NEW YORK(TIP): Seven school districts in New York state will reportedly stay closed on November seven, the day of most popular Hindu festival Diwali; while another one has announced “student recess” on November seven.
Schools in East Meadow School District (Westbury), East Williston Union Free School District (Old Westbury), Half Hollow Hills Central School District (Dix Hills), Herricks Public Schools (New Hyde Park), Hicksville Public Schools (Hicksville), Jericho School District (Jericho), Syosset Central School District (Syosset), will stay closed on November seven (Diwali day); while Port Washington Union Free School District (Port Washington) has announced “student recess” on November seven; reports suggest.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who has been actively supporting inclusion of Diwali holiday in New York state schools, in a statement, called closing schools on Diwali day by these New York school districts “a step in the positive direction”. He urged all public school districts and private-charter-independent schools in New York state to close on Diwali; as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of Hindu pupils.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that since it was important for Hindu families to celebrate Diwali day together at home with their children; closing schools on Diwali would ensure that and would also display how respectful and accommodating New York schools were to their faith.
If schools had declared other religious holidays, why not Diwali, Rajan Zed asked. Holidays of all major religions should be honored, and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion, Zed added.
Zed suggested that all New York state schools, public-private-charter-independent, to seriously look into declaring Diwali as an official holiday, thus recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education. Zed noted that awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make New York students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.
Rajan Zed urged New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New York State Education Department Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa and New York State Commissioner of Education MaryEllen Elia; to work towards adding Diwali as an official holiday in all the 733 public school districts and persuading the private-charter-independent schools to follow.
Zed states that Hinduism is rich in festivals and religious festivals are very dear and sacred to Hindus. Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
NEW YORK(TIP): On Tuesday, the New York-based consuls of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica joined Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in demanding the Trump administration provide “complete and transparent” information on the migrant children who have been separated from their parents at the border and sent to New York.
The Central American diplomats created a common front to protect the children and analyze the tools with which they hope to be able to access the federal data but warned that a prompt reunification will be difficult if Washington continues to refuse to release the information.
“This goes beyond policies and countries; it is about human dignity, and what we need to do is ask the government to clarify the information and promote reunification,” said Juan Diego Zelaya, consul of Honduras, adding that so far, they know there are 449 minors from his country in New York City.
The diplomat said that he has already met with a number of children who are under the care of the Cayuga Center in Manhattan. There, he was told that the center has information on each one of the minors but is prevented from sharing it without federal authorization.
“[They said that] when a child is detained at the border and has been separated from their father and mother, there is a special file detailing where the parent and the child were sent, and we requested access to that information to be able to help,” added Zelaya.
Similarly, Guatemala’s consul Pedro Tzunún said that there are 692 Guatemalan minors in New York, 500 of them male and mostly teenagers. He added that it is painful to know that they are away from their families.
“It is hard to see that the kids don’t even know or understand what is happening. The youngest is a 5-year-old girl. She does not talk much, but you can see the sadness in her, and it hurts to see that they will end up traumatized,” said the consul, who also asked to have access to the children’s data.
Mexican Consul Diego Gómez Pickering said that there are three minors from his country in New York and that the joint effort of the diplomatic delegations is meant to create channels of cooperation to help the minors.
For his part, José Vicente Chinchilla, consul of El Salvador, mentioned that the information his office has received is so vague that they only have an estimate of between 100 and 150 Salvadoran children separated from their parents in the country, with no specific information on how many of them are in New York.
“Without that information, we cannot operate. We believe that, ideally, the children should travel with their parents. We intend to have the families reunited, but we want to make it clear that we respect the laws of this country, even when we do not share this decision to separate them,” said the Salvadoran diplomat.
The consul of Costa Rica, Rolando Madrigal, said that he only knows of one minor from his country in the city.
While the consuls agreed that everything is uncertain at the moment due to the federal administration’s refusal to share the children’s data in a “transparent and clear” manner, Council member Carlos Menchaca warned that many of the children – particularly the youngest – may get lost in the system and never see their parents again unless swift action is taken.
“That might happen if nothing is done,” said the chair of the City Council’s Committee on Immigration. He added that he is especially concerned about the fate of a 9-month-old baby who is currently in New York City.
“It is so jarring that this is happening now, and we need to focus on that child – who is 9 months old and can’t even talk – and bring justice. We need to reunite [the baby] with the parents immediately because they have rights, and not even the government can take those rights away,” said Menchaca.
The politicians also said that if the federal government fails to promptly provide the data the group is requesting, they may consider taking legal action.
“We are going to explore every option to stop this administration, which is creating a humanitarian crisis with these children, and we are going to use the courts, but our priority right now is to get a hold of the information because at the moment, we don’t even know how many children there are or where their parents are,” said Menchaca.
Roadmap for Equitable Job Growth in NYC’s Future Tech Hub
QUEENS, NY(TIP): Borough President Melinda Katz, the Western Queens Tech Task Force, Coalition for Queens and HR&A Advisors unveiled the long-anticipated Western Queens Tech Zone Strategic Plan (“Tech Plan”) – entitled Live, Work, Create: A Roadmap for Equitable Growth of the Western Queens Tech Ecosystem – during an event held today at WeWork Queens Plaza in Long Island City. The Tech Plan offers a roadmap for equitable job growth within the tech economy of Western Queens along the East River waterfront. Borough President Katz also announced the formation of the Western Queens Tech Council, charged with implementing the Tech Plan, identifying a tech-driven brand for the area and promoting a coordinated strategy for the tech district.
The Tech Plan identifies strategic opportunities to build upon the area’s burgeoning tech ecosystem and proposes six initiatives to support its future growth as New York City’s future tech hub. The creation of the Tech Plan was first initiated by the Western Queens Tech Task Force in 2011 and funded by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. The Tech Plan can be viewed in its entirety here.
“Tech jobs, on average, pay more and are growing at a faster clip than jobs citywide,” said Borough President KATZ. “Western Queens offers a coveted, dynamic mixed-use community where workers can live, ideas can synergize, and businesses can thrive. We commissioned the Tech Plan to facilitate a more equitable growth of this emerging global innovation hub and the City’s next leading tech ecosystem. By leveraging its inherent assets, as well as training locally and hiring locally, we will steer our borough into a more competitive lane of the digital age.”
“Through smart development and innovative planning, Western Queens is on the verge of something great,” said ROSSANA ROSADO, New York Secretary of State. “The New York Department of State is proud to have put forth $150,000 toward these important projects that will embrace the growing tech market and promote economic growth across the Borough.”
“As we enter the phases of implementation, our success in reaching the Tech Plan milestones will hinge upon continued engagement from all stakeholders vested in Western Queens’ growth, including those entrusted on the Tech Council,” Borough President KATZ said.
The 21 individuals appointed to the Western Queens Tech Council are: Tristan Bel, NYDesigns; Karen Bhatia, NYC Economic Development; Seth Bornstein, Queens Economic Development Corporation; Tracy Capune, Kaufman Astoria Studios; Carol Conslato, ConEd; Samuel Cooper, Mayor’s Office of Chief Technology Officer; Samantha Dolgoff, NYC Department of Transportation; Commissioner Nicole Garcia, NYC Department of Transportation; Thomas J. Grech, Queens Chamber of Commerce; Jukay Hsu, C4Q; Michael Hulbert, Estee Lauder; Saeed Jabbar, Inclusion; Bill Keller, Queens College; Paula C. Kirby, Plaxall; Debbie Markell Kleinert, Queens Community Board 2; Tara Lannen-Stanton, Queens Library; Elizabeth Lusskin, Long Island City Partnership; Gail Mellow, LaGuardia Community College; Brian Shoicket, Uncubed; Jane Swanson, Cornell NYC Tech; John Young, NYC Department of City Planning.
The Tech Plan’s six initiatives are grouped into three focal points and laid out in immediate, intermediate-term and long-term steps aimed at creating equitable access to tech jobs:
People-Focused Initiatives (supporting talent pool growth and development of robust and stable workforce pipeline):
Prepare disadvantaged residents to succeed in existing tech training programs. Secure federal and state funding to leverage and expand pre-training programs designed to help close gaps between existing tech training programs and Western Queens residents, with an emphasis on supporting people underrepresented in the area’s tech ecosystem.
Strengthen the tech workforce pipeline to better align with job placement opportunities. Build stronger partnerships between City and tech employers to develop a shared understanding of their needs and expand opportunities for on-the-job practical training.
Place-Based Initiatives (fostering the creation of new tech-supportive physical spaces):
Define 300 acres of strategic nodes to focus investment. Create a density of activity to attract and link residents, students and tech firms, boosting the Western Queens tech ecosystem and encouraging informal connections.
Develop a 40,000 – 60,000 square feet physical hub for tech and innovation open to the entire community. Build a central tech hub to expand access to tools, training and affordable office space and increase connections between the tech ecosystem and the broader community.
Programmatic Initiatives (incentivizing tech growth in Western Queens and on clearly articulating the value of the area):
Expand marketing of Western Queens tech opportunities. Create a recognizable brand for Western Queens that leverages its growing tech ecosystem, as well as the many opportunities that the area offers to grow tech businesses, through targeted outreach campaigns for residents and developers.
Customize regulatory tools and incentives to attract more tech firms. Create new economic development tools to incentivize private sector investments and job creation, such as increasing the existent 10-20 percent State tax credit for investments into qualified firms, as well tapping into the NYC Entrepreneurial Investment Fund.
The partners on the Western Queens Tech Task Force who made the Tech Plan possible were: 500 Startups; Association for a Better New York (ABNY); Center for an Urban Future; Citigroup; Coalition for Queens; Con Edison; Cornell Tech; Flux Factory; Google; IBM; Inclusion; JetBlue; Kaufmann Astoria Studios; LaGuardia Community College; Local Data; Long Island City Partnership; Mayor’s Office of Tech and Innovation; Noguchi Museum; NYC Department of Buildings; NYC Department of City Planning; NYC Department of Education; NYC Department of Transportation; NYC Digital; NYC Economic Development Corporation; NYCHA; NYDesigns; NY Tech Meetup; Office of Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer; Ontodia; Open Tech Institute; Partnership for New York City; Plaxall; Queens Chamber of Commerce; Queens College; Queens Community Board 1; Queens Community Board 2; Queens Economic Development Corporation; Queens Public Library System; Queens Vocational & Technical High School; Queensbridge Residents Association; REES Neighborhood Zone (NYCHA); Roosevelt Island; Shapeways; Tech:NYC; TF Cornerstone; Uber; Uncubed; Urban Upbound (ERDA); Verizon.
Follow Borough President Katz via @melindakatz or www.facebook.com/queensbpkatz
The state is hurting. Some degree of sensitivity and a ‘highly disciplined’ approach will possibly yield better results. The security forces must remain calm in the event of any provocation.
Kashmiris happy, somewhat. The PDP-BJP split was much awaited; by people who were unable to reconcile to the rule of the saffron party by proxy. Fear was deeply entrenched in the minds of the locals that right-wing Hindutva forces, with the high pitch for the abrogation of Article 370, may succeed in undermining Kashmir’s special status. Naturally, Kashmiri Muslims were insecure after the alliance came about. And so, it became easier to support the forces of violence, as for them, the PDP had committed an unpardonable sin by shaking hands with the BJP; and getting nothing in return. The first shocker came when the Centre delayed the flood relief package by more than a year after the devastating floods in the autumn of 2014, a couple of months before the Assembly elections that year.
The PDP-BJP government has disappeared from the corridors of power, but the apprehensions of Kashmiris have not. Aware of political expediencies and vulnerabilities of the parties, they suspect more political compromises may be in the offing. They are waiting and watching the developments very closely. The street mood will be determined by the governance they get, and the way they are treated at their homes, and out on the streets. Kashmiris have become hyper-sensitive about their identity and dignity — siding with secessionist forces is a manifestation of that emotion.
Some voices in the BJP are linking a ‘hard approach’ toward militants as a way of pulling out Kashmir from the vicious cycle of violence it finds itself in. They believe the militants would/should be hunted and neutralized but forget that this approach prevailed earlier too, and nothing came of it.
What is really needed is to take into account the attendant pressing matters that have come into play over the past two years — the civilian population, mostly youth with rocks thronging encounter sites and disrupting anti-militancy operations; and the clashes that follow as a result of accidental civilian killings, or what is seen as ‘collateral damage’. Over these two years, the civilian population has identified itself with militants, primarily for two reasons. First, many militants are locals. They are boys they saw in the neighborhood, hence the affinity which exists in the well-knit Muslim society.
Second, they do not perceive the violent acts as being out of sync with their newly-acquired ethos of resistance. It is a big shift — this ‘new-found’ relationship between the civilians and the militants. In the 1990s, the militants were seen as mujahideen (warriors). There were no doubts. They had picked up the gun and should be ready for the consequences — to die fighting the security forces. Sympathy and sentiment was surely with them, but it was not manifested in the desperate and visible attempts to save them while risking their own lives; as we see now. This is the fundamental truth of the changed situation in Kashmir. The psyche of the common Kashmiri has undergone a sea change.
Today, the way of looking at the militants has changed, almost hero-like: their arms training may be limited to few weeks, even less, but they are hardened. They have shown their will and grit to fight unto the last. What is more, there is societal approval of their ‘sacrifices’. Some of them have spurned appeals of their parents to return home.
Some extraordinary real-life visuals have paled the reel-life images — the mother of Saddam Padder, a top militant of Shopian in South Kashmir recently killed in an encounter, giving a gun salute to her slain son. Her gesture left a deep impact on the minds of youngsters who watched the video that went viral on social media; and is seen as a universal endorsement of militancy by their mothers.
In such circumstances, reckless actions, with the rhetoric of hard approach, (BJP general secretary Ram Madhav has distanced his party from it) — without taking into account the fallout — have the potential to blow up in the face. The way forward should be specific operations without making much noise. It will help keep civilians out of harm’s way. This is important, because there is widespread impression that the security forces will be striking hard, not necessarily a militant-specific action. It will be deemed as an action against the people who would come to defend them. Stone-throwers will not only seek to disrupt the cordon and search operations — a prelude to the actual gunfight with militants — but also attack patrol parties.
This phenomenon is interlinked. Militants attack convoys of security forces even as stone-throwers use tactics to distract, thereby creating situations where the Army and police either suffer casualties or inflict casualties. At times, both sides suffer casualties, speeding up the cycle of killings.
Kashmir-centric parties, the PDP and the National Conference are convinced that the hard approach is not the answer to the problem. Other ways can be found to ease the situation without making the hard approach visible: the security forces must change their attitude towards the public at large. Treating the common Kashmiri with contempt and suspicion will only breed a psyche of resistance and rebellion. A highly disciplined approach would yield better results. Effort should be made to stay calm in the event of any provocation.
The past cannot be reversed, but the future can be built on, with a new and sophisticated approach.
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice, for humankind, that originated in India thousands of years ago. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.
Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131. 193-member nations approved the proposal with a record of 177 countries establishing Summer Solstice as the IDY. Since then the IDY has been celebrated annually by member countries of the UN with great enthusiasm.
The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.
Yoga had gained worldwide popularity due to its immense health benefits. It is in keeping with that thought that the theme of the event this year is ‘Let Yoga Govern Your Life.’
“Yoga” derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
To celebrate the 4th International Day of Yoga (Yoga Day) on 16th June 2018, the Indian Consulate had a Yoga Day event at the historic Governor’s Island, New York. About 200 were in attendance. People of all ages enthusiastically celebrated the day.
The historic setting of Governor’s Island, a 72-acre island in the New York harbor, in many ways exemplified the eternal values of yoga. Perhaps, signifying the global influence of yoga, the famous skyline of downtown Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty formed the backdrop of the event.
US Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney was the chief guest for the event. While complimenting the organizers, she spoke of the benefits that yoga has on contemporary lifestyles. The event featured performances from the Hindu Temple, Indian Cultural Association, Mallakhambh Federation, Sam Katz (David Lynch Foundation), The Art of Living Foundation, The Isha Foundation, the World Yoga Community and the Battery Dance Company.
The performances included demonstration of yoga mudra, salutations, common yoga protocol, Yoga asanas on the pole, Transcendental Meditation, desktop yoga, Yogic music and musical performances from the Salon Di Virtuosi and a dance performance by the Battery Dance Company.
Various organizations have independently celebrated the International Day of Yoga (Yoga Day) in New Jersey since 2015, the year of its inception. In 2018, the 4th Year of Yoga Day, for the first time, many like-minded organizations had formed a coalition to celebrate the Day with more fervor and strength. So was born the concept of a Yogafest NJ 2018!
As a continuation of Yoga Day celebrations, many events were held in the NJ and NY areas between June 21 and 24.
Mayor Brian C. Wahler (Township of Piscataway) reading the citation for YogaFest
Yogafest New Jersey 2018
On 24th June 2018, New Jersey saw one of its largest 4th International Day of Yoga Day celebrations. This year for the first time, many like-minded organizations formed a coalition to celebrate Yogafest New Jersey.
This Yogafest 2018 was held at the Gayatri Chetna Center, Piscataway, NJ. The event started with a lamp lighting ceremony in the presence of representatives of Ananda Marg (a global spiritual and social service organization), India; Consulate General of India, New York; Mayor of Piscataway and council representatives of the township of Piscataway; Representatives of Edison Township and, Representative from Woodbridge township board of Ed.
Citations for the event were presented to the partnering organizations by Townships of Piscataway and Edison.
Representatives of partner and supporting organizations: (left to right): Vijay Mallapati (Sewa); Pradeep & Poonam Gupta (Let’s Do Yoga); Mahesh Wani (Mallakambh Federation of USA); Vijay Kumar (Vihangam Yoga), Ganesh Ramakrishnan (Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh), Rajashree Kotekar (Isha Foundation), Parth Desai (Gayatri Chetna Center)
Over 600 people attended this event. Volunteers from partnering organizations joined hands with Gayatri Parivar volunteers to organize and setup the event.
The 2-hour long free event had parallel sessions running for adults in the outdoor tent, for kids in the temple hall and for seniors in the classroom.
Kids following Pranayama instruction at YogaFestParticipants meditating at YogaFest
The yoga and meditation sessions were presented by yoga proponents from various partner organizations. There was also a demonstration from Mallakhamb.
Light snacks, lunch / Prasadam was served by the Gayatri Parivar.
The event was well covered by media: TV Asia, Ebox TV, V6 News Telugu and Telugu NRI Radio.
Partnering organizations were Gayatri Pariwar, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), Vegetarian Vision, Isha Foundation, Mallakhamb Federation of USA and Vihangam Yoga.
Further support was given by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Sewa International, Hasya Yoga, Consulate General of India, Township of Piscataway, Township of Edison and Township of Woodbridge.
Yoga Day Celebrations in the Catskills Mountains
Participants of Yoga Day celebrations at Peace Village, NY Photos / Vaibhav Nakhawa
To celebrate and reflect on Yoga Day 2018, as in the past, the International Organization of the Brahmakumaris (BKs) hosted and organized a Yoga Retreat at Peace Village in the Catskills Mountains, New York, a 3-day event from June 21 to 23. The theme of this year’s event was The Power of Yoga: A Day to Reclaim Your Inner Spirit.
The program was facilitated by BK Susan, Raja Yoga teacher at Peace Village. Sr. Binny of the BKs of the Mount Abu, India, headquarters and international speaker-mentor Dr. Paula Fellingham were chief guests. Dr. Paula Fellingham and several other Brahmakumaris from India and the USA, at the workshops, shared their experiences of reclaiming inner strength through Yoga. BK Rick spoke and conducted a variety of excellent yoga exercises. BK Dorothy, Program Director at Peace Village, explained and conducted a meditation of Raja Yoga, and Carrie Dugo (a local resident) and family conducted a silent healing yogic walk around the Peace Village labyrinth. A local student continued to enhance the atmosphere with her singing bowls and powerful vibrational gong.
Toli (sweet) and blessings cards were given to every attendee as a finale to the spiritual program enjoyed by all.
Sadhguru on Yoga Day: Yoga for Soldiers
The Isha Foundation Salutes Our Soldiers
“Those who live for the nation, those who are willing to die for the nation must get the maximum empowerment that can happen” – Sadhguru
#YogaForSoldiers @BSF_India
On the International Day of Yoga, Isha Foundation salutes our Indian soldiers who are protecting the nation.
Since December 2017, over 300 soldiers have been trained by Isha Foundation to teach Hatha Yoga within the armed forces #yogaforsoldiers
Watch the following bi-lingual video, initiated by mystic-yogi Sadhguru, where the Inspector General of the Border Security Forces (BSF) and India’s brave soldiers, speak of their experiences using yoga to do their onerous task at India’s borders.
“Those who live for the nation, those who are willing to die for the nation must get the maximum empowerment that can happen” – Sadhguru
#YogaForSoldiers @BSF_India
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)
LONDON(TIP): Indian-origin gang men found guilty of hacking a British Sikh man to death as revenge for sleeping with one of their wives have been sentenced to over 90 years in prison at the Old Bailey court in London.
Amandeep Sandhu, 31, and Ravinder Singh-Shergil, 32, had been convicted of the brutal murder of 33-year-old Sukhjinder Singh aka Gurinder Singh, earlier this month. Vishal Soba, 32, was cleared of murder, but found guilty of manslaughter and assisting an offender. Kuldeep Dhillon, 26, was also cleared of murder by the jury but convicted of manslaughter and intimidation.
“The nature of weapons used and ferocity of the attack, it is obvious you intended to kill,” said Judge Christopher Moss, after a trial heard how the masked gang men chopped off the victim’s fingers with knives and swords and went on to attack him with a wooden club and a hammer in Southall, West London, in July 2016.
Sandhu was sentenced to 26-and-a-half years’ of imprisonment for murder and also sentenced to five years for assisting an offender, to run concurrently, and Singh-Shergil was sentenced to 26 years and nine months of imprisonment for murder at a hearing on June 22.
Soba was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of manslaughter and was also sentenced to five years for assisting an offender. Dhillon was also sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment for manslaughter and was also sentenced to three years for witness intimidation, to run concurrently.
A fifth man, 36-year-old Palwinder Multani, was sentenced to five years and nine months after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and becoming the key witness for the prosecution in the case.
“I hope these sentences bring some comfort to Gurinder’s family and friends, following his untimely death. These men used an appalling level of violence to execute their revenge on Gurinder, following a bitter feud.”
“The attack was meticulously planned; right down to the time, location and the disposal of the weapons,” said Detective Inspector James Stevenson, of Scotland Yard’s Homicide and Major Crime Command.
“While we now have five men behind bars, there are still more individuals we would like to speak to in regards to this killing, and I would like to reiterate my appeal for anyone with information to come forward,” he added.
Earlier, the court heard how the four gang men used multitude of weapons that included knives, swords and baseball bats to attack the victim.
It emerged during the trial that as far back as August 2013, there was a rivalry that existed between the victim and a group of men within the local Southall-based British Sikh community.
The rivalry escalated in July 2016 when Gurinder had been boasting about an assault he had committed on Dhillon at a religious festival in Birmingham. Dhillon also wanted revenge as he also found out that Gurinder had been sleeping with his wife.
On July 30, 2016, Gurinder was ambushed and violently attacked on Spikes Bridge Road in Southall by a group of men with multiple weapons. The men chased, beat up and stabbed Singh a number of times. Police were called and Gurinder was found suffering from a number of stab injuries.
He was taken to a hospital by the London Ambulance Service, where he was pronounced dead the next morning. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as multiple stab wounds.
WASHINGTON(TIP): Indian Americans owners of a bulk-mailing company in suburban Chicago, were today charged for swindling the US Postal Service of at least $16 million.
Owner and operator of Prodigy Mailing Services, Yogesh Patel and Arvind Lakkamsani, defrauded USPS by forging documents and secretly using an official date stamp to fraudulently authenticate payment of postage for than 80 million pieces of mail, according to criminal charges filed by the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago.
According to the charges, Mr Patel and Mr Lakkamsani schemed with a third defendant, David Gargano, to fraudulently cause the USPS to deliver numerous bulk mailings without payment.
The trio forged a USPS clerk’s signature on the verification forms and secretly used an official postal service date stamp to make it falsely appear that the clerk had authenticated postage, the charges allege.
From 2010 to 2015, the defendants caused a loss to the postal service of at least $16 million, according to the charges.
Each of the three defendants – Mr Patel, 58, of Orlando, Florida, Mr Lakkamsani, 57, of Northbrook, Illinois and Mr Gargano, 51, of Barrington, Illinois – have been charged with one count of mail fraud. Arraignments in the US District Court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled, a media release said.
According to the charges, Mr Gargano-owned and Illinois-based Direct Mail Resources Inc, which collected a fee to match customers seeking to make bulk mailings with companies who could perform those services, such as Prodigy. Mr Gargano referred two energy companies to Prodigy for bulk mailing services.
The two energy companies provided millions of dollars to the defendants to pay the postage for the companies’ bulk mailings. Instead of using those funds to pay the postage, the defendants split the money among themselves and used it for their own benefit, the charges allege.
Federal prosecutors alleged that the defendants made the mailings but kept the postage money from the energy companies without paying postage to the postal service.
Mr Patel and Mr Lakkamsani fraudulently maintained a key to a postal service mail unit, which was located inside Prodigy’s facility, and used the key to secretly access an official date-stamp without the USPS’ knowledge or approval, the release said.
By forging the postal clerk’s signature and fraudulently stamping the mailings, the two India Americans made it falsely appear that the verification forms – which identified the amount of postage paid for the bulk mailings – were authentic and that postage had been appropriately paid, federal prosecutors alleged.
LONDON (TIP): An Indian-origin Sikh football fan, Gagan, was targeted in a vile and racist letter due to his “skin color” after he put up British flags on his shop window, according to media reports.
Gagan, 31, received the anonymous letter last week which claimed he should not support for England during the World Cup because he is Indian – and it is ‘betraying the Asian community’, the reports further stated.
Gagan works as a manager of GMS Heating & Plumbing. In the poison pen letter he was accused of forgetting his motherland and his skin color.
He raised the flag for the first time on June 20that the store in Ilford, East London, and received the note the following day.
“You have put (the) wrong flag outside your shop when you have come from India. Have you forgot your skin color? You should put the Pakistan flag outside your shop not British,” the letter said.
Bizarrely, the letter also addressed as ‘Dear Uncle’, according to Gagan, was filled with spelling mistakes of grammatical errors, as well as the hateful content.
“If National Front skinheads saw this flag outside they will kick you back to India without your trousers on,” the letter said.
The defiant business owner said his father immediately went out to purchase four more flags after opening the letter.
He said: “We’re just trying to have some fun and people want to ruin it by saying it should not be done. It should be done.”
“I find this mentality really stupid to be honest – what we can’t support the country that we’re living in?”
The business owner said they always put out St George flags for major sporting events and refuse to back down.
“We have lived in this country for around 40 years and we love this country otherwise we would not be here,” he said.
“Supporting England during the football is enjoyable and all part of the fun – and some people seem to think it is wrong for us to do because we are Indian?” he further added.
Aries:Ganesha says Balance, peace, a sense of equipoise are all there for you from the beginning. You are in greater harmony with your environment – both at home and at work. There is far less tension as a result. Loved ones, family and spouse see the tender, caring side of you and love it, as you do! You’re virtually willing to go out on a limb to do things for those who matter to you. It makes the domestic scene comfortable, happy, relaxed.
Taurus:This period it’s all about people, your reactions to, as well as interaction with them. There’s a greater depth in all relationships. Even if you don’t get on with someone, you will be intense about it. So also with those you love / care for / are affectionate with, there is greater intensity. In any case, you have to think about and keep busy with your own keenness, not only to handle money matters, but to create / explore new avenues of earning.
Gemini:Hard work is your mainstay now. You want to get places – and in a real hurry, too. You’re happy at the workplace and it’s easy to put in your best. Effort and enterprise fuse beautifully. It’s all the result of your own changed attitude which is more attuned to, and in harmony with, those around you. A good start, indeed, says Ganesha. Harmony at work reflects on the home front too.
Cancer:You’re thinking big, and operations are now definitely on the mega – scale for you, says Ganesha. Larger financial issues like funds / loans / taxes / stock options are handled, perhaps for the office / business. You need to continue to be realistic and also gentle in your handling of all this. However, the main trend for this month is strongly and squarely on family and money matters, though not necessarily in that order.
Leo: You realize that your future happiness depends on choices made now – it is your own attitude that will decide whether you’re a winner or not. It is in this context that you will deal with finances, too. Once again, there will be a preoccupation with extra income – you think of extra work, moonlighting, even a job – switch if it will help matters. BUT there is no selfish motive in the spurt in your creativity and inventiveness – it’s all for others, whom you love and care for. You gain much in terms of strength and support as well as inspiration.
Virgo:An about – turn seems to come over you in this phase. Your mood is one of rashness, or certainly a keenness to take calculated risks, in an attempt to brighten future prospects. This will apply almost equally to matters that affect your pocket and your heart. Perhaps you need to think seriously and pray for inspiration to make the right choices. It’s not a time for bluster and bravado. You are convinced that you (and by extension your family) want a better lifestyle and so embark seriously on shifting to a better house / locality.
Libra:Ganesha sends you a time in which you will bend every sinew to get things just right. Ideas flood in and preoccupy your mind greatly, mainly regarding new ventures / deals. You enjoy challenges at work, too, and are extremely realistic in the stance you take if / when problems arise. Not bad going at all, applauds Ganesha. Your thinking has put you dead – center on the right track! It will reflect most strongly in those aspects of life where equality of partners is desirable – both love / marriage and business. Also, in striving to balance income and expenditure.
Scorpio:You’re energized, enthusiastic, forward – looking. In this phase, your plans may go into top gear. A marvelous boost to your creativity as I’ve just said. You also derive strength and support as well as inspiration from close friends, family and your spouse / partner. Closeness, bonding, “good vibes”, and therefore, meaningful achievements all come to you. You are open to new ideas, new approaches.
Sagittarius:A time when you will re – think your priorities, and two strong concerns – achievements at work, and pleasurable times with family – emerge as equally balanced. You experience a sense of satisfaction in both and what could be better? It’s what most people strive for. You continue to be more restrained, more low – key in all your activities. Funds and finances are low – key, but are approaching a point of either clearer investment or shared use so that there is a sense of achievement.
Capricorn: A period of daring, courage and determination. You are willing, even eager, to take risks, chance your arm and your heart. You are willing to lay down your heart for your sweetheart to trample over, if it gets you what you want, but it just may not. A lot of hurt comes from such attitudes; they also go unappreciated for the most part. This realization will come and it mellows you, so that you will be less demanding and more reasonable in your approach to both work and relationships.
Aquarius:Courage came to you last period, and the testing times comes now. A fraught and hectic period that keeps you on your toes. The reasons are: a) sky – high expenses and outflow of money; b) extra assignments, perhaps even a stint of moonlighting to cope with expenses; in short, extra work, c) putting yourself out on a limb in your efforts to help someone else whom you have sympathy for. Risks and chances need to be weighed carefully.
Pisces:A sense of ease and relaxation come to you in this phase; you are far less keyed – up, much more laid – back than before. It could be because the theme of the new monthly trend is family, and family matters. This is partly because of your own sympathetic handling of matters that pertain to your property, house and home, ancestral property / wealth / assets shared with other members / relatives / kin.
WASHINGTON(TIP): Indian Origin Amul Thapar, 49 is one of the potential Supreme Court nominees to replace Justice Kennedy.
Amul Thapar, 49, a McConnell favorite, was handpicked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to serve as the US attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. In 2006, he went on to a seat on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Trump nominated Thapar to the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017. He was born in Michigan and served in government as well as private practice. In 2007, Thapar was the first American of South Asian descent to be named to an Article III federal judgeship.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, a longtime member of the Supreme Court and frequent swing vote, announced Wednesday that he will retire, giving President Donald Trump the chance to fill his seat.
The opportunity will allow Trump to make a major, lasting mark on the nation’s highest court by putting in place a second justice, after his choice to elevate Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court last year following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016.
Trump, reacting to the news at the White House, said he had spoken with Kennedy earlier Wednesday and asked the outgoing justice about possible contenders to replace him.
“(We) had a very deep discussion. I got his ideas on things,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “I asked him if he had certain people he had great respect for that could potentially take his seat.”
During his remarks, Trump pointed to a list of potential picks for the court that he had maintained during the campaign and updated last fall.
Here are a few names of possible contenders for the vacancy. Brett Kavanaugh, former Kennedy clerk; Amy Coney Barrett, former Notre Dame professor; Raymond Kethledge, former Kennedy clerk; Mike Lee, Utah senator; and Thomas Hardiman, runner-up for Gorsuch seat.
SINGAPORE(TIP): Dedar Singh Gill, an Indian-origin leading intellectual property lawyer of Singapore has been appointed as a judicial commissioner of the country’s Supreme Court, according to an official statement.
Gill, 59, has been appointed by President Halimah Yacob as the apex court’s judicial commissioner for a period of two years.
Mr Gill will begin his role on August 1 for a period of two years, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said on June 26.
He will be sworn in on August 3.
A graduate of National University of Singapore (1983), Mr. Gill was previously managing director of intellectual property department of the law firm Drew and Napier LLC, where he spent most of his career since graduation.
A lawyer with over 30 years of experience, he is one of Singapore’s top intellectual property (IP) litigators, representing corporate clients who are household names.
He is former president of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (Singapore Group) and was also appointed as deputy president of the Copyright Tribunal.
With Mr Gill’s appointment, the Supreme Court will now have a total of 21 judges – including four judges of appeal and the chief justice – six judicial commissioners, four senior judges and 15 international judges.
MARYLAND (TIP): Indian American Aruna Miller lost the Democratic primary for the state’s open sixth congressional district on June 26.
Miller finished second with 17,315 votes, roughly 5,000 fewer than the winner, businessman David Trone.
Only 55,000 registered voters cast their votes in the Democratic primary. The presence of two Asian Americans — pediatrician and author Nadia Hashimi and State Sen. Roger Manno — did not help Miller’s cause.
Hashimi received 4,764 votes, Manno got 4,245 votes.
Trone, founder of Total Wine & More, reportedly spent $12 million of his own money for the campaign, vastly outspending Miller, who raised $1.5 million.
Trone had spent more than $10 million in the Democratic primary from the neighboring 8th district in 2016, when he finished second behind Jamie Raskin, who now represents the district in Congress.
Speaking to roughly 200 of her friends and supporters at a Gaithersburg, MD, restaurant, the candidate vowed to continue to fight for the issues she ran on.
“When I first started out this journey to run for Congress people said to me… ‘Aruna look you really want to give up a safe seat in the House of Delegates and take on this role of running for Congress?’ I said you know what you better believe it. I do, and the reason why is because our democracy, our future and our liberties for every one of the kids that are here today, it’s worth fighting for and risking everything for and I don’t regret it one bit.”
She said the campaign was about “what we fight together, what we’re seeking together,” she said. “Tomorrow, we’re gonna get up and we’re gonna fight for democracy. We never take our eye off that. It is something worth fighting for. People have marched for and died for so we, you and I, could have the liberties and the freedoms and all the things that we have today. And that’s our responsibility to do that for the future generation.”
Miller also thanked the Indian American community for its support.
“They’ve been incredibly supportive and I’m grateful for that support,” she said. “I think the Indian American community, along with the nation, has woken up from their political slumber after the presidential election and are beginning to understand now why it’s important to be politically engaged.”
Miller further added in her speech the way forward.
I’m sure most of you know the story — and every immigrant knows his story — that my mom and dad risked it all came to the United States, stepped out of their comfort zone in order to give greater opportunities for their children. And I’m thankful for that. … They taught me a lesson in that that you should always step out of your comfort zone. That’s when life really begins. Get comfortable with the jagged edges, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. That’s what my mom and dad and every immigrant that comes to this nation has taught me and that’s something that I hope you can take away no matter what you do in life.
I just want to say: Look, it isn’t over [tonight] … Life is full of disappointments. This is only one data point in that we’re gonna get up tomorrow, we’re gonna fight for democracy, we’re gonna make sure, as we move forward, that it’s about an inclusive America that we want to create. You know I spent my entire life, and I’m sure some of you have also been in this space, trying to fit into a space that didn’t have me in mind right and that’s not what America is about. We’re about expanding that space, so everyone belongs and that’s what I want to work towards.
She went ahead and congratulated all.
I want to congratulate every one of the people that ran in [the 6th] congressional district, to all the candidates who gave up their self, their time, their energy and gave the best of themselves to share with the voters. And the voters you know made a decision and they elected an individual and you know we’re gonna have to get up tomorrow morning, we’re gonna have to get up again to work towards something bigger than ourselves, something more important just than our campaign. It’s about moving the ball forward. It’s about moving that needle more towards progress. Progress comes in incremental steps. It’s never over. There is no final destination, but it’s about moving towards it little at a time. And I hope that you will all join us in making sure that we do this.
SINGAPORE(TIP): A 70-year-old Indian-origin woman, Mehrotra Shashi, has been allegedly murdered at her home in Singapore by a maid from Myanmar, police said. She was found lying motionless in her 12th story unit in the Choa Chu Kang North housing estate on June 25.
Zin Mar Nwe, 23, is accused of killing Mehrotra, as reported.
Nwe appeared via a video-link from the Central Police Division, where she is being held in remand, the report said, adding that she is remanded for psychiatric evaluation for a week and has been denied bail.
The alleged murder was discovered after police received a call, requesting for assistance at the unit. When officers arrived at the unit, they found Mehrotra lying motionless. Doctors pronounced her dead about 30 minutes later. Nwe will be back in court on July 4.
If found guilty of committing murder, she will face the death penalty under the Singaporean law.
LONDON(TIP): Sanjay Naker, an Indian-origin finance consultant from north London is on trial for allegedly raping an 18-year-old female after a night out drinking with his colleagues.
Mr. Sanjay denies three charges of rape, one count of attempted rape, one charge of assault by penetration, and a count of sexual assault as the trial got underway at Inner London Crown Court this week.
The married 28-year-old is accused of carrying the woman over his shoulder after she was denied entry into a nightclub in central London for being drunk and raped her in an alleyway.
The jury was told that the last thing the unnamed woman remembers was standing in the smoking area with her cousin at the club and then staring at a brick wall in the alley.
Naker told police the sex was consensual and said the woman had not appeared drunk. He admitted later searching online for a definition of the word “rape” but said it reassured him he had done nothing wrong.
Showing the jury CCTV footage from the incident in March last year, prosecutor Neena Crinnion said, “He (Naker) has managed to maneuver her on to his back, into a piggyback position, and he is off across the road and down towards the passageway. The CCTV shows she appears to be slumped over his back, not really maintaining any grip”.
Jurors watched footage of the woman falling from Naker’s back and banging her head on the ground, according to reports. Naker is then accused of “dragging” her further along the alleyway to a “filthy corner”.
The prosecution alleges that Naker forced the “extremely drunk” woman to perform sex acts on him before trying to have sex with her.
Naker denies the allegations as the trial remains ongoing at the London court.
LONDON (TIP): Rhodenne Chand, an Indian-origin British man was found guilty of stirring up racial hatred online at Birmingham Crown Court on June 26. He has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
He posted Islamophobic rants on social media in the wake of the terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester last year.
West Midlands Police said the 31-year-old’s sentencing should be a warning to anyone who posts inflammatory messages that they could be arrested for committing hate crimes.
“This case saw the sustained release of offensive, threatening material aimed at Muslim and Pakistani communities – it left people fearing some of the threats could be carried out by him or his Twitter followers,” said West Midlands Police Superintendent Mat Shaer.
“The law is careful to try and not penalize expression of opinion, even in strong and possibly offensive terms. But Chand’s tweets were a much baser expression of animosity towards a section of society and were totally unacceptable,” he said.
Mr Shaer said his force takes hate crime very seriously and anyone found to be stirring up hatred on the grounds of race, religion, sexuality, or disability could find themselves in court and facing a criminal conviction.
“Court outcomes like this are important in order to reassure communities of our willingness to make progress in the way we tackle hate crime matches how proud we are to police such a diverse region,” Mr Shaer added.
Some of the messages encouraged violence against Muslims and for mosques to be attacked – and in one Chand claimed he wanted to “slit a Muslim’s throat”.
A member of the public reported the Twitter rant to police fearing Chand might carry through on his threats. Chand was arrested on June 17 last year, admitted issuing the messages and said he felt disgusted at himself for writing the posts.
He told officers he was “venting” in the aftermath of the Manchester and London Borough Market terror attacks in May and June 2017 and had stopped using Twitter since.
However, a specialist prosecutor assessed the case and determined the posts showed intent to stir up racial and religious hatred and that such “violent rhetoric can cause considerable harm once it is in the public domain”.
India has been at the receiving end of Trump’s economic policies of “America first.” His duties on imports of aluminum and steel have resulted in India taking up the issue with the WTO and imposing reciprocal trade curbs on US exports.
New Delhi has been at the receiving end of Trump’s economic policies of “America first.” Trump’s duties on imports of aluminum and steel have resulted in India taking up the issue with the WTO and imposing reciprocal trade restrictions on US exports. India’s trade surplus with the US in 2017-18 was around $21 billion, barely 5 per cent of the trade surplus of China. But, the Trump administration would evidently like to end GSP trade preferences, accorded to India since 1974, together with demands that India ends restrictions on imports of American dairy products.
While Trump is proposing tariffs on some $50 billion of Chinese exports, he also supports special treatment for China, while heaping praise on President Xi Jinping. He intervened to reverse a US Congressional ban on ZTE, China’s manufacturer of Android phones, which accepted that it had violated sanctions, by exports to Iran and North Korea. The US Commerce Department banned US companies from exporting components essential for ZTE’s survival and brought the company to its knees. Trump, however, stepped in, tweeting that he would work with Xi, to reverse the ban.
With high-level meetings under way, India should respond to Trump’s policies by being judicious in extending support, while seeking a quid pro quo for its actions, which support US policies. Any significant purchase of defense equipment, or civilian transport aircraft should be linked to specific political, economic and security gestures from Washington, while ensuring that US actions do not undermine the India-Russia defense relationship.
We need to work with Russia and China so that Washington does not take us for granted. Defense Secretary Mattis and Secretary of State Pompeo appear to have a realistic understanding of India’s policies, potential and imperatives.
We need to keep a close watch on US policies on Afghanistan, where an effort appears under way to mainstream the Taliban. This should not lead to politically equating the Taliban with the legitimate Afghan Government.
The annual summit meetings of the G7 grouping are marked by camaraderie. They make a significant contribution to issues of global governance, ranging from environment, trade and investment, to peace, stability and security. Trump shook this record by his behavior during and after the G7 summit in Vancouver earlier this month. The summit was marked by simmering tensions on trade relations, with the US unilaterally imposing additional tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, from its G7 partners. Differences on this issue led to Trump disowning the Summit Declaration he had signed and calling Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau: “Dishonest and Weak.” Outraged European leaders joined ranks, taking exception to Trump’s comments, while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, already shaken by Trump’s U-turns on China and North Korea, maintained a silence.
He revoked US participation in the “Trans-Pacific Partnership”, which sought to integrate the economies of the Asia-Pacific, ranging from Canada and the US to Japan, South Korea and ASEAN markets. China, now pushing for a “Comprehensive Economic Cooperation” agreement with ASEAN and its dialogue partners like India, Japan and Australia, will only increase its economic domination of the Indo-Pacific, by these American actions.
Other destabilizing Trump policies include his determination to scuttle the North American Free Trade Agreement, his ban on travel to the US by people from six Muslim countries, his imposition of nuclear sanctions on Iran and his insulting labelling of Haiti and countries in Africa as “shithole countries,” which provoked formal protests by six African countries.
Trump has created new tensions by recognizing the whole Jerusalem as part of Israel, ignoring the global consensus that East Jerusalem would be under Palestinian control in any peace settlement in West Asia.
Trump’s impetuously ignored the security concerns of key allies South Korea and Japan and went ahead with a summit meeting in Singapore, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whom he had earlier spoken of in derogatory terms. Trump expressed his admiration for the North Korean leader and cancelled longstanding military exercises with South Korea, thereby implicitly accepting the assurances of the North Korean leader that he would end his country’s nuclear weapons program. These actions were ill advised, naïve and undermined the trust that South Korea and Japan had reposed in the US. There is little prospect of North Korea discarding its nuclear arsenal anytime soon. Moreover, one wonders if Shinzo Abe can afford to remain a mere spectator, with China and North Korea possessing missile and nuclear arsenals, with US acquiescence.
Interacting with well-informed journalists and analysts in the US during a stay at the US west coast, where people voted massively against Trump, one feels that a larger section of people now appear more indulgent towards religious bigotry and racism. There is appreciation of the fact that not only did Trump receive nearly 63 million votes in the presidential elections, but his economic policies, particularly on tax relief, have been accompanied by reduced unemployment, with a booming stock market. Acceptance and support, particularly amongst small-town white Americans, of Trump’s immigration policies, is evident. A large number of Americans, especially in the mid-west and south, feel that far too much of their national resources has been spent on involvement beyond the country’s borders and that there is, therefore, merit in Trump’s slogan of “America First”. Aspirants for quick “green cards” and those with unrealistic expectations of continuing American “liberalism,” would be well advised to bear this in mind.
India must view in a new light its ties with both China and Pakistan
By MK Bhadrakumar
Succinctly put, China’s initiative to create a trilateral forum to foster amity between Afghanistan and Pakistan has gained traction. In fact, China and Pakistan have agreed to look at extending their $57 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan. To be sure, India-China-Pakistan triangle always brought to bear the regional backdrop. Therefore, we need to comprehend that Chinese policies too cannot be stereotyped through the prism of a bygone era. Regional stability and security providing the external environment in which development objectives are optimally realized becomes a top priority for Chinese policies. Thus, China is acting as a moderating influence on Pakistan.
Without doubt, a new criticality has arisen in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, but as can happen, ‘sweet are the uses of adversity’ — to borrow from Shakespeare. There are both internal and external factors at work here. The contradictions in the political situation in J&K may ease if a level playing field is made available for all political parties and groups to make a new beginning. It doesn’t have to be the case that things move from the frying pan into the fire.
One important reason for expressing cautious optimism is that in the external environment, an opportunity is at hand to take a road less travelled by, which could make all the difference. This involves engaging with Pakistan. The political dynamics within J&K invariably have an external dimension and not engaging with Pakistan is untenable. No one probably knows this better than the incumbent Governor NN Vohra in Srinagar, given his vast experience in statecraft. During the transition ahead, it will help matters a great deal if the disconnect between the efforts to shore up internal security and engagement with Pakistan is addressed. Of course, a hugely consequential electoral battle is looming ahead in the country in less than a year, which makes it obligatory for political parties to engage in grandstanding, but again, a non-partisan eye cannot miss the point that the reactions to the latest events in J&K suggest that no one is in any real combative mood. In fact, the mood is somber. There are no victors here. Pakistan was not even dragged into media discourse.
A question is often put why engage with Pakistan at all, given the past experience? But then, that is a self-serving digression, neither fair nor honest, because engaging Pakistan was never a substitute for doing homework that was also needed on our part, which was never quite forthcoming, for one reason or another. Yet, the past serves a purpose insofar as the scars remind us that we did survive our deepest wounds and it is not only an accomplishment, but an enduring reminder that the heavy toll that life took left us more resilient, and perhaps, better equipped to face the present. The ruins of a stupendous past are all around us today.
Second, a nation never replays its history. Despite our dogmas regarding Pakistan, that country of yesteryear no longer exists. Pakistan has been in transition with a searing knowledge that the past cannot be altered and is fixed, and the present is its reflecting actuality, while the future remains undefined and nebulous until a part of the present becomes a part of the past so that an unrealized future can become the new present. Plainly put, what is playing out in the Hindu Kush in recent weeks testify to a rethink in Pakistan. Curiously, this rethink is attributed to none other than army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa. With an interim government training its energies on the conduct of the forthcoming election, General Bajwa is having a free hand to withdraw the sticky tentacles of past Afghan policies from the present so that a future dawns for Pakistan in terms of regional connectivity, a flourishing economy and a nation at peace with itself and its neighbors. From the Indian perspective, therefore, it is hugely consequential that General Bajwa has held out positive signals for better relations with New Delhi. The Modi government seems to appreciate it.
The dramatic happenings of the past few weeks testify to the winds of change sweeping Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, especially the Eid festivities with Taliban fighters and security forces taking ‘selfies’ in cities and towns, and secondly, the killing in Afghanistan of the Pakistan Taliban chief, Mullah Fazlullah, variously described as the mastermind of Pakistan’s suicide culture, in a US drone strike. The latter is particularly important, as evident from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s eagerness to personally transmit to General Bajwa the fulfilment of a long-standing Pakistani demand. Ghani expects him to reciprocate.
Succinctly put, China’s initiative to create a trilateral forum to foster amity between Afghanistan and Pakistan has gained traction. In fact, China and Pakistan have agreed to look at extending their $57 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan. To be sure, India-China-Pakistan triangle always brought to bear the regional backdrop. Therefore, we need to comprehend that Chinese policies too cannot be stereotyped through the prism of a bygone era. Regional stability and security providing the external environment in which development objectives are optimally realized becomes a top priority for Chinese policies. Thus, China is acting as a moderating influence on Pakistan.
On the other hand, if there was a past when China was indifferent toward India, it is far from the case today. India’s impressive growth is taken seriously by the Chinese. All evidence suggests that despite the drift in the Sino-Indian relationship in the most recent years, the Chinese perception regarding PM Modi remain positive and his reform agenda has consistently drawn praise from Chinese commentators — underscoring faith in him that he is a strong leader who can take difficult decisions leading to a paradigm shift in Sino-Indian ties. Above all, China hopes that a bonding with India — ‘China India Plus’s — can be a game changer in the prevailing international milieu, characterized by anti-globalization trends, protectionism and growing pressure from the entrenched West, which is chary of redistribution of power in favor of emerging powers.
It is highly significant that in a speech last Monday in Delhi, outlining Beijing’s strategy toward India, Chinese ambassador Luo Zhaohui singled out the idea of creating a new platform of China-India-Pakistan leaders’ meeting under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Taking into account foreign minister Wang Yi’s recent remarks after the SCO summit in Qingdao that membership of India and Pakistan will strengthen the fight against terrorism and promote India’s connectivity with Central Asia, one can quite figure out the Chinese intentions. The bottom line is that China sees it as in its self-interest that India-Pakistan tensions do not pose a contradiction in its efforts to boost the content and inject new verve into its relations with India.
Interestingly, Ambassador Luo also revisited the long-standing proposal on signing a ‘Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation’ with India. Suffice to say, it will be to India’s advantage if an imaginative approach toward the situation in J&K could run parallel with a diplomatic track attuned to the positive power shift in the region.
It was a strange way to announce the postponement of the first-ever simultaneous meeting of the Indian and American defense and external affairs ministers. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo broke the news to Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj after UN Permanent Representative (UNPR) Nikki Haley touched down in New Delhi to soothe feathers ruffled by a burgeoning trade dispute and attempts to circumscribe New Delhi’s freedom to buy oil and weapons from Iran and Russia, respectively. The first postponement in April was understandable — Trump had recently fired his Secretary of State and his replacement was going through confirmation hearings before the US Congress. The latest deferment lends itself to many interpretations and — since Pompeo did not elaborate — to negative inferences about the state of play of US-India relations.
Nothing much could be deduced from the public statements by Nikki Haley who largely made boiler plate announcements that no one can find fault with. The 2+2 format, borrowed from the Japanese diplomatic blue book, is supposed to speed up strategic and security partnerships. But in actual practice the focus is narrower: all the 2+2 formats currently in vogue are aimed at containing China or Russia or both. And PM Modi crossed a Rubicon by parleying with Presidents of both these countries in settings that lend themselves to elaborate deal making and clearing of the air.
The US would have rightly sensed that India will be hard placed to accommodate its security and defense requirements after it asked India for a complete ban on Iranian oil by November 4 and threatened its contracts for Russian military hardware. Both directives are anathema to India because of its long-standing policy of not putting all its energy and military eggs in a single basket. Trade disputes and Indian immigration woes are the other irritants. In this stalemate, both sides need sustained, creative and energetic diplomacy that gives India the freedom to pick its partners. The nature of Indo-US ties does not lend itself to permanent estrangement. But the moot question is whether a distracted and depleted US diplomacy is up to the task.
NEW YORK(TIP): Kylie Jenner, Kanye West, Rihanna, Busy Philipps and Matt Drudge have landed on Time magazine’s roundup of the most influential people on the internet. So did someone with 53 million Twitter followers — President Donald J Trump.
The magazine sized up contenders for its annual list by looking at their global impact on social media and their overall ability to drive news.
Others who made the 25-entry list include Korean pop act BTS, Logan and Jake Paul and social activists Shaun King, Eman al-Nafjan and the students of Parkland, Florida, pushing for gun reform.
When it comes to Trump, Time says his “unorthodox stream of consciousness” generates headlines and galvanizes his base. The magazine credits the president with turning his Twitter account into “the ultimate presidential bully pulpit.”
CENTRAL ISLIP, NY(TIP): U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack on Thursday, June 28 set Oct. 9 as the date for the retrial of former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and his wife, Linda, on corruption charges.
The Judge also said at the federal court in Central Islip that jury selection for the new trial will happen in September at a date yet to be determined. Eastern District prosecutors said Thursday, June 28 that the retrial will take four to six weeks,
Azrack declared a mistrial in the case on May 31 after the jury foreman sent a note saying he wished to be excused because he could no longer carry out his duty after nine days of deliberations.
Prosecutors Catherine Mirabile and Lara Treinis Gatz said they plan to retry the Manganos on all the charges they were indicted on. The charges involved what officials asserted was a political corruption case, involving an illegal stream-of benefits scheme between the Manganos and once prominent restaurateur Harendra Singh.
PM Narendra Modi knows why US deferred talks with India: Nikki Haley
WASHINGTON(TIP): US abruptly postponed the crucial ‘2+2’ dialogue with India scheduled on July 6, for the second time in a row. US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley, in Delhi, however said there’s a good reason to delay talks and PM Modi knows about it. But questions are being asked if India-US ties are facing a rough weather and are cracks emerging in India-US relationship?
US Ambassador to United Nations, Nikki Haley, has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi knows the reason for the Donald Trump administration cancelling 2+2 dialogue which was scheduled to be held in Washington on July 6 and 7.
Speaking to NDTV, Haley said that the talks were cancelled for reasons that had nothing to do with India, adding that the world would soon be informed about the same. She added that Prime Minister Modi is aware of the “exact reason”, which is a “very good” one.
Dismissing reports of differences between the two countries of rescheduling of the talks, Haley said that the relationship between India and US has “never been stronger”. Her remarks come a day after the US conveyed to India that it had postponed the 2+2 dialogue scheduled to be held in Washington next week, due to “unavoidable reasons”.
Earlier, Haley had said that the US wants to take bilateral ties with India to the next level, adding that US President Donald Trump shares Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of nations pursuing growth “free and fearless in their choices” in the Indo-Pacific region.
Responding to a question, she also talked about the contentious issue of immigration amid an uproar over detention of scores of people in the US, including Indians, for illegally entering the country. America is a country of immigrants, but it cannot allow illegal immigration in the wake of the challenge of terrorism, Haley said.
India and the US enjoy a natural friendship that is based on their shared values and interests, the 46-year-old Indian American said. “The Trump Administration seeks to take the US-India relationship to the next level; to build a strategic partnership rooted in our common values and directed toward our common interests,” she said.
Haley said India was a state with advanced nuclear technologies widely accepted around the world because it is a democracy and continues to be a responsible leader. Noting that in the last couple of years, India has joined three major nonproliferation groupings, she said the US also fully supports India’s membership bid for the Nuclear Suppliers Group. “India continues to demonstrate it is a responsible steward of its nuclear technology,” she said.
Will discuss Syria, Ukraine and “many other subjects”: Trump
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW(TIP): US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a summit in Helsinki on July 16, the White House and the Kremlin announced Thursday, June 28.
The brief statement issued in Moscow said the two presidents will discuss bilateral issues and international relations.
The announcement comes a day after Trump’s National Security Adviser John Bolton held talks with Russian officials in Moscow to lay the groundwork for the summit.
“I’ve said it from day one, getting along with Russia and with China and with everybody is a very good thing,” Trump said Wednesday. “It’s good for the world. It’s good for us. It’s good for everybody.”
He said they would discuss Syria, Ukraine and “many other subjects.”
NEW DELHI(TIP): Pakistan becoming a haven for terror groups cannot be tolerated and the US has already delivered the message to Islamabad, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said here June 28.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to those harboring terrorists… Communicating to Pakistan that this cannot be tolerated,” she said while delivering a lecture at the Observer Research Foundation- a Think Tank.
She also said that India and the US must be global leaders in the fight against terrorism adding “we can and must do more.”
Touching upon a variety of issues, she said freedom of religion is very important and that a nation such as “ours can only be held together by tolerance.”
On China, she said the country was important but noted that its expansion in the region has been a matter of concern for the US and many other countries as Beijing does not share democratic values.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks at the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore to ensure freedom of navigation and stability in the Indo-Pacific, she said President Donald Trump also believes in this vision.
Haley said the US supports India’s membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group as it is a nuclear state which is widely respected.
Haley who is on a 3-day visit to India called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
She also visited a church, a mosque, a temple and the Sikh Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi where she and US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster went to Langar Hall and rolled chapatis. Delhi Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee President Manjit Singh GK showed them round and explained how langar was being distributed free to thousands every day without any distinction of caste and creed.
KUALALUMPUR(TIP): Mobile phones accidents have led to grievous injuries, but it turned fatal for the 45-year-old CEO in Malaysia. Nazrin Hassan, the head of the Cradle Fund, died a few days ago, due to an exploding handphone that was being charged next to him, according to his postmortem report.
One of Hassan’s two smartphones exploded while charging in his Malaysia bedroom and it caught fire. From the available reports, it appears that the initial explosion caused some sort of injury that may have incapacitated the man. A message from the family that has been circulating on social media quoted Nazrin’s brother-in-law that at some point the phone had overheated and exploded, causing a blunt trauma at the back of Nazrin’s head and caused his death.
Police had earlier said Nazrin was trapped in a bedroom fire at his double-storey terrace house in Mutiara Damansara yesterday and probably died of smoke inhalation. He had also suffered burns on his body, according to the Star publication. Nazrin leaves behind his wife and four children, according to the Star.
Cradle chief operations officer Razif Aziz said: “Cradle has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Nazrin have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor.”
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