The Indian Panorama

Month: March 2022

  • GOPIO led community delegation meets Mayor Eric Adams and his top officials

    NEW YORK (TIP): GOPIO officials along with other Indian community organizations were invited to New York city Hall on March 1st to discuss issues of the Indian community and perspectives on how the community can be involved in the city. It all started with GOPIO’s condemnation of the defacing of Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Union Square Park in February and GOPIO requesting Mayor Eric Adams to increase police presence in the park area as well as to apprehend and punish culprit.

    Indian American community leaders with New York City officials after an interactive meeting at the City Hall.
    From L to R: Mukund Mehta, Kavita Motwani, Lal Motwani, Braj Aggarwal, Ketan Shah, Karthikeya Parashar, Prof. Rajasekhar Vangapaty, Gobind Munjal, Sudhir Vaishnav, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, Chief Advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Dr. Vimal Goyle, Girish Patel and Beena Kothari

    City Hall was represented by Mayor Adam’s Chief Advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin and Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi. The Indian community delegation was headed by GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham along with GOPIO-Manhattan Executive VP Prof. Rajasekhar Vangapaty, VP Dr. Vimal Goyle and Treasurer Braj Aggarwal as well as GOPIO-New York Chapter Hon. Chair Lal Motwani and President Beena Kothari. Other community representatives were Association of Indians in America (AIA) President Gobind Munjal, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Executive Director Sudhir Vaishnav, Bhakti Center Program Coordinator Kartikeya Parashar, Society of Indian American Engineers and Architects (SIAEA) President Ketan Shah, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir National Coordinator for Public Affairs Girish Patel and Mukund Mehta, President of India Home and Indo-American Senior Citizen Center of New York.

    At the beginning of the meeting, GOPIO Chairman Dr. Abraham thanked Mayor Adams for appointing many Indian Americans in high position of the city administration. In addition to the issue of defacing of Mahatma Gandhi statue, many other issues were discussed at this power meeting of the City officials with the community. The community representatives urged the mayor to keep status que on gifted and talented classes for elementary classes. The delegation told the city officials that the gifted should always be given the opportunity to advance further in pursuit of knowledge and to achieve their full academic potential. Other issues brought out include discrimination, civil rights violations and violence against religious institutions in New York city. Chief Advisor Lewis Martin suggested to set up a committee from the community to work closely with NYPD on some of these issues. The following have been nominated to work on these issues with Girish Patel coordinating this effort along with Braj Aggarwal, Lal Motwani, and Beena Kothari. This committee will reach out to the larger Indian community on these issues.

    Indian American community leaders with New York Mayor Eric Adams in front of the CityHall,
    Front Row, from L to R: Girish Patel, Gobind Munjal, Beena Kothari, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Mayor Adams, Prof. Rajasekhar Vangapaty, Braj Aggarwal and Mukund Mehta,. Rear row, from l. to r.: Karthikeya Parashar, Lal Motwani, Dr. Vimal Goyle, Kavita Motwani, Ketan Shah and Sudhir Vaishnav.

    Once major part of the discussion was on how to bring businesses to New York City, vis-à-vis New York businesses setting up business in India. The delegation told city officials that many Indian companies are setting business outfit in the US and that Indian Americans in New York city could serve as conduit to reach out to businesses in India. It was suggested that whenever trade and business delegations come to New York, City’s International Affairs Department must reach them out and hold meetings with them. Another Business Promotion Committee headed by Dr. Abraham was nominated along with Prof. Rajasekhar Vangapaty, Sudhir Vaishnav, Mukund Mehta, Ketan Shah and Karthikeya Parashar.

    The delegation also suggested the city officials to continue with Diwali celebration and to hold a special celebration from the City for the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence to honor the largest democracy of the world.

    After the meeting with city officials, the delegation met Mayor Eric Adams and interacted with him. Mayor Adams gave high marks for the community’s contribution to make New York an exciting city to live.

    (Based on a Press Release)

  • Key takeaways from Biden’s 2022 State of the Union speech

    Key takeaways from Biden’s 2022 State of the Union speech

    WASHINGTON , D.C. (TIP): Only a little more than a week ago, President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address was focused largely inward, looking at the economic and public health woes besetting the U.S. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war that has ensued changed all that, says an AP Report. The speech and the war in Ukraine gave Biden both the platform and the urgent reason to talk about the fight between democracy and autocracy not as an abstraction but as an urgent reality.

    Biden has repeatedly talked about the battle of between the values of liberal democracies and autocrats like Russian President Vladimir Putin as the greatest foreign policy test facing the world.

    But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and the surprising unity that U.S. and European allies have shown in response — gave the president a chance to speak about the issue in a visceral way to a global audience. “In the battle between democracy and autocracy, democracies are rising to the moment, and the world is clearly choosing the side of peace and security,” Biden said “This is a real test. It’s going to take time. So let us continue to draw inspiration from the iron will of the Ukrainian people. “

    He celebrated the West for coming together on hard-hitting sanctions that are “choking off Russia’s access to technology that will sap its economic strength and weaken its military for years to come” he announced news sanctions to close off U.S. air space to all Russian flights. and he paid tribute to Ukrainian people for “fighting back with pure courage.”

    Biden found himself caught in the middle of culture wars for much of his first year in office. With his State of the Union, the president who has made his long career in politics living in the ideological middle — had moments where he sought to pivot to the center.

    He dismissed those on the left of his party who have advocated for reducing funding of police in the midst of national reckoning on policing in Black communities. “We should all agree: The answer is not to defund the police. The answer is to fund the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities.”

    After months of Republicans beating him up on immigration, he allowed that “we need to secure the border and fix the immigration system.” But he also called on Republicans — and the American public — to look at the issue in a pragmatic way, alluding to the country’s worker shorter as the nation emerges for coronavirus pandemic.

    “It’s not only the right thing to do — it’s the economically smart thing to do,” Biden said. Even as he appeals to the higher ideals of democracy, Biden believes that many Americans would process the war through prices at the pump instead of geopolitical risks.

    It’s a jarring contrast in priorities as Ukrainians beg the U.S. and its allies for weapons to protect themselves, while the U.S. and Europe are focused first and foremost on energy costs in their own economies that are generally experiencing growth instead of an existential threat. “I’m taking robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at Russia’s economy — and I will use every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers,” Biden said as he announced the planned release of another 30 million barrels of oil from the U.S. petroleum reserve. Gasoline prices are averaging $3.61 a gallon, according to AAA. But most of that increase occurred over the past year, rather than the machinations of Russia. It’s a sign that Biden sees his own political fortunes resting on family budgets and reducing inflation, perhaps even more than a land war in Europe.

    Biden almost said it — the motto that disappeared with his political agenda: “Build Back Better.” Or, BBB. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, the decisive Democratic vote in the evenly split Senate, has pronounced BBB dead with nary a eulogy.

    Biden in outlining his agenda said instead, “I call it building a better America.” So, what does that look like? It looks a lot like his prior agenda, except it’s been slimmed down.

    Capping prescription drug prices stays in the mix. So do anti-climate change policies — which are now being portrayed as ways to lower energy costs for families. Financial support to limit childcare costs is still in, though the expanded child tax credit from the coronavirus relief package is out. Universal pre-kindergarten remains a priority, but the primary goal of all of these policies is no longer to win the future as Biden once claimed. It’s all about reducing inflation, the problem dogging Biden’s popularity in the here and now.

    Biden said the country has moved beyond the pandemic, even if it still needs to stay vigilant against mutations. His big argument is that the country can’t change its past divides, though it must address the pandemic with a united front.

    He noted that most of the country can now be mask-free. Most Americans are vaccinated, and more vaccines are available if needed. Schools are open and workers can return to offices. “COVID-19 need no longer control our lives,” said Biden, echoing statements he made last July 4 when the disease similarly appeared to be in the rear-view mirror.

    The difference this time compared to the summer of 2020 is not only the increase in vaccinations but the lessons from the omicron and delta waves that caused infections and deaths to accelerate.

    His remarks include variations on the word “job” more than a dozen times as it applied to people working. Inflation netted half a dozen mentions and forms of the word “price” in terms of costs charged were mentioned 10 times. “Pandemic” was mentioned eight times and COVID-19 appeared a dozen times.He tried to highlight partisan unity by deploying the phrase “Democrats and Republicans” three times. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (20 mentions) supplanted China as a geopolitical rival, as China got just two mentions. And there was a clear villain: Putin was named 12 times. As Russian invasion of Ukraine grinds on, lawmakers showed their support for Ukrainians with their sartorial choices of blue and yellow. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wore a blue suit adorned with a lapel pin of Ukraine and U.S. flags. Rep. Eric Swalwell made do with a blue scarf.

    Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who appeared to have a large paper Ukraine flag pinned to his suit, had a bit of wardrobe malfunction. (His Ukraine flag fell off as he waded through the packed aisle to make his way to his seat.)

    Many lawmakers — and guests — also had small Ukrainian flags. In a sign of support for the Ukrainian people, the First Lady Jill Biden has an embroidered appliqué of a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine, sewn to the sleeve of her dress near her wrist.

  • UN seeks US$1.7 billion as humanitarian needs soar in Ukraine and neighboring countries

    UN seeks US$1.7 billion as humanitarian needs soar in Ukraine and neighboring countries

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP): The United Nations and humanitarian partners, on March 1, launched coordinated emergency appeals for a combined US$1.7 billion to urgently deliver humanitarian support to people in Ukraine and refugees in neighboring countries. The escalation of conflict has triggered an immediate and steep rise in humanitarian needs as essential supplies and services are disrupted and civilians flee the fighting. The UN estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection, while more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees may need protection and assistance in neighboring countries in the coming months.

    UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said: “Families with small children are hunkered down in basements and subway stations or running for their lives to the terrifying sound of explosions and wailing sirens. Casualty numbers are rising fast. This is the darkest hour for the people of Ukraine. We need to ramp up our response now to protect the lives and dignity of ordinary Ukrainians. We must respond with compassion and solidarity.”

    The Flash Appeal asks for US$1.1 billion to assist 6 million people inside Ukraine for an initial three months. The programme includes multipurpose cash assistance for the most vulnerable people, food assistance, water and sanitation, support to health care and education services, and shelter assistance to rebuild damaged homes. The plan also aims to deliver support to authorities to maintain and establish transit and reception centers for displaced people and prevent gender-based violence.

    Aid groups will need safe and unimpeded access to all conflict-affected areas according to the core humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and operational independence.

    With more than half a million refugees having fled Ukraine to neighboring countries in the past five days alone, and many more expected, support is also required to meet the critical needs of those seeking protection outside the country.

    The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said: “We are looking at what could become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century. While we have seen tremendous solidarity and hospitality from neighboring countries in receiving refugees, including from local 2 communities and private citizens, much more support will be needed to assist and protect new arrivals.”

    An inter-agency Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) for the Ukraine situation asks for a preliminary US$550.6 million to help refugees in Poland, the Republic of Moldova, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, as well as in other countries in the region in order to help host countries provide shelter, emergency relief items, cash assistance, and mental health and psychosocial support to those who fled Ukraine, including people with specific needs, such as unaccompanied children.

  • Reactions on social media to Russian bombing of Ukraine

    Worms that create silk are better than the guys that make bombs
  • What does the military offensive in Ukraine mean for women and girls?

    What does the military offensive in Ukraine mean for women and girls?

    By Alia El-Yassir, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia

    The military attack in Ukraine is undermining access to rights for all, and UN Women is deeply concerned about the rapidly mounting humanitarian crisis inside Ukraine and in the neighboring countries. We know that women and girls will be impacted differently and disproportionally, and we will seek to ensure that their specific needs are adequately met.

    UN Women will use its expertise in Ukraine and neighboring countries to identify and respond to women and girls’ specific needs as they evolve. We will redirect our programming on the ground and share our gender expertise with the UN System and our humanitarian partners to help make humanitarian response plans and their implementation more gender responsive.

    UN Women has been present in Ukraine since 2015, including with offices in the east. Even before the recent escalation, conflict raged in eastern Ukraine and women and girls were severely impacted. More than 1.5 million people – two-thirds women and children – were internally displaced and suffered from impeded access to healthcare, housing, and employment.

    UN Women has been supporting social mobilization amongst women in the conflict-affected areas of eastern Ukraine, advancing their resilience, livelihoods and boosting their capacities and confidence, including by helping them to form self-help groups. We’ve also been working closely with civil society partners and women peacemakers, supporting them with their advocacy needs to ensure their voices are heard in decision-making on humanitarian aid provision, recovery, reconstruction and conflict resolution.

    Since starting our work in Ukraine, the resilience of women and girls, as well as of other groups often left behind such as young people and members of the LGBTIQ community, have greatly impressed us and guided our efforts. We aim to continue to support the efforts of our partners, calling for their rights to be protected, including to benefit equally from aid and the allocation of resources, and to participate in decision making.

    As the number of Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries rises, we will also engage in the refugee response there. With our field presence in Moldova, UN Women plans to conduct a rapid gender assessment. A similar needs assessment of Syrian women refugees in transit in the Western Balkans in 2015 laid bare the specific challenges facing women including, family separation, psychosocial stress and trauma, physical harm and injury, lack of access to sexual and reproductive health, exploitation and gender-based violence. Our work with Syrian refugees since 2015 and the internally displaced women of Ukraine has taught us good practices to help women and girls while they are in transit and as their displacement becomes more permanent. I join our Executive Director in her call to the international community “to keep women and girls at the center and to ensure that the humanitarian assistance planned and provided is gender-responsive.” I also echo statements by the UN SG and the High Commissioner for Human Rights who have called for an end to the military action which undermines human rights and humanitarian law. But no matter how the war evolves, we will continue to identify and respond to the needs of women and girls, ensuring their voices are heard, and work closely with our UN System and humanitarian partners, as well as women’s civil society organizations on the ground to help meet these needs.

    (Originally published on UN Women’s Regional website for Europe and Central Asia)

  • India’s Response to Russian Invasion of Ukraine legitimizes rape of a democracy

    India’s response to Russian invasion of Ukraine has surprise and shocked  democracies and Indians living in democratic countries of the world. India’s abstention from UNSC and UNGA resolutions to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine is being interpreted as legitimizing Russian rape of democratic Ukraine. The Hindu scriptures say that the person who does not object to a wrongdoing to another person is equally guilty as the person doing wrong. Going by that high moral standard, India in siding with the wrongdoer is guilty of being an accomplice of Russia in the genocidal act.

    If one closely studied the mind of the present rulers in Delhi, one would clearly see that Modi government believes in choosing  interests over principles, notwithstanding the declarations of high moral standards and “Ram Rajya” of Modi and his company.

    Suddenly the age-old support to Palestinians disappeared and Israel became a darling of India. What was the motivation? One, Israel offered defense equipment and training to Indian commandos to fight insurgency in J & K. Two, Israel offered technology, including the spying  equipment, and of course, technologies in other fields including agriculture. However, the most gluing factor between Modi and Netanyahu was the latter’s autocratic style of functioning. It was for the same reason that Modi felt drawn to Trump who he endorsed as India’s choice of the President of America in 2020 when at a rally of Indian Americans in Houston  on September 22, 2019  he gave the slogan “Abki bar Trump Sarkar” (Next it is Trump administration), which was an utter violation of the US laws which prohibit a visitor to the US interfering in the internal political affairs of the country. But Modi, as Prime Minister of India, a country that the US considersits  “strategic partner” committed the violation and got away with it.

    India’s response to Russian invasion of Ukraine, some foreign policy experts will argue,  is guided by the harsh geopolitical circumstances. India has to deal with China, a growing and ambitious power in India’s neighborhood. India needs the support of both the US and Russia. Hence, India treaded a path whereby it will not annoy either. However, by abstaining from the US vote to condemn Russia for aggression against Ukraine, India has clearly indicated its preference for now, whatever explanation the foreign ministry of India may give.

    Once again, it has become clear to the world where the sympathies of the present government of India lie. Not with democracies. Surely not. The pattern we have seen of Modi’s preference for autocrats holds.

    One of the reasons which most India watchers either deliberately keep quiet about or have failed to see is the history of the political party governing  India. It is the party that admired Adolf Hitler. It is the party that considers Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi as a patriot who rid India of a man who , according to the perception of this party, was pro-Muslim and responsible for the division of India in 1947. It is the party that wants a theocratic Hindu state by 2025 when the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ( the party’s volunteer corps) celebrates centenary of its foundation.

    The government of India’s foreign policy is not only guided by the tough geopolitical conditions but also by the desire to have the nations on its side when it goes in for a declaration of a theocratic state. Democracies of the world, including the US are not going to be supportive of the anti-democratic move of the Indian rulers. In fact, they will oppose any such move. India will then need Russia, a country that has no qualms about democratic decencies or human rights.

    Modi and his people have long been preparing to realize their dream of a Hindu Nation. They want to amend the constitution and act democratically, for now, but the way they are losing power in State after States , they may fail to have the required  numbers in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house, much like the US Senate) to carry out the constitutional amendment and fail in their democratic bid. So,  they have plan  B to ensure they achieve their dream. And that will not be a democratic way. It is then that they will need Putins of the world.

    Does the scenario frighten you? I wish the world is spared  another genocide.

  • Russia, Ukraine agree on  setting  up evacuation corridors

    Russia, Ukraine agree on  setting  up evacuation corridors

    Negotiators also discussed maintaining a temporary ceasefire in areas where the humanitarian corridors will be located.

    BREST, BELARUS (TIP): Russia and Ukraine have agreed on the need for humanitarian corridors to deliver aid and help civilians exit besieged Ukrainian cities, in the first apparent sign of progress in talks between the warring sides, according to an Al Jazeera report.

    Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky reported “substantial progress” at Thursday’s talks –  the second round of negotiations since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine – saying the “main issue that we settled today is the salvation of people, civilians who have found themselves in a zone of military clashes”.

    However, he did not indicate when the safe corridors may be established. The tentative agreement, reached in Belarus, came as Russian forces continued to surround and attack Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and the second-biggest city of Kharkiv.

    Thousands are thought to have died or been wounded in the eight-day conflict, while more than one million people have fled the fighting in what the United Nations has called the swiftest exodus of refugees this century.

    Ukraine’s negotiator, Mykhailo Podolyak, said the two sides have agreed to set up “communication and cooperation lines” as soon as possible to facilitate the evacuation of civilians. A temporary halt to fighting in select locations was also possible, he said.

    “That is, not everywhere, but only in those places where the humanitarian corridors themselves will be located, it will be possible to cease fire for the duration of the evacuation,” he said. The two sides also saw eye-to-eye on the delivery of medicines and food to the places where the fiercest fighting was taking place, Podolyak said, adding that the two sides will continue the work at “the third round at the earliest possible time”. The delegations also discussed “the military aspect” and “a future political settlement of the conflict”, according to the Russian negotiators. The third round will take place “in the coming days”, also in Belarus, they said. John Herbst, a former United States ambassador to Ukraine, called the agreement on humanitarian corridors a “positive sign”. “If the political will is there to make it happen, it could be a matter of one day or two days,” he told Al Jazeera. “It’s interesting that even as Moscow is dictating unconditional surrender terms to the conflict, they are willing to consider this. I think that may be because of the pounding they are receiving globally for their barbarous campaign,” he added.

    (Source: Al Jazeera)

  • Australian cricket legend Shane Warne passes away at 52

    Australian cricket legend Shane Warne passes away at 52

    NEW YORK (TIP): Australia’s legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne passed away in the early hours of Saturday in Koh Samui, Thailand, according to Fox News. He was 52. The report said, “Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived.” “The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course,” the statement added.

    Shane Warne’s international career spanned 15 years and saw him take 708 Test wickets – No. 2 in the list of Test wicket-takers.

    An iconic name in international cricket, Warne, since making his debut in 1992, played 145 Tests for Australia, picking up 708 wickets with his leg-spin. In his 194 ODI appearances, Warne snared 293 scalps.

    Warne, who made his Test debut against India at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, was named as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Century for his unparalleled achievements in a 15-year career between 1992 and 2007.

    In 2013, he was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. He helped Australia win the World Cup in 1999 and took more wickets than any other bowler in Ashes cricket, the tally standing at 195. He later played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other Twenty20 competitions before retiring from all international cricket in 2013 but continued to be involved in the game as a broadcaster.

    A flamboyant personality both on and off the field, Warne also found success as a commentator and was considered among the sharpest analysts of the game. Warne has passed away on a day when Australian cricket was in mourning after the death of watchkeeping legend Rod Marsh. Warne  had condoled Marsh’s  demise in a tweet this morning. “Sad to hear the news that Rod Marsh has passed. He was a legend of our great game & an inspiration to so many young boys & girls. Rod cared deeply about cricket & gave so much-especially to Australia & England players. Sending lots & lots of love to Ros & the family. RIP mate,” Warne  had posted.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • India abstains on UNHRC resolution to investigate human rights violations, crimes in Russia-Ukraine war

    India abstains on UNHRC resolution to investigate human rights violations, crimes in Russia-Ukraine war

    The resolution was adopted with 32 votes in favor, two against (Russia and Eritrea) and 13 abstentions, including India, China, Pakistan, Sudan and Venezuela

    GENEVA/ UNITED NATIONS (TIP): India on Friday, March 4,  abstained in the UN Human Rights Council on a vote to urgently establish an independent international commission of inquiry to investigate alleged human rights violations and related crimes following Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. The 47-member Council voted on a draft resolution on the ‘Situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression.’ The resolution was adopted with 32 votes in favor, two against (Russia and Eritrea) and 13 abstentions, including India, China, Pakistan, Sudan and Venezuela.

    The countries voting in favor included France, Germany, Japan, Nepal, UAE, UK and the US.

    The resolution, which strongly condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, decides to “urgently establish an independent international commission of inquiry” to “investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and related crimes, in the context of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, and to establish the facts, circumstances, and root causes of any such violations and abuses.”

    A day before the resolution was adopted, India said at the Urgent Debate Thursday regarding the human rights situation in Ukraine at the 49th Human Rights Council Session in Geneva that it is greatly concerned over the steadily worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

    India urged for an immediate cessation of violence and an end to hostilities. “No solution can ever be arrived at the cost of human lives. Dialogue and diplomacy are the only solution for settling differences and disputes,” India said.

    India called for respect and protection of human rights of people in Ukraine and safe humanitarian access to conflict zones.

    “We are also deeply concerned over the safety and security of thousands of Indian nationals, including young Indian students, who are still stranded in Ukraine. We are working together with neighboring States for their evacuation,” it said.Three human rights experts will be appointed to the Commission of Inquiry by the President of the Human Rights Council for an initial duration of one year. The Commission will be mandated to “identify, where possible, those individuals and entities responsible for violations or abuses of human rights or violations of international humanitarian law, or other related crimes, in Ukraine, with a view to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.’ The resolution expressed grave concern at the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and calls on Russia to “immediately end its human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in Ukraine”.

    It also calls for the “swift and verifiable” withdrawal of Russian troops and Russian-backed armed groups from the entire territory of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders.  India has abstained on two resolutions on Ukraine in the 15-nation Security Council and one in the 193-member General Assembly in the last one week. The UN General Assembly this week overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine and demanded that Moscow “completely and unconditionally” withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine. India abstained on the resolution, which received 141 votes in favor, five against and a total of 35 abstentions.

    (Source: PTI)

  • Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna expresses disappointment over India abstaining UNSC resolution on Russia

    Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna expresses disappointment over India abstaining UNSC resolution on Russia

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Prominent Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has expressed disappointment over India’s decision to abstain from the UN Security Council resolution on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, saying it is the US and not Russia that will stand with New Delhi against China’s current expansionist plans. India, China and the United Arab Emirates on Friday, February 25,  abstained from the US-sponsored resolution against the Russian aggression which was vetoed by Moscow. As many as 11 of the 15 members of the UN Security Council voted in favor. Five countries—the US, the UK, Russia, China and France—are permanent members of the council and have veto powers. India is a non-permanent member and its current two-year term expires this year.

    “In 1962, President (John F) Kennedy stood with India against China’s invasion. It is the US, not Russia, that will stand with India against China’s current expansionist plans,” Khanna tweeted on Friday, February 25. “This is the time for India to stand with the free word against Putin. Abstention is not acceptable,” said the three-term Democratic Congressman from California.

    Echoing Khanna, Congressman Eric Swalwell also termed India’s move as “disappointing”.

    “Rep Ro Khanna and I represent the largest Indian-American districts and this vote is contrary to what we hear from our constituents. Indian-Americans believe in territorial integrity and human rights,” said Swalwell, who is serving as representative for California’s 15th congressional district that covers most of eastern Alameda County and part of central Contra Costa County.

    Abstaining from the UNSC resolution that “deplores in the strongest terms” Russia’s “aggression” against Ukraine, India on Friday said dialogue is the only answer to settle differences and disputes. In the country’s explanation of vote in the Council, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said New Delhi is “deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine and urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities”.

    He said that no solution can ever be arrived at, at the cost of human lives. “Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment. It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons, India has chosen to abstain on this resolution,” Tirumurti said.

  • Legislation introduced in US Senate to reform and stop abuse of H-1B visa system

    Legislation introduced in US Senate to reform and stop abuse of H-1B visa system

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Seeking to comprehensively overhaul the H-1B and L-1 visa programs, a bipartisan group of influential senators have introduced a legislation in the US Senate, which they argued will protect American workers and crack down on foreign outsourcing companies that exploit these popular visa programs to deprive qualified Americans of high-skilled jobs.

    The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The H-1B visa programme is the most sought-after work visa among foreign professionals, including Indians. The L-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for the purpose of work in L-1 status. It is valid for a relatively short amount of time.

    The H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act will reduce fraud and abuse, provide protections for American workers and visa holders, and require more transparency in the recruitment of foreign workers, the senators said.

    Introduced by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal, Tommy Tuberville, Sherrod Brown, Bill Hagerty, and Bernie Sanders.

    The H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act will require US Citizenship and Immigration Services to prioritize for the first time the annual allocation of H-1B visas. The new system would ensure that the best and brightest STEM advanced degree students educated in the United States receive preference for an H-1B visa, and also prioritize other US advanced degree holders, those being paid a high wage, and those with valuable skills. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

    The legislation explicitly prohibits the replacement of American workers by H-1B or L-1 visa holders and clarifies that the working conditions of similarly employed American workers may not be adversely affected by the hiring of an H-1B worker, including H-1B workers who have been placed by another employer at the American worker’s worksite, a media release said.

    “Reforming the H-1B and L-1 visa programs is a critical component to fixing America’s broken immigration system,” Durbin said. “For years, outsourcing companies have used legal loopholes to displace qualified American workers, exploit foreign workers, and facilitate the outsourcing of American jobs. Our legislation would fix these broken programs, protect workers, and put an end to these abuses,” he said. “Congress created the H-1B and L-1 visa programs to complement America’s high-skilled workforce, not replace it. Unfortunately, some companies are trying to exploit the programs by cutting American workers for cheaper labor. We need programs dedicated to putting American workers first,” Grassley said.

    “When skilled foreign workers are needed to meet the demands of our labor market, we must also ensure that visa applicants who honed their skills at American colleges and universities are a priority over the importation of more foreign workers. Our bill takes steps to ensure that the programs work for Americans and skilled foreign workers alike,” he added.

    According to the senators, the legislation will target outsourcing companies that import large numbers of H-1B and L-1 workers for temporary training purposes only to send the workers back to their home countries to do the same job.

    Specifically, the bill would prohibit companies with more than 50 employees, of which at least half are H-1B or L-1 holders, from hiring additional H-1B employees. The bill gives the US Department of Labor enhanced authority to review, investigate, and audit employer compliance with programme requirements, as well as to penalize fraudulent or abusive conduct.

    It requires the production of extensive statistical data about the H-1B and L-1 programs, including wage data, worker education levels, place of employment, and gender.

    In addition, the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act includes several reforms of the L-1 visa programme, including the establishment of a wage floor for L-1 workers; authority for the US Department of Homeland Security to investigate, audit, and enforce compliance with the L-1 programme requirements; assurance that intra-company transfers occur between legitimate branches of a company and do not involve “shell” facilities; and a change to the definition of “specialized knowledge” to ensure that L-1 visas are reserved only for truly key personnel, the media release said.

    “This legislation will crackdown on the manipulation of existing vulnerabilities to ensure employers prioritize the American worker before considering any high-skilled foreign applicants. If we are going to get our economy back up and running, we need to do it correctly and that begins with utilizing the talent we have here at home first and foremost,” said Senator Tuberville.

    US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Monday , February 28, announced that it has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa US advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2022.

    (Source: PTI)

  • March 4 New York & Dallas E – Edition

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    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Dual Edition” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F03%2FTIP-March-4-Dual-Edition.pdf”][vc_single_image image=”121075″ img_size=”FULL” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/TIP-March-4-Dual-Edition.pdf”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”82828″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][vc_single_image image=”82829″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Lead Stories This Week” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2F%20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_wp_posts number=”8″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Tons of space junk likely to punch hole up to 20-metre hole in moon

    Tons of space junk likely to punch hole up to 20-metre hole in moon

    The moon is about to get walloped by 3 tons of space junk, a punch that will carve out a crater that could fit several semitractor-trailers. The leftover rocket will smash into the far side of the moon at 5,800 mph (9,300 kph) on Friday, March 4, away from telescopes’ prying eyes. It may take weeks, even months, to confirm the impact through satellite images. It’s been tumbling haphazardly through space, experts believe, since China launched it nearly a decade ago. But Chinese officials are dubious it’s theirs. No matter whose it is, scientists expect the object to carve out a hole 33 feet to 66 feet (10 to 20 meters) across and send moon dust flying hundreds of miles (kilometers) across the barren, pockmarked surface. Low-orbiting space junk is relatively easy to track. Objects launching deeper into space are unlikely to hit anything and these far-flung pieces are usually soon forgotten, except by a handful of observers who enjoy playing celestial detective on the side. SpaceX originally took the rap for the upcoming lunar litter after asteroid tracker Bill Gray identified the collision course in January. He corrected himself a month later, saying the “mystery” object was not a SpaceX Falcon rocket upper stage from the 2015 launch of a deep space climate observatory for NASA. Gray said it was likely the third stage of a Chinese rocket that sent a test sample capsule to the moon and back in 2014. But Chinese ministry officials said the upper stage had reentered Earth’s atmosphere and burned up. But there were two Chinese missions with similar designations — the test flight and 2020’s lunar sample return mission — and U.S. observers believe the two are getting mixed up. The U.S. Space Command, which tracks lower space junk, confirmed Tuesday that the Chinese upper stage from the 2014 lunar mission never deorbited, as previously indicated in its database. But it could not confirm the country of origin for the object about to strike the moon. “We focus on objects closer to the Earth,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

    Gray, a mathematician and physicist, said he’s confident now that it’s China’s rocket.

    “I’ve become a little bit more cautious of such matters,” he said. “But I really just don’t see any way it could be anything else.”

    Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics supports Gray’s revised assessment, but notes: “The effect will be the same. It’ll leave yet another small crater on the moon.”

              Source: AP

  • Fitbit recalls millions of ‘Ionic’ smartwatches after battery burn reports

    Fitbit recalls millions of ‘Ionic’ smartwatches after battery burn reports

    Google-owned wearable brand Fitbit on Wednesday said it is recalling its ‘Ionic’ smartwatch following reports of an overheating battery and potential burn injury. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in the US said in a statement that at least 115 people in the US— and 59 globally—have reported an overheating battery on the device. There were 118 reports of burns, with two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns. “Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Ionic smartwatches and contact Fitbit to receive pre-paid packaging to return the device” the commission warned. The lithium-ion battery in the Ionic smartwatch with the model number FB503 can overheat, posing a burn hazard. There are around 1 million of these smartwatches in the U, and in addition, about 693,000 were sold internationally. “Customer safety is always Fitbit’s top priority and out of an abundance of caution, we are conducting a voluntary recall of Fitbit Ionic smartwatches,” the company said in a statement.   Source: IANS

  • Researchers build low-cost solar-powered desalination system that could help provide portable water

    Researchers build low-cost solar-powered desalination system that could help provide portable water

    A team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China have come up with an inexpensive passive solar evaporation system that can be used to clean wastewater or desalinate saline water in order to provide potable water. Most modern attempts at solar desalination use some kind of wick to draw salty water through the device. But these wicks face the problem of salt accumulation, which causes the system’s efficiency to drop and requires regular and periodic maintenance, making it much more expensive and much less practical.

    The new research findings have been published in a paper in the journal Nature Communications by MIT graduate student Lenan Zhang, postdoctoral associate Xiangyu Li, professor of mechanical engineering Evelyn Wang, and four others.

    In order to avoid the problem of salt accumulation, the team created a wick-free system. Their system features a layered design with dark material at the top to absorb the sun’s heat, followed by a thin layer of water that sits above a perforated layer of material, which itself sits above a reservoir of salty or non-potable water like a tank or a pond.

    “The recent development has been using wicking structures and novel materials to achieve high performance. But because of capture pressure, you restrict mass flow. Only the freshwater is evaporating. This leaves a lot of salt in this confined porous structure. This accumulates so much salt, that the system stops being efficient. This creates a reliability issue. We utilise natural convention to avoid using such materials,” Xiangyu Li told indianexpress.com.

    After a lot of experimentation, the researchers determined the optimal size of the holes drilled through the perforated material (which was polyurethane during the experiments): 2.5 mm across. During the experiment, the holes were made using a high-pressure waterjet but Li doesn’t rule out the possibility of using other methods to create them.

  • Apple expected to launch  iPhone SE 5G with Touch ID on March 8

    Apple expected to launch  iPhone SE 5G with Touch ID on March 8

    Apple event called ‘Peek Performance’ has just been announced. The iPhone 13 maker will host its first event of 2022 on March 8. The new Apple event will be hosted virtually. Apple is expected to announce the new iPhone SE 5G alongside a couple of more products.

    Apple did not reveal what it plans to unveil at the March 8 event. The Apple event invite includes the Apple logo glowing in shades of Blue, Purple, Orange and Yellow. One of the multiple products that could launch on March 8 is the new iPhone SE 5G.

    The upcoming iPhone is rumoured to feature the same iPhone SE 2020 design. It will come with a faster A15 Bionic chip for 5G network support. The budget iPhone will also feature a 4.7-inch display. The iPhone will have thick bezels at the top and bottom of the display, with the latter making room for the iconic Home button for Touch ID. The iPhone SE 5G is also rumoured to come with a 12MP rear camera and a 12MP front camera sensor.

    Alongside the iPhone SE 5G, Apple might also launch a new iPad Air. The colourful invite does suggest that Apple will launch a product in multiple colour options, which does hint at the iPad Air 5. Apple has not refreshed the iPad Air lineup since 2020. Therefore, we can expect the new iPad Air 2022 to launch at the Apple event on March 8. The new iPad will get some under the hood improvements like a faster chip, 5G connectivity and an updated FaceTime camera with features like Centre Stage.

  • Nainital: The Lake District

    Nainital: The Lake District

    Natural beauty abounds in the state of Uttaranchal’s Lake District. Boaters flock to hill-ringed Naini Lake, which according to mythology is one of the emerald eyes of Shiva’s wife. A hike or horseback ride to the top of Naina Peak (aka China Peak), the highest point, provides stunning views of the snow-capped Himalayas. To share a prime vantage point with family members of all ages, take the aerial lift up to Snow View; there’s also a small marble temple at the top dedicated to Dev Mundi.

    Places to visit- Naini Lake

    Situated in the centre of Nainital, Naini Lake (short for Nainital Lake) is a beautiful natural fresh body lake. The lake is in crescent or kidney shape and is one of the most famous lakes of the Kumaon region. Bounded by Naini Peak on North West, Tiffin Point on the South West and snow-capped peaks on the north, the Nainital Lake offers a breathtaking view, especially during early morning and sunset. It is most famous for boating, picnic and evening walk.

    The Nainital Lake is a charming beauty that is surrounded by seven different peaks namely Ayarpata, Deopata, Handi Bandi, Cheena Peak, Alma, Laria Kanta and Sher Ka Danda. The lake itself can be divided into two distinct sections, the northern part called Mallital and southern region called Tallital. Coniferous trees that cover the hillside add charm to the raw beauty of the place. You can also visit Naina Devi Temple on the shores of the lake. A pretty lake that once a European man fell in love with, Naini Lake today serves as a major tourist spot for people from all over the country.

    Snow View Point

    Snow View Point in Nainital stands at a dizzying altitude of 2270 meters above sea level and is one of the most attractive tourist spots of the area. As the name suggests, Snow View Point offers a panoramic view of the mighty Himalayas draped in a blanket of milky-white snow. One can see a picturesque view of all three important peaks- Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Kot peaks together from this point. A huge pair of binoculars has been installed at the Snow View Point that allows you to take a closer look at the Himalayan range and its magical peaks. If you look closer, you will find a small temple housing the images of Ram, Sita, Laxman, Hanuman with Durga and Shiva. An aerial cable car connects you to the Snow View Point directly from the Mall Road of Mallital and shows you a spectacular view of the beautiful town.

    Mall Road Nainital

    The Mall Road of Nainital, which runs parallel to the Naini Lake, connecting the two ends of the hill town (Mallital and Tallital), is the prime shopping, food and cultural centre of the wonder that is Nainital. Whether it is digging into some luscious food or shopping for the cutest local woollens that are to be found, Mall Road is your go-to for it all.

    Officially named as Govind Ballabh Pant Marg, the Mall Road in Nainital was built by the Britishers. Today, the road is synonymous to the town of Nainital. You can see unwary tourists taking a stroll at Mall Road at all times of the day. Entry to heavy vehicles and traffic is prohibited during the peak season of May, June and October.

    Tiffin Top

    Tiffin Top is a very famous tourist attraction in Nainital, also popularly called Dorothy’s Seat. A fantastic picnic spot in its own right, one gets a complete view of the town of Nainital and its surrounding hills in the Kumaon region from this location. Adventure activities such as rappelling and rock climbing are conducted at Tiffin Top as well. The beautiful Tiffin Top is surrounded by trees of Cher, Oak, and Deodar. Naini Lake and Kumaon Hills look lovely when seen from here. On clearer days, one can also get hold of the majestic view of Nanda Devi. The attraction got its name as Tiffin Top after people started to have lunch on top of the hill on Dorothy’s Seat. Tiffin Top is also called Dorothy’s Seat because it was constructed in the loving memory of the English artist named Dorothy Kellett by the army officer Col J.P. Kellett. The officer lost his wife Dorothy whilst she was aboard a ship to be with her four children.

    Eco Cave Gardens

    Famous for its interconnected rocky caves, hanging gardens and the musical fountain, the Eco Garden are a set of six small caves in the shape of various animals. Located in the Mallital area of Nainital, you need to crawl your way in. In the evenings, you can see the spectacle of the musical fountain with various audio video effects.

    The Eco Cave Garden is set up to give tourists a glimpse of the natural habitat of the Himalayan Wildlife by constructing different caves for different animals, similar to their natural home. Lit with petroleum lamps, the most popular caves are Tiger Cave, Panther Cave, Apes Cave, Bat Cave and Flying Fox Cave. Visiting Eco Cave Garden is not recommended for old people and toddlers.

    High Altitude Zoo

    Established in 1984, Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo or Nainital Zoo is situated on the Sher ka Danda hill in Tallital, Nainital. Perched at a height of 2100 metres and spread over an area of 4.6 hectares makes it the only one of its kind. The zoo is home to several endangered species and is a popular tourist spot. The Nainital Zoo is managed by the fund that comes from the entry fees and is managed by the Bharat Ratna Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant High Altitude Zoo Management Society. The major wildlife spotted at the zoo includes Himalayan Bear, Himalayan Civet, Hill Patridge, Tibetan Wolf, Sambar, Barking Deer, Royal Bengal Tiger among other species of birds and animals. During the winter season, the bird enclosures are covered with curtains to keep them warm.

  • Akshay-Kriti portray Bachchhan Paandey’s caring side in new song Meri Jaan

    Akshay-Kriti portray Bachchhan Paandey’s caring side in new song Meri Jaan

    Meri Jaan Meri Jaan, the second song from Akshay Kumar’s film Bachchhan Paandey, was released on Tuesday. On his Instagram account, Akshay uploaded the song and remarked, “Jiske bulaane par Bachchhan chale jaaye, jiske liye Bachchhan marne ko taiyaar ho jaaye (On whose call Bachchhan goes, for whom Bachchhan is willing to die).” The song depicts the relationship between Akshay Kumar and Kriti Sanon, the film’s two stars. It contrasts with the film’s first song, ‘Maar Khayegaa’, which had Akshay in a scary persona that was well received by the audience. The song begins with Akshay and Kriti in a romantic embrace while the words “Bhakuaal bhari mohabbat” (loosely translated to “impressive romance”) show across the screen. Amid the romantic song, Akshay’s character Bachchhan Paandey exhibits his compassionate side as he and Kriti dance about in lush greenery, monuments, and even in the midst of a lake.

    The scene then moves to the centre of the lake, where we find Akshay and Kriti standing on a boat, tenderly gazing at each other before we see the pair in front of a heritage structure. As the song concludes, fans are treated to a brief glimpse of a scenario from the film in which Akshay appears to attack Kriti with a hammer. Kriti’s cry is heard, but the screen goes black before we see what happened. B Praak sang the song and composed the music, while Jaani penned the lyrics. Fans reacted positively to the song right away. One person wrote, “Best romantic song of the year.” Several of them were delighted to see Akshay collaborating with B Praak and Jaani once more.  Source: Filmfare

  • Disha Patani makes Tiger Shroff’s birthday super cute

    Disha Patani makes Tiger Shroff’s birthday super cute

    Tiger Shroff celebrated his 32nd birthday with a super cute greeting from his rumoured girlfriend Disha Patani. She posted a video of the birthday boy staring into the camera with the caption: “Happiest b’day my best friend. Thank you for inspiring millions of us with your hardwork and most beautiful soul. You’re beautiful.” In the music video Befikra, Disha Patani and Tiger Shroff shared screen time for the first time. They later appeared together in the 2018 hit action film Baaghi 2. The actress appeared alongside Tiger in the Baaghi 3 song Do You Love Me. In Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, Disha appeared alongside Tiger Shroff’s father, Jackie Shroff. Tiger Shroff was most recently seen in Baaghi 3, in which he co-starred with Shraddha Kapoor. The actor is best known for his roles in movies such as War, Heropanti, The Flying Jatt, the Baaghi series, and Student Of The Year 2. This year, the actor has an impressive slate of films. Heropanti 2, Baaghi 4, and Ganapath are among his upcoming projects. In 2020, the actor made his singing debut. He will also appear in the Akshay Kumar film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.

  • Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ to be released on September 30

    The first part of filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s much-anticipated historical spectacular ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ will be released on September 30 this year. The production company Lyca Productions revealed the news, while wishing its chairman Allirajah Subaskaran a happy birthday. ‘Wishing our Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran a very happy birthday! The Golden Era comes to the big screens on Sept 30th!’, the company tweeted along with the film’s first look poster. The film is based on acclaimed writer Kalki’s classic Tamil novel ‘Ponniyin Selvan’. The one-of-a-kind narrative centres around the early life of prince Arulmozhi Varman, who eventually known as the legendary Raja Raja Chozhan.

    Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Jayaram, Parthiban, Lal, Vikram Prabhu, Prabhu, and Prakash Raj appear in the film, which Mani Ratnam describes as his ‘dream project’. The film has the best in industry handling each of its departments. The soundtrack for this epic historical drama is composed by A.R. Rahman, while the cinematography is by Ravi Varman. Thotta Tharani, a National Award-winning art director, is in charge of production design, while Sreekar Prasad, Mani Ratnam’s trusted editor, is in charge of editing.

  • Bullet Train: First trailer of Brad Pitt’s film is packed with action

    Brad Pitt’s effortless action-comedy avatar takes centre-stage in the trailer of the upcoming film ‘Bullet Train’, unveiled on Wednesday. As per The Hollywood Reporter, with a screenplay by Zak Olkewicz, the film is based on ‘Maria Beetle’ by Kotaro Isaka. The Oscar-winning actor stars in the stylish action-thriller from the director of ‘Deadpool 2’, David Leitch. Nearly three-minutes long, the first trailer for the film is packed with action and Pitt’s unique brand of charming humour. Pitt headlines an ensemble cast of eclectic assassins, all with their own objectives, set against the backdrop of a non-stop ride through modern-day Japan. In addition to Pitt, ‘Bullet Train’ stars Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon and Benito A Martinez Ocasio.

  • Spooked Courteney Cox sold her house because it was haunted!

    Hollywood actress Courteney Cox sold her house because it was haunted and faced multiple complaints about spirits from guests and former owner Carole King. While appearing on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and being asked about her experiences with ghosts, the 57-year-old actress told the host: “I have had one. I didn’t believe at first, but I lived in this house in Laurel Canyon, which is in LA, obviously. It was Gypsy Rose Lee’s house and Carole King.” Courteney shared how the ‘Tapestry’ singer-songwriter came over and did a seance with her and though she was too starstruck to be fully immersed in the experience, she listened as she explained about the people who had left a supernatural mark on the home, reports femalefirst.co.uk. She continued: “So Carole King came over to my house and she said there had been a divorce that was really ugly, and there was a ghost in the house. And I was like, ‘Yeah, whatever’. But other people who had stayed there with me, like friends of mine, said they felt an encounter with a woman who was sitting on the edge of the bed. And I was ‘Yeah, whatever.’” The ‘Scream’ star even did a seance with Carole but didn’t pay attention to it because she was so “in awe” of the ’70s music icon.           -Source: IANS

  • ‘West Side Story’ star Ariana DeBose set for ‘Kraven the Hunter’

    West Side Story star Ariana DeBose has been added to the cast lineup for the Sony/Marvel movie ‘Kraven The Hunter.’ Debose, who, according to rumours, will play the role of Calypso joins Aaron Taylor-Johnson who plays the titular character. Calypso is a voodoo priestess who utilizes magic potions, and besides being an adversary of Spider-Man, she is also the occasional partner and lover of Kraven. ‘Triple Frontier’ helmer J.C. Chandor will direct. Art Marcum, Matt Holloway and Richard Wenk will write the script. Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are producing. With ties to Spider-Man, Kraven was introduced in 1964 as a Spider-Man villain. He was born Sergei Kravinoff, he considers himself to be the world’s greatest hunter, a moniker he earns at first through his prowess at tracking and killing big game, often with his bare hands. His drive to maintain his grip on his title leads him to ingest a serum that gives him super-strength and stamina and slows down his ageing considerably. He’s known for wearing a jacket made from a lion’s head and mane. DeBose will next appear in Matthew Vaughn’s action film ‘Argylle’ from Apple, starring opposite Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson and Dua Lipa.

  • Ghaziabad: Jewellery worth Rs 70 lakh stolen from PNB bank locker; probe on

    Ghaziabad (TIP)- A resident of Ghaziabad received the shock of her life when she realised that jewellery worth over Rs 70 lakh was missing from her locker in a nationalised bank. The victim, Priyanka Gupta, a resident of Ashok Nagar, filed a police complaint against the employees of Punjab National Bank (PNB) after the theft came to light. High drama ensued on Thursday as news of a bank robbery spread.

    Gupta has filed a complaint at the Sihani Gate police station alleging that the jewellery worth Rs 60-70 lakh she had kept in the bank’s locker has gone missing. She said that she had been using this bank account in PNB for the last 20 years and her bank locker number is 879.

    She said, “In 2019, I opened my bank locker and did not use it during the Covid-19 lockdown. Last year, in February 2021, I tried opening my locker numerous times using the old key, but in vain. I informed the employees of the bank about the same to which they gave me a number, saying that they would approach me again. I contacted them two to three times but did not get any favorable result.”

  • Decision on 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict Davinder Pal Bhullar’s release deferred

    New Delhi (TIP)- The Sentence Review Board (SRB) headed by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday, March 2,  deferred the decision on the early release of Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, a 1993 Delhi bomb blast case convict who is currently lodged in Amritsar jail.

    The matter has been put off till the next SRB meeting, said a Delhi government official. The demand by Sikh groups for Bhullar’s release had gained ground ahead of the assembly elections in Punjab. The seven members of the Board include the director general of Tihar prison, secretaries of Home and Law departments and director of social welfare department of the Delhi government, a district judge and a senior Delhi Police officer. Bhullar was convicted in connection with the killing of nine people and injuring of 31 in a bomb blast in 1993 in Delhi. Among those who survived the attack is former Youth Congress chief M S Bitta. Bhullar was sentenced to death by a designated TADA court on August 25, 2001. He is undergoing life imprisonment after the Supreme Court commuted his death sentence.