[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”E-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%2F2023%2F06%2FTIP-JUNE-9-E-EDITION.pdf”][vc_single_image image=”144999″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/TIP-JUNE-9-E-EDITION.pdf”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Lead Stories This Week” 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”][vc_wp_posts number=”5″ show_date=”1″][/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]
Month: June 2023
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Crisis-hit Pakistan unveils $51 billion budget, with half to service debt
KARACHI (TIP): Pakistan’s cash-strapped government unveiled a 14.5 trillion rupee (around $50.5 billion) budget on June 9, with over half set aside to service 7.3 trillion rupees of debt.
Pakistan’s economy has been stricken by a balance-of-payments crisis as it attempts to service crippling external debt, while months of political chaos have scared off potential foreign investment.
Inflation has rocketed, the rupee has plummeted and the country can no longer afford imports, causing a severe decline in industrial output.
About 950 billion rupees was earmarked for vote-winning development projects ahead of a general election later this year, while other populist measures include civil service pay rises of up to 35 per cent and a 17.5 per cent increase for state pensions. Presenting the budget to the National Assembly on Friday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar insisted targets had been prudent.
“There are general elections in the country soon, but despite that the next fiscal-year budget is prepared as a responsible budget instead of an election budget,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif blamed his predecessor Imran Khan – ousted by a vote of no-confidence in April last year — for the morass. “Our preceding government has battered the economy,” he said.
Poor being ‘humiliated’. Akhtar Khan Nawaz, a labourer at a fruit and vegetable market in the capital Islamabad, said “the poor were being humiliated.”
“(The budget) will be of no use unless inflation is reduced, the poor will only get relief if inflation is eased,” he told AFP.
Sharif said he was optimistic for an extension later this month on an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan facility crucial to keeping the economy afloat. “The IMF chief has given his verbal commitment… there is no hindrance,” he said.The IMF has told Pakistan it needs to secure additional external financing, scrap a swathe of populist subsidies, and allow the rupee to float freely against the dollar before unlocking another tranche of the $6.5 billion facility. Still, the latest budget sets aside 1.07 trillion rupees for subsidies.
“The government definitely has to take such popular decisions as it is the election year,” said Nasir Iqbal, an economist at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).
The country failed to meet any economic growth targets for the fiscal year 2022-23, according to a key government report released Thursday, with GDP growth a miserly 0.3 per cent.
Dar said Friday that the latest budget was based on GDP growth of 3.5 per cent, although the World Bank projected a less-ambitious two per cent growth in a report issued earlier this week. It also had an annual inflation forecast of 21 per cent, against a current year-on-year rate of 37.97 per cent.
The economy has also been ravaged by record monsoon floods last year that left almost a third of the country underwater, laying waste to vast swathes of farmland and leaving tens of millions homeless.
But the political crisis remains the biggest risk factor in the months ahead.
Former premier Khan’s hugely popular campaign to return to office spilled into street violence after his brief arrest last month, prompting a massive crackdown on his party including mass arrests and trials scheduled for military courts. (AFP) -
Bomb explodes during funeral of Taliban deputy governor; another official killed
Badakhshan (TIP): A bomb exploded on June 8 in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province killing a former Taliban police official. The official identified as Safiullah Samim, was killed during a memorial ceremony for a deputy governor who was killed in another blast two days earlier.
Samim, Taliban’s former police chief for northern Baghlan province, was among those killed in the blast during the funeral ceremony, as per the information given by Moazuddin Ahmadi, the provincial director of information and culture. He said there are casualties and an investigation is ongoing.
The latest explosion occurred near Nabawi mosque during a funeral for Mawlavi Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, the deputy governor of Badakhshan.
Ahmadi was killed by a bomb placed in a car on Tuesday, along with his driver in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan. Ten people were also wounded in the blast.
Local sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the latest blast happened inside the mosque where Taliban officials and local people were present, killing at least 13 people including Samim.
The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for june 6 car bombing.
Ahmadi was wounded in the explosion and died shortly after at a local hospital, according to the director of the information and culture in Badakhshan.
In December, a car bombing killed Badakhshan’s provincial police chief as he made his way to work. The regional affiliate of the Islamic State group known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province said at the time that it had carried out that attack. IS said it had parked an explosive-laden car on the road and detonated it when the police chief was close by. (AP) -
Israeli troops fire tear gas at protesters along Lebanon border
KFARCHOUBA (LEBANON) (TIP): Israeli soldiers fired tear gas to disperse scores of protesters who pelted the troops with stones along the border with Lebanon on June 9, leaving some Lebanese demonstrators and troops suffering breathing problems. The tension on the edge of the Lebanese border village of Kfarchouba began earlier this week over the Israeli military digging in the area that Lebanon claims.
On Wednesday, a Lebanese villager tried to stop an Israeli bulldozer from digging a trench along the border. Once the villager’s legs were covered with sand as the bulldozer moved ahead, U.N. peacekeepers jumped in and convinced the driver to move back. Videos of the elderly man with his legs stuck in the sand dune went viral on social media.
Israel ended an 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon when its troops withdrew from the area in May 2000.
Friday’s protest took place on the edge of Kfarchouba hills, which Beirut says is Lebanese land occupied by Israel. Kfarchouba hills and the nearby Chebaa Farms, are areas captured by Israel during the 1967 Mideast War and claimed by Lebanon.
On June 9, some of the protesters tried to break through a fence in the rugged area overlooked by an Israeli military post. Israeli forces fired tear gas to disperse them while Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers later moved in and pushed the protesters back.
“DO NOT CROSS THE BLUE LINE,” read a banner carried by a U.N. peacekeeper in Arabic, English and French, referring to the border drawn after Israel’s withdrawal in 2000. Israeli troops and several vehicles, including a heavily armoured Merkava tank, were seen in the area.
Lebanese troops were on alert in the area and reinforcements were brought in.
In a statement, the Israeli military said protesters tried to damage a border barrier and threw stones at Israeli soldiers in the area. The military said forces responded with “riot dispersal means,” which typically means tear gas or stun grenades. The military said it “would not allow any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty.”
Andrea Tenenti, a spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping force United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), said peacekeepers are on the ground working to decrease tension in the area.
“We have urged the parties to utilize our coordination mechanisms effectively to prevent misunderstandings, violations, and contribute to the preservation of stability in the area,” Tenenti said. (PTI) -
‘Never seen such a prolonged heatwave in 50 years’: Bangladesh shuts schools, cuts power
DHAKA (TIP): Bangladesh has shut thousands of schools as it struggles through its lengthiest heatwave in half a century, with widespread power cuts only compounding locals’ misery.
Temperatures in the South Asian nation’s capital of Dhaka have surged to around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), with the poor bearing the brunt of the blazing sun.
“We have never seen such a prolonged heatwave since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971,” said Bazlur Rashid, a senior official at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Tens of thousands of primary schools were shut down by the government, and electricity production has been drastically cut, even as demand for air conditioners and fans has surged.
On June 6, the country was forced to suspend operations at its biggest power plant because the government was unable to afford the coal to fuel it. The Bangladeshi taka depreciated about 25 percent against the US dollar last year, driving up the cost of fuel imports and power utilities. Other plants have fallen well short of meeting demand, leading to hours-long blackouts.
‘Falling sick’
Housewife Tania Akhter said that her youngest child was resting at home with classes cancelled, but her 12-year-old daughter was still going to school.
“Those classes should also be shut down because the students are suffering a lot in this heat — they are falling sick,” Akhter said.
The heatwave began in April and ran into early May before easing, then resumed late last month, with forecasters predicting the mercury will remain high until the end of the week.
“Every summer Bangladesh witnesses heatwaves, but this year’s heatwave is unusual,” Rashid told AFP. “In the past, heatwaves would only continue for a few days or a week, but this year it has continued for two weeks and more.”
A study last month by the World Weather Attribution group found that climate change had made record-breaking deadly heatwaves in Bangladesh — as well as India, Laos and Thailand — at least 30 times more likely.
On June 3, the temperature in the northern Dinajpur district hit 41.3 degrees Celsius (106.3 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest recorded there since 1958.
“The heatwave in the past would affect only some parts of the country,” Rashid added. “This year it is very extensive and spread to almost all parts of the country.” (AFP) -
After dam breach, Russia shells Ukraine’s Kherson
Kherson (TIP) : Russian forces on June 8 shelled a southern Ukrainian city, Kherson, that was inundated in a catastrophic dam collapse, Ukrainian officials said, forcing a suspension of some rescue work hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to the area to assess the damage.
At least five people have died, many are homeless, and tens of thousands are without potable water after the Kakhovka dam’s destruction. Ukraine accused Russia of blowing of the facility, which Moscow’s forces controlled, while Russia said Ukraine bombarded it. Hundreds of Ukrainians were rescued from rooftops.
Meanwhile, Ukraine dismissed reports about its counteroffensive.
Media reports suggested the offensive by Ukraine had begun, but a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said, “We have no such information.” Ukraine’s military said the flooding in Kherson had forced Russian troops to retreat by a few kilometres. – Agencies -
Officials say two migrants drowned while attempting to reach Spain, 132 arrive safely
MADRID (TIP): The bodies of two migrants were found on a beach in southeastern Spain after 132 other people arrived in two boats on June 9, a government official said. José María Martín, a central government official in the city of Almeríastold reporters that the two died while trying to swim to the coast. Martín said that they were victims of criminal human smuggling gangs. The two boats carrying migrants are believed to have set sail from Morocco. Spain’s state news agency said the operators had forced the people who died to leave their boat. There were no details on their nationalities. Thousands of migrants from the northwest and sub-Saharan African countries try to reach Spain in overloaded boats each year. Many die in the attempt. (AFP)
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Grim homecoming for South Sudanese fleeing Sudan violence
RENK (SOUTH SUDAN) (TIP): When fighting erupted in Sudan, Rosa Yusif Elias escaped on foot with her seven children over the border to her homeland, South Sudan, where she thought they would be safe.
Instead, they have been stranded for weeks in an isolated camp that has been overwhelmed by the sudden arrival of tens of thousands of people fleeing the violence next door.
“This place is full of flies and snakes, and the food is not good,” said Elias, who fled Sudan after fighting erupted between the army and a powerful paramilitary force on April 15.
She said children were coming down with diarrhoea. “In the last few days, three children have died in this camp.”
The influx adds to an already dire situation in South Sudan, a troubled country that has struggled with war, famine and natural disasters since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. Those arriving have turned to aid groups already under strain trying to provide basic services in a country where two-thirds of the population rely on humanitarian assistance to survive.
The scene near the border is grim, with children suffering malnutrition, tensions over limited resources, and families sleeping in the open as the camp’s population climbs by the day.
“We are suffering in this camp, children are dying,” said Santuke Danga, who is stuck at the camp near Renk, a frontier town that has become the epicentre of this latest crisis.
“We queue up in order to get porridge for the children, at the water point people fight, (there is) no security and sometimes hyenas come.”
The UN refugee agency UNHCR said over 100,000 people have crossed from Sudan since fighting there began about two months ago — an average of more than 1,000 per day. Some arrive on donkeys, too weak to walk any further. Children have been particularly affected, dehydrated and malnourished after the long journey overland through the harsh country. At a health clinic in the camp, a long queue stretched out the door.
ony Puk waited with his one-and-a-half-year-old girl to see a doctor. She was admitted for severe acute malnutrition, a life-threatening condition. “The child felt sick earlier, and there was no medication in Khartoum because there was fighting. That is why he is malnourished,” the father of two told AFP. “We took two weeks to arrive here, and on the road, she was only taking water and milk from her mother.” Asunta Agok, from UNHCR, said a number of people had died upon arriving, including an infant. “The child had a very short illness, and there was no medical team on the ground to provide medical assistance,” she told AFP.(AFP) -
India, US need to have much stronger relationship, says Congressman Shri Thanedar
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): India and the US must work on making bilateral ties stronger and focus on collaboration on education and cultural fronts, Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has said.
He expressed hope that the two sides will talk about cooperation in the education and business sectors and find ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US this month.
“As an Indian American Congressman, I am excited to welcome him to the United States Congress and to this country as a leader of the largest democracy in the world,” Thanedar told PTI on Tuesday, June 6, ahead of Modi’s visit. Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.
“Not only was I born there in India, but I also grew up in India. I believe that the United States and India, the two large democracies, need to have a much stronger relationship,” said Thanedar, who grew up in Belgaum.
“We should also talk about immigration issues, the visa issues, the Green Card backlogs. I think it’s about time that the two nations worked on making the relationship even stronger,” said the US representative from Michigan’s 13th congressional district.
He said the country is currently having a broken immigration system that needs to be fixed.
“We need a bipartisan resolution of this issue and our immigration system is broken. That needs to be fixed. We haven’t really worked on immigration reform for quite some time now .. since the mid-90s. It’s time that the two parties put their heads together and make a meaningful immigration reform including legal immigration,” he said.
Currently, some countries have a long backlog of 10-12 years that is creating a lot of hardship for families, Thanedar said.
“Businesses are looking for a skilled workforce. Our economy cannot grow without a skilled workforce. We need to train Americans as much as we can in terms of giving them the skills to get good-paying jobs,” he said.
“At the same time, we have a larger population of South Asians and other science graduates and postgraduates and they are essential for America’s economic growth.
“I want to do whatever I can to facilitate that, so the American economy can continue to grow, our GDP can grow even at a higher rate and we create more jobs for Americans,” Thanedar said.
(Source: PTI) -
Two Indian Americans among those running for 2024 US President
NEW YORK (TIP): Former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie are among those who have announced their announced they are running for president, joining former president Donald Trump in a growing list of Republicans seeking to unseat Democratic President Joe Biden.
Here is a list of 2024 hopefuls, as on June 8, in both the Democratic and Republican parties.
REPUBLICAN PARTY
DONALD TRUMP
Trump, 76, announced his election campaign last November as he faced some of the loudest criticism yet from within his Republican Party over his support for far-right candidates who were defeated in the midterm elections. Like Biden, he remains unpopular with great swaths of the electorate. But he has retained a firm grip on his base and strengthened his standing in polls after he was indicted by New York prosecutors in connection with an alleged hush money payment to a porn star.
Trump is the front-runner in the Republican race.
RON DESANTIS
After the glitch-filled launch of his campaign on Twitter, DeSantis has moved to further position himself to the right of Trump on a number of key issues. DeSantis, 44, who ranks second to Trump in most polls, has already signed bills imposing new restrictions on abortion and further loosening gun laws, positions that may help him in the Republican primaries but would likely hurt him among independent and more moderate voters in the general election. His battle with Walt Disney Co over its Florida theme park has unnerved some donors, as has his mixed messaging on continued US support for Ukraine.
TIM SCOTT
The only Black Republican US senator has low name recognition outside his home state of South Carolina, but his optimism and focus on unifying his divided party have helped him draw a contrast with the more aggressive approach by Trump and DeSantis. Scott supporters, however, acknowledge that while his sunny demeanor is a selling point it may not be enough to win.
Scott, 57, has only 1% of support among registered Republicans, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. He launched his campaign on May 22.
NIKKI HALEY
A former governor of South Carolina and Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, Haley, 51, has emphasized her relative youth compared to Biden and Trump as well as her background as the daughter of two Indian immigrants. Haley has gained a reputation in the Republican Party as a solid conservative who has the ability to address issues of gender and race in a more credible fashion than many of her peers. She has also pitched herself as a stalwart defender of American interests abroad. She attracts about 4% support among Republican voters.
VIVEK RAMASWAMY
A former biotechnology investor and executive, Ramaswamy, 37, launched a firm in 2022 to press companies to abandon environmental, social and corporate governance initiatives. He announced in February he was running for the Republican nomination. The political outsider has excited a lot of grassroots chatter as a potential alternative to Trump but he remains a longshot candidate.
MIKE PENCE
Trump’s vice president has broken with his former boss over the 2021 attack by Trump supporters on the US Capitol, while Pence was inside the building. Pence, 63, says “history will hold Trump accountable” for his role in the attack. However, Pence, like other Republican White House hopefuls, came to Trump’s defense after New York prosecutors charged him in the hush money case, underscoring the fear of alienating Trump’s supporters in the primaries. Pence, a staunch conservative, is appealing directly to the evangelical Christian community. He will launch his campaign in Iowa on June 7.
CHRIS CHRISTIE
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, 60, who advised Trump’s White House campaign in 2016 only to become a vocal critic of the former president, enters the race as a decided underdog. Only 1% of Republicans said he would be their preferred 2024 nominee in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from May 9-15. He plans to launch his bid on June 6.
ASA HUTCHINSON
The former Arkansas governor launched his bid for the White House in April with a call for Trump to step aside to deal with his indictment. Hutchinson, 72, has touted his experience leading the deeply conservative state as proof he can deliver on policies Republican voters care about, citing tax cuts and job creation initiatives as particular sources of pride. Still, his name recognition remains limited outside Arkansas.
DOUG BURGUM
Burgum, who is serving his second term as North Dakota’s governor, plans to launch his campaign on June 7. Burgum, 66, built a successful software business before selling it to Microsoft Corp in 2001. A proponent of low taxes and fewer regulations, he will likely seek to portray himself as a traditional conservative who will focus on the economy and national security.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
JOE BIDEN
Biden, 80, already the oldest US president ever, will have to convince voters he has the stamina for another four years in the White House, amid voter concerns about his age and his poor approval ratings. Biden allies say he is running because he feels he is the only Democratic candidate who can defeat Trump.
In announcing his candidacy, he declared it was his job to defend American democracy. He does not face a serious threat from a Democratic challenger.
MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
The best-selling author and self-help guru has launched her second, longshot bid for the White House. She ran as a Democrat in the 2020 presidential primary but dropped out of the race before any votes had been cast. She launched her latest campaign on March 23.
ROBERT KENNEDY JR
An anti-vaccine activist, Kennedy, 69, is making a longshot bid to challenge Biden for the Democratic nomination. He is the son of US Senator Robert F Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 during his own presidential bid. Kennedy has been banned from YouTube and Instagram for spreading misinformation about vaccines and the Covid-19 pandemic. -
National Nurses Week celebrated: Many participated in the Webinar organized to mark the event
NEW YORK (TIP): Dr Renee Mehrra of Reenbow Media and Indian American Forum Organized a webinar in Honor of national Nurses Week, Celebrations on May 25. Mrs. Indu Jaiswal RDN Chair of IAF together with Dr Urmilesh Arya Co-Chair of the event, presented the program at the ZOOM at 8.00 PM.
Dr Renee Mehrra in her welcome remarks spoke about the importance of Health Care workers and to recognize for their services. Co Host of the evening Dr Bhavani Srinivasan spoke about the importance of Nurses in providing Quality care to [patients all over the world.
Indu Jaiswal RDN introduced Honorable Deputy Supervisor from Town of Hempstead MS Dorothy Goosby Goosby also congratulated all Honorees and thanked Nurses and health care employees for their Valuable services. Also present was Nassau County Legislature Rosemarie Walker again thanked the nurses and Congratulated all Honorees.
MS Tara Shajan, RN , NAINA Treasure and Director of Nursing from Lincoln Hospital spoke about the History of Nursing profession, how Nurses are advancing in the Medical Field and Paid tributes to Florence Nightingale, Lady with lamp.
Ms Anuradha Khanna started the program with Ganesh Vandana.
Five nurses were recognized, Honored and presented with Citations from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Nassau County Legislature Rosemarie Walker.
MS Suda Sharma Born in Nairobi, studied in London and worked in USA as Registered Nurse. Along with Nursing, she is the founder of Three Community projects that started 19 years ago. She started the Annual Food Drive for Long Island Soup Kitchens and Homeless Shelters., Penny project for Foster Children, and Fundraiser for Safe Home. Suda is very active in all community activities.
MS Jaya Bahadkar studied Nursing in Bombay and has worked in Nursing in the USA for more than 25 years. She is also a Pillar of Indian American Community, very active in IALI, IAF, India Home and several other organizations’ . She was recognized by Assemblywoman Michele Solages with Office Woman of Distinction Award in 2019.
MS Tara Shajan RN was born in Pondicherry, India graduated in Nursing. She has her private pilot license. In 2004 migrated to USA and worked as RN, progressing into leadership experience in Health care services, She is currently Treasurer for NAINA, Director of Nursing in Lincoln Hospital Tara is also very active in community services in USA and has received several awards.
Ms Suja Madhu Studied Nursing in India and is a nurse for more than 40 years. Migrated in the USA in 1987 and started working as an assistant nurse manager in 1992 in Northwell. In 2008 transferred to Zucker Hillside Hospital and continues to work there still. She has been recognized as the Nurse of the Year award 2023for Northwell Health…
Grace Alexander was commissioned from Secunderabad as Lieutenant and midwifery from INHS ASVINI. After few years of work in Medical surgical floors, she worked at University Hospital in Saudi Arabia for 15 years and migrated to US in 2006. She has 20 years of experience as a med-surgical nurse and 15 years in OR. She is a Life member of NAINA and AORN. Currently she serves as Awards and scholarship chair in INANY 2021-2022 and member of scholarship committee.
Several distinguished members joined and praised the efforts of Nurses and their profession.Dr Rajiv Jauhar, Chief of Cardiology at North shore University hospital also commented on the importance of Nursing staff and their contributions in patient care in the Hospitals.
Dr Jagdish Gupta: As the past President of the biggest County Medical Society in the State of New York and serving Brooklyn Community as a Physician for 50 years, I truly believe that Nurses are an integral part of our healthcare team, and they play the most significant role in the care of our patients while in the hospital during the most critical period. Physicians, no doubt as leader of the team, are very important but, with time constraints, are only able to spend limited time. Servicing and caring are left to nurses, so much so, that it has become part of the fabric of their DNA to serve since Florence Nightingale time. Their compassion, dedication and expertise make a remarkable difference in the lives of countless patients every day. As a community leader and President of AIA(NY) Chapter, I am grateful for their unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care and making a positive impact on the World. During this “National Nurses Appreciation week”, we honor and celebrate you as you are true heroes in every sense, today and every day.
Jagdish K. Gupta, MD, FACP, FACG, President, AIA-NY Chapter, Past President, Kings County Medical Society, NY, Mr Gobind Munjal: President National AIA
I am Gobind Munjal and I am National President of The Association of Indians in America (AIA).May 6 is National Nurses Day, an annual opportunity to appreciate the nurses in our lives and remind ourselves of the innumerable ways they contribute to our health and the well-being of those we love. People have celebrated nurses for decades, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that the United States honored these integral healthcare professionals with their own day of recognition. National Nurses Day is the first day of National Nurses Week, which takes place from May 6-12 each year and concludes on International Nurses Day, the birthday of Florence Nightingale.
The 2023 Nurses Week theme “Nurses Make a Difference: Anytime, anywhere – Always”
Nurses work every day to ensure patients get the care they need — and the comfort and compassion they deserve. The complex nature of nursing continues to be physically and emotionally draining, yet nurses carry on providing quality patient care and moving the profession forward, which reinforces the importance of nurse appreciation.
“Nurses need to be emotionally, psychologically, and morally refueled regularly to enable them to resist burnout and its many negative impacts such as moral distress,” said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, Co-Founder of the DAISY Foundation, in a Nurse.com blog. One way to do this is through expressions of gratitude. “Nurses are refueled when they know they have made a difference in the life of a patient or family member, especially when they were unaware of the difference they made,” said Barnes.
This is why nurse appreciation events are so important. Nurses’ contributions are celebrated and recognized each year — as they should be — through special nurse appreciation days, weeks, and months set aside to honor nurses and their specialties.Thanks to the Honorees and all nurses. We do appreciate the work that they do. Happy Nurses week to all the nurses present here.
The webinar was well attended and some of the Community members present were Mrs. Neelam Modi, MS Nalini DAS RD, Sandy Bhatia, Dr Usha Bansal, Mr Amba Sharma, Dr Sollymol Kuruvilla RN PHD, Dr Shyla Roshin RN DNP,Mr Paul Panakal RN MSN, Dr Esther Devadas RN DNP the webinar was successful with the cooperation of Mrs. Flora Parekh Mrs. Beena Kothari, Anju Sharma, Sanju Sharma, Dr Renee Mehrra, Dr Bhavani Srinivasan and Dr Urmilesh Arya. For further details check Website www.indianamericanforum.org.
(Press Release) -
Eminent gastroenterologist Dr. Jagdish Gupta takes over as President of AIA-NY chapter
Dr. Jagdish Gupta gives his presidential address.Dr. Jagdish Gupta. 
Outgoing President Harish Thakkar holds the plaque presented to him. Seen in the picture, among others, are Prem Bhandari (extreme left), Nilima Madan ( 2nd from left), Dr. Narinder Kukar (6th from left), Dr. Shashi Shah, Dr. Jagdish Gupta, Hon Thomas McKevitt, Animesh Goenka, Dr. Sunil Mehra, and Beena Kothari. MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Eminent physician and community leader Dr Jagdish K. Gupta has been sworn in as President of the Association of Indians in America (AIA – NY chapter) for two years. The Oath of Office was administered by Nassau County legislator Hon. Thomas McKevitt to Dr Gupta and his executive committee at a graceful ceremony on June 2 at the county seat in Mineola, NY.
In his presidential address, Dr Gupta said that preparations have started in earnest for AIA-NY’s flagship annual program, the iconic Deepavali on South Street Seaport in Manhattan on October 1. And it will be better and bigger than it was before Covid played spoilsport for a couple of years.
Shreya, a student of Satya Pradeep, gives a classical dance performance. Dr Gupta, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.G., former President of IALI (Indian Association of Long Island) and AAPI-QLI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin of Queens and Long Island), also told the august gathering of former and current AIA office holders and members as well as community leaders that time has come to add to the numerous achievements and milestones of AIA’s past, both at the State and Federal Levels.
“We are working with our Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar and Speaker of the House Carl Heastie to get Diwali Holiday approved for the entire New York State, not just NYC. We are also working with Congresswoman Grace Meng on Bill HR 3336 to get Diwali declared as a federal Holiday,” Dr Gupta said to applause in the legislative chamber of Nassau County. Stressing that these endeavors require moral and financial commitments from all of us, he implored all to support AIA, the NY chapter, and Indian culture to the best of their capabilities.
Dr Gupta, an eminent gastroenterologist, added that post-Covid, to serve the community better they are starting a series of programs via Zoom on physical and mental health. The reach of cultural awareness and educational programs will be expanded with webinars and shows. Dr Gupta encouraged participation in AIA activities by generation-next, adding, “We will encourage and induct young leadership. Atul Kukar, Anuj Goenka, Pallavi Manvar, Amar Manvar and many others like them, who grew up with our motto of ‘Indian Heritage and American Commitment’, have great potential to become young AIA leaders.” Dr Gupta praised his able executive committee team, which includes Dr Tara Lodha as Secretary, Nilima Madan as Joint Secretary, Antia Harish Thakkar as Treasurer, Vice Presidents Dr Vijaypal Arya, Vimal Goyal, Dr Sunil Mehra and Beena Kothari.
Passing the baton to Dr Gupta, Harish Thakkar, who served two terms as President from 2019-22, wished him success and all his support. Thakkar said that when they could not hold the popular Deepavali event in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid, they organized an event at Nasdaq in Manhattan with the massive Nasdaq screen flashing Diwali greetings. They also extended all help possible to the distressed members of the community, including serving food to the needy. PPP materials were provided to health and essential workers.
Others who spoke briefly included Animesh Goenka, Dr Shashi Shah, and Dr Narinder Kukar, all past Presidents of AIA National. Nilima Madan and Beena Kothari ably emceed the program.
A classical Indian dance performance was given by Shreya, a student of Satya Pradeep.
A vegetarian dinner concluded the event. The program was covered by the television media.
Incoming President Dr Gupta has many accomplishments in the medical profession. Born and raised in Hisar, Haryana, he graduated from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi in 1966. He completed his residency and fellowship training at Long Island College Hospital (LICH). He is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Gastroenterology. He is also on the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Medicine in Brooklyn. An Assistant Clinical Professor at SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn, he has been on the TOP DOCTORS list of Castle Connolly for over 20 years consecutively and was designated as SUPER DOC by New York Times for three years. Last year he had the opportunity to serve as the President of the King County Medical Society during its Bicentennial Year Celebrations. He is very active in National AAPI and is on the board of the AAPI Charitable Foundation.
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IOC USA Vice Chairman George Abraham honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Rahul Gandhi
George Abraham with his award and wife Lona who has been a constant companion, poses for a photograph. NEW YORK (TIP): Indian Overseas Congress Vice Chair George Abraham, who is one of the founders of the Congress organization in America a quarter of a century ago, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Rahul Gandhi in a rare honor. The event was the IOC reception to Rahul Gandhi at the Terrace on Park in Queens, New York, June 3, ahead of his public meeting on June 4. To everyone’s surprise, IOC Chair Sam Pitroda announced the honor and invited Rahul Gandhi to present the plaque. It was greeted by thunderous applause from the 300 plus party supporters in the audience. It was a proud moment for Abraham, who started his association with the Congress Party during his school days. He worked in Balajanasakhyam and became the state treasurer. Later he worked in the Kerala Students Union (KSU) before moving to the US.
Now he has completed 53 years in the US and still keeps his Indian citizenship. In the US too, he kept the ideals of the Congress Party in his heart. Congress leaders who visited the US were always welcomed by him and received his hospitality. It was in the 90s that he, along with a few others, came forward with the idea of setting up an organization supporting the party. During a visit of Oomen Chandy, former Kerala chief minister, an organization was formed at a meeting held in his house. Later it grew to become a national organization as IOC.
George strongly believes in individual liberty and equal opportunity for everyone to develop their full potential. Secular to the core, he believes one’s faith is purely a personal matter and should not be mixed up with politics. “Political tranquility is fundamental to societal progress and we all should strive to achieve peaceful co-existence and focus on building a progressive society for our children and grandchildren:, he says.
The award was a befitting recognition for a person for his dedication and hard work. His wife Lona Abraham too worked side by side with him for the organization. Abraham retired as the chief technology officer at the United Nations where he was recognized for the ‘spirit of innovation’ by the United Nations Pension Fund for bringing new technologies to the U.N. to automate various processes.
IOC Kerala Chapter President Leela Maret was also felicitated on the occasion. Leela, who had prepared a souvenir to commemorate Rahul Gandhi’s visit, was invited to the stage and Rahul Gandhi released the souvenir.
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70-year-old Indian American motel manager pleads guilty to human trafficking
ATLANTA, GA (TIP): A 70-year-old Indian American motel manager has pleaded guilty to trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude or forced labor, according to the US Department of Justice.
Shreesh Tiwari, an Indian national and legal US permanent resident, admitted to misusing and abusing his position of power over a female tenant by compelling her to engage in “commercial sex acts”.
“We refuse to tolerate human trafficking of any kind and this conviction reinforces our commitment to protecting all victims of crime in our community — regardless of their status,” said US Attorney Ryan K Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia.
According to court documents, Tiwari began managing the Budgetel Motel in Cartersville, Georgia, in 2020, and hired the victim to work as a house cleaner at the motel.
He was aware that prior to her coming to the Budgetel, the victim had experienced homelessness, struggled with a heroin addiction and lost custody of her young child.
Tiwari promised the victim that he would help her regain custody of her child by providing her with pay, an apartment, and an attorney. Instead of following through with his promises, Tiwari monitored the victim’s interactions with motel guests and employees and forbade her from speaking to them.
In addition, he also made numerous sexual overtures to her and threatened to evict her from the room, report her to law enforcement and child welfare agencies whenever he became angry at her, knowing that she would become homeless as a result.
Eventually, Tiwari began to regularly “evict” the victim from her motel room, and even locked her out of her room at night without warning, forcing the victim to provide sexual favors. According to local media reports, multiple women were allegedly trapped in Tiwari’s net, and investigations are ongoing.
“This conviction demonstrates that the Justice Department is committed to prosecuting motel operators and other landlords who misuse and abuse their position of power over tenants to compel them to engage in commercial sex acts,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Tiwari’s sentencing is set for September 6. He faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine. As part of his plea agreement, Tiwari agreed to pay slightly over $40,000 in mandatory restitution to the victims of the offence. -
Indian-origin Jaspal Singh Juttla jailed for defrauding property buyers in UK
LONDON (TIP): An Indian-origin man has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for fraud offences after he admitted to fleecing potential property buyers, many of them also of Indian origin, out of nearly 16,000 pounds, Scotland Yard said.
Jaspal Singh Juttla, 64, was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court in London on Thursday, June 1, on four counts of fraud by false representation and one count of carrying on a regulated activity when not authorized to do so.
he offences occurred between May 2019 and January 2021 and Juttla pleaded guilty to the offences at an earlier hearing in August last year at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. The offences relate to four victims, where property buyers were conned into handing over approximately 15,790 pounds to Juttla impersonating as a mortgage adviser.
“Jaspal Singh Juttla is a persistent fraud who has exploited people in his own community, using their hard-earned money to fund his lifestyle,” said Detective Constable Anita Sharma, Financial Investigator in the Central Specialist Crime Unit of the Met Police.
“We are grateful to those victims who have been brave enough to come forward in this case but there may be other people conned by Juttla who have not spoken to police. I urge anyone who suspects they may be a victim of Juttla to come forward and report it by calling Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or contacting them online,” she said.
The financial investigators from the Met’s Economic Crime team believe that there are other victims that have been scammed by the ruse and are yet to come forward. Juttla claimed to be a mortgage adviser and offered to assist victims with property purchases. He would meet his clients – who were predominantly of Indian heritage, and some spoke little to no English – at various locations in London, including Southall and Hayes in west London. Some victims were targeted at open house viewings. The Met Police investigation found that Juttla often promised victims to fill out their mortgage applications, arrange a survey for them and put them in touch with a solicitor that would assist with a house purchase. Once the victims paid the fee requested by Juttla, he would ask for more money to cover other services that he had made up. None of these services were carried out and all arrangements failed to surface for the property buyers. On occasions, victims contacted him to ask what was going on, but Juttla would make up excuses in an attempt to put the victims at ease. In some instances, Juttla did provide victims with a refund by bank transfer, but it was never the full amount of the payments he had originally received, the police said. Juttla came to the attention of police in January 2021 after Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting center for fraud, received a crime report from one of his victims. The Met Police said that Juttla was charged in July last year following a thorough investigation. -
Indian American father dies in an attempt to rescue 12-year-old son from water at a beach in California
SANTA CRUZ, CA (TIP): An Indian American has lost his life while rescuing his 12-year-old son at a beach in the US state of California, a report said. Multiple agencies were dispatched to Panther State Beach in Santa Cruz County just after 6 pm last Monday, May 29 when Srinivasa Murthy Jonnalagadda entered the water to rescue his minor son who was unable to get out of the water, California Fire said on Twitter.
Jonnalagadda, who did not know how to swim, managed to rescue his son but was then dragged by the riptide into deeper waters and drowned as his family helplessly bore witness.
He was then boarded onto a California Highway Patrol helicopter and taken to the Stanford Hospital where he died later, media reported. Another man, who helped Jonnalagadda rescue his son, however, got out of the water on his own without any injuries, the report said. -
Operation Bluestar And Punjab
Thoughts on the 39th anniversary of Operation Blue star: The game is for power not for Punjab
By Prabhjot Singh Thirty-nine years after the traumatic Operation Blue Star, Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular, continue to ponder what makes all ruling parties at the Centre to betray
them. All agitations in this border State have ended in trading of power without anything being said about its long-standing demands, be it territorial rights, dams and water works, prime
institutions and its people. Sikhs have been in the habit of hawking newspaper headlines for reasons that extend beyond the geographic boundaries of their motherland for whose independence they made nearly 80 per cent of the total sacrifices. Of late some of the world leaders while eulogizing the contributions this minute minority community has made in the Corona pandemic went to the extent of saying that there should be a gurdwara – Sikh temple –everywhere to look after the suffering humanity.
It is that institution of gurdwara that has been making the Sikh community seek answers from the Central Government in India in general and the national political parties in particular.
Questions about the attack on their sancta sanctorum have either been ignored or they remained mired in controversies. The Sikhs, a global community, have every reason to nurse a grouse both against the Congress – for engineering attack on their sancta sanctorum besides depriving the State of its rightful territorial and rivers water rights – and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not assuaging their hurt psyche without taking any action to mitigate it.
Wreaked by two politics-engineered partitions, this once affluent State continues to struggle to get its long-standing demands, including territorial sovereignty and rightful claim over its rivers waters, met. While the first partition in 1947 played havoc with the life and property of this border province, the second partition took away whatever little progress or gains it had made since independence. All major projects, including its capital, dams and water works and institutions, were taken away and brought under control of the Centre.
It is all the more agonizing for the Sikhs when they look back at the history. Before the 1947 partition, says historian Research Professor Rajmohan Gandhi, the then British rulers tried to appease all major communities of northern India – the majority Hindu community and the minorities Muslims and the Sikhs. Though he did not say in many words that while the Hindus got India and the Muslims Pakistan, the Sikhs had to swallow false promises.
After partition, their agitation for a Sikh Homeland ended in a truncated State they got which was without a capital, most of its dams and water works and many Punjabi speaking areas.
While they were still trying to come out of the trauma of the two partitions, came the Operation Blue star. Whatever are the causes or reasons behind the “Dharam Yudh” morcha that made the Sikhs launch a struggle to get autonomy for States after adopting the Sri Anandpur Sahib resolution of August 1977.
Agreed, violence has no place in any civilized society in general and liberal democracies in particular, Punjab has never been at peace with itself for a continuous period of 30 or more years. To be precise, Sikhs have always been at war, if not with the powers at the Centre then among themselves. And even in their struggle, political, religious or social, they have always pioneered a number of initiatives, both in and outside India. It is here where the role of journalists, as members of the fourth estate, becomes crucial in highlighting injustices done to the State or its people, Journalists are eyes and ears of a society as they play a critical role in preserving democracy. They are mandated to act as watchdogs in liberal democracies as while weaving their stories, they not only understand the importance or significance of Rule of Law but also keep the public good above everything else. While judging a journalist or his or her work, especially in the context of Punjab, it is important to understand the trying circumstances in which they worked. The State had the longest spell of President’s rule besides promulgation of draconian laws to contain militancy. A State that was once acknowledged as the sword arm or sports arm of the country besides serving as the food bowl of the country is now tottering at the brink.
Some experienced journalists, both from within and outside the country, would invariably use objectivity and verification combined with storytelling skills to make a subject both credible and newsworthy. But journalists from Punjab remain suspects in the eyes of the Centre. Punjab has had more spells of curfew than any other State in the country. It is not to suggest that what a journalist writes has general acceptance.
Objectivity itself is subjective. Like everything else, criticism of journalistic works often has political dividends. Increasing attacks by politicians on the credibility of a journalist or a media house have often been part of a conscious strategy to weaken both the accountability and credibility of journalism in general and a journalist in particular.
Of late, we all have been a witness to a collapse of the notion that politically relevant facts can be discerned by news professionals, reiterating the general belief that journalists are no more apolitical leaving their readers uncertain about ingesting the messages communicated to them as credible. These changing perceptions and thoughts apart, there are old timers who are continuing to discharge their role as torchbearers. They religiously follow professional ethics and discharge their duties as ears and eyes of the society they represent. A couple of years ago, I reviewed a book by one of my friends, Jagtar Singh, for The Tribune, an institution with which remained associated for 37 years.
As a veteran journalist and columnist, Jagtar Singh, remained an eyewitness from the very beginning of the fight for Sikh Homeland, to the present. His latest book “The Khalistan Struggle: Rivers on Fire” is the story of militant struggle in the border state of Punjab. It tells students of history as to what sparked this struggle, which were the people in the beginning and how this discourse shaped up as a fight for a separate Sikh state.
Not only this, several other books about the Sikh religio-political discourse in synergy of both the peaceful and militant struggle from the earlier days, have taken up only selective militant actions, as these were the incidents as these shaped the discourse at crucial moments.
For Sikhs, it is not only their emotive bondage with the institution of gurdwara in general and the sanctum sanctorum in particular but has acted as a catalyst to prove to the world that the Sikh gurdwara which the Indian defense forces attacked with mortar, grenades and guns in 1984, are the shelter homes for those in distress.
And these spiritual centers-cum-shelter homes do not discriminate with beneficiaries on the grounds of their ethnicity, color, creed, religion or language. No Sikh would ever take or accept any attack on its place of worship.
Most of those who have done work or written essays on developments in Punjab since 1947 have documented their works well. However, a few important revelations made in the book, including one about the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, need corroboration. The author says that the names of all those who gunned down Indira Gandhi and those who were part of the design to kill her were in public domain. At least three more people besides all those known names were part of the plan to avenge Operation Bluster.
This revelation has not been substantiated as he mentions that one of the three names – Manbir Singh Chaheru – purchased a plot in Mohali for Bimal Kaur Khalsa, wife of Delhi Police Sub Inspector Beant Singh, one of the two assassins of Indira Gandhi. It appears to be a post-action (assassination) association that brought Bimal Khalsa in contact with Manbir Chaheru and Damdami Taksal. All said and done, it was the religious hurt that made Beant and Satwant kill Indira Gandhi. The revelation cannot be dismissed, as corroboratory evidence may have remained unexplored.
Incidentally, I covered most of the militant actions, including assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Beant Singh, besides Operation Bluestar, Kapuri Morcha and the Dharam Yudh morcha.
Coming to the emotive issue of rivers waters, it has been proved that the State Assembly never ratified none of these awards. The assembly took up the issue twice, first during the Akali Government of Surjit Singh Barnala that annulled the 1981 award, and the second by the Congress Government of Capt Amarinder Singh that set aside all water agreements. It may sound strange that none of these Legislative pronouncements could become effective. The issue has been once again thrown open by the Apex Court necessitating the Centre to get back to the rigmarole of holding meetings with the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana. When the Barnala government annulled the 1981 award (Indira-Darbara award), the State Assembly simultaneously endorsed the Rajiv-Longowal accord that mandated the setting up of a Tribunal to resolve the water sharing problem. And the Tribunal so set up – Eradi Tribunal – after submitting its interim report in 1987, failed to give its final report even after
24 years costing the state exchequer several crores. When we talk of Punjab Rivers’ waters issue, reference to Riparian principle or law becomes imminent. Going by Encyclopaedia Britannica, “In property right doctrine pertaining to properties adjacent to a waterway that
(a) governs the use of surface water and
(b) gives all owners of land contiguous to streams, lakes, and ponds equal rights to the water, whether the right is exercised or not.
The riparian right is un-usufructuary, meaning that the landowner does not own the water itself but instead enjoys a right to use the water and its surface”.
Going by the basic philosophy of the Riparian Law or principle, the actual rights rest with the people who live adjacent to waterways. Intriguingly, in the case of Punjab, the actual beneficiaries were uprooted and the State or the center claimed ownership rights over the waters. And select powerful people, holding high positions both in the state and the center, forget about the water awards without ever getting to the beneficiaries, the people, for their endorsement.
Now coming back to the Operation Blue star, after 39 years, there is no credible or authentic version of the whole unfortunate episode that reveals actual drills of the operation, exact total casualties, the fate of the archives, artifacts, books and documents that were there in the SGPC museum damaged during the attack on Golden Temple as a part of Operation Blue star.
Complicity of other powers, including the British government, in the events leading to the Operation Blue star, is still to be told. The only conclusion that can be safely drawn is that the people of Punjab have suffered immensely. And their agony continues unabated.
(Prabhjot Singh is a veteran journalist with over three decades of experience of 14 years with Reuters News and 30 years with The Tribune Group, covering a wide spectrum of subjects and stories. He has covered Punjab and Sikh affairs for more than three decades besides covering seven Olympics and several major sporting events and hosting TV shows.)
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Rahul Gandhi speaks of making a modern India with “love and affection, not with anger and hatred”
The gathering observed silence for 30 seconds in the memory of the victims of the train accident at Balasore in Odisha, India. 
The full house listens intently to Rahul Gandhi. NEW YORK (TIP): “We need to build a modern India with love and affection, not with anger and hatred. Currently, there is a fight going on in our country: a fight between two ideologies. One we represent, and the other is represented by the BJP. On one side is Mahatma Gandhi, and on the other is Nathuram Godse. Gandhiji was modern, forward-looking, and open-minded. However, Godse spoke of the past, never spoke about the future but filled with anger and hatred and was a coward who was unable to deal with his life,” said Mr. Rahul Gandhi addressing a gathering of about 4000 people at the Javits Center in New York on June 4. He has been on a six-day tour of the United States, having visited San Francisco, Washington D.C, and attended this grand finale of the meeting of an enthusiastic crowd who received him with thunderous applause.
“RSS and BJP are incapable of looking at the future. They are driving the ‘car of India’ and looking in the rear-view mirror. They will always find someone else to blame. They may even blame the British for a train crash. Instead of blaming, we must find solutions for issues like Youth unemployment. We need to build a bridge between India and the United States, focus on the partnership, and deal with the challenges we face from the Chinese. Are we focusing on the revolution that is taking place in the fields of mobility, data and connectivity, and transformation in the energy sector”? he asked.
“There is a full-scale attack on the democratic structure and institutions in India, including the judiciary and the media, and that is an attack on the very idea of India. Modern India cannot exist without its constitution and democracy. It is our job to defend it, and one thing that excites me when I meet thousands of you is that you, too, believe in that very idea of India where people would love each other.” he added.He concluded by saying that Indian values aren’t nasty, arrogant, or violent. I intend to build an affectionate relationship with you all where you can tell me what you think and effectively interact with while promoting a nation where we can live with love and affection.
George Abraham, Vice-Chairman of the IOCUSA, opened the meeting by lauding Rahul Gandhi as a profile in courage. “When others remain silent, he is willing to stick his neck out despite threats or intimidation even at the cost of his esteemed positions or even his own dwelling. He is indeed a ray of hope for all of us who are yearning for peace and harmony for our mother land.”
Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of the IOCUSA, praised Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and said, “it has inspired millions and once again provided hope for all of us who aspire for democracy and freedom. Yatra has indeed bridged gaps between communities and promoted mutual understanding”. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to host him today and wished him great success in the future.
Rahul Gandhi shakes hands with the people at the meeting. Sam Pitroda, the global chairman, spoke about the need to awaken and work with vigilance for a better future for India. He said,” IOC is in 30 countries now. We will continue to talk to the global community despite the misinformation, propaganda, and lies emanating from the other side. Future belongs to science, and efforts by the Government to remove evolution and periodic tables are not in the best interests of our next generation”. He also led the meeting to observe a minute of silence in the memory of those who perished in the Odisha train collision.
Mr. Pradeep Samala, who was the General Convenor of the meeting, thanked Rahul Gandhi along with all the dignitaries who were present on the dais. He expressed special gratitude to all the IOC officials and volunteers who made the meeting successful. Mr. John Joseph and Rajiv Mohan played key roles in the areas of hospitality and IT support.
The meeting was further enriched by the presence of many Congress leaders from India who also spoke at the event, including Deependar Hooda, Mani Shankar Iyer, Revanth Reddy, Vijender Singh, Rudra Raju Guduru, Madhu Yakshi, Amarinder Singh Warring, Venkat Reddy, Komati Reddy, Arathi Krishna, Punnala Lakshmaya, Neelima Kota, Alka Lamba. Dilip Chouhan, the Deputy Commissioner of New York City, also spoke.
IOC leaders Phuman Singh, Leela Maret, Thomas Mathew, Rajeshwar Reddy, Ram Gadula, Peter Kothari, Harkesh Thakur, Amar Singh Gulshan, Gurpeet Singh, Kulraj Grewal, Baljinder Singh Kundu, Gurmeet Singh Gill, Gurmit Singh Buttar, Rajinder Dichpally, Nikhil Thagadur, Pawan Darsi, Kawaljit Kaur and Sandeep Vangala, Sharath Chandra Vemuguti, were also present on the dais.Sophia Sharma, General Secretary of IOCUSA , emceed the program . She holds a Master’s in Law in Dispute Resolution from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She started her legal career in 2015, and practices Family Law, Immigration, Human Rights, Wills, Personal Injury and Mediation.
Sam Pitroda (right) , the Global Chief of IOC which has presence in 32 countries introduced Rahul Gandhi. Also seen in the picture (extreme left) is Mohinder Singh Gilzian, IOCUSA President. 
Congress party and IOC leaders on the dais. 
IOC USA President thanked the party leaders, IOC colleagues and the gathering for their presence. Seen to his right is Sophia Sharma who proved to be an efficient MC. -
We will adjudicate 1 million visas in India this year, says U.S. official
WASHIINGTON D.C. (TIP): Describing India as an important partner with whom the United States enjoyed strong people-to-people ties, top U.S. lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to address the visa waiting-period issue in the country on a priority basis. Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Congressman Michael Waltz, Co-Chair of the House India Caucus, during two separate Congressional hearings on Consular Affairs Budget asked top State Department officials why people in India were facing waiting periods of up to 600 days for approval of visa applications.
“The United States enjoys strong people to people ties with India. India is now part of the Quad. We are constantly engaging it in geo-strategic interests that we have. New Jersey is home to a great number of Indian Americans and their families. I appreciate and applaud the department’s heightened focus towards reducing wait times for first-time B1-B2 applicants in India,” Menendez said.
“But despite that progress this past year, India continues to face the longest wait times globally with average wait times for an appointment for the first time B1-B2 applicant ranging between 450 and 600 days. Could you please speak to me as to why that is the case? Why does it take up to 600 days for an adjudication?” Menendez asked during a hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“I’m the co-chair of the U.S.-India Caucus. I think it’s one of the most consequential economic diplomatic security relationships we have in the 21st Century. However, one of the consistent and painful complaints that I receive from Indian-Americans and from our Indian colleagues is the wait time, despite the fact that in India, I believe you have the second or third most consular affairs officers,” Congressman Waltz said during a hearing by the House Foreign Relations Committee.
“The data that I have is that the average waiting period in Mumbai, India, was 587 calendar days. With our trade over $150 billion with the consequential relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi [who came] for a state dinner and visit just this month, what are we doing to fix this? Have you looked at any India-specific policy fast–tracks or issues?” he asked. He said that the delay in visa would impact the business relationship.
“Have you looked at even perhaps a Quad umbrella or bubble for some of these critical business relationships. My state just in Florida, it’s estimated that $8 billion in trade conferences, events and visitors — that’s 250,000 jobs — are affected by these delays. So what are we doing to fix it?” Waltz asked.
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter told the lawmakers at the two different Congressional hearings that the State Department was working hard on it and had taken several steps to address this issue.
“India is a place where we have historically had high demand for visas and there’s just a tremendous amount of pent-up demand. One of the things about India is that every post is unique, but they also had a really devastating bout with Covid 19 quite late and so that their ability to meet the pent-up demand lasted quite a bit longer,” she said. The visa wait times have been reduced by about two-thirds.
“We have opened appointments for Indian nationals, dedicated appointments in other posts for specific appointments and in all other categories. I’m sure you’re aware of this and you’ve mentioned it, wait times are pre-pandemic levels better.” she said.
“We will adjudicate 1 million visas in India this year. Our productivity there is extraordinarily high,” Bitter said.
In the House Congressional hearing Bitter said the US has opened appointments for Indian applicants at other posts that are dedicated just to Indians to make sure that they are able to get their travel needs met.
“We surge staff to India. We reduced wait times by about two thirds at the beginning of the year and we’ll continue to focus on it. We’re very aware of these issues,” she said.
(Source: PTI) -
Donald Trump charged over classified documents in first federal indictment of an ex-president “I am an innocent man!”: Trump
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP) : Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on federal charges in an investigation into his handling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed on Friday, June 9. Trump has become the first former US President to be indicted for a federal crime.
Trump said on his social platform Truth Social that prosecutors had notified his attorneys of indictment on seven criminal counts related to his treatment of sensitive government material that he took with him when he left the White House in January 2021, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The 49-page charging document, alleging that Mr. Trump not only intentionally possessed classified documents but also cavalierly and boastfully showed them off to visitors, is startling in scope and in the breadth of allegations. The indictment is built on Mr. Trump’s own words and actions as recounted to prosecutors by lawyers, close aides and other witnesses, with prosecutors even using against Mr. Trump his own words as a candidate and president professing to respect and know procedures related to the handling of classified information.
The indictment includes 37 counts — 31 of which pertain to the willful retention of national defense information, with the balance relating to alleged conspiracy, obstruction and false statements —that taken together could result in a yearslong prison sentence.
The case adds to deepening legal jeopardy for Mr. Trump, who has already been indicted in New York and faces additional investigations in Washington and Atlanta that also could lead to criminal charges. But among the various investigations he has faced, legal experts — as well as Mr. Trump’s own aides — had long seen the Mar-a-Lago probe as the most perilous threat and the one most ripe for prosecution. Campaign aides had been bracing for the fallout since Mr. Mr. Trump’s attorneys were notified that he was the target of the investigation, assuming it was not a matter of if charges would be brought, but when.
Enumerating the defense and foreign intelligence-related information included in the documents, prosecutors wrote that their “unauthorized disclosure … could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods.”
Investigators had seized a cache of 13,000 documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, nearly a year ago. Of those, 100 were marked as classified.
“I am an innocent man!” Trump wrote in all caps on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, June 8, after announcing that he had been indicted. It is the second criminal case for Trump and the first federal case against him. He is due to go on trial in New York next March in a state case stemming from a hush-money payment to a porn star. The indictment of Trump, who has repeatedly denied any allegations of impropriety, is unprecedented for a former president.
(Source: Agencies)
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Boris Johnson quits as UK lawmaker after being told he would be sanctioned for misleading Parliament
LONDON (TIP): Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has shocked the nation by abruptly quitting as a member of Parliament after being told by a parliamentary committee that he would be sanctioned for misleading Parliament over lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street during his premiership.
Johnson, 58, had been under investigation by a parliamentary inquiry looking into whether he misled the House of Commons about lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Johnson’s decision came on Friday, June 9, as he received a confidential letter from the MP-led privileges committee over the crucial matter.
Johnson accused the Commons inquiry of attempting to “drive me out”.
In a statement, he said: “They have still not produced a shred of evidence that I knowingly or recklessly misled the Commons.”
Earlier on Friday, he received a copy of the yet-to-be-published report, which he claimed was “riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of prejudice”.
In evidence given to the Privileges Committee in March, Johnson admitted misleading Parliament, but denied doing it on purpose.
He said social distancing had not been “perfect” at gatherings in Downing Street during Covid lockdowns.
But he said they were “essential” work events, which he claimed were allowed. He insisted the guidelines – as he understood them – were followed at all times. Announcing he would step down, Johnson issued a lengthy statement in which he said: “I did not lie, and I believe that in their hearts the committee know it.”
“They know perfectly well that when I spoke in the Commons I was saying what I believed sincerely to be true and what I had been briefed to say, like any other minister,” he said.
Johnson said he corrected the record as soon as possible and claimed committee members “know that”.
He said the “current prime minister and then occupant of the same building, Rishi Sunak” also believed they were “working lawfully together”.
Johnson condemned the committee as a “kangaroo court” and claimed that its “purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts”. Johnson’s departure from political life comes less than four years after he won an 80-seat political majority and nine months after he stood down as prime minister after a police fine for breaking his own Covid rules.
In his statement, Johnson hit out at political enemies for targeting him after he was shown the privileges committee findings against him earlier this week. “It is very sad to be leaving Parliament – at least for now – but above all I am bewildered and appalled that I can be forced out, anti-democratically, by a committee chaired and managed, by [the Labour MP] Harriet Harman, with such egregious bias,” he said.
The resignation will trigger an immediate by-election in Johnson’s Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.
It was the second in a day for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after Nadine Dorries resigned as MP for Mid Bedfordshire after her inclusion on Johnson’s peerage list was blocked.
Labour sources view both the seats as winnable.
(Source: PTI) -
An Open Letter to United States Congress
Ref.: Unknown US companies and individuals providing services or products including raising capital in violation of The U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) standards and dealing with a Ghost company working for Russia in violation of US sanctions against Russia.
Hon. Chairman McHenry, Hon. Chairman Wyden & Committee Members: Greetings.
The undersigned wants to draw the attention of the Honorable Committee that unknown US companies and individuals are providing services or products including raising capital to two Indian business entities that has become a threat to US Financial System and Security of our country. It is my humble request to the Honorable members of the committees to investigate these unknown US companies and individuals that have provided or are providing services or products or capital to the two Indian corporations in gross violation of various US Laws.
- Adani Group is raising money in USA for the last 4 years in violation of US Laws:
Adani Group of companies is owned by Gautam Adani with personal relations with India’s PM Modi dating back to the late 1990’s. It won’t be an exaggeration if Gautam Adani is called “The Poster Boy of Gangster Capitalism of India.” Adani’s status as a recipient of favors from Narendra Modi of BJP has been the subject of continuous criticism in India since Modi was Chief Minister of the State of Gujarat for 13 years from 2001 to 2014. The favors gathered speed after Modi took over as PM of India in 2014. Prior to Modi entering Gujarat politics in 1998, Adani was a key ally of Gujarat BJP leaders for years. BJP has been ruling Gujarat since 1995 to the present and it is a well-known fact that Adani helped Modi to become CM of Gujarat in 2001 and later PM of India in 2014. Harvard’s ranking of states and districts in Human Development Index; Gujarat has the lowest rank at 28 out of 28. India’s ranking under PM Modi in the United Nations HDI has fallen to 132 of 191 countries in 2022.
Forbes, Jul 17, 2014: Adani has, over the years, leased 7,350 hectares–much of which he got from 2005 onward–from the (Modi) government in Mundra. He got the 30-year, renewable leases for as little as one U.S. cent a square meter (the rate maxed out at 45 cents a square meter). He in turn has sublet this land to other companies, including state-owned Indian Oil Co., for as much as $11 per square meter. Between 2005 and 2007 at least 1,200 hectares of grazing land was taken away from villagers. See Link # 12 & 8 Adani News
Newsclick EXCLUSIVE: How Gujarat Government Helped Adani’s Port Company
The Adani Group was established in 1988 and became publicly traded in 1994. But its real rise happened under Modi’s reign in Gujarat. From 2002 to March 2013 the group’s revenue rose from $765 million to $8.8 billion while net profits climbed even faster. Gautam Adani’s meteoric success started under CM Modi of Gujarat in 2001 and became an exceptional international story after Modi became PM of India in 2014. From an importer of primary polymers for small-scale industries, Adani grew to become the biggest private operator of ports, Airports, and largest producer of electricity, under the preferential patronage of PM Modi. In addition, the Adani group has substantial interests in a variety of sectors: defense, coal mining, oil and gas exploration, gas distribution, transmission and distribution of electricity, civil construction and infrastructure, multi-modal logistics, international trade, education, real estate, edible oils, and food storage. His companies currently trade in over 30 commodities with at least 28 countries. At the same time, Adani ports are notorious for drug hauls for billions of dollars in India. See Link # 13 & 14 Adani.
(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-58634575)
(https://thewire.in/government/heroin-seuzure-adani-mundra-worry-indian-authorities)
The fact that Adani Group is tightly controlled by family members with very dubious records is well known in India and in countries where they are operating. The corporate structure is totally opaque with dozens of shell companies in various tax havens since the inception of Adani Group. The money is hard to track. Most have flowed into trusts, which don’t report financial results, making it impossible to tell where it ended up. In other instances, recipients simply report in filings that the funds came from a “related party,” offering no other details. And public disclosure in Mauritius, the Cayman Islands and UAE is scant. Moreover in 2018, the provision of dealing with an ‘opaque structure’ and requiring a Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) to disclose every ultimate natural person at the end of the chain of every owner of economic interest with the FPI was done away with by Modi government to benefit Adani.” This rickety structure has become a debt-ridden house of cards with rapid diversification after 2014 when Modi become PM of India.
Louis Vuitton. Tesla. Amazon, Apple, Microsoft; the businesses behind the richest people in the world need no introduction. But last year, Gautam Adani, a state -created Billionaire, a name that does not command the same global recognition joined this rarefied list by becoming the 2nd richest person in the world in Sep 2022, with a net worth of $154 billion, up from $70 Million in 1998. The overall market capitalization of the 10 Adani Group stocks stood at its peak of $232 billion on Jan. 24, 2023, the day New York based Hindenburg Research released its report.
Hindenburg accused that Adani group has “engaged in a brazen stock price manipulation, stock parking, accounting fraud, round tripping of cash, Import-Export scams, money laundering through 38 offshore shell companies etc. over the course of decades.” The report describes a galaxy of shell entities based in the Caribbean, Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates controlled by the Adani family. Further it accused that Gautam Adani’s elder brother Vinod Adani has played a pivotal part in perpetuating what it alleged is “the largest con in corporate history.” See Link # 1 Adani News
Then on Jan 29th, 2023, Adani group in its 413-page written rebuttal, denounced Hindenburg’s report as “baseless” and “malicious,” and accused the firm of having an “ulterior motive” for publishing the “missive.” It said Hindenburg’s actions represent a “calculated attack on India, the independence, integrity, and quality of Indian institutions, and the growth story and ambition of India.” See Link # 2 Adani News
Same day on Jan 29, 2023, Hindenburg Research replied, “Fraud Cannot Be Obfuscated By Nationalism Or A Bloated Response That Ignores Every Key Allegation We Raised. See Link # 3 Adani News
(https://hindenburgresearch.com/adani-response/)
What Hindenburg exposed was well known to Indian journalists for a long time, but they were forced to keep quiet about Adani’s meteoric rise because of fear of reprisal and heavy legal cost for defending themselves in million dollars lawsuits filed by Adani. On top of that, the world’s top reputed Mutual Fund Managers including a few Indian Managers also knew about Adani and for that reason they never invested in the Adani Group of companies. According to Fisdom Research, as of December 2022, mutual fund industry has a negligible exposure of 0.64 per cent to Adani group companies. Of which 0.18 per cent was through the passive route, where the fund manager had no option but to invest in stocks. See Link # 7 Adani News
(https://themorningcontext.com/business/why-do-these-foreign-funds-love-adani-group-companies)
Tim Buckley, an analyst in Sydney, Australia, who has followed Adani’s business for more than a decade said, “The big issue is that Adani has spent the last four years in raising debt on Wall Street. If you raise money in America, you have to play by America’s rules.”
Surprisingly even after Hindenburg Report, Rajiv Jain came up with a rosy presentation to the investors in his Fund GQG Partners, based in Florida by investing $1.9 Billion by calling Adani stocks “could be multibaggers” over five years. Can Rajiv Jain deny the existence of Shell Companies of Adani Bros that invested in Adani Group? Can Rajiv Jain deny the fact that money used by these Shell Companies (1) Could be money stolen from Indian public with the help of politicians OR (2) Could be Drug Money OR (3) illegal Arms Sale Money to Rouge Regimes or terrorist groups OR (4) Chinese Mafia Money OR (5) Russian Mafia Money OR (6) Middle East Royal Family member’s money siphoned off from their own Kingdoms. OR (7) Give detailed response/answers to 88 questions raised by Hindenburg Research.
On top of that Rajiv Jain is peddling lies in the USA based on Modi aka Indian Media reports that Indian Supreme Court has given a clean chit to Adani. Bloomberg columnist Andy Mukherjee wrote that SC panel’s job was not to return a finding on allegations against Adani by Hindenburg.
Saaransh Maurya, a 22-year-old assistant manager, has filed an affidavit in Supreme Court on behalf of SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India). Reacting to it, Shiv Senna (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote, “Must be either super experienced…or naive enough.” Meanwhile, columnist Andy Mukherjee said, “Young enough to be hero of a John Grisham…novel.” See Link # 10 Adani News
(https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/view-adani-probe-will-only-produce-heat-not- light/articleshow/100389548.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst)
According to “The Morning Context, “if you remove these [offshore] funds, the effective [public] shareholding in Adani Enterprises comes down to only 10%.” In Adani Transmission, the “effective public float is about 7-8%.” This is in violation of SEBI’s own rules that listed companies are required to maintain a minimum public holding (or free float) of 25%. This allows a company to raise money from the market. [Note that stock exchanges froze the promoter shareholding of Patanjali Foods after the company failed to meet the 25% public shareholding.] But the Supreme Court’s expert committee report says that these provisions requiring FPI to disclose “ultimate natural person” were done away with in 2018.
Adani, Jeffrey Skilling, Bernie Madoff, Ken Lay, Bernie Ebbers, Scott Sullivan, Robert Maxwell…. There’s an endless parade of swindlers who can pry apart accounting standards and financial regulations wide enough to drive a gigantic con through. They appear every 3 to 5 years. All of them have been prosecuted and locked up in Jails except Biggest Conman in Corporate history Gautam Adani. He is being defended by PM Modi’s Cabinet Ministers, BJP MP’s, Party officials, RSS & entire Media owned by friends of Modi as well as Adani; for being the biggest financial criminal in the corporate history of India; surpassing the other state created thug billionaires of India since 1947.
What the Committee needs to understand is that Adani Group has not invented anything, nor built anything, nor come up with an original business idea like Amazon. It is built on only fraudulent agenda of massively looting public wealth of India with the help of politicians. This wealth was result of the sacrifices made by millions of poor Indians who donated their hard-earned assets to build a better nation. Adani is a threat to the financial system and security of America and must be stopped from operating in America. The US companies or individuals that have helped Adani or are helping him to raise funds and investments in America must be prosecuted. These financially well qualified entities or individuals don’t have a benefit of doubt that they were not aware of Adani’s background and history. People like Rajiv Jain that are promoting Adani in America are a danger to the moral and ethical fiber of our society. Rajiv Jain has no moral & ethical values the proof is his investment in Fraudster Adani Group that may have been created by looting Indian public wealth with the help of criminal politicians installed with the looted money. Since Rajiv Jain is more concerned about “Returns on his Fund’s Investments” than Ethics & Morality, tomorrow he can promote investments in Gambling or Prostitution or Drug or Arms Cartels that can give him better returns than Adani.
2.Gatik Ship Management: A Ghost company backed by Russian’s received services from Unknown US companies or individuals in Violation of US Sanctions against Russia:
Gatik’s Main Business: Crude Oil Shipments on the Russia-India Route. Gatik purchased services related to their shipping business from American Companies despite US sanctions against Russia. These US companies must be investigated and prosecuted for working against America. See Link # 1 Gatik News
(https://www.wsj.com/articles/upstart-indian-shipper-helps-get-russian-oil-to-market-11674985846)
As India does not recognize US sanctions imposed on Russia, it became the biggest buyer of Russian crude oil. Before the Ukraine war, Russia supplied less than 1 per cent of India’s crude. It now accounts for about 30 per cent, according to official trade statistics. India benefited from millions of barrels of Russian oil, sold at a heavy discount than to other buyers. During the first quarter of 2023, the oil bought by India cost $48.03 per barrel — $10 less than the average paid by other countries, according to Kyiv School of Economics research based on Russian oil sale records. India is leading the group of ‘laundromat countries’ that buy heavily discounted Russian crude oil, refine it, and sell the processed products to European countries, thus sidestepping European & US sanctions against Russia.
Gatik which means “speed” in Sanskrit, was born out of nowhere to become the biggest transporter of Russian oil. Gatik has the postal address of a rundown Neptune Magnet Mall in Mumbai and has become one of the biggest international oil shipping giants in over the past 18 months. It owned only 2 chemical tankers in 2021 and by April 2023 it had a fleet of 58 vessels with over 50 crude oil tankers with an estimated value of over $1.6 billion. Great Eastern Shipping founded in 1948, India’s biggest private ship-owner by fleet size, has 67 ships comprising just 8 crude tankers.
Gatik also shares their Mall office/address with little known Mumbai-registered company Buena Vista Shipping that has an office in Dubai also. Nautical Job boards show the company is recruiting heavily for a variety of roles on the ships in the past year, including chief cooks and oilers. There is no information available about Gatik’s relationship with Buena Vista Shipping and who funded the rapid expansion of Gatik’s fleet is a great mystery for the international oil market.
According to the Indian Register of Shipping data most of Gatik’s ships are managed by Indian firms including Gaurik Ship Management, Geras Ship Management, Caishan Ship Management, Galena Ship Management, Zidan Ship Management and Plutos Ship Management. As per shipping database Equasis, these companies handle safety and environmental-related issues of the vessels while commercial operations are managed by Gatik.
The origins and ownership all the business associated with Gatik are a mystery and no details about the companies could be found on the Indian corporate affairs ministry’s website. But shipbrokers, analysts and commodity traders suspect a link with its biggest client: Rosneft, the Kremlin-controlled and Russia’s biggest crude oil producer. Because Rosneft is selling the cargos on a “Cost Insurance and Freight” basis meaning it is responsible for the delivery of the crude to the destination port in India-rather than the “Free on Board” basis before the Ukraine war, where the buyer was organizing the shipping. See Link # 3 Gatik News
(https://www.ft.com/content/6f81585c-321a-41fb-bcdb-579e93381671)
According to Vessels Value’s Rebecca Galanopoulos out of almost 14,000 live tankers owned by 1,361 companies, 1341 own fewer than 10 live tankers; only 20 companies, including Gatik, own 50 or more. All but two of Gatik’s vessels are registered to single-vessel companies registered in the Marshall Islands and the ownership of those companies is not public. Gatik’s ultimate beneficial owner/owners are unknown. It does not even have a functioning website. It is almost exclusively servicing Russian oil and thus could be an ultimate example of Russian oil companies who would want to get into shipping to evade western sanctions since the Ukraine war.
Gatik had majority of the Ships flagged to St. Kitts & Navis till April 2023. Now it is flagged to Gabon and Mongolia. Most Gatik’s ships do not hold insurance from any of the recognized large mutual providers from European countries. Gatik’s 34 vessels have used the protection and indemnity insurance from the American Club, which belongs to the International Group of PHYPERLINK “https://www.igpandi.org/about/”&HYPERLINK “https://www.igpandi.org/about/”I Clubs that insures most of the global tanker fleet. Lloyd’s Register and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) had provided safety certification that they have withdrawn recently and now an Indian agency is providing safety certification for most of Gatik’s vessels. See Link # 1 Gatik News
The Honorable Committee must investigate US insurers that were providing insurance to Gatik’s vessels despite sanctions against Russia. The US companies that were providing Safety Certification along with other US companies that was providing any services or goods or technology to Gatik must also be investigated for violating US sanctions against Russia.
Respectfully Submitted
Devendra Makkar
Encls.: Links to News Articles on Adani & Gatik
References to the News Articles about Adani Group of Companies:
- Adani Group: How The World’s 3rd Richest Man Is Pulling The Largest Con In Corporate History
Published on January 24, 2023
https://hindenburgresearch.com/adani/
- ADANI RESPONSE TO HINDENBURG RESEARCH: (413 PAGES)
JAN. 29, 2023
Hindenburg’s actions represent a “calculated attack on India, the independence, integrity, and quality of Indian institutions, and the growth story and ambition of India.”
- Hindenburg Research replied, “Fraud Cannot Be Obfuscated By Nationalism Or A Bloated Response That Ignores Every Key Allegation We Raised.
JAN. 29, 2023
In terms of substance, Adani’s ‘413 page’ response only included about 30 pages focused on issues related to our report. The remainder of the response consisted of 330 pages of court records, along with 53 pages of high-level financials, general information, and details on irrelevant corporate initiatives, such as how it encourages female entrepreneurship and the production of safe vegetables.
Adani Failed To Specifically Answer 62 of Our 88 Questions.
Of The Questions It Did Answer, The Group Largely Confirmed Or Attempted to Sidestep Our Findings
https://hindenburgresearch.com/adani-response/
- The Adani short sale puts investor trust in India in doubt
A rise in jingoistic nationalism has added a new element of impunity to the behavior of some corporate chiefs
26 January 2023, by Andy Mukherjee
https://www.tbsnews.net/bloomberg-special/adani-short-sale-puts-investor-trust-india-doubt-574566
- Hindenburg Gives a Master Class. Adani Flunks
The Indian tycoon’s pulled share sale shows financial globalization can mint centi-billionaires — and cancel them.
Feb. 1, 2023, By Andy Mukherjee
6. Adani Rout Puts Spotlight on Billions Flowing Through Mauritius
March 8, 2023, by Chris Kay
- Why do these foreign funds love Adani Group companies?
Several Mauritius-based investment funds have Gautam Adani-led companies as over 90% of their portfolios. Why?
April 26, 2021, by Jayshree P. Upadhyay
https://themorningcontext.com/business/why-do-these-foreign-funds-love-adani-group-companies
- EXCLUSIVE: How Gujarat Government Helped Adani’s Port Company
Feb. 7, 2020 Dilip Patel , Paranjoy Guha Thakurta
- Probe sought into Adani company’s profits from overpriced, dirty coal.
Feb 10, 2023 Nityanand Jayaraman
- View: Adani (SC) probe will only produce heat, not light
A toothless expert panel looking over the shoulder of a regulator that has its suspicions but no evidence, and no hope of generating any without the help of other sleuthing agencies, means only one thing: No matter how long it goes on, the Adani probe will only produce heat, not light.
May 21, 2023, by Andy Mukherjee
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/view-adani-probe-will-only-produce-heat-not-light/articleshow/100389548.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
- Deloitte Flags Adani Ports Deals, Cites Need for Review
Auditor spotlights transactions with Hindenburg named firms.
Can’t comment without an external independent review: Deloitte.
May 31, 2023, By Advait Palepu and Chris Kay
- Indian Billionaire Gautam Adani Finds A Savior In The Modi Govt
Adani has, over the years, leased 7,350 hectares–much of which he got from 2005 onward–from the government in Mundra. He got the 30-year, renewable leases for as little as one U.S. cent a square meter (the rate maxed out at 45 cents a square meter). He in turn has sublet this land to other companies, including state-owned Indian Oil Co., for as much as $11 a square meter. Between 2005 and 2007 at least 1,200 hectares of grazing land was taken away from villagers.
Jul 17, 2014, by Meghna Bahree
- Mundra Port: Nearly three tons of heroin seized at Gujarat port
21 September 2021
Indian anti-smuggling intelligence officials have seized nearly three tons of heroin – reportedly worth around $2.7bn (£1.9bn) – in a major operation at a port in Gujarat state.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-58634575
- Heroin Seizures at Adani’s Mundra Remain a Source of Worry for Indian Authorities
Aug. 3, 2022
https://thewire.in/government/heroin-seuzure-adani-mundra-worry-indian-authorities
- The Adani Files (Australia)
A short history of corruption, destruction, and criminal activity.
https://adanifiles.com.au/#crime-corrupt
References to the News Articles about Gatik Ship Management
- Upstart Indian Shipper Helps Get Russian Oil to Market
Russia has successfully managed to keep the country’s oil moving to markets of the world, defying the fears that sanctions levied last month would result in a plunge in the country’s exports. Gatik Ship Management, which took control of 25 tankers after the invasion of Ukraine, now shuttles Russian crude along new trade routes.
By Joe Wallace, Costas Paris and Anna Hirtenstein
Jan. 29, 2023
https://www.wsj.com/articles/upstart-indian-shipper-helps-get-russian-oil-to-market-11674985846
- Indian Shipper Gatik Loses US P&I Insurance
Fri, Apr 14, 2023
By: Simon Martelli, London & Emily Meredith, Washington
https://www.energyintel.com/00000187-81c9-dc4f-a7e7-9bfd941d0003
- The unknown Indian company shipping millions of barrels of Russian oil
Gatik became one of the world’s largest vessel owners in little over a year, transporting crude to India for Rosneft
Tom Wilson and Chris Cook in London,
Chloe Cornish in Mumbai and Anastasia Stognei in Riga
MAY 4, 2023
https://www.ft.com/content/6f81585c-321a-41fb-bcdb-579e93381671
- Exclusive: Lloyd’s Register drops ships of top Indian carrier of Russian oil
By Jonathan Saul and Nidhi Verma
May 25, 2023
- Shadow fleet-linked Gatik reshuffles ships as Indian owner is dumped by Lloyd’s Register
A string of new management companies emerge after operator suffers flag and insurance woes.
26 May 2023
By Paul Peachey in London
- Top shipper of Russian oil secures Indian cover as Western certifiers exit
By Nidhi Verma and Jonathan Saul
May 31, 2023
- India’s Gatik finds alternative to Lloyd’s for vessel registration – report.
May 31, 2023
India’s Gatik Ship Management has found an alternative vessel registrar to the maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register
- Lloyd’s Register in turn excludes the Indian tanker owner Gatik Ship Management
June 2, 2023, By: Adeline Descamps
After the ABS classification society, the P&I American Club and the Saint-Kitts-et-Nevis register, the Lloyd’s Register in turn withdraws its services from Gatik Ship Management.
The Indian shipowner has become one of the most active transporters of Russian crude to India by means of a clandestine fleet.
https://euro.dayfr.com/business/324086.html
Compiled by:
Devendra Makkar
568 Ashwood Rd.
Springfield, NJ 07081
davemakkar@yahoo.com
973 760 6006
CC:
Honorable Maxine Waters Honorable Mike Crapo
Ranking Member Ranking Member
Financial Services Committee Committee on Finance (US Senate)
2221 Rayburn House Office Building 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510Fax: 202 225 7854 Fax: 202 228 0554
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NJYS WITH KOREA BLIND GROUP PRESENTS CONCERT
By Mabel Pais
New Jersey Youth Symphony Joins Korea Blind Performance Group and Bella Music Foundation at Merkin Hall
Top left to right: Helen Cha Pyo, NJYS Music Director with three Visually Impaired Musicians.
Bottom: New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS).(Photo Credit/ NJYS)The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) performs the captivating concert “Darkness to Light: Hanbit Trio J,” presented in collaboration by Korea Blind Performance Group and Bella Music Foundation on Friday, June 16 at 8:00 p.m. at the Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall in New York City.
Hanbit Trio J (Jae Hyouk Lee, piano; Jisun Kim, violin; Minjoo Kim, cello) is an exceptional group of visually impaired musicians who belong to the renowned Korean music company of persons with visual disabilities, Hanbit Performing Arts Company. The ensemble’s accomplished soloists have honed their skills at prestigious institutions including the New England Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music and have garnered acclaim with their performances across the globe.
The trio’s captivating performance of Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49 in the first half will be followed by a stirring rendition of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56 with the acclaimed NJYS Youth Symphony conducted by Helen H. Cha-Pyo, promising an unforgettable musical experience.
TICKETS
Ticket to the performance are available at kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/event/darkness-to-light-hanbit-trio-j-with-new-jersey-youth-symphony
“We are honored to collaborate with the Korea Blind Performance Group and Bella Music Foundation in presenting this extraordinary concert featuring the incredibly talented Hanbit Trio J and the New Jersey Youth Symphony,” said Helen H. Cha-Pyo, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of NJYS. “This promises to be an unforgettable musical experience for both performers and audience alike, showcasing the unifying power of music that transcends borders and brings people together from across the globe. We cannot wait to share this unique and powerful performance with our audiences.”
Wharton Arts
Learn more at whartonarts.org.
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Education, Cuisine, Spirituality, and Business)
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“BROADWAY DEITY” PERFORMS AT FTH GALA
By Mabel Pais
The Flushing Town Hall (FlushingTownHall.org) holds its annual gala, theme: ‘Around the World & Home Again,‘ on Thursday, June 15. The gala will celebrate the Smithsonian affiliate’s mission to bring people together through arts and culture from around the globe.
This year, the gala will honor Broadway Deity André De Shields, President and CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) Wayne Ho, and Founder of the Guru Krupa Foundation Mukund Padmanabhan.
PROGRAM
The evening will consist of a cocktail hour, a sit-down dinner in the theater, and live entertainment, including a show-stopping performance from none other than De Shields himself.
As the nonprofit’s main benefit event of the year, the Gala raises critical funds for Flushing Town Hall.
“Like all of our programming at Flushing Town Hall, our gala is an opportunity to bring the community together in celebration of the arts and our borough’s rich, global culture. It is also a chance to celebrate the remarkable individuals who, through their leadership, generosity, and extraordinary craft, have helped Flushing Town Hall to thrive and educate and inspire our audiences,” said Ellen Kodadek, Executive & Artistic Director at Flushing Town Hall.
The Honorees
Andre de Shields (Photo Credit/andredeshields.com) André De Shields
“The shifting cultural paradigm calls for every artist to advocate for Foundational Democracy–the doing of the greatest good for the greatest number of people. During the month of February in both 2021 and 2022, Flushing Town Hall provided the forum for my demonstrating the intersection of art and activism by inviting me to perform my tribute to Frederick Douglass–Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory–in commemoration of Black Heritage Month. Accepting the Award for Life Achievement and serenading the audience with song are my expressions of immense gratitude.” says André De Shields
Perennially known for his show-stopping performances in four legendary Broadway musicals—The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin (Emmy Award), Play On!, and The Full Monty—Mr. De Shields has achieved the status of “Broadway Deity.” Learn more at andredeshields.com.
Wayne Ho
Wayne Ho is the President and CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), the nation’s largest Asian American social services agency. With a mission to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities, CPC serves over 280,000 community members in education, family support, and community and economic empowerment at 35 locations throughout New York City.
Since the pandemic started, CPC has led successful advocacy efforts to secure $20 million from the State and $5 million from the City to promote Asian American recovery and safety, spoken out against the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, led the #Providers4FairPay campaign in support of living wages for home care workers, distributed over $7.4 million in cash assistance and over 400,000 pounds of food to community members, and has been quoted in over 250 news stories.
Most recently, Ho served on the transition teams for Mayor Eric Adams, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and the joint nonprofit procurement task force of Mayor Eric Adams and Comptroller Brad Lander.
Ho has been recognized by City and State in the inaugural Asian Power 100 in 2020, in the inaugural Nonprofit Power 50 in 2018, and as a member of the 40 Under 40 New York City Rising Star in 2014. He was one of 10 leaders invited to meet with President Obama during the White House’s Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration in 2011. Ho serves on numerous boards, including the Human Services Council and Coro New York Leadership Center. He has also been appointed to several New York City and State advisory boards, including the NYC Independent Budget Office. Learn more at cpc-nyc.org.
Mukund Padmanabhan
Dr. Mukund Padmanabhan, founder of the Guru Krupa Foundation (guru-krupa.org – GKF). He has worked as a Research Scientist at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Lab. Then he pivoted to Wall Street, applying his technical expertise at the hedge fund Renaissance Technologies. Dr. Padmanabhan’s work has been published prolifically in several international technical journals. He is also a recipient of the Professional Achievement Award from UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT Kharagpur. The foundation takes a holistic approach to charity and philanthropy, addressing various issues from social, educational, cultural/spiritual to environmental. GKF gives grants to partner organizations in the United States and India. GKF handed out over 70 grants in 2022 alone.
GKF’s social projects assist vulnerable groups to help them break out of the cycle of poverty. The projects address child welfare (funding orphanages, schools, and book banks), food insecurity (funding food banks), and youth, women, and disabled empowerment (funding skill training programs). GKF’s higher educational projects provide scholarships to students at institutions of higher learning. GKF’s cultural/spiritual projects support preserving Hindu traditions and promoting cross-cultural integration and collaboration. Their environmental projects focus on water preservation and cleanup in India.
TICKETS
Single gala tickets and table packages are available. Gala ads and donations are greatly appreciated. For more detailed ticket, sponsor, and advertising information or to make a contribution, visit flushingtownhall.org/gala or contact Jessica Peña, Director of Development, at jpena@flushingtownhall.org
Flushing Town Hall
Learn more at flushingtownhall.org
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Education, Cuisine, Spirituality, and Business)
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NORTH 2 SHORE FESTIVAL EXPANDS TO SECOND CITY
By Mabel Pais
TOO BIG FOR ONE CITY.
TOO BIG FOR ONE WEEKEND.
THE FESTIVAL ONLY NEW JERSEY COULD CREATE:
NORTH TO SHORE June 2023
NJPAC produces first-of-its-kind celebration of music, technology, comedy, and film over three jam-packed weekends in June 2023
Watch the promo video – youtu.be/u8o8pcvbspA
With the astounding success of the first week of the North to Shore Festival on which New Jersey embarked, Asbury Park will continue the celebrations in the second week: June 14-18.
The NJPAC-produced June mega-festival continues to showcase theatricals, comedy performances, visual arts exhibits and workshops, hip hop concerts, spoken word poetry readings, dance performances, storytelling events, fashion shows, street fairs and more added to expanding calendar of events.
Hundreds of New Jersey artists will take center stage at more than 60 new events added to the lineup of the inaugural North to Shore Festival, the three-city, three-weekend summer celebration of the arts, film and tech slated for June 2023.
An extraordinarily diverse roster of artists who’ve built their creative careers in three of the state’s most iconic and culture-rich cities — Newark, Asbury Park and Atlantic City — will perform thanks to grants from the North to Shore Festival. This unprecedented festival is designed to illuminate the breadth of New Jersey’s cultural offerings and provide a unique window into the thriving arts scenes in each city.
Dozens of North to Shore grants have been awarded to artists and groups in each city to enable them to bring this spectacular tapestry to life on each weekend of the festival.
Listen to the announcements of the Governor & First Lady Tammy Murthy: youtu.be/yJtrwwZnJU0
Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy took the stage at NJPAC’s Prudential Hall, in March this year, alongside NJPAC President and CEO John Schreiber, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Asbury Park Mayor John Moor, and Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small to announce the North to Shore Festival, an extraordinary three-city celebration of arts and technology launched on June 7.
This inaugural, month-long festival showcases the talent, diversity and creativity this great state has to offer. Hosted by three incredible and unique cities, Atlantic City (June 7–11), Asbury Park (June 14–18) and Newark (June 21–25), the North to Shore Festival brings together 50+ venues for an unprecedented celebration of Jersey-wide excellence, aligned with Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy’s vision for a festival worthy of the Garden State’s legacy in the arts and innovation.
“Today, we are thrilled to announce North to Shore — New Jersey’s first multi-city festival celebrating the very best of music, comedy, film, and technology,” said Governor Phil Murphy.
“This superstar event, held over three weekends in June, will attract folks from all over, creating another great reason for tourists to visit the Garden State as well as opportunities for local businesses in three of our iconic cities to shine. These festivals will generate economic activity and have a significant impact on our region and we look forward to shining a light on the diversity, creativity, and energy that makes New Jersey unique this summer.”
“Beyond our global superstar headliners, North to Shore will also showcase the headliners of tomorrow. From producers to artists, filmmakers to comedians, this month-long celebration will also serve as an opportunity to elevate dozens of local performers and talent,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “We look forward to sharing New Jersey’s exceptional culture with the rest of the country and enjoying a festival that will undoubtedly be like no other.”
Asbury Park (June 14 – 18)
Partner Venues:
Asbury Park Library
Turf Club
Springwood Ave Park
McLoones Supper Club
Robinson’s Ale House
Stone Pony Summer Stage
Asbury Lanes
The House of Independents
The Wonder Bar
6/14 – Brian Fallon w/ Donovan Woods – The Stone Pony
Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem
June 14, 2023 – Stone Pony Summer Stage
NJ’s Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem strips it down this summer with an intimate singer/songwriter performance showcasing the joy of living in the moment
6/14 – Sensational Soul Cruisers – The Wonder Bar
6/15 – TechUnited:NJ BetterCapital Conference – Asbury Lanes
TechUnited: BetterCapital Conference
Thursday June 15, 2023 – Asbury Lanes
Celebrate and explore technology with other top innovators at the TechUnited: BetterCapital Conference on June 15 at Asbury Lanes.
6/15 – TechUnited:NJ Catalyst Awards – Asbury Lanes
TechUnited: Catalyst Awards
Thursday June 15, 2023 – Asbury Lanes
Celebrate entrepreneurs at the Catalyst Awards Ceremony June 15 in Asbury Park with North2Shore
6/15 – Dentist with Special Guests Little Hag and Low Light – The Wonder Bar
6/16 – Vintage Turf Club Show – The Turf Club/AP African-American Music Project
6/16 – Demi Lovato – Stone Pony Summer Stage
Demi Lovato
June 16, 2023 – Stone Pony Summer Stage
Get ready for pop-rock powerhouse Demi Lovato to bring the house down with raw honesty and pure passion this summer.
6/16 – Brick and Mortar – House of Independents
6/16 – Nicole Atkins – The Wonder Bar
Nicole Atkins
June 16, 2023 – The Wonder Bar
Shore native Nicole Atkins brings her unique fusion of Broadway theatricality, classic rock, 60s psychedelia + plenty of soul to the stage this summer.
6/17 – The B-52’s – Stone Pony Summer Stage
The B-52’s
June 17, 2023 – Stone Pony Summer Stage
American new wave sensation The B-52s are bringing their pop music lovefest to the Summer Stage.
6/17 – The Haunting w/ Echo Plum + Surf Haven – House of Independents
6/17 – The Smithereens with Marshall Crenshaw – The Wonder Bar
The Smithereens with Marshall Crenshaw
June 17, 2023 – The Wonder Bar
The Smithereens and Marshall Crenshaw bring catchy 1960s-influenced pop-rock tunes with attitude to the Jersey Shore.
6/18 – Clarence Clemons Celebration: Jarod Clemons and the Late Nights – The Wonder Bar
Clarence Clemons Celebration
June 18, 2023 – The Wonder Bar
Jarod Clemons youngest son of legendary E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons hosts this special celebration with his band “The Late Nights”, one of the brightest lights on the current Asbury Park music scene!
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
Westside Wednesday
June 14, 2023 – Asbury Park Library
An Evening of Springwood Ave. Art (featuring Turf Club Photography Collection) Presented by The Turf Club/Asbury Park African American Music Project.
Sensational Soul Cruisers
June 14, 2023 – Wonder Bar
When you want to shake your groove thing, New Jersey’s own Sensational Soul Cruisers is just the ticket.
Dentist/Little Hag/Low Light
June 15, 2023 – The Wonder Bar
It’s a three-in-one as Dentist, Little Hag, and Low Light share a bill to rock Asbury Park at The Wonder Bar for N2S.
Brick and Mortar
June 16, 2023 – The House of Independents
Don’t miss the sick beats, brilliant tunes + off-the-hook performances by Jersey’s own Brick + Mortar.
Vintage Turf Club Show
June 16, 2023 – Turf Club
The Turf Club is back and ready for rejuvenation. Celebrate the West Side of Asbury Park with Asbury Park African American Music Project.
Old School Dance party featuring the Bouie Brothers Disco Dance Party
June 17-18, 2023 – Springwood Avenue Park
Shake your groove thing at the Old School Dance Party featuring the Bouie Brothers Disco, presented by The Turf Club/Asbury Park African American Music Project.
North2Shore:
For the latest updates and new concert listings, visit northtoshore.com
@north2shore
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
Learn more at NJPAC.org.
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Education, Cuisine, Spirituality, and Business)