The Indian Panorama

Tag: Apple News

  • US-based Indian journalist narrates rise of ‘phenomenal’ Kamala Harris in his new book

    US-based Indian journalist narrates rise of ‘phenomenal’ Kamala Harris in his new book

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A new book narrating the rise of “phenomenal” US Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman to occupy this position, and in the process shattering several glass ceilings, by a Washington DC-based Indian journalist and author throws some previously unknown facts about her. For instance, the middle name given to Harris, when she was born and which was mentioned in her birth certificate was “Iyer”—before it was changed to Devi, Chidanand Rajghatta writes in his book “Kamala Harris: Phenomenal Woman” that hits the stands later this month. The drawing room friends of the parents of Harris at the University of California, Berkeley, when she was a child were Lord Meghnad Desai, Amartya Sen and Ajit Singh, economists and contemporaries of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, writes the author. Harris, 57, was born in Oakland, California on October 20, 1964. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, came from a traditional Tamil brahmin family. She immigrated to the US from India in 1958 at the age of 19 to study nutrition and endocrinology at the University of California. It’s there she met Harris’s father Donald Harris, an African-American from British Jamaica.

    In the book, published by Harper Collins India, Rajghatta writes that Donald spent time at the Delhi School of Economics on a fellowship when Harris was a toddler.

    The book begins as a profile of Harris’ mother, partly out of personal interest of Rajghatta, whose father came to the US around the same time as Shyamala Gopalan and studied agriculture and dairy science at Kansas State. The story was so fascinating that it expanded into a larger, longer narrative of Harris’ growing up years, life, and career, he says.

    “It is a biography of sorts, but wider in scope, examining the history of the Indian-American community (of which I’m one—with mixed-race children) and India’s ties with Black America (under-reported and under-chronicled), including exchanges between Black activists such as George Washington Carver, Booker Washington, and W E B Dubois, and Mahatma Gandhi, whose aides Madeleine Slade (Mirabai) and Charlie Andrews visited Howard for lectures that influenced a civil rights activist generation before MLK Jr,” Rajghatta says.

    The book, which runs into more than 300 pages, also looks at the suffragette movement and the barriers and hurdles women face in political representation and ascendancy.

    “For Kamala, cooking is both therapy and art,” Rajghatta writes in the book.

  • Indo- Canadian Anita Anand replaces Harjit Singh Sajjan as Canada’s Defense Minister

    Indo- Canadian Anita Anand replaces Harjit Singh Sajjan as Canada’s Defense Minister

    OTTAWA (TIP): Punjab-origin Canadian politician Anita Anand was on Tuesday, October 26, appointed country’s new Defense Minister in a Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, over a month after his Liberal Party returned power in the snap polls and amid calls for major military reforms. Anand, 54, will replace long-time Defense Minister Indian-origin Harjit Singh Sajjan, whose handling of the military sexual misconduct crisis has been under criticism. Sajjan has been appointed Minister of International Development Agency, a report in a daily said.

    Anand is the second woman in Canada to be appointed Defense Minister.

    Brampton West’s Kamal Khera, another Punjabi, has been named Minister of Seniors.

    Bardish Chaggar, another Indo-Canadian minister, has been dropped from the new Cabinet.

  • Indian-origin UK based founder and CEO Vivek Chadha passes away

    Indian-origin UK based founder and CEO Vivek Chadha passes away

    Nirpal S Shergill

    LONDON (TIP): Nine Group Hotels and Investments, the UK-based company behind a series of hotel brands around the country, on Wednesday announced the sudden death of its Indian-origin founder and CEO Vivek Chadha.

    The company, which paid tribute to Chadha as a “kind, supportive leader”, expressed its shock and sadness at the passing away of the tycoon aged just 33 on Sunday. The cause of death is yet to be confirmed.

    “It is with profound shock and sadness that we announce the death of CEO Vivek Chadha last Sunday, October 24, 2021, at the tender age of 33,” the Nine Group said in a statement.

    “Vivek was a force of nature, helping to grow the business into a national group of hotels and restaurants. A visionary leader, he was tireless in his dedication to the business and its customers. Vivek was also a kind, supportive leader and colleague, and the group’s employees and partners from over the years will mourn his loss,” the statement noted. The company stressed that the hotelier leaves Nine Group as a strong business and that succession plans are in place to take the business forward.

    The statement notes: “Vivek leaves Nine Group as his legacy: a strong and resilient business that withstood the challenges of the pandemic and is set for further growth. “While there will only ever be one Vivek, succession plans are in place and a combination of internal promotions and additional members of the family will continue to ensure business as usual until a new CEO is formally appointed in due course.”

    The company also requested that Chadha’s family be given space and time to grieve in privacy, while funeral arrangements are finalized.

    Chadha, recently married to model Stuttee Chadha in a lavish ceremony in London, was a donor to the UK’s ruling Conservative Party. He also donated GBP 100,000 towards the Mahatma Gandhi statue unveiled at Parliament Square in London in 2015.

    A self-confessed follower of Gandhi, Vivek Chadha graduated as a civil engineer from University College London (UCL) – also the alma mater of the Father of the Indian Nation.

    “I am interested in particular in how Gandhi emphasized the privilege of giving and practiced compassion in creative ways. The fact that Gandhi concentrated all his energy in the service of others is a great example of how all young people should follow this idea in our day-to-day lives,” Chadha said back in February 2015, with reference to his donation to the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust.

  • Indian American Neera Tanden named White House staff secretary

    Indian American Neera Tanden named White House staff secretary

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Indian-American policy expert Neera Tanden, a close confidant of US President Joe Biden, has been named White House staff secretary, eight months after Republican lawmakers scuttled her nomination to another key post. Tanden, 51, a senior adviser to President Biden was named White House staff secretary on a morning staff call on Friday, October 22, the CNN reported.

    The White House staff secretary is a behind-the-scenes but critical role in the West Wing, responsible for managing paper flow to the President from other areas of the administration and federal government. The person filling the job has been viewed as one of the most powerful in the building, it said.

    In addition to her new duties, Tanden will keep her senior adviser title “and will continue to provide leadership on particular projects and initiatives,” Politico reported, quoting a White House official. She will report to White House chief of staff Ron Klain, it said. The appointment does not require Senate confirmation. “The Staff Secretary role is the central nervous system of the White House and moves the decision-making process and manages a wide variety of issues for the President,” the White House official said. Tanden has “over two decades of experience in policy and management which are critical elements of the role. Her experience across domestic, economic and national security policy will be a key asset in this new role,” the official said. Tanden’s appointment as White House staff secretary came eight months after she withdrew her nomination as Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget due to stiff opposition from Republican senators. In March, she faced a tough time for the confirmation of her nomination as Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) over her past social media outbursts against several lawmakers, including those from her own Democratic Party.

  • Indian American astronaut Raja Chari all set to lead NASA’s next mission

    Indian American astronaut Raja Chari all set to lead NASA’s next mission

    NEW YORK (TIP): Indian American Astronaut Raja Chari is all set to lead NASA’s next mission to the International Space Station on Sunday, October 31, the Halloween Day, on his very first space flight.

    The third operational crewed flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, called Crew-3, is slated to lift off before dawn on Oct. 31 from Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:21 a.m. EDT.

    If all goes as planned, after a 22-hour journey, Crew Dragon will be in position to rendezvous and dock with the space station at 12:10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1.

    Strapped inside the gumdrop-shaped SpaceX capsule will be NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, along with German astronaut Matthias Maurer from the European Space Agency (ESA).

    As commander of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Crew-3 mission, Chari, 44, is responsible for all phases of flight, from launch to re-entry, according to a NASA press release. He also will serve as an Expedition 66 flight engineer aboard the station.

    This will be the first spaceflight for Chari, who was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 2017. It’s also the first time a rookie commercial crew astronaut has been named mission commander.

    A colonel in the US Air Force, Chari joins the mission with extensive experience as a test pilot. He has accumulated more than 2,500 hours of flight time in his career.

    Chari was the commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base in California when he was selected as an astronaut. After two years of astronaut training, he went on to become the Director of the Joint Test Team for NASA’s commercial crew program.

    Chari was also one of the 18 astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis Team and is now eligible for assignment to a future lunar mission. He was born in Milwaukee, but considers Cedar Falls, Iowa, his hometown.

    The four astronauts are scheduled for a long duration stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, spending several months conducting science and maintenance before they return to Earth in spring 2022, according to NASA.

    The Crew-3 mission will fly a new Crew Dragon spacecraft and will be the first mission to fly a previously used nosecone.

    Lifting off from Launch Pad 39A on a Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon will accelerate its four passengers to approximately 17,500 mph and put it on an intercept course with the International Space Station.

    The Falcon 9 first stage that will be used to launch this mission flew previously on SpaceX’s 22nd commercial resupply mission to the station in June 2021.

    Once in orbit, the crew and SpaceX mission control will monitor a series of automatic maneuvers that will guide the Crew-3 astronauts to their new home in orbit at the forward end of the station’s Harmony module.

    The spacecraft is designed to dock autonomously with the ability for astronauts aboard the spacecraft to take control and pilot manually, if necessary, NASA said.

    The Crew-3 astronauts will spend approximately six months aboard the International Space Station conducting new and exciting scientific research in areas such as materials science, health technologies, and plant science to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and benefit life on Earth, NASA said.

    During their stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, astronauts of Crew-3 will see cargo spacecraft including the SpaceX cargo Dragon in December and the Northrop Grumman Cygnus in early 2022.

    They will also welcome two different private crews to the station, including Japanese tourists aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft at the end of 2021, and the Axiom Mission 1 crew, the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, scheduled to launch no earlier than Feb. 21, 2022.

    The Crew-3 astronauts are scheduled to conduct a series of spacewalks to outfit the station’s power system in preparation for new solar arrays that will increase the station’s total available power supply.

    At the conclusion of the mission, Crew Dragon will autonomously undock with the four astronauts aboard, depart the space station and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.

    After splashdown just off Florida’s coast, a SpaceX recovery vessel will pick up the crew and bring them back to shore to board a plane for return to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

  • Diwali Stamp is 5Years Old

    Diwali Stamp is 5Years Old

    Time to Recount How the Stamp was Won

    Diwali Stamp is inaugurated at the Indian Consulate in New York, October 5, 2016.
    Seen the picture, among others are-Hardip Singh Puri then India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and now Union in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet (left foreground), Consul General of India Riva Ganguly Das (first left), Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney (second left), Congresswoman Grace Meng (third right), Ranju Batra, (second right), Ravi Batra (right foreground) (Photo / Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia)

    Diwali Stamp made its way to the United Nations. Ranju Batra is seen addressing the gathering of diplomats and community leaders at the UN, December 11, 2017. (Photo / Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia)
    Ambassadors, including India’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, lighted the lamp at the United Nations, December 11, 2017. (Photo / Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia)
    A celebration at City Hall, New York. (Photo / Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia)

    By Indrajit Saluja with Bidisha Roy

    The iconic Diwali Stamp which took years in the embryo, got delivered on October 5, 2016, thanks to the relentless efforts of Ranju Batra, assisted and supported by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney who introduced a bill in the Congress for a Diwali Stamp, and many other politicians and community leaders. On October 5 this year, the Diwali Stamp has completed 5 years. Happy Birthday to the Diwali Stamp!

    The day became very special for millions of Indians living in the USA. It was a moment of great pride for every single Indian American to stand and be counted at the Indian Consulate in New York City at the first day-of-issue dedication ceremony of the ‘Diwali stamp.’ The day calls for a recall of how the daunting task was accomplished.

    The commemorative stamp release was actually a 7-year “saga” of relentless journey of Diwali Stamp Project ChairRanju Batra who had, despite all odds, persevered and won for 1.3 billion Indians a US Diwali commemorative stamp. In her journey Ranju got overwhelming support from the community and everyone was ecstatic to be part of the history making. The ‘fight’ for a Diwali stamp became part of her daily life.  Wherever she went, whomsoever she met – be it President Obama or Prime Minister Modi – she persuaded for the stamp as she felt though Diwali holds a great significance for many Americans and well over a billion people across the globe, the United States Postal Service has not recognized this beautiful festival of lights with a commemorative stamp, although it has done so for other major religious and cultural holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Eid.

    How was the journey? “As many of you know, I was determined to succeed in my goal to get the USPS to issue a Diwali Stamp, knowing all others had tried and given up. I spent nearly 7 years chasing it – peacefully, and using only inclusive and respectful means. Along the way, I got a lot of help from a lot of people, regular and powerful. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney accepted my invitation to partner with me – so that there would be a stamp not only for Hanukkah, Christmas, Eid, and Kwanza, but also for Diwali. I even sought support from PM Modi and President Obama”, recalls Ranju.

    Ranju’s strongest supporter was her husband Ravi Batra, Chair of the National Advisory Council of South Asian Affairs. But Initially Ravi was skeptical about the success of the hard task.

    “From Day 1, when Ranju told me she wanted to work to get United States Postal Service to issue a Diwali Stamp, I discouraged her, as it was an insurmountable task, with no clear path for success”, says Ravi. But Ranju was unstoppable. “If Ranju wants to do something, nothing is going to stop her. She told me in no uncertain terms, she was going to work for it, and not stop until she succeeded – with or without me. So, after some time, I got in line to be supportive, and when she wanted my involvement. Luckily, she did most of the heavy lifting – all be her lonesome self. Many of our dear friends helped. Key supporters among the notables were: then-Amb. Hardeep Singh Puri, Amb. Lakshmi Puri, C.G. Dnyaneshwar Mulay wrote the Official Poem for the Diwali Stamp Project, and Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney accepted Ranju’s invitation to partner with her to provide national political leadership.” Ranju even asked PM Modi to help and wrote to then-President Barack Obama. She designed numerous paper petitions and got all her friends to sign. She got strangers to sign. She even got diplomats of numerous countries and the families to sign. She carried Petitions with her wherever she went, by incorporating it into her daily life. She would get them signed, and then mail them to USPS. In fact, USPS acknowledged in writing that her singular campaign of constantly mailing these paper petitions finally tipped the balance – not all the other stuff that was said and done.

    In her journey Ranju had another ‘partner’ in Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) who also relentlessly fought for this cause as she felt that ‘a relatively small action would hold great meaning for millions of people.’ On January 14, 2015, Congresswoman Maloney introduced H. Res. 32, urging the USPS to issue a commemorative holiday stamp for Diwali. For several years, Congresswoman Maloney has headed efforts in Congress to push the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) to consider issuing a commemorative Diwali stamp. In 2013, Congresswoman Maloney introduced H.Res. 47, expressing the sense of the U.S. House of Representatives that the CSAC should issue a Diwali stamp. The bill had 46 cosponsors. Maloney wrote letters to the CSAC in 2010 and 2012 requesting the same action.

    “Until the stamp was issued, Diwali was the only major holiday for which there was no stamp. There are stamps issued for Christmas, Hannukah, Eid and Kwanzaa, but for some incomprehensible reason, Diwali was never honored. I knew that needed to change. Over the years that we worked for the stamp, we held countless meetings and public events to raise awareness about effort. I introduced three Congressional resolutions in support of a Diwali stamp. We had letter writing campaigns and meetings with postal officials including Postmaster General Brennan. Finally, with the help of the PMG we were successful”, Maloney told The Indian Panorama. And finally, the day came. United States Postal Service released the Diwali Forever stamp at the Indian consulate on Oct 5, 2016. The Consulate probably has never seen before such huge crowd, as on this very special and historic day. The rooms were packed to capacity, with many people standing to watch the proceedings. There were endless lines of people eager to buy Diwali Stamps. USPS ran short of the stamps. Some of those who had already paid also were disappointed, as they could not get the stamps. Incidentally, Congresswoman Maloney at a Diwali celebration in Washington, D.C.  to honor the lawmakers of Indian origin, October 26, said she wouldmove to have the Diwali day as a federal holiday. Thank you, Maloney for your love of Diwali, the Indian American community and India.

    The stamp design is a photograph featuring a traditional diya oil lamp beautifully lit, sitting on a sparkling gold background. Diya lamps are usually made from clay with cotton wicks dipped in a clarified butter known as “ghee” or in vegetable oils.

    Sally Andersen-Bruce of New Milford, CT, photographed the diya. Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, designed the stamp and William J. Gicker of Washington, DC, served as the project’s art director. The Diwali stamp was issued as a Forever stamp. This Forever stamp is always equal to the value of the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

    Ranju did another miracle. “In 10 days between being informed that the Diwali Stamp would issue and its dedication, she was granted an exclusive status to pre-sell the Stamp on USPS behalf. And in 10 short days, she personally sold over 170,000 Diwali Stamps! She beat USPS’ top seller -Batman stamp, to make our Diwali Stamp the #1 best seller in USPS history of over 200 years!”, says proud Ravi.

    On December 5, 2016, Ranju was honored and the Diwali Stamp was recognized by 24 nations led by Belarus’ now-Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Dapkiunas, along with Georgia and India as Co-Organizers, and with Co-Sponsors –  Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Botswana, Cyprus, France, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malta, Morocco, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Permanent Observer State of Palestine, and International Atomic Energy Agency-NY.

    Now that the Diwali Stamp is five years old, how does it feel?

    For Ranju, Diwali Stamp’s celebration is not of a religion, not of a nation, but it is of the spirit of harmonious inclusiveness and cultural understanding that all religions deserve. “While my journey took 7 years, Diwali Stamp is here FOREVER, and it will be a  matter of pride for generations to come, not only because it is a Forever Stamp, but because we did it together – with the support of every faith – because all of us are entitled to a better and peaceful tomorrow, no matter where we were born, and no matter how we pray.  In this digital age a small piece of paper called – Diwali Stamp – celebrates the living heritage of over 1 billion people – actually, has brought together all 7 billion of us as one human family! “

    Ravi salutes Ranju’s unbeatable quest to get an American Holiday for generations yet unborn. “As many have noted, and I wholeheartedly agree: generations yet unborn will celebrate Diwali as an American Holiday, thanks to Ranju’s unbeatable quest to get it. Not bad for a gentle soul that Ranju is. This Stamp makes every Diwali-celebrant “at home” in America; we belong – more than just due to our passport – as we embroider America to be even more beautiful and help Good beat Evil. If I may, I am proud of Ranju, as she has not only enhanced our family, but has enhanced each one of us. That 24 nations came together, led by Belarus’ now-DFM Andrei Dapkiunas -as an outgrowth from a dinner hosted by Georgia’s PR Kaha Imnadze.  in 2016 in the Trusteeship Council Chamber at the United Nations to honor Ranju’s amazing quest – using the highest ideals of the UN – was an honor I will never forget. Both Belarus and Georgia exhibited the finest principle – of respect of a good person and a different faith – and they did it selflessly and with warmest affection. Humanity, as its best.”

    For Maloney,this effort was about far more than just the issuance of a postage stamp though. “It is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, lightness of over dark, and knowledge over ignorance. These virtues are more relevant than ever, and we can all become better people by embracing these values with one another. I could not be more proud to have played a role in this achievement and am grateful that the Hindu and Sikh communities have finally received the recognition and honor they deserve.”

    The Diwali stamp will be a matter of pride for generations to come!!

    Happy Diwali!

    (With inputs from a story published in The Indian Panorama in 2019, commemorating 3 years of the Diwali Stamp)

  • HISTORY THIS WEEK-October 29 to November 4, 2021

    HISTORY THIS WEEK-October 29 to November 4, 2021

    “What is history? An echo of the past in the future; a reflex from the future on the past.”   – Victor Hugo

    October 29

    October 29, 1618 – British explorer Sir Walter Raleigh was executed in London for treason on orders from King James I.

    October 29, 1929 – The stock market crashed as over 16 million shares were dumped amid tumbling prices. The Great Depression followed in America, lasting until the outbreak of World War II.

    Birthday – Nazi propaganda minister Paul Joseph Goebbels (1897-1945) was born in Rheydt, near Dusseldorf, Germany. Considered a master propagandist, he controlled all Nazi newspapers, radio and film production. He was a virulent anti-Semite who advocated the extermination of the Jews. Devoted to Hitler until the end, he died at Hitler’s Berlin bunker in 1945 after poisoning his six children.

    October 30

    October 30, 1905 – To counter the spread of revolutionary movements in Russia, Czar Nicholas II took a step toward constitutional government by allowing for an elected parliament (Duma) with legislative powers and guaranteeing civil liberties.

    October 30, 1938 – The War of the Worlds radio broadcast panicked millions of Americans. Actor Orson Welles and the Mercury Players dramatized the story by H.G. Wells depicting a Martian invasion of New Jersey. Their script utilized simulated radio news bulletins which many listeners thought were real.

    October 30, 1990 – For the first time since the Ice Age, Great Britain was connected with the European continent, via a new rail tunnel under the English Channel.

    Birthday – John Adams (1735-1826) the 2nd U.S. President was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He served from March 4, 1797 to March 3, 1801. He had been George Washington’s vice president, and was the father of John Quincy Adams, the 6th President. He died on July 4, 1826, the same day as Thomas Jefferson, on the 50th anniversary of adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

    Birthday – Emily Post (1872-1960) was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She wrote influential books on etiquette and a syndicated newspaper column giving advice on manners in specific situations.

    Birthday – Admiral William “Bull” Halsey (1882-1959) was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was the American fleet commander during World War II in the Pacific and played a leading role in the defeat of the Japanese. In 1942, he launched the Doolittle Raid, the first air raid on Japan. From 1942-44, he coordinated successful attacks on the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. In 1944, he led the U.S. fleet to victory at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history.

    October 31st – Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve, an ancient celebration combining the Christian festival of All Saints with Pagan autumn festivals.

    October 31, 1517 – Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg’s palace church, denouncing the selling of papal indulgences and questioning various ecclesiastical practices. This marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation in Germany.

    October 31, 1940 – The Battle of Britain concluded. Beginning on July 10, 1940, German bombers and fighters had attacked coastal targets, airfields, London and other cities, as a prelude to a Nazi invasion of England. British pilots in Spitfires and Hurricanes shot down over 1,700 German aircraft while losing 915 fighters. “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few,” declared Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

    October 31, 1941 – Mount Rushmore National Memorial was completed after 14 years of work. The memorial contains 60-foot-tall sculptures of the heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt – representing America’s founding, political philosophy, preservation, and expansion and conservation.

    October 31, 1950 – Earl Lloyd became the first African American to play in a National Basketball Association (NBA) game when he took the floor for the Washington Capitols in Rochester, New York.

    October 31, 1952 – The U.S. detonated its first hydrogen bomb at the Elugelab Atoll in the Eniwetok Proving Grounds in the Pacific Marshall Islands.

    October 31, 1961 – The body of Joseph Stalin was removed from the mausoleum in Red Square and reburied within the Kremlin walls among the graves of lesser Soviet heroes. This occurred as part of Russia’s de-Stalinization program under his successor Nikita Khrushchev. Stalin’s name was also removed from public buildings, streets, and factories. Stalingrad was renamed Volgograd.

    October 31, 1968 – During the Vietnam War, President Lyndon Johnson ordered a halt of American bombing of North Vietnam.

    October 31, 1984 – Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by three Sikh members of her bodyguard while walking in the garden of her New Delhi home.

    Birthday – Chinese soldier and statesman Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) was born in Chekiang. Educated at the Wampoa Military Academy, he led the KMT (nationalist) forces in the struggle against the Communist army led by Mao Zedong.

    November 1

    November 1st – All Hallows Day, also known as All Saints Day among Roman Catholics, commemorating those who have no special feast day.

    November 1, 1700 – Charles II of Spain died and was succeeded by Philip V, resulting in the War of Spanish Succession.

    November 1, 1776 – Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in California. Each year, the swallows of Capistrano leave their nests there around St. John’s Day (October 23rd) and return the following year near St. Joseph’s Day (March 19th).

    November 1, 1848 – The first medical school for women opened in Boston. The Boston Female Medical School was founded by Samuel Gregory with just twelve students. In 1874, the school merged with the Boston University School of Medicine, becoming one of the first co-ed medical schools.

    November 1, 1936 – The Rome-Berlin Axis was proclaimed by Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini following a visit to Berlin by Italian Foreign Secretary Ciano.

    November 1, 1950 – President Harry S. Truman was the target of an unsuccessful assassination attempt by two members of a Puerto Rican nationalist movement.

    November 1, 1963 – South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu were killed in a military coup.

    November 1, 1993 – The European Union came into existence as a result of the Maastricht Treaty.

    November 1, 1995 – The first all-race local government elections took place in South Africa, marking the end of the apartheid system.

    November 2

    November 2, 1721 – Peter I was proclaimed Emperor of all the Russias.

    November 2, 1930 – Haile Selassie was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia.

    November 2, 1947 – The first and only flight of Howard Hughes’ “Spruce Goose” flying boat occurred in Long Beach Harbor, California. It flew about a mile at an altitude of 70 feet. Costing $25 million, the 200-ton plywood eight-engine Hercules was the world’s largest airplane, designed, built and flown by Hughes. It later became a tourist attraction alongside the Queen Mary ship at Long Beach and has since been moved to Oregon.

    November 2, 1962 – During the Cuban Missile Crisis, President John F. Kennedy announced on TV, “the Soviet bases in Cuba are being dismantled, their missiles and related equipment being crated, and the fixed installations at these sites are being destroyed.”

    Birthday – American frontiersman Daniel Boone (1734-1820) was born in Berks County, near Reading, Pennsylvania.

    Birthday – James K. Polk (1795-1849) the 11th U.S. President was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He served from March 4, 1845 to March 3, 1849. He declined to be a candidate for a second term, saying he was “exceedingly relieved” at the completion of his presidency.

    November 3

    November 3, 1534 – King Henry VIII became Supreme Head of the Church of England following the passage of the Act of Supremacy by Parliament.

    November 3, 1839 – The first Opium War between China and Britain began after British frigates blew up several Chinese junks.

    November 3, 1903 – Panama declared itself independent of Colombia following a revolt engineered by the U.S.

    November 3, 1918 – Part of the German fleet mutinied at Kiel in the closing days of World War I.

    November 3, 1948 – Dewey Defeats Truman banner headline appeared on the front page of the Chicago Tribune newspaper. Harry Truman actually defeated Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey for the presidency.

    November 3, 1957 – Soviet Russia launched the world’s first inhabited space capsule, Sputnik II, which carried a dog named Laika.

    November 3, 1983 – White South Africans voted to allow Indians and “Coloreds” (persons of mixed race) limited power in the government, but continued to exclude blacks.

    November 4

    November 4, 1922 – King Tut’s tomb was discovered at Luxor, Egypt, by British archaeologist Howard Carter after several years of searching. The child-King Tutankhamen became pharaoh at age nine and died around 1352 B.C. at age 19. The tomb was found mostly intact, containing numerous priceless items now exhibited in Egypt’s National Museum in Cairo.

    November 4, 1842 – Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd in Springfield, Illinois.

    November 4, 1862 – Richard Gatling patented his first rapid-fire machine-gun which used revolving barrels rotating around a central mechanism to load, fire, and extract the cartridges.

    November 4, 1890 – The first electrified underground railway system was officially opened in London.

    November 4, 1942 – During World War II, British troops led by Bernard Montgomery defeated the Germans under Erwin Rommel at El Alamein after a twelve-day battle.

    November 4, 1956 – Soviet Russian troops moved in to crush an uprising in Hungary.

    November 4, 1979 – About 500 young Iranian militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Teheran, Iran, and took 90 hostages, including 52 Americans that they held captive for 444 days.

    (Photo H 6 here)

    November 4, 1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated as he left a peace rally in Tel Aviv.

    Birthday – American humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935) was born in Oologah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). “All I know is what I read in the newspapers,” he once joked. He was killed in an airplane crash with aviator Wiley Post near Point Barrow, Alaska.

    Birthday – Famed TV journalist Walter Cronkite (1916-2009) was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was a leading correspondent for United Press International during World War II. From 1962 to 1981, he was the anchorman of the CBS Evening News and was widely regarded as America’s most trusted journalist.

  • VIRGINIA WILL GO RED ON NOV 3, 2021…!!

    VIRGINIA WILL GO RED ON NOV 3, 2021…!!

    By Dave Makkar

    Unlike other state governors, Virginia governors are not allowed to serve consecutive terms. They have been barred from immediate re-election since the adoption of Virginia’s second constitution, in 1830. However, a former governor is permitted to run for a second term in a future election.

    Since 1830, only Mills Godwin, was elected to additional term. Godwin also became the first ever governor in American history to be elected by both major parties when the former Democrat Governor (1966-70) was re-elected in 1973 as a Republican.

    Virginia has another tradition, for nearly 50 years, with two exceptions;in 1973 when Governor House & White House was with Republicans and in 2013 McAuliffe (D) got elected when Obama (D) was in White House. Virginians have elected governors from the opposite party of the one that controlled the White House. They seem to favor a balance between state and national politics.

    The state population has boomed, it is up by 38 percent since 1990. One in 10 people eligible to vote in the state were born outside the United States, up from 01 in 28 in 1990. For years, Virginia has shifted more Democratic and since after the election of (D) Gov. Ralph Northam in 2018, it has become a solid blue state. According to Amy Walter, national editor of The Cook Political Report, which provides analysis of elections and races; in 2018 Democrats succeeded in places where they didn’t in 2006, but also they did well in places that 10 years ago we never would have considered competitive.” It has not voted Republican in a presidential election since 2004 and it has not elected a Republican to any statewide office since 2009.

    Large swaths of Virginia are still very conservative and Trump is popular in those places. In 2016, he won 93 of Virginia’s 133 counties, but it wasn’t enough to take the state & lost to Clinton by 5.4%. In 2020 election, Biden won Virginia with 54.11% of the vote, and by a margin of 10.11%, the best performance for a Democratic presidential candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944.

    This year the contest for Governorship is between a political newcomer and a businessman Glenn Allen Youngkin on the Republican side and former Democrat Gov. Terrence Richard McAuliffe.

    Terry McAuliffe is a lifelongcarrier American politician and better known as consigliere to the Clinton family, few people epitomize establishment socialism better than Terry McAuliffe. He was the 72nd Gov. of VA from 2014 to 2018, chairman of Hillary Clinton‘s 2008 presidential campaign and Chair of DNC from 2001 to 2005. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2009 VA Gov. elections. If he wins the 2021 election, he would become the first VAGov. since Mills Godwin in 1973 to serve two non-consecutive terms.

    McAuliffe had his bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America.  After graduating worked for President Jimmy Carter‘s re-election campaign, becoming the national finance director at age 22. Following the campaign, he attended Georgetown University Law Center, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. He is married to his wife, Dorothy (American attorney), for 33 years and the couple has five children.

    Glenn Youngkin is an American businessman, prior to entering politics, he has spent 25 years at the private-equity firm The Carlyle Group, rising to become its Co-CEO. He is an alumnus of Rice University, Harvard University & Harvard Business School. He is married to his wife, Suzanne, for 27 years and the couple has four children.Suzanne is the founder of Normandy Farms and the President of the Phos Foundation. She is a member of the Meadowlark Retreat Center’s Board of Directors and the Shakespeare Theatre Company. She is also a member of the Equine Medical Center’s Advisory Council at Virginia Tech. She not only supports her husband’s policies, also handles issues in the campaign.

    Youngkin, who retired from Carlyle in September 2020, described leaving because he felt “called into public service.” His friends say Youngkin’s rise up the professional ladder hasn’t changed him and he remains down to earth, hardworking and humble.

    Right from the beginning McAuliffe has made tying Youngkin to Trump the central attack of his campaign, hoping to link the Republican to a former President who lost VA in both 2016 and 2020. He was banking on that voters’ distaste for Trump will be enough to weigh Youngkin down.Other than that McAuliffe has focused on his record from his previous term, but he never offered much of an argument as to why he deserves a second term. He attacks Trump with a passion but avoids talking about his friend for 4 decades President Biden, whom he helped carry Virginia by 10 points just a year ago.

    In his effort to tie Youngkin with Trump, he was supported by President Biden on July 28, 2021.  Biden said in the rally that, “Terry and I share a lot in common. I ran against Donald Trump and so is Terry. And I whipped Donald Trump in Virginia and so will Terry,” McAuliffe said in Arlington. “I tell you what, the guy Terry is running against is an acolyte of Donald Trump — for real.” McAuliffe, also calls Youngkin a “Trump wannabe.”

    By August, McAuliffe had a 12 points (46-38) lead over Republican Youngkin in VA Gov. race, according to a Roanoke College poll.  On SEP 17, 2021 during the firstelection debate, McAuliffe made it clear that Virginia has rejected Donald Trump and his right-wing agenda and will reject Glenn Youngkin this November.

    On the other hand, Youngkin’s campaign had a sluggish start but later on moved into high gear. With no experience as a candidate, and few insider connections or public political views. Youngkin started proving to be a natural campaigner, both connecting with voters and deftly seizing on dissatisfaction with Richmond and Washington. Even GOP lawmaker who were not too supportive, started coming around on Youngkin, after seeing his ability to connect with people as his best attribute. Eventually he got the support of 94% of Republicans in the state.

    He started targeting concerns among moderate and swing voters in Northern Virginia about crime, taxes and spending. His support for the police, pledge to protect police officers against individual lawsuits, and effort to paint Democrats as anti-law enforcement were among the issues that forced the voters to take him as a serious challenger.

    The voters started responding to his pitch, that I’ll be honest, I’m not a politician. I am a businessman who’s spent the last 30 years raising my family in Virginia, I firmly believe Virginia should be the best and I’m ready to join together with hard working Virginians to make it happen.

    He wants to divide parents from their kids’ classrooms

    He wants to remove law enforcement from our communities

    He wants to divide Virginia


    I refuse to let it happen, that’s why I’m reaching out to Virginians. I firmly believe conservative policies can bring us together and create a country that will thrive for generations to come.

    Youngkin spokesperson Matt Wolking responded to McAuliffe’s ad against Youngkin, by saying the former governor “opposes requiring a photo ID to vote, which undermines the integrity of our elections and makes it easier to cheat.”

    “Glenn Youngkin will restore Virginia’s photo ID law and make sure it is easy for every eligible person to vote and harder to cheat,” Wolking said. “As an American, Glenn Youngkin is absolutely right that in order for Virginia to do well economically, the foundations of our country must be strong, including confidence in the integrity of our elections and Americans’ willingness to accept the results of our democratic process.”

    On September 28, McAuliffe in a debate with Youngkin, was asked to address parental complaints about sexually explicit books and curricula, McAuliffe said: “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.” After the debate on Sep. 30, 2021 Roanoke College Poll was released, showing McAuliffe’s lead came down to 7 points over Youngkin from 12 points in early Aug. 2021.

    Within hours, Team Youngkin made McAuliffe’s quote world famous, via TV ads, social media, Twitter and widespread news coverage.

    A Youngkin spot soon showed McAuliffe, on video, repeatedly stating the same position:

    “You don’t want parents coming in, in every different school jurisdiction.”

    Regarding school agendas: “First of all, this is determined by the State Board of Education and local school boards. And that’s where it should be.”

    “You do not want 25 parents picking books.”

    “We have a Board of Ed, and we have local school boards who make the decisions about teaching.”

    “I’m not going to let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decision.”

    This brought Youngkin and Virginia Gov. election on the Map of America. The Parental involvement is becoming a potent National Issue in the education of their children and it is gaining traction in all major cities of America.

    White fathers and mothers hate Critical Race Theory teaching their sons and daughters that they are genetic racists who must apologize for being born Caucasian. Some black parents loathe CRT for deeming their children eternally oppressed by Whites and, thus, doomed to failure.These parents have packed school board meetings to excoriate CRT, counterproductive mask and vax mandates, gender studies, and more. All of this has driven parents and other voters into the streets.

    McAuliffe’s colossal mistake on Sep 28th, was the final nail in the coffin of his own campaign after Biden’s dismal 52% disapproval at national level because of his fiasco to allow 2 mil unauthorized migrants to enter America, high energy prices and abrupt pull out from Afghanistan by leaving its own citizens &allies and making America a laughingstock of the world. After that the race became a dead-tied at 46 to 46.

    To salvage his dying campaign, McAuliffe brought in DNC Chair, Jaime Harrison,Democrat activist, Stacey Abrams, VP Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden made his 2nd visit to the state to help him take the lead back. So far, their collective efforts to prop up the candidacy of McAuliffe has failed miserably rather Obama & Biden both have hurt him by making divisive comments, rants against former President Trump, who is not the candidate and tying Younkin to Trump.

    On Oct 23, Former US president Barack Obama urged voters to back the Democrat in a neck-and-neck election touted as a test of the party’s prospects in next year’s midterm elections — casting the Republican as a threat to democracy.

    Oct. 26, Biden’s rant hit Trump on everything from his claims of election fraud, the pandemic and the Jan. 6 insurrection. Biden asked, “How well do you know Terry’s opponent?”  “Well, just remember this. I ran against Donald Trump. And Terry is running against an acolyte of Donald Trump.” Toward the end of his speech, he said extremism could come in many forms, it could arrive in a mob-driven assault on the U.S. Capitol. Then Biden added of Youngkin, “it can come in a smile and a fleece vest.””Virginia, you can’t take anything for granted,” the president concluded his speech. “Show up for democracy, for Virginia, for the United States of America.”Biden said next to nothing about the negotiations on his signature social welfare and infrastructure legislation happening just across the Potomac at the same time.

    In the meantime, Youngkin got elevated to the status of the new conservative face surging against the old establishment. He has succeeded in dismantling Socialism as preached by Democrats. He said, this race has never been this close, we have the chance to start a red wave across this nation. But it starts with winning this race. He told Fox News: “This is no longer a campaign. It’s a movement.”

    During the first three weeks of October, Youngkin outraised McAuliffe, while McAuliffe outspent Youngkin, according to reports compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan tracker of money in state politics.Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, also cited a shift in voters’ top issues away from the pandemic, which tends to favor Democrats, and toward the economy and education, where the politics are murkier.

    Youngkin’s campaign will become a template for the Republicans in 2022 midterm elections, especially for those in blue states. Youngkin will be elected as Gov of VA on Nov. 3, 2021 to capture the governor’s mansion for the Republican’s to make it the first time since 2009.

    The other highlight is the contest between two women of color, Republican Winsome E Sears is facing off against Democrat Hala S Ayala to be Virginia’s next lieutenant governor on November 2, 2021. The Lt. Gov. is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and, unlike the governor, may run for re-election. Of the four lieutenant governors who have been elected since 2002, three were Democrats and one was a Republican. The Lt. Gov. serves as the president of the Virginia State Senate and may cast tie-breaking votes. Virginia is one of 17 states in which the Lt. Gov. is nominated in a separate primary and elected in separate general election from the governor.

    Sears was elected to a majority Black legislative district in 2001! No other Republican has done that in Virginia since 1865: She consequently also became the first (and still only) Black Republican woman elected to the House, the first female Marine veteran, and the first legal Jamaican immigrant woman. She is a mother, wife and has Master’s degree and has built a successful business also. She was also a hard-charging Vice President of the Virginia State Board of Education and received presidential appointments to the US Census Bureau (where she co-chaired the African American Committee) and the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. However, she is most proud of her community work leading a men’s prison ministry and as director of a women’s homeless shelter for The Salvation Army.

    Ayala is an American Hispanic politician representing the 51st district in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2017.  She defeated four-term Republican incumbent Richard L. Anderson. Ayala and Elizabeth Guzman became the first Hispanic women elected to the House. She has an associate’s degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix. Has formerly worked for the United States Department of Homeland Security as a cybersecurity specialist for 18 years. She also formerly led the Prince William County chapter of the National Organization for Women, serving as chapter president in 2014. She was a volunteer for Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012. She also served on the Virginia Council on Women as an appointee of Governor Terry McAuliffe for a term expiring on June 30, 2016.She is a single mother and has two children.She, claims African, Hispanic, Irish and Lebanese ancestry because of El Salvador native father and an Irish and Lebanese mother.

    Sears or Ayala: both would make history in VA election; either candidate would be the first woman as well as the first woman of color to serve in a post that serves as a launching pad to the governor’s mansion. 5 of the past 10 lieutenant governors went on to become governor. In a University of Mary Washington poll conducted between September 7-13, 2021, 47% of likely voters supported Sears while 41% supported Ayala.Since than Sears has been maintaining this lead over Ayala despite being labeled as too extreme by Ayala.

    Sears is voter’s favorite to be elected as Lt. Gov of VA on Nov. 3, 2021.

    (Compiled from various sources on the internet by: Dave Makkar. Dave is a social activist and comments on both the American and the Indian political, social and economic issues. He can be reached at davemakkar@yahoo.com)

     

  • The hunter gets captured by the game: Aryan Khan, Sameer Wankhede and a political slugfest

    The hunter gets captured by the game: Aryan Khan, Sameer Wankhede and a political slugfest

    By Alok Deshpande

    The Aryan Khan case has created ripples everywhere and brought many under the scanner. The son of the famous actor may be out on bail, but with Malik continuing to make allegations against Wankhede and the officer now running to court for protection, the show is yet to get over.

    Following the arrest of superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son in a drugs-related case, allegations of professional and personal impropriety have been made against Sameer Wankhede, the officer heading the investigation. Alok Deshpande reports on the events of the last three weeks which have grown into a political slugfest. In the wee hours of October 3, a crowd gathered outside the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) office in south Mumbai. When an officer stepped out of the building and under the glare of television cameras, reporters, hungry for bites, pounced on him, many almost pushing their mikes into his mouth. “Yes, we have taken eight to 10 people in our custody,” said the officer, Sameer Wankhede, Mumbai Zonal Director of the NCB. “Investigation is in progress.”

    “Eight or 10?” a reporter demanded to know, but this voice got lost in the volley of questions that were being thrown at the officer. Little did anyone in that crowd know that this question would haunt the NCB in general and Wankhede in particular in the coming days. But that is for later.

    On that day, the famed NCB officer had everything under control. Aryan Khan, the 23-year-old son of Shah Rukh Khan, who is one of the biggest film stars in the world, was sitting inside the NCB office. He and his friends Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were being probed by the agency for alleged drug abuse on board the Cordelia cruise ship the day before, at a party organized by Fashion TV. Of the 1,300 guests at the party, the NCB had picked up a few youngsters, later alleging that they were part of an international drug racket. The arrests of the three accused immediately caught the country’s attention. But no one would have expected it to spiral into what it has become today — a bewildering story of accusations and counteraccusations involving politicians, government servants and Bollywood stars.

    In the limelight

    Wankhede’s brush with fame, glamour and controversy is neither new nor surprising. The 2008-batch Indian Revenue Service officer from the Customs and Central Excise branch was posted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai from 2010 to 2013. In 2011, he made headlines when, as Assistant Commissioner of Customs, he imposed a fine of ₹1.5 lakh on none other than Shah Rukh Khan, who had returned from a family holiday in Holland and London, for excess luggage.

    Besides Shah Rukh Khan, Minissha Lamba and Anushka Sharma and team members of Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu, Ranbir Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Anurag Kashyap and Mika Singh have come under Wankhede’s radar during his stint at the airport and then at the Service Tax department for reportedly not declaring imported valuables such as watches, perfumes and footwear.

    Many say they were surprised when Wankhede went to the National Investigation Agency on deputation in 2013. In 2017, he was assigned to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. “What attracted the attention of many and resulted in him being deputed to the NCB was that he had a wide network of informants,” an official with the NCB says on the condition of anonymity.

    In 2020, Wankhede began to probe the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. It all began on June 14 when Rajput, 34, was found dead at his Bandra home. The Mumbai Police began an investigation stating that the death was being treated as a suicide. The autopsy report confirmed that the actor had died by suicide. Nevertheless, an unprecedented political storm occurred in the wake of his death, with the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled to take place a few months later. Rajput was a native of Bihar. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saw an opportunity to denounce the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, especially the Shiv Sena. Senior BJP leaders alleged that Rajput had been murdered and that the incident was being covered up to protect an influential, young leader of the Sena. An FIR was registered in Bihar. The allegations, all made without any evidence, received extraordinary media coverage. Rajput’s girlfriend and actor Rhea Chakraborty was blamed for his death and was then accused of killing him. Following the BJP’s claims, which were aided by Rajput’s family members, central investigating agencies were brought in to probe the case. A team of the Central Bureau of Investigation questioned all those related to Rajput, including Chakraborty. In July 2020, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a money laundering case based on the FIR registered in Bihar and the allegations made by Rajput’s father against Chakraborty. According to sources, the ED’s audit showed references to drugs in Chakraborty’s WhatsApp chats. And so, the NCB was brought in.

    On August 31, 2020, Wankhede, who was in the DRI, was inducted into the NCB for six months. The NCB categorically denies that he was brought in especially for the Rajput case. A statement issued by Mutha Ashok Jain, Deputy Director General, South West region, NCB, read, “The vacancy circular for filling the post of ZD/DD was initiated in the year 2019. Sh. Sameer Wankhede applied for the post of ZD in NCB on deputation on 28.11.2019 through DG, DRI. The application was forwarded to NCB on 27.08.2020 by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. Sh. Sameer Wankhede, IRS was inducted as Zonal Director, Mumbai on 31.08.2020 on loan basis for the period of six months.”

    Within a week of taking charge, Wankhede arrested Chakraborty, despite finding no drugs on her, purely on the basis of her WhatsApp chats which the agency then claimed were related to procuring narcotics for Rajput. The NCB’s investigations based on WhatsApp chats didn’t end there. Actors Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh were also questioned in connection with an alleged drug racket in Bollywood. Kshitij Prasad, former employee at Dharmatic Entertainment, the digital arm of Dharma Productions, was arrested by the NCB. When he was later granted bail, Prasad claimed that the NCB led by Wankhede had harassed him and coerced him to falsely implicate actors Ranbir Kapoor, Dino Morea and Arjun Rampal. The NCB denied the claim.

    With Wankhede’s arrival, the NCB’s drive to ‘clean up’ Bollywood seemed to gain momentum. “Messages used to go to certain reporters well before the NCB would go to interrogate a celebrity,” a journalist working with a leading private television channel says. WhatsApp chats were leaked to sections of the media, which helped create a narrative against the accused. An agency which was earlier investigating and probing drug cartels and suppliers started making headlines for probing alleged drug users, most of them celebrities, who were found in possession of small quantities of drugs or none at all. Reacting to the criticism that was being directed against him, Wankhede simply said he was following the law.

    The officer who had come to the NCB on “loan basis” for six months has till now received two extensions. Since Wankhede’s induction, the NCB has set a record by arresting over 300 people. The agency claims it has dismantled around 12 drug gangs in Mumbai and Goa. But sources point out that none of the high-profile cases have stood scrutiny in court; in many cases, even the charge-sheets have not been filed. That WhatsApp chats alone are being used as evidence against celebrities has come under the scanner too.

    Wankhede has said in interviews that his mother worked for street children and his father, who is from the uniformed services, always wanted to see him work for the nation. All these personal details have added to his image as a daredevil officer.

    Nawab Malik’s salvos

    Wankhede’s actions were countered for the first time when the NCB arrested comedian Bharti Singh and her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa in November 2020 and allegedly seized 86.5 grams of ganja from their home and office. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Minister for Minority Affairs and Skills Development Nawab Malik said then that drug addicts should be sent to rehabilitation centers and not jail. “The NCB’s duty is to track down drug traffickers but no action is being taken against them,” said Malik, a five-time MLA who is close to NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

    Two months later, on January 13, 2021, messages were sent to reporters about a “high-profile” interrogation at the NCB office. The accused, the reporters found out on rushing there, was Sameer Khan, Malik’s son-in-law. On January 9, the NCB had seized 200 kilograms of marijuana and arrested British national Karan Sejnani and two sisters — Rahila and Shaista Furniturewala — from Bandra. Sameer was summoned by the NCB after an alleged online transaction of ₹20,000 between him and Sejnani was found. Asked for his reaction then, Malik had said, “Law will take its due course and justice will prevail. I respect and have immense faith in our judiciary.” Sameer remained in jail for nearly eight months.

    Months later, Malik paid keen attention to the visuals that were flashing on television screens of some men with Aryan Khan inside the NCB office. Malik decided to hear what Wankhede was saying in front of the camera. “He said ‘eight to 10 are in our custody’. What is this? A joke? It is either eight or 10. An officer always knows how many are in custody,” Malik said.

    Malik’s eyes were also drawn to the footage of a bearded man on the cruise ship where Aryan Khan was also present. “An officer with a styled beard?” he wondered. Around the same time when Malik’s suspicions rose, a bald and hefty man’s selfie with Aryan Khan went viral on social media. Wankhede, who was now unknowingly being sucked into a whirlpool, quickly responded that the person in the photo was not an NCB officer. The media ran the clarification. But Malik decided to dig deeper. A photo search on Google led him to K.P. Gosavi, an accused in a cheating case in Pune. Through Gosavi, and using his own network of contacts in the Gujarati trading community, Malik also identified the bearded man on the ship as Manish Bhanushali, a BJP worker. Malik knew he had got hold of something. Malik, who Wankhede says harbors a personal grudge against him, does not deny his past altercations with team Wankhede. He says he was quiet when his son-in-law was arrested as he believed that the law would take its course. But when the judiciary found no evidence against Sameer Khan and the court order stated that what was seized was herbal tobacco, he decided to speak out, he said. He alleged that the NCB had framed his son-in-law.

    Following these revelations, the NCB aggressively defended the use of Gosavi and Bhanushali as independent witnesses on the first day of allegations and even hinted that Malik’s outburst was due to personal reasons.

    Undeterred, Malik then addressed Wankhede’s vague statement that “eight to 10 people” had been detained. He said that 11 people, in fact, had been detained by the NCB during the October 2 raid but three of them — BJP leader Mohit Kamboj’s brother-in-law Rishabh Sachdev, Pratik Gabha and Amir Furniturewala — were let off.

    Malik kept the heat up on Wankhede. Two days later, he raised questions about the involvement of a man cited by the NCB as an independent witness in as many as three cases. He asked whether the man, Fletcher Patel, was an independent witness or a close aide of Wankhede’s. The NCP leader also took to Twitter to post a screenshot of an Instagram picture of Fletcher Patel with a woman described as “lady don”. The woman in the picture is Yasmeen Wankhede, Sameer Wankhede’s sister. A few days later, Malik claimed that Wankhede was extorting money from Bollywood celebrities by threatening them and released photos of the NCB official’s trip to the Maldives.

    Malik also alleged that Wankhede is originally Muslim and used a fake caste certificate to get his government job. On the same day, another independent witness, Prabhakar Sail, who was a bodyguard of K.P. Gosavi, filed an affidavit claiming that the NCB had demanded ₹25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan of which ₹8 crore was to go to Wankhede. Sail also said that Wankhede asked him to sign on blank papers. The next day, Malik released the ‘nikahnama’ of Wankhede’s first marriage with Shabana Qureishi where the officer’s father’s name is mentioned as Dawood instead of Dnyandev as per his caste certificate. The Qazi who officiated the marriage in question said that both families involved in the wedding were Muslims.

    NCB officer Sameer Wankhede. (File photo)

    The NCB has been on a defensive mode. For the first time, it has been forced to issue a string of clarifications. Things came to a head with Sail’s affidavit which left the NCB with no option but to form a five-member vigilance team to probe the allegations against Wankhede. The NCB’s Deputy Director General (Northern Region), Gyaneshwar Singh, appealed to Sail to come and depose in front of the agency, but Sail has gone underground.

    Facing the heat

    Meanwhile, the NCB officer’s family says they are being harassed and have been receiving threats ever since Malik claimed that Wankhede’s caste certificate is fraudulent. Wankhede says he is Hindu by birth and was married to Qureishi under the Special Marriage Act. “The nikahnama was done as my late mother, who was a Muslim, wanted Islamic rituals,” he said. His father claims that he never converted to Islam and was lovingly called Dawood by his wife. Wankhede’s wife Kranti Redkar-Wankhede, an actor, has also denied all the allegations. She says Wankhede is a Hindu and an honest officer. She has written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanding “justice” while invoking her Marathi roots.

    “I do not have a problem with him being a Muslim or a person from any other religion. We have the freedom to practice the religion of our choice. However, Wankhede, by faking his caste certificate, has denied the right of a hard-working child from the Scheduled Caste community by usurping a seat,” Malik said.

    Malik’s tweets every morning have kept the pot boiling for the NCB. The BJP has targeted Malik, claiming that the MVA government has been working hard to save Shah Rukh Khan’s son. BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar complained to the Kurla Police station alleging that Malik, by claiming that Wankhede was a Muslim, was creating communal disharmony. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale held a press conference where he termed Malik’s allegations baseless. “Wankhede is a Dalit officer, who is doing good work… and it is not right to target him,” he said.

    A political slugfest

    Following Rajput’s death as well as the bomb scare in Antilia in February this year, where a car laden with explosives was found parked near the house of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, the BJP strongly advocated the use of central agencies for investigations claiming that the Maharashtra Police were being misused by the MVA government. The Union government ensured that central probe agencies took control of the investigations in these cases. All three parties in the MVA government have alleged several times that the BJP is using central agencies to tarnish the State’s image and destabilize the government.

    The BJP’s outburst against Malik came after he exposed the party’s direct connection with the Aryan Khan case. The party could not deny Bhanushali’s presence during the raid. BJP leader Mohit Kamboj, whose brother-in-law was let off by the NCB, has threatened to file a defamation suit against Malik.

    After spending more than three weeks in jail, Aryan Khan was granted bail on October 28. Gosavi, who was on the run after his identity was revealed, has now been arrested by the Pune Police in a 2018 cheating case. Bhanushali is nowhere to be found. Wankhede has approached the Bombay High Court seeking protection from possible arrest by the Mumbai Police on the charge of extortion. A departmental inquiry has been initiated against him too.

    In the midst of the political slugfest, social media has flared up with one section supporting Shah Rukh Khan and the other, Wankhede. Several social media accounts have been running hashtags personally targeting Shah Rukh Khan, demanding rejection of bail to his son and calling for a boycott of all the products he endorses. Attacks were also mounted against Malik using hashtags such as #SendNawabMalikToJail.

    In the blockbuster film Om Shanti Om, Shah Rukh Khan’s character famously says, ‘Picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost (The show is yet to get over, my friend)’. The Aryan Khan case has created ripples everywhere and brought many under the scanner. The son of the famous actor may be out on bail, but with Malik continuing to make allegations against Wankhede and the officer now running to court for protection, the show is yet to get over.

  • SATYAMEVA JAYATE – LET THE TRUTH PREVAIL

    SATYAMEVA JAYATE – LET THE TRUTH PREVAIL

    By Rajender Dichpally

    Just consider this scenario. A 23-year-old man is being shifted from court to court and incarcerated for a crime which has not even been proved. He has been treated like a hard-core criminal, a history sheeter, confined to custody and denied bail for 25 days. Yes, I am talking about the young lad Aryan Khan whose only crime (not proved conclusively) was that he had consumed a miniscule quantity of a particular drug.

    If this logic was applied then probably scores of youngsters residing in our campuses and children of businessmen, politicians and other celebrities shouldalso be put behind bars.

    In Aryan’s defense the following unassailable arguments emerge:

    1. No drugs were recovered from him

    2.Alleged WhatsApp chats unconnected to the current case are being used as evidence. This logic is absurd and a clear case of subversion of facts.

    1. Even if true, allegations pertain to ‘small quantity’ and ‘consumption’ only. And these ‘offences’ no way calls for this kind of harsh punishment.
    2. Aryan has no criminal antecedents – his record is absolutely clean.
    3. There is no likelihood of Aryan fleeing.

    As per the above logic there is absolutely no valid reason to deny the youngster bail. Can the dispensers of justice pause to think what kind of an impact this torture will have on the young man’s psyche. It will leave him scarred for life and make people doubt the efficacy and neutrality of the judicial system in our country.

    Indian law believes in the dictum that a person is innocent till proven guilty.  In Aryan’s case he is being treated as guilty till proven innocent. Why this gross travesty of justice?

    Contrast Aryan’s case with that of Ashish Sharma. Ashish, the Minister of State for Home Ajay Sharma’s son mowed down 8 innocent farmers who were protesting peacefully in broad daylight and bolted. He has not been brought to justice despite a nationwide furor and clinching evidence.

    In our country it is always a case of different strokes for different folks!

    I would also like to point out the reaction of Aryan’s family. They have behaved with such dignity. Shah Rukh Khan could have created a media frenzy using his super star status. But he has set an example of grace even in the face of the toughest crisis impacting his family. Aryan himself has behaved in an impeccable manner.

    Often, as per our judicial system, people in custody are ‘given’ some kind of a benefit for good behavior. Shouldn’t Aryan at least be given bail on the condition he will report regularly to the authorities? Shouldn’t a youngster be united with his family after undergoing torture for so long. Or should he be punished because his father is a superstar with a mind of his own?

    Our country has always believed in the dictum ‘Satyamev Jayate’. Should this glorious ethos be allowed to be further sullied by the powers that be whose hands are tainted by the blood of the innocents in their quest for votes and their lust for power?

    I am amazed at the circus that this issue has created diverting the nation’s attention from more pressing issues that need to be addressed.  The economy is in doldrums, the unemployment rate is the highest since data has been collected. There are serious issues of National Security due to the confrontation with China but the media and this circus has diverted the nation away from serious issues that need to be discussed and addressed immediately. This has been the modus operandi of the Government/ Modi Media for last couple of years. Whenever there is a serious issue facing the nation, the issue is diverted to other news that is given high media visibility and main issues sidetracked and diverted. This is very sorry state of affairs and people should realize that they are being taken for a ride by the Government and the media that is supporting this government in this endeavor.

    (The author is National General Secretary​-​IndianOverseas Congress USA. He can be reached at dichpally@aol.com)

     

  • Playing Politics Against the Interests of the Nation is Sedition

    Prof. Indrajit S. Saluja

    The denial of entry into India to Darshan Singh Dhaliwal – a well-known Sikh from USA for his support to Farmers’ protest in India, and similar denial to other Sikhs from abroad in recent times for the same reason has infuriated the Sikh community worldwide. The Sikhs who have been subjected to this treatment are neither separatists nor terrorists. They are not supporting a mutiny, an uprising, an insurrection against India. What they are doing is supporting their families and friends who are agitating against laws which hurt them. Imagine the panic of government of India which is so unnerved by a few NRI’s running langar (free kitchen) for the protesting farmers that it decided to revoke the OCI cards of a dozen of them. It is unimaginable that a sane government will take such cowardly action against the people who have impeccable credentials of being the best sons and daughters of India. The protestersare expressing their unhappiness with the farm laws in   a way permitted by democratic norms and the constitution of India. Any support to them by Indians abroad is permissible under international law and does not transgress the Indian laws. Unfortunately, it has become a fashion with government of India to term any opposition to their whims as an anti-national act. Sedition law has never been used so unsparingly as under the Modi government. India that opposed the British rule for imposing harsh and restrictivelaws that impinged on their liberty under which there was no scope for a lawyer, or an appeal, or an argument (“na vakil, na appeal, na daleel”) is now witnessing the return of those laws under this dictatorial regime.

    May be, the government wants to provoke the Sikh community with a view to creating an atmosphere of violence, particularly in Punjab. A few incidents of violence will give GOI the grounds to impose restrictive laws in Punjab. BSF presence and powers it has been armed with is an indication. Captain Amarinder Singh who has been alleging arrival of drugs and weapons into Punjab from across the border is likely to be an important player in the GOI game plan. Both the BJP and Captain will be happy to create a situation wherein emergency laws are put into effect serving two vital ends: crushing the farmers protest and preventing a State government in which they are not the partners. Both the BJP and Captain Amarinder Singh know well they will be rejected by people of Punjab and have no chance to form a government in Punjab. Playing politics is the business of politicians, no doubt, but playing politics to harm the nation is sedition. All this goes against the long-term interests of the nation as diverse and populated as India is.

  • Silly point: On linking cricket to patriotism

    Support for the national cricket team or its players is no litmus test for patriotism

    People who allegedly celebrated the victory of Pakistan against India in a T20 cricket World Cup match on October 24 are facing the brunt of the state. All of them are Muslims. In Rajasthan, a young schoolteacher has been terminated by a private school and the police have charged her under IPC Section 153B for ‘imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration’. In Jammu and Kashmir, the police have registered two cases against unknown persons under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other sections. In Uttar Pradesh, three students from J&K have been charged under IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 505 (creating or publishing content to promote enmity) and, later, Section 124A, sedition. The wisdom, propriety or acceptability of celebrating Pakistan’s victory is beside the point. From moral, tactical, and practical perspectives, this sweeping policing is unwise. No democracy, least of all a country of India’s size and diversity, can demand unyielding uniformity and conformity from its population, on all questions and at all times. It is unlikely that any of these charges will stand judicial scrutiny, but that only makes this spectacle a ridiculous distraction for the stretched law enforcement system. Far from enforcing national integration as the purported aim of this heavy-handed police action is, it will only brew more resentment and social disharmony apart from derailing young lives.

    An unremitting loyalty test of citizens can be a self-defeating pursuit for a country like India that has global ambitions. People of Indian origin live around the world, with split loyalties. There are U.S. citizens who chant victory for India at gatherings in their home countries addressed by the Indian Prime Minister, and there are British and Australian citizens who boo their own country in favor of India during sporting events. Sports teams around the world have members of foreign origin. Infusion of toxic hyper-nationalism in sports is bad in such a world; more so for India. While the BJP has been championing this link between cricket and nationalism, other parties are not far behind as the incident in Rajasthan, a Congress-ruled State, shows. AAP in Delhi was one step ahead and questioning the Narendra Modi government for allowing the cricket match with Pakistan. Had all this been on account of an unspoken link between cheering for the national cricket team and support for a united India, the police would have also charged those who mercilessly trolled Mohammed Shami, a Muslim in the Indian cricket team. True, it would have been wonderful for the Indian cricket team to enjoy the unqualified support of the entire nation, but, surely, there is no reason to charge those who support another team with sedition. The Indian state looks silly now, and the whole episode bodes ill for cricket, and the country.

    (The Hindu)

  • Press Conference held to Commemorate the festival of Diwali at Times Square on 30 October 2021

    Press Conference held to Commemorate the festival of Diwali at Times Square on 30 October 2021

    Mr. Vipul Dev, Consul, Political and PIC deputized for the Consul General Randhir Kumar Jaiswal who was caught up in travel.
    Media persons, Performers, and Sponsors of Diwali at Times Square with Consul Vipul Dev and DATS organizers led by Neeta Bhasin.

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The most awaited and widely celebrated Festival of Lights, Diwali is back once again at the biggest crossroads of the world, Times Square, NY. Diwali marks the victory of good over evil, light over dark. Samman for All and advisory board members of ‘ShopRite Diwali at Times Square in association with Samman for all’ held the Press conference at the Consulate of India NY to commemorate the beginning of the Diwali at Times Square on October 30th at Times Square. It was attended by Media Houses, Performers, and the Sponsors of Diwali at Times Square. The program started with Ganesh Pooja followed by Diya Lighting Ceremony and Presentation by Neeta Bhasin, Founder of Diwali at Times Square where she shared the details of the upcoming festival. Sponsors like Shoprite and American Airlines spoke of the significance and importance of cultural event as big as Diwali at Times Square and its impact on the community.Mr. Vipul Dev, Consul of Politics and PIC congratulated Neeta Bhasin for promoting the art and culture of India from Times Square.

    Our objective this year is to bring the light of positivity in the lives of people especially since the dark gloom of the pandemic has engulfed us. Through this event, we want to uplift the spirit of the community and share the message of love, togetherness,inclusion, and diversity.

    “ShopRite Diwali at Times Square” in association with the non-profit“Samman for All” is displaying the rich ‘Colors of India’ via itsart and cultureright in the heart of Times Square on October 30, 2021, starting at 1:00pm EST.

    According to the founder of Diwali at Times Square,Neeta Bhasin,“Understanding different cultures makes us realize that the basic tenets of all cultures are the same. However, the difference in expression is what enriches the tapestry of our lives.”
    The celebration continues throughout the day into the evening with the traditional Diwali custom of ‘Diya (Lamp) Lighting’ceremony on stage which will also be projected on the tallest billboard in Times Square followed by a rousing musical extravaganza – ‘The Light Up Times Square’ concert with international singer Jay Sean and other performers will be entertaining people with their superhit songs.

    Due to its resounding success in the past years, the festival has also garnered praise and recognition by various media outlets as well as the US Government as being one of the largest Indian festivals outside of India.

    This year, Diwali at Times Square has an association with ‘Samman for all’ not-for-profit organization. Director of ‘Samman for All’ said’ Our goal is to help people achieve a dignified living – a life that they can call their own. We wish this Diwali brighten the lives of people”. ”Diwali is an integral part of our cultural heritage. It represents our values, traditions, diversity and thought. Diwali at Times Square brings people from all walks of life together to celebrate the festival of Diwali. We would like to congratulate the Producer, Mrs. Neeta Bhasin, for meaningfully promoting Indian culture and our universal ideas in the US.” Said Mr. Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General of India NY,

    The ShopRite stated ‘South Asian community is a very important part of our community, and we want everyone to taste the Diwali Celebration with Shoprite. We look forward to celebrating the festival of Delight at Times Square this year!! Harry Singh Bolla, President & C.E.O, Bolla Oil Corp “I know how Diwali is a cheerful and nostalgic festival! It reminds me of happy times from my childhood. “Let’s come together and celebrate Diwali at Times Square on October 30 and cherish all the good times” Special thanks to our Title Sponsor ShopRite, Airline Partner American Airline, Diya (Lamp) Lighting with the countdown partner Bolla Market and our sponsors Northwell Health, Northlandz, State bank of India and Nazranaa.

    Samman for All. mission is to facilitate people from the lower-economic strata to achieve their dreams by providing them with tools for sustainable living.

    Event Guru WorldWide is a premier full-service event company specializing in festivals, concerts, tradeshows, gala dinners and press conferences. We conceptualize and implement events of all sizes and statures.

    (Based on a Press Release issued by Harsh Sinha)

  • The 40th AAPI Convention in San Antonio, TX to Focus on “Heal the Healers” with its much needed “Wellness Package” for Physicians and Families

    The 40th AAPI Convention in San Antonio, TX to Focus on “Heal the Healers” with its much needed “Wellness Package” for Physicians and Families

    CHICAGO (TIP): “Physician, heal thyself,” especially when there are growing signs of burn out among physicians, by offering positive remedial resources as part of a first ever Wellness Program being offered to participants at the 40th Annual Convention of AAPI to be held in San Antonio from June 23rd to 26th, 2022.

    The Covid pandemic has impacted all aspects of human life as never been before. The past two years have been challenging to everyone, particularly those are assigned with the responsibility of caring for the sick, especially as hundreds of Millions were affected by the big pandemic. Over 115,000 health care workers died from Covid-19 from January 2020 to May of this year, according to a new World Health Organization estimate.

    “The backbone of every health system is its workforce — the people who deliver the services on which we rely at some point in our lives,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “The pandemic is a powerful demonstration of just how much we rely on health workers and how vulnerable we all are when the people who protect our health are themselves unprotected.” Some have argued that governments have forsaken their duty to protect health care workers and warned that pandemic would have long tail effects, with many healthcare professionals considering leaving the workforce. At this critical juncture in human history, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) the largest ethnic medical organization in the country, representing the interests of over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, is focusing on themes such as how to take care of self and find satisfaction and happiness in the challenging situations they are in, while serving hundreds of patients everyday of their dedicated and noble profession, Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, President of AAPI said.

    “This year AAPI Convention team from San Antonio is very much motivated on focusing on addressing physician burnout and we have planned these wellness packages. As we are seeing in our daily lives the physician burnout has increased significantly. “We do acknowledge that these are challenging times, more than ever for us, physicians, who are on the frontline to assess, diagnose and treat people are affected by this deadly pandemic, COVID-19. Many of our colleagues have sacrificed their lives in order to save those impacted by this pandemic around the world,” Dr. Gotimukula added.

    Accordingly, some of the major themes at the convention include: Yoga and Meditation practices, Welcome kit with books & self-care supplies, A Personal Reflexology Session, Take home wellness routine, Ailment based yoga therapy sessions, Workshop on Spiritual well-being, Book talk with Yoga Gurus, including on the science of Yoga & Lifestyle medicine, as well as an unique opportunity to visit first of its kind in San Antonio, Aum Ashram as part of the Wellness session.

    Esteemed yoga gurus and experts, who are planned to share their wisdom and leading the Wellness Sessions include: Paramguru Sharatha Jois, Sadhvi Bhagawati, Saraswati Eddie Stern, Dr. Sat Bir Khalsa, Dr. Dilip Sarkar, Dr. Pankaj Vij, and Dr. Param Dedhia.

    “Our physician members have worked very hard during the Covid 19 pandemic as the 2022 convention is a perfect time to heal the healers with a special focus on wellness,” said Dr. Dr Jayesh Shah, Chair of AAPI Convention 2022.

    In her welcome note, Dr. Hetal Nayak, Coordinator of the Wellness Program said, “With great enthusiasm we invite you to participate in our AAPI convention wellness package themed ‘Heal the Healers.’ This is the first time in the AAPI convention we offer these exclusive wellness packages geared towards the well-being of Physicians and their families by bringing the essence of science and spirituality of yoga and lifestyle medicine into our selfcare routine. As we all aware, a calm mind and a refined intellect are essential for making right choices. We promise to leave you empowered with the tools required.”

    Dr. Kusum Punjabi, Chair of AAPI BOT said, “At AAPI, the largest ethnic medical association in the nation, we are proud, we have been able to serve every 7th patient in the country. We serve in large cities, smaller towns and rural areas, sharing our skills, knowledge, compassion and expertise and caring millions of people.”

     Acknowledging the need for this much needed program as part of the convention, Dr. Ravi Kolli, President-elect of AAPI elaborated, “Healthcare today is more complex than ever. With more advancements, tools and information at our fingertips, physicians have an overwhelming job to diagnose and treat our patients every day, 24/ 7/ 365 days a year. In every city and hospital, in our military and in our rural communities, we, the doctors pave the way to provide better healthcare to our patients.”

    “A huge thank you to all of the doctors, physicians, and other healthcare professionals for your dedication and commitment to service during this uncertain time,” Dr. Anjana Samadder, Vice President of AAPI said. “This is a unique opportunity for All of us, the front-line physicians who are putting our lives at risk to the save the lives of others,” Dr. Satheesh Kathula, Secretary of AAPI said. “Thank you for fighting selflessly against this virus and helping keep everyone healthy and safe,” Dr. Krishan Kumar, Treasurer of AAPI added.

    During the annual convention, physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country and internationally will convene and participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, to develop health policy agendas, and to encourage legislative priorities in the coming year.

    Planned to have a limited number of attendance due to the ongoing Covid pandemic and the taking into account the safety of the participants, including Physicians, Healthcare Leaders, Academicians, Researchers and Medical Students, “the annual convention offers extensive academic presentations, recognition of achievements and achievers, and professional networking at the alumni and evening social events,” Dr. Gotimukula added.

    For more information, please visit: www.aapiconvention.org and www.aapiusa.org

  • FDA authorizes Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11

    FDA authorizes Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11

    WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech Friday for children ages 5 to 11, a significant step toward making the vaccine available to millions of school-age children.

    Before the vaccine becomes widely available, it will also need to be recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decision on that recommendation is made after a meeting of an expert committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP. The CDC director must then approve ACIP’s recommendations. That committee is scheduled to meet on Nov. 2. “As a mother and a physician, I know that parents, caregivers, school staff, and children have been waiting for today’s authorization. Vaccinating younger children against COVID-19 will bring us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy,” said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, in a statement. “Our comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the data pertaining to the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness should help assure parents and guardians that this vaccine meets our high standards.”

    The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine for children 5 to 11 should be given as two doses three weeks apart, just like the version for older children and adults, but uses a lower 10-microgram dose, one-third the adult dose.

    The FDA’s decision, which was widely expected, follows the meeting of the FDA’s advisory panel earlier this week. That panel voted 17-to-0, with one abstention, that the vaccine should be authorized. The FDA and CDC are not bound by the votes of their advisory committees, but generally follow their advice.

    However, when recommending the authorization, FDA panel members expressed concerns about whether all children needed the vaccine, because the risk of complications from Covid infection in children is generally lower. They also discussed how to balance the risk of a rare side effect, an inflammation of the heart called myocarditis, with the number of Covid cases prevented. FDA modeling predicted that the number of hospitalizations from myocarditis would generally be fewer than the number of Covid hospitalizations prevented.

    Still, those concerns could still prove a topic of debate for the ACIP when it meets next week.

    The vaccine was not granted FDA approval, but instead an emergency use authorization. Emergency authorizations are used when the secretary of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency to more quickly clear the use of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests. These authorizations lapse when the state of emergency ends. Pfizer’s vaccine was fully approved for those age 16 and older in August and was previously granted an emergency use authorization for use in adolescents ages 12 to 15.

    “The FDA is committed to making decisions that are guided by science that the public and healthcare community can trust,” Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. “We are confident in the safety, effectiveness and manufacturing data behind this authorization.”

    The Pfizer product is currently the only Covid vaccine authorized for use in people under the age of 18 in the U.S., though that could change soon. Moderna has filed an application to have its emergency authorization expanded to include youths 12 to 17 years of age; the FDA is expected to rule on the application soon.

    “This is a day so many parents, eager to protect their young children from this virus, have been waiting for,” said Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s chair and CEO, said in a statement. “Over 6 million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the start of this pandemic, and a high number of young people continue to be infected every week. With this FDA authorization, we have achieved another key marker in our ongoing effort to help protect families and communities, and to get this disease under control.”

    (Agencies)

  • Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care celebrates Diwali and launches the book Atmasiddhi Shastra at Capitol Hill 

    Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care celebrates Diwali and launches the book Atmasiddhi Shastra at Capitol Hill 

    The launch of the book ‘Atmasiddhi Shastra’. Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu is 5th from the left.

    A special program celebrating the festival of lights and commemorating the 125th anniversary of the creation of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s magnus opus ‘Atmasiddhi Shastra’

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC) hosted a special Diwali event in the presence of the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Mr Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The event acknowledged the extraordinary partnership between the governments and private sector organizations of the United States and India to support SRLC’s humanitarian initiatives. The event was attended by Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthy, Illinois; Tim Ryan, Ohio; Greg Stanton, Arizona; Danny Davis, Illinois; Mike Quigley, Illinois, and Ms. Audrey Kitawaga,, Ambassador of Religions for Peace. Ambassador Sandhu emphasized critical points regarding the element of solidarity, the unity and partnership between the two nations, the importance of science and spiritual and extending happiness and kindness to all in these unprecedented times. The highlight of the event was the launch of the book, ‘Atmasiddhi Shastra – Six Spiritual Truths of the Soul’, a concise and complete commentary by Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji. This book lays a clear and cogent path to self-discovery. The book commemorates the 125th anniversary of the creation of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s magnum opus, ‘Atmasiddhi Shastra’ – a 142-verse epic spiritual masterpiece. According to the organizers, it was an iconic moment to be at the Capitol Hill and celebrate Diwali by launching a book which “represents the true spirit of Diwali as it removes the darkness of ignorance by the light of knowledge.”   “The endeavor of Shri Rakeshji to present the essence of Atmasiddhi Shastra in a lucid manner through its commentary in English is a thoughtful gesture, aimed at the spiritual welfare of the youth” – Shri Narendra Modi, Hon. Prime Minister of India

    “Atmasiddhi Shastra is a practical guide to Liberation and freedom from suffering” – Deepak Chopra, Founder – The Chopra Foundation

    Learn more about Atmasiddhi Shastra: www.atmasiddhishastra.com

    About Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care

    SRLC is a global initiative to offer service and bring joy to the lives of the underserved sections of society. SRLC is inspired by Shrimad Rajchandraji, philosopher, and the spiritual guide of Mahatma Gandhiji. SRLC is founded by Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, a world-renowned spiritual leader. SRLC enjoys Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic & Social Council since 2020. SRLC’s holistic, multi-pronged community support and development programs are powered by genuine empathy, love, and care of highly motivated volunteers.

    Learn more about SRLC’s humanitarian work: https://srlc-usa.org/

  • US to lift all travel restrictions for incoming foreign nationals from November 8: White House

    US to lift all travel restrictions for incoming foreign nationals from November 8: White House

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The US will lift all travel restrictions for incoming non-citizen, non-immigrant travelers from November 8, with only limited exceptions, and they will be required to be fully vaccinated and produce proof of their COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding a flight to the country, the White House announced on Monday.

    The updated travel guidelines also include new protocols around testing. To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travelers – whether US Citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), or the small number of accepted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to test within one day of departure.

    “Under this new international air travel system, foreign nationals will need to be fully vaccinated, in order to fly to the United States. The new system also includes enhanced testing requirements, strengthened contact tracing, as well as masking. These are strict safety protocols that follow the science and public health to enhance the safety of Americans here at home, and the safety of international air travel,” a senior administration official told reporters.

    Beginning November 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the US, with only limited exceptions, the official said. With this, the United States will lift all travel restrictions specific to all countries and regions. According to the White House, passengers will need to show their vaccination status, and the airlines will need to match the name and date of birth to confirm that the passenger is the same person reflected on the proof of vaccination; determine that the record was issued by an official source (e.g., public health agency, government agency) in the country where the vaccine was given and review the essential information for determining if the passenger meets CDC’s definition for fully vaccinated such as vaccine product, number of vaccine doses received, date(s) of administration, site (e.g., vaccination clinic, health care facility) of vaccination.

    The Biden Administration will work closely with the airlines to ensure that these new requirements are implemented successfully, a senior administration official said.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that for purposes of travel to the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use listed (EUL) vaccines.     Individuals can be considered fully vaccinated for more than weeks after receipt of the last dose if they have received any single dose of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO EUL approved single-dose series (i.e., Janssen), or any combination of two doses of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 two-dose series (i.e., mixing and matching).

    For those Americans who can show they are fully vaccinated, the same requirement currently in place will apply – they have to produce a negative test result within three days of travel, the White House said, adding that for anyone travelling to the United States who cannot demonstrate proof of full vaccination, they will have to produce documentation of a negative test within one day of departure. Children under 18 are excepted from the vaccination requirement for foreign national travelers, given both the ineligibility of some younger children for vaccination, as well as the global variability in access to vaccination for older children who are eligible to be vaccinated. Children between the ages of 2 and 17 are required to take a pre-departure test.

    If travelling with a fully vaccinated adult, an unvaccinated child can test three days prior to departure (consistent with the timeline for fully vaccinated adults). If an unvaccinated child is travelling alone or with unvaccinated adults, they will have to test within one day of departure, the White House said in a fact sheet.

    The White House said there are a very limited set of exceptions from the vaccination requirement for foreign nationals. These include exceptions for children under 18, certain COVID[1]19 vaccine clinical trial participants, those with medical contraindications to the vaccines, those who need to travel for emergency or humanitarian reasons (with a US government-issued letter affirming the urgent need to travel), those who are travelling on non-tourist visas from countries with low-vaccine availability (as determined by the CDC), and other very narrow categories.

    Those who receive an exception will generally be required to attest they will comply with applicable public health requirements, including, with very limited exceptions, a requirement that they be vaccinated in the US if they intend to stay here for more than 60 days, the White House said.

  • PM Modi holds talks with European Union leaders on trade, security, Afghanistan

    PM Modi holds talks with European Union leaders on trade, security, Afghanistan

    Activists want G20 to end vaccine inequality

    NEW DELHI / NEW YORK (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, October 29, held wide-ranging talks with top leaders of the European Union (EU), marking a high point in India’s efforts to cultivate the 27-member nation bloc to forge closer ties in security, trade, connectivity and education.

    PM Modi, who arrived in Rome earlier in the day to participate in the G20 Summit beginning from Saturday, had a “productive interaction” with president of the European Council Charles Michel and president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

    India has more issues of convergence with the EU ever since China began flexing its muscles in South China Sea. Also, during the Covid period, both EU and India were impacted by overdependence on supply chains originating from China. On Afghanistan too, India and the EU are on the same page on vital issues such as inclusiveness in governance and not allowing the country to breed terror groups targeting other countries.

    PM Modi during his talks touched on trade, commerce, culture and the environment. “The leaders discussed ways to enhance economic as well as people-to-people linkages aimed at creating a better planet,” tweeted the PMO. The Prime Minister described his meeting with the EU leaders as “wonderful” during which they had wide-ranging talks on deepening the India-EU friendship.

    Michel said India had a key role to play in green transition and mentioned the EU-India strategic partnership, the situation in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific as the prominent topics of discussion.

    Security-related convergence with the EU is set to grow after it unveiled an Indo-Pacific strategy which followed similar positions taken by France and Germany.

    An impetus to the free trade agreement was also discussed, according to Leyen. “We agreed that our trade negotiators will start to work. We’ll deepen our cooperation on climate, including on innovation and technology. Looking forward to cooperating in the Indo-Pacific,” she said.

    She also congratulated India for its “excellent progress” on vaccination and for resuming vaccines exports. “We need to join forces to help vaccinate the world and beat the global pandemic,” Leyen said. The 15th India-EU summit was held in virtual mode in July 2020. PM Modi later also held the first in-person meeting with his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi during which the two leaders had extensive talks on diversifying the bilateral ties.

    The PM will be in Rome and the Vatican City from October 29 to 31 to participate in the G-20 Summit and meet the Pope and the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

    ‘Maja ma chho’, PM tells Indians

    Covid and farmers’ struggle necessitated a carefully curated crowd at Rome for an interaction with PM Modi but there was no diminishing of exuberance as he was greeted by lusty chants of “Bharat Mata ki jai” and “Modi-Modi” by local Indians. After paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Piazza Gandhi, the PM interacted with Indians, one of whom was heard asking, “Narendra bhai, khem chho” (How are you Narendra bhai?).

    “Maja ma chho” (I am fine), the PM replied, which was captured on a video put out by the PMO. The PM also spoke to a crowd largely from his home state of Gujarati.

  • United States Senate Confirms Dr. Rahul Gupta as Director of National Drug Control Policy

    United States Senate Confirms Dr. Rahul Gupta as Director of National Drug Control Policy

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP) the United States Senate, October 28, confirmed Dr. Rahul Gupta as Director of National Drug Control Policy on a bipartisan basis. Gupta is the first medical doctor to ever lead the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), a White House press release said.

    “As a practicing physician and former health official who has served in rural communities, I have seen firsthand the heartbreaking toll of addiction and overdose in our communities, but I have also seen how we can save lives if we understand the individuals behind the statistics and meet them where they are,” said Dr. Gupta. “President Biden has made clear that addressing addiction and the overdose epidemic is an urgent priority. As Director, I will diligently work to advance high-quality, data-driven strategies to make our communities healthier and safer.”

    Biography of Dr. Rahul Gupta

     Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, most recently served as the Chief Medical and Health Officer, Interim Chief Science Officer and Senior Vice President at March of Dimes. In his role, Dr. Gupta provided strategic oversight for March of Dimes’ domestic and global medical and public health efforts. He recently served as clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine as well as adjunct professor in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership in the School of Public Health at West Virginia University and visiting faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

    A practicing primary care physician of 25 years, Dr. Gupta began his career in private practice in an underserved community of fewer than 2,000 residents. He has since served under two Governors as the Health Commissioner of West Virginia. As the state’s Chief Health Officer, he led the opioid crisis response efforts and launched a number of pioneering public health initiatives, including the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Birthscore program to identify high-risk infants. Dr. Gupta also led the development of the state’s Zika action plan and its preparedness efforts during the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak.

    A national and global thought leader and a driver of innovative public policies on health issues, Dr. Gupta serves as an advisor to several organizations and task forces on local, national and international public health policy. The son of an Indian diplomat, Rahul was born in India and grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. At age 21, he completed medical school at the University of Delhi. He earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Alabama-Birmingham and a global Master of Business Administration degree from the London School of Business and Finance. He is married to Dr. Seema Gupta, a physician in the Veterans Administration for over a decade. They are the proud parents of identical twin sons, Arka and Drew.

  • J&K Statehood to be Restored, says Amit Shah: Farooq Abdulla is surprised

    J&K Statehood to be Restored, says Amit Shah: Farooq Abdulla is surprised

    JAMMU (TIP): National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Sunday, October 24, expressed surprise over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood would be restored after assembly elections. The Home Minister said “urges and aspirations of people have to be satiated for lasting peace” in the Union Territory. Mr. Abdullah expressed surprise over the logic being advanced by the Central leadership that the statehood will be restored after completion of the delimitation of constituencies and holding of elections.

    “It is strange,” Farooq Abdullah said and recalled the all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few months ago in which he took up these issues. “(Mr.) Modi had at that point of time asserted that the gap between New Delhi and J&K would have to be bridged by winning over the hearts… Hearts cannot be won by undermining the status of Jammu and Kashmir, which was bifurcated and then downgraded,” the NC leader said while addressing a public meeting at Mendhar in Poonch district. Defending the BJP-led NDA government’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, Mr. Shah had on Saturday said August 5, 2019, was written in golden letters in the history of Kashmir. He had reiterated that elections would be held in J&K after the delimitation exercise to be followed by restoration of statehood. “Elections will happen. (Politicians from Kashmir want that the) Delimitation be stopped. Why? Because it hurts their politics. Now, such things will not stop in Kashmir.

    “The youth of Kashmir will get opportunities, so a right delimitation will be done, which will be followed by elections and then the status of the statehood will be restored. I have said this in the country’s Parliament and this is the roadmap,” Mr. Shah had said. Mr. Abdullah further said it must have happened for the first time that a State is transformed and downgraded as a Union Territory.

    “The urges and aspirations of the people have to be satiated for lasting peace,” he underlined.

    Pitching for India-Pakistan dialogue, the NC president said peace in the region will remain elusive unless a conducive atmosphere is made for talks between the two neighboring countries.

    He also decried attempts of dividing the society for political gains and said this is not good for the unity of the country and integration of people.

    “The nation cannot afford to get fragmented into bits and pieces on the basis of religion. Elections were not to be fought on religion, as these provide an opportunity to put in place responsive governments which serve the people in terms of development and economic emancipation,” he said.

    The former Chief Minister expressed grave concern over loss of life, and damage to standing crops and orchards due to heavy downpour, hailstorm and stormy winds across Jammu and Kashmir.

    Mr. Abdullah, who is on a four-day visit to Jammu Province, also sought an exhaustive assessment by expert panels on the damage caused, saying preliminary relief in terms of financial assistance should be provided to the affected till the assessment is completed. He also sought immediate release of compensation to the next of kin of those killed.

  • Indian American lawmakers & top Biden admin members celebrate ‘Diwali’ at US Congress

    Indian American lawmakers & top Biden admin members celebrate ‘Diwali’ at US Congress

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Led by Indian American lawmakers, top members serving in the Biden administration and a select group of community members from across the country gathered to celebrate the festival of lights, ‘Diwali’, at the US Congress, the temple of democracy.

    Reflecting on the emergence of this small but influential community in the American socio-political spectrum, lawmakers praised the contribution of Indian Americans in the development of the US and highlighted the significance of Diwali in a post-COVID-19 world.

    ”We, for the last almost two years, have been in the midst of a pandemic that has turned our lives upside down. Many of us, myself included, have sustained losses of family and friends. I know many of you have as well, whether it’s family here, family back in India or in the diaspora or around the world. We have suffered heavy losses,” US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy said at the event.

    ”But one of the things that concerns me most about the last few years is another type of pandemic, the invisible pandemic that we are in the midst of. That’s a pandemic of polarization where it feels increasingly people have turned against each other, where they’ve demonized one another, called each other evil and treated each other as so. That’s a particular kind of darkness,” he said. The Capitol Hill Diwali celebration was organized by Indiaspora in association with several community organizations. Remembering the teachings of his mother, Dr Murthy said Diwali is supposed to be a day about light conquering darkness.

    ”She would always say Vivek, people you encounter in America will come from different faiths and traditions. But remember that the light of God exists within each one of them, always, regardless of where they’re from,” he said.

    ”When I think about Diwali, I think about it in that context. Can we remember the light that exists within ourselves and one another? Can we not allow it? Can we not allow that light to be expunged because we happen to be on the other side of the political spectrum as somebody else or hold different views from them. This is as much a challenge here, as it is back in India and in many countries around the world,” Dr Murthy said.

    Indian American Congressmen Dr Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal addressed the gathering and greeted the community on the occasion. ”I’m very proud to say that I’m the first South Asian American woman ever elected to the United States House of Representatives. Hopefully I’m not going to be the last and there are going to be many, many more of us to come,” Jayapal said. The Congresswoman also said that the last three months have been rough for her and her family. Congresswoman Judy Chu said that President Joe Biden has appointed a record number of Indian Americans in his administration.

    ”President Biden is ushering in a new era of Asian Americans, especially Indian American representation. For instance, he named Dr Vivek Murthy to serve on his cabinet as a Surgeon General. Just last week, he made the historic move to name Neera Tanden as a White House staff secretary, one of the highest positions in the White House,” she said.

    ”And of course, just one year ago, we shattered one of the highest glass ceilings of all when Kamala Harris, the daughter of an Indian immigrant, was sworn in as the first woman Asian and Black vice president in history,” she said.

    Popular African American singer Mary Milben, who especially flew in from California to attend the Diwali celebrations, mesmerized the select audience with her rendition of ”Om Jai Jagdish Hare” which went viral last year. Milben announced that she would be travelling to India next January. ”India has truly become my family and my friends. So, it’s a joy to be here in the nation’s capital to celebrate this wonderful, spiritual and beautiful holiday that so many speakers have already talked about. It is a beautiful moment for cultures and faiths to come together and celebrate during this moment: Light over darkness the beauty of this beautiful holiday,” Milben said.

  • Major victory for H-1B employers as USCIS qualifies market research analyst as specialty occupation

    Major victory for H-1B employers as USCIS qualifies market research analyst as specialty occupation

    WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): In a major victory for H-1B employers, a federal court has approved a settlement under which the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has agreed to qualify market research analyst as a specialty occupation for the purposes of determining H-1B visa application of a foreign professional.

    Based on its prior interpretation of the Occupational Outlook Handbook — a Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics publication profiling hundreds of occupations in the US job market — the USCIS was determining that market research analysts did not qualify as a “specialty occupation”. The settlement approved by the federal district court in the Northern District of California would now let companies request that the USCIS reopen and re-adjudicate their denied H-1B petitions. “This settlement is an important victory that will benefit hundreds of American businesses and the market research analysts they sought to employ,” said Leslie K Dellon, senior attorney (business immigration) at the American Immigration Council. “The settlement gives US businesses another chance to have their H-1B market research analyst petitions approved — this time under new guidance worked out by the parties to the lawsuit. Each H-1B petition reopened and approved will represent another opportunity for US employers and the workers they sponsored to advance their business objectives,” she said.

    The class action lawsuit in this regard was filed by the American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the law firms Van Der Hout LLP, Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (formerly Joseph & Hall P.C.), and Kuck Baxter Immigration LLC. Jeff Joseph, partner at Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP, said this settlement finally resolves an issue on which immigration lawyers have been battling the government for years.

    “This settlement strikes the right balance between what the regulations actually say and how employers evaluate a candidate’s professional qualifications in the real world. It is our sincere hope that USCIS will now interpret other specialty occupations from a perspective that is in line with what actually happens in the free market,” he said.

  • BCCI could earn up to $5 billion from IPL broadcasting rights only

    The BCCI is set for a windfall of gigantic proportions as the IPL broadcast rights (TV and digital) could fetch the Board up to USD 5 billion for the next five-year cycle (2023-2027) while some high-profile interest is being seen in the bidding process for the two new teams. The current five-year rights (TV and digital) for IPL from 2018 to 2022 are with Star India but, according to people who are in decision-making capacity, the valuation, which is at Rs 16,347.50 crore (USD 2.55 billion) right now, could more than double and reach USD 5 billion (around Rs 36,000 crore approx at current exchange rate). “There is a well-known US based company which did send BCCI feelers some time back, expressing their serious interest in bidding for IPL media rights. With 10 teams playing IPL from 2022, the matches will go up to 74 and in any case, the valuation of the property increases,” a senior BCCI said.

  • Champions league: Ron rescues Man United, Barcelona finally win

    Manchester (TIP): Cristiano Ronaldo’s late winning goal capped a classic Manchester United comeback win in the Champions League. In a less chaotic manner, Bayern Munich and Juventus also recorded typical trademark wins to top their groups with three straight victories and no goals conceded.

    Trailing 0-2 at halftime at home against Atalanta, with Paul Pogba left on the bench, Manchester United’s wild season under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appeared ready to derail with last place in the group beckoning. Ronaldo put the club back on top, 3-2, in the 81st minute after goals from Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire to deliver a second straight come-from-behind win at Old Trafford in the competition.

    Bayern routed Benfica 4-0 with late goals including one from Robert Lewandowski after standout saves by Manuel Neuer in the Lisbon stadium where they won the 2020 title 14 months ago.

    It was an efficient 1-0 win for Juventus at Zenit St. Petersburg thanks to an 86th-minute goal by Dejan Kulusevski.

    Defending champion Chelsea also cruised to a 4-0 win, against Malmo, but lost strikers Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to injuries.

    Salzburg were the other group leaders in action, beating Wolfsburg 3-1 with goals from the kind of young forwards the Austrian champions excel in nurturing and then trading on. Teenage Germany forward Karim Adeyemi scored early before 21-year-old Switzerland winger Noah Okafor scored twice in the second half for Salzburg.

    Barcelona finally got a win, 1-0 against Dynamo Kyiv, to end some unwanted historic streaks for the club and stay in contact in the group led by Bayern.

  • How to read deleted WhatsApp messages: Catch your sender red-handed

    How to read deleted WhatsApp messages: Catch your sender red-handed

    Amazingly, WhatsApp users on Android can actually read deleted messages by installing a third-party app. iPhone users have a cheeky way to do so. We all have been in the situation when someone sends you a WhatsApp message, and by the time you open it, it’s deleted from their side – thanks to the Delete For Everyone feature. WhatsApp keeps showing the deleted message notification but natively, you cannot see what the message was. If this leaves butterflies in your stomach, we show you how to read deleted WhatsApp messages and catch the sender red-handed.

    On Android, there’s a hack available in the form of downloading third party apps. iPhone users, however, have to tread with caution and rely on their notifications to read the WhatsApp delted messages.

    How to read deleted WhatsApp messages on Android

    The process is easy. All you need is a stable internet connection and access to the Google Play Store.

    –              Open Google Play and search for “WhatsApp deleted Messages”.

    –              You will see a list of apps that claim to keep a copy of the deleted messages.

    –              We have tried WAMR, WhatsRemoved+ and few more, all of which have worked as advertised.

    –              Download the app and give it all the necessary permissions Android seeks.

    –              Once there, all such messages that get the “Delete for Everyone” treatment will be hosted within the app. Some of these apps can even save the media files.

    –              Note that since the app is free to use, you will witness advertisements within the app interface.

    How to read WhatsApp deleted messages on iPhones

    Sadly, iOS does not allow such apps to flourish on the App Store for catching hold of deleted messages. However, iOS allows a cheeky way to catch a glimpse of the WhatsApp deleted messages.

    –              This has all to do with the notifications. You have to be very careful with how you handle it.

    –              The deleted messages on WhatsApp stays listed in the Notifications Centre. You can long-press to read the content better.

    –              However, once you open the notification or the app, you won’t be able to see the deleted WhatsApp messages. Hence, if you suspect someone to delete message frequently, try to catch a glimpse of their messages from the notification first.