The Indian Panorama

Month: September 2024

  • Georgia judge dismisses two more charges against Trump in election case

    Georgia judge dismisses two more charges against Trump in election case

    ATLANTA, GA (TIP): An Atlanta-area judge has thrown out two more charges against former president Donald Trump and a third against several of his allies in a sprawling election interference case accusing them of criminally conspiring to try to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.

    Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee stopped short in two rulings issued Thursday of dismissing the entire indictment, which Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis (D) sought in August 2023 under Georgia’s racketeering statute. All the remaining defendants, including Trump, still stand accused of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy for their efforts after the 2020 election.

    Trump now faces eight charges, down from 13 in the original indictment.
    The ruling comes at a time when the fate of the Georgia case is in flux. The case became mired in controversy earlier this year when Trump and eight other defendants accused Willis and the lead prosecutor on the case of misconduct related to their romantic relationship.

    McAfee declined to remove Willis or her office from the case, a decision that the defendants have appealed. Attorneys for Trump have also accused Willis, who is Black, of “repeated public display of racial animus” toward the former president and his co-defendants, which they contend has jeopardized Trump’s right to a fair trial.

    The entire case has been essentially frozen since June. Whether it will be scheduled for trial any time soon likely depends on whether Trump wins the presidential election this year.

    In Thursday’s ruling, McAfee dismissed the three charges under the supremacy clause, which prohibits state prosecutions of activities that fall under federal jurisdiction.

    “The Supremacy Clause declares that state law must yield to federal law when the two conflict,” McAfee wrote.

    The charges — filing false documents, attempting to file false documents and criminally conspiring to file false documents — all relate to the meeting of 16 Trump electors on Dec. 14, 2020, to cast electoral votes for the incumbent president even though he had lost the state. The electors signed certificates that were mailed to the National Archives, Congress and federal court, actions that Willis said amounted to forgery.

    “President Trump and his legal team in Georgia have prevailed once again,” Trump’s lawyer in the case, Steve Sadow, said in an email.

    The motion to dismiss under the supremacy clause was brought by just two of Trump’s co-defendants, John Eastman, a lawyer who advised Trump and his allies on how he could prevail during the counting of electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021, and Shawn Still, one of Trump’s electors who convened at the Georgia Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020.

    But the ruling applies to any of those charged under three counts that McAfee dismissed, including two other Trump electors, David Shafer and Cathy Latham, as well as five additional campaign allies or lawyers: Rudy Giuliani, Ken Chesebro, Robert Cheeley, Ray Smith and Michael Roman.

    Separately Thursday, McAfee rejected a motion from Eastman and Still to toss the entire indictment on the grounds that it relied on an overly broad reading of the state’s racketeering statute.

    McAfee’s ruling came six months after he dismissed three other charges against Trump and some of his allies related to a pressure campaign that the former president and five of his co-defendants put on state officials to change the 2020 results in Georgia.

    In his March ruling on those counts, McAfee agreed with lawyers for Trump and the others that prosecutors had failed “to allege sufficient detail regarding the nature of their commission, i.e., the underlying felony solicited.”

    As he did on Thursday, McAfee denied motions to throw the entire indictment out. Fulton County prosecutors have appealed McAfee’s March ruling to the Georgia Court of Appeals.
    (Source: Washington Post)

  • Indian democracy broken from last 10 years, now it is fighting back: Rahul

    Indian democracy broken from last 10 years, now it is fighting back: Rahul

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has alleged that democracy in India for the last 10 years was broken, but now it is fighting back.

    Gandhi made these remarks on Tuesday, September 10 while talking to reporters at a news conference here at the National Press Club. I can say to you that Indian democracy for the last 10 years was broken. It’s fighting back, but it was broken, Gandhi said.

    I have seen the government of Maharashtra just being taken away from us. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’ve watched it, as our legislators have been bought in and hooked off and suddenly became BJP legislators. So Indian democracy has been under attack, has been very badly weakened, and now it’s fighting back. And I’m confident that it’ll fight back, Gandhi said.

    If you see the election results, does it give you more hope for a democracy in India? he was asked.

    Yeah, I mean, it does. But it’s not good enough to say that the Indian voter is resilient and knowledgeable. Because the Indian voter is informed by a whole set of structures. So, if we don’t have a level playing field, the voter might be very knowledgeable and resilient, it doesn’t really matter, he said.

    We fought an election with our bank accounts frozen. I don’t know any democracy where that’s happened. Maybe that type of thing happened in Syria or used to happen in Iraq. But we literally sat during our election and spoke to our treasurer and he says, well, we have no money. Now, you can have a resilient voter. You still need to run campaigns. You still need to have conversations. You still need to have meetings, he said.

    I’ve got 20-plus cases in me. I’m the only person in Indian history to get a prison sentence for defamation. We have a chief minister who’s in jail right now. So, mean, one way of saying it is, yes, the Indian voter is very resilient, and he stands like a rock. Absolutely, he does. But the Indian voter requires an architecture to work on, which is not there, Gandhi said.

    Gandhi continued with his attacks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Here’s a prime minister of a modern country in the 21st century telling people that I speak to God. I’m different than everybody else. You are biological people. I’m a non-biological person. I have a direct link to God. And that for us was a game over (for the prime minister during the elections). We knew that we had defeated the prime minister,” he said.

    “And then the beautiful thing was the first thing he did when he walked into the Lok Sabha, he was sworn in. He took the Constitution of India, and he placed it on his head, he added.

    So, it was an interesting paradox. On the one hand, he’s destroying the Constitution. He’s attacking the democratic structure. And then the Indian people have forced him to put it on his head, Gandhi said.

  • Attorney General Merrick Garland says Justice Department ‘will not bend’ to political pressure

    Attorney General Merrick Garland says Justice Department ‘will not bend’ to political pressure

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Attorney General Merrick Garland slammed efforts to turn the Justice Department into a “political weapon” during a fiery speech Thursday to department staff and US attorneys from across the country amid attacks from former President Donald Trump and his allies, CNN says. Garland decried the “escalation of attacks” against its career staff in years through “conspiracy theories, dangerous falsehoods, efforts to bully and intimidate career public servants by repeatedly and publicly singling them out, and threats of actual violence.” “It is dangerous to target and intimidate individual employees of this Department simply for doing their jobs,” he said from the DOJ headquarters in Washington. “And it is outrageous that you have to face these unfounded attacks because you are doing what is right and upholding the rule of law.”

    Detroit election workers work on counting absentee ballots at the TCF Center in Detroit, Michigan, on November 4. The attorney general’s comments come as Trump has claimed that the Justice Department has been weaponized against him amid his criminal prosecutions and suggested that he would politicize the department should he return to the Oval Office.

    Neither Trump nor his allies were mentioned by name.

    “There is not one rule for friends and another for foes, one rule for the powerful and another for the powerless, one rule for the rich and another for the poor, one rule for Democrats and another for Republicans, or different rules depending on one’s race or ethnicity,” the attorney general said.

    “Our norms are a promise that we will not allow this nation to become a country where law enforcement is treated as an apparatus of politics,” Garland added to applause.

    Trump and his associates have publicly discussed plans to dismantle the department and its law enforcement components like the FBI, or to prosecute his political enemies.

    Trump has repeatedly attacked the Justice Department under Biden, claiming without evidence that the president has used the department to criminally pursue him and his allies for political purposes. During Tuesday’s presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump pushed those claims again, falsely claiming that Biden and his administration were behind the state-level election subversion case brought against him by local prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, and the criminal fraud case brought against him in New York.

    “They weaponized the Justice Department. Every one of those cases was involved with the DOJ, from Atlanta and Fani Willis to the attorney general of New York and the DA in New York. Every one of those cases,” Trump claimed. “And then they say, ‘Oh, he’s a criminal.’ They’re the ones that made them go after me.”

    During his speech, Garland noted he was tapped to lead the Justice Department in 2021 and had a goal to “fiercely protect the independence of this department from political interference in our criminal investigations.”

    The department took steps to achieve that goal, Garland said, including reinstituting policies that regulate contacts that department personnel have with the White House and Congress, clarifying guidelines for sensitive FBI investigations and updating protections that reporters have from law enforcement investigations. Garland also thanked the prosecutors and Justice Department staff for refusing to “bend to politics” and “break under pressure.”

    “You deserve better,” he said.

  • Trump Says He Won’t Do Another Debate

    Trump Says He Won’t Do Another Debate

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Former President Donald J. Trump declared on his social media site on Thursday, September 12, that he would not debate Vice President Kamala Harris again.

    Mr. Trump, who has insisted that he won Tuesday, September 10 night’s debate while his aides have privately acknowledged he had a rough outing, wrote on his Truth Social site that there “will be no” second debate with Ms. Harris. Minutes later, the vice president told rallygoers in Charlotte, N.C., that she and Mr. Trump “owe it to voters” to square off again.

    The post-debate windfall for the Harris campaign is the latest sign of the momentum she’s picked up with less than two months until Election Day, even as she insisted in Charlotte that she was the underdog and mocked part of Mr. Trump’s performance.
    Harris campaign said it took in $47 million in donations in the 24 hours after the debate at which Harris met Trump met for the first time. Shortly after the debate, which drew 67.1 million viewers, she received the support of the pop megastar Taylor Swift, whose endorsement post sent more than 400,000 users to a voter information site in just 24 hours.

  • Charges coming in alleged Iranian hack-and-leak attack on Trump campaign

    Charges coming in alleged Iranian hack-and-leak attack on Trump campaign

    Officials build a criminal case over what they say were Iranian attempts to steal and share campaign data

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Federal authorities are preparing to file criminal charges over Iran’s alleged hack and leak attack against Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, according to people familiar with the matter, says a report in the Washington Post.

    The FBI investigation has focused on an online persona named “Robert” who contacted American reporters, these people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe details of an ongoing investigation. That persona shared campaign documents they falsely claimed to have obtained while working with the campaign, the people said.

    Investigators have determined that the person or persons posing as Robert was acting on behalf of the Iranian government, and offering data files stolen from Trump advisers’ email accounts. Such overtures were made to Politico and The Washington Post. Criminal charges could be filed in a matter of days, these people said. Spokeswomen for the Justice Department and the FBI declined to comment.

    Among the hacking targets was adviser Susie Wiles, one of the most senior officials on Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Others in Trump’s orbit were also compromised, including campaign advisers, the people familiar with the investigation said.

    The FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies concluded last month that Iran was responsible for recent attempted hacks into both the Trump and the Biden-Harris presidential campaigns, and Justice Department officials now believe they have enough evidence to file criminal charges.

    Campaign staffers received phishing emails that were designed to appear legitimate but could give an intruder access to the recipients’ communications, The Post has previously reported, citing people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a sensitive investigation.

    “The [intelligence community] is confident that the Iranians have through social engineering and other efforts sought access to individuals with direct access to the Presidential campaigns of both political parties,” the FBI said in August. “Such activity, including thefts and disclosures, are intended to influence the U.S. election process.”

    The FBI statement said Iran’s government considers the upcoming U.S. presidential election to be consequential for its own interests and wants to try to shape the outcome.

    Such tactics are not new. U.S. intelligence officials said in July that Iran’s efforts to stoke societal discord in the United States and undermine Trump’s bid to regain the White House are a repeat of Iranian efforts in 2020. Russia has also led cyberattacks.

    “Iran and Russia have employed these tactics not only in the United States during this and prior federal election cycles but also in other countries around the world,” Monday’s statement said.

    The FBI began its investigation into suspected Iranian hacking directed at the U.S. presidential campaigns in June, before Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee. FBI agents worked with Google and Microsoft, two major providers of email services, to examine what appeared to be a phishing effort targeting people associated with the presidential campaigns, people familiar with the investigation previously told The Post.

    FBI and private computer security experts have said Iran was behind spear-phishing emails sent in June to Roger Stone, a longtime informal adviser to Trump. The ruse was successful, and hackers were able to take control of Stone’s email account and send messages with spear-phishing links to others, people familiar with the investigation said. Stone has acknowledged being contacted by the FBI and notified that his emails were hacked.
    (Source: Washington Post)

  • Trump vows to end Russia-Ukraine war if elected president

    Trump vows to end Russia-Ukraine war if elected president

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said he will end the Russia-Ukraine war if he wins the November presidential elections, an assertion dismissed by his Democratic rival Kamala Harris who said the former US president would “just give up”.

    Trading barbs with Vice President Harris on Tuesday, September 10, at their first presidential debate in Pennsylvania ahead of the US general elections on November 5, Trump said the war would have never started had he been the president.

    “I’ll get the war with Ukraine and Russia ended. If I’m president-elect, I’ll get it done before even becoming president,” Trump, 78, said in response to a question during the debate.

    Asserting there was no threat of war in the four years he was president from 2017 to 2021, Trump said, “I know (Russian President Vladimir) Putin very well. He would have never — and there was no threat of it either, by the way, for four years — gone into Ukraine and killed millions of people when you add it up…”

    Trump blamed the Biden-Harris Administration for not preventing the war in Ukraine and said, “If I were president, it would have never started.” The former president asserted that he wanted the war to stop and claimed that millions were being killed in it.

    “I want to save lives that are being uselessly people being killed by the millions. It’s the millions. It’s so much worse than the numbers you’re getting, which are fake numbers,” he said.

    “I know (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy very well and I know Putin very well. I have a good relationship. They respect me, they don’t respect (incumbent President Joe) Biden,” he said.

    “How would you respect him (Biden)? He hasn’t even made a phone call in two years to Putin. He hasn’t spoken to anybody. That is a war that’s dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president if I win when I’m president-elect,” Trump said.

    Disagreeing with him, Vice President Harris said, “I believe the reason that Donald Trump says that this war would be over within 24 hours is because he would just give it up. And that’s not who we are as Americans.”

    Harris said she met Zelenskyy and shared “American intelligence about how he could defend himself” a few days before the Russian invasion and went to NATO’s eastern flank to Poland and Romania days later, bringing 50 countries together to support Ukraine in its “righteous defense”.

    “Because of our support, because of the air defense, the ammunition, the artillery, the javelins, the Abrams tanks that we have provided, Ukraine stands as an independent and free country,” she said.

    “If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now and understand what that would mean because Putin’s agenda is not just about Ukraine,” she said.

    Addressing Trump, she said, “Understand why the European allies and our NATO allies are so thankful that you are no longer president and that we understand the importance of…NATO. And what we have done to preserve the ability of Zelenskyy and the Ukrainians to fight for their independence. Otherwise, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland.”

    During the debate, Trump claimed that when Putin endorsed Harris last week saying, ‘I hope she’ wins, the Russian President meant it “because what he’s gotten away with is absolutely incredible”.

    “It wouldn’t have happened with me. The leaders of other countries think that they’re weak and incompetent and they are grossly incompetent,” he said, referring to the Biden-Harris administration. Harris alleged it was well known that Trump was weak and wrong on issues of national security and foreign policy.

    “It is well known that he admires dictators (and) wants to be a dictator on day one, according to himself. It is well known that he said of Putin that he can do whatever the hell he wants and go into Ukraine. It is well known that he said when Russia went into…,” she said.

    “In Ukraine, it was brilliant, it is well known. He exchanged love letters with (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un. It is absolutely well known that these dictators and autocrats are rooting for you to be president again because they’re so clear they can manipulate you with flattery and favors,” she said.

    Alleging that military leaders with whom Trump has worked have told her that he is a “disgrace”, Harris said, “That is why we understand that we have to have a President who is not consistently weak and wrong on national security, including the importance of upholding and respecting in highest regard our military.”

    This was the second presidential debate, but the first between Trump and Harris. The first presidential debate in Atlanta on June 27 was between Trump and President Biden. Following his terrible performance at the debate, Biden withdrew from the race and paved the way for Harris to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for the November elections.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Israeli defense chief says a temporary truce with Hamas is possible; Ending the war is another story

    Israeli defense chief says a temporary truce with Hamas is possible; Ending the war is another story

    The United States, along with mediators Egypt and Qatar, has been working for months to broker a cease-fire to end the devastating war between Israel and Hamas

    TEL AVIV (TIP): Israel’s Defense Minister says the window is closing on an opportunity to reach a temporary cease-fire deal with the Hamas militant group that he believes could also bring calm to the country’s volatile northern border with Lebanon, AP reports.

    Speaking to reporters, Yoav Gallant said that conditions are ripe for at least a six-week pause in fighting that would include the release of many of the hostages held in Gaza. However, he would not commit to a permanent end to the fighting, as Hamas has demanded, raising questions about the feasibility of a deal.

    “Israel should achieve an agreement that will bring about a pause for six weeks and bring back hostages,” he said. After that period, he said, “we maintain the right to operate and achieve our goals — including the destruction of Hamas.”

    The United States, along with mediators Egypt and Qatar, has been working for months to broker a cease-fire to end the devastating war between Israel and Hamas. A main area of disagreement has been Hamas’ demand for an end to the nearly year-old war and a full withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised a new sticking point in recent weeks, saying that Israel must remain stationed in a strategic corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt indefinitely.

    Mr. Gallant has been quoted in Israeli media as saying that Israel could withdraw from the corridor for six weeks — to allow hostages to go free without risking Israel’s security. The two men reportedly got into a heated shouting match at a recent Cabinet meeting where ministers overwhelmingly sided with Mr. Netanyahu.

    During Monday, September 9 meeting with foreign journalists, Mr. Gallant was asked about his relationship with the Prime Minister.

    “As Defense Minister, my first priority is the state of Israel and those who protect her, and then everything else,” he said.

    The current U.S.-led proposal calls for a three-phase plan, beginning with a six-week pause in fighting during which Hamas would release some of the roughly 70 hostages who are still believed to be alive and held by the militants.

    In exchange, Israel would free dozens of Palestinian prisoners, withdraw troops from Palestinian population centers, allow displaced Gazans to return to their original place of residence and facilitate the influx of large amounts of badly needed humanitarian aid.

    White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Monday, September 9, that Hamas had sought changes to the evolving proposal, calling it the “main obstacle” to a deal. Hamas rejected Kirby’s allegations as “baseless” and again accused the U.S. of hindering an agreement by siding with Israel.

    Mr. Gallant cast doubt on Hamas’ intentions and was skeptical about whether the deal’s second phase — which is to include the release of the remaining hostages and a complete halt to the fighting — could be implemented.

    He said repeatedly that Israel remains committed to its “war goals” — bringing home all hostages, destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities, and making sure the group can never threaten Israel again. With Hamas repeatedly regrouping in areas of Gaza that Israeli troops have left, and with no plan for an alternative postwar government, it remains unclear when or if these goals can be fully achieved.

    Mr. Gallant accused Hamas of intransigence in the talks and called for more international pressure on the militant group. Still, he said that after inflicting heavy damage recently on Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, there is an opportunity for at least the first phase of the deal.

    He said he believed a truce with Hamas could also lower tensions with Hezbollah and allow displaced Israelis to return to their homes in northern Israel, near the Lebanese border.

    Hezbollah began striking Israel immediately after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack ignited the war. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged cross-border fire daily, coming close on several occasions to a full-blown war. The fighting has forced tens of thousands of Israelis and Lebanese to flee their homes near the volatile border.

    “Achieving an agreement is also a strategic opportunity that gives us a high chance to change the security situation on all fronts,” Mr. Gallant said.

    It seems unlikely that Hamas would accept a partial deal in which it would give up the hostages — its most valuable bargaining chips for only a brief pause in the Israeli onslaught.

    But international mediators have been working on a bridging proposal that they hope could meet the demands of all sides. President Joe Biden said last week he was “optimistic” that a deal was within reach.

    At home, the Israeli government faces significant domestic pressure to reach a deal as well, particularly after the deaths of six hostages it says were killed by their Hamas captors earlier this month as troops approached the area where they were being held.

    Mr. Gallant described the current situation as a “strategic junction” — where Israel can reach a deal with its adversaries or risk fighting a broader war that could draw in Hezbollah and its sponsor Iran.

    Mr. Gallant said he prefers a deal, but that Israel is ready for all scenarios. “We are capable of defending ourselves and we can also retaliate if necessary,” he said. “We have the ability to hit any strategic goal in Iran.”

    Israel’s offensive in Gaza has forced hundreds of thousands of people into squalid tent camps and schools-turned-shelters gutted the health system and contributed to widespread hunger. Israel has been working with international aid workers in recent weeks on a mass vaccination program to prevent a polio outbreak in the territory from spreading.

    As for the dire humanitarian situation, Mr. Gallant said he has assembled an advisory group of experts to focus on five areas of need. They include improved medical care, aid deliveries, energy, water and sanitation and better communications with aid workers.

    “We discuss and hold situation assessments on this issue twice a week,” he said.
    (With inputs from agencies)

  • Adani deal protest: Flights grounded at Kenya’s main airport as workers go on strike

    Adani deal protest: Flights grounded at Kenya’s main airport as workers go on strike

    NAIROBI (TIP): Hundreds of workers at Kenya’s main international airport demonstrated on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, against a planned deal between the government and the Adani Group, says an AP report.

    Planes have remained grounded, with hundreds of passengers stranded at the airport.

    The government has said that the build-and-operate agreement with Adani Group would see the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport renovated, and an additional runway and terminal constructed, in exchange for the group running the airport for 30 years.

    Kenya Airport Workers Union, in announcing the strike, said that the deal would lead to job losses and “inferior terms and conditions of service” for those who will remain.

    Flight delays, cancellations
    Kenya Airways on Wednesday announced there would be flight delays and possible cancellations because of the ongoing strike at the airport, which serves Nairobi.

    Last week, airport workers had threatened to go on strike, but the plans were called off pending discussions with the government.

    The spotting of unknown people moving around with airport officials taking notes and photographs raised concerns that the Indian firm officials were readying for the deal, local media outlets reported last week.

    The High Court on Monday, September 9, temporarily halted the implementation of the deal until a case filed by the Law Society and the Kenya Human Rights Commission is heard.

  • Mission accomplished, says Dr. Gurinderpal Singh Josan

    Mission accomplished, says Dr. Gurinderpal Singh Josan

    Saragarhi Park is now open to tourists

    “Our mission has been accomplished,” says Dr Gurinderpal Singh Josan, Chairman of the Saragarhi Foundation, holding “now tourists can walk down the park created on the battlefield of Saragarhi. It is open to the public.

    By Prabhjot Singh

    “On July 8, 2019, the Foundation hoisted ‘Nishan Sahib’ at Saragarhi. With the help of the British, American, Canadian and Indian Army and the support of the Government of Pakistan, we have been able to recapture the ethos and spirit of one of the eight most historic battles recognized and published by UNESCO,” adds Dr Josan.

    A gurdwara has also been set up at Hangu in the Khyber Pakhtoon region where the battle was fought on September 12, 1897.

    Dr Josan talks about Prem Nagar, a fenced locality at the foothills of Saragarhi where Hindu, Sikh and Christian families live. Incidentally, Indians and Americans are prohibited from visiting this belt of Pakhtoon area which is known to be the Taliban’s belt. He says he has been to Hangu valley, where the battle of Saragarhi was fought, several times. “With the help of locals, I have been able to revive some of the historic sites, including the “pyramid” where gallant Sikh soldiers were cremated. A “minar” (tower) was raised at the venue with the names of all 21 soldiers inscribed on it in 1901 by the British was reduced to ruins in the absence of any upkeep and maintenance.

    A ceremonial marchpast by Sikh officers of the British Army at Wolverhampton.

    “We have been successful in re-enacting the ‘Minar’ with the names of the heroes of the battle written on it. Because of our efforts and work, the historic battlefield is now fenced and protected. With the start of the Gurdwara at Hangu, our first mission of revisiting the epic battlefield has been completed.

    New York-based Dr Josan has taken upon himself the onerous task of not only tracing the families of all those gallant soldiers from 36 Sikh, now the 4th battalion of the Sikh Regiment, who while holding a small fortress atop Samana ridge between two forts, decided to fight to their last then desert the battlefield.

    Gurdwara Guru Nanak Sahib at Wednesfield in the Midlands in the UK.

    He set up the Saragarhi Foundation in Amritsar in 1987. Now 56 galleries in the world carry the portraits of all 21 Sikh soldiers.

    The 127th anniversary of the epic Battle of Saragarhi falls on September 12 (Thursday). Fought on September 12, 1897, in the Tirah region of Northwest Frontier Province, then part of British India, 21 Sikh soldiers made their last stand against thousands of Pathans.

    Overwhelming odds notwithstanding, the soldiers held off repeated enemy attacks on the fortress. The tribesmen finally set fire to the bushes and shrubs surrounding the post and under the cover of smoke managed to breach the wall. This was followed by fierce hand-to-hand combat.

    When the British Parliament heard of the battle, its members stood in unison to give an ovation to the defenders of Saragarhi. The story of the heroic deeds of these men was also placed before Queen Victoria. The account was received all over the world with awe and admiration.

    All 21 soldiers were awarded the Indian Order of Merit (posthumously) then the highest gallantry award applicable to Indian troops. It was considered equivalent to the Victoria Cross. The battle is included in the school curriculum in Punjab, and Haryana may also do the same.

    The Sikh Regiment carries the Battle Honour Saragarhi 1897 and Saragarhi Day is observed in India, the USA, Canada, Great Britain and many other countries. The battle has also been featured in a Bollywood film that Dr Josan claims is based on his coffee table book on the Saragarhi battle.

    Saragarhi Memorial at Wednesfield in the Midlands in the UK.

    Dr Josan was recently in the UK where the 127th anniversary celebrations marked the holding of Sri Akhand path sahib at Gurdwara Wednesfield in the midlands. There is a memorial raised in front of the Gurdwara carrying the statue of Havildar Ishar Singh, who led the Sikh soldiers.

    A ceremonial band and march by the Sikh Regiment of the British Army marked the event.

    In November, Dr Josan says, Saragarhi Stadium will be inaugurated at Dumanda village, near Adampur. Surrey-based Co-Chairman of the Saragarhi Foundation, J. Minhas, is from Dumanda. Two Saragarhi heroes – Gurmukh Singh and Jeewan Singh – belonged to his village. In June this year, one of the commemorative galleries of the Saragarhi battle was inaugurated in Surrey.

    The Stadium will have football, basketball and volleyball playfields of international standards. There will be the latest gymnasium hall in the Stadium whose gate will be the replica of the Saragarhi fort in Pakistan.

    A day before the 127th anniversary, a musical tribute to Saragarhi, by Satnam Punjabi, was released.

    (Prabhjot Paul Singh is a Toronto-based award-winning independent journalist, He was celebrated by AIPS, the international body of sports journalists, for covering ten Olympics at its centennial celebrations held at UNESCO Centre in Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games. Besides, he has written extensively about business and the financial markets, the health industry, the public and private sectors, and aviation. He has worked as a political reporter besides covering Sikh and Punjab politics. He is particularly interested in Indian Diaspora and Sikh Diaspora in particular. His work has also appeared in various international and national newspapers, magazines and journals.)

  • Donald Trump Revisits Long Island after 8 years

    Donald Trump Revisits Long Island after 8 years

    To Hold Rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 18

    HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): Former President Donald Trump has scheduled a rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale on Wednesday, September 18, as campaign season enters the final weeks before Election Day, the Republican candidate’s campaign announced.

    The rally plans were released on Sept. 11, a day after Trump faced Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris in a debate that aired on WABC-TV — a debate in which Harris suggested everyone go to Trump’s rallies to witness supporters leave early out of boredom.

    “Nassau County has also felt the dangerous effects of Kamala Harris’ open border bloodbath,” Trump’s campaign posted online while inviting supporters to attend the rally. “The flood of illegal immigrants into nearby ‘sanctuary,’ New York City has unleashed crime and chaos into their community.”

    The rally is the third Trump has held on Long Island in his three bids for the White House. During the 2016 campaign, he held rallies in Bethpage and Patchogue, but did not return in 2020 before he was unseated by Democratic President Joe Biden, who is not seeking a second term.

    “Anthony D’Esposito must be in an awful lot of trouble if he’s bringing Donald Trump’s abortion-banning, billionaire-loving, autocrat-enabling, incoherent circus to Nassau County,” Battleground New York said in a statement, referring to congressman who represents the district in which the coliseum is located. “We’re looking forward to seeing what kind of bizarre mess Trump leaves for D’Esposito to clean up after.”

    The rally is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, with doors opening at 3 p.m.

  • Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Remember 9/11 at ground zero in New York

    Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Remember 9/11 at ground zero in New York

    NEW YORK (TIP): President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump made a rare joint appearance at the New York City site on Wednesday, September 11, on the occasion of 9/11 anniversary. The September 11 plane attacks in 2001 claimed nearly 3,000 lives. The 78-year-old former President Trump shook hands with President Joe Biden. This followed a handshake , facilitated by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, between the November election rivals, Trump and Harris. After exchanging a few words, the campaign rivals lined up for the commemoration, standing only a few feet apart. Senator JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, also attended the event.

    At this year’s solemn commemoration of the hijacked-plane attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives on September 11, 2001, victims’ names were read out. The alleged Al Qaeda Islamist militants carried out several plane attacks on this day. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon while another went down in a Pennsylvania field after passengers stormed the cockpit.

    Some relatives of September 11 attack victims appealed to the leaders for accountability ahead of US elections. A daughter of 9/11 victim and an administrative assistant, Walsh-DiMarzio said, “We are pleading for your help, but you ignore us,” reported AP. Challenging the two key leaders- Donald Trump and Kamala Harris – Walsh-DiMarzio demanded answers about Saudi Arabia’s official involvement in the attacks. However, the kingdom has denied any involvement in the terror attacks even though most of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens, says the Mint report.

  • Trump and Harris Debate Focuses on a Wide Range of Issues

    Trump and Harris Debate Focuses on a Wide Range of Issues

    Economy Immigration, Abortion and Foreign Policy dominate

    NEW YORK (TIP): Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have sparred over all major issues, including US foreign policy, economy, border security and abortion, during their first presidential debate that could alter the course of the race for the White House. During the 90-minute debate in Pennsylvania, Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, and Harris, the Democratic nominee, presented a different vision they wanted to implement over the next four years.

    “I think you’ve heard tonight two very different visions for our country, one that is focused on the future and the other that is focused on the past and an attempt to take us backwards. But we’re not going back,” Vice President Harris, 59, said in her concluding remarks.

    “And I do believe that the American people know we all have so much more in common than what separates us, and we can chart a new way forward,” she said. Trump, 78, asked why Harris had not done those things in these three and half years of the Biden-Harris administration.

    “She just started by saying she’s going to do this; she’s going to do that. She’s going to do all these wonderful things. Why hasn’t she done it? She’s been there for three and a half years. They’ve had three and a half years to fix the border. They’ve had three and a half years to create jobs and all the things we talked about. Why hasn’t she done it?” Trump asked in his concluding remarks.

    This was the second presidential debate, but the first between Trump and Harris. The first presidential debate in Atlanta on June 27 was between Trump and President Joe Biden.

    Following his terrible performance, Biden withdrew from the race and paved the way for Harris to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for the November elections.

    “I believe very strongly that the American people want a president who understands the importance of bringing us together and that we have so much more in common than what separates us. And I pledge to you to be a president for all Americans,” Harris said.

    “Everybody knows what I’m going to do, cut taxes very substantially and create a great economy like I did before. We had the greatest economy. We got hit with a pandemic. We did a phenomenal job with the pandemic,” Trump said. But soon the debate took a nasty turn with both Trump and Harris accusing each other of telling lies. Trump alleged that Harris is a Marxist, while Harris called the former president a disgrace and someone who wants to take the country backwards.

    “Everything that she believed three years ago and four years ago is out the window. She’s going to my philosophy now…But if she ever got elected, she’d change it, and it will be the end of our country. She’s a Marxist. Everybody knows she’s a Marxist. Her father is a Marxist professor in economics, and he taught her well,” Trump alleged.

    Trump claimed that Harris has been the Biden administration’s “border czar.” “But when you look at what she’s done to our country and when you look at these millions and millions of people that are pouring into our country monthly, where it’s, I believe, 21 million people, not the 15 million that people say, and I think it’s a lot higher than the 21 million, that’s bigger than New York State pouring in,” he claimed. Many of these people coming in are criminals, and that’s bad for America’s economy, he said.

    “Well, bad immigration is the worst thing that can happen to our economy. They have and she has destroyed our country with a policy that’s insane,” he alleged.

    The debate moderators from ABC News had to inject fact-checks multiple times during the debate.

    “As I said, you’re going to hear a bunch of lies, and that’s not actually a surprising fact,” Harris said.

    Harris said if Trump was re-elected, he would sign a national abortion ban bill. “There would be a national abortion monitor that would be monitoring your pregnancies, your miscarriages,” she alleged.

    “I think the American people believe that certain freedoms, in particular, the freedom to make decisions about one’s own body, should not be made by the government,” she said.

    Trump countered her and said that abortion policy should be determined by the states.

    “There she goes again. It’s a lie. I’m not signing a ban, and there’s no reason to sign a ban because we’ve gotten what everybody wanted. Democrats, Republicans, and everybody else and every legal scholar wanted it to be brought back into the states, and the states are voting. And it may take a little time, but for 52 years, this issue has torn our country apart, and they’ve wanted it back in the states,” Trump said.

    Harris said the US needs a leader who engages in solutions and addresses the problems at hand.

    “But what we have in the former president is someone who would prefer to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem. And I’ll tell you something,” she said.

    Harris was seen interrupting Trump multiple times during the debate. It was not heard as the mikes of the non-speakers were muted during the debate. Trump multiple times taunted Harris and fought with her over whether people leave his rallies early.

    He accused Harris- without providing evidence – of paying people to attend her campaign events.

    “We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics. That’s because people want to take their country back. Our country is being lost,” Trump said.

    Trump vowed that he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine in Ukraine if he wins the November 5 general elections.

    The former president, who raised Afghanistan several times during the debate, called the withdrawal of American troops “the most embarrassing moment in the history of the United States”.

    President Biden’s chaotic withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in 2021 has been criticized – mostly by Republicans – as an embarrassment to the US military and an avoidable failure. Harris said she agreed with Biden’s commitment to get the US out of the country. But she said that it’s important to remember how the withdrawal came to be. “Donald Trump as president negotiated one of the weakest deals you can imagine,” she says, referencing his negotiations with the Taliban.

    Trump claimed that Harris “hates Israel” while she fired back that he “admires dictators.”

    He claimed Israel would be destroyed within two years if he lost the election and Harris assumed office as president. Harris attacked Trump for his favorable past statements about Putin and claimed that in meetings she had with world leaders they made fun of Trump.
    (With inputs from PTI)

  • New York City’s police commissioner resigns amid a federal investigation

    New York City’s police commissioner resigns amid a federal investigation

    NEW YORK (TIP): New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban has resigned, he said Thursday in a statement, marking the first high-profile departure from Mayor Eric Adams’ administration since the start of four separate federal investigations into his office and the NYPD, CNN reports.

    Caban’s departure comes days after it was first reported investigators with the US attorney’s office for New York’s Southern District had seized his electronic devices and phones.

    “My complete focus has always been on the NYPD – the department and people I love and have dedicated over 30 years of service to. However, the news around recent developments has created a distraction for our department, and I am unwilling to let my attention be on anything other than our important work, or the safety of the men and women of the NYPD,” the statement from Caban reads in part.

    “I hold immense respect and gratitude for the brave officers who serve this department, and the NYPD deserves someone who can solely focus on protecting and serving New York City, which is why – for the good of this city and this department – I have made the difficult decision to resign as Police Commissioner.”

    Adams, a Democrat, was expected to address Caban’s resignation at noon, according to a source with knowledge of the decision. Caban’s expected departure marks a major shakeup in the highest ranks of the Adams administration.

    The investigation involves Caban’s brother and enforcement around nightclubs in New York City, a source familiar with the investigation tells CNN. Details of the probe remain unclear.

    Several members of the mayor’s staff are being investigated by the US attorneys in the Eastern and Southern Districts in New York. The US attorneys’ offices and the FBI declined to comment.

    Federal investigators also seized electronic devices from the homes of several top administration officials last week, including First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks III, Schools Chancellor David Banks and Tim Pearson, a former police inspector who is a special adviser to the mayor. Subpoenas were also issued for the phones of three lower-ranking police officials, sources briefed on the investigation say.

    Earlier this year, the homes of a top Adams aide, Winnie Greco, were also raided by the FBI as part of a separate inquiry by the US attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

    Two days before Caban’s resignation, Adams stopped short of publicly supporting his embattled commissioner, repeatedly saying he was confident of the NYPD’s ability to do its job despite the federal investigation. Adams deflected multiple times after being asked if he wanted Caban to resign or if he had asked him to do so.

    The NYPD has said it is aware of the investigation and is cooperating with federal authorities.

    Neither Adams nor his staff members have been accused of any wrongdoing. Adams has repeatedly said he is cooperating with the federal inquiry.

    A spokesperson for Adams, who appointed Caban in July of last year, did not immediately return a request for comment.

    Caban, the son of Puerto Rican parents, has served for 13 months, making history as the NYPD’s first Latino commissioner. He has been with the NYPD for 32 years. Caban is not the only police commissioner to serve for a short term under Adams. Keechant Sewell resigned after just 18 months amid a power struggle over her control of the department and City Hall.
    (Source: CNN)

  • On Presidential Debate

    Kamala Harris Proves to be a Better Boxer in the Ring

    By Indrajit S. Saluja

    The Presidential debate on Tuesday, September 10, between Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris garnered immense interest, with a staggering  number of 67.1 million tuning in, far surpassing the viewership of previous debate between Biden and Trump. This surge in audience numbers highlighted the high level of excitement and expectations among American viewers.

    Just as Biden stumbled in his debates with Trump, this time, Trump struggled when facing Kamala Harris. Throughout the debate, Trump obsessively focused on two issues: immigration and the economy, regardless of the questions raised by the hosts. His primary attack on Harris revolved around allegations of a supposed influx of criminals entering the U.S. through the southern border. He specifically singled out Venezuela, claiming that large numbers of criminals from there had crossed the border, going so far as to say they resorted to eating pets. He further alleged that these criminals brought waves of crime, holding Kamala Harris directly responsible.

    On the economy, Trump boasted about having led the “best economy” during his presidency, contrasting it with what he termed the “killing inflation” under the Biden-Harris administration. Another significant point of attack was foreign policy. Trump blamed Harris for the deaths of American soldiers during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, accusing her of failing to lead on global conflicts, particularly between  Ukraine and  Russia, and  between Israel and Palestinians. He even claimed that if elected, he would resolve these conflicts within 24 hours of being inaugurated. Yet, he often evaded direct responses to key questions posed by the hosts and Harris, many of which touched on issues affecting everyday life of Americans.

    Kamala Harris, on the other hand, made it clear that the most pressing issue was the freedom of the American people. She was emphatic about women’s rights, especially the right to choose what they wanted to do with  their bodies. She spoke passionately in favor the right of the women to have an abortion.  Harris strongly condemned Trump for undermining these rights through the Supreme Court appointments that led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She vowed to work to restore Roe v. Wade if elected President.

    Harris also promised to prioritize the strength of the country, ensuring a robust military and securing America’s global leadership. She addressed the needs of common people, including respectable wages, healthcare, and housing. Unlike Trump, who sidestepped a question on his role in the January 6 insurrection, Harris answered questions directly. She even delivered a sharp rebuke when Trump accused her of allowing criminals into the country, reminding the audience of Trump’s own criminal record. While Harris maintained her composure throughout, Trump appeared visibly unsettled at several points during the debate.

    In the aftermath of the debate, Kamala Harris emerged as the clear winner of this round, evidenced by her success in fundraising, raising $47 million within 24 hours of the debate. She also received endorsements from several influential figures, including from the legendary singer Taylor Swift.

    Though Trump claimed he had done well in the debate, his aides seemed to have a different view. Now the reports have come in that Trump has decided not to engage in a second debate with Harris, while the latter has expressed  enthusiasm for another round of debate with Trump. Surely, Kamala proved to be a better boxer in the ring.

    Kamala Harris’s popularity has surged following the debate, and her path to victory will largely depend on a few key factors:

    • Inflation must remain in check during the run-up to the election.
    • A significant breakthrough in the Israel-Palestine conflict by the Biden administration would boost her standing.
    • Avoidance of mass shootings or domestic terror attacks.
    • Prevention of any major influx of illegal immigrants.

    Kamala Harris seems well-positioned to continue her momentum, provided these challenges are successfully managed.

  • Manipur in a mess

    The PM’s direct intervention is a must to save Manipur

    Manipur has become a rather bad advertisement for a double-engine government. The left hand doesn’t seem to know what the right one is doing. Amid a fresh surge in violence, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has appealed to the Centre to take steps to protect the state’s territorial integrity. At the same time, he has demanded that the charge of the Unified Command — including the Central Armed Police Forces — be handed over to the state government. He is asking too much of the Centre, considering that his own handling of the situation since the Meitei-Kuki clashes broke out in May last year has left a lot to be desired. Despite his underwhelming performance, the ruling BJP has persisted with Biren. Even the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections — the Congress won both seats in Manipur, defeating the saffron party and the Naga People’s Front — has not triggered a much-needed shakeup.

    Both the Central and state governments have let things drift for far too long in the troubled northeastern state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been visiting one country after another, has not set foot in Manipur after February 22, 2022. That election-related trip took place just a couple of days before the Russia-Ukraine war began, and the PM has toured both nations in recent months. Defending the indefensible, Biren has stated that the PM did send Home Minister Amit Shah to the state and also spoke about Manipur in Parliament as well as in his 2023 Independence Day speech. But all that has certainly not proved enough to defuse tensions and reduce hostilities.

    The use of drones by militants to carry out bombings has caught the security forces off guard. They need to recalibrate their strategy to curb violence and restore the rule of law. Also, the Centre must be proactive about bringing the warring sides to the negotiating table. The PM’s direct intervention is a must to save Manipur.

    (Tribune, India)

  • Can Sheikh Hasina be extradited from India to Bangladesh to stand trial?

    Can Sheikh Hasina be extradited from India to Bangladesh to stand trial?

    An extradition treaty signed in 2013 by India and Bangladesh could allow for the repatriation of the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Does it allow for an extradition request to be turned down? What could be the potential implications?
    “The Extradition Treaty signed in 2013 between India and Bangladesh mandates the extradition of individuals charged with or convicted of crimes that warrant a minimum sentence of one year’s imprisonment. A key requirement for extradition is the principle of dual criminality, meaning that the offence must be punishable in both countries. Since the charges against Ms. Hasina are prosecutable in India, and the penalties for her alleged crimes are also substantial, she qualifies for extradition on these grounds. Additionally, the treaty encompasses within its ambit attempts to commit, as well as aiding, abetting, inciting, or acting as an accomplice in such crimes.”

    By Aaratrika Bhaumik

    The chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has announced plans to seek the extradition of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina from neighboring India. “As the main perpetrator has fled the country, we will start the legal procedure to bring her back,” Mohammad Tajul Islam told reporters on September 8, 2024. The tribunal was established in 2010 by the former Bangladesh Prime Minister to investigate crimes committed during the 1971 independence war from Pakistan.

    Ms. Hasina sought refuge in India in early August after a mass uprising compelled her to step down. Since her departure, numerous criminal cases have been lodged against her and her aides, encompassing charges of murder, torture, abduction, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The new interim government in Dhaka has already revoked Ms. Hasina’s diplomatic passport. Additionally, India and Bangladesh have a bilateral extradition treaty in place that could allow for her return to face trial.

    Sheikh Hasina faces 33 cases, including murder, after ouster from Bangladesh

    What does the extradition treaty say?

    Under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act of 1973, Bangladeshi courts can proceed with criminal trials even in Ms. Hasina’s absence. However, this is bound to raise raises concerns about the fairness of the proceedings, and adherence to due process, while also complicating the enforcement of judicial orders. Therefore, the extradition of the former Prime Minister is considered crucial.

    In 2013, India and Bangladesh executed an extradition treaty as a strategic measure to address insurgency and terrorism along their shared borders. It was subsequently amended in 2016 to ease the process of exchange of fugitives wanted by both nations. The treaty has facilitated the transfer of several notable political prisoners. For instance, in 2020, two convicts involved in the 1975 assassination of Ms. Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, were extradited to Bangladesh for execution. Similarly, India successfully secured the extradition of Anup Chetia, the general secretary of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), who had spent 18 years imprisoned in Dhaka.

    The treaty mandates the extradition of individuals charged with or convicted of crimes that warrant a minimum sentence of one year’s imprisonment. A key requirement for extradition is the principle of dual criminality, meaning that the offence must be punishable in both countries. Since the charges against Ms. Hasina are prosecutable in India, and the penalties for her alleged crimes are also substantial, she qualifies for extradition on these grounds. Additionally, the treaty encompasses within its ambit attempts to commit, as well as aiding, abetting, inciting, or acting as an accomplice in such crimes.

    Notably, the 2016 amendment to the treaty substantially lowered the threshold for extradition by removing the requirement to furnish concrete evidence against the offender. Under Article 10 of the treaty, only an arrest warrant issued by a competent court in the requesting country is now sufficient to initiate the extradition process.

    Can extradition be refused?

    Article 6 of the treaty stipulates that extradition may be refused if the offence is of a “political nature”. However, there are stringent limitations on this particular exemption. A host of offences such as murder, terrorism-related crimes, and kidnapping, are explicitly excluded from being classified as political. Given that several of the charges against Ms. Hasina — such as murder, enforced disappearance, and torture — fall outside the scope of this exemption, it is unlikely that India will be able to justify these accusations as political transgressions to deny extradition.

    Another basis for refusal is outlined in Article 8, which permits denial of a request if the accusation is not “made in good faith in the interests of justice” or if it involves military offences not considered “an offence under general criminal law.” India could potentially refuse extradition on the ground that the charges against Ms. Hasina have not been levelled in good faith and there is a possibility of her being subjected to political persecution or an unfair trial upon her return to Bangladesh. Such concerns are further exacerbated by recent reports that Ministers from Ms. Hasina’s Cabinet, who have been arrested over recent weeks were physically arrested by bystanders while being transported to court for remand hearings.

    What are the potential implications?

    Dr. Sreeradha Datta, professor of international relations at O.P. Jindal Global University told The Hindu that the treaty does not guarantee Ms. Hassina’s extradition, as the final decision will hinge more on diplomatic negotiations and political considerations. “Even if India were to decline the extradition request, it would likely serve as a minor political irritant rather and is unlikely to dent bilateral relations, especially in critical areas of cooperation between the two nations,” she said.

    Bangladesh is India’s largest trade partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade estimated at $15.9 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23. Before Ms. Hasina’s ouster, both nations were poised to commence dialogue on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) to foster economic ties. Following the regime change in Dhaka, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with the Chief Adviser of the new interim government, Muhammad Yunus, and pledged continued support for ongoing development projects.

    (The author is a Senior Sub-Editor at The Hindu)

     

  • America holds the key to ending the war in Gaza

    America holds the key to ending the war in Gaza

    The involvement of a Bedouin in violence against Israel might fly in the face of Tel Aviv’s claims that the Bedouins living in the country have been victims of Hamas

    “West Asia observers now feel that Netanyahu’s prolonged war in Gaza, aimed at keeping him in power, is going to affect Jordan adversely. David Hearst, Editor-in-Chief of the Middle East Eye, had observed on August 23 that Jordan’s “balancing act is at risk of crashing down” with the latest Israeli intrusion into the West Bank, reviving the old Zionist policy to consider Jordan as the ‘only Palestinian state’, combined with Donald Trump’s latest idea of a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation. He has stated: “The crudest version of this plan entails direct threats to the Palestinian villages and towns of the occupied West Bank to leave or be burnt out by settlers.”

    By Vappala Balachandran

    The killing of three Israeli civilians near the Allenby (King Hussein) Bridge border crossing in the occupied West Bank on September 8 by Maher Ziab Hussein al-Jazi, a former Jordanian soldier, has added a new dimension to the Israel-Hamas war by directly involving Jordan in the conflict.

    The Allenby Bridge was originally a World War I crossing point for the British forces from the East to the West Bank. It was named after Field Marshal Edmund Allenby, who had led the Palestine campaign. The recent incident has revealed different dimensions of the Israel-Jordan relationship in terms of security, diplomacy and trade.

    During the late 1980s, I was taken on a conducted tour of the Allenby Bridge, 5 km east of Jericho city in the West Bank, for the showcasing of Israel’s preventive security measures to track terrorists and drug traffickers crossing over from Jordan to Israel. We did not have diplomatic relations with Israel then. Apart from video tracking, the bridge had a facility to track border crossings on foot through a study of sand footprints by expert Bedouin trackers. I also met members of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Bedouin Tracker Unit.

    According to the IDF, on September 8, Maher Ziab drove a truck from Jordan, “exited the truck and opened fire,” killing three Israeli civilian employees. Why didn’t the IDF, with their most modern, AI-driven mass facial-recognition tools like Red Wolf, Blue Wolf and Wolf Pack, detect him while he was on the Allenby Bridge? Also, the bridge is a high-security zone in which all persons crossing get searched at least three times. That the Jordanian could travel with a weapon means that it is a serious security breach.

    The IDF had shot dead a Jordanian judge, Raed Zeiter, in 2014 on the bridge merely on the basis of suspicion, something that Israel had to publicly apologize for. Inquiries later revealed that Raed was going to his hometown, Nablus, in the West Bank. The killing had led to strong protests in Jordan and the West Bank. The Arab media had also reported that there were large-scale protests in Jordan after he was killed.

    Notably, Maher Ziab, who was shot dead by the IDF, belonged to the influential Huwaitat tribe among the Bedouins. He was a resident of the Husseiniya area in Jordan’s southern Ma’an Governorate. Huwaitat traces its origin to Fatima, daughter of the prophet Muhammad. Some of them were part of the historical ‘Great Arab Revolt’, described by Lawrence of Arabia in his ‘Seven Pillars of Wisdom’.

    The involvement of a Bedouin in violence against Israel might fly in the face of Tel Aviv’s claims that the Bedouins living within Israel have been victims of Hamas, as they were supporting the regime. It may be recalled that Kaid Farhan Elkadi, a Bedouin hostage who was found by the IDF in a Gaza tunnel on August 27, was given a rapturous welcome. However, in the wake of Elkadi’s rescue, international media outlets that visited his village in Negev found strong resentment against the Benjamin Netanyahu regime.

    Originally from Saudi Arabia, the Huwaitat had migrated to Jordan, Syria and Egypt (Sinai Peninsula), where they are found in large numbers. In 2020, Huwaitat leader Suleiman Mohammed al-Taqique al-Hwaiti had started an agitation against a new Saudi project called Neom, a planned mega-city, that could result in the displacement of 20,000 Huwaitat tribe members. This resulted in violence and brutal suppression by Saudi Arabia. If the Huwaitat decide, they could open another front against Israel.

    Diplomatically, Jordan — which has been highly critical of Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza war — has a peace accord with Israel that was signed in 1994 by King Hussein and then Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in the presence of US President Bill Clinton. Annexe III deals with the details of cooperation on crime. This is under strain, as revealed by the joint statement issued by Jordan, Qatar, Palestine and Kuwait on September 3 condemning PM Netanyahu’s accusations that weapons were being smuggled to the Hamas through the Egyptian border.

    West Asia observers now feel that Netanyahu’s prolonged war in Gaza, aimed at keeping him in power, is going to affect Jordan adversely. David Hearst, Editor-in-Chief of the Middle East Eye, had observed on August 23 that Jordan’s “balancing act is at risk of crashing down” with the latest Israeli intrusion into the West Bank, reviving the old Zionist policy to consider Jordan as the ‘only Palestinian state’, combined with Donald Trump’s latest idea of a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation. He has stated: “The crudest version of this plan entails direct threats to the Palestinian villages and towns of the occupied West Bank to leave or be burnt out by settlers.”

    At the same time, prominent US Democrats like Senator Chris Van Hollen have criticized President Joe Biden’s policy on Israel on the ground that it violates American law. In March, Hollen said Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza preventing US humanitarian aid had violated Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 — also known as the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act — and stated that no arms should have been given to Israel.

    Jonathan Steele, The Guardian’s former foreign affairs correspondent, reminds us how the Secretary of State in President HW Bush’s Cabinet, James Baker, had dealt with Netanyahu in 1989 by banning him from entering the US State Department. He says that Baker was furious with Netanyahu, who was then Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister under Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, for describing American policies as a ‘distortion and lies’.

    Bush and Baker had refused US assistance of $10 billion until Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem ended. Consequently, Shamir faced a defeat in the June 1992 elections.

    Steele concludes: “US pressure on Israel has worked to bring positive change in the past. It needs to be applied to do so again.”
    (The author, a columnist, is an Indian national security intelligence specialist and former Indian police officer)

  • SEBI’s credibility at stake

    SEBI’s credibility at stake

    Allegations against chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch highlight deep systemic failures

    “SEBI demands high standards of transparency from those it regulates. The same strictures don’t seem to apply to its own leadership, a hypocrisy not lost on market observers. Even more surprising is the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s decision to pretend that it has seen and heard nothing. The government, including the Finance Minister, has buried its heads in the sand. In the process, the powerful SEBI board has been rendered meaningless.”

    By Sucheta Dalal

    The integrity of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which regulates the fifth largest capital market in the world, is under intense scrutiny. Revelations involving SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch are spilling out on a daily basis, raising significant concerns about conflict of interest and inadequate disclosures at the top of this critical institution. In fact, held to the standards of its own orders regarding disclosures by key management persons (KMP) of listed companies and insider trading, it is clear that the chairperson’s transparency is woefully inadequate.

    So far, three sets of entities are making these allegations: Hindenburg Research was the first to put out ‘whistleblower’ documents, alleging conflict of interest; the Congress party has held a series of press conferences, making a series of charges and demanding an independent inquiry; and Subhash Chandra Goel, founder of the Zee group and himself under SEBI’s lens, has levied charges of corruption against Buch.

    A few things stand out and beg clear answers. They are based on the very standards that SEBI has applied to market participants, financial intermediaries, market infrastructure institutions and listed companies while filing prosecution cases against them or levying serious penalties on them.

    The first thing is by Hindenburg Research — about Buch’s failure to recuse herself from the Adani investigation although she and her husband had offshore derivative investments in the same set of nested entities that were under a high-profile investigation of the Adani group, monitored by the Supreme Court. Hindenburg’s second allegation is that she continues to hold a 99% stake in a private advisory entity — which is admittedly being used by her husband since his retirement — and has received income from ‘well-known’ Indian entities.

    The Congress first said that during her current employment as a regulator, she earned five times as much as (Rs16.80 crore) she did in ICICI Bank. It turns out that Buch was exercising shares granted to her under the Employee Stock Options Plan (ESOPs). Given that SEBI has handled several regulatory issues pertaining to ICICI Bank, the fact that Buch exercised ESOPs almost every year and benefited from the price rise raises disclosure issues and questions about whether she had access to unpublished price-sensitive information when she exercised her ESOPs. The Congress has also released documents about the renting of her personal property to the associate of a listed entity which has been under SEBI’s investigation.

    A separate issue has simultaneously blown up. It pertains to SEBI employees’ discontent over the unprofessional work culture, unreasonable productive expectations and issues relating to perks, housing allowances and compensation. Like the Hindenburg allegations, this was badly handled, leading to a public protest by a few hundred employees, asking the management to withdraw the inaccurate press release which claimed that employees were influenced by ‘misguided external elements.’ The SEBI employees claimed that the management was ‘spreading lies about employees.’

    This backdrop sets the stage for a deep dive into how these charges — the lack of adequate disclosures, appropriate recusal and the failure to sufficiently severe her financial ties upon transition to SEBI’s leadership — impact SEBI’s credibility in regulating the capital market and expose the absence of a robust framework to deal with conflict.

    In contrast, developed countries which have a revolving door between public and private sectors provide a sharp counterpoint. In the US, regulatory chiefs are required to divest themselves of holdings that could present potential conflicts or place such assets in a blind trust. Such stringent measures ensure that the individuals in public positions as heads of regulatory bodies are free from influences that could compromise their roles. This principle is underscored by the famous Pinochet case, which held that judges should not only avoid actual impropriety but also the appearance of it.

    SEBI demands high standards of transparency from those it regulates. The same strictures don’t seem to apply to its own leadership, a hypocrisy not lost on market observers. Even more surprising is the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s decision to pretend that it has seen and heard nothing. The government, including the Finance Minister, has buried its heads in the sand. In the process, the powerful SEBI board has been rendered meaningless. Apart from the chairperson and three whole-time members, the board includes the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, the Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and an academic, who is the public representative. There was a time, under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, when a joint secretary in charge of capital markets was a SEBI board member and wielded more power than the chairperson. This time around, the SEBI board is behaving like the proverbial three monkeys who ‘see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil’.

    To my mind, their role as members of a regulatory body does not give them that choice. Contrast this with what SEBI expects from boards of listed companies. Over the past two decades, SEBI has repeatedly tightened corporate governance requirements and listed rules casting onerous responsibilities on independent directors in connection with corporate disclosures, price-sensitive information and fiduciary responsibility. Every time these directors fail to question the management, proxy advisory firms are quick to issue sanctimonious missives, highlighting their failure and advising institutional investors on how to respond.

    The government members on the SEBI board have an even greater responsibility to ensure that they meet a higher standard of transparency and accountability. By refusing to question the SEBI chairperson or conduct an impartial inquiry and take steps to protect SEBI’s credibility, the SEBI board has clearly failed. This exposes an important loophole in the regulatory system. It shows that there is nothing that stakeholders can do to hold a regulator accountable if the administrative ministry and the government refuse to initiate corrective action. Most people seem to think litigation would also be futile.
    (The author, a Padma Shri awardee, is an Indian business journalist and author)

  • Birthday Horoscope- September 16 to September 22

    Birthday Horoscope- September 16 to September 22

    • By Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla

     September 16

    Ganesha says that although productive, the rewards of this day may be gradual, so you should give it your all. Although it may be better to do business today, partnerships and joint ventures should be avoided. If you are not able to get people to support your current endeavor, you will feel frustrated and disappointed. Romance may blossom and some lovers may even decide to get married.

    September 17 

    Ganesha says that women can experience great fruits during this time. Prosperity and fortune may come your way if the stars are kind to you. Good financial inflow can improve your living conditions and savings. If you become obsessed with the other gender, it may take a while to be able to think again. A remarkable leap forward in your professional career is predicted if you take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves before you. There can be some concern about the health of parents, but try not to worry too much. 

    September 18 

    Ganesha says that today your expenses may increase, which will make it difficult for you to save. Investments made during this time can eventually give good returns, if not immediately. Academic excellence and participation in extra-curricular activities can be acknowledged by the students. Though slow progress of work and arguments over small things may make you angry and even affect your health, at the end of the day you may be happy and satisfied with your achievements. 

    September 19

    Ganesha says Financial gains on this day can come from many fronts, but doubts in your relationships are likely to be a black area on the chart of your success and achievements. Socializing, gatherings, and pleasant outings can all be frequent and enjoyable. Wedding bells may ring for the deserving and others may find romance to keep them going. Don’t trust others more than necessary. Time management and planning can be of utmost importance. 

    September 20

    Ganesha says A promotion or increase in responsibilities on this day may give you a reason to rejoice. Your profile may gain some sophistication with new initiatives. In the home, there can be a healthier, more loving environment that can promote prosperity and excellent health. Professionals willing to work abroad may be welcome. Housewives may have to deal with the problem of frequent visits from family and friends. It is possible to go on a spiritual journey to a distant place. 

    September 21

    Ganesha says If you get a promotion or get more responsibility then you will have a reason to rejoice on this day. Your resume can look more polished with new projects. There can be a better and more loving environment in the home, which can result in prosperity and good health. Professionals looking to make a career abroad may be welcome. Housewives may have to deal with the problem of frequent visitors and family members. Traveling to a distant place is possible for spiritual progress. 

    September 22 

    Ganesha says You are skilled in making new relationships, which helps you gain a lot of popularity and profit. Today, you will get a chance to raise your standard of living through new contacts made by you. Your professional advancement should be your main focus as it can give the required results. Your parents’ health may be a matter of concern, but your spouse and children may be supportive. If you go out and join clubs and social activities, you will be quite successful socially.

  • Weekly Horoscope- September 16 to 22, 2024

    Weekly Horoscope- September 16 to 22, 2024

    • By Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla

    Aries

    Ganesha says this week may be a little difficult for you. You may face a lot of difficulties in completing your tasks and you may also face some uncontrolled situations in your personal life. But do not be disappointed, because after this week you will get a chance to reach the heights of success. You should remain focused on your work and not forget to face difficulties. This week your mind may remain a little sad and worried. You may need cooperation and support from your friends and family. This week you will also have to pay attention to your health. You should include a healthy diet and exercise in your daily routine. This will improve your health and help you complete your tasks. This week can prove to be very good for students.

    Taurus

    Ganesha says this week can be difficult for Taurus people. You may face many problems in your daily work. It will be very important for you to take care of your health, because if you ignore it, you may have to face big problems. This week you may get some special gifts from your relatives, which will give you happiness and satisfaction. Love will blossom in your married life and you will get full understanding and support from your partner. Employed people will be very busy with work this week and your work will be appreciated. People preparing for government jobs may get to hear some good news this week. But you have to control your increasing expenses, otherwise, you may have to face problems later. Do not do any work with excessive enthusiasm this week, otherwise you may be misunderstood.

    Gemini

    Ganesha says this week is expected to be very auspicious for the people of the Gemini zodiac sign. You will have a lot of success in your life and will get good support to take you to higher levels of your life. This week will be full of ups and downs for you from the beginning. You will get a chance to do something new and you will go in search of a new partner in your life. This week will be a good time for you to take the next step in the race of life. You will achieve new successes in your life and get a chance to achieve your goals. This week there will be happiness in your life and you will get success in your work. You will get a chance to spend quality time with your family and you will get a chance to spend more time with your family. This week you will get good support in financial matters and you will be successful in handling your expenses.

    Cancer

    Ganesha says your horoscope for Cancer people predicts that the public days of the coming week will be troublesome for you. For Cancerians, your horoscope is telling you that this week can be very difficult for you. You will need to be more cautious about your work. You have to be careful of your opponents and pay more attention to your work. You also have to protect your family and friends from your opponents. You have to control your emotions and control your anger. You will also need to control your expenses. You have to be careful about your money and spend it wisely. You also have to pay attention to your mental health. You have to use your time properly and complete your tasks on time.

    Leo

    Ganesha says the beginning of the week will be very auspicious for you. You will get an opportunity to spend this week with lots of happiness and prosperity. Your financial position will be strong and you will be able to handle your financial matters properly. This week you will get a chance to spend more time with your family members and you will be able to share your thoughts with them. The goddess of fortune will be with you and you will get success in achieving your goals. This week you should take care of your health and do regular exercise. Students should pay more attention to their studies and try to achieve their goals. This week you should move forward with new work and keep new relationships in mind. You will need to be consistent and work hard in your work.

    Virgo

    Ganesha says this week’s horoscope for Virgo says that you may have to go through some difficult days. You will have to face many challenges in your daily routine. You have to take care of your health and should not ignore it. If you ignore your health then it can cause big problems for you. This week you may get some special gifts from your relatives which will touch your heart. The juice of love will flow in your married life and you will get a chance to spend quality time with your partner. Employed people will be very busy at work this week and their work will also be appreciated. If you are preparing for a government job, you may hear some good news this week. You need to control your expenses otherwise you may face problems later.

    Libra

    Ganesha says this week’s horoscope for Libra people may be full of some challenges for you. You may have to take care of your health. You are advised to eat good food and behave healthy. You may feel extremely tired which may hamper your work. This week you will have to focus on your work and try to complete your work on time. This week you may have to face some problems in your family life also. Your family may have high expectations from you, due to which you may remain under some stress. Therefore, you should try to maintain communication with your family members. This can solve your problems and your family will also support you. This week you will also have to pay attention to your financial matters.

    Scorpio

    Ganesha says this week can be a bit challenging for Scorpio people. You may face difficulty in your work. You have to be careful of your opponents. You should not trust your colleagues. You don’t have to react to everything this week. You will have to stay calm and avoid disputes among your family. Control your anger, because it can spoil your work. This week you may need to pay attention to your expenses, because you may feel short of money. You need to remain mentally strong. Spend some time in a hobby of your choice, which can give you peace and relaxation. Students may have to take a break from their studies for some time.

    Sagittarius

    Ganesha says this week’s horoscope is indicating that it will be very good for Sagittarius people. You will get great success in your work and get a chance to make your day extremely enjoyable. Today will be a very auspicious day for you. You will get the opportunity to give complete dedication towards your work and you will be successful in achieving your goals. You may get a chance to make a big agreement related to your property. If you have any legal matter going on then time may be in your favor. You will get a chance to spend a very happy time with your spouse. New colors of love will appear between you and you will get a chance to spend a lot of quality time with your partner. You need to be cautious about your health and it is also very important to take care of your eating habits.

    Capricorn

    Ganesha says for Capricorn people, this week can be a bit challenging from the beginning. You may have to face some problems in your life. You may have to face some personal issues, which may bother you a bit. Therefore, you may need to pay attention to yourself. To keep yourself healthy, you may have to pay attention to your eating habits. This week you may need to do something new. You may be ready to start something new in your life. Believe in yourself and work hard to achieve your goals. You may have to keep your mind very energetic to complete your work. This week can be very favorable for students. You may succeed in your studies. You may get very good marks in your favorite subjects.

    Aquarius

    Ganesha says this week will start with some painful days for the people of the Aquarius zodiac sign. You may have to face many problems due to which your mind may become quite restless. You will have to be a little careful in your daily work and also take care of your health. You may feel a little emotionally weak which may affect your health. Therefore, take care of your diet and exercise. This week you may be very busy with a project which may be a bit challenging for you. Students may get success in their favorite subjects this week and you may need to work harder in your studies. You may also get a chance to participate in your social activities which may increase your respect. This week you may get a chance to reveal some new secrets about your love life.

    Pisces

    Ganesha says this week is going to be very auspicious for Pisces people. You will get a chance to spend the most memorable week of your life. This week, any of your unfulfilled wishes may be fulfilled and you may fulfill your dreams. Your mind will be very happy which will have a positive effect on your health also. This week you may have to be very busy with some projects, but you should not stop working hard. Students may be successful in their favorite subjects this week. You should communicate well with your teachers and follow their advice. This week you may get a chance to participate in some social activity in the evening. Your prestige is likely to increase and you should try to strengthen your contacts.

     

  • EMPRESS OF SOUL GRACES NJ AUDIENCES

    EMPRESS OF SOUL GRACES NJ AUDIENCES

    • By Mabel Pais

    Known as the ‘Empress of Soul,’ Gladys Knight is a Seven-Time Grammy Award winner, and has been one of the greatest who has endured her talent and success. She will perform live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Friday, September 27, at 8:00 p.m.

    She is among the few singers over the last fifty years who have matched her unassailable artistry. This seven-time Grammy winner has enjoyed #1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance. Gladys Knight never disappoints by putting on a high-energy show performing all of her hits that stand the test of time and the songs that everyone knows and loves like ‘Midnight Train to Georgia,’ ‘Heard it Through The Grapevine,’ ‘That’s What Friends Are For,’ and so much more.

    Gladys Knight was bestowed with the National Medal of the Arts for her contributions and influences on American culture. This is the highest honor given to artists and art patrons by the United States Government.

    Knight was born in Atlanta and rose to fame as the lead singer of Gladys Knight & the Pips, later establishing herself as a famous solo artist. Knight has two No. 1 Billboard singles, ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ and ‘That’s What Friends Are For,’ which she recorded in 1986 with Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Dionne Warwick — along with eleven No. 1 R&B singles and six No. 1 R&B albums, the Deseret News reported.

    The Fall of 2015 marked the release of Knight’s first mainstream dance record, ‘Just A Little’ in nearly twenty years. The song serves as the lead single from her twelfth studio album that she is currently on.

    Knight, who is a two-time Grammy winner in the gospel category, yet again embraced her gospel roots, releasing her inspirational album ‘Where My Heart Belongs’, in September 2014. The album was a major success and won an NAACP Image Award for ‘Outstanding Gospel Album’.

    The Christmas Season of 2014 found Knight returning to the small screen in the Lifetime original movie ‘Seasons of Love’. In the story about two lovers as they journey through life, love and family, Knight stars alongside Oscar-nominee Taraji P. Henson and fellow Grammy winner Cliff ‘Method Man’ Smith. In the New Year she was a guest on Lee Daniels and FOX TV’s new series ‘Empire” opposite Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.

    Also on the small screen, Knight shared her musical expertise on the first and second season of Centric’s original series ‘Apollo Live.’  Joining judges Doug E. Fresh and Michael Bivins, the legendary songstress gave guidance to contestants as they took the stage with the hope to jumpstart their career in the entertainment industry.

    No stranger to performing and light choreography over the course of her career, Knight raised the stakes when she put on her dancing shoes in the spring of 2012. She joined the cast of ABC’s hit reality competition ‘Dancing with the Stars’ for season 14, partnering with Tristan MacManus.

    Knight, known as the ‘Empress of Soul,’ a longtime Las Vegas resident, returned to the Strip in the late-2000s to the famed Tropicana Hotel for a special engagement that ran in the newly named Gladys Knight Theater, making her the first African-American performer to have a venue named after her in Las Vegas.

    In February 2011, Knight reunited with Elton John, Dionne Warwick, and Stevie Wonder for the first time in 25 years to perform their Grammy-winning song, ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ at an AIDS research benefit at the downtown Cipriani in New York. Adored the world over, Knight then toured across the UK, performing at packed arenas that included a sold-out performance at Wembley Stadium.

    Knight fans enjoyed ‘Before Me’ – Knight’s last big commercial effort – which paid homage to the great legends of song – Ella, Duke, Billie, Lena – as well as the many artists who served as Knight’s friends, mentors, colleagues and inspiration throughout her career. Knight’s second collaboration with the ‘Saints Unified Voices’ gospel choir, A Christmas Celebration, was an album of holiday classics. Coming off of a ‘Best Gospel/Choir Album’ Grammy win with their debut album ‘One Voice’, Knight again directed the 100-member multicultural choir she formed, injecting their unique flavor and definitive soul into such Christmas staples as ‘Silent Night,’ ‘White Christmas,’ and a medley of ‘Winter Wonderland/Jingle Bells’ among others.

    A tireless performer who still wows audiences around the country and the world, Knight also finds the time to make forays into film and television. Her version of ‘I Hope You Dance’ played during the end credits of Tyler Perry’s ‘THE FAMILY THAT PREYS TOGETHER’, and she appeared in his film ‘I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF’ (which featured her song ‘The Need to Be’).

    Knight has appeared as a guest judge on FOX’s smash hit ‘American Idol,’ and has performed in the show’s always star-studded finale. In season two of ‘Idol,’ Knight famously dubbed eventual winner Ruben Studdard the ‘Velvet Teddy Bear’ while she sat in the guest judge’s chair.

    In 1995, Knight earned her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the next year, ‘Gladys Knight & The Pips’ were inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame. Knight published an autobiography, ‘Between Each Line of Pain and Glory’ (a line taken from her million selling recording ‘Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me’), in 1997, and the next year, she and ‘The Pips’ were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. In 2004, Knight received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the annual BET Awards ceremony.

    A humanitarian and philanthropist, Knight has devoted herself to various worthy causes, including the American Diabetes Association – for which she is a national spokesperson, the American Cancer Society, the Minority AIDS Project, amFAR and Crisis Intervention, and The Boys and Girls Club. She has been honored by numerous organizations as well, including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), B’Nai Brith, and is a recent recipient of BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award. A tireless humanitarian, Knight is an iconic supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of America, to which she donated a Randy Jackson-produced song, ‘The Dream’.

    Today, Knight and husband William, along with various other members of the family, oversee her busy career from the Las Vegas headquarters. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, performer, restaurateur, and businesswoman with a spiritual outlook on her life. Her faith in God has been the driving force behind all of Knight’s endeavors, guiding her through her many successes.

    TICKETS

    Tickets to see GLADYS KNIGHT are available at NJPAC.org or by visiting the NJPAC Box Office at 1 Center Street, Newark, New Jersey, or calling 888. GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

    The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

    Learn more at NJPAC.org

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

  • ‘THEN AND NOW:’ THEME OF EB DANCE FEST PRESENTS AUDIENCE DIFFERENT STYLES

    ‘THEN AND NOW:’ THEME OF EB DANCE FEST PRESENTS AUDIENCE DIFFERENT STYLES

    • By Mabel Pais

    Get enthralled watching different styles of Indian dance performances at the ERASING BORDERS DANCE FESTIVAL when it returns for ‘THEN AND NOW’: its 17th annual event with three totally different programs. The Festival will treat audiences to a wide and exciting range of artists, storytellers, and musicians performing different styles of Indian dance: Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and more. Live performances will be presented on September 21 & 22 at 6 PM at the Ailey Citigroup Theater and the September 23 performance from India will be live on Facebook and YouTube.com at 7 PM. The Festival will also include two workshops: ‘Bollywood Kathak’ on Saturday September 21, and ‘Meet & Learn’ with Alarmel Valli and Uttara Coorlawala on Sunday September 22.

    Day 1, Saturday September 21 at 6 PM

    Samir Kumar Panigrahi and Santosh Ram, award-winning dancers with the Bhubaneswar-based Rudrakshya Foundation, will perform Odissi;

    Vedya Spurthi, a disciple of Jaikishore and Padmavati Mosalikanti, and Himabindu Challa, will appear in the Kuchipudi dance-drama tradition. Her character, Satyabhama, is a prominent figure in Hindu mythology and the consort of Lord Krishna;

    Fuchsia Dance Company, the Indian classical dance collective that explores traditional art through contemporary themes, such as climate change, will perform Bharatanatyam; Nirupama and Rajendra, will perform Kathak style. The couple are founders of Abhinava Dance Company, one of India’s most popular and cutting-edge production houses recognized worldwide.

    Day 2, Saturday September 22 at 6 PM

    Malavika Singh and Sri Thina Subramanian will appear in a work entitled ‘Unveiling Traditional Narratives: If Women Had a Voice,’ a dance that combines Bharatanatyam, Odissi, scriptures and poems, bridging the gap between mythology and today’s societal issues;

    Sri Thina Subramanian is recognized for creating work that merges Bharatanatyam and Odissi by exploring their interplay. She is recognized as a fighter for diversity in the arts as well as a mentor and inspiration for all dancers;

    Ramya Harishankar is artistic director of the 40+ year old Arpana Dance Company in California. Her forte is abhinaya (emotive and expressive performance) which she has performed as a soloist on five continents. She was recently named legacy artist by the California Arts Council.

    Anugraha Sridhar will perform the solo Pranaya; The Evolving Embrace,” an exploration of love’s journey through various stages of life, enacted through Bharatanatyam, Karanas, and the spoken word;

    Kumar Sharma, a leading Bollywood choreographer, in a male trio performing in Kathak style.

    Performers at EBDF (Credit: IAAC.us)

    Day 3, Monday September 23 at 7 PM [Virtual, on IAAC [Facebook (facebook.com/iaac.us) and YouTube.com (youtube.com/user/IAACEvent)]

    Traditional and contemporary artists performing from New Delhi, Orissa, Pune, and Kerala.

    Jayaprabha Menon, one of the most accomplished Mohiniyattam exponents of India, will perform a solo from New Delhi. A danseuse of exceptional artistry and versatility, Menon has a reputation unmatched in the firmament of Indian classical dances;

    Ratikant Mohapatra S Srjan School, appearing from Orissa, will present an Odissi duet.  Since 1975, Ratikant has been surrounded by Odissi dance and music in years of training with his father and guru, the late Sri Kelucharan Mohapatra – from whom the current Odissi lineage appears. Ratikant himself has created a world-class dance institute, attracting students from all over the globe;

    Vaishnavi Dhore will perform a solo in Bharatanatyam, appearing from Pune. The artist is a disciple of Smt.Rama Vaidyanathan and has performed in festivals and concerts in India and abroad;

    Rima Kallingal’s contemporary group from Kerala will appear in a group work that displays the choreographer’s new idiom and dance language, drawn from her studies in various forms of dance, including Kalaripayattu, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam, and contemporary dance.

    Workshops, September 21 & 22 at the Ailey Studios, 405 West 55 Street

    Saturday September 21, 1 to 4 PM – Bollywood Kathak Workshop with Kumar Sharma

    Learn under the guidance of Kumar Sharma, acclaimed Kathak and Bollywood choreographer behind Ranveer Singh’s iconic dance performance in the Bollywood hit ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’. Also known for his work on popular TV dance reality shows, including Dance India Dance and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa with Madhuri Dixit, Kumar Sharma brings a wealth of expertise to this intensive, energetic, and fun workshop, ideal for dancers with 5+ years of experience.

    Sunday, September 22, 3 PM

    Small Steps to Giant Leaps: Alarmel Valli in conversation with Uttara Coorlawala

    The event promises to be a captivating conversation about sustaining a long and highly decorated artistic career with Alarmel Valli,renowned Bharatanatyam performer, guru, and speaker, and Uttara Coorlawala, a leading dance scholar and IAAC Senior Dance Curator. Alarmel Valli will discuss her unique perspectives on dance, dance documentary, sangam poetry, and how literature influences her artistry, her collaborations, her teaching, and dance pedagogy. The artist will also impart her advice for younger dancers and participate in a Q&A session.

    TICKETS

    For Tickets to each of the performances, visit eventbrite.com/cc/erasing-borders-dance-festival-605689

    IAAC

    Located in New York City, Indo-American Arts Council Inc. is a not-for-profit arts organization passionately dedicated to promoting, showcasing and building an awareness of arts and artists of Asian Indian heritage. The artistic focus is primarily on the performing arts besides the visual, literary and folk arts. For more information, visit IAAC.us.

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

  • September 6 New York & Dallas E – Edition

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”E-Edition” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2FTIP-September-6-E-Edition.pdf”][vc_single_image image=”170536″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TIP-September-6-E-Edition.pdf”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_wp_posts title=”Lead Stories This Week” number=”5″ show_date=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”82828″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”” link=” https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][vc_single_image image=”82829″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css=”” link=” https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Birthday Prediction- September 9 to September 15 

    Birthday Prediction- September 9 to September 15 

    • By Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla

    September 9 

    Ganesha says your efficiency and persistence enable you to exceed expectations and maintain an advantage over others, but you must control your occasional tendency to behave stubbornly and jealously. Nowadays, your ability to manage important duties may determine your ability to progress professionally. Be extremely careful while lending money and take extra care of your jewelry and other valuables. A tremendous asset to you would be your life partner. This person can add comfort and joy to your daily existence.

    September 10

    Ganesha says people respect you for your ability to make quick decisions, but you need to rein in your sometimes moody and reckless behavior. Your commitment to work can make your boss think highly of you. At the end of the year, some people can also go on a foreign trip. Throughout the year, your partner can cooperate and show his love and affection. Although you may not have received the expected financial reward for your efforts, seniority, and respect are yours.

    September 11

    Ganesha says even if you have a genuine heart for your friends, you need to learn to curb your sometimes moody, overbearing, and jealous behavior. Today you can enjoy making new friends and exploring new places. May you have the energy and creativity to tackle any issue with conviction and dedication. To strengthen your relationship, engage in activities that you both find enjoyable. Your family can support you and show your love and affection. Your main inspiration can come from your beloved.

    September 12 

    Ganesha says you work hard, are dedicated, and have excellent control over your work. Try to avoid getting into any new joint venture or business partnership today. Although they can be very attractive, partnerships are not advised for the first six months. A new romance can emerge from the social gathering. You may have some tension and anxiety regarding the health of your parents. You should exercise utmost care before signing any financial agreement or any new contract.

    September 13 

    Ganesha says you are incredibly talented, and at such a young age you manage to juggle a lot of responsibilities. You are courageous as well as fearless. A completely new phase of your career may begin for you, which will not be particularly creative but is expected to give good financial returns. In spite of your inconsistent behavior at times, your spouse can be very friendly and show you all their love and affection. Attending social events and traveling can lead to long-lasting relationships.

    September 14 

    Ganesha says though you have a pleasant personality, you need to curb your sometimes aggressive, irritable, and spendthrift behavior. Today you can see new efforts and plans being fruitful for your benefit. You may start a new partnership and earn money from various sources. Support from colleagues and co-workers can boost both your confidence and morale. Your spouse can be an especially important source of emotional support. 

    September 15

    Ganesha says you have a deep appreciation for art and literature; You need to curb your reckless, jealous, and stubborn behavior sometimes. The extra work that you do in your free time can be the main reason for the increase in your income. In the last quarter of the year, some may hear wedding bells, while others may seek romance to keep them in the right state of mind and in a good mood. Peace may prevail at home and family members may extend their full support and cooperation.

  • Weekly Horoscope- September 9 to September 15, 2024

    Weekly Horoscope- September 9 to September 15, 2024

    • By Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla 

    Aries

    Ganesha says this week’s will not be good for Aries people. You may have to face many problems this week. You will have to deal with money-related issues and work hard to improve your financial situation. You also have to take care of your health and include a healthy diet and exercise in your daily routine. This week you have to be a little careful in your business life. Along with focusing on your work, you will have to adopt new ideas in your business as well. You have to make the right investments at the right time to grow your business. This week you should avoid big investments and be careful in business. This week you will get a chance to spend time with your family. You should interact with your family and spend time with them.

    Taurus

    Ganesha says this week will be good for Taurus people from the beginning. You may have to remain extremely busy in your daily work. Therefore, it will be very important for you to take care of your health. Do not ignore your health otherwise, you may have to face many problems. This week you may receive some special gifts from your relatives. Your relationship with your lover will also be full of sweetness. Employed people will also be very busy in their work. Your work will be appreciated and you will also be appreciated. This week, people preparing for government jobs may also see a ray of hope. Try to keep your increasing expenses under control otherwise, you may face problems later. Do not do any work with excessive enthusiasm this week. Otherwise, you may be misunderstood.

    Gemini

    Ganesha says for Gemini people, this week will be full of enthusiasm from the beginning. You will get great success in your work and leave your competitors behind. There will be an increase in attractiveness and social qualities in your personality. This week you will have to make good use of your time and take care of your health. You should pay maximum attention to your health. You may get results less than your expectations but you should not be disappointed. You will get a golden opportunity to spend time with your children and share happiness with them. You will also benefit in money-related matters and you will be able to improve your financial condition. This week you will get a good opportunity to fulfil your dreams and you will look at your life from a new and independent perspective. You will get success in money matters and you will be successful in handling your expenses.

    Cancer

    Ganesha says this week’s horoscope will not be favorable for Cancer people. This week you may have to face many types of challenges. This could be a mostly tiring and inauspicious week for you. You may need to concentrate on your work and may have to work harder to complete your work on time. You may also need to spend more time with your peers. You have to pay attention to keeping your personal life separate from your work. You may need to spend more time with your loved ones. This week you may have to take care of your health. You may have to pay special attention to your eating habits. You may have to work harder in your business and implement your new plans. There may be some problems in your bank account this week.

    Leo

    Ganesha says this week will not be favorable for you. You will have to concentrate on your work and make your decisions thoughtfully. You will also have to take care of your health and pay special attention to your eating habits. You may have to face some new challenges in the coming week and hence you may need to awaken the powers within you. Even in matters of money, you will have to be careful and make the right decisions. This week you may get a chance to spend time with your family and partner and it will be enjoyable for you. You should also spend more time with your friends and seek advice from them. You may also get success in your business and will have to build good relations with your superiors. This week you may need to inject new enthusiasm into your life.

    Virgo

    Ganesha says this week is going to be very good for Virgo people. You will get happiness as well as good news. Both your physical and mental health will be good. You will get more success in your work and all your efforts will be successful. You will also get a chance to progress financially. You may get good returns from your investments and get new sources of income. Employed people are likely to get promotions or salary increases in their work. You may get success in property-related matters and you may get a chance to fight for your rights in court matters. There may be happiness and prosperity in your relationship with your spouse. There is a need to be cautious about health and you should take care of your eating habits. You will get support from family members and help in fulfilling your responsibilities.

    Libra

    Ganesha says this week will be full of good signs for Libra people. You will get good results in your work and you will be full of confidence in your work. You will be successful in pleasing your superiors with your work. Your boss may also appreciate your work. This week will be a very auspicious time for your relationships. You will get a chance to spend more time with your family and friends. Love can be a beautiful beginning in your friendship. You will not have any worries about your health. This week you will get a chance to implement new plans in your business. This will enhance your work and you will get success in your ventures. Your bank balance may also increase. This week you will get a chance to visit new places to progress in your work. This will bring new energy into your life.

    Scorpio

    Ganesha says this week can be difficult for Scorpio people. You have to be patient in your work. You may face some problems in your business or job. You may need to put more effort into new projects. This week you will have to think carefully about your decisions before making any new beginning. You also have to pay attention to your health, so make constant efforts to keep your diet and exercise healthy. This week you will have to pay attention to your financial matters. You will have to control your expenses and spend more time understanding your investments. To improve your financial condition, you will have to take some precautions. Be cautious about your health and take care of your eating habits. This week you will get a chance to spend time with your family and loved ones.

    Sagittarius

    Ganesha says this week’s horoscope will be very good for Sagittarius people. You will have great success in your work and will get many new opportunities. There will be a new enthusiasm in your life and you will get a chance to achieve your goals. You will have great success in your work and will get many new opportunities. You may need to be cautious regarding health. You will get support from family members and you will fulfill your responsibilities well. You can keep your health healthy by paying attention to your eating habits.

    Capricorn

    Ganesha says this week will not be favorable for Capricorn people from the beginning. You may face difficulties in everyday work. You may need to reconsider your investment strategy. Employed people may need to concentrate on their work. You may have to face difficult situations to increase your source of income. Any property-related matter may trouble you. If any case is going on in the court then you will have to be careful. You may need to focus on your emotional relationship with your spouse. You may have to give time to your spouse. New flowers of love may bloom between you.

    Aquarius

    Ganesha says this week is bringing great days for you. Today you will get a golden opportunity to start new relationships in your life. If there is talk of your marriage then your relationship can be finalized today. Auspicious functions may be organized in your house and there may be an increase in wealth in your zodiac sign. Contact credibility with relatives will increase and you will get support from them. Today you can buy some new items which will prove useful for you. For students, this week will be spent in research work and you will try to gain knowledge from new places. You will also guide others by sharing your knowledge with them. Today your financial condition will be very strong because you will get benefits in financial matters also. This week you will be successful in your work and there will be an atmosphere of happiness and prosperity in your zodiac sign.

    Pisces

    Ganesha says this week will be good for Pisces people from the beginning. You will have to have positive energy to achieve your life goals. You will need to focus on your work and try to strengthen your organizational abilities. You will have to cooperate with your family members to resolve your family matters. You will enjoy spending quality time with your loved ones. Take time to pay attention to your health and keep your eating habits healthy. This week you may need to isolate yourself from the people around you. You have to show trust in the people around you and clear your mind. This week you will have to work harder in your workplace to get success in your business.