The Indian Panorama

Month: September 2018

  • High-end defense tech pact with US: Delhi firm on military ties with Russia

    High-end defense tech pact with US: Delhi firm on military ties with Russia

    NEW DELHI(TIP): India and the US on Thursday, September 6, inked a vital agreement on seamless exchange of military information — Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) — even as New Delhi is clear that it will “stay the course” in its military relations with Moscow.

    The purchase of state-of-the-art S-400 Russian air-defense missile system is at the heart of the threat of US sanctions against countries dealing with Moscow.

    Russia was literally the “elephant in the room” when Indian and US delegations sat down for their first-ever 2+2 dialogue, sources confirmed, as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met their US counterparts Mike Pompeo and Jim Mattis.

    Sources said the US told India that it understood the need for New Delhi to maintain its Russian-origin military equipment, but in case big-ticket items (like the S-400) are purchased, cooperation with the US could be “affected”. India is buying the system for Rs 39,000 crore to have a protective air-defense umbrella.

    India, in turn, has assured the US that its purchases from Russia do not harm the US’ interests in any manner. A US legislation Countering America’s Adversaries

    Though Sanctions Act (CAATSA) provides for a waiver against sanctions to India, it’s not a blanket waiver. Pompeo’s remarks released to the press say, “Our effort here, too, is not to penalize great strategic partners like India, a major defense partner. The sanctions aren’t intended to adversely impact countries like India. They are intended to have an impact on the sanctioned country, which is Russia. And so, we’ll work our way through the waiver decision as the days and weeks proceed, and we’ll do that alongside our partner, India, as well.”

    In another important development the two countries committed to start exchanges between the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and the Indian Navy. India will post an attaché at Bahrain to coordinate with US forces. India and the US will begin negotiations on an Industrial Security Annex (ISA) that would support closer defense industry cooperation and collaboration.

    About COMCASA

    Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement will allow Indian defense forces to receive military-grade communications equipment from the US and ensure access to real-time encrypted information

    It will help India gain access to critical communication network of the US armed forces

    The pact, valid for 10 years, will ensure interoperability among the US and the Indian armed forces.

  • Pakistan may become 5th largest nuclear state by 2025: Report

    Pakistan may become 5th largest nuclear state by 2025: Report

    LONDON (TIP): Pakistan is expanding its uranium-enrichment and plutonium production facilities, triggering fears that it may become the 5th largest nulcear-weapon state and have 220 to 250 warheads within the next seven years, a report has said.

    The report published on August 31 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists authored by members of the Federation of American Scientists says that Pakistan was also developing several delivery systems.

    “Pakistan continues to expand its nuclear arsenal with more warheads, more delivery systems, and a growing fissile materials production industry. We estimate that the country’s stockpile could grow to 220 to 250 warheads by 2025, if the current trend continues,” said the 12-page report.

    The report first appeared in Jane’s Defense Weekly, a London-based magazine that reports on military and corporate affairs said on Wednesday.

    (Source: IANS)

  • India flags concern over H1B visa issue

    India flags concern over H1B visa issue

    NEW DELHI(TIP): During the inaugural 2+2 dialogue on Thursday, India flagged its concerns about pending changes in the US Congress to H1B visas and H4 visas for spouses that could severely impact Indians working in America.

    Sources said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj raised the issue ‘forcefully’. India made a case of the track record and contribution of its diaspora to American society, asking the Donald Trump administration to take a favorable view on the matter.

    “Specifically, I conveyed our expectation for a non-discriminatory and predictable approach to the H1B visa regime,” said Swaraj in her press statement.

    Officials privy to the discussion mentioned that the American delegation led by Secretary of State Pompeo and Defense Secretary James Mattis, acknowledged the positive role of the diaspora.

    “I have mentioned this to Secretary Pompeo that on the basis of the friendship which exists between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indians believe that America will not work against their interest,” Swaraj said.

    “The US leaders assured it is review of the entire US immigration system and not specifically targeted at one country… there have been no significant reductions in the number of H1B visas so far,” said a highly placed source.

  • Supreme Court of India legalizes homosexuality; Says Section 377 is irrational, arbitrary

    Supreme Court of India legalizes homosexuality; Says Section 377 is irrational, arbitrary

    UN lauds SC verdict

    NEW DELHI(TIP): In a historic verdict, the Supreme Court, on Thursday, September 6, de-criminalized homosexual acts between consenting adults in private, bringing cheers to millions of members of the LGBT community who had been hounded for their sexual orientation under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that made it a punishable offence.

    A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, read down the British-era law, terming it “irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary”.

    It reversed the top court’s 2013 judgment which re-criminalized consensual gay sex. The 2013 verdict had overturned a 2009 judgment of the Delhi High Court which had de-criminalized homosexual acts between consenting adults in private.

    The verdict will not reopen concluded cases under Section 377 but can be relied upon in pending matters against the LGBT community members.

    The five judges wrote four concurring verdicts. While CJI Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar delivered one verdict, Justices Rohinton Nariman, Dhananjay Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra wrote separate verdicts.

    The top court said homosexuality was a type of sexual orientation and not a disease and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community deserved to be treated with human dignity. Terming sexual orientation a “biological phenomenon”, it said any discrimination on this ground was violative of their fundamental rights.

    Section 377 refers to ‘unnatural offences’ and says whoever voluntarily has carnal inter-course against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to pay a fine.

    The judgment came on petitions by dancer Navtej Jauhar, journalist Sunil Mehra, chef Ritu Dalmia, hoteliers Aman Nath and Keshav Suri, business executive Ayesha Kapur and 20 IITians challenging the validity of Section 377.

    “Section 377, so far as it penalizes any consensual sexual relationship between two adults, be it homosexuals (man and a man), heterosexuals (man and a woman) or lesbians (woman and a woman), cannot be regarded as constitutional.

    “However, if anyone, by which we mean both a man and a woman, engages in any kind of sexual activity with an animal, the said aspect of Section 377 is constitutional, and it shall remain a penal offence,” the CJI ruled. Any act without the consent of the other person would also invite penal liability.

    The SC also declared parts of Section 377 as an unreasonable restriction on right to freedom of speech and expression. In his separate but concurring verdict, Justice Chandrachud, said, “Members of LGBT community are entitled, as all other citizens, to the full range of constitutional rights.”

    Justice Nariman directed the Centre to ensure that the verdict was given wide publicity. He also asked for “programs to reduce and finally eliminate the stigma associated with such persons” and sensitize government officials, particularly police officials, about the plight of LGBT persons.

    Meanwhile, United Nations India Thursday, September 6, lauded the Supreme Court for striking down a “key component” of IPC’s Section 377 which criminalizes “specific sexual acts between adults” and said the judgment will boost efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination against LGBTI persons.

    It also hoped the ruling will be the first step towards guaranteeing the full range of fundamental rights to LGBTI persons.

    Sexual orientation and gender expression form an integral part of an individual’s identity the world over, and violence, stigma and discrimination based on these attributes constitute an “egregious” violation of human rights, it said.

    “The United Nations in India welcomes the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of India striking down a key component of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalized specific sexual acts between adults, a law dating back to British colonial rule that has targeted in particular lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals and communities,” it said in a statement.

  • Air India gets fresh fund infusion from Centre; disinvestment on hold for now

    Air India gets fresh fund infusion from Centre; disinvestment on hold for now

    Government working on new turnaround plan for Air India

    NEW DELHI(TIP): Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the International Aviation Summit on Tuesday, September 4, civil aviation secretary RN Choubey said that the government was continuing to fund Air India despite a decision being taken to sell it so that the company’s value doesn’t erode till the time it is disinvested in. “Our first aim is to work out the necessary support for Air India’s healthy functioning. We will not like value destruction to happen. If we do not support, there may be value erosion. Otherwise, when we actually find that environment has improved, oil prices have come down and we actually want to sell, we may find that value has eroded,” Choubey said.

    Late August, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in its representation to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for transport, tourism and culture, said that disinvestment of Air India is not going to be happening any time soon. The first attempt by the government to sell its stake in the airline – codenamed Project Royal – failed mainly due to the government not parting with the entire stake, the high debt-levels and a high employee-to-aircraft ratio. To help the airline survive, the government had announced a financial restructuring plan (FRP) in 2012 as part of the original turnaround plan, as per which the airline’s working capital loans were restructured to long-term debt.

    “If FRP was working, Air India wouldn’t have been in a dire strait. FRP didn’t go wrong. The FRP earmarked crude at $45 a barrel and today the crude is at $75 a barrel. Dollar was still high. The plan, now, is to make Air India stand on its own feet so that it can be sold in future when its conducive to sell the airline. Unlike the FRP, where the government did financial restructuring, the new plan will focus more on organizational reform. Will make it a board managed company. One more outsider may join the board,” a senior Air India official said, on condition of anonymity. Last month, the government appointed ITC Chairman YC Deveshwar and Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla as independent directors on the board of Air India.

    As per estimates by aviation consultancy CAPA India, the national carrier is expected to lose more than $2 billion in value during 2018-19 and 2019-20. “Air India’s value will continue to erode, making future privatization unlikely. In the absence of full recapitalization and a clear direction, Air India is likely to see a continued decline in its domestic and international market share, and head towards strategic irrelevance. This will diminish its potential to be revived and to secure a strategic investor. In the meantime, it will remain a structural distortion for the industry and a burden on the tax payer. The quantum of losses will become increasingly unacceptable,” CAPA India said in its mid-year aviation outlook for 2018-19.

    The Air India official pointed out that the carrier’s financials for the 2017-18 did not show any signs of improvement, primarily due to the soaring fuel costs. “I can’t reveal more on this as the results are being audited,” he said. For the year 2016-17, Air India reported a net loss of Rs 6,288 crore. Choubey said the ministry was yet to take a call whether the new turnaround plan for Air India will require a Cabinet approval or can be done bilaterally between the ministries of civil aviation and finance.

    Meanwhile, Air India Ltd will raise ₹500 crore in debt to meet working capital needs and pay interest on its outstanding loans, a senior official at the state-run carrier said on Wednesday, September 5.

    “Air India will soon issue a tender to raise ₹500 crore from domestic banks,” said the official who didn’t want to be named.

    The latest fundraiser will exhaust the sovereign guarantee limit of ₹2,000 crore offered by the government to the loss-making airline, the official said.

    Air India had in August raised ₹1,500 crore from Bank of Baroda under a sovereign guarantee to service bank loans and dues of international vendors, including leasing companies.

    The latest fund-raising follows a failed government attempt to privatize Air India to stem the flow of public funds into running the airline.

    Civil aviation secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey on Tuesday, August 4 said the government has agreed to make a fresh equity infusion in Air India and also provide a sovereign guarantee.

    “At the moment, we are borrowing from domestic banks as it doesn’t make sense to borrow from international lenders due to the value erosion of the rupee (against the dollar),” the official said.

    Air India also used the ₹1,500 crore debt raised in August to “normalize debt accounts”, some of which were in danger of turning into non-performing assets, the official said.

    Air India has a net debt of about ₹55,000 crore, including about ₹21,000-22,000 crore of aircraft debt, the official said. “We are hoping to repay the aircraft debt fully by 2021.” The carrier took on the loans to pay for new planes from Boeing and Airbus.

  • 2+2 talks take Indo-US ties to new high

    2+2 talks take Indo-US ties to new high

    Defense, trade, terror top agenda; Concerns on Russia, Iran sanctions highlighted

    NEW DELHI(TIP): India and the United States on Thursday, September 6, sought greater political convergence with a long-term view of relations and enhanced synergy between respective foreign and defense ministries through the inaugural 2+2 dialogue.

    Defense Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and James Mattis and Foreign Ministers Sushma Swaraj and Michael Pompeo sat down for separate discussions before the 2+2 dialogue.

    Three sessions on energy and people-to-people ties, defense and regional security were part of the dialogue that included all four principals and their delegations.

    Followed by lunch and joint press statements, the leaders collectively called on PM Modi. According to sources, there was no laundry list of irritants to be resolved overnight, rather shared understanding of mutual concerns as regards trade ties, reducing the deficit, visas, US sanctions against Iran and Russia as well as counter-terrorism cooperation and Indo-Pacific strategy.

    Pompeo shared notes following his meetings with Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Army Chief Bajwa in Islamabad en route Delhi and the missives shared to act on terror and towards reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.

    “On the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, we recognized the importance of justice and retribution for the masterminds behind this terrorist attack,” said Swaraj.

    “India supports President Trump’s South Asia Policy. His call for Pakistan to stop its policy of supporting cross-border terrorism finds resonance with us,” she added.

    Pompeo reportedly mentioned that “it is too early to judge the new Imran Khan government, but Pakistan has been asked to step up counter-terrorism efforts and encouraged to take right decisions and actions”.

    “Pompeo assured the ministers that ‘we have a long ask of the new Pakistan government’, while sharing concerns about Hafiz Saeed roaming freely,” said an official privy to discussions.

    India has asked the US to sustain pressure on Islamabad to crack down on terror entities, sources say.

    The sentiments are reflected in the joint statement issued after talks in a significant tweak.

    India impressed upon the US to use “under Pakistan control, instead of territory” referring to terror groups operating out of PoK and driving home territorial integrity issue, pointed out officials. “The ministers denounced any use of terrorist proxies in the region, and in this context, they called on Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries,” underlines the statement that was work in progress till late into the night.

    Ties with Iran and Russia came up for discussion from the Indian side during the dialogue, but without any specific mention of the S400 missiles purchase, sources said.

    Americans reportedly shared India’s position that its defense security systems or energy suppliers could not be switched overnight to US platforms. But India assured it was working to reduce high bilateral trade deficit that Donald Trump has disapproved of openly.

    Indian officials sounded hopeful of a carve out on Chabahar port, given its strategic importance to Afghanistan, to avoid heat of US sanctions against Iran.

     

  • September 07 New York & Dallas Print Editions

    September 07 New York & Dallas Print Editions

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    E-Editions

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  • Beautiful, fearless, confident, graceful Prachi Tehlan: Super Sportsperson, TV/ Cine Star

    Beautiful, fearless, confident, graceful Prachi Tehlan: Super Sportsperson, TV/ Cine Star

    By I.S. Saluja

    A shining name in sports and a rising TV and Cinema star, Prachi is a rare combination of many conflicting endowments. As a sportsperson, she developed physical strength, stamina and energy; and as a TV and film star she imbibed the soft aspects of physical beauty and grace.

    Prachi was in New York recently. One of her family friends, Mr. Rajeev Bhambri of India Abroad introduced her to me and Mr. Baldev Singh Grewal, publisher/editor of Sher-e-Panjab, the leading Punjabi weekly published from New York. We got together in a family setting at Mr. Grewal’s residence in East Meadow. It was a huge pleasure to find this eminent personality so affectionate and simple, with no attitude, characteristic of successful TV and film artists. She made herself comfortable on a sofa and was a delight to talk to. In her conversation, she was gracefully communicative. It was a pleasure to have her to speak to The Indian Panorama and Sher-e-Panjab. After she had left, Mr. Grewal’s wife and daughter in law commented that they had seen her on TV and were full of admiration for her acting prowess, and now that they had spent some time with her they will remember her as a fine person.

    Born in Delhi, Prachi shares her birthday with Father of Indian Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Sorry, we don’t divulge the age of a lady, particularly when she is in to entertainment industry.

    An imposing personality with a height of 5‟11 (a Charlie Chaplin will need a few raised steps to reach her face), Prachi is the former Captain of the Indian Netball Team which she led in Commonwealth Games 2010 held in Delhi and in other major Asian Championships in 2010-11. Indian team won its First Silver Medal in South Asian Beach Games under her Captaincy in 2011. For her feats, she is fondly known as “Queen of The Court” and “Lass of The Rings”. These are the titles given her by renowned publishing houses TOI and Indian Express.

    Prachi is Brand ambassador and mentor of Netball Development Trust- India.

    Here is a brief biography of the rising star in TV and cinema world.

    Graduated in B.com Hons from Delhi University- Jesus and Mary College and completed her MBA degree in Human Relations and Marketing from Indraprastha University, New Delhi.

    Worked on various projects with the Development Bank of Singapore, Deloitte, Accenture, Philips and 1800Sports.in as a consultant.

    Worked with Accenture on a major skill development project named UDAAN – Skills to Succeed for Mobilization, Training and Employment of youths from Jammu and Kashmir under National Skill Development Council, Delhi

    Currently working as an Actress and has won many accolades for her stellar performances in Star Plus TV Series Diya Aur Baati Hum as ‘Aarzoo‟ in a short span of time.

    Started her sports career with Basketball and played at National Level representing Delhi. Attended the Indian Camp thrice in 2004, in Cuttack, Orissa 2002-2007

    Played Indo-Singapore Series, 2010 held in Delhi& Noida, Won it by 5-0

    Captain of the team in 7th YouthAsia Championship, 2010 held in Delhi.

    Holds the distinction of being the Youngest Captain of the Indian Netball Team in Commonwealth Games 2010, held in Delhi

    Captain of the senior team to represent India in 6th Nation Cup, Singapore, 2010

    Captain of the senior team to represent India in South Asian Beach Games, 2011 in which the team got silver medal for the first time under her captaincy.

    Gold Medal in 54th National Games

    After having made her mark in sports, Prachi decided to go in for acting in TV serials and movies. She made her acting debut as an actor in the famous TV series Diya Aur Baati Hum on Star Plus. She played in it the role of “Arzoo”, famously known as “Mushtandi”. The serial became an instant hit and Prachi became with it a star.

    Prachi had a lead role as “Nimmy” in the Punjabi Film “Arjan” directed by Manduip Singh. Next came “Bailaras” in October 2017. It was directed by Kshitij Chaudhary.

    She will be seen in the lead role in a Malayalam film, due to be released in April 2019 with the megastar Mamoothy. She considers working with Mamoothy a golden opportunity and a challenging task.

    Prachi is in a lead role in “Ikyawann”, a Star Plus TV   which has been on air since November 13, 2017. She stars with Namish Taneja. Written by Manasvi Arya, the show is directed by Ismail Khan/Arshad Khan.

    Asked about her future plans, she said she had a long way to go. Asked about what films she enjoyed working in, she jumped to say it was the Punjabi films she enjoyed working in because Punjabis are so fun loving and straightforward.  Asked about her favorite Bollywood actor, she said she was a fan of Salman Khan. She added that Salman has a charisma and he can pull crowds which makes him a superstar. Asked if she would like to work with him, Prachi sighed and said, “wish I could”.

    With such luminous record in sports and a successful career in TV and films, it should not be a surprise that Prachi came to be profusely recognized and honored. She has many distinctions to be proud of.

    India won its First International Medal under her captaincy in South Asian Beach Games, 2011, Sri Lanka

    Youngest Captain to represent India in Netball in the Commonwealth Games 2010

    Awarded the Sports Women of the Year 2010 by Jesus and Mary College and recognized as a Sports Achiever in Delhi University Achievers List

    Was part of Short films made by Delhi Aaj Tak, Pragya T.V, Focus T.V, Living India by Ayur Group and NDTV. (2010, 2011 Subject of various articles published by leading newspapers, magazines and internet-

    NDTV (2011) featured her as one of the Top 10 Hottest Sports Women In India

    India Today (2010) featured her as one of the Top 10 Glamorous Faces Of Commonwealth Games-2010

    Sports Keeda (2010)

    Cupid Speaks (2010)

    Hindustan Times (2010)

    Times Of India (2010), article “Queen Of The Courts”

    Indian Express (2005), article “Lass Of The Rings”

    Chief Guest for various sports meets and social events (2010- present)

    Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Sports Meet (2010) with Sushil Kumar and Dhanraj Pillay

    Terry For Marathon with Satpal Singh and Mohammad Azaharuddin (2010)

    Guest at Limca Book of Records with Vijender Singh, Jwala Gutta, Gagan Narang, Mary Kom, Sushil Kumar, etc. (2011)

    Chal Leh Bhag Leh Sports Event, Deepalaya School Sports Meet (2011), Dev Samaj School Sports Meet (2012)

    KAPSONS for its Brand Promotion, Kirti Nagar, 2012

    Awarded the AAS and Aadhi Aabadi Women Achiever Award for excellence in the field of sports

    Just a few. There are many more. And many more are yet to come. The Indian Panorama wishes Prachi all success in whatever she undertakes to do, because she has the qualities, faculties and character to achieve even the seemingly unachievable.

  • Indian-Origin British Lawmaker Challenges Theresa May’s Brexit Strategy with a ‘Stand Up 4 Brexit’ campaign

    Indian-Origin British Lawmaker Challenges Theresa May’s Brexit Strategy with a ‘Stand Up 4 Brexit’ campaign

    LONDON (TIP): Indian-origin Conservative party lawmaker and former UK Cabinet minister Priti Patel has joined the race along with 20 other party rebels who are challenging British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit strategy with a ‘Stand Up 4 Brexit’ campaign.

    The grassroots drive against any negotiations with the European Union (EU) that could lead to a so-called soft Brexit is being backed by another ex-minister Ian Duncan Smith and is expected to mount pressure on May to ditch her Chequers plan, which is rejected by Eurosceptic lawmakers within her Conservative party.

    ‘Stand Up 4 Brexit’ supporters, who also include former foreign secretary Boris Johnson’s key ally Tory lawmaker Conor Burns, pledge to fight plans to keep the EU rules on British goods and free movement in terms of migration.

    Ms Patel, a leading pro-Brexit voice in the lead up to the referendum in favor of Britain’s exit from the EU in June 2016, has previously called on the government to be “tougher” in its negotiations with Brussels.

    The Stand Up 4 Brexit campaign is building momentum as Mr Johnson, the poster boy for the pro-Brexit camp, launched a scathing attack on Theresa May’s plans in his weekly newspaper column in ‘The Daily Telegraph’ on Monday, saying the approach agreed at Chequers “means disaster” for Britain.

    Mr Johnson said negotiations based on the Chequers plan had so far seen the EU take “every important trick”, adding, “The UK has agreed to hand over GBP 40 billion of taxpayers’ money for two-thirds of diddly squat [nothing].”

    The so-called Chequers plan put forth by PM May would see Britain agreeing a “common rulebook” with the European Union for trading in goods, in an attempt to maintain frictionless trade at the border.

    Critics of the strategy argue this would leave the UK tied to the EU rules even after it formally leaves the economic bloc on March 29 next year and prevent Britain from striking its own trade deals in years to come.

    As the UK’s parliamentary recess period of August comes to an end and the political parties in the country prepare for their annual party conferences this month, the battle lines around Brexit are expected to deepen further.

    Even after the UK and the EU have reached some sort of an agreement over their future trading relationship, any agreed plan will then be tabled before lawmakers for a vote – a process which will be accompanied with its own share of upheavals.

     

  • Indian American Assistant Professor wins prestigious Blavatnik Young Scientists award 

    Indian American Assistant Professor wins prestigious Blavatnik Young Scientists award 

    NEW YORK(TIP): Indian American Shruti Naik, an assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine, has won the prestigious Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists in the “Life Sciences” category. A postdoctoral researcher at Stony Brook University Priyanka Sharma, another Indian American, received honorable mention in the “Chemistry” category.

    The Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences, award and support outstanding postdoctoral researchers in Tri- State of New York. The Foundation said in a press release that 125 nominated researchers competed for the nine spots.

    The winners and finalists will be honored at the New York Academy of Sciences’ annual gala in New York on November 5, 2018.

    Naik, who was nominated while she was doing a postdoctoral fellow at The Rockefeller University, is being recognized for “demonstrating that skin stem cells retain a ‘memory’ of previous inflammatory experiences, allowing for a more robust and rapid response to subsequent injury,” the release said.

    Her groundbreaking work uncovered a new property of skin stem cells that explains how our largest and most vulnerable organ — the skin — responds to and remembers injuries and inflammatory stimuli such as injury or exposure to skin irritants. The skin is the body’s primary barrier to the outside world and it is critical to our survival that it remains intact.”

    Her discovery that skin stem cells “can be sensitized to inflammation may aid the development of better treatment strategies for a variety of skin conditions,” it added.

    Naik earned her bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Maryland College Park, and graduate and doctoral degrees from University of Pennsylvania.

    Sharma, a polymer chemist, is being honored for “her pioneering work on the low-cost conversion of untreated biomass to carboxycellulose nanofibers, which have applications in biomedicine and in water purification in developing nations,” the release added.

    The Blavatnik Family Foundation, founded by industrialist and philanthropist Len Blavatnik, supports educational, scientific, cultural, and charitable institutions in the United States and other parts of the world.

    The New York Academy of Sciences, a 200-year-old nonprofit, advances scientific research, education, and policy.

  • Indian American Tech Executive Anita Malik wins Arizona 6th district Democratic congressional primary 

    Indian American Tech Executive Anita Malik wins Arizona 6th district Democratic congressional primary 

    ARIZONA(TIP): Indian American Anita Malik has won the Democratic party primary in Arizona’s 6th congressional district. She is the 11th Indian American to win the nomination of one of the two major parties in the midterm elections.

    Malik will face GOP Rep. David Schweikert, who won the Republican primary unopposed, on November 6.

    The primary in Arizona was held on August 28, but the 6th district race was too close to call on the election night, with Malik leading her nearest rival Heather Ross by a narrow margin of 383 votes.

    But, as the absentee ballots were counted and certified, the Indian American’s lead grew to 2,402, according to the official results posted on the Maricopa County Recorder website.

    Malik, who quit her job as the chief operating officer of the tech startup ClearVoice to run for Congress, was declared the winner.

    According to the official tally, Malik received 22,522 (42.04 percent) votes, while Ross received 20,120 (37.55 percent) votes.

    “I am proud that my campaign reflected a broad, grassroots coalition of Arizonans who came together to support our vision of creating jobs and ensuring the ability of families to work, live, and thrive in the 6th congressional district,” Malik said in a statement posted on her Twitter account on August 31st.

    “Arizonans deserve someone who will work hard to represent them and build a stronger future for our community, our state and our country,” she added. “As the daughter of immigrants — people who believed in the promise of American — I want to help everyone have that opportunity to build a better life for themselves and their families.”

    As soon as her victory was announced, Malik quickly went on the general election campaign mode. Focusing on corruption, which is likely to be a major midterm issues, she tweeted: “Indictments, corruption, and ethical violations are the norm in today’s Congress. I’ll fight to root out corruption and enact higher ethical standards, starting with our own district.”

    On Labor Day, she tweeted in support of workers: “Today we honor those who have built this country. It’s a strong reminder of the course correction the country needs to bring our voices back to the table. The future of work is already here, it’s time to move boldly and swiftly to protect and support American workers.”

    Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Malik’s family moved to Arizona when she was 7. She graduated summa cum laude with degrees in computer information systems and finance from Arizona State University.

    She also has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California.

  • Indian-Origin CEO of IT Companies in US Arrested for Visa Fraud

    Indian-Origin CEO of IT Companies in US Arrested for Visa Fraud

    SEATTLE(TIP):  Indian-origin Pradyumna Kumar Samal, CEO of two information technology companies in the US, was arrested in connection with a multi-year visa-fraud scheme involving forged and fraudulent documents to get visas such as H-1B for over 200 foreign workers.

    Samal, 49, was taken into custody as he arrived from an international flight at Seattle airport.

    The criminal complaint describing the visa-fraud scheme was filed under seal in April 2018, soon after Mr Samal fled the United States while the investigation was being carried out. He remained out of the country until this week when he was arrested by law enforcement officials.

    The criminal complaint describes how two companies incorporated by Mr Samal in 2010 and 2011 in Washington state engaged in a scheme sometimes referred to as a “bench-and-switch” scheme, to exploit foreign-national workers, compete unlawfully in the market, and defraud the US government.

    According to the investigation that began in 2015, Mr Samal served as the Chief Executive Officer of ‘Divensi’ and ‘Azimetry’ in Bellevue, near Seattle. Both companies were in the business of providing information-technology workers, such as Software Development Engineers, to major corporate clients.

    The complaint alleges that Mr Samal submitted, and directed his employees to submit, forged and false application materials to the United States government, making it appear as if two corporate clients already had agreed to use several foreign-national employees named in the applications. However, neither client had agreed to do so.

    The forged documents included forged letters and fraudulent statements of work, which appeared as if they had been signed by senior executives at the two clients. After the US Citizenship and Immigration Services relied on the false representations and approved the work visa applications, Mr Samal’s companies “benched” the foreign nationals, leaving those foreign nationals unpaid unless they were able to place those employees at actual end clients.

    Nearly 200 workers may have been brought in under the phony applications. The employees were forced to pay Mr Samal’s companies a partially-refundable “security deposit” of as much as $5,000 for the visa filings, regardless of whether they were assigned to any projects that provided them with income.