new citywide campaign encouraging New Yorkers to get tested will appear in bus shelters and subways and run on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Gay Ad Network and Grindr. This new campaign follows “Bare It All,” a provocative and groundbreaking citywide awareness campaign that emboldens New Yorkers to talk openly with their doctors about their sex lives, drug use and other issues that affect their health. Earlier this year, the City also expanded clinical services and hours of operations at its Sexual Health Clinics (formerly known as STD clinics). Anyone 12 years or older can be tested for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV at the City’s Sexual Health Clinics, even if they have no symptoms.

    New campaign will encourage STI testing and run on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Gay Ad Network and Grindr and in bus shelters and subway cars citywide

    As part of his plan to End the HIV Epidemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio has invested $23 million annually to reduce the number of new HIV infections, as well as assure a strong STI prevention infrastructure. The investment is unparalleled and places New York City in the best possible position to effectively curb STI increases.

     “Sex is part of human existence. It can contribute to one’s fulfillment and sense of wellbeing, but it can also pose health risks,” said Assistant Commissioner Dr. Susan Blank, Bureau of STD Control. “Short of abstinence – which is not realistic for many New Yorkers – condoms provide the best protection available for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. New Yorkers should talk to their providers about if and how they have sex, so that their providers can screen for and treat any infections before they lead to long term complications.”

    Many people with STIs have no signs or symptoms. However, untreated STIs can have lasting health effects, including visual and hearing loss, dementia, paralysis, infertility and stillbirth. Having syphilis, gonorrhea or chlamydia can make it easier to get or spread HIV. The best way to prevent the spread of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia is through condom use, early detection and treatment. Sexually active New Yorkers are encouraged to be open and honest with their doctors about their sexual practices and ask about getting tested for STIs. Testing for these infections is easy, and they are curable with antibiotics.

    Among other recent efforts by the Health Department to prevent and treat STIs are:

    Sexual Health Clinics

    The City’s eight Sexual Health Clinics operate Monday through Friday, with Saturday hours available at the Riverside and Fort Greene clinics.

    LGBTQ Health Care Bill of Rights

    In June, the Department announced New York City’s first-ever LGBTQ Health Care Bill of Rights, which details health care protections on local, state and federal levels to empower LGBTQ New Yorkers to get the health care they deserve.

    PlaySure Kit

    In December 2015, the Health Department launched PlaySure – a novel health marketing campaign to prevent HIV and other STIs, followed by StaySure in 2016. The goal of these sex-positive campaigns is to reach all New Yorkers and encourage them to choose their preferred tools to prevent HIV and other STIs, regardless of their HIV status.

    NYC Condom

    In 2016, the Health Department and its partners distributed more than 38 million condoms at 3,500 diverse locations in New York City, including bars, clubs, restaurants, nail salons, barber shops, hospitals, clinics, universities, and community-based organizations. When used correctly and consistently, condoms are highly effective in preventing unintended pregnancies and offer effective protection against most STIs, including HIV. The City’s effort to increase the availability of condoms has contributed to citywide declines in teen pregnancy rates and HIV rates. To find free NYC Condoms, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/condoms. To learn more about condom use and sexual health or to download the free NYC Condom Finder app, please visit facebook.com/NYCcondom.

     

  • Credit Suisse’s NEXT Investors Backs Sapience Analytics

    Credit Suisse’s NEXT Investors Backs Sapience Analytics

    NEW YORK / PUNE (TIP):  Sapience Analytics, an innovative People Analytics solution company, announced, August 29,  a majority investment from Credit Suisse Asset Management’s NEXT Investors. The NEXT investment will be primarily used to accelerate Sapience Analytics’ expansion into the US market.

    Founded in 2009 with the vision to transform people, processes and productivity, Sapience Analytics is a market leader in People Analytics and provides a unique enterprise workforce analytics and efficiency solution. Sapience delivers unprecedented visibility into work patterns and behavior in an organization, which is being used by leaders of over 70 major customers to make better informed decisions and improve operating efficiencies across their enterprises. The Sapience platform focuses on helping companies achieve improved efficiencies for staffing, workload optimization, process improvement, robotic process automation, and outsourcing governance.

    “We are seeing rapid growth for Sapience in the US market. We stand to benefit from our relationship with the NEXT team and their rich industry network which will enhance our ability to accelerate further,” said Shirish Deodhar, CEO and Co-Founder of Sapience Analytics. “As a result of this investment, our headquarters will be relocated to the U.S., and we will continue to make strong management additions and add experienced board members to help capture a greater share of the large global enterprise market. Sapience is a unique People Analytics solution, and unlike other products, is based on automated capture and inferencing of work trends rather than any external or subjective people data.”

    Greg Grimaldi, Portfolio Manager, NEXT Investors at Credit Suisse Asset Management, said, “With operational efficiency and human capital productivity continuing to be a focus for the financial services industry, businesses need to be smarter in how they deploy resources and allocate workflow. Sapience Analytics helps solve a big pain point by empowering large institutions to efficiently manage human capital resources to help optimize work streams across an increasingly disparate workforce made up of permanent staff, third-party vendors, consultants, and contractors.”

    Joining the Sapience Analytics board of directors are Frank Fanzilli, Senior Advisor to NEXT Investors and former Global CIO at Credit Suisse First Boston, and Corporate Director at EnterpriseDB, SugarCRM, and Linux Foundation, and Mr. Grimaldi. As part of this investment, industry veteran Bradley Killinger has also joined as the President of the company, leading the North American business as well as global sales and marketing. His background includes prior leadership positions at IBM, Oracle, Unisys, among other firms.

    “The Sapience platform has a unique value proposition that helps customers significantly improve workforce productivity while also improving employee engagement. Our technology-agnostic approach allows for fast and easy deployments that enable early ROIs for our customers. I am thrilled to be joining such an innovative company as we help define the People Analytics market,” said Mr. Killinger.

    Sapience Analytics is helping more than 100,000 users and over 70 enterprises across 12 countries to move the needle on employee engagement, organizational productivity, and business profitability. The company’s current client base comes from Fortune Global 200 enterprises, top 50 global IT services firms, engineering, finance, and business process outsourcing companies.

  • Northeast Queens Women Rally for Paul Vallone

    Northeast Queens Women Rally for Paul Vallone

    Elected Officials and Prominent Community Leaders Endorse Vallone

    QUEENS, NY (TIP): On Monday, August 21, Council Member Vallone stood with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and many prominent female community leaders as they rallied to show their support for the Council Member’s re-election. Supporters cited not only his work to improve the quality of life for the residents of Northeast Queens but also his work on issues that affect women.

    “As a husband and father of two wonderful daughters, I am very aware of the issues that affect women throughout our City. I am proud to fight for legislation and initiatives that protect and empower women in their personal and professional lives,” said Council Member Paul Vallone. “All the great work that we’ve accomplished in my first four years could not have happened without the help and support of all the women standing here with us today.  I look forward to another four years of productive partnership as we continue to fight for Northeast Queens.”

    During his tenure in the City Council, Council Member Vallone has secured funding for the complete renovation and restoration of a landmarked building in Fort Totten that will serve as the new home for the Center of the Women of New York (CWNY). Since their founding in 1987, the Center has shown that women working together can be an effective force. They are a voluntary, non-profit organization existing primarily on dues from their members and on the volunteer efforts of business, professional and community women. They strive to be a one-stop, walk-in resource center for women.

    In addition, the Council Member has allocated over $375,000 to fight domestic violence through the Domestic Violence and Empowerment (DOVE) initiative as well as supported legislation that equals the playing field for women.

    “Paul A. Vallone is a tireless advocate for Northeast Queens whose leadership has improved our quality of life,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “I look forward to his reelection and continuing our work together to advance the World’s borough”

    “As we approach the 100-year-anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement in New York, it is vital that we reflect on the strides women have made, but also where inequality still persists,” State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said. “Unfortunately, this presidential administration has proven inefficient in furthering equality for women, but I have seen everyday people as well as state and city elected officials take up the mantel and continue to push for equality for all. That is why it is imperative we continue to elect true progressives, like Councilman Vallone, who are proven allies for minority and disenfranchised groups.  As a progressive Democrat and a woman, I can think of no better person to represent the 19th City Council District.”

    “Council Member Paul Vallone has consistently and passionately advocated for Queens families in the City Council whether it concerns our schools, pedestrian safety, supporting small businesses, or elevating women in the workforce,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. “I proudly endorse Paul and look forward to continuing our partnership on issues making a difference for the future of our communities.”

  • Deputy killed, CHP officers injured in shooting near Sacramento County motel

    Deputy killed, CHP officers injured in shooting near Sacramento County motel

    Suspect in shooting of California deputy identified has violent record

    SACRAMENTO, CA (TIP): Sacramento County Sheriff’s investigators have identified two of the three suspects involved in a deadly shootout that killed one deputy and injured two CHP officers.

    According to a press release, homicide detectives say Thomas Daniel Littlecloud, 32, of Castro Valley, used a high-powered assault rifle in a shootout with sheriff’s deputies which resulted in the shooting death of 21-year veteran Deputy Robert French Wednesday afternoon.

    The situation began a little after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, when the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Auto Theft Task Force was near the Ramada Inn along Auburn Boulevard when they located a stolen car in the parking lot.

    The investigators attempted to stop the suspected car when a chase ensued. Two women entered the suspect car, which eventually led them to Elk Grove, where the women were eventually detained, according to deputies.

    California Highway Patrol officers arrested one woman, later identified as Priscilla Prendez, 23, of Oakland, and charged her with felony vehicle theft and evasion.

    The other woman was questioned and released, according to deputies.

    Since Prendez was reportedly on a searchable probation, CHP investigators returned to the Ramada Inn to search the room she was apparently staying in. The investigators knocked on the door of the room to see if other people were in the room, and were greeted by gunshots through the door and walls of the room toward the officers, deputies said.

    The gunfire struck the two CHP investigators, according to sheriff’s officials. Sheriff’s deputies were positioned on the back side of the hotel room where Littlecloud was trying to exit when they came into contact with the suspect.

    Littlecloud opened fire on the deputies, striking Deputy French. The suspect fled from the balcony into a nearby car where he then led officers on a chase south on Fulton Avenue and then east on El Camino Avenue, investigators said.

    The suspect crashed the car just west of Watt Avenue, and engaged pursuing officers in firefight. The suspect was struck by gunfire and detained. He was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital.

    Littlecloud is being treated at a local hospital and is currently in critical condition with life-threatening wounds.

    The car Littlecloud was driving was allegedly reported stolen out of the bay area, investigators said. Littlecloud has a criminal history dating back to 2004, including a six-year sentence for assault with a semi-automatic weapon and prison time of more than a year for vehicle theft, court records said.

    He was also sentenced in 2013 to three years for evading a police officer and possessing and illegal gun and twice violated parole in 2015.

    The two wounded CHP officers are being treated at a local hospital. They are in stable condition and expected to survive.

    Deputy French, 52, however, died of his injuries en route to the hospital. He leaves behind three adult children, grandchildren, a sister, and live-in girlfriend.

    An independent review of the officer involved shooting will be conducted by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and the Inspector General.

    The six other deputies involved in the shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation as per standard department protocol.

     

  • Five honored at AIA Benefit Gala to Fund Deepavali at South Street Seaport

    Five honored at AIA Benefit Gala to Fund Deepavali at South Street Seaport

    MELVILLE, NY (TIP): The Association of Indians in America, NY Chapter (AIA-NY) held its Benefit Gala in support for its 30th Annual Deepavali Festival at the Hilton Hotel in Melville, Long Island on August 26, 2016. The Gala was attended by a large number which included past presidents of AIA, Community Leaders and dignitaries including members of the media and sponsors who expressed their continued commitment and support for the Deepavali Festival.

    The 30th Annual Deepavali Festival will take place at the South Street Seaport on Sunday October 1st from 12 noon till 7pm, culminating with a spectacular display of Fireworks. The event is one of the largest in the tri-state area, attracting 75,000 – 100,000 people. Festival of Deepavali meaning ‘A row of lamps’ is also popularly known as Diwali, or ‘Festival of Lights’.  It signifies the triumph of ‘Good over Evil’. The festival will be a full day celebration with numerous corporate booths, food & clothing vendors, performances and activities for the whole family including a live grand display of fireworks.

    AIA President Gobind Munjal speaks about the flagship event of AIA-Diwali at South Street Seaport.

    Among the individuals honored at the Gala were Vaijinath Chakote, MD, Physician/ Entrepreneur, Empire Medical Services, Aditya Mattoo, MD, Nephrologist, NYU Langone Medical Center, Mr. Chintu Patel & Falguni Patel, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Ashutosh Tewari, MD, Chairman of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.

    The evening was blessed by the presence of Padma Vibhushan Legendary Pandit Jasraj Ji and special performances from Miss Teen Bollywood USA 2017, Manjari Parekh.

    This is the 30th year of Deepavali & 50th year of the Association of Indians in America. The highlights of 30th Deepavali 2017 will include Naach Inferno returning to the stage of Deepavali with college and university teams from around the Tri-State area as they showcase dances fusing both East and West cultures. Presented by Star Plus, the competition will be showcased globally.

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

    This year, AIA-NY’s 30th Deepavali celebrations are going to be held on Sunday Oct 1, 2017 at the South Street Seaport. Please look for the announcement of a celebrity very soon.

    For more info, please find us on Facebook and visit our website at www.theaiany.org.

  • 13Year Old Indian Origin Boy Gets Top Score in Mensa IQ

    13Year Old Indian Origin Boy Gets Top Score in Mensa IQ

    Dhruv Garg achieved 162 in his entry IQ test – the maximum possible, which places him in the top one per cent of people in the world, a report said.

    “I’m really looking forward to the new school year, I really like school and want to use the app to help people,” Garg said.

    LONDON (TIP): A 13-year-old Indian-origin boy in the UK has got the highest possible score of 162 on a Mensa IQ test, placing him in the top one per cent people in the world who achieved this feat.

    Dhruv Garg, from Wokingham in south east England, was looking for something to occupy his time during the summer holidays and decided to try out for the intellectual society.

    The schoolboy achieved 162 in his entry IQ test – the maximum possible, which places him in the top one per cent of people in the world, the Daily Mirror reported.

    He also scored in the highest mark in the second test, known as the Culture Fair scale, getting 152.

    This score qualifies him amongst the rare one per cent of the population who take the Mensa exam worldwide in both the exams.

    Garg, who goes to Reading School, a grammar in Berkshire, has also been developing an app to combat social isolation by helping lonely people meet up.

    The app connects people who live in the same area who want to meet new people.

    “I was just so surprised to get the result. I was looking for something to do over the summer holidays and so I thought I’d try taking the test, but did not expect to do so well,” he said.

    “I’m really looking forward to the new school year, I really like school and want to use the app to help people,” Garg said.

    His mother, Divya, said the whole family is proud of their young prodigy, whose favorite subjects are maths and chemistry.

    “When he got the maximum score, they told me it’s the highest mark possible but I didn’t realize what it meant. It was only when I spoke to Mensa that they told me I said, ‘oh my God’ this is special, this is really something worth celebrating,” she said.

    A keen cricketer and table tennis player, Garg can also complete a Rubik’s Cube in under 100 seconds.

    “In year, one was when we started to realize he was gifted as his teachers said he was very sharp and had to have special lessons, so all along he was always special. He is an avid reader and reads a lot of journals,” Garg’s mother said.

    Mensa is believed to be the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world. Membership is open to anyone who can demonstrate an IQ in the top two per cent of the population, measured by a recognized or approved IQ testing process.

     

  • Yoshita Singh, a senior journalist and author of the book ‘Shrilal Shukla’s Raag Darbari: Satire in Indian Literature- A Critical Analysis’ honored by Nassau County

    Yoshita Singh, a senior journalist and author of the book ‘Shrilal Shukla’s Raag Darbari: Satire in Indian Literature- A Critical Analysis’ honored by Nassau County

    MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Senior United Nations and New York journalist Yoshita Singh was honored with a citation as she presented her newly released book, a scholarly and analytical critique on satire in Indian literature based on the work of one of India’s most renowned authors, to Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos.

    Singh is an acclaimed and experienced journalist and has been covering New York and the United Nations for India’s most prestigious news agency Press Trust of India since 2011.

    She presented a copy of her debut book ‘Shrilal Shukla’s Raag Darbari: Satire in Indian Literature. A Critical Analysis’ to Maragos at his office in Nassau County on Au-gust 18. Also present on the occasion was Deputy Comptroller for Minority Affairs Dilip Chauhan. Maragos honored Singh with a citation that noted her new book.

    Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos honoring Senior journalist Yoshita Singh with citation during presentation of her new book ‘Shrilal Shukla’s Raag Darbari: Satire in Indian Literature. A Critical Analysis’ to him on August 18 at the Comptroller’s Office at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501.Seen in the picture, from L to R: Deputy Comptroller for Minority Affairs Mr. Dilip Chauhan, Nassau County Comptroller Mr. George Maragos, Yoshita Singh, Mrs. Savita Mohabe, Mr. Raj Mohabe.

    Singh has “accomplished extraordinary success and have distinguished yourself among your peers,” the citation read adding that Singh has “demonstrated selfless commitment to our community and its residents that warrants attention and gratitude.”

    The citation from the Nassau County Comptroller’s office recognizes outstanding individuals who have rendered significant contributions for the enhancement of the community.

    Maragos congratulated Singh on her new book, expressing confidence that the book will be a notable contribution in the field of literature, not only in India, and will enhance readers’ understanding of the use of satire in depicting prevalent political, social and cultural realities.

    Chauhan also congratulated Singh on her literary achievement, saying the book will definitely add to a reader’s perspective of the use of literary genres to highlight social best practices as well as ills.

    “Singh brilliantly demonstrates in her book that every form of literary expression, be it satire or humor, should be respected for the enduring messages they portray about life,” Chauhan said.

    Singh said she was honored to be able to present her book to the Comptroller and expressed gratitude for his words of appreciation for her and the citation. She said her book is a scholastic analysis on satire in Indian literature, with special focus on ‘Raag Darbari’, a brilliant novel by the late Shrilal Shukla, who is known as among the most accomplished writers in India for his political and social satires. Shukla was awarded India’s highest literary honor, the ‘Sahitya Akademi Award’ in 1969 for Raag Darbari.

    Singh said through her book, she has attempted a critical analysis of Shukla’s use of satire in depicting the realities and sensibilities of rural life in post-independence India and whether circumstances have changed or remained the same 70 years after the world’s largest democracy attained independence.

    Yoshita Singh is Senior Correspondent based in New York for the Press Trust of India. She covers the United Nations and New York for India’s largest newswire, which is headquartered in New Delhi. She has 14 years’ experience and has worked in Chicago, Boston and New Delhi.

    Singh has a Master’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Lucknow in India and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism through distance education from the Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communications in Pune. She also did a digital journalism course from Harvard University.

  • Indian-American Helps with Life Saving Medication during Hurricane Harvey

    Indian-American Helps with Life Saving Medication during Hurricane Harvey

    HOUSTON, TX (TIP):   When a Texas hospital called to request a rare disease medication, an Indian-American CEO of a pharmacy firm got it shipped by to Houston from Orlando by sending his employee to pick it up as all logistics company were unable to deliver overnight due to Hurricane Harvey.

    Harish Katharani, founder and CEO of Southside Group of Companies, explained Impavido – only oral treatment drug used for critically ill patients with Leishmaniasis – costs about USD 49,000 and hence is not readily stocked by pharmacies.

    Mr. Kathrani sent one of his employee to get the drug shipped to Texas Children’s Hospital in the midst of Harvey, the most powerful hurricane to hit the US mainland in 13 years. Harvey has left a trail of destruction across Texas, pummeling the region with heavy rains. Around 13 million people have been battling “catastrophic” flooding in Texas.

    In another incident, Medicare Advantage provider TexanPlus contacted Southside’s Texas Medical Centre to inquire if the firm could provide services to their patients during the hurricane weekend.

    Despite not being contracted by this health maintenance organization, Southside readily volunteered to provide healthcare services to their patients during this crisis.

    TexanPlus circulated an internal memo letting their case workers know about Southside’s availability during Hurricane Harvey.

    The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston’s Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia stated that he was proud that one of their Chamber members was going above and beyond the call of duty to serve the community in this hour of need.

    Southside is a pharmacist owned and operated company established in 1992. They ship specialty medication to over 35 states. Their pharmacies will remain open during the weekend’s regular hours but their pharmacist and nurses are on call 24/7 to help Texans tide over the troubles case by the hurricane.

    Mr. Katharani, who came to the US in 1972, is a generous donor to various charitable organizations such as MS Society, Hep-C Clinic, Liver Foundations as well as to Cancer and HIV research institutions.

  • Sam Pitroda Announces Overseas Congress Expansion Worldwide

    Sam Pitroda Announces Overseas Congress Expansion Worldwide

    LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK (TIP): The newly appointed Chairman of the Overseas Congress Dept of AICC, Sam Pitroda addressed The Indian National Overseas Congress USA members in New York.

    A press release issued by INOC said INOC USA hosted a welcome event for its new leader at the Cotillion Banquet Hall in New York on August 26th, 2017. The event was attended by all the chapters of Overseas Congress, the executive committee and its National President Shudh Parkash Singh.

    The event started with Shudh Singh introducing Sam Pitroda as a great Patriot and a man who brought revolution in Telecom and Communication in India working with the complex bureaucracy, a difficult system and obsolete resources in the 1980’s. He said that Sam Pitroda was able to bring the telephone to every household in India with his initiative (CDOT) and said that he was fortunate to be working with a legend like Sam Pitroda who is our Chairman Overseas Congress Dept AICC. Shudh also stated he will follow all directions of Sam Pitroda like he always followed earlier Chairman’s directions.

     “Our dynamic leader Rahul Gandhi could not have appointed a better person to lead overseas congress in my opinion”, added Shudh Parkash Singh.

    Sam Pitroda spoke on his journey in transforming Digital and telecommunication system in India and also recalled the support he received from the then Prime Minister – Late Rajiv Gandhi. He said that he was specifically entrusted to rebuild and energize the Overseas Congress by the Congress President Smt.Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi. He said that he will work on building Overseas Congress in many countries and asked all members to work unitedly in this mission as he said that only Congress can build a strong, secular and progressive India due to its inherent ideology. He recalled so many developments seeds that were sown with his initiatives and during the tenures of Late Rajiv Gandhi & Dr. Manmohan Singh that India is now reaping the benefits. He hoped that all NRI’s will work towards building a strong India. He mentioned he is at the fag end of his life, with two multiple bypass surgeries and Cancer and his only mission is to sow more seeds that will build a better India in the future. He said that he will do his best to give Overseas Congress a good platform for this mission.

    Gurmit Singh Gill Mulanpur provided details of Chalo Punjab campaign he led for recent PUNJAB elections. He offered to repeat the same success for other states of India. Two veteran leaders from Punjab Mr. KK Bawa and Mr. Dakha also addressed the gathering.

    Rajendar Dichpally (National General Secretary) spoke on how NRI’s can play an important role in developing the Congress Party in India and hoped the new Chairman will encourage NRI’s to return to India to serve in Social and Public Life. He also asked Sam Pitroda to build an effective communication channel to take the good thoughts and feedback from NRI’s for various policies and programs that can be implemented in India. Dr.Rajinder Jenna spoke on the Telangana chapter activities and how the chapter was working with telangana Congress in giving ideas and support to their activities. Chaitanya asked Sam Pitroda to speak to the Consul General in New York to reintroduce direct flights from Newark (NJ) to Hyderabad (India).

    Kalathil Varghese spoke on the activities of Kerala Chapter and also introduced his team and spoke to the good work being done in the chapter under the leadership of Joby George where they organized a national convention in Chicago. Ravi Chopra recalled the good work done by the President Shudh Jasuja under the previous President’s and also his role in Organizing a massive reception for Congress President Smt.Sonia Gandhi in 2001. Phuman Singh spoke on the need for Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi to visit USA and address the Diaspora.

  • Annual New Jersey Gala Spotlights South Asian Children with Special Needs

    Annual New Jersey Gala Spotlights South Asian Children with Special Needs

    SOMERSET, NJ (TIP): Special needs children and their families will be honored through an innovative program and fashion show at the SKN Foundation’s annual gala on Friday, September 22nd at the Marigold Hotel in Somerset, New Jersey. The major beneficiary of this year’s fundraiser is the Special Needs Community Outreach Program for Empowerment (SCOPE). “Special needs children and their families are, historically, more isolated, and through the SCOPE program, we hope to create an accessible support system for South Asian families,” said Dr. Naveen Mehrotra, founder of the SKN Foundation.

    Guest of Honor Juhi Chawla, a renowned Indian actress, humanitarian and former Miss India says that “helping people brings more happiness than any material thing. Sharing is the true path to spiritual growth and happiness.” In addition to providing the keynote address, Chawla will also walk the runway as the show stopper for international fashion designer to the stars, Joy Mitra, who will be debuting a special collection he has created just for the cause.

    The fashion show will also enable special needs children to walk the ramp in their individual styles. “What an amazing opportunity for my son! I am so proud of him every day, and walking the ramp, dressed up so fabulously, allows him to know that we love him just as he is,” said Radha Lath, mother of Aditya Lath.

    The emcee for the evening will be Mini Mathur, a celebrity host and television personality in India. “Parents of special needs children have an unbelievable level of grit and determination as they face daily life issues, and I am honored to be shedding light on some of their challenges at the SKN Foundation Gala,” said Mathur. The event has been conceptualized and will be executed by Sonalika Ahuja of Beyond Media.

  • 200 Indian Students Trapped in Flood-Hit Houston, Rescue Efforts on: Tweets Sushma Swaraj

    200 Indian Students Trapped in Flood-Hit Houston, Rescue Efforts on: Tweets Sushma Swaraj

    HOUSTON, TX (TIP): Union minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted, August 30th that 200 Indian students have been trapped in Houston — one of the biggest cities in the US — which is witnessing devastating floods after Hurricane Harvey, one of the worst storms in decades, hit the area last week.

    In a series of tweets the foreign minister, who is known for her prompt interventions, said every effort is being made to rescue the students. She said she is in touch with the Consul General of India in Houston, Anupam Ray, who is in charge of the rescue operations.

    The students, the minister said, are at the campus of the University of Houston, an area under neck-deep water. The US Coast Guard did not allow India to send them food and other relief material, as boats are needed to reach the affected areas, she said. Currently, the local police, along with the US national and state guards, are carrying out the relief work. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pushed in 4,000 troops for rescue and recovery missions in the floods, which he described as “epic and catastrophic”.

    Two of the students, she tweeted, are unwell and have been hospitalized. The ministry is ensuring that their relatives reach them as soon as possible.

    Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall on Friday, has been the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years. The authorities say the region has witnessed a year’s worth of rain in just one week. Two persons have died in the resulting floods. The local media reported that the authorities expect the toll to rise as the storm triggers tidal surges and tornadoes.

    The locals in Houston and other areas of Texas have been asked not to leave their flooded homes as the roads are deep under water and completely impassable.

    The local media reported that over the weekend, there have been 1000 calls for rescues. Most people have been forced to take refuge in rooftops or higher grounds. Around 30,000 people will shelter, the state authorities have said.

  • DREAMERS get support: Rep. Joe Crowley and Rep. Roybal-Allard d support DACA

    DREAMERS get support: Rep. Joe Crowley and Rep. Roybal-Allard d support DACA

    Crowley Calls Trump compassionless

    WASHINGTON DC (TIP):  House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY) issued the following statement on the Day of Action to support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program:

    “President Trump promised compassion for the young men and women who came to the United States as children and grew up American. However, it is clear that  President Trump has no idea what compassion is.

    “His insistence on bending to the political will of the most extreme, anti-immigrant voices in his party is harmful to the United States’ long term success. Nowhere is this more true than when it comes to his position on DREAMers. These young people contribute to our economy, to our communities, and to our society. They should be celebrated for overcoming great odds to attend college, open small businesses, and serve in the military. While it seems clear that President Trump plans to effectively end the DACA program, it should be as equally clear that Democrats will stand with DREAMers to push back against this misguided decision. Our message to President Trump is simple: if you want to attack DREAMers, you’re going to have to go through us.”

    Rescinding DACA would devastate young immigrants and hurt local communities and economies, says Allard

    Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee and the co-chair of the Women’s Working Group on Immigration Reform, issued the following statement as President Trump considers the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

    “It is unconscionable and un-American that President Trump is even considering devastating the futures of the nearly 800,000 young Dreamers who are American in every way, but their immigration status. DACA helps young people who know no home but the United States, to use their talents to strengthen our economy, our society, and our communities.”

    “Since DACA was created, it has contributed to the positive economic outlook of cities, states, and our nation as a whole. Simply put, without the contributions, innovations and inventions of immigrants, America would suffer. Terminating this critical program would force hundreds of thousands of young people out of the workforce and into the shadows. It would disrupt businesses and send adverse shockwaves through the economies of most of our states.”

    “The President’s decision to terminate DACA would send a chilling message to immigrant communities across our nation. It would upend their lives and the lives of their families and would be at odds with the wishes of the vast majority of Americans, who, regardless of their political affiliation, overwhelmingly support giving these young individuals a chance at the American Dream to continue their lives in the only nation they call home.”

    “President Trump should not betray the trust of those who have come forward, passed background checks and were granted permission to live and work legally in America. In fact, Mr. Trump should embrace their stories and contributions, and not search for ways to undermine their place in our nation’s future.”

    “I call on President Trump to provide certainty for the 800,000 young individuals to remain in their American home and not submit them to the senseless cruelty of deportation.”

    “In the meantime, I will continue fighting in Congress to protect those covered by DACA. Together, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and I introduced the DREAM Act of 2017, a bipartisan, bicameral bill allowing certain U.S.-raised immigrant youth to earn lawful permanent residence and a pathway to American citizenship. I hope the stories of these DREAMers and the invaluable benefits of their presence helps to convince my colleagues in Congress to join me in this bill. ”

     

  • USCIS to Expand In-Person Interview Requirements for Certain Permanent Residency Applicants

    USCIS to Expand In-Person Interview Requirements for Certain Permanent Residency Applicants

    WASHINGTON DC (TIP): U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin expanding in-person interviews for certain immigration benefit applicants whose benefit, if granted, would allow them to permanently reside in the United States. This change complies with Executive Order 13780, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” and is part of the agency’s comprehensive strategy to further improve the detection and prevention of fraud and further enhance the integrity of the immigration system.

    Effective Oct. 1, USCIS will begin to phase-in interviews for the following:

    • Adjustment of status applications based on employment (Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status).

    • Refugee/asylee relative petitions (Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition) for beneficiaries who are in the United States and are petitioning to join a principal asylee/refugee applicant.

    Previously, applicants in these categories did not require an in-person interview with USCIS officers in order for their application for permanent residency to be adjudicated. Beyond these categories, USCIS is planning an incremental expansion of interviews to other benefit types.

    “This change reflects the Administration’s commitment to upholding and strengthening the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” said Acting USCIS Director James W. McCament. “USCIS and our federal partners are working collaboratively to develop more robust screening and vetting procedures for individuals seeking immigration benefits to reside in the United States.”

    Conducting in-person interviews will provide USCIS officers with the opportunity to verify the information provided in an individual’s application, to discover new information that may be relevant to the adjudication process, and to determine the credibility of the individual seeking permanent residence in the United States.  USCIS will meet the additional interview requirement through enhancements in training and technology as well as transitions in some aspects of case management.

     

  • Trump unveils Afghanistan and South Asia policy, calls for deeper strategic partnership with India

    Trump unveils Afghanistan and South Asia policy, calls for deeper strategic partnership with India

    WASHINGTON DC (TIP): US President Donald Trump announced a comprehensive review of the US South Asia policy in Afghanistan and the region. Calling out Pakistan’s duplicitous role in harboring agents of terror and violence on its soil, Trump called for further developing strategic partnership with India, ‘the world’s largest democracy and a key security and economic partner of the United States.’ Noting that billions of dollars were given as aid to Pakistan Trump declared, “They are housing the very terrorists we are fighting……That will have to change and that will change immediately. No partnership can survive a country’s harboring of terrorists.”

     President Trump hailed India’s role in stabilizing Afghanistan, adding, “We appreciate India’s important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, but India makes billions of dollars in trade from the United States, and we want them to help us war with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development.” Even as Trump elevates India’s bilateral status as an un-declared ally, in Afghanistan, India has long shared cultural, social, economic and security ties with the beleaguered nation. In the region, India is the biggest regional donor to Afghanistan and globally the fifth largest donor with over $3 billion in assistance. India has been an active partner in the reconstruction and infrastructure development in Afghanistan, building critical infrastructure including roadways, highways, dams, electricity lines, educational centers and even the Afghan Parliament building. India also trains Afghan military officers. Reinforcing its partnership with India and rebuking Pakistan for its role in terror activities in the region, Trump is strengthening India’s image as a force for good, democracy and stability. This shift in American policy in South Asia carries huge implications regarding India’s role vis-a- vis both Pakistan and China.

     Sanjay Puri, Chairman, US India Political Action Committee, said, “President Trump has recognized India’s key role in maintaining peace and stability in South Asia. As close strategic allies, India and the US can defeat ISIS and the Taliban and ensure stability in South Asia and Afghanistan.”

     

  • Two Indians Charged in Federal Court with Smuggling Counterfeit Cigarettes

    Two Indians Charged in Federal Court with Smuggling Counterfeit Cigarettes

    MIAMI, FL (TIP): Abhishek Shukla and Harish Shabhai Panchal, both citizens of India, appeared in Federal District Court in Miami on Aug 30 to be formally arraigned on an indictment charging them and two companies, Jubilee Tobacco Industries Corp., and Pelican Tobacco (India) Private Limited, both incorporated under the laws of India, with conspiring to smuggle counterfeit cigarettes into the United States.

    Shukla and Panchal each face the following potential prison sentences: up to five years on Count 1, up to three years on Counts 2 and 4, and ten years on each of Counts 3 and 5. Additionally, they face possible fines of up to $250,000 on each count, followed by supervised release of up to five years. Jubilee faces a fine of up to $500,000 on Count 1 and Pelican faces a possible fine of $500.000 per Count.

    According to court records, including allegations contained in the indictment, beginning as early as March 2015 and continuing through August 16, 2017, the defendants initiated contact with an individual cooperating with FDA-OCI, offering counterfeit cigarettes for sale. Through internet negotiations, agreement was reached for a 20-foot container to be shipped from India to Miami, Florida, laden with counterfeit Newport brand cigarettes. Payment for the shipment was made in installments through international wire transfers to bank accounts in India and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. On November 1, 2016, the container arrived in the USA and was seized with the assistance of United States Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Port of Miami. If distributed in the State of Florida, the un-taxed importation would have an approximate value of $1.2 million. Analysis conducted by FDA’s Forensic Chemistry Center concluded that the cartons, packs, and cigarettes were all counterfeit.

    Within two weeks of the arrival, the coconspirators sought out the undercover agents offering another shipment, twice as large. By April 2017, deposits totaling $55,000 had been made to accounts in the name of Pelican for counterfeit Newport cigarettes. On June 9, 2017, the container arrived at the Port of Miami and was seized with the assistance of United States Customs and Border Protection Officers, and turned over to FDA Special Agents. If distributed in the State of Florida, the un-taxed importation would have an approximate value of $3.2 million.

    According to acts described in the conspiracy charge, Shukla and Panchal travelled to Miami in August 2017 to meet with the undercover agents in order to promote further business dealings. During the recorded meeting, they advised the agents that they had been partners for twelve years and personally oversaw the production of all the product being offered. They also assured the agents that they could counterfeit any American-made menthol cigarette with no problem, as well as other trademarked brands and that they could produce tobacco blends which would closely match the legitimate product.

  • Indian student dies in Texas flood

    Indian student dies in Texas flood

    HOUSTON, TX (TIP): Nikhil Bhatia, a 24-year-old Indian student has died three days after he was rescued along with an Indian woman from a swollen lake in Hurricane Harvey hit Texas where 13 million people are battling disastrous flooding. Bhatia was rescued from the Lake Bryan along with Shalini Singh on Saturday, Aug 26. Bhatia succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, Aug 30. Shalini Singh is still critical.

    Bhatia, a PhD student at the Texas A&M University, completed his schooling from Jaipur’s St. Anslem’s Pink City Senior Secondary School in 2011 and did his B. Tech in Vellore, had recently graduated from Texas A&M University in Water Management and Hydrological Science. Shalini was pursuing master’s degree in public health from the same university.

    Bhatia, originally from Jaipur, along with Shalini, 25, from New Delhi, were swimming in the lake when a sudden current of water pushed them deeper. The friends accompanying them noticed that the duo were in distress and flagged down nearby police officers. Bryan Police officers were able to rescue and provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the victims until medics arrived, according to Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson. Both were admitted to a hospital in a critical condition. Dr Anupam Ray, the Consul General of India in Houston, was attending to their medical needs. Bhatia’s mother, Dr Suman Bhatia, reached the US and was received by the consulate at Dallas Airport. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is in touch with Nikhil’s family. “Indian students Shalini and Nikhil Bhatia are in ICU. We are ensuring that their relatives reach (the US) at the earliest,” Sushma had tweeted earlier.

    At least 100,000 Indian-Americans living in and around Houston area have been severely affected by the tropical storm.

    The life-threatening storm has affected around 13 million people, with rains turning streets into rivers. At least 30 flood-related deaths have been confirmed by local officials.