The Indian Panorama

Year: 2018

  • Magnitude 5.3 earthquake hits off Southern California coast, shakes Los Angeles

    Magnitude 5.3 earthquake hits off Southern California coast, shakes Los Angeles

    LOS ANGELES(TIP): An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 struck off the coast of Southern California on Thursday, April 5, officials at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) say. CBS Los Angeles reports the quake originated near the Channel Islands. It happened around 12:30 p.m. local time about 38 miles southwest of the mainland city of Ventura, according to the USGS.

    “A 5.3 is a good jolt,” Dr. Susan Hough of the USGS said Thursday at a press conference with Dr. Jennifer Andrews of Caltech, and that it was no surprise people in Los Angeles felt the quake.

    “We would expect aftershocks, and there is the potential for some triggered seismicity,” Andrews said.

    The quake’s strength was revised upward from initial estimates of magnitude 5.0. It struck about 10.5 miles underground, the USGS said.

    Asked was it likely to follow typical aftershock patterns, Hough said “We can never count on earthquakes to obey the averages” but said that they did expect an aftershock pattern, most likely peaking in the magnitude 4 range.

    “Earthquakes are not at all predictable. We can say what’s happened in the past, we cannot say what’s going to happen,” Hough said, adding: “There’s always a 1 in 20 chance that an event like this will trigger something bigger.”

    An early warning system did alert residents in Los Angeles before the shaking was felt, Caltech confirms.

    Los Angeles Fire Department said it went into “earthquake mode” and firefighters from all 106 of its firehouses began surveys of their territories, including bridges, dams, large buildings and power lines.

    “We currently have no reports of damage or injuries,” fire department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.

    Ventura County officials announced they are “in a heightened response posture to assist our citizens” in wake of Thursday’s temblor.

    Officials took this opportunity to urge residents to make a communications plan if they don’t have one already and to check if they have emergency supplies on hand.

    Although there was no significant damage reported, some bricks fell from a chimney at a historic ranch in the Channel Islands region.

    Channel Islands National Park spokeswoman Yvonne Menard tells The Associated Press that bricks fells at a ranch building on Santa Cruz Island that dates back to the 1860s. She added that visitors and staff members on the island felt the quake, but nobody was injured.

    Most of Santa Cruz, including the ranch area, is owned by The Nature Conservancy, which cooperatively manages the island with the Park Service.

    (Source: Agencies)

     

  • Special counsel served Paul Manafort with new search warrants in March

    Special counsel served Paul Manafort with new search warrants in March

    WASHINGTON(TIP): Special counsel prosecutors revealed in court filings Thursday, April 5 night that they had obtained on March 9 seven new search warrants against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who has been charged with more than 30 counts of bank fraud, making false statements to investigators and other charges in two criminal cases. Manafort pleaded not guilty.

    The court documents list search warrants against various properties, a storage unit, bank accounts, email addresses and devices. The warrants are not terribly surprising, reports CBS News’ Paula Reid, as Manafort is charged in two criminal cases and investigators have signaled they may bring additional charges as they look to pressure him to cooperate.

    Manafort is accused of lobbying and doing other work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine headed by ousted Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. They are accused of failing to register as foreign agents representing the Ukrainians and also allegedly laundered up to $75 million in payments. The activities date from 2006 through February 2017.

    In March, he was charged with secretly paying European politicians to lobby politicians on behalf of Ukraine.

    Manafort’s business associate Rick Gates pleaded guilty in February on charges of conspiring against the U.S. and of making false statements to the federal government.

  • Scott Pruitt asked to use sirens in D.C. traffic and was told no for non-emergency

    Scott Pruitt asked to use sirens in D.C. traffic and was told no for non-emergency

    WASHINGTON(TIP): Environmental Protection Agency, Administrator Scott Pruitt wanted to use his vehicle’s lights and sirens to get to his official appointment, but the lead agent in charge of his security detail advised him that sirens were to be used only in emergencies, news reports say.

    The agent who denied Scott the pleasure of his will, was removed in less than two weeks from Pruitt’s detail, and reassigned to a new job within the EPA.

    Pruitt’s lavish travel, which totals more than $182,000, according to the Environmental Integrity Project, has included first class domestic and international flights for him and his security detail, private charters and a military jet. Reports on his expensive travel arrangements began a torrent of negative headlines over the past several months that peaked over the last week with stories examining his housing arrangements and very generous raises for two of his staffers. The bad publicity has cast an ethical cloud over the EPA administrator that’s put him in danger of being the next casualty in the Trump Cabinet.

    “I can’t make any statements about the future of Scott Pruitt,” White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told Fox News Thursday.

    Recently however, two Democratic senators wrote a letter to the EPA asking, “Under what circumstances did the prior Special Agent in Charge leave?”

    Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Tom Carper also said in the letter that they want to know why Perrotta and one of his business partners received an EPA security contract. Perrotta, they noted, citing the Associated Press, runs a side business called the Sequoia Security Group. His business partner, Edwin Steinmetz, who runs another security company, was awarded a $3,000 contract to sweep Pruitt’s office for bugs. “Two other contracts,” both under the $3,500 threshold for public reporting, “were given for the purchase of biometric locks.”

    “These facts raise questions about Mr. Perrotta’s compliance with EPA regulations and concerns that he may have used his position at the agency to influence the award of EPA contracts to a person or company in which he has a financial interest,” the Senators wrote.

  • YouTube shooter legally purchased firearm in San Diego earlier this year

    YouTube shooter legally purchased firearm in San Diego earlier this year

    SACRAMENTO(TIP): Details are emerging about the woman behind the YouTube headquarters shooting Tuesday, April 3 that injured three people in San Bruno, California. Police said Thursday, April 5 that Nasim Aghdam legally purchased the firearm in San Diego on January 16, 2018 from a gun dealer in her name.

    It was a 9mm Smith and Wesson that had a capacity of 10 rounds. San Bruno police confirm that one of the magazines was empty and that Aghdam loaded a second to fire more shots at YouTube employees before she turned the firearm on herself.

    However, authorities have not been able to confirm how many total shots were fired and that there is a possibility that the first magazine may have not been fully loaded.

    Authorities have promised a deeper investigation into the shooter’s past and her anger with the policies of the world’s largest online video website, identified as her motive for attacking it.

    Aghdam, an Iranian native in her late 30s, walked through a parking garage into a courtyard at the campus Tuesday and opened fire, police said. She wounded three people before killing herself.

    YouTube said Wednesday it will increase security at its headquarters and offices around the world.

     

  • Weekly Horoscope April 9- 15, 2018

    Weekly Horoscope April 9- 15, 2018

    By Bejan Daruwalla

    Aries: Ganesha says many new trends are at work here. While you are as busy as ever, with work, money, family and several other obligations taking your time and energy, you are suddenly pitch-forked into a whirlwind romance that finally leaves you empty, more lonely, lost and dissipated. It starts beautifully and then takes an ugly turn with accusations and counter accusations. You feel cheated and let down.

    Taurus: You get back to work and are motivated by money and the good things of life. You need focus as there are many expenses foreseen and you may also indulge in getting new acquisitions for yourself, the family and the office. You will also have to guard against excessive drinking or smoking, if you have these habits. If you don’t look after yourself, there could be a serious health scare.

    Gemini: You are swinging away and are the soul of the office and the party. There is no letting up on the work front though. You may be on the verge of a burn-out and you desperately need to de-stress. There are meetings, collaborations and many monetary deals waiting to be finalized by you. This is not the time for romance and friends as you burn the midnight oil and are on the rack. The situation will even out a bit soon, but this is a good time to cash in as the dividends will be there to see and relish before the period ends.

    Cancer: The bull in this period goads you on. There is no slowing down in the enormity of the workload; if anything, it just increases. You have many responsibilities and need to put in great effort. I must add here that it is all not in vain because success is yours for the asking. You will make money and expand in a big way. Health will be good, and you will be filled with energy and zeal to go full throttle.

    Leo: All that you embark on now leads to glory. It is a very successful period and you have to grab the high tide or, to paraphrase Groucho Marx, the low tide can get so low that you don’t even see the water, and you don’t want that for sure! So, Ganesha is offering you the best of the period and I suggest you grab it for all you are worth. Such great times don’t come visiting often and right now you stand to embrace the joys of real success. Family life is fine, but you may not have much free time for loved ones.

    Virgo: You are on a roll and the phase gets even more intense. All you need to guard against is stress which can take a toll and you don’t want to be hospitalized at this juncture in particular. You decide to win the battle in the mind, and it’s all mind over matter now. You have renewed strength and purpose. Money matters are handled with flair and intelligence and you will pore over every detail and get under the fine print to protect yourself from any financial damage later on.

    Libra: The work phase is ebbing, and your mind wanders in different directions. Suddenly, you have time and you don’t know what to do with it. You spend time with family and friends and even decide to leave it all and go away from the action for a bout of solitude. It has all been very demanding and you need the rest. Your mind is in a whirl and you need to do a recap of the events that have taken you by storm.

    Scorpio: You can’t remain from the scene of action for too long and you are back for the slog refreshed and ready to take on more like Charles Atlas. But there is more peace of mind, harmony and balance now and you don’t go overboard with your expansion and money-making plans. The short break has been good for you and provided many valuable realizations. You know what you have missed out on the family suddenly becomes very special to you.

    Sagittarius: With this new focus you manage to balance work and play well without going overboard in either area. You have learnt your lesson and try, at least for now, for a sense of balance in your life. You will be busy with the home and its myriad affairs like deeds, documents, legal issues, renovation and refurbishing. You are confident and work through all the details to be fully satisfied.

    Capricorn: Many aspects of your life and work are calling for your attention and you don’t know which to take up first. Expenses are mounting plus there is travel, collaborations and all kinds of communication. You do not have to show your vulnerable side this period and so it will be necessary to watch your emotions carefully. Please don’t wear them on your sleeve as you are wont to. It can be a confusing and paradoxical period ahead and there are several pulls which could weigh on your mind and hold you back from progress.

    Aquarius: Your emotions are still messed up. You are alienating yourself from the family, friends, associates, and from work. You seem harassed by the demons lurking within you. No one is responsible for this but yourself. It is self – created and it is up to you to solve it. It is difficult to fathom how it all started and what caused it but now that it is embedded in your psyche like an alien it is tearing you apart. You may take to music and art and spend time deep within looking for answers.

    Pisces: The situation improves, and you focus on personal, social and professional relationships. There are many things needing your attention – family, financial matters, work, friendships and all the distractions of the world. There are many deals, transactions and fine interactions in the offing. There are responsibilities and liabilities to attend to and you need to be on the ball. But you are lucky and manage to steer the course.

  • President Trump speaks of hitting China with $100 billion in tariffs

    President Trump speaks of hitting China with $100 billion in tariffs

    WASHINGTON(TIP): In a marked escalation of a trade war with China, President Trump said Thursday, April 5, that he will consider hitting China with an additional $100 billion in tariffs, on top of the $50 billion the White House has already authorized.In a statement late Thursday, President said that he was responding to China’s “unfair retaliation” against the United States, which this week outlined hundreds of Chinese products, like flat-screen TVs and medical devices, that could be subject to American tariffs. The Chinese, in response, detailed their own list of $50 billion worth of American products, like soybeans and pork, that would be hit with levies.

    “Rather than remedy its misconduct, China has chosen to harm our farmers and manufacturers,” Trump said, adding that he has instructed the United States trade representative to determine if another $100 billion in tariffs were warranted and, “if so, to identify the products upon which to impose such tariffs.”

    The story was first broken by New York Times.

  • Documentary featuring South Asian Spelling Bee debuts at film festivals nationally

    Documentary featuring South Asian Spelling Bee debuts at film festivals nationally

    NEW YORK(TIP):  The soon to be released “Breaking the Bee” documentary that details the rise and dominance of the Indian American diaspora in spelling bees has been accepted into major Film Festival circuits, Daisy Walia of Touchdown Media said, April 3, in a statement to The Indian Panorama.

    Starting this month, one can see “Breaking the Bee” at the Cleveland International Film Festival on April 6th & 8th, then on May12th at the New York Indian Film Festival in New York City.

    “Breaking the Bee” follows four second-generation Indian-American children, ages 7 to 14, over the course of a year, or “bee season,” as they train to reach (and win) the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee. It’s an inside look at studying, family life, competing in qualifying bees, and being a kid with big dreams. Some are in their final year of eligibility while others are just beginning their spelling careers. With expert commentary from CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Fareed Zakaria, comedian Hari Kondabolu, ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi, and past Scripps winners, the film offers an analysis into what drives this trend, while exploring the ups and downs of chasing a dream and pondering just how long this incredible trend can last.

    The film is directed by Sam Rega and produced by Chris Weller, both of whom worked at Business Insider when they got the idea to produce the film.

    Since 1999, all but four contest winners have been Indian-American, and of the 285-plus children who make it to Scripps each year, roughly 25% come from families of Indian descent. This is something of an anomaly, as Indian-Americans make up just 1% of the United States population.

    The perfect storm has been brewing for decades — from the 1965 immigration law that eliminated quota systems for Indian immigrants, thus driving a wave of highly-educated individuals to come to the United States, to the formation of Indian-only spelling bees, to the explosion of mainstream interest in competitive spelling, ever since ESPN began broadcasting the Scripps Bee in 1994.

    The film details the South Asian Spelling Bee’s contribution to this phenomenon with expert interviews with its Founder Rahul Walia. The SASB as its fondly known amongst Desis was started in 2008 and has the distinction of being a precursor to the winners of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.  Winners of SASB have been winners at Scripps and while Scripps has produced 3 sets of co-champions, SASB has been considered tougher since only one speller ever becomes the champion.

    On its Facebook page, one can see 5-star reviews from parents and spellers alike who attribute their overall success to the experience they got at SASB.

    “It’s the Gold Standard of Spelling Bee,” says Usha & Ganesh Dasari, parents of the spelling bee duo Shobha and Shourav. Shourav is one of the four spellers “Breaking the Bee” follows.

    The SASB is conducted every summer and starts June 16th this year. It will be conducted nationally in 6 major cities and registration is now open at www.southasianspellingbee.com. The series is shown on Sony Entertainment Television Asia and is sponsored by Kawan Foods and Touchdown Media Inc.

    Purchase tickets:

    Cleveland International Film Festival: (https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2018/breaking-the-bee)

    NYIFF:  (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/breaking-the-bee-tickets-44253493390)

    For more information on “Breaking the Bee” and to watch the trailer visit: www.breakingthebee.com.

    Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/breakingthebee),

    Instagram (http://www.instragram.com/breakingthebee)

    Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/breakingthebee).

  • Ilaiyaraaja the King of Raaga Enthrals audiences in Chicago

    Ilaiyaraaja the King of Raaga Enthrals audiences in Chicago

    CHICAGO, IL(TIP): Chicagoland’s much awaited dream came true when music maestro, Ilaiyaraaja, performed live with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra from Hungary and Indian Classical Musicians on Saturday March 24 at the Naperville Yard Center. The 55 musicians, 10 singers and 1 legend gave a spectacular performance that rocked music lovers in Midwest. A name synonymous with the Indian Music Industry Raaja is an incomparable genius who totally transformed the perception of people towards film music. Cloud9 events proudly presented the much-awaited concert that enthralled an audience of 4000 plus who were left mesmerized by his memorable musical compositions. The live concert was performed by singers Chithra, Mano, Haricharan and Rahul Nambiar. They were accompanied by a talented orchestra of 50 musicians. They performed a total of 39 songs in both Tamil and Telugu languages.

    Ilaiyaraaja’s acumen and knowledge of the aesthetics of music and cinema is what sets him apart from the rest. He is a multifaceted artist and has composed over 6000 songs and worked for 1000 movies. Raaja, as he is popularly known and affectionately called, comes from a family of musicians, and has won five Indian National Film Awards; three for Best Music Direction and two for Best Background Score.  In 2010 he received the Padma Bhushan, awarded by the Government of India and in 2018 he was presented the Padma Vibhushan award which is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India. The living legend paid an emotional tribute to his audience by singing that he would continue to make music for his fans living seven seas away from their motherland. This gesture deeply touched the audience and made them appreciate his love for music. Over 35 songs sung at the concert included “Janani janani – Thai Mookambigai”,  “Om sivoham – Naan kadavul”,  “Jagadhanandha kaaraka- Telugu”, “Ram ram salame ram ram-Hey Ram”, “Malaiyil yaaro- Kshathriyan”, “Ninukkori varnam-Gharshana-Telugu”, “Yen Iniya pon nila-Moodu Pani”, “Madai thirandhu-Nizhalgal”, “Abbani theeyani-Telugu”, “Sendhoora Poove- Sirimalle poove-Telugu” and so on.

    1. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. Chithra also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. She has sung in a number of languages that include Urdu, Latin, Arabic, Sinhalese and English. She has recorded over 25,000 Songs for various films and music-albums. She is a recipient of six National Film Awards, seven Film fare Awards South and 35 different state film awards. Another popular singer, Nagoor Babu popularly known as Mano entertained the audience with his melodious voice. Mano is a playback singer, voice-over artist, actor, producer, and anchor and music composer. Haricharan comes from a family of music connoisseurs and started learning music at an early age of seven from. Sethu Mahadevan followed by legends like K. V. Narayanaswamy , T. M. Prabhavathi and P. S. Narayanaswamy . Rahul Nambiar is an Indian playback singer and live performer and has lent his voice for several advertisement jingles.

    Cloud9 Events is a group of passionate individuals working together to organize events to promote Indian culture and heritage overseas with the goal to bring entertainment to the Chicago Indian Community. The kind of events Cloud9 aims to organize are Indian classical dance performances, Indian Musical & Dance Shows / Ramana Abbaraju – Member – Event Marketing & Sales Concerts, Book Launches, Literary Events and Indian Trade Bazars. Sudhir Velpula , the Cloud 9 Events Managing Principal along with team members, Gopi Pittala (Planning, Operations and Finance) , Ramana Abbaraju ( Event Marketing & Sales, Raj Addagatla and others coordinated the entire event.  The platinum sponsors HR Pundits, Bookstogo, Radhikas Kitchen, Pietsch, Professional Home Mortgage Solutions, Regal Jewels and Hot Breads. Sponsors of the event were Pegasus Knowledge Solutions, Hot Breads, International Legal & Business Services Group, Patel Brothers, Allstate, Pietsch Financial group, Sunrise Indian Supermarket, ebooks2go, some dental group.

    De Wayne Williams President of Williams Security & Protection Agency did excellent job to protect all Stars of Ilaiyaraaja Live concert

    (Photograph and Press release / Asian Media USA)

     

  • Sikhs of New York Presents Turban Day on April 7th in Times Square

    Sikhs of New York Presents Turban Day on April 7th in Times Square

    Non-profit Organization Hopes to Tie 10,000 Turbans to Educate About Sikhism

    NEW YORK CITY, NY(TIP): Turban is a quintessential part of Sikh identity and represents the most pertinent element of the Sikh Faith that teaches them that all people are equal irrespective of caste, religion, country, thus signifying equal status. Turban gives Strength and identity to a Sikh and induces the courage to face all odds, always ready to help and serve mankind.

    The Sikhs of New York will present Turban Day April 7th from 11am until 4 p.m. in Times Square as part of the annual mid-April celebration of Vaisakhi, which is commemorated by millions of Sikhs annually.

    While the Nonprofit organization, this year in its 6th Turban day, aims to tie 10,000 turbans, and make a mark in Guinness World Record. More the thousands will be educated about the Sikh Turban on ground and millions through Social media.

    More than 1400, Volunteers from around the world, will be travelling to New York to take part in the event and will be tying turbans to Americans and Non-Sikhs, not only celebrate the centuries old birth of Sikhism, but also promote awareness of the continued misplaced violence targeted at people who practice the religion.

    “Last year we were overwhelmed with the support from the community with 880+ volunteers travelling from different parts of US, Canada and UK helping to tie 8,000 Turbans. This year, our target is to tie 10,000 Turbans and attempt a Guinness World Record,” said Chanpreet Singh, the organization’s founder. “We started Turban Day in 2013 at Baruch College to promote and educate people about the Sikh religion and identity. We are spreading awareness about the Sikh turban and culture. The turban is the crown of each Sikh and represents pride and valor. Turban Day provides an opportunity for those that do not wear a turban to experience a turban and learn about its significance first hand.”

    The organization will be attempting a world record for the world’s largest Turban tying event in 8 hours starting at 9am on Saturday.

    Apart from tying Turbans, The cultural presentations at the free event include yoga by SJ Khalsa of Kundalini Yoga East in New York City, who promotes a healthy lifestyle. Featured performances will include Dr. Zeus, a well-known music producer travelling from the UK, as well as singing and Bhangra dancing.

    About Sikhs of New York

    With a collective effort from the communities of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the Sikhs of New York aims to bring a modern approach to re-establishing the Sikh identity in the United States. A blend of traditions, cultures and beliefs together represents the ideology of Sikhs of NY. For more information, please visit www.sikhsofny.org.

  • Jericho-based teams of young girls and boys of Elementary and Middle Schools have made us proud

    Jericho-based teams of young girls and boys of Elementary and Middle Schools have made us proud

    JERICHO, NY(TIP): The RoboFalcons, a group of young tech enthusiast boys from Jericho Middle School, have been working hard again in preparation for the First Lego League (FLL) Championships. The six-man crew has been working tirelessly outside of school hours to design and create robots. “It’s not just about robotics. It’s a great program for kids to learn how to construct projects while teaching them to work as a team together,” per Rohit Bhatia, head coach of the RoboFalcons and father of one of the team’s members. The team, now in its fourth year, was assembled by Rohit Bhatia, a Jericho resident with a desire to expose bright young minds to the science behind robotics and the associated technology. The group is not an officially recognized club in the middle school, yet the children within it are eager to devote their time to meeting and working together to achieve a common goal.

    This year, Rohit also put together another Junior FLL rookie team – TechnoQueens, with 6 girls (including his daughter) from Jericho Elementary schools.   These young and motivated girls have so much fun learning together and working on this year’s project Aqua Adventure. They’re all so motivated and so excited to get to work. “They understand that it’s not mandatory and truly appreciate the time they put in. What we’re doing is learning and having fun and making friends throughout the process.”

    These driven young students had their sights  set on winning their FLL Championships and Jr FLL Expos, an annual international program targeted at middle school and elementary school students, in which registered teams must create robots within the parameters of the mission set forth by the league. The program is intended to challenge participants to discover solutions to real-world problems through the use of math, science and technology.

    At the back of Long Island FIRST events held on March 3rd ( Jr FLL Expo, Mineola) and March 4th (SBPLI Long Island FLL Championship, Longwood)  both the  teams have further progressed to World Competitions in their respective leagues.

    Techno Queens. From L to R: Co-coach Amit Bansal, Sahana Patel, Risha Bansal, Amneet Kaur, Arna Tyagi, Falak Doshi, Ria Bhatia, Coach Rohit Bhatia

    Jr FLL Girls Team, ‘TechnoQueens’, presented and explained their project and model made out of Legos – ‘VILL-AQUATEC’- about bringing clean water  through various technologies to remote villages around world. They impressed the judges with their presentations and excitement; and won the ‘Explosive Ideas Award’.  They would now be presenting the same in World Expo in Detroit from April 26th-28th. They would join the other 60 out of 14,000+ teams globally in Jr World Expo.

    The boys FLL team, ‘RoboFalcons’, did very well in all aspects of Robot Score, technical judging and team values. Most importantly, they got an award on their Project Solution…In addition to winning the Championship award for ‘Innovative Solution, the team was also presented with opportunity to present their innovative solution to FIRST ‘Global Innovation Award’ forum which selects the world-wide winners.

    Boys built the prototype with thermal sensor with Raspberry Pi and created a mobile app (using MIT Scratch programming)- and connected the phone via Bluetooth socket to Raspberry Pi. They were able to demonstrate the change in values (depicting contamination) and display it instantly on the mobile app. Quite an accomplishment- and they did this all by hands on learning themselves. They also designed a 3D printer-based sphere model of their Aqua Bot !

    They now advance to be part of FLL Razorback Championship to be held at University of Arkansas from May 17-20th – and would join other 72 teams from other parts of USA and other 19 countries from around the world.

    Also, to note that the Fund-raising campaign the kids’ have been running with WaterAid has raised about $2700  and kids are continuing to spread awareness- aimed to get clean water to Llano Verde School, Nicaragua. They are really proud of it and have received great kudos from WaterAid team for the same!

     

  • Senator Vin Gopal honors 11 members of South Asian Community

    Senator Vin Gopal honors 11 members of South Asian Community

    PISCATAWAY, NJ(TIP):  Senator Vin Gopal was honored to recognize several outstanding members of the South-Asian American community Friday, March 30 at the Deewan Banquet Hall.

    The 2018 honorees include: Entrepreneur of the Year Chirag Patel, Amneal Pharmaceuticals; Non-Profit of the Year SKN Foundation; Organization of the Year Indian Business Association, Iselin, NJ; Physician of the Year Dr. Sumul Raval; Public Servant of the Year Shanti Narra, Middlesex County Freeholder; Restaurateur of the Year, Harpal Obhan, Deewan Banquet Hall; Attorney of the Year Satish Poondi, Wilentz Law Firm; Educator of the Year Dr. Khyati Joshi, Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University; Pharmacist of the Year Sam Maddali, United Pharmacy Network; Student of the Year Krina Shah, Freehold, NJ; and Rising Star Shariq Ahmed, Edison, NJ.

    “I am awed by the incredible work that the South-Asian community does in our great state every day,” said Sen. Vin Gopal.

    “The leadership of South-Asian American business owners, scientists, doctors and students has reinvigorated local economies, provided fresh insight into complex problems and exemplified the service and passion of citizenship. As the state’s first South-Asian American Senator, I am extremely proud to represent this community and serve as their voice in Trenton.

    “These honorees truly embody and exemplify the passion, determination and talent that defines our community. It is my great privilege to recognize each of these incredible honorees who stand as pillars in our community. I thank each of our honorees for their work and service and join our community at large in congratulating them on their very well-deserved awards.

    “Thank you to Harpal Obhan for hosting our award ceremony at your beautiful establishment, the Deewan Banquet Hall, as well as Ritesh Shah, chairman of the South-Asian American Caucus in Monmouth County, for his dedication to civil service and public activism. I would also like to thank my co-MC for the evening, Assemblyman Raj Mukherji.”

    The South-Asian community is comprised of individuals of Indian, Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Maldivian, Nepali, Pakistani and Sri Lankan descent.

  • AIA Organizes Desi Next Bowling Event to promote networking among young families

    AIA Organizes Desi Next Bowling Event to promote networking among young families

    LONG ISLAND, NY(TIP): The Association of Indians in America, NY Chapter (AIA-NY) organized its first Bowling Event under its recently launched cultural exchange group called “Desi Next” at AMF Syosset Lanes in Long Island on Saturday March 31, 2018 to promote Networking within young families while having fun in relaxed environment. Over 100 young enthusiasts along with their families and children attended the event. All guests were introduced with each other and their families to encourage conversation between them and get to know each other while bowling and having food and fun. Everybody enjoyed a lot and complimented the organization and the young team of Rajeev, Anuj and Atul for arranging such fun filled event, which was a huge success.

    AIA NY Chapter has been striving hard to bring programs focused on young generation with a view to attract children and youth population. To name a few, Activities like the Intercollegiate Dance Competition called “Naach Inferno”, and bringing Neel Sethi, the Hollywood child star of the Disney movie “The Jungle Book”.

    We have been trying to continue to expand and strengthen youth development programs and activities and have been working towards energizing our youths, while understanding their concerns, said Gobind Munjal, the president of AIA NY Chapter. We try to give the young adults the autonomy to build their programs that suits and attracts the younger generation. Keeping this in mind, AIA NY Chapter launched “Desi Next” in January 2017 to provide a platform for the younger generation where they can socialize, interact, address their issues and concerns and develop programs to suit their need. We appointed young individuals Anuj Goenka, Atul Kukar and Rajeev Chaudhri to lead the charge for these youth programs. On January 22nd, 2017, we managed to arrange the very first program under Desi Next and it was a huge success with 150 young adults and their children attending the event. Desi Next plans to bring Young Indian families, youth and kids together through Sports, Family get-togethers and Community outreach activities.

    We are soon going to have a membership drive for the young adults and we plan to add many new young members this year. With that in mind, our young Desi Next team Rajeev Chaudhary, Anuj Goenka & Atul Kukar did a fantastic job in organizing this Bowling event, which got rave reviews. We are encouraged by the tremendous success of this event and we are going to have many more such programs in the coming months. One such program being planned is to give free Golf lessons to the younger generation in the coming few months and the other a family picnic for them.

    AIA NY Chapter other upcoming programs are as follows:

    • Investment Seminar on May 17, 2018
    • Fundraiser Event for our Project India Charity Program on June 9, 2018 in Manhattan.
    • Benefit Gala on Sept 15, 2018 for the 31stDeepavali Festival.
    • 31stDeepavali Festival Celebrations on Oct 7, 2018 at the Iconic South Street Seaport in Manhattan, culminating with a spectacular display of Fireworks.
    • Children Deepavali in Libraries around end of October 2018.

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

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

    (Press Release)

     

     

  • Weprin Announces State Budget Investments for All New Yorkers

    Weprin Announces State Budget Investments for All New Yorkers

    ALBANY, NEW YORK(TIP):  Assemblyman David I. Weprin announced, April 5, that the New York State has passed an on-time $168.3 billion 2018-19 state budget that includes a nearly $1 billion increase in education funding, significant investments in infrastructure and transportation, protection for New York’s homeowners from federal tax changes and support for seniors’ health and well-being.

    The 2018-19 state budget fully funds the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Subway Action Plan – for a total of $836 million – to make emergency repairs and enhance subway performance. The plan also expands select bus services throughout the city, so residents can get around more easily and reach their destinations on time. And, to establish a long-term funding stream for New York City public transportation, the budget enacts a $2.75 surcharge on for-hire vehicles, $2.50 for yellow cabs and $0.75 for pooled trips below 96th Street in Manhattan; averting an executive proposal which would have placed a $11.52 toll charge for all vehicles below 60th street in Manhattan and over $25 for trucks; resulting in particularly burdensome costs for small businesses and a potential pass along of increased costs to consumers.

    The budget also seeks to limit the impact of the federal tax plan on New York’s homeowners, which increases taxes on many middle-class families by restricting state and local tax deductibility by creating state-operated charitable contributions funds designed to help improve health care and educational outcomes for all New Yorkers. Taxpayers who donate to the funds will be able to claim these contributions as deductions on their state and federal tax deductions, as well as claim a state tax credit equal to 85 percent of the donation amount.

    Other highlights of the final 2018-19 state budget include: –

    • $8.16 million to support long-term care for seniors and $7.81 million to preserve spousal refusal to couples do not lose their life savings in the event a spouse becomes ill and needs nursing home care.
    • Restorations of $13.99 million to prevent hospital and nursing home reductions and $12 million in managed care reductions.
    • $26.6 billion in education funding, including a $618 million increase in Foundation Aid and key allocations to college opportunity programs, including to the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), the Education Opportunity Program (EOP), the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP), the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (C-STEP), as well as for the Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK), Liberty Partnerships and College Discovery programs.
    • $12.1 million to SUNY and $6.3 million to CUNY, as well as community colleges to increase community college base aid. The plan includes funding for CUNY Child Care Centers, CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Program (ASAP), Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs), and $92 million in state operating support for SUNY hospitals.
    • $35.1 million in critical Bundy Aid for independent colleges, based on degree productivity.
    • $15 million for STEM instruction in nonpublic schools, including parochial schools and yeshivas, for a 200-percent increase over 2016.
    • $30 million in operating and capital support for New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) for treatment and recovery programs, residential service opportunities, and public awareness and education activities.
    • $100 million for a first-in-the-nation opioid stewardship program with a fund to be used for the ongoing and growing costs of prevention, treatment, and recovery services for individuals with a substance abuse disorder.
    • $1 million in additional funding for libraries, providing a total of $96.6 million; including $75,000 for the Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Cultural Center.
    • $350,000 in assistance for nonprofits dedicated to resettling individuals and families from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    • A measure creating a commission to ensure that the people of New York State are accurately counted in the 2020 U.S. Census.
    • Legislation to ensure that employers across the state have comprehensive policies to combat sexual harassment in the workplace, bars confidentiality clauses in any settlement except when specifically requested by the victim and banning mandatory arbitration agreements for claims of sexual harassment.
    • Legislation prohibiting domestic abusers from possessing both handguns and long guns and prohibits individuals with an outstanding warrant for a felony or other serious offense from receiving or renewing a firearm license.

    As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Correction, Weprin also announced that the budget also provides $50 million for the first installment of funding for a six-year plan enacted in 2017 to increase the state’s investment in public defense legal services in addition to $5 million for the Liberty Defense Project to provide vital legal services to immigrants, $4.5 million in additional funding for civil and immigrant legal services, $750,000 for Prisoners’ Legal Services and, $500,000 for additional alternatives to incarceration programs.

    “Although we faced a particularly challenging budget year, the final state budget includes significant investments in education, transportation, healthcare and indigent defense funding” said Assemblyman David I. Weprin. “Along with dealing with the effects of the Washington tax plan, the final budget also averted an executive proposal which would have placed a $11.52 toll charge for all vehicles below 60th street in Manhattan and over $25 for trucks; resulting in particularly burdensome costs for small businesses and a potential pass along of increased costs to consumers.”

     

     

     

  • Chairman Crowley Advocates for Additional Funding to Make College More Affordable for Low-Income Students

    Chairman Crowley Advocates for Additional Funding to Make College More Affordable for Low-Income Students

    JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY (TIP): House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY) announced, April 3, his request for additional funding for federal aid programs that benefit low-income college students in the upcoming 2019 government funding bill.

    The three campus-based aid programs, the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, and Perkins Loans, work together with Pell Grants and Direct Student Loans to provide low-income students with a manageable balance of grants, loans, and work to help pay for college. In the most recent academic year, more than 188,000 awards totaling $280 million in tuition assistance were granted through these programs in New York State.

    Funding for work study programs and opportunity grants were slashed in recent years as congressional Republicans pushed forward budgets that dramatically lessened domestic spending on education. And, earlier this year, Congress failed to reauthorize the Perkins Loan program, which helps fill the gap for students with unmet financial needs.

    More than 80 members joined Congressman Crowley’s push to increase funding for these programs by $67 million.

    “With higher spending allocations for FY 2019, the campus-based aid programs can be reinvigorated to become the strong institutional partnership programs to the Pell Grant program they are intended to be,” the lawmakers wrote to the House Committee on Appropriations. “The aid these programs provide to low-income students and families is indispensable in allowing them to attend college without having to borrow or work more to pay for college, which results in increased rates of degree completion.”

  • IDC Mourns the Passing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, South African Anti-Apartheid Crusader

    IDC Mourns the Passing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, South African Anti-Apartheid Crusader

    NEW YORK(TIP): The Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC) joins in solidarity with organizations, institutions, agencies, advocacy groups and individuals in South Africa and other countries in mourning the passing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela who passed away on 2nd April 2018 at the age of 81 years. Mrs. Madikizela-Mandela, born on 26 September 1936, was a renowned South African anti-apartheid crusader and politician, the former wife of South Africa’s late president Nelson Mandela, who passed away at the age of 81 on 2nd April 2018. She was born on 26 September 1936.

    She served as a Member of Parliament from 1994 until her death and was a deputy minister from 1994 to 1996. A member of the African National Congress (ANC) political party, she served on the ANC’s National Executive Committee and headed its Women’s League. Mrs. Madikizela-Mandela was known to her supporters as the “Mother of the Nation”.

    She was married to Nelson Mandela for 38 years, including the 27 years he was imprisoned (18 of those years on Robben Island near Cape Town, South Africa). “She kept the memory of her imprisoned husband Nelson Mandela alive during his years on Robben Island and helped give the struggle for justice in South Africa one of its most recognizable faces,” the statement said. The couple were divorced in 1996, two years after Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black President. They had two daughters together. Nelson Mandela died in 2013.

    The family said in a statement that she passed away at the Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year.

    “Mrs. Madikizela-Mandela was one of the greatest icons of the struggle against apartheid,” the statement said. “She fought valiantly against the apartheid state and sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country.”

    “During the crucial time while Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, the people of South Africa desperately needed a strong, iconic and unwavering voice to keep the anti-apartheid struggle going forward, and Mrs. Madikizela-Mandela met that challenge with skill and perseverance which vastly contributed to end of apartheid in South Africa” – Farook Khan (IDC Coordinator, South Africa).

    “She inspired women everywhere with her undaunted determination and courage to stand up and fight for what is right despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, to right the wrongs of society, to achieve fundamental human rights and equitable treatment. We owe Mrs. Madikizela-Mandela a lifelong debt of gratitude” – Rita Abraham (South Africa), Chair of IDC’s Women’s Forum.

    “Very few have achieved what Mrs. Madikizela-Mandela has for the betterment of South Africa, contributing enormously to ending an unjust system which was forcibly inflicted upon the majority” – Ashook Ramsaran, President, IDC International

    For information, please contact Mr. Farook Khan (IDC Coordinator, South Africa) @ farook@mweb.co.za

    Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC), established in 1997, is an international non-profit organization with global affiliates and membership in 21 countries with the objective to embrace, engage, and enhance the shared heritage, aspirations, and interests of persons of Indian origin with optimum inclusivity.

     

  • New Jersey public library celebrating Hindu festival Holi

    New Jersey public library celebrating Hindu festival Holi

    NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ(TIP): New Brunswick Free Public Library (NBFPL) in New Jersey, run by the City of New Brunswick, is celebrating Hindu festival of Holi on April 7.

    There is no charge to participate in the festival which includes color festivities using dry and wet colors, mehndi (henna), music, dance, food, etc. “You will not be allowed back in the building after color play”, the announcement points out.

    Commending NBFPL for celebrating Holi, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement, termed it as a step in the positive direction, and urged all the public libraries in New Jersey to celebrate various Hindu religious festivals like Diwali, Holi, Krishna-Janmashtami, Maha-Shivaratri, Navaratri, Ramnavami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Hanuman Jayanti, etc.; in view of presence of substantial number of Hindus in the state.

    Awareness about other religions thus created by such festival celebrations like NBFPL Holi, would generate better understanding among various religious communities of New Jersey and result in more harmony, Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, added.

    Joie de vivre festival of Holi welcomes the beginning of spring and starts about ten days before the full moon of Phalguna. The ceremonies include the lighting of the bonfires, during which all evils are symbolically burnt. Holi also commemorates the frolics of youthful Lord Krishna; celebrates the death of demoness Putana, burning of demoness Holika, and destruction of Kama by Shiva. Holi fell on March two this year.

  • De Blasio Administration launches NYC National Service Support Center

    De Blasio Administration launches NYC National Service Support Center

    New York Mets and the NYC National Service Leadership Council hosted “National Service Night” at Citi Field to recognize impact of service year members in NYC

    NEW YORK CITY, NY(TIP): NYC Service announced, April 4, the launch of the NYC National Service Support Center, which provides training, technical assistance, capacity building resources, and consultations to nearly 40 service year programs across the City. The National Service Support Center is also working with the NYC National Service Leadership Council to support the goals of the NYC National Service Growth (+Sustainability) Plan. The plan aims to double the number of service year members in NYC from 4,000 to 8,000, serving one million New Yorkers by 2020.

    This announcement comes as communities across the country celebrated the Corporation for National and Community Service’s (CNCS) National Service Recognition Day. On April 2, NYC Service and the NYC National Service Leadership Council partnered with the New York Mets to host a “National Service Night” at Citi Field to celebrate the work of over 7,000 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members in NYC.

    “Yesterday we celebrated the thousands of NYC AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members across the five boroughs who dedicate their time to serving others,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Their contributions are helping us work towards a stronger, more sustainable, and more equitable New York City and I hope more will join their ranks.”

    “NYC Service is thrilled to partner with the Mets and formally recognize the thousands of AmeriCorps and Senior Members in our City who deliver measurable change on critical priorities like education, economic opportunity, health, and the environment,” said NYC Chief Service Officer Paula Gavin. “One year after announcing our plan to double the number of service year members in NYC by 2020, we are excited to launch the NYC National Service Support Center to sustain and expand the impact of service year programs in our City and remain committed to this effort. I want to thank the New York Mets for celebrating with us yesterday and the NYC National Service Leadership Council for their ongoing partnership to strengthen national service in NYC.”

    “The Mets are honored to participate in National Service Recognition Night,” said New York Mets COO Jeff Wilpon. “We’ve partnered with the NYC Service Leadership Council to help recognize and reward over 7,000 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members for their service to our great city. Tonight also provides a chance for others to learn about national service programming opportunities available in New York.”

    “The impact of the NYC VISTA program is in the communities we serve and in the life of every VISTA,” said Bryan Jackson, NYC VISTA Member. “Organizations that host VISTAs are able to expand to serve the needs of their community with the fresh perspective and high energy that the VISTAs bring. And for those who have felt the call to serve, it provides not only valuable experience, but insight into what is possible with commitment and dedication. At the core, that’s what VISTA is all about: making our country and our world a better place by serving others.”

    “My NYC Service experience has allowed me to serve in the realm of public policy and government administration,” said Sarah Alshawish, NYC VISTA Member. “In the Commissioner’s office of ACS, I project manage the monitoring of new corrective action plans to close practice gaps in the child welfare system. Working alongside child welfare experts and partners from the NYPD, housing, public benefits and healthcare sectors has provided me great insight into the collaboration of city agencies to address challenges faced by families in vulnerable circumstances.”

    “AmeriCorps programs such as Public Allies have given New Yorkers the platform to create the change they want to see in the world by directly serving in their own communities,” said Uthman Olowa, Public Allies NY AmeriCorps Member.

    “The volunteers of the Community Service Society’s RSVP program devote hundreds of thousands of hours a year in improving the lives of their communities by providing vital services such as mentoring, benefits counseling, financial advocacy, alleviating food insecurity and many other essential services that would otherwise not be provided to vulnerable populations throughout the five boroughs,” said David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society. “They demonstrate that national service is a lifelong commitment.”

    “Loneliness and isolation affects many seniors, especially low-income seniors who lack support systems,” said David Garza, Executive Director of Henry Street Settlement. “The Senior Corps Senior Companion program alleviates loneliness for vulnerable seniors by connecting them to a caring individual and provides the Companions with an important purpose, allowing them to make a difference.

    “Public Allies New York recruits young people from diverse backgrounds to serve communities across the city,” said James Bernard, Executive Director of Public Allies New York. “We are a member of a 26-city national movement committed to advancing social justice and equity by engaging and activating the leadership of all young people. We’re about inclusion, we’re about collaboration, and we’re about integrity. Since 1992, we have helped thousands of underrepresented young leaders serve our country, get on successful pathways to higher education and careers, and bring communities together to work for the common good.”

    “Up2Us Sports believes in the service year movement in NYC,” said Paula Caccamo, Founder and CEO of Up2Us Sports. “In the past 5 years, we have supported more than 400 young adults to be coaches and mentors for youth in all five boroughs.  Our AmeriCorps coaches have helped grow youth sports throughout our city and have used the power of sports to mentor youth in life skills, academic goal setting, and conflict resolution.”

    “We have had a lot of success as a collective, with so much diversity in our service year program types, to create solutions to programmatic challenges,” said Jumpstart NY Regional Vice President Kerri Osborne. “We utilize the NYC National Service Support Center to broaden our reach, with staff developing citywide campaigns, supporting advocacy initiatives, and providing technical assistance for service year programming.”

    About NYC Service

    NYC Service, a division of the Office of the Mayor, promotes volunteerism, engages New Yorkers in service, builds volunteer capacity, and mobilizes the power of volunteers and national service members to impact New York City’s greatest needs. To learn more about NYC Service and connect, visit nyc.gov/service.

  • Trump says he was unaware of payment to Stormy Daniels

    Trump says he was unaware of payment to Stormy Daniels

    WASHINGTON(TIP): Breaking his silence over the $130,000 payment by his lawyer Michael Cohen to adult firm star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election, President Trump on Thursday, April 5 said he was unaware of the transaction.

    Asked if he knew about the $130,000 payment to Daniels, Mr. Trump said, “No. No. What else?”

    The president made the comments aboard Air Force One, heading from a roundtable event in West Virginia to Washington, D.C. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims she had a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump in 2006. Asked why Cohen made the payment if there was no truth to the woman’s allegations, Mr. Trump said reporters would “have to ask Michael Cohen.”

    “Michael is my attorney. And you’ll have to ask Michael Cohen,” Mr. Trump said.

    Mr. Trump also claimed he did not know where Cohen obtained the money for the payment. Cohen claims the money came out of his own personal funds.

    In the past, Mr. Trump has ignored questions about the adult film star, who is suing over a nondisclosure agreement that she signed but claims, is invalid because Mr. Trump never signed it.

     

  • Trump deploys military to secure US-Mexico border to check ‘illegal migration’

    Trump deploys military to secure US-Mexico border to check ‘illegal migration’

    President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico reacts sharply to Trump’s Threats

    WASHINGTON(TIP): President Donald Trump, April 5, signed an executive order directing the deployment of military along the US-Mexico border to fight illegal immigration, asserting that the situation had reached “a point of crisis.”

    The announcement came a day after Trump said he intended to deploy the National Guard to the US-Mexico border until his administration was able to deliver on his campaign promise to build a wall to bolster security.

    Given the importance to secure borders for national security, the National Guard, in coordination with governors, will remain in a support role until Congress takes the action necessary to close the loopholes, the White House said.

    Trump on Thursday told reporters aboard Air Force One that a large portion of the troops he is planning to deploy to the U.S.-Mexico border would stay there until the border wall was built. Around 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard troops will be deployed to the area, Trump said, similar to actions by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

    “The situation at the border has now reached a point of crisis. The lawlessness that continues at our southern border is fundamentally incompatible with the safety, security, and sovereignty of the American people. My administration has no choice but to act,” Trump said in his memorandum to the Defense Secretary, Attorney general and the Secretary of Homeland Secretary.

    The threat is real, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told reporters at a White House news conference. “We continue to see unacceptable levels of illegal drugs, dangerous gang activity, trans-national criminal organizations and illegal immigration flow across our border,” she said.

    This threatens not only the safety of American communities and children, but also the very rule of law, on which, the country was founded. “It’s time to act. So, let’s talk a little bit about that today,” she said.

    “In an effort to prevent such a consequence, the President has directed that the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to work together with our governors to deploy the National Guard to our southwest border to assist the Border Patrol,” she said.

    Border Patrol recorded 37, 393 arrests on the southwest border in March, according to data released by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

    In the last 15 months, she said the Trump administration has taken major steps to methodically strengthen border security.

    “We began the first new border wall system construction in close to a decade, we modified our asylum system processing to more quickly adjudicate claims and we ended so-called temporary immigration program,” Nielson said.

    Ruing that the system rewards bad behavior, she said it does not punish law breakers. “It undermines our nation’s economic interests. Make no mistake, interdiction without the ability to promptly remove those without legitimate cause is not border security, it is not national security,” she asserted.

    “We will not allow illegal immigration levels to become the norm. More than 1,000 people a day, 300,000 a year, violating our sovereignty as a nation will never be acceptable to this president,” she said.

    Meanwhile, President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico blasted President Donald Trump in a video message on Thursday, April5, vowing that “nothing and no one stands above the dignity of Mexico” and adding that the U.S. president’s main gripes were Congress’s problem, not Mexico’s.

    “If your recent statements are the result of frustration due to domestic policy issues, to your laws or to your Congress, it is to them that you should turn to, not to Mexicans,” Peña Nieto said in the message, according to a translation provided by his office.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Indian origin scientist in the UK is leading a new high-speed space camera project

    Indian origin scientist in the UK is leading a new high-speed space camera project

    LONDON(TIP):  An Indian origin scientist in the UK, Professor Vik Dhillon, is leading a new high-speed space camera project that is expected to revolutionize our understanding of stars and black holes.

    Professor Dhillon and his team at University of Sheffield in the UK were joined by experts from around the world on the HiPERCAM project, which involves the creation of a new camera that can take more than 1,000 images per second.

    The camera went live on the world’s largest optical telescope, Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), this week.

    It will take high-speed images of objects in the universe, allowing their rapid brightness variations due to phenomena such as eclipses and explosions to be studied in unprecedented detail.

    “The combination of HiPERCAM and the world’s largest telescope provides us with a unique, new view of the universe, which history tells us is when major new discoveries are made. Astronomers are excited to use HiPERCAM on the GTC to start exploring the Universe at high speed,” said Vik Dhillon, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Sheffield and Affiliated Researcher at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC).

    “Normal cameras installed on large telescopes usually capture only one picture every few minutes. HiPERCAM can take one picture every millisecond. The high speed essentially provides a slow-motion view of rapidly varying celestial objects,” he added.

    “The high-speed images are also captured in five different colors simultaneously, which means we can instantly tell the difference between hot stars which are burning at tens of thousands of degrees Celsius and are blue in color – and cooler stars, which appear red and are burning at only a few thousand degrees.”

    The pioneering five-year project was funded by a 3.5-million-euro grant from the European Research Council (ERC) and is being conducted in partnership with the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Astronomy Technology Centre (ATC) and the IAC, along with researchers from the University of Warwick and Durham University in Britain.

    The GTC is based on the island of La Palma, situated 2,500 meters above sea level, which is considered one of the best places in the world to study the night sky.

    Data captured by the camera, taken in five different colors simultaneously, will let scientists study the remnants of dead stars such as white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes.

    These are key objects within astrophysics as their extreme gravities, densities and pressures allow researchers to test theories of fundamental physics, such as general relativity and quantum mechanics.

    By observing objects in the Solar System pass in front of background stars, HiPERCAM will also teach scientists about the sizes and shapes of the minor planets beyond Pluto’s orbit, and whether or not they possess atmospheres, rings and satellites.

    “The vital role that STFC and UK universities played in developing HiPERCAM is a testament to the work of our world class scientists,” Britain’s Science and Universities Minister, Sam Gyimah, said.

    This game-changing camera that will be installed on the world’s largest telescope will not only deepen our understanding of white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes in our universe, but it will help maintain our reputation as being a global-leader in research and development.

    “It is projects such as these, and collaboration with partners and universities from across the world, which underpins our ambitious modern Industrial Strategy to boost innovation and help create a Britain fit for the future.”

    “HiPERCAM was a challenging project that pushed the design team to fit a lot of scientific potential into a small space,” Martin Black, an optical engineer from the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) and part of the HiPERCAM team, said.

    “The team had to work closely together to ensure everything fit together and to correctly position the cameras to around 30 microns, about the width of a human hair.”

     

  • Indian American Republican Aakash Patel raises $25K for Hillsborough Commission Campaign in March

    Indian American Republican Aakash Patel raises $25K for Hillsborough Commission Campaign in March

    FLORIDA(TIP): Indian American Republican & entrepreneur Aakash Patel has raised $25,500 for his campaign in March.

    “I am extremely excited about the continued momentum of our campaign. Our hard work is reflected in the fundraising totals and the tremendous support we have been receiving,” Patel wrote on his official Facebook handle.

    According to a report, Patel has so far raised $378,751 including $288,601 for his campaign account and $90,150 for his political committee, Elevate Tampa.

    The report said that the bulk of the funds that Patel received in February came from 60 contributors amounting to $19,886.

    Earlier in the week, Patel had announced that he received the endorsement of former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Will Weatherford.

    “I am so very honored to have the support of such a true conservative leader as Speaker Will Weatherford. I’m truly humbled to have members of the business community come forward with such strong support of my campaign,” Patel said.

    Patel, a first-time candidate, is reportedly far ahead of his Republican rival Todd Marks when it comes to raising funds for the campaign. His Democratic counterpart, Tampa Democratic Rep. Janet Cruz, has not released the latest reports of her campaign funding.

     “I have known Aakash Patel through our work in the business community and have witnessed his efforts to enrich economic growth in Hillsborough County. I believe he will be an asset to the community and that he will instill his strong conservative beliefs as he continues his work for greater economic development, improved transportation and many other issues important to the community,” Speaker Weatherford said.

    Patel studied his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and English Literature at Florida State University. During this time, he also worked at The Tampa Bay Times, Tallahassee Bureau. He is also a graduate of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Tampa (2012), FBI Citizen’s Academy (2012), Tampa Police Citizen’s Academy (2012), Tampa Bay Public Leadership Institute (2013) Leadership Tampa Bay (2011), and Tampa Connection (2010), and College Leadership Florida (2005). He is enrolled in City of Tampa’s Mayor’s Neighborhood University, according to his LinkedIn profile.

    An expert networker, Patel recently received the endorsement of Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz. In August, Gaetz, who is the son of former lawmaker Don Gaetz, tweeted, “Proud to support my longtime friend @pateltimes in his run for the Hillsborough Commission!”

  • Indian American Niraj Antani endorsed by Ohio Chamber of Commerce

    Indian American Niraj Antani endorsed by Ohio Chamber of Commerce

    OHIO (TIP): Ohio Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee (OCCPAC) has endorsed Indian American incumbent Niraj Antani for the upcoming House of Representatives, District 42 Republican primary to be held on May 8.

    Founded in 1893, OCC is one of Ohio’s oldest organizations to represent businesses by pitching in for free enterprise, economic competitiveness, and growth for the benefit of business organizations in Ohio.

    Announcing the endorsement on Twitter, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee tweeted, “OCCPAC endorses Rep. @NirajAntani for House District 42 in the May 8 Primary Election.”

    Earlier, Ohio Chamber of Commerce (OCC) had acknowledged the efforts made by Antani who introduced HB 450 to amend the existing health insurance law.

    “Health care mandates increase the cost of health insurance, leaving less money for companies to expand & hire new workers. Thanks, Rep. Niraj Antani for introducing HB 450 to provide #MandateRelief,” OCC posted on its official Facebook handle.

    Antani is a cosponsor of the bill that was passed by the House in July 2017. The bill is currently before a state Senate committee and proposes “to provide an opportunity for a concealed handgun licensee or qualified military member to avoid charges for carrying a deadly weapon into a prohibited place if the person leaves upon request, and to penalize failure to leave upon request or returning with a firearm.”

    In the Republican primary, incumbent Antani will battle out with fellow Republicans Sarah Clark and Marcus Rech, and the winner of the election will represent the party in the general election to be held on November 6.

     

     

     

  • Indian American physician Dr. Vaid from Missouri indicted for health care fraud

    Indian American physician Dr. Vaid from Missouri indicted for health care fraud

    MISSOURI(TIP): An Indian American doctor and his nurse practitioner Donna A. Waldo have been indicted after the former pre-signed prescriptions to patients and falsely claimed to Medicare and Medicaid regarding “face to face” office visits.

    According to the Justice Department, Dr. Brij R Vaid has several offices across St. Louis County and employed physician assistants who prescribed powerful opiate and opioid pain relief drugs to patients, including Opana, Hydrocodone, and Oxycontin on his pre-signed prescriptions.

    The department found that the prescriptions were given to the patients by Vaid’s assistants even when he was out of town or even out of the country. Physician assistants are not legally permitted to prescribe medicines to patients.

    The prosecutors also alleged that Vaid’s office would make misrepresentations to Medicare and Medicaid by submitting bills as if he was personally present during the visits of his patients.

    The indictment report also says that the pre-signed prescriptions were prepared by the doctor for each patient referring to the case history and based upon the previous prescription.

    According to reports, Vaid failed to stop prescribing when patients’ urine tested positive for illegal drugs or showed they were not taking the drugs he prescribed.

    Vaid, 56, and Waldo, 57, face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000 if they are found guilty of the conspiracy charge and the charge of making and presenting false claims to the United States.

    Steven M. Sherman, Vaid’s attorney called him “a caring physician with dedicated patients.”

    The case was investigated by the Offices of Inspector General for the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, and the US Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

    (Source: DOJ)

  • AAPI & USAID partnering for a TB- Free India

    AAPI & USAID partnering for a TB- Free India

    WASHINGTON (TIP): USA-International Developmental Agency (USAID) on April 5thsigned an MOU with American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) to work together in achieving the goal of Tuberculosis (TB) free India.

    According to the MOU, the USAID in partnership with the Ministry of Health, India, and AAPI will rigorously work to make India TB Free.

    AAPI will play the pivotal role in achieving the goal by providing high-level education and research facility to India’s health ministry which has been pushing for the eradication of the life-threatening disease.

    According to Dr. Naresh Parikh, president-elect, AAPI, in addition to providing tools to engage patients, the organization will also be creating WHO mandated symptomatology by which indexed cases will be first detected from hotspots of tuberculosis in India.

    In addition to the TB Free India partnership, AAPI has also announced that its 12th health summit will take place in Mumbai this December. The organization said that it will provide free health care, training and support across India.

    Following the announcement of USAID and AAPI, the US Consulate in Mumbai tweeted, “Today we celebrate the announcement of @usaid_india ‘s newly signed MOU with the American Asso of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) to work together toward achieving a #TBFreeIndia.”

    USAID works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. Since 1998, USAID has been partnering with the Government of India to combat TB. According to the official website of USAID, it has already invested more than $120 million to help diagnose and treat 15 million people with TB in India.

    AAPI is an organization of Indian American doctors practicing in the US. Founded about 34 years ago, it is now one of the largest organization of physicians in the United States.

     

  • Chicago Tamil Women Celebrate International Women’s Day

    Chicago Tamil Women Celebrate International Women’s Day

    CHICAGO, IL(TIP): There is only one thing more precious than our time & that is who we spend it on. It was truly a time well spent in the company of wonderful friends and acquaintances celebrating the international women’s day 2018 on the evening of March 17th organized by PENN (Penn in Indian language Tamil means woman), a group of extremely talented women belonging to the Indian community in the Chicagoland area who had come together to present to us an outstanding program that evening.  The air was festive with the organizers, guest speakers and most of the audience members attired in the most spectacular array of colors in the traditional wear of India.

    The event started with the guest speaker Mrs. Rajeshwari Chandrasekaran, a consul with Indian embassy who set the tone and mood for the entire evening, which was a very happy one with her witty down to earth speech.  The next speaker was Dr. Mallika Rajendran (Gynecologist) who addressed various women’s health issues from puberty to adulthood and beyond, followed by Dr. Viji Susarla, a clinical Psychologist who covered the topic very dear to every parent, our “Children” and our concerns particularly when they go through that adolescence phase. The challenges, pressures, and competition our children face now are much more than many of us would have faced a few decades ago. The next presentation was by a young lady named Amrita Raghuraman on E-Cigarettes and vaping among young ones which was an eye opener for many parents.  The last, but not the least, was a stellar presentation by Attorney Sharanya Gururajan on Estate Planning (Will & Trust).  She was candid, straight forward and funny.  The thing that made the evening most interesting was the interactive session between the experts in various fields and the audience.

    Added to the fun were the impromptu standup comedy, the most aromatic spread of food, beautiful stalls selling colorful Indian clothing, fashion jewelry, and hand-made gift items. All received a lovely goody bag & a copy of the Penn Magazine done so artistically, filled with pages of articles, short stories, poems, sketches, photographs and recipes as a take home souvenir.

    (Edited Press release by: Usha Muthukrishnan)