The Indian Panorama

Year: 2023

  • Former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, three veteran diplomats honored with 2023 Diwali ‘Power of One’ Awards at UN

    Former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, three veteran diplomats honored with 2023 Diwali ‘Power of One’ Awards at UN

    “The ideals of Diwali are the ideals of UN Charter” : Chair of Diwali Foundation USA Ranju Batra

    UNITED NATIONS (TIP): Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and three veteran diplomats were honored with the annual ‘Diwali Power of One Awards’, hailed as the ‘Oscars of diplomacy’, for their selfless efforts to “help form a more perfect, peaceful, and secure world for all”. The former UN chief was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Diwali Stamp — The Power of One Award ceremony organized by the Diwali Foundation USA. The other awardees for the year 2023 are former permanent representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN Ambassador Mirsada Colakovic, former permanent representative of South Korea to the UN Ambassador Kim Sook and 72nd UN General Assembly president and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak. They were honored at a special ceremony held in the UN Headquarters on Monday, December 11.

    Former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressing the gathering after receiving the award. Seen, among others, are India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj ( extreme left) , Ranju Batra (4th from left), and Ravi Batra (behind Mr. Ban Ki-moon) (Photo : Mohammed Jaffer / SnapsIndia)

    Ban commended the work and “forward-thinking vision” of the Diwali Foundation USA “for advancing vital light in a world of increasing darkness”.

    Ban said the world of today “seems fractured like never before” as he cited the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis and regional conflicts, particularly “regional crisis as we see today in the Middle East and Ukraine”.

    “But it is exactly at times such as these that the work of the United Nations is indispensable. The United Nations and its pursuit of peace, human rights and sustainable development exemplifies the values and principles that we should all espouse to replicate,” he said. Ban was the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, serving two terms as the world’s top diplomat from January 2007 to December 2016.

    He said that as the world moves into 2024 and beyond, “we share a common destiny illuminated by peace, sustainability and prosperity. Let us work together and expand our unified efforts to realize this shared destiny for all. This is your political responsibility and for me, my moral responsibility as a former Secretary General” and as an awardee of the Power of One honor.

    India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, in her address to the event attended by UN diplomats, envoys, civil society members and policy experts, said that Diwali is a celebration that holds a very special place in the hearts of over a billion Indians across the globe.

    Diwali “is more than just a festival. It is a sentiment that embodies the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair”, she said.

    Kamboj said, “as we light the lamps of Diwali, let us remember that every small light, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in dispelling the shadows”.

    Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Mohan Pieris said “Deepawali has become truly a secular festival in the world, since its message is not exclusively restricted to any religious creed.

    “This festival has united the global community with the central message that we need more than ever the humanistic ideals to engage the inglorious wars, which are bleeding the innocence of humanity,” he said.

    Pieris underscored that for the world to have peace, it is important that the whole world must be united to save the higher ideals of humanity, which have evolved since the millennium in various religious traditions.

    Chair of Diwali Foundation USA Ranju Batra, who had spearheaded efforts for over seven years to get a commemorative ‘Forever Diwali’ stamp issued by the US Postal Service in 2016, said: “Diwali is a message of peace.” She said her journey for the Diwali stamp is seen as a “metaphor of peace and harnessing its power to promote excellence in diplomacy. The ideals of Diwali are the ideals of UN Charter”.

    She noted that the 2023 Power of One awardees have clearly demonstrated that “one person can make a difference”. The Diwali stamp celebration is not of a religion or nation but of the spirit of harmonious inclusiveness and cross-cultural understanding that all religions deserve, she said.

    Eminent Indian-American attorney and Chair of National Advisory Council South Asian Affairs and moderator of the award ceremony Ravi Batra said the UN transcends borders and boundaries.

    “The need to acknowledge excellence is critical, generally, but in diplomacy, which is on life support in today’s world, it is essential and that’s how these awards are – the Power of One,” he said, adding that they honor “world class diplomats who have changed the world by what they did”.

    Awardees and organizers of Power of One Awards (Photo : Mohammed Jaffer / SnapsIndia)

    Hailed as the ‘Oscars of Diplomacy’, the awards are presented to former Permanent Representatives or former high-level members of the UN Secretariat or member state, or soon to be “former”, who have “toiled selflessly to help form a more perfect, peaceful and secure world for all”.

    The 2023 Award ceremony was co-organized by the Diwali Foundation USA and Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, and the Permanent Missions of Chile, Eritrea, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Morocco, Oman and Sri Lanka to the United Nations. The co-sponsors included the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Cyprus, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Palestine, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA-NY) among others.

    Diwali Foundation USA was established in 2017 to promote a peaceful and consensus-based process to achieve societal “good, as befits the high hopes and ideals of humanity enshrined in the United Nations Charter”.

    The Foundation established ‘The Power of One’ awards to celebrate and highlight the important work done in a peaceful manner, especially at the United Nations.

    Previous honorees include former UN assistant secretary general and deputy executive director of UN Women, Lakshmi Puri, former UK Ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, former permanent representative of Georgia to the UN, Kaha Imnadze, and former permanent representative of Grenada to the UN Keisha McGuire.
    (Source: PTI)

    The traditional lamp lighting . Mr. & Mrs. Ban Ki-moon with organizers of Power of One Award lighted the lamp. (Photo : Mohammed Jaffer / SnapsIndia)
  • Giuliani ordered to pay $148 million in damages to Two Georgia election workers

    Giuliani ordered to pay $148 million in damages to Two Georgia election workers

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A jury awarded $148 million in damages on Friday, December 15, to two former Georgia election workers who sued Rudy Giuliani for defamation over lies he spread about them in 2020 that upended their lives with racist threats and harassment, according to media reports.

    The damages verdict follows emotional testimony from Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, who tearfully described becoming the target of a false conspiracy theory pushed by Giuliani and other Republicans as they tried to keep then-President Donald Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election.

    There was an audible gasp in the courtroom when the jury foreperson read aloud the $75 million award in punitive damages for the women. Moss and Freeman were each awarded another roughly $36 million in other damages.

    “Money will never solve all my problems,” Freeman told reporters outside Washington’s federal courthouse after the verdict. “I can never move back into the house that I call home. I will always have to be careful about where I go and who I choose to share my name with. I miss my home. I miss my neighbors and I miss my name.”

    Giuliani didn’t appear to show any emotion as the verdict was read after about 10 hours of deliberations. Moss and Freeman hugged their attorneys after the jury left the courtroom and didn’t look at Giuliani as he left with his lawyer. The former New York City mayor vowed to appeal, telling reporters that the “absurdity of the number merely underscores the absurdity of the entire proceeding.”

    “It will be reversed so quickly it will make your head spin, and the absurd number that just came in will help that actually,” he said.

    Giuliani had already been found liable in the case and previously conceded in court documents that he falsely accused the women of ballot fraud. Even so, the former mayor continued to repeat his baseless allegations about the women in comments to reporters outside the Washington, D.C., courthouse this week.

    Giuliani’s lawyer acknowledged that his client was wrong but insisted that Giuliani was not fully responsible for the vitriol the women faced. The defense sought to largely pin the blame on a right-wing website that published the surveillance video of the two women counting ballots.

    Giuliani’s defense rested Thursday, December 14 morning without calling a single witness after the former mayor reversed course and decided not to take the stand. Giuliani’s lawyer had told jurors in his opening statement that they would hear from his client. But after Giuliani’s comments outside court, the judge barred him from claiming in testimony that his conspiracy theories were right.

    The judgment adds to growing financial and legal peril for Giuliani, who was among the loudest proponents of Trump’s false claims of election fraud that are now a key part of the criminal cases against the former president.

    Giuliani had already been showing signs of financial strain as he defends himself against costly lawsuits and investigations stemming from his representation of Trump. His lawyer suggested that the defamation case could financially ruin the former mayor, saying “it would be the end of Mr. Giuliani.”

    And Giuliani is still facing his biggest test yet: fighting criminal charges in the Georgia case accusing Trump and 18 others of working to subvert the results of the 2020 election, won by Democrat Joe Biden, in that state. Giuliani has pleaded not guilty and characterized the case as politically motivated.

    Jurors in the defamation case heard recordings of Giuliani falsely accusing the election workers of sneaking in ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines. Trump also repeated the conspiracy theories through his social media accounts. Lawyers for Moss and Freeman, who are Black, also played for jurors audio recordings of the graphic and racist threats the women received.

    The women’s lawyers asked for at least $24 million for each woman in defamation damages alone. They also sought compensation for their emotional harm and punitive damages.

    On the witness stand, Moss and Freeman described fearing for their lives as hateful messages poured in. Moss told jurors she tried to change her appearance, seldom leaves her home and suffers from panic attacks. Her mother described strangers banging on her door and recounted fleeing her home after people came with bullhorns and the FBI told her she wasn’t safe.

    “It’s so scary, anytime I go somewhere, if I have to use my name,” Freeman said, gasping through her tears to get her words out. “I miss my old neighborhood because I was me, I could introduce myself. Now I don’t have a name, really.” Defense attorney Joseph Sibley told jurors they should compensate the women for what they are owed, but he urged them to “remember this is a great man.”

    An attorney for Moss and Freeman, in his closing argument, highlighted how Giuliani has not stopped repeating the false conspiracy theory asserting the workers interfered in the November 2020 presidential election. Attorney Michael Gottlieb played a video of Giuliani outside the courthouse on Monday, in which Giuliani falsely claimed the women were “engaged in changing votes.”

    “Mr. Giuliani has shown over and over again he will not take our client’s names out of his mouth,” Gottlieb said. “Facts will not stop him. He says he isn’t sorry and he’s telegraphing he will do this again. Believe him.” The judge overseeing the election workers’ lawsuit had already ordered Giuliani and his business entities to pay tens of thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees. In holding Giuliani liable, the judge ruled that the former mayor gave “only lip service” to complying with his legal obligations while trying to portray himself as the victim in the case.

     

  • India Association of Los Angeles (IALA)elects new executive members for 2023-2024

    India Association of Los Angeles (IALA)elects new executive members for 2023-2024

    LOS ANGELES (TIP): : India association of Los Angeles (IALA) has elected its executive committee for the year 2023-2024 with Sunil Agrawal as the new president and Pramesh Shah as the executive VP.
    A noted IT consultant, Agrawal brings more than two decades of community service experience to the role. He previously served as President in 2018-19 and Chairman in 2019-2020.
    Agrawal has made significant contributions to the community, including hosting premieres of movies such as “The Kashmir Files,” “The Vaccine War,” and “The Elevator” in Los Angeles, according to a press release.
    Additionally, he organized the widely acclaimed “Koun Banega Ramayan Expert” events in 2006 and 2008, engaging thousands of children across the USA. As a founding trustee of the Dharma Civilization Foundation since 2012, the press release said, he continues to play a pivotal role in shaping cultural initiatives.
    Other members of the 17-member Executive Committee are:
    Secretary, Kiran Kamboj; Joint Secretary, Dhara Patel; Treasurer, Rajni Thakkar; VP Finance, Robin Paik, VP Publicity, Navdeep Singh; VP Cultural Affairs, Hezal Shah; VP Public Relations: Shamsher Sidhu; VP Youth Affairs, Ramesh Bramharouthu; and VP Health, Bama Sridhar.
    Rajesh Khandelwal, Manisha Makwana, Mohinder Kaur, Promilla Sahni and Vasu Pawar were elected Executive Members
    Since 1999, IALA has been organizing the India Independence Day Mela, drawing over 10,000 attendees, predominantly from the Indian community. This celebration provides a platform for community talent to showcase their skills.
    As part of India’s Republic Day celebrations, IALA is organizing a cultural extravaganza and premier event on Feb 3, 2024 with fashion show, music melody and spectacular dance performances by professional artists.
    Dr K Srikar Reddy, Consul General of India, San Francisco, would be the chief guest for the event at Arbat Banquet Hall, 711 S San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502.

  • Indian American Hari Choudhari wins UK’s prestigious 2024 Marshall Scholarship

    Indian American Hari Choudhari wins UK’s prestigious 2024 Marshall Scholarship

    LONDON (TIP): An Indian-origin student is among the 51 winners of the prestigious 2024 Marshall Scholarship, which selects American scholars to pursue their graduate education at any university in the UK.
    Bengaluru-born Hari Choudhari, a student of International Politics with minors in History and German at Georgetown University, will begin his graduate studies in September 2004 under the program that saw 1006 applications from across the US this year.
    As a Marshall Scholar, he will study Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University Belfast, followed by an MSc in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King’s College London.
    “I am so proud that this year’s set of Marshall Scholars represent the diversity and richness of our region,” said Emma Wade Smith, Trade Commissioner for North America and British Consul General in New York, announcing the scholarships on Monday.
    “From science and mathematics to linguistics, artificial intelligence, energy and sustainability, migration studies, these young leaders have already impressed with their robust academic training; and they have demonstrated real promise in terms of their career trajectories,” Smith added.
    Currently, Hari has been involved in multiple internships over the course of his college career, including the Center for Cross-Border Studies in Northern Ireland and the Meridian International Center.
    He is currently a Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) intern with the Political Section at the US Consulate-General in Munich, Germany and will be interning in Congress with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs next semester.
    His research on German security policy was published by the American-German Institute.
    “It’s clear that throughout his undergraduate career, Hari has been shaping himself into a future expert of conflict and peacekeeping,” said Lauren Tuckley, Center for Research and Fellowships Director, Georgetown University.
    “At every turn, he has taken opportunities to further understand the complexities of conflict, both in the classroom and outside of it.”
    The Georgetown University said in a statement that through the Marshall Scholarship, Hari will be “learning from UK scholars invested in making grassroots peacebuilding a priority and preparing himself for a career in policymaking”.
    Among this year’s Marshall Scholarship class are aspiring diplomats, doctors, fighter pilots and scientists.
    Half of the 2024 class will pursue STEM-related degrees, including several who will study issues relating to ethics and advancement of Artificial Intelligence.
    The UK government said in a statement that the focus on attracting America’s top young scientific minds reflects its effort to transform Britain into a “Science & Technology Superpower” by 2030.
    The 2024 class will take up their studies at 18 different institutions across the UK starting next September, ranging from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to Loughborough University in Leicestershire.
    With over 2,200 scholarships awarded to date, the program began in 1953 as a gesture of gratitude to the people of the US for the assistance that the UK received after World War II under the Marshall Plan.

  • Indian-origin motel owner shot dead by homeless trespasser in North Carolina

    Indian-origin motel owner shot dead by homeless trespasser in North Carolina

    NEWPORT CITY, NC (TIP): A 46-year-old Indian-origin motel owner in Newport city in the US state of North Carolina was shot dead by a homeless trespasser, who barricaded himself inside a room at the property before taking his own life, police said. Satyen Naik was discovered with a gunshot wound outside the motel when police arrived on the scene on Wednesday. “Just after 10, the 911 center received a call about an individual trespassing at the Hostess House,” said Newport Police Chief Keith Lewis.
    “A disturbance was heard in the background, and just following that a second call was received that an individual had been shot. Within moments officers arrived on scene,” The media quoted Lewis as saying.
    Once Naik was safely away from the building, emergency personnel took him to Carteret Health Care to receive medical attention. He was later pronounced dead.
    “It’s a family-owned business and he operated this business daily with his family,” Lewis said.
    Troy Kellum, the suspect, was discovered barricaded inside one of the Hostess House’s rooms.
    “The suspect had barricaded himself in the room,” said Lewis, “which prompted us to alert the Special Response Team (SRT) and request their assistance in retrieving the barricaded person from the room.”
    Lewis said that Kellum, 59, was a squatter at the Hostess House and other locations in the area and was thought to be homeless. For several hours, officers and Kellum were at a standstill as the SRT team’s negotiators attempted to persuade him to give up.
    The SRT team is a tactical unit made up of individuals from various agencies in Carteret County.
    While Kellum was barricaded in the Hostess House, Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck said he and other officials opted to implement soft lockdowns in the area.
    “Our Special Response Team arrived on the scene, and we talked about locking down the nearby schools. We wanted to make sure that the suspect was indeed barricaded in that room.”
    “Our negotiators from our SRT team were on the telephone with him and talked to him for a fairly lengthy period to get him to come out of the room where he was barricaded and to give himself up peacefully,” media quoted Buck as saying.
    The officers determined that the SRT team would have to enter the room after Kellum refused to concede. Kellum died at the scene after shooting himself with a handgun as the SRT team entered the room, according to Lewis.

  • Sikh truck driver flees to India after he gets 15 years’ jail for smuggling 80kg cocaine in Canada

    Sikh truck driver flees to India after he gets 15 years’ jail for smuggling 80kg cocaine in Canada

    A Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued against Raj Kumar Mehmi from Surrey after he was sentenced in November

    SURREY, B.C. (TIP): A Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued against a 60-year-old Sikh truck driver in British Columbia province who fled to India after he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking.

    Raj Kumar Mehmi from Surrey was sentenced in November for smuggling 80 kg of cocaine into British Columbia, through the Canada-US Pacific Highway border crossing. An Interpol Red Notice is being sought as a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest Mehmi, pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said on Wednesday. Mehmi was initially arrested on November 6, 2017 by the British Columbia RCMP after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) discovered 80 sealed bricks of cocaine hidden inside a semi-trailer truck being driven and owned by Mehmi.

    At the time of this seizure, the bulk street value of the cocaine was estimated at $3.2 million.

    Under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), Mehmi was charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance, Section 6 (1) CDSA, and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Section 5 (2) CDSA.

    On September 6, 2022, a Supreme Court Judge found Mehmi guilty on both charges, and a sentencing hearing was scheduled for January 9, 2023. On October 11, 2022, Mehmi fled to India after boarding a flight from Vancouver, and arrived in New Delhi the following day, the RCMP said.

    Since Mehmi failed to appear for his sentencing hearing, an application to sentence him in absentia was filed, and subsequently granted on September 15, 2023.

    On November 16, 2023, the Surrey Provincial Court of British Columbia sentenced Mehmi (in absentia) for importing drugs and for their possession. Police said Mehmi’s Canadian passport was seized and turned over to Passport Canada at the time of his arrest. However, due to the length of time between his arrest and conviction, he was able to legally obtain another passport through Passport Canada, which he ultimately used to flee, the CTV News reported, citing an RCMP spokesperson. Describing Mehmi as approximately 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, police have urged people not to approach him and contact their local police agency.

  • SPEND A CHRISTMAS VACATION WITH CLARK GRISWOLD?

    • By Mabel Pais

    Do you wish to experience an unforgettable evening of holiday cheer and laughs?

    Then attend a special screening of ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ including a live conversation with none other than Clark Griswold himself.

    NATIONAL LAMPOON’S ‘CHRISTMAS VACATION’ – FILM

    Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold in ‘Christmas Vacation.’ (Credit / NJPAC)

    Chicago-area resident Clark Griswold intends to have a great Christmas with his entire family. He drives his wife Ellen and children Audrey and Rusty out to the country to find a tree, ultimately choosing the largest one they can find. Realizing too late that they did not bring any tools to cut down the tree, they are forced to uproot it instead. Clark’s holiday plans inadvertently cause steadily escalating chaos for the family’s yuppie neighbors, Todd and Margo Chester. When both Clark’s and Ellen’s parents arrive for Christmas, their bickering quickly begins to annoy the family. However, Clark maintains a positive attitude and remains undeterred in his plans. He covers the house’s entire exterior with thousands of lights, which temporarily cause a citywide power shortage once he gets them to work properly.

    The preparations go on.

    Clark and Ellen share a Christmas kiss. Clark is satisfied that he has provided a great Christmas for his family!

    CONVERSATION WITH CHEVY AND JAYNI

    Chevy Chase and his wife Jayni share behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the making of the movie, and answer your questions about Chevy’s storied career, including ‘Saturday Night Live’ (SNL) and ‘Caddyshack.’ So grab your ugly holiday sweater and refill your eggnog, because “nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas!”

    TICKETS

    Tickets for the event can be purchased by visiting NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office or calling 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

    ———————————–

    CREATE MAGICAL MEMORIES ON ‘NUTCRACKER’ WEEKEND

    • By Mabel Pais

    Create magical memories that will last a lifetime at these must-see events for the entire family!

    Celebrate a NUTCRACKER WEEKEND at NJPAC’s Prudential Hall on December 17 and December 23

    THE NUTCRACKER: THE STATE BALLET THEATER OF UKRAINE

    Nutcracker: Ukraine Ballet Theatre performers. Credit / NJPAC)

    An annual NJPAC tradition, the State Ballet Theater of Ukraine returns with the beloved holiday favorite ‘The Nutcracker.’ Bundle up and escape to a winter wonderland with The State Ballet Theater of Ukraine’s holiday spectacle on Sunday, December 17 at 3 p.m.

    Step into choreographer Andrei Litvinov’s whimsical world of toy soldiers and colorful characters. The beautiful costumes, spectacular sets, and enchanting choreography of Tchaikovsky’s beloved musical score will create an unforgettable memory for you and your loved ones this holiday season!

    Set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score and featuring brand new choreography and productions by Andrey Litvinov, the State Ballet Theater of Ukraine premiered this revised version of ‘The Nutcracker’ in Dnipro, Ukraine, in 2020. Choreography and design lasted for many months with the pandemic constantly disrupting the process. Fortunately, this new interpretation of a timeless classic still managed to be completed. The company is recognized as one of the most prestigious institutions of classical ballet in Ukraine. With no fewer than 55 of Ukraine’s finest performers, this esteemed ensemble has performed to the delight of audiences worldwide.

    HIP HOP NUTCRACKER

    Featuring Rap Legend MC Kurtis Blow

    Saturday, December 23, 2023 @ 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

    Hip Hop Nutcracker performance. Credit / NJPAC)

    A holiday mash-up for the whole family!

    NJPAC’s original holiday extravaganza remixes and re-imagines Tchaikovsky’s ballet with supercharged hip hop choreography – ‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker’ – celebrating its 10th season with two spectacular performances.

    “The Hip Hop Nutcracker brings a generous dose of contemporary spirit, sure to heat up even the most restless and wintry of souls.” –The New York Times.

    “It turns The Nutcracker on its head, in the coolest possible way!” –CBS

    The ‘Hip Hop Nutcracker’ is brought to life by a powerhouse cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers and rap legend who opens the show with a short set thereby setting the mood. A dozen unstoppable all-star dancers go full-out from start to finish, wrapping the classic story of ‘The Nutcracker’ in New York City style. Expect twists, turns and tons of fun in this full-length show that celebrates love, community and the magic of the season.

    Prepare to see the stage come alive with supercharged hip-hop choreography, as performers inject New York City flair into an iconic Tchaikovsky ballet. Directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber, this contemporary dance spectacle is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event. Adding to the excitement – inspired by the live stage show, the Original Special ‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker’ from Disney Branded Television will stream this holiday season, only on Disney+. Innovative digital graffiti and visuals transform the landscape of the beloved story from traditional 19th century Germany to the vibrant, diverse sights and sounds of contemporary New York City.

    TICKETS

    Tickets to see THE STATE BALLET THEATRE OF UKRAINE: THE NUTCRACKER or THE HIP-HOP NUTCRACKER are available by visiting NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office or calling 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

    The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

    NJPAC, located in downtown Newark, N.J., is America’s most diverse performing arts center, and the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city.

    Through its extensive Arts Education programs, which have reached almost 2 million children, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 10 million visitors since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722)

    Follow NJPAC Online:

    Website:      njpac.org

    Twitter:       @NJPAC

    Instagram:     @NJPAC

    Hashtag:      #NJPAC

    Facebook:      facebook.com/NJPAC

    YouTube:       NJPACtv

    Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:

    Website: njpac.org/takeastand

    Hashtag: #NJPACTakeAStand

    Youtube: Standing in Solidarity playlist

    (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Education, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Business.

  • December 8 New York & Dallas E – Edition

    [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%2F12%2FTIP-December-8-E-Edition.pdf”][vc_single_image image=”155348″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TIP-December-8-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”][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]

  • Trust a statesman to distill the essence of Hinduism

    By Parveen Chopra

    At the launch in New Delhi of his new book, ‘The Eternal Religion: Glimpses of Hinduism’, Karan Singh stuck to his core convictions while not fighting shy of responding to the controversies of the day.

    Karan Singh has said that he writes about Hinduism “because, as a global citizen, I am convinced of the universal aspects of Hinduism which are especially relevant in this nuclear age.”

    “In my view, it is the only religion that allows for multiple paths to the divine… this choice that Hinduism offers is unique, so putting it in a single mold would be doing injustice to it.”  -Karan Singh

    Karan Singh. (Credit :Wikipedia)

    Hinduism is also widely regarded as the most inclusive of world religions, despite the distortions that creep into any faith over time. A recent challenge has been its political appropriation by the right. The latest was an attack from the left criticizing it as being discriminatory to the lower castes and the oppressed.

    To clear the fog and help us understand the true essence of Hinduism, Indian statesman Karan Singh is uniquely positioned. His biographer Kishore Gandhi describes him as ‘a man of great learning, of great wisdom, of great liberalism and great humanism’. Now 92, Karan Singh, born to be Maharaja of Kashmir and a former Indian minister and envoy to the US, has been writing about Hinduism for the last 70 years. He has a grander vision of it. He wrote in his 1987 book, ‘Essays on Hinduism’ (published by Ratna Sagar), “My interest flows not only from the fact that I am a Hindu but also because, as a global citizen, I am convinced of the universal aspects of Hinduism which are especially relevant in this nuclear age.”

    Karan Singh’s new book ‘The Eternal Religion: Glimpses of Hinduism’

    Karan Singh’s new book ‘The Eternal Religion: Glimpses of Hinduism’ couldn’t have come at more fraught times, in India and internationally. According to his publisher (Speaking Tiger, New Delhi), the book shows why he believes that “the spiritual equality that [Hinduism] teaches is more egalitarian than perhaps any other concept known to man”, and why it “still has the power to provide inspiration and illumination to many millions throughout the world, whether or not they formally belong to the Hindu faith”.

    At the book release function at India International Center on November 28, Karan Singh was at hand to answer even the tough questions.

    Some Hindus want the term Hinduism to be shunned in favor of Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Religion). Singh qualified that it is an “eternal religion because of both its antiquity and inclusiveness.”
    Hinduism, he explained is a “multi-faceted, extraordinarily diverse” system that even gives its followers the freedom to worship without a physical representation of a god or goddess being around.
    “It is a great tragedy that people rush through life without once looking inward. That is the essence of Hinduism — looking inwards,” Singh said, as quoted by IANS news agency.
    “In my view, it is the only religion that allows for multiple paths to the divine… this choice that Hinduism offers is unique, so putting it in a single mold would be doing injustice to it.”

    Karan Singh at book launch with Pavan Varma, and a guest: (Credit : IANS)

    Discussing the book, former diplomat, MP, and celebrated author Pavan Varma brought up the recent inflammatory remarks of DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development, comparing Sanatana Dharma to ‘leprosy’ which should be ‘eradicated’.
    Singh said he was appalled and angry at the young leader’s statement, especially given that Tamil Nadu is a repository of some of the most significant Hindu temples and boasts a rich cultural legacy.
    He agreed that there are terrible things like untouchability – an abomination – associated with Hinduism. Likening it to ancient Greece, where the culture was based on slavery, he said, adding, “Untouchability is an insult and a disgrace to Vedanta and the Upanishads.”
    He, however, pointed out that “you cannot speak against casteism — it is not just legalized but also constitutionalized!”
    Pavan Varma asked whether provocative remarks, as often seen floating about in India, are responsible for the ‘weaponization of Hinduism’.
    Singh reiterated that “India has been subjected to barbaric invasions” and has seen its temples and cultural heritage damaged. It does create the ground for a backlash, “But it has got to be a measured and mature backlash, not one that is wild.” Singh’s book serves as a timely source of insights into the profound and inclusive cultural, social, intellectual and philosophical legacy of Sanatana Dharma. In these times of war and social strife, the book seeks to bring some sanity.
    The publisher’s introduction to ‘The Eternal Religion: Glimpses of Hinduism’ says that the book opens with a comprehensive introduction to Hinduism. This is followed by essays on some defining ideas, texts, and exponents of Hindu philosophy: Vedanta, the Upanishads, yoga, vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world as a family), Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo. There are also essays on how secularism and diversity are fundamental to Indian democracy. The concluding sections of the book comprise fascinating recollections of travels to some sites of Hindu pilgrimage—including a visit to Bali in Indonesia—and a personal selection from sacred and secular texts of Hinduism.

    (A seasoned journalist with specialization in the body-mind-spirit genre, Parveen Chopra is the founder of ALotusInTheMud.com, a free online publication focusing on wellness, and personal and spiritual growth)

  • Utpanna Ekadashi

    Utpanna Ekadashi

    Utpanna Ekadashi fast is observed on the Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Margashirsha month. There is a law to worship Lord Krishna on this day. Those who observe fast on Ekadashi do not eat food in the evening on the day of Dashami. On the day of Ekadashi, Lord Krishna is worshiped with flowers, water, incense and Akshat at Brahmavela. Only fruits are offered during this fast. It is considered to be a combined part of Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh Tridev. This part appeared in the form of Dattadaya. It is considered to be a fast that gives salvation.
    There is a belief about Ekadashi (Utpanna Ekadashi) that it is a method of fasting to purify the body and refresh the mind. In India, Ekadashi holds an important place for those who follow rituals and worship with devotion. The fast usually lasts from sunrise on the day of the beginning of Ekadashi to the next day. The timing of Ekadashi varies with the position of the moon. The lunar calendar in India marks a progression from a full moon to a new moon, which is divided into 15 equal crescents. Each crescent is divided into a Tithi. The time taken by the Moon to cross a particular length of a lunar day is called Tithi. Ekadashi falls on the 11th date. In the bright side of the lunar month, the moon is visible about 75 percent of the time on Ekadashi, while in the dark side of the lunar month, it would be the opposite.
    There are altogether 24 Ekadashi in a calendar year. Two more Ekadashis come in the leap year. Utpanna Ekadashi is sometimes also known as Utpati Ekadashi. It falls on the eleventh day of the month of Margashirsha during Krishna Paksha. This is the first Ekadashi to begin after Kartik Purnima. What is the story behind Ekadashi? Let us know the date and time, fasting story and the importance of this Ekadashi.
    Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat story and importance
    The legend of Utpanna Ekadashi is related to the birth of Maa Ekadashi as well as how she saved Lord Vishnu from a demon. In Satyuga there was a demon named Mura. He conquered heaven by defeating Lord Indra and his gems. After this all the deities went to Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva suggested him to approach Lord Vishnu and seek his help. Lord Vishnu after hearing all the things from the deities decided to end the black rule of Murasura. After this the war started between Lord Vishnu and Murasura. This war lasted for 10 years. All the other demons were killed, only Murasura was alive. Murasura could neither be killed nor defeated in the battlefield.
    Tired of the war, Lord Vishnu went to Badrikashram. He rested in a cave called Hemvati and slept in Yoganidra. When the demon reached Hemvati, he attacked Vishnu. At that time an auspicious lady with positive aura was born from the body of Lord Vishnu. He challenged Murasura to a fight and finally killed him. When Lord Vishnu awoke from his meditation, he was pleasantly surprised to see Murasura dead. Pleased with this, Lord Vishnu blessed her and gave her the name of Utpanna Ekadashi, saying that people would worship her.
    Utpanna Ekadashi has great significance in Hindu astrology. It is believed that those who observe the fast with a pure mind and intention are absolved of their past sins. Not only this, it is also believed that one who wants to fast on Ekadashi should start with fasting on Utpanna Ekadashi. On this day Lord Vishnu defeated Murasur with the help of Maa Ekadashi, this Ekadashi is defined in relation to Lord Vishnu. The tradition of worshiping and fasting of Maa Ekadashi and Lord Vishnu is done on the same day. Following the rituals of this Ekadashi will wash away all the sins of your life, both past and present. You will get closer to salvation. If someone observes a fast on this day, then this fast is equivalent to observing the fast of all the Tridevs.
    How to perform Puja Vidhi and Vrat for Utpanna Ekadashi?
    There are two elements of this Ekadashi. Fasting and worship method. Let us know about them one by one.
    Utpanna Ekadashi fasting method
    Those who want to fast should start from sunrise and continue till the next day. Avoid eating during this time and donate to the poor according to your ability. Donation should be done before ending the fast. Brahmin Bhoj will help you get the benefits of fasting. This fast is considered very auspicious and fruitful. To avoid any confusion or fear of not following the rituals, many devotees start their fast a day before Ekadashi or eat only sattvic food. Devotees can donate clothes, money, food as charity. It will be very fruitful.
    Utpanna Ekadashi Puja Method
    Utpanna Ekadashi Puja Vidhi On this day devotees wake up before sunrise, take bath and worship Lord Krishna at Brahma Muhurta. One wears clean clothes and worships Lord Krishna. After this they sprinkle Gangajal in the house. Idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna are kept for worship. Tulsi Manjari is offered to Lord Ganesha. After that incense, lamp, naivedya, roli and akshat are offered to Lord Vishnu. After this Maa Ekadashi is worshipped.
    After worship, perform aarti and distribute prasad. To please the deities and seek their blessings, a special bhog is prepared and offered to them as prasad. Devotional mantra chanting and songs are part of this worship. Remember that the puja should be done with a pure heart and mind without any ill intention. After worship it is necessary to listen to the Utpanna Ekadashi Vrat Katha related to the birth of Maa Ekadashi. If you want to worship any Ekadashi, book a free worship consultation!
    For more effective results, Vishnu mantra should be chanted during worship. The mantra is mentioned below.
    Shantakaram Bhujgashayanam Padmanabham Suresham,Vishwadharam Gaganasdarasam Meghavarnam Subhamgam.
    Lakshmi Kantam Kamalanayanam Yogibhirdhyan Gamayam,Vande Vishnu Bhavabhayaharam Sarvalokaika Natham.
    Utpanna Ekadashi is the first of all Ekadashi and holds great significance in Hindu Vedic scriptures and folklore. The earliest mention of Utpanna Ekadashi can be found in the Bhavishyaottara Purana, which is present in a dialogue between Yudhishthira and Lord Vishnu. The importance of this festival is comparable to auspicious events like Sankranti, where the devotees receive many virtues by doing charity and charity. The fast observed on this day is equivalent to the fast observed for Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Hence one should observe the fast with full dedication to get the blessings and get rid of the sins of one’s past and present.

  • Yercaud: The land of seven forests

    Yercaud: The land of seven forests

    Nestled in the Shivaroy Hills of Tamil Nadu, Yercaud is a hill station in the Eastern Ghats steeped in abundant greenery This town is also called as the land of seven forests. This hill town is famous for its unique vegetation, pleasing climate, plantation and interesting viewpoint. Commonly called ‘Ooty of the Poor’, this region has a history dating back to the time of the British. Located at an altitude of 4970 feet, Yercaud is known for its vast expanses of coffee plantations and great weather.
    Yercaud lake is the main point of attraction of the region.One of the many highlights is the summer festival that takes place in May. It is dedicated to Lord Servarayan, the supreme god of the ranges and gives visitors a glimpse into the rich heritage of this region.
    Emerald Lake
    The most alluring aspect of Yercaud is its big yet natural lake very popularly known as the Emerald Lake. Surrounded by some wonderful cloud-peaked hills and a well persevered garden on its banks, this lake is a feast for the eyes.
    There is a floating fountain in the lake and boating facilities are available at a reasonable rate. Self-driven as well as rowing boats can be chosen according to your comfort and intersts. A nominal amount is collected as caution fee before issuing the boats and austere safety measures are followed by the authorities.
    Pagoda Point
    Located in the eastern part of the Yercaud Hills, Pagoda point is a beautiful viewpoint where one is treated to a panoramic view of the entire town of Salem as well as the neighbouring village of Kakambadi. The twists and turns of the 21 hairpin bends of Yercaud can be seen from this spot as they envelop themselves around the hills. The mysterious piles of stones arranged in the form of a pyramid resembling a Pagoda give the location its unique name. These stones are believed to be placed here by local tribes. Between the Pagodas here lies a temple devoted to Lord Rama. One can indulge in the amazing natural beauty of the spot and the scenery of the Eastern Ghats, with the greenery growing within the rugged terrains of the hills, entwined with sights of the craggy cliffs. The sunrise and sunsets at this viewpoint are quite lovely, and late evenings allow visitors to view the magnificent panoramic view of a lit-up Salem. The weather and tranquillity of this spot make the visit worth the trouble.
    Botanical Garden
    Any tourist who is interested in gods gift to this planet, the wondrous flora, and in knowing about various species of plants must make it a point to visit the orchid garden and the green house in the Botanical garden. Yercaud is the place where the famous Kurinji flower blooms in plenty and the specialty of this flower is that it will bloom only once in twelve years. The National Orchidarium which is located 2 km from the Emerald Lake has a wide variety of orchids which includes 30 orchid species that are exclusively found here. Many endangered species of orchids are persevered in this orchidarium which is ranked the third largest of all the orchidariums in India.
    Anna Park
    Another important place of visit in Yercaud is the Anna Park which is located near the lake. This park has a collection of the natural species of plants and trees seen around Shevaroy hills. Flower shows are conducted in this park during summer months. There is a spine-tingling Japanese garden inside this park in where everything is grown and constructed in Japanese style. Children can enjoy playing in the garden. It is a well maintained garden and is worth a visit.
    Lady’s Seat
    Lady’s Seat is a viewpoint that overlooks the winding ghat road and offers a spectacular view of Mettur Dam and Salem town. Besides, the place also houses a viewing tower, which is equipped with a telescope to enjoy the beautiful view. This viewing tower is open for visitors only during the daytime. Lady’s Seat, Gent’s Seat and Children’s Seat, located to the south-west of Shevaroy Hill, are the names given to a group of rocks located on the Yercaud Hills. It is believed that an English lady used to spend her evenings at this place watching the beautiful view of this rock. For those interested in a closer view, there’s a mounted telescope. Swing it to your extreme right to see the Mettur Dam on the Cauvery River. Great shots of the river can be had from this spot in the late afternoon when the sun’s rays are reflected in its waters.
    Killiyur Falls
    The Kiliyur Falls drops from a height of 300 feet and are a popular tourist attraction near Salem. They also offer boating and swimming activities in their vicinity. These waterfalls are a part of the Shervaroyan hill range of the Eastern Ghats. The water from the Yercaud Lake drops 300 feet into the Kiliyur Valley, thus forming these falls. Travellers have to walk down 200-250 steps to reach the point of waterfalls. There are adequate seating and resting areas near the stairs for elderly people who might be visiting the place. Kiliyur falls a good choice for a family or group excursion. The pristine water combined with the cold weather makes it a lucrative getaway.
    Source: Holidify.com

  • Junior Hockey World Cup : India suffer crushing 1-4 defeat to Spain

    Junior Hockey World Cup : India suffer crushing 1-4 defeat to Spain

    Kuala Lumpur (TIP)- Spain were superb on the wings and played a close-knit game to crush India 4-1 in a pool match of the FIH junior men’s hockey World Cup here on Thursday, December 7. Spain are leading Pool C with six points from two wins, while Korea are ahead of India on goal difference, with both sides having three points each.
    The fourth team in the pool, Canada, are yet to open their account after two losses.
    India will play their last pool match against Canada on Saturday, December 9.
    Uttam Singh’s side, after starting the prestigious tournament on a high with a 4-2 victory against Korea in Pool C, were brought down to earth by the tactically superior Spain, who made full use of the opportunities and tightened their defence resolutely to deny India penalty corner conversions.
    Cabre Verdiell Pol (1st, 41st min) and Rafi Andreas (18th, 60th) were on target for the Spaniards, while for India, the consolation goal came from the stick of Rohit, who converted a penalty corner in the 33rd minute.
    Most contests between India and Spain have gone to the wire but on Thursday, it seemed the 2016 junior World Cup champions were low on energy, conceding a goal in the very first minute of the contest.
    Spain’s searing pace helped them take the lead in the first minute itself when an unmarked Cabre took just 51 seconds to stun India. The forward, who was unmarked just in front of the India goalkeeper made a lovely deflection to give his side the lead.
    India tried rotating the mid-fielders following the jolt but were unable to find pierce the sturdy Spanish.
    Uttam’s side did manage a few circle penetration with their aggressive play but the equaliser eluded them.
    Just when India seemed to be finding their bearing, captain Rafi Andreas’s powerful drag-flick from a penalty corner beat the goalkeeper all ends up, leaving the 2016 Lucknow edition champions looking for answers to break the stout Spanish defence. India did pull one back in the 33rd minute after missing two PC opportunities in quick succession when Rohit slotted home the third to make it 1-2. But the joy was short-lived as Cabre struck his second goal of the match to regain the two-goal lead.
    Spain goalkeeper Capellades Jan stood out for his pluck and anticipation, saving at least 3-4 sure-shot strikes from Indian forwards. India earned three penalty corners between the 55th and 57th minutes but Capellades put his body on the line to deny them success.
    Spain earned a penalty stroke in the last minute and didn’t miss the gilt-edged opportunity to add to India’s miseries.

  • ‘Arrogant, utterly classless individual’: Sreesanth’s bursts into tirade over Gambhir’s ‘smile’ Instagram post

    Former Indian fast bowler Sreesanth alleged on Thursday, December 7, that Gautam Gambhir, his former teammate, accused him of being a “fixer” during a Legends League Cricket encounter. The incident transpired in an Eliminator match between Indian Capitals and Gujarat Giants, leading to a heated exchange between the two players, necessitating the intervention of umpires to de-escalate the situation. Sreesanth, initially handed a life ban by BCCI due to his purported involvement in the IPL 2013 spot-fixing scandal, had the ban reduced to seven years in 2019 by the Supreme Court of India.
    Following the match, Sreesanth went live on Instagram to talk about the incident in great detail, accusing Gambhir of using “bad words” and being disrespectful. Interestingly, the former India opener didn’t directly retaliate to Sreesanth’s allegations but made a cryptic post on his official social media platforms.
    “Smile when the world is all about attention!” Gambhir had written.
    The former India opener did receive backing from a few former teammates on the post but Sreesanth penned a lengthy and vehement message condemning Gambhir for his conduct. The fast bowler expressed that he has “lost respect” for the cricketer-turned-politician in the aftermath of the incident.
    “You have exceeded the boundaries of a sportsman and a brother, and above all, you represent the people. Yet, you continue to engage in conflicts with every cricketer. What is the matter with you? All I did was smile and observe, and you labeled me a fixer? Seriously? Are you above the Supreme Court? You have no authority to speak in such a manner and say whatever you please,” Sreesanth wrote.
    “You even verbally abused the umpires, and yet you speak of smiling? You are an arrogant and utterly classless individual who lacks any form of respect for those who supported you. Until yesterday, I always held respect for you and your family. However, you used the derogatory term “fixer” not just once, but seven or eight times. You even resorted to using the F-word towards the umpires and myself, persistently trying to provoke me.

  • Lionel Messi named Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year

    Lionel Messi named Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year

    Arguably one of the greatest in football history, Lionel Messi has been named as Times magazine’s Athlete of the Year for 2023. The news comes after Messi won the 2023 Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time, further elevating his status in football folklore. Messi played a key role in Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup campaign, where he led them to the title, defeating France in the final. He was adjudged as the tournament’s Best Player and was also the second-highest goalscorer.
    Despite his World Cup victory, Messi failed to replicate similar form with PSG and departed them as a free agent in this year’s summer transfer window. His time in PSG could be considered a disappointment by his standards and he was also frequently jeered by the fans.
    Initially, he was expected to return to Barcelona, whom he left in shocking circumstances in 2021 as a free agent, joining PSG. The development occurred after Barcelona couldn’t afford a new contract for him. But once again the Catalan club couldn’t afford him, and then he rejected offers from the Saudi Pro League, to join MLS side Inter Miami, which is also co-owned by former player David Beckham.
    Explaining his transfer to Inter Miami, Messi told Time, “The truth is that fortunately, I had several options on the table that were interesting, and I had to analyze them and think, even weigh them up with my family, before making the final decision to come to Miami.”
    “My first option was to return to Barcelona, but it was not possible. I tried to return, and it did not happen. It is also true that later I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi league, where I know the country and they have created a very powerful competition that can become an important league in the near future. “As the country’s tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me, especially because I’ve enjoyed everything I have visited, because of how football is growing in the country and because of the effort they are putting into creating a top competition. it was Saudi Arabia or MLS, and both options seemed very interesting to me,” he added.
    Source: HT

  • Airline industry to rake in $25.7 bn profit in 2024 India a hugely exciting market: IATA

    Airline industry to rake in $25.7 bn profit in 2024 India a hugely exciting market: IATA

    Geneva (TIP) – The airline industry is projected to post a net profit of USD 25.7 billion and revenue at a historic high of USD 964 billion in 2024 as more normal growth is expected in both passenger and cargo segments, global grouping IATA said on Wednesday. For 2023, the net profit is estimated at USD 23.3 billion, significantly higher than the USD 9.8 billion projected by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in June this year. Briefing reporters here, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said India is a “hugely exciting market” and that he was very optimistic. He was responding to a query related to India — one of the world’s fastest growing civil aviation markets. IATA is a grouping of more than 300 airlines.
    It said industry revenues are expected to touch a historic high of USD 964 billion next year.
    “An inventory of 40.1 million flights is expected to be available in 2024, exceeding the 2019 level of 38.9 million and up from the 36.8 million flights expected in 2023,” it noted.
    The airline industry’s operating profit is expected to touch USD 49.3 billion in 2024 from USD 40.7 billion this year. “Some 4.7 billion people are expected to travel in 2024, a historic high that exceeds the pre-pandemic level of 4.5 billion recorded in 2019,” IATA said.
    Industry passenger load factor is nearing its 2019 level, which is supporting the financial recovery of the airlines, IATA Director Policy and Economics Andrew Matters said.
    “The airline industry net profit is expected to reach USD 25.7 billion in 2024 (2.7 per cent net profit margin). That will be a slight improvement over 2023, which is expected to show a USD 23.3 billion net profit (2.6 per cent net profit margin),” IATA said, while releasing its review of 2023 and the outlook for 2024 here. The industry is estimated to have a total fuel bill of USD 281 billion, accounting for 31 per cent of all operating costs, next year as the fuel price is expected to average USD 113.8 per barrel. “Airlines are expected to consume 99 billion gallons of fuel in 2024,” IATA said. Next year, the total expenses are estimated to rise to USD 914 billion. As per the grouping, high demand for travel coupled with limited capacity due to persistent supply chain issues continues to create supply and demand conditions supporting yield growth.”Passenger yields in 2024 are expected to improve by 1.8 per cent compared to 2023,” it added. The cargo volume is expected to be higher at 61 million tonnes next year compared to 58 million tonnes in 2023.
    “From 2024, the outlook indicates that we can expect more normal growth patterns for both passenger and cargo… while the recovery is impressive, a net profit margin of 2.7 per cent is far below what investors in almost any other industry would accept,” Walsh said.
    According to him, the airlines will always compete ferociously for their customers but they remain far too burdened by onerous regulation, fragmentation, high infrastructure costs, and a supply chain populated with oligopolies. About the Asia Pacific market, IATA said while some of the region’s main domestic markets — China, Australia and India — recovered quickly from the pandemic, international travel to/ from the region was subdued as China only eliminated the last of its international travel restrictions in mid-2023. The Asia Pacific region is expected to report a net loss of USD 0.1 billion in 2023 and have a net profit of USD 1.1 billion in 2024. Source: PTI

  • Stock markets snap seven-day winning run; Sensex falls 132 points

    Stock markets snap seven-day winning run; Sensex falls 132 points

    Mumbai (TIP)- Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty snapped their seven-day winning streak on Thursday, December 7, due to profit taking by investors after recent sharp gains triggered by negative cues from Asian markets. The 30-share BSE Sensex fell 132.04 points, or 0.19 per cent, to close at 69,521.69. The gauge hit the lowest intra-day level of 69,320.53. Broader index Nifty also declined 36.55 points, or 0.17 per cent, to settle at 20,901.15. Analysts said crude oil prices in international markets failed to boost sentiment amid selling pressure from foreign institutional investors even as traders stayed on the sidelines ahead of RBI’s monetary policy decision. The Reserve Bank of India is expected to maintain the status quo on the interest rate in its bi-monthly monetary policy decision to be announced on Friday. Major laggards among Sensex constituents included Bharti Airtel, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Steel and ITC. Power Grid, UltraTech Cement, NTPC and Titan emerged as winners.
    As many as 17 shares of the 30-share Sensex ended the session in red, while 23 Nifty firms closed lower. According to Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, the market took a breather as investors are in a wait-and-watch mode ahead of the monetary policy announcement.
    “A better-than-estimated Q2 GDP growth, ease in global oil prices and drop in global bond yield will be the silver lining for the MPC. However, the expectation of a rise in domestic November inflation, drop in Rabi cultivation and increase in foodgrain prices will influence RBI to adopt a cautious approach in the short-term,” he said.
    About the movement in Nifty, Rupak De, Senior Technical analyst at LKP Securities, said the index hovered within the bands of 20850-20950 as “sentiment remains somewhat cautious ahead of the RBI policy meet”.
    “The near-term trend remains sideways to weak as long as it stays below 21000, a psychologically crucial level. A decisive breakout above 21000 might induce a resumption of the uptrend. Until then, we anticipate weakness over the near term,” De said.
    Source: PTI

  • Arbitration pacts can be binding on non-signatory firms, rules SC

    Expanding the scope and ambit of the term ‘party’ under the arbitration law, the Supreme Court ruled that arbitration agreements can be binding on non-signatory firms under the ‘group of companies’ doctrine.
    “The definition of ‘parties’ under Section 2(1)(h) (term party) read with Section 7 (arbitration agreement and its ingredients) of the Arbitration Act includes both the signatory and non-signatory parties,” a five-judge Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud said. “We deem it appropriate to retain the doctrine which has held the field in Indian jurisprudence though by firmly establishing it within the realm of the mutual consent or the mutual intent of the parties to a commercial bargain,” the Bench said.

  • Adani to invest $75 bn to scale up renewable energy portfolio

    Adani Group has plans to invest $75 billion on energy transition initiatives by 2030, its chairman Gautam Adani said on Wednesday. The investments will boost the group’s vision to have 45 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Adani said. “We are committed to large-scale renewables, developing an indigenous fully integrated manufacturing ecosystem and green hydrogen solutions.
    At the Adani portfolio level, a total investment of $75 billion by 2030 on our energy transition initiatives will further our vision to have 45 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030 and strengthen the pivotal role played by AGEL in India’s glide path to decarbonisation,” the group chairman said. The investments will be executed through Adani Green Energy Ltd.

  • India to be third largest economy by 2030: S&P

    Global Ratings agency S&P said India will be the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, but a major test for the country would be to unlock the ‘immense opportunity’ and become the next big global manufacturing hub. The US-based rating agency expects India to be the fastest growing major economy in the next three years, with GDP growth reaching 7% by 2026, from 6.4% projected expansion in the current fiscal. “India is set to become the third-largest economy by 2030, and we expect it will be the fastest growing major economy in the next three years. A paramount test will be whether India can become the next big global manufacturing hub, an immense opportunity,” the ratings agency said.

  • Google launches Gemini, upping the stakes in the global AI race

    Google launches Gemini, upping the stakes in the global AI race

    Google took its next leap in artificial intelligence Wednesday, December 6, with the launch of project Gemini, an AI model trained to behave in human-like ways that’s likely to intensify the debate about the technology’s potential promise and perils. The rollout will unfold in phases, with less sophisticated versions of Gemini called “Nano” and “Pro” being immediately incorporated into Google’s AI-powered chatbot Bard and its Pixel 8 Pro smartphone. With Gemini providing a helping hand, Google promises Bard will become more intuitive and better at tasks that involve planning. On the Pixel 8 Pro, Gemini will be able to quickly summarize recordings made on the device and provide automatic replies on messaging services, starting with WhatsApp, according to Google.
    Gemini’s biggest advances won’t come until early next year when its Ultra model will be used to launch “Bard Advanced,” a juiced-up version of the chatbot that initially will only be offered to a test audience.
    The AI, at first, will only work in English throughout the world, although Google executives assured reporters during a briefing that the technology will have no problem eventually diversifying into other languages.
    Based on a demonstration of Gemini for a group of reporters, Google’s “Bard Advanced” might be capable of unprecedented AI multitasking by simultaneously recognizing and understanding presentations involving text, photos and video.
    Gemini will also eventually be infused into Google’s dominant search engine, although the timing of that transition hasn’t been spelled out yet.
    “This is a significant milestone in the development of AI, and the start of a new era for us at Google,” declared Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, the AI division behind Gemini. Google prevailed over other bidders, including Facebook parent Meta, to acquire London-based DeepMind nearly a decade ago, and since melded it with its “Brain” division to focus on Gemini’s development. The technology’s problem-solving skills are being touted by Google as being especially adept in math and physics, fueling hopes among AI optimists that it may lead to scientific breakthroughs that improve life for humans.

  • Microsoft AI Copilot gets GPT-4 Turbo and Dall-E upgrade

    Microsoft AI Copilot gets GPT-4 Turbo and Dall-E upgrade

    Microsoft has announced plans to infuse Copilot, its AI chatbot for everyday use, with the latest OpenAI GPT-4 Turbo model as well as the Dall-E 3 image generator.
    This, Microsoft hopes, will improve performance of Copilot, which recently brought all the company’s AI features under one umbrella brand, and make the technology accessible to more people.
    OpenAI released GPT-4 Turbo last month as an improved version of the popular GPT-4 model. It has a context window four times larger than its predecessor and knowledge data updated until April of this year, unlike GPT-4 which is updated to September 2021.
    “Soon Copilot will be able to generate responses using OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-4 Turbo, enabling you to tackle more complex and longer tasks,” said Yusuf Medhi, executive VP and consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft.
    “This model is currently being tested with select users and will be widely integrated into Copilot in the coming weeks.” Medhi said that users of Copilot can now use the AI chatbot to create more accurate and high-quality images with an updated Dall-E 3 model.
    OpenAI unveiled Dall-E 3 in September, claiming the model is able to understand “significantly more nuance and detail” than its previous systems. The image generator was made available to all Bing Chat users in October as part of Microsoft’s ongoing partnership with OpenAI.
    In a blogpost, OpenAI claimed Dall-E 3 generates images that are more “visually appealing” and have better detail. The company also claimed this model can reliably render details such as hands and faces – features that many of these models appear to struggle with.
    Other features on their way to Copilot include a Code Interpreter to help users perform complex tasks, such as more accurate calculations, coding, data analysis, visualisation and maths, and Deep Search, which uses GPT-4 to optimise search results for complex topics.
    Microsoft has been playing a leading role globally in bringing AI to the masses. Last week, the tech giant said it will invest £2.5bn in the UK over the next three years, its largest ever investment in the country, to expand its AI data centre and research footprint.

  • Another milestone achieved as Isro brings Chandrayaan-3 home

    Another milestone achieved as Isro brings Chandrayaan-3 home

    The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully brought the propulsion module from the Chandrayaan-3 mission back to Earth’s orbit.
    While not in the original mission plan, ISRO used the logistical advantages from a near perfect Chandrayaan-3 mission to bring back the module which had been orbiting around the Moon, after travelling nearly 384,000 km. “In another unique experiment, like the hop experiment on the Vikram Lander, the Propulsion Module (PM) of Chandrayaan-3 was moved from an orbit around Moon to an orbit around Earth,” ISRO announced on Monday (December 10). The module had left Earth’s on August 1.
    Unlike Chandrayaan-2, which had a full fledged orbiter with major payloads and communications systems, Chandrayaan-3 featured a lighter propulsion module. For the lander’s communications with Earth, the mission used the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, which remains functional four years after the 2019 mission.
    The only scientific instrument aboard was the Spectro Polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) — an experimental payload which studies the signatures that make Earth a habitable planet, in order to possibly identify habitable planets outside the solar system. After the propulsion module separated from the lander on August 17 — 100 km from the lunar surface, and six days before the scheduled landing — it was supposed to continue orbiting the Moon for six months or more.
    “The main function of PM is to carry the LM (lander module) from launch vehicle injection till final lunar 100 km circular polar orbit and separate the LM from PM. Apart from this, the PM also has one scientific payload as a value addition which will be operated post separation of the Lander Module,” ISRO had stated ahead of the mission.
    There were no plans to bring the propulsion module back to Earth, with ISRO stating that it simply wanted to operate the SHAPE payload for about three months — the mission life of the module. What helped was just how precise and efficient the Chandrayaan-3 Mission had gone thus far. “The meticulous mission planning of the earth and lunar burn maneuvers and precise injection orbit by launch vehicle resulted in propellant saving,” P Veeramuthuvel, Chandrayaan-3’s project director, told The Indian Express. To be precise, after over a month of operations, the PM continued to hold over 100 kg of fuel. “It was decided to use the available fuel in the PM to derive additional information for future lunar missions, and demonstrate the mission operation strategies for a sample return mission,” the space agency said on Tuesday.
    A mission plan was created to ensure the PM’s return without crashing on to the lunar surface, or entering into a low Earth orbit. “Considering the estimated fuel availability, and the safety to GEO spacecrafts, the optimal Earth return trajectory was designed for October 2023 month,” ISRO said on Tuesday. ISRO initially performed a maneuver on October 9, to raise the altitude of orbit of the PM around the moon to 5112 km from 150 km (from 2.1 hrs to 7.2 hrs). The Trans-Earth injection (TEI) maneuver was performed on October 13, following which the propulsion module made four Moon fly-bys before leaving the Moon’s sphere of influence on November 10.

  • Being overweight hampers body’s immune response to Covid infection

    Being overweight hampers body’s immune response to Covid infection

    Being overweight can impair the body’s antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection but not to the protection offered by COVID-19 vaccination, according to a study.
    The finding, published in the journal Clinical & Translational Immunology, builds on the team’s existing research on how COVID-19 affects people who are overweight.
    “We have previously shown that being overweight not just being obese increases the severity of SARS-CoV-2,” said Marcus Tong, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Queensland in Australia. “But this work shows that being overweight creates an impaired antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection but not to vaccination,” Tong said. The team collected blood samples from people who had recovered from COVID-19 and not been reinfected during the study period, approximately three months and 13 months post-infection.
    “At three months post-infection, an elevated BMI was associated with reduced antibody levels,” Tong said. “And at 13 months post-infection, an elevated BMI was associated with both reduced antibody activity and a reduced percentage of the relevant B cells, a type of cell that helps build these COVID-fighting antibodies,” he added. The body mass index (BMI) is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height.
    In contrast, an elevated BMI had no effect on the antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination at approximately six months after the second vaccine was administered, the researchers said.
    According to Kirsty Short, Associate Professor at the University of Queensland, the results should help shape health policy moving forward.
    “If infection is associated with an increased risk of severe disease and an impaired immune response for the overweight, this group has a potentially increased risk of reinfection,” Short said. “It makes it more important than ever for this group to ensure they’re vaccinated,” she added. The researchers noted that from a public health perspective, this data draws into question policies around boosters and lockdowns.
    “We’d suggest that more personalised recommendations are needed for overweight people, both for ongoing COVID-19 management and future pandemics,” Short said.
    “Finally, the data provides an added impetus to improve SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in low-income countries, where there’s a high percentage of people who are overweight and are dependent on infection-induced immunity,” she added. Source: PTI

  • Starting to menstruate before 13 linked with diabetes, stroke risk: Study

    Starting to menstruate before turning 13 years old is linked to a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes in mid-life, a US research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Nutrition Prevention & Health has found. Further, having periods early in life, especially before 10 years of age, is also associated with an increased risk of getting a stroke before the age of 65 in those having diabetes, researchers found after analysing data of more than 17,000 women aged between 20 and 65.
    The researchers from Tulane University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the US said that being an observational study, they couldn’t establish the causes behind these associations. “Earlier age at [first menstrual cycle] may be one of early life indicators of the cardiometabolic disease trajectory in women,” they suggested in their study.
    The women included in the study came from the nationally representative cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2018. The women had specified the age at which they had had their first menstrual cycle. Of the women studied, about 10 per cent, or 1773, reported a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Further, 11.5 per cent of these, or 203, reported some type of cardiovascular disease, the researchers found. They quantified the increased risk of type 2 diabetes due to beginning to menstruate early in life as 32 per cent (periods at age 10 or before) through 14 per cent (age 11) to 29 per cent (age 12).
    They also found that menstruating before turning 10 was linked with a more than doubling in stroke risk among women below the age of 65 with diabetes. Specifically, they calculated the risk to be 81 per cent among those having their first period at the age of 11, 32 per cent at 12, and 15 per cent at 14.
    “One potential pathway explanation may be that [such] women are exposed to oestrogen for longer periods of time, and early [menstruation] has been associated with higher oestrogen levels,” the researchers explained. They also said weight could be another important factor influencing the results, as when they adjusted the data for weight, the observed associations between age at first menstrual cycle and stroke complications weakened slightly, albeit remaining significant. The researchers said that these findings supported the possibility that age of getting the first period may be incorporated into early-life strategies for preventing diabetes and progression of diabetes complications. “These findings add another dimension to the potentially less well understood determinants of cardiometabolic risk, particularly in women who have been relatively underrepresented in this area of research,” said Sumantra Ray, Executive Director of the NNEdPro Global Centre for Nutrition & Health, which co-owns BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. Source: PTI

  • Plant-based diet may reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease

    Plant-based diet may reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease

    Plant-based and traditional diets found in countries such as China, Japan and India may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, especially when compared to the Western diet, according to a study.
    Researchers from the Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center, US, found that Alzheimer’s disease rates rise in these countries as they make the nutrition transition to the Western diet.
    The study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, discusses in detail the role of diet in modifying the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It identifies dementia risk factors, including higher consumption of saturated fats, meat, especially red meat such as hamburgers and barbeque, as well as processed meats such as hot dogs, and ultra-processed foods high in sugar and refined grains.
    This review also analyses why certain foods increase or reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
    For example, meat raises the risk of dementia the most by increasing risk factors such as inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, saturated fat, advanced glycation end products, and trimethylamine N-oxide.
    This study also outlines several foods that are protective against Alzheimer’s disease, such as green leafy vegetables, colourful fruits and vegetables, legumes (like beans), nuts, omega-3 fatty acids, and whole grains.
    Ultra-processed foods can increase the risk of obesity and diabetes, themselves risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers said.
    Ultra-processed foods often lack the very ingredients found in whole plant foods that keep dementia away, such as anti-inflammatory components and antioxidants, they said.
    “Evidence from diverse perspectives support that a diet that emphasises fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and de-emphasises meat, especially red meat, saturated fats, and ultra-processed foods is associated with lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Edward Giovannucci, Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard University. Source: ANI