Category: Africa

Sudan on the Brink: death toll rises to 100 as bodies found in Nile, say doctors

NEW YORK (TIP): The death toll from June 3 attack on the sit-in of Sudan’s pro-democracy protesters has risen to 100, after 40 bodies were recovered from the River Nile, according to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors (CCSD), says a CNN report.

Sixty people were reported to have been killed in the military crackdown in the capital Khartoum, before scores of bodies were found dumped in the river by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), said the CCSD, which is close to the protesters.

The head of Sudan’s ruling military council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has ordered an investigation into the deaths.

The demonstrators have demanded that the Transitional Military Council, which has ruled the country since troops ousted longtime President Omar al-Bashir in April, make way for a civilian-led interim body.

Eyewitnesses said that the police and RSF shot at protesters on Monday, June 3. Several videos showed security forces beating people with sticks. The internet has been blocked in places across the country by major providers.

Monday’s attack has drawn international condemnation, including from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

After April’s coup, the military council and opposition groups agreed on a three-year transition to democracy. But on Tuesday, al-Burhan called for national elections within nine months.

The only way to rule Sudan is through “the ballot box,” the council leader said in an address on state TV.

In a speech broadcast on Sudan state-run TV on Wednesday, al-Burhan apologized to Sudanese people and said that “all involved in the events that lead to the disruption of the protests site will be held accountable and brought to justice.”

He called on all people of Sudan “to turn the page of the past and reopen a new page to reach a better future of our country,” adding that the ruling council is willing to start fresh negotiations with opposition groups.

(Source: CNN and agencies)

Jun 9, 2019 – 10:10 am EDT
22 dead in fire at Senegal religious retreat

DAKAR (TIP): A fire ripped through makeshift shelters at a Muslim religious retreat in Senegal, killing at least 22 people and triggering a stampede, firefighters said on Thursday.

The blaze broke out on Wednesday as worshippers gathered in the town of Medina Gounass in the southeastern region of Tambacounda, a senior official with the firefighting service told AFP.

The cause was as yet unknown, the official said.

Images of billowing clouds of smoke, the charred corpses of animals and devastation at the site circulated online, testifying to the fire’s impact.

While some victims were badly burnt, others were hurt in the panicked stampede triggered by the blaze, the firefighter added. (AP)

Apr 14, 2017 – 5:37 am EDT
Somalia roadside bomb kills atleast 10 in minibus

MOGADISHU (SOMALIA) (TIP): A roadside bomb exploded and killed at least 10 people in a minibus in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region Thursday evening, a local official said.

Five others were injured and the death toll could rise, Nur Abdullahi told The Associated Press.

The massive bomb buried beside the road struck the vehicle near Gobweyn village, he said.

The Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab claims control over parts of the largely coastal Lower Shabelle region, which has been a focus of efforts to counter the group by a 22,000-strong multinational African Union force.

Civilians often have been casualties in this long-chaotic Horn of Africa country. Now hundreds of thousands of Somalis are on the move as a drought threatens roughly half of the country’s population of 12 million.

New Somali-American President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who was elected in February, has promised to make security a priority as the weak central government tries to assert itself beyond the capital and some other urban areas. (AP)

Apr 7, 2017 – 2:44 am EDT
Kenya counter-terror work creates abuses, rights group says

NAIROBI (KENYA) (TIP): Kenya’s security agencies are violating privacy rights in counter-terrorism operations and the information acquired is used to commit human rights abuses, including targeted killings, an international human rights group says.

Information gathered from phone intercepts and other means is carried out essentially without oversight, contravening procedures required by law, the London-based Privacy International said in a report released Wednesday.

The National Intelligence Service makes phone intercepts and provides the information to police, who obtain clearance to monitor targets. Information obtained through surveillance is central to the identification, pursuit and “neutralization,” or killing, of suspects, the report says.

“Telecommunications operators end up handing over their customers’ data because they largely feel that they cannot decline agencies’ requests, in part due to the vagueness in the law,” the report says.

“Several telecommunications operators spoke of the threat, either direct or implicit, that their licenses would be revoked if they failed to comply,” it says.

Kenyan authorities declined to comment.

Kenya has experienced frequent extremist attacks since it sent troops to neighboring Somalia in 2011 to help fight al-Shabab.

Privacy International said it interviewed three intelligence officers, seven military officers and 22 police officers. Of those interviewed, 17 are in active duty and 15 recently left service.

This is the latest report on alleged abuses in Kenya’s counter-terrorism efforts.

Recent reports by rights groups Haki Africa, Human Rights Watch and the government’s human rights commission have found that dozens of Kenyans suspected of links to extremist groups have been victims of enforced disappearances, and some have been found executed.

Kenya holds presidential elections in August, and a proposed $19 million project by the government regulator Communications Authority of Kenya to monitor radio frequencies and social media platforms and “manage devices” is viewed by some as a way to spy on Kenyans or control communications during the vote.

The government has said the project would help prevent a repeat of the violence after the 2007 election that killed more than 1,000 people. (AP)

Mar 17, 2017 – 7:59 am EDT
METEORITE IN AFRICA OFFERS CLUES TO VOLCANIC ACTIVITY ON MARS

NEW YORK (TIP): Examining a Martian meteorite found in Africa, scientists have uncovered evidence of at least two billion years of volcanic activity on Mars.

The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, offer new clues to how the planet evolved and insight into the history of volcanic activity on Mars, said lead author of the study Tom Lapen, Professor at University of Houston in the US.

Much of what we know about the composition of rocks from volcanoes on Mars comes from meteorites found on Earth.

The meteorite, known as Northwest Africa 7635 and discovered in 2012, was found to be a type of volcanic rock called a shergottite.

Eleven of these Martian meteorites, with similar chemical composition and ejection time, have been found.

“We see that they came from a similar volcanic source,” Lapen said.

“Given that they also have the same ejection time, we can conclude that these come from the same location on Mars,” Lapen noted.

Together, these meteorites provide information about a single location on Mars. Previously analysed meteorites range in age from 327 million to 600 million years old.

In contrast, the meteorite analysed by Lapen’s research team was formed 2.4 billion years ago and suggests that it was ejected from one of the longest-lived volcanic centers in the solar system.

The finding confirms that some of the longest-lived volcanoes in the solar system may be found on the Red Planet.

Feb 4, 2017 – 1:07 pm EST
Indian origin man charged with drug smuggling in US

NEW YORK (TIP): On January 31, Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Raymond Donovan, the Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced that four individuals including an Indian charged with participating in a narcotic importation conspiracy arrived in New York from Kenya.

Preet Bharara (File Photo)

Vijay Giri Anandgiri Goswami, 55, is an Indian national and a resident of Kenya. BAKTASH AKASHA, 40, is a Kenyan national and a resident of Kenya. IBRAHIM AKASHA, 28, is also a Kenyan national and a resident of Kenya. HUSSEIN, 61, is a Pakistani national and a resident of Pakistan. They were arrested in Mombasa, Kenya, on November 9, 2014, pursuant to a United States request, based on charges filed in the Southern District of New York arising out of their participation in a conspiracy to import kilogram quantities of heroin and methamphetamine into the United States. On November 10, 2014, a superseding Indictment was returned also charging the defendants with narcotics importation offenses based on their delivery of 99 kilograms of heroin and two kilograms of methamphetamine in Kenya, which they intended would be imported into the United State.

The defendants are charged with conspiring to import heroin into the United States (Count One), conspiring to import methamphetamine into the United States (Count Two), distributing heroin for unlawful importation into the United States (Count Three), and distributing methamphetamine for unlawful importation in the United States (Count Four). Each count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Bharara said: “As alleged, the four defendants who arrived yesterday in New York ran a Kenyan drug trafficking organization with global ambitions. For their alleged distribution of literally tons of narcotics – heroin and methamphetamine – around the globe, including to America, they will now face justice in a New York federal court.”

Feb 3, 2017 – 2:10 pm EST
South African parliament debates motion to remove president

JOHANNESBURG (TIP): South Africa’s parliament is debating a motion to remove President Jacob Zuma because of a series of scandals, including possible government corruption linked to the president and his associates.

The ruling African National Congress party, which has a majority in the parliament, said it will not support the opposition motion against Zuma on Nov 8.

While some ANC members have urged Zuma to resign, it is unlikely that significant numbers of ruling party lawmakers will break ranks with the party leadership to back the opposition move against the president. Some opposition lawmakers have argued unsuccessfully for a secret ballot to be held, believing it would allow ANC legislators to vote for the removal of Zuma without fear of reprisal from their own party. (AP)

Nov 11, 2016 – 1:09 pm EST
Websites of 7 Indian missions in Europe and Africa hacked

London/New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Websites of seven Indian missions in Europe and Africa were hacked today with the External Affairs Ministry saying it was aware of the “problem” and was trying to fix it.

Romania was one of the seven countries where Indian mission websites were hacked.

Though it was not immediately known which were the other countries where Indian mission websites had been hacked but the Embassies targeted were in Europe and Africa.

“We are aware of the problem and are trying to fix it,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi when asked about the incident.

Nov 7, 2016 – 10:00 am EST
HONOURED TO WELCOME PRESIDENT PUTIN, LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKS WITH CHINA: PM MODI

NEW DELHI (TIP): Asserting that India is delighted to host the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa followed by a first-ever BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended a warm welcome to all nations participating in the event and said that India looks forward to finding common resolve and solutions.

Taking to Facebook to post a welcome message for the arriving delegations, the Prime Minister said that he is honoured to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Michel Temer of Brazil for a bilateral visit.

“President Putin’s visit will give us an opportunity to consolidate and reaffirm a unique time-tested friendship and partnership with Russia. President Temer’s visit will open up new areas for cooperation with Brazil, an important strategic partner,” he said.

He further stated that he looks forward to useful conversations with his fellow leaders from China, South Africa, Brazil and Russia on addressing pressing international and regional challenges that stand in the way of their goals.

“As Chair of the BRICS this year, India has embraced a stronger emphasis on promoting people-to-people linkages in diverse fields including trade, sports, education, films, scholarship, and tourism. It is anchored in the belief that our people are pivotal partners in our effort to craft responsive, collective and inclusive solutions,” the Prime Minister said.

Emphasising on the new initiatives that will be launched in Goa during the Summit, Prime Minister Modi expressed his optimism that the BRICS Summit will strengthen intra-BRICS cooperation and advance our common agenda for development, peace, stability and reform.He further said that he is happy that India is facilitating an outreach Summit with the BIMSTEC leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sir Lanka and Thailand.”Representing nearly two thirds of humanity together, we hope to tap the potential for cooperation and the dividends this will bring. India looks forward to building bridges to new partnerships and finding common resolve and solutions to our entrenched problems,” the Prime Minister said.

Oct 14, 2016 – 9:39 am EDT
GHANA SAYS IT WANTS TO REMOVE GANDHI STATUE FROM CAMPUS

ACCRA, GHANA(TIP): : Ghana has expressed its intention to remove a statue of Indian independence leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi from a university in the capital, citing a controversy over what critics call his “racist identity.”

But the government made clear the move would be for the statue’s safety, telling the critics that “we must remember that people evolve.”

Professors at the University of Ghana launched a petition last month calling for the removal of the statue, which was unveiled by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in June.

Ghana’s foreign affairs ministry said the government “would … want to relocate the statue from the University of Ghana to ensure its safety.”

Obadele Kambon, one of the petition’s organizers, said Thursday there was no confirmation the statue would be removed. He said moving the statue to another location in Ghana would be insufficient.

He urged the government to send it back to India.

“We don’t think the statue would be well received anywhere in Ghana,” he said.

Gandhi, a lawyer, traveled to South Africa in 1893 and stayed for two decades, fighting to expand rights for Indians there. The petition quotes writings from that period in which he refers to black South Africans as savages.

At the same time, Gandhi’s approach of nonviolent protest influenced the African National Congress and its resistance to white minority rule.

“While acknowledging that human as he was, Mahatma Gandhi may have had his flaws, we must remember that people evolve,” Ghana’s statement said. “He inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.”

The statement also expressed concern that the professors’ campaign could harm Ghana’s ties to India.

The professors say the university instead should feature statues of local heroes like Yaa Asantewaa, who led a rebellion against British colonialism, or Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president.

Oct 7, 2016 – 10:09 am EDT
Indian-Origin South African Is Head Of Global Blood Service

JOHANNESBURG: An Indian-origin South African has become the first person from the African continent to head a global organisation of medicine professionals working for the safety of blood transfusion worldwide.

Ravi Reddy, currently the Chief Operations Officer of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), will head the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT), headquartered in Amsterdam.

Although Reddy has been credited with transforming the safety of blood donation and transfer in South Africa with its very high incidence of HIV/AIDS, he has insisted that this was a team effort by the staff of SANBS.

He he has served in various capacities for more than three decades after starting out as a volunteer at the age of 16 at SANBS. He subsequently qualified as a medical technologist with an MBA from the University of Natal in South Africa. SANBS lauded Reddy’s appointment as a particularly significant one.

“Mr Reddy has played a key role in South Africa’s high level of blood safety,” said Raju from SANBS, who earlier this year said in a TV interview that there had been only one confirmed case of HIV caused by blood transfusion out of nine million units of blood donated in the past decade.

In 2004, there was a huge outcry when it emerged that blood donated by the majority Black community in South Africa was being discarded due to the risk associated with the high incidence of HIV/AIDS in that community.

Reddy had spearheaded a campaign to ensure stringent testing and also education among donors to turn this around. He cited the highly-respected international status of SANBS as having contributed largely to his appointment.

“I would not have been considered for this position if it were not for SANBS’ professionalism and reputation for excellence,” Reddy said, adding that receiving this vote of confidence from his peers internationally was humbling.

He represented the African region on the board of the ISBT between 2006 and 2012, and is also a member of the Working Party on Transfusion and Transmissible Infections. He has presented and published a large number of scientific papers. The ISBT, now with 100 member countries, was established in 1935 as a platform for exchanging knowledge and advancing the blood-transfusion practice.

Sep 19, 2016 – 10:28 am EDT
SICC Eyes Youth & Women’s Cricket Development with ACF Coach Certification Clinics

SARASOTA, FLA (TIP): The Sarasota International Cricket Club (SICC) recently hosted a weekend-long American Cricket Federation (ACF) Level 1 and Level 2 cricket coaching certification session attended by 16 prospective coaches. West Indian Legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul was at the coaching clinics to interact with the participants.

Interest is high in Youth and Women’s cricket in the State of Florida, as well as in after school cricket programs there, however the development is being hampered by the lack of certified cricket coaches. Encouraging and expanding the number of coaches is a vital part of SICC’s mission to promote cricket in Florida and the USA.

The SICC club owns two side-by-side cricket fields, which can be used for youth and women’s cricket. The recent coaching clinics were conducted by ACF’s Director of Coaching Jatin Patel, and produced 10 new Level 2 coaches and six new Level 1 coaches; it is a first step towards providing an adequate number of trained coaches to help develop the potential of the youth and women cricketers in the Sarasota area.

Founded in 1983 by a diverse group of SICC cricketers who brought their knowledge and love of the game to the west coast of Florida, with the aim of giving people there the opportunity to learn, play and enjoy the world’s second most popular sport. The club’s activities are geared to achieving its formal mission: To promote the sport of cricket by conducting games and tournaments for amateur cricketers nationally and internationally, and to support the development of amateur cricketers, particularly youth cricketers for those competitions, by providing facilities, equipment and training.

SICC is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization under section 501(c) (3) of the revenue code, and the club is the only one in the USA organized solely for the purpose of promoting and playing cricket, that has its own facilities. Its Bermuda grass playing field, ICC approved non-turf match wicket, practice net and clubhouse, are recognized as being among the finest facilities in the country.

SICC activities include a year-round schedule of games in Sarasota with teams from across Florida; occasional games with teams from up and down the east coast; the hosting of touring teams from other countries; the staging of an annual cricket tournament since 1997 that has drawn entries from Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Australia, Israel and Holland, as well from all over the United States; sponsorship of a local youth cricket program; tours that have taken Sarasota cricket to England (twice), Scotland (as ambassadors for Sarasota to its Twin-city of Dumfermline), South Africa, the Bahamas, Canada (four times), California, Guyana, Trinidad and the Philadelphia International Cricket Festival (six times).

Milestones for the club include the visit of the Lord’s Taverners, England’s primary cricket charity benefiting physically challenged children, in 1995: matches against the cricket team of Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia in Sarasota and in the UK in 1997; the visit of the Primary Club, Australia’s principal cricket charity in 2003; and two matches with the MCC touring team from London as part of their cricket development tour of the eastern USA organized by the International Cricket Council and the England and Wales Cricket Board, respectively, the world and UK governing bodies for cricket.

The following testimonials are indicative of the success of the ACF clinic hosted by SICC:

“Thank you coach – Jatin Patel, it was a wonderful experience to attend the ACF Level 2 Sarasota Cricket Coaching clinic. Everything was perfectly organized; Chris Thakoorpersad did a marvelous job to make me feel at home. Thank you Chris. My perspective has changed as far as teaching the game of cricket to youths. Now onwards I will be more organized and simple in my approach with younger kids so they can develop as better players. Coaching instructions were simply practical rather than coming out of books. Thanks a lot for your effort to teach us how to become perfect coaches.” Sandip J. Desai

“I really enjoyed the sessions and thanks to Jatin Patel and ACF for making the classes fun and engaging. Needless to say it was an honor to meet Shivnarine Chanderpaul and to listen to him share his experience and cricket knowledge. Thanks to Chris Thakoorpersad for making this happen, and I for one look forward to any other classes that come up in the future and to be a part of the SICC club in the future.” Ganeshbabu Venkat.

About the American Cricket Federation
Cricket (ACF) Coach Certification Program

The ACF Cricket Coach Certification Level 1 program was launched in May 2014, followed by the Level 2 certification program one year later in June 2015. Since the launch, 17 States can now boast of having certified ACF cricket coaches, with nine States having certified instructors for Level 1 coaches.

As of August 20, 2016 there were a total of 266 Level 1 and 85 Level 2 certified coaches helping the sport grow in the USA, including 174 Physical Education teachers who have added cricket coaching expertise to their coaching certification portfolios in schools across the country. ACF’s Director of Coaching Jatin Patel has conducted six Level 2 coach certification clinics in a total of five States. The next ACF Level 2 Cricket Coaching Certification Clinic is scheduled for September 17-18, 2016 in New Jersey. For more information, contact:

Avinash Gaje, New Jersey Softball Cricket League (NJSBCL) via e-mail at agaje@yahoo.com or Coach Jatin Patel via e-mail at forjatin@gmail.com

Sep 9, 2016 – 9:36 am EDT
South Australia Hindu Temple plans $600,000 expansion

ADELAIDE (TIP): Shri Ganesha Temple (SGT) in Adelaide’s southern suburb Oaklands Park in South Australia is reportedly planning a $600,000 expansion to host bigger events, weddings, classes, etc.

This Temple, built at the site of a former Lutheran Church, has approached City of Marion regarding this project and City’s Development Assessment Panel, whose task is to assess proposed development, will consider its proposals, reports suggest.

Expansion plans at SGT, a State Heritage Place, reportedly include building an outdoor cooking area, dining room extension, etc.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, commended efforts of Temple leaders and area community towards running this Hindu temple complex.

Rajan Zed further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this Temple would help in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

SGT, reportedly conceived by the Hindu Society of South Australia in 1985 and formally opened in 2001, serves over 20,000 Hindus; including immigrants from India, Mauritius, South Africa, Fiji, Trinidad, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Surinam, Malaysia, etc.; besides students. Ganesha is the presiding deity at the Temple, where other deities include Laxmi Narayan; Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati; Muruga Valli and Deivanai; Hanuman; Bhairava; Navagraha; and Shiva Linga.

This Temple, which opens daily; besides offering worship services and being a social gathering place; also holds various festivals, satsangs, pujas; runs a children library; undertakes various community assistance programs; organizes blood donation campaigns; helps new migrants; and offers food donations and educational scholarships. It organized over 80 festivals in 2015. Milk Abhishekam here costs $50, reports indicate.

Sep 9, 2016 – 7:02 am EDT
SpaceX rocket explosion burns Facebook’s plans of internet-for-all

Facebook’s ambitious plans of bringing internet access across world partly went up in flames with the Space X rocket that exploded on Thursday, September 8.

The social networking giant had contracted the aeropsace manufacturer to deliver the first satellite that would make its pet project Internet.org effective in sub-Saharan Africa.

However, the explosion not only destroyed the Falcon 9 rocket but also its payload which included the Israeli communications satellite.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, currently in Africa, almost immediately took to his social media account to share the bad news.

“As I’m here in Africa, I’m deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX’s launch failure destroyed our satellite that would have provided connectivity to so many entrepreneurs and everyone else across the continent,” he said.

Despite the setback, he said they would “keep working until everyone has the opportunities this satellite would have provided”.

“Fortunately, we have developed other technologies like Aquila that will connect people as well. We remain committed to our mission.”

Facebook spent about $95 million to rent capacity on the satellite over the next five years along with French satellite operator, Eutelsat. The satellite, Amos-6, was built by Israeli satellite firm Spacecom.

The cause for the rocket explosion on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral in Florida is yet unclear. Preliminary reports indicated it had to do with the upper stage oxygen tanks.

The explosion though is not only a setback for Facebook, but for the California-based SpaceX itself. Internet entrepreneur Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with the goal of slashing launch costs to make travel to Mars affordable.

Sep 9, 2016 – 6:33 am EDT
‘One nation in South Asia is spreading terror in the region’ says Modi at G20

HANGZHOU, China – Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sept. 5 told the G20 summit here that Pakistan was spreading terror in South Asia and using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

He also appealed the grouping to “isolate and sanction supporters of terrorism.”

At the two-day G20 summit which began in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, India raised the issue of terrorism at various sessions.

Modi told Chinese President XI Jinping how the scourge of terrorism was affecting the region.

“There are some nations that use it as an instrument of state policy. One single nation in South Asia is spreading agents of terror in our region,” Modi said, without naming Pakistan.

India’s ties with Pakistan have soured after Islamabad declared Jammu and Kashmir terrorist Burhan Wani, shot dead by security forces, as a “martyr.”

“For us a terrorist is a terrorist,” Modi said. He was speaking during his intervention at the last session of the G20.

The Prime Minister said “growing forces of violence and terror pose a fundamental challenge” and urged the international community to act in unity and respond against terrorism.

“India has a policy of zero tolerance to terrorism. Because anything less than that is not enough,” he said.

In his meeting with President Xi, Modi expressed concern over terrorism emanating from Pakistan’s restive regions of Giligit-Baltistan and Pakistani Kashmir where the China Pakistan Economic Corridor is coming up.

Modi also raised the issues of black money and tax evasion, urging member countries to act against financial corruption.

“Fighting corruption, black money and tax evasion are central to effective financial governance,” said the Prime Minister. “We need to act to eliminate safe havens for economic offenders, track down and unconditionally extradite money launderers and break down the web of complex international regulations and excessive banking secrecy that hide the corrupt and their deeds,” he said.

Representing 85 percent of the world’s GDP, the G20 is composed of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union.

Sep 6, 2016 – 12:09 pm EDT
Dabur takes a small step in southern Africa

NEW DELHI (TIP): An acquisition worth a mere Rs 4,700 is rarely expected to give rich dividends, especially if it means venturing into a market as big as Rs 30,000 crore. However, home-grown fast-moving consumer goods firm Dabur is trying something similar.

The company recently acquired a newly incorporated company in South Africa and is planning to set up a manufacturing unit in that country. The move would help it expand its presence in the southern parts of the African continent, sources said.

Dabur India on Monday informed the BSE that it acquired Discaria Trading, registered in South Africa, for Rs 4,679 (1,000 South African Rand). Dabur’s wholly-owned subsidiary Dabur International acquired 100 per cent of Discaria, it informed the BSE.
“Discaria Trading (Pvt.) Ltd. has been acquired to do the business of manufacturing and trading of cosmetics products in South Africa,” it said.

Currently, Dabur has two manufacturing plants in the continent— one each in Nigeria and Egypt. The acquisition cost of the company, incorporated on March 30, 2015 to trade and manufacture cosmetic products, is lower than any such recent acquisition by Dabur. The real value of the company lays in its potential to become a gateway for Dabur in the crucial southern African markets.

Earlier, Dabur made its first foreign acquisition by buying Hobi Kozmetik Group, a leading personal care products company in Turkey, for $69 Million (Rs 462 crore). In 2010, it also acquired Namaste Laboratories in the US for
$100 million (Rs 670 crore).

However, Dabur’s recent acquisition was aimed at setting up production units in South Africa, sources said. Dabur is also considering expanding its presence with its international personal care brand Namaste.

The cosmetics markets in the southern parts of Africa – South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mozambique – is estimated in excess of Rs 30,000 crore and is growing in double digits. Dabur currently gets a third of its Rs 8,454-crore revenue from foreign markets.

Jul 22, 2016 – 9:19 am EDT
@NarendraModi – Engaging Africa….

I returned from a very successful Africa visit, where I got to interact with political and business leaders across four nations. My visit began in Mozambique and ended in Kenya. The other two nations visited were Tanzania and South Africa.

Naturally, the economic agenda of the visit was high on the priority of my delegation and I. In all the four nations I went, ways to deepen our economic cooperation and improve trade ties were comprehensively discussed.

With Mozambique, I see a great scope for wide ranging economic cooperation. Mozambique’s strengths are also the areas of India’s need. And, what Mozambique requires, is available in India. We want to fast track cooperation in the field of agriculture and food security. There is a rich potential to deepen cooperation in skill development and healthcare as well.

In South Africa, President Zuma and I addressed a business forum, where both Indian and South African CEOs were present. India and South Africa enjoy historical people-to-people and economic ties.

You would be delighted to know that India-South Africa bilateral trade has grown by 380% over the last few years. There is continuous flow of investments both ways. Many Indian companies are active in South Africa and vice versa.

However, we do not want to stop here. The scope of bettering this cooperation is increasing by the day. And, India and South Africa are uniquely positioned to complement each other.

I see India and South Africa working together in areas like defence, dairy, IT, skill development to name a few.

The third nation I visited, Tanzania, has a healthy economic relationship with India and this relationship is growing. Our annual trade is on the rise and so are Indian investments. I told President Magufuli that India will be a trusted partner in Tanzania’s development priorities. With Tanzania, the scope of cooperation in the fields of agriculture, energy, natural gas, economic capacity building is immense. India is also ready to meet the healthcare priorities of the Tanzanian government, including supply of medicines and equipment.

My visit to Kenya was memorable because of the wide range of programme and the comprehensive level of discussions with President Kenyatta, particularly on trade and the economy. President Kenyatta and I addressed a business summit and even met Kenyan as well as Indian innovators before the summit.

It is a fact that the India-Kenya friendship is a win-win situation for both our nations. Together, this partnership can be beneficial for India, Kenya and the rest of the world.

Here are some of the avenues of cooperation that I highlighted:

I also extended India’s deepest appreciation and total support for the ‘Make it Kenya’ initiative of the Kenyan government. This is a wonderful effort to raise the economic potential of Kenya and provide opportunities for the Kenyan youth.

In conclusion, I wish to state that together, India and Africa constitute a third of humanity. Africa is at the core of our foreign policy. Last year, I had the honour of welcoming African heads of state for the India-Africa Summit. This was the start of new era in India-Africa ties and will lead to empowerment of the youth both in India and across Africa.

Jul 14, 2016 – 11:27 am EDT
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG (TIP): India is working to achieve over 8 per cent growth in the coming years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Johannesburg on July 8, while attributing the rise of the country to HOPE — Harmony, Optimism, Potential and Energy.

He told the Indian diaspora that India is “one of the brightest spot in the global economy” and a “land of opportunities” for those who want to invest and have trade.

Mr. Modi said his government is working in a campaign mode to create 500 million new jobs by 2022 besides transforming rural and urban areas of the country through infrastructure development.

“While the world is marked by slowdown, India has registered a growth of 7.6 per cent this year and we are working to grow even at 8 per cent in the years ahead,” he said addressing an estimated gathering of 11,000 members of the Indian diaspora.

Mr. Modi, wearing a ‘Madiba’ shirt identified with anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, said India’s dynamism is not about mere words but it is driven by concrete action. “It (dynamism) is defined by our commitment to change the face of the Indian economy. Not just through sustained rapid economic growth but through multiple transformations that aim to uplift,” the Prime Minister said.

“India’s rise can be defined as HOPE —Harmony, Optimism, Potential and Energy….India’s rise is a story of rare resilience, renewed resurgence, superb speed and spectacular scale,” he said in his 40-minute address.

“India’s rise can be defined as HOPE —Harmony, Optimism, Potential and Energy….India’s rise is a story of rare resilience, renewed resurgence, superb speed and spectacular scale,” he said in his 40-minute address. He said his government wants enterprises to flourish, businesses to grow and the country to rise.

(The Hindu)

Jul 10, 2016 – 2:45 am EDT
OHMKriyaa will hold International Yoga Day on June 16, 2016, in New Jersey

EDISON, NJ (TIP): After a successful launch of OHMkriyaa in November 2015, OHM Group of Companies with Dr. Larra Shah, a renowned Natural Life Science Facilitator, Celebrity Aura Expert and Founder of “Energy Orb” will hold their first major event which will be open to all on Thursday, June 16, 2016, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Royal Albert’s Palace in New Jersey. The doors will open at 6 p.m. for social meet and greet and the program will start at 7 p.m. sharp. Dr. Shah will demonstrate the science of “Mudra Yoga and Mudra Meditation” during this evening session. Dr. Larra fondly also known as “IshvaGuru” is a well-known name in India as a holistic healer, researcher and practitioner in Vedic Therapies and natural medicine. She has designed a holistic module SECRETS TO “THE SEVENTH SENSE” – SEVEN STEPS TO WELLNESS TM for those seeking professional and personal excellence. She has a natural gift to be able to see auras, the past and the future. This gifted lady has also aced her expertise as a Certified Yoga Teacher, Geopathic Stress Healer, and a qualified Feng Shui Expert from renowned F.S.R.C Canada. Dr Larra’s ability to sense energies and read auras has been the guiding light in helping her clients who come from different walks of life including leadingathletes, movie stars and business leaders to help them achieve Success & Happiness andenhance their spiritual or physical journey.

Having won several awards and accolades including a gold medal in 2016 from the Indian Board for her research on EMR and its effects, Dr. Shah has also hosted her own Television show on one of India’s leading channels Star Plus’ subsidiary Star News. Apart from her academic merits, she’s also authored a best-selling book called ‘Miracle Cards’ which provides guidelines and tips on how to live a more fulfilling life. Her client base includes the who’s who of Bollywood namely Farah Khan, Gauri Khan, Hema Malini, Chitrangda Singh, Meher Jessia, Rohit Behl, Miss Malini, Arjun Rampal to name a few and it certainly also expands into the crème de la crème societies in countries such as USA, Canada, UK, Italy, Belgium, UAE, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, and India.

Dr. Larra is pioneering “Ohmkriyaa” an American enterprise, a platform for wellness and humanitarian programs. Through Ohmkriyaa’s platform, Dr. Larra provides educational and self-developing programs which offer powerful techniques and tools to eliminate stress and foster abundance and wellbeing. In the high stressed environment and ever changing and high demanding technology era, body and mind need relaxation and rejuvenation practices to live stress free and positive life. Dr. Shah’s various natural therapies can help people effortlessly with complete ease and feel inner happiness.

For more information about Dr. Larra and her services at Ohmkriyaa, please visit her Web site http://larrashah.com. Dr. Larra can be reached via toll free number in the U.S. at 877-493-5052 or e-mail at larra@ohmkriyaa.com

Jun 11, 2016 – 7:20 am EDT
Discussion on the “International Law on Peace and Justice” at the UN Headquarters

NEW YORK, NY (TIP): On Thursday May 26th, Ambassadors of Denmark, Haiti, Romania and South Africa and representatives from 15 other Permanent Missions gathered at the United Nations Headquarters to discuss the issues of “International Law on Peace and Justice.” Hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace organization, the session drew much attention as it was held in line with the global peace walks held across 52 nations with 300,000 people, celebrating the 3rd Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace.

The ambassadors in attendance shared effective national practices to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities, peace and justice. On the other hand, HWPL introduced the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) as an effective means of achieving the UN SDGs.

The Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War was drafted by the HWPL International Law Peace Committee that consists of renowned experts in the field of international law. On March 14th this year, it was then presented to the public with the aim of maintaining international peace and security, leaving an invaluable inheritance of a world free of wars to successive generations.

The Declaration respects and builds on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations as well as other international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mr. Man Hee Lee, the Chairman of HWPL, provided guidance in drafting the Declaration. In his commemorative address at the peace walk in Seoul, South Korea, he said “the eyes of the world are focused on us here today … What we must leave as a legacy for our future generations is peace. Is there anything more valuable than such a legacy? No amount of material wealth can compare to peace. But this peace cannot be achieved by one person. Everyone must become a messenger of peace and work together to achieve peace.”

This year’s peace walks highlighted the global peace advocacy movement, the Legislate Peace Campaign, recently launched to bring all wars to an end by establishing an enforceable law compatible with the “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War.” This campaign calls on global citizens to unite as one to voice their demand for peace through adding their signatures.

In New York, women and youth groups as well as peace organizations gathered and signed their support for the Declaration at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza across the UN Headquarters.

As of May 25, HWPL reported that not only over 500,000 signatures were collected from 154 countries in less than two months, but also many heads of state have written official letters of support.

Since the Declaration of World Peace was first proclaimed on May 25 2013, HWPL has worked on its international law initiative to draft an instrument for all States to adopt that ultimately promotes a culture of peace and ceases all wars. This Declaration not only encapsulates and supports all UN SDGs but also serves as a foundation for future works of peace.

Jun 10, 2016 – 4:31 am EDT
Bank of Baroda’s innovative approach to success

PROFILE

Mr. Ashok Kumar Garg, Chief Executive of Bank of Baroda speaks with The Indian Panorama about the bank’s innovative approaches and strengths which set the Bank of Baroda apart from many others

At a time when majority of foreign banks in USA are struggling to cope with federal regulations, Bank of Baroda is forging ahead with innovative programs to help its customers. Not many banks can claim as Ashok Kumar Garg, the Chief Executive of Bank’s US Operations, claims, “Bank of Baroda’s latest innovation can be experienced while doing online remittance to India”, he said, “Our online remittance tool allows money transfer to India from USA within minutes.

Speaking with The Indian Panorama, Mr. Garg claimed that his bank offers a very competitive exchange rate to customers of online remittance.

“We are determined to provide a very friendly service to our customers. You can be rest assured of individualized attention while dealing with our staff either offline or online”, he said in his chamber overlooking Park Avenue in New York City.

Mr. Garg said that Bank of Baroda offers free of charge Indian rupee remittance to Bank of Baroda accounts in India. There is a nominal fee for remittance to other banks. Customers must register to take advantage of this service.

Mr. Garg, who has been serving Bank of Baroda since 1979, is a world traveler. While at Kampala, he served in high profile positions in the banking sector of Uganda. He was the Chairman of Baroda Capital Markets Ltd. and a Director on the Board of Uganda Securities Exchange (USE). His accomplishments in banking and accounting brought numerous awards and recognition for him. Mr. Garg was the only banker in Uganda who was conferred with Pearl of Africa Lifetime Achievement Award by public opinion.

Bank of Baroda practices a manifold approach to support community activities. A typical Delhiwala Mr. Garg believes in developing close relations with customers and colleagues alike. He enthusiastically supports community activities that promote Indian traditions and culture in USA. “Bank of Baroda is fully dedicated to the welfare of our communities. As a banking organization our primary motive is to succeed financially. At the same time,we fully understand the importance of connecting with the community. That is why we support various events and activities that are focused on Indian culture and traditions”, said Mr.Garg.

Mr. Garg receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Prime Minister of Uganda

During the past 36 years of his service in Bank of Baroda he acquired rich experience of diverse Banking operations, a thorough knowledge of Project Management, Compliance functions, Training and Development, Risk Management, Financing of Retail, SME, Wholesale, Agriculture and International Trade.

Mr. Garg holds a Master’s Degree in Commerce besides a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Delhi University. He is an alumnus of Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University. He is also a Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (CAIIB). Mr. Garg started his career as a Probationary Officer in Bank of Baroda in 1979.

Apr 1, 2016 – 2:56 pm EDT
US presidential candidate Cruz appoints Islam critics as advisers

NEW YORK (TIP): Ted Cruz, Donald Trump’s closest rival in the Republican race for the White House, named his national security advisers on Thursday, including former staffers of President Ronald Reagan and members of a think tank that has been called an anti-Muslim “hate group” by a civil rights organization.

Announcing the team in a statement, Cruz said he would reverse what he described as the weakening of the United States in a dangerous world, singling out militant Islamist groups in the Middle East and North Africa as his focus.

Among the most recognizable names on the US senator’s list of 23 advisers was Elliott Abrams, who served in the administrations of both Reagan and President George W. Bush and is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

But the list of advisers drew more attention for its inclusion of several critics of Muslims. Among those were Frank Gaffney, a former official in the Reagan administration, and at least two other members of a think tank Gaffney founded, the Center for Security Policy.

The center’s reports argue that hundreds of thousands of American Muslims support Islamist violence in the United States and that there is a conspiracy to erode the US legal system by elevating sharia, the Islamic legal code.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization that monitors US extremist groups, has labeled the Center for Security Policy a “hate group” and Gaffney a “notorious Islamophobe.”

Gaffney did not respond to a request for comment, but a spokesman pointed to online essays where Gaffney has rejected such criticism, saying his group is a defender of civil liberties against “Islamic supremacists.”

“Do you mention any of the other 22 members of the advisory coalition?” Brian Phillips, a Cruz spokesman, said in an email, declining to respond to questions about the criticisms made against Gaffney and his think tank.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim rights group, urged Cruz, a Christian, to reconsider having Gaffney and others who have made anti-Muslim remarks as his advisers, saying it suggested the candidate entertained “anti-Muslim bigotry”.

Besides Gaffney and his think-tank colleagues, CAIR said Cruz should drop William Boykin, a retired US Army lieutenant general who has said the government should be allowed to ignore the US Constitution to pass laws limiting Muslims’ right to freedom of speech and religion.

Some of Cruz’s other advisers have been critical of anti-Islamic rhetoric, including Abrams and Mary Habeck, another former Bush adviser; both have said Islam should not be demonized.

Another adviser is Katherine Gorka, president of the Council on Global Security, a group that produces research on Islamist violence, who said in an email that Cruz “understands the vital role that America’s military strength plays across the globe but without wanting to engage the US in expensive democracy-building adventures.”

TRUMP-CRUZ SHOWDOWN

Trump, a 69-year-old billionaire businessman from New York, has surged to the front of the once-crowded Republican field, drawing support from voters by proposing to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States for fear they might secretly be members of violent Islamist groups. Trump cited research by Gaffney’s group in announcing the plan last year.

Cruz, a 45-year-old Texan, is seeking to keep Trump from winning an outright majority of delegates as states vote for party nominees in the coming months, and to wrest the nomination from him at the party’s national convention in Cleveland in July.

Conservatives who think Trump strays too far from Republican ideology continued to plot openly to thwart him at or before the convention.

Erick Erickson, a conservative blogger, said in a statement that he joined a meeting of “grassroots conservative activists” from around the country in Washington on Thursday. He said they made plans to appoint an as-yet-unnamed candidate at what they hope will be the first contested Republican convention since 1948, where a complicated system of ballot rules would come into effect.

Mar 18, 2016 – 8:34 pm EDT
ISIS expanding in Libya, fueling arms race

UNITED NATIONS (TIP): The Islamic State group has significantly expanded its control over Libya, fueling demand by the country’s warring parties for more arms to confront the threat, UN experts have told the Security Council.

ISIS has successfully recruited young men from local tribes, offering them protection and benefits but it has also enlisted military officers from the former regime of Muammar Gaddafi, said the report by the panel of experts who report to a UN sanctions committee.

ISIS jihadists have cemented their hold on the coastal city of Sirte, wiping out opposition and the group is “currently the most significant political and military actor in the region,” said the report which was submitted to the council on Wednesday.

The extremist group has also made inroads in Tripoli and in the western city of Sabrata, boosting its presence through local recruitment and foreign fighters who transit through Turkey and Tunisia.

Extremists from sub-Saharan Africa have traveled through Sudan to join ISIS ranks in Sirte and Benghazi, the report said, confirming fears that the Libyan IS branch is seeking to draw recruits from other parts of the continent.

“The political and security vacuum has been further exploited by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, which has significantly expanded its control over territory,” the report said.

The report did not provide estimates of the number of ISIS fighters in Libya.

Libya was thrown into turmoil after a NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime dictator Kadhafi in 2011.

The country has been under an arms embargo since then, but the report cited a recent transfer of MIG-21F jets to Tobruk, where the internationally recognized government is based.

The jets “appear to be consistent with those owned by Egypt,” the experts said. Cairo, however, told the panel its information on the transfer was “incorrect.”

The panel is continuing to investigate claims that Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan have also violated the embargo.

“The continuation of armed clashes and the expansion of ISIL have led to an increase in demand for military materiel,” said the report, which cited a “revival of external support” for the various factions.

Mar 11, 2016 – 6:26 pm EST
US man jailed for 40 years for abusing Kenyan orphans

OKLAHOMA CITY (TIP): A former missionary from Oklahoma convicted of sexually abusing children at an orphanage in Kenya was sentenced on March 7 to 40 years in a federal prison. US district judge David L Russell handed down the sentence to Matthew Lane Durham, 21, who had faced up to 30 years on each of four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. He also ordered Durham, of Edmond, to pay restitution of $15,863.

“These were heinous crimes committed on the most vulnerable victims. He was their worst nightmare come true,” Russell said. Durham, wearing an orange prison-issued jumpsuit, read a statement before sentencing in which he asked the court for mercy but did not express remorse for the offenses he was convicted of. Durham showed no emotion when the sentence was issued. Prosecutors alleged Durham targeted orphans while volunteering at the Upendo Children’s Home in Nairobi between April and June 2014. Durham had served as a volunteer since 2012 at the orphanage, which specializes in caring for neglected children.

“All I wanted was to follow God’s plan for me,” Durham told the judge. He said he will try to commit himself to serving others while he serves his prison sentence. Although Durham claims he is innocent of the charges, he said he was sorry that the accusations against him had damaged the orphanage and those it cares for. “The Upendo kids do not deserve this,” Durham said.

In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said Durham’s actions have had a chilling effect on the lives of dozens of foreign volunteers in Kenya and elsewhere “who must now live under the cloud of suspicion, distrust and apprehension when they volunteer their time, talent and resources for the betterment of children in East Africa and beyond.”

Mar 11, 2016 – 5:20 pm EST
Willful Defaulter Vijay Mallya flees

NEW DELHI (TIP): Liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who is facing legal proceedings for allegedly defaulting loans of over Rs 9,000 crores from various banks, had left the country a week back, government informed the Supreme Court, March 9. “I spoke to the CBI a little while ago and it told me that on March 2 he (Mallya) left the country,”

Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi told the bench comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman. The bench issued notice to Mallya and sought his response within two weeks on pleas filed by a consortium of banks seeking direction for freezing his passport and his presence before the apex court.

Since the court was informed that Mallya has already left the country, probably to UK, the bench allowed the plea of AG that the notice to him can be served through his official Rajya Sabha Email ID, Indian High Commission at London and also through counsel representing him before various high courts, Debt Recovery Tribunal and also through his Company.

Vijay Mallya was hit by a double whammy on Monday, March 7 as a Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) restrained him from accessing the ?515 crore that he received from the sale of the spirits business to Diageo Plc while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a money laundering case.

The $75 million deal with Diageo was struck last month to get Mallya to relinquish the chairmanship of United Spirits Ltd (USL), which the British spirits maker now owns. However, Mallya will not be able to get hold of the cash, at least for the time being, with the DRT responding to a petition by SBI and other banks.

If this was not enough, the ED also registered a case against Mallya, and the former chief financial officer of Kingfisher Airlines for fraudulently obtaining a ?900 crore loan from IDBI Bank and laundering the money.

The ‘King of bad times’ : From a flamboyant billionaire to a man who watched his empire go bust, this is how Vijay Mallya lost his ‘monies’:

Here’s what Mallya owes banks: SBI: 1,600 cr PNB: 800 crIDBI: 800 cr Bank of India: 650 cr, Bank of Baroda: 550 cr, United Bank of India: 430 cr, Central Bank of India: 410 cr, UCO Bank: 320 cr, Corporation Bank: 310 cr, State Bank of Mysore: 150 cr, Indian Overseas Bank: 140 cr, Federal Bank: 90 cr, Punjab & Sind Bank: 60 cr, Axis Bank: 50 cr

Assets listed in India: 33% in United Breweries, which is worth Rs 7,000 crore. But more than half of the stake is pledged. 22%interest in Mangalore Chemicals &Fertilizers, which is worth Rs 140 crore. One-third of the shares are pledged. 52%of UB Holdings, a shell company, which has some real estate in Bangalore and other places, but the rentals have already been pledged. Under 1% stake in Bayer Corp Science, but Mallya remains its chairman.

The rise:

1983 | After his father’s death, Mallya becomes UB group chairman at 28.

1999 | Launches Kingfisher Strong, which changes beer consumption nationally, is still the largest selling brand.

2002 | Nominated to Rajya Sabha.

The buying spree:

2005 | Launches Kingfisher Airlines (KFA). Buys Shaw Wallace, gaining whisky brands such as Royal Challenge

2006 | Buys Herbertsons, makers of Bagpiper whisky and Romanov vodka.

2007 | Buys F1 team Spyker, renames it Force India. Acquires Air Deccan. Buys British whisky maker Whyte and Mackay for £595m.

2008 | Buys IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore for $111.6m. UB City comes up in Bangalore.

The road to ruin:

2012 | KFA staff strike work for nonpayment of salaries, income-tax dept freezes KFA accounts, airline grounds flights. In Oct, government suspends KFA license. British alcoholic beverages firm Diageo agrees to buy majority stake in United Spirits

2013 | Diageo acquires 27% stake in USL for Rs 6,500 crore, but KFA lenders do not get any funds.

2014 | United Bank identifies United Breweries Holdings as wilful defaulter.

2015 | Diageo asks Mallya to step down as chairman of the Indian liquor firm but he refuses.

2016 | Banks move debt recovery tribunal, which restrains Mallya from accessing Rs 515 crore he was to receive from Diageo as settlement after agreeing to quit.

The misery Kingfisher inflicted: Over 1,500 staffers, still on the firm’s payrolls after it stopped operation, not paid? On March 5, employees write an open letter to Mallya, saying his ‘heart is impure’ and he has blood on his hands. They seek PM Narendra Modi’s help to get their dues.

His pearls of wisdom: “The only regret is Kingfisher Airlines is not flying today when the oil price is so low.” “The past few days have witnessed a near hysterical campaign in the media directed against me. All I can say is I hope some sobriety and sense will prevail and truth will not be held hostage to TRPs.”

The treasure trove: Homes in Trump Towers, New York City, and in San Francisco. Game resort in South Africa. A beachfront villa in Goa. Fleet of over 200 luxury vintage cars, a 95m ‘mega yacht’ with a helipad, a Gulfstream private jet.

Mar 11, 2016 – 11:36 am EST

Category: Africa

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