Hollywood star Julia Roberts said in then beginning of her career she was singularly focused and making it big in movies was her only priority.
In an interview, Roberts said, “I was my priority, a selfish little brat running around making films.” The 49-year-old actor said she changed after meeting her husband of 15 years, Danny Moder, and experiencing motherhood. “It was meeting Danny… Finding my person.
When I think about what makes my life my life, and makes sense and just shine inside of me, it’s him. Everything has come from that for me.” When Roberts is not busy on the set of her film, the mother of three is fulfilling typical responsibilities for her 12-year-old twins, Hazel and Finn, and 10-year-old son, Henry.
“If I wasn’t here today, I’d be in the carpool lane ferrying my kids to school,” she said.
Raja (Varun) and Prem (Varun, again) are conjoined twins, who have similar reflexes. They are separated at birth by a smuggler, Charles (Zakir Hussain), who kidnaps Raja.
The geek Prem grows up in the lap of luxury in London with his parents, the Malhotras; loud Raja finds shelter in a Mumbai’s fisherman’s colony. Of course when the twins’ paths cross, there’s too much fun.
REVIEW
When you enter the movie hall for this outing, remember to let your hair down and guffaw because from the opening scene itself you’re familiar with the tropes. David Dhawan who has made three dozen vacuous comedies, with an enviable success ratio. He was even crowned the undisputed king of comedy once. Here, he gives you a rebooted version of his 1997 comic-caper of the same name. The earlier one had Salman Khan, this one has Varun. It helps that the leading man has a mammoth following with today’s kids. And, he is viewed by those clued into Hindi mainstream cinema as a combination of Govinda and Salman, both of who carried off their kitsch routine with a certain flair. Varun doesn’t let you down either. Whether he is playing a geek or a goon, he is absolutely endearing and delivers, exactly what his daddy orders him to.
The script (if you can call it that) is a combination of familiar gags borrowed from Manmohan Desai films. The sidekick stammers, the hero repeats dialogue from various masala movies, the villain develops amnesia when hit by a coconut, a football butt allows his memory to return, etc.
There’s nothing intelligible here so please stop searching. It’s basically innocent fun meant to pander to the child in you. The only ‘wicked’ thing here are the heroines’ skimpy costumes (just kidding). The girls, Samara (Taapsee) and Alishka (Jacqueline) are brought out for chartbusters – Chalti Hai Kya 9 Se 12 and Oonchi Hai Building. They sportingly kiss, cuddle and are happy horsing around doing precious little.
Lame lyrics, loud gags and leggy lasses never really hurt anyone. Believe me, at one point, you’re tempted to join Varun when he is doing those perfect pelvic thrusts. Judwaa 2 could be a substitute for your Dussehra party. Consult Salman, even he sportingly shows up in a cameo in the end.
After toiling for her dream project, Seams For Dreams, actress Evelyn Sharma is celebrating her success. Her initiative aims to provide clothing to the needy across India.
The Indo-German beauty, recalled for her comic presence in ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, was acknowledged for her contributions towards charitable causes in India while using her celebrity status to encourage others to do their bit for the society. At a fundraiser in Los Angeles, the actress was felicitated for her philanthropic work as the Pride Of India amidst the Indian community in the city. Evelyn even raised a large sum for an education development project. Talking about professional commitments, Evelyn says, “I’m currently reading a few fun scripts and I am in the midst of figuring my next outings. I’m excited for my upcoming release ‘Jack & Dil’ with Amit Sadh.”
Actress Tamannaah Bhatia is confident that the magic of Kangana Ranaut-starrer ‘Queen’ will be recreated in its Telugu version which was officially launched on Sunday.
The remake, to be directed by Neelakanta Reddy, has been titled ‘Queen Once Again’.
“It’s an exciting project and I love doing roles that talk about women empowerment. I’m confident we can recreate the magic of the original. At the same time, not make our film look like a frame-to-frame remake. We’ll adapt it to suit Telugu sensibilities,” Tamannaah said in an interview.
Ever since she saw the Vikas Bahl directed ‘Queen’, she wanted to be a part of its remake. “I wasn’t even sure if it was going to be remade. What makes ‘Queen’ special is that it’s one of those rare women centric films which succeeded in reaching out to everybody, across all sections of the audience,” she said.
Tamannaah starts shooting for the project from October 25. ‘Queen’ is the story of the self-exploration of a young Punjabi girl, played by Kangana, who embarks on her honeymoon to Paris alone after her fiance calls off the wedding. Last week, the Tamil and Telugu versions of ‘Queen’ were launched. The Tamil version, which has been titled ‘Paris Paris’, stars Kajal Aggarwal in the lead.
The Kannada version, which has been titled ‘Butterfly’ and stars Parul Yadav, has already gone on the floors. Actor filmmaker Ramesh Aravind is directing the Tamil as well as Kannada versions of the remake. Source: IANS
NEW DELHI (TIP): Rashtriya Janta Dal leader and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Oct 5 reached the CBI headquarters after a number of summons for questioning in connection with the alleged corruption in awarding the maintenance contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm.
Yadav, who arrived at the headquarters at 11 am, was accompanied by his daughter Misa and did not speak to the media. He was taken to the investigation officer, while Misa was asked to wait in the lobby, CBI sources said.
The CBI also summoned his son Tejashwi Yadav, former deputy chief minister of Bihar, who is scheduled to appear before the agency tomorrow.
It is alleged that Yadav, as Railway Minister in 2006, handed over maintenance of two Railway hotels — BNR Ranchi and Puri — to Sujata Hotel (a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar) after receiving a bribe in the form of three acres of prime land through a “benami” (shell) company.
NEW DELHI (TIP): Reliance Industries Ltd chief Mukesh Ambani on Thursday emerged as India’s wealthiest for the 10th straight year as his net worth swelled to $38 billion (nearly Rs 2.5 trillion) while the wealth of 100 richest rose by 26% despite economic hiccups.
Wipro’s Azim Premji was the distant second with a net worth of $19 billion, moving up two places from last year, while Sun Pharma’s Dilip Shanghvi slipped from his earlier second place to the ninth now ($12.1 billion) on Forbes magazine’s annual India Rich List 2017.
Forbes said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “economic experiments” barely affected India’s billionaires while none gained more than oil and gas tycoon Mukesh Ambani, who cemented his decade-long hold on the top slot by adding a staggering $15.3 billion (67%) to his last year’s wealth to become one of Asia’s top five richest.
Anil Ambani, Mukesh’s younger brother, was ranked much lower at 45th place with $3.15 billion. He was ranked 32nd in 2016 ($3.4 billion) and 29th a year before that. Patanjali Ayurved’s Acharya Balkrishna, known as a close associate of yoga guru Ramdev, made a big jump from 48th place last year to 19th now with a net worth of $6.55 billion (about Rs43,000 crore).
BATHINDA (TIP): A police team from Panchkula on Oct 5y brought Honeypreet, the adopted daughter of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, to the city for an investigation regarding her stay while in hiding.
Sukhdeep Kaur, who was also arrested along with Honeypreet, was part of the investigation as she is the owner of the house which the Haryana police visited and searched for more than an hour.
The police team reached the house at Nayi Basti, Street 2, at 1.05 pm. They entered the house after breaking open the lock of the gate. They stayed there for around one-and-a-half hours.
Sources said the Haryana police seized some documents and made a video and clicked some pictures.
While no official of the Bathinda police accompanied them inside the house, they made security arrangement outside to maintain law and order. The team wrapped up its investigation at 2.50 pm and left the spot without talking to anyone.
LUCKNOW (TIP): Instead of urging not to be pessimistic about the economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should focus on the two major challenges before the country — joblessness among the youth and predicament of farmers, said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi on Thursday.
Speaking to mediapersons, Gandhi said, “Like a true leader the Prime Minister should say that we have one more year to go and we will deliver. As an Opposition leader I am advising him that he needs to focus on two main problems concerning unemployment and farmers”.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people from across his constituency queued up for their turn to meet the Congress vice-president with their grievances and complaints at the ‘Janata Darshan’ held Munshiganj guest house in Amethi.
Most of the complaints related to the delay in developmental work due to apathy of the local administration.
AMRITSAR (TIP): Akal Takht on October 5 excommunicated former Akali minister Sucha Singh Langah from the community for hurting Sikh sentiments after his arrest in a rape case. The decision was taken at a meeting of the five High Priests in the light of complaints to Akal Takht.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh pronounced the ‘hukumnama’ (edict) from the podium of the highest temporal seat of Sikhs.
“Langah has brought disrepute to the Sikhs with such immoral, disgraceful and blasphemous acts. Akal Takht has taken cognisance of the news reports and a number of complaints received against him from the Sikh Sangat after his video went viral and he was booked. An expert panel’s suggestion was sought and after deliberations, the five High Priests unanimously decided to excommunicate him,” he said.
The Jathedar cautioned that anyone who has been involved in such immoral activities must not be included in any religious organisation in future. He announced that though Langah had been discharged from all positions, be it with the SGPC or SAD, if he was still associated with any Sikh organisation, he should be immediately removed and no “ardas” should be performed in his name.
PPCC general secretary Amarjit Singh Tikka had forwarded the video clip to the Jathedar, seeking strict action against the senior Akali leader.
Various Sikh organisations had also called for strict action.
Langah, a baptised Sikh, was in the race to become the SGPC president when Kirpal Singh Badungar occupied the coveted seat. He was a member of SAD’s core committee and district unit president of Gurdaspur until a case was registered against him by a lady police constable, who alleged that she was exploited for over eight years. He was arrested yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Akal Takht Jathedar, when asked if there was any provision under which the disgraced Akali leader could be brought back to the religious fold, said, “The tenets dictate that any Sikh who has been excommunicated could appear before Akal Takht and submit his apology, but ultimately it would be the sole discretion of the five High Priests to consider it or not.”
WASHINGTON (TIP): Indian Embassy in the US celebrated the 148th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Monday, October 2, with Ambassador Navtej Serna doing the floral tribute in front of the Gandhi Statue outside the embassy.
After lighting the ceremonial lamp, Deputy Chief of Mission Santosh Jha addressed the gathering, which was followed by a rendition of patriotic songs.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK (TIP): More than 60 global leaders addressed an international delegation of 500 attendees, including 14 Arab nations, from 44 countries, at the 2017 C3 U.S.- Arab Business & Healthcare Summit held on September 25 at the Union League Club in New York City. The summit, organized by C3 Summit International, USA was supported by the U.S. State Department, the United Nations and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The theme of the summit was “Creating Bilateral Partnerships Through Innovation, New Technologies and Public-Private Partnerships.”
Harinder S Panaser, CEO HWP Inc, Mr. Anurag Jain, Adviser, C3Summit, Dr V.K Raju, Founder and President, Eye Foundation of America discuss an issue
A key goal of the Summit was to bring together commercial ventures and healthcare systems in order to explore potential solutions needed for continued innovation and knowledge transfer in both business and healthcare. The 2017 C3 U.S.- Arab Business & Healthcare Summit was an annual ‘must-attend’ meeting for anyone looking to better understand and advance global integration to create exceptional consumer/patient healthcare value.
Experts at a session
The 2017 C3 U.S.- Arab Business & Healthcare Summit assembled business leaders, policy makers, educators and healthcare professionals from around the globe to bolster and promote U.S. and Arab world initiatives that are focused on themost up-to-date healthcare topics including: selecting/managing local partners; big data; technological innovations; the role of collaborative networks; preparing tenders for public-private partnerships; the role women play in shaping U.S.- Arab global business relations; viral diseases; and the future of primary healthcare.
The 2017 C3 U.S.- Arab Business & Healthcare Summit also addressed resources, research and access to the best healthcare services in order to improve survival from disease and better the quality of life based on the exchange of knowledge and employment opportunitiesbetween the two regions.
WASHINGTON (TIP): U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resumed premium processing on Oct 3 for all H-1B visa extension of stay petitions. Premium processing is now available for all types of H-1B petitions.
H-1B visas provide skilled workers for a wide range of specialty occupations, including information technology, engineering, and mathematics. When a petitioner requests the agency’s premium processing service, USCIS guarantees a 15-calendar day processing time. If that time is not met, the agency will refund the petitioner’s premium processing service fee and continue with expedited processing of the application.
In addition to resumption of premium processing for H-1B visa extension of stay petitions, USCIS had previously resumed premium processing for H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap, petitions filed on behalf of physicians under the Conrad 30 waiver program, as well as interested government agency waivers and certain H-1B petitions that are not subject to the cap.
WASHINGTON (TIP): U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives which seeks to commemorate International Day of Non-Violence, the annual observance that takes place every October 2nd on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
The measure expresses support for the goals and ideals of the International Day of Non-Violence, and encourages the people of the United States to observe the celebration with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities.
“This resolution is a fitting way to pay tribute to Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence, and remember the legacy of peace that he left behind,” said Meng. “It is also a way to make more Americans understand, support, and appreciate the significance of International Day of Non-Violence. I urge my colleagues in the House to support this important measure.”
Meng’s resolution is expected to be referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
International Day of Non-Violence was established by the United Nations General Assembly on June 15, 2007 to bring attention to the message of non-violence.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) and Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) introduced, on Oct 3, the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, legislation to reform the systemic problems in immigration detention system. This bill will end the use of private facilities and repeal mandatory detention, while restoring due process, oversight, accountability, and transparency to the immigration detention system.
“The high moral cost of our inhumane immigration detention system is reprehensible. Large, private corporations operating detention centers are profiting off the suffering of men, women and children. We need an overhaul,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “It’s clear that the Trump administration is dismantling the few protections in place for detained immigrants even as he ramps up enforcement against parents and vulnerable populations. This bill addresses the most egregious problems with our immigration detention system. It’s Congress’ responsibility to step up and pass this bill.”
“We must fix the injustices in our broken immigration detention system,” said Congressman AdamSmith. “As the Trump administration continues to push a misguided and dangerous immigration agenda, we need to ensure fair treatment and due process for immigrants and refugees faced with detention. This legislation will address some of the worst failings of our immigration policy, and restore integrity and humanity to immigration proceedings.”
In addition to repealing mandatory detention, a policy that often results in arbitrary and indefinite detention, the legislation creates a meaningful inspection process at detention facilities to ensure they meet the government’s own standards. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish legally enforceable civil detention standards in line with those adopted by the American Bar Association. With disturbing track records of abuse and neglect, DHS has a responsibility to ensure that facilities are held accountable for the humane treatment of those awaiting immigration proceedings. Individuals held in immigration detention system are subject to civil law, but are often held in conditions identical to prisons. In many cases, detained people are simply awaiting their day in court. To correct the persistent failures of due process, the legislation requires the government to show probable cause to detain people, and implements a special rule for primary caregivers and vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and people with serious medical and mental health issues.
HOUSTON (TIP): Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston held its 18th Annual Gala on September 30th, 2017, at Hilton Americas Downtown. The event coincided with the 4th Annual US-India Partnership day. The chamber has been recognizing this partnership since 1999 when India was yet to become the flavor of the future. The theme for this year’s Gala was “Partners in Progress”, which was coined before the havoc caused by Hurricane Harvey, yet very apt to depict how community partnerships have worked in the relief and recovery operations. The chief guest of the evening was India’s Consul General Dr. Anupam Ray.
Chamber’s Executive Director, Jagdip Ahluwalia highlighted this year’s economic development through bilateral ties. The new board was introduced next, led by President-Elect Swapan Dhairyawan. A video depicting the history of the chamber helped the audience appreciate this amazing journey. They were encouraged to go through the Gala magazine to get a full picture of the Chamber’s history, work and accomplishments over the 18 years.
IACCGH current President Allen Richards described the 18th year of the Chamber as the start of “a new direction”. He highlighted the collaboration with other ethnically diverse organizations and the “NexGen” initiative, providing opportunities to the younger demographic. The Gala also had amazing entertainment provided by singers Skylar Beamon, Sparsh Shah and a flash mob.
Bob Patel, CEO and Chairman of Lyondell Basell delivered the keynote. His keynote started off with his inspirational life story. He appreciated the work the Chamber is doing in creating connections, bringing the two countries closer together and advancing knowledge to create opportunity.
IACCGH also recognized the professional and public service achievements of members of the Indo American community. Port Houston Chairman Janiece Longoria received the award for the tremendous impact on the economy, Dr. Marie Goradia received “Impact on Humanity” award for her efforts through Pratham USA; Bal Sareen, CEO of Brask Inc. received the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award and Swapnil Agarwal of Karya Management received the “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” award. President-Elect, Swapan Dhairyawan, delivered the vote of thanks and outlined his plans for the coming year.
NEW YORK (TIP): The Yashpal and Urmilesh Arya India Studies Library was recently dedicated at Stony Brook University. The library is located in the Bishembarnath and Sheela Mattoo Center for India Studies. Its naming recognizes the gift of $250,000 by Drs. Yashpal and Urmilesh Arya to the Center’s endowment campaign, which has been matched by the Simons Match Fund. The Aryas’ donation will allow for the expansion of the library’s services and initiatives, including special collections and online courses, to make the library’s resources more widely available.
The dedication ceremony drew a large gathering of Stony Brook faculty, staff, students and administrators, and members of the Indian American community. Dr. Yashpal Arya, flanked by Dr. Urmilesh Arya, described the library’s dedication as “one of the happiest days of our lives.” He told the audience of his family’s history of philanthropy, both in India and in the United States. “I am proud to stand here today to continue this family tradition of perpetuating further education with the help of Stony Brook University through its forward thinking, visionary policy making, and the Mattoo Center for India Studies for its strong resolve and relentless pursuit that led to the creation of this library.” Dr. Arya thanked the Stony Brook administration for their “enlightened support” for the Center. He also thanked Professors S.N. and Kamal K. Sridhar, whom he described as the Center’s “Pitamaha” and “Matamaha” (grandparents).
“You make your living by earning. You make your life by giving,” Dr. Arya told the audience.
Dr. Nirmal K. Mattoo, Chair of the Center’s executive committee, praised the Aryas for their involvement “in philanthropy on a large scale.” He noted their long-time “commitment to the Center’s vision.”
Dean Sacha Kopp dedicated the library, and thanked attendees for their “participation in the decades-long effort to create the Center for India Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.” “A public university” Dean Kopp explained, “has the responsibility not only to serve the public through education but to give back to the public in the form of knowledge and sharing and fostering community and culture.” A library is a “gathering of community” and the “lifeblood” of a campus. “As I reflect on ‘community,’ I see it here today.”
Professor S.N. Sridhar, founding Director of the Mattoo Center, described the vital functions of the India Studies library. It features a collection of more than 13,000 works, including major reference works, such as the Critical Edition of the Mahabharata and the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, and special collections on Indian languages donated by noted research scholars. The library’s resources are used by Stony Brook students, faculty, and visiting scholars and researchers from around the world. The Mattoo Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a Gala on October 29th at Leonard’s in Great Neck.
MOORESTOWN, NJ (TIP): The United States filed a civil fraud lawsuit on Sept 28 against Babu (Bob) Metgud and Shubhada (Sue) Kalyani, of Moorestown, New Jersey, and four companies, Shubhada Industries, d/b/a Shubhada, Inc., Metcon Aerospace & Defense, d/b/a Metcon Industries, NRI Capital Corporation, and The Innovation Technology & Enterprise Development Center, Inc. The complaint, announced by Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen, alleges that the defendants engaged in a scheme to overcharge the military for spare vehicle parts.
According to the complaint, Shubhada Industries described itself as a manufacturer to the Defense Logistics Agency and agreed to manufacture two light assemblies, a type of turn signal for munitions vehicles. But instead of manufacturing these assemblies, Shubhada Industries allegedly purchased them from someone else for $1,351.62, charged the military $73,842.00 for the same items—a 5400 percent markup—and pocketed the difference. The complaint alleges that when the government asked Metgud about the price, he made false statements describing Shubhada Industries’ non-existent manufacturing process and encouraged the military to buy more of the items. Kalyani likewise allegedly made false statements to conceal the company’s actual role as a dealer instead of a manufacturer.
The complaint additionally names as defendants Metcon Industries, the entity through which Metgud purchased the light assemblies, and two other alleged alter egos of Shubhada Industries.
“This case is another example of the commitment of our office to hold accountable those who cheat the government by charging excessive fees for their products,” said Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen. “We will continue to use our resources to ensure that those who do business with the government are truthful and transparent in their dealings and treat our taxpayers fairly.”
The United States filed the lawsuit under the False Claims Act. Under the False Claims Act, a person who causes false or fraudulent claims to be submitted to the government for payment is liable for three times the government’s damages, plus civil penalties for each false claim. The complaint contains allegations only, and not findings of liability.
EDISON, NJ (TIP): Edison Adult Medical Daycare (Edison), its former owner, Dinesh Patel, and current owners, Daxa Patel and Satish Mehtani, have agreed to pay the United States and the State of New Jersey $2.72 million to resolve allegations that Edison improperly billed and received payments from Medicaid despite Dinesh Patel having been excluded from participating in Medicaid following his 2012 conviction for accepting kickbacks, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
On Sept. 19, 2012, Dinesh Patel pleaded guilty to accepting cash kickback payments from Orange Community MRI LLC in exchange for patient referrals. He was later sentenced to three months in jail and two years of supervised release.
On March 17, 2012, Dinesh Patel was excluded by the State of New Jersey from participating in any capacity in the Medicaid program. Later, on Feb. 20, 2014, Dinesh Patel was excluded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from participating in Medicare, Medicaid, and all federal health care programs for a period of five years. Five days after Dinesh Patel’s Medicaid exclusion in 2012, he transferred his 50 percent ownership interest in Edison to his wife, Daxa Patel.
The settlement resolves federal and state government allegations that from March 17, 2012, through Aug. 4, 2015, Dinesh Patel violated his exclusion by not ceasing his involvement in the adult daycare facility, and that Edison violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to and receiving payments from Medicaid while Dinesh Patel directed, managed and supervised activities at Edison. The settlement also resolves allegations that owners Daxa Patel and Satish Mehtani had full knowledge that Dinesh Patel was managing Edison while he was an excluded Medicaid provider. Dinesh Patel, Daxa Patel, Satish Mehtani, and Edison have agreed to pay $2.72 million plus interest to be split equally between United States and State of New Jersey. Dinesh Patel has also agreed to another five-year exclusion precluding him from participating in all federal health care programs, including Medicaid and Medicare, until 2022.
NEW YORK (TIP): Two Indian American teens have been named winners of theGloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, an award that celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America. Established in 2001 by author T.A. Barron, the Barron Prize annually honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment. Up to 20 top winners each receive $5,000 to support their service work or higher education.
“These amazing young people see a need and use heroic qualities like compassion, perseverance and courage to find a solution,” says Barron. “Their message is clear: Find your passion and take action. Start small but dream big and you can truly make a difference — no matter how old you are.”
This year’s winning projects address a wide range of today’s important issues, including pollution, protecting wildlife, literacy, STEM, the homeless, cancer research and more.
Aryaman Khandelwal, age 17, of Pennsylvania, who founded Get2Greater, which uses local health workers, electronic tablets, and an app he created to provide people in developing countries with better access to medical care.
Nitish Sood, age 17, of Georgia, who co-founded Working Together for Change (WTFC), a non-profit that has mobilized more than 600 volunteers to help 3,000 homeless people through free medical fairs, supplies distribution, and job training.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Indian American Ajit Pai has been confirmed by the Senate as the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission in a 52-41 vote. Pai, whose term was supposed to end later this year, was reappointed for another term. He was designated Chairman by President Donald J. Trump in January 2017. He had previously served as Commissioner at the FCC, appointed by then-President Barack Obama and confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate in May 2012.
“I am deeply grateful to the U.S. Senate for confirming my nomination to serve a second term at the FCC and to President Trump for submitting that nomination to the Senate. Since January, the Commission has focused on bridging the digital divide, promoting innovation, protecting consumers and public safety, and making the FCC more open and transparent. With today’s vote, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to advance these critical priorities in the time to come”, Pai said in a statement.
Pai was the first member of the FCC in over two decades to call for revitalizing the AM radio band; the basic reforms he proposed were adopted in 2015. He also urged the FCC to create a task force to study the “Internet Protocol Transition” and report on obsolete rules that could be repealed; that task force was created. He proposed a way for the FCC to address petitions filed by the public much more quickly; that “rocket docket” is now in place and has dramatically sped up the agency’s decision-making. With respect to outside review and oversight, in at least half a dozen high-profile cases in which he dissented, federal courts of appeals have upheld his position. And in other such cases, one or both Houses of Congress has passed legislation consistent with his position.
Pai graduated with honors from Harvard University in 1994 and from the University of Chicago Law School in 1997, where he was an editor of the University of Chicago Law Review and won the Thomas R. Mulroy Prize. In 2010, Pai was one of 55 individuals nationwide chosen for the 2011 Marshall Memorial Fellowship, a leadership development initiative of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
The son of immigrants from India, Chairman Pai grew up in Parsons, Kansas. He now lives in Arlington, Virginia.
WASHINGTON (TIP): An Indian-origin scientist in the US has been awarded a USD 8.1 million grant to support her research on lethal head and neck cancer, which could help improve the survival rates of patients.
Nisha D’Silva received the prestigious Sustaining Outstanding Achievement in Research award, or SOAR, for her continuing research into the molecular pathways that control the spread and recurrence of head and neck cancer.
Her findings may enable clinicians to identify patients who will best respond to existing treatments, and might lead to new treatment strategies.
D’Silva’s grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) will be disbursed over eight years.
“It is truly exciting news that a clinician and scientist as accomplished as Dr D’Silva will now have extended funding to allow her to focus on finding answers to some of the toughest cancer questions we have,” said Laurie McCauley, dean of the School of Dentistry at U-M.
“The prestigious SOAR grant speaks volumes about how the NIDCR views Dr D’Silva’s research track record and her potential moving forward,” said McCauley.
D’Silva noted that head and neck cancer is the sixth-most common cancer in the world with about 600,000 new cases per year.
Nearly half of all patients die within five years of diagnosis, she said.
“The focus of our research program is invasion because this is a defining feature of head and neck cancer,” said D’Silva, also a professor of pathology at the U-M Medical School.
“Invasion is important for spread of head and neck cancer, but unfortunately there are no strategies that effectively target invasion. This knowledge gap is due to limited progress in identifying and understanding the underlying mechanisms that control invasion,” she said.
D’Silva is one of four researchers across the US whose research is being funded by 2017 SOAR grants, according to information NIDCR.
SOAR provides long-term support for NIDCR-funded investigators who are in mid-career and have outstanding records of research productivity, mentorship and professional service to the research community.
“This award provides a longer base of grant support, allowing investigators to have more freedom to perform high- risk, high-reward research that has the potential to break new ground or expand previous discoveries in new directions,” according to NIDCR.
Plan identifies actions NYC will take in the next three years to accelerate emissions reductions in support of the global l.5° Celsius warming target
NEW YORK (TIP): In the first ever Paris Agreement-compliant plan from any city in the world, New York City has launched a program in support of the global 1.5 Celsius warming target.
“Big problems require big solutions – and New Yorkers are already hard at work to meet the most ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement,” said Mayor de Blasio. “In the Trump era, cities have to lead the way when it comes to fighting climate change. Hotter summers and powerful storms made worse by climate change are an existential threat to a coastal city like ours, which is why we need to act now.”
The 1.5°C plan aligns local climate actions with a goal to limit global warming to 1.5°C degrees. A 1.5°C degree outcome was agreed to in the Paris Agreement in order to limit the worst impacts of climate change. By implementing the identified prioritized set of actions across energy, transportation, building, and waste sectors by 2020, NYC will enable faster reductions of GHG over the following 30 years than even the already aggressive goals in the City’s 80 x 50 plan – a plan to reduce GHG emissions 80% by 2050. The potential for GHG reduction of all the quantified actions in the report is 10 million metric tons of C02e – or the equivalent of taking more than 2 million cars off the road by 2030.
The release of the citywide action plan, builds on announcements made earlier this month to mandate cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from large buildings, and expands access to electric vehicle fast chargers in all five boroughs. Both of these actions are included in the 1.5°C plan.
Other key actions detailed in the plan include:
RECYCLING: Roll out city-wide single stream recycling by 2020; New Yorkers will no longer need to sort their recyclables, dramatically increasing the City’s recycling rate.
WASTE:Accelerate the diversion of tons of organics from landfills by expanding the organics program to serve all New Yorkers with curbside or a convenient drop off location by 2018.
BUILDINGS: In addition to creating new fossil-fuel targets for existing buildings to meet in 2030, NYC will work to implement advanced energy codes for new buildings in 2019, and very low energy design targets in all new buildings in subsequent energy code cycles.
ENERGY: NYC will use its purchasing power to procure 100% renewable electricity for municipal operations as soon as sufficient supply can be brought online. This Fall, the City will be breaking ground on 50 new solar projects on public buildings, which will put the city a quarter of the way to the goal of 100MW of solar on public property by 2025.
TRANSPORTATION: NYC will continue the accelerated pace of Select Bus Service implementation, fight for a tax on millionaires to modernize the subway system, and double the number of active cyclists by 2020 through the annual development of at least 50 new miles of bike network (including 10 miles of protected bike lanes). By expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, the City will meet a goal for 20% of new car registrations to be EVs by 2025.
CARBON NEUTRALITY: NYC will lead in the development of a global protocol for cities to attain carbon neutrality by 2050 in collaboration with other vanguard cities and partners.
NEW YORK (TIP): On September 29th, the Xavier University School of Medicine held its first Annual Alumni Global Meet at its campus in Aruba. This collaborative event brought together the Xavier University School of Medicine’s President, Chairman, Chancellor, Board of Trustees, Alumni, Clinical Chairs, Special Guests, Basic Science and Clinical Faculty, Clinical Students, and Basic Science Students.
President Ravishankar Bhooplapur initiated the event with remarks on Xavier’s past achievements, tremendous progress, and its bright future. He discussed the importance of quality education and the current management and ownership of the school. President Bhooplapur shared memories of visiting Aruba with Chancellor Dr. JG Bhat ten years ago and falling in love with the beautiful island and all that it had to offer. President Bhooplapur also spoke about the vision he saw for the school and what he did to make that vision become a reality. Xavier currently holds a double accreditation from CAAM-HP and ACCM. President Bhooplapur spoke highly about Xavier’s graduates and their prestigious medical positions, many of whom were also at the event. He thanked them for taking time to share their journey and advice for current students to hear. President Bhooplapur announced that Xavier will be seeking state approvals/accreditations from New York and California in addition to others in the coming years. Xavier has obtained approval from the Government of Jordan and currently runs its Pre-Med programs in Jordan, Ghana, and India.
From Left to Right: Special Guest Dr. Peter Urazov, Acting Chief Academic Officer Dr. Arun Dubey, President Ravi Bhooplapur, Special Guest Dr. Ravi Gupta, Special Guest Dr. Shawn Cannon
With pride, President Bhooplapur also spoke about Xavier’s 94% passing rate on the USMLE Step 1 and its Match rate that is approaching 70% with a goal of 100% to be attained within the next three years. President Bhooplapur welcomed everyone and thanked them for participating and aiding to the event’s success.
Chairman Edwin Casey addressed the gathering and spoke about the tremendous pride he takes in being part of the Xavier community. In his remarks, he stated that he recognizes the potential in each student and is certain that they will make an impact to the field with their advanced knowledge base of modern medicine. He told the students and guests that they are the future doctors of this world and that he is here to support them every step of the way. In his closing statements he said, “Together, we all succeed.”
Xavier’s Alumni, Board of Trustees, Administration, Clinical Chairs & Faculty, and special guests
Mr. Casey was pleased to announce that Xavier will be starting a 501c foundation where alumni can donate to and support potential incoming students and other academic activities. 100% of the proceeds will go to scholarships and other academic activities including research for students with strong academic and social backgrounds.
Chancellor Dr. JG Bhat discussed the tremendous growth of Xavier students along with their commendable skills. He also spoke about the need for doctors and the positive impact they have on all communities. He emphasized to students that even as doctors, you never stop learning.
Acting Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Arun Dubey, introduced the new Dean of Clinical Science, Dr. Joseph Balsamo. Dr. Balsamo, a practicing clinician, has been active in the field of medical education for over 20 years. Dr. Balsamo had been a visiting faculty member at Xavier for several years while vacationing on the island. He addressed the crowd to let them know he is available to assist all students in helping them achieve their dream of becoming a doctor. He is excited to help in the advancement of Xavier’s admission and thanked President Bhooplapur and Dr. Dubey for the opportunity.
Xavier Students before attending Alumni Global Meet
Dr. Rachel Karmally, Alumni Chair and a 2012 Graduate of Xavier, concluded the first session by explaining how excited she was to return to the island of Aruba and to Xavier. She shared memories about traveling to Aruba and how she entered the pre-med program at 18 years old. She thanked all the professors and administrators who helped her along the way in accomplishing her dream. Dr. Karmally has a passion for medical education and, after completing her chief residency year in Internal Medicine, she is now an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine as well as having her own patients. As part of one of Xavier’s first classes, she also emphasized to current students that they have a wealth of resources in the alumni and they should take full advantage of that. She stated that Xavier alumni are always available to help and answer questions and be mentors for them. They will always be open to giving each student honest and accurate information to help them achieve their goals and succeed.
After the first sessions concluded, the rest of the day’s events began. Distinguished doctors spoke during the next session. They addressed the students and spoke to them about what to expect when starting their clinical rotations, the process of residency, and how to always be prepared to attain your goals. Dr. Ravi Gupta, a Medical Teacher and Director of Residency Operations, Dr. Shawn Cannon, a Specialist in Osteopathic Medicine with over 20 years of experience as a Medical Educator, and Dr. Peter Urazov, a Medical Director and the Director of Medical Education, were among those who presented. Students were eager to ask questions following their presentations. We are very thankful that these prestigious doctors and program directors were able to join our event.
A panel discussion and presentation by Xavier alumni took place during the afternoon session. In a joint presentation, they spoke about a variety of topics including how to study and learn in basic sciences, preparation for USMLE, how students should choose their rotations, and most importantly, how to decide what type of residency they want to go for. Students expressed that they were thankful to hear first-hand from alumni. The Q&A segment was the highlight of all the sessions as it gave students the opportunity to ask anything they wanted, which left students filled with eagerness and desire.
Along with the notable presentations and speeches, Xavier’s Administration and faculty also held strategic development sessions to plan the continued success and growth of Xavier.
President Bhooplapur and the rest of Xavier look forward the second Annual Global Alumni Meet next year.
Ravishankar Bhooplapur, President, Edwin Case, Chairman, Dr. JG Bhat, Chancellor, Trustees Dr. Ravindra Kota, Dr. PK Prahalad, Dr. Anthony Shallash,, Frank Croes, Dr. Arun Dubey, Acting Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Burton Herz, Associate Provost, Dr. Joseph Balsamo, Dean of Clinical Science, Dr. Richard Pomerantz, Director of Medical Education – Baltimore Dr. Lakshmi Dodda, Director of Medical Education – Chicago’ Dr. Paul Liu, Chair of OBGYN, Dr. Madhu Rangraj, Chair of Surgery, Dr. Sanjivan Patel, Chair of Pediatrics, Dr. Parvez Mir, Chair of Internal Medicine, Dr. Cheryl Carrao, Chair of Family Medicine, Dr. Ramesh Naik, Faculty – Internal Medicine, Dr. Rachel Karmally, Alumni Chair – Class of 2012, Senior Staff Physician and professor at Henry Ford Hospital, Dr. Abdulrahman Aboud, Alumni – Class of 2016, Family Medicine Resident at Michigan State University Hospital, Dr. Lee Berman, Alumni – Class of 2011,Chief Psychiatry Resident at Delaware Psychiatry Center, Dr. Hassan Al-Khalisy, Class of 2013, Fellowship in Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine at Upstate Medical University – SUNY, Dr. John Samaan, Alumni – Class of 2010, Psychiatry Resident at Larkin Community Hospital, FL, Dr. Amanda Wolf, Class of 2015, Family Medicine at East Peirce (affiliated with MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital, WA), Dr. Adrienne Hicks, Alumni – Class of 2007, Psychiatry Resident at Harlem Hospital, NY, Dr. Sumeet Singh, Alumni – Class of 2013, Psychiatry Resident at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington DC, and Dr. Asaad Wahid, Alumni – Class of 2015 were among the attendees.
Special Guest Presenters included Dr. Ravi Gupta, Internal Medicine Residency Program Director at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, Dr. Shawn Cannon, Social Medicine Residency Program Director at Southampton Hospital, and Dr. Peter Urazov, Family Medicine Residency Program Director at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Three Republican senators introduced the ‘SUCCEED Act’ Sept. 25, designed to protect undocumented children, including over 7,000 Indian Americans, who currently face the threat of deportation following President Donald Trump’s repeal of DACA.
Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, James Lankford of Oklahoma and Orrin Hatch of Utah introduced the proposed legislation at a news conference on Capitol Hill. The bill offers a pathway to citizenship to recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Dreamers — as DACA children are known — will be offered conditional status and work permits for the first 10 years after they are approved for the program, and will then be eligible for a green card. After 15 years, the youths would be eligible for citizenship.
Unlike other green cards, DACA youth with green cards would not be allowed to sponsor family members for immigration purposes. “This is a merit-based solution that should unite members of both parties, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the path forward,” said Tillis in a press statement after the bill was introduced.
Earlier in the month, Trump met for dinner with Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in an attempt to hammer out legislation that would protect Dreamers, while also increasing enforcement at the nation’s borders. “Does anyone really want to throw out good, accomplished, educated people, some of them serving in the military? Really?” tweeted the president after the meeting.
A coalition of several Indian American civil rights organizations, including South Asian Americans Leading Together and Desis Rising Up and Moving, issued a statement after the meeting, soundly rejecting the tentative agreement between Trump, Pelosi, and Schumer, and demanding a “clean DREAM Act.”
“DACAmented youth should not be used as bargaining chips to further destroy immigrant families and to militarize our borders and neighborhoods,” stated the coalition of organizations. Hatch, who co-authored the DREAM Act with Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, stated in a press release: “I’ve said all along that we need a workable, permanent solution for the Dreamer population.”
“Immigration is a difficult issue, but I’m convinced there’s a path forward on this, and I’m committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find that path and to enact meaningful reform, which must also include increased border security,” he said.
Durbin, however, did not state his support for the SUCCEED Act. “I appreciate that my colleagues recognize the need to pass legislation giving a path to citizenship to Dreamers, young immigrants who were brought here as children and grew up in this country — so do 75 percent of the American people. Unfortunately, the Republican bill falls short,” he said in an interview with The New York Times.
More than 7,000 Indian American children currently benefit from DACA, an Obama-era executive order launched in 2012 which offered relief from deportation to undocumented youth, along with work permits and drivers’ licenses. Trump rescinded the initiative Sept. 5, saying Obama had overstepped the boundaries of executive power.
The ‘SUCCEED Act’ — Solution for Undocumented Children through Careers Employment Education and Defending our nation — would require children to obtain their high school diploma, and then either gain full-time employment, enroll in college, or sign up for the military. Applicants would have to maintain their good standing for five years in order to renew their status. Applicants cannot be affiliated with a gang, and must pass a background security check. They also cannot receive any federal public benefits.
“It is right for there to be consequences for those who intentionally entered this country illegally,” said Lankford, in a press statement, following the bill’s introduction. “However, we as Americans do not hold children legally accountable for the actions of their parents,” he said, while also praising Trump for rescinding DACA with the proviso of urging Congress to step up and create legislation which would permanently protect Dreamers.
“To address the uncertainty facing children who were brought to America, the SUCCEED Act is a fair solution that gives them a place to call home, but it also discourages future illegal immigration,” said Lankford.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has reportedly sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly on Sept. 26, urging the Trump administration to continue the tradition of celebrating Diwali at the White House.
In 2009, former President Barack Obama became the first president to participate in Diwali celebrations at the White House. The following year, the Obamas celebrated Diwali in India during the president’s first official visit to the country. Diwali celebrations at the White House continued throughout Obama’s tenure.
Indian American businessman and political activist Shalabh ‘Shalli’ Kumar – founder of the Republican Hindu Coalition – has informed the media that Hatch signed the letter to Kelly with the support of several Senate members and former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon. Kumar said Bannon was “a great supporter of the Hindu community.”
The request by the Senator has been made at the behest of the Republican Hindu Coalition, which itself sent a formal invitation to Trump Sept. 1, requesting a Diwali celebration on Oct. 18 or 19 at the White House, followed by a rally in Chicago Oct. 21 or 22.
Kumar envisioned the White House festooned in traditional Diwali decorations, and a celebration with about 200 people present. Plans for a larger celebration –with 10,000 people and Trump in tow – at the Sears Center near Chicago, Illinois, are also being formulated, said Kumar.
“Trump declared very loudly during his campaign that Indians would have a best friend in the White House if he was elected. We want our best friend to celebrate this holiday with us,” Kumar told the media.
In his letter to Kelly – a copy of which was obtained by India-West – Hatch said: “I am eager to help my Hindu and Indian American friends because they are among the most supportive groups in my ongoing effort to reform the tax code and restructure the H-1B program.”
In a sweeping overstatement, Hatch said: “In the recent election, with the support of the Republican Hindu Coalition – and thanks to the leadership of Shalli Kumar – the Hindu American community voted Republican for the first time in history.”
In fact, Indian Americans overwhelmingly voted Democrat this year. During the 1980s and 1990s, newly-enfranchised Indian American voters tended to vote for conservative candidates who supported traditional family values.
“The Hindu and Indian American community is not only critical to the future of the Republican Party, it is also representative of all that is right and good in the American immigrant experience,” wrote Hatch in the letter, adding: “This emerging minority group continues to distinguish itself by embracing the best of our nation’s values.”
“I believe our friends in the Hindu American community should be celebrated for their many contributions to our society,” wrote the senator.
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