OHIO (TIP): Ohio’s Indian American state Sen. Niraj Antani said Wednesday, January 3 that he has raised $612,348 in 38 days for his Congressional campaign. The fundraising efforts covered the 4th quarter, commencing from his campaign announcement on November 14th and concluding on December 31. Notably, this substantial amount was generated without relying on general election funds or self-funding.
Expressing his gratitude to his supporters, Sen. Antani, who represents the state’s sixth senate district, stated, “I am deeply grateful to my supporters. I have fought for the American Dream every day in the Ohio legislature, and I’ll do the same in Congress.”
The announcement comes following the retirement of Congressman Brad Wenstrup from Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District on November 8, 2023. Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District, spanning 16 counties across approximately 150 miles in southern Ohio, exhibits a significantly Republican-leaning partisan voter index. The Republican primary in Ohio is scheduled for March 19, 2024.
“This sum vaults Senator Antani into the top tier of this race,” said Antani’s campaign manager Nathan VanVlymen. “We feel very confident we will outraise and outwork all of our opponents.”
On November 13, Antani told the local media that he would be serving out his full term which ends December 31, 2024. “Today, I am announcing that I am not seeking reelection for the state Senate.”
Antani, born and raised in southern Ohio, was the first Member of the Ohio General Assembly to endorse President Trump for the 2024 election. If elected, he would become the 1st Republican Hindu member of Congress. Antani is currently serving his first term in the Ohio Senate, having previously served three terms as State Representative in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Tag: Google
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Indian American Republican candidate Sen. Niraj Antani raises more than $600,000
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Indian American Nikesh Arora Palo Alto CEO becomes a non-founder billionaire
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Nikesh Arora, a SoftBank veteran and now the CEO of cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks, has entered the billionaires’ club after a hefty paycheck he received from the firm.
He received a $125 million stock and options compensation package from Palo Alto when he was hired in 2018.
Since then, the company’s share price has more than quadrupled and Arora’s stake is now worth $830 million ($1.1 billion Singapore dollars), according to a report.
At Google, his compensation package was about $51 million in 2012 and he received stock awards worth at least $200 million by the time he left.
He joined SoftBank Group in 2014 and amassed a $135 million first-year compensation package.
Arora was president and chief operating officer of SoftBank Group from 2014 to 2016 and received a total compensation of over $200 million, a Japanese record at the time.
If we combine the pay awards Arora received in his career, his net worth stands at $1.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
“That makes him a rare non-founder billionaire tech chief executive,” the report noted.
On June 1, 2018, Arora took on the role of CEO and chairman at Palo Alto Networks.
Arora began his career at Fidelity Investments in 1992, holding a variety of finance and technology management positions, ultimately serving as vice president, finance of Fidelity Technologies.
(Source: IANS) -
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.
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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.
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Eight Indians held in Qatar get 60 days to contest their jail terms
NEW DELHI (TIP): The death penalty of eight former Indian Navy officials, who had been in the custody of Qatari authorities since August 2022, has been commuted to “varying quantum” of jail terms, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday, January 4. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the legal team had been given 60 days to appeal against the jail terms.
“On December 28, the Court of Appeal in Qatar gave a verdict in which the death sentence was commuted and replaced with varying quantum of jail terms. Our legal team has received a copy of the court’s order, which is a confidential document. But I can confirm that the death sentence has been removed,” Mr. Jaiswal said. “As far as the next step is concerned, 60 days are there when the matter can come up for appeal in the Court of Cassation which is the highest court of Qatar,” he added.
The eight men – Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vashisht, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal, and Sailor Ragesh – were employed by the Al Dahra company in Doha and were allegedly accused of breaching sensitive secrets at the time of their arrest. Although both India and Qatar have been secretive about the charges due to their sensitive nature, the former navy personnel were reportedly involved in training various security-related service providers for Qatar, and the company was also involved in producing high-tech Italian-origin submarines that are known for stealth capabilities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first public outreach to the Qatari leadership when he met Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of COP28 on December 1 is believed to be significant towards the latest development in the high-profile case. In a social media post, Mr. Modi had said that he had discussed the “well-being of the Indian community in Qatar” with the Emir.
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Judge denies Rudy Giuliani’s request to extend deadlines in Georgia election case
ATLANTA (TIP): The Fulton County judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case has denied Rudy Giuliani’s request to push back a deadline for motions to be filed in the case.
In an order Friday, January 5, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee rejected Giuliani’s extensions request, keeping in place a Monday deadline.
The judge wrote that Giuliani “does not articulate exactly what discovery must still be reviewed, or why the review has not been completed in the approximately four months that have passed since arraignment.”
He added that while Giuliani “claims to have filed ‘many’ motions concerning discovery, none appear on the docket.” A spokesperson and attorneys for Giuliani did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday night. Attorneys for Giuliani, who was indicted along with 18 co-defendants for allegedly violating Georgia’s racketeering laws in connection with the 2020 election, previously told the court they were “still processing” voluminous discovery in the case and asked for a deadline extension. In addition to the racketeering charge, Giuliani is accused of conspiring to pressure state officials to act on false election claims.
Four defendants in the case have pleaded guilty, while Giuliani and former President Donald Trump, who each face 13 criminal counts, pleaded not guilty.
Trump has sought unsuccessfully to delay various legal challenges until after the election. His lawyers have contended that the Fulton County district attorney’s proposed Aug. 5 start date for the trial “would be the most effective election interference in the history of the United States.”Friday’s order comes as Giuliani faces mounting legal woes, and fees.
Last month, he filed for bankruptcy protection after being hit with a $148 million verdict in a defamation lawsuit that centered on false claims he made about election workers to boost Trump’s stolen election claims.
Giuliani’s former lawyers sued him last year over allegations that he had not paid legal fees that they said amounted to $1.36 million. He responded to the lawsuit by saying the amount sought was excessive. Giuliani also faces a $10 million lawsuit filed by Noelle Dunphy, a woman whose allegations included Giuliani’s harassing her and discussing the selling of presidential pardons after she was hired in 2019. Giuliani has denied the claims.
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New York A.G. Seeks $370 Million From Trump After Civil Fraud Trial
NEW YORK (TIP): The New York attorney general on Friday, January 5, asked the judge who had overseen the civil fraud trial of Donald J. Trump to penalize the former president about $370 million, saying the trial had demonstrated that he had gained that amount through unlawful conduct, New York Times report says.
The sum was well over the $250 million that the attorney general, Letitia James, had estimated in the fall of 2022, when she sued Mr. Trump, accusing him of inflating his net worth to obtain favorable treatment from banks and insurers. The trial began in October and proceedings ended last month, but Mr. Trump’s fate is not yet settled. The attorney general’s penalty request came in a post-trial brief filed on Friday. Mr. Trump’s lawyers, in one of their own filings, wrote that “the attorney general has woefully failed to prove her case and is not entitled to any of the relief,” including any financial penalty.
A lawyer for Mr. Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the $370 million figure.
Next week, the lawyers will make closing arguments in front of the trial judge, Arthur F. Engoron. The nature of Ms. James’s lawsuit meant that there was no jury; Justice Engoron has said he will try to issue a ruling on the case by the end of this month.
Along with the steep financial penalty, Ms. James, a Democrat, is asking that Mr. Trump, a Republican, be barred from participating in New York’s real estate industry and from running any company in the state.
Justice Engoron, also a Democrat, has in the past been persuaded by Ms. James’s arguments. Before the trial began, he ruled in her favor, finding that Mr. Trump had committed fraud by inflating the value of his assets, and thus, his net worth. The bulk of the trial concerned whether the former president’s conduct had violated other New York laws, as well as the potential consequences for his wrongdoing.
The trial was a contentious affair, as lawyers for Ms. James and Mr. Trump clashed on issues major and minor, and the former president frequently attended the proceedings, using the hallway outside the courtroom as a campaign stop. There, he inveighed against the attorney general, the judge and the judge’s chief law clerk, whom he attacked as politically biased, prompting Justice Engoron to issue a gag order barring Mr. Trump from commenting on court staff.
The former president’s lawyers argued that the proceedings had stemmed from Ms. James’s political bias, and they repeatedly moved to derail the trial, calling multiple times for a favorable verdict based on what they said was a lack of sufficient evidence. Justice Engoron was unconvinced. On Dec. 18, five days after the proceedings ended, the judge denied the motions, appearing dismissive of Mr. Trump’s case.
He wrote that some of the lawyers’ arguments “personify frivolity,” took issue with the testimony of their financial experts and again took issue with Mr. Trump’s often-raised argument that the valuation of the assets in question was subjective.
“Let no one be fooled,” Justice Engoron wrote. “Valuations, as elucidated ad nauseam in this trial, can be based on different criteria analyzed in different ways. But a lie is still a lie.”
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Adrienne Adams reelected council speaker; Farías in, Powers out as majority leader
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams was reelected by a unanimous vote at the council’s charter meeting Wednesday, January 3, – a foregone conclusion leading up to the meeting that nonetheless kicks off the new two-year session and Adams’ second term as speaker. Adams was first elected speaker in 2022, becoming the first Black speaker of the council.
But while most of the council’s other leadership appointments predictably remained the same as last session, there was one surprise shakeup. Council Member Amanda Farías, who was elected to represent the 18th District in the Bronx in 2021, was appointed majority leader of the council, a role that Council Member Keith Powers filled in the last session. Powers, who has represented Manhattan’s East Side in the council since 2018, is term-limited and ineligible to run again in 2025, as is Adams.
“Designating Council Member Farías as Majority Leader is a step towards preparing the institution for its next generation of leadership and expanding representation,” council spokesperson Mara Davis said in a statement. “She will be the first Latina to hold this position, and it marks the first time the top leadership positions of the New York City Council will all be women, and women of color. Council Member Keith Powers has been a critical member of Speaker Adams’ leadership team, and there are no plans for that to change.”
Powers also characterized the decision as a matter of passing the baton to the large class of new members who entered the council in 2022. “It’s a conversation that we had with the speaker about making sure that we’re promoting some of the new members,” he told City & State after the meeting. “It’s something we discussed. We’re in continued conversations about my role and what’s going to happen next, and I’m looking forward to that.” Powers said that the switch isn’t a sign that he plans to make an early exit from the council. “This is the greatest job I’ve ever had, and it always will be,” he said. “I’m here until the end.”
The start of the last session in 2022 – which saw a vacancy in the speaker seat that Adams secured out of a crowded field of competitors, the addition of dozens of new members to the body, and the first majority female council – was met with more fanfare. But Wednesday’s meeting nonetheless struck a celebratory, first-day-of-school tone. (The meeting was essentially the first day of school for the body’s four new members – Chris Banks, Kristy Marmorato, Yusef Salaam and Susan Zhuang.) Special guests at the meeting included state Attorney General Letitia James, who administered the oath of office to Adams, along with Reps. Greg Meeks and Adriano Espaillat, and former City Council Member Paul Vallone.
Still, this year’s speaker vote was largely procedural, and no other members were nominated. “I thought this was my chance,” cracked Republican Minority Leader Joe Borelli, as he cast his vote for speaker. “It wasn’t. I support Adrienne E. Adams.”
(Source: City and State) -
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai to travel to New Delhi next week for US-India trade policy forum ministerial meet
NEW YORK (TIP): US Trade Representative Katherine Tai is scheduled to travel to New Delhi next week and will co-chair the ministerial-level meeting of the United States-India Trade Policy Forum with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
On January 13, Tai will meet with civil society representatives, business leaders and stakeholders to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s engagement and commitment to fostering closer ties between the two countries.Tai’s visit marks the first trip to India in the new year by a senior Biden administration official.
Tai and Goyal will co-chair the 14th ministerial-level meeting of the United States-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF). During this year’s meeting, Tai and Goyal will “discuss a broad set of issues to enhance the resiliency of the trade relationship, including agriculture, industrial products, services, and the protection of intellectual property, among other topics,” a statement issued by the Office of the US Trade Representative said on Friday.
Last year, Goyal and Tai had co-chaired the 13th ministerial-level meeting of India-United States Trade Policy Forum in Washington DC on January 11. During his January 9-11 visit to the US last year, Goyal had also met with CEOs, addressed the Indian community and held roundtable meetings with business leaders and think-tanks in New York.
(Source: PTI) -
SUOZZI URGES BIPARTISAN APPROACH TO ADDRESS IMMIGRATION CRISIS
GLEN COVE, NY (TIP): Former Congressman Tom Suozzi , on January 2, called on President Biden, as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, to find common ground on border safety and immigration reform and urged the passage of bipartisan legislation to solve the migration crisis at the southern border and reform the immigration process.
In separate letters to the President and Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jefferies, sent this morning, Suozzi urged that they “prioritize immigration issues” and offered up proposals for a “comprehensive, moderate solution that finally secures our border and recognizes the hardships and suffering that have resulted from the federal government’s decades-long failure to address this very real problem.”
At a Zoom press conference held this morning, Suozzi stated, “The residents of New York’s 3rd Congressional District and the American people are angered by the inaction of their federal government on comprehensive immigration reform and border security.”
Suozzi continued that “one party, one chamber bills will not bring safe borders and immigration reform.” He stressed that “together, we must find common ground and pass a bipartisan, bicameral bill that will secure our borders and finally address the hardships and suffering caused by decades of inaction.”
Suozzi also discussed his prior proposal, crafted with former Republican Congressman Peter King in 2019, to bring “common sense solutions to secure our borders,” including better radar technology, improved ports of entry, enhanced physical barriers, more immigration judges, and more border patrol agents.
During the press conference, Suozzi pointed out that a key component of his 10-Point Plan, released on December 19, 2023, included common-sense measures to address the immigration crisis. Suozzi proposes that Congress provide more border security funding to hire additional border patrol agents, immigration judges, and asylum officers, as well as securing and implementing more smart technology. He also is in favor of enhanced physical barriers and an “Ellis Island” plan to help secure the border and bring order to the current crisis.”
“We should build a new, comprehensive complex at the border to expedite the processing of migrants. We should hire more immigration judges who would rule on asylum cases without delay,” Suozzi stated in his remarks. “Those migrants who have credible claims for asylum would be more effectively processed. And a clear protocol would be put in place to quickly deny entry to those who do not qualify. A workable plan to deport those applicants denied entry would be implemented.”
Joining Suozzi at his press conference, the Minority Leader in the Nassau County Legislature, Delia DeRiggi-Whitton expressed her disappointment in Suozzi’s opponent, Mazi Pilip, who has served for the last two years in the legislature with DeRiggi-Whitton.
“I had hoped that she would be someone who could make a difference in the legislature, someone who would speak up. But I have been so disappointed with her. She has followed the party line on every vote. She is not, in any way, proactive,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.
The Minority Leader added that “at our recent budget meetings, Pilip never even asked a single question.” “I’ve tried reaching out to her, tried to engage her in conversation, and she’s never tried to even speak with me,” revealed DeRiggi-Whitton. “That’s not the kind of Congressperson this district needs,” she added.
Pilip’s unwillingness to discuss important issues or policy, as well as her refusal to debate, has been noted in news accounts of her candidacy. Newsday recently reported that, in the county legislature, “a review of two years’ worth of transcripts shows Pilip speaks much less frequently than her colleagues. At many meetings, the only words she said into her microphone were “here” during roll call attendance and “aye” during vote tallies.”
When asked specifically which of Pilip’s votes troubled her, DeRiggi-Whitton replied,
“Democrats recently proposed a budget amendment to bolster the Nassau County Police Department by hiring 100 new police officers, and Mazi Pilip voted ‘NO,’ along with every other Republican.” “She had the chance to stand up for the people of Nassau, and instead, she stood down for her party. She had a chance to show her independence, a chance to vote for 100 new cops, and she refused,” DeRiggi-Whitton added later.
DeRiggi-Whitton concluded her remarks by saying, “We have lost a year of representation in Congress with George Santos. We can’t afford to lose any more time. We can’t wait for Mazi Pilip to ‘catch up.’ She later added, “We need someone in Congress like Tom Suozzi, who knows exactly how things work in Congress, or should I say, don’t work. Tom Suozzi can fix it.”
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New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar introduces “SMOKEOUT ACT” to shutter illegal smoke shops in the State
Assemblywoman’s Bill will close 36,000 illegal smoke shops statewide, including 1,500illegal shops fueling crime in New York City
SOUTH QUEENS, NY (TIP): Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-AD 38) introduced the SMOKEOUT Act (A8428), one of her major priorities for passage this Albany session. The SMOKEOUT Act (Stop Marijuana Overproliferation and Keep Empty Operators of Unlicensed Transactions) grants municipalities across the State, including New York City, the power to immediately shutter all illegal, unlicensed smoke shops once and for all.
Illegal smoke shops are able to operate with almost total impunity because local municipalities lack authority to enforce cannabis shop violations. The 2021 bill passed in Albany legalizing recreational cannabis established a Cannabis Control Board as the only agency in the entire State authorized to close unlicensed cannabis retailers and order the seizure of merchandise. Currently, New York City can only raid a smoke shop if there is suspicion of certain other violations, such as untaxed cigarettes. Even then, the City cannot close the shops.
Upon passage of Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s SMOKEOUT Act, New York City and all municipalities across the State will have the authority to close illegal smoke shops and seize all merchandise. This will allow New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and law enforcement statewide, to get into action swiftly shutting down smoke shops and permanently eliminating their blight. Mayor Adams says when granted the enforcement power from Albany, he could clear up the smoke shops problem in 30 days.
The Assemblywoman revealed plans for her smoke shop legislation at a December Mayoral town hall in Corona, earning praise from Mayor Adams and loud cheers from the packed room of Queens community leaders.
Assemblywoman Rajkumar said at the town hall, “I am proud to announce today that in our State Capitol this session, I am introducing a bill to expand the City’s power to shut down the illegal, unlicensed smoke shops that are plaguing our communities. These unlicensed illegal smoke shops are endangering the children of our community and they are hotbeds of crime.”
Mayor Adams said at the town hall, “The Cannabis Law that was passed was supposed to allow only those legal shops to open. The problem with the law, it did not give local municipalities the power and authority to go in and enforce the illegal shops. We are asking the representatives in Albany, that was the bill that Assemblywoman Rajkumar was talking about. We are saying, ‘Give us the enforcement power.’ Right now, the State has the enforcement power and the State does not have the manpower to do the enforcement power. And so many of these places are opening and they’re laughing at the fines. It’s the price of doing business. They’re making so much money that they’re just opening and continuing to sell to our children. And so we’re hoping this year in Albany that we are now going to get the enforcement power.”
New York City is now home to an estimated 1,500 shops illegally selling cannabis without a license; there are an estimated 36,000 statewide. Smoke shops have become a magnet for crime in New York City: filled with valuable contraband and loose cash, they are a tantalizing target for armed robberies. Such robberies skyrocketed from 137 in 2021 to 593 in 2022, or almost 1 robbery for every 2 smoke shops. In 2023 alone, there have been at least five fatal shootings in smoke shops, including one in Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s district.
Often these unlicensed smoke shops also sell other contraband including untaxed cigarettes and psychedelics. Some offer edibles appealing to children, packaged to resemble sugar cereals and other popular children’s snacks. Shops are opening across the street from schools.
Besides breeding crime and endangering neighborhoods, illegal smoke shops unfairly compete with the legal cannabis dispensaries authorized by the Cannabis Law of 2021. These legal operators underwent a lengthy licensure process and sell rigorously tested and regulated cannabis. Legal shops cannot meet the prices of illegal shops’ unregulated cannabis, and there are only 40 legal dispensaries across the State. This undermines the legalized cannabis program’s intent to provide economic empowerment to people who were impacted in the past by Draconian drug laws, and to reinvest in communities that were historically targeted for enforcement.
Cannabis products from illegal shops even present a danger to the users. A random sampling of illegal smoke shop cannabis products found that 40% contained dangerous contaminants such as E. coli, salmonella, lead, and pesticides. None met the safety standards of New York’s legal cannabis.
The current rate of smoke shop closures, however, is unacceptably slow, moving at snail’s pace since municipalities lack the authority to shutter them on their own. The staggering number of shops, combined with limited resources by the Cannabis Control Board, has resulted in it issuing only 305 orders for illegal smoke shops to close during 2023. This amounts to less than 1% of illegal shops. Even then, the Board often takes no action to enforce the order to close, and illegal shops continue to operate anyway.
Assemblywoman Rajkumar is working with a broad and diverse coalition of community leaders across the City to drive her SMOKEOUT bill through Albany. She has already been in discussions with the Office of the New York City Sheriff, which conducts smoke shop raids.
After introducing the bill, Assemblywoman Rajkumar said, “It is time to immediately close all 36,000 illegal smoke shops across our state, including the 1,500 illegal smoke shops fueling crime in New York City. My legislation puts the power back in the hands of the people and municipalities, so that we can stop the sale of unlicensed cannabis that is endangering our children and our neighborhoods. We will come together as one State this Albany session and eliminate these epicenters of crime.”
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Global Punjab TV Under New Leadership: Vikas Vohra, Tapender Kumar and Jaspal Shetra Take the Helm
NEW YORK (TIP): Global Punjab TV, a prominent media company, has undergone a transformative change with the acquisition by Vikas Vohra, Tapender Kumar and Jaspal Shetra. The trio bring a wealth of experience and vision to steer Global Punjab TV into a new era of success.
Notably, the media giant is expanding its reach and launched it on Sling TV in the USA, marking a strategic move to captivate a wider South Asian audience. This initiative aims to strengthen the channel’s presence in the international market and cater to the diverse tastes of viewers in the United States.
Excitingly Global Punjab TV is gearing up for its imminent launch in India on Many Cable / OTT Platforms promising a blend of quality content and innovation.
“With a commitment to providing engaging and culturally relevant programming, the channel aspires to become a household name across the nation”, said Head of The Channel Pardeep Gill.
Vikas Vohra expressed his enthusiasm for the journey ahead, stating, “We are thrilled to lead Global Punjab TV into a new chapter. Our focus is on delivering content that resonates with our audiences worldwide. We look forward to shaping the future of Global Punjab TV and creating memorable viewing experiences.”
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Indian Missions in Vancouver, New York and Nicosia bag One District One Product Award
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): ‘One District One Product’ is among the several initiatives of the Government of India in line with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat”, a self-reliant India. The idea is to select, brand, and promote One Product from each District of the country, harnessing traditional strengths and technology for holistic development.
The prestigious ODOP Awards were conferred upon Indian Districts, States and Indian Missions abroad by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal on January 3 as part of the ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Utsav’. The Awards aim to recognize and honor those who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in furthering economic development through the ODOP approach.
Consulate General of India in New York was among the three Indian Missions to receive the prestigious ODOP Award 2023. It was declared the runners-up in the category of India’s Foreign Missions for its contribution in promoting ODOP items in the world.
India’s Consulate General in New York, with active guidance and support of MEA and Department of Commerce, has undertaken major campaign to showcase and promote One District One Product items of India in the Unites States. Some of the popular products include Araku Coffee, Assam and Darjeeling Tea, ittar (perfume) from Kannauj, Lakadong turmeric, jute and textiles products, millet-based food items, Dhokra metal handicrafts and Longpi pottery, among others. In 2022, Consulate organized an ODOP float at the iconic ‘India Day Parade’ in Manhattan and also put up ODOP stall at Times Square on the occasion of International Yoga Day which created widespread awareness in New York and around about ODOP items. Besides these, numerous trade shows, product launches and other events have been hosted and organized by the Consulate to promote and popularize these distinctive expressions of India’s diversity, heritage, culture and economic potential.
The ODOP initiative stands as a testament to the Government of India’s commitment to promoting the country’s unique products globally, paving the way for a self-reliant India on the global stage.
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Indian community activist in US welcomes move allowing diaspora members to contribute to Ram Mandir
NEW YORK (TIP): As preparations are underway for the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a prominent Indian community activist here has welcomed measures allowing diaspora members to contribute to the development of the temple.
Social activist Prem Bhandari had earlier appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow members of the Indian diaspora across the world to contribute to the development of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh. Asserting that there are over 3.5 crore Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin around the world, he said that many of them would like to contribute to the development of the temple.
Provisions have now been made on the website of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra for holders of the Indian as well as Non-Indian Passport to make donations and contributions.
The website notes that the Trust has obtained registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 2010, and “devotees holding Non-Indian Passport can now voluntarily contribute towards the objectives of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.” Bhandari, who founded the ‘Overseas Friends of Ram Mandir’ organization, welcomed this step and urged members of the 3.5 crore-strong Indian diaspora across the globe to contribute to the Trust.
The Ram Mandir will be consecrated on January 22, where Prime Minister Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and more than 6,000 people are expected to attend the grand “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony. (Photo / Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust) Ahead of the Pran Pratishtha (installation of the deity) ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, Bhandari said it will be a “historic opportunity” and Indian devotees from around the world will now be able to contribute any amount they deem fit for this special occasion that has come after 550 years. He added that he, along with the Overseas Friends of Ram Mandir organization, has started reaching out to Indian diaspora members globally from the New Year and is providing them with the link to send their voluntary donations directly to the temple.
Bhandari said that the prime minister thinks not just about the 140 crore Indians living in the county but also about the sentiments of the 3.5 crore diaspora living across the globe by allowing its members to contribute to the Ram Mandir.
“January 22 will be a historic day. We are so fortunate that we are seeing the inauguration of Ram Mandir in our lifetime. It is a dream come true,” Bhandari said, adding that this day would not have been possible without the contributions of so many people and the “visionary leadership” of the prime minister.
“We feel as if Lord Ram is returning to Ayodhya on January 22 after vanvas. Such is the atmosphere and happiness there. Ayodhya will be the global capital of Hinduism soon,” he said.
The Ram Mandir will be consecrated on January 22, where Prime Minister Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and more than 6,000 people are expected to attend the grand “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony.
(Source: PTI) -
Israel at a crossroads after apex court verdict
Israeli observers don’t feel that the court judgment would end the present domestic turmoil.
By Vappala Balachandran Four developments, directly or indirectly related to the Israel-Hamas war, have taken place this week. On New Year’s Day, Israel’s Supreme Court pronounced the long-awaited judgment on the amendment passed by the parliament on July 24, 2023. In an 8-7 verdict, the court struck down the Netanyahu cabinet’s amendment to the ‘basic law’ that had removed the court’s power to declare the government’s decisions as ‘unreasonable’. This amendment had triggered 10-month-long protests and created unprecedented fissures within the Israeli society before the brutal Hamas attack of October 7, 2023.
On January 2, Israel assassinated Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas and co-founder of its military wing Izzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, in a drone attack while he was holding a meeting in Beirut. Some other high-ranking Hamas members were also killed. This made Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemn the strike as an ‘Israeli crime’ aimed at dragging Lebanon into a “new phase of confrontations” in the present war. Al-Arouri was second only to Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and was the operational link with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Yahya Sinwar and Al-Arouri were reportedly leading the present phase of the war in Gaza.
Israel is considering contesting South Africa’s suit at the International Court of Justice, filed on December 29, 2023, for an urgent order declaring that Israel had breached its statutory obligations under the Genocide Convention during its war in Gaza. The Netanyahu government is particularly sore with South Africa for comparing the plight of Palestinians with that of the Blacks in South Africa during the apartheid era. Israeli paper Haaretz reports that the name of American lawyer Alan Dershowitz is being considered for the hearing.
The fourth development is the reported decision by the US authorities to reduce their naval presence in the region by the withdrawal of US aircraft carrier Gerald Ford and its task force from the West Asian seas, leaving only one carrier, Dwight D Eisenhower, there. Israeli media has attributed this setback to the ‘tense’ Biden-Netanyahu exchanges on the Gaza war, his ‘dismissive’ attitude towards the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the statements of Netanyahu’s right-wing colleagues about the future management of Gaza by excluding PA.
The January 1 court judgment must be studied in the peculiar background of Israel not having a written Constitution, although United Nations Resolution 181 on the partition of Palestine (November 1947) and Israel’s declaration of independence (May 1948) had envisaged the drafting of a Constitution. This was not done due to many reasons. Firstly, the draft prepared by Shalom Zvi Davidowitz, an American rabbi living in Israel, contained many references to God which were opposed by the ‘secular’ lobby.
According to historian Anita Shapira, discussions in 1949-50 did not settle anything and reached a deadlock. Hence, the first Knesset decided on a compromise resolution by Israeli politician Yizhar Harari that instead of a single document, a series of ‘basic laws’ would be written by the future Knessets. This was called the ‘Harari Resolution’. As a result, 11 ‘basic laws’ were written between 1958 and 1992. Israel is guided by these laws.
Shapira also quoted Israel’s founding father David Ben-Gurion, a ‘lifelong’ socialist, who spoke against having a written Constitution due to a peculiar reason — that Israel did not have its ‘Aliyah’ (migration) yet. She also felt that Ben-Gurion was trying to avoid internal quarrels, especially with religious parties.
Suzie Navot, Vice-President of Israel Democracy Institute, quoted Ben-Gurion: “Let them come, let them make Aliyah, and then we’ll see. If all of them come from America, we will have a Constitution like America’s. If all of them come from Russia, perhaps we will have a different Constitution.” She added that the religious parties felt that they already had a “Constitution, the Torah, and there was no need for another one written by human beings”.
Israeli observers do not feel that the court judgment would end the present domestic turmoil. They quote Netanyahu’s statement (July 28, 2023) that Israel would enter ‘uncharted territory’ if the court struck down his amendment to the highly contentious ‘reasonableness’ law. When asked whether he would abide by the court ruling to strike it down, he refused to say anything. But his party Likud said it was “unfortunate that the court decided to issue a ruling at the heart of the societal disagreement in Israel when IDF soldiers from right and left are fighting and endangering their lives”.
The Times of Israel (January 2) said the country could “plunge into a full-scale constitutional crisis”. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the main force behind this legislation, defiantly said that the court judgment would not “stop PM Netanyahu’s coalition from responding”. He did not say how the government would respond. However, Benny Gantz, who joined the government on a wartime, emergency basis, called for the court’s decision to be respected.
Others were more specific. While one group of Israel watchers felt that Netanyahu’s all-out war against Hamas, despite international opprobrium over civilian deaths in Gaza, was meant to revive his domestic popularity, which was badly scorched by the protests, others said that he was already in the campaign mode. The Jerusalem Post, in an op-ed written before the court verdict, said Netanyahu “has made little secret of his plan to remain in office after the war”. The latest ploy is to declare that only he could stop another Oslo process —he is the only leader who can prevent the Americans (Biden) from imposing the ‘two-state’ solution.
As such, his campaign pitch to the ‘rightist’ lobby would be that if it votes for someone else, such as Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, Naftali Bennett or Yossi Cohen, it will get ‘another Oslo’. His argument would be that only he can stop that from happening.
(The author is a former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India)
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Civil society under siege, in India
‘Our findings suggest that organizations that were actively fighting against communalism were the most significantly under attack’
By Rahul Mukherji & Aditya Shrivastava A free civic space regulated under constitutionally guaranteed principles is the essence of democracy. India is lucky to have an unusually diverse and vibrant civil society. However, constitutional freedoms are themselves under siege. It will be important to recognize and protect these freedoms by social and political forces who repose their faith in the Constitution. The anti-communal and progressive civic space is under the most serious attack by the state. This is also the section of society that will unite against Hindu nationalism under any party that offers the prospect of secularism, interpreted assarva dharma sama bhava (equal respect for all religions), and citizen well-being with economic growth.
The scale of attack
We explored the range of instruments deployed by the state to limit the civic space of 15 organizations, small and big, relying on domestic and foreign donations. These organizations include the well-known ones that have been attacked such as Amnesty International, the Centre for Equity Studies, Citizens for Justice and Peace, Lawyers Collective, Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns and Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD), among significant others, who will remain unnamed.The organizations we studied were viewed as being either neutral, moderate, or strong regarding their views on minority rights, Dalit rights, Adivasi (tribal) rights and equity promotion.
Our findings suggest that organizations that were actively fighting against communalism were the most significantly under attack. We coded the attacks on a scale where a high level of attack has occurred on organizations that have not only run out of funds but also whose leaders have either been sent to prison or have charges that can potentially incarcerate them. These would include organizations such as Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), Amnesty India, Oxfam, Centre for Equity Studies and Lawyers Collective.
Moderately attacked institutions are those whose activities have been severely curbed because of multiple attacks by the state. These organizations have almost come to a grinding halt. They include the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and a significant non-governmental organization (NGO) with American funding working in the non-communal space. Moderately attacked institutions also include fiercely anti-communal NGOs such as ANHAD. Some of the organizations in this area are even neutral on the anti-communal issue. An analysis of the moderate section in our scale suggests that the civic space has shrunk to such an extent that the Indian state is not even leaving a non-communal organization such as the CPR alone. The current chair of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Chairman of the NITI Aayog chaired by the Prime Minister are both from the CPR. One of the allegations against the CPR appears to be that it had some connections with Adivasi rights movements that impacted the mining interests of the tycoon Gautam Adani.
Institutions that have been impacted by relatively low levels of attacks are generally not active in the anti-communal area, even though they may be pursuing significant human rights causes. These are institutions that have been attacked by just one instrument. The woes of organizations such as Navsarjan, which is a leader in Dalit rights, and Save The Children’s work on child rights are less compared to the ones that have been hit moderately or at a high level. We also found that the disciplining instruments deployed by the state can impact organizations. Greenpeace, for example, has transitioned from one that faced high intensity attack to one that now faces a low level of attack by our definition.
In the process, Greenpeace had to change its identity from one that was strong on its rights-based mobilization towards advancing environmental concerns and Adivasi rights to one that has become much more lukewarm in that regard.
A range of instruments
We now turn to the variety of instruments that are being deployed. Attacks with penal consequences that can lead to imprisonment are charges of money laundering and investigations. We have not included the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in our analysis and restricted ourselves to actions that largely afflict NGOs. The amendments, in 2019, to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, brought through the Finance Act enabled the Department of Revenue to work with a broader definition of proceeds of crime. This has resulted in the now well-known attacks on NGOs and Opposition politicians by the Enforcement Directorate.The Emergency-era law from 1976, the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA), was made stringent in 2010 under the United Progressive Alliance government, and again under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in 2020. The BJP has used both the 2010 and 2020 provisions to take the right of NGOs to access foreign funds away from about 18,000 organizations between 2015 and 2022. Curiously enough, the FCRA’s impact on foreign funding of political parties has been considerably weakened over time. But the same instrument has now been deployed with lethal effect on NGOs. Apart from the FCRA provisions, foreign donors are also intimidated by a Prior Reference Category List of around 80 internationally reputed donors who are monitored and intimidated for pursuing any human rights related causes.
Under the FCRA, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) too is empowered to investigate NGOs and their personnel with lethal impact. For example, the CBI has filed a supplementary charge sheet against Amnesty India and its chair of the Board, Aakar Patel. Such an action can have penal consequences. And the tedious process itself is punishment.
Domestic funding of non- and anti-communal NGOs is also under siege. Sections 12A and 80G of the Income-Tax Act provide tax exemptions for NGOs and donors, respectively. The 2020 amendments now make renewals of 12A and 80G certificates mandatory every five years. And donor data including their PAN card numbers must be made available to the Ministry of Finance. These provisions enable the state to intimidate domestic donors who wish to fight communalism and crony capitalism.
When the state has no excuse to penalize NGOs, it uses income-tax surveys as a way of collecting data that can be used to further escalate and institute more cases either by the CBI or the Tax Department.
Building on the Opposition’s stand
The last bastion and ray of hope for India’s democracy is its civic space. It is under serious threat. In the 2023 Assembly elections, the Congress’s leaders (and now Chief Ministers) Siddaramaiah (Karnataka) and A. Revanth Reddy (Telangana) both took a clear secular position alongside welfare pledges that mobilized the anti-communal civic space against the BJP. Picking strong regional leaders will be critical for INDIA. Whether it was the “Eddelu Karnataka” (Wake-up Karnataka) or similar social movements in Telangana, they had one thing in common. Secular and progressive social and political forces came together in both these States. The Opposition INDIA bloc will not only need to fight like a single party. It will also need to mobilize the anti-communal and progressive civic space in its favor to save democracy.(Rahul Mukherji is Professor and Chair, Modern Politics of South Asia, South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany. Aditya Shrivastava is German Chancellor Fellow, South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany)
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The See Saw called 2023, some sparkles and some tears
The century will be infamously remembered for the 2 devastating wars….Russia-Ukraine & Israel- Hamas. Their ripple effects have been game changing for the world both geopolitically & geoeconomically. Energy & food security and its weaponization, dedollarization, terrorism, wars are factors that have reshaped the world dynamics in the last 2 years.
By Priti Prakash Time is all powerful. It is said to be a healer, and so I believe. It’s never possible to talk of all what happened in the fleeting year in this small space but amplifying what have become memories will surely play some small role in glorifying them in the pages of history.
As I pen down my year roundup, everything blurs in before the humanitarian crisis unfolding with the war in West Asia. On the very Christmas eve Israel carried out the deadliest of attacks on the refugee camps killing 100 people. It’s nothing but a massacre carrying on for the last 3 months. As the world celebrates the new year this part of humanity is crying, weeping over the loss of their loved ones, running to save their lives amidst the disaster and destruction spread around them. It’s hell broken loose there. With the rest of the world reduced to spectators, with a few failed efforts against the adamancy of the Israeli PM Netanyahu, the conflict is dangerously engulfing the entire West Asian region. Every day is an evolving condition, each day the conflict has a new development.
The century will be infamously remembered for the 2 devastating wars….Russia-Ukraine & Israel- Hamas. Their ripple effects have been game changing for the world both geopolitically & geoeconomically. Energy & food security and its weaponization, dedollarization, terrorism, wars are factors that have reshaped the world dynamics in the last 2 years.
Domestically, Indians had their share of moments of pride and also of misfortunes. I am not a pessimist but human sufferings do tend to disturb and take precedence. Manipur was in flames and human rights were violated, on the other hand India successfully landed on the Moon. Sadly, our women wrestlers protested for days against a predator public representative to finally see themselves only resigning from a bright career which any sportsperson takes years and endless hard work to build. They were so helpless that they decided to give up their medals and awards. That for ‘respect of women’ and games.
The recently concluded assembly elections in 4 states were an equal shocker. Much to the surprise of Congress and psephologists BJP won the 3 main Hindi belt states of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh having only lost in Telangana in the South. These 3 states hold the key to 2024 general elections that have now sealed BJP’s incumbency at the national level next year as India goes to polls.
Delhi had its fair share of limelight as pollution like every season broke a record high with AQI touching 400+. Living a healthy life is a huge ask in these modern times when with all the technological advances stubble burning the conventional way isn’t going anywhere. Sprinklers or no sprinklers.
Speaking of tech, ChatGPT and AI were the new discovery and challenges too. AI is a two-edged sword that stands to benefit as well as put mankind to severe threats and disadvantages. Humans can be replaced with AI involving much lesser cost. As the threats are equally serious in nature the world is finding ways and laws to regulate its free and uncontrolled effects.
What we need to seriously worry is Climate Change. Much touted at various international fora and matter of global discourse it’s more of lip service detached from tangible outputs. Paradoxically, the developed countries that are responsible for the climate crisis unfolding in the underdeveloped and developing countries that are bearing the brunt of drastic climate downside like floods, torrential rains, quakes, droughts and acute temperature fluctuations. Wonder if it’s now late enough to reverse the change nature is manifesting.
It was India’s moment with G20 this year. New Delhi hosted the mega event and delivered a successful G20 Joint Statement with full consensus of all countries and inclusion of Africa in the group. The clout of India was on display when US President along with his European and Gulf countries counterparts displayed exceptional bonhomie. G20 was also an opportunity to give a major infrastructural boost to the country as various other meetings were held in different states showcasing their culture and boosting tourism too.
How did India fare on the world stage! The last months have seen some tensions between India -Canada and India- US relations relating to the cases of the alleged killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil and a plan to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil. Canada -India relations saw a setback with dismissing additional diplomats that took a hit on the consular services of both countries. With China, 15 rounds of border talks haven’t yielded any result and China refuses to retreat from occupied Indian territory, although trade continues to flourish between both the countries.
India’s relations with its neighbors have seen ups and downs. Sri Lanka was visited by Chinese Research Ship with India resisting. New Delhi was visited by Bangladesh, Nepal Prime Ministers. With a pro-China govt in Maldives, Indian troops have been ordered to leave Male that has the possibility of India – Maldives relations growing sour. With political unrest in Myanmar how will India respond will be seen particularly with the problem of refugee influx from Myanmar into Indian border states staring in our face. Bhutan has approved building a 1000 km border village at its border with India that will facilitate a buffer with India countering China. In Pakistan, with the return of Nawaz Shariff and likelihood of his being the economically battered country’s next leader, the future might hold some glimpse of better times. Afghanistan having the Taliban in power and its embassy in India not formally functional as such, despite Taliban sources claiming normalcy, we wonder if Indian government’s stand on recognizing the terror outfit will see any change in 2024.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy officials languishing in Qatar jails have got a little respite with their death sentence being commuted to life imprisonment. Expecting a pardon from the Qatari Emir, a usual practice of pardoning prisoners on Qatar’s National Day, the families of these officials are waiting in hope. It’s a test of India’s clout and PM Modi’s personal capital with the Gulf’s richest nation’s leader. I am sure we are not asking for too much.
It would be amiss if the state of Press is not mentioned here. The fourth pillar of democracy, the vigil keepers, the messengers, as they are called, have had their share of rough rubbings with the govt. 2023 saw journalists being rounded up, harassed, threatened, killed and the news organizations raided, access to Parliament curtailed for reporting facts and ground reality. Newsclick being one of the targets to be silenced, its Editor still is behind bars, their computers, digital gadgets and cameras confiscated and charges fabricated against them. The takeover of major media houses by corporate has changed media landscape totally. Mass job losses, contractual working and the sword of recently passed 3 criminal bills has announced the death knell of press freedom. Wonder how long will the few independent digital platforms or journalists survive, come 2024 elections. The G model says use media for winning elections and dump them once you are there.
A few months to go for General Elections 2024 and the stage is set for India to witness a mega event of the inauguration of the magnificent Ram temple at Ayodhya. This will set the agenda for 2024 elections. With the BJP win in the 3 Hindi heartland states its already half work done. The numbers will decide the power of the opposition and other parties that have come together to fight BJP and its Hindutva agenda in 2024.
Right now, people need employment, poverty alleviation, respite from inflation, jobs and social security. Hope, the year 2024 brings in the much-needed balm. Let’s be the change makers.
(The author is a Journalist / Blogger / Travel enthusiast) -
Shaping a Harmonious 2024: A Call for Global Unity and Empathy
As we embark upon the threshold of another new year, the year 2024, it’s crucial to ponder the image we wish to paint upon the canvas of the future. Do we aspire to witness a world embroiled in relentless conflicts, plagued by divisions between the privileged and the disenfranchised? Or do we collectively yearn for a world where unity reigns supreme, where the resonance of shared humanity echoes louder than the discord of disparity?The responsibility to shape the world we yearn for lies squarely in our hands. Let us fervently strive to erect a world where the ethos of one global family, as espoused by the ancient Indian wisdom—’Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the whole world is one family)—is not merely an ideal but a lived reality. But where do we commence this monumental undertaking? It commences from the grassroots—the underprivileged, the impoverished, the marginalized, and the ailing individuals who are in dire need of attention, support, and compassion.
One of the cardinal pillars of nurturing a more equitable world rests on bridging the gaping chasm between the affluent and the impoverished. It is imperative that those blessed with financial stability and governmental influence extend their hands in support of those grappling with adversity. Only when this disparity is alleviated can we envisage a world with reduced conflict and enhanced livability.
The task at hand necessitates a collective readiness and unwavering commitment. We stand at the crossroads of history where the echoes of past conflicts reverberate in our collective consciousness. The devastation wrought by world wars and the ongoing conflicts in regions like Europe and the Israeli theater stand as stark reminders of the catastrophic toll of discord. It is our solemn duty to ensure that the pages of history are not marred by similar tragedies in the future.
Imagine a world where the resonance of unity drowns out the cacophony of conflict. A world where the basic needs of every individual are met with dignity and where compassion serves as the guiding light for every decision. This is the world we should strive to build—one where disputes are resolved through dialogue and empathy rather than through violence and animosity.
This transformation necessitates a paradigm shift—a shift from self-interest to collective welfare, from division to unity, from indifference to empathy. Governments, organizations, and individuals must collaborate synergistically, pooling their resources and expertise to uplift the downtrodden and pave the path for a more harmonious coexistence.
Let us commit ourselves to a world where diplomacy triumphs over aggression, where compassion supersedes apathy, and where the downtrodden are uplifted through collective efforts. Each one of us holds the power to contribute towards this vision, whether through philanthropy, advocacy, volunteering, or simply fostering a culture of understanding and inclusivity in our communities.
The canvas of 2024 remains blank, awaiting strokes of benevolence, unity, and empathy. As we step into this new year, let us pledge to paint a picture where humanity stands united, where conflicts are relegated to the annals of history, and where the indelible colors of compassion and solidarity illuminate our shared journey ahead. The world of our dreams is within reach—let us seize this opportunity to transform it into a tangible reality. Let us welcome, in this spirit, the New Year 2024.
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Shielding SEBI: On Supreme Court’s ruling and SEBI probe
SC should have pushed it to do more while not reviewing policy actions
The Supreme Court of India’s ruling on a batch of petitions, filed in the wake of a U.S.-based short seller’s allegations of malfeasance including stock price manipulation at the Adani group of companies, has squarely tossed the ball back to the markets regulator’s court. The Court has opted to subordinate petitioners’ entreaties to protect larger public interest to its chariness to substitute “its own wisdom over the regulatory policies” of the Securities and Exchange Board of India. In its 46-page order, the Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud is emphatic in observing that “SEBI has prime facie conducted a comprehensive investigation” that “inspires confidence”, and that “the facts of this case do not warrant a transfer of investigation from SEBI” given that “prima facie no deliberate inaction or inadequacy” was found in the regulator’s conduct of its probe. Strikingly, the Bench has completely skirted the fundamental questions that the Court-appointed Expert Committee in its May 2023 report had opted to leave as a ‘matter between SEBI and the Court’ — the determination of possible violations pertaining to minimum public shareholding and related party transactions. The Bench has instead seized upon prayers urging the Court to direct SEBI to revoke its amendments to the Foreign Portfolio Investors Regulations and Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements — amendments that were at the heart of petitioners’ submissions of regulatory failure — and roundly denied them on grounds that there was neither “any illegality”, nor were the norms “capricious, arbitrary or violative of the Constitution”.
The ruling has also done little to assuage investors’ concerns about SEBI’s approach to getting to the bottom of the allegations raised by Hindenburg Research in its January 2023 report. Without elaboration on any of the regulator’s findings, the Court has blandly observed that “SEBI has completed 22 out of the 24 investigations into the Adani group” and that completion of the remaining two “are pending due to inputs being awaited from foreign regulators”. The Bench has directed SEBI to complete these “expeditiously”. While the Court’s reluctance to review the policy actions of a ‘specialized regulator’ is understandable, the decision to leave the crucial question of SEBI’s perceived tardiness in investigating allegations of corporate malfeasance and market manipulation by a large conglomerate back to the remit of the very same watchdog hints at a degree of judicial abstinence that may only undermine the larger public good. The Court is surely aware of past instances where it has found SEBI wanting in alacrity of enforcement, a facet flagged by the experts’ panel appointed in this case as well. After all, ‘justice must not only be done, but it must also be seen to be done’.
(The Hindu) -
Wealthy Indian-origin couple, daughter found dead in US
BOSTON (TIP): A wealthy Indian-origin couple and their teenage daughter were found dead in their USD 5 million mansion in the US state of Massachusetts in an apparent domestic violence incident, according to media reports.
The bodies of Rakesh Kamal (57), his wife Teena (54) and their 18-year-old daughter Ariana were found in their Dover mansion around 7.30 pm on Thursday, Norfolk district attorney Michael Morrissey said.
Teena and her husband, who also went by Rick, had previously run a now-defunct education systems company called EduNova. The district attorney, who described the “terrible tragedy” as a “domestic violence situation”, said a gun was found near the husband’s body. He declined to say whether all three family members were shot dead, and by whom, a newspaper reported. The couple appeared to have faced financial problems in recent years, online records show. -
Indian-origin real estate developer charged with perpetuating USD 93 million fraud scheme
NEW YORK (TIP): An Indian-origin real estate developer has been charged by federal authorities in the US with perpetuating a USD 93 million fraud scheme. Rishi Kapoor, a Miami-based developer, faces charges filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, January 3.
The SEC announced that it obtained an asset freeze and other emergency relief concerning the alleged USD 93 million real estate investment fraud perpetrated by Kapoor. The SEC also charged real estate company Location Ventures, its affiliate Urbin and 20 other related entities in connection with the fraud scheme, a statement said.
According to the SEC’s complaint, from approximately January 2018, until at least March 2023, Kapoor and certain of the defendant entities solicited investors by, among other things, making several material misrepresentations and omissions regarding Kapoor, Location Ventures, Urbin, and their real estate developments.
The false statements allegedly included misrepresenting Kapoor’s compensation; his cash contribution to the capitalization of Location Ventures; the corporate governance of Location Ventures and Urbin; the use of investor funds; and Kapoor’s background.
(Source: PTI) -
Sikh medic Dr. Amritpal Singh Hungin knighted by King Charles III
LONDON (TIP): A British Sikh senior medical professional with over 30 years of general practice (GP) experience has been knighted by King Charles III in the 2024 New Year Honors list. Dr Amritpal Singh Hungin, Emeritus Professor of General Practice at Newcastle University, received a Knighthood for services to medicine on Friday night, including nearly 30 Indian-origin healthcare professionals, philanthropists and community activists honored for their selfless service to society.
Selfless service
Dr Amritpal Singh Hungin, Emeritus Professor of General Practice at Newcastle University, received a Knighthood for services to medicine
Nearly 30 Indian-origin healthcare professionals, philanthropists and community activists honored for their selfless service to society
Professor Pali Hungin, as he is known, was the founding Dean of Medicine at Durham University and a former president of the British Medical Association (BMA). “The New Year’s Honors List recognizes the exceptional achievements of people across the country and those who have shown the highest commitment to selflessness and compassion,” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “To all honorees, you are the pride of this country and an inspiration to us all,” he said.Among the British Indian Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBEs) include Baldev Parkash Bhardwaj for services to the community in Oldbury, West Midlands; Dr Dipankar Datta, Chair of the South Asia Voluntary Enterprise, for services to charity; Munir Patel, CEO of XRAIL Group, for services to rail exports; Dr Shriti Pattani, President of the Society of Occupational Medicine, for services to occupational health; Rajwinder Singh, Principal Project Sponsor of the Prison Infrastructure Team at the UK’s Ministry of Justice, for public service; Vinaichandra Guduguntla Venkatesham, CEO of Arsenal Football Club, for services to sport.
The Cabinet Office said more than 1,200 recipients had been awarded this year for their exceptional achievements, including Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBEs) conferred upon a cross-section, including British Indians such as Dr Sanjay Bhandari, Chair of anti-racism charity Kick It Out for services to sport and Jayshree Rajkotia, Trustee and Vice Chair of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, UK, for services to Indian culture.
Other Indian-origin recipients of MBEs include Tajinder Kaur Banwait for services to business and to the beauty industry; Dr Manav Bhavsar for services to healthcare, particularly during Covid-19; Nilesh Bhasker Dosa for services to social equality; Dr Dinendra Singh Gill for services to pre-hospital and trauma care in Wales; Dr Gian Parkash Gopal for services to the Hindu community and to multi-faith Cohesion in Oxfordshire; Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa for charitable services to the Sikh community; Dr Meenakshi Nagpaul for services to the NHS; and Satish Manilal Parmar for public service, among others. Healthcare and charity work also dominates among the Indian-origin Medalists of the Order of the British Empire (BEMs) such as Chandra Shekhar Biyani for services to medical education and Harbaksh Singh Grewal for services to charity.
(Source: PTI) -
Indian American legal scholar Ved Prakash Nanda dies
DENVER (TIP) : Noted Indian American legal scholar, Professor Ved Prakash Nanda passed away on January 1. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar among others condoled his death.
Nanda, who was awarded Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honor in 2018 for his contributions to literature and education was a Distinguished University Professor and Thompson G. Marsh Professor of Law at the University of Denver, Colorado.
He founded the International Legal Studies Program there in 1972 and directed the Ved Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law established in his honor by alumni and friends, who have also endowed a professorship in his name.
He received Honorary Doctor of Law from Soka University, Tokyo, Japan, and Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India, and has taught and lectured at several universities in the US and abroad, according to his official profile.
Nanda was also an Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Delhi, India. He held many leadership positions in the global international law community, including the World Jurist Association, American Society of International Law, International Law Association, American Law Institute, and the American Bar Associations Human Rights Center and Section of International Law.
He also served as a US delegate to the World Federation of the United Nations Associations in Geneva and on the governing council of the United Nations Association of the USA.
Nanda was an officer and board member in several international and national NGOs. He was the Chair of the Uberoi Foundation for Religious Studies.
Nanda received numerous national and international awards and authored or co-authored 24 books and over 225 chapters and law review articles in international and comparative law, writes a column for the Denver Post, and is a regular commentator in both the electronic and print media.
The American Bar Association International Law Section conferred on him the Louis B Sohn Award, for distinguished, longstanding contributions to the field of public international law in 2018.
Expressing his grief over Nanda’s demise, Modi said Nanda’s work highlighted his commitment to legal education. “Deeply saddened by the passing away of Professor Ved Prakash Nanda Ji, a distinguished academic whose contributions to the legal field are invaluable. His work highlights his strong commitment to legal education,” Modi posted on X.
“He was also a prominent member of the Indian diaspora in USA and was passionate about strong India-USA relations. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” the PM added.
“Deeply anguished by the demise of Prof. Ved Prakash Nanda Ji, an internationally acclaimed legal scholar. The illustrious career of Nanda Ji was shaped by his academic rigor and profound commitment to legal education,” Shah wrote.
“A prominent member of our diaspora in the US, Prof Nanda Ji left an indelible mark in fortifying the Indo-US relationship. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers. Om Shanti,” he added.
“Grieved to learn of the passing away of Professor Ved Prakash Nanda ji,” wrote Jaishankar. “Had the privilege of knowing him over many years. His contribution to the India-US relationship will always be remembered.” -
2 Indian-origin men arrested for committing Visa fraud in US
BOSTON (TIP): Two Indian-origin men have been arrested and charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit visa fraud in the US.
Rambhai Patel, 36, and Balwinder Singh, 39, allegedly staged armed robberies so that “victims” could apply for immigration benefits, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said on Friday, December 29. Patel was arrested in Seattle on December 13, 2023, and following an initial appearance in the Western District of Washington, he was ordered detained pending trial. Singh was also arrested on the same day in Queens, and had his initial appearance in the Eastern District of New York.While Singh appeared in federal court in Boston on Friday afternoon, Patel is expected to appear at a later date in the same court.
According to the charging documents, beginning March 2023, Patel and his co-conspirators, including at times, Singh, set up and carried out staged armed robberies. These were carried out at eight convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants across the United States, including at least four in Massachusetts.
It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigration status (U Visa).
A US Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
In the course of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video.
The clerks and/or owners would then wait five or more minutes until the “robber” had escaped before calling police to report the “crime”.
The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Patel allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery. The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the US Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, the attorney’s office said.
(Source: IANS) -
Indo-British Sikh woman ‘Polar Preet’ claims record for fastest solo ski across Antarctica
LONDON (TIP): Having already broken two Guinness World Records for polar exploration, British Sikh Army medic Harpreet Chandi has said she now has a third one.
By covering 1,130 km of Antarctic ice in 31 days, 13 hours and 19 minutes, Chandi, also known as Polar Preet, claims she has become the fastest woman to ski solo across Antarctica, media reported.
“I’m tired but so glad I made it. This was completely different to my last expedition… I completely pushed myself to my limits on my last expedition, a speed attempt is completely different,” the 34-year-old said, speaking from the South Pole. “After my last expedition, I knew I could cope well on the ice which gave me the confidence to tackle this head on,” she added.
The Guinness World Records will need to verify the claim, which can take several months, and if confirmed, it would beat the previous record holder, Canadian Caroline Cote, by a day, 14 hours and 34 minutes.
For the trek, Chandi left the Hercules inlet on the Ronne ice shelf on November 26, and arrived at the South Pole at 2.24 am UK time on December 28.
She skied for between 12 and 13 hours a day on average and pulled a 75 kg sled that had everything she needed to survive behind her.
“It was definitely not a sprint, but I had to constantly weigh up my effort and how long I would ski for each day. Too long or too fast and I was going to burn out. Too slow or finish too early and I’d miss out on the record,” she told the media.
Calling Antarctica an amazing place and glad that it allowed her a safe passage, Chandi said: “It’s an absolute privilege to be here. It is not a place any person can conquer; it is a place you treat with respect and hope it allows you safe passage.”
Chandi is on a career break from military service where she was a physiotherapist providing rehabilitation for injured soldiers and officers.
Speaking about her journey, she said her focus was on what she could control, not what she couldn’t.
“I couldn’t control the conditions — the blistering sun, the whiteouts, the temperatures of minus 30 degrees C, but I can control how I dealt with them. Just keep taking it one step at a time,” Chandi, who was named Member of the British Empire recently, said.
Also honored as ‘woman of the year’ at the Women in Defense Awards 2022, Chandi made history by becoming the first woman of color to complete a 700-mile Antarctic journey — solo and unsupported — to the South Pole in 2021. Chandi said she never thought she would return to Antarctica this year but returned after realizing that this expedition was just not about pushing herself, but also about inspiring others to challenge their boundaries, and break their barriers. “One of my biggest motivations in those dark times on the ice is the thought of inspiring others to face their own challenge,” she said.