The Indian Panorama

Year: 2022

  • Pakistan court to hear petition seeking Imran Khan’s disqualification for concealing his alleged daughter’s name

    Pakistan court to hear petition seeking Imran Khan’s disqualification for concealing his alleged daughter’s name

    Islamabad (TIP): A top court in Pakistan will take up a petition on December 20 seeking the disqualification of former Prime Minister Imran Khan for “concealing” his alleged daughter’s name in the nomination papers. The Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will hear the petition on December 20 filed by a citizen named Mohammad Sajid who claimed that Khan disclosed the names of his two sons — Qasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan — in the nomination papers and “omitted the name of his alleged daughter Tyrian White.”

    Sajid has sought the former premier’s disqualification under Article 62 (i) (f), according to The Nation newspaper.

    He was referring to an affidavit filed by Khan from nine constituencies in the National Assembly for the bypolls in August 2022. “The respondent no. 1 [Imran Khan] has deliberately and willfully failed to declare his daughter Tyrian White in the relevant columns of the nomination papers and the affidavit appended therewith, hence he is not sagacious, righteous, honest and a man of good character in terms of Article 62 of the Constitution,” the Dawn newspaper reported, providing details of the petition. Sulaiman, 26, and Qasim, 23, are the two sons born to Khan from his marriage with Jemima Goldsmith in 1995. Tyrian was allegedly born out of wedlock with Khan’s former lover Sita White, who took legal action against the former premier in the US. In 1997, a court in California passed a default judgement declaring Tyrian as Khan’s daughter after he refused to take a DNA test.

    The former cricketer-turned-politician has failed to acknowledge Tyrian as his daughter.

    Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan has also informed the Islamabad High Court that it has initiated proceedings to remove Khan from the post of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party following his disqualification in the Toshakhana case. Khan,70, is in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch he had received as the premier at a discounted price from the state depository called Toshakhana and selling them for profit. He was later disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) under Article 63 (i) (p) for making “false statements and incorrect declaration.” Khan was ousted from power in April after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China, and Afghanistan. The PTI chief, who came to power in 2018, is the only Pakistani Prime Minister to be ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament. (PTI)

  • SL Prez holds all-party meet on autonomy demand by Tamils

    SL Prez holds all-party meet on autonomy demand by Tamils

    Colombo (TIP): An all-party meeting convened by President Ranil Wickremesinghe has discussed the 13th Amendment to Sri Lanka’s constitution as mooted by India to resolve the long-standing demand for political autonomy for the minority Tamils in the island nation, political leaders said on December 15.

    The Tamil parties which participated in the meeting on Tuesday urged the government to hold the northern provincial council election.

    “The 13A is already a part of the constitution and it is a point that most parties agreed to,” Tamil Progressive Alliance (TNA) leader Mano Ganesan said. Ganesan, who represents mostly the Western province-based Tamils of Indian origin, said President Wickremesinghe has asked him to forward proposals on the 13A issue on behalf of the hill country Tamil community or the Tamils of Indian origin.

    Ganesan said President Wickremesinghe, main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa were all in agreement with implementing the 13A.

    He urged the government to hold provincial council elections in the northern and eastern provinces so as to give people an idea of self-governance with the full implementation of 13A.

    CV Wigneswaran, former chief minister of the Northern province, said ensuring the councils to have already defined powers which have been denied to the provinces was discussed in the all-party meeting.

    “We raised the issue of land grabbing by the state. They are taking over lands under government departments. This must stop and the land rights must be given to the provincial councils,” Wigneswaran said.

    He said other issues concerning the Tamil minority and the release of political prisoners held under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) were also discussed in the meeting.

    President Wickremesinghe had called Tuesday’s All Party Conference in a bid to arrive at a consensus on the Tamil minority’s demand for political autonomy. (AP)

  • Navy Chief in Lanka, discusses defence ties

    Colombo (TIP): Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar has held discussions with senior political and defence leadership of Sri Lanka, including President Ranil Wickremesinghe, on furthering defence cooperation between the two nations. Kumar, who arrived here on December 14 on a four-day visit, called on President Wickremesinghe on Wednesday. “Discussions focused on furthering defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka towards strengthening bilateral ties. Sri Lanka’s role in steering Colombo Security Conclave towards ensuring peace and security in the region was acknowledged,” the Indian High Commission here tweeted.

    He also called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

    “Discussed the importance of strong defence ties between and means to further strengthen existing linkages between the armed forces of the two countries,” the mission tweeted.

    Kumar also met Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, State Minister of Defence of Sri Lanka.

    “The CNS (Chief of Naval Staff) conveyed India’s commitment towards strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, including opportunities for greater defence industry collaboration,” Indian Navy tweeted on Thursday.

    He also met with Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.

    “Fruitful discussions on maritime security, matters of common interest and prospects for further enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain,” the Indian Navy tweeted. High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, along with the Navy Chief, hosted a reception on board the INS Sahayadri.  (PTI)

  • IS group claims hand in Kabul hotel attack

    Islamabad (TIP): The militant Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a coordinated attack on a Chinese-owned hotel in Afghanistan’s capital that left three assailants dead and at least two of the hotel guests injured as they tried to escape by jumping out from a window.

    Beijing on December 14 advised its citizens in Afghanistan to leave the country “as soon as possible”, following the attack. The militant strike on the Kabul Longan Hotel on Monday afternoon sent plumes of smoke rising from the 10-storey structure building in the heart of the city, according to images posted on social media. — AP

  • U.S. Offers Free At-Home Covid Tests as Part of Winter Plan

    U.S. Offers Free At-Home Covid Tests as Part of Winter Plan

    • With cases on the rise, the Biden administration restarted a program that has provided hundreds of millions of tests through the Postal Service.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The Biden administration restarted a program on Thursday, December 15 that provides free coronavirus tests to American households through the Postal Service, part of a new push by the government to head off rises in virus cases and hospitalizations during the holiday season.

    Federal health officials are staring down a resurgence of the virus as well as worrisome outbreaks of the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or R.S.V., amounting to what some experts have termed a “tripledemic.”

    Dr. Ashish K. Jha, the White House’s Covid-19 response coordinator, said at a news briefing that while R.S.V. cases appeared to be on the decline, the nation was contending with the worst flu outbreak in a decade alongside another coronavirus surge. He again urged Americans, particularly older and more vulnerable ones, to seek out vaccines and booster shots. “We don’t want this winter to look like last winter or the winter before, and it doesn’t have to,” Dr. Jha told reporters at the White House. “We need people to get that vaccine.”

    Over 600 million tests were distributed through the mail before the administration paused the program in September, citing a lack of funding. The program is being revived after federal officials dipped into what the White House described as “limited existing funding” from the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill that was enacted early in President Biden’s term. Households are now able to order four tests at covidtests.gov, with shipments beginning next week.

    (Source: New York Times)

  • AAPI Share the Warmth Program Brings Comfort to the Needy across the USA

    AAPI Share the Warmth Program Brings Comfort to the Needy across the USA

    CHICAGO, IL (TIP)“As the wintry weather is upon us, we at AAPI want to continue the tradition of providing comfort and warmth to those that need the help most during this holiday season,” said Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). “Therefore, we are renewing the tradition under the `Share the Warmth AAPI 2022 Blanket Drive` and request your support to make this initiative a success and impactful.” For several years, AAPI at the national level and various local chapters at the state level have been jointly leading efforts to bring warmth and cheer into the lives of the needy across the United States. This program was started in 2019 and it has now become an annual tradition of giving by AAPI to local communities. AAPI’s “Share the Warmth” project has donated thousands of blankets to the poor and the needy in several homeless shelters  across the nation.

    “I am very happy to inform you that AAPI with local chapters Share a Blanket program going extremely well and I am proud to say that more than 30 Chapters have come ahead to join the program, said Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu, Vice Chair AAPI Board of Trustees and Chair, Share A Blanket program.

    “The goal of the program is for AAPI to work with as many local chapters throughout the nation and function as one entity which is working very well. I request every one of you to make a generous donation to this fund and your contribution would surely give great comfort to the needy and bring a big smile to their faces. Anything would help. Every dollar you donate would make a difference for someone.”

    “We at AAPI are extremely grateful for the opportunities we have been blessed with to serve the communities we live in and work in,” said Dr. V. Ranga, Chair of APPI BOT. “ As a token of our appreciation and gratitude, we believe we need to give back and serve the less fortunate in our society in times of their need. Please contribute generously of any amount and each $15 dollars you donate can provide a blanket to the person in need.”

    Dr. Kolli, while expressing gratitude and appreciation to the numerous AAPI chapters for organizing the blanket drives around the nation said, “Realizing how this initiative benefits several needy in the community, gives us the motivation to organize many such events and give back to the local community. We strongly feel that we can accomplish much more with support and participation from all our generous AAPI physicians. So, please click this link https://aapiusa.org/blanket-program/ to donate and  your contributions are being matched up to the first $10,000 by the generous sponsor ATG Tours”

    AAPI launched the “Share-A-Blanket” project during the holiday season in 2019 during the presidency of Dr. Suresh Reddy to bring warmth to the needy and Dr. Binod Sinha, founder President of NJ AAPI in New Jersey organized and conducted it successfully that year and since then it has been held annually by AAPI and local patron chapters of AAPI.

    American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), founded in 1982  is the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States, representing the interests of over 120,000 physicians of Indian origin. In addition to several programs in India, AAPI  and has been advocating for the interests of the medical fraternity and organizes regular CME programs, health & wellness events,  and financial workshops for its members and outreach, public health education, and advocacy activities for the community both locally and internationally. For more details and to join the Share-A-Blanket Drive in your state/community, please visit: www.aapiusa.org

  • US Tech Layoffs Cruel for Indians on H-1B Visas

    US Tech Layoffs Cruel for Indians on H-1B Visas

    • The tech industry has long relied on skilled foreign workers to fill IT and engineering jobs. The majority are employed through the H-1B visa programs

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A wave of layoffs at US technology companies has forced scores of skilled immigrants on temporary visas to find new jobs within 60 days or leave the country. Their predicament underscores how a flawed system is jeopardizing America’s ability to attract and retain the foreign-born talent it needs. The tech industry has long relied on skilled foreign workers to fill IT and engineering jobs. The majority are employed through the H-1B visa program, which brings 85,000 workers to the US each year. The visas last a maximum of six years, during which time workers can apply for legal permanent residence, if sponsored by their employer. Of the estimated 580,000 current H-1B holders, more than half have had an employer petition for them to get a green card. Due to the system’s arbitrariness and inefficiency, however, the process for actually obtaining one lasts years; many immigrants from India – which contributes the largest share of applicants – can expect to wait for decades.

    This backlog leaves H-1B holders vulnerable to corporate downsizing – as tens of thousands have recently learned the hard way, including those at Twitter Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. Under rules put in place during President Barack Obama’s administration, workers who lose their jobs have 60 days to find a new employer to sponsor them or they will have their visas cancelled. At Meta and Twitter alone, at least 350 laid-off visa holders are now racing to secure new jobs before the grace period expires. Even those who do find work may have to relocate their families, sell their homes or settle for less desirable work just to stay in the country.

    Over the long term, broader reform is required to bring in more skilled workers

    Forcing skilled immigrants to endure such upheaval is not only cruel but self-defeating. Among America’s greatest strengths is its ability to lure and assimilate such talent, thereby boosting growth, entrepreneurship and innovation. H-1B workers also create opportunities for US citizens, by enabling companies to invest in domestic operations instead of sending jobs overseas.

    Yet rather than expanding the pipeline for skilled foreign workers, the US’s onerous policies are increasingly pushing them away, with pro-immigration countries like Canada and Australia becoming more attractive destinations for global talent. The number of US noncitizen residents moving to Canada annually has increased 128% from 2017 to 2019, due partly to a program there that expedites employment visas and allows some skilled workers to obtain permanent residence within six months.

    The US should take notice. As a start, President Joe Biden should extend the 60-day grace period for unemployed H-1B visa holders to six months, giving them a fair opportunity to find new jobs, and allow their spouses to continue to work legally in the meantime. Those who’ve applied for green cards should also maintain their place in the queue, rather than having to convince a new employer to sponsor them.

    Among America’s greatest strengths is its ability to lure and assimilate such talent, thereby boosting growth, entrepreneurship and innovation

    Over the long term, broader reform is required to bring in more skilled workers. Congress should increase the overall number of employment-based green cards issued each year and eliminate per-country caps, as a bipartisan bill in the House aims to do. Even better would be to prioritize immigrants with high-value skills rather than those with family ties and establish a points-based system, similar to Canada’s, that gives workers with specific abilities and professional experiences a fast track to permanent legal residence.

    For the moment, such reform appears unlikely, with Republicans focused on securing the southern border and Democrats prioritizing legislation to protect undocumented immigrants. Yet by making the US more welcoming to talent from around the world, a skills-based system would help employers fill critical roles, spark innovation, boost US competitiveness and benefit the economy as a whole. That’s a cause both parties should embrace.

     

  • US Senator writes to Blinken, wants ‘robust discussion’ with India on religious freedom

    US Senator writes to Blinken, wants ‘robust discussion’ with India on religious freedom

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A Republican US Senator has urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to hold a robust discussion with India on the issue of religious freedom of minorities. Senator James Lankford sent a letter to Blinken after the State Department in its annual release of Countries of Particular Concern, Special Watch List, and Entities of Particular Concern designations did not follow the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s recommendations, specific to India, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.

    In its report early this year, the USCIRF had urged the Department of State to designate India as a country of particular concern on religious freedom issues.

    The Biden administration did not agree with the recommendations of the USCIRF. Lankford is asking for the State Department’s legally required explanation to Congress on its designations, a media release said.

    “India was not formally designated despite overt and repeated severe violations of religious freedom. India is an important security partner for the United States and a key counter-weight against China in the Indo-Pacific region,” he wrote.

    “In the context of that partnership, the United States must have a robust discussion about the deteriorating religious freedom conditions for religious minorities in India,” Lankford said.

    The purpose of any designation is to shine a light on the most egregious religious freedom violators and promote continued engagement on the value of religious liberty at all levels of government, he said.

    “Formally designating countries under the IRFA (International Religious Freedom Act) can be an effective diplomatic tool to encourage and secure changes in behavior. I welcome the Department’s explanation for why, in its view, a formal designation would not enhance our efforts to promote human rights in partner countries, such as India,” Lankford said.

    In a statement, the Indian American Muslim Council commended Lankford for his letter to Blinken.

    India has previously rejected the USCIRF’s observations, terming them as “biased and inaccurate”.

    The Indian government has asserted that India has well-established democratic practices and robust institutions to safeguard the rights of all.

    The government has emphasized that the Indian Constitution provides for adequate safeguards under various statutes for ensuring the protection of human rights.

  • Eric Garcetti well-qualified to serve as US Ambassador to India: White House

    Eric Garcetti well-qualified to serve as US Ambassador to India: White House

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is well-qualified to serve as the US Ambassador to India, the White House said Thursday, December 15.

    The statement comes days after influential senator Chuck Grassley opposed Garcetti’s nomination as he faces an allegation of sexual harassment by one of his staff members.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, however, told reporters at her daily news conference that a diplomat in India is a priority.

    “As you know, this is a priority and continues to be a priority for us. Mayor Garcetti is well-qualified to serve in this vital role,” she said. “I would like to express my strong opposition to the nomination of Eric Garcetti to be ambassador to India. I’m compelled to vote against Garcetti due to the serious allegations about sexual harassment and racism to run rampant in the Los Angeles Mayor’s office,” Grassley said.

    His remarks on the Senate floor came amidst the White House intensifying its efforts to push Garcetti in the position which has remained vacant for nearly two years. India currently chairs G20, resulting in scores of diplomatic activities between the two countries, and the Biden administration wants to have its envoy in New Delhi at the earliest. Garcetti, who served as the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles from July 2013 until December 2022, is a close aide of President Joe Biden.

  • NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS CELEBRATES ITS PEER ACADEMY’S FIRST YEAR

    NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS CELEBRATES ITS PEER ACADEMY’S FIRST YEAR

    • The Peer Academy trains peer counselors, who use their lived experience with substance use or mental health conditions to engage patients
    • NYC Health + Hospitals has the largest hospital-based peer workforce in the city

    NEW YORK, NY (TIP): NYC Health + Hospitalsannounced, on December 15,  a successful first year of its Peer Academy, a training program for people who have lived experience with mental health or substance use conditions to become peer counselors. In the first class this spring, students ranged in age from their 20s to their 60s, with an average age of 43. Twelve of the 18 graduates in the first class have been hired as peer counselors at NYC Health + Hospitals. Twenty additional students graduate from the program today. NYC Health + Hospitals currently has 83 peers on staff across the system, the largest hospital-based peer workforce in the city. In addition to the classroom hours required for State certification, the program includes a 2-month, full-time hospital-based internship with rotations in the inpatient mental health unit, emergency department, and street outreach teams. Peer Academy staff work with interns to help them find employment for up to six months after graduation.

    “Peers have an extraordinary ability to connect with patients and help them pursue treatment,” said Charles Barron, MD, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Office of Behavioral Health, NYC Health + Hospitals. “That’s essential in a hospital, where we serve patients with the highest needs for mental health and substance use care. NYC Health + Hospitals is proud to invest in this critical workforce to deliver compassionate and effective care for our patients.”

    “The Peer Academy gave me this incredible opportunity to inspire and support others who are suffering from addiction, so they don’t have to go through it alone,” said Jack Chudasama, a student in the first cohort of the Peer Academy who is now a Peer Counselor at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. “For 30 years, I battled addiction, so being a peer counselor is good for my own recovery, too. It grounds me and gives me a strong sense of purpose.”

    “For years, I saw a psychiatrist and a therapist, but when I started working with a peer counselor and going to a peer support group, I had a breakthrough,” said Brian Pelzer, who receives services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “You’re with other people who have similar problems, and you realize there’s nothing to be ashamed of. I reconnected with my family, and I learned techniques that help me in my day-to-day life. Now I go to my peer group every week, and it’s a part of my recovery.”

    The Peer Academy includes the hours needed for the State certifications to become a Certified Peer Specialist for mental health and a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate for substance use. It includes over 20 hours of online workshops, 177 hours of classroom training, and 126 hours at a hospital-based internship.

    About NYC Health + Hospitals

    NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation. We are a network of 11 hospitals, trauma centers, neighborhood health centers, nursing homes, and post-acute care centers. We are a home care agency and a health plan, MetroPlus. Our health system provides essential services to more than one million New Yorkers every year in more than 70 locations across the city’s five boroughs. Our diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. Visit us at www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.

  • SENATOR LIU, CHAMPIONS MARTIAL ARTS INTL, OPERATION CHILD RESCUE, FO GUANG SHAN NY TEMPLE, AND PS 242Q, PRESENT TOY DONATIONS TO MILITARY FAMILIES OF THE U.S. ARMY’S 77TH SUSTAINMENT BRIGADE AT FORT TOTTEN

    SENATOR LIU, CHAMPIONS MARTIAL ARTS INTL, OPERATION CHILD RESCUE, FO GUANG SHAN NY TEMPLE, AND PS 242Q, PRESENT TOY DONATIONS TO MILITARY FAMILIES OF THE U.S. ARMY’S 77TH SUSTAINMENT BRIGADE AT FORT TOTTEN

    RoseAnne DiPiano Technology Teacher of PS242, Lisa DellAquila Chief of Staff for Sen. Liu
    Sen. Liu, Fo Guang Shan New York Temple

    BAYSIDE, NY(TIP): Senator John Liu, on December 16,  concluded his 2022 Holiday Toy Drive with thousands of toy donations for families of soldiers at the 77th Sustainment Brigade in Fort Totten, Queens. Toy donations were collected throughout the month of December at the office of Senator Liu in Bayside, Champions Martial Arts schools, PS 242Q, IBPS(International Buddhist Progress Society) and by Operation Child Rescue.

    Senator John Liu stated, “The holiday season is the perfect time to give back and show our appreciation to the families of our local hometown heroes at Fort Totten, many of whom are stationed around the world and unable to spend time with their families. Donations came pouring in over the last month from individuals and groups looking to help make the holidays a little brighter this year. We are so grateful for this incredible outpouring of support!”

    Chan Hoon Ro(노찬훈), headmaster of Flushing Champions Martial Arts, said, “We are so happy to have been a part of Senator Liu’s Toy Drive. Last month, we announced this event to our Champions Martial Arts students and everyone was so happy to donate toys. Champions Martial Arts helped donate 943 toys! It’s always good to educate our children about helping people in need and it’s a great feeling when they contribute for a good cause like this.”

    Venerable Chueh Lin(覺麟法師), Abbess of FoGuang Shan New York Temple, said, “In this festive season, we do not forget to give gifts and blessings to military family, so that children can feel the care and warmth of the community. We’re happy to be a part of this wonderful event where we can show our appreciation to soldiers who serve on the front line. Thanks to Senator Liu for hosting this event every year.”

    Toy donations will benefit hundreds of military families stationed out of the 77th Sustainment Brigade at Fort Totten in Bayside, Queens. The majority of soldiers will be deployed this holiday season.

  • Legislator Arnold W. Drucker Commemorates Hanukkah in Nassau County at “Latkes and Lights” Event

    Legislator Arnold W. Drucker Commemorates Hanukkah in Nassau County at “Latkes and Lights” Event

    MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County Legislator Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) joined with his colleagues in government, community leaders and members of Nassau County’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism on Thursday, Dec. 15 for “Latkes and Lights” – an annual celebration of this joyous holiday season. During the event hosted by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the dome of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building was illuminated in blue and guests enjoyed latkes and donuts outside the Legislative Building’s Ceremonial Chamber.

    Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 18.

    “We live in a very challenging world, and the only thing we can use to overcome hatred, intolerance, prejudice and antisemitism is light – because light overcomes darkness and hatred,” Legislator Drucker said. “It was truly humbling to take part in this wonderful annual celebration, and from the bottom of my heart and from my family to yours, I wish you a very happy, peaceful and healthy Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa. May 2023 be the best year yet for all of us!”

    In June 2021, Legislator Drucker filed legislation to spearhead the creation of the Task Force; his proposal was adopted unanimously later that summer. The Task Force began its work this past May.

  • Karen Lin Induction Ceremony to take place on December 20

    Karen Lin Induction Ceremony to take place on December 20

    QUEENS, NY (TIP):  Karen Lin will be sworn in as the first East Asian-American woman elected to the Queens Civil Court. Karen won this past November 8th election with more than 240,000 votes.

    Karen Lin, joined by elected officials, community leaders, friends and family, will be sworn in on Tuesday, December 20 at 4 P.M. Queens County Civil Court, Courtroom 101, 89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435

    Karen Lin has been elected to be the next Judge of the Civil Court in Queens. A dedicated public servant, Karen currently serves as court attorney-referee in Kings County Surrogate’s Court. A former Committee Co-Chair for the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York, she led the creation of the Queens Pro Bono Clinic in 2020 and subsequently the Remote Legal Clinic. For more information about Karen, please visit www.karenlin2022.com and @karenlinforqueens on Instagram and Facebook.

  • Historic BJP Victory Celebrations in New Jersey

    Historic BJP Victory Celebrations in New Jersey

    A view of the gathering at the victory celebrations.

    EDISON, NJ (TIP): Addressing a huge gathering at Royal Albert Palace New Jersey, the first celebrations outside India Jagdish Sewhani , President of The American India Public Affairs Committee said that this is a historicwin for BJP , seventh consecutive win for BJP that shows people of Gujarat have full faith in BJP and Leadership of Shri Narendrabhai Modi ji . This is a vote for development and Performance. People of Gujarat are smart. They totally rejected Revdi  Culture -the culture of freebies. They firmly believe if the country has to prosper every individual has do their  bit that’s Sabh Ka Prayas .

    Mr Sewhani further said that normally in elections people vote for anti-incumbency , but this is the first time that people of Gujarat have voted for pro incumbency and reelected BJP Government for the  seventh consecutive time-  a record in the history of Indian Elections.

    This is because people have faith in Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi who campaigned tirelessly and addressed 31 rallies and held  three Roadshows , including the 50 Km Road show in Ahmedabad.

    Mr Sewhani Thanked people of Gujarat for bringing back BJP to power for the seventh consecutive time.

    As we are entering Amrit Kal ,  India will be among  top three economies in the world in the year 2047 when India will be celebrating its 100th year of Independence, said Mr Sewhani , the foundation of which is laid  by our dynamic Visionary Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi. Mr Sewhani said that this is the beginning of celebrations  and many more events will be organized and held around the United States .

    Every town in United States should celebrate this historic victory, he said.

    Dr Vithal Dhaduk said that Prime Minister Modiji is a dedicated, hardworkingleader and thanked the people of Gujarat for bringing back BJP toPower and reinstalling Bhupendrabhai Patel as Chief Minister of Gujarat.

    Dr Sudhir Parikh called it a historic moment and congratulated Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and asked them to let’s know what we can do for Mother India .

    Shobhna Patel , Albert Jassani, Pramod Bhagat , Mukesh Kashiwala also spoke at the grand celebrations.

  • India in danger of becoming Hindu nationalist State: US Congressman

    India in danger of becoming Hindu nationalist State: US Congressman

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): India is facing the danger of becoming a Hindu nationalist State, an outgoing Democratic Congressman known for his anti-India tirade said on Thursday, December 15.

    Describing himself as a “lifelong human rights advocate” Congressman Andy Levin (62) in his last speech on the floor of the US House of Representatives said the US has had more success in human rights, although the situation was dire in many parts of the world.

    “I have been a vocal advocate for human rights in places like India, which is in the danger of becoming a Hindu nationalist State rather than a secular democracy, the world’s largest democracy,” alleged Levin, who represented the ninth Congressional District from Michigan. In the next Congress, it will be represented by Lisa McClain of the Republican Party.

    “I am a lover of Hinduism, a lover of Jainism, Buddhism and other religions that were born in India, but we need to protect the rights of all people there. Whether they’re Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Jains,” Levin, said.

    The Congressman also highlighted some other countries, including Egypt where he said thousands of political prisoners were languishing in jail.

    “Let me mention just a few highlights. The House passed my bipartisan resolution condemning the coup in Burma (Myanmar) and we have continued oversight of the very troubling human rights situation there as well as the inspiring efforts of the Burmese people to resist repression,” he said.

    “Indeed, my first foreign trip as a congressman was to Bangladesh to visit Rohingya refugees just over the border from Burma there,” Levin said.

    As a lawmaker, Levin was known for making frequent statements against India, including those on Kashmir.

    During a special Congressional briefing titled “India’s Brutal Persecution of Kashmir,” organized by multiple human rights groups, including the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), on April 20, Levin had called for international attention on the issue.

    “While Kashmir may not be in the nightly news, what’s happening there deserves the world’s attention, and it’s still a prime example of how Prime Minister Modi is taking India in the wrong direction in terms of human rights and democracy,” Levin alleged.Levin is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is vice chair of the subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and non-proliferation. During another Congressional briefing organized by IAMC last year, Levin had expressed concern over religious freedom in India.

    “The India of (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi today is not the India I fell in love with,” he said.

    “Why would I be so critical and so publicly critical of a country that I love? The answer is it is because I love India that I am committed to ending these attacks on its people. It is because I am so passionate in my support for the vibrant democracy I came to know as a young man, that I want to see that democracy flourish for generations to come,” Levin said. Following his defeat in the Democratic primary, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described him as a skilled legislator, a valuable leader and a proven fighter for working people.

    “Our House Democratic Caucus is deeply grateful for Congressman Levin’s service, and we will miss his leadership in the House,” Pelosi said. She said public service was in “Levin’s DNA” and that he served as a powerful champion of American workers and working families.

    “On the House Committee on Education and Labor, his passion for economic justice and an unwavering commitment to strengthening America’s labor movement shone through in all of his legislative efforts. He brought to the House Foreign Affairs Committee an unwavering commitment to ensuring America stands as a global force for peace and human rights,” Pelosi said.

  • Seven British-Indians win 2022 Young Dentist Award in UK

    Seven British-Indians win 2022 Young Dentist Award in UK

    LONDON (TIP): Seven British-Indians have received the Young Dentist Award in recognition of their excellence in dentistry across the whole of the UK.

    The 2022 Dentistry Awards, feted as ‘dentistry’s biggest party’, took place late last month at The Athena in Leicester. While Kiran Shankla and Rohit Keshav Sunil Patel won from the Southeast, Sorabh Patel and Vishal Patel won from London. Viraj Patel and Paavan Chouhan from the Northwest and Chetan Sharma from Midlands won along with 20 others who were honored in the Young Dentist award category.

    There was a total of 13 categories in the award, including Dental Laboratory of the Year, Therapist of the Year, Young Dentist, Hygienist of the Year, Dental Nurse of the Year, and more.

    To be considered for the award, the young dentists had to give 750-word answers to a list of questions, provide supporting evidence of their work and their participation in the local community.

    “It’s amazing to be recognized at such a high level. All the hard work and sacrifices made over nine years came down to this one moment,” Kiran Shankla, who works at Wood Lane Dentistry in Berkshire, told Henley Standard.

    Shankla, 32, graduated from the University of Birmingham. Her areas of interest are minimally invasive dentistry, treating young children and cosmetic dentistry. “When the awards first started 22 years ago there were just five entries. This year there were over 900 entries,” said James Goolnik, founder of Bow Lane dental group, and one of the long-standing judges of the awards. Goolnik noted that the awardees via their practices are giving back more to their local communities and emphasizing more on team approach and training.

  • Two Indian Americans in Money magazine’s top 50 changemakers

    Two Indian Americans in Money magazine’s top 50 changemakers

    NEW YORK (TIP): Two Indian Americans are among Money magazine’s 50 influential figures from entertainment, media, business, investing, politics, etc., who are shaping Americans’ finances.

    Rohit Chopra, head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Gaurav Sharma of New York-based fintech firm Capitalize, have been recognized for offering “unique perspective on the gaps within our financial systems – and how they’re working to improve the future for everyday consumers”.

    As the director of the government’s CFPB, Chopra, 40, is tasked with protecting families from deceptive and abusive financial practices.

    Appointed by US President Joe Biden in 2021, “Chopra has already made an outsized impact on the wallets of Americans by helping overhaul how medical debt affects our credit, reduce ‘junk fees’ charged by banks, and more,” says Money.

    As Director, Chopra is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Financial Stability Oversight Council.

    “As far as financial regulators go, 40-year-old Chopra is young, though he’s certainly not inexperienced. In fact, he’s a bit of a financial Forrest Gump,” the Money said.

    During his tenure at the Federal Trade Commission starting 2018, Chopra successfully worked to strengthen sanctions against repeat offenders, to reverse the agency’s reliance on no-money, no-fault settlements in fraud cases, and to halt abuses of small businesses. Prior to his government service, Chopra worked at McKinsey & Company, the global management consultancy, where he worked in the financial services, health care, and consumer technology sectors.

    Chopra holds a BA from Harvard University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. An Australian by birth, Gaurav Sharma is the CEO and Co-Founder of Capitalize — a venture-backed fintech company in New York focused on the retirement savings market. Before founding Capitalize, Sharma worked for JP Morgan, UBS, Morgan Stanley, and Greenlight Capital. After seeing how hard it is for most people to understand their retirement accounts, he decided to build a company that makes it easier.

    “Really honored to be recognized by @Money as one of 50 Changemakers for 2023 – and flattered to be alongside some amazing innovators,” Sharma tweeted.

    Initially, Sharma wanted Capitalize just to solve the problem of finding an old account and getting the money easily into an individual retirement account. Looking forward, though, “our bigger mission is helping the issue of saving for retirement,” Sharma told Money.

  • Indo-Canadian Punjabi diaspora dedicates calendar to Desmond Tutu in Canada’s Surrey

    Indo-Canadian Punjabi diaspora dedicates calendar to Desmond Tutu in Canada’s Surrey

    SURREY, BC (TIP): Punjabi-origin diaspora came together in Surrey in Canada to release a calendar featuring the towering leader of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.

    Desmond Tutu had passed away at the age of 90, leaving behind a rich legacy of struggles for social justice.

    Close to his first death anniversary, Radical Desi, an online magazine in partnership with People’s Voice, Spice Radio, Mehak Punjab Di TV and Channel Punjabi decided to dedicate its calendar for 2023 to him. The event was held on Saturday at the art gallery of Surrey-based painter Jarnail Singh, who made the portrait of Tutu for the calendar that bears important dates related to the history of resistance against racism and colonialism, especially in north America. Apart from Singh, others who participated in the unveiling ceremony included British Columbia Education Minister Rachna Singh.

  • No proposal under consideration to allow proxy voting to NRIs: Government of India

    No proposal under consideration to allow proxy voting to NRIs: Government of India

    NEW DELHI (TIP): No proposal is under consideration of the government to provide proxy voting facility to NRIs, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday, December 16.

    “…no such proposal is under consideration,” said Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in a written reply while responding to a question on whether the government is considering to provide the facility of proxy voting to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). In August 2018, the previous Lok Sabha had passed a Bill to allow proxy voting rights to eligible overseas Indians. But the Bill could not be brought in the Rajya Sabha.

    In 2020, the Election Commission had proposed to the Law Ministry to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) facility, so far available only to service voters, to eligible overseas Indian voters as well.

    It would require changes in the election rules. But the government has so far not taken a call on the issue.

    The EC had told the government that it has been receiving several representations from the Indian diaspora residing abroad to facilitate voting through postal ballots since such overseas electors are not in a position to be present in their polling area as travelling to India for this purpose is a costly affair, and they cannot leave the country of their residence owing to specific compulsions of employment, education or other engagements.

    As of now, overseas Indians have to register as voter, come to India, go to their constituency with the original passport issued to them when they had gone abroad and cast their votes.

    (Source: PTI)

  • Indian-origin Dr Kamal Bawa receives Global Lifetime Service Award

    Indian-origin Dr Kamal Bawa receives Global Lifetime Service Award

    BOSTON (TIP): The Balipara Foundation has honored noted, Indian born, conservation biologist Dr Kamaljit Singh Bawa, with the Global Lifetime Service Award. A Distinguished Professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Bawa is the founder president of the Bengaluru, India-based Ashoka Trust for Research and Ecology and Environment (ATREE).

    The award recognizes Dr Bawa’s work in setting up ATREE’s Eastern Himalaya Program and his contribution to conserving the critical and biodiversity-rich landscape. It was presented at the tenth Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum in Bangladesh on Nov 11, 2022, according to an ATREE press release. Dr Bawa is renowned for his pioneering work on tropical forest trees, extending his field of research from population biology to sustainable use of forest resources, conserving large tropical landscapes and climate change.

    His research on climate change in the Eastern Himalayas is focused on modelling climate change, the impact of climate change and biodiversity and agriculture and the development of adaptive strategies that assign a central role to local knowledge. Research on the sustainable use of ecosystem services constitutes an important element of the overall global change program.

    Dr Bawa founded ATREE in 1996. He is an elected fellow of the US National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of London. He is also on the Executive Committee of the National Geographic Society. Dr Bawa is the editor-in-chief of the journal Conservation and Society and has over 200 publications.

    Since 2013, the Balipara Foundation, headquartered in Assam, has highlighted and invested in the efforts of societal entrepreneurs working tirelessly to create social, economic, and environmental impacts in protecting essential natural resources and restoring the diversity of the Eastern Himalayas. The Balipara Foundation Award recognizes extraordinary visionaries of the Eastern Himalayas and their indomitable contribution. The Awardees continue to live in harmony with nature and adopt sustainable methods for greening the economy.

    These Grassroots Leaders empower, engage, sensitize their communities towards environmental protection and create opportunities for rural livelihoods. Adopting new technologies and inventions with indigenous knowledge, they are the Custodian Experts of their region’s biodiversity, according to the release.

    The awardees receive a Social Impact Recognition Award, including a Citation and a contribution to the organization or individual from the Social Impact Recognition Fund of Balipara Foundation.

  • Indian American Nihar Malaviya named interim CEO of Penguin Random House

    Indian American Nihar Malaviya named interim CEO of Penguin Random House

    NEW YORK (TIP): Indian American publishing executive Nihar Malaviya, currently president and chief operating officer of Penguin Random House’s American division, has been named interim chief executive officer of the publishing house. Malaviya will take up the new role starting Jan 1, 2023, from the current CEO Markus Dohle, who is stepping down, the publishing house announced.

    “Nihar Malaviya to take over leadership of Penguin Random House as interim CEO – he is an outstanding leader and an entrepreneurial publishing professional who knows Penguin Random House inside out,” Bertelsmann group CEO Thomas Rabe tweeted. “I look forward to working even more closely with him.” Malaviya, who assumed his current position in 2019 will report to Rabe. He will also join Bertelsmann’s Group Management Committee (GMC), as well as continue to be a member of the Penguin Random House Global Executive Committee.

    As interim CEO, Malaviya will “lead the creation of new competitive advantages that position the global company for future growth,” the publishing house said.

    He began his career at Bertelsmann in 2011 as a participant in the Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Program. In 2003, he moved within the group to Random House, taking over several positions including president and chief operating officer in 2014.

    He “spearheaded the creation of a variety of industry-first capabilities in data science, supply chain, technology, and consumer insights, and led the successful operations and systems integration of Penguin and Random House—the largest-ever merger in trade book publishing,” according to a press release.

    Malaviya is a two-time recipient of the Bertelsmann Entrepreneur Award for Strategy Execution and serves on the Bertelsmann Technology and Data Advisory Board. He holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the NYU Stern School of Business, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He is also a member of the board of Yale University Press. He resides in New Jersey with his wife and two children.

  • Indian American Natasha Sarin heading to Yale Law School as professor

    Indian American Natasha Sarin heading to Yale Law School as professor

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Natasha Sarin, Indian American counselor to the assistant secretary for tax policy and implementation, is leaving the Treasury Department, to join Yale Law and Management School as professor, according to a media report.

    Sarin, a protege of former treasury secretary and current Harvard professor Larry Summers, led efforts to get more funding for the IRS and stayed to help oversee implementation of the tax elements of the Inflation Reduction Act, media reported.

    Before joining the Treasury Department in March 2021, Sarin was an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and an Assistant Professor of Finance at the Wharton School of Business.

    Her research and teaching interests lie in the areas of public finance and financial regulation. In recent years, Sarin has published numerous papers on tax policy, with particular focus on how improving tax compliance will raise substantial revenue and create a more equitable tax system, according to her official profile.

    Her other work spans multiple aspects of finance, including household finance, insurance, and macroprudential risk management. Sarin’s research has been published in top economics and legal journals, and she regularly contributes to economic policy debates through work with the Hamilton Project, the Brookings Institution, and popular commentary in outlets such as The Washington Post and The New York Times.

    She received a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University, a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, and a PhD in economics from Harvard University.

    Sarin teamed up with Summers after completing her PhD “on a project studying the tax gap and looked into ways those funds could be recouped,” according to a 2021 media profile on Sarin.

    The daughter of a finance professor, Sarin grew up in Northern California, and was captain of her varsity basketball team, as a Yale undergraduate, she landed a summer internship in 2010 at the White House National Economic Council, where she met Summers, who was the director.

    He encouraged her to join the doctorate program in economics at Harvard and ultimately hired her as a teaching and research assistant. “She’s never interested in the math problem just as a math problem. She’s interested in how it drives toward a solution that will contribute to the best policy,” Summers told the media.

  • Indian American doctor dies in Houston car crash

    Indian American doctor dies in Houston car crash

    HOUSTON (TIP): Family and friends are mourning the loss of Mini Vettical, a prominent Indian American doctor, dancer, and a mother of five children, who died in a tragic car crash in Houston, Texas last week.

    An “angel,” “selfless” and “humble and kind” are some of the words used to describe what 52-year-old Vettical, a native of Ramamangalam in Kerala, meant to everyone around her.

    “She was that kind of a unique individual, and she never expected anything from anybody else, including from family,” her husband, Celestine, told media.

    An avid dancer, painter, blogger, Vettical was seemingly good at everything she did, Celestine said. “It’s like, anything she touches, she puts her heart into it.”

    A Baylor faculty member, who worked primarily at Harris Health clinics, Vettical was on her way home from work when she died in a crash in southeast Houston after being hit by a speeding motorcycle, media reported citing police.

    In addition to medically helping underserved populations throughout Houston, family and friends said Vettical was actively involved in organizations like Pratham Houston and the Houston Area Women’s Center. She was also a class volunteer and involved in the church and dancing theatre.

    No matter how much Vettical had on her plate, her daughter Pooja — the eldest of Vettical’s five kids — said she always made time for her most important job of all – being a mom. “She’s beautiful on the outside, but surely the most beautiful person on the inside,” Pooja said. “I’ll always have her as my inspiration. And I know I will never live up to it, but I know that she will always be there as a role model.” ” Dr. Vettical was devoted to caring for the underprivileged and underserved in Harris County at multiple health centers. The Baylor Family Medicine community is in shock and disbelief,” Baylor stated. “Her beloved personality will be tremendously missed by faculty and staff. She leaves a gap that is hard to fill among her colleagues and patients,” the report added. According to her obituary posted on the Dignity Memorial website, Vettical was born in Kuwait in 1970, and received her medical degree from the University of Texas. She specialized in Internal Medicine.

  • Four Punjabi-origin youth killed in two weeks in Canada

    4 Punjabi youth have been killed in just two weeks in Canada.

    BRAMPTON (TIP): In a worrisome trend, four killings of Punjabis have been reported in separate incidents in Canada in just two weeks. These developments have led to panic amongst the parents whose kids are studying in Canada. On November 24, it was reported that an 18-year-old Punjabi-origin teenager, Mehakpreet Sethi, was stabbed to death in a high school parking lot by another teenager in Canada’s British Columbia province.

    On the night of December 3, Pawanpreet Kaur, a resident of Brampton, died after being shot multiple times outside a Petro Canada gas station in Mississauga.

    Pawanpreet’s mother Jasvir Kaur said, “We regret sending her to Canada. We should have kept her here with us.”

    Another incident was reported on December 3, in which a 24-year-old youth, Sanraj Singh, was shot dead in Edmonton. At around 8:40 pm, the police were called to the area of 51st Street and 13th Avenue near Sakav, from where they received information about the firing. As soon as the police reached the spot, they found Sanraj injured. When he was taken to a hospital, he was declared brought dead.

    On December 10, 40-year-old Harpreet Kaur died in Canada after being stabbed multiple times at her home in Surrey in British Columbia.

    Apart from these incidents, 28-year-old Satwinder Singh was injured in a shooting rampage in Ontario on September 12, who later succumbed to injuries.

    Besides, a Punjabi radio host based in Brampton, Joti Singh Mann, was attacked by three persons in August.

    In July, Canada-based businessman Ripudaman Singh Malik was shot dead in Surrey in British Columbia province. The incident took place near the Payal Business Centre in Surrey, where Malik had a business office.

    In March, Harmandeep Kaur, a 25-year-old girl from Kapurthala, died in March after being attacked by a Canadian national. In February, mediaperson Deepak Punj was attacked in the Greater Toronto Area by three persons.

    In September this year, the Indian government had even issued an advisory over “sharp rise in hate crimes, sectarian violence and anti-India activities” in Canada. The Centre had warned its citizens in the North American nation and students flying to it to remain vigilant.

  • Indian American 16 -year-old teenager jumps off Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and dies

    Indian American 16 -year-old teenager jumps off Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and dies

    SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): An Indian American teenager is believed to have jumped off the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and died, according to his parents and officials of the US Coastal Guards.

    The 16-year-old boy’s bicycle, phone and bag were found on the bridge. The twelfth grader is believed to have jumped off the bridge at around 4.58 pm on Tuesday, December 13,  they said.

    The coastal guards said they immediately carried out a two-hour search and rescue operation after they confirmed they saw “a human” jumping from the bridge. They said there is little reason to believe that the boy is alive.

    Community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria said this is fourth incident involving an Indian American jumping off the Golden Bridge in an apparent suicide attempt. According to Bridge Rail Foundation, a non-profit organization that works towards ending suicides on the Golden Gate Bridge, 25 people ended their lives here last year and nearly 2,000 suicide cases have been reported since the bridge opened in 1937.

    The state government is working to create a 20-foot-wide iron mesh on both sides of the 1.7-mile bridge. However, the project that was scheduled to be completed by January this year is running behind schedule and its construction cost has jumped from €137.26 million to nearly €386.64 million. Work on this project started in 2018.