Peshawar (TIP) : A bomb blast near a police patrol killed at least five people and injured 21 others in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on November 3 in the latest attack on security personnel in the country.
The bomb exploded close to the police patrol in Dera Ismail Khan city, the Dawn newspaper quoted police official Mohammad Adnan as saying. Rescue official Aizaz Mehmood said five people were killed and another 21 suffered wounds. It is not known if any of the police personnel were among the victims.
Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in recent months, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year. On October 31, a policeman was killed after unknown militants opened fire on a police camp in Dera Ismail Khan. The same day, two soldiers were killed in an IED blast in the South Waziristan district.
In July, as many as 12 soldiers of the Pakistan Army were killed in separate military operations in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan. (PTI)
Year: 2023
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Bomb blast near police patrol kills 5 in Pakistan
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Lahore is one of the most polluted cities in the world even as government imposes ‘smog emergency’
Lahore (TIP): Lahore, the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, was one of the most polluted major cities across the world for the second consecutive day on November 2, according to a global air quality monitoring platform.
The Punjab caretaker government on Wednesday imposed a “smog emergency” in the province with 127 million population to control the hazardous air quality as the iqair.com platform said Lahore remained the second most polluted city in the world. The government’s decision came in light of the Lahore High Court’s order to immediately impose a “smog emergency” in the city due to the constantly hazardous air quality index.
The government said the environment department would seal industrial units with reopening only possible through a court order. The government said district administration will take strict actions to prevent stubble burning and black smoke from any chimney of brick kilns as well as factories and all brick kilns must transfer to zigzag technology. “Every smoke-emitting vehicle will be impounded and will be released only after attaining a proper fitness certificate,” it said, adding that special anti-smog squads consisting of district and highway police will patrol day and night to stop stubble burning.
On Wednesday, Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Karim chided the Lahore commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa for his failure to control the pollution.
“Smog is not my personal problem but it is a matter of concern for the lives of our children. You are the custodian of Lahore city. See what you have done to it… you should be ashamed of Lahore’s condition,” the judge observed.
Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi had earlier briefed caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar about the main reason for the spread of smog in Lahore as the burning of residues of crops in India’s Punjab state. Kakar assured the Punjab government of taking up the issue of the smog with India at the diplomatic level. (PTI) -
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah says attack on Israel 100% Palestinian, was needed to refocus attention on Palestinians’ plight
Gaza (TIP): Hassan Nasrallah, head of the pro-Iranian militia group Hezbollah, said the October 7 attack on Israel from Gaza was a “100% Palestinian operation” and that his group was not involved in it. But, in his first public speech since the attack, the Hezbollah leader accused the world of ignoring the plight of the Palestinian people and said a ‘big event’ was needed to refocus attention.
“This glorious, blessed, large-scale operation was 100% Palestinian in terms of decision and execution. They kept it secret from even their fellow resistance factions. The secrecy was a lynchpin to the success of this operation, unlike what is assumed by many. That kind of confidentiality and secrecy adopted by al-kasam was a requirement, it doesn’t anger us here,” Nasrallah said.
He said a big event was needed to bring everyone’s attention to what was happening in the region, and accused all major international organizations of ignoring the Palestinian cause.
“No one is moving a finger, UN, EU, League of Arab States, OIS, none is doing anything. All that is happening in Palestine is totally forgotten. The whole world has turned a blind eye to them. “The policies of the enemy are more oppressive. Therefore there is the need for a big event to shake this oppressive occupier with their backers in Washington and London, and to reopen peace and humanitarian issues in front of the whole world,” he said.
The speech was eagerly awaited to see if Hezbollah would open a second front against Israel.
The political-military group, with strong connections to Iran and based in Lebanon, is believed to have between 100,000 to 130,000 rockets aimed at Israel.
The secretary general of Hezbollah is considered by many to be the single most powerful individual in Lebanon with as many as 100,000 fighters at his disposal.
Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Richard Hecht said the Israel Defense Forces are “deployed and ready” in the north, adding “we are in a defensive posture”.
“We’re saying to the Lebanese people – don’t sacrifice your future for Hamas.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Hezbollah it faces counter-strikes of “unimaginable” magnitude that will cause devastation in Lebanon.
On the Palestinian fighters, Nasrallah said they were heroes.
“We are entitled to take pride in them.. we can be certain that they are rewarded in paradise…They are alive…they are now alive in God’s paradise,” he said.
Hezbollah, like Hamas, has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and other countries. Nasrallah joined Hezbollah in 1982 after the Israeli invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon.
Rising through the organisation, he replaced Hezbollah’s leader Abbas al Musawi in 1992 after the latter and members of his family were assassinated in an Israeli airstrike.
In a number of interviews, Nasrallah has repeatedly refused to recognise the state of Israel, stating that he considers its existence to be unlawful and unjust.
In a month-long war in 2006, Israel Defence Forces were surprised by the quality of Hezbollah’s personnel and weapons as they used so-called “swarming” tactics to eliminate Israeli positions.
With financial support from Iran, Hezbollah has transitioned from a guerrilla outfit into something resembling a conventional army, with drones and rockets that can hit all parts of Israel, it claims. Since Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel’s subsequent bombing campaign and invasion of Gaza, fears have risen across the Middle East that Hezbollah will open a second front against Israel on its northern border, sparking a broader war.
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Blinken says Israel has ‘right’ and ‘obligation’ to defend itself
TEL AVIV (TIP): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated on November 3 that Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself as it continues to pummel the Gaza Strip with an air and ground assault.
“Israel has not only the right but the obligation to defend itself… to make sure that this October 7 never happens again,” Blinken told journalists as he met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv. Israel launched a massive retaliatory assault against Gaza’s Hamas rulers after its fighters carried out the October 7 attack which Israeli officials say killed 1,400 people.
More than 9,200 people have been killed in Gaza, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said. Soon after Blinken’s arrival, he held separate meetings with Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Blinken, who is on his second tour to the Middle East since the war erupted, urged Israel to protect civilians who are caught in the crossfire and to “bring assistance to those who so desperately need it”.
Prior to his arrival in Israel, Blinken said he would seek “concrete steps” from Israel to ensure harm to Palestinian civilians is reduced.
“We will be talking about concrete steps that can and should be taken to minimise harm to men, women and children in Gaza,” Blinken had told reporters before departing for Israel.
“This is something that the United States is committed to.”
“When I see a Palestinian child — a boy, a girl — pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building, that hits me in the gut as much as seeing a child in Israel or anywhere else,” Blinken said. “So this is something that we have an obligation to respond to, and we will.”
US President Joe Biden has promised full support and ramped-up military aid to Israel for its campaign in Gaza, but in a visible shift of tone has also voiced empathy for Palestinian suffering which has stoked anger in parts of the world.
“I think we need a pause,” Biden said on Thursday at a campaign event.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby later clarified what such a pause would entail. “A humanitarian pause… is temporary, localised and focused, focused on a particular objective or objectives, humanitarian aid in, people out,” Kirby told reporters. (AFP) -
Twelve dead as Storm Ciaran batters Western Europe
MONTEMURLO (TIP): At least 12 people were killed as Storm Ciaran battered Western Europe with record winds of up to 200 kilometres per hour, causing travel mayhem with closed ports and flight and rail disruptions.
At least five people died in Tuscany, Italian authorities announced on November 3, reporting record rainfall and the declaration of a state of emergency.
Tuscany governor Eugenio Giani said the five dead included an 85-year-old man who was found drowned on the ground floor of his house in Montemurlo, northwest of Florence.
“What happened tonight in Tuscany has a name: climate change,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Florence mayor Dario Nardella said the “situation is critical” in the city, as the level of the Arno River continued to rise.
Trees felled by gale-force winds caused most of the deaths in Europe. In the Belgian city of Ghent, a five-year-old Ukrainian boy and a 64-year-old woman were killed by falling branches.
Falling trees had earlier killed a lorry driver in his vehicle in northern France’s Aisne region, and French authorities also reported the death of a man who fell from his balcony in the port city of Le Havre.
A man in the Dutch town of Venray, a woman in central Madrid and a person in Germany also died. Some 1.2 million French homes lost electricity as the storm lashed the northwest coast. Almost 700,000 remained without power on Thursday evening, according to network manager Enedis.
French President Emmanuel Macron was due to visit the storm-battered region of Brittany on Friday, the Elysee presidential palace said.
The storm interrupted rail, air and maritime traffic in Belgium where the port of Antwerp was closed and flights from Brussels were disrupted.
The wind gusts in the western Brittany region were “exceptional” and “many absolute records have been broken”, national weather service Meteo-France said on X.
The prefect for the local department said gusts as high as 207 km/h (129 mph) were recorded at Pointe du Raz on the tip of the northwest coast, while the port city of Brest saw winds hit 156 km/h.
In southern England, hundreds of schools were closed as large waves powered by winds of 135 km/h crashed along the coastline.
On the Channel Island of Jersey, residents had to be evacuated to hotels overnight as gusts of up to 164 km/h damaged homes, according to local media. (AFP) -
Palestinian journalist killed in Gaza bombing
Gaza (TIP): A journalist working for the Palestinian Authority’s television channel was killed on November 2 in an Israeli strike on Gaza, his network reported, as war rages between Israel and Hamas. “Our colleague Mohammed Abu Hatab fell as a martyr along with members of his family in an Israeli bombardment against his home in Khan Yunis” in the south of the territory, broadcaster Palestine TV station said.
Medical sources at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis said at least 11 people were killed in the strike.
Since Israel began bombarding the Gaza Strip in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks, hundreds of Palestinian journalists have had to flee south from Gaza City and work in fear for their lives in appalling conditions as Israeli air raids pound the territory.
The Palestinian journalists’ union says that 27 of its members have been killed in the territory since October 7.
Media representatives in Gaza, including AFP, used to work from offices in Gaza City.
But intense Israeli bombardments, which destroyed many buildings, forced news organisations to send their teams to the south, even as Israeli strikes hit targets across the entire territory.
The conflict raged for a 27th day Thursday after the October 7 attacks when Hamas militants stormed the border, killing 1,400 people and kidnapping more than 240, Israeli officials say.
Since then, Israel has relentlessly pounded the Palestinian territory and sent in ground troops, with the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza saying 9,061 people have been killed, including 3,760 children. (AFP) -
‘No income, no life’: Jerusalem’s Old City suffers as war rages
Jerusalem’s (TIP): The once bustling streets of Jerusalem’s Old City have fallen eerily quiet, with the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas keeping away tourists and their much-needed cash.
In the maze-like warren of shopping streets that surrounds the city’s holy sites, most businesses remained shuttered, nearly four weeks into the war. The few remaining shopkeepers brave enough to open their stores wait day after day for tourists who have yet to return.
“There is no tourism industry any more,” said Marwan Attieh, 48, a third-generation tour guide and souvenir shop owner.
“We have families, we have children… (There is) no business, no income, no revenue, no life. How can you spend money, if you don’t have money?”
The walled Old City in annexed east Jerusalem is home to some of the holiest sites for Christians, Jews and Muslims and has drawn pilgrims and travellers for centuries.
Yet Jerusalem’s lucrative tourism sector has all but collapsed since October 7, when Hamas militants from Gaza stormed across the border in an attack that killed at least 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials.
Following the onslaught, Israel has struck back hard at the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip with a relentless bombing campaign that has killed more than 9,000 people, mainly civilians, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where most Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried, stood largely empty on Thursday, other than the occasional priest stirring in its cavernous halls.
“Before, this place was really alive, full of people praying and offering their problems to God and in general very spiritual,” said Pietro Mazzocco, a 31-year-old Italian seminary student studying in Jerusalem.
“And now it’s completely empty, as you can see here. There are no people.”
While many flights to Israel have been suspended and tour packages cancelled, a few tourists managed to reach the largely deserted Old City.
Rachid, a 24-year-old French tourist, refused to cancel his trip to Israel, saying he wanted to see the situation on the ground with his own eyes.
He arrived earlier this week via the land border from Jordan, following lengthy interrogation sessions by Israeli authorities.
“It’s a bit weird, nobody is in the streets,” he told AFP, adding that he had been stopped several times by Israeli police since arriving.
“People are afraid on both sides,” he shrugged. “People are sensitive. They don’t know who I am or where I’m from.”
Outside of the tourism bubble, daily life has also taken a hit.
Attendances at Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque are down, while checkpoints and patrols in occupied east Jerusalem have been beefed up.
Many residents of the mostly Palestinian-populated Old City are afraid to leave their homes, citing harassment and physical violence by Israeli security forces. (AFP) -
Iran limiting jailed Nobel winner’s medical care over hijab refusal: family
PARIS (TIP): Iranian prison authorities have blocked 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi’s hospital transfer for urgently needed care over her refusal to wear the compulsory hijab, her family has said.
Veteran rights activist Mohammadi, 51, who is currently being held in Tehran’s Evin prison, was awarded the prize in October “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran”.
Her selection came in the wake of months-long protests across Iran triggered by the September 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, who had been arrested for allegedly flouting the Islamic Republic’s strict dress rules for women.
Mohammadi has subsequently announced she would not under any circumstances wear a hijab, the head covering that has been obligatory for women in public spaces since shortly after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.
Prison authorities in response have refused to transfer Mohammadi, who suffers from heart and lung conditions to a hospital outside Evin, her family said in a statement, warning her health and life were at risk.
“Two days and nights, a group of women in Evin protested in the prison yard to send Narges Mohammadi to the heart hospital,” they wrote on her official Instagram account late on Wednesday.
“The prison warden announced that, according to the orders of the higher authorities, sending her to the heart hospital without a headscarf was prohibited, and her transfer was cancelled,” the family said.
On Monday, a medical team came to the women’s wing of Evin to examine Mohammadi and carry out an echocardiogram scan after “the prison even refused to transfer Narges to the infirmary” without a headscarf, the statement added.
It said the scan showed two veins with severe blockages and high lung pressure, with a coronary angiogram and lung scan urgently needed.
“She is willing to risk her life by not wearing the ‘forced hijab’, even for medical treatment,” the family said.
In a message expressing gratitude for the prize, read by her daughter and posted on the Nobel website late Tuesday, Mohammadi described the compulsory hijab as a “means of control and repression imposed on society and on which the continuation and survival of this authoritarian religious regime depends”.
Earlier this week, Mohammadi also expressed outrage over what she described as the “murder” of 17-year-old Armita Garawand. (AFP) -
Avoid a surprise next year; review tax withholding now before time runs out
WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): With 2023 rapidly coming to a close, the Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers to review their tax withholding as soon as possible to avoid a potential surprise when they file their tax return next year.
Although it’s best for taxpayers to verify withholding early in the year, an adjustment made in the final weeks of 2023 could still help to avoid an unexpected result, such as a big refund or a balance due, when filing taxes next year.
With only a few weeks left in the year, the IRS encouraged people who haven’t checked their withholding recently to do it soon so they can make any withholding adjustments needed. The IRS has several ways to help.
Tax Withholding Estimator
The Tax Withholding Estimator, also available in Spanish, can help taxpayers determine if they have too much income tax withheld and how to adjust tax withholding. In other cases, it can help taxpayers see that they should withhold more or make an estimated tax payment to avoid a tax bill when they file their 2023 tax return.The tool offers workers, retirees, self-employed individuals and other taxpayers a simple-to-use, mobile-friendly way to calculate the correct amount of income tax they should have withheld from wages and pension payments based on their complete set of facts and circumstances.
Taxpayer options to pay as they go
Taxes are generally paid throughout the year. Employers typically withhold income tax from their employees’ salary and pay it to the IRS on the employee’s behalf. However, about 70% of taxpayers withhold too much every year resulting in a refund.The IRS reminds individuals earning income that’s not subject to withholding, such as income from rental properties, gig economy work or self-employment, to consider making quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid a balance due or penalties when filing.
Taxpayers may send estimated tax payments with Form 1040-ES by mail, or pay online, by phone or from their mobile device using the IRS2Go app. Taxpayers may also make estimated tax payments through their Online Account, where they can also see their payment histories and other tax records. To create an Online Account, go to IRS.gov/account.
Other items may affect 2023 taxes
Common and unforeseen life events can be a trigger to make withholding adjustments. They include:Life changes such as marriage or childbirth – Getting married or having a child are just a couple of life events that can affect a taxpayer’s refund or how much they owe.
Job Loss – IRS Publication 4128, Tax Impact of Job Loss explains how this unfortunate circumstance can create new tax issues, such as receiving unemployment compensation.
Disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes – Special tax law provisions may help taxpayers and businesses recover financially from the impact of a disaster, especially when the federal government declares their location a major disaster area.
The IRS reminds taxpayers that a refund is not guaranteed. Proper withholding adjustments help people boost take-home pay rather than be over-withheld and get it back as a tax refund.If eligible, the fastest way to receive a tax refund is by filing electronically and choosing Direct Deposit. IRS issues most refunds within 21 days. While most are issued in 21 days or less from an error-free and paperless tax return, many take longer for different reasons.
For more information about estimated taxes and tax withholding, see Tax Withholding.
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Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison announces surprise resignation
SUFFOLK, NY (TIP): Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison, who helped the department finally crack the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings case, suddenly announced Thursday night that he is stepping down after nearly two years on the job.
Harrison, a former NYPD chief of department, told officers he will inform Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone on Friday about his decision to resign, the message states.
“Serving as the Suffolk County Police commissioner for the past two years was not only a privilege but one of the greatest highlights of my law enforcement career and that is because of you,” Harrison said in the memo.
“It has been an honor to be part of this organization and work with so many talented individuals,” he also said. “Each day, I have been impressed by stories of heroism, bravery, and dedication to the residents of this county. To say I appreciate and admire each one of you, is an understatement.” Harrison told staff Thursday, November 2, he was stepping down.
Harrison took the job in January 2022 and vowed his police force would work tirelessly to capture a suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders, which had gone unsolved for over a decade. He created a special joint task force dedicated to cold-case killings. In July, Rex Heuermann was arrested near his Manhattan office and charged with the murders of three women in the case.
Harrison took the commissioner job after leaving his post as chief of department at the NYPD. He joined the Big Apple police force in 1991.
Harrison lauded the efforts of the Suffolk department Thursday, November 2, and noted, “I leave knowing Suffolk County is in good hands.”
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GUARANTEED HEALTH CARE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS
NYC Care is a health care access program available regardless of ones’ immigration status or ability to pay
NEW YORK, NY (TIP): NYC Health + Hospitals’ NYC Care program today announced the launch of a city-wide public awareness campaign to encourage eligible New Yorkers to enroll in the program and access the primary, preventive, and specialty care needed to lead longer, healthier lives. The campaign consists of a combination of multilingual advertisements, media partnerships, marketing strategies and earned media opportunities, available in the languages most commonly spoken by NYC Care-eligible New Yorkers: English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese/Mandarin, and Bengali. The campaign uses audio and video from the newly released ‘Doctor Public Service Announcement’ video series, along with static graphics featuring updated messages designed to build trust and highlight the ease with which one can apply for the program. The placements include out-of-home, print and digital newspapers in community and ethnic media, television, radio, Google search/display and social media. The placements will run through December, coinciding with efforts across the Health System to ensure that New Yorkers are aware of the range of health care options available to them during the open enrollment period. The launch of the campaign continues the steady growth in membership since NYC Care exceeded its goal of reaching 100,000 members in February, 2022. Enrollment in NYC Care increased 5.4% from 113,178 members in Fiscal Year 2022 to 119,234 in Fiscal Year 2023, and is up 352% from its first year in 2019.
“Keeping New Yorkers healthy starts with keeping them informed, and I am thrilled to announce the launch of the city-wide public awareness campaign which sends the unified message across different forms of media that healthcare is a right, regardless of your immigration status, ability to pay, language, or how long you have lived in New York City. You can access world-class health care available through NYC Health + Hospitals,” said Jonathan Jiménez, MD, MPH, Executive Director of NYC Care from NYC Health + Hospitals. “Since NYC Care launched in 2019, the NYC Care team has worked tirelessly to consistently put out messaging that encourages New Yorkers to seek the care that they are entitled to. Eligible New Yorkers can call 646-NYC-CARE (646-692-2273) to connect with the 24/7 NYC Care hotline, visit our NYC Care community-based organization partners across the city, or visit NYCCare.NYC to learn more about the program.”
“The launch of the NYC Care public awareness campaign will ensure New York City’s diverse immigrant communities are informed about the resources to live healthier lives,” said Manuel Castro, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. “The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs is proud to support these efforts, most recently by highlighting NYC Care in our immigrant media roundtable on digital equity for immigrant New Yorkers. I encourage eligible New Yorkers to reach out to NYC Care and learn more.”
“NYC Care is a crucial resource for community members, and I am thrilled to see the launch of this campaign which will introduce the program and its life-changing benefits to even more New Yorkers,” said Hewett Chiu, President and CEO, RaisingHealth. “Getting more New Yorkers connected to primary, specialty, and preventive care early keeps our city healthy. I hope all eligible New Yorkers can benefit from this program, as they seek care with dignity and respect.”
In addition to launching paid ad placements, NYC Care continues to leverage its strong partnerships with 22 community-based organizations to conduct culturally-sensitive outreach to prospective members citywide. From community health fairs to back-to-school giveaways to flyering efforts near high foot-trafficked areas, these partners act as trusted community liaisons to answer NYC Care-eligible New Yorkers’ questions about the program and encourage them to apply. The NYC Care team meets with partners regularly to share programmatic updates and understand how the program can continue to do more to meet the needs of its members.
NYC Care also works with partners at all levels of government, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, New York State of Health, and the Mayor’s Office, hosting webinars and in-person information sessions to share about the program. Last month, NYC Care Executive Director Jonathan Jiménez, MD, MPH, joined a media roundtable hosted by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, LinkNYC, and the NYC Office of Technology & Innovation to announce the launch of NYC Care placements on LinkNYC kiosks, and other strategies to address digital inequity for immigrant New Yorkers.
With the launch of the campaign to reach NYC Care-eligible New Yorkers, the program maintains its commitment to ensuring that existing members connect to primary care. Last month, NYC Care announced a partnership with the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit to reach out to over 30,000 NYC Care members and encourage them to connect to primary care. The partnership is part of the mayor’s broader agenda to support a healthier New York City, including sweeping investments in mental health supports for New Yorkers of all ages, lifestyle medicine training for clinicians across the city, and new programs to bolster access to reproductive health care.
In June, NYC Care released findings from a study for Academy Health demonstrating the program’s success in connecting new members to primary and specialty care, which resulted in even higher engagement when looking at members who had two or more chronic diseases and spoke English as a second language (ESL). Overall, 76.9% of new NYC Care members returned to primary care for an additional visit in their first year, 80.7% received a referral outside of primary care, and 75.4% visited specialty care. For new members with two or more chronic diseases, 86.1% returned to primary care, 87.1% received a referral, and 86% visited specialty care. There was also strong engagement for new members who speak English as a second language, where 86.1% returned to primary care, 80.2% received a referral, and 74.7% visited specialty care. This data suggests that NYC Care has spurred patient engagement at rates comparable to Medicaid, and that the data reflects member satisfaction and confidence in the high-quality care they are receiving.
About NYC Care
NYC Care is a health care access program that provides comprehensive and low or no-cost healthcare services through NYC Health + Hospitals for New Yorkers who cannot afford or are ineligible for health insurance. NYC Care provides a membership card, 24/7 customer service, access to comprehensive and affordable healthcare services, like primary care, mental health services, and sexual and reproductive healthcare, low-cost medications, and member materials in multiple languages – regardless of your immigration status or ability to pay. Call 646-NYC-CARE (646-692-2273) or visit NYCCare.NYC to learn more and sign up today – privacy and confidentiality guaranteed.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation. We are a network of 11 hospitals, trauma centers, neighborhood health centers, nursing homes, and post-acute care centers. We are a home care agency and a health plan, MetroPlus. Our health system provides essential services to more than one million New Yorkers every year in more than 70 locations across the city’s five boroughs. Our diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Jackson Heights Indian Merchants’ Association organizes a memorable Diwali Festival
Mayor Adams and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar presenting a New York Assembly Citation to Shiv Dass , President of Jackson Heights Indian Merchants’ Association. Also seen is Bobby Kumar Kalottee (extreme right) I.S. Saluja
JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY (TIP): Diwali is an Indian festival of lights that sends out the message of victory of good over evil, victory of light over dark. One of the most popular Indian festivals abroad, Diwali is celebrated in almost every nook and corner of the world. In New York, there are dozens of Diwali celebrations extending over a period of sometimes a month or more. Jackson Heights, Indian Merchants’ Association organized a Diwali festival on October 21. The busy marketplace, known as Little India, was packed with visitors who witnessed the colorful festivities and the great singing by local singers and a famous Punjabi singer Khuda Baksh. The chief guest at the festival was New York City Mayor Eric Adams who congratulated the gathered Indian American community on the occasion. He had a word of praise for the Indian American community and in particular, Jackson Heights Indian Merchants’ Association and its president Mr. Shiv Das. Also, the Mayor spoke about the school holiday on Diwali in New York schools. He gave credit for the school holiday to Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar. Mr. Shiv Dass in his welcome note earlier praised Eric Adams as one of the greatest mayors of New York City and thanked him for having kept his word he gave during the election campaign that once he was elected, he would come to Jackson Heights and participate in a social event.
Khuda Baksh regaled the audience with his mellifluous singing (Photos : Jay Mandal- on assignment) Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar thanked the Mayor for his support in her efforts to have Diwali as a school holiday. She congratulated the Jackson Heights Indian Merchants’ Association for organizing the Diwali festival in the busy marketplace, and assured of her cooperation always to the “great Indian American community”.
Always with the Indian American community and for the Indian American community, the one and only Dilip Chauhan who is Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs in the Office of the New York City Mayor was there to receive the mayor and participate in the festivities. He also spoke on the occasion.
Other officials and elected representatives who were present at the celebrations included New York State Senator John Liu, a great friend of the Indian American community, Queens Borough President Richard Donovan, Democratic District President Hiram Monserrate, Democratic District Leader Moin Chaudhary, Community Board 3 Chair Frank Taylor, and Bobby K Kalottee, Chair, Human Rights Commission, Nassau County.
Some citations were presented on the occasion. Mayor’s citations were presented to Attorney Mahipal Singh, Deepak Verma of Amba Jewelers, and Shaukat Ali of Kabab King.
Queens Borough President’s citation was presented to Davinder Kumar of Kunal Jewelers.
New York Assemblyman David Weprin presented a citation to Mohinder Verma, Secretary, Jackson Heights Merchants’ Association. Jackson Heights Indian American Merchants’ Association Treasurer Virender Kanwar was also awarded a citation.
Sherry Dutta, a much sought after MC, managed the entire program superbly.
The local orchestra and the artists, and the famous singer Khuda Baksh, regaled the audience with their performances. -
“Your turban does not mean terrorism”, New York City mayor says amid recent attacks on Sikhs
Gives a clarion call for educating people about Sikhism
RICHMOND HILL, NY (TIP): The Sikh turban does not mean terrorism but symbolizes faith, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, as he described the recent attacks and hate crimes against the community as a “stain” on the country and vowed to protect its members.
He also gave a clarion call for educating people about Sikhism.“You are not about terror; you are about protector. That is what needs to be taught throughout this entire city. Our young people need to know that, our adults need to know that,” Adams said while addressing members of the Sikh community at the Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Centre in the Queens neighborhood of South Richmond Hill.
Describing the Sikh community as an “anchor” in the Richmond Hill neighborhood, Adams said: “Your turban does not mean terrorism. It means protecting, it means community, it means family, it means faith, it means city, it means us coming together. We will change the dialogue and narrative with you. We can do it together.”
Adams and New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar met and addressed members of the Sikh community here on Sunday, October 29, in the wake of recent incidents of hate crime and assault against Sikhs.
On October 15, a 19-year-old Sikh boy was attacked by Christopher Philippeaux, 26, while he was riding the bus in Richmond Hill. Philippeaux punched the teenager in the back of the head, tried to knock off his turban and told him “We don’t wear that in this country.” Philippeaux has been charged with assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
Within days of this, 66-year-old Jasmer Singh was attacked when his car collided with another vehicle. The driver of the other car, 30-year-old Gilbert Augustin, allegedly punched the elderly Sikh man three times in the head and face and Singh later succumbed to his injuries.
Describing the attack against Singh as a “violent senseless act”, Adams said, “Jasmer should still be with us. He should still be with his son. He should still be living out the American dream, watching his son, who’s now an immigration attorney.
“He should still be…part of this community. That dream turned into a nightmare the other day when his life was taken from us prematurely,” Adams said, flanked by Singh’s son Subeg Singh Multani and other members of the Sikh community.
Describing Sikhs as “protectors” of society, Jenifer Rajkumar asserted that the hateful targeting of Sikhs is “not acceptable” and perpetrators of such violence would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of law. “For the first time, we are going to use the levers of government to end hate crimes against Sikh Americans. For the first time, we are going to come together and…educate…New York State, the United States and the entire world about who the Sikh people truly are so we are not attacked and misunderstood,” Rajkumar, the first Indian-American woman elected to New York State Office and who described herself as a “daughter of Punjab”, said.
Rajkumar said this was not the first time she had visited the gurdwara and had spoken out against hate crimes. “But it is the last time I want to be standing here speaking out against hate crimes. Starting now we are going to end the hateful targeting of Sikhs,” she said.
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Indian national pleads guilty to USD 11.5 million healthcare fraud
NEWARK, NJ (TIP): Indian national Chintan Anjaria, who owns a marketing company in India has pleaded guilty to a massive USD 11.5 million healthcare fraud, Attorney for the United States, Vikas Khanna announced Thursday, November 2
Anjaria pleaded guilty on October 31, before US District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court to information charging him with conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback statute and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, a media release said.
Anjaria’s sentencing is scheduled for March 12.
According to court documents from February 2017 to May 2022, Anjaria participated in a kickback and bribery scheme with orthotic brace supply companies, telemedicine companies, and testing laboratories, resulting in the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare.
Anjaria controlled a marketing company in India through which he and his conspirators identified Medicare beneficiaries to target for orthotic braces and cancer genetic tests (CGX).
Employees of the company called beneficiaries and pressured them to agree to accept orthotic braces and/or CGX, regardless of medical necessity, federal prosecutors said.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Anjaria and his company paid kickbacks to telemedicine companies to obtain doctor’s orders for the orthotic braces and CGX tests. Anjaria then steered the doctor’s orders to orthotic brace suppliers and testing laboratories located in the US, with which Anjaria and his company had additional kickback arrangements.
The orthotic brace suppliers and laboratories submitted claims for reimbursement to Medicare, and thereafter sent a portion of the proceeds to Anjaria and his company as payment for the doctor’s orders generated through the conspiracy. In total, Anjaria and his conspirators caused a loss to Medicare of more than USD 11.5 million, it said.
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New York man, who killed a Sikh man, charged with manslaughter
QUEENS, NY (TIP): A man who attacked an elderly Sikh person during a car accident in New York on October 19 has been charged with manslaughter. Gilbert Augustin was arraigned on Tuesday, October 31, on an indictment charging him with manslaughter and assault as hate crimes in the death of 66-year-old Jasmer Singh, District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
However, Augustin pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to 20 charges related to the incident, including first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime and second-degree assault as a hate crime, the court records stated, reported CNN.Moreover, the charges also included reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting it, and operating a motor vehicle without a license, an indictment filed in a state court in Queens County said.
Reportedly, the incident was not initially investigated as a hate crime, a New York Police Department spokesperson said.
“During a Queens district attorney’s grand jury, new information came to light that was not originally revealed to NYPD detectives,” the spokesperson said.
James Concemore Neville, Augustin’s defense attorney, called the case “a very difficult one for all parties concerned.”
“I will say that it’s a very sad, tragic case and that my job in this situation … is to protect Augustin’s rights – his constitutional rights,” Neville said. During the dispute that preceded the fatal beating, Augustin is accused of repeatedly referring to Singh as a ‘turban man’.
“This is a case of a fender bender immediately escalating to hateful language and then brutal, deadly violence. The defendant will have to answer to some very serious charges,” Katz said. Augustin faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder ordered him to return to court on December 6.
The accident took place on Thursday, October 19, while Jasmer was driving his wife home from a doctor’s appointment in preparation for a trip to India this coming week.
As the dispute heated up between the two drivers, Augustin allegedly repeatedly called Singh, who was wearing a turban, “turban man”, prosecutors said in a news release, according to CNN.
Following this, Augustin eventually punched Singh three times in the head and face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement, the prosecutors added. Leading to this, Singh suffered a brain injury and was taken to a hospital, where he died the next day.
After the attack, Jasmer’s son Multani while talking about his father, said, “He was educated, a very noble person, a simple person.” Singh, 68, came to the US from India to raise his family.
He further said, “My father’s skull was broken. Two front teeth were gone.” Moreover, Multani said he is convinced his father’s appearance as a turbaned Sikh was the reason for the brutality, and wants his death to be charged as a hate crime, as per CBS News. Multani added, “The guy was addressing my father with his costumes, with his turbans. There was no reason for someone to go in that intensity. My father was targeted and it is a possible hate crime.”
(With inputs from CNN and PTI) -
Rajasthan Association of North America showcases talent, tradition, hospitality at the 23rd Deep Mahotsav
HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): The Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), on October 28, celebrated its 23rd Deep Mahotsav at Pearl Banquet & Convention Center in Long Island, marking a significant cultural and community event. The gala was attended by distinguished individuals from the tristate area, and the venue was filled to capacity.
Prem Bhandari, RANA President, gives introductory remarks. At this grand celebration, RANA honored three prominent Rajasthani figures who have made outstanding contributions to their respective fields. One of the honorees was Kushal Sacheti, a prominent New York-based diamond merchant and philanthropist known for his commendable work. He received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, Rajasthan Ratna, a recognition that is awarded very selectively – this being only the second time in 24 years. The first recipient was Rajasthan’s UDH Minister, Shanti Dhariwal.
Kushal Sacheti, a prominent New York-based diamond merchant and philanthropist known for his commendable work, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, Rajasthan Ratna. Praising Sacheti’s humility and generosity, RANA President Prem Bhandari shared a few glimpses from his life experience. “Kushal Sacheti has provided scholarships to 150 students in the US, who then went on to become engineers and MBA graduates. If anyone wanted to return the money, he would advise them to provide scholarships to others who are in need like he did,” Bhandari said, who also remarked that Sacheti would ask him to not reveal his contribution. Sacheti also received a standing ovation at the gala.
Dr. Rabindra K. Goyal (L) was recognized for his remarkable contributions to medicine and his community. Another luminary, Dr. Rabindra K. Goyal, was celebrated for his exceptional contributions to both the medical field and the community.
The title of Entrepreneur of the Year was bestowed upon Sweta Jain, a distinguished figure in the diamond merchant industry.
The title of Entrepreneur of the Year was bestowed upon Sweta Jain, a distinguished figure in the diamond merchant industry. The event showcased the rich culture of Rajasthan through performances by Rajasthani children and women who graced the stage with traditional Rajasthani songs.
Women performing the famed Rajasthani folkdance Ghoomer. Dignitaries who attended included Consul General of India in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, who was the chief guest and Deputy Consul General of India in New York, Dr, Varun Jeph.
Surender Adhana, an Indian Foreign Service Officer posted at Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York was a guest of honor.
The gathering was also graced by Air India’s US and Canada Head, Girish Salvin, senior Air India Captain Gautam Yadav, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, and many other notable personalities.
President of RANA was commended for the 24/7 commitment to community service, not only in the US but worldwide. Consul General Randhir Jaiswal praised RANA’s services and contribution in various sectors. The event was an opportunity to reflect on India’s remarkable achievement in space exploration, as RANA’s president spoke about Chandrayaan 3, making India the first country to land at the south pole of the moon.
This success was attributed to the able leadership of India’s Honorable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Special mention was made to Sunita Khokhar, whose significant role contributed to the successful landing of Chandrayaan 3.
Sripal Lodha, the owner of UMA plastic based in Jodhpur, Rajasthan received appreciation for supplying plastic to ISRO for a decade, including its use in Chandrayaan 3, free of cost.
The event emphasized the potential of Rajasthan as not only the largest state in India but larger than 133 countries worldwide. It has the potential to become a hub of solar energy akin to California in the USA. Furthermore, Rajasthan could emerge as a prime tourism destination with the right initiative from the state government.
RANA has played a pivotal role in fostering community connections, consistently receiving support from Consul Generals in New York. Under the leadership of Randheer Jaiswal, various activities, including yoga sessions at Times Square and the promotion of millets with Jaipur Foot USA, have been successfully organized. The “Consulate at Your Doorstep” program has been actively serving the community for the past 8-9 years.
In the past year, RANA has sent a substantial contribution of $856,000 USD to its parent organization, BMVSS, for the benefit of differently-abled individuals. Jaipur Foot’s founder, Padma Bhushan D. R. Mehta, was a special guest who not only highlighted the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi but also emphasized the global significance of his principles and ideology.
Prem Bhandari, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, spoke about the ongoing Jaipur Foot camps, including one in Baghdad, Iraq, sponsored by the MEA, Government of India. This initiative, known as “India for humanity,” was initiated to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and to showcase his principles to the world.
On behalf of JFU, Prem Bhandari expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for making JFU’s parent organization, BMVSS, a partner in this initiative.
Bhandari praised Dr. Raj Bansal of Florida, who as RANA’s honoree last year, committed to establishing a reading hall for SMS Medical College, with work already in progress.
It was announced that there soon would be a free artificial limb fitment Jaipur Foot camp in the Northeast, a testament to the organization’s commitment to providing aid and support to those in need.
The famous singer Khuda Baksh had the guests jiving Famous singer regaled the audience with his mellifluous singing which compelled guests to take to dance floor
In addition to celebrating culture and community service, the audience enjoyed authentic Rajasthani cuisine, adding a culinary touch to the festivities.
(Based on a press release by RANA Diwali Secretary Ravi Jargad) -
Canada to admit 5,00,000 immigrants each year; Indians to benefit most
OTTAWA (TIP): Though Canada will admit 4,85,000 new immigrants in 2024 as in 2023, it plans to raise the numbers to 500,000 by 2025. Unveiling immigration plans for 2024-26, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said on Wednesday that immigration levels would be capped at 5,00,000 from 2026.
As India is Canada’s biggest source of immigration and students, Indians will be the biggest beneficiary of these levels because they are going to get the lion’s share of 2,81,135 newcomers under the economic category and 1,14,000 under the family category.
Last year, over 1,18,000 Indians took up Canadian permanent residency (PR), accounting for a quarter of all 4,37,120 newcomers to Canada.The new immigration targets will push up Canada’s population each year by 1.3 per cent.
In fact, record immigration levels have helped the Canadian population cross the 40-million mark even as the country faces an acute housing shortage.
The Justin Trudeau-led government is sticking to high immigration levels despite opinion polls showing opposition to the plan because of the housing crunch.
“Canada will continue to welcome newcomers and ensure that they are supported in their new lives,” Miller added.
He however, admitted that immigration levels were being capped at 5,00,000 because “we recognize that housing, infrastructure planning, and sustainable population growth need to be properly taken into account”.
(Source: IANS) -
Scottish Parliament recognizes the Sikh Genocide of 1984 in India as “Anti-Sikh Violence”
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): World Sikh parliament appreciated Kesri Lehar: UK and Kesri Lehar: Scotland’s efforts to raise awareness about the atrocities committed by the Indian state against the Sikh community and to seek justice for the victims and their families.
We stand in solidarity with Kesri Lehar and the Sikh community in their quest for truth and accountability. We believe that the recognition by the Scottish Parliament is a significant step towards acknowledging the historical facts and the human rights violations that took place in 1984. We also support their call for other parliaments and institutions worldwide to recognize these events as the “Sikh Genocide”, as they have been termed by many credible sources.
World Sikh Parliaments Speaker Bhai Joga Singh and co-convener Bhai Gurcharan Singh said that the Indian state has been trying to suppress the voices of the Sikh community and to deny their right to self-determination. The Latest Killings of Sikhs activists in the UK and Canada proves this fact. We condemn the Indian state’s use of violence, intimidation, propaganda, and false accusations against anyone who peacefully demands justice or expresses their political aspirations. They urged the international community to hold the Indian state accountable for its actions and to protect the human rights of the Sikh community Worldwide.
Kesri Lehar has worked closely with the World Sikh Parliament and we commend them for their courage, perseverance, and dedication in pursuing this cause. We hope that their campaign will inspire others to join them in their struggle for justice and dignity. We also hope that their campaign will help heal the wounds of the Sikh community and honor the memory of those who lost their lives in 1984.
(Based on a press release issued by Manpreet Singh, General Secretary, World Sikh Parliament)
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Wait time for getting interview appointment for US visa in business and tourism category 37 days in Delhi
- India is number one priority for Washington for issuance of visas, says official
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The waiting period for getting an interview appointment for a US visa in the B1 and the B2 categories (business and tourism) currently stands at 37 days in Delhi, according to official data.
The US State Department on its website has shared the estimated wait time to receive an interview appointment for visas at a US embassy or consulate.
According to the data updated November 1 on the website, the current waiting period for getting an interview appointment for an American visa in the B1 and the B2 categories stands at 37 days in Delhi, 322 days in Mumbai, 126 days in Kolkata, 341 days in Chennai and 511 days in Hyderabad. Visitor visas are non-immigrant visas for persons who want to enter the US temporarily for business (visa category B1), for tourism (visa category B2), or for a combination of both purposes (B1/B2). The US Embassy in India on Wednesday had posted on X that over the weekend “we opened over a quarter million non-immigrant visa appointments”.
“It was a busy weekend for our consular team! Over the weekend we opened over a quarter million non-immigrant visa appointments! Book yours today at ustraveldocs.com/in/en #HereToServe,” it posted.
In November last year, a senior official of the US embassy had said the waiting period for issuing of American visas is expected to see a significant fall by the summer of 2023 and the number of visa applications is projected to reach around 1.2 million.
“India is number one priority for Washington (for issuance of visas). Our aim is to bring the situation to the pre-COVID-19 level by the middle of next year,” the official had said.
India has been one of the very few countries where applications for US visas had seen a major upswing after coronavirus-related travel restrictions were lifted.
The official had also said the wait time for B1 and B2 (business and tourism) visas was also being brought down from around nine months. New Delhi in the past has been taking up with Washington the issue of long waiting periods for US visas.
(Source: PTI) -
UNGA votes overwhelmingly against US’ sanctions on Cuba
- US, Israel were only two countries in opposition while 187 votes, including that of India, were in favor
UNITED NATIONS (TIP): For the 31st year in a row, the world voted at the UN to condemn the blockade against Cuba. The US and Israel were the only two countries in opposition while187 votes, including that of India, were in favor. Ukraine was the only abstention.
The resolution was titled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”.
The UN General Assembly voiced concern that despite its resolutions dating back to 1992,“the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba is still in place”, and voiced concern, about “the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries”.
Six decades of the embargo has cost Cuba trillions of dollars, Singapore’s representative, who spoke on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said.
The representative of Azerbaijan, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said that Cuba is denied access to markets, international aid and technology transfers, which creates serious obstacles to its socioeconomic development. The embargo is the main impediment to broader access to the Internet, people-to-people contacts and the development of cultural, sport and scientific relations. This embargo runs counter to Cuba’s continued efforts to realize sustainable development, he said.
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Trump leads in home state of Nikki Haley: CNN poll
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Former US president Donald Trump leads Indian-American politician Nikki Haley by more than 30 percentage points in her home state of South Carolina as they vie for the Republican Party’s nomination for the 2024 presidential election, according to the latest opinion poll by CNN.
The 77-year-old former president, currently the front-runner among the Republican Party candidates, has the support of 53 per cent of its responders in South Carolina as opposed to 22 per cent who support Haley, who is the former governor of South Carolina.
Vivek Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old Indian-American, is trailing far behind with about one percentage point in the CNN polls of South Carolina, which is one of the early primary states.
The US presidential elections are scheduled to be held on November 5, 2024.
Trump’s base of support in South Carolina is far more solid than his rivals’ pool of core supporters. An 82 per cent majority of his current backers say that they will definitely support him. Just 42 per cent of 51-year-old Haley’s supporters and 38 per cent of DeSantis’ backers say they are certain they won’t change their minds, CNN said.
South Carolina will hold its primary on February 24 after Iowa and New Hampshire next year.
According to RealClearPolitics which tracks all major national polls, Trump has the national support of 59 per cent of the Republicans followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (12.6 per cent), Haley (8.3 per cent), and Ramaswamy (4.6 per cent).
(Source: PTI) -
Judge Chutkan Ignores Donald Trump’s Pleas
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The judge in Donald Trump’s election tampering case will push ahead with jury selection, despite requests from the former president’s lawyers for her to postpone the trial, reports Newsweek. The Washington D.C.-based federal judge, Tanya Chutkan, ruled on Thursday, November 2, that potential jurors will fill out a preliminary questionnaire on February 9, 2024, less than a month before Trump’s trial is scheduled to begin, on March 4. The questionnaire will help assess if they have strong feelings about the former president that might prevent them from reaching a fair verdict.
In making her ruling, she explicitly warned that Trump can’t share juror information on his campaign trial. This is to prevent Trump, who is already under a gag order in the case, from claiming that individual jurors are biased against him.
Jury selection for his election tampering case is due to begin in Washington D.C. in February.
“The parties must ensure that anyone permitted access to sensitive juror information understands that he cannot publicly disclose the information, and no party may provide jurors’ identifying information to any other entity (e.g., the defendant’s campaign) that is not part of the defense team or Government team assisting with jury selection,” Chutkan wrote.Her scheduling date follows several attempts by Trump’s lawyers to have the case delayed. In October, Trump’s legal team claimed presidential immunity for acts that occurred while he was president. A federal grand jury in August indicted Trump on four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, arising from his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election result. Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith is leading the prosecution team, which accuses Trump, among other charges, of submitting false slates of pro-Trump electors from swing states he lost to the Electoral College.
Trump maintains his innocence, accusing prosecutors of targeting him for political purposes. He pleaded not guilty in this case, as he did in his three other criminal cases.Chutkan issued an order on Wednesday, November 1, blocking Trump’s legal team from seeing some of the government’s evidence against him that has been deemed classified.
Chutkan granted the government’s motion to allow prosecutors to withhold “certain classified information” from the former president, instead allowing them to provide an “unclassified summary substitution for certain classified information.”
Trump’s lawyers have been accused of requesting classified documents to delay his trials until after the 2024 presidential election.
(Source: Newsweek) -
Joe Biden to meet Xi Jinping in San Francisco this month; want to move forward with China: WH
WASHINGTON, D.C.(TIP): US President Joe Biden would meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Leadership Summit in San Francisco later this month, the White House has confirmed. “The president is looking forward to it. And that, I think should answer your question,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday, October 31, at her daily news conference when asked about reports of a Biden-Xi meeting in San Francisco.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been invited for the APEC Leadership summit by President Biden. India is most likely to be represented by a Cabinet-level minister.
“We’ve been talking about it. The President said he’s looking forward to meeting — to meeting with President Xi. And — and so, not going to get into details about this meeting that’s going to happen in November. It’s going to be in San Francisco. It’s going to be a constructive meeting,” Jean-Pierre said. “Look, what I’m saying is that we’re aiming to have a constructive conversation, meeting between the leaders in San Francisco in November. So that’s what I’m saying. That’s what’s going to happen in November. We’re going to have constructive conversation in San Francisco,” she said.
She said that the policy of the Biden Administration as to how to move forward with China hasn’t changed. “This is intense competition, right, that we have said that we want to move forward with China. We understand that and intense competition means intense diplomacy. That’s what you’re going to see. That’s what the president is going to be doing and having a tough conversation, but important conversation,” she said.
“I’m not going to get into any kind of, you know, decisions made on this. This is going to be about the diplomatic conversations. We’ve seen about three secretaries go to China and have these diplomatic conversations. We saw Secretary Blinken, we saw National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan having important conversations, diplomatic conversations with their counterparts in China. This is an important relationship. Again, this is about competition. That’s what we want to see with China,” Jean-Pierre said, adding that “this is going to be an important diplomatic conversation that they are going to have”.
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Nearly 97,000 Indians held trying to enter illegally between Oct 2022 to Sept 2023: US border protection agency
WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): A record 96,917 Indians were arrested while crossing illegally into the US between October 2022 and September 2023, according to the latest US Customs and Border Protection (UCBP) data, reports PTI. Indians apprehended while crossing the US border unlawfully have reportedly witnessed a five-fold increase in the past years.
In 2019-20, 19,883 Indians were apprehended. In 2020-21, 30,662 Indians were arrested while in 2021-22 this number was 63,927, according to the data.
Of the 96,917 Indians arrested between October 2022 and September this year, 30,010 were caught on the Canadian border and 41,770 at the frontier with Mexico.
Those arrested are classified under four categories — Accompanied Minors (AM), Individuals in a Family Unit (FMUA), Single Adults, and Unaccompanied Children (UC).
Single adults make up the largest category. In fiscal year 2023, 84,000 Indian adults crossed into the US illegally. 730 unaccompanied minors were among the arrested people.
The US federal government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.
Meanwhile, Senator James Lankford said on the Senate floor on Thursday that these people take about four flights including through countries like France to be able to get to Mexico, the closest airport, and then literally take a bus rented by the cartels up to the border to be dropped off for their last delivery. “So they can say, ‘I have fear in my country,” Lankford said.
“So far this year we’ve had 45,000 people from India that have crossed our southern border, paid the cartels, crossed into our country, and said they have fear in their country from India,” Lankford said. Lankford reiterated what he’s said many times, that the criminal cartels in Mexico are coaching migrants from all over the world on what to say and where to go in order to “game” the asylum process and get into the country while they await an asylum hearing.
“Listen this doesn’t make sense to just about everyone in the world. Just about everyone in the world has shifted on this except for us. We’re literally inviting people from all over the world to exploit our system,” he said in his remarks about America’s broken asylum system and the areas that need to be addressed in policy. Lankford said asylum is the same as refugee status. It’s the same in international law. A refugee flees to a spot who is afraid and gets to a refugee centre and says to the UN, ‘I have dramatic fear of persecution in my country,’ and if they do, then they actually share them all over the world including here in the United States.
“We take refugees here from all over the world. Asylum seekers are on the same standard. They’re supposed to go to the next safe place, get there, and request asylum. That is the international standard, but we don’t do that here,” he said.
(Source: PTI) -
Biden administration elevated hate crimes to national threat priority: FBI Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The Biden Administration has elevated hate crimes to a national threat priority, a top US Government official has told lawmakers, stressing that the Jewish community faces nearly 60 per cent of all such religious-based assaults by every terrorist organization across the spectrum. Speaking during a US Congressional hearing, FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers that FBI is tackling the rise in hate crimes through a series of law enforcement efforts, including joint terrorism task forces, hate crime investigations, and intelligence sharing. “We are tackling both through investigations and outreach and intelligence sharing investigations, both through all 56 joint terrorism task forces. And on the hate crime side, we’ve elevated hate crimes to a national threat priority. We’ve done lots of outreach with the Jewish community, both nationally with organizations,” he said. Wray said he has personally participated in any number of times and then each of the FBI field offices does as well.
“We’ve done active shooter training for those houses of worship, etc. But the reality is that the Jewish community is uniquely targeted by pretty much every terrorist organization across the spectrum,” he said. “When you look at a group that makes up 2.4 per cent roughly of the American population, it should be jarring to everyone that that same population accounts for something like 60 per cent of all religious-based hate crimes. And so they need our help,” Wray said in response to a question. The FBI, he said, has created a domestic terrorism hate crimes fusion cell to try to get at offenses, hate based violent extremist offenses against the faith-based communities, which could be either domestic terrorism or hate crimes.
“The idea was to bring the expertise of both together. That has in turn led to some of the first proactive hate crimes, cases including in particular, the one that I can think of is a disruption of an attempted bombing of a synagogue,” he said.
“We have had a number of cases like that that we’re doing, so we’ve also elevated hate crimes to a national threat priority. So, it’s extensive outreach to faith-based communities. It’s an extensive investigation. Just in the few years that I’ve been director, we’ve had quite a number of attacks or attempted attacks on synagogues that we have disrupted,” he added. “Attempted bombings of synagogues in Colorado and Nevada. Attempted shootings up of synagogues in California. Obviously, we had the Colleyville situation. I personally have been to the crime scene at Tree of Life, so it is a major problem. It’s something we’re actively engaged in,” Wray said.