The Indian Panorama

Month: March 2018

  • AIRCEL FILES FOR INSOLVENCY AFTER ‘NEGATIVE BUSINESS AND REPUTATIONAL IMPACT’

    AIRCEL FILES FOR INSOLVENCY AFTER ‘NEGATIVE BUSINESS AND REPUTATIONAL IMPACT’

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Telecom operator Aircel said on?Wednesday it has filed for bankruptcy as the company has been facing “troubled times” in “highly financially stressed” industry.

    In a statement in New Delhi, Aircel said that intense competition following the disruptive entry of a new player, legal and regulatory challenges, high level of unsustainable debt and increased losses had together caused significant “negative business and reputational impact” on the company.

    “The Board of Directors of the Corporate Debtor today announced that they have filed an application under Section 10 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 for undertaking Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process for the respective companies: Aircel Cellular, Dishnet Wireless, Aircel Ltd,” the the statement said.

    Sources said that the filing was made in National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai.

    The company statement also noted that efforts to merge wireless business with another operator did not yield any results and had ultimately lapsed in September 2017.

    “Post detailed discussions with the financial lenders and shareholders, the company could not reach consensus with respect to restructuring of its debt and funding. Despite these discussions and the invoking of a Strategic Debt Restructuring scheme in January 2018…no agreement could be reached,” Aircel said.

    The company also said it believes that in the current circumstances, resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is an “appropriate recourse”.

    “The Company would like to emphasise that CIRP is not a proceeding for liquidation, rather is a process to find best possible resolution for the current situation and that would be in the best interest of everyone (vendors, distributors, employees, etc) to protect and preserve the value of the company and manage the operations,” it added.

    Aircel said it will strive to provide uninterrupted service connectivity to its customers and sought their support in the “current difficult period”.

    Source: PTI

  • Vladimir Putin, before election, unveils new nuclear weapons to counter West

    Vladimir Putin, before election, unveils new nuclear weapons to counter West

    MOSCOW (TIP): President Vladimir Putin unveiled an array of new nuclear weapons on March 1, in one of his most bellicose speeches in years, saying they could hit almost any point in the world and not be intercepted.

    Speaking weeks before an election he is expected to win, Putin also said that a nuclear attack on any of Moscow’s allies would be regarded as an attack on Russia itself and draw an immediate response.

    Putin, who polls indicate should be easily re-elected on March 18, backed his tough rhetoric with video clips of some of the new missiles he was talking about, which were projected on a giant screen behind him at the conference hall in central Moscow where he was addressing Russia’s political elite.

    “They have not succeeded in holding Russia back,” said Putin, referring to the West.

    “Now they need to take account of a new reality and understand that everything I have said today is not a bluff.”

    Among the new weapons that Putin said were either in development or ready: a new intercontinental ballistic missile, a small nuclear warhead that could be attached to cruise missiles, underwater nuclear drones, a supersonic weapon and a laser weapon.

    The audience, made up of Russian lawmakers and other leading figures, frequently stood up and applauded his presentation, which culminated with the Russian national anthem being played.

    NATO MEASURES “USELESS”

    Putin, who has dominated his country’s political landscape for the last 18 years and often used anti-Western rhetoric to mobilize support, said the technological advances meant that NATO’s build-up on Russia’s borders and the roll-out of a US anti-missile system would be rendered useless.

    “I hope that everything that was said today will sober up any potential aggressor,” said Putin.

    “Unfriendly steps towards Russia such as the deployment of the (US) anti-missile system and of NATO infrastructure nearer our borders and such like, from a military point of view, will become ineffective.”

    Steps to contain Russia would also become unjustifiably expensive and pointless, he forecast. The Russian leader also voiced concerns about a new US nuclear doctrine, saying that Russia’s own doctrine was defensive and only envisaged the use of nuclear weapons in response to an attack.

    Russia has repeatedly said it is keen to hold talks with the United States about the balance of strategic nuclear power.

    “We will view any use of nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies, be it of small, medium or any force, as a nuclear attack on our country,” said Putin.

    “Our response will be immediate. Nobody should have any doubts about that.”

    (Reuters)

  • Pakistan says ready for mediation between Afghanistan govt and Taliban

    Pakistan says ready for mediation between Afghanistan govt and Taliban

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan on March 1 said it was ready for mediation between the Afghan government and the Taliban as it extended support to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s political process in the war-torn country.

    Speaking at the second Kabul Process conference, Ghani yesterday said that his government was ready to recognise the Taliban as a political group and offered unconditional talks with the militant group to “save the country”.

    The Afghan Taliban are a political entity and Pakistan supports the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif told journalists here.

    “The talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government are actually discussions between two political forces, and Pakistan will support it…Pakistan is also ready for one-on-one mediation with the Afghan Taliban,” he said.

    He said Pakistan wants peace and stability in the neighbouring country, while stressing that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict.

    The foreign minister also asked Washington to strike a balance in its policy towards South Asia if it was interested in having a dialogue between Pakistan and India.

    “The US can have an interest in Pak-India discussions, but before that it should create some balance in its South Asia policy,” he said.

    He also talked about the so-called “institutional interests” in Pakistan and said that practice of portraying interests of institutions as the greater national interest “will also be changed soon”.

    Asserting that Pakistan will frame its foreign policy keeping in view the national interests, Asif said, “We will not sacrifice our own interests for the protection of the interests of the United States.”

    “The effects of the 80s and the Musharraf era still exist, Pakistan will not make the same mistakes now to keep American interests above its own interests,” he said.

    He was referring to the military governments of General Zia-ul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf that allied with the US respectively in 1980s and after 9/11 to support it against erstwhile USSR and terrorism.

    (PTI)

  • MPs’ perks hiked, Rs 39-crore extra burden on exchequer

    MPs’ perks hiked, Rs 39-crore extra burden on exchequer

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Members of Parliament are set to get increased allowances with the Union Cabinet approving a proposal in this regard.

    The constituency allowance, furniture allowance and communication expenses of the MPs would go up considerably, sources in the government said. The parliamentary affairs ministry had proposed an increase in the constituency allowance from Rs 45,000 a month to Rs 60,000.

    The ministry had also proposed that the one-time furniture allowance be hiked to Rs one lakh from the present Rs 75,000.

    Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced in his budget speech that a permanent mechanism would be set up to revise the salaries of MPs every five years, and it would be linked to inflation.

    The remuneration of an MP includes a basic salary of Rs 50,000 per month and Rs 45,000 as constituency allowance, apart from other perks. The Centre spends around Rs 2.7 lakh a month on an MP.

    As of today, excluding the Speaker, the Lok Sabha has 536 MPs, including two nominated from the Anglo-Indian community. There are eight vacancies. The Rajya Sabha has 239 members.

    Source: PTI

  • PNB FRAUD: ED ATTACHES RS 1,217 CRORE ASSETS OF MEHUL CHOKSI GROUP

    PNB FRAUD: ED ATTACHES RS 1,217 CRORE ASSETS OF MEHUL CHOKSI GROUP

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 1 (Thursday) said it has attached 41 properties, valued at over Rs 1,200 crore, in connection with its money laundering probe into the PNB scam against Gitanjali Gems and its promoter Mehul Choksi.

    The central probe agency issued a provisional order for attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The attached assets include 15 flats and 17 office premises in Mumbai, a mall in Kolkata, a four-acre farm house in Alibaug and 231 acres of land at locations like Nasik, Nagpur, Panvel and Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.

    A 170-acre park in Hyderabad’s Ranga Reddy district valued at over Rs 500 crore has also been attached, it said.

    Four flats in Borivali (east) area of the Maharashtra capital and nine others in Khemu Towers in Santacruz (east) have been attached as part of the action.

    “The total value of the 41 seized assets controlled by Choksi is estimated at Rs 1,217.2 crore,” the ED said. Choksi and designer diamond jewellery businessman Nirav Modi and others are being investigated by the ED and other probe agencies after the bank fraud recently came to light, following a complaint by the PNB that they allegedly cheated the nationalized bank to the tune of Rs 12,000 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank.

    The CBI and the ED have registered two FIRs each to probe the case. Both Choksi and Modi are said to have left the country before criminal cases were lodged against them.

    They have, however, denied any wrongdoing.

    The ED, a central probe agency under the Union Finance Ministry, is investigating if the allegedly defrauded bank funds were laundered and proceeds of crime were subsequently used by the accused to create illegal assets and black money.

    Source: PTI

  • Anti-terror fight is against a mindset, not any religion, says PM Modi

    Anti-terror fight is against a mindset, not any religion, says PM Modi

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the fight against terrorism and radicalization was not against any religion, but against a mindset that misguides the youth.

    Speaking at a conference on “Islamic heritage: Promoting understanding and moderation”, Modi said India’s values of equality, diversity and harmony strengthened it in a world of uncertainty and these were important to defeat violence and extremism.

    “Indian democracy is a celebration of age-old pluralism,” Modi said in a speech to an audience that included King Abdullah II of Jordan and many Islamic clerics and scholars.

    Abdullah, a 41st generation direct descendant of Prophet Mohammed, is known for his global initiative to fight radicalization and terrorism. He is also the custodian of holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, located in the Old City of Jerusalem.

    India views Jordan as an “oasis of stability and harmony” in conflict ridden West Asia and New Delhi is looking to deepen bilateral ties with the country, according to senior government officials in New Delhi.

    India has been a victim of terrorism since the 1980s and, since the 1990s, witnessed an Islamist insurgency in Kashmir that has claimed many thousands of lives. India blames Pakistan for supporting anti-India terrorist groups inimical in Kashmir.

    In his speech, Modi said that “those who perpetrate acts of violence against humanity perhaps don’t realise that they harm the religion they claim to stand for.”

    “The fight against terrorism and extremism, against radicalization is not a fight against any religion. It is a fight against a mentality that misguides our youth to perpetrate acts of violence against innocents,” he said, urging the youth to associate themselves with the humanitarian aspects of Islam on the one hand and the use of modern technology on the other.

    In his speech, the Jordanian king said the current global war against terror should not be viewed as a fight between religions. “It is between moderates of all faiths and communities and against extremists who spread hatred and violence,” he said. He also emphasized the need to “recognize and reject the misinformation groups promote about Islam, or indeed any religion.”

    “We need to take back the airwaves and internet from the voices of hatred, those who have victimized our world not only with bombs and terror but with ignorance and lies,” the king said, adding that inclusion was the path to coexistence.

    “The fact that the king came to India and delivered this address is very significant given that he is the direct descendent of the Prophet (Mohammed). His words carry great weight,” said a person familiar with Abdullah’s visit.

    Later in the day, India and Jordan signed 12 agreements including a framework pact on defence cooperation that defines the “scope of such cooperation and making provisions for implementation of the cooperation in some of the recognized areas like training; defence industry; counterterrorism; military studies; cybersecurity; military medical services, peace-keeping, etc.,” a statement from the Indian foreign ministry said.

    Another pact aims to set up a Centre of Excellence in Jordan “for training of minimum 3,000 Jordanian IT professionals over a period of 5 years, and setting up of a resource centre in India for training of master trainers in IT field from Jordan,” the foreign ministry statement said.

    A third pact on setting up a fertilizer production facility in Jordan “with a long-term agreement for 100% off take to India” was also signed. It is aimed at ensuring long-term and sustained supply of rock phosphate to India, the statement said.

    Briefing reporters after official talks between Modi and Abdullah, S. Tirumurthy, secretary-economic relations in the Indian foreign ministry said, “There was a keenness on both sides to take this (the relationship) further.”

    Both sides are looking at closer security cooperation given that Jordan sits at the crossroads of a very volatile region neighbouring Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

    Source: PTI

  • Rahul Gandhi leaves for Italy to ‘surprise’ grandma on Holi

    Rahul Gandhi leaves for Italy to ‘surprise’ grandma on Holi

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday left for Italy to “surprise” his maternal grandmother and spend the Holi weekend with her.

    Announcing this on Twitter, he also extended Holi greetings to fellow citizens.

    “My Nani is 93. She’s the kindest soul ever. This Holi weekend, I’m going to surprise her! I can’t wait to give her a hug…

    “Happy Holi to all of you. Have a joyful celebration,” Gandhi wrote on the microblogging website.

  • Furious over ‘special invitee’ tag, Mallikarjun Kharge boycotts Lokpal meet

    Furious over ‘special invitee’ tag, Mallikarjun Kharge boycotts Lokpal meet

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha on March 1 boycotted a meeting of the committee that will select an anti-corruption ombudsman, or Lokpal, in protest against being asked to attend as a “special invitee”.

    The selection committee is supposed to have the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Lok Sabha Speaker, the opposition leader and an eminent jurist.

    Though Kharge leads the Lok Sabha’s largest opposition party, he is not the designated leader of the opposition since his party falls short of the minimum number required to claim that post.

    In a strongly worded letter to the Prime Minister, Kharge said he “respectfully denied” the invite as the process was being reduced to “political pretence”.

    Kharge charged that there was a concerted effort by the Union government to exclude the independent voice of the opposition from the Lokpal selection process.

    “A perusal simplicitor of the Lok Pal Act, 2013; its intent and objective reflects that Leader ‘of Opposition’ cannot be substituted as a Special Invitee’. It is a matter of surprise that your government is choosing to adopt this route as a mere paper formality rather than seek any meaningful and constructive participation,” Kharge said in the letter.

    The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in 2013 to constitute a statutory body to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

    “The Select Committee of Parliament had put its seal of approval on the amending bill, yet the government has failed to introduce and pass it. This amending bill continues to languish in cold storage for want to appropriate intent, commitment and objectivity on part of the government,” Kharge said in the letter.

    A party that lays claim to the leader of opposition post in Lok Sabha must have at least 10% of its 545 seats. Congress, which won 44 seats in the 2014 general election, currently has 48 seats.

    The meeting of the selection panel took place on Thursday evening at the official residence of the Prime Minister.

    “At the outset, let me state on behalf of myself, my party and the entire opposition that the ‘Special Invitee Invitation’ is a concerted effort to exclude the independent voice of the opposition altogether from the selection process of the most important anticorruption watchdog,” Kharge wrote in the letter to Modi.

  • INX Media case: Karti Chidambaram sent to five-day CBI custody

    INX Media case: Karti Chidambaram sent to five-day CBI custody

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Karti Chidambaram, arrested in the INX Media case, was on March 1 remanded to five days of CBI custody by a Delhi court.

    Special Judge Sunil Rana extended Karti’s custody till March 6 after the CBI contended that there were “very shocking evidences” of what he has done when he went abroad and alleging “when he went abroad, he closed bank accounts in which funds were received”.

    Karti was produced before the court on expiry of one-day CBI custody amidst the presence of his parents P Chidambaram and Nalini Chidambaram, both senior advocates, and were seen talking to him.

    Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, maintained that this was “not a case of political vendetta” and the investigation was going on in accordance with Article 21 of the Constitution.

    “There are very shocking evidences of what Karti did when he went abroad,” he said, adding that “when he went abroad, he closed bank accounts in which funds were received”.

    Even though Karti did not complain of any uneasiness during his regular medical check up yesterday, doctors at Safdarjung Hospital last night sent him to cardiac care unit and he was brought to CBI office only in the morning.

    Due to his hospitalisation, the CBI’s one-day custody was virtually wasted as it got Karti’s custody only at 7:30 pm and he returned from the hospital this morning, he said.

    Senior advocate Abhishek Mani Singhvi, who is leading a team of lawyers for Karti, contended that in connection with the May 2017 FIR, CBI has spent roughly 22 hours with Karti in August last year and no fresh summons was issued to him after August 2017 till date, which shows the agency has nothing more to ask him.

    “The only way of establishing noncooperation is to issue summons. You never tested my non-cooperation.

    Sudden arrest after six months. Its bizarre, I am arrested as I stepped out of plane.

    “There is not an iota of evidence against Karti. He is being arrested despite complying with court orders repeatedly.” he said.

    Singhvi asked if Karti has done something illegal while being abroad, why didn’t CBI file a contempt petition before the court which allowed him to travel abroad.

    The CBI said that in May 2007, first FIPB approval was given to INX Media and in April 2008, this reference was made in the Finance Ministry.

    From June 2008 onwards, the payment of the bribe money was started. The second FIPB approval was given on November 2, 2008. We are investigating whether the April 2008 reference was a “pressure technique”, the CBI contended.

    “We have emails and invoices indicating money was given to Advantage Strategic Consultancy Private Limited (ASCPL), which is related to Karti, around the time period when INX Media received favours.

    “There is substantial evidence with the agency which needs to be confronted with Karti. Three mobile phones have been recovered from him which need to be examined. 14 days is the minimum time required to keep him in custody,” Mehta contended.

    Karti was arrested yesterday at Chennai Airport on his return from the United Kingdom in connection with the FIR lodged on May 15 last year alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when P Chidambaram was the union finance minister.

    Source: PTI

  • Lindsay Lohan attends Fashion Week wearing a hijab

    Lindsay Lohan attends Fashion Week wearing a hijab

    Actor Lindsay Lohan, who has fielded rumours of having converted to Islam for months, was seen wearing a hijab at the recent London Fashion Week. Pictures of the star, who now lives in Dubai, have been doing the rounds online.

    Before her appearance at the show, Lohan posted a live Instagram video in which she was learning to tie a hijab. “I think it needs (to be) a little bit more tighter in the (back). I don’t want it to come off and show too much,” she said.

    She also spoke to the BBC about her new avatar. Lohan was once considered a sex symbol. “Fashion doesn’t always have to be so naked and can be adventurous and still beautiful, with a strong group of women behind it,” Lohan said.

    In addition to the traditional attire, Lohan also wore halal makeup to the event. According to a post by halal/vegetarian/vegan makeup retailer HawaCosmetics, Lohan stopped by their booth and told them “how she’s into halal cosmetics and what she’s actually wearing on her face today was all halal!!”

    Lohan’s choice was met with mixed reactions online. One person on Twitter commented, “It amazes me how the western civilization sees wearing the hijab as an act of liberation and empowerment while women in Iran are removing their hijabs off as a protest, meaning the hijab is actually a sign of oppression in muslim countries.”

    Another person replied to the BBC’s tweet by saying, “Since when did promoting oppressive articles of clothing become a thing? Especially when women take off their hijab’s in protest…seems counterproductive…”

  • JENNIFER LAWRENCE ANGRY AT TABLOIDS CALLING HER ANTI-FEMINIST

    JENNIFER LAWRENCE ANGRY AT TABLOIDS CALLING HER ANTI-FEMINIST

    Jennifer Lawrence on Wednesday blasted a controversy over a photo of her wearing a plunging black dress outside on a cold London day as sexist, ridiculous and “not feminism.”

    The Oscar-winning star, 27, said in a Facebook posting that she was also “extremely offended” by what she called the “utterly ridiculous” reaction on social and mainstream media to the photo, taken as part of promotions for her upcoming movie Red Sparrow.

    The picture, taken outdoors on a bitter winter’s day in London earlier this week, showed a bare shouldered Lawrence wearing a black gown, while actor Jeremy Irons and three fellow cast members donned thick wool coats.

    Many commentators saw the photo as a reflection of the pressure on women in Hollywood to look good, particularly given Lawrence’s previous outspoken criticism of the gender pay gap in the movie industry.

    “True equality means either Jennifer Lawrence getting a coat, or Jeremy Irons having to pose for a photo call in assless chaps,” tweeted London journalist Helen Lewis.

    Australian journalist Stephanie Peatling remarked on Twitter that it was “cold enough that the bloke actors have to wear coats and scarves to their press call and yet poor Jennifer Lawrence is wearing a small amount of fabric some might call a dress.”

    Lawrence, one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood, was having none of it.

    “That Versace dress was fabulous, you think I’m going to cover that gorgeous dress up with a coat and a scarf ? I was outside for 5 minutes. I would have stood in the snow for that dress because I love fashion and that was my choice,” she wrote on Facebook.

    “This is sexist, this is ridiculous, this is not feminism,” she added. “It’s creating silly distractions from real issues. Get a grip people” Red Sparrow, a thriller in which Lawrence plays a Russian spy, opens worldwide next week.

    Source: Reuters

  • WHAT MADE RUTH WILSON TURN DOWN A ROLE IN A MARVEL MOVIE?

    WHAT MADE RUTH WILSON TURN DOWN A ROLE IN A MARVEL MOVIE?

    Actor Ruth Wilson has said that she once turned down a role from Marvel Studios as she found the character “boring”.

    The 36-year-old actor said she still looks forward to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and wants to play a “baddie” in a film.

    “I did have an interview for a Marvel thing ages ago. They wouldn’t say what the part was, so I made a questionnaire for the two directors.

    ‘Is she a baddie?’ They said she was a bit of both. ‘Does she wear leather or latex?’ They said no. I was like, ‘EER-EEER!’” Wilson said, according to FemaleFirst.

    “I said, ‘How many days filming is it?’ They said 14. I said, ‘14? That’s not very long… EEREEER!’

    So I said no. If you want to be in a Marvel movie, you’ve got to be a baddie or a superhero. Just being the girl on the side is boring. I’d be up for being a baddie,” she added.

    The only time a Marvel movie has been directed by a duo is Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War.

    Both films were helmed by Joe & Anthony Russo, who will return to direct Avengers: Infinity War. The forthcoming Captain Marvel movie will also be directed by a team – Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

    Source: PTI

  • PRIYANKA CHOPRA TERMINATES CONTRACT WITH NIRAV MODI, NOT SUING HIM YET

    PRIYANKA CHOPRA TERMINATES CONTRACT WITH NIRAV MODI, NOT SUING HIM YET

    Priyanka Chopra has decided to cut ties with billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi’s brand following the news about the alleged banking fraud carried out by him. “In the light of recent allegations, Priyanka Chopra has chosen to terminate her contract with the Nirav Modi brand,” a spokesperson of Priyanka, who was the global brand ambassador for Nirav Modi, said in a statement issued on Friday.

    As the news about the multi-crore scam involving Nirav Modi came to light earlier this month, a statement from the actor read that she was seeking legal opinion on her contract. There were also speculations that she is suing the brand for non-payment of dues. But her spokesperson denied this.

    The termination news comes in the wake of after Kangana Ranaut and Bipasha Basu accusing Mehul Choksi-owned Gitanjali Group of breaching the contracts with them and not paying their dues.

    Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, along with the directors of the Nirav Modi and Gitanjali groups, are under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for an alleged Rs 11,300 crore fraud on Punjab National Bank through illegal use of Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit to raise and roll over money.

    Both Nirav Modi and Choksi are said to have left the country, along with their family members, in early January.

    Source: IANS

  • MANDIRA BEDI OPENS UP ABOUT WHY SHE HAD TO ‘COVER UP’ HER TATTOO

    MANDIRA BEDI OPENS UP ABOUT WHY SHE HAD TO ‘COVER UP’ HER TATTOO

    Along with making quirky style statements — noodle strap blouses, bob hairdo and religious tattoos on navel and nape — actor Mandira Bedi is known for apologetically following her heart.

    However, it has not been a smooth ride.

    In 2010, the actor got into trouble when her Ek Onkar tattoo — that she got made on the back of her neck in 2004 — left some fringe groups fuming.

    Mandira recalls, “It all started during the 2007 Cricket World Cup tournament. And people in Punjab [after noticing the tattoo on TV were burning my effigies. I had to put an apology in newspapers, and things became calm for a while. But, a couple of years later, when I had worn a sari for an event in Ludhiana, some photographer clicked a photo and tried to incite things. Then around election time [in 2010], a criminal case was filed against me.” She adds that she felt bad for her parents who had to go through so much “as the apology was put in all vernacular papers in Punjab.”

    It was then that she decided to cover it up in 2014. She says, “Although I found out later that there’s no case as such but I decided I’m not going to fight it now. If there are people who are narrow minded and having a problem with something like this, I wanted to get done with them.”

    About its new version, she shares, “The central element is an African symbol that means ‘God is great’ and the wings symbolize: ‘now I am free’. Otherwise, whenever I used to go to Punjab, I had to hide my previous tattoo with a bandage or conceal it with makeup.” She also reveals that she went with tears in her eyes to the tattoo artist and asked him to cover it up.

    Mandira maintains that it was unfortunate that her beliefs were questioned and taken out of context. “The idea was never to hurt anyone’s sentiment. It’s my body and I am not disrespecting it in any way.

    The reason I got it in first place was because it meant [and still means] so much to me. Ek Onkar [God is One] is a beautiful philosophy, and I thought there’s nothing more permanent in my life than this. My grandmother used to have it on her hand and it’s something I’ve grown up with since I was a child,”she says.

    Source: HT

  • Batti Gul Meter Chalu is entertaining, has substance: Yami Gautam

    Batti Gul Meter Chalu is entertaining, has substance: Yami Gautam

    Yami Gautam says her next film Batti Gul Meter Chalu is entertaining and has a lot of substance.

    “Batti Gul Meter Chalu is a social drama on the electricity issue faced by people in the country, especially in small towns,” said Yami.

    “And given the kind of films that producer Prernaa Arora (KriArj Entertainment) has been doing and what Shree Narayan Singh (director) has done with Toilet: Ek Prem Katha“… you can expect a very fine amalgamation of entertainment and a relevant social issue which has been talked about for the very first time,” she added.

    The actor is excited to play a lawyer for the first time. “I think it is very interesting, quirky, entertaining and has a lot of substance at the same time. I am extremely happy to be working with the team. I play a lawyer in a film for the first time. So, I am very happy,” she said.

    The film also features actors Shahid Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor.

    Source: IANS

  • Jugaad Culture is the Best Improvisation in Corporate India, but it can’t take the place of established systems, says Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria

    Jugaad Culture is the Best Improvisation in Corporate India, but it can’t take the place of established systems, says Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria

    NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): Indian CEOs are best at improvisation or jugaad culture which is unique as well as remarkable, said Professor Nitin Nohria, Dean of Harvard Business School. Prof. Nohria was speaking at the second ‘New India Lecture’ series at the Indian consulate in New York on February 26. Eminent journalist Bobby Ghosh moderated the session.

    In his brief welcome address Consul General Ambassador Sandeep Chakraborty explained the significance of the lecture series, which will be held on fourth Monday of every month. “We are exchanging visions for creating a new India – India of our dreams”, he said.

    Speaking on ‘Doing Business in India – The Good and the Bad’ Professor Nohria touched upon all aspects of corporate culture in India. “Findings of a study on how Indian CEOs practice leadership are very compelling and connect with my own experiences. The thing that Indian CEOs are best at is improvisation or jugaad as we call it. This is the unique quality in India, it’s a remarkable capacity”, he said. But he also explained why jugaad can’t take the place of established systems. “Too often, our conversations tend to focus on the extremes. It’s like punditry on the Indian cricket team. They’re either so good that can’t get beaten or they’re in their worst form. We need to be able to focus on the middle. So, my comments on jugaad culture should not be misunderstood as pessimism. But then, jugaad cannot take the place of established systems and processes either”, he further added.

    Seen in the picture, from L to R: Bobby Ghosh, Dr. Nitin Nohria, and Consul General Sandeep Chakraborty

    Professor Nohria also explained how the corporate culture of USA is different from India’s. “In the US, the relationship between employers and employees is very transactional. In India, so many family businesses dominate the Indian landscape that the employer- employee relationship becomes one of familiarity. They (employer) begin to think of the business itself as their Parivaar.”

    “For many Indian business owners, these are people whose mission for the company is more than just to create shareholder value. American leaders are preoccupied with creating shareholder value. In India, the firm is seen by most people as an instrument for society”, he further explained.

    A view of the gathering

    The event was followed by a Q&A session. The next ‘New India Lecture’ series will be held on March 26 where Hussain Haqqani, who served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States from 2008-2011, will deliver the lecture.

    The response to the lecture was tremendous, with a roomful attendance.

  • South Asian Leaders Recognized

    South Asian Leaders Recognized

    FLUSHING, NY (TIP): Several South Asian leaders of  the Queens Borough Community were recognized for their services to their communities as well as for their contribution for  the betterment of neighborhoods and for  promoting   environment and quality of life at  a crowded ceremony attended by many elected officials which included  Senator Roxanne Persaud, Senator Leroy Comrie, Assemblyman David Weprin, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, Council Member Peter Koo,  Council Member Costa Contantines and Council Member Paul A Vallone.

    Amongst those recognized were Indian American South Asian leaders Harbachan Singh and Malini Shah.

    Harbachan Singh is a former Chairman of the United Nations Headquarters Committee on Contracts and since his retirement has been a civic activist in Queens for the past several years.  He served as a President of several organizations including the Sikh American Friendship Foundation, the Queens Civic Congress, the Saul Weprin Democratic Club, the Holocaust Center at the Queens borough Community College and on the Boards of Queens Borough President’s General Assembly, Queens District Attorney’s Advisory Council, Committee Chair of Community Board 8 and First Vice President of Queens Hospital Center’s Advisory Board. His activity involves giving testimony at the NYC Council Hearings, addresses at Churches and government agencies or institutions and fighting for the Queens residents vis a vis the authorities.  He is a recipient of numerous accolades for his work and Contribution

    Malini Shah is Community and Cultural Liaison for Council Member Paul A. Vallone. She Volunteered and served as representative for NYC Speaker Melissa Mark-Vivirito to the Museum of Arts and Design Board of Trustees in Manhattan and continues to volunteer and serve as a representative for the NYC Speaker Corey Johnson to the Museum of Arts and Design.

    Malini also serves on The Clinton Democratic Club, Executive Board as Membership Chair.

    She is a prominent and well -known community leader who is currently President of a diamond company, Difference Inc. In addition to running a successful jewelry business, Malini is the founder of Nritya Kala Kendra, Inc., and Indo-American Arts and Cultural Forum. a cultural organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the ancient and modern arts of India. Through classes, workshops, lectures, visiting artist programs, Nritya Kala Kendra presents numerous educational programs all around New York City and abroad and has assisted with event such as “Year of India” at Queens College and International children’s Day to name a few.

     

     

     

  • Zee TV’s New Family Quiz Show Attracts Top Brands

    Zee TV’s New Family Quiz Show Attracts Top Brands

    NEW YORK (TIP): Bolstering its debut this past Saturday, Zee TV’s new family quiz show Americas Smartest Family (ASF) has seem to have attracted some of the top advertisers and brand names servicing the South Asian demographic.

    A quick look at the show revealed State Farm Insurance as the presenting sponsor, McDonalds as the Co-presenting sponsor, Remitly as the powered by sponsor and Kawan Foods along with St. Judes as Associate sponsors.

    This stellar line up of brands bears testimony to the need of local and relevant programming for the community. Zee TV has taken the much-awaited initiative to program locally sourced content for audiences in the US.  ASF joins a growing list of local programs developed by Zee TV that include “Married in 7 days”, “Breakthrough”, “Made in America” and “Those who Made It”.

    All shows are being developed and produced in the US and contain relevant content designed specifically to target the evolving South Asian demographic.

    “For Kawan, it’s important to continually connect with our consumer. The Kawan brand is specifically. Catering to the Desi audience living in the US and it is our endeavor to always support initiatives that drive locally sourced content”, said Tim Tan, Managing Director of Kawan Foods.

    Hosted by 23-year-old YouTube sensation Zaid Ali, “America’s Smartest Family” is a unique mashup of the American household favorites “Family Feud” and “Jeopardy,” but with that special ZEE TV twist that celebrates its South Asian heritage. Complete with a diverse set of categories and a buzzer, each episode will feature five challenging in-studio question rounds, testing pre-screened contestants on their ability to answer quickly and more importantly – their ability to work as a team. Only the fastest, most well-rounded family will get to take home the crown.

    Round one consists of four questions, with a toss deciding which family goes first. Participants can choose from one of five topics – including science, math, arts, history and geography. Once a category is chosen, it may not be selected for the remainder of the round. During the first round, 100 points will be awarded for every correct answer. There are no deductions for wrong answers until round three and four, when a mistake can cost a team 100 points for every incorrect answer.

    As the game progresses, questions become increasingly difficult. By rounds three and four – each correct answer is worth 200 points. During the fifth and final round, the game takes a turn and host Zaid Ali spices things up by offering clues. If the team answers correctly without a clue, a maximum of 1000 points is awarded. If the family choses to get clues, each clue costs them 200 points. At the end of five rounds, scores may vary from -2400 to 5500. In the event of a tie, an extra tie-breaker round will identify the winner.

    In the first four episodes of the season, four families will compete against one another, accumulating points for every correct answer. The eight winning teams from those early contents will move onto the semi-finals until just two families remain. The winners of the semi-finals will make it to finals, for the ultimate face-off, where one family will be named “America’s Smartest Family.”

    “Nobody will dispute the fact that there is demographic shift in the South Asian Segment in USA. More than 35% of the market now reporting to be born in the United States, it is challenging yet exiting times for Indian programmers that so far have depended upon the first generation for consumption. Efforts like Zee US originals give us that opportunity that not only expands our reach but also engage the existing viewer more deeply.

    We are extremely happy and feel privileged to have the support of these brands for the show. They share and support our vision for the community. Also, very proud of our ad sales team for all their smart work,” said Sameer Targe, Head of Americas for Zee TV.

     “America’s Smartest Family” is broadcast every Saturday at 9:00 p.m. EST; 9:30 p.m. PST; and 9:00 p.m. AST on ZEE TV.

    To learn more about “America’s Smartest Family,” visit https://www.zeeoriginals.com/americas-smartest-family/

    About Zee Network

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is one of India’s leading television media and entertainment companies. It is amongst the largest producers and aggregators of Hindi programming in the world, with an extensive library housing over 222,000 hours of television content. With rights to more than 3,818 movie titles from foremost studios and of iconic film stars, ZEE houses the world’s largest Hindi film library. Through its strong presence worldwide, ZEE entertains over 1 billion viewers across 172 countries.

    About Zee TV USA

    Zee TV USA was the first ever Hindi General Entertainment channel to be launched in the US way back in 1998. Since the start of the journey more than 2 decades ago, Zee now has 43 networks and full time dedicated work force across 5 different locations all across the North America and Caribbean. Zee TV USA was the first Asian channel to launch in HD. Zee TV was the first Hindi network to be measured by Nielsen in the US, Zee TV is also the most widely available Hindi General Entertainment network on all major DTH, Cable, Telco and IPTV platforms with availability over 86 million US households.

    (Press Release)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Second Drishti Collegiate Conference Explores Hindu Identity and the Impact of Hindu Scientific Achievements on World Cultures

    Second Drishti Collegiate Conference Explores Hindu Identity and the Impact of Hindu Scientific Achievements on World Cultures

    NEW YORK (TIP): “Hindus are seekers of truth,” remarked Maitreyee Kale, president of Hindu Students Council’s (HSC) chapter at Stony Brook University, as she kicked off a panel discussion on Hindu identity. These words captured the general theme of the conference as it explored the meaning of being a Hindu, misconceptions about Hindu identity as well as the remarkable impacts of Hindu scientific discoveries on world cultures.

    Students from New York University and Stony Brook University, along with members of the HSC National Team engaged in a lively interaction on Hindu practices, traditions and texts that are most appealing to today’s Hindu youth. The panelists shared their experiences of growing up in a western society and how they managed to balance their Hindu and non-Hindu identities while staying rooted in their cultural ethos. They also interacted with conference participants on questions such as how to handle common misconceptions about Hinduism, how to positively engage with non-Hindus to explain Hindu practices and symbols, how concepts such as yoga and Ayurveda are important Hindu contributions, and many other topics.

    Student panel on Hindu identity and practices

    “I’d never seen a stage where people my age could weigh in on some of the most pressing topics facing Hinduism today,” shared Kavindra Sahabir, an attendee from Stony Brook University. “I was also impressed with the members of the panel and the way they carried themselves throughout the conference.” Sai Chaluvadi, a panelist and co-president of the HSC chapter at NYU also added: “Learning from their perspectives helped me view various components of the religion differently, broadening my understanding and making me aware of certain issues that Hindus face.”

    Dr. Alok Kumar, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Physics at SUNY Oswego and the author of “Sciences of Ancient Hindus” delivered the conference keynote address. Utilizing years of research and quoting numerous non-Hindu literary sources, Professor Kumar told a fascinating story of how medieval Muslim and Europeans scholars and writers openly acknowledged and credited several important mathematical achievements to ancient Hindus. Unfortunately, today’s math and science classes fail to tell this important story for the benefit of today’s students and to promote multicultural harmony. For example, Sa’id Al Andalusi, a famous Eleventh Century Muslim judge and philosopher in Spain, ranked Hindus at the top of all the world cultures in terms of scientific achievements, concluding that “…the Hindus, as known to all nations for many centuries, are the essence of wisdom, the sources of fairness and objectivity.” In another example, Leonardo Fibonacci credited the mathematical genius of ancient Hindus in his Liber Abaci, by admitting that he had strictly applied the Indian method and combined that with his calculations to come up with the Fibonacci sequence and other works. To quote Fibonacci: “…the art of the nine Indian figures, the introduction and knowledge of the art pleased me so much above all else…” Similarly, Copernicus, while writing his De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium used the Hindu mathematical system versus the Roman one.

    Dr. Kumar shared numerous other examples and ideas of such contributions. However, he lamented that this information is just the tip of the iceberg and that there are over 30 million unstudied ancient Indian manuscripts that are in dire conditions, though some private and government institutions are attempting to preserve and translate them for future generations.

    Conference attendees were mesmerized by Dr. Kumar’s talk and examples. Varun Rao, a student at Stony Brook summarized his perspective as follows: “Initially, I did not expect to take the HSC Drishti conference seriously as I did, but I can honestly say I left the conference with a changed perspective on how Ancient Hindu Civilization has made an everlasting impact on mankind.”

    Indeed, HSC’s conferences and events aim to bring out such important discussions and exchanges about Hindu heritage and culture and provide the youth an opportunity to understand their Hindu identity and its connections with the rest of the world.

    Hindu Students Council (HSC) is the largest Hindu youth organization in North America. Started in 1990, HSC provides college students and young professionals the opportunity to learn about Hindu heritage and culture, as well as advocates for issues impacting Hindus.  For information, please visit www.hindustudentscouncil.org or contact us at info@hindustudentscouncil.org

  • Long Islanders voice opposition to Trump’s offshore drilling plan

    Participants condemned the Trump administration’s plan to open nearly the entire U.S. coastline three miles or more from land to oil and gas exploration and drilling.

    LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): Oil and gas drilling off Long Island’s South Shore has the potential to devastate coastal economies and industries, and cause irreparable harm to the environment, a contingent of lawmakers, environmentalists and others told a state hearing in Hauppauge a few days ago.

    The group included a representative from state Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman’s office, who said the office was prepared to sue the Trump administration to block any oil or gas drilling plan off the New York coast.

    It also included Randy King, co-chairman of the Shinnecock Indian Nation’s council of trustees, who indicated the Southampton tribe’s sovereign standing and intergovernmental role over historic sites and waters could be used to oppose President Donald Trump’s plan. “This is an issue that galvanizes people,” King said in an interview, adding his tribe “never abrogated our role” as stewards of the land and waters around Long Island. “The way to go about this is to push more toward renewable energy,” he said.

    Assemb. Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) strategically convened the hearing a day in advance of a U.S. Interior Department’s scheduled public meeting on the topic in Albany, one largely criticized as misplaced given its distance from potentially impacted communities on Long Island.

    Participants used their strongest language to date to condemn the Trump administration’s plan to open nearly the entire U.S. coastline three miles or more from shore to oil and gas exploration and drilling.

    “It’s the single worst idea to come out of Washington in the last year,” Assemb. Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor) said, adding it “jeopardizes the quality of life for all areas of Long Island.”

    “This is not something that the people of Long Island will stand for,” Thiele said.

    Representatives for the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which manages coastal waters for energy uses and is coordinating the federal meetings, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Shay O’Reilly of the Sierra Club, an environmental group, said Trump’s “dangerous” plan “threatens to submerge Long Island” by exacerbating the factors that lead to climate change.

    Assemb. Christine Pellegrino (D-West Islip) accused the federal government of “trying to take us backwards at a time when we should be taking bold steps forward in the protection of our planet.”

    Brookhaven Supervisor Edward Romaine, a Republican, said the effects of oil and gas drilling “could decimate our coastline,” particularly fragile ecosystems on Fire Island. “Oil and water do not mix and should not mix,” he said.

    Suffolk Legis. Bridget Fleming, who represents the South Fork, called the plan “strikingly inappropriate,” particularly for the Hamptons, while Michael Tangney, acting city manager for Long Beach, noted “a spill of any kind could do severe damage to our already fragile coastline,” one just recovering from the ravages of superstorm Sandy.

    Carl Safina, professor of nature and humanity at Stony Brook University, said though the prospect of a big oil spill is a concern, the greater threat of the Trump plan is the “day-to-day” impact of “chasing oil.”

    “I’m more worried about the day-to-day of oil extraction,” he said, the “increased tanker traffic,” the “smell of petroleum, the daily chronic oil spills, the port expansion.”

    “No new areas at all should be explored for gas and oil,” Safina said.

    (Source: NEWSDAY)

  • Maha Shivaratri celebrated at Hari Om Mandir with chants and prayers

    Maha Shivaratri celebrated at Hari Om Mandir with chants and prayers

    CHICAGO, IL (TIP):  On Tuesday, Feb 13, devotees celebrated the festival of Maha Shivaratri, in the Hari Om Mandir, with great joy and enthusiasm. As per the Hindu tradition, devotees bathe the Shiva Lingam with Holy Water, Milk, Honey and offer Chandan, Bel Patra amidst chanting of prayers, mantras and the resonating sound of Om Nama Shivaya, called the “Rudra Abhishek”. Living up to the tradition, hundreds of devotees came to the Hari Om Mandir to perform the rituals and sing the glory of Lord Shiva.

    Due to renovation in progress at the Hari Om Mandir, the regular ‘SHIV DURBAR” was not ready for the Pooja this year, so the Mandir Management had made special arrangements and set up a temporary Durbar for the Devotees to perform the Pooja & Shiv Abhishek. The marble statues of Shiva & Parvati were seated on a high pedestal, with the Shiv Ling below, so that people could offer Milk, Water, Honey etc. and do the Abhishek. The whole ambience of this set up reminded people of the Heavenly Abode of Shiva on the Kailash Parbat!!! The Snakes, the Rudraksh mala, the half Chandrama, the Ganga on Shiva’s forehead, the Trishul, the Damrus…all added to the Divine environment of the Mandir.

    Pandit Raghubir recited the Holy Mantras and helped Devotees to perform the rituals, as per the Scriptures and the Traditions. People had been visiting the Temple right from the morning when the doors opened at 8am. By the evening, there was an unending que and people were seen waiting patiently in line for their turn.

    A special Bhajan Sandhya was organized in the evening. Subhash Sharma started the program by singing the “Shiv Stuti & Chalisa”.  He was then joined by Madhu Salwan & Rama Kapur, who sang several Bhajans in praise of Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati. As Shama Sharma & Mona Sharma sang the traditional “Shub Vivah” of Shiv & Parvati, devotees started dancing with joy.  Chantings of Om Namah Shivay echoed in the hall and the entire congregation was drenched in the glory of Lord Shiva. Also, this being a Tuesday, the regular Hanuman Chalisa for Hanuman Ji, was recited by Suchitra Sarkar.

    (Photograph and Press release / Asian Media USA)

  • Walmart raises to 21 minimum age to buy firearms, ammo

    Walmart raises to 21 minimum age to buy firearms, ammo

    NEW YORK (TIP):  US retail giant Walmart announced on Thursday, March 1 that it was raising to 21 its minimum age to buy firearms and ammunition, the latest US company to recalibrate its stance on weapons after a deadly Florida school shooting.

    “In light of recent events, we’ve taken an opportunity to review our policy on firearm sales. Going forward, we are raising the age restriction for purchase of firearms and ammunition to 21 years of age,” it said in a statement.

    “We will update our processes as quickly as possible to implement this change.” The retailer said it was also removing from its website items “resembling assault-style rifles, including nonlethal airsoft guns and toys” but that it would continue to serve “sportsmen and hunters” in a “responsible way.” Walmart said it does not sell bump stocks or high-capacity magazines and in 2015 stopped selling the AR-15 — the type of gun used by 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz in Parkland, Florida.

    The company also said it goes “beyond federal law by requiring customers to pass a background check before purchasing any firearm.” “The law would allow the sale of a firearm if no response to a background check request has been received within three business days, but our policy prohibits the sale until an approval is given,” it added.

    On Wednesday, Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the country’s top sporting goods retailers, also announced it would bar gun sales to any customers under 21 years old and that it would stop selling assault-style rifles.

    The US gun industry is suffering a growing corporate backlash in the wake of the February 14 tragedy, with companies cutting ties with the National Rifle Association gun lobbyists that pressure US politicians to prevent any move to restrict gun ownership.

    (Source: AFP)

  • New York banking regulator seeks Kushner Cos loan details

    New York banking regulator seeks Kushner Cos loan details

    NEW YORK (TIP): New York state has asked three banks to supply information about their relationships with the real estate business of Jared Kushner, a senior White House adviser and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, a source said on Thursday, March 1.

    Maria Vullo, Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), sent letters last week to Deutsche Bank, Signature Bank and New York Community Bank asking for details on their financial arrangements as well as loans made to or sought by Kushner Companies, the source told AFP.

    The lenders were given until March 5 to respond.

    The DFS has refused to comment on the matter, as has Deutsche Bank.

    But Kushner Companies said the inquiries were politically motivated and amounted to harassment.

    “We have not received a copy of any letter from the New York State Department of Financial Services,” a spokesman said.

    “Our company is a multi-billion enterprise that is extremely financially strong. Prior to our CEO voluntarily resigning to serve our country, we never had any type of inquiries.

    “These types of inquiries appear to be harassment solely for political reasons.”  Also, The New York Times reported Kushner Companies received major loans from Apollo Global Management, one of the world’s largest private equity firms, and Citigroup, shortly after Kushner held White House meetings with representatives from the two companies.

    The paper quoted Don Fox, the former acting director of the Office of Government Ethics during the Obama administration, as saying the loans raised questions about the appearance of conflicts of interest.

    Kushner met Joshua Harris, a founder of Apollo, multiple times over the course of 2017 and even discussed a potential White House position which never materialized, the paper said.

    In November 2017, the firm loaned Kushner Companies USD 184 million—triple the size of its average property loan.

    He also met Citigroup’s chief executive in the spring of 2017, Michael L Corbat, shortly before Kushner Companies received a USD 325 million loan from the firm, the Times reported.

    The White House referred questions to Kushner’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, whom the paper said did not dispute that the meetings took place but denied any impropriety.

    Kushner, who is married to the president’s daughter Ivanka Trump, has been a key figure in the administration of his father-in-law, entrusted among other things with finding a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.

    A Harvard graduate with a law degree from New York University, Kushner took the reins of his family business before announcing in January 2017 — just ahead of his appointment to the Trump administration—that he was stepping down from his management role.

    While Jared Kushner voluntarily left high-level positions in more than 200 entities related to his family’s real estate empire, he still retains shares in most of these companies from which he is likely able to derive income, according to documents published by the White House in April 2017.

    It is not the first time Kushner’s business interests, which include real estate assets in the states of New York and New Jersey, have been in the spotlight.

    In May 2017, the company was forced to apologize for mentioning Jared Kushner during a presentation of one of its projects to a group of Chinese investors, in a possible breach of conflict of interest rules.

    (Source AFP)

  • Jared Kushner loses “Top Secret” security clearance: report

    Jared Kushner loses “Top Secret” security clearance: report

    The new security clearance level will restrict Kushner’s access to top secret intelligence

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Jared Kushner, son-in-law to President Donald Trump, is one of the many White House aides to have his security clearance downgraded, according to Politico. Kushner, along with other aides, received the news via a memo on Friday, Feb 23. The downgraded security clearance level will restrict access to highly classified intelligence, in contrast to the access Kushner enjoyed while operating under the highest interim security clearance – Top Secret/SCI-level.

    Concerns around interim security clearances surfaced after White House aide Rob Porter resigned due to domestic abuse allegations. Porter was also operating under an interim security clearance.

    Many insiders and pundits scratched their heads as to the reasoning behind Kushner receiving top secret security clearance in the first place. Indeed, Kushner’s background is in real estate and business; he has no previous government nor foreign policy experience. Democrats spoke of suspending his clearance back in 2017, after news leaked that Kushner omitted details of his meetings with Russians on his security clearance application.

    On Feb. 16, Chief of Staff John Kelly wrote a five-page memo addressing ongoing security clearance concerns regarding White House staff, in addition to ordering actions that would impact those operating under interim security clearances. In this memo, Kelly decreed that those with interim security clearances whose background investigations had been ongoing since June 1 should see those clearances revoked on Feb. 23. However, it was unclear how this would impact Kushner — especially since his father-in-law, President Donald Trump, had the power to grant Kushner a permanent clearance.

    Many suspected that the notoriously clannish president would intervene on behalf of his son-in-law. Yet Trump told reporters on Friday, according to Politico, that he would leave the fate of Kushner’s security clearance in the hands of Kelly.

    “I will let General Kelly make that decision,” Trump said. “I have no doubt he’ll make the right decision.”

    While Kelly did not sign the memo that was released on Friday that informed aides about the security clearance downgrades, Kelly’s previous memo from Feb. 16 was likely the trigger for the downgrades.

    The White House has declined to comment on Kushner’s security clearance; White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders brushed past the issue when speaking to reporters on Tuesday.

    “We actually haven’t commented on Jared’s issue indicated, but we have commented on his ability to do his job. Which, he’s a valued member of the team and he will continue to do the important work that he’s been doing since he’s started in the administration,” she told reporters.

    Kushner’s attorney Abbe Lowell told Politico in a statement the changes would “not affect Mr. Kushner’s ability to continue to do the very important work he has been assigned by the president.”

    However, others saw that as wishful thinking. Quoting exclusive sources, CNN reported:

    “Republican sources close to the White House said the clearance downgrade could undercut Kushner’s ability to influence policy decision-making in the West Wing. Without a top-level clearance, Kushner will be unable to attend meetings where the most sensitive national secrets are discussed.”

    Since Porter’s dismissal, Kushner’s security clearance has been scrutinized — even by some Trump loyalists.

    Fox News host Shepard Smith told viewers last week that there was “a Kushner problem at the White House.”

    “Jared Kushner submitted his application – his ‘SF-86’ as they call it – and did not include 100 contacts with foreigners, and then later had to go back and include them. But then later he did not include the meeting at Trump Tower with the Russian lawyer and the Russian translator. He didn’t include that. So that was another amendment to this thing,” Smith explained. “And that took this past June.”

    Officials can be imprisoned for omissions on a security clearance, as Salon previously reported.

    Kushner has not been able to receive a full clearance in part because of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into the dealings of Trump and his associates.

    (Source: Salon)

  • Iowa Senate & House kicked off their sessions with Hindu prayers on Feb 26

    Iowa Senate & House kicked off their sessions with Hindu prayers on Feb 26

    DES MOINES (TIP): On February 26, both Iowa State Senate and House of Representatives in Des Moines started their respective sessions with Hindu prayers, containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture.

    Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed delivered the invocations from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before the Senate and House. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English interpretation of the prayers. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.

    Zed, who is the President of Universal Society of Hinduism, recited from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use; besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. He started and ended the prayers with “Om”, the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.

    Wearing saffron colored attire, a ruddraksh mala (rosary), and traditional sandalpaste tilak (religious mark) on the forehead; Rajan Zed sprinkled few drops of water from river Ganga of India, considered holy by Hindus, in the Senate before the prayer; where Senate President Jack Whitver introduced him. Senate adjusted its start time by few minutes so that Zed could pray in both House and Senate.

    Reciting from Brahadaranyakopanishad, Zed said “Asato ma sad gamaya, Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya”, which he then interpreted as “Lead us from the unreal to the real, Lead us from darkness to light, and Lead us from death to immortality.” Reciting from Bhagavad-Gita, he urged Senators and Representatives to keep the welfare of others always in mind.

    Rajan Zed is a global Hindu and interfaith leader, who besides taking up the cause of religion worldwide, has also raised huge voice against the apartheid faced by about 15-million Roma (Gypsies) in Europe. Bestowed with World Interfaith Leader Award; Zed is Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, Spiritual Advisor to National Association of Interchurch & Interfaith Families, on the Advisory Board of The Interfaith Peace Project, etc. He has been panelist for “On Faith”, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced by The Washington Post; and leads a weekly interfaith panel “Faith Forum” in a Gannett publication for over seven years.

    Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.1 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

    Linda L. Upmeyer is Speaker of Iowa House of Representatives, which has 100 members; while Iowa Senate has 50 members. Iowa, also known as Hawkeye State and whose flag states “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain”, is said to one of the safest states to live. Bordered by Mississippi, Missouri and Big Sioux rivers; its top exports include corn, tractors and soybeans. US President Herbert Hoover, actor John Wayne, Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug, football player Kurt Warner and Olympian artistic gymnast Shawn Johnson—all hail from Iowa. Kim Reynolds is the Governor.