The tabla fell silent as Ustad Zakir Hussain (1951-2024), one of the greatest global ambassadors of Indian classical music, passed away on Monday (December 16, 2024) after a brief illness in San Francisco, California. A maestro who transformed the modest instrument into a robust voice for universal peace and humanity, Hussain’s incredible speed, dexterity, and creativity mesmerised audiences across cultures.
Having grown up singing odes to Mother Saraswati, verses of the holy Quran, and hymns of the Bible as a daily ritual, India’s syncretic soul echoed through Hussain’s rhythmic art. With a flair for carving stories out of percussive sound, his conversational music buzzed with a spark of spontaneity. Natural flow defined his music and personality. The Padma Vibhushan would impress the purists, enthrall the seekers of fusion, and handhold the fans of Bollywood music into his creative space with equal felicity. At the peak of his creativity genius, he bagged three Grammys in one night this February.
Like his carefully designed free-flowing style, the versatile artist would execute complex rhythms, intricate patterns, and nuanced dynamics and then move on to items like the sound of traffic signal and deer’s walk, without putting music into brackets. In tune with technology, over the years, he experimented with frequencies to highlight the subtle shades of the instrument to establish that tabla is not just a rhythmic instrument but also a melodic one. He emerged on the scene alongside eminent tabla artists like Anindo Chatterjee, Shafaat Ahmed Khan, Kumar Bose, and Swapan Chaudhuri, but Hussain’s role in popularising tabla and providing it a global platform remains unparalleled.
Born to Ustad Alla Rakha, the eminent accompanist of Pandit Ravi Shankar, credited with taking tabla to foreign shores, tabla chose Hussain. He grew up in Mumbai in an environment where his father believed that every instrument has its spirit. Hussain befriended the tabla at the age of three and by the time he hit teenage, the instrument had become his muse for life and perhaps an extension of his personality. After watching him play, one couldn’t see playing tabla as a chore in classical music.
His other two brothers, Taufiq and Fazal, are also noted percussionists but Hussain took his father’s legacy to the next level by adding a touch of showmanship and expanding the riches he inherited from the Punjab gharana. A keen learner and listener, Hussain was like a responsive satellite in orbit as an accompanist, shone like a star in his solos, and reserved the adventurous streak of a meteor for creating fusion music.
A child prodigy who gave his first professional performance at 12, Hussain was not regimented by his teacher-father. Rooted in Indian tradition, he was allowed to develop wings and explore new shores. His day would start with devotional music that would invoke Hindu deities followed by polishing Koranic verses in the neighbourhood madarsa before he would join the morning prayers at the Convent school. By 19, Hussain taught at the University of Washington before joining Ustad Ali Akbar Khan’s music college in San Francisco where he met his soulmate Antonia Minnecola.
Another fortuitous meeting in New York led to a lifelong bond with the iconic English guitarist John McLaughlin. Their friendship led to the formation of the groundbreaking Shakti band in 1973 which included violinist L. Shankar and percussionist T. H. Vinayakram who blended Hindustani and Carnatic classical music with Western jazz influences. This year, the band where Hussain joined hands with a new set of distinguished musicians won the Grammy for Best Global Music.
Hussain’s desire to experiment led to rewarding collaborations with Irish singer Van Morrison, American percussionist Mickey Hart, Latin Jazz percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo, and Jerry Garcia, the lead vocalist and guitarist of the Grateful Dread. He joined the Asian Underground music’s electronic surge as well in the 1990s but retained the natural acoustic quality of tabla. He shared a special bond with Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia, and sarangi stalwart Ustad Sultan Khan. Their jugalbandis would start as melodic banter and then turn meditative. In sync with the next generation, last year, he composed the Triple Concerto for Tabla, Sitar and Flute, with Niladri Kumar and Rakesh Chaurasia, and his collaboration with Carnatic musicians extended to violinist Kala Ramnath and veena exponent Jayanthi Kumaresh.
Fusion was never a novelty for Hussain as he had grown up listening to stories of how Amir Khusrau blended the Indian traditions of Dhrupad and Haveli sangeet with Sufi Qaul to create Khayal. As a young musician, he saw his father and colleagues contributing to Hindi film music that liberally drew from diverse musical streams. Hussain had his brush with cinema when he played tabla for Laxmikant Pyarelal’s maiden venture Parasmani. Later he composed music for Ismail Merchant’s films like Muhafiz, Aparna Sen’s Mr And Mrs Iyer, and Rahul Dholakia’s Parzania. The meaningful sound of his tabla lent layers to storytelling in international productions like Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now and recently Dev Patel’s Monkey Man.
Hussain also had a flair for acting from a young age. It is said Dilip Kumar recommended his name to K Asif for the role of young Salim in Mughal-e-Azam but Ustad Alla Rakha vetoed it. Later, he performed in Ismail Merchant’s Heat & Dust and Sai Paranjpye’s Saaz. However, he became a household figure when he brought classical music to the mainstream by promoting a tea brand in a commercial where he played tabla at the iconic Taj Mahal. As an article in The Hindu described, “The combination of “Wah Taj!” with the dashing young Hussain’s curly locks flying about his face as his fingers flew across the surface of his tabla — not to mention that charming smile accompanied by the resonance of his playing — ensured brand immortality.
Fame didn’t diminish his humility and age didn’t wilt his curiosity. Music was an endless journey for Hussain. Every time someone would toss the word perfection, he would say, “I haven’t played good enough to quit.”
Source: The Hindu
Tag: Ford
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Ustad Zakir Hussain: Tabla loses its vibrant voice
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Gondal – vintage car enthusiasts dream
By Murli Menon
One is writing this from one’s garden facing suite at Orchard Palace Resort at Gondal which is a heritage hotel managed by the Royal family of Gondal. The most exciting part of the visit to Orchard Palace, is its location. Orchard Palace is adjacent to Gondal antique and classic cars museum of the erstwhile Gondal State. This royal collection of cars – Forty impressive vehicles, from a 1907 car made by the New Engine Company Acton and a 1935 vintage Mercedes saloon to racing cars raced by the present Maharaja of Gondal. Most are still in pristine working condition. The Delage D8, Daimler, and the grand 1935 Mercedes seven-seater saloon are some of the numerous heritage European cars of the 1920s and ’30s, which can be seen at Gondal Heritage and Classic Cars Museum. The car collection was owned by Maharaja Bhagwat Sinhji who ruled the region in early 19th century and was a visionary leader.
The Gondal Antique Car Museum in Gujarat, India is a must-see destination for car enthusiasts and history buffs alike. The museum houses a collection of over 50 vintage cars and motorcycles, all beautifully restored and maintained to their original condition.
One of the highlights of the museum is the collection of cars from the 1920s and 1930s, including a 1923 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and a 1931 Studebaker President. Visitors can also see a 1948 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith, a 1951 Chevrolet Styleline, and a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.
The museum is located in the historic town of Gondal, which is known for its palaces and havelis. Visitors can take a tour of the town and see the beautiful architecture of the buildings, many of which have been converted into heritage hotels.The museum is open to the public every day except Monday and visitors can take a guided tour of the museum, which is conducted in English and Hindi.
Overall, Gondal Antique Car Museum is a unique and interesting destination that offers a glimpse into the history of transportation and a chance to see some truly beautiful and rare vehicles. It’s definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in cars and their history.
The Maharajah of Gondal had his own vintage and classic Car collection displayed at the heritage Orchard Palace Hotel at Gondal and the museum manager Mr. Bhavesh escorted me to photograph and carefully took me for an ambling walk through the antique cars, each parked in a private garage. The circumambulation of the garage allows tourists to appreciate nearly forty antique, classic and racing cars. Lunch over, we walked across the lawn and watched one garage door. There was a gorgeous, bright orange 1930 Delage designed by Maurice Gaultier andfounded in 1905 by Louis Delage is part of the collection.
A 1947 top-of-the-line Frazer (Kaiser-Buick convertible) and Studebaker are also seen. A1935 Packard, Ford convertible and Rolls Royce besides 1930 Daimler rub shoulders with one another in adjacent private garages.The most unusual “car” from 1907 was made in the United Kingdom and called “New Engine”. Rather than a “car”, it resembled a railroad or trolley car. This car not only could run on a street but also on train tracks! The Gondal Antique Car Museum in Gujarat, India is a must-see destination for car enthusiasts and history buffs alike. The museum houses a collection of over 50 vintage and classic cars, all beautifully restored and maintained to their original condition.One 1923 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and a 1948 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith, a 1951 Chevrolet Styleline, and a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing can also be seen.
The museum is located in the historic town of Gondal, which is known for its palaces and havelis. Visitors can take a tour of the town and see beautiful architecture of the buildings, many of which have been converted into heritage hotels.day except Mondays.
Overall, Gondal Antique Car Museum is a unique and interesting destination that offers a glimpse into the history of transportation and a chance to see some truly beautiful and rare vehicles. It’s definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in cars and their history.
How to get there?
Gondal is located 40 km. from Rajkot. And 60 km. from Junagadh making it a convenient base to visit this historic city by bus.
By Train:
Gondal Railway Station is located about 42km from Rajkot Railway Station.
By Air:
Gondal is about 41km from Rajkot Airport.
Museum Ticket:
Ticket price is Rs 120 per person plus Rs 280 for photos and video recording per cameraA few cars are behind glass windows so it isnotpossible to click photos of some if the antique cars.You need to pay extra to go to other palaces.
Where to stay?
Many budget hotels ranging from Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1000/- dot Gondal. Several temple guest houses offer free accommodation for pilgrims. The Circuit House is an option for Government employees.
However, Bhubaneshwari Residency and Tulja Residency at Gondal are the accommodation of choice for European tourists who would like to stay in the town . A family of four can rent twin sharing rooms with hot water showers and vegetarian food for 50 Euro per night. Advance booking is recommended during festivals or weekends.
Where to eat?
Several restaurants offering Indian vegetarian cuisine are located around Diu. Several make-shift stalls selling idlis, dosas, khaman and dhoklas are also found here. Dhabas serving Gujarati and Kathiawari vegetarian fare are found both at Gondal and all along the highway from Ahmedabad to Gondal.
Murli Menon, is a travel writer, stress management consultant and author based at Ahmedabad, India. He is the author of “ZeNLP-Learning through stories” published by The Written Word Publications,”ZeNLP-the power to succeed” published by Sage publications and “ZeNLP-the power to relax” by New Dawn Press. He can be reached at ceo@tips4ceos.com
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Ford workers face uncertain future, stage protest, seek help from Tamil Nadu govt
CHENNAI (TIP)- With the deadline for winding up operations nearing and with no ray of hope of another company taking over the unit, workers at Ford’s Chennai car plant have started a protest demanding better severance package. Currently, production at the plant has come to a standstill.
Those workers who went in for their shift on Monday refused go to the shop floor and started an in-house agitation. “We went inside and said we won’t work until they provide a solution to us. The management told us that if we don’t work, it would be marked as loss of pay,” one of the workers inside, who has been there for the last 36 hours, told The Hindu. Apart from this, those who came in for the second shift are protesting outside the plant. One of the protestors, also an employee said, “the management asked us to sign a declaration that we will not protest, we refused and we are all sitting here at the plant,” he added. Around six workers who spoke said they were being utilized till the company finished production of all its pending cars. “We have finished all the pending work. Work on 1,500 cars is pending, and this will get over in a week’s time. So now, the management has started treating us differently,” one of them lamented. One of the key union members said there was news about plans to use this plant for making electric vehicles, so the union put on hold talks for a few days. “We were hopeful that we will get jobs. But in the second week of May, we were told that there are no such plans. And now the company has indicated that business would be wound up by end of June,” he added. Sources said the Deputy Labor Commissioner from Sriperumbudur visited the plant and held talks, and more details would be made available later. The employees requested the Tamil Nadu government to immediately look into this issue and extend help. Last year, on September 9, the U.S.-headquartered carmaker said it would cease manufacturing vehicles for sale in India immediately; manufacturing of vehicles for export would wind down at the Sanand vehicle assembly plant by the fourth quarter of 2021 and the Chennai engine and vehicle assembly plants by the second quarter of 2022. There was no update from Ford’s public relations team on the protest until the story had gone to print.(Source: The Hindu)
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Ford workers face uncertain future, stage protest, seek help from Tamil Nadu government
CHENNAI (TIP): With the deadline for winding up operations nearing and with no ray of hope of another company taking over the unit, workers at Ford’s Chennai car plant have started a protest demanding better severance package. Currently, production at the plant has come to a standstill.
Those workers who went in for their shift on Monday refused go to the shop floor and started an in-house agitation. “We went inside and said we won’t work until they provide a solution to us. The management told us that if we don’t work, it would be marked as loss of pay,” one of the workers inside, who has been there for the last 36 hours, told The Hindu. Apart from this, those who came in for the second shift are protesting outside the plant. One of the protestors, also an employee said, “the management asked us to sign a declaration that we will not protest, we refused and we are all sitting here at the plant,” he added. Around six workers who spoke said they were being utilized till the company finished production of all its pending cars. “We have finished all the pending work. Work on 1,500 cars is pending, and this will get over in a week’s time. So now, the management has started treating us differently,” one of them lamented. One of the key union members said there was news about plans to use this plant for making electric vehicles, so the union put on hold talks for a few days. “We were hopeful that we will get jobs. But in the second week of May, we were told that there are no such plans. And now the company has indicated that business would be wound up by end of June,” he added.
Sources said the Deputy Labor Commissioner from Sriperumbudur visited the plant and held talks, and more details would be made available tomorrow. The employees requested the Tamil Nadu government to immediately look into this issue and extend help. Last year, on September 9, the U.S.-headquartered carmaker said it would cease manufacturing vehicles for sale in India immediately; manufacturing of vehicles for export would wind down at the Sanand vehicle assembly plant by the fourth quarter of 2021 and the Chennai engine and vehicle assembly plants by the second quarter of 2022. There was no update from Ford’s public relations team on the protest until the story had gone to print.
(Source: The Hindu)
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General Motors cancels two shifts at Lansing plant following Canadian trucking protests
Automaker said it had canceled a shift on Wednesday, Feb 9 and a shift Thursday, Feb 10
WASHINGTON (TIP): General Motors Co said on Thursday, February 10, it was forced to cancel two production shifts at a plant in Michigan where it builds sport utility vehicles after Canadian trucking protests.The automaker said it had canceled a shift on Wednesday, February 9 and a shift Thursday, February 10, at its Lansing Delta Township plant. Both Ford Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp said on Wednesday they had been forced to halt some operations because of supply chain disruptions stemming from protests that have snarled traffic at a key bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
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Ford invests $900m to modernise Thai auto plants
Ford Motor Co is investing $900 million to upgrade factories in Thailand that build its Ranger pickup truck and Everest SUV, its largest-ever investment in the country. The plan includes a near doubling of the number of robots at its Thai manufacturing plant and at AutoAlliance Thailand, a venture with Mazda Motor Corp, while $400 million of the investment will go towards its supply chain network. It will also add a second shift to the Ford plant which will result in as many as 1,250 new jobs, bringing its workforce in Thailand to more than 9,000. In Thailand, Ford is able to produce around 270,000 vehicles annually, Director of Communications Thailand and ASEAN Markets, Kamolchanok Prasertsom, said. About 60% is exported Asia-Pacific markets like Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines where its pickup trucks are popular.
Source: Reuters
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Time for a Healing Touch and Unity
By Prof. Indrajit S Saluja I am assuming Mr. Biden has won the presidency. Mr. Biden may have to wait a little to be certified a winner; may have to wait a little longer in view of the lawsuits the Trump campaign has filed. But, unless there is a divine intervention on his behalf, Mr. Trump stands a loser.
America has demonstrated to the world that the election system of the greatest democracy in the world is strong and fair. It was indeed a mammoth task to be handling voting and counting of votes which have outnumbered any in the past – a whopping 160 million-, up from 138 million in 2016. My friend Ven Parameswaran who has lived in this country for more than 60 years now, and has been closely studying elections, tells me it is a record percentage since 1900. On top of the numbers handled, the elections have been conducted in all fairness. It speaks of the integrity and efficiency of the huge number of officials involved in the management of elections. They deserve gratitude of the whole nation.
However, there have ben some murmurs that all is not right with the election. Well, if at all there is something wrong, it is not with the system or the people working in that system. It is a section of people who, instead of lauding a dynamic system, berate it just because the fairness of system has denied them their cherished dream of winning the election by hook or by crook.
The cries of “stop counting” remind me of the cries of “stop testing” when the rising numbers of coronavirus became a subject of concern for health officials and Americans. Mr. Trump was anguished that tests resulted in throwing up more positive cases of the disease. Similarly, when Trump found the number of votes going up in favor of Biden, he demanded a halt to counting. Between the first shout from him to now, we have seen how the number of votes for Biden have gone up in major battleground States, particularly, Georgia and Pennsylvania, leaving a bewildered Trump wondering where his lead has evaporated. It is all the because of mail-in votes which were counted after November 3 in person voting. And, all know, it is the Democrats who preferred to send in their votes by mail. So., there should be no surprise that Joe Biden came from behind and overtook Trump in many States. While Trump vented his frustration with the system, and threatened to litigate, his rival on the ascendancy, Joe Biden advised calm and patience to Americans, asking them to let the democratic process play out. But we cannot expect such restraint and patience from Mr. Trump , who until the other day, demanded from his base that they chant, not just four years more, but “twelve years more”. The egotistical sublime in him is hurt and hurt beyond words. Not to give in easily, and he has suggested it so often, Mr. Trump must play out all cards available to him even at the cost of the great American nation, the great American people, the great American institutions, including the great American Justices of the Supreme Court who , erroneously he thinks, will do his bidding because they are there because of him. He forgets that God Himself resides within a Judge and guides his / her conscience. Unfortunately for America, there are always a few around Mr. Trump (many have since distanced themselves from him seeing his imminent defeat, and have been criticized also), who, like Iago in Shakespeare’s “OTHELLO” driven by “motiveless malignity” must goad Trump into more crimes, , to heap on himself greater insult and ignominy. The world knows them. Only Mr. Trump does not. Alas!
And these people, I am sure, readers know them, are telling Mr. Trump to fight back the “perceived injustice” of the election system, the imagined wrong that the election is being stolen from him, without any evidence, whatsoever. They are not Trump’s friends. They have their own agenda which they want to play out. I wish Mr. Trump could understand their designs, show maturity, accept there are always opportunities, and bide his time.
And now, I am assuming Mr. Biden has won the presidency. Mr. Biden may have to wait a little to be certified a winner; may have to wait a little longer in view of the lawsuits the Trump campaign has filed. But, unless there is a divine intervention on his behalf, Mr. Trump stands a loser.
Let Mr. Trump accept that Americans preferred Mr. Joe Biden to him. They probably were not satisfied with what he gave them. By the way, in the long history of American democracy, Mr. Trump probably is the 4th sitting president, not to be elected for a second term, according to my friend Ven Parameswaran. Ford who was VP with Nixon , took up presidency after Nixon resigned. Technically, Ford was not an elected President. However, let us count him in. He ran for president but was defeated. Jimmy Carter was not re-elected for a second term. And, then Bush was not elected for a second term, again, according to the information provided by my friend Ven Parameswaran. Mr. Trump has certainly become a part of history.
Mr. Trump should have shown the grace befitting the President of America, as did the Democratic Presidential candidate Al Gore in 2000. Though Al Gore was a clear winner, the Supreme Court accepted the claim of George W. Bush who became the 43rd President of the U.S. Al Gore congratulated Bush, and “offered to meet with him as soon as possible to heal the divisions of the campaign and the contest through which we have passed”.
Almost a century and a half ago, Senator Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency, “Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I’m with you, Mr. President, and God bless you”.
I am glad Joe Biden asked people to be “calm” and “patient” and let the “Democratic process play out”. That’s being a leader.
President Biden faces a daunting task. He is inheritor of a divided nation. The first task for him will be to unite the people of America. It will not be easy. It is heartening to find Joe Biden pledging to be the President of all Americans. But mere words will not heal and unite. The world will keenly watch how Biden restores the exceptional American spirit of unity and brotherhood which makes America great. The second important task for Biden is to free Americans of the deadly pandemic which has been raging for months now and has claimed 2.36K American lives. As at the time of writing this comment, America has recorded 9.76 million cases, with 100,000 new cases being reported on a daily basis. The new administration must ensure the virus is contained, and Americans get back to their normal life. Still another and immediate task before President Biden is to provide economic relief to millions of people across all walks of life who have been battered by the long spell of the pandemic, rendering them unemployed, and without adequate means to sustain themselves. They need to be rehabilitated. Their dignity needs to be restored, so they take , once again, pride in being Americans.
Yet another immediate issue of concern to President Biden should be providing jobs to millions who have during the months of pandemic lost jobs and have not had enough to support their families., with many benefits having been withdrawn by the Trump administration.
Related to job creation is the question of wages. Even though t is the States which decide on minimum wages to workers in their State, Federal government should take initiative to persuade States to agree on a fair minimum wage, which then should be applicable across the nation. The guarantee of a uniform minimum wage across the nation will allow people to freely migrate to the State of their choice, fulfilling a basic strength of American democracy. Business and industry are other areas which need immediate attention of the new administration. America must bring back manufacturing to its shores, which alone can create jobs, and give to the nation self-reliance which are the crying needs of the present times.
Nobody can deny that environment is an important part of our existence. Mr. Biden has rightly announced that America under him will immediately rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, from which Trump had pulled out because he thinks climate change is “a hoax”, and may be, because it has President Obama’s stamp on it.
November 11 is Veterans Day. It makes me unhappy to think that we do not show the veneration the veterans deserve. They need not only veneration , but also better care. Hope, President Biden will come up with some idea to give the heroes their due. Related to Veterans are our brave soldiers. It is time to review US engagement in futile conflicts abroad. We must bring back our soldiers who have for long been involved in conflicts which are not ours in any way and serve no legitimate American interests. Let America initiate a new era of world peace and brotherhood of entire human world. In respect of friends and foes across the world which, in other words, means foreign policy, while there is need to further strengthen ties with friendly countries, including India, there is also an urgent need to have a fresh look at US alliances. The ruptured relationship with NATO countries must immediately be repaired.
In this context, the Trump administration’s failures in maintaining decent relationship with the United Nations and countries of the world should not be forgotten. All nations are equal partners in managing the world. They need to be treated with respect. It is the first requirement of civility. And America is a civilized nation.
It is my fervent hope that President Biden will keep his promise to be “the president of all America, and all Americans”, and as Senator Stephen Douglas , a century and a half ago said, “Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism”. Hope, the US Senate and the US House of Representatives will lend their bipartisan support to President Biden to restore the glory of America as the First and the Greatest Nation in the World.
God bless America!
(The author is Chief Editor of The Indian Panorama. He can be reached at salujaindra@gmail.com)
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Automaker Ford plans layoffs blames Trump tariffs for $1 billion loss: report
NEW YORK(TIP): Ford’s reorganization could include upwards of 24,000 job cuts, NBC News reported Monday, Oct 8. The automaker has not provided hard figures on the number of employees it will let go, but its leaders have said President Donald Trump’s tariff war with China could impact the company’s overhaul.
The NBC report cited a Morgan Stanley analysis that estimates a 12 percent reduction in Ford’s global workforce, resulting in the loss of roughly 24,000 workers. Bob Shanks, Ford’s chief financial officer, described the cutbacks as a “redesign” that would include its 70,000 white-collar employees.
With sales lagging well behind its domestic competitor General Motors, Ford has launched a $25.5 billion reorganization plan. It began in earnest in May 2017 when then-CEO Mark Fields was removed.
The company has previously announced it would drop production of its sedan, wagon and coupe models — save for the popular Mustang — and concentrate on SUVs and trucks.
Meanwhile, Ford has found itself regularly at odds with the president. As a candidate, Trump threatened Ford with tariffs when it proposed building a plant in Mexico. The company backed out of those plans and opted to expand in China instead.
The main blow from the Trump tariffs have delivered to automakers has been in the cost they have added to many of the parts they import from China.
(Source: NOLA.com)
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WEEK: CLOSING CASES, OPENING DOORS-August 6-10, 2018
QUEENS, NY (TIP): Borough President Melinda Katz and the Legal Aid Society announced details of their upcoming “Know Your Rights Week: Closing Cases, Opening Doors”, a week-long series of public legal workshops between August 6-10 in various neighborhoods throughout Queens. Participants can access free, confidential advice from lawyers on ways to alleviate unnecessary barriers to employment and economic opportunity, including applications to seal their non-violent criminal conviction records, cleaning up rap sheets, and obtaining Certificates of Relief and Good Conduct.
“If you’ve proven that you’ve turned your life around and are making good, the burden of a past non-violent mistake should not ruin or impede your future opportunities for the rest of your life,” Borough President KATZ said. “Second chances and social justice reform are an integral part of New York values. This is about eliminating barriers to employment and economic opportunity, reducing recidivism rates and breaking the cycle. Our hope and aim with ‘Know Your Rights Weeks’ is to bolster public awareness and connect eligible New Yorkers with free legal assistance and, ultimately, relief. The tireless efforts on the part of our community partners – and especially the Legal Aid Society – to equip and empower New Yorkers of their rights have a direct impact on building a better future for the growing families of Queens.”
“Everyone deserves a second chance, and that includes a genuine opportunity to seal dated convictions that jeopardize housing, employment and other livelihoods,” said TINA LUONGO, Attorney-In-Charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “We’re proud to partner with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and many community based partner organizations for ‘Know Your Rights Week’. Providing services and critical knowledge of the law to communities throughout this City is the key work of our Community Justice Unit and the core mission of everyone at The Legal Aid Society.
Any criminal conviction can significantly hinder a person’s ability to secure employment, housing, financial aid, professional licenses and numerous other rights and benefits. New York’s conviction sealing law* is based on the belief that non-violent offenders who have turned their lives around for the better should no longer have to bear the stigma of a conviction or face unnecessary barriers to opportunity and employment.
The new law went into effect on October 7, 2017 after Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation into law in April 2017. According to news reports, court officials believe that as many as 600,000 people in New York State could be eligible to seal their convictions, but as of May 2018, only 346 people statewide had their convictions sealed.
The August 2018 “Know Your Rights Week: Closing Cases, Opening Doors” is in partnership with 696 Build Queensbridge, LIFE Camp, Inc., Sheltering Arms NY – Rock Safe Streets, Transitional Services for New York, Inc. and the Queens Library. The week is part of Borough President Katz’s slate of “Know Your Rights Weeks” and a continuation of her long-running partnership with the borough’s legal professionals to expand services across communities. All services and legal consultations provided during the week are free and confidential; RSVP is recommended but walk-ins are welcome.
Borough President Katz has partnered with attorneys for several years to provide legal services at various Resource Fairs; as demands and needs increased, Borough President Katz launched her “Know Your Rights Week” initiative. The June 2018 series featured workshops and clinics focused on immigration; upcoming scheduled series include another week of “Closing Cases, Opening Doors” in September 2018, and on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in October 2018.
“The 696 Build Queensbridge team whole heartedly supports having The Legal Aid Society’s ‘Case Closed’ Program coming into Queensbridge,” said K. BAIN, Founding Director 696 Build Queensbridge. “We believe that this program will open doors that were previously shut off to those who have fallen victim to the criminal justice system. In a society where mass incarceration and the privatization of prisons appear to be driving the economy one’s record being sealed for any person who has not committed a crime in 10 years and has no more than 2 convictions can make all the difference by bettering your chances at advancing your career, obtaining housing, and gaining access to resources. Additionally, this human justice approach to twos legal reform can be used to heal, low income communities of color, like ours, who have been targeted by biased policing and institutional discrimination and systemic oppression. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with The Legal Aid Society that promotes the livelihood of all members in our communities, especially those who have been left behind for far too long.”
“This program is giving people an opportunity to start over and get a second chance,” said ERICA FORD, LIFE Camp, Inc. “Investing into our communities is very important and I am glad to be a part of this process.”
“Rock Safe Streets is excited to partner with the Queens Borough President to help the Far Rockaway community get their cases sealed,” said MOUSTAFA SHAKUR of Sheltering Arms NY – Rock Safe Streets.
“We are proud to partner with the Borough President to present the opportunities that exist to free confidential resources to help get a second chance in their lives,” said LARRY S. GRUBLER, PSY.D., CEO of Transitional Services for New York, Inc. “Everyone needs an opportunity to transition from a point in their life where they need a lot of support to a point in their life where they need less support. Without this knowledge it is hard to move forward.”
“We are grateful to Queens Borough President Katz for offering our patrons and the public access to legal assistance that may not be otherwise available to them to seal their convictions and help them be successful in their lives,” said DENNIS M. WALCOTT, Queens Library President and CEO. “The ‘Know Your Rights’ workshops have proven to be invaluable to individuals who have participated in them at our libraries to date and we look forward to working with Borough President Katz to bring more of them to our libraries.”
*About New York’s Conviction Sealing Law
The law applies only to specific – predominantly non-violent – crimes; convictions for sex offenses and class A and violent felonies cannot be sealed pursuant to this law. Ten years must pass after the person’s last conviction or release from prison (whichever is later) before a person may apply for this relief; the person must have no charges pending, and the person is unlikely eligible if they have been convicted of two or more felonies, or more than two crimes. If granted, the person’s conviction would be hidden from public records (a sealed record would still be available to law enforcement agencies, employers for jobs that require a firearm, and pursuant to a background check for a gun purchase).
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Indian American Executive at Ford dismissed with immediate effect over ‘Inappropriate Behavior’
MICHIGAN (TIP): Ford Motor Company announced on Feb. 21 that Raj Nair, the executive vice president and president, North America, is departing from the company effective immediately.
The announcement follows an internal investigation that was conducted recently after reports of his inappropriate behavior surfaced.
The review determined that certain behavior by Nair, 53, was inconsistent with the company’s code of conduct, Ford said in a statement.
“We made this decision after a thorough review and careful consideration,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett said. “Ford is deeply committed to providing and nurturing a safe and respectful culture and we expect our leaders to fully uphold these values,” he added.
“I sincerely regret that there have been instances where I have not exhibited leadership behaviors consistent with the principles that the Company and I have always espoused. I continue to have the utmost faith in the people of Ford Motor Company and wish them continued success in the future,” Nair, who is of Indian origin, said.
The company did not mention the details of the internal investigation or the reports against Nair, who was often called a rising star in Ford and a potential future chief executive. Ford will divide Nair’s responsibilities among Kumar Galhotra, the firm’s chief marketing officer and head of the Lincoln brand, and Stuart Rowley, the vice president of strategy.
Nair had been working with Ford since 1987 after he graduated from college. He was Ford’s CTO and head of global product development before assuming the executive vice president role in June 2017.
He had been instrumental in changing the focus of Ford towards self-driving cars, phone-savvy infotainment and mobility services, according to Engadget.
The high-level dismissal is one of the most prominent in an industry other than media and entertainment after sexual harassment at workplaces started to be taken seriously. Companies have started enforcing zero tolerance harassment policies, although it is not known if Nair was dismissed over charges of sexual harassment.
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Indian American urologist shot dead in Detroit
Indian American urologist shot dead in Detroit: the third Indian American to be killed over a 24-hour period
Ramesh Kumar, a 32-year-old Indian American physician, was found shot dead in the passenger seat of his car on a highway near Detroit in Michigan on Thursday, May 4He was a research fellow at Henry Ford Hospital’s Vattikutti Urology Institute. DETROIT (TIP): Ramesh Kumar became the third Indian American to be killed in a little over a 24-hour period, beginning Wednesday, May 10 night. A tech executive and his wife were killed in San Jose on Wednesday night by the ex-boyfriend of their daughter at their home on Wednesday night.
Police found Kumar’s body after his father reported that his son, who left for the hospital on Thursday morning, hadn’t reached work.
He is the son of Dr. Narendra Kumar, a former President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). An autopsy has been conducted on Kumar’s body. Police are yet to reveal the motive behind the murder. Local Indian American news sites quoted Narendra Kumar as saying that the killing was racially motivated.
A relative of the Kumars from Alappuzha, in Kerala, told the local Malayalam media that the family was informed of Kumar’s death on Friday morning.
According to reports, a colleague at the urology department notified Narendra Kumar that his son had not showed up for work. The father tried to reach the son on phone and sent several text messages. After getting no response from his son, Narendra Kumar reportedly drove to his apartment, which was found empty.
This prompted Narendra Kumar to lodge a complaint with the police. The police apparently asked him to wait as he was missing only for a few hours.
Hours later, after he didn’t get any response from his son, Narendra Kumar once again approached the police, who conducted a search operation that found Kumar shot dead in the passenger seat of his car that was parked on the highway in Michigan. Kumar’s body was identified and the police informed the parents. Kumar’s family has confirmed that his funeral will be held on Monday. A prayer service will be held at the family’s residence in Freeland, MI, on Sunday.
According to his father’s personal website, Ramesh Kumar graduated from Cranbrook-Kingswood High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and attended Boston University. He earned his medical degree from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, India.
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Chided by Donald Trump, Ford scraps Mexico factory, adds Michigan jobs
FLAT ROCK (TIP): Ford Motor has scrapped a planned Mexican car factory and added 700 jobs in Michigan following criticism by Donald Trump, as the US president-elect turned his attention toward rival General Motors Co with the threat of a “big border tax” over compact cars made in Mexico.
Ford CEO Mark Fields called the move “a vote of confidence” in Trump, but primarily a response to a decline in North American demand for small cars like those that would have been made at the Mexican plant. He said Ford would have made the same decision even if Trump had not been elected.
Ford will cancel plans unveiled in April to spend $1.6 billion to build the new plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, a project Trump urged the automaker to abandon and called an “absolute disgrace” during the election campaign.
The No. 2 US automaker also said it would invest $700 million to expand the Flat Rock, Michigan factory and would make new electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles there.
Trump’s efforts to browbeat the US car industry show he may go further than other modern presidents to try to influence corporate decisions, especially those related to trade and investment. In a Twitter post hours before Ford’s announcement, Trump wrote, “General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to US car dealers-tax free across border. Make in USA. or pay big border tax!” GM, the largest US automaker, said making some of the Cruze cars in the plant in Coahuila, Mexico was part of its strategy to serve global customers, not sell those vehicles in the United States. Trump’s GM tweet was his latest broadside aimed at an American company over jobs, imports and costs even before he takes office on Jan. 20.
Mexico’s government said it regrets Ford’s decision and has ensured that the company will reimburse San Luis Potosi state for any costs associated with the investment.
“Obviously, this isn’t a good decision for us,” said Mexico’s economy minister, Ildefonso Guajardo.
Ford said it still will shift production from Michigan of its Focus compact car to an existing plant in Hermosillo, Mexico. Fields said he expects Michigan to give incentives for Ford’s investment in Flat Rock.
Ford spokeswoman Jennifer Flake said the automaker will save $500 million by not opening the new plant in the near term, but will have some undisclosed costs to retool the other Mexican plant to build the Focus.
Ford shares closed up about 3.8 percent. GM shares rose about 0.9 percent. Top Ford executives personally notified Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence of their decision. Fields praised tax and regulatory proposals advocated by Trump and his fellow Republicans who control Congress.
“Our view is that we see a more positive US manufacturing business environment under President-elect Trump and the pro-growth policies and proposals that he’s talking about, so this is a vote of confidence for President-elect Trump and some of the policies that they may be pursuing,” Fields said.
Source: Reuters
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Former RBI Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan Named Senior Fellow At Yale Institute
NEW YORK: Top economist and RBI’s former deputy governor Rakesh Mohan has been named senior fellow at the prestigious Yale University’s institute for global affairs.
Mr Mohan will join the 2016-2017 class of 15 Senior Fellows at The Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. Senior Fellows are leading practitioners in various fields of international affairs who spend a year or semester at Yale teaching courses and mentoring students.
At Jackson, Mr Mohan will teach courses on central banking and the Indian economy, the institute said in a statement.
The institute described Mr Mohan as one of India’s “senior-most economic policymakers” and an expert on central banking, monetary policy, infrastructure and urban affairs.
Most recently he was executive director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, representing India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan, and chairman of the Indian government’s National Transport Development Policy Committee.
Reserve Bank of India’s deputy governor Urjit Patel has been appointed as the next Governor of the central bank after Mr Rajan demits office on September 4. However, Mr Mohan was reportedly among the front-runners to bag the coveted job.
Mr Mohan has previously taught at Yale as Professor in the Practice of International Economics of Finance at its School of Management. He has also been a past Senior Fellow at the Jackson Institute.
As deputy governor of India’s central bank from September 2002 to October 2004 and July 2005 to June 2009, he was in charge of monetary policy, financial markets, economic research and statistics.
In addition to serving in various posts for the Indian government, including representing India at a variety of international forums such G20, Mr Mohan has worked for the World Bank and headed prestigious research institutes. He is also a Non Resident Senior Research Fellow of Stanford Centre for International Development, Stanford University, and Distinguished Fellow of Brookings India.
Mr Mohan holds a B Sc in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, University of London, a BA from Yale University and a PhD in Economics from Princeton.
During the period October 31, 2004, to July 2, 2005, he was Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs. He has held several positions in the Indian government and was Chief Economic Advisor in 2001-02.
The other senior fellows include Blair Miller, who leads impact investing for the office of Ray Chambers, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria, where they are developing a large scale impact investment fund for emerging markets and Ambassador Dennis Ross, former special assistant to President Barack Obama and National Security Council senior director for the Central Region.
The new fellows will be joining returning fellows — Director of the Financial Stability Department at the Central Bank of Iceland Sigridur Benediktsdottir, former CEO of the Clinton Foundation Eric Braverman, New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks, former US Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo, former Ambassador to Syria Ambassador Robert Ford, former International President of Doctors Without Borders Unni Karunakara and former Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia Steve Roach.
The Jackson Institute for Global Affairs promotes education and scholarship on global affairs at Yale.
It serves the entire university through courses and core teaching programmes in global affairs, career counselling, and public lectures, according to the institute’s website.
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Ford recalls 830,000 vehicles to fix faulty door latches
WASHINGTON (TIP): Ford Motor Company on August 4 announced the recall of 830,000 cars and vans in the United States and Mexico for the replacement of faulty side-door latches.
While drivers may have difficulty in shutting doors, doors may also open after having been closed, posing a safety risk, the company said.
“In certain situations where the door is able to be closed, the door may unlatch while driving, increasing the risk of injury,” it said.
Ford said there was one reported accident and one reported injury that may be related to the defect.
Recalled vehicles include certain 2013 to 2015 C-MAX cars and Escape sport utility vehicles, 2012-2015 model years of the Focus, and 2014-2016 Transit Connect vans as well as 2015 Mustang and Lincoln MKC model years.
Reported problems were more prevalent in hotter, sunnier climates, meaning the recall was focused on US states across the south, Hawaii, California and the Pacific Northwest, the company said.
About 61,000 of the affected cars are in Mexico.
The announcement follows recent recalls of Ford vehicles in 2016 and 2015, including Lincoln MKC and Ford Explorer vehicles for the replacement of engine block heaters and of F-650 and F-750 trucks to replace cable connector clips in parking brakes.
The company in May recalled 271,000 2013 and 2014 F-150 pickups to replace brake master cylinders.
Recorded in the third quarter, this latest recall will cost$270 million, the company said in a regulatory filing. But Ford remains on track to achieve 2016 pre-tax results equal the $10.8 billion reported last year, it said. Source: AFP
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FORD, GM TO OPERATE INDIA FACTORIES ROUND THE CLOCK
MUMBAI (TIP): Three global automobile powerhouses either have started operating their India factories round the clock or are in the process of doing so to meet increasing export demand, in a resounding endorsement of the Prime Minister’s call to make in India.
For the past six months, Ford Motor’s manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu is running three shifts a day, which is uncommon in the American carmaker’s global operations.
Europe’s largest carmaker, Volkswagen, is set to start a third shift starting next week, while the US No. 1, General Motors, is expected to add another shift from the beginning of next year.
Interestingly, these companies aren’t doing so well in the Indian market, and the incremental output is to cater to markets in Latin America, Europe and Africa.
ET spoke to several vendors who supply parts to these carmakers and they said while the domestic market is expected to grow by a single digit, the likes of Ford India, General Motors India and Volkswagen India are targeting 20-60% jump in 2016 production, clearly indicating their export plans. While these carmakers have a market share of less than 3-4%in India, experts say high export volume is helping them make local operations viable.
Automakers have committed to invest billions of dollars in India, enticed by the local market opportunity in the long term as well as its frugal manufacturing capabilities and abundant skilled manpower, which offer a cost-effective environment to make small cars and sell them at competitive prices internationally.
In fact, even before Narendra Modi made the call to make in India a year and half ago, making in India for the world had already become part of global carmakers’ strategy and boardroom discussions. Hyundai Motor and Maruti Suzuki have long been shipping India-made cars to foreign markets, even as they ruled the domestic market as well. Companies such as Nissan and Renault, too, target foreign markets with compact vehicles produced in India.
But now, with the government’s new push to promote manufacturing in India, companies are further expanding production and exporting more, even though the domestic market remains stuck in the slow lane.
“We are committed to position India as a global centre of excellence for manufacturing small cars and low-displacement engines,” said a spokesperson for Ford India, which is churning out the EcoSport compact SUV for the global markets from its plant near Chennai.
“Our unflinching commitment to India is reflected in the aggressive implementation of our growth plans, including more than $2 billion we have invested here so far,” he said.
Volkswagen and GM are witnessing strong demand for their India-made cars in Mexico – for the Vento and Beat, respectively. The Vento is already the segment leader in the Latin American country, where it sells double the number compared with India.
Volkswagen India Managing Director Andreas Lauermann said going past the capacity of the two-shift system due to higher demand is an important milestone for the company.
“Volkswagen Pune plant will start off with the third shift soon and will ramp up the production over the year. This step is necessary due to the rising demand from exports as well as domestic market, especially through the new Ameo. Exports have helped VW to create a natural hedging against the weak Indian rupee and fluctuating domestic demand,” Lauermann said.
Source: ET
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FIAT CHRYSLER TO PAY $70 MILLION AUTO SAFETY FINE
WASHINGTON (TIP): Fiat Chrysler to pay $70 million auto safety fineINGTON: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has agreed to pay $70 million in fines to resolve a US investigation that it failed to disclose vehicle crash death and injury reports, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
The settlement is expected to be announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as early as Thursday. Fiat Chrysler in September acknowledged it had failed to disclose an unspecified number of reports that are required to be submitted to regulators under a 2000 law. NHTSA in September called Fiat Chrysler’s reporting omissions a “significant failure.”
In July, the automaker reached a separate $105 million settlement with NHTSA over its handling of nearly two dozen recalls covering 11 million vehicles.
Major auto companies are required to electronically submit massive amounts of data involving vehicle crashes, deaths, lawsuits, warranty claims and other information.
This is the latest fine imposed by the US auto safety agency after it came under harsh criticism from Congress and in a government audit for not being more aggressive in enforcing safety laws.
In a new highway funding law, Congress agreed to give NHTSA more funding if it implements more reforms outlined by the Transportation Department inspector general.
NHTSA fined Japanese manufacturer Takata Corp. $70 million last month for failing to promptly disclose defects in millions of airbags.
Fiat Chrysler told NHTSA earlier this year it had problems with its software for extracting information from a company database to submit to NHTSA, and as a result significantly under-reported death and injury claims. There is no indication that Fiat Chrysler intentionally hid the reports and no suggestion that NHTSA failed to discover safety defects because of the missing reports.
Fiat Chrysler said in September “it takes this issue extremely seriously, and will continue to cooperate with NHTSA to resolve this matter and ensure these issues do not re-occur.”
NHTSA and Fiat Chrysler declined to comment on Wednesday. The sources asked not to be identified because the settlement had yet to be made public.
The early warning reports are required under the 2000 law passed by Congress after more than 270 people were killed in rollover crashes in Ford Explorers with faulty tires. The law is aimed at helping regulators spot safety defect trends earlier.
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San Bernardino shooting: At least 14 killed, 17 injured in California
SAN BERNARDINO , CA (TIP): Gunmen opened fire on a holiday party on Wednesday, December 2, at a social services agency in San Bernardino, California, killing 14 people and wounding 17 others, then fled the scene, triggering an intense manhunt that ended several hours later in a police firefight that left two suspected shooters dead.
By the end of the carnage, investigators tallied 14 victims and 21 wounded – considered the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history since Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.
A Timeline of chaos in San Bernardino, California
Wednesday, December 2, 11 a.m. PT | Initial 911 calls report shots fired at the InlandRegionalCenter, a state-run facility that serves people with developmental disabilities. Police say the shooting took place during a holiday party and lasted only a few minutes before the suspects fled. They had fired some 75 rifle rounds.
One of the suspects – later identified as county health inspector Syed Rizwan Farook, 28 – had attended the party that morning, according to reports, but reportedly left after a dispute. Police believe between 10 and 30 minutes went by between Farook’s departure and the suspect’s return to the conference room.
11:07 a.m. | Firefighters begin arriving at the scene within seven minutes of the first 911 calls.
11:20 a.m. | Julie Paez, an inspector with the county’s Department of Health attending the holiday party, sends a text to her family, the Los Angeles Times reported: “Love you guys. Was shot,” it read. Paez survived two gunshot wounds and a broken pelvis.
11:40 a.m. | Police begin reporting multiple victims shot at the scene. Several roads are shut down in the area.
12:25 p.m. | Police say they are looking for as many as three shooters after sweeping the building and determining the suspects fled. Emergency responders are also seen treating people outside and ambulances rush in and out to take the injured to the hospital.
12:30 p.m. | President Obama is briefed on the shooting by Homeland Security. “It does appear that there are going to be some casualties, and obviously our hearts go out to the victims and the families,” he later tells CBS News.
1:05 p.m. | Police confirm at least three people were killed. Reports come out from family members of survivors who say the shooters were wearing “military-style” attire.
2 p.m. | Police confirm at a news conference that there are 14 dead and 17 wounded. Area buildings are on lockdown as authorities search for the suspects.
2:30 p.m. | San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan declines to say what kind of weapons were used, but that the shooters “were on a mission” and “came in with a purpose.”
3:05 p.m. | Reports come in of police in pursuit of a black SUV that had fled the scene. A shootout with police ensues a few miles away.
3:20 p.m. | Police aim guns at a dark-colored SUV with shattered windows on a residential street. A firefight ensues. Nearly two dozen officers fired some 380 rounds at the suspects. The suspects return fire with 76 rounds. Local media reports say a person appears to be on the ground, but it is unclear who they are or what their injuries may be.
3:30 p.m. | Police confirm shots have been fired and a suspect is down near the SUV. According to reports, a male suspect’s body is on the street, while a female suspect’s body has been pulled from the car. Some 1,600 unused rounds are found on the two suspects, police would later say.
San Bernardino police Sgt. Vicki Cervantes said one officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the shootout.
5:05 p.m. | Police serve a search warrant on a home in Redlands in connection with the shooting. An Associated Press reporter watched as a half-dozen vehicles carrying helmeted police drove into the area. One officer carrying an assault rifle ordered reporters to clear the area, and an armored vehicle parked outside a row of homes.
5:50 p.m. | Police say a person was detained who was seen running near the gunbattle, but it was not clear if that person is connected to the shooting.
7:40 p.m. | A law enforcement official has identified Farook as one of the suspects in a mass shooting in Southern California. Police also confirm that the two suspects – Farook and a woman – were killed in the gunbattle.
8:55 p.m. | The brother-in-law of Farook says at a news conference that he was stunned to hear of his relative’s alleged involvement in the shooting. Farhan Khan, who is married to the sister of Farook, spoke to reporters at the Anaheim office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Khan says he last spoke to Farook about a week ago. He added that he had “absolutely no idea why he would do this. I am shocked myself.”
10:10 p.m. | Police say they believe the man and woman killed in the gunbattle were the only two shooters. Burguan identifies the woman killed as 27-year-old Tashfeen Malik, who is described as Farook’s wife.
The couple had been living in Redlands with Farook’s mother.
No motive is known, but terrorism has not been ruled out.
Thursday, December 3 (Updated till the press time)
7:35 a.m. PT | Loma Linda University Medical Center CEO Kerry Heinrich says of the five patients being treated at its facility, two remain in critical condition and three are in stable condition.
8:10 a.m. | Obama says the FBI is leading the investigation, and that it’s still unclear whether the shooting was either terrorism-related or workplace-related.
He adds that legislators and all Americans have a part to play to make sure that “when individuals want to do harm, we make it a little harder for them to do it.”
9:30 a.m. | Law enforcement officials tell NBC News that the SUV in which Farook and Malik made their getaway, and in which they were killed in a gunbattle with police, was a rental with Utah plates.
Officials say Farook rented it “recently,” which they believe was another step in preparation for the attack.
9:45 a.m. | Police at a news conference say the suspects fired as many as 75 rounds at the InlandRegionalCenter, and then another 76 rounds during the pursuit with police. A remote-controlled car with three pipe bombs was also found at the social services center but it did not detonate, Burguan says.
Officials add that a second officer was wounded during the police shootout. The overall number of wounded rises to 21 from 17.
The search of the Redlands home, where the couple’s name was on the lease, also turns up an additional 12 pipe bomb devices and thousands of rounds of ammo, police say.
“Clearly they were equipped” to launch another attack if they wanted to, Burguan adds.The FBI confirms that Farook had rented the SUV – a black Ford Expedition – about three or four days ago, and it was supposed to be returned on the day of the rampage.
10:15 a.m. | Farook appears to have been radicalized, authorities tell NBC News. The extent of his radicalization wasn’t immediately clear, but he had been in touch with persons of interest in the Los Angeles area who have expressed jihadist-oriented views.
The Inland Regional Center is one of 21 facilities set up by the state and run under contract by non-profit organizations to serve people with developmental disabilities, said Nancy Lungren, spokeswoman for the California Department of Developmental Services.
STRING OF SHOOTINGS
So far in 2015, there have been more than 350 shootings in which four or more people were wounded, according to the crowd-sourced website shootingtracker.com, which keeps a running tally of U.S. gun violence.
The shooting in California comes less than a week after a gunman killed three people and wounded nine in a shooting rampage at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In October, a gunman killed nine people at a college in Oregon, and in June, a white gunman killed nine black churchgoers in South Carolina.
Gun control advocates, including Democratic President Barack Obama, say easy access to firearms is a major factor in the shooting epidemic, while the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun advocates say the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees Americans the right to bear arms.
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Four Sikhs sworn in as cabinet ministers in Canada
OTTAWA Nov 4: The Punjabi community in Canada made history when two turbaned Sikhs, among four Indo-Canadians, were sworn in as cabinet ministers, as 42-year-old Justin Trudeau took oath as the country’s 23rd prime minister at a grand public ceremony here.
The World Sikh Organization (WSO) in a statement said: “Today was a historic day for Canada. Prime Minister Trudeau’s cabinet for the first time includes an equal number of men and women, and is the most diverse and inclusive group in recent history.”
“The appointment of ministers Judy-Wilson Raybould and Hunter Tootoo has sent a strong message that this government is serious about ensuring that cabinet reflects the strengths, talents, and diversity of Canadians,” said Dr. Amritpal Singh Shergill, WSO President.
The ministers:
* Navdeep Bains: Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
* Harjit Sajjan: Minister of Defence.
* Amarjeet Sohi: Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
* Bardish Chagger: Minister of Small Business and Tourism.
NAVDEEP Singh Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and MP for Mississauga-Malton (Ontario), played a key role in Trudeau’s leadership bid in 2013.
He was a distinguished visiting professor at Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management and holds an MBA with a specialization in finance. As a Certified Management Accountant, he has worked several years in accounting and financial analysis for the Ford Motor Company of Canada.
HARJIT Singh Sajjan, Minister of Defence and MP for Vancouver South, is a retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and a combat veteran. He was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina and served three separate deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Sajjan has received numerous recognitions for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal for reducing the Taliban’s influence in Kandahar Province. He is also a recipient of the Order of Military Merit, one of the military’s highest recognitions. Sajjan also served as an Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.
Sajjan was a police officer with the Vancouver Police Department for 11 years. He completed his last assignment as a Detective-Constable with the Gang Crime Unit specializing in organized crime. He proudly tackled gang violence and drug crimes in Vancouver. Sajjan is also a human security specialist, and has lectured to a wide audience in both Canada and the United States.
AMARJEET Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and MP for Edmonton Mill Woods in Alberta, was elected three times as an Edmonton City Councillor.
Dedicated to improving Edmonton’s infrastructure and livability, Sohi represented the city on the Canadian Urban Transit Association, and has been a strong advocate for light rail transit. Sohi also advocated municipal interests to other levels of government through his delegation to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association. He has been a prominent leader on municipal and provincial issues, volunteering with Public Interest Alberta, the Centre for International Alternatives, and the Canadian Labour Congress.
BARDISH Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism and MP for Waterloo (Ontario), is a natural leader and organizer and is devoted to inclusion and community building. From assisting with recreational sports for kids to volunteering with seniors, Chagger is committed to strengthening the bonds of the Waterloo community.
In her role with the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, Chagger has worked to foster diversity within the community providing opportunities for social and economic engagement. As the former executive assistant to former Member of Parliament Andrew Telegdi, Chagger has a deep understanding of the issues that are important to residents of Waterloo, including manufacturing, technology and innovation.
Justin Trudeau, the 42-year-old son of charismatic former prime minister Pierre Trudeau who is credited with opening Canada to new immigrants in the 1970s, led the Liberal Party to win 184 seats in the 338-member House of Commons.Trudeau is the second youngest prime minister of Canada.
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U.S. India Business Council Applauds Conclusion of U.S.- India Trade Policy Forum
WASHINGTON (TIP): Following the successful conclusion of the ninth round of U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum, the USIBC hosted a reception, providing an opportunity for deeper engagement between industry stakeholders and government officials from both the United States and India. The U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF) is a government-to-government trade dialogue aimed at increasing bilateral investment between the two nations.
The trade policy forum comes on the back of U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial as well as Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the west coast of the United States. The talks focused on four primary areas of bilateral ties-agriculture, services, promoting investment in manufacturing, and intellectual property. USIBC member companies submitted recommendations under these four working groups to the USTR.
The reception was attended by high ranking government officials such as Minister of Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman, United States Trade Representative Michael Froman, Commerce Secretary of India Rita Teotia and Deputy USTR Ambassador Holleyman.
The event received broad representation from USIBC’s diverse membership base of 300+ companies that include Ford, MasterCard, Pfizer, Lockheed Martin, Bank of America, PayPal and Boeing.
During the discussion, Minister Sitharaman and Ambassador Froman highlighted the direction in which the two nations are working together to foster a robust and open bilateral trade environment. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the west coast and a series of successful dialogues over the last few months, both nations view the bilateral relationship with greater enthusiasm.
Mukesh Aghi, President of the U.S.-India Business Council said, ” The trade policy forum couldn’t have come at a better time. We have seen India rise in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. The Trade Policy Forum represents another important step towards strengthened trade relations between the U.S. and India. India is growing to be one of the most open economies in the world today and USIBC member companies are excited by the opportunity to grow the bilateral trade five-fold. Increasing FDI projects in sectors like manufacturing, defense, Smart Cities and clean technology along with positive environment fostered by initiatives like Make in India and Digital India are proving to be game changers and creating jobs for the Indian economy.”
“We have seen enhanced engagement between the United States and India in the course of the past year, with a high bar set by President Obama and Prime Minister Modi,” said United States Trade Representative Michael Froman. “Our work this week under the Trade Policy Forum focused on translating engagement into tangible results that will increase the pace of trade growth between our economies. To that end, Minister Sitharaman and I focused our work on forward looking policy initiatives in intellectual property, manufacturing, agriculture and services that can expand trade and investment and benefit our manufacturers, workers, innovators, service providers, farmers, and ranchers.”
Minister Sitharaman congratulated Ambassador Froman on the successful conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after eight years of painstaking efforts and said, “The U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum was an intense engagement, one which we can say with confidence is moving forward with a lot of positive outcomes.”
“Abbott continues to see India as a promising market for growth. The government’s vision for promoting ease of doing business and attracting investment enables Abbott to help more people live healthier, better lives,” said Claude Burcky, Vice President of International Government Affairs, Abbott.
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Ford Figo re-launched at a starting price of Rs 4.29 lakh
NEW DELHI (TIP): Introducing the revamped version of its hatchback, Ford India launched the Ford Figo hatchback at a starting price of Rs 4.29 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). While the petrol version prices go up to Rs 6.40 lakh that of the diesel go up to Rs 7.40 lakh.
The Base variant of the 2015 Figo gets a driver airbag, whereas other trims get dual front airbags, or 6 airbags in case of the top-end Titanium+ variant. The new Figo is available in 7 colors.
The new Figo measures 3,886 mm in length, 1,695 mm in width, 1,525 mm in height and 2,491 mm in wheelbase. It has a ground clearance of 174 mm and boot space of 257 litres.
The new Figo is available with three engine options. The 1.2-litre Ti-VCT petrol, the 1.5-litre Ti-VCT petrol exclusively paired to the 6-speed Powershift automatic and the 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine. The ARAI-rated fuel economy for the 1.2 petrol stands at 18.16 km/l, whereas that for the diesel is rated at 25.83 km/l.
The 1.2-litre petrol is rated at 88 PS and 112 Nm, the 1.5-litre petrol at 112 PS and 136 Nm and the 1.5-litre diesel at 100 PS and 215 Nm, identical to the Figo Aspire.
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ERODING CIVIL RIGHTS! Is India’s Democracy in Danger?
Our country is facing the destruction of the very idea of India as a great, multi-religious, multi-cultural civilization. We are facing the gravest danger we have faced since independence. Our freedom is not merely under threat, it is being ‘openly attacked’, says Nayantara Sahgal, niece of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, whose latest work, “Nehru’s India: Essays on the Maker of a Nation”, has just been released.
What is happening to the body politic of India in the short time since Shri Narendra Modi assumed power? Are the institutions of democratic strength and stability for six decades, which were built under the stewardship of eminent statesmen like Jawaharlal Nehru and B.R. Ambedkar proving to be weak and vulnerable?
If we listen to various pundits, there is a serious cause for concern to India’s vast democracy. Although the BJP government has come to power with only 31 per cent of the vote share, the Sangh Parivar with its misguided agenda and regressive policies has determined to transform India into its own liking. With civil society under threats and intimidation, the media’s eagerness to establish approval, and the survival mode of the opposition parties, the saffron brigade is not wasting any time.
On the eve of Shri Modi’s second visit to the United States, there is certainly a shift in the mood within the Diaspora as regards the intent and purposes of the BJP government. A letter signed by 124 members of faculty from leading Universities in USA questions the Prime Minister on well-publicized episodes of censorship and harassment in his critical policies; bans and restrictions on NGOs; ongoing violations of religious freedom; and a steady impingement on the independence of the judiciary.
The letter also talked about foreign scholars who have been denied entry in to India to attend International conferences, and the ongoing interference with the governance of top Indian Universities and academic institutions. It mentioned under-qualified or incompetent key appointments made to Indian Council of Historical research, the Film and Television Institute of India and the National Book Trust. In conclusion, the statement expressed serious concern for the political future of the country if these trends are allowed to continue.
In an interview with Times of India, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen said, ” Government must understand that winning a Lok Sabha election does not give you permission to undermine the autonomy of academic institutions, or for that matter, the courts or the upper house of Parliament. Academic freedom is based on the government understanding the limits of its formal power as opposed to its actual power and what they are expected to do: they are expected to listen to the voice of the professoriate and the voice of the people in the University”.
Whether it is banning the documentary ‘India’s Daughter”; offloading Ms. Priya Pillai, a Green Peace activist from her flight to London, while she was on her way to address British Parliamentarians; banning the processing, selling or eating of the red meat in Maharashtra and in 4 other BJP-ruled states; the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is stamping history with their regressive policies and divisive agenda.
The BJP Government so far has banned 69 Non-Governmental Organizations from receiving foreign funding, branding them as anti-national and accusing them of working at the behest of foreign governments. It includes organizations like Ford Foundation and Caritas International that provided much-needed help to communities in rural India in an effort to end poverty promote justice and restore dignity to a neglected segment of the population.
Ms. Teesta Setavald, a long-time critic of Mr. Modi on his handling of the 2002 Gujarat riots that killed more than 1000 people in Gujarat is currently being investigated by CBI. According to a New York Times report, the prosecutor branded her ‘a threat to India’s national security, so dangerous that she should be locked up while Modi’s Government investigates whether it was legal for her to accept funding from Ford Foundation’.
For the first time since it took charge, the NDA government has issued show-cause notices to ABP news, NDTV and Aaj Talk alleging that these three private channels showed disrespect to the judiciary in their coverage of the hanging of Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon, asking them to explain within 15 days why action should not be taken against them for broadcasting such content.
These should not be regarded as isolated incidents but rather as a part of a grand strategy to intimidate civil society, and silence the media in order to advance the saffron agenda. All these incidents point to a growing intolerance to dissent, and the very concept of freedom that may ultimately prove fatal to the democratic and pluralistic framework that was created out of the visionary leadership of the founding fathers of modern India.
Asked to explain what prompted him to be a signatory on the faculty statement against Narendra Modi’s “Digital India Campaign”, Richard A. Falk, Professor Emeritus of Law at Princeton University said the following: “I and others on the list have questions about Narendra Modi’s record on religious tolerance, freedom of religion, and freedom of expression. Some of those who signed the letter have also been subject to a campaign of harassment from Hindu nationalist followers, which raises particular worries about academic freedom. “Digital India” as an initiative has enormous potential to affect positive social change, but it simultaneously poses dangers for abuse under the Modi administration that can make use of digitization to target members of minority communities or those who are critical of its policies. It is my impression that the Modi government has been particularly sensitive to criticism and unfriendly to critics, making our concern more credible”.
Mr. Falk’s statement sounds prophetic, as at the time of writing this article Mr. John Dayal, a member of the National Integration Council and Secretary General of All India Catholic Union and a foremost Human Rights defender was being hounded with abusive and threatening tweets along with his personal details. The abuses are also directed at the Catholic-Christian minority and are aimed at disturbing communal harmony. The country has just witnessed the murders of three well-known rationalists -Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M.M. Kalburgi allegedly by religious extremists. These elements appear to be serious in their nefarious undertaking.
As the Indian entrepreneurs in the Silicon Valley are gearing up to give a grand reception to the Prime Minister, I hope they would also be cognizant of the fact that the freedom they enjoy here in the United States should empower them to enhance freedom elsewhere. As Mahatma Gandhi once said “Commerce (Business) without morality (ethics) and science without humanity could prove to be detrimental to everyone’s long term interests!”
(The author is a former Chief Technology Officer of the United Nations)
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Sikh Asylum-Seekers Freed From US Jail After Hunger Strike
WASHINGTON: Twenty of the 22 Indian Sikh asylum-seekers, who were on hunger strike for over two weeks at a detention centre in Florida protesting against alleged unfair practices by immigration department, have been released on bond to fight their cases.
These 20 asylum-seekers went on hunger strike on July 25 to protest ICE’s decision to deny them bond and Immigration Judge Rex Ford’s policy of refusing to grant bond to immigration detainees without family members in the US.
These asylum seekers travelled through several countries for more than six months and arrived on foot at the Texas border, and went on a hunger strike on July 25, to protest Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s decision denying them bond and an immigration judge’s policy of refusing bond to immigration detainees without family members in the US.
Although they are released from the jail, their future is uncertain in the US even if they will be able to get the immigration status. There will be too much hardship for them to establish themselves here, Chahal said.
“Things should never have reached this extreme point,” said American Civil Liberties Union of Florida staff attorney Shalini Agarwal, who wrote a letter to ICE last week seeking their release.
“ICE needs to honor immigration enforcement priorities enumerated by the Department of Homeland Security and use its prosecutorial discretion to not detain asylum seekers without bond, especially where they have demonstrated credible fear of persecution if returned to their home countries.
“Their granting of bond to some of these men is an important step, but there are many more detainees like them who should not be kept behind bars while their asylum proceedings are underway,” she said.
Jessica Shulruff, Supervising Attorney, Detention and Immigration Programs, at Americans for Immigrant Justice said, “Americans for Immigrant Justice has become increasingly concerned about the prolonged detention of bona fide asylum seekers with no criminal history who are availing themselves of protection under our immigration laws.”
“ICE routinely denies asylum seekers at Broward Transitional Center bond or release from detention even though they pose no flight risk or danger to the community, resulting in serious humanitarian and economic costs,” she said.
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Indian American woman Gets 2 Years for Killing Pedestrian in drunken state
NEW YORK Aug 11 (TIP)— An Indian American woman, Malina Singh, 21, a resident of Lake Luzerne, N.Y., will serve at least two years in prison for hitting and killing a pedestrian while intoxicated in New York last year, a media report said.
Malina Singh, 21, was sentenced on Monday. She pleaded guilty last month to vehicular manslaughter for the September 2014 incident that killed Jonathon Rogers.
Rogers had been walking along the shoulder of Route 9N in the Saratoga County village of Corinth during the predawn hours of Sept. 5 when he was struck by Singh’s car. The unlit stretch of road runs along the Hudson River.
Singh stopped and called emergency dispatchers. Deputies from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department attempted to resuscitate Rogers on the scene, but he was later pronounced dead at Saratoga Hospital. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was blunt-force trauma.
At the time, Singh had been driving alone in her 2013 Ford Fusion headed north near the intersection of Antone Road. She had had a prior alcohol-related offense, authorities said.
In addition to the sentencing, Singh was asked to install an ignition-interlock device in every vehicle she owns or drives for three years upon her release from prison.
On June 22, Singh admitted she was drunk while driving and killed Jonathon L. Rogers, 34, as he was walking on Sept. 4, 2014. Rogers was rushed to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
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Former President Bush summoned as Juror 27 in Dallas County
DALLAS (TIP): Being summoned for jury duty at the George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building in downtown Dallas was anything but dull for Sheri Coleman. In fact, Coleman and other jurors were in for quite the surprise Wednesday morning when former President George W. Bush also showed up for jury duty at Judge Eric Moye’s 14th civil district court.
“They made it seem like it was an anonymous juror that never showed up and then they brought him in,” she said. Coleman, of Dallas, said the president’s visit was “awesome” and “surprising.”
“He was very personable, very friendly, just, ‘Hey, I’m here to serve.’ He asked questions and was very nice,” she said. “I loved it.” Bush spokesman Freddy Ford confirmed the 43rd president was summoned as Juror 27 and was at the courthouse for about three hours.
Secret Service agents could be seen outside Moye’s courtroom on the fifth floor of the courthouse. “It would be great if everyone took their jury service the same way [Bush] did,” Moye said. “He understood it was important, he took it in good nature and he was engaged and talked to the lawyers.”
Moye said Bush wasn’t selected as a juror simply because the positions had already been filled. “He was number 27 of a 35-member panel and we only got through number 23,” he said.
Moye said he hopes future potential jurors will follow Bush’s lead of showing up for jury duty. “One of the remarks I made to the jury was ‘All of you have some reason why you have to do something else,’” he said. “‘But … you have the former president who has given his time to be here, so think how good your excuses for getting out of here really are.’”
Moye said Bush was “incredibly gracious” to all of the court staff and took photos with the bailiffs, clerks and summer interns. “He made sure it was a wonderful experience,” he said. The case Bush would have heard was a breach of contract matter between the owner of a mobile home park and a former resident, Moye said.
Wednesday’s summons was not the first time Bush has been called for jury duty. In 1996, while serving as governor, he was called for jury duty in Austin but was later dismissed by the defense attorney. About a decade later, while serving as president, Bush was among 600 potential jury candidates in McLennan County, where he owns a ranch.
Bush had a scheduling conflict and was unable to attend, a White House spokesman said at the time.
