The Indian Panorama

Month: June 2021

  • Juneteenth is a National Holiday:  Biden signs the Bill into Law

    Juneteenth is a National Holiday:  Biden signs the Bill into Law

    WASHINGTON (TIP): A day after President Biden arrived from Geneva after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he signed on June17, into law a bill creating a federal holiday to commemorate Juneteenth, the day marking the end of slavery in Texas.

    “Great nations don’t ignore the most painful moments. They don’t ignore those moments in the past. They embrace them,” Biden said in remarks in the East Room before a crowd that included lawmakers and 94-year-old Opal Lee, who campaigned to make the day a national holiday. The president, who spoke of efforts in some states to restrict voting rights, said the date doesn’t just celebrate the past but is a call for action.

    The Juneteenth story

    The celebration started with the freed slaves of Galveston, Texas. Although the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in the South in 1863, it could not be enforced in many places until after the end of the Civil War in 1865.

    Laura Smalley, freed from a plantation near Bellville, Texas, remembered in a 1941 interview that the man she referred to as “old master” had gone to fight in the Civil War and came home without telling the people he enslaved what had happened.

    “Old master didn’t tell, you know, they was free,” Smalley said at the time. “I think now they say they worked them, six months after that. Six months. And turn them loose on the 19th of June. That’s why, you know, we celebrate that day.”

    Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his troops arrived at Galveston on June 19, 1865, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. That was more than two months after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia.

    Granger delivered General Order No. 3, which said: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”

    The next year, the now-free people started celebrating Juneteenth in Galveston. Its observance has continued around the nation and the world since. Events include concerts, parades and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation.

    WHAT DOES ‘JUNETEENTH’ MEAN?

     The term Juneteenth is a blend of the words June and nineteenth. The holiday has also been called Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day.

    Often celebrated at first with church picnics and speeches, the holiday spread across the nation and internationally as Black Texans moved elsewhere.

    The vast majority of states recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or a day of recognition, like Flag Day, and most states hold celebrations. Juneteenth is a paid holiday for state employees in Texas, New York, Virginia and Washington, and hundreds of companies give workers a day off for Juneteenth.

    WHY NOW?

    The national reckoning over race helped set the stage for Juneteenth to become the first new federal holiday since 1983, when Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created.

    The bill was sponsored by Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and had 60 co-sponsors. Bipartisan support emerged as lawmakers struggle to overcome divisions that are still simmering following the police killing last year of George Floyd in Minnesota.

    Supporters of the holiday have worked to make sure Juneteenth celebrators don’t forget why the day exists.

    “In 1776 the country was freed from the British, but the people were not all free,” Dee Evans, national director of communications of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, said in 2019. “June 19, 1865, was actually when the people and the entire country was actually free.”

    There’s also sentiment to use the day to remember the sacrifices that were made for freedom in the United States — especially in these racially and politically charged days. Said Para LaNell Agboga, museum site coordinator at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center in Austin, Texas: “Our freedoms are fragile, and it doesn’t take much for things to go backward.”

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • End of an Era: Legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh aka Flying Sikh dies after month-long battle with COVID-19

    End of an Era: Legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh aka Flying Sikh dies after month-long battle with COVID-19

    Tributes pour in. PM Modi describes him as a “colossal sportsperson”

     I.S. Saluja

    CHANDIGARH/ NEW YORK (TIP): The Flying Sikh Milkha Singh died on Friday, June 18, after a month-long battle with COVID-19. The Padma Shri awardee was 91 and is survived by his golfer son Jeev Milkha Singh and three daughters.  “He breathed his last at 11.30 p.m.,” a family spokesperson told PTI.

    Milkha Singh’s condition deteriorated as he developed complications, including fever and dipping oxygen saturation levels, after a bout with COVID-19, in the Intensive Care Unit of the PGIMER hospital.

    He had contracted COVID-19 last month and tested negative for the virus on Wednesday when he was shifted to general ICU in another block of the hospital. Milkha had been “stable” before Thursday evening.

    Milkha’s 85-year-old wife Nirmal, who had also been infected by the virus, passed away at a private hospital in Mohali on Sunday, June 13.

    Milkha was admitted to PGIMER on June 3 after his oxygen levels dipped at home following treatment at the Fortis hospital in Mohali for a week.

    The legendary athlete is a four-time Asian Games gold medalist and the 1958 Commonwealth Games champion but his greatest performance remains the fourth-place finish in the 400m final of the 1960 Rome Olympics.

    He also represented India in the 1956 and 1964 Olympics and was bestowed the Padma Shri in 1959.

    The entire country paid glowing tribute to Indian sprint legend Milkha Singh, with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing him as a “colossal sportsperson who captured the nation’s imagination”.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condoling his death described him as a “colossal sportsman”.

    “In the passing away of Shri Milkha Singh Ji, we have lost a colossal sportsperson, who captured the nation’s imagination and had a special place in the hearts of countless Indians,” Mr. Modi said in a tweet.

    “His inspiring personality endeared himself to millions. Anguished by his passing away.” Olympic bound star javelin throwers Neeraj Copra tweeted “We lost a Gem. He will always remain as an inspiration for every Indian. May his soul Rest in peace.”

    Condoling the death, Home Minster Amit Shah said the country lost one of the brightest stars of Indian sports. “India mourns the sad demise of legendary sprinter Shri Milkha Singh Ji, The Flying Sikh. He has left an indelible mark on world athletics. Nation will always remember him as one of the brightest stars of Indian sports. My deepest condolences to his family and countless followers.”

    Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said in Milkha’s demise, the country has lost a star. “India has lost its star. Milkha Singh Ji has left us but he will continue to inspire every Indian to shine for India. My deepest condolences to the family. I pray for his soul to rest in peace,” the Minister tweeted.

    Sports Authority of India (SAI) expressed “immense sadness at the demise of one of India’s greatest ever sportspersons ‘The Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh.

    “A gold medalist at the CWG & Asian Games, he held the 400m National record for 38 years. Condolences to his family & the millions whom he inspired,” the SAI said in a tweet.

    Athletics Federation of India said in a tweet: “Very sad news for all #Indians, legend Shri Milkha Singh Ji passed away.” “A huge loss for the sport of athletics today. Rest well #MilkhaSingh ji,” Olympica Anju Bobby George tweeted.

    “Really shocked by the demise of the legend Milkha sir. You will forever have a very special place in my heart. The Flying Sikh will live forever. RIP” Indian sprinter Mohamad Anas Yahiya.

    Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also expressed also expressed his condolences on the micro-blogging site.

    “Very sad, heartbreaking to hear flying sikh Sardar Milkha singh ji is no more… waheguru RIPMilkhaSinghji.” Indian tennis star Sania Mirza said: “Had the honour of meeting you and you blessed me so many times .. the kindest and warmest Palms up together RIP Milkha Singh sir .. the world will miss a legend like you ..MilkhaSingh.”

    “Really shocked and sad to learn about the passing away of the legend Milkha Singh ji. Om Shanti,” Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia said.

    Decorated doubles badminton player Jwala Gutta also joined in expressing his sadness.

    “What an inspiration you were to the millions like us…. There will be none like you sir Rest in peace legend MilkhaSingh Flag of India Woman bowing deeply,” she posted.

    The official handle of the Indian football team also mourned Milkha’s death.

    “We join the nation in mourning the loss of the iconic ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh. His incredible achievements will continue to inspire future generations. May his soul rest in peace RIP.”

    Assam Chief Minister Himanata Biswa Sarma said: “Saddened at the demise of ‘Flying Sikh’ Captain Milkha Singh. His laurels had not only made India swell with pride but also inspired generations of sports enthusiasts. My condolences to his family. Om Shanti!”

    The news of Milkha Singh’s death shocked the Indian American community in the US.

    Paul Sihota from California called the offices of The Indian Panorama to convey his condolences as did many Punjabi sports lovers who held him in great esteem. Milkha Singh has always been a role model and an inspiration to budding sportspersons in the Diaspora.

    To me, who had known him for years and sought his guidance in organizing two Punjab State level sports events, his going away is a painful personal loss.  The void created by his passing away will not be filled. I pray for peace to his departed soul even as I mourn the loss a few days earlier of his beloved wife Nirmal Milkha Singh. I pray for strength enough to the bereaved son Jeev Milkha Singh and the three daughters to bear the irreparable loss.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Indian diplomacy adjusting to an ‘uncertain’ world order: Shringla

    Indian diplomacy adjusting to an ‘uncertain’ world order: Shringla

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India has created capacities to take on future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Friday. June 18.

    Delivering a lecture at the Public Affairs Forum of India on “India’s Foreign Policy in the post-COVID World: New Vulnerabilities, New Opportunities,” he said Indian diplomacy was adjusting to the “uncertain” world order.

    “We have created capacities in terms of hospitals and equipment so that we are better prepared for future waves that may come. We have provided essential support in this national effort through our diplomatic efforts,” said Mr. Shringla. He revisited the overall effort to deal with the second wave of COVID-19 that intensified in India beginning with March and drew a multi-agency response from the Government of India that included ramping up medicines and oxygen capacities.

    Mr. Shringla pointed at the role played by Indian embassies in Washington DC and Moscow which “facilitated discussion” on India’s vaccine diplomacy with leading vaccine manufacturers in the United States and Russia. The Foreign Secretary said the current phase had also brought new opportunities in the digital world.

    “Opportunity has been created by transition to knowledge economy. Transition to a virtual world points towards transformation, but rapid one. India is well placed to take the advantage of this transition,” said Mr. Shringla.

    He also pointed at the changing nature of diplomacy in the world and said the world is “complex” and can no longer be defined in “binaries”. “Indian diplomacy is adjusting to this complex and uncertain environment. The challenge before us is to create capacities in the face of unexpected and catastrophic events of the kind that we are currently faced with. We have to be able to repurpose organizations at very short notice to deal with unexpected challenges. Existing hierarchies and structures are often unable to cope with such challenges and may require re-engineering,” said Mr. Shringla.

    He pointed out that diplomacy earlier was conducted along principles of “balance of power”but the rules of diplomacy have changed after the arrival of COVID-19 and added, “Today’s environment is multilayered, multi-dimensional. Binaries and simple equations have been replaced by complicated algorithms.”

    “We must engage simultaneously with multiple centers of gravity and capacities in an extremely complex and fast-moving global scenario,” said Mr. Shringla, summing up the post-COVID diplomatic challenges emerging before India.

    (Source: PTI)

  • 3 million jobs in Indian IT firms on the chopping block by next year, says report

    3 million jobs in Indian IT firms on the chopping block by next year, says report

    NEW YORK (TIP): With automation taking place at a much faster pace across industries especially in the tech space, domestic software firms that employ over 16 million are set to slash headcounts by a massive 3 million by 2022, which will help them save a whopping USD 100 billion mostly in salaries annually, says a report.

    The domestic IT sector employs around 16 million; of them around 9 million are employed in low-skilled services and BPO roles, according to NASSCOM.  Of these 9 million low-skilled services and BPO roles, 30 per cent or around 3 million will be lost by 2022, principally driven by the impact of robot process.

    automation or RPA.  Roughly 0.7 million roles are expected to be replaced by RPA alone and the rest due to other technological upgrades and upskilling by the domestic IT players, while it the RPA will have the worst impact in the US with a loss of almost 1 million jobs, according to a Bank of America report on Wednesday, June 16.

    Based on average fully loaded employee costs of USD 25,000 per annum for India-based resources and USD 50,000 for US resources, this will release around USD 100 billion in annual salaries and associated expenses for corporates, the report says.

    TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Tech Mahindra and Cognizant and others appear to be planning for a 3 million reduction in low-skilled roles by 2022 because of RPA up-skilling. This is a USD 100 billion in reduced salary and other costs, but on the flipside, it offers a likely a USD 10 billion boon for IT companies that successfully implement RPA, and another a USD5 billion opportunity from a vibrant new software niche by 2022. Given that robots can function for 24 hrs a day, this represents a significant saving of up to 10:1 versus the human labor,” says the report.

    Robot process automation (RPA) is application of software, not physical robots, to perform routine, high-volume tasks, allowing employees to focus on more differentiated work. It differs from ordinary software applications as it mimics how the employee has worked instead of building a workflow into technology from ground up and thus minimizing time to market and greatly reducing cost over the more traditional software-led approaches.

    Offshoring helped domestic IT sector to grow from around 1 per cent of GDP in 1998 to 7 per cent today, a highly strategic sector for its economy and has also significantly outgrown their Western peers (mainly Accenture, Capgemini and Atos) with an annual revenue growth of 18 per cent between 2005 and 2019. Another key reason for the RPA-driven job loses is that many countries that had offshored their work in the past are likely to bring the jobs back to their own home markets.

    (Source: PTI)

  • Revival of G7 and its impact

    Revival of G7 and its impact

    From US perspective, the summit’s aim is to announce that ‘America is back’

    By Shyam Saran

    “From the US perspective, the objective of the summits is to announce that ‘America is back’ and ready to lead the world after the debilitating disruption of western alliances and partnerships and a retreat from global engagement during the Trump years. What Biden is signaling is that the revival of American leadership and diplomatic activism will be anchored in the web of its transatlantic relationships, even as the Indo-Pacific strategy will be its key preoccupation, given the acknowledged challenge posed by China. The emphasis on the transatlantic alliance and partnership is also important in countering the Russian threat.”

    The three-day G7 summit concluded on June 13 and released an unusually long and detailed joint statement of 70 paragraphs and a separate Open Societies Statement. The latter statement was on behalf of the G7 and the four invitees to the summit, namely Australia, India, South Korea and South Africa. The summit is only the first of three key meetings involving western countries. This week includes a meeting of the EU and the US and a meeting of the NATO military alliance, both in Brussels. Fortified by the display of solidarity at these three summits, President Biden will have his first summit with Russian President Putin in Geneva on June 16.

    From the US perspective, the objective of the summits is to announce that ‘America is back’ and ready to lead the world after the debilitating disruption of western alliances and partnerships and a retreat from global engagement during the Trump years. What Biden is signaling is that the revival of American leadership and diplomatic activism will be anchored in the web of its transatlantic relationships, even as the Indo-Pacific strategy will be its key preoccupation, given the acknowledged challenge posed by China. The emphasis on the transatlantic alliance and partnership is also important in countering the Russian threat. While Biden has described China as a competitor, Russia is the ‘enemy’, even though the US is prepared to work together with both on areas where there are convergent interests on global issues, such as climate change, cyber security and nuclear non-proliferation. Has Biden succeeded in convincing his western allies and partners and his adversaries that the US is back? The answer to that, as judged from the joint statement, should be a yes. But then, the Trump years were a low base to compare to.

    Has Biden achieved a degree of western consensus in presenting a united front against Russia and China? Perhaps more against Russia and less against China. For example, the launch of the Build Back a Better World (B3W) partnership was launched as a ‘values driven, high standard and transparent infrastructure partnership led by major democracies’ but stopped short of explicitly posing it as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. There are few details of how this partnership is going to be financed beyond saying that this will be private financed but with ‘catalytic investment’ from public and multilateral sources. We may conclude that there are simply not enough resources available to be deployed by the G7 which could match what China has been offering, despite concerns over lack of transparency and exacerbation of the debt overload on several developing countries.

    There are several other references to Chinese misdemeanors which taken together do represent a broad western consensus on the need to confront China. These include the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, ‘a free and open Indo-Pacific’, of avoiding ‘unilateral attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions in the East and South China Seas.’ In addition, there are references to human rights issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, both of which are regarded as ‘core issues’ by China. Overall, therefore, one could say that Biden has been able to fashion a consensus on acknowledging the Chinese security challenge and ideological challenge.

    Will this impress China? Up to a point. The economic and commercial relationship between Europe and China is deep and broad ranging as is that between China and Japan. The EU and China have been working together, for example, for several years on developing benchmarks for climate finance, including green bonds, disclosure norms and the running of carbon markets. The area of climate finance will assume critical importance as climate change action gets into high gear after the Glasgow summit later this year. There is a limit to disengaging from the world’s second largest economy and the central node in global supply chains.

    China has reacted by dismissing the G7, pointing out that a small group of countries cannot rule the world. There is another important shift the summit represents. After the global financial and economic crisis of 2007-8, it is the G20 which was established as the premier forum for international economic coordination. It worked very well in dealing with the immediate crisis, but its role has steadily diminished since then. With renewed tensions between the US and China and with Russia, the utility of the G20 is not so obvious currently. This adds to the significance of the revival of G7, even though its economic heft is much less than in its heyday. It constitutes only 30% of world GDP as against 60% at the end of the Cold War. However, the global trading system and its financial infrastructure continue to be dominated by the G7 so one should not underestimate its influence. It has the potential to emerge as a core of a broader coalition to achieve a degree of balance in the power equations that the emergence of China has upturned in the new millennium.

    The adoption of the Statement on Open Societies reflects Biden’s renewed emphasis on the importance of preserving and promoting ‘open societies, democratic values and multilateralism as foundations for dignity, opportunity and prosperity for all.’ For all the cynicism that attends the expression of such lofty statements, they have value in contesting China’s confident belief in the efficacy of its authoritarian ideology and system of governance. Biden is taking head on the prevailing pessimism about democracy within democracies themselves. One should welcome PM Modi being honored as the lead speaker at the session on Open Societies. His remarks were unexceptionable and worthy of a leader of the world’s largest democracy. One hopes that this is followed by a renewed commitment to democratic values which are enshrined in the Indian Constitution, but also constitute, as PM Modi said, the civilizational values of India.

    (The author is a former Foreign Secretary of India and senior fellow, Centre for Policy Research)

  • Indian-origin Healthcare Experts in Queen’s Birthday Honors spotlight

    Indian-origin Healthcare Experts in Queen’s Birthday Honors spotlight

    LONDON (TIP): Indian-origin healthcare experts involved in the field of Covid-19 vaccine trials and community support efforts are among those in the spotlight at the Queen’s Birthday Honors List.

    The Queen’s Birthday Honors List, unveiled on Friday evening, is released every year to coincide with Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday celebrations held during the second weekend of June. This time, it has a special focus on the extraordinary efforts made by individuals across the country during the pandemic.

    Kolkata-born Divya Chadha Manek has been honored with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the government during the Covid-19 response for her involvement in the research and development of vaccines and the resulting clinical trials.

    Chadha Manek, now the director of business development and marketing at the British government’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network, was at the heart of ensuring that Covid-19 vaccines could be put through requisite trials for a timely deployment as the Clinical Trials Work stream lead at the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce.

    “To me, this honor is recognizing not just me, but everyone involved in the success of UK vaccine research—the half-a-million people who signed up to the vaccine research registry and the tens of thousands who took part in the vital Covid-19 vaccine trials here,” said Chadha Manek, who moved to the UK as a teenager with a simple message from her Punjabi father.

    “When I left India for the UK at the age of 18, my father gave me a flight ticket, put 500 pounds in my pocket and told me: ‘Be good, do good and do something amazing that you get to meet the Queen’. I lost my father last year, but this honor truly feels like I have done good on his behalf. So, thank you so much for this honor,” she said.

    Chadha Manek was instrumental in supporting companies to bring vaccine trials to the UK, generate the data required for marketing authorization and help with the development of the Vaccine Research Registry.

    “The honor feels like a real recognition and nod to clinical research, which may not always get the spotlight it truly deserves. It’s fantastic to receive this ‘thank you’ from the Queen,” she added.

    Chadha Manek represents one of many honors related to Covid-19 pandemic response that make up nearly 23 per cent of the list this year, including dame hoods for Sarah Gilbert, said Professor of Vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, for her pivotal role in developing a vaccine, and Kate Bingham, Chair of the Vaccine Taskforce, for services to the procurement, manufacture and distribution of vaccines.

    Andrew Pollard, professor of Pediatric Infection, University of Oxford, receives knighthood for services to public health, particularly during Covid-19, for his role in the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine development as the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group.

    “The Queen’s Birthday Honors allow us to pay tribute to all those who have gone above and beyond in their service to this country,” said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

    “Throughout the pandemic, we have seen countless examples of everyday heroes. From those using their expertise to help develop life-saving vaccines, which are now being rolled out successfully to all parts of the UK, to the people who have given time and energy to care for their communities,” he said.

    “We should take heart from the stories of those receiving honors today and be inspired by their courage and kindness. May they be a reminder of all that we can achieve when we come together as a society,” he added.

    Among the over 30 Indian-origin honors recipients for 2021 include OBEs for Jasvinder Singh Rai, founder and chairman of the Sikh Recovery Network for services to the Sikh community during the pandemic, and Jasjyot Singh of Lloyds Banking Group for services to financial services during the pandemic.

    Those honored as Members of the British Empire (MBE) include Devina Banerjee, from Vaccine Taskforce, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for services to Covid-19 vaccine development; Anoop Jivan Chauhan, professor of respiratory medicine and executive director of Research, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, for services to respiratory medicine; and Dr Ananthakrishnan Raghuram, consultant physician, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for services to the NHS and Covid-19 response.

    Others across different fields honored with an OBE include Jagjit Singh Chadha, director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, for services to economics and economic policy; actress and writer Lolita Chakrabarti for services to drama; and Sumita Singha for services to architecture.

    Those receiving MBEs include Vimalkumar Choksi, Councilor, Ashton Waterloo, Tameside, for services to the community in Greater Manchester; Gurveer Dhami, senior private secretary to the Secretary of State For Education, and Amika Sara George, Founder of #FreePeriods Campaign, both for services to education; Sumit Goyal, consultant oncoplastic surgeon, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, for services to breast cancer and Cardiff Breast Centre Charity; and Priya Guha, Venture Partner, Merian Ventures, and Member, Innovate UK Council, for services to international trade and women-led innovation.

    Of the 1,129 recipient of an award this year, 567 are women which is 50 per cent of the total and 62 per cent of the recipients have undertaken outstanding work in their communities, either in a voluntary or paid capacity.

  • Houston to observe International Yoga Day, focused on well-being amid the pandemic

    Houston to observe International Yoga Day, focused on well-being amid the pandemic

    ByPooja Salhotra

    HOUSTON (TIP): Although India’s second spike of COVID-19 has been dominating news headlines, it is the country’s ancient mind-body practice of yoga that istop of mind for some.

    Health and wellness experts around the world are gearing up to observe the seventh annual International Yoga Day (IYD), recognized by a United Nations resolution co-sponsored by a record 177 nations. The celebration comes at a time that anxiety and psychological suffering are soaring. In the U.S., more than 42 percent of people surveyed by the U.S. Census Bureau in December reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, an increase from 11 percent the previous year. Physical isolation and fear of the COVID-19 infection are thought to have contributed to these numbers, and yoga and meditation have emerged as possible panaceas.

    “A lot of people misunderstand yoga as a physical exercise, but yoga is for peace, harmony, wellness and health,” said Vipin Kumar, executive director of India House, one of the event sponsors. “That is what we are celebrating.”

    First proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a General Assembly address in 2014, IYD is now observed worldwide to recognize the many benefits of practicing yoga. The UN has appropriately chosen “Yoga for well-being” as this year’s event theme, focusing on the role the practice can play in fighting social isolation and depression. In Houston, the city’s Consulate General of India in partnership with a number of organizations is marking the occasion with outdoor events on Sunday, June 20 and on Monday, June 21, both free and open to the public.

    Sunday’s IYD event takes place at Buffalo Bayou Park while Monday’s, which will also be livestreamed, is outdoors at India House. Both events take place 6-8 p.m. and will include booths with food vendors and ayurvedic related organizations as well as a formal presentation with an address by the Consulate General of India, Houston. Top yoga teachers from Houston, including Shekhar Agarwal, Vishwarupa Nanjundappa, Nancy Martch, Robert Boustany, Mark Ram and Saumil Manek will both perform complicated poses and lead the public in a standard 55-minute yoga practice.

    This year’s event also includes a specific focus on galvanizing youth. Hindus of Greater Houston and Young Hindus of Greater Houston are encouraging youth to submit pictures of Yogasana along with a personalized message about what yoga means to them. Judges will then select certain submissions to be published in prominent local newspapers.

    “We want a lot of involvement from youth so we can spread the word about yoga as much as we can,” said Anjali Madhusudan Aggarwal, an HGH intern who will start college at the University of Houston in the fall. Aggarwal has been practicing yoga with her family since she was 10 years old, and she said it has helped her find mental clarity and physical fitness. “I feel less burdened in my mind,” she said.

    Data shows that more people have been turning to yoga over the past decade. Nearly 37 million U.S. adults practice yoga, and that number has only gone up during the coronavirus pandemic. According to ResearchAndMarkets.com, yoga equipment sales grew 154 percent in 2020, as people began taking virtual yoga classes from home. And MindBody, a software company that provides business management tools for the wellness industry, reported that yoga is the most popular virtual class booked on their platform, with an average of nearly 22,000 yoga bookings per day.

    “Yoga has helped me stay mentally positive during the pandemic,” said Saumil Manek, a registered yoga teacher and one of the lead organizers for Houston’s IYD events. “When you’re happy, you’re not living in dis-ease.”

    Hiba Haroon, a yoga teacher and practitioner who plans to attend IYD this year, said her yoga practice deepened significantly during the pandemic. “My practice caught me in all that I was feeling and experiencing during the pandemic,” she said. “In my teaching, I prioritized breathwork and restorative shapes, especially because cortisol levels were at an all-time high and it was wreaking havoc on people’s immunity, sleep, and overall well-being.”

    Manek, who is also emcee for Sunday’s event, said that while there is no way to know how many people will show up to the events, he hopes to see at least 500. Two years ago, the event took place at Midtown Park and drew about 1,200 people. Last year’s event took place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic and, according to organizers, more than 50,000 people watched online.

    In addition to the events taking place in Houston, the Woodlands is hosting its own virtual event on Saturday, June 19. That event will focus on how yoga can help boost immunity. Dr. Neeta Shukla, an anesthesiologist and a yoga teacher who has helped spearhead the IYD events in the Woodlands for the past five years, said yoga works at the cellular level to assist with immunity.

    “Yoga has the master key to unlock your inner potential and your inner energy,” said Dr. Shukla.
    “It is the best preventive medicine for individual health, happiness and to lead a disease-free life.”

    For more information about upcoming IYD events in Texas, visit yogadayoftexas.org

    (Pooja Salhotra, 27, is a freelance writer from Houston. She has been practicing yoga for almost a decade and is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She teaches online powerful flow yoga classes through her own platform, Pooja’s Yoga, as well as for BIG Power Yoga)

  • Weekly Horoscope (June 21 to June 27 2021)

    Shree Ganeshaya Namah!!!

    Aries

    Ganesha says this week you will have to work on being more resilient and self sufficient. You have always been relaxed and dealt with matters in a calm and composed way but this week is the week for you to go out full force after what you want to beit at work or making things happen for your family. You have a huge responsibility hanging over your shoulders this week. Make it count.

    Taurus

    You need to work out a plan for your future this week, as this week is not much lucrative for implementations but making goals and aims to reach that goal should be your agenda this week. You have been a very sweet person in the past but you will have to make decisions that upset some people this week hence make sure you’re on your best behavior this week.

    Gemini

    New opportunities will make its way towards you this week, be diligent about them, they can really work in your favor if you put in the work. Try to worship lord Shiva and express your gratitude for all that you have and where you are in life, it will be beneficial for your personal as well as professional life.

    Cancer

    Your business is doing great this week.  Your passion about your business speaks volumes to you. You are always fearless and inspiring. All those calculated risks that you took turned out to be in your favor and are paying off this week. You will feel sick and fatigued throughout the week. You need to consult a doctor and leave your work to take care of your own health this week. Even though other aspects of your life are going well you well. You will feel fine in a few days if you completely focus on your health and do not let it mentally affect you.

    Leo

    You will have a lot of confidence this week that will guide you towards achieving everything that you want which will lead you to receive appreciation from your colleagues as well as the higher authority. A great week for you professionally this week. Your partner will be very supportive with your troubles this week and will provide you with all the help you need including in your work and business. You need to express your gratitude towards your partner this week.

    Virgo

    Your business will be a big challenge for you this week. You will not focus on it a lot due to personal reasons and towards the end of the week; you’ll realize the consequences of that. Being self employed you lack a lot of discipline. Delay in the work of a particular client will cause you to lose your reputation in the industry.  Positive energies are great for you this week. You will have a happy day, relaxing and taking care of your health. Focus on taking care of your health. Consulting a nutritionist will work very well in your favor this week as new positive changes are in the cards for you.

    Libra

    This week you will feel unimpressed by the ongoing atmosphere. Meeting up with old friends will lift up your spirits. New equations are forged at work. Be wary of enemies who might try to defame you. You will come across many people who are only looking for a way to hurt you. You will have to adopt a practical and sensible approach to handle them this week or rather avoid them as you have better things to do. Make sure you muster up the courage to speak your mind this week.

    Scorpio

    You will have a challenging day in your business this week but in a fun way because you’re the one that’s winning without making many efforts. Make sure that you’re the one that is focusing on the end goal and not on other competitors this week. You will learn to be open-minded and be open to different behaviors and personalities instead of preferring that everyone behaves like you do which make you less upset and hurt and happier as you will have lesser expectations from now on.

    Sagittarius

     Your health is not as good as you would like it to be this week. Taking time out to be physically active will make it great. Do not rely on unnatural ways to look better this week as they might because you more harm than good. It is easy for your significant other to fall in love with you this week. Expect some surprises. With time things will improve, you need to be more patient. You might make some tough decisions this week and you will be more susceptible to moodiness.

    Capricorn

    Things will come relatively harder to you this week; you will have a very strenuous week. Even though it won’t majorly affect your business or finances try to be as optimistic as you can as being happy and relaxed will affect your productivity and health positively. You will be much focused and mostly achieve whatever you want you want this week. You will be helpful, generous and spend your money smartly and you are extremely careful in spending on the right things only. This might help your partner as they might be facing a financial crisis this week.

    Aquarius You will face struggling situations this week but will acquire great learning lessons as well. The need for money will make you understand the difference between your real well-wishers and simply those people who pretend to care for you. You will need to continue to put in efforts into your health which include having a regular routine, exercising and not being sleep deprived which might be tough and tedious for you.

    Pisces 

    You will feel extremely loved and appreciated this week, which will boost your confidence. This week your partner will make you feel like you’re worth a lot more than you have been given till date. Hence you will walk through every place this week as you own it. Your love life will flourish to a new level this week. You will feel loved and you will in-turn love and care for your partner. This is a very good week for you to take the next step in your life. Work on taking out more time from your work to focus on your relationship and getting to know each other’s triggers and what makes each other happy.

  • Indian American New Jersey based woman’s unique Indian mathri baskets leave netizens drooling

    Indian American New Jersey based woman’s unique Indian mathri baskets leave netizens drooling

    JERSEY CITY (TIP): At a time when Indian chefs around the world are promoting Indian food with appealing presentations, some talented home cooks are creating a buzz about Indian food in America with their unique creations.

    Sujata Ravikumar is one such self-taught home cook whose unique Indian snack preparations have been going viral on food forums across the East Coast.

    She is fast becoming a food forum sensation thanks to her unique creation – masala mathri baskets — intricate baskets with woven patterns that are entirely edible along with the treat inside.

    Everyone is quite intrigued by the patterns and shapes of Sujata’s dishes in her food pictures posted online.

    Talking about her cooking, she shares with the American Bazaar, “My creations are totally Indian cooking. The basket is called Masala Mathri Basket.

    “Mathri is an Indian finger snack, closer to what Americans would call a savory biscuit. I fill my mathri baskets with sabudana khichdi or sago porridge and sabudana pops.”

    Sujata’s cooking also busts a popular myth that Indian food is deep fried, spicy or heavy. All of her creations are baked and sabudana khichdi is one of the healthiest complete meals.

    “All my baskets, tokris and handis are edible,” she says. “The high point always remains the presentation of my food. It is this that draws people to it.”

    Like many other immigrants to the US, cooking for Sujata started as a hobby when she found herself in a new country with a lot of time on her hands.

    “I came to the US, seven years ago and I started cooking as a hobby,” she says. “I am passionate about cooking and cook for my creative satisfaction besides feeding friends and family. When I first came here, being in a new place gave me a lot of time to indulge in cooking and baking.”

    A licensed cosmetologist, Sujata even as her food has become the talk of the town does not cater professionally.

    “I get hundreds of comments whenever I post my food pictures and all of it is very flattering,” she says. “I am known as the baking queen and the one with the magical hands, but I enjoy all this adulation without taking it up professionally.”

    “Though I have been asked to, I have not yet participated in any food competitions,” Sujata says. “I keep on getting invitations from various food groups and they offer certificates or recognitions.”

    “I haven’t explored that path yet. I am rather happy with genuine appreciation from people who just like my food.”

  • Happy Life Yoga Promoter Tirlok Malik to Host International Yoga Day 2021 Event June 19

    Happy Life Yoga Promoter Tirlok Malik to Host International Yoga Day 2021 Event June 19

    Murtaza Ali Khan

    NEW YORK (TIP): Emmy-nominated filmmaker and Happy Life Yoga speaker Tirlok Malik is hosting a Happy Life Yoga event on the occasion of International Yoga Day 2021 on June 19th, 2021, at 10 AM, New York EST virtually on Zoom and social media such as Facebook Live (IndusTV and Facebook pageof GOPIO (Manhattan). The event will be joined by the audiencesfrom many countries. Yoga is a gift from India to the world and its celebrated all over the world.The event is being presented by GOPIO (Manhattan), The Indian Panorama,Indian American Forum and Consulate General of India, New York. Ambassador Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General of India, is the Chief Guest.

    The theme of the event is Happy Life Yoga.“Happy Life Yoga follows a basic underlying philosophy.If you feel you deserve and want to live a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life then Happy Life Yoga can show you how? It’s a way of living inspired by the wisdom of Ayurveda, Yoga & Indian philosophy and no mats are needed to practice it,” explains Malik who has lined up many experts and honored guest speakers to share their wisdom. The list includes the award-winning filmmaker, international entrepreneur, motivational speaker and author, Dr Bhuvan Lall (www.bhuvanlall.in), Sangeeta Agarwal, CEO & Founder, Helpsy (https://helpsyhealth.com),Neil & Andrea Garvey, Publishers/Editors, Creations Magazine(www.creationsmagazine.com), Deborah Fishman Shelby, Founder & Executive Director, FED (www.fedsocial.co), Ranju Narang, Director, Educator (www.vivyogany.com), Prof. Indrajit Saluja, Chief Editor/Publisher, The Indian Panorama(www.theindianpanorama.news), Indu Jaiswal, Chairperson, Indian American Forum (https://indianamericanforum.org) Renee Mehra (Reenbow Media), and Anil Narang (https://worldveganvision.org). The event also has a guest singer Pallavi Verma Belwariar (http://www.pallaviartnmusic.com).

    Happy Life Yoga (happylifeyoga.org), an educational platform, was launched on June 29th, 2019, in a packed auditorium at the Goddard Riverside’s Bernie Wohl Center, New York. The curtain raiser event for this educational platform was inaugurated by Shatrughna Sinha, New York Deputy Consul General of India.  Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer, who was the Chief Guest, had participated in the workshop and spoken vociferously in support of the initiative. Many other VIPs were in attendance as well. The event was hosted by Prof.Indrajit Saluja, Chief Editor and Publisher of The Indian Panorama and Indu Jaiswal of Indian American Forum.

    Happy Life Yoga is the creation of Tirlok Malik and the Ayurveda Cafe team. Tirlok Malik is a restaurateur, happy lifestyle speaker, New York Emmy Nominated Filmmaker. Indu Jaiswal of The Indian American Forum, one of the oldest organizations of Indian Americans on Long Island, and Prof. Indrajit Saluja publisher and editor of the Indian Panorama, an Indian American Newspaper in New York & Dallas, are proud to be spreading the message of Happy Life Yoga.Happy Life Yoga is the yoga of life. This educational platform offers a unique holistic approach to health and happiness using tools from Ayurveda, Indian Philosophy, and Yoga to help better manage modern-day challenges such as work, finances, relationships, family and other social pressures. It ultimately guides you towards a happier life. It teaches you about Happy Life Yoga management system. Happy life yoga platform endeavors to bring experts from all over the world to share their wisdom through virtually and live events in person as well.

    The event has support from many media outlets of US including The Indian Panorama, Creations Magazine, Vijay Garg, IndusTV, Sunil Hali, Radio Zindagi, The Indian Eye, Indian Eye Television, TV Asia, PTC Punjabi Television, ITV GOLD, and Parikh Media Worldwide.“After COVID-19, the world has realized that it is very, very important to have a good health, physically and emotionally, and Happy Life Yoga platform can show how. A way of living inspired by the wisdom of Ayurveda, Yoga and Indian Philosophy, Happy Life Yoga can be very, very useful for everyone,” says Malik. “The whole team of this event prays for the well being of the world and is happy to celebrate International Day of Yoga 2021,” Malik adds solemnly.

    For details of the event, please see the flyer on Page 25.

    (Murtaza Ali Khan is an Indian Film & TV Critic / Journalist who has been covering the world of entertainment for over 10 years. He can be reached at: murtaza@apotpourriofvestiges.com. His video essays / commentaries can be watched on his YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/MurtazaAliKhan88).

  • MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS RAQUEL BATISTA AS COMMISSIONER OF THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS

    MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS RAQUEL BATISTA AS COMMISSIONER OF THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS

    NEW YORK (TIP): Mayor Bill de Blasio, on June 15, appointed Raquel Batista as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA). Batista, who is succeeding Bitta Mostofi as Commissioner, is an attorney with over two decades of experience advocating on behalf of immigrant New Yorkers. As Commissioner, she will continue to center immigrants in New York City’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

    “New York is, and will always be, a city of immigrants,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Raquel has the lived experience and passion necessary to make this city a fairer and more equitable place for immigrant New Yorkers to call home. Our recovery depends on it.”

     

    “I am humbled and honored to have been named the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.  My grandmother and parents came to New York City in the 1960’s from the Dominican Republic seeking a better life for their family. My appointment is a testament to them and all immigrant communities that their hard-work, their struggle pays off.  MOIA is an innovative and cutting-edge government institution that provides a blueprint for the rest of the country on how to assure that immigrants have access to government services, are provided resources and support and signals that they are welcome. I am excited to work with the Mayor, MOIA’s dynamic team and immigrant community leaders in New York City’s recovery,” said Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Raquel Batista.

     

    About Raquel Batista

     

    Read the full story at www.theindianpanorama.news

     

     

     

     

    Raquel Batista is second generation Afro-Dominicana, Latina, lifelong New Yorker and attorney with over two decades of experience advocating for the rights of immigrant New Yorkers. Most recently, she served as the Community Legal Fellow at CUNY Law School – CLRN. Batista previously served as an Adjunct Professor at Manhattan College teaching Immigration Law, Policy and Politics and at the Latin American and Puerto Rican Studies Department at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.  In the early 2000’s, Batista served as the Executive Director of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights and as a board member of the New York Immigration Coalition, North Star Community Funding Board and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Alumni Board. Before and during law school, Batista worked in various roles at the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (now LatinoJustice/PRLDEF) on issues from the Census to Redistricting. In 2014, she served in the Mayor’s Office of Appointments, helping to identify diverse candidates for City positions.

     

     

     

    Batista earned her Juris Doctorate from the City University of New York School of Law at Queens College and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, cum laude, from Manhattan College.

     

     

     

    “As the former executive director of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights and with her ongoing engagement addressing social justice issues for New York City residents, Raquel Batista understands that for many immigrant families, becoming a United States citizen is the realization of hard work, dedication, hope and dreams for a better life for themselves and for their families,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat. “Raquel’s voice will be instrumental in ensuring immigrant rights and protections as she transitions to her latest role as Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and I look forward to working with her to ensure immigration remains at the forefront of our city, local and national discussions.”

     

     

     

    “My congratulations to Raquel Batista on her appointment as the new Commissioner at the Mayor’s Office of Immigrants Affairs. Raquel comes with decades of experience as an attorney working on behalf of those who need it most in NYC, especially underserved immigrant communities in the South Bronx and upper Manhattan,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. “I have every confidence in her commitment to service and advocate for the more than 1 million immigrant New Yorkers who call this city home.

     

     

     

    “New York’s immigrants have helped our city thrive and make it the vibrant, diverse city that we love,” said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney. “I send my sincerest congratulations to Commissioner Raquel Batista on her appointment as the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and look forward to working with her to ensure that our immigrant population is included in our city’s just and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.”

     

     

     

    “Raquel Batista is a tremendous choice to further build on outgoing Commissioner Bitta Mostofi’s laudable accomplishments and lead the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs into the future,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “As a graduate of the CUNY School of Law at Queens College and a fearless advocate for immigrants’ rights, Raquel knows the importance of supporting and uplifting the diverse communities that make up The World’s Borough. We look forward to working closely with her in the weeks and months ahead.”

     

     

     

    “The New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO applauds the appointment of Raquel Batista as Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs at a critical time for our immigrant populations and all New Yorkers,” said NYC CLC President Vincent Alvarez. “A steadfast advocate for working families, we can count on Raquel to continue to fight for the rights of those most vulnerable in our city. We look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs to ensure our government is responsive to the needs of our diverse city.”

     

     

     

    “We are thrilled by the appointment of Raquel Batista to be our city’s next Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs,” said SEIU 32BJ President Kyle Bragg. “We look forward to working closely and productively with Raquel as we have in the past, as a strong partner on issues to secure and expand rights for our immigrant members, their families and communities.”

     

     

     

    “The appointment of Attorney Raquel Batista is fully welcome by the immigrant working class community of NYC. Raquel, a daughter of Dominican immigrants, brings with her the sensitivity and understanding of our communities’ needs. Especially after the last year and a half when our immigrant communities were at the forefront of the essential workforce that provided services from supermarket shopping lines and health care at hospitals, nursing homes, and home care services to restaurants, food delivery and public transportation. Bienvenida Raquel! You do us proud. Looking forward to working with you in this period of recovery as our city comes back to normal,” said Estela Vazquez, Former Executive Vice President, 1199 SEIU.

     

     

     

    “I applaud Mayor Bill de Blasio’s appointment of Raquel Batista, as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.  Raquel is a champion of immigrant rights and a respected community leader in NYC. Heartfelt congratulations,” said Guillermo Chacon, New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) Board Chair.

     

     

     

    “Raquel Batista has been a long-standing leader for immigrant rights in New York City,” said Theo Oshiro, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York. “We congratulate her on this appointment and are excited to continue to partner with her in this new role to ensure respect and dignity for immigrant communities across the city.”

     

     

     

    “We are excited to welcome Raquel Batista as the New Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Ms. Batista knows firsthand the ever-changing challenges of the immigrant community in New York City. She brings years of successful experience in serving our immigrant community on legal and social justice issues that have impacted their day-to-day lives. We look forward to working with her in this new role,” said Frankie Miranda, President, Hispanic Federation.

     

     

     

    “Raquel Batista has an outstanding track record in organizing with and fighting for immigrant New Yorkers! I applaud Mayor de Blasio for choosing her to lead this important agency in this time, when immigrants need our City to have their backs,” said Annetta Seecharran, Executive Director, Chhaya Community Development Corporation.

     

     

     

    “We are excited that Raquel Batista has been appointed Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Her expertise and commitment to New York City’s diverse immigrant communities will enhance MOIA’s important work. We look forward to working together to support the economic, health, and rights of the Asian American community,” said Wayne Ho, President and CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC).

     

     

     

    “As a Dominican-American, I am very proud of the appointment of Ms. Raquel Batista as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrants Affairs; New York City has been described as a gorgeous mosaic, Ms. Batista is an example of the many ways that sons and daughters of Immigrants contribute in improving the quality of life of this gorgeous mosaic,” said Dr. Rafael Lantigua, co-founder and former Chairperson of the Board of Alianza Dominicana, Inc. and Co-founder and former Chairperson of the Board of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrants Rights.

     

     

     

    “Raquel E. Batista, Esq., has dedicated her professional career and life to supporting immigrant communities and her appointment as the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs is cause for celebration.  NMIC looks forward to working with her and her team to ensure that our immigrant communities thrive,” said Maria Lizardo, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation Executive Director.

     

     

     

    “Ms. Raquel Batista’s experience as a lawyer and former director of Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights will add to the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs’ advocacy and knowledge on immigration issues that impact all New Yorkers,” said Zenaida Mendez, the Director of the Manhattan Neighborhood Network El Barrio Firehouse.

     

     

     

    “I am excited about the appointment of Raquel Batista as our new Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs and congratulate Mayor de Blasio for selecting the best candidate for this role.  As the daughter of Dominican immigrant parents, an immigration Lawyer and the executive director of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Raquel knows the challenges, discrimination, and injustices that are often faced by immigrants.  Raquel brings to this position her professional experience, her passion, and years of advocacy on behalf of the immigrant community.  I could not think of a better person for the job, and look forward to working with her to improve the lives of immigrants in NYC,” said Quenia Abreu, President, New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

     

     

     

    “Raquel Batista is a champion for our immigrant brothers and sisters, and is an inspired choice to lead the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. She is a fierce advocate who has dedicated her career to fighting for families that have chosen to make our great city their home. As a daughter of New York City, I am confident she will be a strong voice for compassionate policies that protect and empower immigrant communities,” said Marco Carrion, Executive Director of El Puente.

     

     

     

    “Raquel Batista’s professional work is deeply rooted in her immigrant identity and experience. Commissioner Batista understands the struggles and challenges that immigrant families face. I am grateful for her commitment to protecting the dignity and humanity of the immigrant community. Onward!” Wanda Salaman, Mother’s on the Move and Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center.

     

     

     

    “Raquel Batista, a proud daughter of immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic, comes to the Office of Immigrant Affairs with an impressive track record of personal and professional achievements and a steadfast and unwavering commitment to social justice for immigrant New Yorkers.  As a non-profit leader in northern Manhattan, I strongly supported her stewardship of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights at a critical moment for immigrants.  NYC will be well served by her grounded experience and deep knowledge of the needs and concerns of immigrants in our city,” said Moises Pérez, founder of Alianza Dominicana Inc.

     

     

     

    “We applaud the appointment of Raquel Batista as the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs,” said Jose Perez, Deputy General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “Commissioner Batista is a long-time ally, colleague and community champion, and knows first-hand the myriad of health, housing and economic challenges New York City’s immigrant communities continue to encounter as a result of the pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted them. We look forward to expanded collaborations to protect these most vulnerable members of our great metropolis.”

     

     

     

    “Our immigrant communities contribute greatly to the diversity and vibrancy of New York City,” said Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Roberto Perez. “Congratulations to Commissioner Raquel Batista on her appointment to lead the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. I look forward to working together to support our immigrant communities as we build a recovery that works for all New Yorkers.”

     

     

     

     

  • What do you want your local elected officials to pay attention to? Let us know, and we’ll ask them.

    What do you want your local elected officials to pay attention to? Let us know, and we’ll ask them.

    The Indian Panorama has joined an initiative in collaboration with CCM and THE CITY to engage our readers/supporters in conversations around issues important to you this election season in NYC.

    New York voters have a lot of decisions to make this year. A bunch of local offices are up for grabs in 2021, due to term limits. And elections are coming up fast: The primaries are set for June 22.

    We want to make sure the candidates are held accountable to voters. So, we’re asking for your questions.

    By taking the time to participate, you ensure that your voice truly is heard by candidates who stand to influence real change in the city.

    What do you want the candidates to pay attention to and take action about in your neighborhood? What questions do you have for them? What do you want them to know?

    We’re collecting questions from across New York to take directly to the candidates, get answers and send them back to you. Also, if you have other questions about voting and the elections, please let us know that, too.

    Q. What do you want the candidates to pay attention to and take action about in your neighborhood? If you have a question for a specific candidate, please let us know who that candidate is in the space below, too. You can be as detailed or as brief as you want to be.

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    This project is part of a collaboration among many news organizations throughout the city. Please let us know what publication you are reading this questionnaire in. For example: “THE CITY”

     

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    Below we ask for some contact information. This information is never shared publicly. We ask so we can send your answer back to you and also in case a reporter needs to get in touch. Leaving this information is optional, but if you don’t share your email, we won’t be able to send you your answer.

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    We ask for your zip code because it helps us better understand who we are reaching across New York City.

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  • SpaceX’s Starlink wants to provide your in-flight WiFi

    SpaceX’s Starlink wants to provide your in-flight WiFi

    There’s no faster way to win the hearts and minds of the people than by bringing them fast, reliable internet on an airplane. Elon Musk knows this, and that’s maybe why his space company, SpaceX, is reportedly in talks with “several” airlines in a bid to provide their crafts with WiFi via the company’s growing internet satellite network, Starlink.

    On Wednesday, June 9, Jonathan Hofeller — SpaceX’s VP of Starlink and commercial sales — told a panel at the Connected Aviation Intelligence Summit that the company is forging ahead with its plans to shift its satellite-linked broadband network from servicing predominantly rural homes to more commercial interests by the end of 2021.

    “We’re in talks with several of the airlines,” Hofeller told the panel. “We have our own aviation product in development … we’ve already done some demonstrations to date, and looking to get that product finalized to be put on aircraft in the very near future.”

    SpaceX began a beta rollout of its Starlink satellites in 2018 in order to cover a global dearth of broadband internet connections, particularly in rural areas where fiber connections generally aren’t readily available. Under the beta plan, most Starlink customers pay a one-time fee of $499 for a bundle that includes a self-aligning Starlink dish and Wi-Fi router, and then $99 per month for monthly internet services after that.

  • Djokovic fights off Berrettini to set up Nadal semi-final

    Djokovic fights off Berrettini to set up Nadal semi-final

    Paris (TIP): A fired-up Novak Djokovic repelled a stirring fightback by Italian Matteo Berrettini to claim a 6-3 6-2 6-7(5) 7-5 victory on Wednesday to set up a mouth-watering semi-final showdown with defending champion Rafael Nadal.

    The 34-year-old bellowed a series of frightening roars after completing a victory that at one stage looked like a formality but became increasingly fraught as Berrettini threw the kitchen sink at the Serb who becomes only the second man to reach 40 Grand Slam semi-finals after Roger Federer.

    It was a spectacular conclusion to a match that was watched by 5,000 fans until midway through the fourth set when Paris’s Covid-19 curfew meant the crowd were obliged to leave. Djokovic led 3-2 at the time and when battle resumed he suffered a nasty fall, grazing his hand, but sensed his chance when Berrettini served at 5-6.

    The Italian ninth seed, saved a couple of match points, the second with a sizzling forehand winner, after which Djokovic screamed angrily at his entourage and kicked an advertising board in disgust. He got the job done at the third time of asking when Berrettini netted at the end of another high-octane baseline exchange. Djokovic, eyes bulging, then roared again towards his box, the sound echoing around an empty Court Philippe Chatrier.

    It was a manic ending and showed exactly how much Djokovic wants a second French Open title, having claimed his first in 2016 to complete his career Slam. Since then, Nadal has been unbeatable on the Parisian dirt, extending his record total to 13 titles and counting, the last coming last October when he thrashed Djokovic in the final.

    Djokovic said booking another clash with Nadal had not been behind his extraordinary reaction at the end. “This match had it all: falls, crowd, break,” he told reporters. “It was a lot of intensity. I just felt under tension the entire time and missed some chances to end it in three. “It was just super, super stressful to constantly be under pressure… the reaction in the end was just me liberating that tension that was building up for the entire match.”

    Top seed Djokovic was given a mighty scare against Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti on Monday, losing the first two sets, before steamrolling to victory. It was much more straightforward, initially, against Berrettini as he broke for a 3-1 lead in the first set.

  • Asian Games gold-winning boxer Dingko Singh dies after long battle with cancer

    Asian Games gold-winning boxer Dingko Singh dies after long battle with cancer

    Asian Games gold medal-winning former boxer Dingko Singh died on Thursday, June 10,  after a long battle with liver cancer. He was 42 and had been fighting the disease since 2017.

    “I’m deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Dingko Singh. One of the finest boxers India has ever produced, Dinko’s gold medal at 1998 Bangkok Asian Games sparked the Boxing chain reaction in India. I extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved family. RIP Dinko,” Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted.

    The Manipur-based former boxer endured a long battle with cancer and even fought Covid-19 last year. “My sincerest condolences on this loss May his life’s journey & struggle forever remain a source inspiration for the upcoming generations. I pray that the bereaved family finds the strength to overcome this period of grief & mourning #dinkosingh,” tweeted India’s first Olympic-medallist in boxing Vijender Singh.

    Dingko won the Asian Games gold in 1998 and was bestowed the Arjuna award the same year. In 2013, he was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to the sport. Dingko, who was employed with Navy, had taken to coaching after hanging up his gloves.

  • Ngidi, Nortje skittle West Indies for 97

    Fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi took 5/19 and Anrich Nortje 4/35 as South Africa bowled out the West Indies for 97 Thursday on the opening day of the first cricket Test. Ngidi claimed his second five-wicket bag in Tests and his first since his debut against India in 2018 as South Africa ended the West Indies’ first innings in just 40.5 overs after the home side had chosen to bat on winning the toss.

    At stumps South Africa was 128-4, a lead of 31 runs, and was able to celebrate a strong start to its first tour of the Caribbean in 11 years. Ngidi describes his bowling as a “work in progress.” It looked considerably more than that on Thursday as he tore through the South Africa middle and lower order after Nortje had knocked the top of the West Indies innings.

    Former captain Jason Holder top-scored with 20 for West Indies, which was 24-0 before wickets started to fall rapidly. At one point the West Indies lost 5-11 in the space of seven overs and Nigidi, who went wicketless in his first spell, took 5-7 when he switched ends.

    “It’s not very often you bowl a team out for 97,” Ngidi said. “There was a bit in the wicket so we exploited that as much as we could and we’ve got a bit of a lead. We really wanted to execute, we wanted to be ruthless in terms of our lines and lengths.”

  • Deferred due to Covid, Euro 2020 begins with Italy-Turkey clash

    Somehow it seems appropriate that Italy, the first country in Europe that was overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic, is hosting the opening game of the European Championship. Even if Euro 2020 is kicking off in 2021.

    The biggest crowd to gather in Italy for a year and a half will witness an Azzurri squad aiming for the title play a Turkey team aiming to spring a surprise at Stadio Olimpico. “We’ve been waiting a year for this European Championship and we can’t wait to experience hearing 15,000 people singing the national anthem,” veteran Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci said. “Soccer with fans inside the stadium is a different sport.”

    After embarrassingly failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Italy won all 10 of their qualifying matches for Euro 2020 and enter on a 27-match unbeaten run.

    “We want to go all the way,” Bonucci said. “Other national teams have more experience but we can play with anyone. We don’t have a (Romelu) Lukaku or a Cristiano Ronaldo. Our strength is the team.”

  • After El Salvador, India may move to classify Bitcoin as an asset class

    After El Salvador, India may move to classify Bitcoin as an asset class

    BENGALURU (TIP):  After El Salvador’s historic move to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender (rendering it full currency status), things are looking brighter back home in India for crypto-enthusiasts.

    Top sources tracking the industry told this publication that the government has moved away from its earlier hostile stance towards virtual currencies and will most likely classify Bitcoin as an asset class in India soon.

    Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will  oversee regulations for the cyptocurrency sector after Bitcoin’s classification as an asset class, sources added.

     India’s  crypto industry is also in talks with the finance ministry  regarding the formulation of a new set of regulations and industry sources point out that an expert panel at the ministry is studying the matter.  A Cryptocurrency Regulation bill is likely to be tabled in the Parliament during the Monsoon session, the added.

    The development comes days after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in a circular, directed banks to stop avoiding transactions involving virtual tokens citing its earlier 2018 circular, since it had been quashed by the Supreme Court.

    RBI Governor Shakthikanta Das, however, reiterated that there were still major concerns that have been communicated to the government on digital currencies. “We can definitely say that the new committee which is working on cryptocurrencies is very optimistic on cryptocurrency regulation and legislation… A new draft proposal will soon be in the Cabinet, which will look into the overall scenario and take the best step forward. We are very hopeful that the government will embrace cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies,” Ketan Surana, Director and chief financial officer, Coinsbit, and Member, Internet and Mobile Association of India said. A white paper by Indiatech.org suggests that India’s adoption of Bitcoin as an alternative asset class is more realistic. Due to the volatile nature of digital currencies (prices fluctuate widely on a daily basis), it pointed, they cannot be regularly used as a payment instrument. The paper also recommended taxing investments in cryptocurrencies, making them subject to the capital gains tax under the Income Tax Act.

    Hitesh Malviya, blockchain and crypto investment expert, said, “In my opinion, the Indian government will explore a way to regularise Bitcoin. I don’t think India will consider accepting Bitcoin as a legal tender in the near future because it will affect the position of the Indian rupee. Accepting bitcoin as a legal tender is a good idea for those nations who don’t have their own currency or are dependent on the US dollar”.

                    Source: Express News Service

  • ‘Pandemic curbs hit labour market; jobless rate at 13%’

    ‘Pandemic curbs hit labour market; jobless rate at 13%’

    New Delhi (TIP): The labour market is in its worst condition since the nationwide lockdown months of April and May 2020, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy said in a report. As per CMIE data, the unemployment rate that reached 11.9 per cent in May, continued to rise into early June.

    The 30-day moving average unemployment rate, as of June 6, was 13 per cent.

    Separately, in the Consumer Pyramids Households Survey released by CMIE for January-April 2021, it noted that office workers have been relatively safer than non-office workers during the pandemic, while the agricultural sector is overheated.

    The non-office workers’ employment rose to 36 million during January-April after falling to 32 million (September-December 2020) and 31 million (May-August 2020) from 41 million (January-April 2020). Agricultural sector’s employment stood at 153 million each in January-April and September-December 2020, and at 157 million in May-August 2020, much higher than 144 million level seen a year ago in January-April 2020.

    Consumption demand, picked up in September-December 2020, but then dropped again in January-April 2021, with demand for heavy appliances the worst hit.

    Last four weeks have seen a particularly sharp deterioration in labour market conditions. “The downturn began in the week ended May 16. During this week, the labour participation rate was at 40.5 per cent, which was higher by a whisker than the average 40.4 per cent rate around which this ratio has been hovering for several months since the 2020 lockdown,” CMIE’s CEO Mahesh Vyas said in the report.

  • Signs your job is ruining your relationship

    Signs your job is ruining your relationship

    You put work priorities ahead of your relationship

    If you find yourself opting out of activities you would normally engage in with your spouse — such as going to a movie, visiting friends or just enjoying time together — you could be placing undue pressure on the relationship.

    Your spouse has become your career therapist

    If you find yourself constantly seeking advice from your spouse on your next ‘move’ at work, you could be hurting your marriage.

    You have nothing to talk to them about except work

    If you literally have nothing to talk about with your spouse other than work, then this is a bad sign. If you have trouble compartmentalising work and personal life, you likely will go into discussions about people and projects without even realising.

    You arrive late to important ­personal events

    This can create a slow build-up of resentment from your spouse and create the impression you are choosing your work intentionally over your personal commitments.

    Your partner clams up when you ask them about their day

    If your spouse feels that they’re taking the brunt of your office worries, then they may withdraw and seem unusually quiet, not wanting to add to the drama.  “Or, they may feel that sharing their own struggles is futile, because the topic will ultimately bounce back to your office dilemmas.

    You argue more with your spouse

    If you are carrying home stress with you from the office, then you may become more irritable and end up taking it out on your partner in totally unrelated areas.

  • WHO says 47 African countries could miss vax target

    WHO says 47 African countries could miss vax target

    Nairobi (TIP): Nine out of ten African countries could miss the target of vaccinating 10 per cent of their population against Covid-19 by September, dimming hopes of containing the pandemic in the continent, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Thursday, June 10.

    Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said that nearly 90 per cent or 47 out of 54 African countries are off-track in terms of inoculating 10 per cent of their population against the virus in the next three months even as they grapple with surging infections, Xinhua reported.

    “As we close in on five million cases and the third wave in Africa looms, many of our most vulnerable people remain dangerously exposed to COVID-19,” Moeti said in a statement.

    Statistics from African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) indicate the continent had acquired 54.9 million vaccine doses and administered 35.9 million as of June 7.

    According to Africa CDC, the top five African countries that have led in COVID-19 vaccination include Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa.

    Moeti said that Africa required 225 million doses to achieve the 10 percent vaccination target, adding that the continent is banking on donations and replenishing the COVAX facility to ramp up inoculation targeting high-risk groups.

    According to WHO, 20 countries in Africa have used less than 50 percent of vaccine doses they received under the COVAX facility while 12 have more than 10 percent of AstraZeneca doses at risk of expiry by the end of August.

    “We need to ensure that the vaccines that we have are not wasted because every dose is precious,” said Moeti, adding that some African countries have registered success in vaccine roll-out amid sound planning.      Source: IANS

  • FDA extends the shelf life of single-shot J&J vaccine

    FDA extends the shelf life of single-shot J&J vaccine

    Johnson & Johnson said on Thursday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended the shelf life of its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine from three months to four-and-a-half months, as millions of unused doses nationwide near expiration.

    Safety concerns about J&J’s shot and flagging demand for vaccinations have left close to half of the 21 million doses the company has produced for the United States sitting unused.

    The health regulator’s decision was based on data from ongoing studies, which demonstrated that the vaccine is stable at 4.5 months when refrigerated at temperatures of 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 8 degrees Celsius), the drugmaker said.

    Reuters reported on Monday that at least 13 lots of J&J shots have expiration dates of June 27 or earlier. It is not clear how many doses that reflects. J&J has another 100 million doses on hand but shipment timing is uncertain.

    A top White House official on Tuesday urged state governors to work with the FDA to extend the shelf life of J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine. J&J said vaccine providers should visit its website to check expiration dates of vaccines currently available in the country.

    Source: Reuters

  • Global Covid-19 caseload tops 174.7 mn

    Washington (TIP): The overall global Covid-19 caseload has topped 174.7 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.76 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

    In its latest update on Friday, June 11,  morning, the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 174,759,974 and 3,769,088, respectively.

    The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world’s highest number of cases and deaths at 33,427,481 and 598,728, respectively, according to the CSSE.

    In terms of infections, India follows in the second place with 29,183,121 cases.

    The other worst countries with over 3 million cases are Brazil (17,210,969), France (5,791,608), Turkey (5,313,098), Russia (5,108,217), the UK (4,558,926), Italy (4,239,868), Argentina (4,066,156), Spain (3,729,458), Germany (3,718,617) and Colombia (3,665,137), the CSSE figures showed.

    In terms of deaths, Brazil comes second with 482,019 fatalities.

    Nations with a death toll of over 100,000 are India (359,676), Mexico (229,580), the UK (128,131), Italy (126,855), Russia (123,178) and France (110,432).

  • Tata Digital to acquire majority stake in 1MG

    Tata Digital to acquire majority stake in 1MG

    Tata Digital Ltd, a wholly-owned arm of Tata Sons, on Thursday said it will acquire a majority stake in 1MG Technologies Ltd, an online healthcare marketplace. The company, however, did not disclose the financial details of the transaction. Just days after the company said it will invest USD 75 million (around Rs 550 crore) in fitness-focused Curefit Healthcare for an undisclosed stake, Tata Digital said its investment in 1MG is in line with Tata Group’s vision of creating a digital ecosystem which addresses the consumer needs across categories in a unified manner. Tata Digital said e-pharmacy, e-diagnostics and tele-consultation are critical segments in this ecosystem and have been among the fastest growing segments in this space, as this sector enabled access to healthcare through the pandemic.

  • World Bank slashes growth forecast to 8.3%

    World Bank slashes growth forecast to 8.3%

    New Delhi (TIP): The World Bank has  slashed its FY22 growth forecast for India to 8.3% from the 10.1% pace it estimated in April, as an economic rebound in the early part of this year collapsed amid a devastating resurgence of coronavirus infections in Asia’s third-largest economy.

    “In India, the second Covid-19 wave is undermining the sharper-than-expected rebound in activity seen during the second half of FY2020/21, especially in services. With surging cases, foot traffic around work and retail spaces has again slowed to more than one-third below pre-pandemic levels since March, in part due to greater restrictions on mobility,” World Bank said in its latest Global Economic Prospects report.

    Economic activity in FY22 will benefit from policy support, including higher spending on infrastructure, rural development, and health, and a stronger-than-expected recovery in services and manufacturing, the World Bank said. “Activity is expected to follow the same, yet less pronounced. The pandemic will undermine consumption and investment as confidence remains depressed and balance sheets damaged. Growth in FY2022/23 is expected to slow to 7.5% reflecting lingering impacts on households, corporate and bank balance sheets; possibly low levels of consumer confidence; and heightened uncertainty on job and income prospects,” it added.