The Indian Panorama

Tag: D.C.

  • US-India Business Council launches task force to align leadership between two nations on artificial intelligence

    US-India Business Council launches task force to align leadership between two nations on artificial intelligence

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The US India Business Council on Thursday announced the launch of its AI Task Force (AI-TF) which it said is a pivotal step in aligning US and Indian leadership on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    The business body, which represents leading global companies operating across the United States, India, and the Indo-Pacific region, said that AI-TF will advance AI concepts and principles, drive multi-stakeholder processes, and promote the development and commercialization of AI technologies. The AI-TF builds on the Chamber of Commerce’s AI principles and endorsement of the OECD’s recommendations on AI, it said.

    “The AI-TF is a game-changer, especially needed amid the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence. Through this initiative, we seek to harness the immense potential of AI, propelling competitiveness in both US and Indian economies and our citizen-led societies,” USIBC president Atul Keshap said.

    He said that the USIBC looks forward to shaping a future where AI is a catalyst for progress.

    “Together, we look forward to shaping a future where AI is a catalyst for progress, bringing forth advancements that uphold our shared values and democratic principles and drive economic prosperity for both our great democracies,” he said.

    The new committee members, include Kamal Ahluwalia, president at Ikigai Labs and Todd Skinner, president of International at TransUnion; alongside USIBC Board Chairman and executive vice chairman of Nasdaq Ed Knight.

    “The creation of USIBC’s AI-TF is a major step toward fostering a deeper partnership on the most innovative and transformative technologies of our time,” said Knight.

    “The Task Force will encourage a principled approach to AI adoption, ensuring that these transformative technologies can be harnessed in a manner that is safe and secure,” he said.

    Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the US National Science Foundation said partnerships will be key to the future of a trustworthy, safe, and secure AI enterprise.

    “AI is advancing at an incredible pace, requiring researchers to collaborate and share resources for cutting-edge innovations and discoveries alongside a commitment to shared values and principles,” he said.

    Matthew Pine, Xylem president and CEO, said that collaboration is critical to ensure communities have access to the solutions they need to address water challenges. “This collaboration is why Xylem launched the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions alongside water sector leaders, and why we were honored to gather Director Panchanathan and the US-India Business Council to announce the creation of the AI Task Force,” he said.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Biden admin working ‘very hard’ to thwart attacks against Indian students: White House

    Biden admin working ‘very hard’ to thwart attacks against Indian students: White House

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): US President Joe Biden and his administration are working very hard to thwart and disrupt attacks on Indian and Indian American students, the White House has said. The announcement by John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House comes amid a slew of attacks on Indian and Indian American students in various parts of the country.

    “There is no excuse for violence, certainly based on race or gender or religion or any other factor. That’s just unacceptable here in the United States,” Kirby told reporters here when asked about the series of attacks on students from India and also those from the Indian American community.

    “The president and this administration have been working very, very hard to make sure we’re doing everything we can to work with state and local authorities to try to thwart and disrupt those kinds of attacks and make it clear to anybody who might consider them that they’ll be held properly accountable,” Kirby said.

    Vivek Saini, a student working part-time in a department store, died following an attack by a drug addict in Lithonia, Georgia in January. Syed Mazahir Ali, an Indian student at Indiana Wesleyan University was assaulted in February.

    Deaths of at least four Indian American students have been reported in the last several weeks.

    Akul Dhawan of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Neel Acharya of Purdue University died apparently due to heavy drinking followed by long exposure to low temperatures at night in January.

    Shreyas Reddy Benigeri, an Indian-origin student at the Lindner School of Business in Cincinnati was found dead in Ohio this month.

    Indian American community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria said he was deeply troubled by the tragic deaths of these students in separate incidents and underscored the urgent need for enhanced safety measures for those pursuing education in the US. College authorities, and local police, must address these challenges promptly, he asserted.

    “These incidents understandably worry parents and families in India, and their concerns are shared. It’s crucial to address safety issues to ensure the well-being of Indian students studying in the USA,” he said, adding that the Indian American community unites in calling for improved safety measures and support systems.
    (Source: PTI)

  • IBM CEO Arvind Krishna joins USISPF Board

    IBM CEO Arvind Krishna joins USISPF Board

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): IBM CEO Arvind Krishna has joined the Board of Directors of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF), an official announcement said on Thursday, February 15.

    Krishna, the 62-year-old Indian-American CEO among other things, is also a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Federal Reserve Bank and serves on the Board of Directors of Northrop Grumman.

    “His knowledge about technology is unmatched, and his track record for leading market transitions in areas like hybrid cloud business, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence is remarkable,” said USISPF chairman Jon Chambers. He said that Krisha is a true visionary and a leader who is always focused on what’s good for society at large. Shantanu Narayen, Chair and CEO of Adobe and vice chairman of USISPF, said Krishna’s strong leadership and deep technical expertise in AI, cloud, quantum computing, and global operations will be invaluable as India continues to be an incubator for the transformative power of technology.

    “When you think of the various diaspora success stories and the rise of the Indian-American CEO across Fortune 100 companies, you think of Arvind Krishna at IBM. At a time when the US and India are working to secure a deeper collaboration in the field of critical and emerging technologies, Arvind’s deep expertise in this sector will be an invaluable asset,” said USISPF president and CEO Mukesh Aghi.

    “For years, Arvind has successfully built strong commercial links between the US and India. During the pandemic, Arvind’s indefatigable efforts helped USISPF supply essential materials in oxygen cylinders and concentrators to help aid the several million COVID-19 victims in India,” he said.

    An industry and IBM veteran spanning over three decades with the tech giant, Krishna has led the building and expansion of new markets for IBM in artificial intelligence, cloud, quantum computing, and blockchain.

    Krishna has also been a driving force in the development of innovative IBM products and solutions and led a series of bold transformations that have delivered proven business results, including growing IBM’s Information Management business by 50 per cent.

    “The US and India share a unique bond, rooted in shared democratic values and strong economic and cultural ties. As a member of the USISPF, I look forward to finding ways for our two nations to use the power of technology to drive economic growth, create opportunities for all, and address the unique challenges of our time,” Krishna said.

    In 2016, Wired Magazine selected Krishna as “one of 25 geniuses who are creating the future of business” for his foundational work on blockchain.

    Despite being a leading tech expert, Krishna identifies as a consummate learner and has been an outspoken advocate for learning at every stage of one’s career.

    Krishna has made significant scientific contributions in several technical fields, including wireless networking, security, systems, and databases, and has founded IBM’s security software business and helped create the world’s first commercial wireless system, USISPF said.
    (Source: PTI)

  • US House passes Quad bill

    US House passes Quad bill

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The US House of Representatives has passed the Quad bill which instructs the Biden administration to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer cooperation between the US, Australia, India and Japan.

    Passed by a roll call vote of 379 to 39 votes, the ‘Strengthen US-Australia-India-Japan Cooperation’ or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) bill says that the joint cooperation between the US, Australia, India and Japan should be strengthened.

    It directs the State Department to submit to Congress, within 180 days of the bill’s enactment, a strategy to increase engagement and cooperation with the Quad, and within 60 days of its enactment, to enter into negotiations with Japan, Australia and India to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer cooperation. It also would establish a US group, which would have a maximum of 24 members of Congress, to represent the US in the working group. It also would establish guidelines for annual meetings and group leadership. Under the bill, the group would be required to submit an annual report to the congressional foreign affairs committees.

    Two Democratic lawmakers voted against the bill. One of them being Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from Minneapolis.

    Introduced by Congressman Gregory Meeks, the bill requires the State Department to report to Congress a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation with the Quad.

    The strategy shall address cooperation on issues including (1) preparing for the next pandemic, (2) co-developing new innovative technologies, and (3) deepening economic engagement and integration.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Donald Trump wins Nevada, Virgin Islands caucuses

    Donald Trump wins Nevada, Virgin Islands caucuses

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Donald Trump won Republican presidential nominating caucuses in Nevada and the US Virgin Islands on Thursday, moving closer to becoming his party’s White House standard-bearer in a likely general election rematch with US President Joe Biden in November.

    Trump, the frontrunner in his party’s nominating race, was the only major candidate competing in Nevada’s caucuses and was set to win the state’s 26 delegates to the party’s nominating convention in July after being projected the winner on Thursday night by Edison Research. Trump also easily won the US Virgin Islands caucuses.

    Meanwhile, Nikki Haley has said the US will have a female president in 2024, and it will be either her or Kamala Harris, both of them Indian-origin. Haley has said she will stay in the race for the White House even after the embarrassment in Nevada and with polling showing her trailing badly in her home state of South Carolina.
    (Agencies)

  • ‘My memory is fine’: Joe Biden hits back at special counsel over ‘hazy’ and ‘poor’ age jibe

    ‘My memory is fine’: Joe Biden hits back at special counsel over ‘hazy’ and ‘poor’ age jibe

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A special counsel report released Thursday, February 8, found evidence that President Joe Biden willfully retained and shared highly classified information when he was a private citizen, including about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan, but concluded that criminal charges were not warranted, an AP report says.

    The report from special counsel Robert Hur resolves a criminal investigation that had shadowed Biden’s presidency for the last year. But its bitingly critical assessment of his handling of sensitive government records and unflattering characterizations of his memory will spark fresh questions about his competency and age that cut at voters’ most deep-seated concerns about his candidacy for re-election.

    Beyond that, the harsh findings will almost certainly blunt his ability to forcefully condemn Donald Trump, Biden’s likely opponent in November’s presidential election, over a criminal indictment charging the former president with illegally hoarding classified records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Despite abundant differences between the cases, Trump immediately seized on the special counsel report to portray himself as a victim of a “two-tiered system of justice.”

    Yet even as Hur found evidence that Biden willfully held onto and shared with a ghostwriter highly classified information, the special counsel devoted much of his report to explaining why he did not believe the evidence met the standard for criminal charges, including a high probability that the Justice Department would not be able to prove Biden’s intent beyond a reasonable doubt, citing among other things an advanced age that they said made him forgetful and the possibility of “innocent explanations” for the records that they could not refute.

    In remarks at the White House, Biden denied Hur’s assertion that he shared classified information, saying, “I did not share classified information. I did not share it with my ghostwriter.” He also angrily lashed out at the special counsel for questioning his recollection of his late son Beau’s death from cancer.

    “How in the hell dare he raise that?” Biden asked, saying he didn’t believe it was any of Hur’s business.

    And in response to Hur’s portrayal of him, Biden insisted to reporters that “My memory is fine,” and said he believes he remains the most qualified person to serve as president.

    Biden’s lawyers blasted the report for what they said were inaccuracies and gratuitous swipes at the president. In a statement, Biden said he was “pleased” Hur had “reached the conclusion I believed all along they would reach — that there would be no charges brought in this case and the matter is now closed.” He pointedly noted that he had sat for five hours of in-person interviews in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’s October attack on Israel, when “I was in the middle of handling an international crisis.”

    “I just believed that’s what I owed the American people so they could know no charges would be brought and the matter closed,” Biden said. The investigation into Biden is separate from special counsel Jack Smith’s inquiry into the handling of classified documents by Trump after Trump left the White House. Smith’s team has charged Trump with illegally retaining top secret records at his Mar-a-Lago home and then obstructing government efforts to get them back. Trump has said he did nothing wrong.

    Hur, a former US Attorney in the Trump administration, was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland as special counsel in January 2023 following an initial discovery by Biden staff of classified records in Washington office space. Subsequent property searches by the FBI, all coordinated voluntarily by Biden staff, that turned up additional sensitive documents from his time as vice president and senator.

    Hur’s report said many of the documents recovered at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, in parts of Biden’s Delaware home and in his Senate papers at the University of Delaware were retained by “mistake.” Biden could not have been prosecuted as a sitting president, but Hur’s report states that he would not recommend charges against Biden regardless.

    “We would reach the same conclusion even if Department of Justice policy did not foreclose criminal charges against a sitting president,” the report said.

    But investigators did find evidence of willful retention and disclosure of a subset of records found in Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware house, including in a garage, office and basement den. The files pertain to a troop surge in Afghanistan during the Obama administration that Biden had vigorously opposed. He kept records that documented his position, including a classified letter to Obama during the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday.

    Documents found in a box in Biden’s Delaware garage have classification markings up to the Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information Level and “other materials of great significance to him and that he appears to have personally used and accessed.” Hur, though, wrote that there was a ”shortage of evidence” to prove that Biden placed the documents in the box and knew they were there.

    Some of the classified information related to Afghanistan was shared with a ghostwriter with whom he published memoirs in 2007 and 2017. As part of the probe, investigators reviewed a recording of a February 2017 conversation between Biden and his ghostwriter in which Biden can be heard saying that he had “just found all the classified stuff downstairs.” AP

  • ‘Overseas Friends of BJP’ in US to make 25 lakh calls to India during elections; send 3,000 Indian-Americans to campaign

    ‘Overseas Friends of BJP’ in US to make 25 lakh calls to India during elections; send 3,000 Indian-Americans to campaign

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The ‘Overseas Friends of BJP’ in the US has made an elaborate plan to make more than 2,50,000 calls to people across India urging them to vote and re-elect Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third term with a record 400 plus seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, according to community leaders. ‘Overseas Friends of BJP’ in the USA has also made plans to send a strong delegation of more than 3,000 Indian Americans who will campaign for the party and its candidates in various capacities across India.

    The BJP has also created more than two dozen teams across the US to make specific calls and help in developing strategies according to different states and languages.

    “We started preparations from December itself and we are picking up speed this month. In February, we are starting a kickoff event all over the United States — probably around 20-22 cities cutting across 18 States. We are trying to gather not only the sympathizers and volunteers of ‘Overseas Friends of BJP’, but also the general community, the community leaders, and the community who want to see Modi 3.0. So they will be participating in that,” OFBJP USA President Adapa Prasad told PTI in a recent interview.

    OFBJP USA, he said, will be presenting the achievements of the Modi government in the last five years and also the 10 years cumulatively and how India’s position in the global community of the nations in the current situation, and also US India relations and the domestic side, how overall growth has happened.

    “We have already prepared the PowerPoint slides. We have PDF documents to distribute,” he said.

    OFBJP is also working to organize “Chai Pe Charcha” in towns and cities across the US, he said.

    “We will gather local people. We will discuss these things about the overall development agenda of BJP and Modi. We will urge all our NRI brothers and Indian diaspora brothers to call their friends and families to vote for the BJP. It’s not for asking why just vote for BJP. They will be telling them why they should be voting for BJP and they will list out all the achievements of the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

    The goal, this time, he said, is to get 400 seats for the BJP and its allies.

    “For general elections, there is already a lot of enthusiasm. Just like in India, it is for Modi and BJP. We will be having call centers almost at the county (district) level. We will be calling and we will be dividing this by state. There are Hindi-speaking states and there are regional-speaking states. So for example, if it is Karnataka, we have a Karnataka speaking people who will be calling there, if it is Telangana, we will be having Telugu speaking and so on. Marathi, Tamil we have everybody. We have NRIs covering, volunteering already from hailing, from Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala,” Prasad said.

    “I’m expecting almost 2.5 million calls,” Prasad said, adding that this year OFBJP is expecting to send a delegation of 3,000 Indian Americans to campaign for the party in the general elections.

    There is coordination on this between OFBJP USA and the BJP in India.

    The OFBJP USA is also planning to hold car rallies in different cities during the elections to create awareness about the developments and achievements in India in the last 10 years, he said.

  • NSF Director Panchanathan, several other Indian-Americans elected to National Academy of Engineering

    NSF Director Panchanathan, several other Indian-Americans elected to National Academy of Engineering

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan and several other eminent Indian-American scientists have been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering, according to an official release. They include Ravi Prasher from Bloom Energy and Tejal Desai from Brown University. Thalappil Pradeep from IIT Chennai is the only Indian scientist among the 21 new international members selected to this top American engineering body. This is in addition to the 114 new US scientists who have been elected this year. This brings the total US membership to 2,310 and the number of international members to 332, the release said. Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer.

    Panchanathan has been elected to NAE for multimedia computing for assistive and rehabilitative applications and for leadership at the institutional and national levels.

    Among other Indian-American scientists elected to the body are Shailendra Bordawekar, vice president, Small Molecule Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls Development, AbbVie Inc., Gurnee, Ill; Surajit Chaudhuri, distinguished scientist, data systems, Microsoft Research; and Tejal Desai from School of Engineering, Brown University. Garg Maheshwari, vice president, Biologics Development, Bristol Myers Squibb; Pandurang Nayak, vice president of Search, Google; Ravi Prasher, chief technology officer, Bloom Energy, and Raj Singh, regents professor of materials science and engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Oklahoma State University are also in the list. The National Academy of Engineering said Thalappil Pradeep, Deepak Parekh Institute Chair Professor and professor of chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, has been elected as the international member for contributions to cluster chemistry and the discovery and implementation of affordable drinking water solutions.

    Election of the new NAE members is the culmination of a yearlong process. The ballot is set in December and the final vote for membership occurs during January. Individuals in the newly elected class will be formally inducted during the NAE’s annual meeting on September 29, 2024.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Indo-Pacific Strategy has made US and region more secure, more prosperous: White House

    Indo-Pacific Strategy has made US and region more secure, more prosperous: White House

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The US has said the execution of its Indo-Pacific Strategy in 2022 amidst the strategic competition with China has made the country and the dynamic region more secure and more prosperous, and expanded the bilateral partnership with India in unprecedented ways.

    Addressing the media on the second anniversary of the launch of the landmark foreign policy strategy of the Biden administration, Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council of the White House, said “the United States has never been in a stronger position in the Indo-Pacific”.

    “Over the past two years, we have made historic progress in advancing an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, the United States has never been in a stronger position in the Indo-Pacific,” she said.

    In the two years since the launch of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the US has reinvested and revitalized its alliances and partnerships and taken them to new heights, Watson said.

    “We have deepened and elevated alliances with Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand. We upgraded our bilateral relationships with Vietnam and Indonesia, and our partnership with ASEAN.

    “We have expanded our partnership with India in unprecedented ways. We have surged our efforts in the Pacific, including with two historic summits for Pacific Island leaders at the White House and the establishment of the Partners of the Blue Pacific,” she said.

    The United States is an Indo-Pacific nation. As the most dynamic and fastest-growing region on earth, the Indo-Pacific is an essential driver of America’s future security and prosperity, the state department said in a fact sheet.

    The region is home to more than half the world’s population, and it accounts for 60 per cent of global GDP as well as two-thirds of global economic growth. Trade between the United States and the Indo-Pacific region reached over USD 2 trillion in 2022, and the United States benefits from USD 956 billion in foreign direct investment from the Indo-Pacific, it said.

    “But as our cooperation to advance our common values and interests has grown, so too have our challenges. We have seen the People’s Republic of China (PRC) become more repressive at home and more assertive abroad, undermining human rights and international law, and seeking to reshape the international order,” the fact sheet noted.

    At the briefing, Watson said President Joe Biden hosted the historic US-Japan-South Korea trilateral summit at Camp David to open a new chapter in this important partnership, she said.

    Under his leadership, the US has elevated the Quad with Australia, India, and Japan to a leader-level summit and has delivered concrete results for the Indo-Pacific region, from vaccines to maritime domain awareness to scholarships for students, she said.

    “And three of the four Official State Visits President Biden has hosted were with leaders of Indo-Pacific countries: the Republic of Korea, India, and Australia. This year, the President will welcome Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan. We have also undertaken historic cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines,” Watson said.

    The US has also built closer ties between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, including through the launch of AUKUS, a historic partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, she said.

    Today, there is a recognition both in Europe and the Indo-Pacific that the opportunities and challenges in one region directly affect the other, she said.

    “We have seen that with historic support from some of our Indo-Pacific partners for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s brutal invasion. And we see that recognition from our European partners as we work to address the direct military support from the DPRK (North Korea) to Russia’s war in Ukraine,” she said.

    After just two years, the execution of the Indo-Pacific Strategy has made “our country and the Indo-Pacific region more secure and more prosperous”. “All of this strengthens the United States’ position in the Indo-Pacific and advances our interests in and vision for the region amidst strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China. And even as we confront challenges elsewhere, the United States will proudly continue to prioritize our work in this critical region for our future,” Watson said.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Indian American Bhavini Patel is running for US Congress

    Indian American Bhavini Patel is running for US Congress

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): From helping her single parent mother running a food truck “India on Wheels” in Pittsburgh to launching a tech startup after completing her education from the Oxford University, Indian American Bhavini Patel is now running for US House of Representatives.
    Patel, 30, last year on October 2 announced her decision to run for the Congress from the 12th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, which is currently held by her Democratic Party colleague Summer Lee.
    Notably, Congresswoman Lee is one of the few lawmakers who had boycotted the historic Joint Address to the US Congress by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June last year.
    Preparing for her first hurdle of the primary, scheduled for April 23, Patel has raised over USD 310,000, of which she says roughly 70 per cent has been raised from within the State.
    “It’s truly emblematic of the community and the needs of the community. We’ve earned several labor union endorsements including support from the steamfitters, the operating engineers, and SMART, which is a railroad transportation union. When we think about support from the unions, that’s a really big deal, especially coming from Western Pennsylvania where there’s such a strong history of the power of the labor movement,” Patel told media.
    In addition to that, she has also got endorsements from roughly 33 elected officials, including mayors of small towns as well as members of council in those areas.
    Patel is a die-hard Biden supporter. “To be quite honest, I think he’s one of our most progressive presidents that we’ve seen” she said, referring to some of the key bills that his administration has been able to deliver, including infrastructure bill, Inflation Reduction Act, and Chips and Sciences Act.
    Originally from Gujarat in India, her mother came to this country as an immigrant.
    “She came to this country with very little, which I think is a story that resonates with many people in the Indian diaspora here in this country. When she came here, she raised my brother and me as a single parent. We moved around quite a bit, to various different cities, and she worked various odd jobs, washing dishes in the restaurant industry, working in the motel industry,” Patel said.
    “Then she eventually came to Monroeville, which is a small suburb in western Pennsylvania, and that’s where she started a small catering business, supplying samosas and various other pastries to the local Patel brothers there. From there she started a food truck business. So, my family has been running food trucks for the last 25 years,” she said.
    “It’s called India on Wheels. In many ways, that is my story. I grew up working in that family food truck business, grew up on Pitts campus, ran the serving window, helped out on the weekends with catering, and then at some point decided that I wanted to attend the University of Pittsburgh,” she said.
    Patel soon became the first in her family to graduate from college. “Then I earned a scholarship to get my master’s at the University of Oxford. Since then, I have been involved in various different public service efforts. When I think about the Indian diaspora, I think about the power of that story. To me, that’s so much, it’s very much so emblematic of the American dream.
    It’s the power of an idea, being able to come from a small village growing up in poverty, but being able to raise a daughter, educate your children, and then raise a daughter that’s running for US Congress. To me, that is the power of this country. That’s the positivity of what this country has to offer, and that’s what my candidacy is about, and that’s what this campaign is about,” she said.
    While she has been running a very positive campaign in her district, Patel of late has been a target of hate crime and racial abuse because of her ethnicity.
    Following this, Hindu and Jewish groups across the country have come out in her support. Hindu American PAC recently held a fundraiser for her.
    Patel is a strong advocate of India-US relationship. “Our relationship with India is very critical. I think there’s a burgeoning young population there. There’s a lot of hunger and desire to build a life and to contribute to the growth of India, but also globally there’s a lot of talent. So how can the United States, particularly how can Western Pennsylvania best position itself to attract that talent?” she said.
    “We’re home to Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, and other university institutions. Many students do come from India. They earn their degrees. So being able to continue to build out a more robust visa program to allow people to attend the universities, to enter into the workforce, build small businesses, innovate and solve some of the biggest challenges that we’re facing in this country, including addressing things like the climate crisis,” she said.
    “It’s going to take innovation and real thought to be able to tackle the biggest crisis that our generation is facing. And I think that to be able to build coalitions globally, it’s absolutely critical to be able to address those concerns,” Patel said.

  • Indian-origin judge Sanket Jayshukh Bulsara nominated by Joe Biden to US Court for Eastern District of New York

    Indian-origin judge Sanket Jayshukh Bulsara nominated by Joe Biden to US Court for Eastern District of New York

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): President Joe Biden has nominated Indian-origin judge Sanket Jayshukh Bulsara, an expert in securities, contract, bankruptcy and regulatory matters, for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
    A child of immigrants from India and Kenya, Bulsara, 46, has been a US Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York since 2017. He was the first South Asian American federal judge to serve on any court in the Second Circuit when he was appointed as a Magistrate Judge.
    The White House announced Bulsara’s nomination on Thursday as Biden named the 45th round of judicial nominees, which included four individuals to federal district courts. All of them are extraordinarily qualified, experienced and devoted to the rule of law and the Constitution, a media statement said.
    “These choices also continue to fulfil the President’s promise to ensure that the nation’s courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country—both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds,” the White House said. From January 2017 to May 2017, Bulsara served as the Acting General Counsel of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, where he had been the Deputy General Counsel for Appellate Litigation, Adjudication, and Enforcement since 2015.

  • Indian-origin executive dies after being assaulted in US; suspect on the run, police release

    Indian-origin executive dies after being assaulted in US; suspect on the run, police release

    A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered by police to anyone who can provide information that leads to arrest of suspects involved

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): In yet another disturbing incident, a 41-year-old Indian-origin executive died in the US, days after he was assaulted during an altercation outside a restaurant in downtown Washington.

    According to investigators, officers responded to the 1100 block of 15th Street Northwest outside Shoto Restaurant around 2 am for an assault on February 2.

    Once officers arrived, they found Vivek Taneja on the pavement. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. A preliminary investigation found that Taneja and an unknown man were involved in a verbal argument that turned physical, WUSA, a television station in Washington, DC, affiliated with CBS, said.

    Taneja was knocked to the ground and hit his head on the pavement.

    He died from his injuries at the hospital on Wednesday. Police are now investigating Taneja’s death as a homicide.

    Taneja was the cofounder and president of Dynamo Technologies. According to the company’s website, Taneja “leads Dynamo’s strategic, growth, and partnership initiatives, with an emphasis on the federal government contracting arena.”

    Police continue to search for the man who threw the deadly punch. He was captured on surveillance camera.

    A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered by police to anyone who can provide information that leads to arrest of suspect(s) involved in each homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

    The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect involved in a homicide that occurred on the 1100 block of 15th Street, NW on February 2.

    According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of an assault, where they located an adult male suffering from life-threatening injuries as a result from an assault. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. On February 7, the victim succumbed to his injuries.

    MPD offers a reward to anyone who provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for each homicide in the District.

    Earlier this week, Syed Mazahir Ali, an Indian student was attacked by robbers in Chicago. Earlier, 25-year-old Indian student Vivek Saini was fatally attacked in Georgia state’s Lithonia city by a homeless drug addict.

    Four other Indian-origin students were reported dead in the US this year.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Indian American executive Sonia Fernandes named Politico’s first global HR, diversity officer

    Indian American executive Sonia Fernandes named Politico’s first global HR, diversity officer

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Indian American Sonia Fernandes has been named as the global chief human resources and diversity officer of Politico, a Washington-based digital newspaper focused on politics.
    “In this new role, she will be responsible for leading, integrating and harmonizing Politico’s talent functions across continents,” the publication announced Feb 1 noting that the function will be centralized globally for the first time in its 17-year history.
    Based in Politico’s Rosslyn, Virginia headquarters, India-born, Mumbai-educated Fernandes will begin her new role on Feb 8.
    “Fernandes will drive positive change that will impact and elevate the well-being, professional growth and experience of every Politico across seven newsrooms, two continents and seven time zones,” the publication said.
    Fernandes’ dual role as chief diversity officer reflects Politico’s commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and empowering workplace in line with its ambition for additional global growth, it added.
    “Politico’s success is driven by great journalism and great people,” said Mark Dekan, chief operating officer of Politico Media Group. “Sonia brings a wealth of international experience and a fresh perspective to Politico. Her role is integral to building upon Politico’s track record as the most successful news start-up of the 21st century as we grow into a top global brand.”
    “It is a privilege to join Politico, an iconic brand dedicated to purpose-driven work with people at its heart,” said Fernandes. “I look forward to the exciting journey ahead and the limitless possibilities we’ll create together as a team.” Fernandes brings over two decades of expertise in HR management and transformative change to her new role. She is seasoned in shaping organizational, cultural and talent ecosystems to drive business growth, the announcement stated.
    She was most recently the chief people officer for the MediaCom Asia Pacific division of WPP, a global advertising agency, and was responsible for the well-being of 2,500 employees across 15 countries.
    Her extensive career spans global entities such as KPMG, Bain & Co., the BBC and MediaCom, where she spearheaded progressive HR strategies with a focus on design and execution.
    Having lived and worked in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore and India, Fernandes possesses deep knowledge in international HR. She has expertise in integrating cross-border HR strategies and operating models to align with commercial objectives, according to the publication.
    Fernandes’ deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) will serve her as Politico’s first chief diversity officer. Balancing local needs with global scalability, she champions a “people-first, better results” approach, fostering a human-centric and high-performing culture.
    She is a collaborative force in driving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, having designed and implemented 75 grassroots programs across 15 countries, Politico said.
    Additionally, she has played a key role in leading M&As from due diligence to integration, implementing strategic talent-mapping programs and overseeing large-scale recruitment projects.
    Born in India, Fernandes holds a BA in psychology and sociology from The University of Mumbai and a master’s in management and employment relations from The University of Auckland, New Zealand.

  • Two Indian Americans sentenced for conspiring & stealing sensitive government data

    Two Indian Americans sentenced for conspiring & stealing sensitive government data

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Three former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees, including two Indian Americans, have been sentenced for a conspiracy to steal proprietary US government software and sensitive law-enforcement databases for use in a commercial venture.
    Sonal Patel, 49, of Sterling, Virginia, was sentenced to two years of probation in a Washington, DC, court on January 26, according to a Justice Department press release. In April 2019, Patel pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of government property theft of government property.
    Murali Y. Venkata, 58, of Aldie, Virginia, was sentenced to four months in prison. In April 2022, a jury convicted Venkata of conspiracy to commit theft of government property and to defraud the United States, theft of government property, wire fraud, and destruction of records.
    The trio pleads not guilty and have been released on bail. Their next hearing is in May.
    Charles K. Edwards, 63, of Sandy Spring, Maryland, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison. In January 2022, Edwards pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of government property and to defraud the United States and theft of government property.
    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Edwards was the former Acting Inspector General of the DHS Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). Patel and Venkata were employed in DHS-OIG’s information technology department. Edwards, Patel, and Venkata were all previously employed at the US Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). Edwards, Patel, and Venkata conspired to steal proprietary US software and databases containing sensitive law-enforcement information and the personally identifiable information (PII) of over 200,000 federal employees from DHS-OIG and USPS-OIG.
    They planned to use the stolen software and databases to create a commercial software product to be offered for sale to government agencies. As part of the scheme, the co-conspirators disclosed the stolen software and databases containing PII to software developers located in India.
    After Venkata learned of the investigation, he deleted incriminating text messages and other communications in an effort to obstruct the investigation, according to court documents.

     

  • Indian community has been anchor of Indo-US relationship: Ambassador Sandhu

    Indian community has been anchor of Indo-US relationship: Ambassador Sandhu

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The Indian-American community has been an anchor of the Indo-US relationship, India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said, emphasizing that the diaspora has a great role to play in the development of India.

    Sandhu was speaking at his farewell reception on Thursday, January 25, in a Maryland Suburb of Washington DC that was hosted by Indian-American organizations, including Sikhs of America, Overseas Friends of BJP USA, US India SME Council. “Indian community here has been an anchor of the fantastic relationship that has emerged,” Sandhu said. During the farewell reception, several members of the Indian-American community, particularly those from the Sikh Diaspora, urged him to do something for his hometown Amritsar and his home State of Punjab after his retirement.

    In response, Sandhu speaking in Punjabi said that the Diaspora can do more for Amritsar.

    He said that every time members of the diaspora go to Amritsar, they should spend an additional two days in the city and play a role in the development of the city and the state.

    “The tourism of Amritsar is like that of Agra, no less,” Sandhu said.

    Addressing the gathering, Jasdip Singh Jesse from Sikhs of America, said that Sandhu has made the community proud and has played a very important role in strengthening the India-US relationship.

    Under his leadership, the embassy resolved several issues impacting the community.

    Adapa Prasad, president of Overseas Friends of BJP USA, said that Sandhu has been the top Indian diplomat during whose tenure the bilateral relationship reached a new height.

    He hoped that the country would continue to benefit from his services in one capacity or the other post-retirement. Elisha Pulivarti, president of the US-India SME Council, presented Sandhu with the “Modern Day Chanakya and Master Strategist” award on the occasion.

    Sandhu, 61, retires from the foreign service after 35 years of diplomatic career this month.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Thirteen Indian Americans among 40 Science Talent Search finalists

    Thirteen Indian Americans among 40 Science Talent Search finalists

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Thirteen Indian American high schoolers figure among top 40 finalists in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. The 2023 finalists’ research projects showcase their breadth of knowledge, their commitment to addressing issues important to modern society, and their passion for STEM, according to a media release.
    The finalists were chosen by a national jury of professional scientists from a pool of 300 scholars, based on their projects’ scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientific leaders.
    “We are thrilled to welcome this inspiring and highly talented class of Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News.
    “I am certain these extraordinary students will be following in the footsteps of our many accomplished alumni who are the forefront of breakthrough discoveries. The 2023 finalists will be using their leadership, intellect, creativity and STEM skills to solve our world’s most intractable challenges.”
    Finalists will participate in a week-long competition in March 2024, during which they will undergo a rigorous judging process that goes beyond their own research to encompass other scientific disciplines and compete for more than $1.8 million in awards.
    They will also have an opportunity to interact with leading scientists and share their research during a virtual “Public Day” event on March 12.
    The top 10 Regeneron Science Talent Search 2023 winners will be announced during an awards ceremony on March 14, streamed live from Washington, DC.
    In total, more than $3 million in awards will be distributed throughout the Regeneron Science Talent Search. The finalists are each awarded at least $25,000, and the top 10 awards range from $40,000 to $250,000.
    Here is list of Indian American finalists:
    Saraswathy Amjith, Tesla STEM High School, Redmond, Washington.
    Project Title: A Novel Integrated Machine Learning Approach Utilizing Radar and Satellite Imagery for Selective Logging Remote Sensing Detection and Accompanying AI-Logging Map-Generating Webtool.
    Aarav Arora, Del Norte High School, San Diego, California.
    Project Title: A Mechanistic Basis for the Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Severity.
    Aditi Avinash, Rock Canyon High School, Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
    Project Title: Model Validation and Preclinical Testing of Digestive Enzymes for Gluten Breakdown: A Move To Cure Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease.
    Harshil Avlani, BASIS Chandler, Chandler, Arizona.
    Project Title: Analyzing the Effect of Mid-Circuit Measurement (MCM) on Spectator Qubits.
    Arav Bhargava, The Potomac School, McLean, Virginia.
    Project Title: Low-Cost, 3D-Printed, Universal-Fit, Transradial Socket for Amputees in Developing Countries.
    Arnav N. Chakravarthy, Homestead High School, Cupertino, California.
    Project Title: Leveraging Mitochondrial DNA Mutations for Macrophage Lineage Tracing in Primary Human Tissues. Sarang Goel, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, Denton, Texas.
    Project Title: IVY – Intelligent Vision System for the Visually Impaired: Innovative Low-Cost, AI-Based Eyeglasses To Help the Visually Impaired Overcome Mobility Limitations Through Navigational Assistance and Object Avoidance Algorithms and an Intuitive Vibration and Audio Guidance System.
    Amanrai Singh Kahlon, Sanford School, Hockessin, Delaware.
    Project Title: Enhancing Wearable Gait-Monitoring Systems: Identifying Optimal Kinematic Inputs in Typical Adolescents. Alexandra Mahajan, Cambridge Rindge & Latin School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
    Project Title: A Novel Method To Determine Precise Stellar Radii and Temperatures of Low Mass Stars Using JWST Transits and Occultations.
    Ekansh Mittal, Westview High School, Portland, Oregon.
    Project Title: Harnessing Machine Learning and 3D Spheroid Cultures To Identify Biomarkers for Combating Drug Resistance in Breast Cancer.
    Achyuta Rajaram, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire.
    Project Title: Automatic Discovery of Visual Circuits.
    Rhea Rastogi, Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School, Montgomery, Alabama.
    Project Title: Understanding How the Maternal Epigenetic Reprogramming Function of LSD1 Contributes to Inherited Developmental Disease.
    Riya Tyagi, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire.
    Project Title: Using Computer Vision To Disentangle Features Enabling AI To Learn Self-Reported Race and Ethnicity From Medical Images.

  • Sixteen Indian Americans elected fellows of National Academy of Inventors 2023 Class

    Sixteen Indian Americans elected fellows of National Academy of Inventors 2023 Class

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): As many as 16 Indian American inventors figure among 162 academic inventors in the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) 2023 Class of Fellows. Election as an Academy Fellow is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors.
    The 2023 class of Fellows will be honored and presented their medals by a senior official of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at the NAI 13th Annual Meeting on June 18, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
    The Indian American inventors in the list are: Arvind Agarwal, Florida International University; Sanjoy Banerjee, City University of New York; Ashok Gadgil, University of California, Berkeley; Balakrishna Haridas, Texas A&M University; M. N. V. Ravi Kumar, The University of Alabama; Prashant Kumta, University of Pittsburgh; Prashant Mali, University of California, San Diego; Dinesh Manocha, University of Maryland, College Park; Arumugam Manthiram, The University of Texas at Austin; Seemantini Nadkarni, Massachusetts General Hospital; Jagjit Nanda, Stanford University; Ravindra Pandey, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York; Niketa Patel, University of South Florida; Anil Sood, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Srinivas Sridhar, Northeastern University; and Karthikeyan Sundaresan, Georgia Institute of Technology.
    The 2023 class of Fellows represents NAI’s foundational and continuing commitment to diversifying innovation on all levels, with underrepresented inventors comprising 33% of this year’s class, according to a media release.
    This year’s class also showcases regional diversity with Fellows representing 35 US states and 10 countries, exemplifying the Academy’s belief that great innovators can be found everywhere.
    “This year’s class of NAI Fellows showcases the caliber of researchers that are found within the innovation ecosystem. Each of these individuals are making significant contributions to both science and society through their work,” said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, FNAI, President of the NAI.
    “This new class, in conjunction with our existing Fellows, are creating innovations that are driving crucial advancements across a variety of disciplines and are stimulating the global and national economy in immeasurable ways as they move these technologies from lab to marketplace. We are honored to welcome these highly regarded innovators to the Academy and look forward to formally inducting them at our 2024 Annual Conference in the Research Triangle of North Carolina.”
    The 2023 Fellow class hails from 118 research universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutions worldwide. This class includes 89 individuals from the Association of American Universities (AAU) institutions and 128 individuals from R1 universities that boast very high research activity.
    Collectively, the 2023 Fellows hold over 4,600 issued U.S. patents. This year’s class includes 2 Nobel Laureates, 3 National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees, 22 members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and individuals holding other honors and distinctions as well as senior leadership from universities and research institutions.
    Their work spans across disciplines and exemplifies their dedication and inspiration to translating research into commercial technologies that benefit society, the release stated.
    Since its inception in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include 1,898 exceptional researchers and innovators, who hold over 63,000 US patents and 13,000 licensed technologies. NAI Fellows are known for the societal and economic impact of their inventions, contributing to major advancements in science and consumer technologies. Their innovations have generated over $3 trillion in revenue and generated one million jobs.

  • Indian American official Sanjay Virmani to lead FBI counterterrorism division in DC

    Indian American official Sanjay Virmani to lead FBI counterterrorism division in DC

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): : Sanjay Virmani, a senior Indian American FBI official, has been named the special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Counterterrorism Division of the Washington Field Office by Director Christopher Wray.
    He most recently served as deputy assistant director in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, according to an FBI press release.
    Virmani joined the FBI as a special agent in 2003 and was assigned to the San Francisco Field Office where he worked on cyber and counterterrorism matters. In 2007, he was promoted to supervisory special agent in the Counterterrorism Division.
    In 2010, he was selected as the supervisory special agent to lead the San Francisco Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in the Oakland Resident Agency. In that role, he led a squad of agents, analysts, and task force officers working on international terrorism investigations.
    In 2013, Virmani was selected to serve as Director of the INTERPOL Digital Crime Center at the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore. In this role, he led the directorate in providing operational support to INTERPOL’s 190 member countries to address cybercrime threats.
    In 2016, Virmani returned to FBI Headquarters as a unit chief of the Cyberterrorism unit, which was focused on identifying, obtaining intelligence on, and disrupting cyberterrorists and their networks globally.
    In 2018, he was promoted to assistant section chief of the Counterterrorism Division’s Internet Operations Section, where he worked to foster partnerships within the US intelligence community and with international partners. In 2018, he also returned to the San Francisco Field Office as the supervisory special agent of the Private Sector Engagement squad, then was promoted to assistant special agent in charge over the Cyber Branch.
    In 2021, Virmani returned to the Counterterrorism Division as section chief of the Strategic Partner Engagement Section, where he oversaw the FBI’s liaison efforts with the law enforcement community, US interagency, and private sector partners on counterterrorism-related matters.
    In 2022, he served as the acting special agent in charge of the Tampa Field Office. The same year, he was promoted to deputy assistant director in the Counterterrorism Division.
    He earned a bachelor’s in industrial engineering from California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo and received a master’s in business administration from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California.

  • Amid China tension, US to send unofficial delegation to Taiwan

    Amid China tension, US to send unofficial delegation to Taiwan

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The Biden administration will send an unofficial delegation comprised of former senior officials to Taiwan shortly after the self-governed island holds an election for a new president this weekend, a move that could upset Beijing in an already-fragile bilateral relationship. A senior administration official confirmed the plan on Wednesday, January 10, without offering more details but said such a face-to-face meeting was the “most effective way” to engage the new Taiwanese government and convey US policy in the region, according to an AP report.

    China and Taiwan’s opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) have warned of the danger ruling party presidential candidate Lai Ching-te can pose to peace if he wins election this weekend.
    The KMT favors closer ties with China but denies being pro-Beijing. The poll is being closely watched internationally. Reuters
    The official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive plans, said the administration believed the move would contribute to peace and stability in the region. Beijing claims Taiwan to be part of Chinese territory and vows to unify with it eventually.

    In August 2022, Beijing reacted angrily by firing missiles and blockading the island after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. Chinese President Xi Jinping, at his most recent meeting with President Joe Biden in November, called Taiwan the “most sensitive issue” in US-Chinese relations.

    Washington has a security pact with Taiwan to provide it with sufficient hardware and technology to deter any armed attack from the mainland. The US has stepped up support for Taiwan and its democratically elected government in recent years as Beijing ratchets up military and diplomatic pressure on the island. The US government takes no side on the island’s statehood but insists the differences must be resolved peacefully. Biden told Xi in November that the US government opposes any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

    The US has endorsed no political party or candidate in Taiwan. Beijing has made it clear that it does not want a victory by Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, the candidate from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party known for its pro-independence leaning.

  • Committed to managing China ties responsibly: US

    Committed to managing China ties responsibly: US

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): US President Joe Biden on Monday, January1, assured his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that he is committed to managing the bilateral ties “responsibly” as the two leaders exchanged congratulatory messages to mark the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

    The two presidents met on the sidelines of the APEC summit in San Francisco in November and agreed to cool down the raging tensions between the top two economies of the world. In his message to Xi, Biden said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979, the ties between the US and China have facilitated prosperity and opportunities for both the countries and the world. Biden said he is committed to “managing this important relationship responsibly”, adding that he looks forward to continuing advancing the US-China relationship based on the progress made by the predecessors of the two leaders and through multiple meetings and discussions between the two heads of state, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

    Their summit took place after a comprehensive round of talks between high-level officials of the two countries. In his letter, Xi urged Biden to earnestly implement the outcomes of the summit, saying history has already proven and will continue to fully prove that mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the right way for China and the US to get along with each other as two major countries. Xi pointed out that he and Biden, during their meeting in San Francisco, laid out a future-oriented “San Francisco Vision,” charting the course for the development of China-US relations.

    Xi Jinping stressed that he was willing to work with Biden to continue to steer the course of China-US relations to benefit the two countries and their people and promote the cause of world peace and development.

    During their summit, Xi and Biden agreed to resume high-level military communications which were severed after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022.

  • Tax Season 2024: IRS launches Tax Professional Awareness Week from Jan 8

    Tax Season 2024: IRS launches Tax Professional Awareness Week from Jan 8

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): With the 2024 tax filing season just around the corner, the IRS is launching a special Tax Professional Awareness Week on Monday, Jan. 8, to assist tax professionals on what to expect during the filing season and start 2024 on the right foot.

    The special week is the IRS’ latest effort in support of taxpayers and the tax community. Each year, millions of taxpayers seek the help of tax professionals to prepare their federal tax returns and other filings.

    “As the 2024 tax season rapidly approaches, Tax Professional Awareness Week highlights the vital role they play in helping taxpayers and our nation,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “Tax professionals play a critical role in ensuring the integrity of our tax system. We continue to urge taxpayers who need help to reach out to a trusted tax professional, including those who work with recognized national organizations.”

    A significant number of taxpayers eligible for refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit choose to enlist the assistance of tax preparers and rely on paid tax professionals to accurately file their returns. The IRS reminds taxpayers to make sure they choose a trusted, respected tax professional for help. The IRS has more information available to help taxpayers select a tax professional.

    As a reminder, taxpayers can also use the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. For available more information and locations, see free tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers.

    During the week, the IRS will focus on several critical topics often faced by tax professionals through social media posts and outreach materials:

    Due Diligence issues.
    Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs).
    Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs).
    E-File.
    E-Services.
    Identity Theft.
    The IRS will also present two important webinars:

    On Wednesday, Jan. 10: Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions on Due Diligence.
    On Friday, Jan. 12: Sailing Through the Rules of Refundable Tax Credits.
    The IRS webinars will include information on additional resources, training and tools available, at no charge, to tax professionals through the online Tax Return Preparer Toolkit. Attendees can earn Continuing Professional Education credit for attending the live webinars.

    In addition to the IRS webinars, other training opportunities will be available during Tax Professional Awareness Week at courses, seminars or expos presented by members of the tax professional community including the Texas Society of CPAs, the University of Minnesota and the University of Michigan.

    For more information, visit Tax Professional Awareness Week.

  • IRS expands Business Tax Account access to S corporations, partnerships; adds ability to view business tax transcripts

    IRS expands Business Tax Account access to S corporations, partnerships; adds ability to view business tax transcripts

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): As part of continuing transformation work, the Internal Revenue Service, on December 18, announced the launch of the second phase of a new online self-service tool for businesses that expands the business tax account capabilities and eligible entity types. As a result, individual partners of partnerships and individual shareholders of S corporation businesses are now eligible for a Business Tax Account in addition to sole proprietors.

    Available at IRS.gov/businessaccount, the new business tax account is a key part of the agency’s continuing service improvement initiative. This is part of the larger effort under last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and described in the multi-year Strategic Operating Plan released this spring.

    “This is part of the ongoing IRS modernization effort to make improvements for business taxpayers and others,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “This next step in the evolution of the Business Tax Account will help these businesses download transcripts and other features. Ultimately, these new online options will help make interactions easier for businesses while reducing paper-based processes and the need to call the IRS.”

    This phase of Business Tax Account also adds new features:

    Users can now download a PDF of a business tax transcript:
    For sole proprietors, this includes Forms: 940, 941, 943, 944, 945, 8752, 8288, 11-C, 730, 2290.
    For S corporations, this includes Forms: 940, 941, 943, 944, 945, 8752, 8288, 11-C, 730, 1120S, 2290.
    For partnerships, this includes Forms: 940, 941, 943, 944, 945, 1065, 8752, 8288, 8804, 11-C, 730, 2290.
    Sole proprietors can also view certain notices:
    CP080: Reminder – We Have Not Received Your Return, Credits May be on Your Account.
    CP136: Annual Notification of Federal Tax Deposit (FTD) Requirements (Forms: 941, 941-SS).
    CP216F: Application for Extension of Time to File an Employee Plan Return – Approved.
    Individual partners and individual shareholders will be able to access Business Tax Account information once they have filed a business return with the Schedule K-1 and it is processed by the IRS. To access Business Tax Account, individuals must have a Schedule K-1 for a minimum of one year during the 2019-2022 period on file. They will only be able to view information for the year(s) they have a Schedule K-1 on file. New businesses won’t have access until a business return is submitted, processed, and on file with the IRS.

    Sole proprietors with an Employer Identification Number (EIN) qualify to access their Business Tax Account. Also known as self-employed individuals, sole proprietors with EINs are those who file a business return under their EIN, such as reporting payroll taxes and reporting the highway use tax on trucks and buses.

    Sole proprietors who have already set up an individual account under their SSN or ITIN, and have an EIN linked to their SSN or ITIN, can use their existing login to access their Business Tax Account. At this time, sole proprietors who do not have an EIN are not eligible to set up a Business Tax Account. Instead, they can access their tax records by setting up an IRS individual Online Account.

    Over time, Business Tax Account will be a one-stop application that provides business taxpayers a suite of digital products and services, including access to viewing letters or notices, requesting tax transcripts, adding third parties for power of attorney or Tax Information Authorization, and storing bank account information to manage tax payments.

    It will help users manage their tax obligations, reducing the burden on taxpayers who would otherwise need to call or mail the IRS.

    To set up a new Business Tax Account, or for more information about this app, visit www.IRS.gov/businessaccount.

  • IRS issues guidance on the incremental cost for the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit

    IRS issues guidance on the incremental cost for the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service, on December 20, issued Notice 2024-05 regarding the commercial clean vehicle credit for commercial vehicles placed in service in 2024.

    The guidance provides a safe harbor for certain qualified commercial clean vehicles placed in service in calendar year 2024, which allows for reliance on the Department of Energy (“DOE”) analysis of incremental costs. The analysis shows that the incremental cost of all street electric vehicles (other than in the case of compact car PHEVs) that have a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds will be greater than $7,500 in calendar year 2024.

    Accordingly, the incremental cost will not limit the available credit amount for street electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds and are placed in service in calendar year 2024. For compact car plug-in electric hybrids placed in service during calendar year 2024, for which the incremental cost was calculated to be less than $7,500, the IRS will accept a taxpayer’s use, when calculating the credit amount, of the incremental cost published by the DOE.

    In addition, the DOE analysis provided an incremental cost analysis of current costs for several representative classes of street electric vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,000 pounds or more. For those vehicles placed in service during calendar year 2024, the IRS will accept a taxpayer’s use, in calculating the credit amount, of the incremental cost published by the DOE.

     

  • Colorado Supreme Court bars former president Donald Trump from running for President over 2021 Capitol riots

    Colorado Supreme Court bars former president Donald Trump from running for President over 2021 Capitol riots

    Court ordered exclusion of his name from the state’s Republican presidential primary ballot.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): In a stunning verdict, the Colorado Supreme Court has barred Donald Trump from running for President next year in the state citing his role in the unprecedented attack on the US Capitol in 2021 and ordered exclusion of his name from the state’s Republican presidential primary ballot. The disqualification of the 77-year-old former President on Tuesday, December 19, was based on the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which says officials who take an oath to support the US Constitution are banned from future office if they “engaged in insurrection.” The 4-3 ruling by the seven-member Colorado Supreme Court does not apply outside the state. Indian-American presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy on Wednesday, December 20, opposed the Supreme Court decision Haley said “the last thing we want” is judges deciding who can and cannot be on the presidential ballot
    Ramaswamy vowed to withdraw from Colorado Republican party primary ballot until Trump eligibility is restored
    Trump is currently the front-runner in the Republican Party’s nomination process for the race for the White House in 2024. Trump’s campaign has vowed to appeal against the “flawed” ruling by the Supreme Court of Colorado in the US Supreme Court.

    The Colorado Supreme Court upheld a trial judge’s decision that Trump engaged in the January 6, 2021, insurrection and also overturned her conclusion that the ban does not apply to the presidency.

    The landmark decision from the divided top state court marks the first time a court has found Trump ineligible to return to the White House due to his conduct surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, CBS News reported.

    Never before has a court determined that a presidential candidate is disqualified under the Civil War-era provision clause, it said.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Indian American Venkat Kotla appointed CTO of cybersecurity firm Securonix

    Indian American Venkat Kotla appointed CTO of cybersecurity firm Securonix

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP) : Leading cybersecurity firm Securonix has appointed two Indian Americans to key posts. Former Google executive Venkat Kotla has been named as Chief Technology Officer and former Onapsis executive Biju Muduli as Chief Marketing Officer. In his new role, Kotla is responsible for leading and scaling the company’s engineering function and fostering partnerships with leading technology organizations to support the growing demand for the company’s Unified Defense SIEM platform, the company announced. “I am thrilled to have Venkat join our executive leadership team,” said Nayaki Nayyar, Chief Executive Officer, Securonix. “As we continue to evolve and move into our next phase of growth, it is critical for our platform to scale with enterprise-grade reliability and meet the growing needs of modern enterprises charged with defending an expanding threat landscape.
    “Venkat’s deep experience with advanced technologies, including AI, successfully expanding technology partnerships and streamlining processes across multiple stakeholders will be invaluable in driving product development that protects our customers from internal and external threats.”
    With more than 25 years of experience at world class enterprise software companies, Kotla brings an established track record of driving engineering innovation at global organizations, the release stated.
    He most recently served as Vice President and Head of Engineering for Economy BU at Atlassian, a leader in workplace productivity tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Trello.
    Kotla helped grow the Economy line of business to more than $500 million ARR, which empowered global organizations to become more nimble, creative and aligned with the marketplace, ecosystem, partnerships, distribution and commerce billing platform.
    Prior to joining Atlassian, Kotla spent over 14 years in senior engineering leadership roles at Google. He spent more than three years at Google as the Senior Director of Engineering for Google Assistant and the Google Looker, a multi-cloud enterprise SaaS for business intelligence, data applications, and embedded analytics.
    “I’m excited to join a team that is hyper focused on product development and deeply committed to innovation,” said Kotla. “SIEM is the backbone of cybersecurity defenses, and Securonix has long been the industry’s premier solution provider. I look forward to working with the leadership team to incorporate advanced technologies into the platform and aggressively develop new partnerships with the world’s leading technology providers.”
    In her new role, Muduli will be responsible for the development, implementation and execution of marketing initiatives that will help drive Securonix’s next phase of growth and strengthen its position as one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity companies, according to a company release.
    “We are thrilled to welcome Biju to Securonix and our executive leadership team,” said Nayyar. “Biju is a strategic thinker with a passion for analyzing market trends, buying behaviors, and competitive landscapes.”
    “She has an outstanding record of formulating and executing successful global marketing strategies based on real metrics to achieve business goals. As we enter our next phase as a company, proven industry executives like Biju will play a key role in our continued growth, both internally and externally.”
    With more than 15 years of experience in strategic marketing and global operations, Muduli has created compelling brand messaging and value propositions for hypergrowth cybersecurity and enterprise software companies.
    She most recently served as the Chief Marketing Officer at Onapsis, the leader in SAP and Oracle business applications cybersecurity, where she oversaw the strategy and execution of global marketing initiatives across a rapidly scaling venture-backed security company.
    Prior to joining Onapsis, Muduli was the Vice President of Global Demand Generation & Field Marketing at Brightcove, a provider of cloud-based solutions for publishing and distributing professional media.
    During her time at Brightcove, Muduli led the company’s global marketing functions, which helped drive breakout growth across all regions, including the Americas, EMEA, APAC and Japan.
    She has also held global leadership roles at Carbonite, a data protection and cybersecurity company that was acquired by OpenText in 2019, and Dassault Systémes, a provider of collaborative virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations.
    “I am excited to join a team of talented growth-focused executives that is committed to innovation and driving the future of cybersecurity,” said Muduli. “As the proven market leader with a history of market-defining innovations, Securonix has demonstrated the ability to understand the future of SIEM and execute its vision to serve customer needs better than anyone in the space. I look forward to working with Nayaki and the leadership team, enhancing our value proposition and helping our customers and partners stay ahead of cyber threats.”