The Indian Panorama

Month: December 2021

  • Rape remark: Congress calls it ‘unacceptable’; BJP, NCW slam Karnataka MLA

    Rape remark: Congress calls it ‘unacceptable’; BJP, NCW slam Karnataka MLA

    New Delhi (TIP): The Congress on Friday, Dec 17,  ‘disapproved’ of the “exchange of highly objectionable and insensitive banter” between senior  leader K R Ramesh Kumar and Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri. During the ongoing session on Thursday, Kumar had told Kageri, “There’s a saying… when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it. That’s exactly the position into which you are.” Kageri laughed in response.

    Taking to Twitter, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala stated, “Speaker as custodian and senior legislators are expected to be role models & should desist from such unacceptable behaviour.” He added, “Congress Party disapproves the exchange of highly objectionable and insensitive banter between Karnataka Assembly Speaker and Sr. Congress MLA in the House.”

    Sharing a clip of the exchange, National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma said, “It is extremely sad and unfortunate that we still have public representatives who are misogynists and have horrible mindset towards women.”

    “It’s really disgusting. If they sit in assemblies and speak like this how they must be behaving with women in their lives? (sic)” she added.

    Union Minister Smriti Irani on Friday raked up the issue in Lok Sabha. Without taking the party’s name she said, “If you truly believe in the cause of women, first stand here and denounce that legislator who said that if you are raped, as a woman in the country you should enjoy it. Those men who stand in this Well today, go back to your political organisation and first bring to justice such a man, then we will see who speaks for women and children in this country.”

    BJP National General Secretary CT Ravi on Twitter asked, “Do Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi agree with this shameless comment? Will they demand his resignation?”

    Meanwhile, Congress party’s Khanapur MLA Anjali Nimbalkar denounced the remarks made by her party’s MLA. She tweeted, “The House shall apologise to entire womanhood, every mother, sister and daughter of this nation for such an obnoxious and shameless behaviour.” Another Congress MLA Sowmya Reddy said, “This is just NOT ok. There needs to be an apology. (sic)”

  • Daily rise in new Covid infections recorded below 15,000 for 51 days

    Daily rise in new Covid infections recorded below 15,000 for 51 days

    New Delhi (TIP): India logged 7,145 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of Covid cases to 3,47,33,194, while the active cases declined to 84,565, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Saturday, Dec 18.

    The death toll climbed to 4,77,158 with 289 more fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.

    The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been recorded below 15,000 for the last 51 days now.

    The active cases comprise 0.24 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national Covid recovery rate was recorded at 98.38 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the health ministry said.

    A decline of 1,850 cases has been recorded in the active Covid caseload in a span of 24 hours.

    The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.57 per cent. It has been less than 2 per cent for last 75 days. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 0.62 per cent. It has been below 1 per cent for the last 34 days, according to the health ministry.

    The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 3,41,71,471, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.37 per cent.

    The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide Covid vaccination drive has exceeded 136.66 crore.

    The 289 new fatalities include 243 from Kerala and 12 from Maharashtra.

    Kerala has been reconciling its Covid fatalities for the last few days. Therefore, the death toll of the state is high.

    A total of 4,77,158 deaths have been reported so far in the country, including 1,41,329 from Maharashtra, 44,189 from Kerala, 38,282 from Karnataka, 36,667 from Tamil Nadu, 25,100 from Delhi, 22,915 from Uttar Pradesh and 19,652 from West Bengal.

    Govt: Vaccinating all to get priority over booster dose

    The Indian government said on Friday, Dec 17,  that vaccinating the adult population with both doses of the Covid vaccine will be its first priority — ahead of booster doses.

    India has thus far (till Friday night), completely vaccinated 57.6% of its adult population of 940 million and partly vaccinated an additional 30.1%. These are levels at which vaccine hesitancy kick in, and given that, as well as growing scientific evidence that booster doses of vaccines may be required to prevent infections by the highly transmissible micron strain of the SARS-CoV2 virus.

  • India-made Covovax ninth Covid vax to get WHO nod

    India-made Covovax on Friday , Dec 17, became the ninth Covid vaccine to receive the WHO’s emergency use listing approval with manufacturer Serum Institute of India hailing the moment as “another milestone”.

    The global body in a statement this evening said, “Today, the World Health Organisation issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for NVX-CoV2373, expanding the basket of WHO-validated vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The vaccine, named Covovax, is produced by the Serum Institute of India under licence from Novavax and is part of the Covax facility portfolio, giving a much-needed boost to ongoing efforts to vaccinate more people in lower-income countries.”

    Bharat Biotech-made Covaxin and SII’s Covishield have already received EUL approvals from the WHO. The WHO’s EUL procedure assesses the quality, safety and efficacy of Covid vaccines and is a prerequisite for Covax vaccine supply. It allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer Covid vaccines.

  • Omicron scare: Govt cautions against non-essential travel, meetings

    As India’s Omicron Covid variant tally crossed 101 cases on Friday, Dec 17,  the government urged people to avoid non-essential travel and mass gatherings citing rapid rate of transmission of the new variant across the world and the WHO’s recent warning that Omicron would outpace Delta at current rates. Indian Council of Medical Research DG Balram Bhargava said that with Omicron spreading fast across various parts of the world, “it was time to avoid non-essential travel, mass gatherings and time to observe low intensity festivities in the New Year.” He also said that 24 districts of concern (19 with weekly Covid positivity rate between 5 and 10 per cent and five with positivity above 10 per cent) needed to ensure restrictive measures until the rate fell below 5 per cent and remained at that level for two weeks. Of the 101 Omicron cases, Maharashtra has 32, Delhi 22, Rajasthan 17, Karnataka, Telangana eight each; and Gujarat and Kerala five each.

  • India in history this Week-December 18 to December 24, 2021

    India in history this Week-December 18 to December 24, 2021

    17 DECEMBER

    1645       Nur Jahan Begum, wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, died.

    1928       In order to avenge the murder of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev shot and killed assistant superintendent of police John Saunders.

    2002       Turkey supported India on Kashmir issue.

    1715       Banda Bahadur Bairagi, the chief of the Sikhs, surrendered to the Mughals at Gurdaspur.

    1933       India’s legendary cricketer Lala Amarnath played an excellent innings of 118 runs in his debut Test match.

    1940       Mahatma Gandhi postponed the individual Satyagraha movement.

    1971       The third war between India and Pakistan ended after Bangladesh came into existence as a result of the partition of Pakistan.

    1996       National Football League was launched.

    18 DECEMBER

    1897       Bhojpuri artist, musician and social worker Bhikhari Thakur was born.

    1271       The Mongol emperor Kublai Khan named his empire as Yuan. With this began the Yuan dynasty.

    1960       The National Museum was inaugurated in the capital Delhi.

    1398       Timur captured Delhi by defeating Sultan Nusrat Shah.

    1989       Sachin played his first ODI against Pakistan.

    1995       Unidentified aircraft dropped weapons in Purulia, West Bengal.

    1997       The Washington Treaty concluded for cooperation in space research between India and the United States.

    2008       The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully tested.

    2017       India won 29 gold out of 30 at Commonwealth Wrestling Championships.

    2017       The heaviest rocket GSLV Mark-3 was successfully launched.

    19 DECEMBER

    1927       The great freedom fighters Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaq Ulla Khan and Roshan Singh were hanged by the British.

    1961       Goa got independence from Portugal’s slavery. Indian troops entered the border of Goa under Operation Vijay.

    1945       The institute in Mumbai was relocated to the Kenilworth bungalow on Pedder Marg. It was inaugurated by the then Governor of Mumbai, Sir John Colville.

    1998       Amartya Sen was awarded honorary citizenship by Bangladesh, Sheel Kumar (India) as the best player in world disabled skiing held in Denver (USA).

    1860       Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General of India from 1848 to 1856, died in Britain.

    1937       India’s 12th President Pratibha Patil was born in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.

    20 DECEMBER

    1875       The ICRM renamed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

    1876       The great poet Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed the national song ‘Vande Mataram’.

    1955       Indian Golf Association was formed.

    1985       In the Tirupati Balaji temple, Lord Venkateswara was offered a diamond studded crown valued at Rs 5.2 crore.

    1990       India and Pakistan agreed not to attack each other nuclear.

    1988       The United Nations Convention against Non-Government Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which controls international crime against the trade of illegal drugs, was signed in Vienna.

    1993       A cooperation agreement was signed between India and the European Union in Brussels.

    21 DECEMBER

    2011       The country’s famous nuclear physicist PK Iyengar died.

    1911       The first indigenous bank, Central Bank of India, was founded by Sorabji Pochkhanwala.

    2008       Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan were included in the list of 50 powerful people of the world by US magazine News Bik.

    2009       The first meeting of the Finance Committee and Executive Board (BoG) of Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi was held.

    1974       INS Satavahana, the country’s first vessel to offer submarine training, was inducted into the ship fleet at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

    2012       “Gangnam Style” became the first video to be viewed one billion times on YouTube.

    22 DECEMBER

    1851       The first freight train in our country ran from Roorkee to Piran.

    1953       Sharada Devi, the wife of Guru Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and spiritual companion was born.

    1887       Mathematician Srinivasan Ramanujam was born.

    1940       Manvendra Nath Rai announced the establishment of the Radical Democratic Party.

    2011       The well-known nuclear physicist P.K. Iyengar died.

    1843       Rabindranath Tagore’s father Devendranath Tagore joined the Brahmo Samaj.

    1966       Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi was established by the Indian Parliament under the ‘JNU Act’.

    2006       India and Pakistan set up a joint task force for mutual cooperation in the field of local bodies.

    23 DECEMBER

    1902       The birth of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of the country popular as the leader of the farmers. This day is celebrated as ‘Farmer’s Day’ in the country.

    1921       Visva-Bharati University was inaugurated.

    1926       Murder of Swami Shraddhanand, a proven freedom fighter, social reformer, pro-Dalit benefactor, supporter of women’s education and Arya Samaj campaigner.

    1968       Successful launch of country’s first rocket ‘Maneka’.

    1995       360 people died due to fire in a school program in Mandi Dabwali area of ??Haryana.

    2000       Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal, was officially renamed Kolkata.

    2008       The software company Satyam was banned by the World Bank.

    2004       9th Prime Minister of India Narasimha Rao died.

    24 DECEMBER

    1894       First medical conference organized in Calcutta.

    1889       The first amusement park in India was opened in Essel World Mumbai.

    2000       Vishwanathan Anand became world chess champion.

    2002       The Delhi Metro was launched by Shahadra Tis Hazari Line.

    2008       55% votes were cast in the last phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.

    2014       It was announced that Bharat Ratna was awarded to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya.

    1973       EV Ramaswamy Naikar died in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

  • Daminis Owner Amita Singh celebrates her 63rd birthday

    Daminis Owner Amita Singh celebrates her 63rd birthday

    SOMERSET, NJ (TIP): Amita Singh, a well-known socialite and owner of Daminis, a premier Indian Clothing boutique located in Edison, NJ celebrated her 63rd birthday on December 12 at Marigold, Somerset, NJ. Ms Singh’s friends enthusiastically celebrated her birthday with much singing and dancing. Guests were treated to choicest drinks and a royal cuisine from the famous Bukhara Grill. Surely, it was an evening to remember for a long time.

  • ShopRite Desis: It’s More Than One-Stop Destination for Indian and American Groceries

    ShopRite Desis: It’s More Than One-Stop Destination for Indian and American Groceries

    In an effort to court shoppers from the ever-growing Indian and South Asian community, ShopRite is committed to stocking its shelves with the staples used in Indian cooking.

    ShopRite, a retailers’ cooperative of supermarkets, is a one-stop shop for all your needs. Whether it’s home products, groceries, gourmet cheese and meats, prepared foods, flowers or ethnic and Indian food, your neighborhood ShopRite has it all. Gone are the days when you had to schlep your way through the Indian and the American stores, doing your weekly groceries.

    An estimated 4 million Indian Americans make up 1.2% of the U.S. population. They are the largest group of South Asian Americans and the second largest group of Asian Americans after Chinese Americans. The state of New Jersey, and Middlesex County in Central New Jersey, are home to by far the highest per capita Indian American populations of any U.S. state or county, respectively, at 3.9% and 14.1%, by 2013 U.S. Census estimates.

    In an effort to court shoppers from the ever-growing Indian and South Asian community, ShopRite is committed to stocking its shelves with the staples used in Indian cuisine. Whether it’s extra-hot chili powder, saffron, chapati flour and thin poha, or dry snacks and fresh lemon pickle, you will find them neatly stocked and prominently placed on the shelves in the ethnic foods aisle.

    Teaming up with Renascent Media, the chain store has also been coming up with creative ideas to involve and assimilate with the South Asian American community.

    Diwali Celebrations

    Ranjana @DATS

    For the last couple of years, ShopRite has been promoting specials for Diwali. This year, the company took a leap and sponsored a mega Diwali extravaganza at New York’s iconic Times Square. “South Asian community is a very important part of our community, and we want everyone to taste the Diwali Celebration with ShopRite,” the chain store said in a statement. The event aimed to bring the light of positivity in the lives of people especially since the dark days of the pandemic, and uplift the spirit of the community and share the message of love, togetherness, inclusion, and diversity. The festival showcased the ‘Colors of India’ featuring music and dance performances of different states of India, along with the performances by local and international talents. The highlight of the festival was the performance by superstar Jay Sean.

    Engagement With Community

    Apart from Diwali promotions and events, ShopRite has been engaging with the community in other ways as well. Last month also saw the innovative ShopRite Cooking Star contest. The weekly cooking competition was aired on Colors TV. Nine contestants competed for the title of ShopRite Cooking Star, which was eventually won by Milie Rajput.

    Participants of ShopRite Cooking Star

    On July 12, 2019, former Indian national cricket team captain and cricket world champion, Kapil Dev, who brought the World Cup home to India in 1982, paid a visit to ShopRite of North Brunswick to meet with fans and to pose for photos. Excited fans waited outside of the supermarket for the opportunity to pose for a picture with the cricket legend.

    Other initiatives ShopRite has been involved with include the India Day Parade and Pakistan Day Parade.

    But that’s not all, ShopRite stores are committed to helping neighbors in need throughout the communities served by their stores. ShopRite stores support local hunger fighting agencies throughout the northeast in communities served by ShopRite stores — through financial and food donations as well as through volunteerism. Since the program began in 1999, more than $40 million has been donated to local food banks.

    All this makes ShopRite more than a one-stop place for buying American and Indian groceries. It’s a community.

    (Advertorial)

  • Consulate @ Your Doorstep

    Consulate @ Your Doorstep

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): As part of the “Consulate @ Your Doorstep” initiative, The Consulate General of India, New York conducted its maiden Consular Camp at Vermont on 11 December, 2021. The camp was organized in association with Vermont Mandir & Cultural Centre (VMCC).   Members of the diaspora appreciated the initiative of CGI, New York to come to Vermont. They availed OCI and other Consular Services at the Consular Camp. They also expressed their gratitude to the Camp which gave them an opportunity to interact directly with the Consulate officers and get answers to their queries. They also said that the Consular camp saved 12 hours of road journey they would have to undertake otherwise to avail these services.

              Earlier in the week, Consul General undertook a successful visit of State of Vermont from 8-10 December 2021. During the visit, he engaged with senior officials from the Government, start-up ecosystem in the State and the University of Vermont. Consul General briefed Mr. Anson Tebbets, Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Ms. Lindsey Kurrle, Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, (ACCD); and Mr. Tim Tierney, Director of International Trade and Business Recruitment for the State of Vermont on the potential for growth in ties between the two countries in field of trade, commerce and economy.

             As part of outreach to the start-up sector in Vermont, Consul General visited the Vermont Center for Emerging Technology (VCET) and met Director David Bradbury. Consul General commended VCET for the handholding that VCET is providing to  start-ups in Vermont. He briefed Director Bradbury on the dynamism of Indian start-up sector and invited him to engage with Startup India and other important stakeholders on the Indian side.

             Consul General met Dr. Christopher Koliba, Director, Office of Engagement and other senior members of the faculty and management. He explained the opportunities created by India’s New Education Policy 2020 and the ways in which foreign universities can collaborate with their Indian counterparts. Consul General discussed the India-US relationship and how higher education forms a vital core of the engagement between the two countries.

    (Based on a Press Release)

     

  • Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center celebrates Victory of Farmers in India

    Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center celebrates Victory of Farmers in India

    Organizers with assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar.

    I.S. Saluja

    RICHMOND HILL, NY (TIP): The management of Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center organized a community gathering to celebrate the victory of farmers in India who created history of sorts with their 15-month long protest which ultimately forced government of India to repeal the Farm Laws and accept most of the demands of the protesting farmers.

    President of the GBMSLSC Baldev Singh Gilzian welcomed the gathering and said the farmers’ victory needed to be celebrated. He congratulated the farmers for carrying out a determined struggle.  He also expressed gratitude to the Punjab government for supporting the farmers, and the central government for finally realizing that the demand of the farmers for repeal of farm laws was justified. The gathering also remembered those who had lost their lives during the struggle.

    Many community leaders spoke on the occasion which included Master Mohinder Singh, Danny Gilzian, Daler Singh, Gurnam Singh Tahli, Harkirat Singh Ahluwalia, Rajwinder Kaur, Bhai Mohan Singh Badana, Bhai Jaspal Singh, head priest, Japneet Singh, Kuldip Singh Khalsa, Rocky Dasuya, Dilbagh Singh, Satnam Singh Tahli and Gurmej Singh. Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (District 38) also attended and offered her congratulations to the gathering and the farmers in India.

  • “The Kashmir Files” at Harvard

    “The Kashmir Files” at Harvard

    BOSTON (TIP): Federation of Indian Association (FIA), New England and Indian American Community with several other partner organizations organizedtwo exclusivepre-release film Impact programs about ‘The Kashmir Files (TKF)’ on Wednesday, December 08, 202, oneat Harvard Club, Boston, MA in the afternoon, andthe other at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA in the evening. This film has beenmade based on the real incidents of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s that tell the stories of horrifying events to the world.

    All the invitees at the Harvard Club had a brief meet and greet program along with veggie wraps and various soft beverages, spending with Vivek Agnihotri (Film Director), Pallavi Joshi (actress), and Mallika (creative producer). Abhishek Singh (President of FIA, NE) and Jyoti Singh (Emcee of the program) welcomed all the invitees and set the tone of the discussion, and said they are hopeful the outcome of this discussion will help to prevail the Global Peace, Social Harmony, and humanity. Following a brief clip of the making of the film,Vivek Agnihotri briefed the audience about his motivation behind making this movie and his thoughts and experiences. Vivek said that his talks with some Kashmiri Pandits made him to uncover the truth behind the unreported/partially reported stories of the Indian history, and highlights of pains, sufferings, struggles, and trauma of Kashmiri Pandits.. Then,he realizedhypocritical policies adopted by the local and international top leaders and government agencies that raises questions about the principle of democracy, religion, politics, and humanity. It is an honest effort to uncover the truth, and present to the world.

    Prof. Bal Ram Singh moderated the panel discussion that comprised of Prof. Sanjay Kaul, Swati Chauhan,a student at Harvard Divinity School, Dr. Ramesh Kapoor, and Prof. Adam J. Sulkowski of Babson College. The panelists expressed their enlightening thoughts and said that such films, documentaries, and literature will definitely help the educators in teaching the younger generations about the factors and patterns of genocides, and how to addressissues of human rights, and world peace.In his concluding remarks, Vivek said that such issues would not be resolved by being either a leftist or rightist but by being in the middle as Lord Shiva’s third eye. It is an eye of wisdom, which provides us the ability to distinguish what is right and what is wrong and leads to onenessand true harmony in the world.  The packed Hall of influential intellectuals and local dignitaries applauded his speech. He as well answered all the questions raised by the audience in a brief interactive session.

    Pallavi talked about her experiences that came across during her research and requested everyone to watch the film on Friday at Regal Cinema, Marlborough, MA. She urged people to then share their thoughts with family members, friends, and on social media to encourage people to watch this movie which will be released theatrically worldwide on 26 January 2022, coinciding with India’s Republic Day. She asked people tobe aware of the real situations and support efforts that are working towards building Kashmir as a heaven on the earth again. Gaurav Dixit,Mukta Munjal thanked all the partner organizations, media, and dignitaries for their participation to the discussion.

    At UMass Dartmouth, Prof. Sukalyan Sengupta, Director of Center for Indic Studies, and Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering Department led ‘The Kashmir Files” film screening event in the evening. He welcomed TKF film team, FIA, and Indian-American team members to the event and thanked a hall full of students, and eminent faculty members for their active support and participation.

    There are the Kashmiri Muslim and The Kashmiri Hindu views of the exodus but it seems like truth always lies somewhere in the middle. Kashmir is the birthplace of Shaivism and wisdom. It needs to be re-built by moving from ignorance towards knowledge and by following the middle way as symbolized by the third eye of Lord Shiva. We need to embrace the true principles of oneness and social harmony and world peace –said the impactful speaker Vivek Agnihotri.

    The faculty members namely, Prof. Amit Tandon, Prof. Uday Kant Jha, Prof. Jerry Solfvin, and twostudents- Shristi Bhat and Chinmay Kadrollimath,Raj Gupta (FIA, Executive Board-Director) shared their remarks on the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus and measures to stop such events from occurring in the future. Prof Uday Jha, Decision & Information Sciences, presented a brief historical perspective and factors that lead to the 1990’s Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus. In the Q& A session, Vivek answered all the curious questions of the students and faculty in a convincing and amicable manner.

    Pallavi shared her thoughts about the heartfelt interviews about the situations from the victims and their next-generation youths.Many students and other invitees also asked several questions to Pallavi and got her genuinely satisfactoryanswers.For the question, why a female tutor’s role and not a male tutor’s role was presented in the film, she said that not because females and children are vulnerable but it is a real character of the story.“You will definitely recognize that character when you watch this movie” – said Pallavi.

    One of the audiences said to the reporter that Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s film TKF has made both Bharat (India) andthe international arena proud of his creativity.

  • IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2022

    IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2022

    WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): The Internal Revenue Service, December 17, issued the 2022 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2022, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

     58.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 2.5 cents from the rate for 2021,

    18 cents per mile driven for medical, or moving purposes for qualified active-duty members of the Armed Forces, up 2 cents from the rate for 2021 and 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations; the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2021.

    The standard mileage rate for business use is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs. It is important to note that under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, taxpayers cannot claim a miscellaneous itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee travel expenses. Taxpayers also cannot claim a deduction for moving expenses, unless they are members of the Armed Forces on active duty moving under orders to a permanent change of station. For more details see Moving Expenses for Members of the Armed Forces.

    Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.

    Taxpayers can use the standard mileage rate but must opt to use it in the first year the car is available for business use. Then, in later years, they can choose either the standard mileage rate or actual expenses. Leased vehicles must use the standard mileage rate method for the entire lease period (including renewals) if the standard mileage rate is chosen.

    Notice 22-03, contains the optional 2022 standard mileage rates, as well as the maximum automobile cost used to calculate the allowance under a fixed and variable rate (FAVR) plan. In addition, the notice provides the maximum fair market value of employer-provided automobiles first made available to employees for personal use in calendar year 2022 for which employers may use the fleet-average valuation rule in or the vehicle cents-per-mile valuation rule.

  • IRS makes Tax Exempt Organization Search primary source to get exempt organization data

    IRS makes Tax Exempt Organization Search primary source to get exempt organization data

    WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): The Internal Revenue Service announced, December 16, that the publicly available data it provides on electronically filed Forms 990 in a machine-readable format will be available solely on the Tax Exempt Organization Search webpage.

    Beginning Dec. 31, 2021, the IRS will no longer update the Form 990 Series data on Amazon Web Services. This change is to provide access to public data for organizations with tax-exempt status in one location on IRS.gov on the Charities and Nonprofits webpage. The Tax Exempt Organization Search Bulk Data Downloads webpage has multiple data sets of information about organizations’ tax-exempt status and filings with instruction on how to download.

    The Form 990 series data set includes XML and individual PDF files of Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax; Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax; and Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation and related schedules. The IRS redacts personally identifiable tax-identification numbers to prevent the data’s misuse.

    The Form 990 series returns are the primary tool for IRS to gather information about tax-exempt organizations and promote compliance with tax-law requirements. Organizations also use the Form 990 to share information with the public about their programs. Additionally, most states rely on the Form 990 to perform charitable and other regulatory oversight and to satisfy state income tax filing requirements for organizations claiming exemption from state income tax.

    A tax-exempt organization must file an annual information return or notice with the IRS unless an exception applies. Annual information returns include Form 990, Form 990-EZ and Form 990-PF. Form 990-N (e-Postcard) is an annual notice. For updates on TEOS and other issues related to charities and nonprofits, please subscribe to the Exempt Organization Update newsletter.

  • Families will soon receive their December advance Child Tax Credit payment; those not receiving payments may claim any missed payments on the upcoming 2021 tax return

    Families will soon receive their December advance Child Tax Credit payment; those not receiving payments may claim any missed payments on the upcoming 2021 tax return

    WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department announced, December 15, that millions of American families will soon receive their final advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment for the month of December. Eligible families who did not receive advance payments can claim the Child Tax Credit on their 2021 federal tax return to receive missed payments and the other half of the credit.

    This final batch of advance monthly payments for 2021, totaling about $16 billion, will reach more than 36 million families across the country. Most payments are being made by direct deposit.

    Under the American Rescue Plan, eligible families have received more than 200 million payments totaling more than $93 billion. Most eligible families received payments dated July 15, Aug. 13, Sept. 15, Oct. 15, Nov. 15 and Dec 15. For eligible families, each payment is up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 through 17.

    Here are more details on the December payments:

    Families will see the direct deposit payments in their accounts starting Dec. 15. Like the prior payments, the vast majority of families will receive them by direct deposit.

    For those receiving payments by paper check, be sure to allow extra time, through the end of December, for delivery by mail.

    Payments are going to eligible families who filed a 2019 or 2020 federal income tax return. Returns processed by Dec. 1 are reflected in these payments. This includes people who don’t typically file a return but either during 2020 successfully filed a return to register for Economic Impact Payments using the IRS Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov, or in 2021 successfully filed a return by using the Non-filer Sign-up Tool for advance CTC.

    Families who did not get a July, August, September, October or November payment and are getting their first monthly payment this month will still receive their total advance payment amount for the year (which is half of their total Child Tax Credit). This means that the total advance payment amount will be made in one December payment.

    Claim the full Child Tax Credit on the 2021 tax return

    Eligible families who did not receive any advance Child Tax Credit payments can claim the full amount of the Child Tax Credit on their 2021 federal tax return, filed in 2022. This includes families who don’t normally need to file a return.

    Families who received advance payments will need to file a 2021 tax return and compare the advance Child Tax Credit payments they received in 2021 with the amount of the Child Tax Credit they can properly claim on their 2021 tax return.

    To help taxpayers reconcile the advance payments, the IRS will send Letter 6419 in January 2022 with the total amount of advance Child Tax Credit payments taxpayers received in 2021 and the number of qualifying children used to calculate the advance payments. People should keep this and any other IRS letters about advance Child Tax Credit payments with their tax records.

    See Reconciling Your Advance Child Tax Credit Payments on Your 2021 Tax Return for more information. Links to online tools, answers to frequently asked questions and other helpful resources are available on the IRS’s special advance CTC 2021 page.

  • Club of Indian Women Hosts Annual Holiday Gala to celebrate its philanthropic achievements

    Club of Indian Women Hosts Annual Holiday Gala to celebrate its philanthropic achievements

    CHICAGO, IL (TIP): Club of Indian Women (CIW) hosted its rollicking annual holiday gala on Wednesday, December 8th at Ashyana Banquets in Downers Grove, IL. The gala was attended by several women achievers who have done great work in their respective fields and have also been a part of CIW for many years. Dressed in their holiday best, everyone had come ready to get together with friends and have a good time. There were games, fun and furious, including a Bollywood themed word search, a saree tying contest as well as dancing to musical chairs without the chairs! The entertainment included beautiful singing by Raja Nadampalli and Tara Swaminathan as well as DJ Saif, an appearance by ‘Pammi Aunty’ aka Mridula Bansal, shayari by Jasbir Singh, Punjabi tappey by Vimal Handa and a dazzling dance performance by Falguni Rana . The program was beautifully planned by Sarita Sood, Tara Swaminathan and Vinita Gulabani under the leadership of CIW vice president Preeti Chawla and superbly anchored by Vinita Gulabani. During breaks for delicious appetizers and a sumptuous lunch, attendees had a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Urmil Chawla made sure that audience saw the raffle prizes and enthusiastically purchased the raffle tickets. Madhu Uppal announced that, with the generosity and support of its members, in 2020, CIW was able to donate nearly $9,000 to area food banks and food pantries and social service agencies. Impressed by the scale of its humanitarian work, some additional donations were received by CIW right after this announcement.

    Club of Indian Women is a not-profit group whose vision is that ‘All Women should have the opportunity to achieve their full potential’. And its mission is to empower Indian American Women through support groups and financial resources / help. It was founded in 1983 to meet the social and cultural needs of the fast-growing Indian community, and, for many years, in addition to organizing cultural celebrations, Meena Bazars, holidays parties etc., ran a much-needed Crisis Hotline which was a forerunner to Apna Ghar. Today, CIW organizes literary slams, book and movie discussions, seminars on social and cultural issues, outings to area theaters and parks and awards funds to local agencies that are working to support families in need. ‘We are so happy to see a younger generation take on leadership role in CIW and today’s event is a testament to their skill and dedication to this organization,” remarked Prem Sharma, one of the founders of CIW. “We missed CIW president, Vandana Bankapur, who is away visiting family in India.” Prem added. Media was represented by Prachi Jaitly of Asian Media Broadcasting (AMB).

    (Photographs and Press release / Asian Media USA)

  • Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda Given Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2021

    Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda Given Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2021

    Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda’s friends and AAPI members at the ceremony at the Indian Consulate in Atlanta. Dr. Swati Vijay Kulkarni, Consul General is seen in the front center.

    ATLANTA (TIP): Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, Immediate Past President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), was conferred The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA 2021) in person during a solemn ceremony at the Indian Consulate in Atlanta, GA on December 5th, 2021. Dr. Jonnalagadda was officially recognized with the prestigious award during the 16th edition of the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, held virtually on January 9th, 2021. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards were conferred by the Hon’ble President of India Sri. Ramnath Covind at the PBD Convention in the valedictory session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations.

    The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honor conferred on Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin or an organization/institution established and run by the Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin in recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.

    While responding to this great honor, Dr. Jonnalgadda said, “It’s my great honor and privilege that I have been chosen for the prestigious award by the government of India.

    Dr. Jonnalagadda expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the government of India for selecting him for this prestigious award. He said, ” In recognizing me, the government has recognized all the medical professionals who have been in the forefront, fighting Covid -19, including those who have laid their lives while treating patients infected with the deadly virus.”

    He added that “It’s fitting to dedicate this award to all my AAPI family members and the entire medical fraternity. This award will strengthen us all to recommit our skills, talents and efforts for the greater good of humanity, as the Covid pandemic continues to devastate many countries, impacting the lives of millions of people around the globe. Together we will face the challenges and defeat the virus and make this world a better and safer place for all of us to live and flourish”

    Dr. Jonnalagadda was chosen for the highest civilian award given to any NRI by the Government of India in the field of Medicine and for his great leadership of AAPI, the largest ethnic medical organization in the US, especially during the Pandemic.

    AAPI represents the interests of the over 100,000 physicians and Fellows of Indian origin in the United States, serving the interests of the Indian American physicians in the US and in many ways contributing to the shaping of the healthcare delivery in the US and to some extent in India for the past 39 years. Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda assumed office as the 37th President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) on Saturday, July 11, 2020, and committed himself to “make AAPI stronger, more vibrant, united, transparent, politically engaged, ensuring active participation of young physicians, increasing membership, and enabling that AAPI’s voice is heard in the corridors of power.” Dr. Jonnalagadda was born in a family of physicians. His father was a professor at a medical college in India and his mother was a teacher. He and his siblings aspired to be physicians and dedicate their lives for the greater good of humanity. “I am committed to serving the community and help the needy. That gives me the greatest satisfaction in life,” he said

    His vision for AAPI has been to increase the awareness of APPI globally and help its voice heard in the corridors of power.

    Ambitious and wanting to achieve greater things in life, Dr. Jonnalagadda has numerous achievements to his credit. He currently serves as the President of the Medical Staff of the Hospital in Douglas, Georgia.

    A Board-Certified Gastroenterologist/Transplant Hepatologist, working in Douglas, GA, Dr. Jonnalagadda is a former Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Georgia. He was the President of Coffee Regional Medical Staff 2018 and had served as the Director of Medical Association of Georgia Board from 2016 onwards. He had served as the President of Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (GAPI) 2007-2008, and was the past chair of Board of trustees, GAPI. He was the chairman of the Medical Association of Georgia, IMG section, and was a Graduate, Georgia Physicians Leadership Academy (advocacy training).

    As the President of AAPI, the dynamic physician from the state of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Jonnalagadda has worked hard to “develop a committee to work with children of AAPI members who are interested in medical school, to educate on choosing a school and gaining acceptance; Develop a committee to work with medical residents who are potential AAPI members, to educate on contract negotiation, patient communication, and practice management; Develop a committee to work with AAPI medical students, and to provide proctorship to improve their selection of medical residencies.”

  • Meet the First Indian American woman from Punjab to win Miss World America

    Meet the First Indian American woman from Punjab to win Miss World America

    SEATTLE (TIP): Miss World 2021 has temporarily postponed the global broadcast finale that was to be held Friday at 4.15 am IST in Puerto Rico due to health and safety interests of contestants, staff, crew and general public.

    Earlier, Shree Saini, the first Asian to be crowned Miss World America, was selected as Top 6 “Beauty with a Purpose” service project volunteer and Top 30 @missworld official semi-finals.

    In spite of having many challenges in her life, including a debilitating incident that gave her severe burns and forced her to get a pacemaker, she excelled.

    Saini was born on January 6, 1996 in Ludhiana and has lived in the United States since the age of five. For the first 12 years of her life, while growing up her heartbeat had an average of just 20 beats per minute.

    “At Miss World, I believe I am not only representing myself but I am also representing 333 million Americans and 3.5 billion Indians, including Indians outside of India,” she said.

    The finale will be rescheduled at Puerto Rico Coliseum Jose Miguel Agrelot within the next 90 days. Manasa Varanasi will represent India at the 70th Miss World pageant.

    Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica, the current Miss Universe, will crown the new winner.

    After meeting with the virologists and medical experts hired to oversee the Miss World 2021 event and discussing with the Puerto Rico Health Department, the decision has been made by the organizers of the event to postpone the globally broadcast finale at the Puerto Rico Coliseum Jose Miguel Agrelot to be held within the next 90 days.

    As of yesterday, additional safety measures were implemented in the best interest of the contestants, production team and spectators, understanding the event increased risks on the stage and in the dressing room. However, after additional positive cases were confirmed this morning after consulting with health officials and experts, the postponement decision was made.

    The next step according to the medical experts is immediate quarantine, pending observation and further testing according to best practices in situations like this. Once and only when contestants and staff are cleared by health officials and advisors, will contestants and related staff return to their home countries.

    “We are very much looking forward to the return of our contestants, (who we have grown to know and love), to compete for the Miss World crown” said Julia Morley, CEO of Miss World Ltd. Puerto Rico offers a safe environment and a spectacular backdrop for filming the Miss World Festival.”

  • A Covid-19 ‘viral blizzard’ is about to hit the US, expert says, with ‘millions’ to be infected soon

    A Covid-19 ‘viral blizzard’ is about to hit the US, expert says, with ‘millions’ to be infected soon

    NEW YORK (TIP): The coronavirus will hit millions of Americans in a “viral blizzard” within a few weeks as infections from the Omicron variant pile on top of Delta, an expert predicts, says a CNN report.Already, hospitalizations are rising as the holiday season gets into full swing. Long lines for Covid-19 testing formed Thursday in metro areas, including New York, Boston and Miami.

    The Delta variant remains a problem. And Omicron, with its high transmissibility, could strike millions more soon, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

    “We’re really just about to experience a viral blizzard,” Osterholm told CNN’s Erin Burnett on Thursday. “In the next three to eight weeks, we’re going to see millions of Americans are going to be infected with this virus, and that will be overlaid on top of Delta, and we’re not yet sure exactly how that’s going to work out.”

    Omicron will cause a serious strain on the health care system as more workers will likely get sick, Osterholm said, even though most cases from Omicron seem to be mild.

    “What you have here right now is a potential perfect storm,” Osterholm said. “I’ve been very concerned about the fact that we could easily see a quarter or a third of our health care workers quickly becoming cases themselves.”

    On Thursday, December 16, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its recommendations for Covid-19 vaccines to make clear that shots made by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech are preferred over Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.

    The daily rate of vaccinations is up around 22% from a month prior, according to CDC data, with more than half being booster doses. At the current pace, it will take more than two months for at least half of adults to get a Covid-19 booster, according to a CNN analysis of CDC data.

    Biden said Thursday, December 16, that vaccinations and boosters are essential to keeping businesses and holiday gatherings safe.

    “For the unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death,” he said. “But there’s good news if you’re vaccinated and you have your booster shot, you’re protected from severe illness and death.”

    Vaccines still the best way to fight Covid-19, officials say

    Even with the potential spread of the Omicron variant, former Obama White House health policy adviser Dr. Zeke Emanuel said the US has tools to fight Covid-19, unlike during its onset.

    “In March 2020, we didn’t understand a lot about coronavirus. Second of all, we have vaccines now. We have the ability to change those vaccines. We’re getting oral therapeutics. We have much better tests and test availability. None of that’s perfect, but it’s much better than it was in March 2020,” Emanuel told CNN’s Michael Smerconish on Thursday.

    Merck’s Covid-19 antiviral, molnupiravir, lowers the risk of hospitalization or death in high-risk unvaccinated adults by 30%, according to a statement issued after publication of its clinical trial data in the New England Journal of Medicine.

    Among people who got the treatment, the risk of hospitalization and death was 6.8%, compared with 9.7% among people who got a placebo, the study said. There was one death in the treatment group, compared with nine deaths in the placebo group.

    While successes are being found in some treatments pre- and post-infection, the rates of severe disease and death for those vaccinated continue to prove much lower even with data showing vaccines’ reduced effectiveness against certain variants.

    “Given the increased risk related to the Delta and Omicron variant, it is important to increase uptake of primary vaccination and booster doses in all eligible populations,” said Heather Scobie, a member of the CDC’s Enhanced Surveillance Epidemiology Task Force Covid-19 Emergency Response.

    People can travel safely with precautions, Fauci says

    Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he is certain Omicron will become the dominant variant relatively soon.

    “It has what we call a doubling time of about three days. And if you do the math on that, if you have just a couple of percentage of the isolates being Omicron, very soon it’s going to be the dominant variant,” he told ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

    Is it worth gathering for the holidays if not everyone is vaccinated? Experts weigh in.

    Yet as long as people get vaccinated and utilize precautions such as mask-wearing, Fauci said, lockdowns seen last year may not be needed and traveling for a Christmas with other vaccinated people can be done safely.

    “If you are vaccinated, and particularly if you are boosted, you’re going to have to wear a mask on the plane anyway. That’s a regulation. But be prudent and careful. When you go to the airport, particularly, that’s an indoor congregate setting,” Fauci told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

    “I believe that if people follow the recommendations of the CDC about indoor masking, take the advice of getting vaccinated and getting boosted, we should be fine for the holidays, and we should enjoy it with our family and our friends.”

  • Adrienne Adams ‘clinches’ Council Speaker race: Moya concedes

    Adrienne Adams ‘clinches’ Council Speaker race: Moya concedes

    QUEENS, NY (TIP): City Councilwoman Adrienne Adams declared victory Friday, Dec. 17 in the race for City Council Speaker for the second time this week — but this time she named 33 members who have committed their support or released statements backing her candidacy, according to QNS.

    On Tuesday, December 14, both Adams and fellow Queens City Councilman Francisco Moya claimed they had strong enough coalitions of support to lay claim to the speakership.

    If the numbers hold up, Adams will lead a history-making City Council with a majority of women serving on the Council for the first time. She will assume office on Jan. 5 at the first Stated Meeting in the next session of the City Council.

    “I am honored to have earned the support and the trust of my colleagues to be their Speaker,” Adams said. “Our coalition reflects the best of our city. We are ready to come together to solve the enormous challenges we face in order to not just recover from COVID but to build a better, fairer city that works for everyone.”

    “I am proud to have brought together a broad coalition of leaders from all corners of the city who supported my campaign as the next Speaker of the City Council,” Moya said. “At this point, it is clear that I do not have a path to victory. I have worked alongside Councilmember Adrienne Adams for many years. She is a dedicated and thoughtful leader who I know will work closely with all council members. I will fully support her leadership as we continue to fight the devastation of the pandemic.”

    Mayor-elect Eric Adams, who reportedly pushed Moya’s candidacy, offered congratulations to his former classmate at Bayside High School.

    “Let me be the first to congratulate my good friend Adrienne Adams on securing the votes to become the City Council’s speaker and making history. I look forward to working with her in partnership,” Adams wrote on Twitter. “After weeks of hearing from incoming Council Members and leaders I trust across New York, I am convinced that Adrienne Adams will be the best choice to lead our City Council forward, and I believe she has the support to do it.”

    A lifelong resident of Southeast Queens, the 61-year-old Adams was raised in Hollis and was elected to the Council in November 2017, becoming the first woman elected to represent District 28, which is made up of parts of Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village and South Ozone Park.

    When she first declared victory in the race on Tuesday, fellow Speaker candidates Diana Ayala, Keith Powers, Justin Brannan and Manhattan Borough President and Councilwoman-elect Gale Brewer all put their support behind Adams. Now they’ve been joined by Carlina Rivera, who also campaigned for Speaker, along with ten Council Members who will represent Queens.

    “Today I add my voice to the growing chorus of my colleagues in support of Councilmember Adrienne Adams’ bid to serve as the Council’s next Speaker,” Councilwoman-elect Tiffany Cabán said. “She has shown herself to be committed to open, thoughtful, and respectful communication with new members. I am ready to get to work with her on shared priorities like guaranteeing rights for workers. The new Council’s first collective decision shows that we are not here to simply rubber-stamp the mayor’s priorities, but to protect the interests of our constituents.”

    Influential New York City unions threw their support behind Adams including 32BJ SEIU, District Council 37 and CWA District 1.

    “The city has been ravaged by the pandemic, and if we want a worker-led recovery, we need a Council Speaker who is up to the task,” 32BJ resident Kyle Bragg said. “Adrienne Adams is a proven leader and a fighter for the working people and I am proud to support her. This moment provides us with a unique opportunity to rebuild the economy by centering the needs of workers, building paths to the middle class for families, and making our city more equitable.”

    After decades of public service and community organizing, Adam will be the first Black speaker in Council history.

    “I want to thank the Council members, labor and party leaders, women’s groups, and everyone in our broad coalition for their support,” Adams said. “The City Council will be a collaborative and effective legislative body that incorporates what makes New York City great and focuses on the needs of our community.”

    The New York City Council Black, Latino and Asian Caucus congratulated Council Member Adrienne Adams on her victory and issued the following statement.

    “Congratulations to our own Black, Latino and Asian Caucus Co-Chair, Council Member Adrienne Adams, on her historic ascent to the speakership of the New York City Council as the institution’s first Black Speaker, who notably will have the dual distinction of leading a historic majority membership of her fellow women legislators within the body. Congratulations as well to our own Council Member Francisco Moya and Council Member Carlina Rivera for their spirited contest to lead the next Council as our city continues to face the twin challenges of a deadly pandemic and the fundamental racial inequity that COVID exposed to the public. We are eager to join our new Speaker and Mayor in working to lift up our city’s more than five million New Yorkers of color, who face the steepest climb in our city’s recovery, and work to promote equity, opportunity and safety with dignity for our entire city.”

  • Omicron infects 70 times faster but is less severe, says study

    Omicron infects 70 times faster but is less severe, says study

    The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study provides the first information on how the novel variant of concern infects human respiratory tract

    BEIJING (TIP): The Omicron variant of coronavirus infects and multiplies 70 times faster than Delta and the original COVID-19 strain, but the severity of illness is likely to be much lower, according to a study. The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study provides the first information on how the novel variant of concern infects human respiratory tract.

    The researchers from University of Hong Kong found that Omicron infects and multiplies 70 times faster than the Delta variant and original SARS-CoV-2 in human bronchus, which may explain why it may transmit faster between humans than previous variants.

    A bronchus is a passage or airway in the lower respiratory tract that conducts air into the lungs.

    The study also showed that the Omicron infection in the lung is significantly lower than the original SARS-CoV-2, which may indicate lower disease severity.

    The researchers used ex-vivo cultures of the respiratory tract to understand why Omicron may differ in transmission and disease severity from other SARS-CoV-2 variants.

    This method uses lung tissue removed for treatment of the lung, which is normally discarded, for investigating viral diseases of the respiratory tract.

    Michael Chan Chi-wai, Associate Professor at University of Hong Kong, and his team successfully isolated Omicron and compared infection from the variant with the original SARS-CoV-2 from 2020, and the Delta variant. The team found that the Omicron replicates faster than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and Delta variant in the human bronchus.

    At 24 hours after infection, the Omicron variant replicated around 70 times higher than the Delta variant and the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, the researchers said.

    Omicron replicated less efficiently—over 10 times lower—in the human lung tissue than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, which may suggest lower severity of disease, they said.

    “It is important to note that the severity of disease in humans is not determined only by virus replication but also by the host immune response to the infection, which may lead to dysregulation of the innate immune system,” Chan said in a statement.

    “It is also noted that by infecting many more people, a very infectious virus may cause more severe disease and death even though the virus itself may be less pathogenic,” he explained.

    Taken together with the recent studies that showed Omicron can partially escape immunity from vaccines and past infection, the overall threat from the variant is likely to be very significant, the researchers added.

    (Source: PTI)

  • ISIS has 66 known Indian-origin fighters US report on terrorismCommends NIA for anti-insurgent operations

    ISIS has 66 known Indian-origin fighters US report on terrorismCommends NIA for anti-insurgent operations

    NEW DELHI / NEW YORK (TIP): There are 66 known Indian-origin fighters on the rolls of global terrorist group Islamic State and the country’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has done a commendable job in ensuring that budding modules were detected and disrupted in time, said the US State Department’s annual report on terrorism.

    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in the 2020 Country Reports on Terrorism issued on Thursday, said India collaborated with the US on implementing the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2309. The resolution calls governments to meet their responsibility to keep citizens secure while travelling by air. The report said in 2020, there were multiple reports in the media and from the NIA of suspected cases of online terrorist radicalization, particularly in southern Indian states.

    In addition, India continued to face terror threat from Pakistan, which failed to take action against known terrorists such as JeM’s Masood Azhar and the 2008 Mumbai attack “project manager” Sajid Mir, both believed to be in Pakistan, it said.

    Some madrasas in Pakistan continued to teach violent extremist doctrine, it said. The major groups targeting India were LeT, JeM, Hizbul Mujahideen, ISIS, al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, it said.

    The report conceded, “Pakistan took steps in 2020 to counter terror financing and restrain India-focused militant groups from conducting attacks. Pakistan convicted LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and other senior LeT leaders in terror funding cases.”

    The US report was unstinting in its praise for the National Investigation Agency. “The NIA examined 34 cases related to ISIS and arrested 160 persons, including 10 alleged al-Qaeda operatives from Kerala and West Bengal, in September,” it noted. However, no foreign terrorist fighter (FTF) was repatriated to India during 2020.

    The report faulted the Union Home Ministry for not having a national policy for countering violent extremism (CVE) as a result of which efforts in this direction were “uneven” and led by local police departments. Five states — Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh — have CVE policies.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Pandemonium in India’s Parliament:Opposition continues to seek minister Teni’s removal

    Pandemonium in India’s Parliament:Opposition continues to seek minister Teni’s removal

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Lok Sabha functioned for less than 20 minutes and the Rajya Sabha for 15 minutes on Thursday, December 16, as Opposition protests rocked Parliament over the demand to sack Union minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’, whose son is facing stringent charges in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had a chance to ask a question in the Lower House on the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, chose to flag the demand instead. “We should be allowed to speak about the murder that was committed in Lakhimpur Kheri, where there was an involvement of the minister and about which it has been said that it was a conspiracy. The minister who killed farmers should resign and should be punished.”

    As Gandhi continued to press for Mishra’s resignation amid the din, Union parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi objected. “The members of the Congress party are in the Well but he (Gandhi) wants to speak and ask questions. This can’t happen that they will stay in the Well and yet they will talk,” the minister said.

    Ashish Mishra, the son of Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra, is facing attempt to murder charges for allegedly mowing down four farmers and a journalist in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3, when eight people died. On Tuesday, an Uttar Pradesh court added stringent charges to the police complaints against Ashish Mishra and 12 other accused. after a special investigation team (SIT) said the violence was “deliberate, pre-planned conspiracy”. This touched off protests by Opposition parties who demanded that Ajay Mishra should resign for an impartial probe, and stalled Parliament on Wednesday.

    On Thursday, both Houses started on a somber note with Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paying tribute to 1971 war heroes and group captain Varun Singh, the only man to have survived the December 8 Mi-17V5 chopper crash that killed 13 people including chief of defense staff General Bipin Rawat, who breathed his last on Wednesday. But disruptions soon took over and many Opposition leaders rushed to the Well and others demanded a debate on the SIT report. Amid chaos in both Houses, the Lok Sabha couldn’t take up the discussion on the Appropriation Bill for supplementary demand for grants and two debates on price rise and climate change were again derailed. But minutes before the adjournment, The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lower House of Parliament. The Upper House failed to take up the all-important discussion on the Omicron variant and the bill to amend the narcotics act didn’t go through. Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh managed to start the debate on Omicron variant and pointed out to the Opposition that it demanded a debate on two issues—price rise and Omicron—and both were accepted. The winter session of Parliament began on November 29 but was immediately roiled by protests over the suspension of 12 lawmakers from Opposition parties.

  • Harnaaz Sandhu of India Wins Miss Universe 2021

    Harnaaz Sandhu of India Wins Miss Universe 2021

    Only two Indians before Harnaaz Sandhu have won the title of Miss Universe – actors Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000

    NEW YORK (TIP): Actor-model Harnaaz Sandhu made history on Monday, December 13, when she was crowned Miss Universe 2021 — beating contestants from 80 countries — 21 years after Lara Dutta brought home the title in 2000. Only two Indians before Sandhu have won the title of Miss Universe – actors Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000. The 70th edition of the event was held in Eilat, Israel, where the 21-year-old bagged the coveted pageant. The Chandigarh-based model, who is pursuing her master’s degree in public administration, was crowned by her predecessor Andrea Meza of Mexico, who won the pageant in 2020.

    While Paraguay’s Nadia Ferreira, 22, finished second, South Africa’s Lalela Mswane, 24, came third.

    “I am immensely grateful to the Almighty, my parents, and the Miss India Organization for guiding and supporting me throughout. Loads of love to everyone who prayed and wished the crown for me,” Sandhu said. “Bringing the glorious crown back after 21 years to India is a moment of greatest pride,” she said.

    During the final question and answer round, Sandhu was asked what advice she would give to young women on how to deal with the pressure they face today.

    “The biggest pressure the youth of today is facing is to believe in themselves, to know that you are unique and that’s what makes you beautiful. Stop comparing yourselves with others and let’s talk about more important things that’s happening worldwide.

    “This is what you need to understand. Come out, speak for yourselves because you are the leader of your life, you are the voice of your own. I believed in myself and that’s why I am standing here today,” she said to a thundering applause.

    Sandhu started her journey in pageantry when she won Times Fresh Face in 2017, representing Chandigarh at the age of 17. She later won the LIVA Miss Diva Universe 2021 title.

    Sandhu has also worked in a few Punjabi films, including “Yaara Diyan Poo Baran” and “Bai Ji Kuttange”. The ceremony was hosted by Steve Harvey and saw performances from American singer JoJo.The selection committee included actor and Miss Universe India 2015 Urvashi Rautela, Adamari López, Adriana Lima, Cheslie Kryst, Iris Mittenaere, Lori Harvey, Marian Rivera and Rena Sofer.

    (With Inputs From PTI)

  • Minister must go

    Position untenable after SIT report in Lakhimpur Kheri case

    Over two months after four farmers and a journalist were mowed down during a peaceful protest in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri district, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police has established that the killings were the result of a ‘pre-planned conspiracy’. The probe team has been allowed by the court to substitute lesser charges (rash driving; causing grievous injuries by negligence; causing death by a rash and negligent act) with graver ones (attempt to murder; voluntarily causing injuries by dangerous weapons), while retaining the charges of murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy, among others. The damning findings have not only corroborated the telltale evidence provided by the gruesome video clips of the incident but have also rendered BJP MP Ajay Mishra’s continuation as Union minister untenable and indefensible as his son Ashish Mishra is among the 13 accused.

    The clamor for Ajay Mishra’s ouster has grown even louder after the SIT report, though the BJP-led government at the Centre has been stubbornly resisting the Opposition’s demand. What has struck a discordant note is the ruling dispensation’s reluctance to condemn the abominable killings or mourn the loss of lives. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did term the violence ‘absolutely condemnable’ during her US visit in October, but she hastened to add that this case was being singled out because the BJP was in power in UP — she even claimed that such incidents were happening in other parts of India also but were not being highlighted. Days after the Lakhimpur Kheri outrage, PM Modi had chosen to bemoan ‘selective interpretation’ of human rights by vested interests. With the Supreme Court keeping a watchful eye on the investigation, the SIT has managed to get to the bottom of the matter. The onus is now on the Centre to remove Ajay Mishra for the sake of probity and justice, notwithstanding political considerations in the poll-bound state. The longer he continues in office, the more it will be apparent that the government is shielding him and condoning the cold-blooded murders.

    (Tribune, India)

  • Freedom and power: On Biden’s Summit for Democracy

    Elected leaders must keep their promises of freedom and equality for their people

    Since his election campaign last year, U.S. President Joseph Biden had promised to hold a “Summit for Democracy” in order to highlight the worrying trends around the world of growing authoritarianism, and to bolster democratic institutions that appear to be faltering. While the concerns are genuine, and Mr. Biden’s successful delivery of his promise last week, with a summit that saw 110 nations invited must be credited, it has also thrown up troubling questions. The State Department’s decision to “arbitrarily place” restrictions on the invitee list, has led to a controversy. In South Asia, the inclusion of Pakistan, along with India and Nepal, but the exclusion of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka raises serious doubts on the criteria applied. And, if the “quality of democracy” and the importance of human rights were the criteria, then the question is which country is qualified to make that value-based judgment? Expectedly, the Summit was roundly criticized for the most notable exclusions: Russia and China. In a joint editorial, the Russian and Chinese Ambassadors to the U.S. claimed their own states are democratic in practice andcriticized the U.S.’s experiments in regime change and “democratic transformations” in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan. That the summit was organized in a year when newest democratic entrants, Afghanistan and Myanmar, reverted to autocratic regimes that rule by the power of the gun casts doubts on the efficacy of the international system in enforcing democracy through external interventions.

    Apart from a more inclusive guest list, as a result, the summit would have done better to begin with a globally accepted definition for democracy, and a common understanding of the challenges. The Biden administration committed to announcing specific targets on helping free media, ensuring free and fair elections, and the participation of women, and listed authoritarianism, corruption and human rights violations as key challenges. Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the principles of “inclusion, transparency, human dignity, responsive grievance redressal and decentralization of power” as key to Indian democracy. Many accused big tech companies and social media of “digital authoritarianism”, and some spoke of the devastating impact of COVID-19, climate change and rising economic inequality as major stumbling blocks. Few, however, were willing to concede the shortcomings in their own democracies, however, especially the rise in hyper-nationalism, xenophobia and majoritarianism that saps the very essence of representational, pluralistic and inclusive governance today. Democracy, like charity, begins at home, and rather than making international pledges at summit-level conferences, elected leaders must keep their promises of freedom and equality for the people or “demos” that make up their nations.

    (The Hindu)

  • Keeping Our Kids Safe with Vaccination

    By Dr. Dave A. Chokshi

    As a father of a young child and the City’s doctor, it has been especially meaningful for me to see so many brave children roll up their sleeves to get vaccinated against COVID-19. I have had the privilege of being present when some have gotten their first dose. I remember one young person had tragically lost their mother to the COVID-19 pandemic. The family felt relief and joy after waiting so long for the comfort of knowing the child was protected.

    Since the COVID-19 vaccine was authorized, over 140,000 children ages 5-11 have received at least one dose in New York City. We are proud of this progress, but still too many of our youngest New Yorkers remain unvaccinated. Right now, it’s more urgent than ever, because infection rates are highest among school-aged children. Since the start of the pandemic, school-aged children have accounted for approximately 7% of all cases. In the last 30 days, 14% of all cases have been among this age group.

    It is critical for parents and caregivers to understand that COVID-19 is a serious childhood illness. It can result in hospitalizations, ICU admissions, long-term health issues, and in rare cases, death. No children have died from the vaccine.

    Understandably, many parents and caregivers want to make sure it’s safe—even those who are fully vaccinated themselves. According to a new survey, about a third of parents of children ages 5 to 11 say they want to wait and see how the vaccine is working for others before getting their child vaccinated. But our leading pediatricians are strongly recommending vaccination right now, precisely because it helps keep our kids safe.

    Some are concerned after hearing about a risk of myocarditis, or mild heart inflammation. This is of course something we take seriously. What we know is that myocarditis is actually more likely to occur as a result of COVID-19, not vaccination. It also likely helps that the dose used in 5–11-year-olds is a third of the dose used for those 12 and up.

    But benefits of vaccination go beyond just protection from COVID-19. Although, thankfully, the youngest New Yorkers have largely avoided COVID’s worst outcomes, they have all shared in our collective trauma, and far too many have experienced loss. With vaccination, children can return to normal life again. They can catch up on hugs, play dates, sleepovers, sports and school activities. They can more safely gather with friends and family over the holidays.

    Another reason to get the shot now is that starting this week, children 5 and up will need to show proof of at least one vaccination dose for indoor dining, fitness and entertainment activities and many after school activities as well like sports, band and choir.

    I urge everyone to get your child vaccinated as soon as possible. You can go to the City’s vaccine finder to find locations in all five boroughs, including City sites, pharmacies, and clinics. The Health Department is working with over 1,500 pediatricians to distribute the vaccine.

    The instinct parents and caregivers have to protect children is a good one—our first priority is always to keep our children safe. I want to be clear: To not have your child vaccinated is taking a serious risk. The vaccine will keep your child and our communities safe.

    (Dr. Chokshi is New York City’s Health Commissioner)