New Delhi (TIP)- The Assam Assembly on Thursday , August 29, passed a bill that makes the registration of Muslim marriages and divorces compulsory in the state. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the bill – Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024 – aims at improving the quality of life for young girls. The Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024 was introduced by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan on Tuesday. With the enactment of this new law in Assam, child marriage registrations will be completely banned.
While replying to queries, Sarma said all earlier registrations of marriages conducted by Kazis will remain valid and only new ones will come under the purview of the legislation.
“We are not interfering with the marriages solemnised by Islamic rituals under Muslim Personnel Law at all. Our only condition is that Islam prohibited marriages will not be registered,” he added.
All about the bill
According to the new rule implemented in Assam, the registration of all Muslim marriages and divorces with the government is now mandatory. The bill also states that marriage between people not of the legal age (18 years for women and 21 years for men) will not be registered and considered valid.
The bill is aimed at preventing teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and marriages without the consent of both parties. The bill will also prevent men from deserting their wives after marriage, Mohan said in the state assembly.
It will help check polygamy, enable married women to claim their right to live in matrimonial house, maintenance, etc, and enable widows to claim their inheritance rights and other benefits and privileges which they are entitled to after the death of their husband.
Earlier, Muslim marriages were registered by Kazis. However, this new bill will ensure that all marriages of the community will be registered with the government.
Earlier in the day, the Assam assembly passed The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, which abolished The Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935 and the Assam Repealing Ordinance 2024.
Taking part in the discussion, the chief minister said: “Our aim is not only to abolish child marriages, … also to get away with the Kazi system. We want to bring registration of Muslim marriages and divorces under the government system.”
Month: August 2024
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Assam first state to clear Muslim marriage, divorce registration Bill
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‘Unwell, critical, suicide’: 3 lies RG Kar told victim’s parents
Kolkata (TIP)- The disgraced former administration of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital had lied thrice to the rape-murder victim’s family, audio clips of recorded conversations between hospital authorities and the victim’s parents, which surfaced on Thursday, August 29, suggest. The first of these three calls — made over a span of eight minutes — informed the family that she was ill, the second said she was critical and the third, that she appeared to have died by suicide.
The first call was made at 10.53am on Aug 9, more than an hour after Sumit Roy Tapadar, the hospital’s assistant professor of respiratory medicine, had alerted the Tala police station, saying a 31-year-old intern had been found dead on campus.
Sandip Ghosh, the former principal, has told CBI that he learned of the incident from Tapadar at 10.30am.
The calls — recorded by the victim’s father — have gone viral.
Two of the three calls — the first and the third — had been from Sucharita Sarkar, the hospital’s non-medical assistant superintendent. The second call was made by the victim’s father to her. Sarkar, who was questioned by CBI and Kolkata Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), did not respond to TOI’s calls and texts. In her statement to CBI and the cops, she claimed she called the family “under instructions” from the hospital’s head of respiratory medicine, Arunabha Dutta Chowdhury, because they had feared that the victim’s family would not be able to bear the shock.
CBI sources said Sarkar told them she had blurted out “suicide” in her nervousness.
This attempt to mislead the family had prompted the victim’s parents to allege a “cover-up”.
“During each call, a woman provided conflicting information about my daughter’s condition,” the father said on Thursday.
The parents, however, claimed that they did not know how the audio clips went viral. According to the parents, the first two calls offered varying explanations for their daughter’s situation, but it was during the third call that the caller identified herself as an assistant superintendent of the hospital. “In this final call, she told us that our daughter might have died by suicide, a statement that had added to our distress and suspicion regarding the true circumstances of her death,” the father said.
The audio clips are a part of the probe docket handed over by police to CBI. The first call came at 10.53am and lasted 32 seconds. “Can you come immediately?” the caller is heard telling the father, saying his daughter was ill, but without elaborating. When he asked her repeatedly what sort of illness she had suffered, the caller is heard saying, “Doctors will tell you that once you come. We have gathered your number and called you.”
The second call was made by the father of the victim within five minutes. It is 18 seconds long. “We have taken your daughter to the emergency room. She is critical. Please come fast,” the caller said, hanging up. The victim’s mother was heard saying that her daughter was on duty. The third call came from the hospital within three minutes of the second, where the caller said the trainee doc had perhaps died by suicide. “She has committed suicide perhaps…. We are in front of everyone at the hospital. Please come fast,” the caller said. This call was the longest, lasting 56 seconds. -
LAC talks: India, China for ‘intensified contact’ to ‘narrow down differences’
New Delhi (TIP)- Signalling some progress in diplomatic negotiations to resolve the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops that began in May 2020 along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, India said Thursday that the two sides had a “frank, constructive and forward-looking” exchange of views in Beijing on the situation along the LAC to “narrow down the differences” and “find early resolution of the outstanding issues”.
The two sides, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, also agreed on “intensified contact through diplomatic and military channels”.
The expression “narrow down the differences” has been used for the first time in the bilateral talks on the border standoff and, in diplomatic parlance, indicates progress in the negotiations.
It assumes significance given that the Kremlin said two days ago that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “confirmed his readiness” to take part in the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October. It will provide the Prime Minister and Chinese President Xi Jinping an opportunity to meet on the summit sidelines.
The MEA, in its statement, said, “The 31st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on 29th August 2024 in Beijing. Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation. The Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary & Ocean Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“In line with the guidance provided by two Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Astana and Vientiane in July 2024 to accelerate their discussion, and building on the WMCC meeting held last month,” it said, “the two sides had a frank, constructive and forward-looking exchange of views on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to narrow down the differences and find early resolution of the outstanding issues”.
“For this, they further agreed for intensified contact through diplomatic and military channels,” it said.
After the WMCC meeting in July, the MEA had said that both sides agreed to “maintain the momentum” through established diplomatic and military channels. This time, “intensified contact” has been underlined, suggesting a sense of urgency in the negotiations.
“In the meantime”, the MEA statement said, “they decided to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity on the ground in border areas in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and understandings reached between the two Governments. It was reiterated that restoration of peace and tranquillity, and respect for LAC are the essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations.”
After the July meeting, the MEA had said that restoration of peace and tranquillity, and respect for the LAC are “an essential basis” for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations. This time, the statement said that respect for LAC is “the essential basis” – giving a more definitive tone to the statement.
The leader of the Indian delegation also called on the Vice Minister in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MEA said.
Usually, Corps Commander-level talks take place between two WMCC meetings. But it did not happen this time, indicating that the diplomatic track is being pursued currently, rather than the military talks.
The remaining friction points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh primarily include legacy ones such as Depsang Plains and Demchok. The last formal disengagement along the LAC took place in September 2022 when both sides pulled back troops to disengage from Patrolling Point-15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area of eastern Ladakh.
Source: The Indian Express -
SC slams Telangana CM over remark on Kavitha’s bail
“Do we decide on political considerations?” the Supreme Court on Thursday asked Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy, irked by his comment alleging a political hand behind the top court granting bail to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in the Delhi excise policy case. The issue at hand was a petition to shift the trial in a 2015 cash-for-vote case against Revanth outside the state, and a bench headed by justice BR Gavai took the occasion to pull up the CM for his remarks.
“If somebody has the audacity to say that we pass orders in consultation with political parties, that alone should be sufficient to entertain the transfer petition. Let him face trial outside the state,” the bench said, adding that it would take up the matter on Monday, September 2.
Earlier, the court appeared inclined to dismiss the petition, but the matter took a dramatic turn post-punch as the court, while consulting on the name of prosecutor, learnt about CM’s utterances against the top court before reconvening for the hearing.
Revanth, while reacting to his political rival K Kavitha getting bail from top court on Tuesday, raised doubts on how she was in custody for only five months, while her co-accused and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia spent 15 months behind bars. Speaking to mediapersons during a press event, Revanth alleged that Kavitha may have got bail due to a “deal” between the BRS and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre. -
Pak invites PM Modi for SCO meet in Islamabad, India yet to take call
Pakistan on Thursday, August 29, invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Heads of Government meeting to be held in Islamabad in October.
Pakistan holds the rotating chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) and in that capacity, will be hosting the two-day in-person SCO Heads of Governments Meeting.
Sources on the Indian side confirmed having received the invite. Sending an invite to all SCO members was part of the protocol for the host nation, the sources said, adding a decision on the participation was yet to be taken. “Invitations have been sent to the heads of countries to participate in the meeting, which will take place on October 15-16. An invitation has also been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at the weekly press briefing. Some countries had already confirmed participation, which would be informed in due course, she said.
About ties with India, the spokesperson said, “Pakistan does not have direct bilateral trade with India.” The Islamabad summit will be preceded by a ministerial meeting and several rounds of senior officials’ meetings focused on financial, economic, socio-cultural and humanitarian cooperation among SCO member states. -
Farmer remark out of line, Nadda ticks off Kangana
New Delhi (TIP)- Days after she made objectionable remarks against protesting farmers, actor Kangana Ranaut, the Lok Sabha MP from Mandi, on Thursday, August 29, met BJP president JP Nadda, who asked her to honour the party discipline and refrain from speaking out of line on sensitive policy matters.
The BJP reined in the actor a little more today after earlier reprimanding her through a rare letter in which the party dissociated itself from the MP’s remarks and instructed her to avoid commenting on policy matters such as farmers’ issues.
“The BJP’s approach is sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas and that is our guiding principle. Anything stated to the contrary is not our view,” said a BJP source on Kangana’s statements against farmers — a development having the potential to harm the party’s prospects in poll-bound Haryana. Nadda met Kangana minutes before the Haryana core committee of the BJP assembled at his residence to draft panels of candidates for the state elections.
Later during the day, these panels were presented for final approval to the BJP central election committee, which met under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CEC meeting was attended by Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah and the top Haryana BJP brass — CM Nayab Saini, former CM ML Khattar, Union Minister Rao Inderjit, former Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij, Haryana BJP election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan and Haryana BJP in-charge Satish Poonia among others.
Earlier at his meeting with Kangana, Nadda is learnt to have reminded her about Modi’s serial admonitions to MPs on the needlessness of irrelevant public utterances. It is further learnt that Kangana was asked not to speak on political and policy matters while promoting her work.
Kangana has been on a promotion spree for her film “Emergency” in which she plays late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
SAD (Amritsar) president and former MP Simranjit Singh Mann on Thursday triggered outrage among women organisations by making “derogatory remarks” in Karnal against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut.
Hours after meeting Nadda, Kangana reposted a tweet by one Nilesh Waghela who had asked if what she stated about farmers’ protests was wrong. He had also posted news clippings from the days of the stir. -
Ex-Bangladesh Speaker, former Commerce Minister arrested in murder case
Dhaka (TIP): Former Bangladesh Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and ex-Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi have been arrested for the killing of a goldsmith during the recent quota reform protests that led to the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, media reports said on August 29.
Munshi, 74, was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Wednesday night in the murder case filed in Rangpur, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
The case was filed against 17 people, including Munshi and former speaker of Parliament Chaudhury, for the killing of Muslim Uddin Milon, a 38-year-old goldsmith.
Besides, many unnamed people were accused in the case.
Chaudhury, 46, served as the first female Speaker of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad from April 2013 until August 2024.
Milon was shot dead on July 19 in Rangpur during the student-led movement against a controversial quota system in government jobs, which later turned into a mass uprising that ousted 76-year-old Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, according to The Daily Star newspaper.
According to the case statement, when a clash broke out between students and Awami League activists during a protest in the City Bazaar area, police opened fire indiscriminately under the orders of the accused persons.
Milon was hit by a bullet at that time and taken to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital, where he was declared dead, the report said.
Over 230 people were killed in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina-led government, taking the death toll to more than 600 since the massive protest by students first started in mid-July.
Many senior Awami League leaders, lawmakers and former ministers went into hiding following the fall of Hasina-led government.
Munshi had also been hiding since August 5, according to the leading Bengali-language newspaper Prothom Alo.
He became the Commerce Minister during the third consecutive term of Awami League government led by Hasina, according to the report.
Hasina, who fled to India on August 5, is facing at least 75 cases, including murder charges, against her. (PTI) -
Former Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin charged with sedition for ‘mocking former king’
Kuala Lumpur (TIP): Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was charged on August 27 with sedition over a speech he made that allegedly questioned the integrity of the country’s previous king.
Muhyiddin, who led Malaysia from March 2020 until August 2021, pleaded not guilty in a court in northeast Kelantan state. According to the charge sheet, Muhyiddin made the seditious remarks last month during a by-election campaign in Kelantan.
Nine ethnic Malay state rulers take turns as Malaysia’s king for five-year terms under the country’s rotating monarchy, which began when Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. The monarchy plays a largely ceremonial role, but are revered by the nation’s majority Muslims.
In his speech on August 14, Muhyiddin had questioned why then-King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah didn’t invite him to be prime minister following a hung Parliament in November 2022. Muhyiddin had claimed he had the backing of majority lawmakers.
Sultan Abdullah appointed then-opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister after Anwar cobbled up support from rival parties to form a unity government.
Sultan Abdullah from central Pahang state didn’t comment on the case. But his son issued a strong rebuke to Muhyiddin, saying his remarks were dangerous and could divide the people and cause them to lose faith in the royal institution. Muhyiddin had then denied insulting the royalty, saying that his remarks were factual. (AP)
Imran Khan eyes Oxford University Chancellor post
London (TIP): Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has decided to enter the race to be elected the new Chancellor of the University of Oxford to “give back” to the world.
The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician studied philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at the world-famous university’s Keble College from 1972 to 1975 and also captained the university cricket team.
He told ‘The Daily Telegraph’ from his prison cell in Rawalpindi this week that he would be a passionate advocate for the university.
“Oxford University helped me a lot in my formative years. As Chancellor, I would passionately advocate for Oxford, championing its values of diversity, equality and inclusion, both in the UK and abroad,” said Khan in his application. (PTI) -
Interim govt revokes ban on Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Dhaka (TIP): Bangladesh’s interim government on August 28 revoked a ban on the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, less than a month after it was imposed on the Islamist party by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was forced to resign following massive protests against her government.
“It (lifting the ban) will come under effect immediately,” the Home Ministry said in a gazette notification, noting that there was no particular evidence against the organisation.The erstwhile Awami League government led by Hasina had imposed a ban on Jamaat on August 1, 2024, accusing the Islamist party as a “militant and terrorist” organisation.
The development came a day after Attorney General Mohammad Asaduzzaman urged the High Court to summarily reject a writ petition seeking an order on the government to ban Hasina’s Awami League as a political party and scrap its registration.
The interim government’s law adviser, equivalent to a minister, Asif Nazrul on Wednesday told reporters he was opposed to the call for a ban on Awami League or any other political parties unless there was any strong evidence of their involvement in terrorist activities.
The Jamaat opposed Bangladesh’s 1971 independence from Pakistan and sided with the Pakistani troops during the Liberation War. The Jamaat, founded in 1941 in undivided India, was first banned in 1972, the year Bangladesh framed its Constitution. (PTI) -
Israeli forces launch strikes across Gaza Strip, 34 killed
Cairo (TIP): Israeli forces sent tanks deeper into Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip and launched strikes across the enclave as they battled Hamas-led militants, killing at least 34 Palestinians on August 28, medics said.
Residents of Khan Younis said Israeli tanks made a surprise advance into the centre of the city, and the military ordered evacuations in the east, forcing many families to run for safety, while others were trapped at home.
Palestinian health officials said the Israeli strikes in Khan Younis killed at least 11 people. In the central city of Deir Al-Balah, where at least a million people were sheltering, an Israeli airstrike killed eight Palestinians near a school housing displaced families, medics said.
In Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, journalist Mohammed Abed-Rabbo was killed along with his sister in an Israeli attack on their house, medics said. Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office said Abed-Rabbo’s death raised the number of Palestinian journalists killed by Israeli fire to 172. (Reuters) -
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un oversees tests of ‘suicide drones’
Seoul (TIP): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched as new “suicide drones” took off and destroyed test targets, including a mock tank, and urged researchers to develop artificial intelligence for the unmanned vehicles, state media reported on August 21. Kim visited the Drone Institute of North Korea’s Academy of Defence Sciences on Saturday and viewed a successful test of drones correctly identifying and destroying designated targets after flying along different preset routes, state news agency KCNA said.
Kim called for the production of more suicide drones to be used in tactical infantry and special operation units, such as underwater suicide attack drones, as well as strategic reconnaissance and multi-purpose attack drones, KCNA said.
Also known as loitering munitions, such weapons been widely used in the war in Ukraine as well as in the Middle East.
Loitering munitions can typically be aloft and ready to strike before a specific target is located, then attack by crashing into the target with a built-in warhead.
Photos released by state media showed at least four different types of drones, some of which were launched with the aid of small rocket engines before their propellers took over.
When asked about visual similarities between some of the North Korean drones and Russia’s ZALA Lancet and the Iranian-designed Shahed, which is also used by Russia, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said more analysis is necessary.
“We understand that some gifts (drones) were given in an exchange between North Korea and Russia in the past… We need to analyse various measures to see if those have improved performance,” a spokesperson for the JCS said in a briefing.
Nuclear-armed North Korea has close ties to Russia and Iran and a history of military cooperation with both.
Seoul’s Unification Ministry said it was the first time Pyongyang had unveiled suicide drones.
South Korea has said it will deploy laser weapons to shoot down North Korean drones this year, becoming the world’s first country to deploy and operate such weapons in the military, and some skyscrapers in Seoul host anti-aircraft guns on their roofs.
South Korea and the US kicked off annual summertime military exercises last week, including practising responses to North Korean drones. (Reuters) -
Manslaughter probe opened into yacht sinking
Termini Imerese (Italy) (TIP): An Italian prosecutor has opened a manslaughter investigation into the deaths of British tech magnate Mike Lynch and six other people who were killed when a luxury yacht sank in stormy weather off Sicily this week. The head of the public prosecutor’s office of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, said while the yacht had been hit by a very sudden meteorological event, it was “plausible” that crimes of multiple manslaughter through negligence had been committed.
So far the investigation was not aimed at any individual person, he told a news conference. (Reuters)
Three stabbed to death at German festival; 1 detained
Solingen (TIP): Police hunting for an unknown assailant hours after he killed three people and wounded eight in a stabbing attack at a festival in the western German city of Solingen said on August 21 they had detained an individual. The police said in the afternoon they were investigating whether there was a possible terrorist link to the attack.
“The investigation and manhunt for possible further perpetrators and reasons for the crime are in full swing,” the police said. The incident occurred around 9.40 pm when the man attacked multiple people with a knife. (Reuters) -
Typhoon Shanshan lashes Japan with torrential rain, strong winds causing 3 deaths
Tokyo (TIP): A typhoon lashed southern Japan with torrential rain and strong winds August 29, causing at least three deaths as it started a crawl up the length of the archipelago and raised concerns of flooding, landslides and extensive damage. Typhoon Shanshan made landfall in the morning on the southern island of Kyushu and about 60 cm of rainfall had fallen in parts of Miyazaki prefecture, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. That 24-hour total was more than the August rainfall average and swollen rivers were threatening floods, it said.
The typhoon was forecast to bring strong winds, high waves and significant rainfall to most of the country, particularly the southern prefectures of Kyushu. Around midday, Shanshan was moving north at 15 kph and its winds had weakened to 126 kph, JMA said.
More than a dozen people were injured in Miyazaki, many of them thrown to the ground. One each was also injured nearby Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures on their way to shelters, Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) said.
Nearly a quarter million households were without power across Kyushu, most of them in the Kagoshima precture, Kyushu Electric Power Co. said.
Ahead of the typhoon’s arrival, heavy rain caused a landslide that buried a house in the central city of Gamagori, killing three residents and injuring two others, according to the city’s disaster management department. On the southern island of Amami, where the typhoon passed, one person was injured by being knocked down by a wind gust while riding a motorcycle, FDMA said.
Weather and government officials are concerned about extensive damage as the typhoon slowly sweeps up the Japanese archipelago over the next few days, threatening floods and landslides. The typhoon’s impact was yet to be felt in the Tokyo region, where business was as usual and heavy rain was predicted later this week.
Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura said the typhoon could cause “unprecedented” levels of violent winds, high waves, storm surges and heavy rain. At a task force meeting Wednesday, he urged people, especially older adults, not to hesitate and to take shelter whenever there is any safety concern.
Hundreds of domestic flights connecting south-western cities and islands were cancelled Thursday, and bullet trains and some local train services were suspended. Similar steps were taken Thursday in parts of the main island of Honshu that were experiencing heavy rain. Postal and delivery services have been also suspended in the Kyushu region, and supermarkets and other stores planned to close. (AP) -
Japan scrambles jets as Chinese plane breaches its airspace
Tokyo/Beijing (TIP): Japan’s defence ministry said it had scrambled jets against a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft that had briefly breached its airspace on August 21 morning.
The aircraft was identified as a Y-9 reconnaissance plane that flew over the Danjo Islands to the west of the southern island of Kyushu between around 11:29 am and 11:31 am.
The ministry said it was the first time a Chinese military aircraft had breached Japan’s airspace, and that the government had lodged a strong protest against Beijing through diplomatic channels.
Separately, the Japanese foreign ministry said Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano had summoned a senior official at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo to lodge a protest against the incursion and to strongly demand the prevention of such breaches.
Chinese foreign ministry officials were not immediately available for comment. (Reuters -
French authorities issue preliminary charges against Telegram messaging app CEO Durov
Paris (TIP): French authorities handed preliminary charges to Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on August 28 for allowing alleged criminal activity on his messaging app, and barred him from leaving France pending further investigation.
Both free-speech advocates and authoritarian governments have spoken out in Durov’s defence since his weekend arrest. The case has also called attention to the challenges of policing illegal activity online, and to the Russia-born Durov’s own unusual biography and multiple passports.
Durov was detained on Saturday at Le Bourget airport outside Paris as part of a sweeping investigation opened earlier this year, and released earlier on Wednesday after four days of questioning. Investigative judges filed preliminary charges on Wednesday night and ordered him to pay 5 million euros bail and to report to a police station twice a week, according to a statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Allegations against Durov, who is also a French citizen, include that his platform is being used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, and that Telegram refused to share information or documents with investigators when required by law.
The first preliminary charge against him was for “complicity in managing an online platform to allow illicit transactions by an organised group”, a crime that can lead to sentences of up to 10 years in prison and 5,00,000 euro fine, the prosecutor’s office said.
Preliminary charges under French law mean magistrates have strong reason to believe a crime was committed but allow more time for further investigation.
David-Olivier Kaminski, a lawyer for Durov, was quoted by French media as saying “it’s totally absurd to think that the person in charge of a social network could be implicated in criminal acts that don’t concern him, directly or indirectly”.
Prosecutors said Durov is, “at this stage, the only person implicated in this case.” They did not exclude the possibility that other people are being investigated, but declined to comment on other possible arrest warrants. Any other arrest warrant would be revealed only if the target of such a warrant is detained and informed of their rights, prosecutors said in a statement to the AP. French authorities opened a preliminary investigation in February in response to “the near total absence of a response by Telegram to judicial requests” for data for pursuing suspects, notably those accused of crimes against children, the prosecutor’s office said.
Durov’s arrest in France has caused outrage in Russia, with some government officials calling it politically motivated and proof of the West’s double standard on freedom of speech. The outcry has raised eyebrows among Kremlin critics because in 2018, Russian authorities themselves tried to block the Telegram app but failed, withdrawing the ban in 2020.
In Iran, where Telegram is widely used despite being officially banned after years of protests challenging the country’s Shiite theocracy, Durov’s arrest in France prompted comments from the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader. (AP) -
Russia bans 92 more Americans from country, including journalists in response to ‘Russophobia’
Moscow (TIP): Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced 92 additions on August 28 to its list of Americans banned from entering the country, including some journalists who formerly worked in Russia, and law enforcement and business people. A ministry statement said the bans were imposed “in response to the Russophobic course pursued by the Biden administration with the declared goal of ‘inflicting a strategic defeat on Moscow.’”
It said the banned journalists represent “leading liberal-globalist publications involved in the production and dissemination of fakes’ about Russia and the Russian armed forces.”
The new list of banned Americans includes 11 current or former staff members of the Wall Street Journal — including its editor-in-chief Emma Tucker. She had repeatedly criticised Russia for the arrest and conviction on espionage charges of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, who spent 16 months behind bars before being released in August in a prisoner exchange. The ban has also been imposed on five New York Times journalists, including Kyiv Bureau Chief Andrew Kramer, and four from The Washington Post. Other Americans on the list include people working for law enforcement agencies, academics, and figures from businesses and think tanks.
Russia has banned more than 2,000 Americans from entry, according to a ministry list. (AP) -
Connecticut General Assembly Honors India and Indian Americans at India’s 77th Anniversary
GREENWICH, CT (TIP): Celebrations have already started in the US cities to honor India for its 77th Anniversary of Independence, being organized by the 4.5 million strong Indian American community. The Connecticut Chapter of the Global Organization (GOPIO-CT) had a highly successful celebration on August 11th with flag hoisting at the Stamford Government Center, a ceremony with elected Connecticut officials and dignitaries. The celebrations, with a colorful festival, then continued at the Mill River Park in Stamford.
A floating crowd of over 2,000 people attended flag hoisting at 11.30 am followed by the India Festival and Kite flying at the Mill River Park from 12 Noon to 4.00 pm. Dressed in colorful traditional Indian attire, with melodious music from the popular Bollywood world, dances depicting the wide variety of Indian culture, kite flying, spicy Indian cuisine, and booths decorated with Indian symbols and face art, the festivities were a treat to the fast-growing Indian American community in the state of Connecticut and New York’s Westchester County. The celebration had a combination of everything that one would want, catering to the diverse needs of the attendees ranging from a toddler to seniors. Over 20 performances by over 100 performers were presented at cultural programs.
The day-long celebrations began with the hoisting of the American and Indian flags at the Stamford Government Center by Darien First Selectman Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky, Rep. Matt Blumenthal (Stamford/Darien) and Rachel Khanna (Greenwich/Stamford) and Indian Consul Pragya Singh. American and Indian national anthems were sung by students of Stamford’s Hindi School.
The program then continued to the adjacent Mill River Park with an Independence Day Ceremony which was addressed by Indian Consul Pragya Singh and several CT state officials. The ceremony was started by the program Chair Sushanth Krishnamurthy and program co-chair Sonali Gannu served as the MC who introduced GOPIO-CT President Dr. Jaya Daptardar.
In her presidential address, Dr. Jaya Daptardar described the mission and vision of GOPIO-CT under her leadership. “Our mission at GOPIO-CT is to be active participants in the local community through involvement in community events and local politics, and by providing services to the Indian community at large here in Connecticut. This lofty goal of providing services and a political voice to the local Indian population has evolved into an exemplary community service organization thanks to the tremendous support of our local Indian community.”
Indian Consul Pragya Singh who is the Consul for Visa and Community Affairs at the Indian Consulate was the honored guest. In her address, she highlighted the accomplishments and contributions of the Diaspora. “I’m very proud to say that the numbers prove that you have broken many barriers to become one of the most successful immigrant groups in the US. Indian Americans comprise only 1% of the US population, but across all the sectors, you pay 5 to 6% of income tax. You lead 16 of the Fortune 500 companies, which collectively employ 7 million Americans and generate nearly 1 trillion USD in revenue.”
Half a dozen elected officials from Connecticut spoke and lauded the contributions of the Indian Diaspora locally and nationally, and praised the strong values that govern the strategic relationship between India and the US. They included Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky, CT State Senator Ryan Fazio (Senate 36th District, Greenwich/Stamford/New Canaan), CT Senator Patricia Billie Miller (Senate 27th District Stamford/Darien), and State Representatives Matt Blumenthal (147th District, Stamford/Darien), Anabel Figueroa (148th District, Stamford) and Rachel Khanna (149th Greenwich/Stamford). The elected officials were introduced GOPIO Chairman and Advisor/Trustee to GOPIO-CT Dr. Thomas ‘Abraham.
Furthermore, all the elected officials who spoke at the event acknowledged India’s success as the world’s most populous and largest democracy. Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodsky recognized the “resilience and spirit that drove India to independence,” and appreciated the bonds between India and the United States through shared history. Connecticut State Senator Ryan Fazio remarked, “The United States and India share a lot in common,” proceeding to emphasize the difficulty of running a democracy within a large and diverse population while respecting every citizen’s voice. CT Rep. Anabel Figueroa, State Representative for District 148, not only pointed out the achievements India has made in the United States in areas such as medicine and culture but also emphasized the room for improvement in both democracies, as “India and America face issues with inequality and justice and the need for greater harmony among our diverse populations.”
Rep. Rachel Khanna, State Representative for District 149, impressed the entire audience, walking up to the mic and speaking in Hindi, “Aap sab ko milkar mera dil bahut khush hai,” which translates to “being here with you all makes me very happy”. She shared her personal experience of being married into a large Indian family, and like her other colleagues, stressed the importance of freedom, equality, and democracy. She pointed out the similarities between America and India that strengthen the bond between the two countries.
Ms. Eva Weller, Chair of the Stamford Mayor’s Multicultural Council and three colleagues thanks the Indian American community for its contribution to the diverse culture of Connecticut. Rep. Matt Blumenthal emphasized democracy once more, “Democracy is not a naturally occurring condition in the world, it’s not a form of government in society that just happens. It’s one that takes constant work, and struggle, and cultivation, and respect for every member of the society.” Lastly, Senator Patricia Billie Miller highlighted the need for understanding within a diverse population, “We’re in a society today where we have to practice love.”
Connecticut General Assembly issued a citation honoring the India Day Celebration and presented it to GOPIO-CT. The citation introduced by Rep. Blumenthal (147th Dist. Stamford/Darien) and supported by 14 other CT Representatives and Senators congratulated GOPIO-CT for celebrating India’s 77th Anniversary.
The citation read, “In recognition of the 76th Anniversary India’s Independence from British Colonial Rule on August 15th, 1947, today we come together to celebrate this occasion with GOPIO-CT to help promote awareness of Indian culture, customs and contributions of Indian Americans to various fields, including business and political arena, and in recognition GOPIO-CT’s support of many non-profits in Connecticut.” The citation was signed by CT General Assembly’s Pro Tempore Marten M. Looney, House Speaker Matt Ritter and Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas.
Stamford Mayor Carolin Simmons proclaimed August 11th as India Independence Day in Stamford to commemorate Indian Independence and thanki9ng the dedication of Indian American community.
An award and several recognitions were also felicitated at this milestone event. Dr. Anita Mathur, an active contributing member of GOPIO-CT, who also worked at the United Nations, was awarded the 2024 India Independence Liberty Award. Additionally, Graduating High School students of Indian origin were acknowledged with certificates, among whom, Vishal Nayak, the 2024 valedictorian from Stamford’s Westhill High School briefly addressed the audience.
The ceremony was followed by an Indian Festival with colorful Folk and Classical Dances of India, Music, and Bollywood Dances and were a treat for everyone to cherish. There were vendors, who displayed and sold Indian cuisine, Indian arts and crafts, Indian clothing, and other items. Free Carousel rides were provided for young children. Over 100 performers presented their colorful dances and other cultural programs.
“The Indian American community has done very well in Corporate America and now in political arena too and in Connecticut it is a growing community consisting generally IT and management professionals, healthcare workers and a large number of entrepreneurs in hospitality, Hedge Fund and small businesses,” said Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO International and Trustee/Advisor to GOPIO-CT.
The celebration is hosted by Mill River Park Collaborative and the sponsors are First County Bank and Hampton Inn. Others supporting the event were Keller William Prestige Properties Associate Sonali Zullurwar, Braj Aggarwal CPA, Counsel Academy, Kaashi Collections, Northstar Portfolio Investments, Pancer Solutions and several other individuals. The program was chaired by GOPIO-CT Secretary Sushanth Krishnamurthy and Co-Chaired by Board Member Sonali Gannu. Executive Vice President Mahesh Jhangiani gave vote of thanks. Mirat Joshi served as the master of ceremony for the cultural program.
The commemoration of India’s 77th Independence Day by GOPiO-CT was a grand success marked by a growing attendance through the day and a visually and audibly grand celebration of India’s culture, democracy, and the strong bonds between India and the United States. While reveling in India’s Independence, this event highlighted the enduring contributions, inclusivity, the pride and the positive energy shared by the Indian American community.
Over the last 19 years, GOPIO-CT, a chapter of GOPIO International has become an active and dynamic organization hosting interactive sessions with policy makers and academicians, community events, youth mentoring and networking workshops, and working with other area organizations to help create a better future. GOPIO-CT – Global Organization of People of Indian Origin – serves as a non-partisan, secular, civic and community service organization – promoting awareness of Indian culture, customs and contributions of people of Indian origin through community programs, forums, events and youth activities. It seeks to strengthen partnerships and create an ongoing dialogue with local communities.
(Based on a Report by Piya Sharma, Greenwich, CT)
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APS Women’s Forum Partners with NY Cancer and Blood Specialists and NY Blood Center for Blood Donation Camp
HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): The American Punjabi Society (APS) Women’s Forum, in collaboration with New York Cancer and Blood Specialists and the New York Blood Center, organized a highly successful Blood Donation Camp today at the Pearl Banquet Hall in Hicksville, New York. The event, led by Navneet Sondhi from the APS Women’s Forum and Dr. Tarun Wasil from New York Cancer and Blood Specialists, exceeded all expectations with an overwhelming response from the community.
Initially, the camp anticipated 25 donations. However, due to the tremendous community turnout, 47 successful donations were made. The event, originally scheduled from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, had to extend its hours until 2:00 PM. Despite the extension, the high volume of donors resulted in some being turned away due to time constraints.
APS President Gary S Sikka addressing audience. Dr. Tarun Wasil, an eminent hematologist-oncologist, played a pivotal role in the camp’s success, ensuring that all aspects of the blood donation process were handled with the utmost care and efficiency. His leadership and dedication to community health were instrumental in the camp’s achievements.
Navneet Sondhi, Chairperson of the APS Women’s Forum, expressed her gratitude, stating, “The incredible turnout is a testament to our community’s generosity and dedication to helping others. We are deeply thankful to everyone who participated and supported this event.”
APS Women Forum Chair Navneet Sondhi addressing Audience. Dr. Tarun Wasil added, “Blood donation is a critical need, and the success of today’s camp will make a significant difference in many lives. We are proud to have partnered with the APS Women’s Forum and the New York Blood Center in this vital effort.”
American Punjabi Society President Gary S. Sikka also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Tarun Wasil and Navneet Sondhi for their exceptional leadership in organizing the camp. He extended his thanks to all supporting organizations, emphasizing that “together, we can make a difference.”
Key support for the Blood Donation Camp came from AAPI-QLI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin – QLI), represented by its President, Dr. Inderpal Chhabra, and Board of Trustees Chair, Dr. Raj Bhayani, as well as IALI (India Association of Long Island), represented by its President, Pradeep Tandon. Their leadership and participation were instrumental in ensuring the event’s success. Additional support was provided by Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), Vaisakhi 5K Run, New York Telangana Telugu Association (NYTTA), Indo American Chamber of Commerce NY, and Long Island Indo American Lions Club.
L to R: Paul S Bindra , RPS Narang, APS President Gary S Sikka, Advisor Board Members Raj Sharma, Herman Singh, Executive Vice President Mohinder S Taneja. The APS Women’s Forum is committed to organizing more such initiatives in the future, focusing on community welfare and humanitarian causes. This successful event demonstrates the power of collaboration in making a meaningful impact.
About APS, American Punjabi Society:
The American Punjabi Society is a community-driven organization dedicated to promoting social, cultural, and humanitarian initiatives.About New York Cancer and Blood Specialists:
New York Cancer and Blood Specialists is a leading provider of cancer and blood disorder treatments, offering comprehensive care and support to patients throughout New York.About New York Blood Center:
New York Blood Center is one of the largest independent, community-based blood centers in the United States, providing lifesaving blood and stem cell products to hospitals across the country.For more information, please contact:
Gary S. Sikka
President, American Punjabi Society
Email: info@americanpunjabisociety.com
Cell: 917-208-4027
APS Women’s Forum. L to R: Binny Kaur, Shweta Malhotra , APS Women’s Forum Chair Navneet K. Sondhi, Jessica K Kalra, Dilsheet Kaur. -
Indian-origin doctors from US, Canada write to President, PM on safety of medical professionals & demand severe penalties
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Expressing solidarity with the protesting doctors over the Kolkata rape and murder case, prominent medical alumni associations in the US and Canada have sought setting up of a commission for review of existing safety protocols in health care system in India.
Urging expeditious measures for safety of health care workers, heads of various alumni associations have demanded that the safety review commission should have representation from the public and health care professionals.
A letter in this regard has been signed by various associations and sent to President Droupadi Murmu. Also, they have appealed for strong and timely measures to check violence against health care professionals.
“We are deeply concerned by the recent surge in violence and harassment against doctors in India, especially against our female colleagues. We, representing various medical and alumni associations across the US and Canada, write to you with deep concern and anguish regarding the recent deplorable crime in Kolkata where a doctor was brutally raped and murdered. This tragic incident has not only shaken the medical community, but also highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to ensure the safety and security of doctors, particularly women doctors, who are dedicated to serving the nation,” the letter said.
The doctors lamented that the increasing incidents of violence against medical professionals, including sexual violence, had created an environment of fear and insecurity among medical professionals. “This is not just an issue of personal safety but a significant impediment to the effective functioning of the health care system,” they said.
Apart from suggesting setting up of a commission to inspect the existing safety protocols in health care systems and medical colleges, the doctors demanded expeditious measures to ensure safety of health care workers such that severe penalties be levied against those who commit crimes against them.
“The rights of health care workers to practice without fear in a secure environment must be protected with appropriate legislation at the earliest,” the letter stated.Apart from the President, the letter has also been addressed to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Justice of India, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), the Health Minister, the National Medical Commission and the Indian Medical Association.
The signatories include Dr Satheesh Kathula, president, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI); Dr Hema Kapoor, president, Lady Hardinge Medical College Alumni Association of North America (LHMC); Dr Tarun Ohri, president, AIIMSONIANS of America (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi); Dr Vittal Setru, president, Connecticut Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (CAPI); Dr Ravish Kothari, president, South Carolina Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (SCAPI); Dr Sangita Kapur, president, Association of Indian Physicians, Cincinnati Chapter; Dr Manoj Shah, president, Inland Southern California Organization of Physicians of Indian Origin (ISCOPI); Dr Anand Kanjolia, president, Rajasthan Medical Alumni Association (RAJMAAI); Dr Mythili Bharadwaj, President, Kilpauk Medical College Alumni Association of North America (KANA), Dr Jaya Daptardar President, Global Organization for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Dr Tarak Vasavada President, IndoAmericans Psychiatric Association (IAPA), Dr Bhuvana Ramkumar (Board of Director and Past President), Dr Ravi Yellam Raju (Treasurer), Asian American Physician Association, Buffalo, New York, Dr Sanjay Bindra President, GOSUMEC Foundation USA, Dr Shekhar Annabhotla President and Founder, Ayurvedic Association of Practitioners of North America (AAPNA USA) Dr Umesh Choudhary, President, University College of Medical Sciences Alumni in North America, Dr Shashwathi Kale President, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Bay Area, California Dr Sujeeth R Punnam President, Kakatiya Medical Alumni of the US, Dr Nandita Gupta President, Maulana Azad Medical College Alumni Association of North America (MAMCOAANA) Dr Aruna Dasgupta, Representative of Nil Ratan Sirkar Medical College and Hospital in the US, Dr Dhrubajyoti Bandyopadhyay, Representative of Burdwan Medical College in the US, Dr Adrija Hajra and Dr Dhrubajyoti Bandyopadhyay, Representative of RG Kar Medical College in the US, Dr Adrija Hajra, Representative of Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER)- SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, Dr Samhati Mondal and Dr Akanksha Srivastava, Representatives of Medical College, Kolkata in the US, Dr Tushar Mishra, Representative of Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner in the US, Dr Aditya Sharma, Representative of Government Medical College, Kota in the US, Dr Vijendra Singh, Representative of Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur in the US, Dr Gangajal Kasaniya, Representative of Sawai Man Singh Medical College, Jaipur in the US, Dr Gaurav Mudgal, Representative of Maharani Lakshmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi in the US, Dr Nikhil Vojjala, Representative of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh in the US
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British Indians hold justice march, peace vigils at London’s Parliament Square
LONDON (TIP): Indian students, charities and diaspora organizations in Britain have organized a series of events to continue to highlight their demand for justice following the rape-murder of an on-duty female doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
While women’s organizations came together to organize peace vigils at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square in London and across several other UK cities on Thursday, the Students’ Federation of India – United Kingdom (SFI-UK) organized a march in the city of Liverpool on Wednesday.
The hundreds who gathered at London’s Parliament Square lit candles to spell out ‘Justice’ and held placards with messages calling for respect and empowerment of women.
“We have received overwhelming support from the entire world, proving that the time has come to wake up, take notice, rise up above our individual interests and join hands in our endeavor of showing support and solidarity to the cause,” said Dipti Jain of the Medicos Women Charity.
“These peace protests are being held by units we set up in several cities in England, Scotland and Wales at the same time with Belfast and Dublin arranging theirs over the weekend. We have involved global units in the US, Canada and Australia, who are also holding peace vigils with us,” said the UK-based National Health Service doctor, who trained as a medic in Kolkata.
Earlier, SFI-UK continued its series of student-led peaceful protests and demonstrations with a march from London Road to the city center of Liverpool.
“From Kolkata to Liverpool, we will stand for justice, and for the safety of women. The speeches reflected a singular emotion: we stand against the rape of women, the victim and uncountable, nameless faceless women who are denied justice. The gathering attracted the attention of several bystanders who stopped to acknowledge and support our cause,” said Raunak Bhattacharjee, SFI-UK activist and master’s student at the University of Liverpool.
“This is not just about one case. It is about the safety of all students, the accountability of institutions, and the fight against corruption. We demand immediate and exemplary punishment for those responsible for this horrific crime,” added Renya Ramakrishnan, an SFI-UK committee member. -
23% fall in Indian students wanting to study in UK
LONDON (TIP): Indians may continue to top the tally of student visa grants but they are beginning to show signs of being put off applying to UK universities amid greater migration curbs, the latest Home Office statistics revealed on Thursday. The Home Office data for the past year until June 2024 shows a 23 per cent fall in Indian students coming to the UK for higher studies, even as they continue to represent the largest group granted leave to remain on the Graduate Route visa which allows foreign students to work in Britain for two years after their degree.
This fall in Indian student numbers is the first indication of the impact of tighter curbs on the right of most student visa holders to bring along dependent family members, which came into effect earlier this year.
“There were 1,10,006 sponsored study visa grants to main applicants who were Indian nationals in the year ending June 2024 (25 per cent of the total), 32,687 fewer than the previous year,” the Home Office statistics reveal.
(Source: PTI) -
Indian-origin Kevan Parekh appointed as Apple’s new Chief Financial Officer
CUPERTINO, CA (TIP): Apple has appointed Indian-origin Kevan Parekh as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who will also join the executive team at the tech giant.
Current CFO Luca Maestri will transition from his role on January 1, 2025, Apple said in a statement.
“For more than a decade, Kevan has been an indispensable member of Apple’s finance leadership team, and he understands the company inside and out,” said Cook.
“His sharp intellect, wise judgment, and financial brilliance make him the perfect choice to be Apple’s next CFO,” the Apple CEO added. Before joining Apple, Parekh held various senior leadership roles at Thomson Reuters and General Motors, where he also had extensive global experience.
An electrical engineer with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Chicago, Parekh has been at Apple for 11 years and currently leads Financial Planning and Analysis, G&A and Benefits Finance, Investor Relations, and Market Research.
“Prior to this role, Parekh led Worldwide Sales, Retail, and Marketing Finance. He began his tenure leading the financial support of Apple’s Product Marketing, Internet Sales and Services, and Engineering teams,” said the company.
Maestri will continue to lead the Corporate Services teams, including information systems and technology, information security, and real estate and development, reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
“Maestri has been an extraordinary partner in managing Apple for the long term. He has been instrumental in improving and driving the company’s financial performance, engaging with shareholders, and instilling financial discipline across every part of Apple,” said Cook.
During his time as CFO, Maestri enabled essential investments and practiced robust financial discipline, which together helped the company more than double its revenue, with services revenue growing more than five times.
“It is the greatest privilege of my professional life to serve the world’s most innovative and admired company, and to work side by side with a leader as inspirational as Tim Cook,” said Maestri. -
Surge in ‘Visa at Your Doorstep’ demand among UK travelers to India
As Britain featured among the top three source countries, overall foreign tourist arrivals to India increased by around 64 per cent compared to previous years
LONDON (TIP): There has been a significant surge in demand for the “Visa at Your Doorstep” service amid a growing number of UK visitors choosing India as a travel destination, visa facilitation service VFS Global said on Tuesday, August 27. According to the latest Ministry of Tourism statistics, Britain featured among the top three source countries for foreign tourist arrivals making up a 9.82 per cent share between January and June this year. It comes as overall foreign tourist arrivals to India increased by around 64 per cent compared to previous years.
“The Visa at Your Doorstep (VAYD) service has recently experienced a significant surge in demand,” said Anirudh Singh, COO of Europe and CIS region at VFS Global – the technology services provider for governments and diplomatic missions, including the Indian mission in the UK.
“The demand for convenient and personalized services is rising, and our VAYD service is perfectly positioned to meet this growing need. Equipped with mobile kits for biometric capture, our staff visit the preferred location of applicants, whether at their workplace, their hotel or their home. This seamless and convenient approach significantly enhances the travel experience, allowing travelers to focus on their plans rather than administrative paperwork,” he said.
Recently, when UK-based television production company South Shore Productions were planning their visit to India for a documentary on England cricket legend Freddie Flintoff, they opted for the VAYD service.
“The Visa at Your Doorstep service was used for a group of 14 of our staff ahead of a trip to India. VFS Global staff came to our office to process these rather than our team having to go to the visa office in person, which was helpful. The passports were returned with the visas in good time,” said a company spokesperson.
The service is designed to allow applicants to complete the Indian visa application process where they are, instead of having to visit a VFS Global visa center located in different UK cities including London. It is intended as a time-saving solution for businesses and production houses that must apply for visas for several people simultaneously.
VFS Global said it also operates a form-filling optional service to ensure that forms are not rejected because key details have been missed to make the process of travel from the UK to India as smooth as possible.
(Source: PTI) -
Peaceful protest by Sacramento-based Indian Americans condemning the murder of the on-duty female doctor at Kolkata
SACRAMENTO, CA (TIP): A group of Indian Americans organized a protest in the City of Folsom. The group demanded urgent steps to address gender-based violence in the wake of the rape and murder case of a female medic in Kolkata. A 31-year-old junior doctor was raped and murdered while on duty and her body was discovered at the seminar hall in the hospital premises on August 9, with a civic volunteer arrested in connection with the attack the following day. It has triggered widespread doctors’ agitation across the globe and a CBI inquiry into the case is ongoing.
Indian Americans based in Greater Sacramento – the capital city of California State – USA held a peaceful demonstration outside the City of Folsom Hall doorsteps on Sunday, August 25th, 2024, and this group strongly condemned the brutal rape and murder of the on-duty female doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
The group voiced an opinion that the local West Bengal State Government has failed to provide a safe space for working women doctors in the hospital. A protester said this incident is a serious symptom of the rising violence against women in the State and the negligence of the State government towards its citizens. The absence of investment in public infrastructure and safety measures has a disproportionate impact on women and eventually led to the current incident at the hospital – another protester said. One angry protester said, “The local State Government is busy with vote bank politics – they have no time to implement measures to secure hospital staff, especially female medics”.
One of the group organizers Mr. Debashis Maity said that this group will continue to Fight for swift justice and enhanced safety, and security of the medical professionals”. Another organizer from this group Mrs Oindrila Chakrabortty demanded immediate measures for the safety and security of the medical staff – including…
1. Install and properly maintain video cameras covering all the hospital premises
2. Entry to the rest/sleep areas is to be permitted only to eligible medical professionals
3. By law prohibit politicians from taking part in the hospital administrationThe group is planning further peaceful protests, to continue to highlight their demand for justice in a case that has sent shockwaves across India and among the diasporas. This initiative has come from northern California-based Indian Americans. City of Folsom Councilmember Mr. YK Chalamcharla attended this protest and prayed tribute to the victim. The protesters demanded a thorough judicial inquiry into the incident and the implementation of adequate workplace security measures for all medical staff including women. The group demanded immediate justice for the victim’s family.